Chapter 56 Chapter 56 How long does it take? (Minor revision

Although she was only a junior in college, Xia Qingwan always felt a sense of urgency, as if she was about to face some kind of choice and separation.

Even the carefree Shi Xiaoyu could sense her anxiety.

"Why are you so anxious?" Shi Xiaoyu said. "You've always been number one in your class, excelling in every subject. If things continue like this, getting into graduate school shouldn't be a problem."

She took all the required certification exams in her freshman year, and participated in nearly ten prestigious scholarships, projects, and competitions...

Everything is progressing on the right track.

“I don’t know,” Xia Qingwan said. “I always feel like there isn’t enough time.”

“You’re just too curly,” Shi Xiaoyu said, “so curly that you’re making yourself dizzy.”

As she spoke, Shi Xiaoyu spun around in place, pretending to be dizzy and roll her eyes.

This made Xia Qingwan laugh.

She did feel dizzy, as if the road ahead was a vast expanse of white, and something behind her was urging her on, making her vision uneasy.

Xia Qingwan glanced at her watch. "I have to go."

Ye Peixiu went on a business trip and said he would be back tonight. She wanted to return to Ye Garden early to welcome him back.

"Oh dear, no one can steal your boyfriend away," Shi Xiaoyu joked, "Look how anxious you are."

"Bye-Bye."

-

Back at Ye Garden, the chef from the West Building brought her the ingredients, saying, "Miss Xia, the ingredients you requested are all here."

"Okay, you can keep it, thank you."

"Do you need my help?"

Xia Qingwan hesitated for a moment, "...If you have time, could you give me some guidance?"

"Of course."

After spending so much time together, Xia Qingwan knew that Ye Peixiu's food, clothing, and other expenses were all carefully thought out by his subordinates and sent to him after rounds of meticulous selection. They were impeccable in nature, and he used them casually, which made him seem like he had a gentle temper and was easy to serve.

In fact, he just appears unconventional; he is not unpicky.

Just like food, I have never heard him say which one is delicious and which one is not, but after eating with him a few times, I know that he doesn’t like overcooking, he only wants the food to taste its own way.

However, this kind of food has very high requirements on the quality of ingredients.

Therefore, Xia Qingwan specifically asked for some ingredients from Ye Yuan's kitchen department in advance.

Pan-fry the foie gras for one minute and drizzle with apple juice; after pan-frying the steak, just sprinkle with a little salt; the leafy greens are pan-fried asparagus and seasonal okra, served with a small bowl of caviar and sea urchin fried rice.

That's it.

It sounds simple, but it kept Xia Qingwan busy for two whole hours.

After carefully arranging the dishes and taking a photo, I heard the security guard at the door come in and say, "Mr. Ye is back."

She washed her hands, casually fixed her hair and came out.

When Xia Qingwan walked out of the moon-shaped gate, the Audi had just parked in the parking lot.

She originally thought the driver was Wang Jingzi, but when she leaned over slightly to look inside the car, she realized that the hand on the steering wheel was Ye Peixiu's.

She wore a wristwatch on her left wrist, her fingers long and slender.

The driver's door opened, and her long legs wrapped in trousers stepped down. She was waiting there with her hands behind her back, smiling.

Ye Peixiu turned his head and saw her, then immediately smiled, "Why are you standing here? Aren't you cold?"

"I'll be waiting for you."

She tilted her head and smiled as she spoke.

Ye Peixiu closed the car door, walked over in a few steps, lifted her up by the waist, and half-carried her on his shoulder.

"Oh dear," Xia Qingwan said, "I just ate a lot, I'm going to throw up."

Ye Peixiu loosened his arms slightly, put her down a little, and held her hip with one hand like a child. "You're not waiting for me? You're eating first?"

"Why are you sweating?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and stroked her temple, where there was a slight dampness, and her whole face had a fragile, pale beauty.

"Take a guess?"

"...You didn't cook for me, did you?"

He had just said it offhand, but when he saw her pause as if he had guessed correctly, he laughed and said, "You really cooked for me?"

"..."

Xia Qingwan pouted slightly, snuggled off him, and took his hand. "Come and see."

