Chapter 43

She had no idea how she lifted her glass, how she finished that meal, or how she walked out of the restaurant afterward.
It wasn’t until the hot, stuffy summer air hit her face that Yan Xiao finally snapped back to herself.
The driver had already pulled the car up to the entrance. Qiu Li was patiently saying goodbye to their classmates.
When he turned around and saw her blinking at him playfully, his lips curved in a smile. “Let’s go home.”
Yan Xiao: “Oh.”
Once they got in the car and drove a few streets away, Yan Xiao finally cooled down completely.
Half-scolding herself for being so useless, half-embarrassed by her earlier daze
Hadn’t she already known Qiu Li was teasing her on purpose? So why did she still fall for it so easily? How pathetic!
She stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye and muttered inwardly. The word “lust” really is a blade hanging over your head.
For someone who could weaponize good looks so shamelessly, with such calculating calm, she needed to stay alert at all times!
Ever since dinner started, Yan Xiao hadn’t said a word. Her expression hadn’t looked too good either.
Now, seeing her frowning slightly, Qiu Li hesitated for a moment before lifting his hand to gently rub the top of her head.
“What’s wrong? Do you feel sick? Or just tired?”
The instant his hand touched her hair, every fine hair on Yan Xiao’s body stood on end.
That weird, inexplicable feeling hit her again.
She bit her lip, turned her head away to dodge his touch, and said stiffly, “Don’t touch my head!”
“Mm.” Qiu Li chuckled softly and withdrew his hand. “I won’t.”
Yan Xiao stared at him, looking completely unimpressed, her eyes clearly saying, Are you petting a cat or something?
Seeing that look, Qiu Li’s smile only deepened. “What?”
Yan Xiao’s brows knitted together. “You’ve said that line at least ten times!” she snapped, enunciating every word.
Say you won’t touch it, then touch it again. Say it again, touch it again. What was she, his pet cat?
Leaning back in his seat, Qiu Li tilted his head toward her, eyes squinting slightly with amusement. He looked like a satisfied big cat himself.
Yan Xiao: “…”
She glanced at him and decided arguing was pointless.
Still, Qiu Li’s curiosity wasn’t sated. He almost reached out to touch her hair again, but the image of her puffed-up cheeks from earlier flashed through his mind, and he retracted his hand with a smile.
“Maybe you’re just tired?” he said. “You barely ate dinner.”
That immediately reminded her of her earlier lapse of composure, and she licked her lips, forcing her tone to sound casual. “No, it’s just, the private room was too loud. My ears were going deaf from all that noise.”
Qiu Li didn’t see anything wrong with her phrasing. In fact, he thought it was a vivid description.
Yan Xiao rubbed her ears, which still tingled a little, and tried to cover up her embarrassment. “Anyway, I’m fine now. So, what are you planning next? The exams are over, there’s no more school, just waiting for scores and choosing colleges. Nothing else to do…”
Qiu Li glanced over. “What about you?”
Yan Xiao: “Haven’t thought about it yet.”
(I’m just waiting, waiting for my points to max out. There are only a little over twenty left. Once the results come out, it should be complete.)
Thinking that made her pulse quicken.
After all these years of effort, the light at the end of the tunnel was finally in sight.
“Want to relax a bit?” Qiu Li offered. “I’ll go out with you.”
“Sure!” Yan Xiao agreed immediately. And if I can max out my points while relaxing, even better.
Qiu Li’s eyes curved in a faint smile. “I’ll go back and make some plans, then send them to you. Tomorrow, rest first. We’ll start the day after?”
Yan Xiao nodded enthusiastically. “Sounds good!”
They were both equally eager, though for entirely different reasons, but on the surface, perfectly in sync.
Unfortunately, their plans never came to pass, because Qiu Zhan came back.
To be precise, both Qiu Zhan and Qiu Yan had returned to China.
Qiu Zhan had gone abroad after high school to study business. He was now working on his master’s degree and would graduate next year. This time, he was back for two reasons: a high-profile arranged engagement, and to celebrate his little brother Qiu Yan’s birthday, and his admission to the prestigious Ayns Art Institute.
The Qiu family made a huge deal out of it. Both brothers had been away for years, Qiu Yan studying overseas, Qiu Zhan busy with his coursework, so this homecoming was grand and ceremonial, with all the flair of a future heir’s return.
