Unexpected (GL) - Chapter 28

After getting into graduate school, Xie Jing faced boring work every day, a boss who would die if they couldn’t squeeze people dry, and suffocating group meetings. She felt like a walking corpse.

When she finally snapped out of that half-dead state, she realized Qin Ning hadn’t contacted her in a long time.

After lunch, Xie Jing picked up her phone and dialed Qin Ning’s number, but it was busy. In that moment, she wanted to run over and find her, to ask what she had been so busy with lately. But she didn’t even know where Qin Ning worked.

She held onto her phone and waited for a long time. Each time she dialed again, the call was automatically hung up—it felt like throwing a stone into the ocean, with no response at all. Just as she
was spacing out, her phone screen lit up. Xie Jing looked down excitedly, only to see a group message from the class chat tagging everyone. The hope in her eyes faded slowly. She stared at the
message for a while, then finally put down her phone and went out to run a few laps around the track.

By the time she returned to the dorm, it was already afternoon. She lit up her phone screen again—still no missed calls. Xie Jing was starting to worry that something might have happened to Qin Ning. Why else would she have disappeared for so long? But before she could spiral any further, her phone suddenly rang in the quiet room.

It was Qin Ning calling back.

“I’m so sorry, Xie Jing. I was in meetings and couldn’t answer earlier. Did you need something?” Qin Ning sounded anxious. Xie Jing could hear a trace of panic in her voice. But even so, she
couldn’t help blurting out, “Can’t I call you if it’s nothing important?”

“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant, Xie Jing.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Qin Ning asked nervously. “Is your advisor giving you trouble? Or are you not feeling well again?”

“No.” Xie Jing took a few deep breaths to calm her restless heart.

“Then what’s wrong? Can you tell me?” Qin Ning’s gentle voice made her feel a little better. Xie Jing pursed her lips and said with a hint of grievance, “I just missed you. I wanted to hear your
voice. I wanted to see you.”

When Qin Ning heard that, her anxious heart finally settled down—but then tightened again. “Baby, I miss you too. I’ll come see you after work.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Xie Jing quickly cleaned the dorm. She showered, changed into clean clothes, and even put on perfume. Then she went out to buy some of Qin Ning’s favorite fruit and cake.

As she waited excitedly for Qin Ning, she arranged the fruit platter. But even when the agreed time came, Qin Ning still hadn’t arrived. Xie Jing called her, but it showed she was on another call.

When she tried again, the call wouldn’t go through at all.

Xie Jing waited until late at night, but Qin Ning never showed up. She cut into the sweet cake and stuffed big bites into her mouth. Only when her throat was choking with tears did she spit the cake
out.

The next day, Qin Ning called to explain that she missed the appointment because her grandma had suddenly fallen ill and was hospitalized. All the complaints Xie Jing had built up were instantly stuck in her throat, and she had to swallow them down.

“Oh,” Xie Jing said.

“Xie Jing, did you wait long for me yesterday?” Qin Ning asked. “My phone died.”

“…No. You didn’t come, so I fell asleep early,” Xie Jing replied. But under her eyes were two dark circles. People passing by stared at her strangely.

“I’m sorry,” Qin Ning said. “When Grandma’s condition stabilizes, I’ll apologize to you in person.”

Xie Jing nodded casually. “Okay.”

A few days later, once Qin Ning’s grandma had been transferred to a regular ward, she secretly came out to see Xie Jing. They ate clay pot rice on the second floor of the cafeteria, then took a walk
on the school track. Xie Jing asked about Grandma’s condition. When she learned that Qin Ning had missed their meeting because her grandma had a recurring stroke, she felt guilty again.

Qin Ning had been raised by her grandma since childhood. Of course, she had to put her grandma first. And yet, Xie Jing had sulked for days and treated her coldly. How childish.

“Qin Ning.”

“Hmm?”

“After we were apart, I feel like I turned into a resentful housewife.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I miss you so often. I can’t help but call you. And when you don’t answer, I start overthinking.”
Xie Jing hated this version of herself. During the day, she could distract herself with work, but at night, she would lie awake for hours and couldn’t sleep.

“It’s my fault,” Qin Ning said. “I’ve been too focused on work and ignored your feelings. From now on, I’ll visit you once a week.”

Xie Jing said, “You don’t have to come every week. Aren’t you really busy lately? Managing such a big company, people eyeing your position, taking care of your grandma… you already have too much on
your plate.”

Qin Ning gently tucked a strand of Xie Jing’s hair behind her ear and said softly, “You’re also one of the things I need to take care of. Coming to see you is part of my responsibilities.”

Xie Jing was silent for a long time before finally sighing, “Okay.”

After that, Qin Ning came to see Xie Jing once a week. Sometimes they ate together in the cafeteria, sometimes they walked on the track, and sometimes they rented a hotel room and passionately
expressed how much they missed each other.

Qin Ning could only spare half a day each week. She had to visit her grandma at the hospital first, then travel halfway across Jinghai to see Xie Jing. Sometimes she could only stay for an hour or
two before leaving. So they both cherished this short time together. It was brief, but comforting.

But every time Qin Ning left, Xie Jing would fall back into a slump.

Grad school was so exhausting. Life without Qin Ning was so hard. She had survived the painful period of preparing for exams and internships before, but now, every day without Qin Ning felt like a
year.

Life without her was colorless.

After much thought, Xie Jing decided—she wouldn’t wait for Qin Ning to come to her. If she missed her, she would go find her instead.

That weekend was Qin Ning’s birthday. Xie Jing ordered a custom cake and took a cab to Qin Ning’s workplace. Last time, Qin Ning had sent her the address, saying if she missed her, she could come to
Fang Group to find her.

