Chapter 57 p2
Qin Qianrou glanced at the time, it was only 1:30 pm.
“It’s still early, no need to rush.”
Shen Yiqiu paused. She wanted to spend more time with Jiejie, but she was also afraid of crying. These past few days, her heart had been in turmoil, yearning to be close, yet afraid to approach, wanting to distance herself, yet unable to bear it.
Thankfully, Jiejie hadn’t pushed her away further, they could still talk like this, as usual.
“Then, I’ll make you some honey water.”
Looking at Shen Yiqiu’s slender back, as long as she was home, she always seemed to be busy, constantly finding ways to ensure Qin Qianrou ate and drank well. But what about herself?
Qin Qianrou sighed softly. She had been carefully replaying every detail of her interactions with Shen Yiqiu since they met, surprised by how many memories they had already created together. And these memories, to her, were mostly filled with warmth and gratitude.
Shen Yiqiu, to her, was like a ray of sunshine in winter.
Unfortunately, the chasm between them was too wide, too deep, she had no intention of crossing it, and she certainly didn’t want Shen Yiqiu, having finally found a new beginning, to suffer because of her. She hoped that these three months of distance and time would reset everything.
Li Wan and Rong Fei brought a lot of pre-prepared ingredients, which greatly eased Shen Yiqiu’s burden. After all, among the four of them, only Rong Fei and Shen Yiqiu were truly skilled in the kitchen.
Li Wan chatted with Qin Qianrou in the living room, while two busy figures could be seen through the glass kitchen door.
“Shen Yiqiu is truly capable, good at studying and good at cooking, girls like that are highly sought after these days.” Li Wan popped a macaron into her mouth as she spoke.
She had specifically bought desserts from the shop near the television station, knowing Shen Yiqiu liked them.
“Aren’t you on a diet?” Qin Qianrou reminded her, though it was pointless with Li Wan.
She feigned sadness. “I’m using sweets to cope with the sorrow of parting.”
Qin Qianrou shook her head helplessly, it was just a three-month business trip, not a three-year mission to some remote and unreachable location, was it really necessary to be so dramatic?
Li Wan, having finished a macaron, wiped her hands and took a sip of rose tea. She glanced towards the kitchen, then leaned closer to Qin Qianrou’s ear.
“Xiao Qiu doesn’t seem to have any reaction to your upcoming business trip?”
Qin Qianrou raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased that she was still calling Shen Yiqiu “Xiao Qiu” (little Qiu, often used for children).
Li Wan, however, ignored this. She was truly curious; why was Shen Yiqiu acting so normal today, as if not at all affected by Qin Qianrou’s impending departure?
Was she the only one feeling sad and reluctant?
“She’s not as childish as you, making a fuss about a business trip, as if I’m going to outer space.”
Qin Qianrou shifted slightly, trying to remove the weight leaning on her shoulder.
Li Wan straightened up, resting her arm casually on the back of the sofa, and said, slightly disgruntled, “That’s because I care about you.”
Qin Qianrou naturally understood their bond, but Li Wan’s enthusiastic and unrestrained personality was truly… overwhelming. Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but think of Team Leader Lin, wondering how long it would take for this fire to ignite within her.
The thought made her chuckle softly.
Li Wan nudged her, slightly uncomfortable. “What are you thinking about?”
“Wondering if your relationship status will change when I return in three months.”
Li Wan blushed slightly and insisted, “Just three months, how much can change? You should be the one worried, be careful of those eligible bachelors in Hai City, the rumors at the station might actually come true.”
Someone had previously mistaken Wen Shao Ze for one of Qin Qianrou’s suitors, and the rumor had spread quickly. But the Qin family’s status and influence in Hai City, and Qin Qianrou’s own charm, were undeniable. Who wouldn’t want to win the heart of such a beauty?
Qin Qianrou, usually indifferent to such matters, frowned slightly.
Li Wan, seeing this, was taken aback.
Qin Qianrou instinctively glanced towards the kitchen, then looked away and casually said, “I never allow such troublesome things to happen.”
Li Wan chuckled and patted the back of her hand. “Good luck with that.”
The larger the family, the more difficult it was to escape such pressures. Qin Qianrou’s reluctance to return to Hai City all these years, besides the past incident, was undoubtedly partly due to this.
