After discussing some more things, Tang Li Mei hailed a cab, and soon she was on her way home.
Midway through, rain started to pour heavily, and vehicles were stuck in traffic.
"What's wrong?" She asked the driver as the cab stopped. The driver stared ahead for a little while before he answered.
"Miss, it seems like there has been an accident. We'll have to wait till it's cleared."
Tang Li Mei stared outside as she waited in the cab.
However, the rain didn't stop; instead, it started to pour more heavily along with heavy winds.
Soon, all the vehicles were turning around to go back.
Tang Li Mei looked at the situation for a while before she came to a decision.
She had no other choice; she couldn't go back since this was the only way home.
All she could do was look for another cab or maybe walk home.
Walking would have been fine if the weather was not like this.
She would freeze to death if she walked home in this rain. But her baby was sick, and he needed her.
'Aunt Lan alone can't take care of him!!'
"It seems the road ahead won't be cleared soon; I'll look for another cab once I cross. Thank you," she paid the driver and walked out.
"Miss, it's best if you ask someone to pick you up. You won't get any cabs in this weather. There is already a cyclone alert going on." The cab driver politely explained.
That was all he could do for her.
Once she was out of the vehicle, within a few seconds she was completely soaked.
Even though it was only five in the evening, it looked like it was after seven due to the rain.
Tang Li Mei slowly walked her way home.
Her body shivered in the harsh weather, and that's when she realized her jacket was left in the cab.
And now that she had already walked far away from the place where the cab dropped her, it would be useless to walk back.
So she walked ahead with her teeth chattering continuously due to the cold.
Her clothes stuck to her body like second skin, and her hair was messy and wet due to the rain.
**********************************
Han Zhixin drove home slowly, as it was getting rather difficult to navigate in the rain.
He was tired and hungry after being in the operating room for eight hours. A box of juice was all he had from the morning, and now he was famished.
Tiredness was evident in his eyes, and with his shirt's top two buttons undone and sleeves rolled up, he still looked quite appealing.
As he drove ahead, he saw a figure in white walking alone, completely drenched from head to toe.
He felt bad for the girl, but he was too tired to help her.
But as the car neared her, he had a feeling—even so, how could she be here? However, he could never forget the view of her slender and thin back from that night.
Han Zhixin's eyes widened when he took a closer look at the girl.
He quickly parked the car beside her and walked out, holding an umbrella.
Tang Li Mei had been walking aimlessly for an hour now, but she couldn't see a single car cross by.
But that thought was soon tossed out when she felt a car pull up beside her and looked up to see a familiar face walking out of the car.
Her lips twitched.
'Why was she always running into him???'
She wanted to find a hole to hide herself until he left.
"Xiao Mei, what are you doing out here??" he asked as he took in her drenched form.
He was stunned. A strange blush started to spread from his ears to his neck.
Her white t-shirt was soaked, and her black lace bralette was visible.
He could almost gauge her busty, perfectly shaped bosom and her beautiful cleavage.
He quickly looked away and held the umbrella toward her.
The rain was too heavy, and with the wind, he was getting drenched too. If he did not get inside soon, he would be soaking wet, just like her.
Tang Li Mei stared at him as her cold eyes examined his form.
He looked attractive in the grey shirt and black dress pants.
She could see his taut muscles underneath the shirt.
The same toned muscles she had an opportunity to touch.
Her face heated up when she realized she was ogling him like a pervert.
She hurriedly looked away as her heartbeat accelerated.
Oh, how badly she wanted to run away from him!
"I'm heading home." She replied monotonously and walked ahead.
The man quickly held her hand and pulled her towards him inside the umbrella.
The woman's face heated up when his unique masculine scent invaded her nose.
With his hands on her waist, he held her tightly in his embrace.
He could feel the cool skin under his palm, which only displeased him more.
'How long has she been walking like this in the rain for her body temperature to cool down like this??'
"What are you doing?? Do you want to fall sick so badly??" He scolded her as his eyes narrowed.
Tang Li Mei stood still, unable to retort. She stared at him for a while before looking away.
"Let go," she said in a low voice.
Her gaze grew cold.
Where would her rationality run off to every single time she was with him? This cannot go on.
The pale, blue-eyed man didn't want to repeat the same mistake and push her further away.
So he slowly let go and held the umbrella above them.
"I'm going home too; I can drop you off before going my way," he explained.
He was trying his best to not look below her neck, but he just couldn't stop himself.
He usually had good control over his urges, but when it came to her.....
After all, this is the woman he fell for. Knowing the situation they were currently in, he controlled himself quickly.
Tang Li Mei looked toward the car and then at him.
She wanted to go with him, and that would be something a smart person would do.
But she didn't want to risk sitting in a closed space with him where she wouldn't be able to run away.
Han Zhixin looked at her conflicted expression, and his heart tightened.
