Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Let’s get serious.

On the day Xia Qingwan left Shaoping, her cousin came to pick her up in his car.

My great-aunt stuffed many local specialties into her suitcase, saying, "Your grandma is traveling alone, so it's not good for her to carry too much luggage. I thought I'd take everything she needs while you're going back."

According to the original plan, Xia Huiqing was supposed to stay in Shaoping for another half month, but in the past few days, her great-aunt had mentioned many times that she should stay a little longer and not rush to leave.

It's not easy for you to come all this way.

Judging from the situation, Xia Qingwan guessed that her grandmother's return to Beijing would be postponed: her cousin Chen Yuman really needed tutoring, and her grandmother couldn't just abandon her halfway through.

My suitcase, which was half empty when I arrived, was now completely stuffed. My uncle helped me put the suitcase into the trunk.

On the way to the airport, my uncle said with a smile, "We're so lucky to have your great-aunt this time. If Manman can really get into Peking University, it will be an immense favor to us."

“Manman is talented and hardworking. As long as we care about her more and put less pressure on her, she should be fine.”

My uncle nodded and said yes, yes, yes.

She added, "Regardless of whether she can get into Peking University, she will definitely want to get into Shanghai University. At that time, I will have to trouble you to take good care of her."

When he spoke, his face had an earnest and polite expression.

Previously, when Xia Qingwan stayed at Shaoping, she was treated like a child, like an accessory to adults, brought along for meals and sent back to her boarding teacher's house. This time, however, she has her own home, her own studies and future, and can even be entrusted to take care of her younger sister.

It was like returning home in glory.

Xia Qingwan smiled and said, "Of course no problem."

-

Landed at Beijing Airport.

When she received a call from Wang Jingzi, he said, "Ms. Xia, I'm at parking lot C12 in parking lot number 3."

"...Why have you come?"

"The gentleman said that you are probably taking a lot of things back to Beijing, and he was worried that it would be inconvenient for you to take a taxi alone, so he asked me to wait for you here."

No wonder Ye Peixiu asked her on WeChat yesterday what time she would land.

She took the elevator down, Wang Jingzi helped her put her luggage away, and the two of them got in the car.

Xia Qingwan hesitated, wondering if she should take out the snacks her grandmother had asked her to bring and put them in the car, so she wouldn't have to make another trip to see Ye Peixiu.

Meeting him alone always made her feel vaguely uneasy.

But if you just throw the gift on someone's car, it seems impolite.

Besides...did she really not want to see him?

At this time, Wang Jingzi turned around from the driver's seat and said with a smile, "The master also said that I only pick up and drop off people, not help him bring back gifts."

Xia Qingwan couldn't help but pause and raised her clear eyes.

Wang Jingzi gave her a knowing smile.

The car started, and Xia Qingwan looked out the window, remembering the day she went to Ye Garden to bring him white tea. Across the dim living room, she saw him sitting by the pond, his cold and desolate back...

Xia Qingwan's heart softened, almost melting into a pool of water. It was like walking down the street tiredly after a long day of classes, looking up and unexpectedly catching sight of a bright yellow crescent moon hidden between the leaves.

So dreamy, yet so far away.

-

After escorting Xia Qingwan back to the old house in the compound, Wang Jingzi inquired about Grandma Xi's recovery progress with Aunt Xiaoxuan. After sitting for a while, he got up to say goodbye.

Xia Qingwan saw him to the door and handed him some snacks and gifts, saying, "Snacks should be eaten while they're fresh, so please take them back to him for me. Also, I'll have to trouble you to make a trip to see Grandma Liang as well."

Wang Jingzi was a little embarrassed, "...this...I can't make the decision."

“Just tell him I’ll contact him.” Xia Qingwan seemed a little hesitant to say it. “...Even if I’ve already given him the gift, it won’t affect my meeting with him.”

"good."

Only then did Wang Jingzi accept it.

About an hour later, Wang Jingzi replied to her message saying that the snacks had been sent to Grandma Liang and asked her not to worry. Another hour later, her phone buzzed again.

