"Okay, I understand."
Do you have any ideas?
"What have those 'competitors'... and Lin Yan been up to lately?" Li Feiyan rubbed her temples.
Feeling the needle pierce his skin, Qi Yi'an frowned and turned his head away.
The news reported that a car explosion occurred last night on a road just southeast of the first district, along with several other vicious stabbing incidents in the vicinity, and a suicide by jumping onto the tracks at a nearby subway station. All ten victims have been confirmed dead. Police have preliminarily determined it to be a premeditated terrorist attack.
Qin Ruoshui was pouring milk into the freshly brewed hot tea when she became distracted and spilled it all over the table.
-----
The previously arranged gathering took place as scheduled a month later. Lin Yan was quite saddened and regretful when she saw Li Feiyan. Li Feiyan also cried a few words with genuine emotion. Qi Yi'an, who was standing a little further away, couldn't bear to watch.
The new "big boss" who took over the business stepped forward to continue talking to Lin Yan. Li Feiyan, pretending to be completely unaware, generously approved another order and arranged a grand banquet in City B afterwards. This was both to celebrate the successful collaborations between friends, to mourn the tragic death of Lao Yu, and to introduce the new "big boss." She requested that Lin Yan, along with her family and partners, do her the honor of attending.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Qin Ruoshui arrived late, dressed in a moon-white evening gown, her makeup elegant and sophisticated, her red lips bright and lively, yet also dignified. Lin Yan took her arm around the waist and introduced her to everyone. All the guests present, like Qi Yi'an, were somewhat stunned, holding their breath. Qi Yi'an had rarely seen Qin Ruoshui at formal occasions before, and she felt she was radiant. Except for the sparkling diamond wedding ring on her left ring finger.
Li Feiyan raised her eyes, a smile flickering in them. She stood up and embraced Qin Ruoshui with a meaningful smile, "I've wanted to meet Mrs. Lin for a long time. Now that I've finally met her, I understand why President Lin keeps her hidden away. After all, even I, a woman, can't help but be moved."
Qin Ruoshui seemed not to see Qi Yi'an. She smiled gently and hugged Li Feiyan back, saying, "Not at all, it's Madam Yu who is."
Author's Note:
Experiencing daily updates, hahaha
Chapter 29 Three People...
Three people…
Having finally found an excuse to escape temporarily, Qin Ruoshui followed Qi Yi'an down the corridor, pretending not to see her. When they reached a quiet corner, she blocked her way. "Tell me, what are you doing here?"
Qi Yi'an smiled frankly, "You look beautiful today."
Qin Ruoshui simply looked at her quietly, waiting for the answer she wanted.
"..."
"The boss sent me."
Who is your boss here today?
"I'm an apprentice in the kitchen here, or to put it more politely, an assistant chef," Qi Yi'an answered honestly.
She was indeed wearing a chef's uniform today. However… Qin Ruoshui smiled, her face clearly saying, "Keep making things up, let's see how much you can come up with."
"It's true. When I first returned to City B from Country E, I worked as an apprentice in the kitchen of a five-star hotel for the first few months after graduation. You can ask my good friend Zou Yibei if you don't believe me." Qi Yi'an was usually very frank, but facing Qin Ruoshui, she still felt flustered. She didn't want to lie to her. This made her lie easily exposed.
I did vaguely recall hearing her mention it back then. "So what are you doing here now? Aren't you working for an NGO?"
“NGO work is easy, so I come here after get off work. It’s a part-time job, and also a hobby,” Qi Yi’an added. “Did you like the zucchini pancakes I made before I left last time?”
"I don't remember." Qin Ruoshui looked at the night view outside the French windows. Delicious, very delicious.
"You always leave without a word, why do you think I'll remember?"
Qi Yi'an's gaze softened. "...I'm sorry..."
Forget it, now is not the time to talk to her too much. I'll settle the score with this bad kid later.
"Is your injury any better?" Qi Yi'an heard Qin Ruoshui's voice soften, each word seeping into her heart.
