He had said that nonchalantly, without a slight change in gaze or expression. Han Qing was just being a gentleman so he did not want to make a big deal out of it. The sparks that Yan had felt a second ago were extinguished a second later after what he said and did.
Sigh. She thought… he had given her the drumstick as a sign of fondness. Who knew he was just being a gentleman? When she thought about how she overreacted earlier, she felt slightly dejected.
Nonetheless, Han Qing had willfully given her the drumstick. That showed, at least, that she was not an outsider there. The thought of being the outsider she had from before was now all gone. She held the drumstick up; she was so touched that she was close to bawling her eyes out. Oh, he’s not that cold-hearted after all. At least… he knows how to be a gentleman. As long as she kept trying, she would eventually get closer to him.
“Why are you guys looking at me? Not eating?” Han Qing asked in a low voice as he tapped Han Muzi and Little Bean on the head with his chopsticks. He noticed that they were still looking at him and the only person eating away happily was Yan.
Han Muzi returned to her senses and lowered her head to eat her drumstick. After she took a small bite, she glanced at Yan. The corners of her lips curled up into a slight smile as she saw how happy Yan was. Perhaps… some things were already starting to change?
But only Han Qing himself knew the answer to that.
The atmosphere for the rest of the meal became warier after that small episode. However, everyone was occupied with their thoughts and was thinking about different things. As such, not much conversation took place after that.
After their meal, Han Qing wanted to talk to Han Muzi when his phone rang. He glanced down at the caller ID, then looked at Han Muzi. She caught his gaze and looked at him curiously.
He was silent for a moment before he said in a low voice, “Muzi, go wait for me in the study.” Then, he stepped out to pick up the call.
When he was no longer in the room, Yan who had been racking her brains regained some of her energy from before. She lifted her head and glanced at Han Muzi. “Muzi, did you see that? Your brother gave me a drumstick earlier.”
Han Muzi looked at her weirdly. “Is that why you spent the rest of the dinner eating that one drumstick?”
Yan was speechless. Since Han Qing gave her that drumstick, she had been so touched that she did not eat any of the other dishes and just kept nibbling away at it.
Han Muzi pursed her lips and patted her shoulder without hesitation. “The food today is delicious. Are you sure you don’t want to stay and eat more?”
“Hmph! I’m not eating anymore. Listen to me, your brother gave me a drumstick. I’m touched beyond words! Do you think I mean at least that much to your brother now?”
“Probably?” Han Muzi tilted her head slightly. She could say that much if it meant it would reignite Yan’s hopes.
As Yan heard that, she held up her fists. “Okay then! I will try even harder! Now I feel like my efforts from before were not all for nothing.”
Han Muzi left Yan in her delusions. Both Little Bean and Yan stayed where they were while Han Muzi got up to help clear the dishes. After she washed her hands, she went straight to Han Qing’s study.
The study was quiet. Every corner was spotless without a speck of dust, and the shelves were also neatly organized. Her brother was indeed a meticulous and serious person. It would not be a bad choice if he ended up with Yan. However, she knew feelings could not be forced. She would not be surprised even if he did not end up with her.
She waited for a while but Han Qing still did not return. After she made a fuss about him being busy even on a Sunday, she found herself in front of his computer ready to surf the net.
Feeling bored, she got on the internet and played some games for leisure. She had almost fallen asleep while waiting when she heard some noise at the door. She was sprawled out on the table, struggling to keep her eyes open; she lifted her head to look at him as soon as she heard the noise.
Han Qing entered the room with the phone still in his hand. He saw her sprawled out on the table, then closed the door with his other hand and walked toward her. “Tired?”
Han Muzi sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily. “I waited for you for so long. Are you this busy on Sundays too? A video conference in the morning as well as a phone conference in the afternoon?”
Her slight tease made it hard for him to hold back his laughter. He looked at his sister and his lips curled up into a small smile. “The phone conference ended early.”
She was a bit taken aback. “Was I right? Qing, how busy are you?”
“Before you berate me, didn’t you also say you were busy on Sundays?”
That left her in an awkward spot as she was not expecting him to use her words against her. She stood up suddenly, “Why did you call me over? Is there a problem?”
“I can’t call you if there’s no problem? We’re the only two siblings in the Han Family. Even if there is no problem, you should come home more often to visit.”
We’re the only two siblings in the Han Family. This sentence had stirred something in her. She hesitated briefly as she remembered the things the previous servants had told her, and the thoughts that were in her mind. She judged from Han Qing’s relaxed behavior that he still did not know about her and Ye Moxuan. Since she had already decided to be straightforward, she did not want to drag it on any longer.
At the thought of that, she looked right at him. “Qing, I have something to tell you.”
“Hm?” He had been extremely busy; so busy that he was worn out and did not pay much attention to her. In addition to that, he felt remorseful toward her after both of them nearly got into an argument the last time. He had found her after much difficulty, so how could he be angry with her? He then nodded his head. “Go ahead.”
Han Muzi took a deep breath in as she looked at Han Qing’s steady expression. She had thought of how she would break the news to him all day and finally decided to just say it to him directly. After all, he would find out eventually. Instead of beating around the bush, it was better to get straight to the point.
With a burst of energy, she declared, “I wanted to come and get my household registration book today.”
“Household registration book?” His expression showed that he was bewildered, yet he did not wonder why she needed the book. He just thought that, because she was his sister, he needed to let her have her way. After being stumped for a brief moment, he nodded his head. “Sure. Take it.”
She was confused. Just like that? He let me take it so easily? She looked at his still and calm face, and wondered, Did he not figure out why I want the household registration book?
She bit her bottom lip and asked cautiously, “Are you not going to ask me why?”
He glanced at her. “Why?”
“To register…”
