When Yan went to find Han Qing, he was in a meeting. Thus, she sat on the sofa to wait for him and promptly fell asleep. She slept so deeply that she didn’t even notice Han Qing entering the room.
Han Qing did not wake her up. Instead, he went to the lounge and brought out a blanket for her. Covering her with the blanket to prevent her from catching a cold, he then went back to work. He thought she would eventually wake up on her own, but by the time he got off work, she was still sleeping. It was then that he finally noticed that something was amiss.
He worriedly walked over to her side and found her breathing deeply and steadily. She slept so deeply that her face was slightly flushed. Even so, the bruise-like dark circles under her eyes stood out clearly against her pale cheeks. Is that the reason why she slept for such a long time today? What has she been up to recently?
At that thought, he crouched down in front of the sofa, reaching his hand out slowly. A warm fingertip brushed against the area around her eyes; his movements were very light—like a dragonfly skimming across the surface of water.
The door to the office was not shut tight. Therefore, Xu Yanwan, who came looking for Han Qing, happened to witness this scene just as she was about to knock on the door. She froze in surprise. Unexpectedly, Han Qing, who was usually cold and self-sufficient, could actually show such a gentle expression. As he crouched in front of the young lady, his finger gently touched the other party’s eyelids carefully. Apart from the indulgent love in his gaze, it also held deep attachment and heartache for the young lady. Staring at him, she felt as if her heart was being stabbed by needles. Why did you let me see this?
Although she knew she shouldn’t continue watching, her feet were frozen in place. Thus, she continued standing there blankly, staring at the man she loved as he looked at another woman with a loving gaze—a woman that was not her. My heart feels like it swallowed a needle.
Just as she managed to regain control of her feet and prepared to leave, he seemed to notice something and glanced in her direction. At that moment, their gazes met. Stunned, she awkwardly shifted her gaze away, looking like a cat who got caught trying to steal a star. Then, she took a few steps back, standing just outside the door without moving or making a sound.
Han Qing pursed his lips, then he covered Yan with the blanket before stepping outside. Once outside, his hand casually reached out to shut the door tightly, cutting off the sounds from the outside so as not to disturb Yan. “Is there anything?”
Hearing his question, Xu Yanwan lifted her head and glanced at him. In stark contrast from before, his eyes no longer held any loving look in them. He looked at her with his usual expression—the same way he looked at other people. To think that she could not even garner a special look from him despite how long they had known each other. It seemed like he had given everything in him to that woman—so much so that there was no room for anyone else.
She laughed bitterly in her heart, but nothing showed on her face. Then, she said lightly, “I just wanted to come over to give you my thanks. There is nothing else to it. Since you are busy, I will take my leave.”
Unexpectedly, he called out to her in a voice that held not a shred of emotion, “If we get the chance, we should ask Lin Xuzheng to join us for a get-together.”
When she heard him mention the three of them meeting up again, she felt slightly overwhelmed. An image of the three of them gathering together, just like how they used to, appeared before her eyes. When they were younger, the three of them had always been together. Moreover, she was the youngest of the three, and the only girl among them to boot. Thus, she was doted on. At first, she thought that this special doting would continue for a long time. Unfortunately, no one could have expected things to turn out the way they were now.
A faint smile lifted the corner of her lips, but her voice was as indifferent as his when she answered, “I don’t think that’s necessary. After all, you and Xuzheng are very busy people. Besides, I have work to do too. Although you’ve arranged for a more relaxed position for me, I can’t neglect my duty and take things easy. Right now, I am no longer the Young Lady of the Xu Family. Therefore, many things won’t go as easily as it used to.”
He stared at her. “You should know that if you are willing, I can—”
Before he could finish his sentence, she took a few steps back, looking extremely wary as she glared at him. “No thanks. I’m very happy that you helped me with my job transfer. Besides, the Xu Family and Han Family have always gotten along well, but there is no special relationship or connection between them. So, if you give me too much help, you will overstep your boundaries. Besides, you are somebody who has a girlfriend while I’m a single lady. It’s best if I don’t accept too much of your help, otherwise…” Glancing at the door behind him, she smiled coolly and continued, “Your girlfriend might get the wrong idea about us. When that happens, I can’t bear the responsibility.”
He frowned, then answered subconsciously, “Yan won’t doubt me.”
She was taken aback by his answer. “She won’t doubt you? Are you sure? Does she trust you that much?”
Of course, he replied in his heart, she fully trusts and relies on me.
Although he did not give an exact reply to her questions, his expression told her everything she needed to know. She felt as if there was no need for her to continue with her questions—asking anymore would only serve to further deepen the pain in her heart. “Alright then; let’s just say she won’t doubt you. After all, she is a good person. She even visited me and delivered food to me when I was hospitalized previously. So, just act as if I’m afraid other people will misunderstand. I’ll take my leave then.”
After Xu Yanwan left, Han Qing stood there looking at her back with thoughtful eyes. Then, the sound of a door opening behind him made him turn his head around. Subsequently, he saw Yan standing there, rubbing her eyes. “Did you finish your meeting? Why does it feel like I’ve slept for a long time? Did you just get back?”
Listening to her words, he was sure that this girl had heard nothing—the conversation they just had was about waking up instead of being woken up. Thus, he stepped forward and reached out his hand to rub her head. “Yeah, I just finished my meeting. Did you sleep well?”
Yan felt a little embarrassed by his question because it felt like she had slept for a long time. Looking at the man in front of her, she thought about it for a while. Then, she walked up to him and snuggled against him drowsily before hugging him around the waist. “Did I sleep for long? What time is it?”
Yeah, you slept for quite a long time, he thought. You slept from the time you arrived until after working hours. How is that not long? However, he decided against telling her about it. Reaching his hand out, he rubbed the back of her head. “Are you hungry? Do you want me to bring you out to eat?”
Eat? She felt a bit odd and embarrassed, Why are we eating the moment I wake up? I’m not a pig! What’s the logic behind eating right after waking up? Even so, his question seemed to have woken up the gluttons living in her stomach; she was actually quite hungry.
Blinking her eyes, she looked at him. “I think I’m feeling a little hungry. What time is it? Let me see…”
The look in Yan’s eyes after she had just woken up was still rather drowsy. Moreover, she leaned against him as she snuggled against his chest. At first, Han Qing had not been affected by it, but after a little while, her current appearance began to excite him. Hearing her say she was going to check the time, he lightly held her soft lower jaw in his hands, leaned down, and kissed her on the lips.
