Inextricable

Chapter 12

“I am applying for leave the normal way, so my attendance bonus will also be deducted for these few days’ leave,” Xu Xingxing spoke in a small but serious tone.

Her seriousness led to Huai Jing raising the corners of his mouth, revealing a slight smile.

“That won’t work either.”

 Xu Xingxing: “…”

‘He shouldn’t be able to manage things so meticulously, right? IO Group’s leave slip for low-level employees like me should not reach the president.’ Xu Xingxing panicked when she heard his words, and just as she was about to speak, she was cut off by Huai Jing.

“Unless…”

When Xu Xingxing heard this, she clenched her mobile phone and asked, “Unless what?” 

The man seemed to be smiling heavily as he said lazily, “Unless you make me a meal.” 

Xu Xingxing felt relieved on hearing those words, as she originally expected him to make some excessive demands. She stared out of her bedroom window for a while before asking, “What do you want to eat?” 

From the other end of the phone came a rustling sound, as if Huai Jing was flipping through documents. He didn’t answer right away, as if he was really thinking about his answer. Xu Xingxing ended up waiting for a while before the man replied, “After thinking about it for a long time, it seems that I want to eat you the most.”

Xu Xingxing: “…”

With red earlobes, Xu Xingxing’s eyes looked out of the lattice window at the gradually fading sunset, and her heart seemed to stir, as her body warmed.

She has been treated as ‘fast food’ and ‘breakfast’ already.

“You haven’t come back yet, what’s the hurry? I’ll contact you once you’re back.” Huai Jiang finished flirting with a smile in his low voice. He then said goodbye to Xu Xingxing and hung up the phone.

Xu Xingxing had also ended the call, but it seemed as if the man’s voice was still echoing in her ear. She looked down at the phone and pursed her lips.

On the other side, Huai Jing, who had just hung up the phone, stood up from his desk to stare out the floor-to-ceiling window at the various flashing lights of the city. It was late at night, and so the lights of the vehicles driving through the streets of Xiacheng looked just like a starry sky. 

As the corners of his lips raised slightly after recalling the conversation with Xu Xingxing he had just now, his slender and beautiful fingers hooked at the tie around his neck, and he stretched his hand to remove it. With a little force, he tore off the tie and threw it on the table, picked up the coat on the chair and left the office.

He had an appointment with his cousin He Yu at Xiangzhuxuan, a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of Xiacheng.

Xiangzhuxuan was one of several fine dining restaurants in Xiacheng best suited for wealthy people. Small bridges, man-made lakes and ponds, and antique-style pavilions were used in the construction of the restaurant, to evoke ancient motifs. To access a private room that was decorated in traditional Chinese fashion, visitors had to pass via a series of long pavilions and narrow bridges. The restaurant’s interior design was incredibly exquisite, bringing up images of ancient China for its visitors.

Huai Jing entered a private room that had been reserved beforehand, and sat near He Yu, who was already there. The long table in front of him was already filled with dishes. 

They were both considered to be Xiacheng’s wealthy young masters, yet were very different from one another. He Yu’s temperament was as gentle as jade, graceful, and restrained in comparison to Huai Jing’s cold and lazy ways.

“Why are you late?” He Yu poured a cup of sweet-scented osmanthus tea for Huai Jing. As the weather was full of autumn winds, sweet-scented osmanthus tea was very suitable. 

He Yu and Huai Jing both loved Chinese food, and they often went to Chinese restaurants to eat together.

“I was answering a phone call.” Huai Jing propped his elbows on the table, lazily picking up the chopsticks.

“How is aunt?” He Yu asked after eating for a while.

The aunt He Yu was asking about was Huai Jing’s mother, He Qingru. After Huai Jing’s father, Huai Changzhuo, passed away, He Qingru went to the Qingping Temple on Qingjiu Mountain and became a nun. 

“I just went to see her during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she is living pretty well,” Huai Jing said in a light tone, “Among the nuns, she is the most fashionable one.”

