Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 35

by Little Panda

Exercise

She likes exercise, I like to enjoy

Wei Hui leaned against Shiyi for a moment, gradually recovering her strength. Her heartbeat slowly steadied as she breathed softly, and warm breath brushed past her ear, causing Shiyi to stand frozen in place.

The fragrance was overwhelming.

She wanted to hold tighter and take a deep breath.

Realizing what she was thinking, Shiyi immediately lowered her eyes bashfully, hanging her head. Pei Tian brought the luggage to their room’s door before speaking: “Third Miss, please rest for a while. I expect Vice President Luo has other arrangements.”

Wei Hui nodded: “You go rest too.”

Pei Tian opened the door. Shiyi glanced at Wei Hui, and only after seeing she wasn’t seriously affected did she drag the two suitcases into the room. The room was quite spacious, with a large sofa right at the entrance, a wall-mounted TV opposite, and a balcony. The balcony door was half-open, letting in a cool breeze, causing Wei Hui to cough twice.

Shiyi went in and closed the balcony door, glancing around. She had never stayed in a hotel before and wondered if all hotels were like this. Even the bathroom door was semi-transparent, frosted in the middle with clear glass at the top and bottom. Wouldn’t that make changing clothes quite inconvenient?

While lost in these thoughts, she heard Wei Hui’s voice: “Shiyi, get my bag out.”

The bag was in the suitcase. Shiyi quickly opened her suitcase – it was quite large but contained few items, with the bag prominently placed on top. After handing it to Wei Hui, she saw her take out a medicine bottle. As if by instinct, Shiyi took a clear glass from the tea table, rinsed it twice with hot water before mixing it to the right temperature and handing it to Wei Hui.

Water droplets still clung to the glass’s exterior. Wei Hui took a sip – the temperature was just right. After swallowing the medicine, she smiled and said: “Thank you.”

It wasn’t her usual ambiguous smile, but one with genuine warmth reaching her eyes. When Shiyi met her gaze, she became momentarily speechless, lowering her head with slightly reddened cheeks: “No need.”

“Third Miss, are you feeling better now?”

Wei Hui put down the glass: “Much better.”

Just as they finished talking, there was a knock on the door, followed by Du Yueming’s crisp voice: “President Wei.”

Shiyi glanced at Wei Hui, and only after seeing her nod did she run to open the door. Du Yueming stood there with a beaming smile: “Why are you still dawdling after putting down the luggage? They’ve already started the barbecue outside!”

“Aren’t you all hungry after skipping lunch?”

Until it was mentioned, Shiyi hadn’t noticed, but now she felt somewhat hungry. She glanced at Wei Hui from the corner of her eye. Wei Hui was physically exhausted, her stomach churning, and actually couldn’t eat much, especially greasy barbecue. However, if she didn’t go, Luo Zhouping would certainly become suspicious. She stood up: “Let’s go together.”

Shiyi remained seated on the sofa. Du Yueming poked her shoulder, and Shiyi looked up: “I don’t want to eat barbecue.”

“Can I not go?”

Du Yueming asked, puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

Shiyi rarely showed a look of dislike: “I don’t like that smell.”

Du Yueming smiled: “That’s no problem. When we go downstairs, I’ll ask the manager to prepare a separate lunch for you to bring along. With barbecue, the atmosphere is what matters most. Besides, this is team building. How appropriate would it be if President Wei doesn’t participate? Even if you don’t want to go, you have to consider President Wei. What if President Wei stays behind because of you…”

Having Wei Hui stay behind would be ideal, but she knew it wouldn’t be appropriate.

Wei Hui seemed to read her thoughts and took the initiative to say: “Come on, let’s go together.”

Shiyi finally bit her lip and stood up, following beside her.

After going downstairs, Du Yueming asked the hotel staff to pack a lunch. Shiyi followed behind and instructed: “The flavor needs to be mild.”

Wei Hui stood behind the two, watching as Shiyi’s face reddened but still insisted on her request. She smiled with pressed lips. The lunch was prepared quickly, and Shiyi carried it to the barbecue banquet. The secretaries were already seated in a circle, and upon seeing their leader arrive, they hurriedly offered their seats: “President Wei, please sit here!”

“President Wei, there’s a spot here.”

Luo Zhouping was also sitting among the crowd and smiled at Wei Hui: “Usually we can’t even get President Wei to join us for meals. Today, let’s all make an effort to have a drink with President Wei.”

Everyone excitedly clapped their hands, and Wei Hui raised her lips in a smile: “You all eat first, I’m going to feed the cat.”

Everyone was confused: “Feed the cat?”

Du Yueming sat among them: “Oh my, she’s just going to show some love. Don’t you all have any sense?”

Her words sparked curiosity among the crowd: “Is this how President Wei and Shiyi usually interact?”

“It’s so sweet!”

Du Yueming smiled: “This is nothing, there’s even more…”

She left the rest unsaid, leaving everyone to their imagination as their gazes toward Wei Hui and Shiyi in the distance changed.

Shiyi was pulled by Wei Hui to sit in a chair. She opened the lunch box, using her body to block the gazes from behind, and said: “Third Miss, please eat something.”

Wei Hui looked down at the fried rice before her: “Did you order this for me?”

Although she had guessed it at the hotel, when Shiyi brought over the lunch box now, Wei Hui still felt touched. Pei Tian wanted to come over from the other side, but Wei Hui made a gesture with her lowered hand to stop him. His handsome face showed confusion, but he remained silent and continued sitting with his colleagues, listening to Du Yueming’s boasting.

“Oh my, you don’t know how possessive she is, she gets jealous even when I just speak.”

