Chapter 65
They had a hearty lunch. The women chatted happily, unconsciously devouring all the dishes on the table. If Qin Qianrou hadn’t specifically requested sweet and sour spare ribs for dinner, Shen Yiqiu would have probably just prepared a few light dishes.
After bringing the soybean sprout soup to the table, the simple dinner was finally ready. Three dishes and a soup, refreshing and appetizing, the plate of glistening red spare ribs in the center especially tempting.
Shen Yiqiu served Qin Qianrou and herself half a bowl of rice and sat down as usual.
“Jiejie, let’s eat.” It was a little later than their usual dinner time; hopefully, Jiejie wasn’t too hungry.
Qin Qianrou had spent quite a while in the kitchen today, practically participating in every dish. She wasn’t particularly hungry, but seeing the fruits of their labor made her happy.
However, when she looked at Shen Yiqiu, her mood dampened slightly.
She quickly put down her chopsticks and took Shen Yiqiu’s hand, examining it carefully.
“What’s wrong?” Shen Yiqiu followed Qin Qianrou’s gaze and noticed several small blisters on her wrist.
They weren’t large, but they looked fresh, probably from oil splattering while she was cooking.
This happened occasionally in the kitchen, but today was different. Jiejie had been standing very close to her, sometimes she could even feel her presence without turning around. Shen Yiqiu’s heart had been racing, her entire being in a state of heightened excitement.
This had made her lose focus, yet she had to maintain her composure in front of Jiejie. The momentary pain from the hot oil had quickly been replaced by the blissful reality of “Jiejie being by my side,” she hadn’t even felt it.
Shen Yiqiu smiled nonchalantly. “It’s nothing, just a few small blisters.”
Qin Qianrou, however, didn’t think so. The kitchen wasn’t her forte, but no one was born a master chef. She remembered when they first started living together, Shen Yiqiu’s skills had been comparable to hers. In just a few months, this child had become quite proficient.
How much time and effort had she spent, how many small injuries like this had she endured in the kitchen? Qin Qianrou couldn’t calculate, but even without Shen Yiqiu mentioning it, she could imagine.
She had deliberately avoided thinking about these details before, afraid of being moved and letting her guard down. But now, she was willing to acknowledge these small testaments to Shen Yiqiu’s affection, each a piece of evidence of this child’s genuine care for her.
“Even small injuries hurt.” Qin Qianrou frowned, her tone slightly complex, sending shivers down Shen Yiqiu’s spine.
Jiejie’s words, so soft and tender, made her feel like her hand, held in Jiejie’s grasp, was melting.
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
Qin Qianrou took her other hand and carefully examined it, making sure there were no other injuries before finally relaxing.
“No matter what you do, you have to protect yourself.”
Shen Yiqiu chuckled at Qin Qianrou’s serious demeanor, her heart warmed by her concern. Jiejie caring about her, that was all she ever wanted.
“Minor injuries are inevitable when cooking, it’s nothing.”
Shen Yiqiu recalled her initial attempts at following recipes, it had been a disaster. Not draining the vegetables properly before adding them to the wok, the sizzling and splattering oil, she had been so scared she had stood far away from the stove, now she was completely unfazed.
Seeing Qin Qianrou’s slightly disapproving look, Shen Yiqiu’s lips twitched, and she had to relent, agreeing with her, “Alright, alright, I’ll be extra careful, even in the kitchen.”
Qin Qianrou released her hand and placed a spare rib in Shen Yiqiu’s bowl.
“The chef has worked hard, try it, how does it taste?”
Shen Yiqiu blinked, Jiejie’s attitude since coming home today had been a little strange, unusually warm?
Not exactly warm, just noticeably different from before.
Shen Yiqiu also placed a spare rib in Qin Qianrou’s bowl, her eyes crinkling in a smile. “You try it too, Jiejie.”
They both took a small bite, the savory aroma filling their mouths, the spare ribs especially delicious today.
Qin Qianrou wasn’t in the habit of chatting during meals, and they didn’t say much, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed than last night.
Shen Yiqiu thought, Has Jiejie finally calmed down, no longer upset about my actions yesterday?
But Jiejie’s lips, the fragrance of her perfume, were so… unforgettable.
Truly intoxicating.
Shen Yiqiu bit her chopsticks, chiding herself for having such inappropriate thoughts. Her feelings for Jiejie should be pure and innocent, since when had they become tinged with such desires for intimacy?
