Chapter 48
Zhuo Zhi froze. She hadn’t expected Li Qinyue to deploy their backup plan so blatantly just minutes after arriving.
They were at Li Qinyue’s family home, and Zhuo Zhi, both in expression and posture, froze, not daring to move or speak, afraid of overstepping the boundaries and causing irreversible damage to Li Qinyue.
The man in front of them was also stunned for a moment, but he recovered faster than Zhuo Zhi. The smile on his face only stiffened for a second before returning.
He said, “What are you talking about? Don’t you know what kind of relationship Li Hao and I have?”
Li Qinyue said, “You two often disappear behind closed doors for hours, who knows what you’re doing.”
“Just talking about manly things, watching sports, having a drink, what else could we be doing?” The man smoothly changed the subject, “At least we’re better than that Zhang guy, getting caught red-handed.”
Li Qinyue smiled faintly, clearly not wanting to continue this topic.
She turned to Zhuo Zhi and asked, “Didn’t you say you were thirsty? What do you want to drink?”
“Anything is fine,” Zhuo Zhi said stiffly.
“You like fresh orange juice, I’ll make you some,” Li Qinyue put her arm around Zhuo Zhi and turned to leave.
The man didn’t follow, but someone emerged from the kitchen, smiling, “You’re here early today, Qinyue.”
Li Qinyue clearly liked this person more. Her smile was genuine, “Uncle Li picked me up early this morning, I had no choice.”
She patted Zhuo Zhi’s back, “This is Cousin Qin Xiang, say hello.”
Zhuo Zhi quickly bowed slightly, “Hello, Sister Qin Xiang.”
Qin Xiang was wearing oven mitts. Her eyes curved into crescent moons when she smiled, very beautiful. “I’ve heard about you, the martial arts master.”
Li Qinyue asked Qin Xiang, “What are you doing?”
“Baking some cookies,” Qin Xiang said, “You’re just in time, come help me.”
“What can I help you with? I can’t even wash dishes without breaking them,” Li Qinyue chuckled, “Let Zhuo Zhi help you, she’s a great cook.”
“Hey, you’re just lazy,” Qin Xiang turned to go back to the kitchen, “Zhuo Zhi is a guest, it’s not right to make a guest work in the kitchen, come on.”
This hint was clear, Qin Xiang wanted to talk to Li Qinyue in private.
Zhuo Zhi quickly pulled Li Qinyue’s arm away from her waist, “Go ahead, Sister.”
Li Qinyue paused and patted her head, “Go watch TV, or go to the back garden and look at the lake. And don’t talk to idiots.”
Zhuo Zhi smiled, “I know.”
Li Qinyue finally left. One of the “idiots” she had mentioned was standing nearby, looking at Zhuo Zhi with interest.
Zhuo Zhi knew that she wouldn’t be able to watch TV, and going to the back garden would require passing by that man. So she left the house, walked around it, and reached the lakeside.
There was a bench nearby, bathed in sunlight. This path was within the villa complex, with few people around, very peaceful.
Zhuo Zhi walked over, sat down on the bench, admired the scenery for a while, then took out her phone and started reading an e-book.
The best thing about her new phone was that she could download many reading apps, it was like carrying a library with her.
Not long after she opened the novel she was currently reading, someone walked towards her.
Zhuo Zhi glanced up, then turned away, her back to the person.
The man persistently walked to her side, “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Zhuo Zhi continued reading, her voice cold, “You are.”
“Since I’m already disturbing you, let’s chat then,” the man said, then extended his hand towards her, “My name is Han Ziyang, I’m a childhood friend of Qinyue’s.”
Zhuo Zhi put away her phone, feeling angry. But she felt it was inappropriate to make a scene at Li Qinyue’s family home, so she had to endure it, “I don’t think we have anything to talk about, I don’t know you, and I don’t need to know you.”
Han Ziyang moved and actually sat down next to her, “Relax, I’m not here to cause trouble.”
Zhuo Zhi got off the bench and moved a meter away, “If you’re not here to cause trouble, then stop following me.”
She turned to leave, but Han Ziyang’s voice sounded helpless, “Then I’m here to cause trouble, can we talk now?”
Zhuo Zhi stopped and looked at him, “If you want to cause trouble, let’s just fight.”
Han Ziyang stared at her for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.
Zhuo Zhi raised an eyebrow.
After laughing for a while, Han Ziyang said, “You’re really interesting, no wonder Qinyue likes you so much.”
Although he wasn’t a good person, this was the second stranger today who had said that Li Qinyue liked her. Zhuo Zhi couldn’t help but feel a little pleased.
