97: Chapter 97 One person can't handle it

Deputy Director Wang Hao's hand slid down from her waist, gently embracing it and patting her back.

"But for now, you need to rest with me for a bit. I'll definitely help Mingde with this matter."

Wang Feng's face flushed, and she looked up at him.

"All you know is to talk about that; you don't even care about me."

Deputy Director Wang Hao leaned against the headboard, holding her hand and letting her rest in his arms.

"Come, lean here with me."

Wang Feng bit her lip and slowly leaned over, resting her head on his chest.

She looked up at him, a hint of coquetry in her eyes.

Deputy Director Wang Hao smiled faintly and reached out to stroke her hair.

"After all, Mingde is my child. How could I not care about him? If that kid gets into trouble, I, as his father, have to cover for him."

Wang Feng's face turned even redder, and she buried it in his embrace without speaking.

Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, brightly falling on the bed, making one feel utterly lazy.

...

Meanwhile, in the other room.

Wang Yang opened his eyes. Zhao Yaqin in his arms was still asleep, her breathing even, her eyelashes quietly covering her eyes.

Her hair was scattered on the pillow, making her skin appear even fairer.

He looked down at her, a smile playing on his lips.

They had talked all night, from past events to future plans, only falling asleep in the latter half of the night. Having said so much, Zhao Yaqin was clearly exhausted and hadn't woken up yet.

He, however, felt nothing. The Golden Physique given by the system kept his energy consistently high.

Wang Yang stirred slightly, and Zhao Yaqin's eyelashes trembled, slowly opening her eyes.

Their eyes met.

Her eyes, just awakened, were still hazy as they met his gaze.

She froze for a second, then memories from last night flooded her mind.

The red wine on the dining table, the way they clinked glasses, and his words, "I'll take good care of you from now on."

Zhao Yaqin's face instantly turned red.

Wang Yang smiled.

"Awake?"

Zhao Yaqin nodded, burying her face deeper into his embrace.

As soon as she moved, she felt his body temperature, and her body stiffened slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Zhao Yaqin's face was crimson.

"You... why didn't you wake me up when you woke up...?"

Wang Yang looked innocent.

"You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to wake you."

Zhao Yaqin didn't dare to look at him, her heart thumping.

She remembered their conversation from last night, how they had shared so many heartfelt words, growing more congenial with each topic, and unknowingly, it had stretched into the latter half of the night.

She bit her lip and whispered,

"How do you have so much energy...? You talked all night and aren't even tired."

Wang Yang raised an eyebrow.

"What, you don't like it?"

Zhao Yaqin shook her head, then nodded, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"I like it... it's just... I can't quite last, next time I really need to go to bed earlier."

Wang Yang smiled and pulled her closer into his embrace.

"Then take your time, no rush. We have plenty of time in the future."

Zhao Yaqin leaned in his arms, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.

They just held each other like that, neither speaking.

The sunlight grew brighter, squeezing through the curtain gaps, falling on the bed, and on them both.

After a long while, Zhao Yaqin softly said,

"Xiao Yang, I want to go back to my hometown tomorrow."

Wang Yang looked down at her.

"Tomorrow?"

Zhao Yaqin nodded.

"Mm. The New Year is approaching, it's time to go see my mom."

She paused, her eyes darkening slightly.

"This time, I won't bring Liu Qian."

Wang Yang looked at her. When she mentioned Liu Qian, there was no sadness, no heartache in her eyes, only coldness.

That coldness was the coldness of complete disillusionment.

He reached out and gently patted her back.

"Alright. Let me know if you need help, call me anytime."

Zhao Yaqin nodded.

Wang Yang picked up his phone and tapped a few times.

The next second, Zhao Yaqin's phone rang.

She picked it up and was stunned.

Bank transfer: 100,000.00 yuan.

"Xiao Yang, this..."

Wang Yang looked at her.

"Take it. Go home for the New Year, don't be frugal."

Zhao Yaqin's eyes reddened.

She bit her lip, nodded, and buried her face in his embrace.

"Xiao Yang, thank you..."

Wang Yang smiled and hugged her tighter.

"Why be so polite with me?"

Zhao Yaqin looked up, meeting his eyes.

She reached out, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his lips.

It was very light, very soft, filled with gratitude, love, and reluctance.

Wang Yang responded, his hand gently kneading her waist.

After a long while, their lips parted.

Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingled.

Zhao Yaqin's face was flushed, her eyes bright.

Wang Yang patted her shoulder.

"Alright, get up. If you lie there any longer, I won't want you to get up, and then you'll delay packing."

Zhao Yaqin's face flushed, and she quickly wriggled out of his embrace, rolling to the side wrapped in the blanket.

Wang Yang smiled, sat up, and got dressed.

Zhao Yaqin huddled in the blanket, only her head peeking out, her eyes watery as she looked at him.

"Are you leaving?"

Wang Yang nodded.

"Something came up."

Zhao Yaqin hummed in acknowledgment, not asking further.

She knew about his affairs and accepted them.

As long as he had her in his heart, that was enough.

Wang Yang leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Call me when you get to your hometown."

Zhao Yaqin nodded.

"Okay."

Wang Yang turned, opened the door, and walked out.

The moment the door closed, Zhao Yaqin huddled in the blanket.

Hugging the pillow he had used, the corners of her mouth slowly curled upwards.

...

Wang Yang left Zhao Yaqin's place, got into his car, and started the engine.

The black X5M drove out of the residential area and merged into traffic.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in the Yunxi Terrace underground garage.

Wang Yang turned off the engine, pushed open the car door, and got out.

He didn't take the elevator, turning instead towards the stairwell.

Walking up to the twenty-eighth floor by stairs would be a good workout.

Although he didn't feel tired due to his Golden Physique after talking until the latter half of the night, his muscles and bones were still a bit stiff from sitting all night.

He pushed open the stairwell door and started walking up.

The stairwell was quiet, with only his footsteps echoing in the empty space.

The sound-activated lights turned on floor by floor, then dimmed one by one.

When he reached the twenty-fourth floor, his footsteps paused.

Luo Shiyun lived on the twenty-fifth floor, just one floor above.

This reminded Wang Yang of that night.

She was drunk, leaning in his arms, telling him her innermost thoughts. Her vulnerable appearance then made him feel a little heartache.

He remembered the faint gardenia scent, which was her scent.

Wang Yang smiled and continued walking up.

Wang Yang came out of the first-floor elevator hall, preparing to continue walking up.

Just as he took a few steps, a sudden clamor came from upstairs.

A man's curses, a woman's screams, and the dull thud of something hitting a door.

The sound-activated lights were startled into full brightness, illuminating the dim stairwell with a stark white light.

The sound came from the twenty-fifth floor, the floor where Luo Shiyun lived.

Wang Yang's steps faltered, and his heart sank.

He ran up the stairs two steps at a time, reaching the twenty-fifth floor in an instant.

The stairwell door was ajar, and a woman's voice came from inside, tinged with a cry, with resistance.

"Let go of me! You let go of me!"

It was Luo Shiyun's voice.

Wang Yang violently pushed open the door.

In the hallway, a man was dragging Luo Shiyun by the wrist, pulling her into his embrace.

The man was thirty-five or thirty-six years old, wearing a black leather jacket, his hair disheveled.