Coveted for a Long Time 45

Chapter 45

Different personalities naturally react differently to sudden events. Following her usual way of handling things, Zhao Shihuan didn’t ask about right or wrong. Instead, she tried to mediate and make peace, giving both sides a way out.

From a rational perspective, this was the most correct approach.

The people around maintained a spectator attitude, no one intervening, not caring who felt wronged.

They also never cared about right or wrong. Immersed in a profit-oriented circle for too long, one becomes numb, linking everything to benefits. For instance, now, they wouldn’t help anyone, quietly watching the whole process. Helping either Qiao Xi or Zhou Jiaqi might offend one of the families, while staying silent wouldn’t.

Zhou Jiaqi seemed to have anticipated this resolution, hence her fearlessness. While Zhao Shihuan mediated, she acted very magnanimous, revealing grievance amidst her sensibility, as if Qiao Xi was truly in the wrong.

“Alright, alright, it’s not a big deal. You two girls each take a step back. We’re all out to have fun today; don’t be unhappy,” Zhao Shihuan said, leaning closer to Qiao Xi. She raised her hand to pat Qiao Xi’s head, but the other party dodged. She paused, her hand frozen in mid-air.

There were too many people like Zhou Jiaqi in life, never thinking there was anything wrong with their actions, unable to tolerate any grievance, thinking the world revolved around them. Hearing Zhao Shihuan’s words, she glanced sideways at Qiao Xi, a flash of contempt in her eyes.

Catching that look, Qiao Xi remained expressionless. Floating in the water, feeling the swaying current, she paddled her long legs underneath.

Fu Bei was right behind her, secretly giving her a boost, guiding her to hold onto the pool edge.

Holding the edge with one hand, Qiao Xi was unbelievably calm. Glaring at Zhou Jiaqi, then looking at the others, she said in a deep voice, “You dragged me first. I almost drowned just now.”

Suddenly dragging someone when they were entering the water wasn’t stupid; it was truly malicious. Fortunately, Qiao Xi was a good swimmer. Someone who wasn’t might have sunk to the bottom.

“Is this your good intention?” Qiao Xi said, her eyes devoid of warmth. Her hair was completely wet, plastered against her smooth, fair back. Her gaze was sharp, staring straight at Zhou Jiaqi’s face, looking down on her.

Zhou Jiaqi’s face changed as she defended herself, “What drag? Just pulled a little. Everyone was watching; don’t talk nonsense!”

Qiao Xi didn’t want to waste words, stating concisely, “Apologize to me.”

Usually, she tolerated Zhou Jiaqi’s antics, but not this time.

“Apologize to you?” Zhou Jiaqi looked unwilling. Looking around, she said toughly, “Why should I?”

Then Qiao Xi used action to tell her why, dragging the person directly into the water to let Zhou Jiaqi experience it too.

But she didn’t really act ruthlessly, not dragging the person completely underwater.

However, the people around were frightened. Who would have thought she would do this? Even Zhao Shihuan in front of her was dumbfounded, immediately rushing over to grab the person and pull Zhou Jiaqi out. Zhou Jiaqi was terrified. Pale after emerging from the water, she shivered all over, crying and fussing, clinging to Zhao Shihuan’s arms with teary eyes.

Qiao Xi was pushed again, but this time she didn’t hit the pool edge. Instead, she was hooked by the person behind her with one hand, held in an embrace and prevented from moving.

“Let go,” she said stubbornly.

Fu Bei didn’t let go but embraced her.

“Be obedient—”

Fu Bei hugged her, pressing softly against her in the water, patting her shoulder soothingly.

In all these years, this was the first time she had protected her so blatantly. This person hadn’t intervened from start to finish, but had chosen a side from the very beginning.

The little girl was paranoid and wouldn’t bow her head, watching Zhou Jiaqi crying and fussing coldly.

As for the others, they wouldn’t help Qiao Xi before, and they wouldn’t help Zhou Jiaqi now. Nothing would change; they just watched a show.

After the commotion, Fu Bei took her out of the pool.

Qiao Xi didn’t explain a word, showing no grievance on her face. Only after Fu Bei took her into the changing room, in the small, enclosed space, did she suddenly hug Fu Bei’s waist.

She was wet, still dripping water. As soon as she entered the changing room, her face was tinged with a bit of dejection and loss. But no longer as stubborn as a child, she pressed her face into the crook of Fu Bei’s neck, burrowing into her embrace and refusing to let go.

Fu Bei paused. After hesitating for a long time, she placed her hand on the small of Qiao Xi’s slender back, her other hand resting soothingly on her back.

After a long time—

Qiao Xi moved, saying in a muffled voice, “I don’t like them…”

Fu Bei’s thin lips moved, not knowing what to say. After a good while, she comforted, “I know.”

The person in her arms paused, hugging her even tighter.

“Zhou Jiaqi dragged me on purpose.”

“Mmh.”

A teenage girl was ultimately not steady enough; meeting violence with violence was definitely wrong. But Fu Bei said nothing. Sometimes who was right or wrong didn’t matter. Raising her hand to stroke the back of Qiao Xi’s head, she added, “Ignore her. It’s okay now.”

From that day on, Qiao Xi gradually grew distant from Zhao Shihuan. Not to the point of breaking off relations, but the relationship wasn’t the same as before; there was always a distance between them. Qiao Xi still got along with Zhao Shihuan as usual, just not as close, nor would she do anything special for Zhao Shihuan, treating her like any other ordinary friend.

