ã€ŠThere Are Always Teachers Who Want To Ask Out Parentsã€‹


 CH 1

    Chapter 1: Teacher Qi, What A Coincidence

    T/N: Warning: Fixed MTL *mostly pronouns and butchered proper names, novels are not mine, one request from me; make it a habit to remember the title and the author of the novel you are reading. Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    Quick pronunciation guide: Qi Yan is read as Chee Yan(Q is read as ''ch'') Yan. Lu Zhiqiao is read as Loo Zhee Chao (Loo in look) Zhee (Shi with a Z)

    It rained in the evening , and the temperature in Jiangcheng, which had failed to enter autumn for several days, dropped slightly. The wind blew outside, and there was a hint of coolness. The leaves of the camphor trees along the street were rustling, shaking off drops of water .

    The school''s midterm exam had just ended, and Qi Yan invited a few friends to have a gathering.

    The lights in the bar were dimmed, and lyrical music was played, and the air was mixed with the smell of perfume and powder.

    "Finally the exam is over, I can rest for a few days." She was sitting in the middle like a queen, wearing a red dress that was flamboyant, with a deep V neckline that accentuated her slender neck, quite sexy and charming.

    She poured herself a drink while talking.

    Her friends all laughed and said to her:

    "I told you that being a teacher is tiring, and you''re even teaching junior high school students. The most rebellious and difficult to manage, it''s not bad if you can persist for three years."

    "That''s right, Yanyan, your family has no shortage Money, why do you suffer from this crime? Let''s go as soon as you have tasted something new.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a waste of your condition to be a teacher.¡±

    Qi Yan took a sip of her wine, a small smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and said lazily: ¡°I¡¯m not tired yet, wait it¡¯s never too late to leave once I''m tired.¡±

    Everyone was laughing and chattering, until the topic turned elsewhere.

    In just a short while, beauties kept coming over to strike up a conversation.

    These people, with heavy make-up, have a smell of wind and dust, those who don''t wear makeup are too young, and some have short shaved heads and cigarettes in their mouths, indiscriminate between male and female. Qi Yan lacked interest and refused without exception.

    On the dance floor, several beauties with graceful figures were swaying gently to the rhythm of the music, a pair of couples, so intimate, it made people feel enthusiastic and ready to move.

    Qi Yan looked around, searching for prey.

    After a while, her eyes stopped.

    In the corner, a woman was sitting quietly alone, with long hair reaching her shoulders, her facial features were cold, wearing a smart white suit which was incompatible with the surrounding atmosphere.

    There were tables in twos and threes nearby, but this person was deserted and lonely, not like someone who came to have fun, but more like a broken hearted person who came to get drunk.

    However, she suits her taste.

    Qi Yan is a woman of action, and as soon as she thought of it, she was already walking there with a glass of wine, and her friend called her behind her, but she pretended not to hear it.

    Pure music is soft and soothing, the lights are getting darker, and the atmosphere is getting more and more charming.

    Lu Zhiqiao sipped alone for a while, put down the empty wine glass, closed her eyes, and gently rubbed her temples with her index finger. The music had a relaxing effect. At this moment, she felt comfortable physically and mentally, a little tipsy, very comfortable.

    Suddenly there was a gust of wind in her ears, and she felt someone sitting down. She opened her eyes, turned her head, and saw a gentle and bright smiling face in her sight.

    "Alone?" Qi Yan raised her eyebrows.

    As soon as she got closer, she smelled a faint woody fragrance, like cold citrus, and like heavy sandalwood, very cold, but also very sultry, very high-end fragrance, with a feeling of light clouds and breezy wind, which her nose captured instantly.

    Just at this time, the lights of the dance floor swept over, allowing her to see more clearly.

    A mature and intellectual face, with cold brows, a black tear mole at the end of the eye, a straight nose, thin and moist lips, just the right light makeup on the face, clean and delicate, and charming everywhere.

    The white suit was straight and slim. Inside was a lavender shirt with a stand-up collar and the top button was buttoned up. The seams were perfectly fitted and tightly covered, with no skin in view.

    "I''m alone too." Qi Yan smiled softly, lying without blushing, "Having a drink?"

    Lu Zhiqiao looked dark and didn''t speak.

    It''s common for people to strike up a conversation in the bar. She rejected many of them tonight, but this person, from sitting down to talking, didn''t give her the idea of ??driving her away.

    Seeing that she didn''t answer, Qi Yan took it as a tacit consent, and called the waiter to order a whole bottle of Baikal, poured two-thirds of it for her, and handed it over, "I invite you." wrist, hesitated for a moment before taking it.

    Vodka is very strong, even if she often socializes, she can get drunk after only two or three drinks. Once she drinks, it is easily shown on her face, and within a moment, a gorgeous cherry blossom color blooms from her cheeks to the roots of her ears.

    "You''re buttoned so tightly, isn''t it hot?"

    "..."

    "Let me unbutton it for you."

    Unknowingly, Qi Yan pressed her close, and their arms touched each other.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced down, but didn''t respond. Qi Yan stopped being polite, and slowly and carefully touched the button¡ªa forbidden camouflage, covering up all the secrets underneath.

    Qi Yan observed her expression, and seeing that there was nothing unusual, she became more courageous, hooked the button and turned it twice, put her index finger against the buttonhole, and slipped lightly.

    A small piece of snow-colored scenery is faintly visible and reminiscent.

    Qi Yan grabbed the button and said softly, "Next time you come to a bar, don''t wear this dress, it will easily attract wolves."

    Her breath smelled of alcohol, hot and urgent, itching on the base of her ear, Lu Zhiqiao tilted her head, and finally she opened her mouth: "Are you talking about yourself?"

    The voice became clearer and calmer, like the gurgling water after the winter snow melted, a little cold and indescribable.

    Qi Yan felt that she had picked up a treasure tonight, and that this person was in line with her preferences in every way, and she will regret it if nothing happened.

    "That''s right." She closed her eyes and let out a warm breath, "I''m a beast."

    A soft kiss landed on the side of the girl''s ear.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s whole body stiffened, she squeezed the wine glass tightly, her heart was beating violently, and she could hardly restrain the impulse.

    She has been under a lot of work pressure recently, and she came here just to drink and relax, the bar is full of women, the safety factor is higher than that of the opposite sex bar, and she is already bent.

    However, the body has been quiet for a long time, and it is very sensitive, easy to react, coupled with the stimulating effect of alcohol, she felt like floating.

    "How long has it been since, huh?" Qi Yan could easily see it, knowing that she couldn''t resist, so she couldn''t help being more presumptuous.

    An abstinent and conservative mature woman tastes the most delicious.

    The dense kisses were imprinted on the temples, the tips of the ears, and even the roots of the hair. Everywhere there was a flame that was about to move, as if it would burn in an inconspicuous corner at any time, devouring all reason.

    With a little force, she pulled open the second round button, and Lu Zhiqiao suddenly woke up and grabbed the hand.

    "Why, don''t you like it?" Qi Yan smiled.

    In the process of catching prey, animals always enjoy the joy of the prey''s dying struggle.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face was red and her ears were hot, and she was a little drunk. Although she was conscious, her movements were a little slow, and she let go of her hand unconsciously.

    The lights are dim, and the artistic conception is strong.

    The two hugged and kissed in a dark corner, like sparks falling into dry wood, in a daze, not caring about any restraint, from a little taste to a deep pursuit, inseparable.

    Qi Yan blew in her ear with a soft voice:

    "Don''t suppress yourself, we are all adults."

    "Let''s go to the hotel."

    ... A night of indulgence, the sky is bright.

    Qi Yan was woken up by the alarm clock, slowly got up from the bed, rubbed his sore arms, picked up his mobile phone and looked at it, Friday, seven o''clock sharp, the curtains were not drawn, the sun shone in unscrupulously, the large golden color was very dazzling . The room was very quiet, and the place around her was empty, only the messy pillow quilt and crumpled tissues on the floor reminded her that everything last night was not a dream.

    She thought that person was cold and not easy to get close to, but unexpectedly, she was more enthusiastic than her when she indulged. Her hands were tied, and she endured it patiently. She refused to make a sound, and all the initiative was expressed with body language, which was full of temptation.

    Once you have tasted that taste, you will never forget it again.

    Qi Yan thought about it, stretched her waist, picked up the underwear on the pillow and put it on, turned her gaze, and caught a glimpse of something sparkly beside the pillow. She lowered her head and looked carefully. It was a small earring.

    Last night, she felt that the earrings were in the way, so she would scrape her lips and let the woman take them off, but she didn''t expect to drop one here. It can be seen how anxious the other party is going, and things that are in pairs don''t care if one is missing.

    Qi Yan picked up the earrings and held them in the palm of her hand. The transparent rhinestones sparkled in the sunlight, with a pure color, and suddenly she felt a little regretful. They didn''t know each other''s names, and didn''t leave any contact information. There was a huge crowd, and they might never meet again in this life. Only this small earring left behind remained as a souvenir.

    She put the earring in her bag, dressed and washed briefly, and left the hotel.

    At 8:10, Qi Yan drove into the High School affiliated to Jiang University.

    She has been teaching in this key middle school for three years. She just sent off her first batch of graduates in June this year, and then was promoted as a homeroom teacher. She started school in September and lead the first grade of junior high school. There are obviously more and more complicated things to do than before.

    This morning was the opening ceremony of the sports meeting. The leaders talked endlessly on it, and the teachers and students basked in the sun below.

    Parents meeting will be held in the afternoon. Students with projects should stay and participate in the competition, and those without projects can go home for the weekend.

    In the first class of junior high school, the students on duty had already cleaned the classroom. Qi Yan asked the class monitor to help. The two of them knocked down the stool that was buckled on the table, closed the back door, and wrote "Parents'' Meeting" on the blackboard with red chalk.

    Around 2:30, the parents came one after another.

    The class monitor sits in the first row of seats beside the podium, with a sign-in sheet and a pen in front of him. Every parent must sign beside their child''s name when they come in, and then go to the teacher to get the report card, and then find a seat of their choice.

    It was Qi Yan''s first parent-teacher meeting, and she deliberately wanted to familiarize with  the parents'' faces.

    "Who are you?"

    "Hi teacher, I''m Zhou Yuxiang''s father."

    "Okay, please sign in first."

    "Teacher Qi? I''m Guo Shiying''s mother. I almost walked to the next class just now... "A middle-aged woman came in and smiled at her embarrassedly.

    Qi Yan smiled and said it was okay, motioned for her to sign in, and lowered her head to get the report card.

    There was a clear and powerful sound of high-heeled shoes from the corridor outside the door, from far to near, all the way into the classroom, and then a familiar cold fragrance filled the room.

    Like cold citrus, but also like heavy sandalwood.

    Qi Yan paused and raised her head abruptly.

    Their eyes met at that moment.

    "Teacher Qi, what a coincidence."

 CH 2

    Chapter 2: Parents Meeting

    The visitor is slender, with cold eyes, wearing a navy blue suit jacket and straight-leg trousers, making her legs straight, looking refreshing and capable. The astonishment in those eyes flashed away, and there was a polite smile on the corner of her lips.

    It is her.

    Qi Yan''s heart skipped a beat, and she pretended to be calm and said, "Whose parent are you?"

    "Lu Wei''s mother."

    Matching the name with a little girl out of more than forty students'' faces. Qi Yan smiled calmly, pointed to the table, and said, "Let''s sign in first."

    Under the calm facade, there were dark waves within, she never dreamt that the woman with whom she had a fling last night turned out to be her student''s mother. It means that the other party is a married woman, and she is very likely to be the "mistress" in a daze.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded calmly, bent down to look at the sign-in sheet.

    A strand of hair fell down, she brushed it up with her hand, and tucked it behind her ear, revealing a soft profile face with fair skin. Qi Yan stared at her intently, her throat moved, and the corners of the report card in her hand were crumpled.

    The same formal attire, but with a different color, the woman looked even more aloof, dignified and meticulous, completely different from last night.

    Qi Yan couldn''t help the bitterness in her throat when she thought that she had bloomed charmingly in her hands, and when she thought that such a delicacy might be a married woman, she felt even more regretful in her heart. It''s like digging a piece of treasure and holding it in the palm of your hand, but it was taken away before it was warmed, so a lot of resentment arose.

    I hate men altogether.

    Qi Yan gritted her teeth, watched her finish signing, straightened her back, and handed over a report card: "Sit wherever you want."

    "Thank you." Lu Zhiqiao took it politely, without raising her eyelids.

    She roughly glanced at the report card, walked straight to the innermost seat of the group by the window, took out a tissue to wipe the table and chairs, sat down, and then kept her eyes fixed on the report card without moving.

    "Teacher, is that the report card? You haven''t given ours yet." Guo''s mother and Zhou''s father were left alone for a long time. Seeing that Qi Yan gave the report card to a parent who came later, they were a little upset.

    Qi Yan came back to her senses, looked away, smiled apologetically, and gave one to each of them.

    At three o''clock sharp, most of the parents came.

    The classroom was almost full, Qi Yan put away the sign-in sheet, glanced down, found Lu Wei''s name and looked back.

    Lu Zhiqiao.

    It''s a very poetic name, when she saw it on the student information, she had that impression. But this woman''s handwriting is vigorous, not like the style of ordinary women.

    And, with her mother''s last name.

    Although children can take their parents'' surname, it is rare and unusual for them to take their mother''s surname. Unless there are two step children in the family, one with the father and the other with the mother, or¡ª¡ª

    Qi Yan thought of two possibilities and her gloomy eyes suddenly brightened.

    ...

    In the eyes of students, the parent meeting is a great way for teachers to complain to their parents. Especially after the exam, the top students are calm and fearless, while the low students are nervous. When Qi Yan taught her first batch of students, she wanted to be friends with the children and influence them with love, but after a long time she realized that she was too naive.

    She is young, beautiful, and open-minded, and was easy to get along with the students, but at the same time, she has also lost her prestige. They refused to hand in their homework at will, did not observe discipline, and even rummaged through the things on her desk. They felt hurt and began to be dissatisfied when she criticized them

    A child of thirteen or fourteen is immature, but the most rebellious and difficult to control. After suffering a loss, she abandoned her naive thoughts.

    A teacher should always be a teacher, especially the head teacher, she is an authority with aloofness, she would rather give grace and power than be friends with students.

    Complaints are complaints but they have to talk about them with polite words.

    "This is the first exam since the beginning of the first year of junior high school. Children have just transitioned from elementary school to junior high school, so it is inevitable that children will not adapt, so the score does not explain anything. I hope parents can be more patient..."

    Qi Yan is 1.7* meters tall, wearing a pair of low-heeled shoes, with a clear and majestic voice, standing on the podium with the aura of looking down on the world.

    *5''6"

    She didn''t tie her hair up today, and let her long black hair hang down like a waterfall. She has a thin oval face, long eyes and high nose, and deep facial features.

    In parent-teacher meetings in other classes, some people always fall asleep, but in Class 1 - 2, the parents all sat upright, concentrating, and were more serious than their children in class.

    There is only one exception.

    Lu Zhiqiao was looking down at the report card. The straight neckline of the shirt covered her neck tightly, and the button was still buttoned to the top. She has long hair tied back, light makeup on her face, and a very charming tear mole, but her brows and eyes are distant and indifferent, revealing a hint of prudence.

    After maintaining the posture for a long time, her neck was a little sore. She turned around a little, but did not raise her head, her eyes were always locked on the report card.

    The voice on the podium was like a spell, knocking on her heart word by word, her eyes were calm, but her heart was beating violently, her fingers kept rubbing the corners of the report card until it was wrinkled, and she suddenly remembered it was where Qi Yan touched, she let go quickly, as if she had been scalded.

    A beam of sunlight peaked in and fell on her hair. Occasionally, a student walks by outside the window, stops, probes his head, and then runs away quickly.

    Time moves extremely slowly.

    In about half an hour, the parent-teacher meeting was over. Qi Yan put the QR code of the home-school wechat group on the projector, and asked the parents to scan the code to enter the group and exchange the notes.

    She finally saw Lu Zhiqiao raise her head.

    But soon she bowed down again¡ªjust a few seconds.

    The parents left one after another and crowded the front door. Lu Zhiqiao folded the report card and put it in her bag. She turned her head and looked at the back door. She got up and walked over. She was about to open it when someone stopped her.

    "Lu Wei''s mom, please wait a moment." The voice came from the podium.

    Immediately, dozens of pairs of eyes followed Qi Yan''s line of sight to Lu Zhiqiao.

    "..."

    If students are afraid of being called by name in class, then parents are the same. They are most reluctant to be called by the teacher at the parent meeting--it often means that their child has caused trouble.

    Lu Zhiqiao put her hand on the door lock and didn''t move.

    Once the classroom was empty, she turned around, met the woman''s burning eyes, and walked slowly to the podium with a faint smile on her lips: "Is something the matter Teacher Qi?"

    "Lu Wei has a game this afternoon, do you want to go and see?" Qi Yan curled her lips with a meaningful smile.

    "No." Lu Zhiqiao said politely, "

    "I have to go to work." After she finished speaking, she turned around and was about to leave. When the class monitor came in carrying desks, one of them didn''t stop, and bumped into her accidentally. Her feet were unsteady, her figure swayed, and she fell to the side.

    Qi Yan stepped forward with quick eyes and hands, and with a hook of her long arm, she firmly grasped the back of Lu Zhiqiao''s thin waist, and took it into her arms.

    The cold fragrance came to her nostrils, and she subconsciously tightened her arms.

    "Careful."

    Thin hot air sprayed behind the ears, as hot as last night, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, blood rushed to her cheeks, her feet were a little soft, and she froze.

    "Auntie, I''m sorry...I didn''t mean to..." The class monitor was startled, and hurriedly put down the table to apologize.

    Lu Zhiqiao came to her senses, struggled a little, but couldn''t break free, so she shook her head at the child, "It''s okay."

    "It''s okay, let me put the table away, and you go to the playground to watch the students compete." Qi Yan echoed.

    The class monitor nodded, put down the table, turned around and ran out.

    The classroom became empty and quiet, the two of them were close next to each other, their postures were extremely intimate.

    Because of the movement just now, the collar of her shirt loosened a little and the traces of blue and purple inside were shown. Qi Yan saw it casually, and her eyes quickly darkened: "I didn''t expect that we are so destined."

    Last night was so crazy, she couldn''t remember what marks she left on the other party. How many traces, she only knows that she couldn''t control it, and the scorching hot feeling still lingers.

    She is soft and fragrant in her arms, and it brings back those memories, and she wishes she could tear her apart and swallow her alive.

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth, but her voice was stuck in her throat, and she couldn''t speak, and the tips of her ears were stained pink.

    "Does it hurt?" Qi Yan held her wrist and rubbed it, the red marks on it were still there.

    Being tied up for a whole night, how could it not hurt, but this person refused to be untied afterwards, she became addicted to playing, she didn''t know if it was because of being drunk and bold, or because she really had some special hobby.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned lightly, turned her face away, and said nothing.

    The more she was like this, the more Qi Yan found it interesting. She grabbed her chin with one hand and said softly: "When I was talking just now, you were avoiding me. That was very disrespectful, you know?"

    "Parents should lead by example and set a good example for their children."

    When they got closer, Qi Yan''s lips almost touched her ears, as if they could see the capillaries slowly expanding, and the red became more gorgeous, and the temperature became warmer. While breathing, she couldn''t help but want to kiss her.

    Suddenly thinking of the CCTVs in the classroom, Qi Yan clenched her fists and had no choice but to give up.

    There was the sound of bouncing footsteps in the corridor, going their way. Lu Zhiqiao was startled, and hurriedly pushed Qi Yan away to stabilize her figure. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a shadow blocking part of the light at the door.

    "Mom?" The two turned their heads at the same time.

    A little girl in school uniform and ponytail stood at the door, staring at Lu Zhiqiao blankly, her eyes were both surprised and fearful.

    She had just finished running 100 meters, her face was flushed and was sweating profusely, and she was still panting a little. She thought that the parent meeting was over, and she would go to the classroom to rest for a while before going home, but who knew¡ª¡ª

    "Lu Wei." Qi Yan charged with a smile as she waved, "How is the competition?" The little girl walked over and called Teacher Qi, and said cutely: "I''m in the semi-finals." After speaking, she secretly glanced at her mother.

    "That''s great." Qi Yan praised warmly, "Rest early tonight, recharge your batteries, and work hard for the match tomorrow."

    "Yeah."

    "Okay, let''s go home, mom."

    She let her daughter get her school bag, then took the kid''s hand, couldn''t wait to leave the classroom.

    The mother and daughter walked out of the school gate and got into a black A8*.

    T/N: *Audi A8 car

    "Mom." Lu Wei said cautiously, "Your face is so red, are you uncomfortable?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, feeling guilty for no reason, and pressed the back of her hand to her face: "I''m okay, it''s just a little hot." She took out a tissue and handed it over, "Wipe off your sweat and take off your coat."

    "Oh."

    She leaned back again then took a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the lid, "Drink some water, but don''t drink too much, you just finished running." The girl took off her school uniform jacket, took two sips of water.

    "How are you adapting to school? Are you getting used to it?"

    "Well, it''s okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded to herself, stroked her loose hair, felt that it was a little hot, and wanted to unbutton the top button to breathe, but she suddenly thought of the dense marks on her body, and her fingers suddenly froze.

    Last night, that person demanded excessively, as if she wanted to tear her apart. She originally thought that after one night, they would never meet again, but she didn''t expect that fate is such an unspeakable thing.

    What an evil fate.

    That woman is her child''s teacher.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly felt ashamed of being immoral, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles, and she didn''t know how to face her child more and more.

    "Your class teacher..." She sighed softly, pulled up her collar, and turned to look at her daughter, "I remember you said that she teaches Chinese?"

    "Yeah."

    "Do you like her?"

    "I like her, Teacher Qi is beautiful." Lu Wei replied without thinking, her black eyes sparkled, and after thinking about it, she thought her mom had something against Qi Yan, so she asked carefully.

    "Mom, do you like her? Teacher Qi?"

 CH 3

    Chapter 3: Want To Kiss

    Her daughter''s voice exploded in her ears, and Lu Zhiqiao felt extremely guilty for a moment, she turned her face away uncomfortably, answered vaguely, and held the steering wheel tightly with one hand.

    Dry blood surged up and spread along her chest to the face and ears.

    It is true that students like teachers who are beautiful, not only children, but also adults. Who doesn''t like beautiful ones? If someone with low looks came to strike up a conversation last night, she probably wouldn''t bother, let alone talk about what happened afterwards.

    Very realistic.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, waved away the face of the person in her mind, and continued to ask, "What about the Math teacher?"

    "Well, he''s okay." Lu Wei answered after consideration.

    The Math teacher is a middle-aged uncle, in his forties or fifties, tall and strong, he looks fierce, and he is in fact a bit fierce. Although she doesn''t hate him, she doesn''t like him either.

    "Since you don''t hate the teacher, why do you still get such a low score in math?" Lu Zhiqiao took out the report card and threw it over.

    Lu Wei: "..."

    The report card is a summary table, there are 46 students in the class, and the scores are ranked at a glance. Her daughter scored only 42 points in Mathematics, which was a huge hindrance to the ranking, so that it overshadowed the 100 points in Chinese and English.

    Looking at the whole table, she was the only one who failed in Math, and the other students had the lowest score of 76, which meant that it was not the teacher''s fault.

    Lu Wei held the report card and lowered her head.

    Parents poured out of the school gate one after another, and a middle-aged man scolded his son as he walked: "all the books you read went to waste, why not just go back and raise pigs." With the window half open, his voice was thick and rough, and both mother and daughter could hear him clearly.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, pressed the window button to close the window, turned her head to see her daughter''s aggrieved appearance, complex feelings surged in her heart, and she swallowed the words again.

    "Forget it, let''s go back."

    Ten minutes later, the car drove into Jing Yu Ming Fu Estate.

    The year before last, Lu Zhiqiao bought a unit here. According to Jiangcheng''s policy of "enrolling nearby" for junior high schools, this unit is considered a school district house, and children can go directly to the middle school attached to Jiang University. Although the price is expensive, it is worth the investment.

    In front of the gate of the building, Lu Wei got out of the car, turned to look at her mother, and asked in a low voice, "Mom, aren''t you going home?"

    "I''m going to work." Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her watch, "You eat by yourself at night, remember to practice Qin*, you are not allowed to watch TV or play computer games."

    *Qin (chin) - Chinese traditional string musical instrument click this link to see photo

    "Okay." The car drove away, and Lu Wei stood there for a long time until it disappeared from sight.

    __

    On Sunday afternoon, when the sports meeting was over, Qi Yan contacted the moving company to transport the luggage and some furniture to her new house.

    Three years ago, she graduated with a master''s degree and returned to work in China. Her parents bought her a suite near the school with a big wave of her hand, so that it was convenient for her to commute to get off work. But for the past three years, she has lived at home, and the new house has been vacant after the furnishing was completed. This year, she made sure that she will not resign and continue to take care of the second batch of students before she decided to move in.

    Eversince the school opening in September, she had been busy and just squeezed out a little time now.

    The unit is in Jingyumingfu Estate, on the 9th floor of Building C. The current average price is 70,000, which has doubled in three years. The environment here is good, and it is well connected.

    She doesn''t have a lot of luggage and only a few pieces of furniture. Most of the things are available in the new house, but cleaning is more time-consuming. The house has been vacant for a long time, and there is a lot of dust, and it is not cleaned until dark.

    6:30

    Tired all afternoon, and didn''t want to cook, Qi Yan took out her mobile phone to order take away, looked around and found nothing to eat, so she went out to look for food.

    She picked up her bag, and went out the door with the trash in her hand.

    There are two households on one elevator in the building opposite to each other. There is a large trash can in the stairwell on each floor. Qi Yan throws the trash in. When she came out, she inadvertently glanced at unit 901 on the opposite side, turned her gaze back, and pressed the elevator.

    The number shows a little rise, stop.

    ¡ªthe door opened.

    A pair of slender and straight legs came into view, looking from bottom to top, black pointed high heels, narrow-cut trousers, Kelly bag, waist windbreaker jacket, shirt buttoned to the top, passing the cold breath .

    When their eyes met, Qi Yan was stunned.

    It''s her again.

    Caught off guard and meeting again, Lu Zhiqiao was extremely surprised, her expression was a little awkward at that moment, but soon returned to normal. She walked out of the elevator slowly, nodded and smiled lightly: "Did Teacher Qi came here to visit?"

    At first thought, the reason seemed plausible. On the first day of school in September, Lu Zhiqiao was on a business trip, so she asked a friend to take her daughter to report. It is said that she filled out an information form with her home address on it.

    But today is Sunday, and it''s already dark, and it''s late at night, and she didn''t notify in advance, so there''s no reason to visit home.

    When she said that, Qi Yan also thought of it.

    On the first day of school, she saw the name of the estate and felt familiar, but the house had been empty for too long, there were so many students, and things were messy and complicated, she forgot to clean them after forgetting them.

    "You live here?" Qi Yan asked without answering, and glanced at 901.

    "Hmm."

    It was really a wonderful fate.

    Qi Yan smiled and said, "Coincidentally, I live across from you."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at 902, her brows twitched, she didn''t speak, her indifferent expression couldn''t hold back.

    When she bought a house the year before last, the property owner said that someone lived at the opposite door. After the Spring Festival last year, she and her daughter moved in. Until now, the opposite door has never been opened, let alone anyone coming in or out. Now a new neighbor suddenly came, who turned out to be her one-night stand, her child''s teacher.

    Sometimes there are so many coincidences that it''s hard to believe it''s really a coincidence.

    Qi Yan seemed to see through what she was thinking, and explained: "I bought the house a long time ago, but I just moved here today." After thinking about it, she added, "Personal reasons."

    After speaking, she offered her hand.

    "Hello, neighbor."

    Lu Zhiqiao was still digesting the fact, she lowered her eyelashes and looked at her slender hand, hesitated for a moment, and gently held it.

    Without waiting for her to leave, Qi Yan suddenly pulled her hand and leaned closer, "Are you still working on weekends?"

    Her voice was deep and magnetic, gentle and charming.

    The two were so close that they could feel each other''s breath. The warm and hot breath was intertwined, mixed with the familiar and pleasant smell of cold fragrance, Qi Yan sniffed, and drunkenness appeared in her eyes.

    The red lips and that charming tear mole are close, her heart becomes itchy, desiring to kiss them.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly remembered that night, her face became hot, she hurriedly pushed her away, and walked towards her door as if fleeing.

    ¡ªthe door was slammed hard.

    Qi Yan drove to the city for dinner, and because she was in a particularly good mood, she strolled outside for a while.

    She went home at around eight o''clock, when she got out of the elevator, she glanced at the closed door of 901, suddenly thought that she was dreaming, and a thought to stalk arose in her heart.

    Whether she is married or not, she will find out if she goes in and have a look.

    Once the thought arises, no matter how hard it is to control it, even if you force yourself not to think about it, it will still lie dormant somewhere in the bottom of your heart, popping up from time to time to scratch, making people itch. If it''s just for one night, if you forget it, you will forget it, but it happens that there are more and more intersections, and it is difficult to forget.

    Qi Yan was disturbed by herself, but in the end, sensibility still prevailed over reason.

    She dug out a bottle of red wine and a box of chocolates from the cabinet. They were all gifts from others. They were carefully packaged and hadn''t been opened yet. She happened to borrow flowers to present to Buddha.*

    *to offer something that one has received (as a gift, favour, etc.) to someone else

    Two minutes later, Qi Yan knocked on the door of 901.

    It was Lu Wei who opened the door, and that immature face appeared behind the door. Seeing her, she was immediately frightened, and exclaimed: "Ms.Qi¡ª¡ª"

    The little girl suddenly opened her eyes wide. Feeling flustered, she turned her head to look at the room, and then turned back, her emotions were written all over her face, and she was speechless for a long time.

    "Have you eaten yet?" Qi Yan asked softly.

    Lu Wei nodded stiffly, hummed twice, and stayed in place.

    After all, she is a child, not as smooth as an adult, and her personality is too honest.

    "I just moved today, and I happen to be at unit 902 across yours. We will be neighbors from now on." Qi Yan said sincerely, and handed her the chocolate, "A little gift, it''s delicious, try it quickly."

    Lu Wei took it, stunned, "Across...?"

    Just now she was flustered, but now a thunderbolt fell from the sky, and her small world was completely filled with despair.

    Homeroom teacher.

    Lives opposite her house.

    There is nothing more terrifying than this.

    Qi Yan narrowed her eyes, smiled, then asked, "Where''s your mother?"

    "She..." Lu Wei''s scalp tightened, and a clear and calm female voice came from the kitchen: "Niuniu,* who is it?" Then a figure came out.

    *a pet name for Lu Wei, basically mean little girl

    Lu Zhiqiao was wearing an apron, her hair was coiled up casually, she was holding a rag in her hand, and she was pulling house slippers on her feet. She looked like a gentle and virtuous housewife. Seeing Qi Yan, she subconsciously squeezed the rag tightly.

    There were sparks flying between their eyes.

    "It''s Teacher Qi." Lu Wei looked at her mother and shrank her neck.

    Qi Yan raised the corners of her lips and nodded at her with intriguing eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao avoided the woman''s gaze and said to her daughter, "Go do your homework."

    The little girl nodded obediently, and entered the room with the chocolate in her arms.

    The air was suddenly quiet, and there were sounds of needles falling all around.

    "Is something the matter, Teacher Qi?" Lu Zhiqiao calmed down and asked politely.

    The rag was dripping with water, and the tighter it was, the more it overflowed. Her whole hand was wet, and the coolness flowed upstream along the fingertips, freezing her slightly boiling heart.

    Qi Yan stood under the lamp outside the door, with a handsome figure, long black hair hanging down and flowing, she patted the red wine in her arms, blinked: "I moved here today, I''m just visiting my neighbors, please take care of me in the future."

    Her eyes are special, between the red phoenix and the peach blossom, shaped like a willow leaf, long but not thin, deep and sharp, half of the eyes are full of autumn water, like amber wine glistening in a glass.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, looking into her eyes quietly, thinking about the same thing that night.

    "Aren''t you going to invite me in for a sit? Lu Wei''s mother." Qi Yan raised her eyebrows, deliberately biting the last two words very hard, and her eyes were meaningful.

 CH 4

    Chapter 4: Home Visit

    Hiding her shame is the most important thing in Lu Zhiqiao''s heart, and she thinks no one knows it. She suddenly came back to her senses, her scalp tingles for a while, she didn''t speak, opened the shoe cabinet sideways, took a pair of slippers and put them down.

    Adults know how to save face best, she should match her actions with a polite smile, just like at the parent - teacher meeting earlier. But she was bound by shame, and she couldn''t figure out what she was ashamed of.

    Qi Yan noticed her awkwardness  but she didn''t take it seriously, strode into the room to change her slippers, and when she close the door, she glanced at the floor mat, there were no men''s shoes.

    "Have a seat first." Lu Zhiqiao avoided her eyes, turned her head and entered the kitchen after speaking.

    The water on the rag dripped all the way from the living room to the kitchen door, and the transparent water stains reflected the warm yellow light in the living room.

    Qi Yan put the red wine on the table, took out two paper towels, bent down and wiped them along the path of the water droplets, and heard the sound of water running and bowls and chopsticks in the kitchen. She closed her eyes and chuckled, stood up, threw the ball of paper into the trash can, and turned to the balcony.

    A few items of clothes were dried on the clothes rail, including school uniforms, shirts, socks, and women''s underwear.

    White ones, purple ones, simple styles, Qi Yan knew that they were also good to the touch - they were white that night.

    No men''s clothing.

    The layout of the house is three bedrooms and two living rooms, with a fresh, elegant and warm style. There are many bright and dark lockers. It can be seen that the owner pays more attention to the practical functions of the furniture. There are photo frames of different sizes hanging on the walls, and the light and dark lines in the landscape photos inside are soft and subtle, making it very comfortable to look at.

    Qi Yan glanced at the coffee table, there were no ashtrays, lighters, etc. She went to the toilet, but she didn''t see any razors, and the toilet lid was closed, so there was no trace of a man''s life.

    Preliminary judgment shows that there is no male master in this family.

    She went back to the sofa in the living room and sat down, her thin lips tightly pursed, afraid that the gleam of joy in her throat would overflow, her whole body seemed to be supported by a feather, floating lightly in mid-air.

    Divorced? Or widowed?

    Her joy couldn''t be concealed, and it finally leaked from the corners of her eyes and brows. Qi Yan secretly sighed that she had a low sense of morality, but then she thought, who doesn''t have a dark side in his heart? She even fell in love with such a dark self.

    The sound of the kitchen water stopped after a while, and after a moment of silence, Lu Zhiqiao came out and had already taken off her apron, revealing the stand-up collar shirt inside, which was still buttoned up to the top, completely covered.

    She made a cup of scented tea, put it in front of Qi Yan, and then sat on the single sofa next to her.

    "Are you taking care of your kid alone?" Qi Yan took a sip of tea in a face-saving way, it wasn''t too hot. Unexpectedly, it tasted good, so she took a few more sips.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t expect her to ask this, so she paused for a moment, with a complicated look in her eyes, "Yes."

    "Single-parenting is common nowadays, and being a mother is very hard." Qi Yan said euphemistically with a little tentative meaning.

    She held the cup with both hands, the glass wall was warm, the tea was still steaming, a puff of smoke rose up, blocking her vision, the person in her eyes seemed to become hazy, and she couldn''t see clearly, it only lasted a few seconds.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly raised her eyes to look at her, her eyes were cloudy, as if she wanted to say something else, her lips twitched, and she said with a faint smile: "Being a good teacher is also very hard. One person has to take care of the whole class of children, which is no easier than being a mother."

    She opened the door in front of her, and saw her close the door again.*

    *means LZQ dodged her prying, by turning the topic to her

    Qi Yan''s nerves tensed, conscious that the two of them were not very familiar, and there was no need for the other party to explain her privacy clearly. If she asked again, she would reveal her motive.

    ¡°In this midterm exam, only Lu Wei failed in Mathematics." She smiled and changed the subject.

    ¡°However, this kind of situation is very common in the first year of the new junior high school. It takes time to adapt. An exam doesn''t explain much. Don''t put too much pressure on your child.¡±

    Her thin lips curled upward, and her smile was gentle and lovely. Although she was talking about serious things, her eyes were rolling with less serious emotions.

    Lu Zhiqiao secretly wondered how this person knew what she was thinking.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    ¡°How was her grades in elementary school?¡±

    ¡°Chinese and English are good, but Mathematics is not good.¡±

    ¡°Did she pass?¡±

    ¡°About seventy or eighty points.¡±

    ¡­¡­

    When it comes to Lu Zhiqiao''s daughter and grades, the chatterbox opened. She looks a lot natural, and even her voice softens a bit, and she forgets the awkwardness for the time being.

    The indoor lights and shadows were bright, and the warm orange light sprinkled on Lu Zhiqiao''s face, from her forehead to her eyes to her nose, making her skin like cream, delicate and smooth, as beautiful as an oil painting.

    Unconsciously, the two talked until more than nine o''clock.

    Qi Yan felt that it was time to go. She got up, and Lu Zhiqiao also stood up, sent her to the door, and said humbly: ¡°When Lu Wei is at school, I have to ask Teacher Qi to take more care of her.¡±

    ¡°I have always treated students equally.¡±

    ¡°But--" Qi Yan suddenly grabbed her hand, her slender knuckles firmly tightened, and with a little force, she brought the person into her arms.

    ¡°Special care is not impossible.¡±

    Inhaling the cold fragrance from her nose, she smiled lowly, and leaned into Lu Zhiqiao''s ear and pecked lightly. The long-suppressed joy spurted, madness dominating her.

    Lu Zhiqiao tightened her back and subconsciously grabbed the corners of her hem, her palms sweaty only after a while.

    Qi Yan nuzzles her nose to Zhiqiao''s face and whispers: ¡°Aren''t we so fated, huh?":

    Such a low sultry voice.

    The two of them were next to each other, Lu Zhiqiao''s center of gravity was unstable, and she could only lean on Qi Yan, no matter which angle she looked at it, it would seem that she''s the one who took the initiative. At such a close distance, you can almost see the fine fluff on her face, and a little probing, you''ll see the shyness in her eyes.

    Obviously the reaction is strong, but you have to suppress it desperately. The more so, the more attractive it is.

    Her lips opened slightly, showing an invitation, Qi Yan''s throat gulps then slid one hand on the back of her head, and she covered her lips on her own initiative. Teasing gently and slowly at first, then probing deeper.

    She tasted like wine that aged well through the years, withstanding the vicissitudes of life; a mellow but fragrant aroma.

    ¡°Um--¡±

    Lu Zhiqiao responded unconsciously, the desire in her heart was like a fire, burning more and more vigorously. Knowing that this would not work, but powerless to resist, she was overwhelmed by the tide and sucked in by the whirlpool.

    But at this moment, Qi Yan pulled away and let her go.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Her heart sank quickly, leaving a hole in it. Lu Zhiqiao''s eyelashes trembles, her eyes full of confusion.

    Under the shadow of the lamp, her wet lips were bright and flushed, like a ripe fruit inviting people to pick it.

    ¡°Rest early." Qi Yan smiled softly.

    Lu Zhiqiao also woke up from the daze, hummed softly, and turned her face away uncomfortably.

    The warmth brought by the breath left as the door opened and closed, and the boiling air returned to tranquility.

    After a while, there was a second sound of closing the door outside from the unit opposite hers. She was silent in place, her mind blank, as if nothing had happened.

    The next Monday, Lu Zhiqiao took her daughter to school on her way to work.

    When the mother and daughter got down to the parking lot, they saw Qi Yan standing next to a white car from a long distance, looking down at her mobile phone. Parked beside Lu Zhiqiao''s black a8.

    The parking space in the community must be bought separately by the head of the household. Since she moved in, the location next to her has been empty. Lu Zhiqiao saw the white car last night and thought it was someone who stopped indiscriminately.

    The surroundings were empty, and the sound of footsteps was particularly obvious.

    Lu Zhiqiao was carrying a bag in one hand and holding the car keys in the other. She stepped on her high heels steadily and forcefully. Before she could approach, the woman raised her head when she heard the sound. She was obviously surprised to see them. ¡°What a coincidence."

    ¡°Good morning, Teacher Qi." Lu Wei greeted obediently.

    ¡°Morning." Qi Yan smiled and raised her eyes to look at Lu Zhiqiao, ¡°Sending your kid to school?"

    The nude colored leather jacket, with a straight dress inside looked less strong and cold,  rather more gentle and generous, elegant and intellectual, quite a mature woman''s style.

    She likes it.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded indifferently and twitch the corners of her mouth.

    The moments from lingered last night lingers on her mind, and felt like there''s a wildfire on her lips, it reminded her of what absurd things she had done, and now even the courtesy felt like suffering.

    "It just so happens that I''m on my way to work too, I can take her there." Qi Yan raised her hand and tapping on her car.

    Lu Zhiqiao followed her movements and glanced at the car roughly. It looked low-key and ordinary on the surface, but it was not actually cheap. Her boss also owns one.

    A teacher''s salary obviously couldn''t afford it.

    She couldn''t help but be curious, and turned her gaze to Qi Yan, intrigued.

    Qi Yan thought she was hesitating, so she simply took Lu Wei''s hand, ¡°There is a road block and if you linger, you will be late,¡± opening the passengers door as she speaks.

    The next terrifying thing from having the class teacher living across her home is having to go  to school riding the class teacher''s car. At least, that is how Lu Wei felt. She didn''t get in the car immediately and looked at her mother hesitatingly, her emotions flowed out of her eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t want to lose face, so she nodded to her daughter, indicating it was okay.

    Lu Wei: ¡°...¡±

    The little girl accepted her fate and got in the car.

    ¡°Then I''ll trouble Teacher Qi." Lu Zhiqiao said politely, not wanting to say more, she was about to go around and open her car door, when Qi Yan suddenly grabbed her hand.

    Her chest throbbed suddenly, and she shivered slightly.

    ¡°Don''t mention it." Qi Yan shook her hand vigorously, leaned over, and lowered her voice, ¡°You are so sensitive."

 CH 5

    Chapter 5: We Match

    Concerned about the kid in the car, Qi Yan didn''t get too close, and gave Lu Zhiqiao some face, and only blew lightly on her shoulder. The heat spread to the ears, and her legs suddenly became weak.

    Without waiting for anyone to react and struggle, she voluntarily let go, turned around and got into the driver''s seat.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, seeing the car window slowly coming down, the person inside poked her head out, "You are black, I am white, we match well."

    "..."

    The window went up again, and after a while, the white car left first. Looking at the exit of the parking lot, there is only a wisp of car exhaust in sight.

    It only take five minutes to drive from the community to the school, but because there are too many stop lights on the road, traffic was a bit congested, since it is Monday, you have to set aside at least ten minutes if you are tight on schedule.

    Qi Yan encountered a red light at the first intersection when she came out.

    In the rearview mirror, a black A8 slowly stopped behind. She pursed her lips and smiled lightly, then turned her head and glanced at the girl on the right, "Lu Wei."

    The little girl was sitting neatly, extremely nervous. Hearing the teacher call, she immediately turned her head and widened her eyes.

    Her facial features are only slightly similar to her mother''s eyes, but her bone structure are very good, her skin is very fair, and she is a beauty. Because there are too many students, Qi Yan usually doesn''t pay much attention to her. She has a vague impression that this child is relatively reserved and quiet, that''s all.

    "Is it usually mom who takes you to school?"

    "No, I take the subway by myself."

    "Dad won''t take you?"

    With 20 seconds left at the red light, people''s voices and car horns came and went, Qi Yan held the steering wheel tightly with one hand, And press the right side window to close with the other  to block out the noise. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the girl with her head lowered, and she didn''t answer for a long time.

    Last night, she didn''t ask directly, and Lu Zhiqiao didn''t answer directly. Some things involved principles, and she was still worried, and she had to figure it out before proceeding.

    Today''s children are smart, and if she ask too straightforwardly, they will inevitably be suspected of their intentions, she can only make a round about way after much deliberation. But judging by the child''s reaction, she might be right.

    At the last second, Lu Wei whispered, "Dad has passed away."

    The green light came on.

    Qi Yan''s palms were covered with sweat, and she slipped a bit, almost shifting to the wrong gear.

    "Sorry."

    She said, not apologetic in her heart, even a little excited, the corners of her mouth could not help but curl up.

    At 8:50, Lu Zhiqiao stepped into the company building.

    The entire building belongs to the Xinbei Group, and it is located in the CBD* of Jiangcheng, where every inch of land is expensive. It is mainly engaged in the research and development of smart hardware and electronic products. Lu Zhiqiao is a local. She has been working here since she just graduated from university. She has worked hard all the way, and now she has reached the top level for more than ten years.

    *Central Business District

    "Director Lu."

    "Hello, Director Lu."

    "Morning Director Lu."

    "..."

    Up to the marketing department, there were staff all the way, Lu Zhiqiao nodded and smiled, and strode into the office.

    The blinds were pulled up, and the outside sun shone in. It was very bright, meanwhile the brewed scented tea was still steaming on the table. Assistant Xiao Wan was making an internal call on the landline, saw her come in, said a few words hastily and hung up.

    "Director, Mrs. Shu asked you to go up."

    Lu Zhiqiao froze for a moment, nodded, and put the bag on the table, "Got it."

    Marketing is a large department, which is subdivided into sales department, marketing department and public relations department. She manages the three departments by herself, and she is busy every day. The leader calls her mobile phone directly when there is something to do, so it is not so devious.

    While weighing it in her heart, she took the elevator up to the twenty-ninth floor, knocked on the door of the general manager''s office, and went in.

    "Mrs. Shu."

    A middle-aged woman was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window talking on the phone. Hearing the sound, she turned around and saw Lu Zhiqiao. She smiled and signaled her to sit down.

    General Manager, Shu Minxi.*

    **read as /shoe mean shee/

    Lu Zhiqiao flashed a rare smile, sat on the chair opposite the desk, and waited patiently.

    She spoke fluent Japanese in a business-like tone. Although she couldn''t understand it, she could guess that it was a work call.

    After a while, Shu Minxi hung up the phone, sat down around the desk, and said straight to the point: "The delegation from Japan''s Teisei Co., Ltd. will come next Thursday, and I need to personally meet them but it is in conflict with the time of the exhibition, so I have to trouble you to go to the exhibition for me."

    Every year, in early November, there is a large-scale international trade exhibition in City G. Exhibitors will communicate face-to-face with customers from all over the world. The company has always attached great importance to this, and the Vice President used to be the one leading a team to participate in the exhibition, but the vice president left in the first half of the year, and the board of directors has never appointed a new candidate. This matter naturally fell on Shu Minxi.

    But she has a lot of affairs in her day and is very busy. Most of the things must be handed over to her trustworthy subordinates.

    The exhibition is a hot spot, and the company''s top executives are staring at it red-eyed. Whoever can take over can almost be said to have half of his ass sitting on the position of vice president.

    Lu Zhiqiao was very aware of the twists and turns, but she didn''t expect Shu Minxi to hand over the task to her so simply, and felt that it was not that simple for a while.

    "Why, can''t your schedule be arranged?" Seeing that she didn''t respond, Shu Minxi frowned slightly.

    Indeed, it happened suddenly and hastily.

    "If you can''t spare the time, you can only choose someone else." These words have a hint of regret.

    Lu Zhiqiao hesitated for a moment and said, "I''m free."

    Originally, she promised her daughter that they would go to a wild barbecue next weekend, but now it seems that it has been messed up. The exhibition will last for two or three days, and it will be a new week of work when she comes back. There was no time for even a break let alone going out to play.

    But she has no reason not to reject the great potential promotion opportunity. As for why a sweet pastry* was given to her, she can vaguely guess.

    *golden opportunity

    Shu Minxi heaved a sigh of relief, crossed her fingers, and said with a smile, "I''ll send the exhibition information and exhibitor plan to your mailbox in a while. You have followed me before, so you can watch and adjust yourself."

    "Yes."

    "Okay, go get busy."

    Lu Zhiqiao got up, walked to the door and stopped.

    "Mrs. Shu."

    "Huh?"

    She turned her head and asked, "Is Chairman Aoki''s daughter also in the delegation?"

    Shu Minxi was startled, her eyes dimmed quickly, she turned her face to the side, and did not answer.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t ask any more questions, opened the door and left.

    After accepting the task of the exhibition, time was tight, and overtime was inevitable. Lu Zhiqiao called her daughter in advance and asked her to have dinner by herself, then she got busy until after eight o''clock before leaving the office building.

    The evening rush hour has passed and the traffic isn''t congested. Fifteen minutes later, the car drove into the underground garage of the complex.

    Lu Zhiqiao parked the car, and just opened the door, when a white car drove up, the headlights flickered twice, she looked up, and saw that the car slowed down, reversed parked in one go, and stopped firmly beside her.

    She had to look up and down.

    "Getting off work so late?" With the car window open, Qi Yan poked her  head out and smiled at her.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed the door and locked it, and took a few steps forward, "You too."

    Lu Zhiqiao had thought that Junior High teachers work a regular eight to five as long as they weren''t handling a graduating class. So why was she only coming back now? She couldn''t think of what to say, so she copied the answer and didn''t want to say more and responded with one sentence.

    "I accompanied our Deputy Secretary to dinner until now." Qi Yan said helplessly, got out of the car with the window closed, and locked the door, "Let''s go up together."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, without saying a word, the two walked side by side to in the elevator.

    The deputy secretary sounds like a greasy middle-aged man in his forties or fifties with a pot belly. She doesn''t know how the caste system works at school, so she felt uncomfortable for no reason.

    The elevator door opened, and she stepped in first.

    Qi Yan went in later, pressed the ninth floor, and suddenly said: "She''s female."

    Lu Zhiqiao froze but did not speak.

    The elevator ascended slowly, and there was silence in the small space. The distance between the two of them was half a body, neither far nor close, and the air suddenly felt hot and stuffy.

    A familiar scent lingers through her nose, which is still smelled at the bar that night, like cold citrus, and like heavy sandalwood, full of coldness. Qi Yan doesn''t wear perfume very often, but she knows a thing or two. She has a very picky nose. Women who wear street fragrances are all vulgar, but not this woman.

    "What kind of perfume do you use?"

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her and said suddenly, "Artemis."

    "The Moon Goddess?"

    "Also the goddess of the hunt."

    After speaking, the elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and the door slowly opened.

    Lu Zhiqiao went out first, and Qi Yan followed behind, staring at her shoulders with scorching eyes, "Wait a minute."

    The woman stopped and turned half her body.

    "You left something with me last time." Qi Yan lowered her head and flipped through her bag, took out a small earring, put it in her palm, and spread it out towards her.

    The luster of the broken diamonds shone under the shadow of the lamp, bright and dazzling, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly remembered that night, her cheeks burned suddenly, and her temples throbbed.

    The smile in Qi Yan''s eyes grew stronger, and she stepped forward to grab her hand, combed her fingers through Zhiqiao''s hair, put the earrings on, and then slowly covered them, leaning close to her ear and whispering: "It fell on the bed when we slept.¡±

 CH 6

    Chapter 6: Call Your Mother

    Lu Zhiqiao can''t remember when she started to deliberately restrain her desires. It''s not so much that she was too busy with work to think about her private life, but that she felt guilty about it.  She thought she didn''t deserve such pleasures.

    It is always difficult for people to fight against their instincts. When she can''t help but indulge, go crazy, and her inner condemnation leaks out like a flood, she can no longer control herself, and it takes a long while to return to self-restraint.

    She happened to meet Qi Yan.

    She felt the woman was a beast with a gentle skin, with fangs and claws tearing her forbidden shell, and a gentle knife with sharp blade cutting through her reserved skin, and finally reached the depths of her heart with ease.

    The thought of it, actually felt thrilling.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze and didn''t move, the hand holding the earring was wrapped in the woman''s warm palm, the heat seemed to melt her.  She turned her face away, avoiding the scorching breath in her ear, and whispered thank you.

    Qi Yan smiled, did not make any further movements, and simply let go of her hand: "Good night."

    "¡­¡­Good night."

    On Friday, the final result of the Sports Fest were calculated and the certificates and prizes were distributed to the head teachers of each class.

    The Sports Fest was semi-mandatory. The principal required each class to have no less than 15 participants, and each person should apply for at least two projects. The class teacher had to find a way to mobilize the students.  Qi Yan didn''t respond, it all depended on the children''s willingness, so the number of participants did not reach the target and was called by the principal to talk.

    She never thought that after the results came out, class 1- 2  won the most prizes, which was really surprising.

    During her Chinese class, Qi Yan came out a few minutes before the class started, and read the names one by one in the class to give out certificates.

    The children were very happy.  Maybe it''s because they just arrived in junior high school, and they haven''t completely left the elementary school stage. They still have a strong sense of collective honor, and only follows the teacher.

    Qi Yan clearly knows that in half a year at most, puberty will hit sooner or later, and when they get used to life in junior high school and their self-awareness rises, they will all become "old fritters" and rebellious in their second year.

    Although there are individual differences, the overall group is roughly the same.

    A class lasts forty-five minutes, and the time always passes quickly. Qi Yan still has a precise grasp of the rhythm of the class. When the bell rang for the end of class, she just finished talking about today''s lesson preparation.

    Then the broadcast for eye exercises* rang, and she beckoned to the girl at the outermost position by the window, "Come up, monitor."

    *some useless info for you eye exercises done in Chinese schools as a preventative campaign against myopia, usually lasts 6 minutes

    The class monitor stood on the podium to temporarily replace the supervisor. Qi Yan went to the toilet, and when she came back, she found that the whole class was doing eye exercises seriously. Only Lu Wei lowered her head, not knowing what she was doing down there.  Because she sat in the middle of the middle group, facing the podium, she could be seen at a glance when she came in.

    Qi Yan walked over quickly, bent her knuckles and knocked on the table, and said coldly, "Take out your phone."

    The voice was especially abrupt in the quiet environment. Lu Wei shook her body, raised her head suddenly, and looked at her in a daze. The screen of the mobile phone under the desk was still on, and lines of black square characters appeared on it.

    The whole class looked sideways, forty-six gazes, like forty-six needles, pierced the little girl''s face in unison, and the fair skin soon turned crimson.

    She pouted and handed over the phone reluctantly.

    Qi Yan weighed it in her hand, it was quite heavy, and then glanced at the screen, there was an e-book "Triple Doors"* on it.

    *one of China''s best selling novel by author Han Han, click hyper link to wiki

    She was surprised, but didn''t say anything, turned around and returned to the podium, stacked her mobile phone with the lesson plans, and continued to supervise.  After the eye exercises were over, the radio sounded the prelude to the inter-class exercises again, and she said softly, "Everyone go down and line up."

    After speaking, she glanced at Lu Wei, picked up her things and left the classroom.

    The last class of 1- 2 in the morning is physical education.

    The teachers have all gone to class, and there is silence in the office. The windows on the south side cast a large amount of sunlight, which is divided into pieces and evenly sprinkled on each desk, warm and bright.

    Qi Yan had no class and was grading her class'' composition. Since she was the only one in the office, she couldn''t help laughing while correcting.

    Children''s writing are very immature, and the lines are full of "magnificence and justice" and "truth, goodness and beauty". Individual students make a lot of typos and sentences, or keep a running account. She, a greasy adult, reads it and misses her school days.

    Laughing happily, came a knock on the door.

    ¡ª¡ª knock knock

    Qi Yan paused, raised her head, and saw that the office door was slowly pushed halfway open.

    "Teacher Qi..."

    Lu Wei poked her head in from the outside, looked around the office, and found that the other teachers were not there, secretly pleased, closed the door and ran over.

    "Aren''t you supposed to be in PE class?" Qi Yan already guessed what she was going to say.

    "Teacher Hu said that we can move freely."

    Qi Yan hummed, pretending to act indifferently: "What''s the matter?"

    The girl nodded, looked into her eyes, and said sincerely: "Ms. Qi, I know I made a mistake, can you return the phone to me?"

    "What have you done wrong?"

    "I shouldn''t be playing with my phone in class."

    "It''s good that you''re aware of that."

    Lu Wei bit her lower lip, twisted her fingers tightly at the corner of her school uniform, and whispered, "The phone..."

    "Call your mother." Qi Yan said casually, leaning back on her chair, deliberately turning her face cold.

    Facing this girl, it is inevitable to think of Lu Zhiqiao. The awkward and dramatic relationship between the two seems to hinder her judgment. She can neither ignore her like she did in the past two months, nor distinguish her from other students.  She''s afraid that she will be subjectively biased and lose her principles.

    At that time, she didn''t know that one day in the future, she would like to please this child, and even love her, without caring about principles.

    "My mother is very busy, she doesn''t have time..." Lu Wei felt that this reason was untenable in the middle of speaking.  Sure enough, Qi Yan interrupted: "We''re a door apart, very convenient."

    "..."

    The little girl blushed, mist formed in her black eyes, and tears fell down in a short while.

    A good-looking child is so cute even when she cries. Qi Yan felt a poke in her chest, frowned, and handed her a tissue, "If you make a mistake, you should take responsibility."

    Lu Wei sniffed and wiped away tears silently.

    The little girl didn''t understand why Teacher Qi, who usually seemed gentle and kind, suddenly became so indifferent. What about Teacher Qi who would joke with everyone and comfort and encourage others?

    The more she thinks about it, the more she felt aggrieved, and her tears can''t stop flowing.

    "Classes will be over soon." Qi Yan looked at her watch, expressionless, "Do you want to be seen by other teachers later?"

    Children have strong self-esteem, and those with a personality like Lu Wei will be more sensitive and care more about other people''s opinions.  Although she should not take advantage of the child''s weakness in her conscience, it is important to send her away first, otherwise, if she gets overwhelmed by maternal instinct and she compromises, what will happen to her authority?

    This trick works wonders.  Lu Wei raised her head in a panic, glanced at the office door, hurriedly wiped away her tears, and trot out sullenly.

    Qi Yan heaved a sigh of relief, shook her head, and continued to revise the composition.

    In the evening, Lu Zhiqiao returned home.

    Working overtime for a week made her physically and mentally exhausted. It was rare to get off work on time today, but she had to go on a business trip tomorrow morning.  She felt guilty for not being able to accompany her daughter for two weekends, so she bought some snacks and her daughter''s favorite cake while shopping for vegetables.

    The sound of the piano came from the second bedroom. She stood on the mat to change her shoes, and closed the door behind her back. The sound of the piano stopped abruptly, and then the door of the second bedroom opened.

    Lu Wei didn''t rush out as usual, but took a peek first before walking over slowly, "Mom..."

    She lowered her head and pinched her fingers, making a sound like a mosquito humming, then her eyes fell on the little cake, her eyes lit up.

    "Wow! Cake!"

    "Eat first." Lu Zhiqiao smiled and gave her the bag. Put the cake in the refrigerator and eat it tomorrow."

    The little girl took it happily, and stared at it for a while. Although she wanted to eat it very much, she still listened to her mother and obediently put the cake in the refrigerator.

    Lu Zhiqiao carried the dishes into the kitchen, washed her hands and dried them, and put the other bag on the coffee table.

    "Niu Niu, mom is going on a business trip tomorrow, and she will be back around next Tuesday. These snacks are for next week, remember not to eat too much at once." She said softly, touching her daughter''s head, her eyes filled with guilt.

    "There''s next weekend, so I can''t accompany you to the barbecue. After the Spring Festival,  mom will be on holiday, let''s go on a trip together, okay?"

    There was a disappointed expression on the girl''s face, her eyes dimmed, but she still obediently said okay.

    At least there is still Spring Festival to look forward to, that is her favorite festival, because there are only a few days every year that they can enjoy their private time to the fullest, mom will cook a lot of delicious food, will take her out to play, and will accompany her all day and all night.

    Because it is only once a year, it is very precious.

    "Don''t go out after dark, lock the doors and windows at night, when I''m not at home I have to turn off the electric switch and gas valve, I''ll call you, before I go to school and after school, practice the piano before doing homework, and don''t go to bed later than 10:30..." Lu Wei  Lowering her eyelids and reciting one by one with her fingers, these are the precautions that her mother has instructed countless times. She has memorized them since she was a child, and she has already mastered them by heart.

    The girl''s voice was sweet and crisp, and her fair face was a bit childish, but there was a forbearance that didn''t match her age between her brows.

    Lu Zhiqiao listened in a daze, unable to stop feeling sad.

    This child is silly and obedient. She hasn''t cried much since she was a child, and rarely expresses what she wants. Compared with her peers, she really relieves her worries. Of course, there is no child who does not desire to act like a baby, and does not desire to be paid attention to. Premature sensibility tends to lack a sense of security, and it is difficult to make up for it when they grow up.

    Although she understood, there was nothing she could do.

    They only have each other in the family. She has worked hard and made money all these years, and she can''t spare time to spend with her daughter. Even taking care of her is a luxury.

    When her daughter was in elementary school, she stayed in a boarding school for a while. She ate in the school cafeteria at noon and night. She was taken care of by the life teacher. She would pick her up after getting off work. If she was on a business trip, she would take the subway by herself. At the age of seven or eight, she can recognize most of the traffic signs, can remember all the station names of the five subway lines, can tell the direction and will not get lost, and learned to take care of herself early.

    The person who caused all this is her.

    Originally, no one had to live this hard.

    "Mom, I can take care of myself. Don''t worry about going on a business trip." The girl raised her head and looked at her mother with a low voice and trembling eyelashes.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s nose was sore, she didn''t speak, but forced a smile, leaned over and kissed her forehead."

    By the way, Mom, there is something...""

    Um?"

    Lu Wei bit her lip and lowered her head, fiddled her fingers for a while, grabbed the corner of her clothes for a while, struggled for a long time before saying sullenly:

    "Teacher Qi asked you to get my phone..."

 CH 7

    Chapter 7: Love At First Sight

    After dinner, Lu Zhiqiao knocked on the door of unit 902.

    From the time she stepped out of the house to the opposite side, she walked hesitantly, until she stood in front of this door, her arms seemed to be filled with lead, so heavy that she couldn''t lift them up, as if there was a monster behind the door, who will eat her and leave nothing even bones.

    Living in a reinforced concrete building in the city, there is no human interaction, even the door-to-door neighbors do not necessarily know each other. They just need to maintain politeness and do not need to have other exchanges. With this thought in mind, she has been relieved a lot in the past few days. The busy week has also made her forget all the embarrassment, shame and excitement.

    But what should come still can''t be avoided.

    The door opened quickly, as if the owner knew she would come and was waiting deliberately.

    When that face appeared behind the door, in the orange light, she felt a tightness behind her neck, and all the emotions that had been left behind flowed back into her empty heart.

    "Come in." Qi Yan still smiled gently, as if she was not surprised that she would come, her eyes were calm and clear.

    At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao felt that she had entered the wolf''s den.

    Qi Yan was wearing pajamas, wine red silk style, half-exposed collarbones, tall with long, smooth hair draped behind her back, with a strand hanging down in front of her, which was black and bright against the light. Her eyebrows are gentle, but her eyes are deep and sharp, like a gentle knife.

    She prepared slippers for her, which fit her feet unexpectedly, and the style she liked, plain color, without too much decoration.

    Lu Zhiqiao thought that she would never take the initiative to step into this room. In fact, she did not take the initiative, but came in passively. Now that she came, she couldn''t help being curious. As soon as she entered the door, before she had time to look at it, she saw a huge picture of a woman hanging on the background wall of the TV. The three jewels were about to be revealed which was very cryptic.

    She doesn''t know the woman in the picture. She has a protruding front and back, and has slender legs. She is half leaning against a tree trunk. Behind her is a lush mountain forest. She looked sensual but not vulgar.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s scalp went numb, and she hurriedly looked away, but met Qi Yan''s eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling. She glanced at the picture but didn''t speak then lead her to the sofa and poured her a glass of warm water.

    "Thank you."

    The sofa is facing the picture, and you can see it just by looking up, and you can''t avoid it even if you want to. Lu Zhiqiao took a sip of water from the cup and lowered her head slightly. The warm water flowed down her throat, calming her mood temporarily.

    Qi Yan sat down next to her, picked up the black rectangle on the coffee table and handed it over, raising her eyebrow.

    It''s her daughter''s phone.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze for a moment before taking it, with apology in her eyes, and said softly, "I''m sorry, Ms. Qi, the child has caused you trouble."

    "No." Qi Yan looked at her with burning eyes, "It''s just that I happened to see her when they were doing eye exercises between classes today, she is still very serious in class.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded slightly, without speaking

    With only a few distance away, her face was reflected in Qi Yan''s ink-like eyes, and the tear mole was vividly embedded under the corners of her eyes like a shiny black pearl, as if it would turn into a black drop at any moment. Like tears, rolling down.

    It is said that a person with a tear mole will have a bitter life.

    That night, Qi Yan didn''t remember how many times she had kissed it, but she only knew that from the beginning she was gentle and careful, to the end it was extremely crazy, and she simply bit it, wishing she could bite it off.

    Of course, she didn''t dare to use force.

    "The school doesn''t allow students to bring mobile phones, so I don''t care about it." Qi Yan said so, and couldn''t help getting closer, smelling the scent of "Goddess of Hunting", and a storm of smell was set off at the tip of her nose.

    Having said that, she didn''t dare to ask herself whether she was following the rules and regulations, or using this as an excuse to approach this woman. Maybe both, but they''re deeply entangled she couldn''t help but ponder.

    She has been in love, has seen countless people, and has always been straightforward, so why would she worry about her one-night stand.

    "Ms. Qi, I can understand your work, but I am usually very busy and often need to call my daughter, so she still has to bring her mobile phone..." Lu Zhiqiao said lightly, with a lonely expression on her face, even with a trace of bitterness on her apologetic smile.

    "But I will tell her to not take it out at school, and don''t be seen by teachers and classmates."

    On the surface, the school''s regulations are like this, but it''s just for show. The number of students who secretly carry mobile phones are uncountable. Students use them during lunch breaks the tones and sounds became a little louder and spread to the teacher''s office across the corridor, but no one cared.

    But during class time, there would be instructors patrolling the corridor, and the while the class teacher will appear at the back door or outside the window from time to time, catching them by surprise.

    So there is an unspoken rule: you can bring your mobile phone but don''t get caught.

    Qi Yan wouldn''t say this outright, she just smiled and asked, "Oh, what for?"

    "..."

    "..."

    After a while, Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and remained silent.

    Qi Yan didn''t ask any more questions, and raised her hand to brush her hair. The straight and smooth hair slid through her fingers and scattered casually behind her shoulders. The rich black melted into a blood red silk, very charming.

    "I''ll turn a blind eye about the mobile phone."

    She tilted her head and smiled, the corners of her eyes and brows were full of tenderness, suddenly her upper body leaned over, and she lowered her voice: "For your sake "

    Lu Zhiqiao quietly watched her move her hair up, and before she could relax her thoughts, her lips suddenly became warm, and the familiar breath swept over continuously, strong and gentle, squeezing into her side of her seat.

    She is very fragrant, like a wine in the cellar, like a tea that has been precipitated.

    There were so many beauties in the bar, all of them were well-dressed and beautiful, but in Qi Yan''s eyes, they were just a single empty elemental symbol, but this woman was clean and clear, like an ocean, no one knows how deep and vast she is.

    The so-called love at first sight is more than liking to see.

    "Ok..."

    The sound of tangling water stains.

    This woman has rich experience, a veteran. Lu Zhiqiao''s mind was dizzy, and she responded subconsciously.

    She was right, she was really sensitive.

    "Shall we do it, huh?" Qi Yan suddenly stopped, holding her face with both hands, and pressing her forehead against it.

    The silk pajamas were sloppy, and after some movement just now, the loose collar fell further to the side, and the clavicle and shoulder blades were half hidden, like fresh snow covered by large red plum.

    Lu Zhiqiao struggled to look away from her shoulders, closed her eyes, "Ms. Qi, please respect yourself..."

    "Really?" Qi Yan kissed her tear mole, "That''s not what you said that night."

    "..."

    "..."

    The mention of it made all of Lu Zhiqiao''s self-restraints collapsed. Thinking of the memories of that night, her heart beats violently, and the beautiful cherry spread from her cheeks to her ears, and she was too embarrassed to speak.

    However, from the beginning to the end, she never struggled, nor did she ever think of pushing this person away.

    Qi Yan took the initiative to let her go, and gently picked up a strand of her tousled hair with her fingertips, pinned it behind the ear, and then slid it along the chin all the way to the tightly buttoned collar, staying for a while before withdrawing her hands.

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her eyes tremblingly and when she raised her head, she saw the picture of the naked woman her fingers tightened suddenly, and she hurriedly turned her face away."

    "That''s a body art photo I took." Qi Yan''s voice was as clear as water in her ear, she smiled, her expression was normal, and she didn''t seem to think there was anything wrong with hanging it in the living room.

    The details on the picture are vividly displayed, and at first glance it is inevitable that people will think it is a painting. Hearing this, Lu Zhiqiao glanced again, hummed in a low voice, and stood up uncomfortably: "I won''t bother Teacher Qi." She said with a polite smile, and walked quickly to the door.

    "Wait a minute."

    Qi Yan called to her, got up and entered the room, stayed in it for a while, then came out with a book and handed it to her.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at the cover of the book, the title was "Triple Doors" .

    "Give it to Lu Wei."

    The woman left for about half an hour. Qi Yan was sitting on the sofa covered with a blanket. Where Lu Zhiqiao had been sitting just now, she took out the cigarette case and lighter, and lit a cigarette.

    The smoke filled with fresh rose fragrance permeated, half of her charming and beautiful face was submerged, one leg was stretched out straight on the coffee table, the other leg was bent, her elbow rested on her knee, and she held the slender cigarette between her fingers, leaning lazily.

    Looking fascinated by the art photo, that face gradually changed into that of Lu Zhiqiao, her brows were so cold that even fireworks won''t spark, but her eyes were full of desire, and a tear mole was very touching. Even if you don''t get close, just looking at it from a distance, it is inevitable to be swept away.

    When she was very young, Qi Yan knew that she liked older women; elder sisters, or aunts. They have independent thoughts and rich experience, like the deep sky, you never know how high they are, like the vast sea , you never know how deep they are.

    They are tested by time, precipitated in the years, and exude a reassuring charm, attracting you to explore and understand. But she never seeks the care of them. On the contrary, she has a strong desire to protect them. She likes challenges and the pursuit of excitement.

    After looking for so many years, apart from her first love that is unforgettable to her heart, there is only this person in front of her.

    If Lu Zhiqiao can be her model, then she is willing to only pick up the camera for her in the future.

    But obviously this is impossible.

    Qi Yan laughed at herself, and took a sharp puff on the filter, a large section of the slender cigarette was instantly burned by sparks, and the ash fell on the tiled floor

    The mobile phone kept popping up WeChat notifications. She picked it up and looked at it. The home-school group was very lively. She don¡¯t know who sent a poll link, which aroused discussions among the parents. Somebody said something and it quickly sent dozens of string messages.

    Qi Yan posted a sentence: [Parents please don¡¯t chat in the group.]

    The most active ones are always those few, Cai xx mother, Hu xx mother, Ouyang xx father, Luo xx mother...The group was established relatively late, She had an impression of most of the parents who spoke in just one week, except for Lu Zhiqiao.

    No matter what she sent, assignments or notifications, there was no one in the series of "received", which once made her wonder if she was not in the group at all, which seemed obvious.

    The group went quiet.

    Qi Yan opened the member list, looked through the names one by one, and found "Lu Wei''s mother" - the profile picture was a field of violet flowers, and the nickname was a simple "Lu"

    She hesitated a little and clicked "add".

    Nowadays, people never leave their mobile phones, and WeChat is one of the most frequently used app. Adding friends should be very fast. With such thoughts in mind, Qi Yan waited until late at night and sent it three times, but the message was like a stone sinking into the sea without any response.

    The next day was Saturday, Qi Yan got up early in the morning, opened her eyes and saw that there was still no movement on WeChat, and she vaguely understood in her heart. She didn''t insist anymore, she warmed up after washing up, put on sports clothes and went for a run.

    Stepping out of the house, the open door of the elevator was about to close. She ran over in two or three steps, pressed the button outside, and the door slowly opened to both side.

    Seeing the person inside, Qi Yan smiled slightly, and took the initiative to say hello: "Good morning."

    After entering and closing the door, the closed and narrow space was filled with the smell of "Goddess of Hunting", sometimes cold, sometimes thick, tightly attached in her nose.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood on the right side with a serious expression. She was taken aback when she saw Qi Yan coming in, and then quickly looked away. She didn''t wear a shirt today, but she wore a light-colored silk scarf around her neck, which was still tightly covered.

    "Morning."

    "Working overtime on weekends?"

    "Business trip."

    The scent was like a condensate, freezing the air.

    The elevator descended floor by floor. She doesn''t know if it was an illusion, but the speed today was extremely slow. Qi Yan stared at the crack of the door, seemingly talking to herself: "Why didn''t you add me on WeChat?"

 CH 8

    Chapter 8: Hold On Tight

    The random questions and actions last night turned into temptations by accident. If you understand how the world works, you should understand that this means clear boundaries. Work is **, WeChat is also **, and all their interactions are just superficial.

    Originally, Qi Yan didn''t intend to ask, knowing that asking would be embarrassing, but when she met her early in the morning, she was standing in front of her, how could she hold back. In addition, there is still a hint of luck, maybe the other party didn''t read WeChat.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her head and glanced at her, her slender eyelashes drooped down, her lips squirmed, and she hesitated to speak.

    At this time, the elevator stopped slowly, and the number showed the fifth floor. With a "ding", the door opened.

    Two middle-aged uncles who looked like workers were carrying a bed entered. When they saw someone, they yelled: "Hey, please let us through."

    Lu Zhiqiao was about to back up, when suddenly Qi Yan grabbed her wrist and she was taken to the left, her body was thrown on Qi Yan thanks to inertia, and before she could react, two arms wrapped around her back, and she was tightly bound.

    The uncles carefully carried the bed boards in. Four people were squeezed into the already small space, and the two big bed boards made it even more cramped.

    The elevator continued to descend in silence.

    Because of the unstable center of gravity, Lu Zhiqiao supported her weight by holding on to the elevator railings with both hands, her cheeks were almost buried in Qi Yan''s neck. Burning sensation everywhere.

    The two of them were close together, and each could clearly feel the turbulence in front of the other. Qi Yan was afraid that she would bump into the corner of the bed, so she stretched out both hands, protecting her back while pressing into her arms.

    It''s very soft, judging from the last touch it''s C* at least.

    *if you know, you know

    Lu Zhiqiao was so stiff that she didn''t dare to move, but her face was getting hotter and hotter. This posture was very similar to that night when she was forced to sit on Qi Yan''s lap... and the hand on the back was the culprit. She floated up and down again and again.

    The gaze above her head couldn''t go away, she had to bury her face in Qi Yan''s hair, as if she was taking the initiative to throw herself into her arms, sniffing the light scent of shampoo in this woman''s hair, her heart rate increased steadily.

    Finally, the elevator stopped and the door opened. The uncles carried the bed and slowly moved out. She quickly broke free from the shackles, stepped back, and quickly walked out of the elevator.

    "Aren''t you going to the parking lot?" Qi Yan asked softly, pressing the door for her.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, then realized that she went off on the first floor, turned back, and pressed the basement floor button.

    There were only the two of them left in the elevator, and even if she didn''t want to answer any more, she couldn''t be too rude considering that Qi Yan is her daughter''s teacher, so she thought about it: "If Teacher Qi has anything to say, you can call or send a text message. You should know my cell phone number."

    She saw the message last night, the first time, reason told her it was a crime, the second time, she was a little shaken, the third time, she began to hesitate, her thumb hung on the screen for a long time, but in the end still didn''t press down.

    If Qi Yan had sent a request the fourth time, she might not be able to help but agree.

    She didn''t know what was driving her, and she didn''t know what she thought about this woman, as if everything happened so naturally, and it came unexpectedly.

    A sliver of luck was shattered.

    Qi Yan''s expression darkened, but she didn''t make a sound, and she didn''t refute.

    Soon the elevator door opened again, and the outside was a rough gray cement wall with dim lights.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t move, feeling that she had done something wrong, she glanced sideways at Qi Yan, then quickly looked away, feeling even more guilty.

    "Go." Qi Yan smiled, "You shouldn''t be late."

    "..."

    On Sunday afternoon, Qi Yan received a call from her mother asking her to go home for dinner.

    The house is located in the villa compound of Ninghu District in the southernmost part of Jiangcheng, where rich people gather. It is adjacent to Ninghu Wetland Forest Park.

    Qi Yan often jokes that she is the daughter of a nouveau riche, even though she is an absolutely low-key rich second generation in the eyes of her friends.

    Qi''s father started a business in his early years, dabbled in all kinds of industries, earned a little money, and became a small entepreneur. Later he opened a factory to do OEM. Just in 2001 when the country joined the WTO, the foreign trade industry was booming, large and small import and export companies sprung up like mushrooms after the spring rain, the demand for supply increased, and the business in the factory became more and more prosperous. Eventually became a tycoon.

    Up to now, Qi''s factories can form a group, the largest of which specializes in the processing of electronic product parts, and the partners are all large companies.

    Even so, their family still claims to be a "nouveau riche family".

    Qi Yan drove her car into the gate of the yard. There were three people in this family, and one of the three parking spaces is empty. She got out of the car and went into the house. She glanced at the floor mat and knew that her father was not there, so she went straight up to the third floor.

    "Mom, I''m back."

    The balcony is well lit, and a middle-aged beautiful woman is leaning on the chaise longue, with a fat orange cat lying in her arms, her eyes are fixed on the phone screen without blinking, and she is concentrated on it. The old lady didn''t even notice when she approached.

    "Meow¡ª" the orange cat called out, stretching out a paw.

    Qi Yan gently held the paw, turned to look at her mother, Ms. Lin, and said helplessly, "Looking at Xiao Xianrou* again, someone will be jealous later."

    *translated as "little fresh meat" meaning handsome young men usually used to refer to rising male celebrities.

    Her parents started from scratch when they were young, and they supported each other all the way. They have been close to thirty years, and their relationship has always been very good. After half a century, they have money and leisure, and they live a very comfortable life. However, in recent years, Ms. Lin has become obsessed with the little fresh meat in the TV series, and she shouted for three days to find a young boyfriend. Although she was joking, Dad Qi was not less jealous.

    Ms. Lin frowned, raised her hand to grab her arm, and murmured: "It''s terrible... Yanyan, look at this." She turned the phone around.

    The screen is not Xiao Xianrou, but a Weibo news: In a key middle school somewhere a second-year junior high school student was criticized by the teacher for failing to hand in his homework. Fourteen years of age does not need to bear criminal responsibility.

    "Students nowadays are terrible. A word of criticism and they will kill people. This is still a key middle school. Yan Yan, being a teacher is so dangerous, you still..." Ms. Lin''s face paled, and she muttered, Her arms trembled involuntarily, and the orange cat Tuanzi* in her arms almost fell off.

    *cat name means dumplings

    "Mom¡ª" Qi Yan interrupted her with a smile, and reached out to pick up Tuanzi, "It''s not that bad, it''s just an isolated case."

    Ms. Lin frowned: "You aren''t afraid of 1 in 10,000 cases. But if it happens to you, it''s still a hundred percent."

    "You''re telling me like, not to drive at all since, so many people die in car accidents every year."

    "..."

    "..."

    Qi Yan sat down with the Tuanzi in her arms, gently stroking the soft orange hair on its back with her palm, Tuanzi squinted his eyes in comfort, his fluffy tail dangled leisurely, looking like a grandpa.

    "Yanyan, Mom is worried about you. Being a teacher is not as good as it used to be. When you were a child, the teacher had a high status, they could beat students, scold and reprimand them at will if they made a mistake. Now? After dealing with unreasonable parents today, I have to worry about whether you will be stabbed to death by a student tomorrow, not to mention other messy things..."

    Ms. Lin couldn''t stop her chatterbox, she babbled endlessly.

    The daughter is not interested in inheriting the family business and wants to do what she likes, but as a parent, she is always reluctant to let her child be wronged.

    Qi Yan listened in her ears, but just pretended not to understand, and silently patted master Tuanzi. When it was happy, it stretched its legs on its back and turned its belly, hugged her hand with its two paws, and meowed.

    "Mom."

    "Huh?" Ms. Lin finally stopped.

    "There are more good people in this world."

    "But¡ª"

    "Everything has its pros and cons. Although I was once pissed off by some students, I feel relieved when I think about how innocent and lovely most of the children are. There is no need to worry about work, as the boss still has to pay wages, I will weigh and consider these things myself, you can chase after your little fresh meat with peace of mind." Qi Yan smiled and comforted her, and leaned towards her cheek to kiss.

    The corner of Ms. Lin''s mouth twitched, she shook her head and sighed: "Hey, I''m just telling you, that''s all."

    The mother and daughter chatted for a while, and in the evening, the nanny aunt bought vegetables and came back to cook, and Papa Qi also came back.

    He usually stays at home with his wife on weekends, but today he went to the factory for temporary business. He was reluctant when he left in the morning. Now he entered the house with a smile on his face, his face was wrinkled, and he didn''t ask any questions. As if by magic, he took out the presents he had bought for the mother and daughter.

    After the whole family sat down at the dinner table, he said solemnly, "Xinbei wants to cooperate with us."

    "Which Xinbei?" "

    "Xinbei Group."

    "Hey¡ª" Ms. Lin sneered, "What goes around, comes around."

    Papa Qi also laughed, both sarcastic and proud.

    Qi Yan didn''t know what kind of riddles her parents were playing, but she felt confused. Ms. Lin picked up a chopstick dish for her and explained: "This company is very proud. We talked about a cooperation earlier, but they didn''t like our scale. We were too small like a workshop, so I regretted it temporarily, probably when you were in high school.¡±

    ¡°Later, I found a foreign-funded factory, but it closed down this year due to policy issues, and the supply of goods could not be supplied.¡± Qi¡¯s father continued .

    At this point, Qi Yan roughly understood.

    To put it in a vulgar saying: Today you ignore me, but tomorrow I will be unattainable.

    The Qi family is very cautious in selecting partners now, and the assessment process is also cumbersome and complicated. After all, they have a great reputation, and they must cherish their feathers. Not all cats and dogs can fall in love with them.*

    *basically mean not anyone can do business with them now

    "I have a friend who works at the headquarters of the Xinbei Group. Do you want me to find her some other day?" Qi Yan pondered, "She doesn''t know about my family situation."

    The couple stared blankly at each other, and Dad Qi took a sip of the table wine after drinking wine, he asked, "What position?"

    "The project supervisor of the foreign trade branch should be middle management?" Qi Yan was a little uncertain. After staying in school for a long time, she was not familiar with the job levels in private companies.

    "It''s useless, at least you have to be at the director level to know some specific inside information." Father Qi shook his head.

    "That''s not necessarily true." Ms. Lin looked at her daughter, "Yanyan, find an excuse to visit your friend at the Xinbei headquarters some other day, treat him to a meal, and talk face-to-face..."

    Qi Yan made an ok gesture "Leave it to me."

    A new week is coming, and the final exam is getting closer. The Spring Festival will come early next year, which means that the holiday will also be early. Teachers of all subjects are speeding up the progress intentionally or unconsciously, so as to leave some time for students to review.

    On Tuesday morning, Qi Yan got up late, and when she got down to the parking lot, she remembered that she had a license plate ban for today and couldn''t drive.

    After a few minutes of delay, a taxi at this point would be blocked. In desperation, she squeezed her way to the subway for the first time since work, and arrived at the office before class. There are two classes in the morning, class three and class two, respectively the first and second quarters.

    In the middle of the second class, her mobile phone on the podium suddenly vibrated.

    Caller ID "Qiao".

 CH 9

    At the beginning of the school term in September, the phone numbers of all the parents of the students in the class were registered. Qi Yan made them into a form file and stored them in the computer and mobile phone at the same time. And after the parents'' meeting that day, she went back and took out Lu Zhiqiao''s number and saved it in the phone book.

    Note "Qiao".

    It lay quietly in the address book list, never rang, nor was it searched, even if it was accidentally seen by others, it would be impossible to guess who it was.

    The classroom was very quiet, and the vibration sounded abrupt. Qi Yan never answered  phone calls in class, but the moment she saw the note, her heart felt as if it was being gently scratched by a cat''s paw. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she was stunned on the podium for a few seconds, countless thoughts and conjectures flashed through her mind, and she finally pressed the reject button.

    The call didn''t come back, and the second half of the class became extraordinarily long.

    When the bell rang to signal the end of class, Qi Yan grabbed her mobile phone and walked out of the classroom quickly. As if the soles of her feet were blown by wind, she dug out the call records and called back.

    "I was in class just now, so it''s inconvenient to answer the phone." As soon as she connected, she explained without waiting for the other party to speak, and then asked eagerly, "What''s the matter?"

    "Ms. Qi, I''m sorry to disturb you."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s gentle and clear voice was as polite and apologetic as ever.

    "When I parked the car just now, I accidentally bumped into your car. Let''s talk about compensation when you come back."

    At that moment, Qi Yan suddenly felt her whole body being thrown high and fell heavily. When she got down, she took a breath and asked an irrelevant question: "Aren''t you going to work today?"

    Qi Yan''s responded nonchalantly as she leaned her elbows on the railing of the corridor, her eyes narrowed slightly due to the sunlight, and her brows were wrinkled.

    "Teacher Qi?"

    "I still have class in the afternoon, and I''ll be back around three o''clock. You take a picture of the place you hit and send it to my WeChat. We''ll talk about the rest when I get back." Qi Yan said lightly, twisting slightly, the center of her brows gradually loosened and flattened, and then the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

    There was a pause on the other line, and she said ok.

    After hanging up the phone, Qi Yan didn''t enter the classroom for a long time, standing in the corridor in a daze.

    When the car was hit, normal people would be unhappy to some extent, but she was not. She didn''t care about the condition of the car, where she was hit, or how she was hit. She just felt that it was a blessing in disguise, and she was secretly happy.

    At this time, the screen of the phone turned on, and a WeChat message popped up.

    The person who resisted in every possible way two days ago have to take the initiative to add friends today. It must be awkward, right? Qi Yan looked at the phone and laughed. After passing the verification, the woman sent five photos in a row.

    She didn''t read it, and changed the other party''s ID to "Qiao", and pinned it on the top, with a star.

    Back in the afternoon, Qi Yan went to the parking lot to take a look at her car.

    The right headlight shade was cracked, the paint surface was scratched with mottled black marks, and a large piece of paint was rubbed off at the junction of the front cover and the headlight, revealing an ugly gap. She didn''t care, and called the insurance company, saying that she had accidentally hit a wall with her car, and then sent a message to Lu Zhiqiao.

    [I''m home, come here]

    Just at this time, she received a text message from the courier station. She went to pick up the courier and went upstairs with a big box in her arms.

    While entering the room to wash her hands and change clothes, there was a knock on the door, and Qi Yan pushed the box to the coffee table with her feet, and opened the door.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood outside, looking a little tired, but still smiled at her apologetically, "Ms. Qi."

    Qi Yan hummed, motioned for her to come in without saying a word.

    "I''ve already reported the matter to the insurance company about the car, and then¡ª" Lu Zhiqiao said as she changed her shoes. The pair of slippers she wore last time were still neatly placed beside the floor mat, as if they were waiting for her specially.

    "No rush, sit down." Qi Yan smiled softly, grabbed her wrist naturally, and sat down on the sofa.

    The bold and revealing body art photo is still hanging on the opposite side. The woman in the photo is staring at them for a moment, as if she could come out of it at any time. Lu Zhiqiao was very uncomfortable, so she had to lower her head slightly and lower her eyelids.

    Qi Yan didn''t say anything, opened the drawer and took out a utility knife, moved the box next to the coffee table, and cut the tape along the gap - she opened the express by herself.

    A box full of colorful set of finger cots.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched from the side, her head buzzed, her face flushed, she hurriedly looked away, pretending to look away absent-mindedly.

    Qi Yan had a panoramic view of her embarrassment, raised the corners of her lips, and did not reveal it, and tidied it up slowly. This box of finger sleeves was mixed. There are styles such as glossy, pop beads, and floating points. There are also small toys as gifts. She prefers to change patterns.

    The sound continued for a while, Lu Zhiqiao was extremely embarrassed, her fingers were tightly crossed, and the temperature on her face poured down into her internal organs. Suddenly, some messy things came to mind, and she unconsciously thought of that night.

    After all, even if she is in her thirties, she had very little experience in this field, so she blushed when she saw such a thing.

    Finally, Qi Yan moved the box to a corner.

    "The car, it''s a bit tricky."

    The position beside her was slightly sunken, and as soon as Lu Zhiqiao turned her head, she saw Qi Yan playing with a box of blue finger gloves. After saying this, she just tore off the plastic seal.

    She couldn''t avoid it, she blushed and watched the woman unpack the box, "Does it mean it''s hard to repair, or¡ª"

    "The headlights are easy to repair, but the paint is more troublesome." Qi Yan said casually, the box had already been opened, but she didn''t take out the contents, but threw it aside, looked up at Lu Zhiqiao.

    "Imported paint from the original factory, even if you have money, you may not be able to buy it."

    "Even if the reservation is made, I still have to wait for it to be delivered, which means that I will be on the road with scratches during this period, which will affect my mood. Tell me, how should the mental stress be compensated?"

    "?¡±

    With a gentle and soft voice, she smiled in her eyes, leaning over while talking, and her warm breath sprayed directly on her face.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned back slightly, trying to avoid it, but Qi Yan moved faster, put one hand behind her head and the other clamped her chin, pressed her thin and moist lips against her, touched her flatteringly, and then bit her mercilessly slowly going down.

    But she didn''t really use strength, it was very light, as if she was sucking.

    The sudden stimulus exploded like fireworks, Lu Zhiqiao''s breathing stopped for a few seconds, her heart was beating violently and rapidly, and an indescribable excitement and impulse flooded into her brain, higher than the alcohol that night. She subconsciously hugged Qi Yan''s shoulders with both hands, and slowly closed her eyes.

    At such a moment again, Qi Yan left her lips, leaned into her ear and whispered: "Be my model, okay?"

    The temperature suddenly disappeared, and before Lu Zhiqiao could react, she was shocked by her words, opened her eyes to look at the artistic photo, and was instantly sober, full of resistance in her heart.

    "No need to take off your clothes." Qi Yan added, kissing her earlobe.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s lips moved, but before she could say anything, the phone rang, she hurriedly pushed Qi Yan away to get the phone, it was the customer service number of the insurance company.

    Just after saying a few words, Qi Yan snatched the phone, put it to her ear, and said lazily, "Hello, I''m the owner of the car that was hit. There''s no need to pay. We''ll settle it privately. Goodbye." Hang up immediately and hide the phone behind her.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her quietly, her eyes turned from doubt to complicated, and she felt very uncomfortable.

    She understands what Qi Yan means, but it is precisely because she understands that she feels that it should not be so. She never asks for help unless it is absolutely necessary. After all, it is more troublesome to owe favors than money.

    "I still have to pay, I don''t want to owe anyone anything."

    "Then pay me with yourself."

    "Qi Yan, you are my daughter''s teacher."

    "You finally called me by my name."

    "You..."

    Qi Yan stretched out her arm, hooked it around Lu Zhiqiao''s waist, and said softly, "I mean, you being my model is the best compensation. How about that, huh?"

    At the first smell of this fragrance, she felt cold and indifferent, but after a long time, she can smell the undercurrent of emotion, the transition from the facade to the real feelings within, just like her, the kindling is buried deep under the glacier.

    She has seen through her.

    There is always a hint of slyness in such a gentle smile, like playing with prey with great interest after catching it. Lu Zhiqiao realized that she had been manipulated, and couldn''t help but feel annoyed secretly. She usually doesn''t show her emotions easily and is used to being calm and reserved, but she was vulnerable in front of this woman, and was confused by a few words.

    "I like photography in my spare time. I shoot people and landscapes. It would be better if the people and the scenery blend together, but it''s not easy to find a model that catches my eye. I think you fit my aesthetics very well." Qi Yan touched her face with the tip of his nose, with a sincere tone.

    "Promise me."

    The breath came and went, warm and she couldn''t avoid it, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t say no at all, her mind was dizzy, and she nodded vaguely.

    Qi Yan curled the corners of her mouth, and smiled slightly at the ends of her eyes and brows. Her bright red lips were reflected in her swaying eyes, and her heart was itchy, so she couldn''t help kissing her...

 CH 10

    As soon as the kiss went deeper, Qi Yan let go of Lu Zhiqiao at the right time, and seeing her restrained and suppressed expression, she suddenly felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.

    She said that she is the child''s teacher, which means that in her opinion, two people should not have a relationship beyond the established scope. That night was an accident, and it can be regarded as nothing happened, and it is impossible to continue like this.

    Why not? Qi Yan couldn''t understand.

    When she first entered the school, her mentor told her that there are three bottom lines that cannot be touched, one is accepting gift money, the other is beating and scolding students, and the third is teacher-student love.

    Teenagers are not deeply involved in the world, their thinking is relatively simple, and they are ignorant. In a relatively closed campus environment, the only people they come into contact with most often are classmates and teachers. In a sense, teachers are their "one piece of sky", so It is easy to develop admiration for their teachers and take this admiration as love.

    Feelings in an unequal relationship are like a mirror image and cannot be counted.

    But she and Lu Zhiqiao are not in a teacher-student relationship, they are both single, and have never touched any moral bottom line, but for some reason, she keeps hearing "violating morality" in the other party''s mouth.

    The two sat quietly, staring at each other silently. Lu Zhiqiao''s thin lips were half-opened, and she was panting lowly with a red face, so the silence at this moment was very clear. After a long while, she looked away, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll go back."

    "Let''s go to Ninghu Park to shoot this weekend?" Qi Yan grabbed the back of her hand, her voice calm.

    "I have a business trip."

    "You always seem to be very busy."

    These words seemed to hit Lu Zhiqiao''s weak point, her grasped hand curled up, her eyes were filled with infinite desolation, but it was only for a moment, soon it was clear again. "It''s a very important work, I have to go."

    She rarely said a few more words, even if it didn''t contain any useful information. Qi Yan looked at her drooping eyelashes, suddenly became greedy, and asked softly, "When will you be back?"

    "About next Monday."

    "You''re not at home, so Lu Wei will be alone?"

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, her curled fingers clenched into fists, and with a little force, her nails poked into her palm, "Well, she can take care of herself."

    The hand that wrapped her was also tight, and the temperature was scorching. She came back to her senses and struggled to pull away. Qi Yan wanted to say something more, but she swallowed the words, and let go of her hand little by little as she struggled...

    ...

    Autumn in Jiangcheng was cold and rainy, and the temperature dropped seven or eight degrees after the rain, and the cold air was menacing , the sky was buried by thick and heavy clouds, and the sun was evasive for the whole week.

    A few children in the class caught a cold, and they coughed one after another during class. Qi Yan told the parents in the group to pay attention to their children''s health. She also put on warm fleece pants, and the teachers in the office even had a thermos. Uninterrupted hot water every day.

    When she was still young, she was not afraid to drink cold water in the winter, and she needed to keep in style with her clothes regardless of the weather but now she is almost thirty, she gradually began to pay attention to her health.

    There were a few showers over the weekend, and it was freezing cold outside.

    Qi Yan sent the car to be repaired, then went to her parents'' house for dinner, and took a taxi back around three o''clock in the afternoon. It didn''t rain when she went out, but now the rain is falling outside.

    The taxi stopped at the gate of the complex, and the window glass was covered with fog. She paid the fare and got out of the car, held an umbrella and walked in. As soon as she entered the unit door, she saw a thin figure standing in front of the elevator, waiting for the lift to come down.

    "Lu Wei?"

    The little girl stood there with her head bowed, wearing a purple autumn dress, holding the schoolbag in front of her with both hands, her shoulders trembling slightly, she turned her head when she heard the sound, her beautiful and white face was covered with tears. There were water drops, and the wet hair on the girls forehead stuck to the skin, which was very embarrassing.

    "Hi, Teacher Qi." She spoke with a strong nasal voice, her voice was a little hoarse, and she looked at Qi Yan with her dark eyes in surprise.

    Only then did Qi Yan realize that she was drenched all over, like a drowned chicken, she hurriedly stepped forward to support her shoulders, frowning and said, "Where have you been? How did you get soaked like this?"

    "I forgot to bring my umbrella during piano lessons."

    Lu Wei said truthfully, sniffed, and coughed twice after speaking.

    Qi Yan was taken aback for a moment, the child looked well during class on Friday, and she hadn''t seen her with a cold like this, but now she was caught in the rain, accidentally causing complications. She was about to ask why her mother didn''t pick her up but she suddenly remembered that Lu Zhiqiao said a few days ago that she was going on a business trip on the weekend and the child will be home alone.

    The elevator stopped on the first floor, and the door slowly opened.

    Qi Yan took the girl in and went up to the ninth floor, "Isn''t your mother not at home?" She said as she led her to 901 with an anxious tone, "Take off your wet clothes quickly and take a hot bath."

    Lu Wei glanced at her in surprise, wondering how the teacher knew that her mother was not there, and turned her head to the door, feeling a little panicked, "Ms. Qi, I can do it myself..."

    Since Qi Yan confiscated her mobile phone in class last time, and let her mother take it, she became a little afraid of her, even though her mother didn''t say any words of reproach when she came back that day. In her heart, a teacher is a teacher after all. No matter how beautiful they are, or how gentle they are occasionally, their relationship will never be equal. If they can''t be friends, they won''t be able to get along comfortably.

    The girl''s voice was like a mosquito, but Qi Yan instantly snap back.

    Her mentor also warned her that it is enough to be a teacher and do her duty well, and she must not be overwhelmed by maternal heart and control too much or too leniently. It''s hard to argue.

    As a teacher, she should fulfill her responsibilities in the classroom, and after class, she has no need to take care of the students.

    After all, the status of a teacher is different today than it used to be.

    Qi Yan pulled her hand that was holding the kid''s shoulder, hanging in the air, although she held herself back, she still can''t help but be worried and told Lu Wei, "Dry your hair immediately after taking a shower, turn on the air conditioner, remember to take cold medicine, if you have any If you feel uncomfortable, just call me, or go to my unit to find me."

    After speaking, she smiled and patted the girl''s head.

    Lu Wei nodded obediently: "Okay."

    She watched the girl enter the room and close the door. She stood there staring blankly until her legs felt a little numb, then she woke up in her daze and turned to go home.

    The days in autumn and winter are short, and it gets dark before six o''clock. The tall buildings in the city are lit up with lights, and there is still a cold rain outside, and a layer of misty water vapor is condensed on the windows.

    Qi Yan prepared her meal, thinking of Lu Wei that was alone at home, she prepared to call her over for dinner. A few steps away, she just stepped out of the house, followed the light and looked at the number 901 on the opposite house, her legs froze in place.

    Mentor''s  words echoed in her ears repeatedly, constantly ringing her alarm bell.

    She once had a kind heart, and took the initiative to send a boy who was far away home. As a result, the boy lied about his address and went to another place to play outside after she left. The parents found that the child hadn''t come home after they got off work, so they called the head teacher, and then rushed to the school to find someone. After watching the surveillance, they insisted that she was plotting against the students, while she was having dinner at home.

    This incident alarmed the higher up. Fortunately, the boy went home by himself and explained the truth to his parents, so the misunderstanding was resolved.

    She still has lingering fears.

    ¡ª¡ªQi Yan, put away your naive heart, other people''s children have nothing to do with you.

    The so-called "others" are not others, but Lu Zhiqiao. Although they have no relationship, they are not strangers either.

    Qi Yan held on to the wall with her hands, and the cold touch shook her bones. She withdrew her hand, her eyelashes trembling under the bright light, and finally gave up the idea and returned to the room.

    The rain has not stopped, and the deeper the night, the heavier it falls.

    It was approaching ten o''clock, Qi Yan finished her preparations and went to bed early, scrolling her phone while applying a facial mask. In the home-school group, several parents were discussing homework. She glanced roughly, and quit without saying a word.

    There has never been a red dot in the chat box with the star mark on the top. After adding friends that day, except for the photo of the car sent by Lu Zhiqiao, the two have never chatted. The message page time shows Tuesday, and several days have passed without knowing it.

    Countless times she wanted to say something, she repeatedly clicked on the keyboard with her fingertips, edited and deleted one sentence, but never sent it.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s circle of friends is very clean, but also very boring. There are no photos or daily routines, and she only reposts some news links every now and then. From the content, it can be roughly inferred that she is in a sales-related industry, so it is not difficult to understand why she is always so busy.

    The rain outside the window made a ticking sound on the leaves, the air-conditioning heater was blowing leisurely, and the orange light by the bed lit up the whole bedroom, which was warm and soft.

    Qi Yan was fascinated by staring at Lu Zhiqiao''s WeChat avatar, the large piece of elegant and noble Violet was just like her. Watching and watching, Violet gradually turned into purple clothes, she thought of Lu Wei again.

    When she saw the little girl in the afternoon, she had a stuffy nose and a cough, she looked sick, and there were no adults at home, it was so pitiful, she was still not at ease.

    Putting down the phone, lying down with her eyes closed for a while, she suddenly sat up like a corpse, threw off the mask on her face, threw it into the trash can, went to the bathroom to wash her face, then put on some clothes, grabbed the key and went out, and rang the door across

    Even after knocking and ringing the doorbell, no one opened it for a long time.

    Qi Yan was worried but thinking that the child might have fallen asleep, she didn''t knock again, and was about to turn around and go back to the room when the door suddenly opened.

    A ray of light leaked out, and the room was brightly lit.

    "Qi...cough cough...Ms. Qi...cough..." Lu Wei was wrapped in a thick blanket, with a sleepy expression, her whole face was so red that she looked like she was about to bleed, and she kept talking. Coughing and shaking uncontrollably.

    Qi Yan frowned, raised her hand to reach her forehead.

 CH 11

    Lu Wei''s temperature under her palm was scorching hot, Qi Yan''s breathing was stagnant, and her heart suddenly clenched.

    The child had a fever, and she was stuck at home without saying a word. She was so cold that she would rather wrap herself in a blanket than call her. Fortunately, she came over to take a look, otherwise, if it went on like this, she might die the next day. Her brain is burned out.

    At that moment, she was both scared and angry, and said anxiously: "Didn''t I say to call me when you are not feeling well? You don''t even know you have a fever?" While speaking, she dragged the kid into the room and closed the door with her backhand.

    "Where''s the thermometer?"

    The air conditioner in the living room is running, and the air is warm but dry. Lu Wei is pressed to sit on the sofa, curled up with a shivering body, and her voice is hoarse: "TV...cough...cough cough below the cabinet..."

    She coughed badly, and Qi Yan became more and more worried when she heard it, she rummaged through the cabinets to find a thermometer, and quickly took her temperature. Looking at the girl''s flushed little face, her anger disappeared without a trace, leaving only uncontrollable distress.

    Maybe it''s because of getting older, every time she sees a well-behaved and beautiful little girl, her heart is filled with softness, and she can''t help being flooded with maternal love. Although it is not her own child, the feeling of motherhood seems to be common, and she can''t say why.

    "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" After waiting for a few minutes, Qi Yan poured a glass of warm water for Lu Wei to drink, and gently patted her back with her palm, her voice unconsciously soft.

    Lu Wei had to stop to cough after taking a sip of water. She clutched the blanket tightly with her little hand and pressed it against her chest, making a sound like a cat moaning: "Here...cough cough...it hurts..." Coughing hard and  gasping hard in between as if she couldn''t breathe, with crystal clear tears dripping from the corners of her eyes.

    That place is¡ª

    The lungs? heart?

    Qi Yan''s expression suddenly became solemn, and her brows tightly knit into a ball.

    Recently, the temperature dropped sharply, and many people caught colds. She thought that the child just had a bad cold because of the weather, and she would be fine after taking some medicine and resting. However, chest pains and difficulty breathing accompanied the symptoms of the cold. Perhaps, this isn''t that simple as she thought.

    After a while, Lu Wei took the initiative to take out the thermometer, Qi Yan took it and looked by the light -  40¡ã C!

    "No, we have to go to the hospital..." She said to herself, put the thermometer on the coffee table, and gathered the blanket for the girl, "Lu Wei, wait here for me, don''t close the door." She quickly got up and left as she finished speaking.

    Qi Yan went back to her unit, dressed up and packed, took a down jacket of her own and put it on Lu Wei, then helped her go downstairs, and took a taxi to the children''s hospital.

    The night wind outside was cold and the rain was still falling. Lu Wei was dizzy from fever, her eyelids drooped, and she curled up motionless in Qi Yan''s arms, breathing heavily through her nose. She kept trembling, momentarily anxious.

    She can''t help but be angry at Lu Zhiqiao, because it doesn''t make sense to leave the child alone at home when she''s busy with work. What about grandparents? What about relatives such as aunts and uncles?

    There are a lot of people in the children''s hospital, ranging from 11 or 12 years old to a few months old, brought by their parents. There was a long queue in the clinic, but also because there were so many people, eight consultation rooms were opened tonight, and the queue was fairly fast.

    Outside the clinic is full of parents, most of whom were young mothers. Their children were very young, and some were holding them in their arms and crying non-stop. Qi Yan looked at them, and unconsciously hugged Lu Wei tightly, thinking that she had become a mother too.

    When it was their turn, Lu Wei was very cooperative with the doctor, asking questions and answering, trying to express clearly even if she was dizzy with the fever, and then the doctor ordered a chest X-ray, and finally diagnosed mild pneumonia and needed an IV shot.

    There was crying and howling in the infusion room.

    The nurse gave Lu Wei the injection, the little girl was a little scared, she shrank her neck and burrowed into Qi Yan''s arms, then suddenly remembered something, and didn''t move anymore - this is the teacher, not her mother, she should be more obedient.

    Qi Yan naturally felt the child''s fear, so she hugged her tightly and comforted her softly: "Don''t be afraid, sister nurse will be gentle." After speaking, she smiled at the little nurse.

    There was a small head buried in front of her, and it was so warm that her heart almost melted. Who doesn''t like a beautiful, well-behaved yet silly child?

    "I''ll call your mother first." With the needle inserted, Qi Yan calmed down temporarily, poured a cup of hot water for the child, and took out her phone.

    "Don''t...cough..." Lu Wei spoke weakly, raised her red face, and looked at her pitifully, "Mom is very busy...cough...don''t disturb her..."

    Qi Yan froze, the girl''s immature face was reflected in her amber eyes, and she repeated her words in her heart, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

    Where can you find such a well-behaved child, who is so sensible that it makes people feel distressed.

    "Okay, then we won''t tell mom." Qi Yan said softly, her heart softened a little, she patted her head lovingly, and let her lean in front of her.

    The infusion took a long time, and the night gradually deepened.

    It was already one o''clock in the morning, the room was brightly lit, and the children were crying intermittently. Lu Wei leaned against Qi Yan''s arms and fell asleep. Qi Yan was so energetic that she didn''t dare to fall asleep, she became a a human pillow and she didn''t dare to move her limbs, for fear of waking the kid up.

    The girl''s eyes were closed tightly, her delicate little nose was a little red, and her breathing was still heavy and hot. Qi Yan stared at her sick face with lowered eyes, a warm current gushed out from the bottom of her heart, slowly flowing all over her body, the corners of her mouth couldn''t help but curl up, full of thoughts for a while.

    In fact, she doesn''t need to meddle in other''s business. After all, the girl is not her own child and has no obligation or responsibility to take care of her. In addition, she has learned from the past, which is enough for her to have a long memory and avoid it. But she thought of Lu Zhiqiao, and thought of the desolation and helplessness in the other party''s eyes that day, her heart seemed to be wrapped in something, it was indescribably heavy, her brain had no time to think, and her behavior was out of control.

    Or maybe it was because the child was so pitiful and sick that she couldn''t bear to see her left unattended, so she took the risk on her own initiative, regardless of the consequences.

    Or maybe are both, she can''t figure out which is which, she can''t tell if it is because of her overflowing maternal heart or because of Lu Zhiqiao.

    ...

    After hanging the needle, at two o''clock in the morning, the rain stopped outside.

    Considering that there was no one in Lu Wei''s family, Qi Yan took her back to her own home. She thought the child would be very resistant, but she was unexpectedly obedient. Took medicine, lie down on the bed obediently.

    The air conditioner was turned on in the bedroom, and the orange table lamp was warm and soft. The little girl was lied motionless on the right side of the bed under the quilt, her eyelids half-closed and still refusing to close. She still coughed, and her forehead was still a little hot, but her face was not so red.

    Qi Yan filled a thermos cup with hot water and put it on the bedside, stroking her forehead with her palm, and said with a gentle smile, "Go to sleep, mom will be back tomorrow."

    "Teacher Qi..cough cough...won''t you sleep... "

    "When you fall asleep, I''ll sleep."

    "Okay"

    Lu Wei closed her eyes obediently, coughing and coughing, Qi Yan dimmed the light of the desk lamp, lifted the quilt and sat on the left side of the bed, picking up her phone, she quietly took a short video of her.

    Open the WeChat and send it to Lu Zhiqiao.

    [Lu Wei has a fever, it''s mild pneumonia, I took her to the hospital for an injection, and she is now at my home, just took the medicine and fell asleep]

    [Her condition is stable now, don''t worry]

    After thinking about it, Qi Yan subconsciously felt that Lu Zhiqiao was not that kind of parent who will make trouble for no reason, but the she shoul always let the other party know when her daughter is sick. She''ll probably be able to see the message tomorrow morning.

    At some point, the coughing stopped, and the sound of even breathing gradually sounded in the room.

    The next morning, Qi Yan was woken up by the ringing of her phone.

    She grabbed the phone and looked at it. The caller showed "Qiao", and her chaotic mind suddenly woke up. Before she could speak, she heard Lu Zhiqiao''s anxious voice: "Ms. Qi, I''m at your door...

    "Come."

    After Qi Yan finished speaking, she hangs up, got up quickly, and pulled on her slippers to open the door.

 CH 12

    Once she opened the door,  Lu Zhiqiao stood outside with a tired expression and messy hair.

    "Ms. Qi¡ª" She let go of the suitcase handle in her hand, grabbed Qi Yan''s wrist, her bloodshot eyes showed worry, "How is Niu Niu?"

    It was the first time that she was in such a mess. Qi Yan was so surprised that she came back to her senses after a while, held her hand instead, and said in a warm voice: "Her fever has subsided and she is still sleeping. Go in and have a look." Pointing to her room.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s hands were cold, and her whole body was covered with the smell of wind and frost. She didn''t care about being polite at all, changed her shoes, and rushed into the big bedroom eagerly. A gust of cool wind poured into the room following her movements, Qi Yan shivered, and took the suitcase inside.

    The room was a little dark because the curtains hadn''t been opened yet. The girl lay on her side and curled up under the quilt with her eyes closed and breathing evenly. She didn''t seem to be disturbed by the outside world and slept soundly.

    Lu Zhiqiao gently sat on the side of the bed, reaching her hand out to touch her daughter''s face, when she remembered that her hand was too cold, she drew back, put it on her neck and covered it, and only caressed the child''s tender face and forehead, when it was warmed up.

    Confirming that the high fever subsided, she let out a long sigh and the heart hanging in her throat was finally put back into her chest.

    Qi Yan leaned against the door, staring silently, she saw her put her hand on her neck and covered it for a while before touching the child, saw her slender eyelashes trembling weakly in the dim light, saw the corners of her mouth lift little by little, The thin lips parted slightly to exhale, but she couldn''t see the emotion in her eyes.

    She walked over lightly, squatted beside Lu Zhiqiao, but her eyes fell on the girl''s face, and she whispered: "The temperature has dropped these days, and many children in the class have caught colds. Lu Wei may have been infected. I ran into her yesterday afternoon. Coming back from piano lessons..."

    She briefly talked about the general situation, ignoring her inner conflict at that time.

    "I''m not qualified to judge anyone, but your daughter is so young, it''s really inappropriate for you to leave her alone at home." Qi Yan''s voice was very soft, but it was a tone of complaint.

    Lu Zhiqiao listened quietly, frowning, her eyes were full of guilt and self-blame, she took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "I''m sorry..." Apologizing to Qi Yan, and also to the child for causing trouble. For neglecting to take care of her.

    Lu Wei in her sleep moved, coughed twice, a whisper came out of her throat, and then slowly opened her eyes.

    "Mom..."

    Her thoughts were interrupted by this hoarse and weak voice. Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyes to look at her daughter, her eyes softened instantly, and she was overjoyed: "Niu Niu... Mom is back..." She leaned over and kissed her daughter on the forehead. Her voice trembled a little£¬"Are you still uncomfortable?"

    The girl drooped her eyelids, shook her head, coughed intermittently, took her two little hands out of the quilt, stretched them towards her, and muttered, "Mom, hold me." A sick child is fragile

    As a mother, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t stand such a coquettish behavior, her heart was so soft that she hurriedly went up to her and hugged her into her arms, and then pulled the quilt to cover her tightly.

    "Cough cough...cough..." Lu Wei wanted to speak but kept coughing. After a while, her face flushed and she hugged her mother''s neck tightly.

    Lu Zhiqiao blamed herself more and more, patted her daughter''s back lightly, and put her cheek against her forehead, "I''m sorry, baby, it''s mom''s fault..."

    Qi Yan, who was completely ignored, got up silently, walked out, closed the door, and gave the Mother and daughter space and time.

    Going to bed late and waking up early, Qi Yan stood in front of the mirror and washed her face with cold water and brushed her teeth, only then did she drive away her drowsiness. In southern cities, there is no heating in autumn and winter. The temperature outside is more than 10 degrees, and the temperature in the house is also more than 10 degrees. Although her brain is sober, her hands are red with cold.

    Originally, she wanted to change two classes with other teachers today and stay at home to take care of the Lu Wei but now that Lu Zhiqiao is back, she doesn''t have to.

    Coming out of the bathroom, Qi Yan glanced at the closed door, then looked at the background wall of the TV in the living room, and breathed a sigh of relief¡ªbringing Niuniu back last night, when the child was drowsy and didn''t pay attention, she hurriedly took the nude photo then took it into the study room, to avoid embarrassment.

    It''s okay to tease Lu Zhiqiao, but Niuniu is still young, she isn''t that shameless.

    This is the time to make breakfast. Qi Yan is usually alone at home and only cooks what she eats. This time, she cooked porridge for three people, three eggs, and fried a plate of toast.

    Not long after, she put the prepared breakfast on the table, turned around, and saw Lu Zhiqiao leaning against the corner outside the door, with her back facing the direction of the dining table, with her head slightly lowered and her shoulders trembling.

    Qi Yan took two steps forward, and heard a very soft sobbing sound, and then saw the woman raise her hand, as if covering her mouth, as a low sob came out of her throat.

    Her heart trembled, and she didn''t dare to get closer, and just froze in place quietly.

    Looking from the back, Lu Zhiqiao is very thin, with a slender body and a small frame, but her back is always straight, she looks tough and confident, and her aura is quite strong.

    The first time she saw her in a bar, she was cold and aloof and out of place with the people around her. Later, when the they met again, her calm, polite and thoughtful appearance captured her mind. Hidden with fiery enthusiasm, it was only at this moment that she realized that this woman can also show fragility.

    Last night, she complained that the mother didn''t care about her child, but today she wonders how much burden she was carrying on her weak shoulders.

    Qi Yan''s thoughts were confused, and her heart felt like being bitten by densely packed insects, spreading subtle sourness and bitterness.

    Standing for a while, Lu Zhiqiao leaned her back against the wall, closed her eyes, raised her head and took a deep breath, then slowly turned around, and unexpectedly bumped into the stiff Qi Yan, her expression was slightly stagnant, and her eyes were filled with panic.

    Her eyes were red, tears shining on them, her glamorous and delicate face was covered with tear stains, and a tear mole became more and more obvious which made her look pitiful, but also very embarrassing. Qi Yan''s heart suddenly twitched, and she brought two tissues and walked up to her, hesitated for a moment, and wiped away those tears for her.

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao snapped out of it, raised her hand to press the tissue, turned her back and wiped it twice indiscriminately.

    "The doctor said to take good medicine and rest, and she''ll be okay in one to two weeks." Qi Yan comforted her softly, put one hand on her shoulder, and patted her lightly.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, another layer of mist covered her eyes, and said softly, "Thank you this time..."

    She did not dare to look at Qi Yan, her eyelids kept blinking, forcing back her tears from shedding.

    Qi Yan stared at her face with a gentle expression, and then carefully hugged her from the side: "If you go on a business trip in the future, you can tell Niuniu to come to me."

    Author''s Note:

    Miss Qi''s heart: Capture the mother first, then the baby. (Evil Grin.jpg

 CH 13

    A warm breath came from the side of the ear, itching and provocative, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly shuddered, and unconsciously tilted her head, her ear was about to be pressed against Qi Yan''s lips. She wanted to hide, but she couldn''t control her emotions, so she didn''t move, and just let the other woman hug her.

    Qi Yan was sure that she would not push away, so she tightened her arms and pecked her on the face: "After all, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors."

    At this time, Lu Zhiqiao had mixed feelings. Her mind was full of self-blame and sorrow, as well as the embarrassment of being knocked out of her gaffe, so this person''s temperature made her feel at ease.

    Seeing that she looked sad and silent, Qi Yan didn''t say much, she just hugged her quietly and breathed at the same frequency as her.

    For a moment, Lu Zhiqiao struggled a little, got out of her embrace, and gasped softly, "Ms. Qi, I''m sorry to trouble you again, Niuniu''s medical expenses..."

    "If you don''t eat breakfast, it will be cold." Qi Yan smiled, cutting her off and lowered her arms, turned around and walked to the dining table, "Do you want to wake up Niuniu?"

    Calling someone else''s daughter''s nickname is easy to say.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes were red, she glanced at the steaming breakfast on the dining table, walked over mechanically, then sat down. She came back early in the morning and didn''t get to eat anything, she was really hungry at the moment.

    "No, I''ll let her sleep for a while."

    Qi Yan nodded, put a bowl of porridge in front of her, and stretched out her thin white wrists, "It''s the first time I cook for others."

    After speaking, she smiled again. Added: "My first love didn''t even have this kind of treatment."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, for some reason, her attention was fixated on the word "first love", and she had a little curious thought, but it quickly vanished without a trace. She thanked her and lowered her head to stir the porridge with a spoon, then took a mouthful, it tasted very good.

    "It''s really tiring to do sales." Qi Yan peeled the eggs in her hand, and suddenly said to herself. Her slender fingers are green and white, and her nails are neatly trimmed.

    Lu Zhiqiao knew that she had seen her circle of friends, so she stopped hiding, hummed, and continued to eat her porridge.

    "Is it really that hard?"

    "The monthly mortgage is more than 30,000 yuan, food, clothing, housing, transportation, child''s education, everything is money."

    Lu Zhiqiao never likes to complain and rarely talks about these things to others. Maybe it''s because her daughter is sick. The shock that came was too strong, and she was a little confused.

    "If I don''t strive hard at work, how can I give my daughter a better future?"

    *this line was translated "how can my child have poetry and distant place - tried to run searches got a few hits but none explains what it meant, if somebody knows please help.

    It''s rare that she is willing to say a few more words.

    But this woman is too calm, even if her mood is not stable at this moment, there is still no wave in her eyes, only a slight sourness floats on the surface, which is because she cried just now.

    Qi Yan sighed, and put the peeled egg into her bowl, "When were you born?" "

    "86."

    The round egg sank into the porridge, Lu Zhiqiao scooped it up with a spoon, and took a small bite.

    Qi Yan asked in surprise, "So young?"

    She is only thirty-two years old, and she has a twelve-year-old daughter, which means that she had a child at the age of twenty, and she had just reached the legal age of marriage. Was it a shotgun marriage? But college years is too early to get married and have children.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, suddenly realized something, looked a little unnatural, and didn''t answer.

    "And you?

    "91."

    Three-generation gap, make that two generation gaps*.

    *I know, know math ain''t mathing, I don''t understand this too but I''m guessing it has something to do with Chinese age system, if somebody knows please help.

    ...

    Because of illness, Lu Wei had to ask for leave to recuperate at home. She didn''t go to class for a whole week and missed a lot of new content. Lu Zhiqiao still goes to work every day, but she will find time to come back to cook at noon, and leave work on time in the evening, without taking work home.

    This state only lasted for two days before it was broken by Qi Yan without making a sound.

    At first, Qi Yan just came over to help cook a meal at noon. Later, whenever there was no class, she would go home to make up lessons for Lu Wei and help with homework while at it.

    After her daughter''s illness, Lu Zhiqiao no longer felt embarrassed when facing Qi Yan, and the distance between the two seemed to be a little closer. She could persuade herself to accept Qi Yan''s help as a neighbor, for the sake of her daughter but it doesn''t mean she does it with peace of mind.

    ¡°Other parents can''t wait for the teacher to pay more attention to their children. It''s good for you, you don''t even have to ask." Qi Yan pressed Lu Zhiqiao on the sofa, wrapped around her like a snake, kissed her from forehead to chin, and finally stopped at the tear mole, gently tracing with her fingertips.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart was in a mess, thinking about many things, so she didn''t have the slightest intention of resisting, and let her have her way.

    When she came back from work today, she saw Qi Yan helping her daughter review for a test, The two figures; one big and one small, were sitting in front of the desk, the lights were warm, and the picture was harmonious. She was astonished and even more ashamed.

    These are what she should do as a mother, but she has never fulfilled her responsibilities in this area for many years, and now suddenly someone replaces her, and that person has no obligation to do so.

    Furthermore, the Education Bureau has regulations prohibiting teachers from making up lessons in private. Although Qi Yan is free of charge, it is still unfair to other students.

    For the rest, she didn''t want to think about it.

    "No, I really can''t trouble you any more..." Before she could finish speaking, a moist hot breath fell on her eyelids, she subconsciously closed her eyes, and there was a muffled sound in her throat.

    Qi Yan sucked the tear mole, held her face in her palm, and said in a soft voice, "Because it''s you, I''m happy."

    "Teacher Qi¡ª"

    "Call my name."

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly blushed, her lips twitched for a while, but she couldn''t cry out.

    "Hurry up." Qi Yan pretended not to see, urging forcefully.

    Although she is an executive at her company, she has never done it even at the workplace. But with Qi Yan, she had no choice but to compromise: "Qi Yan..."

    Qi Yan smiled in satisfaction, pecked her lips again, lowered her head slightly, her long black and soft hair fell down, indescribably charming. "I won''t force others to make things difficult. If you don''t want to accept it, I won''t do it, but the final exam is one month away, and the first year of junior high school is the foundation. It will be difficult for Niuniu to make up for it in the future."

    She said seriously, Lu Zhiqiao was at a loss for words for a while, with conflicting thoughts.

    Scores may not matter in the short term, but learning is like building a house. If the foundation is not laid well, the building will be a dangerous.

    Seeing that she didn''t say anything more, Qi Yan folded her arms and hugged her tightly, the tip of her nose slid down against her face, smelling her scent, she grabbed that lip without politeness, and sucked it gently and carefully.

    "When are you free, let''s go shoot a film, huh?" "

    "...Chinese New Year." Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes and responded vaguely, her hands couldn''t help but climbed onto Qi Yan''s shoulders.

    This person is highly skilled, and knows where her sensitive points are, she can easily break her down with just a few random teasing. Before, she deliberately kept a distance, and she could barely restrain herself, but now she didn''t know whether it was because of a debt of favor, or something else, she couldn''t even make a cold face, she just felt like a fish on the chopping board, letting it be slaughtered.

    "Okay." Qi Yan was also a little out of control, under her gentle skin was a beast''s heart: impatient.

    But she finally let go of Lu Zhiqiao.

    The two shadows merged closely under the light, Lu Zhiqiao leaned on the sofa, her eyes were dazed and blurred, her mouth was slightly open, panting, and the buttons of her pajamas were unbuttoned twice, looking embarrassed and seductive.

    Qi Yan tried her best to suppress the desire in her heart, deliberately avoiding to look at it, just kissed the tear mole, and said softly: "It''s late, go back and rest."

    "..."

    ...

    After class on Friday morning, Qi Yan went back to the faculty to take a rest, and just chatted with her colleagues for a moment, when her friend Chi Nian called and said that she had been promoted and wanted to invite her to dinner to celebrate.

    Chi Nian is a friend Qi Yan met in the photography club. They are same aged  The two usually make appointments together when they are free, and exchange photography things. They are quite compatible. The only difference is that Chi Nian is straight and newly married for a year, while Qi Yan is still single.

    Different orientations did not prevent the two from being friends.

    Chi Nian majored in international trade at their university, and has directly engaged in the foreign trade industry since she graduated. She is currently working at the headquarters of the Xinbei Group. She was promoted as supervisor after two years, and this year she was promoted to a regional manager. Marriage, now career and love double harvest.

    The two made an appointment to have dinner at the Japanese food store near the Xinbei Building, because Chi Nian had to work in the afternoon and it was inconvenient to travel too far, and Qi Yan had no class in the afternoon, so it didn''t matter.

    "It''s such a big happy event, I should treat you to dinner." After meeting and chatting for a while, the two sat down in a tatami mat, and Qi Yan directly pushed the menu to Chi Nian.

    "Just order."

    A few days ago, she promised her parents and came to find her friend to inquire about the situation. Originally, she wanted to invite Chi Nian to dinner, but now she happened to have a ready-made reason.

    Chi Nian has a loli face, which doesn''t match the serious and casual attire on her body, but she has a good appearance and has the temperament of a strong woman in the workplace. She smiled at Qi Yan and raised her eyebrows:

    "Then I won''t hold back.."

    "Don''t be soft." Qi Yan smiled.

    After all, Chi Nian is not the kind of person who takes advantage of her friends, she randomly ordered different food according to her appetite. Qi Yan thought she had a small stomach, so she added more dishes.

    There were not many people in the shop, and it was fairly clean. While waiting for the food, the two chatted and reminisced about the old days.

    "Other companies are very busy until the end of the year, but we are getting more and more idle. The salesmen at the bottom only send letters and calls every day to maintain old customers, and dare not take big orders."

    "What?"

    Chii Nian took a sip of lemonade and said in a low voice, "Some time ago, the factory that cooperated with our company had an accident, and production could no longer be scheduled, and new products could not be supplied, so we had to stock up."

    Qi Yan was still deliberating how to ask unexpectedly, Chi Nian took the initiative to say so. She pretended not to care and said: "It''s fine, just change to another partner." "

    I was talking to Senyang Technology, but I heard that it was a hard bone, and I couldn''t chew it off. I don''t know what happened. This job fell to our director."

    Her company was said to be tough, Qi Yan became more and more curious, opened her mouth, and was about to ask but then the waiter knocked on the door and served the food one after another, interrupting their conversation.

    When Qi Yan asked again, it turned out her father was right, Chi Nian didn''t know the details, and all she said were vague information from her colleagues..

    ...

    After dinner, Qi Yan proposed to go inside the building to take a look, Chi Nian readily agreed.

    Xinbei is a big company, and the whole building is decorated in a very grand style. The employees inside are full of energy, and behave in a well-behaved manner. Qi Yan was used to being free and loose since she was a child, and she felt suffocated after staying for a while.

    She sat in Chi Nian''s office for a while, drank a cup of coffee, and got up to leave. Chi Nian offered to see her off, and the two went to wait for the elevator together.

    Passing by the washroom, Qi Yan suddenly smelled a familiar cold fragrance, but didn''t stop and walked straight over, and then heard the sound of high heels, she subconsciously turned her head and saw a woman''s profile.

    The tear mole at the corner of the eye is extremely clear.

 CH 14

    Special people always have special flavors and traces, even if they are mixed into the vast crowd.

    Qi Yan stopped and kept looking back, only the back of the woman was in her line of sight - the other person didn''t notice her presence, and continued to walk until she turned a corner towards the office area. The sound of high heels faded away, steady and powerful, leaving only a cold fragrance in the air.

    "Yanyan, what''s the matter?" Chi Nian turned back, followed her stiff gaze, and saw the back of her boss.

    She knew Qi Yan''s orientation, and knew better what type of woman Qi Yan liked, so she immediately understood, and kindly introduced: "That''s our director." After speaking, she lightly bumped her shoulder and winked, "What do.you think, huh? There are a lot of men in the company drooling."

    Qi Yan frowned slightly, watched the woman disappear around the corner, and asked, "What''s her last name?"

    "Lu, Lu from the land."*

    *indicating her surname uses the character same as used for the word land Â½£¬Â½µØµÄÂ½

    "Is she your direct superior? "

    "Yes." Chi Nian nodded, her eyes were meaningful, "You don''t think you have a crush on her, do you? Don''t even think about it, she already has a child."

    The implication is that she is married, and married people are off limits.

    Qi Yan turned her gaze back again, staring straight at the place where the woman disappeared, her amber eyes doesn''t give a hint of emotion, the calmer her face, the more turbulent her heart was. Of course she knew that Lu Zhiqiao had a child, but she is not married. She just couldn''t believe that things like fate were really predestined.

    "You just said that the matter of cooperation fell on your supervisor?"

    "Yes."

    "Why?" Qi Yan looked away, turned and continued to walk to the elevator. She felt that such a question was too straightforward, so she added a joke:

    "They let her handle things that should be discussed by the bosses. Is it to bully her for being beautiful?"

    Chi Nian was amused, quickly followed her footsteps, and said with a smile, "You didn''t even see her face, and you started to feel sorry for her. You, really..."

    .....

    Meeting lasted for two hours, Lu Zhiqiao came out of the conference room, The faces were as cold as ice, and the managers who followed her were silent, not daring to vent their breath, and they went back to their posts to pretend to be ostriches.*

    *feigning ignorance

    "Director, this is the record of the negotiation with Senyang ten years ago. I have sent the electronic version to your mailbox." Xiao Wan put a stack of documents on the desk. After speaking, she turned to make tea.

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed, sat down, and rubbed her temples wearily.

    The foreign-funded factory that originally cooperated with the company to supply parts and components closed down due to the influence of policy issues, and the goods were cut off unexpectedly. The company began to look for a new factory in September, but either the production quality were not up to par, or the scale was too small and unreliable. After several rounds of screening, only Senyang Technology met the requirements.

    The two companies are currently on the same scale and strength, and the partnership should be a happy one, but ten years ago, an agreement fell through, which damaged they''re credibility, and now it is a bit tricky to talk to them

    A few days ago, Shu Minxi went to reach out in person, but it didn''t work out, so this hard nut fell into her hands. It might be difficult for others to crack, but she felt there was hope and was willing to give it a try.

    Xiao Wan put the brewed scented tea on the table and walked out quietly. Lu Zhiqiao picked up the cup and took a sip, then opened the records to browse.

    ¡ª¡ª

    "Come in."

    The office door opened and a man wearing glasses leaned in: "Director, the review case for new products...can I bring it later?"

    "I said I need them before five o''clock " Lu Zhiqiao said lightly, and glanced at her watch.

    "But there are still three unfinished designs in the file, and I can''t catch them all at once. A conservative estimate is that it will take half an hour."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned: "What''s going on?"

    "The designer of our department is really annoying. I asked her to hurry up and finish the rest of the designs yesterday. But when I came to retrieve them she said she still had three unfinished ones. And said that another department sent her an urgent job."I''m too busy..." As he spoke, his voice became louder and louder. As a manager, he was so angry that he lost his composure and almost swear.

    "I said, you are from our department, how can you help others first? She even argued that it was..."

    "What do you think is the problem with this matter?" Lu Zhiqiao is most annoyed by complaints and excuses, and interrupted in a cold voice her tone was a little impatient.

    The man said confidently: "The design team doesn''t know what comes first, and other departments jump in the queue randomly. Both of them are at fault."

    Lu Zhiqiao closed the folder with a "snap", leaned back against the back of her chair, crossed her fingers, and looked at him solemnly. She said word by word: "This kind of thing happened because the cooperation process between departments is blurred. What you have to do now is not to blame anyone, but to formulate cross-departmental cooperation norms and clearly write the process. Who needs to know, who needs to make a decision, who needs to be responsible. If you don¡¯t solve the problem fundamentally, but only look for superficial problems, similar things will happen again in the future.¡±

    Her voice was cold, and she pointed and reprimanded, leaving the man with glasses speechless.

    "..."

    "5:30 at the latest." After speaking, Lu Zhiqiao waved at him to signal to go out.

    The office was quiet again. She pinched the bridge of her nose, drank two sips of tea, and continued to read the records. At this time, the phone vibrated, and a WeChat message popped up on the screen.

    Teacher Qi: [What time do you leave work? ¡¿¡¾[Picture]¡¿

    Lu Zhiqiao clicked in and took a look. It was a photo of two big bags of fresh vegetables that Qi Yan bought. She replied: [six o''clock]

    [Niu Niu and I are waiting for you to come back for dinner]

    She was taken aback, and hurriedly edited the text, "No need to bother" before it was sent, Qi Yan posted again: [Let me take a few more pictures when filming]

    "..."

    This person really knows what she''s thinking through the screen, and doesn''t even give her a chance to refuse. But that''s fine too, human relationships, mutual reciprocation, no one owes anyone else.

    The road was congested by the time she got off work, and it was almost seven o''clock when she got home.

    The room was brightly lit, and the smell of food was wafting. There was a sound of spatulas clashing from the kitchen. Lu Zhiqiao stood at the door after changing her shoes, as if for a moment she thought she had entered someone else''s house. She put down her bag, walked into the kitchen following the sounds and smells, and saw Qi Yan standing in front of the stove in her apron, cooking vegetables skillfully, her heart skipped a beat."

    "I''ll do it." She felt sorry and stepped forward to help.

    Qi Yan looked startled at first, then smiled and shook her head: "No, this is the last dish it''s almost done, go ask Niuniu to wash her hands and eat."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, always feeling that her eyes had something to say, but she didn''t know what to say, she just turn around and go out.

    The door of the second bedroom was ajar, and the head light and desk lamps were turned on inside. Lu Wei sat at the desk and buried herself in her homework. When she noticed someone coming in, she stopped writing and turned her head: "Mom!"

    "Are you doing your homework?" Lu Zhiqiao squinted her eyes

    The little girl nodded and raised her index finger: "It''s only one question away."

    After taking the medicine for a week, the child''s pneumonia gradually improved, and the cough has not been much in the past two days, but the cold has not cleared the yet, and her nose is still runny. This weekend Lu Zhiqiao was able to rest for two full days, and made an appointment to take the child to the hospital for re-examination, and she will return to school after recovery.

    After finishing the last question, Lu Wei consciously tidied up the stationery and sniffed, "Hmm, it smells so good." She tried to sniff the aroma of the food.

    "Well, Teacher Qi is cooking."

    A smile appeared on the girl''s slightly baby-fat face: "Mom, let me tell you, Teacher Qi is amazing. She knows all the math problems I don''t know. She also watches English movies without subtitles. She can also translate for me. Take nice pictures¡­¡±

    She counted on her fingers, her big round eyes filled with admiration.

    The sound of cooking in the kitchen gradually died down, and then the range hood was also turned off. Lu Zhiqiao looked at the textbooks and exercise books on the desk, feeling suddenly heavy in her heart. She gently grabbed her daughter''s wrist, pulled her into her arms, and kissed her forehead: "Niu Niu, Teacher Qi has taken care of you these days and helped you make up lessons, do you want to say thank you to her? "

    "Of course."

    "Then you have to promise mom one more thing."

    "Huh?"

    Lu Zhiqiao brushed her daughter''s loose hair on her forehead, and looked into her eyes seriously: "Ms. Qi treats you well, but you can''t tell anyone, especially your classmates. When you go back to school, keep a distance from Teacher Qi as before."

    "Why?" The child is simple-minded and doesn''t understand the twists and turns.

    "If you tell it and the classmates know about it, everyone will think that Teacher Qi is biased, and think that she has received benefits that should not be received." Lu Zhiqiao smiled and explained patiently.

    "It''s possible that she will lose her job and have no food because of this. Teacher Qi is so kind to us. We must protect her and not harm her. Do you understand what mom means?

    "Lu Wei was so anxious that her little face wrinkled into a ball, and she nodded repeatedly: "Yeah, I won''t say it, and you can''t say it, Mom."

    "Of course."

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled in satisfaction and kissed her daughter''s cheek.

    Outside the door, Qi Yan finished frying the last dish, and was about to call the mother and daughter to eat, she was about to knock when he hand that was about to knock but her hand froze mid-air as she hears the conversation clearly through a gap.

 CH 15

    Qi Yan''s childhood dream was to be a teacher. It''s ridiculous to say that it''s just because she thinks a teacher''s appearance on the podium is very cool. Later, as she got older, she met many excellent teachers who were knowledgeable and full of wisdom, which greatly influenced her and made her more determined to dream.

    When she first entered school, like most young people, she was full of enthusiasm and passion. But in less than half a year, she was drenched from head to toe by the cold water of reality. After that, disappointments piled up more and more, and occasionally had warmth, but she still didn''t give up.

    The campus is not as beautiful as she imagined. She was once driven mad by a student, but she couldn''t reprimand her even a little bit. She was also slandered by her parents, who couldn''t distinguish the truth, she also had narrow-minded colleagues, just because the leader praised her in public, they chewed her out behind her back. Saying she crawls beds at night.

    But relatively, the campus is indeed more pure than the society. During her birthdays, she''d received gifts made by the students themselves. When she was sick in class, the little boys and girls listened carefully and did not make noise. When she was depressed, the children will tell her jokes in different ways to tease her. She felt happy, when they graduated, one or two cried in front of her, reluctant to leave...

    Being a teacher involves too much effort and a thankless job, and you have to face the high moral requirements of the society. It is said that she comes from a wealthy family and is an only child whom her parents love dearly so she has no reason to suffer like this.

    But if she gave up early, she might still be able to meet Lu Zhiqiao in the bar, but they could only stop at a one-night stand, and there would be no more intersections, let alone infinite possibilities.

    Only when you have seen how sinister is the heart, can you know the value of light.

    That night in the hospital, she was distraught. When her mind calmed down and her senses returned, she realized how much risk she had taken. She was afraid but on the other hand, felt lucky. If Lu Zhiqiao didn''t appreciate what she did and got angry, she will fall into the same mess again. On the contrary, maybe their relationship can be closer.

    She couldn''t stop her naive heart, so she gambled once. Fortunately, she won the bet, and she was right.

    Being able to be understood is the luckiest thing in life, it doesn''t need many people, just one person is fine.

    Qi Yan stood stiffly, with hot flashes in her eyes, when she heard footsteps coming out of the room, she quickly knocked on the door and blinked: "Niuniu, it''s time to eat."

    The half-hidden door was opened, and the mother and daughter came out facing each other. Lu Wei raised her small head, her eyes sparkling: "Thank you, Teacher Qi, for your hard work."

    "Go and wash your hands." Qi Yan was taken aback, patted her shoulder with a smile, and looked up at Lu Zhiqiao, her eyes suddenly deep.

    With a faint smile on the corner of Lu Zhiqiao''s mouth, she nodded slightly at her with gratitude in her eyes, but said nothing.

    ....

    After dinner, Qi Yan sat for a while and decided to go back. Lu Zhiqiao got up to see her off - the distance from door to door was not so far away, she just wanted to say something alone.

    The lights in the corridor were bright, and the two stood in front of door 902, their shadows stretched long. Lu Zhiqiao looked at Qi Yan with a faint smile, and said in a warm voice: "Ms. Qi..."

    "I said, call me by name."

    "..."

    "Or like my friends, call me Yanyan, it''s fine." Qi Yan raised her eyebrows lightly laughing, she grabbed her wrist, rubbing her thumb on Zhiqiao''s pulse.

    There was silence all around, half of Lu Zhiqiao''s face was hidden in the shadows, she blushed suspiciously, she seemed to be unable to bear the slightest bit of teasing, she felt uncomfortable at the moment, her eyelids drooped, and her fingers curled up, "Qi Yan¡ª¡ª "

    Calling nicknames is too intimate, after all, they haven''t gotten to know each other that well.

    "Well, I''m here." Qi Yan deliberately softened her

    voice, extremely coquettish.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, and her pulse was a little itchy, but she didn''t want to break free. She almost forgot what she had planned, and after thinking about it, she said, "Thank you very much for the past few days. We are not relatives. Therefore, you are not obligated to take care of the child for me, and as a mother, I really don''t do my best..."

    "Shhh¡ª¡ª"

    Qi Yan pressed her index finger to her lips, forcing her to swallow the words, and then hugged her, "Don''t say that, you have tried your best."

    "Also, I don''t want to hear words like ''thank you'' from your mouth."

    This person looks thin, but in fact she is soft and comfortable to hold. She tapped her face with the tip of her nose, sniffed her fragrance greedily, and let her scorching breath flow down, resisting not to kiss her.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t struggle, and let her hold her. The emotion in her eyes was dim, and she didn''t know what to say for a while, before she said, "I''ll take Niuniu to the hospital for reexamination on the weekend. If there is no problem, she can go back to school next Monday."

    Qi Yan was startled, and her arms tightened.

    She wanted to say that there is no need to hurry, but the final exam was getting closer and the child would need return to class after all, so she couldn''t stop it out of selfishness. She wanted to ask if she wanted her to accompany them, but she changed her mind and stopped, because the mother finally had time to accompany her daughter, so she should avoid it more wisely.

    "Okay." Qi Yan let go of her, "Go back, accompany the child, and go to bed early."

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded, said good night in a low voice, and turned to leave.

    But Qi Yan grabbed her hand, brought her back into her arms, stuck on her, and smiled: "Don''t you want to give me a goodnight kiss?" Then she turned her left cheek to her, "Here, here."

    After waiting for a while, Lu Zhiqiao froze and didn''t respond at all.

    As she expected.

    "Then I''m going to kiss you."

    The two thin lips approached with the breath, Lu Zhiqiao''s whole body was tense, and she still didn''t move. She was extremely ashamed, and yet she felt a faint sense of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation... Maybe something else, she didn''t know.

    The temperature sticks up, from careful probing to presumptuous in-depth, sucking, hazily evoking a hint of intoxication.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t resist at all, and let her make a fuss, raised her neck slightly to respond, gradually closed her eyelids, unconsciously grabbed her back with her hands, and pressed the person in front of her.

    The ambiguous sound of wet kisses is especially noticeable in the quiet and empty corridor.

    "You obviously like it very much." Qi Yan pulled away again at the critical moment, moved to the tip of her ear, and whispered softly. "It''s really sexy."

    Her ears were very sensitive. Lu Zhiqiao immediately trembled, her face flushed with shame, but her face was still expressionless, she looked calm and self-sufficient, she turned her head and ignored her.

    There was still a lingering heat on her lips refusing to go away, and some thoughts are still unfinished.

    No matter how itchy Qi Yan was, she had no choice but to stop and let Lu Zhiqiao go¡ªshe knew that she didn''t really want it, so even if she got it, it would be boring.

    "Good night."

    .....

    Qi Yan went back to her parents'' house over the weekend, for dinner as usual, and told them about the Xinbei Group.

    The information she has learned is limited. The last time Chi Nian told her that there were rumors in the company that the board of directors intends to promote Lu Zhiqiao as the vice president. In the past year, she has been assigned a lot of work beyond the scope of her responsibility. Perhaps this collaboration is no exception.

    In short, this matter is related to Lu Zhiqiao''s career development.

    But in business dealings, it''s not easy to mix personal emotions. In this regard, Qi Yan''s mind has always been sober, so she didn''t tell her parents everything. She only said that she had found out about the collaboration and changed the person in charge. She was a director with a background in foreign trade. .

    If the two companies agreed to talk, Lu Zhiqiao will definitely meet with Papa Qi.

    Qi Yan never shows up at formal business occasions, and this time she wanted to go, but if she did, it would be tantamount to telling the other party clearly: You relied on my relationship. Even if it''s not the case, it will inevitably lead to speculation.

    Maybe it''s nothing in the short term, but no one is sure about the future. How can she add psychological burden to Lu Zhiqiao because of her own selfish desires...

    Whether she succeeds or fails depends entirely on her parents'' consideration, and she doesn''t want to get involved.

    After lunch, Qi Yan thought that the clothes she changed yesterday hadn''t been washed, so she went back to her home early.

    In the past few days, the temperature has risen and remained at around 20 degrees. It is neither hot nor cold, and the sun is shining continuously. It is most suitable for washing and drying clothes. She simply removed all the sheets and quilts, threw them into the washing machine, let it automatically add water, and then poured the laundry detergent.

    However, the old bucket was used up, and a new one was missing even after searching the box and cabinet.

    Qi Yan looked up at the clear sunny day outside the balcony, grabbed the keys, put on her phone, and went out with a pair of outdoor slippers.

    The supermarket at the gate of the complex has all the supplies. Qi Yan bought a bucket of laundry detergent at will, and she doesn''t care about urgent needs. She scanned the QR code to pay, and walked back with a heavy bucket. From a distance, she saw a black McLaren parked at the gate of the complex, which was very cool.

    The scissor door was slowly lifted, and a man in a suit and leather shoes got out, walked around to the other side, and opened the passenger door.

 CH 16

    Chapter 16: Jealous

    The man was in his thirties, tall and thin in a well-fitting suit, and his tie was meticulously tied. He looked like an elite with a successful career. Obviously he knew Lu Zhiqiao very well. The two stood by the car chatting, talking and laughing, and had no intention of going up.

    From this angle, only Lu Zhiqiao''s silhouette can be seen. She seems to be very happy, with the corners of her mouth in a curl, she is completely different from her usual cold and serious appearance.

    Qi Yan''s eyes darkened slightly, and her eyes were full of unclear emotions. She slowed down and then stopped.

    After a while, the man waved to Lu Zhiqiao, turned around and returned to the car, Lu Zhiqiao also waved with a smile. The scissor doors closed slowly, and the black sports car gradually drove away with the wild roar of the engine, and disappeared at the corner of the intersection.

    Seeing Lu Zhiqiao turn her head and enter the gate of the complex, Qi Yan came back to her senses and hurriedly followed.

    The elevator is on the first floor. Lu Zhiqiao pressed the button, and the doors on both sides opened. As soon as she stepped in, she was stopped by someone and hugged from behind. She was startled. Pinned firmly against the wall.

    The door closed slowly, with a slight sense of weightlessness.

    Lu Zhiqiao almost yelled, but smelled the familiar scent of shampoo. She was taken aback, and her scream was stuck in her throat. After seeing the woman''s face clearly, she let out a breath slowly: "Qi Yan, you..."

    " Who is that man?"

    "...which one?"

    "The one who sent you back just now." Qi Yan''s voice was low, the tip of her nose almost touching her face.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart was beating fast, and she was really frightened just now. Now that she had recovered her breath, her mind was muddled, and she answered without thinking, "My friend."

    "McLaren 720s, very cool. "

    "..."

    The small and closed space was a little stuffy, Qi Yan bent down to put down the laundry detergent, grabbed her chin with one hand, lowered her head and pecked at her lips, felt that it was not enough, so she rubbed it again, and wiped away most of the lipstick, making it blurry her mouth was full, messy and uneven, as if she had drunk blood.

    "So you went out to play?"

    "No..." Lu Zhiqiao trembled her thick eyelashes, and was drowsy from her warm breath. Seeing her mouth full of red, she found it funny, "He had something do around here so he offered to take me back."

    "Why didn''t you drive your own car?" Qi Yan followed closely.

    If other people were to interrogate her, Lu Zhiqiao would have been cold-faced and ignored her. She clearly did nothing wrong, but she felt guilty for some reason when facing Qi Yan. She admitted: "I''m a little tired recently and don''t want to drive."

    Such a poor excuse.

    Qi Yan looked at her quietly, without saying a word or making any movements for a long time, her shining eyes were dark and deep.

    ¡ª¡ªDing

    The elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and the door opened.

    Suddenly, Qi Yan covered Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes with one hand, and gently brushed her thick eyelashes with her fingertips, then lowered her head, and kissed her with her lips covered in lipstick.

    This time the kiss was fierce, her breath was full of strength and plundered without the slightest hint of tenderness, but at the same time extremely careful to protect the back of her head. Lu Zhiqiao accepted it passively, almost powerless to resist. She only felt the woman''s unwarranted anger in a dim way, and before she had time to think, she was submerged in the vortex again.

    After a long time when no one went out, the elevator door closed again and stopped on the ninth floor.

    After venting enough, Qi Yan raised her head, and at the same time took away her hand covering the person''s eyes. The uneven lipstick was pressed densely, but it looked a little nice.

    She pressed the door button and turned to go out.

    ....

    Lu Zhiqiao was restless throughout the afternoon, whether she opened her eyes to find something to do or closed her eyes and lay down, her mind was filled with Qi Yan''s deep and dark eyes, her chest seemed to be pressed against a stone, and she was so stuffy that she couldn''t breathe.

    It was only after she cleared her mind that she realized that if she really didn''t understand the woman''s actions and words, as well as everything that is happening the past month, she would have lived to this age in vain. But she only understands vaguely, and she doesn''t want to think about more and deeper things, because there is no possibility, and even if there is, she must kill it.

    After dinner, Lu Zhiqiao practiced the piano with Lu Wei for a while, and then went to take a bath.

    She took a set of thinner long-sleeved pajamas from the closet, opened the drawer, suddenly saw a small box in the corner. She felt an itch on her heart when she tapped her fingertips... she just had her period.

    Not long after she left, her thoughts on that aspect were particularly strong, and the unavoidable, attracts her like a fire. No matter how restrained she is, she can''t resist her physiological instincts. When it''s time to vent, she needs to vent.

    Lu Zhiqiao pinched the small box, took a deep breath, opened it, and took out the toy inside.

    T/N: rubber duck?

    The bathroom was filled with white mist, and the hot water flowed down her curvy back, all the way to the soles of the feet. She supported the wall with one hand, and opened the small toy with the other hand. The subtle buzzing sound intertwined with the sound of falling water hints a secret.

    This bath took an exceptionally long time.

    About half an hour later, Lu Zhiqiao came out in her pajamas, her hair was dripping with water, and her face was blushing intensely. She stood in front of the mirror for a while, put the changed clothes into the washing machine, and then dried her hair, feeling a little dazed and drunk.

    Halfway through the blowing, the doorbell rang. She turned off the hair dryer and put it down. She leaned in front of the peephole, to have a look, her heart tightened, and she opened the door.

    Qi Yan stood outside holding two bags, the light hit her deep eyebrows and eyes, revealing a little indifference, but she still curled her lips together: "My water heater is broken, can I take a shower in your bathroom."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her blankly, her lips twitched, she saw the indifference on the other woman''s eyes, she almost guessed at the first reaction that it was related to what happened this afternoon, and her heart suddenly felt confused.

    She was just given a ride by a friend, why does this person still care about it until now?

    The more she thinks about this, the more she felt that she should not have explained anything when she was in the elevator and let the girl be bothered all afternoon for nothing.

    "Can I?" Qi Yan asked repeatedly.

    Lu Zhiqiao came back to her senses, said hello, brought her house sleepers, and led her in.

    The bathroom at home is separated from wet and dry. The sink is outside, the toilet and shower are inside, and there is a door in the middle. Lu Zhiqiao stood outside, picked up the hair dryer again, but didn''t turn it on, pointed to the inside and said, "Hot water on the left, cold water on the right."

    Qi Yan glanced at her, went in and closed the door without saying a word.

    Inside, there was the sound of plastic bags being flipped. Lu Zhiqiao was silent for a while, and then turned on the hair dryer. The whistling noise instantly drowned out the slight movement. She looked at her face in the mirror,  her heart was like her hair; all messed up into silk threads.

    After a while, she heard a patter of water in the bathroom.

    There is only one door between the two. Although it is an opaque door, they can''t see anything from each other, but the sound of gurgling water and splashing will inevitably arouse people''s imagination.

    That night at the hotel, the sky was on fire with thunder and fire, and the two came together several times. She vaguely remembered that she was extremely tired, and was helped into the bathroom in a daze. In the water...

    She felt the hot air and checked her hair; it was already dry. She then covered the face, the temperature was scalding and she felt extremely ashamed. She glanced at the bathroom door with a guilty conscience, turned off the hair dryer, put it away, and fled back to the bedroom.

    After a long time, the sound of water stopped, and it was quiet outside for a while. The living room door was opened and closed again.

    Lu Zhiqiao waited for a while, got up and went out, and saw that the pair of slippers were neatly arranged on the floor mat, but the living room was empty, and no one was there. She poked through the peephole and looked outside, only the lights of the corridor and the closed door of 902 across the way were in her sight.

    Then the lights went out.

    It turned dark.

    Lu Zhiqiao took two steps back, closed her eyes, shook off those strange thoughts, turned and went back to the bathroom, picked up the sponge mop to absorb water, but found that there was no water stain on the tile floor, obviously it had been dried.

    She straightened up, put the mop back, and when she looked up, she saw her used little toy lying quietly on the shelf...

 CH 17

    The small toy was stained with water after use. Lu Zhiqiao originally put it on the shelf, and wanted to tidy it up after taking a shower and drying her hair, but Qi Yan knocked on the door suddenly, interrupting her memory, and her mind was in a mess. Boundless and then forgotten.

    Shampoo, shower gel and other items are placed on the shelf, which is placed next to the shower, and can be seen when the water is turned on and off, and it can be seen at a glance.

    Qi Yan must have seen it...

    Thinking about this, Lu Zhiqiao immediately blushed and was so ashamed, as if she had been stripped naked and thrown in front of the crowd, where there were many eyes staring at her, laughing wantonly.

    "Mom¡ª" The second bedroom door opened, and her daughter''s voice went out, "Can I have snacks?"

    Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly picked up the small toy, wrapped it in a tissue, held it in her palm, turned around, and saw her daughter, poking her head, her heart felt even more guilty: "No, it''s late, brush your teeth and go to bed."

    The little girl groaned, puffed her cheeks, but obediently took the toothbrush cup.

    The water stained on the toy was absorbed by the paper towel. Lu Zhiqiao went back to the room and wiped it again with the wet towel. After drying it, she put it in the box and hurriedly stuffed it into the bottom corner of the closet. After stuffing it, she glanced at the room. Checking the doors and windows, for fear of being seen.

    She wasn''t able to sleep all night.

    The next morning, Lu Zhiqiao took her daughter to the hospital for reexamination. When she came back, she ran into Qi Yan in the parking lot. The child was obedient and knew how to greet, while she didn''t even want to raise her eyelids, but she had to pretend to be natural, so she glanced and smiled hastily as a greeting.

    Qi Yan looked very natural, nothing abnormal, but her brows and eyes were still a little cold. She smiled back, asked about Lu Wei''s condition, then quickly drove away from the basement.

    Usually when they meet, Qi Yan would always tease her, either with words, eyes or body, but today she was so well-behaved that it felt a little strange.

    The embarrassing situation last night was still lingering. Lu Zhiqiao felt uncomfortable all over, thinking that she would be embarrassed to see Qi Yan, but the other party''s reaction was beyond her expectations, which made her feel lucky... Maybe she didn''t see it?

    In the afternoon, Lu Wei went to piano lessons, and Lu Zhiqiao decided to clean at home.

    The house is big and hasn''t been cleaned for two weeks, and there is dust and hair everywhere in the corners. She used to hire part-time workers from time to time. But ever since she was robbed last time, she had lingering fears and decided to clean herself.

    There are many things in the house, and there are many lockers. After tidying up, she found that there are many unnecessary things that should be thrown away.

    Lu Zhiqiao opened the door of the living room, packed the sorted waste products and placed them by the door, and moved out all the things that should be put away. Among them was a large box full of photo albums. Photos of the daughter from childhood to up to now, photos of them together, and...

    ...a family photo, a photo of a man, and a group photo of six people from three generations of grandparents and grandchildren are all placed at the bottom.

    She squatted on the ground, took out the photo frames one by one, wiped them carefully with a paper towel, over and over again, her wrists becoming more and more sluggish, and finally her movements froze, like a sculpture.

    ¡ª¡ªPatter and

    ...transparent water drips on the photo frame...

    At this time, the corridor elevator stopped at the ninth floor, and the door slowly opened. Qi Yan came out from inside, shivered by the inexplicable chill. She hugged her arms tightly, raised her head, and saw the door of 901 was open, and the wind was coming from that direction.

    Even if it is sunny and the sun is in full bloom, it is extremely cold in places that are not exposed to sunlight.

    There were a few bulging bags piled up at the door, and they seemed to be sorting things out. She was curious for a moment, and stepped forward against the cold wind, looking around.

    There were many sundries scattered in the huge living room, and the floor was in a mess. Lu Zhiqiao squatted there motionless with her back facing the door, her hair was coiled casually, and she was wearing a simple and casual white sweater and jeans. The sunlight came in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She was shrouded in a warm golden light, gentle and bright.

    Qi Yan narrowed her eyes slightly, her breathing became a little deeper, and she asked softly, "Do you need my help?"

    The woman''s back straightened, her arms raised and moved, and there was a slight gasping sound, then she stood up after a long while, turned around. When she came over, her eyes were a little flustered, but her voice was as calm as ever: "No need."

    Her eyes were red enough to show that she cried, but she didn''t know the reason.

    Qi Yan looked into her eyes, a corner of her heart suddenly collapsed, she didn''t care, she changed her shoes and went into the house, as familiar as if she was at her own home. She looked down at the sundries all over the floor, and asked, "You don''t want these books anymore?"

    "No, I was going put them in the cabinet." Lu Zhiqiao looked at her nervously, curling her fingers into her sweaty palms, and seeing her look natural, her heart gradually eased.

    Maybe she really didn''t see it last night...

    "Which cabinet?"

    "The second one from the left."

    "Put it in a storage box?"

    "Hmm."

    There is no way to refuse. Then she saw Qi Yan squatting down, putting books one by one into the box, neat and tidy, she didn''t talk much, and didn''t make unnecessary movements, she just buried her head in the books.

    Since the questioning in the elevator yesterday, the coldness in this woman''s expression has never melted.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, feeling a little uneasy for no reason, everything that should be explained has been explained, she didn''t lie, what else is it that is making Qi Yan unhappy? She couldn''t figure it out for a while, so she had to suppress her heart for the time being, turned her back, and continued to organize the photo album.

    She doesn''t care about other people, but she can''t do that with Qi Yan, she is her daughter''s teacher. If she gets offended by her, Lu Wei will be forced to wear small shoes at school*. Because of a past experience, she can''t help but worry.

    *to be given a hard time, to be picked on.

    Behind her, Qi Yan slowed down picking up books, raised her eyes and glanced at the bathroom, then her eyes fell on Lu Zhiqiao''s back, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

    She actually she saw it.

    As soon as she entered the bathroom, she saw the pink toy on the shelf. It was cute and small, and it was still stained with water.

    But she chose to pretend not to see it.

    With people like Lu Zhiqiao who have a very strong self-esteem and have high demands on themselves. It¡¯s nice to know they do normal things. Besides, everyone has physiological needs. It''s not something worth ridiculing.  Although she wanted to tease her, and see her blushing shyly, she opted not to. It''s good to give others some face, and leave room for her.

    It''s just a pity that she lost against a small toy.

    The wind blows in from the balcony window, carrying the smell of sunshine, but it is chilly, forming a convection with the living room door.

    Lu Zhiqiao shivered, got up and closed the window, turned around and saw that Qi Yan had already sorted two boxes of books, felt a little sorry, so she poured a cup of hot water and put it on the tea table, "Ms. Qi, stop working, just sit down for a while "

    "Is it difficult to call my name?" Qi Yan raised her head and raised her brows.

    Lu Zhiqiao quickly changed her words: "Qi Yan."

    She half-closed her eyelids, and seemed to hesitate to speak.

    Qi Yan went over and sat down next to her, and took a few sips of the water glass in a face-saving manner, but she still didn''t smile or speak, and the atmosphere was extremely embarrassing.

    "Yesterday that..." Lu Zhiqiao said anxiously, rubbing her palms on her knees, "He''s really just a friend."

    "Huh? Which one?"

    "The man who sent me back."

    Qi Yan put her teacup down calmly, and suddenly turned around. Nodding her head, a charming smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "You have no obligation to explain to me, what are you doing?" As she spoke, she leaned over, grabbed her chin with one hand, and licked her lips ambiguously, "Do you care? About how I thought?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, and her lips were immediately covered by a piece of  warmth. Without any temptation, she went straight into the depths, with the smell of aggression like a beast, like punishment..

    "Hmm¡ª"

    She was inexplicably excited, and even had a hint of expectation.

    However, when she felt completely overwhelmed, Qi Yan let go of her, turned her face away, glanced at the sundries on the ground, and suddenly stopped. "Is that your husband?"

    Photo frames were stacked by the cabinet door, with a man''s photo on top.

    Lu Zhiqiao followed her gaze, her face changed slightly, and hurriedly got up and stuffed the photo frame into the cabinet, glanced at her, lowered her eyes and said, "No."

    "So, who is it?"

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and did not answer.

 CH 18

    Because she was not very close, Qi Yan couldn''t see what the man in the photo looked like, and felt irritable for no reason, but it was obvious that Lu Zhiqiao did not intend to tell her. She was sensible and didn''t ask any more questions.

    With Qi Yan''s help, the house was cleaned up very quickly.

    This person insisted on doing all kinds of work, but Lu Zhiqiao refused. There was no reason to let her daughter''s teacher wash the toilet at her home, so she just let her wipe the dust and dry the clothes. In the end, the two went downstairs with the trash together, selling what could be sold, and throwing away what could not be sold.

    The sky is high and the clouds are clear, the sun is warm on the body, but there is still a slight cool breeze piercing through the pores. The complex is full of withered and yellow leaves, which creak when stepped on, and the flowerbeds and sports facilities are covered with bedding.

    The two walked side by side, their shadows were stretched long and fused closely behind them.

    "Let''s go upstairs to my place?" Qi Yan grabbed Zhiqiao''s hands beside her and slowed down her pace.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, curled up her fingers, and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

    Ordinary people would understand that this was asking what was the matter, but it sounded different to Qi Yan, she raised her lips and smiled coquettishly. Leaning over, she said in a very ambiguous tone: "Whatever it is, that you want."

    Her grasp suddenly tightened, and she felt the warmth in the delicate and smooth skin.

    Lu Zhiqiao blushed immediately, struggled lightly but did not break free, turned her head pretending to be calm, and ignored it.

    "Just kidding." Qi Yan said softly, "I have something to show you."

    She didn''t believe it.

    "I''m not lying."

    "I have no one to lie to." Qi Yan swore viciously. *

    *Qi Yan basically says that she''s single, in the context that people tend to lie to their SOs, both bad and good lies.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face was sullen, but the corners of her mouth couldn''t help but curl up a little, thinking it was funny. A dead leaf fluttered and fell on her head, she raised her hand and brushed it away, and after a long while said calmly: "Let me believe you."

    There are only a few instances when she went to Qi Yan''s house, and every one of them involved something serious, and every time she was taken advantage of. So much so that in Lu Zhiqiao''s view, 902 is a wolves'' den. But this time, as soon as she entered the door, she felt something was wrong.

    The wall behind the TV is empty, the art photo is gone.

    Lu Zhiqiao looks around while changing her shoes. Last time, she was too anxious about her daughter''s condition to even pay attention, and she didn''t know when the photo disappeared. She wanted to ask at first, but she gets teased by Qi Yan a lot and learned a lesson, so she swallowed her words, looked away, and pretended not to see.

    "What do you want to show me?"

    "Come with me."

    Qi Yan took her hand, entered the study, opened the curtains, and the golden sunlight from outside came in.

    The study room is not big, with a set of desks and chairs and a bookcase that occupies the entire wall. There is a movable clothes hanger next to it. When Lu Zhiqiao came in, she first saw the photo of the nude girl on the wall, and hurriedly looked away, and her eyes fell on the clothes hanger.

    There are all kinds of clothes hanging on the shelves, long skirts and short skirts, capes and suspenders, a little exposed here, and a blank piece there, none of which can completely cover the whole body.

    "I prepared it for you, and you will wear these for the filming." Qi Yan stretched out her slender fingers, picked out a red bikini, and stuck it in front of her, "How about this, does it look good?"

    Bikinis have always been famous for their sexiness, and red is synonymous with unrestrained enthusiasm. The combination of the two is especially coquettish. This thing can barely cover the three jewels, which is equivalent to wearing nothing.

    Lu Zhiqiao is unfamiliar with these things. She has never worn a swimsuit since she was a child, let alone a bikini. She took a step back, avoiding the dazzling red, and looked at Qi Yan with a frown: "Didn''t you say I can wear clothes?"

    "Bikinis are also clothes." Qi Yan smiled,

    "Although they saved a little fabric..."

    "No."

    "You promised me."

    Lu Zhiqiao choked and frowned.

    If she didn''t owe Qi Yan too much favor, she could refuse without hesitation, but now she has drawn a trap for herself, and it is hard to go back on her word. It is said that the debt of favor is hard to repay, and the debt she owes to Qi Yan is like a snowball, getting bigger and bigger.

    "Except for bikinis." She thought for a long time and insisted.

    Qi Yan gave in generously: "Okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the heat on her face, and turned to go out, when suddenly she was hugged from behind, and the pleasant scent of shampoo rushed over, wrapped around the tip of her nose, and on the side of her ears Qi Yan''s soft voice said, "I won''t force you to do what you don''t want to do. I''m already very satisfied that you agreed to be my model."

    After speaking, she kissed her earlobe flatteringly, and consciously let go.

    Lu Zhiqiao shivered, thoughts came to her, and her throat suddenly felt a little stuffy.

    ¡­

    The weather continued to be sunny for many days, and the temperature rose slowly, with a faint tendency to break through 25 degrees, entering the warm early winter in the blink of an eye.

    Lu Wei has already returned to school for class. The little girl is well-behaved and honest. She took her mother''s words to heart, didn''t mention a word to her classmates, and didn''t show excessive enthusiasm in Chinese class.

    Qi Yan, on the other hand, glances at Lu Wei intentionally or unintentionally during class, and always thinks about the child and her mother in the office when there is no class, and laughs when sitting alone, making colleagues around think that something good is going to happen to her, and teased her to send out her wedding candies.

    There is no class this afternoon, but there will be a meeting at 4:30, and the home room teachers of each class must be present. Qi Yan is bored sitting in the office. She has prepared her lesson plans, and finished reading a book, and she does not want to talk about husbands and children with other female teachers. So she decided to go on a patrol.

    Class 1-2 is in math class. They just finished the weekly test yesterday. Today they are reviewing the results on the test papers. The math teacher is Xu Shoukui*, a middle-aged uncle, tall and strong, with a thick voice that can be heard from far away.

    *shoe-show-kwey

    "With the mid-term exam and two weekly exams, I have probably figured out your background. The average is very good, but there are always a few students who fail the exam!"

    "Look, it''s you, Lu Wei !"

    Xu Shoukui roared suddenly, his eyes as big as the bottom of wine bottles, he raised his finger to the girl sitting in the group next to the window, and then walked down like a gust of wind, picked up her test paper and showed it to the whole class¡ª ¡ªThe huge bright red 37 points are extremely eye-catching.

    "Such a simple question, with a score of 37, do you have a pig''s brain?! I don''t think pigs are as stupid as you!" "

    You go to school and learn, learn to be an egg! Go home and sleep!

    "He waved the test paper and threw it in front of the girl, gave her a hard look, before returning to the podium. The height of nearly 1.9* meters stood there like a thick wall. He patted the sleeve of the jacket, raised his chin slightly, and said in an extremely arrogant tone: "From today onwards, those who fail the math test will all squat by the podium to attend class."

    *6''3"

    The whole class was in an uproar.

    The little girl sat quietly, with her head buried very low, with her little baby-fat face burning red, and her shoulders trembling slightly. After a while, under the watchful eyes of everyone, she walked slowly to the edge of the podium, squatted down, wrapped her arms around her knees, and curled up into a ball.

    The back door of the classroom was open, Qi Yan leaned against the door in a daze, seeing everything clearly, no one noticed her. The hand hanging by her side was clenched into a fist, and the palm of the pinching was dull. There was anger boiling in her body, but she had to suppress it.

    If it was another teacher, she might be able to stop by consoling him, but Xu Shoukui...

    He is in his early fifties and is one of the oldest teachers in the attached middle school. Some of the parents of the children present were his students. He has a traditional and old-fashioned way of thinking, and he hates students with poor grades. He used to beat and scold students frequently, but now that times and the atmosphere are different. He is a little restrained, but still humiliates the children from time to time.

    Among her colleagues, Xu Shoukui is also the most difficult to get along with. He always looks down on young teachers because of his seniority, and sometimes it is difficult to communicate.

    But she couldn''t just watch.

    The school explicitly prohibits verbal and physical punishment of students, in case something happens to the child, no one can afford to be responsible. To a lesser extent, she, as the home room teacher, can''t ignore the students in her class, not to mention that she is Lu Zhiqiao''s daughter. She is not related by blood, but has affection. It is her selfishness...

    Qi Yan took a deep breath, raised her hand and knocked on the back door, with a slight smile on her lips: "Mr. Xu, excuse me, is it convenient for you to come out?"

    Dozens of eyes turned around, and the boy playing with the mobile phone in the back row was scared out of his wits, and hurriedly stuffed it into the drawer.

    Xu Shoukui also looked over, raised his chin, but went out through the front door and stood motionless in the corridor. Qi Yan was too lazy to argue with him, walked two steps over, lowered her voice and said, "Mr. Xu, I know that you have strict requirements on your students. Now there are not many experienced and responsible teachers like you..."

    She started with flattery.

    "...these children have just transitioned from elementary school to junior high school, and they may not be able to adapt to it for a while. As teachers, we should be more patient. If a child makes a mistake, it is understandable for you to reprimand, but corporal punishment is not appropriate."

    "And, if something happens to the child, it would be difficult to explain it to the parents.¡±

    Although she spoke tactfully and thoughtfully, her eyes were always cold, and her smile was even less visible. She made up her mind that if Xu Shoukui didn''t listen, she would tear herself apart from him today and protect Lu Wei.

    As the saying goes, first the courtesy and then the army,* she''s never been afraid of the seniors, who will be afraid of this bad old man?

    *if peace talks fail, then goes the fist

    Xu Shoukui''s face turned green and pale, obviously dissatisfied with Qi Yan''s interference in his teaching, but he stretched out his hand not to slap the smiling person, at least he wanted to give the teacher some face, so he smiled bluntly and said, "You have a point, he he."

    For Qi Yan''s sake, Xu Shoukui asked Lu Wei to go back to her seat, pretending that he hadn''t said anything just now, and continued with the class.

    ...

    After the meeting, just after five o''clock, the sun slowly sank to the west, and the sky appeared slightly dark.

    There were only three classes in the afternoon of the first and second grades, and it was already past the end of school time, and almost all the students on duty had left. The whole South Teaching Building was quiet and empty. Qi Yan came out of the office, passed through the empty corridor, and was about to go down the stairs when she suddenly saw a girl in school uniform and ponytail squatting in the corner, which looked familiar to her.

    "Lu Wei?"

    The little girl squatted by the wall and cried, her body twitched, and she raised her head when she heard the sound. Her face was covered with tears, her eyes and nose were flushed.

    "Ms. Qi..." She choked up and stood up.

    Qi Yan''s heart trembled, she frowned, and hurriedly stepped forward to hug her: "What''s the matter?" Brushed the broken hair on the girl''s forehead, and wiped her tears with her hands, "Don''t cry, don''t cry, who bullied you? Tell me."

    Lu Wei was about to speak, sobbing, when the cell phone she had been holding in her hand vibrated¡ªit was her mother''s call.

    She stopped sobbing instantly, cleared her throat with two coughs, and then connected: "Mom..." It was difficult to hide the crying voice, and it was even more impossible to restrain her gasping, so she bit her lip tightly.

    But she was still exposed.

    "It''s okay, I accidentally bumped my head just now, it hurts."

    "Yeah, I will."

    "Okay."

    "Goodbye, Mom..."

    Qi Yan was stunned as she watched from the side lines.

 CH 19

    "Woo*... Teacher Qi... I don''t want to go to math class..." Lu Wei hung up the phone, turned her head and threw herself into Qi Yan''s arms, crying loudly. She fought back the tears that didn''t fall in class, and now they flow like a mountain torrent.

    *crying/sobbing sounds

    Qi Yan opened her arms and hugged her tightly, a scalding wetness spread in front of her instantly, her heart also twitched, and suddenly felt infinite sadness.

    In fact, when she saw Lu Wei crying in a corner just now, she had a hunch in her heart that it was probably because of what happened in math class. As the saying goes, beating is not just slapping the face. An adult may not be able to bear being humiliated in public, let alone an immature child.

    But obviously she was so wronged, even then, she refused to tell her mother on the phone.

    "Niu Niu..." Qi Yan softly called the girl''s nickname, rubbed her head, "Stop crying, it''s Teacher Xu who is wrong today, she is getting old and has a bad temper, I have already told him, in the future he won''t do that again."

    "Woo...I''ve worked very...very hard...cough cough...me too...uuuu...I don''t want to..."

    "Could it be...cough...all the teachers...uuuu... all...hate me ..."

    The little girl was panting from crying, trembling, gasping for breath and coughing, unable to speak clearly. Qi Yan watched as her heart ache, and gently wiped away the tears on her face with her thumb, and said in a gentle voice: "How come, I like you very much, your composition is so good, every time I read it as a model composition to the whole class, and the English teacher also likes you very much, and praises you as the best student she has ever taught..."

    As she spoke, hot moisture welled up in her eyes, she blinked twice quickly, and the corners of her mouth deepened little by little.

    "But I still think...I''m so stupid..."

    "Niuniu, you are not stupid at all. Everyone has their own good and bad things. No one is born with everything. Don''t lose confidence in yourself." Qi Yan couldn''t help but kiss the girl''s forehead.

    Lu Wei stopped sobbing immediately, and looked at her with wide eyes, with a few drops of crystal hanging on her tear-washed eyelashes.

    The afterglow of the setting sun spilled in through the window, half of Qi Yan''s side face was soaked in the soft light, the hair on the sideburns was dyed golden brown, and there was a gentle smile in her eyes, bright and sparkling, like sparkling amber wine.

    The teacher is a little bit like a mother.

    She suddenly missed her mother.

    "Hmm." Lu Wei sniffed, lowered her eyelids, and hugged Qi Yan without letting go.

    Mom''s not here, so it''s okay to hug the teacher, right? Anyway, the relationship between teacher and mother seems to be pretty good. She thought so.

    The little girl was well-behaved and quiet, she didn''t even make a sound when she acted like a baby. Qi Yan''s heart was hot and soft, overflowing with a strong desire to protect, she stopped talking and just hugged her quietly. When the sunset had completely set and the dazzling rays of light disappeared into the sky, the tears on the girl''s face dried up slowly, and her body stopped twitching. She raised her head and let go of Qi Yan reluctantly.

    "Niuniu, what did mom say on the phone just now?" Qi Yan fished her back and hugged her.

    Lu Wei was stunned for a moment, and replied truthfully: "Mom said she have to work overtime."

    "Let''s go, I''ll take you to eat delicious food."

    "..."

    As night fell, the downtown commercial street was bustling with cars and pedestrians. The high-rise buildings on the street are shining with brilliant neon lights, and a ray of silver moonlight pierces through the sparse clouds and falls down. Today is the sixteenth day of the lunar calendar, a full moon.

    Qi Yan took Lu Wei to a restaurant opened by a friend for dinner. At first the little girl was very reserved and didn''t want her to spend money, but she was a child after all, so she surrendered after coaxing her softly. After eating, she went to the video game city again. Qi Yan spent a lot of money to buy a lot of game tokens, catching dolls, racing cars, and shooting basketballs. One adult and one kid went crazy for nearly two hours.

    Children naturally like to play around, and now they have forgotten their grievances, and they are very happy on the dancing machine.

    "Ah, Teacher Qi, that''s not right, you should dance like this..."

    "I''m getting old, I can''t move anymore."

    Qi Yan counts this as an eye-opener. The little girl whom she thought was introverted and quiet, turned out to be a huge ball of energy hidden in her tiny body. She can also be crazy, laugh, and have the nature of a child, but for some reason, all natures are suppressed and buried deep in her heart, and she pretends to be precocious and sensible.

    Such a child makes people feel distressed.

    As a teacher, she shouldn''t have close contact with students, and shouldn''t favor a certain student. She knows the reason clearly, but she still wants to be willful for a while. From the time she met Lu Zhiqiao at the bar that night, there were two more people in her life, as if it was destined, and she could never be as carefree as before.

    Tired of playing, Qi Yan took the child to drink milk tea. There were many people in the store, and they waited for a long time to get it. The two of them walked to the parking lot of the building while drinking the milk tea.

    "Ms. Qi, thank you for today." Lu Wei suddenly turned her head.

    "Huh?"

    "I''m very happy."

    The little girl squinted her eyes and smiled, her pupils seemed to be shining, like a pair of translucent black pearls.

    Qi Yan also smiled, and patted her head: "It''s good that you''re happy."

    The empty parking lot echoed the footsteps of the two, and when they reached Qi Yan''s car, Lu Wei got into the passenger car with the baby doll in her arms, and Qi Yan fastened her seat belt for her. She also got into the car, but didn''t rush to start it. She bit the straw and asked casually, "Niuniu, will your grandma and grandpa visit your house during the Chinese New Year?"

    "I don''t have grandparents..."

    "Where are your grandparents?"

    "None."

    "Other relatives, such as aunt? Uncle?"

    Lu Wei shook her head, "I''ve never seen one before."

    "..."

    The answer was somewhat beyond Qi Yan''s expectation. She opened her mouth and swallowed the pearl almost without chewing.

    "Ms. Qi, why are you asking this?" The little girl looked at her suspiciously.

    Qi Yan paused, then smiled and said, "I promised to help your mother take pictures during the Chinese New Year, and I''m worried that it will be inconvenient for her to have guests at home." Instead of trying to make up lies, it''s better to tell the truth. This is a legitimate reason and there is nothing shameful about it.

    Unlike the father mentioned last time, Lu Wei did not show the slightest disappointment, but her eyes lit up instead: "Do you take good photos? There is no one in our house during the Chinese New Year. My mother and I will go on vacation. Teacher Qi, you can go with us. I also want to take pictures too~"

    Everyone loves beauty, let alone girls of this age, when they are young, they pay more attention to their image. When she was ill before, Qi Yan showed her a photo album, both the scenery and the models were very beautiful, and she wanted to have one too.

    Qi Yan didn''t expect that she could get so much useful information out of a single sentence of the truth. She''s secretly sighing at the little girl''s naivety and innocence, but inwardly couldn''t help but to have a dark motive. She pretended to be calm and asked, "Only if your mother agrees right?"

    I''ll talk to mom!" Lu Wei nodded her head with conviction.

    After all, a child is easy to bribe.

    After drinking milk tea, Qi Yan drove home. When she parked in the complex, she saw the black a8 parked next to her. Knowing that Lu Zhiqiao had returned, she sent Lu Wei into the house under the pretense of helping the kid bring the dolls.

    The lighting in the living room is warm and bright, but there is no one there. There is a laptop computer on the coffee table, which is turned on. The screen displays the word interface, and there are several thick folders scattered beside it. At this time, a figure came out of the bedroom, and the eyes of the three met, and they collided.

    She was wearing a beige woolen skirt with long sleeves, a button undone at the collar, and a thin belt tied casually around her waist. Half of her paper-white calf was exposed under the hem, and house slippers were on her feet. It seemed that she had just come back not long ago, and her clothes hadn''t been changed yet.

    "Mom!" Lu Wei changed her shoes and jumped over, holding up the crab doll as if offering a treasure, "I caught it, and I''ll give it to you~"

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the person standing by the door, and the complicated expression in her eyes flashed away. It took a while to come back to her senses. She took the doll with a smile and lowered her head, praised in a warm voice, and asked her daughter to do her homework.

    The little girl obediently returned to the room.

    There was silence everywhere, Qi Yan stood there quietly, staring at Lu Zhiqiao silently, the person in sight was covered by the soft shadow of the lamp, giving birth to a sense of nothingness, as if it was just a phantom, which would disappear at any time. She suddenly felt that there was a layer of fog that could not be dispersed between the two of them, and no one could see the other clearly.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stared at apprehensively, clutching the doll tightly with her fingers. She stepped forward after a long time, and apologized: "Today cost you money."

    A while earlier, she received a WeChat message, but she was working overtime and did not look in time, and when she saw it was too late to politely refuse, she could only let Qi Yan take her daughter to play, she thought she owed her a favor again, and do not know how to pay back.

    Qi Yan''s eyes were as hot as fire, and she froze for a moment, then suddenly hugged her fiercely, and breathed hard the air that smelled of her perfume.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body froze, but she didn''t struggle, but slowly closed her eyes, "Would you like to come in and sit?"

    Her voice was very soft, and it was rare for her to actively invite.

    Qi Yan didn''t answer, she tilted her head slightly to kiss her ear, but was blocked by her own hair, she ignored the obstruction, and kissed her through the fragrant and silky strands of hair, her thin lips gently grinding from the lobe of the ear to the chin, Then to the face, and finally to the corner of the mouth.

    "Lu Zhiqiao..."

    She called out to her, her voice so low it couldn''t be lowered, almost humming out in a nasal voice.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s breathing was stagnant, her heart felt numb and itchy as if she had been scratched by fine fluff, and the pores all over her body were stretched out. This was the first time Qi Yan called her name, so she discovered the feeling of being called by her name is so special after experiencing it first hand.

    At that time she failed to understand, especially not because of being called by name, but because of the person who called her name.

    "Still working?" Qi Yan pecked the corner of her lips, but her eyes were on the coffee table.

    Her feet seem to have a mind of their own, she quickly took off her shoes, and automatically put on the pair of slippers that have been placed beside the floor mat, and her arms are tightly wrapped around the other person''s slender waist  like a sticky brown sugar, very strong with no plan to let go.

    Lu Zhiqiao unknowingly tensed up, leaning against her bosom habitually, but couldn''t even lift her eyelids, and replied in a low voice: "I was just about to wrap up."

    Being led by Qi Yan to move to the side of the sofa, the crab doll in her hand was squeezed out, and a warm surge was suddenly felt in front of her. Her throat let out a muffled hum, her feet a little soft, and then she was flung down on the sofa .

    "I...I''m going to pour you a cup of water, let go..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s mind was buzzing, blood rushed to her ears, and she hurriedly found an excuse to break free, but before she could get up, Qi Yan grabbed her hands, pressed them down and kissed the tear mole, and looked at her tenderly  : "I don''t want to drink water."

    At this moment, the bedroom door opened, and Lu Wei came out with slippers:

    "Mom, tomorrow I¡ª"

 CH 20

    The two women lying on the sofa are a teacher and a mom. They are close and embracing, as if they are very intimate. The teacher grabbed mom''s hand and pressed her so that she couldn''t move, and mom''s face was very red, and she looked a little shy and constricted.

    What Lu Wei''s eyes saw was such a scene.

    Kids don''t understand same-sex love yet, they just find it strange, they seem to have seen it before, but not quite the same, and they can''t explain it.

    What is the difference?

    She forgot what to say and concentrated on thinking about it.

    Hearing her daughter''s voice, Lu Zhiqiao trembled all over, and pushed Qi Yan away reflexively. At that moment, amazing strength erupted from her limp arm. Before Qi Yan could react, she fell off the sofa unexpectedly.

    ¡ª¡ªDong

    Her butt hit the tile floor heavily, numb for a while, and the dull pain gradually spread, she frowned: "Hiss..."

    "Teacher Qi!" The little girl exclaimed, and rushed to help her up. "Are you okay?"

    Qi Yan patted her buttocks and smiled awkwardly: "I''m okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao sat up in a hurry, stroked her hair, slightly parted her thin lips and gasp lowly, the color of peach blossoms on her face became more and more delicate. She closed her eyes, changed into a cold and reserved face for a moment, took her daughter''s hand over, and asked pretending to be innocent: "Niuniu, what did you just say?"

    "Hmm"

    Lu Wei bit her lower lip, then remembered what she wanted to say, and put the unanswered questions behind her, hugged her neck and acted like a spoiled child: "Mom, I don''t want to take the subway tomorrow, can you take me to school?~"

    "I''ll drive you." Qi Yan picked up the topic.

    "No, we are going to school together."

    Lu Zhiqiao refused straight away: "No need." With a slightly cold tone, she didn''t look at her with half-closed eyelids, but raised her eyes and smiled at her daughter, "Then get up earlier tomorrow."

    "Okay~" The little girl kissed her, bouncing around back to the room.

    Seeing the door of the second bedroom close slowly, Lu Zhiqiao breathed a sigh of relief. Her back was wet with sweat just now, but now she was in a panic. She lowered her head and glanced at Qi Yan from the corner of her eyes, with a slightly complaining expression, and a hint of restrained shame.

    "Are you angry?" Qi Yan smiled and walked towards her, wanting to grab her hand.

    But this time Lu Zhiqiao didn''t allow her, she raised her hand to block it, moved to the side, turned her face away without saying a word, leaving half of the back of her head and red ears to Qi Yan.

    Her daughter is only twelve years old, and she has never been exposed to this kind of stuff since she was a child. How could she understand it? When she ran into it today, it was inevitable that she would ask whenever she thought of it. How should she explain it to her child? Although she is not angry, she is somewhat annoyed. It is not because of Qi Yan but herself. She is a failed mother and a shameless woman. She cannot control the desire in her heart, and she has given the child bad guidance and education.

    Her sexual orientation is a secret, and if one day her daughter learns that she had an "improper relationship" with a teacher, what will she think of her?

    Just thinking about it is suffocating.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, took a deep breath, clenched her hands on her knees into fists, pinched her palms tightly, and suddenly she heard Qi Yan''s heavy and low voice come from her ear: "I''m sorry."

    She was stunned .

    "It''s my fault. I''ll be more careful in the future."

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her eyes and turned around slowly, meeting Qi Yan''s sincere and serious gaze for a moment, vaguely glimpsing the flickering disappointment in the depths, her face changed slightly, her chest suddenly blocked up, and she couldn''t say what she had brewed.

    After all, she is her daughter''s teacher, so she can''t show her face, let alone get really angry.

    "Are... are you okay just now?" She glanced at Qi Yan''s butt, the fall sounded with a heavy thud, she hoped she didn''t hurt her bones.

    Qi Yan lowered her eyelids, looked up at her again, and suddenly smiled and said, "It hurts, why don''t you rub it for me?"

    "..."

    This person was dignified and serious one second, and started to act like a beast and hooligan the next second. Her cold and deep eyebrows contained electrified hooks, seductive and charming.  Lu Zhiqiao became annoyed again, simply ignored her, and continued to deal with finishing her work.

    "I''m just kidding." Qi Yan said back to normal.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched the computer typing without turning her head.

    Qi Yan smiled, Zhiqiao didn''t make any noise, and didn''t plan to leave. She was working, and she was watching her from the side.

    The computer screen is densely packed with English, and this person is as effortless as reading her native language. Then she clicked another window. Qi Yan glanced roughly, and couldn''t help but said: "Letter of Credit?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, turned her head, and looked at her with a little surprise: "Aren''t you a Chinese teacher?"

    "The Chinese teacher can''t speak English?"

    "..."

    Before Niuniu praised how powerful Qi Yan was, she thought it was a child''s exaggeration and didn''t care about what she said. Now that she suddenly remembered, the look in Qi Yan''s eyes became more intriguing.

    "Why?" Qi Yan smiled, and moved a little closer, "Falling in love with me?"

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face darkened, and she turned back.

    The night was silent, the full moon quietly climbed up the treetops, a cold wind blew in from the half-opened window of the balcony, mixed with the sound of arguing from someone, intermittent, but extremely clear.  Qi Yan listened unintentionally, felt bored, got up and closed the window, and returned to the sofa without sitting down, and saw a cooperation agreement next to the computer, with the logos of the two companies printed on it.

    "You work in Xinbei Group?" She asked knowingly.

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed without raising her head.

    When asked before, she didn''t say anything, she resisted talking about things, but now she is open and unabashed, and the line dividing the two has blurred a little unknowingly¡­

    Qi Yan stared at the agreement thoughtfully, wanting to open it to see if it was signed, but held back, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly raised her head: "Why aren''t you sleeping?"

    Chasing her away.

    "Keeping you company, isn''t it okay"

    "..."

    "Since you don''t welcome me, I''d better go." Qi Yan said calmly, bending down to pick up the crab doll on the floor and put it on the sofa, her long, dark, soft hair sliding down with her movements, scattering a fragrance of shampoo.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, and said softly, "That''s not what I meant."

    "I know."

    She opened her mouth, wanting to say something else, but her eyes didn''t look aside, her face suddenly became hot, and she made a slight sucking sound, and then turning around, Qi Yan was already standing at the door putting on her shoes, and opened the door: "Good night."

    Before Lu Zhiqiao could reply, the person had already gone out and closed the door.

    She don''t know who is arguing, the sound is getting louder and louder, and things are being thrown, which is especially obvious in the quiet night at this moment, and the doors and windows can be heard even when the doors and windows are closed.  Feeling restless, she hastily typed the last line of letters, saved it, and turned off the computer.

    Qi Yan kept her word and promised to be careful in the future, so she didn''t drop by to the opposite door again. She knew that hot tofu couldn''t be eaten in a hurry, and it would be better if it was stretched and relaxed like a spring, so she didn''t even send WeChat, went out early every day, stayed at home at night, and did her own things.

    Apart from being able to see Lu Wei at school, she deliberately avoided the mother and daughter during the rest of the time. After two or three days of being so calm, Lu Zhiqiao remained silent and ignored her.

    ¡­

    Saturday, sunny.

    After waiting for half a month for the paint to arrive, Qi Yan drove to the factory to wait for repairs. She waited from morning to afternoon until the sun was mobileabout to set before returning. As she approached the gate of the complex, she slowed down and a black sports car appeared in sight through the windshield...

    The body shape was cool and extremely eye-catching, it was the McLaren she had seen last time. The door of its passenger seat was raised high, obviously waiting for someone.

    Qi Yan lightly stepped on the brakes, stopped by the green belt, and then saw Lu Zhiqiao coming out from the side door of the complex. She was wearing a soot blue low-necked sweater, white narrow-cut trousers, long hair hanging down to shoulder length and slightly curly, with a smile on her face. After getting into the sports car, the door was closed skillfully and neatly.

    You can tell at a glance that she often sit there.

    The car didn''t stay for half a second, and sped away.

    Qi Yan squinted her eyes, picked up her  phone and dialed Lu Zhiqiao''s number. The other party answered quickly, with doubts in her voice. She frowned, her eyes darkened slightly, but she said in a brisk tone: "Are you free tonight? I''ll treat you to dinner."

    After a pause for a few seconds, she replied: "...I can''t, I have to work overtime."

    "In the company? "

    "Yeah."

    Qi Yan''s face darkened, she pursed her thin lips, and hung up the phone without making a sound.

 CH 21

    Chapter 21: Entangled

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    The call was cut with no warning, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart also trembled, she held the phone tightly to her ear, and did not move, her eyebrows wrinkled slightly, feeling a little guilty for no reason.

    After a while, she put down her phone and rubbed the space between her eyebrows with her index finger.

    "Who has been harassing you again?" The man in the driver''s seat turned his head. He had a chiseled face with a refined smile on the corners of his eyes and as gentle as jade.

    Lu Zhiqiao took down her hand, tilted her head and smiled: "No, this is a friend."

    "Ah, I remembered that you used to lie to me like that."

    "After all, I didn''t know you well at that time."

    "What about now?"

    "We''re kinda familiar, I guess."

    "Kinda?"

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t answer, picking up the phone to poke him on the shoulder: "Concentrate on driving."

    "Okay."

    The scenery outside the window goes past them at a constant speed. The road is wide and busy because it is a main road in the city. There is a speed limit, so the car cannot go too fast. After crossing the fifth intersection, they turn left and drive straight, the vehicles on the road gradually become scarce, and the buildings on both sides of the street are now all low-rise bungalows.

    The sports car picked up speed very fast, the man pressed a bit on the gas, and the trees on the side of the street flew past, Lu Zhiqiao had to grab the armrest.

    Not much later, a lake appeared in the field of vision, a wide area, but because of the season, the original lush woods along the coast are now with bare branches. At first glance, it looked depressed and desolate.

    Rounding the lake, the car slowed down and finally stopped in front of a courtyard gate.

    Angel Island.

    The two got out of the car, opened the trunk, took out boxes that were full of stuff, and went in together...

    It was already dark when they came back, and parked at the gate of the complex. Lu Zhiqiao thought about going home to cook, and after saying goodbye to her friend, she went in at a hurried pace.

    The night was cold and windy, and the cold air penetrated straight into her clothes. The streetlight stretched her shadow long and projected it on the concrete behind her. The surroundings were quiet, and the sound of footsteps in heeled shoes was especially noticeable. She fastened her pace, entered the elevator and pressed the button to her floor.

    Going up to the ninth floor, as soon as the elevator door opened, the corridor sensor light also turned on.

    Lu Zhiqiao is used to walking towards her home, she was about to take out the key to open the door but her hand suddenly stopped, turned around, looking across the 902''s closed door, the suppressed guilt came up again, stirring in her heart.

    She lied to Qi Yan.

    For more than a month, they have been getting along with each other, seeing each other every day, whether they are going to and leaving work or buying groceries and throwing away garbage, they always bump into each other once in a while. They are nextdoor neighbors, meeting each other is unavoidable.

    But in the past two days, forget seeing each other, there was even no news on WeChat, and thinking about what Qi Yan said when she left that night, in a half-joking and half-serious tone, she became more and more uneasy.

    On one hand, if she offended the teacher, her daughter might not have a good time at school in the next three years. On the other hand, Qi Yan has helped her many times, and she owes her a lot of favors. It doesn''t seem right either emotionally or rationally

    She wanted to ask her daughter how Teacher Qi was doing at school, but the embarrassment of being accidentally caught that night made her swallow the words that came to her mouth repeatedly, and it dragged on for several days. She doesn''t remember how many times she clicked on Qi Yan''s WeChat box and how many times she composed a text and edited, but none of them was sent.

    The sensor light went out.

    The surroundings suddenly fell into darkness, and Lu Zhiqiao, who was immersed in her thoughts, was taken aback, raised her hand to find support from the wall, felt the cold touch from her fingertips, and shivered.

    Suddenly, 902 door opened, and the sensor light lit up, blending with the light from the room.

    Qi Yan came out with two bags of garbage, saw the person standing there motionless, froze for a moment, the corners of her mouth picked up a sarcastic smile: "Finished working overtime?

    Lu Zhiqiao''s lips moved, wanting to say something but then stopped, vainly lowered her eyes and did not speak.

    Her mind was in a mess, with countless bubbles like boiling water. She had dealt with all kinds of customers for so many years, her eloquence and doing things smoothly like she used to, became useless in front of  Qi Yan.

    What kind of person is Qi Yan?  How should she deal with such a person?  How does she maintain their existing relationship without getting too close?

    She doesn''t have a clue.

    Seeing that she did not say anything, Qi Yan just took it as a yes, smiled mockingly and did not ask further questions. She walked leisurely into the stairwell, threw the two bags of trash into the large bucket, clapped her hands, turned around and walked back.

    "Teacher Qi..."

    She halted.

    Teacher Qi, Teacher Qi, Teacher Qi, every day, Teacher Qi, always Teacher Qi. The woman would die if she called her by her name.  Qi Yan was sarcastic, but she was looking forward to what she would say next.

    Would she confess? That she lied to her.

    "I didn''t mean to drive you away that night, nor did I not welcome you..." Lu Zhiqiao looked at her quietly, her heart was thumping in her throat, and a thin layer of sweat broke out from her palms.

    Qi Yan turned sideways and interrupted: "That''s all?"

    ¡°?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Those eyes were confused, and the black tear mole at the corner of her eyes showed innocence. It was no longer the clear and cold look when they first met, as if they were oppressed by something and had to compromise. They only floated on the surface, as for the deepest part, she was in a mess to clearly see.

    Qi Yan tilted her head and looked at her for a few seconds, the corners of her mouth twitched uncontrollably, then she suddenly smiled and said, "It''s okay, I was joking, I forgot about it until you mentioned."

    Her palm relaxed quickly, and the curled five fingers stretched out little by little.

    "By the way, I thought about this and I think it''s necessary to tell you about it." Qi Yan noticed her small movements, her throat tightened, coughed lightly twice and continued without changing her expression: "The reason I took Lu Wei out that day was because ......"

    She briefly talked about what happened in Math class, and her tone became strange as she spoke.

    "Adolescence is very critical. The body develops rapidly, but it is not yet weaned psychologically. A child at this age has great mood swings. What kinds of people and things she encounters may affect her for the rest of her life. You usually need to give her more encouragement and a sense of security. And as a teacher, I can only do so much. I will try my best, but I still need the cooperation of the parents."

    "Also, I''m a person who distinguishes between public and private. No matter how many personal grievances there are, I won''t take my anger out on my students. You can rest assured."

    Lu Zhiqiao listened quietly, watching the light in her eyes go out little by little, the arc of her mouth slowly flattened, her cold and charming face seemed to be covered with a layer of cold concrete, stiff and gray.

    "Well, good night." Qi Yan said politely, turning around and going inside.

    The door closed so lightly that one wondered if it was actually locked.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood stiffly, her curled fingers gripping her palm tightly.

    After standing for an unknown amount of time, the sensor lights went out, and the surroundings fell into chaotic darkness again. Only the display screen on the elevator floor emitted a faint red light. The outline of her figure was gradually blurred in the darkness, with a sense of loneliness.

    After a while, she moved her numb legs, took a few steps forward, raised her hand and knocked on the door of 902.

    The sensor light turned on again, and the darkness was instantly dispelled by the light.

    After knocking several times in a row, the door opened. Qi Yan''s slender figure appeared behind the door with a cold face: "Is there something wrong?"

    "I''m sorry."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked into her eyes and said in a low voice, "I lied to you today."

    "I know." Qi Yan said, "I saw it."

    "What?"

    "I saw you getting into that car."

