Coveted for a Long Time 11

Chapter 11

The smell of alcohol was strong, ambitious enough to intoxicate anyone. Fu Bei must have drunk quite a bit; she wasn’t very sober right now, pressing against Qiao Xi relentlessly.

Qiao Xi’s loungewear was thin and tight-fitting, with a long, diamond-shaped cutout at the side of her waist. It was a design meant to accentuate her figure, but now it only made things convenient for this person. Fu Bei’s knuckles were still cool as her hand slipped in through the cutout, stroking Qiao Xi’s lean waist. The skin was smooth and delicate, like expensive silk.

There were streetlights downstairs, but their light couldn’t reach the twelfth floor. The sky was filled with stars, but there was no round, white moon. Weak, dim light leaked in from the window but stopped not far in, leaving this area dark and gloomy.

The area behind her ear was damp, tainted by the warm breath. Qiao Xi almost subconsciously tightened her lower abdomen, her breathing skipping a beat. Perhaps because she was used to taking the initiative every time, being ambushed like this made her exceptionally uncomfortable. She couldn’t break free, and in a daze, she was lifted onto the sofa.

Fu Bei was strong, easily pinning her down.

Her flip-flops had been kicked off in the struggle. Qiao Xi’s bare feet felt empty. She kicked out half-heartedly, only to have her ankle suddenly grabbed.

This Fu Bei was too unfamiliar. Her heart tightened, but she kept a calm face, asking softly, “Not staying with them?”

“Left early,” Fu Bei said, but showed no intention of letting go, even pressing down on her.

Qiao Xi was uncomfortable. Sensing what the other party wanted to do, she immediately turned her head, causing the slightly moist lips to land on the side of her face. Her heart was suspended; she just wanted to get away. But Fu Bei wouldn’t let her. Long, slender fingers hooked her chin, forcing her to face her.

“Let go of me. It’s uncomfortable being pressed down,” she said, unwilling to let this continue.

Fu Bei seemed not to understand, leaning down against her lips, intimately close. In the dim light, neither could see clearly, yet Qiao Xi felt completely seen through—warm, hot breath overwhelming her lips and teeth. The person slowly moved closer to her ear, kissing the outer ear neither lightly nor heavily. Qiao Xi trembled slightly, feeling a bit repulsed.

She thought this person would do something more and was already prepared to use force, holding back, ready to push the person off her at any moment. But Fu Bei didn’t continue. Instead, she pulled Qiao Xi onto her lap, one hand firmly controlling her back.

“That girl in the blue dress, is she your friend?”

She was asking about Tang Yi.

Fu Bei had been abroad for too long and basically didn’t know the people around Qiao Xi. Seeing her shopping intimately with Tang Yi that day, it didn’t look like a superfluous relationship.

Qiao Xi didn’t understand what she meant, so she didn’t answer.

In the bar, when someone asked for her phone number, she had made one up randomly. At that time, Fu Bei’s eyes hadn’t looked right—dark and heavy, hiding emotions Qiao Xi couldn’t read. Now, surrounded by darkness, this person was unabashedly revealing the desires hidden deep within, entangling her.

She didn’t speak, and Fu Bei wasn’t in a hurry.

Qiao Xi’s back was very straight, the curve of her spine distinct, palpable even through the thin fabric. Her body was overly stiff, guarded against Fu Bei.

The two were in a stalemate, neither taking the first step. The living room was silent enough to hear a pin drop. The silence was like an airtight, invisible wall trapping them inside. The air was gradually being drawn away, the outside world seemingly isolated. They could both hear each other’s soft, even breathing.

Qiao Xi struck first. The moment Fu Bei moved, she straddled the person, looking down from above. Her breath was a bit unsteady, her tone heavy: “Don’t even think about it!”

The person beneath her didn’t move for a while, probably considering her words. Her dark eyes looked like a coming storm, filled with endless tenderness, but ultimately she did nothing. After a long time, she asked back in a low voice, “Think about what?”

Her tone was warm and full of deep meaning.

Understanding the underlying implication, Qiao Xi only felt annoyed. She ignored Fu Bei for the rest of the night. Regardless of what madness this person wanted to unleash, she went straight back to her room and locked the door.

The moment she closed the door, she looked back. Fu Bei was sitting on the sofa just like that, her figure slightly hunched, perhaps drunk or perhaps a bit tired. When the door was completely shut, Fu Bei turned her head and glanced over, her eyes exceptionally meaningful.

**

That attitude made Qiao Xi feel unhappy. Perhaps her rebellious streak kicked in, but for the next few days, she didn’t set foot in the compound or the university town, focusing solely on the shop.

Doing business meant that once you start, things follow; endure the beginning, and it gradually gets better. Being a tattoo artist wasn’t an easy job. A design could take anywhere from one or two hours to several days. Working with her head down for long periods made her neck sore and her waist stiff.

On Monday, Qiao Jianliang came over once, bringing a pile of food. Fortunately, he didn’t bring Zhou Meihe or her stepbrother Zhou Lin; otherwise, Qiao Xi definitely wouldn’t have let him in the door.

“You didn’t come home last week, so I’m bringing this over. It’s all cooked food; just heat it up when you take it back,” Qiao Jianliang expressed great concern, having prepared everything thoroughly.

Qiao Xi was lukewarm, but seeing as he wasn’t trying to annoy her, she kept him for a lunch.

