Hidden Love
Han Yu Pin Yin: Cang Ai
Author: Jennifer
Source: AAE Village
Translators: Evie

She thinks that herself should be the victim of the current economy booming. Company business is getting better and have more clients from outstation nowadays, so more outstation trip to do. Perhaps because of unmarried reason, each time whenever company sending someone to travel to outstation on official business, she is always in the list. This round she was assigned to Taegu for 3 days.

After bidding process, she managed to win the contract of the local municipal government culture hall design project for the company, and it really have been exhausting . Before departure she already drew design drawing already, at there, she has deliberately went around to look at the local conditions and customs culture characteristic, last minutes she decided to redo the drawing, the entire two days she just stayed and worked in the hotel only. Luckily all her hard work has not wasted. Actually accept this kind of case, the profit far less than commercial nature case, but challenge actually higher, independency also stronger, furthermore the company could also take this opportunity to build up their reputation in the market. She is really happy to have this opportunity to be able to test own ability.

Arrived at the Seoul airport only after 3pm, her boss is very happy, so allow her to go home straight, do not need to report back to office for the rest of the day. Seoul's sky are clear and blue, just likes her mood to be same, she couldn't wait to share her joy with Xiang Zhe. Just now when the evaluation result were announcement, he is the first person that she called but she couldn't get hold of him.

For the past two days in order to concentrate to her work without any disturbance, she had off her hand phone, certainly Xiang Zhe will nag at her later. He always laughs at her saying that whenever she is busy at work, she totally forgotten and ignored everything, actually he is about the same too just like her.

For the entire afternoon, she couldn't get hold of him. His hand phone has been switched off. After some thought, she decided to give a call at his office, it was his secretary who answered.

"Director Yin took half day leave for this afternoon."

She suddenly remembers on Thursday night at the mountain when looking at stars, he looked like catches cold already.
"Has he fallen ill?"
"Yes! How did you knows?" Secretary's sounded curious.
"Thank you!" She hurrily hung up.
Asked for leave! Should not be that serious!
Most likely is all her fault again! She thought.
That night she suddenly felt like to go to mountains to look at the stars, and he worried she might be cold, so took of his coat to let her put on; She also remembered on the way back, he has sneezed quite several times too.
Worrying about him, she took a taxi immediately, to go to his place. She only been to his place 2 to 3 times during the time when she designed his home.And that was already more than year ago. Unexpectedly with a fuzzy memories, she managed to find his place.

The apartment security guard told her that he is not in. She waited for him in the reception room for an hour and he is still not home yet, took up her baggage plan to go home already, who knows coincidentally has bumped into him in the main entrance.
He is delighted. "
"How come you are here?" Xiang Zhe's voice sounded hoarsely, really falls ill.
"Where did you run to, ill already still doesn't stay at the home to rest , runs all over the place somemore. I have waited half of the day! Have you seen a doctor or not?" She said to him without giving a chance for him to say anything else.
He looks her that dead worry appearance, frustrated and is happy at the same time, the corners of the mouth pulled as soon as have wiped the smile.
"What are you smiling at?" She pouted.
"You speaks as fast as machine gun, how is your husband going to take it next time?!" He couldn't help and laughed again at her.
"Not funny at all! I'm going home now!" She turns around and walked away.
"All right. I'll stop joking. Comes up and have a sit first ok?!" He tried to stop her from going away.
Several days have not seen her, have not listened to her sound, he might not want to let her leave so quickly.

"Not need...It's ok....I was just on my way home and happen to pass by here so just stop to take a look at you only." She anxiously anxiously shakes the head.
Just now never think clearly, the moment heard that he is sick, just rushed over to visit him right away. Not sure what he thinks now.

He finds it funny in his heart , he stayed in east side and she is in west, how to be on the way?
"How can? You came here all the way from far, no matter I have to invite the guest in for a while, right? Let's go!"
He took her baggage, and left hand pulling her to walk toward the elevator door.

"You should be quite familiar with this place, right?!" He smiles and looks her.
This place of course naturally familiar to her. This is the only house design she ever did, and she had spent a lot of efforts in this place.
The living room is neat, clean, and with some several simple ornaments, actually it has quite an ingenious conception.
She refers to a pair of colored glaze vase on the short cabinet, smiles asks: "You bought these?"
He nods.
"Ohh! It is unique!"
She looks around the living room, had not seen the Peter Rabbit she bought for him, probably it is sitting at some corner in the house! He is said before that Peter Rabbit does not suit him.
"Looking for your Peter Rabbit is it?" He asks with a smile.
Her face expression is really that obvious? Why he can frequently read her thoughts?
"You didn't throw it away right?" She questioned him.
"What do you think?" Xiang Zhe asked in reply her.
"How would I know?" She bends down to smell the water lilies in the vase. It is her favorite flower.
"Don't worry, I loves it and everything that comes along with it , I look after it well."
{PS:There's a Chinese saying here, "love the house, love the bird" - "Ai Woo Ji Wu" means whatever you loves and you loves everything that comes along with it. Ok? Very hard to translate... *sigh*}
His speech unexpectedly makes her happy.
"Oh! Then I am the house? Or bird?" She mischievous saying it.

