Chen Yuanxing rubbed the back of his head, grunted, and sat up, throwing the cushion forcefully onto the sofa. His slightly furrowed brows showed that he was throwing a tantrum. "Hmph, it hurts, I'm not eating!"
Xiao Qiqi sat down at the table, ladled out a bowl of fish head tofu soup, and took a delicious sip. "Mmm, it's so good."
Chen Yuanxing stood angrily opposite Xiao Qiqi with his hands on his hips. Xiao Qiqi looked up and said seriously, "Young Master, aren't you leaving? The main gate is behind you. Turn right and go!"
"The most poisonous heart is a woman's!" Chen Yuanxing spat out through gritted teeth, pulled out a chair and sat down. With a long reach, the bowl of soup in front of Xiao Qiqi was in front of him. He unceremoniously snatched the spoon and took a big gulp, "Oh, ooh, um..."
Xiao Qiqi watched Chen Yuanxing's changing expression as he swallowed the soup whole. Then, Chen Yuanxing stuck out his tongue and looked at Xiao Qiqi with a pitiful expression, wanting to laugh but holding it back. He said seriously, "Young Master, that's my bowl, okay? Be hygienic!"
Chen Yuanxing blinked pitifully, "Xiao Qiqi, you did it on purpose. Waaah..."
"Alright, stop pretending! Hurry up and eat, then get out of here!" Xiao Qiqi pushed the plate of vegetables in front of him. "Eat more vegetables."
Chen Yuanxing dramatically flung his chopsticks away, exclaiming, "Wow, I'm not eating anymore!"
Xiao Qiqi narrowed her eyes, Chen Yuanxing bit his lip, couldn't hold back, and lowered his head, "I hate vegetables the most!"
"It's nutritious, you can't be picky!" Xiao Qiqi said earnestly, looking at the plate of braised eggplant in front of her. She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly. She used to never eat eggplant, always finding that soft, purple thing frightening. That's how she was back then; she would never touch anything she thought was bad, and she would never let go of anything she was curious about. So, she had never eaten eggplant from childhood to adulthood. Xia Xuan, always good-natured, his gentle eyes always carrying a misty, dreamy quality, was someone she could clearly remember years later. He placed an eggplant in her bowl, his words still gentle and quiet, but his eyes held an undeniable authority: "It's nutritious, you can't be picky! How will you know it's bad if you haven't tried it?" Yes, how would she know it was bad if she hadn't tried it? So, later, she tried it, but the taste wasn't good. Later, under his gradual guidance, she tried many more things, and the feeling was wonderful, yet it slipped away unnoticed due to her willfulness and stubbornness, leaving only a thousand different flavors. But from then on, she started eating eggplant, no longer being picky.
Chen Yuanxing was different; he was flamboyant, lively, innocent, and loved to act cute, like the little brother next door. He would shake her arm and rub against her like a puppy, saying, "I don't eat vegetables, I don't eat vegetables!" Xia Xuan, on the other hand, would remain silent, try the vegetables directly, and then close her eyes and say, "Hmm, it tastes pretty good." Her slowly opening eyes were misty, carrying a certain indescribable allure.
"Sister, let me wash the dishes for you!" Xiao Qiqi turned on the tap and threw the dishes in, but then her waist tightened. Chen Yuanxing, without even kicking off his slippers, hugged her from behind like a silent cat. He loved calling her "sister" in his most passionate and infatuated moments, repeating it over and over, sometimes long, sometimes short, as if trying to meld her into his very bones. Chen Yuanxing's lips brushed against Xiao Qiqi's ear, his warm breath tickling her sensitive nerves.
Xiao Qiqi straightened her back and nudged Chen Yuanxing with her elbow, "Yuanxing, stop messing around! You should leave."
"Okay, I'll be leaving in a bit." Chen Yuanxing agreed, but his hands began to wander restlessly, his warm lips starting to explore from behind his ear. "Sister!"
Xiao Qiqi's heart raced with the sound of his lips, but reason reminded her that what would be the result of this endless entanglement? The same gazing and waiting would only torment him further. Ignoring her wet hands, she pushed Chen Yuanxing away, "Yuanxing, stop! We've broken up." Chen Yuanxing grabbed her wet hand and pressed it against her heaving chest.