    Lu Zhiqiao widened her eyes in astonishment, and before she could say anything, she was dragged into the room by a force. She staggered and the door slammed heavily in her ears, Suddenly, her back was pressed against the cold wall, and her lips were covered with warmth.

    Without any entanglement or provocation, with a savage and strong breath of raw intrusion, the round and flat big white buttons on her sweater were pulled apart effortlessly...

 CH 22

    Chapter 22: Drunk

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    Standing outside for a long time, Lu Zhiqiao''s body was cold; her face and nose were icy cold. Qi Yan traces the biting chill, breathing with anger, eager and short, venting arrogantly. It spread from the lips, and finally stopped on the tear mole, leaving only gentleness and care.

    Inside the knitted jacket is a cotton long sleeved blouse, clinging close to the body. Lu Zhiqiao was restrained and could not move. Feeling the warmth of the woman''s palm, she struggled a few times, but it was useless, so she closed her eyes helplessly.

    The corner of Zhiqiao''s eye is hot, feeling the slightly burning breath, Qi Yan became careful, afraid to make her uncomfortable.

    Qi Yan loves her tear mole very much, it''s in the right position, it''s vivid and sympathetic, giving soft kisses, probing around it, the more she tastes it, the more addictive it becomes, and she can''t control herself.

    Focusing only on the mole, she let go of her hands, and just stuck to the long-sleeved shirt without moving.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s back was tense, her brain was inexplicably stimulated, and she felt a vague sense of excitement. She subconsciously hugged Qi Yan''s shoulders, a little afraid but also a little expectant. Curiosity and shame surged up, making her like an obedient lamb.

    "Lying to me." Qi Yan sucked her tear mole and snorted, "Huh?"

    "Working overtime? At the company? Huh?"

    "You''re guilty that''s why you lied right?"

    "No..." Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away.

    The tear mole under her lips was gone, Qi Yan frowned, grabbed her chin, carefully moved it over, and said angrily, "Don''t move around." After speaking, she kissed her again.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "..."

    After pressing and kissing her for a while, Qi Yan was finally willing to let go of her poor tear mole, her eyes were still a little unsatisfied, and her slender arms held her firmly, "When I called you, right at the gate of the complex..."

    "I asked that on purpose."

    Lu Zhiqiao knew she was wrong, so she didn''t say a word.

    "Why did you lie to me?" Qi Yan buried her face in her hair, not wanting to be seen with a messy expression on her face.

    That car and that man were not enough to disturb her peaceful heart, but the lie changed the nature of the matter. She didn''t know Lu Zhiqiao at all, and she knew nothing about this woman, if she hadn''t seen it with her own eyes, it would never be possible to know that she would lie to her.

    Because they  have no relationship, there is no obligation to explain. Lu Zhiqiao''s reaction in the corridor just now is the best proof.

    Thinking about this, she felt a little disgusted with herself. She had been playing the role of a stalker all along, and the person she stalked was the deepest sea. She only saw the calm sea and the tip of the iceberg, but she didn''t know how much water there was. Deep, with continuous glaciers underneath.

    For so many years, except for her first love, she has never taken the initiative to any woman. She has always been pursued by others. Others are her licking dogs, some are greedy for her skin and beauty, some want her to be rich, and some people really like her.

    But she is a bitch, and she didn''t like any of them.

    She wanted to save a little dignity, coaxing herself that this was just for fun, but she couldn''t resist Lu Zhiqiao coming to the door to confess and losing to that little mole of tears.

    Ah, she''s about to start being obnoxious again.

    "Don''t leave until I say so."

    Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help trembling. After all, she felt guilty in her heart. She let her make a move, and said in a low voice: "I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you would ask what it was, and  I''d have to explain again, last time you..."

    "Okay." Qi Yan interrupted, pecking her lips, her cold and deep eyes bent into crescents, "I Got it, I believe it."

    "You don''t have to say anything you don''t want to say in the future, but you can''t lie to me."

    Lu Zhiqiao took a light breath and nodded. Due to this person''s occupational disease, she looks like a teacher lecturing, how could she dare to disagree.

    "I''m going back to cook, let go."

    "Aren''t you eating here?"

    Lu Zhiqiao immediately frowned, and was just about to speak, Qi Yan let go of her, and raised the corner of her mouth: "I''m just teasing you." As she spoke, she straightened her hair, fastened the buttons one by one, and opened the door, "Go back, spend more time with your daughter."

    "Okay."

    The cold wind came in through the crack of the door, and just as Lu Zhiqiao stepped out with one foot, Qi Yan suddenly grabbed her again. Wrist, "Wait a minute."

    She turned her head.

    "Next Friday, Christmas Eve, are you free?"

    "I have an appointment with a client." Lu Zhiqiao truthfully said that her work schedule has been scheduled until the day before New Year''s Eve, and there will be many things to be busy after the new year. This time it is not a lie.

    Qi Yan lowered her eyelids to hide the disappointment in her eyes, nodded, and slowly let go of her hand: "It''s okay, let''s go."

    On Christmas Eve, several commercial streets in the urban area were very lively. The flow of people is significantly larger than usual, and young couples walking hand in hand can be seen everywhere.

    Qi Yan and her friends went out for dinner, and it happened that someone had a birthday today, and the banquet hall of a five-star hotel was booked for a party. Those who had partners brought their partners and those who didn¡¯t, brought friends. A large group of people had fun until after nine o¡¯clock.

    She didn''t  know who proposed to go to the bar, saying that tonight there is an event to quit singlehood. According to Qi Yan''s usual temperament, they expected her to go, find a mature woman who suits her taste to open a room, and solve her physical needs. But today she was not in the mood. She thought the place was noisy, so she declined the invitation and left early.

    Tonight is cloudy, without stars and moon, and the whole city is shrouded in darkness.

    To go back, you have to pass a road full of exotic buildings. This road is wide and has few cars and is relatively quiet. Qi Yan slowed down the speed of the car to 30 yards, crawled slowly, and then turned on the music player. She hadn''t  listened to it for a long time. The song she heard last time is automatically played. The melody is very familiar.

    ¡ª¡ªYou said that we met each other too late, and I said that I was not brave enough to love you

    ...

    She still remembers very old songs, and her first love especially likes to listen to them.

    She didn''t delete it.

    Pooh.

    Qi Yan spat in her heart, and was about to change the song, when she suddenly caught a glimpse of a very familiar figure on the side of the road diagonally ahead, she subconsciously stepped on the brake lightly, and when she slowed down to the point where she slowly slid past, she floored the brakes and stopped.

    The headlights were strong, dyeing the surroundings as bright as day, which also made her see more clearly¡ªthe woman was slender, with an apricot-colored windbreaker that covers up to her calves, and her shoulder-length curly hair was messed up by the wind. She was leaning on the electric pole, vomiting in the dark.

    Qi Yan frowned, got out of her car and ran over, holding her shoulders: "What''s the matter?"

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her head, but before she could take a look at her, her stomach churned again to, and she bent down and vomited in the trash can, before taking a breath, she vomited two or three times in succession.

    A strong smell of alcohol spread out, and the smell was very offensive.

    Looks like she drank a lot. Qi Yan patted her on the back, turned around and brought paper towels and mineral water from the car, took several times to wipe her mouth, then unscrewed the bottle cap, brought it to her mouth, and coaxed softly: "Drink a little, rinse your mouth."

    Lu Zhiqiao panted low, her face was so red that it seemed almost on fire, she trembled to take a sip of water, held it in her mouth for a moment, spit it out, then her hind leg went limp, and she fell into Qi Yan''s arms¡­

    The night was thick and the sky was dark. The neon lights on both sides of the street quickly passed by the window of the white car. After a while, they finally arrived at the complex.

    "Come on, slow down, give me your hand."

    Qi Yan helped the drunk Lu Zhiqiao out of the car, raised her arms around her neck, put them on her shoulders, and entered the elevator with her arms half on her back.

    This person looked thin, but she was not light. Because she was drunk and couldn''t stand steadily, all her weight was on Qi Yan''s body, and her mind was dizzy. They were so close that the scorching breath with the smell of alcohol rushed to Qi Yan''s ears, making it a little numb and itchy.

    On the ninth floor, she led them to 901.

    "Hmm."

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly whispered, raised her eyelids, and said in a hoarse voice: "Let''s go to your house..."

 CH 23

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    The corridor was quiet and silent, and the lights shone brightly on their faces. Qi Yan suddenly stopped in her tracks, thinking that she had heard wrongly, and she was dazed for a long time before she recovered. At that moment, there was not much joy. She raised her eyes and looked at the door of 901. She couldn''t figure out the reason for a while, but she didn''t ask. She turned around and helped the woman to go to her home.

    When she reached the door, she let go of one hand to take out the keys in her bag. She didn''t notice that the person around her was not standing still. She swayed and almost fell. She quickly tightened her arms around Lu Zhiqiao, pressing both of them tightly together.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body smelled very heavy of alcohol, and her breath was scorching hot. She was hanging on Qi Yan''s shoulder like a koala, soft and boneless, her eyelids were half closed, and her lips were slightly parted. Through the corridor lights, you can see the lines on her lips due to dryness.

    Qi Yan frowned, fumbling around in the bag with her hands, finally found the key, and opened the door neatly.

    They went inside and turned on the lights.

    "Slow down, don''t take off your shoes yet."

    Qi Yan helped Lu Zhiqiao move to the side of the sofa, carefully and gently put her down, the weight on her shoulders suddenly loosened, and her whole being felt light and happy. She then squatted down to help her take off her shoes, and put the shoes on the floor mat in front of the door, and brought the pair of slippers that were always prepared for her and put them on for her.

    The temperature was low at night, and the room was a little cold. Sitting on the sofa, Lu Zhiqiao felt dizzy and swollen, and everything kept spinning, without a sense of balance, but her consciousness was still clear. She saw Qi Yan bring a sponge mop, mopped the floor where she had stepped on with her shoes just now, she glanced a worried look her way, and then went into the kitchen.

    There was a burning sensation in her stomach, reaching her throat. Her body was also very dry, she felt uncomfortable. She frowned, and kept pulling her collar with her hands...

    Qi Yan was boiling water in the kitchen.

    There is an insulated glass at hand, poured two spoonfuls of honey into it, waited for the water to boil and poured half of it in, then mix with a little cold boiled water, stirred it until the temperature is just right. She picked up the cup and went out, sat down next to Lu Zhiqiao, and said softly, "Drink some honey water, this will make you feel better."

    The cup came closer and Lu Zhiqiao lifted her eyelids weakly, stretching out her hand to hold it. Qi Yan was afraid that she might not be able to hold it steadily, so she held it with one hand and watched her drink it slowly.

    "Thank you..."

    After drinking, Lu Zhiqiao panted with her mouth half-opened, closed her eyes again, and leaned her neck back against the back of the sofa. Her whole face was blushing almost to the point of bleeding, and a bewitching and strange crimson color spread from her forehead to the back of her ear under the light. It showed a somewhat seductive posture, as if the lingering rhyme had not faded after that incident.

    Qi Yan stared blankly, her throat gulped unconsciously, her fingers holding the cup suddenly tightened, and a restless movement stirred violently in her heart.

    She had seen how beautiful this woman was, in full bloom, and the memory is deeply buried in her mind. The nerves of sensuality stirs her mind all the time. But her reason is a solid cage, holding all her desires that are urgently surging at this moment, tightly locked. But the more restrained she is, the stronger her thoughts will be against her.

    "Why did you drink so much?" She put down the glass and slowly stretched out her hand and it landed on her hair.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, did not respond, and said in a weak voice, "dinner party."

    She was still awake.

    Everyone''s drunkenness is different. Some people will be broken when they drink too much, and they won''t wake up even when the sky is falling.

    Qi Yan frowned slightly, and gently stroked the soft hair on her head with her palm, brushing away those messy ones, and then slowly moved it to her forehead and cheeks, the temperature was a little scorching. Suddenly the woman tilted her head, pressed her face tightly against her hand, and murmured: "It''s hot¡ª"

    " ..."

    When you feel hot when you''re drunk, you naturally want to find something cool, and compared to the temperature of her face, Qi Yan''s hand is slightly cooler, so it''s just right for her to cover and cool down.

    But if you cover it for a long time, your hands will become hot, so this is not the solution. Qi Yan stared at her tightly closed eyes, and carefully withdrew her hand, but there was no response, so she got up and went to the bathroom in peace. Turn on the water heater, put some warm water in the washbasin and bring it over, and then pull out a brand new small square towel, soak it in the water, and then wring it dry.

    As soon as the wet towel touched Lu Zhiqiao''s forehead, her eyelashes twitched, and she half-opened her eyes. Qi Yan thought she was resisting, and coaxed softly, "You''ll feel better after wiping your face." Before she finished speaking, Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes again .

    She allowed the wet towel to move carefully on her face, and the water vapor evaporated to absorb heat. Repeating this a few times, some heat could indeed be taken away, and she felt much more comfortable.

    "Is it better?" Qi Yan asked softly.

    Lu Zhiqiao snorted and remained motionless. The front of her clothes rose and fell with the frequency of her breathing. Although her eyes were closed, there was always a slight wrinkle between her brows.

    When she was young, Qi Yan went to a business dinner party with her father. She still remembers that at that time, a few big men drank like drinking water, and the wine bottles piled up in a circle could be used for bowling. She thought her father was a good drinker¡ªif she didn''t go back and see him vomit with her own eyes.

    "Yanyan, don''t tell your mother..." the man blushed and said dizzily.

    Of course she kept it a secret, but then she didn''t know why, but her mother found out. She didn''t get angry, and didn''t ask questions, just shook her head and sighed with a worried face..

    That was the first time she felt some kind of heavy pressure. At that time, she didn''t understand what it was, but when she grew up, she gradually understood that it was life.

    Drinking while indulging is completely different from having a meal. One can take the initiative to control, while the other is passive. If they hadn''t met by chance today, how could she have seen Lu Zhiqiao in such a mess? With the other person''s character, she must have been unwilling to be seen by others like this.

    But obviously compared to these, there are things that Lu Zhiqiao cares about more, which makes her prefer to let go of her reserve and sit here rather than go home.

    Qi Yan sat down next to her, gently grabbed her hand and wrapped it in her palm, as if talking to herself,

    "Don''t worry, I won''t tell Niuniu what happened tonight."

    When she got up, Zhiqiao''s fingernails curled up and scraped against Qi Yan''s palm. She grabbed it tightly, but she didn''t have much strength, and she trembled a little. The creases between her brows deepened, her eyelashes trembled, and suddenly a tear fell from the corner of her eye, and her breathing became deep and long.

    "Hmm."

    She didn''t want her daughter to see herself like this.

    Qi Yan''s nose was sour, she took her shoulders and leaned into her arms, bent her index finger and slowly wiped off the tear stains on her face, "Did you tell Lu Wei you''re not going home tonight?"

    "Working overtime."

    With eyes closed, she muttered, "She will sleep by herself."

    When she said the last two words, her throat choked up, and a few more tears rolled from the corners of her eyes, until she couldn''t control her sobbing anymore. This time she didn''t avoid Qi Yan, she didn''t want any self-respect or reservation.

    She remembered that when she just graduated, she was still a small salesperson at the bottom, with a basic salary of only two to three thousand, and she lived entirely on commission. At that time, wine table culture* was prevalent, and she would often accompany customers to eat and drink even for a small order. She was the only woman at the dinner table, surrounded by wolves, and no matter how scared she was, she could only greet them with a smile.

    *drinking culture prevalent in China (but not exclusive) known for compulsory drinking, usually turning down a drink means social/professional suicide, especially if you are on the bottom-tier of the hierarchy

    At that time, her daughter was under three years old and had not yet gone to kindergarten, so she could only ask an aunt nanny to take care of her.

    Later, she transferred to the foreign trade branch and only needed to communicate with customers online. Even if foreigners came to visit and inspect in person, they would not engage in those fancy things. Eating is eating, and business is business.

    It is also because of her spirit that although her position is getting higher and higher, social entertainment is inevitable.

    When her daughter was in the second grade of elementary school, she came home drunk one day, vomited violently while hugging the toilet, and when she was seen, the silly child was so frightened that she cried until she couldn''t stop crying, promising that she would be good and obedient and will not annoy her mother. She felt distressed, but there was nothing she could do. She could only work harder to make money, so that life would be easier anyway.

    In recent years, the general environment has improved a lot. Whether an order is sold or not has nothing to do with eating and drinking. On the contrary, the meaning of the meal is more celebratory.

    Today, the customer is happy, and she was also happy, and drank a little more.

    When the alcohol is on, the emotions also follow. Thinking of many, many things in the past, the ups and downs that accumulated in her heart, and she couldn''t hold it in.

    Tears wet Qi Yan''s clothes, and the light-colored fabric smeared a large transparent mark. Qi Yan hugged her quietly, and wiped her tears with her hands until all five fingers were stained with water. Wipe, over and over again, tirelessly.

    Any comforting words will not work at this moment. Instead of giving some pale and weak chicken soup* it is better to accompany silently, give a shoulder, and give a hug.

    *half-ass advice\pep talk

    In the middle of the night when she was a child, her father cried in her mother''s arms like this.

    Silence is worth a thousand words.

    Time passed slowly, Lu Zhiqiao gradually stopped sobbing, the tears no longer flowed, but the smell of alcohol made her head swell and hurt, she was a little drowsy, and being hugged soft and warm was even more hypnotic, she hugged Qi Yan subconsciously, eyelid drooping down.

    "If I hadn''t bumped into you, where would you be going tonight?" Qi Yan asked softly, sensing that her face was dry, she put away her fingers, picked up the cold wet towel that was put aside, and wiped her carefully .

    Lu Zhiqiao shivered, her eyelids half lifted, "Hotel."

    Qi Yan paused.

    "Alone." She added.

    When it comes to hotels, she always thinks of that night, and then a series of imaginations become endless. Qi Yan was annoyed inwardly, responded in a low voice, and continued, "Do you mind staying with me tonight?"

    As usual, if this person came to her door, even if she was willing to let it go, she would definitely have to tease her first, and then put it back after she had enough oil, but today, for some reason, she was not in the mood for a joke at all, as if there was condensation in the air, low pressure; heavy and dull.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t notice it, she was limp like a puddle of mud, "I''m causing you trouble..."

    "No trouble, it''s just my bed¡ª"

    "I''m sleeping on the sofa."

    "..."

    Qi Yan''s face was slightly stiff, and she said twitching the corners of her mouth: "The sofa is cold, and I don''t have an air conditioner in the living room."

    "It''s okay."

    "..."

    Even when drunk, she doesn''t forget to keep the last bit of restraint. Qi Yan thought it was funny, she had no other thoughts at first, she just thought that a bed with a width of 1.8 meters would be enough for two people to sleep.

    The sofa in the living room is big enough and soft enough for an adult woman to lie down on. It¡¯s just that turning over is not very free, and she may fall if the movement is too large. It is a test of whether a person sleeps honestly. Qi Yan brought in spare pillows and silk quilts, and quickly spread them out. Lu Zhiqiao didn''t lie down immediately, saying she wanted to take a bath.

    "Can you take a bath in this state?" Qi Yan frowned.

    Lu Zhiqiao supported her eyelids, lightly rubbed her temples with her index finger, and stood up unsteadily: "It''s okay, it''s okay."

    Just after finishing speaking, her feet staggered and almost fell. Qi Yan rushed over to support her, "You just said it''s okay, what if you fall inside? Either don''t wash at all , or I will help you wash."

    The last sentence stirred the imagination.

    "No need..." Lu Zhiqiao was soft in her arms, struggling to stand up straight, her cheeks flushed from being drunk were charming.

    Qi Yan later realized that her words were ambiguous, coughed twice, and looked away.

    The bathroom at home is very big, with both a shower head and a bathtub. Qi Yan went in and tidied up a bit, put in the hot water, placed all the toiletries within reach, put together non-slip floor mats, and spread them on the bathtub side, and then rummaged through boxes and cabinets to take out brand new daily necessities.

    "Here are new toothbrushes, cups, towels and bath towels."

    "Here are shampoos, shower gels, hair masks, body lotions, scrubs, bath salts¡­"

    "There are also skin care products, you can use mine. Pajamas are used but washed, and the underwear are new, you just settle for it."

    "Call me anytime if you need anything, I''ll be in the living room."

    Seeing Qi Yan bustling around like a maid, made Lu Zhiqiao half nervous and half happy. She was a little moved, ripples rippled in her drunken eyes, and her heart seemed to be in a ball of fire wrapped in ice. Something in her deepest part quietly came to life.  But soon, this feeling was washed away by the smell of alcohol and drowsiness, and she just wanted to take a shower and sleep.

    "Thank you." She said sincerely, leaning on the wall and moving into the bathroom, closing the door.

    The smile on Qi Yan''s face disappeared instantly, her eyes dimmed, and she froze in place.

    There was a rustling sound of cloth rubbing in the bathroom, and a figure swayed on the glass door. She pondered over the word "thank you" over and over again, feeling very uncomfortable and inexplicably bitter. At that moment, they were clearly a stone''s throw away from each other, but they were standing at the farthest point from each other.

    The sound of water churning.

    Into the water.

    In a quiet environment, Qi Yan''s  hearing is particularly keen. She stood at the door and listened carefully, and couldn''t help but think of the madness of the night when the two first met¡ªthere were not enough traces left in the room, and finally went into the bathroom and splashed in the water.

    The picture is clear and vivid, and the more she thinks about it, the more attractive it becomes, her cheeks continue to burn, and her whole body becomes hot, she is afraid that she will rush into the bathroom uncontrollably, so she cut off her thoughts, and run out as if to escape.

    It was almost ten o''clock.

    Qi Yan poured out the basin of cold water in the living room, cleaned the small square towel, and hung it on the hook beside the sink. Hearing the continuous sound of water inside, she didn''t want to stay any longer, so she turned and went back to the bedroom.

    After closing the door, she pressed her back against the door, panting lightly, raised her hand to cover her face, it was still hot.

    Needing to find something to divert her attention, Qi Yan picked up the "Dialogue with God" that she hadn''t finished last night on the bedside table, sat on the sofa in the living room, flipped through it while waiting, and slowly calmed down.

    It was mostly cloudy tonight, and the sky was dark, but as the night deepened, the accumulated thick clouds gradually dissipated, and a porcelain-white and bright last quarter moon appeared, sprinkled with silvery brilliance.

    Qi Yan was fascinated by the book, and most of the time passed without her noticing. She suddenly raised her head, and the hands of the clock on the wall were approaching eleven o''clock, and the person in the bathroom hadn''t finished washing yet.

    Something''s wrong!

    She put down the book, rushed to the door of the bathroom in two or three steps, and knocked on the door eagerly: "Lu Zhiqiao! Have you finished washing?"

    No one responded.

    I knocked twice more, but there was no sound of water inside.

    Qi Yan''s heart tightened, she didn''t care much, she unlocked the door and rushed in, a puff of hot smoke rushed towards her, the air was humid and hot, mixed with the faint scent of cedar shower gel.

    Scattered foam was floating on the surface of the bathtub. Lu Zhiqiao was lying in the water with her head tilted to one side, her eyes closed tightly and her cheeks flushed. Qi Yan was stunned for two seconds, thinking that she had been poisoned by carbon monoxide, so she hurried forward and reached out to her nose.

    Breathing is steady and long.

    She just fell asleep.

    After a false alarm, Qi Yan breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes moved down inadvertently, she was startled, her scalp went numb, and her nose almost bled.

    A naked woman soaked in the water, under the shadow of the lamp, the luster becomes brighter and more plump, and the mountains as white as new snow are dotted with two touches of scarlet, rolling up and down, extending to the most secret canyon, the jungle is lush, and it is dark shiny.

    Her heart, which had just calmed down after reading a book, was pounding wildly at this moment. Qi Yan stared straight at the water, her eyes almost popped out, her throat was a little parched, and the uneasy restlessness became more and more intense. She forced herself to look away, instead of looking, she patted Lu Zhiqiao''s face lightly: "Hey, wake up..."

    The bathtub is intelligently adjusted, and the water in it is still warm, making it comfortable and easy to fall asleep. With the effect of paralyzing the nerves, she yelled for a long time, but Lu Zhiqiao didn''t respond at all, and her breathing became more and more stable.

    It seems that she has to find a way to get this lady out.

    Qi Yan looked around, picked up the big bath towel on the shelf and wrapped it around her body, put her hands into the water and hooked Lu Zhiqiao''s armpit tightly, and dragged her up with all her strength, lifting her up little by little. Get out of the bathtub, stand firmly against the wall, and pull the towel to wipe off the water stains.

    It is inevitable that there will be rubbing, those soft, extremely elastic, tender, and scratchy things are all there.

    In this case, it is impossible to sleep on the sofa.

    Qi Yan half dragged and half hugged Lu Zhiqiao and put her on the big bed in her bedroom, spread out the quilt and covered her, took the clothes to take a bath, brought out the set of pajamas prepared for Lu Zhiqiao after washing, and carefully covering her, she puts them on her.

    The process of getting the woman dressed is also extremely tormenting..

    Counting the days, she has not had sex for nearly two months since the bar madness. In the past, she would go out from time to time to find a woman who suits her taste to solve her needs, but after tasting Lu Zhiqiao''s taste, she would rather endure self-reliance and solve it with toys .

    Now sister is lying beside her, with no power to resist, letting her manipulate her.

    But she couldn''t.

    Taking advantage of others is shameless, deceitful, and a crime to put it bluntly. She can''t do this kind of thing to Lu Zhiqiao, let alone risk the tearing her face apart to satisfy her temporary desires.

    The table lamp in the room was dimly adjusted, and Lu Zhiqiao, who was sleeping soundly, had a kind of quiet beauty, shed all her reserve and indifference, she was unguarded, her breathing was steady and deep, her thick and curly eyelashes were like two small fans, casting faint shadows. In the dim light, the eyebrows showed a little fragility and fatigue.

    Qi Yan stretched out her hand, gently smoothed the creases between her brows, kissed the corner of her lips, and whispered: "Good night."

    Turned off the lights, lie down, and try her best not to hug her.

    Afraid she won''t be able to resist

    The night is long and lonely, one person has good dreams, and another one has insomnia.

    ....

    The early winter morning sunlight fell into the room through the window. With curtains forgotten to be closed last night, the light was dazzling and bright, Lu Zhiqiao opened her eyes in a daze, squinted slightly under the stimulation of the strong light, pulled the quilt to block it, and her brain slowly woke up.

    The consequence of a hangover is a headache, she pulled back the covers and sat up, rubbed her temples, looked around and found that the room looked a little unfamiliar, this bed, this quilt ...... last night social drinking, drinking too much vomiting on the side of the road, met Qi Yan, was brought back, and then showered and slept.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat on the bed in a daze with her messy hair like a chicken coop. The memories up to the bathing part were blurry, and she couldn''t remember what happened later. She looked down at the pajamas she was wearing, and clearly remembered that she was going to sleep at the sofa, but somehow slept in the bedroom.

    Could it be...

    She grabbed her collar and glanced inside, as clean as a whistle, without any marks, and breathed a sigh of relief.

    Qi Yan is not that kind of person.

    She got out of bed, went out with her slippers on, followed the sound to the door of the kitchen, Qi Yan was standing in front of the stove cooking, putting a spoon into the pot and stirring gently, she was facing the door, tall and slender, with slender legs straight, smooth black waist-length hair cascading down the back, no matter which angle, she looks good.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s expression moved slightly, and she opened her mouth to speak, when Qi Yan turned her head and found her, her cold eyebrows and eyes immediately curved into crescent moons: "Are you awake?"

    "Yeah." She nodded, and stepped forward involuntarily.

    "Thank you for yesterday."

    Another favor owed.

    Qi Yan''s smile froze, and she suddenly approached, and said in a very ambiguous tone: "I don''t want to hear you say thank you, but if you really want to thank me, do something practical, such as¡ª"

    "Giving me a kiss."

    She just woke up from sleep, looking plain and dull, listless, less cold and abstinent, looking weak and easy to bully, especially in her own pajamas, with a seductive smell all over her body, which is unbearable.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips: "I haven''t brushed my teeth yet..."

    "Does that mean you can kiss me after brushing your teeth?"

    "..."

    "Go, I''ll wait for you." Qi Yan smiled and pushed her.

    Drinking was a mistake, she couldn''t turn her head, and she was tricked by someone, and she took the initiative and dug a hole into it. Lu Zhiqiao thought so while brushing her teeth.

    She feels a little stuffy in her heart, she can''t describe it. There seemed to be something hazy last night, she can''t remember, and she didn''t bother to remember. After all, she owed Qi Yan too much, and she should pay it back as much as she can. Looking after her daughter, followed by work, she couldn''t spare any extra time to think about other things.

    After brushing her teeth, she saw Qi Yan serving the porridge at the table. Lu Zhiqiao walked over slowly, her heart beating fast, and while the woman wasn''t paying attention, she leaned over and pecked her cheek, and then quickly backed away.

    Qi Yan: "???"

    "I''m going to see Niuniu." Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head to avoid her gaze, and returned to the room in three steps.

    She took the clothes she wore yesterday and the bag on the sofa, put on her shoes and opened the door. Qi Yan called her from behind: "Bring Niuniu over for breakfast, so you don''t have to do it yourself." After finishing speaking, she added, "Just say Teacher Qi invited her to eat."

    "...Okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao closed the door and left.

    Qi Yan raised her hand and touched her face. That kiss was too light, so light that with such an accidental touch, all the smells belonging to that person dissipated, as if there was a trace left.

    The house was quiet and the windows in the living room were not closed, the cold wind in the morning brought the sunshine in, it was chilly, Lu Zhiqiao tiptoed back to the master bedroom, changed into her own clothes, folded Qi Yan''s pajamas and put them in the hamper. She will return them after washing.

    The door of the second bedroom was closed, and she gently pushed it open. The thick curtains blocked the light, and it was very dark inside. A small hill was raised on the bed, revealing half of her head¡ªthe little girl was lying on her side with a doll in her arms, breathing evenly and steadily, and sleeping soundly.

    Lu Zhiqiao bent down and kissed her daughter''s forehead, sour moisture welled up in her eyes, she was silent for a while, and didn''t have the heart to wake her up.

    Her daughter''s living habits have always been very good. Under her strict supervision, she has always gone to bed early and woke up early, even on weekends, but now she is still sleeping so deeply at eight o''clock, she must have slept very late last night. Is it because she is afraid of being alone at home, or because she wants to wait for her to come back...

    She didn''t want to think about it, blinked, tucked the corner of the quilt, and exited silently.

    "Where''s Niuniu?" Qi Yan asked as soon as she entered 902.

    Lu Zhiqiao consciously changed her shoes, went to the dining table, sat down, "I haven''t woken her up yet, let her sleep more on the weekend."

    Qi Yan nodded, without saying anything, and handed her the porridge. The two ate their porridge and were speechless for a while.

    "Yesterday¡ª" Lu Zhiqiao broke the silence softly, "How did you come to see me?"

    "I went out to play on Christmas Eve, and I just happened to pass you by on my way home." Qi Yan said casually, and picked a fried dumpling for her while talking.

    "Playing alone?"

    Last weekend she asked if she was free, and she had already guessed 70 or 80 percent that a person with Qi Yan''s personality should have many friends. She wouldn''t stop pushing through her plans even if she turned her invitation down. Lu Zhiqiao admitted in her heart that she had nothing to say, and that it was wrong to talk about inappropriate stuff, so she shut up.

    "No."

    As expected.

    "With my girlfriend." Qi Yan said then swallowed a mouthful of porridge.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s hands froze, losing the firm grip of the spoon and it fell into the bowl, splashing a few drops of soup onto her face, and that hazy feeling reappeared, before she could catch it, it was washed away by the more intense shame and anger that followed.

    She has a girlfriend?

    But still teases her? Taking advantage of her? Behaving like that¡ª

    "It means female friend." Qi Yan smiled, "A lot of straight girls like to be called like that, so I''ll join in the fun."

    "..."

    She got teased again.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t speak, the expression on her face changed slightly, her brows and eyes were as cold as dead ashes, Qi Yan suppressed her smile, gently grabbed her hand, and said in a low voice: "If you mind, I won''t call them like that in the future."

    "It''s okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao pulled away her hand, grabbed a tissue to wipe her face, and continued to eat the porridge with her head down.

    This person has already seen her in her most embarrassing and ugly appearance, so what does it matter if she made a joke out of her one more time? It''s just that she is becoming more and more confused about whether she should continue to treat Qi Yan as the her daughter''s teacher, be polite and considerate in everything, or let go of her reserve and guard, and try to get along with her as an ordinary friend.

    As long as her daughter is still studying in the attached middle school for a day, there is no answer to this dillema.

    So what are they now?

    ¡­.

    The end of the year was busy, and the collaboration with Senyang Technology was delayed for a week, and Lu Zhiqiao finally managed to negotiate.

    The boss of the other party is surnamed Qi, he is a middle-aged uncle with good looks, his facial features are slightly deep, and his nose is especially high. When she first saw him, she thought of Qi Yan. His nose is so similar, she almost thought that this person has some blood relationship with Qi Yan. But the world is so big, to always have coincidences, she didn''t think much, and reported to her boss after completing the task.

    In the general manager''s office, there was a faint fragrance of grass and trees, spicy and refreshing. Shu Minxi sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, rubbing her temples tiredly. She had just returned from the South China branch, and she was very tired these days.

    Since she is more familiar with Lu Zhiqiao, she didn''t have to worry about so much etiquette, and she was more casual. It happened that it was almost time to get off work, and the two of them sat side by side, taking a break and chatted for a while.

    "You have worked hard during this time."

    "It''s part of the job."

    "After you''ve been busy for a while, spend time with your daughter. I haven''t seen Niu Niu for a long time. Why don''t take her out to play?" Shu Minxi took a sip of tea, a smile appeared on her delicately made-up face, with light wrinkles at the end of her eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked up at the ceiling, thought for a while and said, "I''m taking her on vacation during this Chinese New Year."

    "It''s nice to have a daughter by your side." Shu Minxi said softly, with a trace of loneliness in her eyes, "Not like me, alone this year but I still won¡¯t go home for the Spring Festival, so as not to be asked by my parents.¡±

    Shu Minxi is almost forty years old, rich and with a successful career, no spouse and no children. Although the latter two are not necessities of life, in the dead of night, looking at a big empty house, it is inevitable that her heart will still feel lonely.

    Some companionship, even pets cannot replace humans.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyelids: "It''s good to have parents whol ask about you."

    Shu Minxi was taken aback, realized that she couldn''t continue, and quickly changed the subject: "I''m going to visit the chairman on New Year''s Day. She has been in poor health, and I heard that she is sick again. Do you want to go with me?"

    ¡ª¡ªtok tok tok

    The knock on the door interrupted Lu Zhiqiao''s thoughts of talking.

    The two looked up at the same time, Secretary Jiang pushed the door open, and said in a low voice, "Ms. Shu, Ms. Aoki is here."

    "I don''t want to see her."

    Shu Minxi changed her expression in an instant, and said coldly, "Please send her back."

    "But..."

    After all, she is the daughter of one of the company''s largest clients, so it  might be impolite to refuse her directly. Before Secretary Jiang could finish speaking, a figure squeezed in from behind and met the eyes of the two on the sofa.

    Aoki Saki, the daughter of the president of Japan Teisei Co., Ltd.

    She has a typical Japanese baby face, black hair parted in the middle, a simple and clean white sweater, a linen gray dress, and chunky heel boots. She stood there, her eyes fell on the shoulders of the two of them, she looked at Lu Zhiqiao curiously, and then looked at Shu Minxi, hesitated to speak.

    Secretary Jiang wisely closed the door and exited.

    Lu Zhiqiao also stood up, smiled politely at her, and said to Shu Minxi, "Ma''am Shu, I''ll go to work first." After she finished speaking, she nodded without waiting for a reply, and the soles of her feet rushed out.

    The room was silent, a long silence.

    Saki sniffed the fresh and pungent aroma of grass and trees, which smelled so good, she stepped forward two steps: "Minxi, who was that just now?"

    "A Friend."

    "Do friends call you Ma''am Shu?" She spoke fluent Chinese clearly.

    Shu Minxi frowned and did not answer, a layer of ice formed deep in her pupils.

    Saki sat next to her, just where Lu Zhiqiao sat, grabbed her hand, her voice trembling: "I didn''t mean to barge in, but you won''t see me if I don''t use this method..."

    Afraid that she would break free, she added another hand to hold it tightly.

    "Let go."

    "Let''s talk, at least give me a chance to explain."

    Shu Minxi struggled with all her strength, but this woman was so strong that her wrist hurt and she couldn''t break free. She was annoyed for a moment: "Your father has already returned to Japan, what are you still doing here?"

    "I have no intention of leaving this time."

    Saki suddenly let go, but hugged her directly by the waist, with mist in her eyes, and choked up, "I''ve already divorced Xiu Xing, and my child also..."

    "Secretary Jiang!" Shu Minxi called out, interrupting her, "Call the security guard!"

    "Minxi¡ª"

    ...

    As soon as Lu Zhiqiao returned to her office, her phone rang. It was Qi Yan''s call.

    The ID she gave was "Teacher Qi". As soon as she saw these two words appear on the screen, she couldn''t help thinking about whether something happened to Lu Wei at school. She was nervous and nervous, "Teacher Qi?"

    "Call me by my name."

    " ..."

    "Hurry up." The woman''s lazy voice came from the other end, with an imperative force.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled inexplicably, and she corrected her words politely: "Qi Yan."

    "Are you done with work?"

    "In five minutes." She glanced at her watch.

    "Not working overtime today?"

    "No."

    "Your car license plate is restricted today, right?"

    "Yes." She doesn''t know what this person is up to, right now.

    There was silence in the receiver for a few seconds, then she suddenly laughed and said softly, "I''m downstairs in your company."

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned.

    "I''ll pick you up when you get off work."

    After finishing speaking, she hung up the phone without waiting for her response.

    Lu Zhiqiao put down her phone, got up and walked by the window, and looked down. Her office was not located near the main entrance of the building, and she could only see the flower garden at the corner. It was dark outside. She searched for a while, but did not see anyone.

    She was so curious.

    It was six o''clock.

    Most of the staff got off work with their fingerprint cards, and a small number of those who had to work overtime did not leave. The crowd poured out of the building one after another and scattered in all directions. Lu Zhiqiao took the elevator down to the first floor and followed the flow of people out of the gate.

    A flamboyant red LaFerrari was parked at the gate, the passenger door was raised high, and the flamboyant shape was particularly eye-catching.

    ¡°Wow, what kind of car is this?

    She had a hunch...

    Her phone lit up.

    It was a WeChat message from Qi Yan: [Get in the car]

    "..."

    A gust of cold wind blew in, gently lifting the broken hair on Lu Zhiqiao''s forehead. Under the eyes of everyone, she walked over with a blank expression, bent over to get in the car.

    She closed the door, blushing.

    Qi Yan folded her arms and leaned on the back of the chair, looked at her leisurely, raised her eyebrows and smiled slightly: "Ms. Lu, your full-time driver Yanyan will serve you."

    "..."

    "Is this car good-looking?"

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath. She breathed a sigh of relief, not daring to look outside the window, and hummed softly: "It looks good."

    Not only is it good-looking, but also coquettish, which fits this person''s temperament very well, it is simply tailor-made for her.

    The smile on the corner of Qi Yan''s mouth deepened, she straightened her back, and leaned forward with her arms propped up: "Do you like it?"

    Lu Zhiqiao choked on her throat and didn''t answer.

    "Hmm?"

    "Where did you get this?" She changed the subject.

    "Don''t worry about where it came from, it wasn''t stolen anyway." Warm breath rushed to the side of the ear, with a seductive voice.

    "Answer me, do you like it?"

    Lu Zhiqiao shuddered, turned her face to avoid it, but just in time sent the mole to the woman''s lips, and the heat was overwhelmed in an instant, even her eyelids were melted, and she replied vaguely: "...I like it."

    "Then¡ª"

    Qi Yan gently sucked her tear mole, her eyes were dark and gloomy: "Do you like me, or that man?"

 CH 24

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    There is a huge flow of people during the rush hour, and the red sports car is ostentatious and eye-catching. Almost everyone who comes out of the main entrance of the building will subconsciously look sideways and become a focal point for a while. Fortunately, they couldn''t see what was going on inside the car from the outside. Lu Zhiqiao grabbed her bag tightly with both hands, and half of her body was squeezed against the door of the car.

    "Hmm?"

    Qi Yan snorted nasally, and stretched out her hand to hook her closer.

    It was completely dark, and the lights inside the building were glaring, illuminating the area around the entrance as bright as day, and the flower garden outside could be clearly seen through the windshield, giving the illusion of being peeped at any time.

    Lu Zhiqiao struggled lightly, but was hugged even tighter instead, like a threat, so she had no choice but to answer: "I like you."

    Knowing that this person will not give up until she hears a satisfactory answer. They simply stood in a stalemate here, and at the  risk of being seen by others, it is better to give some lip service, make the other person comfortable, so they can leave quickly.

    Probably seeing through her intentions, Qi Yan deliberately teased her, and said perfunctorily, "Insincere, I don''t believe it."

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, determined to go all out, so she turned her head and kissed the corner of Qi Yan''s lips lightly, but before she could move away, she was held down by a hand on the back of her head, and was kissed deeply.

    The scorching breath lingered, from being active to being passive, but her mind is clear, and she said it again while breathing: "I like you..."

    Finally, Qi Yan let her go.

    Today Lu Zhiqiao didn''t wear any makeup, but only painted her eyebrows and thin inner eyeliner, otherwise, Qi Yan would have eaten up so much liquid foundation and lipstick just now. Her lips were bloodshot and red from the kiss, panting lowly, when the woman suddenly patted the steering wheel.

    "His car is worthless, the value depreciated the next day after buying it. This is a limited edition, more than 20 million yuan. It was used for collection long ago, and it is rarely used on the road. Second-hand cars are more expensive than new cars."

    Qi Yan touched the steering wheel, put her fingertips on the car logo in the middle, and rubbed it lightly. The corners of her mouth raised a deep arc, and her expression was slightly contemptuous, but it was only for a moment, and soon disappeared without a trace. She turned her head and blinked:

    "A fragrant car matches a beautiful woman."

    "Do you think a luxury car means everything?" Lu Zhiqiao''s face darkened, and her voice was low and  cold.

    The year when she just graduated, she''s out in the sun running her business. Because she was young and beautiful, so fresh that you could pinch water out, there were many rich local bosses who wanted to bed her. To this day, she still remembers that middle-aged man who looked gentle on the surface drove a broken Mercedes-Benz, offered to take her back to the company, but secretly drove her to the hotel entrance, and his words were full of hints.

    ¡ª¡ªA pretty girl like you doesn''t have to work so hard.

    ¡ª¡ªSooner or later, you have to get married, and accumulate some capital for yourself while you are young.

    ¡ª¡ªAs long as you want, I can buy you a car, a house, or anything else.

    At that time, she was naive, and didn''t know that there was a kind of person in the world called "gentle beast". She thought that a married man who was old enough to be her father would not betray the family, and she always thought that the man who was dressed well and spoke well was reliable, so she didn''t understand the first two sentences, so she took them as encouragement.

    It was the last sentence that she understood.

    That was the first time she really felt humiliated, but innocence does not mean stupidity, she was very clear-headed. She just felt disgusted, but she still has to be polite. Life does not tolerate capriciousness and hot-bloodedness. Even if she was extremely angry, she could not tear her face off with the other party, and at best, she would not have business contact in the future.

    Looking back on the past many years later, the sadness is still there.

    The night enveloped the whole city, the neon lights on the street and the tail lights of the cars reflected each other, looking from afar a blinding red. Jiangcheng is one of the fastest-paced cities in the country, and this is area is the fastest-paced and busiest place in all of Jiangcheng.

    White-collar workers in office buildings, shopping guides in shopping malls, and delivery staff are always on the street.

    You have to wonder how many people are here to make a living.

    "A Teacher? Looks like a nouveau riche to me." Lu Zhiqiao gritted her teeth and looked at Qi Yan, her dark eyes were as cold as ice.

    She lost control of her emotions, and she can''t remember how many times this was. When facing Qi Yan, she always couldn''t find her original self, and she was always at a disadvantage. However, this woman could easily hit the most vulnerable and softest part of her heart. Breaking it hard and pulling it to pieces, and witnessing all her wretchedness.

    Qi Yan stared at her in a daze, her hand slowly slid off the steering wheel, the light in her eyes went out, and she smiled self-deprecatingly: "That''s right, I''m the daughter of a nouveau riche."

    "But I didn''t mean that , I..." She choked and lowered her head slowly.

    The small space is swallowed by silence.

    The number of people coming out of the building gradually decreased, and occasionally a few passed by the front of the car and looked their way. Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away and let out a weary breath. She wanted to leave, but she groped blindly on the car door for a long time, but couldn''t find the mechanism.

    "Open the door."

    Qi Yan raised her head and grabbed her other hand. she didn''t speak, but the meaning was obvious.

    "Open it." She said impatiently.

    Qi Yan said: "Let''s go back together."

    "Thank you, no need."

    She struggled, but her wrist was grasped even tighter, and Qi Yan''s low voice came from her ear: "Don''t go."

    "..."

    "I owe you a word. That''s right, sorry for offending you and your friend."

    From childhood to adulthood, Qi Yan was pampered, never been let down, and cared for by her parents like a pearl in the palm of her hand. She never suffered a little bit, never been ignored. The biggest setback she encountered was breaking up with her first love. She is used to judging the things around her with her own values. On the surface, she is polite to others, but in her heart she is deviant.

    Simply put, a hypocrite.

    In recent years, she has restrained herself, but after meeting Lu Zhiqiao, the soul hidden under the perfect skin is always ready to move, and once it collides, it will become a mess.

    What she did and said today was childish.

    It was because she cared.

    "Shall we go back?" Her voice was almost pleading, but she also restrained a little.

    After a long stalemate, Lu Zhiqiao''s face softened a little, her lips moved, she didn''t speak, she adjusted her sitting posture, straightened her knee facing the car door, and sat down.

    Qi Yan heaved a sigh of relief, slowly let go of her hand, and fastened her seat belt properly, without daring to glance at her.

    ....

    The road is congested, and no matter how fast the sports car is, it can only wait obediently. The red color is too bright, and the shape is strange and eye-catching. People will look at it a few times when it stops at the intersection. The two people sitting in the car, dare not open the window.

    Going and stopping all the way, no one said a word. After calming down, Lu Zhiqiao''s anger subsided a lot.

    She believed in Qi Yan''s character. Although it hasn''t been long since they knew each other, after so many years of reading countless people and experiences, her first impression is usually correct. Today''s surprise turned into fright. She never liked being in the center of attention, which makes her uneasy. There were too many things and emotions in her heart, with mixed feelings, that can be associated with past experiences.

    Usually she doesn''t show her emotions. But Qi Yan, this woman looks at her from body to heart, she doesn''t seem to keep any secrets from her, so she becomes angry from embarrassment.

    The car entered the basement of the community surprisingly smoothly, drove slowly to an unfamiliar parking space, and parked securely, with the corresponding number plate on it.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her head slightly, hesitated to speak, it just happened that Qi Yan looked up, then seemed to understand what she was thinking, and explained: "I bought a parking space." After finishing speaking, Qi Yan unfastened her seat belt, trying not to cross a line.

    Her hand accidentally touched a place it shouldn''t...

    Soft.

    Qi Yan paused, then hurriedly retracted it, pretending nothing happened, Lu Zhiqiao was thinking about other things and didn''t notice.

    The two got out of the car and walked side by side.

    The location is not far from Building C. After walking for less than a minute, they entered the elevator and went upstairs. The atmosphere was awkward. They never spoke, but they looked at each other from the corner of their eyes.

    "Good night."

    Walking out of the elevator, the two said in unison, and went back to their respective homes.

    While her daughter was practicing the piano, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t bother her. She took off her coat and went into the kitchen. She took out the vegetables she bought in the refrigerator this morning and automatically decided on a recipe, leaving the rest of her emotions temporarily behind.

    The sound of the piano stopped at some point, the door of the second bedroom opened, Lu Wei came out with slippers on, poked her head around, ran into the kitchen following the sound, hugged Lu Zhiqiao, and deliberately made a scary sound. Lu Zhiqiao was washing the vegetables, when she was startled suddenly, she heard the little girl behind her giggling: "Ms. Lu, you are so timid~"

    "So rude." Lu Zhiqiao laughed, raised her hand and wiped the water off her face

    "A little~"

    Lu Wei stuck out her tongue, wrapped her two thin arms around her waist, and said coquettishly, "Mom, our school will have a New Year''s Day party tomorrow. I will perform on a show, why don''t you go and see it?"

    "In the afternoon? "

    "Yes."

    Tomorrow, the 29th, the New Year''s Day holiday will begin.

    Every year, the school organizes activities, and her daughter participates in them. She is either on a business trip or working overtime. She has never been there. She can only watch the video sent by the teacher afterwards, and she is inevitably regretful. To enjoy a full vacation this year, she still has to be at work tomorrow afternoon.

    "Mom~" Seeing her hesitating, the little girl begged pitifully, "Just go once~"

    "And Teacher Qi promised me that if you go, she will give you a seat in the first row."

    Lu Zhiqiao froze for a moment, frowning: "You mentioned it to Teacher Qi?"

    She suddenly changed her face and looked serious. Lu Wei was a little frightened, shrank her neck, and nodded cautiously.

    "How can you make such a request to your teacher?" Lu Zhiqiao threw the vegetables into the water and turned around, "What did mom tell you last time? Keep a distance from Teacher Qi at school! She is the teacher of all the classmates. Your teacher is not just your own teacher! If someone else finds out, have you thought about the consequences that Teacher Qi will bear?"

    Her voice raised involuntarily as she spoke, her eyes, sullen

    Lu Wei was so frightened that she had never seen her mother get so angry. She bit her lip and stood there at a loss.

    Suddenly tears fell.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "..."

    Softly weeping, gradually turning into sobs.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away, closed her eyes and slowly opened them again, raised her hand to cover her forehead, feeling an inexplicable irritability in her heart. As long as she encountered something related to Qi Yan, she would find it difficult to control herself, and she didn''t know where her temper came from.

    Qi Yan, Qi Yan, Qi Yan.

    It''s all Qi Yan.

    She sighed, took her daughter''s hand and walked to the living room, took out a tissue to wipe her tears. She''s really not in the mood to coax the child, got up and went back to the kitchen after wiping, and continued to wash the vegetables.

    ...

    After eating, Lu Zhiqiao washed the dishes, cleaned up the stove. She took a rest for a while, then took her clothes into the bathroom to take a shower.

    After she just came out of the bathroom, a knock on the living room door came. At this point, she doesn''t even need to think about who it is, this scene is very similar to that night when her little toy was seen. Obviously she didn''t use the small toy this time, but she went back to the bathroom to take a look at the shelf before opening the door.

    As expected.

    Qi Yan stood outside, the light reflected her glamorous face bright and clean, she looked a little lonely, she twitched the corner of her mouth: "Do you have an iron at home?"

    "Yes."

    "Do you also have an ironing board here? Can I borrow them for a while?

    Lu Zhiqiao quietly looked at her face, and suddenly returned to her senses, nodded her head, turned and went into the study. A short while later, she carried the ironing board and the flat iron the other hand. Then, she handed them over to Qi Yan, her eyes never lifted.

    "Thank you."

    With a simple thank you, the relationship between the two seemed to go back to two months ago.

    Polite, courteous, detached.

    Qi Yan took the things, but did not leave immediately and hesitated for a moment while looking at the electric iron, and asked, "Can you iron clothes?"

    "Hmm."

    Hearing this sentence, Lu Zhiqiao immediately guessed what she was going to say next, and was ready to agree in her heart¡ªsince the evening was a misunderstanding, the past is over, and the days will continue, after all, she is her daughter''s teacher.

    "Can you iron my clothes?" Qi Yan said. "I haven''t used it for a long time, my hands are raw."

    "Okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao agreed simply, without frowning, grabbed the key on the porch, offered to help her carry the ironing board, and walked in front.

    Stepping into the door of 902, the clear and full piano sound came from the speakers in the living room, with melodious music. Lu Zhiqiao thought it was familiar, but she couldn''t remember it for a while, but she didn''t ask. She changed her shoes and went in, set up the ironing board and put it away.

    "Where are the clothes?" she asked.

    Qi Yan stood two steps away from her, didn''t dare to get too close, turned her head into the room, and came out after a while: "Can this still be ironed?" She unfolded the black long-sleeved blouse in her hand and shook it. Shaking, crumpled and shapeless, the fabric is almost stuck together.

    "Yes." Lu Zhiqiao only glanced at it.

    Most of the clothes she wears everyday need to be ironed, and she often uses irons. With more experience, she can judge at a glance. After saying this, she began to add water to the iron and plug it in.

    "Then please." Qi Yan said politely, retreating to the side with a well-behaved look.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her, said nothing, lowered her head, laid the clothes on the ironing board, picked up the iron and pressed them on. She is skillful, very careful and meticulous, Qi Yan is watching from a distance of two steps away from her, her gaze uncontrollably moves up along her fingers, and stops at the neckline.

    She is wearing round-neck pajamas with her slender neck exposed, the top button open, her collarbones looming and tickling her heart¡­

    The night is quiet, and the sound of the piano like flowing water is intoxicating .

    "Did Niuniu tell you about reserving a seat for me at the party?" Lu Zhiqiao suddenly broke the silence without looking up.

    No one said a word and remained frozen, so she simply took the initiative.

    Qi Yan quickly looked away, her sight landed on her clothes on the ironing board, and nodded: "Yes, what''s the matter?" "

    The child is not sensible, so ignore her."

    "Don''t mind it, that seat is empty anyway."

    "You are not Niuniu''s private teacher"

    "I know."

    Lu Zhiqiao stopped what she was doing, raised her head and looked at her, with dark and unclear emotions in her eyes, and when she saw something she didn''t want to understand in Qi Yan''s eyes, she immediately pulled her gaze away mercilessly, bowed her head again, and continued ironing.

    Qi Yan moved her legs, clenched her hand into a fist, her knuckles became white, then she let go, and she didn''t move a step in the end.

    Again nothing.

    There are thousands of lights outside the window, and the moon is not up.

    After a while, the clothes were ironed, the black fabric was flat and smooth, and still warm to the touch. Lu Zhiqiao picked up the clothes by pinching its shoulders, and showed them to Qi Yan: "Is this satisfactory?"

    The woman stood like a sculpture and just nodded.

    "Hang up the clothes on a hanger and put them in the closet after drying for a while."

    "Okay." Qi Yan followed suit.

    Lu Zhiqiao poured out the water in the iron, folded up the ironing board, and put it by the door. She raised her eyes to see Qi Yan''s back hanging clothes, sighed softly, and turned to put on her shoes.

    Just as her hand touched the doorknob, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps, and she was suddenly hugged from behind.

    "Are you angry?"

 CH 25

    Qi Yan is slightly taller than Lu Zhiqiao; hugs her from behind, and kisses her ear with a tilt of her head. Her soft ear is delicate and white, it turns red with a gentle touch, and even her whole body trembles uncontrollably. Only she knows how sensitive it is there.

    "Anger hurts the body."

    "Anger creates wrinkles."

    The warm breath lingered and reverberated, swirling in her ear sockets, Lu Zhiqiao clenched her teeth to resist the instinctive reaction, her feet went  limp, and half of her body weight was leaning on Qi Yan''s arms, but just didn''t speak.

    Qi Yan had already seen through her, pretending not to know, pecked her earlobe, and said, "I''ll tell you a joke."

    T/N: Sorry, I don''t understand the joke enough to explain how it is funny. Just take it as some of Qi Yan''s useless anecdotes.

    "I raised a mouse and it got sick. I gave it rat poison. So hopefully it can get better."

    "..."

    "One day when I was riding a bicycle on the street, I passed by the intersection, I let go of the handle bars with both hands, and the traffic enforcer saw it and shouted: ''Your hands!" I happily rushed to the enforcer and waved and Said: ''Sir have worked hard!''." After Qi Yan finished speaking, she couldn''t help laughing.

    Lu Zhiqiao asked subconsciously: "And then?"

    "Then¡ª" Qi Yan paused, "I fell into the pit."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, trying to restrain her emotions, then the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, and finally couldn''t hold back, she burst out laughing.

    "Is it so funny that I fell into the pit?" Qi Yan pretended not to be happy.

    "Yeah, hahaha." It was the first time she saw her laughing. She is in her early thirties, her face had no wrinkles, like a delicate flower in full bloom, and her eyes were full of stars. Qi Yan moved her feet, looked at her with her head tilted, and burned her smile deeply into her mind. At that moment, she wished that she could use time magic to stop this moment forever.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled for a while, noticed the burning gaze around her, restrained her smile, and sighed softly, "I''m not angry."

    "Smile more." Qi Yan stretched out her hand to tuck the broken hair from her forehead behind her ears, and leaned over to kiss her, "You look so pretty when you smile."

    "You get wrinkles when you smile a lot."

    "But, you''ll look ten years older if you don''t smile."

    "..."

    Qi Yan touched her face with the tip of her nose, turned her around and pressed her back against the wall, she said in a low voice: "You have always regarded me as your daughter''s teacher. Of course you will feel awkward in your heart, but teachers are also human, and this is just a job. Doing your own thing and keeping the bottom line is enough. Now, in private, I am Qi Yan, not Teacher Qi."

    The cedar-scented shampoo smells light and pleasant, and it lingers for a long time.

    Lu Zhiqiao sniffed lightly, her eyelids half drooped, and followed the scent of Qi Yan''s hair, her neck stretched forward slightly, only a few feet away from the corner of the other''s lips.

    When Qi Yan wasn''t paying attention, she almost kissed her.

    "Okay." She hurried back and answered in a low voice.

    Qi Yan picked up a strand of her own hair, brushed the end of it gently against her lips, and scratched it maliciously: "Do you like it?"

    Well-maintained hair, the quality of the hair is very good, black and smooth, less split ends, volume rich and thick, like a rare like expensive silk thread. Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help reaching out to touch it, her fingertips smooth against it, so she nodded.

    "Come here often if you like."

    She didn''t answer, blushing.

    ....

    There was the sound of water in the bathroom. Lu Zhiqiao put the ironing board and iron back in the study After that, she collected the clothes that were drying on the balcony, and sat on the sofa to fold them slowly.

    Her daughter has a lot of clothes, a long-sleeved blouse, thin sweaters, trousers with pigtails, school uniforms... She looked at the short pigtails on her trousers, and slowed down, suddenly thinking that Lu Wei is growing up but she was still wearing this kind of clothes at her age. She hasn''t paid attention to her daughter''s situation. For example, is it time to buy an undershirt for the child?

    Time really flies, and the thought gave her indescribable emotions.

    The little baby who couldn''t walk in her hands back then turned twelve years old in the blink of an eye, but she doesn''t even know her daughter''s exact height and weight.

    How can she be called a mother?

    Lu Zhiqiao fell into self-blame, her thoughts were in a mess, and she didn''t even know when the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

    "Mom..."

    There was a very soft cry from behind, she woke up in her trance, turned around, and saw her daughter was standing there in Pikachu pajamas, looking at her timidly, as if she didn''t dare to come over. She raised her smiling face and beckoned to the child: "Niuniu, come here."

    The little girl obediently stepped forward, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t wait to stretch out her hand, and pulled her to sit next to her: "It was mom''s fault just now, I shouldn''t have lost my temper with you..." While talking, she kissed Lu Wei''s face.

    Just after taking a shower, the kid''s face is flushed; smooth and tender.

    Lu Wei bit her lip and said nothing. She was wrong before dinner until now, thinking that her mother thought she was ignorant, and the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. Now she was finally relieved, so she took the initiative to sit on her mother''s lap and put her arms around her neck.

    "Ah, girl, you are so heavy¡ª" Lu Zhiqiao wailed, but held the child in her arms.

    "Hmph."

    "I''ll crush mom to death."

    "I won''t come down." The little girl pouted.

    Lu Zhiqiao touched her daughter''s head and smiled, "Does the school measure her height and weight in physical education class?" She measured her once last year at this time, and she was 1.47 meters and 75 catties. She should have gained a lot in a year.

    "I''m 1.53* meters tall.

    *a bit over 5"

    "What''s your weight?"

    Lu Wei suddenly whispered, "82 catties*...Mom, I''ve gained a lot of weight."

    *108 lbs

    "Fool." Lu Zhiqiao kissed her, "You are exactly the right weight now. As you grow up, it¡¯s normal to gain weight, because you also grow taller.¡± ¡°

    But it¡¯s not good to be too fat. There is a girl in our class who weighs 100 catties and is fat. The boys always laugh at her, saying that she is a fat winter melon."

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s complexion changed slightly, she coughed twice, and said, "Niuniu, I don''t care what others do, but you can''t laugh at fat classmates, that''s very rude, you know?"

    "I didn''t, I just think she is miserable, boys are too much."

    "So you can''t imitate boys."

    The little girl nodded.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes fell in front of her daughter, the outline of the big Pikachu pattern was faintly visible, she stared at it for a few seconds, her pajamas were loose and she couldn''t see anything, so she pinched the corners to pick it up.

    "Um, Mom, what are you doing..." Lu Wei was quick to hold it down and looked at her

    "Let mom take a look." She said impatiently, "Does it usually hurt? Is there¡ª" She was at a loss for words for a while, and couldn''t say anything.

    Lu Wei blushed immediately, feeling very embarrassed, hummed twice, and tightly protected Pikachu with both hands, refusing to let her see it.

    "Okay, I won''t look."

    It is human nature to be shy, and so do children. It is said that mothers and daughters should be close, but it is probably because she neglected to accompany her. Her daughter is shy in front of her, and does not regard her as a trustworthy person.

    Lu Zhiqiao felt a little frustrated, sighed helplessly, and changed the subject: "What time will the party start tomorrow?" "

    Two o''clock." Lu Wei whispered, "Mom, will you go?"

    "I will."

    The next day was cloudy, the past few days, the sky was either clear or cloudy. Lu Zhiqiao left work early at noon, had a casual meal in the company cafeteria, then assigned the afternoon work to her assistant, and drove to school.

    Half an hour had passed since school ended, and there were only a few students wearing school uniforms at the school gate. She parked the car, checked-in with the security guard at the gate, and entered the campus. The junior high school of the attached high school covers a large area, which is larger than the high school. Last parent-teacher meeting, she wandered around and almost got lost.

    She found the classroom, but no one was there.

    Lu Zhiqiao took out her mobile phone and was about to call her daughter when a voice came from the other side of the stairs. She looked up and saw Qi Yan and two female teachers coming out of the office, talking and laughing.

    "Teacher Qi."

    The three of them looked over at the same time. Qi Yan was wearing a smoggy gray long sweater, with a slender and tall figure, which was quite eye-catching at first glance. She said something in a low voice, the other two nodded and walked away, she walked towards this side with long legs.

    Her long black hair flowed freely.

    "It''s still early." The woman came to her, raised her eyebrows, and said in a low voice, "Could it be that you miss me?"

    Although there was no one around, Qi Yan knew how to be modest and didn''t get too close. They are at school after all. She stood upright, but with a teasing smile in her eyes, cold, charming, and playful.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her hair, and said in a moment: "Niu Niu is not in the classroom."

    "Their last class is English." Qi Yan looked at the classroom of Class 1-2, and then looked at the phone, "It''s almost breaktime, have you called her?

    "Not yet, I''m afraid she will be seen by her classmates."

    Qi Yan raised her hand to brush her hair, and said with a smile: "It''s okay, her classmates all have mobile phones. These kids play games in secret, I''d confiscate and hand them over to their parents, and the parents will give the phones back to them again, it''s a headache."

    "..."

    Thinking of the last time her daughter''s mobile phone was confiscated, Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and said nothing, but her heart wanted to laugh.

    Usually, she only sees Qi Yan in 901 or 902. She can see clearly what this person looks like in private, but that''s about it. Now she is seeing Qi Yan at school, where the woman works. This person naturally has a different look. How she walked towards her, half-familiar, half-distant, which got her want to explore, with somewhat an inexplicable feeling, unable to move her eyes.

    Maybe because it''s something new, maybe she''s just curious.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t think about it, she lowered her head, opened the phone''s address book, and dialed her daughter''s number.

    This will pass soon.

    "Niuniu, where are you? Mom is at school."

    "Okay, don''t worry, take your time. Mom will wait for you in the classroom."

    "Hmm, goodbye."

    Sure enough.

    The junior high school does not have a boarding system. There is no student dormitory, but there is a canteen, which is convenient for students who cannot go home at noon to eat at school. Since this semester, except for the few days when she was sick, her daughter has been eating lunch at school.

    She talked to Lu Wei with a gentle and doting tone, with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, while Qi Yan watched, her heart seemed to be soaked in lemon juice soda, gurgling and bursting into sour bubbles.*

    *expression implying jealousy, same as "drinking vinegar"

    "Have you eaten yet?" she asked.

    "I''ve eaten."

    Qi Yan opened her mouth, wanting Lu Zhiqiao to go out to eat with her, but if someone sees them, it will inevitably lead to gossip, and if it is said that she accepts gifts and bribes, then she won''t be clean even if she jumps into the Yellow River.*

    *it will be hard to prove her innocence

    Sometimes, being a teacher is an invisible shackle.

    She swallowed her words, smiled, and a dark emotion flashed in her eyes: "Niu Niu''s seat is in the middle of the fourth row next to the corridor window, you can sit inside and wait, I''m going to eat."

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan turned around and walked up the stairs. Lu Zhiqiao stared at her receding back, her waist-length black hair swaying slightly, her pace seemed to be slower than when she just came, but no matter how slow, the alley can only be so long, and soon the woman disappeared around the corner.

    Author''s Note:

    Lu Mama: I think...

 CH 26

    Lu Wei is going to perform the group dance "Glass Beads"*. An hour before the gala, Lu Zhiqiao followed daughter to the backstage of the auditorium, and saw a lot of parents coming. Some were standing outside chatting, and some were sitting inside watching their children apply their makeup.

    *probably GFriend''s Glass Beads (<--click link to watch MV)

    Qi Yan is also there.

    She was sitting next to a little girl in a costume, holding an automatic eyebrow pencil, and was concentrating on drawing the girl''s eyebrows.

    Due to limited conditions, the school did not hire a professional makeup artist, so teachers who could do it, had to do it. Qi Yan painted very seriously and was very skilled in the technique. She completed the outline and filled in one go. While painting, she whispered to the girl, chatting with a gentle smile on the corners of the eyes and brows.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked silently, with an imperceptible smile on the corner of her mouth. She suddenly realized she had been staring and felt that it was inappropriate so she pretended to survey the area and looked away.

    But after a while, she turned back again.

    "Lu Wei, is she your sister?" A gentle-looking boy leaned over.

    The little girl was looking at herself in the mirror, she turned her head when she heard the sound, and said, "My mother."

    "Hello, auntie..." He looked at Lu Zhiqiao in surprise, his mouth curled into a circle. Then a few more children came around, and two of them were wearing the same costumes as Lu Wei, with makeup on, and they seemed to want to talk to her.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled at them, and patted her daughter on the shoulder: "Niu Niu, go play with your classmates."

    Junior High kids are more self-conscious and would love to have no parents present. When they heard Lu Zhiqiao say that, they were a little embarrassed, and a few of the girls pulled Lu Wei aside and giggled.

    "Lu Wei, your mother is so beautiful."

    "Prettier than Teacher Qi!"

    "Oh, I think Teacher Qi is more beautiful..."

    "Gosh, you really can''t talk, they are both pretty."

    The children crowded around and chattered, and changed the topic after a while. She couldn''t hear what they were saying, and they only laughed from time to time. Lu Zhiqiao silently watched her daughter''s figure. Seeing her smiling happily, she didn''t realize that the corners of her mouth were also curled up.

    After a while, she turned her neck, and her eyes fell on Qi Yan involuntarily.

    Qi Yan has already finished drawing the eyebrows for the child. They are shaped like willow leaves slightly raised, clean and neat. She picked up the eyeshadow palette, dipped the powder with a brush, and gently swept it on the girl''s eyelids. Perhaps she felt that someone was looking at her. She turned her head suddenly, and was caught off guard by a straightforward gaze.

    Both of them were startled.

    Qi Yan raised her thin lips slightly, and smiled at her, showing a row of neat and white teeth, generous and sincere, void of mischief, completely different from her indecent appearance in private.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, and she grabbed the strap of her handbag bag with her fingers, feeling a slight heat and dryness behind her ears, and hurriedly moved her eyes away.

    She heaved a sigh of relief once she checked through the corner of her eye that Qi Yan already turned back to what she was doing.

    Several students were still gathered together, but her daughter was nowhere to be seen. Lu Zhiqiao stretched her neck and looked around, but she didn''t see her after searching around, so she got up and went outside.

    There was a small door in the back of the auditorium that led to a small rock garden next to the playground, where there was a tree that had lost its leaves and a corridor of equally bare vines, and as soon as she went out, she saw her daughter and the gentle-looking boy hiding by the vine pillar, sneaking around, she wondered what they were doing.

    She peered closer and saw them eating.

    The boy holds a pack of snacks in his hand, eats one piece for himself, and feeds another piece for her daughter, and wipes her mouth with a tissue from time to time, they looked very intimate.

    "Niuniu¡ª" Lu Zhiqiao frowned, feeling something was wrong.

    The two children were startled, and turned their heads suddenly. She stepped forward three steps at a time, glanced at the boy, and looked at her daughter: "What are you doing     here?"

    Lu Wei looked at the snacks with a guilty conscience, lowered her head and did not speak.

    "Auntie," it was the boy who spoke up, tilting his head to look at her, "I can''t finish the snacks I bought so we both eat together."

    "..."

    Needed to be fed for snacks?

    Clumsy lies.

    Feeding people is an extremely intimate thing, even more so between the opposite sex. Maybe the children don''t think so, but in the eyes of adults, such behavior is beyond the scope of friendship, but at this sensitive and restless age, parents have to pay attention all the time.

    The boy was generous and calm, without the slightest fear or guilty conscience, but Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t say anything, so she smiled and said, "I see."

    After speaking, she asked, "What''s your name?" "Wang Zheyi: Zhe in philosophy, Yi in Perseverance.* He said calmly.

    *telling her the spelling/ what Chinese character used for his name.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded with a smile, looked at the backstage door, and said, "It''s cold outside, and the performance should start soon, let''s all go in." As she spoke, she naturally took her daughter''s hand and walked in front.

    ...

    Half an hour before the performance started, Lu Zhiqiao sent Qi Yan a WeChat message.

    [I have something to ask you alone, is it convenient right now?]

    At that time, Qi Yan was in the classroom, emphasizing the discipline that students should abide by when watching the performance. The mobile phone was placed on the podium, and when the screen turned on, she caught it and suddenly lost her mind. She sped up her speech and finished explaining in a few sentences, letting the class president lead the class into the auditorium.

    She stepped out of the classroom and typed as she walked:¡¾Come to the office¡¿

    The teacher''s office in the school is divided into one for the homeroom teachers and one for those who aren''t. Many teachers did not come in the afternoon, and the homeroom teachers were either in their own classes or in the auditorium. There was no one in the office at the moment.

    Qi Yan tidied up her desk, moved the spare chair to the table, poured two cups of hot water, and had a serious expression. She guessed that what Lu Zhiqiao wanted to ask was not a personal matter, otherwise there was no need to emphasize that she needs to talk to her now, she could ask at home, and since she was still at school, there should be a rule.

    There was a knock on the office door, and then it opened a crack, and a cold wind came in.

    "Teacher Qi."

    Lu Zhiqiao pushed the door open, and Qi Yan just raised her head, and the two of them met each other''s eyes, a reflection of each other seen from both their eyes.

    "Have a seat." Qi Yan said with a light smile, pointing to the chair, as if she had never known the person in front of her, so serious and unfamiliar.

    The so-called duality is probably on right now.  Lu Zhiqiao was stunned for a moment, looked around the office, but no one else was there, but Qi Yan suddenly seemed to be a different person, she couldn''t adapt for a while, she sat down and didn''t speak for a long time.

    "Don''t you have something to ask me?" Qi Yan gently pushed the paper cup in front of her.

    When her daughter was in elementary school, Lu Zhiqiao was often invited to the office by the teacher. The reason was that her math performance was too low, and the teacher had to "communicate" with her every day.

    She lowered her head, picked up the cup and took a sip of hot water: "Well, it''s about Lu Wei."

    Sure enough.

    Although it was expected, it was inevitable to be a little disappointed.

    Qi Yan didn''t speak, waiting for her to continue.

    "Is there a boy named Wang Zheyi in the class?" Lu Zhiqiao asked carefully.

    "Yes, why?"

    "Does he usually... play well with Niu Niu?"

    Qi Yan was surprised, thought for a moment, and said, "Pretty much, but there is another boy and two girls who hang out with them. "

    It''s been a semester since the school started, and the newly enrolled children are familiar with each other, and gradually divided into several small cliques. The relationships between groups is usually harmonious, but it is not easy to accept students from other groups in private.

    "Did something happen?"

    "I saw that boy feeding Niu Niu and wiping her mouth today, I..." Lu Zhiqiao frowned, not knowing how to continue in the middle of the sentence.

    Could it be a sign of puppy love?

    There is a lot of news about junior high school students'' puppy love on the Internet. The plummet of grades is the least serious consequence, and the more serious ones are life-threatening. During a gynecological physical examination in the first half of the year. Many of the girls who had abortions looked no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. One of them was very small, not as tall as her girl. She was eight weeks pregnant and was brought by her mother, crying all the time.

    She still remembered her mother''s distressed and self-reproaching expression...

    She will never let this kind of thing happen to Niu Niu! She must nip the seeds of evil in the bud.

    There was a look of panic in her eyes, and her lips trembled slightly. Seeing that something was wrong, Qi Yan grabbed her hand and shook it firmly: "It''s okay, it''s okay, it''s normal for good friends to feed each other, it isn''t a big deal for children, it''s usually the adults who think things seriously."

    "But just in case..."

    "Nothing will happen" Qi Yan interrupted softly, "I''ll help you watch at school, don''t worry, it''s fine."

    The palm on her hands were warm, she wanted to hug her very much, she couldn''t help thinking about it for a moment, but this is in the office, someone might push the door and come in at any time, she can''t afford that risk.

    These words were like reassurance, Lu Zhiqiao looked at Qi Yan in a daze, those shining eyes were as firm as a rock, inexplicably reassuring. She slowed her breathing, calmed down slowly, and finally sighed softly, her lips moved, and she was about to speak when she was interrupted by the woman.

    "Don''t thank me."

    "..."

    She paused, pursed her lips, and swallowed the words.

    Qi Yan looked at her and smiled, her cold eyebrows melted into a piece of gentle spring water, then she let go of her hand little by little, and returned to the sitting posture leaning against the back of the chair.

    The loose strands of hair swayed with her movements, and the ends of the tails lightly brushed the back of Lu Zhiqiao''s hands. The delicate skin was itchy, and she subconsciously stretched out her hand to caress it. Qi Yan paused, and tilted her shoulders slightly towards her, allowing the drooping hair to slide over and cover the back of her hands.

    "Actually, I don''t like people touching my hair."

    Lu Zhiqiao quickly let go.

    "But you are an exception." Qi Yan smiled, leaning on her side and lightly flicking her hair onto her hands, actively seducing her.

    The ends of the hair swept back and forth on the skin, like countless tiny fluffs scratching her heart, and the dense itching spread along the back of her hands, making her heart itch from the scratching. She was about to move, but she had to restrain herself.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly blushed, her peach blossoms were gorgeous and coquettish, she pulled her hand away, and looked elsewhere in a daze, trying to find something to say, but she didn''t see anything interesting, so she asked casually, "What is that?"

    "Lesson Plan"

    She didn''t see the three big square characters on it, and she was only thinking about finding something to say. Qi Yan couldn''t help but raise the corners of her lips, picked up the textbook and opened it to her.

    Two-thirds of the book has been used, and almost every page is full of writing. The handwriting is slightly scribbled, but it has a spirit and form, with iron and silver hooks, and the style is bold and hearty. They say the handwriting reflects the writer''s personality, and Qi Yan''s words are just like her, seemingly shameless and dishonest, but in fact her character is trustworthy and reliable. It fit her just right

    "Does it look good?"

    "It looks good."

    She was reading the lesson plan, and Qi Yan was looking at her.

    The party started on time at two o''clock, and the auditorium was full of seats. The officials sat in the first row, the teachers sat in the second row, and the students and parents of each class took their turn after the third row started. The vacant seat that Qi Yan mentioned was in the first row on the far right, next to a certain leader.

    In the end, Lu Zhiqiao took that seat, and she felt a little awkward at first, but after the performance started, she focused on expecting her daughter to come out, and didn''t think about anything else.

    The program order of each class is random, and Class 1-2 is ninth.

    The six girls came out in Korean school uniforms. Lu Zhiqiao saw her daughter with the glass beads at a glance, grinned tightly, and couldn''t help waving her hand slightly. Lu Wei glanced her way and proudly looked up Lifting her chin, she quickly stood up.

    When the music played, her eyes suddenly became a little wet.

    When her child grew up to such an age, the years seemed to flow through her fingers in vain, without leaving too many traces in her memory. Looking back on these years, her eyes were at a loss. It was obvious that the mother and daughter were dependent on each other, but they lived as if they were alone.

    The lithe ball-headed elf on the stage is her baby whom she has raised for twelve years.

    The stage lights gradually blurred, Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head to flip through the tissue, tears fell down, she quickly wiped it away with her hands, took out the tissue and wiped it again, took a deep breath on her back, and raised her phone to record the video.

    At the same time, Qi Yan stood behind the curtain on the side of the stage, seeing Lu Zhiqiao''s every move clearly...

    ....

    At about 4:30, the performance ended, and Lu Zhiqiao went backstage to pick up her daughter. She wanted to ask Qi Yan if she wanted to go with her, but she didn''t see her, so she sent a WeChat message to her and took her daughter home first.

    "Mom~" The little girl was excited all the way, and jumped up when she entered the house, "Show me the video you took~"

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled and pinched her little face: "Wait a minute, mom will help you remove your makeup first." After finishing speaking, she entered the bedroom, brought makeup remover cream and cotton pads, "Sit on the sofa."

    Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang.

    At that moment, she thought it was Qi Yan''s call, so she immediately put the things on the coffee table, took out the phone, and saw that it belonged to a friend.

    "Hello?"

    "Well, I just got home."

    "Why don''t I go down and get it before you run up."

    "Okay, I''ll open the door for you."

    After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhiqiao pressed the floor button next to the door, and smoothly opened the door. After a while, the elevator sounded, and there were steady and powerful footsteps in the corridor. A tall and thin man came in with a big bag and a small bag, with a gentle and elegant smile on his face.

    "Hello, Uncle Wen!" Lu Wei stood up and called out.

    "Hey." The man responded, with deep eyebrows, "Niu Niu~"

    Lu Zhiqiao took the things in his hand, weighed them, and put them on the ground, angrily said: "Why did you make a special trip?" just let me pick them up next time."

    "I happened to be on your way, so I decided to drop by."

    "Come in and sit down." Lu Zhiqiao smiled casually, and closed the door, "Have dinner with us tonight, I''m planning to take Niuniu out."

    He shook his head helplessly: "I''ll owe you the meal first. I''m going to pick up my friend at the airport now. Another day."

    The doorbell rang.

    Lu Zhiqiao choked when she spoke, and leaned forward to open the door, but the man was one step ahead of her, and opened it for her. Seeing the person outside, he subconsciously asked, "Who are you?"

    Qi Yan stood outside the door, the smile on her lips froze instantly ...

 CH 27

    Observing closely, the man has good skin. He looks upright and gentle. His whole persona exudes a gentle temperament, his eyes reveal sincere kindness, and the corners of his mouth are habitually slightly raised. He should be a modest gentleman.

    It is said that people should not be judged by their appearance, because you''ll never know what is in their hearts. Qi Yan has seen a lot of people who are not what they appear to be; they often wear a gentle and pure skin, but inside they are a cunning and wretched old fox. Her frozen smile slowly stretched, she did a good job of saving face, and then turned her gaze to Lu Zhiqiao.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t panic at all, on the contrary, she was very calm. The two met three times in a short period of time, they were destined to meet. Instead of covering up to attract prying eyes, it is better to introduce each other generously.

    They are all adults and know how to behave.

    "Uncle Wen, that''s Teacher Qi." Before she could speak, her daughter stretched her neck and shouted.

    Qi Yan''s face changed slightly, Lu Zhiqiao smiled, and added a sentence naturally: "She''s also my friend, Qi Yan, who lives at the opposite door." After speaking, she looked at Qi Yan, "This is my friend, Wen Zilong."

    The man nodded in surprise, he took the initiative to stretch out his hand : "Hello, Teacher Qi."

    "Hello."

    Qi Yan smiled and shook hands with him, glanced at Lu Zhiqiao from the corner of her eye, a warm current flowed slowly through her heart, a smile melted into her eyes from the corner of her mouth, and she didn''t feel like glaring at this man anymore.

    "Then I''ll leave first, let''s get together some other day." Wen Zilong said goodbye to them, and waved to Lu Wei, "Niuniu, uncle will be going now."

    "Goodbye, Uncle Wen~"

    Seeing him enter the elevator, Qi Yan turned around, looked at Lu Zhiqiao and smiled, her lips moved, but remembered she has business with Lu Wei, she handed her the things in her hand: "Niu Niu''s prize for participating in the performance, you forgot  to take it."

    It is a set of exquisite cartoon ceramic mugs.

    "What!" Lu Wei ran over with heavy makeup on her face, wowed softly, and took the cup, "Thank you, Teacher Qi."

    The child said the words that the mother wanted to say but could not.

    Lu Zhiqiao touched her daughter''s head, and smiled at Qi Yan, her eyes reflected the other party''s hesitant face, but she didn''t say anything in the end. After she left and closed the door, she sighed softly, picked up the makeup remover cream to help her daughter remove her makeup.

    "Niuniu, what do you want to eat tonight?"

    "Barbecue! The kind you grill yourself."

    "Okay." Lu Zhiqiao responded with a smile, "Shall we take Teacher Qi with us?"

    The little girl paused, the makeup remover smeared her face, she didn''t dare to open her eyes, "Mom, did you make Teacher Qi angry?"

    "Why do you think so?" She wiped her daughter''s face with a cleansing cotton.

    "You were so polite, I thought you did something wrong, hehehe~"

    "..."

    This kid, really.

    After wiping her face clean, Lu Zhiqiao stretched out her index finger and gently poked her forehead, and said with a smirk, "Wash your face." Then she got up and washed her hands, and called up the video on the phone, "I''ll put the phone here, Mom, will go to 902."

    "Oh, go show your courtesy~" Lu Wei stuck out her tongue.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, pretending to be angry, and raised her hand to knock her on the head, but the little girl quickly ran away.

    Knocking on the door of 902, it opened quickly, and Qi Yan''s tall and handsome figure appeared in her sight, with black and soft long hair hanging down her waist, and a pair of slender and straight legs like chopsticks, she thought she would see a gloomy dark face but that was not the case, the corner of the other party''s mouth is curled up, and the deep eyes are full of smiles, as if knowing that she will come.

    Before she could speak, she was pulled in.

    "What''s the matter?" Qi Yan pointed to the slippers, motioning for her to come in and sit down.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t move, pondered for a moment, and said a little embarrassedly: "I''ll take Niuniu out for dinner later, why don''t you come with us?"

    She never invited her.

    At that moment, Qi Yan thought she was hearing things, so she stared in a daze for a long time. Their eyes seemed to be strung together by a thin thread, tightly sticking together, but then the thread broke, and there was an unspeakable feeling of loss in her heart.

    "That''s all? Is there... anything else?"

    In fact, there is.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyelids, seeming to be deliberating, then raised her eyes to look at Qi Yan''s expectant but desperately restrained face, her heart beating a few beats faster, overflowing with something sour. She frowned, lowered her head and changed her slippers, walked to the sofa and sat down silently: "Yes."

    Qi Yan also became nervous, and went to sit next to her.

    "Zilong and I met at a charity event." She said straight to the point, her tone flat.

    "It''s not a company event, but a personal visit to a remote village to visit girls who dropped out of school, and gave some clothes and books. Many people attended, and he was also there. I was in the same group as him."

    "After we met, we gradually got to know each other. He is indeed rich, but his family members have passed away, and he is the only one left..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s expression suddenly dimmed, there were subtle wrinkles between her brows, and her voice dropped.

    "Many times charity is just a gimmick, a show for others to see, but he is sincerely investing time, energy and money in doing this. The annual donations should be several million, excluding other materials, such as donations to the Children''s Welfare Institute."

    "We went to the orphanage that day, because we made an appointment to send some gifts there from time to time, which are not expensive, just a wishes from the kids."

    Having said that, Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips.

    Many aspects involved personal stuff, so it''s inconvenient for her to say more, besides, he is her friend, with a clear conscience, and they have no obligation to explain this to others, but Qi Yan is the only exception among them, but that''s the only things she can tell her.

    Qi Yan listened quietly, without the slightest wave in her eyes, but her heart seemed to be thrown into a blender, twisted to pieces, dense and violent dull pain rolled over her chest, her whole body was like a sculpture, motionless.

    It doesn''t matter whether she continues talking or not, it doesn''t matter whether that man has ever liked her or pursued her, if so, how she deals with it is not important at all.

    [I don''t have grandparents...]

    [Where are your grandparents?]

    [None.]

    [Other relatives, such as aunt? Uncle?]

    [Never seen them before.]

    Recalling what Niuniu said that day, and the little girl¡¯s bewildered face, maybe in her world, the only family member is her mother, and the others are just unfamiliar terms, but who knows, when classmates talk about grandparents or grandparents, Did she ever have doubts and losses in her heart?

    She thought that Lu Zhiqiao''s family was in another city, but she lived here with her daughter, and would go back to reunite with her family every year during the holidays - just like the Spring Festival travel every year, so do countless families.

    Unexpectedly, Jiangcheng is so big, but they are only mother and daughter.

    The picture of the man in the closet, the age difference between Niu Niu and Lu Zhiqiao, the meeting at the bar that night...Mysteries follow one after another. She can''t be sure.

    After going around for a long time, she didn''t take a step out.

    She was still in place, but she had the illusion that the distance between them became close.

    "Teacher Qi?"

    With a soft call, Qi Yan was pulled back to reality, she looked up at Lu Zhiqiao, the tear mole at the end of her eyes was still gentle and vivid, and seemed more attractive, so she raised the corner of her mouth: "I''m ashamed to say that, I, a nouveau riche daughter has never donated a few dollars since she was a child..."

    She didn''t want to admit that she was jealous, and she was a person who couldn''t lower her head in her bones, but these days, she didn''t know how much she had lowered her head for this person. This gesture, the taste of going against nature is very uncomfortable, but she can''t help herself but do it. Whenever she tried to stop, to restrain herself, this woman inadvertently threw more baited hooks, luring her into the trap.

    Has she fallen in love with her?

    She fell in love with a one-night stand. If she told her friends that, she was afraid that she would be laughed at severely.

    "I don''t like forcing my morals on you. It''s supposed to be all voluntary. There''s nothing to be ashamed of." Lu Zhiqiao said quietly.

    "Aren''t you curious about me at all?"

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, seeing the vague anticipation in Qi Yan''s eyes, but before she could speak, the other party laughed: "I was just kidding, what''s for dinner?

    "Niuniu said she wants to eat barbecue."

    "Then barbecue it is." Qi Yan stood up and stretched, "Shall we go now?"

    Lu Zhiqiao also got up, accidentally touched her hair with the back of her hand, and hurriedly retracted: "Well, I''ll ask Niuniu to change her clothes."

    After speaking, she went to the door to put on her shoes, and the scent dissipated like a wind.

    She went out.

    The smile on Qi Yan''s face gradually collapsed, and she fell heavily back on the sofa, her mind was covered with messy fragments, and her heart seemed to be tightly entwined with rope, bit by bit strangling her out of breath. She flicked off her slippers, bent her knees, curled up, and grabbed her neck with her hands.

    It was the same feeling many years ago.

    ¡­

    On the first day of the new year, Lu Zhiqiao got up early, made breakfast for her daughter, and drove to the villas in Ninghu District.

    She and Shu Minxi made an appointment to visit the chairman today. Since foreign vehicles were not allowed in the villa, she waited at the gate. At eight o''clock; around seven fifty-five, two figures appeared in sight.

    The weather was warm, and Shu Minxi wore a calf-length platycodon blue sweater jacket, walking in front with hurried steps, followed by Aoki Saki; also wearing a long sweater skirt, only the style and color were different. She was  trying her best to keep up with Shu Minxi, her hair was a bit messy, her hand hanging by her side repeatedly tried to hold her, but she didn''t dare, stretched out and retracted, and finally grabbed the handbag strap.

    Through the windshield, Lu Zhiqiao sighed faintly, pretending not to know, got out of the car and greeted them: "Ms. Shu, Ms. Aoki."

    "Take my car, the driver is going to drive." Shu Minxi nodded, and naturally held her arm.

    On the side, Saki''s complexion changed, she raised her eyes to look at her, then the woman''s gaze fell on their entwined arms. She pursed her lips, and knuckles holding the bag strap were bleeding white.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "..."

    A bitter taste came out of nowhere.

    A black car drove over slowly, the driver got out of the car and opened the back seat door, Lu Zhiqiao breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to free her arm, but Shu Minxi walked back with her arm, turned her head and said to Saki: "You sit in the front. "

    Saki''s eyes were a little red, she blinked, and turned to Lu Zhiqiao with pleading eyes.

    "Ms. Shu, I''ll sit in the front." She winked and made up an excuse, "I...ate too much breakfast, I''m a little dizzy."

    Shu Minxi frowned slightly, glanced at her, then at Saki. After hesitating for a moment, without saying anything, she let go of her arm and got into the car.

    Saki smiled gratefully at Lu Zhiqiao, and couldn''t wait to follow.

    It was very quiet along the way, no one spoke, the drive took about half an hour, halfway there, Lu Zhiqiao''s cell phone rang, it was her daughter''s call. The child was a little sad when she woke up and found that she was not there. She was whimpering and acting like a baby on the phone. She comforted her with soft words for a long time, and promised to go home to bring a small cake, then the little girl gave up.

    She forgot for a moment that she was in the car, and the boss and the client''s daughter were sitting in the back.

    "Do you have a child too?" Saki asked softly.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, put her phone into her bag, nodded and said: "Yes, my daughter is twelve years old."

    "She must be a beautiful and cute little princess." Saki smiled with squinted eyes, her voice was soft, and expression was obviously relaxed. She couldn''t help but say a few more words: "I also have a daughter, who will be six years old in two months, she..."

    Suddenly, remembering something, her voice stopped, and she turned her head to look at the person beside her.

    Shu Minxi''s face was as cold as iron, and her eyes were frosty. She turned her face away calmly, and looked out of the window, a sneer that had disappeared from the corner of her mouth emerged.

    An eerie silence.

    Lu Zhiqiao sensed something was wrong, glanced at the rearview mirror, and saw that Saki lowered her head and did not speak, and Shu Minxi looked out the window and did not speak, vaguely understood something, and did not say a word.

    ....

    After working for ten years, Lu Zhiqiao only met the chairman twice, once at the annual meeting when she first joined the company, and once when she was promoted to director. In her impression, the chairman is a woman that has a rather exotic appearance, with a high nose and deep eyes, glamorous and enchanting, like Medusa, a snake-haired witch in myths and legends.

    Her name is Gu Shuning, and she is said to be of mixed race.

    Nearly two decades ago, she started what is now the Xinbei Group from scratch - back then it was just a small company. She doesn''t know much because the chairman started to retreat behind the scenes, and has been very low-key.

    The bungalow complex she lives in has been built for more than ten years. It is a very old estate. Shu Minxi has her house key. All the way up the stairs and stepping into the house, there is a strong smell of incense and candles, mixed with the smell of alcohol. She saw two or three empty wine bottles on the coffee table in the living room, as well as on the ground.

    There are plastic fake poppies everywhere, and the large swaths of red are bright and dazzling.

    Shu Minxi''s cold face was suddenly stained with compassion, she threw off her shoes regardless of her image, and rushed into the bedroom: "Sister Ning Ning¡ª"

    Saki also rushed in.

    The two didn''t come out for a long time.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the wine bottles on the ground, and felt obsessed with cleanliness. She bent down and picked them up one by one. When she stood and looked up, she saw two memorial tablets on the TV cabinet, and two black and white photos next to them. She was almost scared to death.

    There is no writing on the tablet, and the woman in the photo is unknown, and the whole room is filled with a strange and gloomy atmosphere.

    After a while, people came out.

    The chairman is still beautiful, but she is much older. She is in her early forties, but she seems to have stepped into the twilight years. She is dressed plainly, holds a string of Buddhist beads in her hand, her eyes are empty, and her words are always absent-minded. She got tired after a few minutes, so she told them she''d rest and not to be disturbed.

    At that time, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t know that this was the last time she''ll see her former idol...

    ....

    There is half a month before the Lunar New Year, and on Friday night, the company held its annual meeting in the banquet hall of xx Hotel.

    The format of the annual meeting is similar every year. The bosses speak, the professional team performs, colleagues eat and drink, draw prizes and give out gifts, and then go home. She felt really tired. But this year, she doesn''t know who came up with a bad idea. Every executive needs to perform a show on stage, the genre is determined by lottery, there is no repetition, and they cannot be interchanged.

    Although the directors of various departments secretly complained, they were all willing to cooperate, preparing the program in private, and bit the bullet to go up.

    Luckily, Lu Zhiqiao got the chance to sing.

    The stage lights were shining brightly, and dazzling patterns rolled on the large screen in the background. She was wearing a black floor-length sleeveless dress, standing in the center with a microphone in her hand, and sang the song "We Met Too Late"* affectionately.

    *A song by Julia Peng released in 1998, click to check out MV ¡û

    It''s a very old song with a catchy tune. Her voice is not as thick and powerful as the original singer, but gentle and soft, with no lingering sentimental taste.

    After singing, there was thunderous applause, some whistled, and some shouted hello.

    In the corner, Qi Yan watched the figure on the stage quietly, her eyes flickering on and off, she picked up the wine glass and took a sip, the sweet and sour liquid flowed down her throat into her stomach, the coolness made her trembling, her  heart is slightly cold.

    The person she likes sang her most hated song.

    That woman was confident, elegant, and generous on the stage. She smiled so hard that her eyes became crescents. She didn''t look like the usual Lu Zhiqiao who was indifferent and reserved, and refused to give any more smiles. She was inexplicably jealous of everyone present.

    The applause gradually subsided, Lu Zhiqiao returned the microphone to the host, and carefully walked off the stage with her skirt lifted. Instead of going back to the seat at the front table, she went straight to the bathroom.

    Qi Yan narrowed her eyes, put down her cup and followed.

    There was the sound of rushing water in the bathroom. Lu Zhiqiao was standing in front of the mirror, washing her hands. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of someone coming in. She turned her head and glanced casually. She froze suddenly and opened her eyes wide: "You...why are you here?"

    "Why don''t you try to guess?" Qi Yan raised her brow and walked forward slowly.

    Seeing Lu Zhiqiao''s face with heavy make-up up close, a pair of watery pupil outlined with thick black eyeliner, the tear mole on the corner is vivid and pitiful, and the lips that are painted with reddish-brown lipstick are plump and moist, both enchanting and quite lustful. Going closer, she inhaled an unfamiliar aroma, not as calm and breezy as "Goddess of Hunting", but with a rich and flamboyant femininity.

    Rich, mature, fierce.

    Completely different from head to toe, she barely recognizes her.

    Lu Zhiqiao straightened her back and took her hand away from the sensor faucet. When the water stopped, her face became a little embarrassed, and the roots of her ears turned red quickly. After a while, she asked, "Do you have friends or relatives working in our company?"

    This year''s annual meeting, each person can bring a family member or friend. She originally wanted to bring her daughter here, but thinking that the final exam will be next week, she asked the child to read and review at home.

    Only this is possible.

    Her world is small, there are no coincidences everywhere, but Qi Yan is everywhere.

    "Yes, my friend works here, and her husband can''t come and had to work overtime temporarily, and I was free." Qi Yan stared straight at her face, her eyes filled with anxiety.

    "Who is it?"

    "I won''t tell you."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, "Once you go out, I''ll know when I see who you are sitting next to."

    "Forgive me, Director Lu." Qi Yan raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, "In case you use your power for personal gain, my friend will be out of luck."

    "It looks like someone who belongs to my department?"

    "..."

    This person is soft and coquettish in private, weak and easy to bully, who would have thought that there is such a fierce side, Qi Yan laughed dumbfounded, and her eyes became meaningful.

    "Chi Nian, your regional manager."

    "I won''t use power for personal gain."

    "You sang well just now." Qi Yan changed the subject lightly.

    Once it was mentioned, Lu Zhiqiao was immediately shy, feeling that her face was burning badly, she hurriedly avoided her eyes, lifted her skirt and walked out quickly.

    ....

    The two returned to the complex almost at the same time, with the black car in front and the white car behind.

    Lu Zhiqiao wanted to go upstairs first, got out of the car as quickly as possible, locked the door, and entered the elevator room, but the elevator was upstairs, and while waiting for it to get down, Qi Yan had slowly come to her side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. She was still wearing a dress, with heavy makeup, she became more beautiful at night, and her face was flushed under the light. She doesn''t know if it was the effect of blush or embarrassment.

    All the way up to the ninth floor, everything is in peace.

    Lu Zhiqiao stepped out of the elevator first, and just took two steps when she was suddenly hugged from behind, turned around, and pressed her back against the wall.

    Her shriek was overwhelmed by the passionate kiss, crazy and strong.

    But unexpectedly, it didn''t take long, Qi Yan quickly let go of her lips, gasping for breath: "Go out with me."

    "Qi Yan..."

    "You finally took the initiative to call my name."

    The lipstick on her lips was smeared, and the mouths of both of them seemed to be swollen. Lu Zhiqiao''s heart was beating fast, and her fingertips were itchy. She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and said softly, "I can feel your tenderness. You grew up in a good environment, in addition to the material things, your spirit is also very rich."

    "Huh?"

    "The way you speak and act, the way you dress and communicate, the way you handle things."

    "Your eyes are filled with the whole world, your face is full of desire to explore, and the sense of security that comes naturally from your words and actions..." Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, as if talking to herself.

    "These things are precious treasures that many people can''t find in their lives. You are very happy, and I sincerely wish you happiness forever."

    Qi Yan vaguely sensed something was wrong, and slowly let go of her: "What do you mean?"

    "I think we are not good a good match."

    Lu Zhiqiao slowly opened her eyes, and her icy face was reflected in her dark pupils. At this moment, she suddenly became calm, and the big stone in her heart finally fell down.

    There was a long silence.

    "Really? Do you mean this?" Qi Yan asked calmly, looking directly into her eyes.

    "Yes."

    The two were close together, their body temperature merged, their fragrance intertwined and lingered, the exhaled breath was inhaled into the lungs of the other, and the cycle went back and forth, and the atmosphere was suddenly full of ambiguity.

    "Okay, I see."

    Qi Yan bent her lips, let go of Lu Zhiqiao, and walked towards 902 calmly.

    Suddenly, she stopped, and a faint voice floated over:

    "One day, you will be willing."

 CH 28

    "One day, you will be willing." Qi Yan stood under the lamp without turning her head, her glossy black hair hanging down her shoulders. After speaking, she took out the key and opened the door to enter the house, then closed it lightly.

    The corridor was silent, and a cool breeze blew in from the window. Lu Zhiqiao shivered, goosebumps appeared on her two lotus-white arms, she panted with her lips half-opened, her chest heaved violently, her mind was blank, and her fingertips was like being bitten by thousands of insects, so numb that she lost consciousness.

    It¡¯s a very familiar feeling. In her memory, her fingertips would only tingle when she was very angry or had great mood swings. It has not happened for many years. The most memorable one is when she quarreled with her parents when she was a child. That time she wanted to run away from home .

    After stepping into the society for ten years, her temper has completely worn down.

    She curled up her fingers and held them, her breathing gradually calmed down, she lowered her head and took out a small mirror and tissues from her bag, wiped off the lipstick that had stuck to the line of her lips against the light, pursed her lips, and went home.

    The light was on in the living room, but no one was there. As soon as Lu Zhiqiao put down her bag, she saw her daughter crept out of the master bedroom and ran into the second bedroom.

    "Niu Niu!"

    Lu Wei paused, and turned around slowly: "Hey, Mom, you''re back..."

    The little girl''s face was pale, with two plateau reds floating on her cheeks, her mouth was bright scarlet, and two eyebrows were thick and straight, like a funny clown.

    "What''s going on here?" Lu Zhiqiao frowned.

    "Well, I used a little bit of your makeup." She whispered, knowing that she was doomed, she hurriedly laughed and laughed: "Mom, your makeup is so beautiful, I can''t even copy it."

    The child doesn''t know how to put on makeup, but she loves to be pretty. She doesn''t look good with the smears on her face and looks rather ghostly. Lu Zhiqiao wanted to reprimand her, but she thought it was funny. She walked over with her skirt and gently pinched her face: "Next time you want to put on makeup, you have to tell mom, and I''ll do it for you. You''re not allowed to do it secretly, okay?"

    Lu Wei giggled and nodded, secretly heaving a sigh of relief.

    The old concept said that girls trying to dress up at such a young age will grow up to be bad. Lu Zhiqiao''s was also overwhelmed at first. She was surprised that her daughter would steal her cosmetics, she suspects that the girl is following the trend of her classmates. But after thinking about it, everyone has a love of beauty, and at this age, she pays special attention to her appearance. Blindly prohibiting her will only be counterproductive. Instead of instilling shame in her, it is better to guide her well.

    "Do the female students in the class also wear makeup?"

    "A few of them do." The little girl nodded, "They have their own cosmetics, and they apply them in the classroom during lunch break."

    "Where did the cosmetics come from?"

    "They just bought it from a small store near the school. It''s not expensive. The Eye shadows in many colors cost only fifteen yuan."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face darkened: "Did you buy one?"

    Cheap and low-quality cosmetics can only deceive ignorant little girls and give them a bad face.  She usually gives her daughter a lot of pocket money, and always felt that since her daughter was obedient, she would not spend money on useless things, but now she became inexplicably worried. You know, it is easy for children to follow the trend.

    "No, I said my mother has it. Their mothers don''t wear makeup, so they can only buy it secretly." After saying this, the little girl''s face was full of pride.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s brows relaxed, and she took her daughter''s hand and wrapped it in her palm, with a slight smile on her mouth: "Niu Niu, it''s normal to love beauty, and mom doesn''t object to your makeup, but you have to promise me three conditions: first, you shouldn''t do it in school, second, you can only do it once a month, mom will help you do it, and can also teach you, third, you can¡¯t use pocket money to buy cosmetics without authorization.¡±

    "Okay, then you can make it very beautiful and let Teacher Qi take a picture for me."

    "..."

    When Qi Yan was mentioned suddenly, Lu Zhiqiao choked and looked a little unnatural. The woman''s soft voice was still in her ears, her charming smile, the sound of her breathing, and her elusive back... It is impossible for them to avoid facing each other. Even if she told her daughter not to bother the other party, it didn''t help.

    "Aren''t you afraid of Teacher Qi?" She raised her eyebrows, implying that she is her homeroom teacher.

    In the beginning when Qi Yan just moved to the opposite side, her daughter was so frightened, but in a blink of an eye, it has only been more than two months, and the child''s opinion has changed quickly.

    Lu Wei shook her head: "Teacher Qi is very good."

    Lu Zhiqiao was surprised, twitched the corners of her mouth, laughed dryly, and said nothing.

    ....

    The night was getting darker, and the mother and daughter were sitting on the bed freshly showered and smelling good. Lu Zhiqiao hugged her daughter and randomly checked her recitation of ancient poems. She wanted to distract herself by this, but she remembered that the Chinese teacher was Qi Yan. Her thoughts flew to the sky again.

    The semester is coming to an end, and the next two months are as long as two years. Too many things have happened, and her mood has ups and downs, and she can''t describe how she really feels like. The meeting and acquaintance with Qi Yan was just an accident. No matter how beautiful and unforgettable, it will eventually become vestiges in her life. After procrastinating for so long, it is only today that the big stone in her heart is put down. Suddenly, her whole being felt empty.

    They will no longer be ambiguous, no hugs and kisses or have extra thoughts, and finally be able to get along like ordinary friends.

    Regardless of whether the other party gives up or not, she had already made up her mind. From now on, she must control herself and get her life back on track.

    In two and a half years, her daughter will graduate from junior high school. By that time, they will rent a house near whichever school Lu Wei will be admitted to. After the loan of the house here is repaid, she will sell it and go to the city to buy a new one. After that, her daughter should have graduated from college, maybe work, maybe go to graduate school, and then slowly become independent.

    She can let go and live the life she wants.

    "Facing Jieshi in the east, you can see the sea, how smooth the water is, and the mountains and islands..." The voice of her daughter reciting a poem brought Lu Zhiqiao back to her thoughts. She picked up her mobile phone and looked, a notification from the parent-teacher chat group popped.

    Qi Yan posted a notice about the arrangement of the final exam in the group, everyone online, liked it and parents responded with "received" and "Teacher, thank you", and posted more than 20 messages in a row.

    In the past, Lu Zhiqiao never replied.

    After browsing through the notice, she stared at Qi Yan''s orange cat profile picture, and typed slowly with her fingers: [Got it]

    It''s also strange, it''s the first time she has spoken since joining the group, and the content is different from other parents.

    Teacher Qi: [[Smiling]]

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao ignored her, put her phone aside, saw her daughter had recited it twice, and stroked her hair: "Girl, where do you want to go during the Chinese New Year?"

    "Beach."

    "We''re in a coastal city."

    Lu Wei pouted and shook her head: "The kind of sea with tropical forest, with many small islands, where you can go fishing."

    "Okay, let me look for it." Lu Zhiqiao picked up her phone and glanced at it. After looking at the group chat, a few people replied sporadically and received them, so she quit it and searched for travel information online.

    Tropical islands, samba, bikinis...

    She froze.

    "By the way, Mom, shall we take Teacher Qi with us?"

    Lu Zhiqiao came back to her senses and looked at her daughter in surprise: "Why?"

    "Um¡­"

    The little girl was at a loss for words and couldn''t find a reason for a moment. She lowered her head and thought about it, and suddenly her eyes lit up: "Ms. Qi promised to help you take pictures during the Chinese New Year."

    Things got so busy at the end of the year. If it wasn''t for the child, she would have already forgotten it and only remembered it when she thought of the bikini. She agreed with Qi Yan to be a model for filming. At that time, she only thought about being free during the Chinese New Year holiday, and promised to take her daughter out to play, and the two things collided impartially.

    But this will happen after she already rejected that person.

    She owed Qi Yan so much favor, she hasn''t paid it back once, of course she couldn''t go back on her word, and she would be very busy in the next year, so she didn''t know how long the delay would be, it was totally uncertain. Maybe it was  Qi Yan who took the initiative to talk about this matter to her daughter, reminding her by insinuating, if she evades like this, she will lose face.

    How should she go about this? She can''t lie in front of her daughter either.

    "And I promised Teacher Qi that you will agree to take her there..." Lu Wei saw that her mother''s expression was uncertain, and immediately realized that she had caused trouble, so she had to explain everything.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, and frowned: "You¡ª"

    The little girl was so frightened that she pulled the quilt over her head.

    ¡­.

    On Monday, the Junior High School will start the final exam, and the Chinese will be tested in the morning.

    The seats in the examination room of each grade are all shuffled, and the order is arranged according to the results of the last monthly examination. Thirty people are in one examination room, and the top 30 in the grade are in the first examination room, and so on. Lu Wei did poorly in the math test last time, and ranked relatively low. She was assigned to the ninth test room, barely in the middle.

    When Lu Wei came to school in the morning, she felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach. It was neither a stomachache from eating, nor a feeling of diarrhea, but the position under the navel, like a stone, a little sore and swollen, and there was a slight discomfort when walking. Like something is falling.

    She brushed it off, and thought it would be fine in a while.

    Chinese is a subject that Lu Wei is good at. She walked into the examination room leisurely without panic, but her mind was full of mathematics in the afternoon¡ªWang Zheyi said that she would send her answers to multiple-choice questions and fill-in-the-blank questions.

    Copy a little secretly, the goal is to pass the exam, that''s fine.

    She felt more at ease.

    After getting the Chinese test paper, Lu Wei turned over and glanced at the composition topic, and couldn''t help curling the corners of her mouth: Oh, it''s simple, full marks are booked.

    There was silence in the examination room, only the rustling sound of the pen tip scratching the paper. The proctor stood on the podium with his hands behind his back, scanned around, and then walked down at a leisurely pace, wandering back and forth.

    From time to time, the figure of the patrol teacher passed by in the corridor.

    The end of the semester is very important, students need to do well in the exam and go home happily for the New Year. If they don''t, they get nagged by aunts and uncles at the New Year''s Eve dinner table, and there will even be rumors that "the kid from xx family" made trouble, so the whole campus is in chaos. Full of a serious and tense atmosphere.

    Lu Wei answered the questions quickly and wrote neatly and beautifully. She finished reading comprehension in less than an hour. She put down the pen, stretched her waist, and moved her hands on the sides of the chair to prepare for writing.

    Suddenly, she froze.

    There was a warm liquid dripping out slowly, it was damp, and when she moved, it dripped again, like peeing in her pants...

    Lu Wei didn''t dare to move anymore, and stared at the test paper with her eyes wide open, feeling a little scared in her heart , but as if she could sense what it was, she hurriedly looked up at the podium: "Teacher¡ª¡ª"

    The voice was very soft, but it broke the silence of the examination room, and several students looked over at the same time.

    "Huh?" The proctor raised his eyebrows.

    "I want to go to the toilet..."

    "Go."

    Lu Wei stood up cautiously, feeling that the hot liquid dripped out again, feeling anxious and embarrassed, she glanced at the chair quietly, and took small steps, quickly walked out of the classroom.

    There was no one in the toilet, so she hid in the last one.

    Sure enough.

    There were big red blood stains on her panties.

    Lu Wei was dumbfounded.

    Girls who have a good relationship with each other in the class usually talk about more sexual topics in private, such as the menstrual period, which girls call "period" or "big aunt". Many girls have it in the fifth and sixth grades of elementary school. Sometimes when they go to the bathroom together during class, she will see them carrying sanitary napkins in their pockets, and there are all kinds of blood in the toilet trash basket¡­

    She knows it all.

    Although she knew that she would have it sooner or later, when it came to such a day, she was a little at a loss.

    She didn''t have a sanitary napkin, and everyone was taking the exam, and the female students she knew were scattered in different exam rooms, so it was impossible to find them.

    What to do?

    The essay hadn''t been written yet, so there was no time to waste. Lu Wei was about to cry, and in a hurry, she thought of Qi Yan...

    Every teacher has a proctoring task, and she didn''t know which exam room Qi Yan was in. So she had to start from the first exam room. She started looking for the classroom one by one. Fortunately, Qi Yan was in the third examination room and saw her when she walked past two classrooms.

    "Teacher Qi..."

    At that time, Qi Yan had just turned around from the bottom and returned to the podium. She was about to pick up the test paper and continue to read the questions. When she heard the sound, she turned her head and saw Lu Wei standing at the door, her face wrinkled into a ball, calling her eagerly.

    Startled, she went out quickly: "What''s the matter?"

    "I..." The little girl frowned, her face flushed red, she looked shy and embarrassed, and cautiously approached her ear, muttering a few words.

    Qi Yan suddenly smiled and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    She thought it was something else.

    "Wait for me." She patted the girl on the shoulder lightly, walked to the second examination room next door, asked her colleagues to watch for a while, and then came out and took the girl''s hand and said, "Follow me."

    Qi Yan took a piece of sanitary napkin, and generously led Lu Wei into the women''s toilet. There was still no one inside, so she let Lu Wei enter the first room, the little girl shook her head again and again, and ran to the last room.

    Look at the child''s reaction, it''s probably the first time.

    What a memorable day.

    Qi Yan patted her head and comforted her softly: "It''s okay, it''s normal, every girl will have it." After finishing speaking, she handed her the sanitary napkin, and asked with concern, "Do you know how to wear it? Do you want me to teach you?"

    The little girl blushed and remained silent.

    "Tear off the package, tear off the paper on the back, and stick it on..." Qi Yan understood, and gave a rough demonstration without tearing off all the wrapping paper. "Get it?"

    Lu Wei nodded, not daring to lift her eyes, and closed the door behind her.

    There was a rustle.

    After a while, the girl came out. Qi Yan led her to wash her hands, took out a tissue to wipe her hands, and carefully told her: "Remember to go back and tell mom that there are some things you need to pay attention to, and she will teach you."

    "...Well, thank you, Teacher Qi."

    "Let''s go to the exam and write the composition well."

    Qi Yan squinted her eyes and smiled, her eyes shining brightly, as if she was looking at her own daughter.

    ....

    In the evening, when Lu Zhiqiao came home after work, she saw her daughter washing things on the balcony.

    Lu Wei stood in front of the sink with her sleeves rolled up, soap in one hand, and soaked panties in the other, frowning: "I''ve washed it many times, but there are still marks, what should I do if I can''t wash it off, mom will..."

    There were faint brown stains on the soaked pink cloth, like dried blood.

    Lu Zhiqiao immediately reacted and just wanted to speak, but the doorbell rang, she turned and hurried to the living room, looked at the cat''s eye and opened the door.

    "Qi¡ª¡ª"

    Qi Yan stood outside, her face was bright and clean under the shadow of the lamp, her black and soft long hair hung straight in front of her, light and elegant, she handed the things in her hand: "Take this."

    A Thin Sex Education Handbook.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "?"

    "If you are too embarrassed to teach yourself..." Qi Yan bent her lips and leaned closer, "I can do it for you.".

    Author''s Note:

    Niuniu: I have been bought by Teacher Qi, mom you are about to surrender! [Funny]

 CH 29

    Qi Yan didn''t know that Lu Wei was in the balcony, but she didn''t dare to get too close. She took a step forward, her soft black hair swaying gently, and the ends drew an arc in the air, and suddenly a familiar wave rushed towards her. The fragrance is like icy citrus, and heavy sandalwood, so cold and breezy.

    It is the scent of "Goddess of the Hunt".

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t wear the perfume today, and she was taken aback when she smelled her own scent. She sniffed her nose lightly, staring at Qi Yan silently, the faint fragrance flowed from her nose into her lungs, enveloping her layer upon layer.

    She has never felt that the fragrance is so seductive.

    "Huh?" Qi Yan unconsciously leaned forward, raised her eyebrows with deep eyes full of passion.

    Lu Zhiqiao blushed inexplicably, and hurriedly avoided her eyes, looked down at the booklet, and reached out to take it: "What does this mean...?"

    Seeing her like this, Qi Yan knew that enough was enough, took half a step back, and stopped joking. With a straight look, she said: "Niu Niu has grown up, it''s time to teach her some things."

    This person was thin-skinned, not sure whether she could accept a straightforward statement, so she kept it more subtle. Qi Yan herself doesn''t care, she never thinks that menstruation is something to be ashamed of, let alone sex education is a scourge. In the past three years, she has seen many children suppressing shame and wanting to explore at school. She always felt sad and helpless.

    Lu Zhiqiao immediately understood what she meant, and asked doubtfully, "How do you know? I also just got off work and saw Niuniu washing her underwear..." She paused in the middle of the sentence, and understood without explaining.

    Today, her daughter had an exam at school, and she can guess that it was an emergency. She suddenly felt fortunate that Qi Yan was there in a place that she, as a mother, couldn''t, and her heart was instantly warm and full of flavors.

    "Thanks¡­¡­"

    "Hush." ??Qi Yan raised her index finger and smiled softly, "Do you need me to do it for you?"

    Lu Zhiqiao said awkwardly, "No need."

    With the expected answer, Qi Yan was sensible and didn''t force herself and nodded: "Okay, then I''m going back." After finishing speaking, she walked out and closed the door voluntarily, both polite and measured.

    Feeling empty, Lu Zhiqiao stared at the door of her house for a while, then looked down at the manual, it was very thin, only about twenty pages, but the relevant knowledge was very comprehensive, and the second page was a diagram of the differences between male and female reproductive systems, although it was a cartoon, the form is also painted in a decent and realistic way.

    She couldn''t care less about the man''s picture, but the woman''s picture made her feel a little shy.

    This day will come sooner or later, and since she is a mother, she cannot avoid it. She has the obligation and responsibility to teach her daughter, to talk about the serious topic openly. There''s nothing to be embarrassed about, instead of hiding it and having misconceptions about it.

    After making up her mind, Lu Zhiqiao put the booklet aside, looked up and saw her daughter was still struggling with the unclean panties, and walked over with amused but helpless tone: "Baby, don''t wash it, put it here and wait for mom to wash it later."

    "No, I''ll wash it myself..." The little girl''s face was red, her mouth was so pouted that it could hang on an oil bottle.

    In the past two years, her daughter has become more and more shy. She avoids her when she changes clothes, and doesn¡¯t let her wash her panties. At first, she didn¡¯t pay attention, thinking that her neglect to accompany her, caused a psychological gap between her and the child. But today she realized that her daughter is about to enter the most important stage in her life, which was normal.

    Lu Zhiqiao was quite emotional, her eyes melted with tenderness, she gently embraced her daughter''s shoulders, and said, "If you can''t wash it clean, throw it away, and mom will buy you a new one.

    "Um, okay."

    If the old one doesn''t go, the new one won''t come.

    ¡­.

    There is still an English test tomorrow, Lu Zhiqiao asked her daughter to recite vocabulary to review, cleaned up the balcony, took the booklet into the kitchen, and read it while cooking.

    After dinner, the mother and daughter sat on the sofa. Lu Zhiqiao was thinking about how to speak, but unexpectedly, her daughter told her first, fumbling and shy, her head almost buried in the crack of the sofa. She only had a few popular science words, and her daughter whispered: "Mom, I know everything. They have them every month. Girls in our class have them too, which means that they can have babies."

    "..."

    "It''s so troublesome to be a girl, the pad thing is uncomfortable too, ugh."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her daughter dumbfounded, thinking that these things spread among classmates, and it is extremely easy to be misinformed. She was terrified, so she straightened her expression and patiently told her about the relationship between men and women. Different physiological structures, principles of menstruation, precautions, etc.

    Her mouth was dry and finally drank some water to catch her breath and continued talking.

    "Girl, mom can''t be by your side anytime, anywhere, so you must learn to protect yourself. You can play with boys at school, but you can''t have physical contact. If a boy touches you with his hand or any body part forcibly, You just kick him in this position, understand?"

    She gestured at the crotch.

    Not only did she mention how to treat the opposite sex, but also the same sex. She has taught her daughter since she was a child that if she is bullied at school, she should fight back, and if she hurts or injures someone, mom will compensate, but she must not become a punching bag.

    The little girl nodded with a serious expression.

    In fact, she knows a little bit about these things. The female students in the class know more than she does. Going to junior high school is like opening the door to a new world. Although she is curious, she still listens to her mother.

    When she was very young, she knew that her mother was the most important person in the world and her only family.

    "Mom..." Lu Wei suddenly rushed over to hug her, "I will be obedient."

    Don''t dislike me.

    She didn''t say the second half of the sentence, but expressed it with actions, two thin arms tightly wrapped around her neck coquettishly refusing to let go.

    After resting for a while, Lu Zhiqiao decided to go out and buy sanitary products for her daughter. Before that, she brought the thin booklet and knocked on the door of 902. This time it was very slow. She knocked several times, thinking that there was no one in the room, and was about to turn around when the door opened slowly.

    The room was very dark, and only a warm yellow wall lamp was turned on. Qi Yan''s hair was loose, half of her face was hidden in the shadows, and her expression was a little sullen. When she saw her standing outside, her lashes fluttered and eyes bloomed with restrained joy.

    Until her eyes landed on Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, her face dimmed suddenly, and the corners of her mouth slightly raised: "Teaching is over?"

    The fragrance was stronger than before, and the more she smelled it, the colder she felt, extremely cold to the bone. Artemis has always been like this, no matter how much you spray, no matter how strong the fragrance is, it will not choke your nose and make people lose their sense of smell, but will gradually submerge people, refreshing your heart and spleen unconsciously.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her quietly, paused when handing the book, retracted her hand, hummed softly, swallowed the last sentence "I''ll return the book", pondered for a moment and said: "I have something to tell you."

    Those eyes that were as bright as amber wine lit up again.

    She took the initiative to enter the house, changed her shoes on her own, and sat on the sofa, as if she was at her own home. Qi Yan froze at the door for a while, closed the door, and sat down next to her: "What''s the matter?"

    "I promised you to be your model last time, and I will go to shoot a film during the Chinese New Year..." In the dim light, Lu Zhiqiao''s plain face was blurred, and even her voice was blurred and chaotic.

    "Can you change the time?"

    "Yes." Qi Yan''s face froze slightly, smiled, "You are usually so busy, so you can spend more time with your daughter during the holidays. The photoshoot can be shot at any time."

    Originally, she was ready for Qi Yan not to give up an inch, thinking that it would take a lot of talking-to, but the other party agreed so readily, Lu Zhiqiao felt guilty for a moment, and opened her mouth: "Qi Yan¡ª¡ª"

    "Huh?"

    "I''m sorry."

    Qi Yan knew that the vacation together was a lost cause. Although she didn''t have much hope, she was still a little disappointed. Hearing what Lu Zhiqiao said, she joked, "Then how do you plan to compensate me?"

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao was thinking wrongly.

    Compensate?

    She always thought of that night, even though it has been a long time, she still remembers every detail clearly. Heat welled up on her cheeks. She lowered her gaze on the slippers, and remained silent.

    The lights are dim, and the hazy shadows evoke reverie.

    Qi Yan couldn''t bear to embarrass her, so she smiled and changed the subject: "Have you bought sanitary napkins for Niu Niu? I brought a few for her in an emergency today. At first, girls may not be used to them, I don''t often use them myself. I use tampons more..."

    "I''m about to go." Lu Zhiqiao walked down the steps and put the booklet in her hand on the coffee table, "This is very useful, did you buy it?

    "The school sent it out last term, Niu Niu should receive it next semester."

    "Have you taught students for a term already?"

    Qi Yan nodded and smiled, "It seems that I don''t look my age."

    Lu Zhiqiao also laughed, the mole at the corner of her eye was on under the dim light and shadow, it became more and more touching and pitiful.

    "Let''s go, let''s go to the mall together."

    "?"

    Qi Yan stood up, stretched her waist, her long black hair was scattered on her waist, she raised her hand to stroke it, picked up her bag and went to the door to put on her shoes, then turned her head and smiled: "I just want to stock up on some daily necessities, You don''t mind me squeezing into your car, do you?"

    Of course she doesn''t mind.

    It was the first time for Qi Yan to ride in Lu Zhiqiao''s car, and the moment she got in, she took a good look at it. It was very clean and neat, with a light fragrance of grass and trees. There was a string of safety symbols hanging on the central rearview mirror, and a mini photo frame was placed in front of the windshield. It is a photo of the mother and daughter. Apart from that, there are no decorations.

    In comparison, Qi Yan''s own car is simply gaudy.

    It is said that the car follows the owner.

    "Has anyone ever sat in your passenger''s seat?" Qi Yan asked casually while waiting for the red light.

    "Niu Niu."

    "Who else?"

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, then turned to look at her: "You."

    "Oh."

    "What''s wrong?"

    "Nothing." Qi Yan raised her chin, "The light is green."

    " ..."

    As the Chinese New Year Festival approaches, large shopping malls are decorated with festive decorations, and all kinds of New Year¡¯s goods are dazzling. Andy Lau¡¯s "Gong Xi Fa Cai" was also played on the radio. At this time, there is such a hint of warmth in the busy and fast-paced big cities.

    Perhaps, because it was Monday, there were not many people in the mall, Qi Yan pushed the shopping cart and walked side by side with Lu Zhiqiao, at a leisurely pace. She doesn''t usually like to go shopping in this kind of department store, and the things on the shelves don''t attract her much. She buys all the daily necessities at home, online, and flies abroad two or three times a year to buy the others, which is completely enough.

    She just needed an excuse.

    Lu Zhiqiao also seemed to be uninterested, so she only took a few snacks that her daughter liked, and then went straight to the women supplies section.

    There are so many brands and types, she was confused for a while and didn''t know how to choose. She is used to a certain brand, but she is not sure about her daughter.

    "In winter, you can use pure cotton, which is more comfortable and not stuffy. The surface of the net is suitable for people, and some people with sensitive skin will feel sticky..." Qi Yan muttered softly, and reached out to take a few packs for Lu Zhiqiao, and compared them carefully. After a while, they summed up the best option.

    "Let the child get used to it the first few times. Don''t buy too thick ones. You can buy more ultra-thin ones. Just change them frequently. When she gets older, she can try tampons."

    "There are also for nighttime uses. Niu Niu sleeps quite well, but it''s hard not to turn over all the time. Why don''t you just buy her these sanitary panties so she can turn around casually?"

    She has a familiar expression, focused, careful, and thoughtful. One by one, she speaks logically, as if she is choosing for her daughter, as if she is a mother, while the real mother, Lu Zhiqiao is watching in a daze, unable to intervene at all.

    After buying sanitary napkins, the two went to look for brassiers.

    "Have you measured Niu Niu''s girth?" Qi Yan asked, then changed her mind and said, "It''s useless to measure, it''s all right when you''re just growing up, just look at the fabric, it needs to be pure cotton."

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced in front of her, then looked down at herself, her face became hot, her heart beat a little faster, and she couldn''t help but secretly takes a deep breath.

    "You can''t buy straps that wrap around the neck. Some little boys are wicked, during summer, they always do pranks and pull girls'' straps. We have to avoid this kind of situation with Niu Niu." Qi Yan said to herself, holding two or three hangers in her hand, showing them to Lu Zhiqiao.

    "Which one would Niu Niu prefer?"

    Lu Zhiqiao came back to her senses, raised her hand unconsciously to stroke her broken hair, pointed to the pink one on the right, and said, "Buy the a75."

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan looked at it a few times again, and curled her mouth: "I think they all look good, ah, let''s buy them all." After speaking, she took seven or eight pieces in one breath and put them in the shopping cart, "I''m giving them to Niu Niu. It''s a gift."

    They are like an old couple who have been married for many years, picking out clothes for their daughter together.

    "No¡ª"

    Lu Zhiqiao was about to refuse, but Qi Yan already pushed the shopping cart away.

    "..."

    In the end, Qi Yan settled the bill, and she forced the card into the cashier''s hand without giving Lu Zhiqiao the slightest chance. After paying the bill, she carried two bags and walked ahead, her pace was quick, all the way to the parking lot first, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t catch up behind, so she had to swallow the words that came to her mouth.

    The night was dark and silent, and there was a full moon hanging in the dark sky, and the silver brilliance was bright and dazzling.

    No one spoke on the road, Qi Yan was looking at her mobile phone, Lu Zhiqiao turned to look at her several times, wanted to speak, but felt that it was useless. She felt mixed emotions in her heart, besides feeling sorry, the scene where Qi Yan analysed the products repeatedly in her mind, a little sour and warm.

    Back in the complex, the two took the elevator upstairs.

    The small and closed space was filled with the familiar cold fragrance. Only then did Lu Zhiqiao realize that the perfume she used exuded a different scent from Qi Yan. It was a scent unique to the woman and could not be copied.

    On the ninth floor, Qi Yan went out first.

    "Rest early, good night." She smiled and handed over the bag in her hand, then turned and walked to 902.

    "Qi Yan¡ª"

    Lu Zhiqiao called her softly.

    The woman paused, her back froze for a moment, but she didn''t look back.

    "Do you like Artemis too?"

    "Hmm."

    "Why?"

    The answer may be because it smells good, or may be because she took a sudden liking to it, or may even be because she was unconsciously influenced by her, and followed the trend. Lu Zhiqiao guessed like this, knowing that the question was meaningless, and she didn''t know what she was prying.

    "Because..."

    Qi Yan tilted her head, her black and soft long hair flicked slightly, revealing half of her face, her voice was low and deep: "I want to keep your scent."

 CH 30

    Chapter 30: Heartbroken

    TW: violence (verbal and physical) ahead

    The surroundings were quiet, the deep and soft voice charms people''s hearts. Qi Yan''s mouth was slightly curved on one side of her face, the ends of her eyes were slightly raised, and her smile was seductive.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a breath, and tightened her fingers holding the bag. A strange feeling came out from the bottom of her heart. It was hazy and passed by in a flash. She wanted to grab it but couldn''t. Then her steady heartbeat gradually accelerated. A dense tingle spreads from her lips to her chest.

    In the summer when she was a teenager, she met the girl she liked on the playground, and there seemed to be an energy in her body that was eager to break through the shackles, wanting to scream and run. But in the end she didn''t do anything, the crazy joy was suppressed in her heart, she passed the other party expressionlessly, and she didn''t even dare to look back.

    It''s been many years, even though she doesn''t like her now, the feeling is still vivid to her. Whenever she is tortured by the burden of life to the point of depression and despair, she will look back and think that she was not born numb.

    She''s just locked herself in for too long.

    Regardless, if she knows, as long as her daughter is not an adult and independent, she will not let herself go.

    The fragrance rushed from all directions, tightly enveloping her, it was no longer breezy and cold, but mixed with the coquettishness that belonged to that person, full of repressed enthusiasm. One fragrance, thousands of scents, Qi Yan''s scenery is unique.

    Feeling more and more flustered, Lu Zhiqiao''s throat moved, she lowered her eyes to look at the bright tiled floor, said good night in a low voice, and walked towards 901 without looking back.

    She pulled the key too hastily, her hand was shaking a little. It didn''t go into the keyhole a few times, but she heard the sound of unlocking and closing the door from behind. The cold fragrance drifted away, and the corridor became completely quiet.  She closed her eyes, raised her head and exhaled, and the key finally went in.

    ...

    There were only six subjects in the final exam of the first grade of junior high school, and the exam was completed in three days. Waiting for the parents'' meeting in the past few days, the mother and daughter made a detailed travel plan.

    The destination is the Roland Islands near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. It belongs to country K and has a visa on arrival. There are tropical forests, countless small islands, blue sea, blue sky and shadows of coconut trees. It is very suitable for winter vacation.  Lu Zhiqiao booked air tickets and hotels, prepared all kinds of documents, and took her daughter to buy some new clothes.

    "Mom, are you really not going to take Teacher Qi?"

    "No."

    The little girl tried to persuade her mother for the nth time, but it was ineffective, she didn''t dare to play tricks, so she could only pout her mouth in a sullen mood.

    At first, Lu Zhiqiao wondered why her daughter had changed so quickly, but after carefully recalling and sorting out the big and small things that happened in the past two months, she seemed to understand a little bit. Children are kind and simple, whoever treats them well will treat others well, not to mention that Qi Yan is a teacher, beautiful and gentle, naturally attracting students to like her, no one can resist.

    Thinking of this, she felt more and more frustrated, inexplicably jealous of Qi Yan, but also had to admire Qi Yan''s charisma.

    "Why do you want Teacher Qi to go?"

    "Because¡ª" Lu Wei hesitated for a while, "Ms. Qi said that she can take many beautiful photos for me and make a big photo album."

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly thought of the picture of the nude woman, and her face froze: "Mom can help you take pictures too."

    "No, you don''t take good pictures."

    "..."

    On the morning of the parents-teacher meeting, all the final test papers were corrected, and the teachers of each subject sorted out the disrupted test papers by class and handed them over to the class teacher for grading.

    Qi Yan was very busy that morning, her desk was full of test papers and evaluation reports, she was making forms in front of the computer, and the other five subjects were all registered, except for the math test papers that had been missing for a long time, and the students'' math scores were all blank..

    Just as she was going the next door, the door to the office was pushed open vigorously.

    "Qi Yan!"

    A gust of cold wind blew through the hall, and Xu Shoukui''s tall and burly figure appeared at the door. He raised his chin, glanced around with his eyes like the bottom of a thick wine bottle, walked slowly to Qi Yan, and slapped the test paper in his hand on her desk:  "Look at this Lu Wei in your class! Her grades are a mess! Now she even learned how to cheat! She scored 102!"

    He was tall and big, with a rough voice, standing there like a wall, Qi Yan was startled by his roar, and other class teachers also looked over.

    On the table was Lu Wei''s math test paper. The bright red score of 102 was extremely dazzling. Qi Yan picked it up and looked at it carefully, and said with an embarrassed smile: "Sir, looking at the score doesn''t mean anything."

    "Hehe, I knew you would speak for your students." Xu Shoukui sneered arrogantly, threw a stack of test papers on the table in his other hand, picked up the top one, turned it over, and came to Qi Yan.

    "Look! This is Wang Zheyi''s paper, and the next second question made a wrong step, and Lu Wei made exactly the same mistake as him!"

    "There is also the second question of filling in the blanks. Wang Zheyi didn''t write it, and Lu Wei didn''t write it either. Then look at the other big questions that are right. The steps are the same! she even copied an extra point!"

    I''ve never seen such a stupid student! Poor grades and cheating! If you want to copy, do it smartly! Copying all the wrong ones, afraid that people won''t see that you copied them?"

    The more Xu Shoukui talked, the more excited he became, saliva flew all over the place, and the veins on his forehead popped up. The other teachers who were watching were stunned, and no one spoke for a long time.

    The test papers were assigned to the teachers of each subject in the order they were received in the examination room, and the names and classes were covered. When the teachers corrected the papers, they did not know who was who. After reading it again, first pay attention to the top students with good grades, and then look at the idiots at the bottom.

    Wang Zheyi is the top student in the class, with good grades in all subjects, especially mathematics, while Lu Wei is the "idiot" in Xu Shoukui''s eyes.

    Unfortunately, the test papers of the two were largely similar.

    Maybe being stupid is not the original sin, but being stupid with evil intentions and cheating is hopeless and despised.  The more Xu Shoukui thought about it, the more angry he became. Students who cheated according to the rules were given 0 points, and his proud academic master was implicated by an idiot.

    The air was suddenly quiet.

    Qi Yan looked down at the two test papers and compared them carefully. Indeed, as Xu Shoukui said, the traces of copying were very obvious. Not to mention him with decades of teaching experience, even the trainee teacher could see it.

    "It happens to be the parents-teachers meeting in the afternoon, and I will report this to the parents." She said in a deep voice.

    Disappointed, she felt distressed. She knew that Niu Niu might cheat because she was afraid of failing the math test, but what was the point of copying such a high score?

    Such a well-behaved and sensible child would do such a thing.

    Xu Shoukui said relentlessly: "Let her parents come to the office! I want to see what kind of parents can raise such a child!"

    Qi Yan: "..."

    Just after noon, thick and heavy clouds blocked the sun, and the sky was gray, as if it was about to rain.

    The students on duty cleaned up the classroom, and Qi Yan came to decorate the room early, just like the midterm exam, but the mood was completely different. At that time, she was the homeroom teacher and teacher Qi, who was relatively fair. But now, she is Qi Yan, who seems to have been stripped of her teacher''s identity, and her mind is full of the mother and daughter.

    Knowing that she shouldn''t favor the students, she couldn''t help making excuses for Niu Niu, and she didn''t even want Lu Zhiqiao to know about it.

    At the last parent meeting, Niu Niu saw her mother''s eyes when she appeared in the classroom, she was half happy and half scared. At that time, Qi Yan was sure that Lu Zhiqiao was usually very strict with her children''s grades, maybe it was invisible, and she didn''t show it in her daily life.

    That is a woman who is strong in her bones, high-spirited and self-reliant. It is hard to imagine how she will react when she hears the news.

    Amid anxiety, the parents came one after another.

    The smell of Artemis is extremely unique, before the person arrives, the fragrance comes first, and the cold citrus and the thick sandalwood are intertwined.  Qi Yan didn''t wear perfume today, so she naturally knew who it was. Standing on the podium, she couldn''t help sniffing lightly, then turned her head to look, and the figure of that person appeared in her sight.

    Lu Zhiqiao was wearing a short apricot-colored lamb''s wool jacket with a high-quality texture and looked warm and cozy. She wore light makeup, her face was beautiful and gentle, and there was a polite smile on the corner of her lips: "Teacher Qi."

    "Come in." Qi Yan nodded with a faint smile, her expression controlled and polite, she raised her hand and gave the report card.

    There was no need to sign in this time. She came earlier, and there were only seven or eight parents sitting sporadically in the classroom. They were either playing with their mobile phones or looking at their report cards. No one paid attention to the situation on the podium.

    Lu Zhiqiao took the report card, glanced roughly, and kept looking down, only to see her daughter''s name in the last row, and was stunned.

    "0 points in math?"

    Her brows furrowed instantly, and she raised her eyes to look at Qi Yan: "What''s going on?"

    Qi Yan showed a serious look, turned her head and glanced at the parents who were doing various things under her eyes, and lowered her voice: "Let''s talk outside." After speaking, she let the class monitor take her place and walk in front.

    Lu Zhiqiao followed with a blank face.

    As soon as she left the classroom, Qi Yan saw Lu Wei standing in the corridor talking to her classmates, and her heart arose immediately. She didn''t expect that the child would follow her mother in the parent-teacher meeting. Wouldn''t this be a shot in the arm?

    "Teacher Qi~" the two children shouted when they saw her.

    Qi Yan nodded, quickly gave Lu Wei a sympathetic look, and hurried to the stairwell. The little girl behind her watched her mother leave with the teacher. She was confused, but she didn''t care, she turned her head and continued chatting with her classmates.

    Half of the stairwell leads to the rooftop. Usually no one comes there, and there is no surveillance system installed, so it is very hidden and convenient for private conversations.

    "What''s the matter?"

    When there was no one there, Lu Zhiqiao also let go of the burden of identity, and talked to Qi Yan in a normal tone that she was gradually getting used to.

    Qi Yan frowned, took a deep breath, suddenly grabbed her hand, and said in a deep voice, "Niu Niu cheated in this final math exam. According to the usual practice, she will be given 0 points and ranked last."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face immediately sank.

    "Cheated?"

    "Well, she copied her classmate''s, and she copied exactly the same mistakes. The math teacher found out. The test paper is with the math teacher, and he asked you to go to his office after the meeting is over." Qi Yan finished speaking vigorously, holding her hand tightly. After shaking her hand, she couldn''t restrain her selfishness after talking about the official business, and couldn''t help reminding her.

    "The math teacher''s surname is Xu, and he has a bad temper. This incident made him very angry. I''m afraid he will say something nasty to you. After a while, let it go to your left ear and come out to your right."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her thin lips tightly, her face became more and more sour, and the hand held by her trembled a little.

    Seeing this, Qi Yan secretly thought it was bad, afraid that she would do something irrational, so she quickly comforted her softly: "Cheating is wrong, if there is anything that''s needed to be said, we can talk about that at home, not in school where there are a lot of people, save some face for the child. She must''ve been too afraid of failing the exam..."

    "Qi Yan."

    She interrupted in a low voice.

    "?"

    "You are a teacher, how can you defend her?" Her expression were complex; sullen, sad, and disappointed.

    Qi Yan''s body froze, her throat gulped unconsciously, her eyes were filled with bitterness. She blinked lightly, and then hugged her: "You called my name, I''m not Teacher Qi, just like what you said just now. Right now, I am not Teacher Qi."

    "Others can hold me accountable as a teacher, but Lu Zhiqiao, you can''t."

    Her voice was choked with uncontrollable sobs.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart tightened, and she suddenly panicked. She subconsciously hugged Qi Yan in response, not knowing what to say, and said at a loss: "That''s not what I meant...let''s start the meeting, let''s go down."

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan immediately let go of her, turned around and went downstairs without even looking at her.

    ....

    The parent-teacher meeting ended soon, and Lu Zhiqiao was led by Qi Yan to the teacher''s office. Unfortunately, almost all the teachers were there, which meant that the "communication" process between Xu Shoukui and her would be watched by crowds.

    The parents of each class went back one after another, and the campus gradually became empty and quiet. Qi Yan closed the office door and saw Lu Wei standing in the corridor looking around, looking restless, sighed helplessly, and stepped forward.

    "Teacher. Qi, why did Teacher Xu want to find my mother?" The little girl pinched her fingers with both hands, and kept looking at the office door, feeling extremely guilty.

    Qi Yan frowned slightly, and her face was a little cold, but her voice was soft: "Niu Niu, cheating is not the solution to the problem."

    Just one sentence, everything is clear.

    Lu Wei became frightened, her small face wrinkled into a ball, she looked at the office door, then at Qi Yan, her mouth opened and closed, unable to speak, her dark pupils showed a trace of fear, then she lowered her head.

    Since moving to 902, Qi Yan can no longer show the dignity of a teacher when facing this child. She always feels like this little girl is her own daughter.

    What she can control is not to hug her and comfort her at this moment.

    The teacher and the student waited anxiously in the corridor. Not long after, Lu Zhiqiao came out, with a slight smile on her lips when she closed the door, and turned around, her face darkened a few degrees. Seeing her daughter standing there with her head bowed, she felt angry, but she didn''t attack. She quickly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards the stairs.

    "Lu--"

    Qi Yan knew it was over, the child would definitely be beaten, she was just about to call her but the office door opened again; Xu Shoukui walked to the trash can with a relaxed expression, and emptied the tea in the thermos.

    She swallowed back the words behind her.

    ....

    The car was speeding all the way, Lu Zhiqiao''s face was as cold as iron, and she never spoke. Lu Wei, who was sitting in the passenger''s, shrank her head and bit her mouth tightly, not daring to breathe.

    Instead of going back to the company to continue working, she returned directly to the complex.

    After entering the house, Lu Zhiqiao threw the bag on the sofa, dragged her daughter''s arm to stand by the wall, and said sharply, "Why did you cheat?!"

    The little girl immediately burst into tears.

    "Tell me!"

    "Woooo..."

    The more her daughter cried, the more Lu Zhiqiao''s anger was aroused. Since she was a child, she lost her temper a handful of times, and she would only speak harshly when she encountered a problem of principle.  Bad grades are temporary and can be improved slowly, but cheating is a matter of principle. If you let it go when kids are young, it will definitely lead to disaster when they grow up.

    Her daughter, who has always been well-behaved and obedient, did this kind of thing, which was as bad as stealing and robbery. She was caught off guard, and all her beliefs and self-esteem collapsed.

    It was her failure in educating the child.

    "Don''t cry!" Lu Zhiqiao shouted.

    The more fierce she became, the more frightened Lu Wei became, the more unable to hold back her tears, her body twitched, but she cried even harder.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, anger rushed into her heart. Trembling with anger, she turned her head to get a hanger from the balcony, raised her hand and slapped her hard.

    The hard plastic core was smacked like a whip, and it hurt so badly. The little girl hugged her head and huddled up, crying and shouting, her face flushed red, and she lost the strength to struggle after a while, and lay on the ground crying loudly.

    Also at this time, the doorbell rang

    Author''s Note:

    Don''t be afraid, girl, Teacher Qi is here to save you!  (funny

    I would like to apologize to all the cuties. During this period of time, the pressure has been very high, the state is not good, and the update time is always erratic. I am sorry tut. If there is no update at 11 o''clock in the evening, everyone should not stay up late and wait.  It¡¯s the same when you wake up the next day and read it, woo woo woo, I love you =3=

 CH 31

    The sound of crying drowned out the doorbell, Lu Wei lays on the floor holding her head and wept convulsively. Only when the doorbell rang in between gasping and coughing did they hear them. Lu Zhiqiao''s hand stalled with her chest heaving violently. She threw her daughter''s arm loose, with her hair falling in a mess and turned to open the door.

    Qi Yan stood outside anxiously, rushed in as soon as the door opened, staggering as she didn''t pay attention to the threshold under her feet. She was caught off guard and hugged Lu Zhiqiao. She didn''t have time to stabilize her figure, when she heard Niu Niu''s heart-piercing cry, and then she saw the little girl curled up on the ground and twitching non-stop, her heart ached.

    "Are you really willing to beat her?" She hugged Lu Zhiqiao''s shoulder and punched it lightly.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body was stiff, like an unconscious wooden man, motionless, Qi Yan didn''t pay attention to her, hurriedly changed her shoes and went in, hugging the little girl: "Niu Niu..."

    "Don''t cry, don''t cry, get up, the ground is cold."

    She coaxed her softly, and the little girl shrank into her arms, her voice hoarse and unable to speak, she just hugged her neck tightly and refused to let go, tears and snot rubbing against her collar.

    Qi Yan felt distressed, and patted her on the back. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Zhiqiao''s cold voice came from behind: "Qi Yan, get out of the way."

    The child in her arms trembled, and her hands hugged her tighter.

    "Since you''ve already hit her, let it go." She persuaded, touching the back of Lu Wei''s head to comfort her.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face turned pale, her eyes were a little red, her lips were trembling, she raised her hand and pointed at Qi Yan with a coat hanger: "Is this how you act as a teacher? You still protect a student when she cheated! How can you be worthy of being a teacher?"

    "How I discipline my daughter has nothing to do with you!"

    Lu Zhiqiao lost her mind with anger. Her daughter cheating on the exam was enough to break her down. Now seeing that same daughter whom she raised painstakingly, takes Qi Yan as a life-line, the taut thread in her heart snapped. Thinking about her daughter''s attitude changing drastically in the past months, all emotions surged up and devoured her; heartache, jealousy and frustration.

    Some words mean nothing when spoken by others, but when they come out of Lu Zhiqiao''s mouth, they are sharper than the tip of a needle, and they stab deeply into Qi Yan''s heart.

    The words fell in an ear-splitting silence.

    Short breathing, suppressed sobbing, all the subtle voices were amplified and slowed down. Qi Yan''s pupils reflected the young mother''s angry face; with crazy and determined eyes. Her heart hurts like being crushed by a heavy hammer, the aftermath spread to her whole body, and the back of the neck couldn''t help shrinking.

    She slowly let go of the little girl''s arms, whom, after losing support, fell to her side. She silently looked at Lu Zhiqiao, her eyes dimmed.

    In the past, her mentor always mentioned to her the words "being a teacher by example". She felt that things on the moral level were too unrealistic, and she didn''t ask for greatness and righteousness, but only kept a bottom line and maintained herself above it. But she is too naive. Birds looking for food in the wild have seen how vast the blue sky is, so how could they be willing to live in a cage?

    She has a heart that would rather wander all over the world and experience the vicissitudes of life than lose her freedom without worrying about food and clothing.

    She was used to being spoiled by her parents since she was a child, and grew up freely. No matter what she did, her own feelings are the priority. She is a bit "deviant" in her bones, and she''s most uncomfortable with people preaching about sacrifice and dedication. But she will not interfere with their business, she will just smile and brush off those who talk to her about it. She has done enough to save face, she will not offend others but will not make friends with them.

    In the past three years, she has been alone, and she only maintains superficial politeness with her colleagues. Fortunately, the interpersonal relationship in school is not so complicated, and teaching well is enough.

    But gradually, the profession has become cold and the podium is now surrounded by thorns, binding her tightly.

    To her, the status of a teacher is no longer what she dreamed of, but instead became a shackle.

    "I''ve never been a good teacher."

    "You misread me."

    Qi Yan said in a low voice, with a careless smile on the corner of her mouth, but her heart ached, "I''m sorry, I was nosy today, but I still hope you calm down, cheating can''t solve the problem, and neither can hitting someone."

    After finishing speaking, she withdrew her gaze, passed Lu Zhiqiao and walked to the door to put on her shoes.

    "Wuuuu... Teacher Qi..." Just as she unlocked the door with her hands, Lu Wei suddenly rushed over to hug her.

    Qi Yan was stunned, and looked up into the little girl''s pleading eyes, her bloody heart softened again, she opened her mouth, and was about to speak when the frozen Lu Zhiqiao suddenly threw away the hanger,  she said coldly, "Let her come to your place for dinner."

    She picked up her bag, turned her head into the bedroom, and closed the door heavily.

    ....

    Pulling the curtains, the bedroom instantly became dark. Lu Zhiqiao put down her bag casually, and lay back on the bed. She stared at the ceiling blankly, her eyelashes trembling, and her vision was a little blurred.

    The damp hot air surged up, making her eyes sore, she blinked a little, and the warm liquid dripped down the corners of her eyes, her dark eyes were full of water, and those intertwined emotions were sucked into the vortex of her heart.

    It''s messed up, her whole body is messed up, she doesn''t know what she is thinking, let alone what she is doing.

    Her daughter is the most important person in her life and her only family. She once vowed to raise her well, make her well-fed, and make her healthy and happy. Therefore, she has been careful and nervous all the time for more than ten years. She was afraid that she failed to teach her well, which caused the child to take a detour. What happened today is not because the child has become bad, but because she is too incompetent.

    For her unintentional mistakes back then, she was apologetic to many people, so she had to spend her whole life paying off her debts. Whatever is wrong with the child is her fault. She deluded herself and vented her vulnerability.

    Looking into her heart and examining it, the cruel and bloody reality hit her like a whip, and she couldn''t avoid it.

    The tears became more and more violent, Lu Zhiqiao smiled with her face up, covered her mouth again with a smile, for fear that the sobs in her throat would overflow, and her black moles at the corner of her eyes were drenched, making her look so pitiful.

    There was a sound of closing the door outside, a very soft sound, and then there was silence.

    The phone in her bag rang.

    Except for her daughter''s number, which has a special ringtone, 90% of the calls from other numbers are likely to be work calls. She sat up quickly, feeling a little dizzy at that moment, her eyes turned black. Her body lost its balance and fell to the side, but fortunately she regained her focus and her hands quickly grabbed the corner of the table for support, until the dizziness gradually disappeared

    "Hello?"

    She answered the phone while wiping her tears, clearing her throat with a light cough twice, regaining a stern expression.

    "Well, the denomination currency does not match the contract."

    "I haven''t received the revision book yet, so don''t send it out for now."

    "I''m outside now, take it to Manager Chi to sign, and we''ll talk about the rest tomorrow."

    After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhiqiao sniffed lightly, her eyelids were half closed, and her dizzy head became much clearer. Originally, she was going to go back to work after the parent-teacher meeting, but she is obviously not in the mood now, so she sat in a daze for a while, then fell back on the bed.

    Qi Yan''s face flashed in her mind...

    The black and soft long hair, cold and deep eyebrows, and warm and bright smile sometimes make her heart beat faster. She can''t figure out what she is to her, but Qi Yan seems to become more and more closely integrated with her life. She doesn''t know how long they can be neighbors, three years?  Five years? Or longer?

    They can''t be neighbors for the rest of their lives, right? She thought.

    Regret suddenly surged in her heart. Her words earlier, she regretted right after they left her mouth, but regret is useless, the words have been said, like a nail driven into the stake, even if it is pulled out, will always leave traces.

    Qi Yan is so understanding, she will forgive her.

    In fact, that person is not as immodest as she appears on the surface. She is gentle and forgiving. A kind of gentleness that is selective, a tenderness based on sufficient strength and confidence. From the night of their first meeting, she was inexplicably attracted to her. At that time, she didn''t understand what it was like, she thought it was just because she had been single for too long, and when she was hungry, she met someone that matches her appetite.

    Now that she thinks about it, why did it have to be her?

    Lu Zhiqiao lay sideways on the bed, the corners of her lips curled up unknowingly. When she realized it, she panicked, raised her hand and patted her face, grabbed the phone and rummaged through it, and drove the shadow of that person out of her mind¡­

    .¡­

    A skit was playing on the TV in the living room. Lu Wei sniffed and sat on the sofa watching, her body twitched, and she was amused after a while. It''s just that she cried too much just now, her eyes were red and swollen, and she seemed to be crying when she laughed.

    Qi Yan picked up the small square towel that she used to wipe Lu Zhiqiao''s face last time, soaked it in hot water, then wring it dry, sat next to the girl, and gently wiped her face: "Niu Niu, is the show good?"

    "Uh-huh."

    "Don''t cry if it is good, just smile."

    The girl grinned and raised a bitter smile. She tried her best to smile, but her eyes were sore and swollen, and she was uncomfortable. She could only try not to disappoint Teacher Qi.

    Qi Yan scratched her nose and boasted, "You''re so pretty when you smile."

    The damp towel wiped gently on her face to rid the sticky tears, her skin felt much refreshed immediately. The little girl was a little shy, puffing up her cheeks in embarrassment.

    "Teacher. Qi..." she said with a nasal voice, "I''m sorry, I cheated."

    "Well, what then?"

    "I promise it won''t happen again."

    Qi Yan pursed her lips and smiled: "It doesn''t matter if you make mistakes, as long as you know your mistakes and you can correct them." As she spoke, she put her other hand around the girl''s shoulders and let her lean on her.

    Lu Wei nodded, and couldn''t help wrapping her arms around her slender waist and back, feeling warm. Thinking of how fierce her mother was just now, she felt a little aggrieved: "Teacher Qi, how did you find out..."

    "Little fool, if you copy all the mistakes made by your classmates, and get a score of 102, of course you will be discovered."

    "Well."

    Lu Wei blushed, and muttered: "I just wanted to copy the multiple choice and fill in the blanks, but the big question is so difficult, I don''t have a clue, so I just¡ª"

    "Niu Niu." Qi Yan interrupted her softly.

    "No matter which question you copy, cheating is wrong. I understand that you are afraid that you will fail the exam and disappoint your mother, but if you tell a lie, you will have to use a thousand lies to cover it up. You cheated once in the exam. You got a high score, but actually you failed. What should you do next time in the exam? Continue to cheat? Cheat again and again to maintain the high score, won''t it be hard?¡±

    "Things that don''t belong to you will never be safe in your own hands."

    "Compared with the high grades obtained by cheating, your mother would rather see you improve little by little, and that would also give you a sense of accomplishment, don''t you think?"

    Lu Wei listened and nodded thoughtfully, her black eyes soaked with tears were bright and clear. She hugged Qi Yan''s waist and rubbed her small face, feeling extremely comfortable, unconsciously feeling sleepy.

    After all, she is just a child, she is not naturally bad, and she is still pliable so it is not a problem if they teach her well.

    Qi Yan believed that she had a good eye for people. Although she hadn''t paid much attention to Lu Wei before meeting Lu Zhiqiao, this child gave her a good first impression. She is cute and quiet, and she is the type of daughter she wants to raise. After a while, she gradually got to know them better, and felt that the mother and daughter have similar temperaments, both reserved and restrained.

    Even occasionally a little cute.

    If only she had a daughter like this.  she thought so.

    "Niu Niu, are you sleepy?"

    "Yes."

    "Then sleep for a while, I''ll cook, and eat here tonight, okay?" Qi Yan asked softly, stroking her hair gently with her palm.

    The little girl''s eyelids were already closed, and she vaguely agreed.

    Qi Yan got up and brought a thick blanket, gently covered her body, and then turned off the TV.

    ....

    After eating dinner and resting for a while, Qi Yan thought that Lu Zhiqiao''s anger should have calmed down, so she wanted to send Lu Wei back. Unexpectedly, the little girl would not budge and would not let go of her.

    "Teacher Qi, can I live with you?" the child asked pitifully.

    "I''ll sleep on the sofa, I won''t make trouble for you."

    Fear was shining in her big dark round eyes, Qi Yan squeezed her face, and sighed helplessly: "You must tell your mother." How could she be willing to let her sleep on the sofa, you little fool.

    "Well, you go and talk."

    "...Okay." She smiled and pinched her nose again, "By the way, I''ll help you get a change of clothes."

    "He he~"

    It was already dark, the street lamps emitted a cold light, the night was thick and silent.

    The lights were off at 901, Lu Zhiqiao was lying on the quilt with her clothes on, staring at the air where she couldn''t see her fingers, and she kept lying in this position for who knows how long. She was a little hungry and thirsty, but she didn''t want to move or get up.

    The doorbell kept ringing, and she thought it was a hallucination, so she didn''t move.

    Then the phone rang.

    Finally, as if waking up after a coma, she moved her fingers slightly, touched the mobile phone with the screen on, and glanced at the incoming call. Her heart was suddenly pinched by an invisible force, and the suffocation was forced into her throat, making it difficult for her to breathe.

    She accepted the call, opened her mouth weakly but did not speak.

    "Are you home? Open the door."

    Qi Yan''s calm voice came from the receiver, without any hint of emotion, but it was more powerful than roaring and snarling.

    "I''m in..." Lu Zhiqiao propped up, feeling dizzy again and almost fell back. She responded while trying to stabilize her balance, got out of bed and pulled her slippers out.

    The moment the light came on, she squinted her eyes, feeling unwell, and then opened the door.

    A pair of slender and straight legs appeared in sight, slowly moving upwards, and the hair hanging down the waist was fluttering lightly. Qi Yan stood outside, with a faint smile on her lips, and took a step forward without waiting for her permission. Then she stepped into the house, and the two of them were very close to each other for a moment.

    Usually, Lu Zhiqiao will step back to create a distance, but now she didn''t move. She stared blankly at the person in front of her, her lips twitched, and hesitated to speak.

    She just said such hurtful things, will Qi Yan really forgive her?

    She''s suddenly not so sure.

    "Are you angry?" Qi Yan raised her eyebrows and chuckled lightly, her voice was unprecedentedly gentle.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her quietly, her heart seemed to be melting bit by bit, a trace of sadness flashed across her warm eyes, her expression was with little resentment and full of forbearance.

    Qi Yan suddenly grabs her hand and she is surrounded by layers of warmth.

    Qi Yan curled up her fingertips, rubbed them lightly, looked into her eyes for a moment, remained silent for a long time then turned her other hand behind her back, and closed the door, followed by a long silence.

    Their eyes intertwined, as if cobwebs are entangled and connected; they are inseparable.

    "Sor-..."

    "Hush."

    Qi Yan raised her index finger to touch her lips, smiled, blocking what she wanted to say, and after a while, stretched her finger to the corner of her mouth, and pressed it lightly: "Let me hug you."

    "Okay." Lu Zhiqiao agreed without hesitation.

    Qi Yan probed her fingertips against her lips, she was gentle and careful. She smiled, her eyes shone brightly, but the corner showed loneliness. She leaned forward little by little, her mouth almost touching Lu Zhiqiao''s ear, but she stopped, breathing steadily and slowly.

    "I don''t want you to compromise or take the initiative because of guilt."

    "I want you to volunteer, because you want to"

    She breathes out like a flower, confident and powerful with every word, that mesmerizes her heart.

    The heat blowing through the ears made Lu Zhiqiao''s body shiver a little, her fingers curled up. A faint impulse in her heart eager to break out, but was suppressed. She blushed, and her white skin bloomed a beautiful peach blossom color, making her tear mole, more charming.

    The stronger she fights, the more excited, fascinated and uncontrollable she becomes.

    "Niu Niu said she wants to stay with me tonight, do you agree?" Qi Yan let go of her hand, going back to her serious tone and expression.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly woke up and was silent for a while, with a wry smile in her eyes: "...let her."

    "Is this the first time you hit her?"

    "Um."

    "The child may be scared, it''s okay, I will enlighten her, both of you, mother and daughter, calm down tonight." Qi Yansaid calmly, lowered her head to change her shoes, and entered the room on her own.

    "I''ll help her get a change of clothes."

    As she spoke, her eyes drifted to the bedroom inside, as if she had finished her business and hurried away. Lu Zhiqiao kept her eyes fixed on her face, and subconsciously walked to the second bedroom with her legs, leading her in.

    She just doesn''t look at her.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked away awkwardly, opened her daughter''s wardrobe, and took a set of fluffy long-sleeved pajamas and a pair of trousers with pigtails.

    Pulling the trousers'' tail, she thought of her daughter and felt sour.

    Handing over the clothes to Qi Yan, it was as if handing over her daughter to her, the pain tearing her apart, Lu Zhiqiao was filled with remorse for a moment, resentful and bitter at the same time, she closed the cabinet door and fled back to the master''s bedroom.

    She lay down on her side with tears soaking the bedding.

    The door was unlocked, and it was gently and carefully pushed open. Qi Yan saw her lying on her side with her back facing the door, her shoulders trembling unceasingly, her footsteps paused, but she still went in lightly, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently held the door with one hand then held her shoulder.

    "Just for one night."

    "I promise, I will return a cute little girl to you tomorrow."

    Qi Yan was a little bit dumbfounded.  It''s really not easy for her to coax the big one after the little one.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly sat up, patted her hand away, and said with a choked nasal voice, "Just let her recognize you as a mother."

    She''s testing her patience.

    This person has always been cool and reserved, it''s rare to see her shy and blushing, but she did not expect to see her throw a tantrum, quite a little bit of a little girl acting like a baby, which is irritating.

    "Okay." Qi Yan leaned closer and raised her hand to grab her chin, "She''s lucky to have two mothers."

    Her words implied a lot. She looked ambiguously. Her feelings she desperately suppressed these days, suddenly poured out. She uncontrollably kissed her but dared not to stay more and only gently brushed then let go.

    Her whole body, from head to toe, even the strands of her hair are clamoring that she likes her.

    Taking away her desire, there would only be pure thoughts in her heart and eyes, so she can restrain herself, she wanted to explore, she wanted to understand.

    "You have a good idea!" Lu Zhiqiao swatted her hand away again, a little annoyed, her tear-filled eyes shining.

    "Give Niu Niu back to me tomorrow."

    Qi Yan''s heart was stupidly stirring, and her eyes were full of warmth: "Okay."

    There was a brief silence, maybe she felt that she was losing her composure, Lu Zhiqiao wiped her face, turned her back to get her phone, unlocked and turned off the screen, unlocked again, swipe the screen with her fingertips, didn''t know what to look at, and unconsciously clicked into the flight and hotel booking app.

    "I''ll take Niu Niu on vacation during the Chinese New Year." She casually broke the silence, with half of her face hidden in her hair.

    Qi Yan cooperated with her and asked, "Well, where are you going?"

    "Roland Island."

    "The scenery is good, it is worth visiting once."

    You''ve been there?"

    "Um."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes darkened, she stared at the phone without speaking.

    "When are you going to leave?" Qi Yan didn''t give a chance to be silent.

    "The night of the 29th day of the lunar calendar."

    "How many days?"

    "We''ll be back in the morning on the seventh day."

    Qi Yan nodded, pretending to be disappointed and sighed: "Oh, I want to go out and play too, but unfortunately no one wants to take me with them." While sighing, she pretended to glance at her casually.

    Inadvertently, she glanced at the flight information.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face sideways, naturally feeling her gaze, neither hiding nor avoiding, she swipe the screen lightly with her finger, pulled to the hotel reservation page, put down the phone suddenly, and said, "I''m going to the bathroom."

    The person left the bedroom, but the screen of the phone was on, facing Qi Yan horizontally.

    Qi Yan pricked up her ears to listen to the movement in the toilet, quickly took out her mobile phone, turned on the camera, muted the sound, swiped the screen up and down, took two snaps, and then put it away calmly.

    Toilet flush sounded.

    Running water from the sink sounded.

    Then the half-hidden door was pushed open, and Lu Zhiqiao came in. Seeing Qi Yan lowering her head and twisting the fluff on her daughter''s pajamas, and looking at her mobile phone, which was still the page just now, she lowered her eyes to hide her dark and unclear emotions.

    She walked over as if nothing had happened, picked up her phone and locked the screen, and said casually, "You can go out and play by yourself."

    "It''s boring to play alone."

    "Is there no place you want to go?"

    "There is." Qi Yan raised her brows, "The place I want to go is far away, but it is very beautiful, isolated from the world, and no one knows about it."

    "Where?" Lu Zhiqiao asked suspiciously.

    Qi Yan''s slightly scorching breath rushed over, landed on her lips, and pressed a kiss lightly, with a soft voice: "Your heart."

 CH 32

    The kiss fell softly and carefully, Lu Zhiqiao''s body tensed up, her hand, propped to her side, was holding the quilt tightly. Before she had time to feel the heat carefully, her heart was hit hard by these warm but powerful words. She couldn''t help but raise her neck and grab the corner of Qi Yan''s coat with her free hand for balance, as she shows an active invitation.

    Desires are like a flood, and at this moment, Qi Yan holds her face, and can''t wait to deepen the kiss, lingering, spreading down from one side of the hot city, plundering and sweeping forcefully.

    That hazy feeling reappeared, Lu Zhiqiao''s heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and some fragmentary pictures flashed through her blank mind...

    The night they met, the crazy memories in the hotel, the countless teases and half-jokes and warmth, the embarrassment of being crushed one after another, the panic after being shown her feelings¡­ And many other things, she seemed to fall into the bottomless sea, floating, sinking and confused.

    Responding subconsciously, hugging her, clinging to her, they became inseparable.

    Unknowingly, the strength of her support collapsed, Lu Zhiqiao leaned back a little bit, and lay down slowly, a shadow passed over her head, the warm orange light projected from the ceiling dimmed, her mesmerized eyes reflected Qi Yan''s charming and glamorous face.

    What is she doing?

    She couldn''t indulge herself, but this woman is seducing her. No one is to blame but her daughter''s teacher. Countless times she persuaded herself to let go of the heavy past and enjoy life with all her heart, but also, countless midnights, memories and dreams overlapped and tormented her. She couldn''t be honest, not with anyone.

    It''s as if she had been imprisoned in a dark cage, and seeing a little light, she was both hopeful and in despair. She didn''t know whether this beam of light would always exist. Uncertainties always make people feel insecure. Rather than worrying, it is better to give up on thinking about it.

    Qi Yan''s temperature was very hot, as if she was about to catch fire, and she was also ignited.

    "I like your tear mole."

    "I fell in love with you when I first met you."

    Qi Yan''s thin soft lips brushed across her forehead to eyes, stopped at her mole, and sucked lightly. Bit by bit, her coat is being pulled away.

    The temptation of her gentle voice is always uncontrollable. If it weren''t for the sudden chill in her abdomen, Lu Zhiqiao would have fallen into the trap. But at that moment she suddenly woke up, pushed Qi Yan away, sat up and grabbed her clothes in a panic.

    It must be because her mood fluctuated too much today, and someone comforted her, she lost control a little.

    It''s not that she took the initiative, it''s not that she indulged.

    It''s the same for everyone.

    She took a deep breath, and raised her hand to cover her hot cheek, not daring to look at Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan was pushed to the side, facing the back of the bed, and did not move. After a while, she let out a heavy breath, got up slowly, straightened her messy hair, and asked casually, "Have you eaten yet?"

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face sideways and shook her head.

    "I''m going to cook supper." Qi Yan got out of bed, put on her slippers, and turned around to straighten the messed up bedding.

    Lu Zhiqiao finally looked up at her: "Didn''t you... come to get Niu Niu''s clothes?"

    Without any expression on her face, she picked up the clothes as if nothing had happened: "Don''t close the door, I''ll be right over." After speaking, she went out like a gust of wind, without giving her a chance to refuse.

    "..."

    After a while, Qi Yan came back.

    She went straight into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, took out a tomato and an egg, and put water into the pot. Lu Zhiqiao came out following the movement, leaned against the doorway and stared blankly for a while, before stepping forward and saying, "I''ll do it myself..."

    Her cheeks were still a little hot, flushed from embarrassment, as if she would bleed if she looked at Qi Yan one more time.

    "No, this will be ready soon." Qi Yan turned her head and smiled, and continued to work.

    She looked skillful and smooth while cutting tomatoes, beating eggs, and laying noodles. It seemed  like she cooks regularly. Lu Zhiqiao stood obliquely behind her. She observed her hands for a while, then looked at her face. Her eyes wandered, the corners of her mouth turned up unconsciously, and when she snapped out of it, she pursed it again, secretly annoyed.

    The noodles were cooked quickly, enough for a serving. Qi Yan took the bowl and put it on the dining table, then turned around and went to clean the pot, and came out after cleaning the kitchen.

    "Is it tasty?"

    "Um."

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded sincerely. She was really hungry. Only when she was asked did she realize that the noodles cooked by others are always better than those cooked by herself.

    Qi Yan watched her eat in small bites, made a very soft voice, elegant and restrained, then got up and sat on the sofa with her back to her: "I''ll leave after you finish eating."

    "..."

    The clock on the wall moved slowly, and so seemed the time.

    Qi Yan felt a little hot, and tugged at her collar. The dryness was lingering in her chest. She frowned slightly, and said after deliberation: "Did the math teacher say something nasty?"

    The sound behind stopped.

    "If you don''t want to say it, forget it."

    Qi Yan lowered her head and pinched her own fingers to play, her eyebrows creased a little deeper.

    She has been thinking about this problem. Although she didn''t know Lu Zhiqiao for a long time and didn''t know much, she felt that the other party was not someone who would easily lose control-- of course, this possibility was not ruled out. If Xu Shoukui really said something ugly, this would be a good opportunity to replace him.

    "No."

    "Really?"

    "..."

    The tomato she was chewing and the sour taste flowed down her throat into her heart. Lu Zhiqiao squeezed the chopsticks tightly, and said in a low voice: "He said that Niu Niu has no father to teach her."

    Qi Yan pinched herself hard with her fingertips, and just about to make a sound, Lu Zhiqiao said again: "Do you want me to go to school to make trouble, make things bigger, and then replace this math teacher?"

    "...."

    "It''s not necessary. Niu Niu made a mistake in the first place, and we made a mistake, and I don''t want to make trouble." The voice became lower and lower, and the last two mouthfuls of noodles became tasteless. After eating, she took the bowl to the kitchen to wash.

    Qi Yan clenched her teeth tightly and followed her with a sullen face. She saw her slightly bent slender back, her narrow shoulders, her throat suddenly choked up, and her eyes became sore.

    The sound of water gurgling, bowls and chopsticks clashing.

    She stepped forward, hugged her from behind, and said softly, "In order for Niu Niu to regain her confidence in mathematics, this math teacher must be replaced, and your tolerance and encouragement are also indispensable."

    "Qi Yan..."

    Lu Zhiqiao turned off the faucet, put the bowl in the rack, and let her hug her without breaking free, her voice was calmer than perfume: "You are plotting against your colleagues, you should be on the teacher''s side."

    Here they go again.

    "Yes, I plot against my colleagues, I have a vicious mind, I am partial to students, and have affairs with parents. So what? Are you going to scold me for not acting like a teacher? Or are you mocking me for being unworthy of being a teacher?" Qi Yan spoke so fast that it didn''t matter.

    It would be hard for this person not to pick on her being a teacher for a day.

    Hearing that she was having an affair with parents, Lu Zhiqiao blushed immediately. The words were almost a joke. She didn''t want to accuse Qi Yan of anything, but she didn''t want to believe that Qi Yan would stand by her. When she said these words, she was stunned.

    She whispered, "I''ve never thought about you that way, so don''t say that about yourself."

    "Isn''t that what you''re talking about?"

    "Then consider me farting*."

    *to fart is to say a lie/an empty promise/to bullshit, the term is considered a bad/rude word, which explains Qi Yan''s next action.

    As soon as the words fell, Lu Zhiqiao was slapped hard on her butt. She trembled in fright and let out a soft cry, frowned, and turned her head to hit back.

    Qi Yan dodged quickly, grabbed and held her hands behind her back, pressed her against the side of the sink, and lowered her voice: "Next time you say something like this, I will spank your ass."

    "You--"

    "What about me?"

    "Let go!" Lu Zhiqiao blushed with annoyance, but for some reason she was inexplicably excited, and her heart rate gradually increased.

    Qi Yan simply let go of her, clapped her hands and turned around: "Then I''m going back, good night."

    The excitement suddenly disappeared.

    ....

    The next morning, Qi Yan sent the educated Niu Niu back to 901, the little girl apprehensively stepped into the home, seeing the just woken up Lu Zhiqiao, still a little afraid.

    Last night, Teacher Qi punished her by writing an essay. She brushed up the math test paper and wrote a 1,000-word check. She didn''t let her go to bed until twelve o''clock. She was told that if there is no punishment, the memory will soon forget, and her mother must see her sincerity in admitting her mistakes.

    Mom lost her temper openly, and Teacher Qi punished her secretly. She couldn''t escape neither on the left nor the right

    Little Lu Wei swore that she would never dare to cheat again.

    Lu Zhiqiao was also feeling bad, and regretted it after finishing the fight yesterday, but when she thought about it, she was angry again, angry at the child for going crooked, angry at the teacher for her hurtful words, angry at her collapse of faith and loss of face. After a night, Qi Yan stirred up her mind, and when she saw her daughter again, her heart was filled with sorrow and distress.

    The mother and daughter hugged each other and wiped away the tears, and comforted each other, feeling really sad.

    Qi Yan watched from the sidelines with a warm and doting smile on her face, and then realized that there was nothing for a superfluous person like her to do with them, so she sighed and went back to the room.

    Roland Island, xx Airlines, xxx Hotel.

    She flipped through the photos she took last night and secretly rejoiced. When that person lost her senses, she didn''t not care about anything. She was big-hearted enough that she unknowingly leaked her itinerary information. How could she miss such an excellent opportunity.

    Wanting to surprise Lu Zhiqiao, but worried that the other party didn''t want her vacation to be disturbed. After thinking about it, Qi Yan took it as her own time to play.

    She called Ms. Lin.

    "Hello? Mom, I¡ª"

    "Yanyan, Mom was just about to call you." Ms. Lin, from the other line interrupted her.

    "This year, your dad and I will go to New Zealand for a holiday. We have all the passports and visas ready. You can go anywhere by yourself when we leave on New Year''s Eve in the afternoon. Your third uncle or second aunt or your sister-in-law''s house..."

    "You can go home, but no one will cook. You have to make it yourself. That''s all. I''ll go shopping with your dad, bye."

    After a continuous cannonball was fired, the phone was hung up.

    Qi Yan opened her mouth, she didn''t have the chance to squeeze one in, and was dismissed with a few words.

    Mother.

    What a real mother.

    Like a fake one, it has been like this since childhood.

    But it was just how she wanted it, so she won''t have to rack her brains to come up with an excuse not to go home for New Year. In the past, if she said that, her parents will suspect that she has a new girlfriend and demand her to bring the person with her. This year is like this, she''s happy to be at ease.

    Thinking about it, Qi Yan curled her mouth deeply, opened the booking app and searched for flights and hotels...

    On the 29th day of the lunar calendar, most business units across the country are on holiday. At the beginning of the Spring Festival travel season, the bus stops at the airport, train station, and bus station are overcrowded. On the other hand, there are few people and cars on the road, and the streets are empty. Jiangcheng, a fast-paced city, will soon become an empty city for seven days.

    On the international flight at 7:30 in the evening, Lu Zhiqiao and her daughter arrived at the airport at 4:00 pm, checked in early, went out of customs, and sat in the VIP lounge to wait.

    This is not the first time for the mother and daughter to travel abroad. Lu Zhiqiao has had many international business trips before. Knowing that long-distance flights are tiring, she bought a first-class cabin. All the things that should be brought for the trip are fully prepared, so there is nothing new, and the boarding time is still far. But Lu Wei was very excited, and kept gabbing non-stop. She was sitting in the lounge but still restless, leaning on the window to watch the big plane, her mouth still didn''t stop.

    "Mom, that person is waving two sticks in his hand, what is it?"

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t pay attention to what her daughter saw. She stretched her neck slightly, looked around, her eyes flicked over the faces of passengers one after another, and she frowned slightly.

    For a moment, she lowered her head.

    On the screen of the mobile phone is the WeChat chat interface, and notes that Teacher Qi has not replied to the message she sent four hours ago.

    [We are leaving for the airport]

    [Happy New Year to you in advance]

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the head of the orange cat avatar, feeling confused for a moment. She couldn''t explain what it was like. She rarely sent messages to Qi Yan on her own initiative. The only few times, the other party would reply within an hour. Even in seconds.

    Maybe the phone is not with her?

    Maybe she has something to do?

    That''s right, tomorrow is New Year''s Eve, every family will reunite to celebrate the New Year, that person should go home, right? Is she chatting with her parents? Or receiving guests?  Or playing with relatives'' children?  However possible, there are good reasons for not responding to her messages in time.

    She locked the screen, got up and walked outside the VIP room, and looked towards the boarding gate, where there were many economy class passengers waiting for the flight.  She pretended to be nonchalant and turned around, every face is unfamiliar.

    Feeling inexplicably lost...

    After boarding the plane, Lu Zhiqiao stared at everyone who came in from behind without blinking, with a small hope in her heart, for fear that she would miss a familiar face. The more people came in, her hope is like a candle flickering in the wind, the fainter it became, and an unspeakable anxiety surged in her heart.

    Until, no more people came up.

    She was completely disappointed, turned her face away, looked out of the window, and tightly pressed her thin lips.

    As expected, isn''t it?  She clearly rejected her, did she expect the other to stick to her like a dogskin plaster*?  Why? She is too self-indulgent, she must''ve been out of her mind. It doesn''t matter if she doesn''t come, she will have more fun with her daughter, why would she want a third person to bother her¡­

    *goupigaoyao- a plaster used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat contusions, rheumatism etc., similar to salonpas

    What''s more, during the Spring Festival, other people have families and parents, unlike her. Orphans and widows, depend on each other, and they can go anywhere.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s thoughts were confused, she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, without thinking about it, she turned on her phone to read an e-book.

    A semi-documentary novel, roughly about a kindergarten teacher, who fell in love with a married mother, from restraint to falling, willing to be a mistress, very abusive, the final ending should not be very good, she hasn''t finished it yet.

    Looked at it, put her focus into it, and didn''t have time to think about other things.

    ....

    The travel was seven hours, and when they arrived at Roland Island, it was exactly two o''clock in the afternoon local time.

    Overlooking from a low altitude, the golden beach is lined with coconut trees, the lush tropical rainforest merges with the blue-green sea water, and the large and small islands are picturesque and full of tropical style.  As soon as the plane landed, Lu Zhiqiao took her daughter straight to the hotel, forgetting all her worries.

    Since she came out for a vacation, she have to be happy.

    The hotel is five-star, located on the largest beach on the main island. Open the window in any room and you will see the blue sea and blue sky. It only takes five minutes to walk to the tourist-filled beach.

    Lu Zhiqiao communicated in English without barriers throughout the whole process, and the mother and daughter went through the check-in procedures smoothly.

    After entering the room, Lu Wei couldn''t wait to run to the balcony, yelled, and jumped in excitedly: "Mom! Let''s change our skirts and go to the beach to play! I want to ride the kayak!"

    "Okay, don''t rush, mom will tidy up first." She coaxed softly and opened the suitcase.

    "Hmm."

    The little girl pouted, obviously impatient.

    ¡ª¡ª knock knock knock

    There was a knock on the door.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, and stopped her movements, thinking that the champagne from the hotel had arrived, so she went to open the door. As the gap in the door gradually widened, a red figure slowly appeared in her sight, and she froze instantly.

    "Happy New Year."

    Author''s Note:

    Teacher Qi: Can''t believe it, right?

 CH 33

    The person on her door was wearing a fiery red halter dress, her fragrant shoulders were half exposed, her black and soft long black hair was let loose, and her collarbones were looming, flamboyant and sexy. Her eyes were curved like crescent moons, and there was a happy smile on her lips: "Happy New Year."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her blankly, suddenly thought that she was dreaming, and there was a hint of joy in her dark eyes: "You..." Suddenly realized that her expression was wrong, her throat choked, her lips pursed, and the luster in her eyes dimmed, pretending to be half surprised and half indifferent: "Why are you here?"

    "I''m here to play." Qi Yan raised her brows slightly, and under her smile was a deep uneasiness.

    She came here to give Lu Zhiqiao a surprise. She originally wanted to take the same flight with the two, but she wasn''t able to book a ticket, so she booked to fly over the day before. She had already stayed here for one night, and she only booked two nights in total. She doesn''t know where to go after tonight.

    She calculated the time and waited at the corner of the stairs, watching the mother and daughter enter the room, hesitating whether to knock on the door, before she could think clearly, her legs had already taken initiative, and then her hands didn''t listen. The moment she knocked on the door, she had no way out, lowered her expectations to the lowest, and comforted herself as if she was revisiting an old place and just happened to meet an acquaintance.

    "By the way, I''d like to say Happy New Year to you in person."

    After she finished speaking, she raised her mobile phone, and there were unanswered WeChat messages on the screen.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her, and there were layers of ripples in her heart, mixed with surprise and warmth, but her expression was still calm: "When did you arrive?"

    "Yesterday."

    "How do you know that we''re staying in this hotel?" Asking this, she lowered her eyes sheepishly, pretending to be calm.

    Her face reflected in Qi Yan''s eyes, and she felt a little nervous. Naturally, the other woman didn''t notice it, and lied, "Coincidence. I wanted to live in a hotel by the beach, so I chose this place. I just saw you coming up here. Doesn''t this just mean that we are destined?"

    No coincidence, she must have seen it that night. Lu Zhiqiao thought.

    "Aren''t you supposed to go home to accompany your parents during Chinese New Year?"

    Qi Yan smiled, and shook her head helplessly: "My parents have already flown to the southern hemisphere for vacation, how can they still remember me as a daughter." Her lips curved up, slightly relieved when she didn''t say anything. But she was still self-conscious, so she said: "Okay, I won''t bother you, I''ll go to the beach to take pictures."

    She is holding a camera in her other hand.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly remembered the photo of the nude girl, and the hot red bikini¡­ She is still wearing winter clothes, and the temperature was already hot at nearly 30 degrees, but now it became even hotter, and her ears became dry.

    Just as she was about to speak, her daughter ran over and pushed her aside, her eyes lit up: "Teacher Qi?!"

    Qi Yan who had turned around was stunned.

    "Ahhhh, Teacher Qi!" The little girl pushed Lu Zhiqiao away completely, jumped out excitedly and took Qi Yan''s arm, her small face smiled like a delicate flower, "I thought you really weren''t coming¡­"

    After a pause, she turned her head and stuck out her tongue at Lu Zhiqiao: "Mom is so good at lying, she even said she wouldn''t bring Teacher Qi, but she brought her secretly."

    "..."

    The atmosphere was suddenly awkward.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, and gave Qi Yan a guilty look, but Qi Yan also looked at her thoughtfully, their eyes collided, and they were like sticky glue together, entwined for a moment before separating.

    "Teacher Qi brought a camera, hey, it''s time to take pictures, mom, we¡ª"

    "Niu Niu." Lu Zhiqiao snorted and pulled her daughter back.  She was worried that Qi Yan would be annoyed by the child''s ignorance, she didn''t reject the idea in her heart, but she had to wait for Qi Yan to take the initiative and express her opinion.

    If she agrees, then it''s good, if she refuses, at least she saved face.

    Qi Yan thought it was a refusal, and swallowed back the words she wanted to say, the loss in her eyes flashed away, she knew that Lu Zhiqiao didn''t want to be disturbed, so she cooperated with a smile and said: "Maybe some other time, I want to take pictures of the scenery today, I''m gonna go first, bye."

    She said knowingly.

    The moment she turned around, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart sank.

    It was just after noon, the sun near the equator was at its peak, and the golden beach was hot and shiny. There were many people downstream of the coconut grove, men, women and children with different colors, wearing swimsuits, shorts and bikinis, some lying on the beach and sunbathing.  Some went into the water carefully holding a floating board. The sea water piled up fine and white waves and rushed ashore, soaking a piece of soft mud and fine sand.

    If you look around, there are many blonde beauties with hot bodies, and there are also two or three black beauties with long legs and hips.

    Lu Zhiqiao is wearing a long snow-colored dress. The tulle texture is light and elegant, and it drapes smoothly. The open-shoulder style is warm and quiet, but also a bit sexy.  Daughter and mother wore the same style, parent-child outfit.

    The mother and daughter put on plenty of sunscreen before going out, and each wore a camel sun hat.  There are two deer antlers on Lu Wei''s hat, short and soft; very cute. She is so excited that she bounces when she walks. If Lu Zhiqiao have not forbade her from running too far, she would have jumped into the sea by now.

    There is a stone sculpture standing in the middle of the beach. It looks like a fisherman in rags, with a harpoon in his right hand and a string of fish in his left hand, but he is carrying a surfboard on his back, which is a bit funny. English notes are engraved on the square base at the bottom, to the effect of the history and culture of the island.

    Lu Zhiqiao stopped to look at it, and translated it to her daughter. The little girl was absent-minded, and her attention was all attracted by the person pushing the kayak on the beach.

    "Mom, shall we go kayaking?"

    "Okay, let''s go."

    There are many shops along the coast where you can rent all kinds of equipment and kayaks for self-rental and play. Unlike domestic attractions, the shops will only talk about basic methods and precautions. The mother and daughter rented a two-person boat. They rode one before, and it was easy to get started, and they found the groove as soon as they entered the water.

    There are sparkling waves on the boundless sea, and the waves are rushing towards the shore. Three or five muscular teenagers are playing with the sea water on surfboards.  Shrunk into white dots one by one, and then faintly disappeared under the horizon.

    Lu Zhiqiao squinted her eyes and looked into the distance, her eyes stretched infinitely without end, and her mood gradually calmed down like this wide sea.

    However, her heart was empty and full of melancholy.

    "Mom, hurry up, the people next to us are going to overtake us." Her daughter''s voice brought her back to her thoughts, she glanced left and right, and several more kayaks were launched into the water.

    Lu Wei paddled hard by herself, insisting on competing with others, her white and tender face held back her strength, her cheeks arched, and she rowed seriously. Lu Zhiqiao turned to look at her daughter, her heart softened and burst out laughing: "Niu Niu, we don''t compete, we paddle slowly."

    She said so with her mouth, but her hands increased their movements and strength.

    Because she couldn''t swim, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t dare to paddle too far, so she went to the other side of the bay and circled around. The mother and daughter paddled back, floating on the sea, basking in the sun, watching others surfing and playing, and when they got tired, they went ashore.

    There are green shadows of coconut groves on the shore, and the warm wind is blowing.

    There was someone half lying down under the parasol eating ice cream, and her daughter wanted to eat it too, so Lu Zhiqiao took her to buy it. After shopping and returning to the beach, a red shadow flashed in her eyes. She subconsciously followed it with her gaze, passed through the tourists in front of her, and finally landed obliquely in front of her.

    Qi Yan stood under the coconut tree, her waist-length hair loose, and the fiery red dress was sexy and attractive, very eye-catching. She was facing sideways, her black and soft long hair was blown by the wind in a swaying arc, revealing the large expanse of fair skin on the back; charming and provocative.

    A ray of sunlight fell on the top of her head and poured down. She raised her hand to brush her hair, stretched, and then raised her camera as if she saw some rare scenery.

    It can be seen that the corners of her mouth are slightly hooked up, showing a confident smile, which is soul-stirring.

    Red like her, like a flame, burning freely and passionately.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the woman silently, her heart beating violently, trembling, as if there was a fire burning in her chest, the scalding heat flowed down to her fingertips, causing a burst of numbness.

    Suddenly, the woman put down the camera and turned her head.

    Their eyes met, colliding fiercely, Lu Zhiqiao curled up her fingers, and took half a step back, the woman didn''t move, watching her quietly, the distance was only a few meters away, the look in her eyes were dark and unclear, but she felt a trace of heat.

    Like her soul being seized away.

    With heat on her cheeks, Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly looked away as if nothing had happened. After a while, when she looked back, the person had disappeared.

    ¡­.

    After eating ice cream, Lu Wei excitedly ran to the beach to play in the water. There were several white children with high noses and deep eyes making sand sculptures. She didn''t know where the courage came from, but she stumbled into it while speaking dumb English, and the communication was smooth.

    Lu Zhiqiao found the shade of a coconut tree, spread out the cushions and sat down, took off her straw hat and sunglasses, and let the salty sea breeze blow over her face, blowing the broken hair on her forehead. She leaned against the tree trunk, straightened her legs, and squinted comfortably.  Raising her eyes, she quietly looked at the figure of her daughter playing.

    She is watching her daughter and someone is watching her.

    Leaning behind, Qi Yan quietly raised the camera, and took a few consecutive shots of the person sitting under the tree, and then the camera moved slightly to capture the little girl playing by the beach.

    Different angles, different tones, light and dark lines from clear to subtle.

    Lu Zhiqiao was lazily leaning against the tree trunk, her head tilted, her slightly curly black hair fell on her shoulders, and she wore an elegant and clean white dress with her thin ankles exposed at the hem of the skirt. She was comfortable and peaceful, exuding a warm and soft temperament.

    She didn''t know how many photos were taken, Qi Yan lowered her head to sift through, picking through one by one, but couldn''t pick out one to delete, she wanted to keep every one.

    She simply gave up on shooting, no matter how clear the camera lens is, it is not as good as her own eyes and heart.

    She stared at them, the distance was only a few meters, she stretched out her legs and retracted them, she couldn''t dare to disturb them after all.  Secretly like this, there is something to watch anyway, if Lu Zhiqiao is rashly startled, there would be nothing to watch.

    The sea breeze is mixed with a hint of saltiness, gently caressing her hair and skirt, comfortable and lazy, and some people also become inexplicably sentimental.

    When did she fall in love with her?

    Maybe it was that early in the morning, when Lu Zhiqiao hurried back, she sat down in front of her daughter''s bed distressed and helpless, and then wept in embarrassment, she was able to peek into the cracks of her inner world.  Maybe it was that evening, every word Lu Zhiqiao solemnly told her daughter pierced into her heart.  Maybe it was that morning, when Lu Zhiqiao got out of the strange man''s car and chatted happily with him, she really felt the subtle sourness.  Maybe... There are many, many moments that she doesn''t remember, which are honestly burned into her subconscious.

    She likes her tear mole, her lips, she likes her from head to toe.

    But she doesn''t like her always picking on her as a teacher.

    ¡ªOne day you will be willing.

    Qi Yan still remembered what she said, and now that she thinks about it, it seems like she''s only comforting herself. Lu Zhiqiao won''t like her, right?  Even if she would, it is only physiological; an instinct.

    Even so, this can be regarded as hope, dripping into her long-drought and cracked heart, a trace of smoke suddenly emerged...

    The sun glows like blood as it sets, and the rays dye the layers of clouds on the horizon red. On Roland Island, which is close to the equator, the day and night are of equal length throughout the year, and the dusk is very short. Today the sun sinks, and it will rise again in twelve hours.

    When night fell, the whole main island became lively. Tents were set up on the beach, and the lights flickered along the coastline, making it hazy from a distance. The sky and the sea merged into one color, blurred in the dense darkness, the sky was full of bright stars, and a dim crescent moon rose up.

    Lu Zhiqiao took her daughter to the city for a stroll, tasted the local specialties, and came back after walking around. The stomachs of the mother and daughter were full.

    At about eight o''clock, a huge bonfire was ignited on the beach. Professional actors dressed up as the natives of Roland Island danced around the fire with a harpoon in their hands and chanted songs in their language, just like an ancient troubadour. The surrounding tourists continued to join, and the circle became bigger and bigger, and soon surrounded two or three layers.

    Suddenly, there was a muffled sound.

    Blossoming fireworks exploded in the night sky, and the colorful and shining colors were as bright as shooting stars, dyeing the sky as bright as day, and everyone looked up.

    She doesn''t know who lit the fireworks, they were arranged and combined to form a string of letters that exploded. If you look carefully, it spells a name of a person.

    It seems that someone is pretending to be romantic. This thing looks fresh at first glance, but becomes boring after a long time. Lu Zhiqiao looked at it for a while, letting her ears thump with bang, and looked away.

    The round of fireworks ended, there was a moment of silence, and another round rose.

    "Mom!" The daughter suddenly grabbed her hand, tugging excitedly, "Look, look! It''s your name!"

    "?"

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her head suddenly, and the night sky was full of light, showing a big "Qiao", followed by "Lu" and "Zhi", repeating "Qiao", repeating the cycle over and over again.

    At that moment, her eyes were also lit up.

    A little trick that has long been out of fashion, she felt bored watching others do it, but when it was her turn, her heart gradually became densely itchy. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, her name is hung in the sky, but not everyone can see it. That sense of mystery is unique.

    Lu Zhiqiao blushed immediately, kept her head up until the fireworks burned out, and then looked around, looking for the figure of that person.

    Amidst the vast sea of people and the dark night sky, it is difficult to distinguish.

    Is it her?

    ....

    After playing until ten o''clock, the mother and daughter dragged their tired bodies back to the hotel.

    Lu Zhiqiao asked her daughter to take a bath, took out the adapter plug and connected it to charge the phone. She hasn''t checked it all afternoon. There are two unread messages on WeChat, one is a news feed, and the other is from Qi Yan.

    [Do the fireworks look good?]

    She froze for a moment, slightly bent the corners of her tightly pursed lips, and typed a word: Rustic.

    She just wanted to click send, but hesitated, it was someone''s good intentions, and it will be really hurtful for her to say this on purpose, it was inappropriate. So she deleted it and re-edit the reply.

    [I liked it very much]

    [I''m following the trend of others, let''s join in the fun and try the effect] Replied in seconds.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes darkened, the corners of her mouth drooped, she slid her fingertips out of WeChat, pressed the lock screen, and ignored her. Then the screen never came on again.

    Not long after, her daughter came out of the shower, and she took her nightgown into the bathroom.

    She was a little tired from playing all afternoon. The hot water flowed down her taut back, washing away her exhaustion, the steam rose up, making the  mirror foggy, and her swaying shadows were looms. Lu Zhiqiao''s cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat, and her eyes were fascinated, staring at her blurred figure in the mirror, a flash of ostentatious red flashed in her mind...

    The more she washed, the more sleepy she became. She shook her head, speeded up, rubbed the shower gel a few times, and turned off the water to get dressed and applied skin care products.

    "Mom~" Lu Wei ran into the bathroom and hugged her, "What are we going to play tomorrow?"

    Lu Zhiqiao resisted the drowsiness, pondered for a moment, and said with a smile: "Let''s rent a boat and go fishing."

    "Okay!"

    "Go to bed early."

    The little girl looked at her eagerly, as if she still wanted to say something, but seeing her smearing her face and drooping eyelids in a sleepy manner, Niu Niu had no choice but to swallow her words.

    ....

    The next morning, the duo were awakened by a knock on the door.

    Lu Zhiqiao got up from the bed in a daze, opened the door, saw the person outside, and suddenly woke up from sleepiness. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, the other party spoke first.

    "I''m going to check out, I''m here to say goodbye to you." Qi Yan said calmly, with a small smile on her lips.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart tightened: "Go home?"

    "No."

    "That¡­¡­"

    Qi Yan wore a dark blue long-sleeved tulle dress today, white hot pants, and a black tube top inside, revealing half of her thin waist. It looked simple and cool, and it is two different styles from yesterday''s charming and coquettish red dress.  She shrugged and explained: "This hotel is too popular. I booked the room late, and only booked the two nights, the day before yesterday and yesterday. It is very difficult for other hotels to open rooms now, so¡ª"

    "I''m going to go camping on the beach."

    With that, she smiled wryly, lowering her gaze, feeling helpless.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, shrank her hand holding the door handle, and hesitated for a moment. It¡¯s good that the camping site is fresh, but still, sleeping in a tent every day must be uncomfortable. Currently, it is peak tourist season and there are indeed full of people everywhere, and it¡¯s hard to book a room, she knows about this too.

    If she let Qi Yan stay here...

    No, she didn''t book a suite, because it was too late. The hotel only has a large standard room with two single beds, one is enough for her and her daughter, and another person is squeezed. How would they divide it?

    "Mom!" Lu Wei picked up the slippers and came over. She heard the conversation between the two clearly just now, and said urgently, "Let Teacher Qi stay in our room!"

    "Is it okay?" Qi Yan asked with a smile, looking up at Lu Zhiqiao.

    Before Lu Zhiqiao could speak, the little girl took her hand and nodded vigorously: "Of course it''s okay. I will sleep in the one bed, and you and mom will sleep in the same bed."

    Author''s Note:

    Lu Mama: She is really my well-behaved and sensible daughter [gritting teeth.jpg]

 CH 34

    The two adults were dumbfounded as soon as the words fell, but Qi Yan reacted very quickly, realizing that her performance was too exaggerated and too suspicious, she restrained her expression, pretended to look at Lu Zhiqiao and smiled: "It''s not good, is it? "

    "What''s wrong with that?" Lu Wei pursed her small mouth, looked at the teacher, then at her mother, then hugged Lu Zhiqiao''s arm and dangled, "Mom, you can let Teacher Qi stay here, and if she sleeps on the beach, and get caught by the waves. What if they wash her away?"

    The little girl spoke innocently and cutely. She unintentionally resolved the stiff atmosphere. A supposedly embarrassing thing but with a few words, Lu Zhiqiao''s tense nerves eased, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly, and she couldn''t help laughing.

    At first, she only thought that two beds were not enough for three people. But when her daughter said it, she suddenly realized that she can take the child to sleep with her in one bed, and Qi Yan can sleep alone. This will solve the bed problem perfectly.

    As for the rest...

    There''s nothing inconvenient about it.

    So she walked down the steps, raised her eyes and smiled gently: "Niu Niu is right. There is a lot of traffic in this peak season, and camping is not safe. Since we happened to meet each other when we were away, we should take care of each other when we have difficulties." After finishing speaking, she patted her daughter''s head and said softly, "Little girl, how can we let the teacher share the same bed with mom? You sleep with me."

    Speaking at a soft and slow pace, Qi Yan''s heart was full of joy when she heard the first half of the sentence, and she was ready to go down the steps, but when she heard the second half of the sentence, her heart turned cold.

    Teacher.

    Always going to be the teacher.

    "Aren''t you on good terms? You hugged each other last time. My classmate celebrated her birthday, and I went to her house to play and we slept in the same bed." Lu Wei looked at her mother suspiciously, with countless question marks in her head.

    As far as she feels, the friendship between girls is indeed closer than that of boys. At school, she goes to the bathroom with female classmates whom she gets along well with during recess, and borrows water bottles from classmates when she forgets to bring one during physical education class. Holding hands, hugging and pinching faces is an even more common occurrence. She has little sisters and best friends, and they talk about everything, so how could it be as awkward as it is now.

    Strange.

    Lu Zhiqiao and Qi Yan looked at each other, the former blushed, while the latter suppressed a smile.

    It turns out that in the eyes of children, there is only pure friendship between women. At that time, they were frightened like that, but they showed a guilty conscience and aroused suspicion. Does this mean from the side that even if their intimate behavior is accidentally caught by this child, it will not cause speculation and have a negative impact, as long as it is not too extreme?

