Chapter 49 — Even if she ran, he would bring her back.
The next morning, when Xie Hejing woke up, there was no sign of Nan Xu in the house.
But he did have a message on his phone.
[Brother, I’ve gone to the office first.]
He paused for a moment, though he could already guess why. A faint smile curved his lips.
[Did you eat breakfast?]
He glanced toward the kitchen, there was no sign that anyone had cooked.
At that moment, Nan Xu was at her desk, drowning in a mountain of paperwork.
She rubbed her tired eyes and let her gaze drift away from the computer screen for a second.
When her phone chimed with a notification, she propped her chin on one hand and glanced down.
[Yeah, I did. Bought a slice of cake downstairs.]
By the time Xie Hejing arrived at the office, Nan Xu was focused on sorting freshly printed documents, not noticing his presence at all.
He was the one who took the initiative, walking over and tapping on her desk—three sharp, clear knocks: tok, tok, tok.
Several nearby coworkers looked up, then quickly ducked back to their own work.
Seeing who it was, Nan Xu immediately stood up.
“…Good morning, President Xie.”
“Mm,” Xie Hejing replied in a businesslike tone. “Come to my office in a bit.”
“Oh, okay.”
Nan Xu neatly labeled the documents needing signatures with sticky notes, then knocked on his office door ten minutes later.
“Come in.”
She stepped inside and handed the folder over. “President Xie, please sign these.”
“Mm.”
Xie Hejing picked up his pen. His long fingers curved elegantly, wrist slightly raised, the veins on the back of his hand shifting subtly with each stroke.
Nan Xu couldn’t help but glance twice—then, recalling last night, her face heated. She coughed lightly, trying to chase the memory away, but her fingers fumbled awkwardly with the papers.
Xie Hejing narrowed his eyes with a faint smile, noticing her flustered movements, though he said nothing.
When the last document was signed, Nan Xu let out a quiet breath. “President Xie, is there anything else you need me to do?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Tilting his chin slightly, he gestured toward the potted money tree on the corner of his desk.
Nan Xu followed his gaze and pressed her lips together, feeling embarrassed. She had bought that plant at a flower market once—it looked nice, and she thought his office felt too bare, so she brought it in.
But after that, she’d completely forgotten to take care of it. Now its leaves were yellowing and drooping.
“How did you manage to kill my money tree?” Xie Hejing asked lightly.
Nan Xu’s heart skipped a beat. If he were the superstitious type, I’d be in real trouble right now.
She quickly picked up the pot with a nervous laugh. “Haha, President Xie, I’ll take it home for a few days—bring it back to life for you, I promise.”
In her head, she was already planning to swing by that same flower shop and buy an identical one.
“Leave it,” Xie Hejing said calmly. “Just come in and water it more often.”
Nan Xu lowered her voice. “Can it still be saved?”
“That depends on how careful you are,” Xie Hejing replied.
Nan Xu smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m very careful. I’ll make sure to water it on time every day.”
“Is that so?” Xie Hejing raised a brow. “Then when you were staring at my hand just now, didn’t you notice the ink on my finger?”
“Huh?”
Nan Xu looked down at his hand and saw a dark ink stain smudged across the tip of his index finger—it stood out sharply against his pale skin.
She hadn’t noticed it at all earlier, which only proved that when she’d been looking at his hand, her mind had been somewhere else entirely.
The smile in Xie Hejing’s eyes deepened. “Were you thinking about last night?”
“And when you went to sleep… did you dream about it?”
Nan Xu jumped, startled by his words. Even though she knew no one would casually enter his office, she still glanced around nervously.
“President Xie, don’t say things like that,” she whispered. “We’re at work.”
She pulled a small pack of tissues from her jacket pocket, tore one out, and placed it in front of him. “Here. Wipe it off.”
Xie Hejing glanced at the tissue but didn’t move. Instead, he said, “Used it last night, and now you’re just going to ignore me today?”
“You—” Nan Xu nearly choked on her words, her face burning with embarrassment. “No, and please keep your voice down.”
“This is my office,” Xie Hejing replied with a raised brow, then added lightly, “There’s no one else here.”
Of course Nan Xu knew that, but the wide glass wall behind her was uncovered—the blinds weren’t drawn. Anyone outside could see straight in. And while her desk was the only one facing that direction, who knew if someone might catch a glimpse from another angle?
Xie Hejing didn’t seem to care at all. He extended his hand toward her and said simply, “Wipe it.”
Nan Xu blinked at him. “You want me to wipe it?”
He gave a lazy “Mm.”
She glanced nervously toward the glass, hesitating. “Can’t you just do it yourself? It’s only a little ink.”
His fingers twitched slightly, his voice lowering, expression turning flat. “You wipe it.”
“I ‘serve’ you all night, and now you won’t even do this much? How ungrateful.”
