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Chi Zhiyu now felt fortunate they left early, otherwise if Wu Xuan had heard his “referencing” remark, she might not have been able to hold back.
Chi Zhiyu looked at him and said good-naturedly, “Xie Ye.”
Xie Ye: “Speak.”
Chi Zhiyu weighed her words, then subtly said, “You should talk less in the future.”
“...” Xie Ye raised an eyebrow. “Was what I said wrong just now?”
Chi Zhiyu choked. “It wasn’t wrong, but you’re too arrogant.”
Xie Ye slowly asked, “Where?”
Chi Zhiyu looked at him. “Everywhere. Sometimes I want to hit you.”
“Is that so?” Xie Ye casually glanced at her, his tone unchanging, yet his words were, “You want to hit me? Then I wouldn’t dare speak next time.”
“...”
I think you’d dare very much.
________________________________________
The two didn’t go home, but instead went to the supermarket at the mall outside their complex first.
Chi Zhiyu wanted to buy some fruits and vegetables. She took the escalator to the second floor, and Xie Ye casually pushed a shopping cart from nearby and walked to her side.
Chi Zhiyu entered the supermarket, expertly walked to the fresh fruit section, saw yogurt in the display freezer nearby, went to pick a box, and placed it in the cart.
Xie Ye glanced at it and frowned, “Put it back.”
Chi Zhiyu explained, “We don’t have any at home. I’m just buying it now, I won’t eat it yet.”
Xie Ye tutted, but said nothing, following her as she continued forward. He glanced over, then reached out and took a few boxes of grapes that she often ate.
Chi Zhiyu didn’t pay attention to him. Seeing items ahead, she turned to Xie Ye and instructed, “You go get a watermelon. I’ll wait for you here.”
Xie Ye hummed, pushing the cart and preparing to turn around to go back.
Chi Zhiyu quickly stopped him. “Give me the cart first. It’ll be hard for you to push.”
Hearing this, Xie Ye didn’t move, just glanced at her. “What are you trying to do?”
Chi Zhiyu blinked, “I’m telling you to get a watermelon.”
Xie Ye stared at her for a few seconds, then glanced towards the freezer behind her, and curled his lips, “Chi Zhiyu, can’t you play some more advanced tricks?”
“...”
Seeing that he had discovered the tub of ice cream behind her, Chi Zhiyu negotiated with him, holding up one finger, “I’ll just have one bite, just one bite!”
Xie Ye directly turned the cart around and started walking away.
Seeing this, Chi Zhiyu quickly turned and walked backward, reaching out to grab a box of blueberry flavor. But Xie Ye, she didn’t know when, had come back again. He directly grabbed her hand, his warning clear, “You dare take it, just try.”
Chi Zhiyu looked at him and quietly reached out and took it down.
“...”
Xie Ye stared at her unwavering action, so angry that his temples throbbed.
After taking the ice cream and putting it in the cart, Chi Zhiyu looked at him and explained very sincerely, “I’ll be fine in two more days, and I really will only eat one bite.”
She raised her hand to promise, “I won’t lie to you, if I lie, I’m a puppy.”
Xie Ye scoffed, “Why don’t you just make it a full zodiac?”
Seeing his expression was cold but he wasn’t really angry, Chi Zhiyu suppressed a smile, reached out and linked her arm through his, leaning in to kiss his face, “No, I’m just going to say dog.”
Xie Ye saw that she had been a bit too unrestrained lately. He pinched her fingertips, his tone stiff, “Still thinking about a next time?”
“I want to eat it,” Chi Zhiyu hooked his finger. “And just one bite won’t hurt.”
Xie Ye asked coldly, “What do you mean ‘won’t hurt’?”
Chi Zhiyu decided to sweet-talk him, coaxing, “I’ll be in trouble, but won’t you be there for me?”
“Oh,” Xie Ye curled his lips, “Keep making things up.”
“...”
Although Xie Ye verbally scolded her, Chi Zhiyu ultimately won the ice cream.
After casually Browse and selecting their items, they went to check out. Chi Zhiyu waited in line with Xie Ye. She idly played on her phone. When she looked up, she suddenly noticed the gaze of a few young girls in the adjacent line.
Perhaps not expecting her to suddenly look up, the young girls immediately averted their gaze.
Seeing this, Chi Zhiyu raised an eyebrow and then turned to look at Xie Ye beside her.
