Chen Yuanxing politely thanked Hua Ruomin, then went into Xiao Qiqi's room, closing the door behind him to shut out Hua Ruomin's curious eyes. Chen Yuanxing touched Xiao Qiqi's forehead; it wasn't as hot as yesterday, but it wasn't much better. He scratched his head helplessly and pinched Xiao Qiqi's arm: "You little devil! I owe you, okay?"
He fetched the medicine and water, picked up Xiao Qiqi, and fed her the medicine using the old method. After feeding her, he looked at her slightly red lips and felt a chill. "Senior sister, I gave you my first kiss. It's really hard to calculate the compensation for this lost youth!" He suddenly recalled the night in "Desire Forest" when he couldn't help but kiss her. Although he had pretended to be teaching her to meet different men, he couldn't deny that he had acted on impulse and only came up with that strange excuse to appease her afterward. Chen Yuanxing couldn't help but reach out and touch her soft lips. "Poor Xiao Qiqi!" He then gently smoothed her slightly furrowed brows with his fingers. "Even your dreams are this unhappy?"
Thirteen, New Students
When Xiao Qiqi woke up the next day, it was still early, and her head was still a little hot. She went outside, and Hua Ruomin was combing her hair in front of the mirror in the living room. As soon as she saw her, she asked, "How are you? Feeling better?" Xiao Qiqi nodded, "I'm fine, thank you." Hua Ruomin smiled apologetically, "Oh dear, it's all my fault. I made you drink and get a fever. I wanted to tell you yesterday morning, but you weren't awake, so I'm telling you today." Xiao Qiqi quickly shook her head, "It's okay, it really isn't your fault. I was just sick a few days ago, and I'm not fully recovered yet."
Hua Ruomin felt even more embarrassed. "You're sick? No wonder you look so pale. It's all my fault for being so reckless, dragging you out and having you drink." Xiao Qiqi quickly said it was alright. Hua Ruomin looked at Xiao Qiqi's face: "You look better than last night. By the way, your boyfriend is really handsome and considerate. I heard he rushed back from the suburbs so late last night."
Xiao Qiqi was about to go to the restroom when she paused for a moment. Had Chen Yuanxing come by last night? It seemed someone had fed her water. Xiao Qiqi smiled at Hua Ruomin, not explaining her relationship with Chen Yuanxing, but a strange feeling still rose in her heart.
"Minzi, do you know how to get to the Guang'anmen Freight Station?" Xiao Qiqi picked up the mailing slip on the table. She didn't have to go to work; she should get her luggage first. Xiao Qiqi splashed cold water on her face, then applied heavy eyeshadow and even blush, making her look several times more energetic. These past few days had been incredibly depressing; she had completely lost her indomitable spirit. Since she had decided to abandon the past, she was determined not to regret it—this was a vow she and Jiang Yilan had made standing on that trembling boulder atop West Mountain. Therefore, Xiao Qiqi decided to pull herself together. She would abandon the past, start a new life, find a job, and pursue her dreams.
Hua Ruomin finished getting ready and was about to go to work when she looked at Xiao Qiqi with admiration, "Qiqi looks really beautiful dressed up."
"That's right, I'm a beauty by nature." Xiao Qiqi smiled calmly. Seeing Hua Ruomin's changing expression, she couldn't help but chuckle. In fact, forgetting the pain and smiling is not difficult.
Hua Ruomin shook her head: "Qiqi, I didn't know you had this fierce side. You looked so pale..."
“Just like a porcelain doll, right?” Xiao Qiqi interjected, “Actually, that’s just to fool people.” Before Hua Ruomin could speak, she asked again, “Minzi, tell me quickly how to get to Guang’anmen.”
Hua Ruomin said awkwardly, "Actually, I don't know either. It seems like you can take the subway." Seeing that Xiao Qiqi was a little disappointed, she added, "Why don't you have your boyfriend go with you? He might know."
