Chapter 64 Part 1

Nan Qi waited anxiously, every second stretching into an eternity, each moment dragging on like a year.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when her phone rang again. Nan Xi said they had arrived at the neighborhood parking lot and asked her to come down to meet them. Bo Ranying, like the others, was visiting her new home for the first time.

Nan Qi threw on some casual clothes for going out, grabbed her phone and keys, and headed downstairs.

She took the elevator to the basement level two and didn’t have to walk far before spotting a white SUV with its hazard lights flashing. The model suited Bo Ranying’s tastes perfectly.

As that thought crossed her mind, she walked slowly toward the SUV. The driver’s door suddenly swung open, and Bo Ranying got out. She hurried over with slightly unsteady steps, her breathing ragged by the time she reached Nan Qi. She steadied herself unsteadily and managed a fragile smile.

Her hands hung at her sides, fingers twisting together in that telltale sign of her inner turmoil. Her mouth parted slightly, as if she had a thousand words to say, but after so long apart, seeing the person she had missed so dearly left her at a loss for where to begin.

She organized her thoughts several times over. “Little Qi, your new place was so hard to find.”

“I circled the parking lot several times before locating your building’s section.” In Nan Qi’s presence, Bo Ranying always instinctively revealed her softer side. Her usual competence faded away as she sought Nan Qi’s attention, her help, reveling in the comfort of depending on her.

Nan Qi lifted her gaze, watching Bo Ranying quietly. The gem-like clarity of her eyes had lost its usual warmth.

After days apart, the girl before her had grown much thinner. Half her face was shrouded in shadow, but Nan Qi could still make out the red veins in her eyes. Her complexion was pallid and weary, her once plump cheeks hollowed out. The weight loss had altered her features so drastically that the sweet dimples at the corners of her mouth had lost their full charm.

A biting gust swept through the empty parking lot, carrying a chill with it. It lifted the hem of Bo Ranying’s knitted dress, revealing the sharp outlines of her slender legs beneath.

Bo Ranying looked cold, her teeth chattering despite her efforts to control it.

Faced with her like this, Nan Qi couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh.

She took a small step forward, blocking the wind’s path.

Her voice carried a chill. “You could have just waited for me at the neighborhood entrance.”

With that, she strode toward the car, her long legs carrying her forward.

A genuine smile finally broke across Bo Ranying’s face. She gathered her skirt and quickened her pace to catch up. “Because I wanted Little Qi to save time—come straight down and see me right away.”

These past days, the longing for Nan Qi had nearly overwhelmed her, yet she had no idea how to face her. She had tried so many things to soothe Nan Qi’s anger, but nothing worked. She feared that chasing after her blindly would only make things worse.

It was only by tagging along with Aunt Zhou’s visit to Linxi that she had found a legitimate excuse to see Nan Qi.

The moment she laid eyes on her, Bo Ranying felt her numb heart reignite with fresh life. It had encountered its remedy and was beating healthily once more.

Nan Qi had grown nearly immune to Bo Ranying’s sweet words and pleading looks.

This time, she ignored them completely, her steps unwavering as she headed straight for the back door and pulled it open, intending to get in.

But Nan Xi and Zhou Ru blocked her way. “Big Sister, sit up front. We saved the passenger seat just for you.”

“Ranying Sis said you should be the first to ride in the passenger seat of her new car. Everyone else has to wait their turn.”

Nan Qi didn’t understand what Bo Ranying’s so-called sense of ceremony was all about.

She had no desire to play these misunderstanding-filled, pointless games with Bo Ranying any longer.

She pressed her lips together in silence, refusing to give in easily.

Yet Nan Xi and her mother both looked at her as if it were the most natural thing in the world, oblivious to anything wrong. They couldn’t fathom her hesitation.

For many years now, Nan Qi and Bo Ranying had been the closest of friends. A yellowed postcard still hung on the wall of Nan Qi’s room, written in black marker:

[Nan Qi and Bo Ranying, best friends in the world!]

That youthful declaration from their younger days was carefully preserved in a spot where she could see it at a glance.

They had shared so many firsts: the first bite of ice cream, the loot from a game gacha, their first kiss at the top of a Ferris wheel. Legend had it that a kiss at the wheel’s highest point—whether born of love or friendship—would last forever.

So naturally, Nan Qi was the first choice for the passenger seat in Bo Ranying’s new car.

She stood frozen by the back door when Bo Ranying caught up to her side. Seeing Nan Qi hesitate, she quickly understood.

Even over something this small, Little Qi wanted nothing to do with her anymore?

Bo Ranying’s heart sank, bitterness rising to her lips, but she swallowed it down. Pretending not to notice, she feigned surprise and opened the passenger door, gently nudging Nan Qi forward from behind. “Little Qi, your seat’s up here. The back has Aunt Zhou and Nan Xi’s luggage—you wouldn’t fit back there.”

