Chapter 58 p1
When Shen Yiqiu returned to the dining room after her phone call, she found it unusually quiet. Even the usually lively Li Wan was quietly eating, let alone the other two, who rarely spoke at the dinner table.
Shen Yiqiu glanced at Qin Qianrou, who didn’t react much, simply telling her to sit down when she returned, then falling silent again. Li Wan, however, although not speaking, kept glancing at her, her gaze a little strange.
“Sister Li Wan, why are you looking at me like that?” She couldn’t help but ask, having been scrutinized several times since returning.
“Ahem, who were you talking to on the phone just now? Such a long conversation.” Li Wan wiped her mouth and put down her chopsticks.
“It wasn’t that long.” Shen Yiqiu felt a little guilty, and also nervous.
Her cousin had called to tell her that he had almost finalized the apartment purchase and would be moving out of the hotel soon. Shen Yiqiu hadn’t wanted to dampen his excitement, so she had listened patiently as he expressed his joy and anticipation. But today was Qin Qianrou’s farewell dinner, and she didn’t want to waste any time.
So, after Yuan Qi finished his excited rambling, Shen Yiqiu had excused herself, saying she would contact him again in a few days. After Jiejie left for Hai City, she would have plenty of time, the thought making her feel sad.
“Who was it?”
After asking, Li Wan casually glanced at Qin Qianrou. As expected, her pace of eating had slowed down.
Shen Yiqiu hesitated, unwilling to reveal the caller’s identity, simply saying it was someone they didn’t know.
“Just tell us, then we’ll know them too. We can all get together next time. We’re all girls, what are you so embarrassed about?”
Shen Yiqiu instinctively replied, “It was a man.”
Li Wan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Qin Qianrou again. This time, she frowned.
Rong Fei finally also glanced at Shen Yiqiu, but there didn’t seem to be any hidden meaning, just a simple acknowledgment of her words.
Shen Yiqiu quickly explained, “Don’t misunderstand, he’s not a classmate, he’s not from the university, and we don’t interact much.”
She wasn’t sure who she was explaining this to. She couldn’t reveal her cousin’s identity, but she also didn’t want them to misunderstand her close relationship with a man.
She hadn’t thought much of it before, until her encounter with Zhang Meng a few days ago. The senior had subtly inquired about her current situation, then, hearing that Qin Qianrou was picking her up, had praised Reporter Qin for being so responsible.
Shen Yiqiu had found it strange and, after further questioning, learned there were already several versions of the rumor circulating. Had Jiejie heard them too?
OMG, why hadn’t Jiejie asked her about it? Such gossip was truly unfair, and Shen Yiqiu wondered helplessly if she really seemed like someone who swung both ways.
Li Wan gave a strained smile, seemingly accepting Shen Yiqiu’s explanation, and patted her shoulder lightly. “Kid, don’t worry, making new friends isn’t a bad thing.”
Shen Yiqiu’s gaze kept drifting towards Qin Qianrou, practically glued to her, but Qin Qianrou didn’t look back.
Li Wan’s smile faded slightly. At such close proximity, she could clearly see even the subtlest changes in their expressions.
She discreetly moved her chair closer to Shen Yiqiu, as if about to share a secret.
Beckoning, she signaled for Shen Yiqiu to lean closer. “Listen, if you have something to say to Qianrou, be more direct, understand?”
Huh? What does that mean?
Shen Yiqiu stared at Li Wan, wide-eyed, and Li Wan winked at her.
“This is all I can do, the rest is up to you to figure out.”
With that, the three mature women returned to the farewell dinner atmosphere as if nothing had happened, leaving Shen Yiqiu utterly bewildered.
After dinner, Shen Yiqiu took charge of cleaning up, while Rong Fei and Li Wan went to Qin Qianrou’s room.
“Everything packed?” Li Wan looked around; the room looked the same as always.
“Yes, I don’t have much to bring.”
“True, if you’re willing to return, there’s nothing you’ll lack in Hai City.” Li Wan suddenly noticed a change in the arrangement of one of the bookshelves in the corner.
Looking closer, she saw a bouquet of roses.
“Who’s this thoughtful admirer?” She smiled and pointed, attracting Rong Fei’s attention as well.
Qin Qianrou was tidying up her desk, her long hair falling forward, obscuring her face. She didn’t look up, but she knew what Li Wan was referring to.
“A friend.”
Li Wan’s voice was laced with meaning. “Which friend? This is the first time I’ve seen you bring home a gift and keep it so carefully.”
Rong Fei, unlike Li Wan, wasn’t so direct, but she also couldn’t help but glance at the flowers a few more times. The arrangement wasn’t particularly exquisite, but their placement on the bookshelf clearly showed Qin Qianrou treasured them.
Qin Qianrou placed the last stack of documents in her drawer and turned to look at Li Wan.
“I understand, a special friend.” Li Wan raised her hands in mock surrender.
Qin Qianrou wasn’t deliberately trying to hide anything, she just didn’t know how to explain. And she was afraid that revealing they were from Shen Yiqiu would only complicate matters, so it was better to leave it at that. Anyway, she was leaving for Hai City tomorrow.
Yes, leaving tomorrow.
Qin Qianrou instinctively glanced towards the door, although she couldn’t see the living room or the kitchen from here, Shen Yiqiu’s footsteps were clearly audible.
“Don’t worry, Xiao Wan and I will take care of her while you’re away. If she needs anything, we’ll do our best to help.” Rong Fei’s soft words of comfort were meant to reassure Qin Qianrou.
On Sunday afternoon, Li Wan specifically took a taxi over and drove Qin Qianrou to the airport in Qin Qianrou’s car. Naturally, the four of them from last night’s dinner were in the car.
