The Master's Mask Unveiled Again

Chapter 397: Chapter 396: I Will Become Official Sooner or Later!

Chapter 397 -396: I Will Become Official Sooner or Later!

Habit?

Lu Mian felt that she had grown accustomed to having Xiao Qimo by her side.

Accustomed to his presence near her.

Even more accustomed to a life with him.

Yet, these habits had never appeared in her life before.

She hadn’t even gotten used to having her parents around, but somehow, inexplicably, she had become used to him.

She took a deep breath and, facing the man’s rather intense gaze, took a step forward.

The man, caught off guard by her approach, was briefly stunned.

Lu Mian reached out and gently wrapped her arms around the man’s waist.

The grip wasn’t strong, but it carried a tinge of nervousness and shyness.

Xiao Qimo’s nerves instantly tensed.

Lu Mian rested her head against his chest, her movements a bit clumsy.

She rubbed back and forth several times, as if confirming something.

Listening to the man’s “thump, thump, thump” rapidly accelerating heartbeat, just like her own, she suddenly understood.

The feeling of holding Xiao Qimo was nothing like holding Yuanyuan and the others.

Not at all the same.

Before the man could react, she had already finished her verification, swiftly letting go of him and stepping back a large stride.

Hanging her small head, she silently exhaled and pressed down on her overly rapid heartbeat.

The dragonfly-touch embrace, like a tornado, came quickly and left just as swiftly; the entire episode lasted no more than three seconds.

Yet Xiao Qimo still felt as if he were dreaming, not daring to move for fear that the dream would end.

Did she just hug him?

The kind of hug with arms wrapped around each other!

He looked deeply at the girl in front of him, his complexion a complex mix of astonishment.

He even feared her next sudden, bold move would turn all his expectations to dust.

Lu Mian, unaware of the man’s roller coaster of emotions, merely let out a light sigh as though pondering something, “Director Qimo, I feel it’s pretty nice having you around.”

Xiao Qimo: ?!

That was Lu Mian’s genuine thought, and she expressed it so straightforwardly.

However, it was this very sentence that stirred Xiao Qimo’s heart into a chaotic flurry.

“Do you understand that feeling?” she countered.

Xiao Qimo tilted his head slightly, listened quietly, his heart already secretly setting off fireworks.

“It’s like when little kids are playing a game, they like it when their parents are watching from the side,” Lu Mian’s voice was tender and calm.

With a hint of a long and distant smile, she softly added, “I too, hope you’ll be by my side to watch me.”

“…” Upon hearing this, Xiao Qimo’s heart shattered into dumpling filling.

He took a deep breath, almost grating his teeth as he spoke, “So, you still think of me as your dad?”

Lu Mian frowned slightly as she looked at him, shaking her head earnestly, “No.”

“Then what is it?”

There was a hint of annoyance in the man’s voice, which Lu Mian picked up on, yet felt utterly lost.

She asked innocently and somewhat confusedly, “Aren’t you the one who said you are my temporary boyfriend now?

Do you want to be my dad?”

Who wants to be your dad!

The frustration in Xiao Qimo’s heart crashed against his chest.

Temporary boyfriend?

Temporary girlfriend?

So, was this her way of responding?

The man’s heart, which had been extinguished, suddenly fizzed like Mentos dropped into cola, bubbling intensely.

He feigned composure, tucking away the dissatisfaction he had just shown, and remained calm as if nothing had happened.

“Not bad, you remember your role,” he said with utmost seriousness.

Yet, the very next second, he was already striding towards Lu Mian.

He adjusted his glasses, gentlemanly and composed with each step.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a suave curve, with a fleeting glimpse of his slyness amidst his elegance and poise.

As he walked, he smiled faintly, “Then may I exercise the rights of a boyfriend?”

“`

He was impatient.

Lu Mian backed away, and as she did, she seriously considered whether or not she could comply with his request for “rights”, though she wasn’t exactly sure what he meant.

In the end, she gave a very formal reply, “No.”

Xiao Qimo’s steps halted.

She explained earnestly, “Temporary, no rights.”

Xiao Qimo’s smile became forced.

Cunning little devil!

I’ll become official sooner or later!

Just as they were confronting each other, a faint “growl” suddenly came from within the room.

Xiao Qimo shifted his gaze from Lu Mian’s face to her stomach.

Lu Mian also looked down at her belly and, feeling quite embarrassed, turned her head away.

“You know…

even though it’s a five-star hotel, the food is pretty average,” she mumbled with a slightly pouty mouth, seemingly a bit aggrieved.

She rubbed her flat belly, thankful that Xiao Qimo had bought her breakfast that morning, or she would be even hungrier by now.

Xiao Qimo, seeing her like this, completely lost the battle.

Fine, the previous topic was now thoroughly at a standstill.

“Come here,” he motioned with his hand, walking towards the coffee table and opening a delicate bag.

Only then did Lu Mian notice he had brought something.

Smelling the aroma wafting from the bag, Lu Mian’s eyes lit up.

“I brought this for you.” Xiao Qimo laid out the food while calling her to sit down.

Lu Mian obediently picked up a pair of disposable chopsticks and sat down next to him, compliant and gentle.

Xiao Qimo felt bitter, thinking if she had been this well-behaved earlier, he probably would have become “official” by now.

Sigh.

“It’s all food you like.

I ordered it from a restaurant I often dine at.

I figured your taste would be similar,” he said.

Lu Mian tried a piece and then raised her thumb.

“It’s great.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Naturally, Lu Mian liked it, it was much tastier than the food downstairs.

She had thought she might have to go hungry these days, but to her surprise, Director Qimo was considerate enough to bring her a meal.

“Director Qimo, aren’t you eating?”

“No,” Xiao Qimo replied with composure as he stood up.

“I have a dinner engagement today.

Would you like to check it out?”

“No,” Lu Mian declined decisively.

That was the answer Xiao Qimo expected, so he had prepared lunch for her from the start, not insisting she join him.

“I’ll be staying at the hotel for a while to handle some matters, so you’ll see me around,” he said.

“Oh,” Lu Mian’s eyes curved, “that’s nice.”

She didn’t inquire about the specifics, just hearing he would stay made her quite happy.

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Xiao Qimo reached out and ruffled her hair, then, as if remembering something, he asked indifferently, “How’s it going with the ‘all-capable professor’ I asked you to look for?”

Lu Mian paused with her chopsticks, “I got Guo Bureau to look into it.

There are too many people; it’s difficult.”

“No worries, take your time finding him.”

He smiled faintly, then patted the bottle of mineral water in his pocket, jokingly saying, “This bottle is for me.”

Lu Mian: “!”

What’s so special about a bottle of water?

Isn’t it heavy to carry?

After leaving Lu Mian’s room, Xiao Qimo directly took the elevator downstairs.

In the ground floor dining area, Xiu Qian walked out after eating.

Passing by a window, he spotted a tall, familiar figure outside.

He stopped in his tracks and gave several scrutinizing glances.

The hurried departing figure was imprinted in the depths of his eyes.

His expression darkened.

Why was Xiao Qimo here?