Love of CEO

22.

He entered his room and broke down, tears streaming down his face. "I... I miss you, Mumma," he whispered, his voice choked with sobs. The grief overwhelmed him, and for a moment, he let himself feel the weight of her absence.

After some time, Xui Ching wiped his tears hastily, taking a deep breath to steady himself. His mother’s absence was a wound that never truly healed, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. There were responsibilities to fulfill, and people were waiting for him.

He zipped up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. As he glanced at his phone, a notification lit up the screen.

Lan Xichen:
I’ve reached... come fast.

A faint smile crept onto Ching’s lips. If anyone could bring him comfort amid the chaos, it was Lan Xichen. He remembered calling Xichen the day before to coordinate plans for the upcoming department fresher’s event. As co-in-charge of the event, they had a lot to prepare, and he’d asked Xichen to pick him up to save time.

Quickly, he typed a reply:
Xui Ching:
On my way. Give me five minutes.

He glanced around his room, double-checking to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. Satisfied, he grabbed his keys and stepped out, shutting the door behind him.

As he descended the stairs, his father’s angry voice carried from the living room. Ching ignored it entirely, not sparing even a glance in that direction. He stepped outside into the cool evening air, where Xichen’s car was parked by the driveway.

Xichen was leaning casually against the car, his calm and composed presence radiating reassurance. For a moment, the heaviness in Ching’s chest lightened.

“Ready?” Xichen asked, a warm smile on his face.

Ching nodded, managing a small smile of his own. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Without another word, he got into the car, letting the tension of the mansion fade behind him. However, he didn’t notice the flicker of concern on Xichen’s face as he caught sight of Ching’s red, swollen eyes.

Xichen slid into the driver’s seat, casting a quick glance at Ching before starting the engine. Before he could say anything, Ching launched into a detailed explanation about the items they needed to pick up from the supermarket for the fresher’s event.

“We need decorations, the welcome banners, and some refreshments for the committee members. Oh, and don’t forget the extra seating arrangements,” Ching rattled off, his voice brisk and focused, as though he were deliberately trying to distract himself.

Xichen nodded silently, gripping the steering wheel. He wanted to ask about Ching’s state, the redness in his eyes, the slight quiver in his voice, but he hesitated. Their relationship, though friendly, was strictly professional, and he wasn’t sure if it was his place to pry into Ching’s personal life.

Still, the unspoken concern lingered in his chest, giving him an uncomfortable ache. He wanted to be more for Ching—someone he could lean on, someone he could share his burdens with. But for now, all he could do was listen and nod, hoping that Ching might eventually trust him enough to open up.

“Anything else we’re missing?” Xichen asked softly, masking his concern with a neutral tone.

Ching shook his head. “That should cover it,” he replied, his voice steady but lacking its usual liveliness.

Xichen stole another glance at him as they pulled onto the main road. 'You’re not okay,' he thought to himself, 'but I’ll wait for you to tell me.'

---------------

Lan Zhan:
Aren't you nervous?

Wei Ying:
Yeah! I am. I’ve never gone anywhere alone without my family or friends. It’s kinda freaking me out. But I have to finish my research project, so I can’t back out.