139: Chapter 139 Shy Ye Xueying

"Brother Hao, why don't you go see Bureau Chief Sun Tao? Give him some gifts..."

Deputy Director Wang Hao shook his head.

"That man, Bureau Chief Sun Tao, doesn't fall for that. Besides, he listens to Secretary General Cao Yun."

Wang Feng bit her lip.

"Then what should we do?"

Deputy Director Wang Hao didn't speak, his fingers tapping lightly on her back, one by one, as if calculating something.

Wang Feng looked at him, feeling increasingly anxious, but she didn't dare to urge him again.

She slowly lowered her head, burying her face in his chest, her fingers wandering over his body.

Deputy Director Wang Hao's hand slid from her back to her waist, giving it a light squeeze.

Wang Feng looked up at him.

Deputy Director Wang Hao didn't speak, just glanced at her.

Wang Feng understood and slowly lowered herself down.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper, and the lights in the room were dim and ambiguous.

The two were entangled together, neither speaking.

There was only the sound of heavy breathing and the rustling of the sheets.

...

A black Passat stopped in front of a restaurant.

The entrance wasn't large, but the decor was very refined.

The entrance was packed with cars, one right next to another.

The warm yellow light shining from inside cast shadows against the glass windows.

Brother Li parked the car steadily without turning off the engine.

"You two go ahead. I'll wait in the car."

Ye Xueying nodded and pushed open the car door to get out.

Wang Yang followed behind her and closed the door.

The evening breeze carried a chill, blowing her hair so that it fluttered lightly.

She reached out to gather it and tucked it behind her ear, her fingers trembling slightly, unsure if it was from the cold or something else.

The two walked toward the entrance side by side, their pace neither fast nor slow.

Ye Xueying walked beside him, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Her heart was still racing; it hadn't slowed down since they left the hospital.

Wang Yang had his hands in his coat pockets, his pace steady, his gaze fixed on the glass door ahead.

The moment they pushed the door open, the warmth, wrapped in the aroma of food, rushed to meet them.

The hall was brightly lit and bustling with noise; almost every table was full.

There were men and women, mostly couples over thirty, dressed appropriately, talking and laughing in low voices.

The dishes on the tables were exquisite, the drinks weren't cheap; one look and it was clear that the prices here were not low.

There were very few young people; occasionally a pair or two, also fashionably dressed, with composed manners.

As soon as Ye Xueying entered the door, a middle-aged woman at the front desk saw her, her eyes lighting up as she hurried over to greet her.

"Miss Ye? You're here! Why didn't you let us know in advance so I could save a table for you?"

Her tone was respectful, her smile perfectly balanced.

Ye Xueying smiled.

"Sister Chen, I've brought a friend to eat. Are there any private rooms available?"

Sister Chen glanced at Wang Yang, her gaze lingering on him for a second before she quickly retracted it.

"Yes, yes, yes. Please, upstairs."

She personally led the two upstairs, the wooden stairs creaking slightly as they stepped on them.

The corridor was carpeted, with a few ink paintings hanging on the walls; the lighting was dim, and it was so quiet it felt like a different world from downstairs.

Sister Chen pushed open a door and stepped aside.

"This is our best private room. Miss Ye, does this work for you?"

The private room wasn't large, but it was exquisite.

A round table, a few chairs, and a pot of orchids by the window were in full bloom.

The curtains were dark and drawn halfway; the sky outside had already darkened.

The city lights were coming on, like scattered stars.

Ye Xueying nodded.

"This is fine. Thank you, Sister Chen."

Sister Chen smiled, backed out, and closed the door.

The room went quiet, leaving only the two of them.

Ye Xueying stood by the table, her fingers tracing lightly over the back of a chair, not knowing where to sit.

Today, she was wearing a cream-white turtleneck sweater, a slim-fit style that clung tightly to her body.

The texture of the sweater was very soft, yet it fit well, outlining her slender waist and the soft curves of her chest.

Below, she wore a light gray wool mini skirt, the hem reaching above her knees.

It revealed a section of fair calf, wrapped in thin black stockings.

On her feet were a pair of black ankle boots; the heels weren't high, but they made her look taller and more poised.

She had already taken off her coat and draped it over her arm, revealing the complete lines of her upper body.

Wang Yang pulled out a chair, sat down, and tilted his chin.

"Sit."

Ye Xueying gave a hum of acknowledgment and sat down next to him—not opposite, but next to him.

The distance between them was very close, close enough that she could smell him.

A faint, fresh scent of laundry detergent mixed with a hint of tobacco.

The neckline of her sweater wasn't low.

But when she sat down, her body leaned forward slightly, creating a shallow gap at the collar.

From Wang Yang's angle, he could just see that small patch of fair skin and the soft curves wrapped beneath the sweater.

Her heart beat a few beats faster, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.

The door was knocked twice, and a Waitress walked in carrying a teapot.

She was in her early twenties, very pretty, and wearing the restaurant's uniform.

It had a blue and white porcelain pattern and a cinched waist design that accentuated her figure well.

She poured tea for both of them, her movements light and steady, with a perfectly balanced smile on her lips.

"Sir, Miss, here is the menu. Please take a look."

She placed the menu on the table, took a step back, and stood to the side waiting.

Wang Yang pushed the menu in front of Ye Xueying.

"You order. I don't know what's good here."

Ye Xueying took the menu and opened it.

Looking through the dish names one by one, her eyes scanned the pages while her fingers tapped lightly on the menu.

"Brother Yang, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

Wang Yang shook his head.

"No. Just order whatever you like."

Ye Xueying nodded and recited a few dishes, her voice not loud, but very clear.

"Braised pork belly, steamed mandarin fish, salt and pepper shrimp, dry-fried green beans, and a bowl of matsutake chicken soup."

The Waitress noted them down one by one, took the menu, and exited the private room.

The door closed.

The room went quiet again.

Ye Xueying picked up her teacup and took a sip, but it was hot, and she shrank her tongue back.

Wang Yang saw it and smiled.

"Drink slowly. It's hot."

Ye Xueying blushed, lowering her head, her fingers gently rubbing against the teacup.

The two just sat like that, neither speaking.

The air was filled with an indescribable scent.

It wasn't the aroma of food, but that faint, almost imperceptible ambiguity that exists when two people are alone.

After a while, Ye Xueying looked up and glanced at him.

"Brother Yang."

"Hm?"

Ye Xueying bit her lip.

"Have you... ever been in a relationship?"

Wang Yang leaned back in his chair, a smile on his lips.

"I have."

Ye Xueying's fingers paused.

"You broke up?"

Wang Yang nodded.

"Broke up."

Ye Xueying didn't ask why, but asked again.

"Then do you have someone you like?"

Wang Yang looked at her, the smile on his lips deepening slightly.

"I do. I'm this old, it wouldn't be normal if I didn't have someone I like, right?"

After he finished speaking, he added,

"I'm old."

Ye Xueying grew anxious, her voice rising a little.

"You're not old! You're not old at all! Brother Yang, you're not old at all!"

Wang Yang looked at her anxious expression and smiled.

"Really? In your eyes, am I really not old?"