Given Xiao Qiqi's颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it conveys a sense of listlessness, apathy, and apathy) state of mind these past few days, she would definitely refuse. However, looking at her pale, ghost-like face in the mirror just now, she suddenly felt that life needed a fresh start, like a withered weed that finally realized winter was over and spring had arrived. So Xiao Qiqi readily picked up her phone and dialed Chen Yuanxing's number. With this so-called fresh start, many things suddenly became clear, such as Chen Yuanxing, whom she had met by chance but who had repeatedly helped her.
Chen Yuanxing didn't get home until late at night. He climbed into bed and fell fast asleep without even showering. The housekeeper dragged him out of bed early the next morning, practically ripping off the sheets and blankets, almost stripping him of his only pajamas. Chen Yuanxing was still half asleep. He leaned against the cabinet, half-asleep, when his phone rang, startling him. He answered with his eyes still closed, and Xiao Qiqi's unhurried voice came through. After listening for a while, he suddenly woke up. Why did this woman's voice sound different? Chen Yuanxing suddenly had a feeling that Xiao Qiqi was very different today, so he blurted out, "Wait for me, I'll come pick you up and take you there." Xiao Qiqi didn't even bother to say thank you before hanging up.
Hua Ruomin went to work, and Xiao Qiqi quickly packed her things. When she touched the diary and photo album, her heart ached a little. She finally found a bag, put them in it, and threw it on top of the wardrobe. She clapped her hands, stared at the top of the wardrobe for a long time, and finally smiled, as if to say goodbye.
Pouring water and practicing taking medicine, Xiao Qiqi regarded this as the first difficulty to overcome in the start of her new life. She would have a long time alone in the future, with no one to accompany her and only herself to take care of herself.
Chen Yuanxing took a shower and changed his clothes. Stepping out of the bedroom, the sun shone brightly, the sky was clear. His nanny was hanging out the freshly washed sheets to dry in the backyard. Seeing Chen Yuanxing come out, she said, "Second Sister-in-law is in the dining room." Chen Yuanxing felt his steps become heavy. He forced a smile and strode into the dining room in the front yard. His mother was sitting at the table, meticulously reading a newspaper. Chen Yuanxing grinned and rushed over, pinching his mother's shoulder: "Mom, doing homework again?" His mother didn't even lift her eyelids, her voice gentle: "Where did you go last night?" It turned out his mother had returned from abroad yesterday afternoon. Chen Yuanxing sat down opposite his mother and snatched the newspaper from her hand: "Breakfast is ready! Where's Dad?"
Chen's mother's face appeared from behind the newspaper; she seemed very gentle, but occasionally a sharp glint would flash in her eyes behind her glasses, making one wary of her gentleness. Her voice, however, turned cold: "I don't know." Chen Yuanxing stuck out his tongue inwardly, realizing he'd brought trouble upon himself so early in the morning. He quickly lowered his head to drink his millet porridge. "Mom, Auntie's porridge is quite good, you should drink more." His mother stood up, though. "I have a meeting this morning, I won't eat." Chen Yuanxing hurriedly said, "Then remember to ask Secretary Cui to prepare some snacks for you; your health is important."
"I know." Chen's mother looked at Chen Yuanxing and suddenly said, "Why have you lost weight again? But you've gotten fairer. Stop going out and running around in the sun all the time." Chen Yuanxing was stunned, almost choking on his porridge. "...Mom?" To outsiders, his mother was a straightforward, meticulous, gentle, but absolutely strong iron lady. But at home, she was a meticulous and strict mother. She rarely spoke tenderly to Chen Yuanxing. Occasionally, she would say something that made this young master feel flattered, but her tenderness was like a shooting star, flashing by in an instant. By the time Chen Yuanxing realized what was happening, all that was left was her straight back. Chen Yuanxing leaned against the door and watched his mother slowly walk into the shade of the flowers and trees, biting her spoon. An unprecedented seriousness flashed across her face, but it was as fleeting as her tenderness.
