Chapter 52 p1
Shen Yiqiu felt that Jiejie was acting strangely tonight. When she looked at her, it seemed like she had a lot to say, but in the end, she remained silent, just quietly eating the steamed eggs. But even Jiejie’s quiet eating was beautiful, and Shen Yiqiu couldn’t help but admire her.
Qin Qianrou usually came home late, so Shen Yiqiu always made small portions of late-night snacks, afraid of upsetting Jiejie’s stomach and affecting her sleep. The steamed eggs tonight were a small serving, but Qin Qianrou quickly finished most of it after a few bites.
Shen Yiqiu, at some point, had rested her chin on her hands, her gaze fixed on Qin Qianrou. Qin Qianrou gripped her spoon tightly, deliberately avoiding her gaze. But they were the only two people here, sitting so close, trying to ignore each other was just self-deception.
“Shen Yiqiu,” Qin Qianrou softly called out to her.
Shen Yiqiu, still captivated by the beauty before her, was startled and quickly replied, “Yes?”
“Go back to your room, I’ll clean up after I finish eating.”
Shen Yiqiu immediately protested, unhappy at being dismissed.
“It’s okay, I’ll wait for you, Jiejie.”
Qin Qianrou pursed her lips, her grip on the spoon tightening, her knuckles turning white, but her voice remained gentle. “You’ve already wasted enough study time tonight, don’t waste any more.”
Waste? Every second spent with Jiejie was precious. Shen Yiqiu’s eyes widened, not understanding why Qin Qianrou would say that.
She was about to speak when Qin Qianrou urged her again, her tone slightly firmer this time.
“Go to bed early, don’t stay up late just because you’re young.”
Qin Qianrou, when serious, had an imposing aura, and Shen Yiqiu couldn’t bear to make her angry. Knowing how tired she was from work, she felt only heartache, she couldn’t burden her further.
Reluctantly, she stood up and slowly walked out of the dining room. As she reached her door, she turned back and saw Jiejie looking at her.
Shen Yiqiu paused and smiled. “Good night, Jiejie.”
“Good night.”
**
The next morning, Shen Yiqiu and Qin Qianrou met in the living room, as usual. After breakfast, Shen Yiqiu tidied up briefly, returned to her room to grab her coat and bag, and prepared to leave for school.
Qin Qianrou was also dressed for work, but she was leaving slightly later than usual.
“I’ll drive you to school.”
“Ah? Drive me?”
Clearly, this was unexpected, and Shen Yiqiu was surprised, then overjoyed. More time with Jiejie, what a wonderful morning!
But her surprised expression seemed like anxiety to Qin Qianrou.
She looked away, pretending to check if she had everything she needed, and said calmly, “I have to go to the Economic Investigation Brigade today, it’s on the way.”
Oh, that’s why. Even if it was just “on the way,” it was still good to be with Jiejie. Shen Yiqiu didn’t mind the reason; she cared more about the outcome.
But only after getting in the car did she realize Jiejie was going to the Economic Investigation Brigade. That Deputy Captain Qian Zhifei seemed particularly interested in Jiejie; it was said he always personally received her whenever she went there, then personally escorted her to the door, always trying to find an opportunity to invite her to dinner.
Li Wan had mentioned these details casually while having dinner at their place. Qin Qianrou hadn’t seemed to care, not even responding, as if listening to a joke that had nothing to do with her.
However, Shen Yiqiu had taken note. But she could only be a listener, offering a polite smile at the appropriate moments.
A faint pang of jealousy tugged at her heart. It seemed many people, just like her, liked Jiejie.
But they were all better than her; at least they could openly express their feelings. Even if Jiejie didn’t reciprocate, at least their intentions were clear. While she could only keep her secret hidden.
The car was unusually quiet, so quiet that even Qin Qianrou, who wasn’t usually talkative, found it strange. She looked at the road ahead, clearly sensing Shen Yiqiu’s low spirits, a change that had occurred after they got in the car.
“Did something happen?”
Shen Yiqiu slightly raised her head and responded listlessly, “Hmm?”
Qin Qianrou’s heart tightened. It had been a while since she had seen Shen Yiqiu like this. This kind of mood had been common during their initial meetings at the hospital, why was she like this again today?
“Why are you unhappy?”
Shen Yiqiu was startled and straightened up, trying to hide her feelings. But to Qin Qianrou, this only made it more obvious.
“I’m not unhappy, you’re driving me to school, why would I be unhappy?” I’m overjoyed! It’s just the thought of you meeting Qian Zhifei later that makes me unhappy.
But she couldn’t tell Qin Qianrou that.
Qin Qianrou’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, and she looked away, dissatisfied with Shen Yiqiu’s answer. She was clearly hiding something, but refused to say a word.
Qin Qianrou had thought that after all this time, although they weren’t exactly sharing everything with each other, they didn’t have to be like this.
