Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Huang Yuanrui stood at the airport waiting for Qin Song, clutching a bouquet of tacky red roses. She was dressed like a rose herself-a short, bright red dress, red high heels, a small red heart necklace, and a pair of oversized sunglasses that covered half her face.

Such a conspicuous outfit allowed Qin Song to spot her at first glance. He walked over quickly and tried to take her hand, but she pivoted, dodging his reach, and shoved the flowers into his hands instead.

Qin Song chuckled and playfully tweaked her nose.

“Big Brother, Big Brother, the sunglasses! You almost knocked them off!”

Huang Yuanrui grumbled playfully while naturally taking his arm as they headed toward the exit.

Along the way, many people stared at Qin Song. Carrying a bouquet of roses while walking with someone dressed like a rose made for a glaringly funny sight.

Qin Song enjoyed the attention from the passersby, not feeling embarrassed in the least.

When he walked with He Qian, no one ever looked at them.

He felt that Huang Yuanrui was a person with high energy.

Huang Yuanrui hailed a car and walked to the door with a rhythmic click-clack of her heels, pulling the door open for him.

“Please, get in, esteemed President Qin! I don’t know if you’re used to the humble taxis of our city, so please bear with it for now.”

Qin Song obediently sat in the back, but Huang Yuanrui didn’t join him. Instead, she opened the front passenger door and sat there.

Qin Song felt a bit anxious. “Ruirui, aren’t you sitting in the back with me?”

Huang Yuanrui turned back with a radiant smile. “I have to give the driver directions so we can get to the restaurant faster.”

Qin Song fell silent, sitting back while holding the flowers. Directions? Did a taxi driver really need directions? This was clearly a game of hard-to-get.

Huang Yuanrui took Qin Song to a hot pot restaurant.

Qin Song didn’t like spicy food, but that didn’t matter. He wasn’t particularly interested in the hot pot itself; his interest lay entirely in the activities planned for afterward.

Huang Yuanrui ordered a split pot. For every dish, she put most of the food into the non-spicy side and poured two bowls of cold water. Occasionally, she would coax Qin Song into trying something spicy, but only after rinsing the spicy food twice in the cold water before placing it on his plate.

Qin Song thoroughly enjoyed the process. He loved the feeling of being taken care of by a woman.

He Qian’s care for him felt more like an obligation. Earning money was his job; taking care of the home was hers. He acknowledged her efforts, but he wasn’t grateful.

Huang Yuanrui had no obligation to take care of him, yet she did. That was affection.

After hot pot, Huang Yuanrui dragged him out for some shopping.

The small city wasn’t large or particularly bustling, consisting mostly of pedestrian streets and small malls. Huang Yuanrui had probably visited them countless times growing up, yet she acted as if it were her first time, full of excitement as she chatted away while pulling Qin Song along.

Despite their seven-year age gap, their sense of humor was perfectly aligned. Qin Song was constantly doubled over by her jokes, and his own comments always left her breathless with laughter.

When two people talk, having a shared sense of humor is vital. Only those who can laugh together can stay together.

Huang Yuanrui bought two drinks and handed one to Qin Song.

Qin Song looked the cup over. “What is this? Milk tea? I don’t usually drink this stuff.”

“It’s honey fresh milk. I drink it all the time. Try it, it’s very sweet. I think… it feels a bit like being in love,” Huang Yuanrui said nonchalantly as she poked her straw through the lid.

Qin Song took a sip. It was indeed cloyingly sweet.

Next, he accompanied her to play claw machines, watched a comedy movie, and ate his way through the snack street from one end to the other.

Huang Yuanrui would only take a few bites of anything before giving up, tossing the leftovers to Qin Song. He followed behind her, more than willing to finish her scraps.

“Ruirui, I’m tired of walking. When are we going to the hot springs?” Qin Song finally couldn’t contain himself.

Huang Yuanrui looked into his left eye, then his right, and gave a sly smile.

“Big Brother, look up. We’re already here.”

Qin Song squinted and looked ahead. Sure enough, a large sign for a hot spring resort was just ahead of them, with several large, clear characters: Qianyi Hot Springs.

Huang Yuanrui chose a private spring room with a bed. Qin Song stole a glance at her face; she wasn’t even blushing or shy, leading him forward with complete poise.

Qin Song suddenly remembered a joke he had seen online: If you go out for an overnight stay with your girlfriend for the first time and find she’s wearing a matching lingerie set, it means the one being bedded is you.

When they reached the room, the attendant had already prepared the warm water and rose petals. Huang Yuanrui pulled Qin Song down to sit. “President Qin, go in and relax first. I’ll go get some fruit and cake for you~” Before he could react, she nimbly dashed out. A moment later, she returned with a tray carrying several delicate mousse cakes and four small plates of fruit.

