TIMO - Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Shi Nan never expected that the first thing Fu Zhao would say to her would be this.
Can I miss you?
Of course, you can.
But why had she made Fu Zhao ask such a question?
And so, the one left stunned was now Shi Nan. She met Fu Zhao’s quiet gaze. Perhaps from being in the wind for too long, her eyes shimmered slightly, moist, like the crescent moon hanging in the sky-soft and warm.
Familiar, yet strange.
Holographic projection technology was so advanced, yet the Fu Zhao she saw in projections was still very different from the Fu Zhao she was seeing with her own eyes now.
She could truly feel Fu Zhao’s long, curled lashes; she could clearly see the white puffs of her gentle breaths in the air; she could see herself reflected perfectly in those bright, amber eyes.
And the snowflakes, drifting down, landed on both of their shoulders at the same time.
The snowflakes fluttered, swirling in beautiful arcs between them on the biting wind, illuminating the silent, dark night with the bright white halo of the streetlamp.
Shi Nan’s gaze lingered on Fu Zhao. She didn’t want to miss this chance; she wanted to carefully figure out what had changed about the 25-year-old Fu Zhao.
She wanted to know the real, tangible changes that had happened to Fu Zhao in the two and a half years she had missed.
“Why aren’t you answering my question?”
Before she could reach a conclusion, Fu Zhao spoke, her eyes shimmering in the lamplight.
Shi Nan paused for a moment, then came to her senses. She curved her eyes into a gentle smile and nodded lightly.
“Of course, you can.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the person before her seemed to let out a sigh of relief, her expression becoming much lighter. Then, her long, curled lashes lowered, hiding her amber eyes.
Her body suddenly leaned forward. The strands of hair falling by her shoulders followed the movement, tracing a gentle curve in the air.
Like a deliberately slowed motion.
The next second, a small head rested against Shi Nan’s waist. The touch was warm and soft, and the fluffy hair nuzzled against the small of her back. A hand naturally came to rest on her waist, wrapping around her lightly, like a little cat seeking affection in her arms.
“Then letting me lean on you for a bit isn’t too much to ask, is it?”
A soft, lingering voice sounded by her ear. Her tone was a little hoarse from the alcohol, yet it held a rare hint of coquettishness, tinged with a joy that bubbled up from the bottom of her heart.
Shi Nan felt joyful too. She reached out and ruffled Fu Zhao’s soft hair, her voice filled with an obvious smile.
“Not at all.”
“I’d be happy to.”
The person hugging her seemed to sense her permission and tightened her grip. She just leaned against her, her eyelashes trembling slightly before settling, her chaotic breathing slowly calming down.
Like a drifting snowflake that had finally found a place to land.
Her heart, too, had found its place.
The movements of her hand grew even gentler as she stroked Fu Zhao’s soft hair, again and again.
The air was tranquil. Even the falling snowflakes seemed to have slowed, painting a quiet and gentle atmosphere.
A soft sound broke the tranquil air.
Shi Nan looked over and saw the two people who had been leaning against the bulletin board, now so bored they had started playing rock-paper-scissors and flicking each other’s foreheads.
In their early twenties, they were clearly capable of handling things on their own out in the world, but back on Nanke Island, they couldn’t help but become childish again.
“Sister Shi Nan…”
Seeing her look over, the beautiful and radiant female Alpha stood up abruptly, patting the accumulated snow off her shoulders and pouting with great regret. “So what should we do with the Island Master now?”
“I was planning on fleecing her for a meal as soon as we got back.”
“We should take the Island Master back first,” the elegant male Omega in black next to her said nonchalantly. His fair forehead was faintly red, making it obvious who the culprit was.
Shi Nan’s gaze swept over the two of them, then fell back to Fu Zhao in front of her. She gently brushed the snow from the other’s shoulders, a soft curve unconsciously forming on her lips.
“That’s alright.”
“Xiao Qing, Xiao Er, you two go back first. You’ve just returned, so go see your parents.”
“I’ll take care of Fu Zhao.”
“Can you manage on your own?” Jiang Wenqing mumbled. “The Island Master differentiated almost three years ago. Look at her, she’s gotten a lot taller. I’m afraid you won’t be able to get her back by yourself…”
“On my own?”
Shi Nan tilted her head and asked, a thick, indelible smile hanging between her brows. “Who said I’m on my own?”
