Chapter 48
This family had never been harmonious. Since the mother and son entered the door, certain topics were brought up repeatedly. Not that blended families couldn’t live peacefully—other families did just fine—but Zhou Meihe’s petty schemes were glaringly obvious, constantly testing Qiao Xi’s bottom line without a shred of self-awareness.
Human hearts are mutual. Since she was so restless, Qiao Xi wouldn’t be polite either, too lazy to even maintain a fake cordiality.
Zhou Meihe’s face froze, probably not expecting her stepdaughter to be so difficult, kicking a stone. Her lips trembled, but she tactfully didn’t argue.
The atmosphere at home stagnated. Afterward, no one spoke much. It was the helper auntie who smoothed things over, urging harmony. Family relationships are hard to clarify; different perspectives yield different views. Besides, even an honest official finds it hard to settle family affairs. The helper auntie offended no one, pretending not to see. When Qiao Jianliang returned, no one mentioned this matter. After finishing the meal together, Qiao Xi stayed for more than half an hour before leaving.
Zhou Meihe looked strange, but Qiao Xi pretended not to notice, chatting sporadically with Qiao Jianliang about family matters. Qiao Jianliang was certainly happy, grinning from ear to ear, wrinkles appearing on his face. Qiao Xi rarely paid attention to him; today, the sun had truly risen from the west.
Zhou Lin remained silent as usual, only looking up when the father and daughter talked. His listless eyes slanted, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
His life was even dimmer than Qiao Xi’s, never having a complete family since childhood. In the early years, Zhou Meihe resented this son to death because of her ex-husband. He looked too much like his biological father, carved from the same mold. As he grew older, Zhou Meihe disliked him even more. Only occasionally when in a good mood, remembering this son was flesh of her flesh, would she reluctantly give him a couple of sweet dates to coax him. The Zhou family also treated him as dispensable. After all, when Zhou Meihe had that fallout with her ex-husband, no one in the Zhou family agreed to her giving birth to the child. But Zhou Meihe wouldn’t listen, giving birth to Zhou Lin out of spite—truly pathetic.
However, since Zhou Meihe hooked up with Qiao Jianliang, unknown if her conscience was discovered, she gradually became concerned about this son. It got even better after marriage; she even whispered in Qiao Jianliang’s ear a while ago, asking him to buy this and that for him.
At first, Qiao Jianliang was dizzy and indeed bought many good things. But gradually he realized, seeing through Zhou Meihe’s little tricks without exposing them.
Zhou Lin initially acknowledged Qiao Jianliang, especially after Qiao Jianliang generously bought that Bugatti Veyron. But later it changed, especially seeing the father and daughter chatting together now, constantly reminding him that a stepson is always an outsider.
His face turned ashen for a moment. When he inadvertently glanced at Zhou Meihe looking at him complainingly, his wooden face was tinged with an indescribably strange meaning, as if he had long expected Zhou Meihe’s reaction.
Using him as a tool to consolidate her family status, wasn’t she?
Inadvertently taking in the undercurrents between the mother and son, Qiao Xi almost raised an eyebrow. She never cared about Zhou Meihe and Zhou Lin, nor was she interested in their deep mother-son affection. She just kept a mental note now, pretending to see nothing and continuing to chat with Qiao Jianliang.
When leaving, Qiao Jianliang hurriedly stood up. “I’ll see you out.”
She picked up her bag. “No need, just a few steps.”
But Qiao Jianliang insisted on seeing her off, truly happy, the smile never leaving his face. Reaching a certain age, people cherish family affection doubly, wanting to make amends. Ignoring Zhou Meihe’s feelings, he followed in two or three steps. After sending Qiao Xi out the gate, his face was tinged with reluctance.
Qiao Xi didn’t say a single affectionate word. If he wanted to send her off, let him. Getting into the car, she waved her hand and said, “Leaving. Coming back when free.”
Qiao Jianliang responded with a sentence.
The car started, gradually moving away.
For the next month, Qiao Xi didn’t return to the compound, but she constantly observed the Zhou family’s movements in secret. Zhou Qun failed to borrow a single cent from Qiao Jianliang. The relaunch of the newly developed game was indefinite; the higher-ups specifically targeted his company to beat the entire industry.
Nowadays, anything related to the physical and mental health of teenagers basically had a hard time. To develop, one had to follow policies, and under policies, there were always a few who got beaten. As for how Zhou Qun solved the follow-up problems, Qiao Xi paid no more attention, only knowing the Zhou family seemed particularly unlucky this year, restricted everywhere. She watched the show from the shore, not caring as long as Qiao Jianliang didn’t intervene.
During this period, Qiao Xi met Zhao Shihuan.
It was at a restaurant on Qijing Street. Qiao Xi treated Tang Yi to dinner. Almost finished eating and about to pay the bill, she coincided with Zhao Shihuan just coming out after discussing with a business partner. Seeing her, Zhao Shihuan came over immediately.
“Qiao Qiao.” Zhao Shihuan smiled, familiarly greeting them at the table. “What a coincidence, out for dinner with a friend?”
