Chapter 042: A Special Gift

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yao leaned over.

"How do you have my husband's number?" Xie Yan read aloud, "182..."

"Oh," she finished, then laughed, "I made a mistake, it's one digit off from my husband's number."

Jiang Yao didn't think much of it. "So, who did you send the message to?"

"There." Xie Yan pointed with her finger. "This one."

Jiang Yao glanced over and immediately felt her vision go dark.

That string of numbers—she had only marked it with a single star.

He Yunqing!!

"What is it?" Xie Yan noticed Jiang Yao's odd expression and nudged her gently.

Jiang Yao forced a laugh.

Should she send another message to explain things to He Yunqing?

No, better not. He would surely know at a glance that it was sent by mistake. Besides, he was still working out of town...

That evening, Jiang Yao was once again the last to leave the office.

Ye Yiyi had recently taken a role in a short web drama and was filming out of town, so she hadn't been back for several days.

Jiang Yao simply worked overtime every day until late.

After finishing the last wedding proposal, she stretched, turned off the office lights, and prepared to head home.

Outside, a fine drizzle had begun to fall from the darkening sky.

Jiang Yao hadn't brought an umbrella. She jogged through the rain beneath the dim streetlights, raising one hand above her head in a futile attempt to shield herself.

She finally reached the bus stop, only to watch the last bus pull away right in front of her.

Jiang Yao stamped her foot in frustration.

Unnoticed above her, a black umbrella appeared.

Jiang Yao froze, looked up at the umbrella, then at the person holding it for her.

He Yunqing stood quietly beneath it, half his body exposed to the rain. The night’s darkness seemed unable to cling to him; he remained as immaculate as ever, his clear eyes regarding her with a gaze both cool and warm.

Just one look, and Jiang Yao’s heart skipped a beat.

He Yunqing’s appearance was the kind that was striking no matter the moment.

"Y-you're back?" Jiang Yao stammered in surprise.

"Just returned," He Yunqing replied placidly.

Jiang Yao pressed her lips together. "Why are you here?"

He Yunqing smiled faintly and glanced up at the drizzle. "Didn’t you text me to come pick you up?"

Jiang Yao was speechless—so it was all because of that message.

She gave a dry laugh. "Anyone could see that message was sent by mistake. I thought you'd know."

"I did know," He Yunqing said, the corners of his eyes glancing at her in a teasing tone. "So I wanted to see who you were calling 'darling.'"

"Seems your 'darling' didn’t show up," he added, still jesting.

Jiang Yao hurriedly waved her hands. "It wasn’t me. That message was sent by my colleague—she borrowed my phone. If you don’t believe me, I can show you—"

She cut herself off, realizing that her eagerness to explain was rather odd—like a woman trying to assure her lover she wasn’t involved with another man...

Jiang Yao shut her mouth, watching as He Yunqing’s lips curved into a nearly perfect smile.

Tricked by him again.

"Get in," he said. One hand held the umbrella, the other gently guided her by the shoulder toward the car.

The vehicle rolled along the road toward the suburban villas.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Jiang Yao stole glances at He Yunqing.

Eyes straight ahead, one large hand resting elegantly on the steering wheel, he seemed not to notice her. Suddenly, he spoke, "You can look openly. No need to sneak peeks."

"Who's sneaking a peek?!" Jiang Yao rolled her eyes.

He Yunqing shot her a sidelong glance, amused by her flustered denial, but said nothing more.

The car’s confined space, the gentle patter of rain, and the golden light created an ambiguous atmosphere.

Jiang Yao turned her face to the window, watching the blurred night and the raindrops trailing down the glass, searching for something to say to ease the awkwardness.

"Um... I have something for you."

"Hmm?" His voice was light, questioning.

She hastened to clarify, "Don’t get the wrong idea. I just wanted to thank you for helping me so many times, and also because I know you covered a lot of Chen Shu’s medical expenses. I may not know exactly what I did to offend you, but I wanted to apologize all the same."

She reached into her bag, pulled out a gift box, and handed it to him with sincerity. "This is for you. I hope you like it."

She disliked owing others, preferring to keep boundaries clear—especially with He Yunqing.

Even though she knew this small token hardly settled the debt.

"And about Chen Shu’s medical bills—I can’t let you pay them. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back. I just don’t have enough right now, so it will have to be in installments."

Her careful accounting of everything left He Yunqing inexplicably irritable.

He frowned. "You don’t know what you did to offend me?"

Jiang Yao shook her head. "You know I was poisoned by mushrooms and remember nothing of that time. But if you tell me, I promise I won’t deny it."

He Yunqing gave a soft snort, chest rising and falling, and swung the car sharply around a corner.

Jiang Yao bit her lip quietly. He was definitely upset.

She really must have crossed a line that day...

The car eventually stopped at the villa complex.

He Yunqing got out first, walked a few steps, then glanced back at Jiang Yao following behind and tossed his umbrella to her.

Jiang Yao caught the umbrella, shaking the gift box at him. "Hey, your gift."

He Yunqing shot her another glare, took the box from her, and then walked off without a backward glance.

Jiang Yao stood under the umbrella, watching the man whose very back seemed to broadcast his displeasure, her brow furrowing.

What exactly had made him so angry...?

She pondered this as she made her way home.

After putting down the umbrella and taking a hot shower, her phone rang.

Pouring herself a cup of hot water, she answered as she drank, "Hello?"

It was Xie Yan. "Yao, you haven’t given him the gift yet, have you?"

"I already did," Jiang Yao replied, unconcerned. "Why? Didn’t you say it was a perfect choice?"

"If it were perfume, yes, no problem. But the thing is, it’s not!"

Jiang Yao was baffled. "What do you mean, not? You’re confusing me."

"In short, I put the wrong box in your bag," Xie Yan said hesitantly. "The box I gave you didn’t have perfume—it’s... an intimate gift I bought for my husband."

"What kind of intimate gift?" Jiang Yao was still in a daze.

"You know... that kind!"

Jiang Yao finally caught on, nearly burning her tongue with the hot water.

That kind... intimate... oh dear...