TPIL - 40

What are they talking about?

Qi Xiaochuan could only see the movement of lips, arms crossed as he had no intention to approach and listen. Suddenly, the Filipino maid who had just been politely refused coffee spoke in fluent but not entirely standard Mandarin, “Mr. Qi, is our Mr. Gao Feng alright...?”

“For now, I don’t know,” even though the other party wore an expression as if teetering on the edge of a cliff, Qi Xiaochuan would not go against facts to say comforting lies. “But for someone at his level, unless there’s absolute certainty, they wouldn’t issue an arrest warrant so easily.”

In short, the situation was dire.

Seeing the other person’s face turn pale in an instant, their original questions became hard to ask. However, it could be inferred that both him and the company have been riding high in recent years; being under scrutiny wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Looking back, he saw Luo Andi’s face suddenly close in. She came to the door, hands holding onto the frame, her smooth and rosy face peering through with concern. “Little Xiao...”

“Are you going back?” Unintentionally, Qi Xiaochuan revealed that this was the only thing on his mind. “Um... how is she... doing?”

“She got tired and fell asleep, seems like she didn’t sleep at all last night.” To be honest, Luo Andi was used to seeing tears and vulnerability. But even so, she remained empathetic, worrying about tragedies unrelated to her and fretting over futures that wouldn’t harm her.

Qi Xiaochuan racked his brains trying to think of a way to show concern, finally coming up with, “Should we get her a bubble tea?”

“No need,” Luo Andi wasn’t angry at all, merely looking at him with a sigh. “Little Xiao, if I didn’t know you didn’t mean it, I’d really want to punch you in the chest.”

He didn’t understand, tentatively replying, “Don’t hold back?”

A smile finally bloomed on Luo Andi’s awkward face. She reached out, her fist lightly pressing against his chest. Beneath it was his heart, and when she pushed slightly, Qi Xiaochuan felt no pain – only a sensation akin to gemstones being embedded into a tool. She turned around, smiling, “I plan to stay with Gao Jie for a few days, so I won’t be returning for now.”

Qi Xiaochuan never anticipated such a thing.

Initially stunned, his bad temper showed clearly as he frowned, but upon reflection, he couldn’t shamelessly beg her not to or outright reject her plan. In the end, all he said was, “Alright.”

Only after returning did he remember he still had work, hadn’t eaten breakfast, had two meetings in the morning, needed to go to the airport in the afternoon, and had to rush back in the evening.

If there was any insight Qi Xiaochuan gained over the years regarding balancing personal life and work, it was undoubtedly endurance. Numbness and ruthlessness were the best virtues in the realm of money-making, where efficiency was the only sure path. He didn’t want to be bound by meaningless things, although perhaps it wasn’t exactly binding either.

Though after moving in together, he rarely encountered Luo Andi in daily life, occasionally seeing vegetable juice in the fridge or a hair tie left at the entrance in the morning always made him acutely aware of her presence. These fragmented details were like sugar spilled into the cracks between floor tiles – willing to abandon dignity just to taste them. However, he knew she didn’t actually dislike being needed. Qi Xiaochuan’s existence was truly a blight on the scenery; self-loathing made him the center of low-pressure storms for several days, avoided by anyone within ten miles, fearing entanglement in barren, chaotic disasters.

His secretary was an exception, accustomed to it, and embracing a rather “if Yama wants me dead at three, I won’t live past five” attitude of resignation, continuing to cooperate with high-intensity work.

Amidst the busyness, Qi Xiaochuan suddenly realized something, silently staring at him for a long while. Just as the secretary thought he was about to be ordered to undergo gender reassignment surgery in Thailand, the boss calmly remarked, “You’re quite capable.”

The secretary could feel question marks slowly rising from their forehead: “...”

“You react quickly, handle pressure well, and your social skills are strong. You even became buddies with the electrician who comes once a year.” Qi Xiaochuan continued evaluating comprehensive abilities as usual, “It’s time for a raise.”

Trembling and half-believing, the secretary responded, “Thank you?”

“Pay a bit more personal income tax,” he delegated it to them to handle.

