Polite and appropriate.
The moment the words fell, Shen Yue’s heart ached fiercely.
What did Qi Rui think?
He thought she was just complaining pointlessly, that she felt slighted here and was therefore fabricating trouble.
The stark white light poured onto her. She lowered her head slightly, a smile absent from her lips, her expression blank, looking tired and cold.
Gentle yet indifferent.
She still seemed a little lost, as if pondering the man’s words. After a while, she softly said, “No need to trouble yourself.”
Shen Yue was a very gentle person. This was Qi Rui’s first impression of her. From their very first meeting, the woman’s dark, clean eyes held a warm current like spring water. She would constantly inquire about his well-being, and truthfully, even his own mother hadn’t cared for him this much.
Though it felt inexplicable and a bit awkward at first, with repeated instances, he had grown accustomed to it.
But now, the woman’s sudden cold demeanor made Qi Rui somewhat unaccustomed.
Yet, ultimately, she wasn’t someone of great importance. Qi Rui brushed aside a flicker of annoyance in his heart and said, without room for doubt, “It’s no trouble; this is what I should do.”
As a man always in a position of power, he had a strong desire for control and did not tolerate refusal from others.
In the faint shadow, the man’s facial lines were smooth, his nose bridge high, and his gaze detached and sharp.
Shen Yue smiled. Her face was somewhat pale, appearing extremely fatigued. “I’m tired.”
Qi Rui’s originally concerned words were choked in his throat. The woman’s repeated cold reception displeased him. He, who had always maintained a stoic expression, showed a rare frown.
Since the other party did not wish to see him, Qi Rui naturally would not linger obsequiously. He picked up the empty bowl and left without a word.
The door was closed with a gentle thud. The woman sat quietly. After two minutes, she got up and walked to the bathroom. She vomited into the toilet, the congee she had eaten and not yet digested all coming back up. She continued until only sour water remained, then stopped.
A throbbing pain in her stomach, a sharp ache, like being cut with a knife or pricked by a needle.
Leaning against the cold washbasin, she straightened up after about five minutes. After rinsing her mouth clean, she washed her face with cold water and grabbed a towel to wipe away the moisture.
Putting down the towel, Shen Yue noticed the corners of her eyes in the mirror were slightly red, which was more pronounced against her pale, sickly complexion.
—
It hadn’t started snowing yet. The snowflakes, like willow catkins and reeds, fell onto the earth, making the ground seem covered with a thick, snowy white wool blanket.
Roofs, branches, and roads were all covered with a thick layer of accumulated snow.
Qi Rui, wearing a brown sweater, his hair falling loosely over his forehead, looked even younger.
He was sitting at the dining table eating breakfast, his movements unhurried, exuding elegance.
Shen Yue came downstairs and saw this scene. There was another breakfast on the table, clearly intended for her.
She sat down in silence.
Qi Rui glanced at the woman from the corner of his eye, then couldn’t pull his gaze away. He gently rubbed the porcelain spoon with his fingertip and asked uncontrollably, “You don’t look well. Are you not used to it?”
Shen Yue’s face was very white, pale.
She lowered her eyelids, but her lips were particularly vibrant. Her voice was a little hoarse as she mumbled an “mm.”
So indifferent.
Was she not accustomed to this place?
Qi Rui involuntarily tightened his grip on the spoon, the veins on the back of his hand slightly bulging.
Perhaps it was from washing her face just now, but her hair tips were still damp. Her dark hair fell behind her. Her lips were very red, and her skin had an icy texture.
Qi Rui averted his gaze, his appetite gone.
—
Qi Rui drove Shen Yue to the largest shopping mall in the city center. He asked Shen Yue what she needed, but Shen Yue just looked out the car window, seemingly lost in thought, not hearing what Qi Rui was saying.
Seeing this, Qi Rui pursed his lips, his gaze fixed ahead, his eyes dry.
It was snowing heavily, and the temperature was very low. The mall had the heating on. Qi Rui parked the car in a spot. Just this short distance into the mall, Shen Yue’s face was already frozen red.
Qi Rui already had a plan in mind, so he took Shen Yue to a clothing store.
Shen Yue’s clothes were all old. It was obvious she had worn them for a long time, the cotton inside long gone, offering no warmth. Cold air still seeped in.
This clothing store was a famous brand. Shen Yue quietly glanced at the prices; they were several thousand yuan. After one look, she dared not touch anything else.
One piece of clothing here was equivalent to all her savings.
Qi Rui selected a few pieces of clothing and asked Shen Yue to try them on.
Shen Yue stood awkwardly in place, her eyelashes trembling slightly. She walked up to the man and whispered, “I, I have clothes; you don’t need to buy any.”
The clothes here were too expensive. For Shen Yue, a few pieces of clothing added up to a sky-high price.
Her warm breath brushed against his neck. Because they were so close, Qi Rui could even smell the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from the girl; it was very pleasant.
Thump, thump, thump.
Qi Rui struggled to control his heartbeat, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times. His mouth felt dry.
Qi Rui was nervous.
His whole body was stiff. He appeared unapproachable on the outside, his voice deep and magnetic. “Those clothes of yours aren’t warm at all. You need to change. Hurry up and try them on.”
Shen Yue persuaded him a few more times, but Qi Rui remained unmoved. Helpless, she took the clothes and went inside to change.
As the warm, sweet scent departed, Qi Rui’s tensed nerves relaxed slightly.
His palms were sweating, feeling a bit clammy.
The heating inside was too strong; Qi Rui felt a little warm.
Shen Yue took a long time in the fitting room before slowly emerging.
The saleswoman waiting outside’s eyes lit up, her eyes full of astonishment. “Miss, this outfit suits you perfectly…”
The sweet-talking saleswoman was adept at speaking, especially with compliments that came from the heart. This made the usually shy woman blush.
Her face was very beautiful, her eyelashes long, her lips full and vibrant. Her delicate features were as gentle as the moon in the dark night, ethereal and graceful.
A faint blush colored her snow-white face, making her appear shy and pure.
Such extreme beauty caused Qi Rui to momentarily experience the illusion of his heart pounding like thunder.
But he quickly regained his composure. He stepped closer, observing her purely, his eyes deep. “It suits you very well.”
Qi Rui picked out many items, having Shen Yue try them on one by one. He had the saleswoman package any that he thought were suitable.
Shen Yue couldn’t refuse, and in the end, she only took two items. The price wasn’t very expensive, moderate, and at least within Shen Yue’s affordability.
She had brought her card with her and said to the saleswoman, “Charge it.”