No wonder he only called her now—he must have been busy all this time. Ming Yutong's mood, which had been somewhat gloomy, brightened significantly.
"I knew about tonight's situation. I called you just to make sure you're not feeling too down on your own," Fu Yinxiu said gently.
His absence had made her worry, but now that he was reaching out, she found herself becoming stubborn again. "I'm fine. It's just a small issue. It won't affect me."
Fu Yinxiu smiled with a touch of indulgence and weariness in his eyes. "Yes, my Tong Tong is incredibly strong. Such difficulties can't bring you down."
Ming Yutong's face flushed with embarrassment at his words. Despite her attempt to be tough, he supported her so kindly.
Even through the screen, she could see the unmistakable affection in his expression. If there were no screen between them, she wondered just how deep that affection would be.
Feeling a bit embarrassed by Fu Yinxiu's supportive words, she muttered softly, "Actually… it's not really…"
She lowered her head, showing only the top of her head and her smooth forehead to Fu Yinxiu. Believing he couldn't see her expression from this angle, she let out a shy pout, her cheeks puffed slightly and her lips pursed.
Unbeknownst to her, Fu Yinxiu could see her adorable demeanor clearly. He watched her with a kind of fondness and nostalgia, as if he wanted to imprint this innocent side of her deeply in his memory.
Fu Yinxiu was pleasantly surprised to see her so unguarded despite her maturity and competence. The traits of a girl still lingered in her, and he was delighted to witness it.
After a while, Ming Yutong felt she could act more normally and looked at the screen again.
Fu Yinxiu's affectionate smile was still in place, and she couldn't help but feel startled.
Had he always looked at her this way without her knowing?
His deep affection made her heart ache.
Even if she was reluctant to admit it, she knew she had fallen for him again. She was falling for the same man once more.
His profound affection, the care he was showing her now, and his meticulousness were undeniable.
Unlike Jiang Lulian, who mostly just spoke, Fu Yinxiu not only said but also did what he promised, fulfilling his commitments.
Moreover, she already had feelings for Fu Yinxiu that she couldn't let go of. All her resistance, coldness, evasion, and hesitation were merely because she couldn't move on from him.
Suddenly, she found herself unwilling to continue resisting or avoiding him.
Ming Yutong stared at Fu Yinxiu's face on the screen. Noticing her expression, Fu Yinxiu suddenly straightened up, his relaxed and tired demeanor replaced with a more serious and attentive look.
He swallowed nervously, not daring to speak, afraid he might interrupt her or prompt her to change her mind.
"When will you be back?" Ming Yutong finally asked.
It was as if her question was not just asking about his return but was saying, "I love you."
Fu Yinxiu's face brightened with joy. His eyes sparkled as if he had received the greatest treasure.
Ming Yutong had never asked him when he would return before. He had always been the one to say he would finish his work and come back soon.
She had seemed indifferent to his return, as if it didn't matter to her.
Even though Fu Yinxiu continued to work hard, it was natural for him to feel a bit disheartened. Now, her asking him about his return made him genuinely happy.
It felt like there was an invisible line between them. She had been standing on one side, getting closer but never crossing it.
Now, she had finally stepped over to his side, indicating that she accepted him. Neither needed to state it explicitly—both were smart enough to understand.
In this moment, this simple question was more meaningful to Fu Yinxiu than any romantic words.
Seeing Fu Yinxiu's excited and uncontrollable reaction made Ming Yutong feel even more embarrassed. It seemed like such a small matter to him.
Had she been so harsh with him? Wasn't it usually the other way around?
Realizing this made her feel more at ease.
Despite her embarrassment, her lips curled into a smile, unconsciously influenced by Fu Yinxiu's emotions.
Fu Yinxiu then said, "I'll come back tomorrow, I'll hurry back as soon as I can."
Ming Yutong was startled and frowned slightly.
Seeing this, Fu Yinxiu immediately asked, "Am I coming back too late? If so, I'll buy a ticket right now."
The drivers, Alpha Guard 1 and Alpha Guard 2, couldn't help but glance at Fu Yinxiu through the rearview mirror.
Did he not know what he was saying?
There was a crucial meeting tomorrow, and the people here were known for their rigid adherence to rules and credit.
If he returned tonight, what would happen to the meeting?
"No," Ming Yutong quickly said, "You don't need to rush back, really."
Fu Yinxiu's face fell in disappointment. Ming Yutong noticed immediately.
Before he could say anything, Ming Yutong hurriedly explained, "It's not that I don't want you to come back."
At her words, Fu Yinxiu's expression brightened again, his previous disappointment replaced by anticipation.
"It's just that I don't want you to push yourself too hard. There's no major trouble here. You arranged for the Alpha Guards to help me, and they're doing a great job. Finish up your work as planned and don't…" Ming Yutong bit her lip.
Her soft, bitten lip looked rather cute.
Fu Yinxiu's Adam's apple moved as he listened to Ming Yutong's soft words: "Don't overwork yourself."
For the first time since their reunion, she spoke softly to him and expressed concern for him.
Ming Yutong felt awkward, her cheeks flushing with warmth, reminiscent of the sweet and nervous emotions from their first meeting.
Fu Yinxiu was thrilled.
"So, it's not that you don't want me to come back, but that you don't want me to be too tired." Fu Yinxiu said happily, his smile stretching from ear to ear.
Ming Yutong hesitated, "Anyway, there's nothing much going on here."
The slight gloominess she had felt earlier had dissipated with his call.