“Are you going to fight or not?” Zhuo Zhi urged him.
“No,” Han Ziyang waved his hand decisively, “I know you’re a good fighter.”
“Good,” Zhuo Zhi said, “Don’t mess with me.”
“Sigh…” Han Ziyang let out a long sigh, “Do you know that your story has spread throughout the entire circle?”
Zhuo Zhi frowned.
“This circle refers to Qinyue’s social circle, her relatives, close friends, and many business partners,” Han Ziyang said, “So it’s quite extensive.”
Zhuo Zhi thought to herself, “Good, that means no one will bother Li Qinyue anymore.”
Han Ziyang continued, “They all say Little President Li, used to fine dining, has fallen for a simple girl. But I know it’s not like that.”
He looked at Zhuo Zhi, “You two are fake, you’re just Qinyue’s shield. She’s always hated these lovey-dovey things. Bringing you around is a way for her to have some peace and quiet, quite clever.”
Zhuo Zhi didn’t speak, her heart racing.
She had never thought she could pull off the fake girlfriend act, but the knowing looks and ambiguous smiles from the people around them had boosted her confidence, making her think that this was fine.
Han Ziyang was the first person to question their relationship, and he wasn’t asking, he was stating.
Zhuo Zhi didn’t know how to respond effectively, how to play mind games with these city people. She would rather fight in a boxing match.
Seeing that she was silent, Han Ziyang smiled and said, “Let me guess.”
Zhuo Zhi turned to leave.
Han Ziyang wasn’t in a hurry. He said slowly, “Although Qinyue might act intimately with you sometimes, you two haven’t slept together, right? You’re young, you probably don’t understand the difference between ordinary friends and lovers. Sexual orientation is something you’re born with. Qinyue has always liked men, so even if she…”
“Shut up,” Zhuo Zhi stopped abruptly.
Han Ziyang continued to smile, hands in his pockets, looking at her, “Don’t try to imitate Qinyue’s tone, not everyone can afford to speak like that.”
Zhuo Zhi clenched her fists, feeling a mix of emotions.
If this were a random person on the street, she would have just punched him. Or, if he had just made fun of her, she could have ignored him completely, like she had ignored Li Hao.
These city people, they could talk about something as private as sex so casually, treating it as a game, a topic of conversation, proof of understanding someone, never considering it as something beautiful that should only happen between people in love.
Zhuo Zhi said slowly, “Not everyone has the right to talk about her private life. It’s none of your business what she does or doesn’t do.”
After saying that, she didn’t linger, walking away quickly.
Just like Li Qinyue had said, don’t talk to idiots.
Zhuo Zhi walked far away, almost halfway around the lake, before Li Qinyue called her back.
“Where are you?” Li Qinyue asked, “I’ll have the driver pick you up.”
“No need, I’ll be back soon,” Zhuo Zhi started running back.
“Which path are you taking?”
“The lakeside path, east to west.”
“Okay,” Li Qinyue’s voice was accompanied by the sound of friction, “Be careful.”
Zhuo Zhi smiled and hung up. The path was wide and flat, with a police booth not far away. There was nothing to be careful about.
Li Qinyue only said that because she cared.
Li Qinyue wasn’t someone who cared about everyone. Zhuo Zhi felt that their relationship had reached a good point.
Honest, intimate, no matter what others said, Zhuo Zhi knew where she stood.
Thinking about this, she felt much better. She took two deep breaths of fresh air and quickened her pace.
Occasionally, bicycles would pass by her, heading in the same direction.
The surroundings were peaceful until a roar shattered the silence.
A motorcycle, sleek and black, approached from the opposite direction.
The roar of the engine grew louder as the motorcycle accelerated, heading straight towards her.
Zhuo Zhi’s first instinct was to look back and make sure there were no other pedestrians. She sighed with relief.
Turning back, she had already bent down, ready to dodge or jump.
But in the next moment, she recognized the rider. It was Li Qinyue.
Although she was wearing a helmet and different clothes, Zhuo Zhi recognized her slender shoulders and long legs.
Her tense muscles relaxed involuntarily. Without even thinking, she stood up straight, smiling at the approaching motorcycle.
The motorcycle screeched to a halt less than a meter away from Zhuo Zhi.
The controlled swerve of the rear tire had been precisely calculated, not touching Zhuo Zhi.
Li Qinyue took off her helmet, staring at Zhuo Zhi in disbelief, “Are you stupid? Why didn’t you dodge when you saw a motorcycle coming?”
Zhuo Zhi smiled and said, “I knew it was you, Sister.”
“What if it wasn’t me?”
“Then I would have dodged, of course.”