Ye Peixiu was led by her to the restaurant.

The teak long dining table was carefully arranged with two sets of tableware on each side.

He looked at the dining table, then at her, and slowly smiled, "That's amazing. Did you do all this by yourself?"

"The chef aunt gave some guidance."

"That's impressive." He walked over. "Could you tell me about your dishes?"

Xia Qingwan introduced everything to him like a head chef, and then said, "Go wash your hands, and then come eat."

"Let me have a taste first."

Xia Qingwan cut some goose liver and fed it to him.

He stood to the side with his hands behind his back, bowed slightly to take the food, and after tasting it, praised her for her skill, his eyes full of deep admiration.

He took off his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and came over to eat.

"You have no idea, it was ruined several times in the middle, and I was full from eating all that stuff."

She said softly and added with a smile, "But I can eat with you for a little longer."

"Why would you eat it if it's ruined?"

"It's just that the appearance is not good, the taste is fine."

He cut a piece of steak and fed it to her across the long table.

Xia Qingwan accompanied him to finish the meal.

As soon as he put down his chopsticks, she stood up and said, "I'll collect it!"

Ye Peixiu walked around the table and picked her up, "Put it here."

She turned her head from his shoulder toward the dining table and said, "You ate very cleanly."

"Of course, there's not a single grain of rice left."

“So supportive.”

He laughed, "Don't you see whose place it is?"

Only when she said this did she realize that she was heading towards the master bedroom.

"What are you doing?"

"Take a shower and go to bed."

Xia Qingwan wanted to make a joke, but before she could finish speaking, she gave up the idea and just silently looked at him.

The water from the shower splashed onto her face, and she flinched back. Ye Peixiu lowered his head and kissed her lips.

His shirt had been soaked in the shower countless times.

From the shower to the bed, under the covers, he whispered, "I missed you so much."

A short difference of three days.

It felt like an eternity.

"I miss you as well."

Xia Qingwan replied, her voice weak and broken from the commotion.

During that period, just before National Day, Ye Peixiu often went on business trips to inspect branches in various places.

Maybe it was because of this, but Xia Qingwan was noticeably more clingy than before. Sometimes, when he was working overtime in the study, she would snuggle into his arms, type for him to read, and say, "I'll just stay here and not disturb you."

Just like when she's drunk, she's a sweet and gentle girl.

During the National Day holiday, Ye Peixiu was even busier, with one conference and study session after another, leaving him almost no time to spare.

Xia Qingwan was able to relax for a few days, just as her grandmother called and said, "Manman is under too much pressure. I want to take her to Beijing for a trip."

The itinerary was quickly finalized.

Xia Qingwan happily went to the airport to pick them up, and the three of them returned to the Xia family's old house in the compound together.

During the National Day holiday, Beijing was packed with tourists. Xia Qingwan accompanied Chen Yuman to several scenic spots, walking 20,000 steps every day. Every night, she was too exhausted to think about anything else. Once, she even fell asleep while talking on the phone with Ye Peixiu.

The next morning, I saw the WeChat message from Ye Peixiu:

"I can hear your breathing in your sleep when I turn up the volume to the maximum. I miss you so much."

With misty eyes, she replied:

"I'm going back to Ye Garden tonight."

Ye Peixiu called directly. Xia Qingwan turned over and said drowsily, "...Huh?"

Her voice was low and husky, delicate and soft, almost a moan.

It immediately conjures up the image of her sleeping in bed in her pajamas.

At this time, Ye Peizheng was standing in the smoking area outside the conference building, smoking a cigarette while waiting for the meeting. His eyelashes were half-closed, and he licked his lips unconsciously, "...haven't you woken up yet?"

She nodded her head on the pillow, and after she finished nodding, she realized that Ye Peixiu couldn't see her, so she said, "Well, we won't go out today. We've been running around for so many days, and everyone is tired."

"Let's go to the hot springs outside Beijing tonight."

He said.

The meetings that have been going on for several days are finally coming to an end, and I can finally spend some quality time with the other person.

"……good."

-

After getting up and having breakfast, Xia Qingwan took her cousin Chen Yuman to do yoga.

