Upon returning home, Chi Nian had already prepared dinner. Seeing her walk through the door, he sprang up from the sofa like a carp leaping out of water. With his face looking like a palette of colors, he asked curiously, “Lingling, where did you go?”
“I went to the old house in South Alley to get some things.” Qiao Ling placed the sandalwood box in her hand on the coffee table. “What about Wanli? Is she sleeping?”
Chi Nian replied, “Her? Half an hour ago, she went downstairs to the park to watch handsome guys.”
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Qiao Ling’s face. He stared at her lips for two seconds, his expression gradually turning strange. “Lingling, your mouth… why is it… so red and swollen…”
“It’s just inflamed.” Qiao Ling remained calm and composed, lazily sitting on the sofa as she poured herself a glass of water.
Chi Nian let out an “oh,” then glanced at her mouth again.
Inflamed…
Hah, as if that would fool a child! It clearly looks like it was kissed swollen!
Chi Nian stroked his chin, took his phone, and headed to the kitchen. After serving the rice, still trying to figure things out, he poked his head out from the kitchen and asked in a concerned tone, “Lingling, did Brother Jinyue mention anything to you about me climbing over the wall? Will he have someone drag me back?”
“You should ask him.” Qiao Ling yawned, then stood up and walked to the kitchen door. Leaning against the doorframe, she watched him cutting fruit inside and casually asked, “Third Brother, have you started setting up your esports club yet?”
Mentioning esports immediately diverted Chi Nian’s attention. Excitedly, he waved the knife in the air as if giving orders. “Yes, I have! Lingling, the office building you gave me—I had it renovated the very next day.”
“The first floor is the training hall, the second floor is the members’ dormitory, the third floor is for our rooms, and the fourth floor is the gym.”
“All in a luxurious industrial style! What do you think?”
Qiao Ling nodded. “Not bad. Have you decided on the team name?”
“Of course I have!”
Chi Nian lifted his chin, proudly declaring, “The team name will be—Fear No One!”
“Afraid of no one! Fearless! Abbreviated as FNO!”
“I will lead this team to sweep through everything! Stand on the world stage and become a legend in the esports world!”
Qiao Ling, “……”
“Impressive, very ambitious.”
“But what about your team members?”
The unintentional yet precise blow from the girl struck the young man right where it hurt. The excitement faded from his face as Chi Nian pouted and sighed dejectedly. “Ah, don’t even mention it. Thinking about this just makes me upset.”
“The two people I had my eye on were signed by other clubs. I’ll have to start looking again.”
The usually bold and unrestrained young man now resembled a wronged big puppy.
Qiao Ling touched the tip of her nose and chuckled softly. “Third Brother, I’ve noticed you’re becoming more and more adorable.”
“Adorable?!” Chi Nian raised an eyebrow, carrying the fruit plate past her. He casually stuffed a strawberry into her hand and said without looking back, “Although Third Brother doesn’t like that adjective, since it’s you saying it, I’ll reluctantly accept it this once.”
Just then, he saw Yu Wanli humming a tune as she walked in from the entrance, looking quite cheerful.
He teased, “Oh, Yu Fupo, did watching handsome guys cheer you up?””Was I that obvious?” Yu Wanli stretched lazily as she walked straight toward Qiao Ling, her pretty little face showing a hint of lingering delight, her voice crisp and sweet. “Lingling, let me tell you, the basketball court in the park downstairs is full of young guys, each more energetic than the last!”
“The faces, the figures—utterly captivating!”
As she spoke, she reached Qiao Ling, her upturned fox-like eyes fixed intently on Qiao Ling’s lips. “Huh,” she exclaimed, “Darling, your lips are quite red.”
Qiao Ling, “…”
Taking a bite of a strawberry, she pushed away Yu Wanli’s face, which had leaned in close, and calmly uttered two words, “Heatiness.”
“Oh, heatiness,” Yu Wanli repeated, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile. “I thought someone had kissed them red!”
Qiao Ling gave her a knowing glance. “Too mesmerized by the handsome guys?”
“Not yet! Still have my wits about me!” Yu Wanli cleared her throat, dropping the teasing, and went to wash her hands in the kitchen before the two left the dining room together.
Half the dishes on the table had been delivered by the Zhou Family’s servants, with a different menu every day, never growing tiresome.
Yu Wanli was still thinking about the vibrant, fresh-faced handsome guys on the basketball court and couldn’t resist suggesting to Chi Nian, “Rich snob, why don’t you hire a batch of male models at Insomnia? The kind with pecs, abs, and Adonis belts!”
“Preferably with all sorts of styles!”
“I, the wealthy lady, guarantee that if you bring them in, I’ll be there every day spending money! Showering them with cash!”
Imagining herself surrounded by handsome men, Yu Wanli chuckled gleefully.
A few sayings came to mind:
The wise avoid love’s river, turtles don’t swallow weights, oxen and horses spice up life, fools repeat their mistakes.
So how to dispel sorrow?
Only beer and male models!
Besides, she was a wealthy lady. As a qualified wealthy lady, she must defend the dignity of male models with her money!
…
Qiao Ling and Chi Nian exchanged a glance, the latter staring at her with utter exasperation, her tone dripping with disdain. “Shower your head! Why don’t you just take them for a spin in a Ferrari?”
“Hurry up and wipe your drool, drop your fantasies, and eat properly!”
Yu Wanli rolled her eyes and pouted. “Can’t you broaden your horizons! Broaden them!”
“Who still uses Ferraris to pick up male models these days? How tacky!”
“Everyone drives Rolls-Royces now!”
Chi Nian, “…”
Qiao Ling, “…”
“Eat properly,” Qiao Ling said, placing a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs on her plate. “I have something for you after we finish.”
Yu Wanli blinked, obediently saying “Oh,” and closed her mouth, quietly focusing on her meal.
Twenty minutes later
Seeing Qiao Ling put down her chopsticks, Yu Wanli quickly stood up with her. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to remind Chi Nian, “Rich snob! My suggestion earlier was really good! Think about it!”
Chi Nian couldn’t be bothered to respond, rolling her eyes as she started clearing the table.
Male models!
Male models, my foot!
With these two troublemakers frequenting Insomnia, there was no way male models would ever be allowed there!
Meanwhile.
Qiao Ling led Yu Wanli to the living room, retrieving a sandalwood box from under the coffee table and handing it to her. Softly, she said, “Aunt Luo left a few words with Director Li, and this box is one of them.””There are three letters and other things in the box. Some are for you, some for me, and there’s also a blank one. I took out the one that belongs to me. You should take the rest back.”
The moment Yu Wanli saw the box, the smile on her face vanished. When she lifted the lid and saw the contents inside, her nose tingled with emotion. She looked up, holding back tears, and forced a strained smile. “No, my mother must have meant for us to split these things equally.”