Chapter 48 Even if you're so proud you didn't bring your underwear
Aunt Ali prepared a sumptuous lunch, mostly dishes that Xie Qingci liked when she last came over.
From the moment Xie Qingci entered the Liang family mansion, Duozai had been circling around her legs, rubbing against her and jumping around.
Xie Qingci felt a little apologetic. She had said she would bring it some delicious food next time she came back, but this trip was so unexpected that she hadn't had time to prepare.
But the puppy didn't seem to care whether she brought it treats or not; it was just as happy to see her.
As compensation, after dinner, Hsieh Ching-Tzu and Aunt Ali gave Duo-Zai a bath together.
Duozai is nothing like the dogs kept in the Gongguan District. It's too wild. As long as it doesn't poop or pee indiscriminately or bite people, Zhuang Shuying lets it be.
It often gets very dirty and needs a bath every two or three days. Apart from the grooming treatment every two weeks at the pet store, I bathe it at home the rest of the time.
The weather on Hong Kong Island is nice today, sunny and warm with a pleasant temperature.
Aunt Ali helped Xie Qingci put on an apron and gloves, and the two of them gave Duozai a bath right there in the garden.
The fluffy, soft puppy deflated instantly when hit by the water, looking nothing like a Samoyed.
Aunt Ali said with a smile, "Once when it was playing outside, it jumped into a small pond to chase fish. When it came back, it got a skin infection, and the vet shaved off all its fur. It looked ugly for at least two months after that. The first thing it does every morning when it wakes up is to look in the mirror to see if its fur has grown back."
Xie Qingci laughed.
Duozai seemed to know that Auntie Ali was talking about its embarrassing moments, and it raised its wet front paws and pounced on Auntie Ali again and again.
Aunt Ali laughed loudly and ran away, "What's wrong with you? Can't people even talk about the embarrassing things you did?"
Duozai wouldn't let it go and kept biting her trouser leg. Aunt Ali said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I won't say anything. I won't say anything bad about you to Miss Qingci. Duozai is the cutest puppy."
So Duozai let her go and obediently went back to continue taking a bath.
When Liang Jingzhuo returned, Xie Qingci and Aunt Ali had just finished bathing Duozai. Duozai was standing on the grass, shaking his fur wildly, splashing water everywhere. The two of them split up to dodge, but they still got splashed with water.
Aunt Ali glanced at Xie Qingci's clothes, which were already mostly soaked, and said, "Miss Qingci, you should go take a shower. You're completely wet."
Duo Zai has a special drying box. When Uncle Zhong saw how disheveled the two looked, he came over and took Duo Zai to dry off. "You two should both take a shower."
After saying that, she glanced at Aunt Ali, who was no better off than Xie Qingci, and said, "I told you to have a pet nanny come and help you, but you refused."
As soon as she finished speaking, she received a big eye roll from Aunt Ali, who said, "Mind your own business."
Hsieh Ching-Tzu took off her apron and gloves, and listened with a smile as Uncle Chung and Aunt Ali bickered. She turned around and was about to walk out of the grass when she saw Liang Ching-Chuo already standing on the stone path in the distance.
He was facing sideways, answering a phone call, his figure tall and slender in the sunlight.
Hearing the noise, he turned his eyes and glanced in this direction.
Xie Qingci thought she had missed the deadline, but when she took out her phone to check, she found that she still had time.
As they walked out of the grass, Liang Jingzhuo finished his phone call. He glanced at her wet clothes and said, "There are some clothes for you in the master bedroom. You can go take a shower."
After Xie Qingci left last time, Zhuang Shuying prepared some spare clothes for her and put them here, saying that she wouldn't need to bring so much luggage when she came over in the future. Who would carry a suitcase back and forth to go home?
Liang Jingzhuo had no understanding of women's aesthetics in clothing, and could only see that Xie Qingci's requirements for clothing were always simple and plain.
It's a very ordinary style, but it still looks beautiful on her.