"Mmm, I know," Chen Yuanxing hummed obediently through his nose, but the answer sounded more like a seduction. His thick nasal tone, with its heavy rhythm, struck Xiao Qiqi's heart. She could never resist such tenderness. Her inner resistance was so weak under his advances. Even though her regained rationality after the tenderness made her feel guilty and afraid, she still craved this man who had been with her for five years, this man who occupied all her senses and reason!
"Sister, um, I missed you." Chen Yuanxing's lips burned as he sucked on Xiao Qiqi's sensitive earlobe, his other hand shamelessly kneading her erect nipples. He knew every sensitive spot on her body so well; each time she tried to resist, she was repeatedly captivated by his skillful teasing. Perhaps, she had always been a bad woman, breaking up with him yet maintaining such an ambiguous relationship, unable to let go!
"Mmm, oh..." Her lips were sealed, Chen Yuanxing's nimble tongue slipped into her mouth, entwining with hers, sucking the saliva from her mouth. Her chest began to heave violently, her face flushed pink like peach petals, and her body slumped softly into Chen Yuanxing's broad arms. "I... my hands are wet..." she managed to squeeze out a few words through clenched teeth, but Chen Yuanxing had already swept her up by the waist and tossed her onto the large, soft bed in the bedroom in the blink of an eye.
"Sister!" Chen Yuanxing leaned over her, his dark eyes filled with intense desire and longing as he gazed deeply at her, his fingers nimbly tracing her entire body. "Sister..." Each soft, deep call echoed in the bedroom filled with the scent of spring, allowing them to let go of their barriers, their distance, and their reason, and revel in the ocean of desire.
"Sister, let's elope!" Chen Yuanxing was the last to step forward, his passion spilling into Xiao Qiqi's hot and soft body. He leaned close to her ear, his heavy breathing escaping as he called out affectionately, "Sister, let's elope! Please don't reject me anymore, okay?" He bit her earlobe, his voice seemingly tinged with a sob.
Xiao Qiqi's heart trembled, enduring the pain of his biting. She slowly reached out and pushed him away. He resignedly rolled over, lying on the bed, eyes closed and motionless. His fluttering breaths carried an unspeakable sadness and helplessness. Gone was his usual roguishness and willfulness; at this moment, he moved Xiao Qiqi even more. She gently stroked his brows, eyes, and lips, "Silly boy!"
“Yes, I’m a fool! A fool who’s fallen into a trap and is struggling in vain.” Chen Yuanxing grabbed Xiao Qiqi’s hand. “A fool who, even knowing there’s no love, still wanders around waiting!”
Xiao Qiqi's expression changed. She shook off Chen Yuanxing's hand, got out of bed, and got dressed.
After a while, the sound of the bedding shaking came from behind. Xiao Qiqi turned around and saw Chen Yuanxing pouting and kicking the thin down comforter. His eyes and brows showed his usual willfulness, and he smiled aggrievedly. "Sister..." he said in a drawn-out, coquettish voice, "I'm thirsty."
Xiao Qiqi shook her head in annoyance, left the bedroom, and poured water.
Everything seemed unchanged, calm and serene, as if nothing had happened. They were still friends who had broken up but occasionally slept together. That unspoken knot remained untied and unresolved by either of them.
She had been running away from everything. The day she moved out of the house she had shared with Chen Yuanxing for three years, she made the most important decision of her life. She thought she could abandon everything, throw away all her memories of him, even her future. But she couldn't refuse him. Occasionally, on some rainy days, he would flutter his wet wings and snuggle into her arms like a baby yearning for its mother's embrace, seeking a sliver of warmth. She couldn't refuse that plea; he knew it, and so he indulged in it.
VI. Dinner party
The busyness resumed. Signing a contract didn't mean the end; there were meetings with the client to discuss plans, revise drawings, and deal with the occasional disturbance from feeding the pigs. The hectic monotony brought Xiao Qiqi back to her true self: calm and wise, even prone to impatience, yelling, and going crazy, followed by frantic overtime.
She only breathed a sigh of relief after the workers officially moved in and handed everything over to the engineering department. For the remaining construction, she was only responsible for the overall effect and did not supervise every step.
Xiao Qiqi rubbed her temples and glanced at the time on her computer: 5:21 PM. Another day had passed.
