TPIL - 17

Qi Xiaochuan disliked sour foods, and Luo Andi was well aware of this. It was during a winter break when they were children, celebrating the New Year by going out to play. They had sugar-coated haws on sticks at the square. Luo Andi loved them, but her stomach wasn’t very strong, so anything she ate usually required an adult’s approval—rules as strict as those for a princess in the Forbidden City.

It was rare for them to go out to play, and seeing the shining sugar-coated haws drenched in ice sugar made Luo Andi’s eyes fixate on them. Qi Xiaochuan stood beside her with his hands in his pockets, turning his face away pretending to admire the scenery.

After struggling internally for a while, Luo Andi still held her ground and turned to leave. She was wearing a warm white woolen shawl, fingerless gloves, and a knitted cap that covered her two braids. The little girl turned her head around, only to discover that the person she was with had disappeared. Pedestrians on roller skates weaved through the crowd, and as she looked around, she suddenly felt a cool breeze brush against her cheek like shaved ice. Turning back, she saw Qi Xiaochuan handing over a freshly bought sugar-coated haw.

Luo Andi’s face lit up like it was covered in starlight. She couldn’t hide her excitement as she looked at him, but instinctively stepped back: “Can you share with me?”

Qi Xiaochuan was completely unmoved by her pleading expression and firmly declined: “I hate sour things.”

But later, during one of the student council’s volunteer activities at a nursing home, both Qi Xiaochuan and Luo Andi went. As if drawn by some mysterious magnetic force, all the grandpas and grandmas surrounded Luo Andi, laughing as they held her hands and pulling out their hidden snacks to give her.

One enthusiastic elder specially washed kumquats for her. Since the fruit was offered right to her mouth, Luo Andi couldn’t refuse politely. She took a bite but was overwhelmed by the intense sourness, her teeth almost melting, and she could only swallow it with water. She held the remaining half in her hand—it was impossible to throw it away, but she really couldn’t eat anymore.

As they remained in this awkward situation, she continued listening to the elderly people talking. Luo Andi didn’t know when Qi Xiaochuan came over; she only realized he had been watching from the doorway for quite some time. He had just finished helping other elders with calligraphy and now walked over, sat down silently, and without hesitation took the kumquat from her hand and popped it into his mouth.

Luo Andi was startled.

As he chewed, Qi Xiaochuan remained expressionless, his cheeks slightly bulging, looking rather cute. She leaned closer, wanting to whisper something, but he frowned and leaned back, looking repulsed. By then, Luo Andi already knew he wasn’t meticulous about certain details, so she just lowered her voice and asked: “Is it sour?”

He thought, “Of course, I’m enduring it,” but still answered aloud: “I like sour things.”

Qi Xiaochuan had verbally and physically expressed annoyance towards Luo Andi more than once. But at the same time, he was often the one who watched her the most. The harsh him, the grumpy him, the ruthless him, sometimes liking sour tastes and sometimes disliking them. Yet, she simply smiled and said: “Little Xiao is such a strange person.”

Qi Xiaochuan didn’t mind being called a “strange person.” Sometimes Luo Andi being a bit silly was truly endearing.

Being called a “strange person” was much more normal than being part of something like the “Luo Andi Fan Club.”

When he interrupted their dinner reservation, Su Yining actually laughed in anger and unpleasantly retorted: “Does Mr. Qi want to have dinner with me too?”

“Hmm.” Qi Xiaochuan wouldn’t be tripped up by such a low-level taunt, calmly boasting with a straight face: “I’ve long heard of Mr. Su’s great reputation and have wanted to seek your advice for a long time.”

Complete nonsense.

But the one thing Qi Xiaochuan liked about rich boys like Su Yining was that they didn’t like to cause scenes. No matter how close to an eruption, they wouldn’t jump up in anger face-to-face, always finding a way to smooth things over. Su Yining replied: “Is that so? Then we’ll have to meet again next time.”

Qi Xiaochuan, with mischievous intent, wanted to add a few more lines like “Why wait until next time” or “Any day is better than today,” but unfortunately, others joined the conversation.

