Chapter 45

After breakfast, while Qiu Li dutifully cleaned the dishes, Yan Xiao warned him for the sixth time,
“You’re never drinking again. Ever!”
Qiu Li chuckled as he washed. “Okay.”
That laugh only made her angrier; it sounded way too nonchalant. “Don’t laugh!”
“Not laughing,” he said, drying the dishes and turning to face her. “I promise I won’t drink again.”
He might’ve kept his face straight, but his eyes were still smiling. Yan Xiao felt thoroughly insulted.
Seeing her cheeks puffed out in frustration, Qiu Li wiped his hands, reached over, and ruffled her hair.
“Really, I won’t.”
Maybe the kitchen’s air-conditioning wasn’t working, or maybe it was because he was so tall, standing too close, but suddenly she felt short of breath, the air too thin, her cheeks uncomfortably warm.
Something strange and restless stirred in her chest, making her both flustered and irritated. She swatted his hand away.
“How many times have I told you, stop touching my head!”
Without daring to meet his eyes, she turned and stomped toward the living room, muttering under her breath,
“Promises, promises, you’ve sworn you’d never drink again, and you’ve sworn you’d never touch my head, but you always do! You think just because you’re taller, I can’t hit you? Always tricking me, every time”
Watching her march off, still grumbling, Qiu Li’s lips curved upward on their own, his eyes narrowing into smiling crescents. But when she suddenly turned back, he instantly wiped the smile away, face blank.
Yan Xiao: “…”
Qiu Li rubbed his nose. “Want some strawberries?”
“No,” she huffed.
Just then, her phone chimed. She glanced at it, and her expression shifted.
“Um, I should get going. You’re probably still feeling the hangover, rest at home today. Don’t stare at your phone too long, and don’t play games if you’re dizzy.”
Qiu Li’s brow twitched slightly. “Resting all morning’s enough. Can I come find you this afternoon?”
Yan Xiao: “…”
When she didn’t answer, his gaze dimmed. “Or do you have plans today?”
“Uh, yeah,” she stammered, “I’m meeting my aunt, we’re going shopping. I’ll, um, come see you tomorrow instead. Get some rest!”
Before he could reply, she spun around and dashed off as if running from danger.
He didn’t even get the chance to call out “Be careful” before the door closed behind her.
He stood there for a long moment, looking down at the slippers she’d left by the door, one askew, half-crushed under the other.
The smile faded slowly from his face.
Why lie to me?
She was only going to see Qiu Yan. It wasn’t as if he’d stop her.
So why lie?
He stood there silently for a while, then bent down and neatly straightened her bunny slippers.
[Ding! Would you like to purchase Xuan Yi Tech?]
Qiu Li lifted his head, his eyes cooling to icy calm. He blinked once, said nothing, and turned upstairs.
Xuan Yi Tech was a small subsidiary recently handed to Qiu Zhan to “practice” on. Everyone in the business world knew it was just a training project for the young heir.
Normally, Qiu Li wouldn’t have bothered with such a minor target.
But now, perhaps it was time to have a little fun with his big brother.

