Chapter 84: Chapter 84 The Heart of a Woman
After dropping Wen Yao back at school, Li Chen hailed a cab and headed straight for Yuan Qingying's place.
"Senior sister!"
The moment Li Chen saw Yuan Qingying, his eyes lit up.
She wasn't clad in the perpetual white coat he usually saw her in at the hospital.
Today, Yuan Qingying wore a light-colored plaid shirt with tight jeans.
It was probably because she was at home and chose to dress casually.
The top button of her plaid shirt was undone, revealing a flash of white, and the curves below pushed against the fabric, creating a splendid silhouette, while those tight jeans accentuated her long, shapely legs exquisitely.
Her long black hair lazily clipped at the back of her head.
It was a simple outfit, but it took Li Chen's breath away with its startling beauty.
"You... you can sit down for a minute, dinner will be ready in no time!"
Sensing Li Chen's intense gaze, Yuan Qingying grew a tad shy and flustered, called out to him, and quickly ducked into the kitchen.
Watching her graceful figure move, Li Chen found his heart and mind in a wild rapture.
At the same time, he was somewhat surprised that his beautiful senior sister had invited him over for dinner, but then it dawned on him.
He felt a secret thrill in his heart.
The room was simple, with just a bed, a long sofa, a coffee table, and not even a TV.
As Li Chen sat on the sofa, his gaze would invariably wander over to Yuan Qingying.
From behind, she was just as stunning.
"Senior sister, let me help you!"
Li Chen managed to sit still only for a moment before the urge to join her won over.
Breathing in her faint scent, he felt an inexplicable urge to hold her delicate figure tight in his arms and cherish her tenderly.
"No need... no need, just sit, I'll be done soon," said Yuan Qingying as she stopped and shook her head.
"I've got nothing better to do, and I often cook when I'm at home, so don't be so formal, senior sister," Li Chen said, as he started to lend a hand.
Yuan Qingying wanted to refuse, but somehow during their back-and-forth, her smooth, fair hand ended up in Li Chen's grasp.
Her voice came to an abrupt halt.
She hurriedly withdrew her hand, her cheeks burning red, her heart pounding.
Li Chen just smiled, paying it no mind.
Initially, Yuan Qingying was cooking, but after he joined, Li Chen quickly took over as the main chef, and she turned into his assistant.
Soon enough, under Li Chen's hands, several delicious dishes materialized.
They were rich in color and fragrance – utterly mouthwatering.
"Li Chen, I never expected you to cook so well," said Yuan Qingying, surprise and a bit of regret on her face as she sat by the coffee table. "I wanted to invite you over as a thank you, and yet, you ended up cooking."
"I'm just happy that Senior Sister invited me over, why the formality?" Li Chen said with a shake of his head and a smile.
"Li Chen, do you drink?" Yuan Qingying asked.
"I do! Such a good day deserves a celebration," said Li Chen, pausing for a moment before laughing.
"This is the wine I bought when I passed the hospital interview and got the job, it's been unopened ever since," Yuan Qingying said, turning to take a bottle of red wine off a shelf.
Li Chen wasn't able to discern the quality of red wine.
But when you're drinking with the right person, even the most ordinary red wine tastes great.
The two chatted while eating and, before they knew it, half the bottle was gone.
Yuan Qingying seemed not to be much of a drinker; her normally pale and cool complexion was now flushed pink, and her eyes were slightly glazed.
"Li Chen, I really want to thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you?"
"That day, I was so scared. If they had taken me, I wouldn't know how to carry on living."
It appeared she hadn't had someone to confide in for a long time.
Now, under the influence of alcohol, she let down her guard and poured out her heart to Li Chen.
Her loosely buttoned, casual plaid shirt, along with her leaning forward, exposed a large expanse of white to Li Chen's view.
Following her neckline, Li Chen could see the pronounced fullness beneath.
Waves of fragrance wafted into his nose, making him parched and stirring an indescribable impulse to bury his head between those snowy mounds.
Yet, in the end, he didn't act on it; he was afraid it might terrify her.
"Senior sister, it's all in the past, everything is going to be alright," Li Chen comforted her. "But in the future, you need to speak up if something's wrong. It was too dangerous what happened that day – had I not encountered you by chance, the consequences would be unthinkable."
"I... I couldn't bring myself to say it."
"Why not?"
"Li Chen, please don't ask anymore, I really can't trouble you any further."
"Why not? Do you consider me such a stranger?"
"It's not... it's not like that."
"Then why can't you tell me?"
Li Chen persisted.
Two large tears rolled down Yuan Qingying's cheeks as she sobbed, "Because I've fallen for you."
In her agitation, she revealed her deepest feelings.
She didn't know when she had fallen for Li Chen – was it when he risked his life to save her, when he offered money to help her, or perhaps she had started falling for him back in the hospital.
She was a full six years older than he was, which made her keep her feelings buried deep inside her heart.
But when she heard that her father's surgery had been successful, the first person she wanted to share the news with was still him.
After blurting it out, Yuan Qingying suddenly regretted it, shyly lowering her head and coyly rubbing her slender fingers together, not daring to look up.
...