Jiang Wenqing froze, about to ask something else, but Ye Er, who had already understood, spoke first. “Then we’ll head back first. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
Shi Nan replied, then remembered something and couldn’t help but add a reminder.
“Weiyan said she’s coming back tomorrow. She said she’s already booked a hot spring villa for two days and one night. Remember to pack your things. Go straight to the starship port tomorrow afternoon to pick Weiyan up, and then we’ll head to the villa in the East Islands.”
“Mhm, got it.” Jiang Wenqing was always well-behaved in front of Shi Nan and nodded obediently.
Ye Er also gave a slight nod. Before leaving, he glanced at Fu Zhao, who hadn’t moved for a long time. “Does the Island Master know about this?”
“She doesn’t.” Shi Nan answered concisely, her gaze falling to Fu Zhao’s deeply sleeping face, soft and tender. “We’ll tell her tomorrow. Let her get a good rest today.”
“Okay.”
Ye Er replied, then he and Jiang Wenqing hailed a cab and left.
Only Shi Nan and Fu Zhao were left by the roadside.
She let out a soft breath, feeling the warmth pressed against her waist, and ruffled Fu Zhao’s head.
“Fu Zhao…”
“Let’s rest a little longer and then go back, okay?”
“I know you wouldn’t leave me alone.”
Fu Zhao didn’t react, as if she had really drifted off to sleep.
Shi Nan’s palm slid down and gently clasped Fu Zhao’s wrist. A warm sensation spread from the point of contact, her pulse steady and strong.
Before long, Fu Zhao slowly opened her eyes and looked at her quietly. After a moment, she lowered her gaze to their intertwined wrists and palms, saying nothing.
Then, the person in front of her abruptly stood up.
Looking down became looking up.
The person she could barely see eye-to-eye with in her memory was now someone she had to look up to, towering over her by about a head.
A pair of clear, bright eyes looked over, and then she started walking, taking Shi Nan with her, one slow step at a time.
The warmth from her palm was constant, and the snowflakes drifting before her eyes never fell.
The back she stared at was tall with long legs and a slender waist. Her long hair was swept up by the cold wind into a floating arc, dancing with the snowflakes in the air. Her sneakers left clear footprints on the ground, which was already covered in a thin layer of snow.
Thump-thump… thump-thump…
The rhythm of her heartbeat gradually quickened.
Shi Nan followed Fu Zhao’s steps forward. After walking for nearly ten minutes, she realized Fu Zhao was leading her in the complete opposite direction.
So, she spread her fingers and waved them in front of Fu Zhao’s eyes. When she saw that Fu Zhao’s gaze remained fixed on her, unmoving, she knew that Fu Zhao was truly drunk.
Despite this, Fu Zhao was very well-behaved and obedient. She let Shi Nan lead her by the wrist all the way back to her residence.
Even after entering the house, she obediently sat on the sofa, staring at her with those amber eyes as brilliant as a starry river, her gaze following Shi Nan’s steps left and right, clear and bright.
Shi Nan took off her coat, turned on the heat, and closed the windows.
She poured a glass of water, and when she returned, Fu Zhao was still looking at her so softly.
Like an adorable puppy that couldn’t bear to be away from its owner.
She couldn’t help but use that metaphor. Unable to bear being stared at so intently with such a soft gaze, she spoke softly, breaking the charming atmosphere in the air.
“How much did you drink?”
Fu Zhao tilted her head, then shook it. “I’m not drunk.”
Shi Nan’s lips curved into a smile. “Then how much did you drink?”
“I didn’t drink.” Fu Zhao said, her words clear and her expression serious. “I’m not drunk, because I didn’t drink any alcohol.”
Drunk people never admit they’re drunk; she knew that.
But she didn’t know some would outright deny having had a drink at all.
And when that person was Fu Zhao, it just made her seem all the more adorable.
Shi Nan came to this conclusion. Looking at the adorable Fu Zhao and smelling the faint scent of alcohol on her-it must not have been very strong-mixed with Fu Zhao’s own light fragrance, it was actually quite pleasant.
Her eyes curved. “Alright, you didn’t drink.”
Fu Zhao fell silent, continuing to stare at her quietly.
