Chapter 1623

After getting into the car, Samuel pulled down the partition separating them from the front seat. The small space now held only the two of them, so quiet that they could almost hear each other's heartbeats. Samuel had clearly mentioned discussing last night’s incident, yet now he remained silent. The atmosphere grew so awkward that Xiao Qingqing wished she could vanish into thin air. But then she remembered—it was Su Jiaojiao and Yang Yun who had schemed against her, inadvertently dragging Samuel into the mess. Gathering her courage, she finally spoke up, "Uncle Jing, I can’t help but wonder… why were you there with me last night?" He turned to meet her gaze, his sharp jawline accentuated by the smoky-gray shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal his collarbone. His long legs were crossed, and his prominent Adam’s apple moved slightly as he spoke, his voice smooth as jade. "If it wasn’t me," he said, "would you have preferred that old fool instead?" Xiao Qingqing’s cheeks flushed inexplicably, and she quickly averted her eyes. "No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just… since Qiao Nancheng showed up at the hotel, someone’s plan must have worked. So why—" "You’re Nuan Nuan’s closest friend," he interrupted calmly. "I couldn’t just stand by when I saw what was happening. By the time I got you out, you were already under the influence of the drug, clinging to me and refusing to let go…" Memories of the previous night flashed through her mind—those brief moments of consciousness when she’d found him *busy* above her. Flustered, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, trying to mask her embarrassment. "I’m sorry, Uncle Jing. I dragged you into this." Samuel studied her troubled expression before giving a faint, amused smile. "Qingqing, do you really think a verbal apology means anything?" His blunt response left her feeling even more flustered. He was right—it *was* meaningless. "But they’ve already deleted the video," she ventured. "If you just make sure they stay quiet, won’t that settle everything?" Samuel's expression turned grave. "Journalists are the least of our worries. But you do realize how many competitors are eagerly waiting to pounce on any misstep of mine, now that our corporation has just expanded into Ancheng?" Xiao Qingqing sighed helplessly before quickly offering, "Don't worry, Uncle. I'll clarify with the media right away—tell them you've already dumped me. That way, no one can fault you." A derisive chuckle escaped Samuel as he cracked the car window slightly. He lit a cigarette, the smoke curling lazily around his fingers moments later. Oddly enough, Xiao Qingqing never minded the scent of tobacco. Her father had smoked too, and the familiar aroma always brought him to mind. There was something about Samuel's presence—mingled with that smoky fragrance—that felt achingly reminiscent of her father. No one knew just how deeply she loved and missed him... Closing her eyes briefly, Xiao Qingqing exhaled and turned to speak again, but Samuel beat her to it. "So after helping you, my reward is to be branded as some heartless playboy who preys on young girls? Some gratitude." "That's not what I meant, Uncle! What if—what if we say I was the one who dumped you?" A sardonic smirk played on his lips. "The only people who get to dump me are six feet underground." Xiao Qingqing choked on her own saliva, coughing twice in succession. No dumping, no being dumped—then what? How on earth were they supposed to untangle this mess? Her brow furrowed in frustration. Samuel took a slow drag from his cigarette, his slender fingers elegantly tapping the ash into the car's ashtray before speaking. "Qingqing, you should know exactly what the name Samuel represents—not just in the capital, but across the entire country. When I say something, I don’t go back on my word. So, starting now, you are my girlfriend. Understood?" Xiao Qingqing gaped at the man beside her, his tone so matter-of-fact that it left her stunned. The smooth skin between her brows creased into a faint frown, betraying her shock. Samuel arched an eyebrow, his voice calm but firm. "What, you don’t want to?" Qingqing was speechless. Of course she didn’t want to! This man was the uncle of her best friend’s boyfriend—someone she had always regarded as an elder. And more than that… she was afraid of him. "Uncle, I—" Samuel showed no impatience, though his eyes held a trace of exaggerated resignation. "After what happened this morning, neither of us has a choice. I had to save you last night—there was no other way. As a member of the Nelson family, reputation is everything. It can’t be tarnished. And for you? Between being labeled as 'Samuel’s discarded plaything' or 'Samuel’s girlfriend,' the latter is clearly the lesser evil, don’t you think?" Qingqing pressed her lips together, her frown deepening. He wasn’t wrong. Given Samuel’s status, a scandal like this would be devastating. She owed him for his help—she couldn’t repay his kindness by dragging him down further. But the thought of being his "girlfriend" left her tangled in hesitation, unsure how to face such a role. Samuel, sensing her turmoil, softened his tone. "For now, let’s keep things as they are. We can reassess later." Xiao Qingqing turned her gaze toward him, eyes shimmering with hope. "So, Uncle San, are you saying we're now in a... contractual relationship?" A contract was good. After all, contracts had beginnings—and endings. Noticing the light in her eyes, Samuel's brow lifted slightly. "If that's how you want to interpret it, I suppose that works." Xiao Qingqing nodded eagerly. "Great! Then... Uncle San, if there's anything you'd like me to compensate you for, just name it. I'll do my best to make it right." A soft chuckle escaped him. Samuel turned his head, amused. The sound of his laughter caught Xiao Qingqing off guard. Mu Nuan always said Uncle San could be quite serious, rarely smiling—but in her memory, he seemed to laugh often. Though, it was true, his presence still carried an undeniable chill. Shaking off her thoughts, she frowned. "Uncle San, what's so funny?" Samuel reached out, casually tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll take some time to think about what I want in return. And you—you should think about what *you* want, too." "But I'm not the one who was wronged. I don’t need compensation." His fingers drifted down, gently tilting her chin up until her eyes met his. His voice, deep and velvety, carried a teasing lilt. "Qingqing, a girl’s first time is precious. So go home and think carefully—what do *you* want, hmm?" Xiao Qingqing’s face flushed crimson all over again. How...did we end up talking about this again? "Uncle...could we...please never bring this up again?" Just the thought of last night flooded her mind with those...indelicate images of her uncle pressing against her. She felt tainted, as if she'd been stained with something unclean. Her cheeks, usually as pale and smooth as a peeled hard-boiled egg, instantly flushed crimson. Though her lips bore no trace of lipstick, they glistened with a natural rosy sheen, plump and tempting... Samuel abruptly released his grip on her fingers and straightened in his seat, his Adam's apple bobbing almost imperceptibly. "We're at the school. Go on." Xiao Qingqing scrambled out of the car and hurried toward campus after a quick goodbye. Right now, she was absolutely mortified. This was all Su Jiaojiao and Yang the Harvey family fault—those two scheming witches! She wouldn't let them get away with this.