Qiao Jianliang was very happy, cheerful even though they were just eating takeout of two dishes and a soup. Sending him off at noon, watching the car drive away, Qiao Xi inexplicably felt he was pitiable for a moment. He had lived most of his life without achieving anything significant and was still muddled. But if he had been clear-headed, he wouldn’t have married Zhou Meihe in the first place.

She didn’t sympathize with Qiao Jianliang; the consequences were of his own making. In the end, wanting to turn back wasn’t so easy.

Everything is like this.

Qiao Xi didn’t pay much attention to the situation at the compound, but Tang Yi was a chatterbox and a gossip, often mentioning Fu Bei. Jiang University seemed to value this person very much; she was indispensable at various large conferences and events. It seemed the higher-ups intended to promote and care for her. After all, she was a talent cultivated with emphasis and hired back with a high salary. Her path was naturally different from ordinary people. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t pulling strings; she was simply walking on a bright and promising broad avenue.

“People like us probably won’t catch up even if we struggle for another thirty years. The difference between people is really huge; can’t help but envy,” Tang Yi sighed with emotion. Ordinary people are worldly and often envy capable people in their lives.

Whenever this happened, Qiao Xi didn’t say much, silently stirring the thick, bitter coffee in her cup.

It was as if that night had never happened. Fu Bei didn’t know how long she had waited in the living room, but when she woke up after five o’clock, the person was already gone, presumably having left in the middle of the night. Qiao Xi had always been heartless; she left just like that, without even asking a question. There were cigarette butts and ash in the living room trash can. She cleaned it up with disgust, disliking her home being dirtied.

Tang Yi was still rambling. Unable to listen anymore, she interrupted, “You have to look at not just a person’s ability, but also their character.”

Unexpectedly, Tang Yi said, “I’ve met her twice. Feels like her character is quite good.”

Leaving Qiao Xi speechless.

In the public eye, Fu Bei was always impeccable, perfect everywhere without a single flaw. No one knew her vileness. Qiao Xi knew. On the sofa, this person had gently stroked the line of her spine, as if petting something. Her movements were slow, her force not light, and finally, she had said with hidden meaning, “Grown up…”

She had always responded to softness but not hardness and no longer liked this style, so she stayed far away from Fu Bei.

It was daytime when she drank coffee; bars didn’t open during the day.

In that bar from last time, a tall figure sat at the counter. The owner, Zhuang Qiyang, was debugging a new product. Having nothing to do, he mixed a drink and pushed it to the person in front of him, asking, “Rare for you to come. Must be a lot going on at school, right?”

“It’s alright,” Fu Bei said nonchalantly, elbows propped on the counter, long legs crossed and tapping the floor.

Zhuang Qiyang took out a cigarette and handed it to her, lighting one for himself as well. Puffing smoke, he smoked half of it and said casually, “Try this drink and see how it is. Give some feedback.”

Fu Bei took the cigarette but didn’t smoke it; she did taste the drink.

She actually didn’t smoke much and had no bad habits. In this circle, one should avoid what shouldn’t be touched. Tobacco, alcohol, and other shady things—only by being strict with oneself could one avoid being caught by the handle. She only came today out of boredom to see Zhuang Qiyang.

Having been abroad for too long, almost all her close friends had become estranged. Now, there were barely two people she could really talk to.

After chatting sporadically with Zhuang Qiyang for a while, Zhuang Qiyang suddenly said, “This year is really a coincidence. You just came back, and Sister Huan is following right behind. She probably hasn’t told everyone yet; I heard it from my family. The Zhao family entrusted someone to bid for that piece of land in the western suburbs. Looks like they plan to come back for development.”

Fu Bei really didn’t know.

“When was this?” she asked calmly.

“Last Thursday.”

The Zhao family had moved away from Jiang City to the capital, Kyoto, six years ago. At that time, Zhao’s father received help from a benefactor, and business was booming. Moving to Kyoto was to strive for a broader business market. Their return wasn’t confirmed; it was all Zhuang Qiyang’s speculation. He was very happy about this, looking forward to Zhao Shihuan returning to Jiang City.

Fu Bei didn’t respond. Halfway through her drink, she lit the cigarette on her own. White smoke curled around her fingers, dyeing her eyes with a misty white.

**

They met again on a cloudy and rainy day.

It was raining but not cold; instead, it was stifling and hot. July in Jiang City was like a steamer, heat waves coming one after another, impossible to cool down. Qiao Xi shuffled out in flip-flops to buy a cold drink. Wearing a tight black crop top and denim shorts, her jade-like legs attracted countless eyes and also invited quite a bit of criticism.

Tattoos, revealing clothes—not a good girl at first glance.

She turned a deaf ear, her face thick enough that she wouldn’t blush even when pointed at, acting as if she couldn’t hear.

The Maybach followed slowly behind. She didn’t even notice, looking down at her phone as she walked.

Until the window rolled down—

“Qiao Xi.”

The person in the car was Fu Bei.

Qiao Xi paused for a moment, then realized who it was and continued walking without looking back, step by step, completely unhurried, treating the person and car behind her as transparent.

The Maybach followed all the way to the entrance of the residential complex and finally stopped.

In the car, Fu Bei didn’t rush to get out. Leaning against the seat, she sat alone for a long time, remembering that the kid had been this way since childhood—straightforward and willful. When she was ruthless, she was truly ruthless, showing no mercy at all.

She had been like this since she was little, never changing.

Back then, just because of Zhou Jiaqi, Qiao Xi had distanced herself from the two of them, even refusing to take the Fu family’s car to school.