Category: Little Bodyguard(GL)

Chapter 74

The police station wasn’t far, a ten-minute walk at a brisk pace.

And Li Qinyue was practically running.

It was still early, the air thick with fog and a cold dampness.

As she ran, Li Qinyue thought she should advise Zhuo Zhi and her Master not to go running so early in the morning.

The air quality was poor, not good for their health.

The mountain air was much better.

Speaking of the mountain, Li Qinyue thought the Master really knew how to live.

Living with her adorable and obedient disciple, away from worldly troubles, doing whatever she pleased, how carefree.

She just didn’t know where their living expenses came from. The Master didn’t seem to have a job, and if there was no one else on the mountain, they would probably spend the New Year together.

That would be nice, it should be.

If only the Master wouldn’t glare at them every time they showed any affection, that would be even better.

Lost in her thoughts, Li Qinyue stopped when she reached the police station.

She didn’t go in, but stepped back, hiding behind a tree.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Zhuo Zhi: Where are you?

• At work.

Zhuo Zhi’s reply was full of pride.

• Tsk, working where?

Li Qinyue asked.

• The police station, just released two detainees.

• Wow, Officer Zhuo, I need to report a crime.

• Officer Sister Zhuo.

• Okay, Officer Sister Zhuo, I need to report a crime.

• What happened?

• I need to hug the police. Sorry, typo.

• Hahahahahahahahaha…

Li Qinyue chuckled, reading the string of “ha’s”.

She didn’t want to disturb Zhuo Zhi too much, and now that she was here, she wasn’t in such a hurry anymore. She continued texting.

• Someone is trying to kill me.

• Who?

• Officer Xiao Zhuo, she’s so beautiful, my heart is racing, I’ll give her my life, my soul, I’ve already had three bowls of Meng Po soup since I saw her picture.

This time, Zhuo Zhi’s reply was slow. After a while, she said:

• Don’t be like this, Sister.

• Am I disturbing your work?

• Yes, you’re making it impossible for me to focus.

• Hahahahahahahahaha…

This time, it was Li Qinyue who sent a string of “ha’s”.

Standing under a bare tree by the police station, clutching her phone and giggling, she must have looked quite silly. A police officer passing by glanced at her several times.

Noticing the curious stares, Li Qinyue thought that this must be Zhuo Zhi’s colleague. She patted her pockets, but she didn’t have any cigarettes with her. She smiled and greeted him, “Good morning!”

The officer responded with a “Good morning,” but his smile was awkward and confused.

Li Qinyue didn’t mind and continued texting:

• Are you on patrol?

This time, it took ten minutes for Zhuo Zhi to reply:

• Yes.

Li Qinyue immediately put away her phone and stood up straight, her eyes fixed on the police station entrance.

After another ten minutes or so, two people came out: a short male officer, and another short person, Officer Xiao Zhuo.

Zhuo Zhi was wearing her new uniform, the spring/autumn version she had sent a picture of, the lines clean and crisp, looking smart and capable.

She was wearing a thick coat over it, which would have swallowed a smaller person, but on Zhuo Zhi, love truly made her look beautiful in Li Qinyue’s eyes.

She looked so stylish, like a cool rapper in boyfriend-style clothing!

They didn’t have a car and were walking briskly. Officer Xiao Zhuo, her expression serious, didn’t even look over.

Li Qinyue’s heart pounded. She didn’t know what she was thinking, but instead of approaching them, she stepped back and hid behind the tree.

Zhuo Zhi quickly turned a corner. Li Qinyue, keeping a distance, followed stealthily.

It was rush hour now, there were more people on the street, and Li Qinyue, hidden in the morning smog, wasn’t noticed.

Zhuo Zhi and the short officer entered a nearby residential complex. Li Qinyue followed them. Fortunately, the buildings in this area were old, there were no security gates.

They turned a couple of corners and entered a building. It was only a four-story building. Li Qinyue didn’t dare to follow them inside. She walked around and found a small, old playground nearby.

The bright yellow and blue playground equipment were the only splashes of color in this wintery scene.

Li Qinyue sat on one end of a seesaw, waiting patiently at first, then after a while, she took out her phone out of boredom.

She browsed social media, played a couple of games, but Zhuo Zhi still hadn’t come out.

Did it take that long to be on patrol? Li Qinyue pouted, thinking, no wonder the police station was short-staffed.

She started another game, playing seriously this time, killing time until the end of the match.

Zhuo Zhi finally reappeared.

She was still with the short officer, they were talking, and Li Qinyue noticed that Zhuo Zhi’s expression wasn’t very good.

She quickly sent a message:

• How was your first day at work?

Zhuo Zhi’s phone probably didn’t have notification sounds turned on for WeChat. She didn’t take out her phone even after turning another corner.

Li Qinyue stood up and followed her.

They didn’t return to the police station, but walked for about ten minutes to a nearby wet market.

The market was old and run-down. The seafood section was right by the entrance, the smell pungent and overwhelming.

Li Qinyue had always avoided this place.

Now, seeing Zhuo Zhi enter the market and disappear from sight, Li Qinyue stepped into a puddle of dirty water, noticing a few fish scales stuck to her shoe.

She quickly retreated, found a spot to stand, and started playing a game on her phone.

This time, it was a disaster. She didn’t even have a place to sit, she had to stand.

It was a cold day, and her hands and feet were freezing.

She played terribly this time, her mind not on the game, and was killed by a vehicle.

Li Qinyue exited the game, put her phone away, and rubbed her hands together to warm them up.

The owner of a small shop across the street, basking under a heat lamp, had been watching her for a while.

Li Qinyue suddenly felt a wave of frustration. She took a deep breath and asked herself, what was she doing?

Would anyone believe it? The once-carefree and reckless Li Qinyue, standing outside in the freezing cold, waiting for someone.

Just to… just to…

See her for a moment?

Li Qinyue wanted to slap herself. She had never done anything so foolish, not even when she was drunk.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Aijia:

• Do you believe in the power of love?

Aijia, as always, replied quickly:

• I do.

• Give me an example.

Li Qinyue typed.

• You.

Aijia replied.

Li Qinyue: …

Aijia: You started this, don’t blame me for being nosy. Coming out for Zhuo Zhi at your family dinner, you’re already a love icon in our circle.

Li Qinyue: Really…?

Aijia: Yes. Don’t be mad, but there’s a new meme now, they use it whenever someone confesses their feelings.

Li Qinyue: …

Aijia: Want to see it?

Li Qinyue: No.

Aijia: Oh.

A few seconds later, Li Qinyue: Send it to me.

Aijia quickly sent a series of memes:

• Dare to say “I love you” in front of my dad? .jpg

• Dare to say “I love you” in front of my grandpa? .jpg

• Dare to say “I love you” in front of my second aunt’s grandma? .jpg

• Dare to say “I love you” after all this money disappears? .jpg

• Oops, sent one too many.

Aijia retracted the last picture.

The picture was of a room filled with cash.

• Why did you retract it?

Li Qinyue asked.

Aijia: I thought you might be mad.

Li Qinyue: Now you’re worried about me being mad.

Aijia: True. Dare to say “I love you” after all this money disappears? .jpg

Li Qinyue burst out laughing.

It was indeed infuriating, a private family matter turned into a meme, she wasn’t a celebrity, she didn’t need publicity.

But strangely, she wasn’t angry. In fact, she felt a little ashamed.

Ashamed that her actions had been motivated by selfishness, by a desire to rebel against her family.

She hadn’t considered the consequences for Zhuo Zhi. If she had been more rational, less impulsive, and handled her own problems without involving Zhuo Zhi, perhaps Zhuo Zhi would still be happily working as her bodyguard.

Tsk, Li Qinyue lightly slapped her own head.

She must be crazy, her thoughts were so absurdly noble. Wasn’t Zhuo Zhi happy being a police officer? She seemed to be enjoying it.

Thinking about this, she looked up at the wet market again.

• I think those things are quite ordinary.

She continued texting Aijia:

• What makes me believe in the power of love is standing here in the freezing cold, following Zhuo Zhi for a whole morning, and not wanting to disturb her.

Aijia, probably not knowing what to say, replied with a meme:

• You go, girl. .jpg

After three patrols in the morning, Zhuo Zhi was exhausted by lunchtime.

It wasn’t physical exhaustion, but mental exhaustion, which in turn, made her body tired, her throat dry, and her head dizzy.

Officer Sun tapped on his phone and said to her, “Let’s eat first.”

Zhuo Zhi asked, “Is there another case?”

Officer Sun said, “There is, but it’s not urgent.”

“What happened?” Zhuo Zhi asked.

“There was a fight on the overpass.”

“Then we should go quickly!” Zhuo Zhi’s voice rose.

“No need, they’ve already been brought back to the station,” Officer Sun smiled, “We can just go back after lunch, question them, and write the report.”

“Phew…” Zhuo Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good.”

Officer Sun raised his hand, as if wanting to pat her head, but looking at her height and the thick coat she was wearing, he gave up.

He patted her shoulder instead, “Tired? Being a patrol officer is not as easy as you thought, is it?”

“Yeah,” Zhuo Zhi chuckled, “You guys have worked hard.”

“Now it’s us who have worked hard,” Officer Sun crossed his arms behind his back, looking around, “What do you want to eat? I’m familiar with all the restaurants in this area.”

Zhuo Zhi had initially thought she could go home for lunch since it was so close. But judging from the current situation, they probably only had time for a quick meal before returning to the station.

So she gave up on the idea of going home, “Anything is fine, you choose.”

Officer Sun said, “Then let’s go to that noodle shop around the corner. Big portions, delicious, and filling, perfect for a long afternoon.”

“Okay,” Zhuo Zhi readily agreed.

They continued walking briskly, quickly turning a corner and reaching the noodle shop.

Zhuo Zhi took out her phone and saw the messages from Li Qinyue.

She couldn’t help but smile, stopping to reply.

Officer Sun went in first. As Zhuo Zhi was typing her message, a figure suddenly appeared beside her. She moved aside to let the person pass, but the person grabbed her arm.

Zhuo Zhi was about to grab the person’s arm in return when she noticed the familiar figure and, without hesitation, turned the movement into a hug.

Li Qinyue was standing right in front of her, her eyes bright, her body radiating coldness.

Zhuo Zhi hugged her, feeling the accumulated fatigue from the morning melt away. She looked up at Li Qinyue, her voice soft and coquettish, “What are you doing here, Sister?”

Li Qinyue raised an eyebrow, “Just a coincidence.”

“Really?” Zhuo Zhi asked, “Are you here to buy something?”

“Yes,” Li Qinyue pulled her slightly to the side, clearing the entrance of the noodle shop.

“Buying what?” Zhuo Zhi asked.

Li Qinyue couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing her nose. Cupping Zhuo Zhi’s face, her forehead against Zhuo Zhi’s, she said, “Buying a kiss from you.”

Zhuo Zhi’s face flushed instantly. Just as she was about to speak, Officer Sun’s voice came from behind her, “Well, Xiao Zhuo, someone’s looking for you…”

Chapter 73

Apparently, there were so many incidents before the New Year that as soon as Li Qinyue gave her approval, Officer Zhao said Zhuo Zhi could start working.

“This afternoon? That won’t work,” Li Qinyue said, glancing at Zhuo Zhi, who was hovering around her like a puppy, “Tomorrow. We need to prepare.”

“Alright, tomorrow then,” Officer Zhao said, “Remember to send me Zhuo Zhi’s clothing size later.”

“Okay, will do, thank you,” Li Qinyue hung up the phone.

Zhuo Zhi looked at her expectantly, “What do we need to prepare, Sister?”

Li Qinyue thought for a moment. Officer Zhao had said that Zhuo Zhi could just pick up her uniform and equipment at the station, she just needed to bring her ID, register, and sign the contract.

There wasn’t anything to prepare.

But Li Qinyue still felt that it was too rushed.

She looked Zhuo Zhi up and down, then frowned, “A bulletproof vest? Let’s buy two.”

“What?” Zhuo Zhi chuckled, “I’m just a patrol officer, an auxiliary officer at that. Officer Zhao said I’ll mostly be running errands, I don’t need that.”

“Just in case,” Li Qinyue said.

“There’s no ‘just in case’,” Zhuo Zhi nudged her arm, “Even if I need one, they’ll provide it, right? You can’t just buy those things.”

“There’s nothing I can’t buy,” Li Qinyue said.

“Except for things you can’t afford,” Zhuo Zhi quickly retorted.

Li Qinyue’s lips moved, but she swallowed her words.

With Zhuo Zhi in charge of the finances, there were indeed things she couldn’t afford.

Speaking of which, Li Qinyue took out her phone and tapped on the screen. A notification sound came from Zhuo Zhi’s phone.

Zhuo Zhi picked up her phone, glanced at it, then looked at Li Qinyue with a smile, “What’s this, Sister? Where did you get the money?”

“I earned it,” Li Qinyue said.

“You’ve only been working for a few days, does ‘Shengge’ pay that well?” Zhuo Zhi’s eyes widened.

“It includes your share,” Li Qinyue said.

“Even with my share, it can’t be this much.”

“Don’t they give out year-end bonuses and holiday allowances during the New Year…?”

“But you haven’t even finished your probation period…”

Li Qinyue squinted at her, and Zhuo Zhi closed her mouth.

Li Qinyue looked at her intently, pointing at her own face, “Do you know how much a bartender like me is worth?”

Zhuo Zhi mumbled, “But you just learned how to…”

Li Qinyue didn’t lower her hand, still pointing at her face, “Are skills important? No.”

“Then what’s important?” Zhuo Zhi asked with a smile.

“Looks!” Li Qinyue said, “My face is my asset! I just have to stand there, and people will come to buy drinks from me.”

“Sister,” Zhuo Zhi covered Li Qinyue’s mouth, putting on an exaggeratedly worried expression, “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”

“Damn,” Li Qinyue’s muffled voice and warm breath tickled Zhuo Zhi’s palm, “You’ve really grown up.”

Zhuo Zhi burst out laughing, falling onto the sofa and rolling around.

Li Qinyue also laughed, watching her. The Master came out of the kitchen and glanced at them.

Li Qinyue immediately stopped laughing and stood up, “Master, I’ve talked to the police station, Zhuo Zhi can start working tomorrow. They’re in a hurry, not even waiting a single day.”

“Hmm,” the Master responded, then turned to Zhuo Zhi, “Come here, help me roll out the dough.”

Li Qinyue asked, “Are we making dumplings? I’ll help too!”

“We’re making stuffed flatbreads,” the Master said, “No need to wrap them.”

“Then I’ll roll the dough,” Li Qinyue said, rushing towards the kitchen.

The Master, her hands covered in flour, raised her hand, “Stop, right there.”

“Hmm?” Li Qinyue froze, confused.

Zhuo Zhi had already squeezed past her into the kitchen and picked up the rolling pin, “Should the dough be thin or thick, Master?”

“One centimeter,” the Master said, looking at Li Qinyue, “If you want to help, just stand there.”

Then she went to the counter, squeezing beside Zhuo Zhi.

Li Qinyue leaned against the kitchen door, “How can I help by just standing there?”

“Just watch,” the Master said.

Zhuo Zhi giggled.

The Master lowered her voice, “What’s so funny?”

Zhuo Zhi didn’t answer her, turning to Li Qinyue and saying, “Master thinks you’re annoying, you’ll only make things worse, Sister, go watch TV.”

“I…” Li Qinyue was speechless.

The Master, busy preparing the filling, said, “The kitchen is too small.”

It was an explanation, a consolation, Li Qinyue thought, feeling touched.

Consoling her wounded heart.

Feeling warm and fuzzy inside, she said considerately, “Then I’ll sweep the floor.”

The floor was quite clean. Li Qinyue picked up a few scraps from the table, then didn’t know what else to do.

She spotted the mop in the bathroom, her eyes lit up, and started mopping the floor diligently.

It had been years since she had done this, and after mopping the living room, she felt a slight ache in her back, much to her surprise.

