Chen Yuanxing likes to say, "Qiqi, grow your hair long, it'll be so flowing! You have black hair and fair skin, it'll make you look beautiful." She'll scoff and say, "Black hair and fair skin, that's Xiaoqian, isn't it?" Then Chen Yuanxing will roll around on the sofa like the big bear from Grandma Zhang's house next door.
And it seems that in a very far place, someone said, "Your hair is curly, it makes you look very feminine." At that time, she pretended to be disdainful, but she was secretly overjoyed. So every day she foolishly went to the hair salon and let the tall, thin, handsome guy with slanted goldfish eyes style her hair for several hours. Then she would wave her messy hair around, trying to get a gentle smile from him.
Suddenly awakened, I saw two chubby white fingers dangling in front of me. Someone asked in an extremely vulgar tone, "Xiao Qiqi, how many is this?"
Xiao Qiqi pointed to the Blue Mountain across the street, "Your favorite Blue Mountain."
Jiang Yilan seemed a little reserved, carefully sitting down while holding onto the hem of her skirt. "Did you forget to add sugar?"
"Okay!" Xiao Qiqi nodded solemnly. "You can choose to drink or not!"
Jiang Yilan gritted her teeth, took a breath, and like a warrior going to her death, picked up the coffee and squeezed it out between her teeth, "I'll drink it!" Then she took a big gulp, "Ah, oh no, it's burning me!" Jiang Yilan jumped up, "Ah, water, water, it's so bitter!" Her voice was as loud as a vegetable vendor's, attracting several sidelong glances.
Xiao Qiqi remained motionless, only watching Jiang Yilan calmly until Jiang Yilan had finished her fussing, took a big gulp of sugar water, raised her slender eyebrows, and glanced at her with her round, dark eyes, secretly scrutinizing her.
"Give it to me!" Xiao Qiqi stretched out her hand, her slender fingers with neatly trimmed and clean nails painted with clear nail polish, giving off a pearlescent sheen.
"Wow, Qiqi, your hands are so beautiful! Oh well, what can I do? She's just so pretty!" Jiang Yilan exaggeratedly stretched out her chubby white fingers and grabbed Xiao Qiqi's fingers. "Oh my, this nail polish is beautiful too. Why don't the ones I bought a few days ago have such a clear, pearlescent finish?"
"Don't interrupt, give it to me!" Xiao Qiqi remained unmoved and pointed directly at the target.
Jiang Yilan deflated, let go of Xiao Qiqi's hand, and blinked innocently, "What did you bring?"
Xiao Qiqi glanced at Jiang Yilan disdainfully, "This morning's lucky draw!"
"A prize? What kind of prize?" Jiang Yilan began to look around.
"Jiang Yilan!" Xiao Qiqi's smile remained perfectly balanced as she slowly uttered the three words from her thin lips.
Jiang Yilan shuddered, her head drooping like a deflated balloon, and pulled a bottle of Givenchy Dream Angel from her bag.
"Darkness and light, a dreamlike temptation, indeed quite good." Xiao Qiqi stuffed it into her bag with satisfaction, her smile revealing a genuine glint, lacking the usual curve, only a set of perfectly white, porcelain teeth flashing before Jiang Yilan's eyes. "Would you like another cup of Blue Mountain coffee with sugar?"
"Waaah..." Jiang Yilan exaggeratedly covered her face, "Xiao Qiqi, you wicked woman! You wolf in sheep's clothing! I spent so much effort to win this from Li Huachi, and you just tricked me out of it like that! Waaah, if you want perfume, just ask Young Master Chen! You could have made him set that building across the street on fire, he would have done it! Why did you have to... ah..." She abruptly stopped, Xiao Qiqi's expression had changed. Jiang Yilan felt guilty and tentatively shook Xiao Qiqi's hand, "Are you angry?"
Xiao Qiqi smiled faintly, her smile returning to its appropriate curve, and shook her head, "It's nothing!"
Jiang Yilan sighed, her eyes darting around, and she saw a well-dressed man across from her, elegantly picking up his coffee, his faint smile carrying a hint of cold indifference. That smile was extremely familiar, and a surge of joy filled her heart. "Qiqi, I know a nice friend. Let me introduce you!"
