Chapter 74 p2
Qin Qianrou soon appeared, and before Li Wan could even speak, Shen Yiqiu embraced her tightly.
Without hesitation or reservation, like lovers reunited after a long separation, if not for the surrounding crowd, Shen Yiqiu would have kissed her immediately.
“Ahem, how long are you two planning to hug? Didn’t you just see each other last week? Why are you acting like it’s been years?”
If they were talking about time apart, she and Qin Qianrou had been separated for even longer, what was Shen Yiqiu so excited about?
Qin Qianrou gently patted Shen Yiqiu’s arm, then glared at Li Wan playfully.
“As if I didn’t say anything, I shouldn’t have come, just being a third wheel here.”
Li Wan raised her hands in mock surrender and headed towards the parking lot. She hadn’t noticed it before, but seeing their public display of affection now made her feel strangely envious.
She had barely seen Lin Shuangzhi this week. Even when they did meet, it was just a hurried exchange of words, or to sign documents. Li Wan hadn’t even had a chance to ask her about the restructuring; it was said the list had already been submitted and was awaiting approval.
Qin Qianrou’s return this week, besides seeing Shen Yiqiu, was also because of this matter.
In the car on the way home, Shen Yiqiu and Qin Qianrou sat side by side in the back seat. Although they weren’t embracing, their intertwined fingers still made Li Wan feel a pang of… something.
She hadn’t expected Qianrou to be like this in a relationship.
She sighed softly, wondering what Lin Shuangzhi would be like in a relationship, probably still a robot.
They had already… done it, yet all Lin Shuangzhi had said afterwards was “I’m sorry,” then “Are you okay?” “Does it still hurt?” It was infuriating! Couldn’t she say anything else besides those three words?!
She had been so direct during the kiss, yet so awkward and clumsy afterwards. Li Wan wanted to buy a new 3D-printed brain for Lin Shuangzhi.
“Qianrou, how long is your leave this time?”
“Three days.”
“You should go back to the station, there have been major changes recently, everyone is on edge.”
Qin Qianrou had explained the situation to the training program leaders, and they had been understanding, after all, although training was important, their regular work was even more so. And Meng City Television, being a major local station, its restructuring served as an example for other stations, so they had readily approved Qin Qianrou’s leave request.
Shen Yiqiu was naturally delighted; this meant three more days with Jiejie.
“I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.” Qin Qianrou had rarely interacted with Director Yu, but he wasn’t suitable for managing news programs.
“There must be someone pulling strings behind the scenes.”
“What did the team leader say?”
Hearing Lin Shuangzhi mentioned, Li Wan almost slammed on the brakes.
“She’s been incredibly busy, running around like a headless chicken, even went to the city government twice, but the outcome wasn’t ideal.”
“So Director Yu’s promotion is being pushed by the city government?”
Li Wan shook her head. “I asked my father, he didn’t say it directly, but I don’t think the city government would interfere in such specific personnel matters, they’re just fully supporting the restructuring. Director Yu’s promotion is mainly due to Deputy Director Ding.”
The station director position was still vacant, and many speculated that Deputy Director Ding was the most likely candidate.
Li Wan parked the car and handed the keys to Qin Qianrou. “I won’t be going up, you two rest early.”
“Message me when you get home.”
Back at their apartment, before Qin Qianrou could even turn around, she was enveloped in a familiar, longed-for embrace.
Shen Yiqiu, just like at the airport, hugged her tightly, as if wanting to merge into one.
“I missed you so much.”
The soft, sweet voice by her ear melted Qin Qianrou’s heart.
It was cold outside, but the apartment was warm, and Shen Yiqiu’s embrace even warmer.
“I missed you too.”
Shen Yiqiu gently caressed Qin Qianrou’s face, her touch lingering.
Her gaze then fell on those alluring lips, making Qin Qianrou instinctively look away.
She was wearing a nude lipstick today, not very noticeable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, still subtly seductive.
“Jiejie, you’re so beautiful, I can’t resist.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Yiqiu leaned in and kissed her.
Qin Qianrou closed her eyes as she felt Shen Yiqiu’s lips on hers. They had a certain unspoken understanding now, easily sensing each other’s intentions.
With kisses like this, they were so familiar with each other that they could anticipate each other’s every move.
Lovers in the throes of passion couldn’t bear even three minutes apart, let alone a week. Having gained a girlfriend in Hai City, Shen Yiqiu had been waking up with a smile every morning, only to feel a pang of disappointment upon finding the apartment empty.
Now, it was different. The apartment, filled with Qin Qianrou’s presence, her warmth, felt alive again.
The kiss ended, and Qin Qianrou gently pushed Shen Yiqiu away, her hand resting on her shoulder. Slightly breathless, her cheeks flushed, she hadn’t even taken off her coat yet, her suitcase still by her feet.
“I’m so warm.” Qin Qianrou pushed her away again and took off her coat.
Shen Yiqiu naturally took it from her, hung it on the coat rack by the door, then took off her own coat and hung it beside Qin Qianrou’s. Then, after changing into her slippers, she took out another pair that had been placed by the door, squatted down before Qin Qianrou, and said,
“Jiejie, let me help you with your shoes.”
