Chapter 30 – When Words Fail
The atmosphere in the car was a little strange. With Ding Yue gone, the two of them had nothing to say to each other.
Lin Yan tilted his head toward the rearview mirror. The car window hadn’t been fully closed, and the breeze slipping through the gap gently brushed against his forehead.
His hand idly rubbed against the door handle.
What should he say? There didn’t seem to be anything worth saying.
He withdrew his hand, resting it on his knee, and closed his eyes, quietly enjoying the wind sneaking in through the narrow opening.
After these past few days of frequent contact with Lu Heng, he still hadn’t quite gotten used to it. Lu Heng wasn’t the type like Zhao Ming who knew how to flatter others—he was straightforward and focused on getting things done.
At times, Lin Yan felt that he was rather introverted and not very good at communicating with his superiors.
Lu Heng held the steering wheel with one hand and propped his head up with the other, seemingly lost in thought. He glanced to the left—after one more intersection, they would arrive.
Why did the return trip feel so short? All the green lights along the way seemed to be deliberately cutting down the time the two of them spent together.
Soon, he turned the steering wheel and began looking for a parking space near the residential complex. He silently prayed that he wouldn’t find one too quickly. Who would’ve thought his luck would be this good—there was a space waiting right there as soon as he pulled up.
The drive back was brief, and he never found a chance to say a single word to the person beside him. He couldn’t help feeling a little frustrated.
Usually, when he looked at code, he didn’t even need to think to know what the next step was. Yet now, he couldn’t figure out that he could just take a longer route, circle around a bit, and spend more time with the person next to him.
Once the car came to a complete stop, Lin Yan got out. He raised his hand toward Lu Heng, intending to say he’d head back first.
But to his surprise, the man beside him didn’t look his way at all. Instead, he coolly parted his lips and said, “Wash the dishes.”
Why did he say something like that? Wasn’t Lu Heng hoping to spend a little more time with Lin Yan?
The thought reached his lips, but the meaning went astray the moment it came out.
Lin Yan smiled and replied, “Alright, President Lu.”
Inside, though, he couldn’t help complaining—he wanted to hurry home to see Meiqiu. Home was right in front of him, so why couldn’t he get back?
At Lu Heng’s place, Lin Yan automatically began gathering the dishes.
Lu Heng was just about to step forward to help.
Lin Yan raised his hand to block him and refused. “President Lu, I’ll do it.”
The hand he’d extended froze midair before he awkwardly pulled it back. Lu Heng said, a little disappointed, “Alright.”
Lin Yan didn’t notice the look Lu Heng cast his way and continued with what he was doing. He wanted to finish quickly so he could go home and see Meiqiu.
Lu Heng leaned against the wall, one leg bent, watching Lin Yan from behind. His gaze drifted to Lin Yan’s waist—slender and soft. When Lin Yan was still a cat, he’d often wrap his arms around that waist. Now, though, he didn’t dare take a single step forward.
As he kept watching, Lu Heng’s thoughts wandered. After a moment, he realized that something about Lin Yan felt missing.
He lifted his head and scanned the kitchen. His eyes landed on an apron hanging nearby, and he finally knew what was missing.
He walked over and took the apron down from the wall. It was a deep coffee-brown color, with a tag still hanging from the hem. He pinched the tag between his fingers and tugged downward—the tag tore off cleanly.
Lin Yan had just finished placing the dishes into the sink when a hand suddenly pulled his own aside, making his body tilt from the sudden movement.
At the same time, an apron slipped perfectly over his neck.
Lu Heng bent forward. His hand brushed across Lin Yan’s waist as he tied the two straps behind him. When he finished, he paused there, lowering his head and taking a deep breath.
A pleasant coconut scent, mixed faintly with soapberry.
Lin Yan felt warm breath at the back of his neck. It tickled slightly, and he tilted his head to the side—
only to accidentally press his cheek against Lu Heng’s face.
The contact made Lin Yan instinctively lean back. “President Lu, I can do it myself.”
He stepped away, avoiding Lu Heng’s broad chest.
Both of them felt a little embarrassed. They lowered their heads awkwardly. Lu Heng glanced aside and said,
“I’ll go take out the trash. Once you’re done washing up, you can head home.”
“Mm. Okay.”
Lin Yan returned to the sink and continued washing the dishes with his head lowered.
After everything was cleaned and put away, he called out, “President Lu.”
No response.
He leaned forward slightly and called again toward the bedroom, “President Lu?”
Still no reply. It was his first time in this apartment. Compared to his own small rental, this place was on a completely different level. He stood there for a moment, taking it in.
Once again, he couldn’t help thinking—rich people, huh.
When no one answered, Lin Yan finally left and went home.
Back at his place, he scooped Meiqiu into his arms and gave him a vigorous rub, inhaling deeply. His energy instantly returned.
“Meiqiu, don’t blame me for coming home late today,” Lin Yan said, pressing his face into Meiqiu’s fluffy body. The warmth and softness soothed both his body and mind. “That big boss of ours just wouldn’t let me leave.”
Meiqiu: You talk. I’m listening.
“He made me cook, and that was one thing, but he even made me go back and wash his dishes!” Lin Yan complained bitterly. “Heartless capitalist.”
Meiqiu’s pupils narrowed into thin slits.
“Meow.”
Meiqiu: Hey, seriously…