The two people were stretching their bodies and doing exercises while chatting and laughing while watching the yoga program on TV.

Grandma walked in with her phone and said, "Manxianglou called and said they have an event today and invited us over for lunch."

"What kind of food does Manxianglou serve? Let me check."

Chen Yuman took out her phone and opened the app to search.

But no results were found. I thought it was because I typed the wrong words. I showed it to Xia Qingwan, who thought for a moment and said, "It seems like his house is not open to the public."

“…Oh, I see.”

Chen Yuman remembered that her grandmother had once said that her great-uncle seemed to have held a very high position in the past, and perhaps out of humanity and concern, he had reserved some special benefits for her.

At noon, Xia Qingwan drove the three of them to Manxianglou.

The restaurant, which is usually elegant and quiet, is a little noisy today. There are charity stalls on the first floor and many people are walking around and looking at them.

Xia Qingwan spotted Pei Yaxian surrounded by several ladies at a glance.

Pei Yaxian also saw her, and the two nodded slightly to each other across the crowd.

While eating, Xia Qingwan was a little absent-minded.

Her heart was pounding, and even the tender food felt like she was choking when it entered her mouth.

"I'm going to the restroom."

She stood up and said.

Because of the meal, some of the lipstick on her lips was rubbed off. Looking in the mirror, it looked a little broken and gray, so she simply wiped off the rest with a tissue.

I took a deep breath and walked out of the restroom.

Just as I reached the corner, I heard a voice, "Miss Xia."

She paused, put on a smile, and then turned back, "...Aunt Pei, hello."

“What a coincidence,” Pei Yaxian said with a smile. “A friend of mine invited me over today to support her, and that’s how I ran into you again.”

Xia Qingwan nodded and smiled, "What a coincidence."

At this point, the pleasantries were over, but seeing that Pei Yaxian had no intention of ending the conversation, after a moment of silence, Xia Qingwan asked, "How have you been lately?"

"I'm fine."

Pei Yaxian smiled and said, "What about you?"

The smile on her face was the kind of smile that a person in a high position would show when trying to appear approachable. It was very standard. Her eyes gazed gently, and the corners of her lips were slightly upturned. The elegance and nobility she exuded were like an invisible barrier, so much so that even though she spoke in a friendly manner, those who spoke with her felt a sense of pressure.

Xia Qingwan pursed her lips, and before she could answer, Pei Yaxian continued, "Would you like to talk to me?"

"…Do you have time?"

Pei Yaxian glanced at her watch, thought for a moment, and said, "How about later, at three o'clock, let's meet in the tea room here?"

"good."

He returned to the dining table, waited for Grandma and Chen Yuman to finish their meal, and then sent them both home. Seeing that it was almost time, Xia Qingwan drove back to Manxianglou.

Met Pei Yaxian in the tea room.

After the waiter finished brewing the tea and left, Xia Qingwan asked, "Is there something you want to say to me?"

Pei Yaxian thought to herself, "This girl is indeed perceptive and sensible; she can understand the unspoken meaning behind people's words."

She didn't beat around the bush. She lowered her eyes, lifted the lid of the teacup, and waited for the dust in the room to settle before softly asking, "Do you know about the Chen family's affairs?"

"What?"

"Chen Anan's family took the initiative to cancel the marriage."

So many thoughts flashed through Xia Qingwan's mind in an instant that his face turned pale.

That girl's name was Chen An'an? So, they'd already gotten this far? They were already engaged? Then... at the auction, he still defended her so much? He specifically asked her to come over and introduce her as his girlfriend?

His family was naturally furious at his rudeness, which explains the scar on his forehead; he must have had a major conflict with his grandfather.

She was unaware that his relationship with his family had become so tense and strained.

Pei Yaxian succinctly recounted to her the matter of Chen An'an's cousin, Ye Peixiu's handling of it, and the argument between Ye Peixiu and her grandfather.

"No one knows what the grandfather and grandson talked about specifically," Pei Yaxian said, "but the old man was very unhappy."

His words carried a soft sigh, leaving a lingering, oppressive feeling.

