Chapter 18

Seeing Liu Chunna's helpless expression, Chu Tianshu felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart: it seemed that he had helped Liu Chunna this afternoon and evening, but in fact, he had caused her even more trouble. If he hadn't dealt with Tian Keming, once he left, Liu Chunna would have been left alone to face Tian Keming at work and Hao Shuang after work, which would have been very difficult for her.

Leaving the hospital, he checked the time; it was already past nine.

The street was bustling with people and traffic, and the neon lights were flashing.

"Does your foot still hurt?" Chu Tianshu asked with concern.

"It's better," Liu Chunna looked down and then said, "But it still hurts a lot when I put weight on it."

"Is it serious?" Chu Tianshu was a bit puzzled. Liu Chunna's foot seemed to hurt one moment and not the next. Could she have injured a bone? Was the doctor's diagnosis wrong?

"It's okay, I just can't put too much force on it," Liu Chunna said, trying to put her foot down, but her body swayed.

Chu Tianshu quickly supported her, "I told you to get a thorough check-up, but you wouldn't listen."

Liu Chunna said, "The doctor said it's not serious, and applying a hot towel will help."

Chu Tianshu said, "Then I'll take you home."

Liu Chunna hesitated, looked up at Chu Tianshu, and said softly, "No, I don't want to go home."

"Why?" Chu Tianshu avoided her gaze and said, "Your foot still hurts. You should go back and rest."

"Don't you care," Liu Chunna, in a fit of pique, pulled away from Chu Tianshu's support.

"Ah..." As soon as she took a step, Liu Chunna involuntarily let out a soft moan and swayed.

Chu Tianshu quickly stepped forward and extended his hands to support her.

Liu Chunna leaned softly against Chu Tianshu's chest.

Liu Chunna's right hand tightly hugged Chu Tianshu's waist.

Chu Tianshu felt a strange excitement, yet also found it hard to believe.

The undulating chest in Chu Tianshu's arms trembled, and the warmth seeping through her blouse made Chu Tianshu's body start to burn.

Such a pure girl, just holding her was a kind of enjoyment.

However, when Chu Tianshu felt Liu Chunna's rapid heartbeat, he felt guilty, as if he were a child who had climbed over a fence to steal a sweet melon from someone else's garden, feeling like a thief.

Liu Chunna had the figure and face of a southern girl, standing less than 1.6 meters tall, petite and delicate, with a small, charming face. She wasn't particularly outstanding, but she had a unique charm.

In Chu Tianshu's eyes, she was like a little sister next door. It seemed that taking care of her was a responsibility, and he would even fight and bleed for her, but she was not the kind of girl who made his heart race.

Liu Chunna, being sensitive, naturally sensed this. Men and women who could joke about marriage together definitely wouldn't spark romantic feelings.

What was this? Taking advantage of the situation? She had already told the female doctor that she wasn't his girlfriend!

"Ah, Chu Tianshu, a gentleman should pursue love with integrity, not have ulterior motives just because he helped someone."

A voice from deep within pulled him back from his fantasies to reality.

Thinking about this, Chu Tianshu decided to put aside his杂念 and quickly take Liu Chunna home.

"Endure it, I'll call a car," Chu Tianshu supported Liu Chunna, creating a slight gap between their bodies.

"Brother Tian, hold me tighter, I'm cold!" Liu Chunna murmured.

"Cold?" Chu Tianshu was startled and touched Liu Chunna's forehead.

She was clearly sweating, so how could she be cold?

"Don't let go, hold me tighter!" Liu Chunna said again.

"It'll be fine, you'll feel better at home," Chu Tianshu tried to help Liu Chunna sit on a nearby chair.

Liu Chunna refused to move, her voice pitiful, "Brother Tian, I live on the seventh floor, I definitely can't climb up."

"I can carry you up," Chu Tianshu decided.

"You..." Liu Chunna was upset, looking up at Chu Tianshu, tears almost falling. "Brother Tian, do you really look down on me so much?"

Chu Tianshu continued to play dumb, "What do you really want?"

Liu Chunna bit her lip and said firmly, "I want to be yours!"

Chu Tianshu was stunned but quickly said, "Chunna, don't do this. I only said that to scare Tian Keming."

Chu Tianshu wasn't losing his head. He thought: If he took advantage of Liu Chunna now, it would be no different from Tian Keming's despicable actions. The only difference was that Tian Keming used his power, while he was using her gratitude.

It's not that Chu Tianshu didn't desire a woman's body, but he knew very well that Liu Chunna's initiative was not out of love, but out of gratitude.

Liu Chunna broke free from Chu Tianshu's arms and said in a hoarse voice, "Chu Tianshu, I know you want to be a gentleman and not feel guilty about me for the rest of your life. But do you know? You lost your future and left the city for me. Do you think I won't feel guilty for the rest of my life?"

