The few of them only left the bar when it was almost eleven at night.
Since Xia Xi had drank quite a bit, she was slightly drunk already and hugged onto Nan Zhi. “Sister Zhi, come and stay over at my place tonight. Ever since you left the Ning City Broadcasting Company, I haven’t had the time to have a proper conversation with you. And my uncle, he said he’d like to work on a show with you if there’s the chance!”
Seeing that Xia Xi could not bear to part with Nan Zhi, Xia Yanran patted her chest passionately. “Alright, alright. I wasn’t planning to let you have Zhizhi at first, but seeing that you’re almost about to burst into tears, I’ll sacrifice one night to you!” With that said, Xia Yanran turned towards Nan Zhi. “Zhizhi, what do you think?”
Nan Zhi quite liked Xia Xi, so she nodded. “I’m fine with it. But Yanran, you’ve drank too much, so I’ll get my bodyguard to send you back instead!”
Xia Yanran had yet to say anything when Young Master Huo beside her spoke up. “Miss Nan, don’t worry, I’ll send Yanran back home safely.”
Nan Zhi still did not feel at ease, to which Xia Yanran noticed, so she said with a laugh, “If Young Master Huo wanted to do anything to me, he didn’t have to wait until now. Zhizhi, don’t worry! I’ll see you tomorrow!”
…
Xia Yanran got on Young Master Huo’s car. He passed her a bottle of water, and Xia Yanran took two gulps from it, before she turned towards the driving Young Master Huo. She said with a smile, “Thank you.”
Young Master Huo was holding on the steering wheel with one hand, while his other hand caressed his head like a shy teenager. “Yanran, we’ve known each other for so long, why are you still so polite to me?”
Xia Yanran leaned back against the seat, winding the window down. As the night breeze blew at her, her stomach felt even more upset. She looked ahead, her eyes slightly dazed. “Young Master Huo, if it isn’t because I can’t put anyone else in my heart, I would really consider you.”
Young Master Huo glanced at Xia Yanran. Her head was slightly tilted as she looked out of the window. He could only see her pretty side profile. She was full of smiles and energy usually, but now, there was a slight sorrow seen on her.
Young Master Huo pursed his lips, his eyes darkening slightly. “Is the person in your heart Xiao Yi?”
Hearing Xiao Yi’s name, Xia Yanran heart fluttered.
Sigh, she was really hopeless. She would feel sad even when she only hearing his name.
Looking down, her long lashes cast a small shadow on her face that covered her eyes. She bit her lips slightly. “You know him?”
Young Master Huo turned the steering wheel, making a turn by the corner as he spoke calmly, “He’s Second Master Qin’s best right-hand man. I heard that he’s going to take over Second Master Qin’s position in the future and will become the next Mafia Boss in Hong Kong. Who wouldn’t know him?”
Xia Yanran closed her eyes. “There’s nothing between us now. Besides, he’s about to get engaged with Miss Qin soon. Young Master Huo, I’m planning to leave Hong Kong soon and return to the headquarters of the newspaper, so please stop wasting time on me!”
Young Master Huo glanced at the faint flush Xia Yanran had on her cheeks from the alcohol. Then with a smile, he said, “Then isn’t that better for me? You returning to Ning City wouldn’t stop my from pursuing you!”
Xia Yanran merely smiled.
In this materialistic world, with Young Master Huo’s status, what kind of woman could he not have?
By the time she really returned to the Ning City, his passion to pursue her would go away eventually if he couldn’t see her.
The car arrived at the residential area Xia Yanran stayed at.
Young Master Huo got off first, opening the door for Xia Yanran in a gentlemanly manner.
“Thank you.”
Xia Yanran got off. She did not have the chance to walk away yet when Young Master Huo suddenly placed his hands on the car beside her as he trapped her between his arms and the car.
Stunned, Xia Yanran looked up at him.
Young Master Huo stared into his eyes, his eyes becoming sharper and more domineering. “Yanran, I actually knew that you had a man in your heart that you couldn’t forget. I thought that I would do my best to move you, and it would be fine even if you weren’t touched by me in the end. But after finding that Xiao Yi is the man in your heart, I don’t plan to give up so easily.”
Young Master Huo’s handsome face leaned closer towards Xia Yanran. From an angle, it looked like he was kissing her. “Yanran, no matter where you go, I will get you.”
This was still Young Master Huo’s first time being so domineering in front of Xia Yanran.
They were too close. The man’s scorching hot breath sprayed onto Xia Yanran’s face. She felt a little uncomfortable, her eyes moving away. However, no matter how she tried to avoid him, she could not move away from his handsome face.
Just as Young Master Huo’s lips were about to touch her lips, Xia Yanran lifted her hand instinctively and blocked it.
Xia Yanran was no longer a teenager, but she had interacted with many single ladies that were rather open in that aspect.
When they went to the bar sometimes, if they met people they liked, they would go to the hotel for a one night stand, and pretend that nothing had happened the next morning.
There were also some people who were not dating, but were friends with benefits.
She had thought of taking that step out and letting go and letting loose as well.
Later, however, she realized she could not do it.
She hated herself. Why did she live in the shadow Xiao Yi gave her?
He had already forgotten about her, so why was she keeping herself chaste for him?
Was she still living in the conservative period?
Xia Yanran closed her eyes, placing her hands on Young Master Huo’s shoulders to push him away. “Let me go back and think about it. With the alcohol in my head tonight, I’m feeling a little dizzy and heavy-headed, so I don’t think I can make a very good and firm decision.”
It was enough to have her say this!
At least, she was not closing her heart off like that anymore, when she was not even willing to try and pushed everyone away!
“Sure, no problem.” Young Master Huo patted Xia Yanran’s head, smirking.
Xia Yanran stared at Young Master Huo, her eyes smiling too. She had to admit that it was rather relaxed and easy for her to be with Young Master Huo. It wasn’t uncomfortable with him.
“I’ll take you up.”
Xia Yanran nodded. “Sure.”
Young Master Huo accompanied Xia Yanran up to her apartment door, only leaving after he watched her enter her apartment.
After she was back, Xia Yanran sent Nan Zhi a message before she took a bath.
Somehow, she fell asleep.
The cold chill woke her up. By then, the water in the bathtub was completely cold.
She walked to her room with a towel wrapped around her, before she changed into her pajamas and glanced at the time.
It was nearly one in the morning.
Feeling a little hungry, she went to the kitchen to make a bowl of noodles.
After she was done with the noodles, she could not fall asleep, so she took the rubbish in the kitchen out.
Pushing the safety door open, Xia Yanran had not walked out when she smelled a hint of cigarette smoke.
It was strong, pungent, and a little spicy.
She furrowed her eyebrows. Who would be so uncourteous to smoke in the emergency stairs?
The sound-controlled lights in the corridor were dimmed, so Xia Yanran stomped her feet before she pushed the door open.
She looked inside with furrowed eyebrows.
When she saw the dark figure standing by the corner, her heart immediately jumped.