Chapter 60 Even she herself hated this kind of self…
This wasn't the first time Fu Qingli had seen Lin Xi at work, but it was the first time she had observed her so closely.
She and Zhou Qi worked together to measure various data within the venue, diligently taking notes in their notebooks, sometimes smiling, sometimes frowning, completely immersed in their work.
He didn't even notice him standing right there.
Zhou Qi noticed him first and called out, "Brother Fu."
Lin Xi then realized he had arrived. She looked up, her eyes filled with surprise, and gave him a sweet smile.
Fu Qingli walked over and helped Lin Xi take the tools she was carrying, and handed the bag she was holding to Zhou Qi.
"Iced Americano".
"Thank you, Brother Fu."
The central air conditioning in the venue was set a bit low, and Lin Xi felt a little cold.
Seeing the coffee filled with ice cubes made me feel even cooler.
But Zhou Qi drank it with great enthusiasm, saying, "Summer should be all about iced drinks."
Lin Xi disagreed.
Because of the medication she takes, her health has been poor in recent years. She is prone to feeling cold and doesn't dare to touch cold things even in the summer.
A warm brown paper cup was suddenly shoved into my hand: "This is yours."
Seeing that the cup had the same coffee shop logo as Zhou Qi's, she instinctively wanted to refuse.
Before she could speak, Fu Qingli continued, "You can only drink milk."
Lin Xi was moved by Fu Qingli's thoughtfulness once again.
From childhood to adulthood, he has always been able to identify his own needs immediately.
I am overwhelmed with emotion, words cannot express it.
Lin Xi took a small sip and praised, "Delicious."
Fu Qingli was amused: "It's just plain milk, what's so special about it?"
"Are you cold?" He touched Lin Xi's bare arm and felt the chill. He immediately became worried. "There are no spare clothes in the car. I'll go buy one."
With that, Li Fengxing turned to leave.
Lin Xi quickly grabbed his hand: "No need, today's work is almost over."
Seeing Fu Qingli turn around, she added, "This venue is circular and a bit complicated. I need to go back and think about how to design it. Once I have a preliminary plan, I will need to come to the site again."
"Okay, then drink the milk first, it will warm you up a bit."
Lin Xi nodded, chatting casually with him as she drank: "You came back very early?"
"No, I just got back about half an hour ago. I ran into someone outside and we chatted for a bit." Fu Qingli didn't mention that the person was Su Yi'an.
Between them, Su Yi'an is not a taboo word.
But he was the one who started their six-year separation, and he didn't want to talk about it anymore.
Dr. Ying is right. If he can't let go of his regrets about the past, how will Lin Xi get through the six years of loneliness?
Lin Xi naturally wouldn't think that way, assuming it was someone he knew, and didn't ask any further questions: "Did you finish your work so quickly?"
"It wasn't for work, I just went back to the sanatorium."
Lin Xi was taken aback, knowing that the sanatorium was a sore spot for Fu Qingli, so she didn't ask any further questions and quickly changed the subject: "So what are we having for dinner tonight?"
She was really bad at changing the subject; her eyes darted around, and she didn't dare to look him in the eye.
Fu Qingli was charmed by her cuteness and didn't expose her, instead playing along with her question: "What do you want to eat? Eat out or eat at home?"
Lin Xi remembered that when they were eating yesterday, Fu Qingli promised to cook sauerkraut fish for her next time.
That was one of her favorite Sichuan dishes.
"Let's go home and eat."
Fu Qingli saw through her little scheme and reached out to pat her head: "Okay, I'll make you sauerkraut fish tonight."
"Pickled cabbage fish?" Zhou Qi, who had been listening intently, couldn't help but ask, "Can I come over for a free meal?"
What's more, it's Fu Qingli who's cooking; the scene is unimaginable. How could she miss such an opportunity!
As someone who only eats and does nothing, Lin Xi had no say in this matter, and she also knew that Fu Qingli didn't like outsiders coming to her home.
But faced with Zhou Qi's longing gaze, she couldn't bear to refuse, and could only silently point to Fu Qingli.
Zhou Qi looked at Fu Qingli pitifully, but knew he wouldn't fall for it, so she didn't hold out much hope.
To everyone's surprise, Fu Qingli agreed: "Okay, you can come with us to buy groceries later."
Later, after Zhou Qi had walked a little further away, Lin Xi secretly tugged at Fu Qingli's sleeve and asked in a very low voice, "Don't you dislike other people coming to your house? Why did you agree this time?"
Fu Qingli took her hand and warmed it in her palm, saying, "But she's your friend, and I'm happy to entertain a friend who makes you happy."
As long as you're happy, my preferences can always take a backseat.
-
"Leave it alone, I can handle it."
After the meal, Lin Xi told Zhou Qi, who was a guest, to go and rest, while she stayed to help Fu Qingli clear the table.
Fu Qingli pulled her away, "Go and chat with Zhou Qi."
Zhou Qi is so outgoing and friendly, he doesn't need Lin Xi to accompany him. He just doesn't want her to do anything.
Zhou Qi was also very perceptive. She patted the seat next to her and said, "Come on, Xiao Xi, chat with me. I'm a guest, it's not good for me to sit alone."
Lin Xi was both amused and exasperated, but she could only sit down with her and ask, "What do you want to talk about?"
This question left the usually eloquent Zhou Qi speechless for a moment. She stammered for a while, "Let's chat. I never expected Brother Fu to be able to cook, and to cook so well! It tastes a bit like Aunt Tao's cooking."