But she wasn’t going to give up. The Master was in the kitchen, the apartment was small, she could hear everything. Since she had started cleaning, she was going to make the apartment spotless.

Not only to show her diligence, but also her perseverance, her determination, and her sincerity.

Just like she had said she liked Zhuo Zhi, that she would treat her well, that no one could separate them, then no one would.

Hehe.

Li Qinyue became even more enthusiastic, her body warming up from the constant movement.

She took off a layer of clothing. While mopping the floor, she noticed that the curtains were dirty, so she took them down and threw them in the washing machine.

After the curtains were washed, she called Zhuo Zhi to help her hang them up on the balcony, then looked around the apartment and said, “New year, new look. We need to buy some decorations, and I want to rearrange the living room. The sofa looks so outdated like this, let’s get a few nice cushions too.”

Zhuo Zhi nodded repeatedly, “Okay, no problem, you’re right, Sister.”

“Heh,” Li Qinyue glanced at her.

“Why are you ‘heh’-ing me?” Zhuo Zhi asked with a smile.

“Go back to the kitchen and finish your work,” Li Qinyue said.

“Okay,” Zhuo Zhi, always obedient, rushed back to the kitchen, then turned around at the door and said, “I wasn’t lying, Sister. You have great taste, you should definitely be the one making these decisions.”

Li Qinyue smiled, pleased with the flattery. Comrade Xiao Zhuo had grown up, she knew how to tease and how to praise.

After their honest conversation yesterday, the Master had agreed to let Zhuo Zhi try being an auxiliary police officer for a while. But she didn’t say anything about their relationship.

This was already a huge concession. She hadn’t objected, hadn’t kicked Li Qinyue out, or taken Zhuo Zhi back to the mountain. This could be considered tacit approval.

She probably just didn’t want to express her opinion, figuring it was pointless, and would just let time tell.

In this respect, Li Qinyue felt that the Master was much wiser than her father and grandfather. She was open-minded and didn’t resort to extreme measures or even unnecessary arguments.

Zhuo Zhi was lucky to have grown up under such a parent’s care, no wonder she was so wonderful, so adorable.

Although the Master seemed indifferent towards her, Li Qinyue remained enthusiastic.

When they were having lunch, she showered the Master with compliments from the very first bite, praising her directly and indirectly.

She kept asking the Master questions that required an answer, which made the lunch last longer, the atmosphere a strange mix of harmony and tension.

After lunch, the three of them went shopping. Li Qinyue bought everything she had wanted to buy earlier, and after returning home, she and Zhuo Zhi quickly redecorated the apartment.

It felt like a fresh start.

It got dark quickly in winter. After watching TV for a while, the Master decided to go to bed.

According to Zhuo Zhi, their life on the mountain followed the natural rhythm of sunrise and sunset, very regular and healthy.

Yesterday had been an exception, their long conversation making them go to bed late. Today, they had to return to their usual schedule.

Li Qinyue was a night owl, but she was playing the role of a good girl now. She washed up quickly and pretended to be ready for bed.

The Master didn’t say anything. Zhuo Zhi was drying her hair in the bathroom when Li Qinyue snuck up to her and whispered, “How are we sleeping tonight?”

The hairdryer was too loud. Zhuo Zhi shouted, “What?!”

Li Qinyue almost slapped her mouth.

She pulled Zhuo Zhi’s sleeve and pushed her towards a corner, away from the kitchen, where the Master was preparing ingredients for tomorrow.

“What’s wrong?” Zhuo Zhi turned off the hairdryer.

“Keep drying your hair, keep drying your hair!” Li Qinyue turned it back on. “Suddenly stopping like that makes you look suspicious.”

Zhuo Zhi: “…”

Aren’t we already suspicious?

Li Qinyue took out her phone and typed: How are we sleeping tonight?

Zhuo Zhi’s face flushed. She mouthed the words silently, “Like last night.”

Li Qinyue, surprisingly, understood. She quickly typed: Master rarely comes down the mountain, you’re squeezing in the same bed with her, it’s winter, the blankets could easily fall off, what if you catch a cold?

The corners of Zhuo Zhi’s lips curved upwards, she was clearly amused, “What if you catch a cold?”

Li Qinyue: I won’t, we’re young.

Zhuo Zhi didn’t say anything more, seemingly considering it. After drying her hair, she leaned closer to Li Qinyue’s ear and whispered, “Your bed is smaller.”

“You think my bed is too small?” Li Qinyue frowned.

“No,” Zhuo Zhi squeezed her hand, “That excuse won’t work, Master won’t believe it.”

Li Qinyue’s frown deepened. She looked out the window, lost in thought.

Zhuo Zhi, seeing that the Master had finished in the kitchen, patted her back, “Let’s just leave it at that for now.”

Li Qinyue let out a long sigh.

Zhuo Zhi quickly put away her things, followed the Master to the master bedroom, then peeked her head out the door and waved at Li Qinyue, “Good night, Sister.”

“Good night,” Li Qinyue replied, her voice filled with disappointment.

The apartment became quiet. Li Qinyue went to her small guest bedroom, lay in bed, and tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

It was mainly because she had gone to bed too early, her mind couldn’t settle down.

She wanted to sleep with Zhuo Zhi, not necessarily to do anything.

They hadn’t seen each other for a few days, and with the Master constantly present, the most intimate contact they could have was holding hands.

And even that had to be done secretly, otherwise it would feel like showing off in front of the Master, who would definitely be angry.

So, she hadn’t really expected anything when she had asked Zhuo Zhi that question, she just wanted to express her desire.

Li Qinyue had never experienced such an intense need for closeness with anyone before.

She wasn’t interested in getting close to most people. With those she liked, she would just casually pat them on the shoulder or ruffle their hair.

Like when she had first met Zhuo Zhi, she hadn’t hesitated to hug her or kiss her cheek.

But things had changed. Her feelings for Zhuo Zhi had taken a turn, and ever since then, her desire for physical intimacy had grown.

She wanted to kiss her, to hug her, to hold her.

They had finally started being affectionate, nothing too outrageous, but they had touched everything they were supposed to touch.

And now, she had to put on the brakes suddenly, even holding hands felt risky, making her feel like a teenager again.

What was terrifying was that the suppression hadn’t diminished her desires. On the contrary, it intensified them, making her yearn even more.

When she was close to Zhuo Zhi, she could almost smell a sweet scent emanating from her skin, and she, like a bee drawn to honey, wanted to devour her whole.

Tsk, how inappropriate.

Li Qinyue stared at the ceiling, fiddling with her phone, wanting to send Zhuo Zhi a message.

But it had been at least forty minutes since they said good night, Zhuo Zhi must be asleep by now.

Even if Zhuo Zhi wasn’t asleep, her master definitely was.

But a martial arts expert like her master would still be aware of any movement, even while sleeping.

If her phone lit up, who knows who would see those suggestive messages.

Tsk, she couldn’t even flirt through text.

Lost in her chaotic thoughts, Li Qinyue tossed and turned in bed.

She fell asleep eventually.

She woke up early, as people who go to bed early tend to do. She opened her eyes when she heard Zhuo Zhi washing up in the bathroom.

Listening carefully, she confirmed it was just Zhuo Zhi alone. She quickly put on her slippers and rushed to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Zhuo Zhi was brushing her teeth, her mouth full of bubbles, staring at her like a goldfish.

Li Qinyue leaned in and kissed her cheek. Zhuo Zhi quickly rinsed her mouth and asked in a low voice, “Why are you up so early?”

Li Qinyue said, “I had to pee.”

Zhuo Zhi froze, her face flushing crimson. She pointed at the toilet, “Then… you…”

“Are you going to watch me pee?” Li Qinyue teased her.

“I’ll go out,” Zhuo Zhi immediately turned to leave.

Li Qinyue grabbed her arm, “Where’s Master?”

“She went for a run.”

“She could be back any minute now. We finally have some alone time, where are you running off to?” Li Qinyue pulled her into a hug.

Zhuo Zhi let herself be held, looking up at Li Qinyue, her eyes sparkling, “What do you want to do, Sister?”

“What do you think I want to do?”

“You want to kiss me,” Zhuo Zhi smiled.

Li Qinyue leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. A refreshing minty scent filled the air.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth yet,” Li Qinyue said.

“I don’t mind,” Zhuo Zhi chuckled.

“I do,” Li Qinyue squeezed her cheeks playfully, “And if Master suddenly appears again, I’ll be traumatized.”

“Traumatized?” Zhuo Zhi asked.

“Yeah…” Li Qinyue paused, then corrected herself, “I’ll have a mental scar.”

Zhuo Zhi, remembering that awkward encounter by the back door of the bar, nodded in agreement.

Li Qinyue sighed and let go of her, stepping aside, “Then you can watch me pee.”

“Sister!” Zhuo Zhi shouted, opening the door and running out.

Li Qinyue burst into laughter.

By the time Zhuo Zhi was ready to leave for work, the Master had returned, bringing breakfast for them.

Li Qinyue was standing by the door, looking refreshed. The Master asked, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to see Zhuo Zhi off, it’s her first day of work,” Li Qinyue said.

“It’s not like it’s her first day of kindergarten, what’s there to see off?” The Master turned to Zhuo Zhi, “Go by yourself.”

“Okay, I’ll go by myself,” Zhuo Zhi said with a smile, looking at Li Qinyue, “I’ll be fine, Sister, it’s not far, don’t worry.”

Li Qinyue looked at the Master, “Then, okay.”

After Zhuo Zhi left, Li Qinyue and the Master had breakfast together.

She tried her best to make conversation with the Master, who remained indifferent. Without Zhuo Zhi present, Li Qinyue also lost her motivation to try so hard.

After breakfast, the Master picked up a book and started reading, looking calm and elegant.

The apartment was small. It wasn’t appropriate for Li Qinyue to stay in the bedroom, and there was nothing for her to do in the living room.

The only books in this old apartment were her elementary school textbooks, she had no interest in those.

And constantly playing with her phone would make her seem unproductive.

For the first time, Li Qinyue felt a genuine urge to work.

Annoyed by this realization, she sent a message to Aijia: If you keep slacking off, ‘Shengge’ will go bankrupt someday.

Aijia quickly replied: President Li, are you ready to return?

Li Qinyue: No, I’m still your bartender, Xiao Li.

Aijia: Then you’re overstepping your boundaries.

Li Qinyue: …

See, when you’re unhappy, you can find fault with anyone.

Li Qinyue closed Aijia’s chat window and scrolled through her contacts, stopping at Zhuo Zhi’s.

Oh, right, she couldn’t send suggestive messages last night, but she could now.

She glanced at the Master, who was engrossed in her book.

Li Qinyue quickly typed: Baby, have you reached the station? Did you send the picture of your uniform? Let me see.

About five or six minutes later, Zhuo Zhi finally replied, and it was a bombshell.

A picture.

Li Qinyue had never found police uniforms attractive before. But at this moment, she realized that it was all about who was wearing them.

Seeing Zhuo Zhi in uniform, her mind filled with inappropriate thoughts, and a burning desire surged through her.

She stood up, emboldened by her lust, and said to the Master, “Master, I need to go out.”

The Master glanced at her, then after a long silence, finally said, “Go ahead.”

Li Qinyue tried to contain her excitement while she was still inside the apartment. But the moment she closed the door, she ran as fast as she could.

Uniform temptation.avi, baby, here I come!!!

Chapter 72

With Li Qinyue’s involvement, the crowd of onlookers grew larger.

The girl said her name was Zhang Yue and explained what had happened.

Just as Li Qinyue had guessed, she had been lured into the salon with a “free trial” offer. After a series of treatments, they presented her with a bill for 3888 yuan.

The amount elicited gasps from the crowd. The girl was on the verge of tears, “They said it was free, they pulled me inside. I’m just a college student, I don’t have that kind of money.”

Li Qinyue thought to herself, You wasted your college education if you fall for this kind of scam.

But she gently patted the girl’s back and said, “In this situation, it’s best to call the police, they’ll mediate.”

The girl pursed her lips.

Li Qinyue glanced at the Master, then said to the girl, “But you’ll still have to pay something.”

The girl said, “I don’t have any money.”

She tried to pull her hand away from Li Qinyue’s.

Li Qinyue took a deep breath, suppressing her urge to curse, and asked the Master with a smile, “Master, what do you think we should do?”

The Master said, “Don’t you already know?”

Li Qinyue nodded, “Okay, then we’ll do as you say, Master.”

Master: Did I say anything?

Li Qinyue pointed at the group of salon workers who were being held back by Zhuo Zhi, “Don’t worry, just wait for the police to arrive. They’ll be here soon, it won’t affect your scamming business.”

“We’re not afraid! We have a business license, we’re a legitimate business!” the man whose pants had ripped shouted, clutching his leg.

Li Qinyue had already dialed the police, the corners of her lips twitching, “You can tell that to the police.”

Zhuo Zhi glanced at Li Qinyue, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

You little rascal, Li Qinyue thought, I’m only being so polite because of you.

She explained the situation to the police, and they arrived in less than five minutes.

Two young officers pushed through the crowd. The one holding the body camera was Fang Yi.

Fang Yi met Li Qinyue’s gaze. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak.

Fang Yi paused, probably swallowing the words “what a coincidence”.

He didn’t speak much. It was the other officer who questioned the salon staff and mediated. Li Qinyue let go of Zhang Yue’s hand, letting the police handle the situation.

Zhang Yue started crying, pointing at her hair and complaining to the police.

Li Qinyue tugged at Zhuo Zhi’s arm, “Let’s go.”

Fang Yi looked over at them.

Li Qinyue didn’t look back as she pulled Zhuo Zhi away. But the Master suddenly said, “That officer wants to talk to you.”

Li Qinyue said with a smile, “It’s fine, it’s fine, we’re just being good Samaritans, we have nothing to do with this anymore.”

The Master said, “He’s been looking at you for a long time, don’t you find him familiar?”

Li Qinyue suddenly remembered, the Master had seen Fang Yi at the back door of the bar that day.

Her feelings were complex. She pulled Zhuo Zhi behind her, shielding her, then turned to Fang Yi and asked, “Is there anything else, Officer Fang?”

Fang Yi glanced at Zhuo Zhi, who was hidden behind Li Qinyue.

Li Qinyue said righteously, “Zhuo Zhi is still young, it’s not good for her to be fighting all the time. We don’t want her to resort to violence unless absolutely necessary.”

Then she had a sudden thought, turning to the Master with a flattering smile, “Isn’t that right, Master?”

With outsiders present, the Master gave her some face and nodded.

Li Qinyue immediately felt emboldened, “See, her guardian agrees with me. So, that’s it then, Officer Fang, continue with your work, we’re leaving.”

Seeing that they were about to leave, Fang Yi finally said, “I have something to tell you.”

Li Qinyue inwardly groaned, turning back with a forced smile, “Go ahead.”

“Officer Zhao wants to know if Zhuo Zhi is interested in being an auxiliary police officer,” Fang Yi said.

“What?” With no context or explanation, Li Qinyue couldn’t hold back anymore and her voice rose sharply.

Zhuo Zhi, on the other hand, was excited. She immediately came out from behind Li Qinyue and stood in front of Fang Yi.

Li Qinyue pulled her back.

“Explain yourself,” Li Qinyue’s mind was racing.

“It’s like this…” Fang Yi started, but the other officer called him over.

Li Qinyue waved her hand impatiently, “Don’t bother, I’ll ask Officer Zhao myself.”

This time, without any hesitation, she pulled Zhuo Zhi away quickly.

The street was crowded, and Li Qinyue’s annoyance grew.

Zhuo Zhi followed behind her, weaving through the crowd. When Li Qinyue stopped abruptly, Zhuo Zhi bumped her head against her arm.

“Wait,” Li Qinyue came to her senses and looked around, “Where’s Master?”

“Here,” the Master’s cold voice came from the side.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Li Qinyue apologized before even turning around, “I was too angry, I forgot…”

“It’s fine,” the Master interrupted her.

Li Qinyue paused, then said, “Master, let’s go home.”

The Master nodded. Li Qinyue immediately opened the ride-hailing app and called a taxi.