Xiao Qiqi went out and bought a newspaper. As she walked, she circled available job postings with a pen. The sounds of cars rolling by and footsteps echoed in her ears. Xiao Qiqi felt that the burgeoning busyness, vitality, and restlessness of this new world were so fresh and pervasive. She wasn't in a hurry to go back. Instead, she sat on the edge of a flower bed by the roadside and watched the bustling traffic and the occasional person who dared to cross the road.
As Chen Yuanxing slowly made his way through the traffic to the intersection where Xiao Qiqi lived, he saw her sitting by the flowerbed. The green grass still had water droplets from the watering, and pale yellow locust blossoms hung from the branches of the ancient locust tree by the roadside. Occasionally, a few blossoms would fall and land on her shoulder, but she didn't notice. She was only looking at the pedestrians and vehicles on the roadside, her eyes brighter and clearer than ever before. A faint smile slowly appeared on her lips, like a fairy who had transcended the mortal world, with a touch of elegance and beauty. She looked at the bustling world and listened to the whispers of the falling flowers with her clear eyes.
Chen Yuanxing quietly parked his car on the side of the road in front of her, blocking her view. She, however, raised her eyes, peering through the dense, lush foliage at the pale blue sky, her eyes merging with the sky. A sudden surge of emotion welled up within Chen Yuanxing, causing him to panic instantly. He frantically honked the horn and rolled down the car window.
Xiao Qiqi finally looked away, frowning at the constantly screeching, restless silver-gray car in front of her. She rolled up her newspaper, stood up, and continued on her way home. "Hey, Xiao Qiqi, are you deaf?" Chen Yuanxing finally couldn't help but stick most of his head out and call out to Xiao Qiqi. Xiao Qiqi turned around in surprise, her gaze finally focusing on the dazzling silver car. A handsome face with well-defined eyebrows was mostly hidden by sunglasses, but the slightly roguish smile at the corner of his mouth was undeniable. Xiao Qiqi walked to the car, carefully examining the BMW logo. She turned back with a radiant smile, and before Chen Yuanxing could react, kicked the gleaming car door hard. Her smile remained as beautiful as ever. "I hate it when people drive nice cars." Chen Yuanxing was stunned. This woman was truly different. "Why?" Xiao Qiqi shoved Chen Yuanxing's head, which was resting against the car window, away, opened the door, and sat inside. She slowly uttered two words, "Jealousy!" She then looked Chen Yuanxing up and down, making him feel uneasy. He shrank back nervously. "Senior sister, what are you doing?"
Xiao Qiqi smirked, "Your dad seems pretty rich." Chen Yuanxing breathed a sigh of relief, about to reply, when her next words startled him so much that he quickly changed his mind, "Since your family is so rich, does that mean I don't have to pay you back?" Chen Yuanxing's first thought was that if she didn't pay him back, then he wouldn't have a reason to see her. Of course not! His eyes darted around, "It's a friend's car, I borrowed it specifically to carry your luggage. I'll pay you for the gas later!"
Xiao Qiqi sighed, "You're such a cheapskate!" Chen Yuanxing started the car, glancing at Xiao Qiqi every now and then, "Senior sister, are you a little out of your mind?"
"You're the one who's out of your mind!" Xiao Qiqi tapped his head with a newspaper. "Focus on driving! Damaging the car is fine, but please don't hit me!" Chen Yuanxing stared at Xiao Qiqi, shaking his head. "I can't believe it! I saw you were perfectly fine last night. Did you get possessed by a ghost after just one night? You're a completely different person!" Xiao Qiqi knew his surprise. She was always like this—cheerful, kind, and carefree. Only the emotional torment of the past six months had completely robbed her of herself, resulting in her current gentle, delicate, pale, and melancholic appearance. So Xiao Qiqi just smiled faintly and turned to look at the shops along the road. Chen Yuanxing saw the fleeting sadness in her smile and felt relieved. She was still the woman he knew, with an unyielding melancholy, even aloofness and loneliness. She wasn't meant to be sad; she should be smiling brightly like she was under the locust tree earlier. The thought that popped into Chen Yuanxing's mind made his hand tremble uncontrollably.
