After Breaking Up with the Crazy CEO - Chapter 3

Their eyes met, and silence hung between them.

Xiang Yan lowered her gaze slightly, caught between a rock and a hard place.

This project couldn’t afford to fail, but she genuinely didn’t want to get involved with Xing Bingwu.

Xing Bingwu said nothing more, patiently waiting for her answer.

Xiang Yan sighed softly. “To be honest, President Xing, you’re wonderful. You’re excellent in every way, but…”

“But I’m not good enough for you? Or I’m not your type?” Xing Bingwu seemed to read her mind. “If it’s the former, I think Miss Xiang is also wonderful. She deserves all the good things in this world.”

“If it’s the latter, this is only our third meeting. Isn’t it too hasty for Miss Xiang to make such a judgment so soon?”

“Consider it a chance for us to get to know each other better. Is that so unreasonable?”

The beautiful, radiant face leaned close, exuding an elegant, refined fragrance. The striking, fox-like eyes seemed to hold a magical power, and Xiang Yan found herself involuntarily lost in their depths.

A light laugh broke the tense silence. Xiang Yan snapped back to attention, feeling a cool hand on her forehead, tinged with teasing. “Are you delirious from the fever, or have I completely bewitched you? Hmm?”

Xiang Yan stepped back, freeing her chin and her breath.

Xing Bingwu twirled her fingertips, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Yanyan, my patience seems to be wearing thin today. If I don’t hear the answer I want soon, I might do something… rather terrifying.”

“Like… abducting Miss Xiang and locking her inside this door.” Her tone was playful.

Xiang Yan looked up, her gaze drifting unconsciously to the door.

Cold fingertips brushed against her own. Xiang Yan snapped back to reality, finding Xing Bingwu had moved closer again.

So close.

Their breaths intertwined.

“Miss Xiang seems quite eager,” Xing Bingwu murmured, her fingers intertwining with hers. “Why not come inside with me now, Yanyan?”

Xiang Yan realized what was happening and tried to pull away, but Xing Bingwu held fast. She let out a silent sigh. “Alright, I understand.”

A genuine smile bloomed in her foxy eyes. Xing Bingwu tightened her grip. “Such a good girl. Let’s go inside.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Xiang Yan said, gripping her wrist. “What I meant is, let’s give you—let’s give us—a chance.”

“But I’ll be very busy these days… If I don’t answer your calls or reply to messages promptly, please don’t mind, President Xing.”

The woman in front of her lowered her head thoughtfully, then slowly raised her hand. Xiang Yan only then realized she was still holding her wrist and immediately let go, her fingers curling slightly as she did.

“Since Miss Xiang is willing to give me a chance, the rest is up to me to try.” Xing Bingwu tapped her fingertips against the back of Xiang Yan’s hand.

Xiang Yan withdrew her hand, pressing her lips together. “If you have nothing else, President Xing, I’ll be going now.”

She turned to leave, but her wrist was caught.

Confused, she turned back. The cool back of Xing Bingwu’s hand pressed against her forehead. Xiang Yan shivered slightly, but the coolness felt pleasant. Instinctively, she tilted her head to rub against it.

Like a good little rabbit seeking warmth.

Xing Bingwu’s lips curved slightly. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

Xiang Yan reacted instantly, like a startled rabbit, leaping a meter away. “No need…”

“There’s no need,” Xing Bingwu said without hesitation, reaching into Xiang Yan’s coat pocket and pulling out car keys. She twirled them around her fingers and winked. “Miss Xiang, you know you have a fever, right? And since I’m currently pursuing you, how could I possibly pass up such a perfect opportunity to impress you?”

“Really, I don’t need it,” Xiang Yan said, staring at her keys but not daring to snatch them. She couldn’t help but cough twice. “President Xing, I can call a designated driver.”

Xing Bingwu raised an eyebrow. “Or would you prefer to lie down in my house while I call a doctor to check on you?”

Xiang Yan: “……”

She meekly followed him into the elevator and obediently got into the passenger seat.

At first, Xiang Yan fought to stay awake, desperately trying to keep her eyes open. But after days of working while sick, the mental and physical strain finally broke her. In a daze, she seemed to feel a hand stroke her forehead as a soft voice murmured, “There, there. Sleep peacefully.”

After an unknown amount of time, Xiang Yan felt someone calling her name. She groggily opened her eyes to see a face smiling at her, bathed in sunlight.

Drowsy and disoriented, Xiang Yan blinked slowly, staring fixedly at the face before her, but she couldn’t quite make it out.

“Yanyan? Are you awake? Good girl, take your medicine first. You can go back to sleep after. I just bought this medicine at the pharmacy, and they provided the water too. It’s safe to take.”

The voice wasn’t entirely familiar, but it was pleasant and gentle, and Xiang Yan inexplicably felt safe.

The person spoke at length, but Xiang Yan barely registered the words. She simply obeyed, opening her mouth when medicine was offered, then again for water, and then had her head patted and praised, “Such a good girl.”

“Mmm, I’ll be good. Don’t leave me,” Xiang Yan murmured.

Her consciousness began to fade again…

When she opened her eyes again, it was completely dark. The bedside lamp cast a warm, soft glow.

