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“Hello, Mr. Wen.”

After Ye An’s words fell, there was no response from the other side of the screen for a while.

Puzzled, she leaned forward a bit, calling out again, “Mr. Wen?”

There was still no response.

“……”

Ye An was positive of her conjecture, so she slowly got up, intending to move around the screen to get a better look.

Perhaps sensing her movements, there was finally a response from the other side of the screen. “Hello, Miss. Ye.”

… It was a rather youthful voice, but it wasn’t Xie Shuo’s.

Ye An was taken aback: Did I guess wrong?

“Are you Mr. Wen?”

The youthful voice counter asked, “Miss Ye, you’ve already read the contract; are there any concerns you may still have?”

His refusal to answer the question reignited Ye An’s suspicions. After some pondering, she replied, “There are no issues with the contract terms, but I’d like to meet Mr. Wen in person first.”

The young man hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is that very important to you, Miss Ye?”

Looking at the partition, Ye An softened her tone and said, “Naturally. Mr. Wen, if you’d like me to be your personal assistant, it’s only proper that we meet first before I decide whether to accept the job. Otherwise, if we were to sign the contract and then find issues, it wouldn’t do any party good.”

The other side of the partition fell silent once more.

After a moment, the indistinct figure behind the partition moved, and the young man finally emerged from behind, dressed in a well-fitted suit. It was an unfamiliar face to Ye An, as she had never seen him before.

He walked over to Ye An and took a seat across from her, smiling. “Do you have any other requests, Miss Ye?”

Ye An couldn’t help but glance toward the partition, still harboring suspicions that there might be someone else hidden behind it. However, all she saw was a blur.

Looking back at him, she said, “Turns out that Mr. Wen really is this young.”

The young man didn’t confirm or deny but instead placed two copies of the contract on the coffee table, pushing them slightly in her direction. “If Miss Ye has no objections, you can consider signing the contract now.”

At the lower right corner of the contract, the name of Party A had already been signed with sharp strokes.

While Ye An had seen Xie Shuo’s signature before, it looked somewhat similar to this one, but without a direct comparison, she couldn’t be certain.

Seeing her staring at the contract, the young man softly reminded her, “Miss Ye?”

Being in such a hurry and also so secretive about it, there definitely was something fishy going on… Moreover, the young man across from her did not seem to exhibit any particular fondness for her voice; he behaved as if he was just here to do business in exchange for payment.

Ye An looked up and smirked. “If you are indeed Mr. Wen, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t sign this contract.”

The young man looked slightly puzzled. “Why not?”

Feigning regret, Ye An said, “You see, I’m already married, and my husband is quite strict. He doesn’t like me having too much contact with the opposite sex.”

The young man hadn’t expected this and was taken aback for a few seconds before carefully responding, “Rest assured, Miss Ye. During the contract period, you will only be responsible for reading documents, and there will be no need for intimate contact. Your concerns will definitely not happen.”

Ye An smiled. “Mr. Wen, you’re just joking. Since it’s a personal assistant position, some level of contract is unavoidable.”

She paused, picked up her purse from the side, and continued, “My apologies, but I can’t sign this contract. Thank you for the tea.”

Seeing her getting up to leave, the young man’s expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly stopped her. “Miss Ye, please wait a moment.”

Ye An paused and turned around.

The young man hesitated for a while before saying, “Actually, I’m Mr. Wen’s personal lawyer. Mr. Wen is currently unavailable to meet you in person, so he asked me to discuss this with you.”

Ye An smiled. “What if I insist on meeting him?”

The young man showed a troubled expression, still fearing she might leave, said, “Please wait for a moment. I will make a call and ask.”

With that, he got up and walked toward the partition while taking out his phone to make a call. 

Ye An sat back down, holding the exquisite white porcelain teacup with her fair as jade fingers.

Suddenly, she had a bright idea. Taking out her phone from her purse, she took advantage of the moment to call Xie Shuo.

Expecting it to be busy, she was surprised when the call actually went through.

Once more, she was taken aback and started to feel a bit unsure. She glanced behind the partition and said, “Hi, where are you right now?”

Xie Shuo answered succinctly, “What’s the matter?”

Ye An hesitated for a moment before asking tentatively, “I don’t have work this afternoon. Can I come see you?”

Just as she finished her sentence, she faintly heard Zhong Fu’s voice from the other end, “President Xie…”

Hearing that, Ye An suddenly realized that Xie Shuo could have instructed Zhong Fu to handle this matter, eliminating the need for him to take care of the matter himself.

“I’m in a meeting right now; it’s not convenient.” Xie Shuo said after a moment of pause.

He answered her call while he was in a meeting?

Ye An propped her chin on the table and said mischievously with a smile, “Is that so? Since you’re so busy, I won’t bother you in the future.”

Just as she was about to hang up, Xie Shuo interjected, “Where are you? I’ll have the chauffeur pick you up.”

Ye An’s smile deepened. “The opportunity has passed; I’m not going anymore.”

Before he could respond, she asked, “By the way, do you still remember that strange person I told you about yesterday? The one who offered a high salary for me to be his personal assistant to read to him. I’m meeting with him to discuss the contract today. Do you think I should sign it?”

Xie Shuo seemed to be contemplating how to respond. After a pause, he said insipidly, “If the conditions are suitable, you can sign it.”

This response deepened Ye An’s suspicions. Knowing his usual temper, he wouldn’t be willing to let her become someone’s personal assistant. 

She tapped her finger lightly on the table and said discontentedly, “You’re not even going to ask what kind of person he is?”

Xie Shuo was quick to follow along and asked, “What kind of person is he?”

Ye An said purposely, “I haven’t met him yet, but I guess he’s just an old guy with too much money and nothing better to do. Else, why would he be so bored?”

There was a weird silence from the other end of the line. 

Suddenly, Ye An’s tone turned exaggeratedly panicked, “He wouldn’t have any strange fetishes, would he?”

After a couple of seconds of silence, Xie Shuo finally said, “If you’re worried, I can have someone look into him for you.”

Ye An smiled. “No need, go and continue your meeting. I don’t want to disturb you any longer.”

After hanging up the call, she waited for a while before the young man returned from behind the partition.

“Mr. Wen is currently in the UK. If Miss Ye insists on meeting him, I can arrange for you to go there.”

The UK, the same place where Xie Shuo has to go on a business trip.

At this moment, Ye An could almost be certain that this “Mr. Wen” was indeed Xie Shuo.

She couldn’t believe that he would come up with such a childish and boring agenda.

She smiled and casually flipped through the contract, picked up the pen before setting it down again, and said aloofly, “The UK is so far away; I think I’ll pass.”

The young man hadn’t expected her to be this difficult to deal with, so in his desperation, he said, “Actually, Mr. Wen isn’t considered young for the opposite sex, so Miss Ye’s previous concerns are completely unnecessary.”

Not considered young for the opposite sex?

Ye An resisted laughing as she glanced at him and finally relented, “Then, let’s wait to sign the contract when I meet him in person.”

If it really was Xie Shuo, she would reluctantly play along with him. In any case, she had nothing to do.

But, in the worst-case scenario, if she guessed wrong, taking on this job wouldn’t hurt her.

With a daily salary of ten thousand, she had nothing to lose, no matter how you looked at it.

The young man glanced at her as if he wanted to persuade her to sign the contract first, but the words seemed to catch in his throat, and he decided against it.

That night, Xie Shuo didn’t come to pick her up for dinner because he had to leave for his business trip earlier than expected.

Ye An wasn’t upset. She went home, packed her luggage, and went to bed early, getting ready to meet that Mr. Wen the next day.

…….

The next day, “Mr. Wen” had someone specifically sent to pick her up to board a private plane.

…. Whether it was Xie Shuo or not remained uncertain, but one thing was for sure: he had money.

Having worked for such a long time, this was the first time Ye An had experienced such treatment, and couldn’t help but look forward to it.

When they arrived at an island in the UK, it just so happened to be dusk.

The setting sun over the sea melted into gold, with its rosy light following the waves in winding patterns, casting a golden hue over half of the island.

Mr. Wen was staying at the largest hotel on the island. After entering the hotel, his assistant directly escorted Ye An to his room, which was empty, with no one in sight.

“Mr. Wen has some matters to attend to. He will be coming back later. Miss Ye, please wait for a while.”

Ye An wasn’t sure if he truly had business to attend to or if he was intentionally delaying it. She glanced at her luggage and said with a smile, “I’ll go and book a room for myself then.”

The assistant had originally intended for her to stay in this room, but upon hearing what she had said, he quickly went to book the adjacent room for her.

After booking the room, Ye An placed her luggage in her room and returned to Mr. Wen’s room to wait for him.

Sitting alone on the balcony, she gazed at the distant sunset over the sea and took a few pictures before posting them onto her WeChat Moments.

In no time, she received a bunch of comments and likes, with people asking her where she went.

As the setting sun dipped halfway, the sound of the door opening behind her caught Ye An’s attention, and she turned around.

A familiar figure entered her field of vision: broad shoulders, slender waist, long legs—every inch of him was heart-stirring.

…. She had indeed guessed right.

Ye An got up, took a few steps forward, leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, crossed her arms, and looked at him with a smile.

“Hi there, Senior Wen.”

She added emphasis to “Senior.”

Xie Shuo showed no signs of being guilty at all. Glancing at her, he nonchalantly removed his coat and tossed it onto the sofa, revealing well-defined muscle contours beneath his white button-up.

Ye An walked in from the balcony, the remnants of the sunset casting a soft glow on her, and on the coffee table in front of the sofa were two copies of a contract, precisely the one she hadn’t signed yet.

“Since you’re not Senior Wen, there’s no need to sign the contract.”

Seeing him not responding, Ye An bent over to pick up the contract, appearing as if she was about to leave.

Suddenly, Xie Shuo reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her toward him.

Ye An almost ended up sitting on his lap. She squirmed a bit and looked up. “What are you doing?”

Xie Shuo wrapped his arm around her from behind, holding her securely in his embrace as he looked down and said, “Didn’t you say you’d sign the contract when you met the person?”

Their legs were closely pressed together, and the position they were in was somewhat dubious. Ye An could almost feel the texture of his muscles through his shirt. Her ears flushed, and she looked up at him with a glare. “I wanted to meet Senior Wen, not you.”

Xie Shuo didn’t loosen his grip and locked eyes with her in a deep, intense gaze.

Ye An smiled, deliberately teasing him. “What? Are you trying to admit that you’re a man in his fifties or sixties?”

Xie Shuo picked up the pen next to the contract and placed it in her hand, his large palm enveloping hers.

“You…”

As Ye An was about to utter something, her eyes were suddenly covered by his other hand. He held her tightly from behind, and his warm breath brushed her ear. “What?”

Just a simple word, but it held another meaning when spoken by him.

His deep voice reverberated in her eardrums, her vision obstructed. Ye An felt a tingling sensation on her neck, and she involuntarily became seduced.

It was just a moment of distraction, but she had already signed her name on the contract under his guidance.

His hand withdrew, and she could see the light of day again. 

Ye An stared at her name on the contract, utterly stunned.

What kind of trick was this?

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Xie Shuo’s declaration of pursuing her was more than just a show; he didn’t immediately push her to return to the Xie family estate.

Ye An wasn’t sure how he had explained things to Xie Baiyan and Grandfather Xie when he returned home, but the Xie family had tacitly accepted her staying outside. No one had called to question her whereabouts.

However, rumors about their divorce were still circulating in private.

After resting for two days, Ye An readjusted herself, and under Xiang Quan’s urging, returned to the studio.

Just as she entered the studio, before her seat could even warm up, the receptionist knocked on her door, holding a large bouquet.

Ye An was a little surprised but stood up to accept the flowers. A curious colleague peeked into her office and asked, “An An, who sent you these flowers?”

Another voice chimed in, “Do you even need to ask? Who would be so imprudent as to encroach on CEO Xie’s territory?”

“Well, I haven’t seen flowers being sent here before…”

“Just because it hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it won’t now…”

“…….”

The hushed whispers from outside continued as Ye An remained silent. Looking down at the flowers in her arms, the delicate petals were still adorned with dew.

She absentmindedly fiddled with the bouquet but didn’t find a card attached. She smiled slightly.

There wasn’t much work to do in the morning, just organizing some files. In the afternoon, Xiang Quan came over wearily, having stayed up all night. He mentioned a promising animation movie that was looking for voice actors for the characters, asking if she was interested.

Ye An skimmed through the materials he handed her and asked, “Are negotiations done?”

Leaning against the desk, Xiang Quan said, “Almost, just depends on your schedule.”

Since the dubbing variety show, Ye An’s fame and market value have increased significantly. She no longer needed to actively vie for opportunities; contracts were lining up to work with her. There were even offers for her to transition to acting. 

“I’ll take it.”

Hearing her quick acceptance, Xiang Quan couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. He took a few steps away but then turned back, hesitating. “This extended leave you took, it’s not really because of a divorce, is it?”

He couldn’t be blamed for his suspicions because every time she took an extended leave, she seemed to come up with some unexpected “surprises.”

