At the last moment, Xiao Yao was left with only one clear sensation – his palm was so thick and warm! She liked the feeling of being held by his hand!
With such light steps, they arrived at a nearby small park. On a patch of lawn, they both sat down on the ground.
“At this time, we probably won’t run into anyone we know, right?” Yu Qing said casually.
Xiao Yao shrugged and smiled.
“What? Not afraid anymore?” He turned towards her and asked.
“Did I – did I say I was afraid?” She argued defensively.
“Oh?” A smile gradually deepened at the corner of his mouth. “But I saw how worried you looked just now.”
“I was – was…” worried about his reaction. Brushing away the hair blown by the wind, Xiao Yao finally found a better reason: “I was worried Wang’s mother would spread rumors everywhere.”
He deliberately frowned, “Do you think that would be so bad? Is being seen as my girlfriend really that terrible?”
“Of course not! I – I am because…” The words Xiao Yao wanted to say next, even she herself wasn’t clear about.
“Are you afraid of misunderstandings from a boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend? How is that possible!” She blushed.
“Why not? How old are you? It’s very normal to have a boyfriend. I was even thinking that maybe by the time I found you, you might already be married.”
“Without even a boyfriend, who would I marry? Didn’t you hear what Wang’s mother said? My mom is everywhere saying no one wants me.” She looked up and noticed he was laughing very happily. “You seem very happy?”
“Of course I’m happy. At least I don’t have to worry about someone suddenly showing up wanting to duel me or something.”
“It’s not that serious. Stop talking nonsense.” Xiao Yao pursed her lips and threw him a slight smile.
That unconsciously revealed feminine demeanor made Yu Jing momentarily lose his senses again.
When he finally came back to himself, looking at her moving lips, he straightened his expression and asked: “What did you just say?”
Xiao Yao’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, “What are you thinking about? Thinking so seriously?”
Staring at her puzzled face, Yu Qing felt his own confusion was even greater.
He had experienced women’s coquettishness many times, but she alone could easily make him feel a sense of satisfaction in his heart.
Yu Qing clearly knew his mood was being led by her, but why?
With her, he could show the most natural smile and tolerate any possibly nonsensical questions and answers.
No, “tolerate” wasn’t quite right, because he didn’t feel the slightest bit of reluctance.
It was as if some forbidden realm was opening… and everything was because of her existence.
Facing the small face still waiting for an answer, Yu Qing changed the subject: “I was thinking about when I can eat your mom’s braised chicken feet?”
This made her laugh. “You’re thinking about this? Do you really want to eat them that much?”
“Would your mom agree?” Silly girl, this was no longer just about eating.
“Uh…” Her hesitation implied understanding.
Before he could eat the braised chicken feet, he might first need to make her mother believe he wouldn’t “eat” her daughter? While Xiao Yao was still trying to figure out how to explain her mother’s “vulgar” suspicions, a sound came from beside her.
Was he sighing? Because of chicken feet?
He spoke: “I finally understand why Uncle and Aunt were so resistant to me.”
“How would you know?” Xiao Yao hurriedly tried to stop talking. Well, it seemed she didn’t even have room for consolation. Finally, she told him about the letter he wrote that was accidentally taken and exposed by her brother.
Xiao Yao concluded: “I feel very sorry to you. But the letter is still well-preserved. Now I keep it in my secret box where no one will discover it.”
“I should be the one apologizing,” thinking of her scene of searching through trash cans in the middle of the night, Yu Qing felt warmth from his heart to his eye sockets.
She didn’t know that what she carefully preserved was no longer just a letter, but also a lonely heart.
Composing himself, Yu Qing tried to use a relaxed tone to dispel the warmth at the corners of his eyes. “You have a secret box?”
“Yes, inside are all my treasures, and also…” she bit her lip, her mysterious and vivid smile was charming, “my belly button!”
“Oh? Let me see it someday.”
“No way! It’s ugly! My brother said it looks like dried plum dregs!”
Yu Qing burst out laughing.
“Your brother seems interesting. I must meet him someday. But…” his tone suddenly became heavy, “first I need to resolve the resistance from your family.”
Xiao Yao couldn’t help but say: “Actually, they didn’t really take the past events to heart. If they have any resistance now… it’s not about you.”
“Then who?”
It was her. This unambitious daughter of theirs!
Licking her lips, Xiao Yao said with difficulty: “They’re afraid that… if we continue like this, what if I accidentally fall in love with you, then…”
“Then what?” Yu Qing stared at her, his eyes brighter than the stars.
“Then I would die very badly.” Her volume decreased in proportion to her lowered head.
“Am I that scary?”
“My mom says when a man’s conditions are too good, it’s a scary thing, because he can easily make a woman fall in love and just as easily break her heart.”
“That’s what your mom says. What about you?”
“Me?” She withdrew her gaze, burying her head in her bent knees, speaking almost in a whisper: “I don’t know.”
“Don’t know?”
“It’s true. I only know that being with you makes me very happy. That’s enough.” Tilting her head, she blinked at his eyes, “What about you? Will you worry?
What are you worried about?”
”I’m just worried…” her body swaying with the trailing tone, “I’m worried that if I truly fall in love with you, I’ll cling to you and never let go.”
A smile colored his eyes. Ye Qing smiled tenderly and charmingly, “As long as you’re happy.”
Is this… no objection? Then what? Completely accepted?
That night, they sat close together and talked at length about many things, from the present to the past, from ideals to dreams… When the topic turned to work, Xiao Yao’s expression became slightly awkward.
”I’m currently… unemployed.”
”Oh.” Nodding, Ye Qing pondered for a moment, then asked: “Would you like me to help you arrange a job?”
”Me?” Xiao Yao’s brow suddenly furrowed, then fell into deep thought.
”You can consider it and tell me when you’ve made up your mind.”
”I’ve made up my mind.” Looking up, she responded seriously: “I think it’s better not to.”
”Why?” This answer surprised Ye Qing.
”Because I think… this would be better for everyone.”
”How so?” Ye Qing was quite interested and wanted to hear what this girl had to say.
”I know it would be easy for you to help me find a job given your status, but… I’ve thought about it. If I go to your company and do well, that’s fine, but what if something goes wrong? Would you fire me or not?
If you don’t fire me, people will say you’re showing favoritism; but if you’re completely impartial, just the thought of being scolded by you would make me miserable, so it’s better not to.”
Watching her vigorously shaking head, Ye Qing laughed. “Who said I would arrange you to work in my company?”
Looking into her sparkling eyes, he said: “I can arrange for you to work at my friend’s place. With our friendship, he will definitely take special care of you. But you still need to work hard. A master can introduce you to the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. Opportunities depend on how you grasp them, understand?”
”Yes! I understand!” Filled with respect, she bowed and sincerely said: “Thank you.”
”Silly, I should be the one saying thanks. I said when I came back, I would properly thank you.”
