Chapter 126 Let's have a good chat about this Su Zi...
Su Jun put away his phone and walked towards the group. His gaze first fell on Lu Xiaoqi, and a faint but gentle smile naturally curved his lips.
"You're back?" The voice was deep and pleasant.
“Hmm,” Lu Xiaoqi nodded, her tone casual like that of an acquaintance, “Aren’t you busy with theater matters?”
"I finished my work and thought you should be heading back soon, so I came to pick you up," he explained, then turned his gaze to her three roommates behind her, who were already somewhat stunned. He politely nodded in greeting, "Hello, welcome to Qinghe Ancient Town."
"Ah, hello!" Sun Wei was the first to react and subconsciously responded, followed by Zhou Tianran and Li Ting.
Lu Xiaoqi then smiled and introduced, "This is Su Jun, Su Zirong, you should know them. My... colleague and friend." She then turned to Su Jun, "These three are my college roommates, Sun Wei, Zhou Wen, and Li Ting."
Su Jun nodded slightly again: "You must be tired from your journey. Your accommodations have been arranged. I'll take you there to settle in first."
As he spoke, he naturally reached out and took the not-so-heavy backpack from Lu Xiaoqi's hand, and then very naturally lifted the three of their suitcases onto the luggage rack at the back of the tour bus. His movements were smooth and did not appear at all solicitous; on the contrary, they showed a kind of taken-for-granted thoughtfulness.
The three girls exchanged glances, each seeing the same mischievousness in the other's eyes.
The atmosphere was subtle; there seemed to be no overly intimate gestures, but there was a tacit understanding and naturalness that was difficult for outsiders to intrude upon. The way he looked at Lu Xiaoqi, though restrained, softened in an instant, and Lu Xiaoqi's unconsciously relaxed state in his presence... none of this escaped the sharp eyes of her best friends.
The three of them tacitly climbed onto the back seat of the tour bus.
As soon as Lu Xiaoqi turned around, Sun Wei immediately put her bag on the empty seat next to her: "Oh dear, it's so tiring to carry this. Go sit in the front."
Lu Xiaoqi: "......"
She resignedly climbed into the passenger seat next to Su Jun, earning her the snickers of the three girls in the back. Then she saw her phone buzzing with WeChat notifications. When she opened it, she found the dorm group chat was in an uproar.
Sun Wei: [Wow! Is this the Su Zirong you guys were talking about? Her looks! Her presence!]
Zhou Tianran: [@Lu Xiaoqi, you're telling me you're just colleagues? You're kidding me! There's definitely more to it than meets the eye! Did you see that? He just naturally took Xiaoqi's bag!]
Li Ting: [And the way he looked at Xiaoqi, ahhh! So swoon-worthy! Xiaoqi's introduction was so vague, something's up.]
Sun Wei: [No wonder Xiaoqi is so happy she doesn't want to leave. If I had such a handsome guy by my side, I'd want to settle down in this ancient town too.]
Zhou Tianran: [Stop asking! Stop asking! We'll use torture later to extract a confession!]
Lu Xiaoqi peeked out and sent another string of ellipses: ...
Before the group could say anything, they had already arrived at their accommodation.
Su Jun took in the barely suppressed excitement and gossip on the faces of the three people in the back seat through the rearview mirror. A faint smile flickered in his eyes, but he said nothing and simply drove the car steadily to the front of the small building.
"We've arrived." He stopped the car and got out first to help them with their luggage. "All the daily necessities are packed inside. If you need anything, you can contact me anytime, or just tell Xiaoqi."
He knew the residence in Zone 4 best, so he arranged all of this.
His attitude was polite and considerate, yet he maintained just the right amount of distance.
"Okay, then you go ahead and get busy?" Lu Xiaoqi couldn't help but smile at him, quickly telling him to leave so that the three of them wouldn't stare at her with gossipy looks.
“Okay.” Su Jun nodded. “Then you guys rest first, I’ll go back to the workshop.”
Lu Xiaoqi watched him drive away before turning to go inside. As soon as she opened the door, she saw three pairs of incredibly bright eyes staring at her, their faces bearing identical, malicious smiles.
Lu Xiaoqi paused, suddenly feeling as if she was doomed.
“Dear Mr. Lu,” Sun Wei spoke first, her voice cloyingly sweet, “Come, come, have a seat. Then let’s have a good chat, for example, about this Mr. Su Zirong?”
Lu Xiaoqi feigned ignorance: "Didn't I already say? Colleagues, and... friends."
The other three exchanged glances, all wearing knowing smiles, then almost simultaneously uttered an "Oh," the tone rising in a particularly sarcastic tone: "Colleagues and friends, huh?"
"Understood~~~"
"Got it~~~"
Lu Xiaoqi couldn't help but laugh out loud at their reactions, and put her hands up in a gesture of surrender: "At least for now, we are really just colleagues and friends."
Hearing her sincerity, the three of them stopped teasing her, though they still pressed her for more information.
