Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yin Shixiong almost vomited blood from Huo Shaoheng’s scathing response. I’m very old? Very old? Very old?! We’re the same age, Chief! Yin Shixiong only dared to mutter this internally. Shrinking his head back, he sat in the driver’s seat. He was so bored that he nearly pressed on the car’s horn for fun.
Huo Shaoheng also didn’t say he was getting in the car as he leaned against the front bumper alone and smoked quietly. The dark yellow glow of the night’s street lamps cast a shadow on the ground. His handsome back and extremely attractive long legs somehow revealed a deep loneliness on this late October evening in the Imperial Capital.
Yin Shixiong didn’t want to bother Huo Shaoheng at all, nor did he dare to urge him to get back into the car. After a while, Yin Shixiong had a sudden inspiration and discreetly called Ma Qiqi. Ma Qiqi had just finished chatting with Gu Nianzhi and went back to her room to get ready for bed. When she heard the phone ring, and it was Brother Xiong’s special ringtone, she was so excited that she lunged over to grab the phone. “Brother Xiong?”
“Qiqi, it’s me.” Yin Shixiong’s mood brightened as soon as he heard Ma Qiqi’s crisp and refreshing voice. He snuck a glance at Huo Shaoheng smoking at the side of the car and lowered his voice to ask Ma Qiqi, “Qiqi, is Nianzhi back?”
“She’s back. I was just chatting with her, and she went to shower. I’m getting ready for bed,” Ma Qiqi replied as she pulled the blanket back to get into bed. The nights in the Imperial Capital were already very cold at this point, and because it wasn’t yet time for the buildings to start being heated, the soft and thick down blanket was an essential item.
“Then was Nianzhi unhappy or upset? Did she complain to you about anything?” Yin Shixiong skillfully lured Ma Qiqi into revealing more details. He had no choice, since his Chief’s love life had hit a bump. As one of his personal secretaries, he had to shoulder the important responsibility of being the mitigator.
Ma Qiqi shook her head and asked in confusion, “Nope, why do you ask? Nianzhi was in a good mood and even made plans with me to go with her to buy a house and transfer titles tomorrow.” She then giggled with envy. “Nianzhi sure is amazing. She’s already working hard and earning enough to buy a house. I’m still mooching off my parents.”
“Qiqi, it’s your good fortune to be able to rely on your parents. Look at poor Nianzhi. She can’t mooch off her parents, so she can only mooch off the Chief…” Yin Shixiong smirked playfully as he joked around with Ma Qiqi.
Ma Qiqi didn’t appreciate him saying that and raised a brow as she rebutted, “Nianzhi is not mooching off Huo Shao. Nianzhi is relying on herself, and this was all the money she earned working as a lawyer. Don’t look down on her.”
“I don’t dare! Little princess Nianzhi has always been our precious treasure since she was a young girl!” Yin Shixiong’s heart dropped because he knew he had misspoken and quickly tried to salvage it. “I was only saying that and making a joke. You also know they’re dating, so isn’t it normal to mooch off each other?”
Ma Qiqi was silent for a while and said coolly, “I don’t think you’d be that kind of person, Brother Xiong!”
Yin Shixiong was speechless. Goddamnit! His reputation had been destroyed because of Chief! How could he flirt with girls and date from now on?! Yin Shixiong quickly chuckled to dispel the awkwardness then said quietly, “Qiqi, I was only joking! I was only joking!”
“Yeah, I know.” Ma Qiqi slid down into the blankets and whispered back, “Actually, Nianzhi already broke up with Huo Shao.”
Yin Shixiong was dumbfounded. How did everyone know already!? The Chief was the only one not admitting it. Yin Shixiong perked up and asked, “Nianzhi told you? That they broke up?”
“Yeah, she told me herself and said it many times, too.”
“Isn’t talking about it once enough? What do you mean she said it many times?” Yin Shixiong suddenly felt a bit indignant for his Chief. This was a man who had never bowed down or taken a loss, yet look at what had he turned into for Gu Nianzhi’s sake!
Ma Qiqi quickly explained, “No, it was my fault. I kept doubting if they really broke up, so Nianzhi kept correcting me over and over again. I’m never going to ask again. A breakup is a sad thing, so why should I keep mentioning it?”
Yin Shixiong continued to lead the questioning. “But didn’t you say Nianzhi wasn’t upset? And now you’re saying it’s a sad thing?”
“Of course it’s a sad thing! You think breaking up and having a broken heart isn’t a sad thing for a girl?! I’m telling you that as long as the breakup wasn’t caused by the girl cheating, it’s always the girl who is more sad! Even if the girl was the one to ask for a breakup, she’s still the to the one who is more sad!” Ma Qiqi nearly sat up and clenched her teeth at the phone.
