Xie Cheng didn’t answer, instead raising his hand to gently brush against her ear, which was startlingly hot to the touch.
Wen Yan trembled as if struck by an electric current, instinctively pushing away his restless hand.
Her heart was beating so fast it felt nearly out of control—she was truly going mad.
In the face of his closeness and touch, she simply couldn’t remain resolute.
Xie Cheng withdrew his hand, rubbing his fingertips where the lingering warmth remained.
In a casual tone, he said, “When I was in Europe, I had a girlfriend for four years. She broke up with me three years ago. You can include that in the article.”
Wen Yan looked up at him, her brow tightly furrowed.
Xie Cheng leaned back in his chair, appearing calm and composed, with no discernible emotion in his eyes.
“As long as Dr. Xie doesn’t mind, I’ll include it in the report.”
Suppressing the inexplicable unease in her heart, she tried her best to treat him as just another ordinary interviewee.
Xie Cheng glanced at his wristwatch and said in a flat tone, “Time’s up. I look forward to reading your article, Reporter Wen.”
He picked up his teacup, downed the long-cold tea in one gulp, stood up, draped his coat over his arm, and strode away.
Wen Yan turned off the voice recorder, transferred the recording to her computer, and edited out parts of the conversation.
Over the next few days, she worked on writing the interview article about Xie Cheng.
The first draft was completed on the day of the interview, but afterward, it felt as though she were under a spell—she kept revising it repeatedly, always feeling something was off, yet unable to pinpoint exactly what.
It wasn’t until the day before her discharge that she finalized the version and sent it to her editor for review.
Her editor quickly gave feedback, asking her to inquire about Xie Cheng’s ex-girlfriend and devote more space in the article to that relationship.
She firmly refused. Even if it wouldn’t expose her, those four years shouldn’t become fodder for idle gossip.
Fortunately, her editor didn’t press further and agreed to publish the article as originally written.
On the day of her discharge, Qi Siye came to pick her up.
Wen Yan was already able to walk normally and had packed her things in advance.
Qi Siye picked up her bag with one hand and held her hand with the other.
She felt awkward but had no reason to pull away.
They were going to get married sooner or later, and intimate contact was unavoidable. Yet, the mental barrier in her heart remained insurmountable.
If her attraction to Xie Cheng was a physical inclination, her reaction to Qi Siye was one of physical aversion.
As luck would have it, they ran into Xie Cheng at the end of the hallway.
Qi Siye greeted him, “Xie Cheng, I’m taking Yan Yan home. Thank you for taking care of her.”
Xie Cheng stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping over their clasped hands before finally settling on Wen Yan’s face.
“You’re welcome.”
He uttered the three words coldly and brushed past them.
Wen Yan couldn’t help but glance back. Xie Cheng was standing by the hallway, waiting for the staff elevator. In his hand was a ballpoint pen, which he kept clicking repeatedly, over and over, his eyes filled with a heavy, fierce intensity.
Their elevator arrived first. Qi Siye pulled her inside.
Wen Yan stared at the reflection in the metal doors, her chest tight and suffocating.
Back at Greenfield Villa, Qi Siye personally cooked several dishes she loved.
Wen Yan was somewhat surprised. “When did you learn to cook?”
When they got engaged, Qi Siye hadn’t even known how much water to add to an electric rice cooker.
Qiao Xi had said he’d been waited on hand and foot since childhood and had never even stepped into a kitchen.
Yet the dishes on the table were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
Qi Siye smiled proudly. “I heard that cooking is the best accessory for a man. I was afraid you’d reject me, so I had to accessorize myself properly.”
“Thank you. It’s delicious. You should try some too.”
Warmth surged in Wen Yan's heart. It had been a long time since anyone had gone to such lengths for her.
Qi Siye sat down opposite her, his expression turning serious. "Yanyan, there's something I need to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
"Qiao Xi said some unfavorable things in front of my mother, which led her to take her anger out on Wantang and force her to move out of the Qi family home."
Qi Siye paused and sighed.
Wen Yan remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
Qiao Xi had likely complained that he had neglected her at the hospital while focusing all his attention on Jiang Wantang.
What was so unfavorable about that? It was simply the truth.
"Wantang has been feeling down. She's taken a liking to Greenfield Villa and wants to move in here with you. I'll be moving in as well."
Wen Yan's hand, holding the chopsticks, stiffened. Suddenly, the entire table of food seemed tasteless.
She had thought this meal was meant as an apology, but it turned out to be a setup.
She put down her chopsticks. "Qi Siye, this is your house. You can decide."
Although they were engaged, she had never considered herself the lady of the house here.
To put it bluntly, she was merely staying here as a guest.
"If there's nothing else, I should head to work."
She pulled out a tissue, wiped her mouth, and stood up to leave.
A week in the hospital had piled up a lot of work, and she needed to get back to it as soon as possible.
Her calmness ignited an inexplicable anger in Qi Siye. It seemed that no matter what he said or did, she remained utterly indifferent.
He grabbed her arm and demanded in a low voice, "Why did you encourage Qiao Xi to say those things in front of my mother?"
His grip was strong, and the pain made Wen Yan gasp.
"You're hurting me."
A flicker of panic flashed in Qi Siye's eyes, and he quickly released her.
Wen Yan rubbed her arm and replied coldly, "Because I'm tired of Jiang Wantang."
She hadn't encouraged Qiao Xi, but she couldn't be bothered to explain.
If Qi Siye was disappointed in her and called off the engagement, that would be even better.
Qi Siye frowned, his expression one of disbelief.
"Wen Yan, you weren't like this before."
"Then you misjudged me before."
Wen Yan turned and walked away. He claimed she wasn't that kind of person, yet he still came to question her.
It was simply because, in his heart, Jiang Wantang's grievances mattered more than hers.
Watching her slender figure retreat, Qi Siye instinctively tightened his brow. "Let me drive you."
"No need. I've already booked a taxi."
Wen Yan didn't look back. Compared to her career, a man with such glaring flaws was truly insignificant.
Twenty minutes later, she was already sitting calmly at her desk.
Seeing her return, Xia Qing was the most excited.
"Without you, it's like instant noodles without the seasoning packet. I had no motivation coming to work alone."
Wen Yan couldn't help but laugh. "That's why I hurried back to keep you company."
Xia Qing had bought her coffee and a small cake and had even placed a bouquet of green hydrangeas in the vase on her desk.
Looking at that fresh splash of green, the knot of gloom in her heart loosened slightly.
Finding a like-minded friend at work was truly rare.
Xia Qing smiled and reminded her, "If you need to fetch water, print documents, or deliver anything, just call me for help. Don't strain yourself."
When she first started working here, she often felt overwhelmed by revisions and scolded by her superiors.
Thanks to Wen Yan's help, she might have quit back then.
"Understood," Wen Yan replied with a smile.
As soon as she finished speaking, her phone beside her rang—the special ringtone Xie Cheng had set for himself.
After a moment's hesitation, she answered.
Xie Cheng's voice came through immediately, and even through the receiver, she could sense the chilling coldness in his tone.
"Wen Yan, what did you write in the interview draft!"