"Hey! Why didn't Teacher Zhao raise me taller? She must have given me too little milk when I was little."
Zhou Qishen approached her, crouched down slightly, wrapped his arms around her thighs, and easily lifted Zhao Xiyin above his head. His arms were as steady as iron, and his strength did not falter in the slightest. He calmly said, "Milk is not as effective as my hands—can you see that?"
Zhao Xiyin stood half a head taller than the crowd, like a swallow soaring in the wind. The sudden movement startled her, and she instinctively reached for Zhou Qishen's shoulder in nervousness, "Hey! Zhou Qishen!!"
The musical fountain played piano melodies, and neon lights flashed in shades of red, orange, yellow, and green—bold, gaudy, much like human emotions and desires. Zhou Qishen's lips pressed against her waist, his voice penetrating her clothes and climbing passionately up her skin.
He said so firmly, "Don't be afraid, I'll protect you, and I'll never hurt you again."
Chapter 26 A's Purgatory, B's Paradise (3)
What is hell for A is paradise for B (3)
The musical fountain lasted for about ten minutes, and Zhou Qishen held her for about ten minutes.
Zhao Xiyin didn't actually remember what shape the spray was applied or how many different lighting effects were used. She only felt her heart flutter with each light splash of water onto her face.
As the event drew to a close and the tourists began to disperse, Zhou Qishen gently put her down, saying, "There were too many people; I was afraid you would fall."
When Zhao Xiyin landed, her knees were completely numb. Zhou Qishen reached out and caught her, a faint smile in his eyes, "It seems you didn't get enough noodles earlier."
Zhao Xiyin didn't speak, following behind him in silence for a short while, then asked softly, "Are you going back today?"
“I’m not going back. If I go back, I won’t be able to sleep.” Zhou Qishen said, “Let’s go, I’ll stay at a hotel with you.”
They stayed in the city that night in two adjacent rooms.
Zhao Xiyin was unaware of the situation in the past two years, but she knew that Zhou Qishen had been owning properties all over the country for a long time. He was a very forward-thinking investor and businessman, owning numerous properties in second- and third-tier cities. The unit prices were not high, but the demand was large, so he could make a fortune even if it was just for fun.
Only in Xi'an, his hometown, is there no such place.
His memories of this place are filled with more suffering than happiness, more pain than beauty. Zhou Qishen once said that every time he returned, he would rather stay in a hotel than in a so-called "home," as the irony and torment made him feel nauseous.
Zhou Qishen took a hot bath in his room, relieving the fatigue and boredom of a long day. When he came out, there were unread text messages on his phone. Upon seeing the sender, Zhou Qishen immediately called back.
Zhao Wenchun answered quickly, "You're still awake?"
As soon as Zhou Qishen spoke to Teacher Zhao, he instinctively stood up straight. "No, Uncle Zhao. I'm sorry for today, making Xiao Xi come with me. It's not her fault, please don't blame her. It was a sudden thing, and my family really didn't have any problems. If you want to scold me, scold me. I'll apologize to you when I get back to Beijing."
Zhao Wenchun chuckled, his tone affectionate, "My child, don't think of your Uncle Zhao as some kind of monster. Xiao Xi told me. It's alright, young ladies are careful, they can keep an eye on things. I just wanted to tell you that Xiao west left in a hurry and forgot to bring her medicine, so I'd like to ask you to take care of her. She's a bit stubborn, so don't let her have her way."
Zhou Qishen readily agreed, "Don't worry, I'll take her home properly tomorrow."
Zhao Wenchun was relieved. "Okay."
In the stillness of the night, a few drops of water still clung to his hair, staining the carpet in a small circle. Zhou Qishen turned his back, naked, to the floor-to-ceiling window with its curtains wide open, and suddenly asked, "Uncle Zhao, I remember, Xiao west's health wasn't this weak before."
Zhao Wenchun exclaimed twice, "Well, it's not appropriate for me, as a father, to ask about a young woman's affairs."
Zhou Qishen frowned slightly. "Does she often see Dr. Ji Furong?"