Xia Qingwan unconsciously gripped the teacup tighter, swallowed hard, and tried to speak but couldn't, feeling utterly exhausted.

After a while, she gathered her thoughts and asked, "What's the situation now? How is he doing?"

She told herself to stay calm.

Protecting her was Ye Peixiu's choice, and bearing the consequences alone was also Ye Peixiu's choice. Since things had already happened, she needed to calm herself down first.

Pei Yaxian pretended not to understand, "Huh? What do you mean?"

“I mean,” Xia Qingwan’s voice floated, growing softer and softer, “like, demotion, being sent to a lower position or something…”

Lin Xiangyu had talked to her about this before, saying that this was the most common way for people like them to be treated. Minor mistakes would result in demotion, while serious ones would result in demotion. More drastic ones would result in being sent abroad. Once sent abroad, it was equivalent to being abandoned.

At this point, she suddenly thought of Ye Peixiu's recent frequent business trips. Could this be a sign?

Pei Yaxian laughed, as if she had heard a joke.

"Where did you hear this from?" she said. "Being sent to the countryside is a common occurrence. He's still young, so it's inevitable."

“But he’ll be alright. The old man has nurtured him for so many years, he can’t possibly give up on him.” He paused slightly, “...Even if he were willing to give up this path, his family wouldn’t allow it. He has no other choice.”

Xia Qingwan lowered her eyes and said nothing.

She knew all along, didn't she?

So at first, I avoided him and hid from him, wishing I could draw a clear line between us at all times.

It's just that I can't resist the strong love, so I have to go through this journey. I am always obsessed with it and can't bear to leave. It has to come to this point and let people tear off the fig leaf.

The embarrassment made her want to maintain her dignity even more. She controlled her breathing and took a deep breath.

Pei Yaxian asked her to talk, of course, not just to kindly tell her about Ye Peixiu's situation. That condescending look and those seemingly gentle but actually oppressive words were all just to make her stop fighting and return to her original position.

"Actually..." she said calmly, "I knew all along that we, Mr. Ye and I..." At this point, she tried her best to control herself, choking slightly before continuing, "...there is no future. I never thought that anything would happen between us and him in the future."

"I also promised my grandma that I would only have a relationship with a time limit," Wu Zhiwu said, her eyes welling up with tears. "Is that not allowed?"

“You’re still young, you haven’t graduated yet, but Pei Xiu isn’t young anymore, he’ll be 28 this year after his birthday.”

Pei Yaxian said, "He is willing to play this kind of house game with you, but the current situation does not wait for anyone."

From her words, Xia Qingwan finally understood the source of her sense of urgency: Originally, she felt she had long been mentally prepared for the inevitable breakup, that she couldn't have him forever. However, since the ordeal at the auction, a series of upheavals and blows had forced her forward, like a fish in a truck's water tank, her vision blurred and the journey bumpy, being transported to the chopping block.

"So," Xia Qingwan looked into her eyes, "you mean to say?"

Pei Yaxian said calmly, even smiling, "...Give me an approximate time. How long will it take? Half a month? A month?"

"There's no rush, just take your time."

If things get rushed, it will only arouse Ye Peixiu's suspicion.

Xia Qingwan stood up.

Perhaps because she had been sitting for too long, she felt a little dizzy when she suddenly stood up, and her body swayed slightly.

That's fine.

There was no result in the end, it just happened a little earlier.

She opened her lips, trying to calm herself, and then turned sideways before quietly saying, "I want to spend my 28th birthday with him."

Walked out of Manxianglou and got into the car.

This is the family car. When Grandma Xi was still able to walk, she often drove this car to buy groceries. So, there are some very old songs downloaded on the stereo.

Xia Qingwan casually turned on the speaker button.

Music started playing.

"I wish I could drive a rocket and take you to the sky."

Two people living in space

"Even if you live to be a thousand years old, you'll still be captivated."

She put on her seat belt.

"I will always be with you, I need you every minute."

She finally couldn't help crying out loud.

-----------------------

Author's Note: I'm so sorry I'm late again, I'm guilty. I'll be giving out red envelopes in this chapter.

Note: The lyrics at the end are from "I Need You Every Minute".