24 Unfamiliar
"Was it also an accident that you couldn't stop sitting on my lap?"
Qi Yanzhou, who had been leaning close to her face, suddenly stopped.
Song Chiyu immediately came to her senses: "That's not what I meant."
Qi Yanzhou remained unaffected by those words, maintaining his composed and serene demeanor. "Of course."
Song Chiyu pursed her lips, somewhat unwilling.
This person has always been like this, ever since the first day she met him, but his reaction at this moment is a little too indifferent.
Qi Yanzhou.
"Hmm?" he responded gently.
"Are you really unaware, or are you pretending not to know?" Song Chiyu took two steps, then couldn't help but turn back and ask.
"Didn't you say that's not what you meant?" Qi Yanzhou, who was following behind her, looked up and took two steps back when he saw her suddenly turn around.
The more Song Chiyu had admired his gentle and refined manners before, the more she now hated his lack of romantic understanding.
Unable to resist, she provoked him, saying, "Incompetent husband—"
"Me?" He chuckled softly, completely ignoring the aggressive words. "Let's go inside, it's too cold outside."
As Song Chiyu entered the main hall, the Qi family members were already taking their seats. Li Li and Old Song were seated at the head of the round table, with Song Chiyu's seat right next to them. All three of them looked somewhat awkward.
"Isn't this inappropriate?" Old Song said, looking at Qi Qingfang, who was older than him.
"There's no such thing as suitable or unsuitable; we're all family." Qi Qingfang waved his hand.
Qi Yanzhou sat down next to Song Chiyu, casually unwrapped the chopsticks and handed them to her, saying, "Time to eat."
Song Chiyu took the invitation and glanced at the young people sitting opposite her. Except for Qi Zhannan, everyone else had a fawning and honest smile. Song Chiyu smiled back and, to avoid making things awkward for everyone, stopped looking around the table.
Li Li was just as reserved as her, constantly pinching Song Chiyu's leg under the table.
Song Chiyu knew that whispering at the dinner table was very impolite, so she tried her best to keep smiling and looking straight ahead: "Didn't I tell you not to come? You didn't listen."
The boy sitting opposite her saw her smiling at him, so he put down his chopsticks and smiled back at her.
The scene was quite awkward at one point.
Li Li lowered her head and said casually, "How was I supposed to know there were so many people in their family?"
"It's not too late to regret it now. Let's eat and leave, otherwise we'll both have to get up at four o'clock tomorrow to help out."
Li Li gently tapped her temple: "Four in the morning?"
“Hmm.” Song Chiyu’s smile was stiff, and the boy opposite her, who was being looked at by her, became increasingly uneasy. His smile was more like a cry, and he kept glancing at Qi Yanzhou, as if he didn’t know what he had done wrong.
"I thought you were lying to me last year when you said you got up at four in the morning."
Song Chiyu smiled and let out two cold laughs.
Just then, a pair of chopsticks suddenly waved in front of her. Qi Zhannan, sitting to Qi Jianguo's left, scolded her, "Auntie, why are you staring at Xiao Yao and laughing? He is still your nephew. Even if he is cute, you, as his aunt, should avoid any impropriety."
Song Chiyu hadn't spoken yet.
Qi Yanzhou had already looked up at him.
Qi Zhannan was immediately startled and trembled, but he was still unconvinced and was about to complain when he was suddenly elbowed by Qi Jianguo, and he clutched his chest and let out a muffled groan.
"Children say the truth, children say the truth." Qi Jianguo looked at Lao Song and tried to smooth things over.
Old Song chuckled dryly twice.
Li Li then spoke up: "This fish is quite delicious."
The old lady sitting next to Qi Qingfang finally found a chance to speak. She suddenly straightened her back and said, "Yinghong, did you hear that? Auntie praised your cooking. Hurry up and come over to thank Auntie."
The girl who hadn't spoken a word while sitting across the table silently spat out the fish she was chewing and walked over to the old lady: "Thank you, Auntie."
Li Li didn't expect that her casual remark would cause so much trouble for someone, so she quickly stood up and retorted, "No need, this girl is really pretty."
