Chapter 90
Qin Qianrou was scheduled for duty during the last two days of the Chinese New Year holiday, so from New Year’s Day to the fourth day of the new year, she had a rare, uninterrupted break to spend with Shen Yiqiu.
They still had plenty of food left over from their New Year’s Eve feast, and Shen Yiqiu prepared a variety of delicious meals every day. Qin Qianrou helped her in the kitchen, the enticing aromas making her temporarily forget her usual aloofness.
“I’ll never be able to match your cooking skills.” Qin Qianrou’s hand rested lightly on Shen Yiqiu’s shoulder, her gaze fixed on the braised pig’s feet simmering in the pot.
“If you like it, I’ll make it for you often.” Shen Yiqiu leaned back slightly, nuzzling her cheek against Qin Qianrou’s. “With me around, you don’t have to learn how to cook.”
Qin Qianrou’s heart warmed, but she couldn’t resist teasing her, “Then I’ll be completely dependent on you, what if you get angry with me one day, will I starve then?”
“Jiejie, even if I’m angry, I wouldn’t let you starve, besides, why would I ever be angry with you?”
Qin Qianrou, her heart overflowing with happiness, leaned her head against Shen Yiqiu’s shoulder. This relationship truly made her happy.
Shen Yiqiu moved aside slightly, checking on the fish steaming on the other stove. She had specifically gone out to buy it this morning, insisting on fresh ingredients, this Chinese New Year coincided with a cold wave, the temperature several degrees lower than usual, and it had been freezing cold outside this morning.
Shen Yiqiu hadn’t told Qin Qianrou about her early morning excursion, so when Qin Qianrou woke up, she found the bed empty, the lingering warmth already faded. Shen Yiqiu had left a note on the nightstand, saying she had gone to buy fish and would be back soon.
Qin Qianrou sometimes wondered if this child was a little too obsessed with cooking.
“Did you learn all this online?”
“Initially, yes, but now that I’ve gotten the hang of it, I also experiment, try new things.”
No wonder Li Wan and Wen Shao Ze were always trying to weasel their way into a meal; such culinary skills were hard to come by.
“What do you want to do in the future?” This was the first time Qin Qianrou had seriously asked her about her future plans.
Shen Yiqiu pursed her lips, thought for a moment, then said, “I want to be a bodyguard.”
A faint smile still played on Qin Qianrou’s lips, but she hadn’t expected this answer, she had even mentally prepared herself for Shen Yiqiu wanting to be a chef, but a bodyguard? She had never considered that possibility.
“With your small frame, you probably wouldn’t even pass the probation period.” Qin Qianrou chuckled, thinking Shen Yiqiu was joking.
Shen Yiqiu put down what she was doing, turned around, and looked at her earnestly.
Seeing her serious expression, Qin Qianrou’s smile faded, she straightened up, her hand, however, still resting on Shen Yiqiu’s waist.
“I’m serious, Jiejie, I want to be your bodyguard, to be with you.”
Qin Qianrou’s work wasn’t always safe, and only after being with her did Shen Yiqiu truly understand the potential dangers. She had previously just thought Reporter Qin was righteous and fearless, tackling stories others wouldn’t dare to touch, but now she understood the courage and conviction required.
“I’ve already said I can protect myself, you should pursue your own dreams.” Qin Qianrou hoped Shen Yiqiu, like other young people her age, would choose a career she loved, develop her own skills and expertise.
“Protecting you is my dream. And it’s not just about protecting you, I want to make your work easier, because your work helps so many people.”
Qin Qianrou’s eyes reddened slightly, many people cared about her safety, but few truly understood and appreciated her work, her persistence stemming not only from her passion but also from her sense of responsibility.
“I’ve thought about it, I’ve even discussed it with my classmates, I don’t necessarily have to pursue a traditional career path, I can write scripts, or create a food vlog, and also be your personal bodyguard.”
Shen Yiqiu was indeed qualified, not to mention her precognitive abilities, just her time-freezing power alone was more effective than any sharpshooter.
“Jiejie, let me be with you, okay?”
Qin Qianrou still didn’t agree outright, but she didn’t reject her either. Shen Yiqiu was still young, young people’s minds changed easily, perhaps soon, she would find a new passion.
“We’ll talk about it later, I don’t need a bodyguard right now, but I appreciate your offer.” Qin Qianrou kissed Shen Yiqiu’s cheek, and the atmosphere eased, returning to its previous warmth.
After lunch, they decided to go out.
Qin Qianrou had been away from Meng City for a while, and although Hai City was more bustling and fashionable, shopping alone wasn’t much fun. Shopping was also an excuse for a date; being with Shen Yiqiu, even just a simple stroll, was enjoyable.
