Chapter 43 Surprise
The elevator doors slid open silently, revealing a stark space where dark walnut wood and matte metal intertwined, so bright it was almost reflective. Xie Shiyan led her inside, and the elevator doors closed, completely shutting out all the gazes and whispers from outside.
In the cramped space, only the two of them remained, along with the faint hum of the machine.
The silence fell abruptly. Xie Shiyan didn't speak, but gently stroked her cheek with his free hand. His fingertips were calloused, yet his movements were extremely gentle, carefully wiping the skin at the corner of her eye that had been rubbed and made even redder.
"Still feeling wronged?" he asked in a low voice, which sounded particularly deep and hoarse in the small space, carrying a strange soothing power.
Jiang Yining sniffed, shook her head, then nodded, her throat feeling terribly constricted. Finally, she could only mumble a vague sentence:
"She used such awful language." The voice had a heavy nasal tone, like a kitten that had been bullied badly.
Xie Shiyan's eyes darkened even more instantly. The soft overhead light in the elevator cast a small shadow on his deep-set eyes, softening the oppressive coldness emanating from him.
"bite--"
With a soft thud, the elevator reached the top floor. The doors slid open silently, revealing not the bustling office area or meeting room one might expect, but a private corridor with a thick, dark gray carpet, soft lighting, and simple art paintings on both sides. At the end of the corridor was a heavy, warm-looking double door made of walnut wood.
Xie Shiyan took her hand and led her straight to the door. The door lock used fingerprint and iris recognition. He raised his hand near the sensor area, and with a soft "beep," the door opened.
A unique, crisp, dry scent, carrying the aroma of sun-dried wood, wafted towards them. Jiang Yining, led by him, stepped inside somewhat bewildered. The entryway was spacious, with an extremely minimalist design and clean lines.
The floor-to-ceiling windows occupy almost an entire wall, allowing the bright, almost blinding midday sunlight to pour in without any obstruction, bathing the entire space in a translucent golden hue.
Outside the window was the city's most prosperous and magnificent skyline, with towering buildings resembling a steel forest. Jiang Yining was momentarily captivated by the breathtaking view, even forgetting her earlier grievances, and subconsciously held her breath.
"Change your shoes." Xie Shiyan's deep voice sounded beside him, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
He bent down, took a pair of brand-new, soft, plush women's slippers from the shoe cabinet in the entryway, and placed them beside her feet. Jiang Yining then came to her senses, and somewhat clumsily took off her high heels and stepped into the warm, cloud-like slippers.
Xie Shiyan changed into comfortable indoor shoes, then took her hand and walked into the bright, almost dazzling space. The huge open-plan living room was decorated mainly in sophisticated gray and off-white tones, paired with dark walnut furniture and cold, hard metal lines, revealing the owner's cool, restrained, and meticulous aesthetic sense.
Jiang Yining followed him closely, her gaze curiously surveying this private space that belonged entirely to Xie Shiyan. There wasn't a single unnecessary item; it was as tidy as a showroom, lacking any sense of life. Until—
Her steps abruptly halted, her gaze fixed on the brightest patch of sunlight in the center of the living room, as if drawn by a powerful magnet.
There, untouched by any furniture, stood a cylindrical glass jar, about half a person's height, standing silently by the window. Its crystal-clear surface refracted a dazzling light under the sun. The jar was heavy, with smooth, rounded lines. But what was most striking was what was inside—
A full jar, filled with golden, bright yellow, and perfectly round lemon candies. Countless crystal-clear lemon hard candies, like the most dazzling galaxy on a summer night, like frozen sunlight and raindrops, are perfectly sealed in this half-person-high glass container.
Jiang Yining was completely stunned. Her mouth was agape, her eyes were wide open, and she even subconsciously rubbed her eyes.
"This...this is..." She turned her head to look at Xie Shiyan beside her, her voice trembling with extreme shock, filled with disbelief, confusion, and bewilderment.
"What?"
Xie Shiyan's face showed no particular expression, but her gaze was fixed on the giant sugar jar that shone brightly in the sunlight before slowly shifting back to her shocked face.
He released her hand, took two steps forward, and stopped in front of the huge glass jar. His well-defined fingers gently tapped the cool, smooth jar wall, producing a crisp "ding" sound.
"Sugar," he answered succinctly, his tone as flat as if he were talking about the weather.
Then, he turned his head slightly, his deep eyes locking onto her, a complex mix of emotions swirling within them—indulgence, helplessness, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"For you."
"For...me?" Jiang Yining seemed to be burned by the answer, pointing at the huge jar, her voice rising.
"So much? You...you're treating me like a sugar pot, pampering me like a precious treasure? I could eat this for a lifetime and still not finish it!" After the initial shock, a sense of absurdity overwhelmed her.
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