Rolling over, Ji Hanjiang got out of bed. Walking into the living room, he took his pack of cigarettes from his trouser pockets and shakily lit one.
He thought back to their earlier conversation and the way she had guiltily evaded his gaze while they were eating noodles. She had clearly wanted to say something and had stopped herself from doing so.
Ji Hanjiang clenched his fist. D*mn it!
Who should die first?
Should it be the man who wanted her, or her?
His cigarette burned down till less than half of it remained, its embers scattering over the floor. Unable to settle the storm that brewed within him, he picked up his phone, not even bothering to check what time it was. "Find out who the hell abducted Yiren! Find out at all costs!"
He was going to kill that man!
...
Yan Yiren slept well. When she awoke, she realized that Ji Hanjiang was no longer in bed with her.
She sat up, looking around her in a daze. "Hanjiang?"
There was no reply. He couldn't have left, could he?
Yan Yiren put on her slippers and walked into the living room to look for him.
Ji Hanjiang was sitting on the couch, exhaustion written all over his face. He seemed to be in a bad mood, and there the smell of cigarette smole lingered in the air.
Some cigarette butts were in the bin. Had he been smoking?
"Hanjiang, why are you up so early?" Yan Yiren yawned delicately as she made her way over and sat down beside him.
It could just have been her eyes playing tricks on her, but Ji Hanjiang seemed to stiffen for a split second as she took a seat next to him. Even his arm muscles tensed up.
The corners of Ji Hanjiang's lips curled up into a smile. "I was afraid that you'll be hungry, so I got up to make breakfast for you. It's already on the table. I was just waiting for you to wake up."
Overjoyed, Yan Yiren clung onto his arm, her heart swelling with happiness. "Hanjiang, you're too good to me."
She moved closer to him, giving his handsome face a peck.
"You're my girlfriend. If I'm not good to you, who else can I be good to?" Ji Hanjiang chuckled softly. Unmoved by her kiss, he got to his feet. "Go brush your teeth quickly, then come and have breakfast."
"Yes, Young Master Ji!"
While Yan Yiren was washing up in the bathroom, Ji Hanjiang came to inform her that something urgent had cropped up in the company and he needed to leave.
Yan Yiren quickly spat out the toothpaste foam. "Work is important. You'd better get going."
Ji Hanjiang gave her a brief apology. "The work that I set aside during the past two days when I was looking for you has built up. I'll be on a business trip for the next few days, so I won't be able to spend any time with you. You're not angry with me, are you?"
"Why would I be?" Yan Yiren gave him a look as if to tell him "don't worry", before sending him off. "Remember to get some rest. Don't overdo it."
"Mn." Ji Hanjiang nodded thoughtfully before he strode off.
"Remember to call me." Yan Yiren watched as Ji Hanjiang entered the lift and went out of sight. She could only say the words she hadn't had time to say to him to herself.
He'd never left in such a hurry before.
Yan Yiren tried to comfort herself. Perhaps something urgent really had cropped in the company. If not, why would he leave so abruptly?
His departure had been so quick that he didn't even have time to take one last look at her before he left…
...
Once Ling Yunhuan caught wind of Yan Yiren's safe return, she immediately dropped by her apartment to visit her.
"Yiren, where have you been?" As soon as Ling Yunhuan walked in, she pulled Yan Yiren toward her, scanning her up and down.
Yan Yiren allowed her to take a good look, even twirling around for her. "I don't know where I was taken either. Don't worry, I'm fine."
"You really gave us a scare!" Ling Yunhuan patted her chest, heaving a sigh of relief. "When you were missing, Ji Hanjiang was so worried that he skipped his meals. Even I felt that he looked pitiful."
"I know. I'll treat him well from now on. I'll make sure his affection for me doesn't go to waste." Yan Yiren replied, lowering her head as she felt herself getting flushed.