Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 95

Chapter 95

Qin Qianrou steadied herself and instinctively took two steps back. Although the movement was slight, it was still noticeable in the narrow hallway.

Qian Zhifei awkwardly released his hold, his gaze fixed on the wall, flustered.

“You can leave me here, thank you for your help today, Captain Qian.” Qin Qianrou adjusted her bag and turned to leave.

“Please wait!” Qian Zhifei called out after a moment of hesitation.

Qin Qianrou turned around, waiting for him to continue.

Qian Zhifei, usually so decisive, hesitated, looking down, then took a step forward and asked in a low voice, “I have a somewhat… personal question for Reporter Qin.”

Qin Qianrou tilted her head slightly, gesturing for him to proceed.

“Are you… currently seeing anyone?”

Qian Zhifei was thirty-five years old, no longer a naive young man. Although asking such a direct question seemed a little forward, it would allow him to move on, instead of continuing his one-sided pursuit, oblivious to her feelings.

Qin Qianrou was slightly surprised, but not offended. “Why is Captain Qian suddenly interested in my personal life?”

Qian Zhifei smiled wryly, “My apologies, I was being presumptuous.”

Qin Qianrou hadn’t intended to discuss relationships with Qian Zhifei, she had always pretended to be unaware of his subtle advances and his assistance, but he wasn’t a bad person, and he had always maintained a respectful distance, a true gentleman.

“I am in a relationship, it’s quite serious, thank you for your concern, Captain Qian.”

The bitterness in Qian Zhifei’s smile deepened, but he maintained his composure, not at all flustered.

“It seems I was a step too late.” He tried to convince himself with a half-hearted joke.

Qin Qianrou, however, shook her head gently, her tone sincere, “It’s not your fault, regardless of timing, my choice would always be her.”

Besides Shen Yiqiu, no one else could make her feel this way.

She had met countless people, but besides Shen Yiqiu, no one else mattered.

Qian Zhifei’s forced smile faltered, he had been mentally prepared for rejection, so Qin Qianrou’s revelation of being in a relationship had only been a minor disappointment,

however, hearing her firm and unwavering declaration of her choice, Qian Zhifei felt a pang of jealousy.

“Then… he’s a very lucky man.” He sighed, how fortunate to have someone like Reporter Qin as a girlfriend.

Qin Qianrou smiled faintly and said, “I’m the lucky one.”

Qian Zhifei pondered her words, then insisted on escorting her to the parking lot. Perhaps the incident in the lobby had made him overly cautious; he wouldn’t be at ease until she was safely in her car.

“Thank you for your help, I’ll treat you to dinner sometime.” Qian Zhifei had indeed helped her with several work-related matters, and Qin Qianrou intended to repay the favor.

Qian Zhifei’s eyes dimmed slightly, but he maintained his composure, smiling politely. “Then I’ll be waiting for your invitation, Reporter Qin.”

Qin Qianrou drove out of the Economic Investigation Brigade compound, watching in her rearview mirror as Qian Zhifei stood there for a moment before turning back, she breathed a sigh of relief, she had sensed his disappointment just now, but she also knew he wouldn’t persist.

Li Wan’s earlier complaints about Zhuo Cheng suddenly came to mind, compared to him, Qian Zhifei was much more respectful.

**

Shen Yiqiu hadn’t started school yet, but Zhang Meng had contacted her, saying she needed help with something, so she went to the university after lunch. The task had been relatively simple, and Zhang Meng wanted to treat her to dinner as a thank you.

“No need to be so polite, Senior, I have to go home.”

“Shen Yiqiu, we haven’t seen each other all break, and you’re already refusing my dinner invitation?” Since helping Shen Yiqiu with the Gu Chao situation, Zhang Meng had become closer to her.

But with final exams, then the holidays and the New Year celebrations, she hadn’t had a chance to ask about their progress.

“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just…” Shen Yiqiu scratched her head, slightly embarrassed. “I want to go home and cook for Jiejie.”

Zhang Meng looked at her disapprovingly. “Can you have some ambition? At your age, all you think about is cooking and chores, you’ll turn into a housekeeper, lose all your charm.”

Shen Yiqiu protested indignantly, “That’s not true! Home-cooked meals are nutritious and made with love, eating out too often isn’t healthy. Besides, I can do other things too, besides cooking, but… I can’t tell you.”

Zhang Meng chuckled and urged her to message Qin Qianrou. “Just tell Reporter Qin that I’m treating you to dinner, it’s fine to skip cooking for a day.”

Although Reporter Qin seemed a little cold and aloof, Zhang Meng believed she was a good person, and also reasonable.

Shen Yiqiu’s hand was in her pocket, she wasn’t planning on accepting Zhang Meng’s invitation, when her phone suddenly rang, Qin Qianrou’s personalized ringtone.

Seeing her instantly discard her earlier reluctance and answer the phone eagerly, Zhang Meng felt a pang of envy. She discreetly stepped aside, giving Shen Yiqiu some privacy.

“Jiejie, are you done with your errands?”

