C19 It Wasn't Him

Upon arriving at the office, Ho Li gave Tang Xin a two-word directive: "Pick vegetables."

Tang Xin was taken aback, her jaw nearly hitting the floor. Ho Li had managed to make the task of selecting vegetables sound so authoritative. Did he see her as his own mother?

Yet, Ho Li's commands were like royal decrees; she couldn't possibly ignore them. And so, her job description expanded to include picking out vegetables for Ho Li and finishing off whatever he left on his plate.

Meanwhile, Tang Ning hadn't seen Ho Li in quite some time.

Since Tang Xin had vanished, Ho Li had stopped seeking Tang Ning out. She had even feigned a heart condition in hopes of garnering his attention, but Ho Li had flatly refused her. His perpetual excuse was a heavy workload with no spare time.

But that was fine. If Ho Li lacked the time, Tang Ning had plenty. If Ho Li couldn't make time to see her, she would make time to see him.

The relationship between Tang Ning and Ho Li was an open secret. They were deeply infatuated, and though women came and went in Ho Li's life, Tang Ning remained a constant. Having once saved Ho Li, she held a special and irreplaceable place in his eyes.

Tang Ning dressed with care, donning a pale pink dress that complemented her fair complexion, making her appear even more delicate. The dress, with its cinched waist, accentuated her slender figure. She applied a soft, peach blossom makeup that enhanced her vulnerable charm.

Tang Ning arrived unannounced, hoping to surprise Ho Li.

Lee Qing responded with a smile, though internally he was skeptical. Would Tang Ning's idea of a surprise truly delight Ho Li? Based on what he knew of the president, he suspected Ho Li would find it childish.

Hearing the door open, Ho Li assumed it was Tang Xin returning. He didn't bother to glance up at Tang Ning, which puzzled her. She had intentionally made a loud entrance—had Ho Li been too engrossed in his work to notice?

It wasn't until she approached and reached for his documents that Ho Li caught her wrist, pulling Tang Ning instinctively into his embrace.

He had thought Tang Xin was finally making progress, finally learning how to charm him. However, when he realized it was Tang Ning shyly looking up at him, his expression shifted to one of detachment. His voice was chilly and flat, "Why did you come without saying hello?"

Tang Ning's voice carried a hint of complaint laced with a touch of coquetry, "Mr. Li said he would come to see me, but I waited and waited, and he never showed up. I couldn't wait any longer, so I had to come see Mr. Li myself. Does Mr. Li find me bothersome?"

Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, threatening to spill over.

Ho Li found Tang Ning's tactics exasperating, yet he could only furrow his brow and reassure her with a simple, "No."

Having interacted with Ho Li for so long, Tang Ning recognized this as the greatest concession he was likely to make. Her face lit up with a smile as she gently snuggled against him, "Didn't Mr. Li mention how tasty my desserts are? I made some especially for you this time. Please, try one."

While speaking, Tang Ning carefully selected a piece of pastry from the box and held it to Ho Li's lips.

Ho Li was not fond of sweets; his previous praise for Tang Ning's desserts had been nothing more than polite flattery. He hadn't expected her to take it to heart. Tang Ning had once saved his life, and over the years, she had been unwaveringly devoted to him. Faced with the hopeful look in her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He opened his mouth and accepted the sweet offering.

"Mr. Li, how is it? Do you like it?" she asked eagerly.

Ho Li nodded, feeling the need to wash down the sweetness with water, only to find his cup empty. Glancing toward the door, he noticed Tang Xin was still absent, prompting a frown to crease his brow.