What was she supposed to say?! Xi Qian internally screamed.
She wasn't that dumb to not know what Li Xiran was talking about, but she also didn't want to make false assumptions.
Seeing that she wasn't going to say anything in response, Li Xiran stared at her blushing face.
"Would it have been better if you weren't my father's private nurse?"
"It's nothing like that." Xi Qian avoided his gaze.
"Xi Qian."
Once more, she looked back at him, aware of her flushing cheeks. Li Xiran would always use honorifics whenever he was talking to her. She couldn't remember if there was a time he had referred her by her given name before this.
"I'm considering terminating my contract so I can focus more on my studies. The examination is due soon. It really has nothing to do with me avoiding you." She said, trying her best to keep calm.
He stepped forward until he was close enough for her to smell his scent. Xi Qian was forced to look up to keep her gaze on him as she held her breath. She hadn't been this close with a man for a long time and she was starting to wonder if she was really attracted to Li Xiran and she was merely making an excuse not to talk to him.
"You look better today. I heard you went out to see your friends."
Xi Qian couldn't help but frown over his words. What did he mean by that?
"I just noticed that you looked haggard lately." Li Xiran explained. "I didn't mean to spy on you. Lu Qingfeng said that you have been helping him and his wife look after his mother-in-law."
The slight blush on his face looked fascinating in Xi Qian's opinion. She would have never thought that a man like him would have such a nice side like this. She supposed that he'd been keeping up with everything professional and hadn't lowered his guard lately.
"You are interested in me?" Her tone was more like a statement than a question.
Li Xiran looked at her in confusion.
Xi Qian remained silent and it was his turn to get flustered by her gaze.
"Is it really that hard to believe?" He asked.
Xi Qian said nothing. She couldn't think of anything she had done to get Li Xiran's attention other than that fateful night they ended up at the rooftop of the hospital where she used to work.
"I think Miss Xi is such an exceptional woman. She's smart, she's kind and she's really a good friend who would stick with her friends through thick and thin. How could I not admire her?"
Xi Qian's face couldn't get any more redder than it did. She hadn't heard such a compliment from another person before and Li Xiran made it sound like she was a good person. It wasn't like she didn't think she was, but she didn't dare to think she was a great person to begin with.
"T-thanks." She said after a long silence and rubbed her arm.
"If you are really determined to leave, then I will not stop you. But won't you consider giving me a chance?"
Xi Qian wasn't able to answer him. Not only was she busy with her studies, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to date again.
"Aren't you worried that I'm a commoner?"
How could she forget that he was the CEO of a huge company? Many would look down on her if they knew that he was seeing someone below his status.
"Why would it be a problem? I like you because of who you are, not what you are." He furrowed his brows as he looked at her.
"I would be very busy and wouldn't be able to make time for you."
Which was true. If she somewhat got lucky and got into med school, Xi Qian was sure that her schedule would be as hectic and busy as always. How many times had she heard that the biggest reason for cheating and the third-party affairs was the lack of time those couples had for each other?
"And here I thought I would be the one being at fault by not making time for you." He laughed awkwardly.
"The company is doing well now with Lu Qingfeng and Yan Xiuchen's help, but I think if we can manage our time well, we'll be able to make time for each other." He paused and looked at her.
"That is, if you are willing. I'll have long work hours and unprecedented meetings that may come up anytime. It might come as a problem…" He said as if he was already guilty of it.
Xi Qian blinked and stared at him. She didn't think that he had already thought that far ahead and was apologizing for something he hadn't done yet.
"I don't mind at all." She said, looking flustered.
If Su Xiaofei and Lu Qingfeng managed to wait five years before they could be together, then she could also do it if she put her heart into it.
"Is that a yes, then?" Li Xiran reminded her of his previous question.
Xi Qian went frigid, her back went ramrod straight.
One of the reasons why she didn't want to get close to him or befriend him was because she knew, even if she denied it, that she was drawn to him. It would also mean that allowing him to get close, was allowing herself to get exposed and hurt again by another person. Xi Qian thought that she wasn't ready for it.
"I still haven't left yet…" She said with a smile and glanced at him. Xi Qian hoped that she wouldn't regret this later.
Li Xiran opened his mouth, but no words came out. It took a moment before his face lit up and returned her smile.
"Then I'll look forward to our first date." He whispered, before leaving the room, giving her one last glance as he ascended the stairs.
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