IV. Coffee
"Qiqi, that guy is really nice. He's about the same age, and definitely not as good-looking as that Chen... Ugh, pshaw! He's exactly the kind of man who's both elegant and gentle, the type you admire most. His character is absolutely reliable. He's Lao Zhao's new colleague, and he's only been here a few months but has already become Lao Zhao's company's number one bachelor!"
Xiao Qiqi didn't move, only uttering two words, "Meddlesome!"
"Give it a try, it's really great. I met him once at a dinner with Lao Zhao, he's absolutely top-notch! And I've found out all the details, he has a brother, the older one is already married and has children, so his parents don't have any requirements for him, they don't care at all whether he gets married or has children!"
Xiao Qiqi's expression finally faltered; her heart raced, and her smile took on a bitter edge. Jiang Yilan, her friend from middle school, knew her best. Seeing her expression, she slapped her lips in embarrassment, "Sigh, it really is better for a woman to have a smaller mouth! My mouth is so foul."
"It's okay, don't be so nervous." Xiao Qiqi took a deep sip of ice water. "If it's really good, it would be nice to meet him. Anyway, a woman like me can't have children, so I can only find someone who isn't an only child." Her tone was calm and indifferent. Jiang Yilan tried to take her hand again to appease her, but she avoided it. "Stop talking nonsense, then arrange a meeting!"
Jiang Yilan, being the most carefree, immediately abandoned her guilt and became as excited as a newly grown bird, showing off her wings. "Qiqi, that's great! I'll call Lao Zhao right away and arrange a meeting. Such a good man shouldn't be snatched away by someone else."
"Qiqi, stop drinking ice water all the time. If the young master sees you, he'll throw a tantrum again."
"Qiqi, you have no idea what I found this morning when I was getting water! It's terrifying! Young Master Chen has started flirting with his female secretary again!"
"Qiqi, and Young Master Chen actually threatened me, saying I have a big mouth! I think he's just foul-mouthed, that's why he got kicked!"
...
The various rumors and gossip about Chen Yuanxing relentlessly drenched Xiao Qiqi like a summer thunderstorm. Xiao Qiqi couldn't help but rub her temples and groan, "Basket, if you dare say another word about Young Master Chen, believe me, I'll throw you off the second floor!"
Jiang Yilan obediently stopped, realizing what was happening, and said, "Then let's talk about the handsome new guy who joined our company!"
Xiao Qiqi was completely speechless.
Knowing this would be the outcome, why did you bring it on yourself? You did it on purpose, didn't you? The voice was distant, the gentle gaze carrying a playful, predatory quality—not the clingy, boyish charm of Chen Yuanxing, but a gentle allure from the azure starry sky. Xiao Qiqi watched Jiang Yilan's lips move, and couldn't help but recall that afternoon, when that man held her hand so tightly, brushing away the stray hairs from her forehead, saying, "Your eyes are beautiful!" And Chen Yuanxing would say with a roguish air, "Beautiful, yes, but not quite as beautiful as mine!" Different expressions, but equally heartwarming.
"Xiao Qiqi?" Jiang Yilan stretched out her two chubby fingers again. Xiao Qiqi slapped them away in annoyance and pointed out the window, "Young Master Chen."
Jiang Yilan excitedly peeked out, "Wow, the company's new assistant in the administration department!" Chen Yuanxing stood at the building entrance, next to a petite woman in a light blue dress, her long, flowing hair fluttering like a butterfly. Chen Yuanxing tilted his head slightly, watching the woman speak. His tall figure stood upright like a pine tree amidst the shadows of the buildings, while the petite woman smiled gently. "So that's why Young Master Chen looks so alluring; he's hooked up with that little white rabbit. By the way, weren't you two together last night?"
"Yeah, I had a fever last night." Xiao Qiqi rolled her eyes at Jiang Yilan. "Not the kind you're thinking of."
Jiang Yilan pouted, "What does it matter? It's not like you two haven't made love before. Once, twice, or even more times, isn't it all the same? What's there to be shy about?"
Xiao Qiqi kicked Jiang Yilan under the table and whispered, "Keep your voice down, or maybe no one can hear you?"
Jiang Yilan looked at Xiao Qiqi's slightly flushed face with satisfaction and said enviously, "Qiqi, how come you don't seem to age? Your skin is getting better and better. Don't people say that women who don't have sex... Waaah, don't kick me, can't I stop talking?"