Ye An didn’t reply but gestured with her eyes to the flowers lying nearby.

Xiang Quan: “?”

Ye An smiled. “My husband sent them.”

Xiang Quan: “…….”

……

The afternoon passed quickly, and around 6 p.m., Ye An headed downstairs with others from the studio.

Just as they walked out of the building, she spotted a familiar car parked in front. The car window was rolled down halfway, revealing the stern side profile of a man.

Xie Shuo was sitting in the car, engrossed in reviewing documents, with his long eyelashes casting a slight shadow.

Ye An paused her steps. Since returning from Qianyue Mountain, he has resumed his hectic schedule. She thought he wouldn’t have the time to come and have dinner with her these days, but she was surprised to find that he didn’t mind working in the car and waiting for her.

The chauffeur in the front noticed Ye An coming out and informed Xie Shuo quietly.

Xie Shuo looked up, his serious expression turning gentle in an instant. Putting away his documents, he opened the car door and stepped out.

His tall and noble figure, exuding an air of grace, stood beside the car, becoming a unique sight.

“Who’s that? So handsome!”

Infatuated voices filled the air around Ye An, and someone nudged her. “An An jie, is that your husband?”

Although the rumor was clarified online, people were still gossiping about whether she had divorced or not in private, especially since they had never seen the couple being affectionate in public.

Witnessing it now left them somewhat incredulous. 

Ye An felt her face warm up, and she paused before walking up to him. Remembering that he was still courting her, she intentionally lifted her chin and said in a voice only he could hear, “If you came to ask me out for dinner, I’m afraid you’ve come late. I’ve already promised to eat with them.”

Hearing this, Xie Shuo glanced at her before shifting his gaze beyond her, his expression indifferent.

Without waiting for him to speak, the others immediately understood the situation and began pushing each other to leave, waving to Ye An. “An An, we’re heading off.”

Ye An: “…….”

A bunch of spineless people!

Xie Shuo smiled and turned his gaze back to her.

Ye An felt a bit irked, thinking she shouldn’t let him have his way so easily. She turned around to leave.

Xie Shuo grabbed her wrist and pulled her in front of him, saying, “I waited for you for a long time.”

A warm breath brushed against her ear, and the brilliant spring sunset painted the sky before them. Meeting his gaze, Ye An’s heart fluttered.

It was rush hour when everyone was getting off work, with people coming and going. They couldn’t continue standing there without drawing attention. It could even lead to them becoming headline news or a hot topic tomorrow. Ye An didn’t argue with him any further and allowed him to half-embrace her as they got into the car.

After getting in the car, Xie Shuo put away the documents he had been reviewing earlier. Seeing his action, Ye An couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not planning to look at those documents during dinner, are you?”

Xie Shuo looked up and thought about the past. “How about you read them to me?”

Ye An immediately glared at him. “Are you here to invite me to dinner or to make me work?”

With this level of awareness, he still thought he could win his wife back?

Heartsore on his end!

Xie Shuo smiled. He wasn’t actually so busy. It had just been a long time since he heard her voice, and he missed it.

His gaze moved downward and settled on her fair and delicate hand, instinctively reaching out to hold it.

Ye An looked down for a moment before suddenly withdrawing her hand, smiling innocently. “Until you’ve got me, even holding hands is considered overstepping.”

Throughout the entire dinner, Xie Shuo hadn’t touched her even once.

On the way back to the condo, Xie Shuo glanced her way frequently. Recalling his cool and disdainful demeanor from the past, Ye An pretended not to notice.

They arrived at the condo at 9 p.m.

The spring night breeze was gentle and soft. This time, Xie Shuo behaved as a true gentleman. He didn’t come up with excuses to stay the night but instead extended an invitation before leaving, “There’s a friend’s party tomorrow night. Will you accompany me?”

Considering his decent performance today, Ye An didn’t tease him and graciously accepted.

Xie Shuo turned to leave, and Ye An walked him to the door. Seeing his unsatisfied appearance, she gently patted his shoulder. 

Turning around, Xie Shuo felt her soft body pressing closer, with her familiar faint scent and a shallow breath like a breeze brushing past his ear.

“We can’t hold hands, but I can give you a quick hug.”

Ye An hugged him briefly, not giving him time to react. She withdrew swiftly and closed the door. 

Xie Shuo was momentarily stunned and looked at the tightly shut door. After a while, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Little did he know that this dragonfly’s touch of a hug would be the most intimate interaction between them for the following week.

…….

The next afternoon, Xie Shuo finished his meeting early and was just about to go pick up Ye An when he suddenly received a call from her, saying that there was a last-minute interview at the studio related to the variety show she did before the New Year. It was going to take a bit longer, and she was afraid she wouldn’t have time to accompany him to the party.

On the phone, Ye An sounded a bit guilty as she apologized and tried to pacify him. Then, someone called her, and she hastily hung up.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, the smile on Xie Shuo’s face faded visibly, but he couldn’t bring himself to get angry at her.

After standing there for a while, he finally just massaged his temples and went to the party alone.

At the party, wine cups clinked together, and gambling chips lay all over; both Jiang Shiyan and Yan Fei were also present.

Everyone was chatting and laughing. Seeing the seat next to Xie Shuo empty, Jiang Shiyan arched an eyebrow with a grin of rejoicing in his misfortune. “Why didn’t you bring your wife? Did she really run away?”

Xie Shuo shot him a cold glance and ignored him, simply picking up the glass of wine in front of him and taking a sip.

Jiang Shiyan patted him on the shoulder and said, “Do you want me to impart some wisdom to you?”

Perhaps finding him too annoying, Xie Shuo finally retorted, “Do you have much wisdom?”

Eternal Bachelor Jiang Shiyan: “……..”

That night, Ye An didn’t wait for Xie Shuo to pick her up and returned to the condo by herself.

Xie Shuo had a few drinks. Receiving her call informing him that she had already arrived home, he decided not to disturb her further. 

After completing the interview, Ye An immediately took on the voice acting project and the ending theme song for the animated film, as suggested by Xiang Quan.

With the film production in a rush, once the voice test was approved, she threw herself into work.

This busy schedule left very little time for her and Xie Shuo to meet during the day, except for him picking her up at night after work.

Xie Shuo had his own share of responsibilities at his company, which meant he couldn’t take care of her all the time. Their occasional dinners were also rather rushed.

Xie Shuo specifically went and searched for Ye An’s interview. In the video, her smile was bright and radiant, and her eyes sparkled as if they held the entire universe within them.

At this moment, he was starting to regret his roundabout route. If he had known, he would’ve just confessed already. Continuing like this, it might take ages to get her back.

In the past, she had so much energy and patience to be with him every day, mainly due to his blindness, accommodating him in every way. Now, as she left his side, she was still thriving. 

He even started to doubt whether she was truly repaying a kindness.

Ye An had no idea that Young Master Xie had been overthinking so much. She was busy in the recording studio every day, straining her voice.

Fortunately, dubbing for a movie didn’t take as long as working on a drama. After a week, she finally finished her work. 

After leaving work, she spent an entire afternoon relaxing. She decided to talk to Xiang Quan about not taking on such urgent jobs henceforth. If this keeps up, she would age prematurely, and no amount of skincare could salvage her; her voice would probably be ruined, too.

Who knew that as soon as she brought up the topic, Xiang Quan asked hesitantly, “There’s a new project that’s relatively easy, and it doesn’t require long hours or tight schedules. I’m not sure if you’d be interested, though.”

Seeing his perplexed expression, Ye An couldn’t help but wonder if this new project involved some explicit or risque content.

“What kind of script is it? Let me take a look.”

Xiang Quan: “It’s not some script. It’s a request from Director Yuan’s friend, who really likes your voice and wants you to accompany him…”

Ye An immediately took a step back. “I’m selling my craft, not myself.”

“…….”

Xiang Quan coughed. “I misspoke… He asked if you’d like to work as a personal assistant for a month. You’ll be reading documents and nothing else; food and lodging are all covered.” 

Ye An’s head was filled with question marks. There were actually people with such service needs!

Xiang Quan paused for a moment before adding, “Daily wage is ten thousand.”

Ye An: ….. Too much money to burn? 

Ye An speculated that this friend of Yuan He might be an elderly tycoon suffering from late-stage hearing problems with poor eyesight and just wanted to have someone to talk to due to loneliness. 

“Director Yuan said that his friend is absolutely trustworthy. If you’re not comfortable, he will personally come tomorrow to talk to you.” 

Ye An had already conjured up a mental image of an elderly gentleman with white hair and blurry vision. She wasn’t particularly worried about being deceived by Yuan He, as she was still his CEO’s wife in name. It’s just… there was something about this job that didn’t feel right.

“I’ll think about it and get back to you later.”

Out of giving face to Yuan He, she didn’t outright refuse.

“Sure, let me know when you’ve made your decision.”

Outside the office, the setting sun cast a warm glow and painted the sky in shades of orange. Ye An looked at the time, and it was approaching 6 p.m.

Taking out her phone, she scrolled to find Xie Shuo’s contact and finally pressed the call button after deliberating for half a day.

Although they had agreed that he would pursue her again, it only felt right for her to call him first, considering she had stood him up before.

The call connected quickly, but there was silence from the other end.

Ye An absentmindedly fiddled with a pen on her desk and asked, “I’ve finished work. Do you… want to have dinner together?”

Before she could even utter “I’ll treat you,” she heard his low and deep voice from the other end, saying, “I’ve just arrived downstairs at your studio.”

Ye An quickly responded, “I’ll be right down.”

Just as her words slipped out, she felt somewhat vexed that she couldn’t keep her cool.

After she gathered her belongings, she went to the restroom to touch up her makeup and tidied her hair before heading downstairs.

Xie Shuo’s familiar car was spotted parked by the road. He was sitting inside with the window rolled down, wearing a white button-down while basking in the glow of the sunset. His side profile looked like a finely painted portrait.

Ye An walked over to the car, and the chauffeur had already opened the door for her.

“Finished with the project?”

Seeing her get into the car, Xie Shuo turned around slightly and asked. 

Ye An nodded. “En, I can rest for a couple of days.”

After saying this, she glanced at him, waiting for him to suggest something like going on a trip. However, she waited for half a day without any response.

Ye An couldn’t help but feel peeved. She had just stood him up once; did he have to be angry for so long?

It wasn’t like she did it on purpose.

The scenery along the street passed by until they were seated in a private dining room at the restaurant. It was then that Xie Shuo said insipidly, “I’ll have to go on a business trip in two days.”

Ye An was taken aback.

She finally had some free time, but he was going away again.

However, she was already accustomed to such situations and didn’t show much surprise. She just asked where he would be going and then picked up her chopsticks.

Midway through their dinner, she suddenly remembered what Xiang Quan had told her earlier and couldn’t help but share it as an amusing anecdote. “Wanna hear something interesting? There’s someone who’s so weird to want to hire me as a personal assistant, specifically to read documents for him, and he’s offering a daily wage of ten thousand.”

Xie Shuo looked up and asked, “Really? Did you agree to it?”

Ye An picked up a slice of fish and placed it in her bowl. “Not yet. I’m not very interested.”

A hint of curiosity flashed past Xie Shuo’s eyes. “Why?”

Ye An explained, “Working as a personal assistant for an older person carries more risks. If something goes wrong or if the person is very difficult, it could be very troublesome.”

Xie Shuo’s hand holding his chopsticks paused, and his expression turned a little strange. “How do you know it’s an older person?”

Ye An looked up. “You don’t need to guess; it’s obvious. Why else would he be willing to pay such a high price for someone to read to him? He must be elderly, and his eyes aren’t good, which is why he’s looking for assistance.”

After a pause, she continued, “But it’s still a bit strange. He’s so wealthy, why not use AI instead?”

After a moment of silence, Xie Shuo said, “Maybe he thinks that you have a nice voice. If you have the time, you could give it a try.”

She was surprised that he was encouraging her to take on this job. Perplexed, Ye An glanced at him. Xie Shuo avoided her gaze and considerately served her a piece of spare ribs.

Ye An didn’t dwell on it and moved on.

Later that night, Ye An lay in bed, and just as she was about to drift off to sleep. As she closed her eyes, a thought crossed her mind, seemingly triggered by Xie Shuo’s unusual words during dinner. 

……

The next morning, Yuan He surprisingly came in person to discuss this matter with her, seemingly determined to seek her acceptance of the job.

“Just one month, you can make any requests.”

The feeling of something being off crept back into Ye An’s heart as she contemplated. Once again, the thought that occurred to her the previous night flashed through her mind.

After a moment, she turned to Yuan He and asked, “Can I know the person’s name first?”

“His surname is Wen.”

Seemingly anticipating her question, Yuan He didn’t beat around the bush. He handed her the contract that he had already drafted. “This is a rough draft of the contract.”

Taking the contract, Ye An scrutinized it. It only contained the other party’s surname with no mention of their age or occupation—super mysterious.

The surname was Wen.

…. If she remembered correctly, Xie Shuo’s mom, her mother-in-law, had the surname Wen.