"Hmm..." Qi Yi'an began, "That day..."
"What are you doing here, Madam Lin?" Li Feiyan's smiling voice came from behind.
"Haha, it's Mrs. Yu. There's a really delicious dish tonight. I've come to ask the chef for the recipe." Qin Ruoshui turned around and answered politely.
"You're so kind. I'll send it to you later," Li Feiyan added. "Old Yu has invested in this hotel, so he's practically a co-owner."
"Okay, then I'll trouble you." Qin Ruoshui nodded with a smile.
“These men, all they ever talk about is business and money, it’s so boring. I wonder if Mrs. Lin would like to come upstairs with me to find some peace and quiet?” Li Feiyan extended an invitation.
Seeing the sly glint in her eyes, Qin Ruoshui smiled knowingly and replied, "That would be perfect." They walked back side by side, laughing and talking.
Li Feiyan suddenly turned around and winked at Qi Yi'an, "Xiao Qi, you can leave work early later."
"Okay, thank you, boss."
Qin Ruoshui turned her head upon hearing the sound and gave Qi Yi'an a deep look.
Qi Yi'an, you're quite something. You call others "boss" so familiarly.
Qi Yi'an stared blankly at the retreating figures of the two women in front of him.
I think I'm breaking out in a cold sweat...
-----
This floor on the hotel's elevator requires a card to access, and once the door opens, a completely different world unfolds, drastically different from the usual hotel decor downstairs. The spacious and bright reception room retains the classic style of Country E, with high ceilings and unique old-fashioned floor-to-ceiling windows offering unobstructed views of L City's landmark cityscape at night. The interior decoration isn't opulent, but it's certainly not tacky; every detail of the courtyard structure is rich and textured. A modern minimalist bar, a tea room separated by a beautifully painted wooden openwork screen… various collectibles… different styles blend seamlessly in different areas, complemented by varying levels of lighting… Qin Ruoshui only glanced at it briefly but already felt a strong liking for the space. However, since she wasn't familiar with the owner, she couldn't explore further to discover what other surprises awaited her.
“This entire floor is my private space, used to entertain some close friends.” Li Feiyan walked to the bar. “Ms. Qin, please make yourself at home.”
Qin Ruoshui was slightly surprised to hear her change in address, but smiled and said, "What a fine place. Madam Yu has impeccable taste." Qin Ye had previously mentioned that Lin Yan's business partner was no ordinary person and instructed her not to know anything or get involved, but simply to play the role of a decorative Mrs. Lin. Thinking about it this way, it wasn't surprising that the other party's people had already investigated her name and background.
Li Feiyan handed over the wine, her smile both charming and bright, "Miss Qin, just call me by my name, Li Feiyan."
Qin Ruoshui accepted the wine, and when she looked up again, she realized she was surprisingly close to her. With such beauty and气质 (qi zhi, a kind of refined elegance), this woman was truly a rare beauty. Her temperament was complex; sometimes warm and gentle, sometimes cheerful and forthright, sometimes graceful and charming, sometimes unruly and rebellious.
For example, right now, Li Feiyan is holding a wine glass in one hand. As she walks, she naturally takes off her high heels and casually places them aside. Barefoot on the soft, off-white carpet, her bright red toenails sinking into them, she leans back lightly and casually on the sofa and takes a sip of wine.
"Miss Qin, please have a seat~" she always said with a smile.
Cheers~
"Miss Li's wine is really good." Qin Ruoshui took a sip and felt the liquid burning downwards.
"Hehe, that's good. I was worried that the wine wasn't good enough for a beauty like Miss Qin..." Li Feiyan's smiling eyes held a hint of amusement.
Qin Ruoshui met that gaze and smiled without saying a word.
-----
Seeing that it was almost time, Qi Yi'an took off his chef's hat, changed out of his chef's uniform, entered the elevator, swiped his card, and pressed the floor button.
Are those two women still together?
That damned Li Feiyan, she did it on purpose, didn't she? She probably already knew everything. Oh well, whatever.
Anyway, nobody cares.
