Chapter 59
After Li Qinyue said that, the air turned awkward.
Zhuo Zhi shifted her weight from one foot to the other, attempting a clumsy subject change, “Sister, look, they’re dancing.”
Li Qinyue followed her gaze, seeing a group of children awkwardly practicing dance moves in a studio.
Li Qinyue: “Hehe.”
Zhuo Zhi rubbed her head, “You’re so skilled, Sister.”
“Skilled at what? I don’t even…”
“At makeup. I didn’t understand half of what you said.” Zhuo Zhi quickly interrupted her, “And I don’t think there’s much difference between those shades. You could tell which ones were suitable just by looking…”
Li Qinyue’s lips twitched, “Should I have used my heart to judge?”
“That’s not what I meant… I mean…” A light bulb went off in Zhuo Zhi’s head, “You could be a makeup artist, Sister! You’re even better than that sales assistant. Working in a department store, you’d be indoors, you could wear nice clothes, and you would get employee discounts on makeup, right?”
Li Qinyue was speechless. After a while, she pointed at herself, “Me… become a makeup artist?”
“Ah,” Zhuo Zhi stammered, “I don’t know how much they earn…”
“I’m not saying being a makeup artist is bad,” Li Qinyue gestured around them, “Following your logic, I could earn even more as a teacher.”
“You can be a teacher?!” Zhuo Zhi’s eyes widened.
“Damn, am I that useless in your eyes?!” Li Qinyue was exasperated.
“No, Sister,” Zhuo Zhi poked Li Qinyue’s cheek, “Teachers can’t swear.”
Li Qinyue was distracted by her logic, “You’re right about that.”
Zhuo Zhi said seriously, “Can you really be a teacher, Sister? Do you know how to dance?”
“I learned ballet when I was a child.”
“Wow!!!”
“I quit because my feet hurt.”
“Oh.”
“I also learned painting.”
“Wow!!!”
“I gave up because I would get numb from sitting for so long.”
“Oh.”
“I can play the piano, the flute, sculpt, play chess…” Li Qinyue gestured around, “I can do a little bit of everything.”
“Oh,” Zhuo Zhi had lost all hope.
“And calligraphy,” Li Qinyue paused, “I can do that too.”
“Oh,” Zhuo Zhi’s praise was halfhearted, “You’re so talented, Sister.”
“You don’t believe me, do you?” Li Qinyue looked at her sideways, “You sound so unenthusiastic.”
“I believe you,” Zhuo Zhi carefully chose her words, “But being a teacher is different from having a hobby. You need to be more knowledgeable and patient, otherwise you’d be misleading the students.”
“Heh,” Li Qinyue grabbed Zhuo Zhi’s hand and led her towards a nearby music store.
“What are we doing, Sister?” Zhuo Zhi was starting to fear Li Qinyue’s unpredictable whims.
“Nothing, just showing you my skills, so you don’t think I’m useless,” Li Qinyue said, her chin held high.
They entered the store. A sweet and gentle sales assistant greeted them. Li Qinyue spoke to her for a while. Zhuo Zhi couldn’t understand most of their conversation, but it sounded professional.
The sales assistant led Li Qinyue to several pianos. Li Qinyue tested a few notes, then sat down at a beautiful grand piano, her posture confident and graceful.
Zhuo Zhi stood there, mesmerized.
The music flowed smoothly. It was a melody she had never heard before, unfamiliar yet captivating.
Li Qinyue playing the piano was a sight straight out of a movie, too perfect to be real.
But she was wearing Zhuo Zhi’s clothes, as if this scene somehow connected to her, this little fool from the mountains.
And it was connected, wasn’t it?
This person, this talented pianist, was her girlfriend. It felt surreal, like two completely different worlds merging. At first, it had felt so natural that she hadn’t even noticed. But now, realizing it, she was filled with a sense of wonder.
This was possible, meeting someone like Li Qinyue, sharing such an intimate bond, experiencing such an exciting and novel life.
Thinking about it, Zhuo Zhi couldn’t help but smile.
Her lips curved upwards, her heart overflowing with happiness and pride.
After Li Qinyue finished a short piece, Zhuo Zhi burst into applause.
There were few people in the store, and her applause echoed loudly. The sales assistant looked over and smiled at her, making Zhuo Zhi blush and stop clapping.
Li Qinyue was amused. She put her arm around Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder and continued talking about pianos with the sales assistant.
Zhuo Zhi listened, her face red, wanting to ask the sales assistant, “Isn’t my girlfriend amazing? Isn’t she talented?”
But Li Qinyue asked it for her, “I saw the job advertisement outside. What are the requirements for being a tutor?”
“Just a basic certification. We’re currently recruiting private tutors for beginner children,” the sales assistant said, glancing at Li Qinyue again. “You would be overqualified for that position.”
“Hmm,” Li Qinyue wasn’t being modest, “I’ll look around.”
“Okay,” the sales assistant stepped aside.
Li Qinyue walked around the store with Zhuo Zhi, explaining some basic knowledge about musical instruments, then they left.