"Sister Xiao, let's leave early today since it's the weekend." Xiao Ning was wearing jeans and a pink and yellow T-shirt that reflected her youthful vitality, which made Xiao Qiqi sigh.
"Youth is wonderful!" Six years after graduation, compared to these young people who have just graduated, I always feel that I am already old and heartbroken.
Xiao Ning chuckled, "Sister Xiao is so young, people will think she's my younger sister when we go out!" Then she realized it wasn't appropriate and couldn't help but stick out her tongue as she turned around.
Everyone was working overtime this weekend, so there wasn't much formality. Xiao Qiqi liked seeing Xiao Ning's youthful energy, so she stood up and patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder, "Let's go! Your girlfriend is going to be furious with this old woman for working overtime all weekend!"
Xiao Ning's body trembled, seemingly not yet recovered from Xiao Qiqi's unintentional touch. Xiao Qiqi didn't seem to mind, and simply turned off the computer. "I'm going home too. Don't come tomorrow. If there's anything, just leave it to Engineer Ma. Their engineering department has to take on some responsibilities themselves."
"Oh!" Xiao Ning paused for a moment, turned around to pack her things, hesitated for a moment, then poked her head back and said, "I don't have a girlfriend."
Xiao Qiqi glanced back at Xiao Ning, whose young face held a hint of aggrieved defense. She couldn't help but smile. "I'll introduce you to someone sometime." She had always liked Xiao Ning, this young man. He didn't have the impulsiveness, laziness, or negativity of a recent graduate. Instead, he had a positive and energetic spirit. As soon as he entered the company, he surrounded her and called her "Sister Xiao," unlike others who called her "President Xiao." So she actually kept him as her assistant.
"Um, thanks, sis." Xiao Ning replied awkwardly, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and stood at the door of Xiao Qiqi's office. She hesitated for a moment, then tugged at the backpack strap. "Sis Xiao, we have a class reunion tonight, it's going to be really lively. If you... are free, could you come along?"
Xiao Qiqi thought for a moment. A gathering of young people must be very lively. It had been a long time since she had felt so young and lively. She was looking forward to it, so she said, "Okay!"
Xiao Ning was clearly excited. "We've arranged to have a barbecue at Renlaiju, along with games and karaoke. It's supposed to be at seven o'clock, but we can go a little earlier."
Xiao Qiqi nodded indifferently, and the two of them went to the parking lot and got the yellow QQ. Renlaiju is a very famous place in the city. There is a restaurant in the front and a large courtyard in the back, which provides barbecue, dining, entertainment and so on. The prices are reasonable, so many people like to choose to hold gatherings there.
The old-fashioned cell phone rang. Xiao Qiqi glanced at it, put on her earphones, and said lazily, "Sister Jiang, what can I do for you?"
"Ah, ah, you call me Sister Jiang too! I hate Sister Jiang!" Sure enough, Xiao Qiqi heard Jiang Yilan's strange cry. She twitched the corner of her mouth and drove slowly. A car behind her honked impatiently, "Damn it, if you're so capable, overtake me!" Xiao Qiqi finally relaxed, became a little lazy, and started cursing.
"Who's the bastard?" Jiang Yilan immediately shut up. "Xiao Qiqi, you..."
"What is it? Speak quickly! I'm driving, I don't want to waste time talking to you!"
"You win!" Jiang Yilan snorted angrily, then became excited, "Qiqi, do you remember that handsome guy I mentioned to you last time?"
Xiao Qiqi's mind went blank for a moment. A handsome guy? Jiang Yilan could name ten or eight handsome guys in one phone call, so she really didn't know which one she was talking about now. Jiang Yilan knew she had forgotten because Xiao Qiqi didn't say anything. "It's that Golden Man, the No. 1 guy in Lao Zhao's company! We've arranged to have lunch tomorrow, so remember to dress up nicely! Wow, don't say you don't have time, Lao Zhao practically begged him to agree to this blind date!" Jiang Yilan's voice was loud enough that Xiao Qiqi couldn't help but free one hand to rip off her earphones and listen from a distance.
Xiao Qiqi smiled. Oh, so that's what it is. Since she had agreed, she couldn't let Jiang Yilan go crazy. So she said, "Okay, I understand. Where tomorrow?"
