Chapter 64 Even if you're arrogant, listen to my sophistry
Xie Qingci was hungry.
That evening, she and Lin Lexin only had some snacks, and at the bar, she only drank a gin and tonic and ate some fruit. It was practically the same as not having a proper meal.
She rested her head on the arm of the person behind her, took out her phone and glanced at the time; it was already late at night.
Liang Jingzhuo had been busy ever since she finished showering and answered a phone call. She threw away the arm that was under her neck and told him to focus on his work, but he refused. He insisted on holding her with one arm and talking on his phone with the other.
It was probably another impromptu conference call, and they were speaking some kind of language, which she still couldn't understand.
She opened her favorite social media app for product recommendations and scrolled through it. During this late-night food-themed time, the screen was filled with mukbang videos and food-related content, making her increasingly hungry.
Just as I was wondering whether I should check the refrigerator for any ready-made food, Lin Lexin sent me a message.
Several photos and a video were taken at a bar, and the sender thoughtfully asked her: "I noticed you didn't take any photos at the bar, so I'm sending them to you. Do you want to post them on your social media?"
Xie Qingci didn't even need to open the video; she could guess its content from just a few photos: a male model in wet clothes performing a striptease.
This definitely cannot be posted on WeChat Moments.
She replied: "No, that's not good."
Lin Lexin instantly understood the hidden meaning: "Are you afraid my brother will see this? Then block him."
What a good younger sister.
Xie Qingci possessed the admirable virtue of remaining unmoved even with a woman in his arms, [but I'd rather not; I'm worried he'll find out and beat me up.]
Lin Lexin sent a long string of messages: 【Hahahahahahaha!】
Then she said, "Okay, keep it as a souvenir. Next time I'll take you to an even more exciting one."
Is there anything even more powerful?
Today, in Xie Qingci's twenty years of ignorance, is already the most energetic he has ever been; it's unimaginable how energetic he could be now.
She asked: "Official?"
She couldn't imagine how energetic someone could be within the bounds of propriety.
Lin Lexin sent another string of laughing messages: "Little sister-in-law, you're so cute! It's definitely legitimate, don't worry. I'll still wear underwear, otherwise I'd be scared away too!"
Xie Qingci smiled and replied: 【OK.】
I was so engrossed in the conversation that I didn't even notice when the person next to me ended the conference call. I only realized the conversation had stopped when I looked away from my phone, followed by a familiar piece of music.
She paused, listened intently, thought carefully, and then, after three seconds, her heart suddenly tightened as she remembered where she had heard it before—
The background music for the male models' striptease performance at the bar!
The thought exploded in her mind like a muffled thunderclap, and she turned to look.
Liang Jingzhuo held his phone in one hand, looking at the Instagram post that Lin Lexin had just made. The music and lights created a restless and ambiguous atmosphere. On the stage in front of him, a dozen or so men were dancing in a boy band formation, unbuttoning their shirts as they danced.
He slowly turned his head, meeting her gaze, his brows furrowing. "So, when I was seriously injured, you were looking at this?"
Xie Qingci took a breath and held it in her chest for a long time before slowly exhaling, "No... let me explain."
The arm that was resting under her neck hooked back and rested on her sternum, as he said, "You're making excuses."
“…That’s right.” She paused for a long time, “I think the main problem lies with Le Xin.”
Liang Jingzhuo looked at her with a calm and composed expression, waiting for her to continue.
"She shouldn't have posted on Instagram."
They should at least try to avoid people.
"..."
What kind of sophistry is this?
“But I didn’t watch, really.” Xie Qingci solemnly assured him, “I lowered my head as soon as the dance started.”
"Is that so?" A question with an ambiguous meaning came from the lips of the person next to him.
He then turned the phone around and held it up to her face, asking, "So who is this?"
On the screen was a photo of her sitting on a booth sofa in the dim light, resting her chin on her hand and looking at the stage. The flickering lights shone on her eyes, making them sparkle. Her expression was a little stiff but also a little shy.
no……
When was this photo taken by Lin Lexin?
She pursed her lips tightly, remained silent for a few seconds, then looked up at the person behind the phone, "Are you still going to listen to my excuses?"
He put his phone away and nodded: "Listen, continue."
"This isn't me, do you believe me?"
"..." Liang Jingzhuo laughed in exasperation, moved his hand from her sternum to her cheek and pinched it twice, "I believe you."
He was just teasing her. When he learned that Lin Lexin wanted to invite her out, he guessed what activities would take place, so he wasn't surprised.
He glanced at her phone; he had already made the call while she was browsing food posts. "Hungry? Want to grab a late-night snack?"
The topic was dropped just like that, and Xie Qingci was a little lost, still thinking about how to smooth things over.
Since that's the case, then she will—
He nodded solemnly, "Yes, I will."
Liang Jingzhuo chuckled, kissed her forehead, and whispered, "Shall I go buy it for you, or would you like to come with me?"
