Travel

In the stillness of the early morning, while Yang Liu was deep in sleep, she was stirred by a sound reminiscent of water falling, followed by the subtle creak of a door opening. With some effort, she opened her eyes and glanced toward the bathroom door. There, she caught sight of Han Chen, his wet blond hair being dried with a towel, his casual home clothes clinging to his form as he moved toward the wardrobe to grab his clothes.

Yang Liu squinted at the window, noting the darkness still enveloping the world outside. Reaching for her phone on the bedside table, she squinted at the screen, which illuminated the time:

5:30 A.M.

The soft sound of movement caught Han Chen's attention, and he turned around, locking eyes with her. He froze for a moment, his mind immediately drifting back to the accidental kiss they had shared in the car just hours before. Quickly brushing aside the memory, he offered a gentle smile and said, "Sorry I woke you. I've got a trip planned for today."

Still caught in the haze of sleep, Yang Liu blinked at him and asked, "When will you be back?"

Caught off guard by her inquiry, Han Chen paused before replying, "In two days. It'll be a quick trip."

Yang Liu smiled reassuringly, her voice warm and inviting. "Okay, don't worry. I'll take good care of Han Wei."

Han Chen hadn't anticipated her response, and a smile crept across his face. After a brief silence hung in the air between them, he added, "If you need anything, feel free to contact me."

But when he looked again, he found that she had already drifted back to sleep. He moved closer to the bed, his gaze lingering on Yang Liu's long, messy brown hair sprawled across the pillow. Instinctively, he raised his hand to smooth it down but quickly withdrew, recalling his father-in-law's words cautioning him to keep his distance.

As he lingered for a moment, gazing at her peaceful face, he noticed that she wasn't fully covered. Gently, he leaned down and picked up the blanket that had fallen to the floor, carefully draping it over her sleeping form. After ensuring she was comfortable, he grabbed his suitcase from the corner of the room, casting one last glance at Yang Liu before quietly leaving.

Downstairs, Butler Ling greeted him with his usual cheerful demeanor, "Good morning, Master! Would you like breakfast?"

Han Chen shook his head, "Not today; the flight is early. I'll eat on the way." As he stepped out the door, he paused, turning back to Butler Ling with a more serious tone. "I'll be gone for two days. Take care of Han Wei." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "And of Yang Liu."

Without waiting for a reply, Han Chen turned and got into his car, driving away into the dawn.

As Butler Ling watched his master leave, a smile crept across his face. "It seems like the relationship between the boss and the madam is improving," he mused. "I'll do my best to help. The young master deserves happiness, especially after what happened with Han Wei's mother."

Sighing deeply, he turned back toward the house, a wave of sadness washing over him as he reflected on the past. "Why did Han Wei's mother abandon him?" he pondered. "It had been an arranged marriage; neither of them truly loved each other. But she was the first to give up, leaving both Han Chen and Han Wei behind."

Butler Ling hoped with all his heart that Yang Liu could bring the happiness that had long been missing from Han Chen and Han Wei's lives, filling the void left by the past.