Part 5
Bai Lu didn’t speak.
Bai He withdrew his arm from Bai Lu’s hand, “Don’t you have a penny on you? Why don’t you go to a hotel?”
“Iā” Bai Lu became pitiful again, “…Really have no money left, dad only gives me that much every month, I’ve been outside for half a month, it’s all gone…”
Bai He opened his phone, found Bai Lu, and tapped a few times on the screen, “I’ve transferred it to you, enough for a night’s accommodation and meals, find a place yourself.”
He put down his phone, “If you don’t go back tomorrow, I won’t care about you anymore.”
With that, he turned and left, this time Bai Lu didn’t follow, Bai He sighed inwardly.
It was exactly half an hour, right on time, he got off the elevator on the 13th floor, and just as he stepped out, he saw Qin Yao.
A person he hadn’t seen in a long time, suddenly appeared.
Qin Yao was dressed in a suit, his hair combed back, looking very heroic, the alpha was like a walking clothes hanger, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, the suit fit him just right, standing there he looked like a model, but Qin Yao was wearing such formal clothes and had a lazy, cool smile, the strong contrast made Bai He’s heart pound, throbbing in his eardrums.
He held his breath, taking a long time to walk over there.
Qin Yao was leaning against a desk in the sales department area of this floor, seemingly discussing business matters, occasionally making the surrounding people laugh.
Bai He could see Qin Yao’s composure, the alpha was in his comfort zone here.
Or one could say, Qin Yao was in his comfort zone in all respects.
Such a person was too charismatic.
Bai He’s heart was in a mess, he couldn’t hear the voices around him, he walked past the group crowding around Qin Yao, pressing his lips tightly.
He thought it would be better if Qin Yao didn’t notice him.
But in the next second, Qin Yao called his name, his voice as clear as always, “Bai He, are you busy?”
Bai He stopped in his tracks, listening to his erratic heartbeat, he turned and gave Qin Yao a light smile, “No, I’m fine.”
“And this is?” The middle-aged man standing next to Qin Yao followed Qin Yao’s gaze to look at Bai He, “Your friend?”
Qin Yao nodded, taking a long stride towards Bai He, his arm wrapping around Bai He’s shoulder, smiling brightly, “Let me introduce, this is Bai He, interning in the administrative department, my friend.”
Hearing the word “friend”, Bai He unconsciously tensed up, and then he saw Qin Yao looking at him.
“Bai He, this is Manager He from the product sales department.”
Bai He reacted for just a moment, his face revealing a polite smile as he slightly bowed, “Nice to meet you, Manager He.”
“Hello Bai He.” Manager He smiled warmly at Bai He, then looked up at Qin Yao, “You’re really good with people, the administrative department is quite difficult, the young man is impressive.”
The last sentence was said to Bai He, Bai He smiled in response, Qin Yao gently patted Bai He’s shoulder, “Bai He is always the top student in the ideological and political institute of our school.”
“Oh, that’s really remarkable!” Manager He laughed warmly, his speech was also considerate, he could chat with anyone.
Bai He was not very talkative, but being left here to chat, Manager He’s words didn’t make him feel awkward at all.
But as time passed, a sense of confinement would gradually arise, Qin Yao and Manager He were discussing work, involving areas that Bai He didn’t understand, so he couldn’t join the conversation.
“Bai He.”
Qin Yao’s voice suddenly came, close to his ear, accompanied by a warm breath, Bai He looked up, meeting the other’s beautiful eyes.
“I still need to chat with Manager He for a while, I won’t disturb your time, you can go first.” Qin Yao smiled at Bai He, “I’ll come find you when I’m free.”
Bai He paused for a moment, shaking his head, “No, you’re not disturbing me.”
He seriously told Qin Yao, “Thank you.”
Thank you for what, Qin Yao naturally knew, he just paused for a moment, smiling without a word.
Qin Yao was helping Bai He expand his relationships, how could Bai He not understand? The other had also sensed his discomfort, and helped him speak up so he could leave first.
Bai He should thank him for that.
He looked up, giving Qin Yao a sincere smile, “See you later.”
Dazzled by Bai He’s smile, Qin Yao paused, “…Mm, okay.”
Bai He saw a different emotion on the other’s face, he just couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
The gloom of the past half month seemed to have dissipated the moment he saw Qin Yao.
It turned out that resolving the anguish in his heart only required a meeting.
Bai He thought, whatever, he had told Bai Lu to take the initiative to pursue the person he liked, but when it came to himself, he had become dejected.
If Qin Yao didn’t like him, it didn’t matter.
He could try his best, strive to make the other person like him.
The sky wouldn’t fall, nor would the person.
