Qin Shu already knew what Han Pei was going to do next.
So she didn't reject him.
Didn't refuse.
And she only understood why… years later.
Han Pei reached up.
Then, without warning, lifted her straight into the air.
Qin Shu froze for half a second before instinct took over.
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
The office was huge. Too quiet.
So quiet that you could hear breathing.
And a heartbeat.
Only… she couldn't tell whose it was.
Han Pei's arms were firm around her waist—steady, effortless. He smelled clean. Cool. Like winter air.
And the moment she realized this was the first time a man had ever held her like this…
Her whole body went tense.
She shifted slightly.
Just a little.
Han Pei paused.
"…Don't move around too much when you're being held by a man," he said, voice low. "Or something bad will happen."
Qin Shu went completely still.
Even the tips of her ears turned red.
She forced herself to speak.
"What book do you want?"
Han Pei glanced toward the top shelf like he'd forgotten why they were even here.
"Take whatever you like."
He carried her over to the bookshelf like she weighed nothing.
Qin Shu pretended to scan the titles, then grabbed an English book on acquisitions.
Han Pei finally put her down.
Only then did she realize her fist was still clenched.
His cufflinks.
She'd been holding them so tightly her palm was damp.
Han Pei took them from her hand, calmly fastening them back onto his sleeves.
Then he looked at her.
"Don't force yourself to forget things," he said.
Qin Shu's breath caught.
He continued, like he wasn't saying something that could crack her open.
"Let things happen naturally. If you can't forget it, then don't."
He fastened the other cufflink.
"When you get to my age," he added, "you'll understand how precious it is… to have a pure relationship."
Qin Shu stared at him.
For a second, she didn't know what to do with the tightness in her chest.
Han Pei tilted his chin toward the sofa.
"Have coffee. Read your book."
Then he turned back to work like none of it mattered.
Like he hadn't just held her up in his arms and told her not to fight her feelings.
Qin Shu sat there for a long time.
Staring at his side profile.
Her mind was blank.
Then suddenly full.
Full of one thing only.
Han Pei holding her.
Like she belonged there.
Later, Han Pei left for a short meeting.
When he returned, Qin Shu had finished several problems and was looking down at her phone.
"Done?" he asked.
She looked up.
Hm."
Han Pei was holding a plastic bag full of colorful materials.
"Are you okay now?" he asked.
Qin Shu nodded quickly. "I'm fine. I solved everything."
He handed her the bag.
"If you have nothing else to do, make Christmas cards."
"Christmas cards?" Qin Shu blinked.
Han Pei explained casually that one of the secretaries had brought materials for her daughter's kindergarten—some parent-child craft assignment.
He'd asked for a copy.
Qin Shu stared at him, stunned.
"Your secretaries can do this during work hours?"
Han Pei didn't even hesitate.
"I allow it."
Qin Shu narrowed her eyes. "Anything is acceptable?"
He looked at her.
"Except scrolling on my phone and gossiping."
Qin Shu: "…"
She muttered, "That's fair. Time saved can be used to do something meaningful."
Han Pei hummed.
Then, like he'd waited for the perfect moment, he said:
"Don't use your phone anymore. Your eyesight is already bad."
Qin Shu stared at him.
So after all that…
He just wanted to lecture her about screen time?
"…I'll try," she said.
And then, because she had nothing else to do, she started making cards.
Two of them.
One was neat.
The other was prettier than it had any right to be.
At 7:30 p.m., Han Pei finally sat down beside her.
"Not bad," he said.
Qin Shu glanced at the time, startled.
"Didn't you say you had a social engagement today? Did I make you late?"
Han Pei shook his head.
"It started earlier. Around noon."
"So… Yan Chen?" she asked.
He nodded.
"There was another person too. But he went back first."
Qin Shu hesitated, then lifted the card.
"Can I take it back? I kind of like it."
Han Pei reached out.
"I'll keep it for you."
Qin Shu didn't think much of it.
Not then.
After leaving the company, Han Pei took her out for food.
Then she asked, casually, "Are we running tonight?"
Han Pei answered immediately.
"I'm not running anymore."
Qin Shu frowned. "You still have work?"
"No." He opened the back door for her. "I'll just drive you around. I have a gym at home."
She stared at him.
"You're going to take me on a date by driving around aimlessly?"
Han Pei's eyes flicked toward her.
"I'll drive," he said. "You sing for me."
Qin Shu blinked.
Then she laughed.
Singing was her strong point.
"What do you want to hear?"
Han Pei didn't even pause.
"The piece I played that night."
She sang.
Once.
Then twice.
Then again.
Han Pei even found her piano accompaniment.
By the time she finished her fifth round, Qin Shu felt like she'd performed a full concert.
And she'd emptied every bottle of soda water in his car.
When they reached the residential area, Han Pei stopped in front of a pharmacy.
"Does your throat hurt?"
Qin Shu waved him off. "No need. I'm used to it."
Han Pei got out anyway.
Qin Shu leaned against the car window, watching him stand in line.
Tall. Calm. Broad shoulders.
Like he belonged in a movie.
She quietly took out her phone.
Adjusted the angle.
Took a few photos.
Then posted a status update visible only to herself:
Today, I am grateful and thankful.
Attached: a photo of Han Pei.
Han Pei returned with four boxes of throat lozenges.
He handed her two.
"Keep these in the car."
Qin Shu opened one and asked politely, "Do you want one?"
Han Pei fastened his seatbelt.
Then said, completely casually:
"Put one in my mouth."
Qin Shu: "…"
Her fingers trembled as she placed it between his lips.
Her cool fingertips brushed his warm mouth.
It was only a second.
But it felt like electricity.
When they arrived at her building, Han Pei got out first.
Qin Shu got out quickly too, the cold wind hitting her face.
Her cheeks were burning.
Han Pei locked the car.
He was clearly going upstairs with her.
Qin Shu didn't refuse.
The elevator ride was quiet.
Too quiet.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Han Pei stood behind her, hands in his pockets, eyes lowered like he was thinking.
Or restraining himself.
When they reached her door, Han Pei stopped.
"Go to sleep early," he said. "I'll pick you up tomorrow night."
Qin Shu nodded.
It was too late to invite him in.
She told him to drive carefully.
Han Pei lifted his chin slightly.
"Go in."
Qin Shu hummed, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
Only one foot.
Then—
"Qiqi."
She turned around.
And Han Pei was right there.
His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into him like it was instinct.
Qin Shu's heart jumped into her throat.
His breath surrounded her.
Her mind went blank.
She looked up.
His lips were less than five centimeters from her eyes.
He stopped.
Deliberately.
Giving her time.
Giving her the chance to refuse.
Qin Shu lowered her gaze.
She didn't move.
Han Pei kissed her eyes.
Soft.
Gentle.
Like he was afraid of hurting her.
Qin Shu gripped his coat collar tightly.
Han Pei kissed her other eye.
Then brushed his cheek against hers.
His voice was deep by her ear.
"Goodnight."
Qin Shu stood frozen in her doorway long after he left.
And she didn't know what scared her more—
That he kissed her…
Or that she wanted him to do it again.