A light flickered past Ye An’s eyes.

After reading the contract, she mumbled to herself for a moment before smiling at him and saying, “Sure, I can sign the contract, but I’d like to meet Mr. Wen in person first.”

Yuan He was momentarily taken aback.

Ye An placed the contract back down, resting her hand on the paper, smiling. “This request shouldn’t be too much, right?”

Yuan He seemed somewhat hesitant, pausing for a few seconds before saying, “It should be fine. I’ll go and ask.”

Shortly after, Yuan He got the answer that Mr. Wen agreed to meet. 

The meeting place was at a private club with a Tang Dynasty-style decor.

It was springtime, and the flowers and trees were lush. The palace lanterns hanging along the hallway were exquisite, and as the wooden doors were pushed open, Ye An followed the server inside. The room was filled with the fragrance of incense.

A massive folding screen partitioned the view, adorned with an exquisite landscape painting, making it impossible to see who was on the other side.

Ye An: …. It’s just a meeting, but they’re making it seem like an audience with an emperor.

Ye An sat down on her side of the screen, and a server approached to pour tea with graceful movements. The young tea leaves floated to the surface of the porcelain cup, emitting a delicate fragrance.

Waiting for the server to leave, she stared at the silhouette behind the partition for a moment before saying…

“Hello, Mr. Wen.”

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For three days, Xie Shuo accompanied Ye An at Qianyue Mountain. During these three days, he did almost anything as if he was trying to make up for what he owed her during their honeymoon.

Three days later, Ye An packed her luggage and prepared to return. 

Xie Shuo waited for her outside in his car. This time, he came alone, in a hurry, without informing anyone, and even without a chauffeur.

He placed the luggage in the trunk, and just as he was about to turn around to walk to the driver’s seat, Ye An suddenly grabbed his arm. 

“I’ll drive.”

Xie Shuo halted and turned around.

Ye An gazed into his eyes. He had only regained his sight for less than half a year, and he was tormented by her for the past few days, driving a long distance again posed a risk that she didn’t want.

Although she had a temper, she understood that one’s health couldn’t be taken lightly.

Xie Shuo understood her intention and then smiled at her delicate, white fingers on his arm. “It’s alright.”

It was fine, sunny springtime weather today, with the spring sun casting a warm glow over them. Ye An was well aware of his temperament, and she knew, at times like this, he would never let her drive.

After a brief standoff, she had to compromise. “Let’s call a chauffeur then.”

Xie Shuo accepted this compromise. Soon, Ye An asked the lady boss to arrange for a chauffeur to come.

The car drove smoothly forward; Ye And Xie Shuo sat side by side in the rear, with only a hand’s width of space between them.

The warm spring day made it easy to feel drowsy. After a while, Ye An’s eyelids started to droop, her head tilting to the side. Eventually, she couldn’t hold on any longer and leaned against Xie Shuo’s shoulder.

In a daze, she smelled his familiar scent, much like when they shared a bed. Every night, she would fall asleep and end up snuggled in his arms.

Xie Shuo’s shoulder sank slightly, and he glanced at her before also closing his eyes.

When she woke up, they were already in the city.

She thought he might ask where she wanted to go or insist on taking her back to the Xie family estate. To her surprise, he instructed the driver to go to the condo as if he didn’t particularly want her to go back.

Outside the car window, the setting sun cast long shadows, and people hurried by. Ye An looked at his stern side profile and suddenly found it hard to decipher what he was really thinking.

Leaving behind a pile of work at the company and coming to see her, spending time with her, but not saying anything, not even a clear confession.

When they arrived at the condo, he handed her the suitcase with the handle up, looking like he had no intention of going upstairs. “You go up first; I’ll be there in a moment.”

Ye An was a bit tired and didn’t feel like guessing his thoughts anymore. Taking a deep breath, she dragged her suitcase and turned to walk into the condo.

Once inside, she quickly unpacked her things and pulled out a loose-fitting set of lounge clothes from the closet before heading to take a shower.

As she walked out of the bathroom after taking a shower, she suddenly heard some faint noises from the living room.

She was puzzled and followed the sound, only to find a tall figure standing in the kitchen.

It was Xie Shuo, wearing an apron and holding a bunch of green onions. He had turned on the tap, getting ready to wash them.

Ye An: …….?

Hearing her footsteps, Xie Shuo turned around and glanced at her from head to toe before saying, “Come over here and help me roll up my sleeves.”

Ye An walked over, looking at him skeptically: Do you really know how to cook?

Xie Shuo immediately saw through her thoughts with just a glance, but he didn’t explain himself. He simply extended his arm toward her.

Afraid of hurting his feelings, Ye An swallowed her question and helped him roll up his sleeve, revealing a muscular forearm.

Xie Shuo continued washing the vegetables in the sink, and Ye An watched his somewhat unskilled movements for a while. She couldn’t bear it and whispered, “Do you want some help?”

Xie Shuo glanced at her and said insipidly, “No need. You can go rest in the living room.”

Ye An glanced at him again before slowly walking back to the living room and sitting on the sofa.

She didn’t have the energy or inclination to do anything else. She rested her chin on her arm and watched the busy figure in the kitchen.

Not knowing how long it had passed, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Ye An found it strange. Who could be looking for her here?

She got up, slipped on her slippers, and walked to the door. When she opened it, she found a young man holding a bouquet of fresh roses standing outside with a professional smile. “Are you Miss Ye? These flowers are for you.”

Ye An was once again taken aback.

Without asking, she could guess who had sent these flowers. 

She came back to her senses when she saw the young man’s puzzled expression, smiling as she thanked him and accepted the flowers.

The red petals were stunning and fragrant. Ye An cradled the bouquet as she headed back to the living room. She gazed toward the figure busy in the kitchen.

Xie Shuo happened to turn around and saw the roses in her arms. He didn’t offer any explanations and continued with his work, clitter-clattering. 

Ye An was in a daze as she sat down with the bouquet in her arms.

Outside the window, night slowly descended, and lights illuminated the surroundings. 

Around 7 p.m., dinner was served. It was a simple meal with three dishes and a soup—not very aesthetic in looks, but also not as terrible as Ye An had expected.

After cleaning his hands, Xie Shuo wiped them with a towel and then went to the nearby wine cabinet to fetch a bottle of red wine and two glasses. He placed them on the dining table and looked up, inquiring, “Want some wine?”

Meeting his gaze, Ye An felt her heart flutter for some reason. It seemed like this was a mood for a confession.

Withdrawing her gaze, she replied softly with an “en.”

The two of them took their seats, and Xie Shuo began by serving her a bowl of soup, placing it in front of her.

Ye An picked up a spoon and took two sips. It was slightly bland, but not too bad.

Shen then picked up her chopsticks and tasted one of the dishes, finding it quite passable. She was surprised to discover that Young Master Xie had some culinary talent. 

“How is it?”

His voice sounded from across the table.

Looking up, Ye An saw him looking at her. It suddenly reminded her of the first time she had cooked for him and asked the same question.

She pursed her lips. “Not bad.”

Xie Shuo, seemingly unconvinced, picked up his chopsticks to taste all three dishes in front of him before frowning slightly, clearly not entirely satisfied.

“…….”

Little did she expect that the Young Master was not only critical of others but also demanding of himself. Ye An was afraid he might dislike the food and consider remaking it or getting takeout, so she quickly shifted his attention and said, “Didn’t you want to have some wine? Why haven’t you even opened the bottle?”

Xie Shuo relaxed his frown slightly, and he took the wine bottle, opened it, and poured two glasses slowly.

The red wine swirled inside the crystal-clear glass, creating a shimmering luster along the surface.

Ye An picked up one of the glasses, pressed her red lips to the rim, and took a sip.

During meals, Xie Shuo was not fond of talking. After nearly a year of spending time with him, Ye An was influenced and had become quieter as well… Naturally, another reason was not wanting to disrupt the atmosphere either.

As half a glass of wine found its way into her stomach, her eyes appeared slightly intoxicated. Putting down her chopsticks, she propped her chin up with her hand and gazed at him with a hint of rarely seen innocence.

Noticing her gaze, Xie Shuo looked up and asked, “Full?”

Ye An nodded, her gaze still fixated on him, appearing to be quite tipsy.

Putting down his wine glass, Xie Shuo got up and cleared the dining table, putting the dishes and utensils in the sink for now.

Ye An stood up by propping against the table and walked to the living room. She flopped onto the sofa, gazing at the roses on the coffee table, and couldn’t help but smile.

Shortly afterward, the sofa beside her sank as Xie Shuo sat down as well.

Turning around, Ye An looked at him. His stern profile was blurred by the light, revealing a touch of tenderness. 

It was reminiscent of the moment back on that spring night in the cold rain when she was walking alone, and he looked at her through the lowered car window.

There was a faint sense of anticipation in her heart, waiting for him to say something. However, after waiting for a while, he remained silent. 

Ye An had a habit of being talkative when she drank too much. Now that the alcohol had started to affect her, she couldn’t contain herself. She reached out and poked his chest. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Seeing the hint of desire in her eyes, Xie Shuo hesitated for a moment before leaning slightly toward her, lowering his voice, “What would you like to hear me say?”

He had also drunk, and as he got closer, the scent of alcohol brushed past her ear.

Ye An’s cheeks flushed, whether from the alcohol or his proximity; she couldn’t tell.

Looking up to meet his calm and composed eyes, she suddenly felt a little exasperated. “If you have nothing to say, then why did you send me flowers?”

“You don’t like them?”

Xie Shuo smiled as he countered, still not uttering the words she longed to hear.

He reached out to hold her hand, gently squeezing them.

Ye An couldn’t pry the words out of him, so she decided to give up on asking and turned away. If you won’t say it, then so be it!

Looking down, Xie Shuo gazed at her tightly pursed lips and her unhappy expression, smiling.

He suddenly reached out and encircled her waist, embracing her from behind, his warm breath grazing her ear.

Ye An stiffened for a moment and tried to break free, but she couldn’t resist his strength. She gradually softened, finding herself leaning into his shoulder. 

In their view, the roses bloomed unabashedly, full and passionate.

She listened to the faint heartbeat beneath his chest, her expression somewhat dazed.

From carrying her down the mountain to cooking for her and that first bouquet of flowers she had begged for during their first initial shopping trip, he seemed to be making up for all those moments.

And those things she thought he had long forgotten, he actually had remembered them all.

Her eyes slightly welled up, and her vision blurred. The various emotions that had been bottled up inside her over these days seemed to have found a release, surging all at once.

Suddenly, she turned around and embraced him, burying her face in his shoulder and inhaling his scent.

Ever since she was little, she had stopped acting spoiled because she knew that no one would indulge her. Yet, with this man in front of her, she couldn’t help but reveal her most genuine emotions.

After a moment, she said in a muffled tone with a hint of grievance…

“I’ll give you a chance. If you confess to me right now, I might soften my resolve and forgive your past faults, and accept you…”

Xie Shuo gently patted her shoulder as if consoling her.

He lightly kissed her ear, saying, “Just wait a little longer.” 

Ye An: ?

Ye An looked up from his embrace, her eyes widening in disbelief.

She had already backed down, yet he was still not seizing the opportunity?

Wait a little longer?

Until the dishes turn cold?

Holding her hand, Xie Shuo gazed into her eyes with a smile, “I want you to enjoy the feeling of being pursued a little more.”

One by one, I’ll make up for what I owed you in the past.

Ye An was taken aback.

The lighting shone from above, casting a soft glow between the two of them, almost as if they were in a dream.

After a while, Ye An smiled, arched her brow, and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of missing this opportunity and not being able to have me later?”

Xie Shuo also smiled, unbuttoning a button of his collar, revealing a hint of his collarbone, and one arm resting behind the sofa where she sat as if he had enveloped her in his embrace.

He looked at her with a slightly tipsy, confident expression… reminiscent of how she had met him that year, full of youthful vigor.

“Let’s see then.”

Meeting his gaze, Ye An’s heart skipped a beat.

She forced herself to suppress the pounding in her heart, smiling brightly as if she were reborn, her eyes fervent. “Sure, let’s see.” 

She leaned in suddenly, her delicate hand resting on his shoulder as her red lips neared his ear…

“In the past, I was the belle of my major, and there were plenty of guys chasing after me. The heavens reward the diligent. So, President Xie, give it your best shot.”

Previous | Index | Next

“To see you.”

His melodic voice, laced with a smile, drifted through the evening breeze and into her ears. For a moment, Ye An just stared at him in stunned silence.

Feeling ignored, the little cat at her feet let out an indignant “meow” and silently walked away.

Xie Shuo strode over and extended his clean, slender hand toward her, looking down at her from a higher vantage point. 

Ye An’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t take his hand. Instead, she supported herself up.

He wore a white shirt with an undone top button; his face carried a hint of weariness as if he had hurriedly come from somewhere. 

“Why did you come here? Isn’t there a lot of work at the company?”

Withdrawing his hand in the air and returning it to his pocket, Xie Shuo looked at her bright eyes and repeated his words from earlier. This time, he said hoarsely near her ear, “To see you.”