“Last time when we shook hands, she glared at me for ages.”

Luo Zhouping, sitting nearby, heard Du Yueming’s words and interjected smugly: “Miss Du, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. President Wei isn’t such a petty person.”

Du Yueming had never liked Luo Zhouping. Since the Du family and Wei family had previous connections, she naturally knew what Luo Zhouping had done. She gave him a cold look and replied with a forced smile: “If you don’t believe me, President Luo, why don’t you try it yourself?”

Luo Zhouping was stumped by her words as everyone turned to look at him. He turned the skewers on the grill: “Nonsense.”

Everyone hurriedly changed the subject, though everyone knew Luo Zhouping still didn’t dare to openly challenge Wei Hui. Du Yueming sneered and looked away. On the plane, before she fell asleep, she had heard Luo Zhouping’s voice. This man was truly bold, actually daring to have designs on Shiyi. She didn’t know if Wei Hui had heard, but she was very displeased, and when she’s displeased, there’s no need to show a good face to Luo Zhouping.

When they were almost done eating and drinking, someone suggested playing games. Du Yueming saw Shiyi and Wei Hui finishing their lunch boxes in the distance and called out: “Shiyi!”

Wei Hui lowered her eyes: “Let’s go take a look.”

Shiyi followed behind her to stand before everyone.

“There are several games in the box. We’ll play whichever one we draw. How about that?” Luo Zhouping’s assistant asked everyone with a smile. Others replied: “No problem.”

Since they came to have fun, how could they mind? The assistant glanced at Luo Zhouping, and seeing his lips curve into a smile, continued: “How about letting President Wei draw?”

“Good!”

The box was placed in front of Wei Hui, with several secretaries looking at her expectantly, their faces excited. Without hesitation, she reached into the box and drew out a piece of paper. When unfolded, it read “Cross the River”.

Shiyi had never played this game, so Du Yueming explained it to her. The game involves drawing ten lines on the ground, then one person carries another on their back while jumping across each line, and after crossing all ten, they jump back. It’s a very simple game, suitable for breaking the ice and creating atmosphere.

“Since President Wei drew it, why don’t we have President Wei go first, what do you all say?”

Shiyi felt very unhappy hearing this. Of course it wasn’t good – she couldn’t bear to have Wei Hui carry someone!

But her objection would be useless with so many eyes watching. Wei Hui nodded: “Alright.”

She reached out her hand to Shiyi. The assistant had originally wanted to suggest drawing lots for partners, but seeing this gesture, fell silent and turned to the others: “Anyone else want to participate?”

There were ten secretaries in total, divided into five pairs. The head secretary paired with Du Yueming, and Luo Zhouping wanted to pair with Pei Tian, but he shook his head, wanting to be the referee. So Luo Zhouping had to pair with his own assistant. The previously enthusiastic assistant immediately turned pale upon hearing they would be paired together.

Pei Tian walked to Wei Hui’s side holding the prepared flag, and softly asked: “Third Miss, can you manage?”

“Should I pair with you instead?”

Wei Hui shook her head: “No.”

With her and Shiyi, others dared not say anything, but it was different with Pei Tian. To avoid making a scene, Wei Hui said to Shiyi: “Sorry for the trouble.”

Before Shiyi could react, Wei Hui stood behind her, arms around her neck, her soft body leaning against Shiyi’s back. A clear fragrance wafted to Shiyi’s nose, making her face instantly redden. Her hands moved backward but didn’t know where to place them until Wei Hui actively guided them to her legs, allowing Shiyi to support her properly.

“Begin!” Pei Tian blew his whistle, and people around them began jumping with laughter. Shiyi also hurriedly jumped forward. After all, carrying someone on her back, and not being particularly strong herself, it was strenuous. But because the person she was carrying was Wei Hui, Shiyi felt her body filled with strength. It was a contradictory feeling – her body was saying “I can’t go on, I can’t hold on,” but her spirit was shouting “you can do it!” In the end, her spirit won. Shiyi, carrying Wei Hui, quickly jumped to the other end and was already jumping back before anyone else had made it across. Du Yueming exclaimed: “Shiyi, you must be cheating!”

Shiyi smiled at these words. Wei Hui looked down and saw her gentle smiling profile, with slightly lowered eyelashes – beautiful, delicate, curved, her expression soft yet resilient. Just like her as a person – appearing delicate and fragile, but harboring strength within. That she could carry Wei Hui across was already surprising enough, but to think she could jump back too. It was just a game – if she had no strength left, she could have easily put her down, just like two or three other pairs who had already given up. But Shiyi wouldn’t. She persisted, just like when she once wandered from home to home, never giving up hope, no matter how small, no matter how wounded she was.

Wei Hui felt even more moved, lowering her eyes. Shiyi had already jumped back, finishing first. Those who had given up led the applause, bringing them mineral water and clean towels. Shiyi stood before everyone, breathing heavily but smiling happily. Wei Hui met her bright gaze and smiled back.

Soon after, Luo Zhouping returned carrying his assistant, plopping down on a chair while panting heavily. Wei Hui took the initiative to hand him a dry towel and mineral water, saying coolly: “President Luo should take better care of his health.”

Luo Zhouping opened the water she handed him and smiled: “President Wei is right, but President Wei, don’t you feel guilty about tormenting this young girl?”

“Why should I feel guilty?” Wei Hui replied casually: “We’re always like this. She likes exercise, I like to cooperate and enjoy.”

“Cough cough cough—” Even Luo Zhouping, who was used to being a scoundrel, couldn’t help but spurt water!

The secretaries walking back and forth nearby heard this and stood stunned like a wooden chicken!

LP: Yes, that kind of exercise