Chapter 87: The Hug [2]

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Hug [2]

Xi Yunxui remained quietly within his embrace, her hands resting uncertainly in front of her while the silence of the library settled around them.

Outside, the wind moved through the trees, causing the leaves to brush gently against the windows. The sound was soft and rhythmic, creating a strange sense of stillness inside the room.

Huo Jingchen felt the moment her body relaxed.

The change was slight, almost imperceptible, but he noticed it immediately.

His arms remained around her waist, though his hold became gentler. The restless feeling that had driven him to stop her in the courtyard gradually faded, replaced by a quiet satisfaction he could not quite explain.

For the first time in a long while, he did not feel the need to speak.

He simply stood behind her, allowing himself to enjoy the warmth of her presence.

Xi Yunxui, on the other hand, was painfully aware of every passing second.

At first, she had tried to distract herself by studying the bookshelves in front of her. Unfortunately, the longer she remained in his arms, the more difficult it became to focus on anything else.

She could feel the warmth of his chest against her back, the steady movement of his breathing, and the faint brush of his breath whenever he lowered his head. Even the hand resting against her waist seemed to possess an unreasonable amount of attention.

Her cheeks grew warmer.

This is only for a little while.

She reminded herself of that repeatedly.

Just a little while.

Yet the silence continued.

One moment passed, then another.

Xi Yunxui began to wonder if Huo Jingchen had forgotten that he was still holding her. She almost turned her head to look at him, but the thought of their faces being even closer made her abandon the idea immediately.

She could only stand there and wait.

Eventually, she felt the hold around her waist loosen.

Huo Jingchen’s arms slowly relaxed, giving her the freedom to move. The moment Xi Yunxui sensed the change, she acted without hesitation.

She slipped out of his embrace and quickly took a step forward.

The sudden distance between them allowed her to breathe properly again.

Xi Yunxui pressed her lips together and gathered herself before turning around to face him.

Then she froze.

Huo Jingchen was standing only a short distance away.

The golden light spilling through the tall windows fell across his dark hair and sharply defined features, softening the usually distant expression on his face. His gaze remained fixed on her, deep and unreadable, but there was something different in his eyes now.

Something quieter.

Something that made her heart stumble.

Xi Yunxui had prepared herself to apologize, to ask why he had suddenly embraced her, or perhaps to make a lighthearted remark to ease the awkwardness.

But the moment she saw his expression, every word disappeared from her mind.

She opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Huo Jingchen also remained silent.

For a few seconds, they simply stared at each other in the quiet library.

Xi Yunxui’s hands curled lightly at her sides. She had no idea whether she should step back, look away, or pretend that nothing unusual had happened. Her mind searched desperately for something appropriate to say, but every possible sentence sounded strange.

Eldest Young Master, why did you hug me?

Too direct.

Are you alright?

Too concerned.

Did you need something?

Too formal.

None of them seemed suitable for the expression on his face.

Huo Jingchen watched the uncertainty flicker across her features. Her cheeks were still faintly flushed, and the loose strands of hair near her cheek had been disturbed by his embrace. She looked as though she wanted to escape the awkwardness but could not decide which direction to take.

For some reason, the sight made his gaze soften.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Like what?"

"Like you want to say something."

She immediately looked away.

"I... I was just wondering..."

Her voice faded.

Huo Jingchen waited.

Xi Yunxui glanced at him again, only to find that he was still watching her. The calmness in his expression made her even more flustered. It was almost as though he had not just held her from behind and asked her to remain in his arms.

Meanwhile, she was the one struggling to recover her composure.

"Eldest Young Master," she finally said, choosing the safest question she could think of, "why did you bring me to the library?"

Huo Jingchen’s eyes shifted briefly toward the shelves before returning to her.

"I wanted to see you."

The answer was so straightforward that Xi Yunxui became completely still.

He had said it without hesitation.

Without embarrassment.

Without appearing to realize how startling those words sounded coming from him.

Xi Yunxui stared at him, unsure whether she had misunderstood.

Huo Jingchen seemed to notice her reaction, but instead of taking the words back, he continued in a quieter voice.

"I wanted to spend some time with you."

Her heart gave a sudden, unsteady beat.

The library was silent enough for her to hear it.

Xi Yunxui lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly against the fabric of her dress.

She had expected many things from Huo Jingchen—cold instructions, unexpected questions, perhaps even another strange book from the library to fix.

She had not expected him to look at her as though her presence alone was something he had been waiting for.

For a moment, she did not know what to do with that feeling.