Was it because she had grown older, so she had become more… greedy?
Ahem, the more she thought about it, the more dangerous it seemed, and Shen Yiqiu frantically shook her head.
She couldn’t have such inappropriate thoughts about Jiejie.
“What’s wrong?”
Qin Qianrou’s voice made Shen Yiqiu even more flustered, and she choked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Qin Qianrou put down her chopsticks and gently patted her back.
“Spacing out while eating, that’s not a good habit.”
Shen Yiqiu’s face burned, and she stole a glance at Qin Qianrou, noticing Jiejie was looking at her.
And there was a faint smile playing on her lips.
“Thank you, Jiejie, I’m fine.” Afraid of being seen through, Shen Yiqiu only dared to steal glances at her, unable to meet her gaze directly.
Qin Qianrou withdrew her hand, slightly puzzled by Shen Yiqiu’s sudden blushing. Then, seeing the hidden emotions in her eyes, her heart skipped a beat.
After dinner, Qin Qianrou didn’t immediately return to her room. She made two cups of tea in the living room, waiting for Shen Yiqiu to finish cleaning up.
“Do you have any homework to do tonight?”
Shen Yiqiu walked over and sat beside her. “I’ve already finished it.”
With Jiejie coming home this weekend, Shen Yiqiu wouldn’t let something like homework get in the way.
“Then, have some tea with me.”
A rerun of the news was playing on TV, but Qin Qianrou wasn’t really watching. She had made a decision after leaving Rong Fei’s office, she wanted to change the way she interacted with Shen Yiqiu.
Cooking together had been a good start, but it wasn’t enough.
She wanted to have a proper talk with her. If she was considering accepting Shen Yiqiu’s feelings, then she needed to understand her views and attitudes towards relationships.
She wouldn’t be too concerned about the nature of those feelings, but exclusivity and honesty were her bottom lines.
If Shen Yiqiu liked her, then it had to be only her.
Qin Qianrou was contemplating how to broach the subject when Shen Yiqiu, sitting quietly beside her, sipping her tea, looked at her like a curious kitten.
“Jiejie, do you have something to tell me?” She had been waiting for a while, seeing Qin Qianrou lost in thought.
Shen Yiqiu thought that Jiejie seemed passive in their relationship. Since she was the one who liked Jiejie, then she should be more proactive.
“Shen Yiqiu, are you currently seeing anyone?”
Qin Qianrou had tried several different ways to phrase this question, but none of them felt quite right.
She might as well ask directly, she didn’t care how she asked, she cared about Shen Yiqiu’s answer.
“Of course not.” Shen Yiqiu’s reply was immediate and firm.
Qin Qianrou’s heart eased slightly.
She pursed her lips, holding her teacup, the warmth spreading through her palm, giving her strength and courage.
“Then you…”
“You’re the only one in my heart, Jiejie.”
Qin Qianrou’s heart softened further. Although she had anticipated this answer, hearing it directly was different.
She fidgeted slightly, unconsciously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She had gotten a perm in Hai City, soft waves replacing her usual straight hair. Compared to before, Jiejie now looked more mature, and more alluring.
Shen Yiqiu was nervous, but her words were her true feelings.
There was no one else in her heart, only Qin Qianrou.
“Can you… differentiate your feelings for me?” Qin Qianrou spoke slowly this time, her voice soft, but Shen Yiqiu could sense her hesitation and uncertainty.
“Yes, I can.” Shen Yiqiu’s reply was still quick, as if the answer required no thought.
But she didn’t see any sign of relief from Qin Qianrou, perhaps her answer wasn’t convincing enough.
Shen Yiqiu gathered her thoughts, turned slightly, and faced Qin Qianrou directly. She was nervous, but she still reached out and gently placed her hands on Jiejie’s shoulders, making her look at her.
“Jiejie, I’ve liked you for a long time. The first time we went back to Hai City, I didn’t know Shao Ze’s identity then, so seeing you with him made me very unhappy.
But no matter how unhappy I was, as soon as you returned, I would forget everything upon seeing you, I only felt joy. Later, when you went to the Economic Investigation Brigade, I couldn’t help but think of Captain Qian, even though I knew there was nothing between you two, I was still… jealous.”
Shen Yiqiu’s cheeks flushed as she spoke.
But she had already said this much, and Jiejie hadn’t stopped her, hadn’t pushed her away. This might be her only chance to confess her feelings, and she had to seize it.