Nan Xu’s face flushed crimson. “Brother, stop saying that.”
He smiled. “Not calling me ‘President Xie’ anymore?”
Realizing her slip, she quickly corrected herself. “President Xie, please stop.”
“Then are you going to wipe it or not?” he asked again.
“…I’ll wipe it.”
Nan Xu clenched her fists, determined to finish quickly and get out. Still, the thought of being seen made her tense. Her hand, holding the tissue, trembled slightly as she reached forward.
Xie Hejing chuckled. “What are you so worried about? Even if someone saw, what’s the big deal? We could just say we’re together.”
“No.” Nan Xu’s eyes snapped up to his. “You promised—not within a month. No one can know.”
Wen Qi and Xiang Weishi had figured it out on their own, but everyone else…
Nan Xu’s hasty denial made Xie Hejing narrow his eyes slightly.
She really did follow the rules…
A couple of seconds passed, and a thought crossed his mind—if she truly didn’t have feelings for him, then when the month ended, wouldn’t she really walk away?
A faint glint of frustration flashed in his eyes before he quickly masked it.
He lifted his hand. “Then hurry up and wipe it off, before someone sees.”
His tone carried a hint of sourness—petty and a little disgruntled.
Nan Xu didn’t notice his mood. She simply nodded. “Okay, I’ll do it right away.”
Xie Hejing: “…”
She crumpled the tissue a little and began wiping at the ink on his fingertip.
But after the delay, the ink had already dried, and the paper alone couldn’t get it off.
Her gaze shifted to the teacup in front of him. “Wait a sec, I’ll use some water.”
She dampened the tissue with the warm tea, then subtly turned her body, trying to block any possible line of sight from the glass wall outside.
Nan Xu gently held his hand, carefully rubbing at the stain on his finger.
“Nan Xu,” Xie Hejing suddenly said, “I’ve changed my mind.”
The words made her tense up. “Changed your mind about what?”
“Next time, after using my hand, I won’t bother washing it. I’ll let you wipe it for me.” His tone was perfectly serious, but his words were anything but.
Nan Xu’s hand froze. The image of him washing his hands last night flashed through her mind, and her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
If he really made her do that… she probably wouldn’t sleep at all that night.
“I’m not doing that,” she muttered softly.
Xie Hejing looked up at her. “No? So you’d rather I keep it on all night instead? Didn’t think you were into that, Nan Xu.”
Her eyes widened. “No! Of course not!” She flustered, her voice pitching higher. “Ugh, I’m not doing it, okay? Maybe you just shouldn’t… use your hand at all.”
Not willing again?
His fingers turned, gripping her hand instead. The sudden contact made her flinch, and the look in his eyes darkened.
“Don’t want me to use my hand? Fine,” he said lowly. “Then should I use something else? My mouth, maybe—or—”
Nan Xu panicked, clapping a hand over his mouth before he could finish. Once he finally stopped talking, she quickly let go.
“Brother, don’t be like this,” she pleaded softly. “Can we talk about it after work?”
Xie Hejing drew in a deep breath, forcing his composure back. “Fine.”
When Nan Xu finally left his office, half an hour had passed. She had barely taken a few steps down the hall when she ran into Qi Yule, who was coming to give a report.
Seeing Nan Xu’s distracted expression, Qi Yule teased, “You were in President Xie’s office for so long, and you still look so downcast—did he scold you?”
Her heart skipped.
If Qi Yule noticed how long I was in there… then did others notice too?
Her brows knit slightly.
Sensing her mood, Qi Yule quickly offered comfort. “What did he scold you for? Tell me—I’ll help you think of a solution.”
Nan Xu finally came back to her senses, thanked Qi Yule for her concern, and said,
“It’s nothing serious, just that… I almost killed President Xie’s money tree.”
“That’s all?”
Qi Yule looked surprised and clearly disapproved that Xie Hejing had actually scolded Nan Xu for over half an hour just because of that.
“It’s no big deal. In a few days, I’ll bring over a couple of pots from my dad’s place—he loves growing plants and flowers anyway.”
Nan Xu bit her lip and gave a faint smile. “Thank you.”
When the workday ended, a text appeared on Nan Xu’s phone.
[Parking lot.]
Nan Xu cleared her throat. Three simple words—yet they somehow made her nervous.
She packed up, slung her bag over her shoulder, said goodbye to her colleagues, and headed alone toward the far corner of the company’s parking lot.
The moment she came into view, Xie Hejing’s eyes followed her every step.
He couldn’t understand how this girl could still act so indifferent toward him. After everything that happened last night, she could just stop when she wanted and even fall asleep without a second thought.
Recalling how nervous and cautious she’d been earlier, his once unwavering determination wavered a little.
Would she really walk away from him after a month?
