Cohabitation With The Maniacally Gorgeous CEO - Chapter 24
Chapter 24
They only played one game before disbanding.
An Yiqing, worried that Ye Qiange might be concerned, called her to talk about what had just happened.
“I was just joking. Xiaoyu’s school has an activity, and she has to go on a trip, so I took leave to accompany her.”
Ye Qiange grumbled, scolding her for learning bad habits, daring to tell such a lie to scare her.
An Yiqing laughed, kicking the fluffy rug.
She admitted she had learned bad habits.
Saying her current situation in front of everyone was to get Xu Lingyin’s attention.
What if Xu Lingyin came home this week, wanting a meal, only to find the house empty? That would be so disappointing.
By disclosing the situation in advance, she could avoid any awkward misunderstandings.
At the same time, she was also expecting something else.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it herself.
After hanging up the phone, An Yiqing sat in the room, reviewing the day’s game.
The game was, of course, not the point, but rather Xu Lingyin’s performance.
Xu Lingyin hadn’t said a single word to her from beginning to end.
She had thought it was an opportunity, but it seemed to be just wishful thinking.
How could a relationship get worse the longer people spent together?
An Yiqing lay down on the bed, deeply doubting her social skills.
…
Taking advantage of the rare afternoon at home, An Yiqing took An Tingyu to art class.
She went to pick her up again when school ended.
It was already half-past five when they got home.
As the sky darkened, she parked the car in the yard.
An Tingyu gave her a kiss and went back to her room to finish her art homework.
An Wan was in the kitchen making dinner.
An Yiqing walked in and saw her washing spare ribs.
Her favorite dish didn’t lift An Yiqing’s mood today.
Preoccupied, she said to her mother, “I think I should go back to work.”
“It’s so late, it’s not safe to drive,” An Wan glanced out the window.
The dark sky was faintly overcast with clouds.
“The weather is also bad. I won’t be at ease if it rains while you’re driving,” An Wan gave a clearer and more reasonable excuse.
An Yiqing still tried to persuade her: “Mom, I’m seriously discussing this with you. Why won’t you believe me?”
“You’re my daughter. How could I not know what you’re thinking? If I let you go back, you’ll immediately go find that young miss and offer yourself to her.”
An Yiqing: …
“How could I be that kind of person?” An Yiqing said helplessly.
An Wan glanced at her: “If you hadn’t made up your mind, would you be discussing it with me?”
An Wan was right; An Yiqing indeed had this temperament.
However, that “offer yourself” comment sounded strange.
She was always very clear that the purpose of accepting the part-time job was to protect Xu Lingyin and prevent her from being ‘stolen from’ again.
After thinking it over, An Yiqing said, “Mom…”
“Aqing,” An Wan cut her off, “I agree with you dating her. I object to you being an unacknowledged mistress. What is your profession? Can you withstand the gossip? Don’t say another word, this is non-negotiable.”
Dating Miss Xu?
These were words that could only be said by someone who hadn’t met her in person.
If she were to follow her mother’s suggestion, that sharp fruit knife would probably draw some bl00d from her.
An Yiqing thought about it, and her scalp began to tingle.
Laughing awkwardly, An Yiqing left the kitchen.
She shouldn’t have pinned her hopes on her mother.
Maybe tonight, after her mother fell asleep, she would just drive away.
An Yiqing cleared the dining table and sat in the living room, planning the time she would return to Ningcheng tonight.
Her mother usually went to sleep at eleven.
It usually takes half an hour to enter deep sleep.
Half-past eleven was the best time to leave.
An Yiqing leaned against the sofa, sighing softly.
Who would have thought that the method she once mocked her sister for using, she would be using herself today?
With her understanding of her mother, she’d probably be angry for two days and then calm down.
She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice her mother bringing the dishes out.
When someone shook her body a few times, An Yiqing looked up and saw her mother standing in front of her.
“Aqing, don’t even think about running away in the middle of the night. I’m not going to sleep tonight; I’ll just sit outside with a stool.” An Wan’s tone was very serious.
The confidence An Yiqing had just built up immediately vanished.
Ms. An Wan, a super mind-reading mother.
An Yiqing was truly out of options.
She went glumly to the kitchen to get bowls.
An Tingyu was still drawing in her room upstairs, and An Yiqing was about to call her for dinner.
As she reached the staircase, the phone rang.
“An Yiqing, are you home?”
