"Thanks."

The word "thank you" sounded particularly jarring to him. "Yunxi, you never need to say thank you to me."

Song Yunxi paused for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."

Are you deliberately avoiding me?

"Huh? Why...why do you ask that?" Song Yunxi's eyes darted away slightly.

He stared straight at her. "Yunxi, am I bothering you?"

"No, you... don't overthink it."

Since their parting at the bar, she had indeed been intentionally avoiding him. At first, when they went out for dates and meals, she remained calm and unmoved. But gradually, her heart became increasingly chaotic, like willow catkins blown about by a strong wind.

She was bewildered and couldn't quite grasp what this feeling was. All she knew was that she didn't feel any aversion to his close contact; in fact, she had even felt a surge of anticipation after that incident at the tavern. Beneath the calm surface of her heart, an undercurrent was stirring.

She needs some time to sort out these tangled emotions.

"I'll take one step forward, you take two steps back. If my kindness makes you feel burdened, you can tell me directly."

When Rong Youze said this, his eyes were glistening with tears, making him look pitiful and endearing.

Song Yunxi hurriedly put down the documents in her hand, stood up and walked over, "No, no, don't overthink it. I'm just too busy. I want to provide more value to the company. My brother trusts me so much, I don't want to disappoint him."

Rong Youze raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek. "Yunxi, don't force yourself to do things you don't like, including people. A person's subconscious actions don't lie. I can't warm your heart..."

After saying that, he turned to leave.

"Don't go!" Song Yunxi hurriedly grabbed him.

"How can you be so fickle! Your heart is almost warmed up, are you planning to give up halfway?"

"Give me a little more time, it'll get warm soon, just hang in there a little longer." She hugged Rong Youze's waist from behind.

Rong Youze lowered his eyes to look at the hand on his waist. "Yunxi, are you sure?"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

“I’m sure!” Song Yunxi nodded emphatically.

He suddenly turned around and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Yunxi, I won't give you a chance to back out..."

...