Shen Yue quickly lowered her head, her eyes felt hot. As a dampness welled up, she blinked forcefully.
"We're not really that familiar, I'm Shen Yue."
She tried to keep her voice calm, then looked up again, revealing her usual smile: "I think I'll rest now."
---
Her biological clock woke her, and Shen Yue opened her eyes. She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling for a long time before realizing where she was – the Qi residence.
Recalling yesterday's events, Shen Yue closed her eyes wearily.
After staying in bed for a few minutes, Shen Yue got up.
While washing up, Shen Yue noticed an unexplained bruise on her forearm. She hadn't bumped into anything, and because her skin was so pale, even sickly so, the bruise appeared even more prominent.
Logically, if she had bumped into something, she should have felt pain. But it was strange because she felt nothing at all.
Shen Yue didn't pay it much mind.
As she brushed her teeth and spat, a few faint streaks of blood mixed with the toothpaste.
Had she been suffering from internal heat recently?
---
The man, impeccably dressed in a suit, descended the stairs. His hair was perfectly styled. When he saw the breakfast on the table, he paused.
He rarely ate in the morning, usually grabbing something simple at the company, so he hadn't asked the servants to prepare anything.
Qi Rui lowered his gaze, glanced at the dining table, and then his eyes settled on the gentle woman emerging from the kitchen.
Her face showed a hint of nervousness, her gentle eyes filled with a mix of pity and worry, but she quickly revealed a faint smile, her dimples appearing shallowly. "Qi, Qi Rui, I made breakfast. Have some before you go to work."
Qi Rui glanced at his watch; he was out of time, so he refused without a second thought.
"No need."
With that, Qi Rui left without another glance at the woman. He gave a polite nod and departed.
Standing alone, the woman lowered her head, her face pale. After a moment, she sat down at the dining table by herself and ate the still-steaming breakfast.
Qi Rui was very busy. He often came home late, always returning exhausted and irritable.
Coupled with the high workload of the past few years, his irregular sleep schedule, and unhealthy eating habits, he had developed a persistent headache, especially at night, often causing insomnia.
Qi Rui arrived home close to midnight.
He had a small amount to drink, but there was no trace of alcohol on him. However, his temples throbbed, causing his brow to remain furrowed.
The living room wasn't dark as usual; a warm, yellow lamp was lit. A figure was curled up on the sofa, and perhaps sensing footsteps, jolted awake.
She seemed somewhat dazed, her consciousness still hazy. After a couple of seconds, she seemed to come around.
Upon seeing the man who had already walked up to her, she instinctively offered a smile.
Her soft hair cascaded over her shoulders, her long, thick eyelashes casting shadows beneath her eyes. She was very pale, her lips a vivid red.
Her tone was gentle: "You're back?"
Her tone was like a wife at home waiting for her husband to return from work.
Yet, in reality, the two of them had met only a handful of times, at least from Qi Rui's perspective.
His perpetually furrowed brow deepened. He pursed his lips.
Shen Yue quickly stood up. Under the warm yellow light, her dark, moist eyes seemed particularly bright. Because she had just woken up, her voice was still a little soft. "Did you have dinner? I'll cook you a bowl of noodles. It won't take long."
Qi Rui had initially intended to refuse, but seeing the expectant nervousness in Shen Yue's eyes, he finally nodded. "Alright."
The woman seemed delighted, her lips curving upwards. She hurried towards the kitchen and soon returned with a steaming bowl of noodles, placing it before Qi Rui.
Qi Rui looked down at the bowl of noodles. It wasn't elaborate, just a few greens and two fried eggs, but it smelled delicious.
Qi Rui hadn't eaten much that day, only having a few drinks during social engagements. He hadn't felt hungry in the evening, but this bowl of noodles unexpectedly whetted his appetite.
Qi Rui said "Thank you" and picked up his chopsticks, lowering his head to eat.
His expression was too indifferent, creating a strange and awkward atmosphere between them. Even when Shen Yue, who was not usually talkative, initiated conversation, the man barely reacted.
After a few sentences, Shen Yue fell silent, quietly watching Qi Rui eat.
Qi Rui's eating habits remained the same as before; he ate quickly but not rudely. The bowl of noodles was quickly emptied, and he even drank all the soup.
He disliked wasting food.
Qi Rui wiped his mouth before looking up at the gentle-eyed woman. He said plainly, "You don't need to wait for me from now on. You can rest first."
He didn't believe their relationship was close enough for this, especially since his memory of Shen Yue was a complete blank.
Shen Yue sat quietly beside him, her long, soft black hair tucked behind her ears. She looked down demurely, her voice also gentle: "I'm not tired. I just want to... do something."
Qi Rui didn't think much of it, assuming Shen Yue was bored staying there. "May I ask presumptuously, is there something you're in the city for? If I can help, perhaps I can assist you."
He had learned from the servants that Shen Yue was from the countryside and had come to the city for some reason.
For some inexplicable reason, Qi Rui had felt a peculiar sensation the moment he first saw Shen Yue, but it wasn't dislike. He couldn't quite explain it.
The woman pursed her lips and smiled. She appeared gentle and demure, completely lacking any of the coarseness or wildness he might associate with someone from the countryside. Her voice was like the gentle breeze of spring, "I'm looking for someone."
Looking at this woman, Qi Rui was momentarily struck by a sensation as if his heart was pounding like thunder, but it quickly subsided, as if the previous moment had been an illusion.
A sheen of cold sweat appeared on the man's brow, making him look even more distant and indifferent. His voice was low and magnetic, "What is that person's name? Are there any specific features? Or do you have a photo of them?"
Shen Yue lowered her long eyelashes, the curve of her lips seeming to soften further with the thought of the person in her heart.
Perhaps it was someone very important.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have traveled such a long distance from one place to another unfamiliar one.
"No need. I can find them myself."
She had already found him; he was right in front of her.
Shen Yue still held onto a flicker of hope, thinking that perhaps Qi Rui would remember one day.
Remembering their promises, those sweet moments. Qi Rui was a man of his word, Shen Yue knew he loved her, he had just forgotten for now.
Qi Rui clenched his fingers. After a moment, Shen Yue heard his hoarse, low voice say, "Alright."