Chapter 17 Chapter 17 I'll sleep at your house tonight
There is no doubt that Li Chengchuan is Xing Kui's new neighbor, and Zhou Jing just hugged his brother's fiancée inside the door.
Outside the threshold, Li Chengchuan glanced up and down at Xing Kui, confirming she was safe. Then, with a deadpan expression, he turned to his supposedly trusted friend and said, "Explain." He passed Zhou Jing and entered. Li Chengchuan didn't have X-ray vision, so he didn't know what was going on inside. But yesterday at the traffic police station, Zhou Jing had been the one who said goodbye to Xing Kui with him, and today, it was Zhou Jing who was escorting her back home. What had happened? Zhou Jing better explain it to him.
Li Chengchuan swept the narrow room with a scrutinizing and aggressive gaze, and finally looked at Xing Kui by the window. There was a strong smell of mold in the room and dust accumulated on the table. All these showed that Xing Kui did not go home yesterday.
"Where did you sleep last night?" Unlike when he spoke to Zhou Jing, his tone was subconsciously soft when he spoke to her.
"I--" Zhou Jing walked in from the door.
"What's it to you?" Xing Kui tilted her head, feeling that Li Chengchuan was weird.
You're meddling too much. No wonder Zhou Jing told you to keep it a secret. Don't be a president, be a dean of studies.
Li Chengchuan choked. What did it have to do with him? He was pursuing the wife he was planning to marry. He couldn't be mean to his wife. He turned around and glared at Zhou Jing coldly, his expression icy and fierce, like a wolf guarding its food.
"Wait a minute." Xing Kui patted Li Chengchuan's shoulder and walked between him and Zhou Jing. Then she realized, "You? A new neighbor? Why are you a new neighbor? What's wrong with you living here?"
Li Chengchuan used the excuse he had prepared long ago: "Business needs, on-site inspection."
"Oh." Xing Kui nodded. "I see. I've seen this plot on TV. You're planning to build some facilities around here. That's great. If it can boost the economy here, we'll have more takeout options."
“…” Why did you think of takeout?
“There’s not even a pizza place around here. Sometimes I can’t even get one even when I’m craving it.”
“…” If necessary, he would arrange for someone to open one later.
Xing Kui! Don't interrupt him!
Li Chengchuan had a lot of questions to ask.
For example, just now, he didn't hear the sound of Xing Kui limping up from downstairs, nor did he hear the footsteps of two people supporting each other. How did she get up the stairs?
For example, they had been in the room for a few minutes. What happened during these few minutes? Why were Xing Kui's ears red? Why didn't Zhou Jing leave?
"But it's okay. I'm planning to move somewhere with a pizza place."
Li Chengchuan looked up in surprise, the unspoken syllables falling from his mouth. Xing Kui's expression was relaxed, the wind from the window blew her hair, the subway was very noisy, but her heart was unusually calm.
He smiled and looked at Zhou Jing, "I actually thought about moving before. Lawyer Zhou just suggested it to me and it reminded me of it. I plan to realize my previous idea."
"Why didn't you move before?" Li Chengchuan knew Xing Kui's salary very well. At least two years ago, she had the financial resources to rent a house that cost several times more than this.
Xing Kui smiled sheepishly and wrinkled her nose. "Because I wanted to save money to buy a house before, you're the CEO, so you don't understand." She glanced at Zhou Jing and said, "You're a man, so you don't understand either. Most men buy houses with financial support from their parents, but most girls have to rely on themselves."
Many families believe that if they have a son, they have to save money to buy a house and a car for him, and if they have a daughter, they just have to save money for a dowry.
Xing Kui was envious when she saw her male classmates and colleagues of the same age owning houses. What she envied was not necessarily the houses, but why her son could have one but her daughter could not. She was not convinced and wanted to prove that she was better than those sons who needed their parents to pay the down payment.
"I really wanted to buy a house before, but the housing prices in Jingjiang City are too expensive. I need to save at least 500,000 for a down payment." Xing Kui raised his fingers and scratched, "When I just graduated, my monthly salary was 8,000. Even if I didn't buy clothes or snacks, the monthly rent, food, utilities, and transportation would be at least 3,500. I can only save a little over 40,000 a year. And I can't not buy clothes. I have to buy several pieces.
There are also colleagues’ birthdays, colleagues’ children’s birthdays, colleagues’ parents’ birthdays… social favors are also a huge expense.”
Even so, "I saved half a million last year, but I always wanted to save a little more, a little more, to buy a better house, and then I almost got hit by a car."
The sonata of life almost stopped in this small apartment of more than ten square meters.
Go buy a house! She wants to live comfortably in the future!
"So I'm going to move." Xing Kui smiled sweetly, "But the doctor said it's best for me to stay in bed for the next few weeks. Finding a house and moving are very tiring. I'll stay here for a few more weeks before leaving."
