Chapter 278: Don't Fall Asleep Just Yet

"There is also the matter of your employees. I am sure they are talented people, but they don't see you as their boss. They see you as their peer."

"What are you talking about now?" she groaned once again. 

"Listen carefully. There is a reason why I keep my employees at an arm's length. They need to see you as their employer. Your employees have a casual tone when they talk to you and I felt like they didn't feel the urgency of the situation. It all seemed... calm. Like you were the only one who was actually worried."

Qian Meng scoffed. "They worked two days straight for this. I wouldn't say they weren't feeling the urgency," she retorted. 

"You are not trying to understand what I am saying. Those talented people have become complacent. They don't do their jobs to the full capacity because they don't see you as a figure of complete authority. If they did, you would have had them pleading you to be aggressive in this situation. You wouldn't be the one telling them to do everything while they followed. They needed to take initiative and show you the way when you were clearly unable to gauge the situation."

It was a long explanation. If she were an outsider, she would have applauded him for his insight. He had been in business for far longer and knew quite a bit about delegating work. Not that she was okay with how he treated his employees, but he was good with giving out tasks. His employees were efficient.

But this was different. He was criticizing her in a way. She was mildly offended. If she hadn't been lulled into exhaustion because of her orgasm, she might have fought him on every point. But at that moment, she didn't have the strength to tell him anything. This conversation could continue some other time. She wouldn't forget.

"Okay. End of conversation. I really need to sleep. Goodnight, Mo Qingchen." She whispered and then closed her eyes again.

"Don't fall asleep just yet," he told her softly, his voice completely different. "I'm still inside you…"

She mustered some strength to push herself up enough that he slid out. She lazily rolled off him, settling on the bed next to him. She didn't open her eyes to see, but she felt the bed shift as Mo Qingchen got up. She fell asleep just moments later to the sound of running water in the bathroom.

Mo Qingchen returned with a warm towel and wiped Qian Meng gently, knowing that she would feel uncomfortable throughout the night. He had half a thought to run a hot bath and settle her in, but with her sleeping, he wouldn't be sure if she was cold. 

Even in her sleep, she twisted and turned, squirming against the towel until he was done. She settled in and he smiled. He would not forget her promise of continuing the discussion. Maybe he would bring it up in their weekly discussion about their businesses. That would be a good time.

A shower and some cuddling later, he was sleeping right along with her.

When she woke up the next morning, she could hear the sound of water running in the bathroom. Qian Meng tried to go back to sleep but she had to pee and her bladder was hard to ignore. 

She threw the covers off with a sigh and hastily walked into the bathroom where Mo Qingchen was showering.

"Did I wake you?" he asked from behind the glass. 

"No, I am sleepwalking," she snapped without looking at him. 

He chuckled in that arrogant and infuriating manner that made her want to punch him and kiss him all at the same time. Qian Meng rolled her eyes as she made her way into the toilet area and shut the door. While doing her business, she heard the water shut off and she sighed. 

She was hoping he would stay in there long enough that she could go out and go back to sleep before she had to deal with him again. 

The reason for her avoidance? The words he said last night kept coming back to her and she grew more irritated as time went by. Something about him criticizing her didn't sit well with her.

When she opened the door and walked out, Mo Qingchen was standing at the sink, brushing his teeth. Without saying a word, Qian Meng went over to the second sink and started to wash her hands. 

"Are you upset with me then?" Mo Qingchen asked after he had finished up and put his toothbrush away. 

Qian Meng shrugged, keeping her eyes fixed down on the water splashing over her hands. She was aware of his movements and then suddenly, he was behind her, his hands on her hips just as she turned the tap off. 

"Qingchen… I just—"

She was about to tell him to leave her alone and let her go back to sleep but she made the mistake of glancing up into the mirror and finding his black eyes watching her. 

They shimmered with mischief, as they did when he was with her. The allure in them was hard to resist. 

She realized she was smiling.

"There's the pretty smile I look forward to every day. You were trying to hide it from me, huh?"

Mo Qingchen turned his hands to coax her to turn around to face him and she gave in all too easily. She loathed the way that she couldn't seem to stay away from this man. 

"How are you going to make me less angry? After lecturing me last night?" she asked like a total brat as she lifted her arms around his neck. 

"Qian Meng," he warned, his tone still amused. "You know I was trying to make a point. It wasn't meant to hurt your feelings."

Qian Meng's eyes hardened. "Whatever. The intention doesn't matter. I was bothered by it."

"Speaking of this, I did bring you something you can consider as payment for angering you," he said slowly, watching her expression closely.