Cheng Qi Ran Away.

Zhao Yuhui did not understand Cheng Qi's reaction. "Why are you coughing out of nowhere? Are you fine?"

She worriedly pulled out the water bottle from his bag and handed it to him after opening the cap, "Have some water."

The sudden stimulation confused Chen Peiling. She did not even get to see him properly. She was curious to know about the man who initiated the talk with Sister Zhao. Even if it was in the excuse of the project.

Sister Zhao talking to someone in her university was a huge thing! Cheers to Sister Zhao's mother who often whined about it and also because of her personal experience, Chen Peiling was well-aware of her unsociable personality.

Cheng Qi mentally cursed at himself for reacting so extravagantly. It was not necessary that she would remember who he was! Couldn't he have behaved normally?

Cheng Qi gulped a few mouthfuls as he replied. "I am fine. J-just choked on my saliva."

"Oh."

He had moved around in his place while coughing so it was more impossible for Chen Peiling to discern the man.

Seeing that Cheng Qi was not coughing anymore, Zhao Yuhui heaved a sigh of relief. With her lips turned upwards at corners, she said to Chen Peiling. "Lingling, he is my partner in the project that I was talking about. And also, my batchmate."

Chen Peiling gazed at the broad shoulders of the man as she slowly nodded. Did he not know the basic manners that he should not keep his back at her if he was the one being introduced? Sister Zhao was not introducing someone else.

"And she-huh?" Zhao Yuhui stopped in mid noticing Cheng Qi standing awkwardly with his back to them. "Why are you standing like that? What would she do of your name if you don't show her your face?"

Cheng Qi took a deep, very much needed, breath and slowly moved at his place in the clockwise direction. He lifted his face, which was focused on the ground, and also moved back his hair that had covered half of the forehead to show his face clearly.

Satisfied, Zhao Yuhui again spoke, "And she is my very-very dear assistant, Chen Peiling."

"Hello." He greeted her all the while mentally praying to god to not let her recognise him.

A second passed.

Two seconds passed.

Three seconds passed.

And there was no response even ten seconds later. Chen Peiling stood frozen at her spot and kept on staring at the man on the front. This man...wasn't he...

No matter how long it had been, she could never forget this face.

A tinge of redness covered her ears and the tip of her nose as she thought of the reason behind it. "Um...hello, sir. Nice to meet you."

Zhao Yuhui, surprisingly, didn't detect anything wrong in the atmosphere. She was too absorbed in her own bubble that even after looking at Chen Peiling, she didn't catch the redness on her face.

Zhao Yuhui kept chattering unlike somebody who stood like a statue by her side, not knowing what to do, not knowing what to say; speechless. "Chen Peiling is also in university currently. She is a year younger than us and had been with me since I started this career."

"Oh." Cheng Qi can not describe the awkwardness he was feeling. Letting his friends disturb Zhao Yuhui was still a better option than coming across this interaction.

Abruptly he thought of something, "Zhao Yuhui, I think I should go now. I totally forgot about the practice match we have today. See you later!"

He ran away even before Zhao Yuhui could've said something. Looking at the form fading at a distance, she could not help but mutter, "He might have gotten very late." Chen Peiling was looking at the place he stood in a daze. However, on her sides, her hands were clenched tightly into fists, making the knuckles to stand out.

What was she thinking? Why did she not react on time? She had a good chance to beat the pulp out of that bas****!

"Lingling, why are you still standing there? We should make a move." Zhao Yuhui called out to her assistant before sitting on the passenger's seat.

Chen Peiling exhaled in frustration and stomped to the driver's seat. It's alright. She would get another chance, no worries!

After coming out of the university, Chen Peiling took the main highway to go to another side of the city. Even while driving, subconsciously she was being reminded of the moment from a while back. Her hold onto the steering wheel tightened.

Zhao Yuhui was going through the songs; deciding which one to play when she noticed the shivering hands of her assistant. "Why are you shivering? Are you angry?" She was only joking but she did not know that she had hit the nail right on the head.

Chen Peiling laughed and talked through in between the teeth. "Why would I be? It is just unbelievably cold today. Temperature is just going down day by day."

"Do you want gloves?" Irrespective of the refusal of Chen Peiling, Zhao Yuhui brought out a pair of warm gloves from her bag and handed them to her. "Wear it quickly. I don't want your mom to curse at me later on."

"Thank You, Sister Zhao."

Soon after, Chen Peiling entered the car through a gate and pulled it in front of a deluxe store. Zhao Yuhui looked out of the window and frowned after gazing at the name of the brand. "Are we in front of the wrong store?