There was something about him that called to her, and Xiao Rufeng wasn't sure what it was. Was it his sharp mind? She couldn't find the right words to explain it. She was fascinated with him, she was sure of it. Heck, she might be attracted to him too!
Xiao Rufeng could also see that he was trying to keep his distance from her, but she couldn't stay away from him whenever they were together. Yan Xiuchen wouldn't say much to her, but with the slight inclination of his head, she knew that he was paying attention to whatever she was saying.
He was kind to her, there was no question about that, but sometimes Xiao Rufeng wondered if it was all out of courtesy, or he was also attracted to her the way she was to him. The way he looked at her with appreciation whenever they dined together every night, the way he reminded her that she was fine being her.
Seeing him up this close, it only reminded her that she had it bad for him.
He was smart and responsible, and he took his duties very seriously. She had never thought that she would find it attractive in a man until she saw Yan Xiuchen work without a complaint, no matter how packed and busy his schedule was. Something in the way he presents himself entices her.
Xiao Rufeng didn't want to think that this was just a 'transference', that she was channeling her feelings for Jin Qiu to Yan Xiuchen in hope that her feelings would be reciprocated. No. That can't be. It would be unfair for Yan Xiuchen if that was the case. He deserved to be loved by someone as he was.
"I'm sorry." She pulled away and lowered her gaze, aware of the slight blush on her cheeks.
She didn't want to get attached to him if all of this would disappear one day. It would be better if she doesn't get involved with him, as she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she ended up hurting him in the end.
"How do I look?" Yan Xiuchen asked her, looking a little worried as he tried to picture what Xiao Rufeng had done to his face.
"Wonderful." Xiao Rufeng said at once. "Would you like to see it yourself?"
She was glad that Yan Xiuchen broke the awkwardness between them. She stood up straight and gave way to allow him to check his appearance on the large mirror in his room. For someone who didn't like being stared at, Yan Xiuchen had one in his private office.
Yan Xiuchen hesitated for a moment before he stood up and made way in front of the mirror. He stood in front of it and didn't dare to look at his reflection. He didn't want to get disappointed, but he knew he needed to face the truth sooner or later.
He slowly opened his eyes and stared back at his reflection in the mirror, his mouth hanging open in shock and amazement. Furthermore, he couldn't recognize the man that was looking back at him. Raising his hand, he watched as his reflection did the same, and Yan Xiuchen couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The scars on the right side of his face were barely noticeable, although the scar at the corner of his mouth remained, at least he didn't look as horrendous anymore. Surely, his business acquaintances wouldn't find his appearance horrible tonight.
It was almost like he was looking at a different person and not himself. He had to admit that Xiao Rufeng had the talent and skills for makeup if she was able to make a monster like him look like a decent human being.
"So, what do you think?" Xiao Rufeng appeared next to him and smiled, but something about the way he looked didn't sit well with her.
He looked great, alright. If Yan Xiuchen hadn't gotten into an accident that gave him these scars, Xiao Rufeng thought that he would be one of the most handsome men she had ever met. There's no doubt about it, but a part of her wanted to see his scars rather than covering them with makeup. She wanted to see the real him, the flawed Yan Xiuchen who she met weeks ago.
"Not bad." He nodded, but it felt uncomfortable looking at himself like this. He felt different, not like himself, the real Yan Xiuchen.
Still, he wouldn't blame Xiao Rufeng for any of this. She was merely concerned about him.
"I guess I should get going then." He said, his voice flat and wary.
Xiao Rufeng flinched at that. It seemed like she wasn't the only one who found his appearance odd today. He looked somewhat strange right now.
"Will you be fine on your own?" She asked. She was half-tempted to accompany him today, but Su Xiaofei's conditions rang in her mind, preventing her from doing so.
"No need. I can manage. We also don't want to get on Su Xiaofei's bad side." Yan Xiuchen replied knowing what she was thinking, allowing her to adjust his jacket.
Suddenly, Xiao Rufeng laughed.
"What's so funny?" He frowned. Yan Xiuchen thought that she found his appearance ridiculous this time.
"Just thinking that it's great that you are wearing these kinds of suits when attending parties." She grinned at him. "When I was younger, I always wondered why my father's guests liked to wear coats with tailcoats. They look like penguins to me. Don't you think I'm right?"
The corner of his lips curled into a smile.
"Did you tell that to your father as well?"
Yan Xiuchen realized that he loved hearing stories about her childhood. This wasn't the first time she shared something like this with him ever since she came to become his temporary assistant.
"I did. He told me that wasn't nice to say, but I could tell that he found humor in it."
"Can't blame him, though. You have a wild imagination there."
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