Chapter 8 Qin Tian is really interested in him. When did it start?
On Bond Street, the red taillights ahead formed a winding strip of light that stretched to the end of the sight, and it had been motionless for more than ten minutes. Tong Zhongyuan glanced anxiously at the clock on the dashboard again. There were still 15 minutes to 7 o'clock. With the current traffic conditions, there was no way he could get to Dahu's house on time. He should have anticipated the traffic conditions on the weekend and should not have driven. In his self-management, punctuality was the first principle. And now, he had no better choice than to tell Qin Tian in advance that he would be late.
He sent a message to Qin Tian, saying that he was stuck in traffic and expected to be 20 minutes late.
She immediately replied: "Don't worry, drive slowly and be careful."
He thought for a moment and sent another message: "You order first."
"good."
By the time he finally arrived at the hotel entrance, he was 25 minutes late. Dahujia didn't have valet parking, so he backed his car into the garage, the front of the car still tilted. He ignored it, hurriedly got out of the car and rushed to the hotel.
The clerk asked him if anyone else had arrived first. He said "second floor" and went upstairs in two or three steps.
The hotel wasn't big, and he'd booked a window seat on the second floor. He'd thought he'd see Qin Tian once he got upstairs, but he looked around and couldn't find her. There were only a few seats by the window, so it was impossible that Qin Tian hadn't arrived yet.
He wondered if his reserved seat had been changed and was about to ask the waiter when a girl in a white dress and long hair by the window turned her head and saw him. A delighted smile immediately appeared on her face and she waved at him.
His heart was beating rapidly from the rush, and the rapid thumping in his chest was so loud that he could hear it himself.
He walked towards Qin Tian, pulled out a chair and sat down opposite her.
"Sorry for being so late."
Since meeting Tong Zhongyuan in England, Qin Tian had never seen him so disheveled. Of course, this "distressed" was compared to his usual self. Even now, with his hair disheveled, his shirt unbuttoned, and his breathing still lingering, he looked a hundred times more respectable than the washed-out shirt and wrinkled trousers Tang Zhixu had worn to the opening of the Zhang Daqian Memorial Museum.
Qin Tian poured him a glass of water and took a tissue from the table and gave it to him. He said gently, "No need to rush, it's just a simple meal."
Tong Zhongyuan raised his eyes. He didn't know if it was the lighting or the new hairstyle, but her eyes and eyebrows looked brighter than usual, her lips delicate and innocent. Normally, when he met with female clients or colleagues in private settings, he'd always compliment them when he noticed they'd changed into new outfits. "I've noticed you're taking our meeting very seriously." But now he was stuck. He had a feeling that if he told Qin Tian that the dress suited her well and that her hairstyle was beautiful, the atmosphere might change a little.
Qin Tian also noticed that Tong Zhongyuan seemed unusually silent today. Could it be that he hadn't done well during the day? This wasn't a good sign. She had come tonight with a request.
The waiter came over and asked if they could serve the food. Tong Zhongyuan came to his senses and immediately said, "Go ahead." Qin Tian wanted to give him the menu to confirm, but he put it aside without even looking at it. He said apologetically, "No need to look at it."
He took a sip of water, and his expression and voice returned to normal. He picked up a topic and asked, "What time is the flight tomorrow?"
"10 a.m."
"Do you need me to take you to the airport?"
Qin Tian smiled and shook his head: "No, I've already booked a taxi this morning."
Tong Zhongyuan had actually noticed long ago that whenever he asked her if she needed his help, she would always smile with understanding and tolerance, as if he wasn't offering help, but had made a mistake, and she said it didn't matter.
At first, he thought it was his own imagination, but after seeing her many times, he was sure that her smile must have a meaning. The problem was that he had no way to verify this suspicion. He couldn't ask her what she had done that was so funny.
The waiter brought the dishes in one after another. Four-happiness roasted gluten, five-spice hairtail fish, sweet and sour spare ribs… This restaurant was close to the British Museum, and Tong Zhongyuan frequented it. These were his regular dishes, and he had no idea Qin Tian had exactly the same taste.
