It was nighttime, and the lights lit up the city just like the stars in the sky.
It was already autumn, and the wind at night was billowing stronger than before. There were times when one might mistake themselves as being in the midst of winter while strolling the streets.
That was how Shen Qi felt at that moment because she forgot to put on an extra layer of jacket, and so she was shivering uncontrollably due to the chilly weather.
She did not go to work at the company the entire day; instead, she went for a check-up at the hospital.
After all, she had been pregnant for some time, and she had always had a weak physique. Hence, she went ahead for a check-up since she was rather worried about her pregnancy.
She was pleased with the results.
The doctor commented that her child seemed healthy, but her body was extremely frail. Hence, she required much more nourishment, otherwise her unborn child might be malnourished as well, and it would be troublesome.
As long as I give birth to this baby, I will have another family member in this world with me.
In the future, after leaving Ye Moxuan, I must look for a new job. After that, I will work hard to raise my child and teach him or her to read and write; in fact, I can imagine my child skipping and chasing after me from behind, she thought to herself.
Shen Qi’s heart melted when she imagined those scenes in her mind.
This feels so good.
The child will be my family.
Shen Qi had not had the feeling of being close to a family member for the longest time.
Although she was one of the daughters in the Shen family, for some reason, she had never felt the warmth of family from the Shen’s.
Another gust of icy-cold wind blew at her, and Shen Qi flinched away from the biting-cold before she hugged her arms around her chest reflexively.
A car shone its headlights toward her from afar, and Shen Qi couldn’t keep her eyes open due to the blinding bright lights. By the time the lights were slightly dimmer, she realized with a start that the car was already parked in front of her.
The window of the car lowered steadily, and a familiar face stared back at Shen Qi.
“Miss Shen, I thought that it was you when I saw you from afar. I didn’t expect that it would turn out to truly be you when I got closer.”
Shen Qi was quite surprised when she saw Su Jiu getting out of the car, whereas Han Qing was at the backseat, looking cool and detached.
I didn’t expect to bump into them here.
“We are always bumping into you at the hospital. Miss Shen, are you ill?” Su Jiu asked in concern, but Shen Qi shook her head with a smile. “No, I’m here just for a routine check-up. Why are you guys here?”
“We were passing by, and we saw someone resembling you from afar, and that’s why we did a double-take, but it turned out to really be you. Are you waiting for your cab?”
Shen Qi felt slightly embarrassed, and her fair cheeks were now flushed rosy-red after being blown by the vigorous wind. “Mmh-hmm,” she admitted with a nod.
“Hop in. We’ll drop you off on the way.”
Shen Qi shook her head shyly when she heard that. “That might be inconvenient. Don’t worry about it; I’ll just wait for a bit longer.”
“Get in,” Han Qing instructed with a frown when he heard her reject Su Jiu.
His voice sounded flat and detached, as if he was void of emotion, but there felt as if there was some underlying palpable force. Hence, Shen Qi was stunned to silence for a second before she opened the car door and got in obediently.
Han Qing noticed that she was dressed in shabby clothes when she got into the car. In fact, her pink lips were so dry after exposed to the chilly wind that they were chapped. Before Han Qing could stop himself, he asked, “How long have you been waiting in the cold?”
“Not too long. I just got out.”
“Lying is not a good habit,” commented Han Qing before looking away, and he sounded displeased. “Even if you think that it is a white lie.”
Su Jiu, who was seated in the front passenger seat, looked shocked when she heard that. Hence, she peeped at Shen Qi via the rearview mirror, and true enough, Shen Qi appeared embarrassed to be called out. After that, Shen Qi turned to look at Han Qing, and her lips parted, but she couldn’t string a proper sentence together.
Su Jiu tried to hide her smile while smoothing things over. “Miss Shen, please don’t take it to heart. President Han is a very blunt man, but his heart is in the right place.”
Han Qing frowned when he heard that. “Such a busybody.”
