Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 348 Clingy Mai Mai

Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of the French windows, casting hazy patches of light on the dark gray sheets.

Zhao Jinmai's eyelashes trembled, and her consciousness slowly rose from its slumber.

The seat next to me was empty, but the lingering warmth seemed to still be there.

She turned to her side and buried her face in the pillow where Jiang Qing had slept, his scent gently enveloping her.

The scenes from last night flooded my mind without warning.

His burning gaze, his deep murmur, his strong arms, and his response—from awkwardness to mastery, a complete surrender—every frame was scalding hot, instantly turning her ears bright red.

"what……"

She let out a soft sob, then abruptly pulled up the blanket and burrowed inside like a startled ostrich, tightly covering her burning face in the darkness.

Shyness surged through my heart like waves, but beneath this overwhelming embarrassment, an irrepressible joy, sweet as honey, was bursting forth and rapidly spreading throughout my body.

She's not a child anymore... She's finally no longer the child who needed to be carefully protected in Jiang Qing's eyes.

This realization made her curl up her toes under the covers and secretly laugh, her heart pounding like a fluttering little bird.

"Dong dong!"

A knocking sound came from the quiet bedroom doorway.

Zhao Jinmai froze instantly, as if a pause button had been pressed, and even held her breath.

"woke up?"

Jiang Qing's smiling voice came through the blanket.

She hesitated for a few seconds before slowly pulling down the blanket, revealing her eyes, and looking towards the door.

Jiang Qing was leaning against the door frame.

He had clearly just taken a shower; his short black hair was still damp and hung loosely. He was only wearing a dark gray T-shirt and matching trousers, exuding a lazy and homey vibe.

The morning light outlined his silhouette, and his eyes, filled with a gentle smile, were fixed on her.

"are you hungry?"

Jiang Qing asked.

Breakfast is ready.

Under his gaze, Zhao Jinmai's cheeks, which had finally cooled down, suddenly burned again.

She instinctively wanted to pull the blanket up to cover half her face, but then felt it was too deliberate, so she could only reply in a low voice.

"Hmm... I'm hungry."

"Shall we get up and eat?"

Jiang Qing smiled and looked at her with a relaxed expression.

"Um……"

Zhao Jinmai responded and made a move to lift the blanket and get up, but her movements were as slow as a sloth.

She was completely naked, and the thought of getting out of bed like this under his gaze made her extremely uncomfortable.

Even though everything has already happened.

"You...you get out first!"

She mustered her courage, her voice tinged with a hint of shy annoyance and coquettishness.

"I want to get dressed!"

Jiang Qing chuckled softly.

"Okay, I'll go out."

He agreed verbally, but didn't move, his gaze still fixed on her reddened ears with interest.

"How is Mai Mai's strength recovering? Does she need any carrying services?"

"Jiang Qing!"

Zhao Jinmai was both embarrassed and anxious, so she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

"Get out of here!"

The pillow landed softly on the door frame.

Jiang Qing smiled and caught it, then stopped teasing her, turned and left the bedroom door, considerately closing the door behind her.

Only when the door lock clicked softly did Zhao Jinmai finally breathe a sigh of relief, then covered her face and rolled halfway around on the bed.

This person... how could they be like this!

How come I never realized he was so bad before!
She sat up, threw back the covers, and prepared to get out of bed. Her gaze inadvertently swept over a small dark stain in the center of the sheet, and fragmented but clear memories of last night flashed back. Her face flushed crimson, almost as if it were about to bleed.

She practically jumped out of bed in a fluster, enduring the slight discomfort deep within her body, and awkwardly rushed to the wardrobe. She quickly pulled out the pale yellow sundress and underwear she had bought yesterday, then grabbed the clothes and rushed into the ensuite bathroom in the bedroom.

The warm water washed over my body, easing some of my shyness.

Looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes sparkling with spring and her lips slightly swollen, her fingers gently traced the faint red marks on her collarbone, and her heart began to race irregularly again.