The clear voice startled An Yiqing. She turned to glance at her mother, quickly covered the phone, and whispered, “I’m home.”
“Can you come out?” Xu Lingyin asked, sounding increasingly impatient.
An Yiqing didn’t quite understand the situation. She told Xu Lingyin to hold on, told An Wan that someone was looking for her and she needed to go out to take a call, and hurriedly ran out to the yard.
At some point, it had started raining outside the window.
An Yiqing stood under the veranda, opened her phone, and immediately called Xu Lingyin.
The other side answered instantly.
They exchanged a few words back and forth.
An Yiqing was a little dazed.
Xu Lingyin had heard what she said during the game and had taken it to heart.
Thinking she was in danger, Xu Lingyin drove for several hours, rushing from Ningcheng to Yunling Town.
She was in an unfamiliar place and had come in the rain.
An Yiqing’s heart pounded. She clarified the address and rushed out.
The rain soaked her long hair, but she didn’t notice, running all the way to the town center.
Yunling Town wasn’t huge. An Yiqing ran for about twenty minutes and finally saw Xu Lingyin’s car at the entrance of the shopping mall.
The lock clicked open.
Xu Lingyin rolled down the window: “Get in the car.”
An Yiqing stood still.
“Are you planning to make me get wet with you?” Xu Lingyin put her hand on the door, ready to open it.
Only then did An Yiqing realize that she had been in too much of a hurry and had forgotten to bring an umbrella.
Fortunately, it was a light rain.
Her clothes were not soaked.
Once she got in the car, as soon as An Yiqing sat down, Xu Lingyin turned on the air conditioning and tossed her a towel.
An Yiqing thanked her, draped the towel over her hair, and rubbed it haphazardly.
Neither of them spoke.
The sound of the air conditioning and the friction of the towel against her hair filled the car.
The frozen atmosphere felt a bit strange.
An Yiqing subtly sized up Xu Lingyin with her peripheral vision.
The person next to her was expressionless, making it impossible to discern her emotions.
She wanted to ask Xu Lingyin if she had come to Yunling Town to rescue her, but she was worried about hearing the same kind of words as last time.
She mumbled for a long time but ultimately said nothing.
Her hair was almost dry.
Putting away the towel, An Yiqing sat in the passenger seat, hands clasped tightly, fingers interlaced.
Utterly silent.
Finally, Xu Lingyin broke the silence: “Have you eaten?”
An Yiqing suddenly realized she had failed in her duties as a host.
Xu Lingyin had gone to the trouble of coming to her hometown, and she hadn’t even thought to treat her to a meal.
Lifting her head to look out the window, An Yiqing pointed at the mall: “Not yet. Let’s go in there; there are more choices.”
“Didn’t you say your mom’s cooking is delicious?” Xu Lingyin looked at her strangely. “Are you not planning to invite me to your house?”
She didn’t think she had ever mentioned that, did she?
An Yiqing searched her memory for any clues, but found none.
Xu Lingyin cleared her throat and looked away: “I don’t want to eat mall food.”
An Yiqing collected her thoughts and nodded: “Let’s eat at home. It just so happens my mom finished cooking, and we haven’t eaten yet.”
Noticing her poor complexion, An Yiqing pointed to the steering wheel, offering to drive.
Xu Lingyin asked if it was far, and learning it was near the town center, she decided to drive herself in the end.
After driving a short distance, Xu Lingyin stopped outside a fruit store and bought some fruit and milk.
Only then did she continue the journey.
The town center gradually faded behind them as they drove onto the road home.
An Yiqing suddenly remembered something and whispered conspiratorially: “Xu Lingyin, when we get there, just say you’re my colleague.”
The car slammed to a halt.
An Yiqing immediately braced herself against the door and turned to check on Xu Lingyin: “What’s wrong?”
“An Yiqing, is my profession shameful, or am I a shameful person?” Xu Lingyin’s face was clouded with anger.
This was a massive misunderstanding.
An Yiqing frantically waved her hands: “No, no, it’s because of me.”
Xu Lingyin naturally didn’t believe such a simple statement.
She started the engine, driving forward at a snail’s pace.
An Yiqing rubbed her hands and softly explained.
“We rarely have guests over. I said something wrong the other day, and my mom won’t let me go back to work. If she knows you’re a colleague, she might agree to let me return to Ningcheng.”