As soon as they were out of sight, Zhuo Zhi slapped Li Qinyue’s back and exclaimed in a low voice, “You’re amazing, Sister!!!”
“That’s a normal reaction,” Li Qinyue said, her lips twitching. “I was trying to be modest, and you took it seriously, you really think I can’t even be a tutor?”
“My fault, my fault! You looked so beautiful playing the piano, Sister! I was just stunned, otherwise I would have filmed you.”
“How embarrassing,” Li Qinyue chuckled, ruffling her hair.
“So, Sister…” Zhuo Zhi hesitated. “Do you want to try being a teacher? It’s a great job, I saw their small group classes, only two hours a day…”
“Didn’t she just say I’m overqualified for that kind of class?” Li Qinyue said.
“But we don’t mind! You can teach one class if you want, or two if you want to earn more…”
“You’re truly a fool, honey,” Li Qinyue cupped Zhuo Zhi’s face and squeezed it. “You didn’t understand her implication.”
“What implication?” Zhuo Zhi mumbled, her cheeks distorted.
“When hiring for a position, employers want someone who will stay long-term. What kind of candidate is most likely to meet that requirement?” Li Qinyue looked at her sideways. “Someone who’s a perfect fit for the position, of course. Someone who’s not too skilled to leave at any moment, and not too unskilled to hinder the work. I’m not suitable for that position, she could tell at a glance.”
Zhuo Zhi wanted to ask, Did she tell because you obviously lack the patience to teach children? But Li Qinyue was still squeezing her cheeks, making it difficult to speak, so she gave up.
After Li Qinyue released her cheeks, Zhuo Zhi let out a long sigh.
Li Qinyue asked with a smile, “Are you that worried about me finding a job?”
Zhuo Zhi said honestly, “I just don’t think this is sustainable. I’m afraid you’ll go back to your old life soon, and then our relationship…”
Li Qinyue covered her mouth, “Let me put it this way. Although I’ve never had to struggle, it doesn’t mean I can’t. I don’t do those jobs because there’s no need. Trust me, I would probably end up fighting with the parents, and that would be a lot of trouble. If you’re so worried about money, I have a solution.”
“Hmm?” Zhuo Zhi’s eyes lit up.
“How much money do you have? Keep some for living expenses and give me the rest,” Li Qinyue said, “I’ll return it to you doubled next month.”
Zhuo Zhi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I definitely won’t use my old money,” Li Qinyue said.
Zhuo Zhi blurted out, “You sound like a scammer, Sister.”
Li Qinyue slapped her forehead, both amused and exasperated. “With your courage, you want to make big money? Keep worrying then.”
Zhuo Zhi chuckled and dragged Li Qinyue to a restaurant for dinner.
For the rest of the afternoon, Zhuo Zhi wandered around the mall, “looking for business opportunities,” as she put it.
She suggested many possibilities for Li Qinyue, who seemed capable of doing anything, but wasn’t willing to do anything.
According to Li Qinyue, it was a personality flaw, and personality flaws were her biggest weaknesses.
Zhuo Zhi pouted, feeling it was a shame.
Following the same logic she had used to try to find a job for Li Qinyue, she started considering her own options.
She didn’t understand most of the shops in the mall. There was a rock-climbing gym, and she decided to show off her skills.
She had hoped to demonstrate her strength and ask if they were hiring, like Li Qinyue had done. But the manager, a young man, lectured her for a while.
Something like, “I know you’re skilled, but those moves are against safety regulations, very dangerous. Don’t do that again.”
Zhuo Zhi was scolded like a child. The manager’s earnest tone and patient demeanor clearly showed he had experience dealing with children.
Li Qinyue stood at the side, watching and laughing, not attempting to help Zhuo Zhi, who had no choice but to listen to the lecture, then grabbed Li Qinyue and ran away.
Li Qinyue laughed out loud.
They spent a long time at the mall. As they walked out, Zhuo Zhi looked at the gray sky and let out a long sigh.
“Okay, let’s go back,” Li Qinyue patted her back, taking out her phone to call a taxi.
Zhuo Zhi stared at a security guard nearby. “If nothing else works out, I can be a security guard.”
“Come on, what kind of security company would hire you? You look like someone who needs protection.”
“I can show them my skills, I bet I can beat up their entire staff.”
“Do you think security guards are hired to fight? How often are there real emergencies? Most of the time, it’s just about being a deterrent,” Li Qinyue patted her head reassuringly. “You’re more suited to be a personal bodyguard, for someone with special needs.”
Zhuo Zhi’s eyes lit up.
Li Qinyue chuckled, “But you can forget about that, you were my bodyguard, you’re mine now.”
“Huh?” Zhuo Zhi didn’t understand her logic.
“I won’t let anyone else have this opportunity…” Li Qinyue muttered, grinding her teeth.
Seeing Li Qinyue’s current state, Zhuo Zhi stopped her from calling a taxi and led her to the bus stop instead.
Li Qinyue couldn’t protest because, after opening the ride-hailing app, she remembered that she had no usable accounts.
