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Psst! We're moving!
“...”
Hearing Chi Lü’s words, Bo Ying couldn’t help but glare at her.
Chi Lü blinked her long eyelashes innocently. “I was just asking casually.”
Bo Ying didn’t say anything.
Seeing her ears turning red, Chi Lü and the others exchanged glances, suppressing their laughter and stopped teasing her.
“Go ahead, go ahead.” Yan Qiuzhi cleared her throat. “However, if the men come, they have to prepare dinner.”
She looked at Bo Ying. “Tell them in advance. If they can’t cook, they shouldn’t come.”
Bo Ying: “...Alright.”
After pondering for a moment, she estimated that He Jingxiu’s beef noodles could pass muster and wouldn’t be turned away.
She sent separate invitation messages to each of them and then refocused her attention on the mahjong table.
Her spot had already been taken over by little Chi Xiaolü.
Bo Ying rested her chin, leaning next to her to watch, occasionally offering some advice.
But when it came to playing mahjong, both her and Chi Lü fell into the category of being bad but addicted players. Others might make two mediocre minds equal one brilliant one, but they were sisters united in losing badly.
After several rounds, Chi Lü turned her head to look at her. “Lost again.”
Bo Ying: “Then let me try.”
Zheng Jinyao couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’ll be the same even if you switch.”
Shen Muqing nodded. “I thought my cards were bad enough, but I didn’t expect Yingying, you guys are much worse than me.”
Yan Qiuzhi followed up. “In your game, I’ve regained my confidence in playing mahjong.”
Bo Ying was speechless.
After two more rounds, Bo Ying still lost.
She decided to give up her seat completely to Chi Lü and went to play with little Chi Xiaolü in the corner.
By the time Sheng Chun and the others arrived, it was still relatively early.
The afternoon sun was somewhat blinding, but much gentler than the midday light.
When Bo Ying came downstairs, He Jingxiu was already waiting at the elevator on the first floor.
He wore a striped shirt with the top two buttons undone, appearing casual and relaxed. Paired with dark jeans, he looked like a college student.
Bo Ying gazed at his handsome face with distinct contours, momentarily feeling as if she had returned to the year he was eighteen.
Hearing movement, He Jingxiu lifted his eyes and looked at her.
Facing Bo Ying’s dazed gaze, He Jingxiu lightly curved his lips and waved his hand in front of her.
His eyes were deep, his features soft. “What are you spacing out about?”
Bo Ying snapped back to reality, stared at him for a few seconds, and asked, “Today—”
“Hmm?” He Jingxiu took the sun umbrella from her hands, opened it, and held it up for her. “What is it?”
Bo Ying fell silent for a while, finally blurting out, “Are you planning to go to my place and compete with them to see who looks younger?”
“? “
He Jingxiu was taken aback, glanced down at his outfit, and chuckled helplessly. “Is this considered competing to look younger?”
“A bit.” Bo Ying reminded him. “They all dressed very young today.”
The usually suited and composed people today dressed very trendy. T-shirts, floral shirts, jeans, casual wear—each one individually would not be guessed to be thirty years old.
When Bo Ying saw them in the morning, she was startled. Finally, Yan Qiuzhi told her that because they were coming to help her move and considering her being the youngest, everyone unconsciously dressed younger to avoid having a generation gap with her.
Hearing this, she found it strange. She was the same age as Chi Xiaolü, so why hadn’t she seen her brother dress so young before.
Chi Xiaolü told her that since the others dressed young, Bo Yan, as her older brother, absolutely couldn’t lose in this aspect.
If she hadn’t known that He Jingxiu wasn’t familiar with her brother and had only met a few times, Bo Ying almost thought he had mastered today’s best intelligence and dressed accordingly.
Upon hearing this, He Jingxiu was speechless. “You don’t like it?”
“... “ Bo Ying paused slightly, her eyes scanning him up and down, averting her gaze to say, “It’s alright.”
Not very confident.
He Jingxiu’s eyebrows slightly raised, staring directly at her reddened earlobes, suppressing a laugh in his pupils. “Which style do you prefer more?”
Bo Ying’s lips moved, looking into his dark eyes for a while, slowly saying, “I won’t tell you.”
She liked whoever he was, no matter what he wore.
But she couldn’t tell He Jingxiu that; she didn’t want him to get too smug.
He Jingxiu smiled a little, not forcing her to answer.
As they talked and walked, it wasn’t long before they reached the community gate. Sheng Chun and the others’ car was still parked outside, not yet entered.
Seeing her, Sheng Chun greeted enthusiastically, “Yingying.”
Bo Ying smiled. “Let me register.”
Their community management was strict, and unfamiliar vehicles had to register for entry and exit. Normally, a phone call could resolve it, but since it was their first visit, Bo Ying thought it more sincere to come out and meet them.
