Chapter 1285 - Do You Like Me

He liked her and couldn’t bear to part with her…

Even if he had not been clear before, his words now were an undeniable expression of his feelings for her. He actually liked her!

He liked her… He liked her!

Bai Beibei was absolutely floored by his confession. It was as if she was floating in the sky, in an illusory realm where truth and falsehoods were reversed.

She had always thought her love for him was unrequited. Sometimes, she could not help but feel like she was not worthy of him. To think… He liked her!

It took her some time to process the information and thus, her reaction was delayed. “D-don’t joke with me like that, I can’t afford to…”

Bai Beibei tried to push him away and get up.

Gong Yi grabbed her shoulder tightly, stopping her. “Bai Beibei, what exactly are you afraid of?”

What was she afraid of?

That was a good question.

Bai Beibei raised her large, tear-filled eyes and looked at Gong Yi, “You say you like me, but I can’t believe it. We’re from two different worlds. It won’t work out. Even if you don’t think so, others will believe so. There are a lot of other women of far better social standing than me – socialities of high society. Any one of them would be a better match for you. At least, she would have the ability to support you and be a shoulder you can rely on…”

“Enough!” Gong Yi interrupted her angrily. “Do you have no confidence in me or yourself? Am I not from a noble family? Why would I need a wife of high birth?”

It was a domineering proclamation on the cusp of arrogance.

Bai Beibei was shocked speechless.

“Beibei, I’ve always admired your strength, your bravery and confidence. Why are you so scared of being in a relationship with me? Do I not provide you with a sense of security? When have I ever said I needed a socialite for a wife? Honestly! Don’t you know the era you’re living in now? All you need is love. If you meet someone you like and the feelings happen to be mutual, then just get married! Wouldn’t our lives be complete once we have children of our own? What kind of strange thoughts are you harbouring in that head of yours?”

Was that what he thought?

It was so… simple.

Handsome men with pots of money and strong values were almost extinct. Bai Beibei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Had she picked up a treasure?

“Bai Beibei, I’ll say it again. You don’t have to think about anything. Leave all the people and questions to me. You only need to answer one question. Do you like me?”

He asked her again if she liked him?

She could not respond.

She was frightened beyond words.

She didn’t come from a good background. Moreover, she had sold herself to a man of unknown age in the past. She was dirty. Even if she did like him, she could not bring herself to sully Gong Yi’s innocence. All she could do was bury her love for him in her heart.

She was afraid of hurting him and being hurt in turn.

She was afraid of the complications that would arise if she were to commit herself to a relationship with him. She was afraid that he would treat her as a passing curiosity. She did not want to be discarded the moment he tired of her.

The only thing of hers that was uniquely her own was her heart. She would not hand it over easily.

Her silence made Gong Yi sigh.

It seemed that she still did not know him well enough to entrust her heart to him willingly.

It did not matter. He could wait.

“Alright, I’ll give you time to consider. Let’s have lunch. You still have the competition in the afternoon.” Gong Yi released her.

“Oh.” Bai Beibei nodded dumbly. “I’ll take my leave, then.”

“Where are you going?” Gong Yi grabbed her slender wrist, causing her to tip backwards and land on his thigh.

Startled, Bai Beibei turned her sparkling eyes up at him. They shone with an air of timidity “I-I was going to have lunch.”

Her wine red lips and pearly white teeth made Gong Yi’s blood boil in excitement. In a deep voice, he rumbled, “Eat with me. Can’t you see that there are two bowls of rice?”

Bai Beibei looked down and saw that there were really two bowls of white rice.

He had called her over to have lunch with him.

Bai Beibei looked at him gratefully. “Young Master Gong, thank you.”

“Hah! Empty platitudes…” Gong Yi replied.

Bai Beibei didn’t understand.

Gong Yi held her soft waist and nuzzled against her. “I don’t need your thanks. You can thank me better with actions rather than words.”

A rush of warmth brushed her thighs.

… What was he doing?

Gong Yi could not bear the look in her innocent eyes anymore. If he had his way, he would have ravaged her right there and then.

He picked up his chopsticks and picked up a tender beef tenderloin and placed it in her bowl. “Hurry up and eat.”

“Oh.” Bai Beibei’s pretty face burned crimson.

…

In the dining room…

Xiao Liu and Xiao He had just finished eating their lunch.

Seeing a painting hung on the wall, Xiao Liu’s eyes lit up with interest. “Quick, come and have a look. This painting seems to be an authentic work of a great artist. It’s must be worth tens of millions.”

“Is it real? A painting worth tens of millions wouldn’t be put on display without any precautions. It wasn’t here this morning. It looks like it was just mounted.” Xiao He said suspiciously.

Xiao Liu hopped in excitement. “It’s definitely real! My father enjoys collecting paintings like this so do have some knowledge on the subject. Look, this painting is so beautiful…”

Xiao Liu slowly reached out to touch the painting on the wall.

At this moment, the painting fell with a loud ‘Pa’ sound.

The glass over the painting shattered, ripping a portion of the painting.

“Ah!” The two of them were so scared that they screamed. Why did the painting suddenly fall?

“What’s going on?” Just then, a few staff members rushed over. Their expressions changed drastically. “This painting is an original. My company’s president acquired it from an auction. It’s worth 20 million yuan. How could you ruin it?!”

“I-I didn’t! The painting fell before I even touched it…” Xiao Liu explained with a pale face.

“Nonsense! We saw you touch this painting. Since it’s ruined, you’ll need to compensate the president. We don’t want money. Just give us an identical work from the painter!”

Xiao Liu trembled in fear. She did not expect herself to run into such trouble.

The painting was one of a kind. No other of its kind existed in the world. If she wanted an identical, she would need to travel into the netherworld and ask the painter to paint her a new one.

They had fallen into a trap.

Someone was out to get them. The painting was merely an excuse for them to do so.

Who was trying to frame them?

Xiao Liu and Xiao He immediately thought of someone. Gong Yi. This was his territory. He had to be taking revenge on behalf of Bai Beibei!

“What happened?” A deep and magnetic voice sounded.

Gong Yi walked over, holding Bai Beibei’s small hand in his.

“President, these two destroyed the painting you bought. We are asking them for compensation.” a member of staff reported.

Gong Yi’s sharp eyes swept over them like a hawk staring at two mice.

Xiao Liu and Xiao He shuddered at the same time. Pleadingly, they beseeched his understanding, “Young… Young Master Gong, we really didn’t destroy this painting. It fell down by itself…”

Gong Yi narrowed his eyes and questioned his subordinate beside him, “Is that so?”