Su Jiu smiled faintly before turning around to face the front without answering him.
The atmosphere in the car felt warm now, and Shen Qi blinked several times in confusion. She didn’t mind it too much, but she just did not expect Han Qing to expose her lie on the spot.
The car was quiet and peaceful once again. The temperature within the car was much higher than that of the streets, so Shen Qi, who felt as if she might freeze to death earlier, felt much warmer and better now. However, her hands were still icy-cold.
Han Qing seemed to have realized that. He then unbuttoned his suit jacket suddenly and took it off before handing it to her.
“Put it on.”
Shen Qi stared at him wide-eyed when she heard that. “T-There’s no need…”
“What is it?” Han Qing cocked a brow at her, but his voice was still detached and void of emotions. “Have you not spent enough time in the hospital? You’d have to visit the hospital again if you catch a cold. Put it on.”
His tone was set, and it sounded as if he wouldn’t take no as an answer. However, Shen Qi didn’t want to accept this suit jacket because she had the feeling that… Han Qing was too nice to her.
Why is he so nice to me?
When Su Jiu saw Shen Qi unwilling to accept the suit jacket, she commented, “Miss Shen, it’s best for you to put it on. We still have a long journey ahead. You must have been waiting in the biting cold for about half an hour. So just put it on for now, and you can return the jacket to him before you get out of the car later.”
In any case, Shen Qi refused to accept that suit jacket.
Han Qing scowled, and after a few moments, he reached out suddenly to place the suit jacket over Shen Qi’s shoulders. His movements were quick, and before Shen Qi could even open her mouth to reject him, his slightly warm suit jacket was already placed over her shoulders while enveloping her tiny frame.
“Well—” Shen Qi looked up as if she was about to say something, but she gazed right into Han Qing’s unwavering eyes.
Shen Qi was stumped at that moment.
His gaze was determined and steely when he commanded, “Leave it on. I forbid you to take it off.”
After that, he retreated and settled back into his seat.
Shen Qi remained silent, and she lowered her head to look at the suit jacket she had on her before looking up again at Han Qing’s calm side profile.
For some reason, Shen Qi had a very strong feeling.
How can I describe this feeling?
He feels like… family…
Although Shen Qi found that feeling absurd, she truly believed that Han Qing gave her the feeling of a… very warm and sincere brother.
When she thought of that, Shen Qi lowered her head to focus on the hem of her skirt.
Perhaps too many things have been going on lately, and I’ve been feeling trapped and anxious. I suppose that is why I am feeling this. She tried justifying her thoughts and feelings.
Besides, Han Qing is a very calm and collected person who gives others a sense of security. That is most probably why I have that feeling.
Shen Qi felt much better after arriving at that conclusion. Her ruby-red lips curled into a smile, and she thanked Han Qing.
At first, Han Qing was astounded when he heard her thanking him, and he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.
Coincidentally, Shen Qi had his suit jacket on while sitting quietly with her head bowed. Her straight, dark hair was covering almost half of her cheek from the side, whereas her long eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow around her eyes.
Han Qing’s heart skipped a beat when he saw that.
Right now, she looks… truly similar to her.
How could two people look so alike?
If she is not related to the Han family, why is her temperament and elegance so similar to that person?
Her demureness and that coolness in her gaze; they are like two peas in a pod.
“You…” Han Qing’s lips parted, and he couldn’t help but stare at her. “Miss Shen, how many family members are there in your family?”
Su Jiu, who was seated in front, was caught by surprise when she heard that. Is President Han making his move now?
In all honesty, I’m not quite sure what Han Qing wants with Shen Qi. If I were to say that he’s trying to pursue her, his gaze says otherwise; nevertheless, a man will never be so nice to a woman without a reason. If he isn’t trying to pursue her, why is he being so nice to her?
Su Jiu could not figure that out, nor could she decipher what she was witnessing.
