Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 18
by Little PandaSoftness
People should stick to their own duties.
Wei Hui rarely worked overtime, but after Luo Zhouping returned to the country, overtime became a regular thing for her, especially with the unresolved plans for the abandoned building project (literal: rotten-tail building) and both sides at a standstill, she couldn’t leave the company.
After 8:30, Pei Tian knocked on the office door and said, “Third Miss, it’s time to get off work.”
Wei Hui looked up from her documents, glanced at the time on her watch, and after considering for a few seconds, closed the files: “Prepare the car.”
Pei Tian went downstairs first, drove the car to the company entrance, and only after Wei Hui got in did he ask: “Third Miss, the new chef hasn’t arrived yet, would you like me to arrange dinner for you?”
She had declined earlier at the company because she really had no time to eat, so Pei Tian had held back from asking. Now that work was over, he could arrange it on the way.
Wei Hui was looking down at data on her tablet, and upon hearing this, she glanced at the back of his head and replied: “No need.”
It was just dinner, there should be frozen food at home. She wasn’t very hungry anyway, though she wondered if that child would be okay with it.
Shiyi finished feeding the dog at 5:30 and got home right at 6:00. Based on her shallow understanding of Wei Hui these past few days, this should have been time to get off work, but since the chef was dismissed in the morning and Wei Hui said the new one wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow, she went to the kitchen to make a few simple dishes, all matching Wei Hui’s taste – very light and plain.
After preparing the food, she sat on the sofa waiting for Wei Hui. 7 o’clock passed, no one at the door. 8 o’clock came, still no one. Shiyi held her breath and gripped her phone tightly, wanting to ask when she’d be home, but thinking she had no right to ask such a question, she dismissed the thought and continued sitting on the sofa with her knees hugged to her chest, waiting.
Just after 9, there was movement at the door. Shiyi immediately got up from the sofa, looked outside, and sure enough, saw Wei Hui had returned.
After entering, Wei Hui took off her light-colored trench coat, revealing a red form-fitting long dress underneath. The vibrant color made her skin appear even more jade-like white, exquisitely delicate. Shiyi stood beside her and asked, “Third Miss, have you eaten dinner?”
Wei Hui turned her head to look toward the dining room, seeing several neatly arranged plates, and asked, “Did you make these?”
Shiyi’s expression turned shy: “Yes, but they’ve gotten cold. I’ll heat them up, please have a seat for a moment.”
After speaking, she turned and walked to the dining room, picked up the dishes one by one and took them to the kitchen. Soon the sound of stir-frying could be heard. Wei Hui put down her briefcase and stood at the kitchen doorway, watching her busy figure – thin, petite, like a child who hadn’t grown up yet. She lowered her eyes and walked out to sit on the living room sofa.
Halfway through reading a report, a voice came from behind: “Third Miss, dinner is ready.”
Wei Hui closed the report and stood up, walking into the dining room. Shiyi had already pulled out her chair. After sitting down, she glanced at the dishes – the appearance looked similar to what she usually ate, but they were slightly saltier to taste. It wasn’t Shiyi’s fault; it was because she herself required such strict control over her diet.
The soup was good though, very light. Wei Hui only had a few bites of the dishes but drank two bowls of soup. Seeing her put down her chopsticks after barely eating, Shiyi couldn’t help but ask: “Does it not suit your taste?”
“I can make something else…”
“No need,” Wei Hui said flatly. “I already ate at the company and I’m not very hungry. You go ahead and eat.”
Shiyi bit her lip: “Okay.”
After putting down her chopsticks, Wei Hui returned to the living room to review documents again. Several proposals had been received for the renovation of the abandoned building. Luo Zhouping advocated for renovation and continuing with residential buildings (literal: commodity housing), some shareholders suggested commercial buildings, and others proposed building an amusement park. Wei Hui massaged her temples while holding the proposals, her expression serious.
Luo Zhouping’s suggestion was actually what she had thought of before, but she wasn’t thinking of renovation – rather, completely demolishing and rebuilding residential buildings. Across the street was a commercial district, so building residential properties in this area made perfect sense. In four or five years, by the time the commercial street officially opened, their residential buildings would be nearly complete. But the current problem was that if she agreed to build residential buildings, Luo Zhouping would definitely want to get involved using his connections, and might even try to fish in muddy waters (meaning: take advantage of the situation). She already had many major projects besides this one, and with her health issues, it was difficult to keep track of everything. So – Wei Hui drew a big X on the residential building proposal. The remaining proposals weren’t worth considering.
Wei Hui tossed her pen onto the tea table. It rolled a few times and fell to the floor. Just as she was about to get up to retrieve it, she saw Shiyi bend down to pick it up and respectfully hand it to her: “Third Miss, your pen.”
She casually took it and placed it on the documents. Beside her, Shiyi’s delicate brows furrowed at her action.
In the spacious living room, both sat properly, neither being the type to initiate conversation, so the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Just as Shiyi was thinking about finding an excuse to leave, Wei Hui called out: “Shiyi.”