The car swerved and nearly collided with the car in front. Xiao Qiqi tapped him on the head with a newspaper again. "Do you even know how to drive?" Chen Yuanxing chuckled. "Yes, but I haven't had time to get my license yet." Xiao Qiqi looked at him in horror. "What? You don't have a license and you dare to drive?" Chen Yuanxing nodded seriously. "My friend said it's okay, he'll take care of it if anything happens." This time, it was Xiao Qiqi's turn to faint.
Struggling to make his way into the bumpy, dilapidated, and empty freight station, Chen Yuanxing rummaged through a pile of colorful suitcases and pulled out his large green bag. Xiao Qiqi clapped her hands and gave a concise command, "You carry it." Chen Yuanxing stood far away at the door, his body stretched long in the light and shadow, but his face looked even longer. He snorted, "Why should I?" This pampered young master, who had to have his shoelaces tied by a maid, had done more work for Xiao Qiqi than he had in his entire life, and instinctively refused.
"If you don't carry it, I won't pay you back." Xiao Qiqi stood in front of Chen Yuanxing with a smile, spreading her hands: "I have no money, but you can take my life." Chen Yuanxing looked down and carefully into her eyes, which were bright and smug, but her face was still a little pale. His heart softened, and he took a step forward. "Labor fee!"
Xiao Qiqi followed behind him, watching him huff and puff as he stuffed the large box into the trunk. "A lot of lice don't itch, a lot of debts don't worry, I don't care how much I owe you." Chen Yuanxing turned around, wiping the sweat from his forehead, looking at this woman who was completely shameless. "Xiao Qiqi, do you think you wore a fox fur coat last night?"
Xiao Qiqi pouted, "Maybe." Seeing her arrogant and smug face, Chen Yuanxing's newly formed tenderness, soft-heartedness, sympathy, and affection instantly turned into anger. He narrowed his eyes, "Still smug? I helped you with the work, and you didn't even say thank you?"
"Why should I say thank you for the hard work that I'm being paid for?" Xiao Qiqi curled her lips. "I'll calculate the cost for you!" Chen Yuanxing lowered Xiao Qiqi's position in his heart once again. Women are indeed unreasonable creatures.
Xiao Qiqi watched Chen Yuanxing slam his head against the car door and smirked, "Young Master, tell me the truth, is your family extremely wealthy?" Chen Yuanxing hesitated for a moment, "Why? No!"
Xiao Qiqi frowned and said, "Then get out of here after you drop me off! What are you pretending to be, a young master if you don't have money?"
Chen Yuanxing became interested, "What does it matter if you have money or not?"
"It would be great to have money. Maybe if you're happy, you won't have to pay me back. Who knows, one day you might even give me a bunch of red bills, or a car, a house, or something. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Xiao Qiqi, what's wrong with you? Have you gone mad?"
"Of course I'm not crazy."
"How did it become like this?"
"Sigh! Young Master, I haven't changed, but do you recognize the old me?" Xiao Qiqi smiled charmingly at Chen Yuanxing, "I just didn't have the energy to talk to you properly the other day."
Chen Yuanxing was taken aback. He truly knew nothing about her past life. "You mean the present you is the real you?" Chen Yuanxing turned his head and looked at Xiao Qiqi seriously. "Admiring rich young masters? Waiting for someone to give you money, a house, and a car?"
Xiao Qiqi nodded shyly, "You don't have to be so blunt, do you?"
"To put it bluntly, you could be someone's mistress, right?" Chen Yuanxing's voice gradually turned cold, but Xiao Qiqi seemed completely oblivious. She sighed softly, "I thought about it all night last night. I wanted to live a proper life, find a job, and live a good life. But this morning, sitting by the roadside watching all kinds of cars, I realized how difficult it is for me to work hard. I think I should be more realistic."
