Chapter 18:

In truth, Lin Qiao wasn’t in the mood for socializing at the moment, her mind still preoccupied with Shen Qingzhou, that temperamental man. Thus, when she saw Qin Muyao, her expression was clearly distracted.

“Senior Qin, did you need something from me?” she asked, leaning down to look at him.

Qin Muyao’s left hand, resting on his knee, fiddled with the ring on his index finger. He smiled shyly and said, “I don’t have any particular reason. I just remembered that you once stood in for me at a parent-teacher meeting for Zhizhi, and I haven’t properly thanked you yet.” Pausing for a moment, he added apologetically, “It’s quite rude of me to bother you so early in the morning over such a small matter.”

Lin Qiao quickly shook her head. “You didn’t bother me at all. I woke up especially early today.”

Qin Muyao nodded slightly. After a brief silence, he asked casually, “Qiaoqiao, did I just see Master Shen earlier?”

Lin Qiao was momentarily startled, then replied, “Yes, it was him.”

“He came to see you this early too?” He lowered his eyelids slightly, his right hand on the steering wheel tightening momentarily. Without waiting for her to respond, he quickly added, “Look at me, asking too many questions. If it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to answer.”

Lin Qiao gave a helpless smile. “It’s not inconvenient at all. He came to my house yesterday to look at the interior decoration, and it rained heavily at night. I thought transportation might be difficult, so I let him stay the night. This morning, someone came to pick him up early.” She shrugged, deliberately omitting the incident of getting caught in the rain.

Upon hearing this, Qin Muyao’s lips curved slightly, his expression visibly softening. His beautiful eyes sparkled with clarity, his smile warm and approachable. “So that’s what happened. That makes sense. Are you busy now? If not, would you like to have breakfast together?”

Lin Qiao stood upright, pondering for a moment before nodding slightly with a small smile.

After retrieving her bag from home, Lin Qiao accompanied Qin Muyao to his restaurant. Although it was past the usual breakfast hour, as the owner, Qin Muyao naturally enjoyed many privileges.

In the most elegant private room, Lin Qiao and Qin Muyao enjoyed a simple breakfast. Outside the window, a classical and refined corridor was filled with lush green bamboo, adding a sense of serene elegance to the surroundings.

“Every time I eat here with you, Senior, it feels like such a treat,” Lin Qiao said contentedly as she wiped her mouth.

Qin Muyao lowered his head, pouring her tea as he spoke. “If you like, I can pick you up every day to have breakfast here.”

Lin Qiao hesitated slightly, a little unsure of the meaning behind his words.

Qin Muyao didn’t beat around the bush. Placing the teapot down, he looked straight into her eyes and said slowly and clearly, “Qiaoqiao, I like you.” He extended his hand toward her, his voice especially gentle. “Be my girlfriend.”

Lin Qiao was completely stunned. She couldn’t help but wonder if Shen Qingzhou had secretly set up a peach blossom trap at her house—otherwise, why was she suddenly attracting so much romantic attention?

Seeing the shocked expression on Lin Qiao’s face, Qin Muyao didn’t rush her. He withdrew his hand and softened his tone. “You don’t have to answer me right away. Take your time to think it over. Now, have some tea.”

Lin Qiao didn’t reach for the tea as he suggested. Instead, she spoke up. “Senior Qin, actually, I…”

“Qiaoqiao, didn’t I tell you before that Master Shen looked familiar to me? I just remembered why now,” Qin Muyao interrupted her, shifting the topic abruptly.

Lin Qiao’s attention was immediately captured. She asked in confusion, “Why does he look familiar? Have you known each other for a long time?”

Qin Muyao shook his head slightly. “Not exactly acquainted, but I’ve met him once.” He picked up his teacup and took a sip, his handsome and refined face turning toward the window as he furrowed his brows slightly, as if recalling something. “When I first started university, I had an email pen pal from America. Later, when I took Zhizhi back to America to spend the New Year with my parents, I met her in person—and that’s when I saw him.”

Lin Qiao asked in surprise, “He was your pen pal?”

Qin Muyao smiled slightly, his expression complex, as if it didn’t matter much. “Not him, his girlfriend. Her name is Joanna; she’s American.”

“… …” His… girlfriend?

As if not noticing Lin Qiao’s astonished expression, Qin Muyao continued. “The reason I remember so clearly is because Joanna mentioned in an email that she really admired me and even hinted at wanting me to be her boyfriend. At the time, I thought she was single. But when I visited her school, I found out she actually had a boyfriend. I happened to meet him then, which is why the memory stands out.”

Lin Qiao’s expression darkened slightly, but she remained composed, asking calmly, “You met him when you visited your pen pal’s school?” She slightly lifted the corner of her mouth in a half-smile, as if making a joke. “So that’s where he studied—in the U.S.”

“…” Lin Qiao’s lips twitched. “Nowadays, even people into mysticism are so scientifically inclined?”

Qin Muyao smiled, clearly amused. “That’s exactly what surprised me. I didn’t know they were a couple at first. If someone hadn’t stopped him, I wouldn’t have realized they were dating. They acted so distant. Even though I was standing right next to Joanna, he didn’t seem curious about who I was at all. He didn’t even greet me before turning to leave.”

“Really? Maybe he was jealous and that’s why he acted so cold,” Lin Qiao said disinterestedly, poking at her bowl with her chopsticks.

Qin Muyao noticed her small gesture and paused for a moment before continuing. “I don’t think so. Zhizhi was with me when I visited the school, and by then I had already turned down Joanna. They really didn’t seem like a couple. Joanna didn’t seem to care that he saw her interacting with me, and they completely ignored each other, even colder than ordinary friends—like business partners.”