The foxy eyes glanced over, and Xu Lingyin seemed to believe her, humming in affirmation. Following An Yiqing’s directions, she sped up the car toward the An family home.
The car stopped outside the courtyard gate. An Yiqing got out and, glancing at the car’s emblem, was slightly relieved that her mother didn’t study cars.
Getting an umbrella from inside, An Yiqing quickly explained the situation to her mother, then hurried out to greet Xu Lingyin.
They stood under the umbrella, holding the items.
Xu Lingyin examined the main gate, hesitant to move.
“Shall we go in?” An Yiqing prompted.
Xu Lingyin turned to her, lowering her voice: “Did you tell Auntie I was coming?”
An Yiqing nodded: “Just now. Let’s go.”
Taking a step, Xu Lingyin turned back: “Does she welcome me?”
“Of course, she does. Hurry in, the food is going to get cold.” Ms. An Wan’s voice was gentler than usual. Catching sight of the things in Xu Lingyin’s hands, she said, “You’re just coming for a simple meal, and you’ve already spent money.”
An Wan had, at some point, come to stand at the doorway, looking at them with a beaming smile.
She didn’t look like someone who had forcefully made her daughter take a leave of absence.
An Yiqing secretly sighed and softly urged Xu Lingyin inside.
Just remember the “colleague” relationship they had agreed upon.
Once inside, An Wan put the items away and immediately invited them to the table.
She even took on the task of serving the soup.
Xu Lingyin accepted the bowl of soup, thanking her repeatedly.
She also didn’t look like a domineering young miss.
An Yiqing looked at Ms. An, then stole a glance at Miss Xu, feeling a strange sense of harmony between the two.
Who could tell her why these two people had such a peculiar sense of compatibility?
An Yiqing relaxed a bit, planning to call An Tingyu down for dinner.
“I’ve served Aiyu’s meal; she’s busy drawing and can eat upstairs.”
An Yiqing frowned: “That’s a bad habit. I’ll go call her down.”
“Hurry up and eat. If you don’t eat, this teacher won’t dare to touch her chopsticks.”
An Wan finished speaking and smiled: “What is this teacher’s name?”
“She’s Huang Qian.”
An Yiqing quickly answered, earning a questioning look from Ms. An Wan and a meaningful glare from Xu Lingyin.
She broke out in a slight sweat.
If Xu Lingyin didn’t cooperate, her escape plan would be ruined.
An Yiqing’s hand, hanging by her thigh, reached out and tugged at Xu Lingyin’s clothes, blinking at her.
She bowed three times to the person with one hand.
Xu Lingyin curled her lips, her gaze falling on An Wan: “Auntie, I am Huang Qian.”
“Oh, Teacher Huang. Our Aqing talks about you often. I heard you’re working on a project together. I’m afraid you have to take care of our Aqing often.”
“You’re too kind, Auntie. Teacher An is the one who takes care of me,” Xu Lingyin replied very naturally.
The two of them chatted back and forth.
They had finally passed the test.
An Yiqing listened from the side, her tense shoulders finally relaxing.
Taking advantage of a moment of silence, An Yiqing pointed to the spare ribs and introduced them to Xu Lingyin: “My mom’s spare ribs are better than mine. Try some.”
Xu Lingyin picked up a piece. After eating it, she praised without reservation: “Auntie’s spare ribs are especially delicious. Most of the hotels in Ningcheng can’t compare to your cooking.”
An Wan modestly waved it off, then glanced at her daughter: “Has Teacher Huang been to Aqing’s place for dinner?”
An Yiqing quickly shook her head: “No, no.”
“Teacher An often brings dishes to school. I had some once,” Xu Lingyin calmly explained.
Perhaps there was a loophole in her previous statement. An Wan asked a series of questions about the school.
Fortunately, Xu Lingyin was quick-witted and, living next to Qichuan, knew a bit about it, managing to answer every question.
Just when An Yiqing thought they had passed the test, An Wan asked about the students.
An Yiqing truly regretted telling her mother so many details.
She smiled at her mother and said: “Let’s eat, the food is going to get cold.”
“Teacher Huang, I’m sorry. Aqing has never brought a colleague home before. I couldn’t resist talking a bit more. Please eat, please eat. I won’t say any more.”
An Yiqing was nearly at ease today.
Xu Lingyin picked up a spare rib. After eating it, she curled her beautiful lips: “Teacher An is very enthusiastic. Last time, a student in our class went to a bar, and she and I went to find them together. I’m lucky to have her; we found the student quickly.”
