Beautiful Woman, You Have Another Express Delivery! (GL) - Chapter 23

Qin Jiang’s smile froze. He stared at Cheng Qiuyi strangely for a while before saying, “You came back this time just for her?”

Liu Shuhan instinctively felt that the relationship between Cheng Qiuyi and Qin Jiang was unusual. She couldn’t pinpoint how it was unusual, but it was certainly very close. However, Cheng Qiuyi was too straightforward. Not long ago, she reminded Liu Shuhan to take things step by step and gradually let her parents accept their relationship. Now, she had stated their relationship so directly. Qin Jiang was Liu Shuhan’s teacher, after all. As soon as Cheng Qiuyi spoke, Liu Shuhan didn’t dare to look at Qin Jiang and lowered her head, staring blankly at the tops of her shoes.

Liu Shuhan felt uncomfortable with Qin Jiang’s question. The implication seemed to be that she wasn’t worth Cheng Qiuyi making a special trip back, right?

Cheng Qiuyi didn’t answer Qin Jiang’s question, only smilingly asked in return, “How have you been all these years?”

Seeing that she was unwilling to elaborate, Qin Jiang didn’t press further. He sighed and said, “Just so-so. I spend every day with students. It’s good.”

“After all these years, have you never thought about finding a partner again?”

Qin Jiang pinched the bridge of his nose and smiled bitterly. “I’m used to being alone.”

The conversation ended there, and the atmosphere gradually cooled. Qin Jiang forced himself to cheer up and asked, “How long are you planning to stay in Z City?”

“The initial plan is one week,” Cheng Qiuyi said.

“What?” Liu Shuhan looked up abruptly, horrified. “One week?” She covered her face in despair. “It’s over, it’s over. I’m really going to be fired now…”

Cheng Qiuyi graciously took Liu Shuhan’s hand, earning a glare from Liu Shuhan.

Qin Jiang seemed oblivious to their little actions and said to Cheng Qiuyi, “Why don’t you two come to my place for dinner tonight? It’s been years since you’ve had your master’s cooking, and Liu Shuhan should come along too.”

Liu Shuhan thought Cheng Qiuyi would refuse, but to her surprise, Cheng Qiuyi agreed enthusiastically, even joking that if it got late, they would just stay at her master’s house. Liu Shuhan was increasingly confused. What exactly was the relationship between Cheng Qiuyi and Qin Jiang?

Cheng Qiuyi gave Liu Shuhan a reassuring look, signaling her to remain calm.

Cheng Qiuyi and Liu Shuhan had walked to the meeting point, so they didn’t have a car. They simply took a ride with Qin Jiang. Cheng Qiuyi voluntarily sat in the passenger seat to chat with Qin Jiang, leaving Liu Shuhan bored in the back seat alone. She was mindful that Qin Jiang was an elder, and Cheng Qiuyi’s elder at that, so she sat upright throughout the ride, her back straight. Cheng Qiuyi glanced at her nervous demeanor in the rearview mirror and secretly laughed.

Qin Jiang also followed Cheng Qiuyi’s gaze to the rearview mirror. He looked at Cheng Qiuyi’s expression and shook his head disapprovingly, clearing his throat lightly as a warning. Cheng Qiuyi then quickly composed herself.

“Are you planning to leave the country again after this return?” Qin Jiang asked Cheng Qiuyi.

This was a question Liu Shuhan had always wanted to ask but hadn’t dared to. Now that someone had asked for her, she immediately perked up her ears and listened intently.

“No, I won’t be leaving,” Cheng Qiuyi said. “But I still have a lot of unfinished business in Country A. I estimate I’ll have to go back once to take care of those matters.”

Liu Shuhan breathed a sigh of relief, then realized her back was covered in a cold sweat.

Qin Jiang nodded. “It’s good to be back. No matter how good Country A is, it’s someone else’s territory after all. But how can you just abandon the foundation you built there over nearly ten years?”

Cheng Qiuyi mocked herself. “I used to have a chip on my shoulder, determined to make a name for myself to show the Cheng family a thing or two. Now that the Cheng family is on the decline, those things are no longer important to me.”

Qin Jiang felt a little regretful. He had only taken two disciples in his life, one was Ye Jing, and the other was Cheng Qiuyi. Ye Jing was decisive and iron-fisted, but unfortunately, she was too arrogant to listen to advice and often went too far in her actions. Cheng Qiuyi was influenced by her mother from a young age, had great demeanor, and knew how to leave some room for maneuver in her actions. However, she was prone to being emotional, and such romantic entanglement would ultimately prevent her from achieving great things.

“Master, are you still living in the old house?” Cheng Qiuyi asked.

“That place is too remote. I usually live in the school’s staff dormitory, but today is different. Firstly, to welcome you back, and secondly, you’re not the only one who came to see me today.”

Cheng Qiuyi immediately became guarded. “Is she here too?”

Qin Jiang didn’t speak, which meant he confirmed it.

As the two were talking, a loud rumbling sound suddenly came from the narrow space inside the car. Cheng Qiuyi looked back at the back seat, only to see Liu Shuhan clutching her stomach, her face flushed. “S-sorry…”

Liu Shuhan cursed her stomach for being so uncooperative. She had eaten a fair amount at noon, so why was it rumbling again now? Her stomach seemed to be protesting and let out another loud growl.

Liu Shuhan was completely mortified. She simply hung her head in despair, refusing to look at Cheng Qiuyi and Qin Jiang’s expressions.

Cheng Qiuyi pulled out a piece of chocolate from her pocket and handed it over. “Eat something to tide you over. Don’t starve your stomach.”

