“Why are you getting angry at her?”
Qiao Sixiao laughed and walked over, took the cup from Li Liang’s hand, and said to Li Liang, “You go out first, I’ll call you if I need anything.”
Li Liang nodded nervously, then bumped into the floor lamp when she turned around – when they came in earlier, Qiao Sixiao said the ceiling light was glaring so this was the only light source in the room.
Now it was completely dark.
“Sorry...”
Li Liang was even more nervous now. Qiao Sixiao told her to leave first while she went to lift up the lamp herself, fumbling for the power cord in the darkness.
“Actually, you don’t need to try so hard. Don’t feel burdened by those bad online comments. Those businessmen only care about profits. Worldly sophistication is just a trick. As long as there are gains, they will come chasing after the scent... From now on, don't go to such social obligations. Let He Hong do the bowing and scraping herself...”
The power cord was plugged in and light returned to the room.
Qiao Sixiao stood up, satisfied, and continued speaking:
“I know your kind intentions, Qin Wei. Don’t let there be a next time. Trust me, we won’t lose out. At worst we’ll earn less...”
She looked at Qin Wei, but at this moment Qin Wei was also looking at her expressionlessly, like frost. Seeing Qiao Sixiao’s slightly flustered appearance, she couldn’t help but raise the corners of her mouth. She leaned close to Qiao Sixiao’s ear and asked:
“What’s wrong? Is Miss Qiao teaching me how to conduct myself?”
...
...
Five minutes had passed...
Li Liang paced in the hallway.
Ten minutes passed...
Li Liang squatted at the door, eyes longing.
Half an hour passed...
Li Liang sat in the corner, hugging her knees, curled up in a ball.
Afraid, helpless, and tired too...
The door opened.
Li Liang gave a startled jerk and stood up.
“Sis... Huh? Teacher Qiao?”
Li Liang walked to the door. She didn’t expect Qiao Sixiao to come out.
“I I I’ll go in and help bring her back to her room...”
That’s what she said, but Li Liang was extremely reluctant in her heart. She hadn’t seen what Qin Wei was like when drunk, but that expression and tone from earlier...
Li Liang involuntarily shrank her neck at the thought.
If she was normally a harmless, lively puppy, then earlier...
[Beware of dog!]
“No need, she’s asleep.”
Qiao Sixiao said while rubbing her wrist.
Only then did Li Liang notice that her wrist was bright red.
She was grabbed?
“Are you okay... my sis’s expression today... was a bit... scary... Has she been like this before?”
Li Liang folded away her curiosity and merely asked perfunctorily out of politeness.
Qiao Sixiao glanced at her.
“How would I know?”
I’m more familiar with her back view.
Qiao Sixiao changed the subject. She asked:
“Did you find her room card key?”
“Here...”
Li Liang presented it with both hands.
“I have no plans scheduled for tomorrow morning. Don’t come disturb me.”
...
...
“Miss, we’ve arrived.”
Returning home late into the night, the Mercedes-Benz E300 stopped at Shen Qingqing’s door.
But Shen Qingqing, sitting in the back seat, was in no hurry to get out of the car.
She slowly took out a makeup mirror from her bag, looking at herself in the mirror while lazily messing up her own hair with one hand.
Next she wiped off her lipstick, then lightly dabbed some BB cream on her lips with her fingertips.
After that, she used eye drops in her eyes. Done!
Looking at her haggard self in the mirror, she simply looked like a girl who had just been bullied – helpless and pitiful!
She adjusted her emotions. Hmm, delicate and pitiful. Even she felt a little heartache looking at herself.
Shen Qingqing looked up and saw the driver’s helpless expression in the rearview mirror. She raised her hand to point at him threateningly:
“Not a peep! Or else I’ll make you go scrub urinals at the hotel!”
“Mm.”
The driver nodded. It wasn’t the first time she had threatened him. Whenever Miss Shen came back after making trouble, she would put on situational makeup like this.
This time was no exception.
Hearing the driver’s acquiescence, Shen Qingqing was satisfied getting out of the car. She pushed open the door and strode straight up to her room.
Her parents, who were sitting in the living room drinking tea and reading, naturally saw her.
“Qingqing.”
Seeing her somewhat disheveled hair and dejected back, Shen's Mother knew her daughter must be in a bad mood.
Maybe she was even bullied!
Shen's Mother walked over. Seeing her haggard and aggrieved little face, she immediately hugged her and asked:
“What happened?”
Shen Qingqing’s mouth twisted. Every trembling note was filled with grievance:
“Nothing... wah wah...”
Shen's Father put down his teacup and looked over. “Just say it if something happened.”
“I just went to our hotel, umm... the one on Chengnan Road. They happened to be having a cocktail party and Uncle Qian was there too. I drank a little and he started molesting me, wah... I ran away. I didn’t dare hit him, he’s your friend! It was too unfair!”
As Shen Qingqing spoke, she started crying. While crying, she said,
“The more I think about it the angrier I get! Daddy, take him down for me! Kill him! Bankrupt him!”
Seeing her cry until she couldn’t breathe, Shen's Mother kept patting her back while placating her:
“Oh oh oh, mm hmm mm hmm, okay okay okay!”
“You go ahead and spoil her!”
With that said, she turned her head and ignored the mother and daughter.
Only after much coaxing and persuasion did Shen's Mother send her back to her room. Going downstairs, she saw Shen's Father hanging up a phone call.
“She’s still pretending. Such exaggerated acting, tsk tsk!”
Shen's Father glanced at his wife and casually threw the phone on the sofa.
“I actually thought she was really aggrieved at first. Scared me to death.”
Shen's Mother walked over and sat down.
“What do you plan to do? If you don’t go along with what she wants, she’ll make a fuss again tomorrow. Or... find an excuse to get Old Qian to work on a project overseas? After she cools down we can talk?”
“You really think someone out there would dare bully her?”
Shen's Father said,
“What a coincidence, President He just called too, backing her story. I knew what was going on then.
But my partnership with Old Qian is just about at its end anyway. He’s gotten too greedy lately, gotten too close with those crooks in South Asia. Using this girl’s outburst as an opportunity to draw a clear boundary isn’t a bad idea.”
...
Headache...
All sorts of chaotic dreams all night.
Qin Wei opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling, struggling for a few moments before giving up on getting out of bed.
What’s the point of getting up when there’s no work and it’s a beautiful day?
But...
I’m hungry!
Five minutes later, Qin Wei struggled to sit up again, zoning out.
“Such a bad headache...”
With one hand propping up her forehead, she sank into thought –
How much did I drink last night?
How did I get back?
I...
“This must be a hangover...”
Qin Wei strongly endured the headache to fumble around for her phone, trying to find ways to alleviate a hangover through the search engine.
After searching everywhere she still couldn’t find her phone.
In order to look for her phone and get herself a glass of water to drink, Qin Wei had no choice but to crawl out of bed. Walking to the living room, she was confused again –
Her bank card was on the floor. Her stuffed strawberry bear flashlight and other treasures were also scattered all over...
Was she robbed???