Ye An’s ears tingled, flushing inexplicably. 

“Why did you want to see me?”

She muttered as she tucked her hair behind her ear, avoiding his gaze and pretending to look at the peach blossoms in the courtyard. 

Suddenly, the voice of the innkeeper’s lady boss sounded from behind her, “Your husband is here?”

For the past two days, Ye An had been staying at the inn, and the lady boss’ younger brother happened to be her fan, so the two of them had become familiar. 

When Xie Shuo had come the last time, his eyes were still not recovered. A man so handsome yet blind had left a deep impression on the lady boss’ wife, so she recognized him at a glance.

“Dinner is ready, would you like an extra serving?”

The lady boss asked Ye An, curiously glancing at Xie Shuo’s eyes.

Turning around, Ye An just so happened to meet Xie Shuo’s gaze. Somehow, she suddenly felt like being a little willful and said purposely, “No need, we’re not together.” 

She smiled playfully and turned around, walking through the long corridor toward the stairs. She wore a red dress that flowed gracefully around her, emphasizing her slender waist.

“Are there any rooms available next to hers?” 

Xie Shuo asked the lady boss, watching her graceful figure as she walked away.

The lady boss showed a troubled expression. “I’m sorry, sir, but the room next door has already been booked by another guest.”

Ye An arrived at the door of her room, swiped her card to enter, and was just about to close the door when she suddenly saw Xie Shuo following her. 

“I didn’t book a room.”

His hand resting on the doorframe, looking somewhat pitiful.

Ye An suppressed the urge to give in to her soft-heartedness and said with a smile, “It’s not too late to book one now.”

Xie Shuo locked eyes with her, and she met his gaze.

The two of them stood at the doorway, locked in a gaze for over a dozen seconds. In the end, Xie Shuo conceded and withdrew his hand. 

Ye An glanced at him one last time before closing the door. 

After closing the door, Ye An waited for a while but didn’t hear any knocking. She began to worry. 

He was a wealthy CEO, worth billions, and a grown adult. With his eyes healed, he should be able to find a place to stay, right?

Not long after, the lady boss sent up her dinner. Ye An placed the meal on the balcony and sat at the table, dining alone.

The setting sun bathed everything in a golden light as it slowly descended.

This radiant glow extended until nightfall when the bright moon appeared on the horizon, but Xie Shuo never came to find her again.

As Ye An finished her dinner, the more she thought about it, the more worried she became. She pretended to go for a walk outside, descending the wooden staircase. 

Beneath the moonlight, the peach blossoms were still in full bloom, and a few tourists strolled around. However, there was no sign of him anywhere.

Could it be that he was so upset by my rejection that he had left in anger? 

Wasn’t that too petty?

The lady boss wasn’t around, and Ye An didn’t inquire further. She went back upstairs to her room.

The night breeze gently rustled the curtains with antique-style palace lanterns adorning the balcony. She held her phone in her hand and leaned against the railing. 

Her long hair danced in the wind. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with two WeChat messages. 

Xie Shuo: “Turn to your left.”

Ye An instinctively turned her head. Under the moonlight, a familiar figure came into view — slim waist, long legs, and a noble demeanor.

The balconies of the rooms in the inn were only a short distance away from each other. They had decorative railings with climbing vines and various potted plants, emitting a subtle fragrance. 

Ye An: ?

She distinctly remembered that the room next door had already been booked by someone else.

“Isn’t this room someone else’s?”

Ye An glared. 

“I offered double the price.”

Xie Shuo smiled, his eyes clearly conveying the message — with money, you can do whatever you want.

Ye An: “…….”

How could the person next door lack such a backbone?

To actually cancel their reservation just for money!

“Why did you decide to come here for a vacation?” asked Xie Shuo suddenly.

With the Thousand Moon Lake glistening in the distance, with the moonlight casting a shimmering light on the water, Ye An gazed into the distance and said casually, “It’s not crowded here, and the scenery is nice, so I came.”

Xie Shuo arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t have enough fun last time?”

Ye An thought to herself: Last time, I was too busy taking care of you. How could I have fun?

She propped her chin up and said, “Different season, different scenery.”

Xie Shuo paused for two seconds before saying, “I thought you wanted to do the honeymoon again.”

Ye An: “…….”

Knowing he was doing this on purpose, Ye An still couldn’t help but feel a little flustered. She instinctively retorted, “What nonsense are you making up? Who would I go on a honeymoon with alone?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she wished she could shut her own mouth.

As expected, Xie Shuo looked at her with a half-smile, as if saying, “Aren’t I here?”

“…….”

Ye An pursed her lips and turned away, ignoring him.

Standing by the railing, Xie Shuo gazed into the distance at the moonlit lake. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, “Is the moonlight tonight better, or was it better that night?”

Ye An was slightly taken aback, catching a glimpse of his side profile bathed in moonlight.

She had mentioned “River On a Spring Night” yesterday, thinking that he had probably forgotten it by now. But to her surprise, he remembered.

The phrase “The moonlight tonight is so beautiful,” was also a line to profess one’s love. This time, Ye An didn’t fall for it again as she turned around and said, “It was better that night.”

Looking at her, Xie Shuo wanted to say something, but his phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

He took it out, glanced at it, and frowned slightly. He answered the call and turned to the side.

The night breeze was cool. His voice sounded in her ears, seemingly discussing a company project. After listening for a while, Ye An felt a bit sleepy so she decided to go inside.

After tidying up her clothes and taking a shower, she sat down on the bed. She reached for her phone and saw a new message.

Xie Shuo: “Asleep?”

Leaning against the headboard, Ye An looked at the message on her phone before replying: “Not yet.”

Xie Shuo: “Any plans for tomorrow?”

Ye An: “Going hiking.”

Xie Shuo: “Okay, get some rest. Goodnight.”

Ye An replied with a “Goodnight” and put down her phone, sitting there with her knees pulled up, lost in thought.

These past two days, she had come out alone to clear her mind and carefully reconsidered everything between her and Xie Shuo.

Since she couldn’t completely sever her feelings, they might as well start afresh. She had been overthinking things for the past few months, and it had left her physically and mentally exhausted. It was better to just relax and enjoy herself.

She pulled the blanket, ready to lie down, but then remembered that she hadn’t done her skincare, so she got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and applied her skincare before climbing back into bed to sleep.

The next morning, as the sky was just starting to brighten, Ye An was awakened by her alarm. Still a bit groggy, she hurriedly got out of bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

She didn’t send a message to Xie Shuo specifically. After getting dressed, she left her room. 

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see a familiar figure standing in the hallway as if he had been waiting for a while.

Today, Xie Shuo wasn’t wearing his usual shirt and trousers. Instead, he had changed into athleisure, giving him a more approachable and down-to-earth appearance, neat and handsome as always.

Ye An rarely saw him dressed like this and couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times.

Xie Shuo was also looking at her. She, too, wore athleisure today, with her long hair tied up and a black sun hat on. Her red lips were vibrant, exuding youthfulness. 

Xie Shuo greeted her with a “morning” and took her backpack from her hands. Together, they descended the stairs.

The spring scenery in the mountains was beautiful, with fresh greenery and wildflowers swaying in the breeze.

The last time they came here, Ye An had been concerned about Xie Shuo’s eyes, so they only climbed to a small pavilion halfway up the mountain. This time, her goal was the mountaintop.

However, halfway up, she was panting heavily and struggling to continue. Leaning against a large rock by the side of the path, she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Xie Shuo stopped in his tracks and extended his hand.

His fingers were long and slender. Ye An glanced at him and hesitated before eventually placing her hand in his palm. 

Xie Shuo grasped her delicate and fair hand, holding her up the rest of the way.

The morning sun shone through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows. The fragrance of flowers and plants wafted in the breeze. With Xie Shuo’s assistance, Ye An finally made it to the mountaintop.

The mountains stretched into the distance, and the sunlight bathed the lush greenery. They were finally able to enjoy the scenery that they missed last time. 

After resting and having a snack at the mountaintop, they decided to make their way back down while they still had the energy.

As they passed by the pavilion halfway down the mountain, Xie Shuo suddenly asked, “Did we climb up to here last time?”

Ye An felt blisters forming on her feet but endured it as she nodded. “En, we had bumped into Zhuang Yinian, and I even asked her to take a photo of us.”

Hearing this, Xie Yan asked, “Where’s the photo?”

Ye An walked into the pavilion and sat down. She took out her phone from her bag and started scrolling through her photos. However, the first photo she came across was the candid “kiss photo” she had taken later on.

In the photo, she was leaning close to his cheek, and he happened to turn around at that moment.

It was an incredibly intimate pose.

Ye An froze; Xie Shuo suddenly leaned over.

Fumbling, she hastily placed her phone on her chest, feeling somewhat guilty, and her ears slightly red.

Noticing her anxious reaction, Xie Shuo remembered the “awkward hair photo” he had seen on her phone before and thought she must’ve scrolled to that photo. He smiled and asked teasingly, “I can’t see it?”

Locking eyes with him, Ye An turned her back to him and quickly found the normal photo taken by Zhuang Yinian of the two of them. She held it up for him to see for a moment before immediately withdrawing. 

“Okay, you saw it. Let’s go.”

After saying that, she didn’t give him another chance to look and quickly got up, walking out of the pavilion like a jumping rabbit. Xie Shuo chuckled and followed behind her.

Not long after, Ye An’s feet were in unbearable pain. Gritting her teeth, she walked ahead with a slight limp.

Suddenly, Xie Shuo grabbed her wrist and crouched slightly in front of her. “Hop on.”

Ye An was taken aback and remembered when she saw Yan Fei carrying Zhuang Yinian on his back the last time, she purposely expressed how envious she was to him.

After being stunned for a few seconds, she bent down and climbed onto his broad back.

Xie Shuo’s hands wrapped around her knees, and he carried her down slowly, his steps steady.

Beside them, a young couple walked past. The girl glanced enviously at Ye An and then nudged her boyfriend’s arm, saying, “Look at that girl’s boyfriend, and then look at you! Not only is he good-looking, but he’s also considerate.”

“His girlfriend is skinny, easier to carry…”

“What do you mean? Are you saying I’m fat? If you want to break up, just say it!”

“I was wrong, I was wrong…”

The young couple continued to bicker as they walked away.

Ye An rested against the nape of Xie Shuo’s neck, chuckling softly.

The spring sun illuminated the path, and as Xie Shuo listened to her laughter in his ears, a slight smile formed on his lips.

As it was a hiking trail after all, Ye An didn’t dare to make him carry her for too long. Before reaching the foot of the mountain, she broke free from his carry.

Upon descending the mountain, the two of them took a ride back to the inn.

Ye An was exhausted. After entering her room, she collapsed on the sofa. When she took off her shoes, she noticed that her feet were indeed covered in blisters.

Lying on her arm as a makeshift pillow for a while, she was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. She reluctantly got up, limping her way to answer it.

Xie Shuo had somehow found a jar of ointment. After entering the room, he knelt down, his long fingers grasping her fair foot, intending to apply the ointment for her.

Ye An was taken aback and quickly withdrew her foot, saying, “I can do it myself.”

After a morning of hiking, her feet were covered in sweat; the smell was unpleasant for sure.

Xie Shuo looked up at her as if he understood what she was thinking. He sat down beside her and reached out again. “Didn’t you say you have no strength left?”

With determination, Ye An moved away from his touch and firmly said, “I still have the strength left to apply the ointment myself.”

As she spoke, she reached out to snatch the jar of ointment from his hand. However, she lost balance and fell forward, landing directly on top of him.

Xie Shuo quickly supported himself with one hand on the edge of the sofa and used the other to encircle her waist.

“……”

Her lips accidentally brushed against his shoulder. Upon smelling his familiar scent, Ye An froze for a moment, feeling her ears heat up. She quickly pulled away, flustered, and sat back down.

Turning her back to him, she picked up a Q-tip and started applying the ointment. A faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks.

Xie Shuo didn’t insist any further and sat silently beside her, watching her.

His gaze was too piercing, making Ye An somewhat uneasy. She glared at him. “I know I’m pretty, but you don’t have to keep staring, do you? There’s a fee for extended viewing!”

Xie Shuo smiled and went along with it. “How much are you charging?”

Blinking her long eyelashes, Ye An’s eyes wandered. “One look costs one million, no discounts.”

Xie Shuo chuckled. Compared to the cordial atmosphere they had maintained for the past while, he much preferred her current careful and playful demeanor.

Just as he was about to say something, his phone in his pocket suddenly rang again.

Taking it out and checking the call, his smile faded away and was replaced by his usual cold and serious expression. He got up and walked to the balcony to answer the call.

Ye An vaguely heard some words from the convo, seemingly related to matters at the company.

This man truly was a workaholic, not a spare moment of idleness.

The phone call took quite a while, about half an hour, before Xie Shuo returned from the balcony and stood in front of her, asking, “How about going to the hot springs in the afternoon?” 

Was he trying to relive the things they had done during their honeymoon?