He was taller than in high school, probably already 187cm, easily visible in a crowd.
Having shed the arrogance of his youth, his eyelids were now lowered as he played on his phone, his lips flat, his expression as indifferent and cool as ever, exuding an air of noble aloofness that kept people at a distance.
Indeed, very attractive.
Chi Zhiyu watched for a few seconds, suddenly remembering Wu Xuan asking her who was better looking, Xie Ye or Jiang Jinxu.
She curved the corner of her lips. This person didn’t even need her to evaluate him.
The gaze of the young girls said it all.
Xie Ye turned and saw the curve of her lips. “What are you smiling about?”
Chi Zhiyu explained Wu Xuan’s old question.
“Hm?” Xie Ye saw the line move forward, pushed the cart, and asked lazily, “Jiang Jinxu, who?”
“...” Chi Zhiyu glared at him. “Don’t pretend with me.”
“Oh,” Xie Ye seemed to just remember, and casually said, “So who did you choose?”
Chi Zhiyu imitated him, telling him to guess, “What do you think?”
Just as she finished speaking, it was their turn to check out.
Xie Ye moved the items from the cart. Chi Zhiyu pushed the empty cart aside first, then waited for him to pay. They carried the bags together towards the parking garage.
Chi Zhiyu got into the passenger seat. Xie Ye leaned in to help her buckle her seatbelt, but didn’t pull back. He remained leaning over, looking at her, “You still need me to think about that?”
Chi Zhiyu was stunned for a moment. Realizing he was answering her previous question, she smiled and asked, “Then tell me, who did I choose?”
Xie Ye’s tone was languid and meaningful, “Besides your partner, could there be any other option?”
Chi Zhiyu blinked, “Not necessarily, maybe I chose Jiang Jinxu?”
Xie Ye stared at her, hinting, “Am I worse than him?”
Chi Zhiyu curved her lips, “Oh, he might—”
Before she could finish, Xie Ye grabbed her face and tilted it up, then lowered his head and covered her lips, biting her lip, his tongue pushing open her teeth, sweeping every corner.
He swallowed her words, as if not wanting her to mention anyone else.
Being kissed by him, Chi Zhiyu understood his pettiness and inexplicably laughed out loud. She leaned forward and kissed him back, hooking his tongue.
Xie Ye stopped, biting the corner of her lip forcefully, “Still daring to tease me.”
“You clearly know I chose you,” Chi Zhiyu couldn’t stop laughing. “Why did you deliberately let me tease you?”
Xie Ye rubbed the moisture from her lips, “Who knew you were so heartless.”
“How am I heartless?” Chi Zhiyu blinked, “Didn’t I choose you?”
Xie Ye pinched her face, his tone still arrogant and teasing, “Does that even need to be said?”
Chi Zhiyu was amused and pushed him back into the driver’s seat, urging him to go home.
Xie Ye buckled his seatbelt, started the car, and drove out of the garage, casually asking, “Are you free next Wednesday?”
“Hm?” Chi Zhiyu blinked, “What’s up?”
Xie Ye casually asked, “Want to go back to the Xie family home together?”
Chi Zhiyu hadn’t expected this plan. “Is it an evening visit? I have a solo dance performance in the morning.”
Xie Ye’s tone was casual, “Then we’ll go another day.”
Chi Zhiyu shook her head, “It doesn’t conflict. I can go.”
Xie Ye looked at her, “You won’t be tired?”
Chi Zhiyu smiled, “It’s just a stage performance, a few minutes long. It’ll be over quickly. Then in the afternoon, we can go buy some gifts on the way.”
Xie Ye raised an eyebrow, “Still need to buy gifts?”
Chi Zhiyu blinked, “We should be polite. Won’t we be seeing your grandparents then?”
Hearing this, Xie Ye curled his lips, “Alright, I’ll go shopping with you.”
On Wednesday morning, Xie Ye first dropped Chi Zhiyu off at the theater, then returned to the company to handle some matters. Calculating the time, he drove to the theater’s auditorium, entered with his ticket, and sat in the last row.
Chi Zhiyu’s performance was third.
Xie Ye casually watched the performers on stage take their bows and exit. After waiting a short while, the curtain rose again, revealing Chi Zhiyu in the center.
Her dance began slowly with the music. The spotlight shone on her, like the doll in the center of a crystal ball.
