Chapter 41:

Bo Jixi’s expression was indifferent. “You were just too engrossed in your phone call.”

Bo Pengpeng regretted her words almost as soon as she said them. Although her relationship with her brother had grown closer recently, years of fear couldn’t dissipate overnight. Complaints like that were something she had never dared voice before, and she was afraid Bo Jixi would get angry. To her surprise, he didn’t seem upset at all—instead, there was a hint of teasing in his tone, which made her relax. With an awkward expression, she explained, “I was just too focused discussing tomorrow’s outing with Zhaoyu.”

Bo Jixi gave a slight nod. The name Qin Zhaoyu didn’t elicit any reaction from him, as if he didn’t know her at all. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said, “When you go out tomorrow, don’t keep others waiting too long. Leave early.”

Bo Pengpeng looked puzzled. It was strange for Bo Jixi to suddenly express such concern—it didn’t match his usual demeanor. Still, she obediently nodded. “Got it, Brother.”

“Then go back to sleep. Don’t stay up late.” With that, Bo Jixi picked up a cup of coffee and went upstairs.

Only then did Bo Pengpeng realize that Bo Jixi had come downstairs to make coffee—likely because he had to work late into the night.

The thought made her heart ache. She knew very well that the comfortable life she enjoyed now, the freedom she had, was all thanks to her brother’s efforts behind the scenes. In the past, she had always felt wronged, thinking her brother was terrifying, that he didn’t like or care about her. But it had never occurred to her that she had never shown any concern for him either—her feelings toward him had only been fear, avoidance, and complaints.

Reflecting on this, Bo Pengpeng felt deeply ashamed and guilty. She resolved to change her ways and make it up to him.

Her brother always stayed up late, relying on coffee to stay alert, which couldn’t be good for his health. Coincidentally, she was meeting Zhaoyu tomorrow—her medical skills were excellent, so she must know some remedies or techniques to improve health. She could ask her then. Yes, that was the plan!

With her mind made up, Bo Pengpeng took her glass of milk and went upstairs to sleep.

~

Winter in Yuzhou was mild and understated—a poetic season. “Chilly white dew falls, a hundred flowers wither; hibiscus fades quickly, osmanthus vanishes.” The description fit perfectly.

The gentle winter brought mild weather, with fluffy white clouds hanging against a blue sky. Today’s temperature was particularly agreeable, without the usual biting cold.

Remembering Bo Jixi’s advice from the day before, Bo Pengpeng got up early, got ready, and drove her beloved car to Qin Zhaoyu’s house.

Her car was quite distinctive, but the security at Yuping Garden was strict. Even though Bo Pengpeng was driving a rare luxury vehicle, the guards didn’t let her in immediately—they called Qin Zhaoyu to verify before allowing her entry.

When Bo Pengpeng arrived at Qin Zhaoyu’s villa, Zhaoyu was tidying up her small garden.

Previously, she had planted various fruits and vegetables in the yard to make use of the space. But after moving into the school dormitory, she rarely returned, and the garden had grown somewhat wild. Since Bo Pengpeng hadn’t arrived yet, Zhaoyu passed the time by cleaning up the yard.

She knew the moment Bo Pengpeng arrived. Opening the door, she let her in.

As soon as Bo Pengpeng stepped inside, she noticed the unique little garden. “Zhaoyu, your garden is so special!”

It wasn’t that Bo Pengpeng was exaggerating—she had genuinely never seen anyone grow fruits and vegetables in their yard. Most people planted rare flowers, decorative rocks, and trees, turning it into a miniature garden.

“I just thought it’d be a waste to only grow flowers and trees here. Nowadays, a lot of vegetables are sprayed with pesticides, which isn’t healthy. Growing my own fruits and vegetables ensures they’re green and safe.” Qin Zhaoyu knew Bo Pengpeng meant no harm—she was simply surprised—so she didn’t mind explaining.

This was the first time Bo Pengpeng had heard such an idea, but upon reflection, it made a lot of sense.

She nodded in agreement. “Now that you mention it, it does seem like a waste to grow plants that are only for decoration in such a big space.”

Bo Pengpeng’s earnest expression amused Qin Zhaoyu. “I just have a practical mindset—function over form. Everyone has their own preferences. Some people love flowers because they’re beautiful.” This silly girl—why did she believe everything she said? She wasn’t even afraid of being tricked.

In truth, Qin Zhaoyu underestimated Bo Pengpeng. Before her parents’ accident, she might have been a carefree little princess. But there were no “ifs” in life, so she couldn’t possibly be as naive and gullible as she seemed. The reason she took Qin Zhaoyu’s words so seriously was simply because she trusted and felt close to her. If it had been anyone else, Bo Pengpeng would have torn them apart with her sharp tongue.

Bo Pengpeng didn’t dwell on it. She stepped forward, grabbing Qin Zhaoyu’s arm and shaking it. “Zhaoyu, Zhaoyu, are you done? Can we go now?”

Qin Zhaoyu leaned slightly to the side to avoid letting Bo Pengpeng touch her hands. She had just been weeding, and her hands were covered in dirt and grass stains—it would be bad if they got on Bo Pengpeng.

“I just need to wash my hands, take a shower, and change. Then we can go.”

Bo Pengpeng cheered and immediately pushed Qin Zhaoyu inside to get ready, afraid she might change her mind.

Qin Zhaoyu was quick—she finished everything in half an hour. Unlike many girls who took one or two hours to get ready, she was efficient without being sloppy. The weather in Yuzhou was pleasant today, so she wore a long, light-blue vintage coat, a high-necked white sweater, and high-waisted black skinny pants that made her legs look long and straight. The outfit was casual yet elegant—a classic look, but Qin Zhaoyu wore it with a unique charm.