"How did you manage to find this place?" He hands over cup a fruit juice to her.
"Still have a little impression." With one gulp, she finished 1/2 cup of the fruit juice, just now she was anxious to come over, now she is kind of really thirsty.
"Xue Zhang, is your apartment security guard always so curious to each visitors?"
When she is in the reception room, that old uncle came to check her out quite several time.
He thought for a while, and has smiled.
"What are you smiling?" Her face relentless.
"You came here with all these baggage's, and had waited for me half of the day, he most likely thought that you are my girlfriend, moving in with me already. Oh! This is bad! "This time even if I jumped into Yellow River, I doubt that I can clear my name!" He took a peek at her.
The other day when he went to her office, she had throw her temper at him and also said this speech.
Her cheeks is suddenly turned red, grab a small cushion on the sofa and swing over to hit right to his face.
He moved sideways to avoids, because of laughed fiercely, he coughs nonstop.
"Serves you right! Who asked you to bully me, sick already still run all over places." She sounded him.
"Today is my mother death anniversary, I went to pay her a visit at the cemetery."
"Ahh.......?." She always so blunt
He smiled at her.
"Xue Zhang, definitely you have not seen a doctor yet, right?" She asks him gentlely.
"It just cold only, will be all right two more days , my health is always good." He said it as though couldn't care less.
"Yes, your health is always good, and gets sick from Thursday up to today has not got well right?" She gave him a stare.
She went to the kitchen, and look into the refrigerator.
"I doubt that you can find anything delicious in there." He stood by the refrigerator door looking at her.
She ignored him too.
"Xue Zhang, you wait for me, I go downstairs to buy something." On her way here, she saw a grocery store at the corner of the his apartment.
"What do you want to buy? I'll go with you!"
"No need la, you just rest at home!"

No matter what, she didn't let him to go with her, all by herself , she went to downstairs. After ten minutes, she came back with a bag of things.
She asked him to wait in the living room, he could only hears her cutting something in the kitchen, a while later heard her opens the gas to boil water, after half a day in the kitchen, she came out a pot "black soup".
"Quickly, drink this!" She served him with a big bowl of black drink.
He knitted the brows, looks at her: "What's this?"
"POISON! Drink it quickly!"
He has drunk a big mouth: "Ha! God! It's spicy!"
Actually she cooked ginger soup.
"Young lady, how many ginger did you put in?"
"Is it?" She tried a little. She choked and the tears almost to flow out immediately.
"This first time I tried to boil la! You just don't be so fussy, my aunt said the spicier it is, the more effective that way."
He braced oneself swallowed that bowl vigor spicy full ginger soup with great difficulty.
"My father said after taking this let the sweat out, cold will go away quickly." She self-satisfied saying convincing him.
"Hah! Not only sweats, moreover the tear, the mucus all coming out too." It must be really spicy for him.
"Xue Zhang!" This person love to tease her so much, everything always has first time!
"Miss Zhen San Mei, I think you have to work harder on your cooking skills!" He helps in the kitchen to tidy up the kitchenware.
"You don't have to worry! I just decided to be bachelorette for rest of my life just like you, so to avoid after busy half of the day, still being complaint that I can't cook." She replied him sarcastically and then pouted her lips.
"Angry already is it?" He steals glance at her.
"I didn't even go home first, came to see you right away, if I knew this earlier, I wouldn't come already." Her ill-humored saying.
"You really such care so much about me? Or you treat eveyone like this too?" He smiled and asks.
She just only then realized she accidentally slipped saying it.
"A friend has fell ill certainly should care about." She said calmly, actually is panic-stricken.
He heard it, just only the smiled back without saying anything else.

Many times he had repeatedly said to himself, no matter how she felt for him, as long as can see her delightful smiling face, he is well satisfied already. He is willing to lay aside his feelings, just be by her side whenever she needs him will do; But as soon as he sees her, his feelings is actually overwhelming.

When in love with a person, in the heart always hoped for a return, always hoped that she loves you too.

From her eyes overflows the tender feelings touch his heart, he knows this kind of happiness is coming over slowly towards him.
She is a very special girl, she will understand his heart.

Phone rings.

"It's you, Yong Xi?!"
"Right! I went to visit my mother this afternoon."
"I switched off my hand phone in the afternoon. .....Don't worry, it's OK she will understand that you are busy.... . .."