Dancing gracefully, showcasing her charm.
The dance wasn’t long, three and a half minutes. Chi Zhiyu stood still, took a natural bow, and exited the stage.
Chi Zhiyu came off stage, went backstage to remove her makeup and change. Just as she was about to message Xie Ye, he sent her a message first.
Xie Ye: [Here. In the parking garage.]
Chi Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, picked up her bag, and walked out. In the hallway, she ran into other colleagues. She simply greeted them a few times, “My boyfriend is waiting for me outside. I have to go now.”
“Your boyfriend’s here? I was just wondering why I saw your boyfriend in the audience earlier.”
Chi Zhiyu was stunned when she heard that. “Was he in the audience just now?”
“He wasn’t?” the colleague said, “The person sitting in the last row looked a bit like him. I’ve seen him several times before, but maybe I was mistaken, after all, it was so dark in the audience. Hurry and find your boyfriend, don’t keep him waiting.”
Chi Zhiyu collected herself, nodded slightly, bid her farewell, and walked towards the parking garage.
After finding Xie Ye’s car, Chi Zhiyu opened the passenger door and got in. She turned to him and asked, “Did you come to see my performance just now?”
Xie Ye naturally hummed in affirmation, helping her buckle her seatbelt.
Chi Zhiyu blinked, “Did you come to see it before too?”
Xie Ye raised an eyebrow and casually asked, “How long ago is ‘before’?”
This meant he had come to see it, more than once.
Chi Zhiyu was a little confused, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What?” Xie Ye chuckled. “Do I need to report to you before I can watch?”
“No,” Chi Zhiyu had an unexplainable feeling. After thinking of something, she pursed her lips and softly asked, “Did you come to watch when you were still playing e-sports?”
“Yes,” Xie Ye didn’t hide it. “I’d come occasionally, not every time.”
Chi Zhiyu’s fingertips curled slightly. She stared at him and slowly asked, “You were so busy... why did you still come to watch my performances...?”
Xie Ye said lightly, “I just wanted to see.”
To see your brilliance on stage.
To see how hard and strong you were in the time I couldn’t be a part of, couldn’t be with you.
To achieve your current dazzling glow.
Chi Zhiyu’s nose stung, and her voice became hoarse, “Why didn’t you tell me? I could have come to find you.”
Xie Ye curled his lips, as if it were nothing. “My coming to find you isn’t the same?”
“It’s not the same...” Chi Zhiyu lowered her head, watching tears fall and hit the back of her hand, saying with a choked voice, “If I had known you were coming...”
I would have come to your side.
To give you comfort and encouragement, and I would never, absolutely never let you leave burdened with fatigue and loneliness.
Yet, she knew nothing.
He had actually accompanied her silently, accompanying her through every performance.
Accompanying her, then silently, leaving alone.
“What if you knew I was coming?” Xie Ye lifted her face and wiped away her tears. “Don’t cry. I left right after every performance. If you came to see me, how would I leave? You don’t want me to train, do you?”
Chi Zhiyu choked, “Then you don’t have to watch me alone either.”
“Can you be reasonable?” Xie Ye seemed amused, wiping the corner of her eye. “I just wanted to see you alone. How can you force me to do otherwise?”
“And how many days ago was this?” Xie Ye wiped her tears. “You know now anyway. I didn’t lie to you. What’s there to cry about?”
Chi Zhiyu pursed her lips, looked up at him, and said with a sniffle, “Then from now on, whenever you come to watch me, you have to tell me.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you,” Xie Ye pulled out a tissue and wiped her face, saying unhurriedly, “Not even married yet and you’re already controlling me so strictly.”
“...” Chi Zhiyu spoke with a nasal voice, “I will control you. I’ll control you until we’re old.”
Hearing her bold declaration, Xie Ye chuckled a few times, “Alright, you can control me.”
Then, he changed the subject and said, “Stop crying. Do you want to go home with me tonight looking like a little crybaby?”
Reminded by him, Chi Zhiyu remembered the matter. She sniffled and composed herself, “Still need to buy gifts. Let’s go quickly.”
Xie Ye saw that she wasn’t sad anymore, but looking at her red eyes and nose, he found it amusing and lowered his head to kiss her, “Your eyes are so red, anyone would think I did something to you.”
Chi Zhiyu was originally feeling quite heavy-hearted, but hearing this, she suddenly noticed the issue and began to worry about her makeup.
