Coveted for a Long Time 14

Chapter 14

In the end, the two looked at each other in silence and separated to calm down. However, Fu Bei didn’t leave. She stood leaning against the wall, refusing to go. The soft light shone on her cold, pale face, making the loneliness and desolation on her expression even more distinct. She looked rather defeated.

There was an insurmountable hurdle between them, and Qiao Xi couldn’t let it go either.

The year Fu Bei went abroad to study, Qiao Xi had been obsessively planning for the future. To get closer to the other person, she chose to apply to the University of Science and Technology. She had asked Fu Bei about her plans, and Fu Bei had said she would stay at Jiang University for graduate studies. Who knew she would later leave without saying goodbye?

That was the saddest period for Qiao Xi. She didn’t know where Fu Bei had gone; everyone around her kept it a secret. She sought out Liang Yuzhi, Zhuang Qiyang, and everyone she knew, but their stories were uniform. No matter how she asked, no one told the truth. In the following six months, she tried to contact Fu Bei many times—calling, emailing, trying every method to send a message. She even wrote letters for Liang Yuzhi to pass on, but everything sank like a stone in the ocean.

Her youth had been spent chasing Fu Bei, only to end up with nothing, a fruitless endeavor.

Now she was slowly understanding, almost ready to move on, but Fu Bei had returned to the country, and she still couldn’t truly let go.

Actually, Fu Bei had come back once in between, during the time the old lady passed away. The Fu family was in chaos. It was a biting winter, and the cold wind in Jiang City cut like knives. Qiao Xi was at school taking her last final exam. Hearing the news after the exam, she immediately rushed to the compound, but Fu Bei wouldn’t see her. She sneaked into the Fu house in the middle of the night, but before she could ask a single question, Fu Bei told her to go back.

She refused to leave and was dragged away by Nanny Chen.

Liang Yuzhi stood guard at the main gate of the Fu house, forbidding her from entering again, saying distantly and coldly, “Don’t make things difficult for her.”

She didn’t see Fu Bei again until she went abroad once more.

Everything happens for a reason; there must be a “why.” For the first two years, she often pondered this question. After finding out where Fu Bei was studying, she even went to the US once, but she never got an answer. Now she didn’t want to think about it anymore; it was meaningless. In the end, it was just a choice.

Some people act out of hardship, but others suffer grievances. A relationship is borne by two people.

Qiao Xi continued to ignore Fu Bei, letting her stay in her wet clothes while she went about her own business. The spot where Fu Bei stood was damp, a small puddle forming; she was soaked through. Qiao Xi suddenly realized she was wet too, entirely because she had been hugged by this person just now.

She still had a conscience and brought over a cup of hot water.

Fu Bei raised her hand to take it. Her icy fingers accidentally touched Qiao Xi, who instantly shrank back, nearly dropping the cup.

“It’s getting late,” she said, intending to chase the guest away.

But Fu Bei acted as if she didn’t understand, unhurriedly finishing the water before saying, “Grandpa’s birthday is next Monday.”

Qiao Xi was stunned for a moment, then after a long pause, gave a hum of acknowledgment.

“Will you go?” Fu Bei asked. Probably realizing some topics couldn’t be faced directly for now, she avoided them and switched to other matters.

“We’ll see.” Qiao Xi didn’t show much interest, her expression calm.

She had no intention of keeping the guest. At the mention of the Fu family, she didn’t want to say more and walked coldly toward her room.

Behind her, Fu Bei suddenly called out softly, “Qiao Xi—”

She didn’t answer but stopped for two steps.

Fu Bei said calmly, “Can we talk some other day when you have time?”

Knowing Qiao Xi wasn’t willing to engage for now, she wanted to ease the tension.

Qiao Xi went straight into her room without replying a word.

Fu Bei left in the early hours of the morning. Qiao Xi hadn’t fallen asleep yet when she left. Hearing the noise from outside, she turned over, facing the dark glass window. The rain had started falling again, a bothersome patter. The night was so thick it obscured the high-rise buildings opposite.

**

This year was Grandpa Fu’s seventieth birthday, a very grand occasion. Plans for the celebration had been in the works almost since the beginning of the year. All relatives, friends, and business partners would be invited; anyone of importance with even a slight connection to the Fu family would attend.

This time, Grandpa Fu was considerate and specially sent a separate invitation to her door, delivered personally by Fu’s father.

Originally, Qiao Xi was hesitant about going, but now she absolutely had to.

Attending a birthday banquet meant bringing a gift. She asked Tang Yi to help her choose, deciding to buy tea as a congratulatory gift.

“Making it so grand, they’re really sparing no expense. Any random box here costs half my living expenses for a semester,” Tang Yi remarked, marveling at the expensive tea gift boxes in the display window. Some varieties of tea were almost more expensive than gold.

Qiao Xi didn’t answer directly, pointing randomly at two types of tea. “Aged White Tea or Jin Jun Mei—which one is better?”

Tang Yi leaned over to check the price and clicked her tongue. She knew the Qiao family had money, but Qiao Xi usually lived quite simply, no different from ordinary people. Spending a high price on a small pinch of tea and choosing so carefully didn’t seem like Qiao Xi’s style.

“Someone very important?” Tang Yi nudged her gently with her elbow, winking with a meaningful smile.

Qiao Xi composed her expression and cast a sideways glance at her. “An elder, seventy years old.”

“Just pretend you don’t understand. Just now I asked if it was a relative, and you said no. Not a relative, yet you care so much…” Tang Yi smiled and didn’t continue.

Qiao Xi didn’t explain, raising her eyebrows nonchalantly.

In the large circle of Jiang City’s second-generation rich, she was the very low-key type. She didn’t flaunt wealth or wear designer brands to show off, especially after starting university. Unless necessary, she wouldn’t enter high-end venues, unwilling to have any more dealings with those people. Friends around her knew the Qiao family had money, but they didn’t know exactly how wealthy, treating her like an ordinary person after spending time together.

Tang Yi tactfully stopped digging and thought for a moment. “Special Grade Jin Jun Mei, then. The bright red packaging is more festive.”

The salesguide immediately and thoughtfully packed the item, and Qiao Xi went over to pay.

Just as she paid, the door to the tea shop was pushed open, and a group of people entered. Among them was the annoying Zhou Jiaqi.

Everyone knew each other, and someone called out a greeting. Qiao Xi just nodded faintly, not wanting too much interaction, preparing to grab her things and leave. Unexpectedly, Zhou Jiaqi strolled over slowly, glanced at the packaged tea, and whispered sarcastically, “For Grandpa Fu’s seventieth birthday, you’re just giving a pack of tea?”

The group was still over by the door. Qiao Xi lifted her eyes and glanced at the empty shop entrance. She couldn’t be bothered with Zhou Jiaqi, who loved finding fault and wasn’t comfortable unless she made a few stinging remarks every time.

Tang Yi noticed something was wrong and quickly stood by Qiao Xi’s side.

“What did she say?” Tang Yi whispered.

“Ignore it,” Qiao Xi withdrew her gaze unhappily, picking up the tea. “It’s nothing. Let’s go out first.”

She treated Zhou Jiaqi like air the entire time, not even sparing her a look.

Zhou Jiaqi had been in a good mood today, but now her face was almost frozen cold. Seeing the person about to leave, she forced a polite smile and raised her voice, “Qiao Xi, aren’t you going to catch up with the others? Sister Fu will be here any minute.”

Everyone looked over. Coincidentally, the door was pushed open again, and Fu Bei entered, following behind.