On the day she met Han Jingnian, three words resounded in Xia Wan'an's heart: "A lifetime."
At his first sight, he was the lifetime she recognized and desired.
——"I Want to Live Next to You" by Ye Feiye
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In the vast and bright office, Xia Wan'an stared at Han Jingnian sitting at his desk for a while. Seeing him continue working despite her arrival, she plucked up the courage to speak, "I... I came to see you, I have something to discuss with you."
Han Jingnian paused his typing, but did not look at her. His voice was flat yet cold, "Go ahead."
His distant and indifferent manner made Xia Wan'an hesitate. After a long silence, she saw Han Jingnian looking up at her curiously. Gathering her courage, she said, "I... I want to say, I can marry you."
Han Jingnian was stunned, but in a moment, he regained his usual calm and indifference, "I don't want to marry you."
His blunt words made Xia Wan'an clench her clothes unconsciously. Afraid of revealing something, she replied without much hesitation, "I...I understand... I know you don't like me, and don't wish to marry me...However, our families want us to unite through marriage..."
Xia Wan'an struggled with how to continue and finally, unwilling to give up, she tried a different approach, "...Rest assured, our relationship is just a transaction. Once we get married, I promise not to disrupt your current life. And the partnership you seek, I will make my father arrange for it... I...I don't like you, I'm doing this, only to keep my father happy... So, you...you can reconsider..."
Xia Wan'an didn't finish her sentence when Han Jingnian interrupted. His voice cold and captivating, "I have a meeting. Excuse yourself."
With that, he got up and picked up a document from his desk.
When Han Jingnian left, looking as though she never existed, Xia Wan'an tried to say something else, but no words came out.
Only after the heavy office door had closed, did Xia Wan'an take her eyes off the direction where Han Jingnian had left.
She looked around his office, and finally her gaze landed on his desk.
Looking at the seat where he had just been sitting, a hint of warm softness appeared in her eyes, but it was quickly veiled by a faint sadness.
She knew he didn't like her, didn't want to marry her, yet she still tried...
...
Two hours later, Han Jingnian returned to his office after his meeting.
As he walked to the desk, he was talking to his secretary following behind him. Once he settled in his office chair, the secretary had a chance to speak, "Mr. Han, Miss Xia already left two hours ago..."
Upon hearing this, Han Jingnian's expression remained unchanged.
The secretary could only continue, "I have asked the driver to send her, but Miss Xia refused."
Han Jingnian remained indifferent, as if the secretary was merely thin air.
"This is a file that Mr. Chen asked me to hand over to you," the secretary finally said, handing over the file.
Han Jingnian finally had a reaction. He nodded slightly, promptly opening the file. After reviewing its content, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Mr. Han?" As the secretary saw that Han Jingnian remained silent, she spoke again.
Han Jingnian seemed to come back to his senses, glancing at the secretary.
"If there's nothing else, I will take my leave."
Han Jingnian grunted in agreement. When the secretary retreated to a distance, he looked at the file in his hands again.
Suddenly frustrated, he threw the file into the drawer, then turned on his computer to dive into his work. However, his lack of focus betrayed him.
This lasted about an hour. He opened the drawer again, took out the file, and then leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
After a long silence, he finally picked up his phone and dialed Xia Wan'an's number.
Not long after, she picked up the call.
Perhaps it was his imagination. Xia Wan'an's voice sounded both surprised and timid, "Hello?"
Han Jingnian did not dwell on her tone for long, he got straight to the point: "I can marry you."