Chapter 51
Yuan Qi didn’t look like he had been on a world tour; he looked more like someone who had finally escaped after being forced into hard labor. Shen Yiqiu watched him devour his food, a stark contrast to the man she remembered, with his moderate appetite and the faint melancholy in his eyes.
“Cousin, where did you travel to?”
Sitting in silence felt awkward. Although they didn’t have much in common, Shen Yiqiu was curious about the places that had transformed Yuan Qi so drastically. She mentally made a note to avoid those places when she and Jiejie went traveling; she couldn’t let Jiejie suffer like this.
Traveling with Jiejie…
Her thoughts wandered again. Shen Yiqiu realized that in many of the things she wanted to do in the future, there was a place reserved for Jiejie. But she also knew it was just a wishful fantasy; Jiejie was so busy with work, how could she possibly have time to travel with her?
Yuan Qi finally stopped eating, looking at the empty plates on the table with satisfaction.
“I didn’t go to that many places, really. It’s just that in foreign countries, you can’t find authentic Chinese food. Your stomach… it remembers. After a while, you just crave it intensely.”
Yuan Qi was talking about homesickness. He hadn’t understood it when he was younger, but now that he did, he couldn’t wait to return home.
Shen Yiqiu, lost in thought, softly said, “So you decided to settle down in Meng City because you missed the food.”
Yuan Qi hesitated, then nodded in agreement.
He gestured for the waiter to bring the bill, then sighed. “Some things… you’re still too young to understand. I’d rather you never understand, the process of learning isn’t pleasant.”
Shen Yiqiu was a little displeased. She stood up, putting on her coat, buttoning it carefully.
“Cousin, you always treat me like a child, saying cryptic things, pretending to be so worldly.”
Her mother used to say the same thing to Yuan Qi. Much older than him, she had always been very protective of her young cousin.
A flicker of remembrance flashed across Yuan Qi’s eyes, but he didn’t comment. Although Xiao Qiu seemed to be doing well, he didn’t want to bring up painful memories. He knew the pain of reopening old wounds all too well.
“In my eyes, you’ll always be a child. Your cousin will always love and care for you. In front of me, you can just be a child.”
Yuan Qi put on his coat, and they walked out side by side. This time, he didn’t pat Shen Yiqiu’s head, but he still put his arm around her shoulders affectionately. She had grown taller, but he still felt she was a little thin.
**
After pouring out her heart, Li Wan felt much lighter, although she was still unsure of the team leader’s feelings, it was better than keeping it all bottled up inside. Qin Qianrou was a good listener, she hadn’t judged or criticized, just listened quietly.
Li Wan, after her lengthy confession, still feeling restless, gestured for the waiter to bring the wine list.
Qin Qianrou tried to stop her with a look, but Li Wan smiled and shook her head. “Don’t worry, I’m not trying to drown my sorrows. I’m just feeling a little down, I need a drink to relax.”
Li Wan wasn’t a heavy drinker and always knew her limits. Qin Qianrou, who was driving, wouldn’t touch alcohol. She sat across from her friend, watching as she sipped her wine.
“Xiao Wan, although I shouldn’t interfere too much in your personal life, as a friend, I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
“I’m not always unhappy, at least when I’m with her, I’m happy, genuinely happy.” A smile touched Li Wan’s lips as she recalled certain moments.
“But if your feelings aren’t reciprocated, or if they’re not accepted by others, what will you do?”
Li Wan smiled wryly and fell silent.
Qin Qianrou’s hands, resting on her lap, unconsciously clenched into fists. She felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation, waiting for Li Wan’s answer. As a bystander, she wanted to know what the person involved would do. But deep down, she also hoped for someone to give her an answer.
Li Wan thought for a moment, then looked at Qin Qianrou with a hopeful expression. “Qianrou, if it were you, what would you do?”
Me? Qin Qianrou was taken aback, then slowly shook her head.
If she knew what to do, she wouldn’t be so eager to hear Li Wan’s answer.
Li Wan didn’t give up, pondering for a while longer. Just when Qin Qianrou thought the topic had been silently dropped, she said, “Regardless of what others think or say, if she reciprocates my feelings, I’m willing to face everything with her.”
What they would face was unspoken, yet understood.
