Ji Qinglin laughed. “Boss, your face gets slapped pretty fast.”
“Why didn’t you talk this much before?” Ni Zijing asked briskly. “Address.”
It was close to two hours later when Ni Zijing arrived in front of Qiao Qiao’s apartment building.
She had actually arrived downstairs an hour and a half earlier, only to hesitate in her car for another half-hour before finally stepping out. Prior to that, she had even called her family back home to mention that she might bring a friend over for dinner.
Zhou Nanzhen was exceptionally quick on the uptake. The moment she heard this, she knew someone was definitely being brought home.
“Is it Qiao Qiao? You finally figured out how to bring her over? When are you planning to get married?”
Ni Zijing was choked up. “When Qiao Qiao gets here later, you are not allowed to talk nonsense or ask her anything random. She is a relatively sensitive person, so please don’t scare her.”
Zhou Nanzhen replied, “Alright, alright! You haven’t even married her yet and you’re already protecting your wife.”
Ni Zijing was amused by those two words, the corners of her mouth curling upward. Her dark, deep eyes narrowed slightly as she gave an acknowledgment and added another instruction, “Don’t ask about her family matters.”
After all, Zhou Nanzhen was someone of her age; how could she not understand the implication behind those words? Her heart ached for Qiao Qiao even more, and after telling Ni Zijing to hurry up and bring the girl over, she finally hung up the phone.
The doorbell rang.
Qiao Qiao had already finished tidying up the area she had just rummaged through and was thinking about going to the restroom.
Who could it be? Ji Qinglin?
When she opened the door and saw that familiar face standing at the entrance, she momentarily didn’t know whether to keep a straight face or burst out laughing.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t bother?” Qiao Qiao raised an eyebrow, though she gestured for Ni Zijing to come inside.
Ni Zijing first glanced at the shoe cabinet. There was only a single pair of slippers worn by Qiao Qiao.
Very good, meaning no one else had been here.
She pushed Qiao Qiao’s wheelchair a little further inside, her tone sounding conciliatory. “Wasn’t I just talking nonsense out of impulse? How could I really not care? It was my fault, so I came right over to beg you to let me take care of you, alright?”
Qiao Qiao laughed in exasperation. Seeing Ni Zijing’s somewhat flattering expression, she kicked the slippers off her own feet toward her. She then opened the lower section of the shoe cabinet and pulled out an old pair of cotton slippers to put on.
“Why are there other shoes?” Ni Zijing’s vigilance spiked instantly.
Qiao Qiao replied, “I didn’t have time to throw them out last year. I’m wearing them; I couldn’t possibly make a guest wear old ones, could I?”
Only then did Ni Zijing smile again. Bending over, she picked up the slippers Qiao Qiao had just kicked away and put them back on Qiao Qiao’s feet, while she herself slipped into the old pair.
“I’ll wear them, I’ll wear them. What’s wrong with that?”
Qiao Qiao. Whatever you say.
Ni Zijing didn’t beat around the bush and cut straight to the point. “Do you have anything to do later?”
Qiao Qiao answered, “I have things to do.”
“What things? I’ll drive you.” Ni Zijing thought to herself that this didn’t make sense; since Qiao Qiao had finished filming her reshoots, she had no current schedules and could be considered to be on a break right now.
It was the perfect time to let her leg heal anyway.
Qiao Qiao couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I need to go to the restroom.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Ni Zijing couldn’t help letting out a low laugh when she saw that although Qiao Qiao maintained a calm composure, her earlobes were quietly tinged with a pale pink. Finding it troublesome to push the wheelchair, Ni Zijing simply scooped Qiao Qiao up in her arms and carried her straight to the restroom.
“Call me when you’re done, and I’ll come carry you out.”
The response she got was the crisp slam of a closed door.
Ni Zijing looked around Qiao Qiao’s small apartment, a two-bedroom layout that was quite suitable for living, though it lacked a bit of vitality. There were no family photos displayed anywhere, making it impossible to even catch a glimpse of what Qiao Qiao looked like as a child. Suddenly, her phone chimed with a notification, and Ni Zijing picked it up to take a look.
Ji Qinglin: Boss, you’ve gone viral.
Ji Qinglin: Hahahaha, the major marketing accounts of your own company are driving this narrative! Saying you chased someone and failed.
Several screenshots were attached below.
After reading them, Ni Zijing almost dropped her phone.