Ye An was feeling a bit sleepy. Remembering the series of awkward events that had happened during their previous hot spring experience, she shook her head. “No, I want to take a nap.”

In the past, when he couldn’t see, going to the hot springs wasn’t a big deal. But now, going together might be a bit too much.

She looked up and saw that he was still standing there, not moving. She said lazily, “If you have things to do, go ahead. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Glancing at her, Xie Shuo made sure that she wasn’t angry before saying, “Alright, rest well.” He then turned and left the room, returning to his own.

The afternoon sun was cozy, and Ye An slept for the entire afternoon.

Xie Shuo, on the other hand, had a much busier afternoon. He had two meetings and dealt with work matters throughout the afternoon. It wasn’t until after 5 p.m. that he finally took a short nap on the sofa.

Close to 6 p.m., he checked his phone again and still hadn’t received any messages from Ye An. He began to worry and got up from the sofa.

The door next door was slightly ajar, and as Xie Yan approached it, he heard voices of laughter inside… Ye An’s voice and that of a young man.

Frowning, Xie Shuo pushed the door open and saw Ye An sitting on the sofa with a cushion in her arms, looking up at the young man in front of her, smiling radiantly.

The young man was tall and skinny, appearing to be around 18 or 19, saying “jiejie” this or that, his eyes filled with admiration.

Frowning slightly, Xie Shuo knocked on the door.

Ye An glanced toward the door, and the young man turned to look as well.

Xie Shuo pushed the door open, gave the young man a brief glance, and then walked over to Ye An. His tone was gentle as he asked, “Shall we go for dinner?”

Ye An gestured toward several takeout boxes on the coffee table with her eyes. “Dinner has already been delivered.”

Following this, she looked up and introduced the young man in front of her. “This is the lady boss’ younger brother. Dinner was sent up by him, and he even added some snacks.”

The youngster looked at Xie Shuo and smiled shyly. “Hi.” 

Xie Shuo nodded slightly in acknowledgment. 

The youngster didn’t linger and said, “Alright, I’ll take my leave now, jiejie.”

Ye An smiled radiantly. “Okay.”

After the young man left, the room fell silent, and Xie Shuo’s expression finally eased a bit.

Seeing him, Ye An remembered the last time she had to coax him for quite a while before he agreed to eat the food she bought. This time, she deliberately ignored him and set the meal out on the balcony, seating herself alone.

After a moment of standing in the room, Xie Shuo walked over and sat down beside her, directly picking up a pair of chopsticks.

Ye An looked up and said, “I don’t recall inviting you to join me though?”

Xie Shuo seemed to have not heard her words at all and began to eat as if he didn’t consider himself an outsider.

Seeing him like this, Ye An couldn’t help but smile and also picked up her chopsticks.

After finishing dinner, it was still quite early, so Xie Shuo asked, “Would you like to go for a walk?”

As night began to fall, the twilight cast a shadow on his face, making his features appear indistinct. In the past, it was always her who went to great lengths to coax him out, but today, he had taken the initiative.

Ye An’s heart softened a bit and she said, “My legs still hurt, so I don’t want to walk too far. Let’s just go downstairs.”

The two of them went downstairs, and in the courtyard, the scent of peach blossoms filled the air. There were quite a few people out for a stroll, and it was easy to bump into one or two of them if you weren’t careful.

Xie Shuo gently pulled her into his arms to avoid bumping into others.

The little black cat that belonged to the lady boss came over, purring and rubbing against Ye An’s feet.

Ye An crouched down, happily petting it.

Xie Shuo stood behind her, watching, and suddenly remembered the little penguin back at home.

The little black cat purred a couple more times before scampering away.

Ye An got up, but because she had been crouching for too long, and with her legs already sore, she stumbled backward and ended up falling right into Xie Shuo’s arms.

Xie Shuo held her waist and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.

His familiar and cool aura wafted over her, and Ye An looked up, meeting his eyes, which were deep and intense.

To think she would throw herself into his arms twice in one day…

The moonlight shone dimly, and the peach blossoms around them were in full bloom, setting a romantic atmosphere.

Xie Shuo held her and whispered, “Yin Yin misses you a lot.”

Yin Yin?

Ye An was momentarily puzzled, then realized it was the name they gave to Little Penguin at home. She arched an eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure… it’s just Yin Yin who misses me?”

Xie Shuo looked down, and before he could speak, Ye An pushed him away, smiling. “Well, in that case, you can just have someone send it to me.”

Pausing for a moment, she emphasized, “Just the penguin, though.”

After saying that, she turned around and walked briskly back the way they came.

Xie Shuo watched her retreating figure, smiling.

….…

The next day, the soreness in Ye An’s legs intensified, so she could only choose to wander around the vicinity.

As they strolled, the two of them passed by the temple where they had made wishes the last time. Ye An stopped outside the temple, recalling something, and suggested, “Since your eyes are healed now, how about going in to make an offering?”

This time, Xie Shuo didn’t show clear reluctance and accompanied her to light license and make offerings.

After leaving the temple, they once again passed by the fortune-telling booth they had visited before.

Ye An was in high spirits and suddenly asked, “How about trying our luck with another fortune stick?”

Xie Shuo arched an eyebrow, initially going to decline, but seeing her so enthusiastic, he didn’t want to dampen her spirits, so she agreed.

His eyes had already healed, so there was no need to make another wish. Looking at him, Ye An pondered for a moment and then had a clever idea, smiling mischievously. “Let’s seek a marriage fortune this time.”

Xie Shuo glanced at her and drew a fortune stick from the container.

Ye An took a look at it, and on the stick were four characters written in bold… Heaven rewards the diligent.

Ye An: “…….”

Xie Shuo: “…….”

After a brief silence, Ye An suddenly burst into laughter while Xie Shuo’s handsome face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Previous | Index | Next

When the plane landed, it was 4 p.m. 

As Ye An exited the airport and turned on her phone, she received a call from Ye Yuan Nian..

“Hi, An An, what’s going on between you and Xie Shuo?”

His voice sounded anxious over the phone. 

Ye An held her phone and sneered. He’s calling to ask now? A bit too late.

“What do you mean ‘what’s going on’?”

She said indifferently. 

Hearing her tone, Ye Yuan Nian grew even more anxious. “I’m talking about the divorce rumors between you two.”

Ye An gripped her suitcase handle and pursed her lips in silence. She suddenly felt the urge to just tell him that they were already divorced. 

But then, to make him mad by lying didn’t seem worth it.

“An An, listen to Daddy. Our families’ union isn’t a joke. Don’t act petulant. Now that A’Shuo regained his sight, you should work on your relationship with him. It’s best to have a child as soon as possible…”

Ye An: ……. Where does he get the face to urge me to have a baby?

After rambling on for a while and seeing that she wasn’t responding, Ye Yuan Nian, afraid that she might be irked, changed the subject, “Do you want to come home for a few days?”

Ye An looked up at the bright sky outside the airport. She was going home, but not to the Ye family.

“No, I don’t have time.”

Her tone was insipid. 

In the past year, Ye Yuan Nian had noticed her distant attitude, but he had been trying to maintain a facade of harmony. However, he couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “An An, are you… still harboring resentment toward Daddy?”

Ye An left the airport, and the bright spring sunlight was somewhat glaring. Gazing at the green leaves on the trees by the roadside, she suddenly didn’t feel like continuing to feign civility with him. 

After a while, she said unhurriedly, “I don’t resent you, but I also don’t want to return to the Ye family. The money you gave back then was repaid when I married into the Xie family. Regardless of whether I’m with Xie Shuo or not in the future, it doesn’t have anything to do with the Ye family.”

Blood ties couldn’t be severed, but grievances could be settled. 

Not expecting her to suddenly say such things, Ye Yuan Nian’s expression changed. “An An, are you still unwilling to forgive Dad?”

Ye An didn’t know how much of his eagerness to repair their father-daughter relationship was driven by self-interest and how much was genuine, and she didn’t want to delve into it. She replied calmly, “There’s nothing to forgive or not forgive. Over these years, I didn’t have a dad, and I’ve managed just fine. I’m not a child anymore, and I don’t need these things.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, “That’s it for now. I have something to attend to, bye.”

She hung up the call, gripping her phone tightly, her fingertips turning white. After calming her emotions for a moment, she straightened her back and continued forward.

…….

The warm spring day brought forth colorful blooms along the streets, lifting people’s spirits. 

By the time she arrived at her home’s doorsteps, it was already dusk, and the aroma of dinner wafted through the hallway. Her stomach growled in hunger as she pressed the doorbell.

Soon, someone came to open the door, and when Xia Jin saw her, she looked surprised. “An An? Why did you suddenly come back?”

Ye An smiled. “I took a long break and came back to rest for a while.”

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

A hint of nervousness flashed across Xia Jin’s face as she hesitated for a moment before letting her in.

Ye An dragged her suitcase into the house, and the sound of cooking came from the kitchen. She had hired a nanny for Xia Jin to take care of her daily life. 

Hearing the noise, she assumed it was the nanny. As she glanced toward the kitchen, she was surprised to see a middle-aged man wearing glasses. He was wearing a gray sweater and light-colored pants, looking refined and scholarly.  

Ye An was taken aback. 

The man turned around and also froze in surprise when he saw her. 

Xia Jin followed behind and felt a bit embarrassed as she introduced. “This is Xu laoshi, my art teacher.”

After a brief moment of surprise, Ye An immediately understood the situation. Her mom seemed to be starting a new chapter in her life. 

No wonder every time she mentioned coming back home, her mom appeared a bit nervous and emphasized that she should inform her beforehand.

She politely smiled and greeted, “Hello, Xu laoshi.”

Xu Jitong smiled amiably. “You must be An An, right?”

He then turned to Xia Jin. “Should we add two more dishes? I’ll go down to buy them.”

He started to untie his apron as he spoke, but Ye An quickly said, “No need to trouble yourself. I’m not very hungry.”

Seeing this, Xia Jin also said, “No need, there are some things in the fridge.”

“Alright.”

Xu Jitong nodded before turning to get some dishes from the fridge.

Ye An withdrew her gaze and said nothing before carrying her suitcase into her bedroom to unpack.

In the living room, Xia Jin glanced at Xu Jitong and then in the direction of Ye An’s bedroom, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Before long, dinner was served. Xia Jin went to Ye An’s door and knocked.

The three of them sat at the same table, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward. None of them spoke much.

After dinner, Xu Jitong left. He lived in the same neighborhood, just two buildings away.

The living room now only had them mother and daughter left, and an eerie silence hung in the air.

Xia Jin had always been strong-willed, but at this moment, she showed an unusual and stiff expression. It took her a while to speak up, “An An, Xu laoshi just occasionally helps out; there’s nothing more…”

Looking at her, Ye An said calmly, “Mom, if you think he’s suitable, I have no objections.”

In fact, she had wanted to urge her for a long time. Life was long, and there was no need to be stuck in the past. It was time to let bygones be bygones. 

Xia Jin was taken aback. “You’re not mad at Mom?”

Ye An smiled. “I’m not home often and having someone to take care of you is a good thing.”

This way, she wouldn’t have to worry so much in the future.

After finally speaking openly about it, Xia Jin breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment’s hesitation, she brought up another topic, “I heard that Xie Shuo’s eyes have recovered?”

Upon hearing that name, Ye An’s mind started wandering before she replied, “Yes, he has recovered.”

“That’s great to hear…” Although Xia Jin wasn’t pleased with how hastily she had married into the Xie family, she still felt happy about this news. “Then, why didn’t he come with you?”

Ye An hesitated for a moment but decided not to mention the divorce. “He just returned to work at the company, so he’s been quite busy lately. He’s currently on a business trip abroad.”

After a few more questions from Xia Jin, she didn’t press any further and went into Ye An’s bedroom to prepare the bed for her before telling her to rest early.

…….

The next day, Xu Jitong came over to teach Xia Jin painting as usual and even brought two paintings as gifts for Ye An.

Looking at the two of them chatting and painting in the art room, Ye An suddenly felt a bit out of place. After staying home for three days, she packed her bags, preparing to leave.

Xia Jin was puzzled. “Weren’t you planning to rest at home for a while?”

Ye An: “Staying at home all the time is boring. I want to go out and travel to relax, and this season is just right.”

Xia Jin looked at her, wanting to say something but hesitating. 

Ye An dragged her suitcase and smiled at her. “Really, it’s fine. I just want to go on a trip.”

Although Xia Jin was a bit upset, she could only say, “Remember to take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything.”

Ye An nodded and waved her hand before leaving with her suitcase. 

After coming down, she breathed a sigh of relief, silently telling herself that being alone wasn’t a bad thing as a smile formed on her lips. 

Along the way, the weather was sunny, with a gentle breeze and clear skies. The willow branches swayed gracefully, and colorful flowers were in full bloom. It was truly a season of renewal and new beginnings. 

…….

When Xie Shuo returned to the country, it was on the second day of Ye An’s trip.

Upon leaving the airport, he instructed the chauffeur to head directly to the condo where Ye An was staying.