She quickly washed up and changed into that bright pale yellow dress.

The soft fabric clung to her body's curves, and the skirt hem fell just above her knees, making her skin appear even whiter. She looked like a little sunflower blooming in the morning sun.

Zhao Jinmai patted her still flushed cheeks in front of the mirror, took a deep breath, and then opened the bathroom door and walked out.

The living room was filled with the aroma of food.

On the island counter of the open kitchen, there are two bowls of steaming congee with preserved egg and lean pork, a plate of golden and tempting fried eggs, and a few slices of toasted bread.

Jiang Qing was already seated at the dining table, his laptop in front of him, his fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard, his expression focused.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up.

Seeing Zhao Jinmai, dressed in a pale yellow dress and without makeup, yet still fresh and charming, a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes, which was quickly replaced by a gentle smile.

"sit."

He pointed to the seat opposite him.

Zhao Jinmai walked over and sat down, picking up a spoon and sipping her porridge.

The porridge was cooked until soft, sticky, and fragrant, and the temperature was just right.

She secretly glanced at Jiang Qing across from her.

The light from the screen reflected in his deep eyes, and he occasionally frowned slightly when he saw something, his fingertips slowly sliding across the touchpad.

On such a quiet and ordinary morning, he was working in his pajamas while she was eating the breakfast he had made, wearing a new dress... An indescribable sense of peace filled Zhao Jinmai's heart.

She couldn't help but imagine what their daily life would be like if they got married in the future.
It's simple, warm, and full of comforting everyday life.

She could even picture him busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron, while she nestled on the sofa reading a script…

This thought made her feel sweet inside.

However, just as this sweet bubble was about to completely engulf her, several names jumped into her mind without warning.

Zhou Ye, Meng Ziyi, Chen Duling, Zhang Jingyi, Tian Xiwei... those female celebrities who occasionally had some scandals and connections with Jiang Qing.

Whether they were radiant, aloof, or lively, they all had some kind of connection with him.

These past two days, she's been so immersed in the sweetness of their time together that she's almost deliberately ignoring their presence.

It felt like something was gently blocking my chest, a dull ache.

The spoon stirred the porridge in the bowl, but the speed slowed down.

"What's wrong? Don't you like the porridge?"

Jiang Qing's voice rang out, carrying a questioning tone.

He noticed the subtle changes in her emotions.

Zhao Jinmai suddenly came to her senses, quickly shook her head, and forced a smile.

"No, no, it's delicious!"

She quickly suppressed the sudden gloom, lowered her head and gulped down her porridge, as if that would wash away those messy thoughts.

I don't want to think about it anymore, at least not now.

Now, he's right beside her, and he only needs to look at her.

She just wanted to cherish every moment.

As for the future, haven't she already taken a step closer to him?
After finishing breakfast, she took the initiative to clear the dishes.

After wiping her hands clean, she tiptoed behind Jiang Qing.

He was still intently staring at the screen, seemingly reading an English report on "sensor redundancy design," with several work emails open beside him.

Zhao Jinmai pursed her lips, then suddenly stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck from behind, her soft body gently pressing against his broad back, her chin resting on his shoulder.

"Ok?"

Jiang Qing paused his typing, relaxed slightly, leaned back in his chair, turned his face, and rubbed his cheek against her ear.

"I am full?"

His affectionate gestures were indulgent.

"Ah."

Zhao Jinmai responded sullenly, then rubbed against his neck like a kitten seeking comfort.

"What are you looking at? It looks so hard to understand."

"Xiaomi is under a lot of pressure regarding the technical details of safety redundancy in intelligent driving. After the Lin Zhiying incident, they had to repeatedly verify the solutions."

Jiang Qing gave a brief explanation, then raised his hand to cover her hand that was wrapped around his chest, and gently squeezed her fingertips.

"Give me five more minutes, I'll finish this and then I'll be with you, okay?" "Okay, sure."