The Yan and Qiu families had always been close, and in recent years, that relationship had only deepened. Naturally, Yan Hao and Chen Ziyi had to attend the gatherings.
Before, they’d left Yan Xiao out of such events for fear of distracting her from studying. But now that the exams were over, there was no reason not to bring her along, especially since she’d grown up playing with the Qiu brothers.
Yan Xiao, of course, didn’t refuse.
Not to mention Qiu Zhan, but Qiu Yan especially, she definitely needed to keep on good terms with him. After all, when she eventually left, it’d be best if Qiu Yan could help look after the Yan family.
Once social events started, they never ended.
And with so many people eager to cozy up to the Yans, the invitations were endless.
First came the “Welcome Home” banquet for the Qiu brothers, followed by Qiu Zhan’s engagement banquet, then Qiu Yan’s college admission party and his birthday celebration.
In just half a month, the Qiu residence was a constant whirlwind of guests and champagne flutes, so busy that “lively” barely covered it.
Gowns and perfume, glittering lights, the hum of polite laughter, everywhere she looked, there were faces from Rongcheng’s upper circle. Even someone like Yan Xiao, who usually didn’t care for such scenes, found herself overwhelmed.
For Qiu Yan’s birthday, she prepared her gift early and arrived with her parents at one of the luxury hotels owned by the Qiu Group.
If Qiu Zhan was the heir apparent of the Qiu family, then Qiu Yan was undoubtedly its pride and joy.
The banquet hall was elegant and extravagant in equal measure.
There were many guests. Unlike when she was little, Yan Xiao didn’t rush off to find Qiu Yan right away. Instead, she sat quietly in the lounge area, eating fruit from a platter.
Between being escorted by her parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to various events these past weeks, she was starting to feel mentally exhausted.
Besides, Qiu Yan was surely busy right now. Better not to get in the way. She could congratulate him and catch up later, once things settled down.
After finishing half a plate of strawberries, the birthday banquet officially began. She wiped her hands and found her seat.
It had been years since she’d last seen Qiu Yan, and now he looked every bit the storybook male lead, tall, elegant, his air touched with quiet artistry. He was like a prince too beautiful for the mortal world.
Looking up at him on stage, Yan Xiao clicked her tongue inwardly. How could the author possibly bear to destroy someone like this with a “tragic family downfall” arc?
Qiu Chengyi, the Qiu family patriarch, was beaming with pride that night, nearly glowing as he spoke. His words practically shouted, “My sons are the best in the world.”
Right then and there, he gifted his younger son Qiu Yan two percent of the Qiu Group’s shares. The young prodigy instantly became a billionaire shareholder.
The crowd erupted in astonishment.
Some thought Qiu Chengyi was playing favorites, but others quickly reasoned it out. Qiu Yan was clearly destined for the artist’s path. He’d only ever take dividends, not get involved in corporate management.
And seeing Qiu Zhan’s easy, genuine smile beside him, it was clear the brothers shared no jealousy or rivalry.
One would lead the company; the other would shine in the arts.
Together, they made for an enviably perfect family.
Yan Xiao was a little surprised, but she could understand.
Qiu Chengyi had always favored his younger son, and Qiu Zhan was an extreme case of little-brother obsession. To him, nothing and no one in the world compared to his precious sibling. Even if their father handed all the company shares to Qiu Yan, Qiu Zhan probably wouldn’t object in the slightest.
Under the dazzling lights, Yan Xiao looked at Qiu Yan, surrounded by applause and admiration, and suddenly thought of Qiu Li.
Same birthday but what a different world.
Qiu Yan had a grand celebration filled with luxury and glory, while Qiu Li’s birthday noodles had been cooked by her family, and the cake had been something she prepared herself.
No shares, no banquet, no thunderous congratulations.
A sudden ache pressed against her chest.
She couldn’t even say why, just that it felt heavy and tight, her eyes stinging, her breath uneven.
She took out her phone and sent him a message:
What are you doing? Have you eaten dinner?
After hitting send, she stared at the chat box, waiting for his reply.
Three minutes passed. Nothing.
She bit her lip, anxiety flickering across her face. Another five minutes went by, and still no response.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She leaned close to her mother and whispered that she had something urgent to take care of, asking her to deliver her prepared gift to Qiu Yan for her. Before her mother could even respond, she slipped away.
