Chapter 36 Are you busy? Or are you avoiding me?
Qin Jixiu asked Zhu Xun out that night and told him everything that had happened recently. Of course, he omitted the part where Shi Rui hit him with the chair and said that she was willing to be sexually exploited by him. That was an embarrassing memory that lingered in his mind, and he was afraid of being embarrassed to tell it out loud.
Zhu Xun felt the world was a bit too fantastical after hearing this, and was stunned for a full half minute. Although he had read many literary works, the fact that such a huge mistake could happen to a friend was still too shocking.
After a moment of hesitation, he suddenly leaned forward, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Show me his photo again."
Qin Jixiu subconsciously asked, "Whose?"
Zhu Xun tsk-tsked, "Who else could it be? I have no interest in what that liar Jian Chun looks like, unless it's a photo of him in prison uniform, then I can admire it for three days."
Qin Jixiu started flipping through his phone and soon found a photo of Shi Rui on ID. He handed the phone directly to Zhu Xun.
Zhu Xun took the phone, zoomed in on the screen with his finger, and carefully examined Shi Rui's handsome young face. He checked to see if there were any acne breakouts on his skin, and then checked to see if there were any flare-ups at the corners of his eyes. He also took a general look at his face. His features were regular and his eyes were clear, and he didn't look like a villain.
He hissed for a long time, then suddenly seemed to think of something. He looked up at Qin Jixiu, his eyes full of confusion. "So the question is, why did you save his ID photo on your phone?"
“…”
"Is this the point?" Qin Jixiu was speechless.
Zhu Xun handed the phone back to him, his face suddenly lit up with an excited expression, as if he was just looking for trouble. He began to offer advice, "So what are you going to do? How about just taking her in? It's that face you're attracted to anyway, so it doesn't matter who she's on. She's better-tempered than Ye Lan, and she listens to you. She's a true loyal dog. The most important thing is that she's willing to sacrifice herself. What's there to worry about?"
Qin Jixiu didn't respond, but simply picked up the red wine glass on the table and gently shook the wine inside. The dark red liquid reflected the complex expression in his eyes.
After a while, he slowly spoke, "Please stop talking about these nonsense and help me analyze this seriously. It's okay for others to misunderstand me, but why would he think that I was deliberately targeting him because I liked him? If you were in his place and your boss was bullying you all day, would you think he was interested in you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Xun took a deep breath, then dropped his joking expression and said seriously, "I wouldn't, but that's what happens when you're in love. Maybe your face is indeed prestigious in your circle, so he had a crush on you from the beginning. Later, he found your behavior incomprehensible, but not entirely unreasonable. Then, after hearing the rumors spread behind your back, he unilaterally confirmed that you were interested in him. To be honest, he only thinks that way because he wants to."
Qin Jixiu didn't quite understand. He frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
"What it means is that he fell in love with you first, so he subconsciously imagined that you liked him too." Zhu Xun explained patiently, "You can't blame Shi Rui entirely. Your actions towards him are indeed ambiguous to those who don't know the truth. Otherwise, how else can you explain your sudden interest in a newly hired intern and the fact that you specifically transferred him under your nose for intensive training?"
Qin Jixiu's grip on the wine glass tightened unconsciously: "You mean... he likes me? Shi Rui likes me?"
Without waiting for Zhu Xun's reply, Qin Jixiu began to replay every moment he spent with Shi Rui in his mind. In the past, he had looked at Shi Rui with prejudice, but now, thinking carefully, Shi Rui treated him differently from others.
When I get water for him at the mall, I add chrysanthemum and rock sugar. Knowing that he likes osmanthus oolong, I not only remember to order milk tea for him, but also always apply osmanthus-scented hand cream.
Sometimes she would stare at him in a daze for no apparent reason. Qin Jixiu recalled that the sharp look in his eyes could be seen as full of affection.
Working overtime with him, not only is he hardworking and willing to work, but it also makes me uncontrollably happy to watch him.
When he punished me by making me run laps downstairs, I didn't talk back or complain.
He slapped me on the neck, and I felt aggrieved but didn't care.
He had abandoned her after she had served her purpose, but when she saw him again, she noticed his teacup was empty the first time she saw him, and poured him tea without holding a grudge.
He just showed up at the R&D department and asked for his name, and Shi Rui was grateful...
There were too many things to think about. When Qin Jixiu thought about them, his heart beat faster than usual.
From the moment he knew he was betrayed by Ye Lansheng, he decided to live out his life in solitude, but Shi Rui appeared, adding this wave of trouble to his life. Shi Rui was an accident, and in the end, he would probably become an unimportant episode.
It's time for him to stop condoning the people under him.
Qin Jixiu made this decision unilaterally.
The next day at noon, Gu Qing and the others called him to the cafeteria for lunch as usual, but he refused, saying he had work to do. The three of them had strange expressions on their faces, but they could only mutter and go downstairs.
Just skipped lunch.
After get off work in the afternoon, he deliberately stayed in the office for another half an hour until almost everyone in the company had left, then he packed up and went downstairs.
He strode to the side of the car and was about to reach out to open the door when a figure suddenly walked out from behind the pillar, giving him a fright.
Qin Jixiu gathered himself and saw that it was Shi Rui. He was wearing light blue jeans and a cream-grey sweater. He had his hands behind his back and looked at him hesitantly.
