The two security guards exchanged glances but refused to let her pass. “Miss Qiu, please don’t make this difficult. We’re just following orders. You work at a hospital; why would you be delivering cakes?”
“What law have I broken?” Ru Feng asked irritably.
“You haven’t broken any law, but I won’t let you in,” a cold voice replied from behind.
Ru Feng turned around to see Qiu Chi, now in a crisp suit and accompanied by a large group. “Qiu Chi?” she tentatively asked.
His eyebrow twitched as he glanced at her boxes. “You’ve become a bit smarter, resorting to delivering cakes.”
“I’m from Keko Cake House, here to deliver cakes,” she said, focused on completing her task.
Qiu Chi approached, lowering his voice. “I’ve seen many women, but never one as shameless as you. Didn’t I say if you could sleep with the two men from the Situ family, I’d give you a chance to get close to me? Clearly, you haven’t succeeded. Changed your mind now?”
“Unable to get into Situ Yingfeng’s bed, how could you possibly get into mine?”
Ru Feng’s hands itched to move; the culprit making it impossible for her to face her family was within punching distance. She gritted her teeth and took deep breaths. Turning to the security guards, she placed a cake box down and pulled out a coin. “Sir, may I borrow your phone?”
The security guard hesitated but then handed over his phone. Ru Feng dialed without paying attention to the crowd. “Hello, Miss Gao? I’m from Keko Cake House, currently downstairs. Could you come down to collect the cakes?”
A tall woman soon emerged from the elevator, her hurried steps slowing as she approached, surprised by the crowd. “CEO!” She nodded to Qiu Chi, then turned to Ru Feng, “I’ll take them, thank you!”
Ru Feng pulled out the delivery note. “Please sign here.” After the signature, she neatly put the document back in her bag and walked away, not once looking at the man beside her.
Qiu Chi smiled with interest and whispered to his secretary, “Go see what she’s up to now.” The secretary laughed, thinking about the tricks women use to get close to men.
Qiu Chi followed her out. After a few steps, Ru Feng stopped and looked at him. Qiu Chi coldly remarked, “I told you I don’t like cake.” Ru Feng replied, “That’s great!”
Ru Feng laughed, “I never intended to ask you to eat it! I’m telling you to go die!” She swiftly smashed the cake in Qiu Chi’s face.
“Just because I offered you a piece of cake doesn’t mean I’m inviting you to eat it,” she said, taking a breath. “Stay away from me!”
Ignoring Qiu Chi’s ashen face, she shook her hand and walked away happily. She had already gotten off work, the cake was bought herself, so it wasn’t dereliction of duty. The incident occurred outside the store, so it wasn’t bad customer service. She nodded smugly.
“Mr. Qiu!” the terrified Li Secretary quickly scrambled out of the car and handed over a tissue.
“Li Qin, go investigate what madness she’s up to!” Qiu Chi almost roared.
A Brief Encounter
The setting sun was sinking, and the dusk thickened. The faint wisps of cooking smoke reminded her of real life. Ru Feng walked lightly in a small alley.
“Xiao Feng, you’re back?” Qiu Mom had been waiting at the door and came forward at the sight of her.
“Mm! I bought some cold dishes for dinner,” Ru Feng said, raising the bag in her hand.
Qiu Mom hesitated, “Where did you get the money?”
Ru Feng smiled, linking arms with her and shaking, “I asked the store manager for an advance. I don’t want to eat potatoes every day! If I keep eating, I’ll turn into a potato.”
She made a bitter face, and Qiu Mom was amused, then her eyes reddened, “It’s mom’s fault, if only…” Ru Feng patted her shoulder, dramatically shouting, “The most important thing now is to fill my stomach, I’m so hungry!”
Now in Qiu Ru Feng’s body, she would take care of her mother. Qiu Mom busied herself with preparing food, and Ru Feng watched her, smiling slightly, but then thought of her dad and brothers.
Thinking of her two brothers, an embarrassingly shameful scene emerged in her mind. Ru Feng covered her burning face and let out a loud “Ah!”
“What’s wrong, what’s wrong?” Qiu Mom rushed out with her apron and spatula. Ru Feng shook her head, “Nothing, I’m just hungry.” Qiu Mom laughed, “You child, wait a moment, dinner will be ready soon.”
Ru Feng looked dejected, wanting to go home, but how could she in this situation? Maybe she could secretly go see her dad? But before she could act on that plan, that plague appeared again—Qiu Chi. Ru Feng gritted her teeth, holding the cake, as the elevator numbers changed, muttering: Qiu Ru Feng, what did you see in that annoying man? Climbing into another man’s bed for him?
Ru Feng was almost speechless, wondering how Qiu Ru Feng could be so famous yet a persona non grata. She couldn’t even sneak in if she wanted to.
In the hall, everyone was elegantly dressed, and the brothers’ exclusive elevator stood motionless, tantalizingly close yet impossibly far. Ru Feng’s temper flared up; no matter how gentle she appeared to others, she was always willful in front of her brothers.
She turned to the front desk and asked, “Could you please connect me to the CEO’s office?” The receptionist, having witnessed the previous scene, hesitated. “Miss Qiu, do you have an appointment with the CEO?”
“I have an appointment,” Ru Feng replied defiantly, not believing her eldest brother would keep her out. The receptionist hesitated but began dialing the internal line. Ru Feng cut her off midway, saying, “Never mind, no appointment.”
Dejected, Ru Feng walked out, realizing it wouldn’t change anything. She couldn’t tell her brother she was his sister, and her anger only grew.
Ru Feng stormed out, feeling anger boil over as she texted her brother, “You despotic tyrant, you sly fox!” The relief was short-lived, however, as she realized she had used his old nickname. Panic set in, and she frantically removed her SIM card. Luckily, it wasn’t registered under her real name, so her brother shouldn’t connect it to her. She planned to buy a new number once she got paid.
Turning back, she froze. Situ Qi Feng stood in a sharp black suit, bending down to open a car door for a woman in an elegant white dress adorned with a dazzling crystal necklace. Ru Feng’s gaze lingered on the necklace; she recognized it as her brother’s design. Despite being the leader of the Situ Group, he rarely showcased his jewelry talent, sharing pieces only on special occasions, like when she and her sister turned eighteen. The fact that this woman wore his design and received special attention from her second brother was unexpected.
She had never seen her second brother smile at anyone else or open a car door for another woman.
Ru Feng watched as he and the strange woman walked side by side toward the office building. He didn’t say a word, but she sensed a shift in his usual cold demeanor, indicating he was in a good mood.
“Second Brother!” she called softly, but then swiftly turned and left.
Her feelings were complex, a mix of joy and melancholy, like watching a daughter grow up. Yet, she felt happy that her brother was beginning to understand his life should include more than just her.
Her departure was good, allowing him to gradually step out of a world focused solely on her and appreciate other beautiful experiences.
Meanwhile, Situ Qi Feng, who had entered the lobby, suddenly stopped and looked back.
“What’s wrong?” his female companion asked. Situ Qi Feng furrowed his brow but shook his head, “Nothing, let’s go.” He felt his heart racing unusually fast.
They had only walked a few steps when a whirlwind swept past.
“Elder Brother?” Qi Feng saw his brother rush out in a panic and changed his expression as he followed.
“Hey, you two…”
The woman’s voice faded as the two men rushed out.
