Chapter 18
The pale light of dawn slipped past the thin curtains, painting faint gold patterns on the floor. It was the kind of quiet morning that made the air feel cool and clean, carrying the faint scent of dew from the garden outside.
Andre stirred. His lashes trembled slightly as his eyes blinked open, adjusting to the brightness. The room was silent — too silent. He turned his head toward the other side of the bed. Empty.
The faint impression on the mattress was already fading, like a secret the morning was eager to erase. Andre frowned faintly, his mind still heavy with the drowsy fog of sleep. Had someone… really been holding him last night? His body seemed to remember — the warmth against his back, the steady rhythm of a heartbeat, the faint scent of cologne he didn't own.
He pressed his lips together and sat up slowly, brushing his hair back with his fingers. The rational part of his mind told him it must have been a dream. But the lingering heat in his chest whispered otherwise.
•••••
Downstairs, the aroma of fresh toast and brewed coffee wafted from the dining room. Celia sat at the head of the table, reading a folder while sipping tea. She looked up as Andre walked in, her expression instantly softening.
"Breakfast is ready," she said warmly, gesturing to the seat beside her.
"I'm not eating," Andre replied, his voice low but polite.
Celia's brow furrowed slightly. "And why not?"
"I have to leave now," Andre said as he reached for his jacket hanging on the back of the chair. "I'm picking up the artist from S City at the airport, i need to be there by 9. Then straight to the studio."
"You can still eat before you go. You'll have more than enough time—"
Andre shook his head. "I'll eat later."
Celia's gaze lingered on him for a moment, reading the stubborn set of his jaw. She didn't push further, only sighing softly as he slipped on his shoes. "Fine. Just… don't skip lunch, okay?"
Andre gave a slight nod without turning back and stepped outside.
••••
In the HYU Holdings office tower, sunlight spilled in through the tall glass windows, reflecting off the polished marble floors. Zhen Yichen sat behind his desk, fingers resting lightly on a closed file, though his eyes were far away.
His mind replayed the early hours of the morning. He had woken around 5:00 a.m., the dim gray light filtering into Andre's room. Andre had still been asleep, his breathing calm, his hair slightly messy against the pillow. Yichen's arm had been draped loosely over him. For a moment, he hadn't wanted to move — the rare quiet in his head, the peace that sleep had finally granted him, was something he hadn't felt in years. Just has he thought, only when he is near.
But he had forced himself to carefully pull away, letting the warmth slip from between them and returning to his room. After freshening up, he changed into his usual sharp suit, the knot of his tie precise, shoes polished to a soft gleam.
On his way out of the house, the faint click of his shoes on the hallway floor had drawn Celia from the dining room. She stopped mid-step when she saw him.
"Yichen?" she said, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You… came back last night? Why didn't you tell me?"
Yichen paused, his expression unreadable. "There was work I had to finish at home."
Celia studied him for a second longer, as though trying to catch something in his eyes, but he had already turned slightly, adjusting his cufflinks with his usual calm.
Without waiting for more questions, he gave a polite nod and walked past her, the morning sun catching on the crisp lines of his suit as he stepped outside.
End of remembrance
A knock on the door, almost immediately the assistant walks in.
"We will be leaving in five minutes sir" he said
Looking at the man sitting there, radiating a calm aura, it was clear he was deep in thought."
"….."
After few seconds passed "Ok"
"..."
After some minutes, He stood up walking towards the door "let's go"
"Yes sir" trailing after him.
'I still need to deal with that old man' Zhen Yichen lastly thought has he walks towards the elevator.