Chapter 54 Tears
Yu Bai's panicked and helpless gaze met Chi Qinghe's bewildered and sorrowful eyes. His handsome face, already slightly haggard from the long journey, now appeared even paler and more helpless.
In an instant, Yu Bai felt his heart clench, infected by the lingering sorrow in him.
In a short while, Chi Qinghe had suppressed his grief and become calm and composed. He walked slowly to Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou, his gaze falling on Yu Bai's bandaged ankle, his face showing heartache and worry.
"Are you hurt? I'm sorry I'm late." Chi Qinghe stared straight at Yu Bai, his voice extremely gentle. Yu Bai nodded blankly, then immediately shook his head, muttering "No, no."
Immediately, Chi Qinghe met that sharp, hostile gaze. Jiang Jizhou immediately felt a cold gaze fixed on him, but he showed no fear and even hugged Yu Bai in his arms tighter.
Yu Bai struggled even harder, "Jiang Jizhou, let me go."
Chi Qinghe gave a cold laugh and said to Jiang Jizhou, "Thank you for looking after my girlfriend. Now that I'm here, you don't need to worry about her anymore."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped forward to pull Yu Bai into his arms, but Jiang Jizhou stepped back and tightened his grip even more. Yu Bai's wrists were held captive by him and had turned red from struggling.
"Let her go."
Chi Qinghe spoke decisively, his voice already carrying a hint of anger.
Jiang Jizhou curled his lips, the smile not reaching his eyes, his voice laced with mockery, "What right do you have?"
"I'm Bai Bai's boyfriend." Chi Qinghe smiled, still able to control himself.
Jiang Jizhou spoke, his tone indifferent and devoid of emotion, "So what? We were boyfriend and girlfriend back in high school."
"Is that so?" Chi Qinghe smiled indifferently, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, so it's just a thing of the past?"
With a tone full of mockery, Jiang Jizhou's eyes darkened, and the atmosphere between the two immediately became even more tense. Neither of them made any attempt to hide their possessiveness towards Yu Bai and their naked hostility towards the other.
The air was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The two men were like trapped beasts on the edge of a cliff, their tension palpable, yet they anxiously awaited the judgment of the judge.
It wasn't until Yu Bai spoke that the stalemate was broken.
"Jiang Jizhou, please put me down."
Her voice was soft and incredibly pleasant, yet icy and distant, like sharp icicles piercing Jiang Jizhou's heart, leaving it riddled with holes. He instantly lost all strength, his hands went limp, and Yu Bai seized the opportunity to break free of her restraints, almost falling to the ground without a care. Jiang Jizhou, fearing she would get hurt, immediately let go and tried to help her, but she instinctively dodged away. Jiang Jizhou felt his heart bleeding uncontrollably.
The hurt he had caused her was now being repaid in full by her, and a bitter smile unconsciously crept onto Jiang Jizhou's lips.
Chi Qinghe, who was teetering on the brink of collapse, suppressed all his fear of losing her and forced himself to remain calm. But when he saw Yu Bai abandon Jiang Jizhou and take the initiative to approach him, he felt relieved and gently held Yu Bai in his arms, feeling the warmth of her body.
The result was obvious. Jiang Jizhou seemed to have lost everything. He was not resentful. He knew he deserved it. He could only watch helplessly as Yu Bai walked into another man's arms. It was so glaring. He wanted to punch the man immediately, but Yu Bai would only hate him more. He could only love her painfully and cautiously.
Jiang Jizhou, who was always full of confidence and high spirits, was now only filled with dejection and sorrow.
But Yu Bai didn't even look at him. She just stared at Chi Qinghe, her tone filled with trust and concern, "Qinghe, did you just arrive? Are you tired? Go to your hotel room and rest for a bit."
"I'm not tired." Chi Qinghe gazed at her gently. "Let me take you back to your room."
With that, Chi Qinghe carried Yu Bai toward the hotel elevator, leaving Jiang Jizhou behind.
From beginning to end, Yu Bai didn't look at Jiang Jizhou once more. He was like a stray dog abandoned by its owner, watching Yu Bai and Chi Qinghe gradually walk away.
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Chi Qinghe carried Yu Bai to his hotel room, gently placed her on the bed, and knelt down to carefully examine the bandaged area.
"I'm sorry I'm late." He said with annoyance, taking the blame for his injury.
Yu Bai shook his head. "No, don't say that anymore. I'm fine."
Because of what had just happened, Yu Bai was still feeling somewhat lost, and his tone inexplicably carried a sense of guilt and panic.
"Okay, I won't say anything more. I'm just glad you're alright."
Chi Qinghe stared intently at Yu Bai. Such intense and profound emotions made Yu Bai feel as if she was about to drown in his gentle and tender gaze; she could hardly bear it.
Yu Bai's eyelids drooped, and she looked away from Chi Qinghe, trying to escape his gaze.
Have you missed me?
Chi Qinghe was not annoyed, and gently asked Yu Bai.
