In the afternoon, while the kids at the kindergarten took their nap, everyone had a two-hour break.
Shi Yang and Qu Chaozong sat side by side on the flower bed in the neighborhood, finding shade under a tree, chatting casually while cooling off.
Qu Chaozong lifted his shirt and tucked it at his chest, revealing his well-toned waist. After months of hard work day and night, he managed to build quite a muscular physique.
Qu Chaozong patted his belly and boasted to Shi Yang, "How about it? If I push a little harder, I’ll soon have an eight-pack."
Shi Yang, with his handsome face, scolded, "How many times do I have to tell you to let others do the work? We’re paying them, after all. What, you think the earth will stop spinning without you?"
Qu Chaozong shrugged it off with a smile, "The capable have more to do! I’d have nothing to do otherwise!"
Shi Yang was exasperated at his lack of ambition, "Once this job is done, you’re out of here. Head to the capital city, leave this to Third Brother and Wang Tianyu. I refuse to believe they can’t handle it."
Qu Chaozong grinned mischievously, "Fine, you’re the boss. Whatever you say goes."
Shi Yang was both irritated and amused.
Qu Chaozong raised an eyebrow, "Hey, on a serious note, are you hiding something from me?"
Shi Yang remained silent, his expression deadly serious, "What could I possibly hide from you?"
Qu Chaozong squinted his eyes, "Lying to me? You’ve been cooped up with me for over a week now, right? How’s the mall project going?"
Shi Yang deflected, "Still the same."
Qu Chaozong scrutinized his expression, "What do you mean ’still the same’? The recruitment isn’t supposed to end until the end of August, right? I can’t believe you’d give up before the last minute. So tell me, what’s really going on?"
Shi Yang responded nonchalantly, "No issue, hey, got a smoke? Give me one."
Qu Chaozong tossed him a cigarette and lighter, "Acting! You can act all you want! Maybe others would believe you! But me? I know everything you plan just by the way you move."
Shi Yang was in the middle of lighting his cigarette when he heard this, raised a leg to kick him, and muttered, "Get lost! Stop grossing me out!"
Qu Chaozong chuckled twice, took back the pack, pulled out one for himself, and lit it, "So, really, what’s going on?"
Shi Yang instead asked, "Have you heard from Zhang Xin recently?"
Qu Chaozong pinched the cigarette between thumb and forefinger, lightly biting the tip, "No, I guess it’s completely over this time."
Shi Yang tilted his head, looking at Qu Chaozong, "Didn’t you cut it off one-sidedly?"
Qu Chaozong, surprised, almost dropped his cigarette and quickly grabbed it. A sudden thought hit him, staring at Shi Yang in shock, "Don’t tell me she went looking for you?"
After the last incident at the bathhouse where Zhang Xin stormed off, she hadn’t called or reached out. Qu Chaozong thought it was all in the past, but there was a small pang of disappointment, realizing that after months of her persistent pursuit, her sudden absence made the quiet days a bit unsettling.
Shi Yang hadn’t intended to hide it from Qu Chaozong, so he recounted the encounter with Zhang Xin.
Qu Chaozong snorted through his nose, "She’s not done yet!"
Shi Yang blew smoke at Qu Chaozong, teasing with a smile, "Beauty’s grace isn’t easy to handle, you know."
Qu Chaozong chuckled bitterly, "And you still want to send me to the capital? Aren’t you afraid she’ll use this against you?"
Shi Yang laughed, "Against me? She’s interested in you. I don’t plan on selling out a friend, but if you’re keen, I might consider it."
Qu Chaozong widened his eyes, swearing, "Get lost! Talk properly!"
Shi Yang took a drag, earnestly saying, "I’ve decided to invest in this regardless. If she helps, great, if not, whatever. We don’t need her. We’re in an advantageous position, she’s the passive one."
Qu Chaozong listened intently.
Shi Yang’s eyes flashed with a calculated look, "Desperate offers aren’t business; we need her to chase and plead to help us. Don’t worry; just let it cool off. She’ll get anxious soon enough and come to us. Then we’ll truly have the upper hand."
Qu Chaozong gave a thumbs up, "Hey, you should go get an X-ray at the hospital sometime; don’t you believe that if they looked at your heart, they’d find it’s full of little eyes?"
Shi Yang burst out laughing, "Pfft, what rubbish!"
On the morning of Shi Yang’s birthday, his mom woke up early to cook a bowl of instant noodles for everyone, with a poached egg in it.
Zhao Meimei smiled at Shi Yang, "Brother, I’ll wait till tonight to give you my blessings!"
Shi Yang replied happily, "Just blessings?" Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
Zhao Meimei smiled mysteriously, "And a gift too, I’ll give it to you tonight."
Shi Yang’s parents couldn’t stop grinning.
His mom asked, "Shall we eat at home tonight? I’ll order some dishes from the restaurant. Which bakery do you want the cake from?"
Shi Yang casually replied, "Let Meimei choose. She likes the same flavors as me."
Zhao Meimei eagerly responded, "The bakery at our school makes delicious cakes. I’ll place the order at noon and bring it back tonight."
After breakfast, Zhao Meimei was ready to leave when Shi Yang called her, "I’ll drop you at school today. There’s still some time. Didn’t you ask me about a problem yesterday? Come, I’ll explain it to you now."
Zhao Meimei bewilderedly followed Shi Yang into the bedroom.
Shi Yang reminded her, "Close the door."
Obediently, Zhao Meimei closed the door, just about to ask when she had asked, when Shi Yang pulled her into his arms, lowered his head, and kissed her.
Zhao Meimei’s face turned rosy from the kisses, her long dark eyes seemed to be misted over, sparkling and enchantingly beautiful.
Shi Yang couldn’t resist kissing her a couple more times before reluctantly lifting his head, winking at Zhao Meimei, "Just collecting my gift in advance."
Zhao Meimei’s face flushed with happiness, she beamed with a silly smile.
Shi Yang drove her to school, reminding her, "You still have lessons after school tonight. Once the cake is ready, send me the address and I’ll pick it up."
Zhao Meimei nodded in agreement, "Okay."
Shi Yang waved goodbye with a smile, "Study well when you’re in class."
Zhao Meimei cheekily saluted him, "Aye aye, sir! See you tonight!" She then kissed her hand and blew it towards Shi Yang, mouthing, "Bye-bye, darling."
Shi Yang was momentarily stunned, watching her run off, a smile creeping onto his face, feeling overly sweet inside.