A faint sound came from the bathroom, resembling Qiao Qiao trying to open the door herself. Too distracted to dwell on the phone contents anymore, Ni Zijing rushed over to the bathroom to receive Qiao Qiao.
Sure enough, this little hedgehog had wanted to maneuver herself out.
Ni Zijing scooped her directly into the wheelchair and wheeled her to the entryway. “Which pair of shoes?”
Qiao Qiao looked bewildered. “Why would I change shoes?”
“To eat.” Ni Zijing arbitrarily chose a pair of comfortable-looking white sneakers, squatted down to put them on for her, and looked up at Qiao Qiao while tying the laces. “Didn’t you promise to go out for dinner with me? Now that you have free time, let’s go.”
“Where are we eating?” Qiao Qiao couldn’t help admiring this person. Just a moment ago, she had been acting all high and mighty about not caring anymore, yet here she was, speaking all sweetly and putting shoes on her.
My friend, can you stay firm for even a second?
“You’ll know when we get there.” Ni Zijing kept it mysterious.
Fortunately, Qiao Qiao didn’t say anything further, which counted as tacit consent.
After all, she had promised to have a meal with someone, so she couldn’t go back on her word.
Ni Zijing drove very steadily. The car had the heater running alongside some soothing music playing softly in the background. Sitting in the front passenger seat this time, Qiao Qiao even noticed that Ni Zijing had adjusted her seat slightly backward.
It was comfortable enough to make one drowsy.
Until she noticed the car driving right past the bustling downtown area, crossing the East Third Ring Road, and heading straight toward a villa district.
Only then did Qiao Qiao realize something was amiss. She turned her head and asked, “Where on earth are you taking me to eat?”
With an expressionless face and a completely calm demeanor, Ni Zijing stated firmly, “My house.”
“I’m getting out of the car.” Qiao Qiao couldn’t sit still anymore. She shouldn’t have trusted Ni Zijing so easily; as expected, she was being brought straight to her home!
“I’ll let you out once we get to my house.” Ni Zijing reached another intersection and executed a smooth turn with the steering wheel. Fearing that Qiao Qiao might lose her balance, she even freed up one hand to press against Qiao Qiao’s shoulder.
Following that, she decelerated and braked, parking cleanly outside the garage of a villa.
“We’re here.” Ni Zijing walked around to open the car door for Qiao Qiao. “Come on, let’s get out.”
Qiao Qiao.
From a distance, Qiao Qiao could see the villa doors opening wide as a pair of smiling middle-aged folks walked out.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I didn’t bring anything.” Feeling that she had breached etiquette, Qiao Qiao grumbled quietly at Ni Zijing.
Ni Zijing smiled. “You have no idea how much my parents nagged me for not bringing you home to recuperate while your leg is injured, and you want to bring gifts? My parents would skin me alive.”
Zhou Nanzhen and Ni Zhen had already hurried over. After giving Ni Zijing a side-eye, Zhou Nanzhen immediately addressed Qiao Qiao, “Are you Qiao Qiao? We’ve finally been looking forward to your arrival. Come, come, let me push the wheelchair, Zijing move aside and stop blocking the way.”
Ni Zhen echoed, “It’s wonderful enough that Xiao Qiao is here. Zijing, go grab some indoor slippers for her!”
Overwhelmed by their warmth, Qiao Qiao felt rather embarrassed. “Hello Uncle, hello Auntie, I came over without bringing anything.”
Ni Zijing shrugged helplessly at her. “Did you notice? I have the lowest status in our family.”
Qiao Qiao couldn’t help laughing.
By now they had reached the entryway. Ni Zijing blocked her parents, lifting Qiao Qiao together with her wheelchair to safely bypass the step and settle her comfortably inside.
Zhou Nanzhen muttered, “You’re still somewhat useful.”
She turned around to unwrap the scarf from Qiao Qiao’s neck, her tone natural and gentle. “Is it cold outside? Hold on for a bit, the soup is still warming in the kitchen, we can eat very soon. What kind of food do you like? I’ve washed some fruit and left it in the living room, just treat this place like your own home.”
Ni Zhen patted Ni Zijing’s shoulder. “Only you have the capability to finally bring Xiao Qiao back after all this time.”
Ni Zijing feigned a sigh. “Yes, it’s all my fault.”
A single door completely insulated them from the chilly winter air outside.
The warmth inside came not just from the temperature, but from the people themselves. Qiao Qiao could sense that Ni Zijing’s parents were both very gentle toward her, yet they exercised enough restraint to keep her from feeling uncomfortable, hitting that exact comfort zone.