“I don’t feel this way towards anyone else. If a close friend of mine finds a new companion, I might feel a little disappointed, but I wouldn’t be heartbroken, I wouldn’t cry. When my mother used to praise other children, I would get angry, maybe feel a little wronged for a few days, but I wouldn’t feel this… this ache in my heart, this urge to cry, to embrace her tightly.”
Qin Qianrou listened quietly, so her initial feeling hadn’t been wrong, Shen Yiqiu’s behavior in Hai City had indeed been unusual.
She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, telling herself it was nothing, but it had been self-deception.
All feelings, it seemed, had their own subtle signals.
“Shen Yiqiu, aren’t you worried I might reject you?”
Shen Yiqiu smiled bitterly, “Haven’t you always been rejecting me?”
Qin Qianrou was taken aback, she had thought only yesterday’s rejection had been obvious.
Had this child known all along?
“Jiejie, I was the one who fell for you first, I initiated it, you don’t have to feel burdened.
I don’t want you to be kind to me out of pity or concern, to force yourself to be close to me. As long as you don’t send me away, even if I can only be by your side, quietly accompanying you, I’ll be content.”
Qin Qianrou’s heart ached, then she felt a surge of annoyance.
She said sternly, “You think I’m just trying to appease you?”
Shen Yiqiu bit her lip, she didn’t want to think that way, but besides this, she couldn’t understand Jiejie’s sudden change in attitude.
Qin Qianrou, displeased, shifted slightly, trying to remove Shen Yiqiu’s hands from her shoulders.
“Since that’s what you think, then how do you think I feel about you?”
Huh? This question seemed difficult, yet also… expectant.
Shen Yiqiu hesitated, afraid to answer. She could openly and honestly analyze her own feelings, but she couldn’t decipher Jiejie’s thoughts.
“Shen Yiqiu, look at me. Tell me, what do you think my intentions are?”
Shen Yiqiu’s voice was tinged with sadness. “Jiejie probably just wants me to grow up healthy and not be affected by setbacks. You want me to have a smooth future, to live a normal life.”
She chuckled self-deprecatingly, “You probably don’t want to be entangled in this complicated and hopeless relationship with me.”
Her cousin had said Jiejie was straight. Although she hadn’t been in any relationships, that didn’t mean she would accept a girl.
Shen Yiqiu didn’t dare to look at Qin Qianrou, and somehow, she had blurted out her innermost thoughts.
Qin Qianrou was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, “I just think… you’re still young, this kind of relationship isn’t suitable for you.”
Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached slightly, but it was much better than yesterday.
At least Jiejie was willing to discuss this with her openly, not just avoid it.
Then, she slowly realized that Jiejie’s unusual behavior today wasn’t just out of sympathy.
She looked at Qin Qianrou, her voice trembling slightly as she probed, “Then… what if I think it’s suitable?”
Qin Qianrou’s lips tightened, she didn’t have much experience in relationships, having observed countless others’ stories and experiences as a bystander. But when it came to her own feelings, she still felt lost and uncertain.
Besides being older and more experienced, she wasn’t necessarily more knowledgeable than Shen Yiqiu in matters of the heart.
However, she knew, with absolute certainty, that her heart would race because of this child before her.
During those days and nights in Hai City, she had thought about her, silently followed her updates on WeChat Moments, and couldn’t help but recall their shared moments.
Shen Yiqiu held her breath, she had expected Jiejie to reject her, to push her away, just like yesterday.
But she waited for a moment, and to her surprise, Jiejie was still sitting there before her. She was frowning, lost in thought, but there was no disgust or disdain in her eyes. She seemed conflicted, but she hadn’t left.
Shen Yiqiu, emboldened, leaned closer. Their breaths mingled, so close that with just a slight movement, their lips would touch.
“Jiejie, can you give me a chance?”
As she spoke, Shen Yiqiu nervously tightened her grip on Qin Qianrou’s shoulders, almost painfully so.
“But we…” Qin Qianrou hadn’t expected the conversation to reach this point.
This was much faster than she had anticipated.
However, it was a question she had to address.
They both had feelings for each other, and their relationship had to be defined.
It was either forward or backward; if she wanted to end it, now was the best time.
However, Qin Qianrou looked at her, the affection in her eyes, the memories of their shared moments, the undeniable turmoil in her heart, all making it impossible for her to deny it: she also liked her.
