C11 He Wanted to Slip away after Eating the Tofu!

"Oh? You can actually pinpoint its origin?" Liu Xinmei leapt from the couch and padded over to Lee Wen, her bare feet whispering across the floor. She exclaimed in astonishment, "I've consulted with numerous experts on Antique Row, yet none could discern its specifics. It's impressive that someone as young as you has such expertise! Could you share its provenance with me?"

"This..."

"Ah, playing coy, are we?" Liu Xinmei huffed, feigning annoyance. "Considering we've done business together twice, won't you at least take a look for me?"

Despite being in her thirties, Liu Xinmei put on a girlish demeanor that was quite charming. Lee Wen found his thoughts drifting as he covertly swallowed, then offered a smile. "Of course, I'll have a look."

He made a show of examining the wine decanter, turning it this way and that. After a couple of minutes, he declared, "If I'm not mistaken, this piece hails from the Qin Dynasty, a treasure meant for royalty. To find one in such pristine condition... I'd wager you're the only one in all of Bocriuqua with such a rarity."

"Incredible!" Liu Xinmei seemed to have anticipated his reaction. She eagerly unfurled a scroll beside her, asking, "And what about this one?"

"This..." Lee Wen massaged his temples, concerned that the effort might overtax his dwindling reserves of genuine energy and cause him to faint, leaving him indecisive.

"Not feeling well? Let me help!" Liu Xinmei insisted, pushing Lee Wen down onto the couch and beginning to massage his temples. "Is the pressure alright?"

"This... isn't really appropriate, is it? You're the boss; I shouldn't be receiving a massage from you."

"What's the harm? It's just lending a hand..." Liu Xinmei chuckled softly. "Consider it a token of my gratitude for your insight on the wine decanter... Besides, I enjoy befriending genuine guys like you. Just to be clear, we're talking strictly platonic, so don't get any wild ideas!"

"Of course not, it's my good fortune to have a friend like Ms. Liu!" Lee Wen responded with feigned politeness, the air tinged with the subtle scent of her perfume. He swallowed hard, casting furtive glances at the formidable presence before him, his heart a tumultuous sea. Blushing, he bowed his head, trying to maintain composure as he wondered if perhaps this woman had taken a liking to him and was angling for something more.

Is this happening too quickly? Or is there some sort of ulterior motive?

A wealthy woman and a guy who looks like a total loser—what sort of scheme could he possibly be up to? At most, he probably just wanted to learn about his stone gambling technique. Clearly, he was overthinking things!

Having realized this, Lee Wen closed his eyes and began to relax. He had exhausted much of his appraisal ability earlier in the day, leaving his body feeling drained. Before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.

Liu Xinmei watched Lee Wen as he slept and slowly ceased her massage. She tenderly stroked his clean cheek, a subtle smile playing on her lips. After a moment, she rose and made her way to the bathroom.

There, with her eyes closed, she stood under the shower, embracing her delicate skin and savoring the warm water cascading over her. Her thoughts wandered back to the young man lying on the living room sofa—a few years her junior.

A thought crossed her mind, and a blush spread across Liu Xinmei's ears. She gave her shapely behind a playful slap and whispered to herself, "Liu Xinmei, oh Liu Xinmei, after all these years, you've finally found someone you fancy... He's yours for the taking!"

Lee Wen was caught in a nightmare where he had unearthed a trove of treasures and was being pursued by bandits. He ran for his life until he reached a sea of fragrant flowers, where he lay down in blissful comfort, soft as if on a bed of cotton, prompting him to reach out and caress it.

As warmth enveloped him, Lee Wen murmured and his eyes fluttered open to the sight of a captivating, oval-faced beauty with long hair cascading over her shoulders. His hands were on her...

"You!" Lee Wen recoiled as if shocked by electricity, his eyes darting around in panic. He scrambled to the corner of the sofa, stammering, "You... I didn't mean to do that!"

"I know you didn't mean to, it must have been intentional..." Liu Xinmei teased with a flirtatious glint in her eye. Fresh from her shower, she wore a thin, short black silk dress that hugged her voluptuous figure, sending Lee Wen's pulse racing with a surge of desire.

"I'm sorry... I was so exhausted, I accidentally fell asleep!" Lee Wen said, swallowing hard and asking cautiously, "I didn't do anything impolite while I was asleep, did I?"

"Hehe..." Liu Xinmei let out a tinkling laugh upon hearing this, giving him a coquettish look. "You did... I wouldn't have guessed that beneath your refined exterior, you're quite the wild one! Are you afraid to own up to it?"

Lee Wen, recalling the event, shook his head vigorously. "No, no, I'm certain I didn't!"

"Oh, you didn't?" Liu Xinmei feigned annoyance. "I was merely trying to tuck you in with a blanket. Who was it that seized the chance to cling to my hand and wouldn't let go? And who was it that was groping around? I never would have guessed... You seem so well-mannered, yet deep down, you're a rogue."

"I apologize, truly..." Lee Wen hurried to explain. "In my dream, I was unaware of my mistake. I'll leave right now!"

As he bent over to slip on his shoes, Lee Wen internally chastised himself for his carelessness. He thought about how vulnerable he was to any malicious stranger, yet here he was, unharmed. It appeared that Liu Xinmei harbored no ill will towards him.

"What's this? Trying to sneak off after taking advantage of me?" Liu Xinmei said with a teasing smile, admiring her manicure. "Lee Wen, am I that frightening? You can't bear to spend a little more time with me?"