Zhou Jing: "I'll help you find a room."
Li Chengchuan: "I'll help you move."
The two spoke almost at the same time. Li Chengchuan glanced at his good brother coldly, and a layer of ice covered his handsome face. Thinking of what Xing Kui said, Zhou Jing suggested that she change rooms, Li Chengchuan calmed down again.
It seemed that this was what they were discussing when they were alone. Li Chengchuan knew Zhou Jing's character very well. He looked kind and approachable, but in reality he was not close to anyone. Among the brothers, they admired each other the most. He could doubt anyone, but no one could doubt him.
Li Chengchuan nodded to Zhou Jing, and Zhou Jing also went along with it and nodded to Li Chengchuan, concealing the fact that he agreed to treat Xing Kui.
Looking at Xing Kui, "You had a legache yesterday, so you stayed at Jiang Yuming's house. Otherwise, you can stay at his house or mine until you find a new place to live."
In a few words, Zhou Jing explained the reason why Xing Kui did not return home yesterday. Li Chengchuan understood and looked at Zhou Jing: Where is my home?
Zhou Jing ignored it. It was inappropriate for them to live together after breaking up, so it was unnecessary to bring it up.
In any case, no one wanted Xing Kui to stay in this mold-infested room for another day.
Xing Kui lowered her head to think about Zhou Jing's suggestion. Jiang Yuming had a room ready for her at home, complete with pajamas, slippers, and toiletries, but she wanted to capture Zhou Jing: "Lawyer Zhou, is it convenient for me to live in your house?"
Li Chengchuan quickly answered, "He's the only one at his house." Zhou Jing was rarely at home during the day, always working away from home, meaning Xing Kui lived alone. "It just so happens that my house is next to his, so if you come, we'll still be neighbors."
Zhou Jing frowned slightly, but didn't refute this, which was the first time he heard it. "If you've decided, pack up your things and let's go."
In front of the stairs on the fifth floor, next to the paint-chipped handrail, Li Chengchuan was wearing a neatly-ironed black suit. He had a distinguished appearance and an aura that was totally out of tune with the shabby surroundings. Xing Kui locked the door and turned her head to glance at him. Wow, he looked like a domineering CEO going to the countryside.
Looking at Zhou Jing, who was carrying a lot of bags, she also looked very noble. Zhou Jing carried her upstairs, and now that Li Chengchuan was going downstairs, she had to limp down by herself.
Xing Kui tried to grab the handrail, but Li Chengchuan grabbed her wrist and said, "Wait, I'll carry you down."
Without waiting for her to answer, Li Chengchuan picked her up by the waist without any objection, and walked downstairs with a stiff face. Xing Kui thought that he was probably trying to stop her from contacting his brothers, so she carried Li Chengchuan on her back and made a gesture to hit Li Chengchuan towards Zhou Jing.
Zhou Jing raised his gold-rimmed glasses with his middle finger, followed them with the bag in hand, and while going downstairs he took out his phone and searched for takeout near his house. There was a pizza place, so he turned off the screen of his phone.
After running back and forth, Xing Kui's body couldn't bear it anymore and she fell asleep on the road due to exhaustion. She and Li Chengchuan sat together in the back seat of Zhou Jing's car. She naturally tilted her head and leaned against something, which felt a bit hard, so she tilted her head in the other direction.
Li Chengchuan pulled her back and put her in his arms. Xing Kui frowned and rubbed him several times before she finally calmed down. Crescent-shaped fingers stroked her hair, and Li Chengchuan's mouth corners curled up slightly.
Zhou Jing, who was driving, stared at the rearview mirror. A look of understanding flashed across his deep eyes. He knew that Li Chengchuan still liked Xing Kui. Fortunately, he stopped Xing Kui from looking for Jiang Yuming and prevented this relationship from coming to an end.
"There's a pizza place near your house." Li Chengchuan took the phone and did what Zhou Jing had just done. Because Xing Kui was sleeping, his voice was very soft, "I'll sleep at your house tonight."
Zhou Jing was driving: "Shouldn't you sleep next door to my house?"
Li Chengchuan: "Are you kidding me? I will be her neighbor, but we haven't bought a house yet. Don't worry, I can just say that I slept at Qingping last night and the house wasn't cleaned all day, so I'm staying at your place for one night. She knows my mysophobia and will believe it."
Zhou Jing: "One thousand per night."
Li Chengchuan: "Sure, I'll pay you daily, including the cost of Xing Kui's stay."
In the driver's seat, Zhou Jing glanced at the rearview mirror and did not refuse the money. Li Chengchuan would not think too much about it if he accepted the money.
In the back seat of the car, Li Chengchuan lowered his head and looked at Xing Kui again, his eyes full of heartache and greed.