He didn’t call Ye An in advance, intending to give her a surprise.

The spring scenery outside the car window was beautiful, and Xie Shuo couldn’t help but smile, a hint of mirth in his eyes. 

The car passed through the gated community and stopped in front of the condo building. Xie Shuo got out of the car, took the elevator upstairs, and rang the doorbell. However, there was no response for quite some time.

He had asked in advance, and she had been on vacation these few days, so she shouldn’t be at the studio.

Thinking about how she was still recovering from a cold, Xie Shuo became a bit worried. Instead of ringing the doorbell again, he took out his key and opened the door.

Upon entering the condo, a sense of desolation hit him. It was eerily quiet inside, and the flowers on the table had withered halfway.

He searched around but couldn’t find anyone. He decided to call Ye An, but her phone went straight to voicemail with the cold message: “The user you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please try again later.”

Standing in the room, Xie Shuo became restless. No matter how upset she had been in the past, it had never reached a point where she disappeared without a word, leaving him unable to find her.

She had clearly promised to wait for him to come back before he left.

With the condo empty and her phone unreachable, Xie Shuo decided to make a visit back to the Xie family estate. 

Seeing him, Xie Baiyan asked about the divorce rumors from a couple of days ago, “What’s going on between you and An An?”

Xie Shuo frowned and remained silent. 

Looking at him, Xie Baiyan sighed. “I know that you were unwilling about this marriage. But no matter what, An An is a good girl. This past year, she has taken care of you and spent a lot of time and effort. If it was someone else, it’s uncertain if they could do as well as she had. Even if you truly want a divorce, remember her good. Don’t rush it too much and make it hard on her.”

Suddenly, Xie Shuo said, “We won’t get divorced.”

Xie Baiyan was taken aback.

Xie Shuo paused briefly and emphasized, “I won’t divorce her.”

This came as a genuine surprise to Xie Baiyan. So, all this commotion was because his daughter-in-law wanted a divorce?

After saying this, Xie Shuo turned around and went upstairs.

Xie Baiyan watched his son’s retreating figure, feeling a bit worried. This son of his had always been outstanding since childhood, good at everything, but his personality…

Back in his bedroom, Xie Shuo took off his coat and sat down on the sofa, wearily rubbing his temples.

The room was empty, quiet, and cold. Since she moved out, it seemed like all the vitality had left this place; even the plants on the balcony looked listless.

He could almost hear her voice again, lively and willful. When she was around, she always found ways to engage him in conversations and laughter. 

The setting sun slowly sank, casting a blood-red glow across the horizon and painting the sky in fiery colors. 

After sitting for a while, Xie Shuo picked up his phone and went online. He checked and found that the divorce rumors from a few days ago had disappeared without a trace, long forgotten by netizens.

He searched for Ye An’s profile on Weibo and clicked on it. Her latest post was from over half a month ago, promoting a variety show. 

For this post, she had even recorded a voice message.

He played the voice message. It was a line from a script, delivered with a tone that sounded sweeter and less casual than her usual way of speaking.

After listening, he continued scrolling through her posts. There were very few personal posts, mostly promotional content for her voice-acting projects. As he scrolled, he abruptly paused at a certain post.

A photo suddenly caught his eye. 

In the photo, two hands were clasped, with wedding rings on their ring fingers. There was also a red rose placed next to the hands. The image was beautifully romantic, enhanced with a filter.

The caption read: “The person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold. I’m doing well, and so is my husband.”

Xie Shuo was momentarily stunned, and he was flooded with memories of dark scenes where there was only sound but no visuals.

At that time, how did she handle all this? 

Looking up, he gazed out at the fiery sunset outside, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he had a realization. 

This marriage had started as a transaction, followed by over half a year of emotional abuse from him. For her, there were no beautiful memories to cherish. It was no wonder she couldn’t get over that hurdle and remained unwilling to believe him.

After being lost in thought for a while, Xie Shuo picked up his phone again, found her number, and dialed it.

This time, it was finally not the cold and empty ringing tone. 

The phone rang for quite a while, so long that Xie Shuo almost thought she wouldn’t pick up. Finally, he heard her familiar voice on the other end.

“Hello?” 

Xie Shuo said softly, “I’m back.”

There was a short “oh” from the other end.

In the past, he might’ve found her talkative, but now he felt she was saying too little. 

Xie Shuo: “I just went to the condo, but you weren’t there.”

Ye An: “I went home. Didn’t I tell you last time? I’m going to take a break and stay at my mom’s place for a while.”

Her tone was similar to her usual one, seemingly not upset.

Xie Shuo asked again, “What’s your home address?”

Hearing this question, Ye An became wary instinctively. “Why are you asking for this?”

Xie Shuo said straightforwardly, “I’ll go find you.”

Ye An hurriedly said, “No need, I’m not at home right now; I’m on a trip.”

Xie Shuo then asked, “Where are you going?”

Ye An was sitting on the veranda and watching the peach blossom trees in the courtyard. Perhaps because the peach blossoms were so vibrant, her mood was great as well. She was in a playful mood and decided to tease him a bit, saying, “Guess?”

Xie Shuo: “……. Can you give me a hint?”

Ye An lightly tapped her chin with a finger, pondering for a moment before mentioning the title of a poem, “River On a Spring Night.”

Xie Shuo furrowed his brows in contemplation.

“The hint is already so obvious. If you can’t guess it, then forget it.”

After saying that, Ye An hung up the phone. 

She had no expectations that he would guess right. There were some things he had probably long forgotten; even if he could guess it, he definitely wouldn’t have the time to come find her, given how busy he was.

In his heart, she had always been the last priority.

Thinking about this, she couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic. Sigh, why did she fall for a man who had no emotions?

Meanwhile, as Xie Shuo looked at his darkened phone screen, he smiled as he thought of something.

He put his phone away and headed out of the study. When he passed by a corner where “Little Penguin” was placed, he paused for a moment.

Little Penguin immediately flapped its wings and said pitifully in a cute voice, “Master, I miss you so much…”

He reached out and imitated her previous actions, gently patting Little Penguin’s head.

……

The next day at sunset, Xie Shuo stepped into the inn next to the Thousand Moon Lake, where they had once stayed during their honeymoon. He found Ye An in the courtyard, playing with a small black cat.

The afterglow painted the sky in shades of gold and red. Peach blossoms were in full bloom, with the occasional petals adrift in the breeze.

Amused by the adorable antics of the little cat, she laughed and mimicked its meow with uncanny accuracy.

“Meow……”

“Me….ow….”

With a cat as a companion, reveling in simple joy.

Not knowing how long had passed, she finally noticed something and looked up.

At that moment, Xie Shuo was reminded of the first time he saw her after regaining his sight. The sunlight was warm, and she turned around with a smile, her eyes shining bright. 

Ye An’s hands froze in the midst of her playful antics with the cat, staring in disbelief at the familiar figure before her. She almost thought she was hallucinating.

Shouldn’t he be busy at work?

“Why are you here?”

The man, tall and slender, with one hand in his pocket, stood under the spring sun with a faint smile on his typically stern face. 

“To see you.”

Previous | Index | Next

After Xie Shuo went on his business trip, Ye An continued her busy life of daily trips to the recording studio, fully immersed in her career.

This time, Xie Shuo was totally different from before, as if he had suddenly become enlightened. 

Despite the time difference between their locations, he would almost call her every night and chat for a bit. Occasionally, when he was too busy, he would send her a message.

The days flew by, and on the seventh day since Xie Shuo went on a business trip, Ye An also completed her work dubbing for a drama. 

Upon returning home, she collapsed into bed and slept until the sun was high in the sky the next day. 

Outside her window, the spring sunlight was bright and dazzling. After freshening up and changing her clothes, she had intended to make something in the kitchen to eat. However, when she opened the refrigerator and looked inside, there was hardly anything in it. 

While she was at the Xie residence, the ingredients were replenished daily by Auntie Zhou, so she didn’t have to worry about it. Now that she was on her own and hadn’t hired a maid, she naturally had to take care of things herself. 

Going from frugality to extravagance was easy, but transitioning from extravagance to frugality was difficult. It hadn’t been long since she moved out, but she already felt like she was slipping into bad habits. 

Ye An closed the refrigerator, grabbed the purse she had thrown on the sofa, changed her shoes, and headed downstairs to a nearby supermarket to buy some groceries. 

Eating alone didn’t require too much effort. She just cooked up two dishes, and that was it for lunch.

The sun was a bit scorching in the afternoon, so she decided to stay in and play on her laptop. She had just started watching a drama when her phone suddenly rang. 

It was Xiang Quan. 

“I’ve been on break for less than a day; what’s the matter?”

Ye An hugged a throw and sounded somewhat displeased. 

Xiang Quan: “Wait, I’m not asking you to come into the studio. There’s a voice acting event on Friday afternoon. If you’re free, can you go over and help promote the studio?” 

Hearing this, Ye An hesitated for a few seconds before replying, “Alright, send me the address and time.”

She realized that she hadn’t taken a break or gone out for a while. Attending the event could be a way to relax, and it coincided with her plan to take a few days off to visit her hometown. She figured she might not have much time for work during that period.

That night, Xie Shuo didn’t call but instead sent two messages at dawn. 

Ye An had just finished work and didn’t pay much attention. She went to bed early and only saw the messages the next morning. 

The messages were just ordinary greetings; after replying to them, she continued to rest at home. 

Perhaps due to irregular sleep patterns and excessive fatigue, after spending a day at home, Ye An suddenly caught a cold. She had a stuffy nose and a headache, and by Friday, she still wasn’t feeling better. 

It wasn’t good to go back on one’s word so after agreeing to attend the event, so she took some cold medicine and sucked on a couple of throat lozenges, mustering the strength to go out. She arrived at the voice acting event despite not being in the best condition.

Most of her clothes were still at the Xie residence, and she hadn’t brought much jewelry with her. Thus, she dressed modestly this time, wearing a simple and elegant light-colored dress. 

To conceal her illness, Ye An deliberately applied slightly heavier makeup, but there was still a hint of fatigue in her eyes. 

There were many fans who came to the event, forming long queues, and the place was bustling with people. Some fans secretly took photos with their phones from the sides. 

The atmosphere at the event was lively, with her colleagues from the studio performing amusing dubbing dialogues from various characters, eliciting laughter from the audience continuously.

It was also broadcast live online with comments like “haha” filling the bullet screen. 

Ye An’s throat was uncomfortable, so she only delivered one or two lines symbolically. 

In the latter part of the event, some fans lined up for autographs. She was surrounded by fans, and while she leaned down to sign autographs, a strand of hair fell down by her cheek. The slightly curled hair and her overly vibrant red lips contrasted with her pale complexion. 

The event overall went smoothly, and after it concluded, everyone went to the dinner reservation. However, Ye An felt dizzy and couldn’t hold on any longer, so she informed Xiang Quan and decided to leave early. 

Seeing her condition, Xiang Quan quickly called a car to take her back.

Returning to the condo, she had no appetite for dinner either. She hastily took a shower, changed into her PJs, and wrapped herself in the blanket before falling into a deep sleep. 

In a half-dream state, she heard her phone vibrating persistently for a long time. 

She struggled to open her eyes just a crack and reached out her arm to pick up her phone on the nightstand, tapping to answer. 

“Sleeping?”

Xie Shuo’s deep voice came through as if he were right in front of her and not thousands of miles away. 

Ye An drooped her eyelids and replied feebly with an “en.”

She didn’t turn on the light, so in the darkness, there was only the glow from her phone. 

Noticing that her voice didn’t sound right, Xie Shuo frowned. “Are you sick?”

Ye An sniffed and said hoarsely, “Just a little cold, nothing serious.”

“Did you go to the hospital yet?”

“No, I took some medicine. I should be fine after a good night’s sleep…” Ye An said as she lay down on her pillow.

“Go rest, and remember to take your medicine on time. If you don’t get better, go to the hospital.”

Afraid that she couldn’t handle it anymore, Xie Shuo didn’t say much more; he just instructed her before hanging up the call. 

Ye An’s grip on her phone loosened, and it dropped beside her pillow. She didn’t bother picking it up and fell back into a heavy sleep. 

The phone screen lit up briefly before automatically dimming. 

The next day, Ye An was awakened by the doorbell. 

She struggled for a while before managing to open her eyes and sit up, feeling a splitting headache. 

……. She hadn’t told anyone about moving here. Who could be coming here to find her?

The doorbell continued to ring persistently as if they would force their way in if she didn’t open the door. 

Ye An massaged her temple and forced herself to get up, stumbling in her slippers toward the outside of the bedroom.

As soon as she opened the door, Ye An was greeted by a somewhat familiar face, a young woman who appeared quite competent. 

“Good morning, Madam.”

Upon seeing Ye An, she immediately smiled professionally. 

There was breakfast and cold medicine in her hands. After a quick glance, Ye An realized that Xie Yan must’ve instructed her to do so.

As expected, the young woman added the next second, “My last name is Chen. Madam can just call me Xiao Chen. President Xie mentioned that Madam has caught a cold and asked me to come and check on you.”

