Qin Hanyue was rendered speechless for a moment by Qiao Ying's words before he said, "In my heart, you are not a shallow person."
Qiao Ying stated bluntly, "That is the fact."
She then glanced over Qin Hanyue's face twice.
"Thank your lucky stars that if not for this face of yours, I would not have lived under the same roof with you back at Shen Wu," Qiao Ying justified her fondness of good looks in a matter-of-fact tone.
Qin Hanyue smiled wryly, "Then I ought to thank my parents' genes."
Qiao Ying said, "You should."
Qin Hanyue then asked, "What if we really met someone more good-looking than me? Hmm?" He stared at her closely, not missing any reaction from her.
Qiao Ying did not even look at him, "I already told you just now."
Qin Hanyue secretly took a deep breath to compose himself, comforting himself that he had honed his skills to perfection, "Although it wasn't the truth, but still..."
Not the truth?
Seeing him, Qiao Ying really felt like laughing. This old man is truly adept at saving his own face.
Qiao Ying suppressed her urge to laugh, "How do you know it wasn't the truth?" She slowly sipped her soup.
Qin Hanyue said, "With your taste, how could you not have met your ideal man, and if it was only based on looks, you would have had at least eight relationships."
"Amongst all the exceptional men you've met, you eventually picked me. Doesn't it speak volumes?"
Qiao Ying gave a soft snort and shook her head slightly in disagreement.
Hearing her snort and seeing that show of contempt, Qin Hanyue found her reaction really adorable. He reached out to touch her face.
Qiao Ying who was drinking soup turned her face away slightly but failed to evade him completely. The pad of his thumb brushed lightly against her fair cheek.
There was a captivating warmth in Qin Hanyue's eyes. Just as he wanted to say something more, an itch in his throat made him turn away to cough twice.
Qiao Ying asked, "You're not recovered from your cold?"
Qin Hanyue replied, "There are a lot of paperwork accumulated at the company recently and I've been busy for the past few days, neglecting my health a little. Don't worry, it's not serious."
The company had a lot of work piled up. After Ye Si left, Qin Hanyue did not even have time to look for Qiao Ying until today when he finally freed up some time.
Finishing her soup, Qiao Ying teased, "No wonder you're so well-behaved." Not only was he sitting quite a distance from her, his mouth had been tame as well.
Qin Hanyue wanted to argue for himself but realized he had no need to. This way he would have a legitimate reason to be ill-mannered, right?
He smiled. As he got up to pour another bowl of soup for her, he said, "Have some more."
Qiao Ying said, "I'm full. You drink it. I'll give you acupuncture."
Qin Hanyue said, "Alright."
The robot took out a pouch of needles from its belly, "Wifey."
Qiao Ying said, "Shut up."
Qin Hanyue held back his smile as he removed his coat and suit jacket, unbuttoning two shirt buttons to expose his neck.
He added, "You can have this robot. I'll compensate Little Yi with another one."
Qiao Ying who was administering acupuncture on him did not bother to respond at all.
After some time, she suddenly said, "Working while sick, cooking while sick."
"Seems like in the future, not only someone more good-looking but also younger and more robust would do quite nicely too."
Qin Hanyue said, "I'll take good care of my health. My constitution has always been better than most people. So rest assured."
Qiao Ying said impatiently, "Whether you are strong or not has got nothing to do with me."
Qin Hanyue immediate rebutted, "Of course it concerns you, moreover it only relates to you alone." Sensing pain at the nape of his neck, Qin Hanyue stopped talking recklessly in case he upset her.
Qiao Ying said, "Catching a cold every now and then, I'm afraid your constitution is not that good huh."
Qin Hanyue explained, "Every now and then? At least two years have passed since my last cold when Ye Si went home to look for you."
Moreover, that last cold was from him standing under cold shower water the whole night. Of course, he could not tell her that.
Instead of his explanation, Qiao Ying asked, "So was it really such a coincidence you fell sick that time?"
Since he refused to respond, Qiao Ying actually took the initiative to ask about it herself.
Talking about constitution results in shooting himself in the foot!
Qin Hanyue kept quiet and reached for the chicken soup on the table instead, taking a sip. Then in an attempt to gloss over the matter, he commented, "The ginseng seems to be too much."
Hearing Qiao Ying scolding him, "Shameless", his dark history was exposed right in his face. Yet Qin Hanyue did not feel embarrassed or humiliated. Seizing the chance, he went on to prove himself, "So my health is really very good, rarely catching a cold over the years."
Having administered the acupuncture, Qiao Ying sat down again.
Qin Hanyue grabbed hold of one of her hands, clasping it in his palm, the pad of his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand.
However, Qiao Ying said, "If there's nothing else, go back early to rest."
Qin Hanyue replied, "Mm."
Yet his eyes remained fixed on Qiao Ying.
Seeing him staring at her, Qiao Ying asked, "What do you want?"
Qin Hanyue admitted frankly, "I want to kiss you but I'm afraid of passing the cold bug to you. After lying in bed for half a year, your immunity must have weakened with low resistance."
For the past six months with Qiao Ying bedridden, Qin Hanyue would give her at least a morning kiss and bedtime kiss every day. Abstinence over the past days had been difficult so when he finally found time today, he could only look but not touch.
Qiao Ying said, "Then hold it in."
Qin Hanyue "......"
Too heartless!
How could Qin Hanyue possibly quell his yearning? The moment he stood up, he went over to sit next to Qiao Ying, encircling her slender frame in his embrace as he rested his chin on her bony shoulder. His voice was gentle, "Hugs are still okay if not kisses."
He tightened his arms, lowered his head slightly to sniff her scent.
With his cheek against hers, he nuzzled her ear, then her earlobe came into his view.
Fair and exquisite.
His Adam's apple moved silently.
Qin Hanyue found his mouth rather dry.
The moment he raised his chin to turn towards her ear, Qiao Ying noticed his movement but did not know what his intention was, so she just ignored him.
His hot puffs drew near her ear right before she realized what he was about to do. Then his lips planted themselves onto her earlobe.
The corners of his lips lifted into a smile, like a sly fox that succeeded in stealing a kiss. His lips left her earlobe, then the tip of his nose affectionately nuzzled it as his chin settled back onto her shoulder near her neck, his tall nose bridge sticking to her ear now.
"This won't spread the virus," he murmured.
His lips were dangerously close to her neck while his breaths blew against her skin. Just then Qiao Ying's fine brows slightly creased while her neck jerked a little as if wanting to jerk aside but Qin Hanyue had her locked in a tight embrace.
Irritation flashed across her eyes. "Qin Hanyue!"
Hearing her sudden change of tone to impatience, Qin Hanyue asked with care, "Can't kiss your ear?"
Yet Qiao Ying said, "That's not it."
Her tone was still rather curt.
Next, she pushed him aside decisively.
Qin Hanyue looked confused, "What's wrong?"
Qiao Ying raised her hand to touch her neck. Her previously fair earlobe had turned slightly red. "It's nothing," she said, her tone reverting to normal.
Seeing his bewildered look, unaware what was happening.
Qiao Ying then explained, "It felt ticklish."
"Ticklish?" A hint of curiosity and probing flashed across Qin Hanyue's eyes as he glanced at her neck.
Sensing his gaze, Qiao Ying stared at him, "What are you looking at?"
The gleam in Qin Hanyue's eyes turned ambiguous, yet he just smilingly said, "Didn't look at anything."
Seeing his smile, Qiao Ying chased him out, "Shameless, scram!"
