Coveted for a Long Time 10

Chapter 10

Back then, Qiao Xi was always clinging to her. But calculating carefully, when Fu Bei first started university, Qiao Xi was still in middle school. By the time Fu Bei graduated and left Jiang City, the kid had barely come of age.

In Liang Yuzhi’s words, young age makes one prone to willfulness and recklessness, not taking the future seriously, lacking judgment, and loving to act rashly.

At that time, all of Qiao Xi’s plans were related to Fu Bei, her longings simply sweet. But reality is often cruel; the higher you stand, the harder you fall. She didn’t even know the day Fu Bei left; she was happily traveling around a northern city. By the time she returned to the compound, Fu Bei had already gone abroad. Later, many unexpected events occurred, leading to the situation today.

Many things couldn’t be distinguished as right or wrong; one could only say the choices were made, so the corresponding consequences had to be borne.

June nights in Jiang City were sometimes stifling, like tonight. The air was dry, and threads of heat pounced on the body. The speeches in the hall continued; it was estimated to take another half hour or more to finish.

Qiao Xi walked into the pavilion in the plane tree grove and found an empty stone stool to sit on. Today she wore tight acid-wash blue jeans paired with a simple white T-shirt and flats. Her exquisite ankles were exposed, so slender they could be circled with one hand. She bent her back, propping her arms on the stone table. The white T-shirt faintly outlined the curve of her slender spine. The fabric was sheer enough to reveal a hint of the tattoo shape on her lower back.

A mix of clean efficiency and wildness.

The shadowed area by the back door was now empty, and outside the hall, it was quiet, extremely quiet.

It was more than ten minutes later than expected when a large crowd began to emerge from the hall in groups. Qiao Xi wasn’t interested in watching; she sent a message to Tang Yi and returned to her car to wait.

Tang Yi was still inside wrapping things up. Finally, she came out following two old professors, leaving only a few people in the Academic Hall. The car door was open. As soon as Tang Yi got in, Qiao Xi started the car and left. The bright red vehicle drove further and further into the deep black night until it disappeared from sight.

Inside the Academic Hall, the leader from the Academic Affairs Office smiled warmly, his face full of amiability. “I didn’t expect Professor Fu to actually come. We’ll be colleagues from now on; I hope we can look out for each other.”

Fu Bei’s expression was cool as she replied politely, “Director Liao, you are too kind. I am the one who will be relying on your guidance.”

A teacher’s duty is to impart knowledge and educate people; having students all over the world is the loftiest goal. But beyond that, teachers are also ordinary people. While fulfilling their duties, they also seek higher and broader development. Although Fu Bei was a newly hired teacher, her substantial family background and strong capabilities made her a potential star, so everyone was trying to build a good relationship with her.

Director Liao smiled and chatted about random things for a bit.

Walking out of the Academic Hall, the car outside the plane tree grove was gone. The stone table from before was now occupied by other students. Fu Bei’s thin lips moved slightly. She looked at Director Liao beside her, wanting to say something but stopping herself, her expression somewhat cold.

The weather in Jiang City at the end of June was changeable, suddenly cool then suddenly hot. Yesterday it was a comfortable teens degrees Celsius, but today a fiery sun blazed, the temperature nearing thirty degrees, baking everything unbearably.

Business at the tattoo parlor had gradually picked up recently, with two more orders coming in. Tattooing had always been slow, meticulous work that couldn’t be rushed. The preparatory work was quite complicated; after all, it was going on someone’s body. Qiao Xi treated this very seriously, pushing the schedule for the two new orders back to finish the first one first.

On the twenty-ninth, she went alone to the cemetery to visit the old lady.

Fresh bouquets and offerings were already placed in front of the tomb; someone had arrived before her. The old lady slept eternally underground, but she didn’t lack visitors. The Fu family descendants, her two senior disciples, and her good friends were all very thoughtful and would come to visit often.

Qiao Xi didn’t know what to say. Besides, the person was long dead and cremated; she couldn’t hear any words anyway.

Standing before the tomb for a long time, she finally said, “I moved out of the compound. I’m living on Qijing Street now. Opened a shop. I’m doing okay, it’s just a bit far from here, not as convenient to visit as before.”

Her voice was exceptionally soft, like a murmur, just like her timid whispers when she was a child.

A wind rose on the hill, brushing gently against her body.

Before leaving, Qiao Xi pursed her red lips, lowered her eyes halfway, and whispered, “Fu Bei is back…”

**

Until mid-July, she was busy with business in the shop. Everything went smoothly. The first customer was very satisfied with the design and the finished product, and even helped promote her within his social circle.

Qiao Xi hadn’t planned on relying on the tattoo parlor to make a living; opening the shop was just to kill time. There wasn’t much she could do usually, and she had to find something to occupy herself.

Qiao Jianliang called, asking her to come home for a meal in two days as Zhou Meihe’s maiden family would be visiting. Qiao Xi said nonchalantly, “No time, I’m busy. You guys eat as a family. I’ll come back to see you when I have time.”

“We’re making all your favorite dishes, hosting at home. Eight o’clock in the evening. If business isn’t busy, just come back, alright?” Qiao Jianliang coaxed patiently.

Actually, over the years, Qiao Jianliang had been decent to her, giving her whatever she wanted. He hadn’t fulfilled his responsibilities as a father in the past, and he wasn’t great now, but his will left all his assets to her. There was no helping it; the cheap stepbrother was someone else’s son and ultimately didn’t have the surname Qiao. Qiao Jianliang was no fool. To prevent his children from fighting over the inheritance and ruining his comfortable old age, he had no intention of having another child.

