Coveted for a Long Time 38

Chapter 38

When she walked out of the rest room, more than ten minutes had already passed. Qiao Xi, still angry, kept a stony face, tidying herself up before daring to go out. Her lips looked overly red, clearly having gone through some lingering and heated intimacy. Fortunately, the dim lighting in the bar prevented others from noticing.

Since she had been gone for a while, everyone thought something might have happened and was thinking about going to look for her.

Qiao Xi suppressed all her emotions, holding back her anger, and returned to her original seat as if nothing had happened.

Qin Si turned her head to look, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping across Qiao Xi’s face. Perhaps guessing a hint of what happened, her expression turned cold for a split second, but quickly returned to normal. Pretending not to know, she asked calmly and softly, “Why were you gone so long? Did someone trouble you?”

“No.” Qiao Xi pursed her lips and shook her head. “There were a lot of people inside; got delayed a bit.”

Lowering her eyelids, Qin Si gave an indifferent “Mmh” and didn’t ask another word.

On the other side, Fu Bei finally came out from the back when her drink was almost finished. Compared to the silence before she went in, her face had a bit more life. Only when she approached did Zhuang Qiyang see clearly that the corner of her mouth was broken.

He exchanged a glance with Chen Shuo, then looked towards the booth. Compared to her smiling demeanor before, Qiao Xi was now on the verge of exploding. He immediately realized what had happened.

Zhuang Qiyang clicked his tongue. “Did you offend someone again?”

Fu Bei didn’t speak, glancing towards the booth.

**

After leaving the bar that night, Qiao Xi left with Tang Yi and stayed at Tang Yi’s apartment for a few days.

It was a bit like hiding from people; she didn’t even keep her phone with her and opened the tattoo shop sporadically, just seeking peace and quiet. She was a mess right now, holding in a breath of anger with nowhere to vent. Every time she thought about what happened in the bar’s rest room, she felt uncomfortable. In the past, she was always the one in control in such matters; suddenly being overpowered and almost restrained made her furious.

Perhaps because she thought about it during the day, she had a particularly strange dream at night. She dreamed that in that small, enclosed rest room, the light was bright and piercing. Everything was revealed under the light, yet she couldn’t see clearly in front of her, being confined. It was terribly hot inside; her back was drenched in sweat. Beads of sweat rolled down her distinct, sexy spine, leaving a wet trail, falling onto the hibiscus tattoo on her lower back, right into the heart of the flower, making the hibiscus look even more red and dripping.

She wanted to break free from the shackles, but perhaps she was too deep in the nightmare and couldn’t move.

A long, slender, white hand stroked the hibiscus flower, gently scraping it with fingertips, again and again, grinding with great patience. When the sweat beads rolled down, the hand paused, sweeping over the lush, blooming flower.

Tiny beads of sweat hung precariously on the bright flower like morning dew, wetting the cool fingertips amidst the petals.

Qiao Xi was furious. Exerting all her strength, she finally moved, only to have her waist suddenly pressed down.

The flower branch swayed, shaking off the dew.

The bright white light was blinding, revealing every subtle secret. The surging waves rolled and churned, engulfing her. She felt a sense of weightless powerlessness, cursing in a low voice. Clearly cursing words, but once spoken, they sounded like coquettish complaints.

Like dealing with someone that night, Qiao Xi raised her hand to strike. This time, her wrist was caught steadily. The other party lifted her hand and placed it tenderly against their lips.

Her hand suddenly felt wet and hot.

An unexpected change—

No matter what she did, the person behind her could easily neutralize it.

Perhaps the night was too dry, coupled with excessive anxiety and anger in her heart, when Qiao Xi woke up, fine sweat had broken out on her neck and back. She sat up abruptly, catching her breath, feeling chilly.

The sky was still dark, only past four o’clock. She had actually been startled awake by a dream at this hour.

Qiao Xi blamed Fu Bei for the dream. She had already cursed this person countless times in her heart, but no amount of cursing relieved her anger. Returning to the shop on Qijing Street, she found many flowers placed at the door, probably left there by the flower shop unable to find anyone.

She carried all the flowers and threw them away, keeping none.

The secret in the rest room caused Qiao Xi great distress, hard to just turn the page on. She used to be overly confident in herself, thinking everything was under control, only to realize otherwise.

Tang Yi didn’t know the truth. Seeing Qiao Xi seemingly unhappy lately and staying at her place all the time, she asked, “Did something happen, at home or the shop?”

