The afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the CEO's office, casting a mottled pattern of light and shadow on the floor. After handling the aftermath of the board meeting, Ling Yao hurried back to the rest area. Su Wan was sitting on the sofa, quietly reading the work manual. Her bandaged hand rested gently on her lap, and she looked focused yet docile.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up and her eyes brightened instantly, filled with starlight. "You're back?"
Ling Yao quickly walked over and sat beside her, naturally taking her injured hand in his. His fingers gently traced the edge of the bandage as he spoke with a hint of concern, "Does it hurt? The doctor said you should be careful with burns and avoid getting them wet."
"It doesn't hurt anymore." Su Wan shook her head, feeling warm inside from the look of concern in his eyes. "Did you finish everything? Are you tired?" She extended her uninjured hand, gently smoothing the crease between his brows, her gesture natural and affectionate.
The soft touch of her fingers made Ling Yao's heart soften, and the tension in his body eased immediately. He pulled her into his arms, letting her lean on his shoulder. Resting his chin on her head, he breathed in her faint scent of grass and wood, the weariness lifting considerably. "When you're here, I'm not tired."
Su Wan rested in his embrace, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, feeling completely safe. She lightly nuzzled his shoulder and whispered, "Thank you for what happened this morning. I could've handled it myself, you didn't need to bother."
"In front of me, you don't have to pretend," Ling Yao tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer. "You're my destined companion, the person I want to protect with everything I have. If you suffer, it's my fault." He lowered his head and placed a soft kiss on her hair. His voice was low and serious as he said, "From now on, no matter what happens, tell me immediately. Don't carry it all on your own, okay?"
Su Wan nodded, her face flushing slightly. She whispered, "Mm."
Looking into Ling Yao's deep purple eyes, filled with love, Su Wan's heart swelled. "Ling Yao, it's so good to have you."
Ling Yao's heart stirred when he saw the redness on her cheeks and the sincerity in her gaze. Unable to resist, he lowered his head and kissed her lips. The kiss was even more tender than the one from the night before, full of his adoration and affection. Su Wan's heartbeat quickened, and she closed her eyes, responding obediently to him.
After a long while, their lips parted. Ling Yao rested his forehead against hers, breath slightly uneven, his gaze filled with warmth. "You must be hungry. I had the kitchen prepare your favorite sweet and sour ribs and stir-fried vegetables. Let's go have lunch."
"You know I love sweet and sour ribs?" Su Wan looked at him in surprise. She had never told him her preferences.
Ling Yao smiled faintly. "I asked Qin Yue. She looked into it for me." He paused before adding, "From now on, I'll learn everything about what you like and spoil you like a little princess."
Su Wan's cheeks reddened further as she lowered her head, unable to stop a smile from spreading across her face. She could clearly feel that Ling Yao was slowly integrating into her life, taking care of her and putting her at the heart of everything.
Ling Yao took Su Wan to the company's exclusive restaurant. The tables were already filled with exquisite dishes, including the sweet and sour ribs and stir-fried vegetables, as well as a few specialty dishes she had never tried before. Ling Yao took the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of sweet and sour ribs on her plate. "Try it, see if it suits your taste."
Su Wan picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. The ribs were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the sweet and sour flavor just the way she liked it. Her eyes lit up, and she nodded at Ling Yao. "It's really delicious!"
Seeing her enjoy the food, Ling Yao's eyes lit up with a smile. He placed some stir-fried vegetables on her plate and gently said, "Eat more vegetables, they're good for you."
They chatted while they ate, the atmosphere warm and sweet. Su Wan shared her experience of learning illustration on her own, talking about her dreams. Ling Yao listened attentively, nodding in agreement and occasionally offering some advice. He told her that he had already contacted the best illustration designer in the industry and that they could meet next week so the designer could personally guide her.
"Really?" Su Wan looked at him, her eyes full of excitement. The designer had always been her idol, and she had never imagined she would have the opportunity to be personally mentored.
"Of course." Ling Yao held her hand, his gaze determined. "I told you, I will help you achieve your illustration dream. Anything you want, I'll do everything in my power to make it happen."
Their lunch ended in a warm and sweet atmosphere. Ling Yao escorted Su Wan back to the CEO's office, asking her to rest on the sofa while he dealt with the remaining work. Su Wan didn't rest; instead, she took out her sketchbook and sat on the sofa, starting to sketch out illustrations. She wanted to improve her skills quickly, not only to realize her dreams but also to become someone worthy of Ling Yao.
Ling Yao, seated behind his desk, worked on his documents, but he couldn't help but look up at Su Wan on the sofa from time to time. Sunlight bathed her in a soft halo, and her concentration as she sketched looked serene and beautiful. Every time he looked at her, all his exhaustion and stress seemed to disappear.
Around 4 p.m., Su Wan's phone suddenly rang. It was her aunt. Her heart sank as a bad feeling gripped her. She stood up, walked into the hallway, and answered the call.
"Su Wan! You ungrateful little wretch! Have you forgotten us now that you've hooked up with a rich man?" Her aunt's sharp and bitter voice came through the phone. "Your cousin got into a fight and injured someone. They're asking for 500,000 in compensation! Hurry up and send the money, or they'll send your cousin to prison!"
Su Wan frowned, both angry and anxious. "Aunt, where am I supposed to get 500,000? I gave you all my salary before, and I barely have anything left myself."
"Don't lie. Aren't you working at Yao Shi Group? That Mr. Ling is rich, and you can easily ask him for 500,000!" Her aunt's tone was laced with greed. "I don't care. You need to get the money to us by tonight, or we'll go to Yao Shi Group and let everyone know what kind of ungrateful wretch you are!"
After hanging up, Su Wan's mood plummeted. She knew her aunt was just using an excuse to demand money from her. But she had no way of coming up with such a large sum, and she didn't want to involve Ling Yao in this trouble.
Feeling disheartened, she walked back to the office. Ling Yao noticed her change in demeanor, set his documents down, and quickly walked over to her. He took her hand. "What's wrong? You look awful. Did something happen?"
Su Wan looked up at the concerned expression in his eyes. Her nose tingled, and she couldn't hold back as she explained everything.
After hearing her, Ling Yao's expression darkened instantly, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes. He had already known that Su Wan's aunt and her family weren't good people, but he hadn't expected them to be this audacious, trying to pressure Su Wan like this.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this." Ling Yao gently patted her back, his voice both tender and firm. "500,000 is nothing. I'll have someone transfer the money to them. But this is the last time. I won't let them continue bullying you."
"Thank you, Ling Yao." Su Wan leaned into his embrace, her voice choked with emotion. "But I feel bad, bothering you with this..."
"Fool, don't talk about bothering me." Ling Yao interrupted her, gently stroking her hair. "Your problems are my problems. From now on, with me around, no one can bully you—not even your aunt's family."
Ling Yao immediately called Qin Yue and had her transfer the 500,000 to Su Wan's aunt, and instructed her to investigate the truth behind the fight involving Su Wan's cousin. After hanging up, he held Su Wan in his arms, softly reassuring her, "It's okay. The money has been sent. This will be resolved soon."
Su Wan nodded, deeply moved. She knew that Ling Yao truly cared about her and was willing to help her with any problem.
As evening came, Ling Yao finished his work and took Su Wan out of the company. He didn't have the driver take them; instead, he drove himself. The car moved steadily along the road, Ling Yao held Su Wan's hand, his fingers gently caressing the back of her hand. "What do you want for dinner tonight? I'll take you wherever you want."
"I'm fine with anything, as long as I'm with