Chapter 552: Chapter 551 Farewell (3)
But you can’t deny, Bo Yan’s words had diluted her morning grogginess and the gloom of parting.
She had slept all the way to the airport and then another three hours on the plane, and by the time she landed in Yancheng, she was fully awake. But as soon as she exited the airport, the person there to meet her was Qin Baizhou.
The moment she saw Qin Baizhou, she remembered the time he had suddenly confessed his feelings to her. Although she had rejected him immediately, seeing him again still caused a subtle shift in her heart.
Some things, like a piece of paper that’s been punctured, can never return to their original state. Even if she pretended nothing had happened, her heart could no longer revert to what it had been.
For instance, although she was not as close to Qin Baizhou as she was to Wei Jingjing, she would have shared certain things with him in the past. But now, she unconsciously held back, especially regarding her private life. Where she would have once made sure to inform Qin Baizhou, she now didn’t want to mention a single detail.
Qin Baizhou saw her, his smile unwavering, “You’ve arrived, let’s go.”
After he spoke, he didn’t approach to greet her as he had done before, to help her with her coat or to guide her with a hand on her back.
He probably knew that stepping back slightly was appropriate to avoid any suspicion.
They all got into the car, and Qin Baizhou didn’t sit beside her. The MPV had plenty of space, and he chose a seat facing her, then instructed, “This episode of the variety show is a special extended edition—We will be filming content for two episodes in one. Thus, there will be more guests than before. Moreover, there are arrangements for tonight’s hotel stay. It’s now twelve-thirty in the afternoon; we’ll go have lunch and rest for a bit. After makeup and changing clothes, we’ll check into the hotel arranged by the production team. So, my assistant has brought some of your clothes and belongings. I hope you don’t mind.”
He was usually gentle, but never this polite. However, this formality was probably the best way for Xia Siyu to handle their relationship. She didn’t object and simply nodded, “I’ll go with your arrangements.”
Qin Baizhou smiled, now looking at her intently, “You seem to have gotten quite stronger recently.”
Xia Siyu, although she had also exercised in the past and even had a personal trainer—boxing included—worked out only to maintain her figure. Due to work, she couldn’t work out every day, so while her muscles were a bit tighter than the average person’s, she was far from being called strong.
But these days, even though she ate a lot, she also engaged in a fair amount of physical activity. Not to mention the daily grind of pumping water and plowing the field, she had to pick firewood and walk several kilometers of mountain roads. Wei Jingjing would feel sorry for her and want to help, but she refused, accepting assistance from Bo Yan only when she truly couldn’t manage on her own.
After half a month, she had indeed become more robust.
Xia Siyu nodded, “That’s right, I have been quite busy with daily chores; it’s been quite fulfilling.”
Concerned about misunderstandings, Wei Jingjing quickly clarified, “Siyu has been milling, fetching water, harvesting corn and wheat—all by herself. She’s so tired during the day that she rests early in the evening.”
Her implication was clear: there wasn’t much time for her to get overly close with Bo Yan.
Qin Baizhou caught her meaning but pretended not to, continuing with a smile, “If that’s the case, then next time the cornmeal and wheat flour in our house will have to rely on you. Let everyone taste your handiwork.”
The atmosphere lightened, and Xia Siyu let down her guard.