Coveted for a Long Time 23p3

Chapter 23 p3

Referring to the mixer.

Mentioning the mixer reminded Qiao Xi of Qiu Yinong. She thought she didn’t care much about these flirtatious affairs, but she felt a bit blocked and annoyed, so she said grumpily, “What did you want with me?”

Fu Bei knew she had a temper and tried not to provoke her, saying gently, “Tang Yi asked for your help?”

That day Tang Yi was running around busily. Qiao Xi was usually lazy; going there definitely meant helping out.

Qiao Xi calmed her emotions, not wanting to show anger—it wasn’t necessary. She leaned against the seat back, not even looking at the driver’s seat. “My alma mater had something going on; I went back to do my part. Is that not allowed?”

Prickly all over, unwilling if she didn’t sting the other party every time.

“Stayed at Tang Yi’s place that night?”

The question choked Qiao Xi. It was ambiguous, laden with too many hidden meanings. She glanced at the person sideways, holding back her silence.

Fu Bei knew she hadn’t gone back. As for how she knew, she had most likely come to Qijing Street.

Qiao Xi wasn’t moved at all. Instead, she felt Fu Bei wasn’t thinking clearly. How many times had she run over here? Couldn’t figure out what exactly she wanted to do.

The car drove into Qijing Street. Compared to the desolation just now, it was still bustling here. The road was congested, with traffic lights every short distance. Pedestrians came and went constantly. Entering the downtown area, the car slowed down immediately, slower than walking.

Drinking made one sleepy. Qiao Xi closed her eyes to nap, too lazy to say anything.

Passing a juice stall, Fu Bei suddenly changed direction, parking in an empty spot. Qiao Xi thought something was wrong, opening her eyes to see the person get out silently, returning with a cup of grape juice.

Grape juice could help sober up and relieve the effects of alcohol.

“Drink a couple of sips; you’ll feel better.” Fu Bei handed the grape juice over. “Drink less alcohol. Don’t drink just because others offer it when you’re out.”

Qiao Xi wasn’t good at refusing. She had always drunk whatever others gave her, not picky, not understanding the ways of the drinking table.

The lecturing tone was uncomfortable, but she accepted the juice, moving her lips to say, “They’re not outsiders.”

Starting the car to drive out, Fu Bei said, “Have some guard up.”

“I’m not a child; don’t need you to manage me.” It was like this before too. Hearing it was inevitably annoying. Qiao Xi was tired of these words; the other party’s attitude seemed to always treat her as an innocent little girl.

In those years she chased after her, it was always like this—lecturing tone, pretending not to understand, telling her to study hard and not do this or that. Fu Bei accompanied her growth, giving a glimpse of light but refusing to give a shred of hope, shattering it personally at the slightest sign. But whenever Qiao Xi planned to give up, this person would show all kinds of goodness again.

Youthful love is like wind, gathering and scattering, coming and going uncertainly.

Perhaps remembering the past, Qiao Xi’s tone wasn’t calm, carrying a trace of anger, venting past dissatisfaction.

Everyone understands the principles, but that’s not how it works.

Fu Bei seemed unable to detect the abnormal emotion, looking at the road calmly, her voice cool: “I’m not managing you.”

Qiao Xi paused, pursing her lips. Probably unwilling to quarrel, retaining that last bit of grace and reason, after a long time, she returned to her usual nonchalant manner. Her gaze drifted out the window, watching the noisy street, and replied softly, “Then don’t say so much.”

Saying these things—from what standpoint?

In her teens, Qiao Xi most craved her management. Qiao Jianliang and Mother Qiao were irresponsible, barely reacting even if the child went to the sky, doing business twenty-four hours a day. Over time, Qiao Xi stopped expecting parental discipline and care, transferring that ignorant, vague expectation to Fu Bei.

Back then, Fu Bei meant a lot to her, more than family. Her feelings for this person were complex and special, indescribable with shallow words. When love first awakened in the girl, she was tangled and bewildered, hiding it for fear of revealing clues.

Actually, thinking about it, Fu Bei was so sharp; how could she not see through her thoughts?

