If any other man had asked that, Song Xinya would definitely think he was being a creep.
But she knew Qin Yuhe wasn't.
He was genuinely discussing the results of their "pre-class prep" with her.
If she told him she didn't like it, she had a feeling he would just try a different problem-solving method. For instance, he might adjust the pressure of his kiss, change the angle, turn a gentle kiss into a fierce, biting one, and pin her down to practice all over again.
Seriously, was she just a math problem to him?
Honestly, how was she supposed to answer a question like that?
So, Song Xinya chose to pretend to be asleep. She squeezed her eyes shut and, despite never snoring in her life, deliberately let out a soft snoring sound.
Qin Yuhe turned his head to look at her in surprise. In the time it took him to say three sentences, she had fallen asleep?
His lean, muscular body leaned toward her. His handsome face was so close it was almost touching hers, his breath brushing against her sensitive ear.
Thank goodness the lights were already off, so he couldn't see her reddening ears.
In the dim room, Qin Yuhe used the moonlight to see Song Xinya's tightly shut eyes. Yes, she was definitely asleep.
...
In the middle of the night, Qin Yuhe suddenly woke up feeling hot.
He looked down and found that the girl who had been sleeping on the edge of the bed was now lying in his arms.
She had striking features, radiating a dazzling beauty when awake. But now, asleep and curled up in his embrace with her fan-like eyelashes resting on her cheeks, she possessed an adorable, childlike innocence.
She looked like a clingy little kid completely relying on an adult.
In the summer, with two bodies pressed together and sharing body heat, it was quite hot.
Qin Yuhe had always hated the heat.
He looked at her sleeping soundly. His hand, which had been about to pat her away, changed to an embrace. Holding her, he just endured the heat and soon fell back asleep.
The next day, Song Xinya woke up very early.
She was used to getting up early every day to work out, and her biological clock was firmly set.
However, waking up today felt different from before.
She opened her eyes to find herself pressed against Qin Yuhe's body. Her cheek was resting on his shoulder, and her arms were wrapped tightly around his arm, hugging it like a precious treasure.
When they went to sleep last night, there was a whole galaxy of space between them. How did it end up like this by morning?
She was never clingy in her sleep.
Well, actually, since she had always slept alone before, she didn't really know if she was clingy or not.
Looking at it now, it seemed she liked to cling to people when she slept?
While Qin Yuhe was still asleep, Song Xinya let go of his arm and gently scooted over to the other side, pretending nothing had happened.
Luckily he hadn't caught her clinging to him, hehe.
After getting out of bed, Song Xinya grabbed her sports bra and shorts and went into the bathroom to change.
It had rained last night, so the air on the balcony was fresh, carrying the sweet, damp scent of grass.
To avoid waking Qin Yuhe, she skipped her usual aerobics routine today and instead did yoga, Pilates, sit-ups, and squats.
After completing a set of yoga and Pilates, she did a hundred sit-ups, and finally prepared to finish off with fifty squats.
At this moment, she was facing away from the double bed, legs apart. With every downward squat, her perky bottom and slender waist formed a graceful, alluring curve.
Down, up, down, up, down, up...
Once the fifty squats were done, her morning workout successfully came to an end.
Song Xinya turned around and saw Qin Yuhe staring right at her.
He was leaning against the wall, one leg stretched out naturally and the other bent, with a pillow covering his lower waist and abdomen.
Song Xinya was wearing very little right now, exposing her fair waist and long, slender legs.
She wasn't used to showing off her body in front of people she wasn't close to. Seeing Qin Yuhe looking right at her made her feel a bit awkward and shy.
She didn't let it show on her face, however. Looking as normal as ever, she greeted him, "Morning, Mr. Qin."
"Morning," Qin Yuhe spoke, his voice incredibly husky.
Song Xinya said, "I just finished working out. I'm going to take a quick shower."
Qin Yuhe's gaze swept over her face and body.
Having just finished exercising, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were redder than usual. A thin layer of sweat clung to her face, neck, waist, and legs, glistening with a rosy hue.
Qin Yuhe thought of a piping hot, freshly steamed little bun that could be eaten in one bite.
Song Xinya asked, "Are you getting up now?"
Qin Yuhe replied, "I need to wait a little while."
Wait for what?