Whether or not it counted as gratitude, the secretary decided to invite Qi Xiaochuan to experience various hobbies. At first, Qi Xiaochuan naturally refused – he was busy, extremely busy. Regardless of how happy the freshly raised salary made the secretary, he doused them with cold water, impatiently clicking his tongue, “I don’t have time to play indoor soccer with you, nor cycle on mountain bikes, and certainly not bounce on trampolines. Are you my girlfriend? Why don’t you ask me to do yoga with you?”

“Oh, so the boss wants to do yoga, alright, I’ll arrange it immediately!” The secretary misinterpreted brilliantly, smugly retorting, “But aren’t you free to weave at ‘Paradise’!”

Qi Xiaochuan couldn’t refute: “...”

These days, he indeed did some things he’d never do otherwise. Did this mean he might develop hobbies?

Possessed by some unknown force, Qi Xiaochuan accepted.

It was an especially eventful day. Early morning, he went mountain biking with the secretary. The bike appeared out of nowhere courtesy of the secretary, and Qi Xiaochuan, thinking of just participating, hopped on after a quick adjustment. Unexpectedly, his competitive spirit surged, charging for the lead, leaving the secretary panting behind. By the end, even the club photo op was missed. When he saw the group picture later, there was Qi Xiaochuan, flanked by veteran cyclists, perfectly blending in.

Next was trampolining. Though seemingly simple, it carried risks and required an instructor nearby. Core strength was essential to perform well. The secretary, having prepared weeks in advance, confidently approached but ended up giving advice afterward, warning Qi Xiaochuan, “Be careful, it’s easy to lose balance.” Without a word, Qi Xiaochuan jumped right in. While the secretary took a brief bathroom break, not exceeding ten minutes, Qi Xiaochuan had already effortlessly completed a series of moves.

In the afternoon, they attended a yoga class. As Qi Xiaochuan listened to the instructor explaining poses, the secretary received a call and hesitated to answer. Qi Xiaochuan scolded, “Are you even paying attention?” It was hard to reconcile with the person who, just a day ago, repeatedly said, “Don’t bother me, I’m not interested.”

Finally, in the evening, they played indoor soccer. By then, the secretary was exhausted, craving a hot seafood congee pot. Yet Qi Xiaochuan repeatedly barked, forbidding them to leave, “With just ten people, how can we play if you leave!” If previously the secretary viewed their superior as “the enemy of wage slaves,” now it was “you’re not even human.”

Throughout, Qi Xiaochuan participated earnestly without showing any joy. Even as he left, he grumbled, “So tired, I’ll probably feel like falling apart after a nap.”

The secretary muttered audibly, “Then why take it so seriously?”

Qi Xiaochuan’s silence was unexplained. After getting into the car, the window remained down. Suddenly, he said, “But you prepared today’s activities very carefully.”

Qi Xiaochuan’s life principles weren’t complex. Treat others as they treat you.

Exercise indeed helps relieve stress. Unfortunately, he still didn’t find much joy in it.

Instead, he met someone familiar at the yoga studio. The owner of Paradise Handicrafts was a long-term member of the yoga studio and was incredulous upon seeing Qi Xiaochuan in sportswear, confirming it was indeed him after asking.

The woman sighed, “You actually have time to come here.”

“This is the first and last time,” Qi Xiaochuan unknowingly made a profound statement.

“I probably won’t be able to come often either. We’re opening a new branch, which will definitely keep me busier.”

Initially indifferent, Qi Xiaochuan suddenly turned around, remembering something, “What about Luo Andi...?”

“She might be transferred to the new store for a while. She’s an irreplaceable talent and our store’s unique ace,” the woman replied. “But don’t worry, it won’t be for long. If the first store’s revenue suffers, the second store will be jeopardized too. That wouldn’t be wise.”

He reverted to his arrogant demeanor, “Good that you realize that.”

“We’ll host a media open class at the new store. Would Mr. Qi honor us with your presence?”

Without hesitation, Qi Xiaochuan replied, “No.”

Yet the female owner smiled brightly, “Ah, then there’s nothing to be done. Su Yining will surely be delighted to have Andi all to herself that day—”

“Fine, I’ll go,” he had figured out the merchant’s tricks, just as she knew his weaknesses.