As they waited for the car, the atmosphere was awkward. The Master didn’t ask what was going on, and Li Qinyue didn’t want to explain in this environment.

So, she could only make small talk, “Master, there are a few scenic spots around Nanhai, they’re quite fun, I’ll rent a car tomorrow and take you guys there, I’m a good driver, just don’t have a car now.”

Zhuo Zhi, remembering Li Qinyue’s reckless driving on the mountain road, said, “Yes, she’s a very good driver.”

“I know Nanhai better than you,” the Master said dismissively.

“Ah, we don’t have to go out if you don’t want to. What do you want to eat tomorrow, Master? I’ll cook for you,” Li Qinyue had never been so eager to please.

“You can cook?” The Master looked at her.

“No,” Li Qinyue didn’t dare to lie under the Master’s stern gaze. She could only smile and say, “But I can learn, I’m quite smart.”

Zhuo Zhi immediately said, “Yes, very smart.”

The Master glared at her, and Zhuo Zhi didn’t dare to speak anymore.

The taxi finally arrived. Li Qinyue opened the front passenger door and got in.

Separated by the seats, with the radio playing, the atmosphere was much better.

The taxi drove from the bustling city center to the quiet White Birch Lane, stopping at the entrance of the complex.

Li Qinyue got out, opened the door for the Master, and the three of them walked into the complex. The night was dark. Before they even reached their building, Li Qinyue heard the familiar sounds of arguing coming from downstairs.

Half a month later, the couple couldn’t hold it in anymore.

But Li Qinyue was a well-behaved good Samaritan now. The couple was arguing fiercely, but the woman wasn’t screaming like last time.

Li Qinyue had no reason to rush down there with a cleaver.

Zhuo Zhi, however, kept glancing at her, her eyes full of meaning.

The Master didn’t speak. When they reached their apartment door, she asked, “Do you know them?”

Zhuo Zhi quickly understood what she meant and said, “Not really, they fight often. Last time it was quite loud, so Sister Qinyue went to check on them.”

Tsk, pushing the blame onto her. Li Qinyue quickly said, “The woman was screaming so loudly, I was afraid something bad had happened.”

“Hmm,” the Master hummed, not pursuing the topic.

As they entered the apartment, Li Qinyue felt a mix of emotions.

There were many new things in the apartment, paintings on the walls, small ornaments on the table, and flower pots on the windowsill.

If she went into the kitchen, the refrigerator would probably be full.

Zhuo Zhi was a person who brought warmth and life to a place, and so was her master. The two of them, together in this small but cozy apartment, felt like they belonged.

Li Qinyue felt like an outsider.

She lingered at the door. Zhuo Zhi brought her slippers and placed them by her feet.

“Are you cold, Sister?” Zhuo Zhi asked.

“No, it’s just…” Li Qinyue looked down, “Should I wear these?”

Zhuo Zhi was confused, “Of course.”

The Master glanced at her, “This is your home.”

“Oh, right,” Li Qinyue said with a smile, “I haven’t been back for a few days, I’m a little disoriented.”

The Master stared at her for a while.

After changing her shoes, Li Qinyue noticed the Master’s gaze and quickly waved her hands, “Master, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Hmm,” the Master responded curtly.

She was so imposing, Li Qinyue felt herself tremble slightly, “I’ll call Officer Zhao and ask about Zhuo Zhi’s situation.”

“Okay,” the Master turned and went into the kitchen.

Zhuo Zhi stuck her tongue out at Li Qinyue and whispered, “It’s fine, Sister, just give it a couple more days.”

“Will it be fine?” Li Qinyue asked, “Did I talk too much and annoy her?”

“No,” Zhuo Zhi pouted, “Master is usually quite talkative.”

“Oh, then she still hates me,” Li Qinyue thought she had become addicted to playing the victim, her voice pitiful.

“No, no, no,” Zhuo Zhi took her hand, looking at her sincerely, “You’re the best, Sister, who wouldn’t like you? It’s just our relationship, it’ll take Master some time to accept it.”

“I know,” Li Qinyue patted her hand and sat down on the sofa. “Let’s talk business.”

At first, Zhuo Zhi wasn’t allowed to interrupt their business discussion.

Li Qinyue called Officer Zhao and learned the reason.

There had been a surge in petty crimes before the New Year, and the police station was extremely busy, running around day and night. Zhuo Zhi had performed well before, and then Fang Yi had mentioned that she was looking for a job at the boxing gym, so Officer Zhao had the idea of recruiting her as an auxiliary police officer.

Li Qinyue also clarified other details. It could be a temporary position until the end of the school holidays. If Zhuo Zhi performed well and was willing, they could sign a long-term contract.

The salary was the same as a regular entry-level officer, but because she wasn’t officially part of the police force, there would be no bonus or benefits in the short term.

Zhuo Zhi, listening intently, was like a puppy eyeing a bone. Li Qinyue ignored her, and after hanging up, she took a piece of paper and started writing quickly.

The Master came out, carrying a teapot and three teacups.

Li Qinyue was surprised that there was a cup for her as well. She quickly thanked the Master.

Then she pushed the paper towards the Master, “Master, I just spoke with Officer Zhao from the police station, it’s basically like this. I’ve listed all the pros and cons that I could think of, please have a look.”

Zhuo Zhi leaned closer to read, but Li Qinyue pushed her head away with her hand.

The Master nodded and took the paper, reading carefully.

At the top of the page, she had written the salary and job description. Below that, she had listed the pros and cons.

Surprisingly, she hadn’t exaggerated the cons. Based on Zhuo Zhi’s situation, it was quite objective.

The Master took a sip of tea and raised an eyebrow, “Nice handwriting.”

“See! I told you Sister Qinyue has beautiful handwriting,” Zhuo Zhi leaned closer again. “But I’ve never seen her write so much.”

The Master raised her hand and, with the same motion as before, pushed Zhuo Zhi’s head away.

Zhuo Zhi sat down on the sofa, pouting.

“Very thorough,” the Master continued her assessment.

Li Qinyue rubbed her hands together, smiling shyly, “Thank you, Mas…”

“But,” the Master interrupted her.

Li Qinyue swallowed nervously.

“I sent Zhuo Zhi down the mountain to be your bodyguard, and now she has lost her job, and you two have become… this. Aren’t you going to explain?” the Master asked.

“Ah,” Li Qinyue stood up abruptly, “Master, I was just about to talk to you about that.”

“About how you’ll destroy anyone who tries to separate you?” the Master looked at her.

“Ah…” Li Qinyue paused, “That sounds like something I would say, but I didn’t say that.”

“I just summarized your meaning,” the Master said.

“When…”

“At the back door of the bar.”

Li Qinyue choked, feeling even more nervous.

She hadn’t expected the Master to have overheard her conversation with Fang Yi and Lan Xi.

She couldn’t help but glance at the other person involved. Zhuo Zhi shrugged slightly, confirming it.

Li Qinyue’s throat felt dry. She picked up her teacup and drank it in one gulp, “Good tea!”

“That’s not how you appreciate good tea,” the Master said.

“My grandfather always says the same thing to me,” Li Qinyue chuckled.

The Master’s lips twitched, “Your grandfather knows tea.”

Li Qinyue leaned closer and asked, “Are you and my grandfather close, Master?”

These past few days, Li Qinyue’s mind had been occupied by her relationship with Zhuo Zhi, so her mind was sharp today.

Since the Master had already overheard her declaration at the back door of the bar, there was no need to repeat how sincere and deep their love was.

After all, which parent would want to hear such exaggerated claims before even approving of the relationship?

Zhuo Zhi had been sent to her by her grandfather. Li Qinyue knew there must be some connection between their families, so she decided to play the relationship card.

After all, besides their shared gender, they were a perfect match, weren’t they? They knew each other’s backgrounds.

But the Master’s answer was firm and merciless, “We’re not close.”

“Ah, is that so…” Li Qinyue felt a little awkward.

“Your relationship has nothing to do with whether or not I’m close to your family,” the Master saw through her intentions. “If I were close to your family, wouldn’t it be even more troublesome?”

“That’s true,” Li Qinyue nodded.

“So, what’s your explanation?” the Master asked.

Li Qinyue suddenly felt that there was no point in beating around the bush. The Master was sharp, she could see right through Li Qinyue, who had already shown her sincerity. There was no need to hide anything anymore.

So, she sat up straight and said in a mature tone, “Master, there’s really nothing to explain. Two people are attracted to each other, they fall in love, what’s there to explain? I like Zhuo Zhi, Zhuo Zhi likes me, we confessed our feelings, we accepted each other, it’s that simple.”

“In everyone’s eyes, the only complication is that I’m a woman, and so is Zhuo Zhi. Master, to be honest, I’ve never been in a relationship before Zhuo Zhi. You might not believe me, with all my friends’ promiscuity, but it’s true. It’s not that I was intentionally abstaining, I just wasn’t interested.”

Li Qinyue paused and glanced at Zhuo Zhi, “I only became interested after meeting Zhuo Zhi. She’s the first person I’ve ever liked, the first person I want to be with seriously. What our future holds, whether we’ll fall for someone else, that’s for the future to decide. You’ve experienced a lot, Master, you wouldn’t believe any vows I make now anyway.”

“I’ll just talk about the present.” Li Qinyue tapped her finger lightly on the table, “We love each other sincerely, and we’re together, no one can separate us. We’re from different worlds, we’ve never even met before, and finally, we found love. The more you try to stop us, the more determined we’ll be.”

At this point, her emotions intensified, and she decided to lay all her cards on the table, “I know you came down here because my father or grandfather contacted you. They couldn’t change my mind, so they’re hoping you can change Zhuo Zhi’s.”

Li Qinyue glanced at Zhuo Zhi, “But you know your disciple, she might look soft, but she’s more stubborn than anyone.”

Li Qinyue smiled, “She’s as hard as steel, unyielding. If she wants to do something, nothing can stop her. That’s why I wrote on the paper, the biggest con of the job is the danger, and the biggest pro is that Zhuo Zhi will definitely love it.”

“Because of your teachings, Zhuo Zhi can overcome the cons. And because of your teachings, doing this job is her dream,” Li Qinyue looked at the Master earnestly. “If I’m not wrong, Zhuo Zhi didn’t go to college because you two disagreed on her choice of major, right?”

The Master’s hand holding the teacup paused, her eyes sharp.

Li Qinyue smiled, “Children grow up, you can’t stop them from doing what they want. I’m the perfect example, the more you try to control me, the more rebellious I become, it’s counterproductive.”

“You know that now,” the Master said softly.

“I do, I’m not a child anymore,” Li Qinyue said, “I know I’m childish, acting like a teenager at my age. But that’s because my family is treating me like one, so I have to act like one too.”

The Master put down her teacup and remained silent.

Li Qinyue looked at Zhuo Zhi, took her hand, and held it firmly, meeting the Master’s intense gaze, “The same applies to Zhuo Zhi. She has decided to be with me. You can’t pull us apart, you can’t change us. You might as well give us some space, let us breathe.”

Zhuo Zhi nodded vigorously, “Yes, Sister Qinyue is right.”

Li Qinyue smiled, “We have plenty of time, Master, just watch and see how your child lives her own life.”

Chapter 71

Li Qinyue hadn’t expected the Master to accompany Zhuo Zhi.

The Master was still wearing the same military coat and Lei Feng hat, looking stern as they approached the milk tea shop.

Li Qinyue peered through the window and, seeing that the Master wasn’t carrying anything in her hands, let out a sigh of relief.

The Master quickly spotted Li Qinyue.

Li Qinyue immediately stood up and walked out of the shop.

The three of them met at the entrance. Li Qinyue called out, “Master.”

The Master hummed in response, her expression neutral. But to Li Qinyue, it was already considered kind.

Li Qinyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhuo Zhi came to her side and tugged at her sleeve, “Sister, let’s go to the hotel to get your things and go home.”

“Ah,” Li Qinyue paused, then lifted her small bag, “No need to pack, this is all I have.”

“Huh?” Zhuo Zhi was stunned. After a few seconds, she turned to the Master, tears welling up in her eyes.

She didn’t say anything, just looked at her master with pleading eyes. The Master looked away and said to Li Qinyue, “Let’s go back then.”

Li Qinyue’s eyes lit up, and she exchanged glances with Zhuo Zhi, who was smiling despite the tears in her eyes.

Brilliant. Although Li Qinyue didn’t understand why the Master had given in so easily, she knew it must have something to do with Zhuo Zhi’s pitiful act. It was truly brilliant.

It seemed that the Master, like her, had a soft spot for those who showed weakness. Li Qinyue, thinking about her own temper, decided to learn from Zhuo Zhi.

She put on her most gentle and innocent smile, then said shyly, “The bar was busy cleaning up at lunchtime, so I just had a quick bite. I’m a little hungry now. Master, Zhuo Zhi, there’s a snack street right outside, the food is good, let’s go try it.”

The pampered Miss Li, who couldn’t even afford a proper meal after working, had to ask for permission to go to a snack street, how pitiful.

Zhuo Zhi said, “I bought a lot of meat, I’ll cook for you when we get home, Sister.”

Li Qinyue paused, then said, “Okay.”

But she secretly rubbed her stomach.

Zhuo Zhi was about to pull her away when the Master slapped her arm, “We’re going to the snack street.”

“Huh?” Zhuo Zhi was stunned, afraid that the Master would change her mind and not let Li Qinyue go home with them.

But Li Qinyue quickly chimed in, “Okay, let’s go check it out, you haven’t shown Master around yet, right? The braised pig trotters at the corner are delicious.”

Zhuo Zhi, still confused, was dragged away by Li Qinyue. The Master walked ahead of them, not wanting to talk to them.

Zhuo Zhi looked at Li Qinyue, her eyes full of questions.

Li Qinyue leaned closer to Zhuo Zhi and whispered, “Master is being considerate, who doesn’t want to eat immediately when they’re hungry?”

Zhuo Zhi’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I know what you’re worried about, it’s fine,” Li Qinyue said confidently, “Master won’t kick me out.”

Li Qinyue was so confident because she had already formulated a plan to play the victim.

She was a poor and destitute young lady now, she couldn’t afford to eat at fancy restaurants. The street food stalls, with their lively atmosphere, were more suitable for her. Fried chicken, barbecue skewers, cold noodles, pig trotters, stinky tofu, the more down-to-earth, the better. She would squeeze into the crowd, eating skewers with a look of pure bliss, as if she hadn’t eaten anything this delicious in a long time.

Her expressions and movements were perfect. The innocent joy, the sparkling eyes, the slightly pouty lips, as long as Li Qinyue imagined Zhuo Zhi’s face, she could pull it off flawlessly.

This was the familiar image of a child, and to the Master, wasn’t Li Qinyue just a child? The Master didn’t find it strange at all. She even bought a hot drink for Li Qinyue, afraid that she would choke on the food.

It was Zhuo Zhi who was shocked. She had never seen Li Qinyue like this before. She, who used to be so stubborn and rebellious, was now as soft as noodles.

Several times, Zhuo Zhi could barely keep a straight face. She would turn away, hiding her expression, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

The snack street wasn’t very long, it wouldn’t take long to walk through it, but eating along the way took time.

By the time they reached the end of the street, the lights had come on, and the sky was darkening.

A gust of wind blew past, and Li Qinyue moved closer to the Master, reaching out to adjust her collar, “Master, your buttons…”

The Master grabbed her wrist, her gaze as sharp as a knife.

Li Qinyue froze, staring at her, swallowing nervously.

“Master!” Zhuo Zhi quickly said, “Sister Qinyue just wanted to button up your coat for you!”

The Master let go of Li Qinyue’s wrist and turned her head, “I can button it myself.”

Li Qinyue didn’t dare to move. She retracted her hand and stood aside, saying awkwardly, “It’s getting cold now.”

Zhuo Zhi went over and took Li Qinyue’s hand, “Sister, Master didn’t mean it, it was just a reflex. Did she hurt you?”

