Tian Youyou struggled to sit up, not wanting his entire body to press against hers, yet his head burrowed into the nape of her neck. "It hurts... The pillow is so comfortable... Hug, don't run away!"
Damn, it seems he's really drunk, mistaking her for a pillow.
Zhou Moyan's thick, jet-black hair was somewhat coarse, and with his short haircut, it brushed against the sensitive skin of Tian Youyou's shoulder and neck as he rubbed against her, sending a tingling sensation through every nerve ending in her body.
The man's heavy breaths puffed against her face, stirring a restless heat within her.
Tian Youyou's hand gently caressed Zhou Moyan's head; his handsome face had lost some of its youthful softness over the past three years, gaining a rugged maturity instead. The shadow of a beard along his jawline lent him an even more resolute appearance.
Her fingers traced the line of his eyebrows, moved down to his high nose bridge, and to his thinly pursed lips... She was so captivated by his face.
The ring of Han Chong's incoming call broke the spell, jarring Tian Youyou back to reality.
She exerted all her strength to free herself from Zhou Moyan's embrace, smoothed her hair, and glanced back at Zhou Moyan fumbling on the bed, probably searching for a pillow to hug.
Tian Youyou felt utterly disheveled; she could never dare to look at him so closely when he was sober, let alone engage in such intimate gestures. She shouldn't crave more.
Without resolving the incident from three years ago, there would always be an insurmountable chasm between Zhou Moyan and her. She wouldn't allow herself to enter his life so meekly.
Han Chong had mentioned coming over to accompany her for her drip treatment after work; the call was because he had already arrived downstairs. Tian Youyou grabbed her bag and hastened into the elevator.
"You're really a workaholic, aren't you? Strong women find it hard to find men, you know!" Han Chong teased her as soon as he saw her.
"Of course, I have to strive. Otherwise, what? Wait around for someone like you?" Tian Youyou shot him a glance.
"Hey, I'm here late at night to pick you up and take care of you, and this is how you bash my noble soul? Doesn't your conscience hurt?"
Didn't realize Han Chong could be so sassy.
"Pfft! Am I attacking your soul? I'm targeting your looks, alright!"
"What? My debonair charm and this face that enrages both gods and men are being scorned by you!" Han Chong dramatically clutched his forehead in feigned distress.
Tian Youyou laughed heartily.
The walk to the hospital wasn't long, and their banter along the way helped Tian Youyou forget the fatigue of the day.
"Hey, sis, do you have a boyfriend?" Han Chong suddenly turned serious.
He didn't know much about Tian Youyou's past and felt increasingly fortunate to have such a sister in his life now, regretting only that he hadn't found her sooner. He was curious about her previous life.
"I had one, but not anymore," Tian Youyou responded after a moment's thought.
"What type do you like then? Someone like me?" Han Chong bent his knees and brought his face close to hers.
Tian Youyou didn't respond, slowing her steps and kicking at the pebbles underfoot. For a moment, Zhou Moyan's face flashed in her mind.
Fortunately, they reached the hospital. Han Chong diverted the topic, busying himself with fetching medication and arranging for the drip.
By the time the drip finished, it was past midnight. Han Chong escorted Tian Youyou home, then returned to the company's dormitory himself.
Lying in bed, Tian Youyou felt inexplicably restless, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, her mind replaying Zhou Moyan's drunken state.
Was he alright now? Had he fallen asleep?
The next morning, Tian Youyou got up unusually early, wanting to check on Zhou Moyan before anyone else arrived at the office, concerned about how he was doing.
She had even bought her favorite breakfast of siu mai and soy milk, remembering Zhou Moyan might not have eaten, so she got a double portion.
The CEO's office suite was spacious.
She opened the door, first placing her bag on her desk before taking the breakfast to the inner office, intending to leave it on the coffee table and then check on Zhou Moyan.
To her surprise, upon entering, she found Zhou Moyan already busy at his desk, his face showing signs of fatigue but no traces of a hangover, alleviating her worries.
Noticing that he hadn't looked up at her, Tian Youyou turned to leave quietly, having developed a non-intrusive rapport with him over time.
"Tian Youyou, where are you going!" Zhou Moyan's voice boomed, filled with rage. "Look at the report you submitted. It's full of errors! Did you even use your brain?" The thick stack of files slammed onto the desk.
Startled by his outburst first thing in the morning, Tian Youyou felt bewildered; his mood was so unpredictable.
With one hand holding the breakfast and the other timidly picking up the topmost papers, she hadn't expected any mistakes.
"Moyan, where exactly are the mistakes? I'll correct them immediately!" Tian Youyou couldn't understand his sudden fury.
After a moment's silence, his voice softened slightly, "The tables are too ugly. Redo them!"
Tian Youyou cursed him inwardly for being so unreasonable.
"Moyan, it's still not office hours. I'll eat first then correct them," she said, checking her watch—it was still half an hour until work officially started.
"Not eating could lead to low blood sugar, which would make you dizzy. With such big mistakes, I can't afford to delay!"
After saying this, she raised the breakfast in her hand, intending to leave.
Out of nowhere, Zhou Moyan got up from behind his desk, snatched the breakfast from her hands, and strode to the coffee table. He nonchalantly sat down and began unpacking the meal.
Stunned, Tian Youyou stood frozen; his actions were so swift. One second he was scolding her, the next he was stealing her breakfast—what kind of act was this?
"Come over! If you miss the working hours, your salary will still be deducted!" Zhou Moyan's invitation to join him seemed almost casual.
"Moyan, you might be mistaken, that's my breakfast. You didn't pay for my meal!" Tian Youyou retorted with a pout.
"For two! Are you a pig?" Zhou Moyan glanced at her as he took a bite of the siu mai.
"Pigs don't eat your food!" Tian Youyou muttered under her breath, her stomach conveniently growling at that moment.
With no other choice, since not eating was not an option for her with her condition and workload, she hesitantly moved to join him for the meal.
This time, Zhou Moyan didn't argue and silently focused on his food.
The night before, he had drunk himself into oblivion, his mind haunted by Tian Youyou's image, agitating him with a profound sense of emptiness.
Unwilling to return home to his parents' large, empty house devoid of warmth, and dreading the solitude of his own place, he had his driver take him to the office just to catch a glimpse of her familiar form.
Since their reunion, he felt increasingly tormented.
He constantly wanted to see her, to hear her voice, yet he also feared that his inner defenses might crumble, his pride and ego not permitting him to yield.
Last night, fueled by alcohol, he had let go of all reservations and embraced the person he had longed for, only to wake up alone.
Tian Youyou's presence had somehow lightened his mood this morning, despite the heated moment. He regretted not having reached out during his illness in Germany. She hadn't called or messaged him, leaving him to wonder about her silence.
Now, as they shared breakfast in an awkward silence, he mulled over the complexities of their relationship, his feelings a tangled mess he couldn't yet resolve.