Chapter 18 Xie Zhongming's First Gift to a Female Comrade
Qiao Xingyue felt very relaxed about the Xie family's traditions and atmosphere.
She held in her hand several high school textbooks and supplementary books that Comrade Xie had given her, still warm from his hands. Her fingertips caressed the pages, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
It was as if she wasn't just the Xie family's nanny, but rather someone they cared for, respected, and supported like a family member.
The cover is somewhat uneven.
There seems to be something else tucked inside?
Qiao Xingyue opened the book and saw a note tucked inside.
The note read: I've marked the difficult points for you. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions.
Is this Comrade Xie's handwriting?
Comrade Xie's handwriting, like the man himself, is vigorous and powerful, as upright as a pine tree. Every stroke exudes the strong and powerful masculine spirit he possesses, which makes people feel at ease when they look at it.
Below the note was a palm-sized round tin box with blue patterns and the words "Friendship Brand Snow Cream" printed on it.
Why did Comrade Xie give her face cream?
This is inappropriate; she cannot accept it.
Looking up, Xie Zhongming was no longer in the main room; only Jiang Chunyan and her daughter Deng Yingying were sitting on a long bench, washing their feet in an enamel basin.
Jiang Chunyan lifted her feet, wiped them with a towel, put on her shoes, and walked to the bathroom door. "Qiao Xingyue, you still dare to say you didn't seduce Xie's fourth son? If you didn't seduce him, why would he give you books and face cream? Don't you know Xie's fourth son has a wife? I think you're a vixen."
Qiao Xingyue, carrying the books and the box of Friendship brand face cream, came out of the bathroom. "Aunt Jiang, have you not brushed your teeth in centuries? Your breath stinks like that!"
She added, "Furthermore, if you continue to spew nonsense and slander me, I'll drag you to see Director Chen of the neighborhood committee tomorrow morning and let him give you a fair judgment and see what kind of criticism a woman like you who slanders others should receive."
As she spoke, she led An An and Ning Ning upstairs.
There are three rooms on the second floor. One room is where Xie Zhongming lives. The study of Commander Xie was vacated for her and An'an Ningning to live in. The other room, which belonged to Xie Mingzhe, the fifth son of the Xie family, was vacated for Deng Yingying and her daughter Jiang Chunyan to live in.
Xie Zhongming's house was right across from Qiao Xingyue's. She knocked on the door, but there was no response.
At this moment, Deng Yingying came up from downstairs and looked at her.
"Sister Xingyue, are you taking the college entrance examination?"
"Um."
"Sister Xingyue, did you go to school before?"
"What's up?"
"Sister Xingyue, I went to high school before, but I didn't finish. However, I was a good student. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."
"Thank you, but no need." Qiao Xingyue was a medical doctor in her previous life. She was intelligent and had a good memory. She remembered everything she had learned before she transmigrated. Why would she need Deng Yingying to show off her limited skills here?
"Sister Xingyue, my mother said some hurtful things just now. Please don't take it to heart. I apologize to you on her behalf."
Qiao Xingyue knew that Deng Yingying wasn't a good person either, and that her apology wasn't sincere. She responded indifferently, "You don't need to apologize for your mother's affairs. If she dares to frame me again, your apology on her behalf won't make a difference."
“I…” Deng Yingying was speechless, as if her little thoughts had been seen through.
Knock knock!
Qiao Xingyue continued knocking on the door.
Deng Yingying smiled, seemingly offering a kind reminder, "Sister Xingyue, you might not know Brother Zhongming very well. He doesn't like others entering his room. I'm afraid you've been at the Xie family for so long, but you haven't been inside his room yet, have you?"
That's true.
From the very first day Qiao Xingyue arrived at the Xie family home, Aunt Lan had specifically reminded her that Comrade Xie didn't like others entering his room or touching his things. So, in the ten days or so that she had been there, she had never entered Comrade Xie's room.
Seeing her stop knocking, Deng Yingying seemingly kindly reminded her, "Sister Xingyue, my mother's words can be harsh. But Zhongming is still a married man with a wife. I think it's best for Sister Xingyue to keep some distance from Zhongming to avoid people gossiping about you behind your back. I'm just sincerely doing this for your own good."
"Comrade Deng, I wonder what your status is in reminding me like this? What is Comrade Deng's relationship with Comrade Xie?" Qiao Xingyue turned around, holding the things in her hands.
The sharp gaze fell on Deng Yingying, making her scalp tingle—where did this little nanny get such a powerful aura?
“I, I… Zhongming and I grew up together. We are as close as siblings.”
"Oh, we're as close as siblings. If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought you had feelings for Comrade Xie, that you got jealous whenever any female comrade got close to him."
“I didn’t,” Deng Yingying said anxiously. “Zhongming is a married man. How could I possibly have such improper thoughts?”
Deng Yingying and her daughter Jiang Chunyan are like two contrasting types: one is an old white lotus, and the other is a tender green tea.
Qiao Xingyue wasn't going to indulge the mother and daughter. She would do whatever made sure her breasts were clear. "Since they're not, then mind your own business."
Inside the door.
Xie Zhongming was standing at the door.
He heard the conversation outside clearly, and a smile of admiration crept onto his lips—this Comrade Qiao is truly exceptionally eloquent; not just anyone can bully her.
"Sister Xingyue, I really didn't mean to meddle. I'm just doing this for your own good. I..." Just as Deng Yingying was about to explain, Xie Zhongming opened the door.
His gaze first fell on Deng Yingying, "We grew up together, but our relationship wasn't as close as that of siblings."
“Brother Zhongming…”
"We're not that close."