Song Xinya found it a bit strange.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her—
Because she would be occupying the bathroom to shower, he wouldn't be able to wash up, so he had to wait.
So, Song Xinya considerately told him, "Mr. Qin, I'll go use the bathroom next to the living room to shower. I'll leave this en-suite bathroom for you, so you can get up right now."
Qin Yuhe paused for a moment before saying, "Alright."
Fortunately, Song Xinya didn't wait to watch him get up. She grabbed her change of clothes and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Qin Yuhe moved the pillow aside and glanced down.
It was early in the morning, and yet it was so fiercely energetic.
...
After Song Xinya finished showering and changing, she didn't see Qin Yuhe come out of the bedroom.
She didn't go into the bedroom to check, turning instead to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Not knowing what kind of breakfast Qin Yuhe preferred, she made a bit of both Chinese and Western styles.
Fried egg and bacon sandwiches, poached egg and tomato toast, and she also steamed two bamboo baskets of beef buns.
By the time Song Xinya finished cooking, Qin Yuhe still hadn't come out.
She walked to the bedroom door. Just as she raised her hand to knock, the door was pulled open from the inside, and Qin Yuhe stood before her.
Their eyes met.
Song Xinya said, "Mr. Qin, I saw you hadn't come out for a long time, so I was going to call you to get up and eat."
Qin Yuhe gave a calm "Mhm."
Before it subsided, there was no way he could have come out. The time he had to wait for it to go down this time was longer than ever before.
The two of them sat at the dining table.
Qin Yuhe looked at the table full of Chinese and Western breakfast dishes and marveled, "You made all of this."
Song Xinya poured a glass of milk and placed it by his hand. "Yes."
Qin Yuhe said, "I'm not a picky eater. I eat both Chinese and Western food. Next time, you don't have to make so much."
He picked up the beef bun she usually ate, took a bite, and told her, "Thank you, it's delicious."
Every day at seven o'clock, the sun rose right on time, and every day, Song Tingye woke up right on time, lured by the aroma of beef.
Song Tingye splashed his face like a lazy bum, gave his hands a quick rinse, and boom, all washed up and ready to chow down.
Song Xinya's phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID, picked it up, and walked toward the bedroom.
Song Tingye bit off half a large bun in one go, spraying beef crumbs as he spoke, "Sis, who is it? Why are you hiding from us?"
Song Xinya glanced at Qin Yuhe. "I'm not hiding from you guys. A friend is calling me, probably to talk about some private matters."
She walked out onto the bedroom balcony and answered the call.
The landlord's voice came through: "Hello, Xiao Song, when are you paying this month's rent?"
Song Xinya kept her voice very low: "Sister Zhang, I originally had enough money for the rent, but my grandmother fell ill this month, and all my money went to her medical bills. Sister Zhang, I've always kept my word and never delayed the rent before. This time is an exception. Can I pay it a few days late?"
Sister Zhang didn't speak harshly, but her words revealed her helplessness: "Xiao Song, I trust your character and know you're not delaying the rent on purpose. It's just that my autistic son's condition has worsened recently. I want to take him to a major hospital for treatment, and I urgently need the money."
In the adult world, everyone has their own difficulties.
Song Xinya: "Sister Zhang, I understand it's not easy for you either. I'm looking for a job right now, and a company has already offered me a position. I will ask for an advance on my salary after I formally join today. Can I pay you tomorrow?"
The landlady said, "Alright, Xiao Song, just make it as soon as possible."
Regarding her job hunt, Song Xinya originally thought that if the landlady gave her a few days of grace, she could carefully choose a job with the best benefits. But reality wouldn't allow her to do so.
She needed to start working and making money immediately.
Hanging up the phone, Song Xinya walked out of the balcony and saw Qin Yuhe walking into the bedroom.
"I'm here to get a tie."
Song Xinya lowered her gaze, her mood low, and gave a soft sound of acknowledgment.
Holding the tie in his hand, Qin Yuhe looked at her and asked, "Do you have anything you want to say to me?"
Song Xinya kept her head down, walked past him, and said, "No."
Her mother passed away early, and her father watched coldly as she was bullied by her stepmother and stepsister. She received too little love growing up and was used to solving everything on her own. She didn't like to trouble others.
Song Xinya walked silently toward the living room.