"Then what do you mean by reality?"
"Well, reality is what it is. Maybe it's finding a rich man, maybe it's finding a good job, maybe it's making a lot of money, maybe it's working for someone else... Hehe, Young Master Chen, why are you asking so many questions? Anyway, you're not a rich young master."
Chen Yuanxing abruptly turned the steering wheel, and the car screeched to a halt at the roadside. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and looked at Xiao Qiqi like a stranger, "Xiao Qiqi, so this is what you really are."
Xiao Qiqi looked at Chen Yuanxing in confusion, "I've always been like this, what's wrong with you?" Chen Yuanxing looked at him coldly, with an unprecedented seriousness and disappointment, and started the car, "Let's go." He refused to speak for the rest of the journey, but Xiao Qiqi found everything in the car novel. He flipped through CDs, looked through the various trinkets in the drawers, played with the crystal ball on the car, and occasionally asked some idiotic questions about how rich people live. Chen Yuanxing, however, kept a sour face and gave him half-hearted replies.
Upon reaching the red brick building, Chen Yuanxing hesitated for a moment, then carried Xiao Qiqi's bag upstairs. He glanced at her one last time, saying, "Remember to pay me back. I'm poor too; I need to pay tuition when school starts." Xiao Qiqi frowned, glaring at Chen Yuanxing, "Ugh, you're like a nagging ghost! You know how pitiful I am, so don't rush me!" Her sweet voice was filled with an unprecedentedly coquettish and resentful tone. Chen Yuanxing's expression darkened further. He politely said goodbye and left without looking back.
Xiao Qiqi pushed open the door and shouted "Goodbye!" until his heavy footsteps completely disappeared. Only then did she let go of the forced, charming smile on her face, slowly close the door, lean weakly against it, and look at the large bag in front of her. Weariness gradually washed over her. A girl like her didn't deserve such meticulous care.
It wasn't until she was struggling to take her medicine that morning that she realized how peculiar the faint masculine scent on her lips was—the smell of a field under the sunlight, unfamiliar yet strangely familiar. Xiao Qiqi returned to her room, looking at the plastic bag on the ceiling, as if searching for strength and courage there.
XIV. Returning to School
As expected, Chen Yuanxing never contacted Xiao Qiqi again, not even by phone. Xiao Qiqi finally breathed a sigh of relief and resumed her endless job-hunting spree. Looking at the pile of newspapers and job postings in her hands, she slumped wearily into her chair.
Chen Yuanxing hadn't been having a good time lately either. He'd inexplicably lost his usual cheerful mood, and even when hanging out with his friends, he'd occasionally drift into a daze. This afternoon, he'd arranged to play soccer with a group of high school buddies back at their alma mater. He rummaged through his jerseys, found a blue and white Adidas, and suddenly threw it away, as if it had been contaminated with some terrible germ. The memory was so clear: that woman had once sat on the playground, clutching his oversized sleeve like a handkerchief. He picked the jersey up from the ground, threw it in the trash, changed into another one, and went out.
The aunt chased after him, "Yuanxing, aren't these clothes new? Why did you throw them away?" Chen Yuanxing didn't even turn his head: "Auntie, they're covered in bacteria, you should throw them away quickly."
When Chen Yuanxing returned home that evening, he found the jersey neatly and cleanly placed on the bed. He picked it up and noticed its fresh, clean scent after washing, which he assumed was the housekeeper's kindness. After hesitating for a moment, he tossed it back into the closet.
The next morning, both parents were home, a rare occurrence. They ate breakfast together. As always, Dad was very attentive to Mom, while Mom remained politely distant. Chen Yuanxing noticed the undisguised indifference in his parents' eyes and slowly stirred his thin corn porridge. "Dad, I'm going back to school tomorrow," he said, his eyes fixed on his mother.