Since her departure was sudden, the family driver hadn’t been notified. By the time she ran out of the hotel, there was no car waiting. Without hesitating, she hailed a cab and rushed home.
The midsummer night was loud and stifling, full of voices, traffic, and glowing neon signs, even the usually quiet Shengyi neighborhood buzzed with faint noise.
Only the Qiu residence stood still, silent and isolated, like an island cut off from the world.
She ran in through the front gate and saw only a single light on inside. For some reason, her eyes suddenly burned. She didn’t know if it was from running too fast or from sweat stinging her eyes.
On her phone, the chat with Qiu Li remained unchanged, just her lonely message from over an hour ago.
She ran up to the gate and scanned her face to unlock it.
As soon as she stepped inside, she saw him,
Qiu Li sitting alone on the lawn, a beer bottle in his hand, several empty ones scattered around his feet.
Yan Xiao: “…”
You didn’t answer my messages, didn’t pick up my calls, and here you are drinking?!
Her temper flared instantly. She stormed over, struggling to keep her anger down. “Qiu Li!” she snapped.
Qiu Li lifted his head at the sound, his movements slow and slightly unfocused.
His face was flushed, his eyes tinged red. One look, and it was obvious he’d had too much. Yan Xiao’s anger spiked higher.
When he saw her, he froze for a second, then smiled. “Why are you here?”
That only made her madder. She snatched the bottle from his hand and threw it hard onto the ground. “Who told you to drink? You’re not even of age yet! What are you thinking?!”
This kid was unbelievable.
But Qiu Li didn’t get angry. Instead, his smile deepened, warm and lazy. “Exams are over. I graduated. I can drink now…”
“Drink what, huh?!” Yan Xiao smacked the back of his head. “Alcohol kills your brain cells! You’ll turn into a big idiot!”
Qiu Li’s smile faltered for a second. Then he tilted his head slightly and looked at her, eyes half-lidded. “If I become an idiot, would you still like me?”
Yan Xiao was too worked up to think, blurting out, “Who’d like you then? You wish!”
He processed that for a second, then smiled again. “Then I’m not an idiot.”
Yan Xiao was speechless.
Not an idiot?
You call this not being an idiot?
She had never met anyone denser.
But arguing with a drunk was the definition of pointless. She took a deep breath and decided to drop it.
Qiu Li didn’t seem to notice her shifting expressions, he just kept smiling softly at her. “Why did you come?”
Yan Xiao huffed. “I texted you, you didn’t reply! I called, you didn’t pick up! So I came back to check on you, what else could I do?”
Qiu Li touched his pocket, dragging out his words. “Phone’s on the coffee table. Forgot to bring it out.”
Yan Xiao: “…”
And you sound proud of that?
Like a broken record, he repeated, “Why did you come?”
Yan Xiao’s eyelid twitched.
How can someone get more talkative after drinking?
His cheeks were flushed red, his eyes glimmering faintly under the light, and he just kept staring at her, quiet, obedient, with that disarming softness that made it impossible to stay mad.
Half her anger melted away instantly.
Forget it. Getting mad at a drunk was like punching air. She’d just wait until tomorrow to deal with him.
“I was worried you hadn’t eaten,” she said, her tone gentler now. She poked his cheek. “But I see you’ve been having fun by yourself.”
Qiu Li smiled again, this time with his lips pressed together, his grin sweet and harmless.
“Isn’t it hot sitting out here?” Yan Xiao couldn’t help poking his cheek again.
Qiu Li shook his head. “Not hot.”
“Yeah right,” she muttered. “It’s boiling, and there are mosquitoes everywhere. Are you stupid?”
Qiu Li’s lips curved. “Not stupid. Waiting for you.”
Yan Xiao: “…”
She froze, staring blankly at him.
Then he tilted his head again, smiling like a sly little fox. “And now I’ve waited long enough. You’re here.”
Yan Xiao: “…”
He blinked, voice low and soft, wrapped in that lazy warmth. “Will you stay with me? Always?”
For a moment, the whole world faded away.
Yan Xiao’s mind went blank, her body frozen in place. All she could see, all she could think about, was Qiu Li sitting there alone beneath the dim light, smiling at her with that lonely, tender expression.

Author’s Note:
007 (the system): Shouldn’t that question be directed at me? By the way, it’s been forever since I showed up. I can’t wait to unleash my power again!