Qiao Xi was stunned, denying, “No.”

“You can tell me anything; maybe I can help,” Tang Yi comforted, caring about her.

Not knowing how to talk about such things, Qiao Xi definitely wouldn’t tell the truth.

Leaving Tang Yi’s place and returning to her own residential complex, before she could drive into the gate, the security guard leaned out and said, “Finally seeing you today. Someone has been looking for you these past two days; couldn’t find you every time.”

No need to guess; Qiao Xi knew who it was. That person had already been thoroughly blacklisted by her.

Controlling her emotions, she made up an excuse to equivocate.

The security guard asked, “Is it your friend? Didn’t look like an emergency, just coming to see you.”

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Qiao Xi replied, “No.”

The security guard was confused for a moment, not understanding what this sentence meant. Not an emergency, or what?

She continued, “She’s not my friend.”

The security guard paused, thinking he had seen Fu Bei come here long ago, clearly an old acquaintance of Qiao Xi; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let her in easily. But hearing Qiao Xi’s tone, it seemed they had a falling out. He laughed awkwardly, feeling he might have done a disservice with good intentions, and explained, “She said she was your friend.”

Qiao Xi certainly wouldn’t blame the security guard, making up a story: “Just had some business dealings. Something happened recently; don’t let her in anymore.”

The security guard was dutiful and believed these words, really blocking her from entering afterward.

Some trees in the complex began to shed leaves; the ground was covered with withered yellow leaves—a bleak autumn.

Fu Bei came twice, but Qiao Xi avoided seeing her.

Only when willing to see can one be seen; if unwilling, chasing to the doorstep is useless.

**

During this tangled time, news about the Zhao family suddenly arrived. Something happened to the Zhao family in Beijing, and Zhao Shihuan returned to Beijing.

The news Qiao Xi heard had actually gone through several rounds of dissemination and wasn’t accurate. She thought Zhao Shihuan left recently, but actually, she had left right after Qiao Xi’s birthday. The so-called “something” wasn’t a disaster but that Zhao Shihuan’s great-grandmother didn’t have much time left, and the younger generations of the Zhao family had to go back. When the great-grandmother passed away, all the Zhao family members were by her bedside. The old lady had just passed a hundred years old and left without pain or illness, which could be considered a blessing.

The old lady’s last wish was a low-key burial without any fuss. The funeral couldn’t be grand; it was enough for all the Zhao family descendants to be present. The Zhao family followed the old lady’s wishes in everything, so it was normal for Qiao Xi not to know these details.

Only when the ashes were sent back to Jiang City did the others receive notification to go.

The Fu family, the Zhou family… all those who had been on good terms with the Zhao family years ago went to send the old lady off on her final journey. The Qiao family was also invited, so Qiao Xi definitely had to go.

Overcast, cloudy.

Qiao Xi specially wore a black suit, treating it quite sincerely.

Not many people could attend the burial ceremony, just a few families. Qiao Xi stood properly beside Qiao Jianliang, following everyone.

Whether she came or not wouldn’t make a big difference, but the significance was very different. With Zhou Meihe and Zhou Lin added, the “whole family” came, showing sincerity and respect to the Zhao family. For this reason, Elder Zhao specially pulled Qiao Jianliang aside for a “heart-to-heart,” politely praising Qiao Xi with a few words.

Actually, it was all going through the motions, superficial work. However, Zhou Meihe on the side was unhappy. Zhou Lin was right there; praising only Qiao Xi was a bit biased.

Zhou Jiaqi came too, her eyes revealing her dislike for Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi treated her like she had water in her brain, ignoring her completely.

Probably really having water in her brain, Zhou Jiaqi actually picked a fight on such an occasion, walking up to Qiao Xi and whispering sarcastically, “Rare to see the busy person free to come today.”

Her tone was eccentric, her face relatively restrained, expression not vicious.

Qiao Xi glanced at her, ignoring her.

Special occasion; not arguing with this kind of person.

“Coming without even knowing Great-Grandmother; such hypocrisy,” Zhou Jiaqi added, glancing at her contemptuously.

Qiao Xi knew the great-grandmother, just rarely saw her. The great-grandmother probably didn’t remember who she was due to old age, but she remembered Zhou Jiaqi, hence Zhou Jiaqi’s fearless mockery.

But coming today was just for the sake of friendship with Zhao Shihuan. Qiao Xi was magnanimous, treating Zhou Jiaqi as air, offering incense and bowing respectfully.

