Chapter 16 - Red Cheeks and Sparks

Jing Hao practically vibrated with excitement. All night, visions of work – or rather, his enigmatic boss Hong Yi – had danced in his head. He couldn't quite define his feelings for Hong Yi, but a deep admiration simmered within him.

With a goofy grin plastered on his face, Jing Hao prepared for his second day as Hong Yi's assistant. "Sis, can you give me a ride to the office?" he called out, spotting Ruo Xi emerging from her room, work clothes already on.

Ruo Xi, however, was in a hurry. "Nope, Jing Hao. I have to check the sample materials today for the new design launch," she mumbled, shoving a piece of bread into her mouth.

"Ruo Xi, slow down and eat properly!" their mother, emerging from the kitchen with a concerned frown, admonished her.

"Can't, Mom, I'm gonna be late! I'll grab something there," Ruo Xi replied, already dashing out the door.

"Kids these days," Mother Jing sighed, shaking her head. Turning to Jing Hao, who was calmly finishing his breakfast, she offered, "Do you need a ride to the office, Hao'er?"

Jing Hao smiled. "Thanks, Mom, but I'm good. I still have time to catch the bus." After a quick breakfast and a hug goodbye, Jing Hao set off for the bus stop, eager to start his day.

Unfortunately, his enthusiasm was met with a transportation hurdle. He managed to snag a seat on the first bus easily enough, but his luck ran out when it came to the second leg of his journey. Every bus that pulled up was crammed to the gills, leaving no room for even a single additional passenger.

Frustration gnawed at Jing Hao as he waited at the bus stop. He glanced repeatedly at his watch, debating whether to hail a cab or gamble on a less crowded bus. 'Should've listened to Mom,' he grumbled internally, picturing his tardiness and the inevitable scolding from Hong Yi. Just as he resigned himself to a long wait, a sleek black car screeched to a halt beside him.

Jing Hao, still focused on the approaching buses, barely registered the car's arrival. A familiar voice, however, cut through his frantic thoughts.

"Jing Hao?"

Hesitantly, Jing Hao turned, startled, to find Hong Yi staring at him from the driver's seat. The sight of his handsome boss, impeccably dressed in a black suit, momentarily stole Jing Hao's breath.

"Jing Hao, get in the car," Hong Yi instructed, a hint of impatience in his voice.

"But, Mr. Hong..." Jing Hao stammered, unsure if he'd heard correctly.

"Traffic is backed up ahead," Hong Yi explained, gesturing towards the line of stalled vehicles. "Just get in. We'll be late otherwise.

"Jing Hao's mind raced. Here was his boss, the impossibly handsome and powerful Hong Yi, offering him a ride. He couldn't help but eavesdrop on a conversation happening behind him.

"Oh my, isn't he handsome?" a woman whispered, her voice filled with awe. "How can someone be so rich and handsome at the same time?"

Jing Hao's cheeks burned as he mumbled a quick thanks and climbed into the passenger seat, still reeling from the unexpected encounter.

Jing Hao buckled his seatbelt, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. The air in the car felt thick with unspoken tension. He stole a glance at Hong Yi, who was already focused back on the road, navigating around the stalled cars.

"Thank you, Mr. Hong," Jing Hao finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hong Yi gave a curt nod, his gaze fixed on the traffic. "Don't worry about it. We wouldn't want you to be late, would we?"

His tone was neutral, but Jing Hao couldn't help but detect a hint of amusement in his voice.

"No, sir, definitely not," Jing Hao replied, flustered. "I was just... caught off guard, seeing you here."

"It's no trouble," Hong Yi replied, his voice softening slightly. Briefly, his gaze drifted towards Jing Hao's hand, nervously fiddling with the strap of his backpack.

"So, Jing Hao," Hong Yi started, catching Jing Hao's gaze in the rearview mirror. "You mentioned a courtesan novel yesterday, wasn't it?

"A surprised laugh escaped Jing Hao's lips. "Yes, Mr. Hong! 'Whispers in the Silk Pavilion,' right?"

Hong Yi offered a slight smile, a rare sight that momentarily sent Jing Hao's heart into a frenzy. "Indeed. I was wondering if you could perhaps acquire a copy for me?" he said, focusing back on the road.

"Absolutely, sir!" Jing Hao exclaimed, a spark of excitement igniting within him. "I can have it on your desk by tomorrow morning."

"Excellent," Hong Yi replied, a hint of satisfaction gracing his voice.

"What do you like so much about the novel?" Hong Yi inquired.

"Oh, it starts out as a classic courtesan-falls-for-a-prince story," Jing Hao began, his voice animated. "But then it takes a sharp turn! It becomes a thrilling revenge plot filled with deception, fights, and everything in between."

The conversation flowed effortlessly after that. Jing Hao, emboldened by Hong Yi's curiosity about the novel, shared his favorite parts, mimicking the characters' voices and making Hong Yi chuckle a few times. As they neared the office, Jing Hao felt a pang of disappointment. This unexpected carpool had been an unexpected highlight of his morning. 

"Here we are," Hong Yi announced, unbuckling his seatbelt.

"Thank you again, Mr. Hong, for the ride," Jing Hao stammered, feeling a familiar blush creep up his neck. Hong Yi cleared his throat slightly, a hint of self-consciousness creeping into his tone. "Forgive me, but during yesterday's orientation, things got a bit hectic. With your new role as my secretary, I should have asked for your contact information. Would you mind providing me with your phone number?" Jing Hao's cheeks flushed a brilliant crimson. His mind scrambled, desperately searching for a coherent response.

"O-of course, Mr. Hong," he stammered, fumbling for his phone. "I apologize, I should have offered it already.

"Hong Yi chuckled softly, a sound both surprising and strangely endearing. Handing his phone to Jing Hao "No need to apologize, Jing Hao. These things happen. Just save my number as well, in case you need to reach me directly.

"As Jing Hao punched in his digits, a wave of nervous excitement washed over him. "There you go," Jing Hao mumbled, handing his phone back. Hong Yi took the phone, his fingers brushing against Jing Hao's for a fleeting moment. A jolt of electricity shot through Jing Hao, making him clench his jaw.

"Thank you, Jing Hao," Hong Yi said, his voice tinged with amusement. "And try not to get lost in today's workload. I have a feeling it will be quite demanding.

"He saved the contact under "Jing Hao (Assistant)" and returned the phone, his eyes lingering on Jing Hao's face for a beat too long. The car came to a stop, the brief journey already feeling like a lifetime for Jing Hao.

"Thank you again for the ride, Mr. Hong," Jing Hao managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"No problem at all, Jing Hao," Hong Yi replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "See you inside.

"As he stepped out of the car, Jing Hao fought to regain his composure. His heart hammered against his ribs, and his mind buzzed with a dizzying cocktail of emotions.

Meanwhile, Hong Yi was completely oblivious to the effect his actions had on Jing Hao. Used to giving orders and receiving efficient responses, he simply saw his request for Jing Hao's number as a practical necessity. The brief touch of their fingers, the lingering look – these were lost on him, his mind already focused on the day's tasks ahead. Bless his oblivious heart, Hong Yi was as dense as a brick wall when it came to matters of love.