033 Seize the Moment of Romance

Time is like the tender petals of a flower, slipping through one's grasp petal by petal. Those smiles are like the faint crescent moon in the clear night sky, barely visible yet enchanting.

Leng Yan knocked on the door and entered, carrying breakfast.

Chen Chen sat up lazily. Chu Rui also sat up straight, still cradling Chen Chen in his arms. "Let me feed you," he murmured softly.

"No way," Chen Chen retorted, stealing a glance at Leng Yan standing there. Feeling self - conscious, she quickly turned her head away. Chu Rui noticed, with a sharp eye, the blush creeping up her cheeks. Leng Yan raised an eyebrow, curled her lips in a half - smile, gave Chen Chen a quick look, then turned on her heel and walked out.

"My baby is so shy," Chu Rui said, chuckling. He planted a gentle kiss on the side of Chen Chen's face. Then, like a doting parent, he made Chen Chen sit sideways on his lap. He picked up a bowl of bird's nest porridge, scooped up a spoonful, and held it to her lips. Chen Chen stopped being coy and ate happily. She was famished. "Eat this, and this, and that..." Chen Chen pointed at the small dishes on the table one by one. Chu Rui dutifully fed them into her little mouth. "You eat too," Chen Chen said when she was half - full. Only then did she remember that Chu Rui hadn't taken a single bite.

"Feed me too," Chu Rui pleaded, pouting like a big, adorable child.

"Okay," Chen Chen picked up the spoon on the table and reached for another bowl.

"No, feed me with what's in your mouth."

"Uh..." Chen Chen almost choked. Was the great Mr. Chu possessed by some amorous spirit? Chen Chen's long, narrow phoenix eyes widened even more in surprise.

Without a word, Chu Rui lowered his head, opened his mouth, and covered Chen Chen's. He sucked hard a few times, then slipped his tongue in. The food in Chen Chen's mouth was deftly hooked into his by his tongue. He swallowed it in big gulps. His actions and his smoldering expression were incredibly seductive. Chen Chen's face burned like a furnace, and her heart pounded like a drum. A hot current surged in her lower abdomen. Chu Rui always had a way of easily arousing her desires. She quickly buried her head in his chest. Her excited heart was thumping violently.

The breakfast ended in an atmosphere thick with ambiguity. After eating, Chen Chen finally regained some energy. She sauntered lazily into the bathroom. Chu Rui stood at the bathroom door and said in a warm, husky voice, "Baby, how about I help you take a shower?"

"No, I'll just take a quick rinse. Please check if there are any important matters to deal with today. We still need to go to the hospital this afternoon."

"There's nothing important. With Leng Yan around, you can rest easy. I'll go to the hospital with you this afternoon." Chu Rui leaned against the door. He didn't dare to peek inside. He was afraid that if he did, he wouldn't be able to control himself. Chen Chen was tired, and her health had been poor these days. If she were in better condition, he would have had her before breakfast.

The sound of rushing water filled the air. Chu Rui still stood there, rooted to the spot. He couldn't bear to be away from Chen Chen for even a moment. Only when he was close to her could his heart find peace.

The shrill ringtone of the phone shattered the silence.

The phone on the table rang loudly. Chu Rui rushed to the table, picked up the phone. It showed a foreign number. He quickly pressed the answer button. It was a call from his father.

After hanging up the phone, Chu Rui's expression turned solemn. He stood by the window, gazing out. His mind was in a whirlwind. What his father said on the phone left him incredulous, or rather, devastated. How could it be? No wonder grandma was ill. He could hardly wrap his head around it.

When Chen Chen came out of the bathroom after her shower, she saw Chu Rui standing by the window. The golden halo of the sun enveloped him. His skin glowed like polished glass in the sunlight. His graceful and elegant figure was like a masterpiece painting. He was truly a "handsome man as fair as jade, whose smile could topple a city".

"What are you thinking about?" Hearing the sound of footsteps, Chu Rui turned around and saw Chen Chen looking at him intently. He couldn't help but ask. Then he took the towel from Chen Chen's hand and gently began to dry her hair.

"Nothing," Chen Chen lowered her head, as if trying to hide her nervousness. Fortunately, Chu Rui was standing behind her and couldn't see her expression.

Chu Rui didn't press further and carefully dried her long hair.

"Rui, what's wrong? Your expression looks off," Chen Chen turned her head and looked into his eyes.

"I just received a call from my father. Grandma is ill. She hasn't eaten for two days," Chu Rui put the towel aside and wrapped his arms around Chen Chen's waist.

"How could it be? Grandma is usually in good health. How did this happen?" Chen Chen said anxiously. She broke free from Chu Rui's embrace, took a few quick steps, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed a number.