    This realization came a little late, and they who were trapped in the center of the vortex were belatedly aware of it, and wanted to return to it, but Qi Yan didn''t dare.

    "You just want to have a bed for yourself, right?" In order to ease the embarrassment, Lu Zhiqiao kicked the ball to her daughter. In any case, it''s impossible for her to sleep in the same bed with Qi Yan, it''s not up to the child.

    Unexpectedly, the little girl suddenly grinned and lowered her head.

    No wonder.

    Qi Yan watched silently, her eyes dimmed little by little, she understood that being able to stay with the mother and daughter was already a gamble, and she couldn''t push too hard, everything was based on Lu Zhiqiao''s wishes. She cooperated and said: "Niu Niu, it''s a bit crowded for two adults to sleep on the same bed, what if I accidentally fall on the floor?"

    Niu Niu will sleep with mom, okay? Be good." Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly smiled and agreed, stroking her daughter''s head.

    Compared with the question of getting up, of course it is more important to keep Teacher Qi. The little girl understood clearly and nodded without thinking: "Okay."

    Both breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at each other. Lu Zhiqiao took the initiative to help Qi Yan carry the suitcase. It was an oversized silver suitcase, which was shocking at first glance. It was bigger than the suitcase shared by both mother and daughter, but it was not too heavy to carry. She couldn''t help guessing...

    Are they all clothes?

    Bikini....?

    The room is large and spacious enough, so it is no problem for three people to move around indoors. Lu Zhiqiao pushed the suitcase into the room, glanced quickly across the two beds, thinking about giving up her daughter''s bed to Qi Yan, but her legs refused to control her and walked to her own bed, her thoughts slowed down for a few seconds, and she changed her mind.

    The quilt that had just been lifted was still warm. Her hand holding the railing trembled slightly, with mixed feelings in her heart, she couldn''t tell whether it was shyness or excitement, and she said nonchalantly, "You sleep on this bed, and Niu Niu and I will sleep on that one."

    After speaking, she quickly let go of the case, bent down and unplugged the charged mobile phone next to the pillow, and walked away calmly.

    Qi Yan didn''t know, she could choose which bed to sleep on, and she didn''t think too much about it. She just nodded, bent down and put the camera on the bedside, and when she got closer, she caught a glimpse of a hair on the white pillow, black and shiny, curly and thin. And soft.

    This was Lu Zhiqiao''s bed.

    She didn''t say a word, and the corners of her pursed lips curled up slightly, pretending not to know.

    The mother and daughter went to wash up, maybe it was because there were more people in the room, Lu Zhiqiao always felt nervous. She seemed to be stared at by that person when she washed her face and brushed her teeth. Her heart was tingly and she felt very uncomfortable.  She changed into a pink dress, which was a little above the knee, with half suspenders and half spliced ??sleeves. It was light and sweet, and it matched a long necklace just right.

    After changing her clothes and coming out, she saw Qi Yan sitting by the bed and fiddling with the camera, and when she approached, the woman put it away, as if afraid of being seen by her.

    "Do you...do you have any plans for today?" Lu Zhiqiao thought, maybe it was**, and calmly changed the subject.

    T\N: word was censored, can''t figure it out.

    Qi Yan didn''t talk too much, and said vaguely: "I have no certain plans yet, maybe shopping if I feel like it.

    "Then do you want to go fishing with us?" Lu Zhiqiao asked casually, holding the fabric of her skirt with one hand behind her back, perhaps thinking that standing like this was too deliberate, so she went to tidy up the small satchel she was carrying.

    "Fishing?"

    "Yes."

    "Okay." Qi Yan stood up, grasping her own slender waist, white flowers dazzling in front of her eyes, "I will be your guide, thank you for taking me in."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at Qi Yan''s waist intently, and said with a smirk, "You always don''t let me say thank you, but you thank me instead."

    While speaking, Qi Yan suddenly leaned over, twisted in front of her, and raised her eyebrows: "Does it look good?"

    Her face became hot, and she quickly looked away.

    The waters near the Roland Islands are rich in fish resources and are very popular with fishing enthusiasts. Many tourists charter a boat for a day and often return with a full load.  Qi Yan has been here four times and is generally familiar with the island''s conditions. She is also familiar with finding scenic spots and recreational items. She bought a medium-sized sea fishing boat generously, equipped with a captain, two crew members, a rest room in the cabin, and fishing tackle and bait. Everything is available.

    The weather is fine, the sea is calm, the blue is vast and sparkling at first glance, the air is full of salty and wet taste, the horizon in the distance meets the water and the sky, and the vision is endless.

    The sun at sea was very poisonous, and it was near the equator. The three of them put on enough sunscreen, but they still felt a little sunburned. Lu Zhiqiao was afraid that her daughter would get sunburned, so she put on the sunscreen clothing she brought, and she was also fully equipped with a hat, sunglasses and mask.

    The little girl was very excited, she was not willing to cooperate, she frowned and muttered impatiently, pushing her away, she was going to get the fishing rod.

    "Niu Niu, be careful, you''re going to look like a panda!" Lu Zhiqiao said urgently.

    The child doesn''t care: "Pandas are pandas, I am a national treasure~"

    "..."

    Qi Yan was standing on the deck chatting with the crew member. The two chatted while adjusting the fishing rod. She was very talkative and spoke fluent English with slang. Another crew member was also attracted to her. The three of them laughed from time to time. She''s like an old friend they''ve known for years.

    Lu Zhiqiao chased her daughter over, and when she heard laughter on the deck, she stopped and stared at the woman blankly.

    The sun was so hot that she squinted her eyes. In her narrowed range of vision, Qi Yan''s figure was tall and straight, her legs were long and straight, and her waist-to-hip ratio was so good that it would make people jealous. When talking and laughing, the corners of her eyes and brows showed confidence and open-mindedness. Hearty, free and easy, exuding a cool temperament all over her body.

    The tie of the dark blue gauze was loosened at some point, and it hung down tattered. Occasionally, a warm breeze blew up the tulle, revealing half of the curvaceous back, a small piece of soft snow looming behind the long hair: enchanting and charming.

    Lu Zhiqiao held her breath, her fingers tightly gripping the sunscreen, the violent tremor in her heart expanded like ripples, her face gradually became hot, maybe the sun was too strong, even double sunscreen couldn''t stop it.

    There is the sea under her feet, the sky above her head, and the golden light in a distance. There is firmness in her eyes, calmness in her smile, and she is not afraid to stand under the light.

    She was the kind of person Lu Zhiqiao wanted to be.

    In the past ten years, whenever night fell, there was always an inexplicable panic and uneasiness in her heart, sometimes long and sometimes short, and it was difficult to get rid of.  She always thought that she was strong, brave, and great, but only after meeting Qi Yan did she realize that real strength is not about being a good-natured person at countless dinners, not being promoted from a low-level employee to a high-level manager in eight or ten years, nor being around all kinds of customers. It''s not like sacrificing family affection in exchange for money to support a small family.

    It''s confidence.

    Lu Zhiqiao has no confidence, so she has no choice but to live passively, hiding in a dark corner, hiding her exhausted heart with indifference, and comforting her numb soul with money and fame.

    She is very wary, does not trust others, pays attention to the results, and does not look at the process. Although she can take responsibility, she is limited to that one-third of an acre of land, and will never dare to step out into the bigger world.

    She is the kind of person who is bright on the surface but dark in reality.

    Some things are missing, and it is difficult to make up for them. Lu Zhiqiao understood when she saw Qi Yan that she was destined not to be that kind of person, nor worthy of that kind of person.

    If this cognition appeared earlier, she would definitely not care about it, but now, her heart seemed to be wrapped in a ball of twine, and she couldn''t figure it out. Thinking that she and Qi Yan were two different people, she felt bitter.

    If she can''t be that kind of person, it''s better to be closer to the other party. What is she hiding from?

    "Teacher Qi!" Lu Wei ran over, hugged Qi Yan''s arm and acted like a spoiled child, "Teach me to fish~"

    Qi Yan rubbed her head with a smile, her eyes curved like crescent moons: "Okay, I will teach you after I string the bait."

    "What kind of bait is this?"

    "On the left are clam worms, and on the right are diced scallops, fishes like them both."

    The teacher and the student are happy and harmonious, and even kids know how to enjoy the sun.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched silently, her heart feeling sour and jumbled. She didn''t want to disturb them, so she took two steps back, turned around back to the cabin.

    ....

    A gentle breeze gradually blew up on the sea, and the boat shook a little. Lu Zhiqiao sat in the lounge and folded clothes. The sunscreen clothing was unpacked and folded, and folded and unpacked. From time to time, her daughter''s surprised voice came from outside. She sighed, and the corner of her mouth curves, but her eyes are full of melancholy.

    A figure flashed past, Qi Yan came in dressed in the sea breeze, and sat beside her: "Why didn''t you go fishing?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was distracted, startled, looked at the face of the person, then her expression froze, she didn''t speak for a long time, the sun protection clothing in her hand slipped from her knees to the ground.

    "What''s wrong?" Qi Yan frowned slightly, picked up the clothes and put them aside, and grabbed her hand nervously, "Are you uncomfortable? Are you seasick?"

    The worried eyes were so natural, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart skipped a beat, she came back to her senses, and lowered her eyelids: "...No."

    "Really? Don''t lie to me, I brought seasickness medicine."

    "Really."

    Qi Yan tilted her head to observe her expression carefully, seeing that she didn''t seem uncomfortable, she felt relieved a little, and smiled: "Why don''t you go fishing?"

    "No." She lowered her head, feeling a little confused.

    "I will teach you."

    "You can?"

    "Um."

    "I don''t believe you."

    The tips of her ears were a little red, but the earlobes were shiny and fair. Qi Yan watched, her throat moving a little, but she held back and shook her hand firmly: "Try it and you''ll know, come on."

    Lu Zhiqiao half-pushed and followed her out of the cabin, and saw a member of the crew helping her daughter pull the rod, and caught an unknown number of fish. Although they were relatively small, they were enough to make the child happy for a long time and gained great satisfaction.

    There are two fishing rods on the boat, both of which have been adjusted. Qi Yan picked up the empty one, rinsed the main line with clean water, and led Lu Zhiqiao to the other side of the deck: "Here, take this."

    "Why wash it with water?" Lu Zhiqiao took the fishing rod, a little heavy.

    "This is a nylon thread, which is usually used to catch freshwater fish. It tends to harden and become brittle after entering seawater. Wash it with fresh water first." Qi Yan smiled and explained patiently.

    She nodded and said nothing.

    Qi Yan put on her gloves, caught a worm that was still wriggling from the bait bucket, picked up the hook, and strung it from head to tail. Her movements were neat and crisp, very skillful, she looked like an old fisherman. She hung up the bait, threw the hook into the sea, took off her gloves, and stood behind Lu Zhiqiao.

    "See that float?"

    "Um."

    "If it sinks quickly, it means the fish has bit the hook, then you should lift the rod..."

    Lu Zhiqiao is a novice, has never fished before, and even touched the fishing rod for the first time. Qi Yan was afraid that the explanation would be too complicated for her to understand, so she simply explained with body movements, and her voice was gentle and soft. After speaking, she hugged her from behind , holding the fishing rod with her in both hands.

    The two were close to each other, Qi Yan was slightly taller, her thin soft lips touched the hair on Lu Zhiqiao''s ear unbiasedly, and the warm breath exhaled from her nose, poured all over her ears through the gaps in the hair. She inhaled another faint fragrance, and her arms couldn''t help but tighten.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s waist was stretched, and the warm breath in her ears was so uncomfortable, her heart was beating violently, but both of them were wearing thin clothes, and her suspender skirt was hollowed out on the back, which was almost unobstructed, while Qi Yan only wore a printed swimsuit underneath her tulle dress, her back vaguely pressed into something soft. She tensed up for and didn''t dare to relax at all.

    The sea was so calm that even wearing sunglasses the sun was dazzling.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face was very hot, and her body was also a little dry. She felt a fire rushing down her spine into her brain, which made her very uncomfortable. But the person behind her was standing quietly, neither did she lean forward to take advantage nor follow the rules to keep a distance, so she was embarrassed to move too.

    She can only use words to divert attention.

    "How do you know how to fish in the sea?" She asked in a low voice.

    She had never tried it before and only heard about it. In her impression, sea fishing is different from fishing in ordinary rivers and lakes. It is extremely sophisticated, and the equipment is more complicated and expensive. It is a relatively expensive and time-consuming hobby.

    Is she really the daughter of an upstart?

    Qi Yan stared at the float, brushed her hair lightly with her lips, and said, "My dad likes fishing, and fresh water can''t satisfy him, so we go fishing with a few friends, maybe two or three times a year, in Malaysia, Indonesia. Sometimes, we also go to Sanya. I just joined in the fun."

    When it comes to family, Qi Yan''s tone is casual and sparse.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, and asked again: "Then what else do you do? Similar leisure activities."

    "Photography, you know." She smiled.

    "Besides photography?"

    "...well, skiing, horseback riding, and skydiving are also counted. I went to the Great Barrier Reef with my friends to jump a few times, and I barely lost it." Qi Yan couldn''t help but kiss her hair. It was so light that she couldn''t feel it.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, turned her head to the side, and bumped her lips impartially: "I didn''t know, you are very secretive, so powerful."

    It''s all money-burning stuff.

    "No way." The person she likes praised her, Qi Yan was so delighted in her heart, the corners of her mouth turned up, and she kissed again, "During the years when I was studying abroad, the people in my circle dawdled with everything, there are more people out there, much better than me."

    "You studied abroad?"

    "Well, I went to Jiangcheng Normal University for my undergraduate degree, and I went to Canada for my master''s degree, majoring in photography."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, and she couldn''t calm down for a while. She didn''t know the slightest thing about this person. She seemed like a very casual and free soul, enjoying life. And someone like her who is full of baggage and exhausted does not belong to the same world.

    She wanted to know why she became a teacher, but she hesitated, not daring to ask further, and finally said nothing.

    In addition, she still has a lot of things she wants to know. She is suddenly curious about the person behind her, this person who has been in contact with her for three months and has had an intimate relationship with her.

    Those strands of curiosity were aroused just like that...

    ....

    As the sun set, the three of them played on the boat all day, and the fish they caught filled the big ice bucket. The sea ship was on the way back, the sky was full of rays of light behind it, the red clouds were like fire, and the sun was slowly sinking into the horizon.

    The calm sea surface suddenly churned with waves, a huge black and white killer whale leaped into the air, briefly blocked the sun for a moment, spewed out an arc of water vapor, and then sank into the water. The splashed water scattered and fell, and the sea surface floated white fine foam.

    "Mom, a killer whale!" Lu Wei stomped her feet excitedly.

    They were really lucky. They saw the amazing sight of the whale taking breath once they went out to sea, and they couldn''t help but sigh. Lu Zhiqiao looked at the place where the killer whale disappeared in surprise, her heart beating fast. It was too close just now, so close that she thought the boat was going to be overturned, just like in the movie, like a great escape at sea.

    Her feet moved back involuntarily, she tripped accidentally and she let out a cry of surprise, and fell firmly into Qi Yan''s arms.

    "Careful."

    With a low voice in her ears, Lu Zhiqiao shuddered all over, quickly breaks free, and fled into the cabin with a blushing face.

    The city at night is very lively, the streets are brightly lit, tourists with different colors come and go, people around you speak various languages ??other than English, and occasionally hear a sentence or two of Chinese, which feels very cordial.

    Qi Yan found a local seafood restaurant with the best taste, and took the caught fish to the store for processing. Tonight, she had a whole fish feast, including fried, stewed, and grilled. The sea fish was plump and tender, and served with the local people''s eating method and special seasoning, it has endless aftertaste.

    The grilled fish is self-service, each table has a grill pan, the store handles it and serves it, and you have to grill it by yourself.

    Qi Yan has been helping the mother and daughter to grill fish, and she didn''t eat much. Seeing that Niu Niu''s little mouth was greasy, she wiped her mouth with a tissue and smiled with squinted eyes: "Niu Niu, is it delicious?"

    "Yeah, hiccup¡ª" the little girl hiccupped, "I want more."

    Lu Zhiqiao saw her daughter''s belly bulging slightly, and frowned, "Don''t overeat at night."

    "It''s okay, eat, there''s more here." Qi Yan said and smiled indulgently. She took another piece of grilled fish for her.

    "You''ll spoil her."

    "The main thing about vacation is to have fun."

    "That''s right." The little girl stuck out her tongue.

    The teacher and the student sang together, Lu Zhiqiao felt a little uncomfortable, pursed her lips, said nothing, lowered her head and ate her food slowly.

    Suddenly, a hand stretched out holding a tissue, touched the corner of her mouth, and wiped it gently. When she looked up, she saw Qi Yan smiling softly at herself: "There''s a sauce beside your mouth."

    That gaze was burning like fire, Lu Zhiqiao seemed to be scalded, she quickly avoided it, and continued to eat as if nothing had happened.

    ....

    After eating the whole fish feast, little girl Lu Wei was too full to walk, and Lu Zhiqiao was a bit full too, saying that she shouldn''t eat too much, but her mouth didn''t stop at all.

    The night wind is cooler, blowing away the heat of the day. The three wandered the street to eat and eat, went around and went into a large gift shop, which sold all kinds of souvenirs and gadgets. If you take a closer look, the workmanship is quite fine.

    "Teacher. Qi, this postcard is beautiful! I want to bring some to my classmates." Lu Wei stopped in front of the counter and shook Qi Yan''s arm.

    Along the way, the teacher and the student walked arm in arm. The little girl ate too much and was too lazy to use her strength. She leaned to Qi Yan with almost half of her body, but left her mother aside.  Opening and closing his mouth, she changed from "Mom" to "Teacher Qi".

    Qi Yan paused, glanced at the beautiful postcards, and became interested, smiled and nodded, then chatted with the boss for a few pens: "Niu Niu, first choose the pattern you like, then write something up."

    She handed the girl a pen.

    "Okay."

    Lu Wei grinned, calculated in her mind how many good classmates she has, and excitedly picked them up.

    Qi Yan was also picking, she wanted to send one to Lu Zhiqiao, she turned around and was about to ask, but the person who had been by her side was nowhere to be seen, she was stunned, looked up and looked around, her gaze stopped by the door, the  pink figure was alone. Standing there, looking gloomy.

    There are people coming and going on the street, and the lights are bright.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood quietly by the glass door, like an exquisite and perfect sculpture, her eyelids were half-downcast, her empty eyes were out of focus, she seemed not in the mood to appreciate the night view of the island, she looked unhappy.

    A postcard suddenly appeared in sight.

    She was slightly surprised, turned her head, and saw Qi Yan''s smiling face: "For you."

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand to hold the card. On the front, the blue sea and sky, coconut wind and tree shadows, she turned it over, and on the back was a beautiful cursive English calligraphy.

    ¡ª¡ªI wish I knew how to quit you.

 CH 35

    ¡ª¡ªI wish I knew how to quit you.

    The handwritten cursive letters are beautiful, and the curly tail hook is flexible and light, full of artistry. Lu Zhiqiao quietly stared at the card, and repeated this sentence several times silently, with a bitter smile in her eyes, which gradually deepened. She usually despises such little tricks the most, thinking that they are just false romances that young people come up with in their heads, and she won''t even take a look at them, let alone have any thoughts.

    But her heart began to beat wildly again, hot fresh blood started from there, and it couldn''t wait to climb up her face, blooming a beautiful peach color.

    It seems to have regained a little of the innocence and throbbing of girlhood, just like that night, when she smelled the same but different perfume, her mind immediately returned to more than a decade ago, reminding her and reassuring her that all was not yet too bad.

    The light in the gift shop is orange-yellow, very warm, and softly falls on Lu Zhiqiao, covering her from head to toe. With her head lowered, Qi Yan can look at her openly and hug her with her eyes, instead of her hand that she wants to move but dare not.

    After a while, Lu Zhiqiao raised her head and met Qi Yan''s straightforward gaze.

    The faces of each other were reflected in each other''s eyes as if strung together by an invisible thread, intertwined and entangled, so sticky that they could not be separated. Lu Zhiqiao saw warmth in Qi Yan''s eyes, as well as frankness, expectation and care.

    For a long time, Qi Yan gave her the impression that she was not serious, and even thought that such a person should not be a teacher for a moment, but after getting in touch with her a lot, she realized that she was narrow-minded.  She admitted that her thinking was rigid, and she felt more and more that they aren''t the same, one was born in the sun, the other shrank in a dark corner, each had their own way of life, and there should be no intersection at all.

    She had seen people like Qi Yan before. Most of them have a good family environment, not only materially rich, but also spiritually.

    With these kinds of people, she at most treats them with courtesy and keeps a distance, and never talks heart-to-heart. It''s not because she has any prejudices, but because she feels that she doesn''t belong to the same world and cannot be forcibly integrated.

    Maybe she can take a gamble and treat Qi Yan as an exception.

    "The words are beautiful." Looking at each other for a long time, Lu Zhiqiao curved the corners of her mouth, and there was a faint glint in her eyes, "I''ll wait for you outside." After speaking, she quickly lowered her head, pushed open the glass door and went out.

    Qi Yan didn''t chase after her, and saw her standing under the streetlight through the glass, with her back to this side, her hands raised all the time, whether she was holding the postcard, or...

    The night on the island is cool and breezy, the sky is a strange dark blue, the stars are dense, bright like diamonds, and occasionally a passenger plane with flashing lights passes by at low altitude, bringing a whistling roar, which is very comfortable.

    Back at the hotel, Lu Zhiqiao went to take a shower first, Qi Yan took out the computer, and saved the photos of the mother and daughter taken today, she screened them one by one, deleted some that she thought she didn''t take well, and picked a few more good ones, and put it in a dedicated folder.

    Lu Wei watched from the side, her mouth slightly opened: "Wow, Teacher Qi, it''s like you''re making a movie." She wanted to say it was good-looking, but it seemed that she was poor at words and dry, and could only look for the most similar analogy in her life.

    "Of course." Qi Yan praised generously, squinted her eyes and smiled, raised her hand and pinched her face, "I''ll sort out the photos when I get back, pick a few that you like, and I''ll make a photobook for you."

    "Teacher Qi is the best~"

    The little girl hugged and kissed her face, caught off guard, Qi Yan was a little dazed, but she quickly came to her senses and rubbed the girl''s head.

    After a while, the sound of water in the bathroom gradually stopped, and the door opened. Lu Zhiqiao came out stepping on the lingering steam, her cheeks flushed from the heat. The nightdress she wore was a haltered v-neck, which only covered half of her thighs. At that moment, she almost forgot that there was another person in the room.

    As soon as Qi Yan looked up, she saw such a picture, and her fingers froze when she clicked the mouse.

    Lu Zhiqiao was also taken aback.

    "Mom, come and take a look at the photos! Teacher Qi took a super beautiful picture of you!" Little Lu Wei didn''t realize it. After all, she was still out of words, and her crisp voice sounded cute.

    Qi Yan''s throat gulped, and she looked away with difficulty, quite consciously.  Lu Zhiqiao also hurriedly picked up the sun protection clothing and put it on, fastened the belt around the waist, the hem of the clothes was enough to cover the knees, and the scenery was tightly covered.

    "Girl, go take a shower." She knelt down to pack the suitcase, using the bed to cover half of her body.

    "Okay."

    The daughter took the clothes and went into the bathroom, and the room suddenly became quiet.

    The sound of mouse clicking came from the sofa from time to time, and it was irregular and amplified infinitely, making it harsh. Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head to fiddle with the things in the suiy case, sorted them over and over again, and finally raised her head, but she didn''t know Qi Yan looked over at this time, their eyes met and they were both stunned.

    "Look at the photos." Qi Yan reacted very quickly, smiling and beckoning to her.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, her heart said not to go, but eventually closed the case neatly with her hands, got up and walked over, and sat down next to the person.

    Her eyes naturally fell on the computer screen. There were more than a hundred photos, all of which were similar to each other. There was almost no difference in the small pictures. Qi Yan clicked on the first picture, which happened to be the silhouette of Lu Zhiqiao holding a fishing rod. Both the composition and the use of light were very delicate and subtle.

    "I took this picture. Just when the fish bit the hook, your expression was full of surprise and excitement, but it''s rarely seen on your face. So even if it appeared for only a moment. I wanted to capture it."

    "And this one was when you''re distracted, you didn''t even know you''re smiling."

    "This..."

    She looked at the photo with tenderness and pride in her eyes, and her voice became softer, full of admiration from the bottom of her heart. She didn¡¯t think too much when she was shooting, she just wanted to record, she wanted to stay. When her eyes and heart would get tired, the camera replaced her, and she only needed to remember a certain day in a certain year, when the three of them had a great time on the boat.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked over one by one, the corners of her mouth gradually curved, her heart beat faster for some reason, her eyes slowly moved to her face, and she said softly, "It''s because of your good skills, I think you can become a professional photographer. "

    It was a sincere compliment. As a layman, although she doesn''t know the technicalities, she knows how to appreciate it. No matter the person or the scene, it is not a rare thing, but it is a high-quality photo taken by this person, which is an unexpected surprise.

    "Lu Zhiqiao."

    "?"

    Qi Yan turned around, her eyes were infinitely gentle, and she hugged her cautiously: "Without beautiful people, you can''t take beautiful pictures."

    She had just finished taking a shower, her body was soft and hot, exuding a light and pleasant aroma, and the sunscreen was made of thin material, Qi Yan''s warm breath lingered along with her body. An impulse, buried deep within her heart sprouted, and it was very hard to bear.

    "I like hearing you compliment me."

    "Praise me some more."

    She couldn''t hide her admiration, she usually tries hard to restrain herself, but now she became more and more unrestrained. Qi Yan knew that she should let her go, but her hands had minds of their own and hugged her even tighter.

    Lu Zhiqiao was also choked up, her hands and feet were weak, and she could barely struggle, she just leaned against Qi Yan''s arms, her face was red and her ears were hot, her throat was vague for a long time, and she couldn''t speak clearly for a long time, she just hummed two words: "Let go..."

    "Praise me."

    She pursed her lips and ignored the woman.

    The more she asks, the less she will give one, afraid this person will be proud and be insatiable.

    The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, guessing that Niu Niu would come out after taking a shower, Qi Yan couldn''t afford to be seen by the child no matter how much she tried to delay, so she could only kiss her ear then finally let her go, and continued to organize the photos.

    Sure enough, not long after, Niu Niu came out humming a song.

    Qi Yan sent a few photos to Lu Zhiqiao''s WeChat, packed up her computer and camera, took her clothes and took a shower. Lu Zhiqiao sat on the bed with her daughter in her arms and admired it. She looked at them several times and never got tired. The mother and daughter smiled, and she posted a Moments, which she rarely does.

    "Mom, I think Teacher Qi takes better pictures of you."

    "You think?"

    "...Well, it may be that you are good-looking." The little girl nodded seriously.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled, stretched out her index finger and pointed at her nose: "Sweet talker."

    The sound of water came from the bathroom again, and the graceful figure on the non-transparent glass wall attracted someone''s imagination. Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help but look up and look again.

    On the first night of living together, they didn''t encounter any problems.

    In the early morning of the next day, the three set off for Kabuo Ranch.

    The ranch is located on the second largest island in the Roland Islands. It is about an hour''s drive from the beach hotel where they live. It covers an area of ??more than 5,000 acres and is mainly used for grazing cattle. It is also the shooting location for many famous movies. It is large in scale, has a long history, and the scenery is especially beautiful. Looking at the large green pastures, there are flocks of cattle and sheep, full of a strong pastoral atmosphere.

    There are many recreational attractions here, such as horseback riding, ADV riding, milking cows, roasting games and so on.

    Having never been exposed to these new things before, Lu Wei was more excited than fishing yesterday, jumping when she got out of the car and walking, loudly yelling that she was going to ride a horse, showing her playful nature as a child. Compared with her daughter, Lu Zhiqiao was much more reserved. She had never played these games before, and she found them new, but her expression remained calm and she didn''t say much along the way.

    For a person who is used to being calm and serious, laughing too much is fatal.

    Children are most able to sense changes in people''s emotions. Lu Wei found out that since yesterday afternoon, her mother had been preoccupied, and she thought for half a day but did not dare to forcefully pester her mother, but fortunately there was Teacher Qi, making the atmosphere not so awkward.

    There are not many tourists who come to ride horses, and the queue for paying is very fast. This kind of project is different from domestic parks. They weren''t led and guided. It is up to the tourists to master the essentials. They can ride horses to any place in the ranch, as long as they can do it.

    "But I don''t know how to ride..." Lu Wei pouted as she looked at the filly in front of her.

    She is a child and cannot ride a full-grown horse.

    Qi Yan stepped forward and pinched her face, and said with a smile, "I''ll teach you how to ride." After speaking, she took off the camera hanging around her neck, handed it to Lu Zhiqiao, and rented an adult horse.

    "Niu Niu, watch me demonstrate."

    The adult horse is almost as tall as her and it looked like a huge monster at close range, which is a bit scary.  She walked around the horse, stood in front of the horse''s head for a while, raised her hand to touch the mane, patted the neck, then grabbed the rein with one hand, stepped into the stirrup with her left leg, and jumped up lightly. Sitting tight.

    "Hold on to the rein, nudge the horse''s belly lightly with your calf, and it will start to run, you see¡ª"

    The horse snorted and walked slowly. Qi Yan applied more force on her calf, and the horse gradually began to trot, increasing the speed little by little. After a while, she rode the horse and galloped into the woods ahead.

    "Wow, Mom, Teacher Qi is so amazing." The figure was no longer visible, and Lu Wei grabbed her mother''s arm excitedly.

    As far as the eye can see, at the junction of the woods and the grassland, a white figure is riding on a horse, galloping towards this side, her hair is blown up by the wind, her chin is slightly raised, her figure is vigorous and heroic, as the distance gets closer, the gradually clear smile on his face is full of confidence.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched with a dazed expression, her eyes were a little blurred, and her heartbeat followed the rhythm of the horse''s hooves.

    There was a gust of wind in her ear, Qi Yan pulled the rein early to slow down, and just stopped when she returned to the starting point, the tourists on the side applauded in unison, she sat on the horseback and smiled, showing a row of white teeth, generously accepting everyone''s admiration, then turn over and get down.

    "Teacher Qi! You are amazing!" Lu Wei rushed over and hugged her.

    Qi Yan gently patted her head, then turned her hand to lead the little mare, and said, "Come on, let''s test your observation skills."

    "Well, okay."

    The child was the most energetic. After Lu Wei mastered the essentials, Qi Yan led her around twice. The teacher and the student had a great time. Lu Zhiqiao watched silently, not wanting to disturb, so she sat on the bench to rest.

    The camera still had that person''s body temperature, and it became even warmer when she held it in her hands.

    "Do you want to ride a horse?" A pair of feet appeared in her sight, Lu Zhiqiao raised her head, and saw Qi Yan standing in front of her, looking at her with burning eyes.

    She shook her head: "No."

    "I''ll teach you." Qi Yan sat down next to her, "Or I''ll take you to ride."

    "You take Niu Niu to play, I..." Her voice paused, Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head, as if she couldn''t speak.

    How can she explain her fear?

    Qi Yan could easily see through her thoughts, and without saying anything, she stretched out her hand to wrap her shoulders, rubbing her fingertips gently, silently comforting her.

    "I feel like you''re not in a good mood."

    "You do?"

    "Did I take up too much of your time with the child..." Qi Yan smiled wryly, and looked up at the girl who was walking with the filly not far away. She said that if she was tired from playing, she would take a rest.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart tightened, and she hurriedly shook her head: "No, don''t think so much, I¡ª"

    She really hopes she can play with Niu Niu.

    Words came to her lips, but couldn''t speak them. When she came out for a trip, she felt more and more that she was a failed mother who could do nothing but work, but she couldn''t do the things the child like to experience. If Qi Yan wasn''t by her side, the journey would probably be boring.

    It is still difficult to admit that she is incompetent.

    She pursed her lips and couldn''t help shrinking into Qi Yan''s arms.

    "Well, it''s okay, I was joking." Qi Yan also tightened her arms and hugged her.

    It didn''t matter if Lu Zhiqiao had a lot of things she couldn''t say. There was no need to force her. There will come a day where she''ll be able to say them freely.

    ...

    There is an age requirement for the ADV riding in the ranch. One must be over 15 years old to play. It''s okay for two adults, but Lu Wei is very unfortunate. She wants to play and explore everything. In the end, Qi Yan made a promise to bring her here again when she grows up.

    By that time, Lu Wei had already graduated from junior high school.

    She will no longer be her teacher either.

    The three went to see the cows again and participated in the process of milking the cows. The child''s attention was easily attracted, and they temporarily forgot the regret for not being able to ride a motorcycle.

    The place where the cows are stocked is close to the cliff, and a long line is surrounded by a wooden fence. The view is wide, and there is an endless sea under the cliff. On the right side, they can see the coastline of the main island. Fishing boats can be seen vaguely out to sea from the pier.

    While the daughter was milking the cows, Lu Zhiqiao and Qi Yan stood by the fence, leaning back slightly, with their elbows for support, watching leisurely and comfortably, their expressions were exactly the same, almost doting.

    The wind is strong, and their hair are flying and messy.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand to hold a strand, gently brushed her cheeks, then let it go, and let it fall back in front of Qi Yan, who just happened to look over from the side, their eyes intertwined and their emotions surged.

    "Why did you become a teacher?" she asked softly.

    Qi Yan narrowed her eyes slightly, and slowly spit out words from her thin lips: "It was my dream."

    She may not believe others'' answers, but she completely believes what Qi Yan said. Not just believe, but envy.

    "When I was young, I felt that teachers looked cool on the podium. I hoped that I could also be cool one day, but I didn''t have a strong idea at that time. Until later, I met a few good teachers who gave me positive influences, until my desire became stronger..."

    "My parents were born in the countryside, and their education level is not high, but they respect teachers very much and believe that education can change destiny, and those who pass on knowledge are great, so they fully supported me."

    "Even Though, at first they thought that I was just a child and will eventually change my mind, I know that no matter what I choose, they will support me."

    Speaking of her family, Qi Yan showed a warm and proud expression on her face, her narrow and sharp eyes were curved like crescent moon, as she smiled brightly, her soft voice was shattered by the wind, and fell to the ground.

    She was very proud.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her quietly: "Your parents must be good, right?"

    "Yes, my parents are very nice. Although they haven''t read many books, they don''t stick to the rules. Their education is different from traditional parents. They''re also affectionate with each other. When I lived at home, I''d barf everyday¡­ But hey, I might not say it often, but I love them very much."

    "What about you?"

    Qi Yan smiled sideways, showing six big white teeth.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart was suffocated, she was stunned for a while, her expression became gloomy, and she said in a low voice: "My parents passed away."

    There was a brief silence, only the sound of wind in the air.

    "...I''m sorry." Qi Yan grabbed her hand, and the corners of her mouth gradually collapsed. Even if she already knew, hearing her speak out at this moment, her heart couldn''t help but ache.

    Lu Zhiqiao shook her head, pretending to smile relaxedly: "What are you apologizing for? I almost don''t remember what happened a long time ago." After speaking, she turned around and faced the cliff and the sea, her eyes suddenly far away.

    "They gave birth to me when they were in their forties. They have been strict with me since I was a child. They believe in corporal discipline, so I have never been very confident..."

    "You''re fine." Qi Yan interrupted her, then turned around and grabbed her hand again.

    Perhaps it was because of the strong wind that her hands were a little cold, and she was very restless being wrapped in her palms. Qi Yan had to exert some strength to hold her tightly.

    Will she finally be willing to open up?

    Lu Zhiqiao, just raised her mouth a few times and talked to her a few more words, she felt full of hope, her heart seemed to grow wings and was about to fly away, it was rampant in her chest, the joy was completely uncontrollable, and she crawled quietly  Up the corners of her eyes and brows.

    "Are you an only child?" Lu Zhiqiao smiled at her sideways.

    "Yes."

    "Very nice."

    "Do you have brothers and sisters?" Qi Yan asked in return.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s expression froze, she didn''t speak, and her gaze turned back erratically. There are several fishing boats driving on the sea, dotted with dots, dragging out strips of fine and white waves, and seabirds fly behind.

    She didn''t want to say it again.

    Qi Yan felt slightly lost, but knew that there was no need to rush. Being able to speak a few words was already a huge improvement, so it''s better to take it slowly.  So she changed the subject: "Why did you always think that I have no distinction between public and private?"

    The hand in her palm shrank, Lu Zhiqiao''s lips twitched, hesitated for a moment before saying: "Niu Niu''s primary school head teacher is that kind of person."

    "..."

    Once bitten, twice shy.  Because of the lessons learned from the past, she will always pay attention. Qi Yan finally understood, she had no decency before, and she was always taking advantage of her. Which inevitably gave this person the impression that she was unreliable. Lu Zhiqiao had a reason.

    "Then remember, I''m not like that kind of person." She said in a slightly disdainful tone.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her head to look over, with a smile in her eyes: "I blamed you, now I know you are not."

    The black tear mole was gentle and vivid, so charming, Qi Yan couldn''t hold back for a moment, hugged her from the side, kissed her hair, and was pushed away mercilessly the next second.

    Lu Zhiqiao panicked and turned her head to look at the cow shed. Seeing that her daughter was still squatting beside the cow, squeezing hard, not paying attention to the situation here, she was relieved, and gave Qi Yan a reproachful look, her eyes full of shame and annoyance.

    Qi Yan was a shameless person, but now her true nature was revealed yet again, she leaned over and brushed her hair, her voice was low and hoarse: "Have you ever dated a woman?"

    The sea breeze is cool, but the breath in her ear slightly burns her.

    Lu Zhiqiao trembled slightly, her face flushed immediately, she raised her hand and pushed her: "... unrequited love shouldn''t count."

    --puff

    "Ha ha ha ha."

    "What are you laughing at?" Lu Zhiqiao glared at her, "I''m so busy every day, I don''t have time to fall in love."

    "hahahahahahahaha."

    Qi Yan asked to know if she was bisexual, but this person only thought it was whether she had ever been in a relationship.

    "..."

    On their way back in the evening, the three sat in the car, too tired to enjoy the scenery along the way.

    The two adults sat side by side in the back row, and while Lu Zhiqiao was staggering, she fell asleep, leaning into Qi Yan''s arms with her eyes closed.

    The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled the sky, and the golden-red light came in through the window, which was a bit dazzling. Qi Yan lowered her eyes and stared at Lu Zhiqiao''s peaceful sleeping face, her heart softened into warm spring water.  to block the harsh sunlight.

    "Mom¡­¡­"

    Lu Wei turned her head and was about to speak when Qi Yan hurriedly raised her index finger at her: "Shh."

    She saw that her mother was leaning on the teacher''s arms, her eyes were closed, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, as if she was sleeping soundly and at ease.

    ....

    When they arrived at the hotel, it was already dark, and they were really tired after playing all day, so they didn''t want to go shopping anymore. Qi Yan went to buy some ingredients and made a simple dinner.

    The mother and daughter were well fed.

    After taking a bath, they discussed and planned to go to the smallest island tomorrow, where there is a lush tropical rainforest, and it is a must-see attraction when they come to the Roland Islands. But because the small island is far away from the main island, the rainforest is relatively primitive, and there are not many modern facilities. They need to rent a car, drive to the pier by boat, and then drive around by themselves.

    "Let''s rent one, I''ll drive it. I have an international driver''s license." Qi Yan said calmly.

    Lu Wei was so excited that she slapped her hands and said, "Wow, good!"

    Teacher Qi is simply a universal baby.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "..."

    "Okay, go to bed early, I''m tired today, sleep well, let''s continue surfing tomorrow." She turned off the computer, threw off her slippers and crawled back to her bed.

    As soon as the lights were turned off, she couldn''t see her fingers, and the whole world became quiet.

    In the middle of the night, Lu Zhiqiao was woken up by an urge to pee, and got up in a daze to go to the bathroom.  Afraid of waking up the two sleeping people, she didn''t turn on the light, went to the toilet in the dark, washed her hands, and returned to the bed in the dark.

    An arm wrapped around her waist in a flash, and then the world spun around for a while, and she was caught off guard and taken into a strange bed.

    "Qi Yan, uh-"

    Her mouth was covered, warm breath came from her ears, and her voice was sleepy: "I won''t do anything, I''ll just hug you."

    Author''s Note:

    Teacher Qi: I really won¡¯t do anything!

    No car, don''t worry, hhhh

 CH 36

    There was a light and soft fragrance in the bed, warm and seductive. Lu Zhiqiao was lying on her side, her slender waist was tightly bound by a strong arm of the person behind her, unable to move. Her mouth was covered, and her thin soft lips were pressed against the woman''s warm palm, and the breath in her ears was provocative, causing her to tremble uncontrollably, and her mind went blank.

    "I won''t do anything, I''ll just hug you." The weak, sleepy voice revealed a pleading tone.

    Lu Zhiqiao tensed up, her heart was beating fast due to the fright, her mouth and nose were covered and she''s getting short of oxygen, and her breathing became more and more rapid, but she was worried for her daughter who was sleeping in the next bed, so she dared not move, and there was a whining sound in her throat.

    "Okay?" Qi Yan thought she was resisting and was about to shout, so she covered her hands even tighter.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded hurriedly, and finally let go of her hand when she was about to suffocate. She took a deep breath, relaxed her straight back, and nestled limply in Qi Yan''s arms.

    After taking a few breaths, her mood gradually calmed down. The night was quiet, and any tiny movement would be magnified infinitely.

    Qi Yan was very honest, she just hugged when she said she will just hug, her hands were neat and did not move, she didn''t even move her fingertips. The sound of breathing in Lu Zhiqiao''s ear was quiet and steady, and the frequency seemed to be in a state of half asleep. It seemed that she was not fully awake, and she must have been woken up by the sound of her getting up to go to the bathroom just now.

    Thinking of this, Lu Zhiqiao relaxed.

    The quilt is very thin, covering the body only to keep out the cold and the wind. It is no different from the air-conditioning quilt. There are two people lying on a single bed. It was a bit crowded and they had to stick closely, not allowing a gap

    It is common for women to sleep together, but both of them are curvy*, and they have been in an intimate relationship. Even if their brains are not dreaming, the temperature of the body that is getting dry can hardly cover up the crooked thoughts. The soft cotton was burnt into a hard soldering iron, and the heat surged from behind with fire, flowing through their whole body little by little.

    *not talking about body shapes here, curvy = not straight, lala, les, gae etc.

    Lu Zhiqiao was burned uncomfortably. Hearing the steady breathing behind her, she thought she was asleep, so she carefully grabbed the hand in front of her, trying to move it away.

    "...Well, don''t move." Qi Yan whispered and hugged her tightly.

    Her neck that had just been raised was lowered, and Qi Yan''s cheeks and the tip of the nose were pressed against Lu Zhiqiao''s back, rubbing, then hovering around for a while, moved behind the ear, and buried it deep in her hair.

    Lu Zhiqiao was very sensitive, and this made her whimper uncontrollably, especially in the silent night, she quickly covered her mouth, and stared nervously at the next bed in the dark.

    Her daughter was in a deep sleep and didn''t move.

    It was Qi Yan who woke up from her doze. She moved her face away from Lu Zhiqiao''s hair, thinking that she was hugging her too tightly, so she loosened her arms and said hoarsely, "Let''s hug for a while, just for a while."

    "..."

    This woman is really pushing it! Lu Zhiqiao thought angrily, and she got so annoyed that she scratched her hand with her nails.

    "Hiss¡ª"

    Qi Yan was in pain, and suppressed her voice to beg for mercy: "Don''t pinch, I was wrong..." After speaking, she kissed her hair flatteringly, gently comforting her.

    "This is the bed you slept in."

    "Pillows, quilts, sheets, all smell like you..."

    "I''m sleeping in your smell, I am so happy."

    "But the more this happens, the more I miss you. You are very close to me, and yet I still can''t hug you."

    "So, just a little longer, I promise."

    Qi Yan''s voice is getting lower and lower, there is a brief moist feeling on the back of Lu Zhiqiao''s neck, her hair on the shoulders is gently moved, and it felt a little tingly. Lu Zhiqiao''s heart softened immediately, she withdrew her hand, and slowly placed her palm on the back of Qi Yan''s hand, nestling quietly, allowing her to hug her.

    After coming out of this trip, out of her usual environment, Lu Zhiqiao found that she hasn''t been herself. She was fine on the first day. But ever since Qi Yan joined them, her emotions were extremely easy to fluctuate. Subtle things could trigger a magnitude 10 earthquake in her heart, randomly thinking about what is there or what is not. She goes in circles, unable to totally get rid of Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan likes her, and her intentions are obvious, how could she not understand.

    In the past ten years, there have been many people pursuing her, men and women, big and small, some people like her face, some just want to conquer her, and some just want a gentle big sister like her, some even don''t like her. For the shameless, they look for her hard-earned money to find long-term meal tickets.

    Maybe some of them are sincere, but she didn''t want to believe them. Rather than spending time and energy understanding and accepting another person, it is better to earn more money and raise her daughter well.

    So she used the excuse of being married to drive away many suitors. To men, she said that she had a husband and a child, and to women, she said that she had a straight orientation and had a family. Gradually, no one approached her, and she and her daughter were the only ones depending on each other.

    What does Qi Yan like about her?

    They met in a bar, and their relationship as a one-night love partner inevitably gave them trouble in their private life. She didn''t know how Qi Yan treated her, but that''s how she treated Qi Yan before, thinking that the other party was just for fun. Fresh for a while. Even if coincidences happen one after another later, and the relationship changes from simple to complicated, it won''t change for the better.

    At that time, she thought, Qi Yan just hadn''t tasted enough new flavors and wanted to try again. And for her, it was just an instinctive reaction to being alone for too long.

    Now she discovered that Qi Yan was such an excellent person, the person she wanted to be but couldn''t. The person she wanted to get close to but couldn''t.

    So what does she like about her?

    Her body? Or face?

    She is exhausted, with only work and money on her mind, living mediocrely in a dark corner of the city, afraid to see the light, afraid to open her heart, and she still has child, whom most people would regard as oil bottles*. Who would really like her, and what is it about her that deserves to be liked by others?

    *excess baggage

    Instead of taking a gamble in trusting someone, it is better to stick to her comfort zone and live in peace.

    Just forget about that crazy night when they first met.

    As Lu Zhiqiao thought about it, her heart throbbed. She closed her eyes in the dark, and a drop of crystal slipped from the corner of her eyes, blending with the night.

    "Go to sleep..." Qi Yan''s vague voice came from behind.

    The arms around her waist slowly pulled away, and she could feel that she turned over and swept away the quilt. Her movements were somewhat decisive, as if she had made up her mind with difficulty, and was afraid that she would go back on it.

    The warm temperature on her back suddenly disappeared. Lu Zhiqiao, felt a sense of loss. After a moment of silence, she got up, went back to the next bed lightly, and lay down beside her daughter.

    She lay flat for a while, then turned her head to look at Qi Yan.

    Thick curtains blocked the light outside, and nothing could be seen in the dark room, only the outline of the quilt arched could be vaguely discerned...

    ¡­.

    It was late the next day, the sun had already climbed up from the horizon, and the beach was buzzing with people and it was very lively.

    After ten o''clock, the three hurriedly packed their belongings and set out to rent a car in the city. Because they went late, they only rented an old second-hand pickup, which looked a bit worn out. Lu Zhiqiao was worried about the safety of the car, but Qi Yan was very calm, and asked the shop owner for some emergency supplies, just in case.

    The local vehicles also drive on the right, and Qi Yan is quick to learn. Although the pickup is old, it has a lot of storage space. There are no restaurants on the island, only small shops. They prepared more dry food and water, as well as anti-mosquito medicines.

    The sun is shining, the temperature is high, and the people on the street are dressed coolly, full of the summer atmosphere.

    There was a long queue of cars at the pier, one by one they drove onto the ferry, and then the ferry transported them to the island in batches. Qi Yan and the others didn''t know which batch they were in. They sat in the car and took the boat, driving across the boundless ocean, large and small islands becoming smaller and smaller in sight until they disappeared.

    There is a well-preserved tropical rainforest on the island. The densely packed trees on both sides of the road tower into the sky and are lush. The sunlight leaks through the gaps in the branches and leaves, forming a unique "wreath in the sky" scenery.

    Taking a deep breath of the air here will make you feel refreshed.

    The pickup truck was driving slowly on the forest path, occasionally passing by other vehicles, Qi Yan slowed down the speed of the car so that the mother and daughter had enough time to watch.

    "It turns out that trees can really grow so tall..." Lu Wei leaned on the car window, her head stretched out almost to the limit, her small mouth opened and closed.

    After seeing it with her own eyes, she realized that the book is not deceiving, and the pictures in her mind had concrete concepts.

    Qi Yan held the steering wheel with one hand, and adjusted the central rearview mirror with the other hand so that she could see the mother and daughter sitting behind. She glanced at Lu Zhiqiao with a calm expression, and said leisurely: "Yes, Niu Niu, do you know what kinds of trees are there?"

    The little girl was stunned for a moment, retracted her head, frowned and thought about it, and stumbled: "Poplar tree, locust tree, elm tree..."

    How could she know how many kinds of trees there are, and she just talked nonsense about all the tree species she had heard, and she could always be right.

    "You didn''t get any of them right." Qi Yan shook her head ruthlessly.

    "Do you want to ask mom?"

    Lu Wei pouted, turned her head to look at her mother, and shook her arm: "Mom, do you know?"

    She thought that Lu Zhiqiao would ignore them and be too lazy to participate in their childish games, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhiqiao curled the corners of her mouth, calmly said, "eucalyptus tree, rubber tree, cocoa tree. There are at least three kinds.

    "Is that right Teacher Qi?"

    "Well, that''s right."

    Qi Yan nodded in satisfaction, saw Lu Zhiqiao looking at her through the rearview mirror, raised her eyebrows and smiled lightly: "There used to be many indigenous people living here, they..."

    While driving, she talked about the local history and culture, and told interesting stories about her past visits here, which made the mother and daughter laugh from time to time. After observing for a day or two, she found that Lu Zhiqiao seemed to have something on her mind and was not very happy. If she is the cause, her crime can snowball. If this continues, she might have to take the initiative and stay away from both the mother and daughter.

    Suddenly, the car jerked, as if it hit something, and then drove for a certain distance, they swerved gradually to the right.

    Qi Yan frowned, held the steering wheel with both hands, stepped on the brake slowly to stop at the side of the road, and opened the door.

    "What''s wrong?" Lu Zhiqiao''s heart tightened, and she got out of the car. She saw Qi Yan circling the car with her head down, stopped at the right rear, and squatted down.

    The right rear wheel was slightly deflated, and there was a crack in the mud-stained sidewall.

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth, her mind went blank: "This¡ª"

    "It''s okay, we''ll just change it." Qi Yan said lightly, stretched out her hand and pressed the crack, got up and walked to the cargo box, picked up the spare tire and put it on the ground.

    She didn''t know what had pierced on it just now. The old car might not be overhauled frequently, and the tire burst in no time. Fortunately, they were driving very slowly, and the cargo box at the back was also equipped with basic maintenance tools.

    Qi Yan moved the jack down, supported the car, raised the wrench and squatted beside the tire, and skillfully removed the screws.

    Her hair was loose, and the ends hung down dangerously, almost sweeping the floor. Lu Zhiqiao removed her own hair tie, then picked up Qi Yan''s long black and smooth hair with both hands, gently coiled it a few times, and tied it up.

    It was as smooth as silk to the touch.

    Seeing that her long sleeves were about to rub against the mud, she hurriedly rolled up the sleeves for her, revealing her thin and smooth elbows.

    Qi Yan kept moving her hands, raised her eyes to look at Lu Zhiqiao, and smiled lightly.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes to avoid her gaze, looked at the ruptured tire, and murmured: "You can change tires..."

    "After studying abroad for a few years, I have learned almost everything, and my practical ability was forced out. A friend of mine just built a wooden house for himself." She replied with a smile.

    "You can just hire someone to do it, you probably don''t care about the labor costs."

    "Foreigners are not efficient. By the time they arrive, I already have all tires replaced, and it''s not difficult. Anyone who can drive will have to learn it."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, said nothing, and looked at her quietly.

    Not long after, the spare tire was replaced. Qi Yan packed up the tools, clapped her hands, and looked up, and there was a bottle of mineral water with the cap open in front of her. Lu Zhiqiao held the water, didn''t look at her, and only whispered, "Wash your hands."

    ....

    After changing the spare tire, they continued the tour. The trees were lush in the rainforest, and the three of them didn''t dare to go to too remote places. They walked on the main road, and took pictures when they reached a scenic spot, and the sun quickly rose above their heads.

    The sun shines through the mottled green leaves and projects into the forest. It is just below a "sky garden". The light and shadow are graceful and the mood is soft, which is very suitable for taking pictures. Qi Yan was inspired and wanted to take some photos of the mother and daughter. First, she took a single photo of Lu Wei. The child said she wanted to go to the toilet, so she ran to the public toilet in the wooden house not far away.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood under the tree alone, her thin long sarong fluttering lightly. A spot of light fell on the top of her head, the afterimage was hazy, her plain and beautiful face was divided into warm and cold colors, the scenery was picturesque.

    "Lean to the left a little more, look up, yes, okay, don''t move."

    Qi Yan held up the camera, lightly pressed the shutter, and capture this moment forever.

    "Is it done?"

    "Yes."

    "Let me see." Lu Zhiqiao raised her smiling face and couldn''t wait to walk over. Suddenly, a sharp pain came from her calf. She wailed and her feet weakened, and she fell to the ground.

    Looking down, a small black and yellow snake was lying on the haystack, flicking out bright red tongue...

    Author''s Note:

    Oh, well...

 CH 37

    The snake is small, covered with black and yellow scales, with two mung bean eyes that are eerie and strange, waggling its bright red tongue; looking vicious and vigilant. Lu Zhiqiao caught a glimpse of it, suddenly, her heart constricted in fright, she screamed, and crawled back.

    Qi Yan was fiddling with the camera, when she heard the sound, and suddenly raised her head, frowned, and ran over: "What''s wrong?"

    "Snake, there is a snake..."

    A faint rustling sound came from the haystack not far away, and a small snake covered with black and yellow patterns twisted and swam away quickly. Qi Yan was taken aback, and subconsciously took half a step back. She chased it with a stone in a few steps, swung her arm and slammed it hard, hitting the head of the snake impartially, the snake twitched twice, and did not move again.

    She gathered her fingertips, turned her head and ran back, and saw scarlet blood dripping from Lu Zhiqiao''s thin white calf, and two rows of fine and dense tooth marks were shocking.

    Bitten.

    At that moment, her brain seemed to be hollowed out, Qi Yan was stunned for two seconds, her lashes trembled slightly, her mouth was involuntarily half-opened, suddenly took a deep breath.

    Without further ado, she squatted down and lowered her head to untie the shoelaces on her feet.

    The tropical rain forest with lush vegetation has a humid and warm climate, and it is a paradise for all kinds of mosquitoes, snakes and ants. Tourists are prohibited from entering several areas on the island where wild animals often appear. However, in order to protect the local ecological environment, the restrictions are not very strict, so creatures that move fast and scurry around like snakes can''t be guarded at all.

    There have been several cases of tourists being bitten by poisonous snakes. Some of them died of organ failure due to untimely treatment.

    "Qi Yan..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face turned pale, her lips trembled uncontrollably, and her voice became hoarse, almost gasping out. She stared at her calf and the wound kept gushing blood. The glaring scarlet slid down her fair skin, and dripped into the haystack. She seemed to feel no pain at this moment, and many thoughts flashed through her mind.

    Most of the snakes in the tropical rainforest are poisonous, and they are highly poisonous, and people will die within tens of minutes after being bitten. Thinking of this, she realized that she might die here today, very soon.

    A strong fear welled up in her heart, and she immediately thought of her daughter. What to do? Her little girl, who is not yet fourteen years old, with no ability to live independently, so she will go through life and death again, and then become an orphan completely. After she dies, who would take care of her daughter? Will she be sent to an orphanage? Will she be in pain? Does she have to suffer a lot?

    In those difficult days in the past, she thought about ending her life countless times, but her sense of responsibility forced her to live. As long as she thought of her crime of more than ten years ago and her young and helpless daughter, no matter how hard it was, she could bear it. But today''s accident made everything uncontrollable.

    They depend on each other in this corner of the world. They are each other''s only relatives.

    Thinking of this, her heart was sore and bitter, tears welled up and rolled in her eyes.

    "Well, I''m here." Qi Yan untied her shoelaces without raising her head, with voice low and panting.

    Her fingers trembled a little, and she pinched the shoelaces and pulled them out several times. She took a deep breath, bit her lower lip tightly, and pulled them hard to remove the two shoelaces, and then spliced ??them together to tie a knot. The first time it was loose, and the second time it was successful.

    With these simple and steady words, Lu Zhiqiao seemed to be grasping at straws, sniffed lightly, and said, "My bank card password is 070217, all cards and passbooks are the same, and the passbook at home is in the bottom drawer of my closet. As well as the real estate certificate and household registration book, I bought insurance for myself..."

    "Shut up!" Qi Yan interrupted with a frown, straightened the shoelaces to wrap around her calf wounds, and tied them tightly.

    The palms of the hands were sweaty, and the knot was tied several times after repeated tries. She supported Lu Zhiqiao''s shoulders, looked directly into those tearful eyes, and said word by word: "It''s gonna be okay, listen to me, now, keep breathing steadily, don''t panic, try to delay the time for the toxin to reach the heart, and then sit here. Don''t move, I''ll call the ambulance."

    "Trust me, it''s gonna be fine."

    She said it again, with a calm face, but her voice was trembling uncontrollably, her tone changing and she had to clench her teeth.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her with fixed eyes, and the tense string in her heart was torn apart, tears burst out instantly, and she choked up and called her name: "Qi Yan..."

    For so many years, she is used to carrying everything alone, never letting herself fall into emotional mud, and always keeping calm and rational. Right now, in the face of life and death, she finally collapsed. If there was no one to comfort her, she might have to maintain her last sliver of strength. But after hearing Qi Yan''s comfort; someone who understood her difficulties and pain, all emotions exploded at this moment: fear, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness.

    "Niu Niu is still so young...what will she do..." Lu Zhiqiao hugged Qi Yan and cried bitterly.

    Thinking of her daughter''s lonely and helpless future, her heart twitched and ached. After all, she didn''t raise the child properly, and if she dies, her sins would be even deeper, she couldn''t rest in peace.

    The forest is quiet and peaceful, and the sun is shining down from the top of her head, like the last scene of her life.

    Qi Yan hugged her tightly, her arms were trembling due to too much force. Her eyes were misty trying to blink away invisible tears, brows were tangled up, while her lips were pursed into a straight line, clenching her teeth to keep herself from choking.

    Her heart was pinched, cut open, and crushed. The fear was contagious, and it was torturing her to death.

    Because of this, Qi Yan understood that she could not be afraid or panic now. So she patted Lu Zhiqiao on the back and comforted her softly: "It will be fine, the three of us came, and the three of us will go back."

    Having said that, she didn''t know what to do, she just didn''t want to think about the worst case, it would be an unbearable pain for her.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s mind was full of her daughter, so she couldn''t hear the comforting words, but she cried even more fiercely, grabbed Qi Yan''s hand and said, "The card and passbook add up to more than three million... I''ll give it to you... Please ...take care of Niu Niu for me, okay..."

    "Okay." Qi Yan nodded vigorously, agreeing without hesitation.  "Do not worry."

    She raised her hand to hold Lu Zhiqiao''s face, slowly wiped away the tears with her fingertips, patted her back with the other hand, and kissed her forehead lightly. Perhaps this answer played a soothing role, Lu Zhiqiao gasped, her tense body softened, and leaned against Qi Yan''s arms, her eyes were ashen.

    She can rest in peace.

    Sorry.

    Lu Zhiqiao apologized to Qi Yan in her heart, with a desolate expression.

    Qi Yan grabbed her hand and kissed her, then helped her to sit up. Her eyes showing a trace of firm determination: "Wait for me."

    After speaking, she got up, ran to the car parked on the side of the road, picked up her phone and dialed the local emergency number, explained the situation clearly and concisely, then returned to Lu Zhiqiao with the emergency kit, quickly dug out the gauze and normal saline, wiped off the fluid. After the blood came out, she washed the wound and did a simple bandage.

    Her every movement is crisp and neat, racing against time.

    "The rescue helicopter will be here soon. Let''s go to the entrance of the rainforest now." Qi Yan pulled Lu Zhiqiao''s arm around her neck and put it on her shoulder. Together, she helped her out of the forest.

    "Mom--"

    Lu Wei came back after using the toilet.

    The little girl jumped to the side of the car and found no one inside. Turning around and looking around, she saw Qi Yan helping Lu Zhiqiao out of the woods. The latter''s legs were wrapped in gauze, faintly oozing with blood.

    She was frightened and ran over quickly: "What''s wrong with your leg?"

    The expressions of the mother and the teacher were not quite right, both of them had red eyes, especially her mother, eyes were red and swollen, her nose was also red, and her face was as pale as paper. At that moment, she had guessed that something bad had happened.

    Seeing her daughter, Lu Zhiqiao''s dark eyes lit up, but her heart became more and more sour. She opened her mouth, and just about to speak, Qi Yan stepped forward and said: "It''s okay, your mother accidentally fell and hit her leg. We are now going to the hospital."

    The little girl frowned worriedly, and wanted to ask, but she didn''t dare to waste time, so she quickly opened the car door, helped her mother get into the car, and then went up by herself.

    The old pickup truck shuttled along the forest path, much faster than when it came, and it was silent along the way.

    The mother and daughter sat in the back row, Lu Wei hugged her mother''s waist, and never took her eyes off her injured calf. Seeing that the red spot in snow-white gauze was getting bigger and bigger, her heart beat a small drum, feeling uneasy.

    If she''s bleeding so much, she must have fallen hard. If this continues like this, won''t her life be in danger? She was so scared, her mother was her only relative in this world, if something happened to her, she would become a poor little unwanted person, and she would be sent to an orphanage, just...

    "Mom..." The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, Lu Wei''s eyes became moist, "Is your leg... serious?"

    Lu Zhiqiao put one arm around her daughter''s shoulders, her face was ashen, showing the calmness of waiting for death, but when she heard her daughter calling her, her heart ached again, and she turned her head and put her face on her forehead, softly: "It''s not serious."

    "But it''s been bleeding a lot." The little girl''s throat was choked up, tears streaming down her cheeks, her fingers clenched the corners of her clothes tightly.

    "It''s okay." Lu Zhiqiao smiled and kissed his daughter''s face, "Skin trauma, it won''t bleed after a while."

    "Well."

    The child didn''t seem to believe it, but she didn''t speak any more. She leaned her little head in front of her and hugged her even tighter.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a light breath, touched her daughter''s soft ponytail, more and more bitterness overflowed in her heart, and couldn''t help saying: "Young girl, you have to listen to Teacher Qi."

    "?"

    Lu Wei froze and looked at her in horror.

    "I mean, when we get to the hospital, you have to listen to Teacher Qi and don''t run around." Realizing what she said, Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly made amends. If it wasn''t for fear of scaring her daughter, she really wanted to explain everything right now.

    "...okay." The little girl breathed a sigh of relief.

    Qi Yan was driving in front, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, palms were sweaty and slippery.  Listening to the conversation between the mother and daughter, her heart was pounding. Just at this moment, she turned a corner, and a car approached her. She lost control of the direction and almost ran into it head-on.

    Fortunately, she reacted quickly, slammed the steering wheel, made a sharp turn, and was able to avoid it.

    With the sudden shaking, Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously hugged her daughter tightly and grabbed the roof rail.  She raised her eyes, looked at the back of the woman driving, and suddenly felt a dense sense of fullness in her heart, and her throat was a little choked: "Qi Yan..."

    "I am here."

    "I''m fine." She said softly.

    Qi Yan pursed her lips tightly and did not speak, the car was getting faster and faster.

    When they arrived at the entrance of the rainforest, the rescue helicopter also arrived. Lu Zhiqiao was carried on a stretcher by the emergency personnel, and Qi Yan and Lu Wei also followed. The little girl had never seen such a big show, and she thought it was amusing. But it didn''t take long to realize the seriousness of the situation.

    She saw Teacher Qi holding her mother''s hand all the time, she also saw her mother''s eyes as if saying goodbye, and even saw a tear in Teacher Qi''s eyes. She heard Teacher Qi talking to the uncle who was carrying the stretcher. She spoke very fast, and there were many unfamiliar words.

    It only took two or three minutes to fly from the small island to the main island. As soon as they landed in the hospital, Lu Zhiqiao was sent to the emergency room, and the teacher and student were stopped outside.

    Seeing the heavy and thick door close, Qi Yan''s heart was knocked, and her chest was empty, as if something had been ripped out.

    Growing up so big, she has only experienced life and death once. It was when she was nine years old, and her grandfather who loved her like life was sent to the emergency room. She stood here just like today, watching the door close and open. The person who was just in the ward a moment ago and said that he would fry sweet and sour pork ribs for her turned into a still warm corpse in the blink of an eye, which was so fast that people were caught off guard.

    She cried her heart out in the hospital that day, and she still deeply remembers the pain of being hollowed out.

    For a long time afterwards, she would cry when she saw pictures of sweet and sour pork ribs, and would vomit when she smelled sweet and sour pork ribs, and could no longer eat all the food related to pork ribs.

    The biggest thing in the world is life and death. Losing an important person is heartbreaking.

    She and Lu Zhiqiao aren''t relatives, but after only three months of getting along, that person has been unknowingly planted in her heart and took root. She remembered the gentle and vivid tears when she smiled, the cold and indifferent eyes and brows when she was not smiling, the light and pleasant smell of perfume on her body, her blouse that was always buttoned to the top, her unpredictable temperament, and unsolvable family mystery.

    And all this will be taken away by the snake venom.

    If they hadn''t stepped into the woods at that time, if they hadn''t stayed so long, or if they had changed to a location where there were not many trees and the grass was not lush, wouldn''t it have happened?  Maybe the toxin is not that powerful, maybe they arrived at the doctor to deal with it in time, maybe she isn''t poisoned, could it be a false alarm?

    Qi Yan''s nerves were tense, her legs stood stiffly, her heart was filled with mixed emotions, both apprehensive and hopeful.

    "Teacher Qi..."

    She regained her senses, curled up her cold fingers, turned around, and saw Lu Wei looking at her cautiously, her small face pale: "Are you lying to me?"

    "Is my mother badly hurt?"

    The child doesn''t know much, but she can observe. Seeing their nervousness and panic, the few things she picked up during the rescue, she naturally understood a little bit. As she spoke, tears came out.

    Qi Yan was startled, but her expression suddenly turned into pity.

    The mother and daughter are each other''s only relatives. If Lu Zhiqiao''s life is in danger, there will be only this poor child left in the world. Just now Lu Zhiqiao was in a hurry to entrust her daughter to her, and she agreed without thinking, because if the worst happened, she would definitely do it, even without Lu Zhiqiao''s instructions. It was not a matter of money, she was not short of money, her family has more than enough to raise a child.

    Twelve years old is already a sensible age, she understands what life and death are, and what it means to have nothing to rely on in the future, but her mind is still immature, how will she bear such a cruel blow?

    At least, Niu Niu has the right to know.

    Qi Yan took a deep breath, moved her lips, stepped forward and took the girl''s hand, wiped the tears off her face, and said softly, "Niu Niu, your mother was bitten by a snake..."

    Before she finished speaking, the little girl cried even harder, her body twitched, and she choked up and asked, "Will she die?"

    Qi Yan felt sore in her heart, she pressed her lips together, unable to utter a single word.

    She didn''t want to make any guesses, and she didn''t want to think about whether the result would be good or bad. Every minute and every second of waiting was suffering, which would only increase the fear in her heart for no reason. But at the moment the child is more vulnerable and needs comfort more than her, the strong adult.

    "No." Qi Yan hugged the girl, "The doctor can save her, we will wait here."

    As soon as the words were finished, the door behind her opened. At that moment, she raised her whole heart, subconsciously hugged Niu Niu tightly, and told herself not to be afraid, not to panic, no matter what scene she sees. Then, slowly turn around.

    A nurse came out, followed by Lu Zhiqiao with a dazed face.

    "Mom!" Lu Wei cried and ran to hug her.

    Qi Yan was also stunned, so she hurriedly went up to ask the nurse what was going on, and the nurse said, "Her blood does not contain any kind of snake venom, it was a non-venomous snake that bit her. We have treated her wounds, and now she needs to follow me. To get a tetanus shot."

    Turning her gaze to Lu Zhiqiao, who was lowering her head to comfort her daughter, Qi Yan saw that the wound on her calf had been bandaged again, and the bleeding had stopped.

    The tense nerves were suddenly relaxed, and she was lifted from hell to heaven in one swoop.

    During the injection, Qi Yan was still not at ease, and asked the nurse if she was sure, "Is it really not poisonous? The snake''s pattern is black and yellow, very bright, they''re usually a poisonous snake."

    "Poisonous snakes have two large fangs, and the wound left after the bite is two large and deep holes, while non-venomous snakes do not have large fangs, leaving only two rows of small symmetrical tooth marks." The nurse explained to her, then smiled helplessly.

    "According to your description, it should be a yellow chain snake. There is a kind of golden krait that looks quite similar to it. It is highly poisonous. Those two are often confused by people."

    Unfamiliar words appeared, Qi Yan didn''t understand, but the meaning of the sentence was understood, probably there are two kinds of snakes that look alike, one is poisonous and the other is non-poisonous, the one that bit Lu Zhiqiao was non-poisonous, they didn''t know it and it scared them to death.

    When she saw the snake just now, Qi Yan was also taken aback. Her first reaction was that the snake was poisonous, so she only thought about saving Lu Zhiqiao and neglected to observe the wound. Now that she thinks about it, she and her friends went to the Amazon Rainforest to observe the wind in the early years. In a local village, almost everyone was bitten by a snake. There were some scars on their arms and legs. Some of them were bitten by a poisonous snake and survived in time. It is okay to be bitten by a non-venomous snake, and the wound has two shapes.

    As long as you calm down, you won''t be in such a mess.

    However, it was about Lu Zhiqiao, how could she calm down?

    Qi Yan breathed a sigh of relief, and held Lu Zhiqiao''s other hand, her palm was cold and wet. Lu Zhiqiao looked up at her, with eyes revealing joy and other many complicated meanings. She seemed to understand, but at the same time, not quite understand.

    The two stared at each other for a long time, their gazes tightly intertwined, filled with dark and unclear emotions.

    Lu Wei''s eyes widened as she watched from the side.

    Her mother and teacher are looking at each other strangely, and there is a sense of familiarity, which is the same as the feeling when she saw them hugging on the sofa that day, just like... the hero and heroine in TV dramas often look at each other when they are emotionally confessing their love.

    Can it be between good friends? It seems that she will try it with her little sister when she goes back.

    After this incident happened, although it was a false alarm, they were terribly frightened. All three of them were exhausted, and no one was in the mood to play any more. After leaving the hospital, they took a taxi back to the hotel.

    Qi Yan helped Lu Zhiqiao into the room, and wanted her to lie on the bed to rest, but she refused, fearing that the sheets would be dirty, so she insisted on sitting on the sofa.  Unable to resist, Qi Yan had no choice but to follow her, took a pillow for her back, and asked softly: "Are you hungry? If you want to eat, I''ll go buy something."

    Ignoring the child beside her, she grabbed her hand.

    Lu Zhiqiao had just recovered from the fear of death, and her thoughts were a little sluggish. She saw fine beads of sweat on Qi Yan''s forehead, her nose was sore, and subconsciously held the woman''s hand: "You are tired too, take a rest. I''m not hungry."

    "I''m not tired." Qi Yan smiled softly, and sat down next to her, "You only ate snacks from morning to now, and the main meal is over, it''s a wonder why you''re not hungry."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips. At this moment, thousands of feelings were condensed in her heart. She didn''t know what to say for a while. She was a little embarrassed to be stared at by Qi Yan like this, and then remembered that she had just made a false alarm.

    She lowered her eyes in embarrassment and said nothing.

    "Then I''ll see what to buy." Qi Yan patted the back of her hand, let go and stood up, "Niu Niu, you stay here with mom, I''ll go out and buy something to eat, and I''ll be back soon."

    The little girl came over with a glass of warm water and nodded: "Okay."

    Qi Yan left and only the mother and daughter were left in the house.

    "Mom, are you thirsty? Drink some water." Lu Wei handed over the cup and stood by the sofa looking at her mother in a daze.

    She wasn''t thirsty but she didn''t say anything, Lu Zhiqiao took a few sips from the cup, put it down, reached out and took her daughter into her arms, touched her hair and face, and took a deep breath: "Niu Niu, it''s okay, it''s okay  It''s..."

    The warmth in her arms is extremely reassuring.

    She is lucky, she didn''t die, and it is God who is reluctant to let this child lose its mother. She is not poisoned, she is still alive, and her little girl will not become an orphan.

    Lu Wei put her arms around her mother''s neck, nodded, buried her small face in her hair, and said in a muffled voice: "Mom, Teacher Qi is also very worried about you."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment, the figure of that person flashed in her mind, the corners of her mouth slightly curled up, and a wry smile appeared.

    In just two hours, her mood was ups and downs, as if she had walked through the gate of hell, between life and death. She suddenly had mixed feelings. When she was most flustered and helpless, Qi Yan was like a reassurance, melting into her heart gently and giving her confidence.

    But she knew that Qi Yan was also afraid.

    A girl who was five years younger than her, whose hands were shaking so badly that she was unable to control her tone, remained calm and comforted her, and even agreed to take care of her daughter without hesitation.

    After calming down, Lu Zhiqiao realized how selfish she was.

    Why did she think of Qi Yan, how can she have that face to speak? What gives her the right?

    The two of them were neither related nor acquainted, they just did it once, they happened to live opposite each other, Qi Yan had no obligation nor responsibility for a burden that did not belong to her. It''s her messed up mind that made a fool of herself and thought that Qi Yan is good for her and she can think nonsense. When usually, her so-called lofty and reserved image; a mask worn by her, couldn''t stand the serious or false teasing of that person.

    At the time of life and death, she suddenly became hypocritical and a little sentimental. After all these years, she carried her small family alone, she always coiled herself tightly and persisted with a sense of responsibility. No one asked her if she was tired, and no one cared if she was suffering. But Qi Yan''s gentle eyes and two or three simple words easily defeated her fragile line of defense. She is just an ordinary and mediocre person, to be remembered so much, even if she is dead, it is worth it.

    She is not as strong as she thought.

    She couldn''t tell what kind of feeling she really had for Qi Yan.

    She like Qi Yan''s confidence. She likes the sense of security Qi Yan gives. She likes her inexplicable but fascinating charm and many other things but she is not so sure about Qi Yan herself.

    Her heart was in a mess, and when an idea came up, Lu Zhiqiao mercilessly drove it away.

    She won''t like Qi Yan.

    ....

    Not long after, Qi Yan came back, holding a stack of food boxes in her hand, exuding a tempting aroma. She bought food for three people, took them out one by one, put them on the table, opened them, and called softly, "Niu Niu, it''s time to eat."

    The little girl was also hungry, and ran over when she smelled the aroma. When she saw that it was her favorite eel rice, she immediately put her exhaustion behind her and sat down to eat obediently.

    Qi Yan opened the bottom food box, and the light aroma overflowed. She brought it to Lu Zhiqiao, and handed over the tableware: "You have a wound on your body, so you can''t eat greasy and spicy food, so I bought vegetarian noodles, eat it first. In the evening, I will go to buy ingredients and prepare delicious food for you."

    The gentle and soft voice was like a feather, passing lightly over her heart, Lu Zhiqiao''s expression moved slightly, she looked down at the bowl of noodles, took it silently without saying a word.

    "Is it tasty?"

    "Yeah." Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes, not daring to look at her.

    Qi Yan didn''t pay attention, she focused on her bandaged calf, and said in a gentle tone, "After dinner, I''ll go to the island and drive back, and then buy ingredients. You can rest in your room, and Niu Niu will accompany you."

    "...Okay." She paused, "Come back early."

    That afternoon, Qi Yan ran around outside, thinking of Lu Zhiqiao''s words to come back early, like a wild kite tied with a rope, and the person holding the rope at the other end was her concern. So when the sun was about to set, she walked back to the hotel with her hands full, stepping on the last rays of the setting sun.

    As soon as she entered the room, she saw Lu Zhiqiao holding pajamas and going to the toilet.

    "Bathing?" she asked.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, with joy in her eyes. Seeing that she was carrying a bag full in her hands, she put down her pajamas and went to help carry it: "Yes, I''m sweating and my clothes are dirty. So I''ll take a bath."

    "I''ll help you wash yourself." Qi Yan blurted out.

 CH 38

    "I''ll help you wash yourself"

    When Qi Yan said this, she didn''t think too much about it. She was simply concerned that she had a wound on her leg, and it was inconvenient to take a bath alone. If the wound got wet, it would be very easy to get infected. After finally getting rid of the nightmare of the snake''s venom, nothing should happen again. But as soon as the words fell, the room was suddenly quiet. Lu Zhiqiao caught the bag in her hand and fell to the ground with a "slap", then raised her head and looked at her in horror.

    A little bit of cherry color spread from the tips of the ears.

    Qi Yan was stunned, but later realized that the ambiguous meaning in her words was obvious, and her thin lips moved: "I¡ª"

    "Teacher. Qi is helping mom take a bath? So you''re going to be naked?" Lu Wei stretched her neck curiously and looked over, interrupting Qi Yan''s words, which made the atmosphere more daydream-provoking.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, her cheeks blushed, she couldn''t help thinking of that crazy night, her heart was beating fast, she pretended nothing happened, bent down to pick up the bag, and whispered: "No, I can do it myself."

    She realized now that Qi Yan might have good intentions and didn''t think too much about it, fearing that her wound would be inconvenient to take a shower, but it was her who thought in a wrong way for no reason. She shouldn''t blame others for what goes on inside her mind.

    "I didn''t mean that, don''t get me wrong..."

    Qi Yan couldn''t continue, and looked at the culprit, Niu Niu, and said in a hurry: "We''re all girls, and I have what you have. There is nothing to be shy about."

    This little girl''s childish remark almost stained her own innocence.

    Unexpectedly, Lu Wei nodded vigorously and echoed: "That''s right, mom, your legs can''t touch the water, it must be inconvenient to take a bath by yourself, don''t be shy to ask Teacher Qi to help you."

    "..."

    There was an eerie silence in the room.

    Qi Yan''s heart tightened, thinking that the child had discovered something, she pretended to look up calmly, but saw the little girl holding her mobile phone and continuing to play games, she didn''t care, she looked normal.

    This kid is straight, straight, straight. Qi Yan comforted herself inwardly.

    Judging from her experience of seeing countless people, the more straight she is, the more indifferent she is to the intimacy between same-sex. She remembered the female classmates who kissed and hugged her when she was a child were all like this, sultry without knowing it. It made Qi Yan think about it. If she wanted to pretend, she would follow how they act and blend in. At any time, friendship could be used as a shield.

    However, how could she be content with the so-called friendship?  She wants more and can''t wait to think about it, but at the same time, she has to respect Lu Zhiqiao''s wishes. As long as the other party doesn''t accept her, they can only continue to maintain their "friendship".

    "It''s really unnecessary." Lu Zhiqiao lowered her gaze and said in a dull voice. "I wrapped my legs with a towel so they wouldn''t touch the water."

    "What if?" Seeing that she was taking it lightly, Qi Yan was a little anxious, and her voice involuntarily became louder.  "Infection is no joke. You just came out of the hospital, do you want to go in again?"

    The few minutes of waiting in the hospital lasted as long as centuries. At that time, she felt that the sky was about to collapse, and now that she got reminded of it, cold sweats break on her back. She tasted that feeling once when she was nine years old, and  tasted it again today. She didn¡¯t want to taste it again, for the third time.

    Lu Zhiqiao was frightened by the sudden stern tone, finally raised her eyes and looked at her. Those twinkling amber eyes were full of worries, full of fear, with hints of anger, but very restrained. Afraid of being seen that she cares deeply.

    She saw it.

    Her heart leaped hard, and jumped into her throat.

    Her world has been barren, dry for too long. When someone cared about her and was nervous about her, it was like long-awaited rain, pattering into her cracked heart. She was ready to move, instinctively longing, and surrendered all of a sudden.

    "...okay, I''ll fill the bathtub."

    "I''ll go." Qi Yan stopped her, carried the bag to the kitchen, took off the sun protection clothing outside, turned around and went into the bathroom, washed her hands twice with hand sanitizer, and rinsed the bathtub before starting to turn on the water.

    Lu Wei was playing games on the sofa, and it seemed that she had entered into an intense stage. She was having a good time playing, and she didn''t pay attention to the situation here. Lu Zhiqiao didn''t care too much, her body was too dirty, so she took off her short sleeves and shorts in one go. Then went into the bathroom with a blushing face.

    The hot water was filled quickly, and the inside was filled with smoke.

    As soon as Qi Yan turned around, she saw Lu Zhiqiao huddled by the door, standing against the wall, only wearing underwear. Her face turned red and ears hot and was in a daze for a moment. She couldn''t help but swallow, she quickly looked away, and looked down. Said in a loud voice: "I have seen everything that should be seen, and you have seen me too. We''re even, don''t be embarrassed."

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao got reminded, her face is burning hot, and she wishes she could escape immediately. However, Qi Yan has already come over with a bath towel: "Wrap up the wound."

    She tried her best not to look at her, but her eyes didn''t listen.

    Lu Zhiqiao usually looks thin,soft and weak, but in fact her body is quite proportional; she has enough fat but has a thin frame, giving people the feeling of being a delicate bird. But she probably has not exercised too much, her muscles are slightly looser, like cotton candy.

    There is a heat, burning up along the spine, she hurriedly back away a little, pretending to test the water temperature.

    Seeing that she''s behaving well, Lu Zhiqiao also breathed a sigh of relief, quickly removed the rest of her clothes, wrapped the wound with a bath towel, tied a knot, and walked to the bathtub to get into the water.

    "Slow down." Qi Yan was afraid that she would lose her balance and fall, so she supported her thin arm, letting most of Lu Zhiqiao''s weight lean on her. Her line of sight shifted involuntarily, passing through the lush jungle, and her eyes suddenly dimmed.

    The two were very close, and could smell the fragrance of each other''s hair, but the water vapor was already stuffy, and the dryness was even more intense. Lu Zhiqiao was extremely sensitive, her heart was beating violently in her throat, and she felt uncomfortable with some unspeakable excitement. She tilted her head slightly, and her thin lips touched Qi Yan''s ear inadvertently, and she could clearly feel that the woman stiffened.

    However, no one dared to play with fire.

    Lu Zhiqiao put one foot into the water, put the other half on the edge of the bathtub, sat down, and secretly glanced at Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan never looked sideways, and behaved herself, kept her eyes on the towel covering the wound, and said very understandingly: "You can wash by yourself, I won''t look, if you want to move or take something, tell me .¡±

    "..."

    Who told you to watch? Lu Zhiqiao reproached in her thoughts, pursed her lips, and ignored her.

    The steaming water vapor is getting stronger and stronger, and the sliding glass door is now foggy. Qi Yan is staring at the bath towel, motionless like a puppet. The calmer she is on the surface, the more turbulent her heart is - listening to the gurgling sound in her ear, she couldn''t help thinking about it, a real torture.

    She just came out to play and stayed in the same room. She didn''t bring any small toys.

    So she had to divert her attention, thinking about noon, thinking about the rainforest, snakes, blood, and the fear of death, and gradually lost in thoughts, which made her feel better.

    After taking a shower, Qi Yan went to pack the ingredients for cooking, while Lu Zhiqiao stood on the balcony to enjoy the air.

    The sun had already set on the horizon, the sky was dark, and at the turn of day and night, the moon climbed up. There are still many tourists on the beach, some set up tents, some have kebabs and drink beer, it''s so lively.

    Wechat received a lot of New Year''s greetings, Lu Zhiqiao replied one by one, with some polite words left and right, Wen Zilong sent her a red envelope, she accepted it, and then sent a bigger one, and then sent another to Qi Yan on a whim.

    That person is cooking, so she shouldn''t be able to see her phone.

    The warm wind blew away some of the heat from her cheeks. Lu Zhiqiao turned around and entered the room, put her phone aside, walked lightly to the door of the kitchen, saw Qi Yan''s busy body inside, and stepped forward unconsciously: "Let me help."

    The soup was simmering in the pot, while Qi Yan was cutting potatoes. Hearing her speak, she tilted her head and smiled gently: "No, go to rest and you''ll be fine after eating."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t move, she reached out to find the ingredients bag, and asked, "What did you buy?"

    "I don''t know what you like to eat. I just bought whatever I saw," Qi Yan closed her eyes, smiled embarrassedly, and felt sad for a moment.

    It''s not the first time she cooks for Lu Zhiqiao. Every time, Lu Zhiqiao would eat whatever she does, no matter whether it''s porridge and snacks for breakfast, stir-fried vegetables for lunch, or noodles for supper, she hardly picks. Two days ago, she made several dishes with different flavors with limited ingredients and food. At the dinner table, she wanted to observe which dish Lu Zhiqiao ate most frequently, but this person ate every dish very evenly, and she ate not more or less than one bite, as if she''s not picky at all.

    People who have no taste preference are the most difficult to figure out, and she has no way to start.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, and her heart skipped a beat. Her slender knuckles trembled and curled up, and whispered, "You can ask me."

    "Then I will ask you now."

    "Okay."

    "What vegetables do you like to eat?" Qi Yan stopped the knife in her hand.

    "Potatoes, Enoki mushrooms, Winter melon, Water spinach, Edamame."

    "What about meat dishes?"

    "Beef, chicken."

    "Seafood?"

    "Squid, prawns, oysters."

    "Fruit?"

    "Strawberry, Lychee."

    "Snack?"

    "No snacks."

    Qi Yan asked a lot of questions, and Lu Zhiqiao answered them one by one. In the end, she made an ok gesture to show that she understood, and continued to work on her work.

    Seeing her chopping vegetables with skillful knives, and her soft long hair hanging down like a waterfall, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help but gently gather her hair and play with it, as if talking to herself: "In fact, except for ginger, garlic and onions, I am basically not picky."

    Qi Yan''s hair quality is really good, it feels smooth and comfortable to touch

    "Thank you for the compliment."

    "What?"

    Qi Yan leaned her body slightly, let her play with her hair, raised her eyes and smiled: "Don''t you mean to praise me that everything I cook is delicious, and you like to eat everything?"

    "..."

    This person is really narcissistic, she doesn''t know what shame is. Lu Zhiqiao was secretly ashamed and annoyed, she slightly increased her strength with her hands and pulled her hair.

    "Ouch--"

    "Concentrate on chopping vegetables."

    After dinner, Qi Yan took Lu Wei out for a walk for a while to digest food, thinking that Lu Zhiqiao was alone in the hotel, they didn''t take long, returned to the room in ten minutes. To pass the boring time, the three of them sat on the balcony and played poker. Qi Yan deliberately lost several times. She ended up having her face covered with white stripes, which made the mother and daughter laugh heartily.

    What happened during the day made everyone tense and consumed too much energy. Now that the big stone pressing on their hearts is released, their nerves also relaxed. Before ten o''clock, they all felt sleepy.

    Thinking that Lu Zhiqiao had a leg injury, Qi Yan let her sleep in a bed alone, and Niu Niu slept with her. Of course, the child had no objection, and the three of them lay down early and went to sleep separately.

    The tourists gradually recede, and the beach under the night is peaceful.

    Lu Zhiqiao had a dream. She dreamt that she was in an unfamiliar forest and was being chased by a big black python. The python opened its mouth wide and its two sharp fangs were dripping with foul-smelling and disgusting saliva, making a strange and terrifying cry. She ran to the edge of a cliff, unable to retreat, jumped down in despair, and then woke up with a startle.

    She opened her eyes in the quiet darkness.

    She realized it was a dream.

    Her body was dripping with sweat, and the pillow and sheets were wet and damp. She opened her mouth and took a deep breath.

    That night, the cool wind blows, mixed with the salty and wet atmosphere, a lonely and desolate waning moon hangs high in the sky, the sound of waves beating the wet sand can be faintly heard from the beach, the surroundings are dark, only stars are lights.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned on the railing with her elbows, her shoulders slightly bent, staring at the looming outline of the tent on the beach, her thoughts drifting away.

    They were only half way through the holidays but she felt as if it was half as long as her lifetime. In just a few days, it seemed that she had experienced countless things.

    The island is a paradise isolated from the world. Here, she forgot her original self and took off the heavy mask, revealing the most real and most unbearable things inside. She couldn''t look directly at it, and even almost had a face to face with death. She began to think about who she was, what she wanted to do, and what was the meaning of her life.

    Everything started with that person.

    Once upon a time, she would never have thought about this, where she would have so many unrealistic worries, where she would find herself in trouble. Her life has been divided by a chasm called sin, the first twenty-one years, she was herself, the next eleven years, she was a numb dead machine.

    But today she came back to life, she really felt the feeling of being nervous and being cared about, that feeling was enough to break her cold mechanical shell, and gouged deeply into her soft heart.

    She suddenly realized that she wanted this so much.

    Like a traveler looking for an oasis in the desert.

    Qi Yan, could she be a mirage?

    There are many, many people who treat her well, and there are also many, many people who care about her. She will not be moved and dedicate everything just because of a little favor from others. But Qi Yan was different, maybe she was attracted to that person early on, and she just didn''t know it, so if Qi Yan did these things that anyone could do, it made her throbbing.

    However, people like Qi Yan are destined to not belong to the same world as her.

    How could she like Qi Yan?

    She will not.

    Lu Zhiqiao was distracted, and didn''t notice that the glass door behind her was quietly opened, and suddenly an arm was wrapped around her waist. She was caught off guard by the hug from behind. She almost screamed loudly but her mouth was covered by warm palms.

    "Qi¡ª"

    "Hush."

    The light and quiet fragrance of shampoo penetrated into her nose, which was very familiar, and a warm breath came from the side of the ear: "Can''t sleep?"

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed softly, her heart beating faster suddenly.

    "I can''t sleep either." Qi Yan kissed her ear, "Chat with me."

    "¡­¡­okay."

    Then, there was a long silence.

    The strength around her waist didn''t slacken, on the contrary, it became even tighter. Qi Yan pressed her chin against her face, her breathing was a little heavy, and her voice was hoarse: "Were you scared today?"

    Unexpectedly, she just asked this question. Lu Zhiqiao paused, thinking that she had been watched and there was nothing to deny, so she nodded frankly: "I was afraid."

    "I was too."

    "?"

    "I was afraid you''ll be poisoned, I was afraid you will die, I was afraid there will be no more of you in my world." Qi Yan said calmly.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, her breathing stopped for a few seconds, she didn''t speak, and waited for Qi Yan to continue.

    "When you were sent in for emergency treatment, I thought of my grandfather. He was a very kind person who loved me very much. When I was nine years old, he had a serious illness. He didn''t get over it. He passed away. I remember clearly, a few minutes before he was rescued, he was still saying that he would cook sweet and sour pork ribs for me when he recovered from his illness, and then, within two hours, he..."

    Qi Yan''s throat choked, and lower lip clenched.

    There was a slow, deep breathing sound from the back, calm and lengthy.

    "I never had sweet and sour pork ribs again."

    Lu Zhiqiao grabbed her hand lying in front of her suddenly, her brows clenched into a ball, and she clenched it tightly, holding her breath and the pain in her chest was unbearable.

    "I thought at the time, if you are gone, I will take all the money in your card, take Niu Niu as my own, and then go to your grave every day to play disco."

    "Hahahahaha."

    Qi Yan laughed aloud as she spoke, her narrow and deep eyes were bent like the waning moon in the sky, a crystal tear was squeezed out and slipped down quietly. "In the end, I will forget about you and find a stepmother for Niu Niu."

    "Lu Zhiqiao."

    "It''s a good thing you didn''t die."

    "I don''t want your two dollars, and I don''t want to find a stepmother for Niu Niu."

    "I think I can be her second mother." Qi Yan tilted her head and pecked the corner of her lips, "What do you think, child''s own mother?

    The salty sea breeze blew the loose hair on her forehead, and the ends scratched her skin, making it itch. Lu Zhiqiao held Qi Yan''s hand tightly, and the calm lake in her heart rippled layers of waves because of the words, "child''s own mother" and she suddenly felt nervous and flustered, but there was a wry smile in her eyes: "Qi Yan..."

    "Yes, I''m here."

    "Can you answer a question for me?"

    Qi Yan touched her ear with her face, kissed her hair, and said softly, "Say it."

    "What do you like about me?"

 CH 39

    The sea breeze was warm and humid, blowing Lu Zhiqiao''s trembling voice into Qi Yan''s ears. Qi Yan paused for a moment, and then felt ecstatic, and the corners of her straight mouth gradually curved up. The fact that she can ask such a question means that she is thinking about the relationship between them. Since she is thinking and doubting, it means that there is a throbbing sprout in her heart, even if it is very weak.

    Qi Yan didn''t dare to show joy, she just put her arms around her and kissed her hair lightly: "I like everything about you, I like all of you."

    She thought about this question many times. Lying alone on the bed at home in the dead of night, a few steps away from the door is the person she misses. She thinks over and over again, thinking of all the things that attracts her, such as tear mole, scents, or buttons. But none of these can represent Lu Zhiqiao.

    She will like Lu Zhiqiao even if there''s no tear mole. If she uses another perfume, she still likes Lu Zhiqiao. Even if the top button has been undone, she will still like Lu Zhiqiao.

    From the moment she wanted to explore and understand, from the moment she began to restrain her desires, in her eyes, Lu Zhiqiao was not a single element that could only be admired or decorated, but a living and complex person.

    So, it''s not that she likes her everything, she only likes everything because it''s Lu Zhiqiao.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled slightly, as if a turbulent electric current was rushing through, it was numb and itchy. There are many people who have expressed their love to her since she was a child, but none of them can touch her. The same thing has been said and it seemed fake and dry, but it made her heart flutter when it came out of Qi Yan''s mouth.

    It must be that this person is experienced and knows how to make people happy, she can not be trusted.

    "You need to see an ophthalmologist." Lu Zhiqiao said coldly, with a straight face.

    --pfft

    Qi Yan sneered, and was not in a hurry to explain, and followed her words: "Then I may still need to see a cardiologist."

    "?"

    "Everytime I see you, my heart beats wildly. I don''t know what''s wrong."

    "..."

    Qi Yan is used to flirting with her mouth, Lu Zhiqiao was a little confused at first, but blushed when she realized it. She had no relationship experience since she was a child, she had mostly unrequited love, and she was looked down upon by others, no matter how many good things were said, she would not be impressed, but today when Qi Yan said this, she seemed to have returned to her girlhood, and her heart began to beat wildly.

    Heat rushed up from her heart, igniting her face, and slowly, the tips of her ears also became hot.

    Lu Zhiqiao struggled slightly, covered her face with her hair, and said angrily, "Go see a doctor quickly, and let me go."

    "No." Qi Yan brushed her hair away, "You are my doctor." After speaking, she leaned up to her cheek and kissed her carefully, her thin lips felt the heat, and a smile flashed across her eyes.

    Caught off guard, Lu Zhiqiao let out a muffled groan in her throat. She was so ashamed that she hurriedly turned her head away, struggling more and more.

    "Do not move."

    "Are you letting go?"

    "Let me hug you for a while." Qi Yan grabbed her wrists, pressed them against the railing, and diverted her attention with words: "I''ll ask you a question too."

    Lu Zhiqiao stopped struggling, her hands were bound and couldn''t move, her breathing became ragged, and she said in a low voice, "Ask."

    "Do you trust me that much?"

    "¡­¡­what?"

    "Earlier." Qi Yan narrowed her eyes, "Aren''t you afraid that I''ll take all your money and leave Niu Niu alone?"

    Touching Lu Zhiqiao''s pulse with her fingertips, she rubbed it lightly, feeling the warm blood flowing in her skin, beating vigorously all at once, her fresh life was intact, and thinking about it made her terrified and scared, feeling very dangerous.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyelids and murmured, "You won''t."

    "Why not?"

    She pursed her lips and didn''t answer.

    "Hmm?"

    The waves beat the wet sand on the shore intermittently, and the salty wind brings warmth. The surroundings are dark and silent. Such an environment makes people feel comfortable, relaxed, and sentimental. It is best to spill their hearts out. Lu Zhiqiao bent her lips and sighed softly, "I believe you."

    The three very light and simple words fell heavily on Qi Yan''s heart, and they carried a lot of weight.

    It''s not easy to gain someone''s trust, especially someone you like. Does Lu Zhiqiao mean that she occupies a little place in her heart? Qi Yan didn''t dare to think about it, and smiled self-deprecatingly. Maybe this person just didn''t care about reason at the moment of life and death, and she just happened to be beside her.

    "You are so innocent and easy to deceive, what should you do when you fall in love?" Qi Yan joked tentatively.

    Falling in love.

    Lu Zhiqiao felt that these three words were very far away. She never seemed to think about it, let alone talked about it seriously. She had a lot of crushes, and there were a lot of people who pursued her, but her emotional experience is almost zero. When Qi Yan mentioned it suddenly, she opened her memories.

    "I won''t fall in love." She said softly.

    Qi Yan''s body froze, and her smile also froze: "Didn''t you say last time that you have ever had an unrequited love for a woman?"

    "It was in high school." Lu Zhiqiao didn''t seem to notice her probing at all, "I have known that I like girls since I was very young. At first, I had a crush on my English teacher in junior high school. Then in high school, I liked the girl in the class next door. I also liked girls in the next class in college. I liked two of them in a short time, but all were just momentary good feelings..."

    She babbled to herself, her dark moles at the end of her eyes became more and more charming, but Qi Yan was so upset that she couldn''t help interrupting: "Were you born curvy?"

    "Um."

    "Then you and Niu Niu''s father..." She choked in the middle of the sentence, Qi Yan still felt that this was Lu Zhiqiao''s private life. It was inappropriate for her to pry and she should wait for her to speak up, but just now she couldn''t control it, so she blurted out the question.

    Nowadays, the social atmosphere is not much more open than before. Homosexuals still cannot stand in the sun. Even if they naturally like the same sex, they may choose to marry the opposite sex in the end. After all, this path is too difficult to persevere. Qi Yan only thinks that she is not a meat eater*, that thinks everyone is as firm as herself without pressure.

    *to be a meat eater is to be oblivious to other people''s plight

    The truth is, Lu Zhiqiao''s past has nothing to do with her at all, even if Lu Zhiqiao went on dates every day, she couldn''t care less.

    She just wants to have her future.

    "Niu Niu''s father has been dead for many years."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s voice was weak, and her brows furrowed tightly. After speaking, she pursed her lips, her fingers pinned on the railing curled up, her nails dug into her palm, and her shoulders trembled slightly.

    Qi Yan hugged her from behind, couldn''t see her expression and eyes, but felt such a physical reaction, her heart sank rapidly, a strong sourness surged up, and she said with difficulty: "You loved him very much, didn''t you?"

    She couldn''t understand Lu Zhiqiao even more.

    "Love." Lu Zhiqiao''s voice trembled slightly, "but it''s not the kind of love you understand."

    "What do you mean?"

    She stopped talking.

    Qi Yan''s eyes were dark, she scratched her ears and cheeks anxiously, her heart was on fire, but didn''t dare to ask, she just pulled her arms to hug her tightly, gradually increasing her strength.

    As if sensing her emotions, Lu Zhiqiao tilted her head and blinked at the starry sky, saying softly, "I''ve never been married to a man, and I''ve never liked a man."

    The sky is navy blue with a mix of a deeper shade of blue. The waning moon is surrounded by stars, emitting a cold and desolate silver light. Looking down, you can''t see the edge of the connection between the vast sky and the deep sea, stretching out an infinite confusion.

    Lu Zhiqiao has a lot of secrets, some of which she can say, and she is willing to say, as a token of trust for Qi Yan. But more are the scars on her heart that haven''t healed for many years. If you tear it open, you can see the bloody flesh and bones inside, so it''s a forbidden place, and you can only set foot in it in your dreams.

    Qi Yan was taken aback, feeling vaguely as if she understood something, but not quite. Lu Zhiqiao is a mystery. There are too many things hidden in her heart. She peels off the protective film layer by layer. Whenever she thinks she can reach the deepest part, she encounters a cold and solid protection.

    "Let''s not talk about this." Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, looked away, and smiled wryly.

    Qi Yan rubbed her face against her hair: "Why are you willing to tell me this?"

    "I''ve said it before, I believe you." She smiled sideways, "Since I believe you, I have to show some sincerity."

    "Oh."

    Qi Yan had a disappointed tone on her voice, as if this person was being forced, and she didn''t really want her to understand. But still, her heart seemed to be soaked in honey syrup, soft, sticky, and sweet.

    "Then do you like me?" She blew into Lu Zhiqiao''s ear and asked in a low voice.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body trembled, she didn''t expect Qi Yan to ask such a straightforward question, her heart was beating in her throat, the melancholic emotions just now were swept away, and her mind was buzzing.

    How could she like Qi Yan?  This person doesn''t belong to the same world as her, she just likes the confidence and sense of security that Qi Yan gives her, even if her mood is in turmoil today, it is because she just had a critical moment in her life. She feels that Qi Yan cares about her, is nervous about her, and has empathy and dependence on her.

    Everyone has a strong instinct. Over the years, there are many young and fresh little sisters who express their affection to her, because she is a big sister, beautiful, gentle, and rich, and looks powerful. Attracting a lot of ignorant girls.

    And Qi Yan, to her, is another level of strong, the true strength she understands. She can''t help but be attracted to this kind of person, and she can''t help being moved, just like those little sisters who pursue her.

    There may be many Qi Yans in the world, but she happened to meet one of them by chance.

    How can this be considered ''like''?

    When flustered, Lu Zhiqiao thought a lot, and then blurted out: "I don''t like you."

    "So, what kind of person do you like?" Qi Yan felt slightly disappointed, but she didn''t quite believe it. She kissed the tip of her ear lightly, and the smile in her eyes didn''t fade.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away and said nothing.

    "It''s okay if you don''t want to say it."

    "I just want to tell you that wherever you are, I will be there. In the future, don''t be afraid anymore."

    Qi Yan closed her eyes, pressed the tip of his nose against her fragrant hair, and exhaled softly: "If you are willing, you can love me."

    ¡­.

    Most of the holidays are over, but the desire to play is not exhausted. After experiencing the shadow of the snake venom, Lu Zhiqiao''s temperament has changed slightly. Before, her face was always cold and indifferent, but in the past two days, there has been a smile and a glimmer in her eyes.

    Walking on the edge of life and death, she realized that life is precious. Every day of living is fresh and cannot be wasted, because no one knows which will come first, tomorrow or an accident.

    Qi Yan was worried about the wound on Lu Zhiqiao''s leg, and asked her to rest for another day, but she refused. She''d rather walk on the beach than be left alone and be bored in the room. Qi Yan could only comply. The three of them went to the scenic spots on other islands and planned to stay on the beach for the last two days.

    Lu Wei wanted to go swimming in the sea, so Lu Zhiqiao bought her a swimming ring and asked her to play near the coast, but Qi Yan was worried, so she changed into a swimsuit and went into the water with her.

    She was worried, she had to look at the little girl playing by the sea, and also pay attention to the girl''s mother sitting on the shore under the shade of a tree.

    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhiqiao was also looking at her.

    The style of the swimsuit is bold and avant-garde, it is more sexy than the ordinary set of underwear, and there is no other material.  Qi Yan is tall and thin, probably due to years of fitness, her muscles are firm and smooth, and her proportions are also very good. The pair of slender chopstick legs are very eye-catching. It''s a pity that she''s wearing a swimming cap, otherwise with her black and soft hair loose, it would be a picturesque scenery.

    The sun was shining brightly and the waves were light. The teacher and the student were playing happily in the sea. Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t take her eyes off, with a deep arc drawn at the corner of her mouth.

    She suddenly remembered the red bikini, and her face became a little hot.

    In the afternoon, a volleyball game is held on the beach.

    The temperature is gradually rising, and the number of tourists, obviously doubled that of the morning. Lu Zhiqiao and her daughter were sitting in the shade of a tree to rest. The little girl had been playing in the sea for more than two hours and lost her mind. She was afraid that the sunscreen would fail and the child would be sunburned, so she wanted to go back to the hotel to get a soothing spray.

    "I''ll go, just wait here." Qi Yan stopped her, turned around and walked towards the hotel.

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao wiped the water droplets off her daughter''s body with a bath towel, her face full of worry: "Baby, do you want to sunbathe? Does your skin hurt?"

    "It doesn''t hurt, it''s cool." The child shook her head.

    "Wait for Teacher Qi to bring the spray. Mom will spray it for you. Sit here and don''t move."

    "Okay."

    Lu Wei looked like she still wanted to play in the water, but Lu Zhiqiao wouldn''t allow her to say anything. She is such a beautiful baby girl, it will be terrible if she turns into a panda.

    There are many people on the beach, coming and going, and the stone bench next to the rest is full of people after a while, and the beach volleyball competition is not far away. There are several teams participating in the competition, all wearing their own uniforms¡ª¡ª  Sports tank top and shorts. All foreigners with high noses and deep eyes.

    Very strange, all are women''s groups.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced curiously, looking past the passing crowd, glancing in the direction of the hotel from time to time, and suddenly caught a glimpse of the familiar figure coming their way.

    Qi Yan was holding a spray bottle in her hand, and was wearing a light sunscreen. Next to her was a person with short blonde hair, dark blue eyes, wearing the uniform of a sand volleyball player, with a hot body, half a head taller than Qi Yan.

    The two seemed to know each other, shoulder to shoulder, talking and laughing.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared blankly, looked at the woman subconsciously, frowned, and before she could react, the two had already come to her, Qi Yan handed her the spray bottle, and turned her head to say to the people around her in English: "My friend  with her daughter, we came out to play together."

    After finishing speaking, she introduced the foreigner to Lu Zhiqiao: "This is my classmate in grad school Chiara, we happened to meet at the entrance of the hotel just now."

    Lu Zhiqiao was frozen for a while, all her attention was on the woman''s hand holding Qi Yan''s shoulder, and she didn''t make a sound for a while, but the other party greeted her warmly, and she came to her senses, smiling and nodding perfunctoryly.

    "They will play a game later, and there is a person in the team who has seafood allergies and diarrhea and can''t play. I will temporarily replace her. You can sit here for a while. If you are tired, you can go back to the hotel."

    Perhaps, Qi Yan noticed her gaze, she took two steps forward without making a sound, and naturally broke free from her classmate''s hand, bent down slightly, and explained to Lu Zhiqiao in a soft voice, then looked at Lu Wei again, patting her head: "Niu Niu, you have to stay with your mother and don''t run around."

    The little girl nodded, looked at the foreign aunt curiously, and muttered: "Teacher. Qi, are you going to leave me and mom?"

    "..."

    The child''s intention was very simple, she only thought that Qi Yan would accompany her to swim in the sea all day. Besides, the three of them were together, if Teacher Qi leaves, how could they play together? But to the ears of the two grown-ups, the meaning in the words was full of ambiguity, arousing people''s imagination.

    Seeing that Qi Yan''s face changed slightly, Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly smooth things over: "It''s okay, go ahead, we are tired too, so we will rest here."

    Qi Yan opened her mouth and was about to say something, when a whistle sounded from over there, the foreign girl came over and patted her on the shoulder, she swallowed her words, took a deep look at Lu Zhiqiao, turned and went to the competition venue.

    It was just a friendly match, and there were not many rules. No one raised any objections to the temporary change of players, and the expressions of the people around were very calm.

    Lu Zhiqiao never knew that Qi Yan could play beach volleyball. Now, by chance, she could feast her eyes on her. She suddenly lost the desire to rest, and her eyes were fixed there, unable to move away.

    Among the fair-haired and blue-eyed beauties, the black-haired Qi Yan stands out. She has a slender frame, a light and flexible body, and is very skilled in playing. It''s the first time she meets the other team members, but she cooperates very well with each other. There are more and more tourists onlookers, and the cheers became louder and louder.

    Lu Zhiqiao doesn''t understand the rules of beach volleyball, she only knows how to look at the score, the team with the most points wins. Obviously, Qi Yan''s team is far ahead.

    "Mom, Teacher Qi is so cool!" the daughter shouted excitedly from the side.

    She was taken aback for a moment, then inadvertently raised the end of her eyebrows, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, feeling a hint of pride inexplicably.

    During the intermission, Qi Yan didn''t go back to join them, but sat down with the team members to drink water and chat. She obviously didn''t know the others, but she chatted very happily, her mouth kept moving, revealing a row of white teeth.

    Suddenly, the short-haired woman grabbed Qi Yan''s shoulders and pulled her to her side, and the two of them fell side by side, clinging to each other.

    The other foreign girls laughed.

    In the next second, Qi Yan wrapped her arm around her classmate''s neck, hanging like a koala, giggling.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, her face dimmed a little and an inexplicable emotion flashed in her dark eyes, she stood up without thinking, walked up to Qi Yan, and said softly: "I''m a little tired, I''ll take Niu Niu back to the hotel first.¡±

    After finishing speaking, she turned around calmly.

    Author''s Note:

    Hey, come here, prepare some sour plum soup for Lu Mama~

 CH 40

    The moment she turned around, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart calmed down, and she walked a few steps away. There was no reaction or movement behind her. She frowned slightly, paused her steps, then hurriedly walked on. She thought that if Qi Yan caught up with her and accompanied her back to the hotel, she would be willing to go all out and agree to take pictures with that woman in a bikini.

    The thought flashed through her mind, and Lu Zhiqiao was startled. How could she have such an idea? But she didn''t have time to get to the bottom of it, she had already returned to her daughter, and before she could speak, there was a burst of cheers from behind.

    The game started again.

    Qi Yan didn''t come.

    Her heart sank a little bit, and she couldn''t tell what it was like. Lu Zhiqiao didn''t dare to look back, but she saw the excitement in her daughter''s eyes, and her throat was inexplicably congested, "Baby..."

    "Yes?"

    "Mom is a little tired, I''ll go back to the hotel first, if you... still want to watch it, don''t go far, follow Teacher Qi." She wants her daughter to accompany her back to the hotel, but the child is so happy, she wouldn''t want to force her. It''s just that there are too many people here, so she is worried.

    After giving instructions, she picked up her small bag and was about to leave.

    Lu Wei grabbed her hand: "Mom, I''ll go back with you."

    She was stunned: "Don''t you want to watch Teacher Qi play?"

    "Teacher Qi said that I should follow you closely and not let you run around." The little girl said seriously, lifting her swimming ring and looking at the direction of the competition reluctantly.

    Although the child is young, she is very clear about it. The incident of snake venom two days ago has left a big shadow in her heart. Of course, the safety of her mother is more important. As for playing, she can still see it when she has a chance in the future.

    Lu Zhiqiao twitched her thick eyelashes and turned her head slightly. After all, she couldn''t bear to look behind and led her daughter to the hotel.

    The hotel is very close to the beach. It took only two or three minutes. The mother and daughter walked for almost ten minutes. Lu Zhiqiao was just as she said, tired and unable to walk. She had an expectation in her heart, but couldn''t tell what she was expecting, like a vague bubble.

    Before stepping into the room, she glanced sideways at the empty corridor, and the bubble suddenly shattered.

    The door slowly closed, Lu Zhiqiao paused holding the hand on the handle, and then poked her head out to have a look. The corridor was still empty, only a trace of warm wind was blowing.  She closed the door completely and stood still, with mixed emotions in her heart.

    She didn''t know when it started, no matter what she does, she''ll always think of that person, and  heart would tingle. When she saw that the person didn''t follow, she felt lost for no reason, and subconsciously felt that the person must follow her.

    Realizing her own thoughts, Lu Zhiqiao castigated herself and panicked. Qi Yan had no obligation to obey her, and she had no right or position to make demands on Qi Yan. If she filled her thoughts with work, she won''t think about Qi Yan anymore.

    She comforted herself, sighed, went to the sofa and sat down.

    The glass door of the balcony was not closed, and there was a clear and enthusiastic cheer from outside. As soon as Lu Wei entered the room, she couldn''t wait to run over, leaned on the railing and looked around, then turned her head and waved to Lu Zhiqiao: "Mom, you can also see Teacher Qi here!"

    Lu Zhiqiao''s breathing was stagnant, and her thoughts that had just come to her senses were lifted high again. She turned her head to look at the balcony, narrowed her eyes slightly, and listened to the loud applause outside, her heart was foolish.

    Don''t look, she doesn''t look.

    "Wow~ Teacher Qi is so amazing!"

    "Ahhhh!"

    Lu Wei was so excited. Lu Zhiqiao felt like a cat was scratching her heart, feeling extremely uncomfortable. She simply turned her face away and took out her mobile phone to check the work chat group.

    Before the year closed, the company encountered a big problem. But because of the Spring Festival holiday, she told her subordinates to hold it down and report it to the higher ups. It will be dealt with immediately after returning to work. Chinese New Year is just a regular working day for foreign customers. The longer it is delayed, the easier it is to cause more problems. Just thinking about it, makes her head ache.

    But as long as the subordinates follow the instructions, there will be no major problems. Now they are mainly waiting for the news from the customer.

    "Come on, Teacher Qi! Come on, Teacher Qi!"

    "Teacher Qi is super cool!"

    Her daughter is yelling again.

    Lu Zhiqiao had just calmed down for a while, but now was exposed to the shouting chaos. Looking at the hundreds of red envelope messages in more than a dozen WeChat groups, she became dazed and dizzy.

    Don''t look, she will not really look.

    But her legs didn''t listen, so she stood up and walked to the balcony. The blue sky, steamed bun-like clouds, tall and scattered coconut trees slowly moved down, and then the coast, the beach, and finally saw the bottom: the game and the crowd of onlookers.

    The afternoon sun was hot and dazzling, dyeing the beach golden yellow. Lu Zhiqiao narrowed her eyes slightly, following the dancing shadow, and the corners of her lips curled up unconsciously.

    Qi Yan has a thin body, although her frame is as slender as an ordinary woman''s, but her muscles are tight, giving people a feeling of strength. That kind of strength is not a blunt and rough brute force, but a softness with strength, a combination of firmness and softness,  emanating from the inside out. This kind of person is actually not easy to control, the wind lives in her bones, she doesn''t know where she will fly, let alone where she will land. Similarly, she can be very gentle or strong.

    Who can not be attracted to such a person?

    The score on the field was always Qi Yan''s team leading, and when it was time for a break, everyone was a little tired, so she took the initiative to pick up water and pass them one by one.  A very simple little thing, some people do it with flattery, while others do it with generosity, showing thoughtfulness and consideration.

    Undoubtedly, Qi Yan is the latter.

    She is gentle and friendly to everyone, she shines everywhere, and everything she does comes naturally. Thinking about it, Lu Zhiqiao was even more disappointed. She was not special to Qi Yan, and then blamed herself for always thinking about something messed up.

    Her mood is back and forth, and the waves are turbulent.

    "Ah, if I had such a cool friend as Teacher Qi, I would watch her closely and prevent her from being snatched away by others." The daughter shook her head and muttered to herself.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "..."

    This child is too possessive.

    Knowing that the meaning of her daughter''s words refers to pure friendship, she felt guilty, her cheeks were steaming, and she continued to watch as if nothing had happened.

    ....

    The sun is gradually setting, and the game is over.

    The mother and daughter followed Qi Yan''s figure at the same time, and saw her and the foreign girl hooking shoulders together, and several other people also came to gather together, and seemed to say something, then saw Qi Yan shook her head. Suddenly glancing in the direction of the hotel, she waved goodbye to them.

    Not long after, there was a beep from the door, and the two people on the balcony turned their heads at the same time. Qi Yan''s slender shadow appeared in sight, and Lu Wei ran over cheering: "Teacher Qi~!"

    A bear pounced on her face, Qi Yan opened her arms and hugged her full.

    The little girl blew a long series of rainbow farts*, Qi Yan squeezed her cheeks, smiled and listened patiently to her, then the two discussed beach volleyball. The teacher and the student were very close and harmonious.

    *flattery

    Lu Zhiqiao was watching from the balcony, perhaps because it was dazzling outside after looking for a long time, blue-gray shadows appeared and disappeared in her vision, and the two figures became hazy.

    In the past few days, she has noticed that her daughter is more comfortable and happier when getting along with Qi Yan, the smile on her face is almost constant throughout the day, and her childish nature is completely released. On the other hand, when the child is at home, she speaks in a low voice and her tone is very restrained. She seldom laughs and gets more depressed.

    The child''s instinct is the most honest, because Qi Yan is such a person.

    Everyone will love her and no one can resist the attraction to her.  But Lu Zhiqiao understood that this person had nothing to do with her.

    "Niu Niu, you go take a shower first, change your clothes, and then we will eat grilled fish later."

    "Okay~"

    The child went to take a bath, Qi Yan turned her head to look at the balcony, her eyes were squinted from the strong light, Lu Zhiqiao stood there with her back against the railing, with a smile on her lips, showing envy. She got up and went over, but the woman didn''t respond, as if she had fallen into a trance.

    "Are you tired today?"

    Qi Yan grabbed her wrist, and pressed the palm of her hand to her own. The warmth met. Her hand was soft and boneless, and the knuckles were also delicate, which was very beautiful.

    The voice interrupted Lu Zhiqiao''s thoughts, and woke up to find Qi Yan standing in front of her. She subconsciously wanted to withdraw her hand, but was firmly held.  She was startled, staring at the woman''s gentle eyes, inexplicably recalling the scene in the afternoon, and said in a low voice, "I''m not tired."

    A gust of warm wind blows over, and the broken hair on her forehead is blown.

    Qi Yan looked at her tenderly, her eyes sparkled, and the corners of her mouth curled up into an imperceptible smile. She raised her hand to fix up the strand of hair for her, and tucked it behind her ear.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked away uncomfortably and lowered her head.

    "Have you applied your medicine yet?"

    "Not yet."

    Qi Yan smiled, led Lu Zhiqiao into the room, asked her to sit on the sofa, took the medicine and a brand new gauze, and sat down next to her.

    "I''ll do it myself..." Lu Zhiqiao knew what she was going to do, so she quickly reached out her hand.

    In this matter, Qi Yan would not obey her, she raised her arm so that she couldn''t touch it, and then involuntarily grabbed her slender ankle and took off her sandals, and put it on her lap.

    Lu Zhiqiao wanted to shrink back, but this person was stronger than her, so she held her tightly and refused to let her move. Seeing her struggling, she even patted the back of her foot reproachfully as punishment. "Don''t move, be obedient."

    Now, Lu Zhiqiao really didn''t move.

    Heart jumped to her throat and she became inexplicably shy.

    Because of the hot weather, the wound could neither be covered nor wet, so Lu Zhiqiao wore a long skirt, which was loose and cool, and not stuffy. Qi Yan was very polite, and only pulled the corners of the skirt slightly below the knees, and rolled it up two or three times. Then remove the gauze, revealing the two rows of teeth marks.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away, unwilling to look at it.

    "Does it still hurt?"

    "...It won''t hurt if you don''t touch it."

    Although she was bitten by a non-poisonous snake, the wound was not shallow, and it would take some time to recover completely. Qi Yan stared at the tooth mark, her eyes darkened as she cleaned and changed the dressing quietly, with gentle and careful movements.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s legs are beautiful, thin and well-proportioned, with white jade-like skin, but they''re a little loose. The only benefit of not exercising often is that it is soft and bouncy when pinched, which is very comfortable to the touch.

    After wiping the wound clean and applying medicine, Qi Yan kept furrowing her brows slightly, seemingly concentrating.

    Looking at the girl from this angle, the lines of her side face are almost perfect, and the angle between the divisions is just right. Lu Zhiqiao stared blankly, then was lost in thoughts again, the back of her calf was held by a warm force, and she felt the sore after standing for two hours, gradually reducing, or even disappearing; leaving only comfort.

    "Rest in the room tomorrow." Qi Yan said suddenly, wrapping the gauze layer by layer without stopping.

    "Then how will you shoot the pictorial?"

    Qi Yan froze.

    "I promised you, I will model for you during the Chinese New Year." Lu Zhiqiao whispered.

    Qi Yan raised her gaze at her, with a lot of emotions mixed in it, and suddenly smiled: "It just so happened that I brought clothes."

    "You brought a bikini too?"

    "Yeah." Qi Yan said suddenly, "But you don''t need to wear it."

    "Then why did you bring it here?"

    "I''ll wear it myself."

    "Then why aren''t you wearing it?" Lu Zhiqiao was aggressive.

    Qi Yan choked for a moment, and the corner of her mouth raised a sly smile: "There are too many people on the beach. Only my future girlfriend can see me in a bikini." After speaking, she raised her eyebrows at her with meaningful eyes.

    Such a hint, if she didn''t understand it, she will appear to be pretending.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face became hot all of a sudden, and the image of Qi Yan and the foreign girl hugging flashed in her mind. Her heart tightened, she pursed her lips, and didn''t say a word. After a while, she suddenly said: "I can wear a bikini for you to take pictures." After finishing speaking, she added: "These days you took Niu Niu to play with you, and even helped with cooking, for your hard work, let''s count it as repayment."

    In the first half of the sentence, Qi Yan raised her head in surprise and looked at her happily, but in the second half of the sentence, the light in her eyes suddenly dimmed.

    She gave a soft oh, lowered her head and continued to wrap the gauze.

    The next day, the last day of the trip, the three of them went to an island with the fewest tourists. It took a hundred steps to meet two or three people. Because there were no famous scenic spots, few people came, but the natural scenery is the best material for filming, suitable for shooting.

    Although Lu Zhiqiao agreed to wear a bikini, Qi Yan didn''t want her to be seen, so Lu Zhiqiao was wearing a long sunscreen robe with the belt tightly tied around her waist during the journey from the hotel to the island. Covered tightly.

    Qi Yan chose a low cliff, and the waves under the rock were turbulent, and the high splash of water would almost hit the top of the wall, which was thrilling. At first, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t dare to stand over, but after observing the waves a few times, she felt relieved when she saw that the spray was only hitting the bottom of the cliff. She immediately took off her robe, revealing her fiery red bikini.

    At that moment, Qi Yan''s hand holding the camera trembled, her eyes froze.

    The material was really skimpy, it only managed to cover the three jewels, the bottom was okay, the size was just right, but the top was stretched tightly, the thin ties were tight, and the two pieces of fabric couldn''t wrap it around at all, it was almost exposed in all directions.

    It''s not that the clothes are too small, it''s that Lu Zhiqiao is too big.

    When Lu Zhiqiao was wearing the sunscreen robe along the way, she didn''t feel anything. Now that there is no robe, it''s almost awkward everywhere. Lu Zhiqiao blushed, especially because of Qi Yan''s hot stares. She was uncomfortable all over, just wanting to urge her to finish it quickly.

    "Wow¡ª" Lu Wei exclaimed. "Mom, you have a really good figure."

    After speaking, Lu Wei looked down at herself.

    When will she grow to the size of her mother?

    Qi Yan blushed, her mind was buzzing, and couldn''t help recalling how they felt in her hands that night. Suddenly, she became selfish, she didn''t want Lu Zhiqiao to be seen by anyone, not even by her daughter. So annoyed, she quickly raised the camera to find an angle.

    Only three shots of the bikini were taken.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood on the edge of the cliff, with the boundless and turbulent sea behind her. She did three poses; one was standing, one was sitting, and one was lying on her side.

    "These three photos are not allowed to be circulated outside." She blushed and lowered her voice to warn.

    Qi Yan clutched her precious camera and nodded slowly: "Okay."

    "You are not allowed to collect it privately."

    "..."

    Qi Yan didn''t agree.

    She took a lot of photos in the morning, and Lu Zhiqiao wore every piece of clothing she brought, with the bikini on the inside, and there was no chance to see it,  just like the short moment just now, it was just a flash in the pan.

    As the sun set, the three returned to the beach next to the hotel for a walk.

    "Mom, how long will it take me to grow as big as you?"

    "What?"

    Lu Wei raised her finger, Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao looked in the direction at the same time, the latter blushed, extremely embarrassed, and vaguely explained: "Everyone is different..."

    "Niu Niu¡ª¡ª" Qi Yan interrupted with a smile, "This is more affected by genetic factors. You are likely to get as big as your mom when you are as old as her."

    "Qi Yan!" Lu Zhiqiao shouted.

    "Eh."

    The teacher and the student looked at her together, one innocent and the other dazed.

    The afterglow of the setting sun fell on Lu Zhiqiao''s face, making her face more gentle and beautiful, and her tear mole was dyed brown, so tender and pitiful, even if she looked angry, she couldn''t be scared.

    "What are you talking about?"

    "I''m not saying anything wrong. This is normal physiological knowledge. I''m just teaching Niu Niu."

    "Any objections?"

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand and was about to pinch her, but Qi Yan dodged nimbly, back and forth, the two chased each other on the beach, the shadow behind them was stretched by the setting sun...

    On the afternoon of the seventh day of the lunar calendar, the three of them finished their comfortable trip to the tropical island and took a direct flight back to Jiangcheng.

    School will not start until after the Lantern Festival. Qi Yan and Lu Wei can rest for another week, but Lu Zhiqiao will have to start work on the eighth day of the lunar new year. As usual, her daughter is at home alone, but unlike usual, she is very relieved.

    Because Qi Yan was there.

    After going out to play, their identity and relationship became blurred a lot. For a few moments, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t even remember that Qi Yan was the child''s teacher. She subconsciously felt that for such a person, being a teacher is a bit wasteful, and she should go to a bigger and broader world to soar.

    "Mom, can I go to Teacher Qi''s house for lunch at noon?"

    "Okay."

    In the morning of the eighth day of the lunar new year, Lu Zhiqiao finished washing and dressing, and sat in front of the vanity mirror to apply lipstick. At the beginning of the new year, she chose a slightly brighter color, which was festive and unassuming.

    Her daughter was lying on her bed, only her head was exposed under the quilt.

    "But you have to help with the work, you can''t just sit there and wait for your meal."

    "Yeah, I know."

    After putting on the lipstick, Lu Zhiqiao looked at the mirror for a while, picked up the Artemis on the table and sprayed it into the air casually, stood up to meet the mist, and sprayed some on her wrist again. "Mom is going to work, remember to finish the rest of the winter homework, and I will check it when I come back at night."

    The little girl retreated into the bed, nodded with a humming sound, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

    Lu Zhiqiao bent down to tuck the quilt for her daughter, carried her bag and left the bedroom, walked to the door of the living room, opened the shoe cabinet, when the phone in the bag rang. She took it out and saw that it was an unfamiliar number. Out of work habit, she would answer this kind of calls.

    "Hello? Which one?"

    ["Ah, Director Lu... Where are you? Something...something happened..."]

    Author'' Note:

    Niu Niu: It seems that Teacher Qi is not as old as her mother? [Innocent face.jpg]

    Qi Yan: ...

 CH 41

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    "Who is this?"

    The voice on the phone was a little strange, and the number was not in the address book, Lu Zhiqiao guessed that the other party should be an ordinary employee. Because the company is large, employees who are not direct subordinates or employees in a different department, seldom save each other''s numbers, but some ordinary employees will unilaterally save the numbers of their superiors.

    "I''m Li Lan from the Foreign Trade Division..." The young girl''s voice sounded flustered.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned imperceptibly, took out a pair of leather short boots from the shoe cabinet, put them on then opened the door and went out: "What''s the matter?"

    There was a gust of draft in the corridor, and it was chilly. She had just returned from a warm island vacation, and she couldn''t adapt for a while. She pulled up her skirt, pressed the elevator, and glanced at the opposite door inadvertently. Then a voice on the phone interrupted her thoughts.

    "It''s...the order with the African Tando company...the first shipment has arrived at the port of destination..."

    The elevator slowly ascended to the ninth floor, and when the door was opened, Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, her face sank, and she said in a low voice, "Didn''t I say not to ship until we receive the revised documents, haven''t you received the notice?"

    "I just saw the notification this morning..." The girl was about to cry.

    "Where''s Manager Chi?"

    "I don''t know. I called her but she didn''t answer."

    The elevator door was slowly closing again, Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly pressed it, walked in quickly, and pressed the first floor, "I will be at the company in twenty minutes."

    Last year, they made an order worth 2 million US dollars with the African tando company. The shipment was originally stipulated in October, and the customer also sent a letter of credit as scheduled. However, during the audit, it was found that the denominated currency on the letter of credit did not match the original contract. At that time, the matter of changing the cooperative factory was not settled, and the goods were not ready for a while, so they had to delay for a few days and asked the customer to send a revision letter according to the contract, and then delayed the delivery in batches.

    The customer sent a letter saying that it has been corrected and urged the shipment, but the revised documents has been delayed for two months and has not been sent.

    Under such circumstances, it is definitely not possible to deliver the goods. At that time, Lu Zhiqiao was not in the company, and Chi Nian, the manager of the regional department, signed it first. After she made it up the next day, she asked Chi Nian to send a notification that the goods would not be shipped if they didn''t receive the revised document.

    On the last day of work before the year, Chi Nian personally reported to her, that the notification was disseminated.

    The result is now¡ª¡ª

    There was a bit of traffic on the morning rush hour road, the car stopped at the intersection and waited for the red light, Lu Zhiqiao looked solemn, grabbed the steering wheel with one hand, took out the Bluetooth headset with the other, put it on, and called Chi Nian. The other party had an appointment with a client this morning, and she couldn''t go to the company until at least eleven o''clock. She was shocked to hear the news.

    "I have already sent a notice to wait for the revision, how could they arbitrarily..."

    "Okay." Lu Zhiqiao interrupted softly, "Now is not the time to pursue responsibility, I will go to the company first, and come over as soon as your matter is settled."

    "Okay."

    She hung up the phone, then the green light lit up.

    When she arrived at the company, the four elevators were full. Lu Zhiqiao''s face was calm and indifferent, but her heart was terrified. She took the VIP elevator at the side door and went up. As soon as she stepped into the department''s office area, she heard the voice of lectures.

    "You reported directly to a higher up? You bypassed two levels? Did you think that me and Manager Chi doy exist?"

    "I¡­¡­"

    A man in his mid-twenties was furious. Just as the young female staff member was about to speak, she saw Lu Zhiqiao behind her and shouted, "Director Lu!"

    The man froze for a moment, turned around quickly, and immediately changed his attitude, nodded and bowed: "Director."

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded with a cold face, beckoned to the girl, and turned to walk to the office. Today is very unlucky, the assistant Xiao Wan is sick and took two days off. She has to make tea by herself, but she is not in the mood right now.

    Li Lan followed her into the office and explained the whole process nervously

    She just passed the probationary period in September last year, and she took a few small projects intermittently, and suddenly received a big order of two million US dollars, and she was overjoyed. First, it was delayed for a long time because of the change of factory, and then the customer repeatedly reminded her that the letter of credit had been amended, but she did not receive the notice, and she was anxious, thinking that the customer would definitely keep her promise, so she did not thought that much.

    "I checked my mailbox many times before, and I really didn''t receive any notification. I checked WeChat this morning and found that Manager Chi had sent it..."

    "WeChat?" Lu Zhiqiao frowned.

    Li Lan nodded sharply: "Well, the group in our department. But there are so many news, I haven''t read it all the time, I just checked it this morning."

    The company clearly stipulated that any work arrangements and notices must be communicated by email. Lu Zhiqiao clearly remembered that she had sent the email to Chi Nian and asked her to distribute it. She had repeatedly confirmed with her twice before the year ended. After all, the value of the first batch of goods is not a small amount. If something goes wrong, the loss will be huge.

    Lu Zhiqiao had an urge to strangle Chi Nian to death.

    The most urgent task is to solve the problem and find a way to remedy it.  She asked Li Lan to go to the issuing bank, but the bank told her that the letter of credit had expired and refused to pay. This means that the only expectation can only be placed on the credit of the customer. If the other party fails to pay as promised, the company will suffer economic loss of at least US$500,000.

    As a last resort, Lu Zhiqiao reported the incident to Shu Minxi. Although she was not responsible, she was scolded bloody.

    After being scolded, she have to continue the meeting.

    It was nearly eleven o''clock, and Chi Nian came back.

    There was a cool and pleasant smell in the director''s office. Lu Zhiqiao leaned back on the chair, rubbed her temples tiredly, raised her eyes and looked at the person opposite. She shouldn''t get angry, and after a while she said calmly: "Manager Chi, this low-level mistake should not have happened to you."

    At any rate, she is a middle-level manager. As soon as she entered the office, she was eager to shirk responsibility. She insisted that the people below deleted the email by mistake, but suddenly remembered that she had indeed forgotten to send the email, and only sent the WeChat group.

    "I''m really sorry, Director, I..." Chi Nian frowned, keeping her head low.

    Seeing her, Lu Zhiqiao remembered the night of the annual meeting, when Qi Yan suddenly appeared in the bathroom, which shocked her. This person is Qi Yan''s friend, she doesn''t know how good their relationship is, but being involved in this relationship will inevitably affect her judgment.

    "It''s about half a million dollars."

    "Director..."

    "If within half a month, the customer doesn''t send a revised document or pay a single batch of payment, you and Li Lan will¡ª" She gestured blankly, and before she could finish speaking, Chi Nian''s face turned pale immediately, interrupted: "I will try my best to remedy it, please be rest assured."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t speak, but waved her hand to signal her to go out.

    Encountering bad things at the beginning of the year means that the whole year will not be good. Although Lu Zhiqiao is not so superstitious, she is always restless in her heart, and her mood has been depressed these two days. Qi Yan visited her home every day, so she naturally found out that she was unhappy, but she didn''t ask any questions, she didn''t force her.

    She thought it was because of work.

    Qi Yan asked Chi Nian about it in passing, and was poured with bitterness, and she understood it roughly. It''s a pity that she can''t help much.

    That morning, Lu Zhiqiao packed up and went out. As soon as she got down to the parking lot, she saw Qi Yan leaning against her car, as if waiting for her. As soon as she walked over, the woman raised her eyes and smiled: "Ms. Lu, your professional driver Yanyan will serve you."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly remembered the red sports car in front of the company building that night.

    "I''ll take you to work." Qi Yan leaned closer, grabbed her hand and wrapped it in her palm, her voice soft.

    Long hair like a waterfall, exuding a quiet and indifferent fragrance, soft and warm palms, Lu Zhiqiao looked into her deep and gentle eyes, her heart twitched unconsciously, and she nodded for some reason.

    From that day on, every morning, Qi Yan would show up on time to send Lu Zhiqiao to work, and then offer to pick her up from work.

    In order to avoid arousing discussion, she drove Lu Zhiqiao''s car.

    Just be a driver.

    In the afternoon of the Lantern Festival, Qi Yan prepared the ingredients early and went to the Xinbei Group building. There was still an hour before office hours end. She called Lu Zhiqiao, and was taken to the director''s office by the girl at the front desk.

    Lu Zhiqiao just came back from a meeting and was talking on the work phone. When she saw Qi Yan coming in, she ignored her, turned her back to face the window, and continued to talk.

    She is wearing a gray and white stand-up collar slim fit short jacket, with slightly curly long hair hanging over her shoulders, her back is slender, her voice is gentle but powerful, her speech is neither fast nor slow, she is graceful, and she looks shrewd and capable.

    Qi Yan stared blankly at her back, with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

    Is this the Lu Zhiqiao she knew?

    Is this Lu Zhiqiao who can blush in a few words, tremble all over when hugged, and become even softer with a kiss?

    "Why are you early today?" At some point, Lu Zhiqiao had hung up the phone and stood in front of her with a warm tone.

    Qi Yan regained consciousness, her mouth moved, and she was about to speak when there was a knock on the door behind her. She reacted quickly and immediately sat on the sofa next to her, picked up a magazine and flipped through it, pretending to be a visitor.

    On the contrary, Lu Zhiqiao showed surprise in her eyes, looked towards the door, said something, went back to the desk and sat down.

    The person who came in was Chi Nian.

    She was holding the laptop in her hand. Due to the angle, she couldn''t see the sofa area from the first look. When she entered the door, she looked towards Lu Zhiqiao and nodded with a smile: "Director." Then she turned the computer screen to Lu Zhiqiao, "Tando company has sent the revised documents, this is the soft copy, please take a look."

    Hearing this familiar voice, Qi Yan was startled, and quietly turned her head to glance over. Sure enough, it was Chi Nian.

    It''s over.

    She only thought about today''s Lantern Festival, coming early to pick up Lu Zhiqiao from work, going to her own room for dinner and celebrating the festival. She forgot she was hiding their connection. Who knew that her momentary recklessness would make her bump into her friend coincidentally.

    Qi Yan wasn''t listening to what they were discussing, her heart was agitated, she lifted the pages of the magazine to cover her face, silently praying that Chi Nian would not see her.

    But God is against her.

    After reporting, Chi Nian turned around holding the computer, and saw a person sitting on the sofa at a glance, with long hair and long legs... She opened her eyes wide in surprise, looked at the person, and then looked sideways at Lu Zhiqiao.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyebrows calmly, and asked quietly, "Is there anything else?"

    "...No, no more." Chi Nian laughed awkwardly, her eyes fell on Qi Yan again, and finally went out.

    There was silence in the office.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the person on the sofa, inexplicably felt it was funny, shook her head helplessly, ignored her, continued to approve the documents, answered two work calls halfway, went out for a while, and when she came back, Qi Yan was still sitting there without moving.

    It was already dark, and the lights in the room were bright. Her eyelids were drooping, her long hair covered half of her side face, and she looked depressed.

    "Your friend saw you." Lu Zhiqiao sighed.

    Qi Yan hummed softly, suddenly grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, raised her head, apology flashed in her gloomy eyes: "I''ve caused you trouble, I''ll explain it to her properly."

    "Have you asked her about me?"

    "Absolutely not!"

    Gossiping about the boss is taboo in the workplace, Qi Yan would not sell out a friend, especially when that friend just made trouble two days ago. Her eyes were sincere, but her heart was empty. After speaking, she grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and kissed the back of it flatteringly: "Director Lu, it''s time to get off work. Let''s go home for the Lantern Festival."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at Qi Yan, and chuckled, "I can understand your feelings now."

    "What?"

    "I also don''t want to be treated as someone who doesn''t distinguish between public and private." She curled up her slender fingers, gently grabbed a strand of Qi Yan''s hair, and sniffed it at the tip of her nose.

    Smells good.

 CH 42

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    The hair was covered with a fresh and sharp cedar aroma, which smelled good but not greasy; quite addictive. Lu Zhiqiao''s movements were unconscious, but she couldn''t help being fascinated.

    Qi Yan felt the movement behind her, turned her head slightly, and caught a glimpse of Lu Zhiqiao twisting her hair and sniffing lightly from the corner of her eyes, her heart suddenly tightened, a thud hit her chest, while her whole body froze, and her breath hitched.

    She didn''t dare to move anymore, and let Lu Zhiqiao play with her hair, and glanced quietly, her eyes getting deeper and deeper. This woman has no idea how seductive she looks right now.

    Having played enough with her hair, Lu Zhiqiao reluctantly let go, raised her head, met Qi Yan''s meaningful gaze impartially, was startled, and instantly froze. There were clear and shallow ripples in those eyes, and there seemed to be a flame burning in the depths, and the hot temperature almost melted her.

    Filled with enthusiasm and anticipation, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t bear it, she lowered her gaze, with her heart beating wildly.

    The shrewd and capable Director Lu just now has become a little girl in embarrassment.

    Suddenly there were two knocks on the door, and someone came in. Qi Yan panicked, quickly turned her face away, raised her hand to brush her hair. Pretended to be nonchalantly looking at the tall buildings outside the window, and then looked sideways.

    It''s Xiao Wan, the assistant.

    She thought Qi Yan was a client, so she didn''t think much, just smiled, and looked at her boss: "Director, the ticket has been booked, it''s 8:30 tomorrow morning, do you need me to pick you up early?"

    "No need." Lu Zhiqiao said calmly, with a cold voice, "Wait at the gate of your complex at 7:40."

    "OK."

    After Xiao Wan finished speaking, she smiled politely at Qi Yan and walked out quietly.

    Qi Yan looked at the office door, made sure it would not open again, then looked away, grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, "Where are you going tomorrow?"

    "Business trip." Lu Zhiqiao said truthfully. Seeing Qi Yan''s eyes darken, she hurriedly explained: "It''s just a short one, it''s in the next city, the high-speed train takes an hour, and I''ll be back in the afternoon."

    Qi Yan was startled, her eyes lit up again, and she couldn''t help leaning over to hug her, "Will this be very tiring?"

    "It won''t." Lu Zhiqiao trembled, glanced at her watch, and said softly, "Time to get off work. Didn''t you want to go back for the Lantern Festival?"

    "Stay for a while."

    "..."

    With the acquiescence, Qi Yan became more courageous, wrapped her arms around Lu Zhiqiao''s thin waist tightly, buried her head in the hair beside her ears, let out warm breaths from her thin lips. While, the tip of her nose restlessly rubbed against the shiny and small earlobe.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s throat felt stuffy, with a gasp she softened instantly, and slowly closed her eyes.

    Qi Yan found out that this person has two faces, one in front of colleagues and subordinates in the company, and another in front of her. Even in the office at this moment, the serious atmosphere is no match for her provocation, the contrast is simply stark.

    "Director Lu, are you comfortable?" She blew maliciously.

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed softly, opened her eyelids suddenly, and struggled slightly, "Let go."

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan simply let go, and Lu Zhiqiao immediately stood up, straightened her hair and clothes, her face returned to cold and indifferent, she turned around to leave, but after taking two steps, she was hugged tightly from behind by a force.

    The scent rolled into her nostrils, a strand of black and soft long hair fell in front of her, and Qi Yan''s gentle and soft voice came from behind: "You look so charming just now."

    "...What?" Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously grabbed the strand of hair, flustered.

    This is the office, if someone comes in later, they will be seen hugging each other, she is afraid it will spread and be used as an after-dinner conversation.

    "You, at work." Qi Yan kissed her face.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, her thoughts gradually calmed down, and she gently rubbed the lock of hair with her fingertips, feeling a little confident in her heart, the corners of her mouth slightly turned up, and the corners of her eyes and brows were stained with a smile.

    Whenever the night is quiet and disturbed by nightmares, she falls into endless inferiority complex and self-doubt, but when the sun rises and she walks into the office building, the haze in her heart dissipates, the wound in her heart heals. She has infinite strength and confidence and is full of hope.

    She wasn''t as miserable as she thought.

    "Director Lu, I''m your fangirl~" Qi Yan whispered in her ear.

    Lu Zhiqiao regained her composure, lowered her eyes and smiled, grabbed the hand lying in front of her, and the uneasiness in her eyes flashed away, "You are not my subordinate, why do you call me that?"

    "Huh? Then what should I call you?"

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lower lip, but didn''t answer.

    "Ms. Lu? Niu Niu''s mother?"

    "..."

    After a moment of silence, Qi Yan withdrew her joking expression, walked around in front of her, her eyes were still as soft as water, and filled with affection, "Qiao Qiao, or A''Qiao* okay?

    *Typical Chinese (usually childhood) nicknames: repeating the last character of the name or adding ''Ah'' prefix to it to add a cutesy effect. Used only when both parties are in a close relationship/same-aged, or if the addressee is younger, if it''s someone older, you need to ask permission. It''s only used in a casual setting.

    She saw Lu Zhiqiao''s fair and smooth face turned red into a ripe pink shrimp. The woman frowned slightly, and her heart, tingly like an electric current flowing through it. After a while, she softly uttered two words: "It''s up to you."

    Qi Yan thought she would be very resistant and cast two supercilious eyes, but she didn''t expect her to be so calm at this moment, Qi Yan suddenly felt flattered, a smile broke out on the corner of her lips. She grabbed her hands and kissed her obediently, "I noticed, you have been smiling more often."

    "Have I?"

    "Um."

    Lu Zhiqiao was surprised, and unconsciously bent her eyebrows, then stared at Qi Yan in a daze, her smile remained unchanged, and her eyes were full of luster.

    After the snake bite, her often tense nerves relaxed, perhaps because she really felt that someone cared about her, nervous about her. The cold and gray world has a little more to hang on to, it''s still worthy of nostalgia and it''s still worth staying. Although she did not want to admit it.

    ¡­.

    The Lantern Festival is a day to watch lanterns and eat glutinous rice balls.

    In the kitchen there are ingredients that have been cut and plated, and they can be put into the pot immediately. Qi Yan put on an apron and prepared to stir-fry. Lu Zhiqiao came in to help, but she stopped her and refused to let her say anything. In the past, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t hold her back, and she had no choice but to compromise, but today, her temper came up and refused to leave.

    The two couldn''t stop arguing, and decided to cook a dish each.

    Qi Yan prepared ingredients for five dishes, including meat, vegetarian and seafood soups, and after a closer look, they were all favorites of the mother and daughter.

    Niu Niu was watching TV in the living room, the volume was louder, and the lines of idol dramas made people feel nauseous. In the kitchen, the range hood was turned on, and Qi Yan was frying the prawns. The spatula was constantly turning, blending with the sound of the TV, making it quite lively.

    Seeing her long hair fluttering, always hanging down her shoulders, Lu Zhiqiao went to the bathroom to get a hair tie, stood behind her, held it in her hand and carefully tied her long black and smooth hair.

    Afraid of hurting Qi Yan, Lu Zhiqiao moved very gently, round and round, not too tight or too loose, hanging low behind her head.

    Suddenly, a spatula appeared in sight, holding a shrimp tail drenched in sauce, and Qi Yan said with a smile: "Try this." Then she added: "Be careful, it''s hot."

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth and blew, then ate it carefully, and chewed slowly with her lips pressed together.

    "Is it delicious?" Qi Yan looked at her expectantly.

    With a bright smile in her eyes, she nodded: "It''s delicious."

    Qi Yan also smiled, the corners of her mouth curved deeper.

    When it was Lu Zhiqiao''s turn to cook, Qi Yan hugged her from behind. Because of her height, her chin couldn''t rest on her shoulders, so she just rubbed her face against her ears, which disturbed her and almost forgot to put salt.

    After preparing a table of dishes, the two called Lu Wei to eat at the same time.

    "Niu Niu¡ª"

    "Girl¡ª"

    "Time to eat."

    At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao turned her head to look at Qi Yan, who happened to be looking over too. Their eyes collided, both of them paused for a moment, then looked at each other with a smile, and turned away.

    All the lights in the room were turned on. Although there were only three people at the dinner table, there was a festive atmosphere. Qi Yan kept picking up vegetables for the mother and daughter and feeding Niu Niu the first bite of glutinous rice balls. Lu Zhiqiao looked at them with a smile, with a sudden surge of mixed feelings.

    In the past, it was just her and Lu Wei at home, and it was cold and quiet for any festival, especially the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, which were like urging her to face her sins, and after a long time, she began to resist.

    For a long time, she only saw working days and days off.

    Today was the first time in so many years that she felt the lively atmosphere of the festival. Although there was only one more person, she felt at home, with a little warmth and happiness.

    After eating, Qi Yan mysteriously took out three photo albums.

    There is one photo of the mother and daughter alone, and the other is with both. She carefully selected, edited, and made three photo albums, only to find out later that she was not in any of the photos.

    She forgot.

    But it didn''t matter, she has a good memory, the memories are burned in her mind, as long as she remembers, they will always exist. Qi Yan comforted herself

    The three of them sat on the sofa and watched TV for a while, and ate some fruit snacks. When it was nearly nine o''clock, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly gave the key to her daughter and asked her to go back and pack her school bag and homework, and prepare for the school opening tomorrow.

    The little girl looked reluctant, but still carried the little photo album and left.

    It''s strange to say that the original lively atmosphere suddenly faded a lot after one person left. The television was playing a skit. Stammering, Lu Zhiqiao turned her head to look at the person next to her. Her lips moved slightly: "Do you have something to say?"

    "How do you know?" Qi Yan was stunned, and the candy in her hand fell to the ground.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised the corners of her mouth slightly, but said nothing, bent down to pick up the candy for her, put it back on the plate, and said softly after a while: "It''s all written on your face."

    "..."

    "Say it."

    Qi Yan lowered her head, her slender and curled eyelashes trembled, as if hesitating and struggling. Suddenly she stood up, walked into the bedroom like a gust of wind, and came out in a few seconds, holding a few photos in her hand, and handed them to Lu Zhiqiao.

    "I took it secretly." She confessed.

    Lu Zhiqiao took it over and looked at it. She was stunned at first, and then a hint of amazement floated in her eyes. The person in the photo is her, wearing a white open-shoulder dress, sitting under a coconut tree, smiling and staring at her daughter who is making sand sculptures by the sea.

    At that time, Qi Yan was not far from her, watching silently.

    "I originally planned to keep it privately, but I still feel that I should respect you. These photos..."

    "I love it so much."

    Lu Zhiqiao interrupted softly, raised her head, and Qi Yan''s charming and glamorous face was reflected in her watery eyes. She looked at her expression from guilt to joy, and the corners of her lips slowly lifted, "But, I''ll confiscate this."

    "Leave one for me." Qi Yan bargained, sitting down and hugging her arm.

    "Okay."

    As soon as the words fell, her cheeks felt hot, and she was sucked by something soft, and then the photo was taken away from her hand, and then stuffed back, one missing.

    Back home, Lu Zhiqiao put the photo album into a beautiful gift box.

    Traveling during the Spring Festival every year, this year is the most memorable one, and she can''t explain why, she thought about it for a while, and put in some of Qi Yan''s candid photos, turned her wrist, and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the color on the back.

    She turned the photos over, and there was writing on the back of each one.

    ¡ª¡ªMy heart belongs you, for a long time

    ¡ª¡ª To seek eternal life, this life will be paid

    ¡ª¡ªThe one separated from dust, and I, the hopeless

    ....

    After school started, Qi Yan couldn''t send Lu Zhiqiao to work, and couldn''t take Lu Wei to school with her because of the influence of rumors. After the holiday ended, the life of the three seemed to return to the previous state.

    At the beginning of the new semester, the homeroom teacher is extremely busy, attending classes and holding meetings. It so happened that five intern teachers came to the school, and one of them was assigned to Qi Yan''s class. She had to communicate with the intern teachers when she was busy, as her mentor did when she took her.

    The girl''s name is Yang Qing, she is a junior this year, she studied at Jiangcheng Normal University like Qi Yan, she is a local, she has a clear face, her voice is crisp, she is careful, diligent and able to speak, she talks to Qi Yan the past two days. After getting acquainted, she calls her ''sister'' in private.

    After the meeting this afternoon, Yang Qing was the only one in the office. As soon as Qi Yan walked in, she saw the girl lowering her head and laughing, her body trembling from laughing, and asked curiously, "What are you so happy about huh?"

    Yang Qing raised her head, her face was red with a smile, seeing that it was her, the intern hurriedly raised the letter in her hand: "Sister Yanyan, look quickly, I''m dying of laughter hahaha..."

    "This is¡ª" Qi Yan took it over and looked at it twice, frowning, "Given to you by the students in our class?"

    "Uh-huh."

    There are two jerky love words on the note, and the handwriting looked like it was written by a child.

    Yang Qing took a sip of water, took a while, and said with a smile: "Are all the students so precocious now? I''ve only been here for a few days..."

    "Do you know who it is?"

    "Chen Jiaqiang, he ran away as soon as he gave it to me."

    Qi Yan''s expression suddenly became solemn, and she tore the note into pieces, sprinkled it into the wastebasket, and said softly: "Xiao Yang, on the first day you came here, I told you that there are three red lines that cannot be stepped on, especially for teachers and students. Love is the taboo of taboos."

    "I know, Sister Yanyan, I just think it''s funny, these little friends, hahahaha." Yang Qing laughed, but seeing Qi Yan''s face was sullen, showing no sign of easing up, so she finally stopped laughing and her expression became serious. Then she stood up.

    "How are you going to handle this?"

    "Ignore him." The girl said seriously.

    Qi Yan frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded, but she was still a little worried, so she told her: "From today until the end of your internship, don''t show any discriminating meaning to Chen Jiaqiang, whether you ignore him on purpose or  lay attention to him, don''t bother, just like usual, understand?"

    "Uh-huh."

    "If he gives you a note again, don''t look at it and just throw it away. If he does something else, such as chatting with you, remember, you can''t be alone with him, either in the classroom, or in the corridor, or anywhere else. And not only him, keep a distance from all male students."

    She spoke seriously, Yang Qing was stunned, and raised her hand to cover her mouth: "So serious..."

    Qi Yan raised her eyebrows: "What did you expect?"

    The girl nodded vigorously: "Okay, I''ll remember."

    ....

    The sky was getting dark, the campus was empty and silent, Qi Yan came out of the office, said goodbye to Yang Qing, and went straight to the parking lot. She went down to the first floor, turned a corner, and suddenly caught a glimpse of two students squatting beside the greenery, looking furtive and familiar.

    "Niu¡ª" She almost shouted by mistake, and hurriedly changed her words, "Lu Wei."

    She''s not her daughter, but like her own. She can''t mistake this little girl.

    The two stood up like frightened birds, looked at her in panic, and the thing in their arms fell to the ground with a clatter - it was a mobile phone. Lu Wei quickly picked it up, pressed it twice, and carried it behind her back.

    "Wang Zheyi?" Qi Yan saw the face of the boy next to her and frowned, "It''s been so long since school ended, what are you still doing here not going home?"

    No one said anything.

    Lu Wei''s face was crumpled, her eyes flicked wildly, and then she lowered her head, as if she was in imminent disaster. Wang Zheyi was a little calmer, but it''s a pity that he is a child after all, his thoughts are clearly written on his face, and he looks a little flustered.

    Suddenly, he said, "I''m teaching Lu Wei how to play games."

    Who would have thought their homeroom teacher hasn''t left yet at this time, so he made up a temporary lie, knowing that he would lose his phone today, but he saw Qi Yan''s cold face, looking back and forth suspiciously, and said after a long while, "Go home."

    --hoo

    The little boy breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Lu Wei. The two exchanged glances briefly, picked up their school bags, turned and walked towards the school gate.

    ¡­.

    Qi Yan went to the ninth floor before Lu Wei, and waited.

    As soon as the elevator door opened, the little girl came out. When she saw her, she panicked, ran over and hugged her arm, and said coquettishly, "Teacher Qi~ don''t tell my mother, okay?"

    Originally, Qi Yan was prepared to interrogate, but now she completely forgot. This little girl has a great ability, and a few words can coax her heart into softness. So she raised her eyebrows and said, "You didn''t do anything wrong, why are you afraid that your mother will know?"

    "But¡ª" Lu Wei rolled her eyes, and said aggrievedly: "Mom said that playing with mobile phones at school is not allowed."

    Qi Yan was paused.

    Seeing the innocent look on the little girl''s face, she couldn''t help wondering, could it be that she was thinking too much?  The two children are sneaking around, are they really just playing games?  Thinking about it, it seems reasonable. She handed in Lu Wei''s mobile phone once last semester, presumably Lu Zhiqiao went back and warned her daughter, and if she was caught playing with her mobile phone again, she would be fined.

    Reminiscent of the scene where Lu Zhiqiao beat her daughter in a rage that day, it is not unreasonable for the child to be afraid and panic.

    Qi Yan thought for a moment, rubbed her head, and lied: "Okay, I won''t tell, go in quickly."

    The little girl laughed twice, took out the key and opened the door, and Qi Yan also entered the room together.

    In the afternoon, she sent Lu Zhiqiao a WeChat message, asking when she would leave work, but the person hasn''t replied until now, guessing that she is working overtime again. She went into the kitchen and looked around, opened the refrigerator to see if there was any food, and thought about making dinner here tonight.

    "Niu Niu, what do you want to eat tonight?"

    Qi Yan came out of the kitchen and saw the little girl rummaging through boxes and cabinets to find things. Two cabinets were opened in a row in the living room, and storage boxes and a stack of photo frames were brought out and placed beside them.

    That stack of frames...

    "Anything is fine." Lu Wei dug out a bag of snacks from the cabinet, grinning as if she had dug up a treasure, then carried it to the coffee table, and put the storage box back.

    Qi Yan stared at the photo frame, the photo of the man on the top, and asked softly, "Niu Niu, who is this?"

    The little girl looked over and said naturally, "My father."

    As soon as the words fell, the door of the living room opened from the outside. Lu Zhiqiao came in dressed in a cool breeze. She raised her eyes and saw Qi Yan, who subconsciously raised the corners of her mouth. But before she could smile back, she saw the photo frame on the ground; and became frozen stiff.

    A fleeting panic.

 CH 43

    The man in the photo has somewhat familiar features. Qi Yan felt that she might have seen him the moment she saw the photo, but the man didn''t have a specific impression in her memory. Hearing what Niu Niu said, she suddenly felt a thunderbolt falling on her body, she was in a daze. Right then, Lu Zhiqiao came back.

    Looking at each other, Qi Yan suddenly had an impression in her mind. She stared at Lu Zhiqiao, vaguely feeling a sense of similarity, and then fell into chaotic thoughts, ignoring the panic that flashed in the woman''s eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s expression was a little stiff, and the corners of her mouth quickly deepened, with a smile in her eyes, she entered the room calmly, glanced at the cabinet casually, and smiled: "Little girl, eat less snacks, I''ve already hid them in the cabinet, and you still found out."

    As she spoke, she casually tidied up the things the girl dug out, stuffed the stack of photo frames back into the cabinet, and closed the cabinet door.  Then she straightened up, turned her head to look at Qi Yan, her eyelashes trembled, and smiled: "Did you come back with Niu Niu?"

    The two were very close, their arms rubbing against each other, so close, Qi Yan felt more like it, she frowned slightly, her lips moved, and when she was about to speak, Lu Wei interrupted loudly: " Mom, I came back earlier than Teacher Qi, how could we be together."

    Qi Yan looked sideways, the little girl grinned, and looked at her without blinking, as if observing, she turned her gaze back, and said with a smile: "I had a meeting after class, I just came back, I thought you were working overtime again, you didn''t reply to my WeChat.¡±

    Her heart fell heavily.

    How did this child learn to lie? As a teacher, of course, she could not help the student to hide the truth from the parents, but if she did not keep her word, would the child hate her? No longer trust her? And then affect her relationship with Lu Zhiqiao......

    She quickly dismissed the idea. She believed that Lu Zhiqiao had her own ability to judge. Instead of thinking about this unwarranted, she better worry about Lu Zhiqiao''s reaction after learning about the incident earlier. This woman loves her daughter like her life. Last time, when she consulted her in the office, the woman was paranoid to death. Right now, she has no conclusive evidence. If she rashly tell her, it will arouse Lu Zhiqiao''s panic for no reason.

    Worse, she may beat the child again.

    In case there is nothing going on with the two children, and just a case of  adults overthinking and overreacting, this may backfire.

    Qi Yan was conflicted and looked at Lu Zhi Qiao anxiously, forgetting about the photo frame for a moment.

    "I got too busy in the afternoon, I didn''t have time to look at my phone..."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t notice it, she smiled apologetically, and her tone was unconsciously coaxing, revealing the shyness of a little girl, and said after explaining: "However, I came home as soon as I finished my work. It''s not six o''clock yet."

    Seeing her like this, Qi Yan was suddenly elated, raised her eyebrows, couldn''t hide the lingering joy in her eyes, and smiled lightly: "Okay, I forgive you."

    "Then do you want to eat here for dinner?" Lu Zhiqiao blushed inexplicably, raised the corners of her mouth slightly, and asked in a low voice.

    Qi Yan didn''t speak, turned around with a smile and went into the kitchen, answering her with actions.

    ....

    The two adults were busy in the kitchen, while Lu Wei went to her room to do her homework. Seeing that the door to the second bedroom had been closed for a while, Qi Yan became more and more apprehensive. She was stir-frying vegetables but she was so distracted she neglected the pan.

    "The water is almost boiled dry." Lu Zhiqiao was cutting vegetables beside her, raised her eyes and glanced at it, put down the kitchen knife quickly, and poured some water into it.

    Qi Yan came to her senses, did not speak, and flipped the spatula twice.

    She was absent-minded, her expression was somewhat grave, and her frowning brows never relaxed. Lu Zhiqiao noticed just now, but hesitated whether to ask, thinking that if it was a private matter, she is not qualified to ask.

    If she wants to talk, she will naturally talk.

    "Shall I fry it?" She stretched out her hand to pick up the spatula, and her fingertips inadvertently touched the back of Qi Yan''s hand. The steaming heat and the warmth of her skin made her shrink back like an electric shock.

    Qi Yan didn''t move, her lashes trembled slightly, her brows furrowed even deeper.

    "What''s wrong with you?" Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help asking.

    Then she saw the woman raise her head, a trace of determination flashed in her deep pupils, and said in a serious tone: "There is something I want to tell you."

    "What?"

    "I lied to you just now..." After finishing speaking, Qi Yan looked down at the pan, and seeing that it was almost done, she turned off the fire, put the dish aside, and wiped her hands.

    Lu Zhiqiao hung her retracted hand in mid-air, froze for two seconds, then slowly dropped by her side, closed her eyelids, feeling a little heavy in her heart, but didn''t respond and just waited for her to continue talking.

    The range hood was left on, and the noise was just enough to cover up their voices.

    Qi Yan explained everything perfectly.

    "I''m mainly worried about your drastic thoughts. After all, I don''t have conclusive evidence. If you misunderstand...and you are so busy with work, you''d worry about these things. I..." She grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, her tone was weak, her eyes were half aggrieved and half ashamed.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her thin lips tightly, her expression was always indifferent, and she couldn''t tell whether it was happiness or anger.

    Back when she lied to Qi Yan, she felt that this person was making a fuss out of a molehill, but now that she has been lied to once, she now knows how uncomfortable it is. What Qi Yan said was not wrong, just now when she heard her daughter and male classmate sneaking around, her mind was full of those frightening news, she almost turned around and rushed out, but fortunately Qi Yan held her hand, which made her restrain herself.

    Calm down and think about it carefully, Qi Yan''s words are also reasonable, if there is no evidence to act rashly, it will only startle the snake, and maybe push the child into the fire pit instead.

    Those girls who have gone nowhere in the news, without exception, are caused by their parents not teaching them well, which led to disasters.

    But just because she is not impulsive, doesn''t mean that she is not in a hurry. In comparison, Qi Yan''s lie did not make her that uncomfortable.

    At least she knows how to confess.

    "I was wrong." Qi Yan thought she minded, and realized that she shouldn''t justify herself, so she hugged her and coaxed her softly: "I really know I was wrong, I will never lie to you again."

    "For the sake of my timely confession, please be lenient, huh?

    "Qiao Qiao~"

    The cringey call made Lu Zhiqiao feel goosebumps all over her body. She gently pushed Qi Yan away, turned her face away, "For the time being, pay more attention to Niu Niu and that classmate Wang, and I will try to spend more time at home.¡±

    She is not as polite and careful as she used to be when talking to Qi Yan now. The truth is, she still feels uncomfortable in her heart, but knowing that Qi Yan cares about this, she even refrained from saying thank you for a long time.

    Qi Yan felt it, so she got a little comfortable. She grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and kissed it, wrapping it in her palm, "Don''t worry, I''ll keep an eye on them. Then you have to pretend you don''t know, don''t sell me out.

    The temperature in her hand was burning, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help shrinking back, and was caught by those charming amber eyes, "Do you care about your image in Niu Niu''s heart?"

    "Of course." Qi Yan looked at her deeply, "I treat Niu Niu as my own daughter."

    A pair of narrow and sharp eyes, like the sparkling wine in a glass, every time she looks at Qi Yan, Lu Zhiqiao can''t help but feel flustered, and it''s also the same when they first met, it must be something that attracted them to each other a long time ago.

    She loves her eyes. Lu Zhiqiao thought.

    However, the second half of Qi Yan''s sentence pulled her back from her thoughts. It seemed that there was nothing wrong with it, just loving the house and the crow*, but she vaguely felt that this was not going to work. There were hidden dangers lurking in invisible places.

    *means that because you love someone, you also love the crows in their house. It is a metaphor to love a person and care about people or things related to them

    Qi Yan is a teacher, so partial to her child, because of love. Like most parents, she could only wish for it, but because of reason, it shouldn''t be.

    "Don''t be too nice to Niu Niu..." Lu Zhiqiao said sullenly.

    Qi Yan''s eyes lost their luster in an instant, and murmured, "Aren''t you going to let me do this?"

    "No..." Seeing how quickly she was depressed, Lu Zhiqiao panicked and said incoherently, "I, I''m worried about you¡ª"

    Her voice stopped abruptly.

    Realizing what she had said, her heart beat violently, she pursed her lips, and said no more.

    However, Qi Yan seemed to change her face, burst out laughing, and raised her eyebrows: "Huh? What are you worried about?"

    "..."

    "Say it quickly, or I''ll kiss you."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her mouth even tighter, almost in a straight line, she would rather die than say anything. So her cheek was nibbled gently, lips moved slowly along her cheekbone to her tear mole sucking lightly.

    Liking someone, unconsciously, joy and sorrow surrounds her, and she holds the switch that controls her heart, whether she is to be happy or sad. She can''t help but decide for herself.

    Everything is voluntary.

    ¡­.

    The matter of her daughter made Lu Zhiqiao worry for days. Her head was in turmoil and she was busy with work. Until it was finally Friday. She calmed down and remembered that she hadn''t seen Qi Yan for two or three days.

    Since returning from vacation, the two families have dinner together almost every day, either at 901 or 902. But since Wednesday, Qi Yan said that she was a bit busy, eating in the cafeteria at noon, eating outside at night, returning home at 9 o''clock at night, and preparing for lessons.

    Even so, she did not forget to report to her on WeChat about her daughter''s situation at school--no change for the time being.

    She didn''t bother.

    Two or three days suddenly became very long, as if two or three years had passed.

    There is always some itching in her heart, and once she relaxes, she will always think of that person when she eats and drinks. In the past, she was like a machine, living and working just to complete tasks, but now she has a little more concern for no reason, and she is affected by everything, looking forward to it, but she can''t explain why.

    The setting sun streams in through the windows, making the office warm and bright. Lu Zhiqiao sat in a chair in a daze. After a while of work, she suddenly felt flustered when she was free. She swiped her phone boredly, wanting to see what was going on in Moments. She tapped into WeChat, but involuntarily opened Qi Yan''s chat box.

    The orange cat avatar, weird and cute.

    She isn''t aware that Qi Yan has a cat, maybe it was raised by a friend.

    Lu Zhiqiao curled the corner of her mouth, looked through the pitifully few chat records, and guessed that this person should be in class, so she quit and entered Moments and swiped two or three movie messages in a row, and she became curious.

    The movie released just two days ago, a mystery thriller movie, has a good rating and reputation, and many people are reposting recommendations.

    It''s been a long time since she went to the movies.

    It''s not interesting to be alone, she''d take Lu Wei, but that child doesn''t like to watch this kind of film.

    The orange cat avatar flashed in her mind, Lu Zhiqiao paused, and suddenly had a strong impulse, her heart felt like it was being eaten by thousands of bugs, it was crisp and itchy.  She accidentally entered Qi Yan''s chat box, typing slowly...

    [Do you want to go to the movies?]

    After editing, she hesitated and didn''t send it for a long time, and her eyes sank a little bit.

    Would this kind of invitation be too ambiguous?

    There have been so many blush-inducing memories between them, but it doesn''t mean she got used to it. She was obviously so conflicted and anxious, and didn''t think clearly at all, so she couldn''t give Qi Yan any wrong signals.

    However, if Qi Yan invited her, the situation would be different.

    How does she get Qi Yan to invite her?

    Lu Zhiqiao deleted the text, exited the chat box, and shared a movie ad with two words: I want to watch it.

    The moment she pressed ''post'', her fingers trembled slightly, her deep breath was stuffed in her throat, and she spit it out slowly, her heart was beating wildly, and the blood ran up her cheeks with heat, making her a little dizzy.

    --boom

    She lost her grip on the phone and dropped it on the table. She hurriedly picked it up, put it aside, patted her face with both hands, and got up to go to the bathroom.

    The toilet is on the other side, and she has to go through the entire departmental office area that occupies the first floor. Lu Zhiqiao kept her pace and tried to keep her face calm. She met a few staff members who greeted her along the way. She looked back calmly and felt much better, so she continued to the toilet.

    "vomit--"

    There was a woman leaning against the washstand, clutching her stomach and retching, Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, looked carefully, and frowned: "Manager Chi?"

    The woman immediately straightened her back, turned her head and was stunned. Manager Chi quickly took out a tissue to wipe her mouth, and smiled awkwardly: "Director."

    "You..." Lu Zhiqiao looked her up and down, "Are you all right?"

    "I''m okay, maybe I''ve eaten something bad." Chi Nian''s hair was disheveled, and her eyes were slightly bloodshot, and anyone could see that she was forcing a smile.  "I''m going back to work first."

    After speaking, the woman hurried out like a ghost was chasing her.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze for a while, unable to tell what was strange, so she couldn''t help thinking about the scene at the Lantern Festival, and wondered what Qi Yan said to her friend. But when she thought of Qi Yan, she remembered her WeChat Moments again, and her mood that had just slowed down boiled again.

    ....

    In the last class this afternoon, the school arranged for the homeroom teachers of the first year to give a health lecture in each class, and handed out popular science manuals on relevant knowledge, as well as a big gift bag of sanitary products for the girls.

    Qi Yan, a gorgeous "maiden", spent half an hour lecturing the children about their physiology. The boys and girls below listened with interest, one by one, with a look as if opening a door to the new world. If it weren''t for the two boys who happened to be playing with condoms this morning, she might''ve believed it.

    The condom was taken from home, filled with water and made a hole, playing as a pinball.

    An "experienced" person like Qi Yan even blushed a little when she saw it. However these kids didn''t take it seriously, giggling and joking around.

    Of course she has to tell the parents.

    Qi Yan likes calling out parents the most.

    After school, she returned to the office, sat down to drink some water and rested. All the other teachers did not change their faces or their heart beat, they were quite experienced veterans who have long seen no surprise. Everyone chatted for a few words and got ready to get off work one after another.

    This week is very busy, participating in various teaching and research activities, and also bringing in intern teachers. Fortunately, it is the weekend and she can rest for two days.

    Qi Yan opened WeChat, glanced at the replies from the parents of the two boys, said some polite words, and clicked into Moments habitually, unexpectedly the first one was Lu Zhiqiao''s post

    She froze.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s Moments has always been boring, full of work messages, and rarely posts other content, but today she reposted a movie ad.

    Like a little wolf dog who smells the smell of meat, she is only keenly aware of opportunities, so she didn''t think too much. She opened an app and booked two tickets for the evening, took a screenshot, sent it, and then typed.

    [Want to go to the movies? My treat]

    [Just the two of us.]

    With particular emphasis.

    After two or three days of busy work, like two or three years later, her heart is like being scratched by a cat''s paw. Qi Yan can''t wait to create a world for two people, even if it''s only for a few minutes, or just say a few words alone.  But if Lu Zhiqiao wanted to take her daughter, she would not refuse.

    The most important thing is that the person is happy.

    There was no reply until Qi Yan returned home, and the phone screen lit up, it was a message from Lu Zhiqiao.

    [Okay.]

    This simple word was rather cold, but they didn''t extinguish Qi Yan''s enthusiasm and anticipation, on the contrary, the fire burned even more vigorously. The corners of her mouth curled up, and she sent an emoji, then entered the house with her mobile phone in her arms, shook off her shoes, threw away her bag, let out a low-pitched scream, and collapsed on the sofa.

    Biting her lips, she stared at the ceiling.

    Why is Qiao Qiao  so easy to talk to?  She thought, her heart suddenly sour.

    It''s just two people watching a movie, she is too excited, but she can''t help but be excited, all her emotions are controlled by that person, she has the final say. Even so, she felt it wasn''t enough.

    Going to the movies with someone you like has a different meaning, with a sense of sacredness and ritual.

    Is this a date?

    ....

    After having dinner at home, Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao lied about having something to do and they went out together.

    Qi Yan drove the red LaFerrari. The streets were lined with bright lights, and the cool sports car was speeding in the night, and the roar of the engine frequently attracted attention.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat quietly in the passenger seat, her eyes were as calm as water, and the colorful lights from the street came in through the window glass, making it much darker, slightly reflecting the imperceptible curvature of the corners of her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the person beside her. Her gaze fell upon the pair of hands on the steering wheel.

    Ten fingers, thin and slender, glistening white; beautiful hands.

    Extending only further within the limit of her line of sight, unless she turns head to see more. Lu Zhiqiao clenched her fists and didn''t move. She turned her eyes and looked forward. The distance was shortening bit by bit. She had never had such a great sense of expectation.

    Despite the turbulent waves in her heart, her face remained calm.

    The theater is located in the commercial square in the city center. Because it was Friday, there were many people, most of whom were young couples, in batches. Qi Yan was afraid of making Lu Zhiqiao uncomfortable because of the crowd so she asked her to wait in the corner, and went to line up to get the tickets by herself.

    Although the line was long, it moved forward very quickly. After a while, Qi Yan came back with the tickets, and saw Lu Zhiqiao obediently standing in the corner waiting and her heart softened all of a sudden.

    "Want popcorn?" she asked softly, handing over a ticket.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a look, raised her eyes, and looked blank for a moment. The impression was that it was something that only children would eat, and it didn''t feel clean. She subconsciously wanted to shake her head, but suddenly, a strong milky scent entered her nose, a young couple came over and stopped in front of the claw machine next to her, the girl was holding a large bucket of popcorn in her arms, the scent came out of the bucket.

    "Let''s catch this Kumamon!" The girl''s voice was crisp and sweet, with a coquettish tone.

    The boy had his arms around her shoulders, smiled dotingly, and stuffed two game coins into the machine slot. At this time, the girl reached out and grabbed two or three popcorns, brought them to his mouth, and fed him gently and carefully.

    Lu Zhiqiao was in awe for a moment. Staring at the two of them.

    From the beginning to the end, Qi Yan''s gaze followed her, so she turned her head following her gaze, and naturally saw it too.

    There was a thud in her chest.

    Qi Yan turned her eyes back and looked at Lu Zhiqiao, with eyes suddenly full of tenderness, she gently grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, and pulled it into her arms, the woman came back to her senses, turned her head, and met her burning gaze.

    "Let''s go get some popcorn."

    "¡­¡­okay."

    There is also a long queue at the counter selling snacks, so there is enough time to wait.

    Qi Yan led Lu Zhiqiao through the crowd, and stood at the back of the line, with her hands on either side of her shoulders, carefully protecting her in front of her, but paying attention to keeping a little distance so as not to appear too close.

    The line is moving forward slowly, and there are more and more new people queuing up behind, and the surroundings are buzzing like a vegetable market. Lu Zhiqiao has a bit of a headache. She actually doesn''t like the noisy environment. Being here will only make her flustered, anxious and restless.

    Suddenly, she was caught by both hands.

    A ball of warm stuff got into her palm, slowly combed her curled five fingers, then slipped into the gap between her fingers, clasped them tightly, and the two strands of warmth pressed together.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body trembled, she shrank her fingers, felt the slight burning temperature in her palm, the anxiety in her heart gradually receded, and soft light shone in her dark eyes.

    Her back also felt warm.

    She felt protected, cared about, nervous, and a little bit thrilled about doing bad things in public.

    Qi Yan bought a large bucket of popcorn, but because Lu Zhiqiao said she would not drink milk tea, she only bought one for her. There are still fifteen minutes before the movie starts, and the two are standing at the ticket gate, Qi Yan is holding milk tea in one hand, Lu Zhiqiao is holding popcorn in the other, and the two are still holding each other''s hand tightly with the other empty hand.

    Lu Zhiqiao doesn''t know if it''s because of the heating or some other reason, but her face was very red, like a beautiful peach blossoms that bloomed that night when she was drunk, and her palms were also damp, sweating constantly.

    Her heartbeat was so fast that she felt like she was going to drop dead, her breathing was erratic, and she didn''t dare to look at the person beside her.

    A strong buttery fragrance entered her nose, and her lips were touched by something hard. Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly looked down, it was popcorn. She was taken aback, and the moment she raised her eyes, she saw Qi Yan looking at her tenderly. She smiled and said, "Eat one."

    Thinking of the young couple just now, her mind buzzed, and she was a little at a loss.

    Then, like a ghost, she opened her mouth and ate the popcorn. Her lips accidentally touched Qi Yan''s fingers. She forgot to chew for a while, and the taste remained on the tip of her tongue, full of fragrance.

    Qi Yan grabbed another one and put it into her own mouth, chewed and giggled while chewing.

    Seeing her happily chewing, Lu Zhiqiao started chewing too, and the two swallowed almost at the same time.

    The ticket check started, and Lu Zhiqiao''s mind froze. She quickly broke away from Qi Yan''s hand, and walked in the front with the popcorn bucket in her arms. After the ticket check, her steps were big and fast, and her figure disappeared in the auditorium after a while...

    Mystery thriller, the plot is very fascinating and even some scenes are a bit scary.

    The closed and dark space was almost full. The two sat in the middle of the last row. Lu Zhiqiao was immersed in it as she watched, completely forgetting the existence of the people around her. Everytime she sees the tensed scene, she would grab a popcorn and ending up eating almost all of it.

    The feeling of thirst pulled her thoughts out of the movie.

    Regretting that she didn''t buy something to drink just now, how could she have thought that she could eat so much popcorn, she turned her head to look around, and saw a cup of milk tea with a straw in her hand, she was stunned for two seconds, and then remembered that Qi Yan bought it.

    Evidently had been drunk.

    Qi Yan was also concentrating on watching the movie, but she wasn''t absorbed in it. She was always paying attention to the person beside her. Seeing Lu Zhiqiao staring at her milk tea, she knew she must be thirsty, so she picked it up and handed it over.

    In the darkness, Lu Zhiqiao''s softly contoured side profile was dyed pale by the light from the screen, and the tear mole at the end of her eyes also showed its charm.

    She looked at the milk tea and didn''t move for a long time.

    Qi Yan''s arms stiffened, and suddenly remembered something, stretched out her other hand to peel off the plastic seal, exposed a hole, and said softly, "It won''t be dirty when you drink it this way."

    Subconsciously, the mouth is always one step ahead of the brain.

    She said she was dirty.

    However, she was right, who would want to eat other people''s saliva? Of course it''s dirty.

    The light on the screen dimmed, and the self-deprecating smile on the corner of Qi Yan''s mouth disappeared without leaving a trace.

    "It''s okay, no need." Lu Zhiqiao took the milk tea, held the straw in her mouth without hesitation, took a big sip, and then leaned back in the chair.

    At this time, the light became brighter again.

    She looked calm, with a slight smile in her eyes.

    Author''s Note:

    =3=Yanyan, why would Ma Ma think you are dirty~

    [I feel a little uncomfortable, I will ask for leave tomorrow (31st), I''m sorry, bow.jpg]

 CH 44

    The light on the screen was very bright, reflecting the faint smile in Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes. Her lips with the straw in her mouth were curled into a small circle, she pursed slightly, and moved from time to time, as if she was biting.

    Qi Yan watched without blinking, her bright eyes were like stars flashing by, she was flattered, and something flowed from her heart...

    It turned out that Lu Zhiqiao didn''t dislike her.

    So, can she regard this as a further development of their relationship? This flashed through her mind, instantly lighting up her chaotic thoughts, but within a few seconds, the light of expectation was suddenly extinguished.

    Maybe she spoke too bluntly just now, how could a seasoned professional like Lu Zhiqiao not be able to read her? To be able to reach her current position as director, she must''ve perfected the skills to observe and adapt to the situation, and even play tricks on occasion.

    Shamelessly thinking that since they have a life and death experience together, Lu Zhiqiao will definitely think of her, give her some warmth, and accommodate her.

    This is already satisfying. She should not have any other high expectations or too many ideas, so that she would not fall into the abyss of despair.

    Ah, she''s always so optimistic.

    In the second half of the movie, Qi Yan had lost interest in watching it seriously, and her eyes were full of Lu Zhiqiao holding a straw in her mouth. The screen brightened for a while and then went dark for a while, and her heart also flickered.

    That cup of milk tea was completely drunk by Lu Zhiqiao.

    At the end of the screening, the two tacitly didn''t get up immediately, stood up one after another after the crowd had almost dispersed. Lu Zhiqiao put the empty cup into the empty popcorn bucket, and was taken aback for a moment, realizing that she had eaten so many high-calorie things this night, and suddenly regretted it.

    She walked forward slowly, accidentally tripped over her foot, and swayed, Qi Yan quickly supported her, and firmly held her in her arms.

    "Are you okay?"

    "...yes." Lu Zhiqiao''s ears felt hot, she quickly broke away, and continued walking at a faster pace.

    Soon, there was a small distance between the two.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes and saw that the milk tea straw was bitten and deformed, feeling embarrassed and regretful. She was fascinated by the movie, and she didn''t realize at all that there was Qi Yan''s saliva on the straw, as well as her own saliva, not because she thought it was dirty, but¡ª¡ª

    Not only did they kiss indirectly, but she also took the initiative to deepen this "kiss", with endless aftertaste.

    The deformed straw is the evidence.

    Can''t let Qi Yan see it.

    Walking out of the theater, Lu Zhiqiao saw the trash can, quickly threw the things in her hand into it, and then walked towards the bathroom as if nothing had happened... When she came out again, she saw Qi Yan standing outside waiting. She tried her best to maintain a calm expression, and said softly: "Let''s go back."

    Qi Yan raised her brows and smiled, took her hand naturally, and asked as she walked towards the exit, "Would you like to go shopping?" After speaking, she added, "Tomorrow is the weekend, anyway."

    Lu Zhiqiao curled her fingers, "...okay."

    The floor below the theater is a shopping mall. Many people stroll around, mostly young ones, there are young couples everywhere, the two walked around hand in hand, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t buy anything for herself, but bought a lot of things for her daughter, clothes, shoes, snacks, etc., Qi Yan didn''t buy anything, just watched from the side and helped her carry things.

    On the first floor, there is a creative gift shop with a rather large facade. There are all kinds of night lights on the shelves next to the glass windows. Qi Yan stopped in her tracks, when they passed the shop.

    Lu Zhiqiao wasn''t paying attention, and her hand Qi Yan was holding was pulled. She stopped, turned her head, and saw Qi Yan staring at the colorful and shining lights by the window, colors reflected in her eyes, revealing a trace of strong interest.

    Suddenly, Qi Yan turned her head to meet her suspicious gaze, "Are you afraid of the dark?"

    "...yes." Lu Zhiqiao was baffled by the question. She thought about it, recalling a scene of sleeping at night. It''s not to the point of fear but darkness represents the unknown, and people have instinctive fear and vigilance towards unknown things.

    She gave a compromised answer.

    Is she a three-year-old child? How could it be possible to be afraid of the dark?

    But in the next second, she was pulled into the gift shop by Qi Yan. Standing in front of the shelf next to the window, Qi Yan pointed to the small eggshell-shaped lamp above, "Does this look good?"

    The small lamp exudes warm yellow light. The upper part is a dorky chick, and the lower part is a round eggshell. It is not small, and it takes two hands to hold it. Lu Zhiqiao looked at it twice, and nodded honestly: "It looks good."

    "I''ll give it to you." Qi Yan narrowed her eyes and smiled, "When you go to bed at night, you put it on the bedside."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, opened her mouth, and just wanted to say no, but the woman already turned around and called a clerk to take the eggshell lamp to the counter.

    "..."

    Beside the counter, there were more than a dozen people waiting in line for packaging and engraving. Qi Yan paid the money and went to line up with the eggshell lamp in her arms. The team moved slowly, and she turned her head to look at Lu Zhiqiao from time to time. The latter was looking her way, their eyes met and communicated silently with their eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked a bit helpless, but there was a shallow smile on her lips. Qi Yan didn''t seem to like cute little things but she still thought the woman wanted to buy it for herself. However, in a flash, she was caught off guard.

    Although the dark nights are scary, they are far less than the human heart. You can light a small lamp at night, but what is there to do with a human heart?

    And she, who lives in a dark corner, is not afraid at all.

    After waiting for a while, Qi Yan carried a beautifully wrapped gift box over and handed it to her like a treasure, and then leaned to her ear and whispered: "For the time being, let it spend every night with you, in my stead.

    Thin soft lips accidentally touched her ears, and the ambiguous breath lingered, Lu Zhiqiao''s body trembled, and the tips of her sensitive ears were immediately stained with crimson. She let out a soft sigh of relief.

    For the time being?

    Could it be...

    She was thinking crookedly.

    "Come on, let''s go home." Qi Yan was also afraid of attracting attention and making Lu Zhiqiao uncomfortable, so she took her hand and walked out.

    As it was approaching ten o''clock, there were fewer pedestrians on the road, and the red sports car was speeding in the night, and all the things they bought were put in the trunk, except for the gift box containing the eggshell lamp, which was hugged by Lu Zhiqiao. She turned her head to look at the person beside her who was focused on driving, and asked for some reason, "Why did you invite me to watch a movie all of a sudden?"

    She regretted it right after the words fell.

    She received Qi Yan''s invitation within half an hour after reposting that Moments post. At the time, she was surprised at the speed of the other party, but later thought it might just be a coincidence. After all, since they met, so many coincidences have happened in succession.

    Did Qi Yan see through what she''s thinking?

    Being seen through and not knowing it yourself is like lynching

    The speed of the car was obviously slower. Qi Yan glanced sideways at Lu Zhiqiao, the corners of her mouth deepened, and said shyly: "I saw your Moments post. You rarely have content that has nothing to do with work..."

    As she was talking, Qi Yan''s voice gradually became quieter, and then she was taken aback for a moment, as if realizing something, she stopped talking.

    How could she say that?

    It''s the same as telling Lu Zhiqiao straight out that she''s spying on her Moments. Moreover, based on their ambiguous relationship, things like inviting to see a movie, should come from the desire and willingness of the heart, rather than being influenced by relevant information.

    If Qiao Qiao doesn''t post anymore...

    Qi Yan frowned slightly, secretly annoyed, and gripped the steering wheel with her fingers.

    Beside her, Lu Zhiqiao turned her face sideways, facing the window, and the bright lights on the street reflected her deep eyes, illuminating an imperceptible smile...

    Back in the complex, the two of them took the elevator upstairs together. Lu Zhiqiao was carrying the eggshell lamp gift box alone, and Qi Yan was holding the rest of the shopping bags in her hands. She was about to take out the key to open the door, but Qi Yan stood in front of her and refused to let her go and then cornered her to the wall step by step.

    "You¡­?"

    "Kiss me." Qi Yan stared at her face, raised her chin slightly, her smile showed a playful request, and her narrow and sharp eyes were as deep as the sea.

    The distance between the two is so close that each other can only inhale the breath exhaled by the other, the breath with body temperature and fragrance.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned against the cold wall with her back against the cold wall, her lips and nose were full of Qi Yan''s smell. Her heart was beating violently, and she was caught by Qi Yan''s eyes all of a sudden, she turned her face away uncomfortably, and hugged the eggshell in her arms tightly.

    "Let your kiss accompany me tonight, okay?" Qi Yan''s voice lingers and her scorching breath rushes over, completely surrounding her.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a breath, her feet were a little weak, her cheeks were red and hot from the heat, her heart softened all of a sudden. She turned her face back, looked into the other person''s eyes, full of longing. Then, stretched her neck hesitantly, her lips lightly touching Qi Yan''s face.

    She only stayed for about two seconds, it was soft and hot, then she quickly moved away, turning her head to leave.

    A slight force pulled her wrist and Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyes blankly, thinking that Qi Yan wasn''t satisfied, and wanted to push her luck. But unexpectedly, Qi Yan just looked at her, as if she was hesitating to speak.

    "...what, what''s wrong?"

    Just now, the two were so close that they could almost see the fine pores on each other''s faces. Qi Yan suddenly remembered the photo frame she saw that day, and guesses popped up in her mind again. She wanted to know the relationship between Lu Zhiqiao and the man in the photo.

    Lu Zhiqiao once said that she had never been married, but that man is Lu Wei''s father. Coincidentally, his facial features were a bit like Lu Zhiqiao''s.

    Among the many guesses, only one possibility is the most likely.

    She thought she had enough patience to wait slowly until the day Lu Zhiqiao willingly opens her heart and be honest with her, but tonight, she seemed to be unable to wait any longer, not even a second.

    "The last time Niu Niu went through the cabinet, the photo frame she found¡ª" Qi Yan gripped Lu Zhiqiao''s wrist tightly, and half of her words got stuck in her throat.

    They haven''t reached the point where they can talk about this, right?

    Tonight''s Lu Zhiqiao gave her an illusion of perfect happiness, and she was so happy that she was dizzy, thinking that the two of them would be able to confirm their relationship in the next second, and that Lu Zhiqiao would confess her whole past without reservation.

    But the past has nothing to do with her.

    Qi Yan regretted it, and wanted to take back what she said. If this crossed the line and offended Lu Zhiqiao, and the relationship that had finally progressed returned to the original place, she would not know what to do.

    Under the bright light, Lu Zhiqiao''s dazed eyes gradually regained their clarity, and were gradually covered with shadows. She was silent for a while, then said in a low voice, "That''s Niu Niu''s father."

    "I know, Niu Niu told me." Qi Yan became nervous, but still wanted to continue asking, but what Lu Zhiqiao said next completely wiped out all her thoughts.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "Other than that, I don''t want to talk about it for now."

    "..."

    "Good night." Lu Zhiqiao gently broke away from her hand, took the large and small paper bags, opened the door and entered the room without raising her gaze.

    The light was on in the living room, and the house was quiet. Lu Zhiqiao put the things on the coffee table, walked lightly to the second bedroom, and pushed the door open. The curtains inside were not drawn, and a little light came in from the outside, and one could clearly see her daughter lying on her side on the bed, sleeping soundly.

    She went in quietly, drew the curtains, then went to the head of the bed, bent down and kissed her daughter''s face, and exited carefully.

    The bathroom was filled with steam, and Lu Zhiqiao''s graceful figure was looming in the mist. The warm water flowed down her spine, flushing her conflicts and anxieties into the sewer.

    Her fingertips slowly stopped on the lips for a long time.

    She actually took the initiative to kiss Qi Yan without much hesitation or restraint. She couldn''t help herself if she let the woman tease her with a few words. Could it be that she has feelings for Qi Yan? The reason why she breaks her bottom line again and again.

    How can it be?

    She... just reposted a movie recommendation casually, and expressed her feelings casually, without asking for anything from the beginning to the end.

    But seeing Qi Yan''s delighted smile and fiery eyes, her heart throbbed violently as if it had been scratched by countless insects and ants. Even if Qi Yan took the initiative, she couldn''t think of anything, so what if she was fed popcorn, so what if she used a straw, she had done more intimate things than this, but they also cannot represent everything.

    Tonight was just a coincidence.

    Lu Zhiqiao moved the fingers on her lips, shook her head, and drove away the messy thoughts.

    After taking a shower, she threw her clothes into the basin and left them for washing tomorrow. Then, she turned around to tidy up the things she bought earlier. They are all for her daughter, she''ll let Lu Wei disassemble it by herself tomorrow, so the child will be more surprised. She just took out the eggshell lamp, wiped it carefully with a damp soft cloth, and carried it back to her bedroom.

    The instructions say that the lights can be activated by sound.

    Lu Zhiqiao put it on the bedside, and tried to clap twice, the eggshell suddenly lit up, the light was soft but not glaring, and there was a row of small characters engraved on the base.

    ¡ª¡ªWhere you are, I will be.

    ~Yan Yan

    ¡­.

    The new week is busy, Lu Zhiqiao works overtime almost every day. No time to spare even for her daughter. Even eating and bathing is a race against time. She will be going on a business trip to Northern Europe on Thursday. This time it will take about a week, and she will bring a lot of people. In addition to a few outstanding key employees in the department, there is also the regional manager Chi Nian.

    Lu Zhiqiao prepared the food for Lu Wei in advance, added enough daily necessities, and paid the water, electricity and gas bills, and then asked Qi Yan to help her take care of her daughter.

    Qi Yan was initially happy, until she heard that she was going out for a week, then asked for kisses on the phone.

    At that time, Lu Zhiqiao was in the office, and it happened that Chi Nian knocked on the door and came in. At this point, she refused Qi Yan, and casually said a few words, and hung up the phone.

    "What''s wrong?" She looked at Chi Nian.

    Ever since she found out that Chi Nian was Qi Yan''s friend, Lu Zhiqiao felt extremely uncomfortable in the company. She always felt that this person was like a pinhole camera, with Qi Yan connected at the other end, and her appearance would be completely peeped on.

    After thinking about it, she still has a clear distinction between public and private.

    Chi Nian''s complexion was not very good, she tried to force herself, and walked to the desk, gave Lu Zhiqiao a wry smile, and said hesitantly, "Director, can I...can I take two days off?"

    "Are you feeling unwell?" Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, looking at her carefully.

    "¡­¡­Um."

    She didn''t need to say it herself, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that she doesn''t feel well and her face was ashen. Lu Zhiqiao would definitely approve without hesitation, but she was going on a business trip tomorrow, and Chi Nian was an indispensable member of the team, so at such a critical moment, it was inevitable to have concerns.

    Seeing the boss''s hesitation, Chi Nian also understood a little bit, felt guilty, and said: "I discussed it with Manager Sun. During this period of time, his current work has been arranged. He can replace me. Do you think it''s okay? If so, I''ll go talk to him now."

    "It''s not impossible." Lu Zhiqiao pondered, "But are you really willing to give up this opportunity?"

    The company has a multinational cooperation project in the beginning of the year, which was progressing smoothly, and the negotiation was almost done. This business trip is for on-site inspection and further connection. Completing the task is an opportunity for promotion, which many people wished for.

    It is indeed a pity to give this up.

    Chi Nian sighed, nodded helplessly, her eyelids drooped, and muttered: "There is really no way..."

    Asking for leave at a critical moment is still a very important job. What will happen to the temporary replacement of staff? Lu Zhiqiao was somewhat unhappy, but didn''t make it difficult for her. She just responded lightly: "Okay, go write a leave note."

    ¡­.

    By six o'' clock, night has already fallen

    Lu Zhiqiao made an appointment to have dinner at Shu Minxi''s place tonight, and she drove there after work. The city was a bit congested, and Ninghu Villa was quite far away, so she hurried to arrive before seven o''clock.

    Non-resident vehicles are not allowed in, so she can only park the car outside and walk in.

    The single-family villas inside have red walls and warm tiles, and are far apart from each other. It takes seven or eight minutes to walk from one house to another. The private space is absolutely guaranteed and very secluded.  Lu Zhiqiao really likes this kind of house. It''s like small-scale seclusion, but not completely isolated from the world.

    She just thought of it.

    The building where Shu Minxi lived was in the deep part of the villa. Since she couldn''t drive, she had to walk at least half an hour. By the time Lu Zhiqiao arrives, the food will probably be cold.

    She is not stupid, she just called and asked someone to pick her up.

    On the phone, Shu Minxi seemed to be in a good mood, her voice was soft and cheerful, and her tone was full of laughter, saying that the driver was not here today, and she would come right away.

    After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhiqiao stood by the lawn and waited.

    After a while, voices could be faintly heard from behind, a slight movement, getting closer and closer, and two of the voices were particularly familiar...

    She turned sharply.

    Three people came towards her from the path ahead, their figures were clear under the bright yellow light, a middle-aged man, a young woman, and a little girl in a ponytail.

    The young woman was tall with long black hair hanging down in front of her body. She was holding the man''s arm in one hand and the girl in the other. When she looked up, she saw Lu Zhiqiao who was in a daze, and her footsteps paused slightly.

    It''s Qi Yan.

    The little girl next to her is Niu Niu.

    The middle-aged man on the other side is¡ª¡ª

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes wide, took two steps forward, and said in amazement, "Boss Qi?"

    Author''s Note:

    Yan Yan: What should I do, I am so panicked!

 CH 45

    The night is silent, and the street lights are mottled.

    The middle-aged man was handsome, with kind eyes and brows, dressed casually, full of energy, with a cheerful smile on his lips. He turned his head when he heard the sound, and was taken aback when he saw Lu Zhiqiao: "Director Lu?"

    The woman in front of her looked about the same age as Yan Yan, with cold eyes and the appearance of a professional manager. Of course he remembered that Director Lu was in charge of the cooperation negotiations and agreement signing with Xinbei Group last year. At that time, he was very impressed with her, and felt that this person was the material for great things. If it wasn''t for the partnership between the two companies, he would have been jealous seeing Xinbei get such an executive.

    "You live here too?" He asked with a smile.

    As soon as the words fell, before Lu Zhiqiao had time to speak, Lu Wei suddenly called out to her mother, and then rushed over to hug her arm.

    Father Qi was even more surprised. He looked at the little girl, then at Lu Zhiqiao, "Is this your daughter?" After speaking, he turned to look at his daughter.

    He almost drew countless question marks on his forehead.

    Qi Yan froze, her face was very ugly, as if she had done something shameful at that moment, she wished she could hide and run away. She looked at Lu Zhiqiao nervously, knowing that she couldn''t hide anything today, so she simply turned her head to look at her father, "Dad, this is the neighbor I just told you about."

    She spoke quickly, and then paused for a moment after speaking, as if she felt that something was wrong.

    Neighbor?

    This title is too distant, but, apart from neighbors, there seems to be no other suitable label for them. What about friends? The elders often have contacts with her circle of friends, her father certainly will not believe it.

    Add that she is the parent of her student?

    Her father will tell Ms. Lin when they go back and then Ms. Lin will bombard her like she did on the phone: "Yan Yan, do not get too close to the parents of students.It''s fine until something happens, then they will blame the teacher, everything is the teacher''s fault¡­"

    She will be nagged for half an hour.

    Perhaps¡­.

    Her girlfriend.

    She is looking forward to this label but she didn''t dare to think too much about it.

    It''s even more impossible.

