HGG - 44

The “Apology Method Seminar for Miss Wu Qiuxiu” was held in the smoking room of Chongming Games during lunch break one day. The attendees included Song Yi, Jenny (Zhan Xiaohong), and Chi Zhao, with Zhan Heqing serving as the host.

“Ahem,” Zhan Heqing dropped fish food into the aquarium, then turned around to clear his throat. “I won’t go over the details again. Let’s proceed with everyone taking turns to speak.”

“I thought you called me here for something urgent…” Jenny, the only person actually smoking in the room, remarked sarcastically. “What exactly are your executives focusing on every day? Does performance even matter anymore?”

Chi Zhao, idly eating chocolate cereal with a spoon soaked in milk, lazily replied to Jenny: “Don’t worry, things are still manageable.”

Song Yi sat quietly and asked: “Just to confirm—did you promise lunch would be provided if we attended?”

“And is this really okay?” Jenny gestured toward the Chongyou employees peering through the glass window outside the smoking room. “Everyone seems very interested because the executives gathered here for a meeting…”

Without a word, Zhan Heqing pulled the curtains shut.

He clapped his hands and announced again: “Please give me some useful suggestions.”

The tradition of holding meetings in the smoking room felt oddly familiar. Song Yi glanced at Zhan Heqing’s face and silently lowered her head.

A few days earlier, she had privately approached Zhan Heqing again.

It wasn’t to leak information but to inquire about something. “Who is Gao Jie?” Song Yi had mentioned the name she overheard from Chi Shuren.

At the mention of that name, Zhan Heqing immediately became guarded. “Are you that concerned?”

“This person is related to Mr. Chi. Moreover, the vice president finds them dangerous. As Chi Zhao’s secretary, I need to understand.” Song Yi responded coldly.

This was the first time she saw such an expression on Zhan Heqing’s face—guarded, cautious, and clearly troubled.

“Song Yi,” Zhan Heqing enunciated slowly, “this has nothing to do with you.”

Her memory abruptly halted there.

Back in the smoking room, Jenny was the first to speak.

“In my opinion,” she stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and pointed accusingly, “if you had just shouted ‘She’s my sister!’ back then, everything would’ve been fine! It’s all because you hesitated and acted timidly…”

Zhan Heqing flinched as if struck where it hurt, stammering and unable to retort.

“Wear something decent,” Chi Zhao suggested nonchalantly, “and bring some ginseng, white liquor, or brain tonic to her house. Problem solved.”

Zhan Heqing looked at him with tears brimming in his eyes, suddenly enlightened, then promptly turned to leave.

Chi Zhao watched his retreating figure and suddenly asked Song Yi: “I was joking. Do you think he actually believed me?”

Silence.

Song Yi gave him a reassuring smile.

Zhan Heqing put on his suit jacket, adjusted his tie in front of the mirror, and checked his appearance meticulously. Perfect. Then he picked up the ginseng gift box on the table—perfect again. Finally, he strode downstairs without stumbling, smoothly getting into the car.

Perfect!

Everything was going according to plan.

Using the address Wu Qiuxiu had provided during her employment, Zhan Heqing located her residence.

Previously, he had heard from Wang Ma, who was known as the intelligence queen of Chongming Games, that Wu Qiuxiu was a local and lived with her parents.

Summoning his courage, Zhan Heqing entered the narrow stairwell and finally arrived at Wu Qiuxiu’s door.

He wasn’t alone.

Zhan Heqing wasn’t fighting this battle by himself. Accompanying him upstairs was a young man wearing a blue windbreaker and helmet.

The young man seemed familiar with the place, carrying a plastic bag with bold red Songti characters reading “Shaxian Snacks.”

They stopped in front of the same door, exchanged glances silently, and the delivery guy flashed him a friendly smile.

Why was he smiling like that?!

Before Zhan Heqing could knock, the security door swung open and hit him squarely on the forehead.

He winced, covering his face while bending over, finally understanding why the delivery guy had stood so far away from the door. Amidst the girl’s sweet gasp, Zhan Heqing looked up and saw Wu Qiuxiu standing there, dumbfounded.