Luckily, when she had helped Nan Xi load the bags, she had deliberately placed a few in the back—just in case of a situation like this.

She had prepared for every contingency, never thinking she’d need it.

She knew Nan Qi’s stubborn streak ran deep; no one could easily sway her decisions. Bo Ranying had always been too confident, believing that stubbornness would never turn against her.

Now, it was clear she had been demoted from that special place.

After hearing Bo Ranying’s reasonable explanation, Nan Qi glanced back. Sure enough, several bags filled the back seat, leaving just enough room for Nan Xi and Zhou Ru. There was no space for her to squeeze in.

Earlier, her mind had been preoccupied, and the dim parking lot lights had obscured the details.

Now that she saw the reality, Nan Qi’s initial resistance faded. She climbed into the passenger seat.

Bo Ranying’s heart settled at last.

She firmly believed that if goodwill could be rebuilt once, it could be done again.

Besides, Nan Qi didn’t seem as angry as before. When Bo Ranying had gotten out of the car earlier, Nan Qi had noticed her shivering from the cold—no words of concern, but actions spoke louder. She had stepped in front of the wind for her.

Bo Ranying scoured their ordinary reunion for signs that Nan Qi still cared, using them to reassure herself.

She asked Nan Qi about the hotel she had booked for Aunt Zhou. Nan Qi pulled up the navigation app on her phone and rested her fingers on the edge of the center console so Bo Ranying could see.

Nan Qi had chosen based on proximity and high ratings from the app.

She had booked a riverside hotel for Zhou Ru and the others, just two hundred meters from Hanhai Garden. It stood by the river in the bustling downtown area, yet managed a serene quiet amid the noise. It wasn’t connected to the street lined with shops but occupied its own secluded plot.

Bo Ranying soon reached the hotel vicinity and, following the attendant’s guidance, found a parking spot.

But when she saw the actual space, her confidence wavered.

The hotel was busy, and the lot was nearly full. Only one spot remained, poorly marked with tight clearances front and back. One wrong move, and she’d scrape the neighboring cars.

For Bo Ranying, this was a real challenge.

Since getting her license in college, she had relied on Nan Qi for rides during workdays and hadn’t driven much herself. Her skills had grown rusty.

She had been driving more since picking up this new car.

But only on wide, open roads—no experience with such narrow maneuvers.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly, peering carefully into the rearview mirror to gauge her surroundings.

Once, twice, three times…

Bo Ranying failed to parallel park each time. The 5-degree chill had sweat beading on her forehead. Her nose wrinkled in helpless frustration, making her look pitiful.

She steeled herself for another try.

Nan Qi couldn’t bear to watch any longer. With a sigh, she said, “Park it properly, and I’ll take over.”

Bo Ranying’s eyes welled up. “My driving’s just too bad.” In Nan Qi’s gaze, she detected a hint of exasperation—not pure ice anymore, but something like a signal.

She parked haphazardly and switched places with Nan Qi.

Zhou Ru seized the chance to pull Nan Xi out of the car too. Bo Ranying’s repeated maneuvers had left her a bit carsick, so they got out early.

Bo Ranying settled into the passenger seat, her eyes fixed intently on Nan Qi. The soft night glow bathed her pale profile. Her lips were set in a slight line, her slender fingers on the wheel. With her refined nose, cherry lips, and brows sharp yet laced with a touch of heroism, her cool, striking beauty seemed like the masterpiece of some divine sculptor. Even the play of light and shadow served only to accentuate her allure.

Bo Ranying lost herself in Nan Qi’s eyes, even though they weren’t looking her way. No matter what Nan Qi did, she was utterly captivating.

She hadn’t gotten a clear look at exactly how Nan Qi had maneuvered the car. In a daze, she watched as Nan Qi’s slender, jointed fingers gripped the steering wheel and gave it a few deft turns. The vehicle slid perfectly into the parking spot, the spacing measured with pinpoint precision—not a fraction too much or too little.

Nan Qi pulled the key from the ignition, killing the engine.

The car interior was shrouded in darkness, save for the faint glow spilling from the brightly lit hotel nearby. It filtered through the windows, casting scattered flecks of light and shadow.

Nan Qi unbuckled her seatbelt and moved to get out.

Bo Ranying watched her every motion. The cover of night lent her boundless courage, and in a sudden surge of impulse, just as Nan Qi’s hand reached for the door, she called out to stop her. “Little Qi, there’s something I want to say to you—”

Nan Qi turned back, her hand still resting on the door handle.

A hazy sense of oppression emanated from her.

She seemed a touch impatient.

Bo Ranying’s gaze dimmed, but fortunately the night was too deep for her to make out Nan Qi’s expression. Her courage hadn’t completely deserted her yet.

She poured out her feelings from the past few days. “I broke up with Qiao Xiuyu. I posted the announcement on Weibo—you must have seen it.”

Nan Qi remained silent.