Xie Qingci thought for a moment, "Shall I go with you?"
He smiled, agreed, and pinched her cheek. "Get up and change your clothes."
Xie Qingci's slippers were left in the shower room. He had carried her out earlier, and later when she went to take a shower, he carried her there and then carried her back.
She stood on the edge of the bed and looked at the floor, hesitating whether to get out of bed barefoot. Liang Jingzhuo walked around to the foot of the bed and said, "I'll carry you."
She smiled, opened her arms, and replied, "Okay."
Even though her misdeeds were exposed, Xie Qingci hadn't been "beaten up" yet. She showed great after-sales service by hugging his neck and being carried to the dressing room, not forgetting to say sweet words, "Before I came here, my roommate asked me where I was going."
Liang Jingzhuo supported her hips with one hand and stroked her back with the other. Hearing her words, he looked down at her, a faint smile curving his lips. Knowing she was trying to please him, he still cooperated and asked, "What did you say?"
She smiled and kissed his lips, saying, "I told you I'm going to coax my husband."
He chuckled, enjoying her flattery, and kissed her on the lips. "So your roommate gave me this gift?"
The scene from just now flashed through her mind, and Xie Qingci suddenly blushed. "I didn't know it was this."
Otherwise, she would never accept it, much less give it to him.
Seeing her adorable reaction, Liang Jingzhuo leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose, teasing her intentionally, and said with a smile, "Then tell that little friend that I am very satisfied with this gift and that we can continue to give gifts."
As soon as he finished speaking, the person in his arms blushed and glared at him, calling his name in a coquettish tone: "Liang Jingzhuo!"
Then she lay down in front of him and bit him.
He laughed, feigning a pained hiss, and said, "Why does the puppy bite?"
The person buried in front of him snorted and then gently bit him again. "Anyway, we're both puppies. Puppies are meant to bite."
He turned his head and kissed her temple, then nodded in agreement.
-
The last time Liang Jingzhuo bought her a late-night snack, it was from a shop near Central. Xie Qingci thought the taste was just average and a bit salty.
However, there were very few shops still open close to midnight, and Liang Jingzhuo himself never ate late-night snacks, so he didn't know which one was good.
So Xie Qingci searched for the ranking list again, this time looking for the local recommendations. She finally found a shop in Wan Chai that was said to have good fish ball noodles and beef brisket.
She found the address and asked him, "Is this okay?"
Liang Jingzhuo glanced at the detailed address, nodded, and said, "Okay." He then started the car and took her out for a late-night snack.
Upon arrival, there were surprisingly many people; tables and chairs from the night market were set up along the roadside.
Liang Jingzhuo didn't eat it, but Xie Qingci felt it was strange for him to eat it, so she ordered one for him as well.
While waiting for the food, Xie Qingci looked around at the lively surroundings and asked him, "Didn't you ever go out and play with your classmates when you were in school?"
She discovered that he sometimes really lacked any experience of this kind of noisy, down-to-earth life, and compared to Lin Lexin, he was completely worlds apart.
Liang Jingzhuo shook his head. "Rarely. Most of the time we play ball or go hiking together."
It's really boring.
"But I usually don't have time, I have a lot of classes to attend."
Competitions and various extracurricular classes almost filled all of his spare time.
Actually, he had never thought about these things before. It seemed that such a life had become a habit. His upbringing from childhood had destined him to be different from his classmates.
Xie Qingci pursed her lips. "How pitiful."
Then she recalled, "Let me think about what I was doing when you were in the enrichment class? Shopping with classmates? Reading comics?"
Liang Jingzhuo laughed, "When I first attended the enrichment class, you were probably drinking milk."
"..." When the waiter came to serve the food, Xie Qingci picked up her spoon and deliberately contradicted him, "When you took the college entrance exam, I was still in the fourth grade of elementary school."
I didn't realize it until it came to the specific stages, and then I suddenly discovered that the gap between them was indeed quite large.
Xie Qingci paused, about to explain that she didn't mean he was old, but he smiled first and said gently, "Isn't it good?"
"I've completed many of the stages of life that require exploration and growth before you. When you need it, I can directly tell you the standard answers, so you don't have to figure it out on your own."
His expression was gentle and calm as he spoke, as if he had already considered the answer.
He went ahead and found the right turn, then handed the correct answer directly to her.
Xie Qingci smiled slowly and replied, "Okay."
-
Mr. Liang, who works year-round, has taken leave, citing injury as the reason.
The employees in the president's office were shocked. How could the boss have been injured overnight?
Some people recalled the news this morning about the art gallery light fixture falling down, which reported that two people were injured.
"Could one of them be the boss? I saw that Engineer Zhou from the technical team also took leave and was hospitalized, saying it was an accidental injury."
During the lunch break, Lu Li was stopped by several colleagues who asked him about the situation. He didn't go into details, only saying that President Liang had a minor injury and would be back in two days after resting.
