Chapter 115: Just a Heartless Jerk After All

"Meng Yi'er, say that again."

Although her voice was barely a whisper, Yan Yichen heard it clearly. The tenderness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a gaze so intense and dangerous that it seemed as if he might devour her whole at any moment.

Seeing Yan Yichen suddenly bristle, Meng Yi'er felt a tremor in her heart, yet she still shook her head, appearing uncharacteristically resolute.

"I don't want to... besides, I have plans this evening."

Her voice was weak, lacking any real conviction.

"You had better explain yourself. What could possibly be more important than me?"

Yan Yichen gritted his teeth, the words tumbling out one by one as if forced, his dark eyes nearly spitting fire. This girl was actually refusing their first date.

Her large, dark eyes darted around, guiltily avoiding his scorching glare. She wasn't good at lying; if she told him she was meeting Ke Sen, he would surely want to kill her. But if she told him the truth, he would never let her go. After weighing her options, she chose...

"Well... I have plans with Ming Xin tonight."

"Ming Xin?"

Yan Yichen looked at her with suspicion, letting out a subtle sigh of relief as the fire in his eyes dimmed slightly. Ming Xin? It sounded like a girl's name.

Sensing his relaxation, Meng Yi'er hurried to explain:

"She's the girl who was with me at the cocktail party last time—the daughter of Chairman Yu from Yunteng Agency. We were classmates in college."

"So it's her."

Meng Yi'er nodded frantically, grabbing his large hand and shaking it, putting on a pitiful, pleading expression.

"Yan Yichen, let's postpone the date to another time, okay?"

"Yichen."

His deep, cool voice drifted slowly around them, captivating and alluring.

"Hmm?"

Meng Yi'er didn't react at first, her wide eyes staring at him in bewilderment, unable to fathom why he had suddenly shifted his tone.

"Call me... Yichen. I am your man; isn't it too distant to call me by my full name?"

Since when was he her man? Meng Yi'er was momentarily speechless, her pretty face flushing with a suspicious red glow, unsure how to handle the man before her.

After a moment's hesitation, she spoke in a soft, gentle voice, barely audible as a mosquito's hum.

"Yi... chen."

The man chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on her beautiful red lips, his eyes shimmering with a captivating brilliance. Then, Yan Yichen’s slender fingers reached for her chin, giving it a gentle pinch.

"I didn't hear you."

Meng Yi'er looked up and glared fiercely at him, suppressing the urge to curse under her breath. She paused, then, with a sense of resignation, raised her volume and called out again.

"Yichen."

A deeper smile played on Yan Yichen’s sexy, thin lips, and a faint, gentle warmth flickered across his dark eyes before he finally released her, satisfied.

"Good girl... I'll let you off the hook for today."

Just as Meng Yi'er breathed a sigh of relief, the man’s enchanting voice sounded once more.

"However... you’ve ruined our plans for tonight. How do you intend to compensate me?"

"What kind of compensation do you want?"

Watching his handsome face draw closer, Meng Yi'er wished she could bite her own tongue off. He was such a pigheaded man, after all!

"Kiss me. Kiss me, and I won't hold this against you."

Yan Yichen’s deep, sexy voice was laced with charm.

Meng Yi'er: "..."

Looking at the man’s air of magnanimous grace—as if he were doing her a favor and she should be tearfully grateful—Meng Yi'er furrowed her brows, looking at him with helpless resignation.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she flushed crimson, gathered her courage, and pressed a swift, fleeting kiss to his cool lips.