Forbidden to Flirt and Run 30

Chapter 30

Teacher Qi seemed not to have heard what she said and turned her head. “Hm?”

Xu Qingtang squeezed the slice of bread and repeated her question. Teacher Qi smiled. “What nonsense are you talking about? By the way, you’re coming out with me later.”

Xu Qingtang stammered, “Uh? Where are we going?”

Teacher Qi poured a glass of milk, finished it, and said, “A nephew of Auntie X next door. He’s in finance. I’ve met him, he’s very nice, and the age is right. You can go and see him later.”

Xu Qingtang couldn’t help but laugh. “Who brings a parent on a blind date?”

Teacher Qi glanced at her, not joking at all. “I’ll leave after I drop you off. Are you done eating? Let’s go when you’re done.”

Xu Qingtang almost choked. She said, “Mom, I have something to do at the theater later. I’m afraid I can’t go. Please tell them and postpone it. If there are any more meetings in the future, please discuss it with me first.”

Teacher Qi’s expression was a little unpleasant. “When have you ever listened when I’ve discussed it with you? By the time you agree, it’ll be raining red.”

“I just don’t have time…”

Teacher Qi pressed on. “Fine. Then you tell me, when do you have time? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? He saw your photo and thinks you’re great. He can make time for you any day.”

“Let’s talk about it later, let’s talk about it later. I really don’t have time, Mom. I’m leaving now.”

With that, Xu Qingtang didn’t dare to linger at home any longer and left immediately after changing her shoes.

There was no performance today. Xu Qingtang rehearsed at the theater all morning. In the afternoon, her senior apprentice-sister saw her wandering around the various halls and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong with you today? You seem out of it.”

Xu Qingtang leaned against the pole and said, “I’m being pressured to get married. I’m worried.”

Her senior apprentice-sister handed her a bottle of water. “Auntie is pressuring you?”

“Yes,” Xu Qingtang unscrewed the bottle, took a sip, and said, “I’m only 25. I still feel quite young, but it seems like everyone and everything around me is reminding me that I’m not young anymore.”

“This is the cruelty of society,” her senior apprentice-sister said in the tone of an experienced person, then asked curiously, “You’ve been pressured before. Didn’t you not care in the past?”

Xu Qingtang couldn’t say why either.

Her senior apprentice-sister scoffed. “Auntie is also looking out for you. With a partner, at least you can go on a date and have a meal with someone.”

“Of course, I’m just kidding. Finding a partner still requires a slow search to find the right one. Liking them is the most important thing.”

Xu Qingtang thought that was very true.

She glanced at the time, then left the theater and took a taxi to Zhishang. On the way up, she took out her phone and asked Gu Yizhi if she was there. A few minutes later, Gu Yizhi said she was.

Xu Qingtang familiarly made her way to Gu Yizhi’s office.

After knocking and hearing a voice, she went in.

Gu Yizhi had just finalized the styles for next spring with the director of the design department. Seeing Xu Qingtang, a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes. “Why the sudden visit?”

Xu Qingtang belatedly remembered a question. “Am I interrupting you?”

“Not at all,” Gu Yizhi stood up, waved at Xu Qingtang, and tilted her head slightly to look at her. “Did Teacher say anything to you this morning?”

Xu Qingtang shook her head. “No.”

After a pause, she also looked at Gu Yizhi and asked, “Why do you ask?”

Gu Yizhi said, “Don’t make Teacher angry recently.”

Xu Qingtang walked to Gu Yizhi and propped her hands on the desk. “You make me sound so heartless.”

Gu Yizhi gave her a deep look, then couldn’t help but laugh, pinching Xu Qingtang’s cheek. “Silly girl.”

Xu Qingtang: …

She had the illusion of being scolded by Gu Yizhi like a little cat or dog.

At the mention of Teacher Qi, Xu Qingtang couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild. “If it were you, and you were caught in bed by your family, what would you do?”

Gu Yizhi: “Caught in bed?”

Xu Qingtang: “Exaggerating, exaggerating. Hmm, just like today. What would you do if someone found out?”

Gu Yizhi’s tone was very calm. “If they know, they know.”

Xu Qingtang asked again, “You’re not afraid?”

Gu Yizhi shook her head. “It’s a good way to let people know.”

What kind of logic is that…

Before Xu Qingtang could figure out what Gu Yizhi meant, the office door was suddenly pushed open. The secretary came in with coffee. Xu Qingtang quickly stood up straight, a little embarrassed, and then walked to the side with a serious expression.