Shen Yiqiu was terrified, even after countless mental preparations, she couldn’t bear to hear a rejection. Jiejie’s rejection meant losing the chance to be close to her, and she couldn’t bear the thought of someone else by Jiejie’s side in the future.
She leaned forward and embraced Qin Qianrou tightly, holding her close, as if protecting a precious treasure.
“Jiejie, let me prove that my feelings for you are real. Let me… take care of you, okay?”
Shen Yiqiu wanted to say “love,” but she didn’t dare.
She knew it was too early, she didn’t want Jiejie to think she was being frivolous or impulsive.
Qin Qianrou’s rationality and her last vestiges of resistance melted away in this warm embrace, Shen Yiqiu’s unwavering determination giving her a sliver of courage.
Perhaps, this child’s words were true. Perhaps, she should give them both a chance?
Rong Fei had said there was no need to treat relationships like work, that she could follow her heart. If her heart was willing, then any other struggles were futile.
Qin Qianrou’s hand, hanging by her side, slowly lifted, hovering in midair for a moment, then gently landed on Shen Yiqiu’s back.
The moment she touched her, Qin Qianrou clearly felt Shen Yiqiu tremble.
Her breaths against Qin Qianrou’s ear quickened, and Qin Qianrou’s heart, unlike her outward appearance, was racing.
They were both like teenagers experiencing first love, shy and nervous, yet filled with anticipation.
“Jiejie…” Shen Yiqiu’s soft murmur was like a magic spell, unlocking the chains around Qin Qianrou’s heart.
“Shen Yiqiu, give me some time.”
Qin Qianrou thought, she needed some time to sort through the turmoil of these past few days. She wanted a clean and clear start with Shen Yiqiu, and she also needed time to adjust to this new role.
She had never imagined being in a relationship with a girl so much younger than her.
This was, for her, a complete upheaval, and the always cautious and composed Reporter Qin needed some time.
Shen Yiqiu was slightly disappointed, Jiejie hadn’t agreed.
But she had said “give me some time,” which meant there was still a chance.
Mentally cheering herself on, Shen Yiqiu, relishing the warmth, held on a little longer, since Qin Qianrou hadn’t told her to let go.
Only when Jiejie said she was going to take a shower did she reluctantly release her hold.
Shen Yiqiu returned to her room, sat at her desk, and took out the sheet of paper filled with Jiejie’s name, staring at it, a silly smile on her face. Then, she couldn’t help but kiss the paper, as if kissing Jiejie’s name was like kissing Jiejie’s lips.
Jiejie needs time, I’ll wait patiently.
Until one day, Jiejie becomes my girlfriend.
Just imagining this made Shen Yiqiu’s heart race, her blood rushing through her veins, unable to calm down.
The next day, to her surprise, Qin Qianrou didn’t seem to have any plans, she wasn’t going anywhere.
“Jiejie, do you have any plans today?”
Qin Qianrou, in her loungewear, was reading a book in the armchair by the balcony door. The warm sunlight streaming in illuminated her, adding to her goddess-like aura.
“No, I’m planning to stay home and rest.”
Shen Yiqiu smiled, this meant she could spend the entire day with Jiejie.
“Then I’ll make you something delicious.”
Shen Yiqiu hurried to the kitchen, and Qin Qianrou’s gaze followed her, a smile also touching her lips.
Just like this, doing nothing, going nowhere, quietly spending the day at home, it wasn’t so bad.
Having that person at home, it felt… different.
Different from being alone in the hotel in Hai City, the small empty space in her heart finally filled.
It was wontons again, a different filling today. Shen Yiqiu carefully blew on them, waiting for them to cool down slightly before calling Qin Qianrou over.
“Jiejie, be careful, it’s hot.”
Qin Qianrou’s hand, holding the spoon, paused, and she looked down, not responding, her ears feeling slightly warm.
Shen Yiqiu was genuinely worried about her burning herself again, a minor burn was one thing, but she didn’t want it to develop into a painful ulcer.
Qin Qianrou, even with her head lowered, could still feel that gaze upon her, she looked up helplessly and gently glared at her. “Do you think I’m a child, so easily burned?”
Shen Yiqiu chuckled, “Who was it that burned herself the other day…?”
She seemed to suddenly recall that scene and stopped talking.
Qin Qianrou knew she was embarrassed, she wanted to say something to comfort her, but she wasn’t much better herself.
After all, that kiss, to her, had also been… significant.
She couldn’t help but look at the person before her, her head still lowered, and thought, Shen Yiqiu, do you know that was my first kiss?
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