“Of course—” The old lady straightened her back even more. “Yinghong came to our family when she was eight years old and her mother married into the family. I have been personally raising her ever since. Not to mention the dishes on this table, she is the one who cooks for the annual ancestral worship. Moreover, she not only cooks well, but she also has a good personality. She has been here for more than ten years, and I have never seen her argue with anyone. She can also endure hardship. She has been learning to play the piano since she was a child. Her hands were worn raw and bleeding, but she never complained.”
"That's incredibly patient." Li Li looked at the girl with even more heartache. "Please sit down, Auntie won't say anything more."
Yinghong dared not move, looking down at the old lady.
The old lady didn't expect Li Li to respond with such a comment, and her face flushed red and then turned pale. "Sit down."
Not long after Yinghong sat down, Qi Zhannan took advantage of Qi Yanzhou getting up to offer a toast, and sneakily approached Song Chiyu, as if afraid the world wasn't chaotic enough, and said, "Do you know who the old lady was talking to?"
"Please stay away from me," Song Chiyu said irritably.
"Oh, right, I was just telling you this," Qi Zhannan put his hand on her shoulder again, shielding his face as he leaned closer, and said, "That Yinghong, she was originally from my second uncle's family, but the old lady didn't have any children, so she brought her over. She was originally groomed by the old lady to be my second uncle's wife—"
Song Chiyu's resistance and refusal paused.
She unconsciously covered her face and said, "What era is this? How can your family still have such outdated ideas?"
“Don’t look down on her now. Back then, she saved Yinghong’s life. You have no idea how hard she suffered at my second uncle’s house. If it weren’t for you, she would be living a good life with my second uncle now.”
She wondered why he had the time to gossip with her; apparently, he was waiting for her here.
Song Chiyu sneered, grabbing the index finger that was resting on her shoulder and forcefully twisting it upwards. Qi Zhannan screamed in pain, and everyone's gaze turned towards them. Song Chiyu quickly released her grip, smiling as she replied, "She and your second uncle are like your second uncle and me. It seems like it doesn't matter whether you come or not, but actually, it's the same whether you come or not."
"What's the meaning?"
"It means you won't like it whether you come or not." Song Chiyu couldn't resist teasing him with a smile at this moment.
"You look down on me, yet you had my second uncle break my legs?" Qi Zhannan didn't care if anyone was watching. He seized the opportunity to pinch her face hard, and before Song Chiyu could react, he limped to his feet and ran away, yelling, "Bad woman—"
Song Chiyu suppressed the urge to chase after him and beat him up, explaining to the others, "It's okay, children say the darndest things."
Qi Yanzhou glanced at her flushed face and then looked coldly at Qi Zhannan.
Qi Zhannan had long since disappeared.
He limped away and disappeared.
Li Li could tell that this family was no pushover; the old lady's words clearly had a hidden meaning, and if they really stayed, who knew how they would torment Song Chiyu. After dinner, she quietly went to Qi Yanzhou to ask for her leave.
Qi Yanzhou quickly saw her concerns. "Mom, don't worry. Although we are family, you are still guests to the Qi family. The sacrificial banquet is the Qi family's business. You and Xiaoyu don't need to worry about it."
Li Li felt somewhat relieved.
Looking at Song Chiyu, he asked, "Shall we play a little longer?"
Qi Yanzhou didn't give Song Chiyu a chance to answer.
He replied to himself, "Yes, you and Dad will stay in the west wing today. I live right across from you, so feel free to contact me if you need anything."
Their yard has its advantages too.
Qi Qingfang and the old lady lived in the main house, while the rest of the Qi family lived in the back house behind the main house. As long as they didn't want to run into each other, they wouldn't easily run into each other.
Li Li looked around and whispered to Qi Yanzhou, "Your old lady is not easy to please."
Song Chiyu secretly tugged at her.
This was meant to signal her not to meddle in other people's family affairs.
However, Li Li had her own considerations. There were some things that Song Chiyu couldn't say, so she had to say them herself, lest it be too late if a real conflict occurred.
“Yes,” Qi Yanzhou immediately understood what she wanted to say and nodded politely, “So Xiaoyu won’t be allowed to serve her.”
This "serving" is not an actual action, but rather a summary of Song Chiyu's role in the Qi family as a whole.
Li Li felt much relieved. "And your nephew? Xiao Yu went on a blind date with him before, but they didn't even meet. The way he's putting his arm around Xiao Yu's shoulder and back, isn't that just making people gossip?"
