''''Who was that? I''m certain he did not refer to you...'''' his gaze scanned her from head to toe before he looked into her eyes.


    She held her breath unknowingly.


    ''''...Or maybe he was just kidding,'''' hepleted his words.


    ''''Maybe,'''' She ended upughing, ''''Look at those flirting skills. Is that how you rope women over?"


    ''''You smiled,'''' he said and she paused, ''''...Finally.''''


    She stoppedughing and nced at him with a straight face, ''''That was not an answer to my question.''''


    ''''Well, look at me, do you think I need to flirt with women to have them in my bed?" his statement sounded bold but then it was true. He had everything it took to make a woman go wet in the panties and give in to the temptation.


    He was rich, hot, handsome, and had those bad-boy vibes that gave butterflies to women.


    ''''And I wasn''t flirting with you,'''' he said and she looked at him.


    ''''No, I didn''t insinuate that you were flirting with me,'''' she said, afraid of being misunderstood, ''''I meant, as a joke...''''


    Her words were interrupted when he ced a finger on her lips, ''''I was just stating a fact. You are gorgeous. It''s his loss.''''


    Both of them looked at each other quietly for a moment and Mu Shen did not move his finger from her lips.


    Her lips parted slightly. The air felt heavy all of a sudden.


    ''''I...''''


    Just as Li Shuang started speaking, Mu Shen retracted his finger from her lips before he leaned back in his seat. ''''Hmm? You were saying?" he looked at her questioningly.


    It took her a moment to snap out of her daze. ''''I was asking about your scandal.''''


    ''''Oh? The cheating one? Are you curious about whether it''s true or not?"


    ''''No, why would I be interested in your private life?'''' Li Shuang asked him as if he just stated the impossible, ''''I was just asking when you will be resuming your work and all. Is your agency not nning to let the HR department do their work? How long will the rumors go around like this?''''


    Mu Shen raised an eyebrow, ''''I don''t have an agency. Just a manager.''''


    Li Shuang frowned. A superstar like him actually didn''t sign with some entertainment agency? Now that she thought about it, she had heard something regarding this in the past but she never paid much attention to it.


    ''''And my manager will freak out if hees to know that the CEO of Dream Entertainment is sitting beside me on my terrace,'''' heughed.


    ''''Freak out? Why?"


    ''''Well, I do have a tad bit of dislike towards entertainment agencies and their CEOs but it doesn''t count you.''''


    ''''Why do you dislike them?'''' she asked and his expression turned distant for a moment. Li Shuang realized that she might have overstepped her boundaries, ''''Then, I am d. We don''t have to go around being enemies.''''


    He chuckled, ''''So, what about you? Are you interested in what you are doing or is it some sort of convenience thing like your romantic rtionships and all?'''' He did not mention anything about her question.


    ''''Initially, I was not that interested in working in the entertainment industry,'''' Li Shuang leaned back on the chair, ''''But thispany belongs to my parents. I could not have abandoned it just like that so I decided to take over the position of CEO. And then, I was excited. I love seeing the innovative newbie artists taking one step at a time towards their goals.


    I like how the veteran artists find creative ways to deal with their scandals and stuff while trying to put all efforts to be in the limelight.''''


    ''''So Miss Li is interested in this industry?"


    ''''Not particrly. Like I would not prefer being thrown into the limelight,'''' Li Shuang said, ''''This is like a world of mour and these people I mentioned above are the stars. I like watching them from afar.''''


    ''''From afar?"


    She turned to look at him, ''''Umm... like standing on top of a cliff and watching and loving the citylights. Or for a better example, take when a student tops in their ss and the teacher feels proud. That''s me every time an artist signed under mypany nails an audition. Initially, I was not interested but gradually, I grew fond of this ce, this industry....''''


    She paused speaking when her hand identally grazed past his hand which was resting on the arm of the couch.


    She pushed herself to her feet and ced her wine ss on the coffee table, ''''I''ll go to bed now. Have a goodnight. And thank you for this,'''' she pointed her chin at the ss of wine.


    ''''No need of formalities,'''' Mu Shen took a sip of his wine as he crossed one of his legs above the other. He ced his elbow on the arm of the couch, his pectoral muscles flexing with his movement, ''''I enjoyed yourpany.''''


    ''''Same here,'''' Li Shuang turned around and left the ce without looking back at him.


    Mu Shen nced at her retreating back till she got inside her house.


    His gaze darkened for a moment before he sighed.


    That blonde... He literally felt like someone was forcing him to kiss her. She was so into the moment and he suddenly pulled back from her and told her that he was not feeling it and they could not go further.


    And it was only then he saw her reflection in the mirrored wall, standing at a distance in that navy blue business suit that looked he sexy.


    She was watching him and he did not know what to think or feel about it.


    The woman who was with him was both angry and disappointed by his words and she stormed out of his house, leaving him all by himself. But surprisingly, he felt so relieved as if someone took a burden off his chest.


    ...


    As Li Shuang stepped inside her office, her footsteps came to a halt as she found the ce waspletely dark.


    She reached out for her phone but before she could turn the shlights on, someone grabbed her hand.