The next day.
Yu Qing slept until the sun was high in the sky before slowly waking up.
Xie Qing Ci had gone to the company for a meeting early that morning, feeling refreshed and energetic.
The two of them had truly exhausted themselves for too long the previous day.
As a result, her first reaction upon opening her eyes was that every part of her body ached!
Just as she was silently cursing the culprit in her heart, as if telepathic, that person’s call came through.
Yu Qing answered the phone with a pout, not saying a word.
Hearing the obvious breathing on the other end of the line, Xie Qing Ci knew the young lady was upset.
“Sorry, baby.”
?
??
What was going on here?
She hadn’t even started her tirade, yet the man was already skipping straight to the apology?
“Hmph—”
She had cried too much yesterday, and her throat was still a bit hoarse today, with a slight nasal tone.
She sounded even more pitiful and aggrieved.
Hearing the young lady’s voice, Xie Qing Ci genuinely felt a bit of regret—he had indeed been somewhat excessive.
“Baby, did you just wake up? Are you hungry? Have something to eat first, and I’ll come back to be with you soon, okay?”
Even though she had been full of anger and ready to vent at him just moments before, hearing his gentle coaxing made her easily succumb.
His voice was low, husky, and seductive—especially after yesterday, Yu Qing found his tone even more irresistibly alluring.
What could she do?
She was completely powerless against it!
She didn’t want to be swayed either.
But.
Her mind flashed back to how he had called her “baby” yesterday…
How could she possibly stay angry?
Yet she felt she shouldn’t be appeased so quickly.
“I want Jin Yun Ge’s sweet and sour pork ribs and crab roe lion’s head, freshly made.”
The young lady’s voice was slightly hoarse, and even when saying such spoiled words, it carried a soft, coquettish tone that evoked pity.
Xie Qing Ci responded with a hint of laughter in his voice, “Alright, sorry to trouble you, baby, to wash up by yourself today. Once you’re done, you’ll definitely get to eat, I promise.”
The words sounded a bit strange.
But ever since Yu Qing moved into the old residence, Xie Qing Ci had always carried her to wash up.
She loved sleeping in, and back when she had just been discharged from the hospital, Xie Qing Ci made sure she ate her meals on time by pulling her out of bed every day.
He tirelessly carried the drowsy, soft little bundle, brushing her teeth, washing her face, and applying skincare products for her.
That’s why he said today, “Sorry to trouble you, baby, to wash up by yourself.”
He considered this his responsibility.
Her matters were his matters.
This version of Xie Qing Ci—
How could anyone not be moved?
……
Yu Qing sluggishly made her way to the bathroom.
By the time she dawdled through her routine and returned to the bedroom, Xie Qing Ci was already seated at the dining table, waiting for her.
On the table were the dishes she had just requested, along with a few additional vegetarian dishes she loved.
It was clear the food had been prepared in advance.
Seeing her emerge, Xie Qing Ci stood up, walked over to her in a few strides, picked her up, and carried her back to the dining table, where they both sat down.
The entire process was seamless and without hesitation.
Yu Qing: …
Xie Qing Ci was accustomed to not speaking during meals, so the two of them ate lunch in silence.
Throughout the entire meal, Yu Qing didn’t even lift a finger.
Just as Yu Qing finished rinsing her mouth with the cup Xie Qing Ci handed her, the man embraced her tightly from behind.
“Baby—”
“I’m sorry—”
Remembering that he had already apologized over the phone, Yu Qing felt a bit puzzled.
Although she had been a little upset, was it really necessary for Xie Qing Ci to apologize twice?
But since he brought it up again—
“You don’t feel the slightest bit sorry for me.”
Xie Qing Ci paused, not expecting the young woman to suddenly say such a thing.
He tightened his arms slightly, turning her around to face him.
With a light laugh, he asked, “Don’t I cherish you?”
Facing the man, Yu Qing’s defiance weakened. She mumbled, “You just—you’re obsessed with my body.”
Xie Qing Ci froze for a moment upon hearing her words, then a soft chuckle escaped from deep in his throat.
How could this delicate little treasure be so endearing!
He could never cherish her enough.
Lifting his hand, he gently pinched her chin and leaned in for a soft kiss.
Then, pressing his forehead against hers, he whispered in response, “I am indeed quite obsessed with your body, my treasure.”
Yu Qing: “???”
The young woman began struggling frantically, trying to break free from his embrace.
“Let go! No more hugging!”
Xie Qing Ci had no intention of releasing her, but he worried she might accidentally bump or hurt herself.
So he tightened his hold, securing the small bundle in his arms.
He buried his face in her fragrant, soft neck, inhaling deeply the unique scent of peony that belonged only to her.
Leaning close to her ear, he murmured, “If I didn’t cherish you, my treasure, I wouldn’t have let you go so easily that day in the car.”
“Understand, baby?”
The man was pressed close, his thin lips brushing lightly against her ear as he spoke, sending a shiver through her…
The delicate treasure was so flustered by his teasing that she lowered her head and burrowed deeper into his embrace.
Xie Qing Ci continued soothingly, “I apologized to you, my treasure, firstly because I went too far yesterday, making you uncomfortable. That was my fault, and I’ll be more considerate of your feelings from now on.”
“Secondly, I failed to notice your distress in time, letting you wake up alone, feeling wronged and upset. That was my oversight.”
“And also, I don’t know if you were already upset last night. If so, then I apologize again. I promise you, my treasure, I won’t let you go to sleep with unresolved emotions ever again.”
Yu Qing listened to the man’s gentle, low explanation of why he had apologized.
Her heart ached with a bittersweet fullness from his tenderness and love.
Tears welled up uncontrollably at the corners of her eyes.
She nuzzled back and forth against his chest.
Yu Qing had only been a little uncomfortable physically and upset about waking up alone.
She never expected to hear such an explanation from him…
＞＜
The young woman stretched out her pale, soft arms to wrap around the man’s waist, cooing sweetly, “I understand now~”
Xie Qing Ci gently stroked her head with his large hand, leaning over to kiss the hair at her temple. “It was my fault. I should have comforted you before we fell asleep last night.”
He had been so overwhelmed with happiness that he overlooked the possibility of her feeling unhappy.
Yu Qing hadn’t expected this man to be so attentive.
Not only was he endlessly doting on her, but he also constantly filled her with a sense of security.
“No, A Ci is very good, truly very good.”
Hearing her say this, Xie Qing Ci was deeply moved.
He leaned in again and asked softly, “Does it still hurt, my treasure?”
Yu Qing: ?
“After you fell asleep last night, I applied medicine for you. I applied it again this morning.”
Yu Qing: ??
“If it still hurts, let me check and apply the medicine once more, alright?”
Yu Qing: ???
“Hmm?”
How did the topic suddenly take such a turn?
Without waiting for Yu Qing to respond, the man picked her up and headed toward the bed.
“Hey—what are you doing?!”
Afraid he might cause trouble in broad daylight again, Yu Qing struggled vigorously in his arms.
Xie Qing Ci, afraid she might fall, tightened his embrace slightly and quickened his pace to the bedside.
“Be good, sweetheart. Let me check your wound.”