Zhao Hong held her phone tightly, glancing at the girl in Hanfu who was sweating through the heat while working on the Shanglin Fu scroll.
She grew more and more curious—who exactly was Mr. Lin's girlfriend?
How could Mr. Lin be out there having so much fun? Did his girlfriend not know?
Mr. Lin's happiness… you truly couldn't imagine.
Zhao Hong returned to the living room. "The client has made it clear—the site must be completed by tomorrow night. Miss Qin, please make a list of the overtime and additional work items and send it to my email. We need to speed this up."
Chu Qingning shook her head. "I'm not working overtime."
Zhao Hong said, "Miss Chu, I'm really satisfied with your work. We've got over twenty people rushing to meet this deadline—if you leave, even if we manage to finish it, the result won't be the same. Please, I'm begging you."
Miss Qin added, "We really can't do this without you. Everyone's anxious. Just bear with it and do some overtime. I'll pay you extra."
"I…" Chu Qingning wasn't a salaried employee—she was doing this out of passion. It wasn't worth losing sleep over money. But turning them down wasn't easy either. "Ugh… fine."
"Great, it's settled then. Everyone, keep up the good work. I've got other things to take care of." Zhao Hong said, clicking away quickly in her heels, practically escaping. It was so hot, even her underwear was soaked.
Whew~
Chu Qingning exhaled a breath of hot air and didn't bother with ladylike posture anymore. She slung one leg over the traditional tea table, placed the mini fan under her skirt to cool off—finally some relief. She continued brushing ink across the white scroll, finishing Shanglin Fu, then went to the backyard to direct the workers to hang oil-paper umbrellas in the air.
As the sun set, the busy site paused temporarily. Everyone sat in the shade, eating boxed meals.
Miss Qin dragged a little cart and handed out meals one by one.
"Here you go, Miss Chu—seafood feast~"
"Is that so~" Chu Qingning opened the box and picked up a very small prawn. "Wow~ it really is a seafood feast—look how huge this prawn is~"
Click!
She snapped a selfie of her "seafood feast" and posted it to her Moments.
Qiao Meina liked it. Ayiru liked it. Miao Youxi liked it.
Lin Can didn't like or comment.
This made Chu Qingning angrily bury her head in her meal.
That little brat—did he really not want his sister anymore?
So infuriating.
Shangri-La Hotel, Restaurant
The central air conditioning blew a refreshing breeze as the waiter brought out plate after plate of real seafood.
Lin Can sat with a few casually acquainted pretty girls, enjoying an authentic seafood feast.
"Thanks to you lovely ladies for spending the afternoon with me. I had a great time. This seafood dinner's on me—eat and drink as much as you like. If it's not enough, there's more."
One girl in a denim skirt laughed. "Mr. Lin treated us to ice cream and seafood? So generous—I love friends like you. By the way, do you have a girlfriend?"
"I do. She's from Chengdu, too."
Lin Can didn't pretend to be single—there was no need. In today's world, as long as you've got money—enough money—whether you're single or not, does it really matter? Do people even care?
Swirling his wine glass, Lin Can imagined Chu Qingning probably lounging on the sofa at home, AC on, munching watermelon, living the carefree life.
As for treating these girls to dinner, he didn't even know their names. As long as they were pretty and the vibes were good, that was enough. He was just bored in Chengdu—spending money to find some company.
After all, happiness is priceless.
Wherever rich guys go, there's never a shortage of women to hang out with.
After dinner, Lin Can hailed a cab to send each of them off. Of course, he could tell these girls had ideas—if he wanted, he could've had a five-person party.
But Lin Can chose to rest up. Tomorrow was more important.
Meanwhile, at the guesthouse construction site, Chu Qingning and the others had long finished dinner and gone back to work.
They worked until 11 PM.
While Lin Can had already showered and was lying in bed, drifting off to sleep.
He sent Miao Youxi a WeChat:
[Are you asleep?]
Miao Youxi:
[Washing my feet, about to sleep.]
