So President Qin flew from New York to Jingbei, crossing half the globe, just to eat the noodles she made?
Song Xinya was momentarily stunned.
She had only said that at the time to show off her close relationship with Qin Yuhe in front of Boss Wang and The Perm. It was just a casual remark.
Did he take it seriously?
Whether he was telling the truth or just being polite, since he said he wanted to eat her noodles, she would make them for him.
Song Xinya stood face to face with Qin Yuhe, feeling a bit awkward. After all, she wasn't familiar with this newlywed husband of hers yet.
She touched the loose hair on her forehead, turned around, and led him upstairs. I will take you to my place.
Qin Yuhe followed behind her.
Song Xinya had walked the stairs from the first floor to the sixth floor countless times; she could reach her home with her eyes closed.
Today, however, the moment she stepped onto the first step, her foot slipped. As her body fell to one side, she panicked and reached for the handrail.
Two large hands gripped both sides of her waist, lifting her up into the air before placing her steadily on the step.
The hands gripping her waist were strong and powerful, the burning hot palms pressed tightly against her skin. She could even feel his long, slender fingers, like carved jade.
Song Xinya's heart gave a violent jolt, as if struck by electricity.
She found an excuse: Maybe someone spilled water on the stairs, so I slipped.
Qin Yuhe looked at the bone-dry steps and said, Yes, the path is indeed slippery.
Song Xinya's gaze swept over his hands, which were still gripping her waist. I need to keep going.
How could she walk if he kept holding her waist?
Qin Yuhe withdrew his hands and tucked them into his pants pockets.
Feeling a soft, tingling sensation on both sides of her waist, Song Xinya held the handrail and continued upward.
She was wearing a pencil skirt today, with a white button-down shirt tucked into the black skirt. Her waist, which had just been gripped, was slender like a willow leaf, forming a full, undulating curve with her hips.
Qin Yuhe could maintain a gentleman's demeanor in any situation, exercising strict self-control. He never looked at places he shouldn't, nor did he ever have a habit of peeping.
But at this moment, as he looked up from a few steps down, his gaze collided right with her bottom.
The tight, perky curves were enchantingly alluring, every inch of the swell exuding a seductive charm.
The image of that small, round dark mole surfaced in his mind again, the one he had licked that day.
Just then, a gust of wind blew in through the hallway window and brushed against Qin Yuhe. It didn't make him feel cool; right now, all he felt was heat.
Mr. Qin... Song Xinya suddenly turned back to look at him.
Qin Yuhe's long, straight eyelashes fluttered sharply in the dim yellow light as he averted his gaze.
What is it? His voice was a bit hoarse.
Song Xinya felt the atmosphere was a bit cold with neither of them speaking, so she struck up a conversation, asking, How long are you staying this time you are back?
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized it sounded inappropriate. He had just returned, and it made it seem like she was eager for him to leave.
So Song Xinya quickly added to cover it up, I will make tomato beef noodles for you tonight. If you like it, no matter how long you stay in the country, I can make it for you every day.
Qin Yuhe: Alright.
Song Xinya: ...
She felt like she had just dug a hole and buried herself in it.
But wasn't his agreement a bit too quick? Shouldn't he have politely declined at least once?
Song Xinya considered herself quite articulate usually, but right now her brain was short-circuiting.
Forget it. If the atmosphere was awkward, so be it. She decided to stop talking.
The old building didn't have voice-activated lights; passing each floor required manually pressing a button for the lights to come on.
Normally, Song Xinya would just walk up the stairs, too lazy to press the switches. But now, walking in front, she pressed the light on as she passed every floor.
From behind came the sound of leather shoes stepping on the concrete floor, steady and powerful. The footsteps echoed in the quiet, dim stairwell, carrying a very strong presence.
His tall physique cast a shadow that completely enveloped her. Their overlapping shadows looked as if they were embracing.
Song Xinya couldn't shake the feeling that a burning gaze was scrutinizing her from behind, making her slender back feel hot.
Was she being a bit narcissistic?
Walking from the first to the sixth floor didn't take a very long time, nor was it particularly short, but on this night, it felt exceptionally long.
Every minute and second felt as though they were treading directly on her heart.
By the time they reached her door, Song Xinya had broken a sweat. Her shirt was damp and clung to her back.
The damp white shirt had become a bit see-through. Qin Yuhe had no intention to offend, but when he glanced at her, he clearly saw the color of her bra, pink.
Song Xinya inserted the key, opened the door, and bent down to change her shoes.
Qin Yuhe looked toward the shoe rack and saw a pair of blue men's slippers.
Song Xinya handed this pair of slippers to him.
Qin Yuhe: I don't wear things that other men have worn.
Song Xinya thought he felt they were dirty and said, I have shoe covers at home. Do you want to put on a shoe cover before wearing them?
Qin Yuhe: No.
Another man had worn them; he absolutely wouldn't wear them.
Song Xinya remembered that she had bought a new pair of men's slippers a few days ago, so she took them out of the cabinet and placed them by his feet.
He should be willing to wear these now, right?
Qin Yuhe said, Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to wear shoes you bought for another man?
Song Xinya replied, It's fine, just wear them. I will buy him another pair some other day.
Qin Yuhe's brow darkened. You are really generous to that man.
Song Xinya: He is the closest man to me in this world, of course I should treat him well.
Qin Yuhe gritted his teeth.
He didn't put on the new slippers, but instead slipped shoe covers over his black leather shoes.
If he didn't want to wear them, so be it. Perhaps the Young Master had some germaphobia. Song Xinya didn't say anything more and let him be.
Because she had sweated a lot just now, her body felt sticky and uncomfortable. Song Xinya said, I am going to take a shower and change clothes. Mr. Qin, please have a seat.
Her figure disappeared in the doorway of the bedroom, and Qin Yuhe heard a click, the sound of the door being locked from the inside.
He stood and observed the entire apartment. The walls had yellowed from the erosion of time, and large patches of plaster had peeled off the ceiling, revealing the mottled concrete beneath.
The furniture was also all old and outdated. A chair was left with only three legs, a stack of books wedged underneath acting as the fourth.
Although the whole place was visibly shabby, every corner was neat and spotless. Everything was arranged in an orderly manner.
A bouquet of pink and blue hydrangeas sat on the table.
Qin Yuhe walked a lap around the apartment and discovered many more traces of a man.
A basketball in the corner, Ultraman action figures on the table, a men's electric razor charging, and...
Men's underwear hanging out to dry on the balcony.
Qin Yuhe stared at the blue men's underwear, then shifted his gaze to the side and saw a pair of pink women's panties.
A man's and a woman's underwear hanging together.
Such an intimate relationship.
Qin Yuhe suddenly found it hard to breathe.
He could be certain that a man lived in Song Xinya's apartment.
So, was she cohabiting with a man?
Or were they just roommates?
If she was going to live with a man, he felt he would be the more suitable candidate.
Whether she was cohabiting or just sharing an apartment with another man, it made Qin Yuhe feel exceedingly uncomfortable.
Qin Yuhe's jaw was clenched tight, his thin lips pressed into a hard line. Reaching up to the knot of his tie, he gave it a rough tug, pulling the once-immaculate necktie halfway undone.
With a sudden creak, the door to the room next to Song Xinya's bedroom swung open.
Fresh from sleep, Song Tingye strolled out without a care in the world. He was shirtless, wearing nothing but a pair of baggy shorts, his hair sticking up in a messy bedhead.