Qin Qianrou was used to wearing high heels, and after a long flight, her feet were probably tired, but Shen Yiqiu’s gesture made her feel a little embarrassed.
“I can do it myself.”
Shen Yiqiu, seeing her shyness, didn’t insist. She smiled, stood up, and supported Qin Qianrou as she changed her shoes.
Qin Qianrou wasn’t actually that tired, but she still graciously accepted Shen Yiqiu’s help, placing her hand on her arm.
“Are you hungry? Should I make you a late-night snack?”
“I’m not hungry, I ate on the plane.”
“Then how about a shower first?”
Knowing she was tired from traveling, Shen Yiqiu, apart from the initial passionate kiss upon her arrival, hadn’t been overly clingy.
Qin Qianrou soaked in the bathtub, the warm water soothing her tense and tired muscles. She had returned to Hai City twice this week, once for the meeting with the Cheng family, and then again on a weeknight, when only her grandfather and Wen Yirong had been home.
Her grandfather’s health had indeed deteriorated, his voice weaker, but he was still as stubborn as ever, expressing his displeasure over her refusal to date Cheng Yan, though he hadn’t forced the issue.
Wen Yirong had reassured her that her grandfather was just being difficult, he no longer had the energy to interfere too much. She hoped they could keep him happy for now, conceal things from him for as long as possible.
Qin Qianrou, seeing her mother’s hesitant and meaningful expression, wondered if she suspected something, but since Wen Yirong didn’t say anything directly, she couldn’t ask.
The Cheng father and son had left a decent impression, they hadn’t made any unreasonable requests, and they had maintained a respectful distance. Qin Qianrou, however, ever since hearing about Shen Yiqiu’s dream, had become more observant.
Whenever she saw someone wearing a tie, she couldn’t help but look twice.
Both the Cheng father and son had been wearing ties that day, but they were both in dark colors, not the bright yellow Shen Yiqiu had seen in her dream.
She hadn’t wanted to introduce Shen Yiqiu to her family so soon, her sweet and gentle little friend was so soft and innocent, what if they scared her?
Wen Yirong was the easiest person to get along with in the Qin family, and Shen Yiqiu had still been so nervous meeting her. If she met her father and grandfather, her little face would probably crumple in fear.
Qin Qianrou imagined Shen Yiqiu’s expression and couldn’t help but smile.
A knock on the bathroom door, and Shen Yiqiu’s voice came from outside. “Jiejie, are you almost done?”
Qin Qianrou had been in there for a while, and Shen Yiqiu was worried, afraid she might have fallen asleep and caught a cold.
“Almost.”
Qin Qianrou emerged from the bathroom, toweling her hair dry, and saw Shen Yiqiu still busy with something.
“It’s so late, what are you still doing?”
“Rong Fei gave me this a while ago, she said it helps with sleep.”
Shen Yiqiu was fiddling with a bottle of essential oil, seemingly using it for the first time.
“You haven’t used it before?”
Shen Yiqiu placed the diffuser on the nightstand, then walked over and took the hairdryer from Qin Qianrou.
“There’s no point in using it if you’re not home.”
Her casual tone, as if stating an obvious fact, made Qin Qianrou pause for a moment before understanding the implication, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“I’ll do it myself, you go take a shower.”
“I want to dry your hair for you. I’ve already showered.”
She’s quite efficient. Qin Qianrou suddenly remembered, how were they going to sleep tonight?
This wasn’t a hotel room, they had two bedrooms, two beds.
Before she could figure it out, Shen Yiqiu’s fingers were gently running through her hair, her touch tender and loving, making it impossible for Qin Qianrou to resist.
It’s fine to sleep together, we can chat before bed, and besides, it’s not like we haven’t slept together before.
Thinking this, Qin Qianrou quickly rationalized it.
“Jiejie…”
“Shen Yiqiu…”
They spoke simultaneously, then stopped, looking at each other, then they both chuckled.
Qin Qianrou spoke first, “What did you want to say?”
Shen Yiqiu blushed slightly, lowering her voice, “Jiejie, can you give me a special nickname?”
“Hmm?”
“Every time you call my name, it reminds me of being called out by the professor.”
Qin Qianrou thought for a moment. “How about Xiao Qiu?”
Shen Yiqiu quickly shook her head. “No, that’s what elders call me.”
Qin Qianrou, seeing her displeasure, thought for a moment longer.
This time, feeling a little shy herself, she softly said, “Qiu.”
A single word, spoken in such a gentle and affectionate tone, it made Shen Yiqiu’s heart melt.
Her heart raced, no one had ever called her “Qiu” like that before.
She put down the hairdryer and gently placed her hand on Qin Qianrou’s shoulder. Jiejie was slender, but not thin, her figure enviable.
The soft silk of her pajamas felt luxurious against Shen Yiqiu’s skin, the warmth of Qin Qianrou’s body radiating through the fabric.
Shen Yiqiu kissed Qin Qianrou’s earlobe, whispering softly, “I love it when you call me that, from now on, only you can call me that.”
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