She looked up at Wei Hui, her eyes bright and sparkling: “Does Third Miss need something?”
After a few seconds of silence, Wei Hui asked her: “If you were given a piece of land and had to choose, would you build houses or an amusement park?”
Hearing this question, Shiyi tilted her head slightly, dumbfounded.
Wei Hui glanced at her expression and saw her stunned, frozen state. The way she tilted her head was like some kind of animal, obedient and cute. Her lips curved in a subtle smile: “What’s wrong?”
Shiyi came back to her senses: “No- nothing? What did you just ask?”
Wei Hui lowered her eyes and repeated the question, finding it amusing even as she asked. She heard Shiyi’s shy answer: “I want to build an amusement park.”
Hearing the answer, her smile deepened. An amusement park – truly fitting for a child.
Child?
Wei Hui lowered her eyes, her expression becoming slightly stern. She took out the amusement park proposal again, her profile tense and her gaze sharp, seemingly deep in thought. Shiyi didn’t dare disturb her, only sneaking glances at her occasionally.
In the quiet living room, only the rustling sound of her pen moving across paper could be heard, carrying a strangely calming effect. Shiyi leaned against the sofa back, initially stealing glances at Wei Hui, but seeing her still intently focused on the papers before her, she grew bolder in her observation.
Deep and distinct features, a clean white forehead, full and slightly sharp brow bones, a pair of beautiful eyes fixed on the documents before her, occasionally pressing her lips together, her jaw taut, with curves like a painting. As Shiyi watched, she somehow thought of the deal Wei Hui had mentioned, and quietly looked away.
Just past 10 o’clock, Wei Hui’s phone alarm went off – this was her self-imposed final bedtime. Looking at the half-finished draft, Wei Hui sighed and closed her papers. When she looked up, she saw Shiyi had fallen asleep on the sofa.
This child slept so properly, without any sprawling posture. Her head tilted to one side, body leaning against the sofa edge, breathing steady. Thinking of how she had tilted her head earlier when asked about the land choice, a rare smile appeared on Wei Hui’s cool face. She called out: “Shiyi.”
The sleeping person didn’t respond. Shiyi’s face nuzzled against the sofa cushion, then her lips curved into a content smile, seeming to be having a sweet dream. Wei Hui glanced around and saw her leg blanket on the chaise lounge nearby. Without hesitation, she took it and covered Shiyi with it. The light gray blanket completely enveloped her petite frame, leaving only her pretty face exposed. This child had been constantly tense since being brought here, but now asleep, she showed a relaxed expression, without her usual timidity and caution.
This was how a child should look.
Wei Hui stood up and sat on the sofa opposite her, steadily watching the sleeping Shiyi for a long while, until the 10-minute alarm rang for the second time, only then did she go upstairs.
Shiyi had sweet dreams all night, but when she opened her eyes, the events in those dreams became hazy. She only remembered that subtle feeling of happiness, something she had never experienced before. While feeling annoyed at her poor memory, she sat up, then froze.
She slept on the sofa?
She actually slept on the sofa last night?
Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night – she remembered watching Wei Hui work, getting sleepy as she watched, and closing her eyes. That one moment of closing her eyes lasted all night. Why hadn’t Third Miss woken her?
Was it because she was sleeping too deeply and couldn’t be woken?
Embarrassment welled up in Shiyi’s heart. As she awkwardly tried to get up quickly, she discovered something soft clutched in her hands. Looking down, she saw it was a blanket. Shiyi was slightly stunned – this was Third Miss’s blanket, and she hadn’t had a blanket when she fell asleep last night.
Did Third Miss cover her with it?
Shiyi’s heart suddenly felt as soft as her palm.
After getting up, she folded the blanket neatly, went upstairs to her room to freshen up, then hurried downstairs to prepare two portions of breakfast. Just as she placed them on the dining table, she saw Wei Hui coming downstairs in slippers, the morning light falling on her, giving off an inexplicably warm feeling.
Shiyi walked to the living room and stood beside Wei Hui, saying: “Third Miss, breakfast is ready.”
Wei Hui picked up the water glass from the tea table, took a drink of warm water before speaking: “From now on, you don’t need to do these things.”
Shiyi’s expression changed slightly. She bit her lip and said: “Third Miss, I’ve been thinking. You said you’d give me three months to consider, and I will think it through carefully, but I don’t want to stay here without contributing anything. In case… I feel I should do something.”
“No need.” Wei Hui put down her cup and looked directly at Shiyi, her gaze clear and demeanor steady. She said: “Shiyi, people should stick to their own duties.”
Shiyi stared at her with bewildered eyes, and couldn’t help but ask: “Third Miss, what do you mean by ‘stick to their own duties’?”
Wei Hui met her eyes and paused before explaining: “It means doing what one is supposed to do.”
Shiyi looked even more confused: “But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Wei Hui replied matter-of-factly: “What you’re supposed to do is take care of your health and give me a child.”
Shiyi was speechless – wasn’t this still something she was considering? How had it become something she was ‘supposed to do’?
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