Qi Xiaochuan reasoned that up to this point, the only hobby he could stick to was handicrafts. Previously, there was also Tai Chi, but upon recalling, it was mainly because of competitions and required no monetary investment. All he needed was comfortable clothing to blend in with the elderly at the park, using their broadcasts and tapes.

However, in terms of purpose, he didn’t genuinely like handicrafts.

He simply liked being where that voice was, seeing that smile, and doing what those hands did.

Love is a spiritual virus. He hoped Luo Andi would become happy. Because of this wish, even the usually resolute him began to waver, torn between believing he was the chosen one and desperately wanting to find someone like Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu worthy of her.

Having not seen Luo Andi for days, for a moment, he even wondered if she ever lived with him. Perhaps everything was just his imagination. How could something as good as encountering an angel with wings stuck in tree branches happen to him? Qi Xiaochuan’s luck had always been terrible – abducted as a child, living as a beggar, his only two friends dying one after another.

Gao Feng was under investigation, and Gao Jie was forced to move to a more modest apartment. Qi Xiaochuan drove over, calling Luo Andi as soon as he arrived downstairs. She was eating and hurried down, wearing soft loungewear, her curly hair cascading like a galaxy over her neck and chest.

Luo Andi asked, “Little Xiao, why are you here?”

She smiled at him, and Qi Xiaochuan instinctively lied, “I was passing by. Suddenly wanted to walk alone, so I came straight here.”

“Did you walk here?” She was surprised.

Whether home or office, the journey here was akin to a cross-country marathon. He could only cover one lie with another: “No, I took the subway. Haven’t ridden it in a long time, so I thought I’d try.”

Such a clumsy lie, yet she believed it: “I can’t leave here right now, but will you take the subway back? Let me walk you to the station.”

At this moment, Qi Xiaochuan couldn’t help but applaud the lie he had just scorned seconds ago. Turning around, he replied, “Sure.”

The nearest road was under maintenance for the drainage system, so barriers surrounded everywhere, making sidewalks inaccessible. Pedestrians had no choice but to walk along the roadside, extremely inconvenient.

Qi Xiaochuan subtly moved to the outer side of the road, allowing Luo Andi to walk inside.

The air between the two was too silent. He couldn’t help but ask, “When do you plan to go back?”

“To your place?” She smiled, answering lightly, “Hmm... when Gao Jie doesn’t need me as much.”

He sneered inexplicably, “You really haven’t changed at all.”

Luo Andi remained silent, while Qi Xiaochuan gradually retracted his smile, adopting a more lost and gloomy expression. “I, on the other hand, have changed a lot.”

“For instance?”

Being with Luo Andi relaxed both body and heart. He said, “Before, I thought the desire to save someone wasn’t love. But now, I don’t know anymore—”

She smiled, turning her head to look at him, speaking calmly, “Is the person you want to save now me?”

“...Yes and no. But at least, when you save others, I don’t feel happy.” His profile gazed ahead, bathed in gray-blue shallows, even if there was a smile, it was undoubtedly tinged with sadness. “However, I’ve never expected to gain your affection.”

Her feelings were the hardest thing in the world to obtain, more precious than the treasures Kaguya-hime sought, more fleeting than Persephone’s existence. He hated losing more than he let on, constantly denying to confirm he still possessed.

Suddenly, Luo Andi stopped walking, abruptly calling his name, “Little Xiao.”

“Are you jealous?” she asked.

Facing her, Qi Xiaochuan struggled to maintain a calm expression, “No.”

“But you look like you’re jealous,” she fearlessly approached, like a rabbit unafraid of wolves, raising her bright eyes to meet his with pure sincerity that terrified him. “Do you want me to be kinder to myself?”

“Yes,” a safe question finally emerged in the difficult conversation, and he exhaled in relief.

But this was wrong.

Letting down one’s guard was wrong, failing to recognize kindness was wrong.

On a common street, a man with a blank face and a smiling woman.

“I once said when I grow up, can I marry you. Thinking back, I was so naive.” Luo Andi laughed, “Can you be my boyfriend?”