Ye An stepped aside to let her into the condo.

Xiao Chen placed the breakfast on the table; the red bean porridge was steaming hot with a delightful fragrance wafting from it.

From last night until now, Ye An hadn’t eaten anything, and her stomach had long been empty. Seeing this breakfast, her heart couldn’t help but warm up. 

Ye An went to freshen up before returning to the dining table to sit down. A mouthful of the hot porridge soothed her whole body. 

She ate slowly, and Xiao Chen patiently waited. After she finished, Xiao Chen helped clean up the trash and asked with a smile, “Madam, do you feel better now? Would you like me to go to the hospital with you?”

Ye An shook her head. “No need, I just need some rest.”

Xiao Chen didn’t insist and asked, “What would you like for lunch, Madam?”

Ye An smiled. “Anything’s fine.”

“Then, you should rest for now. If you need anything, feel free to call me.”

Xiao Chen left her phone number and left, not wanting to impose any further. 

The weather outside was bright and sunny, perfect for sleeping in lazily. Ye An still felt a bit dizzy, so she went back to the bedroom and continued to sleep. 

At precisely 11:30 am, Xiao Chen brought lunch which included yam and pork rib soup—on the milder flavor side, along with two side dishes. 

After finishing lunch, Ye An sat contentedly on the sofa and couldn’t resist picking up her phone to open Xie Shuo’s WeChat.

If only this man had this awareness earlier, it would’ve been so much better.

With the time difference between them, it was likely still early morning on his side, and he might be sleeping. Ye An hesitated for a moment, suppressing her desire to send him a message. Instead, she backed out and decided to watch a movie to pass the time.

However, shortly after opening the movie, a message from Shi Shuangshuang popped up. “You and Xie Shuo got divorced?”

Ye An’s fingertips paused. “How did you find out?”

Shi Shuangshuang: “Online!”

Shi Shuangshuang: “? Wait!”

Shi Shuangshuang: “Did you guys really get divorced?”

Ye An didn’t respond to her message and instead opened Weibo. 

As soon as she opened it, her direct messages and comments flooded in. 

The source of the rumor was a marketing account that had posted several photos of her coming and going from the condo and grocery shopping alone, speculating that she and Xie Shuo had already divorced. Other marketing accounts quickly followed suit, trying to capitalize on the trend. 

After her recent appearance on the voice acting variety show, Ye An had experienced a surge in popularity, and coupled with the inherent buzz surrounding Xie Shuo, the curious masses flocked to the post…

“F**k! I just shipped this CP, and now you’re telling me it sank?”

“Did anyone ever notice that Ye An has never worn her wedding ring in public?!”

“I just went back to watch her appearance on that show, and she really didn’t wear her ring. OMG.”

“Did anyone attend yesterday’s voice acting event? Ye An looked especially haggard, and she took a taxi back home by herself. Xie Shuo never appeared at all.”

“WTF? What’s the situation between them? Are these two a fake couple?”

“Not appearing doesn’t necessarily mean they’re divorced, right? Maybe he’s just really busy with work.”

“I heard from a friend in high society that Xie Shuo had a childhood sweetheart with whom he had a great relationship. It was only because of his blindness that Ye An was able to step in.”

“If what you’re saying is true, Xie Shuo is really scummy then? He married her when he was blind, and now that he can see again, he’s dumping her!”

“I’m starting to feel sorry for her…”

“Feeling sorry +1”

……

Not only that, to confirm that she was divorced and brokenhearted, some netizens posted several photos from the event yesterday.

In these photos, she appeared pale, and her makeup couldn’t hide her haggardness, giving off a strong sense of being an “abandoned wealthy wife.”

For a moment, Weibo and related forums were abuzz with activity. Besides her sympathetic fans, there were also many who seized the opportunity to mock her for her shattered dreams of entering high society. 

“Ye An Divorce” and similar keywords shot up to the top of the trending topics. 

Ye An: “…….”

She had just gone out to buy groceries and caught a cold, and they were able to dig up divorce rumors? That was too impressive.

It seemed like she would have to start wearing a mask when she went out in the future. 

Xiang Quan directly called her and asked if she wanted to clarify things on Weibo in the studio’s name and take down the trending headline. 

Ye An rubbed her temples and said, “No need.”

Xiang Quan was a bit surprised. “No need?”

Ye An explained, “There’s nothing to clarify about this kind of thing. The more you try to clarify, the more chaotic it will become.”

Everyone was just joining in for the fun, and in a couple of days, without any response, the hype would naturally die down. Moreover, they might be nosy, but could they really influence whether she got divorced or not?

Hearing what she said, Xiang Quan didn’t press further and hung up the call. 

Ye An continued to browse the web for a while but lost interest quickly. She closed her phone and went back to watching her movie. 

Her cold hadn’t completely gone away, and she had just taken cold medicine, so not long after, she started feeling drowsy. 

She turned off her phone and went back to her room to continue sleeping. 

When she woke up, she suddenly received a call from Xie Baiyan.

“An An, what’s going on between you and A’Shuo?”

Xie Baiyan’s tone was solemn, indicating that he had already heard about the rumors.

Receiving the call, Ye An felt a bit flustered. She had almost forgotten about having to deal with him and Grandfather Xie.

She could ignore unrelated people, but it wasn’t so easy to explain away to Xie Baiyan and Grandfather Xie.

Ye An gripped her phone while her other hand-picked at the throw pillow. Momentarily, she didn’t know how to explain things to him. 

Seeing her silence, Xie Baiyan went straight to the point. “Make a visit back today.”

Ye An had no choice but to quickly change her clothes, tidy up, and rush back to the Xie residence. 

On her way back, she checked Weibo again and saw that the trending headline had been taken down. Presumably, Xie Baiyan was concerned about it spreading further and decided to have it taken down, regardless of its accuracy.

When she arrived at the Xie residence, Xie Baiyan was sitting in the living room, his brows furrowed.

Ye An went over, her voice trembling as she called out, “Dad.”

Noticing how pale she looked and didn’t seem to be in the best condition, Xie Baiyan softened his tone slightly. “Have a seat.”

Sitting down on the sofa, Ye An clutched her fingers tightly, torn between whether to deny everything or to be completely honest with him. If she and Xie Shuo couldn’t reconcile in the end, she would have to tell him the truth sooner or later.

“What exactly is going on? Are you and A’Shou getting a divorce?”

Ye An glanced at him but still didn’t utter a word.

Xie Baiyan suddenly had a thought and asked, “Is it… A’Shuo who wants to divorce?”

His son—he knew him better than anyone. Since he was young, he had been proud and had a strong will. When he didn’t want something, no one could persuade him otherwise.

He hadn’t been willing to get married to Ye An; it had been out of helplessness. Now that his eyes had regained their sight, there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t consider divorce.

Ye An hesitated for a moment, meeting Xie Baiyan’s questioning gaze. She pondered for a few seconds on the question of whether to shift the blame to Xie Shuo. In the end, she shook her head and said, “No.”

At that, Xie Baiyan became even more puzzled. If it wasn’t Xie Shuo who wanted to divorce, could it be that she was thinking of it?

Lately, Xie Shuo had indeed been very busy and had neglected her. It was possible that she had been displeased by it. 

After a while, Xie Baiyan said, “An An, A’Shuo is currently very busy with his career. As his wife, please be more understanding. If you have any feelings, don’t air them outside.”

Implicitly, Xie Baiyan meant that the Xie family wasn’t an ordinary family, and if she and Xie Shuo had any issues, it would only damage their reputation and become fodder for gossip within their social circles. 

Ye An lowered her eyes and said softly, “I understand, please don’t worry.”

After all the questioning, Xie Baiyan couldn’t make sense of the situation and had a bit of a headache. He assumed it was just a disagreement between them and sighed, “Well, this is you two’s own matter. I won’t ask any further. Let’s wait for A’Shuo to return and then talk.”

After a pause, he added, “But please, don’t let it spill outside.”

Ye An agreed and coughed a couple of times. 

Xie Baiyan looked at her pale complexion, his tone becoming much gentler. “Your complexion looks poor. Are you sick?”

Ye An replied, “I have a slight cold.”

Xie Baiyan: “Since you’re back, stay at home for a couple of days. Have Auntie Zhou make some soup for you tonight to nourish your body. If there’s anything you want to eat, just let the kitchen know.”

“En, thank you, Dad.”

After a few more instructions, Xie Baiyan got up and left.

At this moment, it wasn’t good for Ye An to return to the condo, so she went upstairs to Xie Shuo’s bedroom.

The bedroom was desolate and lacked the usual liveliness. Sitting on the sofa that Xie Shuo had loved, she took out her phone, glanced at it, and then closed it. 

She decided to deal with future matters when the time came. At the very least, they hadn’t divorced yet. 

Regardless of the outcome, she hoped that they could part on good terms. 

Ye An went to grab a blanket as if it were second nature and laid down on the sofa for a short nap.

While the rumors online were raging, it happened to be afternoon on Xie Shuo’s side. 

The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the glass walls. He glanced at his watch and saw that he had 15 minutes left before his scheduled meeting with a business partner.

Zhong Fu answered a call, and his expression slightly changed. He walked over to Xie Shuo’s side and whispered a few words into his ear.

After hearing Zhong Fu’s report, Xie Shuo’s expression turned sour.

“Call Yu Ran and have him handle this matter immediately.”

Zhong Fu complied and went to make the necessary arrangements.

When Ye An woke up, it was already dark. The dim twilight seeped through the window, creating a dreamy atmosphere. 

She had a pile of unread messages on her phone, so she unlocked it and opened Weibo. To her surprise, while she was asleep, the official account of Junming Group posted a clarification on Weibo, stating that the divorce rumors were purely false.

With the official statement, the online sentiment began to change, and the comments below the post were filled with relief:

“Official confirmation! Anyone who claimed that they were divorced, come and get slapped in the face!”

“Waaahh, the CP I shipped didn’t sink…”

“Woohoo, is this President Xie’s way of protecting his wife with full force?”

…….

Ye An glanced at the official statement, figuring that Xie Shuo must’ve received the news. Right on cue, a call came through.

“Is your cold better?”

The familiar voice rang in her ears.

Ye An sat on the sofa, hugging her knees. “It got better.”

She had just woken up, and with her cold, her voice sounded nasal and as if she had been through something distressing.

Xie Shuo frowned and said, “I’ve already asked Yu Ran to handle the situation online. Don’t worry.”

Ye An couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not worried.”

After all, he was the one who didn’t want a divorce, and if anyone should be worried, it was him.

Hearing her cheerful tone, Xie Shuo relaxed and asked her, “What present do you want?”

Upon hearing this, Ye An instinctively asked, “Are you coming back?” 

After saying that, she realized that her words might make it seem like she was eagerly anticipating his return, so she quickly closed her mouth. 

Xie Shuo had indeed misunderstood her and added with a hint of amusement in his tone, “Not yet, but I’ll try to come back as soon as possible.”

“…….”

Ye An just responded with a cold and simple “oh,” trying to salvage her image.

She tugged at the blanket in frustration and deliberately adopted a cold tone, saying, “Is there anything else? If not, I’ll hang up.”

Xie Shuo still had business matters to attend to, so he didn’t tease her any further and simply told her to “rest well” before ending the call.

Right after hanging up, Auntie Zhou knocked on the door and called her downstairs for dinner. 

Ye An got up and left the room, suddenly feeling like she had returned to her life before.

The online commotion came and went quickly. By the end of the day, the “divorce scandal” had mostly blown over, leaving only the culprits behind the scenes still unidentified.

However, Ye An had no interest in following up on this. She had been working at a high intensity for two to three months and finally managed to take a break, only to be faced with this situation. It was giving her a headache, and all she wanted was to find a quiet place to clear her mind and seriously consider her relationship with Xie Shuo.

The next day, after greeting Xie Baiyan, she packed her bags, booked a flight, and returned to her hometown.

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Amidst the dim light of the night, it was drizzling finely. Ye An hadn’t fully processed the situation yet when Xie Shuo had already taken brisk strides forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his embrace. 

A familiar clean and crisp scent filled her nose as she collided with a sturdy chest. Blinking, she asked, “Why did you come?”

Xie Shuo said in a low voice, “To take you back home.”

After saying that, he looked at Jiang Yuhe meaningfully. 

Ye An followed his gaze and introduced, “This is my senior from college, Jiang Yuhe.”

Jiang Yuhe met the man’s gaze and then glanced at the hand he had wrapped around Ye An’s shoulder. Understanding the situation, he smiled. “Hi.”

Looking at him, Xie Shuo said insipidly, “Hi.”

Afterward, he looked down at Ye An again, holding her even close before asking gently, “Are you cold?”

Ye An was momentarily taken back. She had never seen him show such concern in public before. 

Not waiting for her to respond, Xie Shuo wrapped his arm around her and turned, heading toward where he had parked the car. 

Under the dim streetlights and drizzle, he held the umbrella with one hand and his other arm around her shoulder, his slender fingers gripping firmly.