He took hold of her hands and pulled her toward him.
"Why are you thinking so much?? You have always been so quick-witted. Where did your smartness go in a situation like this?? You are already drenched; it would be a good thing if you didn't catch a cold. How are you going to take care of Xun'er in this condition?" He questioned her; his voice was barely above a whisper, while his gaze never left her beautiful grey eyes.
Tang Li Mei felt her heart flutter again. She closed her eyes and sighed.
She was troubled by their closeness and wanted to pull away.
Looking down, she saw his pants getting soaked.
She didn't want him to fall sick because of her.
"Alright," she mumbled.
The man's eyes beamed with happiness, but he quickly controlled himself and guided her towards his car.
Once they sat inside, Han Zhixin quickly gave her a box of tissues and passed his jacket to her.
Tang Li Mei stared at the jacket and looked up at him with a questioning gaze.
Han Zhixin didn't even feel a bit flustered when he pointed at her soaked t-shirt.
Tang Li Mei looked down to where he pointed, and her face flushed.
She quickly held on to the jacket to cover herself.
Her cheeks heated up at the awkward situation, and she became more horrified when she remembered she had already given him a free show for quite a while.
Now she really wanted to find a hole to hide. Looking at her flushed cheeks, his eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Can you be more conscious of your surroundings?? What if someone else saw you like this??" He scolded her while his eyes narrowed at the thought.
He would never let anyone have a chance to see her like this.
Tang Li Mei's gaze turned cold at his accusation.
"You don't have to bother about this; it's not a big deal," she coldly replied.
However, only she knew how much she cared about things like this.
Being a woman from that era, these basic etiquette were seeped into her bones.
The man sensed the change in tone, but he was pissed at her nonchalant behaviour.
"What do you mean by not a big deal?? It's your body; have some respect for yourself. If you feel I'm crossing the line, then think all you want. I don't care!! Over my dead body, I would let anyone see you like this!!!" he snapped at her.
Tang Li Mei felt her heart beat become louder.
Her cheeks were tinged with red.
She was worried. If it beats any louder....
Now that she thought about it, no matter when, where, or what situation she was in, he was always there to help her.
Han Zhixin stared at her before starting the car to head home.
"Where do you live??"
Tang Li Mei thought for some time before answering.
"Silver woods"
Han Zhixin gave a curt nod. At least the place had excellent security.
The ride was silent because a certain man had difficulties coming up with conversations.
He never liked unnecessary talking, but now he regrets it.
If only he knew!!
The man was frustrated. Whenever he came up with a topic, he would think about the pros and cons, and then he would give up and try to think of something else.
He looked at the woman from his peripheral vision, who had fallen asleep; hence, he focused on driving.
The woman in the passenger seat had too many things to worry about and didn't have the leisure timr to bother about him.
After going through such an embarrassing situation, she just wanted to safely reach home and hole up in her room.
She prayed and begged all the gods she knew for the car ride to be silent.
However, fate had a different plan.....
Halfway through, Tang Li Mei woke up. She tried to familiarize herself.
"You are up."
The man's voice brought her back to reality.
She hummed in response.
The grey eyed woman was shocked to find herself asleep in a stranger's car.
'I must have been tired. Yes. That's what it was. Right. It doesn't mean anything else.' She told herself.
Han Zhixin had a hard time trying to calm his heart when his gaze unknowingly lingered at the woman in the passenger seat.
He felt the sudden urge to hug her.
'I know, I know. I shouldn't,' he told himself.
'But damn. She looks so adorable.'
"I'm screwed," he mumbled to himself.
Tang Li Mei thought she heard something.
"What?"
The man tensed. But when he saw her clueless expression, he calmed himself.
"Would you like to have some water?" he asked.
The woman stared at him before she hummed in response.
Han Zhixin quickly unscrewed the bottle before passing it to her.
"Xiao Mei, do you like mountains??" His sudden question surprised her, but then she realized it must be because her home was near the mountains.
"It's not that I like them; I just like the peace and quietness away from the bustling city," she replied in a low voice as her gaze landed on the foggy window.
He nodded.
"What were you doing here?? Without a car at that??" he asked, but there was no response received from the other end.
He took a quick peek at her from the corner of his eyes.
She looked beautiful with flushed cheeks, wet hair, and those stormy grey eyes that always marveled at him.
But what was more appealing were her cherry-red lips, which he so badly wanted to kiss.
"If you don't want to answer, then it's alright. I just thought your son is still recovering, so what could be more important for you to come out in this weather?" He said it, but there was a serious look on his face.
He didn't wish to push her buttons. But he wanted to know why she was here, drenched like this.
And if this is the only way to get answers, he would do exactly that.
Tang Li Mei had a grim look on her face.
She sighed.
She understood what he was trying to do, but she didn't stop him or point it out; instead, what she did next surprised her.
"It's the day of my mother and big brother's passing."