“You have such a handsome guy right here, and you’re not even going to make a move? You’re still just friends with him,” Sun Wei exclaimed, shaking her head. “Lu Xiaoqi, you’re a disgrace to our dorm.”
Zhou Tianran leaned closer to her: "Aren't you even a little bit tempted?"
Li Ting was relatively reserved, but she looked at her suspiciously: "Wait, wait, wait, you don't believe in love anymore because of that scumbag Yao Yuan, do you?"
Lu Xiaoqi had just opened a bottle of water and was about to drink it when she heard this. She almost spat out the water in her mouth and choked, coughing incessantly. Li Ting was so frightened that she ran behind her to help her catch her breath.
“This is downright terrifying,” Lu Xiaoqi said with difficulty, taking a while to recover. “You’re overthinking it.”
"That's good." Li Ting finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After recovering, Lu Xiaoqi saw three pairs of blinking eyes again, rolled her eyes helplessly, and knew that she wouldn't be able to get through this if she didn't give them an explanation today. She sat down on the sofa, and the other three quickly squeezed over.
"Actually, we both know what's going on..." She shrugged, her expression calm, "It's just that the right opportunity hasn't come yet."
She was probably aware of Su Jun's concerns.
In ancient times, he was a dashing young man from a distinguished family, but now he's an ordinary person in this new world, without any foundation and having to start all over again. Although he appears calm and composed on the surface, adapting extremely quickly and establishing himself in the ancient town through his own abilities, forging his own path, Lu Xiaoqi knows that the pride that belonged to "Su Zirong" in his bones has never disappeared; it's something he was born with.
He felt that what he possessed now was insufficient to provide the stability and security he believed he should offer her. Like a poor scholar in ancient times who only felt entitled to propose marriage after achieving academic success, Su Jun perhaps held a similar conviction in his subconscious.
He wanted to truly establish himself in this world first, to have a more stable career and a voice, rather than merely relying on the ancient town or even... her.
This is also what Su Jun has been doing in the past year.
Lu Xiaoqi omitted his background, only briefly mentioning his situation.
The three roommates were stunned.
Sun Wei blinked: "So, this Mr. Su is planning to establish his career first and then start a family? That's quite a traditional way of thinking."
Zhou Tianran cupped her face in her hands, her eyes shining even brighter: "Wow, he sounds even more handsome! A responsible, self-respecting, and strong man, he's top-notch!"
Li Ting, being more pragmatic, asked, "So what are you thinking? Are you just going to wait like this? Aren't you in a hurry?"
Lu Xiaoqi leaned back on the sofa, her eyes bright: "Why should I rush? I think he's doing great as he is now. He has goals and drive. I like watching him work seriously and realize his self-worth step by step. When it comes to relationships, it's best to let things develop naturally. Forcing or urging is pointless."
She paused, a sly smile spreading across her face: "Besides, isn't it quite amusing to see him clearly care yet trying so hard to maintain propriety and secretly putting in the effort?"
"Wow! Lu Xiaoqi, you're so naughty!" The three of them immediately burst into laughter.
Lu Xiaoqi chuckled.
This is certainly only one of the reasons.
Another reason was that she herself had concerns. A young master from a noble family who had traveled from ancient times would have a completely different living environment and values than hers. These things could only be seen or resolved through daily interactions.
Therefore, she needs time.
Of course, she and Su Jun have known each other for a year and a half now, and she has already accepted him in her heart. He remembers her preferences without making a sound and is considerate in everything he does; he respects all her decisions, making her feel trusted; he has a patience and focus that is different from most people in this era, which makes her feel at ease; he still retains the demeanor of an ancient gentleman at heart, being self-disciplined and respectful of propriety, yet open and tolerant of new things.
More importantly, there was an unspoken understanding between them. Often, a single glance was enough for them to grasp each other's general thoughts; their views on many things were always in sync. That resonance at a soul level convinced her that they were essentially the same kind of people...
Lu Xiaoqi suddenly froze on the spot.
This seemed to be the first time she had ever thought through their relationship so clearly and thoroughly from beginning to end. Those little details, those moments of tacit understanding, those qualities that made her feel at ease, admire, and even rely on... It turned out that, without her realizing it, Su Jun had already permeated every aspect of her life and gained such a high level of recognition from her heart.
If that's the case, then what is she still hesitating about? Is it merely because of Su Jun's insistence on establishing a career first?
No, not only that.
A voice that she had been deliberately ignoring finally surfaced in her heart. She thought of Li Ting's question just now—she was still haunted by the shadow of that failed relationship in the past.
Back then, campus romances were pure and bold; if you liked someone, you pursued them and gave your all without reservation. And what was the result? Betrayal and a long period of self-doubt. That experience is like a tiny thorn, buried deep in her heart. She doesn't feel it usually, but when faced with a relationship where she might invest deep emotions again, that thorn aches faintly, reminding her to be cautious, to hold back, and to leave herself a way out.
