94: Chapter 94 Home and Promise

It was almost four o'clock when they returned to the company.

Qiao Yichen didn't go back to his own desk; he went directly to Liu Yanran's office.

As he reached the door, he heard voices inside—someone was discussing business.

He could faintly hear Liu Yanran interjecting occasionally, her tone strictly professional.

He paused, lowering the hand he had raised.

After standing there for two seconds, he turned and walked back.

Returning to the Planning Department, he sat down at his station and turned on his computer.

Several emails had accumulated; he opened them one by one.

In the team group chat, Li Yong had sent a few messages updating the progress of today's material uploads.

He replied with a simple 'Received,' then switched to the project group chat to scan the messages.

The sky outside gradually darkened.

A little after seven o'clock, his phone vibrated once.

It was a message from Liu Yanran: 'Where are you?'

He replied: 'At my desk waiting for you.'

A few seconds later, she messaged back: 'Just one more email to reply to, then I'm off work.'

Qiao Yichen finished reading and typed: 'Then I'll go wait for you in the car first.'

'Mhm, be right there.'

He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and walked toward the elevator.

Going downstairs, he crossed the underground garage, pulled open the car door, and settled into the driver's seat.

He adjusted the seat backward, leaning against the backrest to wait.

About seven or eight minutes later, the passenger door was pulled open.

Liu Yanran got in, placed her bag on the back seat, fastened her seatbelt, and turned to look at him:

'Have you been waiting long?'

Qiao Yichen shook his head: 'No, I just got down a little while ago.'

He started the car, drove out of the garage, and merged into the rush hour traffic.

After driving for a while, he glanced at her: 'What do you want to eat tonight?'

Liu Yanran thought for a moment, then suddenly said: 'How about pickled fish soup? It's been a while, I suddenly feel like having it today.'

Qiao Yichen smiled: 'Sounds good, you order then?'

'Okay.'

The car turned into the residential complex and parked in the underground lot.

The two of them went upstairs together, opened the door, and entered the apartment.

The pickled fish soup arrived very quickly.

They had just sat down at home for a short while when the doorbell rang.

Qiao Yichen got up to open the door, took the takeout bags, and arranged the several meal containers on the coffee table.

Liu Yanran brought out two sets of bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen and handed one set to him.

The two of them curled up on the sofa, starting to eat facing the coffee table.

Liu Yanran picked up a slice of fish, chewed it in her mouth, and suddenly asked: 'What time did you get back this afternoon?'

'Around four.' Qiao Yichen looked down, picking out bones, 'When I got back, I originally planned to go to your office, but I heard you discussing something at the door, so I didn't go in.'

Liu Yanran's chopsticks paused, and she glanced at him.

After a moment, she asked again: 'How did things go over at Old Street today?'

Qiao Yichen shook his head: 'Not ideal. The owner of Baozhen Pavilion on Old Street, Old Zhou, is willing to list it, but he said he needs to wait.

The auction house commission is too high, and the timeline is too long; I checked several places, and none were satisfactory.'

Liu Yanran didn't speak, picking up another mouthful of food.

After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly spoke, her tone casual:

'Is the lease on your apartment about to expire?'

Qiao Yichen froze for a moment and looked up at her.

Liu Yanran didn't look up, focusing intently on the fish in her bowl.

'Mhm, next month.' Qiao Yichen looked at her, 'Why the sudden question?'

Liu Yanran still didn't look up, her voice soft: 'I was thinking, if you're too lazy to renew the lease, you can move in here.'

Qiao Yichen stared at her for a few seconds, a smile slowly spreading in his eyes.

'Okay,' he said.

Only then did Liu Yanran glance up at him, a hint of a smile in her eyes, but she said verbally: 'Eat.'

Qiao Yichen smiled and lowered his head, continuing to eat the fish.

After finishing the meal, Qiao Yichen got up to clear the containers from the coffee table, stuffing the disposable chopsticks, containers, and tissues all into a garbage bag.

Liu Yanran carried the two bowls into the kitchen and turned on the faucet; the sound of rushing water quickly filled the air.

Qiao Yichen tied up the garbage bag and carried it to the door.

When he returned, he stood at the kitchen entrance and watched her for a moment.

