Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 39
by Little PandaFamily Background
I know who Shiyi’s family is.
Shiyi spent the next half day in a dazed state, lost in thought. She kept unconsciously looking at Wei Hui, watching her communicate with others, engage in discussions naturally, make phone calls, and give clear instructions on various matters. She was always like this – so strong that no one could see through her, unlike Shiyi herself, who would be shaken for an entire day by the smallest thing.
Why did Third Miss kiss her?
Did she… did she like her too?
This thought emerged in Shiyi’s mind, but she immediately found it absurd. How could Third Miss possibly like her? Perhaps she was just teaching her about kissing, but wasn’t Third Miss someone who hated being touched? Even though she didn’t have germaphobia, she still disliked physical contact with others. Yet she not only touched her but kissed her.
Wasn’t kissing something sacred, meant only for lovers?
Although Shiyi knew her thoughts were ridiculous, she couldn’t help it. Once the idea took root, it grew rapidly, with all its tendrils flowing through her bloodstream, binding her tightly.
She was happy because she liked being bound this way, and even wished for it to be tighter.
While she perfectly embodied a young girl’s spring romance, the other party remained calm and reserved, showing no signs at all. Luo Zhouping still hadn’t given up on the fundraising matter, pressuring Wei Hui to agree. Wei Hui deflected skillfully, neither accepting nor refusing, saying lightly as she left, “I’ll think about it more.”
Luo Zhouping knew she was stalling but could do nothing about it, turning to vent his frustration on his assistant.
Initially, Shiyi sat beside Wei Hui, watching her compose herself and engage in back-and-forth with Luo Zhouping. Though she couldn’t join the conversation, she felt comfortable just listening nearby, but Du Yueming didn’t give her the chance, pulling her away.
The secretaries were sitting together cracking sunflower seeds, arranged in a circle with snacks placed in the middle. When they saw Du Yueming bringing Shiyi over, they quickly made space for two seats and said eagerly, “Miss Du, please sit here.”
Du Yueming sat down with Shiyi, and the secretaries all spoke at once:
“Shiyi, try this.”
“This is imported.”
“Shiyi, do you like makeup? I have a set I just bought through daigou [personal shopper for overseas products], still unused.”
“Is it the IH brand? It’s amazing!”
Shiyi’s hands were immediately filled with items as she sat down. She smiled awkwardly and said to everyone, “Thank you.”
The secretaries smiled with twinkling eyes: “We should thank you instead. If it weren’t for you, we’d never see President Wei’s spring [metaphor for romantic awakening].”
“That’s right, President Wei seems to really like you.”
Shiyi lowered her eyes, hesitating: “Does… does she?”
A secretary muttered: “Of course she does. You don’t know what she was like before – forget about team building, she wouldn’t even join us for meals!”
“And she never had any friends before.”
“But I really admire President Wei. She took over Wei Tian right after becoming an adult. If it were me, Wei Tian would have gone bankrupt long ago.”
“What could be done? Old President Wei passed away too early.”
Shiyi’s heart stirred, and she asked softly: “Old President Wei?”
The secretaries exchanged glances, and the head secretary sighed: “Old President Wei was a good person, but sadly good people don’t live long, while troublemakers live for a thousand years.”
She cast a contemptuous look at Luo Zhouping. She had been at Wei Tian for almost ten years, initially as Old President Wei’s personal secretary. When Wei Hui entered Wei Tian with Pei Tian by her side, she became head secretary. She knew something about the past matters between Luo Zhouping and Wei Changyuan, so she understood clearly why Luo Zhouping had returned to the country. She wanted to warn Wei Hui, but she could see that Wei Hui didn’t need the warning.
“Old President Wei was truly good. That time when bonuses were cut, he still gave us extra compensation.”
“Yes, and he had such a good temper. It’s just that his health wasn’t good, and he passed away early.”
Shiyi glanced at the speakers and asked: “Old President Wei was in poor health?”
“Heart disease,” the head secretary thought for a moment. “I heard they finally found a matching heart, and the donor had just been in a car accident, but something went wrong during the transplant, and Old President Wei died on the operating table.”
“It’s such a shame. If not for this, President Wei wouldn’t have had to shoulder Wei Tian at such a young age.”
Several people sighed, and the atmosphere grew heavy. Du Yueming clapped her hands: “Alright, alright, we’re here to have fun, not hold a memorial meeting. Let’s be cheerful, okay?”
As Du Yueming pulled her to stand up, Shiyi looked over her shoulder and saw Wei Hui talking with Pei Tian, her profile cold and tense, her complexion slightly pale. Wei Hui seemed to sense something and turned her head, meeting Shiyi’s gaze directly before looking away indifferently.
Shiyi’s previously joyful mood suddenly turned cloudy.
After lunch, everyone headed back home. Like before, Wei Hui and Du Yueming sat in front, but Wei Hui wasn’t resting, instead discussing something with Du Yueming about what seemed to be a project. Shiyi noticed that today, Wei Hui was talking more than usual. She poured a cup of hot water and offered it: “Third Miss, would you like some?”
Wei Hui looked up at her, taking the cup with both hands, and said softly: “Thank you.”
Shiyi bit her lip and sat beside her: “Would you like to rest for a while?”
Wei Hui glanced at her: “I’ll rest after I finish talking with Miss Du. If you’re tired, you can sleep first.”
The attitude was gentler than usual, but the sensitive Shiyi still sensed something was different, though perhaps it was just her imagination – was she overthinking? Shiyi tilted her head and fell asleep listening to their conversation.
Having not slept well the previous night, and with the current peaceful atmosphere, Shiyi quickly fell asleep. Her breathing was steady and deep as she lay on her side hugging a cushion, head resting against the sofa edge. After Wei Hui finished talking with Du Yueming, she noticed Shiyi’s sleeping face. She stared at her quietly for a long while, supporting her chin with one hand, her fingertips brushing her own lips before lowering her eyes and looking away.