Zhao Jinmai obediently agreed, but did not let go. Instead, she hugged him even tighter and quietly lay on his back, looking at the code and charts on his screen that she could not understand at all.

Feeling the warmth of his body, the slight unease I had just felt was temporarily soothed.

Five minutes later, Jiang Qing deftly typed the last key, saved the document, and closed the computer.

He turned around and scooped Zhao Jinmai, who was still clinging to his back, into his arms, letting her sit sideways on his lap.

"boring?"

He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked up at her small face, which was so close to his.

Zhao Jinmai shook her head, cupped his face in her hands, traced his eyebrows with her fingertips, her eyes sparkling with affection.

"Your work seems quite interesting."

Jiang Qing smiled gently.

"When did our Mai Mai learn to say such sweet things?"

He pinched her waist.

"I always will!"

Zhao Jinmai wrinkled her nose, feigning displeasure, then laughed and leaned down to give him a quick kiss on the lips, like a child who had stolen candy.

"You're rewarded for your high work efficiency!"

This fleeting kiss clearly couldn't satisfy a man who had nothing else to do.

Jiang Qing's eyes darkened instantly, and the arm around her waist tightened abruptly, pressing her closer to him.

Before she could react, he had already cupped the back of her head with his other hand, leaned forward, and landed precisely on her lips.

"Well……"

Zhao Jinmai only had time to let out a short gasp before she was completely swallowed up by his strong and scorching breath.

He brought with him the freshness of the morning, yet was also full of predatory intent, easily breaching her moat and conquering her territory.

The haunting memories of last night flooded back, and her body instinctively went weak, yet he held her firmly in his arms.

After the kiss, both of them felt a little breathless.

Jiang Qing looked at the girl in his arms, her cheeks flushed and her eyes misty, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

He suddenly stood up and lifted her up firmly in his arms.

"what!"

Zhao Jinmai exclaimed in surprise and instinctively hugged his neck tightly.

"What...what?"

Jiang Qing didn't say anything, but carried her to the island counter in the open kitchen and gently placed her on the smooth countertop.

The cool touch seeped through the thin fabric of her dress, causing Zhao Jinmai to shiver slightly.

His arms braced on either side of her body, trapping her in a small space. His tall figure loomed over her, carrying a strong sense of oppression and a dangerous signal.

"you……"

Looking into his unfathomable eyes, which were churning with dark currents, Zhao Jinmai vividly recalled some of the more intense moments from last night. The lingering soreness deep within her body set off alarm bells in her mind, and her voice trembled slightly.

"Jiang Qing...it's daytime now...no...no..."

She tried to brace herself against his chest, which was too close to hers.

"Ok, I know."

Jiang Qing's voice deepened. He grasped her wrist, which was pressed against his chest, and gently pulled it away. He leaned down and found her panicked lips again, and mumbled words fell between their lips.

"Last night...who was the one who flirted with me first, hmm?"

He traced his foot down her chin, down her slender neck, her delicate collarbone, and continued downwards…

Zhao Jinmai felt weak all over, her remaining rationality protesting.

"No...no...it's only morning! I..."

Her body betrayed her will, trembling slightly under his skillful teasing, and her hands, which had been pushing him away, became weak and powerless.

"MaiMai, be good..."

Jiang Qing returned to her ear and whispered softly, his hot breath spraying onto her sensitive earlobe.

"This time... I will be very gentle."

His deep, resonant promise seemed to possess a magical power.

Zhao Jinmai's last line of defense completely crumbled under his gentle yet forceful offensive.

She closed her eyes resignedly, wrapped her arms around his neck, and surrendered herself completely.

The morning sunlight streamed into the kitchen, casting two intertwined shadows on the gleaming island countertop, and soft sobs replaced all words.

The summer morning light suddenly brought a touch of spring.

For the next whole week, time seemed to slow down, or as if it were soaked in thick honey.