Ye An’s shoulder being held like this by him made her a little uncomfortable, so she couldn’t resist struggling a bit. However, with this, he held onto her even tighter and gave her a glance. 

“?”

Ye An was puzzled, not understanding why he had a temper. 

The wind accompanied by rain brushed against her cheeks, sending a chill down her spine. His embrace, however, was warm while his scent was clean and pleasant. 

After getting into the car, Xie Shuo remained silent with a soured expression, exuding a cold demeanor. 

Ye An glanced at him and suddenly realized something, causing her to want to laugh. 

Remembering his previous cold attitude toward her, she intentionally asked, “If you’re so unhappy, why did you come to pick me up?”

Turning around, Xie Shuo answered her question with another, “You were dubbing with him?”

Ye An pretended to be clueless: “Which ‘him’ are you referring to? There are so many people I do voice acting with, I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

Xie Shuo’s expression became even more glum. 

Ye An’s mood instantly brightened. The exhaustion of the day seemed to ease. She glanced at him before looking ahead, a slight smile forming.  

The car’s interior was illuminated, casting a soft light. Ye An’s side profile glowed, and as Xie Shuo saw her smile, his expression gradually softened. 

Her hands rested on her lap, her ten fingers fair and tender. He paused for a moment before reaching out to hold her hand, her fingertips cold.

Ye An was taken aback by his sudden grasp, as she looked up at him. 

Xie Shuo, however, avoided her gaze and looked straight ahead, appearing calm and composed. He applied a slight pressure with his hand, now allowing her to pull away. 

Ye An: …. He used to enjoy rubbing her hands when he couldn’t see, and now that he had regained his sight, this habit hadn’t changed. 

The recording studio wasn’t far from the condo, and they arrived in just over 20 minutes. 

Xie Shuo held the umbrella, sending Ye An to the entrance of the building. Light spilled out from inside, casting long, slender shadows on the ground.

“It’s so cold.”

The damp wind brushed against Ye An, making her shiver. “It’s so late; you should head home.”

Xie Shuo closed the umbrella but didn’t move. He simply gazed at her. 

They stood face to face, incredibly close, close enough to hear each other’s breaths.

“Not going to invite me up for a cup of tea?” He asked, his hair by his forehead dampened by the rain, framing his dark and deep-set eyes. Dressed in a black suit, his white shirt collar was slightly open, revealing his fair collarbone. 

The night rain was chilly. He looked down slightly and spoke with a deep, flirty voice, a far cry from his usual aloof and unapproachable demeanor. 

Ye An felt her heart flutter as she met his gaze. She nervously averted her eyes, but in doing so, her gaze inadvertently brushed against his exposed collar. 

… She couldn’t help but suspect that he was using his beauty to beguile her!

Her ears turned crimson. She neither agreed nor disagreed, just turned around and walked inside. 

Xie Shuo smiled and followed after her. 

They entered the elevator and went upstairs. Ye An opened the door and turned on the lights. After changing slippers at the entrance and tossing her purse onto the sofa, she went to make a cup of tea for him.

Xie Shuo took off his coat, sat down on the sofa, and wiped his hands with a Kleenex. 

After brewing a cup of tea for him, Ye An placed it on the coffee table in front of him. The living room was well-lit, so when she bent over to set down the tea, she noticed a small wet spot on his shoulder from the rain.

“Your clothes are wet,” she reminded him.

Xie Shuo glanced at it but didn’t seem to mind much. 

Ye An poured herself a cup of tea, too, then sat on the sofa with the cup in her hands. Both of them remained silent, and it felt quite awkward, with a hint of tension in the air. 

When they used to be together all the time, it was easy and carefree. She could say anything she wanted without reservation. But now that they were separated, a slight awkwardness seemed to have crept in. 

The rain outside the window was faintly audible. After sitting for a while, Ye An glanced at the time and reminded him, “It’s already past eleven. If you don’t leave soon, it’ll be too late.”

Putting down his teacup, Xie Shuo cleared his throat with his fist in front of his mouth, “My clothes are wet. I’ll borrow your shower here.”

Ye An wasn’t stupid, and she naturally understood the hidden implication behind his words. If she allowed him to take a shower here, the next step would likely be him trying to spend the night. 

It was only our second day of separation. What’s the point of separating then if we were to live together again?

“It’s late, you should head back for now.”

She’s definitely not falling for it. 

Xie Shou glanced at her and suddenly placed his hand on his temple, appearing to be in pain. 

Back when he was blind, he often suffered from headaches. Seeing him like this, she quickly got up and asked, “What’s wrong? Is your head hurting again?”

Supporting his head, Xie Shuo replied, “A bit.”

Just when Ye An was about to say, “Let me give you a massage,” she stopped herself. The timing of the headache was too coincidental. Could he be pretending?

“Is it serious? Do you have any medicine in your car?”

She looked at him with suspicion. 

Xie Shuo tugged at the corners of his lips before standing up and saying, “It’s nothing. Maybe I caught a chill. A bath will do the trick.”

“……..”

With that, Ye An was almost certain that he was deliberately trying to play the sympathy card. She coldly rejected him, saying, “There are no spare clothes for you to change into here.”

Xie Shuo said nothing and went into the master bedroom before coming out with a men’s bathrobe and a clean set of clothes. 

Ye An: “…….”

Ye An was dumbfounded, realizing this was his condo, so it wasn’t surprising that he had spare clothes here. She had only moved in for a day and still hadn’t had a chance to look through.

So, he had planned this from the beginning? 

Afraid of her anger, Xie Shuo very conscientiously said, “I’ll go to the guest room.

After saying that, he turned around and went to the guest room. 

Watching his tall figure disappear, Ye An felt a tightness in her chest, a sense of being manipulated. 

If only she had known, she wouldn’t have agreed to stay here for convenience. Isn’t having one’s own place not better?

Grabbing a pillow from the sofa, she vented her frustration by tossing it around before storming into the master bedroom and slamming the door shut. 

The sound of running water from the bathroom masked the sound of rain from outside. After showering, Ye An sat in her room in her PJs and began blow-drying her hair. 

Just as she had finished blow-drying her hair, she heard a knock at the door. Ye An paused before going to open it. 

There stood Xie Shuo in a robe, his hair still damp. “The hairdryer in my room is broken.”

Ye An eyed him suspiciously, wondering if he was trying to use this as an opportunity to enter her room. “Wait a sec, I’ll get it for you.”

After saying that, she locked the bedroom door before going to grab the hairdryer. 

Xie Shuo took it and returned to his room without any further attempts.

Ye An endured her sleepiness and did her nightly skincare routine before finally climbing into bed to sleep. 

Just as she lay down, a knock on the door sounded again. Ye An, feeling quite irked, got up drowsily, stumbled to the door, and opened it. “What’s the matter this time?”

Xie Shuo handed her the hairdryer. Ye An took it and yawned, grumbled quietly, “You could’ve just left it in your room…”

Xie Shuo had wanted to say something, but seeing how sleepy she looked with drooping eyelids, he couldn’t bring himself to keep her up. After saying, “good night,” he turned around and headed back to the guest bedroom. 

Ye An leaned against the doorframe, and as she was closing the door, her movement paused for a moment. Looking at him, she suddenly seemed more awake. “Didn’t you say that you were just gonna take a shower? Why haven’t you left yet?”

Xie Shuo: “…….”

The man’s figure froze in place.

Heng! Ye An smirked, and without waiting for his response, she simply closed the door.

The rain continued to pitter-patter for most of the night. 

The next day, the weather cleared up, and the bright spring sun filtered through the trees, casting a gentle light. Dewdrops glistened on the leaves, remnants of the previous night’s rain. 

The voice recording session was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Ye An woke up a bit late, and when she finished freshening up in the morning and walked out of her room, it was quiet outside.

Xie Shuo had already left. There was breakfast on the table with a note. She wasn’t sure if he had bought it himself or had it delivered. 

Ye An was momentarily stunned before going over and sitting down, opening the breakfast box, and found it contained a hot serving of preserved egg and lean pork porridge. 

After finishing breakfast, she headed out the door. Downstairs was a peach blossom tree in full bloom, resembling rosy clouds. Glancing at it, she couldn’t help smiling. 

That evening, when Ye An finished work, Xie Shuo came to pick her up just like the night before. 

This time, Ye An didn’t encounter Jiang Yuhe, and Xie Shuo wasn’t glum. The two of them even had a nice chat in the car. 

When they arrived at the condo, Ye An stood still, looking at him. 

She wanted to see what excuse he would come up with tonight. 

Two seconds later, Xie Shuo said, “I left my watch upstairs last night.”

Ye An: …. It’s my loss.

Thus, Ye An once again tolerated his presence in the condo. After retrieving his watch, he didn’t hurry to leave. Instead, he sat down and had a cup of tea again. 

It wasn’t raining tonight, and his clothes weren’t wet either. He didn’t have any excuse to stay, so he simply sat on the sofa, quietly drinking tea, not mentioning leaving at all. 

Watching him like this, Ye An had an inexplicable urge to laugh. 

The more he behaved like this, the less she wanted to fulfill his wish, so she issued an ultimatum, “You’re still not leaving?”

Xie Shuo glanced at her and slowly got up. He didn’t want to come off as too strong, so he said, “Go to bed early,” before turning to leave. 

Ye An saw him off at the door. Remembering that this was his condo, she shouldn’t burn bridges, so she added, “Be careful on the road.”

As the door closed, the condo became quiet with only one silhouette left on the floor. 

After a while, Ye An went over to the balcony and happened to just see his car driving away, its headlights cutting through the night, gradually fading into the distance. 

Under the vast starry sky of the night, with the gentle spring breeze brushing over her brows, she leaned against the railing and gazed up, suddenly looking forward to tomorrow evening. 

However, Xie Shuo unexpectedly failed to show up the next night. 

After finishing work, Ye An waited outside the recording studio for a long while but didn’t see his figure. The night wind blew heavily, making her feel cold from head to toe. 

Seeing that it was getting darker and darker, Ye An had no choice but to call a ride back to the condo. She was so angry that her heart hurt. 

What happened to starting anew? His attitude had improved for only a few days, and now it was back to before!

Men and their empty promises! I knew I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up!

Back in the condo, Ye An angrily slammed the door and changed her clothes before hopping into the shower.

As the water flowed continuously from the showerhead and steam filled the room, she decided that if he came again tomorrow, she absolutely couldn’t be soft-hearted!

After showering, she remembered that her phone was still in the living room, so she went to grab it in her PJs. 

However, she was almost startled when she entered the living room. 

There was a figure sitting on the sofa, propping up their head with their head, silent and unmoving.

Recognizing that it was Xie Shuo, she relaxed and asked, “How did you get in?”

After asking, she felt stupid. This was his condo, so of course he had a key. 

Xie Shuo looked up, his face slightly flushed, and his gaze seemed different from usual as if he had been drinking.

Walking over, Ye An indeed smelled a faint scent of alcohol. Remembering how she had waited for so long in the cold at first, she said coldly, “It’s so late. Why aren’t you going home? What are you doing here?”

Looking at her, Xie Shuo said softly, “Angry?”

Ye An turned around, not wanting to talk to him, but he grabbed her wrist.

She struggled to pull away but couldn’t.

Xie Shuo pulled her to sit beside him, his fingers following the delicate bones of her wrist to hold her hand. 

The wind rustled the curtains, creating ripples. Ye An turned away, not looking at him, gazing out the window instead. 

After a while, he still hadn’t spoken, so she said, “What do you want? If not, I’m going to bed.”

As for whether he wanted to stay over, it was up to him; after all, it was his place, and she couldn’t stop him.

Finally, Xie Shuo said softly, “There was an important dinner tonight. I couldn’t get away…”

He had been blind for almost two years, and now that he had just returned to the company, there were naturally many things for him to be busy with. These were things that Ye An could understand. 

She pursed her lips, her anger fading a bit, and said, “So you couldn’t even call to let me know?”

It was like this every time. He would just disappear without saying a word, leaving her hanging.

Xie Shuo wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “I’ll remember next time.”

A warm breath, tinged with the scent of alcohol, brushed against her neck. Frowning, Ye An raised her hand instinctively, trying to push him away. 

Suddenly, she heard him say, “I have to go on a business trip.”

Ye An paused and said in an even tone, “Don’t you go on business trips often? It’s not like it’s the first time.”

Why was he making it sound like a life-and-death farewell?

Holding her in his arm, Xie Shuo tightened his grip on her hand and fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll probably be gone for about half a month. Can you wait for me to come back?”

He rarely spoke in such a manner, perhaps because people tended to reveal their true emotions more easily when they were drunk.

Ye An was stunned. Remembering her previous reproachful words about his indifference, her long lashes drooped, and she remained silent. 

Not receiving a response after a while, Xie Shuo held her even tighter as if he wouldn’t let go until she agreed. 

The soft light gently bathed the room, and the cool night breeze drifted in through the window, brushing against their hair. 

Ye An couldn’t resist him being like this, so her heart softened, and after a while, she softly uttered a faint “en.”

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