Talking to someone with a problem in the head is truly exhausting and annoying.
After getting in the car, Assistant Liang started the car and glanced at her through the rearview mirror, hesitantly saying something.
"What Miss Lin said doesn’t count for much, don’t take it to heart."
Mu Qiu was a bit surprised. He didn’t seem like someone who would get involved in their relationship issues.
However, she accepted the sentiment, nodded, and said, "I’m not taking it to heart. It’s just that every time I come, I have to engage in extremely tedious conversations with this Miss Lin, it’s really annoying."
"Next time, you can just ignore it. Good relations between the elders don’t necessarily mean the younger generations have to get along."
"How’s Brother Cheng’s relationship with them?" she asked.
"Pretty ordinary."
"I see." She seemed thoughtful, holding her phone and sending a message to Cheng Zhirang.
Cheng Zhirang didn’t come back too late. He promised 9:30, and he returned right around that time.
Mu Qiu had the soup simmering, curled up in a corner of the sofa, holding her phone, half-closing her eyes, daydreaming.
Hearing the door open and shoes changing, she lazily tilted her head slightly and said, "Back? There’s some soup in the kitchen made by Auntie, brought back especially for you, have a taste."
Cheng Zhirang removed his hat and mask, placed them on the hallway cabinet, and put the two books he was holding in front of her.
His hands were large, holding the two books with one hand steadily, the veins on the back of his hands were quite attractive.
"The stuff you wanted. He inserted a bookmark inside."
Mu Qiu took them and opened them for a glance.
Both books’ title pages were signed by Qing Rong, and indeed a bookmark was tucked in the second one—a gold-laced design, shaped like a small screen, very nice.
She raised an eyebrow, not making much of it, putting the books aside, and started talking about Lin Huanyue.
"Honestly, talking with her is really boring and pointless. She just keeps repeating those two sentences. I thought rich kids usually take courses on ’How to politely insult your rival.’"
"She doesn’t seem to have an obsession with me, she probably liked someone else in middle school." He sat a bit farther away, worried the smell of smoke and alcohol would bother her.
Mu Qiu raised her eyebrows slightly, with a sudden realization.
"So you think there’s some other dramatic story here?"
His expression remained unchanged, his fingers tapping on the two books before her, "It doesn’t matter what she thinks. As long as I think this way, then that’s how it is."
So, regardless of what Qing Rong thinks, as long as Mu Qiu believes he doesn’t truly like her, then to him, Qing Rong is not genuinely interested either.
"Got it, talking to someone on the same intelligence level is much more comfortable."
She leaned over to kiss him, then frowned a bit: "Did you smoke?"
"No. Someone else smoked. I’m going to take a shower... want to join?"
"Sure."
The two books were still left on the coffee table, ignored. The soup in the kitchen turned off, slowly cooling down.
Apparently something unpleasant happened, as Cheng Zhirang moved a little too forcefully, causing Mu Qiu to bump the back of her head against the wall.
She let out a soft cry, and Cheng Zhirang immediately stopped, shielding her head.
"Did you bump it? Does it hurt? Sorry."
"You’re upset, why, did Qing Rong say something?"
She didn’t want to leave things unresolved till tomorrow, frowning as she asked.
Cheng Zhirang said nothing, staring at her, turned off the shower, and kissed her fingers.
Mu Qiu withdrew her hand, "Talk, I already complained to you, you can complain to me too. What did he say? Or do?"
Complain? That word usage... as if he was a child bullied and needing his family to exact revenge.
But he did ’complain’ after all.
"The dishes he ordered, they were all your favorites; when signing the book, he said you like only one name on the title page, and it must be in the bottom right corner;
smoking, he said you dislike smoke but like handsome men smoking; lastly, after dinner, he suggested you’re used to resting at ten, telling me to come back and accompany you."
He said it with a seemingly teasing manner, but actually revealed his knowledge about Mu Qiu everywhere. Especially the last point, which really displeased him.
"It’s just a meal, he talked so much?"
She remained calm, even embracing him from behind, her fingers touching his chest.
"Just a famous expert at talking big. We’ve been online friends for so long, knowing a bit about my life habits isn’t difficult. You basically know all this too. Moreover—"
Like a charming serpent, she wrapped around him, her voice lazy and seductive:
"You’re the one who looks good while smoking, it’s you who has meals with me, who comes home to rest with me, and right now, you’re the one making love with me. When I’m with you, my resting time isn’t ten.
You see, many know my life, but only you partake in it. Does saying it like this make you feel better?"
Cheng Zhirang held her wandering hand, a bit overwhelmed by her bold words. But he had to admit, he did feel much better.
He turned around to kiss her, unknowingly turning on the shower again. Water poured down, and soon steam filled the bathroom, masking a room full of intimacy.
In the end, the papaya seaweed black chicken soup brought back from He Jia all went into Mu Qiu’s stomach; Cheng Zhirang didn’t taste any.
However, finally, she wasn’t the first to wake up this time, congratulations are in order.
Cheng Zhirang had a birthday special interview today, he mentioned it to Mu Qiu in advance, leaving early the next morning.
When Mu Qiu woke up, the day was bright, the pillow by her side long vacant. Outside, the chirping of birds blended with the rustling of the trees; it was quite pleasant.
The weather was nice today.
After freshening up, she went downstairs, like usual, played some light music and headed to the kitchen to find breakfast.
As expected, Cheng Zhirang had prepared breakfast before leaving, the soy milk in the machine was still warm, and there were pancakes in the microwave.
The sandwiches he made were something she didn’t like much for breakfast; they always felt cold. Breakfast should be hot, savory and fragrant.
After having breakfast, she went upstairs to grab her bag.
She had to go out today too.
The task was remotely assigned by her parents, telling her to visit Su Jin.
Zhou Jilin and Su Jin were living together now, taking care of a pregnant woman is no easy task. And with Zhou Jilin busy with work, to prevent Su Jin from feeling down with random thoughts, Yuan Chun sent her over to check on Su Jin and chat with her.
She had already notified Zhou Jilin about this, emphasizing multiple times that Su Jin shouldn’t tire herself out preparing for guests, she just wanted to see a calm and composed pregnant woman sitting on the sofa smiling at her when she walked in.
Zhou Jilin said he would convey the message, but when Mu Qiu arrived at their house, she found Su Jin cutting fruit alone.
Seeing the knife gleaming coldly, her heart leaped.
"Sister Su Jin, don’t, don’t move!"