Chapter 162 I've quit smoking for three days

Does this mean we should let her take the initiative herself?

Qiao Xing was so ashamed that her toes curled up. She slowly raised her eyes to look at Qin Ce's face.

His features were exquisitely defined and three-dimensional, with deep, playful eyes.

Qiao Xing stared at him for a long time, and then realized that she almost didn't recognize his face anymore.

She took a deep breath, steeled her resolve, and leaned in.

But the bad man backed away, and Qiao Xing didn't kiss him at the expected distance.

She felt both ashamed and angry, making herself seem like a female hooligan.

Just as she was about to get up and leave, he leaned in and kissed her lips.

The anger that was about to erupt was extinguished by the warm touch.

"Close your eyes."

Qiao Xing quickly closed his eyes tightly; it was the first time for both of them, so they were a little rusty.

The last time doesn't count; Qin Ce's attack that time was a sneak attack...

Just as we were about to have a deeper conversation, a loud door slamming sounded from outside.

Startled, Qiao Xing opened her eyes abruptly, pushed Qin Ce away, and stood up. However, her legs went weak, and she fell to the ground in a disheveled state.

Qin Ce was also stunned for a moment and failed to grab her.

Qiao Xing lay on the ground, wishing she could disappear into a hole.

How embarrassing.

Qin Ce quickly pulled her up, "Are you alright?"

Qiao Xing lowered her head and shook it. "I'll go out and take a look."

After saying that, he quickly fled the study, just in time to see Joey open the door and leave.

"Auntie, what's wrong?"

Joey paused, turned around and glanced at Qiao Xing, saying, "It's alright, Xue Ling ran away. You guys go to sleep, don't worry about us."

After saying that, she opened the door and went out.

Qiao Xing turned to Qin Ce, who had followed her out, and said, "Is Xue Ling alright? Should we go out and look for her too?"

Because of her concern for Xue Ling, Qiao Xing briefly forgot the awkwardness she had just experienced.

"I'll go, don't wander off." Qin Ce said, picking up his coat and walking away.

Qiao Xing opened his mouth, but he had already left.

She naturally couldn't sleep at home, so she could only sit on the sofa and wait.

After waiting for about half an hour, Qin Ce returned, but he came back alone.

"Where are Auntie and the others?" Qiao Xing quickly stood up and asked.

"It's downstairs, don't worry." Qin Ce took off his coat and threw it on the sofa. "Go to sleep early."

As her tension subsided, the awkward scene from earlier resurfaced in her mind. Qiao Xing didn't want to dwell on it and went back to her bedroom to sleep.

The next morning, when Qiao Xing got up, Qiao Yi and Xue Ling had already returned.

No one knows what the two talked about last night, but Xue Ling seemed perfectly normal today, and even greeted Qiao Xing with a smile.

Qiao Xing nodded and said good morning.

"I'll make breakfast. What would you like to eat?"

Joey said, "No need for that, we'll just order takeout."

"ah?"

Ordering takeout every morning? What kind of wealthy family is this...?

Just as Joey was about to speak, the deliveryman called. After answering the call, Joey called Qin Ce.

Tell him to bring breakfast when he comes back.

Joey waved to Qiao Xing, and Qiao Xing quickly went over.

She pulled Qiao Xing's hand and sat down beside her, smiling as she said, "Xingxing, we're staying here, so there's no need to be so polite. Besides, we're not here to trouble you."

"So you don't need to worry about us eating or anything like that, we'll take care of it ourselves."

"But you've come all this way..."

Joey interrupted her, reaching out to rub Qiao Xing's face. "Okay, listen to me, okay?"

Qiao Xing's face was squashed flat, and she was too embarrassed to dodge, so she could only mumble, "Okay then."

Joey laughed at her, "So cute."

A short while later, Qin Ce brought up the breakfast.