Xia Qingwan, who was memorizing the text, picked it up and saw that it was from Ye Peixiu:

Mr. Ye: Wang Jingzi is going to be fired.

Um?

What kind of talk is that?

Then another message came in:

"Mr. Ye: He appeared in front of me with snack gifts."

Xia Qingwan dialed the number, and as soon as the call connected, she hurriedly said, "You don't need to take your anger out on others, do you?"

This man actually had the air of a young master.

Compared to her embarrassment, the person on the other end of the phone was quite unhurried. Ye Peixiu chuckled and said, "So, it's true, you want to meet me?"

"Really?" Seeing how calm he was, Xia Qingwan couldn't help but say, "Don't try to blackmail me with these things anymore."

"Hmm?" Ye Peixiu said with a hint of composure. "Then you need to give me a reason to convince me."

Why involve others in our affairs?

Wasn't Wang Jingzi an innocent victim of disaster?

“…That makes sense.”

Ye Peixiu said, "From now on, if you have anything to say, tell me. Don't avoid me because of other people or other things."

Ever since that ambiguous kiss in Ye Yuan's study that day, she had been avoiding him. He always had to use Pei Meizhu as an excuse to have a meal with her and take her home.

They were both fully aware of this.

Xia Qingwan hummed softly.

“…I promise.”

Ye Peixiu on the other end of the phone could almost picture her expression as she said those words. Her eyes would be half-closed, her expression serene, calm, and profound, yet her body would be unmistakably warm and fragrant.

He had been thinking about her constantly these past few days. The early autumn night when they sat facing each other, sipping tea by the window, had replayed in his mind countless times.

When I heard her voice at this moment, all my thoughts and desires rushed to the peak.

There was silence on the phone receiver for a moment.

Only their breaths mingled and intertwined.

He was the crescent moon that haunted her dreams.

The moon is high in the sky.

Dreamy and distant.

-

After the holiday, the schoolwork became even busier, and Xia Qingwan had to deal with multiple tasks at the same time.

In addition to daily classes, there are also national award competitions and group project assignments assigned by the instructor. I have to be busy until nine o'clock every day before I can find time to go to the library to memorize.

That Saturday, Lin Xiangyu asked her to study together at her rented place.

A long table in the living room was covered with documents and printed files.

Lin Xiangyu is preparing for the IELTS exam.

Two people sat opposite each other, each wearing headphones and busy at work. The only sound was the rustling of pages turning over papers and the occasional whisper of English words.

After having lunch takeout, Lin Xiangyu, her hair disheveled, stood by the living room window and lit a cigarette.

Xia Qingwan leaned against the window on the other side and drank her coffee slowly.

"My brother asked you last time..."

She said softly.

Lin Xiangyu didn't react much.

"Have you broken up yet?"

“…I guess so.”

Xia Mingzhou pursued her for half a year, and they were together for only seven or eight months.

When they were together, she was carefree and Xia Mingzhou was good at coaxing people, and he never stopped showering her with sweet words, flowers, and gifts, so the two rarely quarreled.

But it has been a month since we parted on bad terms at his residence that day, and Xia Mingzhou has not sent any message or called.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiangyu couldn't help but sneer.

Just then, her phone, which was on the coffee table, rang.

Lin Xiangyu glanced over.

It’s Sheng Junchi again.

After a few rings, she walked over, put out her cigarette and answered the call.

After talking for a few words, she said to Xia Qingwan, "I'm going downstairs."

"Um?"

"Mr. Sheng came to see me."

Lin Xiangyu said bluntly.

Xia Qingwan, standing in front of the window, saw an Audi slowly driving up downstairs. Mr. Sheng got out of the car, holding something in his hand.

Before long, Lin Xiangyu appeared downstairs.

The two stood under the shade of a tree and talked for a while. They were talking about something, and Lin Xiangyu suddenly threw her head back and laughed heartily.

Xia Qingwan took her coffee cup and left the window.

-

The next day was Sunday.