Yu Bai nodded, reached out and pulled Chi Qinghe up, sitting down beside her. Her hand was soft and warm, and Chi Qinghe's heart softened even more because of her gesture.
The two tacitly agreed not to mention what had just happened in the hotel lobby.
I miss you so much too.
Chi Qinghe turned to the side and pulled Yu Bai into his arms. Her face pressed against his hard chest, and Chi Qinghe placed his hand on her head, stroking her hair gently.
Yu Bai didn't move, obediently nestled in his arms.
Chi Qinghe rested his chin on her head, savoring the faint fragrance of her hair, and his chaotic heart gradually calmed down.
He reached out and took her hand, gripping it tightly.
Neither of them spoke again, enjoying the moment of peace.
He no longer asked about anything between Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou. As long as Yu Bai was his at this moment, that was enough.
Chi Qinghe no longer wanted to think about those distant things like tomorrow or the future. He only needed to cherish every moment he had with her, which was already a blessing from heaven.
Have you eaten?
After a while, Yu Bai asked Chi Qinghe in a low voice.
Chi Qinghe was thinking about Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou the whole way, and had no appetite for anything.
"No, have you eaten? Shall we eat together?"
Yu Bai smiled, her voice slightly playful, "Then I want to eat fish."
"Okay." Chi Qinghe said in a doting tone.
He called the hotel and ordered food to be delivered.
It had been a long time since the two of them had eaten together. They ate slowly, chatting about this and that, and would often exchange a smile while talking.
In this relaxed atmosphere, both Chi Qinghe and Yu Bai deliberately tried their best to forget the embarrassing things that had just happened.
As night deepened, the outside world was pitch black, with only a few dim stars shining in the sky.
Chi Qinghe looked at Yu Bai lying in his arms. Emotionally, he wanted to hold Yu Bai and sleep all night, but rationally, he was compelled to act like a gentleman.
"Bai Bai, let me take you back to your room."
Yu Bai opened her sleepy eyes and looked up at Jiang Jizhou. His face was gentle and refined, like a breeze brushing across a lake. He was always so tender and considerate. Since they got together, they had never crossed any lines.
Yu Bai lowered his eyes and hesitated for a moment.
Yu Bai's hesitation immediately shattered Chi Qinghe's emotional restraint, and finally, his emotions completely and overwhelmingly took over.
"Do you want to stay?"
He asked Yu Bai cautiously.
Yu Bai nodded cautiously.
The two looked into each other's eyes and blushed. Yu Bai was the first to look away and cover her face with the blanket, while Chi Qinghe smiled shyly and rubbed Yu Bai's head with his hand.
Afterwards, Chi Qinghe held Yu Bai in his arms with satisfaction, as if he were a precious treasure.
"Okay, let's go to sleep."
She was exhausted after a long day of work and couldn't go on any longer. She let her guard down, closed her eyes, and went to sleep peacefully.
But Jiang Jizhou, who had been abandoned, was like a lonely stray dog, recklessly searching for her direction.
Knock on the door of Yu Bai's hotel room. Wen Qin opened the door and saw the boss standing there, exuding a strong sense of gloom and anxiety.
"President Jiang, what's wrong?"
Despite his inner turmoil, Jiang Jizhou calmly asked, "Is Yu Bai here?"
"Ah." Upon hearing this, Wenqin couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, then swallowed and whispered, "Bai Bai texted me saying that her boyfriend is here and she won't be coming back tonight."
"Mr. Jiang, is there something you need to see her about?" Wenqin asked cautiously, looking at Jiang Jizhou's face, which had turned pale and gloomy in an instant. "Is it something urgent? Should I call her?"
Although it was expected, upon hearing Wenqin's words, Jiang Jizhou felt as if he had been struck by lightning, unable to move, and his heart felt like it had been shattered.
He turned and left without saying a word.
Wenqin frowned as she watched Jiang Jizhou's tall figure leave. The once aloof and arrogant boss had lost all his pride and arrogance. He was completely at ease, but now he was desolate and lonely, like a withered leaf felled by frost in a bleak autumn, having lost all vitality, and staggering as he disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Is President Jiang experiencing unrequited love? Wenqin sensed a juicy secret brewing.
Jiang Jizhou walked along the corridor, feeling that Yu Bai and Chi Qinghe might be in every hotel room. What were they doing right now? Whispering sweet nothings to each other?
Jiang Jizhou immediately stopped thinking. He dared not think any further. He wanted to clear his mind, but he felt as if someone was ringing a bell in his head. The booming sound made him ache to the bone. He couldn't help but bend over and couldn't straighten up.
He slid down against the wall, squatted down, and covered his ears with his hands, trying to block out the chaotic sounds in his mind. But gradually, the sound of the bell disappeared and was replaced by the sound of Yu Bai and Chi Qinghe whispering intimately together, so soft and so gentle.
Jiang Jizhou let go of her hand, covered her eyes, and a few tears welled up in her eyes.
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