Yong Xi! Must be that Liu Yong Xi, she met her before at Xiang Zhe office. She and him looks like very close, seems like she knows him extremely well, today is his mother's death anniversary she knew too. Looking at him chatting away with Yong Xi, she somewhat felt unhappy, does not want to stay any longer in there.
She carries the baggage, wave the hand at him, turns around to leave.
He busily stood up , took a big step in front of her to stop her from leaving.
"I have a friend with me now, we'll discuss again in office tomorrow ?"
"It's.... .. ... My girlfriend, good-bye." He anxious anxiously puts down the phone.
She felt heat on her cheek.
"Xue Zhang, you simply cracks a joke like that, later your Liu Yong Xi might really gets angry!" She is anxious and angry, and complains at the same time.
Both of them looks very matching with one another.
"Angry? She won't, she is not even my girlfriend." Recently, Yong Xi is very close with Xian Da.
Did not know why too, her mood suddenly becomes very good.

"It's late already, let's have dinner together first before goes home, all right? "
Looking at her hesitating, he rashly pulls her to walk toward outside.
He took her to a Japanese restaurant.
"Hai! We are not going to eat this!" She stands infront of the shop entrance not willing to go in.
"Don't you like to eat Japanese food?"
"You are having cold, have to eat something warm only then be able to feel comfortable."
"No problem. Just ordered a pot of steamboat will do then"
Only then she at last nodded.

"Won the Taegu's contract already?"
He picks out the pickled vegetables from his bowl to hers, she likes pickled vegetables a lot.
"Emm!" She happily puts in the pickled vegetables into her mouth.
"Looks so happy!" He knew that she cares about this case very much.
"Happy is happy, but later have to go there more frequently to supervise the project, it's going to be very troublesome, and next week I will have to go there with my boss to sign the contract. Xue Zhang, I had to turn into a flying trapeze like you." She had a face full of worried expression.

"Closed up five days, is really useful." He takes up the chopsticks to pinch the fish fillet from the tray into the hot pot.
"What five days? I only have gone three days."
"Three days? Ms. Zhen, 2 days before you left, I don't hear anything from you already. I am almost going to advertise in paper to look for missing person." Xiang Zhe exaggerated saying it.
"Is it? I thought I have reported every single details to Director Yin already." She laughed at him.
"Every time talking to you, may eliminate sorrow and tiredness, and increase my awareness too. I already got used to it." He saying it in seriousness.
"How come I think myself looked like turns into a ginseng already?!" She is charmingly angry.

She suddenly put out her hand to Xiang Zhe hand to snatch the long chopsticks, took the tofu and the vegetables from the tray into the pot which is boiling.
"Let me do it." He said.
"It's my fault that you falls ill, I felt guilty over it, so let me "redeem" for my mistakes, to serve The Director Yin." She smiles, and filled up a full bowl of the soup to him.

Just now when she looks around, only realized that he is the only male making the hot pot, the other table is all the ladies busy doing it, from the other one side there are some people looking over at their table already, it made her somehow embarrassed, perhaps they thought that she was those kind of domineering woman! But she in front of him sometimes really was cunning and unreasonable.
She thinks of that, cannot help but smiled.

"What is so funny?" He asks her.
"Nothing. Mmm, Xue Zhang, this restaurant's hot pot is very delicious."
The hot pot is delicious? He does not pay any special attention to it.
He only likes to be with her, that feeling of two people face-to-face sitting in a circle in front of the round table, he only likes stare at the red cheeks of hers which is caused by the charcoal fire, he only likes looking at her delightful satisfied smiling face, he treasures each moment together with her.

He smiles, looked she said: "Next week I will have to go to Japan on official business for a week, what will want me to bring to come back for you?"
"Must go to Japan on official business again? You just went last month isn't it?" She knit the brows, looked at him.
"Why? Don't me to go away is it?"
He knew perfectly well, he won't obtain any answer, but he had to probe her anyhow.
She lowers the head continued to drink the soup, pretended likes has not heard to his speech at all.

After dinner, both sit in front of the furnace fire, just chats away about everything.
She looks at her watch, said to him: "Xue Zhang, afterwards you have go to see doctor!"
"Do I?"
"Go to see doctor, take medicine, then you can get well faster, otherwise how to go to Japan?"
He sought that look in her eyes which makes his heart shaken once again with the tender feelings.
Xiang Zhe smiled.
In his smile, has filled with happiness, that moment, she really wanted to tell him that she likes him, but she only looks at him.

"Just now you said take the ginger soup, sweat for a while will do!" He looks at her with a smile.
"Fine! Don't go! Just pretend that I have not said anything." She pouted, pretended to be angry.
"Go! Go! I will go! Scared of you already OK? Never met such a fierce junior sister!."
After paying of the bill, she "detains" him to the doctor, also urges to take medicine on time, 3 times after his meals a day, only then at last felt relieved to go home.

For the next two, three days, he every morning, the noon, the evening punctually receives her phone calls, reminding him to eat the medicine on time, to remind him to drink a bowl of her ginger soup before goes to bed, his cold really recovered quickly.

But, he thought is love that have cure him, because the girl that he have been waiting wholeheartedly for, finally is walking slowly towards him, perhaps she didn't realized it herself.