Xiao Qiqi frowned angrily, making a tearing mouth gesture, "You big-mouthed woman, Old Zhao really needs to discipline you."
"Haha, Old Zhao telling me what to do? Give me a break!" Jiang Yilan grinned, her round eyes narrowing into slits. "Qiqi, would you like another glass of ice water?"
"Okay. Waiter, a glass of ice water, please."
"Iced water? Hmm, refreshing and invigorating, the best drink for summer, ah, not a bad choice!" A male voice suddenly rang in my ear, with a hint of angry mockery.
Xiao Qiqi straightened his back, squinted at Jiang Yilan who had succeeded in her scheme, ignored the dark figure leaning over, and continued, "Waiter, ice water!"
The faint scent lingering on the shirt wafted into Xiao Qiqi's nostrils. Xiao Qiqi looked up and met those bright, phoenix-shaped eyes that held a hint of anger. She smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, okay!"
Jiang Yilan stood up with a forced smile. "Oh, Mr. Chen, what a coincidence! Having coffee? Oh, and Ms. Wu is here too. Shall we sit down together?"
Wu Yuehua, who was following behind Chen Yuanxing, smiled shyly and nodded, but Jiang Yilan warmly pulled her over and made room for her, saying, "Come on, Miss Wu, have a seat!"
Xiao Qiqi didn't move, Chen Yuanxing didn't move, and the reserved Wu Yuehua was also too embarrassed to move, making the atmosphere even more awkward. Jiang Yilan, however, didn't seem to care and glared at Xiao Qiqi. Xiao Qiqi finally moved over and smiled, "Mr. Chen, please sit down!"
"Miss, your iced water." The pretty waitress brought over the iced water, but her eyes couldn't help but drift towards Chen Yuanxing. "Mr. Chen, what would you like?"
"Two cups of coffee and a cup of warm water. Take this away. Thank you!" Chen Yuanxing sat upright, unable to hide the suppressed anger on his face. He turned to glare at someone, acting nonchalant. He glared again, still acting nonchalant, even playing with his fingers. Finally, he gave up. "Qiqi, how many times have I told you, you have a sensitive stomach, don't drink ice water."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen." Xiao Qiqi smiled and looked at Wu Yuehua. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Wu Yuehua looked unwell, while Jiang Yilan, with her head held high and her hair styled like a bird's nest, wore a harmless smile. "Xiao Qiqi, President Chen's senior from the neighboring school!"
Wu Yuehua relaxed her facial muscles, gave Chen Yuanxing a slightly reproachful look, and then her gaze softened when she looked at Xiao Qiqi. "Hello, senior sister, I am Wu Yuehua."
The coffee session turned out strangely. Xiao Qiqi smiled coldly as always, Chen Yuanxing was angry to himself, while Jiang Yilan seemed to have discovered a treasure and hit it off with Wu Yuehua. They bought everything from clothes to cosmetics, from brands to materials to skincare.
Xiao Qiqi's foot was kicked, but she didn't move. She drank some warm water, then kicked again, still no movement. Jiang Yilan, however, yelled, "Who kicked me?"
Xiao Qiqi bit her lip and pretended to cough. Chen Yuanxing, as if nothing was wrong, stirred his coffee. "Miss Jiang, why didn't your husband come to pick you up today?"
A single sentence ignited Jiang Yilan's anger. "Ha! It's all because of that stray cat that wouldn't sleep in the middle of the night and insisted on coming to my house and making a lot of strange noises! I said it was a stray cat in heat, but my husband insisted it was a house cat cheating on me. So I made a bet with my husband, and I lost. Now my husband is free to go and have affairs instead of taking care of his wife."
Wu Yuehua, a young woman who had just graduated, blushed with excitement. "Meowing like a cat, making a bet? Sister Jiang, you guys are really something."
Chen Yuanxing almost coughed up a mouthful of coffee, but managed to choke it back, his face turning red from holding it in. Xiao Qiqi gave Jiang Yilan a wink, but Jiang Yilan looked up and blew a strand of hair away, her crescent-shaped eyes unable to hide her smugness.
As night fell, the city lights outside the window illuminated the entire city, their dazzling brilliance causing a sense of unease. The four people left the café and politely said goodbye.