Zhao Jinmai felt as if she had been in a beautiful dream she didn't want to wake up from.

The heavy door of the Pan-Ocean Family temporarily separated them from the noisy world outside.

Aside from necessary meals and sleep, the two were together almost all the time.

Jiang Qing did not completely give up her work, but most of her affairs were moved online.

Sometimes he's on the sofa in the living room, sometimes behind his desk in the study, holding video conferences, replying to emails, and reviewing technical documents in front of his computer screen.

Zhao Jinmai was like a clingy kitten, always staying close to him, neither too close nor too far.

Sometimes she would snuggle up on the other end of the sofa with a cushion and read a script, sometimes she would just sit quietly on the carpet next to him and scroll through her phone, or she would simply lie on his lap and watch him work.

Whenever Jiang Qing finishes a period of intense work, he can look up and see her focused profile or peaceful sleeping face.

He would put down his work and go over to her, either ruffling her hair or bending down to give her a kiss, which would elicit either a reproachful or sweet smile from her.

No need for many words; a glance or a casual touch of fingertips is enough to fill the air with a sweet fragrance.

The kitchen became one of the places they spent the most time in.

Jiang Qing kept his promise and cooked her a variety of dishes.

Zhao Jinmai was keen to help out, although she was often clumsy, either splashing water all over herself while washing vegetables or getting her hands smelly while peeling garlic, but her earnestness in participating always made Jiang Qing laugh.

Sometimes he would wrap his arms around her from behind, hold her hand, and teach her how to cut vegetables. His warm breath brushed against her ear, often making the simple instruction feel special.

The kitchen can turn into a battlefield at any time.

It often takes twice as long as usual to cook a meal.

As night falls, the lights of Beijing outside the floor-to-ceiling windows shine like a galaxy.

They would snuggle together on the sofa to watch an old movie, or simply play soothing music and chat casually, talking about the fun things she did while filming, or about some of the novel and cutting-edge technologies in his company.

More often than not, it's a silent embrace.

Zhao Jinmai liked to lean against him, feeling his warm presence surrounding her, which made her feel incredibly safe.

The initial shyness of first love gradually faded away with each day of close interaction, replaced by a more grounded intimacy.

Zhao Jinmai no longer panicked when she woke up in the morning to find him not by her side, because she knew that whether he went for a morning run or prepared breakfast, he would come back soon, bringing with him a fresh scent.

Those worries about Zhou Ye, Chen Duling, and others, though occasionally surfacing like shadows underwater, are quickly dispelled by the real companionship of the person in front of them.

She began to truly believe that at this moment, the only person reflected in his eyes was Zhao Jinmai.

Time is like fine sand slipping through your fingers, so fast that it's impossible to grasp it.

When Zhao Jinmai's assistant sent her a message, subtly reminding her to prepare for joining the new drama production team, she suddenly realized that this sweet, secluded vacation was finally coming to an end.

August 7th, early morning.

When Zhao Jinmai woke up, Jiang Qing, unusually, did not get up early.

He lay on his side, his arm still loosely wrapped around her waist, his breathing even and long.

She carefully turned around and gazed at his sleeping face in the morning light.

The shyness of a few days ago has long since subsided, leaving only a deep sense of reluctance.

She gently placed a feather-light kiss on his lips.

Just as she was about to back away, the arm around her waist suddenly tightened.

"Stealing a kiss?"

Jiang Qing had opened her eyes at some point, still feeling languid from just waking up.

Caught red-faced, Zhao Jinmai didn't flinch as before, but instead snuggled closer to him, her voice muffled.

"I have to go this afternoon... I have to go this afternoon."

The arms around her waist tightened even more.

Jiang Qing was silent for a moment, then lowered his head and kissed her forehead, pulling her closer into his arms, his chin resting on her forehead.

"Okay. Got it. I'll hug you a little longer."

"Jiang Qing, remember to think of me every day."

"I will."

"Mmm, that's nice..."

(End of this chapter)