Coveted for a Long Time 21

Chapter 21

At the turn of July and August, Jiang City ushered in the hottest period of the year. The temperature soared to thirty or forty degrees, making people afraid to go out. The ground was like it was being roasted by fire, and the leaves on both sides of the road appeared even more glossy and dark green under the intense sunlight.

During this time, everyone was busy. Qiao Xi, who was usually idle, was also run off her feet, taking on three orders in a row, exhausting herself.

Tattooing required bending over and lowering her head for long periods. Over time, both her neck and back ached. Sometimes after a busy day, her eyes felt as heavy as lead. Being the only one in the shop meant doing everything herself, which was undoubtedly tiring. Qiao Xi considered hiring an assistant, but then thought about how little money she made in a month. Hiring someone would mean working for nothing, so she dismissed the idea.

Tang Yi ran over every day. Summer vacation was the most leisurely time, with few school matters. Not being a local and having no relatives or other friends in Jiang City, she came over to help out whenever she was bored.

“This weather is really killing me. The fiery sun hasn’t changed a bit. Who knows when it will cool down. I originally planned to travel during this time, but with heat like this, I might as well stay home.” Tang Yi walked in carrying two cold drinks.

Qiao Xi was designing a pattern. Hearing this, she said while drawing, “You could go to Kunming; it’s not this hot there.”

“Went there in the first half of the year. No point going again.”

“City S is also nice.”

“Consumption in City S is too high; spending two or three thousand just to go there is suffering,” Tang Yi said, putting the cold drinks on the table and glancing at the drawing. “Your business has been pretty good lately; customers every day.”

“High foot traffic. Lots of students on summer break now.” Putting the drawing on the other side of the table, Qiao Xi stood up to stretch, her neck stiff with pain.

The student population doubled during winter and summer breaks. She could be selective with orders, accepting anything as long as it wasn’t an impulsive tattoo. After all, young people were more accepting of tattoos and were the main customer base.

Tang Yi helped massage her neck and pound her back. When Qiao Xi was an apprentice, Tang Yi often visited the tattoo parlor, frequently pounding her back and kneading her shoulders. Now seeing her twist her neck, she knew it must be hurting again. She said with concern, “Rest appropriately, relax a bit.”

Qiao Xi agreed and took a sip of her cold drink.

The sun in the sky looked frightening. There were few pedestrians on the bustling Qijing Street during the day; everyone came out at night. The glass doors of the shops opposite reflected the light dazzlingly.

Tang Yi talked about school matters. She was pursuing an academic master’s degree, and the tasks for the second half of the year were particularly heavy. The professor mentoring her had intentions of keeping her on. Although not explicitly stated, the implication was that he would help her stay at the school. Tang Yi was very grateful but also apprehensive, as debts of gratitude are hard to repay.

“Don’t overthink it. Even without his help, you have the ability. He’s just doing a favor with little effort; you can repay it when you have the chance later,” Qiao Xi comforted her.

At dusk, the temperature dropped. Without the scorching sun, it was slightly more bearable. Qiao Xi treated Tang Yi to seafood, chatting all the way.

Tang Yi actually came today to ask Qiao Xi for a favor. All the schools in the university town planned to hold a mixer this weekend, mainly for teachers to get familiar with each other and promote friendship between schools. The University of Science and Technology was the organizer, and the person in charge was the professor mentoring Tang Yi.

“University mixers are just like that. Everyone talks for a few minutes; it’s just a formality. But since it’s summer break, there aren’t many students left on campus. The etiquette team is still short of two people. Are you free this weekend? If so, fill in for me.”

Organizing events often went like this. Tasks were passed down layer by layer, making it hardest for those at the bottom. Public institutions kept things simple, with limited budgets preventing extravagance. One had to grit their teeth and find a way to get things done.

Tang Yi had no choice. She had asked everyone she could find and barely scraped together a team. Thinking that Qiao Xi used to be in the Science and Technology etiquette team, she wondered if she could help.

It just so happened that Qiao Xi was free, so she agreed on the spot.

“Anything else to do?” Qiao Xi asked.

“Nope, everything’s ready. Just come for rehearsal on Saturday and pick up the costume then.”

The weekend fell right at the beginning of August. The weather was as hot as ever, the sun hanging in the sky too bright to look at directly, making people dizzy.

The rehearsal took place in the lobby on the first floor of the University of Science and Technology’s activity center. The venue was very spacious, a place for gala evenings. More than half of Qiao Xi’s university activities had been held here, so it felt very familiar.

The professor mentoring Tang Yi was also there today. He was their major course teacher and Qiao Xi’s graduation project advisor. Accompanying him was their former algebra teacher.

Qiao Xi wasn’t very good at building relationships with teachers; seeing them, she would only greet them politely.

The algebra teacher wasn’t old and actually remembered her, responding, “Qiao Xi, back to visit the school?”

Qiao Xi was slightly surprised and said, “Here to be an usher.”

The algebra teacher introduced her to the professor. The group chatted for a while, after which Qiao Xi hurried to rehearse.

The temporarily assembled etiquette team members were all graduate students. Being similar in age, they could joke around a bit. Tang Yi was busy directing in the broadcasting room, running around in circles. Midway through, there was an equipment problem. Originally scheduled to finish by four or five, it dragged on until past seven.