Little girls love weaving lies to deceive themselves. Deceiving and deceiving, they take it for truth. But digging deeper, it’s all cruelty and self-deception. Those involved are confused, trapped inside without clarity. Only when it hurts badly do they learn a lesson.

As the car moved forward unevenly, the grape juice sloshed in the sealed cup. She put the juice aside nonchalantly, not wanting a single sip.

Finally driving out of the crowd, the road became clear but no longer bright. The streetlights were dim. Fu Bei turned the steering wheel half a turn, veering into a side road, and said while driving, “Qiao Xi, be more sensible.”

Her voice was calmer, without a single ripple.

Still the same, unchanging.

If it were before, Qiao Xi would definitely explode, surely make a scene, then compromise, pestering for reconciliation. But not now. Surprisingly, not a single ripple rose in her heart, as if it were all expected, already accustomed.

The closer to the residential complex, the quieter the surroundings. The noise gradually faded away. Ahead it seemed lifeless, open everywhere, greenery all around, lights bright enough, yet heavily oppressive and terrifying.

Qiao Xi’s eyes were listless, staring blankly at the street trees flashing by, saying word by word, “I’m already twenty-two. Living alone, capable of taking care of myself. How am I not sensible?”

Her tone was low and distant, like duckweed finding no place to land—lonely, with nothing to rely on.

The car was quiet enough to hear heavier breathing. Neither spoke again.

Fu Bei tightened her grip on the steering wheel, unable to find words to answer. The last stretch of road arrived quickly, taking only a minute or two. Qiao Xi got out first, dropping a sentence: “Don’t follow.”

She walked neither slow nor fast, her back resolute, not stopping for a single step.

Fu Bei really didn’t follow, nor did she stay downstairs for long. A phone call came, and she left quickly.

After returning home, Qiao Xi curled up on the sofa for ten minutes. Walking to the window to close the curtains, the spot downstairs was already empty, nothing there.

**

The night passed smoothly and uneventfully. Waking up, it was already dawn.

Whatever happened yesterday, today is still today.

The temperature in Jiang City fluctuated. It was sweating hot a few days ago, but today was cool and comfortable, yet no rain fell from the sky. Qiao Xi went out relatively late. When she got downstairs, the car had already been sent back.

A customer had an appointment for a tattoo in the afternoon. She ate a bowl of noodles on the street before setting off, arriving at the shop around eleven. She didn’t eat lunch, just coping with an apple, since she wasn’t hungry after eating breakfast so late.

No job in the world is perfect. Doing the same thing for a long time, even a hobby becomes boring and tiring. Working until nine or ten at night, Qiao Xi was so tired she couldn’t lift her head. Instructing a series of precautions and sending the customer off, she lay in the break room for more than half an hour, tired and hungry.

Qijing Street was the same every day. Most people who came here were happy, shopping and eating, wandering around in groups.

She bought fried noodles nearby and sat on the steps with others, eating unpretentiously while playing on her phone.

The Qiao family had money. Qiao Xi could be like other rich kids—Maldives today, Bali tomorrow, living in a huge luxury villa, a walk-in closet bigger than an apartment, buying designer bags like cabbage, wearing custom-made clothes… But no. She was originally from the North District, moved into the compound, but now belonged nowhere. Like a dandelion carried away by the wind, supposed to land on fragrant soil waiting for spring, but accidentally falling into the boundless sea, with no place to return.

There were many people around—some happy, some worried, some purely filling their stomachs to save money. Life in all its forms.

Qijing Street was considered one of Jiang City’s characteristic attractions. Vendors walked the whole street selling things. After eating the noodles and going to pick up her car, vendors approached all the way asking “Buying anything?” or “Want to take a look?”

Most people here weren’t like her; many ordinary folks didn’t even have the luxury to be sentimental.

Qiao Xi was lucky enough; at least she could indulge herself.

Tang Yi sent a message saying her parents were coming to Jiang City in two days for a tour and wanted to treat Qiao Xi to dinner.