Shiyi didn’t wake up until they reached Jiang City. When the plane landed, Du Yueming called her name, and she opened her eyes hazily. Not seeing Wei Hui beside her, Shiyi unconsciously asked: “Where is Third Miss?”
“Oh, she’s already gone down,” Du Yueming said casually. “Let’s go down too.”
Shiyi followed closely behind Du Yueming as they left the plane.
Everyone was discussing evening plans, and when they asked Wei Hui’s opinion, she waved her hand: “You all go ahead, I need to stop by the company.”
Du Yueming looked at Shiyi, who smiled: “I’ll go with Third Miss.”
Wei Hui remained silent. Shiyi stood obediently behind her, and only after everyone left did Wei Hui speak: “I need to go to the company. Pei Tian will take you home.”
Shiyi asked in response: “Could I accompany you to the company?”
Wei Hui thought for a few seconds: “No need, you’ll have nothing to do there. Go home.”
And so Shiyi was arranged to be sent home. Sitting in the car, she kept thinking about Wei Hui’s attitude, which was clearly different from the morning, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly how. She frustratedly tapped her head, blaming herself for being too stupid!
Pei Tian escorted her to the Wei residence and helped with her luggage. With delicate glasses on his handsome face, he said gently: “I’ll take my leave now. Please rest.”
Shiyi hadn’t interacted much with him; even though they went to team building together, they’d exchanged fewer than ten sentences. So even though she wanted to ask questions, she didn’t know how to approach him, and could only nod: “Thank you.”
Pei Tian bowed slightly: “You’re welcome.”
He turned to get in the car, nodding slightly to Shiyi through the window before driving away. Jiang City’s weather was much warmer than Putuo Mountain, with red flowers and green leaves visible along the way. Pei Tian drove directly to the company parking lot. When he went to Wei Hui’s office to report, he heard her on the phone: “Now? I’m at the company.”
Seeing him enter, Wei Hui gestured for him to close the door, then said into the phone: “What time?”
Su Ziyan, holding documents while standing at the hospital entrance, said: “Now. I just got off work, I’ll come to you.”
Wei Hui nodded: “Good, I have something to discuss with you.”
After hanging up, Pei Tian said: “Miss Shiyi has been sent home.”
Having followed Wei Hui for so long, he had figured out why she kept Shiyi by her side, so he reported this first. Wei Hui looked up at him: “Good. Ziyan will be here shortly. Prepare two cups of tea, and contact President Du about the construction matters.”
Pei Tian noted: “Yes, Vice President Luo will bring it up again.”
While Luo Zhouping wanted Wei Tian as a guarantor, it wasn’t impossible and wouldn’t need board approval. If he had worked properly at Wei Tian all these years, she wouldn’t have ignored this small favor. Unfortunately, his appetite was too big, wanting more than just a guarantee. Moreover, if he successfully developed his company, he might use it as a weapon against Wei Tian later, which would be worst. Therefore, on this matter, Wei Hui wouldn’t yield, even if it meant falling out with Luo Zhouping.
“Let it be for now, no need to respond.”
Pei Tian stood straight: “Understood, I know what to do.”
Wei Hui stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, turning to say: “Go make the tea.”
Pei Tian obediently left the office and ran into Su Ziyan. He smiled: “Dr. Su, please go in, Third Miss is waiting for you.”
Su Ziyan made an affirmative sound and strode in. Shortly after, Pei Tian brought in two cups of tea, placing them on the coffee table, and said to Wei Hui: “Third Miss, please take your time talking. I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait.” Wei Hui stopped him: “Pei Tian, help me verify Shiyi’s relatives again.”
She emphasized seriously: “I need specifics.”
Pei Tian paused for a few seconds: “Understood.”
After he left, Wei Hui sat on the sofa and looked at Su Ziyan: “What brings you here today?”
Su Ziyan picked up a cup of tea from the coffee table and blew on it gently, steam rising in wisps. He took a sip and said: “I heard you went to team building a couple days ago. How’s your health?”
Wei Hui lowered her eyes, allowing his scrutiny, and responded naturally: “Quite well.”
“I’ve contacted Dr. Bai. We can do an examination by the end of this month at the latest.” He looked at Wei Hui, changing the subject: “Why did you just ask Pei Tian to investigate Shiyi’s family?”
Wei Hui replied seriously: “I want to send her home. The surgery you helped me schedule before – cancel it.”
Su Ziyan raised his eyebrows: “You regret it?”
Wei Hui nodded without hesitation: “Yes, I regret it.”
She regretted ever having that thought, regretted letting Shiyi enter the Wei household, regretted keeping Shiyi by her side, regretted letting Shiyi get close to her, regretted this morning – kissing her.
No one understood her heart better than herself. Last night, she could still deceive herself that it was because she was about to have an episode, with irregular, chaotic heartbeats. But this morning, she couldn’t fool herself anymore. She had indeed developed different feelings for Shiyi.
She couldn’t keep her anymore.
Wei Hui sighed softly. She never thought that after living for twenty-seven years, with one foot already in the grave, she could still experience what it felt like to love. Heaven had truly been generous to her.
When Su Ziyan heard this, instead of being pleased, he frowned and said: “Your regret is useless, and you can’t send her away. I came today to tell you something – I found out about Shiyi’s family.”
His expression was unprecedentedly serious. Wei Hui’s heart skipped inexplicably as she gripped her cup tightly: “Who is it?”
Su Ziyan handed over the documents he brought: “Remember that child you searched for before?”
“It’s her.”
Wei Hui’s hands trembled, and the cup fell onto the marble floor with a crisp crash!
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