When Xiao Yunhua realized that she was hugging Qiang Yue, and so tightly at that, she released him and moved away, her eyes avoiding his.She didn"t know what she was thinking! She muttered an apology to Qiang Yue and quickly went back to her hotel room, only to realize that she was stuck on an elevator with him.
An awkward silence loomed over the two before Xiao Yunhua finally had the guts to look up. She saw him turn his head and their eyes met; his kind eyes and her blank ones.
"It"s alright." He rea.s.sured, trying to make sure she didn"t feel tense for hugging him. They had a platonic relations.h.i.+p, so for her to do that, Qiang Yue knew she was most likely afraid that she messed up.
"Thank you for saving me." Qiang Yue frowned momentarily, but nodded.
"Anything for a friend."
Meanwhile for the next two weeks, Qiang Yue and Xiao Yunhua were inseparable.
They had spent so long together that the hotel and everyone else in the island acknowledged them as a couple and would constantly tease a blus.h.i.+ng Xiao Yunhua over it.
Qiang Yue remained neutral for the most part, but even he couldn"t deny that his heart began to beat faster when she was nearby. Even though he never expected to enjoy the company of a woman ten years younger than him,
Xiahu Yunhua had surprisingly become an exception.
He had acknowledged her as a friend before, yet he enjoyed her presence and was alarmingly getting used to it, like he didn"t want for it to disappear.
In fact, it was so much easier for the doctor to call her "Yunhua" as abiding by her request now. Her name slipped off of his tongue smoothly, like they had known each other for years.
Which in a way, they had, especially since Xiao Yunhua had met him in the hospital so long ago.
But to reveal this fact would reveal her ident.i.ty; one of her most guarded secrets.
She could only endure in silence while always feeling at ease within the doctor.
The first receptionist that had answered her question and fangirled about them, whose name was Xia Li, would always make sure to tell Xiao Yunhua how handsome her boyfriend was.
After that incident, Xia Li and Xiao Yunhua had become good friends.
Even though Xiao Yunhua would deny it, Xia Li would nonetheless not believe her.
At the moment, the two were getting ready to leave and go to the beach—where Xiao Yunhua had promised Qiang Yue she wouldn"t get near the water—but Xia Li pointed at them. "Look at the two lovebirds! Us single people could only be left behind to eat your dust!"
"Xia Li—"
"Yes, yes, I know what you"ll say..." Xia Li rolled her eyes and imitated, "There"s no romantic relations at all." She clenched her fists, placing it where her heart was dramatically, "Can"t a fangirl s.h.i.+p? Can"t I dream of a relations.h.i.+p between you two? Can"t I wish for a relations.h.i.+p between you two?"
"Xia Li..." Xiao Yunhua scolded gently, yet out of the corner of her eyes, she looked at Qiang Yue, trying to confirm his reaction. The man"s gentle eyes did not change nor did he hold any hostility about Xia Li"s words.
Xia Li watched Xiao Yunhua discreetly looking at Qiang Yue, as though she was trying to confirm something.
Seeing her friend disappointed, Xia Li snapped her fingers and asked the two to stand together.
"What are you going to do?"
"Well, since you both will be leaving very soon—and I"m bored on my break—I thought to take a picture as a memory." At first, Xiao Yunhua was going to reject Xia Li, but she saw Qiang Yue already beginning to shuffle closer in her direction.
She could only shrug and move even closer until she was as close as two weeks before when she was in his embrace.
Averting her eyes, she smiled at the camera, but Xia Li placed the camera down and sighed deeply.
"Yunhua, you have to smile like you mean it and not like you"re having a stroke." Hearing Xia Li"s criticism, Xiao Yunhua chuckled and smiled as she remembered the good times with Han Mi.
Before she could realize, a snap had already happened and the photo was printing already. Xia Li had used a Polaroid camera, meaning the image was printed.
A few minutes later, when it was fully printed, Xiao Yunhua and Qiang Yue looked at photo in surprise.
Xiao Yunhua because the man had smiled and his eyes were on her. And Qiang Yue because Xiao Yunhua"s smile was the most genuine smile he had ever seen her spout in the short span of time that he had known her.
Seeing her so joyful, his heart thumped faster. His vacation was going to be over tomorrow, meaning that he had to return the day after.
But the idea of parting with Xiao Yunhua made him feel uncomfortable. A feeling that he had never felt in regards to any woman before.
"You know, since you keep claiming you"re not a couple, I"m sure when you get back, many guys would throw themselves at you." Xia Li humphed, a little bit envious at her friend"s beautiful looks.
Xiao Yunhua rolled her eyes and ushered Qiang Yue to follow her, but the man had stood frozen.
The idea of Xiao Yunhua spending time with other men like she did with him made the usual calm doctor a bit angry... and a little green with jealousy?