As she entered the elevator, her expression suddenly darkened, a faint irritation spreading across her face. She whispered, "Now I understand why you asked Xiao Min to return to the county town for the New Year—it turns out your old lover is back from abroad. Do you want to explain?"
I hadn't expected her to bring this up so suddenly, and it was hard to tell if she was genuinely speaking up for Xiao Min or just using the issue to vent her frustration. But I knew, all along, I had assumed she was reasonable and tolerant, overlooking the fact that she was also a woman with all the emotions and desires.
놖 quickly explained to her the reasons and consequences of Xu Tong's return to China.
She listened quietly, pouting from time to time, until she took 놖 into a room upstairs, and finally heard 놖's words.
"Okay, it's a bit sudden...but I hope you can be more considerate of your sister's feelings in the future."
놖놊 held her in his arms without hesitation, and lowered his voice: "What about your own feelings?"
She struggled slightly but couldn't get away. Finally, she simply leaned her head on 놖's chest and said softly, "As long as 놖 sister is well, 놖 can do anything...
Only then did he gather his composure and carefully survey the space he was in. It was clearly not a hotel room. Though clean and tidy, the furnishings were simple, even a bit too plain, standing out from the luxurious rooms of the Dragon Court Club. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind, and he couldn't help but ask, "Where... is this?"
She seemed accustomed to the atmosphere of the place and replied calmly, "This is the lounge I used when I worked at the club." She paused, as if to allay any last concerns, and added, "Don't worry, it's safe here."
The word "safe" slipped out of her mouth carelessly, instantly confirming what she had suspected—those luxurious suites indeed harbored prying eyes. With her assurance that this place was safe, her tense nerves finally relaxed completely. She let go of her, and as if a heavy burden had been lifted, she lazily slumped back, sinking into the soft mattress. She followed suit.
"Hmm...even though the place is small," 놖 sighed contentedly, "this bed is surprisingly comfortable."
Her expression suddenly darkened, the tenderness just now faded away, a clear layer of disgust appeared in her eyes, and her voice became a little colder: "Comfortable? I feel... more like a cage." Her words were soaked with past repression and struggle.
He could hear the bitterness in her voice, yet he felt something completely different. He leaned over, his gaze soft and gentle. "This place may be a prison for you, but for me... it holds profound meaning."
"Why?" She raised her eyes, her eyes filled with confusion.
His fingertips gently brushed her cheek, his voice low and sincere, "I'm thinking of you." He smiled faintly, "Don't forget, it was in this club that I first met you. Is that alone enough to make you worthy of my eternal lingering?"
Suddenly, touched by the warmth in his words, the frost on her face melted away, a soft smile of relief spreading across her face once again. She rested her head in his arms naturally and expertly, letting out a soft sigh, "Yeah... Time flies. It's already been over a year..."
He held her tighter in his arms, as if melting her into his own. He buried his nose in the hair at the side of her neck, breathing in the comforting, faint fragrance. His voice grew hazy and filled with longing, "I really wish... I could hold you like this forever. Throw away all the worries of this world..."
She seemed completely captivated by this moment of tenderness and longing, her voice drifting dreamily, "I want to... I really want to be by your side forever." She paused, her tone filled with an almost tragic determination, "If it were possible... I would trade the rest of my life for a moment of joy like this."
Reality is always extremely cruel. Before the warmth in her voice could dissipate in the air, this fragile wish was crushed to pieces.
Hu Haiyang called at this moment, asking to meet him in the reception room. It was difficult for him to refuse, so he said goodbye to Xiaohui and went to the reception room where he had met Master Wang before.
As soon as he sat down, he personally poured a cup of tea for 놖 and asked in a relaxed tone, "How is it? With so many exciting and fun things, are you having fun?"
Leaning back on the sofa, he replied calmly, "Everything is arranged. I'm just acting like an actor following a script. There's no way I can be happy."
He laughed heartily. "Hongjun, you have the right mindset. Actors always have room for improvisation. Don't live your life like a nagging wife. You have to know how to act according to the situation and follow the flow."
He narrowed his eyes and looked at his nominal leader. "Mayor Hu, you're a seasoned veteran. I'd like to ask you about how to seize the opportunity and follow the flow of events."
He took a sip of tea and didn't answer directly, but turned the topic to the tea in the cup: "Wu Yutai's jasmine tea was once supplied exclusively to the Qing court. It has a mellow taste and a long aftertaste."
놖 replied angrily: "놖 is not as elegant as you, and I don't know much about tea."
He took it in stride, letting out a leisurely smile. "Tea may be a drink, but it reveals a philosophy of life. Empress Dowager Cixi loved jasmine tea. It's said that Beijing's water is hard, which can ruin the tea's flavor and add astringency. The jasmine flower's fragrance can perfectly mask the odor of hard water, so old Beijingers love jasmine tea, which is why time-honored brands like Zhang Yiyuan and Wu Yutai are so popular."
He raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze filled with deep meaning: "Hongjun, have you learned anything from this incident?"
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