Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Good things.

Late April is the most pleasant time to visit Beijing.

The temperature was neither too hot nor too cold, and the sunlight was bright and gentle. After class, Xia Qing went straight to Yeyuan, put down her schoolbag, changed her clothes and washed her hands, and leisurely ate an ice cream while leaning against the island counter.

While eating, he looked down at his toes.

After a while, someone rang the doorbell, and the security guard outside informed the people inside: Miss Meizhu is here.

Xia Qingwan washed her hands and went to open the door. Pei Meizhu was overjoyed, "Thanks to you, I can finally come!"

Last night, Ye Peixiu said that there was a big meeting this afternoon, and after the meeting, he would have to listen to instructions. After that, there would definitely be a dinner party, and there was no set time for him to leave work.

During a break between classes in the daytime, Pei Meizhu ran into him. When they started talking about this, Pei Meizhu enthusiastically said that she wanted to come and play with him while her cousin was away.

Xia Qingwan sent a message to Ye Peixiu to "report," and Ye Peixiu replied, "Okay."

Immediately afterward, a voice message popped up in Pei Meizhu's WeChat:

"Behave yourself."

She repeatedly assured him that she would be honest and obedient.

As a result, as soon as he entered the door, he threw his schoolbag on the floor of the entryway and ran around the house, exclaiming in surprise at every place he went.

Xia Qingwan sat curled up on the living room sofa, tapping on the tablet screen, making a study plan for next week. Occasionally, when she looked up, she could only see the afterimage of Pei Meizhu's long hair fluttering as she ran through the corridors, screens, and corners of the antique shelves.

Pei Meizhu is only one year younger than her, but judging from her personality alone, she seems three or five years younger.

Finally exhausted from running, Pei Meizhu returned to the living room and sprawled out on the sofa. Xia Qingwan said, "There's ice cream in the fridge."

Pei Meizhu immediately jumped up, "Yay!"

It's rare to see a young lady like her, so pampered, cheering over such a small thing.

The two ate, drank, chatted, and laughed. In the end, they sat on the carpet in front of the living room sofa and played games.

In the second semester of sophomore year, Xia Qingwan's courses were very full. She was busy and hardworking every day, so it was rare for her to have such pure relaxation time.

During the break, while eating snacks, Pei Meizhu leaned on the coffee table and whispered to her, "Hey, how's Wang Jingzi's mood lately?"

"Um?"

Xia Qingwan thought carefully, "...there seems to be nothing unusual, just like usual."

"What's he like normally?"

Pei Meizhu asked with great interest.

"Professional, rigorous, and gentle."

Pei Meizhu curled her lips and her face fell, "...It's no different from when you were with me."

There was obvious disappointment in her tone, perhaps because she felt that she had not received any special and personal treatment from him.

Xia Qingwan lay face down on the coffee table just like her, and asked, "What is Wang Jingzi like in front of you?"

“It’s just like you said,” Pei Meizhu said nonchalantly. “He has a very good temper; if you tell him to go east, he won’t go west.”

Xia Qingwan couldn't help laughing, "He's gentle in front of me because that's his job, but in front of you——"

Pei Meizhu interrupted her, "I think he treats me like a job too! I'm his boss's cousin, so doesn't he have to give me the runaround as well?"

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard the sound of a door opening and closing in the entryway.

Pei Meizhu got up even before Xia Qingwan and ran over in a flash. Ye Peizheng was changing his shoes in the entryway when he looked up and saw her, and said, "You should go now."

Pei Meizhu stood on tiptoe to look behind him. "Where's Wang Jingzi? You've drunk so much, didn't his secretary help you in?"

"He's drunk too, so he's not the driver today."

As they spoke, Xia Qingwan took a few steps to approach, and Ye Peixiu lowered his head and kissed her. "Did you miss me?"

"It's only been one day since we last saw each other, why would I miss you?"

Ye Peixiu was not satisfied with her answer. He smiled and lowered his head to kiss her face. "What's wrong? You've become so heartless after just one day apart?"

Pei Meizhu covered her ears, "What are you saying! The child is still here!"

Ye Peixiu didn't even turn his head. "I'll have Lao Ke take you."

"Then I'll be going. I won't disturb your sweet dreams. Goodbye!"

A door opened.

Ye Peixiu asked in a low voice, "Have you taken a shower?"