An Yiqing had told An Wan about the student who skipped school to go to a bar.
An Wan had been somewhat suspicious that such a beautiful and noble-looking girl might not be a teacher.
Unexpectedly, she had misjudged.
Completely relieved, An Wan wanted to get more dishes for them.
Xu Lingyin dissuaded her a few times, and An Wan finally gave up.
The change in An Wan’s attitude was very obvious. An Yiqing knew they had completely passed the test.
She had eaten this meal with bated breath, worrying that Xu Lingyin wouldn’t cooperate and that her mother would ask something that would ruthlessly expose her.
It wasn’t until she put down her bowl and chopsticks that her heart finally settled back into her chest.
After cleaning up, it would be midnight before they got back to Ningcheng. If they didn’t hurry, it would affect their rest.
An Yiqing messaged Xu Lingyin, asking her to tell her mother that the weather was bad and she wanted someone to go back to Ningcheng with her for safety.
Xu Lingyin sent back a question mark.
Next time I come home, I’ll bring you some of my mom’s spare ribs.
An Yiqing sent a kneeling emoji.
This was truly a sincere plea.
Xu Lingyin didn’t reply to the message, just silently glanced at her.
Was this a yes or a no?
An Yiqing couldn’t read that look.
An Yiqing followed Xu Lingyin to An Wan.
“Auntie, the meal tonight was particularly delicious. Whenever you and Teacher An come to Ningcheng, I’d like to treat you to a meal,” Xu Lingyin said.
An Wan smiled broadly: “When I go to Ningcheng, I’ll definitely have Aqing contact you.”
Xu Lingyin nodded, flashing a docile smile: “Auntie, can I go back to school with Teacher An? The weather is bad tonight, and I’m afraid the drive might be a bit unsafe.”
“Together?” An Wan looked at her daughter, dried her hands, and walked out.
“Teacher An will drive for four hours tomorrow to return to school, which is quite tiring. If we go together, I can alternate driving with Teacher An, which helps prevent drowsy driving,” Xu Lingyin explained.
An Wan looked outside; the rain was getting heavier.
“Teacher Huang, the weather is too bad. Why don’t you stay here tonight and take the morning off tomorrow,” An Wan suggested.
An Wan was truly trying every means possible to keep An Yiqing from leaving.
An Yiqing whispered: “Mom, she’s a homeroom teacher; she has a meeting tomorrow morning. Taking a leave would affect her performance review.”
An Wan still wouldn’t budge and was thinking of another reason.
Xu Lingyin said: “Auntie, it’s alright. I’ll just go back by myself then. Next time you come to Ningcheng, please do look me up. I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you, Auntie. I’ll be going now. Bye.”
Bidding them farewell, Xu Lingyin walked straight out.
Her retreating figure was so resolute, possessing a beauty that disregarded An Yiqing’s fate.
An Yiqing’s heart sank completely.
She had been on edge all night, and what was the result? She still had to stay home.
How miserable.
She walked dismally to the car, her head hanging low, to see her off.
An Wan kept fussing, cautioning Xu Lingyin to be careful and pay attention to safety on the road.
The three of them walked through the courtyard. The raindrops were striking down, and the rain was getting heavier.
It was truly unsafe for one person to leave.
An Yiqing stood by the door, watching Xu Lingyin get into the car.
The car lights came on, and the heavy rain glittered in the light beams.
This was too dangerous.
An Yiqing turned to her mother.
“Go,” An Wan said first.
An Yiqing looked up sharply: “Huh?”
“Your heart has long flown away,” An Wan scoffed. “Spend more time with your colleague and less time with that young miss.”
An Yiqing responded with great guilt.
“Mom, I’m leaving,” An Yiqing dropped the sentence and knocked on Xu Lingyin’s car window.
An Yiqing got into the driver’s seat and headed straight onto the highway.
Xu Lingyin was silent for a while, then finally couldn’t help but ask: “Who is Huang Qian?”
“Huang Qian?” An Yiqing frantically organized her words.
Under Xu Lingyin’s sharp gaze, she managed to utter a single sentence: “An ordinary colleague.”
“An ordinary colleague that your mother knows about,” Xu Lingyin said. “She doesn’t sound very ordinary.”