    Their relationship is far from that, and to say so without permission is disrespectful to Lu Zhiqiao. Even if they were, she wouldn''t be in a hurry to introduce her to her parents in an informal setting. The first thing she would not allow is rush. But if Lu Zhiqiao was her girlfriend, she would have been the first to announce it to the world.

    So subconsciously, only a rusty label like a ''neighbor'' is the most suitable.

    It was okay to tell her parents that, on the phone or at home, just to fool them first, but in front of Lu Zhiqiao...

    Qi Yan felt inexplicably guilty, and carefully shifted her gaze to Lu Zhiqiao''s face, observing her expression, the awkward smile on the corner of her mouth could not be suppressed.

    Between the two street lamps, the light was not so strong. Lu Zhiqiao''s expression was indifferent, and no emotion could be seen in her dark eyes. She suddenly heard the word "neighbor", her throat was blocked, and then she met Qi Yan''s obviously disturbed eyes, and she smiled lightly. The corners of her mouth were raised slightly, which was the default.

    Neighbor.

    "What a coincidence!" Father Qi was overjoyed, and suddenly looked at her daughter with some reproachful eyes, "Yan Yan, why did you only bring the child here and not Director Lu? You didn''t invite her to dinner either."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the middle-aged man, and then at Qi Yan. Their eyes and brows are indeed alike, especially their noses. She was immersed in the unbelievable shocking coincidence for a while, and she never expected that the person who signed the cooperation agreement with her last year was actually Qi Yan''s father.

    Both surnamed Qi, they look alike.

    She should have thought of it earlier.

    She thought that Qi Yan was really the so-called "nouveau riche''s daughter", with a little money in the family, or a few flats demolished, a higher education, and a bit of culture.  However, life began ever since meeting Qi Yan, and has never been able to leave this person. In the end, they went around in circles, and finally returned to the original point.

    But compared to this, she realized something more serious.

    Perhaps, the cooperation with Senyang is not because of her ability, but because Qi Yan is behind the scenes...

    There was a bang in her head, as if something had collapsed. Before Lu Zhiqiao had time to think about it, her thoughts were interrupted by Father Qi''s words. She put her arms around her daughter''s shoulders and looked at Qi Yan blankly.

    "She''s busy, maybe next time." Qi Yan answered the old man first, then looked nervously at Lu Zhiqiao, and explained with a smile: "I''m going to eat at my parents'' place today. I''m afraid that Niu Niu will be alone, so I brought her here with me."

    If it was about the child, she didn''t dare to challenge Lu Zhiqiao''s bottom line, she confessed all of a sudden, feeling very disturbed. Moreover, she forgot to send a message on WeChat to report, in case Lu Zhiqiao blames her for taking her daughter out without permission. Their gap wasn''t easy to close, she doesn''t want it to revert.

    Qi Yan thought pessimistically, the smiles in her eyes gradually faded away, covered with a strong sense of loss.

    "Mom, I wanted to go out with Aunt Qi, don''t blame her." Lu Wei said suddenly.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze.

    How come you changed your name to Auntie?

    Qi Yan was tense all over, feeling more guilty, and was about to change the subject when Qi''s father suddenly said with a smile: "We just finished eating, let''s go for a walk, take a walk, and buy some fruit at the door by the way."  The girl glanced at her with a meaningful look.

    "Why are you here?" Qi Yan continued to change the topic.

    The father and her daughter talked together, Lu Zhiqiao''s thought was interrupted, and subconsciously said: "My boss lives here, I came over for something."

    "Boss Shu?" Father Qi laughed again, "It was a coincidence that I ran into her last time."

    This community is very large, residents usually drive in and out, and there is enough space in front of and around their own doors. In this way, the two families living near the gate and in the back may not be able to meet each other for several years. Meeting naturally is very coincidental.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled politely: "What a coincidence."

    Subconsciously, she still regarded this middle-aged man as Mr. Qi, and couldn''t connect him with Qi Yan, so when she saw Qi Yan next to her, she felt a little awkward, and she couldn''t help but treat each other with formal etiquette.

    "Mom, will you go to Grandpa Qi''s house?" Lu Wei tugged at her mother''s arm and smiled sweetly.

    Papa Qi nodded repeatedy in agreement, but Qi Yan''s face changed slightly.

    "..."

    This child.

    Lu Zhiqiao remained calm, looked at Papa Qi naturally, and smiled apologetically, "I''m sorry, Mr. Qi, it''s really inconvenient today. If you don''t mind being disturbed, I''ll bring my daughter to visit you another day."

    "Hey, how could you be a nuisance? Yanyan has been talking about how well you neighbors get along lately..." Dad Qi was always cheerful and in a particularly good mood, but before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by his daughter.

    Qi Yan interrupted with an awkward smile: "It''s okay, you can come anytime next time. If you have something to do, go ahead and go. We''re going to buy some fruit. I''ll take Niu Niu back later."

    There was panic in her eyes, and the smile on the corner of her mouth was also very stiff.

    Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t see it, but in just a few minutes, more and more doubts piled up in her heart, and she also needed to calm down and sort out her thoughts, so she walked down the steps, smiled and said goodbye to her daughter. "Niu Niu, you have to listen to Aunt Qi..."

    The little girl nodded and returned to Qi Yan''s side.

    Qi Yan held the child with one hand and the old father''s arm with the other, and continued to walk forward. Papa Qi emphasized worriedly: "Director Lu must come next time."

    "Okay." Lu Zhiqiao smiled sweetly.

    The figures of the three gradually moved away and disappeared around the corner of the gate of the community.

    The street lights far ahead are still shining brightly, but they seem a little deserted. The surrounding vegetation was originally lush, for three or four months in the fall and winter, the trees have fallen out of leaves, revealing bare branches. The light was not exhausted from the darkness, but it looked empty and sluggish.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood alone under the light, her slender shadow stretched and cast faintly on the ground.  Perhaps it was because of the sudden amount of information, her mind was empty at the moment, unable to make sense of it, and Qi Yan''s face flashed back and forth in front of her eyes, sometimes clear and sometimes hazy.

    Standing there, she had a sense of emptiness, as if she didn''t belong to this world.

    But she happened to see the person who should be in her own world.

    Qi Yan is a stranger, and her daughter is also a stranger, only she is still her, isolated, excluded, and can only watch from afar.

    A small black e-bike came from the end of the road, with lights making their way to her, and it stopped steadily in front of Lu Zhiqiao. Making her snap back to her senses, and saw Shu Minxi smiling at her from the side, and shaking her hand: "What are you thinking about?"

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao took a look at the electric bike, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, she sat on it, holding Shu Minxi''s shoulders with both hands for support. Then, the two drove towards the depths of the community, with the wind blowing in her ears

    ....

    The building where Shu Minxi lived was the farthest from the gate, and also the quietest. It only took seven or eight minutes to ride a small electric bike. Lu Zhiqiao hadn''t ridden an e-bike for a long time, and she became a little scared when they were going too fast. The hands that were holding Shu Minxi''s shoulders unconsciously fell to the woman''s waist, hugging her tightly.

    The courtyard door was open, and Aoki Saki stood at the door and looked around, seeing the small scooter entering the courtyard, the corner of her mouth smiled until her eyes fell on the hands holding Shu Minxi''s waist. The smile froze on her lips, and eyes dimmed in an instant. She frowned slightly, her legs walked forward uncontrollably.

    "Miss Lu, I''ve been waiting for you for a long time, come in quickly." She smiled lightly, warmly held Lu Zhiqiao''s arm, and led her away from Shu Minxi''s range.

    Just as Lu Zhiqiao got out of the vehicle, she gave her a little support to stand firm. Hearing the sound, she raised her eyes and smiled apologetically, "The road is too congested. I''m really sorry."

    "You''re just in time. I asked the nanny to cook dinner later. It''s just done right now." Shu Minxi refuted Saki with a single sentence, without even looking at her, she parked the bike and came over to hold Lu Zhiqiao''s arm, as if trying to steal her.

    "Zhiqao, feel at home, it''s just a regular meal, don''t mind it so much. You are always so polite in private, and you are easy to be pinched as a soft persimmon*."

    *easy to be bullied/teased.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled awkwardly, her left arm was held by Saki, and her right arm was held by Shu Minxi. The two seemed to be competing, and neither of them had any intention of giving in. She was unlucky, and now she became a sandwich cookie.

    After entering the house, the two finally let go at the same time.

    As Shu Minxi said, it was just an ordinary home-cooked meal. The table was round, and Saki wanted to sit next to Shu Minxi, but was repelled by the latter''s warning eyes, but she didn''t give up. Shu Minxi ended up just moving the chair away by a body distance, and sat down with peace of mind.

    Shu Minxi ignored her, ate by herself, and chatted with Lu Zhiqiao from time to time.

    Ever since Saki came, every time Lu Zhiqiao came into contact with Shu Minxi in private, she always felt that she was doing something disgraceful, like cheating, it''s embarrassing and awkward. She vaguely knew something about the matter between the two of them, but she never asked. She didn''t bother to understand.

    But being caught in the middle, being treated as an imaginary enemy by one side, no one can stand it.

    After dinner, Shu Minxi asked Sakii to make tea, and pulled Lu Zhiqiao to sit on the sofa. Lu Zhiqiao looked at the reluctant back and sighed softly: "After all, she is the client''s daughter, is it really okay for you to be like this?"

    "It''s different now." Shu Minxi sneered, her slender eyelashes trembling, "We don''t need to rely on the Aoki family now, but the old man came up on his own."

    "Then don''t use me to anger her anymore, it''s childish."

    Being seen through at a glance, Shu Minxi reached out and pinched her arm, turning her face away with a gloomy expression.

    When Lu Zhiqiao first joined the job ten years ago, this person was her boss''s boss, she was about the same level as Chi Nian now. At that time, she had outstanding abilities and was promoted very quickly. Within two years, she became Shu Minxi''s direct subordinate, and was highly valued and cared for. After that, the two gradually developed a relationship of both mentor and friends.

    Most of the time, Lu Zhiqiao regards her as her boss, with three points of friendliness and seven points of respect.

    To say that the person Lu Zhiqiao admires the most in the company, besides the reclusive chairwoman, is Shu Minxi. Because they were also women, seeing them struggle for many years, and they are still strong and independent after heavy wind and rain, she''s inspired and feels more powerful and can hold on.

    But all the same, they are also that unfortunate

    Like a curse, people who are successful in their careers always have bumpy roads when it comes to love.

    Will she be the same?

    "Are you feeling better?" Lu Zhiqiao asked softly.

    "Um."

    Shu Minxi moved her neck, turned her face, raised her hand to brush her hair, revealing a thin wrinkle at the end of her eyes. After all, the years have left marks on her face.

    "But the chairman''s condition is not very good. She was only discharged from the hospital last week, and was admitted to the hospital again yesterday... When I was away, she drank like crazy, and her stomach bled, but I really can''t watch her 24 hours a day..." She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and said nothing.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, and patted her on the shoulder lightly: "Don''t push yourself, you are too busy, I...should have time."

    She was just waiting for this sentence.

    Shu Minxi raised the corners of her mouth, turned her head and smiled, and suddenly held Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, her expression gradually became serious: "You are still in charge of the overall situation, I am more at ease when I am not in the company, I will trouble you, and Secretary Jiang, in special cases, I let her listen to you."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment, and looked into her eyes blankly.

    At first, the words sounded like she''s being entrusted with a country. She''s not sure and also thought that something big happened. Although Lu Zhiqiao has ambitions to climb up, she has never played the emotional card, and she speaks with her ability. At this moment, she was caught off guard, as if she was hinted, and she didn''t know how to respond

    "Wait until the evaluation at the end of April, the board of directors..." Shu Minxi continued on her own.

    Before she finished speaking, there was a soft shriek from the tea room, and then something was overturned and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

    Shu Minxi paused, stood up suddenly, and ran over.

    White porcelain fragments were scattered all over the ground, mixed with light yellow tea, Saki stood aside with her hands covered, her brows frowned, with a hurt expression. Shu Minxi''s heart tightened, she hurried forward to grab her hand, and asked nervously, "What''s wrong?"

    The delicate white skin on the back of the hand was reddened, apparently from being burned. Saki looked at her aggressively, moved her mouth, but didn''t speak.

    Shu Minxi frowned tightly, and there was a hint of distress in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared, as if there was only anger. She grabbed Saki''s wrist and walked out, pressed her on the sofa, then went to get the medicine box by herself, and dug out a burn ointment.

    "Give me your hand." She said indifferently.

    Saki obediently stretched out the hand that was scalded.

    Shu Minxi held her fingertips, rolled up her sleeves, exposing her thin wrists, then unscrewed the ointment, squeezed out a lump of light brown ointment, carefully and gently smeared it on the reddened skin, and gently blew it away. Blow, and apply a thick layer.

    There was a slight cooling sensation, and the burning pain was obviously relieved.

    Saki looked at her, her nose suddenly became sour, dark eyes were covered with water vapor, and she couldn''t help biting her lips.

    "How many years have you been brewing tea, how can you still be scalded like this?" Shu Minxi twisted the lid, without raising her eyes, and scolded mercilessly in her mouth.

    "I accidentally..."

    "You did it on purpose."

    "I did not¡­"

    The two seemed to be arguing and arguing, but neither of them really lost their temper.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched silently from the side, seeing the indifference on Shu Minxi''s face and the unconcealed tension in her eyes, she immediately remembered the day when she was bitten by a snake in the tropical rainforest, Qi Yan was also like this, pretending to be so calm and collected. But in fact, her fingers were trembling in panic, and couldn''t tie a knot, then she almost hit someone while driving.

    For the first time in more than ten years, she tasted the feeling of being cared about and being nervous about.

    But people''s hearts are fickle, and feelings are such fragile things. The so-called vows of eternal love and eternal life are all people''s beautiful fantasies, and even love itself has been overly beautified.

    She looks so indifferent, but her heart is very soft, and she is always moved by the little warmth in life. If she falls into the emotional vortex and makes any mistakes, she will be doomed. Her daughter has not grown up yet, so she can''t afford that risk.

    But every person has weaknesses, and she knows where her weaknesses are, so she builds one solid defense after another to prevent anyone from attacking, so no one can really hurt her except herself.

    But at this moment, the defense in her heart has been dilapidated, and the ruins are crumbling. Every time she thinks of Qi Yan, a corner collapses.

    She must be a hypocrite.

    By the time she got back to the complex, it was already past 9 o''clock

    The night outside was dark and windy, with thick and heavy clouds covering the sky. There was no trace of the moon. Lu Zhiqiao parked the car, locked the door, and walked into the elevator with heavy steps. Watching the two heavy doors slowly close, a sense of suffocation suddenly spread in the small space.

    The emotions that had been temporarily suppressed in her heart surged out like a flood at this moment, densely filling her overwhelmed heart, and she suddenly felt very tired.

    She just wanted to go home, take a shower, hide in her room, bury herself in the bed, and cry happily.

    --ding

    The elevator door opened slowly on the ninth floor. Lu Zhiqiao was holding her breath, she walked out quickly. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in her sight.

    Qi Yan squatted in front of the elevator door, leaning her back against the wall, with her hair pulled into a messy bun, with her arms wrapped around her knees, both embarrassed and lonely. When she heard the door open, she immediately raised her head, her dark eyes filled with joy, she got up and grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, "You''re back..."

    Her voice was a little hoarse, and her brows and eyes looked slightly tired.

    There was a gust of cold wind in the corridor, and her hands became cold. She didn''t know how long she had been waiting here.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her quietly, seeing the tension and apprehension, loss and concern in her eyes, her heart softened instantly, she lowered her gaze, and said in a low voice, "Don''t you think it''s time to explain what happened today?"

    In the next second, she heard Qi Yan''s heavy and uncontrollable breathing.

    "Well, I''m here to explain to you." Qi Yan nodded repeatedly, frowned and smiled. She realized that her hands were cold, so she quickly let go of her and grabbed her wrist instead, "Let''s go in and talk."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and followed her into 902 without saying a word.

    As soon as she entered the room, Lu Zhiqiao habitually wanted to change her shoes, but before she could move, she was grabbed by a force, and then fell into an embrace full of fragrance and warmth. Two thin and strong arms were wrapped around her waist, and she couldn''t move for a while...

    "Qi Yan¡ª"

    "Let''s hug and talk." Qi Yan interrupted, "I''ll feel scared if I don''t hug you."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t struggle any more, her whole body softened as if she had died, she snuggled into Qi Yan''s arms like a boneless one, and then slowly put her hands on her shoulders.

    Her hair was loosely tied, and the strands were floating on Lu Zhiqiao''s face, itching, mixed with a fresh fragrance, familiar and reassuring.

    "My mother called me this afternoon and said she missed me and asked me to go home for dinner, but you have been busy working overtime these two days. I thought Niu Niu would be home alone, so I was worried, so I took her with me." Qi Yan put her cheek against her ear and said simply and slowly.

    It was a completely unexpected situation at the time, so Qi Yan couldn''t help but think more, but even so, she had to worry about Lu Zhiqiao''s feelings, and made a compromised choice after consideration.

    That''s what she explained to Ms. Lin. The neighbor is busy, so she was asked to take care of the neighbor''s child.

    Ms. Lin watched too much social news, and in the past two years she was not allowed to have too much contact with the parents of the students. She was also afraid that talking too much would cause unnecessary trouble, so she had to discuss it with Niu Niu and made the child call her Aunt instead of Teacher Qi at home.

    She didn''t mention the rest, the simpler the better.

    She didn''t tell her parents the whole thing, who would have thought that the chance meeting would come so unexpectedly, they almost revealed their secrets.

    Qi Yan explained everything honestly, closed her eyes, and waited for the person to free herself from her arms.

    "I wasn''t asking you to explain this." Lu Zhiqiao''s tone was a little cold, with an indescribably complicated feeling in her heart.

    It doesn''t matter if she was introduced as a neighbor, because they are, in the first place, Qi Yan is not wrong, and there is no need to explain anything to her, but such an explanation, on the contrary, made her a little sad for no reason, and her throat choked up.

    Apart from neighbors, there is indeed no other identity to introduce.

    One night stand? Friend? Student''s parent?  Neither was as good as ''neighbor'' could give her.

    Qi Yan is like a frightened bird at this moment, any slight change in the person in her arms can cause her to panic. She tilted her head and kissed Lu Zhiqiao''s earlobe, coaxing: "Okay, what else, tell me."

    "Are you acting stupid on purpose?"

    "What?"

    "You are not the daughter of an upstart at all."

    "I am." Qi Yan quietly breathed a sigh of relief, "My dad really started as a nouveau riche. He used to do a small business, that kind of local boss...I swear I won''t lie to you."

    "You said it too, that was in the past." Lu Zhiqiao sneered.

    She didn''t know what she was obsessed with, or what she was trying to do, and the backlog of emotions completely overwhelmed her reason.

    She is crazy.

    Qi Yan, is not the Qi Yan she knows now, she is the daughter of a wealthy family, maybe she likes to play the seductive game of hiding her identity, and seeing other people being teased without knowing it. It must''ve been very fulfilling, and she is like that clown, being played around and struggling with herself, it''s really ridiculous.

    But soon, Lu Zhiqiao calmed down again.

    That''s not the point.

    "Qi Yan..." She called her name softly, her voice weak, "Tell me, did you secretly help our company cooperate with your family?"

    After speaking, all the strength in her body was drained, she buried her face in Qi Yan''s neck and closed her eyes.

    At that moment, Qi Yan understood everything.

    "If I said I didn''t, would you believe me?"

 CH 46

    "If I say I didn''t, would you believe me?"

    Qi Yan took the initiative to slowly let go of Lu Zhiqiao, put her hands on her shoulders, and made her look at her. Those eyes were dignified, sincere and firm, having a hint of sadness in their depths, as if they were taking a risk.

    This woman was a little stronger, and Lu Zhiqiao was shackled by her shoulders and couldn''t move. She met her eyes unprepared, and didn''t have time to hide the flustered emotions; wretched and embarrassed.

    In just a moment, Lu Zhiqiao was captured by Qi Yan''s eyes.

    There seemed to be a vortex in the black pupils, sucking her in bit by bit, stirring in the depths, making a mess out of her.

    Her heart became more inclined to believe Qi Yan. Even Though, from this early evening until this moment when she got out of the elevator, she is 90% certain that Qi Yan had secretly helped her, there was still a 10% of her hoping that Qi Yan didn''t. She hoped even more that the woman knew nothing about this matter. So that she could calm her chaotic mood tonight and rebuild her collapsed belief.

    Perhaps the impact of this incident was too great, and she can''t help feeling uneasy. Compared with Qi Yan, she was inferior in everything, and her lifeline that could give her comfort is her job.

    Her small self, her weak confidence, could not withstand this shock.

    Although Qi Yan lied to her, it was a last resort, and she later confessed and apologized to her in time. Qi Yan cared so much about her feelings and thoughts, how could she lie to her?

    Lu Zhiqiao realized that she knew it all, but she didn''t know what kind of attachment she had, so she turned a blind eye to it all.

    Calm down, she thought. She is indeed crazy.

    The fact that Qi Yan could have said no directly, but was asking her this rhetorical question. Wasn''t that implying that this person was sure that she would not believe her? The sorrow hidden deep in those eyes, now shaped like a question, like a barbed whip, hit Lu Zhiqiao''s heart fiercely..

    Twitching pain, even the flesh was torn out.

    She remembered the scenes in the rainforest again. Qi Yan took off her shoes and tied her wound, but her hands were shaking so much that she couldn''t tie the knot in one try. Qi Yan agreed to take care of her daughter without hesitation, but said that three of them would go back when three of them came. Qi Yan calmly drove them to the rescue area, but almost hit someone on the road. Qi Yan...

    It''s all Qi Yan.

    After that, she still doesn''t believe her, how sad this person must be.

    Qi Yan would not lie to her.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a breath, raised the corners of her mouth slightly, smiled, and said three words: "I believe you."

    "Then will you listen to my explanation?" Qi Yan asked.

    "I will."

    Qi Yan curled her lips, then slipped her hands from Lu Zhiqiao''s shoulders, held her hand, and said calmly, "Actually, I knew about this a long time ago..."

    Last October, she heard her parents talk about the cooperation at home, and then around the beginning of November, she went to the company to find Chi Nian, and happened to meet Lu Zhiqiao who came out from the toilet, but the latter didn''t see her at that time, and she didn''t make a sound. Since then, she has been hesitating to help.

    Later, when she saw the cooperation agreement at Lu Zhiqiao''s house, she asked knowingly, her heart still wavering if she should intervene or not.

    But in the end, she didn''t.

    Qi Yan explained clearly from the beginning to the end, without hiding anything, she thought she was not honest enough to make Lu Zhiqiao feel safe.

    "The reason why I finally decided not to care about this matter are two reasons: first, the business world is only about profit, not about human feelings. The cooperation should be judged by my father, not me, a person who has not touched the family business. Secondly¡­

    She paused, looking at Lu Zhiqiao with softer eyes.

    "Although I didn''t really know you at that time, I could feel that you are a person who doesn''t play the emotion card at work, and you wouldn''t be willing if I secretly helped and hid it from you, and I couldn''t make the decision for you without permission."

    This woman seems weak and soft-hearted, but she is actually stronger than anyone else. Otherwise, how could she raise her daughter by herself for more than ten years and succeed in her career?

    Qi Yan couldn''t say some things directly, so she was full of worries, she had to use tactful methods. She had met people like Lu Zhiqiao before, and felt that getting along with them will be very tiring, but now, because it is Lu Zhiqiao, she is willing to do anything.

    "Qiao Qiao..." Qi Yan leaned over and hugged her, "Thank you for believing in me."

    The truth is, there is a third reason.

    She hoped that the relationship between them would be pure, at least not mixed with too many conflicts of interests, although at that time she was not sure what future the two of them would have.

    "In my heart, you are the most perfect." Qi Yan tilted her head and kissed her ear, with her soft lips moving along the cheekbones to the mole at the corner of the eye, and sucked gently.

    Lu Zhiqiao slowly closed her eyes, the heat spread from the tips of her ears to her neck, trembling intermittently, her hands couldn''t help clasping Qi Yan''s shoulders.

    The kiss crawled all over her face, and finally landed on her lips. It was very light, as if she was hesitating, but she couldn''t hold it back after all, and got entangled deeply with a strong breath.

    She feels like falling into the bottom of the vortex. Thinking it was a hidden danger, she didn''t expect it to be peaceful there.

    In the past, when she had a crush on others, Lu Zhiqiao was always the humble one. She secretly liked, secretly had heart palpitations, and secretly watched the other person''s every move. After a while, she gradually lost herself emotionally. It was only when she met Qi Yan that she realized that she could also be cared about, adored, and cherished, and it just so happened that Qi Yan was the person she admired and wanted to be the most.

    Her heart calmed down because of those words, and then she felt a little unreasonable.

    It''s not her who is perfect, but Qi Yan. How can there be such a good person as Qi Yan in the world? She must be short-sighted and have little experience in relationships, to fuss over this.

    She hadn''t been able to be honest with Qi Yan, so why did she demand to explain everything clearly? Today, she questioned Qi Yan, and was inexplicably anxious. In turn, the other person showed how much she cared.

    Like a slap, it slammed heavily on her face.

    Lu Zhiqiao became remorseful, but a sweet warm current flowed through her heart, intertwined with the fire on her lips, and slowly burned all over her body. She was pushed against the wall, surrounded by fiery enthusiasm, and the dregs were swallowed by the taste between her lips. She surrendered.

    "Qiao." Qi Yan called her hoarsely.

    She hummed a bit as a response.

    Qi Yan didn''t speak for a while, lowered her eyes to hide her real emotions, then grabbed her chin, kissed her fiercely again, unable to part, and said in a low voice: "I''m so honest today, do you want to give me some rewards, hmm?"

    After finishing speaking, she grabbed her coat with both hands, as if trying to take it off.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly woke up, pushed Qi Yan away, fixed her clothes in panic, and lowered her head in embarrassment: "I''m tired, I''ll go back first..."

    "Don''t¡ª" Qi Yan grabbed her wrist and kissed her curtly, "I''m just kidding you."

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her head and glared at her with embarrassment in her eyes. Suddenly, she stretched out her hand and pulled the hair tie off the back of her head. The low bun was already loosely tied, and it fell off with a light pull, and the long black hair fell down instantly, releasing a light fragrance.

    Qi Yan: "?"

    ¡­.

    When she got home, Lu Zhiqiao covered her burning face and saw her daughter brushing her teeth in the bathroom. She urged her to go to bed early. She was about to go back to her room when the little girl, with her mouth full of foam, blurted out: "Mom, you''re not going to fight with Teacher Qi, are you?

    "..."

    "Teacher Qi''s mother doesn''t like her making friends with students'' parents, that''s why I call her auntie." Lu Wei opened her eyes wide and looked at her mother seriously, as if protecting Qi Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao was indeed tired at the moment, and didn''t have the heart to think so much, so she nodded perfunctorily: "Yes, I know, Teacher Qi explained it."

    "Then you were at Teacher Qi''s house just now?"

    "¡­Um."

    Lu Wei rolled her eyes, said nothing, turned her head and continued brushing her teeth.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat in the room for a while, listening to the movement outside, and waited for her daughter to return to her room before entering the bathroom with her pajamas in her arms. She took a bath comfortably, and most of her thoughts seemed to be taken away by the hot water. When she came out of the bathroom, she felt very light.

    She turned off all the lights in the house, but forgot to turn on the light in the bedroom first. At this moment, she walked to the door of the bedroom in the dark, and searched the wall for a long time without finding the switch.

    She can''t see her fingers, and it feels eerie and weird in the silence.

    At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao was suddenly frightened.

    She raised her hand and clapped twice, and the eggshell lamp on the head of the bed lit up, and the warm yellow light lit up a corner of the bedroom, faintly reflected in her eyes¡­

    ¡­.

    It was the third day of Lu Zhiqiao''s business trip that weekend.

    Qi Yan took Niu Niu to her unit for board and lodging, and supervised her homework. The teacher and the student got along happily. She reports the situation to Lu Zhiqiao on WeChat every day, and it always felt like a long, long time. She counted the days on her fingers, but it was only three days. She wanted to chat a few more words, audio and video, but that person was too busy and replies very slowly.

    She has to restrain herself from disturbing her work.

    Earlier asked Chi Nian to come over to play, and they had dinner together later that night, and the two chatted about photography.

    Qi Yan has always helped a few magazines to shoot commercials, and occasionally accepts private work for celebrities, but it all depends on her mood, and she needs to be introduced by acquaintances. After all, she doesn''t rely on this for food, the more low-key the better.

    Apart from her parents, only Chi Nian knew about this.

    This time, she wanted to discuss going to Africa with a few friends during the summer vacation to find some scenery that she hadn''t photographed before. All over the world, except for the north and south poles, that is the only place that she has not visited.

    "Isn''t your company''s heat allowance* exchangeable for vacation? It should be fine to exchange for four or five days." Qi Yan played a small calculation, peeled a milk candy and put it in her mouth.

    *Heat allowance - paid by employers if the temperature of working conditions exceeds 35 degrees Celsius outdoors or 33 degrees indoors

    Chi Nian frowned in thought, her face seemed to be fatter, she looked more loli, and she looked more like a student in casual clothes, "It''s not a matter of time, it''s just that it''s not convenient for me."

    "What''s wrong?"

    Chi Nian suddenly raised her eyebrows and smiled, and said mysteriously, "Don''t worry, I have a good news and few bad news, which one do you want to hear first?"

    Normally, one will choose good news first then the bad, but that isn''t her style. Qi Yan smiled and said: "Bitter first, then sweet, bad news."

    It was the first time she met Chi Nian since she ran into her in Lu Zhiqiao''s office. Qi Yan told Chi Nian the truth on WeChat, except for the part that she and Lu Zhiqiao had an ambiguous relationship. Even so, being both her student''s parent and next door neighbor was enough to shock Chi Nian, and she complained why she kept it a secret.

    When she just moved, she wanted to invite Chi Nian over to hang out, but the other party was busy and never had time.

    Chi Nian is free today, but she discovered that her boss lives right across. If Lu Zhiqiao hadn''t been on a business trip for the past two days, Chi Nian would never have dared to come here.

    "Bad news one, I lost my bonus for three months. Bad news two, our director is on a business trip this time, and I was going to go too, but because of the good news, I missed a good opportunity for promotion and salary increase. Bad news three, I went to see a client yesterday, and because of the good news, I overslept and was late, and then I couldn''t help but vomit all over the client during the meal..."

    "Stop, stop!" Qi Yan frowned.

    The bad news that comes as a result of good news in a roundabout way is too tragic.

    "Just tell me the good news."

    Chi Nian raised her hand to gently cover her stomach, raised her  lips and smiled: "I''m going to be a mother. You''re going to be a godmother."

    Qi Yan''s eyes widened, staring at her blankly, her gaze slowly moved to her abdomen, with an obvious surprise.

    But soon, the joy was washed away.

    She glanced at the study, her goddaughter¡ªno, her own daughter, was doing homework inside. She already has an obedient and well-behaved daughter, who was "abducted" by her own selfishness. She doesn''t have enough love for another one.

    "How many months? Boy or girl?"

    "It''s only seven weeks." Chi Nian had a happy smile on her face, "I hope that the first child will be a boy, and it would be even better if he looks like my husband, and then the second child will be a daughter. The elder brother will spoil the younger sister.¡±

    Qi Yan''s smile was a little stiff.

    She isn''t fond of boys, not at all. Even for a sibling. Maybe it''s because of her orientation, she instinctively pays more attention to the same sex. Hearing that Chi Nian is already planning to have a second child, she feels a little uncomfortable.

    Only then did she understand the meaning of so much bad news.

    "Then¡­what about your work?" Qi Yan asked with a frown.

    "The bad news you said just now was all caused by pregnancy, right? One child is enough for you to suffer, even more with a second child. The way the discrimination in the workforce is so serious that one child will delay your progress for two or three years. You, yourself said that you don''t want to be a full-time wife. What if you regret it? Two or three years is enough for others to overtake you, what should you do?"

    "..."

    Originally, she was expecting to be wished for blessings and be comforted, but unexpectedly, she received a basin of cold water, the smile on the corner of Chi Nian''s mouth collapsed, and her face turned sour: "Yanyan, I know all this, but I can''t just give up the child just because of work, after all, I''m not curvy, I can conceive naturally, I want to be a mother."

    Qi Yan choked, and stared at her blankly, the uncomfortable feeling became stronger and stronger.

    Chi Nian was not like this in the past, she was so ambitious and worked so hard. After getting married, her whole personality changed, and now she is even more¡ª¡ª

    "I''m worried about work now. Maybe it''s because I''m not in good health. It''s only been seven weeks and I can''t ask for leave every three days. I''m afraid that Director Lu will have opinions on me." Chi Nian continued on her own.

    After speaking, the topic changed again.

    "Are you acquainted with the director that much? Do you know her well? She should not be the kind of person who does not show mercy, right? I have also worked in the company for three or five years, I contributed to it a lot. It''s not like I''m cheating on my maternity leave. Besides, the director herself has a child, so there will definitely be times when she can''t take care of her job because of her child..."

    She chattered in bits and pieces, speculating about Lu Zhiqiao inside and out, and she didn''t know if it was to comfort herself or to gossip about Lu Zhiqiao''s private life.

    The more Qi Yan heard it, the angrier she became, frowned, and interrupted her coldly: "I don''t know what kind of person she is, but at least she won''t cut her own back, and won''t bet on others.*"

    *ditch responsibilities and pass it on to others.

    An unknown fire rose in her heart, burning out her reason, and her words were a little bit thorny.

    She couldn''t tolerate anyone saying anything bad about Lu Zhiqiao, even if it was the truth, let alone slander.

    Chi Nian was taken aback for a moment, frightened by her. Feeling baffled, her face turned blue and white, neither was she able to refute, nor continue her litany. She was a little embarrassed for a while.

    Qi Yan didn''t speak any more, and ate the milk candy in silence.

    And just sat quietly.

    Because the atmosphere became so awkward, Chi Nian felt uncomfortable, couldn''t sit still, and got up in a hurry to leave. Qi Yan was still angry and did not bother to send her out. She didn''t move, just chewed toffee, and sat on the sofa blankly.

    After a while, she got up and walked to the study.

    ....

    Lu Wei was sitting in front of the desk with an exercise book spread out on the desk. Her back was facing the open door, she held a pen in her right hand, and a mobile phone in her left hand. She buried her head very low and was looking at something with interest.

    She was so engrossed that she didn''t even notice that Qi Yan came behind her.

    "Baby...my hell...prince...?"

    Qi Yan looked at the words on the screen and read them quietly. The little girl was startled, her arms trembled, and the phone fell on the exercise book with a bang. She picked it up in a hurry, locked the screen, and turned her head: "Teacher Qi...  "

    The next second, the child pouted.

    "Why were you walking silently? You scared me to death."

    Qi Yan raised her eyebrows, put on a straight face, showed the majesty of a teacher, and scolded: "You still play with your phone while doing homework, be careful, I''ll tell your mother."

    "..."

    "I''ll confiscate your phone for the time being. You can only play after finishing your homework." Qi Yan took her phone away and went out without looking back.

    "Don''t tell mom¡ª"

    From behind came the pitiful pleading of the little girl.

    Qi Yan pretended not to hear, closed the door behind her back and returned to the sofa and sat down. She stared at the dark screen of her mobile phone, saw her eyes full of conflicting emotions, and felt inexplicably anxious.

    Reading unhealthy romance novels at a young age, if she isn''t guided well, she''ll really fall in love early.

    What to do?

    She really worries more than the mother herself.

    Qi Yan frowned, pondered for a long time, picked up her phone, and opened WeChat...

    At that time, Lu Zhiqiao had just woken up.

    It was past eight o''clock in the morning. It''s supposed to be dawn, but the sun is late.

    The night outside the window was dark and silent, and there were as many stars in the sky as a cow''s hair, densely embedded in the sky, shining brightly. The quiet street is covered with a thick layer of creamy new snow, dimly illuminated by street lamps, which is quite dreamy and warm on winter nights in the snowy country.

    Lu Zhiqiao got up from the bed, sat by the window for a while, quietly staring at the exotic snow scene outside the window, thought it was beautiful, and suddenly thought of it, took a photo of it.

    A new message popped up on WeChat, it was from Qi Yan.

    [Good morning.]

    [Missing you on the other side of the earth.]

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled slightly, the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously, and a joyful smile appeared in her eyes.

    She didn''t reply, but opened Moments, added the photo she just took, edited the text "Nordic morning", and was about to send it, she hesitated for a moment, and moved her finger down.

    Set range.

    It is only visible to Qi Yan.

 CH 47

    TW CW: Su***de/Blood

    The instant her Moments were posted, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart was raised, hanging in her throat and beating thud-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump, she pressed the phone in front of her collarbone, took a deep breath, and stared at the snowy scene outside the window.

    During winter in northern Europe, the days are short and the nights are long. The sun doesn''t shine until after nine o¡¯clock. Even if it is bright, there is no shadow of the sun. At two or three o''clock in the afternoon, the sky will already be dark, starry sky appears, the dim street lights, the quiet town, and the white snow. Although the scenery is good, it is also because of its freshness that if you stay for a longer time, you will feel depressed.

    When Lu Zhiqiao came to this place for the first time, she really felt fresh.The hotel she stayed in was along the street. The room layout was that the bed was next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. At night, snowflakes were falling outside, so she slept well indoors.

    But at this moment, her heart could not calm down.

    She wonders if Qi Yan saw the Moments she posted, if she saw it, what would she think? For a person like her who only posts work-related content, Qi Yan must be surprised when she suddenly posts a snow scene in a foreign country, which can be regarded as a daily routine related to life, right?

    Will she be surprised, then start to guess, dig deep, and then find that it was only visible to her?

    Lu Zhiqiao panicked. She always felt that Qi Yan was so smart that she would definitely guess it, which will immediately reveal her intention.

    That can''t be.

    She withdrew her staring gaze, lowered her head, unlocked the screen, and clicked delete with trembling fingers, as if destroying the evidence that witnessed her sinful thoughts. She was both grateful and relieved.

    But soon, she felt nervous again.

    Why be so careful and think of something messy and unwarranted? It was just a picture of a scenery, she thought it looked good, so she posted it. It''s just that there are thousands of people on the list, and seeing her daily life at the same time will make her feel uneasy, and QiYan is someone she trusts, so she set it to be only visible to her.

    Just pretend that Qi Yan is the only one on the list.

    Thinking of this, Lu Zhiqiao re-edited another article with the same content as the deleted one, still choosing that only Qi Yan could see it, and this time she poked the screen heavily, posting confidently.

    Then, as if her bones had been pulled out, she limply lay back and collapsed on the bed.

    The phone suddenly vibrated a few times.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly got excited, picked it up and looked at it, it was Qi Yan.

    [Awake?]

    [The photos are well taken and the scenery is beautiful]

    Qi Yan saw it.

    So fast.

    Waiting for a reply?

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips tightly, feeling a corner of her heart being poked, soft and itchy. She frowned deeply, and typed slowly to reply:

    [Just got up.]

    The other side replied in seconds: [Oh, so you posted it on Moments and ignored me]

    Accusing tone.

    With a simple sentence, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help laughing, her tense heart relaxed a little bit, and fell back into her chest, beating steadily. Finally, she got the answer she wanted, as if everything had been settled, and she felt unprecedented peace of mind.

    But it''s not enough, she''s still confused and doesn''t know what the point of what she''s doing is. Even if she got the answer, she would never take that step.

    Isn''t she just stringing people along for nothing?

    Thinking of this, Lu Zhiqiao felt a little frustrated and irritable again, her smile gradually receded, and she continued typing:

    [I happened to see a good view, so I took a picture, and I didn¡¯t ignore you]

    She is really not good at coaxing people, and the words she sends out look serious, even a little too serious. Would Qi Yan think too much? Could it be mistaken that she is angry?

    Qi Yan''s cautious look flashed in her mind, Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, hurriedly clicked on the emoji bar, and sent a "cute" expression, but still felt that it was not enough, she pressed a row with her fingertips and sent it.

    The six red-faced "cute" ones looked a little naive. Lu Zhiqiao felt like laughing when she saw it. She never expresses her expression when chatting with others, so she inexplicably thinks it''s fun to post a few.

    Qi Yan didn''t reply in a second, and it kept showing that she was typing.

    After a while, she received a link to a song called "Lonely Northern Hemisphere". It''s a very old song, people who were born around that time may have heard it when they were young.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the link for two seconds, then clicked in, but the prelude was not a familiar melody. The original version was sung by a male singer, while Qi Yan sang the version by a female singer.

    The gentle and soft female voice, a little more affectionate, fully interprets the feeling of longing.

    She listened quietly, her heart fluctuated with the gentle melody, and then she turned into a kite, floated into the sky, flew across the entire Eurasian continent, and landed in the far east at the other end. In the past, the string of the kite was held in the hands of her daughter, no matter how far she flew or where she was, she always cared about her, but now, there is one more person.

    After listening to the song, Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes and bowed her head to type with a smile on her lips.

    ["Lonely Eastern Hemisphere" seems more appropriate]

    Qi Yan replied in seconds: [It''s time to show off my ability to adapt lyrics and music on the spot]

    [You really will?]

    [No [Grimace]]

    After a while, Qi Yan said again: [Then use my good afternoon to accompany you to breakfast]

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled and replied ''okay''.

    At the same time, Qi Yan curled up on the sofa with her mobile phone in her arms, looking at the long paragraph she had written in the memo, hesitated, and finally chose to delete it. Originally, she wrote a lot, including thoughts, complaints, and messy moods.

    But that person is going to work, not on vacation, so it''s better not to disturb her. If she needs something to say, she''ll need to say it once she comes back.

    Qi Yan sent Lu Zhiqiao a message "waiting for your return", and the other party said that she''s about to go to breakfast, so she replied "okay" and exited the chat box. Then, clicked into Chi Nian''s interface.

    Now that she calmed down, she felt that her tone was not good. Her friend probably wanted to get her blessing. Though her intention was good, she didn''t consider the other person''s feelings, and just talked about her own opinions. In any case, her point of view will not change. Under the current social environment, most women who lose their jobs and return to their families become miserable.

    She was afraid that Chi Nian would regret it in the future.

    Sometimes falling in love is really harmful, but if it hurts the friendship between the two, it''s not worth it.

    Qi Yan sighed, pressed the voice button with her fingertips, and apologized sincerely: "A''Nian, I''m sorry, I spoke too impulsively earlier, and didn''t consider your feelings..."

    After talking for about a minute, Qi Yan wanted to persuade her again, but the matter is a foregone conclusion, and Chi Nian cannot be forced, after all, it is a matter between the husband and wife. She just feels helpless, this is her limitation, she can''t understand, similarly, others can''t understand her.

    Bypassing this topic, they can still be friends.

    Unexpectedly, Chi Nian replied quickly.

    [It''s okay, I''m also at fault, it''s just that I''m tired and anxious these days, and I''m a little moody, so don''t take it to heart.]

    [You are anxious because you have no bottom line. In fact, you know it very well, don¡¯t you? ]

    Chi Nian: [Oh.]

    With one word, Qi Yan understood that this matter was unclear, and it was not for her to intervene.

    She simply sent a red envelope over.

    [Godmother reservation]

    [No matter what happens in the future, as long as I can help you, just tell me. I want you to be happy too. Now that the baby is here, welcome him well]

    The input method memory is "her", Qi Yan typed it out and deleted it, and changed it to "him".

    Just as Chi Nian wished.

    In the days when Lu Zhiqiao was away, time passed very slowly, Qi Yan counted the days on her fingers, today is only Wednesday, and that person will not be back until tomorrow afternoon. She has no class tomorrow afternoon, so she made an appointment to pick up Lu Zhiqiao at the airport, and the time passed even slower amidst the sense of anticipation.

    It was not long before the beginning of spring, and the temperature was still low. After days of rain, the sun finally showed its face. It hung high in the blue sky at noon, and the washed clouds floated like cotton wool, it was very warm.

    Ten minutes between classes, the corridors and the quadrangle of the teaching building were crowded with students basking in the sun.

    Qi Yan came out of Class 1- 2 after class, Yang Qing followed her, the two stood outside the door and chatted about the content of the class for a while, some children basking in the sun in the corridor stood neatly, watching them from the corner of their eyes. When the two left, some stared at them generously, either curiously or probing.

    On the seat by the window, Lu Wei stretched her neck to look outside, secretly took out a comic book from the drawer, and carefully covered it and started reading.

    The book belongs to Wang Zheyi. He has an older sister who is in high school. He has a lot of girly manga and light novel collections at home. She was fascinated when she read it the first time. She wanted to buy one for herself, but she was afraid that her mother would scold her if she found out, so she could only secretly read it on her mobile phone.

    But e-books are far less comfortable to read than paper books.

    Wang Zheyi is like a treasure, every time, he brings different books, and they all suit her taste, she really likes him to death.

    Hey-hey.

    Not long after, the preparatory bell rang. Qi Yan and Yang Qing walked towards the office. Passing by the window, she subconsciously took a look in and saw the "daughter" sitting by the window putting away a book in the drawer.

    The little girl moved very quickly, Qi Yan only saw the colorful cover, and she knew in a flash that it was a romance novel again.

    She didn''t bother, she had already walked to the back door, and went straight to the office with Yang Qing on her arm.

    Most of the teachers in the office have gone to class, and those who have no class either sit by the window to bask in the sun, or sit at the desk to correct homework, comfortable and lazy. Qi Yan put down her things and poured a glass of water to drink. She finished her class this afternoon, so she is very free at the moment.

    Yang Qing thought that the sunlight in the office was not enough, so she quietly came over and asked her to go to the playground. Qi Yan thought that there was nothing to do, and it would be boring to go home, so she agreed.

    The playground is on the other side of the teaching building, and the two of them walked through the long corridor to the stairs at the other end. When they passed the second classroom, Qi Yan glanced in, and her eyes fell on "her daughter" precisely. The little girl is listening to the lecture carefully and her heart relaxed a little.

    There were still three classrooms left, and suddenly there was an angry shout from the front. The thick and loud voice echoed in the ring-shaped teaching building, which was particularly clear and piercing.

    "It seems to be Teacher Xu''s voice." Yang Qing was startled, frowned and muttered, "He''s swearing again."

    After only half a month of internship, she knew that there was a fierce math teacher in the school. He was middle-aged, tall and burly, with a bad temper, and scolded students at every turn. There was a little girl named Lu Wei in the second class who suffered a lot.

    Fortunately, she isn''t under that kind of person.

    Qi Yan also heard it, quickened her pace, the sound was getting closer and closer, she walked to the last classroom, Class 7, the window was open, she turned her head sideways, and saw Xu Shoukui standing in the group by the window like a wall  By the side, holding the test paper and scolding a girl.

    The girl was very thin and small, her thick bangs almost covered half of her face, she stood on the seat with her head buried very low.

    Qi Yan didn''t stop on her feet, turned into the stairwell with Yang Qing on her arm, and hurried downstairs.

    There were a few more angry curses from behind, it was hard to hear, Qi Yan was terrified when she heard it, and when she thought of him calling her "daughter" like this, she wanted to rush up and fight with this person, every math class in Class 1-2, she''s always on tenterhooks.

    "Teacher Xu is terrible, he''s like the dean in our school..."

    Yang Qing muttered in a low voice, Qi Yan patted her arm lightly, and said softly: "Don''t gossip about the right and wrongs of your colleagues. Although the school environment is relatively simple, where there are people there is a struggle, do not trust me too much."

    "Yeah, I got it."

    Yang Qing nodded seriously, but didn''t take Qi Yan''s last words to heart. She thought Qi Yan was good, and she could always feel it in daily interactions.

    "By the way, sister Yanyan, you don''t have class tomorrow afternoon, do you?"

    "I don''t, why?"

    Going down to the first floor, the two of them walked out of the stairs. Surrounded by teaching buildings on all sides, it was gloomy, and the two bare trees in the middle looked lonely and desolate. Yang Qing smiled shyly: "I asked for leave, and my mother asked me to go on a blind date tomorrow afternoon. It''s just right if you don''t have class, so I won''t be late."

    "Blind date?" Qi Yan stopped and looked her up and down with wide eyes, "You''re only a junior, so you''re already going on blind dates?"

    "My mother wants me to get married early, I just do this to appease her. I haven''t played enough. How could I get married so early?"

    "..."

    Qi Yan felt suffocated for no reason.

    She doesn''t like discussing this topic very much, such as getting married or having a baby, she would get angry when she talked about it, and it would be easy to offend people. But the atmosphere that suffocates her is everywhere.

    Most of the female teachers are married and have children. They usually gossip in the office and the topics never leave their husbands and children. Occasionally, there are a few unmarried and young people, since this career is stable and able to take care of their families. With no worries in finding a partner.

    Qi Yan often feels like an outsider.

    But as long as she doesn''t participate, doesn''t interfere, and she lives her leisurely life without affecting anyone, she can bear it. Therefore, she has no particularly close colleagues, and only maintains ordinary communication with everyone. If nothing particularly disgusting happens to her, everything will be fine.

    So far, she hasn''t encountered anything that can disgust her.

    "Well, yes, the thinking of the elders is..."

    Before she finished speaking, there was a loud "bang" from behind, as if some heavy object hit the ground fiercely, Qi Yan jolted violently, her heart hit her chest, then saw Yang Qing''s gaze over her, looking straight behind, slowly widened her eyes, showing a frightened expression

    "Ah!" Yang Qing screamed, grabbed Qi Yan''s arm suddenly, and turned her face away.

    There were screams one after another upstairs, and at that moment, Qi Yan had a bad premonition in her heart, as if guessing what was going on, her straight back froze, she turned around along with her gaze slowly bit by bit.

    A girl in school uniform was lying on the ground with her head tilted, her thick bangs drooping obliquely, revealing a pair of wide-eyed eyes, her body twitched slightly, and a large amount of scarlet blood spread out.

    The moment she turned around, Qi Yan met her gaze unexpectedly.

    The girl''s immature face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were full of resentment, unwillingness and hatred, but they quickly solidified and gradually became lax, as silent as empty stagnant water.

    The blood stained her school uniform, converging into a dazzling red stream, seeping into the sewer along the cracks in the floor tiles.

    Qi Yan''s mind buzzed, as if there were countless flies and mosquitoes flying around her ears, shielding all the surrounding sounds. She couldn''t hear anything, couldn''t perceive anything, just quietly looking at the girl''s body lying in a pool of blood¡­

    ¡­

    At five o''clock, the setting sun still had its afterglow.

    A woman in casual home clothes stood on the balcony, opened the window, tiptoed, and reached out to close the bed sheet and quilt outside to dry. Her arms were full of cotton cloth overflowing with the scent of lavender, she turned and stepped into the living room, put it on the sofa, raised her hand to tuck the hair falling from her forehead behind her ears, revealing soft and soft eyes like apricot kernels, with black tails. Her tear mole revealing its charm.

    Lu Zhiqiao came back a day early.

    She got off the plane at noon, ate something casually at home, rested for a while, cleaned up in the afternoon, took advantage of the sunny weather, washed her and her daughter''s sheets and quilts then took them out to dry in the sun.

    She told no one.

    The business trip was long, the project progressed smoothly, and the task was completed satisfactorily, so when she had time to go shopping, she brought some gifts for her daughter and Qi Yan, hoping to surprise them.

    At this point, her daughter should be home¡ªif the last class is not delayed, or if it is not her turn to be on class duty today.

    Lu Zhiqiao checked the time on her phone and was about to make a call when a key rang from the door of the living room, then the door opened, and her daughter appeared behind it. She turned her head and raised a smiling face: "Niu Niu, I''m back."

    "Mom?" The little girl closed the door behind her back and looked at her in surprise, "Aren''t you coming back tomorrow?"

    Lu Zhiqiao put down her phone, smiled and walked over to get her school bag, touched her ponytail, "Mom missed you, so she came back early."

    "Hmm."

    Lu Wei nodded, without saying a word, lowered her head to change her shoes.

    "What''s the matter, girl?" Lu Zhiqiao sensed that the child was in a bad mood, put her school bag on the sofa, and put her arms around her shoulders in concern. "Did something happen at school, huh?"

    Lu Wei pouted and whispered, "Someone jumped off the building in our school today."

    "Jumped off the building..." Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment, murmured and repeated, then frowned, raised her hand to caress her face, and asked anxiously, "Did you see it?"

    "No, it''s covered by a cloth."

    Lu Zhiqiao breathed a sigh of relief, hugged her daughter tightly, while saying that it is okay, and kissing her forehead.

    "Where''s Teacher Qi? Is she off work?"

    "...She was taken away by the police." The little girl said in a low voice.

    "What?"

    Her mind is like riding a roller coaster, it goes up and down, and just after it falls, it is thrown high again. Lu Zhiqiao''s face turned pale, her mind was in a mess, and she thought about everything good and bad all at once.

    Why was she taken away by the police?

    Did she commit a crime?

    or--

    Does Qi Yan have something to do with the jumping off the building incident?

    Author''s Note:

    Yan Yan: I''m afraid, I want Qiao Qiao to hug me. tut

 CH 48

    In recent years, there have been frequent incidents of students jumping off buildings, some because of the pressure of studying, and some because of being criticized by their parents or teachers. Lu Zhiqiao is always terrified when reading this kind of news, for fear that her precious daughter will also become one of them, so she usually dares not put too much pressure on her daughter, just because she cares about her math grades.

    Now that a student has an accident, it''s hard not to think about the teacher.

    Combined with jumping off the building and being taken away by the police, the only thing Lu Zhiqiao can think of is that Qi Yan might have criticized the student, and the child couldn''t get over it for a while, so he jumped.

    The so-called criticism has no scale or boundaries. It is hard to decide whether it is light or heavy.  She believed that it was impossible for Qi Yan to beat and scold the child, maybe it was just a word or two of casual lecture, maybe it was just to call the parents, maybe...

    Lu Zhiqiao''s mind was buzzing, guessing wildly, and her fingertips were numb. She lowered her head and asked her daughter: "Baby, do you know the reason why your classmate jumped off the building?"

    "I don''t know." The little girl shook her head, "It''s not from our class."

    Um?

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, her thoughts completely confused.

    She let go of her daughter, turned around to get the phone, and clicked directly into the address book to call Qi Yan. It rang for a long time, but there was no answer. She only heard the system prompt, she may be busy.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, frowned, the fingertips holding the phone seemed to be pricked by countless needles, and lost its consciousness.

    She couldn''t control her emotions, her heart felt as if it was in a frying pan, white smoke was sizzling, the skin and flesh were scalded, leaving a piece of scorched black. Then, a sense of powerlessness surged up, and she couldn''t do anything. She couldn''t get useful information, in the end, she could only worry.

    ¡­.

    After dinner, Lu Wei  went back to her room to do her homework. Lu Zhiqiao sat on the sofa guarding the gift box, holding her phone tightly, and listened to the movement in the corridor outside.

    She sent a WeChat message, but Qi Yan didn''t reply. She called, but Qi Yan didn''t answer, and the person who was always in front of her eyes suddenly disappeared. She felt an unspeakable loss in her heart. Learning about the bad news, then guessing wildly, made her even more anxious.

    Outside the window, the night is dark and silent, thousands of lights are on, and the neighborhood is so quiet that it hurts people''s ears and makes people feel flustered for no reason. The more silent, the more turbulence is hidden behind.

    Her throat was as dry as a fire, Lu Zhiqiao got up to pour water, and walked towards the dining table with her legs, but her eyes were still fixed on the phone, afraid that it would light up in the next second and receive a call from Qi Yan.

    But there was none.

    Everything is still so peaceful.

    Lu Zhiqiao went back to the sofa and sat down with the glass of water in her hands, wanting to wait for it to cool down before drinking. Suddenly, the phone rang, and her arm trembled.

    She frowned and "hissed", ignoring the pain, picked up the phone and looked, it was 10086...

    Hope was in vain, Lu Zhiqiao who was overwhelmed with joy earlier, pressed the reject button angrily, put the phone aside, and went back to the room to change her pants.

    Her trousers were very thin, and a large area of ??skin was scalded red by the boiling water, which was as painful as a needle prick. She took out a burn ointment from the drawer of the bedside table, sat down, and wiped it on herself. Suddenly, she remembered the day when Shu Minxi applied medicine to Saki, and then the scene in the rainforest flashed through her mind, like a red-hot iron, tightly burned on her heart.

    Now, she can finally understand Qi Yan''s feelings at that time.

    Because they are the ones who care, they are nervous, anxious, and uneasy, and because they bury each other in their hearts unknowingly, they affect each other''s emotions. At this moment, she was like Qi Yan in the rainforest that day. She was obviously afraid, but pretended to wait calmly, Qi Yan had at least done something for her, but she couldn''t do anything right now.

    They are so different.

    Qi Yan will not be as entangled as she is. She can say whatever she wants, do what she wants to do, play what she wants, eat what she wants, chase whoever she wants to pursue, and make no secret of her liking.

    But she only dared to hide in a dark corner, repeatedly.

    After applying the medicine, and when it was almost dry, Lu Zhiqiao came out with a pair of trousers, and threw the wet pair into the clothes basket. Ordinarily, it would be good to just rub it with her hands and dry it, but she didn''t have the heart, she was afraid of missing the news of Qi Yan''s return, so even applying the medicine felt like a waste of time.

    She returned to the sofa and sat down, holding her mobile phone and guarding the beautifully wrapped gift box on the coffee table.

    Time passed by every minute and every second...

    At about eight o''clock, there was a slight movement in the corridor. The sound insulation effect of the door was good, and only some sounds could be heard faintly. Then, there was a gentle closing sound from the opposite side.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood up abruptly, grabbed the key, and rushed out the door.

    The sensor light was on in the corridor, and she came to the door of 902 against the chilly draft, raised her hand and knocked hard twice, her palm was a little numb, she was just about to shout, the door opened, and a tall figure appeared in sight.

    "Qi Yan..."

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled and murmured.

    Qi Yan''s face was slightly pale, her expression was very haggard, her eyelids were half drooping, and her soft and long black hair was a little messy. Her eyes were dull and empty, but at the moment she saw Lu Zhiqiao, she suddenly became a little bit brighter, and gradually lit up.

    She swooped over and hugged Lu Zhiqiao with great strength.

    Lu Zhiqiao only felt that she was being strangled by steel and iron cables, so tight that she couldn''t move at all, she groaned in her throat, didn''t speak, and didn''t push away, she raised her arms to hug Qi Yan''s waist, and put her ear against her face.

    "Qiao..."

    The voice is slightly hoarse and low.

    Lu Zhiqiao responded softly, "Well, I''m here."

    She spoke the same, imitating what Qi Yan once said to her. Because this simple response is enough to make people feel at ease.

    "Qiao.Qiao¡ª"

    "Here I am."

    Qi Yan didn''t speak any more.

    In the long silence, time seemed to be frozen, and the warmth of each other''s cuddling felt clear and real. After hugging her for a while, Lu Zhiqiao patted her on the back: "Let''s go in."

    Letting go briefly, the two entered the room holding each other''s arms, Lu Zhiqiao changed her shoes, led Qi Yan to sit on the sofa, then got up to pour a glass of water, as if she was at her own home.

    Sitting down, she took the initiative to hold Qi Yan''s hand, but it was cold, so she hurriedly wrapped her hands to warm her up.

    Qi Yan didn''t drink any water, so she broke free from her hand, stuck to her like a magnet, and said sullenly, "Don''t move, let me hold you."

    Lu Zhiqiao immediately stopped moving.

    This time Qi Yan didn''t hug her too tightly, her body seemed to be boneless, she limply fell into Lu Zhiqiao''s arms, and closed her eyes.

    Those resentful eyes, scarlet blood...

    She trembled all over, opened her eyes suddenly, hugged Lu Zhiqiao even tighter, buried her face on the side of the woman''s neck, and trembled with her deep breathing.

    Lu Zhiqiao felt it, and subconsciously wrapped her arms around Qi Yan''s waist, patted her back to comfort her, wanted to ask something, but couldn''t say it when she opened her mouth, thousands of thoughts rushed into her heart.

    Everyone has a vulnerable side, and Qi Yan also has it, but this person is usually too radiant, confident and free and easy, covering up those little negative emotions. Or maybe it''s just that she didn''t see it? She herself would have wild thoughts and nightmares when she was alone, in the middle of the night, what more Qi Yan?

    She thought she would never be sad, never be upset, never show any negative energy.

    But today, she was caught off guard and saw that the Qi Yan that had been built up in her heart collapsed suddenly, and a new Qi Yan came out from it.

    She is no longer the symbol of perfection in her mind, but more real, closer to her, so close that she is beside her, within her reach.

    "A student jumped off the building today." Qi Yan''s hoarse and deep voice came from the side of her neck.

    Lu Zhiqiao was slightly startled: "Yeah, Niu Niu told me."

    There was a small sob.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s back stiffened, her throat slipped unconsciously, and her arms tightened around Qi Yan''s waist. She panicked and wanted to say something, but Qi Yan continued to speak.

    Explaining clearly what happened at school in the afternoon.

    The girl who jumped from the building died after being rescued. A few minutes before she died, she was insulted by the math teacher Xu Shoukui in front of her classmates. At that time, Qi Yan happened to pass by and saw it clearly.

    "I saw her die in front of my eyes."

    "There was a lot of blood."

    "If I had gone in to interfere..." Qi Yan choked up, tears streaming down her face.

    She wanted to think so, but she knew it was impossible, she was not in charge of Class 7 so what could she interfere with? Xu Shoukui may not pay attention to her either. Along the way, Qi Yan persuaded herself like this, but as long as she thought of the girl''s resentful eyes and the scarlet blood on the ground, she felt that she was also guilty.

    Why did she go to the playground to bask in the sun? Why go through that hallway? Why should she see it?

    If she had gone the other way, going down or up a floor, if she hadn''t stopped and walked straight away, she wouldn''t have witnessed that scene with her own eyes, and she wouldn''t have faced the tragedy and crime.

    The girl''s eyes before dying seemed to say to her: Teacher, why didn''t you help me...

    Qi Yan twitched and cried bitterly.

    Ordinary people who have experienced such a scene are afraid that it will leave a lifetime of shadows, and even the audience will have goose bumps all over their bodies.

    Lu Zhiqiao hugged Qi Yan, her arms trembling uncontrollably, sadness gradually filled her panicked eyes, her gaze seemed to penetrate time and return to the distant past. In fact, she is not afraid to hear such things, she has even experienced it herself, but the way is different, but the end is the same.

    It was a thorn buried in her heart, and it hurt when touched.

    So at this moment, she felt the same way, and understood the fear and powerlessness. When the sadness subsided, her heart tightened violently, throbbing in pain.

    "Qi Yan..." She whispered, her ear pressed against Qi Yan''s face, "It''s not your fault, and it has nothing to do with you, you just passed by, it just so happened that that girl is not your student, you feeling guilty is equivalent to letting go of the real murderer right?

    She didn''t know whether she was comforting Qi Yan or herself.

    Thinking back to the last time, Qi Yan told herself that Xu Shoukui insulted her daughter in class, it was probably the same. Her poor baby could bear anything, so well-behaved and obedient, and refused to tell her when she was wronged, her heart was almost broken when she heard it.

    Some teachers are teachers, and some teachers are animals.

    If her daughter hadn''t met Qi Yan, her little heart couldn''t hold too much grievance, she had nowhere to confide, no one understood, would she have chosen to end her life on impulse like that girl today?

    She couldn''t imagine that, she would collapse.

    "I know... I know..." Qi Yan gasped, her eyes were red, "But the child who was fine a few minutes ago suddenly disappeared, and died in front of me, I¡ª"

    "You think you are guilty of failing to stop it, don''t you?" Lu Zhiqiao asked calmly.

    Qi Yan froze and didn''t speak.

    Her arms were soft and tender and her silky black hair exuded a faint fragrance. Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand and caressed her hair, and said in a gentle voice: "Last time you said, Niu Niu was scolded by the math teacher, and she was sad, crying alone in the stairwell, you comforted her, took her to play...Think about it, if you hadn''t done those things, Niu Niu might be the one who had an accident today."

    "You indirectly saved Niu Niu''s life, and you saved mine too. After all, you are a mortal, and you don''t have supernatural abilities. You have used up the number of times you have saved people in this life. If you save people again, it will be cheating and a foul."

    Qi Yan paused, sniffed lightly, and raised her head to look at her: "Your life?"

    With red and swollen eyes and embarrassing tears on her face, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help reaching out to wipe her tears, and smiled calmly: "If Niu Niu jumped, I will jump too."

    "Bah, bah, bah!" Qi Yan patted her hand away, furrowing her brows fiercely, "What are you talking about, how can you curse yourself like that."

    "It''s symbiosis, not a curse."

    "I won''t let anything happen to you!" Qi Yan said in a nasal voice, nervously grabbing her with both hands.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her quietly, slightly raising the corners of her mouth.

    "Qi Yan."

    "¡­¡­Um?"

    "You are a good teacher, you are so kind, and you love your students so much, not just Niu Niu, you love everyone in Class 2 of the first year of junior high school." She said, pulling out her hand to gently stroke her eyebrows.

    "Niu Niu is very lucky to meet such a good teacher as you."

    The touch of the fingertips on her forehead was slightly hot, gently and carefully stroking away her twisted emotions, Qi Yan subconsciously burrowed into Lu Zhiqiao''s arms, buried her face against her shoulder, and smelled the familiar smell of "Artemis'''' on her body. She suddenly felt that the fatigue all over her body was eliminated, she just wanted to turn herself into a pool of spring water and melt into her gentle home.

    Lu Zhiqiao also opened her arms to welcome Qi Yan without any scruples.

    The warm yellow light is warm and soft, covering the shadows of the two cuddling each other, and the air is getting warmer a little bit. Qi Yan''s breathing was a bit heavy, and all the hot air was breathed out on her neck, and then she felt the woman tremble, and regaining a familiar feeling, taking more advances.

    "Don''t send me a good person card." She said in a muffled voice.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled and followed her: "Okay."

    As she spoke, her fingertips picked up a strand of Qi Yan''s soft and long hair, twisted and played with it, and the trembling became more and more frequent and intense.

    She thought Qi Yan was going to take advantage of the opportunity to do something, instead, she sat up straight, picked up the glass and drank all the water.

    "I went to the police station to submit my statement in the afternoon. Apart from me, an intern teacher I brought also saw it, and she saw it before me. She was the first witness. She was more frightened than me. She might need to see a psychiatrist. "Qi Yan sighed, put down the cup, and fell softly into the arms of the person beside her.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s hanging heart had already been put down, and now she brought it up again. She hugged Qi Yan, adjusted the person''s center of gravity so that her body would not be overwhelmed, and frowned worriedly: "You should also see a psychiatrist, after all this kind of thing¡­"

    She choked halfway through the conversation.

    Back then, she didn''t know how she survived, no one intervened, no one comforted, she was all on her own.

    But she doesn''t have the face to be comforted.

    She should live with her own sins.

    "No need." Qi Yan wanted to lean on her chest, but supported a little weight so that it wouldn''t hurt, then tilted her head and raised her brows then smiled as if nothing had happened: "You are my psychiatrist."

    So soft, so comfortable, and so sensitive.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "..."

    Forget it, let it go.

    If it weren''t for the fact that this person is experiencing a dark hour, how could she be so conniving, so blatantly eating tofu*, she would have to slap her¡ªvery lightly.

    *flirting

    Although the mood gradually returned to calm, there was still lingering fear in her heart. Qi Yan was fragile at the moment, and she didn''t want to deliberately take advantage of it. She really just couldn''t help it. Holding Lu Zhiqiao made her feel more at ease. The feeling that someone can rely on and understand herself, fascinated her.

    Qiao Qiao pampered her and followed her, and understood her.

    So she has to know the scale even more, and not go too far.

    Qi Yan leaned on Lu Zhiqiao''s chest for a while, sat up reluctantly, poured herself another glass of water, drank half of it, and said, "I don''t know how the school will handle this matter... I hope Xu Shoukui will be severely punished. It would be best for the parents to sue him, so that he will not be able to teach in his life, so as not to harm other students."

    She said rubbing her eyes, a little sore and uncomfortably swollen.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned at the sight and got up in a hurry to go to the bathroom..

    There are two towels hanging on the shelf, one is Qi Yan''s, red, and the other is for her, blue. She took the red one, turned on the tap, rinsed it, wrung it dry, folded it twice.

    Qi Yan was still rubbing her eyes, Lu Zhiqiao stepped forward to grab her hand and took it away, and lightly reprimanded: "Don''t rub it, the more you rub it, the more uncomfortable it gets, I''ll give you a compress."

    Qi Yan squinted her eyes, and before she could open them, Lu Zhiqiao covered them with a towel, and her eyes were instantly icy cold, which was very refreshing.

    "Lean." Lu Zhiqiao grabbed another pillow and put it behind her waist, "I will heat it later."

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan was obedient and leaned back against the back of the sofa.

    When the darkness fell, she couldn''t perceive the surrounding environment, and an unspeakable fear gradually surged up. The girl lying on the ground flashed in her mind, those eyes, the dazzling blood...

    She took off the towel, opened her eyes and sat up, panting with her mouth open, her breathing was a little short.

    "What''s wrong?" Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly grabbed her hand.

    Qi Yan gasped for a few breaths, turned her head, moved her lips, seemed hesitant to speak, before saying after a while: "Hug me."

    Lu Zhiqiao hugged her without saying a word.

    The towel covered her eyes again, and Qi Yan half-laid in Lu Zhiqiao''s arms with peace of mind. She still thought about the scene she saw in the afternoon, but she was not as afraid as before.

    A strand of soft hair fell into Lu Zhiqiao''s hands. She hooked it up and wrapped it around twice, then slid it away naturally. Little by little, it slipped onto Qi Yan''s hand, itching.

    The person in her arms moved, pinched her fingers instead, snorted softly, and smiled with her lips drawn.

    Lu Zhiqiao also smiled.

    After the hot and cold compresses, Qi Yan''s eyes felt much more comfortable, her body and mind were completely relaxed, and her sleepiness was overwhelming. She covered her mouth and yawned, "I''m so sleepy."

    It was just before nine o''clock, and she doesn''t usually go to bed so early. This afternoon, she was tense and tired. Now that she''s relaxed, she wants to sleep.

    Lu Zhiqiao gently combed her hair with her fingers, and said softly, "Take a shower, sleep well, don''t think about anything, and take a leave of absence from school tomorrow." As she spoke, she couldn''t help but want to kiss her hair.

    But she held back.

    Thinking of something again, she pursed his lips and added: "I will go to the company to hand in a report tomorrow morning, and then I can come back to rest, I will accompany you."

    She spoke softly, passing over Qi Yan''s heart like a feather, itching and warming.

    Qi Yan grabbed her hand, combed her fingers and clasped it, "I''m afraid alone."

    "Didn''t I say I''ll accompany you?"

    "Tonight."

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, and it took a moment to react. She looked around, the house was really spacious and big. How could one sleep alone at night after seeing such a thing during the day?  She mused: "Why don''t you come and stay with me, and you sleep with Niu Niu."

    Her daughter''s bed is 1.5 meters wide, and it is also a double bed, which is more than enough for two people to sleep.

    Qi Yan''s body paused,s he let go of her fingers, and sat up: "Can''t I sleep with you?"

    In the past, if Qi Yan said this, Lu Zhiqiao would regard it as a wicked idea and ignore it. But looking at Qi Yan''s eyes now, the pupils were completely lost and still a little listless, her heart was inexplicably sore, she couldn''t care about other messy thoughts, she was as soft as cotton.

    "Hmm--"

    Lu Zhiqiao sighed, and said helplessly: "Fine. But only sleep, don''t move around..."

    Author''s Note:

    Teacher Qi: I''ll just hug and won¡¯t move [honesty.jpg]

    Don¡¯t worry, little cuties, Mama still has a knot in her heart, it¡¯s impossible to accept Yan Yan so quickly and completely, give Mama some time and patience, don¡¯t rush~

 CH 49

    Qi Yan didn''t know when it started, but she became cautious in front of Lu Zhiqiao, hesitating with her words, deeds and behaviors. Wanting to be closer, but didn''t dare to push too hard. Normally, she wouldn''t dare to make such a request, but the shock she received today was too great, and she couldn''t recover for a while. She just needed someone to comfort her.

    Even so, she didn''t hold out much hope.

    A cool breeze gusted into the balcony with the windows open, the curtains fluttered gently. It was a deep and silent night outside.

    Qi Yan shook Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, feeling empty in her heart, thinking that it would be okay even if she is rejected. This way, she could feel the warmth of the other party even for a minute more, so that she might be able to sleep more peacefully tonight.

    Hearing Lu Zhiqiao''s sigh, her heart became even more empty, but before she sank, she was supported by a warm hand and flew to heaven.

    Qiao Qiao agreed.

    Qi Yan curved the corners of her mouth, her dark eyes were shining softly, smiling weakly. She didn''t have the heart to think about anything else, she just felt relieved and at ease. "Yes, I won''t move."

    There was no sly smile as expected, and no unscrupulous teasing.

    Her abnormal appearance made Lu Zhiqiao feel the seriousness of the matter even more. She slightly frowned, hugged her for the first time, and said in a heavy voice, "It''s better to see a psychiatrist. When you look like this, I..."

    Her throat choked, and the words that were too straightforward had flowed to her mouth, but she couldn''t continue in the end.

    "I don''t want to go." Qi Yan didn''t care, and buried her head against her neck "As long as I stay with you, I''ll be fine."

    So fragrant and so soft.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and didn''t speak any more. She gently combed her long black and smooth hair with her fingers. From the top of her head and then to her back, the warmth flowed with her fingertips.

    After hugging for a while, Qi Yan broke free from Lu Zhiqiao''s arms, got up and went to the bedroom to get a change of clothes, and then went to the bathroom to get toiletries. Seeing her coming out with a toothbrush and a cup, Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously said, "I have a new one at my place. I''ll prepare a set for you, so it won''t be troublesome.

    Qi Yan stopped in her tracks, nodded in a daze, said okay, and put her things back.

    After picking up Qi Yan''s clothes, the two of them didn''t leave immediately, but hugged and sat on the sofa for a while. She is afraid of being seen by her daughter at home. She wants to be more free here, even if it''s just a hug.

    At about half past nine, Qi Yan followed Lu Zhiqiao to 901.

    At the same time as entering the door, Lu Wei came out of the second bedroom in her pajamas, yawned, tilted her head and looked at the two of them, before she could speak, Lu Zhiqiao smiled: "Girl, Teacher Qi will stay at our house for a few days..."

    Before she finished speaking, the little girl raised her eyebrows and rushed over excitedly to hug Qi Yan: "Okay, Teacher Qi, sleep with me!"

    "..."

    The two looked at each other, and Lu Zhiqiao said calmly: "Your bed is not big enough, let Teacher Qi sleep in mom''s room."

    "?"

    The little girl looked confused.

    When they went out for a vacation during the Chinese New Year, she and Qi Yan slept in the same bed. The hotel bed was smaller than her own, and it was enough.

    "It''s time to go to bed, girl, go and brush your teeth." Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly interrupted.

    "Okay."

    Lu Wei was a little unhappy, turned around sullenly and went into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, looked at her little face in the mirror, gradually forgot the doubts just now, recalled the plots in comics and novels, and couldn''t stop thinking about them.

    After brushing her teeth, she couldn''t wait to run back to the room and close the door.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched her daughter go back to her room, and her heart relaxed a little, she turned her head and grabbed Qi Yan''s hand, "Have you eaten yet? Are you hungry? There are egg dumplings, I''ll cook some."

    "I have no appetite." Qi Yan shook her head, also staring at the door of the second bedroom. She wanted to hug Lu Zhiqiao, but she couldn''t dare, in fear of being seen by Niu Niu suddenly like last time.

    Lu Zhiqiao curled up her fingers and stroked her cool palm, raised her other hand to reach out, then put it down again, "Then you take a shower first, I''ll get the toiletries."

    "Um."

    She never thought that Qi Yan would come to stay here before, so Lu Zhiqiao naturally didn''t expect to prepare a set of daily necessities for her, besides, the two units are so close, it is very convenient to go to and fro for everything. But just now at Qi Yan''s house, she saw that her used towels, used mouthwash cups, and used toothbrushes were still hanging in the bathroom, neatly arranged.

    Like she''s always lived there.

    It was her who ignored it. Although Qi Yan has a family, she still lives alone. She will inevitably be lonely after a long while. Besides, she has a different feeling for her...

    How can one stop thinking about someone she likes?

    Lu Zhiqiao squatted in front of the cabinet, took out towels, toothbrushes and cups, and listened to the sound of water dripping in the bathroom, and those messy thoughts became more active. She put the toothbrush cup by the sink and placed it neatly with her own and her daughter''s. Then she looked at the towel in her hand and froze.

    "Qi Yan..." She whispered inside, "I''ve brought a towel, please open the door."

    She reproached herself, thinking about how she missed some things. She should have given Qi Yan the towel before the woman went in the shower, and now she has to open the door...

    Lu Zhiqiao was still annoyed as the door slowly opened a gap, and the lingering water vapor rushed to her face, a thin and white wrist stretched out, slender five fingers and palm drenched with water.

    She was stunned as her face was smothered by the heat, she was immediately scalded, quickly put the towel on Qi Yan''s hand, and took two steps back.

    The door closed again.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze in place, looking at the indistinct figure on the opaque glass door, her throat gulps, she couldn''t help but think of a lot of indecent scenes. Her face flushed, her ears became hot, and her heart was beating rapidly.

    She hurriedly turned around and went back to the room to make the bed.

    Qi Yan took a shower very quickly, and came out in less than twenty minutes. Lu Zhiqiao brought her a hair dryer and a towel to dry her hair, telling her to sleep first, and then went into the bathroom by herself.

    The water vapor is damp, filled with the fragrance of shower gel, and there are traces of that person everywhere.  When Lu Zhiqiao turned on the shower, there was also the sound of a hairdryer outside, buzzing, she suddenly became nervous and stared straight at the opaque glass door.

    Will Qi Yan see her shadow?

    She froze to flush the water, not daring to make large movements, as if the bathroom was full of eyes...

    Qi Yan was looking at the mirror and concentrating on drying her hair. Because of her long hair, it took a long time to dry it completely. As the hot air hit her face warmly, the more she wanted to sleep. She yawned in front of the mirror.

    After finally finishing blowing, the moment the noise stopped, the whole world became quiet, and the sound of water in the bathroom was extremely clear and ear-piercing.

    Qi Yan glanced sideways, didn''t stay long, turned her gaze back to the new toothbrush cup, and looked at it for a while. Her and Lu Zhiqiao''s cups are on the left and right, with Niu Niu''s in the middle, very much like a family of three.

    She bent the corners of her mouth, smiled lightly, and returned to the master bedroom after brushing her teeth.

    The bedroom is furnished in an elegant and simple way, and the 1.8-meter double bed is wide enough. Qi Yan saw two identical pillows on the head of the bed, and couldn''t tell which one belonged to Lu Zhiqiao, so she didn''t bother, chose the place by the window, and got into the bed.

    The quilt was light and soft, full of the fragrance of Lu Zhiqiao''s body. As soon as her face touched the pillow, the fragrance became more intense. As if she is in that person''s embrace.

    She laid on Lu Zhiqiao''s pillow.

    Pretending not to know.

    Qi Yan pulled the quilt to cover half of her head, lay on her side and curled up, suddenly felt drowsy, her upper and lower eyelids were half-closed, and finally succumbed to sleep in a short while.

    After Lu Zhiqiao took a shower, she tidied up and went back to her room. Qi Yan had already fallen asleep.

    The woman was lying on her pillow, covered with her quilt, sleeping in a regular manner, her eyes exposed to the quilt were naturally closed, her slender and curly eyelashes were like small fans, and her nose breathed long and steady.

    Lu Zhiqiao climbed onto the bed with light hands and feet, stared at Qi Yan''s peaceful sleeping face by the light, her heart moved slightly, she couldn''t help reaching out to touch her face, but when her fingertips were about to touch, she stopped and retracted nervously.

    She immediately turned off the light and lay down.

    The night is quiet, and dark, she can''t see her fingers. The subtle movements are infinitely magnified. Lu Zhiqiao lay flat, staring at the ceiling with her eyes wide open, the steady and even breathing of the person beside her came to her ears, and her heartbeat thumped along in the same frequency.

    In her memory, she started to sleep alone during her fifth and sixth grades of elementary school. At that time, she was young and very scared, and it took a long time to fall asleep every night.  Later, as she got older, she was no longer afraid, but instead enjoyed the feeling of having a bed all to herself. Later, she brought her daughter, and they slept together. Her daughter''s body was soft and warm, and it was very comfortable to hold in her hands.

    But children are different from adults after all.

    For a long time, Lu Zhiqiao was used to sleeping alone. Now she was lying next to someone, so she couldn''t help but feel uncomfortable. She could hear her breathing, feel the temperature of her arms, smell the fragrance of her body, and feel the warmth of her body.  She can sense everything about her...

    Her mind is so messed up and stuffed with so many things that she can''t sleep right now.

    Recalling the night when the two first met, the shattered scenes were like floating shadows. At that time, she only felt that Qi Yan was very special, giving her an indescribable feeling. It was different from so many people who came to strike up a conversation in the bar. But in what way specifically, she cannot rationalize.

    Perhaps from then on, Qi Yan left a seed in her heart, and the successive coincidences and encounters after that, were nothing but dew and fertile soil, growing that seed little by little.

    When did it take root?

    It was the time when her daughter was ill, she was embarrassed in front of Qi Yan, but that woman volunteered to help them. Or that time when she was drunk, she vomited on the side of the road and was taken home by Qi Yan, instead of going to the hotel by herself as usual. It is also possible that there are countless moments that she hadn''t noticed.

    The only thing she remembers clearly is the peace of mind given by this person when she encountered life and death in the woods.

    Since then, Qi Yan has been on her heart.

    She also began to be nervous, concerned, unable to resist, easily moved. It just seemed she was being pulled by an invisible force and could no longer move further

    ....

    As the night deepened, Lu Zhiqiao gradually became sleepy and her eyelids drooped.

    When she was drowsy, the person beside her suddenly became agitated, her limbs moved back and forth in the quilt, and a gust of cool wind poured in. Lu Zhiqiao trembled, frowned slightly, and heard murmurs in a daze, her mind was heavy and ignored it.

    After a while, the murmurs continued and turned into sobbing.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly lost her drowsiness, turned over and sat up, clapped her hands twice, and the bedside eggshell lamp turned on in response to the sound. The faint warm yellow light was warm and soft, illuminating a small area and also clearly illuminating the appearance of Qi Yan next to her.

    Qi Yan was still curled up, but her face was covered with tears, slightly reflected by the light, her messy hair was stained with tears sticking to her cheeks, with a terrified and painful expression.

    She is having a nightmare.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, she hurriedly leaned over and hugged her, patted her face lightly, and whispered: "Qi Yan, wake up..."

    Maybe the smell and warmth became reassuring, Qi Yan closed her eyes and leaned against Lu Zhiqiao, still murmuring, but she couldn''t hear a word, her voice sounded desolate. Lu Zhiqiao hugged Qi Yan''s thin waist, brushed away the messy hair on her face, slightly startled when she felt her fingertips wet, and continued to call her in a low voice.

    Qi Yan grunted and twitched suddenly. Then, slowly raised her eyelids, a gleam of light appeared in her vision, and vaguely saw Lu Zhiqiao''s face...

    She muttered "Qiao Qiao", subconsciously hugged Lu Zhiqiao tightly, and then closed her eyes again.

    This time, the movement ceased.

    Qi Yan''s arms are warm, and her long breaths slowly reach Lu Zhiqiao. She adjusts, tightens her arms, turns her head slightly, and the tip of her nose touches Qi Yan''s face. She smells a scent of shampoo; light and intoxicating.

    The two leaned on each other like this, one was half awake, the other fell asleep, the harmony in the air gradually increased, Lu Zhiqiao felt a little hot, but didn''t want to let go of Qi Yan, her thoughts conflicting but finally gave up the idea of pushing the other woman away. She is well-behaved and didn''t move around, but there were some random things in her mind.

    Qi Yan, on the other hand, fell into a deep sleep again, but was very restless. She moved twice, slid to the other side, sucked, as if she was dreaming of something delicious, and went to Lu Zhiqiao.

    It''s simply killing Lu Zhiqiao.

    But she couldn''t push her away, so she tried to retreat a little distance, and the woman just unconsciously leaned forward, until she had no way to retreat, and was about to fall off the bed, but was firmly held by this person again.

    Her pajamas are so thin, it withstood the sucking, and Qi Yan''s saliva was all over the place in an instant, and it felt very hot.

    Sleepiness came and Lu Zhiqiao took advantage when the other person rested and hurriedly brewed drowsiness. She was about to fall asleep with great difficulty, but she was

    awakened by Qi Yan again. She was so pissed off she wanted to viscously smack this person''s head. But in the end, she couldn''t do it.

    She can''t, she can only endure.

    In the end, Lu Zhiqiao tried hard to stay up until the early hours of the morning to fall asleep, but only napped for a while until the sky turned pale.

    ¡­.

    In the early morning, Qi Yan, who had a good night''s sleep, woke up leisurely, lay on the bed and thought about where she was for two seconds, got up and put on her slippers, and went out with sleepy eyes drooping.

    The second bedroom door was closed, and there was movement in the kitchen. Qi Yan glanced at the wall clock, it was just after seven o''clock. She went to brush her teeth and wash her face. After cleaning up, she went straight to the kitchen and saw Lu Zhiqiao standing in front of the stove in an apron. Cooking something, she rushed over and hugged her from behind.

    Lu Zhiqiao got scared that her hands trembled, and when she regained her composure. She was about to knock off this woman''s hand, but suddenly remembered last night, her heart softened, and her voice was involuntarily gentle: "Are you awake?"

    Qi Yan hummed in a nasal voice, and pressed her face to her ear.

    "Breakfast will be ready soon, go brush your teeth."

    "Already cleaned up."

    "..."

    "I want to kiss you." Qi Yan squinted her eyes halfway, and rubbed the tip of her ear comfortably.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t sleep well last night and her head was a little heavy at the moment, but she still managed to get up and cook. Thinking that this person was the culprit, she lost her cool and said angrily, "Don''t make trouble, go outside and wait."

    "Qiao Qiao~" Qi Yan laughed, "Did I make you angry yesterday?" She asked, then answered herself: "No, I remember I lay down and  fell asleep. I was very behaved and changed in only two positions."

    Her tone was pitiful.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, turned her head then just sighed.

    It''s better not to remember her nightmare, to get out of the psychological trauma faster. As long as Qi Yan is healthy, it doesn''t matter if she suffers a little bit. Thinking about it, her voice resumed gently: "How did you sleep last night?"

    "It''s very comfortable." Qi Yan secretly kissed her hair, "I dreamed that I was eating a giant marshmallow, it was really big, and it was sweet and soft, and I wanted to eat it while crawling..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s arms stiffened, her face was a little hot, a forced smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she answered twice perfunctorily.

    It doesn''t matter.

    She''ll just think of herself as a marshmallow too.

    "After breakfast later, I''ll send Niu Niu to school, and then report to the company. If you don''t want to go home, you can wait for me here."

    "I have to go to school too." Qi Yan said seriously, with a serious look on her face.

    After sleeping with Lu Zhiqiao in her arms, she was indeed in a much better mood than yesterday. As long as she stopped remembering the accident scene, she would be able to get out soon with her psychological quality. But the matter is not over. When a person dies, who should be held accountable, who should pay compensation, and how the school will deal with these are uncertain.

    There have been countless cases of students jumping off buildings in China, and the final result is often that they are suppressed by the school and let it go.

    She didn''t want the Junior High School to do the same.

    "You should rest now." Lu Zhiqiao thought she still wanted to keep going to class, and frowned dissatisfied.

    Qi Yan shook her head: "The principal wanted to talk to me."

    "..."

    The air became suddenly quiet, and the fragrant corn porridge in the pot gurgled.

    Lu Zhiqiao reached out to turn off the fire, gently covering the hand locked in front of her body, and said softly: "I will accompany you."

    "No need."

    Qi Yan paused, wanting to say that she is a parent, which is inappropriate. Unexpectedly, Lu Zhiqiao threw the spoon into the pot, made a "ding" sound, and said in an anxious tone, "Has your principal lost his mind? Not letting people rest and adjust after witnessing that kind of thing? What more, talk about it? Is he afraid you won''t remember clearly enough? That the impression wasn''t deep enough?

    The voice was getting louder and louder, implying anger.

    Qi Yan was startled, and tilted her head, seeing that her face was distorted, with anger surging in her gloomy eyes, mixed with worry. Her heart was suddenly poked by something, and it went straight to the softest place in the depths.

    "You... care about me a lot?"

    The was no response for a long while.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, turned her face away, struggled to get out of Qi Yan''s shackles, turned around and brought three bowls, and said while filling the porridge, "Go and wake Niu Niu up."

    Author''s Note:

    Teacher Qi: Marshmallow is so delicious [Innocent.jpg

 CH 50

    After teaching for more than three years, Qi Yan has never encountered anything disgusting, and she still thought so two days ago. But reality slapped her hard.

    On the day she was called to talk by the principal, Qi Yan promised against her will in the office that she would keep her mouth shut, not to tell anyone about it, and even forget her identity as a witness. The same goes for Yang Qing, the girl didn''t sleep all night and was going to see a psychiatrist.

    At the same time, the parents of the students who jumped from the building came in with an old man desperately crying and shouting at the school gate, holding up a banner. The old man sat on the ground, the security guards only dared to reprimand and threaten him, but did not dare to touch him.

    Then later...

    The parents made a fuss at the school gate for a day, and were invited into the principal''s office, and they stopped making trouble the next day. The class teachers strictly forbade the students in their own classes to discuss the matter, and the reporters who wanted to interview were always stopped outside the door. At first, the outside world had different opinions, but finally came with a unified conclusion: the girl could not bear the pressure of studying and committed suicide.

    There are a lot of voices on the Internet saying "the children of today are fragile and hypocritical".

    In less than three days, the matter was handled cleanly, and the insignificant splash soon calmed down. Life remained the same, and the teaching order remained the same.

    Both High School and Junior High School

    It''s just that the mathematics teacher in Class 2 and Class 7 suddenly changed, and Xu Shoukui was no longer seen in the campus. She didn''t know what happened or where he was going, and there was no teacher in the office to talk about it, as if it had never happened.

    Sometimes, Qi Yan thought that what she saw that day was a hallucination.

    Did a student really jump off the building?

    Did she really die in front of her?

    Those resentful eyes, the bright red blood all over the ground, could it be her mental disorder, a memory picked out from a horror movie?

    That day when Qi Yan went back to her parents'' house, Ms. Lin asked what was going on. She looked at her mother''s worried face and nervous expression, and suddenly wished to hear some more nagging that bored her. She moved her lips, showed the best acting skills in her life, and smiled brightly.

    "Mom, it''s okay. Children are under a lot of pressure in their studies, don''t think about it."

    Ms. Lin''s well-maintained daffodil-like face wrinkled into bun folds, and she turned on the nagging mode:

    "Nowadays, children are all treasures. They can''t be touched. They are pampered and spoiled. They will be under pressure when they grow up, they will have to compete for high school and college entrance examinations. In the far future, they will have to join the society, and there will be a lot of suffering. Will they jump off a building at every turn?"

    "Mom, didn''t I also get spoiled?" Qi Yan said with a smile.

    Ms. Lin frowned and waved her hand: "What your father and I gave you is respect, can it be the same as those parents who only spoil?"

    "..."

    "Your dad and I never quarreled in front of you. No matter how annoying things were outside, we never went home to vent our anger. When we had no money, we never emphasized that we were poor in front of you, and we never asked you to remember how good we are and you owe us. Let me ask you, which few parents can do this?"

    As Ms. Lin spoke, her tone couldn''t help being narcissistic, she pursed her lips, and was a little unhappy because she was misunderstood by her daughter and felt wronged.

    "Those psychologically fragile children are usually spoiled. Let me use an analogy, like a canary in a cage. It looks very precious. It eats and drinks, but in fact it is tightly tied. Everywhere is suffocating..."

    Makes sense.

    Qi Yan nodded thoughtfully, smiled and hugged her dear old mother. But Ms. Lin didn''t give up, she must seize the opportunity to make a move.

    "Is the homeroom teacher of the student who jumped off the building okay? Oh, it''s really bad luck to have such a thing happen. I saw online that it was caused by the homeroom teacher, some are saying that the student was scolded by the math teacher. The math teacher is also bad luck."

    "Yan Yan, be careful. You can take care of the children in your class. But if you can''t control of them, let them be. They are not our own children. Protect yourself, understand? Things happen every day, as long as you stay there, Mom will worry to death."

    Ms. Lin hugged and kissed her daughter. Tuanzi became unhappy, stretched out a paw to grab her arm, and meowed twice.

    It was ignored.

    Qi Yan patted Ms. Lin''s shoulder comfortingly, with a stiff smile: "I know, I will pay more attention."

    In the past, she was most annoyed to hear her old mother say these things, three sentences could be worth ten sentences, but now she couldn''t think of any words to refute. She was a little tired, her brain hadn''t recovered yet, and the fiery temperature in her heart had dropped a little, and she couldn''t exert any strength.

    She thought she should learn to be a deaf-mute.

    Qi Yan asked the school for a week off and rested at home.

    She lives in 901 and sleeps with Lu Zhiqiao at night. She thinks she is honest and behaved, but every morning when she wakes up, either she is in Lu Zhiqiao''s arms, or Lu Zhiqiao is in her arms. Their hairs would be entangled, their breaths mixed, they became each other''s pillows, and they adapted very well.

    Lu Zhiqiao is busy with work and cannot be with her all the time, but she tries to get off work on time every day, and occasionally the two of them buy vegetables and cook together then pick up their daughter from school.

    Just like a happy family of three.

    Warmth and companionship are good medicines to heal the trauma in her heart. Qi Yan obviously feels that she is in a much better state. When she closes her eyes, she will no longer think of those scenes.

    Weekend morning, Lu Zhiqiao had to work overtime, and Qi Yan stayed at home with her "daughter", cleaned up, and then went shopping. At about eleven o''clock, Lu Zhiqiao came back, and the two of them cooked together.

    "I always feel that Niu Niu is a bit abnormal recently."

    She put on the newly bought apron and glanced at the second bedroom, the door was always closed.

    Qi Yan paused, walked around behind her, lowered her head and tied the belt for her, hesitated for a while and said, "Actually, I wanted to tell you a long time ago, but...it''s not too serious, I haven''t thought about how to tell you, who knew I''d ran into¡­"

    A hand covered her mouth.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, and lightly reprimanded: "Don''t think about it."

    With warm palms and thin soft lips pressed together, Qi Yan subconsciously pouted and kissed secretly, Lu Zhiqiao immediately let go of her hand and gave her a sidelong glance. She grabbed that hand back and covered it again, and smiled obediently: "I didn''t, I already forgot."

    "Is there something wrong with Niu Niu at school?" Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away and arranged the ingredients with one hand.

    Seeing that she was uncomfortable, Qi Yan let go, "The last time you were on a business trip to Norway, I found that she was reading romance novels on her mobile phone, online articles and the like, and I wanted to tell you in time, but I was afraid that you would be distracted from work, so I decided to wait." She picked up the potatoes and peeled them.

    "Then I found out that she also reads similar books, comics, etc..."

    "Where did those come from?" Lu Zhiqiao frowned, "I never bought it for her."

    She thinks that unhealthy books can most likely get addictive and affect her daughter''s studies. She absolutely did not let Lu Wei  read them. For this reason, she often uses cleaning as an excuse to go to her daughter''s room to look for them quietly. She was sure that there was none at home.

    Qi Yan smiled helplessly: "Maybe she borrowed it from her classmates. It''s normal for little girls to pass them around. It was the same way when I was studying. I even wrote one in the notebook myself."

    "Does she read it in class?"

    "Not in my class, but in other classes...I go on patrol occasionally, and I don''t see her reading one in class." Qi Yan recalled carefully, and while talking, she had already peeled the skins of two big potatoes. She took the chopping board and kitchen knife and shredded the potatoes.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s brows did not relax, her face was a little ugly, she pursed her lips tightly and said nothing.

    Qi Yan glanced at her sideways, knowing that she was anxious again, so she quickly comforted her: "Children her age... hiss!"

    A sharp stabbing pain came from her finger, she subconsciously dropped the kitchen knife with a clang. She looked down at her hand and saw blood gushing out on her index finger, staining the unshredded potato slices with bright red spots.

    At that moment, Qi Yan froze, the glaring scarlet smeared in front of her eyes, she was caught off guard and thought of a certain scene, but before she could see clearly, Lu Zhiqiao grabbed her wrist and moved closer to her, her eyebrows furrowed even deeper.

    "..."

    Her lips twitched, but didn''t speak, she grabbed Qi Yan''s hand and went out to the living room, and found normal saline and band-aids from the medicine cabinet.

    Qi Yan stared at her frowning eyebrows, and the tension in her usually indifferent black eyes. For a moment, she forgot everything, and a warm current flowed through her heart. She felt both funny and helpless.

    It was just a little broken skin, nothing much.

    "This is just a small cut, it''s okay, I''ll do it myself." Qi Yan stretched out her other hand to take a cotton swab.

    Lu Zhiqiao patted her hand away and said in a low voice, "Don''t move!" Then she picked up a cotton swab and gently wiped off the blood on her index finger. The wound was exposed, it is not deep, but not shallow. The length is almost across the fingertips and it is still bleeding.

    Qi Yan didn''t dare to move anymore, the corners of her mouth couldn''t help curling up.

    Qiao Qiao is so fierce.

    But she likes to see her fierce.

    After treating Qi Yan''s wound, Lu Zhiqiao tore off a band-aid to cover her index finger, and said softly, "Don''t chop vegetables, leave the kitchen to me." Then, she packed up the medicine box, put it in the cabinet, got up and went back to the kitchen.

    Qi Yan refused to listen. Even if she isn''t doing anything, it''s better to be with Lu Zhiqiao in the kitchen. She hurriedly followed in, and before Lu Zhiqiao''s eyebrows frowned, she rushed over and hugged her: "I won''t chop vegetables, I''ll just accompany you."

    She said so, but still helped. She turned on the faucet with one hand, washed the vegetables, loaded the dishes, wiped the counter and so on.

    When Lu Zhiqiao was cooking, Qi Yan hugged her from behind, her soft warmth clung to her, and their scents intertwined and lingered, but Zhiqiao still kept pursing her lips, her brows and eyes were indifferent, Qi Yan was puzzled for a while, and carefully pecked the tip of her ear, she whispered, "Qiao Qiao?"

    "Um?"

    "Uh, what did you mean when you said you thought Niu Niu was abnormal?" Qi Yan casually brought up a topic.

    It turns out that she chose the wrong topic. Lu Zhiqiao''s brows, which had finally been relaxed, were distorted again, and the thin wrinkles were uncomfortable to look at. She said softly: "Nothing, I just feel that she is not as clingy to me as before, and she didn''t greet me when I got home."

    Her thoughts were interrupted by Qi Yan, and she lost interest.

    Just now, this woman accidentally cut her hand, and bled a little. Her mind buzzed for a few seconds, and she became very nervous, and suddenly remembered the scene of being bitten by a snake in the rainforest. It seemed that they switched positions and relationships, but their moods were exactly the same, but she knew that her nervousness was nothing compared to Qi Yan''s that day.

    Feeling irritable, she secretly scolded Qi Yan for being so stupid that she can injure herself just by doing a simple task like cutting the vegetables.

    "I thought it was something..." Qi Yan smiled briskly, and comforted her: "At her age, she''s becoming more self-conscious, it''s normal, little girls will grow into big girls slowly."

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed in a low voice, and put half a teaspoon of salt in the dish.

    She was originally talking about her daughter, but now she lost her thoughts for some reason, her head was filled with secret thoughts, she was quite sad but she couldn''t think of a reason.

    Does she also like Qi Yan?

    As soon as the thought came, Lu Zhiqiao panicked, her arm shook, and the spatula hit the dish heavily.

    Reliance and liking are two concepts, which are easily confused. If she regards her psychological dependence on Qi Yan as liking, wouldn''t it be unfair to Qi Yan? That would hurt Qi Yan too.

    Qi Yan was too kind to her, so good that sometimes she couldn''t resist, so it turned into dependence, which was reasonable.

    "What''s wrong?" Qi Yan held her arm.

    "I''m okay." Lu Zhiqiao smiled and changed the subject, "I''m going out this afternoon." After finishing speaking, without waiting for Qi Yan to ask, she subconsciously added: " I''m going to the orphanage with Zilong and give some things, I''ll come back about four or five o''clock."

    Qi Yan''s arms went stiff, and a figure of a man appeared in her mind. She raised her brows and muttered, "You call him so dearly..."

    She just found out.

    Lu Zhiqiao thought that if she took the initiative to explain clearly, she would be able to avoid this person''s nonsense. Her way of addressing someone also became a problem. She had no choice but to explain: "It''s because he''s a close friend so I call him that way."

    "Aren''t we close?" Qi Yan snorted sourly, "You still call me by my full name."

    "Then what should I call you?"

    She doesn''t like being called Teacher Qi. Now, she doesn''t like to be called by her full name. Should she just use a nickname? Lu Zhiqiao thought.

    A gust of hot air abruptly fluttered by her ears, warm and seductive. Qi Yan''s soft and charming voice, sounded sheepish, "Call me Yan Yan."

    Lu Zhiqiao shivered and froze for a moment, her back straightened, and the spatula in her hand pressed into the dish and stopped moving. The sudden silence, the sizzling sound in the frying pan, the humming sound of the range hood, became extremely chaotic.

    "Quick, say something and I''ll listen, huh?" Qi Yan kissed her ear and smiled.

    "Don''t make trouble."

    "I''m not."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, turned away her face, and said in a low voice, "I think Qi Yan sounds nice..." After speaking, she casually stir-fried the dishes a few times, and when she saw that it was almost done, she turned off the fire and went to get a plate.

    Dejection flashed from Qi Yan''s eyes.

    In turns out, their relationship has not reached that point, and these past days, it was all her own illusion.

    Qi Yan''s smile froze slightly, but fortunately Lu Zhiqiao''s back was facing her, so she couldn''t see her expression. She quickly adjusted, pretending to be relaxed and said: "Hmph, do whatever you want."

    After a nap, Lu Zhiqiao went to "Angel Island" with Wen Zilong. Qi Yan escorted her all the way downstairs to the gate of the community, and as expected, she saw the McLaren waiting outside.

    Wen Zilong took the initiative to say hello to Qi Yan, but she only responded politely, grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and sent her to the car, then said a little louder: "Come back early, I''ll wait for you to eat at home."

    Lu Zhiqiao: "..."

    The man glanced at Qi Yan, and then at Lu Zhiqiao, whose ears were a little red. He seemed to understand something, and his gaze was meaningful.

    ¡­.

    There were a lot of gifts this time, the two stayed in the orphanage for a while, and it was almost four o''clock when they came out. On a whim, Wen Zilong proposed to have afternoon tea together.

    "My friend opened up a new store, how about we visit to support it?" He has gentle eyes and a warm and steady voice.

    Lu Zhiqiao hesitated a bit. Looking at the man''s weathered eyes, she suddenly felt confused. Like the strange feeling when she was cooking at noon, as if she was going around in circles and looking for an exit.

    "Okay, let me tell my friend." She nodded, subconsciously took out her phone, and opened WeChat.

    "Teacher Qi?"

    She paused with her fingertips: "Yes."

    Then continued typing.

    Making it clear where she is going, who she''s going with, and why she is going, with a few sentences of explanation attached. This short text is the longest message she has ever sent to Qi Yan.

    The moment she sent it, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly came back to her senses and froze.

    Is it necessary for her to explain in such detail?

    Before she could think carefully, Wen Zilong opened the car door and let her get in. She shook her head, put away her mobile phone, and sat in the passenger seat of the sports car...

    The store is located on a commercial street, with noisy surroundings, but was very quiet inside. The decoration style is literary and retro. It is divided into two floors, and there are fewer people on the first floor. Wen Zilong made a phone call before going in. The two of them had just stepped through the door when they saw a man in his early thirties who looked like an artist with pigtails, greeting him warmly. She guessed he was the store owner.

    "Brother Long, your girlfriend?" The other party winked.

    Lu Zhiqiao was about to open her mouth to deny it, but Wen Zilong shook his head for a second, with a slightly serious expression: "No, just a friend, don''t make jokes."

    "Okay, okay, I''m really sorry."

    The boss put his palms together and apologized to Lu Zhiqiao, she smiled and said it was okay.

    Because they were friends, Wen Zilong let her do whatever she wanted, and led Lu Zhiqiao to the private room on the second floor with ease, ordered for her, and sat down quietly. No one spoke, Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes wandered, but Wen Zilong was watching her. It was not until the waiter brought coffee and snacks in front of the two that the latter broke the silence.

    "You''re in love."

    In an affirmative tone.

    Lu Zhiqiao came back to her senses, met his insightful eyes, her slender eyelashes trembled, and her lips twitched: "Why do you say that?"

    "It feels like your eyes are richer, fuller, and... more gentle than before." He smiled.

    The first thing that came to mind was Qi Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao panicked for a moment, with an unnatural expression on her face, she denied it: "No. You know I''m very busy, so I don''t have time to fall in love."

    "You''re in the period of confusion."

    "Have you ever been in love?"

    "Yes."

    "The serious kind."

    "Very serious."

    "..."

    People were coming and going outside the transparent glass window, and there was a lot of traffic. Lu Zhiqiao looked away and landed on a certain point without focus. She didn''t know what she was looking at.

    An unidentifiable song is playing in the speaker, like French, German, or maybe a language of a small country. The soft female voice is very full, sometimes low, presenting the imagination of a blue sky and the sea.

    The sea is vast, just like her endless worries.

    Wen Zilong looked at her quietly, with a gentle smile on the corner of his mouth all the time, it was like this for everyone, it never changed, his whole body was as gentle as a spring breeze, unhurried.

    "I--"

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth, but the words stuck in her throat again. She turned her gaze back, stirred the coffee in her cup with her head down, and seemed to be talking to herself: "What is it like to like someone? Or... what will become of it?"

    "The answer is simple."

    "Um?"

    Lu Zhiqiao stopped holding the small silver spoon, raised her head, and saw Wen Zilong pick up her mobile phone, and turned the screen to face her: "It''s how you look like now."

    Their location is near the window, the light is very strong, and the large mobile phone screen is like a mirror, clearly reflecting Lu Zhiqiao''s face.

    Her face has soft contours, well-drawn lines, a smooth and full forehead, slightly raised eyebrows, eyes like apricot stones, a tearful mole, a beautiful nose with a bit of sharp edge, and plump lips, her face full, looking like a kind and gentle person.

    Lu Zhiqiao had never observed her face so carefully before.

    In the past, her eyes were as pale as water, clear and cold, but now they are more lively, as if shedding skin, peeling off the cold temperament, revealing the original appearance inside.

    She has really changed.

    ¡­.

    At five o''clock in the evening, Lu Zhiqiao returned to the complex.

    Her long and slender shadow stretched under her feet, and the sky was full of golden and red rays of light behind her. She thought about it and thought the scenery was beautiful, so she took out her mobile phone to take a picture and looked at it carefully.

    Remembering that she had a package to pick up, she put away her phone and walked towards the post station.

    There are several small tricycles at the gate of the post station, and it is the last hour to pick up the package. Lu Zhiqiao silently recalled the pick-up code in her heart, and when she entered, she saw Qi Yan standing at the table, bending over, filling out a delivery form.

    On hand is an ID card.

    Lu Zhiqiao reported her pick-up code, then  took a step forward, Qi Yan was taken aback when she turned around following the voice, and raised her brows: "You''re back?"

    "What are you sending?" She asked without answering.

    Inadvertently glanced at the ID card in Qi Yan''s hand, seeing the date of birth, she was stunned.

    May 7, 1991...

    Same day as Niu Niu.

 CH 51

    The number on the ID card jumped in front of Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes, May 7th, the same month and day, with a difference of fifteen years from her daughter, Taurus.

    Even though there were many coincidences in the past, they were all just coincidences. Lu Zhiqiao didn''t think about anything else, and she didn''t believe in fate. Now that she saw this ID card, she had to believe that fate is really predestined. Her life is like an endless road. Walking on this road, it is impossible to predict what surprises, sufferings, and scenery she will see.

    But surprises and sufferings are already waiting for her to walk over step by step.

    She met misery in that winter more than ten years ago, so in this spring more than ten years later, she may meet her own surprise.

    Qi Yan, is she the surprise?

    "Book."

    The woman didn''t even look up, she took out her phone to scan the code after filling out the courier form. The post station employee held up a package and asked for her name. Lu Zhiqiao gave her name, took her package, signed the form, glanced sideways at the person beside her, and waited.

    Qi Yan paid, came to take Lu Zhiqiao''s arm and was about to leave, Lu Zhiqiao reminded her: "ID card."

    She froze for a moment, turned her head to look at her eyes, quickly reached out to take it back and put it in her pocket, then looked at the package in Lu Zhiqiao''s arms, and snatched it without saying a word: "I''ll help you carry it."

    "..."

    The two walked towards the building side by side, Lu Zhiqiao hooked Qi Yan''s arm with one hand, and glanced at her sideways from the corner of her eye, but she didn''t expect the woman to turn her head just in time, and their eyes met.

    "Did you enjoy your afternoon tea?" Qi Yan didn''t seem to notice, raised her brows, and asked in a sour tone.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart pounded, and she whispered, "It was okay."

    "Come with me next time."

    "Um."

    She responded, and wanted to ask if Qi Yan''s birthday on the ID card was accurate, but this will expose the fact that she had just peeked at it. Or she could ask in another way, but it would appear that she plans to do something and she will be teased by this person.

    [Asking me about my birthday, do you want to surprise me?]

    [Then gift yourself to me]

    [Call me Yan Yan~]

    Imagining Qi Yan''s demeanor and tone in her mind, she thought it cute. Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help curling the corners of her mouth, thinking about it, it''s better to let go of the idea and keep it in mind.

    There are about two months left.

    At the beginning of March, the late spring cold hit, the cold wind and rain were blowing down, it was colder than winter, and there were few sunny days.

    Qi Yan returned to school for class, the order in the campus was still the same, and she is in good condition, but she felt a little less passionate. She is usually very happy at school, and  can quickly adjust to minor troubles. She goes to work every day with a sense of anticipation, and will always smile when she sees the students.

    But now she can''t lift her spirits and her heart feels like she''s holding a heavy stone.

    At the moment of entering the school gate, her trance flashed and disappeared in a short time. Sitting in the office, seeing colleagues, hearing voices, she seemed out of place with the surroundings. When she walked into the classroom and went to the podium, her eyes were gray and she couldn''t lift a smile.

    Qi Yan couldn''t tell why.

    She sleeps well every night and is full of energy during the day, but as soon as she enters school, she feels a sense of powerlessness from the bottom of her heart. Her body is not tired, but her heart is tired. Her heart has no strength, she can''t laugh, and the window of her eyes is covered with dust.

    Sometimes, she would stand in the corridor, staring blankly at the open space downstairs.

    The cement floor tiles, next to the flower garden, are clean and without a trace.

    The cleaning lady cleaned it every day. Occasionally, students who were free to play in physical education class played badminton there. The land was stepped on countless times by countless people, but few people knew that it was once covered with blood and infested with an eerie red color.

    The fence in the corridor is not too low. It would be difficult for a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl to climb over, but the child just fell down like that. It took so much determination and strong hatred to give birth to such power.

    She did not die in vain.

    The new math teacher for Class 2 and 7 is named Peng, a middle-aged woman in her forties with a kind face. She is very strict and can look mean in class, but never scolds students, just a little nagging, making people''s ears calloused.

    It''s good enough. Qi Yan thought.

    Not too good, Not too dark. Plain and ordinary but valuable.

    The dead girl accidentally saved another girl, Qi Yan has reason to mourn for her, feel sorry for her, but cannot thank her¡ªthat is the greatest irony and disrespect for the deceased.

    On the third day after Qi Yan returned to school, Yang Qing also came back. The girl seemed all right, and was as cheerful and smiling as ever.

    "Sister Yanyan, let me tell you something."

    "What?"

    After lunch, Qi Yan and Yang Qing came out of the cafeteria side by side, and passed by students in twos and threes, who occasionally knew them and greeted them.

    Yang Qing looked around, pulled her to the path, and said in a low voice, "I went to the second Junior High School the day before yesterday to find my classmate who was an intern there. Guess who I saw?"

    "Who?"

    "Xu Shoukui."

    Qi Yan stopped in her tracks, suddenly felt the blood all over her body rushing to the top of her head, and couldn''t help shivering, "He''s in the second Junior High School?"

    "It seems to be." Yang Qing nodded, "I saw him enter a classroom with a book and a triangular ruler."

    "..."

    The sky is gloomy, the rain is about to fall at any time, and the cool wind blows the leaves rustling, rolling up a chill.

    Qi Yan''s hands hanging by her side were clenched into fists. She raised her head and stared straight at the windows of the teaching building not far away. Her eyes wandered over, and finally landed on the windows of Class Seven.

    Suddenly, she laughed dryly twice, shook her head, her eyes darkened, and she didn''t speak any more.

    ....

    After three o''clock in the afternoon, light rain fell down.

    Qi Yan had no class, so she was sitting in the office reading a book, and when it was five minutes before class ended, she got up and went out to patrol.

    Due to the cold weather, the front and rear doors of the classroom are closed, and it is easy to be spotted standing by the big window. She can only check the situation inside through the small window by the door. Class 2''s class is geography. The young female teacher is eloquent on the podium. Most of the students below are listening to the lecture. A small number of them are sleeping, playing with mobile phones, in a daze, or simply writing homework for the three main subjects.

    The groups change every week, this week Lu Wei sits in the middle group, the fourth row, facing the podium.

    Qi Yan glanced around, locked on to the two players in the back row who were playing with mobile phones, and finally her eyes fell on the back of her "daughter"¡ªthe little girl kept her head down, but her hands were on the table, she didn''t look like she was playing with her mobile phone  .

    The class bell rang.

    The geography teacher said that class was over, the classroom became rowdy, two boys playing with mobile phones were still playing, the student sitting near the back door opened the door, and Qi Yan rushed in instantly.

    She was so fast that before the two boys could react, their phones were taken away. When they looked up angrily, Qi Yan looked at them coldly, her face was gloomy and like a deflated ball, they went limp and dared not make a sound.

    The other children around were also startled and stared blankly.

    Qi Yan held the two mobile phones, did not speak, and turned her gaze to the fourth row in the middle group. The seats on both sides were empty, except for her "professional daughter" who remained motionless in the same position just now.

    She walked over quietly...

    Lu Wei was looking down at the comics. Because of her thick clothes, she was lying on the table bulging like a ball, which easily blocked her view.  She was reading with gusto, smile all over her face, and didn''t even notice that class was over. Suddenly, a hand stretched out and took the book away.

    The little girl raised her head in a daze, and met Qi Yan''s cold gaze.

    ¡ª¡ªHey, Teacher Qi.

    She calmly looked at Qi Yan, pursed her lips subconsciously, and looked a little coquettish and angry.

    Qi Yan was startled, pretending to look away calmly, turned and left.

    All the way back to the office, Qi Yan calmly sat down and drank half a glass of water, put the mobile phones beside her, threw the comic book on the table, and sighed.

    The relationship between her and Lu Zhiqiao is getting closer and closer. In the blink of an eye for half a year, she has gone from being a stranger to sharing the same bed. Although there is no real label, there is no difference.  Because of her love for the house and the crow, every time her feelings for Lu Zhiqiao became stronger, she doted on Niu Niu more. After a long time, the child became more daring when she tasted the feeling of being favored.

    Maybe it''s unconscious, after all, she''s young and sometimes it''s hard to control her emotions.

    Qi Yan thinks that she is not biased in school. She confiscates what should be confiscated, punishes what should be punished, and criticizes if students make mistakes, the class officers have already been assigned, and she has not given any special care to her "daughter".

    However, the moment Niu Niu pouted, her heart softened instantly. If she hadn''t run fast, she might have returned the book on the spot as soon as her brain got hot.

    She just said she is not biased.

    Qi Yan rubbed her temples, a little annoyed, drank the remaining half glass of water, and opened the comic book casually.

    The paper of the book is very rough, the quality is not very good, and it is still in traditional Chinese characters. It looks like a pirated book found on a street stall. The cover was wrapped in white paper. On the first page, there were two male characters in suits, one with blonde hair and one with silver hair. They hugged each other and looked at each other affectionately.

    Her scalp went numb and she had a bad feeling.

    The second page, the third page, the fourth page... It roughly talks about two men living in the same room after they met, some things they encountered, and small daily interactions. Feelings began to develop later, gradually heating up, and the pace was very fast.

    By page ten, the two are together.

    Almost every page in the following has the "applause for love"* in the plot, which is very explicit...

    *Chinese internet slang that vaguely refers to sex/love making, due to the clapping sound couples make during woohoo time.

    This is a porn comic!

    Qi Yan felt her scalp explode, she hurriedly closed the book, grabbed the cup to drink water, but it was empty, got up quickly and went to the water dispenser to pour some, and gulped down a big cup.

    She took a few deep breaths, sat down, closed her eyes, and was distracted for a while.

    She thought little Lu Wei was only reading romance novels; she didn¡¯t expect her to start getting in touch with same-sex works so soon. Today she read porn, will she just read Lily* tomorrow?  Today''s children are all smart, and they can understand it thoroughly after being exposed to it. It won''t take long for all kinds of thoughts and guesses to arise in their minds.

    *GL,- girl''s love, like what you''re reading now

    Then she and Lu Zhiqiao...

    The last time, when Niu Niu chanced upon them, Lu Zhiqiao reacted greatly, which showed that she didn''t want her daughter to know. If she goes back today and reports the truth to Lu Zhiqiao, the relationship between them may be over. Qi Yan thought

    Selfishness is just around the corner.

    If she wants to be with Lu Zhiqiao, she has to pass the hurdle that is Niu Niu, the child will know it sooner or later.

    Qi Yan suddenly realized that she didn''t have the slightest confidence to be sure that Lu Zhiqiao would accept her. On the contrary, the other party might completely cut off contact with her for the sake of her daughter. In this case, there won''t even be a talk about passing Niu Niu.

    Frustration, sarcasm, surge up a little bit from her eyes...

    Her nose became a little sore, and her heart seemed to be stuffed with a ball of cotton. She couldn''t breathe. She hurriedly opened the drawer, stuffed the comic book in it, and closed it hard.

    As night fell, the rain stopped.

    Dinner consisted of three dishes and one soup. Qi Yan ordered Lu Zhiqiao to make it on time and served it on the table neatly. She glanced at the time, it was half past six, and she hadn''t come back yet, so she went to the study to call Niu Niu for dinner.

    "Teacher Qi, you must never tell my mother, you promised me." The little girl put her arms around her arms and acted like a baby, she was quite uneasy, then she pouted and kissed her.

    Qi Yan was dumbfounded by the kiss, and it took her a long time to react. She smiled and stretched out her index finger to lightly tap the center of her eyebrows: "I know. Go wash your hands and eat."

    "Yey, Teacher Qi is the best~"

    The child skipped to wash her hands, Qi Yan took out her mobile phone and was about to call Lu Zhiqiao, when there was a knock on the door, she stepped forward and looked, it was Lu Zhiqiao, she hurriedly opened the door to welcome her in.

    "I was just about to call you." Qi Yan smiled and took the bag in her hand, and put it aside, like a docile and virtuous daughter-in-law, "The meal is ready, go wash your hands."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly, her complexion was a bit uneasy, she hummed lightly, changed her slippers and went to the bathroom, met her daughter who came out of the bathroom, she didn''t speak, the child greeted her and she answered. Then proceeded to  wash her hands hastily, wiped it up indiscriminately, walked to the dining table and sat down.

    The little girl was extremely guilty, she secretly glanced at Qi Yan, and sat down too.

    Mom is in a bad mood today.

    She hopes Teacher Qi keeps her word.

    "What''s the matter?" Qi Yan handed over a good meal to the mother and daughter, and sat down opposite Lu Zhiqiao.

    Lu Zhiqiao just sighed and didn''t speak.

    Lu Guilty Wei: "..."

    "Is it something about work?" Qi Yan picked up a chopstick dish for her, which was her favorite fried pork with winter melon.

    Lu Zhiqiao ate a piece, perhaps it tasted good and pleased her tongue, she relaxed her brows slightly, ate a few more pieces, and finally said, "A few days ago, Manager Chi told me that she is pregnant."

    "¡­then what?"

    Pregnancy is a common thing for female employees, and they can do whatever they want, and everything is in accordance with the law. Chi Nian said that she was nine weeks pregnant, and Lu Zhiqiao was a little dazed at the time, because she had just handed over a very important project to her last week, and she had to work overtime continuously, which would be hard work, and a pregnant body might not be able to bear it.

    Because she is also a woman, she understands that her work is not easy. Although Lu Zhiqiao was a bit annoyed, she didn''t give her a hard time, she just told her to take care and rest, stop traveling temporarily, and work on the administrative shift from 9 to 6, and find someone else to take over the project.

    But Chi Nian was unwilling, and repeatedly assured that there was no problem with her health and would not delay the progress.

    Lu Zhiqiao also trusted her, so she didn''t force her.

    As a result, Chi Nian messed up, and even got himself into the hospital.

    Fortunately, the person is fine, and the stomach is fine.

    "I''m really going to die of anger today, but she''s a pregnant woman, what can I do with her, I still have to wipe her ass, and this is not the first time..." Lu Zhiqiao frowned, her face was gloomy, and she said fiercely. Then, ate a few pieces of winter melon.

    Qi Yan listened in a daze, not knowing what to say for a while, and bowed her head silently.

    One is a friend, and the other is someone she likes. If she is caught in the middle, no matter what she says, it will not sound good, so she will just shut up. She went to the kitchen to get two bowls, filled a bowl of soup for each of the mother and daughter, and comforted softly: "Don''t think about work after going home, rest well tonight and talk tomorrow."

    She sounded reassuring.

    Lu Zhiqiao was so furious today and she was afraid that she would lose control and lose her temper. She tried her best to think about Qi Yan, knowing that this person would understand her, only then, her emotions stabilized.

    "¡­Um."

    She nodded, smiled, and took a sip of the soup. Her stomach became warm and so was her heart.

    After dinner, the three of them sat in 902 for a while. Lu Zhiqiao got up to take her daughter home, but Qi Yan held her back: "Wait a minute, I have something for you."

    The little Lu Wei immediately looked at Qi Yan nervously.

    Ah, she''s not going to rat her out, won''t she

    "What?"

    "Come with me." Qi Yan glanced helplessly at the little girl, pulled Lu Zhiqiao back into the bedroom, and gently closed the door.

    The bedroom was pitch black. Lu Zhiqiao thought about what this woman was going to do, and suddenly her nerves tensed up. Some random images flashed in her mind, and then her eyes suddenly lit up, and she froze.

    Qi Yan turned on the light, went to the bedside table and opened the drawer, fiddled for a while, and took out something. She closed the drawer, hid one hand behind her back, grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s wrist with the other, slowly combed her five fingers, and stuffed the thing into her palm.

    Metallic, cool, jagged.  Lu Zhiqiao spread out her five fingers, and a key lay in her palm. She asked in astonishment: "...is this?"

    "My house key."

    Author''s Note:

    Then one day, when Teacher Qi came home, she found that a box of finger gloves she had hoarded was gone [funny.jpg]

 CH 52

    The warmth of the palm warmed the key, and the small metal shone brightly. Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes and stared at it for a while, then cast a puzzled look at Qi Yan.

    Afraid that she would return it, Qi Yan grabbed her hand and wrapped it around the key, and said softly, "From now on, you can come in and out as you like, and if it''s not convenient for you to go home, you can come to my place." She wanted to say that this is also her home, but she choked on her throat.

    She considered this matter for a long time, and it is not a temporary idea, but it seems a little abrupt to say it at the moment.

    Won¡¯t Qiao Qiao think that she has another impure purpose?

    Her eyes were hot as if they were boiling with strong emotion. Lu Zhiqiao looked at her for a moment, feeling that her eyes were about to be burned, so she lowered her gaze and avoided: "You trust me so much?"

    It''s not that she¡¯s afraid that she will empty the place, but that there may be some things Qi Yan doesn¡¯t want her to see. If they accidentally bump into each other in the future, both of them will be embarrassed. If there is no private space in a house, there will be no sense of security. After all, a certain distance and boundary must be maintained between people.

    Qi Yan curled her lips and said, "Um, I believe you."

    Earlier at school, she found Niu Niu reading porn. She was anxious for a while, thinking about a lot of things. She felt very uneasy, and wanted to get an accurate answer from Lu Zhiqiao. But when she is now face to face with her, the words are not that easy to say.

    The more she cares, the more cautious she becomes. Every word and sentence she says must be carefully considered. After going back and forth, there is only silence.

    Lu Zhiqiao¡¯s thick lashes trembled, but said nothing.

    The key corresponds to the lock, which means opening and accepting. She seems to understand the metaphor in a certain way, and a corner of her heart hurts a bit. Qi Yan accepts her without reservation, but she is still trapped in the invisible labyrinth. She feels that she can''t get out, so she wants to give up, and wants Qi Yan to stop being nice to her.

    Just let her follow the same path and return and stay to her own little corner.

    But she didn''t know that the original path behind her had disappeared.

    "Let¡¯s go back." Qi Yan slowly let go, touched her tear mole, "Take a bath, apply a mask, listen to music, and sleep."

    "Um."

    Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously closed her eyes, her long eyelashes curled up, and looked at her with a faint smile: "You too."

    She turned around after speaking, still holding the key a little tight. When she opened the door, she saw her daughter standing by the door with her neck stretched out, looking sneaky and guilty.

    She was in a mess and didn''t think much about it.

    The mother and daughter went back, and the lively room suddenly turned deserted.

    Qi Yan stood behind the bedroom door for a long time, her legs felt a little numb, and the boiling blood in her brain gradually cooled down. She carefully recalled what happened during the day, sorted it out again, and felt that nothing was right.

    After returning home in the afternoon, she asked Niu Niu why she read comics in class. The child said that the minor subject was not important, and the teacher didn''t care too much about it. She got curious, so she couldn''t help reading it. From experience, it is normal for children to have such a state of mind,  what was abnormal was her reaction afterwards.

    When she confiscated the mobile phone last year, Niu Niu was afraid of her and panicked.

    But today, the child remained calm and pouted at her unconsciously, and she was the one who panicked.

    How did this happen?

    Qi Yan calmed down, and soon figured it out. The relationship between her and Lu Zhiqiao was getting closer and closer, and she could not help pampering Niu Niu. In addition, the child was too well-behaved and sensible before. Seeing her made her feel distressed. She unknowingly regarded herself as Niu Niu''s umbrella and deviated from the original track.

    The child has become more and more emboldened. Eventually, the paper will not be able to cover the fire. Her connivance today may really cause the relationship between her and Lu Zhiqiao to return to the original point.

    In that person''s heart, her daughter is more important after all.

    Disappointment suddenly surged, Qi Yan sighed lightly, and decided that it would be better to clarify with Lu Zhiqiao. Not only must she be honest, but must also come up with a feasible solution. If Niu Niu continues to indulge in this way, her studies will be ruined sooner or later, and Lu Zhiqiao is too busy to take care of her daughter. Since she calls herself a "half mother", she should help to some extent.

    Thinking about it, she took her clothes to take a shower first.

    After taking a shower and tidying up, Qi Yan turned off the light in the living room, sat on the bed with her phone in her hand, and opened WeChat.

    Through the screen, at least she can relieve some guilt.

    She was about to type when she saw Lu Zhiqiao''s profile picture next to the little red dot displayed on Moments, so she subconsciously went in to look. As expected, it was a work-related re-post.

    Qi Yan hesitated.

    That person was worried about work today, she must''ve been very tired. Used to bearing it alone, and keeping everything in her heart, how could she bother her with the child¡¯s affairs at this time. In case Lu Zhiqiao is in a bad mood and is angry, maybe she will beat the child again...

    Thinking of that time a year ago, when Niu Niu was beaten so pitifully, she felt both distressed and terrified.

    No.

    Qi Yan quit WeChat, opened the memo, prepared a little to organize her words and began to edit the text.

    First confess, then admit mistakes, then analyze the cause and direction of the incident, then give a detailed plan to attempt to guide, and finally appease, add emoticons to be cute. She wrote a long paragraph, longer than a high school essay.

    She saved the screenshot and will post it tomorrow.

    As the night deepened, the lights of every household in the complex went out one after another, and the waning moon climbed up the treetops, casting a ray of desolate and dim silver light. Light rain pattered down the ground, and the city shrouded in night turned damp and hazy.

    Qi Yan dreamed of Lu Zhiqiao.

    They soaked in the hot spring together, and the steaming water was lingering. Lu Zhiqiao put her hands on the pool platform, and kept catering to Qi Yan behind her, leaping and falling again and again. She closed her eyes, her cheeks were flushed, and she trembled while restraining herself.

    Falling overnight.

    ....

    When she woke up, it was already daylight.

    Qi Yan has two classes in the morning, Class 2 and Class 3. When there is no class, she goes to the back door of the classroom to inspect every ten minutes. She stares at Niu Niu all morning. That child is obedient and trustworthy, and she does not read other books in class.

    She had no class in the afternoon, and was supposed to go back, but because she was worried, she stayed in the office and went on patrol at any time.

    The second period was physical education class, Qi Yan forgot it for a while, walked to the back door of the classroom, and found that the door was open, and several rows of empty seats appeared in her vision. She froze for a moment, and went in through the back door, and saw a girl lying on the table in the second row of the group next to the wall, looking weak.

    "Zhang Tian?" Qi Yan frowned and walked over, "What''s wrong?"

    In the silent classroom, the homeroom teacher''s voice suddenly sounded, and the girl Zhang Tian was shocked, but she just turned her head, sat up a little, her back was still arched, and she covered her belly with one hand, and said with a sad face, "My stomach hurts¡­"

    "What about the rest?"

    "They went to gym class."

    Qi Yan came to her senses immediately, seeing her pale face, frowning slightly, her eyes turned to her abdomen, "Is it a stomachache?"

    The little girl shook her head, and said with some embarrassment: "It''s that..."

    At that moment, Qi Yan thought of "her daughter", and suddenly understood the meaning of the child. The worried expression on her brows and eyes was slightly soft, and she smiled: "Wait for me."

    She turned around and went back to the office quickly, took out two heating pads from the drawer, filled a cup of hot water by the water dispenser, and took them to the classroom together.

    In fact, there are painkillers in the drawer. She herself suffers from pain sometimes, so she takes medicine to deal with it in case it will affect her class, and the effect is very good. But the student is still young, so she is not sure if she can take one. If there are side effects, she¡¯s afraid to be skinned by this girl¡¯s parents, so she did not dare to take that risk.

    "Drink some hot water first." Qi Yan put the cup on the girl''s desk, "Be careful it''s hot."

    Zhang Tian was stunned for a moment, then flattered and whispered: "Thank you, Teacher Qi."

    The weather is still very cold, but the water dispenser in the class is broken. It was reported for repair yesterday, but no one came to replace it today. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have to go to the office to pour hot water. Qi Yan responded with a smile at the girl, and neatly tore open a piece of a heating pad, her voice became more and more gentle: "Put this on your stomach, lift up your clothes, and keep the innermost one."

    Zhang Tian obeyed.

    One was pasted on the lower abdomen, and the other was pasted on the back, keeping the front and back warm. Qi Yan moved calmly and carefully. After pasting, she straightened her clothes, like taking care of a kindergarten baby.

    "Remember to tear it off and throw it away after school."

    "Okay."

    At this time, a slender shadow blocked the light in front of her, and Lu Wei stood at the door of the classroom, staring blankly at the scene in front of her...

    She suddenly felt uncomfortable, her small mouth pursed unconsciously, and she called in a muffled voice: "Teacher Qi."

    Qi Yan and Zhang Tian turned their heads at the same time, seeing her "daughter", Qi Yan felt inexplicably guilty, but only for a brief moment. She looked as usual, even a little cold: "Free time?"

    This time, the little girl was even more uncomfortable, she lazily hummed, went back to her seat to drink water, and then went out without looking back.

    Zhang Tian: "???"

    Qi Yan: "..."

    Concerned about the presence of students, Qi Yan turned to Zhang Tian and smiled nonchalantly, "Then you should rest in the classroom, and if you feel unwell, you can find me in the office."

    The girl nodded and smiled back.

    After leaving the classroom, Qi Yan looked around, the corridor was empty, and Lu Wei was gone, so she decided to go back to the office. When she was passing by the stairs, she was suddenly stopped by someone. She was startled and turned around to see the little girl who had just run away standing against the wall, with her hands in her school uniform pockets, looking at her with resentment.

    "What''s wrong?" Her eyes were involuntarily gentle.

    Seeing her like this, Lu Wei was startled, and grinned: "Give me back the comic book, please?"

    Qi Yan''s expression froze: "No."

    "Why¡­¡­"

    "It''s the same as a mobile phone, ask your parents to get it." She said seriously, her tone was not stiff, but she put on the homeroom teacher''s airs.

    The rules that have been emphasized many times in the last semester are the same for everyone in the class, especially after the ideological struggle last night, she has become more and more aware that Lu Wei cannot be given any preferential treatment, and she cannot even move her thoughts.

    Lu Wei pouted; her baby-fat little face puffed up: "But you promised me not to tell mom."

    "So, you tell her yourself."

    Qi Yan looked around, but there was no one there, and the sound of reading came from the classroom near the stairs, a little distance away from them, so that no one could hear them talking.

    "No." Little Lu Weu pursed her lips, and suddenly hugged her arm coquettishly, "You can return it to me, Teacher Qi...I borrowed it from my classmate, how can I return it..."

    "Teacher Qi~"

    "You are the best, give it back to me, okay~"

    Start acting cute again, hehehe, smile.

    Qi Yan stared at her eyes that slightly resembled Lu Zhiqiao''s, almost softening her heart for a moment, but soon thinking of the possible consequences in the future, her face turned cold a little bit, and she said in a deep voice, "Let go."

    The little girl was stunned, frightened by her gloomy expression, and quickly let go of her hand.

    Qi Yan pulled her school uniform sleeves, went straight upstairs, walked to the unoccupied staircase connecting to the roof, and asked her to stand against the wall.  After staring at each other for a long time, she said in a solemn voice, "Lu Wei, let me ask you, where is this?"

    "¡­school."

    "Who am I?"

    "Um, Teacher Qi."

    "Who are you?"

    "Lu Wei."

    "What is your identity?"

    Little Lu Wei had never seen Qi Yan look so serious, she was so aggrieved but she didn''t dare to act like a baby anymore, so she honestly said: "...student."

    "Since you are a student, you should study hard and abide by the classroom discipline. If you make a mistake, the teacher should criticize you, and other students should do the same..." Qi Yan said a lot, her eyes were as cold as the twelfth lunar month.

    Lu Wei''s eyes became more and more red, she bit her lip in grievance, and she couldn''t hold back for a moment, tears fell down.

    There was a "snap" in Qi Yan''s head, something broke, and her heart was severely pinched.  She took a deep breath, raised her hand and hurriedly wiped away the child''s tears: "Don''t cry."

    The little girl was surprisingly obedient, she stopped crying when she said she would, and frantically wiped her tears, but her body was still twitching.

    She felt so wronged.

    "Did you forget what I said? If you make a mistake, you have to take responsibility. You can read novels and comics, but you can''t read them during class time, and you must know how to moderate them. If your grades slipped because of this, and your mother asked, what are you going to tell her?"  Can you bear to see your mom sad?

    "Niu Niu, do you know how hard your mother works?"

    "The house you live in was bought by your mother with a loan from the bank. She has to pay back more than 30,000 yuan to the bank every month, and you take piano lessons, a few hundred yuan per lesson, the clothes and shoes you wear, and the food you eat.  Snacks, all your expenses are all borne by your mother alone."

    "The last time your mother was bitten by a snake and almost died, do you remember how you felt? What would you do if she was gone, huh?"

    Qi Yan doesn''t like to preach, and she also knows that it is useless to tell children about the hardships of adults, because children don''t understand at all, but they will feel that they are born to owe someone, and they will have resistance. But when she thought of Lu Zhiqiao bearing all this alone, her heart ached and bled, she couldn''t control it, she felt like dancing on the tip of a knife if she didn''t say a word.

    It''s also a gamble, a bet that the mother and daughter who depend on each other understand each other''s importance.

    Out of emotion and reason, Qi Yan can only speak for this sake, not daring to be too fierce, let alone put too much psychological burden on the child. Because she clearly remembered that Lu Zhiqiao said that if there was anything wrong with her daughter, she would go with her.

    The little girl cried again.

    That kind of deep fear was seared into her bones as early as a very young age, and now just reminiscing about the pain over and over again.

    "Teacher Qi, I don''t want to woo woo woo..." She cried and hugged Qi Yan.

    The novels and comics were so fresh, they suddenly flooded into her small world and attracted her full attention. It was hard for her to resist the temptation, even though she had tried her best to restrain herself, at most she would not read them during Chinese, Mathematics and English classes.

    There was a strange force that swayed her.

    Qi Yan still felt distressed, but she didn''t give her too much comfort. She just wiped her tears over and over again and said, "You don''t read those in class, okay?"

    "Um, I didn''t read it today." Lu Wei raised her teary eyes reluctantly.

    "Keep it up."

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan sighed and smiled in relief, she still believed in her intuition. This child didn''t tell her mother about the big grievances she suffered at school, was very tolerant, and a lot more. Thinking about it from another angle, Lu Wei is young and has poor self-control, and she doesn''t want her mother to worry, so she sneaks around.

    In the end, it comes down to the fear of loss.

    There is a rope tied to her heart, and the other end is tightly connected to Lu Zhiqiao. The mother and daughter are each other''s Achilles'' heel, and they also rely on each other.

    "Lu Wei."

    "Um?"

    "All students are the same. In school, you have no privileges, understand?" Qi Yan looked at Lu Wei seriously, and said word by word.

    The little girl raised her red and swollen eyes and nodded in a daze.

    ¡­.

    The night is dark, the light rain is gradually increasing, and the sky is like a sea full of water, which can''t be twisted.

    At around nine o''clock, Lu Zhiqiao drove out of the basement of the brightly lit office building and headed home against the rain. She worked a lot of overtime today, was busy all day, and didn¡¯t have time to eat. She finally fixed the things that her subordinates messed up. At the moment, she was exhausted, tired and hungry, and she just wanted to go back and eat something casually, take a bath and sleep  .

    When she arrived at the complex, she parked the car and took the elevator upstairs.

    As the number slowly increased, her daughter''s face flashed in her mind, then she took out her phone and read the message Qi Yan sent her in the afternoon again.

    Screenshots of five memos, the pictures are full of square words.

    There is full caution between the lines, and she vaguely felt a bit sad and helpless. She didn''t know when it started, Qi Yan also changed, it was an inexplicable change, vaguely known, but not real.

    It seems that it is because of her.

    --Ding

    The elevator door opened, and Lu Zhiqiao put away her phone. When she went out, she paused. She looked back at 902. She hesitated a moment, then turned around and walked to the door.

    She raised her hand and was about to knock on the door, but remembered that she had the key. She retracted her hand then took out the key from her bag.

    And carefully open the door.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned in, and saw a huge projector screen in her sight, on which two naked women were hugging, kissing, and playing...

 CH 53

    The projector screen is very large, taking up half of the wall, and the room is very dark, only a crescent wall lamp is dimly lit, making the silhouette on the screen extremely clear. In the picture, two naked women are lying on the mat, teasing each other and very intimate.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s scalp went numb, and she stared at the picture for a few seconds. The sound of kisses surrounded her ears, and she suddenly felt her cheeks feeling hot and her breathing became difficult.

    In a blink of an eye, she saw Qi Yan sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, wiping a small long object in her hand with a white cloth. She was wearing a wine red silk nightgown, her soft and long black hair was loose and flowing, and her fingers were slender and fair. At first glance, she looked quite enchanting and sexy under the dim light.

    The woman on the screen faded dully.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, her throat slipped, and her ears became hot.

    After wiping the strip, Qi Yan put it aside, threw away the white cloth, took another one, and picked up the small oval object beside her to continue wiping. There were all kinds of shapes scattered on the sofa, and when she raised her eyes, she caught a glimpse of a shadow by the door out of the corner of her eye, and turned her head abruptly.

    Their eyes collided.

    One is surprised, the other is embarrassed.

    Qi Yan''s eyes were calm, obviously belonging to the first. She curved the corners of her lips, slowly put down the wet wipes and small oval ball in her hand, touched the computer next to her, clicked pause, got up and walked over, her eyes were gentle: "When did you come in?"

    "...two or three minutes." Lu Zhiqiao was extremely embarrassed, regretting why she didn''t knock on the door first, and quickly lowered her eyes, "I''ll knock on the door in the future, and I''ll return the key to you." She said and handed over the key, daring not to raise her eyes.

    Seeing her shy appearance, Qi Yan suddenly found it funny, but she was quite relieved in her heart, she just gave the key yesterday, and this person used it today, not being polite to her, it means that she listened to her words, and  accepted. They''re not as awkward as before.

    Very nice.

    Only a fool would take the key back.

    She tilted her head and smiled. Her cold eyes were as bright as peach blossoms. She took the key but instead, she leaned over and unzipped Lu Zhiqiao''s bag, stuffed it back, then grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, and held it close and kissed it: "I will never take back what I send out. If you don''t want it, just throw it away."

    "If you are not afraid of my house being burglarized." After finishing speaking, she turned on the headlights with a snap.

    The light was dim just now, so she couldn''t see the specific situation clearly, but now the lights in the room are bright, Lu Zhiqiao''s face is pink and peachy, and the tips of her ears are also red. She is charming and lovely.  She was so embarrassed that she couldn''t avoid it, she quickly glanced at the projector screen, and said angrily, "How can you watch such things?"

    Qi Yan was startled, thinking she was shy, so she smiled: "Because it looks good, I like it."

    "Shameless."

    "What?"

    "This kind of thing is meaningless, something that shouldn''t be put on film, shameful." Lu Zhiqiao glanced again, her face became redder, her brows were wrinkled, and her eyes showed contempt and rejection.

    The guilt lurking in her heart broke out, perhaps the shock she received was too sudden. She was flustered and at a loss, she felt extremely embarrassed for a moment, and she didn''t know how to face her heart directly. She recalled some hazy memories, fragmented pictures flashed through her mind, most of them were in middle school, when she first fell in love, she only had shame in her memory.

    As if her secret was being pried into, she felt ashamed, feeling as if a sharp knife is cutting her heart, she turned around to leave immediately.

    Qi Yan grabbed her hand and exerted a little force, pulling her into her arms all at once.

    "Let go¡­"

    Lu Zhiqiao struggled violently, her breathing was a little short, as if she was getting strangled and couldn''t breathe.

    She reacted so strongly, Qi Yan was surprised at first, but then felt that this matter might not be simple, so she tightened her grip on her and comforted her softly: "Okay, I won''t watch them anymore, calm down first."

    After coaxing for a while, Lu Zhiqiao''s breathing gradually calmed down, she snuggled into Qi Yan''s arms and did not move.

    Fortunately, it was Qi Yan. If she walked into someone else, they would not have any contact with her again in the future, but the reason is not with others, but with herself. She could always associate those things with guilt and shame, and couldn''t help thinking that in order not to immerse herself in guilt, she had to stay far away.

    But also because it was Qi Yan, the reaction in her heart seemed to be weaker, and she could calm down quickly.

    She understands that the problem lies with her.

    "Come in." Feeling that the person in her arms is now emotionally stable, Qi Yan patted her on the back lightly, and moved the exclusive pair of slippers by the floor mat with her feet. "I''m going to turn off the projector."

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded, and left Qi Yan''s embrace with a little reluctance, lowered her head to change her shoes, walked to the sofa and sat down with her head down¡ªfor fear that she might see something she shouldn''t see if she raised her head. But when she sat down, she realized that what Qi Yan wiped just now turned out to be small toys...

    Long ones, oval ones, soft and thorny ones are all placed on the sofa, close at hand.

    She hurriedly moved her eyes away, stared at her knees, and remained motionless.

    She became a little curious...

    So, did Qi Yan also use them?

    While lost in thoughts, a glass of water appeared in front of her eyes. Lu Zhiqiao raised her head and saw Qi Yan squinting and smiling. The projector screen behind her had been turned off, revealing the original TV and background wall. She breathed a sigh of relief, took the water and drank it all.

    "Feeling better?" Qi Yan sat down and reached out to hug her from the side.

    She puts down the glass and nods.

    "Qiao Qiao."

    "¡­¡­um?"

    She didn''t know when she started responding when Qi Yan called her that. She didn''t buffer, and adapted to it very quickly.

    Her hand, involuntarily holding onto the woman''s arm.

    The corners of Qi Yan''s mouth stretched, and she hugged her tighter, and said softly, "Desire is not something to be ashamed of."

    "..."

    "You are a human being, a mammal of the highest form. You need to eat, drink, sleep, and exercise every day, just like the cycle of spring, summer, autumn and winter, and the alternation of day and night. These are all natural things."

    "Desire is the same."

    The voice next to Lu Zhiqiao''s ear was gentle and soft, the tone was very calm, and even a little casual, as if it was just an ordinary conversation about what to eat for dinner and what clothes to wear tomorrow.

    Lu Zhiqiao trembled, pursed her lips, and turned her head to meet the gaze from her side.

    Those eyes were shining softly, like a deep whirlpool, sucking her in bit by bit, smashing her into pieces.

    "Acknowledge its existence first, then face it directly, face it squarely, and eventually you will overcome it and start enjoying it." Qi Yan said lightly, with a calm face, a gentle smile on the corner of her lips, but her heart was trembling.

    She thought, she understood.

    In Lu Zhiqiao''s world, "x" is sinful, shameful, and cannot be looked at directly, so it is rejected and despised.  Although Qi Yan doesn''t know the specific reason, she can be sure that it has something to do with the environment in which she grew up. Looking around the country, most women grew up in an environment of shame and oppression. Lu Zhiqiao is like the epitome of thousands of women. She is similar to them.

    How cruel to suppress instinct and put on mental shackles.

    In addition, Lu Zhiqiao once told her that her parents believed in corporal discipline, which makes it even more obvious.

    The night they met in the bar, she tied her hands, the night she borrowed the bathroom, she saw the little toy, and the night she hugged her to sleep, she felt her reaction.

    Because logic cannot compete with instinct.

    Thinking of this, Qi Yan suddenly felt sad, growing up so big, she has never seen anyone suppress herself so hard like Lu Zhiqiao, so much so, that she evolved into a little lump.

    She guessed that there was a bigger knot behind the little lump, and the reaction to "that matter" was just a projection of her inner outlook.

    The person she likes should be a delicate flower in full bloom, but now it is about to wither. If she is indifferent and just ignores it, all she can wait for is for it to wither.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked into Qi Yan''s eyes silently, intoxicated in the whirlpool, her lashes trembling slightly, and murmured: "Enjoy it?"

    "Mm."

    Qi Yan turned around and picked up a small oval-shaped toy, pinched it with her slender fingers, raised her brows and said with a smile: "I like this one better, it''s expensive, but the experience is great, I think it''s worth it."

    The thing suddenly appeared in front of her eyes, Lu Zhiqiao shrank her body, suddenly remembering the embarrassment when Qi Yan borrowed the bathroom, closed her eyes in shame, and stammered: "You... If you like it, you like it, why are you showing it to me..."

    "Sharing this with you."

    "..."

    "It''s just an ordinary daily necessity. It''s a must-have for singles. It''s better to be self-reliant than to have random appointments outside, right?" Qi Yan tried to guide her, her tone was light and meaningless, and she completely forgot how many times she had dated before she met Lu Zhiqiao.

    Contrary to Lu Zhiqiao, Qi Yan must have her release, otherwise she will feel uncomfortable. But she never makes random appointments. Her bottom line is not to touch underage and married girls, and only dates older than herself. She is extremely picky every time.

    Originally, small toys were only used as occasional treats, but since meeting Lu Zhiqiao, they have become her daily necessities.

    Her eyes, her heart, were firmly tied by this woman, and she lost her desire to go outside. After careful consideration, she hadn''t tasted fishy food for half a year, and she had to deal with it all by herself.

    There are more important things than that.

    So she is in no hurry.

    "It looks so cute, and it''s so sweet, it''s my little baby~"

    "Are you sure you don''t want to take a look, huh?"

    Hearing the word "little baby", Lu Zhiqiao''s breathing became stagnant, and her throat was inexplicably congested, as if there really was someone whom Qi Yan regarded as a baby.  She opened her eyes uncontrollably, looked at the red oval ball in front of her, and blurted out, "Is it really easy to use?"

    "Try it."

    Lu Zhiqiao choked and hesitated.

    Should she tell Qi Yan that she also has a toy?

    Qi Yan grabbed her hand with a smile, combed the palm, and put the small toy in, "This is new. I just opened it today and wiped it with a disinfectant wipe just now. The old one was thrown away after being used for too long. You play with this first, and I¡¯ll buy another one.¡±

    "..."

    This woman spoke openly, without any embarrassment or blushing, and her fiery eyes were sincere and full of tenderness. Lu Zhiqiao looked into her eyes, and her heart moved slightly. In a haze, it seemed that something had been punctured and itched, and she was like a light feather, floating in the wind.

    "Actually... I have one." Lu Zhiqiao whispered, looking at Qi Yan nervously.

    Maybe Qi Yan didn''t see it that time, or maybe she saw it and just didn''t say anything, but it doesn''t matter, Qi Yan is willing to be honest with her, and so she is also willing.

    Qi Yan won''t laugh at her, this person uses it herself. Lu Zhiqiao comforted herself in this way.

    The pink peach blossom color on her face became more and more beautiful, she brushed her hair, the shame in her eyes flashed away, she mustered up the courage to raise her eyes and look at Qi Yan, through those bright eyes, she only saw calm and comfort.

    Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief.

    ....

    When Lu Zhiqiao  got home, it was almost ten o''clock.

    She clutched the small toys and finger gloves that Qi Yan gave her in her bag, went back to the room lightly and quickly, opened the wardrobe drawer, hid the things in the corner, and closed them.

    She asks herself that she still can''t enjoy it, but she can take it slowly little by little. In her heart, she still thinks about it after all, and Qi Yan always gives her the courage to put her thoughts into action with peace of mind. She can''t even take the first step of "acknowledging".

    As Qi Yan said, admit its existence and face it squarely.

    It was as if another big rock had been unloaded in her heart, and became relaxed. Lu Zhiqiao was sitting in front of the dressing table taking off her makeup. In the mirror, she had a slight smile on her lips, her eyes were slightly bright, and she suddenly looked a few years younger.

    "Mom¡­"

    There was a soft call from behind, Lu Zhiqiao turned her head, and saw her daughter standing by the door wringing her hands, looking like she wanted to come in but didn''t dare, she wondered, "Young girl, why aren''t you asleep yet?"

    "I want to talk to you about something."

    "Um?"

    "Yesterday... I read a comic book in class¡­ It was confiscated by Teacher Qi, she wants you to get it..." The little girl walked up to her slowly, drooping her head, fearing that she would be angry, she hurriedly continued: "Teacher Qi already scolded me, I won''t read them in class again, I promise."

    Lu Zhiqiao froze for a moment, then suddenly remembered the five screenshots Qi Yan sent her.

    There was an additional message.

    [Niu Niu will take the initiative to confess to you.]

    She went to 902 tonight because she wanted to talk about her daughter, but she accidentally ran into an oopsie, she forgot about it for a while. Lu Zhiqiao was remorseful. Seeing her daughter''s cautious and fearful appearance, her heart turned soft and helpless, but she had no choice but to put on a straight face: "Did you ask Teacher Qi to help you hide it?"

    "Yes." The little girl timidly replied, with her hands behind her back.

    "Lu Wei."

    "..."

    It''s over.

    She got called by her full name, mom is going to beat someone up.

    Teacher Qi said that if her mother hit her, she should run to the opposite door.

    Lu Zhiqiao wiped the oil on her hands with a paper towel, grabbed her daughter''s wrist, and said seriously, "I''ve already told you to keep a distance from Teacher Qi at school. Teacher Qi will tell me whatever happens to you in the future." You are not allowed to act coquettishly in front of her, and you are not allowed to embarrass her, she is not your teacher alone, do you understand?"

    "Mm, I understand." Lu Wei nodded her head like a pest.

    --hoo

    She thought her mother was going to hit her.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s brows loosened slightly, but her face was still cold. Thinking of Qi Yan''s soft nature, even if she doesn''t spoil her at school, she will still want to spoil her at home, so she should be the stricter one, lest both of them dote on her and spoil the child.

    "Where did the comic books come from?"

    "Borrowed from a classmate."

    "Which classmate?"

    "Wang Zheyi." The little girl was terrified and sold him out.

    "..."

    Qi Yan said that Niu Niu read an adult comics, with a little unhealthy content, and it was a pirated version. Seeing the screenshot at the time, Lu Zhiqiao was both angry and anxious. She didn''t expect her daughter to be exposed to homosexual works at such a young age. She was a little caught off guard, and was afraid that the child would find out. Fortunately, what Qi Yan wrote later gave her some ideas, so she would not be impulsive.

    From another point of view, this is a good opportunity to communicate with the child.

    It''s just that she hasn''t figured out how to communicate.

    About homosexuality.

    Lu Zhiqiao felt a little headache, and decided to put this thorny problem aside for the time being. She patted her daughter''s hand lightly, her face softened a little: "Don''t borrow from your classmates in the future, as long as you listen carefully in class and do your homework carefully when you go home. If your grades don¡¯t drop, be good, and mom will buy you comic books, genuine ones with better quality.¡±

    Lu Wei''s eyes lit up immediately: "Really?"

    "When did mom not keep her word?"

    "Yey~"

    A child is a child after all, the world is small and easy to be satisfied.

    But just as Qi Yan said, the little girl will grow into a big girl one day. At that time, the sky will be high enough for birds to fly, and the sea will be wide enough for fish to leap. As a mother, she can''t control her even if she wants to.

    ¡­.

    The cold snap subsided gradually, and the temperature rose slowly day by day. At the end of March, all kinds of flowers planted in the complex bloomed one after another. For a while, the garden was full of colorful flowers and fragrance.

    There is also a lot of rain, and the humidity is heavy.

    Qi Yan hates rainy days the most, clothes are difficult to dry, and she tends to be in a bad mood, and the outdoor activities she can do are limited, and can only be bored at home. To her despair, the forecast called for rainy weather for the next two weeks, continuing until mid-April, with the sun showing for only a few days, followed by rain.

    Tuesday, moderate rain.

    Thick dark clouds covered the sky, and the rain fell into a fine bead curtain, covering the entire city.

    There was no class in the afternoon, so Qi Yan was extremely bored at home.

    A film of two women hugging and kissing was played on the projector screen. She was half lying on the sofa, playing with small toys while thinking about Lu Zhiqiao in her mind. It was very comfortable. After playing enough, she turned over and lay on her stomach, picked up her phone and checked the time, it was half past four.

    Suddenly a WeChat message popped up.

    It was from Chi Nian.

    She clicked in and took a look, and was stunned for a moment.

    [I resigned]

    [Thanks to Director Lu, I''m finally free of her.]

    Author''s Note:

    cough cough cough cough

 CH 54

    Chapter 54: Like Your Eyes

    Seeing the first message, Qi Yan had already prepared thousands of words in her mind, ready to scold Chi Nian. Today''s workplace competition is cruel and fierce, especially for women. Giving up a job in order to have a baby is simply idiotic and unstable.

    She tapped to open the input box, and the keyboard pops up. Before typing, Chi Nian sent a second message.

    [Thanks to Director Lu, I''m finally free of her.]

    Qi Yan was stunned.

    A normal person should be wondering what''s going on at this moment, but Qi Yan suddenly felt an unknown fire in her heart. The word "Director Lu" seemed to have stepped on her minefield, and she exploded in an instant. She quickly typed a row of words with her fingertips, and pressed the send button heavily, making a "dong" sound.

    [What happened with Director Lu??]

    If these words were spoken with the mouth, the tone would definitely not be good, but when displayed in words, it would be unclear and even misunderstood.

    Obviously, Chi Nian misunderstood.

    Thinking that Qi Yan was filled with righteous indignation, questioning how her boss bullied her.

    Chi Nian sent several long voice messages.

    Qi Yan was regretting that she had typed the question without first asking about the situation. She was a little lucky that the two of them were not talking by voice, otherwise her impulsive tone would easily reveal her thoughts. She pressed on the voice messages and listened to each item one by one.

    "At the beginning of the month, I told Director Lu about my pregnancy. She asked me to do the administrative work and told me there''s no need to go on a business trip. I understand that she meant well, but at that time I had a very important job in hand, and it was key to advancing the progress. I don''t want to delay, but also afraid of mistakes, I just wanted to hold on..."

    The first one was what Lu Zhiqiao once said to Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan''s mood calmed down, and she also felt a little curious, so she continued to listen.

    She knew that Chi Nian messed up because of her health, and it was Lu Zhiqiao who cleaned up the mess in the end. In the second voice, Chi Nian admitted that she messed up and felt guilty. She felt sorry for her boss and colleagues.

    "It''s my own health that doesn''t live up to expectations... Then I went back and discussed it with my husband. My health is still important, so I went to the administrative department. Guess what Director Lu did? She took all the client information and order records in my hands, and assigned them to others. In the name of reducing my workload, and just let me go to the website to post products online."

    "It''s nothing, I put up with it. Who made me lose my health anyway? Later she asked me to give my email account and password to others, of course, I didn''t give it, and she didn''t say anything."

    "Then she asked me to take the new salesman in the department, okay, I went, the newcomer was getting familiar with it quickly, and it took less than a week. But the most annoying thing is that at the end of the month, the assessment rating she gave me is 60 points which means that my work ability is poor, and I am not good in all aspects."

    I was also stupid, at first I did not notice anything, then I realized that she was just giving me small shoes*. The Labor Contract Law stipulates that during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the company has no authority to change the wages and treatment of employees, but she disguised it to exploit the legal loopholes ..."

    *hard time

    For positions that rely on commissions to earn money, robbing customers is equivalent to robbing food.

    There is no commission, which means that Chi Nian can only get the basic salary in the next few months, but due to the particularity of the position, this does not count as a change in salary and treatment, because the basic salary and treatment have not changed, but she cannot get a high salary.

    "I didn''t want to resign at first, if so the maternity insurance would be for nothing, but she would trouble me every day, make me wear small shoes openly and secretly, and I could only ignore it. I can''t beat her, I''m convinced, I''ll just leave..."

    "The company can''t fire employees during pregnancy, but it''s a clever move, and the goal has been achieved. Let me take the initiative to resign, and everyone will be happy."

    "I just can''t figure it out. I have been with her for five years. I have never caused her any trouble before and helped her a lot. It''s not that I joined the company and got pregnant. She can''t tolerate me that much? But I can only admit my own bad luck, in the end, it''s still my body that''s not fighting."

    Chi Nian spoke a lot in one breath, and broke down in tears after speaking.

    Qi Yan quietly listened to her complaint, her anger has long since disappeared, but felt a little bit of heartache, as if seeing Lu Zhiqiao while taking care of her daughter while working, no one to helped her, no one to rely on, at that time. It should''ve been more difficult than this, right?

    There is no right or wrong in this matter, only different perspectives.

    In front of her friend, Qi Yan naturally couldn''t speak for Lu Zhiqiao, not to mention that Chi Nian is angry at the moment, so she should stabilize her mood as soon as possible so as not to affect the baby in her stomach.

    She also spoke.

    "A''Nian, don''t cry, you are two people now, getting angry is not good for your health and baby." She coaxed her softly for a while, and then turned on the voice call.

    After Chi Nian''s mood stabilized, she chatted and brought the topic to maternal and child care. Now that the matter was a foregone conclusion, she had to accept the reality and find another way. She couldn''t always be stuck in a dead end. In the end, she thought that her family also has a foreign trade company, but it is not the main business, so the scale is not large. If Chi Nian can''t find a job after giving birth, she can go and try it.

    "Yanyan, what exactly does your family do? I feel that you always have a way..." Chi Nian sighed over there.  She only knew that Qi Yan''s family was rich and her parents were in business, but she didn''t know what kind of business it was.

    Qi Yan is used to being low-key, and she said perfunctorily: "It''s just a small broken processing factory. The company that gave you the guarantee just now has business dealings with us. Don''t worry, your husband will support you when the sky falls, and if he can''t do it anymore, I''ll try to help."

    The more low-key, the more freedom.

    "Take good care of your baby. I''ll visit you in a few days and say hello to my godson."

    "I don''t know the gender yet."

    "I hope it''s a son. It''s better for your future little princess to have an older brother than a younger brother." Qi Yan said.

    In fact, it is better to have an older sister or younger sister.

    Finally hearing Chi Nian''s laughter, Qi Yan heaved a sigh of relief and laughed too. Fortunately, she was not on a video call, she thought, her smile must be ugly now.

    The sky is getting dark, the rain is still falling, and the misty rain outside the window is hazy.

    Qi Yan prepared dinner and by the time the bowls and chopsticks were set, Lu Zhiqiao came back. There seemed to be a family of three on the dinner table.

    She didn''t know when it started, when the two of them lived together like a partner. Qi Yan is not so busy at work, and spends more time at home, almost taking care of the cooking. She is also happy, and Lu Zhiqiao gradually adapts, and often helps by buying vegetables, and paying utility bills for Qi Yan.

    In terms of economy, no one is awkward, and they don''t feel indebted or haggling with each other.

    Both the mother and daughter were a bit abnormal tonight, Niu Niu didn''t say a few words from the beginning to the end, she looked cautious. Lu Zhiqiao''s brows were still slightly wrinkled, and she seemed to be preoccupied and said little.

    She knows that her daughter was scolded by her own mother. As for the child''s mother...

    After dinner, Lu Zhiqiao asked her daughter to go back to do her homework. The little girl didn''t dare to say a word, and went home obediently.  She became used to it, sitting here with Qi Yan after dinner, the two of them talking, chatting about the child, or reading books, movies, or gossip anecdotes.

    After a while, she felt more and more lonely when she''s alone.

    But today, she had something in her heart and wanted to tell Qi Yan, but she didn''t know how to say it.

    Years of indifference made Lu Zhiqiao''s expressionless face seem to be angry. She sat on the sofa with her head slightly lowered, her brows were slightly wrinkled, her eyes were empty, and her index finger and thumb repeatedly rubbed the corner of the pillow. The black tear mole at the end of the eye is sad and bleak.

    Such a bitter face.

    She adjusted her sitting posture, switched legs, and suddenly her lips were pressed against a hard object. She glanced down and saw that it was candy. Round white toffee with a faint milk aroma.

    The finger holding the candy was slender and bony, with clear blue blood vessels. Lu Zhiqiao was slightly startled, opened her lips carefully, ate the candy carefully, but still touched Qi Yan''s finger. She turned her face away, with the candy in her mouth, her taste buds were covered by the aroma of milk, it was very sweet.

    Qi Yan smiled with her eyes bent, sat down, grabbed her hand and held it in her palm. The smile dissipated naturally, and she said softly, "A''Nian told me today...she resigned."

    The fingers in the palm shrank and curled up.

    Lu Zhiqiao bit the candy, but her teeth stopped suddenly, and the candy got stuck in her cheek. She glanced sideways at Qi Yan, but the latter didn''t look at her. She chewed the candy, swallowed the sweetness, and said in a low voice, "Are you here to question me?"

    Her heart was pounding, beating wildly like a drum.

    Chi Nian is Qi Yan''s friend and a pregnant woman. She didn''t resign happily, so she must have told Qi Yan everything. She was also planning to tell Qi Yan, but she was still thinking about it. She didn''t expect this person to be one step ahead of her. There was a world of difference between being active and being passive.

    When Qi Yan took the initiative to ask, she felt that there was a hint of questioning in her words.

    Asking her why a pregnant woman resigned and if she did anything. In addition, she complained that Chi Nian messed up her work before, and her suspicion was even more unclear. She is a boss, a strong person in some people''s eyes, Chi Nian is a subordinate, a pregnant woman, a weak person in some people''s eyes.

    The strong bully the weak, and the weak are justified. It is an unchanging funny logic.

    Qi Yan might be on the side of the weak, let alone a friend. Thinking of this, she felt a little sad, with a sour feeling in her heart, and a little bit of grievance.

    "You still don''t trust me." Qi Yan lowered her head and straightened her fingers one by one.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze.

    "A''Nian did tell me everything." Qi Yan said calmly, with a wry smile in her eyes, "I want to tell you that you did nothing wrong."

    "You''re not blaming me?"

    "What''s your fault?"

    "I put small shoes on her."

    Qi Yan raised her eyebrows, eyes curved like crescent moons, "Did you?"

    Lu Zhiqiao looked sideways at Qi Yan, and was sucked in by those eyes again, ups and downs, tossed, the big rock stuck in her heart was shattered, and all the buried emotions poured out. She raised her eyebrows and sighed: "I know, women, workplace, family, I know all the truths, and I have experienced it myself. I understand her and sympathize with her, but there is nothing I can do to help."

    "I didn''t put small shoes on her, I gave her responsibility to someone else, but she thinks I put small shoes on her, right?"

    Qi Yan''s expression froze and didn''t speak.

    She can''t sell her friend out, but she has to appease Qiao Qiao. She is caught in a dilemma. Just as she was thinking about what to say, Lu Zhiqiao spoke up.

    "In fact, she was pregnant a long time ago, and kept it from me. I was kept in the dark, and I thought it was because she didn''t adjust well after the new year, so she messed up so many jobs one after another, and even made very low-level mistakes..."

    For example, if you post an important notice in a WeChat group, but forget to send it by email, it will almost cause millions of dollars in losses to the company.

    Novices will not make such low-level mistakes.

    At that time, Lu Zhiqiao was very dissatisfied. Considering that Chi Nian had been under her for five years, she had excellent abilities and good overall quality, so she didn''t pursue it too much. She only deducted her bonus for three months to let her reflect.

    Later, disappointment accumulated again and again.

    She didn''t understand why the competent subordinate she trusted and was proud of, suddenly changed, as if she was a different person.

    Until Chi Nian revealed the truth.

    At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao felt like a joke, and couldn''t tell what it was like, sadness, or loss? The subordinate who had been with her for five years didn''t tell her the real situation at the first time, and delayed telling her until she couldn''t hide it, probably because she didn''t trust her, right?

    Distrust and disrespect from subordinates whom she cultivated herself are more uncomfortable than cutting one''s heart with a knife.

    She was such a failure.

    "I asked her to sit in the office and go to the administrative department, do some simple things, wait until she is about to give birth, then go on maternity leave, and return to work after the break, like other pregnant female employees in the company. However, her pregnancy symptoms are more severe. It is difficult for her to eat normally, in case something happens in the company, miscarriage or..."

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, with a troubled expression on her face.

    "And she said that she will have a second child in the future..."

    Speaking of this, Lu Zhiqiao took a light breath, a little coldness appeared in her gloomy eyes, and her face was determined.

    She thought she didn''t need to go on.

    It may be a pity to lose a competent subordinate, but in Xinbei, the most indispensable thing is excellent people, and those with outstanding abilities can be promoted at will. If you want to climb up, you have to pay the price. She doesn''t think that women should try to balance family and career. Either family or career, most people do multiple-choice, and very few can balance it.

    She often feels that she is cold and heartless and deserves to be alone for the rest of her life.

    The higher her position, the more money she made, the more she sacrificed her family''s love behind the scenes. Her daughter stuck to her, not because of how deep her affection is, but at a very young age, she knew she only had her mother, no one to rely on, she also used words like "I do not want you" to scare the child, just to make her obedient.

    After scaring her a lot, her daughter became naturally fearful, and became very sensible and well-behaved, rarely making her angry, and was very clingy to her, and would follow her like a fly whenever she was free, fearing that she would go away.

    She knew that the scars in the child''s heart would never heal.

    This price is just the tip of the iceberg.

    There are too many, too many for her to count.

    Tonight, at this moment, she tore off another layer of disguise to reveal her real appearance. She guessed that Qi Yan must be very disappointed, right? That''s what she is, that''s who she is. Wearing a glamorous skin while doing all kinds of dirty things.

    She tried her best to comfort herself. In her heart she told, she didn''t care about Qi Yan''s opinion, but her body reacted so honestly.

    Lu Zhiqiao clenched her fists, sweat dripped from her palms, her heart was beating fast, covered with sourness, her eyes were as silent as dead gray, like a trapped animal struggling for it''s last breath.

    How could she not care about Qi Yan''s opinion?

    "Ms. Lu."

    "..."

    Qi Yan looked at her reaction amusedly, her smile was full of sourness and heartache. She stretched out her arms to hug her, and complained: "You think too superficially of me, I probably have seen more people and things than you. What does this count for? It''s clear that you do not trust me."

    Her thoughts were seen through at once.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, turned her face, and her ears hidden in her hair were exposed, red.

    Qi Yan smiled, leaned up to kiss her carefully, grabbed her chin with her slender fingers, rubbed it lightly, and coaxed her with a soft voice: "There are not many human feelings in the workplace. Directors, executives, of course, put the overall situation first.¡±

    "This matter is not that complicated. A''Nian herself admitted that she is not healthy. She may just be angry. It''s okay. I have comforted her. If she has trouble finding a job after giving birth, I can help her arrange it."

    "Besides, A''Nian is just unlucky. If her health is better or she doesn''t react much, she can do clerical work, but she has reached the point where she has to go back to recuperate. The maternity leave is only a hundred days, and she used up all the time in the early stages.  What about confinement? Make an exception and extend her maternity leave? This situation can only make her resign voluntarily, which is good for her and the company. I understand what you mean. "

    How is this a big deal?

    It''s so normal.

    Qiao Qiao shouldn''t be that sad.

    She said that she was ruthless and ungrateful, but in fact she was very soft in her heart.

    Foolish.

    After finishing speaking, Qi Yan found her tear mole and sucked it.

    Although she spoke quickly, her tone was extremely gentle. Lu Zhiqiao originally thought that Qi Yan wouldn''t understand if she didn''t point out something, so she naturally misunderstood her, but she didn''t expect this person to be like a roundworm in her stomach, digging out all the subtext hidden under her emotions .

    Seeing through what she thinks, figuring out what she knows, understanding what she does, and even tolerating everything about her.

    And she, being understood despite her eccentricity, is swept away.

    As soon as Lu Zhiqiao''s tense nerves were relaxed, she felt a trace of warmth flowing through her heart, her whole body collapsed, and she snuggled into Qi Yan''s arms like a boneless one, allowing her to kiss her.

    "Qiao Qiao..."

    "Mm."

    "No matter what choice you make, I will always stand by your side." Qi Yan held Lu Zhiqiao''s face in her hands. Her soft lips moved down along the mole of tears, and stopped on her lips, without kissing for a long time.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, groaned, and involuntarily hugged her with both hands.

    Their scents intertwined and lingered, and their breaths were warm. Qi Yan''s lips remained at the corner of Lu Zhiqiao''s mouth without moving. She adjusted her breathing rate to match her rhythm. The surroundings were quiet, and the two breathed in unison.  Afterwards, Lu Zhiqiao turned her face and pressed against Qi Yan''s shoulder, as if she had found a warm and comfortable harbor, she slightly hooked her lips.

    Qi Yan caught this little movement and was inexplicably encouraged, she lowered her head and quickly pecked her lips.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s lashes trembled, but didn''t respond.

    "The finger gloves I gave you last time, have you tried it?" Qi Yan adjusted her sitting posture, leaning against the pillow, so that the person in her arms could snuggle more comfortably.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her neck, buried her face in Qi Yan''s hair, and said softly, "I used one."

    "Which one?"

    "¡­normal."

    "Next time, you can try the explosive bead style." Qi Yan said seriously.

    Since the two confessed to each other last time, Qi Yan tried her best to guide Lu Zhiqiao. There is no need to rush this matter, take it step by step. She first sent Lu Zhiqiao a lot of normal "skills and science", and then asked her to try to understand her body better, just like knowing that she needs to eat when she is hungry and drink water when she is thirsty.

    The idea is to satisfy.

    Learn to please herself.

    At first Lu Zhiqiao was very shy and kept silent, but Qi Yan took the initiative to tell her how she felt after using it a few times...

    Often she''ll talk about her experience, and then start talking about recommended movies or good-looking books the next moment, alternating with talking. The more nonchalant she was, the more relaxed Lu Zhiqiao would be. Gradually, after Qi Yan said a few words, Lu Zhiqiao was able to blush and say something, which was considered progress.

    "...okay." Lu Zhiqiao responded.

    After a while, she left Qi Yan''s embrace, "I have something for you, wait for me." After speaking, she got up to put on her shoes, and left like the wind.

    Not long after, the woman came back.

    Lu Zhiqiao came in with a paper bag, sat next to Qi Yan, took out the small box inside, stuffed it into her hand, and said, "The last time I went to Norway on a business trip, I brought you a gift. I keep forgetting to give it to you."

    That day when the student jumped off the building, she only cared about comforting Qi Yan, putting the gift together with the suitcase, then to the closet, and she only remembered now.

    Qi Yan was taken aback, joy welled up in her eyes, holding the box as if she had found a treasure, and smiled: "Can I open it now?"

    "Mm."

    The small box was very textured, and it was heavy in her hand. Qi Yan carefully opened it as if performing some kind of ceremony, and a thin necklace appeared in front of his eyes. The pendant was dark brown teardrop-shaped amber.

    She looked up in surprise.

    Lu Zhiqiao bent her lips and looked at her: "Like your eyes."

 CH 55

    Qi Yan''s eyes are special, long but not slender, big and energetic, more seductive than peach blossoms, more charming than willow leaves, deep and bright brown pupils, half full of autumn water, like amber wine in a glass.

    Every time they look at each other, Lu Zhiqiao can''t help but be drawn in, as if there is a vortex in those eyes, she is deeply stuck in it and is stirred up. So much so that she can''t help herself but be caught, sinking to the bottom.

    Amber is abundant in Northern Europe. At that time, she was visiting the local area and was dazzled by all kinds of amber beeswax handicrafts. The moment she saw this necklace, she couldn''t help thinking of Qi Yan''s eyes, and bought it immediately.

    The teardrop-shaped amber pendant is crystal clear, brimming with soft light. Qi Yan pulled open the coffee table drawer, took out a small mirror, pinched the pendant and put it next to her eyes, looked carefully in the mirror, and laughed: "It really is very similar.

    "Do you like it?" Lu Zhiqiao asked nervously.

    "Of course I like it." Qi Yan put down the mirror and handed the necklace to her, "Put it on for me quickly." She raised her neck, lifted the hair that was hanging behind her back with both hands, and turned sideways.

    Lu Zhiqiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, with a warm smile on her face, she held each end of the chain with both hands, passed around Qi Yan''s slender and fair neck, and then locked the clasp.

    The lock is a bit small, so she had to look carefully. Lu Zhiqiao leaned forward, and a faint fragrance penetrated her nose. Her arm trembled, and the back of her hand accidentally touched Qi Yan''s back, the slightly burning temperature forced her to shrink back immediately, pulling the chain and strangling Qi Yan''s throat.

    Qi Yan gasp and Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly let go, apologizing in a low voice, and continued to look down at the lock.

    There were titillating waves of warm breaths from behind, Qi Yan took a deep breath, her heart contracted suddenly, her fingers holding her hair slowly tightened, and she felt her cheeks hot.

    "Alright."

    Finally¡­

    Lu Zhiqiao moved back a little, watched Qi Yan put down her hair, and unconsciously stretched out her hand to smooth it out for her. When she raised her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Qi Yan''s flushed face, and doubts flashed in her eyes: "Is it hot? Your face is so red."

    "No." Qi Yan pretended to smile calmly. She lowered her head and pinched the necklace pendant, and picked up the mirror to look at it. "Your style and vision are similar to mine. I also fancied a necklace a while ago, which is similar to this one, but it''s not made of amber. Since you gave this to me, I don''t have to buy it myself."

    There are many kinds of amber necklaces, the common ones are not easy to match with clothes, but the style Lu Zhiqiao bought is simple and elegant, versatile, and can be used as a personal accessory. Once worn, it will not be taken off, even in the shower.

    She looked at the mirror and smiled, her deep and sharp eyes bent into a crescent moon, she smiled, and there was a hint of disappointment in her brown pupils.

    Qiao Qiao gave her a gift for the first time.

    Just an ordinary gift, without any other, superfluous meaning. Maybe she took a look at it casually while shopping, and bought it when she thought it was suitable.

    However, when Qiao Qiao saw this necklace, she immediately thought of her eyes. Does that mean she already has a place in her heart?

    She should be content.

    "As long as you like it." Lu Zhiqiao quietly stared at Qi Yan''s face, seeing her mouth always curled into a deep arc, her heart warmed even more.

    Qi Yan liked it, and she was also happy.

    It was that toffee that was too sweet. Up to now, her taste buds, throat, and even her heart are all sweet.

    After returning home, Lu Zhiqiao took a shower and sat in her daughter''s room to do homework for a while.

    At present, the things Lu Wei is learning are relatively simple. She tries her best to tutor her as much as she can. When her daughter enters high school in the future, she will have a little difficulty trying to tutor her. It has been so long and what she learned in high school is more or less returned to her teacher, she can''t teach anyone.

    "What is this?" Lu Zhiqiao stared at her daughter''s math homework book, and was stunned when she saw the red pen writing under the last question.

    After a closer look, it was the teacher''s comment, written in three lines.

    "Comments written by Teacher Peng." Lu Wei tilted her head and glanced, and said, "She writes it in the homework of every student."

    Teacher Peng is a new math teacher. Lu Zhiqiao heard her daughter and Qi Yan talk about it before. At that time, she was only glad that Xu Shoukui no longer taught her daughter math, and didn''t care too much about other things. Seeing the comments now, she suddenly became curious.

    The content of the comments is generally encouraging, saying that her daughter''s foundation is not bad, but her thinking is not very flexible, she is occasionally careless, and she needs systematic training for her weaknesses.

    The teacher''s handwriting is beautiful, and the tone between the lines is gentle.

    It takes a lot of energy to write for each student for each assignment, and energy alone is not enough, you must have rich experience and patience. Lu Zhiqiao felt the teacher''s good intentions through the book, and was filled with emotion for a moment, thinking of the person who lived across the door.

    "Girl, what do you think of Teacher Peng?" she asked her daughter.

    Lu Wei stopped writing, pouted her little mouth slightly, thought for a while, and said seriously: "She''s pretty good but a bit naggy. However, if I dare to ask her a question, she won''t scold me. Before with Teacher Xu, I didn''t even dare to provoke him, because he will scold me.

    No matter how children know how to evaluate teachers, they can only compare with the past. The most realistic feeling is that she used to be afraid of math class, but now she is not, and even dares to ask the teacher what she doesn''t know.

    "The teacher''s nagging also hopes that you will become excellent. You see, every time Teacher Peng writes a comment so seriously, it means that she thinks that you are capable, and you can''t give up. You have to work hard and don''t let the teacher down." Lu Zhiqiao said softly, touching her daughter''s face with a smile, and kissed her forehead again.

    "Mom believes in you too."

    The little girl hummed twice and nodded vigorously.

    Near ten o''clock, Lu Zhiqiao randomly checked her daughter''s vocabulary, urged her to brush her teeth, take a shower and go to bed, then went to wash clothes by herself, tidied up, turned off the lights and went back to the bedroom.

    Pushing open the closet and putting the folded clothes in, her eyes fell on the small drawer, she paused, stretched out her hand and gently pulled it. The underwear of different styles and colors appeared in front of her eyes, as well as toys in the corner, and finger set.

    [Try the explosive beads next time]

    With Qi Yan''s words echoing in her ears, Lu Zhiqiao''s face suddenly became hot, with a hint of curiosity.

    Last time she tried the normal model, and it felt good with small toys. She knew how deep she was and which points were most sensitive. Obviously, the explosive bead model should be a further attempt.

    This feeling, like struggling to break through the invisible shackles and exploring the hidden and novel world, is both exciting and joyful.

    She likes it.

    Slowly reached for the box, took it out, closed the drawers and wardrobe, Lu Zhiqiao locked the door, turned the phone to silent, opened the music player software and clicked the female version of "Lonely Northern Hemisphere", and then sat on the bed.

    The melodious melody and the female voice are gentle and soft, flowing through the room.

    Lu Zhiqiao held the box, but did not open it for a long time.

    For more than half a month, she has been trying to "admit" and "face up" little by little. Qi Yan gave her enough courage, at least she no longer thinks it is shameful, just like what Qi Yan said, just like eating and drinking water, this is closely related to life.

    Changes are naturally good, but it is inevitable to think about the past, Qi Yan said not to repel thinking about it, but to look at memories with a mentality of tracing back to the source.

    The roots of sin in her heart, the roots of shame, all hidden in the long river of time, tumbling and floating...

    She was also at the age of junior high school. At that time, she was in love and was curious about some hazy things, such as changes in her body.  When she had her first period, her mother only briefly talked about how to deal with it, and then told her that menstruation is dirty, shameful, and unsightly, and kept silent about the rest.

    She planted the first seed of shame in her heart.

    Her memory is pushed forward a few years, fragmented, it seems that there have been similar scenes, but she can''t remember clearly.

    There was a time when she learned to clamp the quilt*.

    *clamping of the quilt or pillow between the legs, though some people do it for comfort, this can also be a way to masturbate

    That morning, she stayed in bed, comfortably wrapped in the quilt, intoxicated by that feeling, and didn''t want to get up. But then her mother came in and called her, caught off guard and saw the scene in front of her, immediately dragged her off the bed and scolded her for being shameless.

    She panicked and didn''t have time to react. She was slapped firmly on the face, and then countless embarrassing insults poured into her ears.

    Shameless, unsightly, disrespectful, and prone to illness.

    The house where her family lived was a unit dormitory, green painted white walls and wooden framed doors. The sound insulation is not very good, her mother''s loud voice was sharp and piercing, scolding her and almost the entire building could hear. It was not enough, she also beat her up.

    Her self-esteem was completely destroyed.

    The shameful seed desperately took root and quickly grew into a towering tree, which has been with her for more than ten years since then.

    Later, she fell in love with the English teacher in junior high school, but she couldn''t tell whether she liked her or relied on her. She just felt that the teacher was very kind to her. She was also surprised that the girls around were chatting about which boy was handsome in private, but she couldn''t get interested.

    Another year older, with the concept of homosexuality in her heart, she was curious and afraid, and always felt that she was abnormal.

    In high school, she was exposed to many things, and she gradually understood that homosexuality is not abnormal, but her sense of shame couldn''t be erased. She also fell in love with a student in the class next door, and finally understood that this was true liking, and it was also the first time she tasted love, even though it was unrequited love.

    Sour and sweet, one can have fun singing a solo act.

    She plucked up the courage to confess to her schoolmate but unexpectedly she was despised and disgusted by the other party. The girl said that she was perverted and disgusting.

    She was hit hard, more ashamed, and disheartened.

    Later, when she got into college, the people and things she came into contact with were more fresh and broad. She liked a girl she met during military training. They had different majors, and the dormitory was separated by a wall. But she never dared to confess, fearing to get another "pervert" from the other party. She didn''t even dare to make friends with her.

    Until, that girl made a girlfriend.

    Throughout her freshman year, she spent her time in a dark and gloomy mood, hating herself, disgusted with herself, and nearly wasting her studies. In her sophomore year, she slowly adjusted her mindset and decided to study hard first, get more exposure to new things and transform herself.

    Unfortunately, God did not give her a chance.

    The Spring Festival in her junior year was the nightmare of her life.

    At the age of twenty, she hadn''t graduated yet, but she lost everything overnight. She suddenly had a heavy burden and a responsibility on her shoulders. She no longer had time to think about herself. From then on, her mind was full of making money.

    The song ended and the bedroom fell silent.

    Qi Yan said that everyone has the right to enjoy happiness.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned off the looping music, neatly opened the box of finger gloves, and took one...

    ¡­.

    Before the Qingming Festival*, the temperature plummeted.

    *aka Tomb Sweeping Day, held on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox (April 4 or 5) that lasts for three days. It is a holiday devoted to remembering and honoring the deceased, people sweep and decorate gravesites, burn incense. and paper money, and make food offerings.

    The sky is gloomy and dark, with a slight drizzle, cold wind blowing the roadside leaves rustling, chilling straight to people''s bones.

    Lu Zhiqiao drove alone to the suburban cemetery to pay her respects. In the cemetery, the pines and cypresses stood upright, solemn and bleak. Although it was raining, there were many people who came to visit the cemetery.

    She bought a total of four bouquets of flowers and placed them in front of four tombstones. Due to overtime work and business trips, she had no time to take care of them carefully, so she only put flowers and said a few words that are almost the same every year, then left in a hurry.

    She has been so busy recently that she doesn''t know the difference between day and night. She flew to four cities in a week, and was in a hurry to eat and sleep. She originally thought that she would not visit her family during Qingming this year, but in the end, her heart couldn''t get over the hurdles.

    Fatigue, stress, continuous high-intensity work, and a sudden drop in temperature, Lu Zhiqiao fell ill the day after returning from the cemetery.

    At first it was a sore throat, stuffy nose and sneezing, but after a short sleep, she almost couldn''t get up once she lay down.

    While her daughter was practicing the piano in the room, Lu Zhiqiao walked to the living room by leaning on the wall, took out the thermometer from the medicine box, and stuffed it under her arm.

    With her eyelids half closed, she poured herself a glass of water with difficulty, drank half of it, and leaned on the sofa to pant. She knows in her heart that she must have caught a cold and had a fever, but there is an important meeting in the afternoon, and she must be there. No matter what, she must find a way to get better before three o''clock...

    After a while, Lu Zhiqiao took out the thermometer and looked at it, it was thirty-nine degrees.

    Really.

    She put it aside casually, stood up and walked back to her room, put on her clothes, took her bag and mobile phone, came out and knocked on the door of her daughter''s room, and said in a steady voice, "Baby, mom, will go out for a while, I''ll come back at noon."

    "Okay." Lu Wei''s voice came from inside, then the broken piano sounded again.

    Lu Zhiqiao went to the door to put on her shoes, saw the car keys on the porch, but didn''t take them, she couldn''t drive like this, instead, she thought it would be faster to take a taxi, so she hurried out with her drowsy body.

    ¡­.

    There were a lot of outpatients in the hospital, many had colds and fevers, and the infusion room was almost full.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned back on the chair with her eyes closed, the needle taped in her left hand was connected to a long infusion tube, and two bottles of medicine, large and small, hung above her head. She was dizzy and uncomfortable, her throat was dry and sore, and she wanted to sleep very much, but her whole body was cold, and her hands and feet were cold.

    Her phone vibrated non-stop, and they were all work calls, they hung up one after another.

    She doesn''t know how many times it vibrated.

    She was too lazy to open her eyes, and with a slip of her fingertips, she raised the phone to her cheek and gave a hoarse voice.

    "Qiao Qiao?" Qi Yan''s voice came from the other end, "What''s wrong with your voice? Have you caught a cold?"

    Lu Zhiqiao paused for a moment, raised her eyelids in a jerk, coughed uncontrollably as soon as she opened her mouth, and said intermittently: "Ahem...a little...cough..."

    "Niu Niu said you went out, where are you?" Qi Yan''s voice suddenly became louder.

    "Cough...hospital...cough cough..."

    "Wait for me!"

 CH 56

    Chapter 56: Can''t Afford

    Hearing the sound of coughing on the phone, Qi Yan''s brain trembled, and her temples twitched. She frowned, hung up the phone immediately, and ran out of 901 without looking back.

    Today, during the holiday, she got up late, made breakfast at home, and felt bored staying alone, so she wanted to find Lu Zhiqiao. But Niu Niu was the only one at home, and she asked the little girl where her mother had gone. The child only knew that she was out of the house, but she didn''t know where she went.

    She called Lu Zhiqiao, but it was always busy, and when she finally got through, her heart ached.

    The woman is sick, but she went to the hospital alone.

    These simple words flashed through her mind, and Qi Yan immediately felt suffocated, ran home like a gust of wind, took out clothes and pants from the cabinet, changed hurriedly, picked up her bag and was about to go out.

    Suddenly remembering that she forgot to ask which hospital she was in, she dialed the number again in a hurry, walked to the kitchen while waiting, took out a thermos cup, filled it with hot water, and held it in her hand.

    It''s "busy" again.

    What happened?

    Screened? Diverted? Or is she really on the phone? Who can she have so many calls with?

    Qi Yan was so anxious that she rushed to the elevator and pressed the button a few times blindly. When the elevator came up and opened, she ducked in, pressed the first floor, and continued to make calls with her eyes fixed on the phone screen.

    After stepping out of the elevator, her call finally got through.

    "Qiao Qiao, which hospital are you in?"

    "Don''t come, I''m fine...cough..." The cough became softer, and the nasal sound became more serious.

    Qi Yan felt like a cat was scratching her head, she couldn''t listen to the persuasion, and unlocked her car and got in. While fastening her seat belt, she couldn''t help saying: "Can I go to the hospital if I have nothing to do? Tell me quickly."

    After a moment of silence on the phone, she said softly, "The Second Annex Clinic, the infusion room."

    There was a faint grievance in her tone, Qi Yan was like an ant on a hot pot at the moment, she didn''t pay attention, immediately hung up the phone, put the phone aside, put away the thermos cup, and drove out of the basement of the complex.

    It was raining outside, with strong gusts of wind, the sky was foggy and gray, and the road was wet and slippery. Pedestrians were wrapped in cotton clothes and walked hard in the wind. The branches of the landscape trees were blown to tremble, and the leaves fell to the ground.

    The climate in Jiangcheng is like this. Sometimes there are four seasons in one day, and sometimes there are only two seasons in a year. The weather is often unpredictable, either extremely cold or extremely hot.

    The road is slippery on rainy days, Qi Yan didn''t dare to drive too fast, the Second Annex is not far from the complex, and she was lucky all the way, didn''t encounter too many red lights, and got to the hospital smoothly.

    There were many people in the infusion room, and Qi Yan saw Lu Zhiqiao sitting in the corner on the phone at a glance. She had a long infusion tube attached to the back of her left hand.

    Qi Yan frowned, her face darkened, walking quickly to the empty seat beside Lu Zhiqiao and sat down, looking at her silently.

    "There is no way for people to make concessions on things that involve core interests. If you''re asked anything, you should answer it in a targeted manner... Ahem... Just like we are waiting for the freight forwarder''s quotation, I am waiting to give my customer a quotation...  Cough...you''re telling me how your company has advantages and how perfect the service is...cough cough...I think you are wasting our time and are very unprofessional..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s voice was low and hoarse, and she was in the middle of speaking, when she caught a glimpse of a figure approaching from the corner of her eye, she subconsciously turned her head to look, and was stunned.

    Their eyes collided, and the woman''s eyes were full of worry, eagerness, and a trace of complaint.

    Lu Zhiqiao moved her lips, looked away guiltily as if she had done something wrong, whispered a few words to the phone, hung up, looked down at the ground, and held the phone silently.

    A hand rested on her forehead.

    Qi Yan''s hand was warm, but it felt cold compared to this woman''s hot forehead, and her palm felt a burning sensation, and the center of her brows became tighter. She took off her hand, opened the thermos cup, poured some hot water into the lid, and approached Lu Zhiqiao''s lips and said: "Be careful it''s hot."

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her sideways, put the phone on her lap, blew on the lid, and took a sip of water.

    She has a sore throat and was really thirsty, and it was inconvenient to walk around alone when she came for the IV. She originally thought to endure it for a while, and then she could go back in two or three hours without making a sound. But now, Qi Yan is by her side.

    She didn''t want Qi Yan to know and let her come here, she didn''t want Qi Yan to see her like this.

    It''s inevitable to look fragile when sick but she can carry it on her own. She always feels that she is too psychologically dependent on Qi Yan, and she should quit as soon as possible. This kind of time is a good opportunity. It''s just that she really didn''t live up to it. When she heard Qi Yan''s voice on the first phone call, she was so happy that she didn''t realize it.

    She knew that Qi Yan would definitely come, she couldn''t stop her.

    Qi Yan looked at her without saying a word, and when the water in the lid was empty, she took it back, poured some and handed it over again. She repeated three or four times, then picked up the pillow in her arms and stuffed it around her waist. Afterwards, said softly: "Go, close your eyes and stop making calls."

    The chairs in the infusion room were hard and cold, making it uncomfortable to sit on. Qi Yan took a half-person-high pillow from her car, and attracted attention all the way through the hospital gate.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, her heart suddenly warmed up, and she leaned back obediently.

    The pillow was very soft, and it was really comfortable to lean on. Her shoulders and back felt so sore, and it was relieved when she completely relaxed. She was about to close her eyes when her phone vibrated again, and she suddenly wanted to sit up.

    Qi Yan frowned, stretched out her hand in front of her, stopped her from moving, and then took the phone away.

    The caller ID is Manager Sun. She doesn''t know who it is, but it is probably about work.

    "...give me back my phone." Lu Zhiqiao was a little anxious.

    Lu Zhiqiao has been busy recently, Qi Yan knows it and understands the importance, but no matter how important it is, it is not as important as her body. Does this group of subordinates not know how to be considerate of sick people? Was there no sound on the phone when they were calling? Then she thought about it, except for her and Niu Niu, who would really care about whether her voice sounds fine or not, and whether she was in a good state?

    Of course, only those who care about her will care the most.

    The phone kept vibrating, Qi Yan''s face turned ugly, and she didn''t want to give it to her, but seeing Lu Zhiqiao''s anxious look, she couldn''t bear it, so she had to give her the phone.

    Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly connected as if holding a baby.

    She didn''t want to let the assistant do all the things that could be entrusted to the assistant, and there was really no way to entrust the things that could not be entrusted.

    Fortunately, this call was just a report. She closed her eyes and hummed a few times. Just as she hung up, the phone was snatched away.

    "I''ll answer any more calls, and tell them to call back in an hour." Qi Yan said carefully, with an irresistible tone. In the end she gave in half a step. Since it can''t be completely ignored, it''s best to rest for a while, without a pause.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her silently, hummed softly, her quiet eyes were rippling with subtle waves, reflecting her cold and beautiful face, and she couldn''t get enough of it.

    When she is weak, anyone''s kindness could leave ripples in her heart, let alone Qi Yan. She has already stirred up waves in her heart.

    She could feel her heart throbbing, feeling like she was getting sucked into the vortex. Falling a little bit more, the more she was like this, the more panicked she became. No one told her what to do, how to return the same feelings, or how to maintain it.

    She isn''t prepared, it was impossible for her to stumble into a relationship like this and switch identities.

    She can''t afford what Qi Yan is giving her.

    Feeling tired, her eyes slowly closed...

    The surroundings were not quiet, and she couldn''t fall asleep even if she wanted to sleep. She could only close her eyes and rest her mind. After sitting quietly for a long time, she felt colder and colder. Lu Zhiqiao shrank her body, frowned slightly, and curled her fingers involuntarily.

    Suddenly, the fingers were wrapped in a piece of warmth.

    She opened her eyes.

    Qi Yan wrapped her left knuckles with both hands, caressing them gently, then grabbed her other hand and wrapped them up. Seeing her eyes open in a daze, she smiled and coaxed: "Your hands are so cold, let me cover them and close your eyes."

    "Ask the nurse for a hot pack...cough...your hands will get cold later..." Lu Zhiqiao said in a hoarse voice, staring at Qi Yan''s hand worriedly.

    Qi Yan shook her head and smiled softly: "It''s okay, my hands are warmer than hot packs."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, and she raised her eyes to see the tenderness in the depths of Qi Yan''s eyes. Her nose became a little sore, and so were her eyes. Afraid that she would not be able to hold back her embarrassment, she curled her lips into a smile, leaned back, and closed her eyes.

    The warm water stains flooded under her eyelids, and it took a while to subside.

    After closing her eyes and resting her mind for a moment, Lu Zhiqiao heard Qi Yan''s voice answering the phone. She wanted to open her eyes and take the call herself, but she was afraid that Qi Yan would be unhappy, because she agreed to rest for at least an hour, so she gave up.

    "Hello?"

    "I''m her friend. She''s not feeling well and she''s resting. If there''s anything else you can tell me, or call back in an hour."

    "Alright, no worries."

    Lu Zhiqiao listened to the same words four or five times with her eyes closed, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up into a shallow arc.

    A friend.

    If they could only be friends, she would not have many troubles.

    ¡­.

    It was already noon when they returned home after the injection.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s forehead was still a little hot, and she was hungry, but she didn''t have much appetite to eat. Qi Yan fed her cold medicine, helped her lie down on the bed, set her phone to airplane mode, and went out to make lunch for her "daughter".

    Lu Wei was hungry, and her mother didn''t get up to make breakfast in the morning. She thought she was tired and wanted to sleep more, so she didn''t bother her. She made milk by herself and ate some small bread, and practiced the piano obediently.

    The small bread snacks left at home were eaten for breakfast, and there was nothing else to eat. It was taking a long time for her mother to come back, and she didn''t know how to cook. So she waited and waited until her mother came back, she wanted to go out to eat. After a while, she saw her mother being helped back by Teacher Qi.

    Fear suddenly replaced hunger.

    "Teacher Qi..." Lu Wei watched Qi Yan enter the kitchen, and followed her in a hurry.

    Qi Yan picked up the apron and put it on. Hearing the sound, she turned around and saw the little girl worried, so she hurriedly stepped forward to hug her to comfort her: "It''s okay, Niu Niu, your mom has a cold, she just needs to rest for a few days. What do you want to eat for lunch, hm?¡±

    "I''ll eat whatever you do." Lu Wei said seriously.

    Qi Yan smiled and pinched her face: "Okay, go watch TV first."