Qin Tian knew he was being polite, so he didn't give in and just started eating. This overseas Shanghainese cuisine tasted pretty good. Tong Zhongyuan saw how much she enjoyed her meal, and thought he must have been really hungry because he was so late.
During the meal, Tong Zhongyuan expressed his admiration for Qin Tian's professionalism as a Shanghai Museum delegate, and expressed his hope for further collaboration in the future. Qin Tian, in turn, thanked him for his warm and caring support. The conversation gradually shifted to the Shanghai Museum's impressive acquisition and redemption efforts in recent years. Qin Tian felt a little uneasy when he heard about acquisitions and redemptions, and he quickly decided to steer the conversation in the direction she wanted.
At the dinner table, both of them had gradually put down their chopsticks. Qin Tian asked tentatively, "Do you live alone now or with your parents?"
Tong Zhongyuan was a little surprised. This topic was rather private, and considering his and Qin Tian's close relationship, it was a bit too intimate. But he still answered.
"I live on my own. My parents are retired and their pace of life is different."
"Oh," she said in understanding.
She knew Tong Zhongyuan was single, but she wasn't sure if he had a girlfriend or boyfriend. She knew it was a bit abrupt, but she still wanted to make sure there was no risk of other people finding out if she sent the items to his house. So she had to bite the bullet and ask, "Do you... live alone?"
Tong Zhongyuan's gaze towards her began to become mysterious. After waiting for a while, he said, "Alone."
She breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the water cup and took a sip, a satisfied smile on her lips. She didn't notice that Tong Zhongyuan's eyes were looking at her more and more subtle.
"By the way," Qin Tian took out the gift she had prepared from the chair next to him and placed it in front of him. The timing was perfect. First express sincerity, then put forward her needs. "I bought you a gift, thank you for taking care of me during this time."
Tong Zhongyuan's eyes fell lightly on the gift. But in his heart, a series of question marks had already filled his heart. An hour ago, before he even arrived at the hotel, he would never have narcissistically assumed that Qin Tian had any expectations of him in terms of the opposite sex. But now he was not so sure. He reached out and took out the box, took a look at it, and put it back. His eyes passed Qin Tian's expectant face and looked out the window. He considered his words and said slowly: "Thank you for the gift, but it is too expensive. It is not convenient for me to accept it."
Qin Tian's eyes suddenly lit up. He really knew! How could a normal person know about these out-of-print shoes? Only those who like them would know the value of these shoes. He really did have the same hobby as Tang Zhixu. She guessed right! The money was not wasted.
Tong Zhongyuan saw Qin Tian's eyes fixed on him, bright and full of anticipation and excitement. The indescribable feeling in his heart intensified. Could it be that she had changed her dress and hairstyle today because of him?
Qin Tian looked at him eagerly and said sincerely, "You're welcome. I bought these shoes especially for you. I went shopping on Oxford Street and couldn't think of anything to give you. A friend asked me to bring him a pair of these shoes. He's about your age, so I thought you might like them too. Speaking of which, you like running, right? I interrupted you while you were running last time. These sneakers are perfect for you to wear."
Tong Zhongyuan recalled her nonsense that day while running. He was too lazy to correct her and let her think whatever she wanted. Unexpectedly, she knew he was running. It seemed that she was simply not good at expressing herself in Chinese.
Seeing Tong Zhongyuan's silence, Qin Tian must have been shaken. The atmosphere was almost set, and it was time to get to the point. She mustered up the courage to say, "Tong Zhongyuan, could you please tell me your home address? I might have something to send you after I return home."
Tong Zhongyuan's doubts vanished. He was certain Qin Tian was truly interested in him. When did it all begin? He couldn't recall. Was it because of the book they borrowed? Or even before? Although he'd never considered it that way, he felt a certain pleasure in being liked by her. But how could he reject her without hurting her pride and still conveying it clearly?
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