“Boss, I’m praising you!” Chen Bai swiftly stepped out of the elevator.
Tang Yushen took the lunch box from Xia Qiaoxi’s hands, wanting to give her a big hug.
But…
Xia Qiaoxi stood by his side, “He really was praising you, putting great effort into it.”
“And then?”
“Then?” Xia Qiaoxi smiled faintly, “Then it made me realize how amazing you are, Tang Yushen.”
“He doesn’t know enough yet, Xiao Xi’er. You’ll come to understand me better than him, and learn just how capable I am.” Tang Yushen wrapped his arm around her slender waist, “And you’ll like it too.”
His hand at her waist gently squeezed through the fabric of her dress.
Xia Qiaoxi was particularly sensitive around her waist, her skin tingling with the sensation. The ears hidden beneath her hair flushed slightly pink as she let out a soft “Mm” in response.
Tang Yushen’s office was spacious and bright, with two money trees placed before the floor-to-ceiling windows. So even big bosses believed in these things!
His office had a split-level design, with the tea table and sofa area situated slightly lower than his work space. The broad desk held two computers piled with documents and similar items.
It maintained the style of a business elite.
A ink-wash style traditional painting hung on the white wall, its lower right corner bearing messy, hurried characters. Xia Qiaoxi could only vaguely make out the character “Tang.”
“Xiao Xi’er, let me check if your hands are injured.” After setting out the meal, Tang Yushen took hold of her wrist.
Did checking require all this touching?
Couldn’t he see whether she was injured with just a glance?
Xia Qiaoxi strongly suspected Tang Yushen was doing this on purpose, just wanting to touch her.
Only after he’d had his fill of touching did he release her, “No injuries.”
Tang Yushen never missed an opportunity to be mischievous!
Xia Qiaoxi stood up and moved to sit across from him, “I prefer eating face-to-face like this.”
Tang Yushen: “…”
What was so good about facing each other like this?
He could see her but couldn’t touch her.
So frustrating.
“Xi’er’s cooking is even better than our home chef’s.”
Xia Qiaoxi gave him a calm look, “Then eat more and stop talking.”
Tang Yushen: “…”
Xiao Xi’er was so strict—couldn’t he even talk while eating?
The saying goes no talking during meals or before bed.
But that was impossible.
There definitely had to be talking before bed.
After the meal, Chen Bai came to clean up.
Xia Qiaoxi was taken to the restroom.
Summer easily brought drowsiness, especially after eating, when the heavy feeling of food coma set in.
Xia Qiaoxi’s eyelids grew heavy, “If I sleep in your bed, where will you sleep?”
There was only one large bed in this restroom.
“I’ll sleep in the bed too.” Tang Yushen leaned closer, “Xi’er, let’s sleep together.”
“Maybe I should go home to sleep instead…”
Xia Qiaoxi started to get up to leave.
Tang Yushen pressed down on her shoulders, his deep voice carrying a note of longing, “Stay, keep me company a while longer, alright?”
“Are you sure I won’t get eaten?” Xia Qiaoxi smiled faintly.
Tang Yushen frowned slightly, the beauty mark at the corner of his eye seeming to shimmer with complex emotions as his gaze deepened, “No, just holding.”
Xia Qiaoxi felt the bed beneath her—soft and comfortable. The sunlight outside the window was somewhat glaring, yet its brilliant rays couldn’t outshine the man before her.
“Xi’er…”
“Xiao Xi’er.”
“The bed is clean.” Tang Yushen worried she might find it unappealing, “I just changed the sheets this morning.”
“You changed them because you knew I was coming, right…” Xia Qiaoxi lazily yawned, “Sleepy.”
The yawn brought tears to the corners of her eyes, a faint mist rising in her gaze.
Feeling as if she could fall asleep the moment she collapsed onto the bed.
Tang Yushen released her.
Xia Qiaoxi simply dropped down, her high heels landing softly on the floor as she curled up beneath the covers.
Tang Yushen closed the curtains and stood by the bed, gazing at her with tender affection in his eyes.
Xia Qiaoxi was utterly exhausted. Even with her eyes closed, she kept yawning, her red lips slightly parted as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Tang Yushen leaned over to wipe away her tears. In the past, when she had been heartbroken over his injuries and cried bitterly while sitting on his lap, he—despite being the injured one—had to comfort her.
At the hospital, when she came to visit, she would take over his bed while he could only sit by the bedside receiving IV drips.
But that version of Xia Qiaoxi—he loved her so much.
Tang Yushen lowered his head and gently kissed her from her cheek to her lips, softly capturing her mouth.
So sweet.
So soft.
Like cotton candy.
As he continued kissing her, Xia Qiaoxi opened her damp eyes.
Though she was tired, she wasn’t so far gone that she could sleep peacefully while someone was kissing her.
Tang Yushen stared at her—this was rather awkward.
The next second, he covered Xia Qiaoxi’s eyes and kept kissing her, moving from her lips to her neck.
Xia Qiaoxi: “…”
Did covering her eyes mean he could pretend she hadn’t woken up?
“Are you… covering your ears to steal a bell?” Xia Qiaoxi pressed his hand down. “I’m trying to sleep! Stop getting handsy.”
“I’m using my mouth,” Tang Yushen murmured against her cheek as he continued kissing her.
It tickled.
A tingling sensation.
Xia Qiaoxi couldn’t help but curl her legs, letting out a soft, kitten-like moan. “Your hand is covering my eyes…”
Tang Yushen released her.
In the quiet restroom, with the curtains drawn, the light had dimmed considerably.
Tears still lingered in Xia Qiaoxi’s eyes, blurring her vision of Tang Yushen’s face. Even through the haze, she could sense his handsome features.
“Wait,” he said.
While Xia Qiaoxi remained dazed, Tang Yushen began taking off his clothes.
In this weather, with the air conditioning on in the restroom, even with clothes on, the two of them would still feel warm.
So…
He was undressing now?
Xia Qiaoxi nervously rolled further into the bed, turning her back to him. “Don’t you dare misbehave, or I won’t bring you meals anymore, and I won’t stay with you during lunch breaks.”
Tang Yushen let out a muffled “mm” and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Just holding you.”
He hadn’t restrained himself earlier—he couldn’t resist kissing her before she had fallen asleep.
This time, he would definitely wait until Xia Qiaoxi was asleep before stealing another kiss.
His heavy arm rested across her waist, his knee pressed against the back of her legs, his chest against her back, and his warm breath gently brushed the top of her head.
In this position, Tang Yushen grew still.
Gradually, Xia Qiaoxi succumbed to the drowsiness brought on by post-meal fatigue, her eyelids growing heavy as she fell asleep.
Tang Yushen listened to her steady breathing and brushed her hair aside with his fingers. “Baby…”
Xia Qiaoxi was deep in sleep and didn’t respond at all.
“Baby, let me kiss you… just a kiss…”
Tang Yushen’s eyes darkened intensely, his desires surging uncontrollably. He breathed heavily, restless and aching.
He needed to kiss her, hold her, to ease the emptiness and loneliness in his body and soul.
“Mmm…”