It did hurt. Li Qinyue had experienced Zhuo Zhi’s strength before. When Zhuo Zhi was serious, her grip was like iron claws, and the Master’s was like an iron hammer.

But she shook her head, rubbing her wrist, “No, it doesn’t hurt. It was my fault, I was too sudden.”

Then she turned away and sniffled, looking truly pitiful.

The Master was silent for a moment, then asked, “What’s that?”

Zhuo Zhi looked in the direction the Master was pointing. Li Qinyue quickly answered, “There’s going to be a New Year’s music festival during the holidays, they’re setting up the stage.”

“Hmm,” the Master responded.

Li Qinyue, sensing an opportunity, said, “Let’s go take a look, that cartoon monster is already up.”

“Okay, okay,” Zhuo Zhi chimed in eagerly.

They crossed an underpass and reached another bustling street.

It was Saturday night, the perfect time to go out, and the crowd was much larger than usual.

In front of stores with promotional events, people were packed shoulder to shoulder, a sea of heads.

Li Qinyue took Zhuo Zhi’s left hand and said, “Don’t get lost.”

Zhuo Zhi quickly took her master’s hand with her right hand, “There are so many people, Master.”

The Master didn’t shake her hand away. So the three of them walked together, Zhuo Zhi, the shortest, in the middle, her face beaming with happiness.

Holding hands with the people she loved most in this lively crowd, despite the unresolved conflict and the less-than-ideal atmosphere, Zhuo Zhi felt happy.

And she firmly believed that the best was yet to come.

They passed through the most crowded area, but Zhuo Zhi didn’t let go of their hands.

Li Qinyue, of course, wouldn’t let go either, and part of the reason she was still holding onto the Master’s hand was because Zhuo Zhi was holding hers so tightly.

The child had grown up, and these moments of physical intimacy were rare now. The Master pretended not to care, but she also didn’t want to let go of Zhuo Zhi’s soft hand.

It reminded her of when Zhuo Zhi was little, when the mountain paths would become slippery after the rain, and Zhuo Zhi wouldn’t even dare to walk on the stone path outside their house without holding her master’s hand.

The three of them walked on, the two on the right lost in their thoughts.

Only Li Qinyue remained alert, her mind racing, determined to win over the Master.

There was a commotion in the crowd ahead. Li Qinyue’s sharp ears picked it up, and her eyes immediately darted towards it.

It seemed like there was an argument, not a big one, and as the crowd shifted, Li Qinyue saw a girl struggling to break free.

Hey, this is my chance! Li Qinyue thought to herself.

Zhuo Zhi’s righteousness and kindness must have been influenced by her upbringing.

Who would dislike an innocent child who stood up for justice? Li Qinyue had fallen for Zhuo Zhi many times because of her heroic actions.

Although there might be consequences, doing the right thing was always admirable.

Li Qinyue let go of Zhuo Zhi’s hand and rushed ahead of her little bodyguard, weaving through the crowd like a sprinter.

She was slender and agile, quickly reaching the center of the commotion. She heard the girl shout, her voice strained, “Let go of me!”

Without even needing to take a running start, Li Qinyue kicked the man who was holding the girl.

The man let go of the girl and stumbled backwards, falling to the ground.

He was skinny like a telephone pole, wearing tight leather pants, and as he fell, there was a ripping sound.

Li Qinyue didn’t know where his pants ripped, but the man quickly turned over, covering himself.

Li Qinyue grabbed the girl and, looking at her closely, noticed her electrocuted hair.

Li Qinyue frowned and asked, “What happened to your hair?”

Before the girl could answer, the man on the ground yelled, “You can’t leave! You haven’t paid!”

His shout was followed by the appearance of several more skinny men, their hair dyed in all colors of the rainbow, all wearing tight, sparkly outfits.

Li Qinyue realized what had happened and asked the girl, “Did they drag you in for a haircut?”

The girl nodded.

Li Qinyue was about to scold her for being so foolish when Zhuo Zhi suddenly appeared beside her, looking at the girl with righteousness and saying, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

She stepped forward, standing between the men and Li Qinyue, her posture imposing.

Li Qinyue turned her head and saw the Master standing nearby.

Her expression was unreadable, her hands in her coat pockets. It was unclear if she would intervene.

Li Qinyue swallowed her sarcastic remarks, glared at the men, then turned to the girl and said gently, “Don’t be afraid, tell us what happened.”

The girl looked at her, her eyes confused by the sudden change in her attitude.

Li Qinyue smiled, her grip on the girl’s arm firm. With her other hand, she patted the girl’s shoulder reassuringly, “Don’t worry, tell us your name first, we’ll help you.”

Chapter 70

Aijia wanted to bake some pastries for lunch, but she didn’t have the right tools at home, so she went to the bar early.

After working in the kitchen for a while, she put the pastries in the oven and, armed with a watering can, went around watering the plants, humming a tune.

She reached the last private room on the second floor and, without hesitation, pushed the door open. The sight before her made her jump.

A figure lay sprawled on the sofa, lifeless. The air didn’t smell strongly of alcohol, but the overturned ashtray had spilled ashes everywhere.

Aijia frowned. If it weren’t for the familiar clothes, she would have probably doused the person with the watering can.

She walked over and checked Li Qinyue’s breathing.

Steady and slow, she was alive.

Aijia lifted her foot and kicked Li Qinyue’s leg, “Wake up!”

Li Qinyue’s leg instinctively shot up, their bones colliding with a loud thud. Aijia bent over in pain, rubbing her leg.

Li Qinyue opened her eyes slightly, her voice hoarse, “What’s wrong with you?”

“I was checking if you were still alive,” Aijia said after the pain subsided, “Why are you sleeping here?”

“I can sleep wherever I want,” Li Qinyue rolled over, facing the back of the sofa, ignoring her.

Aijia stared at her for a moment, then asked, “Are you hungry?”

Li Qinyue kicked her legs again.

“I baked some pastries, want some?”

Three seconds later, Li Qinyue sat up, “Yes.”

After Li Qinyue went to wash up, Aijia cleaned up the room and continued watering the plants.

Before she could finish, Li Qinyue followed her around, watching her intently.

“It’ll take a while,” Aijia said, “Go sit down and rest.”

“You woke me up and now you’re telling me to rest,” Li Qinyue yawned, “You should have just let me sleep.”

“Heh, acting like a princess,” Aijia said, turning to her, “Are you my boss or my employee now?”

Li Qinyue chuckled, asking the obvious, “Is there a difference?”

“If you’re my boss, I’ll make you tea. If you’re my employee, get lost.”

Li Qinyue leaned against the railing, thought for a moment, and said, “Employee.”

Aijia was surprised.

Li Qinyue said proudly, “Don’t look at me like that, I’m a woman of my word, I’ll bounce back.”

“You haven’t lost everything, have you?” Aijia couldn’t help but ask, “Your accounts are fine, right? So your father didn’t do anything to you?”

“No, I took preemptive measures, I chose an unconventional path,” Li Qinyue said.

“It’s almost New Year’s,” Aijia put down the watering can, “I’m planning to give everyone a few extra days off this year.”

Li Qinyue frowned, “When?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“The day after tomorrow?” Li Qinyue’s eyes widened, “But there are still ten days…”

“Not ten days,” Aijia said, “I’m going on a trip.”

“Where to?”

“Northern Europe,” Aijia raised an eyebrow, “Employee Li Qinyue’s current financial situation probably can’t afford that, right?”

“Right,” Li Qinyue stretched, looking worried, “Forget about traveling, I won’t even have a place to sleep once the bar closes.”

“That bad?” Aijia walked downstairs.

Li Qinyue followed her, “Yeah, a sweet burden.”

“A sweet burden that prevents you from even going home?” Aijia paused and asked, “What happened last night? Did you two fight?”

“No, we don’t fight, we’re very affectionate,” Li Qinyue answered quickly.

But she didn’t elaborate on what had actually happened.

Aijia wasn’t one to pry. If Li Qinyue wanted to talk, she was willing to listen. But since Li Qinyue didn’t seem to want to talk about it, she didn’t ask any further questions.

However, when she was baking the second batch of pastries, she considered Li Qinyue’s taste and made half of them with blueberry filling.

Li Qinyue ate them with gusto, seemingly fine.

So, as planned, Boss Ai closed the bar on the third afternoon, and “Shengge” started its New Year’s holiday early.

Li Qinyue, carrying a small bag containing all her current assets, stood at the entrance of the hotel, staring at it for half a minute, then turned and left.

She would usually stay in a hotel when she went out, but now, with no home to return to, she didn’t want to stay in a hotel.

The thought of the empty white bedsheets made her feel lonely.

She wandered around the streets for a while, then Zhuo Zhi called her.

They had been in contact every day, Zhuo Zhi calling her three times a day, as regular as meals.

But her text messages were slow to be answered. The girl wasn’t addicted to her phone, and she was probably being watched closely by her master.

Li Qinyue didn’t blame her. She was an adult, she understood, and she really wasn’t angry at all.

But now, hearing Zhuo Zhi’s voice on the phone, she suddenly felt a little aggrieved.

She sniffled, and Zhuo Zhi immediately asked, “Are you feeling unwell, Sister? Do you have a cold?”

“No, the air is bad,” Li Qinyue waved her hand in front of her face. The air was indeed bad, she was standing near a perfume counter in the mall, the scent overwhelming.

“Are you outside?” Zhuo Zhi asked, “It’s so quiet.”

Li Qinyue hummed in response, not wanting to say too much, because that would require lying.

But Zhuo Zhi’s next words forced her to be truthful, “I can go back to work tonight!”

Her voice was filled with excitement. Before Li Qinyue could respond, she added, “I can finally see you again, Sister!”

“Hmm,” Li Qinyue’s heart ached.

Zhuo Zhi said, “I miss you so much, Sister.”

Li Qinyue couldn’t help but say, “You said you missed your master a few days ago, who knows if you’re being sincere.”

“I really miss Master, and I really miss you too,” Zhuo Zhi said, “Don’t you miss me, Sister?”

Li Qinyue didn’t answer, she just said, “You don’t need to come to ‘Shengge’, it’s closed for the holidays.”

“Huh?” Zhuo Zhi was stunned.

“Aren’t you in the staff group chat?” Li Qinyue said, “With your work ethic, don’t even bother coming back after the New Year, Boss Ai fired you.”

“Huh?” That was the only sound Zhuo Zhi could make.

“Huh what? I’m hanging up,” Li Qinyue felt a little annoyed.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,” Zhuo Zhi shouted, “Where are you now, Sister?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“I’m your girlfriend, of course I need to know!” Zhuo Zhi shouted, “Send me your location, now!”

Li Qinyue pursed her lips and sent her location.

“Don’t move!” Zhuo Zhi said, “Stay right there!”

“You want me to stand here until my legs break?”

“Find a milk tea shop and wait for me, I’ll be there soon,” Zhuo Zhi hung up the phone.

Li Qinyue stared at her phone, replaying their conversation in her mind. She frowned.

This wasn’t like her at all. Normally, she would have just bought a plane ticket and gone on vacation.

It was mainly because she was broke, she thought.

She put her phone away, looked around, found the nearest milk tea shop, ordered a drink, and sat by the window.

As she waited for Zhuo Zhi, second by second, Li Qinyue had to admit, she missed her too.

Tsk, they had only been apart for two and a half days.

When Zhuo Zhi rushed out, her Master was still in the kitchen.

By the time she reached the door, her hand on the handle, her Master had already caught up to her, grabbing the hood of her jacket.

“Where are you going?” the Master asked.

Zhuo Zhi, feeling anxious, didn’t bother hiding it, “‘Shengge’ is closed for the holidays, I’m going to pick up Sister Qinyue.”

The Master looked at her, silent, but didn’t let go of her hood.

Zhuo Zhi said, “Master, it’s Sister Qinyue’s home.”

“We can stay somewhere else,” the Master said.

“No,” Zhuo Zhi shook her head vehemently, “It’s my home too.”

“Then I’ll stay somewhere else,” the Master said.

“My home is your home, no one’s going anywhere,” Zhuo Zhi looked at her master, then added, “It’s been three days, you should learn to accept it.”

The Master’s voice was full of disbelief, “When we came down the mountain, I told you to stay away from men, I was afraid that the cabbage I had carefully raised for so many years would be eaten by a pig, and you’re telling me that you’ve been eaten by a cabbage, and I should accept it in three days? I can’t accept it! I won’t!”

“That’s why I’m asking you to learn to accept it,” Zhuo Zhi patted her master’s arm, “You’ll gradually come to terms with it, just like I did.”

“What did you come to terms with?” The Master said, “Were you forced to be with her?!”

“I accepted the fact that I like Li Qinyue,” Zhuo Zhi said, blushing, “I never thought I would have a girlfriend like her. She’s so amazing, I never thought she would like me.”

“Aren’t you amazing too?!” The Master was angry, “She’s just prettier and richer than you! What makes you think you’re not good enough for her?! If she dares to look down on you…”

“No, no, no, what are you talking about, Master? She’s never looked down on me. You’re the one looking down on her, preventing her from even entering her own home,” Zhuo Zhi pouted, “Think about how pitiful she is, all the staff at the bar are home celebrating with their families, and she didn’t even tell me, just wandering around the mall by herself…”

The Master fell silent.

Zhuo Zhi pressed her advantage, “And she’s broke now. She’s even willing to cut ties with her family to be with me.”

The Master: “Are you going to cut ties with me?”

Zhuo Zhi shook her head vehemently, “There’s no need, Master. You’re different from those parents, you’re always open to new things, you have a young and open mind. Remember last year, when you went to that anime convention? You even made the local news, everyone was envious that I had such a cool parent.”

“Flatterer,” the Master said.

Zhuo Zhi leaned closer, “Then can I go out now, Master?”

“You’re still young,” The Master took off her apron, “I’m not letting you go out alone.”

“But Master, it’s broad daylight,” Zhuo Zhi said.

“That cabbage spirit can kiss you in public! And you’re telling me I can’t even go out with you?!” The Master slapped the cabinet beside her, making it rattle. “What?! You’re ashamed of me? Am I too ugly and old for you?”

“No, no, Master, you’re the most beautiful!” Zhuo Zhi opened the door. “Let’s go, let’s go together!”

“Who’s more beautiful, that cabbage spirit or me?” The Master pointed at her own face.

Zhuo Zhi: “She just dresses better than you.”

“You think I don’t dress well?!”

“You’d look beautiful even in a sack,” Zhuo Zhi said.

As they rode the taxi to the mall, Zhuo Zhi felt nervous.

She knew her master’s personality. Although she was usually hot-tempered, she respected Zhuo Zhi’s decisions.

In this way, she was actually quite similar to Li Qinyue, both tough on the outside, soft on the inside. Zhuo Zhi realized that this might be the reason why she hadn’t been intimidated by Li Qinyue at the beginning.

She was experienced in dealing with this type of person. As long as she acted cute and spoke from the heart, there wouldn’t be any problems.

But now that these two fiery individuals, with their different roles but similar personalities, were together, Zhuo Zhi didn’t know what to expect.

She had been startled when her master had suddenly appeared that night, afraid that she would attack Li Qinyue on the spot. If that happened, even if she fought with all her might, Zhuo Zhi might not be able to protect Li Qinyue.

So, she had changed the subject, spoken softly, and led her master away without mentioning Li Qinyue.

She had thought that she would calm her master down first, then deal with the situation slowly.

Over the past few days, she had subtly mentioned Li Qinyue’s good qualities and recounted their experiences. Her master’s reaction had exceeded her expectations.

To be precise, she had never seen her master like this before.

A person who had never expressed her emotions openly was now constantly comparing herself to Li Qinyue.

Even comparing their beauty? Was that even comparable?

Zhuo Zhi glanced at her master. In all these years, she had never thought about how her master looked.

Her master herself didn’t care about appearances. She always dressed casually and scoffed at the beauty regimen of the nuns next door.

And now she was asking who was more beautiful, her or the “cabbage spirit”…

It was baffling, unsettling, and nerve-wracking.

Sensing her gaze, the Master turned to her, “What are you looking at?”

