Cherish You as My Life - Chapter 27.1

Chapter 27.1

Jiang Wei’s unexpected arrival made Ji Yao caught off guard.

She wore a baseball cap and sunglasses, making it hard to recognize her unless someone really paid attention.

As soon as she spotted Ji Yao, she rushed over, and said with a grin, “I was just shopping at the mall over there. Didn’t think I’d run into you when I stepped out.”

Ji Yao nodded and replied, “Alright, I’ll head out first.” He wasn’t worried about being snapped by paparazzi since no one dared to stir up trouble near the City Bureau.

Understanding Ji Yao’s attitude towards her, Jiang Wei didn’t push Ji Yao anymore. She just smiled and walked away with her assistant.

For some reason, Ji Yao found himself glancing back at her, especially his gaze lingering on her hair.

Her long hair flowed down her back, looking like it had been dipped in ink, radiating a vibrant, healthy shine.

Once home, Ji Yao knocked on the neighbour’s door across the corridor.

Sadly, she ignored him and didn’t even crack the door open.

The clever Captain Ji opened his own door, picked up Ashe, and stood at Han Xi’s door. “Come on, let’s call mom,” he encouraged his pet.

Upon receiving its master’s command, Ashe barked, “Woof woof woof!”

Hearing that, Han Xi opened the door, dressed in comfy, loose home clothes.
Ji Yao thought the soft beige silk made Han Xi’s skin look even more radiant.
She shot an annoying glance at Ji Yao and asked, “What brings you here?”

Ji Yao held Ashe’s front paw and shook it, saying in a coaxing voice, “He insisted on  coming to see you.”
Han Xi took Ashe and shut the door.

Captain Ji, once again turned away, was left speechless.

Back at home, Ji Yao made a small pot of bone soup, using it to cook some noodles, then topped it off with two poached eggs and veggies.

With a steaming bowl of noodles in hand, he knocked on Han Xi’s door again.

“Hey, I made some noodles.”

At this time, Han Xi was still at the open door, cradling Ashe in her arms.

The little dog snuggled against her, looking all cute and innocent.

Her shirt was a bit loose, and when Ashe’s paw brushed against it, the delicate lace of her black bra peeked out. The way it hugged her curves made it seem like it was ready to pop.

Seeing the unexpected scene, Ji Yao felt a tightness in his throat, and his heart began to drum fast.

Han Xi glanced at the bowl of noodles Ji Yao was holding. The thick white broth was speckled with green veggies, and a perfectly poached egg sat in the middle of the bowl. She thought that it was like something straight out of a cooking show.

She stepped aside as Ji Yao entered and placed the bowl on the table. He grabbed a cup of water and took a sip, and a wave of calm washed over him.

Han Xi turned to grab a bottle of vinegar from the cupboard. Just as she was about to pour some into her bowl, Ji Yao chimed in, “Maybe you should skip the vinegar. Didn’t you have enough earlier?”

She put the vinegar bottle back and took a seat saying, “I have no idea what you mean.”

Ji Yao sat across from her, resting his chin on his hand. He looked at the woman across from him with burning eyes.

The undeniable passion in the man’s eyes made Han Xi blush. She set her chopsticks down and said, “Can you please stop staring at me like that?”

“Okay, okay, you eat it.”Ji Yao picked Ashe up from the floor and gave its head a gentle pat before saying.

Knowing refusal was useless, Han Xi started to eat.

“Is it tasty?” the man asked a few seconds later.

Han Xi nodded. “Thanks! I didn’t know you could cook both Chinese and Western dishes so well.”

With a grin, Ji Yao replied, “Next time you want it, I’ll make it up for you.”

After finishing her noodles, Han Xi took her bowl and headed to the kitchen.

Ji Yao followed her and said, “You should relax. I’ll handle the cleanup later.”

Han Xi plopped down on the sofa, cradling her stomach.

Ji Yao approached, squatted beside her, and asked softly, “Can I give it a rub?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine. You’re a guy.”

Ji Yao chuckled, and said, “I can pretend to be a girl for a bit if it helps you, and then switch back when you need me to.”

Han Xi raised an eyebrow, and asked, “What do you mean by ‘when you need me’?”

Knowing the truth might land him in trouble, Ji Yao decided to remain silent. Instead, he smiled and stood up. “I’ll go warm up some ginger tea for you.”

After a few minutes, Ji Yao came out of the kitchen with a cup of ginger tea and placed it on the coffee table.  “It’s really hot, so wait a bit to drink it.”

Han Xi hugged a pillow to her stomach, and asked with a frown, “Where’s Jiang Wei from?”

Ji Yao sat next to her, tilting his head with a smirk. “You’re still feeling jealous, huh? Don’t worry, you’re the only one for me.”

Han Xi shot him a look, and replied, “I’m being serious. I feel like I’ve seen her before.”

“All these female stars look alike, right?” Ji Yao said.

Han Xi shook her head and replied, “No, it’s more than that. It just gives off a really bad vibe. It’s kind of depressing to look at.”

Ji Yao picked up the tea bowl, brushed his lips against the rim to check the temperature, and then handed it to Han Xi. “I’ll have someone look into it tomorrow.”

After taking a sip of the ginger tea, Han Xi felt a comforting warmth spread through her stomach, easing the pain.

Then it hit her—something felt off.

His lips had touched her bowl, and she found herself drinking from it without thinking.

They locked eyes for a moment and they looked at each other’s lips.

His lips were just right—not too thick, not too thin, perfect for kissing.

Hers were a lovely cherry shade, with a plump lower lip that gave her a soft, alluring look.

When she glanced up, she was met with his gaze.

She loved his eyes. She thought that they sparkled like peach blossoms in the sunlight and twinkled like stars on a summer night.

He felt an overwhelming urge to lean in and kiss her passionately, but he didn’t want to scare her off, so he settled for a playful wink.

From beneath his long lashes, she saw a flurry of peach blossoms dancing from the corners of his eyes. She couldn’t tear her gaze away, as if he had her under a spell.

He parted his lips, realizing how thirsty he was.

He was incredibly thirsty, and she was the only one who could quench it.

Ashe, who had been ignored for quite a while, jumped into Han Xi’s arms and playfully scratched Ji Yao’s arm with its tiny claws.

Han Xi got up and turned her head away, saying, “It’s getting late; you should head back.” She walked to the door, opened it, and stared down at her toes.

Ji Yao approached the door, but Ashe wasn’t ready to leave with him and stayed put on the sofa.

Han Xi went back to the dining table, grabbed a bowl and chopsticks, and handed them to Ji Yao, saying, “If you don’t have anything going on, maybe you shouldn’t come over so often.”

Ji Yao didn’t respond but looked down at her, asking, “When you say that, can you even look me in the eye?”

She couldn’t.

He moved closer, pushing her against the door, and asked softly, “Han Xi, are you scared?”

With her back against the door, she could smell his scent—gentle yet strong, almost overwhelming.

He let out a soft sigh, still speaking gently, reassuring her, “It’s alright, just take your time.”

Have a nice day!