“Mm, I’m on my way to your school, I should be there in about twenty minutes.”

“I’m almost at the university gate.”

“Then think about where you want to have dinner, I’m driving.”

Shen Yiqiu didn’t hesitate, immediately taking on the task, “No problem, leave it to me.”

After hanging up, Zhang Meng approached, and before she could speak, Shen Yiqiu said,

“Jiejie is coming to pick me up.”

Zhang Meng understood, with her girlfriend coming, she couldn’t insist on the dinner invitation, “Going grocery shopping together, then cooking at home?”

Shen Yiqiu shook her head, “No, Jiejie said we’re eating out, she asked me to choose the place.”

As she spoke, Shen Yiqiu opened a food delivery app, browsing the options.

Zhang Meng felt a surge of frustration, she had extended a sincere invitation, and Shen Yiqiu had repeatedly refused, yet a single phone call from Qin Qianrou, and she was eagerly searching for restaurants.

But then she thought about it, They’re in a relationship, I’m just an acquaintance, if it were Gu Chao, I would also ditch my friends without hesitation.

Her frustration dissipated, and she was actually quite pleased with Shen Yiqiu’s reaction, at least it showed she was truly committed to this relationship.

They didn’t have to wait long at the university gate before Qin Qianrou arrived. Shen Yiqiu glanced at the time, it had only been fifteen minutes, and just as she was about to walk over, she saw Qin Qianrou getting out of the car and approaching her.

Zhang Meng, who had been chatting with her, seeing Qin Qianrou approach, greeted her, “Long time no see, Reporter Qin.”

Qin Qianrou smiled and nodded. “Hello, Zhang Meng.”

Shen Yiqiu instinctively reached out, then, remembering they were at the university gate, besides Zhang Meng, there were also other students coming and going, although the semester hadn’t officially started yet, some students who lived further away had already returned.

She discreetly put her hands behind her back, standing stiffly, hoping others wouldn’t think she and Qin Qianrou were too close.

“What are you spacing out about?” Qin Qianrou gently adjusted Shen Yiqiu’s collar, which was clearly rumpled from repeatedly taking her coat on and off.

“Nothing, let’s go.” Shen Yiqiu was afraid of being seen, she didn’t mind herself, but she didn’t want people recognizing Qin Qianrou.

Zhang Meng, understandingly, waved goodbye and left, the third wheel role wasn’t appealing.

As they crossed the street towards the car, Qin Qianrou continued observing Shen Yiqiu, slightly puzzled, it wasn’t a long walk from the gate, but Shen Yiqiu had practically been running, as if afraid of being seen.

“Were you afraid of being seen by your classmates?” Qin Qianrou voiced her suspicion after they got in the car.

Shen Yiqiu, who had just fastened her seatbelt, paused, her expression slightly unnatural,

her reaction confirming Qin Qianrou’s suspicion. Qin Qianrou’s voice was calm, “Then I’ll wait for you in the car in the future.”

Shen Yiqiu, however, stopped Qin Qianrou from starting the car, placing her hand over hers. She explained, “Jiejie, I was afraid of you being seen, you’re a famous reporter in Meng City, many people recognize you.”

Qin Qianrou was startled, she hadn’t expected this to be Shen Yiqiu’s concern,

she gently flicked Shen Yiqiu’s earlobe and said playfully, “Your girlfriend came to pick you up, and you’re worried about such trivial matters?”

Shen Yiqiu, stunned by Qin Qianrou’s reaction, stared at her blankly.

“I’ve already thought about this when I decided to be with you, there’s no need to be secretive, we don’t have to flaunt it, but we also don’t have to hide.”

Shen Yiqiu was overjoyed, but still a little worried, “What if someone sees us and posts it online?”

The incident with Lin Shuangzhi and Zhuo Cheng, just a minor altercation by the roadside, had caused such a commotion, she couldn’t imagine what would happen if her relationship with Qin Qianrou was exposed.

Qin Qianrou sighed softly, they would have to face this eventually, wouldn’t they?

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

“No, I won’t let you face this alone.” Shen Yiqiu’s tone was firm, her stubbornness evident.

Qin Qianrou’s heart stirred, and she gently caressed Shen Yiqiu’s lips,

“Okay, I promise you, we’ll face it together.”

Shen Yiqiu finally smiled, taking out her phone, excitedly describing the restaurants she had chosen, letting Qin Qianrou make the final decision.

**

Since Qin Qianrou’s declaration, Shen Yiqiu no longer deliberately avoided her, but she also didn’t show any overt affection in public, just holding hands or occasionally hugging,

their interactions, although intimate, not enough to raise suspicion, after all, close female friends also acted like this, and calling each other “dear” was common among young women.

Shen Yiqiu’s schedule was even busier this semester, besides maintaining her high GPA, she had also joined two clubs, both recommended by Zhang Meng, and with Qin Qianrou encouraging her to be more social, Shen Yiqiu was finally fully integrating into university life.

The cold winter was coming to an end, spring approaching, a hint of warmth in the air, Shen Yiqiu’s tragic past no longer a hot topic of conversation, and she was finally just a student, living the ordinary life she had always yearned for.