When Zhuang Shuying asked for his opinion while shopping, he simply said, "Just buy according to her usual style of dress."
Xie Qingci glanced down and replied with an "okay".
The slightly fitted white top became somewhat see-through when wet, subtly revealing the outline of her underwear.
Liang Jingzhuo's gaze swept over the familiar pattern and texture; he had taken it off himself the day before yesterday.
Amidst the servants coming and going in the courtyard, he reached out and unbuttoned his suit jacket, then took it off and draped it over her shoulders.
Xie Qingci paused for a moment, then suddenly realized something and asked him in a low voice, "Is it that obvious?"
Considering that there were people around, she kept her voice low and her eyes showed a hint of panic and bewilderment.
Liang Jingzhuo looked into her eyes and replied softly, "It's alright."
Xie Qingci breathed a sigh of relief. Zhuang Shuying came out of the house and told her to take a shower quickly so as not to catch a cold. She smiled and agreed.
He turned around, glanced at the person in front of him, and said, "Let's go."
Liang Jingzhuo nodded and said "Mm".
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I went to the master bedroom's walk-in closet to get some clothes. Brand new dresses from all seasons, still with the tags on, filled several closets, exceeding the space occupied by Liang Jingzhuo's clothes. Some even ended up in his closet. Black and white tones and bright, eye-catching outfits shared the space equally.
Xie Qingci glanced at the color scheme of the map, which was intertwined with each other, grabbed a set of seasonal clothes, and went to the bathroom.
Amidst the rising steam and the pouring hot water, she suddenly realized another problem.
Liang Jingzhuo waited for Xie Qingci in the bedroom, remembering that her shoes, which she had just changed out of, were still a little wet despite having worn shoe covers.
Shoes are unique; you have to try them on to know if they fit. So Ms. Zhuang didn't buy them with clothes, saying she would buy them together when Xie Qingci came to visit next time.
He was about to get a spare hairdryer to dry the wet edges of her shoes when a muffled call came from the bathroom: "Liang Jingzhuo?"
Xie Qingci was unsure whether Liang Jingzhuo was outside, and her tone carried a tentative question.
As soon as I called out, I heard a reply from outside: "I'm here, what's up?"
She bit her lip. "I didn't bring my underwear."
She'd only been focused on her wet outer garment when she grabbed her clothes and hadn't noticed this, but she wasn't sure if there was a spare. If not, she'd have to wash and dry it again, just like she'd done before when she got soaked in the rain in Fushun Hutong. She asked, "Are there any here?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Jingzhuo paused for a moment, walked to the dressing room, opened the drawer of the underwear storage area, and placed two rows of light-colored women's underwear next to his dark-colored underwear.
He replied, "Yes."
After saying that, he paused in mid-air for a moment, took out a set of clothes, went to the bathroom, and put it in the laundry basket. "I left it outside."
Xie Qingci replied, "Okay."
After taking a shower and coming out of the bathroom, Liang Jingzhuo was half-squatting in the corner of the room, holding a hairdryer and drying her shoes.
Seeing her come out, he looked up and glanced at her. "We didn't prepare any shoes. You'll have to try them on yourself. There's no time this time. I'll take you to buy them next time I come."
Xie Qingci responded and glanced at the shoes he was holding. The man's hands were broad and slender, and a business watch was visible on his wrist, which was partially exposed. His thumb and forefinger were gripping the shoe upper, making her shoes look a little small.
After drying both shoes, Liang Jingzhuo turned off the hairdryer, reached inside the shoes to make sure there were no undried parts, then picked up the shoes and walked over.
Xie Qingci usually wears casual shoes, mostly sneakers, so the sight of him carrying them in a suit and tie looks somewhat incongruous.
She gestured that she could handle it herself, saying, "I'll carry it myself."
He didn't hand over the shoes, but instead picked up his coat from the hanger by the door. "Let's go get your luggage and I'll take you to the airport."
