After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 34
Chapter 34: A Quiet Kind of Warmth
After that night, their relationship shifted—slightly, but noticeably.
Not with fireworks, not with dramatic declarations, but in quieter ways.
More text messages during the day.
More small gestures.
More silences that no longer felt heavy.
….
Tang Li started spending weekends at Qin Shiyang’s office again.
She’d sit on the sofa, legs curled up under her, doing homework or sketching on her tablet, while Qin Shiyang worked at her desk—typing, flipping through reports, taking calls.
It was quiet. Peaceful.
Occasionally, Qin Shiyang would look up from her screen and ask, “Hungry?”
Tang Li would glance at the clock, pretend to think, and nod.
Then they’d go downstairs and eat noodles at the shop across the street. Or share a rice bowl in the staff kitchen.
No one said much.
But something about it felt… safe.
….
One afternoon, Tang Li was half-asleep on the sofa when she heard the office door open.
A man’s voice: “Shiyang, do you have a minute—oh.”
Tang Li sat up quickly, smoothing her hair.
Qin Shiyang glanced at her, then at the man. “What is it, Director Xu?”
Director Xu looked from Qin Shiyang to Tang Li and back again. “I didn’t know you had company.”
“I do,” Qin Shiyang said coolly. “Speak.”
The man hesitated. “It’s about the new investment proposal. I just sent you an email—if you have time to review it…”
“I’ll look it over later.”
Director Xu nodded stiffly. “Understood.”
He cast one more curious glance at Tang Li before closing the door behind him.
Tang Li exhaled. “Did I get you in trouble?”
“No,” Qin Shiyang said. “They’ll gossip for a while. Let them.”
“You don’t care?”
“I’ve stopped caring about a lot of things.”
Tang Li tilted her head. “But you used to?”
“I used to care too much.” Qin Shiyang leaned back in her chair. “About image. About expectations. About staying in control.”
Tang Li watched her.
“And now?” she asked softly.
“Now…” Qin Shiyang’s gaze drifted toward her. “Now I care more about you.”
Tang Li’s heart skipped a beat.
“Even if that means losing a bit of control?” she teased.
“Especially if it means that.”
….
That night, they didn’t go home right away.
It was raining when they stepped out of the office. Light drizzle, like mist.
Tang Li looked up at the sky. “You didn’t bring an umbrella?”
“No.”
Tang Li held out her hand. “Then we’ll run.”
Before Qin Shiyang could respond, she grabbed her and dashed into the rain.
They ran, laughing, through the nearly empty street—past shuttered cafés, neon signs glowing against wet pavement.
By the time they reached the car, they were both soaked.
Qin Shiyang shook water from her hair. “You’re insane.”
Tang Li grinned, breathless. “Maybe. But you’re smiling.”
Qin Shiyang blinked—then realized she was.
Not the polite smile she gave investors.
Not the cold one she used in boardrooms.
A real one.
Soft.
Unrestrained.
Alive.
Tang Li leaned against the car door, heart thudding. “See? It’s not so scary.”
Qin Shiyang stepped closer, still smiling.
“No,” she said. “It’s not.”
Then she kissed her.
Right there, in the rain.
No umbrellas.
No hesitation.
Just warmth.
And rain.
And two people slowly learning how to love.