Chapter 434 Truly Alone (2)

Li Xiran had finished checking himself into the room assigned to him and decided to take a walk to clear his mind. He supposed that his brother hadn't returned yet and he wasn't inclined to find him in such a big place anyway. If Li Xingtian truly needed his help, he could just give him a ring.

After meeting Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen today and signing the papers they needed, Li Xiran felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulder. He knew that he cannot lower his guard yet and needed to work harder, now that he already received enough resources to keep their ongoing projects going and pay off the failed ones.Rêạd new chapters at novelhall.com

He walked along the beach, his head hung low as the sea water lapped at his bare feet. He took a sigh of relief and stopped to turn his attention to the sea, his arms stretched out to the sides. Li Xiran thought that he hadn't felt at peace like this in a long time. If the problem at the company continued, he had no doubt that his midnight hair would turn into silvery ones in no time.

Unexpectedly, his eyes caught sight of a familiar woman seated on the sand, looking far into the horizon. Xi Qian looked so alone and unapproachable this time, which caught Li Xiran off guard. It made him somewhat inexplicably sad seeing her like this.

Was something troubling her? He wondered.

For the past two weeks, he noticed that something changed about her that even his father once mentioned how worried he was for Xi Qian's sudden silence.

He always knew that Xi Qian guarded her heart and had always kept everyone at an arm's length, except for Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng. He had witnessed how the three seemed to share a close relationship when they were together and he was a little envious that Xi Qian looked comfortable being in their presence and could lower her guards with them.

Li Xiran stared wordlessly at Xi Qian. He couldn't help but appreciate her features. A few tendrils managed to escape from her casual bun, swaying with the breeze. The afternoon sun lit the side of her face, but it only made her expression dimmer and lonelier. He could swear a tear rolled down her cheeks, but Xi Qian turned her head the opposite way to wipe it dry.

Xi Qian was definitely far from the women he usually dated, but that didn't mean he wasn't attracted to her. Truth to be told, he had realized that he had a secret crush on her recently and it was becoming harder being in her presence, trying not to show his interest in her.

He knew that it was inappropriate, given that she was the one who was tending to his father's medical needs, making sure that he wouldn't suffer another heart attack, given how delicate his condition was.

"Am I really that obvious?" She laughed awkwardly.

Li Xiran shrugged.

"If Dad and I noticed, then your friends surely would have noticed it already." He answered.

Xi Qian looked back at the sea, hesitating to say anything to him. She could feel his gaze remaining on her and she was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Is there something wrong with my face? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.

"Just thinking."

"About?"

"You." Li Xiran didn't bat an eyelid as he answered her. "I thought you looked really..." He stopped, considering what he should say, fearing that it might upset her further.

"Like what?" Xi Qian probed with curiosity.

"Alone." He blurted out, earning a laugh from her.

"But I was really by myself, Mr. Li."

"No. It's not like that. It's like you're always alone, no matter who you're with or where you are."