Judging from his tone, it seemed like he was about to carry her to the bathroom, so Xia Qingwan quickly said, "I have something good to show you."

She held his hand and walked in front to lead the way. Ye Peixiu let her hold one hand obediently, and with the other hand he tore off his tie and threw it on the screen halfway. The solid-colored tie with bamboo embroidery on the bottom was lightly hung on the top of the lacquer screen.

Xia Qingwan pushed open the bedroom door, deliberately turned off the lights, and led him into the depths of the bedroom in the dark.

Pushing open the double glass doors, Ye Peixiu could already smell a faint fragrance before he saw anything.

Xia Qingwan, as if presenting a treasure, gestured with her hands as if introducing someone in a grand manner, her eyes sparkling, "The crabapple blossoms are in bloom!"

Outside the master bedroom window, a crabapple tree quietly bloomed with pink and white flowers in the night. The tiny blossoms swayed gently in the night breeze, bringing a refreshing and pleasant fragrance.

This crabapple tree never blooms. A few years ago, Ye Peixiu specially asked a gardener to take a look, and invited several experts back and forth, but they still couldn't figure out why.

Even Sheng Junchi, who came to visit, cursed, "What kind of bullshit expert is this!"

This year, when the crabapple trees were in full bloom, several trees by the pond had already blossomed, but this one remained untouched. Ye Peixiu assumed it was still not blooming, but unexpectedly, on such a breezy spring night, a whole tree quietly burst into bloom.

A late surprise.

Ye Peixiu looked at the flower, then at her, sat down on the terrace lounge chair, and said with a smile, "Did you secretly cast some kind of magic on it?"

Xia Qingwan had no time to respond to him. She leaned over from the edge of the terrace, holding the railing with one hand, and took a closer look, sniffing a cigarette.

A slender and graceful girl, dressed in a white dress, was concentrating on smelling a crabapple blossom on a moonlit and windless night.

However, when you get closer to smell it, the fragrance becomes less noticeable.

She landed on her heels and said a little sullenly, "I'm always too greedy. I always want to get close to it and smell it, even though I know that if I do that, I won't be able to smell its wonderful properties. Every time I get close, I can't smell it, but the next time I see it, I can't help but pinch it to my nose."

"You're still greedy?" Ye Peixiu laughed. "I think you're the least greedy person in the world."

She leaned against the railing with her back, staring at him with a gloomy look, "...How do you know I'm not greedy?"

She wanted too much.

"You never ask me for anything."

Should I accept it?

She tilted her head.

Besides, he had already given her so much—bank cards, flowers at regular and irregular times, a closet full of expensive clothes, jewelry, and bags in his walk-in closet, the bracelet he gave her for her birthday, the crown he gave her for her birthday…

He has given me everything I could think of and everything I couldn't have imagined, so what more could I ask for?

"Absolutely."

"What? You think girlfriends should ask their boyfriends for things?"

"That's not exactly what I meant." Ye Peixiu smiled and turned his head away, as if he found her words funny. Then he turned his head to look at her and said, "...It's just that those who can work hard should work harder. After all, I am richer than you. Isn't it only natural for you to spend a little more of my money?"

"Spend more? To what extent?" she said. "Maybe I'll really go all out and empty your house."

She had the innocent expression of a little girl, and was as graceful as an empty mountain after the rain, acting coquettishly towards her boyfriend who was much older than her.

Ye Peixiu lit a cigarette, chuckled, and said, "Isn't that perfect?"

Perhaps, that way, he would feel more at ease. She needed him after all. She wanted his presence, his money, his power, so she had to have at least one of them, right?

"Unfortunately, the things I like are not considered expensive."

She feigned regret, saying, "Otherwise, I'll rip you off."

Ye Peixiu laughed, and a few low laughs came out of his throat.

He beckoned with the hand holding the cigarette, "Come here."

Thinking he was about to say something lewd, Xia Qingwan became wary, turned around, and leaned against the railing, saying, "What?"

"That's good news."

I don't believe it.

"So, that's what I'll say?"

He deliberately coughed, as if he was about to say something, but Xia Qingwan immediately rushed over and covered his mouth. He took the opportunity to pull her waist and press her onto his lap, chuckling as he said, "It's important."

"Why are you so easily startled now? Do you think I'm that untrustworthy?"