Bare-faced and wearing a pink pig-print pajama set, Wu Qiuxiu stared wide-eyed but didn’t forget to take the Shaxian snacks.

After the delivery guy left, Zhan Heqing, still clutching his face, thought his nose must have turned red. Meanwhile, Wu Qiuxiu felt embarrassed about not being dressed up at all.

“Mr., Mr. Zhan… Why are you here?” Wu Qiuxiu hurriedly grabbed his arm, pretending to check his injury. “S-sorry, I didn’t expect you to be standing behind the door...”

Of course, Zhan Heqing didn’t want her to see his face, but how could an ordinary man with no strength possibly resist someone like Wu Qiuxiu, who had won four consecutive national Taekwondo championships among college students? After putting up little resistance, his hand was pulled away.

Actually, it wasn’t that red.

There were just a few faint red marks on his face.

Zhan Heqing had a delicate face. In middle school, when he wore glasses, girls often wrote in their love letters that he was “refined and gentle.”

In the company, female employees sometimes whispered behind his back, calling him and Chi Zhao “civilized scoundrels.” He was responsible for the refined part, while Chi Zhao was the scoundrel.

This was the first time Wu Qiuxiu had noticed his features up close, and her face instantly flushed red.

She stuttered: “Ah, um, Mr. Zhan, please come in. Let me get some ointment for bruises.”

“No need, I just came to drop something off...” Zhan Heqing tried to decline, but Wu Qiuxiu had already turned to fetch the ointment.

With no choice, he stepped inside after changing his shoes.

The apartment wasn’t spacious, but the furnishings were neat and cozy.

On the coffee table in front of the TV was a photo of a family of three, seemingly taken at the beach. The father appeared sturdy and kind, the mother gentle and warm, and Wu Qiuxiu innocently cheerful. The whole family smiled brightly at the camera.

Zhan Heqing was momentarily captivated. Just then, a loud thud came from the room.

He immediately quickened his pace and went inside.

It turned out Wu Qiuxiu had fallen.

His first instinct was concern for Wu Qiuxiu, but her bedroom caught his attention instead.

In his life, Zhan Heqing had only seen one woman’s bedroom—that of his sister, Jenny.

Jenny’s bedroom was always impeccably organized, with luxury items arranged neatly by brand and style in her dressing room. Once the season ended, old items were discarded, and new ones continuously replenished. Her maids ensured everything stayed tidy.

If not strictly speaking, Zhan Heqing had also seen Song Yi’s living space—she occasionally spent nights in the lounge.

But someone as meticulous as Song Yi would make sure everything was perfectly packed away whenever she left.

In short, Zhan Heqing couldn’t help but stare in awe at Wu Qiuxiu’s room.

In reality, Wu Qiuxiu’s room was just casually messy, typical of an average person’s space.

Rather than “messy,” it was more accurate to say it was carefree, especially since her home wasn’t large.

The blanket was haphazardly folded, manga books lay scattered on the desk, game discs piled both inside and outside a storage box, and makeup products were still lying around from yesterday.

Compared to the two women Zhan Heqing had previously encountered, this room wasn’t particularly tidy.

“I’m so sorry!” Wu Qiuxiu was on the verge of tears, feeling utterly embarrassed.

Who could have expected Zhan Heqing to show up unexpectedly?

She quickly pushed him out and frantically began tidying up.

Caught off guard, Zhan Heqing stumbled backward. He paused, then knocked on the door while explaining: “No, no need to apologize. It’s my fault. And it’s not that bad...”

Wu Qiuxiu shoved the gaming console and cosmetics into a drawer, but it was too full to close.

She struggled with all her might, only to pinch her hand in the process.

“Ouch!” She cried out in pain.

Why did this happen?!

Wu Qiuxiu suddenly felt like crying.

She just wanted to look good in front of the person she liked. Why did everything end up like this?

Hearing her cry, Zhan Heqing panicked and immediately burst through the door.

As he entered, he tripped over the cord of a curling iron near the table and stumbled forward. Ignoring himself, he quickly got up and crouched beside Wu Qiuxiu. “Are you okay?”

