Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 94

Chapter 94

Shen Yiqiu meticulously prepared the bath, tested the water temperature, and after confirming everything was perfect, went to call Qin Qianrou, only to find that Jiejie wasn’t in the room. She walked out and saw Qin Qianrou still sitting in her usual spot on the sofa.

Qin Qianrou was leaning back, her arms crossed, her gaze lowered, her lips pursed slightly, as if deep in thought.

Shen Yiqiu assumed she was still troubled by work, it must be something serious for Jiejie to be so preoccupied, and she softly called out to her, “Jiejie, the bath is ready.”

Qin Qianrou looked at her intently before slowly standing up, Shen Yiqiu following her back to the room, watching as she took out her nightgown and other clothes from the closet, she felt a little more at ease.

“I added some essential oils, you can relax in the bath, Jiejie.”

Qin Qianrou paused, then nodded, her back still turned towards her, “Okay.”

Shen Yiqiu felt Qin Qianrou was acting strangely, her back stiffening after her words, it wasn’t the first time she had added essential oils to the bath, why was she so unusual tonight?

After tidying up the living room and taking her own shower, Shen Yiqiu returned to Qin Qianrou’s room, Jiejie had just emerged from the bathroom, that alluring image of a beauty fresh from the bath, yet Shen Yiqiu almost choked.

Jiejie was wearing that burgundy silk nightgown, the one she had worn that night, she hadn’t worn it since, and tonight…

Qin Qianrou was toweling her hair dry, she had heard Shen Yiqiu’s footsteps, but after waiting for a moment, there was no one behind her, usually, Shen Yiqiu would have taken the towel from her by now.

“Why are you spacing out?” Qin Qianrou turned around, her smooth, fair skin slightly flushed from the bath, the delicate curve of her shoulders accentuated by the burgundy nightgown.

Shen Yiqiu instinctively swallowed hard, trying to compose herself as she walked over. “I just had a leg cramp, it’s fine now.”

Qin Qianrou looked at her, clearly unconvinced, she hadn’t missed that telltale gulp,

a faint smile playing on her lips, she didn’t comment.

“If you have leg cramps, you should rest, don’t walk around.”

“Let me dry your hair first.”

Qin Qianrou didn’t object, having grown accustomed to Shen Yiqiu’s ministrations. She sat down, watching Shen Yiqiu’s focused expression in the mirror,

having decided during her bath to have a proper talk with Shen Yiqiu,

Qin Qianrou didn’t turn off the bedside lamp, she picked up a magazine and pretended to read, while waiting for Shen Yiqiu, who, after checking the locks on the doors and turning off the lights, finally joined her in the bedroom,

the bed dipping slightly as she sat down beside her, a familiar weight,

yet Qin Qianrou’s heart still skipped a beat.

“Shen Yiqiu, let’s talk.”

“Okay.” Although she didn’t know what Jiejie wanted to talk about, Shen Yiqiu was always willing to listen.

Qin Qianrou hadn’t turned the page of her magazine in a while, repeatedly reading the same few pages as she waited for Shen Yiqiu.

“I think… there shouldn’t be any secrets between us.”

Shen Yiqiu didn’t understand why she would suddenly say this, but she still nodded in agreement.

“If you have any thoughts or concerns, you can tell me directly.”

Shen Yiqiu raised an eyebrow, Jiejie’s words seemed profound, she couldn’t quite grasp their meaning.

Qin Qianrou didn’t elaborate immediately, she looked at Shen Yiqiu, her gaze softening as she looked into those clear, innocent eyes, her own reflection within them.

“Jiejie, is there something important you want to tell me?” Shen Yiqiu thought it must be something significant for Jiejie to be so hesitant.

Qin Qianrou almost sighed in exasperation, wanting to knock some sense into this dense child.

She thought for a moment, then said calmly, “I noticed there are some… items missing from the box.”

The word “box,” although ordinary, held a special meaning between them, and Shen Yiqiu’s cheeks instantly flushed.

So she did take them, Qin Qianrou thought,

there were only the two of them here, and she hadn’t touched them, their disappearance could only be attributed to one person, but Qin Qianrou wasn’t sure of Shen Yiqiu’s motive.

“Jiejie, actually, I…”

Shen Yiqiu hesitated, her gaze darting around, should she tell Jiejie she had taken them to examine them more closely, to… understand their functions and ensure their effectiveness?

She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, the product description had simply mentioned its superior features and effectiveness compared to other brands, which explained the high price.

Shen Yiqiu had searched for the brand online and had been shocked by the price.

It was an expensive consumable, and buying it regularly would be a significant expense, but after researching its features and benefits, Shen Yiqiu felt it was worth it.

Qin Qianrou beckoned Shen Yiqiu closer,

her lips parted slightly, the tenderness in her eyes almost drowning Shen Yiqiu, who stared at her, mesmerized, her own consciousness fading, completely captivated by Jiejie.