Qin Qianrou looked at her friend intently. She knew Li Wan’s personality well. When she loved someone, she was fearless and determined. The team leader’s feelings were unclear, yet Li Wan had already made up her mind, she was clearly sincere and had thought about their future.
Only, the road ahead might not be easy.
They were in the news industry, they had encountered many such stories, and the endings were rarely happy. The hardships involved could only be understood by those who had experienced them. Even as bystanders, they found it difficult to bear, let alone experiencing it firsthand.
“Xiao Wan, I’ll support you.” Qin Qianrou didn’t offer much advice; as a friend, all she could offer was support.
There was nothing wrong with loving someone.
Li Wan’s mood lifted, having had quite a bit to drink, and she felt a sense of relief. She glanced at her watch; it was getting late. There was still a lot of work to do tomorrow, and Lin Shuangzhi wouldn’t let them leave early.
“Let’s go, we still have work tomorrow, I don’t want to go to work with dark circles under my eyes.” Li Wan pushed her wine glass away. She hadn’t eaten much tonight, but the emotional release had been substantial.
Having finally revealed the secret she had been holding onto, she felt lighter, her steps brisk. However, to Qin Qianrou, her current state simply meant: she was almost drunk.
Half-supporting Li Wan as they left the restaurant, night had already fallen. She was afraid Li Wan, in her high heels, might not be able to see clearly, so she held onto her tightly.
“I shouldn’t have let you drink so much.”
“Qianrou, I’m very happy today, truly happy.” Li Wan wasn’t being unruly; she was simply leaning against Qin Qianrou, her voice soft and slightly slurred.
“I know you’re happy.” If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have let you drink.
Qin Qianrou sighed helplessly and quickened her pace, wanting to get Li Wan home quickly.
Suddenly, Li Wan stopped, then started walking in a different direction.
Qin Qianrou, also in high heels, was pulled along by her for a few steps. When she finally managed to stop, she heard Li Wan exclaim in surprise.
“That looks like Shen Yiqiu!”
Hearing the name, Qin Qianrou’s heart inexplicably lurched, as if all the unsettled feelings she had been experiencing tonight stemmed from this.
Following Li Wan’s unsteady hand, she saw two figures in the distance, standing very close together. But the night was dark, and even with the streetlights and shop signs, it was difficult to see clearly.
Li Wan, her vision blurry from the alcohol, might have been mistaken.
“It really does look like her. But why is she with a man?” Li Wan refused to move, leaning against Qin Qianrou, her gaze still fixed on the two figures.
The two figures were walking away, almost disappearing into the distance. Li Wan had spotted them first, so she had naturally seen more than Qin Qianrou. Although their faces were no longer visible, Li Wan’s words made Qin Qianrou focus her attention on them.
Under a streetlight, Shen Yiqiu’s jacket became visible, the same one she had been wearing that morning. Qin Qianrou pursed her lips and looked at the hair, soft, shoulder-length hair, no distinctive features, but the length did match Shen Yiqiu’s.
Qin Qianrou’s gaze quickly shifted to the other person. The man was clearly taller and broader than Shen Yiqiu, not like when she was wearing high heels and walking with Shen Yiqiu. The man’s physique was clearly male.
His attire wasn’t particularly old-fashioned, but compared to Shen Yiqiu, he was definitely more mature. Qin Qianrou carefully analyzed what she saw, but she couldn’t figure out who he was.
However, she couldn’t ignore the man’s arm around Shen Yiqiu’s shoulders, and Shen Yiqiu didn’t seem to be resisting, walking alongside him.
Li Wan was still muttering, her words slurred and indistinct.
She leaned closer to Qin Qianrou and asked, “Qianrou, did you see? Those two just now, was that Shen Yiqiu?”
“It looked a bit like her.”
Li Wan, emboldened by the alcohol, suddenly shouted, “Shen Yiqiu!”
Her voice echoed across the parking lot, but the open space swallowed it, and there was no response.
Qin Qianrou’s gaze was fixed on the direction the two figures had disappeared into. She thought she saw someone pause in the distance, and she couldn’t help but purse her lips.
However, after waiting for a while, no one approached, and the two figures were completely gone. Li Wan sighed dejectedly. “How dare she ignore me, you’ll pay for this next time!”