An Yiqing explained: “She’s the colleague I mentioned to my mom that I went with to the bar to find someone.”
Xu Lingyin acknowledged with a hum, leaned back, and closed her eyes.
An Yiqing watched her expression return to normal and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at the heavy rain ahead, her mood became lighter.
Driving in the rain wasn’t fast.
It was past one o’clock when they arrived home.
No one had the energy to do anything extra.
They washed up and went to bed.
The next day after work, An Yiqing was pondering what to eat when a BMW flashed its lights at her as she reached the gate.
An Yiqing walked over.
The car window rolled down, revealing Xu Lingyin’s stunningly beautiful face.
They didn’t have to cook tonight, so they went to the Western restaurant they had visited last time.
The lighting had been adjusted to a warmer orange than before, making Xu Lingyin’s face look softer.
Her long eyelashes cast shadows, giving her a subtle beauty.
This atmosphere was suitable for stating her position.
After ordering, An Yiqing scanned the vicinity; there weren’t many people around.
It was very suitable for discussing that topic.
Even if the profession sounded somewhat dishonorable, An Yiqing still wanted to approach it seriously.
She sat up straight, very serious: “Xu Lingyin, there’s something I want to tell you.”
Xu Lingyin took a sip of warm water and raised her hand to rub her temple: “If it’s not important, there’s no need to say it now. If it’s very important, definitely don’t say it; I have a headache right now, and it’s not a good time to listen.”
Her complexion wasn’t too bad, and An Yiqing couldn’t see any obvious issue, so she could only ask about her condition.
Xu Lingyin continued to rub, her eyes half-closed: “Maybe I got cold yesterday.”
“Should we go to the hospital?”
“No.”
Xu Lingyin propped up her head and continued: “There’s a more important reason, and I want to ask you for a favor. I’m afraid you’ll refuse me like last time. My head just started hurting by itself.”
“I agree,” An Yiqing said without hesitation.
“You don’t even know what it is, and you dare to agree?” Xu Lingyin lifted her eyelids.
It was nothing but that one thing.
It would save her from having to bring it up again and be misunderstood as offering herself.
Changing her mind, An Yiqing said: “Would you trick me?”
“I have no reason to waste time on something like that,” Xu Lingyin smiled.
Her head seemed to stop hurting. She put her hand down and wiped it with a wet tissue.
“The villa in Zizai Garden is being redecorated, and I need to shoot a new batch of decorative paintings. But I don’t have time to travel far recently, so I can only shoot nearby. Do you have any recommendations?”
Remembering that the flowers were blooming by Zizai Lake, An Yiqing thought the large garden should be full of blossoms.
Green willows, a hundred flowers, and the emerald blue river…
The material for spring was abundant.
Scenery was everywhere.
Why worry about material?
The moment her doubt arose, she heard Xu Lingyin explain: “I want to practice shooting portraits, and I lack a model. I’d like to ask you. It won’t take up your working hours. You can think about it and give me an answer tomorrow.”
So, it wasn’t about that matter.
An Yiqing’s eyes shifted, and she didn’t answer immediately.
She rarely took photos unless necessary and had never been a model.
She wondered if she would mess it up.
After An Yiqing voiced her concerns, Xu Lingyin said it didn’t matter.
An Yiqing thought: It wouldn’t be bad to express my intentions after the photoshoot.
She agreed right then and there.
…
It didn’t rain on Tuesday, and the roads were mostly dry.
After work, before the sky was completely dark, they drove to Ningcheng’s largest garden.
Xu Lingyin put on a mask and got her equipment ready.
They headed straight for the magnolia tree she had chosen first.
At Xu Lingyin’s strong suggestion, An Yiqing wore the bespoke peach blossom dress from last time.
Standing under the white magnolia, An Yiqing looked like an accidentally fallen peach blossom.
The purity of white complemented her spirit.
“Tuck your hair behind your ear,” Xu Lingyin instructed.
An Yiqing casually tucked it back.
“The right side.”
An Yiqing paused, carefully putting her hair behind her ear, revealing the bright red cinnabar mole.
Xu Lingyin seemed fond of her right profile. No matter how many locations they switched to, she always asked An Yiqing to expose her right ear.
Then she took countless photos.
After photographing three types of flowers, the sky slowly began to be stained with ink.
That was likely enough for the day.
Walking past a weeping crabapple tree, An Yiqing smelled a faint, refreshing fragrance that was soothing.