"Yes, I've already asked my brother and dad to handle it."
“Your dad and your brother aren’t enough, you have to go.”
"Yes, I know." Qi Yanzhou nodded.
Song Chiyu felt that Li Li was talking too much, so she made an excuse to pull her away.
That night, Li Li and Lao Song slept in the wing room to the right of the main house. In the stillness, Song Chiyu walked through the central courtyard and found Qi Yanzhou, who lived opposite, and asked rather awkwardly, "Teacher Qi, where shall I stay tonight?"
Qi Yanzhou stood quietly under the dark doorway, holding a half-read ancient book in his hand, watching her. The warm, bright light from the room shone through the window on one side, casting gentle shadows on his handsome face, softening even his deep-set eyes.
Where would you like to stay?
“I’m fine with anything,” Song Chiyu said, looking around.
"Then come in," he said, turning to the side.
"What do you mean?" Song Chiyu walked in. The layout inside was different from what she had imagined from the old days. There was an entrance hall, next to which was a washbasin and bathroom with separate wet and dry areas. Further in was the bedroom.
She looked around but couldn't find a second bed. Turning around, she was about to say something to him when she bumped right behind him.
Song Chiyu was knocked back a step: "Teacher Qi—"
Qi Yanzhou grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. His cold expression revealed no emotion. "What have you been talking about with your parents all this time?"
"We didn't talk about much." It was just a few words about his family, but then she remembered what had happened before and pulled her hand away from his: "Teacher Qi, aren't you getting a little too close to my parents?"
He lowered his eyelids slightly, rolled up the book in his hand, and walked towards her.
Song Chiyu subconsciously stepped back: "We're not even that familiar with each other."
"How can you say we're not close?" His long eyelashes cast a faint shadow under his eyes, making his originally cool and deep eyes look even more profound. "I've never let anyone hug me like that except for you."
"How did I hug you?" Song Chiyu subconsciously denied.
“She sat on my lap, calling out ‘Teacher Qi’ in a slightly trembling voice, and I held her like that.” He looked at her indifferently and deeply. Her familiar and handsome face looked wicked no matter how you looked at it, and even his well-dressed shirt and trousers seemed to become disheveled.
Song Chiyu never expected him to say it so openly.
The scene flashed through her mind, and a surge of inexplicable anger welled up within her. She unconsciously retreated, following his steps: "That was an accident—"
"Really?" He cornered her, then plopped down on his undone desk chair. Song Chiyu tried to get up, but he had already secured himself on the other armrest, sitting on her side and completely enveloping her in his shadow.
"Was it an accident that you rode on my legs and couldn't stop?" His straight back slumped down slowly as his eyelids lowered, his cold and handsome face revealing no emotion, not even a trace of calm.
Song Chiyu was extremely embarrassed and angry.
"I can't stop—"
"No?" He turned his head slightly, gazing elsewhere, and leaned close to her lips to ask, "Then what about the dampness I can feel through my pants?"
Song Chiyu never expected that such words would come from his mouth.
She turned her head in disbelief: "Qi Yanzhou, did you do those things just to mock me?"
"What things?" He turned around and made eye contact with her briefly for two seconds, then suddenly picked her up around the waist, sat in her previous spot, and placed her on his lap.
The image of him asking her "Do you still want it?" is still vivid in my mind, but now he doesn't want to admit it.
Song Chiyu propped herself up and sat up, "It's just..."
Before she could finish speaking, he had already taken off her coat. Song Chiyu was startled. Before she could react, he had already taken off her sweatshirt as well, leaving her in only a tank top underneath.
Song Chiyu was shocked and covered her chest, turning her back to him.
He glanced at her sharp, protruding shoulder blades, then took his pajamas and covered her with them. "I don't like the smell of other people on you."
What could she possibly have...?
She immediately realized that Qi Zhannan had hitched a ride with her when she was eating while wearing this hoodie.
"Then what are you saying to me? Go tell your nephew! You have no respect for elders at all." Song Chiyu turned her back to him and quickly put on the plain black pajamas.
"How do you know I didn't tell him?" Song Chiyu had her back to him, shrugging as she buttoned her shirt, but from his perspective, it was still completely visible. His handsome face showed no extra expression, and his naturally lowered eyelids never wavered.
Song Chiyu realized that he was watching.