"Chunna, I really didn't mean it that way," Chu Tianshu tried to explain.

Liu Chunna pushed Chu Tianshu forcefully, sat on a chair by the roadside, her face flushed, eyes closed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Chunna, go home. We can talk about this after your foot gets better, okay?" Chu Tianshu's voice was dry, and even he could hear how weak his persuasion sounded.

"No!" Liu Chunna opened her eyes, took out a card from her bag, and said firmly, "Chu Tianshu, look, this is a room card for the Triumph Hotel. If you don't want me to be yours, I'll call Tian Keming and ask him to keep you."

It turned out she had been prepared all along, no wonder she had instructed him to contact her after drinking.

This seemingly weak and quiet girl was actually incredibly stubborn. If she said it, she would do it.

Chu Tianshu was so moved he couldn't speak.

Liu Chunna slowly stood up, her fiery eyes full of expectation, and said softly, "Brother Tian, I'm willing, I don't want you to be responsible."

Chu Tianshu tightly embraced Liu Chunna, her hair caressing his face in the breeze, making his heart flutter.

The Triumph Hotel was across the street from the city's First People's Hospital.

When they crossed the road, Liu Chunna held Chu Tianshu's arm, her steps light, showing no signs of injury.

It seemed Liu Chunna had made up her mind long ago. Hao Shuang's interference and Chu Tianshu's repeated help not only strengthened her resolve to dedicate herself but also provided a good excuse to bring Chu Tianshu to the Triumph Hotel.

Chu Tianshu and Liu Chunna were no strangers to the Triumph Hotel.

It was a state-owned hotel, originally a reception center for a central enterprise. Due to its prime location in the city center, it flourished during the early stages of reform and opening up. They made money and built a 28-story hotel, renaming it the Triumph Hotel, which was then considered the tallest building in the city.

Later, the manager appointed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) colluded with the finance department to embezzle several million yuan, severely damaging the hotel's reputation. It never recovered, and despite several changes in management, it continued to lose money, struggled to pay wages, and had difficulty contributing to social security. This led to frequent employee protests, becoming a significant factor affecting stability.

SASAC Director Guan Haoyu, at a loss, was introduced to Wang Zhiyuan, the owner of Kunpeng Industries in Lijiang City, through then City Secretary Tang Yifu. Wang Zhiyuan leased the hotel's operating rights for 1.2 million yuan per year, signing a ten-year contract.

The change in management gave the Triumph Hotel a second lease on life.

Chu Tianshu had heard that Wang Zhiyuan, the owner of Kunpeng Industries, was a powerful figure in both the political and business circles of Dongnan Province.

SASAC, representing the government, received 1.2 million yuan annually without interfering in the hotel's operations. However, Wang Zhiyuan still requested that SASAC send a manager and financial officer, and an annual audit was conducted.

The Triumph Hotel still bore the sign of a state-owned enterprise, and its tax and operating profits were a significant income for the government. Therefore, it was natural and reasonable for the city's Party Committee and government to arrange various meetings and receptions here. The local authorities often turned a blind eye to the hotel's gray-area operations, making it difficult for the Triumph Hotel not to make money.

Since the Triumph Hotel was nominally still under SASAC, SASAC could enjoy the highest 20% discount on room bookings, banquets, and entertainment.

When SASAC leaders hosted receptions, Tian Keming would personally handle the arrangements.

For departmental receptions, the Comprehensive Affairs Section would usually contact the hotel's front desk.

Liu Chunna booking a room at the Triumph Hotel was also a use of her position, allowing her to get a 20% discount.

The two entered the lobby and headed straight for the elevator.

While waiting for the elevator, Chu Tianshu accidentally saw a shiny bald head in the stainless steel reflection and instinctively turned to look, but saw nothing.

In the elevator, Chu Tianshu said, "Chunna, I thought I saw Tian Keming just now."

"Unlikely, I saw him in the office when I left, and I didn't hear about any receptions today," Liu Chunna smiled, playfully looking at Chu Tianshu and said, "You're still being paranoid."

Chu Tianshu also laughed, shook his head hard, and banished the shadow of Tian Keming from his mind.

Liu Chunna used the room card to open the door, which was a business single room.

The most prominent feature was a large bed with a snow-white, neatly spread sheet.

As soon as the door closed, Liu Chunna immediately pounced on Chu Tianshu, her hands around his neck...

In the hot July in the south, Liu Chunna was dressed very simply, wearing a floral silk blouse and a denim mini skirt. The moment she pounced on Chu Tianshu, the two mounds of flesh on her chest pressed firmly against his chest.