Xiang Yan slowly sat up, and a voice came from the corner: “Awake?”

Before she could look up, a cool hand touched her forehead. The person sighed as if finally relieved. “The fever’s finally gone down.”

Xiang Yan looked up, her eyes widening slightly. “P-President Xing? I—” She coughed, then continued, “Where am I?”

“In the hotel room,” Xing Bingwu said as she rose to pour Xiang Yan a glass of warm water. “You started rambling incoherently from the fever on the way here. I couldn’t leave you alone, so I booked a room nearby so you could rest comfortably.”

“I’ve already had a doctor examine you. It’s just a fever combined with exhaustion. After this IV drip is finished, just take your medicine on time, get plenty of rest, and you’ll be fine.”

Xiang Yan placed the water glass on the nightstand and nodded. “I’m sorry for the trouble, President Xing. Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Could you please give me the bills for the medicine and the room? I should pay for these.”

“The hotel is mine, and the medicine didn’t cost much,” Xing Bingwu said, sitting down beside the bed and staring intently at Xiang Yan, whose cheeks still held a lingering flush. “I do think that the mental toll of caring for a sick person should be compensated. What do you think, Miss Xiang?”

Xiang Yan was silent for a moment. “If it’s something I can do, President Xing.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. “President Xing, I’ve brought the congee you ordered.”

“Bring it in,” Xing Bingwu replied.

After placing the congee on the nightstand, the assistant quietly withdrew from the room.

“The compensation I want is very simple,” Xing Bingwu said, glancing at the bowl of congee before reaching out to stroke Xiang Yan’s head. “Just finish this bowl of congee properly and wait patiently until this bottle of water is finished. Can you do that?”

Xiang Yan vaguely remembered what had happened in the car earlier, but now that she was fully awake, she turned her head to avoid Xing Bingwu’s hand and nodded slightly. “Yes, I can.”

Xing Bingwu withdrew her hand naturally and stood up. “I have some things to attend to, so I’ll leave now. You can leave when you’re ready, or you can stay here if you prefer.”

As she reached the door, she seemed to remember something and turned back to add, “Make sure you finish all the congee. I’ll check with the staff later to confirm.”

The door closed, and silence returned to the room.

But Xiang Yan’s heart began to beat uncontrollably.

For the first time in her life, when she was sick, she hadn’t received cold water or angry scolding, but warm congee and someone’s presence.

She pressed her hand to her chest. This is just excitement from encountering something new, she told herself.

It’s nothing major.

Don’t take it too seriously.

Xiang Yan took a deep breath and picked up the bowl of congee from the tray. She felt full after only half a bowl, but then she remembered what Xing Bingwu had said before leaving…

She got out of bed and poured the remaining congee down the toilet.

The porridge gurgled and vanished with the water.

Upon returning home, Xiang Yan immediately went to the study to report the project’s progress to Xiang Lunsen. He nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly asked, “How’s your doctoral dissertation coming along?”

“It’s proceeding smoothly,” Xiang Yan replied.

Xiang Lunsen said gravely, “Take it seriously. Don’t end up like Xing Xing, held back from graduating.”

“I understand,” Xiang Yan said.

With the project completed, she devoted all her attention to her dissertation, only helping out at the company when Xiang Lunsen needed her.

During this time, Xing Bingwu frequently texted her. Xiang Yan didn’t ignore the messages but replied slowly, sometimes even the next day. When invited to meet, she politely declined, citing her busy schedule.

Is she truly busy, or does she just not want to see me?

Yanyan, is there nothing in the Xiang Family that you care about anymore?

The tone… Xiang Yan checked her schedule. She had a meeting with a case study company this afternoon, but there was some free time before then.

She replied to Xing Bingwu with a time: President Xing, I’m available during this time today. Would you like to meet?

Xing Bingwu replied instantly: Miss Xiang, do you want to meet me?

Xiang Yan hesitated.

She definitely didn’t want to, but could she be honest?

After a moment of silence, Xing Bingwu messaged again: Yanyan?

That tone again. Xiang Yan frowned slightly. Yes, I do.

Xing Bingwu:

Since Miss Xiang wants to meet, I’ll naturally make time. Where should we go?

Did this mean she had to choose the location?

Xing Bingwu: Please don’t misunderstand, Miss Xiang. After all, I’m the one pursuing you. I’d naturally want to get to know you better—to see what kind of place you’d choose for a date.

If you don’t have a preferred place, should we go to mine?

A date?

Never mind. Two friends hanging out can count as a date, right?

Xiang Yan: President Xing, you decide.

Xing Bingwu: It seems Miss Xiang really doesn’t want to go out with me. You won’t even suggest a random place to appease me?

Or… Yanyan, do you want to get to know me too?

Reading this message, Xiang Yan felt as if Xing Bingwu were right in front of her, a faint smile on her face. She couldn’t decipher her true emotions, but she inexplicably sensed danger.

She avoided answering directly: I’m sorry, I never go out. I really don’t know where we could go.

Xing Bingwu: I see. It seems Miss Xiang is quite well-behaved.

She quickly sent an address.

When Xiang Yan saw the address, she blinked in disbelief.

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