“If you want them, you can just tell me, there’s no need to… take them yourself.”

It took Shen Yiqiu a few seconds to process her words.

What did she mean by “take them yourself?” What had she done?

Just as she was about to explain, Qin Qianrou’s index finger gently touched her lips.

“I know it’s my fault, I’ve been avoiding this, but it wasn’t because I didn’t… want to, I just… I just…” Qin Qianrou hesitated, then admitted, “I felt a little embarrassed.”

Shen Yiqiu finally understood, and she chuckled inwardly, Jiejie is so cute.

Such a natural and normal thing, being treated like some kind of difficult task,

she put her arm around Qin Qianrou’s shoulders, pulling her close, her chin resting on Jiejie’s forehead, inhaling the fragrance of her hair,

“I’m not in a hurry, Jiejie, don’t feel pressured, I’ll wait for you.”

Qin Qianrou bit her lip, Shen Yiqiu was too gentle, always so accommodating, always indulging her,

but she had already said, it wasn’t because of fear or rejection, just embarrassment.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Yiqiu, seeing her silence, leaned down to kiss her.

Qin Qianrou, as if anticipating this, raised her hand, stopping her,

and Shen Yiqiu paused, seeing a faint smile in Jiejie’s eyes.

Before she could figure it out, Qin Qianrou, as if performing a magic trick, produced something from behind her.

Shen Yiqiu immediately recognized the familiar packaging.

Her heart racing, she looked at Qin Qianrou, a knowing look in her eyes, So Jiejie’s intention is…

“I think… I should try to overcome my… reservations and adapt to this new… situation.”

With Jiejie’s invitation, how could Shen Yiqiu refuse?

She was still as gentle as ever, but more composed than before, her patience allowing Qin Qianrou to experience true pleasure, true love.

The burgundy nightgown, it seemed, had taken on a new meaning in Shen Yiqiu’s mind, it had become a symbol, and its appearance meant…

As she drifted off to sleep, Qin Qianrou wrapped her arms around Shen Yiqiu’s neck and said softly, “No more secretly taking things from the box.”

Shen Yiqiu, having thoroughly researched the product, no longer needed to sneak around.

She kissed Qin Qianrou and replied, “I’ll open it in front of you next time.”

Qin Qianrou wanted to say more, but her exhaustion made her unable to continue, she simply let Shen Yiqiu hold her close, falling asleep in her embrace, as usual.

The lights were turned off, and the room was plunged into darkness, only their soft, even breaths audible, a stark contrast to the earlier passionate scene. Shen Yiqiu glanced at the time before turning off the light; it was almost 11:30 pm, they had spent over two hours entangled like this.

She had clearly reminded herself to be mindful,

but Jiejie had been so… responsive tonight, agreeing to everything, and Shen Yiqiu held her closer.

**

Qin Qianrou woke up naturally, the person beside her seemingly having woken up even earlier.

She stretched slightly and complained, “Why do you always wake up before me?”

Shen Yiqiu adored Jiejie’s sleepy, slightly childish demeanor in the mornings.

“Because I want to look at you more, I don’t want to miss a single moment.”

Qin Qianrou gently pinched her nose, “Such sweet talk.”

Shen Yiqiu took her hand and kissed it softly. “Not sweet talk, I’m just… addicted to you.”

The memories of last night, evoked by the warmth of Shen Yiqiu’s lips on her hand, made Qin Qianrou blush slightly. She pulled her hand away, intending to take a shower,

although she had quickly rinsed off last night, it hadn’t felt… enough,

she had a busy day ahead of her at the station, she might even have to visit the Economic Investigation Brigade and inquire about Director Yu’s case,

and Shen Yiqiu would be starting school soon, busy reconnecting with her classmates after the break, their leisurely holiday coming to an end, they would both be returning to their busy schedules.

Qin Qianrou stepped into the elevator and ran into a few colleagues from other departments, everyone’s return to work after the holidays staggered, some, whose families lived in other cities, had taken a few extra days of leave, not returning until after the Lantern Festival.

“Xiao Qin, it’s been a while, have you officially completed your training program?”

Qin Qianrou wasn’t particularly close to this colleague, but they had interacted a few times, and since he had greeted her, she had to respond.

“Yes, it’s officially over.”

“I heard the training program in Hai City was very informative, remember to share your experiences with us sometime.”

“I will.”

Qin Qianrou’s aloofness was well-known at the station. She wasn’t arrogant, but she always maintained a certain distance, and apart from her own team members, she rarely interacted closely with others.

Although her responses today were still concise, her overall demeanor had softened, even those who usually didn’t dare to approach her felt comfortable exchanging a few words.

“Are you… in a relationship?”

Qin Qianrou was surprised, had her relationship status spread so quickly?

The colleague, realizing his gaffe, explained awkwardly, “Women in love… they have a certain… glow, and you… you seem different.”

Qin Qianrou pursed her lips, neither confirming nor denying it.