Qin Qianrou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, unsure if it was drunken rambling or genuine anger. She seemed to be taking her frustration with Lin Shuangzhi out on Shen Yiqiu. Qin Qianrou suddenly pictured Shen Yiqiu’s soft expression and the helpless look in her eyes when she was being teased by Li Wan, and her heart stirred.
“We might have been mistaken, she should be at home studying.” Qin Qianrou supported Li Wan and continued walking towards the parking lot.
Before turning around, she glanced in that direction again; there was indeed no one there.
After driving Li Wan home, Li Wan’s mother took her half-drunk daughter from Qin Qianrou, repeatedly urging her to stay the night.
“Auntie, I still have some work to do, I’ll come over another time.”
“Then go back early, I won’t keep you. Don’t be like Xiao Wan, staying up late every night.”
Qin Qianrou exchanged a few pleasantries and left, after making sure Zhuo Cheng wasn’t there.
Li Wan had mostly sobered up in the car, but the alcohol had made her drowsy and languid. However, her mind was still sharp, and she was still thinking about what they had seen earlier.
“That person really looked like Shen Yiqiu, Qianrou, are you sure it wasn’t her?”
Qin Qianrou, focused on driving, paused, then said, “Probably not.”
Li Wan didn’t seem convinced. “Then call her and ask if she’s at home or not.”
Qin Qianrou didn’t respond, continuing to drive.
Li Wan, seemingly not noticing Qin Qianrou’s silence, took out her phone.
“I’ll message her and ask. It’s one thing for a kid to sneak out at night, but being with some random man is unacceptable.”
These days, news stories about young girls being deceived by men were countless. Although Li Wan often teased and occasionally picked on Shen Yiqiu, she genuinely cared about her.
Subconsciously, Li Wan felt that, with Shen Yiqiu having lost her parents’ protection, they, as older sisters, should look out for her.
Just as she took out her phone, Qin Qianrou spoke, “Let’s not disturb her studies, I’ll ask her when I get home.”
Li Wan looked at her, puzzled, and asked, “What if she’s still out there? What time will it be by the time you get home? She might already be in trouble.”
Having had a few drinks, and being in front of Qin Qianrou, Li Wan was more relaxed and less guarded in her speech.
Qin Qianrou’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, then loosened. After a moment, she finally relented. “Then you ask.”
Li Wan found Qin Qianrou’s reaction a bit strange, but she didn’t dwell on it, finding it amusing. It was just a message, why so hesitant?
“Shen Yiqiu, where are you now?” Li Wan sent a voice message.
Shen Yiqiu replied quickly.
Qin Qianrou instinctively slowed down.
Li Wan, seeing this, breathed a sigh of relief and reported to Qin Qianrou, “She said she’s at home.”
The car sped up slightly, and Li Wan, thinking about it, was about to send another message.
“Didn’t you already get your answer? What are you still thinking about?”
“I’ll just casually ask where she went tonight.”
This time, Qin Qianrou’s objection was more direct, “Xiao Wan, she’s an adult, she has the freedom to do what she wants. Since we’ve confirmed she’s home and safe, we shouldn’t interfere too much.”
Li Wan agreed, put away her phone, and returned to her languid state.
“I’m starting to understand the difficulties of being a parent. Worried, but also afraid of being too controlling and making the child resentful.”
Qin Qianrou chuckled, “Found someone you like, and you’re already thinking about being a parent?”
The implication being that Li Wan was thinking about settling down.
Li Wan, no longer tipsy, blushed slightly.
She said, slightly embarrassed, “Qianrou, please don’t tell anyone at the station tomorrow. If she finds out about my feelings, I don’t know how I’ll face her anymore.”
Qin Qianrou glanced at her friend, who was now acting like a shy and flustered young girl.
It was as if they were back in their youth, love a flickering flame in their hearts, yearning for it to burn brightly, yet afraid of its intensity, afraid of being consumed.
“I’ll keep your secret.”
Qin Qianrou thought to herself, Does Xiao Wan intend to keep her feelings hidden forever? She’s only hurting herself.
But she was just a bystander, she had no right to interfere, she could only hope that one day, their feelings would be reciprocated.
Reciprocated feelings, the thought made Qin Qianrou’s breath catch in her throat.
**
When she got home, it was around the same time as her usual late nights. Just as she put down her bag, she heard sounds coming from the kitchen. Unusually, the main light in the living room was on, and the apartment was brightly lit.
