Hua Xiaomo got straight to the point. Alright, I’ve already signed the contract with him. The immediate problem is helping my company resolve this crisis, she thought, her urgency palpable.

Qi Longbing, seeing her anxious demeanor, didn’t dwell on preliminaries and spoke directly.

"It’s quite simple. You sign a game contract with my Qi Imperial Court immediately, and then we hold a press conference. That way, your company’s credibility crisis can be resolved instantly. Moreover, I can also pull some strings to get your game software unbanned," Qi Longbing said slowly.

Hua Xiaomo looked at him, considering his solution with a pensive gaze.

"Can you really get all of my hundreds of game software titles unbanned? Many people are already complaining about them. I’m afraid there will still be complaints in the future," Hua Xiaomo asked, a note of worry in her voice.

Unexpectedly, Qi Longbing smiled. "What are you afraid of? There’s nothing to fear. Even if you give up on all those hundreds of games, don’t you still have the new contract document signed with our Qi Imperial Court? If your game company focuses only on this single deal with us, I believe you can immediately recover your losses and even multiply your profits several times over!"

"You do have a point." Hua Xiaomo steadied her thoughts again. Qi Longbing’s proposal does make a lot of sense. If I could sign a contract with Qi Imperial Court to co-develop games, it would mean having strong backing. Then, our company would find it much easier to develop more projects in this area in the future.

There’s a well-known saying: "It’s good to enjoy the shade when backed by a big tree!"

"Now do you believe in my capabilities, Hua Xiaomo?" Qi Longbing said with a smile, then poured her a glass of red wine and handed it over.

Hua Xiaomo took it, peering into the deep red liquid. Her thoughts grew heavy. She didn’t know what to say, but she knew she was no longer in a position to refuse anything.

"Well, let’s quickly sign the cooperation contract between our two companies!" Hua Xiaomo said quickly, looking at Qi Longbing, her eyes shining brightly.

Qi Longbing looked back at her. He saw his own reflection in the depths of her eyes. Indeed, it was him. But he knew it was merely his proposed solution that had piqued her interest. Besides, I can resolve her company’s crisis immediately. Of course, she’ll seize the opportunity and act quickly!

"Heh, you certainly seem eager now," Qi Longbing said with a faint smile, before slowly bringing the glass in his hand to his lips again.

Realizing her thoughts had been read, Hua Xiaomo’s cheeks flushed faintly. "It’s better to do this sooner rather than later, isn’t it?"

"Then let’s hold the press conference tomorrow afternoon. I’ll have my secretary arrange it. Does signing the contract then work for you?" Qi Longbing asked, looking at Hua Xiaomo.

Hua Xiaomo thought for a moment and nodded.

Qi Longbing once again held his wine glass, bringing it closer to her and slowly offering her his glass.

"Drink this, and you can cast away all your worries," Qi Longbing said with a smile, looking at the beauty beside him, a soft, radiant light in his eyes.

I really want to tell her, if only she had agreed to my proposal for our companies to merge through marriage back then, perhaps things wouldn’t be so troublesome now! But it’s all beyond redemption.

Hua Xiaomo looked at his glass, tilted her head slightly, and said awkwardly, "I have my own glass."

I can just use my own glass; there’s no need to use his.

Qi Longbing smiled, responding, "You haven’t tasted this wine for so long; I’m afraid you’ve forgotten its taste."

Hua Xiaomo felt a wave of embarrassment, an unbecoming flush instantly spreading across her cheeks, but she quickly looked at him.

"President Qi, can we wait until after the contract signing tomorrow to be together?" Hua Xiaomo said nervously. Right now, this atmosphere feels too dangerous, and I’m not even mentally prepared. Yes, I had already decided to marry Zi Yunsui, and we were about to get our marriage certificate, but then this happened. This is something I never anticipated.

And now she was forced to sign this one-year lover’s contract with Qi Longbing.

"What’s the difference between being together tomorrow and today? The contract is effective. Hua Xiaomo, do you really intend to deliberately avoid me?" Qi Longbing looked at Hua Xiaomo, his eyes narrowed. Is she trying to avoid me again? Is she always like this? Wretched woman!

An unpleasant expression crossed Hua Xiaomo’s face as she thought of Zi Yunsui.

Hua Xiaomo’s eyes narrowed further, but it seemed there was no way to refuse the man at this moment. Yes, when I signed this contract, I lost the dignity and power I should have possessed. It was all to save the company, to protect the business she and Zi Yunsui had worked so hard to build. I had no choice; I chose this path to preserve our company.

"Back then, why didn’t you agree to our families’ business merger? Why were you so stubborn? Hua Xiaomo, do you realize how much you regret it now? You can’t escape me, you know?" Qi Longbing’s words echoed softly in the air.

Hua Xiaomo tensed slightly as she looked at Qi Longbing, not knowing what to say. Perhaps, all I can do is maintain this kind of relationship with him, but I really don’t want to.

"President Qi, you have a family now, right? Do you really think this is appropriate for us?" Hua Xiaomo looked at him, her face showing a hint of distress.

"Is this what you consider inappropriate? This is all your doing, Hua Xiaomo, don’t you know? You didn’t want to be Mrs. Qi Longbing, fine. I’ll let someone else have that position. But the role of lover is one you cannot refuse."

Hua Xiaomo looked at Qi Longbing and said, "Oh, let’s not talk about this for now. I’m a bit hungry. Can we get something to eat first? Are you hungry, Qi Longbing? Why don’t we eat something together? What do you feel like?"

"Now that you mention it, I’m feeling a bit hungry too. Anything will do; just pick whatever’s simplest," Qi Longbing replied.

"Then let’s have spicy shrimp! I really love spicy shrimp, and it’s been so long since I last had it," Hua Xiaomo said with a laugh. At this moment, she truly wanted to share a meal of spicy shrimp with him. She recalled that she and Qi Longbing had never eaten spicy shrimp together before. But the flavor here was truly wonderful, and she believed he would find it unforgettable after trying it.

"Spicy shrimp sounds good. Let’s go for ’Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals’ then; that way, we can have some crab as well," Qi Longbing said with a smile. "With ’Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals,’ you get both shrimp and crab."