After registering, she and He Jingxiu got into the car, heading to her building together with them.
Sheng Chun hadn’t seen her for a while, and they had a lot to talk about upon meeting.
The three ladies chatted, leaving no room for the men to interject.
When entering the house, Bo Ying was about to introduce them, but they started chatting animatedly first.
The men, however, politely shook hands, forming opposing sides.
Bo Ying looked around here and there, realizing there was no place for her to contribute.
Sheng Chun and Yan Qiuzhi were in the same industry; they could easily find topics to chat about. Pei Yunmeng had previously met Zheng Jinyao, and they had dined together, so they were also familiar.
Bo Ying realized everyone had something to talk about, leaving her feeling quite alone.
Standing still for three seconds, she decided to continue playing with little Chi Xiaolü.
While playing, someone sat down on the side of the sofa.
Bo Ying turned her head, meeting He Jingxiu’s eyes.
“Why did you come over?” She glanced towards Bo Yan and the others; Pei Yan was playing cards with them. “Aren’t you playing cards?”
He Jingxiu hummed affirmatively, “No.”
Bo Ying “Oh”-ed, not knowing what to say to him, and chatted casually. “After lunch, I played mahjong with them for a while.”
He Jingxiu raised an eyebrow.
Bo Ying sighed in frustration. “But I lost a lot.”
He Jingxiu stared at her for a moment, softly laughing. “Not a single win?”
“Mm.” Bo Ying puzzled, “I know how to play, but I haven’t won once.”
Not just today.
He Jingxiu lowered his eyes to look at her, his brows relaxed. “Then next time, I’ll teach you.”
“If you teach me, will I win?” Bo Ying asked soulfully.
He Jingxiu hesitated briefly, then said after a pause, “Next time, I’ll take you to play mahjong with Luo Xiao and the others, we should win.”
Bo Ying choked.
This meant... Luo Xiao’s mahjong skills were even worse than hers.
Bo Ying thought carefully, her broken heart didn’t mend but instead felt even more hurt.
The two sat at the corner of the sofa chatting, unknowingly it was already evening.
The sun set, and the orange-red color dyed the sky, like the flushed cheeks of a tipsy maiden, shy and beautiful.
The light covered them, making it hard to break this beautiful scene.
Of course, there were those who dared to.
Bo Yan was dragged by Pei Yan to play a few rounds of cards. When he looked up, he saw He Jingxiu sitting closer and closer to Bo Ying. He half-closed his eyes, staring at He Jingxiu for a while.
Fortunately, he didn’t make any excessive moves.
Just as Bo Yan thought he was tactful, his hand landed on Bo Ying’s cheek, brushing her hair.
“Bo Ying.”
Bo Yan couldn’t bear it anymore and spoke up, dispersing the intimacy surrounding them.
Bo Ying stiffened, slowly turning her head to look at him. “Brother.”
Bo Yan warned, glancing at He Jingxiu, and walked up to her. “What kind of hot pot base do you want for dinner?”
Bo Ying paused, glanced at He Jingxiu, then looked at the others for a moment, hesitantly saying, “Let’s get one clear broth and one spicy pot. We have many people.”
Bo Yan agreed, “Doctor Fu and the others are arriving. You and Chi Lü go down to pick them up?”
“Alright.” Bo Ying didn’t dare to defy his order. “Then let’s go now.”
Bo Yan nodded, glancing at He Jingxiu. “Prepare dinner.”
Pei Yan laughed. “Sure, let me try Bo’s cooking skills.”
Bo Yan snorted coldly. “President Pei, learn to be self-sufficient.”
Pei Yan: “...”
He Jingxiu caught the meaning behind his words and volunteered, “President Bo, is there anything I need to handle?”
Bo Yan chuckled twice, sneering at him. “A lot. President He, take your time learning.”
Upon hearing this, He Jingxiu didn’t get angry and readily agreed. “Alright.”
“...”
When Bo Ying and Chi Lü brought Doctor Fu and the others upstairs, the kitchen and living room were in harmony.
Cleaning up, cooking, everything was harmonious.
Xiang Yueming hadn’t met He Jingxiu, whispering beside her, “Yingying, which one of them is your boss?”
Before Bo Ying could answer, Cheng Zhan snorted. “The ugliest one.”
Xiang Yueming glanced at him. “Do you know how to talk?”
Cheng Zhan pulled her to sit aside. “Don’t be curious for now. Rest a bit after filming all day.”
Xiang Yueming raised her eyebrows but didn’t refuse.
She sat down nearby and commanded, “I want watermelon juice.”
Cheng Zhan: “I’ll let Jiang Chen handle it.”
Jiang Chen, who happened to walk out of the kitchen, froze, scoffing. “Cheng Zhan, can’t you handle it yourself?”