The café where she met Qiu Yan was a private one; the owner was an old family acquaintance. There was even a small art gallery behind it, perfect for a quiet afternoon if the conversation ran dry.
Yan Xiao prided herself on how sincere her apology was.
She arrived ten minutes early, only to find Qiu Yan already there, seated in a booth, waiting for her.
Even from behind, he radiated that unmistakable main-character aura, handsome, composed, and effortlessly refined.
Of course, it wasn’t just his face; it was the noble grace in his bearing, the brilliance that made him seem untouchably rare.
Honestly, Yan Xiao thought, the author clearly adored this male lead. She hadn’t even seen the female lead’s shadow yet, what kind of low-presence heroine was that supposed to be?
“You’re early,” she said, sliding into the seat beside him and tapping the table to signal the barista. “No jet lag?”
Qiu Yan’s features were clean and striking, like a mountain spring revealed after mist had lifted.
He smiled at her, a calm, clear smile. “No. I’m used to it.”
Even his voice was pleasant, smooth and light. The more he smiled, the easier and warmer it felt. Yan Xiao couldn’t help a small pang of pride, the kind you’d feel watching a little brother grow up into someone remarkable.
“Was something urgent yesterday?” Qiu Yan asked gently.
Yan Xiao froze for a moment, then smiled apologetically. “Something came up all of a sudden. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Qiu Yan said with a faint smile. “Did you get it taken care of?”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded quickly. “So today, I’m here to make it up to you! It’s still your birthday celebration, and whatever you want to do or wherever you want to go, I’m all yours.”
Qiu Yan almost said it wasn’t necessary, but the words changed as they left his lips. “Then, will you come to the studio with me?”
“The studio?” Yan Xiao blinked.
“I feel like painting today.”
“Of course!” she agreed without hesitation.
What she hadn’t expected was that the “studio” he mentioned turned out to be on the top floor of a high-end commercial building near Yanwen Academy, a whole floor, rented just for him.
She looked around, wide-eyed. “This is your studio? Since when? I had no idea!”
“A few years,” Qiu Yan said with an easy smile. “I don’t come here often.”
That made sense. He spent most of his time abroad, constantly competing and studying, and the Qiu family already had an art studio for him at home. Naturally, he didn’t use this one much.
Yan Xiao wandered to the window and gasped. “You can see our whole school from here!”
Qiu Yan’s lips curved. “Looks like it.”
“I can’t believe you have a studio here,” she said, still amazed. “If I’d known, I’d have come visit all the time.”
His hand paused briefly as he adjusted his easel. Then he said quietly, “You can come whenever you want. I’ll add your fingerprint later.”
“No need,” Yan Xiao waved her hand quickly. “In two months I’ll be heading off to college anyway. I won’t be back that often, it’s fine.”
Not to mention, once her favorability points maxed out, she’d be leaving this world entirely. She wouldn’t be back here ever again.
Qiu Yan didn’t press the matter. He simply began setting up his paints and brushes with calm, practiced motions.
Yan Xiao dragged over a beanbag chair and settled down beside him, quietly watching him paint.
It was strange, she used to do this all the time when they were kids, yet today she couldn’t focus at all. Her mind kept drifting, her heart oddly restless.
What’s wrong with me? she wondered, biting her lip. Did I play around too much during break? Maybe I’ve just forgotten how to sit still.
She tried to calm down and focus, but before long, an image flashed in her mind, Qiu Li’s pale face from last night. Was he resting properly?
The thought made her frown. She wanted to send him a message to check in, but that felt too weird. She hesitated again and again, finally shoving her phone deep into her bag. Out of sight, out of mind.
Painting took hours, not minutes. When lunchtime came, they called down to the café, and the manager personally brought food up to the studio.
By late afternoon, around four or five, the painting was finally done.
Yan Xiao let out an involuntary gasp of admiration. She didn’t really understand what she was looking at, but it was beautiful. She’d long accepted she had zero artistic sense, but she could still appreciate beauty when she saw it.
“Do you like it?” Qiu Yan asked.
Yan Xiao nodded and gave him a thumbs-up.
“Then it’s yours.” He took the canvas down from the easel.
“What?” she blinked in surprise.
“You said you liked it,” he said simply, rolling the oil painting up and sliding it into a tube before handing it to her.
At this point, Qiu Yan’s paintings sold for sky-high prices. Sure, some of it was thanks to the Qiu family’s influence, but his talent was undeniable. And yet he was giving one to her just like that.
Well, their families were close. It wasn’t really that strange.
So Yan Xiao accepted it without guilt, though she still asked sheepishly, “Um, what’s it a painting of?”
She had to ask, awkward or not, since Qiu Yan had long accepted that she had no artistic insight whatsoever.
He glanced at her, tone calm. “A little girl.”
“Oh,” she nodded in understanding.
The world of artists, she thought wryly. She’d never understand it.
When they left the studio, the driver was already waiting downstairs.
“You kept me company while I painted,” Qiu Yan said. “Let me buy you dinner. What do you want to eat?”
Yan Xiao was about to say she didn’t mind when her gaze caught on someone across the street.
Qiu Li?
What was he doing here?
“Xiao-xiao?” Qiu Yan prompted.
“Huh?” She snapped back to reality and smiled. “It’s fine, I’ll just head home. I’ve been out all day, I’ll find you again later. I’m on break anyway.”
The moment she’d frozen up after spotting Qiu Li, he’d already noticed her.
Across the street, their eyes met, hers startled, his cold and unreadable.
Qiu Yan followed her line of sight and saw him too.
For a few seconds, they simply looked at each other through the streams of passing cars: one calm, one distant.
“Alright,” Qiu Yan said finally, turning away. “I’ll have the driver take you home”
“No, no,” Yan Xiao interrupted quickly, waving her hands. “I saw a classmate across the street. Our family’s driver’s on his way, I’ll be fine. Bye!”
She hurried off, and before darting across the street, she turned to wave the painting tube at him. “Thanks for the painting!”
Qiu Yan watched her jog across the road, bright-eyed and smiling as she ran toward Qiu Li. His face remained expressionless as he got into the car.
When the car looped around the corner, he glanced out the window. Yan Xiao was standing on the sidewalk, ice cream in hand, laughing as she ate. Qiu Li stood beside her, saying something, his tone unreadable.
The car sped past, and the sight vanished.
Qiu Yan frowned slightly, a trace of confusion flickering across his still-youthful face.
When had she stopped clinging to him?
It must’ve been years ago.
What he didn’t know was that when the car passed by, the look Qiu Li shot through the tinted window had been ice-cold.

“Why are you out here?” Yan Xiao asked between bites of ice cream. “It’s so hot, you’ll get heatstroke!”
Zhou Hang, yawning beside them, looked ready to say something, but before he could, Qiu Li said evenly, “Zhou Hang asked me to come to the science museum.”
Yan Xiao nodded without a hint of suspicion. “Oh, really? How was it?”
Before he could answer, Zhou Hang opened his mouth, but Qiu Li clapped a hand on his shoulder before the words could escape.
“We already went,” he said smoothly, face perfectly straight. “We were just heading back.”
Zhou Hang: “…”
“That’s great,” Yan Xiao said cheerfully. “I’m going home too. Want to go together?”
Qiu Li smiled. “Sure.” He shot Zhou Hang a subtle look, one that clearly meant don’t say a word, and take a cab home yourself.
Having been dragged out of bed mid-nap after an all-night gaming session, Zhou Hang looked near tears.
“Are you coming too, Zhou Hang?” Yan Xiao asked kindly.
Zhou Hang’s heart swelled. Ah, see, at least Xiao-xiao cares!
Before he could answer, Qiu Li’s cold, indifferent voice cut in. “He’s not coming. He’s waiting for a friend.”
Yan Xiao nodded. “Alright then, we’ll get going.”
“Mm.”
Zhou Hang watched the two of them climb into a luxury car and drive off, eyes glistening with despair.
This is bullying. Actual bullying.

Author’s Note:
Zhou Hang: Am I not human too?! [○`Д´○]
Cold Qiu Li: Of course you are. Even tools are people.