Chapter 79, Side Story 9 (Continuing from the Normal World Ending)

Ling Wei pulled her hand behind her back, intending to pretend to walk out normally while he was still drinking.

Before he could move, the person sitting down suddenly let out a short, sharp sound, not like a cough, but more like a soft laugh suppressed in his throat.

Immediately following was the soft sound of a glass being placed back on the coffee table.

The next second, before Ling Wei could fully hide her wrist behind her back, it was gently grasped by a warm and dry hand.

Ling Wei looked up in surprise.

The person in front of her turned their gaze away, lowering their eyes slightly to the slender wrist she was holding, as if studying something.

The warm yellow light fell on his profile, outlining his soft features.

His slightly husky voice, tinged with the effects of alcohol, slowly and clearly penetrated her ears, each word distinct:

"Your hands are so cold..."

He lightly brushed his fingertips across the skin of her wrist.

Are you cold?

He then raised his eyes, a faint smile in his gaze:

"Weiwei?"

Ling Wei's voice, muffled beneath her mask, asked, "...When did you recognize me?"

Qu Mingyuan: "Xiao Zhao is not at home."

Ling Wei: "..."

She gently struggled to free her wrist, but with little strength: "Then why are you still shouting..."

Before she could finish speaking, the man holding her wrist suddenly made a move, gently resting his cheek against the back of her hand.

His slightly warm skin pressed against her slightly cool skin. The man tilted his head back slightly, not saying a word, but his eyes were full of laughter that almost overflowed as he looked at her.

Ling Wei belatedly realized her outfit and, under his focused gaze, felt a little embarrassed: "I have to go back now."

"No..." The grip on her wrist didn't loosen; instead, a pulling force came from it. "Don't go."

Ling Wei fell into a warm embrace, his arms immediately wrapped around her from behind, loosely encircling her, and his chin rested on her shoulder.

Qu Mingyuan lowered his head. Ling Wei's mask was still on, but he didn't move it. He just carefully traced the outline of her eyebrows and eyes with his eyes.

Then, he remained in that embrace from behind, gently pressing his cheek against her side, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

"I'm so happy."

"I'm so happy you could come."

“Like a dream,” he repeated, his arms unconsciously tightening.

Faced with his straightforward joy, Ling Wei's embarrassment and awkwardness gradually dissipated, and a smile appeared in her eyes. Following his words, she continued, "Well, what you see now is not real. You'll forget it all by tomorrow morning."

Qu Mingyuan chuckled softly, the sound ringing out close to her, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine.

He pulled her closer, drawing her into his embrace, and sighed contentedly, "Mmm, it's a wonderful dream..."

"I was so happy in my dream." He repeated it again, like a drunken fool.

Ling Wei leaned against him, feeling relaxed: "You drank quite a bit today?"

"Not much," he quickly denied, his voice muffled against her shoulder and neck.

"Not much? Then why are people coming to deliver things so late at night... Hmm? Brother Mingyuan?"

The last address, with its rising tone at the end, conveyed no emotion, yet it caused the arms wrapped around her waist to tighten noticeably.

“…Miss Shen,” the man’s voice regained some of its usual clarity, but it was still slightly hoarse from drinking, “her father was my former boss who mentored me when I first started working in the province. He did mention it…but I refused.”

"Oh—" Ling Wei drawled, "Really?"

The system suddenly popped up: "Report, what he said is true!"

Ling Wei: "...No, why are you still here?"

They were just having a little fun, how inconsiderate of you!

The system complained, "They just got back, and you already think they're in your way? *sobs*"

Crying and running around, you filthy couple!!!

With the system's interference, Ling Wei's intention to tease him dissipated considerably.

But Qu Mingyuan was unaware of the thoughts running through her mind. Seeing that she only said "oh" and then fell silent, he assumed she didn't believe him and cautiously probed, "...In the future, if a similar situation occurs again, can I say... that I already have a boyfriend?"

Ling Wei pretended to leave: "I'm already here, why are you still asking such a question?"

If someone isn't your partner, why would they sit on your lap? Are your laps some kind of park bench?

"Because..." The words stopped before he could finish speaking.

Ling Wei waited a while, but when she didn't hear anything more, she couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

"...It's nothing." His voice was muffled, as if he buried his head even deeper into the crook of her neck.

That won't do. Leaving things unsaid is the most suspenseful thing.

Ling Wei twisted her body: "If you don't tell me, I'm really leaving."

"No..." Qu Mingyuan sighed helplessly, but he tightened his arms around her to prevent her from moving.

It was as if only through this tight embrace and the dim light could he express those thoughts that he would never easily reveal when he was sober: "I'm thinking... is there too little I can give you in this capacity?"

He began, speaking slowly: "My time, schedule, and even a part of my freedom are not entirely my own. When you are tired or in trouble, I may not be able to get to your side immediately. The most ordinary days spent together in other people's relationships are the most precious promises to me."

If it weren't for the alcohol, these words would never have come out of Qu Mingyuan's mouth. He hugged the person in his arms even tighter, as if confirming a lost treasure that had been found again: "I'm afraid... this might make you feel that it's not good enough."

Ling Wei listened intently, but beneath her mask, the corners of her mouth curled up higher and higher, and her eyes curved into crescent moons.

She tried to turn her head to look at him, but he gently pressed his cheek against hers, preventing her from turning around.

His voice was close to her ear, tinged with a rare embarrassment: "Weiwei...don't look at me."

His earlier words, spoken with the nagging anxiety of a young boy, were quite beyond his usual command of the situation and his reserved nature. As a result, he felt a little embarrassed in front of his beloved.

Ling Wei did not move or speak as instructed, but simply stayed quietly in his arms.

The silence made Qu Mingyuan a little uneasy. He loosened his grip on her arm and lowered his head slightly, trying to see her expression.

Just as his gaze fell, Ling Wei turned her head to the side.

She raised one hand and gently cupped his cheek, while her other hand deftly pulled off the mask that was in the way of her face.

Without the obstruction of fabric, her face was clearly revealed in the warm light, her eyes bright, her nose slightly red, and her lips naturally moist.

She looked at him, tilted her head back, and kissed him. Their lips met, warm and soft, lingering and deepening.

The kiss lasted a long time.

So long that the sound of rain outside the window seemed distant, so long that their breaths mingled and their heartbeats could be clearly heard in the quiet living room.

Only when both of them were slightly out of breath did Ling Wei step back a little, pressing her forehead against his, breathing softly.