Jiang Yilan rattled off another string of words, and Xiao Qiqi finally managed to seize the opportunity to speak during a break in her sentences, "I understand, tomorrow at noon, Dingshan Restaurant, bye."
"Sister Xiao, are you going on a blind date too?" Xiao Ning, who had been silent for a while, couldn't help but ask when Xiao Qiqi took off her headphones.
Xiao Qiqi kept her eyes on the road, focusing on driving. "There's no way around it, I'm getting old, if I don't go on blind dates soon I'll never get married," Xiao Qiqi said, feigning sadness with a teasing tone.
Xiao Ning felt awkward for some reason, shifted her body, and muttered, "Sister Xiao is so beautiful, how could she not get married?"
Xiao Qiqi was in a good mood today and was quite talkative. "Thank you for your kind words. Maybe I'll get married tomorrow."
Xiao Ning was taken aback for a moment, then turned her eyes to look out the window. The August sky was still dark, but it was still bright outside, with the afterglow of the setting sun circling around the edges of the tall buildings.
Silence fell for a moment, the atmosphere in the car becoming somewhat stifling. Outside, traffic was back, the ant-like slow-moving cars adding to the frustration. Xiao Ning glanced at Xiao Qiqi's new music phone and a thought struck her. "Sister Xiao, is that Nokia's latest music phone?"
Xiao Qiqi was speechless, so she nodded and said, "If you think it looks good, buy one too. I'm so old-fashioned. I only use it for making calls and sending text messages. I don't need any music functions."
Xiao Ning looked on with envy. "How could I afford that? By the way, Sister Xiao, why are you still using such an old-fashioned ringtone? Let me change it for you!" She then started to do so.
Xiao Qiqi was about to stop her, but glancing at Xiao Ning's earnest expression, she swallowed her words. Actually, she was used to it. Back then, everyone had just gotten cell phones; there were no custom ringtones, only those old-fashioned phones with their own built-in ringtones. She could be stubborn at times, insisting on moving forward, yet refusing to change certain things. That stubbornness was ingrained, leaving a weathered, melancholic mark on her heart. Perhaps, she should learn to change.
A gentle, soothing guzheng solo began playing from the CD player. Xiao Qiqi focused on driving, listening to the music. Xiao Ning's ringtone on her phone added an odd touch.
Xiao Ning's classmates were all young people around his age, men and women brimming with the excitement, hope, and pride of entering society for the first time. They quickly gathered together, chattering about what was happening around them. Xiao Qiqi sat awkwardly among them, initially chiming in a few words to answer the envious questions from a few girls, but later she grew somewhat annoyed. This young world felt so alien to her. Xiao Ning huddled together with a few close male friends, laughing happily and occasionally whispering a few words. Seemingly worried, Xiao Ning would occasionally throw her apologetic glances, and Xiao Qiqi would purse her lips, indicating that it was alright. Finally away from the blazing barbecue grill, Xiao Qiqi picked up an orange and slowly peeled it, looking up at the misty sky, where a few dazzling stars seemed veiled in a thin gauze, dreamlike. Xiao Qiqi remembered the city where she went to university, with its clean, azure night sky, where the stars were bright and clear, their passion and starlight falling upon them, constantly changing colors, as if forever wearing a radiant smile.
A few loud laughs made Xiao Qiqi turn around. The boys with Xiao Ning patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder. Xiao Ning lowered her head shyly. One of the boys shouted, "Ning Ruiming, if you like her, just confess! Don't be so coy like a girl, it's embarrassing!" He then pushed Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning refused to move, but was pushed by the boys towards Xiao Qiqi.
Xiao Qiqi frowned, then smiled again. Xiao Ning was already standing in front of him, scratching the back of her head, looking embarrassed. "Um, Sister Xiao, don't listen to their nonsense. They just like to joke around."
Xiao Qiqi raised her eyebrows. "It's alright. It's nice to see you all laughing so happily." A sense of melancholy and vicissitude welled up again, and her voice carried a helplessness that she herself was unaware of.
Xiao Ning's expression shifted, and she couldn't help but take a step closer to Xiao Qiqi. "Sister Xiao!" After hesitating for a moment, she looked up and met Xiao Qiqi's eyes, her fearless gaze now tinged with a passionate emotion. "What if what they're saying is true? I mean, I like you!"