But in all these years in Meng City, she hadn’t had a single relationship, as if indifferent to everyone. Having reached this age, her elders would naturally be anxious. Li Wan rejected Zhuo Cheng, rejected blind dates, but at least she had Lin Shuangzhi in her heart.
But Qin Qianrou seemed different, she didn’t seem to care about her relationship status at all.
As if she had never considered liking someone.
Li Wan leaned closer again, her voice even lower, “Qianrou, tell me honestly, are you… frigid?”
Qin Qianrou immediately pushed her friend away, watching as Li Wan burst into laughter on the sofa.
“I’m perfectly normal.”
Seeing that Li Wan, still chuckling, was about to continue her questioning, Qin Qianrou quickly added, “I just haven’t met the right person yet.”
There was a hint of sadness in her voice; perhaps she had met someone, but it wasn’t the right person.
The kitchen door opened, and dishes of delicious food were brought to the table. Li Wan pulled Qin Qianrou towards the dining room, exclaiming that they were in for a treat tonight.
Looking at the beautifully presented and fragrant dishes, Li Wan couldn’t help but praise, “Xiao Qiu, your cooking has improved tremendously, Qianrou, you should just send her over to my place while you’re away.”
She had mentioned this before, and Shen Yiqiu had refused. Qin Qianrou had relayed her message, and Li Wan hadn’t taken it seriously. But now, she genuinely wanted to invite Shen Yiqiu to stay with her, who wouldn’t want to come home to such delicious food every day?
“No, I promised Jiejie I would stay here.” Shen Yiqiu refused without hesitation, afraid this might be a new decision they had just discussed.
She anxiously searched Qin Qianrou’s eyes, only relaxing when she saw her usual calm demeanor.
Jiejie didn’t intend to send her away, which was good. Even if Qin Qianrou wasn’t home, she could still wait for her here.
Li Wan sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere, her gaze moving back and forth between Qin Qianrou and Shen Yiqiu, her previous suspicions resurfacing.
Rong Fei finished setting the table, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents, her attention solely on the food. “Come and sit down, the food will get cold.”
They would usually have wine to celebrate, but considering Shen Yiqiu and Qin Qianrou’s upcoming travels, they used juice instead. They toasted each other, everyone in good spirits, then started eating.
Li Wan naturally praised Shen Yiqiu’s cooking profusely, repeatedly offering to trade desserts for the savory dishes, but Shen Yiqiu refused.
“Shen Yiqiu, you’re being biased. I’m also your Jiejie Li, why don’t you ever cook for me?”
“That’s because…” You’re not Sister Qin.
But she couldn’t say that, it would only make things awkward.
Shen Yiqiu said, slightly embarrassed, “I’m usually busy with my studies, I don’t have much time to cook. If you really want to eat my cooking, just let me know in advance, and you can come over.”
I’m definitely not going to your place, this is my territory, I have to defend it.
Li Wan paused, then suddenly burst out laughing, glancing at Qin Qianrou while covering her mouth.
As expected, the usually calm and composed Qin Qianrou’s expression had darkened considerably.
Shen Yiqiu, puzzled, looked at the laughing Li Wan, even more confused.
Was she happy, or unhappy?
It was a headache. Jiejie Qin was so much better, her emotions always so stable and calm.
Shen Yiqiu’s phone suddenly rang in her room, and she excused herself to answer it.
They vaguely heard someone inviting her out, but she declined, saying she was busy these next few days and would have to reschedule. Li Wan glanced at Qin Qianrou, who didn’t seem to react, and wondered inwardly,
Qianrou is acting strange, although she’s usually calm, isn’t she being a bit too indifferent today? As if she’s deliberately suppressing something.
Years of friendship made Li Wan even more suspicious. The longer Shen Yiqiu’s phone call lasted, the colder Qin Qianrou seemed to become, and Li Wan couldn’t help but ponder this.
The situation seemed to be aligning with her suspicions, yet it seemed so unbelievable. She had previously blamed her overactive imagination on reading too many web novels. And Qin Qianrou’s aversion to relationships had fueled her speculations, she had mostly found it amusing.
But if her suspicions were true, it wouldn’t be amusing at all.
Li Wan kicked Rong Fei under the table, but she remained unfazed, as if not having received her signal.
Li Wan bit her lip, contemplating the possibilities, then she heard Qin Qianrou’s cold voice, “Eat.”
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