In the evening, Xia Qingwan, who was taking an online class in the library, received a call from Xia Mingzhou.

When the call was connected, it wasn't Xia Mingzhou himself who spoke. "Hello, is this Miss Xia?"

"It's me, who are you?"

"I'm Xiao Tang, a waiter at Beiguanfang. Mr. Xia has had too much to drink, and the boss told me to call you and come pick him up."

Before he finished speaking, Xia Qingwan heard the sound of things being smashed over there, accompanied by Xia Mingzhou's drunken shouting.

"I'll be right there. Please control him for a moment. Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Xia Qingwan immediately packed up and took a taxi to Beiguanfang Hutong.

The car stopped at the entrance of the alley. She hurried to the door. A girl who looked like a waitress was standing at the door, looking over here. When she saw her, she said, "Xiao Tang asked me to wait for you here. Please follow me."

The waiter took Xia Qingwan through the hanging flower gate to the inner courtyard.

From a distance, I could hear sounds of things being smashed and broken coming from the side hall.

The waiter explained, "There's a distinguished guest banquet in the main hall. We have no choice but to trouble you to take Mr. Xia back."

Xia Qingwan subconsciously looked towards the central hall.

As dusk settled, the main hall was already brightly lit, and a familiar figure stood by the window.

Ye Peixiu stood there, a faint smile on his lips.

A large crowd surrounded him, men and women dressed in fine clothes, like stars around the moon.

A scene of peaceful revelry and clinking glasses.

Not sure if he sensed something, but Ye Peixiu looked over.

Their eyes met, and Xia Qingwan didn't have time to greet him. She followed the waiter to the side hall in a hurry.

The side hall was a mess.

Xia Mingzhou lay on the sofa with his eyes closed.

Xia Qingwan leaned over and patted his face, "Brother? Wake up."

Xia Mingzhou didn't react for a while. When Xia Qingwan called him for the fourth time, he suddenly raised his fist and roared, "Get out!"

Xia Qingwan reflexively dodged backwards and barely avoided it.

With nothing behind her to support her, she stumbled and almost fell. A waiter came to help her up, but someone grabbed her waist from behind, steadied her, and pulled her into their arms.

The familiar sandalwood scent made Xia Qingwan's breath stop.

Ye Peixiu put one hand on her waist to protect her, and looked at the waiter, "What's going on? Call your boss over."

After seeing who was coming, the waiter Xiao Tang nodded and bowed and ran out.

The other two waiters who stayed behind didn't dare to look any further. They stood in front of the sofa with their backs turned, trying to wake Xia Mingzhou up.

Ye Peixiu pulled Xia Qingwan a little distance away and looked her up and down. "Are you hurt?"

She smoothed her hair and shook her head, "...No."

He held her waist for just a few seconds, but the place he touched seemed to still retain the warmth and strength of his warm big hand, and her heart was pounding.

Even then, as if still not at ease, he bent his finger and lifted her chin, lowering his head slightly to examine her face closely.

Xia Qingwan's face was slightly lifted, but her eyelashes drooped, making it impossible for her to meet his gaze. She couldn't even imagine how erratic her breathing had become.

Just then, the boss came running over.

Ye Peixiu was furious.

Although he is in a high position, he is always easy-going and casual towards these service staff.

It's rare to see someone so serious about this.

The boss was terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly nodded in agreement, saying, "I was confused, I was confused."

"Send a car to take him away."

"Yes, yes, yes," the boss hurriedly ordered someone to take care of it, then hesitated and looked at Xia Qingwan with difficulty, "...Miss Xia, I wonder where would be a suitable place to send Mr. Xia back?"

Although Xia Changping is also a frequent visitor to the backyard, everyone knows that Xia Changping rarely goes home and doesn't care about his son's private affairs.

"Take it to my house."

There was no one at Xia Changping's house, and Xia Mingzhou's own home had no servants to take care of him. It would be too dangerous to leave a drunk person alone.

He could only be sent back to the Xia family’s old house in the compound.