A surge of anger made Qin Qianrou retreat into silence as well, and the atmosphere in the car became even more oppressive, so quiet that Shen Yiqiu could almost hear her own racing heart.
She bit her lip, watching as they approached the university, hesitant about what to say to Jiejie. Her phone suddenly rang. She saw it was her cousin.
Shen Yiqiu quickly glanced at Qin Qianrou, who was still focused on the road ahead, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She calmly answered the phone, her tone casual.
“Xiao Qiu, what time do your classes end today?”
“Why are you asking?”
“To pick you up, of course.”
“I don’t want to go today.”
Yuan Qi seemed to be at the gym, the sounds of exercise equipment in the background. His voice was slightly breathless, but he sounded cheerful.
“Aiya, it’s not for dinner. I’ve made an appointment with a real estate agent to look at apartments, and I wanted your opinion.”
Shen Yiqiu opened her mouth, still wanting to refuse. She had planned to go grocery shopping after class and cook dinner. Jiejie might even come home early today.
But then she thought about her cousin, who had just returned to Meng City and was still staying at a hotel. He needed a place to live. And he had rushed back precisely for her. Although she wasn’t thrilled about accompanying him to look at apartments, he was her only family in Meng City.
Just helping him out, Shen Yiqiu didn’t refuse again.
She sighed, reluctantly agreeing, “Alright, I’ll message you later.”
She had four classes scheduled for this afternoon, but last week, one of her professors had mentioned a possible schedule change, so the exact time wasn’t confirmed yet. She wouldn’t know when her classes ended until after lunch.
Yuan Qi happily reminded her to eat on time and stay warm before hanging up. It had only been a brief call, but Shen Yiqiu felt the temperature in the car drop significantly.
She clutched her phone, feeling a pang of disappointment. She had thought she would have dinner with Jiejie tonight.
Now there was no chance, but she was still concerned about Qin Qianrou.
“Jiejie, are you working overtime again tonight?”
“Hmm? Why are you suddenly asking this?”
“Just… curious.” Shen Yiqiu fidgeted with the strap of her bag, avoiding Qin Qianrou’s gaze.
She was lying, it wasn’t just casual curiosity, and Qin Qianrou could see right through her. She felt a surge of discomfort, a feeling that had intensified since that phone call.
She had initially thought Shen Yiqiu had sensed her mood, but her question now seemed more like an attempt to confirm whether she would be home early, whether she would discover Shen Yiqiu’s other plans after class.
Qin Qianrou took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. “What about you? Are you staying at school to study after class, or are you coming home?”
Shen Yiqiu hesitated, then shook her head. “I’m not studying at school today.”
But she didn’t say she was coming home either.
Very well, Qin Qianrou didn’t ask further. Continuing would only make her seem intrusive. Shen Yiqiu was an adult, she had her freedom to arrange her own life, there was no need for her to interfere.
They soon arrived at the university gate. After dropping Shen Yiqiu off, Qin Qianrou would go to the Economic Investigation Brigade. As Shen Yiqiu opened the car door and was about to get out, she couldn’t help but turn back. Qin Qianrou was waiting for her to leave, and seeing that she seemed to have something to say, turned to look at her.
“Jiejie, remember to eat on time, don’t skip meals. And don’t work too late tonight, eating too late isn’t healthy.”
With that, Shen Yiqiu got out of the car. Qin Qianrou, through the car window, watched her hurrying away, her emotions complex.
Shen Yiqiu was a kind and considerate person, she had realized this after they started living together. Shen Yiqiu’s personality was gentle, just like her hair, but she also had her own stubbornness.
Li Wan sometimes joked that Qin Qianrou was ice, and Shen Yiqiu was warm water. Over time, the ice would eventually melt in the warm water. Qin Qianrou dismissed it as a joke, but she couldn’t deny that she wasn’t completely indifferent to Shen Yiqiu’s constant care and subtle acts of consideration.
Her emotions were increasingly affected.
Shaking her head helplessly, Qin Qianrou turned the car and headed towards the Economic Investigation Brigade. She had changed her schedule last night, moving her appointment from the afternoon to the morning, just to have a chance to ask Shen Yiqiu a few questions while driving her to school.
She wasn’t as unconcerned about the stranger she had seen with Shen Yiqiu last night as she had told Li Wan. Young university students were highly sought after, and it was dangerous for them to be targeted by those with ill intentions.
As expected, Qian Zhifei was waiting for her at the entrance. Qin Qianrou occasionally contacted him for work-related matters, and her visits to the Economic Investigation Brigade had always been smooth. She could sense his interest, but since he hadn’t openly expressed anything, she pretended not to notice.
She always maintained a proper distance, never giving him any false hope. Apart from work matters, they rarely discussed anything personal. She kept their relationship strictly professional.
Perhaps because he was older and more mature, Qian Zhifei wasn’t as impetuous as a young man. His subtle care and concern were difficult for Qin Qianrou to refuse. He thought that such a strong and independent woman needed time to be won over.
So, he wasn’t in a hurry.
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