"Is there something?" Qin Jixiu pretended to be calm and subconsciously held his breath. He was really worried that Shi Rui would suddenly take out a rose from behind him.
Shi Rui extended his right hand forward, and in his palm lay a box of mints, which was the brand he often ate. Qin Jixiu breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense body gradually relaxed.
"Boss Qin, this is for you."
"Thank you." Qin Jixiu took it and waved his hand pretending to be calm.
He turned around and was about to get in the car when Shi Rui suddenly called him over, "Boss Qin, why aren't you going to the cafeteria for lunch? Are you busy? Or are you trying to avoid me?"
Qin Jixiu's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface. He put on a puzzled expression: "Why do you think so? I suddenly got an important call at noon, so I didn't leave."
Shi Rui moved closer, stopping about a meter away from him, his voice softer than before: "That's good. I calculated that your mints should be almost finished, so I ran to buy some for you as soon as I got off work."
Qin Jixiu's heart was lifted and his palms were slightly sweaty.
What's this for? Are you going to confess?
"Am I right?"
"Um."
Hearing the answer, Shi Rui smiled and waved to him: "I have nothing else to do. Goodbye, Mr. Qin." After that, he turned around and walked towards his own car.
Qin Jixiu stared at the hurried figure and suddenly called out to him, "Shi Rui."
The person who was called immediately stopped and turned back: "What?"
Qin Jixiu wanted to say, "Don't buy me things specially in the future," but when he met those eyes, the words on his lips turned into, "Don't wait for me in the underground parking lot next time."
After hearing this, Shi Rui's eyes showed a bit of vulnerability. Qin Jixiu couldn't bear it, so he added: "It's very cold here in the winter, and it constantly releases toxic gases. Staying here for a long time is not good for your health."
When Shi Rui heard his explanation, he smiled again from a distance, his eyes curved. He stepped back and said, "I understand, Mr. Qin."
He had promised everything, but the next day he was squatting next to his car, literally squatting. When Qin Jixiu found him, he was a little surprised, but also expected it.
However, if someone else squatted beside his car, Qin Jixiu's first reaction would definitely be to check whether the tire was punctured by the other person.
Shi Rui was afraid that he would blame him, so he said first, "I just got here not long ago." Then he handed him the thing in his hand, which was a beautiful orange.
Qin Jixiu took it subconsciously, and it still had the other person's body temperature on it.
"You waited for me just to give me this?" Qin Jixiu was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"Yes, the oranges I bought at noon today are very sweet, and I want you to try some too."
Qin Jixiu was speechless for a moment. He had seen people in serious relationships before, but it didn't seem like such pure love. He looked away uncomfortably.
"Thank you for the oranges. I'm leaving." As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Rui stepped aside, watched him get into the car, start the car, and raised his hand to say "bye" to him.
Qin Jixiu saw Shi Rui looking at him affectionately in the rearview mirror.
By the third time, Qin Jixiu had stepped out of the elevator and subconsciously searched for that familiar figure. Shi Rui had changed his clothes today, now wearing a pure white tracksuit. Standing next to the white Cullinan Qin Jixiu had driven, it looked like the car had become a spirit.
Qin Jixiu slowly approached under Shi Rui's gaze. As he got closer, he could smell the sweet scent of osmanthus, which he loved. Shi Rui was clutching something golden in his hand, which hung by his leg. Qin Jixiu spotted it from a distance and reached out to him.
Soon, I had two well-wrapped chocolates in my hand.
"Did you buy it at noon again?" Qin Jixiu asked him.
"No, a colleague gave it to me."
Qin Jixiu had a strange illusion that Shi Rui was just like his puppy, bringing home some spoils every day, like hunting for food.
"Then thank your colleague for me." Qin Jixiu looked into those beautiful eyes, which stared at him without blinking. He tightened his hand holding the chocolate unconsciously, but then quickly relaxed it for fear that the chocolate would melt.
Neither of them moved.
Shi Rui suddenly said, "Tomorrow is Saturday. Will President Qin come to the company?"
"It's not certain at this point."
"If Mr. Qin doesn't come to the company to work overtime, I'd like to invite you to see a movie. Is that okay?"
What was supposed to come finally came. Qin Jixiu met his eager eyes and wanted to refuse him unkindly, but he really couldn't bear to do it.
"I have other plans tomorrow night, let's do it another day." Afraid that Shi Rui would think he was making excuses, Qin Jixiu had to drag Zhu Xun out to take the blame, saying that he had a friend named Zhu Xun who had recently broken up and wanted to watch a tragic movie to shed tears and release his emotions.
"I've already promised him, it's not good to go back on my word at the last minute."
Zhu Xun in the studio suddenly felt an itchy nose and couldn't help but sneeze twice in a row.
"Is it the fashion designer?" Shi Rui asked.
Qin Jixiu was slightly surprised: "You know him?"
"I've heard of him," Shi Rui said bluntly, "Isn't he your only mutual friend? I've seen his videos, and he looks quite good in them."
Qin Jixiu opened his mouth almost subconsciously: "We are good friends, you..."
The three words "Don't think too much" almost came out of his mouth, but Qin Jixiu swallowed them back.
Why does looking into those eyes make me do things I can't even understand? Is there some kind of magic in Shi Rui's eyes?
-----------------------
The author has something to say: [Dog head holding a rose] I feel so happy every day while eating dinner and reading everyone’s comments.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
