The sky has already turned dark when they reached Capital City. Once they landed, Li Qin Yao sent a quick text to her boyfriend and a promise to call him when she arrived at the hotel.
As the mother and daughter walked out of the arrival hall, Xiao Ye was already waiting for them. Li Qin Yao introduced her mother to Xiao Ye and after a brief exchange, Xiao Ye took them to the vehicle and drove to The Orchid.
Once Xiao Ye had handled their check-in procedure, he personally led them towards a suite. It was a two-bedroom suite with twenty-four hours butler at their service.
Seeing the atmosphere and decorating of the suite, Xu Yilan immediately turned to Xiao Ye. Zhang Yu Han's ȧssistant was standing near the wide-open door with a polite smile on his face.
"Are you sure that you did not give us the wrong room?" Xu Yilan asked. "There's just the two of us. Why did you give such a big room."
Xiao Ye smiled politely. "This is what the Director had ordered. He wanted both of you to have the best."
Xu Yilan was about to say something when her daughter put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Ma, it's fine," Li Qin Yao said.
Xu Yilan heaved a sigh. Anyway, since this was Zhang Yu Han's intention, she could only accept this. At least they did not have to worry about their lodgings for the time being. As Xu Yilan straightened up her thinking, she then walked over into the bedroom.
At this time, there was a knock on the door. A hotel attendant stood at the door, carrying a box. After handing over the box to Xiao Ye and whispering a few words, the attendant then left.
"Miss Li, this is a gift from Director Zhang," Xiao Ye said as he handed over the box.
Li Qin Yao looked at the familiar pastel pink box and laughed. She did not have to peek inside the box to know that there were Chef Qin's pastries inside. "Thank you, Xiao Ye."
"No problem," Xiao Ye nodded. "Miss Li, if there's anything, you can always reach me via my private number. Director Zhang had reminded me to look after you and your mother during your stay in Capital City." After exchanging a few more words, Xiao Ye then leave.
Li Qin Yao opened the pastel pink box, picked up the strawberry cheesecake, took a bite, and heaved a satisfied sigh.
Although she too had strawberry cheesecake in her cafe's menu, Li Qin Yao thought that the difference was too great. Chef Qin's creation was more delicious and delicate. Even the presentation looks outstanding.
After she finished that one slice of cheesecake, Li Qin Yao went to her mother's room. Once she noticed that her mother was in the bathroom, Li Qin Yao went into the opposite bedroom and took out her phone. After a few seconds, an image of Zhang Yu Han appeared on the screen.
Seeing her boyfriend's face, Li Qin Yao's lips curved into a smile. However, that smile froze when she noticed the background. "You're still in the office."
Zhang Yu Han stiffened at her words. He recovered after a few seconds and smiled. "Hmm… I was afraid that I might still be on the road when your call comes in. I'll go back after this."
Zhang Yu Han had returned to the office after he sent both Li Qin Yao and her mother to the airport. Since he did not have a date with his girlfriend like he usually does, Zhang Yu Han did not look at the time and forgot that he still needed to return.
"Are you busy?"
Zhang Yu Han heaved a sigh and decided to confess. "Just a little bit. Grandfather asked me to help to look into that hotel in L City."
Li Qin Yao felt warmth spreading in her heart. This man was even busier than her but he still made his time to send both her and her mother to the airport.
Using the time for him to drive over to B City to see her, he could deal with his work and maybe concentrate on another matter. Li Qin Yao knew that time is precious especially for someone like her and Zhang Yu Han.
Even if they could always arrange to meet on certain days and hang out with each other through video calls like they did now, Li Qin Yao thought that it was not the same. She liked spending time with him even if all they did was to tell each other about their day.
Moreover, she liked hearing his voice when he was so close to her.
Zhang Yu Han's voice in person sounded better than on the phone.
As the thought crossed her mind, Li Qin Yao reached her hand to touch the face on the screen. "Zhang Yu Han, I miss you."
Zhang Yu Han, who was in the middle of telling her about the problem they encountered to purchase that hotel in L City suddenly paused. He looked back at the screen and smiled. "I miss you too."
Li Qin Yao let out a giggle. "Right. I received that box of pastries. Thank you."
"I know you liked them," Zhang Yu Han said. "That's why I asked Chef Qin to prepare them and had them deliver it to you once you arrived."
The two of them chatted a bit and Li Qin Yao briefed him about her plan tomorrow to visit Han Yue Xiu and her mother. Once they hung out, Li Qin Yao walked out of the room and saw her mother watching some news on the television.
"I thought you went to bed early," Li Qin Yao said.
"I couldn't sleep," Xu Yilan said. She turned to her daughter and patted the seat next to her.
Li Qin Yao walked over and sat beside her mother. Then, she rested her head on her mother's ŀȧps and turned to look at the television. "Mom, are you sure you did not want to attend Li Ming Han's wedding? Grandmother and grandfather would be happy to see you again, you know?"
Xu Yilan patted her daughter on her hair and smiled. "It's fine. If I wanted to meet your grandparents I will arrange for another day. Even if I come to that wedding, your grandparents would be too busy greeting their guests."
Li Qin Yao sighed knowing that her mother was not ready to meet her grandparents yet.
"But Yao Yao," Xu Yilan hesitated. "Since I'm going to stay here for a while, I was hoping that you would accompany me somewhere."
Li Qin Yao turned to her mother and asked, "Where do you want to go?"
"To visit your father and brother."