Chapter 49

"Hey, Panda!"

Su Ruoyun sensed 'Panda's' intent and hurriedly raised her hand, wanting to move the phone away, but she was no match for the kitten's agile reaction speed. Its chubby little paw lifted, and the meat pad pressed accurately onto the red button on the screen, instantly hanging up the call.

"..." Su Ruoyun.

She pouted slightly, lowered her eyes, and let her gaze fall on the fat cat between her legs, staring at it quietly for a few seconds.

'Panda', the culprit, blinked its blue eyes and looked up at her with an innocent expression, its eyes filled with ignorance and naivety. It was completely unaware of its 'evil deed' just now and even let out a soft "Meow~".

Since the call had already been hung up and it was impossible for Su Ruoyun to call back, she simply set the phone aside and started playing the zither again, the leisurely zither music flowing once more.

Ten minutes later, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. She didn't think much of it, assuming it was a tea house employee looking for her, so she placed the cat in her arms onto the long table and then walked toward the door.

As the door opened, Su Ruoyun subconsciously looked up through the crack, and the man's handsome face instantly crashed into her line of sight.

In an instant, her pupils shrank, and as if scalded, she slammed the door shut with a backhand motion.

Huo Jingcheng stood outside the door, realized what happened, and immediately raised his hand, wanting to block the closing door, but Su Ruoyun's movements were too fast, and the door panel pressed ruthlessly against his hand.

A large, knuckly hand was caught in the door frame. As the door panel closed tighter and tighter, the hand was clamped firmly, the knuckles turning a sickly white, and veins bulging.

He didn't make a sound, his silent, cold gaze meeting hers directly.

Through the narrow crack in the door, Su Ruoyun tried to reason with Huo Jingcheng, "Take your hand back."

"Then don't close the door."

Su Ruoyun pressed against the door with all her might, responding vaguely with a few sounds.

Seeing him slowly pull his hand away, she loosened the force she was applying to the door. The moment Huo Jingcheng's fingertips completely cleared the door crack, she exerted force suddenly.

"Bang—"

The force used was too great, and the echo of the door closing lingered for a long time.

Su Ruoyun automatically blocked out the living person standing outside the door, walked straight to the long table, reached out to take her phone, and quickly dialed Xiao Hu's number.

"Hello, did you tell Huo Jingcheng where I am?"

The three-courtyard traditional courtyard house was large with many private rooms; it was impossible for Huo Jingcheng to find where she was in a short time.

Xiao Hu was confused: "No, hasn't Mr. Huo already left?"

"Left?"

"Yes, Boss Lady, did something happen?"

Su Ruoyun's fingers gripping the phone gradually tightened. After a moment of silence, she just said softly: "It's nothing, hanging up now."

Ten-plus minutes passed, and there was complete silence outside the door.

Su Ruoyun cautiously pulled the door open, revealing a narrow crack, and like a small animal, she stretched her head out and pulled it back, peeking outside.

On the other side, 'Panda' leaped down from the long table and walked with quiet cat steps toward the figure that had flashed past the window.

Her gaze was instantly caught by the exquisitely packaged gift box placed on the ground, and she couldn't help but lean over and half-squat down.

It went without saying who had left the gift box.

She looked at the packaging from left to right, not intending to reach out and take it. She stood up, gently pulled the door shut, and with a "click," the door closed as before.

Turning her head, a person had appeared out of thin air in the room, and Su Ruoyun was startled by the suddenness.

Bright light poured in from outside the window, casting a large radiance. Huo Jingcheng was sitting upright in a grandmaster chair, his exquisite facial features complementing the noble Zitan wood table. A wide, navy blue cashmere coat wrapped snugly around his tall, straight frame, an expensive wristwatch fit tightly against his knuckles, and his long legs were crossed, leaning back lazily, a leisurely charm naturally exuding from him.

Those eyes were like deep, dark pools, carrying a myriad of emotions, looking straight over without blinking.

Su Ruoyun avoided his gaze and moved her eyes to the fully open window, instantly understanding how he had gotten in, and secretly rolled her eyes.

Before she could speak, Huo Jingcheng had already opened his mouth: "I didn't tell him to come."

Amidst the mottled light and shadow, his brows and eyes were clear.

Although Huo Jingcheng didn't explicitly point out who this "him" was, both of them knew it clearly.

Su Ruoyun crossed her arms and glanced at him sideways, "If you hadn't said something similar, would he have come for no reason?"

One sentence blocked Huo Jingcheng, leaving him speechless, choking him for a long while.

The surrounding air suddenly fell silent, and the slow passage of time became increasingly clear and palpable in this stillness.

'Panda' let out a soft "Meow~", breaking the silence first. It climbed up Huo Jingcheng's long legs, stretched its body comfortably, and found a spot between his legs to lie down.

Huo Jingcheng took the opportunity to raise his hand and stroke the kitten's head.

That hand, with distinct knuckles, had long, firm finger lines, carrying the masculinity and strength unique to a man.

Seeing this scene, Su Ruoyun snorted coldly, "You and that man surnamed Qi are birds of a feather. He is not a good person, and you are even less of a good thing."

Although she had raised her glass from afar at the dinner table that night and said she didn't mind, in fact, it was impossible not to care.

"Actually, I came to apologize to you today. Offending you was indeed my problem," the man's voice was low and mellow, "At the door, that is an apology gift."

Su Ruoyun was expressionless, saying coldly: "Not needed."

As soon as the words fell, she saw Huo Jingcheng stand up suddenly, holding the cat in one hand. His figure was as straight as a pine, and his broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted frame cast a thick shadow on the clean floor.

Within a few seconds, the beautifully packaged gift box at the door was brought in by him.

"Miss Su, not even giving me a chance to apologize?" The man's voice that came out seemed to be lightly shrouded in thin mist, revealing a wisp of lingering affection.

Huo Jingcheng's deep peach-blossom eyes looked down without blinking, focusing intently on Su Ruoyun's face, seeing her long, curled eyelashes trembling slightly like butterfly wings.

As she slowly lifted her raven-black lashes, those black eyes easily captured her gaze.

Just as Su Ruoyun realized that the distance between the two was too intimate, a sense of unknown awkwardness surged in her heart, and she tried to step back to distance herself from him.

Huo Jingcheng, however, raised his right hand as if he had a premonition, his palm landing lightly on her shoulder, the warm touch coming through her clothes.

The large hand was broad and thick, and the girl's frame was slender, held firmly within his palm.

This action was both like a form of comfort and seemed to silently prevent her from retreating, and the already strange atmosphere suddenly became even more subtle.

The dry heat of his palm was clear, causing Su Ruoyun to frown slightly.

Huo Jingcheng noticed her struggle and could only release his hand, the corners of his lips lifting into a playful arc, his gaze looking at her with a half-smile, "So heartless,"

His tone paused slightly, and then he said in a languid tone, slowly calling out "Xiaozhuzi".

The intimate tone made Su Ruoyun's brows furrow tightly, and she blurted out, "Are you sick in the head?"

?? It's the end of the month, I hope you darlings will vote more, monthly tickets, recommendation tickets. And follow more, mua~