When Bo Pengpeng saw her, her eyes lit up. “Zhaoyu, you look amazing in this!”

Qin Zhaoyu smiled faintly. She didn’t think there was anything particularly outstanding about her outfit—she had just picked it for warmth and comfort, perfect for the day’s weather.

“Alright, alright, let’s go. If you keep flattering me, we’ll never leave.”

Bo Pengpeng smacked her forehead. “Oh right! Let’s go, let’s go! Let’s going!”

But she wasn’t ready to drop the subject. She genuinely believed what she had said and insisted seriously, “I really mean it. You do look great.”

Qin Zhaoyu gave her a helpless look and said nothing more.

After hanging up the phone yesterday, Bo Pengpeng had carefully planned today’s outing with Qin Zhaoyu. The first item on the agenda was shopping—after all, shopping was the number one pastime for women. For them, nothing brought more joy than buying things. If there was anything better, it was buying even more—especially when someone else was footing the bill.

With that in mind, Bo Pengpeng first took Qin Zhaoyu to Guozhong Plaza.

Guozhong Plaza was a landmark shopping destination in Yuzhou—a famous mall adjacent to Jianhong Square in the city center. For years, it had ranked first in national sales. The plaza offered a comprehensive shopping experience, catering to all customer needs. Positioned as a high-end and luxury shopping center, it housed top brands like LV, Hermès, Chanel, and others like Dior and Gucci. The prices were reasonable, and the staff provided excellent service, making it a favorite among Yuzhou locals. Even tourists visiting Yuzhou considered Guozhong Plaza their top shopping choice.

Arriving at the plaza, Bo Pengpeng parked her car and led Qin Zhaoyu inside.

This was Qin Zhaoyu’s first time here. She was somewhat of a homebody, with her only real interest being medical studies. She followed a strict routine—sleeping, eating, and drinking flower tea on schedule, reading medical books instead of watching dramas or following celebrities. Shopping, movies, and dining out held little appeal for her.

Bo Pengpeng and Qian Fangyuan had joked more than once that she lived like a retired old cadre. Though Qin Zhaoyu didn’t think it was that extreme, she didn’t argue.

Truthfully, she just wasn’t interested. Between her past and present lives, she was nearly forty years old—it was natural for her to prefer peace and quiet.

Bo Pengpeng’s plan for today was to make it a day of revelry, showing Qin Zhaoyu the allure of the vibrant world and pulling her out of her “retired cadre” lifestyle, injecting some youthful energy into her.

Once inside Guozhong Plaza, Bo Pengpeng was in her element. She didn’t actually lack any of these things—the Bo family had dedicated designers who took measurements before each season to tailor clothes for her. She never needed to shop for clothes herself, let alone accessories. In the past, she hadn’t enjoyed shopping alone, thinking it pointless—anything she needed could simply be bought for her. But after starting university and meeting Qian Fangyuan, a shopping enthusiast, she quickly fell in love with the activity. To Bo Pengpeng, shopping was a way to pass time and bond with friends—no different from a gathering. The money spent in the process was trivial. As they say, the world of the wealthy is something ordinary people can’t comprehend.

Shopping women were formidable—they could transform from delicate and soft into unstoppable powerhouses, walking for two or three hours without a hint of fatigue. If not for Qin Zhaoyu’s martial arts training since childhood, she might have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

It wasn’t until nearly noon that Bo Pengpeng finally stopped, remembering they needed a break. Sitting in one of the plaza’s shops, Qin Zhaoyu stretched her legs, letting them rest.

Bo Pengpeng bit her milk tea straw, looking at Qin Zhaoyu excitedly. “Zhaoyu, Zhaoyu, how do you feel? Isn’t shopping addictive?”

Qin Zhaoyu gave a wry smile. “I didn’t feel the charm of shopping, but I definitely felt your stamina.”

Bo Pengpeng stuck out her tongue playfully, knowing Qin Zhaoyu was teasing her. “Ah, I just get too excited when shopping. For some reason, I don’t feel tired at all then.”

Qin Zhaoyu didn’t want to say more. Thinking about the afternoon, she asked uncertainly, “What’s the plan for the afternoon? Please don’t tell me it’s more shopping.”

“No way, no way!” Bo Pengpeng shook her head vigorously. “I was thinking we could watch a movie. There’s a really good one out lately with high ratings. I’ve been wanting to see it, but no one would go with me.”

The Bo family had a private screening room. Whenever a new movie was released, someone would acquire a copy for the room. Whether the family watched it or not wasn’t the staff’s concern—they couldn’t skip preparations just because the family might not be interested. But Bo Pengpeng never enjoyed watching movies alone in the screening room. Even with the luxury of exclusivity, it lacked the joy she associated with the experience. To her, watching movies was something to be done with friends in a theater—that was what made it fun.

Seeing how pitiful Bo Pengpeng looked, Qin Zhaoyu had no choice but to agree.

By the time the movie ended, night had fallen. The city’s bright lights made the sky seem even darker, obscuring the stars.

Qin Zhaoyu thought the day was finally over and she could go home, so she asked Bo Pengpeng to take her back.

Bo Pengpeng hesitated. “Zhaoyu, could you come to a party with me?”

“A party?” Qin Zhaoyu shook her head, uninterested.

Bo Pengpeng was disappointed but didn’t want to force her. “Alright, then I’ll go alone, all by myself.”

Qin Zhaoyu couldn’t stand seeing her own people act pitiful—it always made her soften. With a sigh, she relented. “Fine, I’ll go with you.”