Jiang Yilan and Wu Yuehua were so close that they were already arm in arm, holding hands and whispering to each other. Jiang Yilan waved, "President Chen, Qiqi, goodbye! Yuehua and I have already agreed to go to a super spicy chicken wing shop. Qiqi can't eat spicy food, and President Chen's status doesn't allow him to go to such a vulgar place. See you there."
Wu Yuehua was clearly taken aback. "Sister Jiang, didn't we just agree..."
"Yeah, we agreed to go eat chicken wings. It's not easy to get a reservation there. I finally managed to get one today, but my bastard husband is absent, so you're the one!" With that, she frantically pulled Wu Yuehua into a taxi, but before getting in, she secretly made a hand gesture to Xiao Qiqi and drove off slyly.
Xiao Qiqi, seeing Jiang Yilan's gesture, naturally understood what it meant and shook her head helplessly. Chen Yuanxing, however, only stared at Xiao Qiqi, his gaze so intense it seemed he wanted to devour her whole. He roughly pulled her hand and said, "Let's go!"
Xiao Qiqi shook off his hand. "I'm driving."
"I don't care, I'll take you!" Chen Yuanxing stubbornly squeezed Xiao Qiqi's hand. "You definitely didn't take your medicine. You had such a high fever last night, why weren't you resting at home? What were you trying to do?"
"Yuanxing, don't do this!" Xiao Qiqi frowned. "Someone from your company is coming out!" The building across the street was still brightly lit, and a few people carrying briefcases could be seen walking out.
Chen Yuanxing brought his face closer to Xiao Qiqi, as if trying to see through her bright black eyes. "Since you know my company is here, why did you choose to meet here?" A playful glint appeared on his face. "Did you miss me?"
"Tch!" Xiao Qiqi pushed away his enlarged face. "Yes! We came to catch them cheating, right?" Xiao Qiqi could never be serious in front of Chen Yuanxing.
Chen Yuanxing jumped up excitedly, squinting his eyes and pouting, "I knew it! I took such good care of you last night, you had to remember me!" He then playfully rested his head on Xiao Qiqi's shoulder, "I'm so tired! I was going to go to the furniture store with Wu Yuehua to look at the new furniture the company ordered, but I couldn't resist coming in when I saw your car. Ugh, I don't want to work overtime, I'm so sleepy!"
Xiao Qiqi found it funny. What would the people in the building across the street think if they saw Chen Yuanxing looking like this?
"...President Chen?" someone blurted out in alarm, as if it were a prophecy.
Chen Yuanxing stood up sullenly and saw the "elites" he had just reprimanded earlier standing a few steps away with their mouths agape. They tried to straighten up, but couldn't hide their innocent expressions, so their faces became distorted and their voices became muffled and incoherent, lacking their usual calm and wisdom. "Well, good evening, everyone. Ah, nice night!"
The contortions grew more and more distorted, and the suppressed laughter was followed by a series of coughs.
Xiao Qiqi shook her head again and started the car. QQ is always QQ, the smallest, slowest, and most despised tortoise in the city, swaying and groaning along. Someone next door was honking their horn wildly, the raucous sound carried on the night wind, "Miss, lonely? Want a handsome guy?" Xiao Qiqi smiled and closed the window. Her phone rang as if sensing her call, a raspy voice inside, changing its tone, barking, "Ms. Xiao, how much for emotional distress tonight?"
V. Nighttime Romance
At the intersection, the red light shone brightly, blending into the city's nighttime world, becoming one with the others, its unique color barely discernible. The cars, like ants, slowly came to a stop. Someone stretched out a long arm and began knocking on the window. Xiao Qiqi opened the window, smiled strangely, then turned the wheel. The car slowly made its way down the right turn lane. A low curse and a rapid screech of the wheel followed. In the rearview mirror, a silver-gray BMW was being politely stopped by a young traffic policeman. Xiao Qiqi flicked a stray hair from his forehead with satisfaction.
Chen Yuanxing loved her, and she always knew it. He never hid it, yet they couldn't take things further. Each of them had their own stubbornness and helplessness. They were like two cars stopped on opposite sides of a road. He could only go straight, striving forward on his bright path, enjoying his dreams and life; she could only give up her right to go straight, turning right onto her own secluded path, witnessing the world's prosperity and desolation. Even if he wanted to follow, there were always obstacles. Hesitation and hesitation were an insurmountable bridge, with longing and helplessness standing on either side.