Yin Shixiong was using his Bluetooth headset to speak with Ma Qiqi, and her unexpected, suddenly deafening voice hurt his eardrums. Rubbing his ears, he whispered, “I get it. Little princes, you’re a little princess, too. No wonder you’re good friends with Nianzhi, birds of a feather flock together.”
“What do you mean? We’re good friends sharing the same outlooks.” Ma Qiqi poked fun of Yin Shixiong. “You’re jealous?”
“Yes, I’m jealous, so jealous I’m about to spit blood.” Yin Shixiong leaned back into the seat with a smile and glanced in the direction of Gu Nianzhi’s dorm to see her room’s light had just extinguished. She should be sleeping now? Huo Shaoheng saw it, too, and threw away the nearly burned out cigarette butt before getting into the car. Yin Shixiong quickly said to Ma Qiqi, “Ok, talk later. You sleep, I’m going to go.”
“Bye, Brother Xiong.” Ma Qiqi didn’t ask anything else but fell asleep after she bid him goodnight.
Huo Shaoheng got in the car and glanced at Yin Shixiong. “Who were you calling?”
“Ma Qiqi, Nianzhi’s roommate.” Yin Shixiong started the car. “She said Nianzhi was in a good mood and even made plans with her to buy a house and transfer titles tomorrow.”
Huo Shaoheng didn’t speak but supported his chin with one hand and rested his arm against the car window as he gazed blankly at the night sky. Yin Shixiong spied him from the rearview mirror and asked, “Chief, why is Nianzhi buying a house? Did you know about this?”
“Yes. Tomorrow I’m going with her to transfer titles.” Huo Shaoheng replied coolly and glanced at Yin Shixiong. “Drive properly and don’t get distracted chatting. That’s against traffic laws.” Yin Shixiong knew that Huo Shaoheng meant that he should shut up. He didn’t dare say anything more or even dare bring up the question. It is clearly the Chief’s sore spot, and whoever touches it, dies!
…
Gu Nianzhi still had two classes on Friday. After classes, she rushed to the cafeteria to buy some fried rice and then headed to the real estate bureau in the Hepingli Precinct with Ma Qiqi. When they arrived at the real estate bureau, Gu Nianzhi was shocked to see Huo Shaoheng’s brand new silver Bentley Bentayga SUV parked in front of the temporary parking stall. Huo Shaoheng opened the door to get out when he saw they had arrived and nodded to them. “Nianzhi, Qiqi, you’re both here.”
Gu Niaznhi also greeted him. “I didn’t think you’d really come. I was actually just being polite. You don’t need to be here.”
Huo Shaoheng didn’t know what to say. He glanced at Ma Qiqi and saw the girl staring at them with wide eyes as she looked back and forth at them like she was anticipating a good show. Huo Shaoheng had no choice but to let Big Xiong out. He knocked gently on the door, but it was actually in Morse code.
Yin Shixiong in the car was speechless. He was only obeying the Chief’s “commands” and got out of the car to greet Gu Nianzhi first. “Nianzhi, you’re here to buy a house?” He made it sound like she was at the real estate bureau to buy vegetables or something. Gu Nianzhi glared at him, and Yin Shixiong also thought his forced interaction was a bit awkward. He turned to smile at Ma Qiqi. “Qiqi, remember how I told you last night that I had something to ask you?”
Ma Qiqi stopped looking at Gu Nianzhi and Huo Shaoheng, then frowned. “What?”
“You don’t remember? Come here, I’ll ask you again.” Yin Shixiong walked across the street and beckoned to her.
Ma Qiqi said to Gu Nianzhi, “I’ll be back right away.”
Gu Nianzhi pouted. “Go ahead, it’s fine. Have a proper chat with Brother Xiong.” She patted Ma Qiqi’s shoulder and pointed her chin at Yin Shixiong. Ma Qiqi smiled as she ran over.
Huo Shaoheng walked up and said to Gu Nianzhi, “Let’s go. Did you bring everything?”
Gu Nianzhi patted the Cambridge messenger bag she carried. “It’s all in here.” They walked to the lobby of the real estate bureau where the homeowner and realtor were waiting for them. Realtor Zhao quickly walked up to them when he saw Gu Nianzhi coming inside with a strapping and handsome man. “Miss Gu Nianzhi, you’re here.”
Gu Nianzhi nodded with a smile. “Why wouldn’t I be here? You saw that I already deposited the down payment.”
“We already received it, yes. You said you’re paying full in cash?” Realtor Zhao confirmed again. “This will be much easier, since it would take a long time to apply for a mortgage from the bank.”
Huo Shaoheng stiffened. He glanced at Gu Nianzhi and pulled her aside to ask quietly, “You’re paying full in cash? Where’d you get all that money from?”
