Chapter Ninety-Two: That Trick Felt Familiar

At the live-streamed press conference, she had just been pressing the attack on Shen Qingli when a social media post from Shen Qingli suddenly appeared, along with a photo of the invitation itself.

The message was pointed and sharp. It made clear that the invitation was only an attempt to corner her, and it also warned that if the other side kept smearing and belittling people to clear her own name, she could face legal consequences.

The moment the invitation was exposed, the internet erupted. Anyone could see that she had been threatening Shen Qingli.

Sharp-eyed netizens also noticed that Shen Qingli's post had gone up even before she mentioned any alleged connection with Gu Qingming, which instantly turned the tide. Her account was swamped, and the reporters immediately shifted their focus.

But the storm was still not over.

When she claimed that her acquaintance with Xie Jinchuan had been entirely natural and unforced, the internet exploded again, because Xie Jinchuan himself posted only four words: just friends.

Those simple words were enough to stir up endless speculation.

In an instant, everyone was laughing at her. Her assistant hurried over and showed her the online posts while she was still speaking with stubborn enthusiasm.

She was so furious she nearly spat blood on the spot, and in the end could only hastily bring the press conference to a close.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingli was frowning at Xie Jinchuan, who had just put away his phone across from her.

"Mr. Wang couldn't make it today. I'm one of the investors as well, so I trust you won't mind, President Shen."

Xie Jinchuan's smile was faint, his eyes fixed on her as though they would not let go.

He looked, quite frankly, like a man with very little dignity.

"Mr. Wang's sudden emergency really is sudden," Shen Qingli said coolly, her whole being radiating one clear message: distance.

She took out the contract and the schedule, placed them on the table, and slid them over to him. "Please take a look, Mr. Xie."

Watching her movements, Xie Jinchuan's gaze flickered.

She was actually unwilling even to sit close to him now.

His eyes swept over the two thick volumes on the table. He picked them up, then moved to sit directly beside Shen Qingli.

Seeing the slight crease in her brow, he said expressionlessly, "It's too far to talk properly. I don't think President Shen would mind something so minor, would you?"

His warm breath brushed her cheek, and for a fleeting moment something in Shen Qingli's heart stirred. But in the next instant, she forced it back down.

"Since Mr. Xie is the investor, whatever you say goes."

Her calmness made Xie Jinchuan sigh softly, and he shifted slightly farther away.

The two of them began discussing work, and Shen Qingli gradually became absorbed in the matter. Before she knew it, the distance between them had dwindled even more.

"Xie Jinchuan?"

When no answer came for a long moment, Shen Qingli looked up in confusion and met a pair of eyes filled with deep meaning. Her whole body stiffened.

They were far too close. Their lips were nearly touching.

If either of them moved even slightly, they would kiss.

After a few breaths, Shen Qingli instinctively raised a hand and pushed the man before her away. "It's getting late, and we've almost finished discussing everything. I'll be leaving first."

With that, she turned and left in quick steps.

Xie Jinchuan slowly rose from the floor and let out a sigh.

"I still scared her off," he murmured.

Then he noticed the bag Shen Qingli had left behind on her seat. He immediately picked it up and went after her.

Naturally, the lurking paparazzi caught the scene clearly on camera.

"We've got ourselves a huge scoop this time. Good heavens, this'll sell for a fortune!"

"We're really going to make it big now!"

The two young paparazzi were overjoyed and quickly followed the pair.

Under the streetlights, Shen Qingli stood there, trying to steady the chaotic beating of her heart.

"Host, you do still like Mr. Xie, don't you? Since you like him, why not just ask him properly and clear up the misunderstanding? Besides, we still have a mission to finish. If we don't complete it, we can't become immortals, right?"

The little green herb popped out, speaking tentatively, its eyes bright with amusement.

"Who said I like him?"

Shen Qingli immediately replied expressionlessly, but the lively, racing beat of her heart had already betrayed her.

Yet in the next moment, thinking of everything that had happened before, her heart sank completely.

"If you keep talking, you won't get dinner tonight."

She spoke carelessly, just as she was about to reach for her phone, when she realized she had forgotten her bag. Turning around, she saw Xie Jinchuan hurrying toward her.

"President Shen, why were you in such a rush? You even left this behind."

The little green herb chuckled in her mind and was instantly locked away by Shen Qingli.

The little green herb: ...

"Thank you."

Shen Qingli took the bag back without expression, her tone especially cold.

Xie Jinchuan frowned slightly and reached out to seize her arm. "Do you avoid me so much now?"

"I and Rong Jiaoyi ..."

He wanted to explain, wanted to bring Shen Qingli back, wanted to see her every day.

But the next second, he remembered the agreement he had made with Rong Jiaoyi, and the words caught in his throat. He did not know whether he should speak or not.

Seeing his troubled expression, Shen Qingli remained unmoved.

She removed his hand. "I don't care what relationship Mr. Xie has with Rong Jiaoyi, and I don't want to know. Since things have already come to this between us, please don't make this any harder for either of us."

Her words were so polished and official that Xie Jinchuan's eyes flickered. His hand moved, but in the end he still did not catch hers.

Watching her walk farther and farther away, he could only sigh helplessly.

"Wait a little longer ... just a little longer, and it will be all right."

Thinking of the rumors circulating online, Xie Jinchuan's expression turned grave at once.

Some things, it seemed, had to be made clear.

It was time to set boundaries, before certain people forgot their place.