Chapter 36
Chang Wenyan wasn’t into anime, but he understood what Zuo Bian meant. She was the “person who appeared out of the blue,” and he was the “childhood friend.”
“Qin Ai, is there really no chance for us?” Chang Wenyan looked at Qin Ai, his eyes filled with longing.
Everyone at the table knew they shouldn’t eavesdrop on this conversation, so they quickly excused themselves, leaving only Qin Ai, Zuo Bian, Chang Wenyan, and Chang Wensi at the table.
Qin Ai continued peeling the crab, barely glancing at Chang Wenyan. “What chance? If you’re talking about an arranged marriage, I suggest you stop bringing it up. If you’re talking about a business partnership, then talk to me after you’ve become the head of the Chang family.”
Chang Wenyan’s expression faltered. The Chang family was indeed one of the leading families, but their internal affairs were far from as glamorous as they appeared on the surface.
Several of his cousins were trying to pull him down from his position, and there was also his grandfather, whose controlling nature had reached a suffocating level. No matter what decisions he made, his grandfather would interfere.
It was his grandfather who had stubbornly refused to help the Qin family when they were in crisis and had even tried to take advantage of their vulnerability.
Chang Wenyan clenched his fists. “Qin Ai, I understand what you mean. One day, I’ll make you willing to cooperate with me.”
Qin Ai raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be waiting.”
Chang Wenyan turned to Chang Wensi. “Wensi, let’s go. I have important things to do.”
Chang Wensi didn’t understand their conversation, but she quickly grabbed her bag and followed her brother when he said he was leaving.
With Chang Wenyan and Chang Wensi gone, only Qin Ai and Zuo Bian were left at the table, but it didn’t affect their meal.
Zuo Bian took a sip of her lychee oolong tea and licked her lips. “Qin Ai, you don’t seem to dislike Chang Wenyan.”
“Are you unhappy again?” Qin Ai asked.
Zuo Bian shook her head. To her, the “male lead” Chang Wenyan posed less of a threat than the beautiful waitress in the cheongsam.
“I just feel like you have a bit of a ‘wasted talent’* feeling towards him.” (An idiom meaning “to feel disappointed that someone is not living up to their potential”)
Qin Ai looked at Zuo Bian in surprise. “You’re right. Because the Chang Wenyan I know shouldn’t be someone who is held back by an old fool.”
Those beautiful red lips uttered the words “old fool” with such grace and elegance, as if they were just a figment of the listener’s imagination.
Zuo Bian had also learned a bit about the Qin family from her mother and knew who the “old fool” Qin Ai was referring to was.
Sensing that Qin Ai wasn’t in a good mood, Zuo Bian activated her Green Tea-flavored praise technique.
“Qin Ai, I think you’re really amazing. I’ve heard about what happened to your family. You were only twenty years old at the time. At such a young age, you managed to support the Qin family and become the CEO of Qin Group. And you’re so beautiful, you have such a good figure, and you’re kind and considerate. I think the person who becomes your girlfriend must be very lucky.”
Classic Green Tea line: You’re so amazing, [insert a bunch of compliments], the person who becomes your girlfriend must be so lucky.
Qin Ai raised an eyebrow and smiled, leaning closer to Zuo Bian. Her words were intoxicating. “Then, do you want to be my girlfriend?”
Zuo Bian’s eyes were a bit dazed. Under the dim lighting and the intoxicating aroma, she subconsciously wanted to say yes.
But 555 yelled in her mind, 【Host, hold on! Have you forgotten your role? You’re a Green Tea! Stick to your role, never confess first! You can only agree after Qin Ai confesses!】
Zuo Bian instantly sobered up a little. She thought for a moment and replied, “But Ai Jiejie, we’re just good sisters.”
Classic Green Tea line number two: [Name] Gege or Jiejie (older brother or sister), we’re just good siblings. Maintaining intimacy without defining the relationship, using the excuse of being siblings to stay close.
Qin Ai chuckled and leaned back. “We’re not related by blood, so we can only be sworn sisters. Sworn sister, I look forward to our future interactions.”
“Mm-hmm.” Zuo Bian nodded seriously.
However, she couldn’t help but wonder in her mind, ‘555, why do I always feel like Qin Ai is flirting with me? Her words seem normal though.’
555 really wanted to point out that Qin Ai had emphasized the word “sworn” in “sworn sisters,” but in order to help its muscular little bunny host fall for the cunning Qin Ai, it chose to lie.
【What’s strange about it? It’s perfectly normal, Host, you must be overthinking it!】
Zuo Bian suppressed her doubts and continued eating.
People at other tables were secretly glancing at Zuo Bian and Qin Ai, especially the few staff members who shipped them. They were ecstatic to see the two of them talking closely.
After this dinner, everyone would officially part ways. It wouldn’t be easy to meet again, and they were especially reluctant to part with Zuo Bian. After all, she was beautiful, had a good personality, and often treated them to meals.
It was already very late when the dinner ended. Qin Ai drove Zuo Bian home and asked her what she planned to do after filming wrapped up.
Zuo Bian’s eyes were filled with longing. “Of course, I’m going to study. I want to learn everything. First, I want to get my driver’s license, so I can drive you home in the future.”