“Looking at you, Master,” Zhuo Zhi’s mind raced, “I haven’t had a good look at you for a long time since I came down the mountain.”

“Do you even have me in your eyes anymore?” The Master glared at her, “All I see in your eyes are two cabbages.”

“No,” Zhuo Zhi chuckled, “Her name is Li Qinyue.”

“Don’t I know her name?!” The Master yelled, slapping Zhuo Zhi’s leg. “I even changed her diapers when she was a baby, did you?!”

Zhuo Zhi closed her mouth. She couldn’t answer that question.

She would need a time machine to go back and meet a baby Li Qinyue.

She was surprised to learn that her master and the Li family had such a deep connection.

The taxi drove on silently. Zhuo Zhi thought she had found an alternative way to soften her master’s heart.

She asked, “Did Li Qinyue look the same as a child, Master?”

The Master answered immediately, “No, she was quite ugly as a child.”

“Girls change a lot as they grow up,” Zhuo Zhi said with a smile, “But you watched her grow up, Master.”

“I saw her a few times,” the Master said.

“Li Qinyue, she…” Zhuo Zhi paused, her heart pounding, “She hasn’t had a good relationship with her family. I think it’s because of a lack of communication. But her family is mostly male, her father, grandfather, and brother. It’s not easy for girls to express their feelings…”

“Hmm,” The Master looked out the window, humming in agreement.

“She’s envious that I have you, Master,” Zhuo Zhi looked at her master’s profile, “After moving to the apartment at White Birch Lane, there were many times when she would stare at the furniture, lost in thought. She didn’t say anything, but I knew she was missing her mother.”

Chapter 69

Li Qinyue had wanted to be tough, but in the end, she found herself backing down.

She had been interrupted mid-kiss, then threatened, but she really didn’t dare to move.

Because Zhuo Zhi turned her head, looked at the old lady, and called out, “Master.”

Li Qinyue swallowed nervously and could only look at Zhuo Zhi, asking, “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself when you fell?”

Zhuo Zhi shook her head, trying to get up, but her Master took a large stride towards them and pointed at her, “Stay on your knees.”

Zhuo Zhi’s legs, which had just started to rise, immediately went back down.

Li Qinyue couldn’t hold back anymore. Although her heart was pounding, she turned to the old lady and said, “Master, what era are we in? Making her kneel in the middle of the street, what’s the point?”

The Master glared at her, “Who are you calling Master?”

“You’re Zhuo Zhi’s master, so you’re my master too.” As she got closer, Li Qinyue got a clearer look at the old lady’s face. Although her demeanor was stern, she actually looked quite kind, her skin surprisingly well-maintained, with hardly any wrinkles.

From her looks, she shouldn’t be called “old lady”, “Auntie” would be more appropriate.

It was all because of her outfit. The Lei Feng hat, the military coat, the thick cotton pants, it was a fashion disaster.

For a moment, Li Qinyue thought about taking the Master shopping and giving her a makeover.

The Master ignored her and said to Zhuo Zhi in a stern voice, “What were you doing?”

Zhuo Zhi didn’t answer the question. Her initial anger at being pushed down had vanished. She was now smiling brightly, looking up at her master, her eyes shining, “Master, you’re here! Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone to pick you up!”

She looked adorable, like a puppy.

Li Qinyue was surprised that someone could be this cute even while kneeling. If it were her, she would have exploded by now.

The Master tossed the bag of oranges at Zhuo Zhi, “If you had picked me up, would I have witnessed such an exciting scene?”

Zhuo Zhi blushed, then changed the subject, “You must be tired after such a long journey, Master. You’ve worked hard! Are these oranges from Aunt Zhang’s shop? My favorite ones?”

“Yes,” the Master answered curtly, then frowned and smacked Zhuo Zhi lightly, “All you think about is food!”

“Hehe,” Zhuo Zhi chuckled.

Li Qinyue secretly gave her a thumbs-up.

“I’ve missed you so much since I came down the mountain, Master,” Zhuo Zhi continued to act cute and coquettish, “You must have missed me too, you even brought me snacks…”

She scooted closer and grabbed the hem of her master’s coat, “Master, let me tell you, after coming down the mountain, I realized that no matter how expensive the restaurant, no food tastes as good as yours.”

“Flattery,” the Master said.

“No, it’s true. Our ingredients are fresh, the spring water is sweet, and the air is so much cleaner. And your cooking skills are amazing…” Zhuo Zhi paused, then said earnestly, “I grew up eating your food, so of course I think it’s the best.”

“So much nonsense after just a short time down the mountain…” The Master’s expression softened a little.

Li Qinyue quickly interjected, “Zhuo Zhi always talks about you, Master, she says your martial arts skills are amazing, your cooking is delicious, and you’ve always been so good to her. She’s been missing you ever since she came down the mountain. If it weren’t for your teachings about perseverance, she would have gone back to the mountain to find you.”

“She told you a lot?” The Master turned to look at Li Qinyue, her softened expression hardening, “Did she tell you that I told her to stay away from you fox spirits?”

Li Qinyue pointed at herself, shocked, “Me, a fox spirit?”

Zhuo Zhi quickly tugged at the hem of her master’s coat to distract her, “Master, you must be tired after arriving so late. Let’s go get something to eat and rest…”

“You, shut up!” The Master turned and snapped at Zhuo Zhi.

Zhuo Zhi shut up.

Li Qinyue said, “Master, I’m not a fox spirit, my name is Li Qinyue, Zhuo Zhi used to be my bodyguard…”

Before she could finish her sentence, someone spoke up from behind them, “President Li, are you okay?”

It was Lan Xi.

Appearing at the worst possible moment, making the already awkward situation even more awkward.

“I’m fine,” Li Qinyue quickly turned around and waved her hand dismissively, “Go back.”

Lan Xi looked at the stern Master and the kneeling Zhuo Zhi suspiciously, then looked at Li Qinyue with concern, “President Li, my bar is right here, want to come in for a drink?”

Her meaning was clear, she wanted to show this stranger in the military coat that this was their territory, that she wouldn’t let anyone bully Li Qinyue.

The Master snorted coldly, but didn’t speak. Li Qinyue felt like smoke was coming out of her ears.

Just as she was about to urge Lan Xi to leave, Fang Yi arrived, asking in a deep voice, “What’s going on?”

He was used to being a police officer, his tone authoritative and assertive.

The Master didn’t even bother to snort this time, just glared at Li Qinyue.

Li Qinyue didn’t know if Fang Yi’s mission was over, she didn’t dare to address him as “officer”, so she just waved her hand, “It’s fine, it’s fine, Fang Yi, just go back to your work.”

The Master suddenly threw the bag of oranges on the ground. Zhuo Zhi, with her quick reflexes, caught the bag before any of the oranges, except for the one that had been squashed, could fall out.

The Master turned and walked away. Zhuo Zhi quickly stood up and chased after her.

“Master, do you have any other luggage? Have you booked a hotel…”

She asked a series of questions as they walked away quickly, their voices soon fading into the distance.

Li Qinyue let out a long sigh, then turned to look at Lan Xi and Fang Yi, who were still standing there. Anger surged within her.

She glared at them and said fiercely, “What are you looking at?! Focusing on what you shouldn’t, and ignoring what you should!”

Lan Xi and Fang Yi both looked at her with mixed emotions.

Li Qinyue stormed off, then stopped abruptly after taking two steps, turning back to them, “Did you see that?”

Lan Xi asked, “See what?”

Li Qinyue glanced at Lan Xi, then at Fang Yi, her eyes fierce. Her words were clear and decisive, “I, Li Qinyue, was just kissing Zhuo Zhi, like a couple. She’s my girlfriend, I’m her girlfriend. We love each other deeply, and… we’ve both come out to our families.”

She paused, then asked, “Do you understand?”

Lan Xi frowned, and Fang Yi looked confused.

“You still don’t understand?” Li Qinyue looked down at the ground, “Fine.”

She looked at Lan Xi, “You, don’t think this is just a fling, I might play around with people, but I’m serious about my relationships. We’re together, it’s real, the kind that lasts a lifetime, so don’t even think about getting between us, you have no chance. If it weren’t for the fact that you’re an artist signed to my company, I wouldn’t even bother talking to you.”

Lan Xi’s heartbreak was evident in her eyes, but Li Qinyue didn’t acknowledge it. She turned to Fang Yi, “You, whatever feelings you have for Zhuo Zhi, whether it’s just friendship or something more, get rid of them. Zhuo Zhi only has eyes for me, and I only have eyes for her. If you keep creating these coincidences, I won’t be so polite anymore, I have a hundred ways to deal with you, feel free to try me.”

Fang Yi stood there, frozen like a statue.

Li Qinyue looked at them and concluded, “Men, women, old, young, regardless of your status or position, don’t even think about separating me and Zhuo Zhi. We’re bound together, like a ticking time bomb. Whoever tries to interfere will be blown to smithereens.”

The Master and Zhuo Zhi, who were just around the corner: “…”

The Master stopped, and Zhuo Zhi held the bag of oranges tightly.

The Master frowned and asked, “Does she know I can hear her?”

Zhuo Zhi quickly shook her head, “She definitely doesn’t.”

The Master: “Is she threatening me?”

Zhuo Zhi shook her head even more vigorously, “Definitely not, definitely not, she doesn’t know we can hear her.”

The Master: “How old is she? Why is she talking like a teenager?”

Zhuo Zhi: “…”

The Master: “I’m hungry.”

Zhuo Zhi: “What do you want to eat, Master?”

The Master: “Your cooking.”

Zhuo Zhi: “Okay, no problem, what dishes do you want?”

The Master looked at her, “I’m tired after searching for you all night.”

Zhuo Zhi quickly nodded and took out her phone, opening the ride-hailing app. “Okay, let’s go home now, I’ll cook when we get there. You go take a shower first, then dinner will be ready, and we can go to bed after that…”

She had it all planned out. The Master looked at her, “Sleep where?”

Zhuo Zhi: “At home.”

The Master: “Whose home?”

Zhuo Zhi hesitated, “Sister Qinyue’s…”

The Master: “Then why aren’t you calling her over?”

Zhuo Zhi quickly shook her head, “No, no, she’s still working, we’ll go back first.”

The Master: “Are you off work?”

Zhuo Zhi: “I’m not, but you’re here, Master, I have to be with you. I just asked for leave.”

“Hmm,” The Master nodded.

They were in a good location, and a taxi arrived quickly.

Zhuo Zhi opened the car door for her master. After the Master got in, Zhuo Zhi got in as well, without looking back, and slammed the door shut.

The taxi drove away. When Li Qinyue finally found them, all she saw were the taillights disappearing into the distance.

???

She sent Zhuo Zhi a message.

After waiting for several minutes, there was no reply.

Li Qinyue sighed, put away her phone, and turned back.

The only thing that went smoothly tonight was that when she returned to the back door of the bar, Lan Xi was gone, and so was Fang Yi.

Only the heartbroken Li Qinyue remained.

She entered the bar, didn’t go to the counter, but took a bottle of liquor and went to the private room.

No one had expected Zhuo Zhi’s master to suddenly appear. If she had to find someone to blame, it would be her father or grandfather, who must have complained to the Master.

Li Qinyue was annoyed that they wouldn’t handle their own problems.

But then she thought, it was Zhuo Zhi’s family matter too, the Master had a right to know.

The day she came out to her family, she should have anticipated this day would come.

Since she decided to confess her feelings to Zhuo Zhi and be with her for real, they were bound together. If their relationship stood the test of time, her family and Zhuo Zhi’s family would also be connected, becoming one.

Thinking about this, Li Qinyue took a gulp of liquor, feeling that it was just a matter of time.

And on second thought, now that the Master was here, as long as they overcame this obstacle, she and Zhuo Zhi could be together without any worries… at least, no more worries about sleeping together.

Tsk, Li Qinyue chuckled, feeling a little ashamed of herself for thinking about sex at a time like this.

Half an hour later, her phone beeped. Zhuo Zhi had finally replied.

• Sister, Master and I went home. She’s still angry, I need to coax her, don’t be mad.

Li Qinyue replied:

• I’m not mad, tonight was just unexpected. Where are you two?

• We’re at our place. Master wanted to eat the noodles I make. She’s showering now, that’s why I have time to reply.

• Okay, take care of Master, did she hit you?

• No, no, she won’t hit me if I act pitiful.

• You poor thing. What else does Master like to eat? I’ll bring some back when I go home. There’s bedding in the master bedroom closet, it’s all clean, let Master sleep there, turn on the heating early to warm up the room. Don’t worry, I’m not angry. Your master is your family, which means she’s my family too. It’s not easy for her to come down the mountain, let’s just go along with her and make her happy.

After sending the message, Li Qinyue felt like she had never been so understanding and accommodating.

She couldn’t help but want to praise herself.

She took a sip of liquor. Although she couldn’t see Zhuo Zhi’s face, she could imagine her teary-eyed, touched expression.

For the next half a minute, there was no reply from Zhuo Zhi. She must be wiping her tears.

Poor thing.

Li Qinyue shook her head, took two more sips of liquor, and felt a surge of heroism.

Zhuo Zhi’s message finally arrived, a few trembling words:

• Sister, can I ask you for a favor?

• Anything, just ask.

Li Qinyue quickly replied:

• I’ll do anything for you, a hundred favors, anything.

Zhuo Zhi’s messages came pouring in:

• You’re the best, Sister.

• Master has a bit of a temper, she can be unreasonable when she’s angry, but she’s much better after she calms down.

• So please book a hotel room for now, and come back when she’s not angry anymore.

• It’ll be much safer that way, less conflict.

Li Qinyue froze, the bottle of liquor in her hand suddenly tasting bitter.

• How long… do you think it’ll take for Master to calm down?

• It depends on the severity of the situation. A minor issue, one day. A moderate issue, one week. A major issue… we haven’t encountered that yet.

Li Qinyue felt a surge of anxiety. Her fingers tingled as she typed:

• Then our matter…

The reply came quickly:

• It’s definitely a major issue, a super major issue, a lifelong issue!

Heh, Li Qinyue threw her phone aside, her emotions a tangled mess.

Dreaming of sleeping together? She couldn’t even go home.

She took a gulp of liquor, and another message from Zhuo Zhi arrived:

• I checked the hotels near “Shengge”, this one is suitable, use my card to book the best room, don’t worry about the money. Love you, xoxo.

Xoxo my ass, Li Qinyue stared at the hotel link, did she want her to hug herself in the hotel room?

How did she, Li Qinyue, end up like this?

Drinking alone, sleeping alone.

Hahahahaha, Li Qinyue mocked herself. But then she suddenly burst out laughing.

It was a genuine laugh. She couldn’t help but smile, feeling like a crazy person, both wronged and happy.

She deserved it, she was willing. She was willing to do these things for Zhuo Zhi, to endure these hardships for their love. It was both sweet and bitter.

Do you even have xoxo, heh.

Chapter 68

When Zhuo Zhi arrived and saw Lan Xi, she froze.

She asked, “What’s wrong, Sister?” her eyes darting towards the stage.

“Nothing, you’ve been working hard all night, must be tired, come and sit down for a bit,” Li Qinyue pushed the prepared juice towards her.

“I’m not tired,” Zhuo Zhi glanced at Aijia, feeling a little embarrassed, “I haven’t done much.”

Aijia patted her shoulder, “Take a break, there are no more customers coming in now.”

“Okay,” Zhuo Zhi had been surprised when she first received the security alert, but now, seeing Lan Xi performing, she understood.

She sat down, holding the juice glass, and complimented Li Qinyue, “The drinks you make are so beautiful, Sister.”

“This one is called ‘My Little Darling,’” Li Qinyue said, “Non-alcoholic, just for you.”

Zhuo Zhi took a sip and giggled.

“Tsk,” Aijia turned around, “I’m going to the kitchen…”

“Sister Ai,” Zhuo Zhi called out to her, “Lan Xi’s contract hasn’t expired yet, right?”

“Yes,” Aijia said, “We signed a long-term contract, didn’t expect her to become famous so quickly.”