Stepping out of the elevator, the lights in the reception room were dimmed, the few yellowish nightlights highlighting the bustling night scene. There was no one around, only a few scattered bottles, glasses, and high heels in a few places in the bar and reception room.
Qi Yi'an picked up a few of the bottles and examined them. It seemed Li Feiyan had really gone all out today. Just how much had they drunk tonight? Had Qin Ruoshui already gone back?
She picked up one of the bottles, which was still half full, and took a sip while looking around.
The door to Li Feiyan's private living room seemed to be half-open, letting in some dim light. Qi Yi'an pushed the door open and went in. Perhaps it was because the alcohol was a bit strong, but Qi Yi'an felt a burning sensation inside him, and even the air he breathed was somewhat hazy and ambiguous.
There was no one on the first floor of the suite. Following Li Feiyan's usual habits when using the room, Qi Yi'an slowly walked up the stairs leading upstairs in the suite.
Qi Yi'an climbed the stairs step by step, unhurried. Halfway up, he seemed to hear some sounds, faint voices. After reaching the top, he only needed to pass through a charming little hall…
There seemed to be more than one voice. They seemed to be talking and laughing, seemingly intimate.
The wine was truly excellent. Qi Yi'an downed the rest in one gulp, his heart pounding faster. His brain sensed something, indiscriminately directing his body to stir with barely suppressed excitement, causing a slight tremor.
Pushing open the equally ajar bedroom door, Qi Yi'an saw the same dim yet alluring light. There, on the floor, lay another pair of high heels.
Her heart was pounding uncontrollably. She took a deep breath, trying to make it soft. She took another deep breath.
Qi Yi'an always preferred rooms with carpets to reduce noise. With a little care, they could be almost completely silent. This silence only served to accentuate the incredibly quiet atmosphere, where the voices of the two women could be heard. This tranquility made Qi Yi'an feel as if all the blood was rushing to his ears, threatening to cause him auditory neurasthenia.
I continued walking toward the source of the sound, step by step, each step feeling like walking on clouds.
Then she saw the two women together.
Right in front of her.
-----
Qi Yi'an stared blankly at the two women, who were kissing oblivious to everyone else. They hadn't even noticed her arrival. She wondered if she was drunk.
After standing there blankly for a while, Qi Yi'an's legs moved forward uncontrollably, leading her closer to xx. The smell of alcohol and xx enveloped her.
If you were to ask her, someone who has no sense of real life, what she felt at that moment, it would probably be nothing more than an overwhelming sense of bewilderment, and the wine she had just drunk had set fire to her body, slowly burning her limbs and bones, making her feel a little cold and trembling slightly.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
When Qin Ruoshui opened her eyes again, she saw the person standing there, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. Li Feiyan, who was turning to the side, also noticed, looked up, and smiled nonchalantly at Qi Yi'an.
Her smile was still as sweet and captivating as ever. Every time Qi Yi'an saw it, she felt as if a spoonful of clear honey had been fed into her mouth, sweet and warm. Even in this strange situation, she still felt that way.
Qin Ruoshui xxxxxxxxxxx
He glanced at Qi Yi'an with indifference and detachment.
Qi Yi'an showed no displeasure, but found it quite amusing in his bewilderment.
Very good, Qin Ruoshui, you truly live up to your reputation.
Li Feiyan straightened up slightly, raised her hand and reached out to her. Her slightly damp right hand gently and slowly unbuttoned the first button of her shirt, while casually brushing it across her neck.
Qi Yi'an stared blankly at her movements, then looked at Qin Ruoshui.
Qin Ruoshui leaned comfortably against Li Feiyan's chest and squinted her eyes, seemingly indifferent, yet also tacitly agreeing.
Qi Yi'an was still somewhat bewildered.
Am I really too weak?
Li Feiyan chuckled softly.
Qin Ruoshui resignedly closed her eyes and helped her unbutton the second button of her shirt…
…
Author's Note:
Haha, the great unity and harmony of women around the world.
Um... the text is locked again, somewhere else in the world...