Baobao played until he was tired, ca back under the parasol, snuggled into Le Tong’s embrace and acted a little mischievous, and after a few rubs, directly fell asleep in her arms.
Ji Rui ca over, picked up Baobao, and headed towards the tent, telling the stunned Le Tong behind him, "You should co and sleep with Baobao for a while too."
Judging by her obvious dark circles, she probably hasn’t been sleeping well recently. Heaven knows what this woman is trying to put herself through and when she’ll stop.
Ironically, although he detested her habit of secretly bringing work ho, he still promised to start tutoring her tomorrow night.
Ji Rui finally understood the pain of loving soone. Although he didn’t agree with her almost masochistic way of working, he couldn’t help but respect her wishes and ways because he felt sorry for her. This was truly a painful matter for President Ji, who was always a strong believer in male chauvinism and was used to having his own way.
After helping Baobao cover up with a thin blanket, the woman he called in to sleep with Baobao was hugging a pillow defensively across her chest, watching him warily.
"Sleep, I’ll go chat with Yang Sheng outside," Ji Rui said softly, giving her a deep look before resolutely turning and stepping out of the tent.
Inside, he felt both helpless and inexplicably angry. Over this period, he had been adjusting his pace to follow hers. If he pursued too closely, he feared angering her, yet if he followed from afar, he was worried she might be snatched away by soone else or completely forget about his existence and only see him as her superior.
He had neither dated anyone nor pursued anyone, so he had no experience to draw upon.
Moreover, Le Tong seed differently wired than most won; none of the strategies for pursuing soone, whether found online or recomnded by others, worked on her at all.
Thinking about this, Ji Rui felt bitterness in his mouth, and the red wine in his mouth, although a fine private collection, turned bitter and astringent due to his low mood.
"What’s wrong, hit a brick wall again?"
Yang Sheng, beside him, gently swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze steadily on Ji Rui’s expressionless face, with a hint of understanding in his eyes.
Ji Rui said nothing, tilting his head back and pouring the unpleasant wine down his throat.
"Rui, give it so patience. That girl, Tongtong, is very wary of people. It’s very, very hard for her to fully trust soone."
Yang Sheng’s words hinted at things unsaid.
As an outsider, Yang Sheng saw things clearly; Le Tong did not trust Ji Rui, to the point of being on constant high alert.
Ji Rui lifted his eyelids, glaring at him, "Why can you?"
Even though Ji Rui was obtuse when it ca to matters of the heart, he could feel that Le Tong relied on and trusted Yang Sheng deeply, even if it wasn’t love. Her dependence on Yang Sheng was genuine and without reservation.
Yet looking at how she treated him, not only did she doubt his feelings, but she even questioned his character. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have held the pillow like that, watching him!
He did like her, truly. Naturally, as a normal man, he also fantasized about her during the nights. Even if Baobao wasn’t a child they had through conventional ans, he and she had indeed once shared an intimate night, and the tenderness and warmth of that night were deeply etched in his mind. Having such vivid dreams wasn’t unusual, was it?
She wouldn’t know how often he thought of her until his heart ached, but even so, he still didn’t wish to use any forceful ans with her.
Because, more than possessing her body, what he desired most was to occupy her heart forever!
She wouldn’t know how much her defensive posture earlier affected and hurt Ji Rui!
"You should ask her that, and also yourself, what exactly have you done to her?!"
Though Yang Sheng didn’t know about the drunken night Ji Rui and Le Tong had once shared, he distinctly rembered a ti when Ji Rui held deep prejudices against Le Tong and, because of those damned biases, did many excessive things to her. Le Tong wasn’t petty, but once soone has been bitten by a dog a few tis, their self-protective instincts trigger a subconscious rejection, making it hard for them to ever love that breed again.
Faced with Yang Sheng’s question, Ji Rui was at a loss for words.
Yang Sheng leaned forward, refilling Ji Rui’s empty glass and then clinking his glass against Ji Rui’s.
"Be patient, Tongtong isn’t completely indifferent to you."
Ji Rui lifted his head sharply, eting Yang Sheng’s gaze.
He only realized a few days ago that Le Tong had feelings for him. Hearing it from soone else, what did it an? It ant that her feelings for him might be deeper than he imagined.
Facing Ji Rui’s probing gaze, Yang Sheng simply assud he didn’t believe him and added, "Her current coolness towards you is probably just out of fear."
Ji Rui lowered his eyes, suppressing all his regrets and frustrations, responding softly, "Yes, I think so too."
"Take your ti, after all, you have Baobao, don’t you?"
Yang Sheng saw it clearly; with Baobao, Ji Rui’s chances at least doubled.
The frustration in Ji Rui’s heart gradually lifted, and as they chatted, the conversation turned to Yang Sheng.
"And you, do you really plan to gratify your grandfather’s wishes?"
"I don’t know, I’ll go back and see how things stand first. If I could choose, I’d rather give it all up and return to the Ji Family to be your assistant."
Yang Sheng always had a clear perspective, or perhaps more than anyone, he understood that effort doesn’t always yield corresponding rewards, but what one receives often matches what one puts in. Money and power didn’t hold much appeal for him, so years ago, he decisively gave up the wealth and status due to him as a Yang family descendant in exchange for the freedom of an ordinary person.
Yet, he realized this freedom too had an expiration date.
"You’re always welco back, whenever you want!"
As they drank and chatted, the conversation turned casual and reclined on the mat. As they chatted, they didn’t know who first stopped speaking, and with fatigue settling in, the two eventually drifted into sleep.
Le Tong slept deeply, but a chill woke her.
Propping up her body to check on Baobao, she saw him sleeping soundly, tucked him in, and lifted the tent flap to step outside, imdiately seeing two long-legged handso n sprawled in a starfish position on the ground mat.
The wind outside was quite strong; stepping out, Le Tong felt goosebumps rise imdiately. Giving a brief glance at the two n, she shook her head, pulled two thin blankets from the gear bag, first covering Yang Sheng, and then tucked a blanket over Ji Rui.
In a drowsy haze, Ji Rui seed to catch a whiff of a familiar scent. His chin itched a bit, so he reached out and grasped toward the spot that itched.
"Mmm..." A muffled hum reached Ji Rui’s ears, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a face extrely close to his own.
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