This is fairness; while choosing, one is also chosen.

Zhao Shihuan couldn’t figure it out. When alone with Fu Bei, she asked, “Say, did I offend Qiao Qiao?”

Fu Bei didn’t point it out, only saying, “That’s your business.”

“Couldn’t be because of the swimming pool incident, right?” Zhao Shihuan was annoyed. “I pushed her a bit, and she holds a grudge?”

“Don’t know.”

Fu Bei lowered her eyes, looking out at the house next door. The Qiao family’s main gate was tightly closed; no one was home today.

Zhao Shihuan chattered endlessly, probably truly regretting it. Being a peacemaker is hard; you can take care of one but not the other. But ultimately, she didn’t understand what she did wrong, only considering it Qiao Xi’s childish nature.

Until the beginning of the New Year, the relationship between Zhao Shihuan and Qiao Xi hadn’t eased. Qiao Xi always came to find Fu Bei at night, sometimes lingering here to sleep. She wouldn’t disturb Fu Bei, moving lightly. Occasionally, she would fall asleep early before Fu Bei finished her work and got into bed.

By the scorching summer of the second year, Qiao Xi and Zhou Jiaqi completely fell out because Qiao Xi hit the other party. Zhou Jiaqi cried until her voice was hoarse, making a scene known to everyone in the compound. Mother Qiao was furious about this, beating Qiao Xi severely without asking the reason. Qiao Xi didn’t shed a single tear, standing toughly in the courtyard, stubbornly letting Mother Qiao beat her. Later, it was the old lady who went over to stop it.

At night, the little girl leaned close, voluntarily saying, “Zhou Jiaqi started it; she scolded me.”

Fu Bei didn’t ask about this. Remembering Mother Qiao’s heavy hand during the day, she asked, “Does it hurt?”

Qiao Xi didn’t react immediately to what was asked, misunderstanding, and replied, “I dodged when she hit back; didn’t get hit.”

Seeming completely unconcerned about being beaten by Mother Qiao.

“Stay away from her next time; don’t let Auntie know,” Fu Bei said.

Only then did Qiao Xi understand. Twisting her body, she hummed, and after a while, added, “My mom didn’t use force; didn’t hurt.”

Mother Qiao used a bramble switch; how could it not hurt? Fu Bei was silent for a moment, then raised her hand to tuck in the quilt for her.

During that period, the Zhao family was already planning to move north for development. Zhao Shihuan bought another pile of trinkets for Qiao Xi. Qiao Xi accepted the gifts politely. Zhao Shihuan wasn’t very happy, knowing there was a rift. Chatting with Fu Bei, she teased with a smile, “Qiao Qiao has quite a temper. Remembering it for half a year and still not over it.”

If Qiao Xi cared so much about a small matter, let alone leaving without saying goodbye later.

Rubbing her brow wearily, she turned off the computer.

Casually inserting the newly bought SIM card into the other slot, she pressed the number already memorized by heart. After deliberating for a long time, she still didn’t call.

Deep in the night, after finishing work, Fu Bei finally went into the bathroom to shower. Lying naked in the bathtub, her long legs crossed on the other side. Lying there, the bite mark on her shoulder was clearly visible under the water. She took a light breath, her chest rising and falling slightly.

The overflowing water swayed, flowing out constantly. Steam swirled in the bathroom, condensation accumulating on the glass mirror, blurring it.

She was a bit weary. Perhaps due to too much pressure recently, she couldn’t relax. Lying in the water for a few minutes, her sexy long legs without an ounce of fat parted…

Water ripples gently undulated, spilling over with the rise and fall, flowing slowly on the floor, disappearing into the drain in the corner.

Jiang City’s evening news broadcasted a notice related to health products. Sure enough, the authorities started with health issues, using two small companies with failed quality inspections as examples, then bringing up the recent sky-high price scam incidents.

The Zhou family wasn’t reported on TV news, which was lucky, but they were prominently listed in the online notification, sandwiched among a list of names. The Zhou family’s business naturally took a hit.

Maybe it was bad luck, or maybe peers were looking for a shield to divert attention. Grapevine news leaked, digging up the Zhou family’s background, posting various true and false things online.

The internet never lacks people joining the fun, especially those who like to stir up “class” conflicts. Someone led the rhythm saying the Zhou family used privileges, having no issues despite problems. This ignited the anger of some indignant netizens, escalating to the point where they felt they had to bring down the Zhou family. Even worse, some dug up all the companies under the Zhou family, making a huge fuss.

The online farce only lasted two days before the heat gradually subsided, turning the page on this matter.

In the evening, Fu Bei came over after ten o’clock, a look of fatigue on her face.

Qiao Xi had just finished watching a drama. Seeing her arrive, she showed no reaction, not even asking a question. Until lying in bed, supporting herself with her hands behind her back, she suddenly remembered something and said, “Out of that.”

Used up long ago; didn’t buy new ones.

Fu Bei stroked the contour of her face, lowering her head to kiss behind her sensitive ear, gathering the person into her arms, and whispering, “Didn’t use one last time either.”

Qiao Xi couldn’t help shrinking her fair neck, dodging back but not really dodging, instead grabbing the corner of Fu Bei’s shirt. “Haven’t showered yet…”

The other party picked her up directly, heading towards the bathroom.