Before Cheng Zhan could respond, Fu Yanzhi asked Ji Qingying, “Do you want watermelon juice?”
Ji Qingying and he exchanged a glance, tacitly agreeing. “Yes.”
Fu Yanzhi nodded, looking at Jiang Chen. “Two cups.”
Shen Muqing happened to come out of the bathroom, raising her hand upon hearing this. “I want more too.”
Jiang Chen: “... ... ...”
Being together with friends, even simple meals and chats were joyful.
Throughout the day, Bo Ying didn’t know how many times she was made to laugh.
She realized that as long as she was with these people, all worries would be left behind, especially since she wasn’t the type to have many troubles in the first place.
After eating hot pot and barbecue, the group continued their card games.
Thankfully, everyone had the next day off, so playing late wasn’t a problem.
It wasn’t until past eleven that everyone gradually left.
Bo Yan and Chi Lü were the last to leave. Before leaving, Bo Yan unusually nagged a few extra reminders.
“Lock the doors and windows before sleeping.” He looked at Bo Ying, implying, “Don’t let anyone in who knocks.”
Bo Ying blinked, pretending not to understand.
Bo Yan mentioned a few other things, returning to the main point. He glanced at He Jingxiu, reluctantly saying, “We live a bit far. In case of any emergencies where President He can promptly arrive to help, please take care of her.”
He Jingxiu solemnly responded, “Rest assured.”
Regardless of other matters, even if Bo Yan hadn’t instructed him, he would have done this anyway.
Chi Lü, seeing his frustrated expression, couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, President He, please take good care of Yingying. This is her first time living alone outside, so help her if there’s anything.”
He Jingxiu nodded. “I will.”
After giving a few instructions, Bo Yan and Chi Lü were about to enter the elevator when he suddenly stopped. “President He, may I have a word?”
Bo Ying: “...”
He Jingxiu: “Sure.”
Moments later, Bo Yan and the others left.
Bo Ying stared straight at He Jingxiu, extremely curious. “What did my brother say to you?”
How come his expression improved quite a bit?
He Jingxiu lowered his eyes. “Want to know?”
“Yes.” Bo Ying was candid. “Will you tell me?”
He Jingxiu curved his lips, teasing her. “No.”
Bo Ying: “...”
She struggled, feigning anger, glaring at him. “Alright then.” She raised her hand, gesturing. “President He, it’s late. You should go home and rest.”
He Jingxiu was amused by her.
His features relaxed, and he was in a good mood. “Should I bring He Pom Pom over to keep you company?”
Since Bo Ying was living alone in such a big house for the first time, he worried she wouldn’t adapt and would feel uneasy.
Bo Ying thought for a moment. “Is it convenient?”
He Jingxiu looked at her. “Convenient.”
For Bo Ying, he never mentioned inconvenience.
Hearing this, Bo Ying felt a bit happy.
“Alright, shall we go get him now?”
He Jingxiu nodded. “Mm. I’ll go. You wait at home.”
Bo Ying didn’t insist on going along obediently agreed.
They didn’t live in the same building but were right next door, very close.
After He Jingxiu left, Bo Ying began organizing her things. After tidying up the miscellaneous items, there were still many gifts and some personal belongings she hadn’t unpacked yet.
The house was empty and particularly spacious.
Bo Ying casually started a movie, sitting on the carpet, watching and organizing.
The gifts from Yan Qiuzhi and the others were mostly things she liked and wanted. Women always understood women better than men.
After unpacking the gifts, Bo Ying excitedly took a group photo of them.
After finishing, she started organizing the things brought over from Chi Lü’s place. While tidying up, He Jingxiu arrived with He Pom Pom.
“Need help tidying up?”
He Jingxiu looked around and asked himself, “Where should we put them?”
Bo Ying tilted her head, not refusing his help, and gestured. “Put these in that wall cabinet. They look nice.”
He Jingxiu followed her instructions.
The two tidied up nearby. It was He Pom Pom’s first time here, and he wasn’t comfortable with this new territory, sniffing around to get familiar with the place.
Without noticing, He Pom Pom knocked over something Bo Ying had placed on the side.
Realizing his mistake, He Pom Pom obediently walked to the wall and lay down.
Bo Ying giggled, chatting with him. “I’m not blaming you.”
Things scattered on the ground, some of them postcards.
Bo Ying and He Jingxiu bent down to pick them up. As she picked them up, she suddenly heard He Jingxiu’s voice. “Bo Ying.”
“What?”
He Jingxiu held a letter in his hand. “What’s this?”
On the envelope was He Jingxiu’s name.
Bo Ying paused, stepped closer to take it.
Upon seeing the name on the letter, her long-forgotten memories were suddenly awakened.
Bo Ying gently touched the seal of the envelope, furrowing her brows. “Didn’t I send this letter?”
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