Chapter 64

【Chapter 64】

It was nine o’clock at night.

In the dead of night.

Su Qingqiu held Su Xijing’s hand and walked ahead, while Xiao Qiangwei yawned and pushed Rong Jin’s wheelchair as they disembarked from the plane.

Rong Jin said, “You’ve worked hard these past few days. Go back and get some proper rest.”

Xiao Qiangwei replied, “Boss, I’m not tired.”

Then she yawned again.

Rong Jin said, “If you’re sleepy, head home early and catch up on sleep.”

Xiao Qiangwei sneaked a glance at Su Qingqiu up ahead, leaned in close to Rong Jin’s ear, and whispered, “Boss, are you really going to stay at Su Qingqiu’s place? That’s kinda scary.”

She wasn’t a stranger to staying over, either.

Rong Jin said, “You go ahead and find a suitable auntie for me first. I…”

With her current net worth in the billions, she still dropped by the bar every few days to check on the band from her university days. Though she no longer had the energy to party with them like before, they were still friends, and they occasionally got together.

She wondered if any of them could look after her for a while.

By now, they had stepped out of the airport terminal.

Even at this late hour, the airport buzzed with people coming and going.

Su Qingqiu’s assistant stood outside holding a sign to pick them up. The moment she spotted them, she waved enthusiastically.

“President Su, over here!”

Su Qingqiu called out in response from afar.

Rong Jin was lost in thought about which friend to impose on until she found a suitable auntie when she didn’t pay close attention and caught Su Qingqiu glancing back at her out of the corner of her eye.

Su Qingqiu, still holding Su Xijing’s hand, leaned down and said, “Xixi, say goodbye to Qiangwei-jiejie.”

Su Xijing waved her little hand. “Bye-bye, Qiangwei-jiejie! Come play at our house anytime!”

Xiao Qiangwei: “…?”

I didn’t say I was leaving right now, did I?

Xiao Qin Feng had been trailing silently at the back of the group. Seeing that Xiao Qiangwei still lacked any sense, he decisively grabbed her and pulled her away. “Then Qiangwei and I will head out first. We’ll stay in touch if anything comes up.”

Su Qingqiu nodded faintly.

Xiao Qiangwei: “…”

Hey, did anyone ask for my opinion?

With Xiao Qiangwei gone, Su Qingqiu smoothly took over pushing Rong Jin’s wheelchair. One hand held Su Xijing’s, the other guided the chair forward.

Rong Jin: “…”

Had she even agreed yet?

Rong Jin was momentarily speechless. Once she recovered, she found the scene rather amusing. She leaned back, looked up at Su Qingqiu, and suddenly let out a soft chuckle. “President Su, are you planning to kidnap me by force?”

Su Qingqiu lowered her gaze, meeting Rong Jin’s teasing eyes.

She quickly looked away again.

She said, “You don’t have anyone at home to take care of you, and we can’t find a suitable auntie right now. I promised your parents I’d look after you.”

Given their history, she didn’t have to do this at all.

Su Qingqiu’s tone was firm and cold, her jaw tight, but her eyes avoided Rong Jin’s, drifting instead to a hot dog vendor ten meters away.

She leaned down and asked Su Xijing, “Xixi, do you want to eat a hot dog?”

Su Xijing exclaimed excitedly, “Xixi wants a hot dog!”

Rong Jin: “…”

She thought the topic change was awkward, but setting everything aside, this was clearly… an olive branch.

But why was Su Qingqiu doing this all of a sudden?

Had her conscience suddenly awakened, realizing that all these years of cutthroat business rivalry had been pointless, and now she wanted to get along properly?

Xiao Zhao, who had come to pick them up, spotted Su Qingqiu pushing the wheelchair from afar. As they drew closer and she saw who was in it, she froze in shock, standing ramrod straight.

The Rong Corporation and Su Corporation office buildings were neighboring Gemini Towers; employees from both companies were familiar with each other and knew their respective bosses on sight.

But why was President Su pushing President Rong out?

Had she finally snapped and broken President Rong’s legs?

Xiao Zhao tremblingly took over the wheelchair and helped Rong Jin into the car.

Su Qingqiu sat in the front passenger seat holding Su Xijing, while Xiao Zhao sat in the back next to Rong Jin.

The ride passed in silence, saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again.

Xiao Zhao tried to make small talk. “President Rong, what happened to your leg?”

Rong Jin replied, “I got into a car accident.”

Xiao Zhao said, “I see.”

So it wasn’t broken by force after all.

Just as Xiao Zhao was about to say more, Su Qingqiu spoke up.

She sat in front, cradling Su Xijing, who was munching on a hot dog, her mouth smeared with grease. She looked relaxed at first glance, but Su Qingqiu’s fingers clenched Su Xijing’s clothes, crumpling the fabric.

She said flatly, “Before your accident, you were competing with me for the Municipal Committee’s investment project. Since you suddenly withdrew, the deal naturally fell into my hands.”

“After all, it feels like I took something from you, so I feel guilty. You’re not very mobile right now, so taking care of you is only right—consider it some compensation.”

Guilty?

Business was war; winners won, losers lost. Where did guilt come into it?

She had given herself a flimsy excuse that wouldn’t hold water, then fell silent.

Taking this step was hard, but she was forcing herself to try, even if it seemed full of holes, even a bit ridiculous.

She really didn’t want to fight with Rong Jin anymore.

Rong Jin fell silent.

From her angle, in the dim car light, she could only see a small exposed section of Su Qingqiu’s pale, soft neck.