Huo Jingchen took one slow step toward her.

Xi Yunxui instinctively lifted her eyes.

He stopped before getting too close, leaving enough distance between them for her to breathe, but his gaze remained fixed on her face.

"Is that a problem?" he asked.

Xi Yunxui’s lips parted.

She should have said yes.

She should have reminded him that he was her employer and she was merely a maid in his household. She should have drawn a clear boundary before his actions became even more confusing.

Instead, she found herself looking at the faint tiredness in his eyes and remembering the strange emotion in his voice when he had asked her to remain in his arms.

Her heart softened despite herself.

"No," she answered quietly.

Huo Jingchen’s gaze deepened.

Xi Yunxui quickly added, "I was just surprised."

"I know."

"Then why did you—"

She stopped herself.

Huo Jingchen waited for her to finish, but when she remained silent, he did not press her.

After a moment, he reached past her and pulled out a nearby chair.

"Sit."

Xi Yunxui looked at the chair, then at him.

The command was familiar, and somehow, it helped restore a little of her composure.

She hesitated briefly before walking over and sitting down. Huo Jingchen took the chair opposite her, his movements calm and unhurried.

Even then, Xi Yunxui could not completely settle.

The warmth of his embrace still lingered around her waist, and his words continued to echo inside her mind.

I wanted to see you.

She lowered her eyes, trying to hide the complicated expression gathering across her face.

She had only intended to live quietly in this world, earn money, complete her missions, and enjoy a peaceful life.

Yet ever since she entered the Huo residence, things had begun to develop in a direction she had never anticipated.

And judging from the way Huo Jingchen was looking at her now, she had a feeling that her work at the Huo mansion was about to become much more troublesome.

---

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Xi Yunxui was still trying to recover from the unexpected embrace when Huo Jingchen finally broke the silence.

"Where are King C and the other two creatures?"

His question caught her off guard.

Xi Yunxui blinked, her thoughts momentarily clearing.

"King C and the others?"

"Yes." Huo Jingchen’s gaze remained on her. "I haven’t seen them since earlier."

The moment he mentioned King C, Xi Yunxui suddenly remembered the conversation in her room.

I’m hungry.

That was what King C had told her before she left.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh, no!"

She sprang to her feet so abruptly that the chair scraped against the floor.

Huo Jingchen’s brows drew together slightly.

"What is it?"

Xi Yunxui looked toward the library door, her expression suddenly filled with concern.

"King C said he was hungry."

Huo Jingchen stared at her.

For a second, he seemed unsure whether she was being serious.

Xi Yunxui, however, was already imagining the consequences of leaving King C hungry for too long. The creature had a terrible temper, an even worse sense of restraint, and absolutely no understanding of the phrase wait patiently.

If he became hungry enough, he might begin searching for food on his own.

And if King C started searching for food in the Huo residence...

Xi Yunxui’s expression changed.

That would be a disaster.

She quickly turned back to Huo Jingchen.

"I have to go to the kitchen."

"Why?"

"I need to find some vegetables for King C and food for the other two."

She spoke quickly, barely giving herself time to breathe.

"Biyu and Hui might also be hungry. I should have prepared something for them before coming here, but I forgot."

Huo Jingchen glanced at her.

By then Xi Yunxui was already hurrying towards the door.

"I’ll be back, Young Master."

She did not wait for his response.

Her hand had just reached for the doorknob when Huo Jingchen suddenly stood up.

Before Xi Yunxui could open the door, he reached out and caught her hand.

The warmth of his fingers closed around hers.

Xi Yunxui stopped.

Huo Jingchen’s hold was not forceful, but it was firm enough to prevent her from leaving. His thumb rested lightly against the back of her hand, and the sudden contact made her heart skip in a way she found deeply unreasonable.

She slowly turned her head.

Huo Jingchen stood behind her, his dark eyes fixed on her face.

"You’re leaving again."

His voice was low.

There was a faintly accusing tone beneath the words, as though Xi Yunxui had committed some personal offense by attempting to walk away from him for the second time that day.

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

"Again?"

Huo Jingchen’s expression remained calm, but his fingers did not loosen around hers.

"You just arrived."

"I know, but—"

"You keep leaving."

His tone was quieter this time.

The faint accusation had not disappeared completely, but something more vulnerable had slipped beneath it.

Xi Yunxui’s expression softened.

She suddenly found herself unable to make a joke or brush off his words.

For someone like Huo Jingchen, who was usually composed and difficult to read, admitting that he disliked being left behind was already an unusual confession.