9 Don’t Argue / 09

“Have one.” Sheng Huaining’s voice trembled as she turned her head away; moments of guilt felt like years. He Chenye lowered his eyelids lazily, releasing the glass teacup he had been holding, which tapped crisply against the table. She kept her head bowed, watching his every movement, her gaze involuntarily drawn to his slender, jade-like fingers, elegant as bamboo joints.

He Chenye was fastidious; the entire ritual of brewing and tasting tea dazzled her. Though she had learned these steps in tea ceremony class, watching him perform them was especially pleasing to the eye. Following the contour of his arm upwards, her eyes landed on the sleeve cuff at his bicep, which clung to the strong, defined muscles, exuding a refined yet subtly seductive charm.

Lost in thought, she mused that such agile hands would be a waste if not used for other skills—perhaps playing the piano, for example.

“What then?” He Chenye suddenly spoke, pushing the steaming teacup toward her and quietly watching her.

Startled, Sheng Huaining returned to herself and timidly asked, “What do you mean, what then?”

“What to do when you’re bullied? Should you vent your anger in another way or…” He Chenye paused, thinking deeply before continuing, “I’ll think of a way to coax you.”

With the last guest leaving the waiting area, only Sheng Huaining and He Chenye remained on the encircling sofa. Once she was sure no one would approach, she removed the linen pillow between them and boldly stepped closer, her hands clenched silently behind her back.

The huge height difference forced her to tilt her head up, facing his prominent Adam’s apple directly. “How will you coax me?” she admitted, genuinely curious.

Though He Chenye’s face remained cold during their meetings, his words and actions were gentle. When Xi Xi cried and fussed, he was at a loss, awkward and tongue-tied, seemingly unable to soothe anyone. All he did was pat her head and back, like coaxing a frightened cat—an approach she found ineffective.

As their distance suddenly closed, He Chenye’s eyes half-lidded, watching her lips move slightly. His fingers, gripping the edge of the sofa, tightened, and his upper body unconsciously leaned forward. Warm breaths collided in the narrow space; their noses nearly touched.

Sheng Huaining was no innocent; she knew what his sudden closeness in such an intimate atmosphere meant. She dared not move, letting it happen.

Their tense stalemate was broken by approaching footsteps. Relieved, Sheng Huaining’s stiff waist finally relaxed; she turned aside, anxiously running her fingertips from her heated ear to her flushed cheek, all sounds blurring.

She stared blankly for a moment, glancing to the side. He Chenye had already regained composure, calmly greeting someone who just got a haircut, face unchanged.

Xi Xi, fiddling with her bangs, sought praise from He Chenye before running to Sheng Huaining. “Sister-in-law, do I look pretty?”

Still groggy, Sheng Huaining smiled foolishly, her mouth curving upward, eyes crescent-shaped. “You look beautiful, Xi Xi.”

The girl brightened, spinning around in a blur of circles before stopping with hands clasped over her chest. “Brother, can I have the chestnut cake you made?”

“Of course,” He Chenye replied, turning his gaze to Sheng Huaining. “Miss Sheng, would you like to come too? Consider it coaxing.”

“Huh? Where to?” Sheng Huaining was slow to react but grabbed her bag and followed as they walked side by side.

After shopping for ingredients at the supermarket, the sun was setting as the three carried heavy bags home. Sheng Huaining leaned back in the rear seat, pulling up a thin blanket that had slipped off the sleeping girl beside her, stifling a yawn.

She had barely slept the previous night, left early in the morning, and spent three hours waiting at the salon. Exhausted, she closed her eyes and soon drifted into uneasy sleep.

Perhaps still affected by the earlier emotions at the studio, her mind was muddled and body flushed.

He Chenye’s lips met hers as expected, fiercely sucking her lower lip. Unsatisfied, he delved deeper with his tongue, his large, callused hand brushing over her trembling waist.

Sheng Huaining struggled for breath, attempting to pull away, but he gripped her chin and invaded deeper. After a moment, she murmured, haze clouding her mind, hearing him gently call her “Miss Sheng.”

As time passed, she noticed his deepening voice and instinctively reached out to tug the loosened tie she had undone earlier.

A muffled groan escaped him; her eyebrows furrowed, eyes wide as his suddenly enlarged face startled her into a brief cry.

She tried to retreat but forgot to release the tie.

Next moment, He Chenye fell completely above her, his elbow propped beside her ear, lips brushing her forehead unintentionally.

Damp with the faint sweat from her dream-induced heat, the touch seemed even warmer, making her dizzy.

Hurriedly, she loosened her grip and pressed her hand to his chest, unknowingly provoking him even more.

The underground garage’s dim lighting was almost pitch black in the back seat, with only occasional white streaks of passing headlights illuminating them, casting a hazy, seductive glow.

Sheng Huaining glanced at the sleeping girl beside her, relieved she was undisturbed. She exhaled quietly, chuckling nervously, “Xi Xi… sleeps so well.”

The man’s voice was hoarse and painfully restrained. “May I… get up now?”

“Y-yes, of course, you’ve worked hard to move,” she stammered, suddenly realizing the awkwardness of her words.

What was she even saying?

Closing her eyes to avoid looking at him, she urged softly, “W-why aren’t you getting up yet?”