She was anxious, embarrassed, and annoyed, staring at him, "...Don't you think about what you said last night?"

"What did you say?"

He feigned amnesia, saying, "I don't remember."

It wasn't actually vulgar talk; it was all genuine praise. But those low, hoarse voices kept echoing in her ears all day long, whenever she had a spare moment.

On a quiet night, with the wind rustling through the leaves in the corridor, she and he playfully teased each other on the bedroom terrace, whispering intimate secrets.

The girl's impatient retort and the man's low laughter, along with the rustling of leaves in the wind, echoed in the night.

"I suddenly remembered something."

"I miss you, don't I?"

Ye Peixiu chuckled and patted her waist, "It's really important business."

She was skeptical, "...Then tell me."

Ye Peixiu stared at her intently for a while, scrutinizing her, "...The earliest time, under the covered walkway in Beiguanfang Hutong, you were looking around and almost bumped into me. Later, when I asked you, you said you were looking at someone..."

He paused, his gaze fixed on her. "Who are you looking at?"

Xia Qingwan paused for a second, then feigned amnesia as well, "...Really? I don't remember that?"

She was able to speak the truth openly and honestly back then because she thought he would never have the chance to find out. Who would have thought that things would turn out so differently? Now, she sits on his lap, and the two of them are exchanging sweet nothings...

Later, Ye Peixiu really thought about what she said. At that time, she naturally thought that the person she was talking about was Xia Mingzhou. After all, she was going to find him.

But just now, for a moment, her expression was almost identical to the one she had when he questioned her. Now that he understood her better, he realized that at that moment, she had been a little shy.

That was definitely not the look he gave his cousin when he was caught and questioned.

"What kind of man are you looking at?"

He asked.

How do you know it must be a man?

She retorted.

Ye Peixiu recalled to himself, "...I remember there weren't any significant figures in Beiguanfang Hutong that night."

It was Sheng Junchi's birthday party, and the attendees were all his business partners or close friends, a bunch of good-for-nothings. There probably wasn't anyone she'd be interested in.

He certainly couldn't have imagined it was him.

After all, when she turned around to look, he was walking right towards her.

Xia Qingwan changed the subject, "I have a problem and would like to hear your advice."

Ye Peixiu deliberately ignored it.

She could only shake his arm, dissatisfied, "Ye Peixiu."

Ye Peixiu laughed.

"Qiao Yingxue invited me to her birthday party. Should I go?"

It's really troublesome.

Do you want to go?

He asked.

"I don't think she's a bad person, but I'm not to the point of wanting to be friends with her," she said, her mind seemingly torn between two options. "...But if I'm with you, I might have to deal with that group of people."

"If it's purely for socializing, then there's no need at all. Those people aren't worthy enough for you to deal with perfunctorily."

He raised his hand and took a drag of his cigarette, his tone casual and arrogant, conveying a sense of superiority.

At times like this, Xia Qingwan could always clearly feel his superiority. And yet, she was sitting on the lap of such a man.

"But I'm thinking that after I graduate and start working, or even when I'm pursuing a master's degree, I'll probably have to appear in some social situations. I can't just shut myself away and never see anyone, can I?"

"You want to practice your skills?"

"...a little."

I need to get familiar with it first, so I won't look foolish later.

It does make sense.

Although he didn't want her to waste her time on those people and things, she would have to go through social interaction and management in the future.

It’s good to familiarize yourself with it now.

Ye Peixiu said, "Just put on some airs when you go there this time."

"I won't."

Xia Qingwan thought he was saying that she could act recklessly because of his power, so she quickly expressed her feelings and shook her head to deny it.

As soon as she finished speaking, she met his meaningful gaze. A little dazed and not quite reacting, she heard Ye Peixiu laugh and say, "Be my girlfriend, and you still want to be approachable?"

Xia Qingwan thought to herself that although she didn't necessarily have to be approachable, at least she didn't want to put on airs. If she did that, those people would definitely eat her alive after they broke up with her.

These words were too depressing, so she just smiled and said, "You want me to put on airs?"

"I'll go with you."

Xia Qingwan paused, her eyes widening, "...Wouldn't Qiao Yingxue be scared to death?"

Her appearance was so vivid and adorable that Ye Peixiu couldn't help but laugh, raising his hand to gently pinch the tip of her nose, "Childish."

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Author's Note: Here it is! [Let me see]