Xiao Qiqi went to the market to buy groceries. Her busy life had made her almost forget about the kitchen. Tonight was going to be a leisurely and pleasant night, wasn't it? Carrying the groceries, Xiao Qiqi got off the elevator and struggled to free one hand to flip through her keys.
"Miss, need any help? A strong, handsome, and successful man is ready to serve you!" The thug's voice was laced with smug mockery.
Xiao Qiqi watched as Chen Yuanxing's slender fingers hooked the plastic bag from her hand. His eyes, which were lowered, shone with a star-like light. He lowered his voice and asked mysteriously, "Do you want to know why I'm faster than you?"
Xiao Qiqi ignored him, opened the door, and let Chen Yuanxing follow her in as if they were old friends. She watched him change into slippers with two cute rabbits on them and shuffle the vegetables into the kitchen.
She once said something about roads, saying, "We walk different paths."
But he nonchalantly crossed his legs, raised an eyebrow, and wagged a finger, "Not so, not so. If the destination is the same, then it's a success!"
It's always the same; we part ways on the road, but in the end, he's always waiting there, casually saying, "Miss, are you curious?"
"Yuanxing, stop doing this! We've already broken up." Xiao Qiqi leaned against the bar by the door, watching Chen Yuanxing turn on the air conditioner and the TV, then naturally loosened his tie, pulled up his shirt hem, and comfortably nestled into the white sofa.
"Shh, be quiet, I'm so sleepy, wake me when dinner's ready!" Young Master Chen waved his hand casually, as if he were just casually greeting a friend with a "What a lovely day!" He then closed his eyes, pulling the soft heart-shaped cushion from the sofa into his arms before drifting off to sleep.
Xiao Qiqi watched his long eyelashes flutter occasionally, thick and delicate, trembling like butterfly wings, like a few nameless wildflowers by the roadside in the neighborhood, possessing an inexplicable fragility and innocence after being watered by a spring. They were irresistible, yet one dared not touch them, only able to glance at them from afar before quietly leaving. Xiao Qiqi sighed and turned to go into the kitchen.
Xiao Qiqi was in the kitchen, washing vegetables. A few crystal-clear water droplets danced on the tender green leaves, trembled a few times, and slipped from her palm into the sink, disappearing instantly. In the living room, the television was filled with the hoarse shouts of football fans, as if they had exhausted their life force, venting the loneliness and discontent deep within their souls. Xiao Qiqi smiled. Life couldn't be idle; when it was, she felt a void in her life, and her mind would wander, adding to her sadness.
Ten years. She spent ten years exhausting all her energy, transforming herself into this cold and aloof person. She suppressed the passion, simplicity, and persistence of her youth, even relinquishing the hidden longing for love. She allowed her body and mind to be corroded by desire and reality. Gone were her flamboyant laughs, her unrestrained gait, her casual remarks—only this perfect smile and composed demeanor remained. In Jiang Yilan's words, she looked like a lifeless ghost. Jiang Yilan had witnessed her most exuberant youth, so sometimes she couldn't help but feel melancholy and regret. But what about herself? Did she regret it? Perhaps from the day she left university, from the moment she opened her eyes in the hospital and saw Chen Yuanxing's joyful smiling eyes, from the day she completely deleted Xia Xuan's name from her phone, everything changed. But Jiang Yilan would never know what kind of years had turned Xiao Qiqi into this ghost.
There were beautiful and happy days afterward. She was once uneasy about such happiness and moved by the man's devotion. But in the end, did they still separate because their paths diverged? Occasional entanglements did not prolong the relationship, but rather brought a more deathly pain and loneliness. How long would these days last? To love or not to love? To give up, yet unwilling; to continue, yet afraid.
The aroma of food filled the room. Chen Yuanxing twitched his nostrils but didn't wake up; he merely turned his head and remained fast asleep. Xiao Qiqi went over and slammed the TV off, instantly silencing the hoarse shouting.
"Qiqi, don't turn off the TV." Chen Yuanxing's eyelids twitched, and he turned over. Xiao Qiqi hugged her shoulders and watched his slender body bravely roll off the sofa onto the cold marble, then heard his head hit the ground with a "thud".
Xiao Qiqi twitched the corner of his mouth. In front of her, he always made no attempt to hide his childishness. "Awake? Come eat when you're awake!"