Eating in the back street of the university town, they unexpectedly ran into Zhao Shihuan’s group. Zhuang Qiyang was also among them, but Fu Bei wasn’t. They were all from Jiang University, back to visit today since they were free, and just happened to meet by coincidence.

Zhao Shihuan spoke first: “Qiao Qiao, why are you here?”

Qiao Xi scanned the group. “Just came to look around. What about you guys?”

“Same,” Zhao Shihuan said. “Just came out. Want to join us?”

She was a smooth talker, and Qiao Xi found it hard to refuse. There was an artsy lounge bar near the university town that everyone frequented during their school days. Today, they went for nostalgia. The lounge bar still had its old style; even the resident singer was the original one, still singing folk songs.

Folk songs were popular now, though they were a niche genre a few years ago.

Qiao Xi ordered a new drink. Zhao Shihuan sat next to her, chatting with others from time to time and chatting with her occasionally.

Having just returned to Jiang City not long ago, Zhao Shihuan had many things to deal with, hence her recent disappearance. She also ordered a new drink, but throughout the process, she didn’t treat Qiao Xi too specially, treating her normally.

This made Qiao Xi feel relatively comfortable, and as they chatted, she opened up.

Zhao Shihuan was charming, always had been since childhood. Compared to the aloof and solitary Fu Bei, she was approachable and well-versed in the ways of the world, knowing how to maintain boundaries. Just like now, a few sentences could bridge the distance between two people.

The drink was finished quickly. Qiao Xi ordered a refill. When the bartender handed the drink over, Zhao Shihuan helped pass it. While taking it, Qiao Xi accidentally touched her hand.

Unlike Fu Bei’s coolness, Zhao Shihuan’s hand was warm.

The moment they touched, Qiao Xi curled her fingers to avoid contact, inevitably feeling awkward.

Zhao Shihuan acted as if nothing had happened, calm and composed, asking, “Are you free next week?”

Qiao Xi thought for a moment. “Should be. Why?”

“Want to treat everyone to a meal; you’re the only one missing.”

“Which day?”

“Friday or Saturday, haven’t decided yet. Will see in a couple of days and notify you then.”

She agreed. The chat content was ordinary and relaxed, topics typical among friends. She introduced Tang Yi to everyone. The group chatted and drank peacefully, heading home around ten o’clock.

Under a lot of pressure recently, this day passed happily. Qiao Xi was in a good mood, feeling much more relaxed.

The mixer was held in the evening. She went over at 5:30 to prepare. Tang Yi was responsible for maintaining order at the venue, running back and forth without even a moment to catch her breath.

Being during the holidays, Qiao Xi thought not many people would come. Unexpectedly, half the hall was filled. Some teachers even brought students over, ostensibly to help out but actually to familiarize faces and build connections. There were quite a few academic big shots present; getting guidance from any of them would be lucky. Academia was purer than the business world; guidance could be worth a thousand gold. Sometimes, a single sentence from a big shot could solve a difficult problem that had plagued one for months.

Qiao Xi was behind the team leader, standing behind the curtain. At a glance, she saw Fu Bei in the second row of the audience, though the audience couldn’t see here.

Calculating, it had been nearly a week since she last saw her. Fu Bei was wearing a black shirt, with a narrow waist and long legs, looking refined and upright. She sat among a group of old professors, chatting with ease. The old professors were all smiling; some were writing while talking, recording something, seemingly discussing academic matters.

The mixer hadn’t started yet. The girl next to her suddenly said, “That’s Professor Fu Bei from Jiang University, right? Even better looking than in photos.”

“Only twenty-seven years old. Studied at S University in the US before. Heard she’s the niece of the Business School principal.”

Several girls in the etiquette team knew each other and couldn’t stop chatting once they started. Young professors in universities weren’t nonexistent, but those with high looks were extremely rare. Everyone liked handsome men and beautiful women, so it was inevitable to pay more attention.

Qiao Xi couldn’t interject, waiting silently with the others. While zoning out, she suddenly heard the girl from before say again, “Teacher Qiu Yinong is here too.”

She subconsciously looked up and saw a woman in a raven-green long dress walking slowly into the hall. The woman was silky and elegant, exuding a scholarly air from the inside out, gentle and generous.

Qiu Yinong walked gracefully to Fu Bei and said something unknown.

Fu Bei stood up to offer her seat, moving one spot inward. Qiu Yinong smiled and sat down. The two must have known each other for a long time; otherwise, their interaction wouldn’t be so familiar.

The girls gossiped, calling them the “Twin Beauties of Jiang University.” Qiu Yinong was Fu Bei’s senior sister from the same school and also a talent from a scholarly family. Qiao Xi pursed her red lips, unable to help but scrutinize that side a few times.

Qiu Yinong leaned somewhat close to Fu Bei when speaking. As more people filled the hall and it became noisier, she leaned even closer, almost whispering in Fu Bei’s ear.

Fu Bei was decent to this fellow disciple, not as cold and distant as she was with others. Whatever the other party said, she would reply with a sentence or two.

Watching from afar, the behavior of the two appeared very intimate.

Qiao Xi lowered her eyes, withdrawing her gaze.