513 Deeply, Terribly, & Senselessly

Since this morning, Darren wasn't able to contact Xiu. Usually, they'd talk in the morning and in the evening as well. But today, when he called in the morning, she didn't pick up. Later, he got busy with work. During lunch, he tried calling again but it turned out, her phone was off. It left him feeling jittery.

She'd always call him back but today she didn't.

It was a real mood dampener for him. It was like his whole person was engulfed in dark clouds that were even making it hard for people to relax in his presence.

And although this banquet was very important, he still looked like he was moping around. He wasn't known as a cold person, but tonight he was emanating a cold and dark aura. He was always known for his good personality, but right now, only a few were willing to approach him. 

"Boss, stop frowning," said Paige impatiently. 

"She didn't call me," he looked like he was complaining and it made Paige almost laugh at him. If they were alone, she'd have done so. But considering his image, she refrained from doing so.

"Take it easy. She might be busy," Paige tried to placate him.

"No matter how busy, she never forgets to call me. Unless something happened to her." His heart shook violently at the thought while his eyes widened. His already uneasy heart was left in shambles. He wanted to escape from here and look for his Sweets as soon as possible. 

Paige took a deep breath as she observed his expressions and said, "It's also possible that she has gotten used to your absence. Maybe that's why she isn't calling you because she isn't missing you."

"Impossible!" Darren's voice raised considerably attracting the attention of a few people around them. He smiled sheepishly while nodding at those people and turned back to Paige. "My Sweets can't get used to my absence. There is no way she isn't missing me!" His tone showed his determination and faith in his own words.

Paige shook her head at him, "Aren't you a little too confident in yourself?" She took a pause and added, "You never know when an ex can enter the picture to sweep her off her feet again."

Darren's expressions darkened even more. Indeed, he knew Zhou Jinhai was once again standing before Xiu but he was also certain about one thing. "My Sweets isn't that easy!"

"I was just saying. Why are you getting so worked up?" 

Paige was unable to understand Darren's mood. He was lovesick and it was too hard to ignore. It was good that soon a couple of old men came to circle around Darren to distract him with business talk. While she stood calmly and patiently behind him, her phone buzzed. She rummaged through her purse and looked at the text. It was from Xiu which read; [Paige, how about you come down to the lobby to guide me in the direction of my Baobei. P.S. Don't let him know!]

That's how she escaped from there to get Xiu from the lobby. And the reason why she insisted on dragging Xiu inside was that she was done with seeing those black lines covering Darren's handsome face. Although she had read about how girls loved those cold, moody, tsundere type guys, she could really say that her boss looked a lot more human with his normal mien.

And she was certain that Xiu would also agree with her.

What she didn't expect was the way Xiu just ran over to Darren. Neither did Xiu cared about how she looked disheveled and worn out from her journey nor did she care about how anyone looked at her appearance at this high-class banquet where she stood out way too much in her attire. Right now, Xiu's 'I-only-see-my-Baobei' persona had already taken over. So, how could anyone else catch her attention?

As soon as her arms wrapped around Darren's waist from behind and she was assaulted by his ever so familiar presence and scent, Xiu let herself close her eyes as she leaned her head against his back.

Darren was taken aback at first when someone suddenly hugged him but then his heartbeat gotten fast. He looked down at her arms and it suddenly felt like the sun had risen after a long rainy day because his face lit up so bright with that smile as he closed his eyes in content while whispering, "My Sweets is here..."

Forgetting that he had been in the middle of a discussion, he held her hands and turned around to face her. Xiu lifted her head and grinned, "Surprise!"

Darren almost stopped breathing seeing that smile on her face while her eyes looked like she was about to cry. And it scared him. He hugged her tightly as he said, "This has to be the best surprise of my life."

Xiu really didn't know why her eyes were brimming with tears when he was so close to her. He was within her reach. She was safe and sound in his arms. She could hear his heart beating wildly in his chest. And it was her effect. And she knew it as well! But she still couldn't help those tears. 

The only thing she could do was reciprocate his passion by hugging him even tighter while holding back her tears. She spent almost two weeks without him and she was certainly at her limit when she booked her flight without even thinking. She just felt like seeing him and here she was.

Yes, she was willful, but who could blame her? 

Just as Ying had thought, last week she was very enthusiastic about running around doing all kinds of things. But this week, she couldn't even bring herself to step outside the house. Even though being at home made her miss him even more, she still couldn't find anything to do. Because at home, she felt close to him.

"Sweets..." he called out while kissing the top of her head and caressing her back gently. "I missed you senselessly, terribly, and deeply."

"Ahem! Ahem!"

When someone cleared their throat, only then Darren realized that he had become the center of attention for every single person around him.