His gaze then fell on Qiao Xingyue. "Comrade Qiao, were you the one knocking on the door just now?"
"Um."
"Come in and talk." Xie Zhongming opened the door wider and moved his tall, straight body to the side.
That means you should invite her in.
Deng Yingying, standing outside the door, was stunned by what she saw and heard.
Zhongming never liked anyone entering his room, especially women. There were many women in the compound who pursued him and visited him countless times under the pretext of work, study, or seeking advice.
Every single time, wasn't I turned away at the door?
Even though Deng Yingying and Zhongming had grown up together since childhood, every time she came to knock on his door, she was blocked outside and never even saw what his house looked like.
But just now, Brother Zhongming said he wanted to invite Qiao Xingyue inside to talk?
Deng Yingying glanced into the room. This was the first time she had seen the furnishings of Xie Zhongming's house. A single bed stood in the corner, the quilt folded into a perfect square, the sheets neatly laid out without a single wrinkle. A mahogany desk stood by the window, its books arranged tidyly. Various certificates of merit and banners adorned the walls. On one wall hung a calligraphy scroll he had personally written: "Defend the country, be loyal to the mission. The brave are fearless, the strong are invincible."
The handwriting, like the man himself, was full of unwavering strength.
The room was spotless again.
Deng Yingying finally saw what Xie Zhongming's house looked like, but it was because of Qiao Xingyue that she had this opportunity. She felt sour, as if she had been soaked in a jar of vinegar.
Qiao Xingyue was a sensible woman. She stood at the door without moving an inch, and then handed Xie Zhongming the Friendship Brand face cream that was tucked inside the book.
"Comrade Xie, I'll accept the book, but I won't accept the face cream. That's inappropriate. Thank you."
She didn't go into Xie Zhongming's room. After stuffing the face cream into Xie Zhongming's hand, she led An An and Ning Ning back to their own room and then closed the door tightly.
It wasn't until the door opposite closed tightly that Xie Zhongming realized—this was the first time in his life that he had invited a female comrade into his room to talk, and the woman was unwilling to come in.
He didn't mean anything by it; he just saw that Deng Yingying was also standing at the door, and he didn't want to talk to Comrade Qiao in front of Deng Yingying, so he invited her inside to talk.
Comrade Qiao was very sensible. Only now did he recall his wariness and suspicion of her when she first came to the Xie family. It turned out that he had misunderstood Comrade Qiao.
Besides feeling guilty, he also had a vague feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on—it seemed like Comrade Qiao was avoiding him.
At this moment, Deng Yingying interrupted his thoughts, "Brother Zhongming, I'm also taking the college entrance exam this year. Could you tutor me when you have time?"
Xie Zhongming's gaze towards Deng Yingying was icy, and he said coldly, "Do I look like someone who has free time?"
“Brother Zhongming…”
Snap!
Before Deng Yingying could finish speaking, Xie Zhongming grabbed the face cream and closed the door.
He stood at the door, deep in thought. Comrade Qiao hadn't come into his room just now, saying that she couldn't accept this box of face cream, that it wouldn't be appropriate. Had she misunderstood something?
The hand holding the face cream clenched tightly.
The next moment, he opened the door, ignoring Deng Yingying who was standing at the door crying in grievance, walked around her, went to the other side, and knocked on the door.
The person who opened the door was An'an. An'an raised her little head and her voice was as clear as a bell in the wind, "Uncle Zhongming, is there something you need?"
"I'm looking for your mother." Xie Zhongming was also very tactful, knowing that this was a woman's room, and stood at the door without moving an inch inside.
Qiao Xingyue walked to the door. "Comrade Xie, is there anything else?"
Holding the box of face cream, Xie Zhongming hurriedly explained, "Comrade Qiao, my mother asked me to bring this box of face cream back. She said she was worried that your hands would become rough from doing too much housework, so she wanted to give you a box of face cream."
Qiao Xingyue believed it.
She would be grateful to accept the face cream if Aunt Lan gave it to her, but she wouldn't accept it if Xie Zhongming sent it, even if he was sending it on behalf of Aunt Lan.
So far, Zhou Dahong has accused her of seducing Xie's men, Jiang Chunyan has also accused her of seducing Xie's men, and Deng Yingying has also made sarcastic remarks telling her to stay away from Comrade Xie. She only wants to work hard in Xie's family and doesn't want to cause any trouble. Even if Xie's family is reasonable and protects her, if there are too many people gossiping in the compound, it will definitely have a bad impact on Comrade Xie's reputation.
If it really affects Comrade Xie's reputation, she might leave on her own initiative; she doesn't want to lose such a good job.
Therefore, it's better for her to keep some distance from Comrade Xie.
"Comrade Xie, please tell Aunt Lan that I'm used to living in the countryside and I'm not used to using this kind of thing. But thank you very much, Aunt Lan."
After saying that, Qiao Xingyue pulled An'an a little further inside and then closed the door.
The next morning, Huang Guilan saw Qiao Xingyue making pancakes in the kitchen. She took the face cream back in and said, "Xingyue, this face cream was specially bought by Zhongming by Aunt Lan because she was worried that your hands would become rougher from working every day. You must accept it. Didn't you say you wouldn't be polite to Aunt Lan anymore? It's not anything expensive."
Qiao Xingyue accepted it readily, saying, "Okay, Aunt Lan, I'll take it. Thank you."
She will work even harder to express her gratitude to Aunt Lan for her kindness.
Xie Zhongming, returning from his morning exercise, wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel hanging around his neck—it was the same face cream, so why did Comrade Qiao accept it so readily when his mother gave it to him? Was it because he gave it to him in the wrong way?
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