The secretary gave her the coffee and then left.

Xu Qingtang awkwardly took a sip, glanced at Gu Yizhi’s red lips, and was glad she hadn’t done anything just now. Otherwise, she would really be on the headlines of the Zhishang forum.

Gu Yizhi looked at her with a smile. “Shall I take you home first?”

Xu Qingtang blinked. “Huh?”

Gu Yizhi said, “I have a business trip to City C. I’m leaving after work.”

Xu Qingtang opened her mouth. “Ah.”

Gu Yizhi stood up, walked around the office to Xu Qingtang, and ruffled her hair. “Don’t be unhappy. I’ll be back soon.”

Xu Qingtang also scoffed softly. “What’s there for me to be unhappy about? I didn’t come here specifically to see you.”

Gu Yizhi looked as if she was all ears. “Then who did you come to see?”

Xu Qingtang lied with a straight face. “Of course, Xiao Gui. We have plans for dinner tonight.”

Gu Yizhi sighed. “A little heartbroken.”

Knowing that she was deliberately saying this, Xu Qingtang still gave in. “Alright, alright, I came here specifically to see you.” She changed the subject. “When are you coming back?”

Gu Yizhi: “Next Wednesday.”

Next Wednesday was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Xu Qingtang said, “That’s quite a long time.”

Gu Yizhi: “I used to think it was fine, but now I also think it’s quite a long time.”

Xu Qingtang: “Hm?”

Gu Yizhi smiled. “You know, so I won’t say it.”

Xu Qingtang couldn’t help but smile as well. Inexplicably, she felt that Gu Yizhi was so sweet at this moment, and she had a wicked thought of luring Gu Yizhi to say it clearly.

She said deliberately, “I don’t know. Tell me.”

But Gu Yizhi didn’t say it. Instead, she said, “I have a gift for you.”

Hearing “gift,” Xu Qingtang’s alarm bells went off. She looked at Gu Yizhi thoughtfully. “It’s not something shameful again, is it…”

Gu Yizhi: “No.”

Xu Qingtang was skeptical. “Then why not give it to me now?”

Gu Yizhi smiled. “It’s not the right time.”

Xu Qingtang scoffed softly again, and then her cheek was pinched by Gu Yizhi again. Xu Qingtang found that this bad woman really liked to touch her like this.

What was worse, she herself liked it very much.

Xu Qingtang leaned back, thought for a moment, and said, “Isn’t the Mid-Autumn Festival a holiday? Let’s go to South Mountain again.”

Gu Yizhi: “Alright.”

Xu Qingtang continued, “Watch both the sunrise and the sunset.”

Gu Yizhi said, “Anything is fine.”

Xu Qingtang mimicked Gu Yizhi’s previous tone. “Anything?”

Gu Yizhi smiled. “Anything.”

Xu Qingtang leaned close to Gu Yizhi’s ear and whispered something. After she finished, her own face turned red. Gu Yizhi smiled. “Alright. Miss Xu must keep her word.”

“Of course.”

“Tangtang.”

“Hm?”

Gu Yizhi looked at Xu Qingtang and smiled. “I’m very happy that you could come and see me today.”

Help.

Xu Qingtang felt that Gu Yizhi’s smile at this moment was really too beautiful.

*

In the evening, Xu Qingtang met Tang Gui at the entrance of Zhishang. Tang Gui hummed and hawed as soon as they met. “Alright, now I understand what it means to choose a lover over a friend.”

Xu Qingtang glanced at her guiltily. “What are you talking about?”

Tang Gui chuckled. “Don’t give me that. Don’t tell me you came to talk business with our CEO Gu.”

Xu Qingtang could only remain silent.

Tang Gui first clutched her heart. “The crack in my heart cannot be repaired without a big meal.” Then she took out her phone and struggled to choose a place. “Let me see which one is suitable…”

While she was choosing a place, Jiang Wan suddenly appeared in front of them, as if she were just passing by.

After learning that they were struggling with this, she very decisively recommended a restaurant. “Go here. You can also see the night view.”

“By the way,” Jiang Wan’s voice paused, and she looked at Tang Gui with a charming smile. “I happen to be free tonight. Can I join you?”

Neither Xu Qingtang nor Tang Gui had any objection.

Jiang Wan chose a Western restaurant. On the way, Jiang Wan also suggested creating a small group chat.

Just as they sat down at the restaurant, Teacher Qi called her. Xu Qingtang stood up and went outside to answer.