Qin Qianrou woke up one morning, the familiar sound of Shen Yiqiu’s breaths by her ear, and as she shifted slightly, she winced,

another morning of waking up with a sore back, she considered herself relatively flexible, but after a night of… strenuous activity, her back always protested,

thinking of the culprit, Qin Qianrou wanted to wake her up and demand a massage, but then again, she had fallen asleep last night under Shen Yiqiu’s gentle ministrations, which hadn’t been so bad.

Shen Yiqiu, sleeping soundly like a little pig, her workload had increased recently, and they didn’t always have time for… intimacy, but Shen Yiqiu’s stamina was truly impressive, and once they started, there was no stopping her, Qin Qianrou had become much more… receptive, but Shen Yiqiu’s repertoire also seemed to be expanding, keeping her on her toes.

“Mm, what time is it?” The person beside her finally stirred, her first words, still slightly muffled with sleep, a question about the time.

“7 am.”

“Ah, so late!” Shen Yiqiu was instantly wide awake, had her alarm not gone off?

Seeing her frantically searching for her phone, Qin Qianrou reminded her, “You turned it off last night, you said it was annoying.”

Shen Yiqiu remembered, last night, in the heat of the moment, a classmate had called, not once, but twice, and annoyed, she had glanced at the message on the screen, something about homework and the professor, then, without hesitation, she had turned off her phone and tossed it aside.

Shen Yiqiu patted her forehead, finally remembering.

She leaned over and kissed Qin Qianrou’s cheek, “Jiejie has such a good memory.”

The restructuring plan at the television station had been revised because of the Director Yu incident, Deputy Director Ding remained in his position, but his responsibilities had been changed to administrative matters, while the station director position would be filled by an external candidate, appointed directly by the provincial government after being vetted by the city officials.

The long-awaited announcement finally came, and regardless of the outcome, this matter was temporarily settled.

The advertising department was in despair, they had been expecting a new director, but the station had announced that due to the severity of Director Yu’s misconduct, the department would be restructured.

And with the diversification of media platforms in recent years, television advertising was already on the decline, they had finally secured a major contract last year, only for it to backfire spectacularly.

“If I had known this would happen, I would have rather not had Dongsheng as a client, at least I would still be in my position, now I have to pack my bags and learn new skills in a different department.”

“You’re still lucky, at least you’re going to another operational department, Xiao Xiao and I are even worse off, transferred to administration, it’ll be difficult to find another job later.”

“Lao Yu is truly a menace, enjoying all the benefits himself, leaving us to clean up his mess.”

“Don’t just blame Lao Yu, when Dongsheng came to sign the contract last year, who was the one fawning over them, praising Director Yu non-stop, calling him our savior, our hero, our reborn parent?”

A wave of laughter, and the target of their mockery blushed furiously.

This restructuring of Meng City Television was a major upheaval, even a traditional department like advertising being dismantled, most of its staff reassigned to other departments, only a few core members remaining.

The advertising department, once a powerful force, had been reduced to practically nothing.

Shao Qidong, hearing this news, his face darkened so drastically that his secretary almost called an ambulance.

His trip to the US during the holidays had been relatively smooth, but his limited English skills and his lack of familiarity with international business practices had been a hindrance, foreign companies didn’t operate the same way as domestic ones, even though it was all about profit, they were more… hypocritical, which frustrated Shao Qidong immensely.

Could it be that he truly couldn’t function without Zhuo Cheng?

Shao Qidong hated being controlled, Zhuo Cheng could be his pawn, but he couldn’t be his spokesperson.

“Postpone our collaboration with the television station.”

Zhuo Cheng, hearing this, guessed the reason.

“But our media expenses exceeded our budget last year, if we don’t follow up, we’ll definitely be operating at a loss.”

Media advertising was a long-term investment, rarely yielding immediate returns.

“There are only a few people left at the station who will listen to us, and they have no real power, continuing to invest would be a waste of money.”

“I understand.” Zhuo Cheng stood up to leave.

Shao Qidong suddenly called out to him, “I have a dinner engagement tonight, come with me.”

Zhuo Cheng frowned, “Tonight?”

Shao Qidong rarely brought Zhuo Cheng to social events, firstly, he wanted to keep Zhuo Cheng’s role low-key, secondly, his focus should be on overseas operations, the domestic business wasn’t his responsibility.

“It’s an important client, I’ll introduce you.”

Since Shao Qidong had said this, he couldn’t refuse.

After Zhuo Cheng left, Shao Qidong took out his phone and pressed a speed dial button.

“Tonight, at Ting Hai Marina, prepare the yacht.”

Then, he gave a few more instructions, emphasizing, “Find a few new faces, young, beautiful, and obedient, and they have to… know how to cooperate.”

After making these arrangements, Shao Qidong instructed his secretary to call a meeting with the department heads,

he had to accelerate the transfer of his assets, Director Yu’s investigation progressing much faster than he had anticipated, and he sensed danger.