As soon as Qiao Xing saw him, she was reminded of the embarrassing incident from last night. She had panicked and acted as if she were having an affair, and even tripped and fell. Just thinking about that scene made breakfast lose its flavor.

Joey said, "Oh right, I made plans with Xingxing's aunt yesterday to go to their house today. Let's go together later."

"It's a good opportunity for me to visit Xingxing's mother."

The two are already married, and the in-laws haven't even met yet; it just doesn't make sense.

Upon hearing that Joey was going to see Wang Qin, Qiao Xing's hand paused slightly.

Qin Ce glanced at her subtly, but said nothing.

After dinner, Joey asked how many people were in their family so she could buy a gift.

Qiao Xing wanted to dissuade him, but Qin Ce grabbed his wrist and spoke first: "Six people."

"Let's go to the mall first."

Joey seemed to have thought of something else, and she said to the two of them, "You two can go and browse around on your own. Xue Ling and I will do the shopping. It's decided then."

Qin Ce nodded in agreement, "Mm."

Upon hearing Qiao Yi's words, Qiao Xing felt a strange tightness in her chest.

She knew the prices at the mall they went to; Joey had deliberately sent her away, afraid she would think the items were too expensive.

Perhaps it was well-intentioned, but in Qiao Xing's view, it was actually creating an invisible distance between him and them.

When dignity needs to be upheld by others, it has already ceased to exist.

Upon arrival, Qiao Yi took Xue Ling to the mall, while Qiao Xing and Qin Ce sat in the car, speechless for a moment.

Qin Ce suddenly grabbed her hand and said, "Don't think too much."

Qiao Xing was slightly taken aback and turned to look at him.

He could always guess what she was thinking.

"I didn't mean to."

"My mom likes you a lot."

“I know…” Qiao Xing looked away and glanced out the window. There was little sun today, and the sky was gloomy.

Seeing her dejected look, Qin Ce opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say. He just held her hand tighter.

He suddenly added, "I've quit smoking for three days now."

Qiao Xing suddenly turned to look at him. Seeing his serious expression, Qiao Xing felt a pang of sadness welling up in her heart, and tears kept welling up in her eyes.

She suddenly smiled and said, "I understand."

He raised his hand, his expression complex, and stroked Qiao Xing's cheek, his fingertips touching the corner of her eye, wiping away the tears that welled up inside.

——

Joey went shopping very quickly, and in less than forty minutes, she came out carrying large and small bags of things.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Joey said with a smile, as if she sensed that the atmosphere in the car was a little strange.

"CeCe, what happened? Did you bully Xingxing while Mommy was gone for half an hour?"

Qiao Xing quickly explained, "No, Auntie. We've been sitting in the car for too long and we're a little sleepy."

"I see." Joey saw through it but didn't say anything. "Then let's go. We won't be sleepy when we get there."

Qin Ce started the car and drove it to the old residential area.

After knocking on the door, Auntie quickly ran over to open it. Auntie had dressed up specially today and was wearing a new dress, but the moment she saw Joey, her dress looked incredibly dowdy.

"Oh, our in-laws are here! Come in quickly, everyone's here."

My aunt warmly invited them inside, and sure enough, everyone was there as soon as they entered.

"My dear in-laws, I've bought you gifts."

Auntie beamed, "You're here already! Why bring gifts? Look at all these bags and packages! Xiao Ye, come over and help us with these!"

Wang Ye stood up and took the things from him.

Lily, who was standing to the side, was a little surprised when she saw the logo on the bag, but considering Qin Ce's identity, it didn't seem strange that he brought these things over.

Joey laughed and said, "Oh dear, I didn't know what you all liked, so I just bought whatever came to mind. Don't mind it."

"No, no, we don't mind at all. Look at what you're wearing, compared to what we're wearing, we wouldn't even dare accept the gifts you offer!"

But they were very ruthless when they put it away.

Joey glanced at the people in the room and immediately spotted Wang Qin.