After all, he had been Liang Jingzhuo's special assistant for six years, so he naturally noticed the subtle atmosphere between Engineer Zhou from the technical team and the boss. He thought about it and figured it was probably related to the boss's wife. However, as a subordinate, it was presumptuous of him to discuss the boss's private life, so he always gave vague answers to such inquiries.
He then recalled that before the meeting this morning, he had called General Manager Liang to discuss the content of the meeting. General Manager Liang's voice on the other end of the line was as clear and steady as ever, but suddenly he gasped and whispered, "I've got another injury."
His tone was soft and gentle; though he was expressing dissatisfaction, there was not a trace of accusation in his voice.
Then came the landlady's panicked voice: "Are you alright? It's terrible, there's blood."
The work had already been handed over, and he paused for a moment before quickly saying, "There's an online project meeting at ten o'clock. I'll contact you fifteen minutes in advance."
The person on the other end responded with a "Mm".
He then hung up the phone.
Then, at the project meeting at 10 a.m., the camera showed a visible bloodstain on the chin of the usually impeccably groomed boss. It was an unexpected sight, and all the executives present were stunned for a moment.
The culprit behind the bloodstain was someone who frantically researched which brand of scar removal cream was the most effective.
Hsieh Ching-Tzu had never shaved anyone before. When Liang Ching-Chu woke up in the morning, his hands were inconvenient to wash, so she asked him to use an electric razor. He said he only used an electric razor on his days off, and used a manual razor when he had work to do, because it gave him a clean and refreshing shave.
Thinking back, he was indeed very clean-shaven on weekdays, and his appearance was always impeccably groomed.
Looking again at the expectant and probing gaze directed at her, she understood what he meant: he said he would help her, but he couldn't guarantee he could scratch it all off.
He handed her the razor and said it was okay.
The final result was obvious: not only was it not scraped properly, but there was even a bit of an accident.
The wound wasn't deep, but Xie Qingci was worried it would leave a scar, which would really ruin his usual business image. Plus, he didn't know when the wound on the back of his hand would heal, so he would most likely need to use scar removal cream.
So she browsed through various product recommendation posts and bought several products in a frenzy, reminding him to use them after his wounds healed.
There were a few items that weren't sold offline, so she placed an order on a shopping app, asked about the delivery dates for each one, wrote him a sticky note, and stuck it on the refrigerator. But then she thought he probably wouldn't use the refrigerator himself, so she stuck it on the bedside table instead.
Liang Jingzhuo sat on the sofa, working on his computer. Watching the figure running around the house, he smiled helplessly and pulled the person over, saying, "Don't bother, I can remember."
Xie Qingci didn't believe her. "Then repeat it again."
She didn't doubt his memory and efficiency in handling matters at work, but she was skeptical about his behavior in daily life.
If classmates can't remember things, how could they remember these little things?
Liang Jingzhuo listened attentively and recounted everything she had just said in great detail. After finishing, he kissed her lips, which she had been gently pursing as she listened intently to him, and continued, "I still remember the light green dress you wore when I first met you."
Xie Qingci paused for a moment, recalling her clothes that day, then gave a "I caught you red-handed" look, "No, I was wearing a pale yellow dress."
Small, flowing sleeves, floral print!
She was worried about getting her shoes wet, so she carefully avoided getting splashed, which resulted in her skirt getting soaked.
Liang Jingzhuo laughed at her funny little expression and repeated, "I meant the first time I met you."
That overpass at sunset.
Xie Qingci paused for a moment, realizing she couldn't refute it, because even she herself couldn't remember what clothes she was wearing that day.
But at the same time, she realized something else.
"Mr. Liang, something's not right." She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I was seventeen back then, a minor. You didn't fall in love at first sight, did you?"
Lean Jingzhuo leaned back on the sofa, raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this, and twirled the ends of her hair that fell over her shoulders with his fingers. They were soft and delicate, just like the feeling of holding her in his arms. "In Hong Kong Island, as long as the guardian agrees, you can register for marriage at the age of sixteen. Besides, you are not yet twenty-one years old."
Xie Qingci recalled that when she registered her marriage before, she needed to prepare an additional guardian consent form. The legal marriage age in Hong Kong Island is sixteen, but those aged sixteen to twenty-one need guardian consent.
Actually, saying it was love at first sight isn't accurate. At the time, Liang Jingzhuo had only noticed the girl, and it wasn't until they met again later that he felt he could give it a try.
"So, if I meet you again the following year, we can get married then," he said.
Xie Qingci asked in confusion, "Why the second year?"
Are there any unwritten rules about this?
He kissed her forehead. "Let's respect the regulations for adults in mainland China."
They actually have a strong sense of morality.
Hsieh Ching-Tzu couldn't help but retort: "But in mainland China, you can only register for marriage when you are 20 years old. What does that have to do with being 18?"
He shamelessly replied, "That's none of my business."
"..."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Mr. Liang: As long as I'm not morally condemned, everything else is none of my business.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