Miao Youxi retracted a message.
She didn't even dare type that word in front of this creepy little brother.
Lin Can:
[Let me see.]
Whew~
Miao Youxi realized this brat didn't even bother hiding his foot fetish anymore.
That tone—so matter-of-fact and commanding.
[Photo]
Miao Youxi:
[There, sent it. You're so annoying. Don't ask me for this kind of stuff anymore. I feel guilty towards Qingning.]
Lin Can:
[That makes it even more exciting.]
Miao Youxi:
[Pervert. Not talking to you anymore.]
It was late. Lin Can had already gone to sleep.
Back at the guesthouse, all lights were still on. Every second was a race against time.
Chu Qingning glanced at her phone.
Still no messages from him.
"Heh~"
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
What was he doing right now?
Cuddling with some other girl?
The thought made her furious again.
Forget it. Big sis doesn't want you anymore.
Back to hauling bricks.
As the morning sun replaced the stars, and noon passed into afternoon, by 2 PM the next day, the guesthouse neared completion.
"We're finally wrapping up. I feel like I'm about to collapse. I'm heading home for a shower and a nap—I'll come back later to finish the rest."
Miss Qin: "I'll call you."
Chu Qingning gave an OK sign, rubbed her sore shoulders, and stepped out to hail a cab. "To Donghu Park, Emerald City."
"Alright."
Half an hour later, they arrived.
"Miss… Miss, wake up, we're here."
"Ah~" Chu Qingning sat up groggily, paid the fare, and went home. She collapsed onto the bed, glanced at her phone again.
Still nothing.
This time, big sis really means it. I don't want you anymore.
She pulled the covers over her head and went to sleep, kicking the blanket irritably.
She slept until 5:30 PM, when Miss Qin's call woke her.
"Miss Chu, are you here yet?"
"Ah, I overslept. It's just 5:00—I've still got time. I'll shower and head over."
After hanging up, Chu Qingning headed to the bathroom and scrubbed herself clean. She chose her favorite pure white Hanfu, sat at her vanity to do her hair and makeup, and finally stood in front of the mirror. One spin, and the flowing skirt bloomed like a fairy descending to the mortal world.
It was rush hour. Hailing a cab or Didi was nearly impossible.
So she walked along the sidewalk, trying to hail one as she went.
Pedestrians passed her, some throwing admiring glances. Someone even took out their phone to sneak a picture of the elegant girl in white Hanfu.
Not far ahead, she saw an elderly man playing the guzheng on the street. He was playing Blue and White Porcelain.
The music stopped her in her tracks.
"Sky blue waits for the rain, and I'm waiting for you…"
Chu Qingning whispered, "Waiting… heh, such a lie."
He hadn't contacted her in days.
So, love really does fade over time… right?
At that moment, a voice came from behind her:
"So, you were thinking about him?"
"I was not…" The word not wasn't even finished when she froze. That voice—far too familiar. She spun around—
There was Lin Can, standing behind her.
"Ah~!" Chu Qingning screamed in surprise, startling the old man so much he snapped a string on his instrument.
Too shocked. Too happy.
She leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Lin Can.
That's just how girls are. Mouth says "I don't want you," but the moment you show up—they're overwhelmed with joy.
"How'd you know where I live?"
"Meina told me. Just now, didn't you say you weren't thinking of me?"
"I was."
"How much?"
"Very much."
"Very much doesn't tell me how much."
"It's like this—muamuamua~ that much!"
Chu Qingning cupped Lin Can's face and showered him with kisses.
Lin Can held her by the butt and smiled. "Come on, I'll take you somewhere."
"Nope."
"???"
Chu Qingning slid down, held onto his arm, and smiled. "I'll take you somewhere."
"Where?"
"A construction site. Help your big sis out a bit. Once we finish up, then we'll go on a date, okay~?"
"Making money is more important than me?"
"Of course you're more important. But I promised someone I'd finish this—just a bit of work left, it'll be quick."
"Alright then."
"Mua~ you're the best~"