His mother looked up: "Isn't there still half a month until school starts? What are you going to do so early?" Chen Yuanxing had already thought of an excuse: "I'm going to study abroad next year, so I have to go back to school to prepare a lot of things. I don't want my grades to be bad and Dad to scold me again." Chen Yifan looked at his son: "That's true. You're not a child anymore. Stop messing around outside all day. You should do something serious. Look at Zijian, his company is about to go public."
Chen Yuanxing, who was always informal with his father, chuckled and said, "Then Dad, you can adopt Zijian as your son. Aunt Wan definitely won't object." His father immediately glared at him and glanced cautiously at his mother. Chen's mother remained expressionless, but her eyelids grew even heavier. Zhou Zijian kicked his son under the chair, but Chen Yuanxing jumped away with a grin, wiping his mouth, and said, "Mom and Dad, I'm leaving. You two enjoy your meal."
Stepping outside, Chen Yuanxing walked to the grape trellis. Several grapes were already turning greenish-purple; time really flies, the grapes were almost ripe. He heard his father's low, ingratiating laughter again from inside the restaurant. Chen Yuanxing shrugged. Zhou Zijian's mother and father had been college sweethearts; he had indeed deliberately stirred things up. But it was better for his parents to argue than to ignore each other. He actually hoped his mother would put on a fierce face like a shrew in the street and have a big fight with his father. Unfortunately, his mother was always the dignified, gentle, and intellectual Mrs. Zhong (her title), never Mrs. Chen.
Since they were leaving, they inevitably invited everyone to dinner. Having not seen Hu Qin for a month, Chen Yuanxing noticed she seemed even more voluptuous and charming. He nudged Yuan Jialin, "You've gained weight, beauty?" Yuan Jialin's small eyes behind her glasses shone brightly, and she mysteriously lowered her voice, "I've just gotten more radiant." Seeing Chen Yuanxing's puzzled expression, she then said with a greedy grin, "I heard she's hooked up with a rich young master, um, every day... you know..." Yuan Jialin winked, and Chen Yuanxing immediately understood. The two of them chuckled knowingly.
Chen Yuanxing suddenly stopped and asked, "How's that guy?" Yuan Jialin scoffed, "I heard from Fatty, he's a rich playboy, all he does is keep beautiful women around!" Chen Yuanxing was touched on a wound that had been hidden for over a month, "Are all pretty women really just materialistic?" Yuan Jialin patted his shoulder, "Young Master, you should leave that kind of worry to us poor folks, why are you concerned about this?"
"He's worried his wife will run off with some young gigolo," Zhou Zijian interjected with a grin as he entered, puffing on his cigarette and blowing smoke rings while giving Chen Yuanxing a provocative look. Chen Yuanxing, who didn't smoke, felt a tickle in his throat from Zhou Zijian's smoke and immediately cursed, "Get out of here, you're suffocating me." Zhou Zijian, however, persisted, sitting down next to Chen Yuanxing and patting his shoulder. "Young Master, I heard you had a rough start, your wife dumped you, huh?"
Chen Yuanxing slapped his hand away: "Stop talking nonsense, go somewhere cool." Seeing Chen Yuanxing's impatience, Zhou Zijian wisely stubbed out his cigarette. "To be honest, young master, how are things going with that beauty? I heard you haven't gone to see her for a month." Chen Yuanxing's expression softened when he saw Zhou Zijian put out his cigarette. "What? Are you interested?" Zhou Zijian nodded. "She's my type right now. If you really break up with her, I'm going for it."
"Whatever." Chen Yuanxing glanced at Zhou Zijian. "Anyway, she's not my wife." Zhou Zijian immediately became excited: "Young Master, you said it yourself, don't say I'm not loyal to you later." Chen Yuanxing punched his shoulder. "Don't worry." Thinking of the way Xiao Qiqi used to look at Zhou Zijian, he felt uncomfortable all over. So that's how it was; her eyes were only on luxury brands and cars. Chen Yuanxing felt a surge of anger. He had done so much for her, and this was how it turned out! Thinking this, Chen Yuanxing smiled coldly. Making her pay back the money wouldn't be worth it, as it would only make him lose face and money.
