Her tone was soft and gentle, as if coaxing a child.
Upon hearing this, Qi Rui opened his eyes. Amidst the chaos in his nerves, his vision was hazy. He instinctively did as the woman said.
The warm, flowing sensation indeed made his stomach feel much better. He hadn't slept for almost the entire day. His nose caught a familiar sweet fragrance, and in his daze, he fell asleep on the sofa.
After some time, the man began to toss and turn. Even in his dreams, his brow was furrowed.
Shen Yue knew that the medication's effects must have worn off, and his stomach was hurting again.
The living room was still warm. Shen Yue rubbed her hands together to warm them, then gently placed her warm palms on the man's stomach.
When the warmth from her hands dissipated, she would rub them again.
When her arms grew sore, the man's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
Shen Yue found a blanket and covered him with it. She crouched beside him for a while, watching him, before quietly leaving.
——
Qi Rui was in a meeting in his office when he received Shen Yue's call.
The Qi family was a prominent and influential clan. The Qi conglomerate also controlled several crucial economic lifelines in country A. Qi Rui himself was a man of great skill and capability. Initially, due to his youth, he was underestimated by the older executives. However, within half a year, he succeeded in silencing them, making them address him respectfully as President.
Midway through the meeting, his secretary's phone lit up. She glanced at it briefly and, seeing something that made her expression peculiar, looked at Qi Rui. After a moment's thought, she cautiously spoke, "President Qi, Miss Shen has sent a message. Would you like to see it?"
Whether it was an illusion or not, everyone present felt that Qi Rui's indifferent expression softened for a fleeting moment.
"Set it aside for now. I'll call back later," Qi Rui said calmly.
The secretary did not attend to the message. However, not long after, her phone rang with a crisp ringtone that was particularly abrupt.
The secretary stared at Qi Rui nervously, unsure whether to answer or not.
"Mr. Xie, look at this..."
Qi Rui replied with some impatience, "We're in a meeting. We'll talk later."
After the meeting concluded, he rubbed his temples, feeling a slight fatigue, drank a cup of coffee, and then continued with his work. In the afternoon, the secretary came in once to say that someone had delivered food. Qi Rui was busy at the time and didn't pay much attention, only thinking that the bento box tasted much better than usual.
He continued working until late into the night before checking the time and preparing to leave.
Qi Rui lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and while waiting for the elevator, he took out his phone to check it. Upon opening his phone, he saw a red dot on his contact list, which reminded him that Shen Yue had called him today.
With the cigarette held in his mouth, Qi Rui listened quietly as his phone rang.
The elevator arrived, and he stepped inside.
Just as his patience was about to run out and he was about to hang up, the call was answered.
"Hello?"
Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of grogginess, as if she had just been woken up, filled with deep sleepiness, like a newborn kitten.
Yet, this simple syllable inexplicably made Qi Rui feel a dryness in his throat.
Qi Rui removed the cigarette stuck to his lips, took two more puffs, and then crushed it out on the ground. Perhaps it was because the space was small, but he suddenly felt very hot. He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, but still felt stifled, so he unbuttoned two more, revealing his prominent Adam's apple and slender neck. His sternness dissipated somewhat, adding a touch of human warmth.
"Why did you call me?"
Shen Yue on the other end of the line seemed to still be quite groggy. It was only after Qi Rui called her name that she seemed to react.
Shen Yue's voice was still thick with a nasal tone, "It's nothing."
After a pause, she said gently, "Aren't you off work yet?"
With a click, he lit another cigarette, closed his eyes, and took a puff. His tone was perfunctory, "I am. I'm getting ready to go home."
"Have you had dinner then?"
His smoking motion paused, and Qi Rui furrowed his brow.
Finally sensing that something was not quite right, Shen Yue seemed to be treating him a little too well. Could it be that Shen Yue had feelings for him...
As he thought about this, Qi Rui became increasingly alarmed because he realized this was not mere speculation; Shen Yue's attitude towards him was indeed quite intriguing.
Previously, she would sometimes wait for him to come home in the evenings, like a wife waiting for her husband. Moreover, she always cooked for him and worried about his health. Now, she had even called to personally ask when he would be off work!
Every word and action revealed something strange.
How could one person be so kind to another for no reason?
Qi Rui's heart pounded, his ear tips turning red.
He felt uneasy and found it difficult to accept. Shen Yue knew he had a girlfriend, yet she was still so... so... towards him.
This was not right.
Whether for Shen Yue or Tong Xue, Qi Rui would never betray Tong Xue.
What's more, he hadn't known Shen Yue for very long. Perhaps he had given Shen Yue the wrong impression, leading things to become this way.
Just as Qi Rui was about to hang up the phone, Shen Yue spoke again, "Qi Rui, you've grown up. You need to learn to take good care of your health."
The woman's voice was very gentle, like a gentle breeze blowing by, instantly dispelling his restlessness.
Qi Rui glanced at his phone. The call had already been disconnected. He put it back in his pocket and finished smoking a cigarette with a blank expression.
——
At some point, Qi Rui had developed the habit of eating breakfast at home.
For the third time, his gaze drifted towards the staircase.
According to this time of day...
Light footsteps sounded. Shen Yue, wearing a thick sweater, walked down. The exposed curve of her neck was smooth and beautiful.
Her delicate skin was pale and almost ethereal, with even the bluish-green veins on the side of her neck clearly visible.
Her eyelashes were thick and long, like a butterfly's wings.
She looked very thin, her features exquisitely drawn, possessing a fragile beauty tinged with a hint of illness.
Bang—
The sound of ceramic clinking together.
Qi Rui looked down. His clean and tidy suit was splashed with some congee, leaving several white spots. He picked up the silk handkerchief beside him and wiped it clean.
Shen Yue sat opposite him, the congee steaming. It made her beautiful, gentle eyebrows appear even more refined.
She took a sip of congee and saw Qi Rui still struggling with his suit. "If you can't wipe it clean, you should go up and change."
"Mm..."
Qi Rui didn't know where to put his hands. He stood up, too hastily, and the corner of the chair scraped against the floor, emitting a piercing sound that was particularly sharp in the silent living room.
He left almost as if fleeing in a panic.
Shen Yue watched his retreating back, a hint of bewilderment in her eyes.
Qi Rui changed into a clean set of clothes and, without eating breakfast, hurried to leave.
"Wait."
The woman's soft voice came from behind him. Although her voice wasn't loud, Qi Rui could have easily pretended not to hear it, but his actions instinctively stopped.
He stood rigidly, listening to the approaching footsteps from behind him.
The woman came to stand before him.