“Then is she scheduled to perform at ‘Shengge’ regularly? If we can confirm the dates, the security team can make arrangements to prevent any incidents.”

Aijia laughed, finding the girl endearing, her dedication to her job a stark contrast to the person behind the bar, who was clearly just there to cause trouble.

Aijia couldn’t help but pat Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder again, “We’ve already discussed the contract situation. It’s not appropriate for her to perform here after joining ‘I’m a Musician’.”

She glanced at Li Qinyue, “We have the same boss as ‘Shengle Media’, so it’s not that strict. Her being here tonight is an exception.”

“Oh, I see,” Zhuo Zhi nodded.

“I’m going to the kitchen now,” Aijia said, waving her hand and leaving.

Zhuo Zhi watched Lan Xi sing for a while, then turned to Li Qinyue and asked, “What kind of exception, Sister?”

Li Qinyue paused in her mixing, “What kind of exception? She just wanted to come, that’s all.”

“Oh,” Zhuo Zhi looked at Li Qinyue, then turned back to the stage, “That’s the end of her song, it was nice.”

Li Qinyue changed the subject, “You have a nice singing voice.”

“I can’t compare to a professional singer, I’m just humming randomly,” Zhuo Zhi said.

“I like listening to your random humming,” Li Qinyue said.

Zhuo Zhi stared at her for a moment, then chuckled, “You don’t have to do this, Sister. It’s just a coincidence, I’m not angry.”

“Good girl,” Li Qinyue reached out to gently boop her nose.

But just as she finished speaking, she saw Lan Xi walking towards them.

Suddenly feeling nervous, she quickly put down her tools and said to Zhuo Zhi, “I’ve been standing here all night, I’m tired, let’s go upstairs and sit down for a bit.”

There was a private room upstairs, their usual spot, off-limits to regular customers.

But Zhuo Zhi wasn’t a regular customer, nor was she a VIP. She was a staff member. It was already pushing it for Li Qinyue to bring her here to rest, going to the private room would be too much.

She felt embarrassed and mumbled, “Sister, this isn’t appropriate.”

Li Qinyue, keeping an eye on what was happening behind Zhuo Zhi, was relieved to see that Lan Xi was surrounded by two girls, probably asking for autographs and pictures. Lowering her eyes, she suddenly touched her head and said, “I don’t know, maybe I had too much to drink, I’m feeling a little dizzy.”

“Huh?” Zhuo Zhi immediately became concerned. She jumped off the stool and looked at Li Qinyue, “You were drinking while making cocktails? Testing the flavors? How much have you had tonight?”

Li Qinyue, not wanting her to worry too much, said, “I just had a couple of sips.”

“Let’s not go to the private room,” Zhuo Zhi said, “Let’s go out the back door and get some fresh air. It’s stuffy inside.”

“Okay,” Li Qinyue readily agreed. She immediately came out from behind the bar and pulled Zhuo Zhi along.

They almost bumped into the group surrounding Lan Xi.

Lan Xi saw Li Qinyue, her brows furrowing, but Li Qinyue had Zhuo Zhi with her, and she was surrounded by enthusiastic fans. They didn’t even have a chance to greet each other.

Li Qinyue dragged Zhuo Zhi out the back door. The cold wind blew away the warmth of the bar, and she let out a long sigh of relief.

Seeing her take a deep breath, Zhuo Zhi stood on tiptoe and touched her forehead, “Feeling better?”

“Much better,” Li Qinyue said with a smile, “It must have been the stuffy air, my Xiao Zhuo is so smart.”

“Hehe,” Zhuo Zhi was also happy, but her smile didn’t last long. She frowned again, “But if you feel uncomfortable after staying inside for too long, you can’t do this job long-term.”

“It’s fine,” Li Qinyue put her arm around Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder, “I’ll do it for as long as I can, I’ll try my best.”

Zhuo Zhi turned to look at her, feeling sorry for her, “If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself, Sister. I told you, I can support you.”

“Okay,” Li Qinyue squeezed her cheek, agreeing without any hesitation.

They stood by the back door for a while, Li Qinyue wrapping her coat tightly around herself.

Zhuo Zhi rubbed Li Qinyue’s hands, warming them up.

It was late at night. In winter, there were few people in the back alley, the bright lights creating a stark contrast with the dark corners, a cold yet alluring beauty.

Li Qinyue looked at the person in front of her, Zhuo Zhi’s fair skin glowing with a rosy hue, her long eyelashes fluttering, so adorable.

It was a quiet moment. They were standing near the back door, and they could faintly hear a conversation.

Someone was talking to the security guard at the back door. Customers weren’t usually allowed to exit through the back.

It was Lan Xi, Li Qinyue recognized her voice.

She frowned. Although Zhuo Zhi had said she wouldn’t get angry over coincidences, was this really a coincidence? Li Qinyue knew that Lan Xi had come here after hearing about her, even if she didn’t dare to do anything drastic, her goal was to be seen by Li Qinyue, to make her presence known.

It was annoying.

Li Qinyue frowned. She wasn’t going to leave the bar because of this person. They had finally found a job, and she didn’t want it to be ruined by her former friends, let alone by Lan Xi. It was frustrating, to say the least.

Zhuo Zhi was still holding her hands, her small, soft hands with their slight calluses, the touch incredibly comforting.

As Li Qinyue took a deep breath, looking around for a suitable place to hide, she saw Fang Yi not far away.

He was standing by the back door of another bar, talking to a man. The man was smoking, his hand resting on Fang Yi’s shoulder, their posture quite intimate. It was unclear how long they had been there.

When Li Qinyue looked at them, Fang Yi, sensing her gaze, looked over. Their eyes met, and he froze for a moment before quickly looking away, his gaze landing on Zhuo Zhi.

Damn, Li Qinyue cursed inwardly, I’m surrounded by wolves tonight.

Compared to Lan Xi’s behavior, Fang Yi’s interest in Zhuo Zhi was undeniable now.

Li Qinyue hadn’t explicitly revealed their relationship to Fang Yi because she felt that homosexuality wasn’t widely accepted, and it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Unrelated people didn’t need to know.

But now, she felt she had to act decisively, to let everyone know that they were a couple.

A couple in love, so sweet, so disgustingly sweet that no one else had a chance.

Li Qinyue looked around and spotted a red, European-style phone booth, a decorative piece.

The location wasn’t too exposed, but not too hidden either. It wouldn’t be immediately noticeable, but people with ulterior motives, like Lan Xi and Fang Yi, would definitely see them.

The conversation by the back door had ended. This was her chance. Li Qinyue grabbed Zhuo Zhi’s hand and pulled her towards the phone booth.

Zhuo Zhi was clearly confused, but she trusted Li Qinyue enough not to question her.

Li Qinyue pulled her into the shadows beside the phone booth, pressing her against the wooden exterior.

Zhuo Zhi looked at her. Li Qinyue put her arm around her waist, leaned closer, and whispered, “There’s a situation.”

“What kind of situation?” Zhuo Zhi also lowered her voice.

“A situation where I need your help to avoid bad guys,” Li Qinyue said, “Have you learned nothing from all those movies?”

Zhuo Zhi wanted to look around, but Li Qinyue held her neck, “Don’t turn your head, they’ll see us.”

Zhuo Zhi couldn’t think of any situation that would require this kind of secrecy, but since Li Qinyue had said so, she would cooperate.

If there were bad guys, they couldn’t let them ruin their plan.

If there were no bad guys, then this must be one of Li Qinyue’s games.

Li Qinyue wouldn’t do anything too outrageous in public, probably just hugging and kissing. Zhuo Zhi, as her official girlfriend, found it exciting.

She hummed in agreement, stopped moving, and looked at Li Qinyue obediently.

Li Qinyue leaned even closer and asked, “Aren’t you going to ask what I want you to do?”

“You’re so smart, Sister…” Zhuo Zhi’s voice was a soft murmur of flattery, “Do whatever you want.”

“Tsk,” Li Qinyue’s voice tickled her ear, “You’re getting better and better with your words.”

Zhuo Zhi’s lips curved into a smile. Li Qinyue’s lips brushed against her cheek, moving downwards, soon reaching her lips.

“Let’s see if your skills have improved.”

Her skills, of course, referred to kissing.

Kissing in public was a little embarrassing, but thankfully, there was no one around at this hour.

Zhuo Zhi, with her sharp senses, could still perceive her surroundings even with her eyes closed.

As Li Qinyue parted her lips with her tongue, someone walked to the back door of “Shengge”, then stopped.

As their tongues intertwined, two cars passed by at the intersection not far away.

Li Qinyue’s hand tightened around her waist, her fingers restlessly moving on Zhuo Zhi’s back. The street was quiet, and Zhuo Zhi knew that all the sounds were far away. She relaxed into the kiss.

She embraced the intimacy, while a part of her mind remained alert, on guard for any approaching passersby.

Zhuo Zhi’s heart danced to the rhythm of Li Qinyue’s movements, her body warm, her feet almost leaving the ground.

The sensation was exhilarating. Zhuo Zhi didn’t forget that Li Qinyue wanted to see her skills, and she kissed back passionately, trying to take control.

But she had underestimated Miss Li.

When Li Qinyue was willing, she could lie in bed and let Zhuo Zhi take the lead. But when she wasn’t willing, her instincts and experience were far superior to Zhuo Zhi’s.

Li Qinyue pushed her away, their breaths mingling, their faces inches apart.

She pulled Zhuo Zhi deeper into the shadows, into a recessed area of the building, her back pressed against the cold stone bricks.

This was much more stable than that wooden phone booth. Li Qinyue didn’t loosen her grip, pressing Zhuo Zhi against the wall with all her strength.

The height difference made Zhuo Zhi stand on tiptoe.

Li Qinyue’s lips descended again, her arms wrapping around Zhuo Zhi’s waist, lifting her off the ground.

Zhuo Zhi’s heart soared.

Li Qinyue didn’t lift her high, just enough for her feet to leave the ground. With her back against the solid wall, they formed a strangely stable structure.

Li Qinyue was lost in the kiss, and Zhuo Zhi knew she wasn’t struggling.

It was Zhuo Zhi who was struggling, trying to hold back her weight so she wouldn’t tire Li Qinyue.

Her mind was filled with anxieties, but her senses were heightened.

Every point where Li Qinyue touched her felt like a taut string, vibrating with each pluck, sending tremors through her body, making her fingertips tingle.

Zhuo Zhi had no energy left to pay attention to her surroundings, and Li Qinyue, sensing it, pulled back slightly, her lips brushing against Zhuo Zhi’s, “Don’t worry, no one’s watching.”

“I’m not worried,” Zhuo Zhi swallowed, her voice soft and husky, “I don’t even care if someone sees us.”

Li Qinyue chuckled softly. Just as she was about to kiss her again, something flew towards them.

It was fast and accurate. If it weren’t for the fact that they were in a peaceful country with good law and order, she would have thought it was a bullet.

And for a split second, her mind did think it was a bullet, instinctively making her move to shield Zhuo Zhi.

But Zhuo Zhi was much faster. She pushed Li Qinyue away with one hand and reached out to catch the “bullet” with the other.

Li Qinyue’s mind went blank, her heart skipping a beat.

Because of their previous position, Zhuo Zhi lost her balance and fell forward.

She landed on her knees, her hand still clutching a squashed… orange.

Across the street, an old lady in a military coat was holding a bag of bright oranges.

Under the streetlights, the oranges gleamed. As Li Qinyue reached out to help Zhuo Zhi up, the old lady took out an orange.

She held it in her hand and said, her voice low but clear, “Touch her again, and you’ll regret it.”

Chapter 67

The second day that Li Qinyue started working at “Shengge”, the bar was packed.

A group of uninvited guests arrived, all Li Qinyue’s former friends and associates, each bringing a entourage, filling up the tables downstairs and lining up along the railing upstairs.

Li Qinyue was wiping glasses behind the bar, greeting each person with a “heh” as they walked in. Finally, tired of greeting them, she sat down, made herself a cocktail, and left the work to the other bartender.

The moment she stopped working, those people swarmed her, calling her “President Li” and “Sister Yue.” Li Qinyue was annoyed.

Zhuo Zhi happened to walk past, and Li Qinyue immediately called out to her, “Xiao Zhuo.”

Zhuo Zhi hurried over, “What’s wrong, Sister?”

Li Qinyue pointed at the group in front of her, “Get rid of these people, they’re disturbing my work.”

“Okay,” Zhuo Zhi raised her hand, “Please.”

Li Qinyue’s friends chuckled, “We just want to chat with Sister Yue.”

Zhuo Zhi said, “But Li Qinyue is working, she doesn’t want to chat with you.”

“Sister Yue’s just playing around, this is her bar, what work is there?”

“Then you shouldn’t disturb her play either,” Zhuo Zhi took out her baton, “If you don’t listen…”

“Damn,” Li Qinyue’s friends looked at her in shock, “Are you serious, President Li?”

Li Qinyue ignored them.

They could only retreat, chuckling awkwardly, “We didn’t believe it when we heard you were bartending at ‘Shengge’, but now we’ve seen it with our own eyes, with our own eyes.”

After they left, Zhuo Zhi put away her baton and said to Li Qinyue, “Let me know if you need anything, Sister.”

Li Qinyue said, “Don’t leave yet, that group on the right is about to come over.”

Zhuo Zhi turned her head and saw a group of people looking at them, eager to approach.

Zhuo Zhi frowned, “What do they want?”

Li Qinyue said, “To watch me make a fool of myself, of course.”

“What’s so funny about someone working? They’re so bored,” Zhuo Zhi said.

“Yes,” Li Qinyue chuckled, “They’re bored to death.”

Zhuo Zhi leaned against the bar, baton in hand, arms crossed, staring at the group, “Don’t be afraid, Sister, they won’t dare to come over with me here.”

Li Qinyue squeezed her shoulder, “That’s right, our Xiao Zhuo is very capable.”

Zhuo Zhi, pleased with the praise, straightened her back.

With Zhuo Zhi there, the group indeed didn’t approach.

Li Qinyue returned behind the bar and started making cocktails, halfheartedly.

After a while, Aijia, who had been absent all day, finally appeared. She walked up to Li Qinyue and said, “It wasn’t me.”

Li Qinyue raised an eyebrow, silent.

Aijia, feeling a little anxious, said, “It really wasn’t me, I swear. After your shocking announcement yesterday, I went home to contemplate life. I only found out they were all here when Xiao Sui called me just now.”

“Then what are you going to do, Boss Ai?” Li Qinyue pushed the cocktail she had just made towards Aijia. “Try my invention, hmm… let’s call it ‘Sweetheart’.”

Aijia frowned at the brightly colored drink, then bravely took a large gulp, “It depends on you. If you’re not happy, we can just kick them all out.”

“Hey, hey, that’s not how you appreciate a good drink,” Li Qinyue protested.

Aijia took a deep breath, “It’s delicious. Are you going to…”

“Aren’t you afraid of offending them if we kick them out?” Li Qinyue asked with a smile.

“They’ll blame you even if we offend them,” Aijia said bluntly, “You’re not worried about that anymore, are you?”

“Right,” Li Qinyue snapped her fingers, “You understand me.”

“Then I’ll go get someone…” Aijia turned to leave.

Li Qinyue grabbed her arm, “Get who? Is our Xiao Zhuo just standing there for decoration? She’s worth ten men, let her handle it.”

“But she’s just a little girl…” Aijia said.

“Is my girl an ordinary girl?” Li Qinyue patted Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder, “Go, Pikachu!”

Zhuo Zhi, who had been annoyed by this group for a while, turned to Li Qinyue with a mischievous smile, “Pika, pika!”

Aijia burst out laughing.

After her laughter subsided, she looked at Zhuo Zhi with concern.

Li Qinyue joined her in watching Zhuo Zhi, saying, “My Xiao Zhuo is very capable, she’s not just all brawn and no brains. Don’t worry, trust her. Did I tell you? She caught a thief on the bus the other day…”

By the time Li Qinyue finished recounting Zhuo Zhi’s heroic deeds of catching thieves and defeating police officers, Zhuo Zhi had already gotten rid of most of the people who had come to gawk at Li Qinyue.