A little over a month later, Xiao Qiqi received another call from Chen Yuanxing. She had just finished a job interview and the memory of the manager's blatant gaze sent chills down her spine. Leaning against a large roadside billboard with her eyes closed, listening to the roar of cars, she wondered if she should just pack up and go back to her hometown. It was at this moment that Chen Yuanxing called. Xiao Qiqi answered weakly, "What's up?"
More than a month later, when Chen Yuanxing heard that clear yet soft voice again, he was momentarily dazed. It turned out that her voice was still the same; he hadn't forgotten it. He coughed to try and calm himself down, "Yes, I'm going back to school tomorrow."
"Oh, then have a safe trip." Xiao Qiqi didn't know what to say, so she could only offer this perfunctory reply. Talking about money or favors? Neither felt quite right. She checked her wallet: 173.5 yuan, her last remaining possessions. Expressing gratitude seemed too pale.
Chen Yuanxing had mustered the courage to ask Xiao Qiqi for money and then say goodbye, but upon hearing her clear, crisp voice, he softened. She was really pitiful. "Oh, it's nothing, I just wanted to tell you. Let's keep in touch." That's how his last words came about.
Xiao Qiqi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Um, how about I pay you back slowly?"
"Sure, sure, as long as you haven't forgotten." Chen Yuanxing laughed it off.
"I won't forget, thank you," Xiao Qiqi said softly. How could she forget? She owed him so much. "Then... goodbye!"
"Goodbye." Chen Yuanxing collapsed onto the bed, cursing himself inwardly.
After hanging up the phone, Xiao Qiqi took a car home. Just as she reached the entrance of the alleyway leading to the red brick building, she saw Zhou Zijian get out of his silver Porsche and smile at her from afar. Xiao Qiqi hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and walked over to greet him: "Hello, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Zijian looked at Xiao Qiqi with a warm smile, "Qiqi, you just came back from outside?" He was very familiar with her.
Xiao Qiqi blinked at Zhou Zijian, "Yes, Mr. Zhou, is there something you need?" Politeness comes first. The house belongs to someone else, and they haven't mentioned rent for over a month. Today, they're having a run of bad luck, and another creditor has come knocking.
"It's nothing, it's nothing, Qiqi, don't overthink it." Zhou Zijian shook his head. "I was just passing by on my way here and thought of you, so I stopped by to see you." Of course, he couldn't say that he had waited here for two hours specifically for her.
Xiao Qiqi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't come on purpose. "...Shall we go inside and sit for a while?" It was someone else's house, although she knew that inviting a strange man to her place was extremely unwise.
Zhou Zijian noticed the hesitation in Xiao Qiqi's eyes and immediately said considerately, "Qiqi hasn't eaten yet, has she? Why don't we find a place to eat and talk?"
Xiao Qiqi weighed the options: taking the strange man home or going out to eat. "Okay then."
Zhou Zijian opened the car door for Xiao Qiqi, a smug smile playing on his lips. The first step to success was so simple. This girl was no longer as pale and weak as when they first met; now she possessed an added air of intelligence and freshness, making her even more pleasing to the eye. Since that idiot Young Master Chen didn't want her, then he shouldn't blame him for being impolite.
As soon as Xiao Qiqi got out of the car, she regretted it. What kind of restaurant was this? The decor was top-notch, and everyone coming and going was either impeccably dressed or dressed in flowing gowns. Judging from the professional and polite manners of the waiters, it was clear that this was not a place for ordinary people. Xiao Qiqi hesitated, "Mr. Zhou, this is too extravagant."
