Chapter 146: This Time, I Will Never Lose Her Again

In the study separated by a wall, only a floor lamp was lit.

Cheng Xingye sat within the circle of light cast by the lamp, his eyes fixed on his computer screen, wearing headphones as he spoke on a voice call.

Xiao He, the assistant to Guo Mengyun, who usually handled her private affairs, felt a sudden jolt of anxiety upon receiving a late-night call from the young master.

Cheng Xingye had dealt with Xiao He a few times and was quite familiar with him, so he cut straight to the point: "What have you been busy with lately?"

Xiao He, not daring to play clever in front of this crown prince, honestly disclosed everything he could. However, the man on the other end let out a faint chuckle and bluntly broached the subject of the call: "My mother didn't ask you to do anything for her?"

"…Madam has rarely asked about company matters recently."

The line went silent for a moment; it seemed he did not believe it.

During those few seconds of quiet, Xiao He felt as if his heart were being held in someone’s hand—squeezed, pinched, and tossed about. It was as if the other man didn’t want him to have a moment of peace.

After a long, agonizing wait, the voice on the other end came through, low and cold: "Then are you aware she visited Jiang University recently?"

Xiao He: "..."

His heart tightened instantly; he knew he couldn't hide anything from this young master anymore. Just as he was racking his brain to organize his words, the other man lost patience.

"Fine, I get it."

Xiao He was young and lacked the mental resilience to handle such pressure; he was immediately overcome with the guilt and nervousness of someone caught in the act of plotting behind another's back.

But could he dare to disobey the Madam?! He had grievances he couldn't voice. As he stammered, trying to explain himself, Cheng Xingye interrupted him.

"Xiao He, I recall you've been working at the company for several years now."

Xiao He was stunned. Before he could speak, he heard the deep voice say, "Any interest in coming to work as my assistant?"

...

The night outside the window thickened.

Cheng Xingye curled up in a leather armchair, brow furrowed, lost in silence for a long time. He hadn't craved a cigarette in ages, but at this moment, he felt restless and had an intense urge to smell smoke to calm his nerves. The central air conditioning kept the room at a constant temperature, yet as he sat there, Cheng Xingye began to feel cold.

He stood up, intending to check on Lu Qingyue. Glancing at the wall clock, he realized it was already past eleven. When one is lost in thought, time always slips away quickly—especially in the dim, cold stillness of a room where one easily loses track of the hour.

Cheng Xingye pushed open the study door. Hoshino was crouched by the threshold, wagging its tail. Seeing the living room quiet and the bedroom door shut tight, he subconsciously reached down to stroke Hoshino’s head and asked in a low voice, "Where is our little one?"

Hoshino understood, rubbing against his palm before happily leading him toward the living room.

No overhead lights were on in the living room, only a wall lamp casting a faint glow. The vast space was shrouded in this dim light. Lu Qingyue was curled up on the sofa, her small face pressed against the armrest, clutching a cushion, fast asleep.

Cheng Xingye sat down very gently on the sofa beside her, reached over to a nearby armchair for a small blanket, and carefully tucked it around her.

In the quiet night, the desolate apartment felt a little warmer thanks to the presence of the soft little girl sleeping soundly on the sofa, unaware of the world. Cheng Xingye silently slipped his hand under the blanket and held her slender, warm wrist. Only at this moment, touching her, did his restless heart seem to settle.

...

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, rain had begun to fall at some point.

A hazy curtain of rain formed on the glass, obscuring most of the view. The neon lights blurred into shifting circles, making the entire city seem to sway in the wind.

Lu Qingyue was startled awake halfway through her sleep by the sound of the wind and rain. She opened her eyes, dazed, first drawn by the torrential rain outside the window before realizing, in a foggy state, that someone was sitting