Inextricable

Huai Jing had to stop the car just after leaving the parking lot, because some vehicles that had just left Jiating Plaza were stuck at the traffic lights at the busy intersection. Xu Xingxing looked around, and the LED screen hanging at the Bank of China opposite Jiating Plaza unconsciously attracted her gaze.

A massive LED screen covered two-thirds of the Bank of China building, displaying financial commercials.

The advertisement currently playing had a very modern aesthetic; bamboo leaves were fluttering through a large bamboo forest. A young woman wearing a white Hanfu was blowing the xun while surrounded by steep mountains and moving water. 

As Huai Jing drove forward, Xu Xingxing looked away from the screen, suddenly remembering the annual company meeting and took out the registration form for the programmes Chen Wanwan had given her. 

The application looked very simple, with the details about the prizes along with pictures printed on the other side of the page. The first prize was the basic model jewellery being sold in the cooperation between IO and TIE this year. The reason why it was called the basic model was because it consisted of only pendants and earrings, while the classic model included bracelets, rings and necklaces too. The pendant in the basic model was made of white gold and diamonds, the design was simple and elegant, and it looked very attractive.

Huai Jing glanced curiously at the woman sitting silently next to him, who was looking at a piece of paper.

“Hey, What is that?” Hui Jing enquired.

“The registration form for the programmes to be held at the company’s annual meeting,” Xu Xingxing responded after coming back to her senses,  casting a quick glance at Huai Jing as she said this.

The man further inquired, “Do you want to participate?” before returning his focus to the road in front of him, as he realised that Xu Xingxing was interested in this.

“Mm…But I don’t have any talent to display,” remarked Xu Xingxing, shaking her head.

“Can’t you play the xun?” Huai Jing asked.

Xu Xingxing’s eyes clouded as soon as “xun” was mentioned. “It is broken…”

She had played the xun for years after her father had left it to her. But when her cousin Xu Mingyi visited her house two years ago, she had broken it for some reason, and it couldn’t be fixed after that. This had caused Xu Xingxing to remain dejected for a while.

Xu Xingxing hadn’t said anything about this before because Huai Jing hadn’t asked. Only today did Huai Jing learn that her xun had broken.

Upon their arrival at Huai Jing’s home, the two of them tacitly made their way to the second-floor.

Xu Xingxing was extremely exhausted because she had worked all day and then distributed leaflets all night. She set her bag on the dressing-table, and then went to the bathroom.

Huai Jing opened the curtains and stood in front of the bedroom window. The silvery moonlight outside the window flowed in from the window as soon as the curtains were opened. The full moon hung bright and clear, high in the sky.

Huai Jing removed his tie after taking off his coat. Turning around, he then raised his arms and unfastened his cuffs. His gaze immediately focused on the registration form in Xu Xingxing’s bag, he pondered for a while before going to pick it up for a look.

Just when Xu Xingxing finished bathing, the door to the bathroom opened, revealing Huai Jing, still in his shirt and suit pants.  As soon as she saw him, she subconsciously shrank back, leaning against the wall.

The man was standing by the door, tie-less, half his collarbone exposed, his shirt still neatly tucked into his suit pants. 

In the relatively cramped bathroom, the man’s facial features appeared more profound. When she gradually turned red from staring into his eyes, Xu Xingxing tried to hide to avoid his gaze, yet, the man could see the entire bathroom.

Xu Xingxing’s skin was now a delicate shade of blush pink. “I…I have finished washing…,” she murmured as her neck twitched slightly.

The woman stood in the corner, wet water dripping down her beautiful figure. Standing under the light, she appeared as gentle as a pool of water.

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Huai Jing’s eyes darkened, and he entered the bathroom.

After the eventual battle, a sleepy Xu Xingxing was wiped clean by Huai Jing and carried to the bed. He then pulled the quilt over her.

Covered by the warmth, she sighed softly with some satisfaction.

Huai Jing looked down at her, and suddenly said, “Go to the show.”

“Ah?” Xu Xingxing, who was about to fall asleep, turned her head blankly, and after realising what he was talking about, replied, “But my xun…”

“You can still play the piano,” he placed his arm around her waist and sweetly asked, “What status have you given me as your piano instructor? Am I that bad?”

“Teacher… is amazing, but I…” 

The man’s forehead briefly touched hers  after hearing her response, and his brows and eyes softened. “Hmm… But you…what?”

Xu Xingxing was taken aback for a moment, and when she was dragged into Huai Jing’s arms in a daze, she simply didn’t resist. Instead, she nestled her face into his chest with small movements, and with slightly red eyes, complained in a soft voice, “You…don’t bully me.”

The man’s Adam’s Apple trembled slightly and he grinned heartily as a result of the woman’s tiny, gentle voice that sounded like a cat’s paw scratching his heart.

“I’ll bully you.”

Xu Xingxing had been “bullied” enough before she could doze off on the bed. Standing in front of the window, Huai Jing was bathed by the moonlight outside, which made his already pale and cold complexion appear much paler. He spoke in a mild voice on his mobile phone to Sophia.

“Xie Ji’s pottery xun is handmade by Master Xie. It will be difficult to make it in one night. What’s more, you want it custom-made, with someone’s name written on it.” Sophia said, listening to her boss’s instructions. “And it must be sent to your place by tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah.” Huai Jing looked away from the cold moon, turned around and glanced at Xu Xingxing on the bed, stating in a calm voice, “Santa’s gifts, don’t you have to see them on Christmas morning?”

Sophia: “…”