I Am The Third Party (GL) - Chapter 33

I don’t know if I’m being too suspicious, but these past few days I’ve always felt like someone was watching me from nowhere when I walked down the street. I suspected I was being followed, but then I realized I wasn’t anyone worth following. I guess it’s because the recent events have been so stressful that I’ve developed a nervous breakdown.

Xiao Xuewu is gone, and my cash cow is gone. Every time a customer comes, they ask me, “Where’s that mixed-race beauty of yours?” I answer honestly, “She quit.” The customers would sigh with regret, “We won’t be able to see her again. What a shame.”

“Yeah, what a shame.” I collapsed on the bar, feeling frustrated. What a shame, my cash cow.

“Do you miss that woman?”

Qi Xi suddenly pushed the door open and came in, startling me so much that I sat up with my eyes wide open, hoping to look more innocent.

“No.” I shook my head repeatedly. I was stupid. She regarded Xiao Xuewu as her mortal enemy. Would I still be alive if I said I missed her?

Qi Xi walked to the bar and glared at me, “Then who are you thinking about?”

I approached her with a fawning smile on my face, “I’m thinking about my master, woof.”

She pushed me and looked aside, “Who is your master?”

I glanced around obscenely. Well, no one noticed, I leaned over and kissed her lips and then pushed her away hurriedly, “Qi Xi.”

Look at this fool, her eyes are gone with laughter, I know that she, who is full of self-righteousness and self-centered, is very happy with my humble and flattering behavior. She hugged me and touched my waist. Fortunately, it is not weird for girls (I am still a girl at my age, right?) to hug each other, so I let her do it.

Qi Xi must have been overjoyed. She hugged me, shoved me against the wall, and leaned in to bite me on the lips. There were customers here, so a little fuss was enough. How could this continue? I slapped her face and pushed her away, whispering, “We’re still outside. You can kiss me as much as you want when we get home.”

She curled her lips, her eyes sparkling. “You said it.”

“Yeah.” I’ve always been bullied by you.

She was perfectly satisfied with my attitude. Once she’d squeezed me, she’d go off and play, looking here and there, then go crazy with Yuzi and Xiaoyu.

I hadn’t found the right person to help out since Xiao Xuewu left. The shop was a bit busy, so Qi Xi would come help me at the bar when she had time, but more often than not, I had no idea where she was or what she was doing. Sometimes she’d come home late, and if she wasn’t around, I’d fall into a light sleep. I could hear her the moment she walked in. I’d lie still in bed, still and quiet. When she came into the bedroom, she’d sit next to me and touch my head. I’d even hoped she’d give me a kiss, but she never did. In truth, she rarely kissed me on her own initiative, but often teased me or asked me to kiss her. Sometimes, late at night, she’d throw back the covers, walk to the floor-to-ceiling window, pull back a corner of the curtains, and stare out silently for long stretches. I’d curl up in the cold covers with my eyes closed. I knew what she was thinking, but I didn’t dare say it.

Watching Qi Xi excitedly recounting the story of the gangsters’ battle against the young policeman to Yu Zai, I decided not to tell Xiao Xuewu about the dance invitation she’d given me. If I told her, she might not let me go. She hated Xiao Xuewu so much, and she must have been trying to find ways to cause trouble for her these past few days, devising plans to deal with her. I wanted to meet Xiao Xuewu alone, ask her some questions, see if she cared about our old friendship, and explain things to me. Also, I hoped her reason for coming to China wasn’t to embarrass the Qi family or Qi Xi.

Just after I’d been tortured to death by Xiaoli and Lanlan, and had spent a fortune buying an evening gown for the ball, one night I was worrying about whether to buy a crystal pendant or a silver necklace. Qi Xi came up behind me, hugged me, smoothed my hair, and said, “There’s a ball on the 12th. Lumikki has invited a lot of people. They say it’s the president’s first public appearance, but in reality, they’re looking for development partners. Someone from Lumikki sent me an invitation. You can bring a partner. Come with me.”

My hands trembled slightly. If she could bring a partner, why me and not Yan Sinan? Why would she bring a useless commoner like me to such a party? She chose me to be with her. Can I be so arrogant as to think that she has me in her heart? Even though I know it’s all just my imagination, I still feel happy at that moment. At least she thought about choosing me.

“It’s not very dangerous, is it? You left not long after we got there, and then you came in with a gun and started shooting? No, I won’t go.” I finally chose a monotonous sterling silver necklace, put it away and put it in a box.

Qi Xi rubbed my head, “Be good, it’s okay, just go have a drink, eat, dance or something.”

I laughed, “I can’t dance either.”

“Well…” Qi Xi sat next to me and pinched my face, “Then go, I’ll teach you.”

I raised my chin and made a proud gesture, rolled my eyes, and reluctantly agreed, “Well – okay!”

Qi Xi smiled and hugged me, “You’re so good.”

“Hehe, I’m very good, right?”

“Be good. I’ll prepare a skirt for you.” She got up to turn on the computer.

“Qi Xi,” I held her hand. She turned around with a smile still on her lips. “I bought a very expensive evening dress for my graduation dance. Unfortunately, no one asked me to dance that time, so the dress was useless. Let me wear that dress to the party this time. It’s so expensive. I’d feel bad if I didn’t wear it out for a walk.” I

‘m sorry, Qi Xi, I lied to you.