“Would you? You didn’t move an inch after seeing my motorcycle, how would you have dodged?”
“You were driving towards me, if you were going to hit me on purpose, I wouldn’t be able to escape even if I ran to the left or right.”
“Then what would you do?”
“Jump,” Zhuo Zhi jumped and demonstrated, “Then I would lock my legs around the rider and pull them off the bike.”
“Damn,” Li Qinyue said, “Are you shooting an action movie?”
“I can really do it,” Zhuo Zhi walked towards her, “You should trust my professional abilities.”
“I believe you, but that doesn’t make me any less shocked,” Li Qinyue patted the back of the motorcycle, “Get on.”
Zhuo Zhi smiled and sat behind her, “It’s just a short distance, and you came all the way here to pick me up, Sister?”
“We’re not going back, I saw you liked this place, so I’m taking you for a ride,” Li Qinyue said.
“Okay!” Zhuo Zhi was happy.
“Hold on tight,” Li Qinyue handed her the helmet.
“You’re driving, you wear it,” Zhuo Zhi said.
“It’s heavy, it’s uncomfortable.”
“No, you wear it,” Zhuo Zhi insisted.
Li Qinyue turned to look at her, “Do you want me to beat you up?”
Zhuo Zhi had an idea. She reached out, wrapped her arms around Li Qinyue’s waist, and rested her head on her back, “I want to lean on you, it’s not convenient to wear a helmet.”
“Damn,” Li Qinyue laughed, putting on the helmet. “Hold on tight, don’t fall off.”
Zhuo Zhi tightened her grip. Li Qinyue’s waist was truly slender, she could tie a knot with her arms around it, “I’m holding on tight.”
The motorcycle roared to life, but it didn’t speed up as Zhuo Zhi had expected.
Li Qinyue only revved the engine at the beginning, then slowed down, cruising leisurely along the lakeside path.
There were even pedestrians on bikes who overtook them. Zhuo Zhi found it strange, so she leaned closer, her chin resting on Li Qinyue’s shoulder, and asked, “Why are we driving so slowly?”
“Don’t you have a fear of speed?” Li Qinyue’s voice was muffled by the helmet, but Zhuo Zhi could hear her clearly.
She giggled, pressing her body closer to Li Qinyue’s back, “You still remember that?”
“Of course,” Li Qinyue’s voice held a smile, “It was hilarious.”
Zhuo Zhi stared at Li Qinyue’s chin for a moment, “Actually, I’m not afraid of speed. I was lying to you, I just didn’t want you to drive too fast, it’s dangerous.”
“Yeah, I know,” Li Qinyue’s speed remained slow.
“What’s wrong with you today, Sister?” Zhuo Zhi was confused, “Shouldn’t we be speeding by now?”
“What’s the point of speeding on this kind of road?” Li Qinyue turned her head and bumped Zhuo Zhi’s head with her helmet, “We’re here to enjoy the scenery. I’ll take you to the island in the middle of the lake, there’s a restaurant there with good food.”
“Eh, aren’t we eating at home?” Zhuo Zhi was even more confused, “Shouldn’t a family gathering be at home?”
“The adults aren’t there, just a bunch of kids, I don’t want to stay with them, it’s annoying,” Li Qinyue turned a corner, “We can just go back to the mansion for dinner later.”
“Isn’t Sister Qin Xiang making food?”
“She’s just baking some snacks.”
“Don’t you want to chat with her more? And Li Tian and Li Mi are very cute.”
“One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel, don’t you understand that?” Li Qinyue’s voice was a little impatient.
“Sister,” Zhuo Zhi hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you hate Li Hao, or Han Ziyang?”
“I hate them both,” Li Qinyue said, then suddenly slammed on the brakes.
She put her foot down, bringing the motorcycle to a halt. Li Qinyue took off her helmet, not even bothering to fix her hair, and frowned at Zhuo Zhi, “How do you know his name is Han Ziyang? Did you talk to him?”
Zhuo Zhi hesitated for a moment, then decided not to lie, “Yes.”
Li Qinyue said, “Get off.”
Zhuo Zhi got off. Li Qinyue parked the motorcycle and stood in front of her, looking at her seriously.
Zhuo Zhi sensed the impending anger and quickly clarified, “I didn’t seek him out, he came to talk to me.”
“Hmm,” Li Qinyue said, “It’s fine.”
Zhuo Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Qinyue added, “As long as you tell me everything you two talked about, word for word, then it’s fine.”
This additional condition made Zhuo Zhi’s eyes widen. Li Qinyue stared at her, not missing a single expression, and repeated, her voice laced with threat, “Word for word.”
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