After handing the things in his hands over to Xiao Xu, Zhai Sheng gave Xiao Xu a look, asking Xiao Xu to pay attention to that figure who had been following him. Xiao Xu looked around and noticed that person as well and nodded at Zhai Sheng, telling him that he would handle the matter.
After placing the things in the car, Xiao Xu said to Qiao Nan, “Auntie Qiao, I have some family matters. I don’t think I’ll be able to send you and the chief back. You know that the chief is injured and I worry about the chief going back alone. Can you help me out and accompany the chief back? I’ll take over once I return. How’s that? The military tasked me with taking care of the chief because of their trust in me. I don’t trust anyone else, so you have to help me, Sister Qiao. Otherwise, I won’t be able to account for my superiors and comrades when I return.”
“…” Qiao Nan’s lips twitched when she heard Xiao Xu’s excuse. Even if Zhai Sheng were to return, he would not be alone. Would there not be Xiao Zhao whom they had hired? Whatever she could do, Xiao Zhao could as well. What was there to worry about?
Xiao Xu was alert, and upon seeing Qiao Nan’s dissatisfaction, he quickly cut in. “Sister Qiao, I’ll take it that you’ve agreed to it since you haven’t said anything. Sister Qiao, you’re such a good person. You’re always helping me out when I need help. Sister Qiao, you’re a real-life heroine! I’ll hand the chief over to you!” With that, Xiao Xu quickly shut the door so that he would not need to hear Qiao Nan’s refusal and then handed the keys over to Zhai Sheng.
Zhai Sheng patted Xiao Xu on the shoulder, instructing him to stay safe. He had only seen one person. If this person was a lone wolf, there was nothing to worry about given Xiao Xu’s abilities. What he was afraid of was that this person was only there to gather information and that there would be a bunch of people waiting to pounce on Xiao Xu.
But Zhai Sheng did not think that that was very likely.
Had it not been for Qiao Nan by his side today that he had let his guard down, he would have noticed that person’s presence long ago. That person’s stalking skills were unrefined and unprofessional. Even a private detective’s skills were much better than that person’s, let alone a spy.
While driving, Zhai Sheng did not insist on Qiao Nan sitting beside him in the front passenger seat. Firstly, it was because he had been affected by someone following him. Secondly, he was afraid that he would get distracted with Qiao Nan in such close proximity while he was driving. If Xiao Xu had been the one driving, there would have been no problem for Qiao Nan to sit beside him. “Thank you so much for following me around today. Xiao Zhao should already have prepared dinner. Since you have to help Xiao Zhao take care of me, why don’t you stay for dinner as well?”
“…” Qiao Nan could not believe her ears. How could Zhai Sheng say such shameless words? Zhai Sheng did not even need a wheelchair anymore and could move around just fine. She remembered that the doctor had previously said that it would be no problem for Zhai Sheng to return to the military around April.
That meant that Zhai Sheng was almost fully recovered. Why did he have to put up a pretense and insist on someone accompanying him? Did he not feel embarrassed because of Xiao Xu’s words? Shouldn’t Zhai Sheng apologize to her and ask her to hurry home after reaching the Zhai family’s residence?
“All right, that’s that then.” Qiao Nan’s wide-eyed expression tickled Zhai Sheng. He had never felt this way while he was younger and in his twenties. This was new, but he did not dislike it.
“…” Qiao Nan was once again at a loss for words. A deal? Who had made a deal with him? Had she?
“Brother Zhai, look at the time. It’s already seven…” She did not have the habit of returning home late. If she was to have dinner at the Zhai family’s house and have a cup of tea afterward, she might not even reach home by eight-thirty. Besides, there was no bus service to her house at that time of night. Hailing a taxi would mean that she would only reach home at nine. By the time she washed up and got ready for bed, it would be ten.
“Yes, it’s already seven. I’d never shopped before. I think it’s actually quite fun. I didn’t expect to spend so long shopping. You must be hungry. Don’t worry. My driving skills are better than Xiao Xu’s. Give me another ten minutes. We’ll be home and there will be food very soon.” Yes, as long as he had the right person by his side, something as mundane as shopping was acceptable to him.
Qiao Nan was taken aback. “Please don’t. Take your time. Safety is of utmost importance.”
It was already seven, and the street lamps had already been switched on. It was dangerous to speed up at this time. Qiao Nan had sat in Zhai Sheng’s car more than once, but most of the time, Zhai Sheng had no interest in showing off his skills and always prioritized safety.
“Fine, I’ll listen to you.”
“…”
It seemed as though Sister Zhao had already known that Qiao Nan would turn up and had thus prepared several of Qiao Nan’s favorite dishes specially for her. The moment she saw those dishes, Qiao Nan felt as though Zhai Sheng had planned this ahead of time.
Qiao Nan looked at Zhai Sheng with a complicated gaze. Given what had happened today, Qiao Nan could not help but ‘flatter herself’ no matter how ‘self-conscious’ she was. Qiao Nan knew exactly how Zhai Sheng was as a person and how his temper was. If Zhai Sheng did not have feelings for her, he would never get so close to her.
In her dream, apart from the women in the Zhai family, Zhai Sheng would only be this affectionate to her and San Bao. She believed that Zhai Sheng’s temper would be similar in real life. So, that could only mean that Zhai Sheng’s behavior and attitude toward her was not her own narcissism or her overthinking the situation.
Ever since she woke up from her dream, Qiao Nan had never dreamed of having a blissful life or a perfect husband like Zhai Sheng in reality. She dared not tie reality to her dream or regard Zhai Sheng as her partner.
If she had not been so engrossed in finding that happiness in her dream, she would never have escaped to Qingshui Town and settled down there in her humble pursuit of happiness and so as to escape the Qiao family. But at times, such was life. She had never even considered it, but because she had rented Xiao Xu’s apartment, she had gotten the chance to enter the Zhai family’s old villa and had even gotten to know Zhai Sheng so well.
