“When are you returning to Rao City?” Nie Mi was a little tired after a busy day. His expression was slightly fatigued, but his eyes were bright and shrewd. It was evident that he was happy in his heart today.
Qiao Nian was sitting next to him, swirling a glass in her hand. It wasn’t wine but Coke. The bubbles of Coke rose up, looking like red wine at first glance.
She took a sip, but the bubbles going down her throat made her uncomfortable. She put down the cup and said slowly, “Tomorrow.”
Qiao Nian remembered that Gu San hadn’t replied or sent a message to her in the past two days. She had been feeling uneasy during her stay in Beijing, but she couldn’t say what she was worried about. She simply felt a little thrown off every time she remembered how Gu San had not contacted her. It was hard to calm down.
“Tomorrow morning.” She thought for a moment and then gave a more accurate time.
Qin Si said next to her, “So fast?”
Zhang Yang also smiled and said, “Miss Qiao, if you don’t have anything on, don’t be so anxious to go back. Spend two more days in Beijing. Young Master Qin and I also mentioned we’d take you to the nearby attractions. You haven’t been to the Great Wall. Well, the scenery there is good. Since you’re already here, you really should go sightseeing. There’s also Nan Luo Gu Xiang, it’s not bad over there. The scenery is different from that of the Great Wall and has streets full of food. There are delicacies from all over the country, you’ll surely find something you like.”
“Yeah, since you’re already here, it would be a shame not to have a look around.” Qin Si agreed, then slid his hand into his pocket. He added, “Zhang Yang is right. Since you’re here now, why hurry to go back?”
Nie Mi looked at her expectantly.
Qiao Nian met three pairs of eyes at once, and it gave her a little headache. She shook her head and insisted, “I will leave tomorrow morning. We’ll see next time.”
Nie Mi was disappointed. Knowing that she wouldn’t change her schedule, he asked, “What about tonight, do you have any plans?”
Qin Si just remembered that this was still a possibility.
Before he could speak, he saw the girl picking up the phone on the table, standing up, and saying to Nie Mi in a deep and strong voice, “I have something on tonight. I’ll be meeting someone.”
The last time she came to Beijing, she had left in a hurry and had not gotten to see Old Master Jiang. This time, she really had to see him.
Hence, she would stop by the nursing home later.
By the time she returned from the nursing home, it would be too late. Since she decided to leave the next morning, she didn’t want to stay up late.
Nie Mi looked up at her delicate and calm face and said helplessly, “You… asking you out for a meal is harder than getting to the moon. Sigh!”
Actually, he was also a rare date himself and others hardly got to meet him. Yet, when it came to her, he was the one who didn’t get to make an appointment with her.
Qiao Nian raised her brow and lowered her cap. “Next time.”
“Alright. Since you have something to do tonight, I won’t keep you here any more. Go and do what you have to.” Nie Mi waved his hand and told her to go quickly.
Qiao Nian smiled, picked up her belongings, and, without delay, said goodbye to Qin Si and the others. She then turned around and left casually.
…
The following day.
Early in the morning, Qiao Nian checked out of the hotel and went to the airport. The ticket exchange and security check were done in one go, and she boarded the plane in half an hour.
The plane soared into the sky.
It arrived at Rao City airport in three hours.
She didn’t sleep on the plane. When she got off the plane, she went to the vending machine to buy a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap and took a sip, and then turned on her cell phone.
She scrolled around.
There was still no news from Gu San and that someone.
She clicked on the chat with Ye Wangchuan. It was still left off at the message he had sent about Qin Si’s cell phone number.