Seeing Wu Qiuxiu clutching her hand, he instinctively took hold of it.

Zhan Heqing repeatedly checked that she wasn’t injured. Looking up, he realized Wu Qiuxiu was tearfully gazing at him.

“What’s wrong?” Zhan Heqing asked. “Does it hurt that much?” Hurt enough to cry?

Wu Qiuxiu shook her head like a rattle drum.

“Sorry,” Zhan Heqing sighed and gave a wry smile. “It seems neither of us is having much luck today.”

To his surprise, this statement received a fierce rebuttal.

“I thought the same thing earlier, but now I feel,” Wu Qiuxiu said earnestly, “that today my luck is exceptionally good!”

“Eh?”

“Mr. Zhan came to see me...” Wu Qiuxiu was almost on the verge of tears. “It feels like a dream. I thought you’d never talk to me again...”

Zhan Heqing chuckled, half amused and half exasperated: “Why would I ignore you?”

Wu Qiuxiu continued pitifully: “I asked my friends if there was any chance, and they all said no man would like a woman who delivers honeydew melons to his office. And... and I told you to move aside that day. I thought you must have been angry...”

Tears welled up again, and Zhan Heqing, with his free hand, patted her back like comforting a child: “I’m not angry. How could I be mad at you? I came here to apologize...”

Wu Qiuxiu sniffled and asked: “Why are you apologizing?”

At this question, Zhan Heqing froze.

Why was he apologizing?

For having a girlfriend? No, he didn’t have one. For stepping aside without explanation? He wasn’t obligated to explain either.

Zhan Heqing stiffened in place. After a long contemplation, he painfully arrived at a conclusion.

He probably felt bad for hurting her feelings.

But he couldn’t say that directly.

Lowering his voice, he answered: “I simply wanted to see you...”

He wanted to confirm Wu Qiuxiu’s reaction but found her suddenly burying her head. “What’s wrong?” Zhan Heqing asked concernedly.

From beneath her hidden face came a pitiful voice: “My nose is running.”

Zhan Heqing blinked, torn between laughter and frustration. “Just wipe it off, then.” Turning around, he reached for tissues.

“But I want to keep holding your hand. I don’t want to dirty it...” Wu Qiuxiu tightened her grip with her other hand. Like an octopus clinging tightly, she refused to let him go.

His heart felt submerged in warm milk.

Having grabbed the tissue, Zhan Heqing tentatively wiped her face, gently soothing her. “It’s alright...”

At that moment, Wu Qiuxiu suddenly lunged into his arms, hugging him and wiping her tears and snot on his clothes.

“Mr. Zhan, I really, truly, absolutely like you the most!” Wu Qiuxiu gritted her teeth and finally voiced her confession.

In her untidy room, with her completely unwashed, tear-streaked face, Wu Qiuxiu confessed once more.

She thought to herself, I really am so stupid.

She felt the person she was hugging suddenly relax. Zhan Heqing, too, felt reassured—he hadn’t been disliked, and he hadn’t misunderstood his own feelings.

“I think I’m stupider than you,” Zhan Heqing replied. “But Miss Wu Qiuxiu, I like you too.”

Warm milk with two extra spoons of honey—his heart felt sweet and warm.

Zhan Heqing wiped away Wu Qiuxiu’s tears. He figured he should clean up the situation, then call Chi Zhao to thank him for his advice.

Zhan Heqing tried to stand up, but Wu Qiuxiu tugged at him so hard that he fell over again.

This time, he accidentally landed on top of Wu Qiuxiu.

Just then, the living room door opened.

The parents from the earlier family photo—Wu’s mom and dad—appeared at the doorway, carrying grocery bags from the fresh market. Clearly, they had just returned from shopping.

As soon as the door opened, they saw the scene before them.

Their daughter, tear-streaked, pinned down by a strange man.

“Dad, Mom!” Wu Qiuxiu called out timidly.

Zhan Heqing swallowed hard.

“Uncle, Auntie, hello,” he forced a smile and spoke in this awkward position. “I’m here delivering Shaxian snacks.”