Qin Qianrou entered the dining room and saw Shen Yiqiu in an apron, carrying something from the kitchen.
“Perfect timing, I just finished making steamed eggs, come try some.” Shen Yiqiu’s face was bright with joy, happy that Qin Qianrou was home.
Qin Qianrou’s gaze, however, wasn’t on the steamed eggs, but on Shen Yiqiu.
It had been a while since they had seen each other at this time of day, let alone being observed so intently by Qin Qianrou. Shen Yiqiu fidgeted, her hands clasped by her sides, nervously clutching the edges of her apron.
“You’re so busy with your studies, you don’t have to make these for me.” Qin Qianrou didn’t want Shen Yiqiu to overwork herself; she could use that time to sleep, relax, or just unwind.
Shen Yiqiu’s expression faltered, and she softly said, “Jiejie, you don’t like the food I make?”
Qin Qianrou, seeing her nervousness, softened her tone and explained, “I like it very much, I just don’t want you to tire yourself out.”
Students nowadays had it harder than before, even after graduating for so many years, Qin Qianrou understood this.
Hearing that Jiejie liked her cooking, Shen Yiqiu couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m not tired at all, I’m happiest when I’m preparing a late-night snack for you.” This was her anticipation, her motivation.
Even if she couldn’t have anything more with Jiejie, being able to do something for her made her happy.
Qin Qianrou looked at her intently, her lips parting slightly a few times, but she didn’t say anything.
Shen Yiqiu took two steps forward, gently pulling her hand, leading her to the dining table and seating her.
“Eat it while it’s hot, steamed eggs aren’t as delicious when they’re cold.”
She had used a new topping today, something she had learned at the restaurant tonight.
She anxiously watched as Qin Qianrou took a small bite, afraid she might not like this new attempt, but thankfully, Jiejie gave her a satisfied smile.
“I can’t finish this all by myself, want to join me?”
Shen Yiqiu shook her head, answering honestly, “No, I ate too much tonight.”
She had eaten a lot with Yuan Qi. She hadn’t felt it at the time, but after leaving the restaurant, she had almost been overwhelmed. Her cousin had wanted to take a walk to aid digestion, but Shen Yiqiu had refused.
Not only was it cold and windy, but she also had to rush back to prepare the late-night snack for Jiejie. Yuan Qi had been attentive and caring throughout the evening, but when it came to taking her home, he had stopped at the entrance of the residential complex without hesitation.
He seemed reluctant to enter, as if afraid of running into someone. He kept looking around, which amused Shen Yiqiu.
Qin Qianrou, eating the steamed eggs, as if remembering something, casually asked, “Did you make any new dishes for dinner tonight?”
It had been a while since Qin Qianrou had dinner at home, naturally, it had also been a while since they discussed recipes.
Shen Yiqiu shook her head. “I ate out tonight, I didn’t cook.”
She thought, Could it be that Jiejie finished her work early and can finally have dinner at home? Shen Yiqiu’s thoughts wandered, already planning her next trip to the supermarket, completely oblivious to the subtle change in Qin Qianrou’s expression.
After a moment, Qin Qianrou calmly said, “I rarely hear you say you’re stuffed from eating at the cafeteria, and have their opening hours been extended?”
The cafeteria at Meng Da usually closed at 6 pm, and after 5 pm, there weren’t many options left, just noodles and snacks. Shen Yiqiu had complained before that if she went too late, there was nothing left to eat, so it was better not to go at all.
“Uh, I didn’t eat at the cafeteria.” Shen Yiqiu hesitated slightly, carefully observing Qin Qianrou. Seeing no particular reaction, she continued, “I had dinner with a friend outside.”
Qin Qianrou nodded and didn’t ask further.
Shen Yiqiu breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried about how to answer if Jiejie asked who she had dinner with.
She didn’t want to lie to Jiejie, but she didn’t want to mention her cousin either. Even if Yuan Qi hadn’t asked her to keep it a secret, she still wouldn’t have wanted to bring him up in front of Qin Qianrou. When Yuan Qi had dropped her off at the entrance of the complex tonight and left immediately, Shen Yiqiu had felt a secret sense of delight.
That way, her cousin wouldn’t run into Jiejie.
She belatedly realized she didn’t want them to meet.
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