The call was quickly answered. Uncle's voice on the other end was hoarse. "Chen Chen, don't ask. Just explain the company's matters to Chu Rui and come back immediately."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Chen was in a daze. She stared blankly at the phone, her mind a complete blank.

"Don't think about it for now. We'll find out when we get back," Chu Rui pulled Chen Chen back into his arms. Then he started making calls. He first called Qin Ge, then several senior executives, and finally Leng Yan.

Leng Yan arrived quickly and helped Chen Chen pack her things.

"Yan, you stay here and help me take care of Tian Yao," Chen Chen sat on one side, watching Leng Yan pack. She was truly fortunate. Leng Yan had taken care of her meticulously over the years. She did almost everything for her, from washing her face to dressing her.

"What about you without me around..." Leng Yan neatly packed Chen Chen's daily necessities into the suitcase, her eyes fixed on Chen Chen.

"Don't worry. I have Rui with me," Chen Chen smiled. Leng Yan really treated her like a child.

Leng Yan fell silent. As a shadow guard, her primary duty was to obey. Although Chen Chen had treated her like family over the years, she knew her responsibilities, so she kept quiet.

"Go to my room and simply pick out a few clothes for daily wear and put them together," Chu Rui handed the room key to Leng Yan. Leng Yan took the key and left. She quickly returned and put the clothes in her hand into Chen Chen's suitcase. Looking at their clothes placed side by side, Chu Rui felt a warm sense of domesticity. They were so much like a married couple.

Chen Chen walked to one side, fiddled with her phone for a while, and finally found that number. Looking at the name "Hao Hao" stored in the phone, she couldn't help but smile. She remembered that when they were kids, he always pestered her to call him Hao Hao. He said it was an endearing name, but she always called him A Kang. She was the first one to use the name A Kang.

It seemed that the person on the other end of the phone had been waiting for her call. The phone was answered after just one ring. A deep voice came from inside. "When are you coming? I'm hungry."

Chen Chen's hand holding the phone trembled slightly. "A Kang, I have something to do in Switzerland. I can't come. Leng Yan will help me take care of Tian Yao."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time. Just when Chen Chen thought he had hung up, the voice came again. "Can you not go? I..."

"No," Chen Chen interrupted him. "My grandma is very ill. Give the phone to Tian Yao."

She heard the sound of footsteps on the phone. A Kang should have answered the call outside the ward. A few seconds later, Tian Yao's voice came through. "Chen Chen."

" Tian Yao, my grandma is ill. I'm going to see her right now. I can't take care of you. I'll ask Leng Yan to stay with you."

Tian Yao knew that Chen Chen's grandparents had immigrated to Switzerland, but he didn't know her relationship with Chu Rui.

"Don't worry about me. Please give my regards to your grandparents. Call me when you arrive," Tian Yao said anxiously.

"Okay. Then take good care of your injury. I'll come back to accompany you as soon as possible," Chen Chen hung up the phone.

When Tian Yao handed the phone to A Kang, the call had already ended. A Kang held the phone and wanted to call back several times, but he resisted. What could he say? That man would be with her, right? Just the thought of her being with that man made his heart ache. But what could he do? He walked out of the ward, went to the smoking area, lit a cigarette, and took a deep puff. The white smoke curled up. He frowned tightly, his thoughts in disarray.

Eight years. It had been an eternity. He always thought that others would remain where they were, but reality had taught him that his feelings were naive. There had always been only one woman in his eyes, perhaps the only one in his world. But in her eyes, it was different. It had never been the same. He thought that she was reminiscing about the past in Hangzhou, and as time passed, the pain would gradually fade. When he came back, they would be together again. So, he chose to exile himself and didn't come to find her, giving her time to forget. But he was wrong. She could accept another man without forgetting the other one. When he faced her, he felt a mix of love and hatred for this heartless woman. He hated her so much that he wanted to strangle her, but he couldn't. She never asked him to love her. Since childhood, she had been surrounded by men and doted on by them. He really had to use all his wits, just like Guan Yu crossing five passes and slaying six generals, to nip those budding feelings in the bud. Youthful and impulsive, those days were so wonderful. Now, his green - dragon crescent blade has rusted. He needs Lu Bu's halberd to be invincible. But Lu Bu was brave but not resourceful and still failed. Who would be more suitable?

A Kang was filled with hesitation. His phoenix eyes were half - closed, his handsome lips holding a cigarette, his tall body leaning against the wall. There was a hint of lazy charm about him. As he sank deeper into thought, the cold aura around him gradually dissipated. He ran his fingers through his messy hair and hesitated to take the next step...