Xiao Qiqi was a little surprised but quickly regained her composure. She peeled a slice of orange, put it in her mouth, and smacked her lips, saying, "So sour!" Then she turned around and said, "It's getting late, let's go back."
Xiao Ning grabbed Xiao Qiqi's hand and said, "I said I like you, Xiao Qiqi!"
Xiao Qiqi turned around and chuckled, "You're such a kid! Fine, I'll answer your question. If you're serious, I'll tell you, unfortunately! If you're just acting on a whim, I'll tell you, you're still young. Come find me again in a few years if you still have this feeling, of course, if I'm not married yet!" With that, she pushed Xiao Ning's hand away, ignoring the exaggerated smiles of his classmates, and left the backyard lawn of Renlaiju. She took one last look at the distant starry sky and shook her head.
"Oh my, what a stunning beauty, everyone loves her, even she doesn't let go of such a young and innocent boy." Just as they entered the hotel porch, a dark figure leaned against the door facing the grass, speaking in a strange voice in Xiao Qiqi's ear.
Xiao Qiqi cursed under her breath, then slowly said, "Yes, I am attractive to young men, and aren't you, Young Master Chen, a young man too?"
His arm tightened, and Chen Yuanxing pulled him closer, a strong smell of alcohol filling his nostrils. "You've been drinking?"
"Hmm, what a misfortune. You can't even find a good place to have an affair. Do you regret coming to the wrong place?" Chen Yuanxing tightened his grip, and Xiao Qiqi felt as if her chest was being suffocated.
"Chen Yuanxing, let go!" Xiao Qiqi frowned and said, "You came with friends, right? What will it look like if someone sees you like this?"
"Hmph, why are you unhappy? Did I interrupt your flirting?" Chen Yuanxing always lost his temper when he drank, and such sarcastic remarks were commonplace.
"Let her go!" A cold voice called out from behind, and it was Xiao Ning who had followed.
Chen Yuanxing simply rested his head on Xiao Qiqi's shoulder. To maintain a relaxed atmosphere, there was no light near the door, and in the dim light, only his slightly narrowed phoenix eyes, gleaming coldly, his tense body, and the strong smell of alcohol were visible. Xiao Qiqi sighed again; it was best not to provoke Chen Yuanxing at this moment, or who knew what might happen. So she said softly, "Yuanxing, don't be like this!" Then, turning to Xiao Ning behind her, she said, "Xiao Ning, this is my friend, it's alright. You guys have fun, we'll be going now." Ignoring how tightly Xiao Ning clenched her hands, she pushed Chen Yuanxing, "Let's go?"
VII. Blind Date
The next day, Xiao Qiqi wore a simple T-shirt and casually slipped on jeans. She couldn't let a day without formal attire slip by; as for the blind date, she'd just consider it a spice in her life. Looking at herself in the mirror, Xiao Qiqi saw her short, ear-length hair, the short hairs on top slightly curling upwards, growing a little longer at the nape of her neck, softening the stiffness of the short cut. Her face was still beautiful, clean and neat, lacking the naivety and arrogance of youth, but possessing a more reserved and capable air. Xiao Qiqi smiled, and the person in the mirror smiled back, a smile of just the right curve, but her eyes held a hint of detachment and coldness.
She recalled how she had finally managed to persuade Chen Yuanxing to sit on the hotel sofa the night before. She remembered feeling a sudden annoyance at his domineering and stubborn nature, so she said, "I'm going on a blind date tomorrow." Chen Yuanxing was indeed startled, loosening his grip on her waist, and she took the opportunity to pull away.
Watching his anger slowly subside, replaced by a rare sharpness, she stubbornly stared at him. After a long while, he grinned, lit a cigarette, and the swirling white smoke obscured his handsome face, preventing her from seeing the charm in his half-closed phoenix eyes. He exhaled a puff of smoke directly onto her face, and she frowned slightly, pulling away. He flicked the ash, and the dispersing smoke revealed the cold smile on his face, which then revealed a mask-like smile that could bewitch the world. "What a coincidence, I'm also going on a blind date tomorrow." With that, he stubbed out the cigarette, stood up, and said, "I'm going to drink." He didn't even say "goodbye" so decisively. His carefree departure left Xiao Qiqi stunned for a long time, as if the man who had just been snuggling in her arms, acting spoiled and angry, was not him at all.