    Lu Wei didn''t proceed to watch TV, she lingered at the door of the master bedroom for a while, opened the door and entered carefully. The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, and she approached the bed lightly, looking at her mother who was lying quietly with her round eyes, and called softly, "Mom?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was just laying down, she was a light sleeper, she slowly opened her eyes when she heard the sound, her daughter''s worried face was seen in her sight, she stretched out one hand from the bed: "Baby..."

    The little girl''s eyes were wet, she hurriedly pressed her face to her palm, and asked in a low voice: "Teacher Qi said you just have a cold, you''re not  lying to me, are you?"

    The last time her mother was bitten by a snake, Teacher Qi lied.

    "I''m not lying to you, silly." Lu Zhiqiao said distressingly, touching her daughter''s face with a smile, "I have a little fever, I''ll just have some sleep after the injection and I''ll be fine. You also need to wear more clothes or else you''ll also catch a cold, understand?"

    Lu Wei nodded, and said obediently: "Then go to bed, I won''t disturb you anymore." She grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, stuffed it back into the bed, and tucked her tightly in the quilt.

    Just like a little adult.

    ¡­.

    For lunch, Qi Yan stir-fried two dishes, remembering that Lu Zhiqiao didn''t eat anything, she cooked some porridge and warmed it in the cooker. After lunch, she played games with Niu Niu for a while, and asked her to do homework.

    Nearly two o''clock in the afternoon, the rain stopped outside, and thick dark clouds floated in the sky like cotton wool, pressing down very low, and the light suddenly brightened.

    It looked like there was still heavy rain to fall.

    Qi Yan went back and closed the window of her balcony. After a few minutes of work, she returned to 901 and found that the door of the master bedroom was opened at some time.  She walked to the door out of curiosity, and saw Lu Zhiqiao sitting in front of the dressing table, with a change of clothes, painting her eyebrows meticulously.

    "Where are you going?" She closed the door with her backhand and took a few steps forward.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, the hand holding the eyebrow pencil trembled, she accidentally traced it crookedly, she hurriedly turned her head, her lips moved: "There is a meeting at three o''clock, I have to go."

    Her face was still reddish, and she didn''t seem to be in a good mood. After speaking, she coughed twice, her voice sounding hoarse. She dipped a cotton swab in makeup remover, gently wiped off the crooked part of her eye brow, pressed it with a cotton pad, swept some loose powder, picked up the eyebrow pencil and continued to draw.

    Qi Yan was taken aback, and went over to touch her forehead. It was not so hot, but it was still warmer than the temperature of the palm of her hand, so she frowned: "Your fever hasn''t completely subsided..."

    "It''s okay, I''m much better, it would be just an hour." Lu Zhiqiao interrupted softly, finished drawing her eyebrows in two or three strokes, and stood up.

    She stood up too quickly and got dizzy for a moment, and her body swayed.

    Qi Yan saw this and quickly hugged her, her heart was aching, "What''s wrong with you? What if..."

    "I''m going to be late, let go¡ª" She broke free anxiously, staggered back two steps, leaned on the wall to stabilize her body, then stuffed her phone into her bag and hurried to leave.

    "Lu Zhiqiao!"

    The footsteps stopped.

    Qi Yan''s face turned sullen, her eyes dimmed, looking coldly at her: "Can''t the meeting be postponed? Can''t it be remote? Wouldn''t it affect efficiency if you force yourself like this? Will you let everyone watch you cough? Listen to your nasal voice? Or worry that you could faint at any moment?"

    Qi Yan was angry and anxious in her heart, her tone was inevitably rushed, cold and harsh.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her, clenched her teeth, and tightened her fingers holding the strap of her bag. Suddenly, the suffocating sourness forced up her throat, stuffed her nose and she almost could not breathe.

    She opened her lips slightly, took a deep breath, her eyes reddening.

    Author''s Note:

    Ying ying ying~(cute)*

    *onomatopoeia that means crying in a pouty and cute way

 CH 57

    With sour tears in her eyes, Lu Zhiqiao gasped for breath with her mouth open, her eyes red with grievances.

    She didn''t speak, and her hand holding the strap of the bag trembled slightly.

    Qi Yan panicked.

    She considers herself to be good-tempered, stable natured, not easy to embarrass others, and less likely to speak harsh words, but once encountering things related to Lu Zhiqiao, she would be in a mess. She was already suppressing her anger earlier in the morning, but she saw that Lu Zhiqiao was too sick, so she didn''t attack. Now she was so anxious, she lost her cool and spoke her mind, but she ended up hurting the person she cared about the most.

    It was too late to regret. Seeing the woman''s red eyes, her heart fell to the bottom of the valley in an instant, smashing it to pieces.

    "Qiao Qiao¡ª" Qi Yan hugged Lu Zhiqiao, "I''m sorry, I''m really worried about you, I... don''t mean to blame you."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned and struggled violently twice, trying to push her away.

    Her sick body couldn''t exert much strength, the more she struggled, the tighter Qi Yan hugged her, apologizing non-stop. She had no strength and couldn''t breathe well, so she could only lie softly on Qi Yan''s shoulder and bury her face in her hair.

    "I went to the hospital today and saw you sitting in the corner in such a sick state, I was really angry and distressed... I was angry that you didn''t tell me, and I felt distressed that you were carrying it alone. I was wondering why you didn''t tell me. Is it because you don''t trust me enough, or do I annoy you?... I didn''t have the guts to ask you. I was scared of embarrassing you, after all, you have no obligation to tell me, do you?" Qi Yan''s voice was very soft, and the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously. Showing a self-deprecating smile.

    She felt a hard grip and pain on her shoulder.

    Qi Yan frowned, took a light breath, and continued: "I know you are busy, and work is very important to you. I have no position and no right to interfere with you. I just hope you cherish your body more."

    "Lu Zhiqiao, in a place where you can''t see, someone has always cared for you and worried about you."

    The words that came to her lips could only be said in a tactful way, Qi Yan understood that Lu Zhiqiao was like a wounded hedgehog, any disturbance would be enough to make her thorns all over her body stand up. She approached her little by little, and slowly gained her trust. She isn''t expecting to pull out those spikes, just soften them.

    At least she won''t let the thorns accidentally injure herself.

    Qi Yan said nothing more, her heart was clearly set here. It doesn''t matter whether Qiao Qiao wants it or not.

    There was a slight sobbing sound in her arms...

    Lu Zhiqiao''s tears streamed down, and her nose was stuffy, she opened her mouth and breathed while gasping. She grabbed Qi Yan''s shoulders with both hands, and then slid onto her back, hugging her even tighter, as if she was worried that she would run away.

    After knowing each other for so long, Qi Yan scolded her for the first time. Although she didn''t say anything serious, the tone made her feel helpless and wronged. She is not an emotional person, she has heard really bad words and seen ugly faces but she didn''t care much, but when it came to Qi Yan, her heart turns into glass and shatters at a touch.

    She wanted to be consoled again.

    A person like her is amenable to coaxing but not coercion, the colder she is treated, the harder her bones will be. But if she''s treated softly, she will lose her bones.

    It happened to be Qi Yan.

    "I was wrong, Qiao Qiao." Qi Yan rubbed her ear against Lu Zhiqiao''s hair, patted her back to coax, "Don''t cry, it hurts with a stuffy nose."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t say a word, she held her shoulders and refused to raise her head. Tears ran down Qi Yan''s hair indiscriminately. Still angry in her heart, she grabbed another strand of Qi Yan''s hair and pulled it off with a little force.

    "Hiss¡ª" Qi Yan whispered in pain, but laughed happily.

    Qiao Qiao forgave her.

    "I''ll let you pull it again, so stop being angry, huh?" She said softly, the corners of her mouth raised in a deep arc.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, didn''t move, raised her hand to stroke her hair, and asked in a low voice, "Does it hurt?"

    "It doesn''t."

    Her bosom was warm and soft, and the scent of shampoo seemed to be absent in her nose. Lu Zhiqiao''s panting voice was a bit heavy, which made her uncomfortable. Qi Yan froze for a moment, tried to straighten her shoulders, but Lu Zhiqiao refused to move, and wanted to hug her.

    After a while of silence, the room slowly diffused the smell of warmth.

    "Aren''t you going to the meeting?" Qi Yan asked tentatively.

    "I still need to go."

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao lay in Qi Yan''s arms for a while, wiped away her tears, and broke free. Her red and swollen eyes were exposed. She turned her head and wiped her nose with a tissue, and said in a low voice, "I have to go today. I have already postponed it once. I can''t postpone it again. It will delay the subsequent process, and I can''t let the whole team wait for me alone, I am not bedridden and paralyzed."

    She lowered her head to explain, she couldn''t see her expression, her tone was vaguely petulant, but with a hint of seriousness when listened carefully.

    "I''ll accompany you." Qi Yan grabbed her wrist.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused and nodded slightly: "Okay."

    Knowing that this person didn''t have time to eat, Qi Yan went home and took a thermos bucket, poured the warm porridge from the pressure cooker into it, brought cold medicine, a thermometer and nasal strips, and told Niu Niu to wait at home.

    She drove her own car, took a few more pillows, and let Lu Zhiqiao sit in the back with candy in her mouth.

    ¡­.

    On the way to the company, Qi Yan scolded Lu Zhiqiao''s boss ten thousand times in her heart, no matter how ugly she turned. Due to the Qing Ming Festival holiday, the whole building was empty when they arrived, and only a few people were working overtime.

    Compared with the "evil" capitalist boss, the subordinates who attended the meeting were obviously more humane. They didn''t know that Lu Zhiqiao was sick, and when they saw her with a bad face, they all advised her to go back and rest.

    Lu Zhiqiao ignored it, simply tidied up in the office, and carried her laptop into the conference room.

    The empty office building was silent.

    Qi Yan couldn''t sit still in the office, so she went out for a walk.

    The entire floor outside is the sales department, and downstairs is the marketing department and the public relations department. The three departments are under Lu Zhiqiao''s management. Most of the workstations are empty, and a few people work overtime, with unfinished bread or takeaways on the table, some were typing on the keyboard, and some on the phone.

    She felt bored, so she simply waited at the door of the conference room.

    The walls of the meeting room are not transparent, so she can''t see what''s going on inside. Qi Yan originally wanted to go in with Lu Zhiqiao, but she was afraid of disturbing the meeting, and was afraid of hearing some business secrets. She didn''t want to embarrass Lu Zhiqiao, so she gave up the idea.

    There are many tall buildings outside the window, the sky is overcast and cloudy, and the rain is hanging on the glass in strings, making it foggy.

    She heard the sound of high-heeled shoes coming from the rear right. Qi Yan was startled, without turning her head, still staring at the billboard on the top of the opposite building¡ªthat female star  who had endorsed her family''s company. Then, the footsteps stopped outside the meeting room behind her, and there was another knock on the door, as if entering inside.

    Qi Yan continued to look at the billboard.

    The female star looks pretty good, but not as good-looking as Qiao Qiao.

    After a while, the door of the conference room at the back opened, Qi Yan came back to her senses, thought it was over, turned around with the corners of her lips raised, a slightly familiar figure appeared in her sight, and was stunned.

    It''s Shu Minxi.

    As soon as she came out of the meeting room, she met Qi Yan''s gaze unexpectedly, was stunned for a moment, and said in surprise, "Miss Qi?"

    Qi Yan''s smile froze on her lips.

    Isn''t this, Qiao Qiao''s "boss", the evil capitalist!

    At the end of last year, her old father ran into Shu Minxi in the villa, and they had a good conversation. He had already left behind the resentment of being rejected ten years ago and the resentment a month ago. At that time, it was not long after the two signed the cooperation agreement. After that, at the beginning of this year, Shu Minxi came to visit, and it happened that Qi Yan was at home, and the two had a face-to-face meeting.

    Qi Yan was used to seeing "dominant female president" sisters since she was a child, so she didn''t have any special feelings at that time, and only regarded Shu Minxi as a guest.

    But now, there is some inexplicable dissatisfaction.

    "Ms. Shu." She nodded lightly, with a half-hearted smile.

    Shu Minxi nodded, and asked politely, "How is Boss Qi?"

    "Good."

    "Miss Qi...are you waiting for someone?" Shu Minxi naturally noticed her perfunctory replies, but didn''t care, glanced at the conference room, and asked tentatively.

    Qi Yan hummed, raised her eyebrows and smiled: "Waiting for my neighbor."

    "?"

    "Lu Zhiqiao." She deliberately called her name.

    Shu Minxi was taken aback, and the doubts in her eyes flashed away. Why didn''t she know that Lu Zhiqiao moved to Ninghu?

    "I usually live alone, right across from Lu Zhiqiao''s house." Qi Yan kindly explained.

    "..."

    Shu Minxi smiled: "That''s really a coincidence."

    From a close distance, the boss is also a beauty, but she should be a little older, and there are fine wrinkles at the end of her eyes when she smiles. From some intuition, Qi Yan felt that she''s a lesbian.

    "Ms. Shu, does your company often work overtime during holidays?"

    The topic changed quickly, and Shu Minxi reacted quickly, and said calmly, "It depends on the situation."

    Qi Yan looked at her, and she looked at Qi Yan too. When they first met, she felt Qi Yan was so-so. At first glance, she is a well-educated young lady who has not been beaten by the world. She has quite a personality. Now when she saw her again, she felt a little hostility from the girl for some reason.

    Elusive.

    The two chatted for a while, and Shu Minxi left first on the grounds that she had something to do.

    The rain outside the window kept falling. Looking down from a high place, the sight is full of smog. Around four o''clock, the gloomy sky darkened, the lights on the street flickered, and the shops also lit up sporadically.

    The conference room door opened again, Lu Zhiqiao came out first, with her laptop, and saw Qi Yan who had just turned around at a glance, their eyes met, her expression was slightly stagnant, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up.

    Before she could step over, Qi Yan had already stepped forward, reached out to take the laptop, and was about to say something but a few people came out from behind, and all looked sideways at Qi Yan. She swallowed the concern that came to her lips, pretended to be calm, turned and walked to the director''s office.

    The two returned to the office one after the other, Qi Yan put down the computer, quickly closed the door, locked it, and hugged Lu Zhiqiao.

    "Qi Yan..."

    "Uncomfortable?" She frowned.

    She freed a hand to touch her forehead, it wasn''t hot, but the fever hasn''t completely subsided yet.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face was slightly pale, and the tip of her nose was red. The skin was peeled off due to dryness, and a nasal patch was still stuck to the bridge of her nose. She coughed twice when she opened her mouth to speak. She was still holding on to her spirit, but now that she relaxed, her brows and eyes were full of exhaustion, and she turned limp after being hugged by Qi Yan, leaning against her arms like a boneless one.

    "It''s okay, it''s over." She smiled, clasping Qi Yan''s shoulders with both hands.

    Qi Yan put her face against her ear, rubbed it lightly, and asked softly, "Are you hungry? Take a rest first and have some porridge."

    "Wait, I still need to send an email, and..." She broke free and reached out to touch the computer.

    Qi Yan''s face darkened.

    Lu Zhiqiao kept silent, turned the hand that was reaching for the laptop, and quietly held Qi Yan''s pinky finger, pinched it and shook it, and said in a flattering tone as if she had done something wrong: "I''ll send them while eating, okay?"

    Is she being coquettish?

    Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, as if it wasn''t her pinky finger that was pinched, but her heart. How could she withstand Qiao Qiao''s unconscious teasing? Her soft heart was instantly squeezed into water, trembling and itching, wishing that Qiao Qiao would say something more.

    "I''ll feed you." She compromised.

    "Okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao sat on the sofa with the computer in her hand and began to type on the keyboard. She is very proficient in touch typing, and can type both Chinese and English without looking at the keyboard. Within two minutes, half a page of densely packed letters was typed on the document. Qi Yan was sitting next to her holding the thermos bucket. The porridge was still very hot. She picked up a spoonful and blew carefully, and held it to Lu Zhiqiao''s mouth with the lid on.

    Lu Zhiqiao was very obedient, she stopped typing while she was being fed to ensure that the porridge wouldn''t leak, and then continued.

    It is corn porridge, light and just right.

    Qi Yan knew that she would be uncomfortable until her work was done, so she didn''t feed her too often, and tried to let her rest more every time, so that she could finish early.

    They found a rhythm and the two cooperated very tacitly.

    After sending the email, Lu Zhiqiao put the laptop aside and wanted to take over the thermos to eat by herself, but Qi Yan refused, so she had no choice but to sit obediently against the pillow and be fed mouthful by mouthful.

    "Next time you don''t feel well, don''t carry it by yourself, just tell me, at least someone will accompany you to the hospital." Qi Yan looked at the faint red blood in her eyes, her heart tightened and ached for her, but she pretended to be indifferent.

    Lu Zhiqiao was slightly startled, her eyelashes trembled, and she answered in a low voice.

    It''s because the porridge is too hot, it rolls down her throat, and warms her heart, and it lingers for a long time...

    ¡­.

    After several consecutive cloudy and rainy days, the temperature gradually rose, and the whole city was shrouded in dull dampness. There was a musty smell all over.

    In the blink of an eye, mid-April came but it was still raining.

    Today, the school held a lecture on fire protection awareness, and invited several outstanding firefighters from the Municipal Fire Department to give speeches. During the third class in the morning, all the teachers and students of the school went to the auditorium, and the class teachers went down to their respective classes to organize the order. For a while, the South and North teaching buildings were full of voices.

    It was just listening to a lecture and going about the formalities. But the children were so happy that they seemed to be going on an outing, and they flocked to the stairs.

    The back door of the second class was next to the stairs. Qi Yan was afraid of a stampede, so she guarded the back door of the class to urge the students to go downstairs in an orderly manner. Most of the children are obedient and well behaved, only a few naughty boys are playing around in the back of the classroom, waiting for their classmates to leave, with smiles full of mischief.

    "Li Jinyue, Du Shuyang, what are you guys doing?" Qi Yan sternly stopped.

    "Eh come on~"

    Three or five boys laughed and walked towards the door.

    Qi Yan turned her head to look at the stairs. Perhaps all the classes were almost gone, and the flow of people was getting less and less. She was about to turn around, when she was suddenly hugged by someone with such force that she staggered two steps back. She was thrown against the wall of the corridor.

    One hand touched her x...

    Qi Yan jolted fiercely, and forcefully pushed the person in front of her. Before she could see clearly, her hand viciously flung past a slap.

    --Pak!

    At that moment, the whole campus turned quiet.

    Students from all classes who were about to go downstairs at the stairway looked over at the same time. A tall and thin boy stood there with his face covered in embarrassment and annoyance, and several boys next to him were frozen and dumbfounded.

    Qi Yan''s face was as cold as iron, and she looked at the boy coldly, her chest heaved violently, and the hand hanging by her side was clenched into a fist, her palm was numb and painful.

    "Rascal!"

    ....

    It rained nonstop all day, and it got louder and louder with lightning and thunder.

    After four o''clock, close to the end of the first and second grades, private cars were parked on both sides of the school gate, and a black A8 was inconspicuously mixed among them.

    Lu Zhiqiao has been busy for a while, and now she doesn''t have to work overtime for a short period of time. Today is one of those rare days where she has more free time, so she came to school early to pick up her daughter. Instead of waiting quietly outside the school like other parents, she registered with the gate guard and entered the school, thinking of waiting for her daughter outside the classroom.

    Passing through the empty large square, going up to the fourth floor of the south teaching building, to reach the first room on the left, which is the room of Class 1 - 2 of the junior high school.

    There are still about twenty minutes before school ends.

    As soon as Lu Zhiqiao climbed up to the fourth floor, she heard a fierce quarrel not far away. When she looked up, she saw a few people surrounding the door of the teacher''s office diagonally opposite her, and the figure on center of the commotion was very familiar.

    Tall figure, slender legs, long black hair...

    It''s Qi Yan.

    Author''s Note:

    Wife Protector Mad Demon will be online soon...!

 CH 58

    Several people were clamoring around the door of the teacher''s office, especially the shrill female voice. Standing in the middle, Qi Yan looked conspicuous because of her tall stature. She raised her head slightly and did not speak. The expression on her face could not be seen clearly from this distance.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart tightened, she had a premonition that something bad was going on, and she walked over with her reckless legs.

    "I said that my son didn''t do it on purpose. What do children know at this age? You have no sense being a teacher, and you beat the child like this..." The speaker was a middle-aged woman with a low ponytail and short and plump body, with curly hair flying up in front of her forehead, and a pair of bulging eyes showing full of meanness.

    As she spoke, she tugged at the boy next to her, and said angrily, "Look! The swelling on his face hasn''t gone down yet!"

    The boy was tall and thin, and looked a little frail, with his head bowed in a submissive manner, and his eyes were carved out of the same mold as a middle-aged woman. His left cheek is a little red, and there are faint fingerprints on it, which can''t be clearly seen unless one looks carefully.

    "My son was sent to school in good condition, and that''s why you beat him like this? Whose child doesn''t make mistakes, do you need to use such a cruel hand! The current teachers are really rebellious..."

    The middle-aged woman stared at Qi Yan viciously, cursing and thrashing.

    Qi Yan''s face turned pale, her chin raised slightly, and looked at the woman quietly, with bone-chilling deep eyes, without saying a word.

    On the other hand, Yang Qing, who was next to her couldn''t stand it any longer, and stepped forward to reason: "What do you mean a teacher has no sense? Your son was indecent okay? Just say it wasn''t intentional and brush it off? Is everything that comes out of his mouth true? Now he dared to lay hands on his teacher, he''ll be great when he grows up."

    Another onlooker teacher also chimed in: "Yeah, no one knows what the real situation is. It all depends on the child''s mouth. What if he lied and framed her? Teacher Qi won''t beat someone for no reason."

    "You mean my son is lying? How can he lie when he is so young?"

    As Lu Zhiqiao approached, she clearly heard the word "indecent" and her mind froze. Her heart sank suddenly, and rushed forward without thinking too much, "What happened?"

    The quarrel was interrupted, and several people turned their heads to look over.

    At that moment, Qi Yan''s breath relaxed, and her tightly clenched fists loosened, a hole was torn in the thick and gloomy darkness in front of her eyes, and the light shone through the crack, turning the ashes into dust.

    She subconsciously wanted to reach out, but suddenly realized something, and forcibly retracted the hand that was raised in the air, pretending to brush her hair naturally, suppressing all the emotions in her eyes.

    Qiao Qiao

    How come you''re here?

    "You are?" Yang Qing asked suspiciously.

    "I..." Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth, reacted quickly, looked at Qi Yan and said with a smile, "Teacher Qi, I''m here to pick up my daughter from school."

    Just now, she rushed over with a feverish brain, and she didn''t care about anything at all. Now she suddenly woke up. She is just a parent. She has no right and no position to meddle in the affairs between the teacher and other parents. She can only explain the reason first and give herself an excuse.

    Obviously something happened, other parents came to trouble Qi Yan, her ridiculous way of interrupting was completely useless, if she didn''t cover it up in time, it would arouse suspicion.

    Fortunately, she controlled herself and reacted in time.

    "Hey, are you a parent too?" Without waiting for Qi Yan to speak, the middle-aged woman spoke.

    She clapped her hands, thinking that she had found an ally, and said with a loud voice: "Then be the judge too. My son was playing with his classmates in the classroom this morning. Boys, pushing and shoving is normal. Teacher Qi happened to be there next to him, someone accidentally bumped into Teacher Qi''s x, and ended up being slapped like this, take a look."

    Then she pointed to the boy''s face.

    "My son said he was pushed by a classmate. It was obviously not intentional. The child is so honest at home and has never bullied a female classmate since he was a child. How could he do such a thing on purpose? Indecent? Be responsible and stop talking indiscriminately!

    "It must be that my son is not pleasing to the eye. And this teacher must''ve been bored, looked for an excuse and did this on purpose! This kind of teacher may also bully your daughter..."

    The woman was chattering non-stop, like a very noisy old sparrow.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face became more and more rigid, and an unknown fire rushed straight to the top of her head. She interrupted in a deep voice: "That means your son did get his hands on something that shouldn''t be touched."

    The woman choked.

    "Do you know what self-defense is? Since your son touched the teacher, and the teacher reacted instinctively out of self-defense, there is nothing wrong. Or do you think the teacher should tell your son that it was a good encounter? Encourage him?" Lu Zhiqiao''s expression is calm, but every word sounds aggressive.

    The woman babbled and croaked for half a day, and kept saying the same things repeatedly, because she felt that her child had been wronged, and she desperately tried to justify him, even throwing dirty water back.

    To confuse the public, she tried to create an unwarranted confrontation, and pull her into her camp.

    Parents who don''t have their own opinions are easily swayed.

    Everything has a cause to have an effect, it is simply absurd to infer the cause from the effect, and it is even more stupid to create conflicts.

    "Eh, it''s not like the kid did it on purpose..."

    "Could it be that the teacher did it on purpose?" Lu Zhiqiao sneered, with a piercing pressure in her eyes.

    "There is injustice. But Teacher Qi is also a victim. You''re saying that your son was pushed, so you should go to the person who pushed your son to settle the score. If he dares to push your son against the teacher today, he will dare to push your son to crash a car tomorrow. If he''s bad at such a young age, making jokes about the safety of his classmates, playing too much is a crime, as a parent, aren''t you afraid?"

    The words hit the point, and the middle-aged woman was speechless for a moment.

    If this parent could understand some things, she would naturally know that it was not the teacher, but the parent of the student who pushed his son, but judging from her unreasonable attitude just now, it is likely that she''ll still cause Qi Yan trouble.

    It''s like when a car which is driving normally, suddenly hit a person who jumped out from the side of the road wanting to commit suicide, and it accidentally killed him. If the family members have no conscience, they will extort some money from the driver.

    She is a bystander, she has no position to intervene, nor is she qualified to intervene.

    She did her best.

    Lu Zhiqiao thought so.

    Qi Yan looked sideways at Lu Zhiqiao, her eyes were indifferent, with hands behind her back tightly grabbing her clothes. She quickly looked away, pursed her lips tightly, her eyes were a little moist, she blinked lightly, her face remained expressionless.

    Qiao Qiao.

    Why are you here?

    "Then..." The middle-aged woman was stunned for a while, then turned to ask the boy, "Yangyang, who pushed you?"

    "It seems to be Xu Ming...or Li Jinyue..." The boy scratched his head, not sure.  At that time, he was walking in front, and the three students behind were stunned by the beating, and didn''t even pay attention to who pushed him.

    Now, he couldn''t figure it out for a moment.

    The woman frowned, looked at Qi Yan, and then looked at Lu Zhiqiao, with obvious fear in her eyes, she curled her lips and said, "It''s strange, you are also a parent, and you talk to the teacher like this. You don''t usually send a lot of gifts, do you?"

    Hearing the sound, Qi Yan''s heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously raised her head to look at Lu Zhiqiao, worry flashing away in her eyes.

    The accusation of bribery is too heavy. In the past, Lu Zhiqiao always used her identity as a teacher to pick on her, and she was most concerned about any interests involved with her. The two of them tried their best to avoid suspicion.  It''s just that today was such a coincidence that a troublesome incident involved both of them at the same time.

    Although there is no relationship between them in the strict sense of giving gifts and accepting bribes, they are actually much closer than this.

    The accusation is false, but not totally wrong.

    Qi Yan herself doesn''t care, the most she can do is resign, but she doesn''t want to involve Lu Zhiqiao, she doesn''t want the pure relationship between the two of them to be stigmatized, she doesn''t want to be frightened, sneaky, desperately restrained every day, and she doesn''t want to be afraid of accusers and ridicules that may come to her head at any time.

    She work because of dreams and happiness. If dreams are shattered and happiness cannot be found, there is no need to persevere.

    At this moment, she thought of leaving.

    What about Qiao Qiao?

    How should she explain?

    "It''s useless to divert the conflict, you''re just wrong." Lu Zhiqiao looked at her indifferently, and replied lightly.

    "You don''t dare to go to other parents, and you don''t care about the safety of your own child. You just think that the teacher is a soft persimmon and easy to bully. I advise you to save some morals and give your son a way back, in case those who pushed him caused trouble and something happens to your son, Teacher Qi will be the one to come and uphold justice."

    The woman was speechless for a moment: "You..."

    "What''s going on? It''s noisy." A thick male voice came from behind, everyone turned their heads, and a middle-aged man with a serious face came over.

    Qi Yan held her breath: "Principal Pan."

    Pan Mou, the vice president of academic affairs.

    It happened that she ran into the head, Qi Yan knew that this matter would never end, after the incident of the students jumping off the building last time, she had lost confidence in the principal, this time she would suffer no matter what. When the middle-aged woman heard that he is the principal, she immediately became agitated, her stagnant momentum rose instantly, she bit Qi Yan with words and beat his son, insisting on giving an explanation.

    There were still a few minutes before school ends, and the two sides were arguing endlessly. Principal Pan didn''t want to make the matter worse, so he dismissed the onlookers with a few words and took them to watch the surveillance.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched Qi Yan go away...

    They couldn''t even exchange glances.

    Feeling powerless in her heart, she felt more and more small, unable to help, unable to do anything for Qi Yan, and might even cause Qi Yan trouble.

    Repression, restraint, forbearance, it didn''t set her free.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood there for a while, when the bell rang, she turned her head to look at the classroom of Class 2, and walked over with stiff steps, mechanically.

    ¡­.

    The surveillance records are very clear, and the screen shows that Qi Yan is standing in the corridor near the back door of the class, looking towards the stairs.  A few students came out from the back door of the classroom, Du Shuyang walked in front, stepped out of the door with one foot, and jumped forward suddenly, and fell on Qi Yan unexpectedly.

    Inertia caused the two of them to bump into the fence of the corridor, and Du Shuyang''s hand touched Qi Yan''s x...

    During slow playback, the moment Du Shuyang pounced on Qi Yan, a boy who was standing slightly to the right behind withdrew his hand. The boy''s name was Li Jinyue. Switching to the monitor in the classroom, a few boys were indeed playing around all the time.

    Only some details make it difficult to distinguish.

    When Du Shuyang passively pounced on Qi Yan, his hands subconsciously hugged her shoulders, and then the two hit the fence, and his hands fell on Qi Yan''s x inadvertently, and in the next second, Qi Yan pushed him away very quickly, slapping him.

    For a moment, no matter how fast or slow, no matter how many times, they can''t tell whether it was intentional or unintentional.

    "I really didn''t do it on purpose..." The boy was extremely wronged, with a sullen face as if he was about to cry.

    The middle-aged woman felt that she was justified after watching the surveillance, insisting on Qi Yan to apologize to her son, and also asked Qi Yan to severely criticize the boy who pushed her son on her behalf.

    There is no point in arguing whether those hands were intentional or not. There is no guarantee that the student''s parents wouldn''t scold them for something unpleasant. Qi Yan just wanted to end this matter as soon as possible, so she compromised: "Your son should also apologize to me."

    "Why? It''s you¡ª"

    "Okay." Principal Pan frowned then interrupted, his head is already aching from the quarrel, "Apologize to each other. Your son bumped into Teacher Qi first. She was acting in self-defense, but she didn''t hit that hard. Is that clear?"

    The woman''s face was flushed with anger. Seeing that the principal had said so, she couldn''t argue with anything, so she pulled the boy''s hand and signaled with her eyes.

    "Teacher Qi, I''m sorry..." he said in a low voice.

    Qi Yan hooked the corner of her mouth and smiled coldly "I''m sorry, Du Shuyang, I hit you too hard." After speaking, she gave the woman a sideways look, turned and left.

    Fine raindrops pattered down, splashing transparent and flying water, a lightning flashed across the sky, and thunderstorms rolled in the clouds.

    It was after school hours, and the campus was still full of noise.

    Qi Yan returned to the North Teaching Building, put away her umbrella, and went up against the crowd going downstairs.

    Every day at this time of day the stairs are so congested because the children are rushing to go home, so there is no need to keep to the right. She was leaning against the wall at the moment, submerged in the crowd going downstairs, her ears were buzzing, feeling weak and tired.

    A trace of boredom popped up.

    Fortunately, she still has a wall to stick to, and the students will consciously give way when they see a teacher, so that she will not be squeezed down.

    About two or three minutes later, Qi Yan climbed up to the fourth floor with a folding umbrella. When she turned the corner, she saw Lu Zhiqiao standing at the door of the office with her daughter in her arms. Her lips curled up, showing a comfortable smile.

    It was as if she hadn''t climbed the stairs, but came back after going through all kinds of difficulties and dangers, and reunited with the person who had been waiting for her in the warmest harbor.

    All the bitterness is not worth mentioning.

    "Teacher Qi." Lu Wei called out politely.

    The north side of the fourth floor is for the third year and there is still one class before school ends, so it is relatively quiet, and there are not so many people walking around at the moment. Even so, Qi Yan couldn''t show too much joy, she smiled, suppressed the emotion in her eyes, walked over calmly, and said in a low voice: "It''s okay, take Niu Niu back first, let''s talk about this tonight."

    The two kept a normal distance, neither far nor close.

    "...okay." Lu Zhiqiao stared at her, words full of worries came to her mouth but got swallowed, her throat choked a little, "I''ll wait for you at dinner."

    "Mm."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and smiled, the black mole at the corner of her eyes was overshadowed by tears. She held her daughter''s hand tightly, looked away reluctantly, walked past Qi Yan slowly, and walked towards the stairs.

    Before turning the corner, she glanced sideways.

    Qi Yan also happened to turn around to look at her.

    They looked at each other and smiled.

    Dinner is served at 901, Lu Zhiqiao seldom has time to cook, so most of the dishes she prepared are Qi Yan''s favorite dishes. In fact, she didn''t specifically choose which ones Qi Yan liked or didn''t like, but she subconsciously remembered them when shopping for groceries and bought a lot.

    The dinner table was quiet and no one spoke.

    Qi Yan''s expression was indifferent, a little absent-minded, she ate the rice bite by bite without putting any food in the bowl after finishing it. Lu Zhiqiao was watching from the side. Seeing her like this, her heart was filled with anxiety. She wanted to say something, but felt that she couldn''t comfort others. Many words were stuck in her throat and she couldn''t speak.

    "Teacher Qi, mom made this specially for you. She said you like to eat it." Lu Wei put more than half of an eggplant with minced meat into Qi Yan''s bowl, grinning.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused with her chopsticks.

    Qi Yan came back to her senses, looked down at the eggplant in the bowl, raised her eyebrows and smiled at the mother and daughter, picked it up and took a bite, chewed it carefully, swallowed it, and praised: "The eggplant made by Qiao Qiao is delicious.¡±

    "Qiao Qiao?" The little girl was surprised, "Is that mom''s nickname?"

    Lu Zhiqiao''s scalp tingled and her face turned red.

    "Yes, you are Niu Niu, she is Qiao Qiao, and I am Yan Yan."

    "Hahaha, neat and tidy?"

    "Baby." Lu Zhiqiao snorted slightly, "Don''t laugh when you eat, you''ll choke later."

    "Oh~"

    The little girl lowered her head and concentrated on eating.

    Qi Yan pursed her lips and smiled, raised her eyes and glanced at Lu Zhiqiao, who also happened to be secretly looking at her. Her eyes were caught off guard, startled, she hurriedly turned her face away, and pretended to look at the dishes on the plate.

    After eating, Qi Yan didn''t sit down and went back early.

    She didn''t mention a word about what happened later in the afternoon. She was clearly in a bad mood at the dinner table, but she cooperated with the child to force a smile and pretended to be fine, but she couldn''t hide it from Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes. Apparently, things didn''t turn out well.

    Lu Zhiqiao was worried, cleaned up the kitchen, urged her daughter to do her homework, and knocked on the opposite door.

    After knocking for a long time, the door opened.

    Qi Yan was standing under the lamp in her pajamas, her face was a little haggard, her long hair was casually loose, her dark brown eyes lit up the moment she saw Lu Zhiqiao. She regained her spirit. She grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s wrist, pulled the woman in, closed the door, and couldn''t wait to hug her.

    "Qiao Qiao..."

    She was waiting for her.

    She knew she would come.

    It was like suddenly appearing in front of her in the afternoon.

    A light cedar fragrance lingered at the tip of Lu Zhiqiao''s nose. She quietly nestled in Qi Yan''s arms and let her hug her. Feeling the arms getting tighter and tighter around her waist, she also grabbed her shoulders as if responding, and whispered softly: "I''m here."

    Qi Yan hummed and pecked at her ear.

    Thin soft lips outline the shape of her ear, bit by bit, inch by inch, every corner is not spared, and finally stop on the earlobe, sucking carefully.

    Lu Zhiqiao was trembling uncontrollably, a little uncomfortable, hummed in her throat, tilted her head, and asked vaguely: "How are things¡­? The principal didn''t make things difficult for you, did he?"

    "No, we apologized to each other." Qi Yan chased after her to find her earlobe.

    "They made you apologize too?" Lu Zhiqiao was startled and out of breath, "Why?"

    "I don''t want to talk about it anymore, let this matter go." Finding Lu Zhiqiao''s earlobe, Qi Yan closed her eyes and lingered wantonly.

    Lu Zhiqiao immediately fell silent, and leaned softly into her arms.

    The temperature of her lips was slightly burning, and so was her breath, which made her ears red and hot. Qi Yan didn''t stay for long, and slowly moved along her cheekbones to the end of her eyes, carefully sucking the tear mole and tasting it gently.

    The living room is dimly lit, surrounded by silence, and the quiet environment is hazy, like adding oil to the fire, making people more and more addicted.

    "Qiao Qiao..." Qi Yan called out in a low voice.

    "Mm."

    "Do you care about me?" she asked.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, as if a hole had been punctured in her heart, all the rich, complicated, and messy things flowed out, full of flavors. She hummed lightly and said, "I care."

    The unexpected answer was candid and decisive, Qi Yan''s heart trembled, she took a deep breath, and hugged her tightly.

    "Do you like me?"

    Qi Yan had never formally asked this question, and she dared not ask, and was also afraid of hearing an answer that would make her despair.

    This afternoon was probably the bleakest time in her teaching career. She thought she had finally encountered something disgusting and was going to be completely crushed, but she didn''t expect Lu Zhiqiao to suddenly appear in front of her.

    She appeared suddenly, without warning, like a god.

    She has met everyone and can handle everything, but when she saw Lu Zhiqiao at that time, she suddenly felt that she was so fragile and needed someone to hold her hand and give her a hug.

    Qiao Qiao came.

    She couldn''t wait any longer.

    There was a moment of silence, the air became condensed, Qi Yan quietly waited for the answer, and heard her heart beating wildly in her throat.

    "I like you."

    "!"

    Lu Zhiqiao buried her face in Qi Yan''s hair, closed her eyes, and said softly, "But I don''t understand, and I don''t know how. What you''re giving me, I can''t give you..."

 CH 59

    Her heart that had been tensed for several days finally relaxed completely. Lu Zhiqiao was relieved, but she also found that confessing her feelings would not make her lose her sense of security.

    She has been going around in the maze for too long, and the way back has disappeared, so she can only keep walking with fear and apprehension, but she did not expect to go out like this.

    Outside, there is a wider world, which is also full of a strange atmosphere.

    The pitiful emotional experience is not enough to teach her how to deal with intimacy. She stumbles like a headless chicken. After realizing that she has fallen unconsciously, she does not feel half joy and sweetness. On the contrary, she panics because of confusion, anxiousness, and overwhelming feelings.

    Before she learned how to savor the throbbing, she fell into Qi Yan''s gentle trap.

    This person is everywhere, affecting her emotions all the time, controlling her thoughts, disturbing her mind, she finally couldn''t bear it, and confessed. But she couldn''t give Qi Yan a reciprocal response, even if she faced her heart directly, she couldn''t start a relationship hastily.

    Contrary to her, Qi Yan was dazzled by the sudden joy, as if she had fulfilled what she often said to herself: When you lower your expectations to the lowest, surprises will come to you.

    Don''t expect anything tonight.

    She was just disgusted by what happened during the day, and she felt uncomfortable. When she saw someone she liked, she couldn''t hold back, thinking that it would be okay for her to confide her sincerity even if she didn''t get a response, and said it all at once.

    The surprise came unexpectedly.

    Like a huge cookie falling from the sky, it made her dizzy and lost her way.

    Qiao Qiao said she cares about her?  Says she likes her?  She finally¡­

    ...just confessed to her?

    She has fantasized about this scene in front of her countless times, it is all madness and joy, but when this moment really came, after listening to what Lu Zhiqiao said in the latter part, the joy in her heart turned into sourness, and her heart suddenly throbbed.

    "Qiao Qiao."

    "Mm."

    A muffled voice came from the back of the neck.

    Qi Yan caressed her back lightly, rubbing her palms, and said softly: "You don''t need to give me anything, you just need to stand in front of me and wait for me to hug you and love you."

    At first she was just thinking of playing around, teasing Lu Zhiqiao to add some fun to life. Eventually, she fell into it, wanted to chase, and gradually regarded the chase as a game. Lu Zhiqiao is undoubtedly the top level boss, strictly guarding against her, difficult to conquer. Later, she found that Lu Zhiqiao had already removed her soft shell, revealing the soft heart inside, but she still couldn''t get close.

    Things that are within reach, may seem to be one step away, but are actually far away.

    It is not difficult to get someone who''s already been unconsciously tempted. But, the most difficult thing is to hold on to them and be consistent. Once a person like Lu Zhiqiao falls in love, it will be with all her heart and soul, so she can''t let her down easily.

    It is only natural to be cautious with treasures, and it is not enough to make promises, it will take time to prove herself.

    Qi Yan understood.

    Qiao Qiao gave her a green light, she is no longer a blind person groping in the dark. If their feelings are unequal, then she is willing to be the one who gives more.

    "I can''t..." Lu Zhiqiao whispered.

    Lu Zhiqiao confessed all her thoughts, at this point. She didn''t think about hiding anything, she simply made it clear to Qi Yan, the choice is up to the woman, before they get too deep. If Qi Yan feels that they are not suitable after weighing it all, she can accept it with peace of mind. It is better than being so unclear and stringing her along in vain.

    "Qi Yan, listen to me."

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, pulled away from Qi Yan''s arms, looked at her seriously, and said word by word: "The two of us are not compatible in any way. What I am emphasizing here is not about material things, but the things beyond that, the invisible things."

    "Actually, we are the opposite of each other. You may think that I am good everywhere now, but if we stay together for a long time, you will get tired of me one day. I am very boring, and the interpersonal relationships I can handle are limited to friends, colleagues, superiors and subordinates. I can''t let myself completely trust a person, because once I lose the trust, I also lose the initiative."

    "You see, I am a workaholic. Yes, I put my heart and soul into my work and it gives me equal returns. Similarly, if it gives me returns, I will work harder. It is a virtuous cycle."

    "Everything has both positive and negative sides. A relationship cannot be sustained only by the unilateral contribution of a single person. It is your business, if you are willing to hug me and love me, but I won''t be able to give you hugs or love. If one of us can''t handle '' each other''s business'' well, the relationship will break down."

    "Moreover, life is not only about passion; plainness and stability is its true color."

    She''s been alone for too long.

    She realized very early on that the most reliable person is herself, so she has hardly suffered any loss in interpersonal relationships. This is a double-edged sword that protects her, but it also hurts herself.

    Rather than betting on unsure feelings, it is better to stay where she is. No gain, no loss. A lifetime of peace and stability.

    Time to be honest with each other tonight.

    Lu Zhiqiao talked a lot, and threw out what was in her heart without any scruples. It was shameful in the past, but she cared about Qi Yan, so she had to say it. Qi Yan is so nice, how could she have the heart to let the other party hold on to her in vain.

    But soon, as an afterthought, she realized that she was more like accusing, demanding, and complaining.

    Lu Zhiqiao curled up her fingers, her palms were wet with thin sweat, and speaking her heart didn''t make her feel relaxed, on the contrary, she became more nervous. She pretended to look calmly into Qi Yan''s eyes, but her heart was beating like a drum.

    "But you like me."

    One sentence that easily defeated all.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze.

    "Qiao Qiao..." Qi Yan grabbed her hands and raised the corners of her mouth, "Your existence and your liking are the greatest happiness for me."

    "Emotions require rationality, but don''t be too rational. We''re not doing math problems, nor analyzing the market. Just follow your heart."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s lashes trembled, and the dark mole at the corner of her eye was vividly pitiful, as if they were about to fall down at any time. She murmured: "I can''t...I''m not ready yet...I can''t do it..."

    Having said that, her heart was relieved.

    "It''s okay." Qi Yan smiled softly, and leaned over to hug her, "It''s good that you are by my side, as it is now, I am very satisfied."

    Emotional matters can''t be rushed, especially for a treasure like Lu Zhiqiao, every move, word and deed must be clearly grasped. At least she saw hope today, then the rest is only a matter of time.

    One day, they will completely belong to each other.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned soft in Qi Yan''s arms, subconsciously hugging her waist, clasping her fingers together, twirling the hair hanging down her waist, burying her face against the woman''s shoulder, and inhaling her scent.

    The crescent wall lamp is dim, and the hazy light lingers ambiguously.

    "Qiao Qiao."

    "Mm?"

    "You looked so handsome* today."

    *she used the word Ë§ (shuai) that means handsome, but can also mean cool, depending on the context

    "What?"

    "When you stood up for me." Qi Yan tilted her head and rubbed her cheek against her ear.

    Lu Zhiqiao tightened her arms and said softly, "I don''t want others to bully you. And...you were very protective of me before."

    "Because you are worth it."

    Soft kisses fell on her hair.

    Behind Qi Yan''s invisible shoulders, Lu Zhiqiao was blushing, and her ears were scorched from rubbing. She pursed her lips and said nothing.

    ¡­.

    After sitting until almost ten o''clock, Lu Zhiqiao went back, and before leaving, Qi Yan gave her a small toy.

    She almost pulled out her hair.

    Qi Yan took a shower, tidied up briefly, went into the study, turned on the light, took out her teacher qualification certificate from the drawer, held it in her hand and studied it carefully.

    It was palm-sized with a reddish-brown cover.

    When she took this certificate, she poured her heart and soul into it with enthusiasm. The first time she got the certificate, she shared her joy to her mentor, thinking she could keep going on this path forever.

    Time passes and people change. Today wasn''t the straw that broke the camel''s back.

    Her colleagues also experience a lot of negative energy, but they are all persisting, because teachers are well-established, stable, and decent. Being a teacher is an honorable profession in the eyes of many traditional elders. Some people have no choice, but there are also people who love the profession, they are heroes in her eyes.

    She has no enthusiasm anymore, and she doesn''t care about being a hero.

    But it''s not that easy to quit, she can still bear it, and her sense of responsibility forces her not to just leave. At least she could finish this class and see Niu Niu graduate with her own eyes.

    She''ll hold on a little longer.

    Qi Yan let out a heavy sigh, threw the certificate back into the drawer, and turned off the light.

    The cloudy and rainy day lasted for a whole week, and the clouds above Jiangcheng were finally blown away by the wind. The long-lost and warm sunshine ushered in, and the temperature rose sharply.

    Lu Zhiqiao came back from the field early in the morning and rushed to the company. They held meetings nonstop all morning, not only from her own department, but also from high-level people. Because Shu Minxi was not around recently, all the affairs in the company were entrusted to her. She was already busy, but now it was even more miserable.

    Anyone with a discerning eye can tell that the higher ups intend to promote her. There have been signs of promotion since last year, and they have found a reason this year, but they don''t know when she will be promoted.

    Several directors are calm on the surface, but behind the dark tide, the small staff below were quietly gossiping.

    "This is the real ''three women in one play''."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Chairman Gu, GM Shu, Director Lu, from top to bottom, they are neat and tidy. It''s a pity that Manager Chi has resigned. If she is here, it will be ''Four Stars''."

    "Ahahahaha..."

    "Hey, I heard that Manager Chi was forced to leave by Director Lu."

    "Ah?"

    "Manager Chi is pregnant. As soon as she told Director Lu, she resigned within half a month. She resigned unwillingly. She was forced not to do anything else. The law stipulates that pregnant women cannot be dismissed, so she voluntarily resigned."

    "Nonsense, I''m in the sales department. During that time, I saw her vomit in the toilet every day, and there was often no one in the office. It was her assistant who was busy with work. When I asked, she said that Manager Chi was not feeling well, or asked for leave. Who can stand that?."

    "How come the version I heard is that Manager Chi deliberately sabotaged Director Lu?!"

    "Hahaha, why don''t you just write a script."

    It was just lunch break and the anonymous gossip group was chatting away.

    When Lu Zhiqiao returned to the office, she received a call from Shu Minxi, asking her to go to xx Japanese restaurant near the company and asking her to have dinner.

    She is exhausted by the heavy workload, but fortunately, her boss came back at this time. She knew that she could finally take a breath, so she agreed wholeheartedly, explained a few words to her assistant, and simply cleaned up.

    The restaurant is not far away, five or six minutes walk.

    The dishes had been served when Lu Zhiqiao entered and Shu Minxi had already opened the meal boxes. The woman was holding a cup, drinking alone. Lu Zhiqiao doesn''t know how much she drank, but her cheeks are  a little red, and her eyes are wandering and blurred.

    "I''m here." She smiled at Lu Zhiqiao, "Have a seat."

    Lu Zhiqiao sat across from her, looked around, and asked, "Where''s Miss Aoki?"

    "She went  back to Japan."

    "..."

    It seemed that it was not an appropriate time to discuss private matters at this meal.

    Lu Zhiqiao bowed her head in silence, took a sip of the tea on the table, and ate the tempura that she was more comfortable with first. Shu Minxi looked at her quietly and asked, "They didn''t make things difficult for you, did they?"

    "No." She shook her head.

    It is inevitable that some people will be dissatisfied with her using power without occupying a high position. Anyone who can get into the position of director is not a fuel-efficient lamp.  Among a group of old men, she is the only woman, but she is not afraid.

    Just tired.

    She can''t hold on any longer.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyes and opened her mouth, wanting to ask Shu Minxi if she''s done handling the matters over there and if she could come back. The latter seemed to see through her thoughts, and sighed helplessly: "It''s still not good, I can''t do without someone, and I don''t feel at ease to hand it over to anyone."

    "..."

    The chairman is sick again.

    Shu Minxi has been taking care of her personally for so many years. What Lu Zhiqiao can''t understand is that they are not relatives, but their friendship is so deep. It has reached the point where it is beyond the scope of friends or even lovers, and it is more like a family.

    Everyone has a story.

    "Hold on for a while, half a month at most." Shu Minxi apologized.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled reassuringly: "It''s okay, don''t worry, I can handle things in the company."

    Shu Minxi didn''t say the second half of the sentence.

    At most half a month, if the chairman can get better, then they will be better, if she can''t, then they will see each other at the funeral. By that time, the top management will usher in a big reshuffle.

    Lu Zhiqiao almost ate all the tempura, feeling half full, but the rest didn''t move, it seemed a little shameless, so she ate a little of each. Neither of them spoke, fearing that opening their mouths would be heavy and unpleasant.

    "By the way, Ms. Shu..."

    "Can''t change it?"

    "Sister Minxi."

    The woman smiled and gestured for her to speak.

    "I want to ask you a few more personal questions." Lu Zhiqiao said seriously.

    Shu Minxi raised her eyebrows, and said in a joking tone: "Single, 38 years old in the second half of the year, has a love history, and was stalked by an ex-girlfriend."

    "..."

    "No more teasing, ask away." She smiled.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, lowered her eyes halfway, and said solemnly: "If a person likes you and treats you well, how do you repay her?"

    "Do you like the other party?" Shu Minxi asked back.

    Not waiting for Lu Zhiqiao to answer, she coughed low twice and continued, "If you don''t like them, you don''t have to reciprocate, just clearly reject the other and live separately afterwards, without interfering with each other."

    "...If I like them?"

    "Being together is the best reward."

    Lu Zhiqiao paused and her heart trembled as if she had been electrocuted, and she murmured, "Isn''t that too reckless?"

    There are not many friends around her whom she can talk about this problem. She chose Shu Minxi because she has the same orientation and the other party has love experience, but this problem goes around and around, and finally returns to the original point.

    The origin of her confusion.

    "In love?" Shu Minxi raised her eyebrows.

    "No."

    "Confused?"

    "..."

    Why is this the same as what Wen Zilong said that day?

    Such topics are easier to talk about, and the heavy atmosphere just now was swept away. Shu Minxi is also really tired these days, it is rare to listen to her speak a few words, so she became interested. After all, she is a subordinate and a friend whom she single-handedly promoted.

    "We have a lot to consider at this age. It is impossible to dare to try everything like when we were young. But if you think there is no problem after all consideration, just go ahead and try. Don''t be too harsh on yourself. Don''t wait until you lose it to realize how important it is...  "

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyelashes trembled, she stopped chewing, and stared at her blankly.

    Lose?

    ¡­.

    As it got late, the waning moon climbed into the night.

    Qi Yan was sitting in the living room watching TV, waiting for Lu Zhiqiao to come back. That person worked overtime today, so she ate dinner with Niu Niu first. The other dishes had already gone cold, but the rice is still in the cooker, keeping it warm.

    She glanced at the screen of her phone. Ten minutes ago, Lu Zhiqiao sent a message saying that she had just left the company.

    There is no traffic jam at this point, and it takes about ten minutes to arrive.

    She got ready to serve hot dishes.

    The lingerie catwalk show was playing on the TV, and the tall and long-legged models took turns wearing well-designed underwear on the stage. Qi Yan put down the remote control, stood up and stretched, and a familiar face flashed across her sight.

    She froze and looked carefully.

    The shot happened to cut to the auditorium, and after a few seconds, it cut back and gave a close-up of the model''s face.

    Qi Yan''s eyes widened.

    Author''s Note:

    A new character is about to debut, let¡¯s guess hahaha~

 CH 60

    The face has clear outlines, three-dimensional bones, thin eyebrows, thin eyes, dull and cold, single eyelids, revealing a sense of indifference. The next second, she smiled, looking kind and friendly, hiding an untamed wildness.

    Faces of models, no, supermodels, without exception, have distinct and top-tier features.

    And that face, apart from its features, was also familiar.

    Qi Yan stared at the TV, held her breath, and followed the camera to see the woman turning around neatly, walking back steadily with her slender legs, leaving a confident and flamboyant back. Overlapping with the traces on her heart for many years.

    [I can''t come out* now.]

    *from the closet

    [Let''s break up.]

    The voice from the past rang in her ears, and she remembered the heart-piercing pain that year. After a long time, the scars are still there, but there is no more pain. Now that they met again unilaterally in front of the TV, she just felt sad.

    The next model appeared, and the unfamiliar face seemed to be a hallucination just now.

    Qi Yan calmed down, glanced at the station logo, xx fashion channel, the niche luxury brand la pella, China''s new lingerie show. Most of the models are Asian, with a few Caucasians. The scale seems to be quite grand, and they are still in the top of Weibo* hot searches in the afternoon.

    *Weibo, China''s top SNS platform, similar to IG, FB, Twitter

    She hasn''t paid attention to these for a long time, and has developed a habit of skipping, when she sees the title and not clicking on it.

    The models on TV were all in good shape, with long legs and thin waists, and they walked steadily. Qi Yan was just casually changing the channel, felt good and lingered for a moment.

    Then she saw that familiar face.

    Jiang Yu.

    The living room door opened, and Lu Zhiqiao came in. Qi Yan turned her head when she heard the sound, their eyes met, she glanced at the TV out of the corner of her eye, feeling inexplicably guilty, hurriedly stepped forward to take Lu Zhiqiao''s bag, and slightly curled her lips: "You''re back."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked very tired, didn''t pay attention to the TV, lowered her head to change shoes, and asked casually, "Where''s Niu Niu?"

    "Doing homework in her room." Qi Yan put the bag on the sofa, picked up the remote control and turned off the TV.  "I''m going to get some hot food."

    She turned her back, carried the dishes on the table into the kitchen, put them into the microwave oven one by one, then unplugged the rice cooker, and put the rice in a bowl. She was absent-minded, her hands shook, and half a spoonful of white rice accidentally fell onto the table.

    Qi Yan was taken aback, grabbed the ball of rice into the trash can with her bare hands, washed her hands, dried them, and continued to heat up the food.

    When the hot dishes were brought out, Qi Yan saw Lu Zhiqiao slumped on the sofa with her eyes closed, rubbing her temples with her elbows resting on the armrest and looking exhausted. She immediately forgot all the thoughts in her head, and sat down and held the woman''s shoulders, "Are you tired?"

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded without lifting her eyes, and leaned against her naturally.

    Qi Yan''s arms turned slightly stiff, and she subconsciously glanced at the bedroom door, then at Lu Zhiqiao, hesitated for a moment, and finally pulled the woman into her arms, with her chin against her face.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s skin is soft, and the cold fragrance lingers in her nose.

    "The boss wasn''t there, I''m doing two things by myself, this morning..." Lu Zhiqiao muttered in a low voice, unconsciously wrapped her hands around Qi Yan''s waist, and buried her face in her hair, perhaps trying to find a comfortable position, so she unconsciously rubbed against the other.

    Like a little girl, pouring bitter water, talking about trivial things, half complaining and half coquettish.

    Qi Yan listened quietly, feeling surprised and joyful in her heart, the corners of her mouth couldn''t help curling up, and she pretended to be angry and said, "Is your boss called Shu Minxi? She lives in the same neighborhood as my parents."

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her head and looked at her blankly: "What are you going to do?"

    "Look for her to settle the score." Qi Yan said as she touched Lu Zhiqiao''s face, and pressed her hair to the back of her neck, "Let her dare to bully you again."

    In the past, Lu Zhiqiao might have taken her words seriously, but now she knew that she was joking, so she gently scratched her hair and smiled: "Don''t make trouble, she is busy too, it will be fine after a while."

    "Why do you keep pulling my hair?" Qi Yan raised her eyebrows.

    "Um."

    "Why?"

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, squeezed the silky hair in her hands, and said softly, "Because I like it."

    "Then..." Qi Yan''s heart beat violently, and there was a blazing current flowing through it, making it numb, "I''ll cut some for you."

    Ever since Lu Zhiqiao confessed her feelings to her, there have been subtle changes. When the woman takes initiative, it always gives her unexpected joy. She is willing to lean into her arms, talk to her, express her love for her, and trust her.

    Qi Yan suddenly had the feeling that the moon finally shone when the clouds cleared.

    "It''s not the same."

    "Mm?"

    "The hair that is cut is just hair, and the one that grows on your head is your hair." Lu Zhiqiao whispered, her ears were burning hot, and she couldn''t help but grasp the hair in her hand.

    She regretted it as soon as she blurted it out, she was too straightforward, Qi Yan must be secretly happy in her heart. But if she doesn''t say it, she will feel uncomfortable. She was like a bird that had escaped from the cage. She couldn''t hide her inner desire for freedom and light, but she flew a little clumsily and stumbled.

    Qi Yan blushed, couldn''t help tilting her head and kissing her earlobe, "Okay, I''ll let you pull it, but be gentle."

    Lu Zhiqiao mumbled.

    "Go and eat."

    "Okay."

    After dinner, Qi Yan massaged Lu Zhiqiao''s shoulders and legs. The latter''s work phone kept ringing, and she rarely had time to interject, then she mentioned the recent midterm exam and the parents'' meeting in two days.

    "Business trip, I can''t go." Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head and replied to the WeChat message, throwing five words to Qi Yan.

    This parent''s attitude is quite arrogant.

    Qi Yan squeezed her shoulders harder, and said with a coquettish smile, "Okay, I''ll send you the report card when the time comes."

    "Hiss, take it easy."

    "..."

    "Is Niu Niu okay in class recently?" Lu Zhiqiao put down her phone, stretched out her hand to play with a lock of Qi Yan''s hair.

    "Very good, very good."

    "Is there any boy who walks very close?"

    Qi Yan thought for a while and said, "She has always had a good relationship with Wang Zheyi and the others, but I didn''t see any little tricks."

    "Which ones?"

    "Boys Zhou Yuxiang, Wang Zheyi, girls Nian Yue, Liu Wenjun, Lai Siqi."

    "..."

    "There are also two girls from other classes, who seem to be sophomores. I saw them waiting for her outside the classroom after school at noon." Qi Yan reported in detail. Since she didn''t know the names of the two girls, she could only describe them as best she could.

    One of them is very beautiful, the school does not have an official school beauty, but if the children choose privately, it must be that girl.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded, and didn''t bother, and continued: "I promise Niu Niu, if she makes progress in this exam, I will buy her a comic book."

    "Ah?"

    "Why?"

    Qi Yan burst out laughing: "No wonder she has become more diligent, running to the office every day to pester the math teacher, I am getting jealous."

    Jealous.

    The words lightly fell into Lu Zhiqiao''s heart, and a fleeting feeling burned up.

    She smiled, pursed her lips and remained silent.

    ¡­.

    After taking care of the child''s mother comfortably, Qi Yan returned to her home, took a hot bath, sat on the bed with her laptop in her arms, and prepared to continue watching the movie she didn''t finish yesterday, and then go to sleep after finishing it.

    The light adjusted to a moderate level, she went on the video streaming site, and the video of la pella''s quarterly new product fashion show was hung on the scrolling recommendation on the homepage.

    Qi Yan fingertips paused, and slid the cursor to point back.

    Jiang Yu.

    In front of the camera, she still hasn''t changed.

    She let go of the cursor, picked up her phone, clicked into Weibo, and searched for "Jiang Yu"¡ªjust like she had searched countless times when they broke up five years ago.

    The title has changed from "model" to "supermodel Jiang Yu", and she doesn''t know how many times she changed her profile photo but the style has not changed, and it still looks dark and cold.

    Qi Yan took a deep breath and slowly slid down...

    Jiang Yu was her first love.

    Six years older than her.

    From nineteen to twenty-three, from undergraduate to masters, from domestic to foreign. The most beautiful and splendid years of her life were given to Jiang Yu, because she was her first love, so she will never forget it.

    Jiang Yu''s Weibo content is still the same as before, selfie, show, fashion.  The latest one is the lingerie fashion show of la pella. This brand was co-founded by Jiang Yu and two Italian designer friends. At the end of last year, it began to develop the Asian market, and this year''s focus will be on this side.

    At the beginning of April, this person returned to China and never left since.

    No wonder.

    They haven''t seen each other for five years, she got better and better. From a well-known model to an internationally renowned supermodel. Now, she wants to expand her business, so she went back to China for a while. Nothing more.

    There is no trace of love in Jiang Yu''s Weibo, even if there is, it cannot be known by the public. The current social acceptance of homosexuality is not high. If this person still wants to hang out in the fashion circle, she can''t make a mistake.

    It''s hard work to fall in love with someone like that.

    What does it matter to her?

    Qi Yan curled her lips, quit Weibo, threw her phone aside, went back to her laptop and clicked on the movie to continue watching.

    ¡­.

    In late April, Lu Zhiqiao became more and more busy at work as the holiday approached.

    She leaves early and returns late every day, but her life is quite regular, she can eat on time and go to bed at the same time. Although she is busy, the frequency of posting to Moments has become higher. In the past month, she posted at most two work-related posts, but now she posts one every few days.  Sometimes it¡¯s a landscape photo taken casually, and sometimes it¡¯s a few words to share a good book.

    In the beginning, it was only visible to Qi Yan, but later the permissions were no longer set. It doesn''t matter if others see it, she thought.

    But there are some things that she only shared with Qi Yan.

    For example, what she had for lunch, what kind of weird client she met, her subordinates accidentally caused trouble for her, and a new pizza shop opened downstairs in the company. Or how she stumbled upon a good-looking shoe by accident during a break, or a good movie recommendation, and marked the place where she wanted to go to play.

    She wants to tell Qi Yan every little thing.

    At first, she was worried that Qi Yan would find her annoying. After all, she was on the line between home and company every day, and she was on business trips from time to time, and she was busy with work, so her life was very boring, and she was already trying her best to dig out interesting things.

    She tried to post less and tried to restrain herself as much as possible.

    As a result, Qi Yan became unhappy.

    [What did you have for lunch? Why didn''t you tell me?]

    [Did you not eat on time?]

    [What time do you leave work today?]

    [Winter melon fried meat is calling for you~]

    [picture]

    On Friday, Lu Zhiqiao worked overtime until late, did not eat, fell asleep after taking a shower, and woke up at noon.  When she got up from the bed, her head hurt a little, she heard voices outside, got out of bed slowly, and walked out with her slippers on.

    "Then we can take the cable car."

    "The cable car is only sent halfway up the mountain. If you want to reach the top, you have to climb it yourself."

    "Isn''t that tiring?"

    "Are you afraid of getting tired after climbing a mountain at a young age?"

    Qi Yan and Niu Niu were sitting on the sofa, they were holding the laptop, they were looking at something, they were smiling, and when Lu Zhiqiao came out, the child excitedly said: "Mom, shall we go hiking on Labor Day?"

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, felt dizzy and didn''t speak.

    What hiking?

    Qi Yan handed the laptop to Niu Niu, got up and walked over, stretched her arm halfway to hold her but retracted it, glanced back, then finally gave up. "Have you slept enough?"

    Last night, she waited in the living room until ten o''clock. Lu Zhiqiao came back, didn''t eat any food, and hurriedly took a shower and went to bed. This morning, she didn''t dare to disturb her and knocked on the door almost at noon. Guessing that Lu Zhiqiao was still sleeping, she prepared a meal first.

    For a while, the two of them almost only communicated on WeChat, and the only time they could meet was at night, and the time was also too short.

    Holding up just until the holidays.

    "...Yes." Lu Zhiqiao nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder.

    Qi Yan''s expression moved slightly, she subconsciously grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and wrapped it in her palm, and said softly, "Go wash up first, the food is still hot, I''ll bring it out."

    "Okay."

    The moment she turned around, Lu Zhiqiao caught a glimpse of her daughter looking at them out of the corner of her eye...

    On the last weekend before the long holiday, Lu Zhiqiao only took Saturday off, and went to work on Sunday. The holiday won''t start until next Wednesday. During this precious day of rest, Lu Zhiqiao wanted to use it to lie down and do nothing.

    But it seemed her plan couldn''t catch up with the changes

    In the afternoon, Qi Yan had to go to the gym. Lu Zhiqiao originally didn''t intend to go out, but remembered that the potted plants at home needed to be replaced, and she hadn''t bought them after a long delay, and she was going to go out after all, so she simply went with Qi Yan.

    The gym is near Jiang University, not far from the complex. The owner is Qi Yan''s friend. She has her own private room here with complete equipment.

    Lu Zhiqiao doesn''t usually exercise very much. One is because she doesn''t have time, and the other is that she just wants to be paralyzed after being busy. After a long time, she didn''t bother to think about it. This trip is purely to join in the fun and watch.

    The private room is quiet and highly concealed. Qi Yan changed her clothes in the back room, put on the bluetooth headset, and warmed up first.

    She is tall and slender, with particularly long straight legs, tight and smooth muscles, and no excess fat on her body. Wearing a sports vest with a round neck, revealing her thin white neck, straight and sexy clavicle, presenting a healthy and powerful beauty.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat on the chair next to her, staring intently at her upper body, her heart beating wildly.

    Looking down, half of the white waist, the dimples in her lower back are obvious...

    Qi Yan didn''t chat while exercising, she was so focused that she almost forgot that there was someone beside her. After she finished warming up, she got on the treadmill and slowly accelerated while listening to music, completely isolated from the outside world.

    After a while, her ears felt a little uncomfortable. She took off her earphones and continued running.

    The line hung around her neck, and the two earplugs, one left and one right, went up and down with her running pace. She was disturbed, so she slowed down and stopped, and took off her earphones and put them aside.

    "Don''t you want to listen to the music anymore?" Lu Zhiqiao looked at her and said suddenly.

    Throat swallowed unconsciously.

    Qi Yan was taken aback for a moment, as if she just realized that there was someone beside her, and smiled: "Just taking a break, the neck band type felt uncomfortable in my neck, I''ll change to a wireless one another day."

    "Oh."

    Watching her go back to the treadmill and continue running, Lu Zhiqiao took out her mobile phone, clicked on the search engine, and entered "wireless headset"...

    Author''s Note:

    Ma Ma: I want to... [Blush.jpg

 CH 61

    There are many brands and styles of Bluetooth earphones. People like Lu Zhiqiao who only listen to music can''t understand their inner workings, let alone how to choose.

    She searched for a few introductory posts on headphone brands, and clicked in with the intention of understanding, reading from beginning to end. With a rough idea in mind, she wrote down the headphone brands, searched one by one, understood their style, features and functions, and then did a detailed comparison.

    Before she knew it, an hour passed.

    Qi Yan got up from the chest press, took a sports towel and wiped her sweat, looked up and saw Lu Zhiqiao staring at the phone with her head down, curiously leaning over, "What are you looking at?"

    "... nothing" Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly locked the screen and hid the phone to her side.

    Seeing her dodging eyes, Qi Yan''s smile froze on her face, feeling uneasy in her heart, so she twitched the corners of her mouth in embarrassment, and changed the subject: "Let''s go buy potted plants now."

    "Are you finished?"

    "Mm."

    Qi Yan was covered in sweat, her fair skin was slightly red, and there were fine beads of sweat on her neck, and her two straight collar bones were glistening with sweat, like a drunken beauty who just got out of the bath, but also had a soft strength, and a fatal attractiveness.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her, with her heart pounding up to her throat, and a sense of impatience crawled up her ears, painting her face red.

    Nice body.

    Very tempting.

    "I''ll change clothes." Qi Yan didn''t look at her, got up and walked to the back room.

    Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly looked away, hummed, and raised her hand to touch her hot face, with shame welling up in her eyes.

    How could she...

    ¡­have that kind of thought about Qi Yan?

    The scene of the night when they first met flashed through her mind, frame by frame like a movie, it is still very clear, her heart gradually felt warm, her throat became a little dry. She looked around, she saw a bottle on the ground that was one-third full, and she looked into it, "Qi Yan..."

    "Um?"

    "I''m a little thirsty, can I drink your water?"

    "Sure." A faint voice came from inside.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned over to pick up the water, unscrewed the lid, and took a long gulp. She put the mouth of the bottle under her nose and smelled it, but there was no smell, she closed the mouth of the bottle like a ghost, took another sip, and then let go after a while.

    Her heart beats faster and faster.

    She feels like a pervert.

    "Let''s go."

    The curtain was pulled open with a snap, and Qi Yan came out, having already changed into the clothes she had when she came.

    Lu Zhiqiao screwed the bottle cap as if nothing had happened, got up with her bag in her hand, and turned her head to smile at her.

    ¡­.

    There were not many people in the flower market, and all kinds of flowers and green plants and bonsai were neatly arranged. Lu Zhiqiao didn''t know how to choose bonsai, so she bought whatever she saw. How long it will last depends on luck. The longest lived for half a year, and the shortest lived for less than a week.

    She used the potted plants as decorations, and didn''t study the ways of cultivating them. Firstly, she didn''t have the heart for it, and secondly, she didn''t have time. She bought new ones if the pots break, she didn''t know how many potted plants on the balcony at home have been replaced.

    Looking at it like a horse watching a flower, she fell in love with a pot of "white butterfly".

    The leaves are like butterfly wings, and the tip of the leaf is sword-shaped, green on the outside and white on the inside, which is pleasing to the eye.

    The boss is a middle-aged fat man, very enthusiastic, from rhizome soil to daily maintenance, Lu Zhiqiao thought it was good, and was about to buy it, when Qi Yan suddenly pulled her.

    Qi Yan pulled her arm, took a step forward, picked up the flower pot and shook it gently twice.

    The plants in the pot were also slightly shaken.

    She frowned, put down the flower pot, took out a paper towel and wiped her hands, and said slowly, "Boss, your flower...isn''t this just newly potted?"

    Her voice was low and cold, and her face expressionless.

    "How could it be? You see, it''s growing so well, and the leaves are shiny... eh..."

    Before the boss could finish speaking, Qi Yan took Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and turned to leave. After walking a certain distance, Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her sideways, and couldn''t help but ask, "Is there something wrong with that potted flower?"

    "Whether the flower grows well or not has a lot to do with the soil. The soil of that potted flower is new, and it can still be moved after shaking, which means that it is easy to damage the roots not long after it is potted, and it will die if it is not carefully cultivated. In picking potted plants, it''s better to pick the old ones.¡±

    "But I think it looks fine."

    "Because of the brightener sprayed on it." Qi Yan explained calmly, looking around for a while.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, staring at her side profile silently, as if talking to herself: "You also know how to grow flowers."

    "My mother likes it, I just happened to learn from watching." Qi Yan said casually, raised her finger and pointed to the corner in front, "Go over there and have a look."

    "Okay."

    After finding a stall with a relatively large number of old potted plants, Qi Yan took a general look at the conditions of the stems, leaves and soil, and asked Lu Zhiqiao to choose by herself. Lu Zhiqiao was dazzled by picking and choosing, and couldn''t make up her mind for a while.

    "Which pot looks better?" She pointed to two small potted plants and asked.

    One pot is fairy cave monstera, and the other pot is ball orchid.

    Qi Yan was thinking about her dodging eyes, and was restless all the time. Only now did she come back to her senses, stared at the two pots of green plants in thought for a moment, and said, "Ball orchids."

    "Okay, let''s buy this."

    "Don''t you even consider your own opinion?"

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her sideways and shallowly curled the corners of her mouth: "As long as you like it."

    Qi Yan choked.

    In terms of beauty, the monstera is better, but she considers that Lu Zhiqiao is busy with work and has no time to take care of it, while ball orchids are easy to grow and do not require much water and light, so they are easy to maintain and are suitable for Lu Zhiqiao.

    Words came to Qi Yan''s lips, but she didn''t say it.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s dodging eyes flashed in her mind again, and she suddenly felt that maybe she was thinking too much...

    The two returned home with the potted plants, and Qi Yan helped move them to the balcony and arrange, water them, and briefly explained how to maintain them. Lu Zhiqiao listened, opening the memo on her phone, and carefully wrote down one by one.

    Unknowingly getting very close, Lu Zhiqiao leaned against Qi Yan with half of her body, her head was slightly tilted, and their faces were almost pressed together.

    "I''m going back to take a shower. Come to my place with Niu Niu for dinner later tonight."

    "Okay."

    As soon as Qi Yan turned around, she saw Niu Niu standing in the living room staring at them with a strange expression. She froze for a moment, a subtle feeling surged in her heart, she couldn''t tell what was wrong.

    Before she could react, the little girl quickly hid the snacks in her hand and slipped back into the room.

    "..."

    After returning home and taking a bath, Qi Yan suddenly felt refreshed. After applying a mask for a while, she sat on the sofa with her camera and computer in her arms, preparing to do some edits.

    It had been raining a while ago, and there were wet and potholes everywhere, and there were no suitable locations to shoot, so she had no choice but to take pictures of small pieces of art. If the mind is clever enough, a teacup or a bowl can be shot into a different kind of scenery.

    Qi Yan imported the photos from the camera to the computer, saved them in a newly created folder, and opened her special mailbox for filming appointments as usual to have a look. Guessing that she must have received a lot of spam, or a lot of collaboration invitations that she didn''t like, she looked for the delete button as soon as she entered.

    Delete a lot of spam, leave invitations, large and small, and browse them one by one.

    Little Broken Place Photography Exhibition? Not going.

    Want to buy her award-winning work?  No way.

    Eighteenth-tier artist* doing a photoshoot? Fuck off.

    *unpopular

    On the other hand, a studio of a popular actress sent an invitation to cooperate, and Qi Yan seriously considered it, and from the perspective of a commercial appointment, all conditions are suitable, but -

    This little actress''s face is not her style.

    Not half as pretty as Qiao Qiao.

    Reject offer.

    Qi Yan deleted the email expressionlessly, and continued to scroll down until her hands were sore, a little impatient. Then the last email was left, she stopped and clicked in.

    siena model.

    Mm?

    This is a modeling agency headquartered in Paris, France, with branches in major cities around the world. It mainly provides models for various fashion magazines. It is developing rapidly and began to explore the Chinese market this year and is now looking for long-term cooperation with a photographer.

    Hoping she considers it.

    Then she''ll have to go to an interview.

    It was sent a week ago.

    Qi Yan only thought it was a leather bag pheasant company, registered a name in a foreign country, and ran back to China to deceive ignorant boys and girls. She sneered, and was about to delete, when she slid her hand holding the scroll bar, she inadvertently saw the photo at the bottom.

    The interior of the Jiangcheng branch, as well as photos of the Chinese models signed under it.

    The decoration design and the appearance of the model are all based on her aesthetic style.

    Qi Yan hesitated.

    Although she regards photography as her hobby, she took it seriously in school. She started playing with the camera in her teens and became well-known in her early twenties. It seems that she has been playing on and off for so many years, and never thought of making a career out of it, but now, she had a vague idea in her heart.

    She lost her enthusiasm for education, lost her original intention, and also doesn''t want to go back to manage the family business. There is always something else to do.

    Besides, models, fashion...

    In recent years, she rarely came into contact with this circle, but she used to be very familiar with it. Suddenly, that face flashed in her mind, and then many past events flooded up.

    Qi Yan brushed her hair, opened the coffee table drawer and took out the cigarette and lighter, lit it, and frowned.

    Smoky rose scent.

    Her foggy eyes flashed with dark and unclear emotions.

    After smoking, Qi Yan replied to siena model''s email with two simple words: What time?? with an additional question mark.

    The next morning, Qi Yan received a reply.

    The other party has plenty of time and seemed to be in a hurry, so they agreed to meet this afternoon. On the Sunday before the holiday, Qi Yan still rested without making up lessons for the first and second class but Lu Zhiqiao had to go to work. By noon, she made a meal to accompany Niu Niu, took a nap, and drove to siena model.

    The company is in the urban area, not far from the commercial street, which is very large, no different from the picture.  The lobby on the first floor is covered with pictures of models, which are full but not crowded, and the space layout is very detailed.

    Qi Yan wore a short yellow and black plaid thin jacket, a casual pair of light-colored jeans, a pair of ordinary flat shoes, carrying a laptop bag, and strode into the front hall as if on vacation.

    "Hello, do you have an appointment?" The girl at the front desk smiled kindly.

    Qi Yan''s expression was indifferent and didn''t speak. She lowered her head and tapped the phone screen a few times before showing it up for the receptionist to see.

    "Okay, just a second."

    The young woman made a phone call and called "Assistant Feng". Not long after, a young woman in a short skirt walked over from the side elevator passage and smiled at Qi Yan.

    "Are you Miss Yinhe*?"

    *Galaxy

    Qi Yan hummed lightly and smiled lightly.

    Yinhe is the pseudonym she used for filming, which originated from a long-exposure of filming shooting stars. No one knows her real name yet.

    "I''m the boss''s assistant. My surname is Feng. The boss has been waiting for you for a long time, please follow me." The woman smiled professionally, and she turned around to lead the way.

    The two took the elevator together and went up to the twelfth floor.

    There is only one office on the whole floor without a nameplate on the porcelain white wall, only a symbol that looks like a snake. Qi Yan was stunned when she saw the symbol, feeling a little familiarity. Before she could think about it carefully, Assistant Feng had already informed her presence and invited her in.

    Qi Yan smiled politely, held the handle and gently pushed the door open...

    What caught her eye was the huge floor-to-ceiling windows that occupied the entire wall, the golden sunlight shining straight in, dazzling and bright, and the apricot-colored curtains fluttered with the wind. An overly tall figure stood in front of the window, tall and straight, with slightly curly shoulder-length black hair rippling slightly in the wind.

    Seven centimeter high heels.

    At least 1.8 meters.

    At that moment, a sense of recognition came over her face, with a cold and intimidating pressure.

    Qi Yan thought that she had long forgotten the appearance of this person, but she still recognized her the moment she saw her. Just like that day in front of the TV, the camera just shifted in a flash, but it commanded her attention.

    Is it her?

    Qi Yan clenched her fingers and held her breath.

    The woman tilted her head sideways, and then slowly turned around.

    Author''s Note:

    Mama Lu: My wife¡¯s water is really delicious.jpg

 CH 62

    Jiang Yu stood in front of the window with her hands in her pockets. Her chiseled face is bony and three-dimensional, her single eyelid was half closed, and the tails of her eyes were slightly raised, giving a sense of sharpness and indifference.

    She was wearing a half-sleeved slim-fit leather dress with a black-gray snakeskin pattern, revealing her slender white wrists, and a pair of pointed-toe snakeskin short stiletto boots.

    She exudes a strong sense of oppression, radiating a desire to control invisibly.

    In Qi Yan''s memory, Jiang Yu is a woman with a strong desire to dominate. She must firmly hold everything in her hands, including people, things, and everything around her.

    After many years, she is still the same.

    Qi Yan looked at her silently, without any emotion in her eyes, as if she was looking at a stranger.

    She got so nervous just now, maybe because she just didn''t believe that there would be such a coincidence in the world. She hoped that the person in front of the window was not that person. When she saw the woman''s face clearly, it washed away any doubts, but her heart fell back into her chest, and sighed secretly, what a coincidence.

    After experiencing the bone-piercing pain and walking out, she really didn''t care anymore.

    "Long time no see." Jiang Yu raised the corners of her lips, revealing a reluctant smile.

    Qi Yan raised her brows: "Are you the boss?"

    "For this headquarter."

    "Forget about cooperation, I am not quite good enough, please ask another person." Qi Yan politely said, and turned around to leave blankly.

    "I only want you."

    Jiang Yu''s voice came from behind, with the low-pitched charm unique to mature women, like an order. Then there was the sound of high heels, step by step, slowly and forcefully tapping the smooth tiled floor, walking over.

    Qi Yan''s hand on the door handle tightened, and her eyes dimmed

    In the past, she liked the sound of Jiang Yu walking in high heels the most. The rhythm was steady and powerful, implying arrogance and unruly wildness. It was very sexy, and it was her powerful aphrodisiac.

    She remembers she also gave her a pair of black leather red-soled high heels.

    The footsteps stopped behind her and Qi Yan straightened her back. Then she heard Jiang Yu say in a casual tone: "There are too few people who satisfy me, only you meet my standards."

    She pulled out her pocket with one hand, stretched her long and slender fingers in front of her eyes, and looked at Qi Yan carefully, like a lazy cat.

    "Jiang Yu."

    "Mm?"

    "We''ve already broken up."

    "I know."

    Qi Yan let go of the door handle, turned around, and found that the woman was not as close as she thought, but kept a distance of about half a step, not too far or too close, suitable for talking without appearing intimate.

    It was just her overreacting.

    Jiang Yu put her hands back into her pockets, lazily raised her eyes, looked at her leisurely, and smiled lightly, "I''m talking to you about business, why are you¡ª"

    Her voice paused slightly, her smile became more charming, and lowered her voice: "...speaking of a personal matter?"

    "..."

    "Hmm?" Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows.

    After many years, Qi Yan once again tasted the feeling of being teased, but the throbbing feeling of the past was gone, she just felt a little annoyed, she sneered: "There is no need to talk about business matters, I don''t want to cooperate with you."

    "There''s no need to do this on purpose, Yan Yan." Jiang Yu shook her head lightly, smiling brightly.

    Qi Yan froze when the familiar nickname of the past was called out from someone other than her parents and friends. At that moment, she thought that she heard Lu Zhiqiao calling her that, her heart trembled, and tenderness filled her eyes.

    Jiang Yu looked into her eyes, her face changed slightly, the smile on the corner of her lips froze for two seconds, and she subconsciously moved forward a little.

    But soon, Qi Yan came back to her senses, realized that this person was not Lu Zhiqiao, and her eyes returned to indifference, "I didn''t mean it, I just have this attitude, and I don''t want to cooperate. Do you understand?" She said in a calm tone, and turned around again.

    A force held her wrist, which was a little cold and Jiang Yu''s low voice came next to her ear: "I''m begging you."

    Qi Yan looked down at her hand and frowned, Jiang Yu immediately let go, and squeezed sideways to the door to block it.

    "I returned to China on the 3rd of this month. I have been interviewing a lot of people. If the full score is 10, the highest score among them is only 9. None of them make me feel perfect. You know, I have always been very demanding."  Jiang Yu withdrew her joking expression, and said unhurriedly.

    She always cherishes words like gold and doesn''t like to talk nonsense with others, but if she meets someone whose talent she can appreciate, it doesn''t hurt to talk more.

    "I didn''t want to disturb you at first, but I couldn''t find the right person, so I could only try to send you an email. I was thinking that you might be in a bad mood and decided to ignore it, or you found out that the person behind it is me so you won''t come."

    Qi Yan lowered her gaze and said nothing.

    The person who knows her best is Jiang Yu. She accepts films based on her mood. Oftentimes, when she weighs an offer, she is in a good mood one second and thinks it can be considered, but the next second she may be irritable because of eating unsweetened cherries and ignoring it.

    She hated herself for slipping yesterday.

    They had a bad breakup, and it took her more than half a year to get out and start a new relationship. She had two girlfriends in the past five years. Although they were the type she liked, she still felt that they were boring and they split up quickly. In the end, she stopped being in love at all, and only solved her physical needs.

    Until she met Lu Zhiqiao, but at this time, Jiang Yu appeared in her sight again.

    Their relationship is awkward, it''s impossible to be friends, and it''s difficult to work together, not to mention that she thought of Lu Zhiqiao, and thought she shouldn''t be involved with her first love anymore.

    But¡­

    She thought of Lu Zhiqiao''s evasive eyes yesterday, and Lu Zhiqiao''s way of shrugging her confession passively that night. She couldn''t help feeling confused, whether she is single or not, whether she should be constrained by the so-called "moral values", and how to grasp the rules of interpersonal communication.

    After feeling uneasy, she became more aware of the anxiety. She thought she could continue to wait, but at the same time, felt that she couldn''t wait for a moment, and she suffered physically and mentally.

    She wished she could tell Jiang Yu confidently now: I have a girlfriend, so I should avoid suspicion.

    She couldn''t.

    No girlfriend, no confidence.

    A gust of warm wind came in from the window, carrying the smell of sunshine, the curtains fluttered, and the hair on their foreheads fluttered slightly.

    After thinking for a long time, Qi Yan raised her eyes and said softly, "I''m here, but I have to go."

    "Are you afraid you won''t be able to explain to your girlfriend?" Jiang Yu looked directly into her eyes, still unwilling to give up.

    There was a hint of probing in the words, but Jiang Yu concealed her emotions very well, and there was no wave between her cold brows and eyes, having a sense of alienation and oppression.

    Qi Yan seemed to have been poked at a vital point, her brows quickly tightened and then loosened, a sharp knife pierced her heart, she took a light breath, turned her face away, and said after a while, "I don''t have a girlfriend."

    Jiang Yu''s eyes suddenly brightened, and raised her eyebrows lightly, "So you''re just afraid of seeing me and couldn''t face me."

    "Your provocation is useless."

    "I am being sincere."

    The low tone is determined.

    For a strong and arrogant woman like Jiang Yu, begging her is more difficult than going to the sky. The only ones who make her bow her head are only a handful of big names in the fashion circle. She has a tough body, has a capital to be tough, but also smart. She knows how to measure, grasp the scale, knows when to advance and when to retreat, making people puzzled.

    When they were in love before, Qi Yan occasionally couldn''t stand Jiang Yu''s domineering attitude. When they fight, the older woman will be the one to immediately lower her posture to coax her, but after coaxing her, Jiang Yu would do whatever she wanted, and would not change at all.

    Back then, she thought it was love.

    A proud person bows her head to coax her, a tough person turns soft to coax her.

    She was young at that time, full of innocence, she liked that very much.

    Qi Yan snorted and laughed at her own naivety at that time, but now she couldn''t bring herself to be interested. She put away her memories, met Jiang Yu''s pleading gaze and asked, "How exactly did I make you think...that you will convince me?"

    Looking at each other briefly, she saw herself in Jiang Yu''s dark eyes, and also saw purity and sincerity.

    "Just by looking." Jiang Yu said, "Natural vision."

    "Oh?"

    "A person who has long-term lack of material, or a person who has a lot of material desires in his heart, sees a narrow world, has a single color, and his mind is full of rules and regulations. No matter how he cultivates day in and day out, he will not be able to break through the innate limitations."

    Qi Yan mumbled, but didn''t speak.

    This woman.

    Still proud.

    Knowing that she was shaken, Jiang Yu curled her red lips, pointed to the sofa and said, "Sit down, let''s talk in detail." Then she walked to the cabinet next to her with her slender legs, and took out a bottle of light brown wine, "A drink?"

    "I have to drive."

    Qi Yan sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and took out her laptop.

    Jiang Yu nodded slightly, put the wine back into the cabinet, poured a glass of water for each of them, put them on the table, and went over with a laptop and folders.

    "Since we have ''worked together'' before, we are familiar with each other, and you have a certain understanding of this circle, so I won''t talk nonsense. What about our company..." She kept her knees together, her back straightened, and with one hand  Leaning on the armrest of the sofa, the other hand rested naturally on her lap, with a somewhat majestic imposing manner.

    The expression on her face is light, and when she is not smiling, she feels even more inaccessible.

    Jiang Yu gave a general introduction about the company, and talked about her development over the years. Now she only regularly cooperates with a few big brands and walks in fashion weeks. The rest of her time is mainly about operating her own brand and signing newcomers. The focus of this year''s work is mainly domestic.

    Currently, she needs a team of photographers.

    "Others can score nine, or even eight, but team leader must be ten, that is, you." Jiang Yu said seriously.

    She has good conditions, a good salary, and a bright future, but based on her understanding of Qi Yan, she knows that these are not the most important, and may not even be worth mentioning in Qi Yan''s eyes.

    Qi Yan lazily leaned against the back of the sofa, lightly tapped the cloth with her index finger, and said casually: "When and how to take pictures, I should have the final say."

    "Certainly."

    "In an emergency, if my schedule can be coordinated, I will try my best to cooperate with you." Seeing her straightforwardness, Qi Yan also backed a step down. Cooperation is about win-win. If you take advantage of all the benefits, you will not only get a bad reputation, but also the backlash will fall on you sooner or later.

    Jiang Yu smiled slightly, picked up the prepared contract and handed it to her: "Let''s sign it, then."

    Qi Yan took it over and looked at it in detail. The two signed their names at the same time, one copy for each, and then recorded an electronic version.

    The afternoon warm wind mixed with the fragrance of flowers blows in, and the shadow of the sun is projected in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, crawling slowly, moving from right to left, still dazzling.

    Jiang Yu looked down at the computer and typed intently. The lines of her profile were clear and tough, sharp but not aggressive. The more she looked at her single eyelid, the more charming she became.

    She can easily control any clothing and makeup, and interpret it neatly, and as she gets older, she adds some mature woman''s style.

    It is the favorite type of young little sisters.

    Therefore, Qi Yan, who was nineteen years old back then, was fascinated when she saw her.

    "You still haven''t changed." Jiang Yu suddenly said, her eyes fixed on her laptop without moving.

    Qi Yan smiled: "You too."

    "Are Auntie and Uncle, okay?"

    "Very good."

    Jiang Yu smiled and didn''t look at her.

    "How come you don''t have a girlfriend?"

    "What about you?" Qi Yan asked instead.

    "Looked for it, kicked it."

    "Oh?"

    Jiang Yu stretched, finally looked away from the laptop, raised her foot wearing snakeskin boots, and said calmly: "I found one, who was nine years younger than me. Doing ignorant things and harassing me all day long. If you make trouble with me, you get kicked."

    "You really like little sisters." Qi Yan stabbed her.

    Jiang Yu tilted her head and blinked: "You also like older sisters very much."

    Right back at her.

    Qi Yan looked away and said casually, "It looks like you''ve come out of the closet."

    "Everyone in the circle knows that I''m bent, it''s not a big deal."

    "Yeah, it''s no big deal." Qi Yan''s voice suddenly became louder, with a half-hearted smile, and her tone was full of sarcasm.

    Jiang Yu paused her fingers, looked up at her, and quickly retracted her gaze to hide the guilt.

    No one spoke.

    Recording the electronic version of the contract is time-consuming, and they had to connect to the headquarters. Before they knew it, the sun already went down. Jiang Yu turned off the laptop and put it aside, stood up, looked at the clock on the wall, and said, "Let''s go, I''ll treat you to dinner, and meet my girls on the way."

    "So you''re a pimp, huh?"

    "Take your car, okay?" Jiang Yu ignored her teasing and asked with a smile.

    "Fine." Qi Yan packed up her things and stood up, turned around and walked towards the door, "Sit in the back."

    In the evening, the city lights up brightly.

    The usually lively and busy commercial street is a bit deserted, perhaps because of overtime work and attending classes before May 1st. Although it is Sunday, there are not many people on the street. On the contrary, before the intersection, there was a long queue of cars waiting for the red light, and the taillights merging to form strips of red and yellow light.

    Lu Zhiqiao got off work on time today, and received a message from Qi Yan in the afternoon saying that she would not come back for dinner because of something. She thought it was too late to go back to cook, so she decided to take her daughter out to eat and buy some new clothes for the child.

    The mother and daughter came out of the restaurant, went into the shopping center next door, and strolled leisurely.

    The clothes her daughter wore when she was a child were all chosen by Lu Zhiqiao. Most of them were girly candy colors, pink and tender, very cute, and the kid used to like them too. To this day, she still chooses pink subconsciously, but she doesn''t want to be rejected by her daughter.

    "Pink is too childish, I don''t like it." Lu Wei shook her head in disgust.

    Holding a pink dress in her hand, Lu Zhiqiao froze when she heard the sound, and looked at her daughter in surprise: "Didn''t you like it very much before?"

    "That was before." The little girl pouted her lips and said seriously, "I''ve grown up now."

    --puff

    The corners of Lu Zhiqiao''s mouth twitched, and she couldn''t help laughing. She reluctantly put the skirt hanger back and touched her daughter''s head, "Okay, Niu Niu is grown up, let''s look at other colors."

    "Mom¡­"

    "Mm?"

    "Just give me the money, so I can buy the clothes myself?" Lu Wei hugged her arm and begged in a low voice.

    The light in the shopping mall is warm and soft, reflecting the girl''s dark eyes, which are bright and clear. There is desire in her eyes¡ªthe desire for the right to choose independently and the desire to control money freely. Like a little adult, but not childish.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared into her daughter''s eyes in a daze, and suddenly seemed to realize something, a subtle feeling flashed in her heart, and before she had time to catch it, it disappeared.

    What is it then?

    She didn''t think about it, nodded hurriedly, took out the credit card from her bag and handed it over "Okay, you can buy it yourself." After speaking, she leaned to the child''s ear and said the PIN.

    "Yey~"

    Lu Zhiqiao wanted to see how her daughter planned her consumption, but she didn''t set a fixed amount, she could buy whatever she liked. After shopping around, unexpectedly, her daughter didn''t spend a lot of money on her credit card. She only bought three clothes, a pair of pants and a pair of shoes, which cost less than 10,000 yuan.

    Seeing the clothes her daughter bought herself, Lu Zhiqiao felt ashamed, and suddenly realized that she had a poor taste for children''s clothing.

    "Girl, can you buy your own clothes in the future?"

    "Okay~"

    Coming out of the store, two young ladies holding hands passed by before her. Lu Wei stared at them as they walked for a long time, until she could no longer turn her neck, then she heard her mother''s voice: "Young girl, cross the road."

    "Oh."

    She looked back and concentrated on crossing the road.

    Across the road are major luxury brand stores. Lu Zhiqiao wanted to buy a bag and decided to check it out. She led her daughter onto the sidewalk, and when she noticed that someone was looking at her face, she couldn''t help but turn her head and found that her daughter was looking at her.

    "What''s wrong?"

    "Mom, how did you meet dad?" Lu Wei puffed her cheeks and narrowed her eyes slightly.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s footsteps stopped, her heart trembled violently, and the hand holding her daughter suddenly tightened, "Don''t worry about adults'' affairs..." After speaking, she quickened her pace, and abruptly changed the subject: "By the way, girl, what gift do you want for your birthday this year?"

    Lu Wei didn''t answer, she turned her head to look at the direction where the two young ladies disappeared, then at her mother, and then whispered after a while: "I haven''t made up my mind yet."

    May 7th is her daughter''s thirteenth birthday.

    It''s also Qi Yan''s twenty-eighth birthday¡ªif the ID card date is accurate.

    The night wind blew the broken hair on her forehead, and Lu Zhiqiao walked forward absent-mindedly, not paying attention to what her daughter said at all. The nervousness in her heart gradually calmed down, she took a deep breath, a sense of anticipation welled up, and she became a little excited.

    She won''t tell Qi Yan yet.

    When the time comes, she wants to give her a surprise.

    ¡­.

    After sweeping the street, the mother and daughter went to the underground parking lot with big bags and small bags. Lu Zhiqiao found her car, unlocked it, opened the door, put her things away one by one, and got in the car at the same time as her daughter.

    She lowered her head to fasten her seat belt, then opened the car window to let off heat, and when she looked up, she saw two women walking diagonally ahead through the windshield. The one on the left is wearing a black mask and is quite tall, while the one on the right has waist-length hair...

    It''s Qi Yan.

    The two were chatting while approaching a white car, Qi Yan unlocked it, got into the car first, and the tall woman naturally opened the passenger door, bent over and sat in...

    Author''s Note:

    Teacher Qi: Play the song "Chilly" for me.jpg

 CH 63

    The parking lot was quiet and empty, Lu Zhiqiao stared blankly at the strange woman sitting in the passenger seat, her mind buzzed, and the strings in her heart instantly broke.

    She can draw the icon of the car with her eyes closed, and she knows the license plate number by heart, even if she wants to deceive herself that this is not Qi Yan''s car, the long hair, body shape, and legs, she is very familiar with all the features of Qi Yan''s body, and her eyes naturally can''t deceive herself.

    It was Qi Yan all right.

    The WeChat message told her that she had something to do in the evening and would not go back for dinner. The so-called "something" turned out to be shopping with others.

    Did she lie to her?

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, her nose turned sore, and she tightly grasped the steering wheel with one hand.

    What she looks forward to the most after being busy every day is to come home at night and have dinner with the three of them. No matter what they eat; vegetables, fish and shrimp, noodles and porridge are also good, as long as they sit together, they are delicious. As long as no one is missing.

    After receiving the news from Qi Yan in the afternoon, she actually felt a little sad, her heart was empty, she had trouble concentrating, and she almost made a wrong quotation. She thought for a long time before she realized that it was because Qi Yan couldn''t eat with her, she was disappointed. She reassured herself that it''s okay, there is still her daughter, just take this time to spend with the child, and Qi Yan is not her exclusive servant, so there''s no obligation to guard her all the time.

    But now, her self-comfort feels like a joke.

    Qi Yan didn''t lie to her, it was indeed "something", but the so-called "something" was to accompany another woman to eat and go shopping, without elaborating on it, it wasn''t a lie.

    And she has no qualifications and position to criticize.

    Thinking of this, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help but frown, her chest was as tight as a stone, sad, wronged, and self-deprecating... All emotions rushed up and stuck in her throat. She stared at the direction of the passenger seat of the white car and her eyes darkened.

    What she cared about was not just Qi Yan "lying" to her.

    But she and Qi Yan have nothing to do with each other, she has no position to point fingers, and she has no right to be angry and feel wronged.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes were bitter, and her knuckles holding the steering wheel turned slightly white. She turned her face, closed her eyes for a while, heard the sound of the car starting, opened her eyes again, and saw the white car slowly pulling out of the parking space. Turning right.

    "Mom, why don''t you go?" Lu Wei, who was fiddling with her mobile phone, turned her head and looked at her mother suspiciously.

    Lu Zhiqiao panicked, her hair blocked her daughter''s sight, and she quickly returned her face to normal, then she replied in a low voice, "Well, let''s go."

    Just after she finished speaking, the white car drove past her heading for the exit.

    The windows were closed and nothing could be seen inside.

    Her car drove into the basement of the complex, and when it was approaching her parking space, Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously tilted her head, stretched her neck, and saw that the parking space next to her was empty.

    Qi Yan hasn''t come back yet.

    The speculation along the way was disturbing, although it was expected, but when the guess came true, she still couldn''t help being disappointed, sad, and wronged. She knew that Qi Yan was going to send the other woman back first, or go somewhere else for "something" with her, and it was even very possible...

    She didn''t dare to think about it any further.

    After parking the car, Lu Zhiqiao led her daughter up the elevator and went home. Knowing that there was no one at 902, she still took a deep look before closing the door, as if the door would open in a second.

    The mother and daughter each took a bath, and Lu Zhiqiao separated the changed clothes from the newly bought clothes, put the former in the washing machine, and put the latter in a basin, and rinsed them.

    She needed something to do, so as not to think about it.

    The style of clothes chosen by her daughter is more mature, but it is not the style of adults. It is less plain and more trendy. Lu Zhiqiao can''t describe what she feels like, as if she is dreaming, and is out of touch with the world when she wakes up.

    After washing the clothes and drying them, she had nothing to do.

    "Mom, didn''t you say you''ll buy me comic books last time?" Her daughter ran over after brushing her teeth and asked cautiously.

    In this mid-term exam, she scored 75 points in mathematics. Although the score was not high, she finally passed, which is a great improvement compared to the previous semester.  The Chinese and English scores are still stable, and her ranking has also risen. It is good overall.

    The world of children is very small, and they can be happy for a long time with a little encouragement. Lu Zhiqiao has always taught her daughter that "hard work will pay off", so naturally she must keep her word.

    She nodded with a smile, patted her daughter on the shoulder, and said, "Yes, we will go shopping after the holiday."

    "I want to buy it myself."

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled and hesitated.

    It is a good thing for her daughter to have her own opinions, but after all, she is not an adult, she has too much autonomy and too much money at her disposal. What if she compares herself with her classmates, loses her restraint, and her mind turns completely crooked? It''s not that she doesn''t trust her daughter, it''s just that she is worried that she won''t be able to pay attention when she is busy, which will cause disaster in the end.

    In the past, she was too "relaxed" to be a mother, as long as she took care of food and drink, and clothed her child, she didn''t need to worry about the rest.

    Only now did she realize that the difficult test was just the beginning.

    She was as confused as a headless a chicken.

    If it was Qi Yan, maybe she would know what to do? The figure of that person flashed in her mind, and when she thought of the scene in the parking lot, her throat suddenly became a little congested.

    "I promise I won''t spend money recklessly~" Lu Wei took her mother''s hand and acted like a baby in a low voice.

    How embarrassing.

    None of the other classmates would act like a baby with their mother, only her...sigh. But she couldn''t control it, what could she do?

    In fact, her mom is quite nice to talk to.

    As long as she acts like a baby.

    Heh-heh.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s thoughts were interrupted, and she turned her head to see her daughter pouted, her heart softened, and she replied with a smile: "Okay, you can buy it yourself." After speaking, she went to get her bag, and took out the credit card she had swiped earlier and handed it to her daughter, "You use this card to buy clothes, and plan how to spend it yourself. Don''t max it out, or I will take it back. I will give you cash later when you buy books."

    "Yeah." The little girl took the card away with a whimper, and nodded sharply.

    "Also, you need to keep accounts, how much each expenditure is, write it down in a notebook, and I will check it every month. No false reports or omissions are allowed. If I find out, there will be no more pocket money."

    "Okay."

    Lu Wei happily jumped back to the room with the card in hand.

    It is better for a child to ask her family for money than to borrow from her classmates. She hopes that her daughter can get a sense of security from her. No matter what happens, the first thing that should come to mind should be the mother and her family, not fear or other negative emotions, and go to others for help.

    She stood there, thought for a moment, and concluded.

    There was a faint "ding" sound from the elevator in the corridor, which seemed abrupt in the quiet environment at the moment. Lu Zhiqiao paused and quickly walked to the door, gently pawing on the peephole and looking out, her heartbeat instantly accelerated.

    The light reflected Qi Yan''s figure coming out of the elevator, she walked straight to 902 without even looking this way, opened the door, entered the room, and then closed the door.

    --boom

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart shook suddenly with the sound of the closing  door, and then fell rapidly. She tightened her grip on the handle, her palms became wet with thin sweat, slippery, and fell uncontrollably to her side.

    There was an indescribable loss in her heart, as if something that should belong to her was snatched away without a warning.

    Maybe she was wrong, it didn''t belong to her.

    Seeing that tall woman in the parking lot, she had an inexplicable intuition that the relationship between her and Qi Yan was unusual. Although the woman was wearing a mask and couldn''t see her face clearly, she gave her a strong sense of oppression at first glance. Judging from her years of experience in reading countless people, it was not due to her height, but due to her pure temperament, in other words, her aura.

    She trusted her instincts, so she couldn''t convince herself that the two were just friends.

    Uneasy and at the same time blaming herself, she kept saying that she trusted Qi Yan, but in the end she just saw a scene that didn''t make any sense, and couldn''t help but think wildly and speculate. If the two were really just friends, would Qi Yan be sad and disappointed knowing that she didn''t trust her so much?

    She dare not ask.

    All the things she saw in the parking lot, the voices she heard, what did the two of them say? Were they laughing? Were they intimate? She couldn''t remember clearly, the only thing she remembered clearly and profoundly was the sense of powerlessness that collapsed in her heart.

    It repeated over and over again, repeated over and over again. She kept reminiscing, as if she was holding a knife and stabbing herself without knowing the pain.

    Enough.

    Don''t ask, don''t mention it, save some dignity for yourself, they are still neighbors.

    Lu Zhiqiao breathed a sigh, and stepped back, her pale paper face getting darker, she turned around, and was about to turn off the lights and go back to the bedroom, when there was a slight movement in the corridor, and the next second, the doorbell rang.

    She was startled, with her heart hanging in her throat, and hurriedly turned to open the door.

    There was no one in the slowly widening door, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t react in time, and was startled by Qi Yan who suddenly jumped out from behind the door, exclaimed and took half a step back, the woman reached out and hugged her to her heart''s content.

    The light scent of shampoo entered her nose, Lu Zhiqiao was in a trance, subconsciously hugged Qi Yan''s waist, and then suddenly remembered the scene in the parking lot, feeling sour, she struggled to push her away, and lowered her eyes.

    Qi Yan thought she was shy and ignored her resistance. She lifted the paper bag in her hand and said with a smile, "Didn''t you say you finished drinking the scented tea last time? I brought a lot of it home. My parents don''t drink it, it''s a waste to give them good stuff, you can have enough if you like." She sounded relieved, and her voice remained gentle and soft.

    With that said, she took Lu Zhiqiao''s hand.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head, pulled her hand away calmly, took the paper bag and put it on the cabinet next to her, and twitched the corner of her mouth: "Okay, I''m tired, you should go to bed early too, good night."

    Her other hand hidden behind her back was clenched into a fist, and her nails, fiercely digging at her palm. She tried her best to resist the urge to ask, and she didn''t dare to look up at Qi Yan, afraid that once she took a glance, she wouldn''t be able to resist her bitterness and break the shackles of logic.

    What right does she have to ask? The consequence of being unable to control her temper may be to freeze the relationship between them. It is not worth it for an unfounded thing.

    Qi Yan lets go quickly.

    Stopped dangling in front of her eyes.

    Without waiting for the woman to leave, she couldn''t wait to turn around, fleeing as fast as she could to go back to her room and close the door.

    Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, her face changed slightly, a bad inkling arose in her heart, she hurriedly closed the door with her backhand, took off her shoes and rushed into Lu Zhiqiao''s room. The tiled floor was a bit cold, and the coldness poured into her heart from the soles of her feet. She was impatient, she didn''t bother to knock on the door, so she pushed it open and entered.

    It was not locked.

    Lu Zhiqiao was leaning against the window, with her back to the door, and turned around in panic when she heard the sound, and was caught off guard by Qi Yan''s gaze, her expression dull.

    "What''s wrong?" Qi Yan frowned, stepped forward and hugged her, "Did I say something wrong..."

    "Qiao Qiao?"

    The warm breath fell on the side Lu Zhiqiao''s ear, accompanied by the intimate call, and she trembled all over, her heart flew up from the cold valley, her tense nerves broke, and the bitterness that was desperately restrained poured out like a flood, and her impulse went crazy. She softened in Qi Yan''s arms and asked in a low voice, "Where did you go this afternoon?"

    "I just had to deal with something." Qi Yan said in a daze.

    "What something?"

    Qi Yan paused: "...something about work."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart turned cold for a moment.

    Still lying to her.

    "Let go." She frowned and struggled, her eyes flushed unconsciously.

    There''s no need to ask any more questions. Instead of listening to the lies fabricated by this person, it''s better to save some face for herself. Isn''t this already embarrassing enough?

    The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, but Qi Yan didn''t let go, her arms were clamped around her like iron clamps, she had no strength left, so she had no choice but to give up.

    Qi Yan stared at her reddish eyes, her heart ached, and she vaguely had a guess.

    How can there be such a coincidence?

    "Qiao Qiao."

    Lu Zhiqiao buried her face in her shoulder and said nothing.

    "A modelling agency wanted to cooperate with me and asked me to be their official photographer. I went to inquire this afternoon and found that the boss is an acquaintance of mine..." Qi Yan explained softly, kissing her hair as she spoke .

    An acquaintance, someone very familiar with her before.

    To her, Jiang Yu is just an acquaintance. But she''s not mentally prepared to tell directly that she is her first love, and she didn''t know how Lu Zhiqiao would react.

    Will she be angry? Or be calm?

    She doesn''t know her bottom line and can''t dare to speculate.

    The person in her arms froze and didn''t speak for a long time. After a while, a muffled voice came from her shoulder: "Is she tall, female, wearing a black mask..."

    Qi Yan frowned, slowly closed her eyes, and let out a soft breath.

    Really.

    "Did you see us?"

    "Yeah." Lu Zhiqiao gently grabbed her hair, "In the parking lot."

    A trace of guilt welled up in her heart, Lu Zhiqiao was ashamed, she misunderstood Qi Yan. Like a slap in the face, the burning pain seemed to be questioning her why she didn''t trust Qi Yan. Now Qi Yan knows that she doesn''t trust her.

    "Qiao Qiao, there is something¡ª"

    "Sorry."

    "Huh?"

    Lu Zhiqiao stopped talking again, rubbed her cheek against her hair, and kept digging into her neck, as if embarrassed.

    Qi Yan froze for a moment, and suddenly understood, but her heart became more and more nervous, she swallowed the words that came to her mouth, and hesitated repeatedly.

    She is the one who should say sorry.

    She didn''t plan to hide it from Lu Zhiqiao. She wouldn''t hide a word about anything, time, place, details, including psychology, but she didn''t expect such a coincidence that she was seen by Lu Zhiqiao, and she started thinking wildly. Under such circumstances, her confession seemed feeble no matter what, and she even suspected that she chose to speak out because she got caught.

    That was really unfair of her.

    "What did you just say?" Lu Zhiqiao rubbed her hair for a while, then raised her head.

    Qi Yan choked on her throat, raised her hand to caress her face, and said softly: "I promise, everything I''m going to say next is the truth, and you promise too, calm down and listen to me."

    "Okay."

    The bedroom window was left open, and a cool breeze blew in, brushing the messy hair on her forehead.

    Qi Yan opened her mouth, her thin lips moved, and explained everything clearly. Her heart was beating faster and her throat was getting dry.

    Her hair was grabbed more and more tightly, and was pulled to the scalp several times.

    --hiss

    It was very painful.

    "Do you still like her?" Lu Zhiqiao buried her face and asked in a muffled voice. Thankfully, this thick hair can give herself a sense of security from being seen in her wretched state at the moment.

    She told herself she was not qualified to mind, not qualified to question, Qi Yan confessed to her, so she should be satisfied.

    But how can she not mind?

    Her first love is Qi Yan, but Qi Yan''s first love was not her.

    No, they haven''t "loved" yet, no one owes anyone, no one should be sorry to anyone.

    Fair enough.

    "I don''t like her anymore." Qi Yan said honestly.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t speak any more.

    She still has a lot of questions to ask. Every time a sentence came to her lips, she immediately lose her courage. She had never hated herself so much as now, hated herself for being so emotionally coward, hated herself for not being able to ask questions confidently, hated herself for not being able to let Qi Yan say the words "I have a girlfriend" with a straight face, hated herself because she deserved it.

    She has no serious love experience, and she doesn''t understand what the so-called reappearance of old love means, but at this moment she has no choice, she should trust Qi Yan.

    If she says she doesn''t like her anymore, she doesn''t like her.

    "Then you still let her take the passenger..." Lu Zhiqiao blurted out, not holding back for a moment.

    She regretted it after she finished speaking, but it was too late to take it back.

    Qi Yan tilted her  head and kissed her ear, "I originally asked her to sit in the back, but she got motion sickness and wanted to vomit, so... there''s nothing I can do about it." She couldn''t help but coax, "I''ll disinfect the car tomorrow to make sure there wouldn''t be any smell."

    In the past, if she saw Lu Zhiqiao jealous, she will be too happy, but at this moment, she is only full of sadness, powerlessness, and heartache.

    "That...was not what I meant."

    "Mm?"

    She pursed her lips and blushed a little.

    Qi Yan held her face carefully, put her soft lips on it, and kissed her lightly as if coaxing, it slowly crawled from the corner of her mouth to the mole at the end of her eyes, she couldn''t control herself for a while, and her breathing became more and more rapid.

    The surroundings were silent and the half-hidden door was slowly pushed, opening a small gap...

 CH 64

    Inside the narrow door, two women embraced each other.

    Qi Yan hugged Lu Zhiqiao''s waist with one hand, and held her face with the other. Her thin lips lingered and grinded on the tear mole, and after a while, it slowly slid down, sticking to the corner of hernmouth, wantonly tasting her.  Lu Zhiqiao''s heart itched slightly, and she couldn''t help grabbing Qi Yan''s shoulders with her hands, and responded unconsciously.

    The kiss was so hard to break.

    Lu Wei, who was hiding outside, opened her eyes wide and raised her hand to cover her mouth.

    What did she just see?

    Teacher Qi and her mom actually...

    Oh dear!

    Is everything in the novel true?

    Not only can kiss between boys and boys, but also between girls and girls!

    Recently she was reading adult comics, the kind where two boys are in love, and many girls in the class read them.  A second-year junior high school girl she knew told her that apart from **, there is also Lily, that is, two girls who are in love. The senior sister gave her two Lily comics, and also gave her a website for reading Lily novels, called Jin...

    *author promoting Jinjjang Literature City, jjwxc

    What Jin?

    Ah, don''t remember.

    At the beginning of reading Lily Manhua, she felt so bored. When two girls fall in love, do they just hold hands and hug each other? She and her best friend also hold hands and hug each other every day, and sometimes they even kiss on the face to tease each other, and even attack x suddenly.

    This is what friendship between girls looks like.

    Obviously it''s friendship!

    She told the senior sister that she was bored, so the senior sister sent her the names of several novels and asked her to search on some website. She searched for one, and then discovered the new world.

    It turns out that the intimacy between girls can be divided into two states of "friendship" and "love". Like her and her best friend, it is called friendship, and like in the novel, it is called love, which means falling in love.

    What is the difference?

    In reality, she has only seen intimacy in the state of "friendship", but not in the state of "love", and it is extremely difficult to distinguish between the two.  She went to ask the senior sister, and the senior sister said that she needed to observe. The easiest and most intuitive way to tell the difference was to see if two girls were like a man and a woman when they are close...

    Tender, affectionate, and most importantly - kisses on the mouth!

    She remembered the friendship between her mother and Teacher Qi, and decided to observe them first. But after observing for many days, with the help of comics and novels, she couldn''t tell what kind of intimacy was between her mother and Teacher Qi.

    It should be friendship. She thinks.

    After all, it is so rare for two girls to fall in love, so rare that it seems that they can only appear in books. She has never seen a live one, so naturally it is difficult to understand what the concept is, and she always thought about it like how it is between her and her best friend.

    Now, this was definitely a surprise.

    She was doing her homework in the room, when she heard the door opening and heard the talking in the living room, she knew it was Teacher Qi, so she secretly listened at the door of her room. But mom soon entered the room, and Teacher Qi not only didn''t leave but chased after her. She became even more curious and lay on the door for a long time without hearing anything.

    So she slipped out lightly, and seeing that the door of her mother''s room was ajar, she wanted to take a peek, and in the end...

    God!

    Mom and Teacher Qi are actually kissing!

    They seemed to kiss very emotionally, just like the hero and heroine in the TV series.

    Did she see a live lily?

    Lu Wei suddenly had a concept in her mind, and a subtle feeling arose in her heart, but apart from surprise, there was still something she couldn''t understand. If the intimacy between Mom and Teacher Qi is "love", what was it when she was with Dad before?

    It''s a pity that she has never seen her father in person.

    The biology teacher said that the combination of women and men, and the combination of xx and xy chromosomes can give birth to new life. In a family, there should be a mother, father, and children. If mother and father fall in love, they will have babies, but if two men or two women fall in love, how can they have babies?

    Who is the father and who is the mother?

    According to the concept of gong and shou, it seems that it is not easy to distinguish.

    *gong: attack/top, shou: receive/bottom

    Lu Wei was full of doubts and couldn''t solve it, and then secretly glanced at the people in front of her eyes, and became a little shy. She was afraid of being discovered, so she quickly closed the door and turned back to her room...

    The kiss turned so deep that it was hard to control, Qi Yan''s heart was about to move, her hands began to feel uneasy, and everywhere she went, a flame ignited.

    Lu Zhiqiao was soft in Qi Yan''s arms, her face was red and her ears were hot, and her body was also hot, but she still had a trace of reason. She opened her eyes, grabbed the hand that wanted to be presumptuous, moved it away slightly, and then turned her head away from the warmth on her lips.

    Qi Yan didn''t force herself, the hand hanging by her side hooked around her waist again for a moment, with a smile on the corner of her mouth.

    "I don''t mind, I just..." Qi Yan was looking at her and she felt uncomfortable, and lowered her eyes. Her lips were swollen and red from being kissed, and under the light, they looked like plump fruits, inviting people to pick them.

    She choked again halfway through the sentence, and the second half of the sentence got stuck in her throat.

    This denial is like ''no three hundred taels of silver here''*, the more she doesn''t want to be seen through, the more she reveals her mind. She is bothered and jealous because she likes Qi Yan, but if she says that frankly, it''s tantamount to stripping her naked and hanging her up for public display.

    *a clumsy/obvious lie, for the etymology of this idiom, check out glossary or  click here ¡û

    Seeing her in trouble, Qi Yan couldn''t bear it, and found a step for her: "You just thought I lied to you?"

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded repeatedly and looked at her with raised eyelids.

    Her eyes touched the tenderness in her eyes, her heartbeat stopped suddenly, she twitched, feeling more and more guilty.

    "I''ve never lied to you." Qi Yan sighed, stretched out her hand to scratch her nose lightly, and frowned slightly, "Qiao Qiao, can you...give me a little more trust?"

    She knew it.

    She had a two-faced heart and didn''t trust Qi Yan enough, so she was seen through. There was a little helplessness in those brown eyes, and the rest were half tender and half lost.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head, her eyes slightly red: "I''m sorry."

    "I''m the one who should say sorry."

    Qi Yan took Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, combed her five fingers and clasped them in, "Actually, I was a little hesitant when I first saw that the boss was her..."

    "Then why are you still signing the contract?" Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help interrupting, then she was taken aback, realized what she said, and hurriedly turned her back. "I''m not--"

    She took a deep breath, pursing her lips.

    The words came out almost without thinking. Qi Yan had already explained it very clearly, but she''s still bothered, her chest seemed to be stuffed with a ball of cotton, it was so stuffy that she couldn''t breathe.

    The taste of being favored and protected can become addictive after a taste. She knows that Qi Yan will coax her and cling to her, so she will inevitably be hypocritical. She told herself in every possible way not to make trouble for no reason. But in the end, she couldn''t restrain her impulse, just like rain after a long drought, greedily wanting more, and finally drowned in the water.

    It was too late to take back what she had said, she gasped for breath, panic flashed in her eyes, she was thinking about how to remedy it, and was in a hurry when her waist was suddenly entangled by two powerful arms.

    Then she fell into a warm embrace.

    At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao held the hands folded in front of her, feeling at ease, and slowly closed her eyes.

    "Because I considered it from a professional point of view." Qi Yan tilted her head and kissed her ear, her eyes were full of distress, and her voice hoarse, "To be honest, I didn''t consider her as a factor. She''s not worth my consideration. If I¡¯m happy, I¡¯ll go, if I¡¯m not, I won¡¯t go, and I can break the contract at any time, and I can afford the breach of contract fee of less than nine figures, without disturbing my parents.¡±

    Qi Yan''s thin lips brushed against the tips of her ears, half-enclosed, and gently and carefully sucked.

    "Qiao Qiao, no matter what you ask me, you can be confident, because I have the obligation to answer you and explain clearly to you."

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s ears were hot, her cheeks were flushed, and she pursed her mouth and said nothing.

    She is jealous.

    She stubbornly refused to admit it.

    The smile on the corners of Qi Yan''s lips didn''t have time to widen, and it dissipated again. She couldn''t smile, but felt sad instead. For Qiao Qiao''s sake, and for herself, they are obviously very close to each other, but they still can''t reach each other, and they feel wronged and cautious even when they are jealous.

    Forget it, don''t think about it, it''s important to coax this person first.

    "By the way, the models there are pretty good. I''ll take you to see them some other day?" Qi Yan tilted her head and smiled.

    In the next second, her hair was grabbed.

    --hiss

    It''s okay, it''s not too painful.

    Qi Yan arched her lips and kissed her cheek flatteringly, "Okay, no more looking, they''re not as good-looking as Qiao Qiao."

    Her hair was pulled again.

    Huh?

    Did she say something wrong?

    Before she could open her mouth to beg for mercy, Lu Zhiqiao let go of her hair, suppressed a smile at the corner of her mouth, and said solemnly: "Are you planning to develop a side business?"

    "...uh, that''s it."

    Qi Yan didn''t tell her that she decided to resign after Niu Niu graduates. After all, there are still two years left, and any changes in the future are uncertain. In fact, she is only half-playing. If she gets tired of working as a hobby in the future, she will become a charter woman, and then take the mother and daughter to travel around...

    She can''t help but plan their future. Just thinking about it makes her feel so happy.

    "Won''t this be very tiring?" Lu Zhiqiao asked worriedly, turning her face sideways.

    She knows that it''s not because she''s lacking money, but the thought of having two jobs is a bit suffocating. She herself is too busy with one job, there is no time to develop a side job, much more, hobbies.

    After thinking about it, Qi Yan is different from her. In her eyes, work is just work, and making money is making money. Perhaps, for Qi Yan, if she likes it, anything else doesn''t matter.

    It''s their gap, plain and simple.

    A faint inferiority complex emerged from the bottom of her heart, and she hurried away without thinking about it.

    At this moment, Qi Yan was imagining as much as she could in her mind, and even planned the honeymoon route for the two of them. Suddenly she came back to her senses and smiled: "Are you worried about me?"

    "Yeah." She admitted generously.

    ¨Cwhoah

    Honey was stuck in Qi Yan''s throat, her heart softened, and she nuzzled her nose into her face, "Don''t worry, I won''t push myself. Even if I get tired, in bed...cough cough, um." She coughed twice and changed her words: "I won''t be tired."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment and blushed.

    Pretending not to understand.

    "Oh."

    Qi Yan secretly heaved a sigh of relief, hugged her tightly, and pressed her lips against her face repeatedly, "I want to kiss you, turn around, okay?"

    "Haven''t you had enough?" Lu Zhiqiao said angrily, still embarrassed by Qi Yan''s words, and thought of many things at once.

    This person''s "saliva" is everywhere on her face, ears, and eyes, and she still wants to have a shot at her.

    No way.

    Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, feeling as if her heart had been electrocuted, crisp and numb, she softened her voice and coaxed: "Don''t be angry~"

    "Just a kiss, and I''ll let you pull my hair for fun, huh?"

    Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t laugh or cry.

    Is she three years old?

    "I''m not angry." She also softened, turned around after speaking, put her hands on Qi Yan''s shoulders actively, and lowered her eyes.

    At the beginning when Qi Yan asked her to be her model, she spoke nicely, and she forgot all about it in the back of her mind. Now she felt as if her baby was being coveted. But such thoughts can only stay in her heart. She couldn''t help but be bothered, but she still hopes in her heart that Qi Yan will have her chance to grow.

    Imagine if they were lovers, Qi Yan would not hesitate, right? Rather, she would have refused to cooperate even more firmly.

    She understands.

    Kissing and hugging, she gradually got used to it, but she always felt a panic when wanting to establish a relationship. Today''s incident is like an invisible hand, pushing her forward, but is the road ahead a paradise or hell?  She is not sure that she can become a qualified lover, nor is she sure that her future life will be peaceful and stable.

    She is the reason for everything.

    She can''t blame anyone for what she caused herself.

    As she walks, her lips suddenly felt hot, Lu Zhiqiao froze, a warm breath invaded, and she was instantly swept away and drowned in the water.

    She was caught in a whirlpool.

    Seduced, stirred, broken into pieces.

    Just one kiss made her weak, and she fell into Qi Yan''s arms and didn''t want to get up. This time Qi Yan was very polite, she just hugged her, didn''t move much, let go of her lips, went to nibble her tear mole again, gently pinched her ear with her index finger, just to keep her from calming down.

    "Qi Yan..."

    "Mm."

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned against her boneless, and said in a muffled voice, "Does she still like you?"

    "I don''t know." Qi Yan took the time to answer, "I don''t care."

    The tear mole.

    Sweet and delicious.

    It''s almost like a special drug for her.

    The person in her arms fell silent, Qi Yan reluctantly let go of the tear mole, looked down, and saw that Lu Zhiqiao had closed her eyes, and the corner of her mouth curled into a seemingly invisible arc. Her eyes were as soft as water, and she said softly: "I got the assistant''s phone number, if there is anything, she can only contact me through the assistant."

    As she said that, she was about to take out her phone.

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her eyes, stopped her with one hand, and changed the subject nonchalantly: "Niu Niu said that she wants to climb Songshan Mountain on May 1st, go plan for that."

    "As you wish!" Qi Yan pecked her lips, "Leave everything to me, you just have to have fun to your heart''s content."

    Lu Zhiqiao squinted her eyes and smiled, and raised her hand to grab a strand of her hair. She didn''t pull it, but just put it in her hand to play with.

    ¡­.

    At night, everything is quiet.

    Lu Zhiqiao suffered from insomnia, lying on the bed tossing and turning, the word "first love" echoed repeatedly in her mind, constantly recalling Qi Yan''s expression when she mentioned her first love. She couldn''t empty her mind and couldn''t sleep with anxiety.

    Jiang Yu...

    Although she doesn''t follow the fashion circle, she can easily think of the word after hearing the name. Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu, supermodel, quite famous.

    When Qi Yan uttered the name, a sense of panic and frustration arose in her heart at the same time, intertwined and confused. No matter how Qi Yan explained it, and tried to make her feel at ease, she could hardly get rid of her worries.

    If a first love, so good, can become a thing of the past, how can an ordinary person like her, last for a long time?

    In the dark night, where she couldn''t see herbfingers, she was surrounded by a tight sense of suffocation.

    Lu Zhiqiao stretched out the quilt and clapped twice. The eggshell lamp at the head of the bed lit up in response, and the gnawing darkness immediately retracted into the corner. Wherever the line of sight went, it was filled with soft warm yellow light.

    She breathed a sigh of relief, picked up her phone on the bedside, and clicked into the browser.

    Search Jiang Yu.

    The encyclopedia entry is quite long, with complete basic information and rich personal experience. This person is one year older than her, and her family is well-off but mysterious, no one knows the details. She has a distinctive face, although it does not conform to the mainstream aesthetic concept, but it is very high-end and attractive, she is a top beauty.

    There were a lot of photos, when she smiles, she appears kind and bright, but when she doesn''t, she looks cold and mysterious, with a sense of aloofness.

    She is a perfect clothes rack, looks good on anything, and can always wear a generous and neat aura. Whether it is private photos or catwalk photos, she looks radiant at first glance.

    For work reasons, Lu Zhiqiao occasionally comes into contact with celebrity entertainers, only to feel that those usually shiny idols are the same in private, and some are even worse than ordinary people. But obviously, Jiang Yu''s circle is higher than the entertainment industry, and the woman herself is also higher than the existence of celebrity artists.

    Untouched areas, unseen people, touched her blind spot.

    She clicked into Jiang Yu''s Weibo again.

    Selfies, brands, fashion weeks, many fans, lively and colorful life, it can be seen that she is a woman with a more interest in life.

    Looking at herself again, she has no hobbies or specialties, no interest at all, an orphan and widow, except for making money... no, she''s not even making money as much as the other and is useless. The woman is more popular. She is really inferior to Qi Yan''s first love in everything.

    Maybe Qi Yan likes her now just as a novelty, after all, she has already met excellent people, so it''s okay to want to change her taste.

    She felt like giving up...

    Lu Zhiqiao''s breathing became stagnant, her throat seemed to be choked suddenly, and she couldn''t breathe, and then tears poured out uncontrollably, slipped down the end of her eyes, and trickled into her ears.

    Why now? Why did it have to be when she is already tempted, when she''s already fallen, when she saw hope. She pressed her chest, and the frequency of her heaving became more and more violent, with a faint pain, and every breath was like gouging out a piece of flesh.

    The light from the eggshell lamp blurred by the tears in her eyes, turning into an unreal illusion.

    After crying for a while, her nose turned stuffy, Lu Zhiqiao put down her phone and sat up, took a tissue to wipe it, crumpled it up and threw it into the wastebasket. She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and when she turned her head, she saw the small characters on the base of the eggshell lamp shining brightly.

    ¡ª¡ªWhere you are, I will be

    ¡ªYan Yan

    She froze for a moment, her chaotic eyes lit up.

    [Can you...give me a little more trust?]

    With Qi Yan''s words echoing in her ears, Lu Zhiqiao instantly calmed down and fell into deep thought. The trust she promised, she forgot about it in a blink of an eye. She was alone, thinking wildly, adding anxiety to herself.

    This should no longer be the case.

    To some extent, people who have experienced such excellent first love have separated, which may indicate that those "conditions" are not the only criterion for Qi Yan to measure emotions. Then, why did she decide that she couldn''t be with Qi Yan for a long time?

    Thinking about it and putting it into action is harder than going through a catastrophe.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the eggshell lamp in a daze, sighed, clapped her hands and the light went out. She lay down again, and pulled the quilt over her head.

    ¡­.

    The three-day holiday is sunny and the temperature is stable.

    In the past, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t like to go out on holidays. The domestic attractions were full of people, and squeezing in the crowds spoil the mood of the game. However, there''s not enough time for outbound travel. During a three-day vacation, she would only take her daughter around the city.

    This year, it was her daughter and Qi Yan who wanted to go out to play, and she just wanted to join in the fun as a companion. The vacation time is short, and they can''t go too far. The plan is to relax for two days and one night.

    Songshan Scenic Area is in the province, so self-driving travel is very convenient. Qi Yan made detailed plans and preparations, filled the car with fuel, prepared some emergency supplies, and set off with the mother and daughter early in the morning.

    Before getting into the car, Lu Zhiqiao stood at the door of the passenger seat, frowned and asked, "Has it been disinfected?"

    "It''s been sterilized inside and out, don''t worry~" Qi Yan held her shoulder with one hand, smiled flatteringly, and didn''t dare to make too many movements because of the child''s presence.

    However, the passion in her eyes was about to overflow.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face felt a little hot, she bent over and sat in without saying a word.

    "Mom, why did you ask Teacher Qi to disinfect the car?" Lu Wei, who was sitting in the back, held the back of the front seat, scanning their faces back and forth with probing eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao was at a loss for words.

    Qi Yan fastened her seat belt, pinched the little girl''s face with his hand, and said with a smile, "Of course it should be regularly disinfected, so it''s clean and hygienic."

    "Oh."

    Lu Wei responded, leaned back in the chair and sat down, rolling her eyes from side to side.

    After driving at high speed for about two hours, Qi Yan followed the navigation and drove into Songshan Scenic Area, to the foot of the mountain. Because they came early, there were still a lot of places in the parking lot, so she picked a parking space that was easy to get in and out of.

    The three got out of the car, each carrying a small bag. Lu Zhiqiao habitually wanted to hold her daughter''s hand, but the child broke free and took a step back.

    "No, you go get Teacher Qi."

    After speaking, Lu Wei went around to Qi Yan, took her left hand, and left the other hand to Lu Zhiqiao.

 CH 65

    It is said that children''s words carry no harm, but Lu Zhiqiao was stunned for a moment when she heard her daughter say this, a subtle feeling flashed in her heart, a little weird, but she couldn''t tell what it was. She looked at Qi Yan, who was pulling out her mobile phone and unconsciously holding the child''s hand.

    "Book tickets online... fast track No. 7." Qi Yan looked at her phone and said to herself.

    She is wearing a full set of sportswear, long trousers, and a baseball cap. She had her long hair pulled back behind her head.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her, and couldn''t help but raise the corners of her lips.

    "Let''s go, swipe your phone and go in." Qi Yan raised her head, met Lu Zhiqiao''s smiling eyes, was startled, and then the woman lowered her eyes and avoided them with shame. She suddenly realized that Niu Niu was gone, and turned her head to look around. The little girl was beside her, holding her hand.

    Huh?

    Didn''t take her mom''s?

    She opened her mouth, but before she could utter a word, Lu Zhiqiao had already taken the lead towards the gate. She had no choice but to lead Niu Niu to follow.

    Entering the entrance of the scenic area, there is a cable car ticket window on the left, connected to the cable station. On the right is the end of the winding mountain road, and the hiking path is next to the cable station. There are mountaineering enthusiasts in twos and threes, wearing jackets and carrying large bags.

    When Lu Wei saw the tall man in the jacket, she suddenly remembered Xu Shoukui, her former math teacher, and subconsciously hid behind Qi Yan.

    "Let''s take the cable car up." Qi Yan didn''t pay attention to the child. She looked up at Songshan, which was close in front of her, then at the cable car station, and finally rested her eyes on Lu Zhiqiao.

    There are steamed bun clouds in the sky, the sun is shining brightly, and the surface temperature at the foot of the mountain is 28/9 degrees, and it will rise at noon. On a sunny day, the view is good. Looking at the cliff from a distance, she should be able to see a lush scenery, but when she looked up just now, the mountain was shrouded in mist, and only the outline of the mountain was vaguely visible.

    Songshan Mountain is more than 1,600 meters above sea level.The weather on the mountain is fickle, and the rain falls as soon as it says it will. It may be difficult to climb up the whole journey on foot.

    The cable car takes people to the middle of the mountain, and the rest of the way to the top is to climb by themselves, both to save energy and experience the fun of mountain climbing. Most tourists choose this way.

    Qi Yan considered that Lu Zhiqiao doesn''t exercise often, and she seldom does outdoor activities, and hiking and climbing mountains will be too much for her body. And Niu Niu, a child may not have good physical strength, if something happens to the mother and daughter, she will regret it.

    "Climbing all the way up, with good physical strength and less rest is estimated to take four hours. It doesn''t matter to me, but you don''t exercise regularly so it''s difficult to climb." Qi Yan held Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, her eyes unconsciously showing concern, and her brows furrowed slightly

    "And the cable car only takes us halfway, and the remaining half can still be climbed."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked up.

    The mountain peaks are soaring into the clouds, steep and precipitous, and the verdant green plants are looming. It looks mysterious and beautiful like a fairyland from a distance, but it also gives people a sense of hidden danger.

    Lu Wei looked at the two with wide eyes and pouted.

    Riding the cable car is so boring. She wanted to climb up, but seeing Teacher Qi worried about her mother, she hesitated. Teacher Qi''s eyes are exactly the same as those in the TV series when the hero sees the heroine hurt; tensed and nervous. Teacher Qi also grabbed her mother''s hand, as if to bid farewell to life or death, but in a natural way, not as exaggerated as in TV dramas

    She remembered the scene depicted in the novel again, and a few days ago, she secretly caught sight of Teacher Qi and his mother kissing¡­

    This is clearly a romantic relationship!

    She observed for a long time and tried repeatedly, no matter how much she didn''t want to admit it, she had to confirm one thing: mother and teacher are lovers.

    Although she can read novels and manhua, she is still a bit awkward when things happen to her. If her mom and teacher are together, what about her father who has already gone to heaven?

    Is Teacher Qi going to be her father?

    Teacher Qi is a girl...

    Other classmates have fathers and mothers at home, but she only has a mother, and now there is another person whom she doesn''t know how to address. What is her identity? Should she call her teacher or dad?

    Moreover, she didn''t even know when her mother was taken away by Teacher Qi.

    So frustrating.

    "Baby."

    Lu Wei came back to her senses, looked at her mother blankly, and hummed.

    "Do you want to climb up the whole way, or take the cable car and climb halfway?" Lu Zhiqiao asked with a smile, freeing her other hand to stroke her daughter''s hair.

    "I..." Lu Wei quickly looked at Qi Yan, choking on her throat.

    She wanted to say to climb the whole mountain, but Teacher Qi was so worried about her mother. If she said it, would Teacher Qi be upset?  Lu Wei suddenly felt aggrieved, her mother was seduced by Teacher Qi, some people love and others are loved, but she will depend on other''s mercy.

    Lu Zhiqiao keenly caught her daughter''s eyes, and was surprised that the child knew how to read words and expressions, obviously wanted to climb the mountain, but was afraid of Qi Yan''s opinion and dared not speak out.

    Afraid?

    Weird thoughts popped up again, but quickly disappeared.

    "Mom, will you climb the mountain with me?" Lu Zhiqiao understood her daughter''s thoughts, pulled out her hand that was being grabbed, and straightened her clothes for her.

    After finishing speaking, she explained as if she was talking to herself: "I haven''t climbed for a long time. Since I came here, I will treat it as an exercise. It is very fulfilling to climb up by myself."

    Lu Wei smiled and nodded, "Okay."

    The mother and daughter looked at Qi Yan at the same time.

    Qi Yan smiled helplessly and nodded. The big baby and the little baby have the same wishes, so she naturally has no objection.

    There are 59 peaks in Songshan Mountain, the highest peak is 1685 meters above sea level, and there are four main peaks in total, each of which is an excellent scenic spot with magnificent scenery. Tourists who hike on the mountain start from the south slope and go down the north slope.

    The peaks and rocks on the mountain are green and black, and the vegetation is lush. Due to the large number of people on holidays, the plank road is very lively. They stop and go, taking two photos casually, and they won¡¯t feel tired after climbing halfway. The mother and daughter were in a good mood, hugging all the way, talking and laughing.

    Qi Yan was worried about them, and turned her head to look at the faces of the two of them from time to time.

    "Mom, let me tell you a ghost story."

    "Mm?"

    "Do you know ghosts hitting walls?"

    "..."

    "Once upon a time, there was a man who went to climb a mountain and saw a cemetery. He didn''t pay attention and walked directly through the grave, and then found that he couldn''t get out no matter what. He kept going around and around..." The little girl lowered her voice, deliberately creating a terrifying atmosphere.

    Just at this time, there were fewer people around, the trees and leaves blocked the sun, the sky was overcast, and the surroundings were chilly, as if there was a wind blowing.

    "Suddenly--"

    "He saw a female ghost with black hair and white clothes!"

    Lu Zhiqiao was shocked and subconsciously grabbed Qi Yan''s arm in front of her. Then she heard her daughter giggle: "Hahaha, Mom, you are so timid."

    "..."

    The moment she was caught, Qi Yan reflexively turned around and hugged Lu Zhiqiao, patted her on the shoulder to comfort her, and looked at her daughter helplessly, "Niu Niu, don''t scare your mother."

    Lu Wei''s smile faltered, and she drooped her head: "Oh."

    She wanted to make a joke with her mother, and she didn''t intend to be scary, but Teacher Qi was too protective of her mother, and it seemed like she was being mischievous.

    The sour smell of love.

    Hmph.

    If you have a partner, you don''t need a daughter.

    Hmph.

    Lu Zhiqiao regained her composure, smiled at Qi Yan, raised her hand to stroke her daughter''s hair, "It''s okay, girl, I''m not afraid."

    The little girl was feeling awkward, and when she heard the sound, she hugged her mother''s arm and declared her ownership.

    Lu Zhiqiao and Qi Yan looked at each other and smiled, they just thought their daughter was childish and didn''t care.

    ¡­.

    Unknowingly, the three climbed for nearly two hours and had just passed the terminal of the cable car on the mountainside.

    Lu Zhiqiao gradually felt tired, a little weak, her legs were heavy as if they had been filled with lead, they were sore, and her breathing was a little short of breath. As for Qi Yan and Lu Wei, one didn''t change their expressions, while the other was still in the mood to grab the grass and watch the scenery.

    She didn''t want to disappoint them so she gritted her teeth and insisted.

    There was fog in the mountains, the sun disappeared completely, and the temperature turned obviously much lower than that at the bottom of the mountain. It was cool and shady. Inhaling into the lungs in one breath, makes one shiver with cold.

    Climbing the stone steps, Lu Zhiqiao''s center of gravity became unstable, and she suddenly fell forward.

    Qi Yan quickly supported her with her eyes and hand, "Be careful!"

    "So tired..." Lu Zhiqiao fell into Qi Yan''s arms.

    Her face was pale and her breathing was heavy. Qi Yan was shocked, and hurriedly helped her to sit on the stone bench next to her, "Stop climbing, take a rest." After speaking, she took out a piece of chocolate from her bag, peeled off the paper and fed it to her.

    "Mom¡ª" Lu Wei ran over with a trekking pole, "Are you all right?"

    Lu Zhiqiao shook her head, chewing on chocolate, unable to speak, most of her body weight was on Qi Yan.

    "Does your leg hurt? The calf? The heel?"

    "...calf."

    Qi Yan grabbed her ankle and placed it on her lap, and gently massage her calf with her fingers.

    The pants Lu Zhiqiao was wearing were loose and thin, and she clearly felt the strength of Qi Yan''s fingertips. She wanted to move subconsciously, but held back. Qi Yan''s massage was accurate, neither light nor heavy, and the soreness gradually eased a lot.

    She leaned on Qi Yan''s shoulder and closed her eyes.

    One is anxiously massaging, and the other enjoys it with her eyes closed.

    Lu Wei stood blankly.

    There was a happy and shy expression on her mother''s face, and the corners of her mouth were bent but she tried her best to restrain her smile. She thought of the plot in the novel again, and what was described between the lines formed a specific image in her mind, and it is probably the scene in front of her.

    She had a thought and recalled all the previous moments, she felt that the two of them were extremely ambiguous.

    For example, that night, when she walked out of the room, she saw Teacher Qi pressing her mother on the sofa...

    God!

    She spoiled it for Mom and Teacher Qi!

    Lu Wei raised her hands to cover her face.

    But thinking about it is a little frustrating. If Mom likes women, how could she been with dad before? If she hadn''t been with Dad, Mom would not have her.

    Although Teacher Qi is very kind to her and to her mother, she is not her father after all. From childhood to now, when asked by classmates, she always said that her father was very busy and was abroad. Now, she can''t continue to deceive herself. If another classmate asks, what should she say?

    Teacher Qi is the homeroom teacher...

    However, she doesn''t seem to desire to have a father either.

    It''s good to have someone who loves Mom.

    It doesn''t matter who that person is.

    Her little head thought a lot, but the only thing Lu Wei couldn''t figure out was, why her mother didn''t tell her, and Teacher Qi didn''t tell her...

    After one o''clock in the afternoon, the three finally climbed to the top.

    The top of the mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist. Standing on it overlooking the towering peaks, it is like being in a fairyland, as though they can pick up the clouds with their hands. It is a pity that the fog is too dense, making the whole mountain hidden, and the whole picture cannot be seen clearly. If there is no fog, it will be another scene.

    Climbing the mountain is very exhausting, but it is indeed fulfilling to climb up the whole journey on foot. Lu Zhiqiao limped her sore legs and stood on the edge of the cliff with her daughter and yelled twice.

    "Don''t stand here, it''s dangerous." Qi Yan frowned, took one hand in each hand, and pulled the mother and daughter away from the cliff.

    There is no fence built in that place, and many tourists next to them carry bulging hiking bags, and if they are a little careless, they can be knocked down directly by a turn.

    There is an abyss at the bottom, and if one falls down, he will be disabled if he doesn''t die.

    The mother and daughter followed Qi Yan obediently, and the three of them sat on the chairs next to the store to rest for a while, and then went to the Summit Hotel for dinner together. After dinner, there were more and more tourists outside, so Qi Yan took the mother and daughter to take pictures again.

    The scenic spot for taking pictures is called "Concentric Cliff", which is a cliff that looks like two hearts close together, symbolizing beautiful love. The cliff fence is adorned with a pair of "concentric locks" worth fifty yuan each, tied with red silk fabric strips. Each piece of fabric is tied with a pair of locks, with the names of the lovers written on it, symbolizing eternal unity.

    Originally, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t like to join the crowd, but when she saw many young couples buying locks and writing their names on a piece of cloth, she was a bit tempted.

    She subconsciously looked at Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan also happened to be looking at her.

    They looked at each other silently, but they both understood each other''s eyes.

    With the child by their side, it is impossible for them to buy locks openly. Lu Zhiqiao understood that she and Qi Yan did not have that kind of relationship, and she is not qualified to do similar things. Thinking about it, she gave up the idea, and looked away.

    The wind on the top of the mountain messed up the broken hair in her temples.

    "Niu Niu, would you like a drink?" Qi Yan turned to Lu Wei.

    The little girl was holding up her mobile phone to take a selfie, and said "want" without looking back, Qi Yan told her to take care of her mother, and walked quickly to the store not far away.

    She bought a drink but didn''t go back the same way. Instead, she walked around to the other side of the "Concentric Cliff" from the small road behind the store, quietly bought a pair of "Concentric Locks", and took an oil-based signature pen to write the two people''s names on the red cloth.

    The fence was almost full of locks, Qi Yan found a corner where it was relatively empty, and carefully put the locks on.

    Then, pulled out her phone to take a picture.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared blankly at a young couple hanging their locks. The corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily. Suddenly, a mobile phone appeared in front of her eyes. She stared at the photo on the screen in a daze.

    Lu Zhiqiao, Qi Yan.

    She raised her eyebrows in surprise, and when she turned her head, seeing Qi Yan smiling at herself, she blushed suddenly, "You...how did you do it?"

    "Guess."

    Qi Yan glanced sideways at Lu Wei, the child was drinking the drink she bought, so she quickly grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, pecked the back of her hand while no one was paying attention, and let go as if nothing had happened.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked around in panic, and turned her back.

    About four o''clock, they got ready to go back down the mountain.

    Qi Yan finally felt tired, but Lu Zhiqiao was already tired and wanted to go back to the hotel to rest. The two adults were tired, but Lu Wei was still full of energy. Jumping and running ahead when they were going down the mountain, and the mothers couldn''t help shouting.

    "Baby, slow down!"

    "I know~"

    The lips responded, but the feet jumped even more happily.

    The northern slope is shady and the temperature is lower. In addition, there have been occasional showers on the mountain during the past half month. The soil and stones are a little loose, and the plank road is also wet and easy to slip. Most of the tourists who want to take the cable car go down the mountain from the south slope, and a small number of tourists who don''t take the cable car go down the north slope feeling the cold, so the north slope is sparsely populated and lonely.

    Qi Yan wanted to take the cable car, but Lu Zhiqiao climbed up when she came with the child, and it was not too late to climb down again.

    It''s true that going downhill is easier and faster than going uphill.

    Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao supported each other, calling Niu Niu all the way without stopping, and they reached the foot of the mountain within two hours. Coming out of the woods, there is a simple small cement road outside, with some potholes, and the gate parking lot is at the end.

    Just after six o''clock, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky red.

    A few scattered people walked aside, with a towering hillside beside them. Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao changed places, let her go on the safe side, half hugging, raised her hand to brush her hair, "Tired?"

    Lu Zhiqiao wanted to say that she was not tired, but suddenly smiled again and said, "Tired."

    "Go back and take a shower. I won''t go out anymore. I''ll order food and let the hotel deliver it to the room." Qi Yan stared at the mole at the end of her eyes, saw the shyness in her eyes, and felt itchy.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded. Just as she was about to speak, there was a noise from the slope beside her. A stone the size of a football fell down along with the dirt and rolled towards them.

    The two were startled, stopped in their tracks, and wanted to go around.

    There was another rustling sound on the slope, as more and more stones and dirt rolled down one after another, and the air was instantly filled with dust. The tourists walking in front let out soft cries one after another, and at that moment, the boulder rolled down and hit an old man with a "bang".

    "Ah¡ª" someone screamed.

    "What happened?"

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her head in a daze, and before she had time to react, she heard Qi Yan yelling "Be careful" in her ear, and then she was pulled violently, almost falling down.

    The blue-black stone hit the spot where she was originally standing.

    "Landslide, hurry up." Qi Yan''s face changed slightly, and she pulled Lu Zhiqiao to go around to the opposite side of the road. Unexpectedly, her foot stepped on air, and lost her balance in an instant, and fell into a small pit buried in the mud.

    "Qi Yan!"

    Lu Zhiqiao exclaimed, reaching out to pull her, and heard her daughter''s shout behind her.

    "Mom, hurry up¡ª"

    "Little girl, don''t move, don''t come over!" She yelled anxiously.

    Her daughter had already run a long way, standing on an open flat ground, not next to the hillside, open and safe. The rocks and soil rolled down on the side slope, like a flood, poured down in waves, and buried half of the road in a short while.

    Other tourists screamed and fled in all directions. Some of them were hit by stones before they could run, and they were lying on the ground and crawling.

    The pit was neither deep nor shallow, and Qi Yan was a little dazed when she fell into it, hurt her buttocks, her first reaction was to climb out, but there was nothing to hold on to on the stone wall, and she couldn''t climb up with all her strength.

    Dirt kept falling from the top of her head, covering her head and face, and she choked and coughed.

    "Qi Yan...!"

    Seeing that she couldn''t climb up, Lu Zhiqiao wanted to go over to help her, but she almost got hit by a stone when she took a step. Fortunately, she dodged quickly, choked on dust and coughed.

    Hearing the sound, Qi Yan raised her head, struggled to crawl out, and shouted, "Don''t come here!"

    She stepped on a recessed seam on the stone wall, supported her upper body with her arms, and finally climbed out half of her body, but at this moment, Lu Zhiqiao screamed and rushed towards her.

    The force was so great that her upper body crawling out of the pit was thrown to the ground, her mouth was full of dirt, and she was crushed by Lu Zhiqiao, she couldn''t move. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a boulder rolling straight in their direction.

    In an instant, her heart turned cold...

    Author''s Note:

    It''s okay, believe in the protagonist''s aura, believe in the mother author [dog head.jpg]

 CH 66

    The road surface is full of fragmented stones and thick soil along the slope. The boulder bumps and rolls down, and falls into the soil and gravel.

    Lu Zhiqiao threw herself to the ground, holding Qi Yan tightly. She didn''t feel the pain of being hit as she expected, but only heard a rustling sound in her ears. The dust was flying in the sky, causing her to cough continuously. She reluctantly lifted her eyes and saw that the stones were stuck in the pile of dirt and gravel, piling up higher and higher, shaking to the ground. Suddenly, she was startled and covered in cold sweat, and hurriedly got up.

    She grabbed Qi Yan''s armpit, and at that moment she produced amazing brute force, and pulled her out forcefully.

    "Run!"

    Qi Yan knelt on the ground and had no time to react, and was dragged up. Hearing the sound, she came back to her senses. She stretch her legs and ran to the other side of the road, avoiding the piled rocks and rushing forward.

    The loose hillside behind her continued to roll down rocks and soil, burying the tourists who were knocked down, and the others were busy fleeing for their lives, without caring much. Qi Yan looked back while running, watching helplessly as people were swallowed up.

    The image of Lu Zhiqiao pouncing on her repeatedly jumped in her mind...

    Whose hand is she holding?

    Is it Qiao Qiao?

    "Mom!"

    Niu Niu yelled in front and jumped up anxiously.

    Qi Yan''s mind went blank, her ears were buzzing, and when she suddenly heard a shout, her heart beats fast. Seeing that Lu Zhiqiao was in a mess, she dragged herself to run towards her daughter who was waiting in the distance.

    Running wildly all the way, out of the range of the landslide, the two of them stopped to catch their breath.

    In front is the side gate of the scenic spot. Other tourists who ran out rushed to find the staff. Lu Zhiqiao let go of Qi Yan''s hand and coughed while panting. Her head, face and clothes were covered with mud, and the sweat mixed with mud flows down, feeling embarrassed.

    "Mom..." Lu Wei ran over and frantically took out a tissue to wipe her face.

    Lu Zhiqiao shook her daughter''s hand, smiled weakly, and turned to look at Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan stood there in a daze, her hat was off, her hair was messy, her originally cool face was so gray that she couldn''t see clearly, and her body was covered all over. She stared straight at Lu Zhiqiao, her chaotic eyes filled with complex emotions, and hidden anger.

    "Are you okay?"

    Lu Zhiqiao looked around her anxiously, but she didn''t see any trauma. She lowered her head and took out a tissue from her bag, and carefully wiped the dust off her face.

    "Didn''t I tell you not to go there?" Qi Yan snapped, her tone slightly cold.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned and saw her gloomy gaze. Her body trembled, and her heart felt as if it had been pinched heavily, causing a dull pain. Her eyes instantly turned red.

    Her arm dropped, and the tissue she was holding fell to the ground, and was blown away by the wind.

    She wanted to say something, but her throat hurts.

    She blinked hard, took a deep breath, turned and walked towards the gate without looking back.

    "Mom..." Lu Wei called softly, looking at her mother''s back, and then at Qi Yan, not knowing which one to follow.

    Teacher Qi is actually mean to her mother?

    And still not chasing?

    At this time, shouldn''t it be like in the novel, rush to catch up and hug and coax her?

    What a piece of wood*!

    *someone with a low EQ, emotionally dumb.

    Qi Yan froze in place, Lu Zhiqiao''s back was getting farther and farther away from her sight, with the setting sun stretching the woman''s shadow very long. She suddenly realized what she had said and regretted it, but her heart was still restless, and her two emotions were tangled, she couldn''t react in time.

    Suddenly, her arm was held by a hand, lowering her eyes, she saw Niu Niu frowning and shouting: "Teacher Qi, what are you doing standing here? Hurry up!"

    The little girl stomped her feet anxiously.

    Qi Yan was dragged two steps, nodded in a daze, and ran with the child behind her back, chasing Lu Zhiqiao.

    Lu Zhiqiao walked quickly, but was caught up by the "mother and daughter" after a while. She ignored them and walked straight to the parking lot. After finding Qi Yan''s car, she realized that she couldn''t open the door without the key, so she could only wait.

    "Mom." Lu Wei broke free from Qi Yan''s hand and ran to hug Lu Zhiqiao.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s expression was gloomy, her eyes were still a little red, and she kept blinking. She reached out to touch her daughter, and felt great comfort for a moment.

    Qi Yan followed, and wanted to say something, her lips moved, but she couldn''t say anything.

    After unlocking the car, the two patted the dust off themselves tacitly. Qi Yan wanted to help Lu Zhiqiao open the passenger door, but seeing her coming, the woman took a step back, opened the back door and got in.

    "..."

    Silence all the way.

    Returning to the hotel, Lu Zhiqiao silently took her clothes and entered the bathroom. Then there was a patter of water inside, and blurred figures swayed on the opaque glass door.

    Qi Yan stared at the bathroom for a while, sat down in a chair, with her elbows resting on her knees and her palm covering her face, sighing low.

    "Teacher Qi..."

    "Mm?"

    Qi Yan raised her head, looking downcast, seeing her "daughter" staring at her, she forced a smile, "What''s the matter, Niu Niu?"

    Lu Wei turned her head to look at the bathroom, sat down beside her, and lowered her voice: "Why are you being mean to my mom?"

    "..."

    "Mom saved you, but you still scolded her, why?" The little girl was a little unhappy, and pouted.

    If it were any other teacher, she would not dare to ask such a question, let alone show her petty temper. But Teacher Qi is her Mom''s lover, and she is also close to her. She is not so restrained in front of her, and she will say what she wants to say naturally.

    She has seen couples argue, but there are always reasons for it. Teacher Qi''s anger towards her mother for no reason, is really excessive and made her unhappy.

    Looking at her daughter''s dissatisfied face, Qi Yan felt a bit of bitterness in her heart, and the stiff smile on the corner of her mouth also contained bitterness, her throat seemed to be blocked, and she couldn''t say anything.

    She lowered her eyes, shook her head, got up and took out the cigarette case and the lighter from her bag, and went to the balcony.

    The balcony of the hotel has an excellent view, it shows a panoramic view of Songshan Mountain from a distance. At this time, the sky was already dark, and the undulating mountains were dim and hazy, and the trees and rocks merged with the night, making it darker and more eerie.

    Qi Yan leaned against the wall, lowered her head and took out a cigarette, lit it, opened her mouth and inhaled violently and half of the slender cigarette burned instantly.

    There was still a smell of dust in her mouth, and smoke mixed with the aroma of roses slowly sprayed out. The cigarette ash fell on the back of her hand, and she gently shook it, letting it float.

    Sounds and images flashed through her mind repeatedly.

    The tourists who were knocked down were buried alive in the sand without help. No one is to blame. When people are in a crisis, it is instinctive to think of themselves first. It is perfectly normal. She doesn''t like to advocate sacrifice and dedication, so she understands it very well.

    Most of the tourists who come down from the north slope are scattered, some travel alone, some are family members who went to take the cable car, agree to meet at the door, and some went together. But in times of panic, no one cares about others.

    She was in the pit at that time, with only Lu Zhiqiao''s screams in her ears and the figure of Lu Zhiqiao rushing towards her in her eyes, not even feeling the despair.

    If Lu Zhiqiao had run away at that time, she would have been sad for two or three seconds. If there was still time left, she would have been grateful. Fortunately, the person who was going to die was her. However, she was spared, and Lu Zhiqiao was also spared.

    They have reached the point where they can live and die together, but they are still ambiguous, unable to be fair and upright - it would be better if Lu Zhiqiao ran away, than be crushed to death.

    And it''s better for her to die than to suffer.

    That''s what makes her feel the most heartbroken and powerless.

    After a cigarette is burned out, the sky turned completely dark, the outline of the mountain shadow is completely melted in the night, and the nearby towns lit up, forming countless criss-crossing light strips.

    Qi Yan put out the cigarette butt, grabbed the lighter and cigarette case, and turned to enter the room.

    The sound of the water in the bathroom stopped, and Lu Zhiqiao came out in her pajamas. Their eyes met. Qi Yan was about to speak, but she lowered her head to avoid her, threw the dirty clothes against the wall, and looked at her daughter, "Baby, are you hungry?"

    Her voice was a little hoarse, and she coughed twice after speaking.

    Before Niu Niu could answer, Qi Yan picked up the menu book on the table, flipped it over and said, "Let me order food and let the hotel deliver it. What do you want to eat?"

    Lu Wei looked at Qi Yan, then at her mother. Seeing the latter''s expression was the same, she got up and went over, "I want to eat...fried rice with shrimp paste."

    The two looked at Lu Zhiqiao at the same time.

    One big and one small looked at each other without saying anything, Qi Yan winked at Lu Wei and asked her to ask her mother what to eat, but the little girl held a grudge, turned her mouth away, and told her to ask herself.

    Will Qiao Qiao pay attention to her?

    Qi Yan winked at her daughter, and mouthed: Niu Niu, be good~

    Lu Wei pouted her mouth high.

    The daughter refused to cooperate, so Qi Yan had no choice but to look at Lu Zhiqiao, trying to muster up the courage to ask. She opened her mouth, but before she spoke, Lu Zhiqiao, who was fiddling with her phone with her head down, seemed to have a tacit understanding with her, and whispered, "Whatever you want."

    Qi Yan breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at the menu.

    She knew that Lu Zhiqiao''s taste was relatively light, and she ate very little at night, so she chose seafood porridge for her, while she ordered noodles.  After ordering, she took her clothes to take a shower.

    After coming out of the shower, dinner was delivered just in time. Lu Zhiqiao asked her daughter to take a bath, took the porridge, brought it to the balcony to eat alone, and locked the door.

    Not even a chance to speak.

    Qi Yan came out after blowing her hair, looked at the lonely back outside the glass door, sighed, her heart was full of bitterness. She lost her appetite, ate a few mouthfuls of noodles, and left the room with a lighter and a cigarette case.

    Not long after, Lu Zhiqiao entered the room after eating, and saw her daughter sitting at the table eating fried rice with wet hair and a bath towel, but froze when she didn''t see Qi Yan.

    "Niu Niu, where''s Teacher Qi?" She asked.

    The little girl was very hungry, wolfing down her food, she said vaguely: "I don''t know... I didn''t see her when I came out."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart tightened, she frowned, and looked around. The hotel is a three-person room with an open kitchen. Although the area is large, you can see from end to end at a glance, and it can''t hide people. Obviously, Qi Yan is not in the room.

    She grabbed her mobile phone, rushed and opened the door to go out, turned her gaze, and caught a glimpse of a person standing on the balcony in the corridor. Under the lights, black hair, long legs, suspender pajamas.

    The room was relatively close to the balcony, and it was clearly visible that it was Qi Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao sniffed a smoky scent of roses floating over. staring at the woman''s back, a corner of her heart collapsed. She pursed her lips, grabbed the handle of the door, retreated into the room, and closed the door.

    Turning around, she met her daughter''s prying eyes.

    Her heart pounded.

    "Mom, have you found Teacher Qi?" Lu Wei blinked.

    "In...the corridor." Lu Zhiqiao smiled, and went sideways into the bathroom to get the hair dryer, "Be careful of catching a cold, mom will blow your hair down for you."

    "Okay."

    The little girl continued to eat with her head down.

    The whirring of the hair dryer covered up the heartbeat in Lu Zhiqiao''s chest.

    In the middle of the night, a waning moon climbed into the sky.

    Qi Yan was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, because she was anxious, she couldn''t fall asleep. The surrounding was too quiet, so she could hear every slight sound clearly.

    Niu Niu on the bed on the right was breathing deeply and long, steady and evenly, she must be sleeping soundly, and seemed to be dreaming of delicious food, she smacks her mouth from time to time. And on the left...Lu Zhiqiao didn''t fall asleep from the beginning to the end, and kept turning over. Although she turned very lightly and carefully, it still seemed abrupt in the silent night.

    They both suffer from insomnia.

    Qi Yan carefully turned her head, unable to see anything clearly in the darkness. She hesitated, ready to move, her heart beating rapidly.

    Turned over again.

    Qi Yan took a deep breath, lifted the quilt and sat up, the movement in the next bed stopped instantly, she held her breath, felt the darkness and sat beside Lu Zhiqiao''s bed, lifted the quilt with all her might and got in.

    "Wha--"

    Before Lu Zhiqiao could blurt out an exclamation, Qi Yan covered her mouth with one hand.

    Lu Zhiqiao struggled subconsciously, short of breath.

    "Qiao Qiao...it''s me." Qi Yan lay down and hugged her, leaned close to her ear and lowered her voice, "Don''t wake Niu Niu up."

    The person in her arms fell silent instantly.

    Qi Yan slowly let go of her hand and hugged her tightly.

    A clear and pleasant fragrance lingered in the quilt, and Lu Zhiqiao was lying on her side, her waist tightly bound by a strong arm, unable to move.  Knowing that it was Qi Yan, she was quiet for a while, and the sourness in her heart overflowed quickly, mixed with embarrassment and anger, she felt more and more aggrieved and struggled again.

    "Let me go..." With a suppressed voice in her throat, she grabbed Qi Yan''s hand in the dark, opened her mouth and bit down hard.

    --hiss

    It hurts.

    Qi Yan gasped, gritted her teeth and held back.

    The pain became more and more intense, as if a piece of flesh was about to be torn off, she squeezed her throat, opened her mouth to gasp, and said in a trembling voice: "Bite... bite me to death..."

    As soon as the words fell, the sharp pain suddenly disappeared.

    Hearing her painful gasp, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t bear it after all, her mouth let go resentfully, grabbed her hand and threw it against the wall, knocking it down with a thud, and held it in her palm like a baby, carefully massaging it for her.

    A teardrop dripped from the corner of her eye and stained the pillow.

    "Do you want to pull my hair?" Qi Yan asked, enduring the pain, she buried her head and kissed her ear. She lifted a strand of her hair and threw it on her face, "Here, you can just pull it out."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t move, not even breathe.

    "Qiao Qiao?"

    "Qiao Qiao¡ª"

    "Qiao... Ouch..." Qi Yan''s scalp hurt, and she gasped.

    This time, she pulled it hard with all her strength, and she heard a "snap". She didn''t know if one or several hairs were really broken, and she felt that her scalp was about to be ripped off.

    Fine.

    Let her be fierce.

    As long as you can coax this person, losing a few hairs is nothing.

    Qi Yan gently rubbed her scalp, the bitten part of her hand was still throbbing, she didn''t care too much, moved her lips to kiss her ear, and whispered: "I''m too anxious this afternoon... I shouldn''t have been aggressive.  I''m... sorry..."

    Another tear fell down her eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao breathed slowly, her nose and throat were a little stuffy, but she could only breathe carefully so as not to be heard. She just endured it like this, suffocating in the quilt. She really wanted to cry freely.

    She also knew she couldn''t get over it.

    When she saw Qi Yan trapped in the pit, while such a large rock was rolling down the mountain. Apart from rushing over, she could no longer think of anything else. It was just a choice she made subconsciously.

    Afterwards, she regained her composure and realized her fear. She was indeed too impulsive. Fortunately, the rock got stuck into the soil. If it really hit her, she would be paralyzed even if she didn''t die. If something happened to her, what would her daughter do? Does she have to entrust  her to Qi Yan like last time?

    At that time, she had no time to weigh things.

    Everyone has the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, but she cares more about Qi Yan''s safety than herself.

    At least for now, she doesn''t regret rushing over.

    She is hopeless.

    She couldn''t do without Qi Yan.

    "But, Qiao Qiao... there should be no next time, okay? At any time, you must put your own safety first, don''t do stupid things for me, you still have Niu Niu."

    "If you have an accident because of me, I can turn around and find another woman. Is it worth it? Idiot." Qi Yan said in a breathless voice, her lips lingering in her ears, slowly moved to her cheeks, and gently rubbed them.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, turned over and hugged Qi Yan tightly, and buried her face in her hair.

    "Qiao Qiao?"

    Qi Yan was confused.

    Then she heard a very light sobbing sound in her arms, she was startled, and immediately shut her mouth, stretched her arms around Lu Zhiqiao''s waist, patted her back, silently comforting her.

    The sobbing gradually died down.

    "Qi Yan..."

    "Mm?"

    "I''m not an idiot."

    Qi Yan froze, her heart jumped hard, feeling that there was a deeper meaning in the sentence. She savored it repeatedly, but she couldn''t figure it out, or rather, she couldn''t be certain.

    The night was quiet, and the quilt felt terribly stuffy.

    After a long time, she asked softly, "What do you mean?"

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t answer, but touched her face with her lips, as if intentionally or unintentionally.

    Author''s Note:

    Niu Niu: I really worry about my little mom''s IQ [stomping feet.jpg

 CH 67

    Breathing close at hand, Qi Yan felt something soft touch her face, and then the person in her arms moved, hugged her tightly, and never answered. The hot air slowly puffed on the side of her neck, tickling, she lost her mind to ask questions for a moment.

    The quilt was stuffy, and it was dark. It was inevitable for the two of them to be close together. Qi Yan pinched Lu Zhiqiao''s earlobe, arched her lips, and kissed her tear mole according to her memory.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body froze, and a muffled hum came from her throat, which was unknowingly provocative.

    "Qiao Qiao." Qi Yan''s voice was hoarse, "I think¡ª"

    After working hard for more than half a year, relying on small toys and movies to survive, she couldn''t help but be teased by Lu Zhiqiao, but this person was oblivious, as if she was sure that she would not dare to touch her. She wanted to do whatever she wanted. At this moment, the atmosphere is strong and the emotions are just right. If she doesn''t do it with Lu Zhiqiao, she''ll write her name backwards*"

    *she''ll be damned, it''s like she''s betting on her name (and ancestors) and if what she says doesn''t happen she isn''t Qi Yan anymore

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t move or make a sound.

    Thinking that this was tacit consent, Qi Yan gained a lot of courage, and the hand that was bitten, suddenly twitched. Unexpectedly, she was caught right after she touched her hair.

    "Sleep." Lu Zhiqiao muttered and took her hand away.

    Qi Yan was holding back her fire, but she was hit in the head. Still she didn''t give up, coaxing: "Qiao Qiao~ I''m very gentle."

    "We''ll be very quiet~"

    "It''ll be quick~"

    No matter how much she coaxed her, Lu Zhiqiao just remained unmoved and held her hand tightly.

    In terms of power gap, Qi Yan is far stronger than Lu Zhiqiao. If she really wants to use force, this fragrant and soft awkward little woman is no match for her. But at this point, Lu Zhiqiao is still unwilling, and she will not insist.

    If it''s not consensual xx, it''s boring.

    Her name is destined to be written backwards.

    Qi Yan''s fire gradually subsided, she relaxed, and said softly, "Okay, let''s go to sleep."

    After finishing speaking, she propped up half of her body, and wanted to go back, but before the quilt was lifted, Lu Zhiqiao wrapped her up and hugged her again, forcing her to fall down, but she didn''t speak, just hugged her.

    "Qiao Qiao¡ª"

    She''s killing her!

    "Niu Niu will find out tomorrow."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t move, she arched her head into the woman''s hair.

    Qi Yan felt helpless and funny, and her heart was sweet and greasy. There''s nothing she can do, but comply.

    She also wanted to sleep under the same quilt with Qiao Qiao, but this is a three-person room, each with a single bed, and it is impossible for the two of them to squeeze into one bed. If Niu Niu woke up tomorrow morning and saw them, she wouldn''t know how to explain.

    In the second half of the night, sleepiness swept over.

    A cool breeze blew in from the window, dispelling the heat in the room. Qi Yan drooped her eyelids, half dreaming and half awake, the person in her arms moved and she woke up for a moment, heard Lu Zhiqiao''s even and gentle breathing, quietly pushed the person away, and slipped back to her bed.

    ¡­.

    The next day, all three of them slept until the sun was up.

    Originally, Qi Yan planned to go to Wenhua Town to see other scenic spots, but there are still lingering fears from yesterday''s close call, which made them lost all intention to play, so they just took Niu Niu to buy some special food, and checked out early to return to Jiangcheng.

    Lu Zhiqiao later thought that Qi Yan might be injured. Although she was fine yesterday, she was worried and insisted on taking her to the hospital. The two sent their daughter home first, and then went to the hospital for an examination together.

    There was no internal injury during the examination, but Qi Yan''s butt hurts, and when she took a shower yesterday, she looked in the mirror and saw bruises, but she didn''t have the nerve to say so.

    "My butt is strong and resistant to falls, and the pit is full of dirt, so I''ll be fine in two days after applying some medicine." Sitting in the car, Qi Yan rushed over and hugged Lu Zhiqiao, kissing her tear mole.

    Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously said, "I''ll apply it for you."

    "Mm?"

    "..."

    "Are you sure?" Qi Yan raised her eyebrows.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, seeing the ambiguous smile in her eyes, suddenly realized, blushing: "No...no, you can apply it yourself."

    "No take backs, you already said it.."

    "Don''t make trouble."

    "Then give me a kiss." Qi Yan pursed her lips and closed her eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her full lips, her throat moved, she closed her eyes and slowly approached her, pecked her lightly, then quickly backed away, and turned her eyes to the window.

    Qi Yan knew to take the good with the bad, and did not make a fuss, bent over to fasten her seat belt and drove home.

    At the gate of the complex, Lu Zhiqiao wanted to pick up a package, and Qi Yan wanted to wait for her to go up with her, but was strongly refused, so she had no choice but to go to the basement alone. On the ninth floor, her cell phone rang. It was Assistant Feng''s call.

    "Hello?"

    "Hello, Miss Qi, are you free next Saturday?" A woman''s polite voice came from the other line.

    Qi Yan paused, opened the door and entered the room, and subconsciously replied that she was free.

    After closing the door, she suddenly thought that next Saturday is the 7th; her birthday.

    Assistant Feng said that the company is preparing for the new season of fashion magazines. Considering that her personal time is not easy to arrange, most of the planning has been completed first. She only needs to hold an online meeting with the later staff to finalize the final content and style, and then go over on Saturday to start the shooting directly.

    The online meeting time is easy to arrange, but on the 7th...

    Qi Yan hesitated.

    When she was a child, on the morning of her birthday, her parents would cook longevity noodles* for her and give her a hidden gift. Every year was a surprise. For the rest of the time, she can invite friends out to play at will, and those who can be there will help her celebrate, and those who can''t be there will send gifts early.

    *long, thin Asian wheat flour noodles cooked in a broth seasoned with vegetables, sesame oil and soy sauce, symbolize long life, good luck and prosperity and can always be found on the banquet table at Chinese celebrations, esp. birthdays and Lunar new year.

    Before working, she likes to have a lively birthday party, but after she got employed, she just wants to be quiet.

    She doesn''t want to make a fuss this year, and besides, Lu Zhiqiao doesn''t know her birthday, and she doesn''t intend to tell her. She has been busy enough recently, so she doesn''t have to be distracted by her birthday.  Birthdays can be celebrated every year, it won''t hurt not to celebrate this year.

    She can just go back to her parents'' house for noodles in the morning, accompany Ms. Lin, go to the photoshoot in the afternoon, and go home to have dinner with Qiao Qiao and her daughter in the evening.

    Perfect plan.

    Qi Yan thought for a moment and gave Assistant Feng a reply.

    On the evening of the 6th, Qi Yan accompanied the mother and daughter after dinner, honestly confessed to Lu Zhiqiao about her appointment tomorrow, and promised to come back before dinner. She thought that Lu Zhiqiao would be very concerned, but the woman didn''t even frown, smiled and let her go to work without worry.

    That night, Qi Yan planned to go back to her parents'' house, and had already driven to the door, but found that only the servants were there. After asking, she found out that her dear parents were still away on vacation.

    It turns out they forgot their daughter''s birthday tomorrow.

    She went home.

    The next morning, Qi Yan cooked a bowl of noodles for herself, took a photo and sent it to Ms. Lin:

    [Mom, don''t you think you forgot something?]

    With a time difference of twelve hours, Ms. Lin replied in seconds.

    [Oh!]

    [Happy birthday my baby!  One step closer to turning thirty!]

    Then a voice message came: "Yan Yan, what gift do you want? We will go back in two days and bring it to you."

    "No, no, I don''t need anything, you and my dad can have a good time." Qi Yan replied with the corner of her mouth curled up.

    The older she gets, the less she likes birthdays. Recently, she has received many gifts from friends one after another. If these gifts hadn''t reminded her that she was about to turn twenty-eight, she wouldn''t even remember that she had a birthday.

    She doesn''t lack everything, on the contrary, what she lacks the most, what she wants the most, cannot be obtained on this special day.

    In this way, today is just an ordinary day.

    Qi Yan chatted with Ms. Lin for a while, but was interrupted by her old father in the middle. After breakfast, she stayed at home until ten o''clock. She changed into the newly bought clothes, put on delicate and elegant makeup, and went out to meet her friends.

    At two o''clock in the afternoon, she arrived at Siena Model on time.

    The models had already changed their clothes and put on their makeup, and all the members of the team were already in place, waiting for Qi Yan. Holding the camera, she walked into the studio with leisurely steps, glanced around, and stopped when she saw Jiang Yu sitting in the corner.

    Their eyes met, and Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow at her.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu wore all black today, a pair of suspender jumpsuit wide-leg pants, a palm-wide thick buckle belt around her waist, and a pair of open-toed stiletto on her feet. Sitting there, she had a bony face with stern features, slightly raised eyes, and a sharp sense of indifference. Even in the corner, she was very eye-catching, like the focus of the audience.

    Qi Yan nodded calmly, didn''t linger too much on her, and went straight to the models.

    "You guys follow me in turn, to the backstage." After speaking, she pushed the door open on the side of the studio and entered.

    She has a quirk when taking pictures of people. Before starting to shoot, she must fully communicate with the model. The duration is uncertain, but this process is indispensable. Today was originally a rest day, and the team specially adjusted their itinerary in order to wait for her, hoping to be straightforward and not procrastinate, so her behavior caused an uproar.

    To shoot one person, one needs to talk for at least twenty minutes, and there are eight people in total, so they can''t afford to waste time like this.

    "Where are you from?"

    "City K."

    "Do you have any hobbies?"

    "Let me think about it..."

    The third model.

    Qi Yan sat on the chair in front of the dressing table with her legs crossed, her expression was calm, and her brown eyes were silent. Contrary to Jiang Yu, she was dressed in white today, but it was also in the style of suspenders, aloof and cold, giving people the feeling that she was not easy to get close to.

    The models are all professionally trained, they speak gracefully, confidently and calmly, and communicate smoothly.

    She didn''t know that there was a commotion outside at the moment.

    Some people said that she deliberately delays time, some say that she is arrogant, and some whispered why Jiang Yu wanted to find such a "capricious" photographer, who doesn''t know how to cooperate, let alone expect her to lead the team in the future.

    No matter what others said, Jiang Yu would not be moved. She sat quietly in the corner, playing with a ruby ??ring in her hand, her eyes were cold.

    When the fifth model went in, she didn''t come out for a long time.

    Jiang Yu finally stood up, walked towards the door under everyone''s gaze, raised her hand to knock, pushed the door open and entered.

    The model inside, who was about to come out, saw Jiang Yu, smiled and nodded at her, and went out. Jiang Yu closed the door, looked at Qi Yan who was crossing legs, and curled the corner of her mouth: "Does this really need to take that long?"

    She had a bright smile, with a less aggressive aura and more charm.

    "Why? Is someone impatient?" Qi Yan stretched out five fingers and looked at her hand carefully. All nails are neatly manicured.

    "Mm."

    "That can''t be helped, this is how I am. You know my style."

    "Of course." Jiang Yu went around behind her, leaning on the back of the chair with both hands, and suddenly leaned over to her ear, exhaling like an orchid, "I know all your habits."

    Qi Yan''s body froze, her expression changed, she immediately got up and stepped back three steps, looking at Jiang Yu coldly.

    Her gaze fell on Jiang Yu''s hand inadvertently, and seeing a ruby ??ring on her ring finger, her eyes darkened, and she turned her face away: "Jiang Yu, please keep at least two steps away from me in the future, it is not necessary for us to communicate."

    "Oh?"

    "Contracts don''t hold me back."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, a sense of loss flashed in her eyes, and she didn''t speak.

    The sixth model knocked on the door.

    She raised her eyes, still smiling at Qi Yan, but her smile was a little more cautious, and she said in a negotiating tone: "Try to hurry up, everyone''s time is precious."

    "I will."

    Qi Yan prefers the soft approach. Although her face is expressionless at the moment and her eyes are cold, she has already softened her attitude.

    Each should take a step back and stop.

    Today, she wants to impress everyone and leave her own style and characteristics. As for everyone''s complaints and grievances, she has absolute confidence and can speak with her skills and works to convince everyone. And hold back the complaints and grievances.

    Jiang Yu took a deep look at her, opened the door and went out without saying anything.

    ¡­.

    Because Qi Yan spent too much time communicating with the model, the progress was a bit delayed, and it was already half past six after all the shooting. It was getting dark outside, and the stomachs of the people inside were growling.

    Qi Yan promised Lu Zhiqiao to go back before dinner, it was already a bit late, so she was in a hurry. She handed over the finished film to the post-production division, as well as the selection process, which can also be completed online. Now it has nothing to do with her, so she can go home.

    But Jiang Yu wanted to keep her.

    It was so late today, and she planned to invite everyone in the team to dinner. How could Qi Yan be missing? But seeing Qi Yan''s impatient look, she understood that she couldn''t keep a person by offering a meal.

    As soon as she left the studio, Jiang Yu whispered a few words to her assistant, and got up to chase her.

    "Qi Yan!"

    The high heels step on hurriedly but they are very stable.

    Qi Yan, who had almost entered the elevator, paused, turned around, and saw Jiang Yu stopped two steps away from her, smiling at her: "Is it convenient to choose pictures now? Wang Ye has too many pictures in his hand. Pick some out, and I will take them back to the headquarters next week, and I may not have time for half a month."

    The meaning is obvious, asking her to "work overtime".

    Qi Yan frowned, before she could speak, Jiang Yu spoke again.

    "If it''s inconvenient for you, it''s okay. If it doesn''t work, I can ask other photographers to help you choose. It''s just that it will be different from your expected effect, and they may even change your original shots and retake it. After all, every photographer ''s perspective is different..."

    Jiang Yu is beautiful when she smiles from the bottom of her heart, she abandons her coldness and sternness, and turns amiable and kind.

    She knows Qi Yan too well, and knows that Qi Yan''s filming should be done in one go, and she doesn''t like others to touch her output. Inviting other photographers to participate is tantamount to directly telling Qi Yan that her things have been altered and no longer belong to her.

    With this person''s temperament, how can she allow that?

    Sure enough.

    Qi Yan pursed her lips, and rested her hand on the camera.

    ¡­.

    The night was silent, and thousands of lights in the complex were lit.

    The living room in 902 is bright, the ceiling is covered with meteor bead curtains, the background wall of the TV is covered by a thin veil, and the gold inflatable balloons in english font "happy birthday" is embedded on it, and the corners of the wall are filled with pink and purple balloons, warm and bright lights, intertwined with flowing piano notes.

    There is a big three-tiered cake on the tea table, with two number candles on the top, one "28" and one "13".

    They are waiting to be ignited.

    Today is her daughter''s birthday, and it''s also Qi Yan''s birthday. Lu Zhiqiao prepared gifts a few days in advance, ordered a cake, and wanted to surprise Qi Yan.

    That person thought she didn''t know?

    She prepared two gifts for Qi Yan, one was the earphone that she wanted to change, and the other was herself.

    The earphones were wrapped in an exquisite gift box and placed next to the cake, and she washed herself thoroughly and put on the seductive lingerie that she had finally made up her mind to buy, with only a long nightgown on top.

    Tonight will be an unforgettable night.

    "Mom, I want to eat cake~" Lu Wei stared at the cake, her eyes glistened, and her saliva almost flowed out.

    Lu Zhiqiao touched her daughter''s hair with a smile, and said softly, "Wait a minute, Teacher Qi will be back soon."

    Half an hour ago, Qi Yan sent her a message saying that they were busy there and would not come back for dinner, so they could eat by themselves.

    Although she was disappointed, dinner was not the most important thing tonight. No matter how late it was, Qi Yan always had to go home. She just waited in the room, and turned off the lights when she heard the sound of the elevator door opening.

    "Well, all right."

    The little girl swallowed, and sat on the sofa with the doll in her arms.

    In the dim light, Lu Zhiqiao had long hair hanging down her shoulders, and her paper-white calves were exposed under the loose nightgown. Her eyebrows and eyes were slightly curved, and there was a smile at the corner of her mouth, showing a bit of gentleness and demureness.

    Time passed by every minute and every second...

    Seven thirty.

    Eight o''clock.

    "Is Teacher Qi not coming back?" Lu Wei stared at the cake with greed.

    "How can that be?"

    "Didn''t she tell you what time she will come back?"

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, met her daughter''s surprised gaze, and shook her head.

    The little girl said ah, and tilted her head wearing the paper crown: "She should have told you."

    "Why?" Lu Zhiqiao was puzzled.

    Recalling carefully, she didn''t seem to have noticed these before, as long as Qi Yan reported to her, she would not care. Just for peace of mind.

    Lu Wei spread her hands and asked: "Aren''t you two in a relationship?"

    Author''s Note:

    We are so anxious to death [spread hands.jpg]

 CH 68

    Her daughter''s words rang in Lu Zhiqiao''s ears like a thunderbolt. She froze suddenly, her slender eyelashes trembled, and her face changed drastically. She subconsciously blurted out: "How do you know?"

    After finishing speaking, she suddenly realized that this was tantamount to a disguised admission. She regretted deeply, and wished she could bite her own tongue.

    How are they in a relationship?

    It''s just that--

    It''s just ambiguous.

    Tonight, she decided to establish a relationship with Qi Yan, but she didn''t expect her daughter to give her a blow to the head, blowing away the courage she had worked up so hard.  Before she could welcome the sweet joy, she was forced to face the cruel reality.

    "It''s obvious" Lu Wei murmured, seeing her mother''s complexion, she shrank her neck and muttered softly, "You and Teacher Qi are like the hero and heroine of a TV series..."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned,and avoided her daughter''s gaze with a guilty heart.

    Looking back on the moments she spent with Qi Yan, she was extremely cautious and avoided her daughter as much as possible. Even if she couldn''t avoid her, there would be no excessive intimacy. How can a child aged twelve or thirteen understand same-sex love? She will only think that her mother and teacher have a good relationship, right? She thought so.

    For tonight, she did a whole week of mental work for herself, listing all possible situations and thinking of countermeasures, but she didn''t expect her daughter to do this to her. Of course, she has thought about how to explain to her daughter. The best way is to wait until the child is older, while Qi Yan and her will maintain a "friendship" status in front of the child. It''s just that she didn''t expect the child to know about it long ago, and she didn''t give her the slightest chance to prepare.

    Obviously, she underestimated the precocity of her daughter.

    What to do?

    What will her child think of her? Will she think her mom is a pervert? Not only perverted but also has no bottom line, getting together with her teacher? Has her image in her daughter''s mind been completely ruined?

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face turned pale, her fingers clenched her nightgown tightly, and her mind turned in a mess.

    She suddenly remembered her daughter''s reading adult comics. At that time, she was very worried that her child''s early exposure to homosexual works would inevitably lead to imaginative thinking, and one day she would associate it with her and Qi Yan.  It was because she was too confident, thinking that she would always keep a certain distance from Qi Yan, and she depended on her luck.

    Her daughter said that she and Qi Yan are like the characters in a TV series, which means that there is no conclusive evidence, as long as she bites her tongue and refuse to admit it...

    So tonight is a travesty.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyelids, and her gaze fell on the three-tiered cake¡ªthe candles hadn''t been lit, the gifts hadn''t been delivered yet, and it was too late to express her heart.

    Not admitting it is tantamount to giving up Qi Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes turned red, she lowered her head, her nails pinched her palms, her nightgown was crumpled. She blinked, forcing back the tears, and made a choice at that moment.

    "Girl... " She raised her head, her complexion returned to normal, and took her daughter''s hand and said with a smile.

    Listen to mom, it''s not what you think. Teacher Qi and I are both women, how could we possibly fall in love? You''re young and you should watch fewer love TV dramas.

    Every word spoken was like a knife, which pierced into her heart, twitching and hurting.

    As cowardly as she is, she is not worthy of Qi Yan, and she is just dazzled by the momentary joy, forgetting that she cannot enjoy the life of ordinary people. The reality slapped her hard on the face.

    Lu Wei stared at her mother''s face and said nonchalantly, "But I''ve been watching you for a long time, and it''s obviously a relationship."

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned.

    "And Teacher Qi is so kind to you. If you don''t admit it now, you''re like the scumbag in the TV series. You''ve abandoned her. She will be heartbroken when she finds out." The little girl said seriously.

    That''s strange.

    Mom didn''t admit it?

    The two of them had a passionate kiss that night, so it couldn''t be because of her sleepwalking and dizziness, right?  She wouldn''t be that close with her best friend. The world of adults is really confusing. If you are in love, you are in love. There is nothing to hide.Teacher Qi is not a bad person.

    Although she felt a little awkward when she first found out, compared to her father whom she had never met, Teacher Qi who was right in front of her is obviously better. Teacher Qi is beautiful, gentle and considerate, and loves her, gives her a little favor, helps her cover up. Other students in the class are not treated like this. Mom doesn''t want Teacher Qi, but she wants her.

    Lu Zhiqiao panicked when her daughter pointed out her thoughts, and lightly reprimanded: "Don''t talk nonsense!"

    "I''m not talking nonsense." Lu Wei pouted, "Why didn''t you tell me..."

    The well-behaved and obedient child suddenly became difficult to fool. Lu Zhiqiao was in chaos. Seeing that the situation was out of control, she was a little annoyed, and shouted: "Go back to sleep."

    "No, I want cake."

    "Go back!"

    She straightened her face, with anger in her eyes, the little girl was terrified, felt aggrieved, curled her lips, took off the paper crown, threw it away, put on her shoes and left sullenly.

    As the door closed, the music had just finished playing, and the clear piano sound in the speakers stopped abruptly, and the room became eerily quiet.

    Lu Zhiqiao slumped on the sofa and closed her eyes.

    What her daughter said was right, she chose to abandon Qi Yan, she was not only cowardly, but also scum. In terms of emotional matters, she has no choice but to be led by the nose. At this moment, she is like a small boat in the vast ocean, alone and helpless.

    It would be great if Qi Yan was here.

    The person she "abandoned" is also the person she most wants to see now.

    Near 8:30, the sound of the elevator door opening came from the corridor, Lu Zhiqiao sat up suddenly, and turned to look at the door. A few seconds later, the door opened, and Qi Yan''s slender figure stepped into the room.

    The room was filled with soft light, and the huge living room was decorated like a dreamy secret place. The golden words "happy birthday" came into view. Qi Yan paused at the door, and her first reaction was that she had gone to the wrong house. She lowered her head and looked at the key in her hand then at the door.

    It''s 902, her home, that''s right.

    How...

    Qi Yan was stunned for two seconds, then her gaze turned and saw Lu Zhiqiao sitting on the sofa in her nightgown. Before she could be pleasantly surprised, she was startled by those red eyes and quickly took off her shoes and ran barefoot. "What''s the matter?"

    She hugged Lu Zhiqiao, feeling silky and soft in her arms.

    Smelling the familiar scent of shampoo, as if grabbing a life-saving rope, Lu Zhiqiao sniffed lightly, collapsed, wrapped her arms tightly around Qi Yan''s neck, and buried her face in her hair.

    "... Niu Niu knows about our relationship." Her voice choked up a little.

    Her nightgown was just past her knees, and when she raised her arm, the hem of the clothes also lifted and climbed up, uncovering the secrets underneath.

    Qi Yan stared at it, swallowed, and suddenly came back to her senses, "We...what relationship?"

    "She said we were in a relationship."

    Lu Zhiqiao moved her arms subconsciously, but the hem of her clothes climbed up a little bit. The scenery was faintly visible, making someone daydream. But Qi Yan no longer had the desire to spy. As if she was struck by lightning, and said in a daze, "How could Niu Niu know?"

    The first thing she thought of was the night at the Songshan Hotel. Could it be that when she was in Lu Zhiqiao''s bed in the middle of the night, Niu Niu saw them?

    Thinking about it, their contact was cautious and careful, completely avoiding the child. The only time they were seen hugging each other on the sofa has already passed more than half a year. If the child found out then, she should have said it long ago.

    How can that be possible?

    She thought of the manhua. Judging from her experience, most of the people who read BL manhuas are straight girls and they don''t read Lily at all, let alone associate them to people around them.

    Qi Yan was a little flustered.

    She was more worried about Lu Zhiqiao''s negative reaction than her daughter knowing about the relationship between the two of them. They have come step by step, they have gone through so much, and faced life and death difficulties head on. There is finally a glimmer of hope that the clouds will open and the moon will shine. She is not willing to be killed like this.

    She knows how much Qiao Qiao cares about her daughter.

    "Niu Niu said that she has observed us for a long time, and she said that we are like the hero and heroine in the TV series..." Lu Zhiqiao sobbed in a low voice, repeating what her daughter said just now.

    The more she recalled, the more chaotic her heart became and the more hopeless she felt.

    There is also a little guilt.

    Although Qi Yan was worried, she was still calm, thinking quickly in her mind, and asked, "What''s Niu Niu''s reaction when she said that? Her expression?"

    Lu Zhiqiao paused: "No reaction, no expression, it''s like...not strange at all." After speaking, she pulled away from Qi Yan''s arms and grabbed the woman''s hand, "What should I do? How can I explain this to the child?"

    "It''s okay, Qiao Qiao. Listen to me, Niu Niu''s lack of reaction indicates that the situation is not as serious as you think. Don''t panic, let''s face it together, and honestly explain it to the child, she¡ª"

    "No way!" Lu Zhiqiao interrupted, shaking her head like a rattle, "You can''t confess to Niu Niu, it will bring her bad. She is still young and doesn''t understand these things at all. What if she thinks it''s new and fun, and learns from us? Qi Yan, let''s separate for a while..."

    She grabbed Qi Yan''s arm, her black eyes showed fear, as if there was an invisible hand behind her, dragging her back into the abyss.

    "Bring bad?" Qi Yan looked at her own face in her eyes, and it became cold little by little, dark and gloomy.

    "Do you think liking the same sex is ''bad''?"

    The last sentence chilled her heart even more.

    Although she knew how much Lu Zhiqiao cared about her daughter and was mentally prepared, she didn''t expect Lu Zhiqiao to speak so simply and without thinking. A light sentence of "bringing bad" and "separating" wipes out all the affection between two people.

    "Besides, what separation? Have we ever been together?" Qi Yan twitched the corner of her mouth.

    Lu Zhiqiao choked on her throat, and a dense pain spread in her heart. She slowly loosened Qi Yan''s arm, moved to the side, lowered her head, and casually pulled her nightgown to cover her knees, without saying a word.

    The romantic melody flows from the speaker, the piano sound is clear and full, and the music is melodious.

    The wind blows in from outside the window, and the meteor bead curtain on the ceiling sways and collides gently, reflecting the soft and warm light, and making a sound like a silver bell. Lu Zhiqiao sat motionless, with her hanging hair covering her profile, looking lonely and aloof.

    A tear pattered down and splashed onto the nightgown, very light, and the transparent water stain slowly fainted and spread.

    Tonight''s plan cannot be put into action by any means. They have not yet established a relationship and they were already seen through by their daughter. If it is established and there is substantial development, it is unclear what the child will think.

    Qi Yan watched from the side, her half-cold heart pricked with pain. She couldn''t bear it in the end, she moved over and hugged her gently, "Qiao Qiao... I know what you are worried about, but things are still very vague now. Don¡¯t scare yourself. If it¡¯s not convenient for you to talk about it, I¡¯ll go talk to Niu Niu, ask her what she thinks, and explain to her.¡±

    "Don''t look for Niu Niu." Lu Zhiqiao sniffed, tears rolled down, "Let her forget about this, as long as I insist on denying it, she won''t think too much about it."

    "Why deny it? Escaping won''t solve the problem, be brave, can''t we face it together?" Qi Yan frowned, reaching out to wipe away her tears, but the more she wipes, the more tears flow.

    "You keep saying you trust me, but now you are really in trouble, do you really trust me?"

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her head, and panic flashed in her red and teary eyes, "It''s not that I don''t trust you, I just don''t trust myself..."

    Qi Yan interrupted: "Is there any difference? This is the matter of the two of us, not of either party."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips.

    The hand on her lap was gently wrapped by the other hand.

    "Trust me." Qi Yan leaned over, pressed her thin lips against her eyes and lightly kissed away her tears.

    The hot and humid liquid tasted salty and astringent, and it stopped dripping after being kissed. Qi Yan''s lips rested on the tear mole, sucking wantonly.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, let out a muffled sob, and nestled softly into Qi Yan''s arms, but her chaotic mood was still not calm, and there were no other thoughts in her mind. She took the initiative to hook Qi Yan''s neck, "Are you done?"

    "Mm."

    "...Happy Birthday," she whispered.

    Qi Yan paused, the warmth of her lips left in an instant, looked at her, then turned to look at the living room, with surprise in her eyes, "So you are¡ª"

    Is this what I think it is?

    Happy birthday?

    Lu Zhiqiao brushed her hair, looked down at her hands, "Isn''t today your birthday?"

    "Yes, but how did you know?" Qi Yan could hardly hide the joy on her face, a smile overflowed from the corner of her mouth. Her half-cold heart warmed up again, beating faster and faster.

    "That time you sent a courier, I was by the side and saw your ID card."

    "..."

    Qi Yan''s smile froze on her lips.

    She thought that Qiao Qiao didn''t know her birthday and there was no need to celebrate, so she just focused on her work. She worked overtime today with a nonchalant mindset, thinking that she had already reported to Qiao Qiao and would be back late. However, she didn''t expect Qiao Qiao to prepare such a big surprise for her.

    And a fright.

    If she had come back earlier, she would have had more time to enjoy the surprises, more time to deal with sudden shocks.

    Intense regret rose from the bottom of her heart. She had never longed for the world to have a regret pill, wanting to turn back time and start again today.

    Why didn''t you tell me earlier,I..I thought you didn''t know... " Qi Yan smiled and complained, her eyes slightly wet and her words incoherent.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyebrows and the black tear mole became lively, "I want to give you a surprise, if I told you about it,  there won''t be any surprises."

    Qi Yan stretched out her hand and scratched her nose, "I almost died from shock."

    Lu Zhiqiao tilted her head, with embarrassment flashing across her eyes, she buried her head on Qi Yan''s shoulder. The hem of her nightgown climbed up, she pulled it subconsciously, and suddenly thought of the gift she had prepared, so she hurriedly got up again, picked up the box next to the cake and handed it to Qi Yan.

    "For you."

    "Can I open it now?" Qi Yan raised her brows, saw her nodding, and carefully tore off the wrapping paper.

    It''s a pair of black bluetooth headphones.

    Her eyes widened, and her mouth shrunk into a circle, and then she looked up in surprise: "How did you know I wanted to buy this?"

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled shyly, blushing on her cheeks, and whispered, "Last time at the gym, you said that your earphones were uncomfortable, and you wanted to change it, so I bought it, as a birthday present for you."

    Qi Yan''s heart trembled, and she squeezed the box tightly.

    She remembers.

    That day, she just casually said that  her old earphones are well used but not broken, as long as they are not hung around her neck while running, it isn''t a big deal. She planned to change them but not sooner. Who knew that what she said in passing was remembered by Lu Zhiqiao.

    Qi Yan blinked, tilted her head and kissed the corner of her mouth, "I like it very much."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s ears turned slightly hot, and she closed her eyes. Thinking of the other gift, she couldn''t help but raise her hand and grab the collar of her nightgown.

    Should she still push through with it?

    "Qi Yan..."

    "Mm?"

    "Actually¡ª" her lips moved slightly, "There is another gift."