She had her back to him, her head slightly bowed, washing the dishes.

The light fell on her, illuminating her loosely tied hair, revealing a small segment of her nape.

He didn't speak, just stood there watching for a few seconds, then turned to wipe the table.

By the time Liu Yanran finished washing the dishes and came out, Qiao Yichen had already cleaned up the living room.

She glanced at him, a smile in her eyes:

'Quite diligent.'

Qiao Yichen smiled but didn't reply.

The two of them took turns showering.

Liu Yanran showered first.

When she came out, Qiao Yichen was leaning against the headboard scrolling on his phone.

She walked to the dressing table while toweling her hair dry and began patting toner onto her face.

Qiao Yichen put down his phone, got up, and went to wash.

The bathroom steam hadn't dissipated yet, and the mirror was covered in a layer of mist.

When he came out after showering, Liu Yanran was already leaning against the headboard, looking down at her phone.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and suddenly remembered something, saying casually:

'I need to go back tomorrow after work to grab some clothes; I don't have many left.'

Liu Yanran looked up at him and put down her phone: 'Okay, what time are you going back tomorrow?'

'After work.'

She thought for a moment, then suddenly said: 'I'll go shopping with you on the weekend and buy you a few sets.'

Qiao Yichen paused, turning to look at her.

Liu Yanran had already lowered her head and continued scrolling on her phone.

He didn't say anything, just kept watching her.

Sensing his gaze, Liu Yanran glanced up at him: 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing.' Qiao Yichen withdrew his gaze, but the smile in his eyes hadn't faded.

Liu Yanran paid him no more attention, put down her phone, stood up, and walked over to the dirty laundry hamper.

She picked up the clothes she had taken off, and along with them, she gathered his discarded clothes too, then turned and walked toward the balcony.

She opened the washing machine door, tossed the clothes in one by one, closed the door, and pressed the start button.

The machine began to run, emitting a low humming sound.

Qiao Yichen leaned against the headboard, watching her finish everything, then watched her walk back and slide under the covers.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Liu Yanran didn't speak, just snuggled closer into his embrace.

The light went out.

What happened afterward, no one remembered clearly.

They only remembered her voice shifting from suppressed to released, and only remembered him calling her name over and over again.

The sheets were a mess, and the pillows were askew.

A long time later, everything settled into calm.

Liu Yanran lay in his arms, her breathing gradually evening out.

Qiao Yichen wasn't asleep; he looked down at her.

He couldn't see her face clearly in the darkness, only feeling her warmth.

Her eyelashes cast a small shadow on her eyelids, her cheeks still held a lingering flush, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she were having a pleasant dream.

Qiao Yichen didn't move, just kept looking.

His mind began to review things.

He currently had over six hundred thousand yuan, of which three hundred thousand was a loan.

Subtracting that loan, what truly belonged to him was only a little over three hundred thousand.

What could three hundred thousand yuan achieve?

A custom suit cost forty thousand; the remainder would cover a few months' rent, daily expenses, and seed money for side projects.

If anything truly happened, that small amount wouldn't be enough to handle it.

His monthly salary was a little over ten thousand; when side jobs were good, he could earn twenty or thirty thousand, but that wasn't guaranteed every month.

He glanced at her again.

He was driving her car, living in her apartment, and today she had proactively suggested they live together.

She hadn't asked for anything.

The more unconcerned she was, the less he could take it for granted.

If the cabinet could be sold and bring in over two million yuan, things would be different.

First, that three hundred thousand loan could be paid off immediately—debt-free and lightened.

The remaining money could be kept; when the next opportunity arose, he could jump in directly without needing to borrow again.

More importantly—he wanted to buy her something.

Something expensive, something good.

Not because she asked for it, but because she deserved the best.

He suddenly recalled that Chanel black and white flap bag he had accidentally seen online before; he thought at the time it would perfectly match her usual style.

She would look beautiful carrying it.

He pulled his thoughts back and looked down at her.

She was still in the same position, sleeping peacefully.

Qiao Yichen moved slightly, drawing her closer into his embrace, and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Liu Yanran didn't wake up; she only snuggled deeper into his arms.

He closed his eyes.

First thing tomorrow morning, he would call Old Zhou.