There were no major conflicts, and she was efficient in identifying and removing people, probably because she had memorized all their faces while they were staring at Li Qinyue earlier.

Li Qinyue nudged Aijia’s arm, “Impressive, right?”

Aijia chuckled, “Very impressive, I’ve never seen you so smug.”

“Of course, I usually don’t have anything to be smug about, money is just a material possession,” Li Qinyue said, her chin held high, “People are what matter most. You’ve been running this bar for so long, have you ever met anyone as amazing as my Xiao Zhuo?”

“No, no, no, you’re so childish,” Aijia said, turning to her, “Thank you.”

“Thank me for what?” Li Qinyue squinted at her.

“You sent Zhuo Zhi so I wouldn’t have to deal with them.”

“Then shouldn’t you consider our employee benefits, Boss Ai? We haven’t signed a contract, we don’t even know our salary, commission, or bonus, it’s hard to be motivated,” Li Qinyue said.

Aijia’s lips twitched, looking at Li Qinyue with amusement.

After Zhuo Zhi removed the last group, she stayed outside for a while.

When Aijia was about to go out and check on her, Li Qinyue stopped her, “I’ll go.”

Aijia stayed put, pulled a chair over, and finished the rest of Li Qinyue’s “Sweetheart” cocktail.

Li Qinyue, thinking that Zhuo Zhi had run into some trouble, stormed out of the bar.

But when she reached the door, seeing the scene before her, her anger turned into smoke.

Fang Yi was standing at the entrance of the bar, talking to Zhuo Zhi, who had her back to Li Qinyue. Against the backdrop of the colorful lights of Bar Street, they actually looked quite… romantic?

Romantic my ass.

Li Qinyue stormed over, pulled Zhuo Zhi into her arms, and asked Fang Yi, “Officer Fang, even you can’t explain this away as a coincidence, right?”

Fang Yi blushed at the sight of her and said, “It’s really a coincidence, I was in the neighborhood…”

“I didn’t know you liked to hang out in bars, Officer Fang,” Li Qinyue looked him up and down, “You seem so uptight usually, I didn’t know you were such a party animal.”

Her words were laced with mockery, but Fang Yi still didn’t get angry, he just blushed even harder, looking flustered.

Li Qinyue tilted her chin at him, “Officer Fang, don’t tell me this is your first time here…”

“It’s not my first time,” Fang Yi mumbled, “Don’t call me officer.”

Zhuo Zhi nudged Li Qinyue with her elbow, giving her a look.

“Oh…” Li Qinyue understood, “Okay, Fang Yi, want to come in?”

Fang Yi looked inside hesitantly, “Is that okay?”

“Of course, as long as you pay,” Li Qinyue gestured towards the door, “Go in, our Xiao Zhuo has work to do, she can’t just stand here and chat with you.”

“Okay,” Fang Yi glanced at Zhuo Zhi, nodded at her, and entered the bar.

Li Qinyue didn’t move, her arm still around Zhuo Zhi. After a moment of silence, she whispered, “Tsk, is this a real mission?”

“I think so,” Zhuo Zhi said, “But he definitely can’t tell us about it.”

“Hmm,” Li Qinyue nodded, “Then since he’s on a mission, you shouldn’t disturb him.”

“I didn’t disturb him, we just bumped into each other and exchanged a few words.”

“What words?”

“Like, ‘Hey, what are you doing here? What a coincidence.’”

“Nonsense,” Li Qinyue slapped Zhuo Zhi’s head, “Don’t ever let me hear those words again, it’s disgusting!”

Zhuo Zhi covered her head and burst into laughter.

After Fang Yi entered the bar, Li Qinyue didn’t want Zhuo Zhi to go in.

But it was cold outside. Even standing by the door, the wind would blow in every time someone entered or exited.

Li Qinyue couldn’t bear to let Zhuo Zhi freeze, so she took her inside, but restricted her movement to areas without Fang Yi.

Her jealousy was so obvious that Aijia teased her about it for a while.

Li Qinyue didn’t see Fang Yi again, and when she asked Zhuo Zhi, Zhuo Zhi said she hadn’t seen him either.

Just when she thought the night would finally be peaceful, her hopes were dashed. Someone wearing a hat and a mask entered the bar, carrying a guitar, and stood at the counter.

Li Qinyue glanced at her, then ignored her.

Aijia was surprised, “Lan Xi, what are you doing here?”

Lan Xi took off her mask, “It’s been a while. Our contract hasn’t expired yet.”

Aijia looked around, “The others didn’t come with you?”

“No,” Lan Xi looked at Li Qinyue, “How are you doing, President Li?”

Li Qinyue smiled faintly and leaned against the counter, looking at Aijia, “See, another one here to watch me make a fool of myself.”

Aijia chuckled. Lan Xi frowned, “You know that’s not why I’m here.”

Li Qinyue shrugged and continued making cocktails.

Lan Xi said to Aijia, “Boss Ai, can I perform now?”

Aijia glanced at the stage, “Of course you can, but with your current popularity, I’m worried something might happen.”

“No one knows I’m here, I’ll wear my hat,” Lan Xi said, “I don’t think many people will recognize me.”

Aijia chuckled, “You underestimate yourself. That behind-the-scenes clip from the show went viral yesterday.”

Lan Xi pursed her lips, silent, her eyes on Li Qinyue.

Li Qinyue found it amusing. Lan Xi’s eyes were pleading for praise.

She had done well on “I’m a Musician”, her popularity had skyrocketed, and she was even a contender for the championship. She must have received a lot of praise and rewards from the company.

And now she was here, looking at Li Qinyue with a mixture of grievance and adoration, as if Li Qinyue had done something to her.

Li Qinyue took out her phone and, in front of Lan Xi and Aijia, sent a voice message to Zhuo Zhi without even bothering to lower her voice.

“Baby, it might get crowded later, stay away from the crowd, don’t overwork yourself.”

Aijia sighed, “Hey, you’re telling her to slack off in front of the boss?”

Li Qinyue raised an eyebrow, “Deduct it from my salary then. I can’t let my baby be in danger.”

She had called Zhuo Zhi “baby” before, but now it was “baby”.

Li Qinyue was deliberately flaunting their intimacy, trying to make certain people give up.

Whether or not those certain people gave up, they looked quite heartbroken.

Aijia quickly changed the subject, “Well, Lan Xi, I’ll have Xiao Sui close the doors, no entry allowed, you can sing freely.”

“Okay, thank you, Sister Ai,” Lan Xi smiled and walked towards the stage with her guitar.

There were often live performances at “Shengge”, but they were usually announced beforehand.

No one expected that on this random night, the newly famous Lan Xi would return to this place where she had once worked, pick up a guitar, and start singing.

Not many people noticed her when she first went on stage, but after singing a few lines, she was recognized.

People quickly took out their phones, screams and applause erupted, and many rushed towards the stage.

The security guards held back the crowd. Fortunately, most of the customers were adults, so it was easy to control the situation.

Lan Xi didn’t say anything, she just sang her song.

“You, you, you finally appeared, we only exchanged a glance, and my heart shattered, my world collapsed…”

Her accompaniment was simple, her voice natural, her emotions subdued, unlike the passionate lyrics. But she was a talented singer after all, and her performance, on this night, resonated with the audience.

Aijia looked at Li Qinyue, who was calmly making cocktails, her eyes and ears seemingly not focused on the stage.

Aijia chuckled, “That’s ‘I’ll Die in Your Arms’, don’t you have any reaction?”

“Hmm?” Li Qinyue glanced at her, “I can’t kill her even if you handed me her head. Murder is illegal, you know.”

Aijia tapped her glass, “Some things are about timing.”

“This isn’t about timing,” Li Qinyue leaned closer to Aijia, looking into her eyes, “Don’t you understand? It’s about the person. Some people, you meet them and you know you can’t miss this opportunity, not at all, no matter what.”

“Damn…” Aijia cursed softly, “Tone down the PDA.”

“I can’t help it, I’m happy, I’m content. I’m even cleaning glasses for you, can’t you let me be happy?”

“Where’s your baby?” Aijia interrupted her gloating.

Li Qinyue frowned, glancing at her phone. She had sent Zhuo Zhi a message earlier, but she still hadn’t replied.

Thinking that Fang Yi might still be in the bar, Li Qinyue felt annoyed. She immediately called Zhuo Zhi, “I’m calling my baby over.”

“Calling her over to listen to someone else sing a love song to you?” Aijia asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You don’t understand,” Li Qinyue sighed, “The situation is complicated tonight, there are wolves everywhere, I can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. I’d rather make her jealous than be jealous myself…”

“What are you even talking about…”

“Shh…” The call connected, “Baby, come to the bar, I need you. Be careful on your way…”

The bar was small, it only took a few steps to get from one end to the other. What could possibly happen to a martial arts expert on such a short walk?

Aijia, speechless, could only take a bite of the lemon slice from her glass.

Sour, so damn sour.

If this couple kept playing these games, the whole bar would turn into a lemon orchard.

Chapter 66

If Fang Yi’s blush before had been a faint sunset, then after the sales assistant’s words, it turned into a freshly cooked lobster, bright red from head to toe, ear to ear.

Li Qinyue couldn’t help but burst into laughter, clutching Zhuo Zhi’s hand.

The sales assistants also joined in their laughter. Being laughed at by a group of girls was probably Fang Yi’s most embarrassing moment of the year. He waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave.

Li Qinyue deliberately raised her voice and asked the sales assistant, “Who do you think his girlfriend is?”

The sales assistant hesitated, looking at Li Qinyue, then at Zhuo Zhi, not knowing what to say.

Li Qinyue knew that, based on age, they would naturally assume it was her. She wasn’t offended, and pointed at herself, “I don’t like that type of guy!”

The sales assistant smiled and nodded. Fang Yi quickly walked away.

Looking at his retreating figure, Li Qinyue raised her voice again, “My Zhuo Zhi doesn’t like him either!”

Fang Yi quickened his pace, it was unclear if he had heard her.

“Okay,” Li Qinyue clapped her hands and said to Zhuo Zhi, “Let’s go home.”

The smile on the sales assistant’s face froze.

Zhuo Zhi was confused, “Aren’t we going to buy anything?”

“They guessed my girlfriend wrong, I’m not in the mood,” Li Qinyue said dramatically, linking arms with Zhuo Zhi, “Baby, I want to go home.”

Zhuo Zhi nodded, “Okay, let’s go home.”

They hailed a taxi on the street. As soon as they got in, the expression on Li Qinyue’s face changed.

Or rather, her expression vanished. When she was calm and collected like this, she seemed cold and distant. Zhuo Zhi looked at her, a little afraid.

“Sister…” she called out softly, “Do you still want to go shopping? We can go together.”

“No,” Li Qinyue paused, then said, “Their designs are overrated, their lingerie is uncomfortable.”

Zhuo Zhi didn’t understand brands, but she could tell that Li Qinyue wasn’t angry about not entering the store.

So, working backward, Zhuo Zhi waved her hand dismissively, “Officer Fang isn’t interested in me, he just wants to spar with me.”

“I know he wants to spar with you,” Li Qinyue’s voice was still calm, “But it’s hard to say if he’s interested in you or not.”

Zhuo Zhi said, “He’s not interested in me.”

Li Qinyue glanced at her, “Can you control whether others are interested in you?”

“I’ll hit him harder next time we spar,” Zhuo Zhi clenched her fist, “He definitely won’t be interested in me then.”

Li Qinyue chuckled, “That’s a good method.”

Seeing Li Qinyue’s smile, Zhuo Zhi also smiled.

But her smile didn’t last long. Li Qinyue’s expression suddenly turned serious, and she glared at Zhuo Zhi, “There’s going to be a next time?”

“No, no, no next time!” Zhuo Zhi quickly said, “I meant, if we happen to meet, if it’s unavoidable, I’ll make sure there’s no next time.”

Li Qinyue’s lips twitched, but she didn’t say anything more.

The taxi left the busy street, and the ride became smoother.

Zhuo Zhi carefully considered her mistakes, “Sister, I didn’t realize you didn’t want me to go to the boxing gym. There are many safe jobs there that are suitable for me, I was thinking…”

“They’re not suitable for you,” Li Qinyue said.

“Oh,” Zhuo Zhi didn’t dare to speak anymore.

After a few seconds of silence, Li Qinyue explained, “Doing odd jobs at a boxing gym would be beneath you, and letting you compete would be too dangerous. Besides, those competitions are barely legal, you’re too upright for that, don’t do it.”

“Okay,” Zhuo Zhi nodded, “I won’t do it if you don’t want me to, Sister. It’s fine, I’ll find something else.”

Li Qinyue looked at her, “I didn’t expect you to be so serious.”

“Hmm?” Zhuo Zhi was confused.

“About living this kind of life, so serious about it.”

“This is how ordinary people live, everyone lives like this, of course I have to be serious about it,” Zhuo Zhi said.

“Hmm,” Li Qinyue nodded, “Alright then.”

“Alright what?” Zhuo Zhi asked.

“I’ll be serious too,” Li Qinyue said to the driver, “Sir, turn at the next intersection, to Bar Street.”

“Huh?” Zhuo Zhi’s eyes widened.

“Hungry?” Li Qinyue’s expression returned to normal, “Want to try Aijia’s cooking?”

Zhuo Zhi had tasted Aijia’s cocktails before, they were delicious, and the ones she made for Zhuo Zhi didn’t even have any alcohol.

But she wasn’t sure about Aijia’s cooking.

It had been a while since they last visited “Shengge”. When they reached the bar, the security guard looked at Li Qinyue, then at Zhuo Zhi. Li Qinyue smiled and put her arm around Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder, and the guard let them in.

It wasn’t opening hours yet, so the bar was quiet. They hadn’t walked far when Aijia came out to greet them, her first words a chuckle, “Damn, I thought I wouldn’t see you again for another six months.”

Li Qinyue spread her arms, “Why would I hide when I’m happy?”

Aijia glanced at Zhuo Zhi, “You do look happy.”

Zhuo Zhi nodded, “She is, Sister Aijia, genuinely happy.”

“That’s good,” Aijia didn’t ask any further questions, “So, what brings you here today? Want a drink, or…”

“We’re hungry, let’s eat first. It’s been a while since I last had your cooking,” Li Qinyue said.

Aijia chuckled, “Yes, Boss Li, your wish is my command.”

Aijia went to cook for them. Li Qinyue led Zhuo Zhi to a private room, their usual spot, and they waited for their meal.

Aijia’s cooking was simple, one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a soup, with rice already served.

But it tasted delicious. Zhuo Zhi picked up a piece of vegetable and placed it in Li Qinyue’s bowl, asking Aijia, “Don’t you want some? It’s really good.”

Aijia said, “Do I need you to tell me my own cooking is good? I already ate. Hurry up, you two, I’ll be busy once the bar opens.”

“You still have to take care of us even after it opens,” Li Qinyue said.

“Hmm?” Aijia looked at her, “Is the boss planning to promote herself?”

“I’m already at the top,” Li Qinyue chuckled, “But this time, I’m not taking the top spot.”

“Just say it directly, you’re making me nervous,” Aijia said.

“We need jobs,” Li Qinyue pointed at Zhuo Zhi and herself, “We’re planning to work here.”

“Huh?!” Aijia clutched her chest, “Now I’m truly nervous.”

“It’s true, it’s true!” Zhuo Zhi nodded vigorously.

This was the first time Li Qinyue had mentioned wanting to work, even if it was just sweeping the floors at “Shengge,” Zhuo Zhi was willing.

Aijia leaned back, sinking into the sofa, “Are you two kidding me? Why?”

Li Qinyue said calmly, “We’re broke.”

“You’re kidding,” Aijia couldn’t even maintain her gentle demeanor. She exclaimed, “I just transferred last year’s earnings to you…”

“Stop,” Li Qinyue raised her hand, “The me from last year is not the me I am now. I’m a new me now.”

