Chapter 78 Extra 8 (Continuing from the Normal World Ending)

What else could Ling Wei do? She could only respond softly, lower her head, and carry the kettle and cup out.

She deliberately hunched her shoulders and only dared to look at the pattern on the carpet under her feet.

Walking to the coffee table, she silently placed the kettle and cups down. Qu Chen reached out absentmindedly to pick them up, his gaze casually sweeping over them, but then suddenly stopped.

That hand, dazzlingly white in the warm light, had long, slender fingers, well-proportioned knuckles, and neatly trimmed nails. There was nothing particularly special about it; it was simply beautiful.

Ke Quchen recognized it.

Ling Wei handed over the cup, but the other person seemed to be frozen in place, as if that gaze was fixed intently on her hand.

She could only grit her teeth silently, use her fingertips to slowly pull the cup away from his fingertips, gently place it on the table, then quickly withdraw her hand, remaining silent throughout, and turn back to the tea room.

She didn't dare to lift her head at all, her eyes were only on legs and carpet, but the conversation outside sounded normal, so she probably didn't give anything away, right?

She was leaning on the edge of the counter, just about to breathe a sigh of relief, when she turned around and almost bumped into a chest that had silently appeared behind her.

She stepped back in fright, her waist touching the edge of the stage.

Qu Chen stood half a step behind her, his tall figure almost enveloping her in the shadow of the cabinet.

He lowered his head slightly, his eyes beneath his tousled hair appearing unusually deep in the light.

“You’re here,” Qu Chen’s voice was low, as a breath brushed against Ling Wei’s forehead. It wasn’t a question, but rather a sigh mixed with disbelief and “What am I going to do with you?” “What am I going to do?”

Although he didn't call her by name, his eyes and tone clearly showed that he recognized her from head to toe.

Ling Wei could only desperately try to shush him.

Her overly cautious demeanor, clearly indicating she wasn't there to see him.

Looking at her flustered appearance, Qu Chen felt a pang in his heart, a dull and astringent feeling.

Even knowing the answer, he still pressed on with unwavering determination, asking, "Who...are you looking for?"

Ling Wei's gaze involuntarily drifted to the outside.

For a fleeting moment, Qu Chen's eyes darkened, but he ultimately didn't ask any more questions, only giving her a deep look.

Just then, Li Jinzhao's unsteady footsteps and mumbled question approached the tea room: "Brother? Who are you whispering with in there?"

Qu Chen frowned. Her first reaction was to block Li Jinzhao's view, but then she stopped and a thought flashed through her mind: If this guy recognizes Ling Wei, will she... not be able to get what she wants?

But just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Ling Wei raise her head in a panic and glance at him hastily.

One glance, and it was an instinctive plea for help.

All of Qu Chen's distracting thoughts vanished in that look. He closed his eyes briefly, let out a barely audible sigh, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a resigned compromise.

"Really."

He then raised his hand and gently lifted the mask off her face with his fingertips, carefully smoothing it to ensure it covered her completely.

"Hide well and don't make a sound."

He then turned around, his back to her, and said quickly, "Just stay here and go out when no one is around."

After saying that, he didn't linger. He stepped outside, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

Upon meeting Li Jinzhao, he stretched out his arm, put his arm around the other's neck without saying a word, easily turned him around 180 degrees, and pushed him out.

Li Jinzhao stumbled as he was pulled along: "Huh? Where are we going?"

"Let's go." Qu Chen's voice regained its usual concise and indifferent tone.

"Where are you going? I need water..."

"I'll take you home."

Passing through the living room, Qu Chen briefly instructed the sofa: "Li Jinzhao said he's not used to sleeping in the same bed and can't sleep soundly, so I'm taking him back."

"I don't have a problem sleeping in a new bed..." Qu Chen covered her mouth to stop her protest.

Qu Chen ignored him, half-dragging and half-pulling him out, whispering in Li Jinzhao's ear, "Didn't you want to have another round of drinks? Let's go."

Li Jinzhao mumbled sleepily, "But...but I'm a little sleepy..."

Qu Chen: "I'm not sleepy, stay with me."

Li Jinzhao: "..." He could only be dragged away.

Qu Chen helped Li Jinzhao to the entrance, but suddenly stopped.

He turned to the side, his gaze falling on Miss Shen, who was still in the living room. His face was expressionless, and his tone was direct:

“Miss Shen, my uncle has had too much to drink and needs rest right now.”

Being so bluntly asked to leave by a junior, Miss Shen's smile completely vanished. She had probably never encountered such a ruthless junior before.

Qu Chen, however, didn't care at all.

He didn't say anything more, just lazily raised his eyelids and stared straight at her, his eyes devoid of emotion.

This is the most common way he has treated unimportant strangers since childhood: distant, indifferent, and too lazy to bother with social interactions.

Miss Shen felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze. Ultimately, she couldn't save face, so she forced herself to stand up awkwardly, clinging to the last shred of dignity.

Seeing this, Secretary Sun immediately stepped forward, trying to smooth things over and ease the awkward atmosphere: "Miss Chen, let me see you out. It's really too late tonight, and the boss is tired too. Let's do it another day..."

Miss Shen seemed genuinely angry. Before Secretary Sun could finish speaking, she picked up her handbag and strode towards the door, her back view revealing her displeasure.

Secretary Sun quickly followed.

Finally, Qu Chen glanced at Butler Zhou, who was waiting to the side, and said, "Uncle Zhou, call me a car."

"Yes, Young Master Chen." Butler Zhou replied and quickly walked to the intercom on the other side.

In just a short while, the previously noisy living room suddenly became quiet.

Ling Wei waited a few more seconds by the tea table, making sure there was no other noise outside, before cautiously peeking out to take a look.

In the living room, only Qu Mingyuan remained.

He remained seated on the sofa, one hand on his forehead, eyes closed, seemingly genuinely tired, or perhaps feeling the effects of the alcohol.

Ling Wei pursed her lips and tiptoed out, intending to take this opportunity to slip away quietly.

Tonight is too chaotic; it's not a good time to talk. If she takes off her mask and says, "It's me," and the other person just gives a polite but distant look of surprise, she'll really buy a ticket and flee this planet tonight.

She held her breath and tiptoed toward the door.

Just as she was about to reach the edge of the foyer, a man's slightly hoarse voice, tinged with alcohol, called out to her from behind the sofa:

"Little Zhao."

Ling Wei stopped in her tracks.

"Could you pour me a glass of water?" he asked casually, as if he were simply instructing a housekeeper. "Warm water is fine."

Zhao Wei: "......"

She poured half a glass of warm water, walked up to Qu Mingyuan, handed him the glass, and still didn't say anything or look up.

The man then slowly sat up straight and took the water glass.

He brought the cup to his lips and slowly took a few sips. As the warm water went down his throat, his Adam's apple bobbed gently, and in the warm light of the living room, the curve of his undulating ear was particularly clear.

His loose bangs fell down, partially obscuring his eyebrows and eyes. Slightly flushed from the alcohol, the corners of his eyes were tinged with red, revealing a kind of unguarded languor.

The almost focused way he drank made everything around him quiet down, and even the air seemed to become thick.

She felt inexplicably annoyed.

Qu Chen recognized her at a glance, but what about him?

Yes... I didn't even think about it that way?