Riding the bus again with Zhuo Zhi after such a short time brought back many memories.
The bus wasn’t overly crowded, but there weren’t many empty seats either.
When they got on, there was one vacant seat. Zhuo Zhi insisted Li Qinyue take it. But halfway through the ride, a woman carrying a baby got on, and Li Qinyue gave up her seat.
Zhuo Zhi praised her and stood beside her, holding onto a handrail. Simple pleasures.
Li Qinyue wrinkled her nose at the smell coming from a nearby garbage bin, then smiled wryly.
“Two more stops,” Zhuo Zhi said, gently holding onto Li Qinyue’s waist to steady her.
“I’m young and strong,” Li Qinyue declared. “No need to be so careful.”
“Hehe, I’m just worried about you,” Zhuo Zhi said, her head down.
At that moment, the bus lurched, sending the passengers swaying. Zhuo Zhi, instinctively protective, wrapped her arms around Li Qinyue’s waist.
Li Qinyue smiled but didn’t say anything.
The bus continued on its bumpy journey, stopping at the next station.
Quite a few people got off here, crowding the exit.
Just as the rush subsided, a girl at the front of the bus suddenly yelled, “My phone!”
The crowd surged. The hand on Li Qinyue’s waist disappeared.
Just before the doors closed, Zhuo Zhi squeezed through the crowd, grabbed a man, and in a few quick moves, had him pinned to the ground.
Something flashed in the man’s hand. Li Qinyue’s heart leapt into her throat, but before she could panic, she saw Zhuo Zhi expertly kick the knife out of his hand.
Screams erupted inside the bus, and a crowd gathered outside.
For a moment, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. People shouted for the driver to stop, to call the police, to help.
The bus stopped, and several passengers rushed out, brushing past Li Qinyue.
Li Qinyue clutched her chest, overwhelmed by the situation.
Was it their destiny to be heroes every time they took the bus? With Zhuo Zhi’s personality, would they be involved in every incident?
Li Qinyue got off the bus, pushed her way through the crowd, and looked Zhuo Zhi up and down, “Are you okay?”
Zhuo Zhi shook her head, “I’m fine.”
The girl who had lost her phone also pushed through the crowd, saying repeatedly, “Thank you, thank you, where’s my phone…”
Zhuo Zhi pressed the man down, immobilizing him, “Take out the phone.”
The man shouted, “I didn’t steal it!”
“Why did you run if you didn’t steal it?” Someone in the crowd yelled.
“I was getting off the bus, why would I run? Search me! Search me!” The man struggled desperately.
Li Qinyue said to the girl, “He must have an accomplice, call the police.”
The girl was stunned, “I don’t have my phone, I can’t call.”
Someone else in the crowd shouted, “I’ll call, I’ll call, the police are on their way!”
“I’m not afraid of the police! I didn’t steal anything!” The man sounded confident.
Li Qinyue kicked the knife aside, “Carrying a weapon is illegal too.”
Then, feeling a little unsure, she looked at Zhuo Zhi, “Right?”
Zhuo Zhi, who had memorized all the relevant laws, said, “Yes, endangering public safety, serious offenses are punishable by up to three years in prison, detention, or control.”
Li Qinyue smiled. The fool wasn’t that foolish after all, she knew to make the situation sound serious.
The man started yelling and struggling, but Zhuo Zhi held him down firmly, eliciting gasps from the onlookers.
Li Qinyue said to a few middle-aged men nearby, “Sir, she’s just a small girl, can you help her out? She might not be able to hold him down much longer.”
The men readily agreed. Someone offered his belt, and they all gathered around the man, tying him up.
Whenever something like this happened, ordinary people loved taking pictures and videos. Li Qinyue pulled Zhuo Zhi aside. The girl who had lost her phone came over and asked, “Did you see him steal my phone?”
Zhuo Zhi said, “I saw him panic when you shouted that you had lost your phone.”
The girl frowned, “But what if he didn’t steal it…”
Li Qinyue said, “He’ll still be in trouble, didn’t you hear what we just said?”
“Maybe…” the girl looked down, fiddling with her fingers, “Let’s just forget it, it’s just a phone, it’s not expensive, I’m afraid of provoking this kind of person…”
“It’s too late for that,” Li Qinyue grabbed the girl’s arm, “My girlfriend will have to go to the police station as a witness, you, as the victim, need to at least give a statement.”
The girl struggled, “I don’t want to get involved, I don’t want the phone anymore…”
“No,” Li Qinyue interrupted her, her eyes cold, “Don’t be ridiculous, she helped you, don’t be ungrateful.”
The girl couldn’t break free and remained silent.
Zhuo Zhi wanted to ease the tension. Just as she uttered a word, Li Qinyue cut her off.
“You, shut up,” she said.
Zhuo Zhi was confused.
Li Qinyue sighed and said to her, “According to our agreement, I have no money or connections now. What happens to others will also happen to you. Doing good deeds comes at a price.”
Zhuo Zhi nodded, “I’m not afraid.”
Li Qinyue smiled, “I know you’re not, little spider.”
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