84: Chapter 84 Flirting with Both Sides

Zhang Menglu took the initiative to chat with Zhu Shasha for a few words.

Her general meaning was:

"Yu Yaowei left Guangcheng yesterday to attend other events. I stayed behind to wait for joining the film crew, so I haven't left yet."

Chen Hao and Zhang Menglu arrived at their floor first. As they stepped out of the elevator, Zhu Shasha secretly made a gesture for calling someone.

Chen Hao understood immediately. After returning to the room with Zhang Menglu, Zhang Menglu brought him water for washing his feet and even proactively washed them for him.

"You must have been exhausted these past few days. Rest well tonight, okay? Don't go out this evening."

To be honest, everyone else was using Chen Hao, but only Zhang Menglu genuinely cared about him. Chen Hao was not ungrateful, and this truly touched him.

"Menglu, after this busy period, when we return to Jiangcheng, your new store renovation should be almost done, and you can open for business anytime."

"After that, I can probably stay with you in Jiangcheng for a month. After that, I might have to come to Guangcheng for work."

Zhang Menglu looked a little unhappy, straddling Chen Hao's lap.

"We’ll be in two different cities? Can't we stay together? I don't want to be separated from you!"

"I already promised CEO Wei that I would join his Xinglong Group. Be good. You're going to start your own company and become a successful career woman. If you need me, I can always return to Jiangcheng."

Zhang Menglu pouted, her mood extremely low.

"Don't be angry. Even if we are in two places, it won't be for another month and a half. Give me a kiss."

As Chen Hao and Zhang Menglu kissed, she unexpectedly started crying, tears sliding down her cheeks. Chen Hao felt it and pulled away from her.

"Why are you crying?"

She tightly hugged Chen Hao, feeling as if she was about to lose him.

It wasn't until Zhang Menglu's emotions stabilized that she managed to comfort herself.

"I know you are not an ordinary person; you will surely achieve great success in the future. If you find another woman and no longer want me, please tell me directly. I absolutely won't cling to you."

"Silly girl, how could I not want you? There aren't many people in the world with your long legs."

"Hmph."

The two hugged for a while longer. When Zhang Menglu went to pour water, Chen Hao picked up his phone and saw, just as expected, that Zhu Shasha had sent him her room number along with a specific time.

The meaning was clear: if he didn't arrive by that time, she wouldn't wait.

Looking at his watch, Chen Hao saw there were still 10 minutes left before the deadline. He got up and said,

"Menglu, I really need to step out for a moment."

Zhang Menglu quickly asked,

"Are you coming back tonight?"

"Definitely coming back."

Chen Hao grabbed his clothes, put on his shoes, and left. He took the elevator upstairs and rang the doorbell.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Zhu Shasha said with a blush,

"Come in."

She was wearing a bathrobe, her hair was damp, as if she had just showered.

Once inside, Chen Hao felt a unique emotion toward this room.

It was because of the previous encounter with the casting couch situation that he had the opportunity to get closer to Zhu Shasha.

"Did I interrupt your and your girlfriend's romantic time?"

She poured two glasses of red wine, brought them over, and presented them to Chen Hao. After toasting, she tilted her head back and downed the entire glass.

Chen Hao said half-jokingly,

"Have you been dumped by Yu Yaowei now?"

Zhu Shasha gave a wry smile.

"More than that. I've also been isolated by the entire management company."

Chen Hao asked knowingly,

"Is it because you snatched Yu Yaowei's role?"

"Maybe. In any case, I don't care. This industry is all about fame. As long as I can become popular, Yu Yaowei poses no threat to me."

Chen Hao put down his wine glass, sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and asked,

"So, why did you ask me to come over?"

Zhu Shasha stated frankly,

"To borrow money."

"Because I've been isolated by the company, and I don't have any savings, so I can't cover the expenses for joining the film crew, including the hotel room fees."

Chen Hao had probably guessed it; after all, the bond between them was a transaction of money for sex.

"How much do you need to borrow?"

"Five million."

She really dared to ask. In the past, Chen Hao wouldn't have been able to produce that much money even if beaten to death, but now it was effortless.

"Give me your account number."

Chen Hao's generosity actually surprised Zhu Shasha. She had assumed Chen Hao would, no matter what, insist on intimacy before giving money.

A few minutes later, Zhu Shasha's bank card indeed received the massive sum of 5 million.

Chen Hao put down his phone and stated generously,

"If the money isn't enough, just ask anytime. I can support you sufficiently."

With Chen Hao being so generous, how could Zhu Shasha not be discerning? She proactively took off her bathrobe, revealing she was completely bare underneath.

"Since I took your money, I'm yours to command."

If she hadn't said that, Chen Hao might have been quite interested.

Zhu Shasha's Favorability rating was 95, just 5 short of complete conquest. Chen Hao wanted to try.

"Put your clothes back on."

Zhu Shasha, who was prepared to offer herself, was stunned by his words.

"Are you disgusted by me?"

"Not exactly. It's just that I hope you can completely fall in love with me, rather than through this kind of transactional arrangement."

"What counts as complete love?"

Chen Hao proactively picked up the bathrobe that had fallen to the floor and helped drape it over her.

"Love me with your heart and soul, love me from the bottom of your heart."

Zhu Shasha thought seriously for a moment.

"I have a good impression of you, I like you, and I don't dislike you. Moreover, I genuinely want to be with you. Isn't that love? What more do you want from me?"

Chen Hao pointed at her chest.

"Love isn't spoken with the mouth; it's felt here."

He casually hooked her chin and kissed her lips. Both were deeply invested, but Chen Hao stopped just at the critical moment.

"What is it now?"

"It doesn't feel right. It doesn't have the same feeling as the first time you and I were together."

Zhu Shasha glanced back at the wardrobe.

"Are you talking about in there?"

"I mean the time you saved me."

Zhu Shasha looped her arms around Chen Hao's neck, pondered for a moment, and said,

"Alright, I'll be honest. When I didn't understand you before, I did develop feelings for you. When you saved me that day, I also felt genuine emotion. But ever since I learned about your status, I've been a little scared of you—that's the truth."

"Why are you afraid of me?"

Zhu Shasha stated solemnly,

"It's not exactly fear, but awe. Or perhaps, I feel like I'm not worthy of you."

Chen Hao exerted force, pulling her tightly into his embrace, holding the same posture they had in the wardrobe that day.

"Most of the world's troubles come from overthinking. The more you worry, the more concerns you have. You and I are equals. I treat you as a friend, and you treat me as a casual fling—how can we possibly maintain a relationship like that?"

"But you won't marry me."

Chen Hao said this while looking at her with wide eyes, telling a blatant lie.

"How do you know I won't marry you? What if my conscience suddenly kicks in?"

Zhu Shasha smiled knowingly.

"Do you even possess such a thing?"

"No."

Chen Hao's answer made Zhu Shasha laugh. As she was laughing, a tear escaped her eye.

[Zhu Shasha Favorability + 5, Current Favorability 100]

[System issuing special reward]

[Heart-Clearing Art generation in progress, Current progress 1%]

Zhu Shasha wiped away the corner of her eye.

"Fine, I like your frankness. At least you're openly a scoundrel."

Saying this, she actively kissed Chen Hao passionately, the feeling reminiscent of the last time—very proactive and intense.