The CEO’s Justifiable Betrayal

She did not want to disturb his contemplation, so she tiptoed over. However, no matter how light her steps, his keen senses immediately detected her. He quickly turned his head, seeing her immediately reveal a faint smile. “Are you done? Come have breakfast!” The shallow smile on his face dissolved all traces of sadness, and his previous desolate figure seemed like her illusion. “Thank you!” She sat down at the other end of the soft sofa, gazing at the colorful food on the delicate porcelain plate. In the center of the plate was an exquisite tuna sandwich, with bacon scrambled eggs in bright yellow mixed with vivid red on the left, and some lettuce and sliced tomatoes on the right. Not only was the color combination excellent, but it was also nutritionally perfect, making Ji Mengtang instantly ravenous. “It looks delicious. Did you make all of this?” “Doesn’t it look like it?” He smiled faintly again, taking the lead by biting into a tuna toast. “Because I don’t really like eating out, I cook quite often. I personally think it tastes pretty good, but I wonder what you’ll think.” “Let me try.” She scooped up some bacon scrambled eggs with a fork and tasted them, finding them surprisingly delicious. “The taste is great, very delicious!” she sincerely praised. “Thank you!” He also ate the bacon scrambled eggs, nodding satisfactorily, and urged her to try the tuna toast. After tasting it, she also enthusiastically praised it, and the breakfast turned out unexpectedly peaceful and pleasant. After the meal, she rushed to wash the dishes, and then he suggested going out for a walk. When she asked where, he mysteriously said she’d find out by following him. The result – he took her mountain climbing! Junxian Rock was located in the suburban campus of Yangming University. He apparently came here often, driving into the campus and parking the car before leading her up the long staircase like a seasoned traveler. Ji Mengtang had never been here before. Half-curious and half-puzzled, she obediently followed him up the stairs step by step. She considered herself to have good physical fitness and occasionally exercised, but the hundreds of steps still made her face red and breathless, sweating profusely. In contrast, Kang Yancheng walked steadily and quickly, but whenever he noticed she had fallen too far behind, he would stop and wait for her to catch up. After walking for about twenty minutes, a natural giant rock shaped like a battleship appeared before their eyes. Kang Yancheng easily took a few big steps to climb up, but Ji Mengtang, with no rock climbing experience, could only carefully hold onto the rock wall and climb tremblingly. Suddenly, a large hand stretched out in front of her, gesturing for her to take his hand. She hesitated, wondering whether she should accept his kindness. Sensing her hesitation, he quirked his lips and sneered maliciously, “What? Are my hands prickly, or are you afraid I’ll push you down the mountain?” His mockery was back! How could she have ever thought he was pitiful? He was absolutely despicable! To prove she wasn’t afraid of him harming her, Ji Mengtang stretched out her hand with a stern face, but her little mouth pouted in anger. “Hold tight!” Kang Yancheng firmly grasped her hand and pulled her up in one go. His palm was dry and warm, holding her firmly, strangely giving her an indescribable sense of security. He was nearly thirty, right? Mature and steady, unlike Gao Zhongwei, who was twenty-two and had graduated from college but still seemed unsettled and immature… Wait! What was she doing? Why did she keep comparing him to Zhongwei? A deep sense of guilt overwhelmed her. As soon as she stepped onto the rock, she immediately let go of his hand, as if atoning, keeping a large distance from him. “Angry?” Kang Yancheng didn’t mind her deliberate distance, walking to her side and laughing lightly, “Do you know you look like a chubby pufferfish when you’re pouting?” Pufferfish? Chubby?! Ji Mengtang couldn’t believe someone would use the word “chubby” to describe her! From childhood to now, her figure had always been the most standard, especially now, when she was the widely acknowledged campus beauty! “Don’t be angry! Look over there–” He pressed her shoulder, pointing to the distant scenery for her to see. Ji Mengtang looked down following his finger and immediately opened her eyes in surprise. “How beautiful!” Looking down from this mountain, the scenery below was clear. The distant mountains were hazy like thin gauze, the city buildings tinged with a grayish-blue color, the Tamsui River winding like a blood vessel supplying the city’s nutrients, the red Guandu Bridge spanning across it, with many cars moving slowly like tiny ants. She had always loved overlooking night scenes from high up, finding the blurry lights always calming her mood. She never expected that not only night scenes were dazzling and charming, but daytime views from high above were also this wonderful! Seeing her surprised and delighted little face, Kang Yancheng knew he had guessed right – she indeed liked this place. Seeing her caring smile, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but quietly rise. Although he liked teasing her and loved seeing her pink cheeks flush with anger, he loved seeing her smile even more. When she was happy, her large almond eyes would sparkle brightly, and her smile could make the most beautiful flowers in the world lose their color! Ji Mengtang inadvertently turned her head and discovered his focused, deep gaze, causing her cheeks to blush red and making her feel uncomfortable. But her strong personality didn’t want him to notice her shyness, so she deliberately raised her chin and fiercely questioned, “What are you looking at? What’s there to see?” “Of course there’s something to see! Don’t you think you’re beautiful?” Kang Yancheng asked with a light smile. “O-of course!” Even if she wasn’t originally this confident, his provocation made her more thick-skinned. The more he could tease her, the more she would be liberated. “I think it’s great that you’re confident about yourself,” he most appreciated this about her – proud and strong like an undefeatable female warrior. That day, they spent half a day looking at the scenery on the mountain, went down to find lunch, wandered around the streets in the afternoon, and finally entered a bookstore, buying a pile of books and magazines to take home. They spent the evening in the study, even ordering pizza for dinner and eating while reading. She read several books she liked until late at night before feeling slightly uneasy returning to her room. That night, Kang Yancheng still did not do anything she was unwilling to do. In the deep of the night, Ji Mengtang lay in bed, looking at his broad, thin back turned away and sleeping, feeling confused and bewildered.