Chapter Fifty-Six: Still Wanting More

Remembering her promise to him, Josh hesitated only slightly before nodding in agreement, "Okay, wait for me a moment."

After saying that, just as she was about to turn around and go inside, she said, "Wait, Xixi, here's a dress. If you like it, you can change into it. If you don't like it, you can wear whatever you want."

Josie stared at the fuchsia dress he handed her, and accepted it with a smile, "Okay, I don't have a dress, so I'll change into this one."

Josie quickly changed her clothes, said something to her mother-in-law and Wenjing, and then walked out of the door.

Fu Jinxing's gaze followed her movements.

The innocent girl who knew nothing of the world has grown up and blossomed into a beautiful flower.

"Let's go, Xixi."

The corridor was narrow, and Qiao Xi didn't pay much attention to Fu Jinxing's gaze.

They went downstairs one after the other, while Fu Jinxing was accompanied by two superhumans who protected him.

As I walked out of the apartment building, the number of pedestrians on the street gradually increased.

Josie subtly observed the man beside her.

Compared to the gentle and refined boy next door she remembered, his casual clothes made him seem even more gentle, but for some reason, looking at his eyes and brows always gave her a sense of danger.

"If you want to see, then see. Why hide?" Fu Jinxing's lips curled up, and his gentle eyes were filled with a look of pleasure.

"I just feel that you're a little different, Brother Jinxing," Qiao Xi said, marveling at how quickly time had passed.

In her memory, she had been separated from Fu Jinxing for so long that the person in front of her felt somewhat unfamiliar.

"People will mature eventually, but I will always be your Jinxing brother." His voice was very pleasant, like a beautiful chord.

Josie smiled and hummed in agreement, but said nothing more.

Because the two were standing so close, Fu Jinxing's suit jacket would occasionally brush against her bare arm.

She instinctively moved to the side, creating distance between herself and him.

"Xixi, what's wrong?" Fu Jinxing stopped and turned to look at her.

"Brother Jinxing, I want to walk faster and go see what's ahead."

She couldn't explain that she had lived a second life; it wasn't that she couldn't understand his feelings, but rather that she couldn't bear them.

So I could only make excuses to keep my distance from him.

Fu Jinxing pushed up his glasses with his long, slender fingers, his gaze following Qiao Xi's retreating figure, the reflection in the lenses obscuring the emotions in his eyes.

Fu Jinxing has long legs, so no matter how fast Qiao Xi walks, he can stay within a meter of her.

Suddenly, someone turned around and almost bumped into Qiao Xi. Fu Jinxing reacted quickly and pulled her to his side.

Qiao Xi bumped into Fu Jinxing's arms, and felt a very familiar scent on her nose.

Even after so many years, it still instantly awakened her memories.

Seeing the stunned expression on the girl's face in his arms, Fu Jinxing's expression softened considerably. "Xixi, you said you would always be good to Jinxing-ge, so don't be wary of me, okay?"

Qiao Xi snapped out of her daze, stood up straight from his embrace, and quickly flashed him a bright smile. "Okay, in my heart, Brother Jinxing, you'll always be closer than my own brother."

Almost immediately, Fu Jinxing understood what she meant.

She wanted to tell herself that she would always be her brother, and there would never be any other possibility between them.

His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched tightly. The little girl he had raised with his own hands, the little girl he was waiting to marry, was now severing ties with him!

But what he fears least is solving difficult problems.

The banquet venue wasn't far; they arrived at their destination after walking three blocks.

At Fu Jinxing's prompting, Qiao Xi took his hand and walked into the banquet hall.

Under the light reflected from the crystal chandelier, well-dressed guests chatted and laughed while raising champagne glasses.

On the long table were exquisite little cakes, their cream frosting perfectly preserved as if the apocalypse had never occurred.

Josie recalled the scenes outside the safe zone, where humans lived like rats, and when they had nothing to eat, they would even eat human flesh.

Meanwhile, the leadership in the safe zone is still enjoying the peace and prosperity of the pre-apocalyptic world.

Fu Jinxing's voice rang in her ears, "We don't need to entertain others. I brought you here just so you can eat and have some fun."

Josie relaxed and was about to speak when her gaze suddenly froze in a certain direction.

At the far end of the line of sight, Lu Yuyang, dressed in a crisp black jacket, had a cold and handsome face without any expression, seemingly listening to the girl beside him.

The girl wore a pale yellow dress, and her eyes curved into crescents when she smiled, like a greenhouse flower that had never seen the darkness.

"What are you looking at?" Fu Jinxing followed her gaze and looked ahead.

Josie quickly looked away, "I wasn't looking at anything."

People were coming and going in the hall, and Qiao Xi looked away again. Fu Jinxing didn't immediately realize who she was looking at.

He turned around, picked up a small cake from the long table next to him, and handed it to her. "Try it, is it good?"

Josie looked at the expensive little cake in front of her.

In both her past and present lives, she hadn't eaten anything like this in a very, very long time.

He subconsciously reached out and took it, scooped up a spoonful and fed it to himself.

The moment the cream melted on her tongue, it was a little sweet and not so rich, but it still satisfied her taste buds.

Without realizing it, I ate a few more bites.

Fu Jinxing smiled and said, "If you like, there's more. No rush."

He coaxed her like a child.

Josie finished showing off the two small cakes in one go, and was still a little unsatisfied.

Suddenly, a hand cupped her cheek, and to Qiao Xi's surprise, Fu Jinxing's fingertips brushed against the corner of her lips.

"Just like when you were a kid," he said, his eyes full of affection, "you can still get cake all over your mouth."

But if they were kids, Josie would definitely chuckle and poke his face in, smearing it all over him.

But now, after realizing what had happened, Josie quickly raised her hand and wiped her mouth.

Upon noticing Qiao Xi's actions, Fu Jinxing's eyes flickered.

Just then, two men walked over and whispered a few words in his ear.

He turned his head to look at them. "Now?"

When he spoke, his brow was clearly furrowed, and he didn't seem very willing.

"Yes, Professor Fu, please come with us now."

The laboratory project in the safe zone has not yet started; these past few days have only been the preparation phase.

He had plenty of time and planned to take Xixi out for some fun today.

Now it will take a while longer.

"Xixi, someone is looking for me. You sit here and wait for me. If anyone makes you unhappy, don't pay attention to them."

"Okay, Brother Jinxing, you go ahead with your work, I'll eat mine, I won't skimp on myself."

Fu Jinxing then smiled and followed the man away.

Besides cakes, there was also freshly squeezed fruit juice on the long table.

Since she was already there, Josie certainly wouldn't treat herself badly.

He immediately poured himself a glass and drank it with relish.

Many people in the banquet hall were dancing to the music.

After taking a sip of her drink, Qiao Xi couldn't help but look towards where Lu Yuyang had been standing.