He was the one who’d set the rules, yet now, Xie Hejing felt a pang of regret. He should have said half a year, a year—five years, even ten…
Nan Xu had no idea what he was thinking. Under his intense gaze, she moved more carefully, trying not to make any wrong move.
She slipped into the passenger seat with practiced ease, and before Xie Hejing could speak, she blurted out first: “Brother, I’ve thought about it. Let’s not rush things. For now, we’ll just use hands. I’ll—uh—I’ll do it.”
Her face flushed bright red as she said it all in one breath.
But Xie Hejing didn’t respond.
Puzzled, Nan Xu looked up and found him staring at her silently, his expression unreadable.
“Brother, are you still mad at me?” she asked cautiously.
He still said nothing.
Nan Xu immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, I know using hands… it’s tiring for you too. I’ll take care of it.”
“Nan Xu…” His tone was deep and low, carrying a weight that sent a chill down her spine.
Nan Xu blinked rapidly.
Even apologizing isn’t working now?
If it wasn’t about that, then what was he angry about this time? Her head was starting to hurt.
“What’s wrong?”
Xie Hejing took a slow breath, recalling what she’d said last time in the car at the resort. Could it be true—that she could feel something for others, but not for him?
“Is there someone else in your heart?” he asked quietly, his eyes fixed on her face, not wanting to miss even the slightest flicker of emotion.
Without hesitation, Nan Xu smiled and said, “Of course.”
His brows furrowed. “Who?”
Who else could she be thinking of when she was with him?
“You,” she said naturally, without a trace of pretense.
Xie Hejing’s breath hitched sharply. He swallowed hard, a mix of joy and ice flickering in his dark eyes.
He ground his teeth. “Then why is your desire for me so weak? Or do you not have any at all—and instead, you feel it for someone else?”
“I…”
Nan Xu pressed her lips together, her voice hesitant. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried with anyone else, so how would I know? Should I… test it out?”
She bit her lip again. Just imagining being that close to someone else made her feel uneasy—uncomfortable, even.
Seeing her look so serious, as if she were actually considering it, Xie Hejing’s face darkened. “Nan Xu, no. Don’t even think about it, you hear me? You’re not allowed to think about it.”
“…But you’re the one who asked,” Nan Xu replied softly. “I have to answer seriously, right? Otherwise, you’ll get mad again.”
“…”
Xie Hejing clenched his fists, realizing this was the first time he’d completely lost ground in a conversation with her. “Fine. I won’t ask anymore.”
If she really started wondering about trying it with someone else, and ended up feeling something for another man but not for him—
Xie Hejing honestly thought he might lose control and bite her to death.
“Then… Brother, are you still mad?” Nan Xu asked carefully.
Mad? He was furious.
He’d only said a few words, and she’d already entertained such a thought.
If it weren’t for that one-month agreement tying her to him, who knew if she’d already been whisked away by someone else.
“No. Why would I be mad?” he muttered, turning his face aside.
Nan Xu looked at the tight line of his jaw and couldn’t shake the feeling that he was in a bad mood.
So, she set her bag down on the seat, leaned over toward the driver’s side, and tilted forward until she could reach him—
then pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his lips.
“Don’t be mad, okay?”
Xie Hejing’s expression softened instantly. He cleared his throat. “And who taught you that?”
Nan Xu smiled, her eyes bright. “No one. I figured it out myself.”
There was a playful glint in her gaze—like a clever little fox.
Xie Hejing couldn’t imagine, nor could he tolerate, her showing that same look to anyone else.
“Nan Xu,” he asked quietly, “after this month… will you leave?”
Nan Xu froze. Why bring that up all of a sudden?
“I don’t know. Who can really say what’ll happen a month from now?”
“I see.” Xie Hejing’s lips curved slightly as he turned to meet her gaze.
“Nan Xu, do you really think I’ll let you go?”
Something in his tone made her uneasy. She frowned. “Are you saying you’ll go back on your word?”
“How could I?”
His expression remained calm, almost too calm.
If she didn’t try to leave, then of course he’d keep his word.
But if she did try…
Well, he’d only promised to end things, he never promised to let her leave him.
“Of course I’ll keep my word,” he said evenly.
Nan Xu blinked, feeling that Xie Hejing seemed very troubled right now.
Was he troubled that she might leave?
Nan Xu reached out and smoothed the frown between his brows, her voice soft.
“Brother, don’t worry. I’ll stay with you.”
At the very least, she was certain of one thing, Xie Hejing was different from everyone else in her heart.
But Xie Hejing didn’t respond. Instead, a thought surfaced that he couldn’t quite suppress—once Nan Xu truly understood what kind of desires he harbored, would such a timid girl really not be frightened away?
A shadow flickered in his eyes again, dark and dangerous. Then his lips curved into a faint smile.
It didn’t matter.
Even if she ran, he would bring her back.