Turning back, I saw him standing at the door in his home clothes. A grey pullover, camel-coloured trousers, and a pair of cotton slippers. His hands were in his pockets.
Such a simple outfit, but when it was put on him, it had a different effect. Xia Xingchen could clearly feel her heart beating. During the days when the two of them were in a cold war, she rarely even had the opportunity to look him in the face.
"Let's save the movie for next time. Come out and walk with me in the garden." He said. After saying that, he looked up at her, but he didn't mean to ask for her opinion. The movie had already been cut off for her, and it was clear that she had no choice, so Xia Xingchen stood up.
… … … …
It was very cold outside. The weather tonight was not very good, and there was a strong wind outside. Xia Xingchen wrapped himself in a cloak, but he was still shivering from the cold.
Bai Yeqing walked beside her. In comparison, he was still wearing that thin pullover, but he was much more resistant to the cold than her. Seeing her curling up and unconsciously leaning towards him, his brows softened a little.
He reached out and calmly held her hand. As expected, her palm was cold. He took it and put it in his pocket.
Xia Xingchen wanted to ask him why he wanted to go out for a walk so late and in such cold weather, but after feeling the warmth in his palm, she didn't ask anything.
She thinks this is... good...
Bai Yeqing was not so idle as to sit in the manor with her in the cold wind late at night, but led her to the Red Wine North Garden in the right corner of the manor. When she lived here before, Xia Xingchen knew that the Presidential Palace was divided into many areas, but she had never been here before.
"Mr President."
As soon as they arrived, the staff of Beiyuan came out to greet them. It was already this late, and it seemed that they were still brewing wine. She was wearing an apron with red wine stains on it.
"Thank you for your hard work." Bai Yeqing nodded slightly and walked inside. Xia Xingchen followed slowly. Bai Yeqing came here for work. Xia Xingchen also realized later that this batch of newly brewed wine would be personally delivered to the United Nations when he went abroad for a visit in a few days.
so…
In a few days, he will go abroad again
In the temperature-controlled wine cellar, he was discussing matters with the winemaker, while she was sipping the wine and tasting it, thinking secretly, her eyes always lingering on him unconsciously.
He is really busy, flying here and there all the time.
She didn't know how long he would be gone. So before he left, she wanted to make some things clear with him...
While she was thinking, the winemaker nodded and left. His eyes turned sideways and met her gaze. Xia Xingchen was embarrassed for a moment, and there was no place to hide, so she didn't hide, so she had to pretend to be calm and take a sip of wine.
"You are here to work, and you bring me with you?" Xia Xingchen saw that he was still standing in the same place, staring at her without blinking. She pulled her cloak closer around her body feeling a little uncomfortably, and spoke with a slightly complaining tone.
Fortunately, the temperature in the wine cellar is always constant and it is not too cold.
and…
Although I was watching him work, I didn't feel bored at all. Xia Xingchen didn't know what was wrong with him. That feeling was very subtle and hard to describe.
"I went to see the old lady today."
Bai Yeqing suddenly spoke. Xia Xingchen looked at him suspiciously, but he did not approach. The two of them were about five meters apart.
"Why didn't you tell me immediately what the old lady wanted to see you about?" he asked again.
Xia Xingchen's eyelashes drooped slightly, and she looked down at the wine in her hand. After a while, she said, "... I was on the plane at that time, and I just answered her call and turned off my phone."
"That's just an excuse."
Bai Yeqing looked at her straight in the eyes.
"The old lady said... that night was your family dinner, and Lan Ye would be there too. If I had known better, I shouldn't have called to disturb you."
"You are really a very tactful person." Bai Yeqing commented on her, but one could hear some displeasure in his words.
Xia Xingchen still clearly remembers every sharp word the old lady said.
"The old lady has already said that. I also have my own temper. Besides..."
At this point, she paused for a moment. Bai Yeqing then walked towards her, his tall figure looming over her from top to bottom. Xia Xingchen paused for a moment, and only heard the man's low voice asking, "What else?"
"We... Actually, in the final analysis, apart from the child, we have no relationship at all... How can I have the nerve to disturb your mother after she said that? And what is my identity to disturb her?"
Bai Yeqing frowned.
He raised his hand and lifted her face. In the dimly lit wine cellar, their eyes met, and he looked a little depressed. "You and I have nothing to do with each other. Then who do you think has a relationship with you?"
His voice was very low, with a hint of danger in it, "Yu Zenan?"
When he mentioned him, he used more force on his fingertips. Xia Xingchen felt pain, frowned, and held his hand, "You mentioned him again. Those reports in the media are completely false. He and I were on a business trip together, it was purely business, how could it be related to vacation, let alone love?"
Hearing her say this, the gloom between his brows dissipated a little, and the fingers pinching her chin loosened their strength, but he did not let go of him, "You are not in love?"
"… of course not."
He moved closer to her, "But between me and him, you chose him!"
He still remembers what happened that day.
He was getting closer and closer. With just a slight breath, her nose was filled with his fragrance. Mixed with the mellow aroma of red wine in the wine cellar, her heart trembled violently. She subconsciously took a step back and leaned against the wine barrel. She couldn't retreat anymore, so she whispered in defense: "How could I choose him? Obviously I didn't choose anyone else."
"But you said I was annoying." He placed his hands on each side of her.
"Don't you hate it?"
"Why do you hate it?"
Xia Xingchen glared at him, "That day you..."
At this point, she stopped talking, and a thin layer of red appeared on her face. She remembered that day when he said to her in the dark stairwell...
"What's wrong with me?" Bai Yeqing looked at her inquiringly, and when he felt the redness on her face, he had a vague idea in his heart. He didn't want to let her go just like that, so he bent down slightly to look at her. His face was so close to hers that her breathing became rapid, and she felt that he could clearly feel the pounding of her heart.
Xia Xingchen knew that he was asking even though he knew the answer, so he pushed him and said, "You're done, let's go back."
Bai Yeqing held one of her hands and pressed it against his shoulder, and with his other hand, he held her waist. "Mrs. Bai, tell me clearly, why do you hate me?"