Her long hair fluttered down her back easily. Her hair was so long that if she didn't pull it up, it might cover her sight, so she used a scrunchy to pull it into a ponytail. She looked so different from her normal professional image; it made her look several years younger.
Qin Yinan stared at that image for quite some time before lowering his head to throw himself back into work.
…
They both worked through the night. When the job was done, it was already 7 am.
When Qin Yinan finished typing the last word, he yawned and leaned back in his chair. He massaged his tired shoulders and stood up to stretch his limbs. Then, his gaze fell slowly on the round chair in the room.
Cheng Qingchong was curled up on top of it with her head titled to the side and her eyes closed. She was asleep.
Qin Yinan stopped moving mid-stretch. He stood before his desk for some time before moving toward Cheng Qingchong. The lack of sleep caused her face to look a bit pale, and there was a trace of exhaustion between her brows.
The air-conditioner in the study was on full blast, but she only had thin pajamas on. Her shoulders were shrunk together, probably as a response to the cold. She looked like a poor kitty.
Qin Yinan stood beside the floor lamp, staring at her quietly for a moment, before he bent down to pull out the document she held in her arms. After placing the documents on the desk, he gingerly pulled the woman up into his arms. She was probably really cold before he did so; she curled instinctively deeper into his embrace.
This involuntarily and almost reflexive action that she did sent a jolt of electricity through Qin Yinan. He shivered violently before his heart started to pound crazily. Qin Yinan's arms that held Cheng Qingchong became frozen. His fingers twitched several times before he was sure she wouldn't accidentally slip from his arms. Then he walked out of the study and carried her to their bedroom.
Qin Yinan placed Cheng Qingchong gently on the bed. He pulled the comforter to cover it over her and naturally sat down in bed beside her to study her sleeping face.
As he stared at her, Qin Yinan slowly reached out his hand to place it on Cheng Qingchong's cheeks. He pulled her long hair back before his fingertip fell on her forehead, the tip of her nose, her lips… Qin Yinan's finger danced around her supple lips before the man suddenly lowered his body to lean towards the woman's lips.
As their lips touched, a powerful stream of electricity surged through Qin Yinan. It fried his brain and made him lose all sense of self-control.
As his breathing became harder and as his tongue tried to pry open her teeth, he realized with a start what he was doing.
Why did he suddenly lose control to kiss her? Why was there a cherished feeling at the bottom of her heart when he saw her all curled up on the chair earlier? Why did he carry her so carefully and gently back to the bedroom and even help her snuggle into the cover?
He loved Song Song and had even sacrificed his life for her sake. Even though Song Song had married Su Zhinian and had given birth to Little Sesame, the thought of the girl had never left his mind. During their marriage, the kindness that he showed Cheng Qingchong was merely to take revenge for her deceit. If that was the case, how was he going to explain the things that he did earlier and the feelings that were still roiling through his heart then?
Qin Yinan was stumped and shocked by the questions that appeared in his mind. He stood up in a hurry and rushed into the closet. He grabbed a suit and dashed out of the bedroom.