Chapter 102: A Late Night Invitation (1)

These were the situations where it was best to separate bickering people. The CEO glanced at Taiga. "Head inside into my room and dry up, Miss Taiga—it's the third room on the hallway to the right. I have some spare towels. I'm not sure if you can get sick, but I'd like to ensure that you don't."

"Okaaaay? Thanks, Bossman." Taiga threw one look at Bo Lifen, stuck her tongue out and then disappeared back into the house.

Li Yang caught the door before she could slam it and hoped, or rather expected, that the tigress kept it down. The complications of being found out were on his mind—but if he knew any better. His brother and the woman could have already been busy in the kitchen.

"Are you actually fine with that sopping wet cat to be around in your room—it's your fault if she messes anything up." Bo Lifen shook her head and sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Li Yang shrugged. "It's nothing bad to have her in it, there are no documents and such that can get ruined in it. And I at least expect her to be professional about it."

"You're either the most dense man I've ever met—and that's something since I know Han Jing. Or you really rigidly keep your headspace in whatever it is you want. Not everyone is going to stay in the lines that you've drawn inside your head."

"I wish they did so I could at least not be disappointed when they don't do it." Li Yang stared out at the pouring heavens. "However, life tends to catch us in surprise, doesn't it? Would you like to stay tonight, Miss Lifen?"

"No."

"Your great-grandmother's?"

"I told you she was asleep by now."

"Then do you expect me to let you drive out in the rain?"

She pursed her lips and then hung her head slightly. "I… I can't stay here and give your brother and his wife something weird to think about. If I could bother you to drive me home tonight?"

"Then won't your parents see that you came home with a man?" Li Yang asked.

"I thought you didn't have a problem with that."

"I don't—but what about what they think? I thought you were concerned about people's perspectives."

"Haah… at least when they see you or your car, they'd stop nagging me and think I was with someone."

He wasn't actually that surprised to hear about Bo Lifen's problem and using him as a solution didn't bother him—despite it being a little deceitful. The CEO would start the slow and careful drive back to the city.

The silence in between them wasn't terrible, if anything, it was a comfortable one as the rain continued to pour down and created a sense of rhythm.

And then she tried to fill in it.

"Miss Gabrielle told me about Hirire earlier, before you arrived and recommended it to me."

"Huh?"

"I'm not sure if she was simply trying to talk with me—or my situation is a lot more obvious. It's a dating service, well… It's more like renting a girlfriend or boyfriend for hire. These people can also actually meet your parents, and they'd have a script and all that. You can discuss it over and it's quite a professional group she says."

"Oh, have you considered availing of it?"

"Of course not—I don't mean to judge those who do. When you're desperate and have no other options, go ahead. It's difficult getting into a relationship at this time and age when everyone's busy with work and life." She glanced at him. "But just by having you around gets me the same effects at a fraction of the cost. Virtually zero now that I think about it."

"Ah, so you're being resourceful." He chuckled. "Some might say you're being stingy."

"Very funny," she said. "There's also the fact that I think you've been forgetting about."

"Which is…?"

"Are you trying to act dumb or forgetful?"

"You're being vague. I don't like guessing."

"I mean, we already have our own—arrangements, I guess." There was a touch of heat in her voice. "And that's certainly a step higher than whatever they could offer, I guess."

The CEO took the opportunity to stop his car at the side of the road. He cleared his throat and finally glanced at her. "We haven't exactly finished discussing the details, though?"

Her gaze flickered around the car's windows before she looked back at him. "Then do you want to finalize it over now?"

"Do you want to discuss it in the back?"

"I can't believe you actually said that, my god—"

He pressed a finger to her lips and opted for a smile. "Best not to invoke any names, wouldn't want anyone to watch do you?"

She gave him a confused look before she rolled her eyes. She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand down and said, "Oh my jolly goodness, I can't imagine that I'm doing it in the car."

There was a touch of sarcasm in it that made him chuckle, but he asked. "So you don't want to?" The two of them could still turn back and head back to the road. "We don't necessarily have to do anything."

"What about you? Are you in the mood or are you already sleepy?" She asked back. "Do you think that your third leg is asleep?"

The eu​phe​mism made him blink, but then he chuckled. "I think it's easy enough to liven it up if the situation calls for it. Although that is if you really have no problems with here? Comfort is a thing."

She pursed her lip and began to crawl her way to the back seat. She looked over her shoulder and gave him a look. "Now's a better time than any other. We don't have any other better ones to look forward to—"

"If you say so." He followed after her.

"... this is actually a little cramped now that I think about it."

"I told you."

"Let's just get on with it."