She stopped, examining the tree with its pink and white flowers under the streetlamp.
Beautiful to look at, pleasant to smell.
It was a perfect place.
Very suitable for saying something different.
An Yiqing turned around, only to be stopped by several girls who complimented her dress as being particularly beautiful and herself as even more so.
They also had cameras in their hands and wanted to take a photo with An Yiqing.
The girls looked so eager that An Yiqing agreed.
Under the weeping crabapple, she stood with the girls, looking somewhat stiffly at the camera.
After one person finished, she stepped to leave, but the other two also asked if they could take a picture.
An Yiqing saw Xu Lingyin photographing the crabapple blossoms, so she agreed.
After the photos, she walked up to Xu Lingyin: “Are you done taking pictures?”
Xu Lingyin glanced at her, switched to another flower, and continued to shoot.
She just wouldn’t speak.
An Yiqing: ?
She was fine just a moment ago. What happened?
Not being spoken to was a problem; she still needed to state her position.
An Yiqing followed behind Xu Lingyin, and after a while, she finally came up with an idea.
“Xu Lingyin, these weeping crabapples are particularly lovely. Let’s take a photo together.”
Xu Lingyin walked to the best spot.
An Yiqing relaxed, walked to her side, and struck a pose.
Xu Lingyin raised the camera.
Click—
An Yiqing stared at the viewfinder and instantly froze.
Miss Xu Lingyin didn’t even care to take a photo with her? The picture she had just taken only had Xu Lingyin in it.
An Yiqing: …
Although she didn’t know the reason for the anger, An Yiqing decided to proceed cautiously.
If Xu Lingyin got angry and left, her plan would be delayed again.
An Yiqing quickly stopped her: “Xu Lingyin, is your offer from last time still valid? If it is, I accept.”
Her words floated around the crabapple blossoms on the branches and slowly reached Xu Lingyin’s ears.
She finally turned her head, her foxy eyes filled with confusion, her gaze fixed on An Yiqing.
“You said last time that your mom wouldn’t let you take this job.”
“She doesn’t like coming to Ningcheng; she won’t know. Of course, I hope you can also help me keep it a secret.”
Xu Lingyin rubbed the camera in her hands, pondered for a moment, and her red lips slightly parted, but before a sound could come out, her phone rang.
She put the camera in An Yiqing’s hand, pulled out her phone, and walked aside to answer the call.
She stood with her back to An Yiqing, under the crabapple tree.
Her wine-red curly hair hung down her back. The dappled flower shadows entwined her long hair, and the fragrance of the flowers drifted from her.
It was light and not overpowering.
She took out her phone, snapped a picture of her shadow on the ground, and saved the shadow and the fallen petals.
Xu Lingyin hung up the phone, took back the camera, and walked out.
She seemed unaware that she hadn’t answered the question yet.
Was that offer still valid?
An Yiqing wanted to know the answer. She gathered her skirt and followed behind her.
“I ordered a batch of photo frames, and I need to go there first. You can come along.”
An Yiqing obediently followed.
An Yiqing didn’t get a chance to ask Xu Lingyin.
From the moment they got in the car, Xu Lingyin had been constantly on the phone.
It seemed that two styles of photo frames hadn’t been finalized yet.
At the framing shop, the owner invited them to inspect the finished frames.
The frames’ theme was “windows.”
They were delicate yet understated, ensuring the photos inside wouldn’t lose their prominence.
An Yiqing could imagine how beautiful the pictures would look inside them.
She looked at them one by one, and suddenly heard Xu Lingyin ask her which styles looked good.
In terms of aesthetics, Xu Lingyin’s taste was undoubtedly excellent.
There was no need to ask An Yiqing.
However, she noticed that Xu Lingyin was no longer angry.
That was good.
An Yiqing carefully chose the one she liked the most.
After making the selection, Xu Lingyin and the owner went to transfer the photos.
An Yiqing followed, took a quick look, and could barely believe it.
The photos taken today were not just practice shots but finished products ready to be hung up.
In a while, she would see a wall full of her photos every day when she came home.
This shift was too significant. An Yiqing couldn’t quite process it for a moment.
Xu Lingyin was…?
She genuinely didn’t understand what this young miss was thinking.
What was Xu Lingyin’s attitude towards her exactly?
Using the excuse of getting some fresh air, An Yiqing stepped outside, opened her photo album, and looked at Xu Lingyin’s shadow photo.
