Love You Till the End Chapter 1176 - 1174: Shi Mei vs. Shi Keke (21)

Shi Mei rarely witnessed this softer side of Shi Keke, wondering what thoughts brought about such a contented smile. Previously, in his presence, she had always been unyielding, never admitting defeat, her stubbornness almost eliciting sympathy. Now, a gentle, almost uncharacteristic smile graced her lips, one so tender it still stirred a sense of pity.

He stole a sideways glance at her before silently averting his gaze. His eyes focused forward as he skillfully maneuvered the car, expertly dodging traffic.

Shi Keke finally surfaced from her reverie, only to be met by his cool voice: "That shop isn't open anymore."

Shi Mei's words disrupted her thoughts. Though she had braced herself for the possibility that the old shop might have vanished with time, hearing it directly from him left her feeling a pang of disappointment. Yet, she concealed it, shedding the childlike demeanor from moments before. With a nonchalant smile, she replied, "Then never mind. I wasn't that eager to eat it anyway."

As she spoke, her eyes flickered to her watch. "It's getting late. I still need to review some materials once I get back. Let's go, take me home."

"Alright."

Silence enveloped them for the remainder of the drive.

Having stayed up until four in the morning and been busy all day, Shi Keke wasn't feeling her best. Despite her usual resilience to late nights, a profound weariness now settled upon her. Her eyelids grew heavy, an overwhelming sleepiness taking hold. She reclined her seat, with over twenty minutes left until they reached home, intending to catch a brief nap.

Drifting in and out of sleep, she dimly heard Shi Mei speaking on the phone, seemingly saying, "Delay closing for an hour." Exhausted and drowsy, she paid little mind to it. Shifting her position, she quickly succumbed to sleep.

Observing her deep sleep, Shi Mei adjusted the air conditioning to a warmer setting. He then retrieved a coat from the back seat, draped it over her, and resumed driving.

Fifteen minutes later, the car halted outside an old deli situated near the city's eastern dock. The shop's sign bore the mark of age, and its interior facilities echoed the sentiment, clearly an establishment with a long history. By this hour, the deli would typically be closed, but tonight, it remained unusually lively, bustling with patrons.

After the vehicle came to a stop, Shi Mei noticed Shi Keke was still fast asleep and chose not to disturb her. He too reclined his seat, settling back lazily and turning his head to gaze at the woman sleeping soundly beside him. In the dim interior illumination of the car, her face seemed to possess a soft sheen, enhancing the delicate contours of her features. Her beautiful eyes were gently closed, her long lashes fluttering slightly. She slept deeply, yet a hint of restlessness betrayed her repose, her brows subtly furrowed.

Shi Mei reached out, his hand lightly hovering over her face before moving upward, along her cheek, pausing at her forehead. With a fingertip, he gently smoothed her furrowed brow, easing the tension.

Perhaps sensing his touch, she stirred. Shi Keke jolted awake, her eyes opening to find a face magnified before her, his hand resting on her forehead, maintaining an almost uncomfortably close proximity. "Brother, why are you touching me?" she inquired.

Shi Mei looked at her intently, offering no immediate reply. After a pause of about ten seconds, he slowly withdrew his hand and stated, "Just checking your temperature. Seeing if you had a fever."

"An excuse," Shi Keke immediately retorted, calling him out. "You must have thought I looked too enchanting while I was asleep and couldn't resist touching me."