Teacher Qi asked her if she was coming home for dinner, and then didn’t forget to say, “When are you free? I’ll make another appointment.”

Xu Qingtang felt her scalp tingle and said, “Mom, don’t bother. I’m really not free.” Then she spouted some nonsense. “Besides, I don’t like older people, and people in finance are busy. What’s the point if no one has time to be together?”

Teacher Qi sighed and said, “Alright.”

After hanging up, Xu Qingtang breathed a sigh of relief, washed her hands, and was about to go back in when a figure suddenly walked up to her, looking at her with surprise. “Qingtang?”

Xu Qingtang frowned. “Xiao Lin?”

Xiao Lin’s gaze was fixed on Xu Qingtang’s face, and he said with joy, “Are you here for dinner too? Alone? Do you want to share a table?”

Xu Qingtang politely declined. “No, I’m with a friend.”

Xiao Lin said “alright” with regret, walked to Xu Qingtang’s side, and said again, “Last time, I was afraid you were angry, so I asked Senior Sister to convey my message. You said you weren’t free. Qingtang, I still want to ask, can’t you really watch a fireworks show with me? It’s actually very beautiful, and…”

Before he could finish, Xu Qingtang remembered what Gu Yizhi had said. “Aren’t they not allowed?”

Xiao Lin was slow for a moment, then said, “Then the Mid-Autumn Festival? They’re allowed for an hour on holidays. Or we can go for a walk by the sea? I see you’ve been in a bad mood recently. It’s a good chance to relax.”

“No, I already have plans for the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Xu Qingtang directly refused, then added, “With the person I like.”

Anyone with a sense of propriety should know to back off.

With that, Xu Qingtang walked into the restaurant. The waiter happened to be serving the food, but the two people at the table didn’t pay attention, instead resting their faces on their hands and looking out the window.

Xu Qingtang sat down. “What are you looking at?”

Tang Gui clicked her tongue. “Qingtang, look over there.”

This restaurant was by the river, and opposite the river was Lin City’s landmark building—also the Lin City television station. The direction Tang Gui was pointing was right at the television station’s curtain wall, where a very brilliant fireworks display was being shown.

Tang Gui said with emotion, “They’re not even advertising. Is the television station doing charity?”

Xu Qingtang shrugged. “Maybe it’s some domineering CEO’s pampered wife’s birthday.”

Hearing this, Tang Gui thought it made sense and looked at Xu Qingtang with bright eyes. “CEO Xu, when are you going to put on a show for me there too?”

Xu Qingtang: “…My surname is just Xu, not the turtle in the wishing well.”

Jiang Wan laughed heartily.

Fireworks had been banned in Lin City for many years, and this restaurant was an excellent viewing platform. As the fireworks went on for longer and longer, the customers in the restaurant all watched and discussed.

“Are those fireworks? That’s money, okay?”

“Stop looking, stop looking. When I’m rich, I’ll buy the television station for you…”

“Heh, you should pay the bill first.”

In the end, the brilliant fireworks finally converged into a black dot, and then formed two lines of words on the big screen.

To Miss X:

The moonlight is so beautiful tonight, and the wind is gentle.

Xu Qingtang’s eyes widened slightly.

After a few seconds of daze, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl up. She remembered what Gu Yizhi had said in the afternoon. This was the gift she was talking about?

Tang Gui sighed. “Why not Miss T? That way I could also feel a sense of substitution.”

Jiang Wan laughed. “It’s enough for Qingtang to feel it. Why are you joining in the fun? If you want to see fireworks, we can go to another city.”

Tang Gui glanced at Xu Qingtang and said, “Forget it. Qingtang doesn’t like to move around. Besides, going to another city for fireworks, it’s not like we’re bored, right?”

Xu Qingtang really wanted to say that Jiang Wan probably just wanted to go with her, but seeing her friend’s innocent face, she just hummed in agreement and lowered her head to edit a message to Gu Yizhi on her phone: [Miss X has received it. It’s very beautiful. Thank you.]

The moment the message was sent, Xu Qingtang saw the contact name at the top and immediately wanted to retract it. But it was too late. Tang Gui’s voice was already ringing in her ears.

She deliberately read Xu Qingtang’s message in a coquettish and affected manner. Once was not enough, so she did it again, attracting the attention of the table next to them.

“Miss X has received it. It’s very beautiful. Thank you~~~”

*

Author’s Note:

Tang Gui: I must sell this sword.

Xu Qingtang: Thank you (crying).