After taking a cold bath, Tian Ruyi wore the same clothes she wore last night. She found it folded neatly on the side of her bed with a small piece of paper on top. She picked up the note and realized that Si Hongqi must have entered the room while she was taking a shower.
[I got them laundered last night] was written on the note.
Well, it could be uncomfortable on her part to wear clothes that reeked of alcohol and sweat. She wore her clothes and dried her hair after doing so. She picked her sling bag from the top of the drawer and headed out.
Just like her, Si Hongqi was already dressed up in his casual clothes- a blue V-neck sweater, and under it was a white button-up shirt. He looked neat and proper as usual. He looked at her and flashed her a lukewarm smile, acting as if there was no sexual tension between them earlier.
Tian Ruyi took a deep breath to calm herself. She should act as if she wasn't affected by him as well.
"I'll drop you to your place," Si Hongqi offered.
"You don't have to," she declined.
"I insist." He walked ahead of her and opened the door for her.
Tian Ruyi couldn't help but raise a brow. She was not blind. She was quick to notice that something changed in him. Was he trusting her now?
She couldn't decline him especially when he persisted in dropping her at her place. They walked towards the elevator. Si Hongqi was the one who pressed the going down button. While waiting, they were both silent. They had nothing to say to each other and Tian Ruyi would rather keep her mouth shut than make things more awkward for them.
Ding! The sound of the elevator signaled its arrival.
As the door slid open, both Si Hongqi and Tian Ruyi saw a couple inside, eating each other's faces.
It was still so early, how could they be so shameless?! Tian Ruyi thought as her face went red upon seeing the two in front of her.
Si Hongqi had to clear his throat just to gain their attention.
The woman quickly pushed her lover away and blushed in embarrassment when she realized that they were caught. On the other hand, the man only chuckled shyly before he dragged his lover out of the elevator car.
Si Hongqi was the first to step into the elevator before Tian Ruyi followed and stood beside him. She watched him press a button before the elevator descended.
Tian Ruyi's skin pricked up as she became aware of the man beside her. He was such a compelling force in such a small enclosure, emitting tangible energy and sexual glamour that made her shift restlessly on her feet. She was reminded of what happened earlier, how close his face was and how hot his breath was against her face, how he made her feel the want to kiss him. She felt an unexplainable attraction toward him once more, as if he was making a quiet demand that she was compelled to fulfill. She had never felt this way towards anyone.
Ding! The elevator stopped on the fifth floor and when the door slid open, a group of three friends was seen. They got on, chatting happily with each other. Tian Ruyi had to step back to make room for them. She retreated into the corner until she realized that she was suddenly standing closer to Si Hongqi.
The group of three left the cart when the elevator reached the lobby. Once again, Tian Ruyi was left with Si Hongqi who was still standing close to her even if there was enough space for him to move to.
Was he torturing her?!
Oh how she wished she could push him away. She impatiently waited for them to reach the basement parking lot. She inwardly sighed in relief the moment they reached the floor. As the door slid open, she quickly took the first step to get out but as she did, she suddenly felt a palm firmly resting on her tiny back. The sensation of his touch on such a sensitive spot sent shivers down her spine.
Si Hongqi walked out beside her, escorting her towards where his car was located.
Did he know the effect he was giving her? She eyed him from the side, trying to read him but his face gave nothing. His hand fell, leaving her strangely destitute when they stood in front of his black Audi car.
He took out his car keys, pressing the small remote that hung together with the keys. He walked and opened the door for her. "Come."
She pressed her lips into a thin line as she stared at him. He was a two-faced man! Was he intentionally teasing her? He probably knew what he was doing to her!
Tian Ruyi stomped her way towards him. She got in the car without saying a word. There was a possibility that she could be wrong so if she tried to ask him, she might end up embarrassing herself.
He closed the door on her side before he walked around the car and got in, sitting at the driver's seat. Si Hongqi eyed her for a second before he leaned close to her side, startling her.
"W-what are you doing?" Her voice cracked as she stared into his breathtaking face. She had to hold back her breath again upon having him close to her.
He wore another one of his faint smiles. A strange glint appeared in his eyes as he asked, "what do you think I'm doing?"
Tian Ruyi was about to open her mouth to answer him but before words could even leave her lips, he reached out to her side and put on her seatbelt. She flushed in embarrassment upon seeing what he did.
Ah… of course, he was aiming for the seatbelt. She thought. She closed her eyes and finally began breathing again
Just then, she felt his warm breath, blowing in her ear.
"E-eek!" She snapped her eyes open to look at him in shock. She began panicking inside. This time, she was so sure that he knew what he was doing to her. "W-what the?!?"
"Hm… are your ears weak?" His words reverberated, a sensual beat pouring through her.
He softly blew in her ear once more.
"S-Si Hongqi, stop!" This time, she covered her red ears, protecting them from him. He was right, her ears were one of her sensitive spots. Her ears weren't the only ones that were red, her whole face was in its deepest shade of red!
Si Hongqi pulled away a bit to see her adorable reaction. She was cute which only made him want to tease her further but he had to stop right there. The side of his lips curled up, flashing her a smirk that made her heart leap. He finally leaned back to his seat before he put on his seatbelt as well.
Poor Tian Ruyi. She clenched her legs together as she tried her best to compose herself. She wanted to complain or maybe beat the shit out of him! Was this his revenge for forcing him to drink those alcoholic beverages last night?!
"Tell me the address of your place," Si Hongqi said. He was rather calm unlike the restless woman on the shotgun seat. He began to drive out of the basement parking management.
She was hesitant at first since she really wanted to complain of him being such a bully but as she was about to give him a piece of her mind, her phone began ringing. Wondering who it might be, she checked the caller ID on her phone's screen and saw that the person calling her was Lu Mengjie.
Tian Ruyi eyed Si Hongqi who was driving the car before she finally answered the call and pressed the earpiece against her ear. "Hello?"
"Yiyi, are you busy?" Lu Mengjie's tired voice was heard on the other line.
Hearing the tone of her voice, Tian Ruyi suddenly became worried. "No, I'm not. What's wrong, Mengmeng?"
Si Hongqi's hearing sense seemed to be heightened the moment he heard the name of the person she was talking with on the other side. He only glanced at Tian Ruyi for a second before he cast his eyes back on the road.
"Are you alright?" She continued to ask.
"I'm fine… It's just, I want to discuss what you said about Si Hongqi-gege and Bai Zichen. I'll message Sisi after this."
"You don't have to. I'm with him." Tian Ruyi didn't have anything to hide from her so she went straight to confessing it all at once.
"You're with him?"
Tian Ruyi could already hear the shock from Lu Mengjie's side.
"Why are you with him?" The other woman asked curiously from her side.
"It's uh… we had a drinking session last night and…" she paused and eyed Si Hongqi to check his reaction when she continued, "I ended up sleeping in his place."