“Jiejie, let’s not drive today, let’s just walk around, wherever our feet take us.”
“Okay.”
They didn’t go to the crowded malls, nor the packed cinemas, they went to the arcade.
“Is it too noisy here?” The constant beeping and ringing sounds created a chaotic atmosphere.
Qin Qianrou, holding her scarf, looked around, she and Li Wan had also enjoyed coming here during their university days, but with their busy schedules, it had been a while.
“I like it here.”
Hearing this, Shen Yiqiu’s slight unease dissipated. She went to exchange for two large boxes of tokens, handing one to Qin Qianrou, keeping the other.
“Let’s go play on the little train.” She pointed to a slightly secluded corner with two empty machines.
“You seem familiar with this place.” Qin Qianrou, being led by Shen Yiqiu, felt a little out of place here.
Shen Yiqiu stuck her tongue out sheepishly, admitting, “I sometimes come here alone.”
Shen Yiqiu wasn’t addicted to online games, the only games she played regularly were the popular mainstream ones, usually with her classmates. She hadn’t expected Shen Yiqiu to secretly come here alone, and Qin Qianrou gently traced her palm with her finger.
Her hand itched, her heart even more so.
Shen Yiqiu had never known Jiejie had such a… childlike side, snuggling into her arms at night after falling asleep, wrinkling her nose adorably in the mornings, complaining about not getting enough sleep, whispering sweet nothings, responding to her kisses with passion.
Qin Qianrou had fulfilled all her expectations and fantasies about love, and Shen Yiqiu often thought that being able to experience such a love, she had no regrets in this life.
Shen Yiqiu was quite skilled at the train game, but Qin Qianrou seemed more interested in the claw machines across from them, Shen Yiqiu noticing her gaze drifting over several times.
She took the thick stack of prize tickets from the machine, combined their remaining tokens into one box, and led Qin Qianrou towards the claw machines.
“Let me win a cute plushie for my girlfriend, just as adorable as Jiejie.”
The arcade was noisy, and Shen Yiqiu’s voice wasn’t loud, normally inaudible, but Qin Qianrou’s cheeks flushed.
Perhaps because of the New Year, the claw machines were stocked with many new and adorable plushies.
“Jiejie, choose one.” Shen Yiqiu pointed at the glass, her tone confident.
Qin Qianrou, a playful glint in her eyes, looked at her and asked, her voice calm and teasing, “If I choose one, are you sure you can win it?”
“Definitely.” Shen Yiqiu thought, no matter how many tokens it took, even if she had to spend the entire day here, she would fulfill Jiejie’s wish.
Qin Qianrou didn’t hesitate and pointed at a medium-sized, well-made Doraemon plushie.
“I want that one.”
She had already set her sights on it while playing the train game, Qin Qianrou had loved Doraemon as a child, yearning for a magical companion like Doraemon, always there for Nobita.
Only after growing up had she realized there was no such thing as Doraemon, but the desire in her heart had never truly vanished.
Shen Yiqiu rolled up her sleeves, carefully observed the machine, then inserted the tokens.
She rarely played claw machines, so her movements were a little clumsy, failing several times, the claw dropping the plushie just as it was about to be lifted. But she didn’t give up, adjusting her position and trying again.
She stared intently, her gaze fixed on the plushie and the claw, repeatedly adjusting the angle and the force. After each failure, she didn’t get frustrated but calmly analyzed her mistakes.
Qin Qianrou watched from the side, watching the person she loved trying so hard to fulfill her wish, her heart overflowing with warmth.
“It’s okay, we can just buy one.” They had used up most of their tokens, and at this rate, they could have bought at least three plushies.
“Let me try again, I can do it.” Shen Yiqiu turned and smiled at her, then returned to her task, her focus unwavering.
There was a smaller plushie beside it that seemed much easier to win, and she had even almost grabbed a larger teddy bear a few times, but Shen Yiqiu’s only target was that smiling Doraemon.
Seeing a light sheen of sweat on her forehead, Qin Qianrou took a tissue from her bag and gently wiped it away. Shen Yiqiu instinctively leaned in to kiss her, then suddenly noticed a small crowd had gathered around them.
Perhaps drawn in by her persistence, or perhaps simply curious, they all wanted to see if she could win the plushie, after her earlier attempts, it was clear her only target was that Doraemon.
Qin Qianrou usually disliked crowds, besides work, she preferred not to attract attention. But now, she was just like everyone else, her gaze fixed on Shen Yiqiu, not caring about what others thought of their relationship, or of her.
Shen Yiqiu glanced at the remaining tokens, not many left, she had already failed countless times, even the onlookers had changed several times, but she was still unwilling to give up.