Qiao Xi connected her Bluetooth headset and called back, asking, “When exactly?”

There was rustling on the other end. Tang Yi seemed busy but answered the phone, holding it between her shoulder and ear. “Tuesday, probably. Are you free?”

“Free.”

“They’re just coming to look around, having a casual meal. We’ll pick you up at Qijing Street then. We’ll have a big seafood meal nearby in the evening.”

Tang Yi was from the western region and loved seafood since coming to Jiang City. Seafood here wasn’t too expensive. Qiao Xi smiled and agreed, “Sure, let’s go to Haitian Banquet.”

“That’s exactly what I thought,” Tang Yi said happily, her tone light. She was still doing experiments at school, having applied for a project. She had to submit the report as soon as school started in September, or she’d get scolded.

“Still at school?” Hearing others talking nearby, Qiao Xi guessed she hadn’t gone back yet.

“Almost done, leaving soon.”

“It’s late at night; be careful on the road.”

Tang Yi hummed, paused, then said, “I’m going to your place tomorrow, to have a look.”

Qiao Xi watched the road while driving, asking casually, “Not caring about the experiment?”

“It’s about done; nothing much left,” Tang Yi said, her tone gentle.

Qiao Xi didn’t speak, and there was no movement on the other side. After a long time, she gave a hum of acknowledgment.

**

The next day, Tang Yi came very early, carrying bags of snacks, arriving a few minutes earlier than the shop owner herself.

Looking at the pile of snacks, Qiao Xi took out her key to open the door and asked, “Got a bonus again? Buying so much.”

Tang Yi just laughed, equivocating without telling the truth, only saying, “Didn’t you say the bubble tea at school was good and full of toppings last time? I bought two cups. Drink it quickly, or it won’t be cold anymore.”

Tang Yi was an impeccable friend—meticulous, considerate, and respectful of boundaries. Probably hearing her despondency from last night’s call, she came specially to check on her today.

Bubble tea with regular sugar, strawberry flavor with pudding—cloyingly sweet.

Qiao Xi drank more than half in a few gulps. The two chatted in the air conditioning. In the afternoon, Tang Yi helped clean the shop while Qiao Xi designed tattoo patterns. Around six o’clock, Tang Yi went out to buy food.

At sunset, half the sky was golden and brilliant, the other half clear and blue. The glass of high-rise buildings reflected the afterglow. The street was lively but appeared quiet under the sky’s shroud.

The place to buy food was about ten minutes away from the tattoo parlor, a Cantonese restaurant. Tang Yi was quick, heading back immediately after buying. Unexpectedly, she met someone she knew on the way.

Not knowing whether to bring the person back but unable to stop them, she braced herself and greeted them.

Qiao Xi knew nothing until Tang Yi stepped into the shop and deliberately raised her voice: “Professor, we’re here.”

That person stood beside Tang Yi, helping to carry things—both food and drinks.

Qiao Xi was stunned, raising her eyes to look, momentarily unsure how to react.

Fu Bei dressed casually today—cyan capri pants paired with a pure black short-sleeved shirt. She looked more pleasing to the eye than her usual ascetic and capable formal wear. Her face was a bit pale, and she appeared somewhat dispirited, no longer meticulous.

Tang Yi smoothed things over in the middle, calling out, “Qiao Qiao, stop drawing. Come eat first.”

Qiao Xi didn’t respond but came over to help set out the food. Tang Yi was observant, tactfully giving the two space alone by making an excuse to get cold cola from the fridge in the break room.

“What are you doing here?” Qiao Xi asked directly, her tone ambiguous between angry and not.

“Passed by, so I came,” Fu Bei said without skipping a beat.

Not wanting to know if it was true or false, Qiao Xi lowered her head in silence.

Not expecting an extra person, Tang Yi had only bought two portions of food. It had to be divided into three for three people to eat. But Qiao Xi didn’t divide it. She opened the lunch boxes one by one. When opening the last one, her wrist was tightly grabbed.

Without thinking, she moved to break free. The other party held on too tight, refusing to let go.

Stunned for a moment, she eventually broke free.