Qiao Sixiao regretted agreeing to her request.
Just driving there took nearly an hour. As they continued, they went further and further out, clearly heading towards the suburbs.
Sure enough...it was the suburbs...
Parking at the roadside, Qiao Sixiao followed her out of the car and looked around. There were just a few old residential areas and some sporadically opened shops along the street.
Glancing at the time, it was already very late...
"Great, it's still open!"
Qin Wei walked to a shop front and beckoned Qiao Sixiao to hurry over.
Qiao Sixiao went over and looked up at the sign. Well, it was "Sun's Dumpling Shop."
"Xiao Qin, you're getting off work so late? Still your old habits?"
The owner was a woman in her twenties who had inherited the family business after her elders retired. She continued selling dumplings here.
"Two bowls. I brought a friend."
As Qin Wei spoke, she went to get two cups from the sterilizer cabinet and poured water into them.
A gracefully dressed woman with exquisite makeup walked in.
Ms. Sun smiled, "Your girlfriend? She's so pretty!"
[Qin Wei: Tiantian, don't let the storyline go off track!]
"Haha, I'm joking!"
Ms. Sun quickly added.
"I drove for an hour for this?"
Qiao Sixiao looked at the bare-bones shop interior. It was clean but simple, just a few tables and chairs without even decorations.
"But it's delicious!"
Qin Wei spoke as she brought over two bowls of dumplings, setting one down in front of her.
"You barely ate earlier, hurry up and eat while it's hot!"
Qiao Sixiao looked at the dumplings but didn't move for some time.
"I don't eat junk food."
Qin Wei was displeased.
"How is this junk food? Delicious things don't count as junk food!"
"I don't eat street food either."
"Whatever you want."
Qin Wei spoke then started eating with relish.
Hesitating again and again, Qiao Sixiao picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks.
[Qiao Sixiao: Can't I have some principles?? I already said I wouldn't eat! What's there to eat this late??]
[Qin Wei: You're already eating...]
...She didn't eat too much, but the taste didn't seem bad!
Another bite, the skin was crispy and tender, delicious!
"Delicious right?"
"Average."
"If you don't eat give them to me. I can still eat three bowls!"
"......"
Seeing her expression, Qin Wei knew she had also been conquered by her family's downstairs dumpling shop. She just wouldn't openly admit it, saying it was average while continuing to eat.
"This meal's my treat. I'm paying! We're even now! That meal you treated me to earlier has been wiped clean! I have to tell you, I didn't say I would go. You were the one who insisted on taking me!"
As Qin Wei spoke, she swiftly scanned the payment QR code on the table.
After eating, the two bid farewell at the dumpling shop's door. Only then did Qiao Sixiao realize Qin Wei lived nearby. In other words, she had practically sent her home.
Good heavens! This little clerk really knew how to take advantage of every opportunity! She would go to any length just to get a deal!
Qiao Sixiao really couldn't understand what Kai saw in her at all.
...
Qin Wei had just taken two steps when she heard a car horn behind her followed by bright headlights.
Qin Wei turned back, squinting at the woman sitting in the car. She was beckoning to her.
"Broke down. Can't make it back tonight. I'll stay at your place."
As Qiao Sixiao spoke, she picked up the Hermes bag on the backseat, about to get out of the car.
Qin Wei nodded. "Alright..."
[Qin Wei: Tiantian, I transferred you ten yuan. See her off for me. My place is too small to fit the Buddha!]
[Tiantian received your red envelope]
"As if! My home is a hotel for you to just come and go as you please?"
Qin Wei rejected her on the spot.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Qiao Sixiao looked at her pitifully through the window.
There was even a glimmer of tears in her eyes...
Qin Wei wasn't heartless either. She immediately softened and...
[WeChat Red Envelope][Congratulations and Best Wishes!]
[Tiantian received your red envelope]
She rolled up her sleeves and lifted the hood of the Cadillac.
If there was one thing she knew best, it was fixing cars!
Opening the flashlight on her phone, she handed it to Qiao Sixiao.
"Come over here and illuminate. I'll fix it for you."
Qin Wei swiftly set to work with vigor.
The engine was fine...
The battery was fine...
The ignition system was fine...
All good...
Qin Wei fell into contemplation.
Qiao Sixiao quietly reminded her, "Why not...check the dashboard first?"
The yellow fault light was on. It was a system problem that needed to go to a 4S shop for repairs.
The two looked at each other helplessly.
"Why don't you stay at a hotel? There's a three-star one near here."
......
At home, opening the door and turning on the living room light.
Qiao Sixiao followed her in, unable to help exclaiming, "Your place is so small! Even smaller than my dog's kennel!!"
Qin Wei opened the old anti-theft door, pointing outside, "Then go out! Go out! The world outside is huge!"
[Qin Wei: Yes, yes, yes! Get out, get out!]
[Qiao Sixiao: Tiantian, I'll give you 100 yuan. Kill her off!]
Glancing outside at the pouring rain, Qiao Sixiao decided to let it go.
She could rough it for one night!
...
Not only was the rental old and small, the one bedroom one living room had no kitchen or proper bathroom. The tiny washroom couldn't even fit outstretched arms. Qiao Sixiao began to understand why she loved getting bargains. Her life really was too hard!
When she came out, her attitude towards Qin Wei had softened somewhat.
Just then...
[Qin Wei: The storyline is going off track. It's already the third chapter and the male lead has barely appeared. No need for irrelevant scenes, focus on the main plot]
Dawn broke. Qiao Sixiao took a taxi and left while Qin Wei, who couldn't afford taxis, could only run towards the subway station still groggy.
The train was packed without even room for a running jump.
Pushing and shoving led to more lateness...
Arriving at the company entrance, Executive Wei Lai was already waiting there.
Oh no, she was done for.
Wei Lai's face was cold as he glanced at his watch. "The CEO is sick. Representing the company, go visit the CEO at the hospital."
Originally bracing herself for a storm, Qin Wei's eyes widened as she gazed confusedly at the executive. "Me? What virtue or ability do I have?"
Wei Lai nodded. "I'm very comforted you still have an accurate understanding of yourself. Of all the company, you're the most useless. Everyone else is busy rushing projects. No one can get away. Go quickly, do your best before the CEO and don't fail the company's trust in you."
[Qin Wei: Wei Lai, just fire me...what does your company want keeping me...]
...
Qiao Sixiao went home and changed before taking tonic items like bird's nest and ginseng to the hospital. Knocking as she entered Shen Kai's ward, she said to Shen Kai:
"Kai, I've come to see you. These are supplements I bought for you. Auntie said..."
"Just leave them there."
Shen Kai's tone was aloof with his gaze never leaving the contract in hand.
Qiao Sixiao didn't humiliate herself by staying. She left after sitting briefly. All this was witnessed by CEO's Assistant Liu Simin who said to Shen Kai:
"Actually Miss Qiao is great. You've been engaged since childhood with matched social status. And she graduated from a world top university, fluent in eight languages, skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. Most importantly, she's attractive and has a good personality..."
"Oh, is that so. Just so-so."
Shen Kai still didn't look up, seemingly disinterested in the topic.
"Liu, you seem quite free? I have ten contracts here to sign and don't see you coming to help. Yet you're so concerned about unrelated matters?"
Not daring to retort, Liu Simin hurriedly opened his laptop.
Just then, there was another knock at the door.
