Playing with Fire Part 2

A beauty is even more beautiful when angry.

Qin Fan's cheeks were flushed, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with a faint red. Her eyes shimmered like water, and the small red tear-shaped mole became even more distinct. Her entire being seemed to be covered in little hooks.

Yet she was completely unaware of her own beauty, only wanting to pinch Xie Yanli.

However, after fumbling with his suit pants for a long time, she couldn't find a place to pinch. So frustrating.

A faint smile appeared imperceptibly in Xie Yanli's eyes as his gaze swept over the embroidered butterfly on the edge of her top.

Qin Fan was indignant. Why was she hiding so carefully? Wasn't it for this dog of a man's pride?

Regret.

'I should have let his good friend see what kind of refined scum, a beast on the inside, the prim and proper Bodhisattva Xie is on the outside.'

Qin Fan clearly heard Xie Yanli's voice, so clear and unwavering it was devoid of any fluctuation: "What does that have to do with me?"

Cold-blooded and heartless.

Qin Fan muttered under her breath, looking up at the man's superior jawline. He was calm and composed, completely unaffected by her, his features cool and detached, as if his heart could not be moved by anyone.

The image of his turbulent gaze and physical changes when he pressed against her at night surfaced in her mind. Even if it was just a moment of losing control, it was enough.

For some reason, Qin Fan now wanted to see Xie Yanli lose control, wanted to destroy his constant calm and composure.

Slowly—

A pair of soft, boneless hands slid up the man's calf like a nimble little snake, winding its way up to his knee, moving further and further forward, the actions becoming bolder and bolder.

Xie Yanli's originally steady voice came to an abrupt halt.

The next second.

He slid his body forward toward the desk, completely trapping Qin Fan in the narrow space between his knees and the underside of the desk.

Pei Jingqing had originally been resting his head back on the chair, the back of his hand covering his eyes, his expression weary.

Hearing the movement, he subconsciously lowered his hand. The sight that greeted him was Xie Yanli practically plastered against the edge of the desk. "What are you doing?"

Xie Yanli moved back slightly. "If you have nothing else, I still have documents to handle."

"You handle yours, I'll say mine." Pei Jingqing didn't treat himself as an outsider. "I'll go lie down on the sofa for a bit."

Xie Yanli: "..."

At this moment, he was gripping that slender, snow-white wrist with one hand. Her fingertips were just an inch away from touching a spot on his waist.

And yet, the little demon under the desk was smiling at him, both innocently and provocatively.

His palm was filled with the feel of her wrist, smooth as jade.

Especially as she knelt and moved forward, the ends of her long, curly hair brushed against the webbing between his thumb and forefinger and his wrist, releasing a faint, lingering fragrance.

Seeing that Pei Jingqing was really going to go to sleep, Xie Yanli exhaled lightly. "Go back, and I'll help you."

Pei Jingqing, who hadn't yet reached the sofa set, suddenly stopped.

Just as Xie Yanli's voice sounded, he immediately turned around and walked out without looking back, waving his hand. "Remember what you said."

He didn't look toward the desk again.

With a bang, the door closed.

Qin Fan was fished out from under the desk by the man's long, powerful arms.

Qin Fan struck first, accusing him righteously, "You bruised my wrist!"

She held out the little hand that had been misbehaving. On her delicate, snow-white wrist, a faint pink blush had indeed appeared.

Xie Yanli met her shimmering, captivating eyes and suddenly smiled.

When the man smiled, his originally distant, cold, and refined features suddenly became like the first thaw of spring waters, the first bloom of a spring forest—resplendent and enchanting.

Making it impossible to look away.

Qin Fan struggled to avert her gaze. "Don't you seduce me! A fairy does not accept seduction!"

Xie Yanli readily averted his gaze as requested. He didn't punish her either, and even had his secretary prepare magazines and snacks for her to pass the time.

For some reason.

Looking at the table full of snacks and desserts, Qin Fan felt like she was eating her last meal.

Xie Yanli saw that she had finally settled down.

He glanced at a WeChat message on his phone. It was from Pei Jingqing.

Pei Jingqing: "Xie Yanli, I was only gone for two years, and you've changed more than in the twenty-five years we've known each other."

"Office play, huh? You've got it in you."

If he hadn't seen that high heel, which was so out of place next to the black desk, he really wouldn't have thought of it.

No wonder Xie Yanli wasn't in the mood to chat with him and had agreed so readily to help solve his problem.

Xie Yanli's fingertips tapped out a few words: "The Pei-Cheng marriage alliance is a good one."

Pei Jingqing replied: "I didn't see anything today."

Xie Yanli: "Mm."

Pei Jingqing: "Let me meet her some other day?"

Xie Yanli glanced at the woman lying on the sofa not far away. Qin Fan was kicking her slender, well-proportioned legs while playing on her phone. Her fair little feet were painted with a vibrant burgundy red polish, adding a touch of swaying charm.

He quickly withdrew his gaze and casually typed two words back: "You can."

......

Originally, Qin Fan thought the day would pass peacefully.

Until ten o'clock that night, when she came out of the bathroom wearing a pale gold silk robe and bumped right into the man returning from the study.

The man still had the pair of gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. Through the thin lenses, one could see his eyes, as deep as the ocean.

"Xie..."

Before Qin Fan could get a full word out, her slender waist was lifted by two large hands.

The next moment.

Her entire body was suspended in the air, slung upside down over the man's hard shoulder.

Qin Fan: "!"

The fabric of her robe was silky smooth. Qin Fan almost slid down his arm and landed on her head. This feeling of insecurity, along with the dangerous sensation of blood rushing to her head, scared her into a shriek: "Ahhh~~"

Her small voice trembled.

Xie Yanli calmly lifted the graceful and delicate body half-hanging from his shoulder, as if playing with a doll, and shifted her from the upside-down position into a cradle hold in his arms.

Qin Fan, still shaken, clung to his neck and said angrily, "Are you trying to scare me to death!"

"Are you trying to kill me so you can marry your White Moonlight!"

"Ah, that must be it."

Xie Yanli was calm. "Don't worry, I won't 'do' you to death."

As he spoke, he pushed open the study door with one hand, positioning Qin Fan to face the nude oil painting, then casually tossed her silk robe, which had already slipped down to her arms, onto the carpet.

With seemingly casual long fingers, he locked the study door from the inside.

The study lights weren't on. The light was dim. Her vision was obscured, but her sense of smell was particularly sharp.

Qin Fan wondered if she was losing her mind. She could actually smell oil paint.

Qin Fan turned around, her back against the oil painting, her eyelashes trembling. "What are you doing?"

"Click."

The study lights suddenly turned on. The light wasn't bright, but it illuminated everything clearly.

The first thing she saw was a huge easel and the mixed paints beside it.

And directly in front of the easel, a bed of red rose petals was spread out in a vibrant display. A bright white light shone down from the side, illuminating half of the petal bed and creating a play of light and shadow.

Qin Fan rubbed her eyes, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her, or if she was hallucinating. "???"

This thing, with its decadent and voluptuous tones, had actually appeared in Xie Yanli's incredibly serious study.

Pointing at that thing, Qin Fan parted her lips. "What is this?"

After letting her go, Xie Yanli slowly and deliberately sat down by the easel. "Mrs. Xie, lie down."

Qin Fan looked at Xie Yanli, then at the magnificent red petal bed, and didn't move. "..."

Xie Yanli undid the two buttons on his shirt cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a pair of long, fair arms. He then leisurely picked up a paintbrush and looked at Qin Fan. "Didn't you promise me one reasonable condition in exchange?"

"Letting me paint a picture isn't too much to ask, is it?"