Li Xiran had finished checking himself into the room assigned to him and decided to take a walk to clear his mind. He supposed that his brother hadn't returned yet and he wasn't inclined to find him in such a big place anyway. If Li Xingtian truly needed his help, he could just give him a ring.
After meeting Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen today and signing the papers they needed, Li Xiran felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulder. He knew that he cannot lower his guard yet and needed to work harder, now that he already received enough resources to keep their ongoing projects going and pay off the failed ones.
He walked along the beach, his head hung low as the sea water lapped at his bare feet. He took a sigh of relief and stopped to turn his attention to the sea, his arms stretched out to the sides. Li Xiran thought that he hadn't felt at peace like this in a long time. If the problem at the company continued, he had no doubt that his midnight hair would turn into silvery ones in no time.
Unexpectedly, his eyes caught sight of a familiar woman seated on the sand, looking far into the horizon. Xi Qian looked so alone and unapproachable this time, which caught Li Xiran off guard. It made him somewhat inexplicably sad seeing her like this.
Was something troubling her? He wondered.
For the past two weeks, he noticed that something changed about her that even his father once mentioned how worried he was for Xi Qian's sudden silence.
He always knew that Xi Qian guarded her heart and had always kept everyone at an arm's length, except for Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng. He had witnessed how the three seemed to share a close relationship when they were together and he was a little envious that Xi Qian looked comfortable being in their presence and could lower her guards with them.
Li Xiran stared wordlessly at Xi Qian. He couldn't help but appreciate her features. A few tendrils managed to escape from her casual bun, swaying with the breeze. The afternoon sun lit the side of her face, but it only made her expression dimmer and lonelier. He could swear a tear rolled down her cheeks, but Xi Qian turned her head the opposite way to wipe it dry.
Xi Qian was definitely far from the women he usually dated, but that didn't mean he wasn't attracted to her. Truth to be told, he had realized that he had a secret crush on her recently and it was becoming harder being in her presence, trying not to show his interest in her.
He knew that it was inappropriate, given that she was the one who was tending to his father's medical needs, making sure that he wouldn't suffer another heart attack, given how delicate his condition was.
They hadn't grown close because of that and because he hadn't been around much. Not for the lack of attraction on his part. Also, Li Xiran was sure that Xi Qian wasn't interested in him at all and only considered him as her patient's immediate family. They had shared a few conversations, but he didn't think it was enough for Xi Qian to consider him as her friend at least.
Sadly, that hadn't stopped him from noticing how amazing this woman was. According to the background check report his father had run on Xi Qian, she had been working even before she turned eighteen and she managed to attend Qiying City Academy, a school known for being the center of socialites and wealthy families, through a full scholarship.
He also admired how hard-working she was and not even once did he hear Xi Qian complain out of exhaustion. Whenever she had free time, Li Xiran would occasionally find her reading a book and comparing it to her notes. So far from the whiny women who would cling unto him to get his attention. He also couldn't look away from her unwavering eyes, making it impossible to retort her claims.
Suddenly, Xi Qian spun around and found him looking at her.
Li Xiran didn't know how long he'd been standing there like an idiot, staring at Xi Qian. He hoped that she didn't find him weird or some kind of a freak.
"Hey." She said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes at all.
Li Xiran nodded in response. He decided to take this opportunity to talk to her. He didn't think he would be able to get a chance to know her better if he decided not to initiate anything.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked.
Xi Qian shook her head and he sat next to her, joining her watching the sunset.
"Is there a problem? You look sad today. Well, actually, you haven't been looking like yourself for the past few weeks. Dad and I are worried that something is bothering you." Li Xiran couldn't help but ask, breaking the silence between them.
Xi Qian's back stiffened at his question.
"Am I really that obvious?" She laughed awkwardly.
Li Xiran shrugged.
"If Dad and I noticed, then your friends surely would have noticed it already." He answered.
Xi Qian looked back at the sea, hesitating to say anything to him. She could feel his gaze remaining on her and she was starting to feel uncomfortable.
"Is there something wrong with my face? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.
"Just thinking."
"About?"
"You." Li Xiran didn't bat an eyelid as he answered her. "I thought you looked really…" He stopped, considering what he should say, fearing that it might upset her further.
"Like what?" Xi Qian probed with curiosity.
"Alone." He blurted out, earning a laugh from her.
"But I was really by myself, Mr. Li."
"No. It's not like that. It's like you're always alone, no matter who you're with or where you are."
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