Qin Yuhe followed behind her back to the dining table.
After that, neither of them ate much.
Song Tingye, however, ate with great relish, like a starving ghost who hadn't eaten in a hundred years.
There was nothing to be done; he was born with an appetite.
Song Xinya was preoccupied with her job hunt and onboarding, looking a bit absent-minded.
Qin Yuhe received a call from a government official's secretary, reminding him that he needed to attend a joint government-business conference today.
He looked at Song Xinya and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
A glimmer of light flashed in Song Xinya's eyes: "Goodbye, Mr. Qin."
Qin Yuhe caught the fleeting brightness in her eyes. It seemed she was quite happy that he was leaving.
The front door opened and closed. Only Song Xinya and Song Tingye were left at home.
Song Xinya immediately opened her laptop and got busy with work-related matters.
Song Tingye: "Sis, you look really busy."
Song Xinya: "If I'm not busy, you'll starve to death."
Song Tingye: "How about I stop eating beef to save some money?"
Song Xinya: "Money isn't saved; it's earned."
Song Tingye: "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Song Xinya: "Help me wash the dishes and tidy up the house."
Song Tingye: "No problem, leave it to me."
Song Xinya contacted the companies she interviewed with yesterday, and only one was willing to advance her salary.
It was the same company that had lowballed her and refused to increase her pay.
Song Xinya wasn't actually satisfied with that company, as it didn't align with her career plans, but she had to make do for now.
Carrying her bag, she walked to the door, preparing to go and join this company, when the doorbell suddenly rang.
She opened the door to find the man who had delivered the red wine last night, Qin Yuhe's assistant.
Song Xinya asked, "Did Mr. Qin leave something behind?"
Assistant: "Miss Song, I'm here for your affairs."
Song Xinya didn't quite understand and asked, "What affairs?"
Assistant: "President Qin instructed me to help you and your brother move."
Song Tingye ran over curiously: "Where does my brother-in-law want us to move to? It would be best if the house has an air conditioner. Not turning on the AC at noon during the dog days of summer can really roast a person alive."
"Air conditioning," the assistant smiled and said, "That is the most basic amenity."
Song Tingye looked at the assistant's noncommittal expression and asked, "What's up? Is my brother-in-law planning to give us a large single-floor apartment to live in?"
Assistant: "Zijin Mansion, a 1,200-square-meter detached villa."
President Qin had countless properties under his name, and he specifically instructed him to choose one with exceptionally good soundproofing.
The soundproofing at Zijin Mansion was excellent; even if the people in the bedroom screamed their lungs out, the people outside the door wouldn't hear a thing.
Song Tingye was so shocked he stuttered: "A 1... 1,200-square-meter detached villa! You could drive bumper cars in there!"
The sound of coins arriving in an account came from Song Xinya's phone. Opening it, she saw an extra two hundred thousand added to her account.
Assistant: "President Qin said this is your pocket money for this month."
Song Tingye leaned his head over to look and his eyes widened: "Wow, one month's pocket money is higher than someone else's annual salary! My brother-in-law is too generous!"
He looked at the assistant expectantly: "Will my brother-in-law give me pocket money too? I don't want much, ten thousand a month is fine."
The assistant smiled and said, "Dear, President Qin hasn't mentioned that."
Song Tingye's eyebrows drooped, looking like a little frosted eggplant: "Alright then."
The assistant looked at Song Xinya and said, "Miss Song, President Qin asked me to tell you that he went abroad for work right after getting the marriage certificate and didn't immediately give you the house and the money. It was his oversight, and he is very sorry."
Song Tingye waved his hands repeatedly: "It's fine, it's fine, as long as he gives it, there's no need to apologize. If my brother-in-law really feels bad, he can just give me a tiny bit of pocket money every month too."
Song Xinya's phone rang. It was the company that had lowballed her salary calling.
"Miss Song, have you arrived? The contract is ready. You can sign it as soon as you get here."
Being able to hire Song Xinya at such a low salary was a huge bargain for the company, and they couldn't wait to sign the employment contract with her.
HR tempted her, saying: "Miss Song, the one month's salary advance you wanted has also been prepared by the company. As long as you sign the contract, you can take this money with you."
Song Xinya gave a faint smile and said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to sign this contract anymore, because I am not short of money now."