No matter how heartless Qiao Xi was, she was okay with him. At least she would go home to visit during holidays. Businessmen were shrewd; they calculated everything they did.

“We’ll see.” Qiao Xi didn’t want to discuss it further, offering a few perfunctory words before hanging up.

For some reason, Qiao Xi suddenly had a rare thought of Mother Qiao, remembering the days when the family of three lived together. Back then, the two adults were busy running their business all day and didn’t care much about her, but generally speaking, it was still harmonious and beautiful. If not for the couple’s later so-called “amicable divorce,” the family of three wouldn’t have become what it was today.

But the world is fickle. Often, a small decision can change everything. She didn’t know who to blame, because Qiao Jianliang had indeed been sincere to Mother Qiao, yet it was Mother Qiao who ultimately proposed the divorce. Mother Qiao was still alive; she just didn’t want this family anymore.

Marriage is a tangled mess, impossible to unravel, and there’s no one person to blame.

She often wondered what two people living together was really for—a marriage certificate, children, or love?

In this world, purity has always been scarce, while desires are plentiful. Humans are greedy by nature.

Two days later, she didn’t return to the compound. After finishing her work at the shop, she sent a text message to Qiao Jianliang, then went to the supermarket to buy groceries. She cooked a couple of simple dishes at home, lay in bed for half the day after eating, and later shuffled out in black flip-flops for a walk. She hadn’t expected to run into Fu Bei.

It was dusk, the sunset fading. The sky was dim, with a few thin, pale clouds drifting on the horizon.

Fu Bei was with a group of friends.

Qijing Street was bustling and lively, the premier choice for gatherings and fun, so running into them here wasn’t surprising. Someone recognized Qiao Xi and called out a greeting.

She only nodded in a friendly manner, not saying much.

An acquaintance wearing a gray top said, “Look, that’s Fu Bei in the back. Do you still recognize her? You used to follow her around every day.”

Qiao Xi followed the line of sight and saw Fu Bei standing in the crowd.

That person was also looking at her.

She was dressed particularly casually today. Her legs looked exceptionally long and straight wrapped in trousers. Her skin was a cool white, and her deep features appeared especially three-dimensional under the golden afterglow, looking a bit unreal.

The moment their eyes met, the person’s expression shifted slightly.

Qiao Xi replied, “I recognize her.”

The acquaintance smiled and insisted on dragging her to the gathering. This party was to welcome Fu Bei back to the country. After not seeing her for several years, friends were happy that she was now settling down in Jiang City.

Qiao Xi didn’t want to go, but everyone was so enthusiastic that they wouldn’t let her leave, so she had to tag along in the end.

Fu Bei was the center of attention, surrounded by the group wherever she went, keeping a distance from Qiao Xi. But unbeknownst to her, at some point, Fu Bei ended up walking beside her, and those originally crowding around tactfully moved further away. Qiao Xi pretended not to notice, walking forward on her own. The other party didn’t speak either, only whispering “We’re here” when they arrived at the destination.

They went to a nearby private bar owned by one of the friends.

The bar was incredibly noisy. People were drunk, swaying their bodies, clearly not very sober.

Qiao Xi didn’t even glance at those people, having no intention of blending in.

The group of friends was having a blast. These were all children of wealthy families, never short of money, and all knew how to play. Art comes from life, but reality often surpasses the drunken stupor portrayed on TV, even more exaggerated. Someone found a target that caught their eye and left before even warming their seat. Everyone understood what they were leaving to do and exchanged knowing smiles.

Compared to these people, Fu Bei was calm and composed. Leaning back in her seat, she seemed out of place in this noisy environment. A friend handed her a glass of wine; she took it but just held it without drinking. Her slender fingers tapped the air rhythmically now and then as she looked at the equally reticent Qiao Xi.

“Drinking? Or juice?” the acquaintance asked Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi wanted to refuse, but considering it might be impolite, she changed her mind and said, “Either is fine.”

The acquaintance poured her a glass of unknown alcohol. It was mixed quite prettily, so she couldn’t help but take a small sip.

Unable to blend in, the whole gathering was extremely boring for her. Qiao Xi nursed her drink. Halfway through, someone came over to toast and ask for her contact info, but she brushed them off directly.

Fu Bei remained leaning against her seat. Her glass had been emptied an unknown number of times and refilled shortly after. Probably a bit drunk, she tilted her head back wearily. Her neck line was distinct and sexy. Her collar was slightly open, revealing half of her collarbone. So much time had passed that the ambiguous marks on it had long disappeared; now it was clean and fair.

Perhaps because the music was too loud or the lights too dim, Qiao Xi could even see the gentle rise and fall of her chest. The other party took a sip of wine, her throat moving slowly.

Seeming to sense the gaze from this side, Fu Bei suddenly looked over.

Qiao Xi turned her face away, avoiding eye contact.

When the party ended, she left first. The night wind outside howled, blowing wildly.

She hadn’t expected Fu Bei to follow her. Perhaps it was the alcohol at work, but she didn’t realize until she had opened her door. In the darkness, the door was slammed shut with a snap. Qiao Xi was stunned for a moment, then struggled, but she was held even tighter. Fu Bei lost her refined appearance, her hand gripping Qiao Xi’s slender waist forcefully, ruthless and savage.

Qiao Xi felt the person’s moist, slightly scorching lips slowly slide down from behind her sensitive ear. Reaching her smooth neck, Fu Bei sucked gently with greed. Qiao Xi froze instantly, wanting to push her away.

Fu Bei supported her waist and hip with one hand, pressing against her neck and whispering low, “Be obedient—”