“Mai Qi and I took our respective mother’s surname. For a special reason, we can’t take our father’s surname.” Qu Hao explained.
“Did Mrs. Mai know you were on the second floor that day?” I asked directly.
Qu Hao smiled. The waiter served a cup of coffee. He stirred the coffee. “Do you think she knew?”
I was sure that Mrs. Mai didn’t know.
Qu Hao smiled. “Nanxing, you’re really smart. No wonder Ye Qian would do anything to earn your trust.”
“You heard our conversation?” I felt discomfited immediately.
Qu Hao smiled faintly. “I’m sorry, Nanxing, I was not following you. I was trying to look into Ye Qian’s background but it was a pleasant surprise to run into you.”
I… I felt naked before him. This was a very uncomfortable feeling. Qu Hao picked up his coffee and took a sip. “Nanxing, I don’t mean you any harm.”
I nodded. “If you do, I would be dead already.”
Qu Hao smiled, “Mai Qi is lucky to have you as her friend.”
I smiled, “No, I am lucky to have her as my friend. She has a free pick of friends if she wants it.”
Qu Hao said, “Mai Qi grew up with Mrs. Mai, so I thought she would grow up to be another Mrs. Mai. Thankfully she knew her right from wrong. That is very fortunate and rare. In any case, I know I can rest easy now. With you by her side, I don’t need to worry too much about her anymore.”
I raised my brow. “What do you mean by that?” When did I become their nanny?
Qu Hao said lightly, “Now that Mai Qi is with you, she’ll have a chance to be a normal person. With her personality, if she is forced to follow Mrs. Mai’s path, she won’t be happy.”
“And you won’t care about her anymore?” I was confused.
“I am the least qualified to do that. If I show too much concern, it’ll only have a negative effect. Mrs. Mai is always worried that I’ll harm her daughter. In her eyes, I’m a horrible beast.” Qu Hao said self-deprecatingly.
I shrugged. “So even if I make an enemy out of Mrs. Mai, you won’t be my enemy?”
Qu Hao smiled. “What do you think?”
I didn’t know what to think. This one family had four people but three different surnames. What was I supposed to think?
“Nanxing, I’ll be staying at M City for a while. If you need anything, feel free to come to find me.” He picked up a napkin and wrote down a string of numbers. I hesitated. He placed it before me and smiled. “I should find a time to invite Jing Tian out for a drink. I haven’t seen him for years already. I hear he has made a good life for himself.” That made me feel better about him.
I nodded, “Okay, I will pass your number onto him. You don’t mind, right?” I waved the napkin. He nodded with a smile. A man who was dressed as a bodyguard walked over and whispered something in Qu Hao’s ears. He stood up and told me politely. “Nanxing, I have to go. Remember to contact me if you need anything.
I smiled and waved. I didn’t stand up to send him off.
When I reached home, I found Mai Qi in the gym fighting with the sandbag. Mai Qi wiped her sweat and took the water bottle I gave her. “Where have you been? You’ve been out for so long.”
“I went to meet Ye Qian,” I said.
“Why? Was she there to lobby for my mother or she was there to warn you off Jing Tian?” Mai Qi bristled.
“Neither,” I answered.