Liu Shuhan, how could you be so useless! Liu Shuhan took the chocolate from Cheng Qiuyi, wishing she could find a hole to bury herself in.

…

As soon as they arrived at Qin Jiang’s house, Liu Shuhan knew her teacher was no ordinary person. Look at this small Western-style house with red walls and green tiles. It was retro, detached, and utterly unique. It was certainly not affordable for the average person. Sure enough, anyone associated with Cheng Qiuyi was not ordinary. Except, of course, for Liu Shuhan herself.

In front of the small Western-style house was a small garden. A person was watering flowers in the garden. They were tall but slender, with short hair. Liu Shuhan couldn’t tell if the person was male or female at first.

The person watering the flowers also noticed them. They put down the watering can and walked toward them, smiling brightly. “Master, if you hadn’t come back, I would have left.” It was no one other than Ye Jing.

Qin Jiang also smiled. “I have to say, Ah Jing understands Qiuyi the best after all these years. She told me this morning that Qiuyi would definitely come today, and here Qiuyi is tonight.”

The feud between Cheng Qiuyi and Ye Jing began five years ago when both were abroad. Qin Jiang naturally didn’t know what happened between them and still assumed Cheng Qiuyi and Ye Jing were as close as before.

Cheng Qiuyi didn’t want to cause a scene with Ye Jing in front of Qin Jiang. She forced a smile and nodded at Ye Jing as a greeting. Ye Jing, however, seemed very interested in Liu Shuhan, who was standing next to Cheng Qiuyi. “Qiuyi, who is this young lady? Why don’t you introduce her to me?”

It was Liu Shuhan’s first time seeing Ye Jing. Ye Jing wasn’t bad-looking and was smiling, but Liu Shuhan instinctively felt uncomfortable. The way this woman looked at Cheng Qiuyi was a little strange, and Cheng Qiuyi was very distant towards her. Their relationship didn’t seem warm.

Cheng Qiuyi subtly shielded Liu Shuhan behind her. “Shuhan, this is Ye Jing, my Senior Sister.” She spoke to Liu Shuhan, but her eyes were constantly watching Ye Jing’s movements, afraid she would do something detrimental to Liu Shuhan.

Cheng Qiuyi regretted choosing today to bring Liu Shuhan to see her master. But then she thought, Ye Jing intentionally came to spoil the fun, so she probably couldn’t avoid her no matter when she came.

“Hello, Miss Ye Jing. My name is Liu Shuhan,” Liu Shuhan said from behind Cheng Qiuyi.

“Liu Shuhan… So you are Liu Shuhan.” Ye Jing repeated Liu Shuhan’s name a few times in a rather peculiar manner. “I’ve heard Qiuyi mention you many times. Seeing is believing. Miss Liu is indeed beautiful.”

Ye Jing’s smile was kind, but Liu Shuhan felt that every word she said was laced with sarcasm. Liu Shuhan chuckled a few times in response and then ignored her.

Ye Jing’s target wasn’t Liu Shuhan anyway. She continuously engaged Cheng Qiuyi in conversation. As fellow disciples, they had many topics to discuss. Most of the time, Ye Jing spoke, and Cheng Qiuyi occasionally responded a few times out of respect for Qin Jiang.

Ye Jing’s attitude toward Cheng Qiuyi was too intimate. Liu Shuhan could sometimes be a bit dense, but she wasn’t brainless. It would be strange if she couldn’t tell what was going on from this attitude. Liu Shuhan had only thought that many people pursued Cheng Qiuyi before. Today, she truly saw one, and only then did she feel a sense of crisis. Ye Jing clearly came from a prominent family, with a sophisticated demeanor in her every move. She had also grown up with Cheng Qiuyi. Liu Shuhan couldn’t compete with years of shared history. Liu Shuhan felt insecure and quickly linked her arm through Cheng Qiuyi’s to declare her territory.

Cheng Qiuyi felt Liu Shuhan’s unease and turned to pat the back of her hand to soothe her. Ye Jing saw this but continued to talk and laugh with Cheng Qiuyi.

For dinner, Qin Jiang personally cooked a table full of dishes. Liu Shuhan wanted to help but was stopped by him.

Qin Jiang used to be very strict in his teaching of Cheng Qiuyi and Ye Jing. Eating without speaking and sleeping without speaking were basic rules. Now that they were older, Qin Jiang wasn’t so strict anymore. He initiated a topic at the dinner table, and the few of them occasionally spoke. However, Cheng Qiuyi deliberately ignored Ye Jing, making the atmosphere a little awkward.

Qin Jiang noticed the strained atmosphere and lamented, “I remember when you two were little, you were like sisters. You’ve grown up and become estranged instead.”

Ye Jing smiled. “Master, what are you talking about? Qiuyi and I have a great relationship. To be honest, I even went to Country A to see her five years ago.”

Cheng Qiuyi sharply looked up when she mentioned five years ago, staring at her disapprovingly, her eyes full of warning, reminding Ye Jing not to speak nonsense.

“Oh?” Qin Jiang became interested. “I thought you went your separate ways after parting. I didn’t expect you, as the Senior Sister, to still think of her.”

“How could I not? No matter how grown up Qiuyi is, she’s still the girl who followed me around.” Ye Jing gave Cheng Qiuyi a meaningful look. “I still remember Qiuyi’s hospitality five years ago clearly.”

Cheng Qiuyi slammed the table and stood up. “Master, I’m finished eating.”

Liu Shuhan was confused. Seeing Cheng Qiuyi stand up, she quickly put down her chopsticks and followed suit. “I… I’m full too.”

Qin Jiang nodded. “Your rooms were cleaned up this afternoon. I’ll have the butler show you upstairs.”