Qiao Yanli jumped into the passenger seat, next to the drowsy Xia Yanxi. Once the driver took off, he cupped his hands onto the tired girl’s shoulders before pulling her into his embrace.
Xia Yanxi, albeit tired, wanted to pull away from him but Qiao Yanli insisted on holding her in his embrace. He moved to her ear and whispered, “You’re clearly tired. Lean on me, and when we’re home, I’ll wake you up.”
His voice was incredibly coarse as he tried his best to lower the register of his tone. Even so, like her father, his voice was coarse yet soothing, husky yet soft. She could remember clearly how her father was occasionally a sweet man that would take good care of her… Only when her mother passed did he change drastically… How… Why…
She was tired of this… Tired of everything that had happened… Tired mentally.
As soon his wide-rugged hands brushed against her satin-like hair, she fell onto his firm chest, burying her face like a kitten purring against its mother. She could smell only a hint of tobacco in the fabric of his shirt and that made her loosen up. Her tense demeanor softened as she let herself be pampered by the man. She could not be bothered by his background and the two had only been together for less than the number of fingers she had, yet every time he was with her, she could feel a sense of security, and a tad bit of playfulness.
Xia Yanxi drifted off and Qiao Yanli signalled for the driver to drive slowly. They spent more than one hour driving at a snail’s pace before Qiao Yanli had the driver start driving at normal speed.
“Where to, Mr. Qiao? Shengyuan Manor or the apartment in Qin Park?” the driver asked.
The Shengyuan Manor was a manor that Qiao Yanli had built for his grandfather to spend the rest of his days. The environment was quiet and sublime, far from the city yet in a position where one could have a grand view of it. That place was the epitome of grand accomodation one could ever have. Even the richest of the rich had never had a chance to claim that plot of land.
Qiao Yanli arched a smile as he gazed upon his sleeping beauty.
“To the apartment,” he answered.
The girl was still oblivious and wary of him, if she were to wake up in the regency room of the Shengyuan Manor, she would be frightened rather than amazed.
The girl was sleeping like a log and even at full speed, she was not disturbed in the slightest. The car arrived at the ground floor of the apartment and Qiao Yanli carried her out like a princess. When they were in the elevator, the girl’s eyes twitched a little. Her vision was incredibly blurry when she realized that she was being carried like a little girl.
Qiao Yanli did not realize that the girl was waking up and only did when he heard her muttering, “Father…”
He was taken aback, and his throat tightened.
When they arrived at home and the girl was placed softly on his bed, she was still asleep. She was probably too tired. Then again, it was only logical as she had been through a roller-coaster of events and emotions back in the Red Rose.
Qiao Yanli wanted to head into the bathroom to fetch a damp cloth to wipe her face but before he could leave her side, the girl’s slender arms were flung, pulling at his muscular ones.
“Father… What did Yanxi do wrong? Why do you love Huo Shiyu and hate me…”
She was still asleep. Her eyes were tightly shut yet beads of tears managed to slide past her eyelids and onto the silk sheets.
Qiao Yanli could feel a sharp jab in his heart. Her words were like needles stabbing into his heart. Without hesitation, the man slowly crawled in bed and wrapped his arms around her.
“Yanxi, you need not be sad anymore. From this day onward, I will take good care of you. I promise you that. Don’t cry….”
A while later, Xia Yanxi blinked. She saw that Qiao Yanli was embracing her, and before he knew it, she crawled up like a sloth and forcefully bit into his neck.
It was a powerful bite, so much so his skin was almost torn. He groaned, only a little, before he gazed at the emotional woman, “Why did you do that to your husband?”
“It’s… It’s your fault. If only you hadn’t touched me when I was drugged that night…”
“If only… If only that didn’t happen, Wenxuan wouldn’t have treated me that way…”
If only… It did not matter then and it did not matter now. Even if Qiao Yanli had not barged into her life, she would eventually find out about Bai Wenxuan and Huo Shiyu.
As soon as the name was spoken, Qiao Yanli’s eyes narrowed with hostility. He pulled himself away from her and left the bedroom. As he left the room, he missed another part of her mutterings.
“I have no regrets… Bai Wenxuan is a dishonest man. One that does not deserve my love.”
***
A sharp pain assaulted the side of her head when she opened her eyes. The radiant sunlight that she was supposed to be basking in, was hurtful to even glance at.
She was experiencing a hangover and it must have been due to the red wine she had emptied the night before.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Xia Yanxi recognized the room and knew that she was in Qiao Yanli’s house. That knock was unfamiliar and there should not be anyone else living in the house.
She limped to the door and when she opened it, an elderly woman with a smile of a thousand suns greeted her.
“Good morning, Miss,” she said.
“Good morning… Ehrm… Who are you?”
“I am Zhang. A servant hired by Mr. Qiao to take care of your daily needs.”
Xia Yanxi bowed slightly, her dishevelled hair hanging from her shoulders.
“Thank you.”
“Well then. Breakfast is ready.”
“Thank you. By the way, where is Mr. Qiao?”
“Master Qiao has left for work.”
Xia Yanxi nodded and closed the door.
Did she say something in her sleep? What else could explain his disappearance in the morning, skipping breakfast with her entirely?