She couldn’t go to the Xie family looking like this.
The car drove to the mall. After they bought some gifts, Chi Zhiyu also made a quick trip to the restroom to touch up her makeup, restoring her usual cool and composed appearance.
On the way to the Xie family home, Chi Zhiyu gradually started to feel a bit nervous.
It was nothing, just a meal.
Chi Zhiyu comforted herself internally, until Xie Ye parked the car. She looked at the large compound gate ahead and pursed her lips.
Xie Ye led her out of the car, seeing her demeanor, and curled his lips, taking her hand and comforting her, “My mom is here today too. With me and her covering for you, what are you afraid of?”
Chi Zhiyu shook her head, “You don’t understand.”
“...”
Xie Ye led her inside. They passed through the front hall corridor to reach the living room.
As soon as she entered the house, Chi Zhiyu first saw Jian Yazhi, and she silently sighed in relief. Then she saw the Xie family’s grandmother and grandfather on the sofa.
The grandmother, seeing the two enter, didn’t even look at Xie Ye, but smiled at Chi Zhiyu first, “Are you Little Chi?”
Chi Zhiyu quickly nodded, “Yes, hello Grandpa and Grandma.”
“Good, good,” the grandmother beckoned to her, “Come, come, don’t stand. Come sit with us.”
Chi Zhiyu brought the gifts forward and first bowed her head, “These are some small gifts I prepared for our first meeting. I hope Grandpa and Grandma like them.”
“Oh, you didn’t need to bring anything,” the grandmother said softly as she accepted them, “Just your presence is enough. We’re old people, we don’t need these things. Come and sit for a while.”
The grandfather also spoke to her, his tone noticeably softer, “Sit down, have some tea.”
Chi Zhiyu thanked them. Jian Yazhi, who was nearby, beckoned to her, inviting her to sit beside her.
Xie Ye, who had been ignored, wasn’t idle either. He walked directly to Chi Zhiyu’s side, intending to sit down, when the grandfather sternly spoke, “Not even a greeting, and you’re sitting?”
Xie Ye acted as if he hadn’t heard, and just sat down.
“...”
Chi Zhiyu blinked. The grandmother first took her hand and said softly with a smile, “Come, let’s go to the back to talk. We’ll ignore these two with their bad tempers.”
Chi Zhiyu heard the affectionate address and found it amusing. She naturally didn’t refuse and nodded, “Okay.”
As she spoke, she stood up and glanced at Xie Ye beside her, wanting to signal him to behave and speak properly. Xie Ye, sensing her gaze, returned it calmly, subtly raising an eyebrow.
His attitude was utterly arrogant and lazy.
“...”
Chi Zhiyu averted her gaze and turned to follow the grandmother and Jian Yazhi.
She didn’t know what the grandfather would say to Xie Ye, but Chi Zhiyu wasn’t worried about Xie Ye at all.
Because he really couldn’t be taken advantage of, she was rather a little worried about the grandfather instead.
Afraid that Xie Ye would infuriate him.
Chi Zhiyu herself chatted quite harmoniously with the grandmother. Perhaps because Jian Yazhi was there, she wasn’t as nervous and could even make the grandmother laugh occasionally.
Then, after not long, dinner was served.
Xie Ye came back and led her to the dining room. He held her hand and asked, “What did you talk about with Grandma?”
Chi Zhiyu smiled, “We talked about your past.”
“Oh,” Xie Ye was indifferent to them talking about him. He turned his head to ask for her opinion, “Do you want to stay here tonight?”
Chi Zhiyu was still thinking. Xie Ye seemed to fear she was nervous and added, “If you don’t want to stay, then don’t. No one’s forcing you.”
“No,” Chi Zhiyu said with a smile, “I was thinking, what if I didn’t bring a change of clothes?”
“Then we’ll go back,” Xie Ye squeezed her fingertips. “We’ll eat dinner, sit for a while, then go back.”
Chi Zhiyu frowned, “Then let’s stay for one night. Grandpa and Grandma probably really want you to stay here.”
Hearing this, Xie Ye caught the key point, “What do you mean ‘I stay here’?”
Chi Zhiyu blinked, “It means you stay here.”
Xie Ye glanced at her, “What about you?”
Chi Zhiyu blinked, and slowly gave a reply, “I go home.”
“...”
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