Zhou Qishen understood this perfectly well. He pinched his brow hard. "What can I do? My life is in her hands. She slaps me at the slightest disagreement, and Xiao Xi listens to her. For that reason alone, I'll give Zhao Lingxia whatever she wants."
Gu Heping's heart trembled upon hearing this, and he slammed his hand on the table, "What kind of melodramatic act are you putting on here? Confess your love to Xiao west!"
Zhou Qishen said calmly, "Xiao Xi understands everything. Between us, a simple confession can't solve the problem."
"So what do you plan to do?"
Zhou Qishen said, "What else can I do? I have to try my best to please her queen aunt and persuade my father-in-law to at least remove my phone number from the blacklist. What the hell have I done?!"
Gu Heping raised an eyebrow. "Let's stop chasing him. It'll be the end of it."
Zhou Qi gave him a single word: "Get lost."
After having lunch with Gu Heping, Zhou Qishen didn't return to the company. Instead, he drove to Zhao Lingxia's listed company in Beijing. The two-hour drive from the east side of the city to the west was still uncomfortable for him, even though his legs were just starting to feel better. Before getting out of the car, he sprayed Yunnan Baiyao on his feet twice before daring to move.
Zhou Qishen personally delivered the documents, and Zhao Lingxia smiled and said, "Are you trying to curry favor with me?"
Zhou Qishen readily agreed: "Yes."
Zhao Lingxia pressed down on the file bag. "Okay, I understand your intentions."
Zhou Qishen felt relieved, glad that his efforts had not been in vain.
Zhao Lingxia is too particular. Even her temporary office is decorated exquisitely and tastefully, with meticulous attention to detail, just like her personality. She is a bit unconventional and doesn't play by the rules.
Zhao Lingxia took something out of the drawer and immediately gave him a chance, "When you have time, give this to Xiaoxi."
Zhou Qishen opened the box, glanced at it, and then closed it again. He stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, and said calmly, "No need, I bought it for her last night."
It's the exact same platinum bracelet.
——
As evening fell, the crimson sunset enveloped the western buildings, a vibrant spectacle rarely seen in late autumn. The warmth of the sunset momentarily distracted me, as if I were in early summer.
Zhao Xiyin came out of the troupe, her coat draped over her hand, wearing only a white sweater, her long hair swaying like a female student. She jogged all the way to Zhao Lingxia's car.
"Auntie, what are we eating today?" Zhao Xiyin was quite happy; she always showed a bit of childishness in front of her family.
Zhao Lingxia didn't actually like this kind of coquettishness in women; in her values, strength was the only quality that could ensure one's survival. But looking at her niece at this moment, she felt slightly moved. She composed herself and said calmly, "Let me show you around."
Zhao Xiyin wasn't surprised; her aunt was a shopaholic who never skimped on herself. Thinking they were going to a mall again, Zhao Lingxia's car was parked in a neon-lit, bustling area as dusk fell.
Zhao Xiyin got out of the car and looked up at the brightly lit revolving door, where men and women were going in and out, a sea of red and dust. Zhao Lingxia called to her, "What are you daydreaming about? Let's go."
Zhao Lingxia knew the way well. She entered through the revolving door, then turned right into a long corridor, where there was another door. However, it was shrouded in a light veil and designed in an ancient style, which looked quite mysterious. At first glance, Zhao Xiyin thought it looked a bit like the Spider Cave from Journey to the West. Confused, she tugged at Zhao Lingxia's sleeve and asked nervously, "Auntie, what are we going to do?"
After he finished speaking, the waiter pushed open the door to the private room and said respectfully, "Mr. Zhao, everything has been arranged."
Zhao Xiyin was so frightened that she took a big step back. She saw seventeen or eighteen men standing neatly and shouting in unison, "Welcome!"
——
At the same time, Zhou Qishen was recuperating at Lao Cheng's teahouse. In the afternoon, he drove for two hours to Zhao Lingxia's place, and his buttocks, which had just healed, started to ache again. Lao Cheng said, "Go see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to set your bones. Don't be careless with injuries; be careful to avoid developing chronic problems."
Zhou Qishen covered his face with a cushion, bent his left leg, and crossed his right, looking every bit the domineering old man. His phone buzzed on the tea table, but he didn't bother to look at it. After a while, Gu Heping, who was playing a game of baccarat on his phone, roared, "Damn it!"
The sound was so loud that Zhou Qishen raised his hand and threw a pillow at him, saying, "You scared my heart to death."
"No, Mr. Zhou." Gu Heping scrambled over, frantically shaking his phone screen in front of him. "Look! Look! Look!"
"How can I see clearly when you shake it like that?" Zhou Qishen grabbed his wrist, took the phone, and frowned. "You and Li Ran have been chatting so often?"
Two seconds passed.
Zhou Qishen suddenly sat up, his face turning pale.
Li Ran and Gu Heping's WeChat chat—
Is Zhou Qishen with you?
"Don't blame me for not notifying him, I sent him messages and there was no response for ages."
"Xiaoxi went to the host club."
She then attached a screenshot, which Zhao Xiyin had sent her.
"Can you believe it? My aunt brought me to this club, and there are so many handsome guys."
"The shortest one is 1.8 meters tall, and his pectoral muscles are so developed that he can crack walnuts."
"But I don't really like muscles. That guy was pretty good. He was wearing an Armani suit and gold-rimmed glasses. He had a real CEO vibe. He could even talk to me in three languages. His professional skills were top-notch."
"Li Ran, now I feel that life is worthwhile, and happiness is like paradise."
For her, it was heaven; for Zhou Qishen, it was hell. Thinking he'd misread something, he asked Gu Heping, bewildered, "Where did she say she was?"
"A male escort club." Gu Heping's voice boomed with overwhelming force: "A male! club!"
——
In Zhao Lingxia's words, she brought Zhao Xiyin out to broaden her horizons, so she wouldn't be closed-minded and become like a frog in a well. There are so many beautiful things in this world, like a fishing rod in the wind and a raincoat in the misty rain. There are endless beautiful things to see, like the bright moon and gentle breeze, and countless bustling streets. Don't let yourself be blinded by a single leaf and hang yourself on an old tree.
According to Zhao Xiyin's observation, this club was likely only open to regular customers. However, Zhao Lingxia was often abroad and shouldn't have been a member. Later, Zhao Lingxia told her that it belonged to a friend of hers, and it was just a matter of a word.
Snakes and rats are in cahoots, colluding and committing evil deeds together.
These words suddenly popped into Zhao Xiyin's mind. Although unconventional, upon closer reflection, she felt it was quite cool for a woman to live so freely. Zhao Lingxia was actually a very reserved person, not like a businesswoman, but more like a beautiful and talented writer. She seemed used to this scene, without the slightest hint of lust.