jdhmnovel Chapter 250 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Time to Return 21
Chapter 250 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Time to Return 21
After Huo Xingzhou finished speaking, the kitchen fell silent for a moment.
The phrase "My life is worth far more than a boat ticket" seems to still linger in the air, carrying a unique, deep magnetism and a subtle yet almost mocking tone.
Shen Shuwan's fingers, gripping the glass, tightened unconsciously.
The condensation on the glass slid down, brushing against her slightly hot fingertips, feeling cool and refreshing.
She lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on the hazy halo of light on the rim of the water glass. Even without looking up, she could clearly feel the gaze falling on her skin.
It wasn't exactly aggressive; it was even somewhat relaxed, like the sunlight casually sweeping across the autumn afternoon, yet it somehow managed to make the temperature on her cheeks rise uncontrollably, little by little.
"Then..." Her throat moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but then she stopped.
What to say?
Saying "Mr. Huo is too kind" seems a bit too polite.
Should I go along with him and make a joke too?
It seems a bit strange.
It's really strange. During her time in Hong Kong, she had learned quite a bit of the slang and social skills to deal with all sorts of people, but now she couldn't use a single word of it.
Her gaze shifted helplessly from the rim of the glass, passing over his sharply defined jawline before quickly looking away, as if the silhouette under the light was too hot to bear.
Perhaps it's because... we don't usually see people who are this good-looking.
The thought arose out of nowhere, which gave her a twisted excuse for her clumsiness at that moment.
Sigh, what can I do? She's always liked good-looking people since she was little.
If someone else had said that, they would have sounded contrived and come across as slick and pretentious.
But when he said it, it didn't sound out of place at all; it seemed perfectly natural.
But come to think of it.
The life and fortune of Mr. Huo, who is in charge of the entire Huo family, cannot be compared to a small boat ticket.
Then... what could possibly be a better match? A few shops? A lifetime of financial security? Or perhaps a ticket to join a powerful conglomerate...?
Shen Shuwan recalled the discussions people had made about the matter when she sold cigarettes a few days ago. Her thoughts drifted for a moment, and then she shook her head slightly in her heart.
Her request was no small matter, and in her opinion, being able to return home sooner was far more "valuable" than any of the Huo family's assets.
Huo Xingzhou noticed her slightly lost in thought, and a faint smile flickered in his eyes.
He didn't say anything, but subtly leaned forward slightly.
The two didn't get much closer, but it was as if some invisible atmosphere was quietly stirred, making the air seem a bit thicker.
The fingertips tapped lightly on the cool marble countertop, producing a barely audible sound.
“So,” he spoke again, his voice softening, as if reassuring, yet with a subtle hook at the end, “Miss Shen doesn’t need to worry about troubling anyone, nor do she need to fret about anything else. Since you saved my life—”
He paused slightly, his gaze lingering on her face. "Here, you can be even more assertive."
This was said lightly, yet it wasn't casually.
As if by magic, the slight awkwardness between the two caused by the "life-saving grace" was gently faded and replaced with something more ambiguous.
Shen Shuwan looked up and her eyes met his.
The smile in his eyes hadn't completely faded; it was like a faint glimmer reflected in a deep pool, hazy and indistinct.
The faint scent of cedar emanating from him mingled with the barely perceptible exchange of their breaths, quietly weaving together a fine, intricate web.
She suddenly felt her throat was extremely dry, even more so than when she had just come downstairs.
I wanted to drink some water to relieve the discomfort, but it felt forced, so I just kept tightening my grip on the cup.
"I..." Shen Shuwan opened her mouth, her voice softer than expected, "I understand."
Huo Xingzhou looked at her slightly reddened ear tips and the hint of helplessness in her eyes that she couldn't help but reveal despite her forced composure. The smile on his lips deepened a little, but then quickly disappeared.
He didn't say anything more, but simply straightened his body again. The invisible pressure and ambiguous distance receded slightly, leaving a space just big enough for the night breeze to pass through, a space where one could breathe.
The air began to flow again, and Shen Shuwan took a deep breath without making a sound.
The cool autumn night air filled my lungs, slightly calming my racing heartbeat and the fluttering feeling that I had been deliberately ignoring.
“However,” Huo Xingzhou paused lightly on the rim of the glass, as if suddenly remembering something, his gaze swept over again, with a hint of mischief, “that day… I think I heard someone call you 'Xiao Wan'?”
His tone was relaxed, as if he were just mentioning it casually, "Is that your nickname?"
Shen Shuwan was slightly taken aback, recalling the name she had come up with on the spur of the moment to deal with him.
On the day they first met, she thought they would never cross paths again. Who could have imagined that they would not only meet again, but she would also be standing in his kitchen, being asked about it by him in person.
Suddenly, I felt embarrassed as if my lie had been exposed, and a blush crept up my ears.
However, the embarrassment was only momentary.
What's wrong with using a pseudonym when you're out and about?
Taking advantage of his ignorance, Shen Shuwan quickly composed herself, calmly meeting his gaze, even displaying a touch of nonchalant resignation:
"I guess so. Right now, my name is Shen Gui."
After she finished speaking, she paused, as if to add something, or perhaps just to herself, and repeated softly once more, "Return home."
Huo Xingzhou's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
“Shen Gui…” he repeated softly, as if through this name he could glimpse some unspoken thoughts.
Then, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, and that mischievousness turned into a faint smile.
"A good name." He nodded, his tone ordinary, yet seemingly implying something: "My heart's home is where my heart belongs."
Shen Shuwan's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't respond; she simply looked away.
Huo Xingzhou didn't delve any further. He looked away, picked up the empty cup she had placed on the counter, and put it and his own cup by the sink.
“It’s getting late,” he said in a low voice, his usual calm returning, but with a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible. “Miss Shen, why don’t you go back and rest soon?”
"Okay." Shen Shuwan nodded, feeling relieved.
If he hadn't spoken first, she really wouldn't have known how to say goodbye and leave naturally.
As she turned to walk towards the door, her deep voice came from behind her, neither too loud nor too soft, but striking a chord deep within her heart:
Goodnight, Shen Gui.
It's not Miss Shen.
The name he uttered in such a steady voice seemed to carry a solemn affirmation in the silence.
Shen Shuwan paused slightly, but did not turn around. She simply turned her back to him and softly replied, her voice mingling with the night, "Goodnight, Mr. Huo."