Zhao Wenchun immediately denied it, saying, "No, no, she goes to public hospitals, where she can get reimbursed by medical insurance."
The phone call lasted a long time, but Zhou Qishen remained in the same position. He held the phone, meticulously analyzing Zhao Wenchun's tone, attitude, and word choice. In the end, the only thing he could be certain of was that Zhao Wenchun, like Dr. Ji, had lied.
The next day was a beautiful day; the sunlight at six in the morning filled the room. Zhou Qishen thought he had woken up fairly early, but as soon as he opened the door, he heard someone making a phone call next door.
"I know, don't worry, I'm fine now. I don't need the courier, I should be able to go home today."
Zhao Xiyin was wearing a white T-shirt and workout pants. The T-shirt was too big, so she tied a knot at her waist, which made her waist and legs look slender and long. While talking on the phone, she did a split against the wall, her toes pointed and her thighs pressed together. She did a side bend, revealing the beautiful curve of her right waist.
In the gentle morning light, Zhao Xiyin's silhouette seemed to be sprinkled with fine gold dust, radiating light from every angle. Zhou Qishen was mesmerized; such a beautiful, picturesque scene could last a lifetime.
Zhao Xiyin spotted him, turned around, and smiled nonchalantly, "Good morning."
Zhou Qishen awkwardly looked away. "Good morning to you too."
After Zhao Xiyin finished practicing her basic skills, she was covered in a light sweat. Zhou Qishen said, "Why don't you take a shower? There's no rush. I'll wait for you downstairs so we can have breakfast together."
When she came downstairs, Zhou Qishen had chosen only hot food for her, as he was concerned about her health and didn't dare to give her anything cold. Zhao Xiyin sat facing him quietly, the only sound the soft clinking of spoons. She would occasionally glance at Zhou Qishen, wondering if it was just her imagination, but the man's demeanor seemed sharper than before.
Zhou Qishen turned on his phone, and a barrage of vibrations erupted, all from missed calls from those random relatives from the previous night.
Zhao Xiyin asked, "What happened at home?"
Zhou Qishen's face was terrifying, and he seemed unwilling to talk more.
"Zhou Qishen." Zhao Xiyin suddenly called him by his full name again, her voice crisp and clear, very formal. She handed him the milk and said earnestly, "Cheers."
Zhou Qishen couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, cheers." He also raised his milk glass.
Zhao Xiyin watched him finish his milk, then stopped joking and asked, "Did you remember what I said?"
He nodded. "Life is a long journey, it's not worth it."
Zhao Xiyin was truly relieved. Her enthusiastic demeanor warmed Zhou Qishen's eyes and heart. He hesitated for a long time, but finally decided to tell her.
"Zhou Boning, we're getting married."
With this connection made, Zhou Boning's insistence on coming to Beijing became understandable. He simply wanted more money. The old man was also at odds with his son and couldn't bring himself to ask for a penny directly. So he resorted to deception and fraud, believing he was in the right and that it was Zhou Qishen's duty. Later, Zhou Qishen had his secretary investigate, and by chance, he discovered the real reason.
Unfortunately, the woman Zhou Boning was to marry already had a husband, and the two secretly began an affair. These past two days, the woman's husband discovered this and led a large group of dozens of people to their home demanding an explanation.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiyin felt a chill run down her spine, and she could understand Zhou Qishen's anger at drawing his sword.
When they arrived at his home, it was already packed with people. Zhou Qishen had driven a low-key black Mercedes-Benz S-Class in Xi'an. He was dressed in a black trench coat and sunglasses, his serious demeanor exuding an imposing aura. The previously aggressive troublemakers, intimidated, instinctively made way for him. Zhou Qishen, hands behind his back and arms crossed, calmly strolled to the front.
Zhou Boning sat on a bench, head bowed, hair disheveled, eyes perpetually bloodshot, whether from inflammation or alcohol fumes. He glanced up at his son, his eyes defiant and angry. Zhou Qishen smiled contemptuously, his gaze as if looking at a pile of trash.