“A broke new you?” Aijia looked at her.

“Yes,” Li Qinyue said, “From this year onwards, I’m not President Li anymore, I’m Li Qinyue, just call me Qinyue. I think I’m quite good at making cocktails, Boss Ai, you can take a break and focus on management.”

Aijia was speechless for a moment.

Zhuo Zhi looked at Li Qinyue. With her encouragement, she spoke up, “Boss Ai, my name is Zhuo Zhi. You can call me Xiao Zhuo, Xiao Zhi, or Zhuo Zhi, whichever you prefer. I think I’m quite suitable for security work, but if you don’t need any more security personnel, I can also be a waitress.”

Aijia stared at them, her jaw slack.

Li Qinyue continued eating. After a while, she said, “So, Boss Ai, what do you think? Is it inconvenient?”

“Heh,” Aijia finally spoke, “I’m wondering if I should post on Weibo and ask for advice, ‘My boss wants to be my employee, what should I do? Help, it’s urgent.’”

“Do whatever you have to do,” Li Qinyue said, “I told you, I’m not President Li anymore…”

“But I’m still paying you…”

“Keep paying me, that’s for President Li.” Li Qinyue said matter-of-factly, “I’m your employee, Li Qinyue now, treat me like any other employee.”

Zhuo Zhi: “Me too, me too, don’t be polite, Boss Ai.”

Aijia stood up abruptly, “Alright, stop eating, it’s almost opening time. Xiao Zhuo, you go check the front and back, Xiao Li, you familiarize yourself with the cocktail menu.”

“I haven’t finished eating yet,” Li Qinyue said.

Aijia quickly cleared the table, her smile still gentle, “Boss Ai doesn’t cook for her employees.”

Li Qinyue laughed so hard she almost dropped her chopsticks.

Aijia left briskly. Zhuo Zhi asked Li Qinyue, “Sister, are we really going to work at ‘Shengge’?”

“Yes, I figured it out. Since I can’t completely cut ties, I might as well experience the struggles of ordinary people,” Li Qinyue said, patting Zhuo Zhi’s head, “At least I’m not worried about you being here.”

“Okay!” Zhuo Zhi was happy, after searching for a job for so long, she finally had peace of mind.

Li Qinyue patted her back, “Let’s get to work!”

Zhuo Zhi asked the most important question, “What about salary and benefits?”

Li Qinyue chuckled, “You’ll have to discuss that with Boss Ai.”

Zhuo Zhi thought she was right, but she didn’t get a chance to talk to Boss Ai for the next few hours.

Boss Ai had already made arrangements. The security guard at the door showed Zhuo Zhi around, explaining her duties. Having witnessed Zhuo Zhi’s fighting skills before, he didn’t doubt her abilities and was very polite.

Li Qinyue spent her time behind the bar, playing with bottles and glasses, tossing and catching them. Once, as Zhuo Zhi walked past, she heard a crisp “crack”.

Did a glass break?

Zhuo Zhi looked at Li Qinyue questioningly.

It did~~

Li Qinyue winked at her.

You seem happy about it?

Zhuo Zhi raised her eyebrows.

You’ll be paying for it from your salary.

Li Qinyue smirked.

Hahaha, Zhuo Zhi chuckled.

Hehe, Li Qinyue blew her a kiss.

They exchanged flirtatious glances, and the others pretended not to notice. The couple, who were usually openly affectionate at home, were now secretly flirting at work.

With Boss Ai avoiding the topic of salary and benefits, Zhuo Zhi and Li Qinyue started their first day of work.

Apart from Li Qinyue almost hitting a customer over the head with a bottle, everything went smoothly.

Late at night, after their shift ended, they left “Shengge”. Zhuo Zhi, with her sharp hearing, heard the security guard sigh behind them.

She chuckled and shook Li Qinyue’s hand, “Sister, please don’t be so impulsive anymore.”

“Was I being impulsive today?” Li Qinyue glared, “That idiot touched my hand.”

Zhuo Zhi took Li Qinyue’s hand, rubbed it gently, and emboldened by the quiet night, kissed it, “It’s okay, it’s okay, he didn’t really touch you.”

“If he had, he would have lost his hand,” Li Qinyue’s lips twitched.

“Actually, poor people usually don’t cause trouble. If you hit someone, you have to pay medical expenses and go to the police station. And if you hit someone rich and powerful, it’ll be big trouble,” Zhuo Zhi said.

Li Qinyue chuckled, “I never thought there would be a day when you would lecture me about this.”

“Hahaha…” Zhuo Zhi said, “I’m just reminding you to be mindful of your status.”

“Okay,” Li Qinyue said, “Mindful of my status. Do we have enough money for a taxi? The buses have stopped running. Sigh, how do poor people even get home? Maybe we should ask Boss Ai for employee housing…”

Zhuo Zhi opened the ride-hailing app, “It’s more comfortable at home. I’ll ask Boss Ai about transportation allowance tomorrow.”

“So resourceful,” Li Qinyue pinched her nose, “Tell me, what’s so comfortable about home?”

Zhuo Zhi looked around, then leaned closer to Li Qinyue, her eyes sparkling, “We can do whatever we want at home.”

Chapter 65

Li Qinyue had anticipated that Fang Yi would try to contact Zhuo Zhi again, but she didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

At noon the next day, she received a call from Zhuo Zhi, saying that Ling Zi wanted to talk to her.

Li Qinyue was shocked, “How did Ling Zi find you?”

Zhuo Zhi stammered, “He didn’t find me, I found him.”

“Why would you look for him?” Li Qinyue stood up and started pacing around the room.

“He’ll tell you,” Zhuo Zhi quickly handed the phone to someone else.

Ling Zi’s voice boomed through the phone, “Ahhhhh, Sister Qinyue, where have you been hiding? Everyone’s been looking for you, you’re not answering your phone or messages…”

“Shut up,” Li Qinyue said, frowning.

Ling Zi immediately went silent.

“Give the phone to Zhuo Zhi,” Li Qinyue ordered.

Ling Zi obediently handed the phone back.

Li Qinyue heard Zhuo Zhi’s soft voice, “You haven’t told her yet…”

“Tell her yourself!” Li Qinyue shouted into the phone.

Her voice was loud, laced with her familiar anger. Zhuo Zhi didn’t dare to refuse. She took the phone and said cautiously, “Hello?”

“Explain yourself in three sentences,” Li Qinyue said, plucking a leaf from a potted plant.

“Well… that…”

“That’s one sentence.”

“It’s just that yesterday, when I was sparring with Officer Fang, you were organizing a betting pool. It reminded me of that competition, so I wanted to ask if there were any upcoming competitions so I could earn some money.”

“Is your brain fried?!” Li Qinyue’s voice rose sharply. “Have you forgotten who paid for the prize money in that competition?”

“I haven’t forgotten, you did,” Zhuo Zhi said.

“Then look at our current situation! Do you think anyone would be stupid enough to throw two hundred thousand yuan at you like that?”

“I was just asking…” Zhuo Zhi tried to steer the conversation back on track, “Ling Zi said there are competitions, but they require your approval.”

“Of course they require my approval!” Li Qinyue yelled, “You’re my person! My bodyguard! My girlfriend! My ward!”

“My guardian is my master,” Zhuo Zhi said.

“Nonsense! It’s me now!” Li Qinyue said, “Stay where you are, and give the phone to Ling Zi.”

Ling Zi took the phone, “Sister…”

Li Qinyue roared, “Keep an eye on her! If she steps into that ring, I’ll throw you to the wolves!”

Ling Zi quickly said, “Okay, okay, I got it…”

Li Qinyue hung up the phone and stormed out of the apartment.

If she had a car, she would have sped to the boxing gym.

Unfortunately, she was currently a penniless Li Qinyue. As she walked briskly towards the entrance of the complex, her mind, momentarily clouded by her anger, even considered which bus to take to get to the gym.

She quickly dismissed the thought. She was adapting to her new life quite well.

Li Qinyue hailed a taxi and urged the driver to hurry, shortening the journey by about ten minutes.

As soon as she entered the boxing gym, she saw Ling Zi waiting by the door, bowing and scraping like a puppy. “Sister, you’re here. I didn’t let her fight, she’s resting in the lounge. I bought her some juice…”

Li Qinyue said, “You’re not stupid.”

Ling Zi chuckled nervously, “Of course I’m not, otherwise how could I be friends with you, Sister?”

Li Qinyue didn’t say anything more and headed straight for the lounge. Ling Zi followed her, “Sister, Brother Han has been looking for you, and Sister Chun, and…”

“Pretend you didn’t see me today,” Li Qinyue said, “I’m not seeing anyone.”

“Sister, I swear, I didn’t tell anyone. Xiao Zhuo Zhi came to me today, I was just worried about her, so I let her call you. If you don’t want me to tell anyone, I’ll just pretend I have amnesia.”

Li Qinyue kicked him lightly, “Your muscles haven’t grown, but your flattery skills have.”

Ling Zi pouted, “I only flatter you, Sister.”

Ling Zi rambled on and on. Li Qinyue, knowing that Zhuo Zhi was fine, felt her anger subside.

And thinking about how this silly girl had come to the boxing gym to earn money, she felt a little sorry for her. By the time they reached the lounge door, her anger had mostly dissipated.

She stopped at the door and asked Ling Zi, “Have you heard about me?”

“Which part?” Ling Zi asked cautiously.

Li Qinyue tilted her chin towards the lounge, “You know what I mean.”

“Oh, I’ve heard,” Ling Zi said, “Little President Li, fighting for love.”

Li Qinyue raised an eyebrow, “And the second part?”

“What second part?”

“Don’t play dumb,” Li Qinyue slapped him lightly.

“Oh,” Ling Zi cleared his throat, “You never know who’s going to win the ‘Most Shocking Coming Out’ award until the New Year’s bell rings.”

“Heh,” Li Qinyue’s lips twitched. She pushed open the lounge door.

“Holy shit…” Ling Zi whispered.

Li Qinyue’s voice was sharp as a knife, “What are you doing here?”

Fang Yi looked up at her, his expression neutral, “Hello, what a coincidence.”

Li Qinyue narrowed her eyes, “It’s not a coincidence. I’m here to pick up my Zhuo Zhi. She’s young and naive, she always goes to places she shouldn’t.”

Fang Yi completely ignored her veiled threat and said, “The instructors and some of the members here are quite good, it’s good for Zhuo Zhi to spar and exchange knowledge.”

Li Qinyue didn’t even bother smiling at him. She beckoned to Zhuo Zhi, “Come here, time to go home.”

Zhuo Zhi hurriedly went to stand behind her.

Li Qinyue took her hand and said to Ling Zi, “Zhuo Zhi is still young, don’t let her in here again.”

Zhuo Zhi opened her mouth to protest, but Ling Zi quickly said, “Okay, okay, I got it, Sister Qinyue.”

Zhuo Zhi glanced at Ling Zi and silently closed her mouth.

Li Qinyue ignored Fang Yi and turned to leave with Zhuo Zhi. But after just two steps, Fang Yi followed them.

“I’ve finished my training for today, I’ll go with you,” he said.

Li Qinyue glanced at Zhuo Zhi, her smile not reaching her eyes.

Zhuo Zhi explained, “It’s really a coincidence, Officer Fang was training here.”

Li Qinyue asked Fang Yi, “Do police officers have so much free time during work hours?”

Fang Yi said, “I’m off duty today.”

“Oh~~” Li Qinyue said, “Fate brings us together.”

Fang Yi said seriously, “It would be even better if I could spar with Zhuo Zhi again.”

Li Qinyue pulled Zhuo Zhi closer, “She’s still growing, she can’t be fighting all the time.”

Her logic was flawed, but Fang Yi, as usual, didn’t argue. He understood Li Qinyue’s meaning and didn’t press the issue.

Zhuo Zhi didn’t dare to speak. She still remembered Li Qinyue’s anger from last time, she didn’t want to provoke the volatile girl again.

As they left the boxing gym, Li Qinyue suddenly said to Fang Yi, “Officer Fang, there’s something I want to ask you.”

Fang Yi said, “Go ahead.”

Li Qinyue said, “Us ordinary people, when we watch TV, we often see villains using tracking devices, attaching them to clothes, phones, shoes… it’s quite scary. Do these things actually exist?”

Fang Yi looked at Li Qinyue, then said, “They do exist, but don’t worry, they’re not usually used on ordinary people.”

Zhuo Zhi tugged at Li Qinyue’s sleeve. Li Qinyue let out a long “oh.”

There was a bus stop nearby. Li Qinyue, not caring whether it was the right bus, dragged Zhuo Zhi towards it. She turned to Fang Yi and said, “We’re waiting for the bus here, Officer Fang, goodbye.”

Fang Yi looked at Zhuo Zhi, “I’m also waiting for the bus here.”

“Another coincidence…” Li Qinyue’s lips twitched, then she turned to Zhuo Zhi, “Hey, I just remembered I need to buy something, let’s go to the mall.”

“Okay,” Zhuo Zhi quickly agreed.

Li Qinyue pulled Zhuo Zhi away from the bus stop, “You wait here, Officer Fang, see you later.”

But as they were waiting for the traffic light to change, Fang Yi caught up to them.

“Don’t provoke the police,” this was one of Li Qinyue’s life mottos, whether she was rich or not.

And that was why she hadn’t lost her temper at Fang Yi yet.

But she was reaching her limit. Her smile gone, she looked at Fang Yi, “Officer Fang, this is getting ridiculous.”

Fang Yi coughed, “I also…”

Li Qinyue interrupted him, “We’re going shopping for women’s clothes, are you going to buy a dress, Officer Fang?”

“No,” Fang Yi quickly said.

“Then stop following us,” Li Qinyue said, “It’s broad daylight, and I have a martial arts expert with me, I’m safe.”

“I…” Fang Yi hesitated, then finally said what he really wanted, “I have a few more questions for Zhuo Zhi.”

Li Qinyue said, “You two were talking for a while before I arrived, right?”

“Just for about ten minutes,” Fang Yi said, “I only saw Zhuo Zhi after I finished training, it’s a shame.”

“It’s not a shame,” Li Qinyue said, “Ten minutes is quite a long time.”

“About that technique you mentioned earlier…” Fang Yi looked at Zhuo Zhi, “Can you demonstrate it for me?”

Li Qinyue didn’t give Zhuo Zhi a chance to speak, “No, we’re on a public street, you should be mindful of traffic safety, Officer Fang.”

“The light is green,” Fang Yi pointed at the traffic light, looking happy, “Let’s talk while we walk.”

The three of them crossed the street with the crowd. This area was bustling, with various malls lining both sides, the streets crowded with people, bundled up in their winter coats.

From the moment they stepped onto the sidewalk, Fang Yi’s eyes were glued to Zhuo Zhi. But Li Qinyue ignored his eager gaze, pulling Zhuo Zhi along.

Fang Yi followed them persistently. He was tall, well-built, and handsome, with an air of righteousness that made people want to call him “officer” even without his uniform.

Trailing behind Li Qinyue and Zhuo Zhi like a bodyguard, his eager expression attracted attention.

But Li Qinyue didn’t like this kind of attention. She spotted a shop and, with a flash of inspiration, pulled Zhuo Zhi inside.

Fang Yi stopped at the door.

The shop was lavishly decorated, with a giant screen displaying images of women with perfect figures and skimpy clothing.

Everything sparkled, but the products themselves were revealing.

Li Qinyue looked back at Fang Yi, seeing the flustered and blushing police officer, her mood instantly improved.

“Come on in, Officer Fang,” she said, “It’s cold outside, it’s warm in here, let’s talk inside.”

Fang Yi, his face red, shook his head vehemently.

Li Qinyue didn’t enter the shop yet. She continued to call out to him, “Come on, we girls can shop for hours.”

“I’ll wait for you,” Fang Yi turned his head, looking away.

At that moment, the sales assistants came over, politely opening the doors for Li Qinyue and Zhuo Zhi, smiling, “Welcome to Victoria’s Secret, gentlemen, don’t be shy, you can help your girlfriend choose.”