119: Chapter 119 Municipal Government Compound

Ye Xueying's hand shrank back, then stopped.

The distance between the two of them suddenly closed.

He leaned sideways, almost half-lying in front of her.

Her breath brushed against his ear, warm and carrying a faint sweetness.

His breath also brushed against her face, and she could smell the scent on him—crisp and clear.

Like the air on a winter morning, mixed with a faint hint of tobacco; it smelled very pleasant.

Ye Xueying's heart was beating so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

She didn't dare to move, even softening her breathing.

Her gaze fell on Wang Yang's hands; his fingers were slender and his knuckles distinct.

He straightened the seatbelt from the buckle, gave it a gentle pull, and it slid out smoothly.

His fingers gripped the buckle and inserted it beside her.

The buckle was at her waist, and his arm almost wrapped around her.

Through her thin sweater, she could feel the warmth of his arm.

With a click, the seatbelt was buckled.

Wang Yang's hand did not immediately pull back.

He lowered his head to glance at her.

Ye Xueying's face was so red it felt like it was burning, and her eyelashes trembled violently.

Her lips were slightly pursed, her lower lip bitten until it turned pale.

Her earlobes were as red as if stained with rouge, almost transparent under the light.

Her eyes were cast down, not daring to look at him, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes until her knuckles turned white.

Wang Yang withdrew his hand and sat back in the driver's seat.

It was quiet in the car for a few seconds.

He started the car, the low roar of the engine breaking the silence.

"Where is your home?"

Ye Xueying looked up, her voice as light as a feather.

"The Municipal Government compound."

Wang Yang nodded, shifted gears, and the car slowly drove out of the residential complex.

The streetlights outside swept past the car window one by one, the orange light falling on her face, flickering on and off.

Ye Xueying leaned against the seat, holding the bag, looking out the window.

Her heartbeat had not yet calmed down, and her fingers were still clutching the hem of her clothes tightly.

She stole a glance at Wang Yang; he was focused on the road ahead.

His side profile was very handsome, with a straight bridge of the nose.

His lips were slightly pursed, his jawline tense in a sharp arc.

She quickly averted her gaze and looked out the window.

The car was very quiet, with only the sound of the heater and the rustle of tires rolling over the road.

Ye Xueying's fingers gently rubbed against the bag.

The ribs and shrimp in the food container had already cooled, but the bag was still warm, heated by the car's heater.

She lowered her head, looking at her fingers; her nails were neatly trimmed.

Coated with a thin layer of transparent polish, they glimmered faintly under the light of the streetlamps.

Wang Yang spoke up.

"Xueying."

"Hmm?"

Ye Xueying looked up.

Wang Yang looked at the road ahead.

"Does Elder Ye have any dietary restrictions?"

Ye Xueying thought for a moment.

"The doctor said he shouldn't eat anything too greasy or spicy. Other than that, there's nothing much. Grandpa used to love braised pork, but now we don't dare give it to him."

Wang Yang nodded.

"Alright, I understand."

Ye Xueying looked at him.

"Brother Wang, your friend... can they really help?"

Wang Yang smiled.

"As I said, I can't guarantee anything. But there's no harm in trying."

Ye Xueying murmured an acknowledgment and lowered her head again.

Her fingers drew circles on the bag, round and round, slowly.

She thought of Grandpa lying on the bed, skeletal and frail, and remembered how his whole body would shake when he coughed.

Her eyes grew hot again, and she quickly blinked, suppressing that sour, aching feeling.

...

The car drove for nearly forty minutes before entering the main road in the east of the city.

The high-rise buildings on both sides of the road gradually thinned out, replaced by rows of plane trees.

The trunks were thick, the branches bare, casting crisscrossing shadows under the streetlights.

A large gate appeared ahead, with gray concrete pillars and signs with black characters on a white background hanging on both sides.

Two armed police officers stood at the entrance, standing straight, their gazes like torches.

Wang Yang slowed the car down.

Ye Xueying rolled down the window and nodded to the armed police at the gate.

When the armed police saw her, they saluted, and the barrier lifted.

The car slowly drove in.

Wang Yang gripped the steering wheel, his gaze sweeping over the window.

The compound was very quiet; several small buildings were hidden behind the trees, the dim yellow streetlights shining on the bluestone road, casting a faint glow.

This was the Municipal Government compound of Yuntian City, where the most powerful group of people in this city lived.

In both his past and present life, this was his first time coming to such a place.

Ye Xueying pointed to a small building ahead.

"Just park there."

Wang Yang parked the car downstairs.

The yard was not large; it was a three-story building with gray walls and red tiles, hidden behind several osmanthus trees.

There was a small garden in front of the building, planted with a few wintersweet shrubs. A few flowers had bloomed, bright yellow, glowing faintly under the streetlights.

Ye Xueying unbuckled her seatbelt and held the bag, but she didn't get out of the car immediately.

She sat in her seat, head lowered, her fingers gently rubbing against the bag.

"Brother Wang."

"Hmm?"

Ye Xueying bit her lip.

"Thank you for today. For bringing me back, and for my grandfather's matter..."

Wang Yang smiled.

"You're welcome. I'll go see Elder Ye tomorrow, hoping I can be of help."

Ye Xueying looked up at him.

Her eyes were bright, like two stars under the light of the streetlamp.

"Whether it works or not, I thank you."

Wang Yang looked at her, and an indescribable feeling suddenly welled up in his heart.

Her eyes were very clean, like mountain spring water, without any impurities.

Her voice was very light, like wind blowing across a lake. He smiled.

"Go back in, it's cold outside."

Ye Xueying murmured an acknowledgment, pushed open the car door, and got out holding the bag.

She stood by the car, bent down, and glanced into the car.

"Brother Wang, drive slowly on the way."

Wang Yang nodded.

"Alright. See you tomorrow."

Ye Xueying smiled and turned to walk into the building.

After a few steps, she looked back again.

The black X5M was still parked in the same spot, the car window rolled down, and Wang Yang waved at her.

She smiled and turned, quickly walking into the unit entrance.

Wang Yang watched her back disappear into the stairwell before starting the car and slowly driving out of the compound.

Ye Xueying stood downstairs, watching the black car drive out of the compound, its taillights getting further and further away in the night.

Finally turning into a red dot, disappearing at the street corner.

The night wind blew over, carrying the chill of the twelfth lunar month, making her hair drift gently.

She stood on the spot, fingers clutching the handle of the bag until her knuckles turned white, her heartbeat still not calmed.

Her face was still warm, and being blown by the wind, it felt even hotter.

Ye Xueying raised her hand and touched her earlobes; they were hot.

She remembered how Wang Yang looked when he helped her buckle her seatbelt in the car just now.

He leaned over, his arm almost wrapping around her.

His breath brushed against her ear, warm and carrying a crisp, clean scent.

Then she remembered the temperature when his fingers touched hers.

Cool and soft, yet it made her whole body burn.

Ye Xueying stood on the spot, the wind making the collar of her sweater sway gently.

The corners of her mouth slowly curled up, and no matter how she tried to suppress it, she couldn't; she turned and walked into the building.

...

On the other side.

The black X5M drove out of the Municipal Government compound and merged into the night traffic.

Wang Yang had one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the gear lever, a faint smile on his lips.