Coveted for a Long Time 41

Chapter 41

You can’t walk by the river without getting your shoes wet. Liang Jincheng was never a good person; anyone following him should weigh their own capabilities. But regardless of whether there was a real connection, as long as it had nothing to do with the Qiao family, it was fine.

After the Zhou family got into trouble, Zhou Meihe, her son, and Zhou Jiaqi all quieted down for a while. They stopped buying luxury goods and disappeared from various social occasions, seemingly not even leaving their house.

Qiao Xi only found out later that the higher-ups were looking to make an example of someone. If anyone from the Zhou family dared to show off even a little, they might be seized upon and made an issue of.

The health food market was a mixed bag. Jiang City had recently seen several related scams where fraudsters exaggerated the efficacy of health products, cheating some elderly people out of hundreds of thousands or even millions. The authorities had set up a special task force to crack down heavily on this and were preparing a big move, likely to target a company as an example. Failed quality inspections provided an excellent entry point.

Of course, the Zhou family wasn’t the only one with failed inspections, which was why they had been so quiet and low-key recently, pulling strings and seeking support in secret, terrified of being dragged out as the first target.

The Qiao family had been dutiful in recent years and was completely unaffected this time.

Although the Qiao and Zhou families were related by marriage, business was business, always clearly separated without any connection. No matter what happened to the Zhou family, it wouldn’t have a significant impact on the Qiao family, so Qiao Xi wasn’t worried about Qiao Jianliang.

Moreover, Qiao Jianliang wasn’t stupid. Upon learning about the Zhou family’s situation, he immediately distanced himself completely. He even invited several old acquaintances in the industry for a meal. Toasting each other, the group understood tacitly that they were temporarily banding together to weather the storm.

Qiao Xi finally took the bank card Qiao Jianliang had given her earlier and checked the balance casually. She was stunned by the amount. Putting the card away, she deliberated for a long time but ultimately didn’t call Qiao Jianliang to ask. He had said this card was for her.

During this period, Fu Bei came over from time to time. Blocked by the security guard at the complex gate, she would go to the shop. Occasionally, when Qiao Xi was busy, she could only wait for half a day.

University teachers were both busy and relaxed. She was teaching freshman advanced mathematics now. As a newcomer to the profession, there was a lot of preparatory work. Workplace relationships were also a major issue. As a young, directly hired professor, it would be hard to convince people without quickly producing results. Over time, it was inevitable that colleagues would privately whisper about nepotism.

Qiao Xi didn’t pay much attention to Fu Bei’s affairs, only occasionally seeing her preparing lessons or getting ready for some conference.

Qin Si also came here, but always during the day, coincidentally missing Fu Bei.

“Do you have plans to travel for the New Year this year?” Qin Si asked while helping to pass tattoo tools.

Qiao Xi was tattooing a customer, serious and meticulous. Only during a break did she reply, “Don’t know yet. Still a long time until New Year; we’ll see then.”

Expecting this answer, Qin Si smiled, speaking as if she had seen through everything: “By then, you might be like last year, not wanting to go anywhere.”

Last year, Qin Si had invited her to Thailand, and Qiao Xi had said the same thing. Qin Si misunderstood, thinking she had the intention, and even made plans in advance. But when asked again near New Year, Qiao Xi had completely forgotten about it.

Qiao Xi was too lazy. Unlike Qin Si, she didn’t like running all over the world. She was used to staying in one place for a long time, nesting at home with nothing to do, not wanting to move an inch.

Her neck ached from looking down for too long. She twisted it, glanced at Qin Si, then buried her head to continue, wearing a mask as she said, “Want to rest during New Year, don’t want to run around. Otherwise, how tired would it be to come back to work after the holiday?”

“You’re not short of money. Do you have to start working right after the holiday? Isn’t it the same to open a month later? Not many people come in that month anyway.”

Both from wealthy families, their concepts were vastly different. Qin Si advocated enjoyment and seizing the day. Opening a tattoo parlor was just to kill time, a “proper job” to silence her family. She always did whatever she wanted. If in a good mood, she would open the shop for half a month or a month, busy and tired. If in a bad mood, she would run around domestically and internationally—skydiving in Hawaii, adventuring in New Zealand, advocating that life has no limits. Qiao Xi, on the other hand, liked “marking time,” unwilling to step out of her comfort zone. She could nest at home for half a month without going out, shop and eat alone, endure loneliness, and disliked doing anything thrilling or exciting.

Both were rebellious, but in different directions—one towards life, the other towards family.

“Nothing to do if I don’t open the shop,” Qiao Xi said, her tone a bit perfunctory.

Qin Si acted as if she didn’t understand this was a rejection. Finding a stool to sit on the side, she helped adjust the light. “Then go out for a walk. Where do you want to go? Singapore or somewhere else?”

Qiao Xi asked back, “You want to go to Singapore?”

“Just saying; don’t particularly want to.” Qin Si said. After testing the waters and realizing she was unwilling, she tactfully stopped mentioning it. Seeing Qiao Xi about to continue, she looked down and reminded, “Don’t prick too deep; just like just now is fine.”

Qiao Xi paused, lifting her eyelids to glance at her. “I know.”

When she was an apprentice under Qin Si, she would inevitably be scolded a few times whenever she did something wrong. Qin Si had high standards and loved to lecture, often picking on small mistakes. Her tone while guiding just now was surprisingly gentle, making Qiao Xi a bit unaccustomed.

It was almost 4:00 PM; she had been tattooing continuously for over three hours before finishing.

After sending the customer off, while cleaning and disinfecting, Qin Si suddenly asked, “What have you been busy with lately?”