Still driving at the slow-moving, turtle-like QQ restaurant, Dingshan Restaurant, a Western restaurant located halfway up a mountain in the western suburbs. Struggling to climb the hill, Xiao Qiqi muttered, "Jiang Yilan did this on purpose, didn't she?"
A strange ringtone, or rather, a song, played. Xiao Qiqi listened for a long time before he realized that his phone was playing the voice of a certain indistinct songwriter, "The sky is blue waiting for the rain, and I am waiting for you..." Xiao Qiqi shook his head. This was the new ringtone that Xiao Ning had changed for him, and it sounded pretty good.
"Qiqi, you go by yourself. I'm going to Xishan with Lao Zhao to escape the summer heat. Once you're in the restaurant, don't ask any questions. Just look for the most handsome guy and head straight for him." Jiang Yilan's words were brief, and before Xiao Qiqi could reply, all that remained was a "beep beep" sound.
Xiao Qiqi finally climbed halfway up the mountain. The tortoise stopped by the roadside. After taking only two steps, it realized that it had been so focused on comfort that it had forgotten where it ate. Was it really necessary to go to a Western restaurant for such a convenient meal? Oh well, Xiao Qiqi laughed self-deprecatingly and didn't hesitate.
The waiter showed no impatience at her simplicity and politely opened the door to lead the way. Once inside the restaurant, Xiao Qiqi hesitated slightly. The most handsome? Was she really going to act like a lecherous woman, grabbing any handsome guy and asking, "Dude, are you here for a blind date?"
The waiter's polite question interrupted Xiao Qiqi's daydreaming, "Miss, do you have an appointment?"
To have or not to have, that is the question. Xiao Qiqi's eyes darted around, and she suddenly saw a man in a black suit sitting by the window, nodding politely at her. He looked somewhat familiar. Xiao Qiqi smiled and said, "I have an appointment." The waiter had already noticed the man's greeting and led the way with a smile.
Xiao Qiqi stopped, and the man had already stood up. His wide smile made Xiao Qiqi feel a little dazed, but the man couldn't help but chuckle, "Xiao Qiqi, don't you recognize me?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Xiao Qiqi exclaimed in surprise, "Li Yue? It's you!" Her slightly high-pitched voice trembled slightly in the quiet restaurant. Xiao Qiqi smiled shyly at the waiter, but when she looked up, she met a pair of piercing phoenix eyes. Behind a table in the corner with red roses, someone slowly raised a glass and took a small sip. Xiao Qiqi was stunned. This world is truly full of coincidences; it could be a novel.
Li Yue was still excited and pulled out a chair for Xiao Qiqi to sit down. "Why can't it be me? This trip was really worthwhile. Even the famous 'talented woman' is here for a blind date!"
"What talented woman? 'Weirdo' is more like it!" Xiao Qiqi knew that Li Yue was saving face by mentioning her nickname from university, so he euphemistically called her "talented woman."
Li Yue didn't argue, took the menu, and said, "Let's talk about what we want to eat."
"Set Meal Number One," Xiao Qiqi blurted out. She had been to this place with Chen Yuanxing before. He liked Set Meal Number One, a medium-rare steak with some blood on it. She had once mocked his bloodlust, but he called it passion.
Li Yue, oblivious to Xiao Qiqi's slightly changed expression, handed the menu to the waiter, "Two set meals of number one."
After the waiter left, Li Yue looked Xiao Qiqi up and down, and remarked, "How come you haven't changed at all? You can still walk into a place like this so casually."
Xiao Qiqi was taken aback, knowing he was referring to her outfit today. She simply said, "You've changed." Back then, Li Yue was bursting with energy, active on every basketball court at A University. His smelly jersey, messy hair, and sprinting figure were a beautiful sight for the girls at A University, but he always came in second; the one in first place was Xia Xuan. Now, he sports a neat short haircut, a well-fitting black suit, a white shirt, and a light blue tie. He exudes a composed and calm professional aura, the youthful impulsiveness completely gone. "...Didn't you go to the army after graduation? How did you suddenly become a high-achieving white-collar worker?"