The elevator reached their floor, and the colleague stepped out, Qin Qianrou nodding at him.

As the elevator continued upwards, about to reach her floor, Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but wonder, What was so different about her that even a casual acquaintance could tell she was in love?

Entering their office area, she ran into Li Wan, who had just emerged from another elevator, and before Qin Qianrou could even speak, Li Wan smiled.

“Smiling so brightly this early in the morning, did you win the lottery?”

Li Wan followed Qin Qianrou into her office, unable to contain her smile.

“Whether I win the lottery or not isn’t important, you, however, seem to have had a very pleasant night.”

Qin Qianrou hung up her coat, walked to her desk, and turned on her computer,

her movements pausing slightly at Li Wan’s words, her expression, however, remaining calm.

“How do you know how my night went?”

Li Wan’s tone was confident and smug, “Need I ask? Your glowing complexion, your skin as smooth as a peeled egg, how could I not know?”

Qin Qianrou pressed her lips together tightly, resisting the urge to cover Li Wan’s mouth,

thankfully, she had closed the office door, and thankfully, Li Wan’s voice wasn’t loud, but Qin Qianrou didn’t want to dignify her words with a response.

“Aiya, it’s perfectly normal, just like eating and sleeping, you just happened to find someone… compatible, someone who can… nourish you so well, you’re truly lucky.”

Qin Qianrou finally understood the underlying meaning of Li Wan’s words and carefully observed her.

“No wonder your makeup is so thick today.”

Li Wan, who had been enjoying her teasing, was momentarily silenced by Qin Qianrou’s words.

“I’m trying a new makeup style.”

Qin Qianrou smiled, Whatever you say.

Lin Shuangzhi’s leave had been extended again, it was said she had some urgent matters to attend to in Yong City. Li Wan, clearly restless these past two days, had even messaged her to inquire,

and thankfully, Lin Shuangzhi had been honest, saying there were some problems with the family business, and her parents weren’t doing well, so she had to stay and help, a perfectly reasonable explanation, but it didn’t alleviate Li Wan’s growing frustration.

“It’s easy for you to say, you have a constant supply of… water, you don’t understand the suffering of a parched traveler in the desert.” Li Wan sighed dramatically, she had a breakout, it was truly a tragedy.

Qin Qianrou didn’t know how to comfort her; she lacked experience in this area and couldn’t truly empathize, unable to understand her frustrations.

However, regarding the “water” analogy, she didn’t quite agree.

The one being… “watered” wasn’t her, it was… it was becoming increasingly difficult to explain, it was better to just drop it.

Li Wan, as acting team leader, had more administrative duties now, so some of the work had to be delegated to Qin Qianrou, making them both very busy. The He Chao case was now on their agenda, and Li Wan, after reviewing the materials Qin Qianrou had prepared, said hesitantly,

“These should be enough for the project proposal, but I’m afraid it’ll be like last time.” She was referring to when their proposal to investigate Dongsheng Group had been rejected.

“He Chao has already passed away, and he was convicted before his death, this investigation is simply to uncover his other crimes, to reveal the complete truth.”

Qin Qianrou had also considered this, but He Chao’s situation was different from Dongsheng’s, with Director Yu’s incident still fresh in everyone’s minds, no one at the station would dare to openly protect Dongsheng.

“Let’s try then, it might work.” Li Wan tapped the folder, intending to take it and prepare the proposal.

After lunch, Qin Qianrou, having called Qian Zhifei beforehand, went to the Economic Investigation Brigade.

He had messaged her a few times during the holidays, and after learning she had returned from her training program in Hai City, had been trying to find an opportunity to invite her to dinner. Qin Qianrou had declined all his invitations, and Qian Zhifei, understanding, hadn’t persisted.

He was clearly delighted to receive her call. “Someone from the Publicity Department contacted me yesterday, saying they wanted the official media to… cooperate. I didn’t expect your call today.”

Even if it was just a work-related call, hearing Qin Qianrou’s voice still made him happy.

Qin Qianrou calculated the time, after her appointment at the Economic Investigation Brigade, she could pick Shen Yiqiu up, and they could have dinner together.

Director Yu’s situation was clear, unable to withstand the pressure, he had confessed shortly after being taken into custody, and Qin Qianrou was relieved, the rest was just procedure, there was no need for her to continue her inquiries.

Qian Zhifei escorted her out, then, after a moment of hesitation, asked tentatively, “Reporter Qin, would you be free for dinner tonight?”

Qin Qianrou smiled and shook her head, “Not tonight, I have plans.”

Qian Zhifei hadn’t had much hope to begin with, he was simply seizing every opportunity.

“Then perhaps another time.”

As Qin Qianrou adjusted her scarf, someone carrying a stack of documents bumped into her lightly. Although she dodged quickly, her shoulder was still grazed.

The strap of her bag slid down, pulling her shirt slightly open, and as Qian Zhifei instinctively reached out to steady her, he caught a glimpse of a bright red mark.