Disguised as a Man, She Has Eight Men Fighting Over Her

Chapter 57

Shen Qingrang answered calmly into the silence.

“Si, it’s me.”

Jiang Si stopped. “Oh.”

But his footsteps did not leave.

Lin Cheng imagined him standing there, frowning toward the sofa. Her lashes shook wildly, her heart nearly bursting.

Shen Qingrang remained utterly composed.

“Kiss me,” he breathed. “Make him leave.”

Footsteps sounded again. Unable to tell whether they approached or retreated, Lin Cheng panicked and kissed him.

The first taste of tobacco burned dizzyingly into her head. Her heart and blood vessels raced, adrenaline screaming until even her spine tingled.

Shen Qingrang’s Adam’s apple rolled. Then he took control, opening her mouth and drawing out every trace of sweetness.

When they briefly parted, a silver thread stretched and broke between their lips.

“He’s gone.”

Shen Qingrang’s breathing was uneven. A distant door closed.

But Lin Cheng did not respond.

Her eyes were shut, cheeks unnaturally flushed, breaths shallow and rapid. The useless little thing had fainted from terror and the sudden kiss.

His eyes darkened as he tightened his arms.

“So easily frightened?”

His voice held indulgence and pain.

“I’m sorry.”

“Be good.”

“Like me. Love me…”

—

“Qin Rang!”

Lin Cheng jolted awake in an unfamiliar hotel bed.

Xie Zhi’s photo remained on her phone. Yesterday had not been a dream.

*Knock, knock.*

“Little Chen, awake?” came the voice now throwing her heart into chaos.

She sprang from bed and marched barefoot to the door, only to hesitate.

What should she say? Slap him?

But he was Qin Rang—the chubby boy who had accepted her woven-grass ring.

“If you don’t open up, I’ll assume you’re inviting me in,” he said with a smile.

Lin Cheng cracked the door.

Shen Qingrang wore a silk lake-blue shirt, a moon-white lace choker, and—yes—a chest chain glittering within the V-neck.

His eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses were gentle as water, as though last night’s dangerous man had been a hallucination.

“Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

Every prepared accusation stuck in her throat.

“Qin Rang, you bastard!”

He studied her red eyes, puffed cheeks, and half-raised hand, then stepped forward and brushed a hair from her face.

“Mm,” he admitted calmly.

“But being a bastard once for Chengcheng…”

“Was rather nice.”

He caught her raised hand and struck his own cheek with it.

The sharp sound echoed. Lin Cheng froze, palm numb, unsure whether he punished himself or her.

“Good girl, feel better?”

“No!”

She seized his wrist, twisted his arm behind him, and drove a shin behind his knee, pinning him against the wall.

Surprised, he raised a brow, but indulgent amusement flashed beneath it.

Lin Cheng swung her free hand.

*Smack!*

It landed squarely on his firm backside.

The texture was unexpectedly solid.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, magnificent ass. A scheming man could certainly be hot.

Shen Qingrang tensed and gave a suppressed groan. The chain of his glasses swayed.

“Such a good child. You learn so quickly.”

Before he could continue, the opposite door opened.

Jiang Si appeared in a black velvet jacket and white silk shirt with flowing ties, his hair softly curled. His long eyes looked even colder.

He glanced indifferently at their compromising pose, then looked away.

“Lin Chen, change quickly. The stylist is waiting.”

Lin Cheng released Shen Qingrang and jumped back.

“Y-yes, Captain.”

After Jiang Si left, Shen Qingrang calmly straightened his wrinkled shirt and carried a paper bag inside.

“Come out when you’re changed. No hurry.”

Lin Cheng shoved him out and slammed the door.

The bag held Gothic-inspired clothes: a semi-sheer cinnamon-pink silk layer, a short peony velvet jacket, and a rouge-red velvet choker set with a ruby and tiny gold bell.

It reminded her strangely of Shen Qingrang’s lace choker and the ties on Jiang Si’s shirt.

Only when she entered the living room and saw Pei Jinye did she understand.

He stood at a full-length mirror in a burgundy velvet shirt whose deep V reached nearly to his waist, exposing hard chest and abdomen. A fine gold chain swayed between them.

Seeing Lin Cheng in the mirror, he whistled.

“Does big brother look handsome today?”

Lin Cheng whipped her face aside.

She finally understood the indescribable quality of the brand’s styling.

It was slutty.