By the time they left the Qintai Grand Theatre, dusk was already approaching.
In wintertime River City, night always fell especially early. The plane trees lining both sides of the road had been reduced to bare branches, sketching bleak silhouettes in the cold wind, but that did nothing to dampen the increasingly heated, ambiguous atmosphere inside the Land Rover Defender.
"Boss, thank you... for earlier."
Lin Qingyu sat in the passenger seat. She had already changed out of that tight practice outfit and into an off-white cashmere coat, with a light gray scarf wrapped around her neck.
Although Su Bai's "special" therapy had relieved the pain in her lower back and even left her feeling lighter than ever, the moment she recalled what had happened in the VIP lounge—the presses carrying waves of heat, along with her own shameful reactions... her cheeks could not help but burn.
That lofty Lead Dancer seemed to have been utterly kneaded to pieces by this man that afternoon.
"What are you thanking me for?"
Su Bai held the steering wheel with one hand and looked ahead, a faint smile on his lips. "For treating your back, or for not locking you up?"
"Both... both of them."
Lin Qingyu lowered her head, unconsciously twisting the hem of her coat with her fingers like an elementary school student who had done something wrong.
"If you want to thank me, just saying it doesn't show much sincerity."
Su Bai glanced at her. "It's dinner time anyway. As a new employee, having a meal with your boss isn't too much to ask, right?"
"Huh? Of course not!"
Lin Qingyu hurriedly shook her head. "I should be the one treating you! It's just... I don't have much money on me right now. I might not be able to afford