That evening dress was really expensive, but there was no dance when I graduated. I ordered the dress from a private custom shop with Xiaoli and Lanlan a few days ago. I paid 30% in advance and can pick it up in five days.

“Very expensive? How expensive?” She sat down at the computer desk, her tone light and airy. She was probably wondering how expensive “very expensive” could be from a grassroots like me, and how presentable could the dress chosen by a vulgar person like me be.

If I were Yan Sinan, would she ask this question? Yan Sinan has her own career and assets. She is a designer and can personally tailor the most suitable dress for any banquet. It can be a high-slit cheongsam embroidered with plum blossoms, or a low-cut Tang suit with fluttering ribbons. No matter which one, it shows the elegant and refined character of its owner.

And I…

“It’s very expensive anyway,” I turned around and imitated the way a cabbage caterpillar crawls on a leaf, snuggled into her arms, and blew air on her chin, “I’ll wear that, otherwise I won’t go!”

Qi Xi pinched my nose, and I waved my claws to scratch her. She grabbed my hand, “What clothes are you wearing? Let me see it.”

I darkened my eyes, “I can’t see it now, I’ll wear it for you to see when the time comes.”

Qi Xi was silent, and I hurriedly leaned forward and asked her, “Okay, okay? If you think I’m ugly later, I’ll hide in the corners and you won’t see me!”

“That’s not what I meant.” She hugged my back, “It’s just a piece of clothing, you can wear it however you want, I just want you to use better ones.”

My heart choked and I buried my head in her arms silently. She tightened her arms around me, and I said in a muffled voice, “Qi Xi, have I ever told you that you smell good?”

She was stunned and smiled foolishly, “Do you think I smell good? I’ve always said you smell good, right?”

“Hmm…” I breathed gently through my nose and slowly closed my eyes.

—————————————————————-

Five days later, I went to pick up the skirt. When I swiped the card, I closed my eyes and let Xiaoli hold my hand to the card machine. Lanlan was holding my arm on the other side, saying, “It’s useless even if you refuse to pay. The skirt is already made!”

My heart is bleeding. Although I was very humble and chose the lowest-priced design requirement, the five-digit money was gone without a trace. The small treasury that I had saved for seven years was wiped out overnight. Even murders can be seen with bl00d. The high consumption is so ruthless!

Xiaoli pushed me away, “What the hell are you crying about? You’ve got everything back from catching a rich bachelor at a party. Go in and try it out. See if there’s anything wrong that can be fixed.”

“…”

Entering the dressing room, I studied the zipper for a while before timidly changing. I put my clothes on a little and adjusted the hem of my skirt, afraid that if I pulled too hard, it would rip… (Embarrassing. I actually ripped a skirt before. It was on sale for 48 yuan, hehe, hehe…)

After I changed and walked out, Xiaoli saw that my tongue was sticking out. I rolled my eyes at her, “Are you stupid?”

Xiaoli ignored me and went to pull Lanlan, “Lan, look at this, Xian’er?”

Lanlan bit her index finger and stared at me, nodding, “Xian’er!”

“Tsk, Xian’er, your sister! Sister Xian is… Xian’er… ah…”

I slowly turned around and looked at myself in the fitting mirror, stunned.

Is this me?

My already fair skin was wrapped in snow-white silk. My arms hung from my shoulders, and white gauze with peacock green cat’s eye gemstones adorned my elbows and wrists. A thin belt with a dark pattern of pure black satin hung around my waist, and a soft peacock feather dangled from my left side. The hem of my skirt was cut into an irregular shape, like a torn cloud. When I walked, the wind blew, and the edges of my skirt seemed like clouds flying in the air, very elegant.

“Xian’er, you need to wear an anklet.” Lanlan came over and hugged my shoulders.

“Oh.” I nodded hesitantly.

“Call me before you leave that day, and I’ll put on your makeup, with your makeup skills.” Xiaoli squeezed my arms and squeezed me.

Now I was furious. What happened to my skills? “What are you doing? It’s just a banquet?”

Xiaoli said angrily. “Why are you going there?”

I straightened my chest and raised my head. “To eat!”

Xiaoli poked my eyebrows with her index finger. “Pig! Remember, you are going to catch a rich bachelor!”

————————————————

“What are you looking at?”

“A rich bachelor.”

I said without thinking. I was concentrating on observing the structure of the hall. It seemed that there was a staircase next to the lucky bamboo pot. I wondered if Xiao Xuewu was on it. I came in with Qi Xi and did not show the invitation letter Xiao Xuewu gave me. She probably didn’t know I was here. If she didn’t come to me actively, it might be difficult for me to see her…

My mind was full of thoughts about how to find Xiao Xuewu. I didn’t pay attention to who it was or what they said to me. It wasn’t until my hand was clenched so tightly that it hurt that I realized, oh no, the person who asked me just now seemed to be Uncle Qi Xi. What did I say to her in reply?

“You dare to look at a man?”

My ears hurt, and Lord Qi Xi lifted me up like a chicken. I begged for mercy, “Master, I was wrong, ah ah, I was wrong, I was wrong, it hurts, let go, let go, ah, my god——”

Damn it, who kept talking about the bachelor in front of me? !

Xiaoli, I won’t dissect you when I get home!