Streetlights streamed in through the window, casting a warm yellow glow on her profile, making her look exceptionally gentle.

Su Qingqiu right now resembled that last night before she and Su Xijing had switched back—the one where she hadn’t switched back yet.

Silent.

Meek.

Prickly, yet still somewhat meek.

She was handing over control.

“…”

Rong Jin was speechless for a moment.

She wasn’t used to facing a Su Qingqiu like this.

She always went soft for her, even after years as mortal enemies. She still wasn’t accustomed to it.

This version of her made it hard to be ruthless.

But why was she doing this? Why invite her to live at her house? Why take care of her?

It couldn’t really be a sudden attack of conscience, could it?

She turned her gaze back and said, “Since President Su is so kind, I’ll have to trouble you then.”

The drive was only twenty minutes before they entered the South Second Ring.

Chengbei Gongguan Villa District.

Su Qingqiu carried Su Xijing out of the car. Xiao Zhao retrieved the wheelchair from the trunk and helped Rong Jin into it.

Rong Jin’s left leg was encased in thick plaster, so she could barely balance on her right. She wasn’t yet adept at being a proper cripple, and with the night so dark, she didn’t see the stone underfoot. Her foot twisted, and she nearly toppled over.

Su Xijing cried out, “Auntie, careful!”

Rong Jin inwardly panicked—this is it—falling flat in front of Su Qingqiu? She’d lose all face.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact with the ground, but instead fell into a cool embrace.

Su Qingqiu steadied her firmly, her hair tips brushing Rong Jin’s cheek.

Rong Jin suddenly caught a whiff of that rich, subtle fragrance—Su Qingqiu’s scent. They’d shared a bed for two nights; she remembered it well.

Rong Jin’s gaze drifted for a moment before she instinctively looked down. In the moonlight, a glimpse of snowy white skin entered her view.

Hiss—

…She remembered that too.

Rong Jin averted her eyes politely and murmured, “Thanks.”

Xiao Zhao witnessed the whole thing.

She found the atmosphere between these two bosses utterly bizarre, like she’d seen something she shouldn’t have.

She quickly excused herself. “President Su, I’ll head out then.”

Su Qingqiu nodded.

Xiao Zhao bolted.

Su Qingqiu helped Rong Jin into the wheelchair and pushed her toward the villa.

The villa door was lit up, warm light spilling out welcomingly.

Aunt Zhao held Milk at the entrance, having waited there for some time.

Milk’s white fur was freshly washed, dewormed, and vaccinated—a clean, good kitty that anyone would want to pet.

Spotting her little owner finally back, Milk meowed excitedly, wriggled free from Aunt Zhao’s arms, and pounced straight at Su Xijing.

Milk had been picked up by Rong Jin.

Back then, Rong Jin had been in Su Xijing’s body.

But the real Su Xijing was terrified of cats.

She’d been bitten by a stray once and trembled at the sight of them, let alone one leaping at her.

Seeing the cat charge, Su Xijing got scared, ducked behind Su Qingqiu, and burst into tears.

“Mommy, Xixi is scared. It’s coming at me…”

“Kitty, go away…”

Milk halted uncertainly, looking puzzled at her little owner.

Why was her little owner suddenly so afraid of her, when she’d brought her home herself?

It meowed a couple more times, its soft paw pads padding silently as it inched closer.

Su Xijing wailed, tears streaming, “Go away…”

Milk looked wronged. QAQ.

Rong Jin beckoned to Milk. “Milk, come here.”

Milk tilted its head at the stranger in the wheelchair, approached cautiously, then leaped lightly into her lap.

Rong Jin buried her face in the cat, inhaling deeply.

Sensing the familiar scent, Milk nuzzled her face affectionately, rolled in her lap, and exposed its snowy white belly for pets.

Rong Jin: “…”

This cat was still as dog-like as ever.

Su Qingqiu and Rong Jin exchanged a glance. If Su Xijing was really that afraid of cats, Milk might not be able to stay.

Rong Jin said, “Xixi, come here.”

Su Xijing peeked out from behind Su Qingqiu, eyeing the cat timidly.

Rong Jin scratched Milk’s belly and smiled. “Xixi, don’t be scared. Come touch it. Milk is very good.”

Su Xijing whispered, “Milk?”

Rong Jin said, “Yeah, its name is Milk.”

Su Xijing slowly approached. Milk rolled over, its round almond eyes meeting the glass-bead-like blue cat eyes.

Rubbing comfortably under Rong Jin’s hand, Milk purred.

Su Qingqiu watched anxiously from the side. “Maybe we should forget it. Xixi is really scared of cats.”

She tugged Su Xijing’s hand to pull her away.

Rong Jin glanced at her and encouraged, “Xixi, be brave. You’re a brave, good girl, right?”

Su Xijing nodded vigorously. “Xixi is very brave!”

Gently, slowly, she placed her hand on Milk.

Su Xijing: “…It’s so soft.”

Su Xijing fell head over heels for Milk’s fluffy softness, hugging it tightly and refusing to let go.

Her little face flushed pink and puffy as she looked up at Rong Jin. “Auntie, is Milk a gift from Auntie to Xixi?”

Rong Jin stroked Su Xijing’s head. “Yes, it’s a gift for Xixi.”

Su Xijing carried Milk joyfully into the house. Aunt Zhao, already informed that Rong Jin would be staying for a while, had prepared everything and pushed the wheelchair inside as well.

Su Qingqiu snapped out of it and chuckled helplessly.

So, just be a little braver, huh?