Chapter 1080: Chapter 1080: Simply Won’t Fulfill the Engagement

His expression was too tender, unlike his usual assertive dominance.

The gray suit, immaculately ironed, clung to his perfect physique, making him look poised and stylish. From the side profile of his clearly defined face, one could see his slightly tilted, prominent nose, which exuded subtle luxury. Although normally as fierce as a wolf or tiger, at this moment, he seemed to have sheathed his sharp edges, leaving only a gentle indulgence reminiscent of peaceful years.

Too indulgent.

In that moment, Chu Xi even doubted whether she could achieve her ultimate goal.

“Mr. Li,” she called out again, this time raising her voice.

The man, who had been looking down at his messages, finally raised his head to look at her. “There’s important news, go ahead, I’m listening.”

Chu Xi, with a smile that was not quite a smile, said, “The ‘important news’ wouldn’t happen to be about your girlfriend, would it?”

Li Shengxiao raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

Chu Xi felt a lump in her throat, almost defeatedly calm, “Okay, it seems I guessed right.”

“I came here early in the morning without even having breakfast, waited for over an hour, and finally when I get to see you, after only about ten minutes, you became distracted and ran off to reply to your girlfriend’s messages. Isn’t that somewhat inappropriate?”

Her eyes smiled, but the accusation was clear.

This kind of accusation was neither embarrassing nor diminished her own status and importance; it had to be said it was quite clever.

Li Shengxiao, “I’m sorry, I promised her that I’d respond to her messages as soon as I see them, no matter when or where.”

Chu Xi’s face seemed as if slapped, she laughed out of irritation, leaned back on the sofa, stretched out, tilting her head, her beautiful face flirtatious and seductive, “Mr. Li, showing off your affection like this over and over, aren’t you worried I might find you to be a better man than my boyfriend? What if I’m moved? Have you thought about it, I might really insist you fulfill our marriage agreement.”

Her tone was half-joking, half-serious, making it hard to tell if she was more in jest or earnest.

Li Shengxiao initially remained unmoved, but upon hearing her statement, he flicked his eyelids, put his phone back in his pocket, unperturbed, “I will not fulfill it, Miss Chu should be well aware of this.”

“What if I insist?” Chu Xi persisted, looking at him as if she needed an answer.

Li Shengxiao met her gaze directly, his voice deep and husky, “From the beginning, I only gave you two choices, one, I deal directly with the Chu Family and announce that I will not fulfill the marriage agreement, which might sever ties between our families. The second, I cooperate with you. You have a boyfriend, I have a girlfriend, we both have needs, and we can cover for each other until I find the safest way to proceed with the first option. In return, just as you said, you can later position yourself as the victim to garner more benefits for yourself. There is no third option, so there is no question of insisting on fulfilling the marriage agreement.”

Chu Xi was not foolish; she understood his meaning instantly–her desires were never within his considerations. If they could mutually benefit from cooperation, great; if not, he would choose confrontation.

Even though she wasn’t the one engaged to Li Shengxiao, putting herself in that position made her face burn with embarrassment, nearly unable to restrain her frustration, her tone tinged with desperation, “I must say, I have seen Mr. Li’s girlfriend, and I fail to see what makes her worth such efforts.”