A smile she couldn't suppress curled onto Qiao Jingjing's lips; it felt so good to be spoiled by someone.

Suddenly, Qiao Jingjing's eyes darted around. She wrapped her arms around Chen Cheng's neck and looked at him with a serious expression.

"Don't you have anything to tell me?"

Chen Cheng was taken aback. "What?"

Qiao Jingjing narrowed her eyes. "Do I have to give you a hint?"

Seeing her expression, Chen Cheng immediately felt that something was amiss.

Had he been exposed?

However, after experiencing Guan Juer's transformation,

Scum Cheng had long since moved past that; he was now completely shameless, not afraid of any consequences.

Being cautious or nervous was completely out of the question.

His hand, which had reached inside her sweater, didn't stop. He raised his right hand and stroked her lips. "If you want to ask something, just ask."

Qiao Jingjing immediately pouted, looking indignant. She huffed, "Don't you want to explain your relationship with Xiao Ye and that Ding Jianguo to me?"

Scum Cheng replied nonchalantly, "Aren't they both singers signed to the company?"

Seeing his attitude of refusing to admit anything, Qiao Jingjing raised her hand and punched him in the chest.

"Ah!"

Chen Cheng let out a pained cry, playing along perfectly.

She slapped away his large hand that was still roaming inside her sweater, glared at Chen Cheng with wide eyes, and breathed heavily.

"Confess and you might get leniency!"

Chen Cheng's mind raced. "Confession brings leniency?"

Qiao Jingjing crossed her arms and nodded expressionlessly. "If your attitude is sincere, I'll consider it."

Chen Cheng's mouth twitched. It seemed she really did know.

But her attitude clearly showed she didn't want to pursue the matter. She was obviously just looking for Chen Cheng to give her a way out.

Chen Cheng smiled sheepishly. "Well, there is indeed... a little something between us."

Qiao Jingjing curled her lip in disgust. "You've already slept together, and you call that just a 'little something'?..."

As she spoke, Qiao Jingjing's tears fell despite her best efforts to hold them back.

She had originally thought she could face this calmly.

But now that the truth was out in the open, she realized how weak she really was.

She couldn't bear to dump this big liar, this big scumbag, yet she didn't have the courage to make him choose either.

It would have been fine if it were just Xiao Ye, but that silly girl Xiao Ye spilled everything with just a little bit of prodding.

With a pang of heartache, Chen Cheng pulled Qiao Jingjing back into his arms.

He held her tightly and let out a soft sigh near her ear. "I'm sorry, Jingjing."

"It's my fault."

Qiao Jingjing cried even louder, hitting Chen Cheng as if venting her frustration.

"You liar!"

"Liar!"

"You filthy scumbag!"

"Big scumbag!"

"..."

Chen Cheng let her vent, gently stroking her back to calm her down.

Qiao Jingjing cried for a good while. Perhaps she was tired, but gradually, she fell silent.

Scum Cheng immediately channeled his inner "Scum God." He gazed into Qiao Jingjing's eyes with utter tenderness, making her feel a little embarrassed.

"What are you looking at?" She blushed and turned her head away.

Scum Cheng smirked. "My wife is so beautiful, can't I look at her?"

"Hmph," Qiao Jingjing snorted. "Who's your wife?"

"Besides, I'm afraid you have a few too many wives."

Seeing her jealous expression, a trace of pride actually welled up in Chen Cheng's heart.

Shameless as ever, he proudly lifted his chin. "A man should have ambitions in all directions, you know."

Qiao Jingjing's eyes widened. How could this person be so shameless?

Furious, she reached out and pinched his waist hard.

"Ah!"

Chen Cheng let out a blood-curdling scream.

This time, Qiao Jingjing had really pinched hard; she almost brought tears to Scum Cheng's eyes.

"What kind of bullshit logic is that? Is that really how you use the phrase 'a man should have ambitions in all directions'?"

"Does that mean you have a home in every neighborhood in the city, right?"