As night fell, the residential complex where Zhou Jing lived was not as upscale as the one where Jiang Yuming lived. It was just an ordinary residential complex. His house was also smaller than Jiang Yuming's, less than 100 square meters. However, it had the advantage of being well decorated and soundproofed, and it was quiet. Xing Kui was quite satisfied.
There were many books in the room, and there was an unfinished chess game in the study. Her bedroom was opposite the study.
Xing Kui sat on the edge of the bed, and Zhou Jing brought her a gray goose down quilt: "This is the only quilt of this color at home. If you don't like it, I'll buy a new one."
"No, no, this is fine." Xing Kui hugged the gray bedding and looked at him with her sickly face, looking pure and harmless.
Today this face was in his arms, in the car and in Li Chengchuan's arms. Zhou Jing lowered her eyes. A pair of gray slippers were on her feet. They were his. Her skin color looked good in black, but it also suited her in gray.
She kicked the bed with her heel. She had ordered takeout for dinner, pizza with some fruits and vegetables. Xing Kui ate happily, was in a good mood, and was talkative. She glanced at the wall, behind which was Li Chengchuan's room. "You're such an exaggeration, brother. You won't stay here until the house is cleaned for a day. Just one day, eh? Do you know what that means?"
"What does that mean?" Zhou Jing stared at his shoes.
"It means you are so clean that even a mysophobic man can feel at ease." Xing Kui leaned over, raised her face and smiled brightly at Zhou Jing, like a little sunflower that could glow.
When the light shone into the lens, Zhou Jing slightly tightened his jawline and was absent-minded for a moment: "Don't say such things in front of Li Chengchuan. Go to bed. You need to rest your legs. You can't keep them bent all the time."
Taking her feet out of her slippers, Xing Kui moved onto the bed and said, "I know, I know. I will definitely keep it a secret from him."
"I'll get you some hot milk."
"Okay, thank you." Watching Zhou Jing close the door, Xing Kui took out his cell phone from the pillow.
Doctor Jiang Yuming: [How's it going? Did our good children achieve any results today?]
In the kitchen, Li Chengchuan was heating milk. Zhou Jing came over and saw what he was doing. He walked to the refrigerator and took out a box of milk of a different brand: "That one doesn't taste as good after heating."
Li Chengchuan glanced at him, took the milk carton, poured out a cup and smelled it, then poured out the original milk in the pot and reheated it.
He left with the milk. Behind him, Zhou Jing glanced at the bottom of the pot he had used. It was a layer of paste. Mr. Li was not worldly and did not know how to heat milk.
The door rang, and Xing Kui, who was texting, quickly stuffed her phone back into the pillow: "Li Chengchuan? Did Zhou Jing ask you to deliver it?"
"What does it have to do with him?" Li Chengchuan's face froze. He handed her the milk cup, his dark eyes fixed on her. "You've only met him for two days. Be careful. Zhou Jing is smart and calm. If he sells you out, you'll still count the money for him."
Xing Kui took the milk, the burnt smell was pungent. She frowned and took a sip. Wow, it tasted so bad.
You brothers are really weird. Why do you always say bad things about each other behind your backs?
"I know, I know." I don't even know you! Go away!
After persuading Li Chengchuan to leave, Xing Kui quickly put down the cup. The drink was too bitter and she had to rinse her mouth. Just as she stretched her feet out from under the quilt, the door opened again. Thinking it was Li Chengchuan coming back, she quickly retracted her feet and looked up to see it was Zhou Jing.
Zhou Jing closed the door and walked over with a cup of fragrant hot milk: "Drink this, Li Chengchuan wants to heat it up for you, I can't stop him."
As the delicious milk went down her throat, Xing Kui leaned against the bed happily, holding the cup of milk in both hands and sighing, "This is what people should drink. Thank you, Lawyer Zhou."
"As long as you like it, I won't bother you."
"Wait a minute, Lawyer Zhou." Xing Kui swallowed the milk in her mouth and called him. Jiang Yuming was on the phone under her pillow. She had to remember how to win over Zhou Jing. She raised her hand to grab Zhou Jing's clothes, closed her eyes tightly and said in a voice so fast that she couldn't hear clearly, "Can I give you a goodnight kiss?"
"What?" Zhou Jing heard it clearly, but...
"It's just a goodnight kiss, Lawyer Zhou. I'm sick. I can't sleep without kissing you." Having said that, Xing Kui decided to go all out and simply raised her body and kissed Zhou Jing's jaw. "That's enough, you can go now."
Xing Kui retreated into the gray quilt as soon as he touched her. He buried his head in the milk and sipped it, feeling guilty, and his teeth were chattering.
A shadow fell in front of her eyes, and she was startled. Zhou Jing did not leave but sat down beside her bed, his rational eyes fixed on her.
"Have I ever told you that I'm not a doctor, but I have basic common sense. Is this what craving skin syndrome is? Xing Kui, you don't look satisfied at all from kissing me."
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