Bai He’s gloomy mood had improved considerably, he turned and headed towards the office, but before he had taken two steps, an employee coming with a water cup suddenly stumbled, the cup tilted, and the boiling water splashed towards Bai He.
It was hot water, steaming, along with the glass cup, crashing onto Bai He.
The scalding temperature caused a burning sensation, the searing pain spreading instantly, the affected area quickly reddening, as if countless hot needles were constantly stabbing the delicate skin.
The scorching sensation quickly spread, making it unbearable, Bai He let out a heavy breath, the tears wetting his lashes.
“I’m so sorry, so sorry…” The employee who couldn’t hold the hot water cup kept apologizing, frantically trying to check on Bai He, but was stopped by the approaching Qin Yao.
“Don’t touch him.” Qin Yao wrapped one arm around Bai He’s waist, turning to say to Manager He, “Uncle He, could you please call the company doctor, go to the 19th floor.”
As soon as he said that, Qin Yao bent down and picked Bai He up, taking the president’s private elevator to the 19th floor.
After carrying him into the bathroom at the back of the office, Qin Yao gently placed Bai He on the edge of the bathtub, turning on the cold water, “Come, stretch out your arm, let me take a look.”
Bai He was really in pain, he stretched out his reddened arm, almost terrifyingly so, his lashes damp with mist.
“No blisters, the cool water should make it feel better.” Qin Yao adjusted the shower head to the cold water, regulating the gentle flow, his other hand lightly gripping Bai He’s wrist, carefully rinsing every reddened area of burnt skin to cool it down.
“Still hurts?” Qin Yao kept his eyes down, while treating the burn, he spoke, “Just wait a bit, the doctor will be here soon.”
Outside of the alpha’s vision, Bai He’s eyes, reddened from the pain, stared unblinkingly at the man in front of him.
The emotions in his eyes turned into water mist, about to spill over.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Bai He’s voice was very small.
Due to the urgency, the two were extremely close, and when Qin Yao lifted his head, their noses were almost touching.
The alpha’s breath paused, and he instinctively took a small step back, handing the shower head to Bai He, “Can you hold the other hand?”
Bai He nodded, taking the shower head and continuing to rinse the burn.
Qin Yao hesitated for a few seconds, then crouched down in front of Bai He, their gazes leveled.
“I need to unbutton your clothes and take a look.” Qin Yao said gently, “Just now the water splashed on your clothes, your abdomen might have been scalded too?”
Bai He stiffened, nodding.
He could feel a slight pain in his abdomen, the clothes were very thin, unable to block the hot water, it was very likely that the abdomen was also scalded.
It’s just that Bai He was not convenient with one hand to unbutton the buttons.
With Bai He’s permission, Qin Yao reached out and slowly unbuttoned Bai He’s shirt from the bottom, lifting the shirt, there was indeed a reddened area on the flat abdomen, he stood up, wetting a towel with cold water and coming back, gently pressing the damp towel on the scalded abdomen.
Bai He’s breathing was slow, the rise and fall of his abdomen transmitted through the towel to Qin Yao’s hand.
The bathroom was extremely quiet, the two of them seemed to gradually return from the urgency, accompanied by the sound of dripping water, their breathing, getting closer, their body temperatures clearly perceived, as if they were about to melt into one, the ambiguity taking root, the other’s pheromones faintly enveloping the air.
Bai He lowered his eyes to look at Qin Yao, Qin Yao didn’t look at him.
“Qin Yao.” Bai He called softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.
The alpha’s lips pressed, humming lightly.
“You haven’t been back to the apartment for a long time.” Bai He said.
“Oh, really?” Qin Yao paused, then chuckled, “I forgot, it does seem like I haven’t been back in a while.”
Bai He bit his lower lip, his breathing tightening, “Is it because of that day when I kissed your gland?”
“…” Qin Yao didn’t answer right away. He lifted his gaze, and their eyes met. Bai He’s heartbeat quickened, and before the alpha could speak, Bai He gathered his courage, “Qin Yao, I…”
He couldn’t finish, because his lips were covered, Qin Yao’s fingertips pressing lightly, gently caressing.
The alpha’s eyes were earnest, “Bai He, I don’t want you to have a mistaken understanding of me because of the pheromones.”
His gaze was sincere, his voice polite and restrained. Bai He had to swallow the words he was about to say, but he felt he couldn’t stop there.
“Do you think it’s because of the pheromones?” Bai He asked.
Qin Yao didn’t answer the question, “I’m sorry, I’ve never told you, but my illness is related to pheromones. I know well that pheromones can make people lose their reason.”
Bai He fell silent, staring at Qin Yao blankly. The pain in his hand seemed to have turned into the coolness of water, flowing away.
Without further exchange, until the doctor arrived, Bai He’s heart had already cooled considerably.
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