To use her photos to decorate the house, she must like her, right?
Who would want to look at someone they disliked every day?
Coming to the countryside to find her, taking photos, making decorative paintings.
This whole series of events didn’t seem like the actions of someone who disliked her.
Her heart, which had been floating in the air, finally settled down firmly after a long period of contemplation.
…
About ten minutes later, Xu Lingyin finished communicating with the owner.
They returned to the car.
The analysis she had just done gave An Yiqing enough confidence. She decided to speak to Xu Lingyin again.
“Xu Lingyin, you still haven’t answered me.”
“Answer what?” Xu Lingyin turned to look at her.
An Yiqing fiddled with the corner of her clothes, repeating the words that had tormented her for a long, long time: “Is that part-time job still hiring? I’ll take it.”
Xu Lingyin let out an “oh,” and said casually: “I’ve already found someone.”
An Yiqing’s head snapped up.
How could Xu Lingyin find someone else? Couldn’t she wait for even a moment? Not give her any time to consider?
How could she hire someone else while simultaneously taking pictures and having dinner with her?
She was utterly shocked, but the woman who had just said this was completely calm.
It was as if running a parallel operation was a perfectly normal thing.
An Yiqing rubbed her fingers, unable to decide whether to speak or remain silent.
She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
All she could do now was pray to get home quickly.
She needed to find a place alone to calm down.
But her heart was pounding so hard that she couldn’t calm down much.
She rolled down the car window, letting the cold wind mess up her hair.
The strands poked into her eyes, but she didn’t care.
After being blown by the wind for a while, Xu Lingyin couldn’t take it anymore: “An Yiqing, it’s cold, close the window.”
An Yiqing silently closed the window.
The cold air had a significant effect; she finally became completely calm.
From their first meeting, this young Miss Xu had been a person who didn’t play by the rules.
Why should doing something like this matter?
She was good-looking enough to debut as a star, and her capabilities were also outstanding.
Her company alone was excellent enough.
For a person like this, finding a lover would be easy, wouldn’t it?
Only she herself was so self-effacing, refusing Xu Lingyin.
An Yiqing now had a firsthand understanding of the phrase, “Opportunity knocks but once.”
After zoning out in the car for a long time, An Yiqing returned to the villa and stared intently at the few paintings scattered on the wall.
She looked at them very carefully.
According to Xu Lingyin’s arrangement, her photos would be hung on the walls of Zizai Garden later.
What would the person she hired think when they saw those photos?
Whoever it was, they would probably be a little uncomfortable.
Thinking of this, An Yiqing stopped Xu Lingyin, who was about to go into her room.
“Since you’ve found someone else, it’s very inappropriate for me to rent here. The soundproofing of the walls isn’t as good as imagined. It’s not very convenient when you bring people back.”
She wasn’t someone who liked to eavesdrop.
Especially on that kind of eavesdropping.
An Yiqing added: “I will move out as soon as possible in the next couple of days.”
“Why would I bring people back? And what does soundproofing have to do with it?”
She hadn’t hired a bodyguard to practice boxing at home; what on earth did she need soundproofing for? It was ridiculous.
An Yiqing sighed, turned, and went back to her room.
Before going to sleep, An Yiqing received a video call from her mother.
It was still about her slip of the tongue earlier. Her mother was worried and reiterated that she must not do that sort of thing.
Thinking that the issue that had tormented her for so many days had resulted in this, An Yiqing felt quite ridiculous.
After a laugh, An Yiqing said blandly: “Mom, you can stop worrying. I’m not some hot commodity; I’m not pretending anyone is fighting over me.”
“Aqing, you haven’t been rejected after offering yourself, have you, and now you’re disheartened?” An Wan glared at her.
An Yiqing was seen through once again and had nothing to say.
Pursing her lips, she forced a smile: “In short, you can be completely at ease.”
After hanging up the phone, An Yiqing washed up, lay on the bed, and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
She had to admit that the matter with Xu Lingyin truly affected her greatly.
Insomnia before going home, and still insomnia after returning.
The impact was just that strong.
She simply put on her loungewear, walked out of the room, grabbed a few bottles of beer, went to the balcony, and sat down to drink.
The spring night air was cool, but she didn’t feel it at all.
It only intensified her discomfort.
Tearing open a can, she chugged a bottle in one go.
A bitter taste filled her mouth, and she couldn’t help but frown.
