Chapter 22: Beauty, Oh Beauty (Part 2)

Before Li Tian’er left, Lan Juanjuan placed her hand on Chen Bo’s. Chen Bo took the opportunity to draw her into his arms, then seemed to fall asleep, breathing heavily but steadily, making no further move.

Lan Juanjuan slowly withdrew her hand, quietly turned off the bathroom light like a thief, drew the curtains, and returned to the bed, lying motionless on Chen Bo’s chest.

Chen Bo rolled over, and Lan Juanjuan followed, pressing herself tightly against his back, her arm slipping around his shoulder. She knew she had to seize what might be her only chance to be close to him.

Her warm, supple body nestled against his back, and even through his shirt, the allure of her curves could be felt.

Half-awake from drunkenness, Chen Bo turned and pulled her into his embrace, rolling over to press her beneath him…

As a ray of morning light grew brighter before her eyes, Li Tian’er opened her eyes. She suddenly saw Chen Bo’s somber face and sat up abruptly, instinctively pulling the quilt to cover her chest.

“How did you get in here?”

“I returned to my own room to sleep. Why, is there a problem?”

Chen Bo yanked the quilt aside and, before Li Tian’er could react, burrowed into it. Li Tian’er hastily jumped out of bed as if scalded, only then remembering the beauty trap she had set for Chen Bo last night.

“Oh, looks like we both got drunk and took the wrong room card.”

Li Tian’er turned toward the door, her face alight with the satisfaction of a successful prank.

Chen Bo watched her leave, a cold smile flickering across his face.

Lan Juanjuan was gone, and the bedding looked as though no one had slept in it. It was only seven o’clock; housekeeping couldn’t have cleaned so early.

Could it be that, after the deed, Lan Juanjuan felt embarrassed and went ahead to wait for good news? That seemed unlikely—she was well-versed in such matters, and it was routine for Chen Bo as well.

Lan Juanjuan was supposed to follow their prearranged plan, making the incident as public as possible so more people would know that Chen Bo had her accompany him on business trips, that she was the girlfriend he acknowledged. It would serve to remind other women of their insignificance…

Unable to untangle her thoughts, and having forgotten to charge her phone, Li Tian’er realized she couldn’t contact Lan Juanjuan to learn how things had transpired.

This was only the first day of the conference; the next three days would be a challenge. Li Tian’er blamed herself for acting too hastily—it would have been better to strike on the eve of leaving Luo City. But what was done was done; she could only wait and see.

On the way to the international conference hall, Chen Bo deliberately strode ahead several times, leaving Li Tian’er behind, only to wait at the door until she approached before entering.

Chen Bo busied himself greeting and shaking hands with the executives he’d met at last night’s welcome banquet, as if he’d forgotten the morning’s unpleasantness.

What man doesn’t relish a night of passion? Any displeasure was only because the partner was not who he’d imagined.

Li Tian’er maintained a professional smile, following Chen Bo and nodding to the executives, while enduring the collective eye-rolls of their secretaries.

Even with no direct interests at stake, jealousy among women is ever-present!

Li Tian’er knew this well, and when she glanced at those secretaries, her gaze was tinged with pity.

Throughout the morning session, various representatives took turns speaking, and Chen Bo appeared energetic. Only when he glanced at Li Tian’er did a chill flicker in his eyes, his expression complex and meaningful.

His demeanor made Li Tian’er feel oppressed; she suspected he would retaliate. If Chen Bo did try to get back at her, in this unfamiliar city, she would be hard-pressed to defend herself.

Though she had few allies in Dongling City, it was Chen Bo’s territory, and he wouldn’t dare go too far. She still needed to contact Lan Juanjuan to check on the beauty trap’s outcome, so she could plan her next move.

If all went well, the next target would be Liang Xia, to let Chen Bo taste the agony of being attacked from all sides. Besides, after just one day away, she already missed her little cotton ball. Last night, her dreams were filled with Kaikai’s smiling face, babbling “Mama.”

Li Tian’er decided to feign illness and return early to Dongling City. Chen Bo had brought her to Luo City for the conference only to serve as a decorative accessory to his success.

When it came to pretending to be ill, Li Tian’er was unmatched. As Li Jixiang, she had been a master of feigning sickness, and after her near-death experience during her transmigration, her skills had become nearly miraculous. Even renowned doctors in Luo City were baffled by her symptoms.

Fearing she might overdo it and be forcibly hospitalized, she tempered her act, allowing some color to return to her cheeks and her manner to appear more lively. She simply claimed discomfort in her stomach, likely due to acclimatization issues—unsuited for traveling.

The renowned doctor nodded, saying her explanation matched his diagnosis. Chen Bo’s tense expression eased, but as the afternoon session was crucial, he couldn’t leave and had to entrust the conference staff to escort Li Tian’er to the airport.

Li Tian’er made her way back to Dongling City, arriving after dark. Opening the villa gate, she saw Li Mama’s silhouette in the window, holding Kaikai. She frowned, puzzled as to how Li Tiantian’s mother had found her way to Chen Bo’s villa.

“Tiantian, I heard you and Chen Bo went on a business trip. Why didn’t you come back together?”

Li Mama was well-informed. Li Tian’er responded, took Kaikai in her arms and played with him. Looking at her innocent and adorable child, all worries seemed to melt away, and nothing in the world seemed worth fretting over.

Her daughter’s silence made Li Mama feel awkward, as if even the housekeeper looked down on her. She raised her voice:

“The guy you met on your last blind date went back and told the matchmaker you’re not up to par—he wasn’t interested in you.”

Good grief! Who rejected whom, really?

Li Tian’er nearly cursed.

“Forget it, don’t take it to heart. This Sunday, dress up nicely for your next blind date. I don’t believe all men are blind—you’re so pretty, yet they say you’re not good enough.”

In fact, when Li Tian’er walked in wearing a pale pink dress and carrying her suitcase, Li Mama thought her daughter looked especially beautiful. She couldn’t understand why the matchmaker said her daughter’s prospects were poor.

Just her looks alone would qualify her to be a royal consort. The only drawback was having a child, which lowered her eligibility—though she hadn’t expected to marry above her station.

“This house is wonderful. If I could stay here for a few days, I could die content.”

Li Mama had already inspected every corner of the villa and now brought it up with her daughter, clearly hoping to stay for a couple of days.

“This is Chen Bo’s house. If you want to stay, you’ll have to ask him. Tomorrow, Kaikai and I are moving out. By the way, Auntie, would you like to move with us to continue looking after Kaikai?”

The housekeeper, wiping the table, was momentarily stunned by Li Tian’er’s suggestion. When she heard she would have a south-facing bedroom all to herself, she readily agreed.