"Yes, he learned it specifically from Aunt Tao."
Did you learn it on purpose?
This piqued Zhou Qi's curiosity: "Why did he suddenly want to learn to cook?"
As she said this, Lin Xi's mood sombered and her voice became very soft: "He learned it for Aunt Shen."
When the heavy topic of Shen Yu was brought up, the two fell silent for a moment.
What broke the silence was Fu Qingli's phone on the coffee table.
Caller ID: Grandfather.
Lin Xi didn't dare to delay. She took her phone and went to find Fu Qingli, calling out as she walked, "Fu Qingli, it's your grandfather's phone."
"You're here." Fu Qingli was tidying up the kitchen when she heard this. She washed and dried her hands and was about to go out when she bumped into Lin Xi who was coming in.
Lin Xi's forehead bumped into his chest. The force was light, but it startled her, and she couldn't help but let out a soft cry.
Fu Qingli quickly put his arm around her waist and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
"It's okay." Lin Xi pointed to her ringing phone. "You answer the phone first."
Seeing that she was alright, Fu Qingli felt relieved and picked up her phone to answer: "Grandpa."
"..."
"Yes, in the North City."
Lin Xi couldn't hear what was being said on the other end, but she noticed that Fu Qingli's brows furrowed slightly, and he didn't say anything more.
Looking at her, he pointed in the direction of the study.
Lin Xi understood that he wanted to go to the study to make a phone call, and hurriedly nodded.
Fu Qingli took her phone and walked a few steps to the study, unusually closing the door behind her.
Seeing Lin Xi's listless expression as she walked over.
Zhou Qi couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"No, he was on the phone."
Zhou Qi nudged Lin Xi's arm: "I mean, what's wrong with you?"
Lin Xi realized what was happening and awkwardly scratched her brow: "It's nothing, it's just that it's the first time I've ever seen him call and lock the door."
"Is that Shen's maternal grandfather?"
Lin Xi nodded.
Zhou Qi nodded thoughtfully, "That's normal. My brother told me that after they found out you were getting married, Shen's parents called Brother Fu countless times a day, urging him to take you home for dinner. Didn't you know that?"
"Huh? I don't know."
Lin Xi had never heard Fu Qingli mention this matter, and she didn't even know that the Shen family elders knew about their marriage. She thought that apart from Ji Jiali, Zou Song, and Zhou Qi, he hadn't told anyone else.
"I thought you didn't want to go," Zhou Qi said dismissively. "I guess Brother Fu has other plans."
But Lin Xi couldn't help but wonder why Fu Qingli wouldn't take her back to see her maternal grandparents.
Do you feel that the relationship isn't stable enough?
Or perhaps, like Fu Wenxun, his maternal grandparents were also dissatisfied with him?
Or is there some other reason?
She had met the Shen family elders a few times, the earliest being when she was five years old, but she was too young then to have a deep impression of them.
Later, at Shen Yu's funeral, it was clear that the two elders were well-educated and reasonable people, and their every move exuded the elegance of scholars.
Indeed, how could a family like that like her?
Without parents or anyone to rely on, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she had nothing at all.
"Xiaoxi, you don't need to worry about this. Brother Fu will handle everything." Zhou Qi didn't know what she was thinking, but she was afraid that she would overthink it, so she subconsciously offered a few words of advice.
But it struck a chord with Lin Xi.
Indeed, I should trust Fu Qingli.
He tries very hard to make himself feel secure; no matter what others do, as long as they want to be with him, that's enough.
Thinking of this, she cheered up again.
Zhou Qi also tried to change the subject to get her out of those things.
Fu Qingli's phone call lasted a long time, until Zhou Qi started to feel sleepy.
Upon seeing Fu Qingli come out, Zhou Qi immediately said goodbye: "Brother Fu, Xiaoxi, I have to go. I played too late last night and I'm so sleepy now."
Since that was the case, Lin Xi and the others naturally didn't keep her any longer, and the two of them escorted her downstairs together.
Actually, it was only a little past nine o'clock at night, and Lin Xi had eaten quite a lot that evening.
After dropping Zhou Qi off, Fu Qingli suggested that the two of them take a walk around the neighborhood to digest their food.
So the two of them held hands and strolled slowly through the neighborhood.
This community is mostly inhabited by university professors who are nearing or close to retirement age. They go to bed early and have already gone home by this time.
Only a few young people occasionally walked by downstairs.
The environment was quiet, and the warm yellow streetlights made it feel especially cozy.
The two chatted idly.
Seeing that the time was right, Fu Qingli tentatively mentioned, "Xiaoxi, you saw it, Grandpa called me."
"Um."
“They know we’ve returned to Beicheng and are urging me to take you back for dinner. Would you like to come with me, as my wife?”
Lin Xi was silent for a moment: "Would they like me?"
Fu Qingli could feel a sudden chill creep up his hands, which he had warmed up. He tightened his grip on his fingers and said, "Yes, they've liked you since they were little."
That's the truth.
Not only because she is Lin Fengyuan's daughter, but also because she is lively and cheerful.
They hoped that Fu Qingli could spend more time with her, and that he wouldn't be so introverted, but rather more energetic like someone his age.
Lin Xi knew all about these things.
It is precisely because I know this that I am even more worried.
"But I'm not the same as I used to be."
Now she is gloomy and sensitive, easily getting caught up in her own emotions, and has completely lost her former liveliness and cheerfulness.
Even she herself hated herself.
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Author's note: It's late today, boohoo~
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