Chapter 104: Let me hug you, just once_2
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Back at home, Tang Yanqing went to pack his personal items, and Shi Nian went upstairs to help.
Xiang Yuan wanted to go up as well, but Jia Tianzi was sitting upright in the living room downstairs, showing no intention of moving.
As the man of the house, Xiang Yuan had no choice but to stay and accompany Jia Tianzi.
After the pleasantries, Xiang Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "Why did the shift change suddenly?"
Jia Tianzi smiled warmly, "The task of 24-hour personal protection is the hardest; you can’t just assign it to one person. Besides, every officer has their own private life..."
Xiang Yuan then smiled, "Right. Yanqing has been living at my place these days; I wonder how many beauties are heartbroken."
Jia Tianzi, good-tempered, laughed, "I think so too."
Xiang Yuan immediately felt more comfortable talking with Jia Tianzi, unlike the constant encounters with Tang Yanqing’s sharpness.
"So... will Yanqing have to switch back in a few days?" Xiang Yuan asked as cautiously as possible.
"Probably not," Jia Tianzi replied amiably, "He has more important tasks: there’s a major case on the East Coast, the suspect carrying out cross-state crimes, taken over by federal agents. Yanqing has had encounters with this suspect before and had success, so the FBI invited Yanqing to collaborate."
Jia Tianzi calculated seriously, "Such a case would take at least a few months. Yanqing won’t be in this state for a few months, he’ll be working on the East Coast, so he won’t be able to continue protecting Mr. Shi."
Xiang Yuan quietly let out a breath, his face relaxing further.
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Upstairs, Shi Nian was quick and nimble, helping Tang Yanqing pack up almost everything, then pointed at the extravagantly expensive wallpaper and seriously asked, "Are you sure you don’t want to take this wallpaper down and bring it with you?"
He sat on one side, legs crossed, enjoying watching Shi Nian busy herself for him.
Only after hearing this did he snort, "...Do you really think I won’t come back again? Do you think I’ll give you the chance to live alone with Xiang Yuan in this house?"
Shi Nian’s face suddenly flushed red.
Knowing she was embarrassed again, he turned his gaze away, lazily looking at the wallpaper, "Leave it on, it’s useful."
Shi Nian’s sweat beads were fine and scattered, crystal clear against her temples. He sighed lightly, got up, and poured her a glass of water, his left hand bringing the cup to her. She took a deep breath, holding it with both hands, her head half-bowed as she said, "Thank you." Before she finished, his right hand naturally fell down, along her temples, gently wiping away the sweat.
Shi Nian jumped in surprise, hurriedly moving aside, "Mr. Tang!"
He indifferently spread his hands, "What’s the matter? It’s not like I’m going to eat you right now."
Shi Nian had no choice but to awkwardly hide to the side, trying to speak calmly, "I don’t know what Mr. Jia is doing downstairs?"
He snorted, eyebrow raised lightly, "Naturally lying."
"Huh?" Shi Nian also jumped in surprise, "What kind of lie did he tell?"
Tang Yanqing then slyly smiled, "Hmm-hmm, naturally covering for you and me."
He squinted, carefully observing her, "I’m leaving, at least a few days without seeing you. I should have one last good look at you; can’t give Xiang Yuan a chance to come up and interfere, can I?"
"What are you talking about..." Shi Nian’s face turned crimson again, hastily turning away.
He sighed lightly again, extended his long arm, and took away the glass of water from her hands.
"Hey!" Shi Nian was just stunned when he already set down the glass, his other long arm reached over and pulled her into his embrace.
A big hug, a small her.
Shi Nian knew it was inappropriate and wanted to break free. But he held her tightly, softly whispering in her ear, "At your behest, I even hugged Ye He for a brief farewell. Why can’t I hug you too?"
Suppressing his heartbeat, he slowly said into her ear, "...I’m not kissing you, what are you afraid of, hmm?"
A strand of hair mischievously slipped into her lips, Shi Nian bit it, uncontrollably taking in his scent... gently closing her eyes.
That farewell embrace, he had talked about with Ye He, for friendship.
Her small hand gently, gently gripped a corner of his sleeve.
"Goodbye, Mr. Tang."
He inhaled deeply, deeply, and extended a hand, sliding along her strands of hair, "...I won’t leave you for long, Sleeping Beauty."
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Time flies, yet it feels long.
Shi Nian, as usual, went to work, interviewed, wrote articles. During lunch, she laughed and chatted with Ye He and Xiao Mai.
Everything seemed unchanged.
But whenever she finished a stint of work, she couldn’t help but turn her head to look at the sofa in the reception area.
Actually, even that sofa seemed unchanged. The same officer sat there in a crisp uniform, the handsome man, reliably guarding her safety 24 hours a day. She should feel relieved and smile, and she did indeed, but—somehow, there was always a slight melancholy that crossed her mind.