Gao Jie, wearing a small cocktail dress and a crystal swan-like hairband, quickly walked over, her target clear as she pulled Luo Andi into her arms. She gave a quick glance toward the two men and coyly complained to Luo Andi: “We agreed you’d keep me company today; don’t leave early. Let’s go eat something over there.”

Luo Andi was gently pulled away, giving them a slightly apologetic smile before leaving.

Su Yining hesitated to speak, but Qi Xiaochuan didn’t care at all, even deliberately blocking his way.

“Mr. Qi, do I need to remind you? Less than fifteen minutes ago, what did you say to me?” Su Yining maintained his composure, every word reflecting his higher education.

Qi Xiaochuan raised an eyebrow, coldly retorting: “‘You’re not her type’?”

“It was your own words,” Su Yining revealed the answer without rising to the bait, “that you have no feelings for Miss Luo.”

“I indeed—”

“Then please stop behaving like a jealous child!”

Qi Xiaochuan was left speechless, staring silently as Su Yining walked away.

Meanwhile, Luo Andi had already been dragged to the dining area by middle school girls. Sashimi was the star of the day, which she didn’t like, so she sullenly drank soup instead.

The band played accordion music with a light rhythm. Gao Jie’s father had studied in the UK and the US, and many of the invited friends were also well-versed in romantic ambiance. A few couples swayed their bodies, dancing freely yet elegantly.

Luo Andi naturally had a kind of captivating glow. Whether speaking with anyone, she would softly and calmly converse, like water flowing smoothly, never hurting anyone. When she was still the princess of the Luo family, her attire and demeanor were dazzling enough. Even now, despite the drastic change in circumstances, she still held her head high and smiled appropriately.

She was invited to dance but soon declined. Luo Andi didn’t feel like dancing with anyone. But her beauty was enough to attract others. Qi Xiaochuan, watching from the side, quickly understood. Whether it was Su Yining, Zhong Shiwei, or even including Gao Jie, it was understandable that they were drawn to Luo Andi, even if she was penniless.

In fact, Qi Xiaochuan already wanted to leave. He usually didn’t linger at gatherings, always having important matters to attend to, attending only out of necessity. This time, it was entirely because he made a mistake. He wasn’t reluctant to leave, but Luo Andi was still dawdling, not knowing what she was doing.

Could it be that she was waiting for Su Yining to invite her to dance?

Once this suspicion arose, everything came rushing in like floodwaters unleashed. Qi Xiaochuan sipped apple cider from his glass while searching for a waiter to inquire about the alcohol content. But after briefly averting his gaze, when he looked back, Luo Andi was gone.

She was actually hiding on the terrace, drinking some wine, so her cheeks were slightly flushed as she enjoyed the breeze. Thinking this place was a quiet haven unnoticed by others, she didn’t expect the glass door to be pushed open suddenly, revealing Qi Xiaochuan rushing out. He looked less like someone attending a corporate gathering and more like a middle schooler who hadn’t found the next runner in a 4x100 relay race.

Unable to help herself, Luo Andi laughed and straightened up, saying: “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” He walked forward. The door closed itself behind him, and the light filtered through the gauze curtains and floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Just wandering around,” she raised her wrist, palm up, showing a patch of red skin on the inner side of her arm. Luo Andi smiled, “Turns out I got bitten by a mosquito.”

In this weather, with gardens nearby and the balcony at night, getting bitten by mosquitoes was quite common. Qi Xiaochuan approached, standing next to her leaning on the railing. He slightly bent one knee, his formal suit accentuating his tall figure, but his expression was very calm, indifferent as if he didn’t care about anything.

Luo Andi couldn’t help but cross her arms, lightly scratching where the mosquito had bitten.

At this moment, he spoke casually: “Stop scratching, or it will swell later.”

“But I can’t help it.” She replied.

Qi Xiaochuan’s palm had developed many calluses, brushing against Luo Andi’s smooth forearm like a desert kissing clouds, gently rubbing, soundlessly covering the spot she had been fidgeting with earlier.

He said: “Let me press it for you.”

They both looked at each other. The narrow terrace was dimly lit, with only the two of them present. The viola sounded like a wet and prolonged rainy season.