This was a very harmonious family.
Arriving in the living room, Jiang Yao waved at Qiao Qiao, walking over with Ni Qing’s assistance.
“Jiang Yao, my sister-in-law. This is my older brother, Ni Qing,” Ni Zijing carefully introduced them by Qiao Qiao’s side.
After Qiao Qiao exchanged greetings with them, Jiang Yao asked with concern, “Does your foot hurt? Zijing really lacks attention to detail, how could she leave you stranded out there in the snow?”
Looking at Ni Zijing’s helpless expression, Qiao Qiao smiled and shook her head. “I was just being careless myself.”
Ni Qing had already caught his sister’s gaze.
“What’s up with that news report?” Ni Zijing asked with a forced smile. “Care to explain, brother?”
“What news report?” Qiao Qiao rarely checked her phone when she wasn’t working, so it was only at Ni Zijing’s mention that she instinctively patted her pocket.
Jiang Yao pressed down on her hand, directly handing over the tablet sitting on the table with a smile. “Identity of mysterious wealthy female tycoon exposed, turning out to be Guangya’s new boss Ni Zijing. Breaking news! President Ni chases female celebrity to no avail, failing repeatedly yet fighting on; will President Ni ultimately win the beauty’s heart? How’s that, aren’t those headlines I thought of pretty good?”
Qiao Qiao.
Tapping it open revealed the exact words Ni Zijing had said during her interview, stating that people shouldn’t get it wrong because it was just her own unrequited crush on Qiao Qiao.
Combined with the previously snapped photo of Ni Zijing cradling Qiao Qiao in the snowy grounds, the blogger’s imagination had gone completely wild, weaving together an elaborate, deeply touching unrequited love story. It talked about how steadfast President Ni’s devotion was, how she had liked Qiao Qiao for many years, and how she had even broken through various obstacles to return to China for Qiao Qiao, only to be flatly rejected yet refusing to give up.
Boosted by the reposts and trending momentum of major marketing accounts, the internet had divided into two distinct camps. One camp supported the two of them getting together, squealing about how sweet they looked. The other camp claimed that Qiao Qiao was entirely using this for clout, or that Ni Zijing was essentially trying to force her into unexpressed rules.
Tapping open the comments:
Little Rice Cookie Go: I bet ten packs of spicy strips that President Ni will definitely win over Goddess Qiao! These two are a match made in heaven!
Lemon Essence: I’m so jealous, tossing a lemon to the sister below.
Pearl Ocean: Begging for an official announcement! I’ve said it so many times, upvote me!
Haters Go Away: This is definitely hype for clout, just hidden rules at play, right? After all, don’t these artists climb up into the boss’s bed for resources?
Overwhelming Nausea: Whose stan is that user upstairs? May you drop dead from a sky-high drop.
Qiao Qiao finally figured out what was going on.
Meaning these reports were supposed to have been blocked and intercepted, but ended up being approved and published by her own older brother.
In short, Ni Zijing got backstabbed by her own family?
Ni Qing immediately started deflecting the blame. “Mom and Dad told me to post it.”
Ni Zhen chimed in, “Why shouldn’t it be posted? You couldn’t even win someone over yourself, who else are you going to blame? Xiao Qiao, don’t feel awkward; the atmosphere in our family is wonderful.”
Zhou Nanzhen added, “Xiao Qiao, don’t mind Zijing’s face or anything. Reject her whenever you want, let the media write whatever they like. She doesn’t even know how to please a young woman, you’ll just have to bear with her a bit more.”
Suddenly dragged into the conversation, Qiao Qiao could only maintain a polite smile.
The look Qiao Qiao gave Ni Zijing clearly and unmistakably conveyed that she saw she had the lowest status in the entire family.
Stepping forward a few steps, Ni Zijing calmly remarked, “It can be published, write whatever you want. But having factual errors everywhere is your fault, unauthorized fabrications aren’t allowed. Take a look at this Weibo post, claiming I overcame all obstacles to return to China. Did I do that? Reading through the entire text, only two parts were correct.”
Jiang Yao took the tablet from Qiao Qiao’s hands and tapped it. “Which two parts?”
Ni Zijing paused for a second without speaking, drawing everyone’s gaze onto her.
After a short while, she took the tablet back from Jiang Yao, calmly pointed out those specific words, and spoke with an upbeat tone while indicating them: “Steadfast devotion, unrequited love for many years.”
“Only these two parts are extremely accurate.”
She wore a completely candid expression.