She closed her eyes, trying to suppress her frustration, a familiar, slight stinging sensation in her chest, quick as lightning, almost imperceptible.
But she recognized it,
Although she couldn’t be certain, she knew her abilities had somehow… changed. She slowly inserted two tokens and waited for the claw to be in position.
As her hand touched the joystick, her movements similar to before, only she knew, her hand wasn’t entirely under her control now.
In one smooth motion, the plushie she had been staring at was finally lifted from the machine. Clutching the Doraemon plushie, Shen Yiqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn’t even have time to admire it before handing it to Qin Qianrou.
“Jiejie, this is for you.”
Qin Qianrou’s eyes softened as she took the plushie and hugged it close, not at all like a mature woman nearing thirty. But the gentle expression on her face, the smile on her lips, revealed her joy.
The onlookers gradually dispersed, only a few remaining nearby. Shen Yiqiu, captivated by Qin Qianrou’s adorable reaction, her heart melting, pulled her into an embrace.
“Jiejie, you looked so beautiful just now when you smiled.”
“Don’t I usually look beautiful when I smile?”
“You always look beautiful, but just now, you were especially beautiful.” Shen Yiqiu licked her lips, unsure how to express herself.
The look on Qin Qianrou’s face just now had made her want to do… outrageous things, like those described in the top posts on the forum.
Shen Yiqiu’s body felt warm, and she had no interest in playing any other games now. They redeemed their remaining tokens and the tickets they had won from the train game, then happily left.
“Want to have dinner outside?”
Shen Yiqiu thought about the leftovers from lunch and shook her head. “Let’s eat at home, we still have a lot of food.”
Qin Qianrou held her hand as they walked along the street, the arcade had been a little stuffy, and only after leaving did she realize she had been slightly oxygen-deprived, the cold air a refreshing change.
Shen Yiqiu, glancing at her from time to time, saw Qin Qianrou still clutching the plushie she had won, and although happy, she couldn’t help but complain playfully, “Jiejie, you like Doraemon more than you like me now.”
Qin Qianrou chuckled, “How could that be possible?”
“Then why are you always hugging it, not me?”
Still jealous, Qin Qianrou gestured at their surroundings with her eyes, How can I hug you in a public place like this?
“Then I’ll hug you when we get home, okay?” Shen Yiqiu whispered in her ear, her voice a seductive murmur.
Qin Qianrou pursed her lips, not responding, but simply looking at her intently.
Shen Yiqiu felt a sudden wetness on her face, it had started raining.
Winter rain in Meng City was a bone-chilling cold, and they quickly hailed a taxi and headed home.
As they approached their complex, they encountered an unexpected traffic jam, their home just a short distance away, yet they were stuck.
After twenty minutes, they decided to get out and walk the rest of the way.
The rain continued, and Qin Qianrou, as usual, was wearing high heels, making it difficult to walk on the slippery sidewalk.
Shen Yiqiu, seeing her struggling to protect the plushie in her arms, shield herself from the rain with her other hand, and carefully watch her step, felt a pang of sympathy.
She hurried ahead, then, turning back to Qin Qianrou, bent down slightly, and said,
“Jiejie, I’ll carry you.”
Qin Qianrou was startled, then, realizing what she meant, gently patted her back. “Don’t be silly.”
“I’m serious, it’s not safe for you to walk in high heels in the rain.”
Shen Yiqiu, like her peers, preferred sneakers, which were more practical in this situation.
Qin Qianrou hesitated, but the rain didn’t stop, their hair already damp.
“Jiejie, come on, I can do it.”
Qin Qianrou felt she must be under Doraemon’s spell today, and biting her lip, she climbed onto Shen Yiqiu’s back. Thankfully, it wasn’t far, and they soon reached their apartment.
As soon as they got home, Qin Qianrou went to get a dry towel for Shen Yiqiu.
“Don’t be so reckless next time.” She pulled Shen Yiqiu closer, making her bend down slightly, gently drying her hair as she “scolded” her.
They had both taken off their coats, Shen Yiqiu in a casual sweatshirt, Qin Qianrou in a fitted sweater, the warmth of the apartment raising their body temperatures. Having held back for so long, she couldn’t resist any longer.
Shen Yiqiu, ignoring Qin Qianrou’s nagging, pulled her close, expertly finding those soft, alluring lips, and kissed her deeply.
“Wait… I’m wearing… lipstick…” Qin Qianrou, caught off guard by the sudden attack, forgot to resist, and by the time she recovered, she had already been kissed thoroughly.
Shen Yiqiu didn’t let go, her voice muffled, “I know, it’s the edible kind.”
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