She examined his serious eyes, and suddenly, her smile bloomed. The night was tranquil, and he quietly gazed at her. His gentle face was perfect for healing hearts but did not lack the talent for making one tear up. His heart beat uneasily; it was one of the rare moments in Qi Xiaochuan’s life when he particularly wanted to kiss someone.

He wanted to ask her how she had been these years, where she lived, and who she lived with, but he still hadn’t mustered the courage even now. His palm resting on her arm grew warm, but he refused to lift it easily.

Unknowingly, by the time he realized he hadn’t maintained proper distance, it was already too late. Luo Andi said: “Little Xiao, did you come here for me today?”

“How could that be?” Qi Xiaochuan let out his trademark sneer. For him, it was second nature—sarcasm, disdain, stubbornness, and pettiness were always his forte.

—How could that be.

Not just today. Yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week, every day he circled around the entrance of the Paradise Handmade Shop, every second he exuded friendliness while dealing with people.

It was all because of her.

“I see,” Luo Andi smiled calmly, intentionally wrinkling her nose and making a funny face, pretending to puff up in anger, “Then I won’t like Little Xiao either.”

“What do you mean?” Qi Xiaochuan immediately became alert.

“Let’s go inside,” Luo Andi had already opened the door, “It’s so hot outside.”

“Luo Andi?”

“You should come in soon too,” she reminded him.

When Qi Xiaochuan entered, he was in an extremely foul mood; “gloomy” no longer adequately described his state on the verge of losing control. He grabbed a glass of champagne, ready to leave, and saw Gao Jie standing on the path leading to the safety exit. He didn’t intend to interfere, nor did he want to scale walls like Spider-Man, so he could only nod in acknowledgment.

But Gao Jie was just eavesdropping.

That woman was about the same age as Luo Andi, wearing a fitted purple evening gown, and her profile seemed somewhat familiar. Qi Xiaochuan looked at her a few more times, realizing it wasn’t an unfamiliar face. When they were younger, she was one of the princes and princesses who often surrounded Luo Andi. Back then, when he was soaked like a drowned duck, she definitely contributed to it.

He didn’t hold grudges, but upon hearing her self-centered way of speaking unchanged, he recognized it. She and Luo Andi were joyfully reuniting, exclaiming melodramatically like singing “The Barber of Seville”: “Oh my goodness, is that really Andi? Andi, do you know how much I missed you? I heard your company went bankrupt, and I was so worried. Do you know how long I cried after you moved? “

Luo Andi was still smiling, appearing somewhat troubled: “I’m sorry, I had a lot to deal with—”

“Your hair isn’t as beautiful as before. What is this outfit you’re wearing? It’s not even a proper dress. Andi, where do you live now? Are you eating properly?” The woman anxiously questioned, “Would you like to stay at my house? Come work at my company! I’ll contact our old friends; they’ll be thrilled too! Don’t worry, leave it to me!”

Luo Andi gently declined: “Thank you, really, no need.”

She eventually extricated herself, leaving the woman standing there, head down furiously typing on her phone, likely reporting the situation to everyone.

Gao Jie was filled with concern, but ultimately, she was still a young girl of fourteen or fifteen, unable to make many decisions, lingering uncertainly.

As Qi Xiaochuan walked forward, she instinctively grabbed him. “What are you going to do?” Gao Jie nervously questioned, “She doesn’t mean any harm!”

“So what?” He countered naturally, “Does no ill intent mean no wrongdoing? It’s not like it’s a get-out-of-jail-free card.”

A girl brought up with the belief in upright conduct and the idea that “taking a step back broadens the horizon” said: “Are you a man? How can you be so vindictive?”

He retorted unashamedly, taking pride in it: “It has nothing to do with being male or female, simply because it’s me.”

Their argument wasn’t exactly quiet. The woman stepped forward in high heels, stopping when she saw them. She didn’t recognize Qi Xiaochuan but launched into an aggressive tirade first: “Who are you?”

Qi Xiaochuan looked her up and down, his gaze dismissive enough to irritate a Zen master. His first words were: “Are you that idle? If you’re that free, go find a job at an electronics factory.”

Probably never having been confronted so bluntly since birth, the woman was momentarily speechless: “Wha…what?”

“With your level of nosiness,” he continued, displaying his sharp tongue, “you might as well become a deputy factory manager in an electronics plant.”