Spellbound Hearts - Chapter 35 - Laying It All Out

After several encounters, Ji Xuan realized that Song Zhaoli was utterly unpredictable.

He had this uncanny ability to switch between serious and playful in the blink of an eye.

When you thought he was messing around, he was actually handling business.

When you thought he was all business, you’d already unknowingly fallen into his trap.

Hearing what Song Zhaoli said, Ji Xuan stayed seated, her eyes guarded, though she didn’t make it too obvious.

Noticing her wariness, Song Zhaoli glanced at her with a smirk. “I’m really injured, not trying to take advantage of you.”

Ji Xuan’s gaze remained calm as she stared at him, saying nothing.

Seeing her unmoved, Song Zhaoli chuckled, then turned to show her his back.

The moment Ji Xuan saw the bloodstains on his shirt, her breath hitched, and her heart leaped into her throat.

He was wearing a white shirt, making the bloodstains all the more striking.

Ji Xuan frowned. “You got beaten?”

The bloodstains on his shirt looked like they came from being lashed with a whip.

One stripe after another.

Song Zhaoli turned back around, ignoring her question, his lips curling into a faint smile. “Manager Ji, can you drop your guard against me now?”

Ji Xuan’s lips twitched. “President Song, men and women are different. If you really need help, I can take you to the hospital to get your wounds treated.”

Song Zhaoli scoffed. “Do you think, given my status, it’s appropriate for me to show up at a hospital looking like this?”

Ji Xuan fell silent.

Given his position, he was right. Showing up at a hospital in this state could easily lead to rumors if someone recognized him.

After his words hung in the air, Ji Xuan didn’t respond. Song Zhaoli leaned forward slightly, his tone teasing. “Manager Ji, there’s an old saying: ‘A drop of water should be repaid with a spring.’ Is this how you treat your benefactor?”

Ji Xuan frowned. “What benefactor?”

Song Zhaoli’s smile deepened. “The video in your email. President Wang stepping in to help you out of trouble. And yesterday, your scumbag ex-boyfriend getting arrested…”

The more he spoke, the darker Ji Xuan’s expression became.

By the time he finished, Ji Xuan pressed her lips into a thin line, snatched the bag of medical supplies from his hand, and said curtly, “Take off your shirt and turn around.”

Song Zhaoli raised an eyebrow. “You trust me that much? Not even going to question me?”

Ji Xuan took a deep breath. “No need.”

Given Song Zhaoli’s status, he wouldn’t stoop so low as to brag about something so trivial.

But there was one thing Ji Xuan couldn’t figure out: with someone of his stature, it was impossible that he didn’t have anyone around to help him treat his wounds.

So why, when he clearly had no shortage of people to rely on, did he come to her for help? What was he thinking?

As her words settled, the atmosphere in the car grew tense for a few seconds. Then Song Zhaoli suddenly laughed and said, “It’s not convenient to treat this in the car. Besides, my car is parked right outside your company. You’re in here with me, Qiu Lin’s outside. If someone sees…”

He trailed off, leaving the implication hanging. It was enough to corner Ji Xuan.

She stared at him, a wave of irritation rising in her chest.

It was the kind of frustration that came from losing control of a situation.

She suddenly realized that ever since she got entangled with Song Zhaoli, her rationality and carefully calculated plans had been completely derailed.

After a moment of thought, a phrase popped into her mind.

When dealing with a clever person, you can’t outplay them, you can’t escape them. So why not just ask them outright what they want?

With that realization, Ji Xuan relaxed. Taking a light breath, she looked at Song Zhaoli with genuine curiosity. “President Song, what exactly do you want?”

Song Zhaoli’s expression was amused. “What do you mean, what do I want?”

Ji Xuan’s demeanor remained composed as she met his gaze. “Or let me rephrase. President Song, are you interested in me? Do you want to sleep with me?”

Her question was blunt. Song Zhaoli’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What if I said yes?”

Neither of them danced around the subject.