The Billionaire's Mischievous Sweetheart
Chapter 43 - 40: I’ll Just Wait for You Here

Chapter 43: Chapter 40: I’ll Just Wait for You Here

So dazzling, so beautiful...

Soon, Qi Longbing had taken his place, with Hua Xiaomo sitting beside him. They were not facing each other directly but were seated at right angles. Delicious dishes were served.

"Care for a drink?" Qi Longbing asked casually.

"Thank you, no," Hua Xiaomo replied, then leaned back in her chair. Looking at the food on the table, she found that, for some reason, she had completely lost her appetite.

All she wanted was to sleep... Her eyes felt so tired and weary.

She couldn’t help but reach up to her temples, gently rubbing them a couple of times.

"What’s wrong? Doesn’t any of this suit your taste?" Qi Longbing asked, cutting his steak with a knife and fork, eating slowly while observing her expression.

Hua Xiaomo shook her head without a word.

"You don’t seem to be yourself today. What, was teaching really that exhausting?" Qi Longbing remarked nonchalantly.

"No," Hua Xiaomo answered, her eyelids threatening to close again. She didn’t know how she could muster the energy to continue.

Just as Qi Longbing was about to say something else, Hua Xiaomo quickly interjected, "President Qi, I’d like to use the restroom. Please, take your time eating."

Qi Longbing gave her an impassive glance. "Aunt Wang, take Miss Hua to the restroom and ensure she returns safely."

"Yes, Young Master," Aunt Wang answered from a distance.

Hearing this, Hua Xiaomo rolled her eyes. Does he still think I’m trying to pull the same stunt again?

Forget it; it’s useless trying to explain anything to this man.

Qi Longbing watched her receding figure, an elegant smile playing on his lips as he leisurely continued his dinner. His gaze involuntarily drifted to her seat; her food was virtually untouched.

This woman... she certainly knows how to capture his attention.

Upon seeing that ’white shirt’ return, Qi Longbing had already risen. "Follow me."

"Where to?" Hua Xiaomo asked, her brows furrowing.

"Upstairs." Without another word, Qi Longbing quickly headed to the second floor.

Hua Xiaomo had no choice but to follow. Only then did she realize he was taking her to his room. She stopped when they reached the doorway.

Qi Longbing glanced at Hua Xiaomo, who was lingering in the doorway, and couldn’t help but sneer, "What are you waiting out there for? Afraid I’ll eat you?"

Hua Xiaomo looked at him and gave a strained laugh. "President Qi, you’re just getting something, right? I can wait for you here."

"Come in. I’ll teach you something..." Qi Longbing’s lips quirked, his deep, ocean-like eyes holding a hint of mystery, glinting with an inscrutable light.

"And what did you think it was?" Qi Longbing teased, his gaze fixed on her face. He then walked over to the wardrobe, pulled out a tie, and tossed it to her. "Tie this for me!"

"..." Hua Xiaomo froze for a moment, staring at the tie in her hands, utterly bewildered.

"I don’t want the Old Man to see any flaws in our act. If you’re going to be my pretend girlfriend, you need to look the part," Qi Longbing said. Folding his arms, he leaned against the wardrobe with an amused expression, watching her.

"I... I’m not very good at this," Hua Xiaomo said, finding it difficult. Heaven knew she loathed these kinds of subservient tasks.

"Can’t learn? Surely Miss Hua’s IQ isn’t *that* low?" Qi Longbing mocked, a roguish glint in his eyes.

After a moment’s thought, Hua Xiaomo stepped forward. She took the tie, looped it around his neck, and focused her gaze on it, trying her best to ignore his intense stare.

But after several attempts, she still couldn’t get it right. This blasted tie! Why is it so annoying? No matter how I try, I can’t get it right. How is this thing even supposed to be tied? How does he expect me to do this properly?!

Qi Longbing simply watched, remaining still and cooperative, until he saw her fail repeatedly. Only then did an inadvertent smile touch his eyes.

"I’ve truly never seen such a clumsy woman," Qi Longbing commented.

Hua Xiaomo froze. Her gaze fell to his tie. Then, with a sudden, fierce resolve, she yanked it tight...

This guy is so irritating! He really knows how to make someone uncomfortable!

I really don’t like him; I despise him! How can I avoid these situations? But if I want to avoid them, I can’t keep staying here.