“Miss Sheng, please release your hand from around my waist first.”

“Huh? What waist? What hand?”

Only then did she realize that, besides her right hand, her left was gripping the smooth fabric at the back of He Chenye’s waist.

She froze as the dream’s scene flashed vividly before her.

That hand had gone there involuntarily when they kissed deeply, unable to part.

“No, no—why? How can this be?”

She was petrified, her arms going limp.

He Chenye said nothing, pretending calm as he struggled upright, strode to the front, sat in the driver’s seat, and pulled down all the shades, nearly breaking down under the unfamiliar emotions.

The car fell into a deathly silence; the three of them breathed softly, their breaths mingling and echoing around.

Sheng Huaining’s chest tightened painfully; she was utterly bewildered.

She stared blankly at the seat ahead, as if she could see He Chenye right there.

Without counting, she knew they had known each other for less than three days.

Yet she found herself harboring irrational, impure thoughts about a man she barely knew.

Had several years abroad really changed her so thoroughly?

Clearing her throat, she brushed her disheveled hair and dress, managing only a halting sentence, “S-should we go up? The garage… is a bit stuffy.”

After a long pause, He Chenye grunted in agreement. With her help, he lifted the sleeping Xi Xi and entered the elevator, avoiding her gaze awkwardly—an unusual shyness that intrigued her.

She stole a few more glances and asked quietly, “He Chenye, I’m going to get some mail from the mailbox on the first floor. Will you wait for me?”

He Chenye kept his eyes forward, simply replying with a nod.

Returning shortly with a thick stack of letters, Sheng Huaining flipped through them, initiating conversation.

“When I was in elementary school, the teacher asked everyone to pick someone from the list to sponsor. At first, it was just a whim, but over time it became a habit, and I sponsored that person through college. He was very capable, got into Tokyo University, then MIT, and after starting work, repaid all my expenses. Though we don’t keep in touch much, he sends me a letter every birthday.”

She shook an envelope embossed with a tree pattern, showing it to He Chenye. “See? This year’s arrived on time!”

He Chenye held Xi Xi in his arms, surrounded by six or seven shopping bags. After a moment, a faint smile appeared on his lips. “He is very lucky.”

“Or maybe it’s because I’m kind?” Sheng Huaining pouted in protest.

He Chenye’s smile lingered, but her glare left him momentarily speechless.

The elevator stopped, doors opening with a chime. Sheng Huaining snorted coldly, throwing a reproachful comment, “So clueless!”

Back home, her irritation grew. She kicked off her heels and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, the stubborn anger remained.

Though logically He Chenye had done nothing wrong, she simply felt displeased.

Barefoot on the soft carpet, she entered the bedroom and applied nourishing oil when her phone rang—it was Luo Zhi.

She put the call on speaker and reclined on the bed, her silky skin glowing under the light.

Just as she was feeling most comfortable, she sighed deeply.

Luo Zhi, having just outlined the next month’s schedule, paused. “Young and sighing—what’s troubling you? Anything you can’t figure out?”

“I… I can’t quite say,” Sheng Huaining squinted.

“Could it be… you were reading something inappropriate? Or… having a naughty dream?” Luo Zhi hit the mark.

Coughing from surprise, Sheng Huaining fetched water from the fridge to recover.

Luo Zhi was delighted. “I got it! Tell me everything.”

“Not now, gotta hang up.”

Before she could end the call, Luo Zhi’s voice returned. “Don’t be so stingy! You finally came to your senses. How can I not be excited?”

Sheng Huaining’s tone sharpened. “Other agents dread their stars getting love rumors. Why are you so eager to push me into one?”

Luo Zhi sighed. “As long as the person is upright, truly cares for you, dating isn’t a big deal.”

The topic veered off, and Sheng Huaining hurriedly steered it back. “It was just a dream. How can that be dating?”

“Is it the guy who lives upstairs?”

“Who?”

“The one you drooled over in your dream.”

Confused, Sheng Huaining listened to the chattering voice, then idly scrolled her phone. Suddenly, a message startled her.

She tapped into WeChat and read: “Old Cadre: The cake is ready. When will you come up?”

Ignoring it, another message arrived: “Old Cadre: Sorry, I’m clumsy with words. Didn’t mean to upset you.”

She began to type but was interrupted by He Chenye’s call.

Sitting up abruptly, she greeted Luo Zhi before answering in a low voice, “What now?”

He Chenye paused briefly, then said in a deep, measured tone, “He is lucky to have met someone as kind as you.”

Sheng Huaining hadn’t expected this call to be just this. Feeling a bit petty, she replied haughtily, “I’m not angry.”

“Then will you come up?”

His voice carried a hint of pleading that softened the heart.

She opened her mouth, eyes catching Luo Zhi’s WeChat message: “Sister Zhi: What you think by day, you dream by night. You’ve fallen for him.”

Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably; the phone slipped from her palm as she sank deep into Luo Zhi’s words, stunned. “I’ve fallen for him?”

“What?” came the man’s breathy voice through the receiver, piercing her heart.

Her breath caught, cheeks warming faintly. She leapt from the bed, as if making a firm decision. “He Chenye, I’m coming up now.”