“Remember to message us when you arrive in Hai City, and don’t just focus on work, take care of yourself.” Li Wan chattered non-stop throughout the journey, repeatedly reminding her of various things.
Qin Qianrou, sitting beside her, patiently agreed at first, then closed her eyes, trying to ignore her, and finally, she had to interrupt her.
“Xiao Wan, I’m just going for training, not to some remote village or the moon.”
“You don’t understand, this is called concern, this is called caring!”
Li Wan specifically looked at the back seat through the rearview mirror. “Shen Yiqiu, am I right?”
“I guess.”
“See, even your little one agrees.”
Li Wan’s words were casual, but both Qin Qianrou and Shen Yiqiu felt a strange awkwardness. Their eyes met in the rearview mirror, then they quickly looked away.
Rong Fei had been quiet throughout the journey, but she clearly wasn’t zoning out, she seemed to be in “work mode,” subtly observing something.
After checking in, Li Wan held onto Qin Qianrou’s hand, reluctant to let her go.
“No, I need another hug.”
Qin Qianrou accepted her fifth hug of the day. The usually cheerful Li Wan was now sentimental.
Rong Fei stepped forward, hugged Qin Qianrou, and whispered in her ear, “Take care of yourself.” Then, she hesitated, then added, “We’ll look after Shen Yiqiu.”
Qin Qianrou didn’t know why Rong Fei assumed that this child was her biggest concern in Meng City, but she still thanked her gratefully.
Shen Yiqiu had been watching quietly, not saying much, but always staying within five steps of Qin Qianrou, as if an invisible string connected them.
Li Wan nudged her. “What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and give your Sister Qin a hug, say goodbye properly!”
She emphasized the last two words.
Shen Yiqiu nervously wiped her sweaty palms on her pants. Qin Qianrou looked at her, a hint of a smile, a touch of gentleness, appearing in her eyes.
As if drawn by an invisible force, Shen Yiqiu stepped forward and embraced her tightly.
Leaving no space between them, pressing her heart against Qin Qianrou’s.
“Jiejie, you must take care of yourself, don’t make me… us worry.”
“I will, you take care of yourself too.”
Qin Qianrou seemed to have more to say, but Shen Yiqiu waited for a moment, and nothing came.
She held on tightly and said, “If you have any time off, come back, I’ll cook for you.”
Qin Qianrou chuckled softly. “You think I’m that obsessed with food?”
Shen Yiqiu didn’t respond, but she rested her head on Qin Qianrou’s shoulder, wanting to memorize this last moment of contact.
“I’ll come back when I have time.”
Qin Qianrou’s simple words made Shen Yiqiu’s heart flutter, and she looked up at her, smiling, as if having received the most beautiful promise.
Jiejie was leaving, but she promised to return.
The parting didn’t seem so unbearable anymore, after all, she was already anticipating her return.
Seeing the sparkle in Shen Yiqiu’s eyes, Qin Qianrou’s heart trembled slightly. She was almost drawn in by those bright eyes, forcing herself to look away, using the last of her composure.
“It’s almost time, I have to go.”
Qin Qianrou gently caressed Shen Yiqiu’s cheek, her touch light and fleeting, almost like an illusion. But the warmth and the faint fragrance lingering on her skin were something Shen Yiqiu couldn’t forget.
“And, don’t stay out overnight while I’m away.”
Shen Yiqiu didn’t understand why Jiejie would suddenly mention this, but she obediently agreed.
“And if you go out with anyone, don’t come home too late.” Qin Qianrou seemed to be choosing her words carefully, speaking slowly.
“I’ll come home early.”
“Take care of yourself.” There was a depth in Qin Qianrou’s eyes that Shen Yiqiu couldn’t decipher, especially the emphasis on “take care,” which puzzled her.
After Qin Qianrou left, Shen Yiqiu got into her car, her mood even lower.
Rong Fei didn’t sit in the front passenger seat but sat beside her, just like on their way here. Li Wan would be driving Qin Qianrou’s car back and keeping it for her during her absence.
“Shen Yiqiu, sign up for driving lessons during winter break.”
“I don’t plan on buying a car anytime soon.”
Li Wan looked at her meaningfully. “You won’t always be driving your own car once you get your license.”
Shen Yiqiu wasn’t usually slow-witted, but she was currently immersed in the sadness of Qin Qianrou’s departure, not really paying attention to anything.
She finally understood the implication of Li Wan’s words, her heart leaping with joy, but afraid of being seen through, she suppressed her smile.
“Learn quickly, so you can help me out. If Qianrou needs to go somewhere in the future, you can be her driver.”
“Will Jiejie be traveling often in the future?” Shen Yiqiu sensed something else in Li Wan’s words and couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.
“Not really, we’ve mainly been working on programs at the station these past few years, fewer field assignments. During the first two years after graduating, I barely had any time to be at home.”
Such a demanding work schedule was something both the Qin and Li families strongly opposed. Only after repeated persuasion and compromises had they reached a more balanced arrangement.
“But in the future… who knows?”
Li Wan recalled Lin Shuangzhi’s recent comments, and Qin Qianrou’s subtle disapproval of the station’s blatant favoritism towards Dongsheng, this peaceful period might not last much longer.
Li Wan answered a few phone calls in the car, regarding tomorrow’s meeting, it seemed she would have to work overtime tonight.
Rong Fei then suggested having dinner with Shen Yiqiu, and to Li Wan’s surprise, they got out of the car in the city center.
“I’ll treat you next time, go back and get your work done.” Rong Fei smiled and waved at the driver.
“Being your own boss is truly the best. I’ll remember this meal. Don’t forget to send the little one home early, I don’t want Qianrou getting angry and checking up on us.” Li Wan chuckled after saying this.
Rong Fei smiled knowingly, straightened up, and led Shen Yiqiu towards the mall.
**
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