Zhou Qishen walked over, bent down in front of her, and gently opened her hand.
Zhao Xiyin was stunned and looked up at him.
In that eye contact, the tears welling up in their eyes were undisguised, and Zhou Qishen saw them all. He didn't make a fuss, didn't show any deliberate concern, and didn't even frown.
Zhou Qishen's palm landed on her head, gently rubbing it. His voice was deep and gentle as he said, "Eat, don't cry."
The candy wrapper made a soft, crackling sound when rubbed together.
Holding the two fruit candies he gave her, Zhao Xiyin, who had been holding back her tears all the way, finally let them fall.
The author has something to say: Ding Yahe is a typical mother who wants to control everything. Her husband has to listen to her, her daughter has to listen to her, and even though she and her father are divorced, she still treats her daughter with utmost care. When she encounters someone like Xiaoxi who goes against her, she directs all her anger at her ex-husband, Zhao Wenchun. It's a vicious cycle.
In a way, Xiao west and Brother Zhou redeemed each other.
——
This chapter has 500 small red envelopes.
Chapter 27 In the Midst of the Mortal World (1)
In the midst of the bustling world (1)
The tears that fall are quiet, restrained, and involuntary.
Zhou Qishen's hand was burned, and tears rolled down his cheeks, leaving burn marks on his hand.
Old Cheng and Gu Heping exchanged glances, never daring to make fun of things in a serious setting. Old Cheng gave Zhaozhao a wink, and Zhaozhao, very sensibly, took the fruit tea and retreated. The three of them excused themselves to go upstairs, leaving this cozy corner to them.
Zhou Qishen didn't ask her what was wrong, and directly reached out and took her phone.
Zhao Xiyin didn't lose her composure; she gripped tightly and didn't let go.
Zhou Qishen wasn't forceful; he simply squatted down, slightly lower than her who was sitting, his eyes slightly raised, his gaze intense. This was a listening posture he often used; his eyes held a deep, weighty quality that easily inspired trust and reliance.
Under his gaze, Zhao Xiyin retreated in defeat, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace: "It's nothing. My mom bought me some things, but I didn't like them, so she got angry. We were just bickering."
Zhou Qishen hummed in agreement. "What did she buy for you?"
"Clothes, bags, you know, she used to love buying me things." Zhao Xiyin's voice was hoarse. "It's really nothing."
Zhou Qishen's protective nature towards his own people has remained unchanged for eight hundred years, regardless of the past or present. He frowned with great displeasure and said, "In the past, you had your husband to buy it for you. Even now, it's not like you can't afford it. Why is she interfering?"
Perhaps the word "husband" was too subtle, and a brief silence fell between them. Zhou Qishen pondered for a moment, then asked, "Do you remember what you told me last time?"
Zhao Xiyin nodded. "Mm."
The man coaxed in a low voice, "Say it."
"Life is a long journey, it's not worth it."
Zhou Qishen smiled and said, "Yes, you said it yourself, so remember it."
Zhao Xiyin smiled too, and when she looked at him, the corners of her mouth and eyes curved upwards in the exact same way. Zhou Qishen felt a heat rise in his chest and stood up, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. "I'll have Lao Cheng take you out to eat later. Just tell him what you want to eat."
Old Cheng was a generous man; he and Gu Heping had always been particularly fond of Zhao Xiyin. Before Zhou Qishen met Zhao Xiyin, his romantic relationships, while not exactly platonic, weren't entirely nonexistent. They were unpredictable, varying greatly depending on how busy he was with work. Perhaps due to his upbringing, Zhou Qishen lacked emotional security and basically lived with the mindset of "waiting for someone to love you."
He prefers two types of people: those who are after his money, and those who are straightforward, mutually beneficial, and who don't incur any emotional debts or cause trouble.
Either he becomes the one who is "loved," and is blatantly a jerk.
Zhao Xiyin was quite an exception, not falling under Zhou Qishen's "rules of affection." Old Cheng had told Gu Heping that Zhao Xiyin was a very insightful girl who could warm Zhou Qishen's delicate and perceptive heart.
Looking back now, this statement was both accurate and inaccurate.
Old Cheng was willing to help Zhou Qishen make this connection, so he naturally arranged dinner perfectly. The seating was all set, but Zhou Qishen said he couldn't come and told them to eat by themselves. Fortunately, Zhaozhao was there, her lively conversation making the meal feel natural and relaxed, like a gathering of old friends, without any forced matchmaking.
Zhao Xiyin was apprehensive before eating, felt at ease while eating, and felt relieved after eating.
When she left, Lao Cheng offered to drive her, but she refused. Zhao Zhao then said she would take the bus with her. Zhao Zhao is such a clever girl; she took Zhao Xiyin's hand and skipped along, and that's how it was settled.
Lao Cheng and Gu Heping went upstairs to the second floor, where Zhou Qishen lay on the sofa to sleep, casually pulling out a cartoon "poop" shaped pillow to cover his chest.
Gu Heping clicked his tongue, "Instead of eating, you're playing with 'poop' here."
Old Cheng was unhappy. "Zhao Zhao won it at the claw machine that day. Don't question her judgment."
"Are you two never going to stop?" Gu Heping said, feeling a sour taste in his mouth.
Old Cheng said to Zhou Qishen, "Don't worry, Zhaozhao went with her. I'll drive to pick her up after they get home."
Zhou Qishen then opened his eyes and asked, "Was she in a better mood during dinner?"
“It’s fine.” Old Cheng is a sensible man. “You’re just worried that she’ll feel constrained if you’re there.”
Zhou Qishen sat up, unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip of water, and said, "She's in a bad mood today, and I didn't want her to worry about me again. With Zhaozhao here, I'm at ease. Thanks, Lao Cheng."
"You've got a screw loose, haven't you? Say thank you to me, then get lost," Old Cheng said, frowning.
Gu Heping was at a loss for words, and could only sigh, "Brother Zhou, Xiao west has been back for almost half a year now. To be honest, I don't understand your thoughts and plans."
Zhou Qishen buried his head in his food, the sound of his teeth chewing the rice grains filling the air, without saying a word.
"I think Xiaoxi still cares about you, but you haven't shown any reciprocation. We can't really gauge the extent of Xiaoxi's concern for you, so I advise you not to be too confident. Maybe she's just kind-hearted and nice to everyone. She's probably just worried about your father-in-law liking you and doesn't want to ruin things. She just sees you as a friend, and I think she's quite nice to her little red-haired best friend too. What are you, her ex-husband? It's not impossible for her to downgrade you to a male best friend."
Gu Heping speaks directly and maliciously, and his analysis sounds very serious.
Old Cheng chuckled, raising a glance at Zhou Qishen. "Does that sting?"