C19 Chapter 19
Touching his nose, Chen Dong felt a bit embarrassed. His legs had moved faster than the rest of him, leading him up the stairs. Upon opening the door to a typical apartment building, he was greeted by a delightful fragrance. Tao had a cat, which was initially curled up in a corner.
Seeing someone, the cat sprang out and began licking Tao's legs.
Tao crouched down and affectionately stroked the cat's head. "Mommy's late, I made you go hungry."
The cat meowed contentedly, as if sighing with pleasure. It then noticed a man beside its owner and bristled, eyeing Chen Dong with suspicion.
Chen Dong awkwardly touched his nose again. Thankfully, he wasn't a burglar. Why was the cat staring at him so defensively?
"He's a good person, a good person," Tao reassured, petting the cat's back. With Tao's soothing, the cat retreated to its nest, meowing as if its guard was down.
"It's just not used to strangers. This is actually the first time I've brought someone home." Tao touched the back of her head, her face flushing. He was a man...
And a married man at that... Tao internally lamented. She hadn't thought it through before inviting him over.
"Anyway, the bathroom is over here... and this is the kitchen... You can sleep in my bed tonight, and I'll take the couch." After showing Chen Dong around, Tao felt that, regardless of his circumstances, he came from a well-off background. "My place is a bit small, Mr. Chen, but please make yourself comfortable for the night."
A man down on his luck wouldn't fuss over such details. Having a place to sleep was a blessing in itself.
The three-bedroom apartment was simple, part of a standard complex. Reflecting on the past, before he founded Winterfell Industries, he and that woman had started from similar humble beginnings...
"Mr. Chen? Mr. Chen?" Tao called out, holding a clean white towel on her arm. "The bath is ready for you. Go ahead and wash up."
Gratefully accepting the towel, Chen Dong smiled. "Thank you."
The bathroom was cramped, and Chen Dong felt somewhat constrained. After his shower, the aroma of cooking wafted to his nose, and his stomach rumbled in anticipation.
"I'm hungry," Tao said with a shy smile, as she prepared two bowls of noodles. "Mr. Chen, please join me for a bite."
After a heated argument with his wife upon returning home, Chen Dong hadn't eaten a thing. His stomach was growling incessantly, but he didn't hesitate to start slurping down the noodles.
Taking advantage of the moment Tao was showering, Chen Dong washed the dishes and settled himself on the couch. He felt grateful for being taken in and couldn't bring himself to let his host sleep on the sofa.
By the time Tao emerged from the bathroom, Chen Dong was already fast asleep on the couch. She noticed the spotless kitchen and wondered why Director Lee couldn't appreciate such a decent man.
The next morning, Chen Dong woke to find Tao had left, with a note on the table: "Breakfast is in the fridge. Just heat it up." Inside the fridge were ham and bread, which tasted quite good after a quick warm-up in the microwave. It seemed like Tao's handiwork.
Checking the time, Chen Dong realized it was time to head to the office. Yang Qi had an outdoor photo shoot scheduled for the day. Unlike the indoor shoot where they had been interrupted by troublemakers, today's outdoor setting was an unknown variable. He knew he needed to keep a close eye on things.
Upon arriving at the location, Chen Dong saw that Yang Qi and her team were already there. Luxury cars were parked just outside the scenic spot, and further in, Yang Qi struck various poses for the camera.
Curious tourists gathered around, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the action. Meanwhile, the photography team was besieged by onlookers. The team leader, phone in hand, made several calls, visibly frustrated.
"Where is she?" the team leader barked, kicking the nearest assistant with a furious glare. "Where did the model you were supposed to find go? Useless, all of you!"
After completing a set of photos, Yang Qi was taking a break on a bench, sipping water handed to her by an assistant. Spotting Chen Dong nearby, her face brightened, and she hurried over to greet him.
"Miss Yang, oh dear..." The assistant, laden with an assortment of bags and clutching a bottle of water, hurried after her charge. The male model was a no-show, and if Yang Qi, the female model, also disappeared, the team leader would be livid.
"Have you arrived?" Yang Qi caught up, her nose glistening with sweat, her eyes shining like stars.
She looked nothing like the first time she met Chen Dong. He sensed this and nodded, "Have you finished shooting?"
"Not yet." Yang Qi shook her hands to cool them off and took the water from the assistant, "My partner hasn't shown up, and we still have a romantic shoot to do."
"Oh." Chen Dong didn't quite grasp the situation. His only concern was to ensure everything was going smoothly.
"Have you found a partner for my father's interview?" Yang Qi's lips glistened as she passed the water bottle back to the assistant, who was visibly puzzled about the nature of Chen Dong and Yang Qi's relationship.
"Partner?" Chen Dong was confused. "What partner?"
"Don't you know? My dad invited you and Director Lee..." Yang Qi had only clarified the nature of Chen Dong's relationship with Lee Susu from Xu yesterday. "But Director Lee's partner..."
She was cut off mid-sentence as the team leader began calling for her. Reluctantly, Yang Qi dropped the subject, "I should go see what's happening."
"Okay."
The assistant, who had been standing by Yang Qi, cast a glance at Chen Dong before scurrying after her.
With time to spare, Chen Dong looked around, not expecting Yang Qi to beckon him over.
"Me?" He pointed to himself, wondering if he'd heard wrong, then followed to inquire about the matter.
"Team Leader, what do you think of him?" Yang Qi's hands clung to his arm, making Chen Dong feel a bit awkward as the skin beneath her touch seemed to burn.
The team leader scrutinized Chen Dong, resting his chin in his hand, "Take off your shirt; let's have a look."
"Come on, take it off," Yang Qi encouraged.
Chen Dong was taken aback. He was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt; removing it would leave him bare-chested.
Yang Qi didn't spare Chen Dong a glance as she reached out and jabbed her finger into his abdomen. Caught off guard, Chen Dong was unable to resist, feeling a sudden chill across his upper body that left him utterly speechless.
"What is this?" he thought, bewildered. "Am I being overpowered in front of all these people?" Internally, a stampede of frustration raced through his mind.