Although He Qingru had become a nun a long time ago, she had never lost her love for fashion. So, Huai Jing would frequently purchase any new goods from well-known luxury labels and send them to her.

He Yu smiled on hearing this, then wiped his mouth with a tissue and asked, “By the way, have you confirmed the spokesperson for the new series you are collaborating on with TIE Group?”

“No. However, Huai Yangping recommended a female star.”

After a pause, He Yu raised his eyes to look at him and asked, “Do you intend to choose one from among them?”

Huai Jing snorted softly, laughed, and said, “Yes, why?” 

He Yu didn’t know what Huai Jing was thinking.

Although both of them were businessmen, Huai Jing possessed a more pioneering spirit, so he was able to develop the small IO company into a publicly listed one within a few years, and thus occupy a place in the Huai Group.

Since Huai Jing seemed to know what he was doing, He Yu didn’t ask any more questions, and ate his food in peace.

Although He Yu ate quietly and unhurriedly, Huai Jing, who was seated opposite him ate more and more impatiently, while wearing a frown that seemed to be growing tighter every passing moment, before he finally put down his chopsticks with a displeased expression.

“What happened?” He Yu looked puzzled.

Huai Jing stretched out his hand to take out a tissue and wiped his mouth.

“These dishes are pretty good-looking, but they always lack some flavour, especially this fish. It would taste better if someone else cooks it.”

He Yu glanced at the fish and became interested. He asked, “Have you ever eaten something more delicious than this?”

“Yeah.” Huai Jing put the tissue aside, and answered leisurely, “A woman made it.”

He Yu raised his eyes slightly, and smiled. “Your woman?” 

The corner of his right lip twitched, and Huai Jing looked up at He Yu with determination. “Yeah, she is mine.”

He Yu had eaten a lot by now, so he put down his chopsticks, and said with a smile, “I’m a little envious.”

“Your Qiuzi can’t cook?” Huai Jing spoke in an exaggerated tone.

He Yu took the teapot and poured tea for himself. After hearing Huai Jing’s words, he seemed to think of something, and his eyes softened in a blink.

“I don’t dare to let her into the kitchen.”

“Why?” Huai Jing laughed, “Are you afraid that she will burn the kitchen down?”

“No.” He Yu shook his head, raised his eyes and smiled at his cousin. “I’m afraid she will hurt herself when she cooks,” he said in a gentle voice.

………………………………………………………

After the transfer process of her house was finished, Xu Xingxing returned to Xiacheng. . She took the afternoon high-speed train, then hailed a taxi to get home from the station. It was past five o’clock by the time she got home and unpacked, after which she poured herself a cup of tea and sat on the sofa. It was time for dinner after that.

Through the window, the dying sun let some colourful light cubes fall to the ground. Xu Xingxing held her phone in a tight grip, hesitating whether or not to call Huai Jing. However, as if he had telepathy, he called her right at this moment. 

“Are you back?” the man asked, his voice a bit hoarse, the sound of glasses clinking in the background.

“En,” responded Xu Xingxing, and took a deep breath before asking, “Do you want to eat…”

She stopped speaking abruptly after the word “eat”, for she had remembered what he had said last time. With reddened ears, Xu Xingxing asked softly, “What do you want me to cook for you?”

Huai Jing seemed to have guessed the reason behind her suddenly changing the question, and low laughter resounded from the other end of the phone. The man’s voice sounded really good, it was deep and magnetic, lazy and attractive.

“I’m out of town right now, and I won’t be back until tomorrow. I’ll call you when I get there.”

The thoughts in Xu Xingxing’s head faded after hearing his words. Mimi was still in the animal shelter, and the small apartment looked even more lonely and quiet as she sat alone on the sofa.

Blinking her eyes slightly, Xu Xingxing replied, “Okay, if there is nothing else, then I’ll hang up first.”

She was going to pick up Mimi.

“Wait a minute.” Huai Jing stopped her.

Xu Xingxing put the phone back onto her ear and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Huai Jing didn’t reply immediately, it seemed as if he was thinking of something. 

“Have you ever gotten hurt while cooking?”