Using the light, An Yiqing held up the bottle, seeing the brand clearly.
She had drunk this beer before and remembered it being quite good. Why was it so bitter today?
She placed the empty bottle on the table, swallowed the bitterness in her mouth, and her mind wandered.
Her hand unconsciously reached for another bottle.
Open the can, tilt back her head, drink the beer.
All in one smooth motion.
After three consecutive bottles, An Yiqing heard Xu Lingyin’s voice.
“Drinking in the middle of the night? Aren’t you working tomorrow?”
An Yiqing put down the beer bottle, lowered her eyes, avoiding looking at Xu Lingyin, and answered quietly: “I’m not used to the bed here yet. I came out to expend some energy, it makes it easier to fall asleep. What about you? Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“The sound of you drinking was too loud and woke me up.” Xu Lingyin’s voice was tinged with coolness.
Was it that loud?
An Yiqing looked up at the sky.
It was heavily stained with dark ink, with a few stars scattered in the blackness.
It was truly a bleak night.
An Yiqing lowered her head and tidied the bottles on the table: “I won’t drink anymore. Go back to sleep.”
Footsteps sounded, getting closer.
Xu Lingyin walked over and sat down opposite her.
“An Yiqing, your mother’s spare ribs really are delicious,” Xu Lingyin offered a neutral topic.
An Yiqing said: “I’ll make them for you next time… never mind.”
There wouldn’t be an opportunity.
If Xu Lingyin brought someone back, she certainly wouldn’t stay here.
Xu Lingyin, however, didn’t understand the underlying reason and quickly pressed: “Why never mind?”
“You’ve already found someone for the part-time job; there’s no need for me to stay,” An Yiqing met her gaze, subtly conveying her thoughts.
Xu Lingyin didn’t get it: “You’re not going to cook for me anymore?”
An Yiqing spun a bottle: “Didn’t you just find someone?”
A bodyguard cooking? What the heck?
Xu Lingyin snapped impatiently: “He doesn’t have to cook.”
She wouldn’t even let the person cook?
An Yiqing understood; the treatment was different.
So, if she stayed here, was she to be their maid?
She forced a laugh and emphasized: “The person you found doesn’t have to cook, but I do?”
“If you don’t want to cook, you don’t have to. When did I ever force you to cook?” Xu Lingyin felt utterly bewildered.
An Yiqing nodded: “I was being presumptuous. Luckily, you’ve found someone else now. That person probably won’t be presumptuous enough to cook for you.”
Hearing the sarcasm, Xu Lingyin shot up from her seat: “An Yiqing, how dare you blame me for finding someone else? When I wanted to hire someone, didn’t I ask you first? Have you forgotten how you answered? What’s with this look of being wronged?”
An Yiqing also stood up, looking at her calmly.
“It was my fault for refusing you that day. But what’s done is done. No matter what I say, it can’t change the facts. Now that you’ve hired someone else, keeping me here is a bit much.”
Xu Lingyin stared at her for a moment, then suddenly started laughing.
“An Yiqing, so you genuinely decided to come with me, didn’t you? Perfect, you two can come together.”
An Yiqing: ???
Her composure completely shattered.
The words of those two girls at the Western restaurant were actually happening to her.
What kind of new trend or fashion was this?
An Yiqing’s expression was complex. After thinking it over, she decided to be clear: “Xu Lingyin, I absolutely cannot be with anyone else. If you want more than one person, go find others. If you choose me, you can only choose me.”
“An Yiqing, can you be more domineering than me?” Xu Lingyin chuckled.
An Yiqing couldn’t bear her attitude and said with righteous indignation: “This has nothing to do with being domineering. I can’t imagine anyone who would want to do that kind of thing with someone else. Even in a sugar baby arrangement, people want it to be one-on-one, don’t they?”
As her words fell, a deep silence descended upon the balcony.
The wall lamp cast two long black shadows, swaying, like the two people’s tumultuous hearts.
The night was too cold and still, even the sound of the wind seemed excessively loud.
A beer bottle on the table was knocked over, rolling down with a crash, hitting Xu Lingyin’s foot, waking the person as if from a dream.
Staring intently at An Yiqing, Xu Lingyin’s brow furrowed, then relaxed, then furrowed again.
After a long time, she finally moved her lips: “An Yiqing, have you always thought the part-time job I mentioned was a sugar baby arrangement???”