Shi Nan felt she had to find something to do, to stop Fu Zhao from staring at her like this. Not only could she not handle it, but a faint sense of anticipation and excitement would well up from the bottom of her heart.
Her gaze fell on Fu Zhao’s overcoat. The camel-colored coat was damp in several places from the melted snow.
“Take off your coat.” Shi Nan moved closer, her eyes glinting. “Silly, you don’t even say anything when your clothes are wet. If you’re uncomfortable, take it off.”
Fu Zhao didn’t move.
Shi Nan crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. She simply reached out, intending to take the coat off for her.
It was just a coat, after all. She was wearing so many layers underneath.
But Fu Zhao’s reaction was much stronger than she had imagined. She dodged her hand with a clean, swift movement.
Her fingertips brushed past her cheek, the warm, delicate touch seeming to linger.
Shi Nan froze for a few seconds. By the time she reacted, Fu Zhao had already clutched her coat tightly and moved to the other side of the sofa.
“I’m not trying to take your clothes off.”
Shi Nan explained, but then felt the explanation wasn’t quite right and helplessly added, “Just take off the coat, and then you can go take a shower obediently, okay?”
“You’re so well-behaved, so why don’t you take off your coat yourself?”
Fu Zhao watched her in silence. After a long moment, she finally spoke, saying just a few short words. “Not taking it off.”
The hoarseness in her voice was much more pronounced than when they were outside. Shi Nan heard it and thought it might be from being in the cold wind for too long. All the more reason to take off the wet clothes and have a nice shower.
“Not taking it off?”
She asked back, watching her quietly. She nodded thoughtfully, then grabbed her own coat from the side and said decisively, “Then I’m leaving.”
But almost as soon as she picked up her coat,
Fu Zhao quickly unbuttoned her coat, took it off, and even threw it over.
The movement was fast. A black object fell out of the tossed coat and landed on the carpet with a dull thud.
Shi Nan nodded in satisfaction. Her gaze fell on the black object that had dropped. It was a small, deep black velvet pouch.
She picked it up and held it in her hand.
Inside were two rings.
Shi Nan stared for a long time, then looked at Fu Zhao’s aggrieved expression from across the sofa. Her clear eyes shimmered slightly, and her long hair fell over her shoulders, catching the dim yellow light and giving it a chestnut-brown glow.
“What is this?” she asked.
Fu Zhao pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Shi Nan shook the small pouch in her hand again, her voice much softer. “Can I take a look?”
Fu Zhao still said nothing.
“If you don’t say anything,” she moved her lips, “I’ll take that as a yes?”
The air remained quiet.
Only the sound of their breathing remained.
Shi Nan’s fingertips trembled unconsciously. Biting her lip, she opened the small pouch. The moment she saw what was inside, her heart skipped a beat and never came back down.
As she had expected, it was a pair of rings.
The design was simple and clean; you couldn’t really call them wedding rings.
But Shi Nan knew the brand. It was a legendary brand of rings that a person could only buy one pair of in their entire lifetime.
Her breathing instantly became chaotic.
Why did Fu Zhao have this?
When did Fu Zhao prepare this?
Was she the intended recipient, or was it someone else?
When did Fu Zhao plan to give them?
…
Countless questions bubbled up from the bottom of her heart.
Shi Nan’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Her lips couldn’t help but curve upwards, following the rhythm of her racing heart.
She thought for a moment, took a picture, and searched for it on the brand’s official website.
The network was a bit slow, the loading icon still spinning.
But perhaps she was just too anxious. When all the information suddenly popped up, she felt as if she’d been struck by it. Her head buzzed, and her thoughts descended into chaos.
It was a pair of custom-made rings.
The customizer was a Miss F, and the customization date was…
Shi Nan couldn’t help but tremble.
Her whole body swayed.
She looked at Fu Zhao, who was sitting quietly on the sofa. She gently squeezed her own numb arm, put the rings back in the pouch, placed it in the coat, then put the coat back on the sofa and walked over to Fu Zhao.
She gently wrapped her arms around Fu Zhao’s neck and nuzzled the crook of her shoulder.
The warm, real sensation made the heat in her eyes well up in an instant.
That day was the day she made her first public appearance as the heir to the Shi Corporation.
That day, she had told Fu Zhao that the next time she attended an important event…
She wanted to wear a wedding ring.
Comments
Post a Comment