nashuaworldcup Chapter 81 What are you afraid of?
Chapter 81 What are you afraid of?
Zhu Ziqing sat upright at her workstation.
With his eyes lowered, his fingers unconsciously fiddled with the pen on the table.
But his thoughts had already drifted far away.
The data and files flashing on the computer screen in front of me have now become a blurry background.
Her mind was filled with the unexpected joys that had recently come her way.
Tan Haoyu entered her world like a whirlwind, forceful yet gentle.
He took her to experience pampering and care she had never felt before.
Every morning, a bouquet of fresh flowers, still glistening with dew, appears right in front of my house, looking vibrant and beautiful.
When working overtime until late at night, Tan Haoyu would always appear quietly.
Holding a steaming late-night snack in her hand, her eyes were full of heartache.
But in Zhu Ziqing's heart, besides a glimmer of hope, there was also an unspeakable fear.
She often murmured to herself, "Will this kind of happiness really belong to me?"
Could it be just a fragile, beautiful dream, that one day it will all vanish before my eyes?
This feeling of gain and loss, like fine spider silk, entangled her layer by layer, making it impossible for her to break free.
Just then, a series of steady and powerful footsteps came from the doorway.
Zhu Ziqing knew without looking up that Tan Haoyu had arrived.
The footsteps seemed to possess a magical power, instantly disrupting her heartbeat and causing a slight blush to rise on her cheeks.
Tan Haoyu's appearance undoubtedly added the most vibrant color to her monotonous and gloomy life.
At the same time, the unease in my heart grew stronger, like a small boat adrift in a stormy sea.
And at this inopportune moment, Wan Qingsha's image popped into my mind.
It's like an inescapable haze, an inescapable shadow.
The scenes of being deceived and hurt in the past flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.
It constantly reminds her of her past naivety and innocence; those scars, though scabbed over, still hurt at the slightest touch.
Zhu Ziqing gripped the pen tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
His gaze shifted uncertainly, his heart struggling in a quagmire of hope and fear.
She truly felt the kindness Tan Haoyu showed her.
The care and pampering he showed her unintentionally made her feel as if she were in a sweet honey pot.
But whenever Tan Haoyu gently calls her "Miss Zhu" or jokingly teases her, "In the future, you might be Mrs. Tan," she always feels a sense of peace.
Her heart felt like it was being gently scratched by a kitten, so shy she wanted to disappear into the ground.
Yet, a sweet feeling welled up inside her, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.
But the next second, the shadows of the past surged forth, instantly drowning out that sweetness.
It made it impossible for her to embrace this happiness without reservation.
Around 10 a.m., in the quiet office, Zhu Ziqing's phone suddenly vibrated.
Tan Haoyu's name flashed on the screen.
She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart before pressing the answer button.
On the other end of the phone, Tan Haoyu's voice was deep: "Ms. Zhu, you must be tired after a busy morning."
Let's go out for lunch together later.
I know a private restaurant with absolutely amazing food; I'm sure you'll love it.
His tone was gentle, as if he were afraid of startling her.
Zhu Ziqing's heart clenched instantly, and her throat felt like it was choked by something.
She was so eager to agree that she would do anything to keep this romantic date.
After hesitating for a long time, she gritted her teeth and said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, but I might... have some work to finish at noon, so I won't go."
As she said this, her eyes reddened slightly, and she felt a deep sense of loss.
After hanging up the phone, Zhu Ziqing slumped onto the table, tears finally streaming down her face.
She was filled with remorse, hating her own cowardice, even though she secretly longed to take things further with Tan Haoyu.
But she backed down at the crucial moment; she still didn't dare to go out in public with Tan Haoyu at the company.
She kept asking herself, "Zhu Ziqing, what are you afraid of? Are you afraid that your colleagues will laugh at you?"
Such a good opportunity, and we just let it slip away.
But whenever she was about to change her mind, Wan Qingsha's cold eyes and hurtful words would appear like a ghost.
Unpleasant memories from the past made her hesitate to go forward.
She thought that perhaps she should give herself more time to slowly heal the wounds in her heart.
The safest approach is to wait until you've mustered enough courage before accepting the relationship openly.
Even if I feel bitter right now, I can only force myself to endure it.
On the other end of the phone, Tan Haoyu was holding up the phone.
She couldn't shake the memory; Zhu Ziqing's words of rejection still echoed in her ears.
He frowned slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his usual composure.
How could he not understand Zhu Ziqing's inner hesitation?
Those past wounds cannot be healed with a few sweet words.
Tan Haoyu sighed softly.
She said softly into the phone, "Okay, then don't overwork yourself. If you finish work late, remember to eat something at noon."
If you change your mind, feel free to call me.
His tone remained gentle and patient, without a trace of complaint or criticism.
The clock struck 11:30.
Like a bugle call to charge, it instantly shattered the usual tense working atmosphere in Feiyang Technology's office.
Colleagues who were typing on keyboards and processing documents all stopped what they were doing.
Stretching and yawning, they started packing their things in twos and threes.
Laughter and cheerful chatter filled the air as they prepared to head out for a delicious lunch.
Zhu Ziqing sat at her workstation and had just put down her phone.
A few words of concern and greetings from Tan Haoyu were still visible on the screen.
She pursed her lips slightly, a barely perceptible blush rising on her cheeks.
He then took a deep breath and began to tidy up the desk in an orderly manner.
Her slender fingers neatly arranged the documents one by one, stacking them into piles.
Then he put all the stationery back in its place, his movements serious and focused.
Immersed in his own little world, he didn't notice the movements of his colleagues around him at all.
It was as if the noise around her had nothing to do with her.
Meanwhile, in the president's office at the other end of the floor.
Tan Haoyu stood upright in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window.
The glass is specially made so that you can see the entire business department from the inside out.
From the outside, however, all you can see is a reflective barrier.
Tan Haoyu casually put his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed on Zhu Ziqing's every move.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering to himself, "This little girl was all smiles when she was looking at her phone just now, but now she's packing her things with a serious expression. What is she thinking?"
"Could it be that he's thinking about something related to me?"
Thinking this, his curiosity grew stronger, and his hand unconsciously reached into his pocket and took out his phone.
With slender fingers, he quickly swiped the screen and dialed Zhu Ziqing's number.
Zhu Ziqing was halfway through packing when her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.
She took it out and saw that it was Tan Haoyu calling again, and her heart skipped a beat.
His hands trembled slightly as he looked around frantically, afraid that others would see him.