Qin Song popped a strawberry into his mouth and asked, “This hot spring ritual is quite elaborate. I’ve eaten the fruit; can I get in now?”
Huang Yuanrui brushed her hair up and casually tied it into a bun. “You go in first. I’m a girl, so I have to look pretty. I specifically bought a swimsuit for the hot springs; you’ll have to give me your expert opinion on it.” With that, she ducked into the small side room to change.

Qin Song’s eyes lit up. He stripped off his clothes and slipped into the pool as fast as he could. The water was wonderfully hot, and he soon felt the exhaustion from a day of shopping melt away.

After a short while of rustling around in the room, Huang Yuanrui emerged. She had changed into a white swimsuit designed for hot springs.

Qin Song realized that because the two of them spent most of their time chatting on their phones, he had only seen her in person once – and she had left before he could get a good look at her. Most of his impression of her came from the photos on her social media feed. Seeing her now, he realized that while she looked thin in photos, she was actually quite curvaceous in person.

This was a pleasant surprise.

Qin Song looked her up and down, offering a sincere compliment. “You’re so pretty. You looked stunning in red, but you look just as pretty in white.”

Huang Yuanrui suddenly burst into giggles. Between laughs, she managed to say, “Northern men are so uncouth! Hahaha, ‘pretty’? Hahaha… You’re so old-fashioned. Who uses words like that…”

Qin Song frowned slightly. “Wait, looking closer at this swimsuit… the quality doesn’t seem very good…”

Huang Yuanrui stopped laughing immediately. “What? How? Where?” she asked, walking toward him.

Qin Song pointed to a section of the fabric. “Right here. If you don’t believe me, come closer so I can show you.”

Huang Yuanrui leaned in to inspect the fabric, moving even closer.

Qin Song smirked, reached out, and pulled Huang Yuanrui right into the hot spring with him.

…

Qin Song and Huang Yuanrui spent an unforgettable night together.

The next morning, when Qin Song opened his eyes, Huang Yuanrui was leaning over the edge of the bed, quietly watching him.

Startled, Qin Song reached out a hand to touch her arm. “Ruirui, when did you wake up?”

Huang Yuanrui stroked his hand. “I’ve been awake for a while. You looked so peaceful sleeping that I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I’ve been waiting for you for ages.”

Qin Song hummed in response and checked the time on the phone by his pillow. It was already 11:00 AM.

“It’s fine. If you’re tired, stay in bed a bit longer. I’ll search for something good for us to eat for lunch~” Huang Yuanrui spun around and sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone.

Qin Song exhaled in relief. “Do you mind if I smoke in the room?”

“Go ahead,” Huang Yuanrui said nonchalantly.

Qin Song sat up against the headboard and lit a cigarette.

Huang Yuanrui stood up, looked around, and placed an ashtray on the nightstand for him.

“You’re very thoughtful.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Qin Song fell silent, continuing to smoke.

He was thinking about something.

Now that he and Huang Yuanrui had become physically intimate, he was wondering whether he should tell her about his marital status. If he did, she would likely break things off with him. They had only just started, and Qin Song didn’t want it to end. But if he didn’t say anything, it would be hard to keep it a secret forever. Huang Yuanrui would find out one day, and when that happened, a breakup would be the least of his worries. She might go to his hometown and cause a scene, spray-painting “Scumbag” in giant letters on his car, turning his household upside down, making him the laughingstock of the neighborhood, and ensuring his parents could never hold their heads up again… And even if he managed to keep it hidden, what if she got serious and wanted to marry him? He wouldn’t be able to hide it then, either…

As he brooded, the cigarette in his hand nearly burned down to the filter.

Huang Yuanrui put her phone down, walked to the bedside, took the cigarette from his hand, and crushed it out in the ashtray.

“I know what you’re worried about, and I know you’re married. Don’t worry, I don’t mind.”

At a loss for words, Qin Song stared at Huang Yuanrui in a daze.

“What are you looking at me for? Isn’t that what you were thinking about? You can relax. I won’t interfere with your life in City A; that has nothing to do with me. I simply appreciate you for who you are. The fact that you came here to find me and spend time with me is enough. I won’t ask for more, and I certainly won’t force you to get a divorce. When you’re with me, you can just relax and be yourself.”

Qin Song was stunned for a moment before finding his voice. “How did you know I…”

Huang Yuanrui waved it off. “Oh, I just know. It’s obvious; no explanation needed. You’re just silly.”

Qin Song lowered his head and pulled Huang Yuanrui into an embrace.

“Ruirui, I’m sorry, I…”

“Alright, there’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m an adult; I know what I’m doing.”

…

When he was with Huang Yuanrui, the weekend felt incredibly short. Soon, the two sweet days had flashed by. Qin Song’s business trips usually lasted two days; if he stayed any longer, he worried his family would become suspicious, so he had to head back.

On the flight home, Qin Song felt like the luckiest man in the world.

The void in his heart had finally been filled.

And it had been filled in such a passionate, gentle way, without any lingering worries.

If life could stay like this forever, it would be a perfect life.