C14 I Think You're Dirty!

She straightened her wrinkled collar and calmly said, "Don't touch me. I find you filthy."

Glancing at Gu Jingming clutching his knee, a hint of regret flashed in Qin Manrong's eyes: Too bad I missed, she thought.

Gu Jingming's face was pale with pain, yet he glared at Qin Manrong's cold, frosty expression and sneered, "If you didn't want me to touch you, why did you go to such lengths to marry me? If it weren't for your interference, I'd be married to Jing by now! And now you act all virtuous in front of me. Qin Manrong, you're quite the actress."

Qin Manrong studied him for a moment, then laughed indifferently. "You're right, I did go to great lengths to marry you, but now, I regret it."

She wouldn't tell him that Gu's wasn't the only option for Qin's, that she convinced her father to partner with them just to get close to him. She wouldn't reveal that she didn't scheme to marry him; it was his parents who disapproved of Lyi Jing and used marriage as a condition for cooperation with Qin's. And she certainly wouldn't admit that she agreed to an unregistered wedding, to be a wife in name only, because she once... liked him so much.

Until this moment, she realized she truly regretted it.

A sudden panic gripped Gu Jingming, as if something was slipping away like sand, beyond his grasp no matter how tightly he clenched his fists.

He abruptly pulled Qin Manrong close, holding her tightly, his eyes swirling with emotions like a storm. "Regret all you want, it doesn't matter. I'm in control of this game. If you want Qin's Technology to keep growing, if you want Qin's Group to shed its nouveau riche image, then you'd better play the part of Mrs. Gu until I'm done with you!"

Qin Manrong tried to push his hands away, but they wouldn't budge.

She sighed wearily, giving up the struggle. "Whatever you say."

The next day, news of Gu Jingming, CEO of Gu's Group, cheating on his new wife with rising star Lyi Jing hit the trending topics. Even though Yan Feibai's appearance at the Qin's Technology press conference dominated the headlines, "Gu Jingming cheats with Lyi Jing" still held a firm spot in the top three, flooding social media.

The public's fascination with scandal is truly immeasurable.

That day, Gu's Group's stock plummeted by ten percent, leaving Gu Jingming's father, Gu Cheng, fuming and nearly having a heart attack.

Gu's Group quickly launched emergency PR efforts, arranging for Gu Jingming and Qin Manrong to make public appearances together, showcasing their affection. However, the sharp-eyed public wasn't buying it.

Adding fuel to the fire, Lyi Jing remained silent, allowing the rumors to spread even more wildly.

Qin's Technology also felt the impact. Qin Manrong was juggling managing the company and occasionally putting on a show with Gu Jingming, leaving her overwhelmed.

After signing a document, she hurriedly took a sip of her now-cold coffee, barely catching her breath before her phone rang again.

She rubbed her aching forehead and answered, "Qin Manrong speaking. Who is this?"

There was a two-second pause on the other end before a smooth, slightly annoyed voice replied, "What happened to the business card I gave you, Qin Manrong? Care to explain?"

Qin Manrong squinted her eyes. "Yan Feibai?"

She glanced at the screen, recognizing the familiar number.

"Is this your personal number?"

"Yes," Yan Feibai replied, lounging on his apartment's large bed, wrapped in a silk robe that revealed his lean, muscular chest, his tone relaxed.