Chapter 179: 179, Did I say something wrong (1)_1 Chapter 179: 179, Did I say something wrong (1)_1 Jian Qing lowered her gaze to the red ribbon in her hand, and with the corner of her eyes, she spotted several pens placed next to the bamboo tube. An idea sprang to mind.
She slowly walked over, picked up a pen, and began to write swiftly on the red ribbon.
Pen down, Jian Qing held the red ribbon and walked straight to the ancient tree, nimbly climbing its sturdy branches.
Securing her footing, she tied the red ribbon to a branch. In just a few moments, it was all done. Sunshine filtered through the gaps in the leaves, spilling onto the red ribbon. The name “Xiao Jing” written in black ink stood out sharply, dazzlingly radiant in the golden sunlight.
Jian Qing looked at the red ribbon she just hung, satisfied. Suddenly, she took out her phone and snapped a photo of the ribbon, then clicked to send it.
All done!
Jian Qing grasped the branch, used the tree as leverage, somersaulted in mid-air, and skillfully jumped down.
She dusted off her hands and was about to head back when she saw Quan Yifei and his party coming her way from a distance.
“Jian Qing!” Quan Yifei waved at her, running over in high spirits.
Noticing she was alone, he couldn’t help but ask, “Where is Master Kong Wu?”
Jian Qing glanced at Song Xirou, who was standing next to Granny Quan, and replied nonchalantly, “He left.”
“It’s getting late; we should go eat now.” Rhee checked his watch; it was already past eleven.
Quan Yifei agreed, “There’s a restaurant not far from the temple. Let’s go there to grab a bite.”
Nobody objected, so Quan Yifei led the way.
Meanwhile, in an office, a certain man was engrossed in his paperwork when his phone dinged with a notification.
Picking it up, he saw it was a message from his precious one.
Quan Jingwu opened the photo. Under the sunlight, amidst a sea of greenery, a vibrant red ribbon caught the eye.
He suddenly recalled the ancient tree at Hidden Orchid Temple. Could his darling have also tied a red ribbon there?
When he clearly saw the two characters written on the ribbon, his violet eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of his thin lips unconsciously curled into an attractive smile.
How adorable his darling was!
Did she not know that the red ribbons at Hidden Orchid Temple held a specific meaning?
The door was left open, and Shen Hao knocked twice before stepping in. Seeing his boss smiling at his phone, he didn’t need to guess who had sent the message.
“Boss, these two documents need your signature.”
Quan Jingwu put down his phone, glanced over the papers, and while signing them, said, “Cancel everything after three this afternoon.”
“Yes, sir.” Shen Hao, with his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, was used to his boss periodically skiving off work.
Taking the signed documents, Shen Hao quickly retreated.
…
Though the restaurant on the outskirts wasn’t as luxurious as those in the city centre, its charm lay in its unique ambiance. From afar, one could see the green lake and the lotus flowers swaying in the wind, creating quite a pleasing sight.
Jian Qing sat by the window, with Quan Yifei on her right. By coincidence or design, Song Xirou’s seat was directly facing Jian Qing.
Having walked a long distance in the heat, Jian Qing was wearing an extra jacket and was already drenched in sweat. She unzipped her jacket, revealing a matching black short-sleeve shirt underneath.
Quan Yifei, being very familiar with the place, finished ordering their meal and finally got a chance to rest.
“Anything else you guys want to add?”
“No, I’m good. If we order too much and can’t finish, it’ll be a waste,” said Song Xirou softly.
Granny Quan nodded in agreement, “Yes, wasting food is not good.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Song Xirou eyed Jian Qing, who was sipping her tea, and asked seemingly out of curiosity, “Jian Qing, are you also from Beijing? I’ve never heard of an aristocratic family in Beijing with the surname Jian.”
Quan Yifei’s expression slightly changed upon hearing this, feeling a bit annoyed that Song Xirou brought up a sensitive topic.
Jian Qing took a sip of her tea, her finger gently tracing the rim of the cup, and her eyes giving nothing away. She left everyone guessing at her thoughts.
Song Xirou laughed awkwardly, looked apologetically at everyone and asked, “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”
Jian Qing raised an eyebrow, chuckled, and put down her cup, “Not at all. Actually, I’m technically from M Country. That’s why you haven’t come across me in Beijing.”
“Really?” Song Xirou feigned surprise. “I always thought you were Chinese because you don’t look like a mixed-race person.”
Jian Qing’s lips curled slightly, “Is that so?”
“By the way, Jian Qing, I’ve been curious. How did you and Jingwu end up together?” Song Xirou asked jovially, in a gossipy neighbour kind of way.
If it hadn’t been for Song Xirou’s earlier mention of having a boyfriend, Quan Yifei would’ve suspected her motives.
Jian Qing rested her chin on her hand, her deep, midnight-hued eyes shimmering with a cold, starry glow. She replied slowly, “It seems, Miss Song, that you are quite interested in my relationship with Xiao Jing, aren’t you?”
Song Xirou looked a bit taken aback. She called him Xiao Jing?
To break the palpable tension, Quan Yifei quickly interjected, “Xirou, my third brother fell in love with Jian Qing at first sight, and was smitten by the second meeting.”
Song Xirou forced a smile, “That’s really something to be envious of!”
“You don’t need to be envious; don’t you also have your loved one?” Quan Yifei impulsively blurted out, without thinking.
At that, everyone’s attention shifted towards Song Xirou. Granny Quan looked at her curiously and asked, “Xirou, is what Yifei said true? You have a boyfriend?”
She blushed slightly and playfully glared at Quan Yifei, “Yifei, you promised to keep it a secret.”
Song Xirou thought to herself, thanks to Quan Yifei, Granny Quan and Jingwu’s mother would be less guarded towards her now.
Quan Yifei covered her face and apologized, “Sorry, Xirou!”
“This is good news, Xirou. There’s no need to be shy; it’s only us here,” Granny Quan patted her on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
“Is your boyfriend from Beijing?”
“No, he’s someone I met overseas. We’ve only recently started dating, so I haven’t told my parents yet,” Song Xirou replied, biting her lip.
Jian Qing tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, a devilish grin playing at her lips. She glanced at Song Xirou then turned her gaze to the green lake outside the window.
Any lingering doubts in Granny Quan’s mind were cleared. Perhaps, she had indeed been overthinking before. Xirou having a boyfriend was a good thing.
While the others were discussing Song Xirou’s overseas experience, Jian Qing had no interest in joining the conversation. She calmly stared out the window, watching the scenery outside.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
The caller ID displayed – Xiao Jing!
She answered the call, and her rosy lips unconsciously lifted into a warm smile, “Xiao Jing!”
Her initially cold voice now had a few soft undertones. Quan Yifei and the others had grown accustomed to this. However, unseen by everyone, Song Xirou’s hand resting on her lap clenched into a fist, her veins bulging with tension.