    Qi Yan raised her head with a smile: "What?"

    Author''s Note:

    Pull the lights*, huh? (Don''t be too happy too soon.jpg

    *turn on/off the lights, in Chinese internet lingo it means, skipping erotic scenes

 CH 69

    Seeing Qi Yan''s smiling eyes filled with anticipation, joy and tenderness, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly hesitated, and the fingers on the tie bent stiffly. But thinking about how she spoke improperly, earlier, she felt regretful, so she decided that since the gift was already prepared, she might as well give it as it was.

    She bit her lip, gently pulling off the string, and the nightgown slipped off, revealing the erotic lingerie that makes one blush.

    The scenery is attractive.

    Lu Zhiqiao half-closed her eyes and said nothing, a large and dazzling blush appeared on her cheeks.

    The music in the speaker happened to play to the passionate part, and her heartbeat fluctuated with the rhythm, feeling anxious for some reason. Her thoughts that had just been disturbed by her daughter haven''t calmed down. She seemed to be pushed by a force, reluctantly moving forward, reaching an uncontrollable point where she could only bite the bullet.

    A scorching gaze fell on her, full of affection and desire. Can she imagine that person''s expression, surprise?  excited? Or¡ª

    Both.

    Qi Yan stared at the scene and swallowed, a moment of surprise and excitement flashed through her eyes, but they disappeared quickly. Her eyes turned dim, her face slightly sunken, as if she understood something, but didn''t speak.

    Lu Zhiqiao waited nervously.

    Suddenly, two hands stretched out. She held her breath.

    Instead of doing what was expected, both hands picked up her nightgown and draped them over her, covering all the scenery tightly. Then carefully tied the strings and tied a beautiful bow - with thin and slender fingers, and the knots were so beautiful

    Lu Zhiqiao stared blankly, looked up, and met the person''s calm gaze. Qi Yan lightly curled the corner of her mouth and smiled reluctantly, whispering, "I don''t want this gift until we establish a relationship.

    After finishing speaking, she avoided Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes and turned around.

    The corners of her lips collapsed.

    If what happened earlier had not happened, she would happily accept the gift, and then the two would establish a relationship and live a happy family life of three. However, those words stuck in her heart like nails. Even if she had a pleasant surprise at this moment, it was hard to resist the faint pain.

    It''s like slapping her face, then massaging her three times. First, hurt her deeply, and then give her a self-righteous comfort.

    Does this person think that all she wants is her body?

    Countless times, she felt that she had gained her heart, only to be always pushed away, resisted, and even given up, like she is today. She has never liked someone so humbly, but the humble she is, the more she is taken for granted. Of course, she didn''t want to speculate on Lu Zhiqiao in this way, she believes that she is not.

    Back when she was young, she didn''t know how to show weakness emotionally, and she ran around with thorns all over her body, and in the end she was left alone. Later, she learned to show weakness, but to no avail, her nature could not be changed. Then much later she discovered that there is no need to learn whether to be humble, show weakness, or infinite tolerance. As long as she meets that person, she can learn it without a teacher, just like the body''s instinct.

    Qiao Qiao is "that person".

    The closer their relationship became, the more reluctant she was to put pressure on Lu Zhiqiao, and she would rather digest all the grievances and pains by herself. She can accommodate all of her.

    It''s just that today, the patience and good temper she''s always been proud of, almost failed her.

    Those words hurt her deeply.

    It hurts so much.

    What''s the point of having an ambiguous relationship? She wants the heart, not the body.

    She thought, this is their last hurdle, right? As long as the child''s matter can be resolved smoothly and Lu Zhiqiao can be assured, they can be together. By that time, she will no longer be a teacher, she will have nothing to do during the day than to shoot photos, teach her daughter homework at night, sleep with Qiao Qiao in her arms, and go out with the mother and daughter on weekends to relax. One room for three people, three meals for four seasons.

    Very nice.

    The corners of her collapsed mouth raised again. She buried the bitterness deep in her heart, pretending that she never felt pain.

    Lu Zhiqiao choked.

    The "why" that came to her mouth was swallowed, she didn''t need to ask, she understood. When it comes to feelings, her emotional ups and downs are uncontrollable. When she is impulsive, she speaks unscrupulously, and when she calms down, she''ll regret endlessly. It was always like this, which inevitably chills people''s hearts.

    However, she had too many uncontrollable burdens to bear. She seemed indestructible, but in reality, she was extremely fragile.

    She has shown Qi Yan the softest and most vulnerable part of her heart without reservation.

    She knew that Qi Yan was sad.

    "¡­sorry."

    Her apology seemed weak.

    Lu Zhiqiao bit her lip tightly, trying to maintain a calm surface, looking so calm and breezy.

    Qi Yan didn''t answer, her eyes fell on the cake, she stood up with a smile, and said, "Let''s cut the cake. I haven''t eaten such a big cake for a long time." After speaking, she picked up the plastic knife next to her and was about to cut it, but saw two number candles standing on the top tier.

    One 28, one 13.

    "What does thirteen mean?" She turned her head and asked.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood up and looked at the number candle that belonged to her daughter, her heart was stabbed, and her eyes darkened, "Today is also Niu Niu''s birthday." Then she added: "Thirteen years old."

    "What a coincidence!" Qi Yan was surprised, her face was full of joy, "Where''s Niu Niu? Why didn''t I see her?"

    "I..." Lu Zhiqiao frowned, not knowing what to say.

    Qi Yan suddenly realized something, her smile froze for two seconds, put down the knife, and said nonchalantly, "I''ll call her."

    Lu Zhiqiao clenched her nightgown tightly with her hands hanging by her side, her lips moved, she hesitated to speak, her eyes showed a look of embarrassment, but she didn''t stop her in the end.

    The corridor was silent, and the sky outside the window was dark.

    Qi Yan knocked on the door of 901, and it took a long time before it opened. When Lu Wei appeared behind the door, the smile on her face became stiff and faded when she saw those red and swollen eyes, and the "Happy Birthday" she had prepared was also swallowed back.

    "Niu Niu, what''s the matter?" She frowned, and raised her hand to caress her daughter''s face.

    Lu Wei stood under the light, her immature face was covered with tears, her eyes were swollen like walnuts, her eyelids were half drooping, and there were still crystal teardrops on her eyelashes, her body twitched. Seeing her, the little girl called out in a low voice, "Teacher Qi..."

    "Don''t cry, don''t cry, what happened?" Qi Yan was so distressed, she hurriedly wiped her tears, entered the room, closed the door, shook off her shoes, and led her to sit barefoot on the sofa.

    The little girl stared at her feet, then turned around and brought slippers to her feet, signaling her to put them on.

    Qi Yan''s heart warmed, she put on the slippers, pulled her daughter to sit on her lap, wiped her tears meticulously, and asked softly, "Did mom scold you?"

    Lu Wei hummed nasally and lowered her head.

    "She...may not be in a good mood today, it''s my fault. I''ve already comforted her. Niu Niu is good, don''t bother with her~" Qi Yan stroked the child''s ponytail, and squeezed out a dry sentence of comfort. She suddenly understood Lu Zhiqiao''s mood, because when she actually faced her daughter, she didn''t have the courage to ask directly or speak out.

    Everything happened so suddenly, she was unprepared, even if she was calm at the moment, she didn''t know how to organize her thoughts and organize her words. She is like this, let alone Lu Zhiqiao.

    The pain in her heart felt better.

    Lu Wei gasped and raised her head to look at her: "Teacher Qi, are you and my mother dating?"

    One sentence from her daughter liberated her.

    Qi Yan heaved a sigh of relief, and asked carefully, "What do you think?"

    "I think¡­you are."

    "Actually¡ª" Qi Yan pursed her lips and said anxiously, "Your mother and I haven''t established a relationship yet, but I''m pursuing her." After speaking, she hurriedly asked: "Niu Niu, do you mind? It''s me, with your mother... um, two women together?"

    She had no experience in talking to children about this kind of thing, so she just had to bite the bullet. The car had already reached the front of the mountain, and she had to make a way out even if there was no way.

    But she was fortunate that she was the one who talked about this matter with her child first, at least she was able to deal with it positively and tried her best to guide the child in the direction she wanted to see. If it was Lu Zhiqiao...

    That foolish woman, apart from being cruel to the child, only knows how to make trouble for herself.

    Maybe because she is not her daughter''s real mother, she can''t experience it personally. She and Lu Zhiqiao grew up in different family environments, sometimes she can''t empathize with her, but with her hard work, the naked eye can see that Lu Zhiqiao is slowly changing, and she believes that everything will get better.

    "I don''t mind." Lu Wei sniffed and shook her head.

    Qi Yan''s eyes lit up, as if expected.  She brushed away the broken hair on her daughter''s forehead, and continued to ask: "Then what are you thinking?"

    "Me?" Lu Wei puffed up her cheeks, thought for a moment, and said seriously: "I don''t have any thoughts, and my life hasn''t changed. But I think my mother has a lot of thoughts, and  doesn''t seem to want to accept you. I can see it, but she still won''t admit it."

    Being poked at the sore spot, Qi Yan frowned unconsciously, but quickly suppressed it, and she smiled, "Niu Niu, do you know mom? What was her life like before?"

    "Busy with work." Lu Wei replied truthfully.

    "..."

    "When I was very young, I was accompanied by a nanny aunt at home. Later, there was no more auntie, so I was alone at home. My mother often worked overtime and came back late. Sometimes I saw her tired and wanted to talk to her, but she ignored me. Then it should be when I was in elementary school, she had time to talk to me, but she just asked me how I was doing in school, whether I did my homework¡­um, my life before was pretty much the same, very monotonous, I don¡¯t know how to describe it.¡±

    The little girl lowered her head and pinched her fingers, her eyes washed with tears were black and clear, she looked simple and innocent, but when she looked carefully, she seemed to be hiding something on her mind.

    "By the way, when I was in the fifth grade of elementary school, there was an aunt who had a good relationship with her, as if they were colleagues. At that time, I didn''t know that girls could be like this, but now I think it must not be a friendly relationship."

    "Lover?" Qi Yan held her breath.

    "It''s not like that, they didn''t kiss." Lu Wei shook her head, then looked at Qi Yan sheepishly, and whispered: "The night before the three-day holiday, I saw you kissing in the room, and I thought of the plot of the novel .¡±

    Facing Teacher Qi, she was willing to say anything. She really likes gentle people. People who always have a smiling face, can''t help but want to get close, and are willing to exchange all her secrets for a hug.

    Thinking about it, she hugged Qi Yan''s neck and secretly kissed her.

    Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized.

    So that''s how it is.

    In the era of developed Internet, information sharing is very fast, and children are generally precocious nowadays. What things can''t be understood? Instead of concentrating on concealing, it is better to speak out and give correct guidance.

    Qi Yan suddenly felt that things were much simpler and easier.

    "Niu Niu, what exactly is the aunt you mentioned just now?" She wanted to know more about this.

    Lu Wei observed her face, it seemed that there was no change because of the kiss, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and said while recalling: "Looking at it now, I feel that the aunt is chasing my mom, but mom doesn''t seem to have that intention. Later they quarreled. There was a fight, and I heard something in the room¡­''with her without you'', I don''t understand."

    "Then that aunt never came to my house."

    Qi Yan raised her brows and asked, "Do you like that Auntie?"

    "I don''t like her very much." Lu Wei curled her lips, "It feels like she smiled at me in a fake way." After speaking, she looked at Qi Yan again, as if she was afraid that she would mind, and quickly added: "Teacher Qi, I like you very much. You are different from that aunt, I like you more than mom."

    Qi Yan burst out laughing, stretching out her hand to scratch the little girl''s nose, "Your mother would be jealous when she hears that."

    "He he~"

    The little girl smiled through tears.

    Qi Yan smiled softly, but her heart was filled with turbulent waves. She felt that she had touched a blind spot and stepped into an area that had never been explored. Although it was unfamiliar, the general situation was the same as her guess.

    If she guessed right, the so-called "her" should refer to Niu Niu. As for using the child as an excuse to reject people whom she doesn''t like, or to give up feelings because of concern for the child, is not known.

    Qi Yan is more inclined to the former, but anyone with a bit of emotional experience, will not be like Lu Zhiqiao.

    She couldn''t figure it out again.

    Lu Zhiqiao treats her daughter as her life, but she doesn''t seem to put herself in the position of a mother. In other words, she doesn''t know how to be a mother. What she plays is more like a cold "monitoring machine". Fully wound up and only rotating in a predetermined trajectory.

    What went wrong?

    "Niu Niu¡ª" Qi Yan''s mind flashed, "Does your mother usually mention your father?"

    Lu Wei was stunned, with disappointment in her eyes, and shook her head, "She hardly mentioned him When I asked her, she first said that he was abroad, and then she said that he had passed away."

    "..."

    Got stuck in a dead end.

    Never liked a man? Not "that '''' kind of love for Niu Niu''s dad?  Photos in the closet? The more Qi Yan thinks about it, the more she feels that there are still many mysteries to be solved, but the clues are broken, no way to go, and the source cannot be found.

    Unless, Qiao Qiao tells her personally.

    "Teacher Qi..."

    "Mm?"

    Lu Wei looked at her, clutching the buttons of her clothes with both hands, a little hesitant to speak, her eyes couldn''t hide her curiosity, "Who is the gong and who is the shou?"

    "Cough cough cough¡ª"

    Qi Yan''s face changed slightly, she couldn''t laugh or cry for a while, and coughed twice, "Let''s not talk about this issue for now. Niu Niu, I just found out that today is also your birthday, do you think it''s a coincidence?" She kissed her cheek, "Happy birthday, baby, let''s eat cake."

    "Happy birthday, Teacher Qi too." The little girl smiled happily, and then the corners of her mouth collapsed again.

    She really wants to eat cake.

    So big!

    But her mom is over there, she was fierce just now. Won''t she just be looking for scolding now?

    Thinking about it, the child looked at Qi Yan with grievances, and was about to cry, "Teacher Qi, I told my mother just now that you are in a relationship, and she scolded me and wouldn''t let me eat the cake."

    Qi Yan held her face and rubbed it, comfortingly said: "It''s okay, your mother was just scared today, and I didn''t come back early, which made her feel bad. I have coaxed her well, she let me come to tell you to eat cake, wash your face quickly, let''s go."

    Lu Wei was a little hesitant, but thinking of such a big cake, she became so greedy that her mouth was watering, it would be a pity not to eat it.

    In the end, it was the glutton who overcame the fear.

    She got up and ran to the bathroom, washed her face indiscriminately, and followed Qi Yan to the opposite door.

    The music on the speaker was replaced with a birthday song, and Lu Zhiqiao squatted in front of the coffee table and cut the cake. She cut the two pieces with the most fruit cream on the bottom layer, put them on a plate and put them aside, and then lit the two number candles on the top.

    Qi Yan led Lu Wei in.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the big one and the small one, with a hint of guilt in her eyes, a stiff smile on the corner of her mouth, and said softly, "Come and eat the cake."

    During the day, she took her daughter out to play, bought gifts, and had a big meal. It is considered half of her birthday done, just short of eating a cake this night. And Qi Yan...she put all her thoughts into preparation, waiting for tonight, but so far, it''s only half done.

    Her daughter looked like she had cried, her eyes were red and a little swollen, and there was timidity in her eyes. On the contrary, Qi Yan was full of smiles. She took the child into the room and brought her the cake that Lu Zhiqiao had served. "Our little girl, Niu Niu, is one year older today."

    "Teacher Qi is one year younger again~" Lu Wei took the cake, her eyes lit up, and she grinned at her.

    "Sweet talker." Qi Yan patted her head, "I prepared a gift for you, wait for me." After speaking, she turned and went into the study.

    "Uh-huh."

    Originally, Qi Yan thought that her daughter was not yet fourteen years old and it was going to be Children''s Day, so she prepared a Children''s Day gift for her in advance, but she didn''t expect that it would be her birthday, so she sent it out as a birthday present first.

    T/N: Children''s Day in China is observed by children below 14 years old.

    The gift is a pair of shoes.

    Lu Wei has been craving for it fo a long time, but because it is too expensive and cannot be bought, she has no choice but to give it up.

    The moment she saw the shoes, Lu Zhiqiao, who was silent on the sidelines, suddenly understood. No wonder, some time ago, Qi Yan asked her daughter what she liked, and also asked about the size of clothes and shoes. She pressed, and Qi Yan said it was for Children''s Day.

    She didn''t think too much about it at the time, but now that she thinks about it, the coincidence happened just right.  This person really has a heart.

    The child was so happy that she didn''t even eat the cake, she pouted her mouth full of cream and kissed Qi Yan on the face. The two hugged and made a fuss, smiling and laughing. Lu Zhiqiao was left on the sidelines, unable to care about the embarrassment and panic of being seen through by her daughter, her heart and eyes were full of bitterness, and a little bit of envy.

    She silently cut a piece of cake for herself, and sat beside them to eat.

    At ten o''clock in the evening, most of the cake was eaten. Qi Yan put the rest in the refrigerator and kept it for tomorrow. She brought the camera and arranged it, and the three of them squatted in front of the golden English letters and took a photo together.

    "Niu Niu, are you sleepy? Mom and I will tidy up here,  go back to brush your teeth and go to bed first, huh?" Qi Yan stroked her daughter''s bulging belly and used it as a head pillow for her.

    The little girl secretly glanced at her mother, quickly looked away, and nodded: "Okay, good night, Teacher Qi~ I''ll eat cake tomorrow."

    "Haha, okay, I''ll keep them all for you."

    Little greedy cat.

    Qi Yan got up and sent her to the door, and watched her step into the door of 901. In an instant, the smile on her face collapsed, and her eyes showed fatigue.

    Turning around, Lu Zhiqiao stood under the lamp and watched her quietly.

    "Let me clean it up. You''re tired today, so go to bed early. I''ll be there soon."

    "No need." Qi Yan smiled lightly and shook her head, looked up at the decorations in the living room, "It''s good to keep, I like it."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and smiled, a little at a loss.

    She was wearing a loose nightgown, showing a slender figure faintly, with a pair of slender calves exposed at the hem, long hair draped over the shoulders, and a gentle face that was plain and indifferent, not a bit seductive.

    Qi Yan looked at her, feeling as if her heart was stuffed with cotton, no matter how seductive it was visually, she couldn''t taste it.

    The two looked at each other for a long time, Qi Yan walked over with her lips curled up, held her hand, and said softly: "I talked to Niu Niu, she said she didn''t mind, and she didn''t have any thoughts. In fact, the child is not as complicated as you think. I know you are afraid that she will also take this difficult path, but sexual orientation is innate and cannot be changed overnight. Niu Niu is still young, when she grows up, how to choose is her own business, we just need to be her most solid backing."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes turned a little red, and she looked at Qi Yan full of desire to talk, her lips parted and closed, but they didn''t say anything after all.

    Qi Yan saw it all.

    Her warm heart turned half cold again.

    "Go back, I want to rest." She said

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head, hummed softly, picked up the phone on the table and left.

    The door was gently closed, and Qi Yan suddenly collapsed on the sofa, leaning her head, closing her eyes, taking a few deep breaths, and then opening it again. She looked at the carefully decorated living room and then lowered her head to look at the earphone box, tears dripping down after holding back for a long time.

    She wiped her face, opened the box, read the instructions briefly, connected her phone, and turned on the player.

    Noise reduction, the whole world belongs to her.

    ¡­.

    Her daughter was taking a bath in the bathroom, and Lu Zhiqiao hid in the room to listen to the noise, and when the child returned to the bedroom, she quietly went out and knocked on the door of the second bedroom.

    "Baby, can mom go in?"

    There was no answer from inside, and after a while, the door opened, and the daughter stood behind the door looking at her, and called mother carefully.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, raised her smiling face, and took the child''s hand into the room.

    There was only one pair of shoes that Qi Yan gave her on the ground, and the other was on her daughter''s foot. She seemed to like it very much, and she wanted to try it on before going to bed. Lu Zhiqiao sat on the edge of the bed with her daughter, bent over to pick up the shoe, and put it on for her.

    The little girl was wearing new shoes, her feet were raised up, her other hand had no place to rest, and she felt a little cramped.

    "It''s beautiful." Lu Zhiqiao boasted.

    The child also smiled, being very careful.

    Lu Zhiqiao sighed secretly, took her daughter''s shoulders and pulled her into her arms, apologizing: "I''m sorry, mom shouldn''t have lost her temper with you today..."

    The person in her arms froze and didn''t make a sound.

    "Girl, do you like Teacher Qi?"

    "Yes."

    Lu Zhiqiao asked nervously, "Then do you want...another mother?"

    "Isn''t it a father?"

    "Fool." She smiled and patted her daughter''s shoulder, "Teacher Qi is also a woman, there is no such thing as a father."

    The child did not answer for a long time.

    "Baby?" Lu Zhiqiao was a little flustered.

    Lu Wei bit her lower lip, raised her head, and looked at her complaining: "But Teacher Qi said, you are not in a relationship yet, I...what should I call her..."

    After poking at the sore spot, Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes darkened, like ashes.

    Lu Wei didn''t dare to say any more, her mother''s temper was unpredictable, she was fierce like a tigress in the first two hours, but now she is coaxing her gently again, she is afraid. Feeling like a pet, her mother teased a few times when she was happy, and kicked away when she was unhappy.

    Pets are not free and must be controlled and monitored.

    Lu Zhiqiao was confused and couldn''t answer the child''s question directly. She thought she was cornered, but luckily she was just worrying too much. She couldn''t react for a while now, and felt that her daughter accepted it too quickly. It is a little unbelievable, but she also thought that Qi Yan had already communicated with her daughter, subconsciously she still believed in Qi Yan.

    Whether it is educating children or communicating with them, Qi Yan is always better than her in this regard.

    She used to think that taking good care of the child''s food, clothing, housing and transportation was already a success, but now it seems that it is far from enough. She is simply a failed mother.

    Also a failed romantic partner.

    "Mom, honestly, you don''t have to worry about me. Teacher Qi is very kind to me. You can see that, anyway, I like her very much. You should also like her, right? Otherwise, why would you kiss¡ª" Lu Wei couldn''t help but persuade her like a little adult.

    Speaking of the latter, she couldn''t hold it back, and quickly covered her mouth.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned: "What?"

    "I... I saw you kissing in the room that night..." After the child finished speaking, she covered her face and put her head on her shoulder.

    "..."

    It doesn''t matter which night, what matters is being seen.

    No wonder.

    Lu Zhiqiao blushed, coughed twice, and said, "Young girl, you must never talk about this at school, do you understand?"

    There was a muffled hum from behind.

    Being seen by the child is enough to show that they are too careless. If they paid more attention, it wouldn''t bring about today''s disaster. Lu Zhiqiao felt so remorseful right now, all her faults were brought together on her own head, which invisibly put heavy pressure on her, and she was felt little out of breath.

    "Girl"

    "Mm?"

    "Do you think mom is a pervert?" She asked with difficulty.

    Lu Wei took off her hand, widened her eyes, and looked at her in surprise: "Oh my god, Mom, what era are you from? So many Lily novels are so popular now, you actually call them perverts? I''m going to tell Teacher Qi, that you called her a pervert."

    It''s over.

    She seems to have slipped up again.

    "Lily novel?" Lu Zhiqiao frowned.

    The little girl swallowed her saliva, made two he-he, and quickly raised her hands to swear: "I only read it in my spare time."

    "You borrowed a classmate''s book?"

    "No, website."

    Seeing that she was about to lose her temper, Lu Wei quickly confessed honestly, not daring to hide a word. Unexpectedly, Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly and narrowed her eyes: "I''ll confiscate your mobile phone, and I will replace it with a keypad phone."

    "Don''t--"

    Before she finished speaking, Lu Zhiqiao stood up, snatched the mobile phone from the desk, and lightly reprimanded: "Go to sleep."

    "..."

    Back in the master bedroom, Lu Zhiqiao turned off her daughter''s cell phone and put it in the dresser drawer. She opened the closet, changed out of her nightgown and sexy underwear, put on ordinary pajamas, and fell head first on the bed.

    The light from the ceiling was projected down, it was bright and dazzling, she closed her eyes, her mind was full of Qi Yan''s face.

    Some are happy, some are lost, some are angry, some are cold-hearted...

    Tonight''s plan was in vain. She messed it up herself. She wanted to muster up the courage to do it again, but would Qi Yan care about her?  Had she seen through her face? Just like a nail driven into a stake, even if it is removed, the traces will remain there forever.

    Originally, she planned to confess everything about her past to Qi Yan, and even planned a short-term future.

    But like a bubble, it bursted.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, her face flushed, and after a while, she sat up, took her phone and sent Qi Yan a wechat message

    [Can you give me a few more days?]

    [There is something I want to tell you.]

    A reply in seconds.

    [?]

    Lu Zhiqiao turned off the screen, threw her phone aside, and turned on the laptop. The short-term future plan she wrote is still in the folder. Now creating a new document and listing the things she wants to say one by one...

    When your mind is messed up, it''s easier to get your head around it when you write it down.

    ¡­.

    It''s the beginning of summer in the new week, and the temperature is getting higher and higher day by day.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s appointment as the vice president by the company''s board of directors was sudden and direct. Although the news of her promotion had been widely circulated before, this official promotion still attracted a lot of discussions.

    Lu Zhiqiao moved her office and moved a lot of things. She had hired a help with the cleaning, but it still took a while to tidy up.

    At four or five in the afternoon, the new office was tidied up, she sat down, made a cup of scented tea, opened QQ* on her desktop and transferred the list of documents she had written to her mobile phone.

    *messaging app

    She opened it on her  phone, browse through it carefully, and confirmed that there are no omissions.

    She thought about it, and added a sentence after the last "The girl is not my biological daughter": But she is related to me by blood.

    Just as she was about to send, a phone call came in showing Shu Minxi.

    "Hello? Ms. Shu."

    A woman''s hoarse and desolate voice came from the other end of the phone: "She''s gone..."

    Author''s Note:

    Don''t worry, the crematorium* hasn''t been arranged yet hahahaha =3=

    *aka wife chasing, a chinese novel trope where a character will chase after a lost love after taking it for granted (may or may not include abuse and cheating) for a long time, just when the other party gives up on/stopped loving him/he

 CH 70

    The voice on the phone was crying, and it sounded extremely desolate. Lu Zhiqiao''s scalp went numb when she heard it, and immediately realized who "she" was, and couldn''t help but gasped.

    The chairman, the woman she once admired so much, is gone?

    She is not familiar with the chairman, nor does she have much of a relationship with her. Over the years, the other party has lived in seclusion, and she has hardly seen a shadow. In her memory, she has become more and more faded and distant. But when such a person who had no sense of existence suddenly left one day, she realized that there was a hidden emotion in her heart, and then she felt a strong sense of sadness.

    Listening to Shu Minxi''s trembling and choked voice, she was overcome with grief and regret, as if what had passed away was not a person, but an era.

    In a flash, it has been many years.

    "When did this happen?"

    "Half an hour ago, brain-dead." There was a pause and a sob, "I''m in the hospital now, and I''ve already contacted the funeral home."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart twitched, and her eyes became a little wet. She is allergic to the word "death", and now, many years later she encountered it again. The fear and sadness were still fresh in her memory. She held the phone and thought for a while, then said, "I''m here at the company, don''t worry."

    "After getting off work, can you come to my house?"

    "Okay." She agreed without hesitation.

    After a long silence, the phone was hung up..

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her phone and sighed. Two days ago, Shu Minxi returned to the company and she seemed to be in good spirits. She thought she could be liberated, but she was caught off guard when she was promoted. Within two days, this person left again, and today she received bad news.

    Many things are piled on top of each other. Piled up like a mountain, and they could not react in time.

    Another call came in.

    A subordinate.

    Two days ago, there was a slight change in the company''s personnel, and the overall company ushered in a promotion. After she became the vice president, Sun Jian, the former sales manager, took over as the director, managing the three departments of sales, marketing, and public relations.  In the past two days, she and Sun Jian have been doing the handovers, and there are a lot of things to do. Moving the office is all "stolen" time.

    Lu Zhiqiao answered the phone and talked for three to five minutes. She couldn''t make out a few words, so she simply continued.

    She hung up, looked at the document she was editing, and decided to temporarily put them aside. Because in addition to sending it to Qi Yan, she also needs to explain in person, fearing that something might go wrong. So she might as well wait until she''s not busy.

    When Lu Zhiqiao returned to the office, it was already ten past six.

    Rain is pouring outside, and the bean-sized drops pattered obliquely on the window glass with the wind in between. The sky was gloomy and dim, and there was a long queue of crowded vehicles on the road, with red and yellow tail lights converging.

    God is crying too.

    Lu Zhiqiao called her daughter and said she wouldn''t go back for dinner. The child was laughing happily on the phone, with Qi Yan''s voice beside her, vaguely responding and eager to hang up first. She looked out the window at the misty rain and sighed, then turned around to pack up and leave.

    ¡­.

    The road was a bit congested, and Lu Zhiqiao drove for an hour to arrive at Shu Minxi''s place. Since Shu Minxi had called security in advance, the guard let her go.

    The gate of the courtyard was open, and lights were on in every room on every floor of the house. Lu Zhiqiao parked the car inside, closed the gate, and entered the house. The maid who opened the door hesitated to speak when she saw her, turned her gaze upstairs then sighed.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart understood, went upstairs and knocked on the door and gently pushed it open.

    The room was dim, with only a wall lamp turned on. Shu Minxi sat alone on the window sill, with her knees bent to support her arms, the other leg straight, her back leaning on the cushion, staring out of the window in a daze.

    "Sister Minxi." Lu Zhiqiao called her and walked over slowly.

    The woman turned her head at the sound, her pale face showing fatigue, her hair a bit messy, her clothes wrinkled, as if she had suddenly aged a few years. She looked at Lu Zhiqiao and her lips moved slightly, "You''re here.

    She had cried, her eyes and nose were red, and she looked haggard.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat next to her, wanting to hold her hand, but feeling a bit uncomfortable, so she grabbed her wrist. Many comforting words rushed to her lips, unable to speak for a moment. Finally deciding to clasp the woman''s hands.

    Lightning flashed across the sky, and thunder boomed in the sky, and the rain became heavier.

    The two sat quietly, and neither of them spoke. To those who know, her best friend has passed away. To those who don''t, it was as if she parted from her lover¡ªthe so-called strong feelings are nothing but that. The more Lu Zhiqiao thinks about it, the more she can''t figure it out.

    Grief is contagious, and within a few minutes of sitting down, she was choked up. Lightning, muffled thunder, and crackling rain outside the window knocked her emotions in the quiet atmosphere at the moment.

    "She''s already been sent to the funeral home." Shu Minxi said hoarsely.

    "Cremation is tomorrow morning."

    Funeral home, farewell, cremation.  These words exploded in Lu Zhiqiao''s mind like bombs, instantly evoking her memories of that place, which she was not unfamiliar to her at all. "So fast? Don''t you need to... publish an obituary in the company?"

    "She wanted to go quietly."

    "Does Saki know?"

    Shu Minxi was slightly startled, her face darkened: "I didn''t inform her."

    The three intertwined with each other and formed a huge mystery. Lu Zhiqiao was aroused by gossip. She often felt that she must have joined the company because of fate. Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental that everyone she met was just like herself.  But obviously, now is not the time for gossip.

    "Tomorrow morning..." She looked at Shu Minxi inquiringly, "I''ll go too."

    Shu Minxi turned her head and a hint of surprise flashed in her chaotic black eyes before nodding for a moment, "Sure. Actually, there aren''t many people, just me, you, her brother, and a few girls she has sponsored

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed lightly and lowered her eyes.

    She heard earlier that the chairman has no father and no mother, and she came to Jiangcheng to work alone, but she didn''t expect her to have a younger brother. In the same age group, they are all left with only one relative, very similar.

    Thinking of the last time she visited, the old house filled with the smell of incense candles and filled with plastic flowers. She didn''t know it was the last time.

    "Then you can stay with me tonight. You can choose any guest room. There are clothes and everything. I will ask the driver to pick up Niu Niu and send her to school tomorrow morning. Let''s go to the funeral home together." Shu Minxi said lightly, stopped to cough a few times, and sniffed.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled, saw that there was water on the table, got up and poured a glass for her, shook her head and said, "No, Niu Niu is taken care of."

    "Mm?"

    "...neighbor across the door."

    Shu Minxi pondered for a moment, and asked, "Is it Mr. Qi''s daughter?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment, not used to this strange address, and asked in surprise, "How do you know?"

    "Mr. Qi lives in our community, a little closer to the gate. I went to his house and saw his daughter a year ago. Then when you were in a meeting, she was waiting outside. I ran into her and had a chat."

    "About... what?" Lu Zhiqiao suddenly became nervous.

    Shu Minxi said lightly: "It''s nothing, just a few words of politeness, just told me she lives across the door from your house, and asked if the company often work overtime." She said, her eyes were a little wandering, absent-minded, and she didn''t seem to want to continue talking about the topic.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t ask any more questions, and suppressed her emotions. She took out her phone and called her daughter again.

    Her daughter said that she had eaten and was doing homework now at Teacher Qi¡¯s house. After a few sentences in a hurry, she complained to her that the keypad phone was not easy to use, and begged pitifully.  Unmoved, she ruthlessly hung up the phone.

    "You haven''t eaten yet." Shu Minxi straightened her legs and came down from the window sill, "Let''s eat together."

    Lu Zhiqiao got up: "Okay."

    The farewell ceremony was held at nine o''clock in the morning. Lu Zhiqiao got up early in the morning and called her daughter. The child had just woken up, her voice was muffled, and she suddenly heard Qi Yan''s voice.

    With a sore heart, she explained a few words to the child and hung up the phone hastily.

    Not long after, Shu Minxi woke up too. She didn''t sleep well last night and almost had nightmares all night. Now she looked haggard and tired. After the two washed up, they went downstairs to have breakfast together. She ate very little and was full without moving much. Lu Zhiqiao was not in the mood to eat, so she hurriedly packed up and set off.

    The funeral parlor is located in the western suburbs, in the opposite direction from Ninghu Lake, so they have to drive across entire Jiangcheng.

    The car drove smoothly all the way. The two wore all black and sat side by side in the back row. Shu Minxi was holding a photo frame in her arms, her back was straight, and she couldn''t see the contents of the photos. She began to cry silently when she got in the car, and gradually couldn''t restrain and turned into sobbing. The sad and desolate atmosphere spread in the car.

    Lu Zhiqiao never knew that her empathy was so strong. Hearing the suppressed sobs of the people around her, she felt sad and her eyes turned sore.

    She put a hand on Shu Minxi''s shoulder.

    The person immersed in grief didn''t respond, her eyes were sluggishly stared forward, her fingers gripped the photo frame in her arms, and when she lost her strength for a moment, the photo frame turned over, revealing the front photo.

    It''s a picture of two women.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced casually, and only recognized one of them as Chairman Gu Shuning, while the other is unfamiliar. But they are all beautiful, stunningly beautiful, and it is impossible to tell which one is better.

    Before she could see clearly, Shu Minxi covered the photo frame with trembling hands, completely covering the faces of the two women.

    At nine o''clock, they arrived at the funeral parlor.

    It rained yesterday, but cleared up today. The early summer morning sun envelop the funeral home, but the golden light symbolizing new life did not dispel the gloomy and solemn atmosphere there. In the corners where the sun does not shine, in the shadows, there is sorrow and desolation

    Shu Minxi was already trembling with tears and her feet were weak, making it difficult to walk. Lu Zhiqiao helped her out of the car and stood for a while. She didn''t notice an acquaintance walking towards her.

    "Zi Long?"

    Their eyes meet each other.

    The man''s tall body seemed to have collapsed a lot, and his face, which had always had a gentle smile, was covered in a thick shadow, and looked older. He looked at Lu Zhiqiao with no surprise in his eyes. Perhaps it was emotional neglect, or perhaps something else.

    Lu Zhiqiao asked doubtfully, "Why are you here?"

    This place, except for the staff, is the place where others would rather not come once in their lifetime.

    Wen Zilong frowned, his eyes turned red, and said in a low voice: "Gu Shuning is my sister¡­''s " As soon as the words fell, Lu Zhiqiao turned pale, and then he glanced at Shu Minxi who was crying, and his lips moved: "...girlfriend."

    In fact, there is no difference, he already regards her as his own sister.  She is his older sister.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze in place, her lips parted slightly, a lot of information poured into her brain, disturbing her thoughts. Before she had time to comb it carefully, she heard Wen Zilong say: "The staff said that they haven''t finished putting on makeup yet, let''s go in first, the interior has already been decorated."

    After finishing speaking, he took Shu Minxi from Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, and helped her walk inside.

    Municipal funeral homes hold multiple farewell ceremonies every day, cremating dozens of remains, and the farewell hall is reused. Because he didn''t want to be disturbed by others and obeyed his sister''s last wish to be cremated immediately, Wen Zilong didn''t plan a big farewell ceremony, but only held a small memorial service for one last look.

    He brought over the plastic poppies from Gu Shuning''s house and replaced the white chrysanthemums arranged by the staff.

    The farewell hall was brightly red, except for the white curtain of the mourning platform on which there were two large photo frames, next to each other, one of the women in the black and white photo was Gu Shuning, the other...

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the unfamiliar photo, and felt that the woman''s eyes were very similar to Qi Yan''s, long and narrow, half full of autumn water, though the voice and smile were frozen, she is very attractive.

    Gu Shuning''s girlfriend?

    Died?

    "Can I go in and have a look? I want to put this flower in her hand..." Shu Minxi''s trembling voice came from beside her ear.

    The mortician came over at some point. She was wearing a white coat, a mask and gloves, her hair was coiled up, and her cold eyes showed a bit of solemnity. She shook her head and said, "I''m sorry, family members are not allowed in the dressing room. I can put flowers for you."

    "I beg you¡­"

    "You really can not."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at it for a while, the phone in her pocket vibrated, she took it out to see that it was Qi Yan''s phone, and hurriedly walked out.

    "Hello?"

    Qi Yan''s voice could be heard lecturing.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, and listened silently for a while, then the phone was hung up. Then she received a text message: I accidentally pressed it, don''t mind it.

    "..."

    She looked at those words in a daze, feeling a sense of loss in her heart. She put away her phone, turned and went back to the hall.

    The people who attended the memorial service came one after another. As Shu Minxi said, there were very few people. Counting them, there were less than fifteen people. Except for Wen Zilong, they were all women. The youngest looked like she was in her early twenties.They were all dressed in black and white veil, with solemn faces.

    The memorial service was not long, and no one was crying loudly, only the sound of suppressed sobbing one after another.

    Gu Shuning, who had put on makeup, was lying in the coffin, with a ruddy and vivid complexion, and a peaceful expression, as if she was just asleep. She held a bouquet of plastic poppies in her hand, and wore a thin sparkling diamond ring on her ring finger. Her hands were folded and pressed together on a photo frame. Looking carefully, there seemed to be a smile on the corner of her mouth.

    Shu Minxi lay beside the coffin, crying her heart out.

    This is the last look. Soon, after entering the cremation furnace, the past will be turned into a handful of ashes, and there will be no more Gu Shuning in this world.

    "Sister Ningning, go find her, she''s been waiting for you for fifteen years..."

    "Don''t be so miserable in your next life."

    She babbled and babbled indistinctly.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood on one side, holding a ball of tissues to wipe tears away, biting her lips to keep herself from making a sound.

    Originally, it was just regret and lamentation, but when she heard what Shu Minxi said, she seemed to understand something vaguely, and then looked at the photo of the unfamiliar woman on the altar, and suddenly thought of Qi Yan. The furthest distance is life and death, they have experienced it side by side, and they are lucky to survive, if it was her and Qi Yan today...

    Who knows when an accident will happen?

    Fifteen years of separation between life and death, just imagining it is enough to feel tormented.

    Her tears fell down, flowing fiercely.

    She doesn''t know if she is crying for someone who has passed away, or if she''s afraid of the dangers she had experienced in the past, or worry about everything that may happen in the future.

    She is always trapped in the shadow of the past, and she is always worried about many possible things in the future, but she doesn''t take the present into her eyes. She neglected that the choices she makes now can affect the future, the more pessimistic she is, the easier it is to lead to tragedy, and end up with a vision that comes true.

    One day, when she is old and about to die, she would look back on her life, but it would be empty.

    But now, she has a daughter, Qi Yan, and friends. There is family, friendship, and love.

    They are all very precious things.

    ¡­.

    After the memorial service, the staff pushed the coffin to the cremation room, but the family members stopped.

    The ring could not be burned, so it was taken off and handed over to Wen Zilong. After getting the ashes, he buried the ring in the urn. Since it was his sister, he should take it home.

    Coming out of the funeral home, the sun was high overhead.

    Shu Minxi was tired from crying, her eyes were red and swollen, and she leaned against Lu Zhiqiao weakly, without saying a word. Lu Zhiqiao helped her into the car, stood by the door and hesitated for a while, then turned to look at Wen Zilong - the man was holding the urn, saying goodbye to other mourners.

    She had a lot to ask, but held back.

    "Zhiqiao."

    "?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was about to get into the car when she was called to stop.

    Wen Zilong walked over with a wrinkled face, glanced into the car, and said in a hoarse voice: "Sister Minxi, please take care first, I''ll go back and put my things away, and I''ll find you right away."

    "Okay, it''s fine."

    He seemed to have something to say. He hesitated for a moment, frowned, shook his head, apologized, bowed to her, and turned his head to get into his car.

    Lu Zhiqiao sighed, got into the car and closed the door.

    Back in Ninghu, the servants at home had already prepared lunch, but Shu Minxi didn''t even look at it, she went straight upstairs and fell head first on the bed.

    Knowing that she couldn''t eat, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t persuade her, and went downstairs to eat first. She asked the servant to warm up the food, took her bag and sat in the living room on the third floor, facing the door of the master bedroom, and guarded it.

    The woman lay motionless on the bed.

    After a while, Lu Zhiqiao touched her lightly, and saw that she had fallen asleep. Her breathing was long and steady, but her eyebrows were furrowed.

    She retreated into the living room again.

    She sent a WeChat message to her assistant that she will not be able to go to the company in the afternoon.

    Sitting like that, watching, after an unknown period of time, she almost fell asleep. Her upper and lower eyelids were fighting, but was startled by the vibration of her mobile phone, and opened her eyes in a daze.

    "Hello?"

    "Niu Niu fought with her classmates at school, can you come over now?" Qi Yan''s deliberately suppressed voice came from the receiver.

    Author''s Note:

    Niu Niu: Shivering.jpg

 CH 71

    When she heard that her daughter had an incident, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly lost her doze and sat up from the sofa: "What happened?"

    Because of the excitement, her voice involuntarily became louder. She subconsciously looked at the person in the room, got up and walked to the window, and covered her mouth with her hand: "Okay, why would she fight with her classmates?"

    "I can''t say it in a few words, come over here first in the teaching office on the first floor of the administrative building." Qi Yan sighed.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, hurriedly answered okay, and hung up the phone. She glanced at the room, and saw Shu Minxi was fast asleep, she went in lightly, pulled the thin quilt over the person, turned around and went out, closing the door behind her.

    She went downstairs to explain a few words to the maid, then called Wen Zilong, and truthfully said that her daughter had something to do at school and asked him to come over as soon as possible.

    ¡­.

    Ninghu is relatively far from the Junior High School Affiliated to Jiangda University, and it takes half an hour to drive without stopping.

    When it comes to her daughter, Lu Zhiqiao can never be calm, her first thought is that her child may have been bullied, so she fought back, and one after another turned into a fight. No matter what, she does not believe that her daughter will take the initiative to hit her classmates.

    Realizing this, she became even more anxious, and a manic mood surged up, sweating all over her palms as she grabbed the steering wheel and slid.

    When she was passing through the city, there were a lot of cars, and in order to avoid a car that was forcing her to stop, she didn''t steer and almost rushed into the green belt. Fortunately, she was able to step on the brakes just in time, she stopped by the roadside with her heart beating wildly. She took a deep breath, and before she had time to see the owner of the car, she looked up and saw a sign prohibiting long-term parking so she hurriedly continued to drive forward.

    She was full of thoughts about her daughter being bullied, maybe even injured, and in her heart, she strongly hoped that Qi Yan could speak for her child.

    But soon, she dismissed this idea-- she couldn''t make things difficult for Qi Yan.

    ¡­.

    The campus is full of books.

    Lu Zhiqiao rushed to the teaching office, followed by other parents. There were five girls standing in a row in the office. The tallest one was very beautiful, with deep set eyes, a tall and delicate nose, and snow-white skin, like a doll.

    She stared at the girl for two seconds, unable to move her eyes away, and turned her head for a moment to see her daughter next to her.

    Among the five little girls, three were injured, their faces were swollen, their hair was loose, and their foreheads bruised. They were all minor injuries, but all of them had tears in their eyes and looked very embarrassed. And the other two who were not injured, are Niu Niu and the "doll"...

    The "doll" had her hands in her pockets, her chin slightly raised, her dark blue eyes filled with contempt and disdain, and she looked arrogantly confident. Niu Niu was next to her, with her hands behind her back, her head slightly lowered, and her mouth tightly pressed.

    But when she saw Lu Zhiqiao, her stubborn little eyes froze instantly, showing timidity.

    "Young girl..." Lu Zhiqiao walked up to her daughter, checked up and down, and was relieved that she is not injured.

    "Qianqian, oh, what''s going on? Who hit you? How did you get beaten like this?"

    One girl''s father yelled as soon as he entered the door, and the parents of the other two girls also yelled.

    Only the parents of the  "doll" did not come.

    The teaching director sat behind the desk, looking at them coldly, while Qi Yan stood beside the other teacher, the former was helpless and the latter was annoyed. Obviously, they''re not in the same class of students.

    The "doll" is called Yan Shuyao, and she and the other three girls are all in the second year class 5 of junior high school, and their relationship has always been very good. After meeting Lu Wei, a first year, they hangout together for a while, and the three gradually discovered that the freshman is rich and generous, so they often found various excuses to take advantage of her.

    At first Lu Wei was foolish, thinking that friends shouldn''t care so much, anyway, they were just gadgets and snacks, she didn''t care, and gave them away generously.

    Later, the three of them got worse, Yan Shuyao sensed that something was wrong, and due to her friend''s shamelessness, she directly spoke up and half-jokingly stopped them a few times.

    At noon today, the three girls asked Lu Wei to treat them to eat outside. Yan Shuyao said they would eat in the cafeteria, but the three refused, and coerced Lu Wei to go out. Lu Wei didn''t want to, and they became unhappy. At first they said a few barbed words, and then it turned more and more ugly and sarcastic. Yan Shuyao argued with them, and the argument turned to shoving and eventually to a full blown fight.

    Her upperclassman stood up for her, how can Lu Wei bear it? The bullying got to the top, and she couldn''t bear it even more, so she joined in all at once, and the fight turned into a two against three.

    The two of them were fine, but their hair was caught and loose, while the three were beaten hard.

    The friends eventually stopped.

    Looking at the surveillance video, at first the five people were walking in the middle of the road, Yan Shuyao left for the bathroom, then the three blocked Lu Wei into a corner and said something, but judging from the screen, it really looked like a threat.  Then Yan Shuyao came back, and they stood together and exchanged a few words. Among them, the thin girl stretched out her hand and grabbed the corner of Lu Wei''s clothes. Yan Shuyao opened her hand, and they pushed and fought.

    It is difficult to determine who made the first move.

    But after all, those three people were injured, and one or two of the parents felt distressed, and they were noisy in the office.

    "Isn''t it normal for children to argue? But it''s wrong to hit someone. Look at my daughter''s face, what should I do with such a heavy hand? They must apologize and pay compensation!" said the father.

    Another seemingly gentle middle-aged woman said: "My child is very obedient at home. How can she force a classmate to treat her to a meal? Just looking at the surveillance footage without any sound, it can''t tell if they are not lying."

    Qi Yan''s head grew dizzy from listening.

    This matter had nothing to do with Niu Niu at first, but who knows what kind of loyalty the little girl is foolishly talking about, and she goes to help fight, so that as long as she makes a move, anything reasonable becomes unreasonable.

    It''s difficult to deal with students who are not from her own class. Teacher Liu, the homeroom teacher for 2nd year Class 5 is very irritable. Although she didn''t embarrass her, when she lectured the girls in Class 5 just now, she listened to her and felt like she was being slapped in the face. The children in both classes are at fault, she is not good at favoring her own students.

    What''s more, they happened to be caught by the teaching director when they were fighting, it can no longer be settled privately, and perhaps be subjected to disciplinary action.

    "Since you think my daughter is lying, please explain to me why your children are trying to block my daughter in a corner? The surveillance footage captured them clearly, and they were walking in the middle of the road." Lu Zhiqiao replied coldly,  holding her daughter in her arms to protect her.

    It was clearly campus bullying on the screen, which made her angry and distressed. She has always taught her daughter not to take the initiative to cause trouble at school, but she should not be afraid of trouble. If she is bullied, she should bully back, and she will bear the consequences.

    Her daughter is in self-defense, and has been wronged first. So she must support her child in this situation

    The gentle middle-aged woman fell silent for a moment.

    The father was very irritable, pointing a finger, and said angrily: "You can''t hit people, you can tell the teacher or argue back, ignore, whatever, but you can''t hit people, understand?"

    The middle-aged man was tall with a rough voice and a very imposing manner.

    Lu Wei shrank behind her mother in fright.

    "Didn''t you see the surveillance? It was your daughter who started to touch mine first." Lu Zhiqiao said not to be outdone, her cold brows revealed a bit of sharpness, like an enraged lioness.

    "That''s not..."

    "What''s the fuss about?!" Yan Shuyao, who had been silent for a long time, took a step forward with her hand in her pocket, raised her chin, glanced at the three students contemptuously, and snorted coldly with her straight nose: "I beat them, so what? It¡¯s not pleasing to see you guys who eat and drink for nothing! Save their faces? Don''t be fooled too much. They will not be satisfied, and give it another try."

    "Yan Shuyao!" Teacher Liu shouted.

    The girl''s slender eyelashes were like wings, she glanced lazily at the teacher, her dark blue eyes rolled around, and she pouted.

    At the age of thirteen or fourteen, the profile of her face is like a perfect sculpture. It is stunningly beautiful, but also slightly mature. She  looks like a mixed race at a close distance--a beautiful person, pleasing to the eye even if she loses her temper.

    This is also a child who gives teachers a headache. She does things her own way, like a wild and unruly horse, but her grades are very good.  Her parents are very busy, they can''t get through the phone, and they have sent messages on WeChat earlier, and they have not seen anyone until now.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s words had already made the three parents feel wronged, but unexpectedly, the child''s arrogant attitude directly angered the parents.

    The other two mothers were so angry that they pointed at her, speechless.

    "Aren''t you so arrogant at such a young age? Where are your parents? Have they come yet?" The furious father made a gesture and was about to step forward.

    Teacher Liu hurriedly went to pull Yan Shuyao away, and gave her a look: "What''s with your attitude? You''re saying it''s reasonable to beat someone..."

    The whole office was full of turmoil. Seeing Teacher Liu reprimanding her student, Qi Yan couldn''t just sit on the sidelines, at least she had to save face. She looked at her daughter and frowned, "Lu Wei, it''s wrong to hit people, you know that, right? Apologize immediately."

    The moment the words came out of her mouth, Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes widened in astonishment, and she looked at Qi Yan in disbelief.

    It became clear that it was Niu Niu who was bullied first and then fought back, and it was not Niu Niu who struck first. The child did nothing wrong, why apologize? She knew that Qi Yan is a teacher, so she was caught in the middle of a dilemma, she isn''t expecting her to stand up for her daughter, but this didn''t mean that Qi Yan could be unreasonable.

    When encountering campus bullying, if parents and teachers do not handle it properly, it is easy to leave a psychological shadow on the child.  She wanted her daughter to know that she had done nothing wrong and that it was right to resist, but if she apologized, it would mean admitting an unwarranted mistake.

    If she is bullied again in the future, should she resist or accept it?

    This woman¡ª

    Qi Yan frowned slightly, looking down at her daughter, with a hint of helplessness hidden deep in her eyes. She naturally felt the sight of a person around her, like fire, about to burn through her face.

    Her heart turned bitter, she didn''t dare to look up at Lu Zhiqiao, she could only pray that the other party understood her and believed her.

    Everything will be explained later.

    "Qi..." Lu Zhiqiao was about to speak, but was held back by her daughter.

    Lu Wei looked at her mother and then at the teacher. The stubbornness just now had long since disappeared from her eyes. She was afraid that the two of them would quarrel here, so she hurriedly turned her head and apologized to her three seniors, "I''m sorry."

    Yan Shuyao stared straight at her.

    "It''s not enough to just apologize, you have to pay compensation!" said the irritable father.

    Lu Wei took half a step back.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, and as soon as she opened her mouth, Yan Shuyao quickly took out a wallet from her pocket, opened it, took out a few pink banknotes*, threw them on the ground, and said through gritted teeth: "Buy some good medicine and wipe it on, be careful not to ruin your appearance!"

    *100 yuan, approx 14-15 usd, highest denomination in Chinese currency

    After finishing speaking, she grabbed Lu Wei''s wrist and dragged her out.

    Everyone was stunned.

    Lu Zhiqiao came to her senses and hurriedly chased after her.

    ¡­.

    The sun gradually slanted to the west, elongating the shadows of the two little girls.

    "Baby!"

    Lu Zhiqiao chased out of the administrative building and called to stop her daughter. The two figures in front stopped and turned their heads together. She stepped forward quickly, held her daughter''s hand, glanced at Yan Shuyao, nodded slightly, and said nothing.

    Lu Wei hung her head and said nothing.

    "Auntie¡ª" Yan Shuyao called her crisply, looked sideways at Lu Wei, and then turned back. "This matter has nothing to do with Lu Wei, she is the victim."

    "Those three people originally hang out with me, and I am too aware of their virtues. I usually treat them to eat and drink. They are used to taking advantage of others and don''t give a penny by themselves. Just because I have many friends around me and we are all together, I didn''t really care about it. But this time, they really went too far. How can I say it? They have a sense of superiority, thinking that they are in second year and she is a first year, so they put on airs."

    "I wanted to fight them a long time ago. But I accidentally got Lu Wei involved. I''m really sorry. Please don''t scold her."

    The girl spoke neither humble nor overbearing, she was generous, her eyes looked very sincere and she was completely different from the rebellious girl in the teaching office earlier.

    Looking closely, the child''s bones and facial features are in excellent proportions, her height is almost the same as that of Lu Zhiqiao, her dark blue eyes seem to be wearing colored contact lenses, bright and energetic, her hair is chestnut, slightly curly, and completely unlike other junior high school students.

    Lu Zhiqiao was confused and didn''t know what to say, so she just nodded and smiled at her.

    The bell rang to signal the third period, the time for the first and second year classes to end.

    The silent campus suddenly went abuzz.

    "Then auntie, I''ll go first." Yan Shuyao smiled, patted Lu Zhiqiao on the shoulder, winked, turned and walked towards the teaching building.

    Lu Wei smirked.

    Lu Zhiqiao sighed, and caressed her daughter''s face with the palm of her hand, "Let''s go, girl, go up and get your school bag, let''s go home."

    In summer, the days are long, and the sky is still bright even after five o''clock. The setting sun dyed the clouds in the sky red, casting a hazy glow.

    Qi Yan drove into the basement of the complex, saw a black car parked next to her parking space from a distance. Her heart tightened suddenly, and she took a breath. She stopped the car, closed and locked the door, took the elevator upstairs, stared at the changing numbers floor by floor and the anxious feeling became more and more clear.

    --ding

    On the ninth floor, she came out, walked slowly to 901, and knocked on the door.

    It was Lu Zhiqiao who opened the door, that indifferent face appeared in sight and their eyes met, Qi Yan stepped in and held her hand. And in the next second, it was thrown away forcefully.  Lu Zhiqiao turned around and walked to the dining table, and poured herself a glass of water.

    Qi Yan lowered her eyes silently, changed her shoes, put down her bag, and walked over to hug her.

    "Do not be angry."

    "Mm?"

    "Let go." Lu Zhiqiao said coldly. She was still angry and wanted to calm down on her own, but this person came to her door, upon seeing her it reminded her of the scene in the office.

    Qi Yan didn''t move, but hugged her even tighter, and moved her lips to kiss her face.

    This week was busy, and the two of them didn''t have a good conversation. The scene on her birthday night was still vivid in her memory. She urgently needed some warmth to soothe her stiff heart. But troubles came one after another. Now she doesn''t have any thoughts about ***, but only thinks about explaining.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, turned her head to avoid it, and then pushed her away.

    The force was so great that Qi Yan was unprepared and was pushed to stumble back, and hit the cabinet. She took a deep breath, brushed her hair, and said helplessly: "Whoever takes action is at fault. I know that Niu Niu has been wronged, but it is really wrong to hit someone, and I am also very embarrassed."

    "I taught her."

    "What?"

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the wall and said softly, "I told her that if she is bullied, she should fight back.

    But in the end, the other party didn''t take any action. Originally, our side was rational, but as a result¡ª¡ª

    "Didn''t you also watch the surveillance? Niu Niu is cornered! If that girl didn''t come over in time, it wouldn''t be a gang fight, and my daughter would be the one beaten up. Do you understand?" Lu Zhiqiao suddenly became emotional, put down the cup heavily, turned to stare at Qi Yan, and interrupted sharply.

    "..."

    "If it really happened, what''s the use of you talking about these great principles?"

    "Calm down, Qiao Qiao." Qi Yan tried to reach out to hug her.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned and slapped her hand away, her eyes turned red, "How do you want me to calm down? Niu Niu was bullied like that, she can''t resist, right? She didn''t do anything wrong, why did you want her to apologize?"

    "I''m thinking about Niu Niu..."

    "I didn''t ask you to think about her! I know that you are a teacher,  a homeroom teacher, and you need to save face. You were in a difficult position, so I didn''t want you to do anything, but I stand as a mother to protect my daughter. You just don''t come here to tell me what to do! Just be her teacher!" Lu Zhiqiao growled hoarsely, and the anger in her heart added fuel, and the fire burned even more.

    Is this person here to anger her?

    It''s difficult to say, she understands, it''s fine in the office, after all, there are so many people, and they give each other some face. But when they got home, there were only the two of them, and she still said such things to anger her.

    Emotions are like this, the more excited you are, the easier it is to go to extremes and get into a dead end.

    "You are not the child''s own mother, of course you don''t feel distressed, and you can''t understand that feeling. In this case, please stop making nonsense remarks!"

    "I said nonsense?" Qi Yan pointed at herself, looking at her incredulously, "How was I being nonsensical? Those parents are arguing in the office, what can I do? They''re not students in the same class, and their teacher is also watching, what else can I do? So you think I was saying nonsense?"

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away, pursed her lips and remained silent.

    "You didn''t trust me at all, did you? Your mouth always says ''teacher this, teacher that'', yes, I am a teacher, and being a teacher is the original sin, and I have to be scolded at both ends."

    Qi Yan sneered.

    In the past, Lu Zhiqiao always used her identity as a teacher to hold her down, talking about her at every turn. After so many days, she thought that the woman finally understood her. Understood, and connected with each other, but she was just being conceited.

    She''s afraid, this woman has never really cared about her feelings from the bottom of her heart.

    She just felt ridiculous and sad.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyebrows tightened tighter and her heart suddenly spread a dense sense of suffocation. She gritted her teeth and said, "I''ll teach my own daughter myself, and you don''t have to meddle in our affairs."

    As soon as the words fell, Qi Yan''s figure shook, and her eyes slowly opened wide.

    The wall clock ticked away, and there was silence all around. The sound rippled in circles like waves, piercing into Qi Yan''s eardrums. For a moment, the buzzing was loud, and she felt pain.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s profile was reflected in her brown pupils, the lines were cold, hard, and very unfamiliar

    After a long time, Qi Yan sneered.

    "Yeah, I''m nosy, I''ve always been an outsider in your eyes, a spare tire, a call to arms."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips, her palms squeezing her clothes tightly, and sneered suddenly.

    The breath she was holding turned into a smile, maybe because of helplessness, or sadness, or bitterness. But in Qi Yan''s ears and eyes, it represents sarcasm, contempt, and the real thoughts hidden deep inside Lu Zhiqiao''s heart.

    It''s her default.

    Qi Yan took a deep breath, her nails tightly clenched against her palms, her eyes turned red, and the mist of water filled her with despair. "In your heart, the child is always first, what am I? You can give up on me anytime, I''m a piece of shit.

    Tears flowed down her cheeks, drawing two transparent tear marks.

    "Don''t worry, I won''t be nosy in the future."

    Qi Yan finished speaking with a sob, shook her head, picked up her bag, turned and left resolutely.

    Author''s Note:

    Ah~ it¡¯s the aroma of the crematorium~ dog head.jpg

    Can''t abuse a lot, just abuse a little~ I love you, Qiao Qiao

 CH 72

    The door was slammed shut with a gust of wind, and Lu Zhiqiao''s heart shook. Her fingers that were holding onto her clothes suddenly loosened, grabbed the table for support, and lowered her head.

    ¡ªpata

    Tears hit the wooden table, splashing imperceptibly, one drop after another converging into a vast ocean. She bit her lips tightly, trembled and took a deep breath. Her heart hurt like it was on fire, and the burning sensation rushed to her fingertips, so numb that she lost consciousness.

    On the dining table, Lu Zhiqiao stared at the photo of her and her daughter, her vision was repeatedly blurred and clear, and their smiles on the photo appeared and disappeared. Then, a raging fire appeared in front of her eyes, the old house, the charred wooden pillars, the splashing sparks, and the figures in the firelight.

    "Mom."

    The second bedroom door opened, Lu Wei cautiously stretched out her head and looked at her.

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly came back to her senses, raised her head, and her tearful black eyes showed distress, "Baby..."

    She raised her hand and wiped her eyes indiscriminately, went to hug her daughter, and kept kissing the child''s forehead and face. A trace of panic flashed in her bloodshot eyes, and she murmured: "Niu Niu, mom will protect you, don''t you just listen to anyone and just trust me, okay?"

    Lu Wei nodded, her black eyes rolled left and right, hesitant to speak.

    She thought that her mother would scold her when she was in school, and she would definitely be beaten when she goes home, but she didn''t expect her mother to defend her and trust her, so she felt so happy. In contrast, the friction with her upperclassmen doesn''t matter anyway, those people can''t beat her, and they are not in the same class, so she''ll just stop hanging out with them in the future.

    But just now, she heard her mother and Teacher Qi quarreling in the room, and she heard every word clearly, and felt that she understood something, but at the same time, still vaguely didn''t understand it.

    "Mom, did you fight with Teacher Qi?" She asked in a low voice.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyelids and didn''t answer.

    She sniffed lightly, stroked her daughter''s face, and said, "Girl, although you apologized today, remember that you did nothing wrong. It was them who were wrong. If you encounter this kind of thing again in the future, fight back, you will be fine."

    "Actually¡ª" Lu Wei pursed her lips, "At first they fought with the senior sister, not me."

    "That''s because they forced you to treat them to eat out. That was bullying, you should resist."

    "Okay."

    Lu Wei nodded, seeing her mother''s eyes were red with tears, thinking of her argument with Teacher Qi, she hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn''t help but say: "Mom, they apologized to me before you came..."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, and asked anxiously, "What happened?"

    "We were fighting, and Director Wu saw it. He said he would punish me and sister Yan Shuyao. The teacher in Class 5 was very angry at first, thinking that we were beating someone. Then sister Yan Shuyao and I explained, but the three seniors refused to admit it, and couldn¡¯t explain clearly. Director Wu was angry and said that all demerits were recorded. Then Teacher Qi said to check the surveillance first before making a decision, so we went to the surveillance again.¡±

    "Then what?"

    Lu Wei pouted, with a look of contempt in her eyes, and continued: "They just admitted it. The teacher in Class 5 is super fierce and scolded them all the time. Teacher Qi was interrupted several times when she wanted to speak, and then the director said that we were fighting in groups so we had to call the parents. The teacher in Class 5 stopped scolding. Teacher Qi asked them to apologize to me. The teacher in Class 5 just stared at teacher Qi. I don¡¯t know what happened. And then you came..."

    Lu Zhiqiao silently listened to her daughter''s words, and her heart became a mess. The boiling anger hadn''t cooled down yet, she didn''t want to think about it, so she hugged and kissed her daughter again. "Anyway, they should apologize to you, but you don''t have to apologize to them, you are not wrong."

    "Uh-huh."

    Lu Wei let go, grabbed the kettle on the dining table, and poured her a glass of water.

    In her memory, her mom seldom cried in front of her, let alone cried so sadly. She still doesn''t quite understand some things, but this feeling of being protected, understood and trusted made her suddenly realize that her mother actually loves her very much. Although her mother was fierce and critical of her when she was a child, she was always on her side at the most important moments.

    For example, when a boy teased her when she was in elementary school, she fought back and accidentally pricked the boy''s arm with a pencil refill. In the face of the teacher and the boy''s father, her mother did not panic at all, and firmly defended her, and finally asked the boy to apologize to her.

    She always felt that her mother was very powerful and omnipotent.

    Now she has Teacher Qi.

    Two powerful and beautiful mothers belong to her. No matter how she looks at it, she is very happy!

    Lu Zhiqiao drank all the water, put down the glass, and hugged her daughter again, "Girl, you have been wronged this time, isn''t it..."

    "I don''t feel wronged." Lu Wei shook her head, raised her eyebrows, and looked a bit disdainful, "I won the battle, why should I feel wronged? They should be the one feeling wronged, okay, it''s so good, three people can''t beat the two of us. And, Mom, let me tell you, senior sister Yan Shuyao is super powerful, she has learned to fight, really! It''s a fierce beating, piapiapia!"

    As she spoke, bright stars appeared in the little girl''s eyes, and she stretched out her hand and gestured twice.

    Lu Zhiqiao was originally resentful but when she saw her daughter like this, she couldn''t laugh or cry, her swollen eyes slightly bent: "Baby, do you want to learn?"

    "What?"

    "To fight."

    "Sister can teach me~" Lu Wei smirked.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled, stroked her daughter''s hair, and said: "Learning this is for self-defense. When you are bullied, resist, but you can''t take the initiative to hit others."

    "I know."

    The mother and daughter comfort each other with hugs. The sun was getting lower and lower, and the sky was getting dark. Lu Zhiqiao asked her daughter to do her homework while she went to cook.

    The refrigerator was full, and when she opened it, seeing those ingredients, she thought of Qi Yan.

    She is busy and has no time to buy vegetables. Qi Yan buys all the food at home. That person is always worried about not having enough ingredients, so she has to make up for it immediately after eating a little, and all the food she buys are her and Niu Niu''s favorite dishes.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood in front of the refrigerator, dazed, her throat sore.

    After being dazed for a while, she took out some dishes, put them on the counter, put on her apron, and cleaned up one by one. The phone rang several times in the middle, and it was all from the assistant. There was a lot of work, and she had to work overtime tomorrow.

    Because it was still early, she was not in a hurry, and slowly cut and washed vegetables, and gradually calmed down.

    The images of the afternoon flashed over and over again in her mind, and the chaotic and noisy voices echoed in her ears.

    She remembered that when she was in the office, the other three parents were anxious and noisy. After watching the surveillance, she was so anxious to protect her daughter that she didn''t pay much attention to her surroundings. Then the "doll" was aggressive and provocative, and was reprimanded by the teacher, and then Qi Yan asked her daughter to apologize. She was so anxious that she didn''t think about the reason, and assumed that Qi Yan forced her daughter to apologize.

    Things happened too quickly, the child apologized without a fuss, the parents refused to let go, and the "doll" came out to interrupt again and took Niu Niu away.

    Then she chased after them too.

    Then they went home.

    There was hardly any time to react and think.

    She was in a fit of anger, sometimes she regarded Qi Yan as a teacher, and sometimes she was her own person, her heart was in a mess, she couldn''t think everything through, but subconsciously felt that she had missed something. Hearing what her daughter said just now, she suddenly realized that she most likely misunderstood Qi Yan.

    What was missing was the explanation from Qi Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, the kitchen knife stopped and fell, and then fell to the cutting board with a "bang".

    She slid her phone open, clicked into WeChat, and saw the head of the orange cat that she had set as priority, her heart trembled suddenly, and she poked her trembling fingers. She wanted to ask something, say something, but her mind went blank.

    She turned and left the kitchen, went to the peephole in front of the living room door, and looked at the opposite door through the small hole.

    Room 902 is closed.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath, stepped half a step back, and leaned against the door with her back, her heart was beating fast, and her palms were wet with sweat, feeling chilly.

    Shouldn''t they... talk again?

    Just after a fight, she''s afraid Qi Yan might ignore her. Both of them need to calm down. She thought the weekend would be the day after tomorrow, so she could sit down with Qi Yan and have a good talk,

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand to cover her heart, panted for a while, and walked slowly to the kitchen.

    The next day is Friday.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t come home until after seven o''clock. When she entered the door, she saw the light on in the kitchen and there was a sound. She subconsciously thought it was Qi Yan. She changed her shoes, put her bag away, and walked over, only to see her daughter standing in front of the stove, cooking.

    "Baby, what are you cooking?"

    "Noodles." Lu Wei looked up at her, "I''m done cooking, mom, do you want to eat?"

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the noodles in the pot, adding vegetables and eggs, it was quite rich, and said in amazement, "When did you learn it?"

    "Teacher Qi taught me before."

    "..."

    The light in the kitchen was cold, reflecting Lu Zhiqiao''s gray face. She opened her mouth and asked in a low voice, "Where''s Teacher Qi?"

    Lu Wei turned off the fire and shook her head: "I knocked on the opposite door, but no one opened, it seems that she''s not there."

    "¡­oh."

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded sadly, and turned to get the bowl. The little girl put down the chopsticks in her hand, turned her head and said: "Mom, those three girls were punished yesterday,they posted the report of criticism today...there was also senior sister Yan Shuyao. The girl pursed her lips, seemingly unhappy.

    "What about you? No, right?" She frowned.

    "No." Lu Wei shrugged, her mouth still pouted, "Oh, by the way, Teacher Qi asked me to bring you a letter."

    The child turned around and ran back to the room. After a while, she ran over with a big envelope in her hand and gave it to her.

    Lu Zhiqiao hesitantly took the envelope, opened it, and there were five pieces of letter paper inside.

    Rows of vigorous and unruly handwriting came into view:

    [Qiao:

    First of all, I apologize to you, I''m sorry.  I didn''t take your emotions into consideration that day, and said something that made you sad, which was very inappropriate. It was because I was too anxious, or because I was too self-righteous, or too selfish. I just wanted to analyze the whole story for you from a rational point of view, but ignored your state at that time. I should have reassured you first, and then explained to you when we each calmed down. This is my fault.

    Talking about the fight again, I think it is necessary for me to reorganize the process for you, and clarify my thoughts and explain the motivation of my behavior at that time.

    According to the children''s account, the four seniors were in the same class and were good friends. Three of them, I will call ABC for the time being, and the other is called Y. After they met Niu Niu, they often hang out with each other. Because Niu Niu has a lot of pocket money, she is generous, and doesn''t care about small gains and losses, ABC gradually began to take advantage of Niu Niu, Y stopped them several times after she found out, but ABC didn''t take it seriously.  (Supplement: ABC treats junior girls with a sense of psychological superiority) Until noon that day, the four senior sisters went to eat with Niu Niu. When they were walking on the road, ABC proposed to have Niu Niu treat them to a restaurant outside, but Y rejected it and proposed to go to the cafeteria. And Niu Niu was unwilling to treat them to eat, and agrees with Y''s idea of ??going to the cafeteria. ABC didn''t refute immediately, then Y went to the toilet, ABC took turns to persuade and coax Niu Niu to go outside, Niu Niu disagreed, and was cornered unknowingly.

    During this period, Niu Niu was provoked and ridiculed by ABC. They pointed out that her clothes and shoes are very expensive, and she shouldn''t be stingy with money. After Y came back, she saw ABC surrounding Niu Niu, and went up to ask, Niu Niu answered truthfully, Y became upset and questioned ABC, C grabbed Niu Niu''s clothes, roughly said that Niu Niu was rich, one piece of clothing had several meals, at this time Y pushed ABC away with her hands first, and her tone was not good, so ABC argued with her. During the process, Y kept pushing and shoving ABC, and Niu Niu stayed in the corner. Later, Y and ABC changed from pushing and shoving to full on brawl. At first, Niu Niu didn''t go up to help immediately, but verbally persuaded them to fight.

    Y and Niu Niu had obvious advantages in height and physical strength, and the five of them quickly changed from wrestling into a group of two to fight three on one side. It happened that the teaching director and two other teachers passed by and stopped them immediately and took them away.

    Strictly speaking, the above cannot reach the level of "campus bullying", but if it continues to develop, it may evolve into bullying. Niu Niu''s motive for beating people was not "resisting violence", but out of friendship, she joined in to help. After that, the five children beat each other.

    I was eating at the time, and the first thing I thought of when I got the news was "who did it first", because it involves whether Niu Niu will be punished or not. Selfishly speaking, when the consequences are immeasurable, I don''t want things to become serious, and I don''t want Niu Niu to be the one who is at fault and see her being punished. Then I thought of you, I guess you will be very anxious when you know, you may lose your mind and pin your hopes on me. Then I began to think about how I should handle this matter. If I didn''t handle it well, would you blame me and push me away again? Because I really don''t have the confidence to guarantee that my position in your heart is stable.

    I''m sorry, I was complacent that you and Niu Niu are my family and believed that no matter what happens, family members can understand each other, and it''s better to talk at home if there was something to say, so the fastest and most effective way I thought of is to let the children reconcile in private, and go back and explain it to you. But I was wrong, sorry, I was being self-righteous again. Afterwards, I reflected that I should have made this point clear when I notified you. At that time, I was chaotic and anxious, and I had no experience in dealing with such matters. In addition, the leader was here, so I didn''t know what to do. I have the inescapable responsibility for causing you to lose control of your emotions, sorry.

    Before the parents came, Teacher Liu from Class 5 severely criticized ABCY, but I was reluctant to scold Niu Niu, I knew it was not her fault. But this was out of my control. The leader watched, and Teacher Liu also watched. Five children participated in the fight, and four children were criticized.

    The whole thing is not your fault, nor is it my fault. You and I are just standing in different positions, but we are bound together again. Maybe you think you misunderstood me, surprised how I can have such an attitude, that''s not the me you know, is it?

    The girl who jumped off the building died in front of me. The school took money to settle the matter in consideration of its reputation. The boy who came across me was slapped by me, the parents refused to let me go, and the leaders settled for the middle.  Similar things have happened before, and the results are similar. It only took me two months from not giving up to accepting my fate. I used to think that I had money and family property, and I would be free enough in my life, but after entering school and working for a few years, I realized that there are some things that are more powerful than assets. There is money besides money, and strength beyond strength.  I finally understand how heavy the gravitational pull of reality is, in such a miniature environment.

    In my opinion, a teacher is just a profession, no different from other professions, but in this land, it is seen more positively and brightly by the public, but it is also given more and higher requirements. A few years ago, I entered the campus with enthusiasm, thinking that as long as I kept my professional principles and moral bottom line, I would not be subject to any more constraints. I always kept my mentor''s teachings in mind and did not step on the red line, but I also retained my persistence; that is not to sanctify it, not to carry unnecessary shackles. It''s a pity that in front of the solid high-rise building, this persistence is too fragile. I gradually discovered that the freedom I want only exists in a specific circle, but I am like a tempted bird, flying away from the place that originally belonged to me, and stopping in this circle that does not belong to me and has other rules of the game.

    Over the past few years, I have been confused, doubted, and shaken. I began to understand that people like me are born unable to adapt to the rules of the game here. Of course, I am not willing to completely integrate myself, so after careful consideration, I decided to leave.

    What kind of person am I?

    I am very lucky to have a pair of parents who are tolerant and sensible, can bear hardships and stand hard work, and are relatively knowledgeable in educating children scientifically. They worked hard when they were young, accumulated wealth, and created an extremely favorable family environment for me. I am materially rich and spiritually rich. I have been surrounded by deep love since I was a child, so the world I see is colorful, and the people and things I come into contact with are rich and interesting. I can sit back and relax in my comfortable circle and have absolute freedom. But because of this, I know that the world is big, and people are small. Life is short for decades, and we must enjoy ourselves in time. If I love, I will let go and love boldly, holding out my whole heart. If I don''t love, I will simply turn around without dragging my feet.  Even if I''m hurt, I can heal myself. I don''t lack love. Love is ordinary and common to me. No one, no environment can trap me like this.

    When I met you, I thought the so-called "love at first sight" was love at first sight. However, there are too many people like you under the same conditions. They have surrounded me since I was a child, but why is it you?

    When you said "If I am not a lively woman, how can my child have poetry and distance", I suddenly understood that you are not them, not a simple symbol, or a beautiful skin. I see your ruthlessness buried under suffering, your tenacity wrapped in weakness, and you are like a tenacious weed with a spicy and rough atmosphere, fresh and exuberant. It was a temperament completely opposite to mine. With curiosity, I approached you, got to know you, and gradually discovered that your heart is actually fragile, as if it could be defeated at any time. But I know that no one can beat you except yourself. I think you are what I understand as a "hero".

    You are like an enigma, and I have never truly touched your heart. The more so, the more I can''t extricate myself, and the more overwhelmed and desperate I become. What I have, I''ll give you; what you have, attracts me. We should complement each other, but obviously, there are still many unresolved problems between us. Relying on the throbbing of hormones alone is far from enough for a long-lasting relationship. You are not perfect, and I am not perfect. We carefully show each other''s imperfections to each other, and we need to work together.  But, unfortunately, we didn''t get to the point where we were able to blend with each other.

    What happened that day was just a matter which triggered the problems buried deep between us.

    I''m a teacher at work, and I''m Qi Yan after work. Maybe the frequent change of identity makes you dizzy, making it impossible for you to accurately judge what I am in your mind. I believe that you care about me, and I have seen your changes with my own eyes, and understand that you are willing to come to me. I was pleasantly surprised and happy, thinking that the last hurdle was about to be crossed. But today I just realized that the real obstacle has not disappeared, it has always been there, and when it got triggered, it fell.

    It is so high, so big, dominated by you, I look up at it and lose all my strength.

    I''m tired.

    Maybe we all need to get back into our respective worlds, get quiet, and re-examine ourselves.

    The road of life is not over, the scenery is constantly changing, coming and going, just passing by. May you find your beloved for the rest of your life, be in harmony, be healthy, and be happy.

    --Yan]

    After reading the letter, Lu Zhiqiao froze in place.

 CH 73

    The letter was full of sincerity, but every word was like a sharp knife, piercing deeply into Lu Zhiqiao''s heart, opening one blood hole after another.

    Hot white smoke rose from the pot, and the cold light shone on the letter paper, making the vigorous characters appear sharper, just like the letter writer, gentle and sharp. Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips tightly, her hand holding the letter trembled slightly, her throat seemed to be strangled, and after a long time, she opened her mouth to take a breath.

    She rushed out, from the kitchen to the front of the living room, the letter paper was scattered all over the place.

    Randomly put on a pair of slippers, her hands trembled violently, fumbled on the door, opened the door after a while, and rushed out. Unexpectedly she staggered and she fell down, knocking her knee on the tiled floor with a boom.

    A piercing pain came.

    But it was no match from the pain in her heart.

    As if she didn''t notice it, she got up and brush off the dust on her body, and ran to the door of 902 in three steps at a time, and raised her hand to knock on the door.

    "Qi Yan..."

    "Are you there¡­"

    She called out that person''s name, her voice choking up, the golden number plate on the door gradually blurred in her sight as tears burst out.

    "Qi Yan..."

    After tapping for a long time, her palms became numb and painful, but no one opened it. She lay powerless on the door, her forehead pressed against it, panting lowly. Maybe she is not at home, maybe she is at home, but she just doesn''t want to open the door for her, and doesn''t want to see her.

    How could she have the face to look for her?

    "Mom."

    Her daughter''s voice came from behind, Lu Zhiqiao froze, hurriedly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, turned around, and saw the child standing at the door, staring at her blankly: "Eat some noodles."

    Lu Zhiqiao slightly hooked the corner of her mouth, showing a stiff smile: "Okay."

    She turned her head and walked into the room. As she passed the elevator, she glanced back and quickly closed the door.

    She picked up the letter papers one by one, as if there was something on it that couldn''t be peeped at. She didn''t dare to look at it again, hastily folded it up, stuffed it back into the envelope, and threw it onto the bedroom dressing table.

    The noodles cooked by her daughter were delicious and warm. Lu Zhiqiao ate them very deliciously, but her cold heart did not warm up after eating the hot noodles. She was absent-minded, thinking about the words in the letter, and felt unreal for a moment.

    In addition, everything that happened recently made her suspect that she was dreaming.

    Everything is too fast.

    Her mind went into overdrive, jumping quickly from one thing to another, interspersed with work, with little time to catch her breath. What was said and what was done, lightly flashed through her mind without leaving a trace.

    "Mom, what did Teacher Qi write?" Lu Wei asked suddenly.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes guiltyly, and said softly, "It''s nothing, eat quickly."

    "Oh."

    After eating the noodles, Lu Zhiqiao calmed down and remembered that she had the key to Qi Yan''s house, so she immediately took the key and went to the opposite side.

    Standing at the door, she hesitated again.

    They fought, and the ambiguous relationship in the past collapsed. Even if she had the key, she could no longer open the door openly like before, and break into other people''s homes without permission. Qi Yan was already disappointed and disheartened, she must be very disgusted to see her now, right? What if she is at home and saw her open the door and they bump into each other, what would she say in such a scene?

    However, this is exactly what she wants.

    She hoped that Qi Yan would be at home, and then they could sit down and have a good talk.

    After hesitating again and again, Lu Zhiqiao made up her mind, took the key and gently pushed it into the lock, turned it, and opened the door.

    No light leaked out, as expected, and the room was pitch black. She stood at the door and looked in.The dark room was like a bottomless vortex, empty and mysterious, drawing her in.

    She took a step forward, touched the switch by the wall, pressed it, and the light turned on instantly.

    There are still meteor bead curtains hanging on the ceiling, pink and purple balloons piled up in the corners, the TV is covered by a thin veil, and "happy birthday" is glued on it, nothing has changed. Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, thinking that time had flown back to the day of Qi Yan''s birthday...

    She carefully prepared a birthday surprise for Qi Yan, hoping to become the most important people in each other''s lives on the important day. She even decided to express it in the most direct and passionate way, to let Qi Yan know that she is irreplaceable in her heart.

    If she hadn''t said those words impulsively because of the panic, if Qi Yan could have come back earlier, she wouldn''t have been alone to face the shock the first time. Maybe they are sitting at the dinner table now, a family of three, enjoying themselves happily.

    But in just a few days, everything changed.

    Lu Zhiqiao laughed at herself, looked away and looked around. The room was quiet, obviously no one was there but she was a little unwilling to give up. She took off her shoes and stepped in barefoot, searching every corner.

    Bedrooms, study room, balcony, toilets, kitchen, even closets...

    At times, she felt guilty and felt like a thief breaking into a house, while at other times, she was as calm and natural as usual. After searching around, she finally realized the fact that Qi Yan was not at home.

    Looking at the empty room, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly thought of Qi Yan leaving, as mentioned in the letter, and a feeling of fear lingered in her heart. She picked up her mobile phone and clicked into WeChat, poked into the orange cat''s profile picture, and typed quickly.

    [Where are you?]

    The message was sent out smoothly, she breathed a sigh of relief, and sat on the sofa with her phone in her hands.

    There was no reply there.

    There was constant news in the home-school group. Several active parents were discussing their children''s homework. Lu Zhiqiao stared at the screen, fearing that the orange cat''s head would suddenly appear and she''ll miss it. But after waiting for nearly half an hour, no one chatted, the group became cold, and no one came out to speak.

    Similarly, there was no reply to her private chat.

    Lu Zhiqiao became impatient, thinking that the last time a parent posted a price bargaining link in the group and was stopped by Qi Yan. She couldn''t take care of it anymore, she downloaded a shopping software, casually sent a group link to it, and then  type.

    [Please click for help~ Thank you]

    The moment she sent it out, she froze, and then felt a chill.

    She never speaks in such a tone, and usually chats with people online, and she doesn''t even post emoticons. However, when she was typing, she thought that Qi Yan appearing soon, and didn''t think too much about it until she sent it. She saw the coquettish and diva-like sentences floating on the huge mobile phone screen, and her face turned sour from embarrassment.

    As long as Qi Yan can be drawn out, it''s fine.

    One minute, two minutes... ten minutes passed and no one responded.

    Lu Zhiqiao sent another one.

    Still no reply.

    She was a little discouraged, so she logged out of WeChat, opened her  phonebook, found the number she had saved as "Yanyan", and dialed it. No one answered for a long time, only the formulaic voice prompt was heard.

    Maybe she''s busy, maybe it''s muted, maybe...

    Lu Zhiqiao found many reasons and kept comforting herself, but she didn''t dare to think about another possibility, and she didn''t want to think about it. She called again, still no answer.

    She nust be busy.

    She lowered her head, slid her fingers on the phone screen, opened an app and quit it, and repeated this, like a cat scratching her heart.

    It was a long wait, ten minutes felt like ten hours, and she pressed the number again, holding her breath and waiting.  This time it didn''t ring for a long time, because she heard the "user turned off" prompt tone.

    Turned off...

    That means, Qi Yan saw her message and also saw her phone call, but she didn''t answer. Didn''t answer, and finally turned off the phone.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes turned red all of a sudden, she loosened her fingers with a flick, and the phone fell to the ground with a "slap".

    The meteor bead curtain overhead swayed slightly, as if there was wind.

    Her shoulders collapsed, and so did her heart, and her body slumped backwards, leaning against the back of the sofa and closing her eyes. A transparent tear flowed down and wet her tear mole.

    .¡­

    Lu Zhiqiao sat at 902 until late at night, it was midnight, and she didn''t wait for Qi Yan to come back. She yawned, her red and swollen eyes were full of tiredness, and she had no more tears to shed.

    There was silence in the corridor.

    She picked up her phone, stood up from the sofa, swayed for a while, stabilized herself, staggered to put on her shoes, took a last look at the room, turned off the lights and left.

    Today, on the 16th day of the lunar calendar, there is no cloud at night, and a round porcelain white moon hangs high in the sky, as large as a plate.

    Her daughter is already asleep.

    Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly took a shower, brushed her teeth, went back to her room and lay down on the bed. She turned off the lights, and was eager to fall asleep.

    In the dark, she closed her eyes and lay down for a while. She felt dizzy, her eyes hurt, and her body was tired, but she didn''t feel sleepy at all. Her mind was steaming like boiling water, and she was a little anxious.

    ¡ª¡ªsorry, the user you dialed has turned off the phone.

    She felt slightly suffocated, opened her eyes suddenly, panting with her lips half-opened, hurriedly picked up the phone by the bed, opened it to check WeChat, hoping to get a reply by chance.

    Of course, there was nothing.

    There was no movement in the home-school group either.

    She dialed Qi Yan''s number again, but the phone is still off.

    Lu Zhiqiao gave up completely, put her phone down, stared at the darkness where she couldn''t see her fingers, a trace of despair slowly flowed out...

    She sat up, turned on the light, took the letter on the dressing table, opened and read it again. Read it carefully, word by word, as if Qi Yan was standing in front of her.

    [If I love, I will let go and love boldly, holding out my whole heart. If I don¡¯t love, then I will simply turn around without procrastinating.]¡ª¡ªThis sentence is to tell her that Qi Yan loves her regardless of everything, and if she doesn''t love her, she can turn around and leave, come and go freely like the wind, and not be trapped by feelings.

    [The real obstacle has not disappeared, it has always been there, when we got triggered, it fell down.]¡ª¡ªThis sentence is to tell her that their fight is only the direct cause, and the root cause is what made Qi Yan turn around and leave. So far, nothing has been said about what that is.

    [It''s so high, so big, and it''s under your control.]¡ª¡ªThis sentence is to tell her that the so-called "root cause" lies with her. Qi Yan has already done 99% of it, but her 1% is the key. It is a bit difficult to find it and overcome it, and she can only rely on herself.

    [Maybe we all need to go back to our respective worlds, calm down, and re-examine ourselves.]¡ª¡ªThis sentence is to tell her that they should separate and reflect on their own, but according to the previous content, it is obvious that she needs to reflect more. At the same time, it also reminds her to face her own heart directly, which is more like a hint. If the reason and obstacle are found and resolved, there is still a chance.

    Lu Zhiqiao read it over and over again, using her analytical spirit to analyze the market. She dug through each word and gradually clearing it up in her mind.

    In all the above words, there is no certainty between the lines, no definition of events and viewpoints, in short, they leave room, and even faintly remind her. But after analyzing the remaining two sentences, the hope that she finally ignited, like a candle flickering in the wind, was finally wiped out.

    [I''m tired]¡ªQi Yan doesn''t want to love her anymore.

    [May you find your beloved for the rest of your life]¡ªQi Yan doesn''t want her anymore.

    Just those words, sent her to hell.

    Lu Zhiqiao slumped against the back of the bed, her swollen and red eyes lost their luster, her heart collapsed into ruins. Her shell that had been hesitantly peeled off bit by bit over the past few months, wished it could grow back again.

    They met in an absurd accident. At first, neither of them thought of being serious. Qi Yan teased her, but only lusted for her looks. While she hadn''t tasted meat for many years, she couldn''t control her instincts. In Qi Yan''s eyes, she was a prospective girlfriend, and in her eyes, Qi Yan was her child''s teacher.

    She resisted and kept her distance, but she didn''t know when Qi Yan''s feelings for her had a qualitative change.

    Because of the pitiful lack of emotional experience, she has always been vigilant against Qi Yan, never letting herself fall into the trap easily, but she didn''t know that emotions cannot be controlled by humans.

    As she retreated, Qi Yan pursued and fiercely attacked, so passionate that she couldn''t resist. When she was moved, Qi Yan was gentle in every way, loving and doting on her, giving her a sense of security she had never felt before. When she fell, Qi Yan got tired and let go, turned away without leaving any trace.

    The person who was "not lacking in love" and "surrounded by love" clapped her hands and walked away neatly, leaving her, who was riddled with holes and unable to extricate herself, standing where she was, enduring the cold wind alone.

    But who is to blame?

    Why did it become what it is today?

    Lu Zhiqiao sniffed, closed her sore eyes, and pinched herself hard.

    She didn''t know that the way she greeted love for the first time, being cautious and overly considerate, in Qi Yan''s eyes, was a signal of resistance and retreat. But she knew that she wasn''t able to balance Qi Yan and her daughter''s positions in her heart. Of course, she didn''t know how to balance. It was her fault.

    When she couldn''t get away, Qi Yan gave up.

    "May you find your beloved for the rest of your life", but there is no such beloved as Qi Yan, and even if there is, it is not Qi Yan...

    ¡­.

    The next day is Saturday.

    Lu Zhiqiao hadn''t slept all night, and it was only after dawn that she was able to fall asleep. When she woke up at noon, she was dazed and dizzy. The moment she woke up, she heard the sound of chopping vegetables from the kitchen. She habitually thought it was Qi Yan, and walked out with her slippers on, but it was her daughter.

    "Baby?"

    She froze and woke up instantly.

    The little girl was wearing an apron that was obviously two sizes too big, standing in front of the counter, holding a kitchen knife in her hand, and was cutting tomatoes. She turned her head when she heard the sound, her eyes lit up: "Mom, are you awake?"

    "What are you... doing?" Lu Zhiqiao rubbed her temples and walked over.

    "Cutting vegetables, to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes."

    She opened her mouth, and just about to ask, the child raised her eyebrows and said triumphantly, "Teacher Qi taught me last time. It''s very simple. I learned it just by looking. I''ll show you later~" After finishing speaking, she pointed at the rice cooker with a kitchen knife. "The rice is cooking." Teacher Qi said that two cups of rice and the water should not be over the back of the hand. I like to eat harder rice, so I poured a little less "

    Those sentences, full of Teacher Qi.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, suddenly thinking of last night, her heart trembled, and she lowered her eyes

    It was already half past twelve. If she was at home on weekends, she should have just finished lunch at this point. She slept so late for the first time today, and her child was so hungry that she cooked by herself without disturbing her. She felt really ashamed as a mother.

    Even life skills have to be taught by Qi Yan.

    Thinking so in her heart, Lu Zhiqiao raised the corners of her mouth, showed a loving and appreciative smile, and praised softly: "The little girl has grown up and learned to cook."

    "He he~"

    Lu Wei was so flattered by the praise, she grinned and became more serious in chopping vegetables. It''s just that she is young, weak, and unskilled, and she can''t always master the strength. The tomato pieces are sometimes big and sometimes small.

    "By the way, Mom, I went to see Teacher Qi in the morning. She doesn''t seem to be at home. You should call her and ask when she will be back."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s smile froze at the corner of her lips, and she asked guiltily, "Why were you looking for Teacher Qi...?"

    "She said she''ll teach me to bake cakes." The little girl said without raising her head.

    After a long while, she didn''t hear her mother speak. She put down the kitchen knife, raised her head, looked at her mother suspiciously, and then blinked: "You two haven''t made up after arguing, have you?"

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    "Uh, I didn''t say anything." Lu Wei turned her face away carefully and continued to chop vegetables.

    After a long time, Lu Zhiqiao sighed, turned around and went out to wash up, then returned to the kitchen, let her daughter finish frying the "national dish", and she took over the rest of the dishes.

    The mother and daughter had a simple lunch.

    After dinner, Lu Zhiqiao allowed her daughter to play on the computer for two hours before practicing piano and doing homework. She cleaned up the house, looked at her mobile phone, and still hadn''t received a reply on WeChat. She called again, the phone wasn''t off but no one answered it.

    She understands, understands everything.

    ¡­.

    Throughout the afternoon, Lu Zhiqiao kept sending messages to Qi Yan, apologizing and explaining over and over again, but the woman never replied.

    She had the audacity to search the Internet for "I had an argument with my girlfriend, she is angry, how to coax her", and looked through other people''s answers, and found that it was just a small fight between lovers. Obviously, their situation is different.

    Qi Yan couldn''t be contacted, and today was the weekend, and the school was closed, so she could only stay at home, hoping that Qi Yan would come back.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat in the living room from late afternoon until the sun sank and there was never a sound in the corridor. It was time to make dinner now so she walked into the kitchen resignedly, thinking about what to cook for the night, took the food from the refrigerator, and glanced at the overstuffed trash can on the floor.

    She put down the dishes, wrapped her hands in a paper towel, bent down and picked up the garbage bag, tied it up, and decided to throw it away.

    The hallway wind in the corridor was warm. Lu Zhiqiao came out after throwing out the garbage, and was about to go back, when suddenly she saw the number of the elevator stop at "9", and then heard a "ding"...

    The door opened.

    A familiar figure came. Tall, with slender legs, and the waist-length hair, which was originally black and silky, is gone, now only hanging behind her shoulders.

    Their eyes met.

    "Qi Yan¡ª"

    Lu Zhiqiao reacted quickly, stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, her lips twitched, and asked softly, "Can I talk to you?"

    Author''s Note:

    Yan Yan: Ruthlessly throwing away hands.gif

    (Saw many cuties are affected by these two chapters, they have a lot of emotional reactions, haha, head pat~ Actually, it¡¯s not necessary, it¡¯s just a novel, repeat after me three times "It¡¯s all fake"~ Hahaha, happiness is the most important thing. If you feel unhappy, you can stop the losses in time, don''t hurt yourself~ In addition...don''t talk about be* anymore, I decide my own story, respect each other~ kisses=3=)

    *bad ending

 CH 74

    The slightly cool fingertips touched the pulse, and warm blood danced under her skin. Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help but clench tightly, and looked at her with pleading eyes.

    This face was completely reflected in her view. In just two days, she became very haggard, her face was a little pale, there were faint bruises under her eyes, looking depressed and dejected.

    The waist-length hair was also cut off, leaving only behind the shoulders, scattered and uneven, revealing a somewhat indifferent temperament.

    Her heart twitched, and it hurt more and more.

    "Qi Yan..."

    Qi Yan stared at her for a moment, then turned her eyes indifferently: "I don''t want to talk about it." Struggling with her wrist, trying to break free from her grip.

    She held on tighter and wouldn''t let go.

    There is a slight difference in strength between them, she needed two hands to hold her firmly. She was anxious, her strength was neither light nor heavy.  Qi Yan felt hurt from being scratched, frowned, and said impatiently: "I''ve said everything I need to say in the letter, there''s nothing to talk about."

    "I know it''s my own problem." Lu Zhiqiao said softly, "I was too impulsive that day, and I didn''t communicate with you calmly in time. I''m sorry. Of course, this is not the root cause. It is something in my heart that I haven''t figured out yet.  ..."

    It turns out that this is the feeling of emotional humility.

    From the time she took on the responsibility of raising her daughter, there was only work and her child in her life. The feeling of being humble and careful for the person she likes has disappeared like dust in the long river of time; a matter during high school, and it has been a long time ago, but it has brought her indelible pain. So in the past ten years, she has paralyzed herself and buried herself with her own hands.

    She made sure that for the rest of her life, there will only be work and her daughter, and she can see the end at a glance.Therefore, she will not take the initiative to like someone, let alone take the initiative to keep her.

    However, she met Qi Yan and fell into this woman''s gentle whirlpool, she couldn''t help herself.

    She doesn''t want to lose her.

    Qi Yan turned her face to one side, carrying the light behind her back, so she couldn''t see her expression clearly.

    She was obviously injured and felt exhausted physically and mentally, but when she heard Lu Zhiqiao humbly apologizing and begging for forgiveness, her heart ached again and she felt a little bit reluctant.

    When she first met Lu Zhiqiao, she was attracted by the unique temperament of this person. She didn''t understand it at the time, but felt that it was fresh and special. Maybe it''s because her white suit stood out from the people around, or maybe it''s because the other party is sitting quietly in the corner drinking, as if isolated from the hustle and bustle. Her existence was inconspicuous, hidden but cannot be ignored.

    At that time, she was only fond of Lu Zhiqiao''s body.

    Later on, it gradually became apparent that this person was a grass breaking through the cracks in the corner of the wall, a wild flower growing on the cliff, completely opposite to her. She had a thought, and then she couldn''t control it.

    She will never be able to be cruel to Lu Zhiqiao.

    "Can you...give me a chance..." The voice choked up in her ear.

    Qi Yan clenched her palms tightly, and there was sourness in her gloomy eyes.

    She can''t be soft-hearted. This kind of problem is still not resolved. It will be a matter of time before a fight breaks out again. What''s the point? It should be done once and for all. If fate is not over, they can come together no matter what. If there is no fate, it is only a matter of time to wipe the pain out and begin a new life.

    The future is unpredictable.

    "Calm down." Qi Yan turned back and said blankly, "I''m really tired."

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, as if she had heard a turning point, but seeing the strong fatigue between her brows, she couldn''t bear it, and slowly let go of her hands.

    Qi Yan turned around and walked towards 902.

    "Did you...not come back yesterday?" Lu Zhiqiao asked in a low voice, standing still.

    Qi Yan''s footsteps paused, and she immediately understood what she wanted to say, without looking back, she took out the key to open the door, and said lightly: "I''m here to get my things."

    Lu Zhiqiao turned pale.

    "You won''t live here anymore?"

    The woman didn''t answer, went into the house and closed the door.

    ¡­.

    As soon as she entered the door, Qi Yan could smell the familiar perfume in the air, like cold citrus, like thick sandalwood, light and awe-inspiring, lingering in the room for a long time.  Her dark eyes were absent for a moment, then she laughed at herself and returned to her gloomy look.

    The living room still retains the decoration of the birthday night, meteors are falling from the ceiling, the golden letters are bright and warm, pink and purple balloons are piled on the ground against the wall, and some of them have slowly deflated and become smaller.

    Lu Zhiqiao has the key. She must have seen it when she came here last night.

    She didn''t intend to clean up the decorations at first, but when she almost softened her heart just now, the alarm bell sounded for her. If she allowed herself to keep these traces, she would turn back in a short time. Lu Zhiqiao is her weakness. She had to be tough on herself and turn her weakness into armor, otherwise the wound in her heart would never heal.

    In fact, she was a little disappointed. Hearing the woman''s apology, it seemed that she didn''t really realize where the root cause lies or she was still in the stage of figuring it out. Because she was impatient and just wanted to comfort her, or maybe because she didn''t have enough time to calm down, she wasn''t able to think deeply.

    She doesn''t know what she was looking forward to.

    Qi Yan laughed at herself, threw her bag on the sofa, took out a utility knife from the coffee table drawer, walked to the balloons, and squatted down.

    Her hand rises and the knife falls.

    Every time a balloon was punctured, the sharp blade seemed to also pierce her heart, cutting countless bloodstains. The successive "bang" sounds penetrated into her ears, her movements became more and more slow, her arm became a little stiff, and when she hit the last one, tears fell down.

    They were blown by Lu Zhiqiao with her mouth one by one.

    She could picture the woman, gasping for breath, pushing hard, pursing her lips, blowing up the balloons hard, then happily linking them together and arranging them. It must have taken a lot of work.

    Now she punctured all the balloons easily.

    Destroying her heart and this relationship together.

    There were torn pieces of latex scattered on the ground, a warm and romantic pink-purple color. Qi Yan wiped away her tears, took a broom and dustpan, swept them all away, and dumped them into the trash can.Then she pulled down the veil in front of the TV, scratched the English letters, brought a ladder, and tore off the curtain on the ceiling.

    She filled two large garbage bags.

    Qi Yan stood by the sofa, looking at the restored living room, her heart felt as if it had been eaten away by moths, numb and aching.

    In the past two days, she lived in another small apartment of her own, which was far from the school and had to get up very early. Originally, she planned to go home to her parents, but with anger and emotions in her heart, her parents could tell at a glance that something happened to her. She didn''t want her elders to worry, so she calmed down alone for two days, cleared her mind, and adjusted her mood.

    She can go home now.

    If her parents asked, she would just say that she wanted to resign.

    Ms. Lin would be very happy, and maybe she will hold a banquet to celebrate that she finally figured it out and got out of the "sea of ??bitterness".

    Thinking of her family, the corners of Qi Yan''s mouth curled up.

    She went into the study and took a suitcase, put the things she wanted to take away in it, then closed the gas valve, water and electricity main switch, put away all the items related to Lu Zhiqiao at home, and sealed them in the storage box in the study.

    Photo albums, headphones, and an amber necklace around her neck...

    [Like your eyes]

    Her hair can be cut, but her eyes cannot be gouged out.

    Qi Yan put on her shoes, took one last look at the room, and turned to open the door. After dragging the box out, when she looked up, she saw Lu Zhiqiao still standing there.

    She froze for a moment, closed the door with her backhand, passed Lu Zhiqiao with two bags of garbage, walked into the fire escape, and threw them into the big bucket.

    "Where are you going?" Lu Zhiqiao asked in a low voice.

    Qi Yan lowered her eyes and pressed the elevator without answering.

    "Are you...not coming back?"

    Still no answer.

    At this moment, the door of 901 opened, Lu Wei poked her head out, and called out to her mother. Before she could finish her words, she saw Qi Yan next to her, and her eyes lit up: "Teacher Qi!"

    The two turned their heads at the same time.

    The little girl hurriedly put on her shoes and ran out, "I''ve been waiting for you for a long time, teach me how to make cakes?" She said excitedly and hugged Qi Yan''s arm, "I''ve prepared all the ingredients~"

    Qi Yan froze, and subconsciously glanced at Lu Zhiqiao, who happened to be looking at her too.

    There was a glimmer of hope in her black eyes, Lu Zhiqiao looked at her and then at her daughter, her heart is up in her throat, beating wildly.

    She hoped for luck, Qi Yan wouldn''t reject the child, right? Besides, it''s something that has been promised. It means that Qi Yan will stay and teach her daughter how to make cakes, and she will be able to buy some time, so there is still room to turn things around.

    However, in the next second, hope was shattered.

    "I''ve been a little tired recently, I''ll teach you another day." Qi Yan slightly curled the corners of her mouth and smiled lightly.

    She used to make small movements to her daughter, either rubbing her head or pinching her face, but now she didn''t move, just like her faint smile, she couldn''t hold it up, and her whole body lost strength.

    "Um, okay." Lu Wei was a little lost, looked at her, then at her mother, suddenly realized something, wanted to ask, but didn''t dare, and obediently let go of her arm.

    The elevator went to the ninth floor and the door opened.

    Qi Yan dragged her suitcase and stepped into the elevator, turned her face sideways, and pressed the basement floor button, with her eyes fixed on the row of buttons without moving.

    The elevator doors slowly closed.

    The last thing Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes saw was Qi Yan''s indifferent and tired profile, which became smaller and smaller until it was completely gone...

    Seems like a farewell.

    When she got home, her parents were not there, and the nanny said that they''re on a dinner party and would come back later. Qi Yan asked her to cook some food, ate it hastily, and went upstairs to her room to take a shower.

    The bedroom is very large, with a balcony, a dressing room and a bathroom. Outside the door on the left side is a small pantry, with the electric cooker, baking pan, air fryer, coffee machine, juicer, etc. she bought before, as well as a small refrigerator. Turning to the right is a small gym specially arranged by her parents. It has basic equipment and can meet all her living needs without going downstairs.

    She lay in the bathtub and took a comfortable bath, changed into her pajamas, made herself a mango milkshake, and sat on the vine swing on the balcony to rest.

    The evening wind in early summer is warm and dry, and the surroundings are silent, with occasional vehicles passing by. Although it is a familiar environment, it has nothing to do with those unpleasant things, so it is better than the new environment and it gives her a change of mood.

    The sky turned dark, and a full moon climbed up.

    Qi Yan finished drinking the milkshake, brushed her teeth, and sat on the bed with the camera in her arms.

    The camera still has the magazine pictures taken for the models last time, and there are backups in the computer, so she deletes them one by one. Unknowingly, after deleting them, Lu Zhiqiao''s photo suddenly popped up in front of her eyes.

    Close to the blue sea and blue sky, the woman was under the shadow of the coconut tree wearing an elegant clean white dress, tilting her head, revealing a slender neck, and straight collarbone. She looked comfortable and tranquil, exuding a gentle and soft atmosphere.

    She still remembered that she was watching obsessively from behind.

    Looking back, there are many more, the happy time they spent together on the island, and the precious memories they left behind. At that time, she thought that if there was no possibility between them, she would treasure these photos for the rest of her life.

    Four months passed in the blink of an eye, and she thought that they could be together, just one last step away.

    But--

    Qi Yan looked at the photo, her eyes turned a little sore, and felt irritable, so she deleted the photo. However, after only deleting one, she was heart broken. She quickly put down the camera, thought about it, and remembered there was a backup, she picked it up again to continue deleting.

    Delete all!

    Out of sight, out of mind!

    Comfortable.

    She deleted to the last one, then, there was a knock on her door, she looked up, and saw Ms. Lin leaning in, she said in a daze, "Mom?"

    "Yan Yan, how come you''re home?" Ms. Lin was wearing an evening gown, with heavy makeup on her face. She sat beside the bed with a smile.  Obviously, she doesn''t know which dinner party she just came back from.

    After finishing speaking, her eyes fell on the girl''s shoulders, and was stunned.

    "You had a hair cut?"

    Qi Yan put down the camera, touched her hair casually, and raised her arms habitually, but the ends of her hair slipped from her hands¡ªit became shorter, and she couldn''t stroke it like before, and it no longer had a flowing and smooth feel.

    With her hands in mid-air, she raised her eyebrows at Ms. Lin, pretending to smile naturally: "I wanted to change my hairstyle, it''s too long and difficult to wash."

    Ms. Lin nodded, with a hint of deep meaning in her shrewd eyes.

    She knows the daughter she gave birth to, has liked to have long hair since she was a child. Every time her hair grows almost to her buttocks, she has to take her to cut it, and the girl howls like a pig about to be butchered. It has been like that for more than 20 years, but now she suddenly thought her hair is long and wants to change it, she just doesn''t believe it.

    Maybe something happened to her, doesn''t want to tell her, and is just acting. Ms. Lin''s heart is like a mirror.

    "By the way, Mom, I have good news for you."

    "Oh?"

    Qi Yan moved forward, hugged her arm affectionately, and said loudly: "I, announce, I am resigning!"

    The air turned quiet.

    One second, two seconds, three seconds...

    The mother and daughter stared at each other, wide-eyed. After a while, the smile on Ms. Lin''s face remained unchanged, but her heart was shattered. She felt that her daughter must have been wronged at school, otherwise she would be fine. She didn''t go home for several weekends, and suddenly she ran back to live here and cut her hair?

    "Mom, why aren''t you saying anything?" Qi Yan stretched out her hand and waved in front of her eyes, "Unhappy? Didn''t you always nagged about wanting me to quit before?"

    "I''m happy, of course I''m happy." Ms. Lin echoed a few words, her smile was a little stiff, and she wanted to say something, but she didn''t know whether she should tear things down or not.

    How serious must it be, for her daughter to cut off her long hair, which has been her lifeline since she was a child? When she thought of the place in the school that she and Dad Qi couldn''t protect, and the current situation of the teachers, she couldn''t help but think badly.

    She is heart broken.

    And very anxious.

    Qi Yan sensed something was wrong with her mother, so she suppressed her smile, and asked: "Mom, do you have something to say?"

    "Speak..." Ms. Lin hesitated to speak.

    "Huh? Come on, what''s the matter?"

    "Did something happen at school?"

    "Nothing."

    Still acting!

    She gave birth to an Oscar queen!

    Ms. Lin was in a hurry, and instead grabbed her hand, the fine lines between her brows huddled together: "Don''t hold back because you are afraid of your parents worrying. No matter what happens, the family should figure out a way together, and don''t carry it alone. Be good." She said, stroking the back of her head like coaxing a child.

    Qi Yan: "..."

    Speaking of this, Qi Yan knew that she couldn''t hide it. After all, she is her own mother who knows her too well.

    She thought for a while, sighed, and half-truthfully said: "I just feel aggrieved. I have accumulated a lot of grievances in the past few years, and I feel tied up. I argued with the students'' parents again two days ago. I am so annoyed and don''t want to do it anymore."

    Ms. Lin let out a long breath and calmed down, "I was scared to death, I thought something was wrong.

    "It''s annoying to argue, okay? I don''t think I have to worry about food, drink and livelihood, so there''s no need to put up with the annoyance." Qi Yan pouted as she spoke, wanting to act spoiled just like when she was a child.

    Ms. Lin smiled and the wrinkles at the end of her eyes folded. She hugged her cheerfully and coaxed her softly, "Okay, okay, Mom told you a long time ago that we have our own circle, which is as big and wide as you want to develop. The world is big, and although we have money, we cannot cover the sky with our hands, especially in this land, we must learn to keep a low profile and play our own game."

    Qi Yan hummed and nestled comfortably in her arms.

    "When will you quit?"

    "By the end of school term."

    "That''s fine, then the three of us will go out and play. It''s been a long time since we went out together." Ms. Lin was delighted.

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan responded briskly, resting her head on her mother''s shoulder, the fake smile in her eyes gradually disappeared.

    When she is most aggrieved and sad, only her family could understand her, just like Ms. Lin, who could see through her thoughts at a glance. However, Lu Zhiqiao, whom she once regarded as her family, always ranked her second, which broke her heart...

    ....

    Working on Monday and meetings all morning.

    The news of the chairman''s death gradually spread in the company.  Everyone was discussing in private why the chairman passed away when there was just a change in high-level personnel,  afraid that there is some chilling connection in it.

    Most of Gu Shuning''s rich inheritance was given to Wen Zilong, a small part was given to Shu Minxi, and a small part was donated. In the new week, Wen Zilong participated in the high-level meeting as the chairman of the board. Although he is middle-aged, he is still in good shape. In addition, he has gentle and refined skin. Whenever he appears in the company, the gossip group will explode.

    All morning, Lu Zhiqiao was desperately trying to digest the fact that her friend had become a ****boss.

    During the lunch break, Wen Zilong called her and said that he would treat her to dinner and tell a story on the way. She was in a bad mood and didn''t want to go, but when she heard that it was "related to his sister", she thought about it and went anyway.

    In just two or three days, Wen Zilong''s whole body was haggard and his eyes were a little lost. But even so, the temperament of a mature man can fascinate many girls.

    He is meticulous and thoughtful, taking care of her every meal. If Lu Zhiqiao didn''t know that this man treated all women the same, he would have to think too much.

    "About my sister¡ª" He took a sip of his wine, looking a little depressed.

    Lu Zhiqiao held her breath¡­

    He was silent for a long time, his eyes became more and more red, he suddenly lowered his head, and sighed: "Why don''t I let Sister Minxi tell you, I don''t know how to say it¡­ Today I mainly want to apologize to you, I didn''t explain it clearly to you before, I''m sorry."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at him for a moment, then asked softly, "Did your sister¡­pass away early?"

    "Mm."

    "She and Chairman Gu were not together?"

    "No."

    A person who can''t forget until death, but they can''t be together. Yin and Yang are separated for fifteen years, which is a tragedy in the world.

    Thinking of this, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly thought of Qi Yan, and her throat felt a little choked

    She put down her chopsticks, picked up her phone and tapped, and there was a picture of Qi Yan on the screen. She opened WeChat and habitually poked the profile picture of the orange cat, only to find that the dynamic Moments had turned into a straight line...

 CH 75

    The horizontal line was faint, like a barrier, completely blocking Lu Zhiqiao''s prying sight. Her heart tightened, her mind went blank for two seconds, and she realized a serious matter.

    Blocked?

    She was a little flustered, double-clicked the upper left corner with her fingertips to exit, poked into the dialog box that had been marked "Yan Yan"and sent a "cute" emoji.

    At that moment, her heart was hanging on her throat.

    The expected red dot did not appear, and the message was sent safely. Lu Zhiqiao breathed a sigh of relief, her whole body collapsed, and she leaned back against the back of the chair.

    Good thing, it''s just restricted.

    Wen Zilong, who was sitting opposite, raised her head, the redness in her eyes had subsided, he didn''t notice Lu Zhiqiao''s abnormality. He ate a few mouthfuls of food, drank the remaining wine in the glass, refilled it, and drank it all in one gulp.

    "Drink less."

    Lu Zhiqiao kept an eye on WeChat from the corner of her eye, but did not receive a reply. Feeling disappointed, she locked the screen and saw Wen Zilong pouring alcohol, and couldn''t help reminding him.

    Wen Zilong didn''t speak, and drank several more glasses one after another. Lu Zhiqiao reached out to snatch the bottle, but he took it away first, put it aside, and raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, I won''t drink."

    He finally had a smile on his face.

    "I thought about it for a while. Sister Minxi said that this matter may not be convenient, or I..."

    "Don''t mention sad things, and I don''t want to gossip about your **." Lu Zhiqiao looked at him helplessly, and persuaded gently.

    Although she was quite curious about the past of Gu Shuning and "sister", it was obviously a wound on Wen Zilong''s heart, and she couldn''t do such a thing as exposing a friend''s scar to satisfy her own curiosity.

    Wen Zilong shook his head, with guilt in his eyes: "I hid too much from you before, after all, we have known each other for several years¡­and I''m not saying anything." After finishing speaking, he added: "Don''t worry, I''m fine."

    ".....good."

    Lu Zhiqiao slightly raised the corners of her mouth and smiled.

    Under the windows facing the street, there are bustling crowds, and there are many high-rise buildings outside, full of fast-paced atmosphere. At this moment, the private room is calm and quiet, with wine, food, and stories...

    Wen Zilong was born in a poor mountain village, where the transportation is not developed, the information is blocked, and the people are very traditional.

    There are three children in the family, he is the youngest, and he has two older sisters, the eldest sister Wen Ziyan and the second sister Wen Ziyu.  Their parents are a typical patriarchal-thinking people, raising daughters just hoping that they can go out to work early to earn money, subsidize the family, support the younger brother to study, and then marry at a similar age, in exchange for a bride price for the younger brother to marry a wife.

    As the younger brother was held highly in the hands of the whole family, Wen Zilong didn''t realize that his older sisters were sacrifices. He had a good relationship with his two older sisters. The eggs saved by his parents for him, he secretly gave them to his sisters to eat. His parents asked his sister to work, and he clamored to help. His parents scold his sisters as money losers*, he didn''t hesitate to scold back.

    *original term used is pei qian huo, money-losing good; an old derogatory term for a girl, because the natal family has to prepare dowry when they get married, hence the name.

    His two older sisters are also very kind to him.

    The eldest sister dropped out of junior high school and went to work in a big city. Because she didn¡¯t have a high diploma and no special skills, she could only go to the factory assembly line to do some simple and repetitive work. The monthly salary was several hundred yuan, including food and housing. Two-thirds of the money can be sent home by saving money for a month.

    It was five years of hard work.

    Five years later, the second sister Wen Ziyu graduated from junior high school and followed in the footsteps of her elder sister to the factory to do the same simple work. She is completely different from the honest elder sister. She is cheerful and outgoing, has a lot of clever ideas, and she has a lively mind. After two or three months of working in the factory, she felt that her salary was too little and she had to send most of it back home, which was not enough for her, so she had the idea to find another way out.

    Although she doesn''t have a high degree of education, she likes to read books, all kinds of messy books, and wants to learn new things from people in the city, but everything costs money. What to do? She found a job with quick pay: promoting and selling alcoholic beverages.

    At first, she only promoted wine in KTV and small nightclubs, selling and laughing, because of her good looks, cheerful and sweet mouth, her performance has always been very good. She sends back a portion of the money earned, and the rest can only provide her with food and clothing, but not her needs for learning new things.Gradually, her appetite began to grow and she wanted to earn more money.

    Later, she entered "Jiangnan Bay" - the largest nightclub at that time, and the people who frequented were high-ranking government officials and business leaders.

    Wen Ziyu only sold wine at first, but later her parents kept asking them sisters for money. The elder sister¡¯s salary was too small to pay, and her health was not in good condition. She was worried that her sister would be stressed, so she sent most of her savings back home. At the same time, her inner desire for money has become stronger.

    In the end, she stepped into the abyss.

    In a few years, she became a well-known courtesan in "Jiangnan Bay", and the people around her were all high-ranking and powerful people. She also learned a lot of important political secrets and some shady activities when she traveled among these people.

    The world is darker than she imagined.

    At the age of twenty-eight, she met Gu Shuning.

    "My eldest sister died of illness when she was 20 years old. She was overworked. She knew what my second sister was doing at that time. She persuaded her many times, but the second sister refused to listen, because the family was a bottomless pit. She also wanted us to live a good life..." When Wen Zilong said this, there was a look of self-mockery in his eyes, he is a vampire who has a bottomless pit and unconsciously sucks the blood of his sisters.

    "Afterwards, my second sister met Ms. Gu who started her own business in Jiangcheng at that time."

    Gu Shuning''s mother, Gu Lan, was once the top brand of "Jiangnan Bay". She only served a few officials. The forces behind her were intricate and complicated. There were many people who liked her, and many people wanted to get rid of her.

    Very early on, Gu Lan had a fling with a certain foreign guest, and unexpectedly had Gu Shuning.

    She has a beautiful mixed-race face.

    Gu Shuning looked down on her mother since she was a child, and vowed to rely on her own ability to start a career, but at that time, she was young and didn''t know much, so she relied on her mother''s connections to gain a foothold in Jiangcheng and develop steadily.

    At the beginning of the company''s establishment, there were only five people, and Gu Shuning did most of the work by herself. Internally, she had to calculate accounts, train and make plans, and externally, she had to negotiate loans and go to the market. It was very hard.

    But she persevered, and by the year she met Wen Ziyu, the company had already gained a small scale.

    They met in "Jiangnan Bay".

    "My second sister never knew that she liked women. She always wanted to save a lot of money and quit, and find a random man to marry. But after meeting Ms. Gu..."

    Wen Ziyu fell in love with Gu Shuning.

    However, Gu Shuning despised Wen Ziyu for being dirty.

    The courtesan who shuttles in the mud can fascinate men and women as well.  Wen Ziyu has a wealth of contacts and resources, and has helped Gu Shuning a lot. Since the two met, she rarely went to "Jiangnan Bay".

    Gu Shuning doesn''t know when she fell in love with Wen Ziyu, but she doesn''t feel secure and doesn''t believe anyone. At this time, the mother she looked down upon has passed away for many years, leaving her with a huge inheritance. She began to reinterpret her mother''s life and tried to understand and accept Wen Ziyu.

    It was difficult for her to get over the hurdle in her heart. She felt that Wen Ziyu was dirty, but she had to admit that she loved that woman.

    She emphasized over and over again: You are dirty.

    If you fall in love with someone, you will be desperate. Wen Ziyu eagerly wanted to get out of the abyss behind her, and confessed everything she knew to her, but she didn''t know that the people in the abyss had already set their eyes on Gu Shuning.

    In order to protect her lover, Wen Ziyu revealed all the secrets alone, setting off a huge "wave".

    And a sharp knife rested on her neck.

    Just when Gu Shuning finally crossed that hurdle and was about to accept her completely, the sharp knife that had been hanging for a long time fell down and took Wen Ziyu away without a sound.

    "At that time, they were going to get married. They planned a small wedding for themselves. The wedding dress was ready. One week before the wedding, my second sister disappeared. Two days before the wedding, she came back in an state of embarrassment and gave Ms. Gu a ring. Let her wait for her, but she didn''t expect that after waiting, she never came back..."

    Wen Zilong''s voice became lower and lower, and the circles of his eyes became redder.

    "Do you know how my second sister died? She was chopped into pieces by those beasts with knives..." He didn''t continue.

    A ray of sunlight came in, and fine dust floated in the air.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat blankly, took a light breath, and raised her hand to cover her mouth.

    The photos on the altar flashed through her mind, with eyes that resembled Qi Yan, equally narrow and not thin, equally half full of autumn water, equally enchanting and cold. And she, the way she stepped back, was very much like Gu Shuning - she clearly cared, but hurt the other party with her words time and time again.

    But they are different.

    She had already walked towards Qi Yan slowly, but she was still one step away from being trapped, and at this moment, Qi Yan turned and left. She is lucky, she doesn''t have to be separated from the other party, and she still has a chance to redeem her.

    Qi Yan is also lucky, growing up surrounded by deep love and not being dragged down by her family.

    Gu Shuning had no chance to save her, so she spent the rest of her life in remorse and nostalgia. She also loved deeply, otherwise fifteen years would be enough to forget someone.

    In the end, she followed suit.

    For fifteen years, Gu Shuning tried to get out. She sponsored many girls who couldn''t afford to go to school, donated money to Wen Ziyu''s hometown to build roads, took care of Wen Ziyu''s younger brother, and took care of the company. She didn''t forget the past while she was busy, but her heart disease became more and more serious. Then one day, she suddenly collapsed, and she was addicted to alcohol ever since.

    She repented with her life, and from another perspective, she was able to stay with her lover in the end, and her soul returned to consummation.

    Lu Zhiqiao covered her mouth, her eyelids drooped, and the more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, but what shocked her even more was that Wen Zilong, who had always been very friendly to women, was born in a "fudimo family*".

    *literally translates to helping brother demon family, an Internet term, which means that usually due to the influence of the family, they will dedicate themselves to their younger brothers regardless of the cost.

    The older sisters were all dead, and the older sister''s girlfriend had to take care of him. In the end, he was the only one left alive, enjoying everything the older sisters had gained through their hard work.

    Thinking about it this way, Lu Zhiqiao wished she could burn bridges with him on the spot, but based on her contact and understanding over the past few years, she felt that she couldn''t be reckless, and there must be more complicated reasons behind it.

    "Do you feel guilty?" she asked.

    Wen Zilong nodded slightly.

    In the past, he was favored without awareness, and later experienced loss, and he has no chance to make up. On the emotional level, Lu Zhiqiao encountered the same problems as him. For him, it was because of his family, for her it was because of love.

    "So have you let go?" she continued.

    Wen Zilong poured the wine, took a sip, and said in a low voice, "I have let go, but I will not forget. As long as I live, and I want to do something."

    At that time, he was still studying, with a monthly living expenses of tens of thousands. He had the best food and clothing, and had a house and a car before entering society. Everything was given to him by his sister. He didn''t know what his sister''s job was, and had to ask many times but was kept off until he learned the truth in an unexpected situation. He was greatly hurt, but not ashamed of his sister''s job, but ashamed of himself.

    He, a grown man with hands and feet, unconsciously sucked the blood of his two sisters for nearly twenty years, thinking that the world was like this.

    Soon after his sister died, his parents also passed away one after another, leaving him alone in the boring world. He thought about committing suicide and took action, but it didn''t work. He and Gu Shuning shared the pain, helped each other, and walked over with support.

    Now, Gu Shuning couldn''t hold on any longer, so he continued to move forward.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at him silently, feeling a bit of bitterness in her heart.

    This person is keen on doing charity and only helps girls. He usually speaks and behaves gently and politely. It is rare to see him with a temper, especially towards women. He is in a state of infinite tolerance but maintaining a polite distance. He even loathes his own gender.

    Before knowing the truth, Lu Zhiqiao thought that he should be the perfect boyfriend in the eyes of a straight girl, but at this moment, she realized that this was just a consequence of trauma that turned into a disease.

    He treats every woman he meets as a sister, understands them from the bottom of his heart, respects them, but never wants to develop an intimate relationship with them beyond the scope of friendship.

    Human emotions are so complicated, but it is precisely because of complexity that we can create a splendid civilization and build a pluralistic society.

    A steamed bun cloud drifted slowly over, blocking the sun. The sky outside the window was overcast for a short while, and after a while, the cloud slowly drifted away again, and the sun showed its face again, with the same light and heat.

    Lu Zhiqiao narrowed her eyes slightly, took the wine bottle and filled her glass, and raised her glass with a smile: "It''s a belated celebration."

    Wen Zilong also smiled, raised his glass and touched her.

    "I want to know...how were you able to let go." She took a sip of her wine and put down her glass.

    Wen Zilong lowered his head, pondered for a moment and said, "Find the root of the crux of my heart, face it directly, and accept it."

    "The root of my crux is the debt and guilt I owe to my sister. I told myself that this is inevitable and will accompany me for the rest of my life, so I accepted it. If she is still alive, she definitely does not want me to be depressed and self-castrated, so I live a good life, take care of my body, do more good deeds, and keep their property. Letting go doesn¡¯t mean forgetting.¡±

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled slightly, and her slender eyelashes trembled.  She seemed to be walking in a dark cave. She hadn''t seen the sun for a long time, and could only feel her way forward. Now, a light suddenly appeared in front of her, vaguely.

    Letting go doesn''t mean forgetting?

    "A person''s character is closely related to the environment in which he grew up. If a person has been traumatized, he cannot love others until he is healed. I just let go now, but I haven''t been completely healed yet. For me, this is dispensable, I don¡¯t want to love others, I just want to live, take care, do good, and protect as I said just now.¡± After Wen Zilong finished speaking, he had a gentle smile in his eyes.

    He can only be one person in this life.

    Lu Zhiqiao faintly felt that she understood something, subconsciously tapped the phone with her fingertips, and watched the screen light up, and the man''s bright smile was reflected in her eyes, warm and bright like the sunlight coming in from the window at this moment.

    People love themselves first, and then love others.

    Did she ever love herself?

    Since she was very young, she has been used to concealing her true emotions and needs, because she knows that she will be scolded and criticized as ignorant if she speaks out. Over time, she consumes herself inwardly and loses her sense of security at the same time.

    At first she wanted to do something to prove that she could do it, so she studied hard and her grades were always at the top, but it was useless, she would not be scolded, but she would not be taken seriously, as if she is supposed to be like this in the first place. Gradually she began to feel that she was not worthy of being loved.

    Her circumstances prevented her from loving herself.

    After a sudden accident, she became the only support for the little girl under one year old. While feeling guilty because of the accident, she was also terrified because she suddenly became important. She thinks that love is like what she has seen since she was a child, giving food and drink, and satisfying the conditions of material life.

    She doesn''t know how to love herself, and she doesn''t know how to love her daughter, let alone other people.

    Therefore, unable to balance family affection and love, unable to balance the weight of her daughter and Qi Yan in her heart, this is the root cause, but the root cause also has a crux, the root of the crux is her past and herself.

    So that''s what Qi Yan said.

    "I''m quite similar to you..." Lu Zhiqiao sighed.

    Thinking that Wen Zilong would be curious, he raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "I''ve already known it."

    "Mm?"

    "It feels like you''re suppressing yourself. In plain English, you have a story. And you take Niu Niu too seriously, and you have a strong desire to control."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at him dumbfounded, and didn''t know how to refute for a while, because what this man said was spot on, and she couldn''t refute it.

    She frowned and said, "I can''t help but take it seriously, that''s my daughter, she¡ª" She choked before she finished speaking, when she said the words ''her daughter'', her heart felt inexplicably awkward, and then she thought of the sudden accident.

    Is it because of love or guilt that she values her daughter?

    Wen Zilong just laughed and didn''t speak.

    After dinner, Lu Zhiqiao took her daughter downstairs for a walk for the first time.

    The temperature has been getting higher and higher recently, and the warm wind is blowing in the air. It is the season to wear skirts. At this time last year, Lu Zhiqiao was still worried about whether her daughter could quickly adapt to life in junior high school. In the blink of an eye, a year passed, and time passed quickly.

    The richness of things experienced in this year almost caught up with the sum of her past ten years. Her heart was shaking every day, bit by bit shattering the cage she had built before, leaving scattered ruins and broken tiles.

    Now she can only clean up the ruins by herself.

    The night was dark, and the porcelain-white full moon hung in the sky, shedding a ray of silver light. The shadows of the mother and daughter were drawn long by the street lamps, and insects chirped from the lush green flowers and plants.

    "Niu Niu which high school do you want to go to in the future?" Lu Zhiqiao turned her head to ask her daughter, avoiding the sports park, where there was a lot of noise.

    Lu Wei was thinking about the cake made by Qi Yan, she suddenly came back to her senses, and paused: "It''s still early, we''ll talk about it later."

    "It''s not too early, the second year of junior high school will start in September."

    In the second year of junior high school, she will start studying physics. Lu Zhiqiao was worried that her daughter''s difficulty in learning mathematics would affect physics, which is also a science subject, and even chemistry, which she had to learn in the third year of junior high school. These two subjects are the main subjects in high school, and even liberal arts students have to take the exam, which is indispensable.

    Lu Wei lowered her head and thought for a while, then said, "It''s better to look at the results of the senior high school entrance examination, and go wherever I can pass the exam."

    "Mom wants you to go to the high school of the attached middle school."

    "That depends on my grades~"

    "You set this as your goal first. The high school scores are very high. You have to work hard for these two years." Lu Zhiqiao patted her daughter''s hand and spoke earnestly.

    "Then in high school, you can study both literature and science, but the admission criteria for liberal arts are generally high, and it is not easy to get high scores on exams Oh, fortunately we are locals. There are many universities in Jiangcheng to choose from, so you can take exams in the city''s schools instead of going too far, okay?"

    "Choose your major at will, try not to choose one that is too unpopular, and when the time comes to work, you can come to mom''s company for an internship..."

    She rambled on a lot, and a blueprint for the future spread out in her mind.

    It is her daughter''s future.

    Lu Wei pursed up her lips as she listened and couldn''t help but interrupt, "Mom, you''re thinking too far. I''m only in my first year of junior high, and can''t I make up my own mind about things in the future? You''re always like this, and I have to listen to you for everything."

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, and her first reaction was a little annoyed: "Mom loves you and cares about you, how can you talk like that?"

    "Then how about you make plans for yourself, what do you want to do in the future?" The little girl was unconvinced, and she didn''t dare to talk back, so she could only mutter aggrievedly.

    The daughter''s words are like a mint candy she eats when she is sleepy, awakening her sleeping nerves, and like lightning flashing across the sky on a rainy night, briefly illuminating her dark world.

    Lu Zhiqiao stopped and froze.

    Future?

    She has never planned "the future" for herself. If she wants to talk about it, it is nothing more than work. And her rank has basically reached the end, and even if she goes up, she will just be a senior wage earner. With her risk-taking ability, it is absolutely impossible to give up everything to start a business, so the road to work can basically be seen to the end.

    Seeing her stop thinking, Lu Wei winked, remembering the coaxing method Qi Yan taught her before, so she retreated and tried: "Mom~ You should also think about yourself, such as what you like to eat, what you want to play, where you want to go, what goal do you want to accomplish, right? You love me, you have to love yourself~"

    The street lamp shone on the little girl''s face, her delicate and fair face was bright, and her black eyes shone with anticipation.

    It seemed to work!

    Teacher Qi is right, my mother just eats the soft but not the hard. She learned it, lol~

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her daughter''s face, and a thin layer of mist suddenly appeared in her eyes.

    ¡­.

    Going upstairs to go home, Lu Wei got into the room in a good mood, took out her ugly old brick phone, and sent a text message to Yan Shuyao:

    [Sister Yao Yao, I will teach you how to coax your mother, it should be the same¡­]

    Crackling typing.

    After sending out, she put her phone aside and started to do her homework.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat on the sofa folding clothes, her heart was in a mess, she didn''t pay attention, a long-sleeved dress was folded sideways in her hand, she quickly unfolded it, and refolded it horizontally like an a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    Thinking of Qi Yan inadvertently, the movements of her hands froze suddenly, and the memories flooded fiercely.

    She remembers that Qi Yan used to fold long-sleeved clothes horizontally, fold the two sleeves inward, then fold them up and down to make a rectangle, and then fold them left and right to make a square. But she used to like to fold it sideways, fold the clothes in half on both sides, fold the sleeves obliquely, and then fold them in half up and down.

    In the past two months, Qi Yan helped her fold the clothes at home.

    She took it out and looked at it a lot, unconsciously following the woman''s method and folded it horizontally, and got used to it naturally.

    On the day of parting, her brain''s reaction seemed to be delayed, and she didn''t feel too sad. But after seeing a certain place or something, all the memories suddenly flooded up, and her emotions collapsed.

    Looking at the clothes in her hand, Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes and nose turned a little sore. She took a deep breath, unfolded the clothes, and folded them sideways again.

    The next day was fine.

    At around four o''clock in the afternoon, Lu Zhiqiao left the company and drove to the Junior High School to pick up her daughter.

    Before, when picking up her child, like many parents at the school gate, she only waited outside and never went in. Later, because of someone, this school had an indescribable attraction to her. She went in every time, to the teaching building, to the door of the class.

    She did the same this time.

    Diagonally opposite Class Two is the teacher''s office. If she is lucky, she might be able to see Qi Yan if she stands in the corridor and take a glance.

    The timing is just right, Lu Zhiqiao climbed up to the fourth floor, and the school bell rang, and the whole teaching building became lively in an instant. She saw a male teacher come out from the front door of Class 2. There was the sound of rubbing desks and chairs in the classroom, and then the back door was opened, and several boys ran out with their schoolbags on their backs.

    Her hair is slightly permed, she is wearing a navy blue short-sleeved top, paired with light earth-colored high-waisted wide-leg pants, a pair of pointed-toe stiletto, and a handbag in her hand.She looks quite capable and feminine.

    She stood there, obviously not a student.

    Even less like a teacher.

    The students looked at her curiously, and some of them recognized her, having seen her at the New Year''s Day performance.

    "Mom?" Lu Wei came out from the front door with her schoolbag on her back, saw her beautiful mother at a glance, and hurried over, "Why are you here?"

    "Hello, Auntie."

    Wang Zheyi followed behind.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s smile froze for a few seconds, she nodded at him, reached out and patted her daughter''s shoulder: "Let''s go home."

    "Mm, okay." The little girl nodded, looked sideways, and said mercilessly to Wang Zheyi: "Go back by yourself, I will go with my mother."

    "See you tomorrow then."

    Wang Zheyi calmly turned and left.

    "..."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the boy''s back, frowned slightly, her eyes drifted across the floor inadvertently, she reached out to wrap her arms around her daughter''s shoulders, and subconsciously walked there.

    "Mom, you can go down this way, don''t go too far." Lu Wei looked at her inexplicably, and pointed to the stairs next to the classroom.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the door of the teacher''s office, and hummed perfunctorily, but her footsteps did not stop for a moment, instead they became faster and faster. As she got closer to the office, Lu Wei looked at her mother, then at the front, and suddenly understood everything.

    Heh, she was looking for Teacher Qi!

    During school hours, the floor here is very quiet, except for people coming and going in and out of the office. The teacher who finished class went in, and the teacher who got off work came out. Lu Zhiqiao suddenly slowed down, dawdled, and stared at the door.

    She is not sure if Qi Yan is there, it all depends on luck to see her, if she isn''t there, she won''t go in to look.

    Her heart was hanging on her throat, beating wildly.

    Soon, when they were about to reach the door, Lu Zhiqiao became a little discouraged, and hugged her daughter''s shoulders tightly. At this moment, a tall figure came out from inside, and the two met head-on.

    Qi Yan was taken aback, and subconsciously asked, "Is there something wrong?"

    "No."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and said in a very soft voice, "I wanted to see you."

    Author''s Note:

    Ma Ma is about to wake up~

 CH 76

    Her voice was as light as a feather, and it slowly fell on Qi Yan''s heart, a crack appeared in her indifferent face, and there was warmth in her cold eyes, and her heart was as sad as if she had been soaked in lemonade.

    Qi Yan''s lips twitched slightly, as if she had something to say. At this time, a teacher was approaching to come out, so she stepped aside to make way, and she suddenly came to her senses. She glanced at Lu Zhiqiao, then at Niu Niu, walked to the corner of the stairs, and turned around.

    Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly followed.

    "You''ve seen me, I''m fine." Qi Yan said, her eyes fell on Lu Wei, and she smiled lightly.

    That smile was very shallow, but it was precious to Lu Zhiqiao. Even if she smiled at her daughter, she was happy, and felt that the relationship between the two would get better soon. She whispered, "What happened last time..."

    "I have to get off work, you should go back early." Qi Yan interrupted quickly, although she was speaking to Lu Zhiqiao, her eyes were always on Lu Wei.

    With her hair cut short, she looks less seductive and more capable, like the kind of cool woman who walks with wind, her face is still the same, but it is stranger than before. Also, the necklace around her neck was gone.

    After she finished speaking, she patted Niu Niu''s head and walked straight to the office.

    "Qi¡ª"

    Just as Lu Zhiqiao was about to call her to stop, a teacher came out of the office, walked up the stairs, and passed in front of her. She swallowed the rest of the words back in her throat.

    The woman didn''t seem to hear, and without looking back, she entered the office.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze in place.

    The clear sky, the slanting sunset rays, the noisy campus, the endless corridors, and the bright tiles. All things, static and moving, all witness to her bitterness at this moment. As long as she sees these again in the future, she will definitely think of her distressed appearance today.

    Oh, and the daughter behind her.

    Lu Wei looked at her mother quietly, trying to think of the scenes in novels and TV dramas, but couldn''t put them in. She is not yet in love, she still can''t understand it, but she just feels that real life and the virtual world are not completely connected.

    She thought that her mother and Teacher Qi were just having temper tantrums, and it would be fine in a few days. The routines in the novel were all like this, but after witnessing it with her own eyes, she found that it seemed not that simple.

    She doesn''t get it.

    "Baby..." Lu Zhiqiao turned around in a low voice, seeing her daughter staring at her in a daze, she smiled weakly and said, "Let''s go."

    Lu Wei nodded and took her arm actively.

    At night, the eggshell lamp emits a dim yellow light and is silent, like a knight silently guarding the darkness.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat on the bed, holding a framed family photo and looking at it carefully. In the photo, there are six people, three generations living together. She slowly brushed everyone''s face with her thumb, paused, a wave rolled up in her calm eyes, and sighed.

    Then there is a solo photo of a man, and a photo of a couple.

    She kept these photos at the bottom of the box for more than ten years. If she can''t see them, she can pretend they don''t exist, so sometimes she even really forgets that she has family members. But memory cannot be erased no matter what, as long as she is still alive, the past will be with her for the rest of her life.

    She has escaped for so many years, and her crime has not been alleviated a single bit. On the contrary, she has made herself into a mess, and even hurt her daughter unintentionally.

    This is not her original intention.

    Staring at the photo, Lu Zhiqiao frowned slightly when she saw her parents'' faces, her mind full of bad memories. Moving her eyes to the side, she saw her brother''s face, his eyebrows and eyes were very similar to hers, she immediately smiled, thinking of some very warm and happy things.

    Moving her gaze again, she saw her gentle and beautiful sister-in-law holding a baby under one year old in her arms and her  heart ached.

    If that disaster hadn''t happened, this would be a happy family of three.

    [Face it and accept it calmly]

    Thinking of Wen Zilong''s words, Lu Zhiqiao took a light breath and looked at the eggshell lamp in a blink of an eye.

    The dim yellow light reflects the small words at the bottom: Where you are, I will be. Mist appeared in her eyes, and she curled her lips into a smile, as if Qi Yan was by her side at the moment, giving her confidence...

    Lu Zhiqiao was born in a dual-career family. Her parents were both "respectable people" at that time. They had a considerable income, and the company paid them well. They also gave them a house. There are two children in the family, her and a brother who is six years older.

    Her birth was an accident. At that time, it caught up with "family planning"*, and the government encouraged each couple to have only one child. It is said to be encouraging, but in fact it also has the meaning of coercion in disguise. Like, after the mother accidentally became pregnant with her, she was reluctant to have an abortion, so she lost her good job and hid in Tibet.

    *China''s One-child policy that started in 1980, the policy was enforced at the provincial level through contraception, abortion, and fines that were imposed based on the income of the family and other factors, violators could also lose their jobs, titles, a portion of health benefits among others. Those who decide to push through pregnancy go overseas to escape the fines. This policy later became a two-child policy in 2016, then abolished in 2021 allowing citizens to have as many children as they want, this is because they are now facing a demographic crisis; they have too many men, too many old people, and too few young people.

    Fortunately, the family has some connections, so both parents weren''t laid off. At first, they can barely live on the salary of the father alone.

    Her mother is a very strong woman, but her way of thinking is very traditional, and directly expressed contradictions. She thinks that women should both work and take care of the family, and take pride in it. So later she made some connections and looked for another job. Although the salary was not as good as her original company in all aspects, the additional income significantly improved their family''s life.

    In comparison, her father has an honest personality. At best, he is kind and honest, but at worst, he is cowardly and unassertive. When she was young, her mother would lose her temper at home and beat and scold her and her brother. If their father was there, he would either hide in the room and stay silent, or simply run out to avoid it.

    Because she is a girl, her mother is extremely strict with her. Her hair should not be longer than the shoulders, skirts should not be shorter than the knees, physical contact with boys is not allowed at school, and she are not allowed to go out after eight o''clock in the evening.

    On the contrary, her brother is very free. He can go shirtless and wear shorts at will, go out with his classmates, not come home all night, go as crazy as he wants.

    When she was young, she thought everyone was the same, but as she got older, she realized that it was only her when she saw other people''s daughters.

    Her mother always instilled in her some notions of shame. When she started to develop, she told her to hunchback so that her chest would not show. When she had her first period, she told her that menstruation was dirty and she had to be careful to hide it, and told her that if she had too many contacts with boys, she would not be able to marry.

    From childhood to adulthood, no matter how well she did, no matter how outstanding she was, she never received a word of praise and recognition. If she did well, it was as it should, and if she didn''t do well, she  would be scolded.

    The words that her mother often talks about are nothing more than "I am your mother, you have to listen to me", "I have worked so hard to give birth to you and raise you, what else do you want to do", like layers of heavy shackles on her unformed soul.

    It is said that they were patriarchal, but it is not like that. Her mother beats her brother hard, but her brother has a rough temper, and the more she beats, the more he gets rougher. He can do whatever he wants the next day, and he doesn''t follow their mother''s way at all.

    Her brother has always been very kind to her, protecting her when he was at home, and thinking about her when he went out to have delicious food and fun. Unfortunately, after going to college at the age of eighteen, she was the only child left in the family, and no one would take care of her anymore to block the unwarranted anger of their neurotic mother.

    On the day she was beaten because of the quilt, she cried and called her brother who was thousands of miles away. She was just talking to her brother, but she didn''t expect her brother to come back the next night and have a big fight with her mother.

    At that time, she was very eager to go to college.

    It was like this for six years, she was depressed and shrinking, and finally survived when she graduated from high school. Originally, she wanted to go to a foreign school, but under her mother''s strong intervention, she had no choice but to apply to the local Jiang University.

    Although she is in the local area, it is still some distance away from home. She lived on campus, so she has a reason not to go back.

    On the university campus, she met many friends from all over the country and was exposed to a lot of new things. A door to a new world was opened, and her whole person began to change.

    In her freshman year, she had a crush on a girl she met during military training. She was scolded for being "disgusting" when she confessed to a girl she liked in high school. So she hesitated and procrastinated until that someone found a girlfriend, she didn''t dare to confess. In the end, she was depressed for a whole year. In her sophomore year, she decided to perk up and transform herself, preparing for the future to break free from her mother''s constraints.

    But a sudden accident destroyed all her dreams.

    In 2005, her elder brother got married, and her sister-in-law was his classmate, two years younger, and grew up in a single-parent family.  Not long after the marriage, the sister-in-law got pregnant, and the whole family looked forward to the arrival of the baby.

    On May 7, 2006, her little niece was born. She was named "Wei", which means lush vegetation, implying tenacious vitality and thriving growth. Her nickname is Niu Niu.

    During the Spring Festival of 2007, the whole family went back to the countryside to spend the New Year with grandma.

    Grandpa died of illness early in life, and grandma refused to move to the city, so she lived alone in an old house in the country, growing some vegetables, raising chickens and ducks, and lived a comfortable life.  During the holidays, the whole family will come to visit, and they will stay for about seven days during the Spring Festival every year.

    The New Year in the countryside is very lively, and there are fewer restrictions. It is much more free than in the city.

    On the night of New Year''s Eve, Lu Zhiqiao set off fireworks with the children in the village and played until very late. Her parents and grandma had already gone to bed, and the children of each family had gone back. She felt unhappy and played in the backyard by herself.

    She can''t do the big ones, so she can only play with the small ones. The sparks were shining brightly, and looked very beautiful. After playing, she went upstairs to sleep.

    She still remembered that when she passed the main room, she smelled something burnt. It was very faint. She thought it was the smell of fireworks on her body, so she didn''t care.

    That night was quiet, with occasional barking of dogs.

    Later, she was awakened by a knock on the door. When she opened her eyes, she smelled smoke. She thought she was dreaming of setting off fireworks. She didn''t wake up until she saw her brother anxiously saying that the house was on fire.

    Most of the old house is made of wood and has three floors. Grandma, who has a handicap, stays on the first floor, her parents, in one room on the second floor, her brother, sister-in-law and niece live in another room on the second floor, and she stays alone on the third floor. Her elder brother thought that she lived on the highest floor, so he told her to run first, and then went to call her parents and grandma by himself.

    She also panicked. Standing on the stairs, she felt the heat rushing towards her, and she didn''t even think about running outside.

    At that time, her sister-in-law and Niu Niu had already run outside. When they saw her come out, they were worried that her husband would not be able to call the three of them alone, not to mention that grandma''s legs and feet were inconvenient and difficult to walk, so she asked her to take care of Niu Niu before rushing in again.

    The flames shot up to the sky in front of her eyes, and the billowing black smoke obscured the moonlight.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched helplessly as her sister-in-law rushed in, the beam of the gate collapsed, the fire pillar fell down, and then the entire load-bearing beam collapsed, and the first floor instantly turned into a sea of ??flames.

    She panicked and carried Niu Niu to call for help, but in the middle of the night, everyone was asleep, and it was difficult to wake people up for a while, and the old house was a little far away from other doors. When the fire alarm sounded, the old house was already completely surrounded by fire.

    Niu Niu, who was only nine months old, can''t walk yet. She doesn''t understand what happened, but the baby instinctively felt scared and kept crying.

    Lu Zhiqiao put her in the nearest house, and rushed back to fight the fire with the others.  At that time, there were no fire-fighting measures in the village, and they relied on pumping wells to connect leather pipes, a long one, and manually pressurized water.

    However, the fire was too strong and the wind was blowing. The wooden structure of the house burned very quickly. After a while, the floors gradually collapsed.

    The blazing flames were like a ferocious beast, devouring the entire old house...

    When the firefighters arrived, the old house had already collapsed, and the burnt black wooden pillars were piled up. From a distance, it looked like a golden flaming mountain, dyeing the sky as bright as day.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t respond at the time, her mind was blank.

    Afterwards, the fire was extinguished, and the five bodies were carried out one by one. She vomited on the spot, collapsed, and knelt on the ground and cried her heart out.

    That was the beginning of her nightmare.

    ¡­.

    Lu Zhiqiao caressed the photo frame, the mist in her eyes glistened, her thumb rested on her brother''s face, and a tear slid down.

    The cause of the fire was unknown. She always believed that she accidentally lit the haystacks in the backyard when setting off the fireworks, and she didn''t find out in time, which led to the fire.

    After the incident happened her sister-in-law''s father found out, couldn''t bear the shock for a while, and died of a sudden myocardial infarction¨Che raised his child alone, and it can be said that he regarded the woman as his own life, and his health was not very good.

    There were seven people in the old house, only Lu Zhiqiao and Niu Niu survived.

    Her father is an only child, with no distant or close relatives. On her mother''s side, her grandfather was persecuted to death in the "cultural revolution", and there was no news of her grandmother''s remarriage. She has an uncle, but he and her mother had a falling out because of  division of property. Since then, there has been no contact, and she didn''t know where to go.

    After searching all relatives within three generations, there is no one who can let the aunt and nephew take refuge.

    At that time, Lu Zhiqiao was in her third year of junior high school, and she lost everything overnight, and a heavy burden suddenly fell on her shoulders. She was confused, anxious, fearful, and even depressed, and almost dropped out of school. Later, with the help of a psychiatrist, she gradually accepted the reality and was ready to spend the rest of her life with her little niece.

    In this way, she passively became the mother of the child.

    Her parents'' colleagues and friends helped them a lot, and they inherited some inheritance, so life was not difficult at first. It''s just that the money will be spent one day, it''s not much, and it can''t stand up to a few years of tossing, out of guilt, she has no other thoughts in her mind, she just wants to work hard to make money so that Niu Niu can live well.

    This is the root of her crux.

    These years, Lu Zhiqiao seldom recalled what happened back then, and avoided it, not daring to look directly at it. She tried her best to make up for Niu Niu materially, and regarded her child as more important than herself, because she was a sinner, and she only lived for Niu Niu in her life.

    But now that she thinks about it, if her brother knew from heaven, he would definitely not want to see her live like this.

    Just like what Wen Zilong said.

    [If she is still alive, she definitely does not want me to be depressed and castrate myself]

    [So I live a good life, take care of my health, do more good deeds, and keep their property]

    [Letting go, doesn''t mean forgetting]

    The old things have bound her for too long, making her lose the ability to love herself and others. She was immersed in it, and inadvertently hurt the people around her, her daughter before, but now Qi Yan.

    But what''s the fault of people around her?

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced sideways at the eggshell lamp, the small characters were extremely clear, and gave her a steady stream of confidence and strength. She raised her lips and smiled, wiped away her tears, put the photo frame back, got up and turned on the computer.

    The document that was too late to send last time was quietly lying in the folder.

    She rearranged it, wrote it in more detail, attached what she wanted to say, renamed it "Time", and sent it to Qi Yan''s WeChat. Regardless of whether Qi Yan read it or not, or how she will react after seeing it, she didn''t think it was important anymore, so she took advantage of this incident, this opportunity, to let her thoroughly examine herself.

    Later, Lu Zhiqiao changed her WeChat nickname to "Yusheng"* and Qi Yan''s note to "Liangren"**.

    *Yusheng: 1. For the rest of her/his life 2. Survival after a disaster

    **Liangren: Beloved/Lover

    One Lu Yusheng, one Qi Liangren.

    May she find her beloved for the rest of her life.

    ¡­.

    It rained on the weekend and it was stuffy outside.

    Qi Yan went to visit Chi Nian with gifts and bags of mother and baby products. It''s been a long time since we saw each other. Chi Nian has become much rounder, her belly has become more prominent, and she exudes a maternal gentleness.

    She is at home alone, her husband works overtime, and her mother-in-law is in poor health all year round and needs to take medicine, so she can''t take care of her, so she cooks her usual lunch by herself.

    Qi Yan originally came over in high spirits, but after hearing what she said, she became a little unhappy and turned cold.

    "Oh, my husband do the house chores after work, and he also buys good food in the morning, so I cook some simple food for myself, and I am planning to hire a nanny, it''s okay~" Chi Nian coaxed her softly, not knowing whether it is because she is pregnant or that she stayed at home for a long time, she became more and more like a little girl.

    Qi Yan raised her brows: "He has a conscience."

    As she said that, she washed and cut the fruits, placed them on a plate, and put them on the coffee table. The two sat down to chat while eating.

    "By the way, let me tell you something."

    "Mm?"

    Chi Nian peeled a grape to feed himself, her round cheeks bulged, "My mother has a colleague''s daughter who is also pregnant, but she has low progesterone and needs injections to prevent miscarriage. It is troublesome to ask for leave every day, so she resigned."

    Qi Yan was keenly aware of what she wanted to say.

    "Besides, she is a clerical worker. She works from nine to five on weekends. It''s very easy, but she still can''t stand it. There''s no way..."

    "After all, children are important." Qi Yan smiled, and also peeled grapes to eat, pretending not to notice.

    Chi Nian frowned, and suddenly sighed: "I think I seem to have wrongly blamed Director Lu." After speaking, she seemed to be talking to herself: "The daughter of my mother''s colleague, is a bit like me, but my position is more tiring. I thought she had to resign from such a leisurely job, then I¡ª¡±

    Suddenly mentioning Lu Zhiqiao, Qi Yan was taken aback, feeling as if she had forgotten something, but right now her attention was on Chi Nian and she didn''t think about it.

    When she was just about to speak, Chi Nian turned to look at her: "Has Director Lu been in contact with you recently?"

    "No..." Qi Yan was startled, and said vaguely: "I''ve been staying at my parents'' house recently, and she''s also quite busy, so we usually just meet and say hello."

    Chi Nian pursed her lips slightly, and nodded to herself.

    "It''s a bit hot, I''m going to change clothes." She said and got up.

    Qi Yan quickly put down the grapes, wiped her hands with a tissue, and supported her: "Don''t get up so rashly, really." After speaking, she carefully helped her back to the bedroom.

    Chi Nian smiled helplessly, opened the closet, took out a loose, thin short-sleeved piece, and took off her shirt without saying a word. She subconsciously thought that they were all women anyway, so she didn''t shy away from it, but when she realized Qi Yan''s orientation, her shirt had already been taken off.

    "..."

    Qi Yan held back her laughter, turned her gaze away in embarrassment, caught a glimpse of dark red marks crawling on her stomach out of the corner of her eye, and froze, then turned back, "Are these stretch marks?"

    "Yeah, it''s ugly, and I won''t be able to get rid of it for the rest of my life." Chi Nian smiled wryly, and couldn''t bear to look down at her stomach.

    "Even after giving birth?"

    "Generally, there are also some that are not long."

    Qi Yan stared at the dense and loose dark red traces, and suddenly thought of Lu Zhiqiao, memories flooded in like a tide, and her thoughts suddenly returned to the night when they first met in the bar.

    She remembers...

    Lu Zhiqiao''s belly was smooth and flat, without any marks.

    Author''s Note:

    Qi Liangren: Alright, I know the mother is ¡°fake¡± [funny.jpg]

    Don''t worry, the reconciliation will not be so fast, there is always a process to fatten up, and thank you for following up this series, this chapter randomly sends out 50 red envelopes~

 CH 77

    That night was like an adventure, and Lu Zhiqiao was a sacred place full of mystery. Qi Yan had fully explored every inch and every corner, and was obsessed with it.

    Later, when she found out that Lu Zhiqiao is a mother, she sighed from the bottom of her heart, that person did not look like someone who had given birth to a child at all. Then, when she got some information intermittently, she began to suspect that Lu Zhiqiao was not quite right as a mother.

    But she never thought about it in a deeper way.

    As long as Lu Zhiqiao didn''t tell her in person, she would never guess blindly, saving herself the trouble. She is not in a hurry to know about that matter. Every day, her mind is full of thoughts about the mother and child warming up to her. It didn''t matter to her how the child came to be.

    However, now is a sensitive period for her and Lu Zhiqiao, and all conflicts revolve around the child, so she has to think more.

    Seeing her staring at the stretch marks, Chi Nian quickly put on a short sleeve to cover her stomach, and patted her with a smile: "This is still quite light, do you know the side cut*? It is when the baby is about to be born, they will cut your xx with a knife, hiss...I heard it would be very sore. But I heard that the level of pain is not as bad as in normal delivery. Think about how painful it is to unload the goods."

    *or episiotomy is a cut (incision) made in the tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus during childbirth. This area is called the perineum.

    For years, an episiotomy was thought to help prevent larger vaginal tears during childbirth. Experts believed an incision would heal better than a natural tear. The procedure was also thought to help preserve the muscles and connective tissue that support the pelvic floor.

    Today, however, research suggests that routine episiotomies don''t prevent these problems after all. ref. mayoclinic.org

    With her sight blocked, Qi Yan came back to her senses and stared at her blankly: "Will the side cut leave a scar?"

    "Of course it will, but depending on the individual''s physique, some scars are particularly obvious, and some are not." Chi Nian raised her brows, with a worried expression, muttering in a low voice that there is a high probability that she will also suffer from that knife.

    The two went out, returned to the sofa and sat down.

    Qi Yan thought about that night again.

    She remembered that Lu Zhiqiao was very tight and had no scars. It was relatively smooth with one finger but with two, they felt bound by something, like a rubber band...

    Based on her experience, it seemed to be the hymen at that time.

    Seeing Lu Zhiqiao at the parent meeting, she didn''t realize it for a while, but she also had doubts after many contacts with her neighbor. But knowing that Lu Zhiqiao is a single mother, she thought it''s because she rarely have sex, and the so-called "membrane" grew back again.

    (T/N: hymen doesn''t ''grow'' back once it''s broken/stretched, and the tightness depends on its original form and contraction during arousal¡­and not dependent on the frequency of activity, this is according to my research from google university)

    But all these connections, together with mentioning it today, made her feel more and more wrong, and doubts arose in her heart.

    Has Lu Zhiqiao ever given birth to a child?

    She didn''t dare to think about it any further.

    "Tell me."

    "Mm?"

    Qi Yan suddenly came back to her senses, and turned her head: "What''s wrong?"

    "If you were Director Lu, how would you deal with it?" Chi Nian said seriously.

    "..."

    She grabbed the back of Qi Yan''s hand, shook her head and said, "It''s okay, you can say whatever you want, I don''t mind."

    Qi Yan smiled helplessly: "Why are you still thinking about this? How long has it been?"

    "Indeed, I''ve been thinking about it." Chi Nian sighed, frowned, and there was a hint of melancholy in her black eyes, "I always thought that Director Lu was targeting me, but I just couldn''t figure it out. She used to take good care of me. When I first joined the company, she took me by the hand, and tolerated me even if I made a small mistake. I don¡¯t know why I said that when I got pregnant. After hearing about my mother¡¯s colleague¡¯s daughter, I feel like she didn¡¯t do anything...Oh I don''t understand."

    Qi Yan stared at her troubled face, and suddenly remembered Lu Zhiqiao''s confession at that time.

    That was the first time that Lu Zhiqiao told her about work, and it was such an extremely sensitive matter. She showed her ideas, choices, and practices, without reservation.

    This kind of thing can easily offend people if it is not handled well, but Lu Zhiqiao chose to tell her and share her views with her.

    In fact, she also trusted her.

    For a woman who can save her life, she has no reason not to believe that the woman has her in her heart. Not just in her heart, she should also be extremely important.

    It''s just that she doesn''t feel it a lot of the time.

    With a dull pain in her heart, Qi Yan shook her head, trying to divert her attention, and said, "If it was me, I would first let you do clerical work in the office, hand over the work tasks that need to go out to other people, and then symbolically let you do some simple and easy work, as for whether you can do it or not, it¡¯s not up to me to decide, and it¡¯s hard for me to say, after all, in that position, I¡¯m just a part-time worker, and it depends on the boss¡¯s face.¡±

    Her choice was the same as what Lu Zhiqiao did back then.

    Lu Zhiqiao took away the work tasks that required running around and assigned her task to other subordinates, but because of the special nature of the position, this move seemed like a job grab.

    Chi Nian pondered for a moment, nodded, and sighed: "Oh, let''s not talk about it, I''ve already resigned anyway, I just stayed there for five years and have some lingering  feelings."

    "Yeah, it''s all over, thinking too much is not good for you to raise your baby." Qi Yan echoed and patted her on the shoulder.

    She didn''t want to discuss it either.

    It is like when someone asks "Your wife and mother fell into the water at the same time, who will you save first?", how should she answer? There is no way to ignore the two, so simply jump off by yourself.

    After lunch, Qi Yan came out of Chi Nian''s house.

    The sun hangs high above her head, and the air was a bit stuffy. She walked through the dense shade of trees, avoiding the scorching ultraviolet rays, and quickly got into the car.

    Thinking about Lu Zhiqiao''s matter in her mind, Qi Yan suddenly remembered that the woman sent her something on WeChat yesterday. She saw it this morning, but didn''t click on it, and forgot it after waking up. No wonder she felt like she''s forgetting something when she was at Chi Nian''s house just now.

    She clicked on WeChat, a little hesitant.

    The truth is, she doesn''t really want to receive any news about Lu Zhiqiao. She hopes that she can block everything about that person like a signal jammer, so that she can really calm down and sort out her emotions.

    That day, she wanted to delete Lu Zhiqiao''s WeChat account, but she struggled for a long time. Firstly, she was reluctant, and secondly, she was worried that if she did too badly, that person would shrink back the steps she took so hard. So she chose to restrict her access to her WeChat.

    She spoke decisively, but her heart never moved away, like a mischievous child.

    Just like now, she told herself not to click on the document sent by Lu Zhiqiao, but her fingers didn''t listen.

    Just when she was about to tap on it, a phone call came in.

    It was Assistant Feng.

    "Hello?"

    "Ms. Qi, hello, I sent a work email to your mailbox, please check it in time." She said In a polite and professional tone.

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan responded indifferently, hung up, thought about going back and looking again, put her phone dowm, and drove away.

    There was only the nanny at home, and as soon as she entered the door, Tuanzi ran over, meowed and pounced on her feet to sit, as fat and heavy as a weight. Impatient, she directly grabbed the fat cat by the back of the neck, lifted it aside, and rushed upstairs quickly.

    She turned her computer on and checked her email.

    In mid-July, there will be a brand exhibition show at La Pella, on a small island in a Southeast Asian country. It will last for three days and two nights, and she is required to go and shoot the whole process. Although it was a work email, it still asked about her schedule at the end, saying that it could be discussed.

    Qi Yan likes this kind of polite distance, serious communication, and innocent relationship.

    She''s already resigned by July, and will have complete freedom of time, she can go wherever she wants, and after she is done with the show, she will arrange a trip for herself.

    Qi Yan replied to the email, saying that there would be no problem.

    After turning off the computer, she reopened WeChat and clicked on the document sent by Lu Zhiqiao.

    She looked down bit by bit...

    The afternoon wind blows in from the balcony, bringing a hint of warmth and dryness. The apricot-colored curtains fluttered slightly, the light and shadow outside the window were mottled, and the fragrance of flowers permeated. Occasionally, a few sparrows pass by, flapping their wings and landing on the eaves.

    The sunlight slanted into the room, and a small spot of light was projected onto the wall. The golden color brightened the pattern of the wallpaper, outlining a gorgeous and complicated design.

    It is a peaceful weekend afternoon.

    Qi Yan sat motionless at the desk, staring at her phone, her long eyelashes were like moth wings, trembling up and down, her amber eyes were filled with water, like a thick layer of frost, gloomy and condensed.  Then, her world was windy, rainy, lightning and thunder.

    After a moment, she took a deep breath, stood up, turned and rushed out of the room.

    Halfway down the stairs, Qi Yan suddenly stopped, and fell forward, leaning on the wall to stabilize her balance. Her eyes widened, her lips parted, panting anxiously, she sat down with her arms around her knees, crying bitterly.

    She should have thought of it earlier...

    How can a person grow into someone for no reason? Just like her, who has the happiness that most people can''t get, and then grows into someone that most people envy. It''s just that she never thought about it in the opposite way. Behind the happiness and light, there is suffering and darkness, something that her eyes failed to see.

    Niu Niu was not born to Lu Zhiqiao, she thought about it, but because this conjecture was too bold, it was rejected.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s relatives might have died in an accident. She also thought about it, but she also vetoed it because she didn''t dare to think too badly.

    She saw that the world was colorful, fresh and interesting, but she couldn''t see the sorrow, bitterness, struggle and helplessness in the corner. Just like what Jiang Yu said about vision, her environment determines what her eyes can see. Standing tall, she only sees the prosperity in the distance, ignoring the desolation nearby.

    Their encounter gave birth to the fierce collision of two different people; it was exciting, and more enjoyable, but it also made both of them exhausted.

    Qi Yan raised her head against the wall, tears flowed from the corners of her eyes, she raised her hand to wipe them away, and when she turned her head, she saw the nanny standing downstairs looking at her, with eyes slightly worried, hesitating whether to come up or not.

    She shook her head, smiled, got up and went back to  her room on the second floor.

    A warm wind blows into the house, mixed with the smell of sunshine and the aroma of flowers and plants. Qi Yan closed the door, locked it, and sat on the swing chair on the balcony with her phone in hand, completely exposing herself to the ultraviolet rays.

    She read the contents of the document again.

    The first half describes the past, family, and Niu Niu''s life experience. The second half is written with her heartfelt words, which not only responded to her letter, but also gave her determination.

    [In the beginning, you swept me like the wind and destroyed the wall I worked so hard to build. I blamed you, but in the end I became willing to open my arms and embrace you. I was willing to abandon the ruins and follow you to a better place. To a vast world, to build our own kingdom. Later, you left me like the wind, leaving me alone to guard this empty utopia. I was overwhelmed and  in panic but in the end, I decided to run hard to chase you, and break free from my shackles. With love, I will accompany you to fly to a wider world and pursue our happiness.]

    [Confessing this to you is not to sell my misery, let alone to gain sympathy, I realize my own problem, even if you have never appeared, I will have to face it one day. We both need a little time to calm down. Temporarily separating is the right choice, but I believe that parting is for a better reunion. You try your best to run forward, but don¡¯t run too far, for I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to catch up with you¡ª¡ª Even if you leave me with a blurry back.]

    [You said that you wish for me to find my beloved for the rest of my life, then this is the rest of my life and you are my beloved.]

    ¡­.

    Qi Yan finished reading silently, tilting her head, her cheeks were slightly burned by the sun, she put down her phone, closed her eyes, and listened to her own gentle and steady breathing.

    There was the sound of a bird flapping its wings in the air. She opened her eyes and narrowed her eyes slightly against the glare of the sun. She saw two sparrows chasing and flying from the eaves to the tree branches, and from the branches to the electric poles, side by side. Very close, next to each other.

    Her face is slightly hot, and so is her heart.

    At that moment just now, she wanted to find Lu Zhiqiao, wishing she could rush to that person immediately, hug and comfort her. This feeling seems familiar, and it has happened many times. She always feels sorry for Lu Zhiqiao, but she doesn''t understand her. She took it for granted in the process of chasing and approaching.

    If she goes now, they will get back together, and still get along as before, but neither of them will change in the slightest.

    This is the harsh reality of falling in love with a mother who is burdened by responsibilities, she is doomed to not be able to monopolize the other''s heart. She didn''t understand the truth before and was reckless. Now that she wants to take that step again, she has to carefully consider whether she can bear the occasional imbalance, and whether she can become the firm and reliable lover for the other party.

    Although Lu Zhiqiao said in the document that she would balance the weight of love and family affection in her heart, it will still be difficult for her to make a choice.

    Moreover, asking Lu Zhiqiao to balance them is cruel. That is the daughter of her elder brother and sister-in-law, who saved her life, and also the daughter that Qi Yan regarded as her own. She became childish and got  jealous of a child.

    After thinking about it, she still felt guilty and wronged.

    What Qiao Qiao said that day hurt her too much.

    She knew that it was impulsive rather than intentional, but as soon as she thought of that person excluding her from their small  family, she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of pain in her heart.

    Before entering the school, Qi Yan only played in her own circle. Although she had met many people and experienced many things, everyone belonged to the same circle and they got along well with each other. But after entering the school, she broke away from her original circle, and was beaten severely. It took her four years to realize that she doesn''t fit in.

    Qi Yan suddenly lost confidence in herself.

    She''s not that sure, or that confident.

    The two sparrows perched on the telephone pole flew away, one behind the other, over the eaves of the house and to the other side. Two new sparrows landed on the pole, far apart, standing still.

    Qi Yan hooked the corners of her lips, smiled slightly, looked away, and lowered her head thinking about how to reply.

    --I''ll be waiting for you?

    No, it seems that she is too active.

    ¡ªI won¡¯t run too far?

    No, no, it''s still too active and cheap.

    --Oh?

    Wouldn''t Qiao Qiao be sad if she is too indifferent? What if she stops chasing her?

    After struggling for a long time, Qi Yan really couldn''t figure it out, so she decided not to reply.

    She is cold and will never compromise.

    In the afternoon, Lu Zhiqiao drove to the countryside alone and entered the village where the old house was located.

    In recent years, the countryside has developed very well. The roads have been renovated and refurbished. They are spacious and flat. There are endless green fields on both sides. Every family lives in self-built houses, which are two or even three stories small, with white walls and black tiles and a large yard, which is bigger than that in the city. The villa is even more stylish.

    The layout of the houses has not changed much. The distribution of households in the past is almost the same as now, but the faces of young people are hardly seen on the road, and most of them are old people and children.

    Lu Zhiqiao parked her car at the entrance of the village and walked in.

    In the scorching sun, the hunched old man walked leisurely with his hands behind his back, the three- and four-year-old children were chasing and playing on the side of the road, and a big yellow dog tied to an iron chain lying on his stomach in front of the gate of some houses. He was gnawing on a bone, and everytime he sees a stranger coming, he would bark a few times.

    When she was a child, she only came here during the holidays and didn''t move around very often, so she hardly knew anyone in the village.

    Fortunately, the layout didn''t change much. She walked all the way to the old house based on her memory from more than ten years ago.

    That place has become a pond.

    The green and dark stone platform, the brownish-yellow soil, and the surrounding weeds are lush, and there are green duckweeds floating in the pool water, and a few gray-colored ducks are swimming in it, making a hoarse quacking sound.

    There is an old banyan tree by the pond, and a warm wind blows over, making the shadow of the tree sway.

    The branches of the banyan tree are thick. When the old house was still there, people could stand on the balcony of the third-floor room and touch its leaves. Lu Zhiqiao still remembers that she and her elder brother took a sticky pole and stretched it from the balcony to the middle of the branches of the banyan tree. They could poke into the bird''s nest, and they could catch cicadas in summer. It was very fun.

    The old banyan tree is much older than her grandparents.

    She seemed to see grandma sitting under the banyan tree with a small bench, holding a cattail fan in her hand, fanning the wind slowly, relaxed and content.

    "Hey, isn''t this Xiao Qiao*?"

    *Little Qiao

    A familiar dialect came from behind, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly came back to her senses, turned around, and saw a pudgy middle-aged aunt looking at her in surprise, her face was a little familiar, but she didn''t realize it all at once.

    "Hey, it''s really Xiao Qiao."

    "You are?"

    "You don''t remember me? I''m Aunt Li, I live next to your house. When I was young, I used to take pig trotters to eat." The aunt smiled happily, the wrinkles on her face deepened a few layers.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, suddenly realized, and smiled: "Aunt Li, I remembered, sorry, look at my memory..."

    Aunt Li lived closest to the old house and often had contact with Grandma Lu. When the fire broke out that year, Lu Zhiqiao hugged Niu Niu to call for someone, and Aunt Li''s family was the first to come.

    She didn''t expect to come back after many years and meet people she knew.

    Aunt Li was overjoyed, and told her a few words of warmth, and dragged her to go to her house. She couldn''t resist, so she had to follow. She still remembers that the woman lived in a small one-story house back then, but now she have built a three-story building with two stone lions by the door, a row of landscape trees, and a brand new minivan parked in the yard.

    The neighbors are enthusiastic, and they put all kinds of snacks and candies when they enter the door, and they also called their children who came to visit on weekends¡ªLu Zhiqiao''s former playmates in the village.

    None of them forgot the fire, and Aunt Li was even more impressed. At first, she was afraid that she would be sad, so she didn''t mention it, but when she saw that she brought it up, she started talking about it.

    They all know that five of the Lu family died that night, and only Lu Zhiqiao and her little niece were left. It can almost be said that the family was almost wiped out, which was extremely miserable.

    "How are you and that niece doing?"

    "Pretty good. Now she''s in junior high school and almost as tall as I am." Lu Zhiqiao smiled and said softly.

    She hadn''t set foot in the village for ten years, and she came here just to find the traces of her past life. The more she escaped, the more she wanted to reproduce the scene of the past. If she wanted to face the past, she couldn''t hide from this home town

    She thought she would be sad, but when she came here, she realized that all traces were gone, and there was no wave in her heart.

    It''s just that she still hurts everytime she thinks of her brother.

    She wanted to say something, but the phone rang suddenly, she smiled apologetically, got up and went out to answer the phone.

    It was her daughter.

    "Baby?" Lu Zhiqiao smiled, her voice so gentle that it melted into water.

    The sound of her daughter eating something came from the phone, as if she is eating so loudly on purpose, and then I heard a lazy sentence: "Mom, I''m playing at Grandpa Qi''s house, remember to pick me up when you come back~"

    Author''s Note:

    Emm, hasn''t reconciled so quickly, so don''t get excited [sneaky smile.jpg

 CH 78

    Grandpa Qi?

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned for a moment when she heard the sound of her daughter babbling and eating, and it took a while to realize that it was "Grandpa Qi", Qi Yan''s father, the boss of their company''s partner. She was surprised: "Why are you..."

    "Teacher Qi said she was free today and could teach me how to bake cakes, so she took me over." The little girl knew what she wanted to ask, so she stopped chewing and muttered something.

    "But grandpa and grandma are not at home, and they only come back at night. Teacher Qi asked me to eat here. Mom, you can come to eat too. After eating, we will go back together."

    The daughter''s voice was lazy, as if it didn''t matter, she called her grandpa and grandma very intimately, it seemed that she had a good time with Qi''s father and mother when she visited there last time, her tone seemed to regard Qi Yan''s place as her own home.

    Lu Zhiqiao was still unable to equate "Boss Qi" with "Qi Yan''s father", and was always worried that her daughter is too young and ignorant to disturb others'' peace and quiet, but when she heard what the child said, her worries suddenly eased a lot. As long as President Qi and his wife don''t feel disturbed, it''s fine to let her daughter go over and play occasionally. Selfishly speaking, she hopes to get some "information" about Qi Yan.

    As for herself...

    During the meal, she could see Qi Yan and communicate with President Qi and his wife¡ªshe was always curious about what kind of parents could raise such an excellent daughter as Qi Yan.

    She only saw Mr. Qi outside, but she hasn''t seen his wife yet, and she doesn''t know how the atmosphere at home is.

    Her heart is ready to move.

    If she went, it would be tantamount to meeting her parents in disguise, and she could only be courteous as a neighbor. It''s a bit saddening to think about it.

    But she misses Qi Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, took a breath, and replied after a long while: "Mom won''t go, call me after dinner, I''ll pick you up, and let Teacher Qi take you to the gate of the complex."

    There was no sound.

    "Baby?"

    "Well, okay." Her tone was obviously low, and then she hung up the phone.

    The screen returned to the main menu interface, and Lu Zhiqiao stared at the photo of Qi Yan above, with steam in her eyes, and then clicked into WeChat to check, but still did not receive a reply.

    She blinked, put the phone back in her bag, and turned to enter the house.

    Aunt Li and the others were still talking about the fire, dancing with excitement. Lu Zhiqiao sat down and ate some melons and fruits. After listening to a few words, she realized that the fire incident they were talking about was not the one in Lu''s old house.

    "Was there anyone else who had their house on fire?"

    "Yeah, it''s that old house at the edge of the ridge, within a month, the family members were asleep that they couldn''t come out of the fire, what a crime..." Aunt Li frowned tightly, gesticulating with both hands in the air, with an exaggerated expression.

    Behind the Lu family''s old house is a field ridge, and a family lives on the edge of the field, which is also a wooden three-story house.

    Just one month after the Lu family caught fire, that family also suffered a fire. Although it was daytime, everyone in the family was taking a nap, and no one noticed. By the time they found out, it was too late and the whole family of four couldn''t escape.

    It is said that they suffocated, and then charred and deformed.

    Two consecutive fires occurred within half a year. Although it was horrific, the villagers did not think deeply about it. They felt that old houses made of wood were inherently dangerous.  They didn''t care, it''s just that those two are unlucky.

    Later, in the summer, another family caught fire, this time a cement bungalow.

    It is said that the child was watching TV at home and could smell a burnt smell. The adults in the family didn¡¯t pay attention at first, but when the fire started burning in the kitchen, they were confused and subconsciously poured water to put out the fire. As a result, the child¡¯s father was electrocuted and died.

    This aroused the attention of the village committee, and it was only after an investigation that showed it was caused by the aging of the line.

    The village has always had a centralized power supply, one meter per household, and the line has not been changed for many years. With policy assistance and development, the better the living conditions are, the more electrical appliances are used by each household, the load became heavy, and the aging lines became prone to problems.

    In fact, as early as 2005, a similar phenomenon happened. At that time, everyone thought it was improper operation of electrical appliances, and they didn''t think much about it.

    "Later, the village replaced the cables for us, and every household had to check and they taught us how to use fire extinguishers and what to do when electrical appliances caught fire. It¡¯s much better now, and no more accidents."

    Aunt Li''s two daughters and youngest son all agreed.

    Lu Zhiqiao listened silently, her face became more and more solemn, and she couldn''t help recalling the situation that night carefully.

    It''s been twelve years, she couldn''t remember many details clearly.

    The village was very lively that night, and every household was setting off fireworks. She and her friends played on the main road first, and then went to the backyard of the old house. There were bundles of haystacks piled up in the yard, which were extremely flammable. At that time, her brother told her to stay away from the haystacks, she obeyed and did not lean towards the haystacks at all.

    Maybe the sparks splashed, maybe she didn''t pay attention when it was burning, but many possibilities were just her conjectures.

    At that time, her logic was simple: Grandma lived in the old house for so many years, and nothing happened, but something happened to her after setting off the fireworks that night, and she must have had something to do with it.

    Out of fear and helplessness, she pinned all the reasons she could think of on herself. In fact, upon closer look, it doesn''t add up. Fireworks are set off in the courtyard of the old house every Spring Festival. Why did something happen in that year?

    Twelve years later, Lu Zhiqiao realized this.

    The other two cases that Aunt Li just mentioned gave her a new direction of thinking.

    Her grandma used to live in the country and hardly used electrical appliances. Around 2003, her parents bought a TV set and a washing machine. One was to keep the old woman from being lonely at home, and the other was to prevent the old woman from carrying a basin to the river to "wash clothes" in order to save a lot of time.  Later, they bought electric kettles, microwave ovens and other convenient electrical appliances one after another. Grandma adapted well, and it was much easier after learning how to use them.

    The wires of the old house are all exposed outside the walls, accumulated dust for a long time, and piled up in bundles in a mess. Usually grandma doesn''t pay attention to it, and the younger generation only go there during the New Year''s festival, so they ignore these things.

    She was lost in thought...

    If it was really a fire caused by aging wiring, everyone poured water to put out the fire that night. In such a dangerous situation, why did no one got electrocuted?

    After many years, the matter has become a mystery, and there is no way to verify it.

    ¡­.

    As the sun was setting, Lu Zhiqiao declined Aunt Li''s invitation to stay for dinner, and went back to the old house to have a look.

    The ducks had already landed, and they walked leisurely by the old banyan tree in groups. She walked back along the pond, crossed the field ridge, and came to a grave. Grandma and grandpa''s joint tomb stands very conspicuous on the slope.

    She walked over, knelt in front of the tombstone and kowtowed a few times, got up, patted the dusts on her body, and pulled out the newly grown weeds on the grave.

    Family matters cannot be kept hidden for a lifetime, and Niu Niu has the right to know who her biological parents are.  Lu Zhiqiao has long thought that when the child becomes an adult, she will tell her all the truth. As for whether to call her "aunt" or "mom" by that time, is up to the child to decide.

    And the burden on her body should also be let go.

    In the evening, Lu Zhiqiao took a bath at home, cooked some noodles at will, and estimated the time to pick up her daughter home.

    It was a bit hot outside, so she wore a rose-purple suspender V-neck dress with a low neckline, which perfectly showed her charming "career line"*. The style design and color made her more mature and charming.

    *career line means chest.

    She put on light base makeup, lightly draw eyeliner, sweep a little "deep throat" blush, and finally apply a gentle lip glaze.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself carefully, as if she was a gentle and elegant wife.

    Desire brings pleasure.

    Satisfied, she went out and drove to Ninghu Lake.

    The sky is dark, the lights in the city are noisy, all kinds of light box advertisements are flashing on both sides of the street, the exterior walls of high-rise buildings are colorful and gorgeous, the city center is very lively, and the taillights of traffic flow converge into a bustling night scene.

    Lu Zhiqiao was in a good mood, and was a little excited to drive, so she opened the CD and played the female version of "Lonely Northern Hemisphere", immersed in the gentle and soft voice. Continuously intoxicated.

    She thought of that morning in Northern Europe.

    Qi Yan said she missed her.

    She misses her too.

    Arriving at the gate of the community, her phone rang, and it was her daughter''s call, the timing was just right. After Lu Zhiqiao finished answering the phone, she got out of the car and stood leaning against the door, staring silently in the direction of the door.

    The four-channel round arched gate stands tall, and the bright yellow light reflects on the marble-patterned wall, casting a faint shadow. The surrounding is quiet and empty, and the sound of insects in the grass is very clear. Her shadow is accompanied by street lamps, clear and little bit lonely.

    Not long after, two people came out from the side door, one big and one small, arm in arm, talking and laughing.

    They came out and looked around, and walked her way.

    Qi Yan is tall and slender, wearing a white half-sleeved shirt and a light blue denim skirt, her legs are long and straight, her face is bright and smooth as reflected by the street lights, her facial features are glamorous. There is a doting smile on the corner of her mouth, and her expression is soft.

    At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart hitched and she clenched her palms tightly.

    "Mom." Walking to the side of the car, Lu Wei called out, looked sideways at Qi Yan, and waved with a smile, "Goodbye, Teacher Qi." After speaking, she immediately slipped to the other side and got into the car consciously.

    "Goodbye~"

    Qi Yan watched her daughter get into the car with a smile, her eyes turned to Lu Zhiqiao''s face, her expression was slightly stagnant, a flash of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly covered it up, smiled politely, and turned her head to leave.

    Her wrist was clenched violently, and her skin felt warm as expected.

    She looked up.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her, her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and felt her heart beating wildly in her chest. Her throat slipped, her lips twitched, and it took a long time for her to utter a few words: "I have something to tell you.".

    She was ready for Qi Yan to reject her, so she clenched her hands tighter.

    She doesn''t know if Qi Yan has seen that document, or if she saw it but didn''t click on it, she may be disdainful or find it ridiculous, but no matter how Qi Yan reacts, she must explain things clearly and simply today.

    After that, no matter what Qi Yan chooses, she will accept it frankly.

    Qi Yan stared at Lu Zhiqiao''s face.

    The hair scattered on her shoulders is slightly curly, the skin is white and delicate, the cheeks are faintly blush, the almond eyes are full of autumn waves, the black tear moles at the end of the eyes looked cute, the lips are thin and plump, and the rose-purple skirt can be controlled with ease. She smells like a mature wife.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the deep "career line", and her heart turned turbulent.

    Qiao Qiao is so beautiful tonight!

    She wished she could take her home now, throw her on her bed, and enjoy the delicious meal delivered to her door. If Qiao Qiao is willing, she can also transform into a feast, so that Qiao Qiao can have a good time.

    There was a turmoil in her heart, but her face remained calm.

    Qi Yan nodded lightly, looked away, and said softly, "Okay."

    The two walked a short distance to the back of the car and stood by the flower garden, enough to talk but not too far away.  Lu Zhiqiao stared at Qi Yan''s face: "The document I sent you..."

    "I''ve seen it." Qi Yan interrupted.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, pursed her lips, and suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a sense of loss welling up again.

    Reading it means that the matter has been explained clearly, and she doesn''t have to waste time explaining, but at the same time, she has nothing to say, and there is no way to prolong the short time together tonight. The reason for the disappointment was that she couldn''t figure it out. Qi Yan clearly read it, so why didn''t she reply to her?

    Maybe, as she thought, she felt disdainful, or found it ridiculous.

    Well, she really tried her best.

    If Qi Yan doesn''t make a clear statement, she still has the cheek to fight for the opportunity. If Qi Yan makes a statement, forgive her, or let it go, no matter which one, she must accept it.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled bitterly and sighed: "I apologize to you first. I couldn''t speak out of my head that day. I hurt people. I''m sorry."

    If Qi Yan hadn''t seen Lu Zhiqiao outside, she wouldn''t have thought there was something wrong with her tone, but she had. So, hearing Lu Zhiqiao say these words in a low tone at this moment, her heart turned sour uncontrollably, she was pinched so painfully, twitched, her eyes showed bitterness, so she had to turn her face away, pretending to look around casually.

    Qiao Qiao is always soft in front of her.

    She is a person with hard bones all over herbbody, walking out of the thorns.

    "I should also apologize to you. I didn''t take your emotions into account that day. I should have explained it earlier. Sometimes I take it for granted. I''m sorry." Qi Yan blinked and smiled wryly.

    If there is something wrong, everyone is wrong, and if it is right, everyone is right.

    Apologies are apologies.

    She is cold and will never compromise.

    "But there are some things that I haven''t thought through clearly, it''s very messy..." She raised her eyes in the middle of speaking, her eyes were calm, but the meaning was obvious.

    She glanced at the "career line" again.

    White and soft, like the cotton candy she ate in her dreams.

    The night was silent, and the waning moon was blocked by the clouds, emitting a faint and dim light. The street lamps on both sides stretched into the distance, pushing away the boundless darkness. The road was clean and empty, like an oil painting. Two people stood still in the oil painting, their eyes glued together, as if connected by an invisible thread.

    Lu Zhiqiao stood silently, with a happy expression in her dark, night-like eyes. She then nodded with a faint smile and said, "Hmm, it''s time to part for a while, and think calmly¡­"

    Qi Yan lowered her gaze and didn''t speak.

    "Are you...resigning?" Lu Zhiqiao gently grabbed her hand.

    "Mm, I''ve already written a resignation to the principal. When the letter of dismissal from the Education Bureau comes out, I''ll leave after the final exam."

    Qi Yan lowered her head, as if talking to herself.

    She laughed at herself severely in her heart. She originally planned to wait for Niu Niu to graduate before leaving, but she didn''t expect that she couldn''t wait for a moment. She was a struggling bird trapped in a cage, and she couldn''t wait to flap her wings and fly out.

    "I can''t keep an eye on Niu Niu for you."

    "You''re not my intelligence officer, don''t say such things." Lu Zhiqiao smiled, imitating what she did to herself before, combing her five fingers and buckling them in.

    Qi Yan raised her eyebrows: "Then what am I?"

    "Girlfriend."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked directly into her eyes and answered without hesitation.

    At that moment, Qi Yan suddenly felt that hernheart stopped beating, her whole body was thrown up, and the world spun for a while, losing her center of gravity and balance. Her twinkling brown eyes were like amber wine, churning up fine waves, but quickly returned to calm without any trace.

    What is she happy about?

    What is she proud of?

    Look at your promise!

    She is cold and will never compromise.

    Qi Yan frowned slightly, pulled her hands away calmly, and turned her face away: "I don''t admit it."

    After speaking, she regretted her recklessness, and she couldn''t take back what she had said. What if Lu Zhiqiao, a shrinking turtle, shrinks back after hearing this, what should she do?  She really can''t afford another poke in the lungs again, this woman knew how to hurt her the most.

    "It''s okay." Lu Zhiqiao smiled lightly, and suddenly leaned into her ear, and whispered, "I''ll wait for you to admit it."

    A warm breath rushed over, carrying an indifferently familiar cold fragrance.  Qi Yan froze, feeling that these words seemed familiar, as if...she had said something similar to Lu Zhiqiao.

    She stared blankly, waited for her to react, and turned her head, the woman had already stepped back to the side of the car under the shadow of the street lamp.

    Lu Zhiqiao opened the door, smiled sideways, winked at her, and bent over the car.

    In the blink of an eye, it was June, just after Mangzhong*, and the temperature was getting higher and higher.

    *first harvest, June 5, farmers generally harvest the first crop of rice and barley and then prepare for the second sowing.

    The sun scorched the earth, the leaves on both sides of the road were tanned and shiny, the cicadas were singing on the trees, and the streets were full of suspenders with long legs, and the whole city was as hot as a steamer.  Indoor places have turned on the air conditioner throughout the day, which is cool and refreshing.

    In the afternoon, Lu Zhiqiao came back from other places and rushed to the meeting without stopping.

    At the end of July, she will represent the company to participate in a trade show in Africa, and go to the branch there to inspect and exchange, and make further strategic planning. The team will be accompanied by more than 50 people, and the preparations will start one month in advance. The meeting preliminarily determined the list of personnel and planned the plan, which needs to be reviewed step by step.

    She signed it and took it to Shu Minxi.

    After Gu Shuning''s death, Shu Minxi recovered and devoted herself to her work, as if she wanted to make up for the time she had lost before. She was so busy all day long that no one was around.

    But Lu Zhiqiao caught her every time.

    "Boss Shu."

    Knocking on the door and entering the office, Shu Minxi was talking on the phone in front of the window, babbling in fluent Japanese, but Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t understand a word, so she stood by the side and waited.

    Shu Minxi hung up one and called another, this time speaking in her mother tongue.

    It is about the show.

    She seems to be coordinating the time. She wondered if her schedule has collided again, and it is related to the client in Japan.

    After listening to a few words, Lu Zhiqiao accidentally glanced at an open document on the table, and saw that it was related to Siena Model''s sponsorship, and she clearly saw Jiang Yu''s name.

    In mid-July, there will be a brand show at La Pella, and the company was the biggest sponsoring partner. She knew about this, but because of her unpleasant quarrel with Qi Yan at the time, she didn''t pay attention to it, but now she suddenly noticed it and thought about it.

    Qi Yan is a photographer, so she will definitely go.

    "I''m going to the airport now, let me tell you something." Just as she was thinking, Shu Minxi hung up the phone, turned around, picked up her bag and was about to leave.

    Lu Zhiqiao regained consciousness and gave her the document: "The list is finalized."

    She was also unambiguous, took it, glanced at it, signed it neatly, and wanted to close the folder on the desktop.

    Lu Zhiqiao blocked it with her hand, and smiled: "Boss Shu, if the time is difficult to coordinate, I will go for you."

 CH 79

    During the time when Shu Minxi was taking care of Gu Shuning, Lu Zhiqiao was busy with most of the company''s affairs. She had to do her job well and take care of the whole body, so she was very tired. Shu Minxi felt ashamed. After returning to work, she kept busy with her own business, and no longer put the work on Lu Zhiqiao on the grounds of personal affairs.

    In the past, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t need to speak, she would have thought of her.

    The position of vice president is special in the company.

    When Wen Ziyu was alive, she served as the vice president and Gu Shuning''s right-hand man. After her death, the position was vacant for five years, and due to business needs, someone had to be appointed.

    In the past ten years, the vice president came and went, and went and came again.

    Ordinarily, the company is so big that only one vice president is far from enough, but Shu Minxi knows that having such a vice president is already the limit of what Gu Shuning can do.

    Therefore, in many cases, the "director" acts instead of the "vice president".

    This is what happens today when senior executives ¡°are not enough¡± to be present at large business events. Shu Minxi thought in her heart that the left and right people had passed away, and for the sake of the company''s development, she couldn''t continue to keep the so-called "feelings" like this. After this time, she would discuss with the board of directors and make rectification.

    Now it is still inevitable to tire Lu Zhiqiao.

    "It can be coordinated, it''s okay." Shu Minxi smiled, "You will be at the trade show in Cologne at the end of next month..."

    "You are not troubling me." Lu Zhiqiao interrupted softly, taking her hand away little by little.

    "This is a business matter, not a personal matter. At our level, what do you care about? Isn''t it all for the benefit of the company?"

    Before she was promoted to vice president, Lu Zhiqiao seldom spoke to Shu Minxi in such a familiar tone during working hours. In her eyes, she was her boss first and her friend second.  But after that, the gap between their ranks closed up and they were collectively referred to as "President". Then, Gu Shuning passed away, and her friend became the boss. She suddenly felt that everything was so embarrassing to go back and she could no longer regain their clear boundaries.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at Shu Minxi with a smile, and directly picked up the document and looked it up in front of her eyes without any hesitation.

    "Xiao Long...did he tell you about Sister Ningning?" Shu Minxi sighed, her eyes fell on the corner of the desk, where there was a statue of a small figure in a kimono, which was given by Saki to her.

    She didn''t want to throw it away.

    "Mm."

    Lu Zhiqiao was absent-minded, her eyes fixed on the name "Jiang Yu", and a cold and bony face appeared in her mind.

    She had to go to that show.

    "If you think you''re bothering me, let''s just exchange terms. Find a time next time and tell me about the matter between you and Ms. Gu, how about it?" Looking away from Jiang Yu''s name, she smiled at Shu Minxi, showing curiosity in her eyes.

    When mentioning the deceased, Shu Minxi''s expression darkened, her brows furrowed in sadness, she hesitated for a moment, then nodded lightly: "Okay."

    Some things have been kept in her heart for a long time, and she can''t let it out quickly. Lu Zhiqiao is someone she trusts. She has worked with her for many years and they understand each other. What''s more, the person has already left. If the scar is uncovered and the carrion is removed, the rotten place can only heal itself.

    "Okay, I''m catching a plane. I really have to go. I''ll talk about the details when I come back." She patted Lu Zhiqiao on the shoulder and left the office like a gust of wind.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at Jiang Yu''s name again, took a deep breath, and smiled slightly.

    Since parting at the gate of the community that night, Lu Zhiqiao hadn''t contacted Qi Yan again, and Qi Yan''s Moments was still invisible to her, she didn''t bother her either. They fell silent, as if they were strangers.

    Maybe Qi Yan didn''t say anything that day, because she neither forgave nor rejected her. In such a state, she felt a lot more at ease in her heart,  there is still a chance of redemption.

    She expressed her heart to Qi Yan, but Qi Yan didn''t give a positive answer. In her opinion, this was more like a hint. As for what to do, she should use their time away to think carefully. She needs to love herself first, then others.

    Qi Yan will walk slower, and she will try her best to catch up. The future is promising.

    After thinking about this, the tension in Lu Zhiqiao''s heart was relieved a lot. In the originally dark and chaotic world in front of her eyes, a ray of light appeared  behind clouds and fog. Qi Yan was the ray of light in her emotions. Although she has not yet fully stepped out, after taking this step, the rest is only a matter of time.

    She simply liquidated the assets in her hands, recalled what she had done in the past twelve years, asked herself what she wanted at this stage, and made a simple plan.

    There are Qi Yan and her daughter in the plan.

    The weather in June is not the hottest, but walking outside is like walking on fire. There are many thunderstorms in summer, the morning is sunny, and in the afternoon there are thunderstorms, which come and go quickly, which makes people unprepared. It gets hotter after the rain.

    The climate in Jiangcheng is like this, extreme and fast-changing.

    On Saturday, Lu Zhiqiao took the time to visit the house where her elder brother and sister-in-law lived. That place was just developed more than ten years ago, desolate and few people lived there, but now it has developed into a bustling area second only to the city center, surrounded by three subway lines, two colleges, three primary and secondary schools, and complete supporting facilities. It is very convenient to go anywhere or transfer

    no matter where, it has direct access to all parts of the city.

    House prices are naturally rising like a rocket.

    In 2005, it was more than 4,000 flats, and now it has risen to nearly 80,000 flats. Those who bought a house at that time changed their hands and sold it today, and immediately became rich.

    Lu Zhiqiao admired her brother''s vision. At first, his family members did not agree to buy a house there, but he insisted on it, and her sister-in-law believed in him. So the two families pooled more than 400,000 yuan, bought three bedrooms and two living rooms, and got married.

    After the accident at home, she became Niu Niu''s guardian, but she never thought about the house, and kept it vacant. When Niu Niu grows up, the house will be returned to the child.

    It is a memory left to Niu Niu by her parents.

    Although the house has not been lived in for a long time, Lu Zhiqiao often comes to clean it, so it is very clean inside, and the furniture and furnishings are kept as they are. Even the dishes in the kitchen have not been moved.

    She cleaned it carefully again, and put the framed photo with the girl on the table, and behind it was a family portrait and the only two photos of the family of three.

    "Brother, sister-in-law; Niu Niu and I are fine now, don''t worry, I will tell her everything when she grows up, and let her choose by herself, and I have an account for her...  "Lu Zhiqiao squatted in front of the photo frame and said in a low voice. After speaking, she glanced at the photo of his parents, and the indifferent smile on her lips disappeared.

    To be honest, she has no sense of indebtedness to her parents. Although she doesn''t hate them, she doesn''t love them either. She couldn''t love them, not at all.

    All the beautiful and warm memories of her childhood were given to her by her brother.

    In the fire accident, her elder brother thought of her first, and her sister-in-law rushed in to save others. Her elder brother and the sister-in-law are very gentle people. Fortunately, this kindness nourished her like nectar, otherwise she would not know what she would become.

    Niu Niu is her brother''s daughter, and she is also connected by blood, how could she not take her seriously?

