Zhao Xiyin bit her lip, her face flushed.
"Hmm?" The voice was too soft for Zhou Qishen to hear clearly.
Zhao Xiyin's ears were practically burning, and she almost burst into tears, "...Zhou Qishen, you bastard, you rubbed my bra clasp open..."
Chapter 53 Enjoying the Remaining Pleasures (4)
Belatedly realizing what was happening, Zhou Qishen felt as if he'd been electrocuted. Distracted, he let Zhao Xiyin break free and rush into the bathroom. When she emerged, Zhou Qishen's expression was a smirk that barely concealed his arrogance; he looked utterly deserving of a beating.
Zhao Xiyin walked over and kicked the bed hard. The bed shook violently, making Zhou Qishen frown. Zhao Xiyin's heart skipped a beat, and she hesitated, standing motionless by the bed.
"You've caused too much trouble, you're really hateful." Zhao Xiyin's words were stubborn, but her tone was soft. She glanced at him, her nose stinging, "You were so ruthless."
Zhou Qishen smiled faintly, "It's nothing."
She lowered her head and said, "I know everything."
"Gu Heping can't keep secrets. Don't believe anything he says from now on."
Zhao Xiyin almost burst into tears. "Actually, I don't care. Whether I'm the lead dancer or not, it really doesn't matter."
"I know," Zhou Qishen said softly, "but I don't want you to suffer."
Zhao Xiyin sat down, bent over, and leaned against the bed, her head close to his. Outside the window, the sky was gray and gloomy, and an undercurrent of tension simmered between them. After a long silence, Zhou Qishen subconsciously lowered his head, and Zhao Xiyin silently shed tears.
"Xiao west." Zhou Qishen's fingers curled slightly as he gently touched her cheek. "I've wronged you all these years."
Zhao Xiyin felt a pang of sympathy, her gaze fixed on a distant point, her mind utterly calm.
“It’s not easy for one person to raise a child. My aunt helped take care of me, and I will always remember her kindness.”
Zhao Xiyin suddenly looked up, both amused and exasperated, "How many times do I have to tell you before you believe me? You really don't have a son."
Now that things have come to this, what's the point of denying it? Zhou Qishen was also unhappy, and said the name in a sullen voice, "Is it Vivi?"
Zhao Xiyin was stunned for a moment. He took in her reaction and became even more certain of his guess.
Zhao Xiyin stood up, practically swearing to the heavens, "That's not your son! My God, that's, that's my aunt adopted him from the orphanage!"
Zhou Qishen didn't argue with her. He turned his head leisurely, his brows furrowed in disbelief.
Zhao Xiyin had a whole lot of explanations on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back. She was evasive and didn't want to delve into the issue, so she just said "get some rest" and left.
The person is gone, but their kindness remains.
Since there was nothing to do at the troupe and they were on a semi-vacation, Zhao Xiyin went to buy groceries early in the morning. When Zhao Wenchun got up, she was already in the kitchen chopping ribs. The commotion startled Teacher Zhao, who asked her what was wrong.
Zhao Xiyin didn't hide anything and told him about Zhou Qishen's matter.
Teacher Zhao's first reaction was, "Oh dear, Qi Shen is so weak now? He's in the hospital again?"
Zhao Xiyin nodded listlessly, "I have problems everywhere. I heard last time that you also had kidney deficiency."
"He's only thirty-two! How could he be showing signs of early aging so quickly?" Teacher Zhao was alarmed.
Zhao Xiyin steered the conversation in a serious tone, "He's already past the age of menopause, it's probably just early menopause."
Teacher Zhao was kind-hearted. "He's a poor child. Alright, I'll take care of his meals. You can bring him some to help him recover every day."
Zhao Xiyin felt a pang of sympathy. "Oh! She really is quite pitiful!"
Turning around, she was in a great mood; Zhou Qishen just needed to be taught a lesson.
That evening, Cen Yue called Zhao Xiyin in a panic, saying that she had lost the key to her rented apartment. Zhao Xiyin needed to use the restroom at the Workers' Stadium and wanted Cen Yue to help her look for it at the troupe's headquarters.
Zhao Xiyin didn't delay; she took a taxi there and actually found it.
"Let's meet in Sanlitun. I'll give you the keys." After finishing the call, I turned around and saw Zhang Yijie standing at the door. He must have been here for a while. He greeted me with a smile, "Xiao Zhao, still here so late?"
"I'm looking for the keys." Zhao Xiyin saw Meng Weixi and Zhang Yijie standing together and slowly turned her gaze away.
Zhang Yijie, being shrewd, made an excuse and left. Meng Weixi stood at the door, and even when Zhao Xiyin took two steps forward, he didn't move aside. After a moment of silence, Meng Weixi said, "I'll see you out."
He walked ahead, and Zhao Xiyin noticed he had lost weight. Wearing a black overcoat, even through two layers of clothing, the slight curve of his shoulder blades was visible. Meng Weixi was beautiful and particular about her food, clothing, and daily necessities. Back then, she was still young, around ten or twenty years old, with an innocent air. To maintain her figure for dancing, and being a gluttonous little girl, she often secretly went out to eat barbecue skewers behind Dai Yunxin's back. Meng Weixi would scare her, saying, "If you turn into a pig, you won't be able to participate in the competition."
Zhao Xiyin put down the lamb skewer that was about to be eaten. After struggling for two seconds, she pitifully stretched it out, "Can you eat the meat pieces for me? I want to taste the meat flavor on the carrot cubes, okay?"
Meng Weixi couldn't bear to disappoint her, so he helped her eat all the beef, and the remaining carrot cubes were fragrant and soft.
He didn't actually eat much junk food, but after eating fifteen or sixteen skewers, he developed gastroenteritis that night. Zhao Xiyin secretly came to see him, feeling both heartbroken and remorseful, and said with tearful eyes, "Meng Weixi, if you become a vegetable, I will take care of you for the rest of my life."
Meng Weixi was furious. "Can't you wish your boyfriend were a little better?"
Zhao Xiyin gently squeezed his hand that was receiving an IV drip, her palm lightly covering the back of his hand. "The medicine must be so cold. Let me warm it up for you."
It was warm for many years, and it was cold for many years.
The two stood on either side of the elevator, the middle empty. They were supposed to part ways amicably, but neither could remain composed. Meng Weixi lowered his eyes, his whole being numb. The elevator indicator light went down, and with a ding, the doors opened. He suddenly grabbed Zhao Xiyin's hand.
Zhao Xiyin frowned and struggled with her wrist.
Meng Weixi held on tightly, his face as still as a deep mountain, his eyes seven parts affection and three parts pleading. He said in a hoarse voice, "Can I hold your hand a little longer?"
Zhao Xiyin stopped struggling; her skin felt cold, like a stagnant pool.
Outside, neon lights illuminated the sky, but the wind was cold. In those few seconds of silence and compliance, he could sense Zhao Xiyin's unmoved attitude.
No matter how hot your fingertips are, they can't warm that sincere heart.