Different Feelings

Time ticked away bit by bit, and it was already past midnight.

Xu Mingyao lay on the soft bed, still awake.

She was waiting for her.

Even though Tao Yaoyao had explained things clearly over the phone, Xu Mingyao still felt a slight sense of worry.

She was afraid that she would be like a bird freed from its cage, never to return.

Therefore, she had to wait until Tao Yaoyao actually came back. Only when she saw her with her own eyes could she completely set her mind at ease.

Of course.

Xu Mingyao would never admit that she was waiting for her.

She was just unable to sleep and was watching a show, that was all!

Thinking this, Xu Mingyao let out a huge yawn, even tearing up a little.

But she continued to hypnotize herself into believing she wasn't tired.

She just wasn't tired!

An iPad was playing a new drama that Xu Mingyao had been looking forward to for a long time, but watching it right now, she only found it boring.

It just couldn't spark any interest.

Just as Xu Mingyao was drifting into a drowsy state.

A few crisp electronic beeps suddenly sounded from outside the bedroom door.

It was the sound of the front door opening!

Xu Mingyao's almost-closed eyes snapped open instantly.

She propped up her upper body with her arms, sitting half-upright in bed, and turned her head toward the door.

A moment later, however, Xu Mingyao realized she was losing her composure.

How could she act like she cared so much about Tao Yaoyao?

It was like a passionately in-love wife seeing her husband return from working overtime!

Realizing this, Xu Mingyao immediately lay back down, turning her back to the bedroom door.

But as soon as she lay down, her heart began to twist in conflict.

She wanted to see her...

Besides, why was she coming back so late?

She left in the afternoon today, supposedly for an interview, right?

Is there such a thing as getting hired on the spot at an interview and then immediately working overtime until this late?

Xu Mingyao furrowed her delicate brows, unable to help but feel a bit suspicious.

While pondering, Xu Mingyao's gaze swept across the nightstand and landed right on a closed portable makeup mirror.

An idea immediately sprang to mind.

Quickly sitting up to grab the makeup mirror, she opened it and positioned it in a spot that perfectly reflected the bedroom doorway.

Then she quickly ducked back under the covers and picked up the iPad playing the TV drama again, though her absent-minded gaze was entirely focused on the mirror on the nightstand.

Just as Xu Mingyao finished setting this up, a series of light footsteps arrived outside the bedroom door.

A knock sounded right on cue.

Knock, knock, knock.

Xu Mingyao remained silent.

The lights in the room were still on, so she knew Tao Yaoyao would come in.

Sure enough, receiving no response, Tao Yaoyao gently pushed the door open and leaned half her body inside.

Through the mirror, Xu Mingyao saw what Tao Yaoyao looked like right now.

She did not look much different from when she left yesterday afternoon.

She just looked a bit tired and worn out, as if she had been running around busy all day.

At the moment, she was holding a paper bag in her hand, which emitted an intoxicating, savory, greasy aroma.

Sister Yaoyao, are you asleep?

I brought some late-night snacks back for you.

Tao Yaoyao called out softly with her gentle voice.

Xu Mingyao kept her back to her, remaining silent as usual, but through the mirror's reflection, she observed Tao Yaoyao closely.

Seeing the exhaustion that she couldn't hide, Xu Mingyao's previous suspicions vanished instantly.

Looking like that, it was obvious she was exhausted!

Coming back this late, her work must be far from easy.

She felt a bit of heartache for her.

Just as she was wondering whether she should end the cold treatment and say something to Tao Yaoyao, or at least give a little response, Tao Yaoyao at the door, accustomed to getting no reply, set down the fragrant paper bag, gently closed the door, and backed out.

The door lock let out a crisp click. The sound was very soft, yet it made Xu Mingyao's heart tremble along with it.

Her eyes gradually lowered, a deep, unresolvable sorrow surfacing in them.

But Xu Mingyao did not dare to dwell on this sorrow.

She was afraid that if she dug to the bottom of it, she would have to face the truth she had always avoided like a plague...

...

Splash...

Warm water sprayed from the showerhead. Tao Yaoyao stood naked in the mist, her eyes closed, quietly feeling the faint force of the water cascading over her body.

She didn't use her hands to scrub her body.

Because back at the hotel, she had already washed herself as clean as could be.

The layer of grime she had deliberately acquired by standing by the road to catch car exhaust and dust didn't require careful scrubbing either; a simple rinse under the water washed it completely away.

As for the scent of shower gel on her body that was different from the one at home, Tao Yaoyao had masked it perfectly with the greasy aroma of barbecue.

As long as she applied the shower gel from home once more, she would be flawless.

Thinking this, Tao Yaoyao reached out and pumped out two squirts of shower gel, turned off the shower, and began to lather herself.

Having eliminated the final hidden risk, Tao Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief.

She really had to thank him.

If he hadn't called to wake her up, she didn't know how long she would have kept sleeping.

If it turned into her staying out all night, it would have been truly hard to explain.

Thinking of this, Tao Yaoyao subconsciously tried to calculate exactly how long she had slept.

After recalling with a blank stare.

Tao Yaoyao realized she couldn't figure it out at all.

Because she couldn't remember clearly when that thing had actually ended.

It was after eating anyway, and the time back then was around five in the afternoon?

And after that?

Tao Yaoyao couldn't remember.

Two hours, three hours?

Or even longer?

Tao Yaoyao couldn't tell.