    However, in the past, she took her daughter so seriously that she ignored herself. Her heart was filled with a sense of responsibility, and she couldn''t accommodate her own needs, so the balance was lost.

    She used to be a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a mother, an employee, and a leader. She played so many roles, but she was not herself.

    Now she re-examines herself, jumps out, and finds that many things can coexist.

    The fact that she values ??her daughter doesn''t mean that Qi Yan is not important to her.

    There is concern and love in her heart, this is what she has been pursuing; the meaning of her life.

    ¡­.

    The next day, Lu Zhiqiao bought a landscape fish tank and placed it on the cabinet in the entrance of the house as a decoration.

    The aquatic plants in the fish tank are lush and green, floating faintly, two or three small goldfish with big light bulb eyes, swinging their quarter tails, swimming around leisurely.  Occasionally turning the sand and stones at the bottom of the tank will raise a small cluster of ash, which looked very cute and stupid.

    Lu Wei thought it was fresh and fun, so she stood by the fish tank and fed it, while Lu Zhiqiao reminded with a smile, "Girl, don''t feed them too much."

    "Okay~"

    The little girl nodded, put the fish feed aside, and clapped her hands.

    Her daughter has grown taller again, and the top of her head is almost at the same level as Lu Zhiqiao''s ears. She looks thin, but her body is quite fleshy, her cheeks have a healthy pink flush, she is lively, and full of youthful vigor.

    Time flies, and the crying baby that she held in her arms in the past has grown into a little beauty in the blink of an eye. At this moment, Lu Zhiqiao has experienced the feeling of being a mother and has a lot of emotion.

    "Hey, Mom, why did you suddenly put out the picture of Dad?" Lu Wei turned her head and saw a picture frame added to the background wall of the TV. After a closer look, it turned out to be her father whom she had never met.

    Looking closer, the man''s eyebrows and eyes were very similar to Lu Zhiqiao''s. She guessed that this was probably the "husband and wife look" mentioned in TV dramas and novels, right?

    But it''s very strange. In the past, her mother didn''t even mention her father. The photos were all hidden, but today they were dug out and placed in the living room openly. Could it be¡ª¡ª

    To say goodbye to Teacher Qi completely?

    Ah!

    Her Teacher Qi!

    "Baby."

    "Mm?"

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand to stroke her daughter''s hair, smiled slightly, and pulled her wrist to sit on the sofa, "Mom has something to tell you."

    "What?" Lu Wei asked subconsciously, but she had a bad premonition in her heart.

    It''s over.

    It must be about breaking up with Teacher Qi.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyes to look at her brother''s photo, took a deep breath, and her eyes were tinged with pity. She told her daughter that when a fire broke out twelve years ago, her father, grandma and other relatives all died trying to save them, so there are only mother and daughter left in the world, depending on each other.

    Although it is not yet possible to reveal the whole truth to her daughter, telling the core of the incident in another way can also make her feel better. She was eager to know her daughter''s opinion, and wanted to know whether the shackles she had put on herself for so many years were right or wrong.

    "Girl, do you think... Mom is a sinner?" She asked nervously, the dark moles at the end of her eyes paled.

    "No." Lu Wei blinked and looked at her, "Why do you think you are a sinner?"

    "Because Mom killed everyone."

    "Did you set the fire?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, and said firmly, "No."

    After she came back, she thought about it carefully, and it was more and more likely that the fire was caused by the aging of the line. The backyard is so big, and the only combustibles are haystacks. She always remembers her brother¡¯s advice. She didn¡¯t play big fireworks in the yard, but only sparklers and the like. She stayed away from the haystacks. No matter how she thinks about it, it couldn''t be the fireworks that caused the fire.

    If the haystack caught fire at one point, and there was an open flame, she would have been able to spot it right away.

    It was so dark at night that the flames couldn''t hide.

    That''s how people are. When they get stuck in their emotions, they tend to think everything to the extreme, but in the eyes of bystanders, it doesn''t look like this. She was glad that she went back to the old house and met Aunt Li. If she thought about it in another direction, the label she put on herself is doubtful and could not stand at a close scrutiniy.

    No matter the direct reason or the indirect reason, it has nothing to do with her.

    It''s not her.

    "Then why do you say that you killed them? It was obviously because they burned to death." Lu Wei frowned, her eyes seemed to be looking at someone stupid.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes and said, "But your Dad saved Mom..."

    "Dad must have saved you because he loves you. He doesn''t want you to be harmed. He wants you to live well. Otherwise, why would he save you? It''s a good deal for him to run away alone. If the wife is gone, find another one, and if the child is gone, have another one, it''s easy for him."

    The little girl''s brows tightened even more, her eyes filled with incredulity, she spread her hands together, and muttered something.

    She suspects that her mother was out of her mind.

    She knows such a simple truth, so how can a mother, an adult in a mixed society, not understand it? Teacher Qi understands everything.

    No wonder Teacher Qi wants to break up with her mother.

    This IQ...

    God, she must not inherit it.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her daughter''s doubting eyes, her heart seemed to be stabbed, she was stunned for a few seconds, and blurted out: "How do you know so much? Did you know it from TV?"

    Lu Wei choked, and immediately remembered the fear of her phone being confiscated. She panicked and stammered: "No...no...this is common sense..."

    The flustered little eyes were obviously lying.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t have the mind to ask questions, she lowered her head and stared in thought.

    Although the so-called "father" is not her husband, this statement is not unreasonable. That night when her brother discovered the fire, he must have asked her sister-in-law to take Niu Niu out to wait, and then immediately thought of her who was staying on the highest floor, so he knocked on her door. Otherwise, from the perspective of ordinary people, no matter what, they will first knock on the door of their parents'' room on the second floor.

    From childhood to adulthood, her elder brother doted on her very much. There is a deep and strong brother-sister relationship between them, which is the love of family.

    Her elder brother''s love for his sister-in-law, his daughter, and his younger sister has subconsciously surpassed his love for his parents and grandma, and he didn''t think about it for a second.

    "Mom, if you love daddy too, you should live a good life." Seeing her mother bowing her head and not speaking, Lu Wei hurriedly interrupted her, fearing that she would not even be allowed to watch TV since then.

    The brick machine is really difficult to use!

    She can''t even send a selfie to her senior!

    She can''t even read novels!

    These words brought Lu Zhiqiao back to her thoughts. She raised her head, looked at her daughter amusedly and said, "You are young, what kind of love do you know, and where did you learn the lines from idol dramas?"

    "I know better than you."

    "..."

    "It''s not an idol drama line." The little girl couldn''t help but roll her eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao reached out and poked her on the forehead, annoyed lightly, "Don''t roll your eyes." She laughed again, put her arms around her daughter''s shoulders, and asked hesitantly, "Baby, do you have someone you love?"

    "You."

    "Mm?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned for a moment, thinking of saying something, but she didn''t expect to be "confessed" like this. The black tear mole at the end of her eyes suddenly became vivid, and she couldn''t help raising the corner of her mouth: "Don''t you think mom is sometimes fierce?"

    "Mm, fierce." The child replied without thinking.

    Lu Zhiqiao was a little nervous and didn''t speak.

    After a while, Lu Wei tilted her head, her dense eyelids drooped, her voice suddenly became much softer, "But when I am wronged, you will stand by my side."

    The air suddenly became quiet.

    The three little goldfish in the fish tank are chasing and playing, spitting out strings of bubbles happily, and the swinging fish tails are blooming in the water, like beautiful delicate flowers, sometimes entangled with aquatic plants, sometimes colliding with sand and stones, full of energy.

    Lu Zhiqiao trembled her thick eyelashes, and her nose turned inexplicably sore. She leaned her head and pressed her face against her daughter''s forehead, closing her eyes.

    She never knew that she had been loved all along, and she never even thought that she could hear the word "love" from her daughter''s mouth. She thought that for so many years, she had been depressed and mechanical, and at most she had won the obedience and fear of her child

    It turns out that in the eyes of her daughter, she is a mother who is loved by her child.

    What a surprise.

    Although she is an aunt, she has regarded the child as her own daughter for many years. Blood is thicker than water, the child has called her mother for twelve years, and when she thinks that she may not call her mother again in the future, her heart turned sour, sad, and reluctant.

    "Mom..." the person in her  arms suddenly said.

    "Mm?"

    "Do you love Teacher Qi?"

    Lu Zhiqiao stiffened slightly, and said bluntly, "I do."

    "Then why didn''t you coax her back?"

    "..."

    "Mom?"

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly opened her eyes, and saw her daughter''s dissatisfied face. She was in a complicated state of mind, coughed twice and said, "You''re still a child, don''t worry about this so much."

    Lu Wei pursed her lips and broke free from her embrace, and said unconvinced: "If Teacher Qi and I fall into the water at the same time, who will you save first? You can only save one."

    She was stunned, and a lightning flashed in her mind.

    When asked directly, this statement is ''asking for trouble without reason''''. If she is to say it in a different way, like the argument she had with Qi Yan the other day, it would be a direct attack on the crucial issue of their relationship.

    The choice that hurt Qi Yan''s heart the most.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart trembled, she smiled, met her daughter''s gaze, and said calmly: "Mom can''t swim, I can''t save anyone, but I won''t choose between you, you are equally important to me, I couldn''t bear to see you drown in the water, so I choose to jump myself."

    If she can''t save them , it''s better to live and die together, three people as one.

    The little girl opened her mouth wide and remained silent for a long while. What she thought was a wonderful question didn''t bother her mother at all, but instead got a novel answer.

    At that moment, a warm heat flowed through her heart, and she didn''t know what it was.

    "Teacher Qi can swim, I can swim with my swimming ring. If you jump off, we will pull you ashore together, so you will all be saved~" She spread her hands and raised her eyebrows triumphantly.

    Lu Zhiqiao pinched her face with a smile: "It''s just a brain teaser."

    At the end of June, as the weather gets hotter, the cicadas on the trees sing happily.

    After the final exam, the whole school year ends with the sound of cicadas, and the students are about to usher in a two-month summer vacation.

    Today is the day of the parent - teacher meeting.

    There is a parent - teacher meeting every year, and every year is the same, but for Qi Yan, this is her last meeting. She has already received the letter of dismissal from the Personnel Department of the Education Bureau, and after it is over, she will send it to the principal for official seal, and then send it back to the Education Bureau to get her own files.

    Then, her four-year teaching career will end.

    There is nothing to say, and nothing to commemorate. She didn''t even tell the students about it, and wanted to leave quietly.

    Today is just an ordinary day among many ordinary days.

    Around three o''clock in the afternoon, the parents came one after another, signed in, got the report card, and found a seat at random. Qi Yan stood by the podium, looking at the classroom of 1-2, with no warmth in her eyes.

    "Teacher Qi, I want to tell you something..." A middle-aged man walked up to her.

    "What?"

    The man clapped the report card in his hand, wrinkled his face and said, "Why does my Cai Wen always sit in the last row? He''s not very tall, why is he like this?"

    Qi Yan glanced at him, her eyes were calm, and her voice was as cold as ice: "The seat arrangement depends on the ranking of the midterm exam. The higher the ranking, the higher the chance they have to choose a seat first. I suggest you look at your child''s grades first."

    "I know, but isn''t this an endless loop? If you sit in the back, you will easily talk to bad partners, and your teacher will not be able to control you. Then you will definitely fail the exam. Next time, you will still have to sit in the back. Why don''t you just let my son sit behind for three years?"

    Qi Yan frowned slightly, not bothering to answer.

    She can''t understand the man''s words.

    There was a steady and powerful sound of high-heeled shoes from outside the corridor, and they stepped in.

    A familiar cold fragrance floats into her nostrils, like cold citrus, like heavy sandalwood, so cold and breezy.

    She looked up and turned her head.

    Author''s Note:

    Yanyan: Oh, my wife is here

 CH 80

    A slender figure appeared at the door of the classroom, with black hair pulled up high, wearing a white sleeveless chiffon skirt with pink and white lotus root arms, and a black patent leather belt with the width of a thumb around her waist, looking intellectual and elegant. She paused, glanced at the people beside the podium, and smiled slightly.

    "Teacher Qi."

    Lu Zhiqiao stepped forward steadily and nodded lightly at the woman.

    The cold fragrance came to her, first it is a cold citrus smell, little by little, very slowly, it gradually becomes rich, but it smells neither greasy nor choking. Afterwards, the deep sandalwood fragrance spread out, intertwined and mixed, cold with a little teasing smell, it was very intoxicating.

    The scene seemed familiar at this moment.

    Qi Yan froze for a moment, then sniffed lightly, trying to catch that rich and layered aroma, but she couldn''t find it anymore. No matter how she smells it, it is different from the smell at that moment just now.

    Artemis, her "Goddess of the Hunt".

    Hunted her down.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the sign-in sheet, picked up the pen and bent over to sign, without waiting for Qi Yan''s reaction, reached out and took a report card in front of her, blinked, and glanced down.

    "Teacher, what are you talking about? It''s discriminatory to arrange seats based on grades. Give my son a chance to sit in front, he may do well with the exam." The middle-aged man clutched his report card and chattered, with quite a posture of not giving in to the teacher.

    Of course, he contradicted himself. The first half of the sentence accuses that ranking seats based on grades is discrimination, and the second half of the sentence, he demands for his son to sit in the front, so that a virtuous cycle can be achieved if the son passes the exam. Subconsciously, he still agrees with this method.

    Obviously, arranging seats according to grades is not discrimination, but it is "discrimination" that his son did not sit in the front row.

    The eyes of the parents all focused on Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan sneered in her heart, pulled out the midterm exam report card from her mobile phone, showed him a glance, and said unhurriedly: "Cai Wen ranked 31st in the midterm exam, and there are sixteen students behind him.  There are sixteen vacancies in the classroom, most of which are concentrated in the first row and the last two rows. Among them, the 35th, 38th, 39th, 42nd and 45th students all chose the first row, and Cai Wen had already chosen the last one before they chose. Why do you think this is?"

    The man was momentarily speechless, perhaps feeling unwilling, and retorted, "Sitting in the last row all the time, he must have been accompanied by bad companions and  invited him to sit in the back. So a teacher is needed to make adjustments. The children will definitely listen to you. How can you not adjust it?"

    "Then what do you think is the right arrangement? According to height?" Qi Yan asked patiently.

    The parents began to whisper, while Lu Zhiqiao watched, her eyes darkening. She leaned slightly in front of Qi Yan and looked at the man, saying, "I think ranking by grades is quite good. It''s fair to speak based on strength. Not all children sitting behind are bad. Your stereotype itself is discrimination. If you arrange them by height, what did that tall student do wrong? Sitting behind for three years?"

    As soon as this remark came out, other parents echoed:

    "That''s right, my son is so tall, does he always have to sit in the back?"

    "It''s not just one exam. My daughter sat in the second-to-last row last semester. After passing the exam this semester, she will sit in the third row. Isn''t that normal?"

    "A child who is willing to learn is willing to learn wherever he sits. If he doesn''t want to learn, you can put him on the edge of the podium, and he will still draw villains in class..."

    Listening to other parents'' discussion, the middle-aged man''s face turned blue and white, and he hesitated to argue: "What I mean is to make a mobile arrangement."

    "Examination results are fluid. Either progress or regress, or stand still, and you have to find the child''s own reasons."

    "Hey, that''s the reason."

    With the help of other parents, Qi Yan didn''t speak any more, her eyes glanced over Lu Zhiqiao''s face inadvertently, just as Lu Zhiqiao also looked over, and their eyes collided, tiny sparks burst out, each other''s faces reflected on each other''s eyes, just for a moment.

    As if in tacit understanding, the two quickly looked away again. Qi Yan looked down at her phone and turned off the report card, while Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes and continued to look at the report card, finding her daughter''s name.

    This time Niu Niu scored 80 points in the math test, which is a bit better than last time. Chinese and English are still stable, and the overall ranking has risen from 19 to 17, which is not bad.

    With a gratified smile on the corner of her mouth, she sat in the third row of the middle group, facing the podium.

    The man returned to his seat resentfully, and the parents discussed for a while, and as the number of people increased, he also sat down.

    ¡­.

    Last year, during the first parent-teacher meeting, Lu Zhiqiao looked down at the report card the whole time, not daring to look at Qi Yan for even half a second.

    This year, at the last parent-teacher meeting, Lu Zhiqiao kept her head up, staring at the figure on the podium without squinting, with a smile on her lips.

    Qi Yan could feel her undisguised gaze, and her heart was beating wildly like a hare, so she couldn''t help being distracted.

    There seems to be a reversal between them. In the past, when she teased and flirted with Lu Zhiqiao wantonly, she only felt that she was coquettish and lustful, and she enjoyed the initiative very much. Now that Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes were a little more straightforward, she panicked and lost her mind. The cold expression on her face was on the verge of tearing apart. It turns out that the taste of being passive is so wonderful.

    That night Lu Zhiqiao was a gentle and a quiet wife, today Lu Zhiqiao is a cold and capable sister.

    No matter how it changes, she is the one she loves. Whether active or passive, she cannot extricate herself.

    How could she control her heart from beating wildly?

    Towards the end, Qi Yan simply announced that she would no longer teach next semester, and said some polite words. Several parents who are usually active in the group asked the reason one after another, but she didn''t answer, just vague and perfunctory words.

    Parents left one after another, and the classroom soon became empty.

    Qi Yan stood on the podium to sort things out, with the broken hair gently brushing on her forehead, she raised her hand to stroke it, and from the corner of her eye, she saw that the person below hadn''t left, so she slowed down her movements. But there are not many things, no matter how slow she is, she will finish packing, and she eventually has to leave.

    The venomous sunlight slanted in, and the electric fan whirred, blowing away the dryness in the air.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the person on the podium and hesitated whether to leave directly or take this opportunity to say a few words. They are currently in a cool-off period and do not disturb each other. She can''t figure out what Qi Yan is thinking, but...

    Just as she was struggling, she saw Qi Yan holding something and turning around to leave. Lu Zhiqiao''s heart tightened, she didn''t care much, and hurriedly got up to catch up: "Qi Yan."

    The woman stopped and turned his head.

    Their eyes met, but no one spoke.

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes and glanced at the dismissal letter in Qi Yan''s arms. She was startled, and before she had time to speak, she heard Qi Yan take the initiative to say, "I have to take this to the principal to get it stamped."

    She rolled her eyes with a calm expression.

    "Let''s go." Lu Zhiqiao smiled lightly, "I''ll accompany you."

    Qiao Qiao is so beautiful today!

    The white dress is clear and cold, which suits her very well. Her hair is rarely tied up high, revealing a thin white and smooth neck. She has light makeup and elegant red lips and white teeth. Her tear mole at the end of her eyes is as charming as black pearls. She is full of fragrance and intoxicating.

    "No need." Qi Yan looked away from her face, paused, and said, "Thank you just now."

    "Mm?"

    "For speaking for me."

    The smile on the corner of Lu Zhiqiao''s mouth froze for two seconds and deepened. Suddenly, she leaned over and said softly, "Don''t be so polite."

    The sultry cold fragrance rushed over, Qi Yan clenched her palms tightly, her cheeks turned a little hot from the heat, and her breathing became deep and long. She pursed her lips, frowned and said, "Ms. Lu, there are cameras in the classroom, please pay attention."

    As soon as the words fell, a hand stretched out.

    Qi Yan held her breath.

    This woman...

    Is this really that Lu Zhiqiao who was soft at the first kiss?

    What does she want to do?

    Lu Zhiqiao brushed Qi Yan''s hair with her hand, felt a soft, smooth touch with her fingertips, brushed it lightly, and said with a smile: "There is dust, I''ll brush it off for you."

    In the next second, Qi Yan pushed her away and left the classroom quickly.

    The footsteps in the corridor gradually faded away.

    Lu Zhiqiao walked to the door of the classroom and watched Qi Yan''s back disappear at the corner of the stairs, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed, and the disappointment flashed away. She sighed, but didn''t follow, her eyes turned to the corridor, startled, and suddenly found that her daughter who was waiting outside just now was gone.

    She quickly took out her cell phone to make a call.

    Her daughter said that she is on the second floor, outside the classroom of 2 - 5. After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhiqiao went down to the second floor, turned left, and saw her daughter and Yan Shuyao standing in the corridor chatting.

    The parent-teacher meeting in Class 5 was not over yet. There were a few students standing scattered outside the corridor, and two little girls were shoulder to shoulder.

    Yan Shuyao is tall and slender, with a maroon curly ponytail, her profile is like a perfect sculpture, her head to body proportion is just right, and her legs are very long. Her lips moved slightly, and she turned her head to smile at Lu Wei, like a delicate flower standing tall in midsummer.

    And Lu Wei, looking up at her slightly, smiled foolishly.

    As she got closer, Lu Zhiqiao was about to call her daughter, when she suddenly saw Yan Shuyao took out a candy from her pocket, carefully peeled off the paper, and brought it to her daughter''s mouth to feed her.

    "..."

    A strange thought flashed through Lu Zhiqiao''s mind, but before she could catch it, she stepped forward, "Niu Niu, why did you run downstairs?"

    The two little girls turned their heads and looked over at the same time.

    "Mom." Lu Wei had candy in her mouth, her voice was muffled, "Sister Yaoyao said she brought some candy for me to eat."

    "..."

    Good girl, a piece of candy tricked you away. Lu Zhiqiao had no choice but to think, fortunately she was a senior and not some human trafficker outside, otherwise she wouldn''t know where to cry right now.

    At ordinary times, she reminds and reminds all kinds of precautions. Her child is also very vigilant outside. She has been at school alone for many years without incident.

    "Hello, Auntie." Yan Shuyao greeted with a smile, her dark blue eyes bent into crescents.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded with a smile, the surprise in her eyes could not be concealed.

    This little girl looks like a mixed race, with deep and delicate facial features, especially her eyes are really beautiful, dark blue, the proportion of her pupils is larger than the white of the eyes, lively and energetic, full of stars and seas.

    She likes good-looking eyes, like appreciating artworks. For example, Qi Yan, when she was in the bar, she immediately remembered those brown amber eyes and was taken away.

    A candy with a milky white wrapper was stretched out in one hand, and the girl''s crunchy voice rang in her ears: "Auntie, this candy is delicious, try it."

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly came back to her senses, glanced down, and took it politely, "Thank you."

    There was no text on the wrapping paper, just a few silver lines. She peeled it off and ate it into her mouth with dignity. A sour, sweet and milky taste spread on the tip of her tongue. It was a bit like lactic acid bacteria, but the taste was very sweet.

    It is indeed delicious.

    "Sister Yaoyao, I still want to eat." Lu Wei pouted.

    Yan Shuyao raised her eyebrows, smiled, lowered her head and took out a large jar from her bag, stuffed it into her hand, and said boldly: "It''s all for you, if it''s not enough, I still have some at home, but you have to come over and play to have something to eat  .¡±

    "Okay!"

    Little Lu fool was full of sweets, so she agreed without thinking.

    The jar made of transparent glass is filled with candies one by one, as if they were poured out and then refilled.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched from the side, and that strange thought appeared again. Before she could think about it, the door of the Class 5 classroom opened, parents came out one after another, and the three turned their heads together.

    Among the crowd, a woman wearing a white shirt and black trousers was particularly eye-catching. She was about the same height as Lu Zhiqiao. She looked to be in her early thirties, with mild eyebrows and a tie in front of her body that looked like a uniform, but she couldn''t see it.

    "Yaoyao." She walked to Yan Shuyao, saw Lu Zhiqiao and Lu Wei, thought they were classmates and parents, nodded politely and smiled, and then looked at the child again, "I will not come back from abroad at night, you and Aunt Lin eat together, don''t play games until too late."

    As she spoke, she handed the transcript and handbook to Yan Shuyao.

    "Okay, I''m in a hurry, I''ll go first."

    Yan Shuyao waved her hand with no expression on her face.

    The woman walked towards the stairs without looking back, her steps were hurried, and her figure disappeared at the stairs after a while.

    Before the fight, Yan Shuyao''s parents didn''t come. Lu Zhiqiao wondered what kind of parents could raise such a bold child. Now that she saw her mother, she felt different from what she imagined. She stared in that direction in a daze, and it took a while to recover.

    "My mother is a pilot and she is very busy. I am used to her flying around every day." Yan Shuyao explained in a low voice, her dark blue eyes filled with indifference.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, she didn''t expect her to explain, and she faintly saw a little disappointment through those eyes.

    She suddenly remembered that she was usually very busy and had no time to take care of her daughter, which was exactly the same as Yan Shuyao''s situation. She felt a little distressed immediately, and her eyes became softer: "Where do you live? I''ll take you back together along the way."

    "No, I''ll just take a taxi." Yan Shuyao smiled and shook her head.

    When Lu Wei heard this, she frowned, and held her arm with her lips pursed, "It''s okay, Sister Yaoyao, you can go with us, my mom is very good at driving, I promise to take you home safely."

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, a strange feeling flashed in her heart.

    She is good at driving?

    In July, the high temperature scorched the earth, and the whole city was as hot as a furnace.

    After getting back the file, Qi Yan officially bid farewell to her teaching career and is completely free. She was calm from the beginning to the end, without any regrets, and even felt a sense of relief the day she got the file back, like a fish returning to the water, like a bird rushing to the blue sky, and even her breathing was brisk.

    Ms. Lin originally planned to go out for a family of three, but because of the company''s busy affairs, she had to temporarily adjust the plan and make another arrangement.  So Qi Yan''s time was free.

    She lay dead at home for a whole week.

    Wake up and eat, eat and sleep, read books, play games, or write something, take some gadgets, and study various delicacies when she is bored.

    And miss Lu Zhiqiao.

    Everyday, she spies Lu Zhiqiao''s Moments, the frequency of that person''s post becomes significantly higher, and the content is quite rich. Like, when she took their daughter to have a big meal, watch a good movie, and share some interesting things about work.

    And lots of selfies.

    Strange, she never posted, selfie.

    Some are in pajamas, some during her daily commute, some are in the car, in the office, with light makeup, plain makeup, heavy makeup, everything that one expects to find.

    Qi Yan secretly saved these photos, transferred them to the computer, and created an exclusive folder named "Feng Chen"*.

    *Fengchen/ Seal dust, a Chinese term, originally means to seal something that has existed for a long time, and it also means that it has not been used for a long time, and the surface is covered with dust.

    She only looked at all the photos at that time, and would never look at it a second time. If missing is a raging flood, then she would personally build a dam to intercept the flow. Only by keeping calm and rational, can she think and examine the past, present and future of herself and Lu Zhiqiao.

    At the age of thirty or so, without the impulsiveness and passion of youth, she has to consider many aspects in everything she does, especially emotionally.

    Ever since she read that document, she has fallen into confusion, as if she has reacquainted with another person named Lu Zhiqiao, who is completely different from the previous one, and she has glimpsed deeper things through the appearance. At this point, she suddenly understood how much she took what she had done for granted. She just approached and pursued it based on intuition, and she didn''t understand it at all.

    It''s not her fault, nor Lu Zhiqiao''s.

    It is precisely because their personalities are very different from each other and their experiences are opposite, the collision ignited fierce sparks. After all, she will never like someone who looks like herself, like looking in a mirror.

    These sparks are burning passions, and explosives that can consume them.

    Passion can''t last long, she needs to explore again, if she goes out and comes back, and if the love in her heart is still there, then she will only recognize one person in this life.

    ¡­.

    On July 13th, it was a sunny and hot day.

    The siena model team chartered a flight to Island Y in Southeast Asia and arrived at the airport at 4:32 p.m.

    The sky on the island is blue and dust-free, as if it has been washed, the air is a bit stuffy, with a warm wind blowing head-on, but it doesn''t feel like being roasted by fire in Jiangcheng. A group of people came out of the airport, got on the bus, and went to the hotel first.

    Single room, sea view room, you can create the illusion of being washed away by the waves at any time by opening the window.

    Qi Yan got into the room, couldn''t wait to close the door, leaned against the door and rested for a while, gasping for breath, and let out a long sigh when she heard the movement next door disappear.

    Jiang Yu lived next door to her.

    She doesn''t know who arranged it, but she was surprised to see the woman''s reaction. It should not be intentional, and she can''t be disgusted.

    There is a banquet tonight, and she has to have dinner with the sponsors. Now that time is running out, Qi Yan has no time to think about it. She went into the bathroom, washed her face, touched up her makeup, and came out to change into her evening dress.

    ¡ª¡ª tok tok tok

    There was a knock on the door.

    "Who is it?" She stopped opening the box, got up and went to open the door.

    Eighty percent of her guess tells her it''s Jiang Yu.

    The door opened slowly, and a familiar face appeared in sight, Qi Yan froze.

    Author''s Note:

    "Your wife has been delivered, please sign for it"~

 CH 81

    Lu Zhiqiao stood outside with a calm expression, her eyes shining brightly, and the corners of her mouth curled up when she saw the person behind the door.

    It was a familiar scene again, but the parties switched places.

    Qi Yan was stunned, her expression frozen on her face, "Why are you here?"

    "Our company is a sponsor." Lu Zhiqiao said with a faint smile, her eyes wandering on her face.

    After the parent-teacher meeting at the end of the term, it has been half a month now, and she had no news about Qi Yan, let alone seeing that face. The person who used to hang around in the past is gone one day, and she realizes that she has already been burned in the bottom of her heart.

    In the past half a month, she finished writing a thick notebook, which was filled with Qi Yan''s name. She repeatedly looked at the photos of the Spring Festival trip, and there were traces of the two of them everywhere. The eggshell lamp beside her bed has been lit countless times in the dark night. As long as she claps her hands, the dim yellow light will turn into a knight, driving away the dragon of darkness, and silently guarding her.

    Counting down on her fingers every day, but worried that her guess was wrong, maybe Qi Yan would not come. With this person''s temperament, how can she easily obey the work arrangement?

    This business trip is a gamble.

    She set foot on the island with anxiety and mixed feelings. The moment she saw Qi Yan, all the worries were worth it.

    She was used to look at this face before, and she couldn¡¯t find anything new. But looking at it now, wondering about how it feels and tastes, every inch is a surprise. For example, the eyes of purest amber, the eyelashes like fine feather fans, the nose, the lips...all are brought into her mind.

    She doesn''t know when they will meet again.

    Qi Yan muttered a soft ''oh'', but didn''t speak.

    The sponsor was not mentioned in the work email, and Assistant Feng didn''t mention it either, because she didn''t care about it and didn''t need to know, so she naturally didn''t pay attention.  But Lu Zhiqiao knew that she was working in this team, and as an executive, she should be familiar with this kind of business activities, so it would not be difficult to mobilize it to her convenience.

    Therefore, she was sure that their meeting today was not by chance.

    All right, Lu Zhiqiao.

    She knows how to set her up.

    What good does this do?

    She has never seen any provocative means before.

    Thinking of this in her heart, she still felt a little rippling, and a little sweet throbbing.

    "Change your clothes first." Lu Zhiqiao said softly, "I don''t have time to talk right now, see you tonight." After she finished speaking, she looked around, leaned forward suddenly, and lowered her voice: "I want to see you in red."

    Her thin soft lips gently brush her cheeks, leaving a creamy chocolate-like lipstick aroma.

    She turned around quickly and entered the opposite room.

    "..."

    Qi Yan froze in place, her breathing stagnated for a few seconds, and she raised her hand to touch the place where she had been kissed.

    She saw a streak of red on her fingertips.

    There were designers, media, brand parties and sponsors present at the dinner. The hall was magnificently decorated and very emotional. The scene was very lively, but everyone put on some airs and showed restraint.

    Except for Jiang Yu and Lu Zhiqiao.

    Jiang Yu was wearing a white halter dress and a suit jacket, slim and sexy, with a pair of long legs that stood out, and a smile on her cold and bony face, giving people a sense of indifference.

    Lu Zhiqiao, on the other hand, had a long black open-shoulder dress with cape-like wide sleeves, which draped well, revealing her thin white wrists. She has slightly curly hair, and a simple necklace around her neck. Her lips are bright red, and the moles at the end of her eyes are cold and moving.

    Tonight is their home game.

    The two of them held cups and chatted freely, with normal expressions on their faces. Although Jiang Yu had an overwhelming advantage in height, Lu Zhiqiao was even better in terms of aura.

    The black dress looks dignified, the open-shoulder collar is sensual, and the cape sleeves looked magnificent. She stands there with a smile on her face, her eyes are looking at someone, her ears can hear the voice of another person, and she is paying attention to the surrounding environment. She answers to conversations graciously, with full attention to everyone she talks to, without rushing her way.

    If Jiang Yu is a wild horse, Lu Zhiqiao is an elegant white swan.

    The two seemed to be the focus of the scene, attracting attention.

    Qi Yan leaned in the corner drinking, her eyes glanced at the two of them intentionally or unintentionally, extremely lazy.

    Tonight''s occasion has nothing to do with "part-time workers". Originally, there was no need to come, but Jiang Yu made a request, and even the post-production seniors were not spared, so she had to cooperate. She brought a total of two evening dresses, one black and one red. She planned to wear black tonight, but...

    Her eyes fell on Lu Zhiqiao''s face, and suddenly became deep.

    Qiao Qiao wants to see her in red.

    So she wore it.

    She moved her gaze down, vaguely saw the deep "career line", and couldn''t help squinting her eyes.

    Suddenly, the woman looked over. She seemed to know that she was looking at her unscrupulously, there was no wave in her eyes, it was just a slight glance, but it seemed to contain deep meaning.

    This glance made Jiang Yu also look her way, and met her gaze impartially, with a clear sense of inquiry.

    Qi Yan hurriedly turned her face and looked away.

    After a while, feeling that the scorching gaze on her face was no longer there, she turned back again, this time she didn''t look at the "career line", and she didn''t know where she was looking. It seems that she wasn''t even looking, but she had a panoramic view.

    It''s because her eyes are too small to see enough.

    Missing her for half a month, Qi Yan found things for herself to do every day, not daring to stop, not daring to let her mind go blank. She wanted to open the "Feng Chen" countless times to take a look, but then forcefully suppressed the thought, competing with herself for no reason, but she didn''t understand what it was.

    She could feel the change in Lu Zhiqiao. Just because she felt it, she felt a lot of confusion. She didn''t know which one was the real Lu Zhiqiao, the past or the present, and she didn''t know which one she loved.

    The moment she opened the door this evening, she was pleasantly surprised, and then deduced that it was not a coincidence that they met here. Her heart throbbed, and there was a little soreness, and only then did she believe that she had weight in Lu Zhiqiao''s heart.

    But how much is the so-called weight? Will that person give up on her in the next impulsive trade-off?

    Soft and soothing pure music played in the hall, as thin as running water, and the gentle lights are sprinkled on everyone, and all the eyes are smiling faces, exquisite makeup, and handsome figures. Diffusing a dreamy vibe.

    Qi Yan drank her wine, sighed, put down the glass and turned to go to the bathroom.

    It is inconvenient to go to the toilet in an evening dress. Fortunately, the toilet space in this hotel is large enough and clean, which can relieve some inconvenience. She came out and washed her hands, and carefully checked her makeup in the mirror.

    Her lipstick was rubbed off a bit, and the brownish red faded into bright red under the light.

    Qi Yan lowered her head and took out her lipstick from her handbag. When the sound of high heels came from the door, nearing her way, she subconsciously turned her head, and a black figure came into her sight.

    The visitor''s fragrant shoulders were exposed, her neck was slender, and her thin silver chain earrings were shining.

    Oh.

    She was followed.

    Qi Yan raised her eyebrows slightly, without saying a word, she looked away.

    The high-heeled shoes approached, her steps, steady and powerful, Lu Zhiqiao stepped forward with the corners of her lips hooked, reached out, and gently took away the lipstick between her fingers, "I''ll help you apply it."

    "..."

    It is still the familiar cold fragrance rushing over, a little bit of cold citrus smell, which is bitter and pleasant, and then slowly turns into a deep sandalwood fragrance, thick and cool.

    The same perfume, used with different clothes on different occasions, has very different effects. It usually smells only detached and provocatively cold, but now it has a little more atmosphere and softness, as well as a seemingly uncontrollable sense of dominance.

    Qi Yan sniffed lightly, unable to refuse.

    "You are beautiful tonight." Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and smiled, took off the lipstick cap, and twisted out a little paste, "Red really suits you."

    Qi Yan wore a flamboyant bright red, tube top-style gown, with double rows of lace-up hollows at the back, showing off her figure very much - if she hadn''t cut off her waist-length hair, she would have looked even better.

    There was regret in her eyes, she smiled softly, raised her arms, held the lipstick to Qi Yan''s lips, and carefully applied it.

    "You are beautiful too." Qi Yan said subconsciously.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s hands shook, the lipstick was accidentally applied crookedly, and she quickly stretched out her index finger to wipe it off gently.

    Her fingertips were warm, and Qi Yan took a light breath, snatched the lipstick from her hand, "I''ll do it myself."

    The rubbed off part was painted evenly, Qi Yan looked carefully in the mirror, and couldn''t find any place that needed to be repaired, so she applied it twice, capped the lipstick, and put it back in her bag.

    From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Lu Zhiqiao looking at her. She ignored her and turned around to leave, but she was suddenly pulled back after taking two steps. Then she heard a tearing sound, and the tie on the back of her dress was loosened, and the whole upper part fell off, and she staggered, feeling a chill in front of her, she lowered her head abruptly.

    "!!!"

    "..."

    There was an iron hook on the wall, which was half blocked by the decorative leaves. She didn''t pay attention when she went out, and walked a little too quickly. The tie on the back was hooked, and even the whole piece was torn, revealing the *stickers.

    Qi Yan was dumbfounded.

    Lu Zhiqiao was also dumbfounded.

    Outside, a sound of high-heels is coming their way. Qi Yan hurriedly covered her dress while Lu Zhiqiao suddenly recovered, and quickly stepped forward to block her behind.

    In the next second, Jiang Yu''s figure appeared at the door.

    She turned her head, saw Lu Zhiqiao, was stunned for a moment, and greeted with a smile: "Ms. Lu." Then she looked at Qi Yan behind her, and raised her eyebrows in surprise, "What''s wrong?"

    This person is really tall. When they were in the hall just now, the place was spacious. Now the space next to the sink is relatively narrow and as soon as she came in, it seemed even more cramped.

    The pair of stiletto shoes were about five or six centimeters, visually more than one meter eight, and the high-end bony face was a bit fierce, but when she smiled, she made people feel at ease. Even looking up at her slightly, there was no discomfort.

    It''s weird, she couldn''t hate her.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked calm, and smiled lightly: "There is something wrong with Miss Qi''s dress."

    Hearing this, Jiang Yu tilted her head and looked past her, wanting to find out.

    Lu Zhiqiao moved quietly and blocked her.

    Jiang Yu paused, her eyes fell on her face, suddenly subtle.

    Qi Yan became an ant in a hot pot behind her. She didn''t feel bad if the dress was broken, but she couldn''t even cover it up like this, and there was no way to go out unless she put on a coat... She suddenly remembered that she could call the hotel''s phone, she looked up and around, but did not see any signs.

    What a broken hotel.

    There is no service phone posted on the wall.

    She has already made a fool of herself in front of her ex-girlfriends*, she doesn''t want to appear so ugly in public anymore!

    (*T/N: I don''t know how Chinese language show plural form (i will research on this later), but the word for ex gf is qian nu you, qian= former/early.

    the raw wrote qian qian qian nu you and google translated it as plural, so I''m taking it as Qi Yan is also referring to Lu Zhiqiao. (I could.be wrong though))

    Time seemed to be on stand still, Lu Zhiqiao''s gentle smile concealed anxiety, hoping that Jiang Yu would leave soon, so that she could let Qi Yan go into the toilet cubicle and ask the waiter for a bathrobe by herself.

    But this person kept looking, as if she wanted to spy on them.

    Strong hostility wells up in her heart...

    In terms of private affairs, she faintly felt that she could hate this woman.

    "Ms. Jiang, can you ask a waiter for a bathrobe please?" Lu Zhiqiao said politely, with a gentle smile in her eyes.

    Jiang Yu looked at Lu Zhiqiao, then at Qi Yan, her intriguing eyes glanced back and forth, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, and she suddenly raised her hand, took off herbsuit jacket, and handed it over: "It''s ready-made, put it on, and leave first."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s expression was indifferent, but her heart was overwhelmed, and the hand hidden in the sleeve of the wide cape pinched her palm.

    Is she provoking?

    No, this is a normal human reaction.

    There is a ready-made one, there is no need to go to the waiter to get it, she would do the same. After all, Jiang Yu didn''t know about their relationship.

    She can''t be impulsive.

    Qi Yan looked at her jacket, subconsciously glanced at Lu Zhiqiao, but didn''t answer.

    Jiang Yu raised her brows, her eyes became more and more soft, but it was only a fleeting moment, and she couldn''t catch it. She looked at Qi Yan and explained quietly: "You are part of our team, and I brought up the team. No matter what happens, I have the obligation to take care of you and be responsible for you."

    Her voice was light, and she couldn''t hear any emotion, it was just a casual explanation.

    At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help but speculate with the greatest malice, whether this person was acting, whether she was really taking care of a member of the team, or just because she loved Qi Yan...

    The word "love" flashed in her mind, and her heart ached.

    But seeing Jiang Yu''s serious expression, with a calm and indifferent look on her face, she vetoed her own dark thoughts. Instead, she thought this person was quite interesting, unlike the "vicious ex"she had preconceived in her mind.

    What is she doing?

    Before she could make a move, she started fighting in her heart, thinking of something messy and boring.

    "Mm, Ms. Qi put it on first, then go back." Lu Zhiqiao turned her head and agreed with a smile.

    Qi Yan didn''t look at them, took the suit jacket silently, said thank you, put it on, and walked around the two of them.

    After the dinner was over, the group went back to their rooms.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a bath, put on a cool suspender nightdress, sat on the bed and checked her phone. She sorted out the photos taken by her assistant tonight, selected a few that she liked, clicked on WeChat, and posted on Moments.

    The setting is only visible to Qi Yan.

    For the first half month of dynamic content, all of them were "visible only to Qi Yan".

    Not a single like.

    Maybe Qi Yan has blocked her Moments a while ago, so she can''t see her activities at all.

    Not to mention likes.

    After posting, she turned on the music app and played "Lonely Northern Hemisphere". After hearing half of it, she felt tired, and changed to "Let Her Land".

    ¡ª¡ªshe doesn''t have gorgeous fireworks

    ¡ª¡ªno birds that migrate either

    ¡­.

    ¡ª¡ªwould rather be a boat

    ¡ª¡ªif you were the sea

    ¡ª¡ªat least let her land in your arms

    Lu Zhiqiao quietly leaned against the back of the bed, closed her eyes, and listened to the clear and steady female voice, from the beginning to the high-pitched, and then to the end, the world quieted down, only her own breathing.

    She opened her eyes, picked up a small toy on the bed, stared at it for a moment, said "Yanyan" in her heart, and then rolled herself into the quilt...

    Author''s Note:

    "My wife is playing with toys more and more, what should I do?"

    Yan Yan: I taught well at the beginning

    (The characters in other books that have appeared so far are all soy sauce*, and the timeline should not be taken seriously, Niu Niu and the senior sister are pure friendship)

    *passer by, also a play on words on Jiang Yu (jiang yoo) (½­ÓÝ) and Jiang You/soy sauce (jiang yow) (½´ÓÍ)

 CH 82

    A fantasy feast, Lu Zhiqiao was immersed in it, heartily.

    She sweated a little and felt hot. She closed her eyes, lay still for a while, took out the little toy, pulled a tissue and roughly wiped it, put it aside, got up and went into the bathroom for a second shower.

    After her release, she felt a little sleepy, but her body and mind were comfortable, and refreshed.

    In the past, she always felt guilty when she did this, even if she was alone at home, she had to take cover and hide, as if she was afraid of being seen by the outside world. Now she has gradually accepted and gotten used to it, and doesn''t think too much about it anymore, and only focuses on satisfying herself.

    But because the object of her fantasies was Qi Yan, who was right across from her, she still couldn''t help being a little embarrassed.

    The warm water felt comfortable on her body. Lu Zhiqiao was greedy for a moment, stood under the shower for a while, closed her eyes, unconsciously imagining the water flowing over her skin as Qi Yan''s hand. Gentle, careful, and teasing recklessly.

    What is she doing this for?

    As long as she dresses more seductively, knocks on the room across from her, say a few nice words and take the initiative, she doesn''t need to comfort herself with a cold machine. But that is Qi Yan, the person she treasures in her heart, not a tool for her to satisfy her desires.

    She tries hard to face her desires directly, seeing them as simple and ordinary needs like eating and drinking water. So that one day, when the two of them decide to love each other, it will be natural, she will not be ashamed or embarrassed, so that she can fully enjoy the pleasure and give her and the other person a wonderful experience.

    If ever that comes a day...

    The more she washed, the hotter she became. Lu Zhiqiao turned off the water, didn''t wipe, and went out in her bathrobe, letting her body dry naturally.

    She cleaned the little toy, wiped it carefully with a disinfectant wipe, put it back in the box, and got ready for bed.

    When she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

    Diagonally across.

    Then she heard Qi Yan''s voice: "Jiang Yu, open the door."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, then tiptoed to the door and listened...

    There were several knocks outside before the door opened. The two seemed to be talking in a low voice, and she couldn''t hear clearly. Then the door closed. Her heart also hung in the air.

    Did Qi Yan enter Jiang Yu''s room?

    Really...

    Before she could think about it, there was a sound of a door closing.

    "..."

    Oh, she was thinking too much.

    She just probably returned the clothes.

    Lu Zhiqiao let out a long breath, and clutched her chest, her heartbeat was still a little fast and chaotic, showing signs of anxiety, bubbling like soda.

    Jiang Yu...

    That name is like her ticking time bomb, she can''t tell when it will explode in her heart, making her anxious and helpless.

    Thinking of Qi Yan''s hesitant look when Jiang Yu handed over the coat in the toilet earlier that night, she knew that the woman still had her in her heart, cared about her, and cared about her feelings. It was a completely uncontrolled and natural reaction.

    Ever since they argued, Qi Yan has been at a distance from her, sometimes very close, as if within reach, sometimes as if thousands of miles away. She was unsure of her thoughts and could only move forward cautiously, probing and repeatedly tormenting herself.

    Although she is trying to know herself, she still treats her feelings like headless chicken, not knowing how to chase or use any means, she just walks forward with intuition and instinct, stumbling forward.

    Compared to Jiang Yu, she looked so clumsy.

    She was a little frustrated tonight, always thinking that it would have been great if she wore a coat, then Jiang Yu would have nothing to do, and Qi Yan would not knock on Jiang Yu''s door, but on her door.

    Did Jiang Yu do it on purpose? No, she didn''t actually do anything wrong.

    But why did she go into the toilet at that time? Seeing Qi Yan come in, did she also come in and follow? Did she discover her relationship with Qi Yan?  Throughout the whole scene, she only inadvertently stared at Qi Yan for a few seconds without any communication, what could she find?

    There are too many factors that are uncertain now, she doesn''t know whether Jiang Yu is still interested in Qi Yan, and she doesn''t know whether she should confess her relationship with Qi Yan in front of Jiang Yu - it is equivalent to declaring ownership. It''s very childish, though.

    What''s the relationship between her and Qi Yan?

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart sank, and she gasped a little. She realized she was going around in circles and now she''s back to the original point...

    The next day, it was all sunny, including the small island, Jiangcheng, and Tokyo.

    A black concierge car drives slowly on the country road. The driver was sitting on the right, steering the wheel attentively, with a serious face.

    Sitting in the back row was a woman with curly black hair, bright red lips, fair skin, dressed in black, with her eyes closed, she looked solemn and quiet, like a rough jade hidden in the darkness. She tapped her knees with her fingertips, once, and suddenly opened her eyes.

    "How long will it be?"

    With slightly parted red lips, she spit out fluent Japanese, her voice as cold as crushed ice.

    "Not more than five minutes." The driver replied seriously.

    She nodded lightly and said nothing.

    The day before yesterday, Shu Minxi arrived in Japan, first went to Osaka to visit clients, and then remembered her old partner Aoki''s house for many years, so she stopped by to visit Tokyo.

    The Aoki family, Teisei Co., Ltd.

    Earlier, she heard that there was a fierce power struggle within the higher ups, and the high-level divisions were split. It happened that the old man, President Aoki, was seriously ill, and the company was on the verge of collapse. Yesterday, when she visited their home, she learned that the company had closed down, President Aoki had died of illness, many properties in the family had been sold off, and he still owed a whole lot of debt, and his children was nowhere to be found.

    Old man Aoki, she once regarded him as her father-in-law.

    It''s a pity that this so-called "father-in-law" broke up her small family of two.

    It''s good he died.

    She dialed the number she hadn''t dialed for a long time...

    The car drove to the corner of the city, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and found a quiet place.  Soon, she arrived at the address on the phone and stopped in front of a hut.

    Shu Minxi got off the car and stood at the door to look around.

    The hut has white walls and black tiles, and a sloping roof. It is surrounded by a human-high wall. There is no word on the nameplate outside the wall, the courtyard gate is made of wood and is not locked, and a short tree sticks its head out of the fence, full of greenery.

    She asked the driver to wait outside, and went straight in through the door.

    "Mom, come and chase me~"

    "Don''t run too fast, Izumi, slow down or you might fall."

    Two figures, one big and one small, were chasing and playing in the yard.  The little girl wore twin tails and held a small pink leather ball in her arms, running around the flower garden, giggling non-stop. Saki chased after her, her apricot-colored dress was blown up by the wind, with a gentle smile on her face.

    She ran around the flower garden to the front, raised her eyes, saw the person by the courtyard gate, and stopped.

    The two pairs of eyes met.

    ¡ª¡ª dong

    The little girl bumped into her mother and was bounced by the ball in her arms. She raised her head, opened her round eyes, and looked at the strange aunt curiously.

    The leaves are rustling and her hair is messy.

    Saki was stunned for a moment, her eyes turned a little red, and her plain face showed a little helplessness, "You are here..." Her lips twitched slightly, her expression couldn''t tell whether it was excitement or frustration, and she was incoherent for a while, "Come in... come in and sit."

    After finishing speaking, the little girl grabbed her skirt, she hurriedly lowered her head, smiled at the child, and whispered a few words.

    The little girl nodded, bowed obediently to Shu Minxi, and called auntie in a crisp voice.

    Shu Minxi''s eyes turned around in the yard, and then fell back on the mother and daughter. Her eyes were a little dark, and the air pressure seemed to be a few degrees lower. For a moment, she withdrew her gaze and walked into the room without saying a word.

    The hut looks quite old, it should be some years old, inside is very clean, everything is neatly placed, spacious, and the color scheme is comfortable. The surrounding environment is also clean, it is suitable for retirement.

    Shu Minxi was not used to sitting on her knees, so she moved out the square cushion beside the low table, and sat with her legs straight, casually.

    Saki brewed tea, brought it up, and put it in front of her.

    She didn''t say thank you either, and just silently stared at the blend of green and yellow tea in the cup, her eyelashes trembled slightly, she picked it up and blew it, then she raised her head and took a sip.

    A very disrespectful way of drinking.

    Saki smiled, and said lightly, "You are still you."

    There was a mirror hanging on the wall, reflecting Shu Minxi''s cold face, but after this sentence, her expression softened. She looked away and said softly, "I heard about your family."

    The smile froze on the corner of Saki''s lips, and soon her expression dimmed.

    "You live here with the kid?"

    "Mm."

    The little girl was in the room, Shu Minxi glanced subconsciously.

    Looking at the layout of the house, the area, the furnishings in the house, and the clothes of the mother and daughter, far from the appearance of the former young miss. The family is down and out and still in debt, with an oil bottle*. One can imagine how hard it is to live.

    *excess baggage, a child borne from the previous marriage or out of wedlock.

    Complicated emotions welled up in her heart, and felt a little pain, she couldn''t tell what it was like exactly.

    Perhaps sensing this, Saki spoke in a whisper, "There is alimony, not much, but enough for me and Izumi to live."

    Shu Minxi turned her head, stared at her face, saw the bitterness deep in her eyes, and there was still a trace of forbearance, her heart was suddenly pricked, she turned her face away again, and changed the topic.

    "Sister Ningning has passed away."

    Saki froze: "When did it happen?"

    "May."

    She calculated lightly.

    Saki was startled, slowly opened her eyes wide, and suddenly rushed over to grab her arm, forcefully said: "Why didn''t you tell me?"

    The originally peaceful atmosphere was broken by this sudden news.

    Shu Minxi frowned and her face turned cold. She shook off her hand and pushed her which made her stagger, looking at her with a sneer and saying, "Tell you and then what? Show love at her funeral?"

    Saki lay on the ground in embarrassment, her hair was messed up, and was panting lowly, with a hint of panic in her eyes.

    "Isn''t it already over? What do you still mind... "

    "That''s right, you easily got over it."

    "I''m not as relaxed as you are. I was also under a lot of pressure at the time, and it''s been so many years, and they are both gone. What''s the point of mentioning it again?"

    The two quarreled.

    The little girl ran out of the room, looked at them in bewilderment, and cried.

    With a sullen face, Shu Minxi turned her head and gave the girl a hard look, her hands hanging by her sides clenched into fists.

    As long as she gets reminded that this child was born by Saki and that dog man, she would get angry. The scars from many years ago not only did not heal with time, but also festered, leaving her with nothing but excruciating pain.

    "Izumi..."

    Hearing the crying, Saki panicked and hurried to coax the child. Those gentle and doting eyes, and soft words.

    Shu Minxi stood up with a sneer, turned and left.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    ¡­.

    The island is sunny and full of tourists, which is the peak tourist season.

    The entire show is divided into two parts: lingerie and dresses, each held in one day. Today is the lingerie show, tomorrow is the dress show, and there is still a contract to be signed at the end.

    In the morning, the venue is set up, the equipment is adjusted, and the models are putting on makeup, styling, trying on makeup, and rehearsing. Everyone in the team is busy.

    Qi Yan woke up early, adjusted her camera, communicated with the lighting engineer, and chatted with the models in the makeup room. She is very talkative and particularly sociable, and she got along with everyone in just a few words. Those who had any opinions on her before seemed to have lost their memory.

    In this show, Jiang Yu will be on stage in person.

    The woman was sitting in front of the mirror, wearing a set of dark green pantyhose underwear with black lace trim, long curly hair scattered on her shoulders and back, revealing a cold and stern side profile, charming, indifferent, and a bit wild.

    The other models in the dressing room were also very beautiful, but Jiang Yu who was sitting there with an irresistible charm, quietly became the focus.

    Qi Yan was chatting with people, then her eyes drifted away unconsciously.

    Tsk Tsk.

    Such a nice figure.

    However, the "career line" is not obvious.

    Compared with Qiao Qiao, it is obviously too small.

    She looked away and continued talking and laughing with a model.

    In the morning rehearsal, only the brand was present, and the venue was cold and empty, making it very boring. Although they''re just on their own, every detail requires rigor and perfection, so no one dares to neglect.

    After the first round of rehearsal, Qi Yan''s arms were a little sore.

    She sat on the chair and rested for a while, lowered her head and swiped her phone, accidentally clicked into WeChat Moments, scrolled down one by one, and suddenly saw the photo posted by Lu Zhiqiao last night.

    The black off-the-shoulder evening dress looked solemn and elegant, with emeralds hanging on the thin necklace, and the earrings are of the same style, giving it a sense of design.

    This combination is actually difficult to manage, especially depending on facial shape and temperament.

    It''s like rose purple clothes, worn by ordinary people, if one is not careful, it will look like a "hot style" of a middle-aged mother''s outfit. But Lu Zhiqiao can easily wear it with an intellectual taste, giving people a mysterious and noble feeling, charming, and not gaudy.

    She casually tapped on it.

    Save.

    "Isn''t that Ms. Lu?" A charming female voice sounded next to her ear.

    Qi Yan was taken aback, quickly locked the screen, and when she looked up, she saw Jiang Yu standing behind her at some point, with a sly smile flashing in her coquettish eyes, looking intrigued.

    .¡­

    The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and lasts for two hours.

    The venue is set up by the sea, semi-open-air, with a mystical and elegant purple as motif, the lighting effect of the stage is gorgeous and luxurious, and the overall design is romantic and full of sentimentality.

    Qi Yan''s camera was at the end of the runway, facing the center of the stage. She is responsible for taking fixed-point photos.

    Brand owners, sponsors, and the media sat on both sides of the runway, and the rest of the audience who bought tickets sat in different areas according to their ticket value.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat very close to Qi Yan.

    The woman stood behind the tripod, holding the camera in her hands, with a focused expression. Every time she took a fixed-point moment, she would blink her eyes and raise the corners of her mouth, as if smiling at the models.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her head and glanced at her from time to time, her movements were very restrained, for fear of letting others see who she was looking, she didn''t know how many models appeared and how many sets of underwear were displayed.

    Seeing Qi Yan smiling at each model, she felt a little uncomfortable, and comforted herself that it is necessary for work.

    She turned her gaze back and then back again, her neck not resting.

    "Ms. Lu, is your neck uncomfortable?" Assistant Xiao Wan noticed something was wrong and asked in a low voice.

    Lu Zhiqiao was slightly stunned, and said calmly, "It''s okay."

    After speaking, she turned back and continue to look at the model.

    Not long after, Jiang Yu appeared.

    With a graceful figure, she walked to the catwalk with a calm and majestic step. Her long black curly hair was blown up and down, revealing a cold and stern face, sexy and elegant. This set of dark green pantyhose underwear seems to be tailor-made for her, and the unruly wildness faintly diffuses out, with a magnificent momentum.

    Spectators in the back row screamed, and the atmosphere in the venue was suddenly boosted.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared intently, her eyes moving slowly with Jiang Yu''s pace.

    Her figure is really good.

    Her legs are so long.

    Just the front... a little smaller.

    She thought and lowered her head like a ghost, looked at herself, and felt a sense of superiority inexplicably, and then her eyes fell on Qi Yan''s face at the end of the runway.

    Qi Yan''s lips were half-opened, her eyes revealed unconcealable amazement, and she almost forgot to take a picture.

    She doesn''t know if it''s an illusion, but Jiang Yu''s fixed time was a second or two longer than other models. After Qi Yan finished shooting, she stared at her blankly, then blinked and smiled brilliantly.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s face darkened.

    Author''s Notes:

    Mama: (stands straight): I have marshmallows, so I''m not panicking [Turn around and drink vinegar.jpg]

    I was obsessed with Yanyan and Qiaoqiao before, and I almost forgot the sub-cp*, but don¡¯t worry, the cuties, the sub-cp won¡¯t have too many roles (yes, I¡¯m partial to the main cp hahaha=3=)

    *couple pairing

 CH 83

    There was light in Qi Yan''s eyes, and fire was burning in the light, which was obviously a subconscious reaction of a person.

    It''s not fake.

    She was looking at Jiang Yu, and Lu Zhiqiao was looking at her.

    It seems to confirm her previous conjecture that Jiang Yu is so outstanding and charming, nobody can dislike her. More so, she is a first love, someone unforgettable. Once they reunite, it is inevitable to evoke and easily rekindle past emotions.

    Having loved each other, knowing each other''s roots and understanding each other.

    These are enough to suffocate her.

    The confidence that Lu Zhiqiao had built up in herself collapsed suddenly, and her whole body was shattered. Her eyes turned a little sore, blurred for a moment, but then she restrained herself again.

    The stage lights are gorgeous, the hazy purple implies an ambiguous atmosphere, and the music drums become more and more cheerful.

    In the second half of the show, Lu Zhiqiao watched absent-mindedly. Every model who walked past her looked like Jiang Yu. She didn''t dare to follow the steps of the models. She was afraid that if she moved to the end, she would see Qi Yan talking to others with a bright smile on display.

    She thought again, why can''t Qi Yan smile at others? Isn''t she caring too much? Where does the right and qualifications come from?

    In a matter of seconds, she was knocked back to her former state of affliction.

    At half past nine, the show ended and the audience left one after another.

    Jiang Yu changed her clothes and came out, and walked her way with two designer friends and partners. Lu Zhiqiao was like a clockwork machine, her gears turned, and immediately threw away all emotions, showed professionalism and greeted her generously.

    The three parties greeted each other and sent the media away first.

    The scene is in good order, and all the staff are finishing work, because there will be a dress show tomorrow, the equipment does not need to be moved in a large area, and they can go back to rest after doing some simple cleaning.

    Qi Yan stood in front of the tripod and fiddled with her camera, checking if there were any missed shots. Every time she looked at a picture, the smile on her face deepened, and her eyes were full of obsession.

    Lu Zhiqiao walked by, couldn''t help but glance at her, but saw a silly smile on her face, and her heart sank more and more.

    "Tomorrow morning we''ll have our second rehearsal, Ms. Lu can take a walk around the island, the scenery here is nice." Jiang Yu said as she walked beside her, her eyes glanced over Qi Yan''s side inadvertently, and then she turned back quickly, with a calm expression.

    The two walked slowly outside the site.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled and was about to speak, when there was a sudden "dong" sound from behind, as if something had been hit, she was startled, and subconsciously turned around.

    Seeing the tripod, Qi Yan arched her waist, frowned, and rubbed her back with her backhand, with a painful expression on her face. Behind her, three men stood there carrying a metal column, bewildered.

    "What''s going on?" Jiang Yu reacted very quickly, and rushed over to support Qi Yan, "Where were you hit?"

    She was wearing high heels, a full head taller than Qi Yan, with her long arms wrapped around her, her posture was like holding someone in her arms, intimate, snug, and protective

    Qi Yan subconsciously held her arm for support, her back hurts a little from the impact, feeling a little weak. Half of her body was leaning against her.

    The scene became more and more ambiguous.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at them, her head buzzed, her legs remained still as if filled with lead.

    "Hiss..."

    Qi Yan frowned, rubbed herself, and whispered, "It''s okay."

    She was checking the film when her back bumped so hard that she almost fell to the ground with the camera. She subconsciously wanted to protect the camera, so she tried her best to stand still, holding the camera and tripod firmly, fortunately.

    Those three people were local workers who were responsible for lifting the field equipment. The column was a bit long, and it blocked their view when they lifted it up. They didn''t notice that there was someone in front of them, and accidentally bumped into Qi Yan.

    Unfortunately, the audience seat is also a staircase downhill, due to inertia, the force cannot be retracted, and the collision could be quite severe.

    Jiang Yu''s face turned sullen, but it''s hard to get angry in public, so she could only say in a cold voice: "The front has not been closed yet, you should go to the left passage first."

    The three nodded, lifted the cylinder and turned around, one of them didn''t pay attention, and almost bumped into the person next to him.

    She became more annoyed.

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes to look at Qi Yan''s back, moved the hand on her shoulder to the back, and massaged it for her, "Leave this to someone else, I''ll take you to the hospital."

    "It''s okay, no need." Qi Yan shook her head, held her for support, rubbed twice and felt better.

    "Don''t be brave."

    "No need, you are busy with your work."

    Their tone couldn''t help but be familiar. Although she frowned and pretended to be impatient, to others, they seemed to be flirting.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes dimmed, and she walked over calmly, "What''s wrong?"

    Hearing the sound, Qi Yan was startled, raised her head, let go of Jiang Yu''s hand in a flash, held the camera, moved a step to the side, and turned her eyes to look at the film.

    Jiang Yu''s arms froze mid-air, and she lowered them naturally, then turned her head and smiled at Lu Zhiqiao: "It''s okay, the workers are frizzy." She turned around and continued to walk forward, "I''ll take Ms. Lu back to the hotel to rest."

    Lu Zhiqiao also smiled, turned around as if nothing had happened, and walked out with her.

    The tide rises at night, and the sea water beats the wet mud on the beach, sending gusts of salty wind.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    After returning to the hotel and closing the door of the room, Lu Zhiqiao slumped down like a deflated ball. She called Shu Minxi, briefly reported the situation, and then clicked on WeChat.

    Qi Yan actually gave her a ''like''.

    She didn''t block her?

    Staring at the orange cat''s head, she unconsciously raised the corners of her mouth, and her wilted heart was filled with air again and swelled up.

    Who doesn''t like beautiful women, especially those who are homosexual like them? In women''s underwear shows, you will always pay attention to those who stand out. Just like herself, with so many models on stage, she also thought Jiang Yu was better from the bottom of her heart.

    But Jiang Yu''s appearance completely aroused her uneasiness, in a time where she and Qi Yan were keeping distance. She did everything she could, but she couldn''t get a reaction for a long time and she really doesn''t know what to do.

    Does she want to compete with Jiang Yu?

    No, she doesn''t like the emotional battle between the same sex, just like the concubines competing for favor in the ancient harem -even the thought makes her sick.

    Perhaps because they are both women, she is always more tolerant towards people of the same sex when it comes to private matters.

    She is already ashamed of the malicious speculation about Jiang Yu last night, and she could no longer let the evil in her heart grow. She needs to get Qi Yan''s attention, and then clarify their relationship. After all, this is not a work relationship, and it does not involve any interests. Everything must be laid out on the table.

    Otherwise, she can only watch Qi Yan being supported and cared for by others like she did in the show just now...

    After sitting quietly in the room for a while, Lu Zhiqiao heard the door on the opposite side open and close again.

    Qi Yan came back.

    She stood up abruptly, went out, and knocked on the opposite door.

    In the next second, the door opened, and Qi Yan stood under the light, dazed, with fatigue shown on her brows and eyes, and her back was a little hunched.

    Lu Zhiqiao nudged her, squeezed in, and slammed the door with her backhand.

    "You..."

    "What happened at the show?"

    Qi Yan drooped her eyes, and said softly, "I accidentally bumped on something." After speaking, she turned and walked inside.

    Lu Zhiqiao followed up and grabbed her hand, "Let me see."

    "Look at what?"

    "What happened to it?"

    Qi Yan pursed her lips, didn''t move, and didn''t speak.

    There was sweat on her forehead, and her broken hair was slightly damp. It was too hot all the way, and her body was also sweaty, making her uncomfortable. She''s been busy all day today, and very tired. She doesn''t have the mood to talk, and just wants to take a shower and sleep.

    In Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes, this kind of reaction meant disgust and boredom, as if she didn''t even want to say a word to her.

    It is clearly a lie.

    What bump? Getting hit by a metal pillar, it would eventually swell. This woman let Jiang Yu massage it for her but now she doesn''t let her see it.

    Lu Zhiqiao became impatient, she grabbed Qi Yan''s hand and pressed it against the wall, grabbed the hem of the back of her clothes, hesitated for a moment, then lifted it up so quickly that the woman couldn''t react in time.

    Her back was heavily bruised and slightly purple, and her skin is fair, making it even look shocking.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s pupils shrink suddenly, and she gasped.

    Qi Yan was forced to press her face against the wall, but felt a chill on her back. A little annoyed, she broke free from the grasp, and pulled down the hem of her clothes to cover her back calmly, "You already saw it, go back, I''ll wash and sleep."

    "I''m going to buy medicine." Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes turned a little red, and she turned her head to leave.

    ¡ª¡ª tok tok tok

    There was a knock on the door.

    "Qi Yan, are you asleep?" It was Jiang Yu''s voice.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s hand touched the handle and trembled. The idea of finding a place to hide flashed in her mind, but it was only for a moment. She didn''t wait for Qi Yan to speak, and opened the door directly.

    Their eyes collided blankly.

    "..."

    "Ms. Lu?" Jiang Yu raised her brows, as if surprised, "Why are you here?"

    Originally, Lu Zhiqiao was still torn about whether to let Jiang Yu know about her relationship with Qi Yan, but before she could come up with a result, someone came to her door and bumped into her. Qi Yan is obviously more important than her own reputation.

    She smiled and said, "I came to see Yanyan.

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, with deep meaning in her eyes, and repeated slowly: "Yanyan?"

    "Ms. Jiang, this is..." Lu Zhiqiao looked down at the bag in her hand.

    "I''m here to give some medicine." Jiang Yu lifted up the plastic bag, "Apply it externally to treat bruises, swelling and pain."

    She looked past Lu Zhiqiao and looked at the person behind, not intending to put down the medicine. After a while, she turned back to Lu Zhiqiao with a pleasant smile on her face.

    "Thank you." Lu Zhiqiao reached out to pick it up, "I''ll apply it for her."

    Jiang Yu squeezed the bag tightly, and didn''t give it to her, and smiled with her eyes: "May I ask, Ms. Lu is always with Qi Yan ... What''s your relationship?"

    "Girlfriends."

    The slightly boiling air stopped instantly.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s expression was calm, and her tone is casual, as if she was talking about ordinary things. She was still holding the bag with her hands, but she isn''t applying any force, she didn''t mean to grab it, and just smiled.

    The limpid light shone on her face, casting a broken shadow, indifferent and gentle.

    Jiang Yu looked at her silently, subtle waves welled up in the depths of her eyes, changing quickly, with comprehension, loss, sarcasm, and compassion, but she was not surprised.

    As expected.

    From noticing at the dinner party, to seeing the photo on Qi Yan''s phone screen yesterday, to today, and now, all the clues are connected together, pointing to the guess in her heart.

    At that time, Qi Yan said that she didn''t have a girlfriend, probably because she hadn''t established a relationship yet¡ªit looks like she still doesn''t have a girlfriend yet.

    Ambiguous? Chasing? Getting to know?

    "Oh?" Jiang Yu chuckled twice, turning her gaze to the person behind, "Really?"

    The stagnant air created waves again, as if a faint smell of gunpowder could be smelled.

    Lu Zhiqiao was still calm, but her heart was hanging in her throat.

    She imperceptibly pushed Qi Yan to a hot seat, hoping to gamble in it, forced Qi Yan to express her position. She didn''t know if Qi Yan would be disgusted, but when she realized this, she couldn''t take back what she said.

    If Qi Yan denies it, her self-esteem will be torn to pieces, but if Qi Yan admits it, they can be together.

    Time passed by every minute and every second...

    It dragged on for too long.

    Qi Yan lowered her eyes and remained silent, her face was covered by the shadow of her hair, so she couldn''t see the woman''s expression. She stepped forward suddenly, took the bag from Jiang Yu''s hand, and wanted to take it in, but neither of them had any intention of letting go, and they were deadlocked.

    "..."

    Qi Yan exerted a little more force, but she couldn''t move, and the two of them held on tighter.

    "..."

    Feeling the cold pressure and the two scorching gazes on her face, she frowned helplessly: "Will you give me the medicine, or do you two want to do rock-paper-scissors?" After speaking, she immediately felt Lu Zhiqiao''s fingertips tremble. After a while, she hurriedly added: "I''ll apply it myself."

    Jiang Yu was the first to let go.

    Lu Zhiqiao held it tighter, she refused to let Qi Yan take it away. With a light smile on the corner of her mouth, she said politely to Jiang Yu: "You''ll still be busy tomorrow, so Ms. Jiang should rest early."

    After finishing speaking, she turned around and walked into the house with the medicine in hand, leaving Qi Yan and Jiang Yu staring at each other awkwardly.

    Those who know how to behave, will naturally go.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat down by the bed and took out the medicine, which was explained in full English. As soon as she glanced at it, she heard Jiang Yu''s low voice coming from the door: "Apply it every six hours, and remember to massage for fifteen minutes after applying. It''s effective."

    "Okay, thank you." Qi Yan smiled awkwardly.

    After the person left, she closed the door and looked up at the woman in the room with complicated eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao also looked at her.

    Knowing that what she just did was wrong, Lu Zhiqiao looked away guiltily, lowered her head and unscrewed the medicine, and said as if talking to herself: "Don''t worry, I''ll just apply the medicine, I won''t think about anything else."

    Qi Yan lowered her eyes, didn''t speak, went to her suitcase to get her clothes, and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

    There was a patter of water inside.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at the bathroom, sighed, and frowned more tightly.

    Tonight is the most shameless time in her life when it comes to things outside of work.

    She is so thick-skinned that she doesn''t feel ashamed.

    She didn''t dare to do such a thing before, and before others reacted, she laughed at herself first. She realized, if she only had a thicker skin before, she wouldn''t miss someone she likes, let alone be like an emotional idiot

    If being shameless can save Qi Yan and bring the two of them together, then she will go all out and build a Great Wall on her face without any problem.

    She secretly made up her mind.

    Later, she should be thicker-skinned and take the initiative, she must get Yanyan back tonight.

    Ten minutes later, the sound of water in the bathroom gradually stopped, the door opened, and Qi Yan came out wearing a halter nightgown, plugged in a hair dryer and dried her hair.

    Lu Zhiqiao watched from the side.

    She was used to her waist-length hair in the past, and now she felt that something is missing, not only the hair, but also some kind of witness between them. If it is lost, there is a feeling that it will never be found again.

    Her heart ached, and she hurriedly moved her eyes away, trying not to look.

    After blow-drying her hair, Qi Yan stroked it, stood in front of the mirror and combed it carefully, greeted her face with bottles and cans of skin care products, and dawdled for nearly half an hour before climbing onto the bed.

    She lie down on her stomach, with the mattress covering her lower body and consciously rolls up the night gown''s hem.

    Her back is as clean as white jade, the spine line is clear, the butterfly bones on both sides are slightly raised, and the large bruises and purples are scary to look at. Needless to say, it was obvious how painful it is when she got hit.

    Lu Zhiqiao picked up her heart suddenly, without thinking about other things, she lowered her head and squeezed out the ointment the size of a fifty-cent coin, rubbed some ointment in the palm of her hand, gently covered the bruise, and spread it away little by little.

    The force was very light, she was afraid that she would not control it well all of a sudden, and it would hurt the bruise.

    She carefully watched Qi Yan''s reaction.

    The ointment was cold, but her palm is hot. The moment she touched the bruise, Qi Yan felt ice and fire on her back. She subconsciously grabbed the pillow and gritted her teeth.

    "Does it hurt?"

    "It doesn''t hurt."

    Lu Zhiqiao saw that her eyes were closed, her expression was relaxed, and she was relieved a little, but she became more and more subtle.  Squeezing the ointment twice to cover the entire bruise, she put her palm on Qi Yan''s back and did not move, turned her head and turned on her phone to check the time, remembering fifteen minutes.

    She was sitting, and Qi Yan was lying on her stomach. Since the hem was rolled up high, there was nothing to cover her. She could see everything clearly from the angle of one above and one below. When she lowered her eyes a little, she could see a little arc on Qi Yan''s side being squeezed.

    The doors and windows in the room are all closed, the air is a bit dull, and the air conditioner is not turned on, and it is also a bit hot.

    "This is the medicine Jiang Yu bought, don''t you mind?" Qi Yan said suddenly, eyes still closed, with a look of enjoyment on her face.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, and suddenly realized what she meant, and said: "There are readily available medicines delivered, why not use them? You think I will throw them away and go out to buy another? Isn''t that too childish?"

    Not only childish, but sick.

    Girls shouldn''t watch idol dramas like that anymore.

    What does this person think of her...

    Qi Yan choked and didn''t speak.

    Seeing that she was cold and indifferent, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly thought of her stunning eyes on the show, her heart turned sour, and her tone was a bit complaining: "Aren''t you happy to see me confronting Jiang Yu? Enjoying two people jealous for you? It''s like fighting for favor, huh?"

    Qi Yan frowned, tilted her head, and opened her eyes to look at her.

    The cold gaze mixed with questioning, slid over like a knife.

    "Did it look like I like it? I enjoy it?" She sneered, her eyes filled with gloomy and chaotic emotions

    "Wasn''t it you who pushed me into that situation?"

    Her voice suddenly turned cold, like shattered ice, falling from head to toe, making people panic.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s breathing hitched, her eyelashes trembled, and her hands stained with ointment slowly slid off from Qi Yan''s back. She lowered her face slightly, and for a moment, said in a hoarse voice: "Qi Yan...I can''t lose you..."

 CH 84

    The moment the words came out of her mouth, Lu Zhiqiao completely gave up her reserve.

    She lowered her head, spoke in a low voice, her eyes were filled with mist.

    She saw some warmth in Qi Yan''s eyes, but only a little bit. The inexplicable gloom and chaos were tightly intertwined, as if they were about to devour her.

    If Qi Yan had heard these words before, she would have been very happy, and then the two of them would happily be together and live a happy family life of three. But hearing this now, despite the strong affection in the words, she could only feel fear, dread and anxiety.

    After reading that document, she learned about all of Lu Zhiqiao''s past and suddenly realized that she had never really known her, never really understood her, and never had any contact with people like her.

    The scars on a person''s heart cannot be healed in a short period of time, not to mention the old wounds that have festered for more than 20 years. She once naively thought that as long as she has a heart that loves enough, she can infect and save all unfortunate people.

    But when she learned about Lu Zhiqiao''s past and the things behind it, she thought of things that might happen in the future, and repeatedly evaluated her abilities, she found that everything was far from being as simple as she imagined.

    Assuming that Lu Zhiqiao is a mentally unstable patient, she may fall ill at any time, become disoriented, and lose her mind. If she wants to be with Lu Zhiqiao, she must think clearly whether she can bear all the consequences caused by the other party''s illness, and also think clearly about her own. Does she have the ability to take care of each other, and at the same time ensure that she will not be disappointed, will not lose patience, will never leave, will accompany and protect her?

    How many normal people can do it?

    Lu Zhiqiao''s past was the so-called "mental illness", a wound that would fester repeatedly.

    If the wound is not healed,and they decide to be together like this, they will "explode" at any time in the future, hurting themselves and the people around them. What should she do? She can endure it once, but she can''t guarantee that she can endure it countless times, and then quarrels will break out, again and again, in an infinite loop.

    They will go to ruin in such a state.

    She knew that Lu Zhiqiao is not easily tempted, but once the door is knocked open, she knows for life that there will be no way out.

    Her wound is difficult to heal, and she can''t heal it by herself, and she can''t bear it. What could be done then?

    If she cannot bear this weight, she will never contact her again and disappear from each other''s lives. If she can bear this weight, she will boldly embrace each other and welcome a new life.

    She didn''t want that one day in the future, she would get tired of being tortured, turn around and leave, leaving Lu Zhiqiao falling into the abyss holding a heart riddled with holes.

    But now it seems a bit late. She has already provoked Lu Zhiqiao, and without knowing it, this woman''s heart is slowly being held up in front of her.

    Can she handle it?

    It''s too late, she got stuck herself. She became conflicted, wanting to accept Lu Zhiqiao''s closeness but not daring to make light decisions. She was both happy for Lu Zhiqiao''s initiative and annoyed by her own confusion.

    Her previous love experience seems to have malfunctioned and cannot provide her with any reference or assistance.

    So she was anxious.

    Qi Yan regretted her previous recklessness and assumptions, but she didn''t regret loving Lu Zhiqiao. In her heart, she was filled with hope that they could have a beautiful future.

    Her back felt cool and comfortable, and the burning pain was much relieved now.

    "Lu Zhiqiao¡­"

    "Mm."

    "You said those words in front of Jiang Yu, are you forcing me to make a choice?" Qi Yan asked feebly, looking up at her while lying on her stomach.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes were unbearably red, but she held back her tears. She raised her head and blinked, let out a breath, looked at the ceiling and whispered, "Yes. Because when I saw Jiang Yu appearing on stage, you smiled at her so happily. When you got hit, I also saw that she hugged you and cared about you, but I could only pretend not to know you, and looked at you from the side. I got very  sad and uncomfortable..."

    For such reason, she doesn''t feel the need to be so reserved, she can''t wait to show Qi Yan her heart and soul.

    She felt uncomfortable, jealous, and couldn''t bear to see Qi Yan staring at other beautiful women, who is also her first love. No matter how much she rationalizes herself, she has to admit that she just cares.

    "Then have you considered my feelings?"

    "..."

    "I came here because of work. Jiang Yu is my colleague. From the beginning to the end, she didn''t do anything beyond the scope of the relationship between colleagues. I didn''t just smile at her, I smiled at all the models. These are my work habits."

    "The assistant contacted me for work, and the rehearsal was for everyone. I didn''t just take pictures of her alone, and I only see her as a colleague." Qi Yan bent her fingers and tapped the back of the bed.

    As she spoke, her tone was getting a little agitated.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed his eyes and said, "I know, I know it all, but she''s your first love. You''ve been together, and she must know you very well. When I think of this¡­"

    She just can''t stay calm.

    She understood everything, so she didn''t show any emotions at that time. Even if she feels sad in her heart, she understands that she cannot ignore the occasion.

    She can pretend to be calm outside, but how can she hold back in private?

    Her voice was a little hoarse and Qi Yan''s heart was stabbed, she sighed, and said in a slow tone: "Everyone is here for work, and you are too. Since you are here for business, you should act professionally. You think our normal contact is a personal encounter, bringing in personal emotions, forcing me to make a choice, and finally turning around and blaming me instead, do you think this is appropriate?"

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    Speaking of these, another fire rose in her heart.

    Qi Yan thought she had enough patience, but at some point, the switch that controlled her emotions was firmly held in Lu Zhiqiao''s hand.

    When she cries, she wants to cry; when she laughs, she wants to laugh; when she is sad, she also feels sad. After investing in this relationship, she was hovering on the verge of losing herself.

    "Jiang Yu gave me her coat, but I didn''t accept it right away, you saw it. She helped me, but when you walked over, I immediately distanced myself, you saw it too. So you know very well in your heart that I care about your feelings, I care for you, and then you became confident and forced me to make a choice, thinking that I would definitely cooperate with you."

    "But all you think about is yourself, and you don''t consider my feelings at all."

    She didn''t look at her, and said a lot in one breath.

    Every word is like a sharp blade, cutting open the bloody facts.

    Lu Zhiqiao pinched her palms and said in a trembling voice, "I was too anxious when I saw Jiang Yu..."

    "That''s right." Qi Yan smiled weakly, pulled up her clothes and got up, letting the sticky ointment stick to her nightgown. "I was just about to tell you this. You have been transferred this time, right? At first I didn''t know, I thought it was a coincidence, but during the rehearsal yesterday morning, I heard a colleague chatting and said that they were negotiating with Ms. Shu previously. It probably means that you were not supposed to be here, I thought¡ª¡±

    "Yes." Lu Zhiqiao admitted bluntly, "I knew you would definitely come. It happened that Ms. Shu''s work schedule was too tight and she couldn''t make it in time, so I proposed a transfer."

    "So you didn''t have to see Jiang Yu."

    "..."

    "I said we should separate and calm down for a while. I just took advantage of this work to relax, and I made a travel plan, and I will set off once I go back. I didn''t expect that you would use work as an excuse to come here." Qi Yan''s voice was deep and she was staring straight at her face, without questioning or accusing, but the more calm it is, the more unsettling she felt.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips and lowered her eyes.

    She knew that what she did was wrong, that''s why she felt guilty just now, and she also knew that it was her fault. But at that time, she had no reason, no time to think, what to say or do, it was all based on instinct.

    But just the same, it is her own fault.

    "Moreover, with what identity and stance did you use to announce a relationship that I had never had before in front of my colleagues?" As soon as Qi Yan blurted out the last question, she felt extreme relief. Sooner or later, they will have to talk about these things. Since she was forced to the corner, long pain is better than short pain.

    However, it was like a thunderbolt, forcefully splitting Lu Zhiqiao into pieces.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body trembled and her eyes turned red again. Suddenly, she hugged Qi Yan, buried her face in her neck, and sobbed softly, "I''m sorry¡­ I know it''s my fault... I also know I''ve been avoiding and hurting your heart before... Although I can''t improve all of a sudden, believe me, I''m working hard¡­"

    If she hadn''t met Qi Yan, she would have lived her life like that, and she wouldn''t have tried to walk out of the dark corner on her own initiative.

    Now it''s too late to pull back. For someone like her, falling in love means it''s for a lifetime. Once she gives her heart away, she can''t get it back. One step further is Qi Yan, and one step back is the abyss. She will either be happy, or be crushed to pieces.

    "I don''t have any place for anyone else in my heart. It''s all you and Niu Niu, and family affection and love are different, they can coexist. You are all very important to me, and I can''t lose either one." Lu Zhiqiao said nasally, tightening her arms, for fear that if she loosened a little bit, this woman would run away.

    She held too tightly that Qi Yan got a little out of breath.

    Hot tears dripped into the nook of her neck, damp and condensed, bit by bit. Qi Yan parted her lips, panting lowly, and dense pain spread from her heart...

    She didn''t want to see Lu Zhiqiao humbling herself, but she felt a little bit of satisfaction in her heart, like being taken care of and coaxed after being angry.

    It turned out that there was a child living in her heart.

    But this satisfaction quickly turned into pain because she loved Lu Zhiqiao, and her emotions were all influenced by this woman. The more humble Lu Zhiqiao became, the sadder she felt, and no amount of cold words could be spoken out.

    "Lu Zhiqiao..."

    "Mm, I''m here."

    Qi Yan hugged her and said softly, "I love you."

    The person in her arms trembled and gently inhaled, with more and more tears streaming down her neck.

    "When I first met you, I just wanted to play with you. Once I had enough, I could kick you away at any time, so I was reckless. Later on, I stopped playing and wanted to get to know you seriously. The more you dodged, the more I chased you and pushed you to the corner.

    "I thought you were just like most people of your age who are very cautious and concerned about relationships, and have been in society for a long time, making it difficult to open up to others. That kind of you is just to my taste, on the contrary, if you just cater to me casually, I will lose interest. So at that time, I was a hundred times more confident and felt that it was only a matter of time before we get together."

    Qi Yan said calmly, raising her hand to stroke Lu Zhiqiao''s hair.

    "Later on, I vaguely felt that you were hiding something very important from me. In fact, I already felt that I was taking it for granted, because I don''t want to let go of the person I chose so easily."

    "Until I read the document you sent, I finally realized that things are not that simple."

    Having said that, Qi Yan took a deep breath, put her hands on Lu Zhiqiao''s shoulders, forced her to sit up, and looked at her. Then, word by word: "That''s right, I am scared. After finding out the reason, I knew why you said those things on the night of my birthday and when we had a fight on the day I returned from school.

    "It''s not that easy for a person to recover from the injuries he has suffered over the years. I don''t have the confidence to bring you out, and I can''t guarantee that I can always be with you in this state."

    "So I am afraid, just like how you were afraid to give your heart to me back then."

    "I can get out in one piece, but what about you?"

    Her voice choked up suddenly, and her eyes turned red.

    In just a few months, Qi Yan has completely overturned her self-cognition. She is not as confident and open-minded as she imagined, and she is not as decisive as she imagined. To put it bluntly, she is a greenhouse flower that rarely suffers. When she saw Lu Zhiqiao''s weed growing in the cracks, she was naturally fascinated.

    "But now... I don''t seem to be able to fully recover... "Qi Yan looked at her, her slender eyelashes drooping, as if talking to herself.

    It is too late to retreat, they are now trapped in each other, no matter how hard they struggled, they would only sink deeper and deeper.

    These words have been held in her heart for a long time, and it turns out it''s easier to speak them out. Originally, she had a lot of concerns, covering up and blurring, which led to misunderstandings.

    Maybe Lu Zhiqiao would think this was an excuse for her to escape, laugh at her as a coward, or be disappointed, or feel cold, and think that she is a bastard who doesn''t want to take responsibility for tempting her, and see through her essence wrapped in hypocrisy.

    It doesn''t matter anymore.

    They stared at each other for a long time, seeing their faces in each other''s eyes, allowing time to pass slowly...

    The balcony doors and windows were tightly closed, and the room grew hotter. The air was filled with the smell of ointment, and a faint scent of green grass seemed to have a calming effect. Smelling it, their boiling emotions gradually subsided.

    The surroundings were eerily quiet, and the sound of breathing was extremely clear. Their gazes were intertwined, as if connected by an invisible thread, inseparable until the fog in their eyes slowly dissipated.

    Is it time to pass judgment?  Qi Yan thought.

    Her heart pounded happily.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at Qi Yan, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her ink-like eyes shining with tears. For a moment, she murmured, "So that''s how it is¡­"

    Qi Yan frowned and her heart sank.

    Lu Zhiqiao, however, suddenly smiled.

    "?"

    She thought that what Qi Yan cared about was her preference for her daughter, unable to balance the weight of the two emotions. She thought that Qi Yan was jealous of her daughter and she didn''t notice so she became angry. She even thought that Qi Yan was throwing tantrums and deliberately refused to listen to her. So at first, she couldn''t understand why Qi Yan began to be so distant from her after confessing her past.

    She didn''t expect this person to think deeper than her.

    If Qi Yan didn''t love her, she could just disappear without a trace, so that she couldn''t find or see her. But just as Qi Yan said, because of love, it was impossible to retreat completely.

    In her situation, ordinary people would have concerns. From a certain level, Qi Yan''s reluctance to step into her world easily is also out of serious consideration, wanting to be responsible, and hoping that the two of them will be better. Just like when she confessed her feelings to Qi Yan, she said many of her shortcomings, and refused to take that step lightly.

    It''s just that she was slow on the uptake, and now Qi Yan is also slow.

    "Actually, if you can think this way, my heart feels more assured" She frowned slightly, and stretched out her hand to hook Qi Yan''s neck.

    Qi Yan hugged her subconsciously: "...What do you mean?"

    "You feel scared, which means that you have seriously thought about our future. You admit to me that you are afraid, which means that you have a sense of responsibility. Not everyone has the courage to admit their fear. I am not mistaken, Qi Yan, you''re worthy..." Lu Zhiqiao buried her face in her hair, a tear dripped from the corner of her eye, she didn''t know whether the tear flowed from being moved or excited.

    At this moment, she gained an unprecedented sense of security.

    Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, her heartbeat gradually slowed down, and she whispered, "Don''t make it sound like I''m amazing."

    "But you are amazing to me."

    "Oh."

    The two hugged quietly, warm in each other''s arms, and the smell of perfume and ointment mixed together, and it didn''t smell pleasant.

    "Yan Yan..."

    Qi Yan froze, her heart twitched: "Huh?"

    Lu Zhiqiao left her arms, raised her head, and looked at her seriously: "You shouldn''t bear these pressures alone. I''m working hard too. After all, the main problem lies with me. You have to believe in me, and you must also believe in yourself."

    Her eyes were a little swollen from crying, covered with faint red blood, looking haggard and pitiful.

    Qi Yan pursed her lips, with guilt in her eyes: "I''m not that good, I''m not that perfect, but I don''t want to give up, I''m just conflicted, seeing you come to me, I still...I feel a little angry, so I''m telling you not to think so greatly of me, I am just an ordinary person..."

    "Mm, I''m also an ordinary person. I''m still stupid and don''t understand anything. I want you to teach me." Lu Zhiqiao smiled at her.

    Her hands were still smeared with ointment, sticky and slippery, reflecting the light, Qi Yan glanced down, silently took a tissue from the bedside, and grabbed her hand.

    Lu Zhiqiao retracted subconsciously, "I haven''t finished massaging yet."

    Qi Yan paused, thought for a while, then lay back calmly, rolled up her nightgown''s hem, and turned her face to the other side.

    Looking at the large bruises on her back, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart broke.

    After all the ointment was wiped off, she squeezed some more onto her hand, melted it evenly, wiped it on, and massaged carefully and gently.

    The coolness gradually spread, and Qi Yan felt less stuffy.

    No one spoke.

    After about fifteen minutes of massaging, Lu Zhiqiao went to the bathroom to wash her hands, dry them, twist up the ointment and put it on the bedside. She warned carefully, "Don''t go to bed until it''s completely dry. I''ll come back tomorrow morning

    After speaking, she turned to leave.

    Her wrist was suddenly pulled, and when she turned her head, she saw Qi Yan standing up, looking at her deeply: "I''m going to take a break after work." After a pause, she said, "Wait for me to come back."

 CH 85

    The light shrouded Jiang Yu''s shadow and casted it on the carpet. Half of her face was hidden in the darkness, and she smiled naturally.

    After a brief "confrontation" just now, Lu Zhiqiao first thought that this person was Yan Yan''s first love, which inevitably made her uncomfortable. However, she soon realized that she represented the company, and they are in a cooperative relationship, so it was not good to be cold-hearted.

    Putting aside the identity of "first love", Jiang Yu is an excellent supermodel with strong business ability, knowledgeable in operation and design, sociable, and an ideal team leader. She admires and appreciates such a person from the bottom of her heart, and she is unwilling to make enemies with her.

    After thinking about it, she smiled lightly and declined, "Ms. Jiang is tired after a busy day, it''s better to rest early."

    After speaking, she walked towards her room.

    "Don''t you want to know about Yan Yan''s past?" Jiang Yu curved her mouth and calmly asked.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused.

    Her curiosity was immediately aroused, ready to move, scratching like a cat''s paw, itching every now and then. But subconsciously, she felt that by doing so, would hurt Qi Yan. She wanted to know but had to restrain herself, so she fiercely struggled in her heart.

    Shoes stepped on the carpet without a sound.

    "I''m not here to declare war on you." Jiang Yu walked to her side, "Besides, during non-working hours, you are not a sponsor, and I am not a brand owner."

    The voice was soft and seductive.

    Tempting about Yan Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao is a person who can''t resist temptation. She knows that she shouldn''t get news from her old lover, and she also knows that it''s wrong to dig someone''s past behind her back. She knows it all. But what? The more you restrain your thoughts, the more they will grow wildly. As long as it is about Qi Yan, it can make her lose her mind.

    She slowly retracted her hand stretched towards the door, and looked sideways at Jiang Yu, her eyes getting darker.

    "Let''s go, find a place to talk." Jiang Yu raised her lips and walked straight to the elevator.

    Lu Zhiqiao followed.

    The two went out of the hotel gate, turned left, walked along the path for about two or three minutes, and came to the beach.

    The night is silent, the sky is as black as ink, the porcelain white full moon hangs high, tents of all sizes are scattered on the beach, and the lights are sparkling. The waves beat the wet and soft sand, taking away the smell left by the sun during the day. Occasionally, a few tourists stroll along the tide line leisurely.

    Lu Zhiqiao walked inside, and Jiang Yu walked outside, walking side by side, one of them was too tall, making the other a little short.

    After walking for a few minutes, no one spoke.

    Suddenly, Jiang Yu stopped and looked at her with a smile: "You are really patient."

    "I''m giving you time to prepare." Lu Zhiqiao said empathetically.

    "I''ve prepared."

    "Mm."

    "But don''t worry." Jiang Yu shook her head, following the faint light on the bank to look at her, "To be honest, I thought at first that you have a one-sided crush on Yan Yan."

    "How so?"

    "During the dinner party, you looked at her twenty-three times in total."

    "..."

    "But your emotions are too well hidden, I didn''t think about ''you might know each other'', even during that time when I saw you in the restroom." Jiang Yu continued to stride forward with her long legs.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, lowered her eyes and glanced at the soft sand under her feet, and said softly: "This is a work place after all."

    The waves came up and almost kissed her shoes.

    She moved slightly to the side.

    "Yan Yan still hasn''t changed..." Jiang Yu suddenly sighed, her stern face suddenly softened.

    "Huh?"

    "Her eye for people has always been high, and it hasn''t changed."

    These words were very cryptic, not only expressing appreciation for Lu Zhiqiao, but also praising herself, and even a hint of pride in the familiar tone. She doesn''t know if it''s to show off that she knows Qi Yan, or to imply something else.

    In just a few seconds, Lu Zhiqiao thought a lot, so she didn''t answer.

    Jiang Yu stopped again, turned her head and smiled at her: "How did you know each other?"

    "That is private." Lu Zhiqiao said, "You haven''t fulfilled your promise yet."

    "You can skip the part that belongs to Yan Yan, and only talk about the part that belongs to you in the past. This exchange is very fair."

    "..."

    The salty sea breeze rushed over, Lu Zhiqiao brushed her disheveled hair, and looked away.

    The coastline not far away is hidden in the night, with blurred outlines, and a little closer are the dots of lights in the city, converging into a belt of light and extending to the other end of the island.

    There is only the sound of wind and waves in their ears.

    "I don''t want to do this kind of deal." Lu Zhiqiao whispered, "Let''s go back." She turned around and wanted to go back.

    Jiang Yu seemed to have expected her to react like this, so she didn''t move, her expression was calm, and a faint voice came out of her thin lips: "When I met her, she was still studying, very young, and very passionate¡­"

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, and retreated abruptly.

    Jiang Yu and Qi Yan met at a show, and the Qi family was the sponsor. At that time, Qi Yan was nineteen years old and was studying at Jiangcheng Normal University, while Jiang Yu was twenty-five years old, already well-known and had a bright future.

    At that time, the models were doing makeup and styling backstage. Qi Yan sneaked in by virtue of her connection and chatted with everyone. She obviously didn''t know anyone, but she was the only one who made the atmosphere alive. Even Jiang Yu, a quiet person, couldn''t resist and just keep looking at her twice.

    Tall, with a cool face, clear and penetrating eyes, waist-length hair, a vigorous aura exuding from the corners of the eyes and brows, like a fire.

    Fresh and hot fire.

    Throughout the show, Qi Yan stood beside the main photographer, looking at the camera for a while then looking at the runway, and smiling at each model.

    At the moment of fixed-pointing for a second or two, Jiang Yu didn''t smile originally, but was infected by Qi Yan, and the corners of her mouth couldn''t help but rise, so the photo of wanting to smile without smiling became a "classic" in her modeling career.

    Most of her peers like gentle sisters, but Jiang Yu likes fresh and energetic younger sisters. She remembered Qi Yan who was as passionate as fire, and Qi Yan also remembered her as sexy and rebellious.

    Their passion collided and made an easy spark.

    They were attracted to each other and had a common language. They quickly got together and their feelings grew stronger. When they were passionately in love, they were like honey.

    But passion comes and goes quickly.

    Jiang Yu is career-minded, more realistic, and likes the feeling that everything is in her own hands, while Qi Yan is free and undisciplined, she does whatever she wants, and hates being restricted and restrained the most. When the passion was exhausted, their respective problems were gradually exposed.

    It only took two years to go from passionate love to mediocrity, and in the remaining two years, they kept breaking up and making up.

    They seem to be reconciled and want to work hard to return to the state when they were in love, but they always have differences because of various problems, and no one is willing to give in easily. In the end, it was ten days and a half after they separated, their feelings were completely exhausted.

    Later Qi Yan asked her to come out.

    At that time, Jiang Yu''s career was on the rise, and her relationship was flat and hopeless. She naturally devoted more energy to her work. Qi Yan argued with her dozens of times because of coming out of the closet. Finally, she broke out and offered to  separate.

    On the second day after the breakup, the two went back to their respective homes and cut off all contact. Their separation lasted five years.

    "Yan Yan used to listen to me very much. I told her not to make trouble and she didn''t make trouble, but her nature isn''t like that. She just suppressed herself to accommodate me. So from the beginning, we were doomed to be incompatible."

    "Of course, it was a long time before I figured it out."

    Jiang Yu sighed softly, narrowed her eyes slightly, and continued walking against the sea breeze. Her long hair was blown, and her shadow was swallowed by the night.

    Lu Zhiqiao unconsciously followed her.

    They walked side by side, stepped into the wet sand area, and the waves flooded up and instantly submerged their feet, and their high heels were soaked.

    The sea water is a little warm.

    After the tide receded, the wind blew and it was a little cool, and when the next wave came, it became warm again. Warm and cool alternately, just like their mood at the moment.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the tall and handsome woman''s back, felt vaguely uneasy in her heart, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "So do you want to get her back?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t answer, she stopped and let the waves caress her feet.

    "I think." She said softly.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s heart hangs.

    Suddenly, Jiang Yu slowly turned around and walked out of the shadow, "But after seeing you, I don''t want to do it anymore."

    She stared at Lu Zhiqiao with a variety of emotions in her eyes, including openness, joy, and relief.

    Over the years, she searched and searched, found many women who were similar to Qi Yan, and took them as Qi Yan. But how can there be two identical people in the world? Qi Yan is Qi Yan and cannot be copied. After she realized this, she thought she couldn''t let it go.

    Finally when she saw Qi Yan again, her first feeling was strange.

    She also thought that they hadn''t seen each other for many years, people always change, and it was inevitable that they would be unfamiliar. So she thought about taking her time, looking for opportunities bit by bit, and getting closer slowly.

    However, Lu Zhiqiao''s appearance completely pulled her out of the fog.

    Just outside the room, she thought for a long time.

    "Yan Yan has matured." Jiang Yu said with a smile, "But what I miss is her ''youth''."

    After growing up, Qi Yan is no longer a passionate flame, no longer recklessly wielding emotions. Those things that were once given to her are all left in memories with time. And the things that were not given to her now belong to someone else. No matter how restrained it is on the surface, that feeling will flow from her eyes, and it cannot deceive anyone.

    She is Jiang Yu, she doesn''t bother to fight with others.

    Another wave came, this time it was a little fiercer, directly touching their ankles, and the water seemed to have cooled down a bit.

    Jiang Yu raised her hand and took off the ring on her ring finger. The ruby ??seemed to be flowing with blood, which was unique and magnificent. It was given to her by Qi Yan from her "youth".

    She stared at it for a moment, then throws her arms up.

    The ring sank into the sea without a sound¡­

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    ¡­.

    In the middle of the night, Lu Zhiqiao had a nightmare.

    The moment she woke up, she opened her eyes, looking at the darkness, and habitually stretched out her hand to clap twice, but no light turned on. She was stunned for a while, and then suddenly remembered that she is not in her bedroom at home, she regained her composure, and felt a strong sense of loss in her heart.

    After lying down for a while, her body was sweating and felt uncomfortable. She got up and turned on the lamp, went to the bathroom to take a shower, and came back to sit, unable to feel sleepy.

    She glanced at her phone and saw it''s one o''clock in the morning.

    She turned on the music software, played the song "Let Her Land", subconsciously logged into WeChat again, inadvertently saw the head of the orange cat at the top, was taken aback, and quickly clicked in.

    It was Qi Yan''s post around twelve o''clock.

    Share a song: "Let Her Land"

    Did they have a tacit understanding?

    The corners of Lu Zhiqiao''s mouth curled up, before she could be happy about the tacit understanding between the two, she suddenly realized something, tap the head of the orange cat, entered Qi Yan''s Moments, and found that the original cold horizontal line disappeared, and the content-rich dynamics in the past reappeared before her eyes.

    One second, two seconds, three seconds...

    She took a deep breath, relieved.

    Yan Yan unrestricted her.

    During the days when she was restricted, Qi Yan posted a lot, mostly sharing small things in life and photos.  As if Lu Zhiqiao had found a treasure, she pulled out of the shield in one breath, and her empty heart was instantly filled to the brim.

    The light at the bedside shone softly on her phone screen, and the singing reached its climax, eliciting surging emotions in her heart.

    From the beginning to the end, Yan Yan was thinking about her and their future, meticulously and thoughtfully, thinking about everything she could think of, and everything she couldn''t think of. Tonight she really felt at ease, she felt that Yan Yan is as reliable and worthwhile as she thought, she didn''t misjudged the person and her heart didn''t confused her for anyone.

    But she has been pressing every step of the way, without giving the other party time to breathe.

    ¡ª¡ªYou broke someone¡¯s heart, and you asked her to pick up the broken pieces, picking up pieces patiently, like children playing a jigsaw puzzle, maybe even after ten or eight years, they can¡¯t complete the puzzle.

    *an excerpt from Heart Sutra by Eileen Chang (Zhang Ailing)

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly remembered this sentence, and tears came down.

    The song is over.

    She changed it to a single loop, wiped away her tears, gave Qi Yan a ''like'' with shaking fingers, and commented "Good night".

    That woman should be asleep.

    Lu Zhiqiao took out a tissue and wiped her nose, put the phone aside, turned off the lights and lay down.

    Suddenly, the screen lit up.

    The bright light in the dark is very dazzling.

    She quickly picked it up again.  It turned out to be a voice message.

    [Good night]

    Then posted another:

    [Good dreams]

 CH 86

    In the darkness, Lu Zhiqiao stared at the phone screen, curling the corners of her mouth.

    Yan Yan hasn''t slept yet.

    LInsomnia?

    Is she thinking about her?

    In the dream, Qi Yan walked away from her with a cold face. She chased desperately but couldn''t catch the other''s hand, so she could only watch helplessly as the woman disappeared before her eyes, and then she was startled awake.

    After waking up, she clicked on WeChat with fear, thinking that she could get some comfort even by looking at the head of the orange cat, so she didn''t have to bother Qi Yan, she didn''t expect to get a surprise.

    Like a fluffy feather, it safely supported her sinking heart.

    Dreams are the opposite of reality.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the four words, took a deep breath, suppressed the urge to send a message, locked the screen, and put the phone on the bedside table.

    The night is long, and a "good night" is her tranquilizer.

    At the end of the dress show, the two parties signed a long-term cooperation agreement. Jiang Yu sent more than a dozen sets of underwear to Lu Zhiqiao, and also said that the dresses for her important occasions will be covered by the brand in the future, and she is welcome to go to Italy and France when she is free.

    A group of people chartered a flight back home. Originally, Jiang Yu was sitting next to Lu Zhiqiao, and Qi Yan was sitting next to Assistant Feng, but Jiang Yu changed places with Qi Yan on the grounds that she needed the assistant for something.

    Qi Yan: "???"

    Lu Zhiqiao looked calm.

    Although the two sat next to each other, there was no communication whatsoever.

    During the flight, the attendant brought fruit, Lu Zhiqiao stared down for a moment, then forked all the mangoes on her plate onto Qi Yan''s plate.

    Qi Yan glanced at her, said nothing, forked a piece into hernmouth, and chewed slowly.

    It''s pretty sweet.

    She likes to eat mangoes.

    "Is it delicious?" Lu Zhiqiao tilted her head slightly, and asked softly with restraint.

    Qi Yan hummed and ate another piece.

    It didn''t take long to eat everything.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away and looked out the window, the corners of her mouth couldn''t help but curl up.

    Arriving at Jiangcheng Airport in the afternoon, the two parties parted ways. Before getting into the car, Qi Yan glanced at Lu Zhiqiao. The latter just happened to look in her direction, and their eyes met briefly. She smiled lightly, looked away, and got in the car.

    Going back to attending meetings, finishing them, and being busy for two or three days.

    When there are no large-scale events, Qi Yan only occasionally goes to the company to participate in the theme planning of magazines and filming selection. She doesn''t talk much, and only communicates with colleagues on professional content, and never goes to group activities. Everyone is used to her like this, her proficiency is convincing and over time, they no longer criticize her.

    Jiang Yu is very busy and is often away from the company. Even if she is, it is mostly because of work needs, so she basically ignores her when she has nothing to do.

    Qi Yan could vaguely guess the reason, and her heart relaxed. She was happy and at ease, and didn''t have so many scruples when working. Everyone is busy and keeping a distance in private, which made her feel very comfortable.

    Her travel plans began to be put on the agenda.

    When she came home in the evening, the nanny had already prepared the meals, and her parents were there. Qi Yan chatted with the elders as usual. Although her old father and Ms. Lin were both happy, the atmosphere at the dinner table was a bit strange, and she felt that something was wrong.

    Ms. Lin didn''t seem to want to talk to her old father very much.

    "I plan to go from south to north, and the first stop is South Africa. Hey, maybe I can dig up some diamonds and bring them back, hahaha..." Speaking of her travel plans, she made a joke, secretly observing the reactions of both parents.

    Dad Qi grinned and nodded again and again: "As long as you can dig it, Dad will find someone to send it to be processed. You can make whatever you want."

    "A ring, too?"

    "Of course."

    Qi Yan raised her eyebrows: "Then you have to put it on for my mom yourself~"

    After finishing speaking, the father and daughter looked at Ms. Lin at the same time.

    Ms. Lin smiled faintly, without even giving Dad Qi a look. She reached out and picked up a spoonful of yellow clam meat and put it into her daughter''s bowl, saying, "Yan Yan, eat more vegetables and eat less, otherwise you will only grow fat and lack nutrition

    The father and daughter looked at each other.

    Qi Yan: Did you make my mother angry?

    Dad Qi: Cough cough cough...

    Qi Yan: Hehe, man

    Dad Qi: It''s hard to say.

    "..."

    After dinner, Ms. Lin went upstairs alone, while Dad Qi sat in the living room making tea and drinking. The two separated for a long time without a word of exchange.

    Qi Yan finally realized that something was wrong.

    She doesn''t know how other people''s families are. But she knows if her parents haven''t spoken in the house for more than an hour, something must be wrong.

    She didn''t understand when she was a child, because her parents never quarreled in front of her. She was cheerful to whomever she approached alone and they never showed faces with her. After growing up, she understood "emotions" and began to understand that it wasn''t that her parents didn''t know how to quarrel, but they just kept their temper out of her sight.

    Qi Yan thought about it for a while, and decided to coax her mother first, so she walked up to the third floor.

    "Mom~"

    She knocked on the door of the master bedroom and got in.

    Ms. Lin was sitting on the balcony with Tuanzi in her arms, and the warm wind was blowing comfortably at night. The chubby orange cat drooped its tail and swish it away, feeling very comfortable. When it saw her coming in, it gave a "meow" and stretched out its paw at her.

    "What''s the matter, Yan Yan?"

    Qi Yan sat beside her with a smile, slapped off the orange cat''s paw, and hugged her affectionately: "Aren''t you happy?"

    Tuanzi was dissatisfied and kept meowing.

    Nobody paid any attention to it.

    "No way." Ms. Lin was used to acting, she raised her eyebrows and laughed.  "Have you packed your luggage yet? Mom will take you to the airport tomorrow, call me when you arrive, and send a location message every time you go..."

    She started nagging again.

    "By the way, you mustn''t go to those war-torn countries, such as Syria and Iraq...bombers are on top of your head every day, and bullets don''t have eyes, you know."

    "I see, it''s nice to have a mother." Qi Yan leaned over and kissed her on the face.

    Ms. Lin is in her fifties and almost sixty years old. Her face is maintained as if she were in her forties, delicate and shiny. Only when she gets closer can she see faint wrinkles. Due to her healthy diet and year-round fitness, her figure is still slim and graceful, exuding a temperament of going through a thousand sails from head to toe.

    From the outside, she looks serious and dignified, but privately she is a funny old lady at home.

    In fact, she doesn''t really want her daughter to go to Africa to play. In her impression, the place is not peaceful. There are wars or infectious diseases every three days, and there are such things as insufficient food, unclean water, and extremely poor sanitation. Just the thought makes her feel afraid

    But the child is grown up and has her own ideas, can she forcefully stop her?

    "Mom--"

    "Huh?" Ms. Lin came back to her senses.

    Qi Yan raised her brow at her: "Did you argue with my dad?"

    "..."

    "Hmm?"

    Ms. Lin was startled, sighed, and nodded helplessly: "Your father wanted to pay for some orchards for his relatives in the countryside. I advised him not to, but he said I''m small-minded so we had a fight."

    Qi Yan was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly became interested, pretending to be listening to the story.

    Dad Qi has an old problem, that is, he likes to help his relatives in the countryside to save face, he pays for building a house and helps arrange work, he is busy and thoughtful. But those people didn''t say a word of gratitude, and didn''t think well of him, secretly thinking that he is supposed to.

    He believes that it is normal for relatives to take care of each other in the same family, but Ms. Lin is very disgusted with this kind of "blood-sucking" behavior.

    In the past two years, Dad Qi has restrained himself, and Ms. Lin did not care about it deliberately, and each took a step back, and their relationship was not affected.

    "You guys won''t get divorced..." Qi Yan''s expression changed when she heard this, and she couldn''t help but think the worst.

    In her opinion, this is a very serious problem. It is best for the husband and wife to have the same concept, otherwise there will be differences, and the relationship will easily break down after a long time.

    "Huh? Divorce?" Ms. Lin let out a chuckle, "Impossible, your father is just as virtuous as he is, and he will be fine tomorrow, don''t worry."

    "But it''s obviously dad''s fault." Qi Yan frowned.

    "Haayo¡ª¡ª" Ms. Lin grabbed her daughter''s hand and patted it lightly, "You treat it as a math problem, who is right and who is wrong. There are endless emotional disputes everyday, if you take it as who is right and who is wrong, won''t it be tiring?"

    "..."

    Seems to make sense.

    "Then do you often quarrel?"

    "A small argument every two to three months doesn''t count, does it?"

    Qi Yan opened her eyes wide and looked at her in disbelief.

    Ms. Lin let go of the orange cat in her arms, reached out and hugged her daughter, jokingly comforting her, saying, "Silly child, there''s no such thing as an old husband and wife not arguing. A quarrel at the head of the bed and a quarrel at the end of the bed, it''s not just three days of small quarrels and five days of big quarrels. If our personality really doesn''t match, where did you come from? Alright, don''t worry anymore."

    No one is petting Tuanzi anymore, it is very unhappy. It was lying on Ms. Lin, meowing and pawing her arm.

    It is hot in July, and the wind at night is still dry. There are insects and birds singing all around, and there is a faint smell of green grass in the air. The night is silent, and the crescent moon has not yet climbed the branches.

    Qi Yan leaned her head on her mother''s shoulder, pondered for a moment, and thought of Lu Zhiqiao for some reason, and felt sadness in her heart.

    "If the two people aren''t together yet and quarrel, does it mean that they''re actually incompatible..." She seemed to be talking to herself.

    "Meow--"

    Tuanzi climbed onto Qi Yan''s lap and kept patting her hand with its paws, as if to say: Quick, pet my fur!

    Ms. Lin lowered her head and glanced at the orange cat, stroked the fur on its back, and put her other hand around her daughter. She spoke softly, "It''s only after they''ve been together that they will know if they''re compatible or not. If they''re not together, will they know what conflict is? Life just needs to be adjusted, and gradually know whether to continue or not."

    "And as long as it is not a matter of principle, there is no need to argue about who is right and who is wrong. Occasional quarrels can also enhance the relationship. Whether a relationship can last for a long time depends not on passion, but on management."

    After speaking, the surrounding quieted down.

    A passenger plane flew across the night sky, and the roar of the engine pierced through the clouds, faintly, like rolling thunder.

    Qi Yan listened to her mother''s words silently, feeling as if she understood something, but at the same time, she still didn''t fully understand it. There was a cloud of emotions wrapped in chaos in her heart, which were about to come out.

    A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

    The door of the room opened a crack, and Dad Qi peaked in, smiling at the mother and daughter.

    Ms. Lin raised her eyebrows and turned her face away.

    "Dad."

    "Yan Yan¡ª"

    The girl called him, now he could enter the room confidently. "Dad thought about it for a while, I still have to let you bring bodyguards, let me tell you..."

    Qi Yan straightened up immediately, raised her hand and said, "Stop! I''ll go there to play, not to fight."

    The old father frowned worriedly, but he kept looking at his daughter and persuaded her nicely: "The bodyguards are used to protect flowers. You see, you and your mother are the big and small flowers in our family. Isn''t it just right to take good care of you?

    Ms. Lin snorted softly.

    "Coax your big flower first." Qi Yan smelled the scent of dog food*, stood up awkwardly, and disappeared quickly.

    *pda

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    This summer is extremely hot, and the temperature has risen again and again, breaking through 38 degrees early.

    In the afternoon, the sun scorched the ground, and the outdoors were like a stove, and the dazzling light was reflected on it and there was no wind at all. The neighborhood was silent, the potted leaves on the balcony were scorched brightly, and the floors moved like ripples.

    The air-conditioning in the room is cool and shady. Lu Zhiqiao is sitting in the living room with a laptop and working. There are a few folders scattered on the table, looking a bit messy.

    This weekend, she had some temporary matters to deal with, and she didn''t want to run to the company under the sun. She thought it was not a big deal, so she resolved it remotely at home. In the middle of her work, Wen Zilong dropped by to look for her, but she couldn''t deal with him immediately.

    Not long after, Lu Zhiqiao turned off her laptop and cleared the coffee table. Wen Zilong took out something like a photo album and handed it over: "Look at this, and help me refer to it."

    "What''s this?"

    "Information on adopting a child."

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned: "You want to adopt a child?"

    "A little boy." Wen Zilong smiled and explained: "No girls, there must be a difference of forty years, and I''m not that old yet."

    He recovered somewhat, much better than in May, not so haggard, but there was always a little loneliness in his smile.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at him for a while, then sighed suddenly, lowered her head and silently opened the photo album, browsing page by page, "I think...the younger the better, with few memories, easy to get close to you."

    "The minimum age is five. I''m too young and I don''t have much experience. If I don''t take care of him properly..."

    "You can hire a babysitter."

    Wen Zilong was startled, then laughed dumbly: "Why did I forget?"

    As soon as the words fell, the second bedroom door opened, and the little girl''s voice came from inside: "Mom, where did you put my white dress?"

    "The second grid on the left." Lu Zhiqiao didn''t lift her head.

    The average age of the little boys in the photo album is between two and seven years old, and the youngest is fifteen months old. Most of them have congenital disabilities, some are serious, some are not very serious.  But if it was her, looking at those disabilities, she would have no desire to adopt at all.

    Who doesn''t like a healthy child? Even if it''s not that good looking.

    "Mom, where did you take my little blue bag last time?" the daughter called her again.

    Lu Zhiqiao paused, then looked up: "The bottom of the cabinet."

    There was a rustle in the second bedroom. Lu Wei came out wearing a white dress, went into the bathroom, picked up the eyebrow pencil that Lu Zhiqiao bought, brushed her eyebrows a few times, drew a rough shape, loosened her hair, and combed carefully.

    Sister Yaoyao asked her to go out to play, saying that there was something very interesting, and she had never played it before.

    On a hot day, staying at home and not going out suffocated her.

    The little girl looked at herself in the mirror, came out humming a song, greeted Wen Zilong with a smile, and opened the shoe cabinet.

    "Mom, where are my strappy sandals?"

    "On the balcony."

    Lu Wei rushed to the balcony, brought the shoes in, and then ran back to the door, quickly put on the shoes, "Sister Yaoyao asked me to go out to play, I''m leaving."

    "Stop!" Lu Zhiqiao finally raised her head, "Where are you going to play?"

    "Her home."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s slightly frowned, her eyebrows loosened, and said lightly, "You must go home before seven o''clock."

    "I know, I know, so naggy ." Lu Wei waved her hand, opened the door, and rushed out like a gust of wind.

    --boom

    The door closed behind her, and she immediately took out the elderly phone and sent a text message to Qi Yan:

    [Mom is doing well today.]

 CH 87

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    A gust of hot wind blew from the corridor, blowing the little girl''s loose hair. She stared at the words "sent successfully" on the screen of the elderly phone, sighed, and put it into her bag.

    A few days ago, she called Teacher Qi to find out that Teacher Qi had resigned and would never teach her again. She couldn''t remember how long it had been since the door of 902 was opened, but she just felt sad and disappointed that Teacher Qi is missing in her life.

    Teacher Qi is really nice.

    She took her to the hospital, favored her, caught dolls with her, comforted her, coaxed her, protected her, took many beautiful photos for her, cooked delicious meals for her, and taught her to bake small cakes...

    There are many, many things that even her mom has never done.

    Teacher Qi is like a mother, sometimes even gentler and more careful than her mother. Because of Teacher Qi, she understands how great it feels to be pampered.

    If mom is a hard shell that protects her, then Teacher Qi is the soft cotton that warms her.

    What a blessing to have two mothers.

    It''s a pity that her mom wasn''t able to live up to it. She argued with Teacher Qi, and lost her favor. She asked her mom but she didn''t say anything. She had no choice but to ask Teacher Qi directly.

    When she heard Teacher Qi say on the phone that she resigned, she was startled, thinking that Teacher Qi would never come back again, who knew...

    He he.

    Teacher Qi still cares about her mom very much, and asks her to report her mom''s status every day, and tell her in time if there are bad things¨Calthough she is shamefully a spy, but in order to get Teacher Qi back, it doesn''t matter!

    The elevator came up, opened the door, Lu Wei strode in, pressed the number, and a determined smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

    .¡­

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    It is very hot outside, as if the sun is on fire, making it difficult to open one''s eyes.

    Lu Wei walked out of the gate of the community, fine beads of sweat oozing from her forehead, and her loose hair was covered like a steamer, covering her neck and back with sweat.

    Not far from the door was the subway station. She took out a tissue from her bag and trotted in while wiping off her sweat.

    The coolness came head-on.

    The temperature has been too high in the past few days. Standing on the balcony of her home and looking at the bright sun outside, she wasn''t thinking about going out to play, she could only stay at home. But today it was Sister Yaoyao who asked her to go out to play, so it was different, forget about the scorching sun, even if she was stabbed, she would go out with a wooden plank on her head.

    Sister Yaoyao has delicious candies at home, as well as a lot of imported snacks, which are not sold in supermarkets. They are different from the imported snacks she has seen, and there are no Chinese labels on them.

    Anyway, they''re all delicious.

    Thinking of this, Lu Wei became more excited and quickened her pace.

    Yan Shuyao''s family lives in the airport area, not far from the airport. During the day and night, the sound of planes flying overhead can be often heard. When it is busy, it is lively, but it is also quite noisy.

    Lu Wei went there once before, only the two of them were at home, saying that it was her mother who was flying in the sky.

    This time, it is still the same.

    "Sister Yaoyao, you are so beautiful today~" Lu Wei exclaimed as soon as she entered the door.

    Yan Shuyao tied her hair in a bun and is wearing a black suspender dress. She was tall and had deep features. She didn''t look like a junior high school student at all. She blinked her dark blue eyes, stretched out her hand to pinch Lu Wei''s face, and smiled: "You sweet-talker."

    "That''s the truth."

    "Okay, okay, I love to hear you tell the truth." She pulled Lu Wei into the room.  All the snacks and candies at home were taken out and placed on the coffee table, all neatly arranged for Lu Wei to pick.

    "Rest for a while, eat something, and I''ll take you to have fun later."

    Yan Shuyao nudged her to the sofa and sat down, then turned and went into the kitchen, took Lu Wei''s favorite grape juice drink from the refrigerator, and stuffed it into her hand.

    The next second, she took it away again, unscrewed the cap and handed it back.

    "Thank you sister Yaoyao."

    Being hot and thirsty all the way, Lu Wei took a few sips of the drink, and the purple juice accidentally leaked out from the corner of her mouth. Before she had time to pick up a tissue, Yan Shuyao wiped it off for her with her hands, and then smiled helplessly: "You..."

    Embarrassing

    The little girl stuck out her tongue shyly.

    Yan Shuyao went to wash her hands, and after washing, the two of them sat on the sofa and ate some snacks, while blowing on the air conditioner.  When Lu Wei calmed down and cooled off, they set off together.

    She took Lu Wei to the airline where her mother works.

    Yan Shuyao made a phone call first, and the two stood at the door waiting. Lu Wei looked around curiously, and saw a small bus parked outside, and a few uncles and aunts in uniform got out of it¡ªno, some of them should be elder brothers and elder sisters.

    T/N: referring to the age

    Both aunts and elder sisters are beautiful!

    The uniform looks really nice, wearing stockings, and their legs looked thin and straight.

    Their makeup is also very good-looking, with big eyes and bright red lips.

    There is also a little brother who is tall and handsome, like a star.

    Lu Wei looked straight.

    "Lu Wei, what are you looking at?" Yan Shuyao shook her hand and followed her gaze.

    A flight crew passed in front of her.

    Hmph.

    Not as good-looking as her.

    When the receptionist came, Yan Shuyao took Lu Wei''s hand and said, "Let''s go."

    The sun is gradually sinking to the west, and the golden light on the horizon is glowing red.

    The air conditioner was turned on all afternoon, and the living room was cool and shady, but it was also dry and stuffy. Lu Zhiqiao turned off the air conditioner, got up and opened the sliding door of the balcony, and then opened the window to let in the fresh air from outside.

    The hot wind is warm and dry, and the summer heat has not disappeared.

    She turned and went back to the living room, looked at Wen Zilong who was sitting on the sofa with his head bowed in thought, the corners of her mouth curled up helplessly, and sighed: "Think about it, raising a child is not easy, especially if you adopt an older child with memories, you have to pay special attention to his mental health. As for me, thinking if I can provide Niu Niu food, clothing and other material things, is almost exhausting my strength, also if she is healthy¡­"

    The two have been picking for a long time, but they still haven''t finalized a suitable adoption candidate.

    The cost of raising a child is high now, unlike in the old days when you can just add a pair of chopsticks and a bowl. In addition to economic conditions, the guardian''s own factors are also very important. It is hard work to raise a healthy child who is related by blood, let alone a child with congenital diseases and no blood relationship.

    Once a decision is made, it is a matter of a lifetime.

    Wen Zilong didn''t come on a whim, he wanted to raise a daughter, and he wanted to raise his daughter according to the opposite life trajectory of his elder sister. No matter how hard his elder sister suffered before, he had to make up for the sweetness twice as much, and give himself a "daughter".

    Not only does he want to adopt one, but with his financial resources, he can raise many.

    He wants to teach his "daughters" to compete in society, boldly snatch the resources in the hands of men, and if there could be one less tragedy like her sister, it counts a win.

    It''s a pity that he is not old enough, and he has to wait a few years.

    If he hadn''t considered Lu Zhiqiao''s sexual orientation, he would have wanted to recognize Niu Niu as his goddaughter a long time ago. Watching Niu Niu grow up in the past few years, and seeing her like most girls, he always felt that something was missing.

    How can a daughter be raised as a little sheep that cannot be separated from her mother?

    "Zhiqiao, in fact, the relationship between people is like grasping sand. The tighter you grasp, the easier it is for the sand to leak out. Whether it''s between friends or between parents and children, you should loosen it appropriately and give each other some space.¡± Wen Zilong smiled and raised his head to look at her.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned: "You mean I control Niu Niu too tightly?"

    Wen Zilong nodded, took a sip of boiled water, "It''s not the problem of tight control, the problem lies in the wrong direction. I said last time that you have something on your mind and you are very depressed. That''s what I mean by taking Niu Niu too seriously."

    "Which mother doesn''t value her children? But there are many ways to value them, and you just chose the one that is troublesome and tiresome."

    His tone was soft and unhurried, but what he said was fatal.

    Lu Zhiqiao was so poked that her heart felt sour, and she couldn''t help but think of trivial things again, feeling a little depressed, and said sullenly, "You have never raised a child."

    "The bystander knows."

    "Oh."

    "Niu Niu is thirteen years old, and she still doesn''t know where her clothes and shoes are. It seems that you worry a lot in your daily life. That''s all, you don''t have to work hard." Wen Zilong teased.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyelids: "Then what do you think?"

    "Cultivate her sense of territory, and don''t shy away from letting her see the bad side of the world. At this age, most of the things in life can be done independently. Only when she encounters choices about the general direction of life, do you need to give her some advice and guidance. If you feed her food with your own hands, it is better to teach her how to cook, so that you can calm down, liberate yourself, and throw away the burden in your heart."

    "I also don''t want to see that you have no life of your own besides work and your child."

    A gust of hot wind came in, accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of cicadas, and the cold air in the room was quickly blown away.

    The little black goldfish flipped the sandstone at the bottom of the tank, spitting out strings of slender bubbles, and the other two golden and red ones were chasing and playing with each other, very happy.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared down at the photo frame on the table, lost in thought.

    That was taken when they went to climb Songshan Mountain this year. The mother and daughter are standing on the edge of a fenced cliff. Her daughter wanted to put on a "flying" pose, but she held her daughter''s waist tightly with one hand, for fear that she would fall.

    The fence is very high and tightly blocked, and standing next to it will not make them fall.

    Although her daughter smiled brightly in this photo, there was regret and unwillingness in her eyes. Instead, her hands became shackles, locking the child and herself.

    Subconsciously, she was always worried about this and that, and felt that life was full of dangers. The root cause was guilt and a sense of responsibility. The guilt for her brother and sister-in-law, the guilt for her daughter who has to go to and from school alone at a young age, plus the sense of responsibility in her heart when she took over this burden...

    After raising her daughter for so many years, the proportion of guilt and responsibility in her heart is far greater than love.

    On the contrary, Qi Yan loves her daughter more.

    Her heart became hazy, as if it had been cut open, the turbid things inside flowed out, and a ray of light came in again...

    "It is not something that can be changed, it has been more than ten years." Lu Zhiqiao sighed, picking up the photo album and holding it in her arms.

    Wen Zilong raised his eyebrows and said, "It''s not too late. Otherwise, when Niu Niu goes to college, you might have to retire early and dance square dance at home.

    *implying she''s going to have to take care of a grandchild.

    ¡ª¡ª dong

    Lu Zhiqiao stepped on him angrily.

    "Just kidding." Wen Zilong clasped his hands together and begged for mercy, "What you said is also reasonable. I''ll wait a few more years until I''m old enough to raise a healthy daughter...no, seven, seven fairies."

    "Then you just wait for the Seven Fairies to make trouble in the Heavenly Court." Lu Zhiqiao glared at him.

    "Hahaha."

    ¡­.

    After sending Wen Zilong away, the sun gradually sank into the horizon, and the sky was slightly dark.

    Lu Zhiqiao tidied up the room for her daughter, sorted the clothes in the closet, and put other items in order. It took half an hour to clean it up. As she walked out of the second bedroom, the door of the living room opened and she saw her daughter come in humming.

    "You''re back." She glanced at the wall clock, it was half past six, "Not bad, very punctual."

    Lu Wei shook her head triumphantly, changed her shoes, and ran back to the room with a small blue bag.

    One second, two seconds, three seconds...

    "Mom--"

    Lu Zhiqiao was about to enter the kitchen, and was stunned.

    "Why are you messing with things in my room again? You even rummaged through my closet!" The little girl rushed out, pointing at her room and complaining.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her daughter''s puffed face and was a little surprised, but she quickly realized that she frowned and said, "I cleaned it for you. There are hairs all over the floor. It''s so dirty. Also, you can clean the room by yourself in the future. Fold the clothes by yourself, mom doesn''t care."

    I hope you don''t care~"Lu Wei shrugged and turned back to the room.

    "..."

    This kid?

    During dinner, Lu Zhiqiao answered a few work calls and talked about the inspection of the African branch for nearly ten minutes. Lu Wei was listening and secretly wrote it down.

    When she hung up, the little girl pretended to be curious and asked, "Mom, you''re going to Africa to play?"

    "Business trip, not fun."

    "When?"

    "By the end of the month."

    "Which country are you going to?"

    "Gabon*." Lu Zhiqiao took a mouthful of vegetables, chewing slowly.  She thought her daughter wanted to go, so she refused directly, "I can''t take you there."

    *original text used is Jialong (¼ÓÂ¡) which translates to Gallon, Gallen, Garonne, Cologne. Garrone is a river, Cologne is in Germany (I used this when it was first mentioned at chapter 79, I edited it now), but since it was mentioned that the business trip is in Africa, even Cologne is invalid. Meanwhile there are two African countries that starts with Jia: ¼ÓÄÉ (Jiana)- Ghana and ¼ÓÅî (Jiapeng) - Gabon. I chose to use the latter because they kinda sound the same. I might be wrong though so take this with a grain of salt. China is the leading trading partner in both countries.

    "Oh."

    Lu Wei responded in a low voice, not caring, she picked up a piece of eggplant for herself, and said to herself, "I miss Teacher Qi."

    "..." Lu Zhiqiao froze with her chopsticks.

    She picked up a piece of eggplant like a ghost, put it into her mouth, and chewed slowly, the tip of her tongue was full of fragrance. She changed the topic: "Did you cause any trouble at your senior''s house this afternoon?"

    "No." Lu Wei curled her lips, rolled her eyes, and immediately smiled again, "Sister Yaoyao took me to play a flight simulator. It looks like a rice cooker, and sitting in it is like flying a plane. It can take off and land and turn.¡±

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed absently.

    She picked up her phone, avoided her daughter''s eyes, clicked on WeChat, and poked into Moments with the head of the orange cat. The latest news in it still showed a week ago.

    It''s like evaporating.

    Yan Yan mentioned her travel plan that night, and set off as soon as she returned from work. It has been more than a week now. She doesn''t know if Yan Yan has set off and where she went. Normally, she would take a lot of photos during the trip, but there is no splash in her Moments.

    She doesn''t bother, nor is she in a hurry, she just misses her very much.

    "I miss her too." She said softly, raised her eyes, and smiled at her daughter.

    Lu Wei was stunned.

    At noon, the weather was clear, and the sound of whales came from the bay.

    On the open-air balcony of Serenity Hotel, a woman in a black woolen coat was holding the camera to take pictures of the beach not far away. She stood in front of the tripod, squinted slightly, staring at the sea in the lens, and took more than ten pictures in succession.

    After shooting, she screened out two or three satisfactory ones, and deleted all the rest.

    This is South Africa, a small town called Hermanus. Every year from May to November, groups of Right Whales swim to the nearby bay to mate and breed. The whale calls can be heard in the small town.

    Qi Yan arrived in South Africa in four days, went to the Koglu National Park and the Cape of Good Hope, saw elephants, lions, giraffes and penguins, and took many photos. She just arrived in this town yesterday afternoon and stayed for one night. She plans to go to Johannesburg this afternoon.

    In the past, she only thought of Africa as "dirty and messy". After visiting in person, her impression has changed. At least the scenery in South Africa is very good. Outside the urban areas, you can take pictures from any angle.

    Although she came out to relax, many emotions in her heart did not dissipate, but became more intense.

    For instance, longing.

    Her daughter reported Lu Zhiqiao''s situation to her everyday.

    In addition to work, that person has started to enrich her spare time life, keeping fit, making snacks, and letting her daughter teach her piano... It seems that she can live well without her.

    She didn''t know what she was obsessed with.

    Qi Yan picked up her coffee in hand and took a sip when the phone on the table rang suddenly. She put down the cup and took it to look at it.

    It''s her daughter.

    [Mom said she misses you.]

    She squeezed the phone tightly and her slender eyelashes drooped. After a while, she typed a reply:

    [Take care of mom.]

 CH 88

    After she sent the text message, Qi Yan held the phone for a long time without moving, her eyes gradually fogged up.

    As the saying goes, the more you love, the easier it is to be hurt. The words of the argument that day often linger in her ears. Even when she comes to the true "ends of the earth", she always inadvertently thinks of it. Every time she thinks about it, her heart hurts once more

    But she knew that she had already forgiven Lu Zhiqiao.

    This lingering feeling might just be sulking, maybe a fuss because of not being able to eat candy, maybe it is still feeling that something is missing, but no matter what, they will eventually come to each other.

    It''s just that she didn''t expect that at this juncture, she would be cowardly - a word that had never appeared in the dictionary of her life repeatedly hit her heart.

    Because of fear and cowardice, she didn''t dare to step forward, even if Lu Zhiqiao walked towards her, she couldn''t help but want to back away.

    Is this really her?

    She used to flirt with women unscrupulously in bars, she who boldly flirted with Lu Zhiqiao, and she who "played like a hooligan" all the time, all disappeared one by one. Like peeling off the skin of the camouflage, layer upon layer, finally revealing the one hidden inside.

    Just like the way Lu Zhiqiao said "I like you" with her own mouth that day, but she also talked about a lot of her shortcomings, and resisted to retreat. She was finally able to understand that feeling.

    This time she came out to relax, because she wanted to get back the feeling of fearlessness she used to have. She can accept that she has a cowardly side, but she can''t allow herself to be so cowardly.

    The fog in her eyes cleared.

    Qi Yan saw the blue sky, white houses, secluded paths, groups of penguins on the beach, and whales jumping out of the water in the bay to take a breath, and her vision gradually became clearer.

    She took a long breath, picked up the coffee and drank it, got up to pack the camera and luggage, and prepared to go to the next city.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    In July and August, it is winter in South Africa, and the average temperature of more than ten degrees is not too cold.

    The sky is as blue as an oil painting, rare, clean and pure, and the air is transparent. Walking in the suburbs, you can see groups of zebras walking leisurely.

    At around 3 pm, Qi Yan arrived in Johannesburg. Due to frequent incidents of mugging and robbery, it was not safe to walk alone, so she rented an old van instead.

    The owner of the car rental shop is a Chinese, middle-aged uncle, who seems to be very enthusiastic, and chats with her everywhere. Qi Yan was in a foreign country before, whether she was studying or traveling, and she was often tricked by her compatriots, so she was vigilant, carefully reading the contract when going through the formalities, and secretly recording the procedures.

    Fortunately for her, nothing happened and she was able to rent a car without any problems.

    "Little girl, don''t reveal your money when you go to the city center, don''t open the car window, it''s better to find someone to go with you." Before leaving, the boss kindly reminded her.

    Qi Yan was looking at the map on her mobile phone, and was taken aback when she heard the sound: "Okay, thank you."

    She heard that the law and order in South Africa is not very good, but even the car windows cannot be opened...that is a bit exaggerated. She was flustered, and decided to listen to the boss and drive carefully.

    The traffic regulations here are to drive on the left side, and the driver''s seat is on the right. Qi Yan is used to driving domestic cars, so she is not used to it. She doesn''t dare drive too fast and just takes her time and enjoys the city scenery along the way.

    Most of the buildings in the urban area are bungalows and small high-rise buildings. There are almost no skyscrapers. The houses are mainly in blue and white. Some houses have a strong African primitive style, with various decorations and bright colors.  The road is clean, not congested, and there are fewer pedestrians. Generally speaking, it is relatively modern, breaking Qi Yan''s previous original impression.

    All the way was calm.

    The hotel Qi Yan booked was very close to the city center. Following the navigation, it showed that there were still more than 200 meters away, and it was just around the corner at the intersection ahead.

    The car stopped and waited for a red light. She unscrewed the bottle to drink water, and suddenly saw a few black men walking by the side of the road, holding a gun, and knocked on the window of the car in front.

    The car in front did not respond, and the black man who knocked on the window showed an impatient expression on his face. He picked up the gun and slammed it hard, and the window cracked with a "slap", and then slammed it twice again, and the window was completely shattered. He pointed the gun at the people in the car and growled something inaudible.

    Qi Yan gasped, her eyes widened, her hands shook, the mineral water bottle fell on her lap, the water spilled all over her pants, and the coolness penetrated the fabric and rushed to the back of her head.

    A trembling hand stretched out from the broken window, holding a large amount of cash and two mobile phones, and another black man with a gun quickly snatched them away and glanced back.

    Qi Yan''s heart beat violently, and her hairs stood on end. Just at this time, the green light came on, she immediately started the car, turned the steering wheel violently, stepped on the accelerator, and ran out of the intersection in front of the car going straight. The car coming from the opposite side almost hit her.

    Her palms were sweaty and slippery, she grasped the steering wheel with both hands, slowed down and turned, regardless of whether she violated the traffic regulations, and drove towards the hotel.

    Arriving safely at the hotel, she parked the car, and proceeded to check-in.

    Qi Yan entered the room with her luggage, collapsed on the bed, stared at the ceiling, panting heavily.

    She used to study in Canada, and shootings happened every month.

    Her family bought her a house in a wealthy suburb and provided her with a car. She goes to class during the day, goes shopping when she has nothing to do, and doesn''t go out at night. She usually makes appointments with a few friends. She is a very low-key and well-behaved "good baby", living a safe and comfortable life.

    She thought that South Africa''s so-called "bad security" was just like in North America, it is dangerous in big cities at night, and there is a high probability of avoiding being killed if you don''t go out after nine o''clock. Unexpectedly, here, in broad daylight, there are people holding guns and smashing windows, robbing, arrogant and unscrupulous.

    If the thick-backed black uncle pointed an AK at her forehead¡­

    That was a real gun.

    She will never see her parents, Qiao Qiao and her daughter again.

    Qi Yan closed her eyes, lay down for a while and got up, she was covered in sweat, her pants were wet and very uncomfortable, so she got up to take a shower and changed her clothes.After a short rest, she calmed down and walked around the room.

    Pushing open the balcony window, downstairs is a wide and straight street, with low-rise trees planted on both sides of the road, low and flat shop buildings, restaurants, small bars, supermarkets... Behind are scattered high and low residential buildings.

    There are not many pedestrians on the street, there are Muslim women in turbans and black robes, old white men in jackets and backpacks, and a few Asian faces. A stray dog curled up in a corner, gnawing on a dirty bone, and a brightly colored South African flag hung on the second floor of the street corner.

    Looking up, the sky is blue and the sun is shining brightly.

    It was what she imagined.

    Qi Yan picked up the camera and took a photo. She was a little hungry, so she used her phone to search for Chinese restaurants and was going to eat.

    There is a shop about 20 meters away from the hotel. She stared at her baby camera and felt that it was not safe to put it in the room, so she simply put it in her bag and carried it on her back, and came back immediately after eating.

    She went downstairs, turned left and went straight.

    Qi Yan raised her head slightly, put one hand on her bag, and glanced at the name of the shop on the street.

    Suddenly, a black guy rushed over and grabbed her bag violently. She was stunned, subconsciously protected the bag, staggered, and instinctively shouted in her mother tongue: "It''s a robbery!!!"

    Scattered passers-by on the street looked her way at the same time, but they all quickened their pace and ran away in a hurry.

    The black guy was full of force, and Qi Yan''s neck was hurt by the strap of the backpack. She was eager to protect the camera, but she didn''t let go of the bag, and while shouting, she bent her knees and pressed against his crotch hard. Hearing this person''s "Aow", but he didn''t let go, he took out a knife from nowhere and stabbed at her.

    Before Qi Yan could react, she saw two Asian-faced men rushing over, throwing the black guy to the ground, causing her to spin and fall down.

    ¡ª¡ª boom

    Her elbow hit the concrete floor hard, numb.

    The backpack was also knocked, Qi Yan didn''t care about the pain in her arm, she quickly put the backpack in her arms, and when she turned her head, the three of them wrestled into a ball, and the knife fell to the ground with a clang.

    The black guy was outnumbered, struggled to break away from the other two while entangled, and ran away with his head in his arms.

    "Run fucker! Coward!" One of the men broke out a sentence of national curse.

    This proficient Chinese!

    Fellow!

    Qi Yan got up gasping for breath, beads of sweat slid from her forehead to her neck and the two fellow villagers came over and looked her up and down: "Are you okay?She shook her head and whispered, "Thank you."

    "There are a lot of looters here. It''s best not to carry a big bag when you come out, it''s easy to be targeted."

    "...okay."

    Qi Yan nodded in panic, thanked them again, turned and walked towards the hotel.

    After this incident, how could she still be in the mood to eat? She hurried back to the room, threw herself into the bathroom, took a shower, and collapsed on the bed.

    Within half a day of coming here, she encountered two robbery accidents, witnessed both with her own eyes, and happened to herself at the same time, she was really unlucky.

    Although she was fine, she was quite frightened. Qi Yan collapsed on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. She didn¡¯t eat anything from sunset to late at night, and her bones seemed to be weak to move, not to mention she''s sleepy.

    At midnight, she sat up, drank some water, picked up her mobile phone and checked WeChat.

    Her parents asked her if she had a good time and if she had eaten.

    She sent two photos taken with her mobile phone.

    It''s morning in China now.

    An unfamiliar profile picture was displayed at the top of Moments. She glanced at it, clicked in, and saw that the name was "Qiao Qiao". She was startled, and suddenly realized that the profile picture had been changed.

    A cute black Shiba Inu.

    Half an hour ago, Lu Zhiqiao posted a selfie in a nightgown, only showing half of her face.

    Soft white and small earlobes, slightly red cheeks, black hair hanging down into the clavicle socket, vaguely lustful, arousing people''s daydream.

    Qi Yan stared at it for a moment, the corners of her eyes turned slightly wet, she swiped two fingers to zoom in on the photo, moved her lips closer, and kissed the screen lightly¡­

    At the end of the month, Jiangcheng, which was continuously hot, ushered in a heavy rain.

    The sky was gray, and the lightning pierced through the clouds like cracks. There were bursts of thunder, and the bean-sized raindrops fell down, flooding the entire city like a flood.

    A cool wind blows, and the air is dull.

    The living room was a bit messy, and there was an oversized suitcase on the floor, which contained most of the clothes, and there was still room left. A youth idol drama was playing on the TV. The hero and heroine were young and attractive, and the little girl sat on the sofa and watched it with gusto.

    Lu Zhiqiao came out of the bedroom, put the toiletry bag in the suitcase in her hand, looked up at her daughter, and said, "Baby, mom will leave later, you are not allowed to run around at home alone, and you must pay attention to electricity and gas. Do you understand?"

    "I know." Lu Wei waved her hand, her eyes still fixed on the TV.

    The male and female protagonists kissed.

    They were inseparable.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at the screen, blushed, subconsciously wanted to change the channel with the remote control, stretched out her hand, paused, suddenly remembered the decision she had made in the past few days, hesitated for a moment, and then retracted.

    The more things are hidden, the more curious the child is. Nowadays, there are many scenes of kissing and hugging in TV dramas. She is used to it, and not making a fuss is tantamount to letting herself go.

    She wants to try to let go of her hands little by little, and let her daughter experience the world by herself.

    After giving up her thoughts, Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head and continued to pack her suitcase. Due to frequent business trips, she was proficient and neat at packing, and she packed them up in less than half an hour. She put the suitcases upright and went into the kitchen.

    There are vegetables in the refrigerator, including meat, vegetables, and quick-frozen food. She deliberately bought only three days'' worth of food, and when she didn''t have enough, she asked her daughter to go downstairs to the supermarket to buy vegetables.

    She taught her daughter how to fry simple dishes. If she really doesn¡¯t know how to cook them, she can cook them in a pot, or fry them on a barbecue plate and eat them with some seasonings. No matter how bad it is, there is still a takeaway, in short, this is a life test.

    This business trip will last a week, not too long or too short, and it is impossible to be completely at ease. She told Wen Zilong to come over every two days to have a look, and also told her daughter to call Uncle Wen if there was anything wrong.

    The little fool was so happy to be home alone and doing whatever she wanted to do that she started urging her to go the night before.

    Children are children after all.

    After checking the water, electricity and gas, Lu Zhiqiao walked around the house, looked around the corners, and then came out with her daughter''s smart phone, "Girl, I''ll give you your phone. Take pictures of what you eat every day and send it to me."

    "Oh, I got it, I got it, so naggy." Lu Wei grabbed the phone without raising her eyes.

    Looking at her daughter''s impatient little face, Lu Zhiqiao sighed helplessly, feeling sad.

    Being a mother is always annoying.

    The rain outside is gradually decreasing, the sky is slightly brighter, and the thunder is getting weaker and weaker. After a while, the rain stopped.

    Lu Zhiqiao stepped out of the house.

    When her mom walked forward, Lu Wei jumped up from the sofa, hurriedly inserted her phone card in the elderly phone into the smartphone, charged it, turned it on, took a photo of the dining table, and sent it to Qi Yan.

    [Teacher Qi]

    [My mom put your photo into a photo frame and put it on the dining table, look~]

    ¡­.

    This trip to Gabon in Africa, included Lu Zhiqiao, a technical director, and six managers, a total of 50 people. The team set off from Jiangcheng, transited through Dubai, and flew to Libreville, the capital of Gabon.

    At noon local time, a group of people arrived at the airport, and the branch department sent a bus to pick them up. The battle was quite grand.

    Gabon is located in the west of Africa, close to the equator, and has a hot and humid climate all year round. It is considered a relatively wealthy country in Africa.

    From the airport, the scenery along the way is picturesque, the sky is as blue as a precision-cut sapphire, the clouds are like cotton wool, surrounded by low hills, and occasionally, gorals and deer grazing leisurely can be seen. Gradually entering the urban area, there are more and more cars and people, and the blue and white bungalows on both sides of the street are full of exotic customs.

    The bus stopped at the intersection, and Lu Zhiqiao looked out of the window.

    A small car passed by on the side road, the window was half open, and a slightly familiar face passed by her eyes.

 CH 89

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    There was a green light in front of the straight road, unimpeded, the silver-gray car was not fast, and a woman''s profile was exposed through the half-open window, which looked vaguely familiar.

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, and a figure appeared in her mind. She held on to the window to see more clearly, but the car had already driven away and gradually disappeared from her sight.

    The person in the car is very similar to Yan Yan.

    Asian woman face. Side profile, straight nose, black hair, fair skin¡­

    There are a lot of Chinese in Gabon, some are sent to work, some are doing business, and some are settled, men and women. If you look at the profile of any Chinese woman, you will probably see these same features.

    The world is big and there are not so many coincidences.

    She must be dizzy, she thought in her heart, mistaking an Asian woman for Qi Yan.

    When the green light came on, the bus turned slowly to the left, facing the straight road, and the silver car had long since disappeared.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked away and stopped thinking about it.

    A small silver-gray car sped on the straight and wide road. There was melodious and soothing pure music in the car, as thin as running water, but the sound came from the mobile phone.

    The resort ahead was getting closer and closer, Qi Yan slowed down, reached out to turn off the music, turned a corner, and slowly drove into the gate of the resort.

    She parked the car, opened the door, carried her things, locked the car and went upstairs.

    She just arrived in Gabon yesterday, and didn''t go anywhere. She slept in the hotel for a day and a night, and she didn''t get up until late in the day. She was refreshed and very comfortable.  Drive a rented car, go out to buy some ingredients, cook a Chinese meal to comfort her stomach.

    She left South Africa a week ago and headed north through Zimbabwe, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She came to Gabon and planned to stay here for a few days to see the largest baobab forest in Africa and take some photos back home.

    With the lessons learned in South Africa, she went out as low-key as possible, bought two floral gowns worn by local women, wrapped her headscarves, dressed herself plainly, brought only a small amount of cash, and drove whenever she could.

    Although the journey was hard, she didn''t meet any robbers again. While walking, playing and taking pictures of the scenery, she felt comfortable and gained a lot.

    During this period, she bravely went to the slums, and without getting close, she drove by the side and forgot to take a few glances. She saw black children in ragged clothes squatting by the garbage dump to pick up food. Out of fear, she didn''t stay long, just took a few photos in a hurry and left.

    Halfway through the journey, she got her wish and took pictures of the scenery she had been longing for, and gained a great sense of satisfaction. In comparison, the experience of being robbed in South Africa is not worth mentioning.

    She chatted with Chi Nian on Wechat.

    [It''s a pity you didn''t come]

    [It''s your loss]

    [Sinister smile]

    Chi Nian sent three "angry" emoticons in a row.

    [Wait for me to unload, take me there again]

    [Ok]

    Climbing to the third floor, Qi Yan put away her mobile phone, and when she looked up, she saw a mess at the end of the corridor. She paused, walked forward, and saw a tall and thin boy fall out in embarrassment.

    Two pillows flew out of the room and landed on his face with precision, and he quickly reached out to catch them.

    --boom

    The door slammed shut.

    It''s next to the room where Qi Yan stays.

    Qi Yan stopped at the door of the room, while the boy gave her an embarrassed smile, she also curled up her mouth, nodded her understanding, and turned to enter the room.

    This resort is the best hotel in Gallon, with apartment-style suites. Qi Yan booked it early when she was in South Africa, so that she could fully rest once she arrived here, to recharge her energy and continue to go north. From yesterday to now, she is quite satisfied. The only unfortunate thing is that the next door is a bit noisy.

    There was a young Caucasian couple living next door. When she moved in yesterday, it was the same scene as today. The girl kept throwing things outside, and the boy picked them up while picking them up, he will be locked outside the room.

    At that time, the boy apologized to her and explained that her girlfriend was in a bad mood, and he would quickly comfort her and try not to affect other residents.

    Qi Yan didn''t mind.

    It''s normal for couples to fight, just hug and coax them. Besides, the boy is quite good-looking, blond and blue-eyed, sunny and handsome, with a good attitude and politeness. Who has the heart to shame such a person?  she thought.

    Then she woke up from her nap and heard the door next door open and the sound of very soft whispers coming from it and thought: Mm, they made up.

    In the middle of the night, she was sleeping in a daze, and was awakened by the movement in the corridor. After hearing a few words, the girl next door seemed to be losing her temper, throwing things out, speaking intermittently, and was inarticulate. Then she heard crying, and protests from other room occupants.

    She even heard the familiar Chinese.

    The world is a big place, and compatriots are everywhere.

    It didn''t take long before the commotion stopped. She heard the boy apologize to the occupants who came out to complain, and then fell asleep again in a daze.

    As the saying goes, never do things more than three times, when she woke up, she thought that if the next door gets noisy again, she would change the room. But it was the peak tourist season after all, and the hotel might not have any extra rooms for her to change, so she prayed in her heart that the young couple would stop causing trouble.

    God did not hear her prayers...

    Qi Yan closed the door and sighed.  She is easy to talk to most of the time, but when her own rights are violated, she is not a soft persimmon that is easy to pinch.

    She will complain to the hotel later.

    Due to the limited ingredients and kitchen utensils, Qi Yan made three dishes and one soup, and watched a documentary on the origin of human beings while eating.

    After eating, she packed the tableware, called the front desk to explain the situation, and was going to go down.

    The room was near the end of the corridor, and as soon as Qi Yan opened the door, she saw the boy standing on the balcony, with his hands propped up on the railing, his head drooping slightly, his tall and thin back looking a bit lonely.

    The sun fell on his shoulders, and the hot wind from the field blew over. He remained motionless, his broad shoulders showing a bit of firmness.

    Qi Yan was stunned and narrowed her eyes slightly.

    His girlfriend acted like that, he got kicked out three times in two days, and still managed to be so calm. She has to say that this little brother has a really good temper. She thought again.

    If it were her, they would break up on the spot!

    Qi Yan was inexplicably sympathetic to the little brother, walked over with her reckless legs l, tilted her head, and whispered: "Hi, are you okay?"

    Hearing the sound, the little brother turned around, froze, and smiled at her. His blue eyes were as pure as gemstones, and he apologized: "I''m really sorry for disturbing you, I''m sorry."

    His tone is sincere, his smile is gentle and kind, and he has a face like a little fresh meat in an American TV series, which makes people unable to lose their temper.

    "Uh, it''s okay." Qi Yan smiled friendly, and pointed to the door next door, "Is your girlfriend okay?"

    The little brother was startled, with a look of loneliness in his eyes, and then smiled and said: "She''s suffering from bipolar disorder. We have encountered bad things recently, and she is not emotionally stable." Thinking of something, he added: "We will leave here in the afternoon and go back home, I am very sorry."

    The term was somewhat familiar, and Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, then realized that it was bipolar disorder, and was momentarily at a loss for words.

    When she was studying in Canada, she had a Japanese classmate who was suffering from bipolar disorder. She was often hyperactive and happy for a while, and depressed and negative the other time. She needed to take medicine to control it. Her classmate''s boyfriend complained to everyone in private many times, and they finally broke up.

    Because she didn''t understand and the matter had nothing to do with him, Qi Yan felt sympathetic to the man at that time.

    Later, when she returned to China to teach, she witnessed a student in her class drop out of school due to bipolar disorder, so she began to understand this aspect. At that time, she thought about what she should do if someone around her suffered from a similar disease in the future.

    She suddenly sympathized with the little brother''s girlfriend again.

    "I''m sorry, I want to ask, don''t you feel irritable when your girlfriend is sick? It''s like yesterday and today..." Qi Yan choked and closed her mouth, feeling that it was too presumptuous and impolite for her to ask such a question.

    It''s none of her business, what''s the point of gossiping.

    He has a girlfriend, but she doesn''t have one yet, so why worry about others. Qi Yan thought.

    The little brother was not angry because of her blunt words, but thought for a moment, then nodded seriously: "Yes, I think it''s just normal." After speaking, he raised his eyes to look at the vast wilderness, his blue eyes lighted up slightly, the corners of his mouth rose gently, "But I love her, and I accept everything about her."

    Qi Yan frowned, followed his gaze, and saw two deer walking leisurely in the field.

    "Aren''t you afraid? Once your patience reaches the bottom line?"

    "I''m mentally prepared, I will accompany her." The little brother shook his head.

    Suddenly, a subtle feeling flashed through Qi Yan''s heart, and it disappeared before she could grasp it. She instinctively wanted to dig deeper into this question, so she continued: "You can give her company, but if she can''t give you happiness, you can just give up..."

    Halfway through her speech, her face changed slightly, wishing she could bite her own tongue.

    She sounds like a person trying to sow discord and seduce someone.

    But don''t get her wrong.

    "I''m sorry, this is your privacy, I crossed the line, I''m sorry." Qi Yan looked at him, smiled awkwardly, and turned to leave.

    The little brother was still staring at the wilderness, the smile on the corner of his mouth deepened, as if he was talking to himself: "I am very happy when I see her, and I am even happier when I see her getting better gradually, but I can''t demand other people to feel the same....I''m really sorry, let me apologize to you and all the guests on her behalf." He finished and turned around.

    Qi Yan had already walked to the door of the room, she stopped when she heard the sound, turned around, and met the little brother''s apologetic gaze.

    His eyes are clear and clean, just like the sky on the prairie.

    "It''s okay." Qi Yan smiled, "I hope you are happy."

    She was about to walk towards the stairwell, so she turned around, stretched out her hand and pushed open the door of her room, and entered.

    The landline in the room rang, and it was the front desk staff who called, telling them that there was no room available to change, and asked if she needed someone to come and talk to the guest next door.

    Qi Yan had already given up the idea, and quietly said no, and hung up the phone.

    She lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, melancholy suddenly surging in her heart, inexplicable, like a ball of cotton stuck to her chest.

    She suddenly thought of Lu Zhiqiao.

    When she first saw that document, it is no exaggeration to say that for a moment she classified Lu Zhiqiao into the category of "mentally ill". She thought that she was not the "Holy Mother" and had no confidence in saving those who were in shackles. Instead of leaving because of losing patience in the future, it is better to sever contact now. She was hesitant because it wasn''t that easy for her.

    Especially when she saw that Lu Zhiqiao took the initiative to keep her and confide everything to her, it was even more difficult for her to make a choice.

    Thinking about it now, it was just cowardice.

    Ms. Lin is right. Whether two people are compatible and whether they have a future can only be known after getting together.

    Even if the current problems are solved, new problems may arise in the future once they are together, and this is the meaning grinding. This is a necessary stage for a relationship. She is so brave, how could she be afraid.

    She loves Lu Zhiqiao, she is happy seeing her, so she can accept everything about her, and she is willing to accompany her to slowly get better.

    The phone rang.

    Qi Yan suddenly came back to her senses, took it over to read, it was a WeChat message sent by her daughter.

    [Mom went to Africa on a business trip yesterday]

    She stared at the words on the screen, froze for a moment, then sat up and typed: [Which country?]

    Her daughter replied in seconds: [I checked, the full name is Gabon Republic]

    "!!!"

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    As far as China''s electronic products are concerned, Africa is a huge market, and its potential cannot be underestimated. Over the years, the company has always attached great importance to the African market. From expanding business through local buyers to setting up branches in several major countries, the cake has been made big enough.

    Lu Zhiqiao came here this time to inspect the performance of the branch company and plan the projects for the second half of the year, and to participate in the China-Africa Trade Exhibition. There are so many things to do, so their itinerary is very tight.

    At noon on the day when they arrived in Gabon, Mr. Zhang from the branch welcomed the team and invited everyone to the special seafood feast there. It was very lively and grand. In the afternoon, Lu Zhiqiao had a small meeting with the management to check the performance report, and was busy until night.

    On the second day, they held a project planning meeting, on the third day, they went to various stores in the morning, and in the afternoon, they went to visit the factory in the small border town of Tasang, and on the fourth day, they prepared for the trade show¡­

    Near the equator, the temperature is high all year round, the climate is hot and humid, and the air is stuffy and humid.

    Sitting in the car heading to the border of Tasang, Lu Zhiqiao felt a bit drowsy. She had been overloaded for the past two days and was exhausted. Due to not adapting to the climate here, she had a red rash on her body, itching but not daring to scratch, which was very difficult to endure.

    Sitting beside her is Mr. Zhang, followed by the technical director who came with her, two managers, and several employees of the branch.

    All the big men in the car, she is the only woman.

    She suppressed her drowsiness and looked at the scenery outside the window.

    From the urban area to the suburbs, from the city to the wilderness, the car drove on this road built with Chinese aid, and it took about one and a half hours to reach the destination.

    Tasang is a small city on the border of Gabon. Many Chinese companies have factories here. In the suburbs, rows of reinforced concrete factories can be seen, which are quite magnificent.

    But at the same time, this place is not peaceful. Civilian armed forces roam around the border all year round, playing hide-and-seek with government forces, fighting guerrillas, and creating small disturbances from time to time, so the city is sparsely populated.

    After getting out of the car, Lu Zhiqiao followed Mr. Zhang to visit the factory.

    Three large workshops and seven production lines.

    "Vice-president Lu, this is..."

    --boom!

    There was a loud noise, and the ground under her feet suddenly shook, like an earthquake. Mr. Zhang, who hadn''t finished speaking, was taken aback. He raised his eyes and looked around. Lu Zhiqiao leaned on the wall and frowned: "What''s going on, is there an earthquake?"

    "Return immediately, get in the car first." Mr. Zhang reacted quickly, made a gesture, and took out his mobile phone to make a call.

    Lu Zhiqiao was a little dazed, her legs moved instinctively, and she retreated surrounded by everyone.

    At that moment, her mind went blank.

    The passenger car parked outside the factory and waited. Lu Zhiqiao withdrew from the crowd, looked around blankly, and suddenly caught a glimpse of a woman with a camera running towards her...

 CH 90

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    Qi Yan gasped for breath and was suddenly pushed to sit down. A thin arm wrapped around her waist, so strong that it seemed to want to cut her off.

    A whisper came from her ear, and she was stunned, suddenly thinking that she was hallucinating.

    She turned her stiff neck, turned her head, and saw a pair of deep, dark eyes staring at her. Her heart jumped violently, and she looked down at the hands around her waist, thin and white, with faint blue veins floating on the back of the hands.

    At this moment, she finally came to her senses.

    It''s Lu Zhiqiao.

    When Qi Yan received the news from her daughter that day, Qi Yan couldn''t believe it. Her first reaction was that it was just like the last show, Lu Zhiqiao used her work to chase after her. But she quickly rejected the thought. She only told her daughter about her itinerary, and told her to keep it secret. She believed that the child would not leak it out.

    Besides, she went to several countries, and the plan is for a month. No matter how clever Lu Zhiqiao is, she can''t guess where she will be.

    She believes it''s fate, and the person she misses the most will always come to her side.

    She spent two days in the capital, without looking for anyone. She walked on the streets and in the alleys, wandering around, taking pictures of local customs and traditions, and wanted to see if the two could meet by chance. But after two days, she didn''t even see a similar shadow.

    Later, she suppressed her impulse, thinking that she was here for vacation, and it would be a pleasant surprise to meet by chance, so she didn''t insist on encountering her.

    So this morning, she drove to the border of Tasang to see the largest baobab forest in Africa, and took dozens of photos. However, the car broke down on the way back, the surrounding area was deserted, and her phone signal was not good. She vaguely saw a factory building here, so she decided to come over and find someone to help repair the car.

    The factory looked close, but it was actually far away. She walked and ran for half an hour to get here, and then heard a loud noise, and she was almost scared to death.

    Seeing Lu Zhiqiao from a distance, she thought it was a hallucination, but when she got closer to see clearly, she heard the man who called "Vice President Lu" report the situation just now. She immediately gave up the idea of ??finding someone to repair the car, and simply hitchhiked away.

    Fortunately, she met Qiao Qiao, otherwise these people would not have taken her with them

    Qiao Qiao said she would not leave her behind.

    Qi Yan''s nose turned a little sore, and her eyes were filled with moisture. She didn''t want to be seen in a mess, so she turned her face away and lowered her eyes.

    There were a lot of people outside, and the black employees rushed out in panic, but some of them ran halfway, yelled a few words, and turned back.

    The loud noise suddenly disappeared.

    The sky was as blue as washed by water, the sun became hotter and fiercer, and the birds flutter their wings across the treetops. It was a calm and peaceful scene, as if nothing had happened.

    Mr. Zhang came up last. He sat down next to Lu Zhiqiao and asked the driver to drive. Then he turned his head and looked at the strange woman sitting on Lu Zhiqiao''s lap, and was stunned for a while: "Ms. Lu..."

    "My friend." Lu Zhiqiao said lightly, loosening her arms slightly.

    Mr. Zhang nodded quickly, smiled, and said nothing.

    The car was driving on the return road at a faster speed than before, and the scenery along the way was still picturesque and peaceful. There were no more loud noises, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

    Everyone''s expression changed from stony to flat to indifferent. The colleague who hunched over the car seat leaned back, relaxed, closed his eyes and rested.

    Seeing war scenes on TV news on weekdays, most people can''t empathize with them, and don''t feel that kind of fear. Now they are in a chaotic place, and their every move is like a frightened bird. But after all, she didn''t see it with her own eyes, thinking that it was just a fluke, she gradually relaxed her vigilance.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned against the car window, with one arm tightly wrapped around Qi Yan''s waist, smelling the scent of sweat on her body, couldn''t help taking a few deep breaths, and getting more and more infatuated, then wrapped her other empty arm around her, holding half of her body in her arms.

    The touch, warmth, and smell are all extremely real.

    She turned her face out of the window, her eyes got wet a few times, and she grabbed the corner of Qi Yan''s clothes with her fingers.

    Qi Yan''s body slightly stiffened, and she glanced down at the hand lying in front of her, lightly grasped it, and put her little finger into her palm to scratch, as if to comfort her.

    Her fingers shrunk, curled tighter, pinching the little finger, Qi Yan curled the corner of her mouth, turned her head and glanced back, inadvertently caught a glimpse of Lu Zhiqiao''s reddish eyes, her heart shrank, so she quickly clenched her hands.

    She turned her face and grasped Lu Zhiqiao''s hand lightly and gently. Her upper body shook slightly due to the moving vehicle. Through her thin floral clothes, she could clearly feel the soft cotton candy-like existence behind her. She straightened her back, trying to maintain her balance.

    It was already hot, but now it has become even hotter.

    Beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks.

    Terrible.

    Gabon is small in size, and the distance between the cities is relatively close. About an hour and a half later, the car drove into the capital city, went straight along the main road, and stopped at the entrance of the branch office building.

    The border is desolate, but the capital is a bustling scene. It makes people feel very safe. Their accompanying colleagues came down with relaxed expressions, as if they have just experienced a haunted house adventure game.

    Mr. Zhang answered the phone and talked about what happened just now.

    Lu Zhiqiao led Qi Yan out of the car, her knuckles were slightly white,  she was afraid that if she let go, this woman would disappear.

    The Chinese and English bilingual words "Xinbei Group" were conspicuously displayed in front of the building. Qi Yan glanced up and suddenly realized that there was a branch here, but she didn''t even think of coming to visit it at that time, so she missed the chance to meet earlier in vain.

    The last person in the car got off. She looked around and saw that they were all employees of the company. Obviously, she still had work to do and she couldn''t get involved, so she gently pulled Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and whispered, "I''m going back to the hotel first.¡±

    "Hotel?"

    "Mm, I went north from South Africa and just arrived here two days ago."

    Only fate can explain such a coincidence.

    The two stared at each other, Lu Zhiqiao saw that Qi Yan''s face was covered with dust and dirty with sweat, she couldn''t help but frown, and resisted the urge to raise her hand to wipe her, "No, I''ll see you off later.  "

    An irresistible tone.

    Qi Yan narrowed her eyes slightly, hooked the corners of her mouth, and suddenly had the idea of ??teasing her. But several people around were looking at them, it was inappropriate, so she had to hold back.

    "Report back if anything happens, hmm." Mr. Zhang hung up the phone after speaking a few sentences, turned around, glanced at Qi Yan, nodded, then smiled at Lu Zhiqiao, and said, "Ms. Lu, let''s go up first."

    Lu Zhiqiao hummed lightly and walked in front.

    A group of people stepped into the office building and took the elevator to the office.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    Mr. Zhang was very adept at judging by looking. Seeing Lu Zhiqiao tightly holding the hand of the unfamiliar woman throughout the journey, he knew that their relationship wasn''t bad. He deeply regretted his cold face, refusing to let her in the car earlier. So he went to the office to rest, politely asked his assistant to pour water for Qi Yan, and then explained the situation to Lu Zhiqiao.

    "Ms. Lu, the border of this country is indeed a bit chaotic, but it''s just a small fuss, trying to get some benefits from the government. It won''t reach the level of military warfare, let alone provoke our Chinese enterprises. Don''t worry, there''s nothing near the factory area, and the capital is absolutely safe

    Sitting on the sofa, Lu Zhiqiao looked down at the audit report in her hand, tapped the leather surface of the sofa with her slender knuckles, raised her eyes when she heard the sound, and said with a faint smile, "Mr. Zhang knows the local situation better."

    Although she smiled, the corners of her eyes and brows were full of coldness.

    Looking back just now, all the people who ran out were black employees, which seemed quite a lot. But in fact, compared to Chinese employees, they only accounted for a small part of the total number, making the collective seem a bit strange. And Mr. Zhang, a branch manager who has been here for more than three years, unexpectedly asked his subordinates first when encountering so-called "common things"

    "It was my negligence that surprised Ms. Lu." Mr. Zhang smiled apologetically.

    He doesn''t like this place, and he looks forward to being transferred back to the head office one day. Now that there are leaders from above, naturally he can''t neglect it.

    Lu Zhiqiao flipped a page and asked carelessly, "How come all the people who ran out just now were locals?"

    The air turned quiet for two seconds.

    "They''re probably scared."

    The simple and heavy work in the factory is done by black people, such as security and handling equipment, etc. Some of them escaped from chaotic countries with their families and came here to make a living, so they''re particularly sensitive to gun sounds.  There are also some people who are just lazy, and when they see an accident, they have a reason to slack off, and follow suit.

    Because the cost of employment is low, and the monthly salary is only one hundred dollars, it can be used to make ends meet.

    For a long while, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t speak.

    The air conditioner blew out a cool, cloudy, comfortable breeze, and the only sound in the room was the rustling of paper.

    Qi Yan drank water silently, her eyes swept over the two, and finally fell on Lu Zhiqiao. Staring at the black tear mole, she felt more and more mesmerized, and her heart became restless.

    "Continue to pay attention to the situation near the factory area." Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyebrows, signed her name with a pen, handed it over, and got up.

    Mr. Zhang took the folder, nodded hastily, and then stood up, "I''ll ask Xiao He to take you back to the apartment to rest."

    "No need." Lu Zhiqiao walked around the coffee table with her high heels, reached out to Qi Yan, smiled lightly, but said to Mr. Zhang, "Let Xiao He come with me."

    Qi Yan put down her cup and held her hand naturally.

    Xiao He is Mr. Zhang''s assistant and driver. Lu Zhiqiao wanted to take Qi Yan back to the hotel in person, so she led her into the company''s car and headed to the xx resort.

    The car drove smoothly all the way, and the two sat side by side in the back row, neither of them spoke.

    Qi Yan withdrew her hand and lowered her head to fiddle with the camera for a while. After calming down, she felt a little sleepy, and couldn''t help yawning. She put her camera into a small backpack, leaned back, and closed her eyes to rest.

    Amidst the daze, a warm touch suddenly came from the back of her hand. She opened her eyes in confusion and turned her head to see Lu Zhiqiao looking at her deeply, her eyes flowing, tightly holding her hand.

    Her heart trembled, she woke up instantly, and covered her with the other hand.

    An invisible thread was pulled out between their eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao raised the corners of her mouth and smiled at her, then lowered her eyes, looking at their hands clasped together, her eyes flashing with shyness.

    Her tear mole was like a delicate flower, blooming slowly.

    In an instant, Qi Yan''s heart exploded with a "bang" and poured out, but he quickly restrained herself and pressed his emotions.

    The two were silent, but there was warmth all over.

    When they arrived at the resort, Lu Zhiqiao asked Xiao He to wait outside and send Qi Yan upstairs.

    Originally, she planned to send her to the elevator at most, but she couldn''t control her hands, she just grabbed Qi Yan tightly, and she couldn''t control her legs, so she followed Qi Yan to take the elevator upstairs, to the door of the room, and then entered the room.

    Qi Yan didn''t stop her, and tacitly allowed her to follow in.

    There was a suitcase in the room, Qi Yan finally broke free from the holding hands, put the camera on the table, pointed to the sofa, and said, "Sit first."

    "You..." Lu Zhiqiao didn''t move, "Do you stay here alone?"

    "Mm."

    Qi Yan went into the bathroom to wash her hands, dried them off, unscrewed the brand new mineral water on the table, and drank half a bottle in one go.  Panting, she smiled and said, "The environment is not bad, there is a small kitchen where you can cook for yourself."

    She wore a floral gown, the same style as a local woman, and the color was exaggeratedly bright, but because of her tall and well-proportioned figure, her facial features were glamorous, she had a strange sense of design and a unique style.

    Her face was stained with ashes, her hair was a little messy, but her eyes were still charming.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her, her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and whispered, "Do you want to go to my place?"

    Qi Yan was stunned.

    The black tear mole was like a pearl ready to fall, and there was anxiety in those eyes.

    Like a delicate little daughter-in-law.

    It''s almost a different person from the one in the company just now.

    Qi Yan didn''t answer, hesitant, of course she wants to go, it''s just that the two of them are like a couple who are at odds, living together all of a sudden, it feels too abrupt, besides, Lu Zhiqiao is here on a business trip and is busy with work, in case she disturbs her...

    She was still struggling, but she didn''t know that in Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes, this appearance was resistance and unwillingness to forgive.

    "Qi Yan..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes were filled with mist, she suddenly stepped forward and hugged her, and whispered in her ear with a low hoarse voice: "I miss you."

    Qi Yan''s mind went blank for a moment, but she couldn''t help wrapping her arms around Lu Zhiqiao''s waist, and let out short breaths.

    She felt herself flying up, like a light feather, floating and floating, guided by a gentle force, no longer wandering, and then falling into a warm swamp.

    "I miss you too." She closed her eyes, gently stroked Lu Zhiqiao''s hair, "I miss you so much..."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment, raised reddish eyes to look at her, before she had time to rejoice, she blurted out and asked, "Then why won''t you come with me?"

    "Who said that?"

    "?"

    Qi Yan brushed away the broken hair on her forehead, and raised the corners of her mouth: "I''m going with Ms. Lu."

    Behind the company building is an apartment-style dormitory, usually a double room suite.  During this business trip, Lu Zhiqiao lived in a single room with complete appliances, a balcony and private bathroom, and only one big bed.

    When the two entered the room, Lu Zhiqiao answered the phone and wanted to go to the company. After explaining a few words to Qi Yan, she left in a hurry.

    Qi Yan took a shower, changed into a nightgown, feeling even more drowsy. She lifted the quilt and climbed onto the bed, and when she lay down, Lu Zhiqiao''s scent filled her nose.

    A very light fragrance, refreshing her heart and mood.

    She took a few deep breaths, smelling Lu Zhiqiao''s scent, a torrent of warmth rushed in her heart, and then entangled her, wrapped her, and melted her into water.

    Fate is a delicate thing.

    The person in her heart, as long as she keeps thinking about her, will appear in front of her eyes, like a dream, but not a dream.

    The moment she saw Lu Zhiqiao, all her worries and distracting thoughts were thrown away in an instant. She just wanted to hug her and kiss her, as passionately and fearlessly as before.

    She struggled to restrain herself all the way. She regained her composure, but didn''t know how to speak when the words reached her lips.

    Now, she''s waiting for Qiao Qiao to come back.

    After lying down for a while, Qi Yan''s upper and lower eyelids started to fight, and she soon fell into a deep sleep¡­

    It was a very comfortable sleep.

    When she woke up, the sun had already set, and golden-red fire clouds rolled up in the sky, and the afterglow fell on the bed through the window. Qi Yan sat up and was about to pick up her phone when there was a knock on the door.

    She thought it was Lu Zhiqiao, so she quickly ran to open the door with her slippers on.

    "Hello, are you Ms. Qi?" A young man in work clothes of a fast food restaurant stood outside.

    Qi Yan nodded blankly.

    The boy handed her the plastic bag in his hand: "This is a meal ordered for you by a lady named Lu." After speaking, he turned and left.

    There is a stack of white lunch boxes in the plastic bag, and she can''t see what''s inside.

    Qi Yan closed the door, put the things on the table, took her phone and checked the time. It was almost six o''clock.

    There is an unread message from Lu Zhiqiao in WeChat:

    [I''m at the company, I''m a little busy, I can''t accompany you for dinner tonight, I ordered a meal for you, wait for me to come back.]

    Author''s Note:

    The author has nothing to say.

 CH 91

    cly121219-24 minutes 28.05.2023

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    The message was sent half an hour ago, and it was followed by two "cute" emojis. Qi Yan suddenly felt her heart melting, and smiled while hugging her phone.

    [Waiting for you to come back [cute][cute]]

    She replied.

    ¡ªgulug

    Her stomach growled.

    Qi Yan put down her phone, took out the lunch boxes one by one and opened them. Green beans, eggplant, boiled pork slices... turned out to be her favorite Chinese dishes, and they smelled delicious.

    There was also a lunch box with sliced pineapple chunks.

    She sat down to eat.

    The amount of each dish is not much, just enough for one person to eat, and the taste is no different from that of domestic restaurants, obviously it is made with care. Qi Yan was tired and hungry today so she devoured everything except the toppings, and then slowly tasted the fruit.

    After dinner, she called the car rental company and said that the car broke down at Tasang and did not come back. The staff wanted to deduct her deposit, she didn''t care, she said a few words and hung up.

    Broken car. If it wasn''t for her fear of being robbed, she would have rented a luxury car, with better quality, it would not have broken down halfway, leaving her in the wilderness and almost couldn''t return. Qi Yan thought.

    But on second thought, if this had not happened, she would not have gone to the factory for help and would not have met Qiao Qiao.

    Some things have already been fated¡­

    The sky was getting dark, and the streets were lit up with star lights.

    After finishing the pineapple, Qi Yan cleaned up the lunch box, packed it and threw it into the trash can, and walked back and forth in the house as to digest food. Then she brushed her teeth, climbed onto the bed, and buried herself in the blanket that smelled of Lu Zhiqiao.

    Time passed by every minute and every second.

    She is hoping for the woman to be back soon but also hopes that time will slow down a little.

    There are so many things she wants to say, but she doesn''t know where and how to start. Does she want to express her love to Lu Zhiqiao directly? Then tell the other party: I have overcome my cowardice, I am happy to see you, I can accept everything about you, and I want to be with you forever.

    It was only half a month since the night of the show when she said she was ''afraid'', and she has changed so quickly, perhaps Lu Zhiqiao wouldn''t believe her at all? Instead, feel disappointed with her and see her as a ''scumbag''.

    Qi Yan''s heart was in turmoil, she closed her eyes and desperately sniffed the pillow.

    She knew that Qiao Qiao cares about her.

    A small look in her eyes, an inadvertent movement, or a careless word may set off a violent hurricane in Lu Zhiqiao''s heart. Just as she is worried about each other''s reaction at the moment, they always cared so much about each other''s feelings.

    Since someone always needs to speak up, why not let her speak up first.

    Qi Yan breathed a sigh of relief, turned over, lay on her stomach, buried her face in the pillow, and curled the corners of her mouth.

    As the night gets darker, there are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street, only the street lights are on, and the car speeds across the road, leaving behind the sound of friction with the air.

    There was a slight rattle at the door.

    Qi Yan was on her bed and browsing Weibo. Domestic netizens were discussing topics such as which celebrity had cheated and who had taken the red carpet. She looked up at the sound and saw Lu Zhiqiao come in, and their eyes met.

    "I''m back." She put down her phone and smiled at her.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked a little tired, but she couldn''t help smiling when she saw Qi Yan, her cold brows softened. She nodded, put her bag on the table, and asked while changing her slippers, "Have you had enough for dinner?"

    "Here¡ª" Qi Yan pointed to the trash can, "The box was swept away."

    Lu Zhiqiao looked in the direction and smiled reassuringly, "It''s good that you eat well." After saying this, she walked to her suitcase, opened it, and took out her nightgown and disposable underwear. "I''ll take a shower first."

    "Mm."

    She took the clothes into the bathroom.

    There was a rustle inside, then a pattering sound of water.

    There was silence all around, and the sound of water droplets hitting the tiled floor was particularly abrupt. Qi Yan absently swiped her phone, the sound of dripping water seemed to be on her heart, and the beating frequency was messed up. She raised her head inadvertently, and caught a glimpse of an underwear shoulder strap leaking from the gap in the suitcase.

    Purple, a very "mature" color.

    She became more and more nervous.

    The bathroom was smoky, and Lu Zhiqiao stood under the shower. The warm water flowed from her shoulders along the spine, comforting and relieving fatigue. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let the water flood her cheeks.

    The past two days have been extremely eventful, today especially, the plan to visit the factory was unexpectedly interrupted, she had to move the later arrangements forward. She is so busy she could faint. When a person is extremely tired, the mind is inevitably irritable, coupled with the water and dirt, the red rash on her body is very itchy, all kinds of unpleasant things, she''s almost relying on her strong will to suppress her emotions, just not to be angry with those few subordinates who are slow to respond.

    But as soon as she entered the door and saw Qi Yan, all her bad emotions disappeared, leaving only joy in her heart.

    The first half month passed like half a year, and the feeling of separation was like a knife, drawing countless bloody scars on her heart, even though it hurt, she could only bear it. Countless nights she dreamed of Qi Yan, either leaving her or coming towards her, causing her world to be turned upside down, waking up to unbearable loneliness.

    Yan Yan said that she hasn''t given up, so she just waited, and she is willing to wait as long as she wanted.

    It is clear that they have never been together, but today that they met again, it is like they have lost and found each other.

    This time she won''t lose her again.

    After taking a shower, Lu Zhiqiao put on her nightgown

    It was a very short halter style that barely covered the buttocks. The big v-neck is inlaid with black lace, which makes the "career line" deeper and more charming.  This was given to her by Jiang Yu last time. She saw that the style and texture were good, and it was suitable for her to wear alone. She took it with her for this trip, but she forgot that there was another person in the room.

    She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, blushing up to her ears, as if she was about to bleed.

    What to do?

    Only wearing this one, if Yan Yan sees it, she might think she is trying to seduce her.

    In case of stirring up a fire...

    After struggling for a while, Lu Zhiqiao took a bath towel and put it on, slowly dried her hair, walked out of the bathroom bravely, and glanced at the bedside with guilty eyes.

    There''s no one there.

    She was stunned, and turned her gaze to the balcony. Qi Yan stood there looking out, her tall back, and two slender and straight legs were particularly eye-catching. She''s also wearing a halter nightgown. The style is slightly conservative, but it looks more lustful than her.

    She stared blankly.

    The woman turned around suddenly, her eyes were caught off guard, and she was taken aback.

    Lu Zhiqiao hurriedly looked away, clutching the towel tightly.

    This morning, she walked a lot in high heels, and her calf was a little sore. She walked to the sofa and sat down, lowered her head, and stretched out her hand to pinch her calf. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Qi Yan walking over, and with the wind blowing in her ears, she sat beside her.

    Qi Yan didn''t speak, bent down and grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s ankle, placed it on her knee, rubbed and pressed it with her fingertips tentatively, with varying degrees of strength.

    Like the time in Songshan.

    At that time, Lu Zhiqiao wore  thin pants, but they acted as a barrier, preventing Qi Yan from directly touching her skin, which relieved some sensitivity. But this time there was no cover, and the warmth of her fingertips was jumping in the pores making her heart pound.

    Qi Yan lowered her head, her expression was focused, and her movements were careful and meticulous, as if she was caring for a treasure of art.

    The shadow of the lamp enveloped her face, glamorous and enchanting.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her intently, her heart beating faster, and she couldn''t even speak for a moment, "You...why were you in the factory area?"

    "I went to take photos of baobab trees. The car broke down halfway. I saw a factory building nearby and wanted to ask for help." Qi Yan explained briefly without raising her head.

    This person has poor physical strength and prefers to wear high heels, which makes it difficult for her calves to bear. It seems that she needs to urge her to exercise well once they go back.

    Without her around, she won''t even have anyone to massage her shoulders and legs.

    She can''t live without her either.

    "What kind of car?"

    "Rented, Silver Xiali."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s pupils shrank suddenly, the silver-gray car flashed in her mind, and she murmured: "So it''s really you..."

    "What?" Qi Yan looked up in surprise.

    "The day I first arrived, I saw a series of silver cars on the road. I opened the window and felt that the person inside looked like you, but I wasn''t sure." Lu Zhiqiao said in a low voice.

    At that time, she thought that she was suffering from longing, and when she saw that everyone looked like Qi Yan, she laughed at herself.

    Now that she thinks about it, it was because of fear.

    If Qi Yan''s car hadn''t broken down and hadn''t gone to the factory to find someone, she would have missed her.

    This country is neither big nor small, and there are so many people, where will she go to find her?

    Fortunately, fortunately.

    Just after taking a bath, her cheeks looked slightly tipsy and flushed, like a pink and white peach blossom, her eyes were filled with water, and the black tear mole seemed to be dripping at any time, showing tenderness.

    Qi Yan stared at her face, distracted for a moment, her nose turned a little sore, but she quickly recovered, "Are you sure it was me now?"

    "Mm."

    "I''ve been in the capital for two days. I originally planned to finish shooting the scenery today and go to the next country tomorrow. Who knew¡ª" Qi Yan shook her head helplessly, then lowered her head and continued to help her calf.

    Lu Zhiqiao blinked and held back her tears. She smiled and said, "If I didn''t know you''re traveling, I thought you were fleeing. You''re wearing those fancy clothes... To be honest, I almost didn''t recognize you.

    "Ha ha ha ha."

    "Why did you make such a mess of yourself?"

    "Do as the Romans do." The smile on Qi Yan''s face froze, hiding a trace of awkwardness in her eyes, "I feel that Africa is more ''primal'', mysterious, and the scenery is very beautiful. It is very suitable for outdoor adventures, especially when you see an elephant, rhinos, giraffes... all I take are landscape photos in my camera, and I can''t get enough of them."

    She didn''t mention the robbery.

    It''s all over, there is no danger, she doesn''t want to say it to make Qiao Qiao worry.

    She shrugged and smiled more easily.

    "Now there are only the North and South Poles left that I haven''t gone yet. The North Pole... I''ve been to Iceland before, so let''s consider it as a visit. The South Pole can be arranged this winter."

    "You might as well go to Mars." Lu Zhiqiao said with a smile.

    Qi Yan raised her brows and nodded solemnly, "Sure, tie me up like a monkey in the sky."

    The two looked at each other and smiled.

    After continuing to press and pinch alternately for a while, the soreness in her calf gradually eased. Lu Zhiqiao leaned on Qi Yan''s shoulder and yawned, feeling her eyelids a little heavy.

    "Does it still hurt?" Qi Yan asked softly.

    She woke up suddenly, shook her head, put her legs down, "I''ll make a call to Niu Niu." After speaking, she got up to get her mobile phone, and when she checked the time, it was ten o''clock, so she hurriedly said to Qi Yan, "Go to bed first."

    While walking, the lower corner of the bath towel dropped, revealing the black lace.

    Qi Yan''s eyes dimmed, her throat moved unconsciously, and she raised her brows and smiled: "Shall we sleep in the same bed?"

    She glanced at the big bed.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked over and blushed immediately, a look of shame flashed in her eyes, and whispered, "It''s not like we haven''t slept together before."

    "Good."

    Qi Yan coughed twice, then pursed her lips and smiled.

    There are many mosquitoes in summer nights, and the mosquitoes in Africa are especially vicious. Once they bite a big bag, they will not disappear for several days. Lu Zhiqiao stood on the balcony and made a phone call. In less than a minute, she got three bites on her legs, and the itching spread rapidly.

    Her daughter was fine at home, so after asking a few questions, she hung up the phone, turned around, and saw Qi Yan leaning on the table and looking at her.

    Her twinkling brown eyes, like a whirlpool, dragged her into the deepest part.

    Her heart skipped a beat.

    "Why...why haven''t you slept yet?" She blushed and couldn''t speak clearly.

    Qi Yan smiled softly: "Waiting for you."

    She felt an electric current flowing through her chest, Lu Zhiqiao shook her hand, and the bath towel lost its hold, spread out and fell off.

    A deep purple dress with thin and narrow straps, embedded with black lace. The long "career line" is impressively exposed in the air, and little pink brown traces can be faintly seen under the lace.

    Qi Yan took a light breath, her pupils suddenly shrank, and the nerves in her brain jumped up.

    Her throat tightened, feeling a little dry and itchy.

    The words that she had brewed in her heart to say were scattered by this sudden excitement and thrown to the back of her mind as much as possible, and another thought came up and could not be pressed.

    Lu Zhiqiao froze for a few seconds, hurriedly picked up the bath towel and put it on, walked past her quickly with her head down, took the laptop and sat down at the table, with her back to her, and said, "Go to sleep, I still have an email to send¡­¡±

    After finishing speaking, she raised her hand to cover her cheek, the temperature was astonishingly hot.

    Looking at her shy back, Qi Yan lowered her eyes and smiled, feeling that she was more charming and flirtatious, so she walked over slowly, bent over and approached: "It''s not like I haven''t seen it before. It turns out that Boss Lu is so shy, huh?"

    The heat hit her ears, Lu Zhiqiao shivered, pursed her lips and remained silent.

    "Boss Lu?"

    "Don''t call me that."

    "Then what should I call you?" Qi Yan became even more energetic, and moved closer, her mouth almost touching her ear.

    Lu Zhiqiao tilted her head, with shame in her eyes, and said softly, "In front of you... there is no Boss Lu, only Qiao Qiao."

    The breath in her ear suddenly became deep.

    The air turned silent.

    In the chest, in the throat, on the wrists, there are thumping everywhere.

    A moment later, a gentle whisper came from behind: "Good night, Qiao~"

    "..."

    The night was dark and silent, and the waning moon gave off a dim light.

    Gabonians don''t seem to like nightlife. After dark, even in the city center, there are not many people on the street. The night here is extremely quiet, as if returning to the original state. Lying on the bed, it seems that elephant calls from the grassland can be heard.

    Qi Yan couldn''t fall asleep. She had a full sleep in the afternoon. Although her eyes were closed at the moment, she is very conscious.

    She smells the familiar fragrance, and hears Lu Zhiqiao''s typing on the keyboard. It was very soft and fast, with occasional pauses, and it disappeared after a while. Then there was deliberately light footsteps, rustling.

    The lights were turned off and the surroundings plunged into darkness.

    The mattress gently lifted, and the side sank a little, carrying a body warmth and fragrance.

    Qi Yan became inexplicably excited, her arm was like a piece of iron attracted by a magnet, she couldn''t help but want to poke to the side. She was afraid of scaring Lu Zhiqiao, so she didn''t move for a long time.

    Bedtime is good for talking.

    There are some things that should be said.

    After waiting for a while, Qi Yan quietly opened her eyes and turned her neck, unable to see anything in the dark.

    "Qiao Qiao..."

    She lay on her side, reaching out to hug Lu Zhiqiao.

    "I''m sorry I let you suffer a lot alone, in fact, I''m not as brave as I thought I was, I''m not perfect at all, but I figured it out, we...Qiao Qiao?"

    After rambling for a long time, no one responded.

    Qi Yan moved closer, and was stunned when she heard Lu Zhiqiao''s steady and deep breathing.

    Fell asleep?

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    The next day, when Qi Yan woke up, Lu Zhiqiao was no longer in the room.

    She hurriedly got up to wash, got dressed, and called Lu Zhiqiao. When she learned that the other party was in the company, she thought she had nothing to do, so she went there too.

    Today was very busy. Lu Zhiqiao sat in the conference room all morning while Qi Yan waited outside, and she didn''t even see her face.

    By noon, people came out, but only for a bathroom break.

    She couldn''t even be given a look.

    Fortunately, she''s a familiar face from yesterday, and everyone thought she was from the head office, so there was no objection. Mr. Zhang''s assistant, Xiao He, even came over to deliver coffee to her.

    Judging by this situation, she''s afraid they have to eat lunch inside.

    Qi Yan drank her last sip of coffee and was thinking about it when she saw a manager-like person calling a small employee to order food from the cafeteria.

    The little clerk was very attentive, running up and down in a hurry, and soon came up with a meal. He held more than ten boxed meals in two bags on his left hand, and the individual bag on his right hand was not visible, but it was obviously of better quality and even printed with patterns.

    He was about to go into the meeting room when Qi Yan suddenly stood up and stopped him: "Wait a minute."

    "?"

    "What''s in here?" Qi Yan asked, pointing to the bag with the pattern printed on it.

    The clerk was taken aback, seeing her questioning manner, thought it was the leader of the head office, subconsciously said: "Home-cooked meal, prepared for Ms. Lu."

    Tsk.

    There are so many people in the conference room who all eat ordinary boxed lunches, but why do they need to prepare private dishes for Lu Zhiqiao so that she can eat better ones in front of everyone? Wouldn''t this put her in a tight spot?

    The young man was stunned, looking like a fresh graduate.

    Qi Yan lowered her face, pointed to the private kitchen and said, "Take it back. Let Boss Lu eat the boxed lunch."

    "Ah?" He was stunned, "What if Ms. Lu is not happy?"

    Qi Yan sighed, ignored him, grabbed two bags of lunch boxes and entered the conference room.

    All eyes focused on her.

    Including Lu Zhiqiao.

    "Ms. Lu, I''m sorry, the delivery of food in the cafeteria is a bit slow, and there are not many dishes. If you are not used to eating, I will order something else." Qi Yan smiled naturally, and took out a boxed lunch from the bag and put it in front of Lu Zhiqiao.

    Lu Zhiqiao quickly reacted, with no waves in her eyes, and said with a light smile: "It''s okay, everyone eats the same."

    Qi Yan nodded, distributed lunch boxes to the others one by one, and then withdrew.

    The young man was still standing at the door.

    ¡­

    In the afternoon was the trade show prep work, Lu Zhiqiao and a group of managers went to the exhibition venue, Qi Yan also followed her as an assistant.

    Busy until the sun went down, Lu Zhiqiao declined Mr. Zhang''s dinner invitation, and went back to the apartment with Qi Yan.

    As soon as she entered, Qi Yan threw the bag away, grabbed the water and drank it.

    "I''m exhausted..."

    After drinking half a bottle of water, she wiped her mouth with a paper towel, gasped for breath, and was suddenly hugged from behind.

    "Qi Yan¡ª"

    The fragrant breath rushed to the ear, with a low and hoarse voice.

    Qi Yan trembled, grabbed her hand, and hummed softly in a nasal voice.

    "Answer a question for me."

    "Ask away."

    "Do you want..."

    Lu Zhiqiao tightened her arms, buried her face on the back of her neck, closed her eyes, and murmured: "...to be our daughter''s little mom?"

 CH 92

    cly121215-19 minutes 28.05.2023

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    The warm breath sprinkled on her nape, and the scent diffused, first it was cold citrus, fresh and light, and then slowly transitioned to heavy sandalwood, rich and refreshing.

    This person used to be introverted and conservative, and her way of speaking is always reserved and even her confession has to be detoured.

    Qi Yan grabbed her hand across her waist, her heart racing like a wild horse, joyful and fierce. Her joy was not enough to describe her current mood. She felt like she had fallen into a vortex, stirred to a dizzy state, and was about to explode like fireworks by the next second.

    Qiao Qiao has changed.

    She even took the initiative to confess to her.

    But somewhat still the same.

    Still so reserved.

    "Huh?" Qi Yan turned around, raised her eyebrows, pretending not to know, "Why is it ''Little'' Mom?"

    She deliberately bit the word "little".

    With this turn, Lu Zhiqiao was forced to leave her fragrant soft hair and lift her face, but for a moment, she didn''t react and asked in a daze, "Do you want to be the big mom?"

    "..."

    Qi Yan couldn''t help but laugh and her gaze shifted downwards, falling in front of her, as if talking to herself: "For the sake of you being older than me, it''s better for you to be the ''big'' mom."

    Lu Zhiqiao lowered her head, looked at herself, then at Qi Yan, her face became hot, she frowned in embarrassment, and stretched out her hand to pinch her.

    She cooperated with an "ouch".

    "Then you agree?"

    "Agree on what?" Qi Yan raised her brows.

    Seeing that she was playing tricks on purpose, Lu Zhiqiao was not annoyed, she hugged her waist with both hands, and said seriously: "Be my family." After speaking, she pursed her lips and smiled, and added: "My girlfriend."

    Family...

    Qi Yan''s heart trembled slightly, and her nose suddenly felt sore.

    Like being wrapped in a warm torrent, rolling her into the long river of memories. When she thought of that argument, wasn''t the reason why she was sad was because Lu Zhiqiao never regarded her as a family?  When she left 901 that day, all she could think about was that her heart made the wrong bet, and she was sour, hurt, and angry. But all the emotions added up can''t match this passionate love.

    She loves Lu Zhiqiao and misses Lu Zhiqiao''s kindness. She doesn''t want to deny all her past experiences just because of one argument.

    So she calmed down quickly, thought for a long time, and wrote that letter to Lu Zhiqiao. With tentative hope.

    May you find your beloved for the rest of your life.

    If Lu Zhiqiao gave up, the beloved could be someone else, if Lu Zhiqiao didn''t give up, the beloved could be her.

    Going around, they finally returned to each other. Becoming a family member and accompanying each other for the rest of their lives is the most profound and affectionate promise she has ever received.

    Qi Yan looked at Lu Zhiqiao with wet eyes, and nodded slightly.

    "Girlfriend..." She didn''t want to cry, so she blinked and said in a teasing tone, "Shouldn''t I be called Auntie? How did I become a little mom?"

    She should be ''Auntie'' if they''re dating, and ''Mom'' when they''re married. She knows the difference between the two names, she won''t get fooled.

    Lu Zhiqiao was at a loss.

    Tsk.

    Forget it.

    Qi Yan thought to herself, and coughed lightly: "Don''t tell me you want to marry first and then date?"

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly realized, and her face turned redder, "It''s not impossible."

    "That won''t work."

    "?"

    The sunset shone through the window, and Lu Zhiqiao''s ink-like eyes were dyed deep brown. When she saw Qi Yan tilt her head and raise her eyebrows, she thought she was unwilling. The luster in her eyes instantly faded, and even the tear stains lost their luster.

    Qi Yan sighed, shook her head helplessly, and reached out to pinch her ear, "I have long regarded Niu Niu as my own daughter, you wouldn''t even let me be stubborn again. I haven''t even turned thirty yet and you already want me to be a mom." The corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously.

    Qiao Qiao, who has no experience in love, is like a blank sheet of paper.

    Holding a pen, she taught her little by little how to draw lines, draft, refine, fill in colors, and draw whatever she wanted.