Zhou Jiaqi scoffed disdainfully.

Fu Bei happened to witness this scene, appearing behind them. Zhou Jiaqi realized belatedly that someone else was there and shut up awkwardly, afraid her words were heard. She secretly observed Fu Bei’s expression. Seeing no change, she assumed she wasn’t heard and relaxed instantly.

She retracted her thorns, calling out softly to Fu Bei, “Sister Bei.”

Fu Bei didn’t even spare her a glance, walking straight past. Although expressionless, the air pressure around her was very low.

Zhou Jiaqi had no brains, but others did. Others knew what to say on what occasion. Seeing Fu Bei like that, Zhou Jiaqi’s heart tightened, clenching her fists and standing rooted to the spot. After the other party finished offering incense, she cast a light, sidelong glance at her.

Until the burial ceremony ended, she met Fu Bei again.

That was outside the cemetery. Most people had left. Fu Bei wore a long black trench coat, her figure tall. Seeing her, her long narrow eyes closed slightly, not even looking at her directly.

“What hypocrisy?” Fu Bei asked in a deep voice.

Too indifferent and ruthless.

This reminded Zhou Jiaqi of childhood. Dissatisfied that Qiao Xi was more favored, she made up stories in front of the old lady, saying how Qiao Xi was in class. The old lady just listened, never expressing any attitude, treating these as children’s play, and Fu Bei also remained silent.

At that time, she always thought this meant agreement, feeling her words would definitely work and strip away the favor for Qiao Xi. Until one time, she got carried away and said to the old lady, “Qiao Xi doesn’t fit in at all, a bit abnormal. Not only do you dislike her, but even the classmates don’t like her.”

The expression on the old lady’s face suddenly froze, changing from her usual kindness.

When sending her away from the Fu house, Fu Bei was just like now—eyes without a trace of warmth, gloomy as a winter sky, asking in a voice without any fluctuation: “What do you mean by abnormal?”

She didn’t understand when she was young, only feeling wronged and unable to figure it out. Growing up, she learned what partiality meant.

Zhou Jiaqi tightened her hands.

**

Qiao Xi wasn’t aware of those things, thinking Zhou Jiaqi’s problem was getting worse and she should stay far away.

Leaving the cemetery, the group went to the Zhao family to handle the aftermath. Everyone left one by one late at night.

Throughout the process, Qiao Xi didn’t encounter Zhou Jiaqi again, not even seeing her shadow. Instead, she saw Zhou Meihe taking Zhou Lin everywhere to recognize people, working hard to maintain relationships even at such a time—truly trying hard.

Zhao Shihuan was circulating in the crowd, having no time to attend to her.

When it was about time, Qiao Xi greeted Elder Zhao and left.

Then she bumped into the person she least wanted to see at the parking lot—Fu Bei. Because of the bar incident, Qiao Xi was completely unwilling to deal with this person. She opened the car door and was about to bend down. Unexpectedly, she was blocked. Fu Bei held the car door and asked, “Where are you going?”

Where could she go in the middle of the night?

Qiao Xi didn’t even want to speak, pushing the car door but losing in strength.

“Staying at Tang Yi’s place these past few days?” Fu Bei asked again, very patiently.

Qiao Xi was unhappy. “None of your business.”

She still remembered how this person forced her. Being able to speak properly now was already polite. Every time she recalled the scene, a nameless fire burned in her heart. Now blocked from leaving, the fire burned even stronger.

Fu Bei remained calm, even facing her like this.

“Uncle Qiao was looking for you just now; seemed like something came up.”

Qiao Xi paused. She didn’t know this. Struggling for a moment, she replied stiffly, “No need for you to tell me; I’ll find him myself.”

Refusing to accept anything, good or bad.

“Uncle Qiao is just outside,” Fu Bei said.

Too lazy to respond, Qiao Xi bent down to get into the car. But just then, her waist was hooked by the other party, suddenly pulled back.

Thinking she was going to pull that stunt again, her reaction was huge. Subconsciously blocking, she almost elbowed Fu Bei’s waist hard. Fortunately, she stopped in time and didn’t hit hard. Fu Bei overstepped, hugging her and hiding in the shadows on the side, pulling her whole body aside.

Before Qiao Xi could recover, her mouth was covered.

Just as she wanted to push this person away, she suddenly noticed someone coming from the other side. As if possessed, she stopped moving for an instant and looked over.

It was Liang Jincheng and someone whose face couldn’t be seen clearly.