Traffic jams are common in the Hong Kong Island Tunnel, so it's best to leave early if you're traveling.
She glanced at the shoes he was still holding and replied, "Okay."
After going downstairs, Zhuang Shuying and Aunt Ali were in the living room, glancing at Xie Qingci's clothes.
Zhuang Shuying laughed: "I knew it! Xiao Ci would look great in it!"
Hsieh Ching-Tzu wore a mint green cotton shirt and flared jeans, a refreshing color scheme that suited her perfectly.
Zhuang Shuying adopted Liang Jingzhuo's suggestion and prepared everything according to Xie Qingci's usual style of dress.
Xie Qingci smiled and thanked her.
Zhuang Shuying glanced at them. "Are you leaving?"
Xie Qingci nodded: "Yes, I have class tomorrow, I'll come again next time."
Zhuang Shuying readily agreed, "Let me know in advance next time you come, and Aunt Ali and I will prepare more of your favorite dishes."
Xie Qingci nodded in agreement.
Zhuang Shuying and Aunt Ali saw them off. Liang Jingzhuo drove himself. After dropping Xie Qingci off, he had to go back to the company, so Uncle Zhong didn't come along.
They were stuck in traffic in the tunnel for a while, and Ke Meng and Duan Siyu texted Xie Qingci to ask if she was going back to school tonight.
She replied that she was going back.
Liang Jingzhuo drove quietly, without listening to music or the radio, and the car moved smoothly forward.
After replying to the message, Xie Qingci put down her phone, glanced at the person next to her who was focused on driving, pursed her lips, and said nothing.
When they arrived at the airport, there was still an hour before boarding. Liang Jingzhuo parked the car and accompanied Xie Qingci to check-in. There was no luggage to check, so the process was quick.
As I left the check-in counter with my ID and ticket, an announcement came over the loudspeaker that it was time to board Xie Qingci's flight.
Liang Jingzhuo escorted her to the security checkpoint and stopped.
The afternoon sun shone through the cracks in the glass wall of the hall. Xie Qingci looked at him and said, "Then I'm leaving."
Behind them was the security checkpoint barrier; dropping off passengers could only go this far.
Liang Jingzhuo looked into her eyes and nodded, saying, "Yes, I'll let you know I landed safely."
She nodded in agreement, then paused for a moment, remembering Ms. Zhuang's instructions from the previous night, "My mother asked me to tell you to take care of yourself and get some rest; your health is the most important thing."
I was supposed to convey this last night, but due to some other matters, I was unable to do so on time.
Liang Jingzhuo paused for a moment, then looked at her face. "And what about you?"
Xie Qingci looked at him, a hint of confusion flashing across her face. "What?"
He continued, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Xie Qingci paused slightly, glanced at the few steps between them that were neither too close nor too far, hesitated for a moment, then took two steps forward and hugged him, just like when he took her back to Jingzhao last time. "Then, have a good meal."
A warm, fragrant scent pressed against his chest. Liang Jingzhuo remembered the night she came over, when she burned her hand while making dinner for him. He slowly raised his arm and pulled the person in front of him closer to his chest.
"I'll come find you as soon as I'm done with my work, so don't wander off."
He knew her feelings, and that was enough.
The person in his arms nodded gently twice. "Okay."
The boarding announcement sounded again in the airport, and he had to let go of her, kissing her forehead. "Be careful."
He never imagined he would be so long-winded, repeatedly giving instructions.
Xie Qingci nodded in acknowledgment, took the small bag from his hand, turned and walked into the security checkpoint, then turned back and waved to him before walking towards the security checkpoint without looking back.
He was truly decisive and efficient, just like every time he drove her home.
Liang Jingzhuo stood outside the cordon and chuckled helplessly.
When will I learn to stop and look back at him?
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Author's note: I'm so sleepy, I've been having severe insomnia lately. No extra chapters today, my brain is completely foggy. See you tomorrow!
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