    The more clumsy she is, the more she wants to teach her what love is and how to love, and then she can also be happy, because of Lu Zhiqiao''s happiness.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at her for two seconds, burst out laughing, and leaned over to bury her face on her shoulder, "Okay, Auntie Yan."

    The room was silent, the two were close together, they could clearly hear each other''s breathing, smell the sweat on each other''s body, feel the heartbeat and body temperature, even if they were silent, there was still warmth flowing.

    Qi Yan closed her eyes, raised her hand to stroke Lu Zhiqiao''s hair, twirled the silky and curly strands with her fingertips, and stroked gently.

    "Qiao Qiao..."

    "Hmm?"

    "I''m sorry." She murmured softly, "I let you bear a lot by yourself."

    The person in her arms moved.

    "I used to be too confident, no, it was arrogance, I felt that I was omnipotent and could solve everything, but in fact this kind of thinking was reckless, naive and irresponsible. Now I accept my cowardice and my inadequacy, no matter what the future holds, I want to be with you, only when I am by your side and see you that I will be happy...The three of us make a family."

    She took a light breath and put her face against Lu Zhiqiao''s hair.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, pecked her shoulder reassuringly, raised her head, stared at her for a while, and said with a smile: "There is no such thing as a perfect person, in fact... what you said that day made me breathe a sigh of relief. I suddenly found that you also have negative emotions, I am not alone anymore, I think we are the same. I am closer to you, see you more truthfully which makes me feel at ease."

    As she spoke, her eyes gradually turned red.

    Qi Yan hastily moved over and gently kissed the tear mole, "Don''t cry."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyelashes trembled and she smiled.

    "You said you want me to find my beloved for the rest of my life, but have you never thought that my beloved can only be you?"

    "I thought about it."

    "Then you still¡ª"

    "Hush."

    Qi Yan raised her index finger to her lips, making shushing gesture, and after a moment of silence, she held her face with both hands, "Lu Zhiqiao, I love you."

    Her thin soft lips slowly approached, hovered, but did not kiss immediately, then gently touched against her lips for a while, and then moved little by little, ignoring the gorgeous lipstick on them, following that creamy chocolate aroma.

    She is sweet, slightly sour and astringent. The first taste is full of surprises, and the aftertaste is endless. The more she explores, the more attractive she will be.

    Qi Yan pinched Lu Zhiqiao''s chin with one hand, and supported the back of her head with the other. When she is emotional, she becomes agitated and ruthless, but she restrains herself carefully, for fear that the other party would feel the slightest discomfort.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes and endured it passively, her hands and feet were limp. She wanted to respond occasionally, but she lost all control and melted into a puddle of water.

    The air in the lungs was exhausted, the heartbeat became faster and faster, finally knowing how to stop.

    Both of them got lipstick all over their mouths.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned against Qi Yan''s ear and gasped for breath. She felt her heart burning hard, and she didn''t want to leave for a moment, so she asked, "I''ll be back the day after tomorrow, you...will you come with me?"

    She knew that Qi Yan was here on a tourist trip, and she reckoned that there were still many places she hadn''t visited, but they met by chance in one place. If Qi Yan wanted to continue going north, she would have to go back to the country alone, and would have to wait a few days before they could be reunited at home. In her heart, she hoped that the two of them could go back together.

    Missing her a lot these days, there are traces of Qi Yan everywhere in the house, she doesn''t know if Qi Yan will laugh at her when she sees them when she goes back.

    It''s embarrassing to think about it.

    "There are still a few countries that I haven''t visited..." Qi Yan subconsciously said, heaved a sigh of relief, and felt that she was still unsatisfied, and turned her head to find her earlobe, grinding and sucking.

    Lu Zhiqiao was immediately discouraged, loss flashed in her eyes, but she was teased and made to tremble, "Be careful when traveling alone, remember to send me the location when you go to the place." As she spoke, her throat felt stuffy, "I''ll wait for you to go home..."

    "Hahaha."

    Qi Yan chased after her dodging ears, and suddenly laughed, "Why are you like my mother?"

    In the next second, there was a slight stabbing pain in her shoulder.

    Bitten.

    Lu Zhiqiao habitually wanted to pull her hair, her fingers grabbed a handful of air behind her back, and suddenly remembered that her waist-length hair like a waterfall had been cut off.

    "Yan Yan."

    "Um?"

    "Grow your hair up."

    Qi Yan was startled, and hugged her tightly: "Okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao rubbed against Qi Yan intimately, and kissed her hair with her lips covered in lipstick, sticking her mouth full.

    "I''m not going." Qi Yan said suddenly, "I''m coming home with you."

    "Why?"

    "We''ll go together when you''re on vacation."

    Lu Zhiqiao trembled again, and her breathing became more urgent, "You can go if you want, and you don''t have to accommodate me."

    "No." Qi Yan tilted her head and kissed her ear, seeing her unable to escape and could only groan, her heart softened, and her voice couldn''t help but be hoarse, "I want to see the beautiful scenery with you."

    Lu Zhiqiao parted her lips, and before she could speak, she was blocked by a strong breath.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    After dinner, the sky gradually darkened. Lu Zhiqiao and Qi Yan went for a walk near the apartment building and looked around.

    The heat during the day has not completely subsided, and it is still very hot outside. There are not many people on the street, most of them are blacks and Asians. Blacks can¡¯t be seen clearly from a distance. Wearing dark clothes is equivalent to invisibility. It''s hard to see them at night, so one have to be extra careful when walking and driving.

    The Asians are basically Chinese, in twos and threes, and there are other Chinese-funded enterprises nearby aside from Xinbei Group, most of whom are employees. When passing by, hearing them speak their mother tongue, it is inevitable to have an illusion of being in China.

    The two held hands leisurely and passing by a handicraft store selling wood carvings, Lu Zhiqiao stopped to take a look.

    The owner of the shop is a local black, who introduced it in English with a strong accent. Lu Zhiqiao saw a wood carving in the shape of a puppy and thought it was very cute. It happened that her daughter was born in the year of the dog, so she bought it.

    "You can buy this too, it''s very good." The shopkeeper picked up a wood carving of an elephant and handed it to her.

    Lu Zhiqiao shook her head, declined politely, and turned to leave.

    Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper picked up two or three large wooden carvings, chased them to stop them, and stuffed them in front of her desperately, muttering about asking her to buy them.

    "Back up!" Qi Yan shouted angrily.

    The shopkeeper was startled, and ran back in despair.

    Lu Zhiqiao held Qi Yan''s arm tightly, and the two left quickly. They went downstairs to the apartment building and bought some mangoes. There are no rare specialties here, only the fruits are big, sweet and cheap.

    Back in the room, the two showered and dried their hair one after another.

    Lu Zhiqiao washed the mango, peeled and cut it into pieces, put it in a small plate, tied a toothpick, and put it on the table, "Yan Yan, eat the mango yourself, and I will hold a video conference."

    After speaking, her face became hot.

    Qi Yan put her arms around her and kissed her, and stuffed a piece of mango into her mouth, "Take the first bite."

    After feeding three in a row, Lu Zhiqiao chewed with puffed cheeks, pursed her lips and smiled, and had to break free from her arms, and sat down at the table with the laptop in her hands.

    It¡¯s afternoon in North America, and during working hours, Lu Zhiqiao wants to have a short meeting with the management of the North American branch. The original plan was to go back to China, but she doesn¡¯t like procrastination. If she can solve it as soon as possible, she has other things to be busy with.

    She turned on the laptop, put on the headphones, and put on a long-sleeved thin coat.

    Qi Yan was eating mango beside her, not disturbing her, and quietly accompanied her.

    At work, Lu Zhiqiao had no distractions and was able to get into the mood soon. She stared at the laptop screen, her soft side face showed a bit of coldness, her brows and eyes were calm, saying a few words from time to time.

    But Qi Yan knows that once she leaves the workplace, Lu Zhiqiao immediately softens into a puddle of water in front of her, blushing and getting shy after being teased with a few words, joyful but restrained, like a piece of sweet soft cotton candy.

    She loves her both ways.

    The more she looks at her, the more she thinks of that crazy night, the imprisoned hands, the forbearing voice, making her heart more ticklish¡­

    The meeting was not long and ended in about half an hour. Lu Zhiqiao turned off the camera, took off her headphones, and sat in front of the laptop for a while. Suddenly, she felt the hot gaze beside her. Turning her head, she saw Qi Yan''s gaze staring at her with burning eyes.

    She forgot how many times her heart skipped a beat.

    "What are you looking at?" She blushed.

    Qi Yan propped her face, slipped her throat, got up and hugged her, teasingly said: "Do your subordinates know how soft you are in private?"

    This  woman started to be unreasonable again.

    Lu Zhiqiao glared at her, slapped her hands off her shoulders, "Go brush your teeth."

    "Oh."

    Qi Yan went into the bathroom obediently, brushed her teeth, and when she came out, she saw Lu Zhiqiao sitting on the bed with her mobile phone in her hands. She had already taken off her thin long sleeves, revealing the halter nightgown inside. The dark purple was hooked with black lace, charming and sexy.

    Her heart turned hot and a little dry, she pretended to hold the camera and sat next to her, "Let me show you the photos I took."

    Lu Zhiqiao put down her phone, leaned over curiously, and involuntarily wrapped her arms around her, sticking close to her.

    There are hundreds of photos in the camera, recording the scenery on the road from South Africa to Gabon, grasslands, mountains, woods, animals, waterfalls... a few of them are scenes on the streets of cities in various countries, each of which is unique. They can be used as a wallpaper, connected together like a static documentary, showing the style of the African continent.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the camera screen, stared straight away, a hint of amazement appeared in her dark pupils, and sighed: "I think you can hold a photography exhibition, or publish a photography collection."

    She was a little envious of Qi Yan.

    She can go wherever she wants, and can arrange her time freely.

    On the other hand, she is busy with work, and has to wait for the holiday if she wants to go out and play.

    "Mm, I plan to publish a photobook." Qi Yan smiled, stretching her arms around her shoulders, "You can help me think of a name when the time comes."

    "Sure."

    Lu Zhiqiao snuggled into Qi Yan''s arms, shrank more and more into the quilt, her arms squeezed the "career line" in front of her, making it more seductive, pink and white, like cotton candy.

    The scent of shower gel lingers on the tip of the nose, which smells faintly and cleanly, faintly urging some kind of emotion.

    Qi Yan''s heart felt hot and dry. Her eyes wandered around Lu Zhiqiao''s face, only to feel the nerves in her temples jumping. She could not help but bow her head and kiss Lu Zhiqiao''s face. Her voice was hoarse: "Qiao Qiao..."

    "Mm?"

    Seemingly sensing a difference in the atmosphere, Lu Zhiqiao felt inexplicably nervous.

 CH 93

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    Qi Yan has a slight obsession with cleanliness, and it feels unhygienic to do X without wearing finger gloves. Before she met Lu Zhiqiao, every time she went out on a date, she always brought finger gloves with her, no matter whether she was the active or passive party.

    When she came out to play this time, she considered whether to bring some toys. After all, there are inevitably needs when one is away. But after thinking about it, she thought it was troublesome and didn''t bring them. She wanted to focus on watching the scenery. Who would have expected she''ll meet Qiao Qiao halfway?

    As the saying goes, a short separation is better than a new wedding.

    Having been separated for so long, she missed her so much, she hasn''t had meat for nearly a year, and her heart is full of fire. Now that this person is by her side, the period of passionate love is like a burning firewood. She can''t wait to chew on Lu Zhiqiao''s cotton candy right away.

    Desire is blocked in the heart, burning like fire.

    Her face is very red as if she had been in a sauna, her brown eyes were stained with water, a little hazy, hiding foreboding sentiments, like being drunk.

    "What''s wrong?" Lu Zhiqiao looked at her worriedly, feeling even more nervous for some reason.

    It was a strange feeling. She couldn''t help wanting to get closer to her. The thought flashed in her mind, and her limbs had already moved, shrinking into Qi Yan''s arms naturally.

    Making her neckline hang lower.

    It couldn''t hide anything at all, but now that the silk lace moved a little, the traces of pink brown inside are even more clearly visible.

    Fragrance is a chain that seduces a person and it is firmly tied to Qi Yan''s nose.

    Qi Yan''s face was burning unbearably, and there was also a sea of fiery magma flowing through her abdomen. The thought of not wearing finger gloves and being outside makes her feel uncomfortable. Qiao Qiao was busy and tired with work, so she might also be unwilling. She eventually brushed the thought aside and decided to endure it. The days ahead will be long, a little wait wouldn''t hurt.

    Thinking about it, she turned her face away, took a deep breath and said, "I''m fine."

    Lu Zhiqiao paused and frowned, and reached out to grab her arm, "Are you not feeling well? Or something happened? Don''t hide it from me..."

    Qi Yan is very fragile at the moment, being touched is like being scalded. Even her hair is trembling. She turned her head, pretended to smile calmly, shook her head and said: "It''s really fine, I''ll go wash my face." immediately getting out of bed after speaking

    "Didn''t you just take a bath?" Lu Zhiqiao asked doubtfully.

    Qi Yan didn''t answer, and walked into the bathroom in a flash.

    She poured a  handful of cold water on her face, and as if it had been poured on red-hot charcoal, it seemed that her pores could be heard sizzling.

    Not only does she want to eat Lu Zhiqiao, she also wants to be eaten, small toys can no longer satisfy her, she needs Qiao Qiao''s hands, mouth, and everything... Once the fire burns, it will be uncontrollable, but she doesn''t want to do it here.

    The first time two people really get together, there must always be some romantic atmosphere and a sense of ceremony, leaving beautiful and deep memories for each other.

    She closed her eyes, let out a breath, took a few deep breaths, repeatedly poured cold water on her face, and patted it gently.

    Trying to think about something else.

    For example, when she goes back and announce to her parents that she has a girlfriend, her elders will be very happy, then they can arrange a family meeting. In the future, Qiao Qiao will have "parents", Niu Niu will have "grandparents", and she will have a wife and daughter. And within the big Jiangcheng, there will no longer be an orphan and widow living together.

    Qi Yan wiped off the water on her face, opened her eyes, looked at the mirror and smiled.

    After a while, the fire faded away. She dried her face and went out. She saw Lu Zhiqiao fiddling with the camera sitting down with a smile. "I''ll print all the photos when I get home and make an exclusive photo album for you."

    "Okay."

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her eyes, smiled, sticking to her body like a boneless one and snuggled up to her.

    "Qiao Qiao..."

    "Mm?"

    "It''s getting late, let''s go to bed." Qi Yan resisted the urge and stroked her hair.

    After finishing speaking, Lu Zhiqiao yawned. Both of them paused and laughed. Qi Yan put away the camera, turned up the temperature of the air conditioner, and turned off the lights.

    It turned pitch black.

    As soon as Qi Yan lay down, the person beside her clung to her.

    She was soft and warm, and bursts of fragrance spread out, captivating her heart.

    "Isn''t it hot to cuddle?"

    "Not hot." There was a moment of silence. In the darkness, the sound of their breathing could be heard clearly. The cool wind from the air conditioner could not dispel the heat, but instead it became more and more dry.

    It looks like she''s going to lose sleep tonight. Qi Yan thought.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s low voice suddenly came from beside her: "I''m afraid I''m dreaming, and you''ll disappear when I wake up, so... I want to hug you."

    Qi Yan froze and grabbed her hand.

    "I will not."

    "I will always be by your side from now on."

    She turned over and hugged Lu Zhiqiao.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    In the last two days in Gabon, the focus of her work was on the trade show. Lu Zhiqiao became busy like a spinning top, and Qi Yan followed her as a temporary assistant. She was quick to respond and understood her intent with just one look. She got a general idea of ??the business situation.

    She joked with Lu Zhiqiao that she wanted to work double jobs and be her wife''s personal assistant.

    But Lu Zhiqiao didn''t want to, a lover is a lover, an assistant is an assistant, life and work must be separated, otherwise she will be messed up. Besides, with such a good Yan Yan, she is reluctant to let her out for others to see, she just wanted to keep her like a treasure.

    Because the busy schedule, she easily falls asleep at night and her thoughts on that aspect faded, spending two nights comfortably.

    Finally, on the day of their return, the branch send off was as grand as ot was when they came. The team of 50 people plus Qi Yan boarded the plane back home.

    After nine o''clock in the morning, a group of people arrived in Jiangcheng.

    The company sent a bus to the entrance of the building, and everyone went back to rest, with jet lag. They will start work tomorrow.

    After returning, seeing Chinese characters all over the street, black-haired and yellow-skinned people, and listening to the familiar mother tongue, Qi Yan felt a sense of security in her heart, like a fish returning to the water. After all, she still feels that her country is the best.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s car was parked in the basement, and she wanted to drive it on her own. But Qi Yan was worried about her fatigue and refused to let her, so she acted as a temporary driver and drove home from the company together.

    Coming back after nearly three months, Qi Yan looked at 901 and 902 facing each other, and suddenly felt like three years had passed.

    "Qiao Qiao©¤©¤"

    She grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand tightly, "I''m a little nervous. What do we tell Niu Niu?"

    "Didn''t the girl know about us a long time ago..." Lu Zhiqiao took out the key, paused, and a trace of shame flashed in her eyes.

    Qi Yan shook her head: "That''s different, now it''s an official announcement, I..." The words got stuck in the middle.

    What happened to her?

    Did she turn into a shy little daughter-in-law?

    Embarrassing!

    With a sudden heat on her face, Lu Zhiqiao tilted her head and kissed her, and comforted her softly: "It''s fine, leave it to me."

    Qi Yan blushed.

    Opening the door, the gap widened little by little, Lu Zhiqiao went in first, and Qi Yan hid behind her.

    A historical idol drama is playing on the TV in the living room. It happens to be a scene where the heroine falls off the cliff.

    Lu Wei was sitting on the sofa, holding snacks in her hands, watching with relish.

    Hearing the sound, she turned her head subconsciously, and saw Lu Zhiqiao enter the room with a suitcase, and smiled at her: "Girl, look who''s here." After speaking, she turned sideways and pulled Qi Yan to her side.

    "Niu Niu©¤©¤" Qi Yan curled her lips the moment she saw her daughter, feeling inexplicably guilty. She glanced at Lu Zhiqiao from the corner of her eye, and quickly withdrew.

    The little girl looked at her calmly, as if she was expecting it, but soon realized what was going on, froze, suddenly dropped her snacks and jumped up towards her and hugged: "Teacher Qi! I miss you so much!"

    Huh.

    She almost forgot that her mother was around.

    She can''t let her mother know that she and Teacher Qi were secretly communicating.

    She knew that Teacher Qi would come back sooner or later.

    But then¡ª

    She''s too calm, which can arouse suspicion so she still have to pretend.

    Although Qi Yan was cooperating, her heart is more moved. She opened her arms and kissed her daughter on the forehead, saying, ''I missed you too, little girl~''

    "I thought you weren''t coming back..." Lu Wei pouted, her eyes filled with resentment.

    Qi Yan rubbed her head, squinted her eyes and smiled: "How could that be? I can''t bear to part with you and mom. Look, aren''t I back now?"

    "He he~"

    The two looked at each other and winked, understanding each other.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the two of them with a smile, feeling warm in her heart. She didn''t notice anything wrong, instead, she felt the real sense of home.

    She changed her shoes, and took a rag to wipe the wheels of their suitcases. "Yan Yan, sit with the girl for a while, and I''ll tidy things up." She carried the suitcase into the bedroom.

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan entered the room with her daughter in her arms. The two of them glanced at the master bedroom at the same time, and clapped their hands lightly: "Yeah~!"

    "Teacher Qi, how did you find my mother?"

    "I met her by chance."

    "That''s amazing." Lu Wei gave her a thumbs up.

    Qi Yan smiled and pinched her daughter''s face.

    Looking around, she saw a landscape fish tank placed in the entrance, with fine sand and rocks and lush aquatic plants. Three small goldfishes of different colors were swimming, chasing and playing with each other. Suddenly, she noticed some changes in the room. She looked around and saw a few more photo frames on the background wall of the TV. On them were photos taken on Roland Island.

    The blue sea, the blue sky, the shadows of coconut wind and trees.

    There was also a photo frame on the dining table. She knew that it was her photo.

    The clothes hanging out to dry on the balcony were like how she does it; underwear on the left and large clothes on the right. There was a large framed photo hanging on the wall in the corridor of the bedroom, which was the only photo of the three of them together on Roland Island.

    There are books she likes to read on the cabinet, a box of rum she likes to drink in the corner, and gadgets she bought on the coffee table

    There are traces of her everywhere.

    Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, and a sour feeling came to her heart. She patted her daughter on the shoulder to indicate to continue watching TV, and then turned to go to the master bedroom.

    The room was very bright while Lu Zhiqiao squats on the ground, sorting things out. The suitcase was turned into a mess, and all the washed clothes were thrown into the basin next to her. She picked out the leftovers and tidied them one by one.

    Chargers, Band-Aids, sunscreen, and a box of pop-bead finger gloves.

    When Qi Yan stepped into the room, she saw Lu Zhiqiao taking out a small blue box from the suitcase¡ªa familiar pattern, and she could easily identify what it was at a glance.

    She was momentarily stunned.

    Hearing the footsteps, Lu Zhiqiao raised her head, and was caught off guard by Qi Yan''s astonished gaze. She was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly realized what she was holding in her hand. With a hot face, she hurriedly got up and was about to stuff it into the cabinet.

    Qi Yan grabbed her wrist first, "Did you use finger gloves?"

    "Keep your voice down." Lu Zhiqiao said angrily, blushing, "Niu Niu might hear you." Qi Yan stared at the small box and remained silent.

    Qiao Qiao actually wears finger gloves?

    But if she had been thicker skinned that night, she would have teased this woman, even if she had taken the initiative to say so, she didn''t even need to¨C

    Depend on that.

    She was the one to let go of the marshmallows in her mouth!

    What kind of gentlewoman was she pretending to be?!

    Her intestines are green with regret.

    She furrowed her brows and twisted her expression. Lu Zhiqiao looked at her in a daze, thinking she had misunderstood something. She quickly explained, "It''s not what you think... I brought this because..." The rest of the words got stuck in her throat.

    Long distance travel is lonely, she didn''t bring any small toys this time for fear of inconvenience. She thought of wearing finger gloves to relieve herself if she get uncomfortable. But she was very busy every day, and she fall asleep immediately at night. She wasn''t able to use the thing at all, and ended up bringing it back as it was.

    Yan Yan should not think that she is with someone else

    "Huh?" Qi Yan came back to her senses, "What am I thinking?"

    "I brought the one I wanted to use myself." Lu Zhiqiao was afraid that she would misunderstand, so she hugged her and explained without any shyness, "But I''ve been too busy these days to use it."

    "I know it''s for your own use, what do you think I''m thinking?" Qi Yan coughed lightly, and hugged her into her arms, "I''ll be here in the future, so don''t use it yourself, huh?" She kissed that tear mole.

    There is ambiguity in her words, and the implication is obvious.

    She will do Qiao Qiao tonight!

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t answer, and buried her face in her hair.

    At the beginning, Yan Yan told her that desire is something as common as eating and drinking. These words were like a key, unlocking the first layer of shackles in her heart. She began to try to face up and accept, and gradually no longer regarded desire as a scourge, she learned to enjoy it, and used it to please herself.

    Now that they are together, although she is still a bit shy when talking about these things in front of Yan Yan, she is not so ashamed anymore and also holds some expectations. They can develop more styles, please each other, and enjoy together.

    Just thinking about it makes her feel happy and excited.

    "Don''t cook at noon, eat out. In the afternoon, go to bed and rest, and I will clean the other unit." Knowing that she was shy, Qi Yan didn''t tease her anymore, her thin soft lips stuck to her ear and sucked, her voice extremely gentle.

    Lu Zhiqiao trembled and looked up, "I''ll clean with you, but you have to stay here tonight." After thinking for a moment, she said, "This is the home for the three of us

    "So impatient?" Qi Yan lowered her voice. "Ahem¡ª¡ª"

    Seeing the sly and ambiguous smile in her eyes, Lu Zhiqiao pretended to be angry, lowered her face, pinched her, and said angrily, "I don''t know what you''re thinking all day long."

    "Then I don''t know who is carrying finger gloves around either~"

    "Qi Yan!"

    "Hush." ??Qi Yan raised her index finger, "Be careful, Niu Niu will hear you."

    The two quarreled for a while, put away the finger gloves, squatted down and continued to organize things. When the packing was almost done, Qi Yan took the basin to the balcony, dug out the clothes to be washed in her suitcase, and threw them into the washing machine together.

    Lu Wei was still watching TV, looking at the balcony for a while, and the bedroom for a while, with a wicked smile on the corner of her mouth.

    Looking at Teacher Qi who seemed floating when she walks.

    Looking at the corners of her mother''s eyes and eyebrows shyly answering.

    They must have reconciled.

    She, Lu Wei, honored herself as the first "Mediation Gold Medalist" and rewarded herself with going to play with Sister Yao Yao on a simulation machine tomorrow.

    "Baby."

    Lu Zhiqiao came out of the bedroom, sat next to her daughter, and said with a smile, "Mom has something to tell you."

    "What?"

    The little girl turned her face away, and peeled a grape-flavored marshmallow for herself to eat, showing a curious expression.

    Qi Yan was tinkering with the washing machine on the balcony when she heard the voices of the mother and daughter. Knowing that Lu Zhiqiao was about to announce it to her daughter, she hesitated a bit. But soon, her thoughts were dispelled, and she turned around and stepped into the living room, sitting down to meet the eyes of the mother and daughter, looking back at them with a smile.

    Lu Wei looked at her mother, and then at Qi Yan. She couldn''t hold back for a moment, and blurted out, "You two are in a relationship." Lu Zhiqiao was stunned for several seconds.

    Qi Yan burst out laughing and coughed unceasingly.

    Then the two looked at each other, looked at their daughter at the same time, and nodded.

    The little girl was very calm, took a sip of the drink, moved her buttocks and sat next to Qi Yan, and said sweetly, "Hi, little mom."

    "Cough cough cough..."

    "Baby, it''s Auntie Yan." Lu Zhiqiao reminded.

    "My little mother''s surname isn''t Yan*." Lu Wei stuck out her tongue, as if deliberately antagonizing her.

    *the usual/formal format is: Surname + Title, so it''s supposed to be Qi ayi

    Qi Yan suppressed her laughter, causing her face to turn red and her body to tremble. She reached out to embrace her daughter with eyes full of admiration.

    The person whom she had been calling "Teacher Qi" for nearly a year, suddenly changed her name. Whether it was "Auntie Yan" or "Little Mom", Lu Wei felt a bit uncomfortable. For her, both titles were a change of tone, so it was better to choose the more friendly one.

    But then she realized that it seemed inconvenient to call out like this outside, if others heard it, they will think Qi Yan is her father''s little wife*.

    *someone''s mistress that he later married/second wife (while original wife is still alive), his kids can call the step-mom, little mom

    Lu Wei thought about it, and sorted out the relationship.

    Her mom is her biological mother, her little mom is not her real mother but similar to a stepmother, there is nothing wrong with that. If she had to take it too seriously, she wouldn''t know what to do.

    "Niu Niu, you can call me whatever you want. It''s okay, you just need to know that there is one more person who will love you in the family." Qi Yan looked down at her daughter and smiled.

    Having a precious daughter, she couldn''t even be happy enough. How could she be bothered by thing such as how she gets called? Of course, it''s all depends on the child''s happiness.

    Lu Wei raised her head, met Qi Yan''s gentle gaze, blinked, then suddenly put her arms around her neck, buried her face against her shoulder, and whispered ''okay''.

    She felt surrounded by love.

    The mother and daughter went out for lunch, Lu Zhiqiao went back to the bedroom to take a nap, and Qi Yan nestled on the sofa with her daughter to look at beautiful dresses.

    At about three o''clock, Lu Wei was going to practice the piano, and Lu Zhiqiao just woke up, so she got up and went to 902 with Qi Yan to clean up.

    The house has been empty for nearly three months, the furniture has no cover, and a thin layer of dust accumulated. The two of them work separately, first using a vacuum cleaner, then a sweeping robot, and then mopping and wiping the floor. It''s just a lot of dust and no particularly dirty place. The house was clean and spotless in no time.

    The sun gradually crept westward, and the golden red afterglow burned like fire, while the heat continued unabated.

    The cicadas on the tree sang more and more cheerfully.

    "Ah, the toilet hasn''t been cleaned yet, I''ll go and clean it." Qi Yan sat on the sofa to rest, and suddenly remembered, and before Lu Zhiqiao could hold her down, she got up and ran to the toilet.

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled helplessly. After sitting for a while, seeing electrical appliances and tools piled up in a mess, she got up, put the things back in place, and went into the study with the vacuum cleaner.

    As soon as she entered, a huge picture of a woman came into her sight, and she froze.

    Mountains, streams, and a hot woman.

    It was the one she saw when she first came to Qi Yan''s house.

    She doesn''t remember when this picture no longer appeared in the living room. Around that time, Qi Yan was pursuing her, and there was no more strange woman in the house, it was clean and clear.

    She thought Qi Yan had already thrown it away.

    So she still kept it?

    "It''s over, tonight we... Qiao Qiao?" Qi Yan''s voice came from outside, "Where are you?"

    The footsteps turned around a few times and walked towards the study.

    "Qiao¡ª"

    Qi Yan stepped into the study room, saw Lu Zhiqiao staring at the picture of a woman in a daze, her head buzzed, and her expression changed.

    It''s over.

    Author''s Note:

    Only after coaxing my wife can I eat marshmallows, hum~ (should there be bicycles* in the next chapter?) Hmm

    *I''m not sure what this meant, the only Chinese expression about bicycles I found is "What more bicycle do you want? which means "what else do you want?" But I have a feeling this means something more kinky, lol idk, if you know please help.

 CH 94

    Qi Yan put that photo away a long time ago. At that time, she considered disposing of it but thought it was a pity to throw it but it is not safe to give it away, so she decided to keep it in the study cabinet.

    A few days after that fight, she came back to get her things, saw the big photo in the cabinet, thought she and Lu Zhiqiao probably had no more chance, so she took it out again and hung it up, then turned off the electricity and water then left.

    After nearly three months, she had already forgotten about it.

    This is terrible.

    Qiao Qiao is the king of jealousy.

    A jar of old vinegar has been overturned, does she need to kneel on the keyboard all night tonight?

    This is such a joke, but they have just been together, and Qiao Qiao doesn''t feel very assured. Seeing this photo, she can''t help thinking wildly.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the photo and her throat choked up, even just looking at it makes her angry so she turned around and looked at the person behind her coldly, "So you still keep it."

    "I..." Qi Yan opened her mouth, not knowing how to explain for a moment.

    She turned her head and went out, and not long after, she came in with scissors in her hand and cut the photo in two. Soon, the photo was cut to pieces and unrecognizable, then she picked the pieces and threw them into the trash without mercy.

    After finishing all this, Qi Yan stood in front of Lu Zhiqiao and admitted her mistake in a low voice: "I''m sorry, I forgot to deal with it..."

    Lu Zhiqiao turned her face away.

    For most of the six months, Qi Yan pursued her fiercely and passionately. If she really had the intention, she should have thrown it away earlier, she had to wait until she saw it today to deal with it. Is it because she can''t let go or does she like her?

    Her heart surged with strong possessiveness, mixed with sourness, the thought that the person she loved kept someone else''s body photos, she would choke on her breath, almost feeling suffocated.

    "Qiao Qiao..." Qi Yan panicked and stretched out her arms to hug her, "I don''t usually use the study room very much. That photo was originally placed in the cabinet, but I forgot... After we quarreled last time I came back to get something and hung it up when I saw it, at that time I thought we..."

    She said it all at once with a somewhat hasty tone.

    She admits that in the beginning she thought it was a pity to lose it, because it was really well taken, and it was really pleasing to the eye from an artistic point of view. Her personality of looking at beautiful women was fine when she was single, but it would be fatal if she has a partner, so she had to change.

    Lu Zhiqiao listened quietly, her mood eased a little, but her heart was still uncomfortable, "When was it taken? Who is in the photo?"

    "About two or three years ago, I went abroad to participate in an event and met an international student. She...looked good and had a good body proportion. She wanted to earn some extra money, but it was not safe for men to shoot her. It happened that I wanted to find a model to shoot this at that time, but I couldn¡¯t find one that I was satisfied with, I thought she could do it, so we collaborated.¡±

    Qi Yan confessed honestly and tightened her arms.

    "And she''s a straight girl, steel straight! I didn''t tell her that I''m curvy. Generally, straight girls think of ''you have what I have'' and don''t think about other things."

    When she was single, she would not deliberately keep a distance from her straight girl friends, but of course she would not be too intimate. But it''s different now, she has Qiao Qiao, so special attention must be paid to this aspect.

    In the past, she used to be promiscuous and loved to play and make trouble, but now she has become a family, she should be more careful.

    "Yes, she has such a nice figure. You kept her here for so long", Lu Zhiqiao said sourly, glancing away.

    She believes Qi Yan''s explanation, she is not that unreasonable. Especially when she heard that the person in the photo is a straight girl, she felt more at ease. But it was probably caused by her possessiveness. As long as she thought that Yan Yan had taken someone else''s photo, she would feel sad, bothered and feel very uncomfortable.

    This person even praised someone else for their good figure.

    Although she doesn''t have a fit body, she unexpectedly has the curves in the right places.

    In short, she is better than the person in the photo.

    "I see it from an aesthetic perspective." Qi Yan coaxed softly, pursed her lips and kissed the corner of her mouth,  "Besides, who can have a better figure than Qiao Qiao, huh? I really like your two little babies to death.¡± As she spoke, her eyes moved to the X, and couldn¡¯t help reaching out to touch it.

    Lu Zhiqiao shivered like being electrocuted, her face flushed immediately, she gave her a shy look, and broke free.

    "Qiao Qiao~" Qi Yan swooped over and wrapped herself around again.

    "Let go!"

    "Don''t want to."

    "Who told you to hug me?"

    Qi Yan blinked, pretending to be aggrieved: "I can''t even hug my own wife?" Lu Zhiqiao is soft-hearted after all, and she became softer after being coaxed by a few words, she couldn''t bear to give Yan Yan a cold face anymore, but her heart was still not feeling well. It wasn''t jealousy, but a heavy feeling that she couldn''t explain.

    Everyone likes beautiful things, let alone a person like Yan Yan who deals with art, of course she can understand. Being too possessive is not a good thing. If not properly controlled, it can easily become a restriction on the freedom of speech. Obviously, she doesn''t want Yan Yan to compromise in order to please her. If things go on like this, their passion will recede, and they will end up looking at each other with disgust.

    A good relationship should be mutually achieved by each other, supporting each other, and sharing joys and sorrows.

    She didn''t want to make trouble for no reason.

    But if she says something, she is afraid that Yan Yan, a fool, would misunderstand and oppress herself to tolerate her.

    She doesn''t want that.

    "Wife~" with a whisper in her ear, the thin lips slowly crept up to her eyes, and stopped at her tear mole.

    Qi Yan held her face in one hand, sucked the tear mole carefully and restrained, and made a very soft click, "I want to take a picture for you, then enlarge it, print many of them, and hang them all over the wall."

    "Don''t..."

    Lu Zhiqiao collapsed weakly into Qi Yan''s arms. Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were firmly blocked, and the plundering breath came in, making her dizzy.

    Sparks sprang up everywhere, little by little, and gradually burning up.

    "Alright, let''s tidy up the things first." She blushed and pushed Qi Yan away, panting a bit and fleeing like a fugitive.

    Qi Yan smiled and followed her out, but she didn''t make a fuss anymore. She listened to her wife and packed up all the cleaning tools and electrical appliances, and checked the doors and windows again.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    The doors of the two houses are very convenient. Together, there are five bedrooms, four living rooms, three bathrooms and two kitchens. If the middle wall is opened, it can be made into a one-storey villa. But the two considered that this is a school district house and they will not live there for a long time. In the future, their daughter would have to move and sell it, and it would be difficult to sell after the renovation, so they gave up the idea.

    Lu Zhiqiao gave Qi Yan the key to 901.

    Her heart was a little heavy, and she couldn''t tell what it was, like a pimple, no matter how funny and coaxing Qi Yan was, she still felt powerless and unable to pull herself together.

    Qi Yan cooked their dinner, and Lu Zhiqiao washed the dishes after the meal.

    There was the sound of running water in the kitchen, clinking dishes and chopsticks, the sound of TV dramas in the living room, and the whispering of mother and daughter.

    "Little Mom, have you made Mom angry again?"

    "Cough cough cough."

    Lu Wei is in Qi Yan''s arms, hugging her neck, and said with a mature look: "You still want to hide it from me, I can see it, you put a lot of food for mom just now, and you always want to tease her, it looks like you committed a crime."

    "Little clever ghost." Qi Yan poked her on the forehead, smiled, and sighed: "Yes, I made her angry, so I have to coax her well."

    "Do you need my help?" The little girl winked, "I''m a ''mediation gold medalist'', including reconciliation and sweetness package."

    Qi Yan raised her brows: "Oh?"

    "Let me introduce to you my specialties, such as making small reports, creating opportunities to talk and get along, consciously avoiding..." She counted on her fingers.

    "Be honest, how many romance novels have you read?" Qi Yan interrupted, deliberately pulling her face down.

    Lu Wei froze, thinking she was serious, and pouted, "Little mom, you''re tearing down the bridge, the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked, the bird is hidden*, you¨C"

    *disposing something after it served its purpose

    Qi Yan couldn''t hold it back, and burst out laughing: "You''ve learned idioms pretty well."

    "Ah."

    "It seems that I taught well."

    "I didn''t expect you to be such a little mom." Lu Wei noticed that she was joking, and breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that her young heart had been hurt, she curled her little mouth and turned her face away.

    Qi Yan pinched her ears with a smile, and coaxed softly: "I''m just teasing you, don''t worry, your little mom is the best at coaxing people."

    There is a gentle and beautiful wife and a cute daughter at home. Qi Yan wished she could stick to the house and circle around the two of them every day. How can she have the heart to go wild? She naturally wants to hold them in her hands more, and she couldn''t bear to let any of them be hurt.

    The big one needs to be coaxed, and the young one also needs to be coaxed. She enjoys this feeling very much.

    Lu Wei turned her head and looked at her suspiciously, "You really don''t need my help?"

    "I don''t."

    As the night deepened, the three of them each took a bath.

    Qi Yan sat in her daughter''s room checking her homework. The little girl had been playing like crazy these days, she didn''t write much homework for the summer vacation, and there were still more than 20 days left before school started, so she had to supervise her carefully. Do the most difficult Mathematics first, then English, and finally Chinese.

    Although she is no longer a teacher, she still has experience. At least she can help her daughter pass the high school entrance examination.

    After resigning, she finally felt light-hearted. She no longer had to worry about being caught giving favors and no longer had to worry about rumors that would spread at any time. She can now openly dote on her daughter.

    Before she knew it, it was half past nine. Qi Yan closed the exercise book, put it on the side of the table, got up and rubbed her daughter''s head, "Okay, write the rest tomorrow, go to bed early."

    "Little Mom, don''t touch my head from now on." Lu Wei grabbed her hand and said dissatisfied.

    "Why?"

    "I''m not a child anymore." She raised her eyebrows, "You and mom are not allowed to touch, and you can''t even pinch my face."

    When she was a child, she liked her mother to touch her head very much, and even longed for more. But after entering junior high school, she found that she was different from her classmates. It turned out that everyone didn''t like to be too close to their parents, and she''s the only one who clings to her mothers like this all day.

    Others hope to go out and play with their peers, but she can''t wait to let her mother take her around. If she says that, she will be laughed at for not being weaned.

    This won''t work.

    She wants to solve most of the things by herself like Sister Yaoyao who is cool.

    Qi Yan looked at her daughter''s serious appearance, pursed her lips and smiled, and nodded again and again: "Okay, okay, I won''t touch your head or pinch your face from now on, Niu Niu is now grown, huh?"

    "That''s right." The little girl folded her arms.

    "Then, good night, big girl~"

    "Good night."

    Lu Wei turned off the desk lamp, walked to the bedside and pulled the quilt in a dignified manner, pretending to sleep. As soon as her little mom went out, she loosened the quilt, she immediately took out her precious smartphone, opened WeChat, and poked into the chat box marked "Sister Yaoyao"

    After coming out of her daughter''s room, Qi Yan went to 902 to get a bottle of perfume and two boxes of finger gloves. After coming back, she hurriedly brushed her teeth, then walked lightly into the master bedroom, and locked the door behind her.

    "Qiao Qiao~"

    The warm yellow wall lamp was lit in the master bedroom. Lu Zhiqiao was sitting on the bed with the laptop in her hands, and was typing away. Hearing the sound, she raised her eyes then continued to stare at the computer without saying a word.

    Qi Yan knows that her wife is angry and she shouldn''t do anything more to annoy her. However, after the lesson of "no finger gloves" that night, she learned from it and decided to thicken her face. Wife is unhappy? Just kiss and cuddle. Wife doesn''t want to do it? Just flirt and tease, just like what she''s doing now.

    "Qiao Qiao©¤©¤" Qi Yan shook off her shoes and sat on the bed, salivating and leaning over, "It''s really my fault today, I really know it''s wrong, don''t hold back if you feel uncomfortable, just scold me.¡±

    Lu Zhiqiao still didn''t speak, moved the mouse and clicked to save the document, shut down, and put the laptop on the table.

    "Wife~"

    She hugged Lu Zhiqiao, and kissed her ear with her thin lips.

    The air conditioner is blowing cold, and the bedroom is cool and dim, very comfortable. Tonight, Lu Zhiqiao is still wearing a nightgown, an apricot colored silk, very ordinary style, round neck tightly covered, not even a bit of scenery can be seen.

    Even so, the two little babies couldn''t hide, and the outline of the arc faintly looms, like soft dough wrapped in syrup.

    The air is filled with the scent of shower gel.

    Qi Yan stared at the little babies, and her throat gulped, and it got more itchy. She looked away with difficulty to find the tear mole.

    "Don''t move." Lu Zhiqiao frowned, raised her hand to press her face away gently. After being stunned for a moment, Qi Yan sighed, tilted her head and leaned on Lu Zhiqiao''s shoulder, and said to herself: "I''m too useless, making my girlfriend angry. Next time, I''ll take my keyboard and I''ll kneel all night."

    "Qi Yan."

    "Mm?"

    The person who had just directed and acted in a bitter drama immediately pouted and leaned over to kiss.

    "Do you think I''m making trouble for no reason?" Lu Zhiqiao turned to look at her with a serious expression.

    Qi Yan was startled: "No."

    "Actually, I... how should I put it, I always regard you as my exclusive, I''m always jealous, and I don''t want to see other people''s traces in your eyes... I am too narrow-minded, this might feel suffocating to you too..." Lu Zhiqiao lowered her eyes, her voice became deeper and deeper, and suddenly choked up.

    She hugged Qi Yan sideways, her eyes slightly moist.

    With the lessons learned from the last quarrel, she worried that she was "acting" with this mentality, and she didn''t want to lose Yan Yan again, so she simply kept it to herself.

    However, she has a soft ear when it comes to Yan Yan and she is coaxed into elation with just a few words, so grievance surges up, and she can''t restrain it.

    She takes Yan Yan too seriously.

    It''s like grabbing sand, the tighter she holds it, the faster the sand will flow out from her hands, and nothing will be left in the end.

    After a moment of silence, Qi Yan hugged the person in her arms tightly and patted her on the back.

    "Qiao Qiao, it''s good if you can speak out. No matter what problems we have in the future, we must communicate in time, and you are not allowed to hold back alone."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s body froze, and she responded in a low voice, "...Okay."

    The silk nightgown was slippery, and Qi Yan caressed it gently with her palms, she straightened her back, raised her hands to hold the woman''s face, and said with a smile: "Qiao, you will only be jealous if you love me. Just like I love you, I will be jealous, and I can¡¯t tolerate other people¡¯s traces in your eyes too. I did make a mistake today, so don¡¯t put a psychological burden on yourself. In addition to the business magazines in the company, I will only shoot you and our little girl, as well as the scenery.¡±

    "You are not allowed to say that you are narrow-minded, and you will be beaten if you indiscriminately use words like that, you understand?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was amused by her and the redness in her eyes gradually receded, she nodded lightly: "Got it, what Teacher Qi said is right."

    The warm light fell on her face, like a layer of tulle, ambiguous and hazy, and the black tear mole at the end of her eyes became more vivid and passionate.

    A fire in her heart suddenly ignited.

    Qi Yan closed her eyes, moved to the corner of her mouth, touched it, and grinded on it, careful and restrained, encroaching bit by bit, the more she tasted the more greedy she got.

    This person has rich experience and extremely sophisticated skills. Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help responding. After a while, she became dizzy and confused, as if sinking into a spring of oasis, falling continuously.

    "Qiao."

    "Mm."

    "You smell so good."

    The tip of her nose is lingering with the aroma of shower gel, but it''s too light and lacks atmosphere.

    This won''t do.

    Qi Yan picked up the perfume on the side, sprayed it a few times in the air, and a strong fragrance spread out.

    At first, it is cold and sweet lemon and cedar, and then it gradually transitions to rose, iris and vetiver, with a bit of dangerous temptation, which attracts people to explore, and finally melts and sinks in the thick sandalwood.

    Spicy, mysterious, and full of romance, it evokes a hidden sentiment.

    Lu Zhiqiao sniffed, her heart beat violently, and she opened her dazed eyes, "What kind of perfume is this?"

    "One Thousand and One Nights."

    The mist in her eyes shines, like drunkenness, revealing a little warmth.

    "Wife, can you help me put on the gloves?" Qi Yan whispered in her ear.

    Lu Zhiqiao had already collapsed into mud, limp and boneless. She fell down without her support. She couldn''t care less, so she could only agree to what she said.

    "Okay."

    She haven''t touched meat in the past year, and already have accumulated a lot of fire, which is swallowed up at once, like oil dripping into honey, sticky and sweet, like a raging flood rushing down.

    When passion is strong, it becomes more and more irresistible, but Lu Zhiqiao is extremely sensitive, fluctuating and sinking, making it difficult to control her throat.

    At this time, Lu Wei was chatting with Yan Shuyao with her phone.

    The sound from the master bedroom next door became louder and louder.

    She curled her lips, and finally couldn''t help it anymore. She turned over and got out of bed, went out, and knocked on the door of the room: "Mom, please keep your voice down."

    Author''s Note:

    Baby walker.jpg

 CH 95

    The moment she said the words, Lu Wei regretted it.

    She was originally chatting with Yan Shuyao on WeChat, and at first she heard a very muffled noise. She thought someone was arguing upstairs or downstairs, she didn''t care, but then the voice got louder, and there was an indescribable smell in it. She listened and it took her a long time to realize that it was her mother.

    The night is deep and silent, and the slightest sound seemed abrupt.

    It turns out that the xx sound depicted in the novel is like this.

    She thought about not bothering and putting up with it, but the sound was so loud that it always drew her attention, and she accidentally typed her inner tirade into words and almost sent it out.

    Sister Yaoyao almost saw it!

    So she couldn''t bear it anymore, rushed out and knocked on the door.

    But it''s too late to regret now.

    Time seems to be frozen, and the sound in the room stopped abruptly, like how a classroom goes quiet after the homeroom teacher suddenly appears. The surroundings were so quiet that she could hear the sound of her own breathing, which was inexplicably weird.

    Lu Wei closed her eyes in despair.

    What to do? What to do?  She didn''t scare her Moms, did she? She won''t be scolded, right?

    [Lu Wei, Lu Wei, why did you come out and knock on the door? From now on, your mother probably won''t like you, and your mother won''t want to talk to you, just go be invisible at home!]

    The little girl froze in the doorway, and the more she thought about it, the more desperate she became, and ran back to her room in a flash, wrapping herself in a blanket.

    If mom asks tomorrow, she will act as if she doesn''t know anything.

    The blanket was thin and a bit stuffy, and Lu Wei lay stiff for a while. She didn''t hear any more movement and breathed a sigh of relief. The phone placed next to her pillow suddenly vibrated, and she was startled. Taking a look, it was a message from Yan Shuyao.

    [Fell asleep?]

    In the darkness, the bright light from the screen reflected her face, which looked a little pale and eerie. She was flustered, and hurriedly typed:

    [I went to drink water, I''m a little thirsty]

    Yan Shuyao replied in seconds: [Would you like to come to my house tomorrow?]

    [All right.]

    The two continued to chat.

    In the master bedroom, the eggshell lamp emitted a faint and hazy yellow light, and the air was filled with a romantic and seductive fragrance, faintly mixed with other flavors.

    Two shadows melted together, and warmth flowed like water.

    Lu Zhiqiao lies on her back, breathing raggedly,  fine sweat seeping out from her forehead, as if surrounded by flames, making her feel very dry. The knock at the door startled her and she couldn''t help but tighten up, her heart beating faster.

    She was still floating on the clouds, her mind blank, and she suddenly thought she was hallucinating.

    "Qiao..."

    Qi Yan''s low and hoarse voice came from the end of the bed, she lifted her head, the water droplets on her face were reflected by the light like a fine sparkling broken diamond, "I can''t get out~"

    There was a seductive smile on the corner of her mouth, and she didn''t seem to be disturbed by the knock on the door at all.

    She was deep in the mud when it suddenly rained heavily, drenching her head and face. She was so immersed in joy that she couldn''t react when she heard a voice outside.

    Then her hand was trapped.

    Lu Zhiqiao shuddered at the sound, and shrank again. She felt a strong sense of shame. She frowned, turned over, rolled up the blanket to cover herself tightly, and buried her face in the pillow.

    "Wife..." Forced to withdraw her hand, Qi Yan pounced on her with unfulfilled desire

    "Look at my face, it''s all your¡ª"

    "Cut it out." Lu Zhiqiao said sullenly, "How can you explain it to Niu Niu, aren''t you ashamed?"

    Her cheeks were very hot, and the temperature spread from her head to her feet, as if she was in a steamer, and she felt annoyed.

    She had been silent for too long. She tasted the fishy taste once by chance, and she remembered that taste deeply in her heart. The more time passed, the more unforgettable it became. The atmosphere tonight was just right, and she couldn''t help herself. At first she was able to restrain herself a bit, but then she felt like being bitten by thousands of ants, her nerves were numb, and she simply stopped suppressing herself anymore.

    And then she tasted the consequences of her indulgence.

    Her desire became crazy, like an out-of-control faucet, drowning her reason.

    Her daughter is not too old or young. She is at a critical stage of growth and development, and her sense of independence has just sprouted. As a mother, she did not guide her well, but instead set a bad example. She felt simply ashamed.

    But on second thought, idol dramas and romance novels nowadays are more or less related to this aspect of content, and children may not be unfamiliar with it every day.

    It''s just that no matter whether her daughter understands or doesn''t understand, she has completely casted a shadow tonight.

    Her thoughts were completely broken.

    "There''s no need to explain." Qi Yan pulled the blanket, revealing her flushed head, and leaned over to peck her ear. "Just pretend nothing happened. The more natural the better, the more you squirm about it, the more awkward you''ll feel."

    "How could I pretend that nothing happened?"

    Lu Zhiqiao pushed her away, then pulled the blanket over her head, and said angrily, "It''s all your fault, be gentle, don''t use your mouth, you..."

    Before she could finish her words, she couldn''t help but feel ashamed that she stretched out her hand and pinched Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan grabbed her hand, kissed it curtly, and comforted softly: "Mm, blame me, blame me, I''ll listen to my wife next time." She rushed over again, and gently lifted the corner of the blanket, "Let''s do it again, okay?¡±

    The tip of her nose touched Lu Zhiqiao''s lips, and she felt hot. The water on her face dripped impartially onto Lu Zhiqiao''s lips, and seeped in along the gap.

    "No more, uh..." Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth, tasted a little salty taste, and subconsciously smacked her lips, "What is it? Are you crying?"

    She turned her neck and looked at Qi Yan.

    The dim yellow light shone on Qi Yan''s face, and the finely lined water beads became more translucent. There were still a few drops hanging on the woman''s eyelashes, and her brows were wet and matted together, as if she had washed their face thoroughly.

    She suddenly remembered the words she had just interrupted.

    Wife~"Qi Yan gave a cunning smile and lowered her eyes to suck on the tear mole." How do you feel about your own taste?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was immediately annoyed, and pulled her hair gently.

    ©¤©¤hiss

    The force was like tickling and Qi Yan cooperated with "Ouch", hugged her, and showered her with light kisses.

    "Qiao Qiao~"

    "No, go to sleep."

    They finally got their true first time, and before they could savor the enjoyment slowly, they were interrupted by their daughter. Qi Yan felt unhappy and tired to coax her wife to continue. But Lu Zhiqiao''s heart has become restless, even though the lingering charm was still there, she couldn''t get excited, no matter how much Qi Yan coaxed her, she refused.

    Qi Yan is a little disappointed. She herself wasn''t bothered at all about it. She used to take her girlfriend home for the night and play on the open balcony. Their voices get a little louder, and reach the third floor, disturbing Ms. Lin who pets the cat upstairs.

    Fortunately, Ms. Lin didn''t take offense, and didn''t say anything, but asked her to pay attention to hygiene.

    The atmosphere at home was like that, so she is not too shy about these things. They just pretend that nothing has happened, they don''t speak and expose other people''s faces.

    But Lu Zhiqiao is different.

    Considering Qiao Qiao''s upbringing, it is not so easy to change her inherent thinking all at once, and it is rare to even be able to reach this point. Now that this kind of thing happened, she was worried that Qiao Qiao''s original ideas would revive, and then their efforts would be in vain.

    No matter how passionate her desire is, there''s no need to hurry at the moment.

    "Okay, let''s sleep." Qi Yan kissed her forehead, "Let me wipe it for you first."

    The mud was flooded, so it must be uncomfortable. Qi Yan first wiped it with a tissue, then took a wet one to wipe it carefully, and finally wiped it a second time with a dry tissue to make it clean.

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her thin lips tightly, and grabbed the blanket with her fingers.

    She heard the beeping sound of the air conditioner. Qi Yan must''ve turned up the temperature with the remote control and set the time. Then she heard Qi Yan clap her hands and the lights went out suddenly, and the surroundings fell into darkness and silence.

    "Wife~" That woman''s soft voice was next to her ears, and she fell into a warm embrace instantly, "It''s okay, let''s take it easy tomorrow, Niu Niu won''t take the initiative to bring it up, even if she asks, I will be there, don''t worry. From now on we will go to the opposite side at night..."

    Lu Zhiqiao covered her mouth with her hand.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    The next day, Qi Yan woke up early and wanted to let Lu Zhiqiao sleep more, so she went to make breakfast first.

    At about half past seven, Lu Zhiqiao woke up leisurely. The moment she opened her eyes, her mind was completely blank. She didn''t get up immediately, but lay down for a while, staring at the lampshade on the ceiling, suddenly remembering what happened last night and her cheeks flushed a little.

    The air conditioner turns off automatically at a set time, now the room was a bit stuffy. The curtains blocked the strong light outside, so it was also dark.

    She held her breath.

    There was no movement outside the bedroom, not to mention the sound of her daughter''s voice. She quickly got up, changed into last night''s matching clothes, packed her handbag, and tiptoed out the door.

    Seeing that the door of the second bedroom was closed tightly, she breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to the kitchen.

    Qi Yan is standing in front of the stove, stirring the soup spoon gently, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly hugged her from behind, and pressed her lips against her, "What''s cooking?"

    "Hiss¡ª" Qi Yan trembled, "You''re going to scare me to death." Then she tilted her head against her face and smiled, "Porridge, it will be ready soon, go wash up and eat."

    "Niu Niu hasn''t gotten up yet."

    "Which kid doesn''t stay late in bed during summer vacation?"

    "I..." Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth, but stopped talking.

    Qi Yan seemed to know what she was going to say, so she patted the back of her hand and comforted her gently: "Do whatever you want, it''s okay, I''ll take you to work after dinner, hmm?"

    This person likes to hum, but she also likes to listen to it. Once she hears it, she becomes soft. She just feels that this tenderness is infinite, and she wants to cling and never let go.

    Lu Zhiqiao relaxed a lot in her heart, and kissed her face on her own initiative, said yes, and turned her head to wash up.

    In the past, when her daughter was at home, Lu Zhiqiao strictly required her to go to bed early and get up early, no later than 11:00 at night, and no later than 8:30 in the morning. This has been the case for several years and developed into a habit. But today, until 8:30, the little girl still hasn''t woken up.

    Lu Zhiqiao felt more relaxed, and let Qi Yan drive her to the company. The two of them spent some time in the car, then she went upstairs.

    As soon as she stepped into the company, those complicated thoughts were left behind.

    After returning from a business trip, Lu Zhiqiao had a lot of things to do. She had been busy all morning, held meetings, reported to Shu Minxi, and looked at the schedule for the coming week. She hardly had time to stop.

    Shu Minxi was busier than her. She came back from Japan in mid-July and went to Europe within two days. After returning, she visited various branches in China. She just got off the plane this morning and came to the company without taking a break.

    "At present, our market share in Africa is 70%, and we have received policy support in recent years¡­"

    "Once the cake is ready, other companies will be jealous and naturally want to get a share. But in recent years, the company has almost monopolized the electronic products in Africa, and it is not easy for other companies to make it, so we have to guard the cake even more."

    The reporting back, she touched up on the "black case"* regarding the branch management.

    *anonymous complaint/report

    Mr. Zhang can''t do it.

    Shu Minxi listened absent-mindedly, her eyes were slightly cold, and she spoke after a while: "I''m planning to transfer him back and then down to the North China Branch."

    Compared with the tiredness between her brows and eyes, Lu Zhiqiao''s complexion was rosy, and the corners of her eyes and brows were full of energy, making her look more radiant.

    Like a delicate flower nourished by abundant nutrients.

    The wall clock points to twelve o''clock.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded, didn''t speak, and was about to get up to say goodbye. Shu Minxi stood up before her, and walked to the window, "I asked Xiao Jiang to go to the hotel to order food. You can eat at my place at noon." After speaking, the woman turned around and looked out the window. She looked at the back, and swallowed the words that came to her lips.

    It''s not the right time to tell others about her and Yan Yan, especially since the two companies have business cooperation, and things involving interests are uncertain.

    She''ll have to say it sooner or later, maybe when everyone is ready.

    "By the way." Shu Minxi suddenly turned around and smiled at her, "Didn''t you say last time that you wanted to know about me and Director Gu?"

    Lu Zhiqiao blinked and nodded.

    The days are long in summer, the sky is still bright at six o''clock, and the last ray of the setting sun has not set yet.

    When Lu Zhiqiao came out of the office building, she saw a familiar white car parked there at first glance, like a child waiting for her mother to pick her up after kindergarten. Her heart was filled with warmth and she quickly walked over, opened the door and got in the car.

    "Let Her Land" was playing in the car. Qi Yan sat in the driver''s seat, tilted her head, took off her sunglasses, and raised the corners of her mouth at her: "Wife, your Yan Yan has come."

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned over and left a lipstick mark on her face.

    "The girl didn''t say anything, did she?"

    "No, she went to play at a classmate''s house and just came back."

    Qi Yan propped up the seat with both hands, leaned in front of her, sniffed her nose, smelled the cold fragrance of the cloud and the wind, drunk in her eyes, and said with a charming smile: "I told my parents that I have a girlfriend. They are curious and want to meet you."

    Lu Zhiqiao froze.

    "So..." She moved closer again, her charming voice was a bit seductive, "You and Niu Niu come home with me this weekend, hmm?"

 CH 96

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    The scorching breath blew onto her face, and Lu Zhiqiao felt itchy. She tilted her head slightly, but her chin was abruptly caught, and a gentle force compelled her to turn her face back.

    Her face grew slightly warm as Qi Yan''s lips approached.

    Lu Zhiqiao straightened her posture, suddenly feeling a bit nervous, not because of the kiss on her cheek, but because of Qi Yan''s mention of "meeting the parents." Her chest felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on it, making it difficult for her to breathe.

    They had only been together for less than half a month, and they hadn''t fully enjoyed the sweet and joyful taste of a passionate relationship. It seemed too fast for them to meet the parents. Besides, in her heart, Boss Qi was still Boss Qi. Suddenly having to transform into "Qi Yan''s father" and even calling him "Dad" herself was something she couldn''t get used to.

    A hesitant expression appeared on her face.

    Qi Yan sensed her emotions, as if she had anticipated it, and smiled to reassure her, "It''s okay. If you''re not ready, there''s no rush. I''ll tell them to wait for a while."

    "Hmm." Lu Zhiqiao nodded and leaned closer to her. "Let''s wait a little longer. I feel it''s too soon."

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan felt that Lu Zhiqiao is particularly beautiful today. Her makeup was exquisite and charming, adding a touch of vibrancy without being overly extravagant or dull. Especially with the orange-toned reddish-brown lipstick, her lips looked plump, exuding a strong presence.

    She is wearing a navy blue half-sleeve blouse with a classic stand-up collar. The buttons were fastened all the way to the top, covering her up completely. However, the more she concealed, the more it aroused curiosity about the secrets hidden inside.

    Qi Yan stared at her collar, her gaze involuntarily filled with heat.

    The air conditioning in the car was running at full blast, but it couldn''t suppress the fire burning in the depths of their hearts. The scent in the air only intensified the suppressed desires. In the next second, Qi Yan leaned forward, like a fierce beast launching an attack, and seized those lips.

    "Mmm¡ª"

    Lu Zhiqiao was caught off guard and immediately went weak. Her head almost hit the car window, but a hand quickly caught it and protected her.

    She closed her eyes and allowed herself to be swept away by her impulsiveness.

    The scent of creamy chocolate filled the air as Qi Yan''s lips were smeared with lipstick. She paid no attention to it and was determined to make up for the incomplete pleasure from last night.

    "Yan Yan¡ª"

    Lu Zhiqiao let out a low hum, catching Qi Yan''s hand and turning her head to avoid it. "Not now..."

    She thought it would just be a kiss, some playful teasing, but it was getting more and more presumptuous, making her uneasy. Even though they were in the car, there were people coming and going outside the office building. If she wasn''t careful, they could be seen, and she didn''t feel safe, especially after what happened last night. She was scared.

    "Oh? So, it''ll be later then?" Qi Yan immediately stopped, raised an eyebrow, and continued teasing.

    Lu Zhiqiao opened her eyes and saw the mischievous smile in Qi Yan''s eyes. She wasn''t annoyed and cooperatively softened her voice. "In the future, whatever you want, you can have it." After speaking, she took the initiative to hook her neck and buried her face in her hair.

    Qi Yan was dumbfounded.

    Is this her wife?

    Is this the same Lu Zhiqiao who would blush and shyly pinch her and pull her hair whenever she "bullied" her?

    Qi Yan initially suppressed those thoughts, knowing it wasn''t appropriate in this place. But with Lu Zhiqiao teasing her like this, those thoughts resurfaced. She blinked, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Is that so, Vice President Lu?"

    "..."

    As soon as she heard that title, Lu Zhiqiao felt uncomfortable all over, as if her colleagues and subordinates had immediately seen this side of her in private, which could cost her dearly.

    "Don''t call me that."

    "I''m just calling Vice President Lu, Vice President Lu, Vice President Lu..."

    Lu Zhiqiao glared at her.

    Qi Yan became even more spirited, pinching her chin and smiling. "After work, who would think that Vice President Lu didn''t go home and instead sat in the car at the company entrance, being held down by someone¡­Ouch..."

    Her hair was forcefully tugged.

    She quickly pleaded, "Wife, I was wrong. Please don''t pull it. I''ll go bald."

    "Let it go bald then." Lu Zhiqiao glared at her again, but despite her words, she immediately released her grip and gently rubbed her scalp.

    Qi Yan was used to being obedient and took the opportunity to peck her on the face. "No, that won''t do. I promised you that I''ll grow my hair."

    As hair was mentioned, Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes dimmed momentarily, and her grip became softer. She pressed her lips together and remained silent, her gaze unintentionally falling on the dark red scratch on Qi Yan''s arm, which she had left there last night.

    Then, she recalled many things.

    Yan Yan doted on her, accommodated her, and in just a few months, pulled her out of the abyss for the most part. How could she not cherish having someone as wonderful as Qi Yan in her world?

    Lu Zhiqiao smiled and raised her hand to cup Qi Yan''s face. "I won''t pull your hair anymore in the future."

    As she spoke, another kiss was stolen.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    ¡­.

    The two of them returned home, and their daughter was sitting in the living room watching TV while snacking, completely relaxed.

    Lu Zhiqiao reminded herself to act natural, as if hypnotized, and it actually worked. She put down her bag, changed her shoes, poured some water to drink, all in a natural and effortless manner, as if nothing had happened.

    "Baby, eat fewer snacks. We''ll have dinner soon."

    "Mmm."

    The little girl immediately put down the marshmallow in her hand.

    Lu Zhiqiao turned and entered the bedroom, while Qi Yan sat down next to their daughter and casually grabbed a marshmallow, peeling it open to eat. "Hmm, grape flavor is pretty good."

    Lu Wei looked at her, her words stuck in her throat.

    "The female lead is really beautiful. She looks familiar. Who plays her?" Qi Yan naturally sensed the gaze beside her but ignored it, focusing on watching TV.

    The dishes in the kitchen were all chopped and washed, and the rice was cooking in the rice cooker. She just needed to stir-fry a dish later. Taking advantage of the moment, Qi Yan helped stabilize the "situation" with Lu Zhiqiao and quickly let go of what happened last night.

    The little girl must have wanted to talk to her.

    Lu Wei didn''t even look at the TV and said, "Wang XX."

    "Oh, I remember now. She played in that drama, ''xxxx,'' right?"

    "Uh-huh."

    Qi Yan peeled another marshmallow and ate it.

    "Little Mom..." After hesitating for a while, Lu Wei finally spoke up, "I want to tell you something."

    "What is it?"

    She nervously said, "I want to adopt a cat."

    Qi Yan was taken aback for a moment, unsure whether it was unexpected or relieving. After a while, she responded with a smile, "Why do you suddenly want to adopt a cat?"

    "I''ve always wanted to, but Mom wouldn''t allow it because we don''t have time to take care of one." Lu Wei held onto her clothes and looked at her with an inquiring gaze, filled with anticipation.

    "Today, I went to my senior sister''s house and saw that she has one. It''s really cute!"

    Qi Yan reached out to grab a marshmallow but realized it was gone. She pulled her hand back and glanced at the bedroom, pondering for a moment before asking, "Niu Niu, do you want to adopt a cat because you like cats, or is it because you saw your senior sister have one and you also want to have one?"

    "I like them."

    "Really?"

    The little girl nodded firmly.

    Qi Yan continued to ask, "Can you take care of the kitten properly? You need to feed it, give it water, clean its litter box every day, and also be careful to prevent it from getting sick. What if you can''t do all that?"

    "No ''ifs''. I can do it," Niu Niu answered without hesitation.

    Children have simple minds. When they like something, they like it without much hesitation or complexity. Qi Yan thought to herself that her daughter probably didn''t dare to talk to Lu Zhiqiao about it because she lacked the confidence to persuade her mother. So she approached her instead. Her little brain was clever, knowing that Qi Yan doted on her and was easy to talk to.

    Qi Yan instinctively raised her hand to pinch Niu Niu''s cheek but paused, then instead wrapped her arm around her shoulder and pulled her into an embrace. "Alright, I''ll discuss it with your mom another day. The probability of success is about 70 percent."

    As long as Lu Zhiqiao isn''t afraid of cats or allergic to animal fur, it should be negotiable.

    "Hehe~" Lu Wei''s eyes sparkled, and she happily held onto Qi Yan''s arm. "Little Mom, you''re the best. I love you the most~"

    After the flight landed in Tokyo, Shu M¨«n Xi came out of the airport and got into a black sedan, heading straight for the outskirts.

    The countryside was peaceful, with clean and smooth roads. The slanted-roof houses with white walls and black tiles were scattered harmoniously. The hills and mountains undulated, and the fields were lush with green vegetation, creating a secluded and tranquil atmosphere.

    The scenery remained mostly unchanged, but the people were different now.

    Many years ago, Shu Min Xi was a newcomer in the company with no grand ambitions. She just wanted to work steadily and earn a salary. At that time, the company was still in its early stages, and its biggest partner was the Aoki family. During a business trip, Mr. Aoki brought along his precious daughter, Saki.

    At that time, Shu Min Xi had recently passed her probation period and had already secured three major deals. She showed competence in various aspects, and the boss, Gu Shuning, took notice of her. She personally mentored and guided her.

    During the reception for the Aoki family, she accompanied Saki throughout the entire process.

    At that time, Saki had her eyes and heart set on Gu Shuning, while Shu Min Xi had no romantic feelings and initially treated Saki as a friend. However, after Gu Shuning explicitly rejected Saki, over time, Saki lost her infatuation as well.

    Saki had been residing in China and studying fine arts. She and Shu Min Xi were of similar age and had frequent interactions, which gradually developed into romantic feelings.

    Shu Min Xi didn''t consider herself naturally inclined towards same-sex relationships. She felt that she had been "bent" by Saki, and once bent, there was no turning back. She believed that being in a relationship with a girl was beautiful, like entering a sweet dream, and she didn''t want to wake up from it.

    However, she was ultimately a person living in reality and had to bow down to it.

    Later, there were serious internal conflicts within the Aoki family. Mr. Aoki wanted Saki to marry someone from another influential family that matched their social status. Various complex factors came into play. They eventually broke up, and after Saki returned to Japan, she quickly got married and had a daughter.

    Saki was discontented with her marriage and led a turbulent life. She realized that sacrificing her own happiness didn''t bring peace to her family. In the end, she went through a difficult divorce, distanced herself from family matters, and lived alone with her daughter.

    Over the years, there were intermittent contacts between them. Neither of them could let go.

    Shu Min Xi''s true resentment wasn''t towards Saki but towards the old man. However, considering the company''s interests, she couldn''t openly break ties and had to endure it for many years. She had accumulated a lot of anger inside, and whenever she saw Saki, she couldn''t help but make cutting remarks.

    Yesterday, she dreamt about her.

    With a busy schedule ahead, including a business trip tomorrow, she allowed herself to come here today. The car stopped in front of that small house, and a crowd of people had gathered at the entrance, making a lot of noise. Shu Min Xi asked the driver to keep a distance and got out of the car, walking towards them.

    Those people were debt collectors from various parties. It was unclear what had brought them together today, but they all looked fierce and seemed ready to devour someone.

    The small house had grown moss again in front of its door, and mildew stains were visible in the corners. Large patches of the white paint on the walls had peeled off.

    Saki was surrounded by the crowd, holding her young daughter in her arms. She kept bowing and apologizing to everyone. Her face was wrinkled, with a bitter smile on her lips. Her eyes appeared lost and helpless, like withered leaves shaken by a fierce wind.

    "Am I interrupting?" Shu Min Xi observed for a moment and approached.

    The crowd fell silent.

    The woman''s gaze swept over and landed on Shu Min Xi''s face, freezing in an instant.

    There was a mixture of surprise, irony, and pity in her eyes¡­

    She lifted her eyes and met that gaze, feeling a prick in her heart, but then calmly looked away.

    Perhaps because she was dressed differently and stood out, the voices of the people causing the commotion grew quieter. However, it was only natural to repay debts when owed, and they stood firm in their principles. When Shu Min Xi asked about the amount, she thought it would be a staggering sum, but it turned out to be just a few million yen.

    The former rich young lady had fallen to the point where she couldn''t even come up with that small amount of money.

    Shu Min Xi wanted to gloat, but she couldn''t bring herself to laugh. As she looked at Saki''s helpless and embarrassed face, she felt a surge of heartache. She had come today to settle things once and for all, and it seemed that even the heavens were giving her an opportunity.

    She repaid the money on behalf of Saki.

    Entering the yard, she noticed a bird''s nest on a short tree, and the chirping sounds from the branches. The small house remained old, clean, simple, yet warm. The tea was still the same as last time, piping hot, blending shades of green and yellow.

    Shu Min Xi didn''t gulp down the tea like last time, but instead sipped it slowly in small sips, remaining silent. Her gaze fell on the doorway, watching the little girl surrounded by toys, and a slight furrow formed on her smooth forehead.

    "I... I will repay you the money as soon as possible," Saki stared at her face, afraid that Shu Min Xi would be angry and vent her frustration on her daughter. She hurriedly spoke the words she had been preparing for a long time.

    And then she added, "Thank you."

    She thought that their previous parting meant farewell forever, but unexpectedly, Shu Min Xi had come, appearing in front of her without any defenses.

    A flicker of hope ignited in Saki''s once lifeless heart.

    "Are you relying on child support to repay?" Shu Min Xi raised an eyebrow.

    Saki lowered her head, remaining silent, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

    "In the past, you helped me, and today I''m helping you. We''ll call it even," Shu Min Xi said as she lifted the cup and took a sip of tea.

    It tasted a bit bitter, not as fragrant as last time.

    The tea leaves hadn''t changed, and the water was the same, but perhaps it was the change in people''s moods.

    Setting down the cup, Shu Min Xi looked at her and said, word by word, "If you''re willing, come back to China with me. If you''re not willing, we''ll never contact each other again."

    Upon hearing the first half of the sentence, Saki felt a glimmer of joy, but she also had concerns. She instinctively glanced at her daughter. However, when she heard the second half of the sentence, the spark that had ignited in her heart extinguished. It felt like Shu Min Xi was pressing her sensitive spot, forcing her to make a choice.

    "You can bring your daughter with you," Shu Min Xi added.

    Saki was taken aback. She lifted her head, and the smile that was about to bloom froze on her face. She saw the sympathy, pity, and even charity in Shu Min Xi''s eyes. It felt like something inside her collapsed and fell to the ground.

    She contemplated for a while and said, "Then let''s not contact each other anymore."

    She had never imagined that Shu Min Xi would accept her daughter. She believed that she should raise her own child and bear the consequences of her past mistakes. Despite the decline and no longer glorious status of her family, she couldn''t let go of her pride. She was unwilling to live a life of dependence and charity.

    In China, there''s a saying: "There''s no never-ending feast*."

    *all good things must come to an end

    Loneliness is the norm in life.

    Shu Min Xi gazed calmly at her, her expression serene, and softly uttered one word, "Okay."

    ¡­.

    After the beginning of autumn, there were several thunderstorms followed by continuous rainfall, and the temperature remained high.

    Qi Yan developed the photos she took in Africa into an album. She kept a copy at home and gave one to Chi Nian to satisfy her curiosity and alleviate the discomfort of late pregnancy. Then she carefully selected a dozen photos to participate in competitions and exhibitions.

    In recent days, she was photographing for the company''s magazine and had plenty of free time. Seeing the various high-heeled shoes in the shoe cabinet at home reminded her of the need to encourage Lu Zhiqiao to exercise, so she created a fitness plan.

    On the weekend, Qi Yan took Lu Zhiqiao to a private gym.

    "Do we really have to work out?" Lu Zhiqiao asked.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at the room filled with gym equipments, and a sense of fear surged within her. She had an extremely reluctant expression on her face.

    "It''s necessary," Qi Yan embraced her and coaxed in a soft voice, "Qiao, think about it. We both wear high heels, but you get tired after just a few steps while I''m still full of energy. Do you want to always be ''bullied'' by me due to such a big difference in stamina, hmm?"

    The air conditioning was on full blast, making the room cool and dim. Qi Yan approached her with a warm fragrance, like a sponge soaked in water, soft and moist, inviting closeness.

    Subconsciously, Lu Zhiqiao clung to her shoulders and asked in confusion, "When have you ever bullied me?"

    "Does it not count in bed?" Qi Yan smirked mischievously.

    "..."

    In the next moment, she was pinched.

    Qiao Qiao promised not to pull her hair, and she did keep her word. Qiao Qiao took good care of her long and shiny hair, but in return, her arms suffered. Every few days, she would get pinched because of her indecent remarks, which was truly miserable.

    "You always have a head full of random thoughts," Lu Zhiqiao scolded, pushing her away and heading towards the changing room with her bag.

    Qi Yan followed along, acting all clingy.

    The changing room was for single-person use, with no divider in the middle, but it was spacious enough for two people to change comfortably. Lu Zhiqiao had planned for them to take turns, but to her surprise, as soon as she entered and put down her bag, she turned around and saw Qi Yan following her in.

    "Why don''t you go first?"

    "Together."

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, her face instantly turning red. She whispered, "You can go first..." and lowered her head, intending to leave.

    As she took a step forward, she was suddenly held back by a strong force, causing her to stumble back into Qi Yan''s warm embrace. When she lifted her gaze, she met Qi Yan''s gentle eyes.

    "Don''t be shy. We''ve already seen everything we need to see."

    The warm breath brushed against her ear, making Lu Zhiqiao tremble. Before she could say anything, Qi Yan released her and turned to get her clothes from the bag, casually starting to change.

    Her figure was well-proportioned, with firm muscles and smooth lines. Long legs, slender waist. Although she was thin, she looked powerful in every way. From head to toe, it was all gradually revealed. Everywhere.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared, her throat involuntarily swallowing a few times, and her cheeks gradually grew warmer.

    Indeed, they had seen everything.

    However, she couldn''t seem to get enough of it, becoming more and more infatuated. It was as if she were a piece of iron being irresistibly drawn to a magnet, unable to control herself.

    The scene was fragrant, revealing and yet not fully revealing.

    Qi Yan changed quickly, putting on a matching set of couple''s outfit consisting of pants and a tank top. But to Lu Zhiqiao, it was as if nothing existed. That image was already imprinted on her retina, automatically blocking out the clothes and imagining a continuous landscape instead.

    Realizing her own thoughts, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart raced faster, and she became flustered.

    Why was she constantly thinking of all sorts of things?

    Was it because this person was indecently seducing her, or was it because she was inherently...

    Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand and covered her face. Her palms were icy cold, but her face was burning hot. Conveniently, there was a mirror hanging on the opposite wall. As she lifted her gaze, she saw her face flushed like a cooked shrimp.

    "Wife~" Qi Yan, sensing her gaze, inwardly chuckled and leaned in to give her a kiss. "Do I have a good figure?"

    "...Yes."

    The sports tank top had a large round collar, revealing the straight clavicles. Lu Zhiqiao''s gaze slightly shifted, fixating on those two curves. She blinked her eyes, and a gulp formed in her throat.

    "Do you like it?" Qi Yan lowered her voice.

    "...Yes, I do."

    "Tonight, would you like to see more?" Qi Yan teased.

    Author''s Note:

    Qiao Qiao: I''m dirty, I''m dirty, I''m dirty.

 CH 97

    After Qi Yan finished speaking, she grabbed the person around the waist and pressed her against the wall, kissing her passionately.

    There was no cream chocolate-flavored lipstick today. Her lips were soft, sweet, and slightly swollen from being kissed and sucked on multiple times. She exhaled short breaths, each one landing on her face. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment of pleasure.

    Lu Zhiqiao let out a muffled groan, unconsciously gripping her shoulders, unable to resist.

    Perhaps she liked it too.

    She likes the way Yan Yan only shows her thoughts to her. She likes how Yan Yan''s mouth only teases her. She likes how Yan Yan only gives her accommodation and love. She likes how Yan Yan''s eyes are full of her.

    It is a feeling of being surrounded by love.

    "Qiao¡ª"

    Qi Yan finally released her lips, half-closing her eyelids, her gaze blurred as she looked at her. "I really... think of you every day. I think of you when I eat, when I drink water, when I sleep, when I do anything. Even though you are already by my side, I still feel it''s not enough..."

    As Lu Zhiqiao said, Qi Yan''s mind is filled with all sorts of random thoughts, but all these "random things" revolve around Lu Zhiqiao.

    That''s how it is during the honeymoon phase. Constantly wanting to stick together, playfully teasing each other, restless hands, everything said and done is only related to each other. Their eyes and hearts can only accommodate each other. However, the honeymoon phase is not permanent. When the passion cools down, the mundane life continues.

    She never worries about life becoming dull. She does what needs to be done in each phase, enjoying it fully, without dwelling on things that haven''t happened yet.

    "I feel the same way," Lu Zhiqiao whispered.

    "Wouldn''t you find me annoying? Fed up with being around me?"

    "No."

    "Really?" Qi Yan raised an eyebrow.

    Lu Zhiqiao curved her lips, cupping her face with both hands, and gently pecked her lips. "I like it when you cling to me," she said, then kissed her again, leaning close to her ear and lowering her voice. "And it can only be me."

    The black tear mole became enticing as her emotions stirred, appearing even more captivating. Her face blushed with shyness. Qi Yan gazed at her, with eyes filled with intoxication. She lightly kissed her soft lips, teasing and lingering for more.

    After a while of embracing and kissing, Lu Zhiqiao remembered that she came to exercise. She gently pushed her away and said, "Alright, I''ll change my clothes."

    Qi Yan understood and stopped teasing her. She took out a couple''s sportswear from her bag and helped her change.

    At first, Lu Zhiqiao blushed and resisted a little, but she couldn''t resist Qi Yan''s gentle and persuasive words. She compromised and let her help her change. She had initially thought it would ignite a passionate fire, but she underestimated Qi Yan''s self-control. She could be mischievous like a hooligan at times, yet serious and earnest at other times, which delighted her greatly.

    After changing clothes, Qi Yan didn''t immediately make Lu Zhiqiao start exercising. Instead, she took her around the gym, showing her various equipment and demonstrating their usage.

    Then they warmed up.

    Considering Lu Zhiqiao''s busy work schedule, with only occasional weekends available for exercise, Qi Yan didn''t impose too many requirements. She just wanted her to get some movement and let her body adapt gradually.

    As someone who hadn''t exercised regularly for a long time, Lu Zhiqiao easily grew tired. After spending some time on the elliptical machine, she felt herself getting sleepy. Her mind went blank, and she sat down without moving, eventually dozing off. It was only when Qi Yan approached, sweating from her own workout, that she noticed Lu Zhiqiao had fallen asleep.

    Lu Zhiqiao leaned against the wall, extending her arms with slender fingers slightly curled. Her eyelids were half-closed. Qi Yan quietly approached, bending down and extending her index finger to gently tickle her palm.

    She shuddered and jerked awake, her hand suddenly curling up as she opened her eyes.

    "Tired?" Qi Yan embraced her shoulder.

    Lu Zhiqiao was momentarily taken aback, but then nodded.

    "Let''s go back and change clothes,"

    "Mm."

    Qi Yan helped her up and mischievously tickled her palm again. Lu Zhiqiao tightened her grip and gave her a playful glare. They entered the changing room one after the other. This time, Lu Zhiqiao didn''t shy away or feel embarrassed. She confidently changed her clothes in front of Qi Yan without overthinking or worrying.

    After all, they had already seen everything there was to see, and who knew how many more times they would see each other like this.

    "By the way," Qi Yan finished changing and picked up her bag, "Niu Niu mentioned that she wants to raise a cat."

    As they walked out together, Lu Zhiqiao took the initiative to hold Qi Yan''s hand. Taken aback by the words, she  responded calmly, "Let''s raise one, what breed of cat?"

    Her unexpectedly enthusiastic response caught Qi Yan off guard, and she widened her eyes in surprise. "Aren''t you worried that she won''t be able to take care of it properly?"

    Given Lu Zhiqiao''s personality, she always had to worry and be on edge about whatever her daughter does. She would give verbal admonishments for minor things and even intervene directly for more serious matters. Even if she didn''t get directly involved, she would still nag and express concerns. It was rare for her to be so straightforward.

    "I don''t know if she can take care of it since she has never had one before," Lu Zhiqiao smiled gently and replied, "Let her give it a try. Taking care of a small animal can teach her a lot of things."

    "Are you really not worried at all?" Qi Yan couldn''t believe it.

    As they reached the corner of the staircase, Lu Zhiqiao stopped and turned her head to look out the window. Fluffy clouds floated in the sky, as blue as a lake. The cotton-like clouds drifted on the surface of the water, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere. A bird fluttered its wings and flew past, landing on the rooftop of a nearby building.

    She suddenly sighed. "There are too many things to worry about, it never ends. If I control everything, wouldn''t it be like binding both my child and myself? I don''t want to be so burdened anymore. I want to live my own life."

    She always kept that phrase in mind: relationships between people are like holding sand. Whether it''s family, friendship, or love, the tighter you grasp, the faster it slips away. By loosening her grip on her daughter to some extent, she was also freeing herself. Initially, she thought it would be difficult to achieve, but as she tried, she realized that everything falls into place naturally.

    "Besides, I don''t want to consider my child as the sole reason for my existence anymore," Lu Zhiqiao continued. After speaking those words, she withdrew her gaze, her eyes curved like a crescent moon, shimmering with a hint of autumn water.

    To completely let go of everything and have no worries is impossible. However, in her heart, the weight of trust in Qi Yan and their future far outweighed any concerns. She had gained confidence and security, allowing her to approach any choices with a sense of openness.

    Encountering a wonderful person and embarking on a beautiful relationship naturally led to daydreams and fantasies. This transformation went unnoticed until she snapped back to reality, realizing that it had become ingrained in her very being.

    The past troubles couldn''t be resolved with a few comforting words from others, but she had figured it out on her own. There was still a long road ahead, and she was prepared for it.

    Qi Yan paused, and in her amber-colored eyes, she saw her gentle smile. Her heart stirred, and she reached out to embrace her. "Wife, I''m so happy that you think of me this way."

    "Because of you," whispered Lu Zhiqiao as she closed her eyes, allowing herself to melt into Qi Yan''s embrace.

    There was a hint of sweat on Qi Yan''s body, and she couldn''t tell if it was her peculiar preference or something else, but she found it strangely pleasant. It was a natural scent, untouched by any artificial ingredients, and it captivated her deeply. Unable to resist, she took a gentle sniff.

    Qi Yan tilted her head and kissed Lu Zhiqiao''s ear, feeling a mix of emotions and a burning passion within her heart.

    To love someone is to accept them completely, to witness their most beautiful moments as well as their most vulnerable ones, and still maintain a zest for life and hope for the future. Qi Yan didn''t believe she had brought positive changes to Lu Zhiqiao''s life, but witnessing her emerge from a closed-off world and find happiness filled her with joy.

    "Actually, I haven''t done anything," Qi Yan whispered softly. "It''s you... "

    Lu Zhiqiao silenced her with a kiss, preventing her from finishing her sentence.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    ¡­.

    In the evening, Qi Yan hurriedly arranged room 902, taking out her collection of erotic underwear and small toys, and a variety of accessories. The room was filled with the scent of "One Thousand and One Nights".

    The fragrance was rich and seductive, born out of love and representing the flavor of love.

    When it came to intimacy, she sought both psychological pleasure and physical enjoyment. She never minded whether she was active or passive; she simply savored the satisfaction. While she had experienced psychological pleasure in the past few days, her body had been dormant for too long. Now, craving fulfillment, she couldn''t wait to satisfy her desires.

    As Qiao Qiao lacked experience and her skills were likely not exceptional, she has to teach her.

    The process of teaching is in itself a form of pleasure, and it is gratifying to watch her lover become more and more "skilled" under her guidance.

    Qi Yan imagined the shy and blushing face of Lu Zhiqiao, and the longing gaze from the person in the afternoon came to mind. It was filled with desire, yet they struggled to restrain themselves. This made her even more impatient to see the aftermath of her "instruction" ¨C it was like her addictive drug.

    Tonight, there would be no interruptions.

    After setting up the room, Qi Yan took the intimate items and entered the bathroom. She planned to take a shower and change, while also using the restroom.

    Then she realized that her period had arrived...

    The thought of "those days" became particularly strong.

    Qi Yan had never hated Big Aunt* so much before. She counted the days on her fingers, wishing for time to pass quickly. But the more she wanted time to speed up, the slower it seemed to go. Meanwhile, Lu Zhiqiao was busy with overtime every day, coming home exhausted and falling asleep without any interest or enthusiasm.

    *euphemism for menstrual period

    She had to find other things to distract herself and forcefully push those thoughts aside.

    After deciding to get a cat, Qi Yan arranged a few beginner classes for her daughter. Having had numerous pets when she was younger, including a chubby orange cat, she had plenty of experience and took care of all the necessary precautions.

    They then prepared everything needed for the cat and accompanied her daughter to visit several local catteries, comparing options. After careful consideration, they finally settled on a four-month-old British Shorthair with a silver shaded coat and named her Naitang*

    *Milk Candy/Toffee

    Her daughter mentioned that her senior sister has a cat with a golden shaded coat named Mocha.

    Initially, Naitang was a bit shy and kept hiding under the table and sofa, refusing to come out no matter how much she was called. She was cautious while eating her cat food, waiting for people to move away before indulging herself. At night, she didn''t like the cat bed and preferred to curl up on a cushion in the corner of the sofa.

    However, in just a couple of days, the little one seemed to have adapted. Occasionally, she would proactively approach the family, lifting her tiny paw to touch their legs and playfully scratch a bit. With her fluffy head held high and round eyes, she exuded adorableness.

    The responsibility of feeding and cleaning up after Naitang fell on Lu Wei''s shoulders. After observing for a few days, Qi Yan thought her daughter might get impatient with these tasks. However, to her surprise, her little girl showed great patience and did the litter scooping happily, humming songs and muttering to herself. It reassured Qi Yan and dispelled her concerns.

    "Little Mom, do all orange cats eventually turn into little balls like Tuanzi?"

    "Well..."

    The mother and daughter sat on the sofa, enjoying their time with Naitang. The little cat was exceptionally well-behaved and affectionate. In just a few days, she had already claimed Lu Wei''s lap as her own, refusing to move once she settled down. If Lu Wei tried to put her down, Naitang would protest with a dissatisfied meow. Except for not being allowed in the bed at night, Naitang followed Lu Wei wherever she went during the day.

    Cats follow their owners and are clingy.

    Qi Yan gently rubbed the fluffy head of Naitang and suddenly remembered the chubby ball of fur back home, Tuanzi. She smiled and said, "It''s not necessarily the case. All I know is that Tuanzi is fat because it deserves it. It eats way too much, and my mom spoils it. No wonder it''s not slim."

    "That means sister Yao Yao''s Mocha will also become a chubby one..." Lu Wei murmured while staring at Naitang.

    The front door of the living room creaked, and Lu Zhiqiao entered the house, covered in heat. They heard Naitang meow and both turned their heads.

    She had been working overtime lately, and it was already past eight o''clock. Her face was filled with exhaustion. Upon hearing the sound, she smiled at the two of them and the cat but didn''t say anything.

    "I''ll go heat up the dishes," Qi Yan immediately stood up, naturally taking the bag from Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and placing it aside before turning towards the kitchen.

    Perhaps it was unnecessary worry, but Qi Yan couldn''t shake the feeling that Lu Zhiqiao didn''t seem to be in a good mood, more than just tired.

    The dishes on the table still had some warmth, which was suitable for summer, but Qi Yan wasn''t satisfied. She reheated one of the dishes until it was steaming. Then she unplugged the rice cooker and turned off the keep-warm light before bringing the food to the table.

    Lu Zhiqiao was no longer in the living room. Qi Yan followed the sound and found her sitting in front of the vanity, lost in thought. Her heart tightened, and she hurriedly walked over.

    "What''s wrong?"

    Lu Zhiqiao stood up straight, her back rigid, and stared blankly at her own face in the mirror as if she had lost her soul. She was startled when she heard Qi Yan''s voice, but quickly snapped out of it and turned to look at Qi Yan. Her lips moved slightly, "Today... I told my boss about us."

    "Your boss?" Qi Yan was taken aback. "Shu Minxi?"

    "Yeah."

    "What does it have to do with her?"

    "When mentioning that ''heartless boss,'' Qi Yan recalled the last time when Lu Zhiqiao had a fever but still went to work. She still felt angry about it, and her expression immediately darkened, with an unfriendly tone. ''Did she give you a hard time?''"

    "No, she didn''t."

    "..."

    "Currently, the two companies have a cooperative relationship, but we can''t say for certain what changes may happen in the future. She''s worried that if something happens, I''ll be caught in the middle and face difficulties." Lu Zhiqiao furrowed her brows slightly, her tone filled with deep concern.

    They say even close brothers settle their accounts clearly, and in the business world, there are many interests at stake. It''s best to avoid mixing personal relationships with business matters. Moreover, the industry is rapidly evolving, and the overall environment changes every year. In the blink of an eye, no one can predict what will happen in the future.

    Now, both companies are enjoying a harmonious cooperation, and it''s good to have this relationship. However, if something unexpected happens in the future, she will inevitably find herself in the center of the whirlpool, having to make choices and facing difficult decisions.

    On one side, there''s a friend who has shown her kindness and on the other side, there''s her lover she wants to grow old with.

    What should she do when the time comes?

    Lu Zhiqiao realized that she had fallen into her old habit of worrying about things that haven''t happened yet. It''s a habit she has had for over twenty years, and her sense of crisis prevention is too strong. Despite her efforts to overcome it, it''s difficult to change it in a short period of time.

    Once she starts worrying, she falls into anxiety.

    Her face in the mirror shows a deep furrowed brow.

    "Don''t worry, it won''t happen."

    Qi Yan gently held her hand, looked at her seriously, and said softly: "I will never make things difficult for you."

 CH 98

    Qi Yan is happy to hear her lover express concerns. At least the issues are out in the open, and they can face them together instead of avoiding or bottling them up. Ultimately, matters between two people should be dealt with jointly.

    She doesn''t care about where she stands herself; she only cares about the anguish in Lu Zhiqiao''s heart when faced with a choice. They are both imperfect and striving, but the love and acceptance they give each other are the best motivation and confidence they have.

    The back of her hand was warm, and Lu Zhiqiao unconsciously curled her fingers, lifting her gaze to look into her eyes, deep as amber. Her heart trembled, and ripples spread through it, layer upon layer.

    The answer was already there. If that day truly came, she would undoubtedly choose her beloved without any hesitation.

    [Don''t burden yourself. Even if we can''t be colleagues, we''ll still be friends.]

    [I''m just worried about you because making choices can be painful. I''ve been through it, and I don''t want you to go through it again.]

    That''s what Minxi said to her.

    Yan Yan also expressed a similar sentiment.

    The hardships and sins she experienced in the past have dissipated in her life, replaced by the most precious affection in the world. It is a case of going from bitterness to sweetness. This has made her more optimistic about the future and filled with expectations.

    "I worried for no reason," Lu Zhiqiao sighed and smiled. "There''s no need to overthink about things that haven''t happened yet. Besides, careers can be rebuilt, but you only have one life."

    "Can''t we have both? Silly." Qi Yan lightly tapped her forehead.

    Lu Zhiqiao grabbed her hand and brought it to her lips, planting a gentle kiss. A rosy mark immediately appeared on her fair skin. With a teasing tone, she pretended to scold her, "You''re not young anymore, stop acting like a child."

    "Huh"

    "I''m older than you, so call me sister*.

    *term used is ½ã½ã (Jie jie) used to address an older sister or a young woman who is slightly older than oneself. It is a term of respect and affection.

    "Elder Sister." Qi Yan looked at her obediently and blinked.

    Lu Zhiqiao pulled out her hand, poked her on the forehead as if to retaliate, and said with a sneer, "Yan Yan is really good."

    "Then does elder sister want to reward me?" Qi Yan leaned in and hugged her.

    Their scorching breath brushed against each other''s faces, tickling the fine hairs, as their scents mingled and intertwined. Lu Zhiqiao didn''t dodge and playfully cooperated, saying, "What kind of reward do you want?"

    In the next moment, her hand was grabbed again and pressed against Qi Yan''s collar.

    "What do you mean by reward..."

    Her ambiguous and husky voice was like an addictive drug.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a deep breath and glanced at the open door, afraid that her daughter would accidentally see them at any time, so she pushed her away, "Stop making trouble, I need to take off my makeup."

    "Okay," Qi Yan obediently sat back down. "Whatever elder sister says, goes."

    There were many bottles and jars on the dressing table. Lu Zhiqiao reached out of habit to grab the makeup remover, but suddenly realized that she had run out and hadn''t bought a new one. She paused for a moment, her hand suspended in the air, unable to react.

    "I''ll get mine."

    Qi Yan immediately knew what she was thinking, got up and went out, and after a while, she came in with a bottle of cleansing oil. She didn''t give it to Lu Zhiqiao directly, but picked up the makeup remover cotton and poured some on it, then handed it over.

    Lu Zhiqiao took it and smiled at her, also catching a glimpse of her smiling eyes, making her heart flutter.

    After using one wipe, Qi Yan would pass another one to Lu Zhiqiao, their cooperation was seamless. After her makeup was removed, a pure and gentle face was revealed in the mirror, only lacking a bit of vitality, but otherwise unchanged.

    "Yan Yan."

    "Hmm?"

    "Why do I feel like you have a big grudge against my boss," Lu Zhiqiao said as she looked into the mirror, using a clean makeup remover pad to gently press against her face, wiping away some oil residue.

    During the busy period in April and May, one night when she came back from overtime work, she casually said she was doing the work of two persons. She thought that Yan Yan was joking, but now it seems like she was really upset and had a genuine grudge.

    Qi Yan didn''t shy away either and raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I do have a lot of grievances, a bellyful of them. I''m not happy about it."

    "Why?"

    "Last time you had a fever and went to a meeting when you were so ill. I happened to meet her and she seemed to be fine..." Qi Yan muttered softly.

    Strictly speaking, Shu Minxi is not to blame for this matter, she is just feeling uncomfortable, and she just found a reason to vent her anger, but she didn''t really hold any grudges. For the sake of her wife, she could only talk about it, and would not do anything serious.

    Lu Zhiqiao was startled, and smiled with her lips pursed, "How long has it been, why do you still remember?"

    "I hold a grudge."

    "It''s my own fault, and I don''t blame others." She grabbed Qi Yan''s hand, shook it comfortingly, and said softly, "I will pay more attention to my body and be less busy in the future. Little sister* Yan Yan, don''t hold grudges~"

    *term used is ÃÃÃÃ (m¨¨i m¨¨i) used to refer to a younger sister, biological or not, also to females younger than oneself to show closeness and affection.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    She was inexplicably itchy when she called out the word "Little sister". The same goes for Qi Yan calling her "Elder sister".

    A subtle feeling.

    Qi Yan smiled, seemingly enjoying the title. "You''re in that position, how come you''re still busy?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned and said nothing.

    Indeed, not to mention being less busy, not working overtime and not traveling is a luxury. Of course, she can also choose not to work overtime. It''s just that she has been used to devoting herself to work for so many years. It''s okay if she''s single. If she has a lover, she has to allocate some time for them.

    Work requires dedication, while family needs companionship, and life becomes increasingly fulfilling.

    Seeing that she''s silent, Qi Yan thought she had misunderstood her and hurriedly added:;"Wife, what I meant is that you have me, so you don''t have to work so hard like before. But work still needs to be done. A successful career can continue to nourish you, giving you a sense of accomplishment and control. If one day you feel tired, I''ll support you.

    Even though she is financially well-off, she would feel bored if she stayed idle at home. Knowing Qiao Qiao''s personality, she generally wouldn''t want to rely on others for money. Therefore, when she uttered the last sentence, she felt a bit uneasy.

    Perhaps it could be interpreted as flirting.

    "I know," Lu Zhiqiao smiled, squinting her eyes. "You have quite a sweet mouth."

    "Then can I raise elder sister?" Qi Yan winked.

    "No."

    "..."

    She knew it.

    Hah.

    Raising Qiao Qiao would be so nice. She would instantly become gentle with a kiss and blush with a touch. She could switch between being a big sister and a little wife at any time. She truly thought of her as a precious treasure.

    The temperature rose in front of her, and she looked up to see that Lu Zhiqiao had approached without her noticing. With half-closed eyes, her thin lips moved gently as she said, "Elder sister wants to raise you."

    Qi Yan froze, opened her eyes wide, and hot blood rushed to the top of her head.

    She''s teasing her!

    She coughed twice, turned her face away, "I''ve heated up the dishes, go eat quickly."

    Her daughter is sitting in the living room watching TV, a youth idol drama, with a handsome young lead, she doesn''t even blink her eyes, her face full with infatuation while Naitang was crouching in her arms and licking her paws with her tongue. She was fluffy. When it saw two large "two-legged beasts" coming out of the room, she meowed.

    "Girl, how long have you been watching TV today? Did you practice the piano? Did you finish your homework?" Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help nagging as she passed by her daughter.

    The little girl didn''t even turn her eyes, and waved her hand: "Little Mom, take Mom away quickly, it''s so annoying."

    "You..."

    "Niu Niu, don''t say that about Mom." Qi Yan frowned, pretending to scold, but dragged her to the dining table to sit down while speaking.

    Lu Wei pouted: "Oh."

    The food was still steaming, and Lu Zhiqiao only felt hungry when she smelled the aroma. She sat down and began to eat slowly. Qi Yan sat beside her, propped up her chin with her palm, tilting her face up to watch her eat.

    Narrowing her eyes as she watched.

    Sensing the gaze from her side, Lu Zhiqiao paused her chopsticks, raised her eyes, and asked in confusion, "What are you looking at me for?" After a while, she smiled again, "Didn''t you have enough for dinner?"

    "I want to see whatever you do," Qi Yan shook her head.

    She smiled with narrowed eyes, looking infatuated, and then pointed to a dish on the table. "Eat more, I made it specially for you."

    Lu Zhiqiao responded with a "Okay" and put a large serving into her bowl. "I like whatever you cook."

    "Then I will make you fatter."

    The two of them sat together, with one eating and the other accompanying. Qi Yan didn''t let Lu Zhiqiao speak and asked her to focus on eating. Then she remembered that Lu Zhiqiao''s makeup remover had run out. She casually opened the official website of the brand on her phone and ordered ten cans in one go.

    The idol drama on TV was halfway through, and when the advertisement entered, Lu Wei turned her head and glanced at her two mothers.

    Huh.

    Every day, all you do is smile foolishly.

    Mom is already silly enough, and now Little Mom is becoming even sillier?

    She lowered her head, looking at Naitang licking its paws in her arms. She gently rubbed its head and muttered to herself, "Naitang, when you grow a little bigger, we''ll go play with sister Mocha."

    The gray dumpling meowed.

    Since raising Naitang, Lu Wei has frequently called Yan Shuyao to come over to play at home. The two children share their experience in raising cats, but because Mocha is still young, it is inconvenient to take it out, so the two cats cannot play together for the time being.

    In addition to playing with the cat and playing games, Yan Shuyao offered to help Lu Wei preview physics, and Lu Wei was eager and readily accepted.

    The school is about to start, the second year of junior high school, and she has to study physics. For someone who is not good at mathematics, she is afraid whenever she hears the word "physics".

    In the third year of junior high school, chemistry will be added, making it "three to two" in terms of subjects for the high school entrance examination. Being more inclined towards the liberal arts, she found herself at a disadvantage.

    Little teacher Yaoyao is very conscientious and patient, explaining very detailed and interesting, giving examples of various common phenomena in life, doing small experiments, like playing, and it is easy to understand.

    "Think about it, during thunderstorms, thunder and electricity are produced at the same time, but do you see the lightning first and then hear the thunder?"

    "Uh-huh."

    "Because the propagation speed of sound in the air is only 340 meters per second, compared with the speed of light, it is a younger brother."

    "Ha ha ha ha..."

    The two little girls laughed together.

    "Then I''ll test you. On a rainy day, you stand on the balcony and see lightning, and five seconds later you hear thunder. How far is the thunder from you?" Yan Shuyao raised her eyebrows and leaned back on the chair.

    Lu Wei tilted her head and thought for a while, did some calculations in her head, and said after a while, "1,700 meters."

    "That''s right." Yan Shuyao nodded in satisfaction, her dark blue eyes bent into crescents, and she took out a candy from her pocket, "I reward you a candy."

    Lu Wei smirked, took it, carefully peeled off the wrapping paper, and put the candy into her mouth, the rich sweet and sour and milk flavor spread on the tip of her tongue.

    The two of them concentrated on previewing their homework, and Naitang just lay obediently next to the book, without making any noise, and even knew how to raise her paw when turning the pages.

    In less than two hours, Lu Wei ate six candies.

    After the preview, it''s time for her to practice the piano.

    These days, she had been practicing the piano in the morning, so the time for playing with Yan Shuyao was missed. But today, she got caught up in watching idol dramas in the morning and didn''t have time. She would have to practice in the afternoon, otherwise, if her Little Mom reported it to her Mom, she would be in big trouble.

    Yan Shuyao had no intention of leaving, and sat next to her with Naitang in her arms.

    "Sister Yaoyao..." Lu Wei lifted the cover of the piano key and found that she was staring at her, quite embarrassed, "Would you like to eat some fruit? After I finish practicing, I will play a game with you."

    How embarrassing.

    She doesn''t panic at all when she goes on stage to perform. But when she''s being watched by her senior, she¡­

    "Don''t mind me, just practice your piece. I won''t disturb you," Yan Shuyao said with a gentle smile, her voice incredibly tender.

    In response, the little Naitang in her arms let out two meows, as if echoing her words.

    After saying that, she turned around and started playing with her phone.

    Lu Wei bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and didn''t say anything else. She took out her music score and flipped through it.

    It''s impossible to make sister Yaoyao leave.

    It''s just practicing the piano, after all.

    Treat it as her own concert.

    She, Lu Wei, is now a top pianist.

    The little girl practiced "Hanon" for a few minutes, moving her fingers, then practiced scales and arpeggios, picked out a few more etudes, and finally played her favorite piece. Once she got into it, the time passed quickly. She still liked the piano, so she didn''t feel bored, and for a moment forgot that there was someone else in the room.

    When she stopped to rest, Yan Shuyao suddenly turned around and asked, "Did you take the exam?"

    "No..." Lu Wei was startled, her mouth half-opened, "I don''t want to take the exam, I learn piano as a hobby."

    When she was in elementary school, some students in her class were piano learners.They practiced those pieces over and over again for the graded exam, and they became irritable. They felt sick when they saw the piano. She didn''t want to be like that.

    Yan Shuyao squinted her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled up, her expression was a little subtle. After a while, she asked again: "Can I request for a song?"

    "Of course~"

    "Just play one... how about ''flower dance''?"

    "No problem."

    Lu Wei snapped her fingers and suddenly felt no embarrassment. She knows this piece and is very familiar with it, because she also likes it.

    A melodious melody echoed in the room, and the notes were as clear and ethereal as flowing water.

    Her fingers were thin and long, with thin calluses on the fingertips, and they jumped nimbly on the black and white keys. Yan Shuyao watched intently, lost in thought, and Naitang in her arms also nestled quietly, its eyes wide open, motionless.

    At the end of the song, the person and the cat were still frozen.

    "Sister Yaoyao?"

    "Huh?"

    "What else do you want to hear? I know most pop songs." Lu Wei squinted her eyes and giggled.

    Yan Shuyao came back to her senses, thought for a while, "Do you know classical music?"

    "Mm, I''ll try."

    The little girl took out another music book, flipped through two pages, and laid it out.

    She played a Schumann''s "Fantasia" and a Bach''s "The Sheep Quietly Grazing On The Grass".

    Unknowingly, the sun set to the west.

    Lu¡¤Pianist¡¤Wei was a little tired. After finishing her practice, Yan Shuyao was still immersed in the music, and after a while, she came back to her senses.

    "I have a present for you," she said.

    "What?"

    Yan Shuyao reached into her bag, took out a silver card, and handed it to her, "My mother''s company''s lifetime membership card is only for acquaintances. When you have an ID card, go to the company to activate it, and then you can take a Chinese membership card." The economy class of Yuan Airlines¡¯ aircraft does not require money.¡±

    Lu Wei opened her mouth wide.

    "Don''t tell anyone, most people don''t know." Yan Shuyao lowered her voice, raised her index finger to her lips.

    Lu Wei touched the card, looked it over and over several times, and sighed: "Your mother is so good? Will the company not lose money?"

    "Little fool." Yan Shuyao chuckled and poked her head. "You were thinking of saving money for me. How much money can you save by missing a few tickets? Hahaha, it''s okay, just do whatever you like~"

    The silver card is covered with a matte film, which feels good to the touch. The airline''s logo is engraved on the front and a row of card numbers is on the back.

    Lu Wei raised her head and looked at her stupidly.

    September, school has started.

    The "autumn tiger*" is still fierce, and the weather remains hot and humid.

    *a term used to describe a period of hot and dry weather that occurs during early autumn in some regions, particularly in East Asia.

    Qi Yan sat in the car, waiting as she accompanied her daughter to the school for registration. Since it''s inconvenient to go inside, she stayed in the car. Through the windshield, she watched groups of students gathering near the school gate, some of them familiar faces. Her mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts and emotions, a mixture of various feelings.

    The once dreamed paradise has now become a past she''d rather not reminisce about. After leaving the school, she did live a more relaxed life, but there was always a lingering regret in her heart. She couldn''t teach her daughter until the third year couldn''t witness her daughter''s graduation firsthand, and couldn''t accomplish the things she had wanted to do.

    Her strength alone is too small to fight against the entire system after all.

    Compared to the small regrets, she has gained more satisfaction. She has a girlfriend, a child, and her own little home. Having these is already enough for her. She has never been a greedy person.

    By noon, as the sun rose higher, her daughter finally came out.

    Her daughter said that the new homeroom teacher was the former English teacher, and the new Chinese teacher was the one who taught Class Four, a gentle and refined man. The classroom had been relocated to the third floor, neither too high nor too low, other than that, there were no other significant changes.

    Because Lu Zhiqiao was on a business trip and would not be back until two days later, the two of them are at home, so Qi Yan took her daughter out for a big meal.

    After eating, Lu Wei still have to go to school in the afternoon, to get her textbooks, and start class the next day.

    In the second year of junior high, her daughter had fully adapted to the life of a junior high school student. Her way of speaking and behaving gradually carried a touch of maturity, and she disliked being overly controlled or restricted by her family. However, deep down, she was still a mischievous little kid at heart.

    With the addition of the new physics subject, she found it quite enjoyable and not too challenging because she had already previewed the material in advance. The physics teacher was a witty and humorous gentleman who made the classes very interesting. She gradually developed a liking for physics as a result.

    The new mathematics knowledge posed quite a challenge for her. She approached it with trepidation, but to her surprise, she found the topics on triangles in the first two chapters not too difficult. On her first quiz, she achieved an unprecedented score of 103 points earning public praise from the mathematics teacher.

    She seemed to be inspired and suddenly became very diligent.

    During the day, she attended classes, and after school, she practiced playing the piano. In the evenings, she focused on completing her homework. She stopped reading novels and watching TV dramas, at most indulging in some serious literature.

    Every night, Qi Yan diligently assisted her daughter with her studies.

    The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and there were two figures sitting in front of the desk, one adult and one child. It was a warm and peaceful scene. Lu Zhiqiao leaned against the door, quietly peering through the crack, a smile unconsciously forming at the corners of her mouth.

    This is the home she imagined.

    She had never expected that such a day would come, but the scene before her arrived so quickly, catching her off guard. Warmth flowed in her heart, enveloping her tightly.

    She was not a greedy person, so she could be content with what she had.

    As the clock''s hands gradually approached nine o''clock, the night grew deeper. After taking a shower and applying a face mask, Lu Zhiqiao returned to the bedroom. She took out the photo of her elder brother and sister-in-law from the drawer of her bedside table and gazed at it, her eyes fixed, lost in thought.

    The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and it is another time of the year for a family reunion.

    "Wife~"

    The bedroom door was slowly pushed open, and Qi Yan entered quietly. She quickly rushed forward and embraced the person who was standing by the bed lost in thought.

    A faint fragrance lingered in the air as Lu Zhiqiao, caught off guard, fell into the warm embrace from behind. She let out a soft sigh and smiled, holding onto the hand resting around her waist. "Finished tutoring?"

    "Mm."

    "You''ve worked hard," Lu Zhiqiao said, placing the photo frame down and turning around. She cupped Qi Yan''s face with both hands. "Let the little girl do some of her homework on her own occasionally. You''re exhausting yourself like this."

    Qi Yan shook her head and smiled slyly: "I won''t be tired if you kiss me once."

    As soon as the words were spoken, Qi Yan saw a blush spread across Lu Zhiqiao''s fair cheeks, and a shy expression appeared in her eyes. She cautiously lifted her chin and pressed her lips against Qi Yan''s, giving a peck.

    "Elder sister''s kiss is so sweet," she blinked and said.With her index finger raised, Qi Yan gently pressed it against Lu Zhiqiao''s lips.

    Qi Yan tightened her embrace and lightly touched Lu Zhiqiao''s face with her nose. "Will you come home with me for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

    "Okay."

    Qi Yan was taken aback.

    She agreed so readily, which was surprising to Qi Yan.

    Lu Zhiqiao understood what she was thinking and raised an eyebrow, the smile on her lips deepening. "We should meet formally at some point, not too early, not too late. The holiday season is just right."

    The two looked at each other and smiled, with deep affection in their eyes.

    "Elder sister."

    "Mm?"

    Qi Yan tilted her head and leaned towards her, with her lips pressed against her soft white earlobe, pressing her charming voice: "Let''s go to the opposite side..."

    Author''s Note:

    Yan Yan: Elder Sister~

    Qiao Qiao: almost died on the spot.jpg

 CH 99

    Her lips were soft, and a steady breath escaped her mouth. Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t help but tremble slightly as her fingertips brushed through her hair and down her back, gently caressing the curve of her neck.

    "Elder sister..."

    "Mm."

    "Let''s go to the opposite side?"

    Lu Zhiqiao felt herself go weak, but she was well aware of her intentions. She curled her lips into a delicate smile, "What are you going to do?"

    "What do you want to do, huh?" Her voice lowered.

    In recent days, Lu Zhiqiao has been busy, with her daily routine revolving around home and work, or going on business trips. It has been a long time since she felt satisfied. Ever since she saw Qi Yan changing clothes at the gym, her desires have only grown stronger. Day after day, she fantasizes about it, and she can''t wait any longer.

    If she were to bring it up herself, she would feel embarrassed and shy. She wonders how long she can endure it.

    Yan Yan is really thoughtful.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t speak, she was shy and buried her face on her shoulder.

    This is tacit consent.

    The two left the house lightly and stepped into the opposite door.

    Perhaps it was just imagination, but as their desire grew stronger. The light in the living room seemed hazy and ambiguous. As soon as they entered the room, without even finding their footing, the two couldn''t wait any longer and embraced each other, leaning against the wall.

    "Wife, I''ve been waiting for a long time." Qi Yan muttered, with a bit of complaint in her eyes.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes were blurred, and she stretched out her index finger to press her lips, "Hush, call me elder sister."

    "Elder sister~"

    "Kid."

    The word was like a hook, firmly grasping onto Qi Yan''s heartstrings. With a single flick, it tickled her. She tilted her head back, squinting and smiling, using a playful tone like that of a child, she said, "Tonight, I''m sister''s little friend..."

    Her slender and profound eyes were like shimmering wine, captivating without her own awareness. As Qi Yan''s gaze fell upon her, a sudden fire ignited within the depths of Lu Zhiqiao''s heart, tightening its grip. They kicked off their slippers and took slow steps towards the bedroom.

    Pushing open the door, a rich and romantic fragrance wafted through the air, enveloping their senses.

    The refreshing scent of lemon mingled with cedarwood, gradually transitioning into the enticing fragrance of roses. It then subtly revealed notes of vanilla and sandalwood, creating a dangerous and captivating aroma that sparked hidden emotions.

    The desk lamp was dimmed, creating a subtle and intense atmosphere.

    There were several small toys placed on the bedside table, including various styles of handcuffs, as well as ropes and strips of fabric.

    Qi Yan tugged at the corner of Lu Zhiqiao''s clothes, walked over, picked up a strip of fabric with her fingertips, smoothed it out, raised an eyebrow at her with a teasing smile, and blindfolded her with the fabric, tying a butterfly knot behind her head.

    "Yan Yan, you..." With sudden darkness before her eyes, Lu Zhiqiao felt a slight panic, instinctively reaching out to grab the hand of the person beside her.

    In the next second, her hands were wrapped in warm palms.

    A gentle voice whispered in her ear, "Let''s make elder sister happy first."

    The world spun around.

    They came once in the bedroom.

    The house was very spacious, with no one around, so they didn''t worry about making noise that could be heard. Lu Zhiqiao was sweating profusely, feeling like a dried shrimp that had been thrown into boiling water. For a brief moment, she thought the seasons had turned back to March or April, with the dampness of the rainy season, making even her hair feel sticky.

    Qi Yan is a mischievous kid who loves to play pranks, but she''s inwardly vicious, so of course she can''t let her off the hook.

    "Yan Yan¡ª"

    "Mm?"

    "Teach me."

    "What does elder sister want to learn?" Qi Yan grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and kissed her affectionately.

    Lu Zhiqiao asked softly, "What do you think?"

    The two looked at each other and smiled.

    Qi Yan took out the prepared underwear, went to the bathroom to change, picked up the rope at the head of the bed and shook it in front of Lu Zhiqiao, implying that she wanted to tie Qiao Qiao''s hands. Like that night at the bar.

    However, before she could react, Lu Zhiqiao snatched the rope from her and swiftly wrapped it around her wrists, tying a knot. Then, with a swift motion, Lu Zhiqiao lifted her hand, causing her to fall to the ground.

    "Children who play tricks will be punished."

    ¡­.

    Facts have proved that Qi Yan underestimated Lu Zhiqiao''s learning ability.

    The bedroom, living room, balcony... Everywhere in the house bore the traces left by the two of them. From late at night to the early hours of the morning, until the faint light of dawn appeared on the horizon, they slept heavily, only to be awakened by the sound of the alarm clock.

    Lu Zhiqiao had originally planned to go to work, but couldn''t manage to get up at all. Thinking that there wasn''t anything urgent in the morning, she decided to call Xiao Wan and reschedule for the afternoon. After that, she put her phone on silent mode and cuddled with her little friend, falling back asleep once again.

    Not long after, her phone screen lit up, showing a call from Niu Niu. However, due to being on silent mode, she missed the call.

    Then Qi Yan''s cell phone rang.

    "Hello¡ª" Qi Yan answered in a daze.

    Their daughter''s doubtful voice came from the receiver: "Little Mom, where did you go?"

    Qi Yan hesitated for a moment and instinctively replied, "We''re just next door."

    Her voice carried a heavy drowsiness, sounding very tired. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and then suddenly a low chuckle came through, "Ah, never mind, you guys go ahead. I''ll grab breakfast outside by myself." With that, the call immediately ended.

    The phone slipped off the pillow, but Qi Yan didn''t react for a moment. She found a comfortable position in Lu Zhiqiao''s arms, rested on it, and closed her eyes.

    In her dream, she smacked her lips and tasted marshmallows which were very sweet and soft.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, every household gathered together to celebrate.

    Inside the small apartment building, warm yellow lights illuminated the rooms. The interior was beautifully decorated, and the dining table was filled with about ten dishes of various sizes. A bottle of red wine was placed on the table, while gentle and soothing instrumental music flowed from the speakers.

    A middle-aged couple came down from the third floor, holding hands.

    "Old Qi, do I look good in this outfit?"

    "Look good."

    "You say it looks good without even looking at it, it''s dismissive!"

    "Oh, hehe, just kidding."

    Ms. Lin wore an emerald green qipao-style long dress, adorned with delicate embroidery along the satin fabric. The patterns were grand, and the soft velvet texture complemented her waistline beautifully. She had her hair elegantly coiled up, and she wore a pearl necklace around her neck, matching pearl earrings in both ears. The overall design was simple yet refined, exuding an air of nobility.

    Dad Qi wore a simple shirt and pants, neatly tidied up from head to toe, and was in good spirits. He tilted his head and looked at his wife carefully, clapped his hands, gave a thumbs up, and boasted: "Oh, which angel is this who descended into the earth and landed in my house? You are not allowed to leave now that you''re here."

    "You and your mouth." Ms. Lin pretended to be annoyed and reached out to slap him, but there was a smile on her face.

    "Are we going to be too formal and serious? What if we scare Xiao Lu?

    Dad Qi dodged to the side and reached out to embrace his wife''s waist, smiling happily:  "First impressions matter. As the saying goes, the character of children depends on their parents. Whether Yan Yan is a reliable person in Xiao Lu''s eyes or not, it also depends on the state of the two of us."

    When their daughter announced that she had a new girlfriend, his initial reaction was not to take it seriously, thinking that his daughter was just playing around again. After all, their child had only brought home one girlfriend before, which ended quickly, and her subsequent relationships were casually mentioned and never introduced to the family.

    He and his wife had given up hope.

    They usually don''t interfere in their daughter''s personal life, and they trust that she has her own sense of boundaries and doesn''t need them to worry about her.

    Unexpectedly, the daughter told them directly that her new girlfriend is Director Lu.

    No, it''s Vice President Lu now.

    He was ecstatic at that moment.

    His little girl has grown up and achieved success. Unexpectedly, she brought home the person her father had once wanted to recruit, and even "included a bonus" by bringing along a granddaughter. She truly is his treasure, inheriting his charm and charisma from back in the day.

    He had met Lu Zhiqiao more than once, and his impression of her was very positive. He highly praised her and couldn''t help but boast about her in front of his wife, hoping to give her a general idea. He had initially worried that his wife would feel jealous, but Ms. Lin was completely engrossed in curiosity and didn''t think of anything else at all.

    "Haven''t you met her several times before? It''s my first time meeting Xiao Lu," Ms. Lin couldn''t help but suppress her laughter.

    Dad Qi held his wife''s arm and continued walking, "Yes, yes, you will find out later."

    Well, let me tell you, Yan Yan kept her relationship a secret, only telling us after half a year," Ms. Lin sighed.

    "That''s being serious and responsible, making sure before announcing it to prevent any surprises."

    "You are really a father."

    "You are also a real mother."

    "Hahaha..."

    As they reached the first floor, the couple carefully inspected the dishes, drinks, and tableware on the table. They looked around the surroundings, ensuring everything was in order. Despite their efforts, they couldn''t help but feel nervous.

    While she is curious, Ms. Lin misses Niu Niu more. It had been a while since the child had visited, yet Ms. Lin still remembered her favorite dishes, fruits, and drinks. This time, to her delight, mother and daughter were brought home by Yan Yan. Ms. Lin had already instructed the household staff to prepare everything in advance, eagerly awaiting her child''s arrival.

    As she thought about Niu Niu and then shifted her thoughts to Lu Zhiqiao, a fleeting idea crossed her mind. However, in the blink of an eye, it vanished before she could grasp it.

    Not long after, there was the sound of car horns outside the courtyard.

    A beam of light swept through the large living room window.

    A white car slowly backed into the parking space, turned off the engine, and the lights went out. Qi Yan got out of the car, opened the rear door, reached out to hold Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, and led her out of the car.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s fingers were a little cold. She stood firm and looked around subconsciously. The layout of the courtyard was similar to Shu Minxi''s building, but it was different. It was much warmer and with more human touch.

    The living room door was half open, and a little light leaked through the gap.

    Her heart leaped to her throat, and the beating became more and more cheerful and intense, as if she was going to be out of breath.

    Behind the door is Yan Yan''s home.

    It will also be her home.

    She only met Yan Yan''s father, twice at the negotiating table and once in the community. Although she still had an inherent impression in her mind and it was difficult to change, she was somewhat prepared psychologically.  As for Yan Yan''s mother, she really couldn''t figure out the situation at all, she could only imagine based on the description given by Yan Yan, so she was naturally nervous.

    The concept of "parents" has been away from her for more than ten years.

    "Yan Yan..." She stopped suddenly, "Should I call them uncle and aunt, or¡ª"

    "Hah, mom, why are you nervous, Grandpa and Grandma are nice people, hurry up and go in." Without waiting for Qi Yan to speak, Lu Wei couldn''t help opening her mouth, as if she didn''t care.

    She walked up the steps by herself, opened the door and went in, shouting loudly: "Grandpa Qi, Grandma Lin,I''m here~"

    "Ah, little Niu Niu!"

    Ms. Lin''s joyful voice came from the room.

    Qi Yan grabbed Lu Zhiqiao''s hand, winked at her to comfort her, and the two followed behind up the steps and into the door.

    The door was open, and the two elders surrounded Niu Niu. Ms. Lin smiled and said cheerfully, "Grandma has specially prepared delicious food for you. Come in quickly." After she finished speaking, Dad Qi looked up, "Little Niu Niu where is your mother?"

    He saw his daughter leading a beautiful young woman walking towards him.

    "Dad, Mom."

    Qi Yan let go of Lu Zhiqiao''s hand and put it in the other hand, then embraced her shoulders and held her in her arms, "Let me formally introduce you, my girlfriend Lu Zhiqiao."

    The eyes of the two elders swept over at the same time.

    Lu Zhiqiao took a light breath and smiled at the two of them: "Hello, uncle and aunt."

    "Look, the whole family finally entered through one door," Dad Qi''s heart bloomed with joy, and his face blossomed as well. He eagerly welcomed Lu Zhiqiao into the house.

    Ms. Lin also nodded with a smile, but did not speak. She looked at her from head to toe with probing eyes, without showing any traces, and the smile marks at the corners of her mouth deepened.

    Several people entered the house and closed the door. Qi Yan graciously fetched slippers and put away the bag for her wife, with her right arm around her shoulder from the beginning to the end, in full of protection. Since it was meal time, the dishes on the table were all ready, and the family chatted a few words before going directly to the table to eat.

    The two grandparents were down-to-earth, with gentle temperaments, resembling an ordinary elderly couple in an ordinary family, just as Qi Yan had described. While their family might be considered "nouveau riche" in certain situations, they only showed a bit of formality when necessary. At home, they didn''t pay as much attention to such details.

    Lu Zhiqiao was a little cautious.

    If it was a workplace, she could handle "Boss Qi" with ease, but now this person is Yan Yan''s father, and the two identities were not suitable for her, and she was inevitably nervous when meeting her parents for the first time.

    So it was seen through.

    "Xiao Lu, today I am just a father, and you are just my daughter''s girlfriend. We don''t think about business matters, so don''t be nervous, just treat this as your own home, and the family will have a happy holiday. And the two of you. This matter is up to you, Yan Yan''s mother and I just want to see you, and we won''t interfere with the rest."

    Ms. Lin just smiled along and didn''t speak from the beginning to the end.

    Lu Zhiqiao inexplicably felt more nervous, but she still nodded to Dad Qi.

    From the corner of her eye, she kept glancing at Ms. Lin.

    Her heart is pounding.

    Could it be that Yan Yan''s mother doesn''t like her?

    What should she do.

    ¨CCrash

    With a crisp sound, Lu Wei accidentally knocked over the glass, the glass shattered, and the drink spilled all over the floor.

    Everyone at the table was startled.

    The little girl''s face was slightly pale, and she immediately bent over to pick it up in fright.

    Lu Zhiqiao frowned, about to reprimand her daughter, but then she saw Ms. Lin put down her chopsticks and stand up in a hurry. She quickly circled around, saying, "Don''t pick it up, be careful not to cut your hand." She then held Lu Wei''s wrist and examined it carefully, asking softly, "Are you scared, little Niu Niu? Sit still, Grandma will have someone bring a new glass."

    She smiled and turned around to call the servant, took a brand new cup, and let the floor be cleaned up.

    Lu Zhiqiao stared blankly.

    Time seemed to turn back, she was submerged in the long river of memory, and a scene from her childhood vaguely appeared in her mind: she accidentally broke the bowl, and immediately went to pick it up, her finger was cut with a small cut, bleeding, and her mother scolded her from head to toe. Her voice was loud, as if she had committed a heinous crime.

    Seeing Niu Niu is like seeing herself, seeing Ms. Lin, but imagining that her ferocious mother has changed.

    She has seen many gentle people, but those people have nothing to do with her. She envies, but can only watch from a distance.

    Now, she is surrounded by gentle people.

    At that moment just now, she instinctively reacted to scold her daughter, just like her mother scolded her, but seeing Ms. Lin like that, she suddenly realized that she was very much like the person she hated.

    Everyone can''t get rid of the shadow of their original family throughout their lives.

    Although she had been unlucky before, she was extremely lucky now. That cursed shadow would disappear under her feet one day.

    "Thank you, Grandma Lin." Lu Wei whispered, a little embarrassed, but still smiled at her.

    Ms. Lin sat back and put two pieces of sweet and sour pork ribs for her with a smile.

    ¡­.

    After the meal, the servants brought fruit snacks, and the family sat in the living room eating and chatting.

    Ms. Lin gradually became more talkative, talking with Lu Zhiqiao so eloquently that Dad Qi had no place to intervene, so he had no choice but to talk to his daughter. But her daughter''s eyes are fixed on her lover, and she doesn''t give him half a look, which really makes him "sad".

    "In the future, come to our home often with Yan Yan. Your dad and I might be busy occasionally or go on trips, but most of the time we''ll be at home. It will be lively when you all come over together," Ms. Lin said warmly.

    "Remember to bring little Niu Niu with you.

    "Also, if Yan Yan bullies you, tell us and we will clean her up for you."

    Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t stop laughing, and gradually felt a lot more relaxed, nodding her head in response.

    Clearly, Ms. Lin is very fond of Niu Niu. She placed a large plate of fruit on the table for everyone to enjoy, but she personally served Niu Niu a small plate and placed it beside her, occasionally feeding her a bite or two. She would always ask if she had enough to eat. If Niu Niu were younger, Ms. Lin would probably have held her in her arms and hugged her directly.

    Both elders were extremely gentle individuals. Their voices were soft and their actions were unhurried and calm. They spoke to the household staff in a warm and gentle manner, showing politeness and courtesy. A smile was always present at the corners of their eyes and lips.

    There was a genuine and natural gentleness that emanated from within them, without any pretense or intentional acting.

    With such parents, there is no need to worry about raising a confident daughter.

    She became more and more envious of Yan Yan.

    Later in the evening, as the moon climbed up the sky, the whole family sat on the rooftop to admire it.

    In Lu Zhiqiao''s memories, for many years, Mid-Autumn Festival was only celebrated by her and her daughter alone. They didn''t admire the moon, but simply ate a few mooncakes after dinner or even went on trips directly. Festivals meant for family reunions like this were just good opportunities for them to go on vacation and travel together.

    The night was serene and the moon hung in the sky like a silver plate, casting its radiant white light. The faint outline of the circular craters on its surface could be seen.

    Ms. Lin held the little Tuanzi in her arms, while Lu Wei sat beside her, stroking the dumpling''s fur with one hand and eating mooncake with the other. Ms. Lin looked at her with a smile and suddenly sighed, "Ah, she really looks just like Yan Yan when she was little."

    Qi Yan was cutting a piece of mooncake and fed it to Lu Zhiqiao without even looking back: "Mom, you used to say I was mischievous when I was little. How come Niu Niu is so well-behaved?"

    "Yeah, you were as mischievous as a little monkey. That''s why it''s good that you''ve grown up and saved me from worrying. Now I have Niu Niu, who is even more well-behaved than you." Ms. Lin joked mercilessly while hugging Lu Wei tightly. She saw Lu Wei swallowing a bite of mooncake and quickly picked up a cherry and stuffed it into her mouth.

    Dad Qi snickered beside her.

    Qi Yan shook her head, didn''t care, and hummed softly: "I have a wife."

    Lu Zhiqiao blushed.

    ¡­.

    The moon grew cooler, gradually climbing higher as the night grew deeper.

    Tonight, the mother and daughter were going to stay with them. Ms. Lin had already instructed the housekeeper to tidy up the room for little Niu Niu. As she watched the child yawn, she personally accompanied her to the room and then the family dispersed, each going back to their rooms to rest.

    Back in the master bedroom on the second floor, Qi Yan hugged Lu Zhiqiao and pushed her against the wall.

    Inhaling each other''s fragrance.

    "Wife~"

    "Call me elder sister."

    Qi Yan cupped her face and leaned in to kiss her tear mole, lingering and pressing a bit harder before playfully nibbling on it. She asked with a teasing smile, "Elder sister, how do you feel today?"

    Lu Zhiqiao remained silent, with no expression on her face, and no emotion could be seen.

    "Elder sister?"

    Qi Yan was a little flustered.

    Is wife angry?

    Was there something about her parents that made Qiao Qiao uncomfortable? Or, Qiao Qiao doesn''t like to get along with her parents?

    She thought about it wildly, her face changed, and she frowned.

    "Yan Yan."

    A gentle voice came from beside her ear.

    She hummed, raised her eyes, and saw Lu Zhiqiao leaning closer, closing her eyes: "Sister is going to kiss you."

 CH 100

    Their breaths merged as they embraced each other, their kisses lingering and inseparable. They made their way into the bathroom together.

    The dim light cast shadows on the glass door, forming ever-changing shapes. Soon, the sound of running water emerged, creating ripples and waves. A ray of light seeped through the gaps, accompanied by faint whispers.

    Time passed by minute by minute, as steam filled the bathroom. They took a long time bathing.

    The balcony door was half open, allowing a gust of hot wind to blow in, causing the curtains to sway gently. The pale moonlight poured onto the ground like water, illuminating the leaves of the potted plants, creating a shining reflection. The surroundings were quiet, with faint sounds of crickets chirping from the grass.

    The bathroom door was pushed open, and Lu Zhiqiao came out wearing a bathrobe. Her steps were unsteady, stumbling for a moment before she leaned against the wall and took the hairdryer to plug it in.

    Water droplets dripped from her wet hair, forming strands that were twisted together.

    Her robe hung loosely, the belt loosely tied in a casual knot that could easily come undone, revealing a subtle curve, creating a fragrant scene.

    The hairdryer hummed.

    The fragrance was blown away.

    After a short while, when her hair was partially dry, Lu Zhiqiao turned off the hairdryer and set it down. She turned her head and glanced at the bathroom. "Yan Yan, are you dressed?"

    "I''m ready."

    Lu Zhiqiao walked over and saw Qi Yan coming out from inside, draped in a bath towel. The bare space caught her off guard, causing her breath to hitch. She averted her gaze. "You go out first and blow-dry your hair."

    "Huh? Are you going to the bathroom?" Qi Yan placed a hand on her waist, looking at her with confusion.

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t answer, but smiled and gave her a gentle push. She picked up the sponge mop leaning against the wall and bent down to mop the floor, absorbing the water from the tiled surface. Then she tore some tissue paper and held it in her hand, picking up the stray hairs stuck on the floor and throwing them into the trash bin.

    Qi Yan stood outside the door, momentarily forgetting to stop her. After a while, she finally said, "Let the maid clean it up."

    "No need, it''s already clean," Lu Zhiqiao washed her hands, dried them, and turned on the bathroom fan. "Why haven''t you gone to blow-dry your hair yet?"

    "..."

    Qi Yan''s eyes darkened for a moment, but she didn''t move.

    Just now, they were indulging in the intimacy of the bathroom, and she jokingly remarked about the hair on the floor being annoying - throughout her life, wherever she lived, there was always hair on the floor, which was unavoidable.

    It wasn''t a big deal, just a casual remark.

    But Lu Zhiqiao remembered it and silently cleaned up the hair. It was just a simple action.

    "Do you want me to help you blow-dry it?" Lu Zhiqiao wrapped her arms around her slender waist, smiling as she leaned closer, her nose lightly brushing against her face.

    Qi Yan tilted her head, leaning forward to meet her lips. Her dim brown eyes brightened again, and she curved her lips. "I want to."

    She grabbed her hand, holding it tightly, and they walked towards the table.

    Lu Zhiqiao is used to wiping her hair before blow drying. Seeing that Qi Yan''s hair was dripping, she casually raised the bath towel around her shoulders to wrap it up, but forgot that this person was bare, everything was clearly visible in an instant,

    "I''m going to get your pajamas."

    "Don''t¡ª" Qi Yan pressed her hand and raised her eyebrows, "It''s fine, it''s cool."

    "Where is the remote control of the air conditioner?" Lu Zhiqiao pretended not to understand her thoughts, gathered up the towel, and turned her head to look around.

    The room is large, equipped with a complete set of sofa tables and chairs, thick carpets around it, two magazines on the coffee table, decorative vases, and nothing on the bedside table.

    Qi Yan exhaled heavily, held her face in her hands, and turned it over, "Was that intentional? Such a prude."

    Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lips tightly, trying to hold back a smile, but she didn''t expect this person to shrug and let the towel fall off, her face was slightly hot, she couldn''t help laughing, and said angrily: "Stop making trouble, blow your hair quickly, or you''ll catch a cold."

    She gently brushed away the hand on her cheek and bent down to pick up the bath towel, draping it over Qi Yan with a helpless smile.

    If she doesn''t want to wear it, then don''t.

    The hairdryer hummed as Lu Zhiqiao lifted Qi Yan''s hair with one hand, her fingertips gliding through the strands, slightly damp and cool. Her movements were meticulous and gentle. Qi Yan closed her eyes, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, and a sense of comfort appeared on her smooth forehead. She thoroughly enjoyed Lu Zhiqiao''s "service" at this moment.

    After blow-drying her hair, Qi Yan still refused to put on her pajamas. She casually discarded the bath towel and simply lay down in the bed.

    After all the previous commotion, they were both tired. Lu Zhiqiao turned off the light and lay down, and before long, her eyelids started to fight, with drowsiness setting in.

    "Qiao¡ª"

    A soft call brought her back to consciousness, and she opened her eyes.

    "Hmm?"

    An arm suddenly wrapped around Lu Zhiqiao''s waist, and the person beside her leaned closer, whispering in her ear, "Do you feel uncomfortable in any way when interacting with my parents?"

    In the quiet darkness, where one couldn''t see their own hand in front of them, the voice sounded both muffled and abrupt.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback for a moment. After pondering for a while, she gently grasped that hand and hesitated, "I don''t feel uncomfortable. But it''s strange, Auntie doesn''t seem willing to talk much..."

    "Oh, that''s just how she is normally. She doesn''t like to talk and prefers to observe from the shadows, hahaha."

    "Are you saying she''s observing me from the shadows?"

    Lu Zhiqiao suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

    Although Yan Yan''s mother chatted with her for a few moments, she always felt that the other party had reservations. It could be her own sensitivity, something that most people wouldn''t notice but she could ponder for a long time.

    Based on her extensive experience in reading people, Yan Yan''s mother was a typical person who wouldn''t embarrass others face-to-face but had many concerns in her heart. She hid her emotions well, making people feel comfortable. It didn''t necessarily mean she had malicious intentions, but perhaps she couldn''t speak openly.

    But what exactly was it?

    She couldn''t figure it out.

    Nervousness can be contagious, and Qi Yan seemed to sense it. She kissed her gently on the corner of her mouth and soothingly whispered, "There shouldn''t be any issues tonight. She was just busy feeding Niu Niu."

    Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously tilted her head to return the kiss. Lying on her side, she thought of their daughter, and a subtle thought flashed through her mind, interrupting her previous train of thought. She asked, "By the way, have your parents ever mentioned to you that they want you to have a biological child?"

    "No," Qi Yan affectionately pressed her forehead against hers. "Why? Does sister want us to have our own baby?"

    Face to face, their skin radiated warmth, and their exhaled breaths melted together, tickling their faces.

    "Do you want that? To have our own baby?"

    "Not interested."

    "Hmm?"

    "Having children is suffering," Qi Yan murmured, lifting her hand to caress her face. She recalled the stretch marks on Chi Nian''s belly and the mention of an episiotomy that day, feeling a chill in her heart.

    "Niu Niu is enough."

    The moonlight spilled into the bedroom, casting a faint glow. In the silence of the night, the breathing sounds became amplified, rising and falling, long and steady. The contours of each other''s faces could be vaguely seen, as the night color enveloped them with an abrupt and striking intensity.

    Lu Zhiqiao gazed at her face, and an inexplicable melancholy welled up in her heart. She sighed, "But after all, Niu Niu isn''t blood related to you. Won''t... the elders mind?"

    After saying it, she immediately regretted it a bit.

    She couldn''t help but think too much and too far. Yan Yan didn''t have any concerns yet, but she was the one worrying first. It was truly laughable.

    "Even if they mind, that''s their business. It has nothing to do with me. Niu Niu is as good as my own child in my heart," Qi Yan said as she traced her finger along the corner of Lu Zhiqiao''s eye and gave a gentle kiss on the mole there, making a slight clicking sound in her eagerness.

    The subtle sound felt particularly conspicuous in the stillness, subtly arousing.

    Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes, pressing the back of Qi Yan''s head with one hand, unable to resist the temptation.

    The next day, Qi Yan woke up early and got out of bed first. She dressed up, kissed Lu Zhiqiao''s sleeping face, and quietly left the room, gently closing the door. The door to their daughter''s room across the hall was also closed, indicating she was still asleep. The whole house was quiet, with only the crisp chirping of birds outside.

    Qi Yan went downstairs, and the front door of the living room was open. She peeked outside and saw Ms. Lin busy tending to the flowers in the yard. She called out, "Mom."

    "Hey¡ª" Ms. Lin startled, turning around. "Yan Yan, why are you up so early?"

    "Just woke up and got up," Qi Yan smiled and put on her outdoor slippers, going out and affectionately hugging her. "You''re up early too. Where''s Dad?"

    "He''s sleeping like a log."

    "Pfft¡ª"

    The mother and daughter laughed as they spoke.

    "What about Xiao Lu? Aren''t you going to accompany your girlfriend?" Ms. Lin asked.

    "Let her sleep a little longer," Qi Yan replied.

    Ms. Lin paused for a moment and happened to catch a glimpse of the red mark on Qi Yan''s neck. She cleared her throat and said, "Oh, someone knows how to leave a mark."

    Qi Yan squinted her eyes and smiled, acting like a child throwing a tantrum.

    "Mom, can I ask you a question?"

    "Hm?"

    "What do you think of my girlfriend?" Qi Yan raised her eyebrows and looked at her mother with hope in her eyes.

    Outside the courtyard, the birds chirped and chirped on the treetop. Two sparrows flutter their wings and fly up, gliding over the power line pole and landing motionless on the roof of the opposite house, facing the morning breeze.

    Ms. Lin remained silent for a moment, smiled, and said, "I''ve heard your father praise Xiao Lu before, and seeing her in person, she is indeed quite good. She''s beautiful, elegant, and seems to have experienced hardships and seen the world. My daughter has a good eye." She looked sincere, not like she was lying or being insincere.

    "You were so focused on Niu Niu yesterday that you hardly paid any attention to Qiao Qiao. It made her anxious all night," Qi Yan exaggeratedly remarked.

    "Ah?"

    "Yes."

    Ms. Lin''s expression changed, her smile became somewhat unnatural. She looked at her daughter, hesitated to speak, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes gradually disappeared. Finally, she sighed and said, "Actually, I''m worried... Yan Yan, Mom will be straightforward with you. In a situation like Xiao Lu''s, you must make sure to understand her past marital status, ensure that she has no contact with her ex-husband and that he won''t come back to interfere at any time, and also that her orientation won''t be wavering."

    "This is what worries me the most. After all, she has a child with her ex-husband, and the child is the best excuse. What if one day she wants to remarry or the child wants her father? She could make a clean break. What would you do then?"

    "If only these issues didn''t exist..."

    She frowned and sighed again. "I really like little Niu Niu, but I have to consider these things. Your father says I''m overthinking, but I can''t be bothered with him. He''s just completely obsessed with bringing Xiao Lu over, blinded by his desires."

    As parents, they always have a stronger bias towards their own child. The couple worked hard and started from scratch when they were young. They only have this one precious daughter. Emotionally, they naturally don''t want their daughter to be at a disadvantage. However, rationally, all the future assets will belong to their daughter. If she were to be deceived and foolishly throw it into a bottomless pit, all the hard work of their half-lifetime would be in vain.

    Qi Yan stiffened.

    Every word was like a sharp arrow, piercing her heart. Then it tore open a crack in her heart, and the pain seeped out, spreading intricately.

    She had thought that by bringing Lu Zhiqiao back home, her parents would naturally treat her as their second daughter. But she was naive. Parents would always love their own child more. As a daughter, she should have been happy, but instead, she felt an endless heartache.

    Qiao Qiao had no parents, and she wanted to let her feel the warmth of a family. She wanted to make up for what was lost in the past...

    Her mother''s thoughts were not wrong.

    She was just feeling disappointed and heartbroken. Her nose felt a bit sour, and her eyes were watery.

    Suddenly, she realized that when she was feeling wronged, she could talk to her parents about it, but Lu Zhiqiao had nowhere to share her grievances. That''s why she had to love her more, be her harbor, and protect her from being wronged.

    "Mom..."

    "Yes?"

    "There are some things that I can''t currently tell you on my own accord, but I can assure you that the concerns you mentioned don''t exist," Qi Yan said earnestly, looking at her mother with determination.

    It was rare to see such a serious and resolute expression on her daughter''s face. Ms. Lin, with her lips pressed together, was momentarily speechless. After a while, a subtle smile appeared at the corners of her eyes. "Has she come out? If it''s convenient, we''d like to meet her parents another day."

    "Her parents have passed away."

    "..."

    The two sparrows that landed on the eaves fluttered their wings and flew away again, one after the other, their destination unknown.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    After the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was only one more week until the National Day holiday, and Qi Yan suddenly became busy again.

    She accompanied her company''s team to Xinjiang for an outdoor shoot and stayed there for five days and four nights. When she returned to the company, she ran into Jiang Yu. She had a radiant and joyful appearance, as if she was in high spirits. Qi Yan didn''t ask too much, she just nodded as a greeting.

    "Keep a copy of the raw footage with you."

    "Sure."

    "Next Tuesday, I''m available. Come over then."

    "Alright."

    After finishing the work arrangements, Qi Yan carried her camera and headed towards the elevator. As she passed by Jiang Yu''s office, she noticed the door was slightly ajar, and she could hear soft whispers and intermittent conversation from inside.

    "What time will you go back to school?"

    "Around six o''clock."

    "Wait, it''s too early. Have dinner with me before you go, and I''ll give you a ride."

    "Um, okay."

    "Good, be a good girl and don''t move."

    "Sister... don''t kiss me there, my roommates might see..."

    Qi Yan''s footsteps paused for a moment, but she didn''t stop. She turned left and walked straight to the corridor to wait for the elevator.

    It was during the evening rush hour, and the roads were congested. It took her half an hour to finally arrive home.

    As the saying goes, short goodbyes are better than being newly married. After not seeing her wife and daughter for a whole five days, Qi Yan''s heart was filled with anticipation. As soon as she opened the door, she couldn''t wait to shout, "I''m back!"

    It was still bright outside, with ample light streaming into the room. The house was quiet, as if no one was there.

    Her wife and daughter''s shoes were on the rug.

    "Qiao Qiao?"

    "Niu Niu?"

    The door to the second bedroom opened, and Lu Wei poked her head out, cautiously looking towards the entrance before quickly rushing over and hugging her. "Little Mom... You''re finally back."

    "Yes, I''ve missed you both so much." Qi Yan smiled, one arm embracing her daughter while the other hand carried the suitcase to the side. She closed the door and changed her shoes. "Where''s Mom? I saw her shoes, is she home?"

    "She''s in her room." Lu Wei whispered, lowering her eyelids and pouting, with an awkward and stubborn expression on her face.

    Qi Yan was taken aback. "What''s wrong?"

    Lu Wei pursed her lips, burying her head even lower, and her eyes gradually turned red as tears welled up and rolled down her cheeks.

    "Hey, don''t cry, don''t cry..." Qi Yan panicked, hastily hugging her and sitting down on the sofa, grabbing a tissue to wipe her tears. "What happened? Tell Little Mom."

    The young girl dove into her embrace.

    "When I came back from school just now, Mom said she wanted to help me clean my school bag. So I took out all the books, gave her the bag, and then she found a small note that someone had stuffed inside my bag..."

    "And then?"

    "She thought I was dating someone and started questioning me, but I didn''t know anything about it either. She even thought I was lying and didn''t believe me at all! We ended up having a fight! Little Mom, I don''t want to talk to her anymore..."

    Lu Wei sniffled, speaking between sobs, and as she talked, she shot a resentful glance towards the master bedroom and let out a frustrated huff.

    With both hands hooked around Qi Yan''s neck, she leaned against her, seeking comfort and pouring out her grievances.

    Qi Yan gazed at the master bedroom, blinked her eyes, and for a moment, her mind felt a bit blank.

    Her wife and daughter quarreled.

    Should she comfort the small one first or the big one?

    Author''s Note:

    Yan Yan: I''m in a difficult position.

 CH 101

    The little girl sobbed incessantly, clinging to Qi Yan''s embrace, crying and murmuring words like "don''t want to talk to Mom" and "only want Little Mom." Qi Yan felt helpless, but she had to comfort the child first and stabilize her emotions before addressing other matters.

    "Stop crying, Niu Niu."

    She caressed her daughter''s head with one hand, patted her back with the other hand, and coaxed: "Mom doesn''t believe you, it''s her fault, Little Mom will tell her well, be good~"

    That''s right," the little girl said indignantly, "It''s clearly her fault, being suspicious and blaming me. I didn''t know anything at all."

    When people are angry they can''t understand reasoning. They only want comfort, to release the pent-up frustration and only then they can eventually calm down.

    And she smiled and echoed, "Yes, it''s really unfair to Niu Niu. She''s been treated unjustly."

    "Wu wu... Little Mom is better..."

    Qi Yan just smiled without saying a word.

    The little girl cried for a while, wiped away her tears, tilted her head against Qi Yan''s chest, and stayed quiet for a moment. She closed her eyes and spoke as if talking to herself, "Little Mom, why do you think Mom doesn''t believe me... She used to be on my side, but this time she went too far. I''m really disappointed in her¡­I''m telling you all this, but please don''t tell Mom."

    "Don''t worry." Qi Yan couldn''t help rubbing her head.

    The child didn''t stop her, maybe she was distracted and didn''t notice.

    "Actually, it''s not that Mom doesn''t believe you, but that she cares too much about you and loses her mind when she''s anxious. I guess she''s regretting it now."

    Lu Wei pursed her lips and remained silent.

    "Girl, do you have a boy you like?" Qi Yan asked tentatively.

    The little girl suddenly raised her head and pouted, "You don''t believe me either!"

    "How could that be?" Qi Yan smiled with narrowed eyes and brushed away the strands of hair from her forehead. "Little Mom just wants to share a secret with you."

    She hesitated, pursing her lips without saying a word, and her long eyelashes drooped. But then she realized that she didn''t have any shameful secrets. Why hide and conceal? It was precisely because she was innocent and wrongly accused that she felt aggrieved, wasn''t it?

    A boy she likes?

    In her class, there was no one she found attractive. She was very particular about appearances, and she only showed interest in good-looking people before considering if she "liked" them. The boys in her class were all average-looking, with a few mischievous ones she disliked, especially those who enjoyed playing pranks. She had no interest whatsoever.

    However, there were handsome boys in other classes, but unfortunately, she didn''t know them.

    Every day she has to attend classes, do homework, solve numerous questions, and practice the piano when she gets home. She manages to find time to play games with her sister Yao Yao, but she''s really busy.

    During break time, occasionally she gathers with her close girl friends to discuss popular TV shows, trendy male celebrities, and fashionable clothing. The boys she likes are all celebrities, but they are beyond her reach.

    "Do celebrities count?" she asked, raising her head.

    "Of course not."

    "Then, there''s none," Lu Wei shook her head. "I like good-looking guys, but the boys in our class are just average, and they always like to play pranks. They make me angry."

    Qi Yan recalled her time as a class teacher, thinking about the appearance of those children. For a moment, she felt a tinge of regret that she couldn''t see them through to graduation. However, the thought quickly passed, and she ruffled her daughter''s head with a suppressed smile. "Well... in the past, someone used to slip little notes into my backpack. Guess what I did?"

    "Mm?"

    "I took it back and read it to my parents, laughed at their poor writing, and then threw it away." She shrugged.

    Lu Wei was stunned: "Won''t Grandpa and Grandma scold you?"

    Qi Yan pursed her lips and smiled, shook her head, her voice became more gentle: "Baby, Mom did something wrong today. She didn''t communicate with you well, which made you feel aggrieved. But you have to believe, Mom loves you very much, she is more afraid of you being hurt than anyone else, so she reacts more violently, after all, she only has you as a baby."

    "She loves me but she doesn''t believe me?" Lu Wei rolled her eyes and pouted.

    "She believes in you in her heart, but she refuses to say it, ah, she''s two-faced."

    "..."

    After calming down, some reasoning could be absorbed. Lu Wei lowered her head and didn''t say anything. It was unclear what was going through her little mind.

    Qi Yan believed in her daughter, but what worried her more was that if a crisis of trust arose between them, her daughter might not confide in them about any future issues at school. The potential consequences of that could be even worse.

    Improper handling of issues is like pushing the child away.

    "If there''s anything in the future that you can''t tell Mom, you can tell me first. Also, give Mom some confidence, she will change those little flaws." Qi Yan stroked her daughter''s hair as she spoke.

    Lu Wei lifted her head, and in her clear black eyes, she saw Qi Yan''s gentle smiling face. Her lips slowly curved into a smile, and then she hugged Qi Yan and gave her a kiss. "Little Mom is the best~"

    The two of them sat on the sofa for a while, chatting. The child''s emotions come and go quickly, and her attention was diverted, so she no longer felt aggrieved and instead acted spoiled. Qi Yan occasionally glanced towards the master bedroom, with a slight frown on her forehead, expressing a worried expression in her eyes.

    Her daughter mentioned that she hadn''t finished her homework and got up to return to her room.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    The clock on the wall pointed to six o''clock.

    Qi Yan took a deep breath and walked slowly to the door of the master bedroom. She knocked on the door, grasped the handle, and gently pushed it open...

    The room was dim, with thick curtains blocking out the light completely. Lu Zhiqiao was lying on the bed, facing away from the door, with her shoulders trembling slightly. A faint sob could be heard in the air.

    "Wife~"

    Qi Yan closed the door and walked over softly, saying, "I''m back."

    The person''s body stiffened slightly. They took a deep breath, wiped their face with their hand, and then sat up, pulling open the curtains to look outside but she still kept her back turned to her.

    Qi Yan''s footsteps paused, and her dark eyes became even more melancholic, blending into the dimness. She approached cautiously and silently embraced Lu Zhiqiao from behind. Her arms wrapped around her waist, tightening little by little until she enveloped her completely in her embrace.

    She didn''t speak, just held her silently like that.

    The evening sun cast its last rays on the wall of the opposite building, creating a golden-red glow. Downstairs, there were rockeries and a small pond, where children who had finished school were playing. Not far away, the sports equipment was covered with sun-drenched quilts, and several tall trees stood around, with fallen leaves scattered on the ground.

    It was a twilight of autumn, a sense of dusk.

    "Niu Niu told me about it."

    In the warmth of her embrace, with a lingering fragrance around her nose, Qi Yan pressed her face against Lu Zhiqiao''s ear and gently rubbed it a few times before slowly moving her lips closer and planting a careful kiss.

    Before she could delve deeper, Lu Zhiqiao moved and turned around, her eyes still slightly red. She hooked her arms around Qi Yan''s neck and buried her face against her neck.

    "Why did you just come back..." she said in a complaining tone.

    "Miss me?"

    "Nonsense."

    "I miss you too," Qi Yan curved her lips, "I miss you so much."

    Lu Zhiqiao didn''t say anything, sinking into her warm and secure embrace, closing her eyes. Suddenly, a soft and gentle voice sounded in her ear, "Don''t cry."

    "Mm."

    She responded with her mouth, but her body was still trembling.

    Qi Yan''s heart clenched, and she tilted her head to kiss Lu Zhiqiao''s ear, soothing her for a while before softly saying, "At that age, I worry about her too. Our precious daughter."

    The hands wrapped around her neck tightened suddenly, and the person in her arms nodded vigorously, emitting a faint gasping sound.

    "But the more we worry, the easier it is to panic and lose control. In reality, it''s not a very serious matter. Let''s calm down and trust our child," Qi Yan said, patting Lu Zhiqiao''s back.

    "I''ve seen the notes myself..." Lu Zhiqiao gasped as she spoke with a nasal tone, "She still said she didn''t know."

    "Maybe Niu Niu really doesn''t know? Pranks between classmates can be quite annoying."

    Lu Zhiqiao froze, her breath held for a few seconds.

    Feeling those marshmallow-like babies, Qi Yan instinctively straightened her back, pressing closer to them. She spoke in a storytelling tone, "When I was studying, I would receive little notes every few days. Snacks would mysteriously appear in my drawer, and I didn''t even have to guess which boys had sent them..."

    "How many love letters did you receive?" Lu Zhiqiao suddenly interrupted in a sour tone.

    "I don''t know, too many to count."

    Another silence followed.

    Qi Yan smiled and continued, "As for the love letters, I would take them home and read them to my parents. My dad would listen while looking somewhat disgusted, saying, ''I didn''t use such corny phrases when I wrote love letters to your mom.'' Then my mom would laugh happily, and our whole family would have a good laugh. After reading them, I would just throw them away. As for the snacks, I would share them with other classmates, and everyone thought I was generous."

    "After those few boys saw that I didn''t react much to the love letters and snacks they sent, they gradually lost interest and stopped sending them. Then, in high school, it was like a repeat of the same scenario. I don''t even know how many I threw away every day. Ah, being a Bai Fu Mei* was quite helpless, you know."

    *fair, rich and beautiful

    "It seems like you had a lot of people chasing after you," Lu Zhiqiao''s words carried a more sour tone.

    "That''s right, I was quite popular when I was young." Qi Yan pressed closely against the two babies inadvertently shifting and gently rubbing against them.

    Lu Zhiqiao furrowed her brows, lifted her head, and pulled away from Qi Yan''s embrace. "Have you ever been tempted?"

    Her eyes were tinged with a faint pink, still teary, and her eyelashes were damp and dark, accentuating the tear mole that made her look even more pitiful.

    When she noticed the absence of the two babies, Qi Yan paused for a moment and glanced in that direction. "Silly, how could I have feelings for boys?" She then cupped Lu Zhiqiao''s face and kissed her. "Even if there were many people pursuing me, I''m still take home by Ms. Lu, right?"

    "..."

    The topic shifted from the little notes in their daughter''s school bag to jealousy, and Lu Zhiqiao quickly caught on. Her cheeks slightly flushed, and she pinched Qi Yan.

    Then she started laughing herself.

    Seeing the smile in her eyes, Qi Yan breathed a sigh of relief and tightly held her hands, coaxing, "Don''t be angry anymore. Since the girl said she didn''t know, let''s trust our child. Don''t hurt her feelings over such a small matter. If she stops confiding in us about anything in the future, that''s when we should really be worried."

    "Or, if you''re unsure how to handle such situations, leave it to me. With me by your side, you can rest assured."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s lips gradually straightened, and she remained silent for a moment. She gazed at their tightly held hands and nodded gently.

    She didn''t want to argue with her daughter. It was just in that moment when she saw the little note that her anxiety and irritability overwhelmed her, causing her to lose control of her emotions. She regretted the argument, but couldn''t bring herself to apologize to her child. Although she tried her best to restrain herself and told herself not to be too anxious about matters related to their daughter, that one nerve in her brain still overreacted.

    Perhaps it was because Qi Yan had been away these past few days.

    Longing sometimes surged like tides, unstoppable, and sometimes burned like fire, scorching her body and heart. Voice messages and video calls couldn''t replace the presence of being together. With Qi Yan not around, her heart was in turmoil, floating and drifting, not knowing where it had flown off to.

    Now that Qi Yan was back, her heart flew back along with her, settling securely in its original place.

    A hand gently caressed her cheek, delicately wiping away the traces of tears, and paused at the tear mole, giving it a gentle press.

    Lu Zhiqiao lifted her head, capturing that hand and placing a kiss on it.

    In the next moment, she fell into a comforting embrace.

    Qi Yan rubbed her face and pulled her closer, tilting her head to nuzzle the side of her face and gently sniffing. Her lips accidentally brushed against her earlobe, and then there was no more movement, only the warmth of her breath enveloping her, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.

    "Still so sensitive."

    "..."

    Her foot was lightly stepped on.

    "How many times tonight?" Qi Yan finally nibbled on her earlobe.

    Lu Zhiqiao instantly lost her strength and slumped down, flowing like water in Qi Yan''s hands, filled with shyness. She whispered softly, "As many times as you want."

    After speaking, she was engulfed in passion.

    As a mother who said one thing but meant another, Lu Zhiqiao''s way of showing vulnerability was to proactively engage in conversation.

    She still couldn''t bring herself to apologize, but she knew she had overreacted. So she took the initiative to talk to her daughter about trivial matters. Lu Wei had already let go of her anger and was comforted by Qi Yan, so she followed suit, and with time, the mother-daughter relationship returned to its original state.

    On the eve of National Day*, Lu Zhiqiao and Qi Yan took their daughter to attend a concert.

    *founding anniversary of People''s Republic of China, Oct. 1, 1949

    Before they met Qi Yan, Lu Zhiqiao and her daughter used to attend two concerts every year. It wasn''t about deliberately pursuing any so-called "classiness," but rather because her daughter was learning the piano and had a need for it. Listening to performances by renowned musicians was beneficial for her learning.

    The concert took place at the Jiangcheng Music Hall.

    It was a tour by the internationally acclaimed pianist Shi Jinzhi, accompanied by the top-tier Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. As a result, the tickets were highly sought after and sold out five months in advance. At that time, the two of them didn''t know they would be separated, and now, the thought couldn''t help but evoke a sigh. If they hadn''t reunited, there wouldn''t be a family outing tonight.

    At 7:30, the audience gradually entered the venue. Lu Zhiqiao had purchased seats in the front row, offering an excellent view of the entire stage.

    The three of them sat side by side, with Qi Yan in the middle.

    In truth, Qi Yan wasn''t particularly fond of attending music concerts. She didn''t understand the piano and found the atmosphere to be relatively solemn, which made her feel bored. Tonight, she was solely here to accompany her wife and daughter.

    Don''t fall asleep.

    Qi Yan said to herself.

    However, as soon as the pianist appeared on stage, her gaze was instantly captivated, and she stared blankly at the stage.

    With long flowing hair, a fiery red dress with a high slit, and a large hollow design at the back, she looked extremely seductive.

    The applause in the entire hall was enthusiastic.

    Qi Yan had no idea how long the concert lasted or how many pieces were performed. Her eyes were fixed on the beautiful pianist on stage.

    Due to their front-row seats, the slit in the dress hung down, revealing her slender legs. Whenever she pressed the pedals with her sky-high heels, they would sway right in front of Qi Yan''s eyes¡­

    She didn''t even notice Lu Zhiqiao''s dark eyes beside her.

    ¡­.

    After coming out of the concert hall, Lu Zhiqiao had a dim face, her thin lips tightly pursed, and she remained silent.

    The car raced through the night, and Qi Yan seemed to sense that something was off with her expression. She couldn''t quite figure it out but didn''t want to ask since their daughter was in the car. She thought to discuss it later.

    As they entered the underground parking lot and parked the car, Qi Yan turned off the engine. Just as she was about to open the door and get out, she heard Lu Zhiqiao''s cold voice beside her saying, "Niu Niu, go up first."

    "Huh?"

    "I have something to say to your Little Mom"

    Lu Wei blinked her eyes and glanced back and forth at the faces of the mothers, feeling puzzled. Without asking further, she obediently got out of the car with the keys in her hand and headed towards the staircase.

    Qi Yan leaned her hand on the door and turned her head. The words that were about to come out of her mouth were swallowed back when she saw Lu Zhiqiao''s expression was dark as the bottom of the pot. She opened her mouth, "Qiao?"

    "Sit in the back," Lu Zhiqiao said in a calm voice, getting out of the car and opening the rear door.

    Qi Yan''s heart tightened, her throat sliding as she followed suit and got out of the car, sliding into the back seat.

    ¡ªthud.

    Both car doors closed.

    In the narrow and cramped space, the atmosphere suddenly dropped to freezing point.

    Just as Qi Yan settled into her seat, a force pressed against her, pinning her against the car door. Two little babies were positioned perfectly against hands, and an intoxicating scent filled the air.

    A low voice came above her head, "Is the pianist beautiful?"

    "..."

    "Um?"

    "Not beautiful!" Qi Yan looked into Lu Zhiqiao''s melancholic eyes and suddenly realized. She was quick to react and added, "She''s far inferior to you." As soon as the words left her lips, warm lips sealed against hers.

 CH 102

    The temperature inside the car suddenly rose, and Qi Yan was pressed against the door, unable to move.

    A tingling sensation spread across her lips, and a flicker of astonishment passed through her heart. Suddenly, she became excited, gradually relaxing her body. Instead of resisting, she went along with it, her arms instinctively wrapping around Lu Zhiqiao.

    With closed eyes, she savored this kiss with a hint of vinegar.

    However, at this moment, Lu Zhiqiao released her. She abandoned her usual gentle and submissive demeanor and used one hand to hold Qi Yan''s chin, her gaze gradually darkening. "Were you listening to music or looking at beautiful women?"

    ¡ªhiss

    Quite a strong hold.

    Qi Yan didn''t feel any pain. Hearing her sour words, a smile involuntarily formed at the corners of her mouth. She opened her eyes and playfully replied, "Of course, I was there to listen to music."

    "How many pieces are there in total?" Lu Zhiqiao didn''t believe her.

    After asking the question, she hesitated for a moment, remembering that they had checked the performance program online before they set off. So, she changed her question, "How many encores are there?"

    "Two."

    "What are the pieces for each encore?"

    "..."

    "How long is the cadenza in the first movement of the first piece in the second half?"

    "..."

    After pondering for a moment, Qi Yan felt a drumbeat in her heart. She kept recalling the scene at the music concert, but despite searching in her mind for a while, all she could remember was the graceful figure of the beautiful female pianist, her agile fingers, and her fair and slender legs...

    From a professional perspective, that perfect proportion and temperament seem to be made for the camera.

    Classical music concerts have always been solemn and serious, with rare instances of pianists appearing on stage in such a provocative and avant-garde fashion. The vibrant and bright red outfit, set against the backdrop of orchestra members dressed in black suits, stands out with its passionate and lively appeal, showcasing its unique characteristics.

    Her mind was filled with ideas for filming.

    Of course, it could only remain as a mere thought. She is not involved in the music industry, and although she knows friends who have graduated from prestigious music schools, it is still difficult for her to break into the classical music circle. That circle is relatively closed, and it''s not easy to get acquainted with the people inside.

    It''s a pity.

    "Why aren''t you saying anything?" Seeing her clearly distracted, Lu Zhiqiao frowned and increased the pressure on her hand. "Feeling guilty? You still won''t admit it."

    "Ouch¡ª"

    This time it really hurt.

    Qi Yan let out a groan but continued to smirk. She reached around Lu Zhiqiao''s waist and gave it a playful squeeze, raising an eyebrow. "Are you jealous?"

    When it comes to beautiful women appearing outside, her eyes act like automatic radar, accurately scanning and locating them. She has become accustomed to this habit over time, and it''s not easy to change. When she looks at other beautiful women, it''s purely for appreciation, always thinking about how to capture the best shots. Her intentions are pure. But when she looks at Lu Zhiqiao, her mind is filled with passionate love and even "dirty and messy" images.

    How can they be the same?

    But it seems that Lu Zhiqiao doesn''t see it that way.

    Seeing Qi Yan''s teasing expression and a trace of cunning in her eyes, as if she was mocking her for being easily jealous, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. A mix of bitter and sour emotions surged up in her heart, slowly reddening her eyes. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

    "Qi Yan, you just want to see me jealous, don''t you?"

    "You intentionally want to see me feeling insecure and embarrassed in front of you because I care about you, don''t you?"

    Her voice gradually choked up, tears rolled down her cheeks. She let go of Qi Yan''s hand, turned her head, wiped her face, and sat down on the nearby seat. She sobbed softly.

    Qi Yan froze, suddenly realizing the seriousness of the situation, and panicked.

    "Qiao Qiao..."

    She quickly suppressed her playful expression, leaned closer, and embraced her. "I didn''t mean to upset you, and I didn''t want to make you jealous. I..."

    "Let go!"

    Lu Zhiqiao struggled and pushed her away.

    Qi Yan leaned back slightly but still held on tightly, clinging to her with a pleading expression. "Wife, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have looked around recklessly. I''ll go back and apologize. I''ll kneel on the keyboard." She leaned in, kissed her tenderly on the lips, and gently wiped away her tears with her hand.

    In the end, Lu Zhiqiao''s heart softened, and she no longer struggled. She turned around and embraced Qi Yan, burying her face in her hair.

    When she was rational, Lu Zhiqiao could think that perhaps Qi Yan''s professional habits had kicked in. That pianist was indeed beautiful and had a strong presence, and Lu Zhiqiao herself was amazed and took a few more glances. But ultimately, the person she loved was Qi Yan, and her eyes and heart belonged only to Qi Yan. Whenever she saw Qi Yan staring at other beautiful women, her emotions would rise, and she couldn''t care about being rational.

    She had given her heart completely to Qi Yan, but Qi Yan seemed to derive pleasure from seeing her get angry and jealous.

    Totally asking for a beating!"

    Thinking about it, that feeling surged up again. She raised her hand as if to grab the person''s hair, but her fingers didn''t exert any force. Instead, she lightly tapped them.

    "Qiao, you and Niu Niu are the ones I care about the most in my heart. Although I occasionally enjoy seeing you get a little jealous, I would never intentionally do something like that. It was just a joke between us, and I know I was wrong... From now on, if I ever look at other women inappropriately, you can gouge out my eyes!" Qi Yan gently patted her back, then turned his head and planted a soft kiss on her ear.

    Lu Zhiqiao trembled for a moment, collapsing boneless.

    "You are the person I hold in my heart."

    "Mm."

    The two embraced each other in silence for a while. The sound of sobbing gradually subsided as Lu Zhiqiao lifted her head, cupped Qi Yan''s face, and kissed her proactively. She whispered, "You can look at other women, but not in front of me."

    "I won''t look anymore."

    "Then I''ll look."

    "Am I not beautiful enough?" Qi Yan pressed her hand against the back of Lu Zhiqiao''s head and brought their lips together, gently teasing. "Who else is as beautiful as me? Who else has a better figure?"

    In the warmth of their breath, desire lingered, intertwining with fragrances and sweetness.

    Lu Zhiqiao was engulfed in Qi Yan''s tenderness. Upon hearing those words, a faint desire to teach her a lesson emerged in her heart. She tilted her head to avoid the kiss, pressing Qi Yan down onto the seat with one hand while reaching for the armrest compartment in front. She retrieved a black cloth.

    Before Qi Yan could react, Lu Zhiqiao raised the cloth and covered her eyes, swiftly tying a knot behind her head. Suddenly, everything went black for Qi Yan, as she lost her vision.

    "Qiao?"

    "What are you up to?"

    Qi Yan instinctively waved her hands in confusion but was caught.

    "What do you think?" With breath rolling like fire by her ear, Lu Zhiqiao''s lips traced along the contours of Qi Yan''s face, from behind her ear to her chin and then upward, capturing those lips.

    The parking lot was quiet, with occasional residents'' cars entering and parking nearby. People from the same building would walk past the black car which was still running, on their way to the elevator. If they glanced over, they would see the two melting figures in the backseat through the windshield¡­

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    On National Day, people poured out of Jiangcheng, and the city was filled with crowds everywhere.

    The mother and daughter stayed at home and didn''t go out. Lu Zhiqiao took the cushion from the backseat of the car, washed it, and placed it on the balcony to dry. Qi Yan avoided looking at the balcony the entire day, afraid that if she glanced at it, she would catch a glimpse of some lingering traces that couldn''t be washed away. She also avoided spending too much time in the living room, as if she could still smell that scent.

    It was her own scent.

    However, Lu Zhiqiao always deliberately reminded her, saying it openly or subtly.

    "Why do I still smell a scent on the cushion?"

    "It smells quite nice to me."

    "If only we could turn it into perfume..."

    Lu Wei, who was feeding Naitang, suddenly looked up and jokingly said, "Maybe it''s the scent of our Little Mom."

    Qi Yan immediately tensed up, coughed lightly twice, and tried to conceal her unnatural expression with a smile. Then she exchanged glances with Lu Zhiqiao, and both of them blushed.

    The next day, Qi Yan received a WeChat message from Chi Nian, saying that she had given birth.

    Half a month ago, Chi Nian was admitted to the hospital for delivery. Qi Yan went to visit her, but her husband and mother-in-law were there, so she didn''t stay for long. They had a brief conversation before she left, and they had been in contact through WeChat since then.

    The child was born in the afternoon on National Day, which was a memorable day.

    [It''s a daughter.]

    Qi Yan was delighted and replied happily, [A daughter is the best. Mom''s little cotton-padded jacket*, hahaha.]

    *a metaphor to describe filial daughters, and how daughters tend to be more clingy to their parents when young

    As she stared at her phone screen, Qi Yan changed her clothes, quickly drew her eyebrows, and told Lu Zhiqiao that she was going out. She grabbed her bag and headed downstairs to the parking lot, thinking about getting some supplements on her way back home. Just as she was thinking this, her phone vibrated.

    Chi Nian: [Mm, A daughter is also good.]

    "..."

    Qi Yan''s hand on the car door stopped.

    She stared at the few words on the screen, feeling an indescribable emotion in her heart. Perhaps she was being overly sensitive, but she couldn''t shake the feeling that Chi Nian''s response sounded forced and somewhat disappointed, as if she was trying to console herself after a dashed hope.

    What did she mean by "also good"?

    Was the birth of a girl not eagerly anticipated?

    She''s the birth mother.

    Hopefully, she''s just overthinking.

    Qi Yan turned off her phone, took a deep breath, and exhaled heavily, feeling a tightness in her throat. She shook her head, closed her eyes, and opened them again, then opened the car door and got in.

    The maternity hospital was crowded with women of all ages, from newborn babies to elderly grandmothers hunched over.

    There were women undergoing gynecological examinations, having abortions, and receiving prenatal check-ups¡­

    T/N: Abortion is legal in China. So don''t be surprised if it gets mentioned nonchalantly in Chinese Novels.

    Qi Yan didn''t like coming to this place.

    Carrying the supplements, she hurried to the hospital room, pushed the door open, and saw Chi Nian lying in bed, her face pale. There was no one else beside her, only a baby stroller placed next to the bed.

    "A''Nian."

    She walked over, putting the things aside. Although she called her friend''s name, she couldn''t help but glance at the child first.

    The newborn baby had reddish and wrinkled skin, sparse fetal hair, closed eyes, and tiny fists tightly clenched. She lay quietly in the crib, and it was difficult to tell who she resembled at first glance, but she was undeniably adorable.

    Qi Yan instantly fell in love with her.

    "Yan Yan..." Chi Nian called her, her voice slightly weak.

    Qi Yan immediately averted her gaze and turned to meet Chi Nian''s melancholic eyes. Her smile froze on her lips for a moment, but she still said with joy, "Congratulations! You''re a mother now. Can I shamelessly ask to be her godmother? Hahaha..." As she spoke, she sat down on the chair next to the bed, her gaze lingering on the crib.

    Was Niu Niu like this when she was little? She wondered.

    "Having a second child is inevitable, sigh..." Chi Nian turned her neck, smiled, and sighed.

    Qi Yan remained silent.

    "I thought the first child would be a boy."

    Qi Yan pursed her lips and pondered for a moment before saying, "Isn''t having a girl also good?"

    "It''s not that it''s not good, but I just wanted an older brother to take care of his younger sister. If it''s the other way around, with the older sister taking care of the younger brother, when my daughter gets married, the prospective groom would probably be reluctant to marry her knowing she has a younger brother. Sigh, it seems like men care about these things..." Chi Nian stared blankly at the ceiling, as if speaking to herself.

    At that moment, the feeling of nausea became incredibly strong.

    Qi Yan''s gaze darkened as she placed her hand over her chest, patting it gently to alleviate the discomfort. She changed the subject and asked, "What about your husband?"

    "He stayed with me all night yesterday. I told him to go home and rest, and my mother will come over later."

    As soon as she finished speaking, the family member of another patient across the bed received a phone call. The voice was a bit loud, and Qi Yan instinctively turned her head to look. An elderly person with a few gray hairs smiled and spoke in the local dialect, "She''s given birth, she''s given birth! It''s a grandson, oh ho ho ho..."

    The person was smiling so wide that their mouth couldn''t close.

    The young woman across the bed seemed to have noticed the attention and reached out to poke the elderly person, gesturing for them to lower their voice. The elderly person then went out with their phone.

    Qi Yan withdrew her gaze and happened to catch sight of Chi Nian tilting her head, her body slightly turned, and her eyes shifting downward, seemingly looking at the baby crib across the room. Qi Yan furrowed her brow, feeling a tightness in her chest. She quickly pretended not to notice and turned her head to look at the baby.

    The little pink dumpling was sound asleep with closed eyes, unaware of anything, and knowing nothing. Today was her second day in this world, but it was also the second day that she wasn''t eagerly anticipated.

    As evening approached, Qi Yan left the hospital and wandered aimlessly on the street for a while, dissipating the gloom in her heart.

    Upon returning home, Qi Yan found her daughter sitting on the sofa, engrossed in watching a variety show while holding a candy. She was laughing foolishly, completely absorbed in it. The aroma of cooking drifted from the kitchen. Qi Yan casually placed the recently received package aside, changed her shoes, and headed straight for the kitchen.

    There, she found Lu Zhiqiao wearing an apron, standing in front of the stove, cooking.

    The sound of the range hood was buzzing, slightly loud, masking the sound of footsteps. Qi Yan quietly approached and wrapped her arms around Lu Zhiqiao from behind. "Wife~"

    "Hey, you startled me." Lu Zhiqiao shook her shoulder and turned her head, smiling. "You''re back. How is Chi Nian doing?"

    "She''s alright."

    Qi Yan responded lightly and softly pressed her thin, soft lips against Lu Zhiqiao''s ear, causing her to shiver. Then she released her embrace. "By the way, my parents said we should go home tomorrow for a meal."

    "Okay" Lu Zhiqiao paused, sprinkling a small amount of salt into the pot and continuing to stir-fry.

    The dish being cooked was one that Qi Yan enjoyed, and on another stove, a soup that both mother and daughter loved was simmering. During their time off, they preferred to stay at home and explore the realm of gourmet cuisine instead of venturing into crowded places. Their days were filled with eating and sleeping, and as a family of three, they found joy, warmth, and happiness.

    Being together with the one you love, even if life is incredibly ordinary, brings happiness.

    They quietly held each other, without saying a word.

    After finishing cooking, Lu Zhiqiao turned off the stove. With a gesture, Qi Yan immediately knew what she wanted, and she quickly grabbed a plate before Lu Zhiqiao could reach it.

    The two exchanged smiles.

    As Lu Zhiqiao plated the dishes, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Have you told your parents about my family?"

    "...Not yet," Qi Yan hesitated, looking at her with a dazed expression. "I only mentioned that your parents have passed away, but I didn''t know whether I should take the liberty to disclose the rest, so I didn''t say anything for now."

    Her heart started to pound.

    Qiao Qiao''s family situation is quite complicated, involving many private matters. She is undecided about whether to speak about it or not. She was planning to discuss it with Lu Zhiqiao after the Mid-Autumn Festival, but got busy and forgot about it.

    If Qiao Qiao is unwilling, she would never disclose it on her own, even if she were facing her own parents.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, a smile forming at the corners of her mouth. She set aside the dishes she had prepared, wiped her hands, and turned to embrace Qi Yan, pressing her face against Qi Yan''s. She whispered, "It''s okay, let''s tell them. They will have to know sooner or later. We can say that my family members have all passed away in an accident, and that Niu Niu is my brother''s daughter whom I have raised."

    Qi Yan nodded, "Okay."

    "In fact... I don''t mind the past that much anymore." Lu Zhiqiao closed her eyes and lightly pecked Qi Yan''s lips.

    Unsatisfied, she kissed Qi Yan again.

    Qi Yan narrowed her eyes and smiled mischievously. She purposely tilted her head to avoid being kissed and found Lu Zhiqiao''s tear mole, giving it a playful nibble.

    "You..." Lu Zhiqiao frowned and raised her hand to hit her.

    "I have something for you~"

    Qi Yan quickly dodged and ran out, opening the package she had just received. She held the pink items inside and returned to the kitchen, unfolding them to show Lu Zhiqiao.

    They were two custom-made adult-sized panties, pink in color, with pig tails attached.

 CH 103

    A pink pig tail with a hint of mischief suddenly appeared in front of Lu Zhiqiao. She was startled, blinked her eyes, and didn''t react.

    "Is it for Niu Niu?"

    Qi Yan pursed her lips and smiled, shaking her head. She extended her finger and flicked the pig tail playfully, saying, "It''s for you."

    The small pink pig tail swayed and curled, being both cute and subtly suggestive. Lu Zhiqiao immediately understood the implication, her face turning red in an instant. She felt a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, furrowing her brows, and raising her hand as if to hit Qi Yan

    Obviously, these were lingerie with a playful twist, not the kind one would wear in their daily life.

    No need to guess what the occasion is.

    As Lu Zhiqiao raised her hand, it was immediately seized, and she felt a sudden tightening around her waist. Caught off guard, she stumbled and found herself falling into a warm and tender embrace. Before she could even let out a startled cry, her lips were sealed in a passionate kiss.

    "Mmm¡ª"

    Qi Yan held the pig tail in one hand and held her with the other. She closed her eyes, sweeping fiercely as if venting, seeking solace, and soothing the inexplicable surge of sadness and anger in her heart. Gradually, it started to intoxicate her, creating a slight itch in her chest, and a surge of impulse boiling in her mind.

    She was fragrant, sweet, gentle, and serene. Taking refuge in her harbor, where the wind couldn''t reach and the rain couldn''t dampen, she was willing to remain stranded forever.

    In the midst of intense emotions, Lu Zhiqiao had completely forgotten about being in the kitchen. She couldn''t help but cling to Qi Yan''s shoulder, responding eagerly, even shifting from being passive to taking the initiative.

    "Mom, when will dinner be...?" Lu Wei ran to the kitchen door, but before finishing her sentence, she saw her two moms embracing each other affectionately, unwilling to part. Her throat tightened, and she came to a halt.

    Both of them were startled and quickly separated. Lu Zhiqiao instinctively pushed Qi Yan and looked towards the door.

    Meeting her daughter''s surprised gaze.

    The little girl reacted swiftly, uttering, "Excuse me, you can continue!" She turned around and disappeared in a flash.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s mind went blank, and her face turned as red as a pig''s liver. She felt a burning sensation, and with a complaining tone, she lightly hit Qi Yan and glared at her, muttering, "You''re so restless, during broad daylight..."

    "I was wrong~" Qi Yan took the opportunity to grab her hand, leaned close to her lips and gave a kiss, then let go. She raised the pigtail panties in her hand and lowered her voice, "I''ll go wash this up, and you can wear these another day. We..." She said, giving a mischievous smile.

    Then before Lu Zhiqiao could raise her hand to hit her, Qi Yan swiftly ran out.

    ¡­.

    Throughout the evening, Qi Yan''s mood was not very good. Despite her efforts to appear relaxed and normal, she couldn''t hide the heaviness in her expression.

    Lu Zhiqiao noticed but didn''t ask, wanting to wait for Qi Yan to speak up on her own. However, from after dinner until bedtime Qi Yan showed no intention of opening up. Instead, she absentmindedly leaned against the edge of the bed, pretending to be engrossed in her phone while sighing.

    Both of them remained silent, turned off the lights, and lay down.

    The room was pitch black, and the silence was so profound that it seemed to buzz in their ears. They could hear each other''s breaths clearly.

    Lu Zhiqiao was always a fast sleeper, able to doze off within ten minutes of resting her head on the pillow. She quietly waited, waiting until her eyelids were almost closing, while the person beside her continued to breathe at irregular intervals, showing no signs of falling asleep.

    Finally, unable to resist any longer, she turned over and embraced Qi Yan, pressing her lips against her cheek.

    "Huh?" Qi Yan instinctively held her hand and tilted her head. "Can''t sleep?"

    "It''s you who can''t sleep."

    "..."

    "I''ve noticed that your mood hasn''t been great since you came back," Lu Zhiqiao whispered, imitating her gesture and gently kissing her ear. "Is something wrong?"

    The ticklish sensation in her ear caused a slight shiver, and Qi Yan had never realized that her ears could be so sensitive. She immediately softened, allowing Lu Zhiqiao to hold her.

    "...there isn''t really anything wrong."

    "If you feel uncomfortable keeping it to yourself, just speak up," Lu Zhiqiao kissed her again, then held onto that soft earlobe.

    Qi Yan kept her eyes open, staring at the pitch-black ceiling. Her fingertips scratched Lu Zhiqiao''s palm as her breath deepened. She didn''t know where to start, as if it were both simple and complicated at the same time. She was unsure of what exactly was causing her anxiety.

    Outside the window, there was an argument from a neighboring house.

    "The man''s angry roar, the woman''s high-pitched scream, the child''s crying, and the sound of things falling with a thud."

    Lu Zhiqiao had great patience, holding her quietly like this, not saying a word. Her lips traced a circle along the earlobe, as if soothing gently, adding a touch of tenderness to the darkness.

    "Qiao Qiao."

    "Mm, I''m here."

    "Is gender the original sin?" Her voice suddenly became hoarse.

    Lu Zhiqiao was taken aback, seemingly understanding what she wanted to say. After a moment of silence: "The world we live in was constructed from a male perspective. So... one could say that."

    The person in her arms took a sharp breath.

    She heard Qi Yan speak in a tone devoid of emotion, almost mechanical, describing the events of the afternoon in a casual manner. Afterward, both of them fell into silence.

    A solemn atmosphere quietly spread...

    The noise of the argument outside grew louder and louder, with things being thrown, curses, and shouts. It was evident that it was a fierce confrontation, as if they were about to tear down the entire building. It was disturbing to be causing such a ruckus in the middle of the night.

    "I feel so fortunate," Qi Yan said.

    "My parents never told me how a girl should be. When I was little, I liked playing with toy guns, but they didn''t force dolls upon me. I didn''t like wearing dresses, and they didn''t expect me to be meek. When I said I wanted to become a teacher, they never mentioned that it was a stable job that would allow me to take care of the family. They love me, not like one would treat a caged canary but rather they want me to venture out into the world as a ''person'' and get to know it.

    "They used to say often that I was the best gift from heaven."

    Qi Yan continued rambling, her voice choking up, yet her eyes remained dry, devoid of any moisture.

    In the circles she found herself in, many girls were treated as "little princesses" or "precious gems," but these labels felt like describing a caged canary or a pet¡ªsomething she had never liked since she was young.

    She was born into anticipation and love, and although she had experienced the malice of the world before, her strong beliefs could support her and keep her standing.

    So, upon hearing Chi Nian''s words, the dormant volcano in her heart suddenly erupted. She couldn''t comprehend it, couldn''t accept it, couldn''t tolerate it. She felt as if she had fallen into a dream, forcibly detached from reality, and mentally distressed.

    "But A''Nian is her biological mother. How could she say such things?"

    "She wasn''t like this before..."

    "Well, I can''t meddle in other people''s affairs. They can do whatever they want, but I don''t want to be friends with this person anymore. It suffocates me."

    After babbling alone for a while, Qi Yan suddenly realized the absence of sound beside her. She paused and turned her neck, "Qiao Qiao? Are you asleep?"

    In the darkness, warm lips pressed against hers.

    "..."

    The noise outside the window had ceased at some point, and the surroundings quieted down. Fluids merged, and intertwined breaths mingled together.

    Lu Zhiqiao tilted her head back, moving away from her lips, and buried her face in her hair. She whispered softly, "I''m also very happy to have met you." After speaking, she took a gentle breath, inhaling the fragrance of her hair. "If you''re feeling unhappy, just stay away from the people and things that make you unhappy."

    Qi Yan parted her lips and hummed. She rolled over and lay on her side, with one arm wrapped around her.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

    This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

    In mid-October, there were a few autumn rains, and the weather became slightly cooler.

    The 20th of the month was Lu Zhiqiao''s birthday, but she seemed to have forgotten. She woke up in the morning without any reaction and went to work as usual.

    For some reason, Qi Yan insisted on going with her.

    She acted as a driver and nanny all the way, safely escorting her to the company. She stuck to her like a shadow, walking with an air of being her all-round attentive bodyguard. However, once they entered the office, she instantly became flirtatious, embracing her and refusing to let go.

    "I love watching my wife work."

    "Don''t make trouble."

    "Boss Lu, how about a sweet kiss?" Qi Yan blinked her eyes, showing a determined and unyielding attitude.

    There were still a few minutes left before work, and she dared to recklessly act out, knowing that Lu Zhiqiao couldn''t do anything about it. She became even more shameless, teasing and flirting, insisting on seeing Lu Zhiqiao blush and feel shy before stopping.

    Lu Zhiqiao glanced at her watch, sighed helplessly, but a slight smile formed on her lips. She leaned over and lightly pecked Qi Yan''s lips, then pushed her away.

    "Later, I need to go out for a bit. Just stay in the office. There are snacks in the cabinet, a water dispenser and a coffee machine in the reception area. The Wi-Fi password is Niu Niu''s birthday. Don''t wander around."

    "Okay, go get busy." Qi Yan nodded and sat down on the sofa, casually picking up a financial magazine from the coffee table to read.

    After flipping through a couple of pages, she started feeling drowsy and put it back.

    Lu Zhiqiao sat at her desk, made two phone calls, speaking in a language Qi Yan couldn''t understand, and then hung up. She turned on her desktop computer, and after a moment, she got up, grabbed her bag, and left the office.

    The slender white legs, pointed high heels, swayed back and forth in front of Qi Yan until they disappeared through the door.

    Qi Yan took out her tablet from her bag, connected to the Wi-Fi, and lounged on the sofa to watch a movie.

    Time passed quickly.

    Unconsciously, it was already noon, and Lu Zhiqiao hadn''t returned yet. Qi Yan put down her tablet, rubbed her eyes, stretched lazily, and reached for her phone to make a call. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

    Just as she stood up, the door was pushed open from the outside, revealing a large bouquet of vibrant red roses. The person who entered behind them was Xiao Wan.

    "Boss Lu, someone sent¡ª"

    Their eyes met, and both of them were momentarily stunned.

    "You are?"

    "Boss Lu''s friend."

    Xiao Wan looked around: "Is Boss Lu not here?"

    "She went out." Qi Yan said calmly.

    Xiao Wan nodded, looking at the flowers in her hand and then at Qi Yan. She felt a sense of familiarity but couldn''t quite place it. Deciding not to engage in too much conversation with this person, she resolved to wait until Lu Zhiqiao returned. So she prepared to leave with the flowers.

    "Wait," Qi Yan called out to her, her gaze fixed on the bouquet of flowers with a meaningful look. "Are those for Boss Lu?"

    Xiao Wan hesitated.

    Without waiting for a response, Qi Yan stepped forward and took the flowers from her, placing them on the coffee table. "Just leave them here. I''ll call her. You can go about your business."

    "..."

    The girl looked at her a few more times, said nothing, smiled politely, turned and went out.

    The door closed, and the office fell silent.

    Qi Yan stared at the bouquet of roses, their vibrant red color striking and eye-catching, resembling passionate love. Among the petals, there was a delicate card inserted, with the words "Happy Birthday" written on it, and at the bottom, a row of intricate small characters.

    ¡ªAmidst the thousands of lights, I only want to go to the home where you are.

    A trace of delight flashed in her eyes, and her lips curled up. She took out her phone and snapped a photo, pretending to be nonchalant as she settled back on the sofa to continue watching the movie.

    A moment later, a steady and powerful sound of high heels approached from a distance and stopped outside the door. In the next second, the door was pushed open.

    The roses were quite eye-catching, and as soon as Lu Zhiqiao entered, her gaze fell upon the vibrant red color on the coffee table. She paused for a moment, then her eyes shifted to Qi Yan sitting on the sofa. The woman just looked up. She met a gloomy gaze impartially, and her heart suddenly sank.

    "Whose flowers are these?"

    She closed the door and walked briskly towards the coffee table. She picked up the card that was nestled among the petals.

    Qi Yan let out a cold snort. "How would I know?" she replied, lifting her eyes to glance at Lu Zhiqiao, deliberately trying to display a hint of anger. "I didn''t even know it was your birthday today. Well, look, someone sent flowers to the office and even confessed their feelings."

    Lu Zhiqiao stared at the card, reading the sentence without a signature. She was puzzled for a moment, but before she could delve into her thoughts, she quickly looked at Qi Yan and explained, "I usually don''t celebrate my birthday. I forgot today, but this flower... "

    She had only a handful of close friends, and each of them knew her inside out. It was absolutely impossible for any of them to send her flowers with a confession.

    Could it be someone from the company?

    None of her subordinates knew her birthday, not even Xiao Wan. Besides, office dating is not allowed, and everyone was well aware of it. Who could be so brazen as to send her roses?

    Unable to figure it out and misunderstood, Lu Zhiqiao felt anxious and helpless. She furrowed her brows and placed the card back forcefully, saying angrily, "I''ll throw it away."

    After speaking, she picked up the flowers and turned around.

    "Come back!"

    "?"

    Qi Yan stood up hastily, snatched the flowers from her hand, and put them back. Unable to contain her excitement, she burst into laughter and hugged her. "I ordered them. Happy birthday, wife~"

    "You..."

    Lu Zhiqiao widened her eyes, pointed a finger at Qi Yan''s nose, parted her mouth but unable to utter a word. Then her expression changed instantly, and she lightly slapped Qi Yan on the shoulder, scolding, "What kind of trick is this? You scared me!"

    "Ouch!" Qi Yan playfully exclaimed, matching her tone. "I wanted to give you a surprise."

    "It was clearly a scare."

    "Well, I was wrong," Qi Yan said, grabbing her hand and obediently leaning in to give her a kiss on the lips.

    Lu Zhiqiao was wearing the familiar and alluring scent of "Hunting Goddess," a blend of icy citrus and deep sandalwood that was intoxicating. In the serious and formal environment of the office, the two girls were pressed close together, their eyes filled with affection, inevitably giving rise to some mischievous thoughts.

    Unaware of her intentions, Lu Zhiqiao wasn''t really angry either. She felt a warm sensation in her heart and was suddenly struck by a tingling sensation, as if she had been electrified. "How did you know it''s my birthday today?" she asked.

    "I asked Niu Niu," Qi Yan replied in a low and hoarse voice, leaning in closer and planting a gentle kiss on her tear mole.

    The scorching breath enveloped her, causing the pores on her face to seemingly melt away. Lu Zhiqiao let out a suppressed hum from her throat, instantly melting into her embrace. With her half-opened lips, she didn''t have a chance to say a word before they were forcefully sealed by her.

    With a swift movement, she almost surrendered.

    "Qiao¡ª"

    Qi Yan called out to her in a breathy voice, her hand restless.

    Lu Zhiqiao instantly understood what she wanted to do and hurriedly held onto that hand. "We can''t do that here!"

    "..."

    In the evening, after work, the two of them sat in the car as Qi Yan wore a face of lingering anticipation. They drove back home.

    The house was decorated just like last time when it was Qi Yan''s birthday. There was a large birthday cake on the table, accompanied by gifts. As soon as they entered, Lu Zhiqiao froze and then saw their daughter bounce out of the room.

    "Mom, happy birthday~"

    Lu Wei hugged her tightly, smiling widely, and then happily ran to the table, holding a beautifully wrapped gift and handing it to her. "This is a gift for you, open it and see."

    Lu Zhiqiao took it in surprise, feeling both cherished and amazed. She carefully tore off the wrapper, revealing the brand and design inside.

    It turned out to be the laptop model she had been wanting to replace.

    She widened her eyes, about to ask, but her little daughter proudly shook her head and said, "I bought it with the prize money I won in last year''s piano competition."

    No more, no less, exactly 20,000 yuan.

    Lu Wei always wanted to give her Mom a gift. But if she were to buy it with her pocket money, it would still be using someone else''s money, lacking sincerity. The prize money is something she saved for a long time and couldn''t bear to spend, after all, it''s money she "earned" herself. It holds a different meaning, and even spending a single bill feels painful.

    But when she spent it on a gift for her Mom, she felt it was worth it. She didn''t even bat an eye.

    Lu Zhiqiao curved her lips, narrowed her eyes, and smiled. With one hand freed, she gently stroked her daughter''s head. "Thank you baby, Mom likes it very much."

    "Hehe~"

    "Ahem¡ª" Qi Yan cleared her throat softly, giving a signal to her daughter.

    Lu Wei understood the cue and clapped her hands. "Ah, I haven''t finished my homework. I''ll go back to my room first." She turned around and hurried back to her room.

    "?"

    Lu Zhiqiao was stunned, still not fully reacting, as the laptop in her arms was taken away and set aside. Her hand was unexpectedly caught. She looked up in confusion and saw Qi Yan winking at her with a mysterious smile, saying, "Come with me."

    Both of them put on their shoes again, and she was led out of the house, heading towards the opposite side.

    Her heart began to beat rapidly, as if there was an even bigger surprise waiting for her ahead. The intuition grew stronger and stronger.

    Qi Yan unlocked the door with a key, without even changing their shoes, and led her into the master bedroom.

    The spacious room was decorated in an extremely festive manner. The beddings and pillowcases were all replaced with red ones, and the walls were adorned with pink and purple balloons and ribbons. Two red paper-cuttings of the Chinese character "Double Happiness*" were stuck on the window glass, giving it the appearance of a wedding room.

    *Typically the character "‡Ö" is written in Chinese calligraphy, and frequently appears on traditional decorative items, associated with marriage. Double happiness symbol also often found all over the wedding ceremony, as well as on gift items given to the bride and groom. The color of the character is usually red, occasionally black.

    "This is..." Lu Zhiqiao was dumbfounded.

    A gentle voice came to her ears, "Qiao, do you feel like something is missing?"

    Lu Zhiqiao''s gaze fell on the back wall of the bed, where there seemed to be an empty space. In her impression, there should have been a wedding photo hanging there, if this were to be considered a wedding room.

    "A wedding photo?" she asked.

    "That''s right."

    Qi Yan looked deeply into her eyes, holding both of her hands in his palms and gently rubbing them. "Would you like to marry me?"

    Author''s Note:

    PS: The phrase on the card, "Amidst the thousands of lights, I only want to go to the home where you are" was taken from the internet.