Three paragraphs were clearly displayed above:
“Qin Si Ye, where are you? Why won't you answer my calls? Do you know how worried I am about you?”
“Are you angry? Did you not see that the bouquet of flowers was held by Brother Kai Cheng the whole time? I never accepted it. I have a promise with you, and I will absolutely not accept any other man.”
“Can you just say something back to me? Yin Zhe’s appearance tonight was the best birthday gift I received. I'll add two thank yous to you, okay?”
After reading the words above, Qin Si Ye could not suppress his excitement and rushed out.
Gu Lin stood up and watched his hurried departure. Without a doubt, he knew who had sent the message.
The corner of his lips curled up as he also got up and left the room.
After Shen Xi sent the above messages, she waited for a long time, but still received no response, not even a single word from Qin Si Ye.
Disappointed, she walked into the washroom, knowing that Qin Si Ye had no intention of contacting her tonight.
Tomorrow morning, she would go to Villa No. 1 to wait for him and explain everything to him in person.
She also wanted to properly thank Yin Zhe for his presence.
Half an hour later, as Shen Xi, wearing a pink silk nightgown with her long hair down, emerged from the washroom, a faint knocking sound came from outside the door.
“Who is it?” Shen Xi asked softly, startled.
But after waiting for a while, there was no reply.
She asked again, but still no one spoke. Yet, the knocking sounded once more.
Shen Xi hesitated but, fearing it might be the children, finally walked over and slowly opened the door.
She saw Qin Si Ye’s tall and sturdy figure standing outside, gazing at her intently.
“Qin Si Ye.” Shen Xi’s body stiffened. Suddenly remembering that she wasn’t wearing her mask, she was terrified and immediately turned to flee.
The next moment, the man pulled her into his arms, kicked the door shut forcefully with his foot.
Shen Xi’s face turned pale with shock. Before she could even react, the man circled her waist with one arm, cupped the back of her head with the other, and lowered his head, kissing her lips.
At this moment, he no longer cared about anything else; he just wanted to kiss the woman who had stirred his heart and whom he had missed for five years.
Initially, Shen Xi was filled with nervousness and apprehension, her body trembling uncontrollably. Slowly, under his lead, she began to return his kiss clumsily.
Qin Si Ye’s heart was filled with joy, and his kiss became gentler, deeper, and more lingering.
All the things in the world seemed to stand still; only the breathing and heartbeats of the passionately kissing man and woman could be heard.
Between breaths, he whispered into her ear, “Xi Xi, I don’t want to collect ten thank yous anymore. I don’t want to pretend anymore. Let’s be together now, okay?”
Hearing this, Shen Xi awoke as if from a dream and immediately pushed him away, stepping back two paces.
“Qin Si Ye, what do you mean by that? What do you mean, ‘don’t want to pretend anymore’?” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but touch her cheek, “You’ve known all along?”
“I…” Qin Si Ye nodded, then stopped. His eyes suddenly looked at her with melancholy, “Xi Xi, I was just playing along. I haven’t asked you yet? Why did you hide this from me? You knew how much I liked you, but you insisted on torturing me like this?”
He had known all along. No wonder he had pursued her so relentlessly.
Even after her repeated rejections and his apparent setbacks, he hadn't given up.
Even though there was a supposed retreat in the middle, it was merely a strategy of advancing by retreating.
The past replayed in her mind, flashing before her eyes.
Shen Xi’s eyes welled up with tears. Pouting, she apologized to him, “Qin Si Ye, I’m sorry, I…”
Qin Si Ye took a step forward, his heart aching, and pulled her into his embrace once more. “Xi Xi, don’t say anything more. Let the past be the past. I won’t blame you anymore, as long as we can be honest with each other from now on.”
Hearing this, Shen Xi sobbed into his embrace, crying, “Qin Si Ye, you are so good!
But I still can’t be as open with you. There are still many things I cannot say.
Qin Si Ye circled her slender waist and spoke many comforting words into her ear, but she still couldn’t calm down.
He simply bent down, gently lifted her up, and walked towards the sofa.