Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 217: The Beauty Trap!

After arranging his dinner with Qu Jing, Zhou Yuwen found himself with some free time, as it was only around four in the afternoon. He decided to spend it at the delivery station, helping a few part-time workers sort packages.  November was nearing its end, and the late autumn weather brought a mix of outfits—some students bundled up in puffy jackets, while others clung to their summer attire. Outside the delivery station, the water oaks had turned golden, and the cucumber plants Zhou Yuwen had grown in the small garden were withering.  

The sight of the wilting cucumbers reminded him of Jiang Xinyi’s playful antics, sneaking into his garden to steal cucumbers. Zhou Yuwen had spent many mornings playfully outwitting her, but now, with her absence, he found himself missing her mischief.  

While chatting with two part-time workers at the station, they let slip that Xinyi often led them in plundering the cucumbers when Zhou Yuwen wasn’t around.  

“Is that so? I pay you to work here, and you repay me by stealing my cucumbers?” Zhou Yuwen joked, feigning an annoyed expression.  

The two students immediately begged for forgiveness, whining, “Boss, please don’t dock our pay! It’s already so little!”  

Meanwhile, Qu Jing was in a completely different headspace.  

Her feelings for Zhou Yuwen had morphed into something intense and obsessive. Since their last encounter, she couldn’t stop thinking about him—so much so that she had indulged in fantasies about him twice while alone in her dorm room.  

The invitation to dinner felt like a dream come true. She eagerly began preparing for their meeting, washing her hair, blow-drying it to perfection, and carefully applying makeup.  

Even her choice of clothing reflected her meticulous planning. She picked a black lace-trimmed bra she had borrowed from Tao Tian, knowing its push-up effect would accentuate her figure. Over it, she chose a crimson, body-hugging dress with a plunging neckline. She layered it with a beige cardigan and slipped on a pair of flesh-colored stockings, topped off with six-centimeter red heels.  

Her reflection in the mirror revealed a confident, mature woman—far from the naive college student she once was. Her outfit wasn’t just attractive; it was intentionally provocative.  

As she left her dorm, her roommates Tao Tian and Minmin returned.  

“Wow, look at you all dolled up! Going somewhere fancy?” Minmin teased, eyeing her with curiosity.  

Caught off guard, Qu Jing stammered, “I... um...”  

“Don’t tell me you’re meeting Xiaoyang!” Minmin joked, laughing as she guessed.  

“No! Absolutely not!” Qu Jing denied hastily, her face turning red.  

Minmin laughed even harder, but Tao Tian, more observant, intervened. “Let her be, Minmin. It looks like she’s got a date.”  

With that, Qu Jing awkwardly excused herself, leaving the dorm as quickly as she could.  

As she walked toward the meeting spot—a thirty-year-old pine tree near the first cafeteria—her heart raced with excitement.  

Zhou Yuwen called her just as she arrived.  

“Hello?” she answered breathlessly.  

“I’m here. Where are you?” Zhou Yuwen asked.  

“I’m almost there! Wait for me!” Qu Jing quickened her pace, her heels clicking on the pavement.  

“Take your time. I’m in the car. What color are you wearing?”  

“Black!” she replied instinctively before realizing her mistake.  

Moments later, she reached the pine tree, glancing around anxiously but seeing no sign of Zhou Yuwen.  

“Where are you?” she asked.  

The window of a sleek BMW X7 rolled down. Zhou Yuwen leaned out, his expression unreadable. “You’re not wearing black,” he pointed out.   Official source is novel-fire.net

Realizing her mistake, Qu Jing flushed deeply. “I—I misspoke. I’m sorry!” she stammered, bowing deeply in apology.  

Her deep bow unintentionally emphasized her neckline, and Zhou Yuwen’s eyes flickered downward before he quickly averted his gaze.  

“Get in,” he said calmly.  

Qu Jing scurried into the passenger seat, her hands fumbling as she closed the door.  

“Ready?” Zhou Yuwen asked.  

“Yes...” Qu Jing’s voice was soft, almost trembling with nervousness.  

As Zhou Yuwen started the car, he noticed Qu Jing sitting stiffly, her stockings-clad legs tightly pressed together. She seemed simultaneously eager and terrified.  

“Qu Jing?” he called her name.  

“Huh?” she responded, snapping out of her daze.  

“You haven’t fastened your seatbelt.”  

“Oh!” Embarrassed, she reached for the seatbelt but couldn’t quite find it.  

With a small sigh, Zhou Yuwen leaned over, his proximity making Qu Jing’s breath hitch. His clean, masculine scent filled her senses, and she instinctively pressed her legs even tighter together.  

“Here,” Zhou Yuwen said, gently pulling the seatbelt across her chest and securing it. As he did, their faces were mere centimeters apart.  

Qu Jing froze, her mind racing as Zhou Yuwen’s gaze met hers.  

“Hold still,” he said softly, reaching toward her face.  

Qu Jing’s heart nearly stopped. Was he going to...  

But Zhou Yuwen merely wiped a smudge of lipstick from the corner of her mouth, his touch light and careful.  

“You overdid the lipstick,” he commented, smiling faintly before leaning back into his seat.  

Qu Jing’s cheeks burned with a mix of embarrassment and excitement. He’s so gentle... so close... I can’t breathe...  

As Zhou Yuwen focused on the road, Qu Jing sat silently, her thoughts swirling. This is going to be the best night of my life.