“Then I’ll be looking forward to that day. Also, about our new brand, AB, would Miss Zuo Bian be willing to be our spokesperson?”
Zuo Bian said excitedly, “I’d be delighted!”
Qin Ai smiled. “What do you want for your endorsement fee?”
“I want the privilege of enjoying all AB drinks for free, for life.”
Qin Ai’s eyes were filled with a hint of helplessness, but this answer was very much in line with Zuo Bian’s personality.
“You already have that privilege.”
Zuo Bian rested her chin on her hand, looking troubled. “But I haven’t thought of anything else I want. I don’t lack money.”
Qin Ai said, “Then I’ll grant you one wish.”
Zuo Bian suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up, and she said to Qin Ai, “Since you said so, then I won’t hold back. I want you to go to the amusement park with me. That’s simple enough, right?”
“It is quite simple…”
Zuo Bian noticed that Qin Ai had slowed down. She tilted her head and asked, “Qin Ai, do you not want to go to the amusement park with me? It’s okay if you don’t, I don’t really, really, really want to go.”
【This strategic retreat is 666666.】(666 is internet slang for “awesome”)
Finally, Qin Ai sighed. “I’m not unwilling, but why do you suddenly want to go to the amusement park with me?”
Qin Ai didn’t even need to ask much, Zuo Bian had already completely sold out her teammate.
“Xiao Tian told me that you love amusement parks, but you pretend to dislike them because you think it’s childish for adults to go.”
Looking at Zuo Bian’s innocent and bright smile, Qin Ai shook her head with a smile.
However, her eyes soon narrowed slightly, and she started devising various ways to torment Qin Tian.
Qin Tian knew his sister was afraid of heights. To get revenge for his confiscated allowance, he had decided to use Zuo Bian as a weapon. Unfortunately, he never expected that Zuo Bian would sell him out so quickly and thoroughly.
“I’ll be quite busy lately, I don’t have time. But I’ll be much freer after this period is over. How about I take you on the weekend?”
Zuo Bian nodded. “Okay, there are still four days until the weekend. Can I go to your company and see you during these four days? I won’t disturb your work, I’ll just quietly read or play games.”
“Of course, you can come whenever you want.”
====================
It was already ten o’clock at night when Zuo Bian arrived home. She told her parents about her desire to get a driver’s license. Du Yundong assured her that they would arrange everything, Zuo Bian only needed to take the test.
The next day, Zuo Bian started studying for the theory test. After studying at home for half a day, she decided to continue studying at Qin Ai’s office. Although she might not be able to talk to Qin Ai much, she just wanted to be there.
Zuo Bian was a woman of action. She packed ten bottles of the new drinks Qin Ai had sent her into her bag and changed into a new outfit.
It was true that no matter what era, girls would always dress up when meeting their crush.
Little Frog, seeing that Zuo Bian was about to leave, hopped excitedly from the bedside table to the floor. If it weren’t for the soft carpet in Zuo Bian’s room, it would have probably bumped its head and gotten a big lump.
“Take me with you, ribbit!”
Little Frog had already appeared on camera during Zuo Bian’s video chat with Qin Ai, so Qin Ai already knew about its existence. Therefore, Zuo Bian didn’t think there was anything wrong with bringing Little Frog along.
【Host, I also want a body!】
However, Zuo Bian frowned with concern. “But your spare bodies are all too big, it’s not convenient to take them out.”
【5555555 I refuse to believe it!】
It was 555’s fault for being too greedy. It always chose larger bodies to show off its non-existent aura in front of Little Frog.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Zuo Bian slung her bag over her shoulder, holding Little Frog in her hand, and headed out.
As they were in the car, Zuo Bian suddenly heard 555 say, 【Host, I sense a plot fluctuation! Hehehe, it seems I might be censored for a while. I wonder how much the progress bar will increase this time.】
Unfortunately, 555 had the passive skill of “always being proven wrong.” Its ability to predict the plot was worse than Little Frog’s.
Little Frog furrowed its nonexistent brow. [But ribbit, I don’t think this is a good thing, ribbit.]
‘Is something going to happen to Qin Ai?’ Zuo Bian was worried.
【No, I just contacted the higher-ups. The upcoming plot does have something to do with Qin Ai, but I don’t know the specifics. It would be great if there was a little informant around.】
555 missed Chang Wensi, who used to provide them with plot spoilers. Unfortunately, the filming had wrapped up, and Chang Wensi wouldn’t be appearing frequently by Zuo Bian’s side to offer information anymore.
‘I’m relieved to hear that Qin Ai won’t be in danger.’ Zuo Bian relaxed, not worried about what the upcoming plot might be.
【Host, how can you be so relaxed? It might be a dangerous plot!】
‘Hearing you say that, I know it’s not dangerous.’ Zuo Bian leaned back comfortably, taking out a bottle of AB tomato juice and sipping it.
***
T/N:
Wasted talent: Instead, the author uses the idiom 恨铁不成钢, which means “to feel resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement”. I opted for “Wasted talent” as a shorter alternative.
Additional: Just to remember that “55555” is equivalent to “wuwuwuwuwu”, which represents crying.
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