Zhou Zijian was well-versed in the psychology of women in this era, knowing the importance of making a good first impression on a woman, especially for a young, inexperienced graduate like Xiao Qiqi. Considerateness, elegance, and a touch of wealth were the first hurdle—to make her swoon and envious. Once she was even slightly moved, the rest would be a natural consequence. "Don't be nervous, let's eat first," Zhou Zijian said with an elegant smile, gesturing for Xiao Qiqi to go first.
Xiao Qiqi knew that there was no way to back down now, so she could only move forward and see what would happen next. Who knew what tricks these rich people were up to?
Sitting down, ordering food, and speaking, Zhou Zijian displayed impeccable politeness and refinement, earning Xiao Qiqi's admiration for his manners. However, there's no such thing as a free lunch. The moment Xiao Qiqi stepped out of the car, she couldn't stand his excuse of just stopping by to see her, a nobody. As the waiter brought the food, Xiao Qiqi slowly wiped her hands with a wet wipe, deciding to remain discreet. Seeing her finish, Zhou Zijian quickly handed her a dry wipe, and Xiao Qiqi hurriedly said, "Thank you, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Zijian smiled easily, "Isn't it too formal for us to call each other Mr. Zhou like this? We're all friends of the young master, so let's not stand on ceremony. I'll call you Qiqi, and you can call me Zijian, okay?"
Xiao Qiqi's alarm bells rang even louder, and she hurriedly said, "I don't deserve such praise. Actually, I'm not familiar with Chen Yuanxing. We're just alumni from a neighboring school."
"It's alright, practice makes perfect, right, Qiqi?" Zhou Zijian naturally picked up the teapot and poured tea for Xiao Qiqi. "The Longjing tea here tastes quite authentic, Qiqi, have a taste."
Xiao Qiqi was clearly annoyed by Zhou Zijian's overly familiar manner, but she let him be, since she wouldn't call him by his name anyway. "Thank you, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Zijian wanted to persuade her again, but seeing the resolute and distant look in Xiao Qiqi's eyes, he realized that she was indeed not someone who was easy to coax. However, the more difficult a woman was, the more he felt a sense of conquest. He smiled and said that he had plenty of time. "I heard from Hua Ruomin that you are looking for a job. How is it going? Do you need any help?" In fact, he had already found out that Xiao Qiqi had been looking for a job without success.
Xiao Qiqi quickly shook her head: "No need, thank you, I've already found a job today."
Zhou Zijian was surprised, but quickly regained his smile. "That's good. It's inevitable to have many things you're not used to at the beginning of your job. If you need any help, just say so. Don't be shy."
Xiao Qiqi lowered her head and thought for a moment before saying, "Thank you. I don't think I need any more help from you. I haven't thanked you about the house yet. I'll look for a place to live once I've settled into a job."
"No, Qiqi, that's too formal. I'm not some landlord here to collect rent!" Zhou Zijian quickly explained. Now that she's gone, where will he find her? His eyes flashed, and he already had an idea. "Actually, the house is rented under the company's name. The lease expires next month. The company will be sending Hua Ruomin to Shanghai next month, and they don't want to renew the lease. If Qiqi thinks the house is suitable, how about she signs a new lease with the landlord? That would actually be a good idea."
Xiao Qiqi had indeed heard Hua Ruomin mention going to Shanghai, so now that Zhou Zijian had brought it up, she couldn't really doubt it. Finding an apartment was always a hassle, so if that was really the case, that would be even better. So she said, "Thank you, Mr. Zhou, but I will pay your company the rent for these two months."
Zhou Zijian wanted to say no, but he had just said that the house was rented by the company. Since it was company property, he was afraid that making such a decision on his own would arouse Xiao Qiqi's suspicion. So he changed his mind and said, "Okay, but you don't need to rush. It's a company matter."
Xiao Qiqi didn't insist. Even if she had all the backbone she could muster, she couldn't conjure up money to repay Zhou Zijian, so she simply said thank you.