Qin Shu finally slid into the back seat behind the driver.
Han Pei didn't look back, but his voice was steady."Seatbelt."
She blinked, then quietly clicked it on.
The car rolled out of the residential area.
For two people meeting for the first time, both naturally quiet, the silence felt… a little too thick. Not hostile. Just awkward.
Han Pei broke it first.
"What kind of music do you like?"
Qin Shu paused. "A piano piece. Anything is fine."Then, after a beat, she added softly, "Thank you."
Han Pei didn't respond with extra words. He just turned on the music.
A gentle piano melody filled the car, warm and slow, like something meant to calm nerves.
The roads were crowded and slippery, and Qin Shu noticed something immediately—Han Pei didn't rush, didn't complain, didn't even show the slightest irritation. His eyes stayed focused on the road ahead.
She found herself staring at his hands on the steering wheel.
Long fingers. Clean. Controlled.
Without thinking, she asked, "Can you play the piano?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how abrupt it sounded.
Han Pei glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
"I learned." His tone was casual. "But I'm not good. Haven't played in years."Then he asked, "Do you like playing?"
Qin Shu nodded. "Mm."
And just like that, the conversation ended again.
Not in an uncomfortable way. More like… neither of them was the type to force words.
Qin Shu pulled out a few sheets of draft paper and opened the problem on her phone.
The second she started, she forgot she was even in a car.
Han Pei drove quietly, and the piano music played.
By the time they entered the villa district, Qin Shu was still writing.
Han Pei stopped the car.
She didn't look up.
Han Pei glanced at her in the mirror, hesitated, then… lightly pressed the accelerator again.
The car glided forward.
Not leaving the neighborhood. Just circling.
His phone vibrated. He glanced at it and hung up.
Half an hour passed.
Qin Shu used up almost all the paper.
Still no answer.
She sighed, shoved everything back into her bag, and finally looked up.
"…We're here already?"
Han Pei's voice was calm. "Yes. My house is ahead."
Qin Shu blinked. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Han Pei didn't answer that. He just parked properly this time.
Grandpa Han was already waiting inside.
The housekeeper had fruit prepared—washed, cut, and arranged neatly.
Grandpa Han smiled warmly the moment he saw Qin Shu.
"Qiqi, come sit next to me."
Qin Shu sat down, polite and composed.
Han Pei stood nearby for a moment, then said, "Grandpa, you and Qiqi play chess first. I'll go to the study for a call."
Grandpa Han frowned. "What call can't wait?"
"I'll be back in ten minutes."
Grandpa Han waved him off, still unhappy.
Upstairs, Han Pei called back.
Qiu Lan picked up immediately.
"What are you busy with? You didn't even answer earlier."
"At home."
"Oh?" Qiu Lan sounded surprised. "Then when are you coming back to the company? I'm still waiting in your meeting room."
"I'm not going."
Qiu Lan went quiet for a second. Then:"Is Grandpa not feeling well?"
"Grandpa is fine." Han Pei's voice didn't change. "We have guests."
"…Okay. I won't bother you."
Before she hung up, she asked, "Is it about AC Company?"
Han Pei's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes."
And just like that, the conversation turned sharp and businesslike.
Downstairs, Qin Shu was playing chess with Grandpa Han.
She was losing.
Badly.
Han Pei returned and sat down beside her.
Qin Shu turned her head. "You can go do your work. You don't need to stay."
Han Pei didn't move. "Nothing urgent today."
Grandpa Han grunted. "Good. A machine that never rests will eventually break."
Qin Shu almost smiled.
Han Pei suddenly asked, "What problem were you doing in the car?"
Qin Shu froze slightly. "…A complicated math problem."
"Any results?"
She shook her head. "I've been stuck for days."
Grandpa Han immediately lit up. "Then let Han Pei take a look! He's been good at math since he was little."
Qin Shu's eyes widened. "Really?"
Han Pei extended his hand calmly. "Let me see. I'm not sure I can solve it."
Qin Shu forwarded the problem to his phone and handed him her messy draft paper.
Their fingertips brushed.
His were warm.
Hers were cold.
Qin Shu pulled her hand back like nothing happened, but the faint warmth lingered on her skin for a few seconds longer than it should have.
Han Pei glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
Too thinly dressed. Even her fingers were icy.
wo hours later, Qin Shu lost almost every chess match.
But her skills improved fast.
Grandpa Han was tired. He rubbed his legs and sighed.
"You two young people go out and have fun. I'm old. I need to rest."
Qin Shu said quickly, "We can stay and eat dinner with you."
Grandpa Han waved his hand. "No need. My food is too bland for you."
Han Pei handed Qin Shu the draft paper.
"I didn't have time to finish everything. But I circled the parts where your thinking went wrong. Follow this line, and you should be able to deduce the answer."
Qin Shu stared at the annotations.
Neat. Clean. Sharp.
It was the kind of handwriting that screamed: This man is terrifyingly competent.
She held the paper carefully. "Thank you."
Han Pei gave the housekeeper and doctor a few instructions, then left with Qin Shu.
In the car, Han Pei asked, "What do you want to eat?"
Qin Shu shook her head immediately. "No need. Just take me home. I still have homework."
Han Pei glanced at her. "You don't need to lose weight. Eat something."
Qin Shu made up a lie instantly. "I'm not dieting. My roommate will come back later. I'll eat a late-night snack with her."
"Roommate?"
"My best friend is staying with me."
Han Pei nodded, not prying further.
Then, unexpectedly, he said, "I'll treat you to dinner another day."
Qin Shu looked at him. "Why?"
Han Pei's tone was blunt, like he didn't even realize it might sound strange.
"I took up your afternoon. Spending time with the elderly is boring."
Qin Shu shook her head. "It wasn't boring at all."
Han Pei replied without hesitation, "Then I'll come over and have fun when I have time."
Qin Shu: "..."
For the first time, she didn't know what to say.
That night, Qin Shu went home and buried herself in the problem again.
Time blurred.
At 3:15 a.m., she finally solved it.
She leaned back in her chair, exhausted, eyes half closed.
And then, in a brain-fried moment of pure triumph, she grabbed her phone.
She dialed Han Pei.
The call connected.
His voice was low and hoarse from sleep.
"Hello, Qiqi."
Qin Shu blinked. "Did I disturb you?"
Han Pei was silent for a second. Then, quietly:"What's wrong?"
"I solved it."
Han Pei's voice softened.
"So fast?"
Qin Shu hummed, proud and a little breathless."I followed the steps you suggested. Thank you."
Han Pei sat up.
Then, instead of ending the call, he said, "Tell me how you solved it."
Qin Shu hesitated. "It'll take a while…"
"I'm not busy right now."
So Qin Shu opened her laptop again.
And for the next hour, she explained every step, every idea, every correction.
Han Pei listened. Occasionally interrupted.
Not to stop her.
But to guide her.
Outside, the cold wind blew on his terrace while he smoked one cigarette after another, fully awake.
At 4 a.m.
Listening to her voice.
When Qin Shu finally finished explaining, she heard Han Pei exhale softly into the phone.
Then he said, in a tone so low it almost sounded intimate:
"…Qin Shu. Do you realize what time it is right now?"