Eating and suddenly having a friend’s acquaintance come over made Tang Yi a bit embarrassed, standing dryly aside waiting.
Not remembering how long they hadn’t met, knowing she had been run off her feet since returning, meeting Qiao Xi here was quite unexpected.
“Sister Huan,” Qiao Xi said, not seeing anyone else around Zhao Shihuan. “Came alone?”
“No, came with President Zhang; just finished eating.”
Meeting in such a situation was awkward. Chatting for a couple of sentences and leaving seemed inappropriate; standing in the shop delayed the owner’s business. Plus, there was Tang Yi; Qiao Xi couldn’t leave Tang Yi aside to chat only with Zhao Shihuan. Fortunately, Zhao Shihuan was observant. After chatting for a while, she actively offered to drive them. Coincidentally, Qiao Xi didn’t drive today, so they went together.
Parking wasn’t allowed casually on the commercial street, requiring a walk. So they chatted while walking. Not seeing each other for so long, Zhao Shihuan showed no unfamiliarity, asking Qiao Xi many questions and occasionally chatting with Tang Yi, not neglecting her.
“Passed by your shop a few days ago, wanted to go in and look, but it wasn’t open,” Zhao Shihuan teased, looking at Qiao Xi with scrutiny in her gaze. “Haven’t seen you lately either; something up?”
Qiao Xi said, “Nothing much, just went to the university town area before.”
“To do what?” Zhao Shihuan asked.
“Help out.”
“Whose?”
Qiao Xi was stunned, feeling she asked too many questions. It was Tang Yi who interrupted to close the distance and ease the slightly weird atmosphere, saying, “The master who taught her tattooing.”
Until getting in the car, Qiao Xi asked back, “What about you? Still dealing with the land matter?”
“Dealt with it long ago,” Zhao Shihuan said. “Thanks to Old Fu. If not for her help, I would definitely be burnt out.”
Suddenly mentioning Fu Bei, Qiao Xi was silent for a while, but fortunately, it was just this one sentence.
It was still early. Qiao Xi and Tang Yi planned to stroll around the university town, so they asked Zhao Shihuan to drop them off there. The university town wasn’t far from here. Approaching the area, Zhao Shihuan suddenly said, “Seems Old Fu often comes to find you.”
Just this light sentence made Qiao Xi’s heart tighten inexplicably. Not fear, just a feeling arising for no reason. If asked like this before, she would definitely have admitted it, indifferent. But now she denied it immediately: “No.”
The words blurted out without hesitation. After speaking, she added, “Both have our own things to do; I’m busy at the shop too.”
Just said recently there was nothing to do.
Qiao Xi herself didn’t notice anything wrong, and Tang Yi didn’t hear any problem. Only Zhao Shihuan driving in front had a faint expression. The light falling from both sides of the street shone on Zhao Shihuan’s face, not bright enough. The smile on her lips fell. Because her back was turned, the two behind couldn’t see it at all.
The journey wasn’t long; they arrived shortly.
Qiao Xi and Tang Yi went to a lounge bar near the university town to hang out. Their friendship was solid, usually hanging out together. The lounge bar environment was okay; listening to songs, drinking, chatting casually.
Tang Yi said, “Did you reconcile with Teacher Fu?”
Qiao Xi’s hand paused, feeling people kept asking about Fu Bei today. Remembering the stalemate with Fu Bei recently—unable to leave, unable to stay away, grinding each other down—she inevitably felt a bit irritable inside, always feeling something was about to spiral out of control. But she didn’t show it, calming her mind and replying, “What reconcile? Never quarreled; just acquaintances.”
Not a lie; it was the truth. Really never quarreled.
Tang Yi couldn’t hear the hidden meaning in the words but didn’t ask more about these overly private matters, passing over it in a few words and talking about herself.
Friends gathering meant chatting, but Qiao Xi might have drunk a bit and was dizzy, distracted, her thoughts not here.
Unwilling to think about these things outside, but the more she wanted to throw the thoughts out of her mind, the stranger the feeling in her heart became.
Qiao Xi didn’t pay much attention to what Tang Yi was saying, not even hearing when the other party called her twice.
Or perhaps her mind was too chaotic, alcohol at work—that night she actually went to Fu Bei’s place.
Originally, she should have gone to Tang Yi’s apartment for the night, but as soon as she left the lounge bar, she made an excuse and left, asking Fu Bei to pick her up at the Jiang University gate.
Actually, it was an impulsive act, not sober. Unexpectedly, Fu Bei really came to pick her up, right on campus, coming out in ten minutes. Qiao Xi went to this person’s apartment for the first time, not far from Qin Si’s tattoo parlor. The home decoration was simple, leaning towards understated luxury, overall in depressing light tones, without a trace of warm color.
And it was this time, a decision made on a whim, that allowed her to discover a clue. In Fu Bei’s study, she accidentally pulled a drawer out a bit and saw the document inside.
—The one Zhuang Qiyang gave to Fu Bei.