She covered him up even more tightly, and tied it up in a few quick movements, saying, "Then what's the point of talking to him? If he were afraid of you, he wouldn't have treated me like that in that situation."
“It’s okay, I’ll just break his other hand next time.”
Song Chiyu lowered her head to straighten her collar, then after two seconds, she suddenly turned around and said, "You really broke his hand?"
"Otherwise what?"
He's a man of his word.
Qi Zhannan knew perfectly well that what he said meant everything, yet he still dared to provoke him; he was truly the most stubborn person in the Qi family.
Song Chiyu licked her lips, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Qi Yanzhou rested one hand on the armrest beside him, looking down at her. "Don't you like it?"
Song Chiyu clutched the collar that kept slipping down her shoulder: "If you want to hit someone, hit him. Don't drag me into it."
"Okay." He paused for a moment, "Once his leg is a little better, I'll have my brother and my dad come to your house to apologize."
Qi Zhannan was so angry that he dug up her ancestral graves.
Song Chiyu raised her hand and said, "No need. Let's leave it at that that he escaped."
"good."
He seemed to have reverted to his easygoing self.
Song Chiyu tried to stand up from his lap, but seeing that he didn't stop her, she couldn't help but mutter, "How can you be jealous of your nephew?"
"Okay." Qi Yanzhou then stood up, put one arm around her waist, leaned over the desk behind her, and moved closer to her.
Song Chiyu was forced to sit back against the desk behind her.
She stared at him in disbelief. "Teacher Qi, what are you going to do?"
His long, slender, pale fingers gently cupped her cheek: "Aren't you blaming me for not missing you?"
"But that's not what you think—"
"What were you thinking?" He lowered his head and leaned closer to her, his thin, moist lips almost touching hers. Song Chiyu subconsciously looked down at his lips. "You call my parents 'Mom and Dad,' but you only call me Miss Song."
She would clearly call him Xiaoyu.
He raised an eyebrow as if suddenly realizing something, and naturally touched her lips with his own.
"What do you want me to call you?"
"Don't call me Miss Song anymore—"
"Ayu," he interrupted gently. Song Chiyu was stunned, forgetting even to resist, and watched helplessly as he pressed his lips against hers again. "Really?"
"I guess so." Song Chiyu placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away. "But I don't want us to be this close as we are now."
He tilted his head as he pondered.
He casually reached past her pajamas and grasped her waist. Song Chiyu shuddered. "I do have feelings for you, so I don't want things to progress so quickly. I want to try dating you first."
This is what she truly felt.
He looked at her thoughtfully for two seconds, then suddenly laughed out loud, "Okay."
Before Song Chiyu could react, he had already closed his eyes and kissed her lips.
Unlike his previous half-hearted attempts, he leaned down and pressed himself against her, trying to pry open her teeth and entangle himself with her more.
Song Chiyu pressed her hand against his wrist beneath his pajamas. She had originally intended to push him away, but the sensation of his fingertips caressing her waist sent shivers down her spine.
Her initial refusal unconsciously turned into a half-hearted acceptance.
She even opened her lips and leaned into his arms.
He clearly sensed something, his eyelids slightly lowered, his lips pressed against hers, staring at her intently.
She pretended not to know what had happened, but still looked away guiltily, and the way she had been rubbing against his chest unconsciously slowed down.
"Is this what you meant by wanting to date me?" Qi Yanzhou stared at her with a half-smile, his eyes revealing obvious surprise: "You're using this to test your cadres?"
Song Chiyu clutched the front of her clothes, turning her head away from him. She didn't want to do this either, but desire was desire, and imagination was imagination.
Just then, a knocking sound came from behind the curtains behind her.
He stared at her without moving.
It was as if he hadn't heard anyone looking for him at all.
Song Chiyu didn't dare to breathe loudly, and gently nudged his shoulder to signal him to speak.
I wonder if his curtains let in any light, and if people outside can see through them.
He received a different hint, pulled her legs, which were resting on the edge of the table, and kissed her lips again.
[Author's Note]
[Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers] Here it comes!
Thank you so much to all the sisters who followed the updates and gave us lots of love! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]
Mini-theater:
Song Chiyu: I really want to have a pure and innocent love with you. [Cracks]
Qi Yanzhou: Huh? (Looks down) You call this pure love? (Raises an eyebrow)
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