When Cheng Qingchong exited the kitchen, Qin Yinan was no longer in the living room; there was only Mrs. Cheng left, sitting on the sofa, watching the television. Cheng Qingchong sat down beside her mother to join her, and out of the corner of her eyes, she realized that was a strip of light underneath the door to the study.
During commercial, Mrs. Cheng went into the kitchen to cut up some fruits. She placed them on two plates and pa.s.sed one to Cheng Qingchong, pus.h.i.+ng her to give it to Qin Yinan.
Cheng Qingchong was afraid to face Qin Yinan alone, but she was more afraid of her mother seeing through her ploy, so she could only smile, accept the plate, stand up, and head toward the study.
She knocked on the door lightly, and when she heard the "Come in", she pushed the door open slightly. Then, Cheng Qingchong could hear Qin Yinan"s voice coming from the open balcony. "I"m so sorry, I know I"m supposed to join the business meeting, but an emergency came up. I"ll definitely treat you to a meal when the opportunity next shows itself… Again, I apologize, goodbye."
After he hung up, Qin Yinan turned back to the room. When he saw it was only Cheng Qingchong, he turned his gaze back. He pressed a quick series of number on his phone and made another call. "Wasn"t there a meeting that I"ve missed this afternoon? Have it moved to tomorrow morning. Also… send me those few doc.u.ments that I haven"t finished reading at the office; I"ll go over them now…"
Cheng Qingchong placed the fruit plate soundlessly on the study desk. Then she left. However, before the door closed completely, Cheng Qingchong could hear Qin Yinan lower his voice to say into the phone, "I might not be able to clear my schedule for these next few days, so do move my appointment to a later date…"
Cheng Qingchong"s hands that gripped the door k.n.o.b tightened slightly. Qin Yinan is pus.h.i.+ng back his work because Mother is here? But his company just opened, and he needs to form relations.h.i.+p with his clients… The first conversation I overheard was him apologizing to a potential client whom he had a meeting with tonight?
Cheng Qingchong"s lips tightened, and she stood at the door for a while before returning to the living room to join her mother on the sofa.
Mrs. Cheng had a habit of sleeping and rising early, so when her favorite television drama ended at 9:30 pm, she retired to the bedroom. While Mrs. Cheng showered, Cheng Qingchong went into the kitchen to heat a gla.s.s of milk for her. While she waited for the milk to warm, Cheng Qingchong booked two hot spring vacation tickets on her phone.
When Cheng Qingchong entered Mrs. Cheng"s room, Mrs. Cheng was just coming out of the bathroom. Cheng Qingchong grabbed the hair-dryer and helped her mother dry her hair. She pa.s.sed the gla.s.s of warm milk to her mother and said, "Mum, I don"t think we"ll be able to make it to the Summer Palace tomorrow…"
"Huh?" Mrs. Cheng took a sip of the milk and turned toward Cheng Qingchong with a questioning gaze.
…
On the way back to his room to grab some doc.u.ments, Qin Yinan happened to pa.s.s the guest bedroom.
The door wasn"t closed, and he could hear Cheng Qingchong"s lowered voice drifting out.
"Yinan has a friend who owns a villa in the mountain hot springs. He gave Yinan two complementary tickets, and he just pa.s.sed them to me when I served him the fruit plate.
"Mum, let"s go to the hot springs to relax tomorrow. The scenery there is gorgeous, and we can stay there to unwind for two days before coming back to the city…"