Qiao Xi cleaned the instruments nonchalantly. “Just in the shop. Don’t you come over every few days? What else could I be busy with?”

“I met Tang Yi yesterday, at the gate of your school.”

“Mmh.”

“She asked about you.” Qin Si said, her eyes containing other meanings, like scrutiny or seeing through something. Beneath her calm gaze was a surging undercurrent, hiding suppressed deep meaning.

Some words she didn’t ask too clearly. Actually, she had guessed what was going on but still pretended to know nothing, deceiving herself.

Qiao Xi was stunned for a moment. “Asked me what?”

“Asked what you’ve been doing lately, if something happened.”

It was the beginning of the school term. Tang Yi was both a student and a teaching assistant, with a pile of things to do, basically only free at night. But Qiao Xi happened to be busy every night recently. So several times when Tang Yi called, she made excuses saying she was too busy and had no time—once even when passions were running high and uncontrollable.

She lowered her eyes, tightening her palms, then her face became bland. “Just a lot of things at the shop. Can’t finish during the day, so I go back to stay up late. No time for now.”

Qin Si gave an “Oh.” Whether she believed it or not, she didn’t ask further.

“Don’t get too tired; don’t push yourself so hard.”

Qiao Xi paused, giving a light hum. Turning her back, the expression on her face dimmed instantly, but returned to normal when she turned back. Qin Si had helped her for half the day. After tidying up everything, she treated Qin Si to dinner near the university town and personally drove her back. Hesitating for a long time, she called Tang Yi out when approaching the university town, and the three ate together.

They went to a soup stew restaurant with light flavors. With Tang Yi joining, Qin Si wasn’t lukewarm like in the shop. She only helped Qiao Xi serve soup twice, not serving Tang Yi.

Tang Yi talked incessantly as soon as she arrived, distracting most of Qiao Xi’s attention, so she didn’t notice this special treatment.

“My parents are coming here for New Year this year. We plan to spend it in Jiang City. Qiao Qiao, come over for dinner if you’re free then,” Tang Yi said enthusiastically, then chatted about some recent plans.

Qiao Xi didn’t refuse, which meant agreement, and even helped with ideas. Qin Si on the side drank a mouthful of soup on her own, lifting her eyelids. Her face was calm, but her eyes were deep, with a distinct meaning.

Eating in the university town until nearly ten o’clock that night, returning to the residential complex, the familiar black car was already waiting outside.

The complex security guard was too dutiful and observant. Actually knowing Fu Bei and Qiao Xi were acquaintances and seeing they probably had a conflict, he stopped the car every time but didn’t chase her away, only asking Fu Bei to park elsewhere.

Qiao Xi had business with her, letting her in together this time.

Unknown how long she had waited, this person smelled of smoke. Not unpleasant, just unaccustomed.

In the elevator, Qiao Xi frowned. “What time did you come?”

“Not long ago.” Fu Bei only said. Her voice was slightly hoarse with fatigue; having taught classes all day, she was definitely tired.

Hearing her fatigue, Qiao Xi pursed her lips, staring silently at the elevator display. Reaching the twelfth floor and exiting the elevator, she took out her keys to open the door.

Fu Bei watched from behind. As she bent down, she suddenly added, “Met Tang Yi near the school tonight. Did you go there?”

Qiao Xi’s hand paused, then she turned the key, replying calmly, “Had something to do; went over for dinner.”

Not hiding anything at all, incredibly honest.

When the three of them met at the gate of the University of Science and Technology, Fu Bei happened to be coming out of Jiang University with other colleagues. From a distance, she saw Tang Yi excitedly taking Qiao Xi’s arm and walking towards West Street, with Qin Si waiting aside, following closely.

Her colleagues were enthusiastic, wanting to invite Fu Bei for dinner together. Fu Bei didn’t go, standing at the gate of Jiang University for a while, watching the three gradually move away.

Qin Si always stood by Qiao Xi’s hand, neither too close nor too far, always maintaining a line of distance, actively closing it whenever it widened.

The time for a meal—however long they spent there, Fu Bei waited here for that long. A few hours, neither long nor short.

Opening the door, entering, then turning on the light.

Things weren’t urgent. Qiao Xi went to the bathroom to shower first, then found new toiletries for Fu Bei to use before Fu Bei went in.

Perhaps because the weather was gradually turning cold, the hot water tonight didn’t seem hot enough, and the water pressure wasn’t strong enough. Even showering wasn’t satisfying. Fu Bei felt inexplicably anxious, a breath of anger pressing on her heart. She had swapped places with Qiao Xi, as if she now had to endure everything Qiao Xi had experienced before.

In the room, the bedside lamp was bright, the light intense and hot.

Outside, a light rain began to patter. Walking twice on the wet, muddy path grasping pearls, Fu Bei held Qiao Xi on her lap, resting in the crook of Qiao Xi’s neck to catch her breath. She wanted to say something, but Qiao Xi wouldn’t let her, tilting her head and lowering it to seal her lips.

Both their phones were on the bedside table. Qiao Xi’s phone suddenly lit up; a WeChat message pushed through, the notification sound ringing once.

The contact name displayed was Qin Si.

Qiao Xi withdrew her hand from Fu Bei’s hair but had no intention of reaching for the phone, responding to Fu Bei instead.

The notification sound rang again.

She paused, reaching out to touch the phone, but was suddenly grabbed by the wrist by Fu Bei, who was faster. Flipped over instantly, she was pressed onto the bed lying on her stomach.

“Wait a moment—” Fu Bei said, gently biting the tip of her ear.