Xie Jing was worried the cake might get damaged, so she didn’t dare put it down during the ride. She held it the whole way, and by the time she arrived, her hands were numb.

The headquarters of Fang Group stood tall in the busy CBD. Xie Jing looked up at the towering building, hesitating for a second. Should she call Qin Ning first? But it was work hours—Qin Ning was probably busy. She dismissed the idea and walked into the building with the cake.

At the front desk, they asked who she was looking for. She gave the name, and the receptionist looked confused. “You’re looking for President Fang?”

Oh, right. Qin Ning now went by Fang Qin Ning.

Xie Jing nodded. “Yes, I’m here to see your President Fang.”

“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked.

Xie Jing had never thought she’d need an appointment to see her girlfriend. She froze on the spot.

Seeing she was young and holding a cake, the receptionist softened her tone. “Are you a student? What’s your reason for seeing our President Fang? She’s in a meeting right now. You can wait in the
reception room.”

“Thank you.”
Xie Jing went into the reception room and finally set the cake down. She shook her numb hands and considered calling Qin Ning—but remembered the receptionist said she was in a meeting. So she put
her phone away.

Forget it. I’ll wait a bit longer.

She looked around the room and casually picked up a company brochure.

Fang Group used to be one of the top companies in Jinghai, rivaling the Gu family’s Gu Group. But in recent years, due to several issues, the company had declined. The struggle for inheritance had
also taken a toll. Two of the Fang daughters led rival factions, fighting fiercely, with no clear winner yet.

That’s why Qin Ning was so busy. She had to handle internal company issues and guard against the eldest Fang daughter’s sabotage. A single mistake could cost her everything.

Qin Ning’s biological parents had passed away one after another. The eldest Fang daughter joined forces with their uncle to take the family assets. Qin Ning hadn’t wanted to fight, but they went too
far. They even wanted her to leave with nothing.

Her grandma was still in the ICU, needing expensive care every day. Even if it was just for her grandma, she had to fight.

Xie Jing waited in the reception room for three hours. It was dark outside, and there was still no word. She couldn’t help calling Qin Ning, but no one answered. She messaged her on WeChat, asking
when she would be done, but still no reply.

She was tired, hungry, and dizzy from waiting. She wanted to run upstairs and ask Qin Ning why she wouldn’t answer her calls. But reason kept reminding her—Qin Ning was busy. Meetings and overtime
were common. She wasn’t a student anymore who could reply to every message right away or leave a meeting just to see her.

Qin Ning had work to do. She carried the weight of many people’s livelihoods. Fang Group was a giant burden on her shoulders, and she had to carry it.

But because of that, she couldn’t keep up with Xie Jing anymore.

After nearly six hours of waiting, Xie Jing finally walked out of the reception room in despair, carrying the now-deformed cake.

The receptionist was surprised to see she was still in the building. “President Fang already left through the basement. You’re still here?”

“You didn’t tell her someone was looking for her?” Xie Jing asked, exhausted.

“I told her secretary, but company policy says no private visitors during work hours. Didn’t President Fang contact you?”

Xie Jing wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. She forced a smile uglier than crying. “Your company doesn’t get off work until 8 p.m.?”

“Officially, it’s 6 p.m. Overtime shouldn’t go past midnight. But President Fang has a date tonight, so—”

“A date?” Xie Jing repeated.

“Yes. She spent the whole afternoon with the Chen family’s heiress. After work, they left together through the underground garage.”

“…I see.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Xie Jing walked out of the building in a daze—only to see a black Maybach pull up right in front of the entrance. A beautiful, confident woman sat in the passenger seat. The driver… was Qin Ning.

Qin Ning got out, walked around the car to open the door for the woman, and then turned to leave with her—just as she spotted Xie Jing standing frozen on the steps.

“Xie Jing? Why are you here?” Qin Ning quickly walked over. When she took the cake from her hands, she felt how cold Xie Jing’s fingers were and said, distressed, “It’s windy out here. Have you been
waiting long?”

“Who’s this girl?” Chen Qianqian asked, stepping out from behind with curiosity.

“I’m her classmate,” Xie Jing replied.

Qin Ning frowned.

“Oh, classmates? You two seem really close,” Chen Qianqian said, glancing at the cake. “Is it your birthday?”

“It’s Qin Ning’s birthday,” Xie Jing said coldly, like a robot.

“Oh… I’m sorry, Miss Fang. I made you stay so late on your birthday.”

Chen Qianqian’s phone rang. She said goodbye, mentioned her brother came to pick her up, and left.

After she left, Qin Ning took Xie Jing’s cold hands and put her in the passenger seat. The heater was on. Xie Jing could still faintly smell the other woman’s perfume in the air.

She wanted to ask angrily if Qin Ning let just anyone sit in that seat. If anyone could stand by her side. But when she opened her mouth, her eyes stung with tears.

She sniffled and choked out, “Why didn’t you answer my messages?”

“Sorry. I was with someone important. My phone was on silent.” Qin Ning put the cake in the backseat and turned to face her.

“Someone important?” Xie Jing’s tears blurred her vision. They finally fell, soaking into her collar. “More important than your girlfriend?”

“Xie Jing, it’s not like that. You misunderstood. She’s just a business partner. I need the Chen family’s support.”

Qin Ning pulled her into a hug, gently wiping her tears with tissues. Her face was full of guilt.

She had been so busy she forgot it was her birthday—and had no idea Xie Jing would come. She’d been in meetings all afternoon, then gave the Chen heiress a tour of the company, had dinner, and came
back.

She swore she had never done anything to betray Xie Jing.