Chen Cheng, regaining a moment of clarity, was taken aback, then smirked. "My wife really understands me."

"Who's your wife? Don't talk nonsense!" Qiao Jingjing punched him again.

Chen Cheng reached out and hooked her chin. "Classmate Qiao, I've noticed you've developed some violent tendencies."

"As your husband, I must fulfill my duty to educate and guide you."

"Get lost! I don't have a hus—"

"Mmph!"

"Mmph!"

"Ah! Not here!"

Being kissed and touched by Scum Cheng, Qiao Jingjing started to get aroused.

She grabbed Chen Cheng's hand to stop him from going any further, shaking her head like a rattle as she begged for mercy.

Scum Cheng smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Shall we go home then?"

Qiao Jingjing's fair face was as red as a peach. She answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Mm."

Scum Cheng was grinning from ear to ear.

The two of them hadn't... for almost a month.

Scum Cheng could tell that Qiao Jingjing missed him too, which was why he was being so brazen.

Even though his "chained ships" strategy had been exposed, he hadn't offered any explanation or apology.

There was no need to; this was just confidence in science.

The two of them ran downstairs hand in hand, leaving the newly hired employees at Xingmang Entertainment completely dumbfounded.

Sister Ling watched the brazen pair and smiled helplessly.

She turned around and glared at an employee who was taking photos with their phone. "If you want to keep your job, delete those photos immediately."

After saying that, she turned her head and scanned the few people who were craning their necks to watch the commotion.

"From now on, no one is allowed to spread gossip about any of the company's artists."

"Whether it's internal discussion or talking about it outside."

Qiao Jingjing had a gala to attend at the TV station the night after tomorrow.

She also had to arrange for Xiao Ye and the Unconditional Band to appear on the show.

That was why a few employees from the marketing department were still working overtime in the office at this hour.

"Little Zhu, have the legal department draft an internal confidentiality agreement."

"Everyone has to sign it."

Little Zhu was still Qiao Jingjing's assistant, but since Qiao Jingjing had added the title of Vice President, Little Zhu's status had risen accordingly.

Little Zhu nodded. "Okay, I'll coordinate with the legal department right away."

Meanwhile, on Chen Cheng's side.

The two of them started making out as soon as they got into the car.

Eleven very tactfully closed the partition between the front and back seats.

Back at Qiao Jingjing's place, things heated up even more; clothes were shed all the way from the living room to the bedroom.

It was nearly eight in the evening, and neither of them had eaten; they'd gone straight to bed instead.

It wasn't until four in the morning that Qiao Jingjing woke up from hunger.

She had slept for six hours and was well-rested, but her stomach was growling.

She opened her eyes. Through the faint light of the bedside lamp, she looked at the handsome face beside her, and a silly smile curled onto Qiao Jingjing's lips.

"Gurgle..."

She just stared at him foolishly for a while before her stomach protested again.

Qiao Jingjing curled her lip, turned her head, and picked up the watch on the nightstand to check the time.

She frowned. "Four-fifteen. What time did we go to sleep?"

After a moment of internal struggle, a mischievous smile appeared on her face, and she reached out toward the ticklish spot on Chen Cheng's waist.

Chen Cheng, fast asleep, immediately jolted, his body twitching.

Qiao Jingjing watched Scum Cheng's instinctive reaction and found it adorable; she covered her mouth and giggled.

"You've finally met your match. That's for bullying me earlier," Qiao Jingjing muttered, reaching out with her 'claws' toward Chen Cheng again.

"That's for bullying me earlier!"

"And you actually made me call out..." As she spoke, she couldn't bring herself to finish, her face flushing crimson.

The memory was too embarrassing. She must have lost her mind back then to actually go along with his plans.

Suddenly, Chen Cheng raised his arms and pulled Qiao Jingjing, who was teasing him on the bed, into his arms.

Qiao Jingjing jolted, her pupils contracting.

"Call out what?"

Chen Cheng's cheeky voice whispered in her ear.