Lin Qiao’s gaze sharpened slightly, deep in thought. Qin Muyao lowered his voice and said, “Qiaoqiao, the point I’m trying to make is actually quite simple.”

Lin Qiao looked up at him, and he spoke sincerely. “He’s not right for you. Although I don’t know him well, I can tell he’s emotionally distant. You’ll end up getting hurt if you’re with him.”

Lin Qiao seemed momentarily dazed before smiling faintly. “You’re overthinking, Senior. I don’t have any feelings for him.”

Qin Muyao didn’t say much else, simply replying, “Then that’s good.”

The breakfast left a heavy feeling in their hearts. As Lin Qiao and Qin Muyao walked out of the private room, it was clear that Lin Qiao was somewhat distracted.

Walking along the corridor above the koi pond, suddenly a guest came running from behind. The man kept looking back as he ran, seemingly hiding from someone. Lin Qiao, lost in thought and facing away from him, didn’t notice his approach. By the time Qin Muyao noticed, the man was already close.

As the man was about to collide with Lin Qiao and knock her into the pond, Qin Muyao had no time to think and quickly pulled Lin Qiao toward him. The running man also noticed the impending collision and changed direction, but it was too late. The timing was just unfortunate, and he ended up bumping into them. Lin Qiao lost her balance and instinctively grabbed Qin Muyao, pulling him forward. With no other choice, Qin Muyao pushed Lin Qiao aside and fell into the pond himself. Water splashed everywhere, causing a commotion.

“Senior Qin! Are you okay!”

After regaining her balance, Lin Qiao immediately looked down. Qin Muyao’s expensive suit was soaked through, and his glasses were nowhere to be seen. He struggled to his feet, managing to wave at her to indicate he was fine despite his own predicament.

Lin Qiao felt extremely guilty. She stepped forward, reaching out to help him up, but the restaurant manager arrived upon hearing the commotion. Seeing that the person in the pond was the owner, he immediately called for security to pull Qin Muyao out.

Standing aside, Lin Qiao watched as Qin Muyao was surrounded by people, feeling guilty and trying to apologize, but she kept getting pushed away by the crowd.

Eventually, it was Qin Muyao himself who asked the others to step back, giving Lin Qiao a chance to approach.

“Senior, I’m so sorry,” Lin Qiao apologized guiltily. “It’s all my fault that you fell into the water.”

Wiping his face with a handkerchief, Qin Muyao smiled. “I’m fine. At least it was me who fell in; the water is pretty deep down there.”

Hearing this, Lin Qiao felt even worse. She anxiously asked if he was hurt anywhere. Qin Muyao instructed the general manager to handle compensation matters with the man who had bumped into him, then said to Lin Qiao, “I think I might have hurt my waist.”

Lin Qiao was alarmed and quickly said, “I’ll take you to the hospital!”

Hearing this, Qin Muyao couldn’t help but laugh but politely declined. “It’s nothing serious. I can check it out at home myself.”

Lin Qiao grabbed his wrist firmly. “No way. You fell in because of me. If you’re injured and don’t get checked out, I’ll feel even worse. Please, just do it to put my mind at ease. Let me take you home to change first, then we’ll go to the hospital.”

Unable to resist her insistence, and not really wanting to refuse, Qin Muyao let her take charge of the arrangements.

They first went to Qin’s house. After Qin Muyao changed into clean clothes, they headed to the hospital together. The black Lexus slowly pulled into the parking lot of Peking University People’s Hospital and parked. After getting out, Lin Qiao and Qin Muyao hurried into the hospital. Engrossed in conversation as they walked, they didn’t notice two familiar figures in the parking lot.

Du Xinling, leaning against the car door, stared in disbelief at Qin Muyao and Lin Qiao chatting and laughing as they walked away. He nervously glanced at Shen Qingzhou, whose expression was dark, then quickly got into the car and shut the door.

Shen Qingzhou looked at Du Xinling hiding behind the glass, his eyes icy cold, his black pupils swirling with dangerous undercurrents.

Seeing Shen’s expression, Du Xinling immediately dared not hide anymore. He stepped out of the car, scratching his nose sheepishly. “Well, going to the hospital together doesn’t necessarily mean anything. It’s just a coincidence they’re on the same route. Maybe we should go up and check things out?”

“I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself,” Shen Qingzhou said, turning and walking away.

Du Xinling immediately said, “No problem. I’ll quickly find out what’s going on. Just wait for my good news.”

Shen Qingzhou narrowed his eyes, watching the two figures disappear around the corner. He said gravely, “Go ask Lin Qiao what she’s doing here with that guy who likes to flirt with other people’s girlfriends.”

Du Xinling couldn’t help but smile. “You’re the one who said you didn’t like her, but now you’re treating her like your girlfriend.”

Shen Qingzhou immediately replied, “I’ve never explicitly said I don’t like her.”

Du Xinling said, “You’re in denial again. You’re always like this—you’re going to end up suffering because of it.”

Throughout the journey, Shen Qingzhou didn’t even glance at him, and now he didn’t even bother to reply.

Du Xinling spoke earnestly, “Shiheng, as your conscientious partner, I must make you face a reality. Tell me, how many girls have been turned off by your personality? Let’s not talk about the past. Take that white girl in America who helped you fend off gay guys and crazy girls when you were studying there. You two were just business partners, barely exchanged a few words, but she was one of the few women around you.” He shrugged. “Let me tell you the truth—she only agreed to accompany you every day and deal with the love-struck students at school because of the high salary you paid her every month. Any woman who gets to know you even a little won’t be able to stand you.”

Shen Qingzhou suddenly stopped walking. After a long silence, he asked softly, “Am I really that bad?”

Du Xinling slapped his thigh. “Of course! I can’t think of anyone more difficult to deal with than you!”