She was no longer the fearless and reckless Lu Xiaoqi of her youth. She had matured, and therefore... become somewhat timid. She was afraid of misjudging people again, afraid of getting hurt from investing too much, and afraid of the disappointment of giving her all only to end up with nothing.
Moreover, this person and her background are so different.
So she subconsciously kept her distance, enjoying the ambiguity but not daring to easily break the ice. She attributed the reason more to Su Jun's concerns, but wasn't that just finding a reasonable excuse for her subconscious hesitation?
Lu Xiaoqi suddenly covered her face with her hands, sighed, and looked up at her three roommates: "Another reason is that I've realized I'm not as brave as I used to be."
The other three were stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what she meant.
Zhou Tianran reached out and grasped her hand first: "What are you saying? How can this be called not being brave?"
“Yes,” Li Ting replied, her tone gentle yet firm, “This is clearly called maturity, this is called having a sense of responsibility.”
Sun Wei nodded vigorously: "That's right! We've grown up, so naturally we'll consider things more comprehensively and cautiously. Relationships aren't child's play, especially when you're sure you want a long-term relationship. Being careful and taking more time to understand the other person and your own heart isn't cowardice; it's being responsible to yourself and the other person!"
Zhou Tianran even rolled her eyes: "Who's still as stupid as before? Wouldn't all these years have been wasted? Did I grow old for nothing?"
Sun Wei: "I value him, so I'm more cautious. Otherwise, what's there to worry about in a relationship? If it doesn't work out, I'll just say goodbye and find someone better next time."
Li Ting gave a thumbs up: "Our Weiwei is right!"
Lu Xiaoqi chuckled at their tone, and seeing that they genuinely believed it, the gloom that had just risen to her suddenly dissipated.
She asked herself honestly, and realized that she wasn't still stuck in her previous relationship, nor did she have such deep feelings for Yao Yuan. It was just that at this stage of her life, she naturally wouldn't handle problems the same way she did when she was a teenager.
After thinking it through, Lu Xiaoqi showed a relieved and sincere smile: "You're right. I was thinking the wrong thing."
"Since you know what's going on, we won't worry about it." Sun Wei patted her shoulder, reminding her, "But keep a close eye on such a handsome guy, lest someone snatch him away halfway!"
"Exactly!" Zhou Tianran exclaimed excitedly. "Let me tell you, I saw some girls watching his videos at McDonald's the other day. Tsk tsk, they were so flirtatious."
Lu Xiaoqi didn't take it seriously: "It's normal, it's normal. Girls often ask him for his WeChat when he's walking around the ancient town."
She wasn't the type to wallow in self-pity, and in less than a minute, her confidence returned: "If someone tries to intercept it, then so be it. If it gets intercepted, it just means it's not all that great."
She trusted Su Jun, and she trusted her own feelings. Some of their understanding and attraction were unique to the two of them, and no outsider could interfere.
Lu Xiaoqi's tone was calm and firm, and her face had a soft glow.
Sun Wei exaggeratedly covered her eyes: "Quickly save my titanium alloy eyes! They're blinding me!"
Zhou Tianran shook his head and said, "I understand, I understand. We were worrying for nothing. You two are just having a friendly match, isn't that interesting?"
Li Ting concluded, "I'll take this dog food first, anyway, as long as you're happy. Remember to let us know in the group if you have any news."
The four of them were fooling around on the sofa, as if they had returned to their student days.
That evening, Lu Xiaoqi hosted a few people at Song Sao Fish Restaurant, with her parents in attendance. She also invited her senior classmate Zhang Jing, who worked at a bank; coincidentally, they all knew each other. Thanks to a loan from Qinghe Ancient Town, Zhang Jing's career at the bank had taken off; she had just been promoted and was beaming with pride.
The group ate with great enthusiasm, and then went to see "A Thousand Years of Splendor" in the Huanyin Pavilion. Lu Xiaoqi even took them backstage, where they saw the three Li Guinian brothers, Gongsun Jin, Zhao Feiyan, and others.
Zhou Tianran, a fan of celebrities, was as excited as a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, taking photos with this person and that person, having a great time.
After they came out, she whispered to Sun Wei, "Now I finally understand why Xiaoqi could tolerate Su Jun's face. There are just too many handsome men and beautiful women here!"
The three Li brothers—oh no, we have to exclude the fat Li Pengnian—both brothers are exceptionally good-looking, and any of the other dancers backstage have either been selected by the emperor back then or are selected through the current arts entrance exams; they are all incredibly good-looking.
Zhou Tianran almost wanted to quit her job and ask Lu Xiaoqi to give her one.
Both are like cattle and horses, but at least being a cattle or horse in Qinghe Ancient Town offers a feast for the eyes.
Sun Wei laughed heartily and said firmly, "I think Su Zirong is more handsome and has a better temperament."
Lu Xiaoqi and Li Ting exchanged glances and decided not to get involved in their childish conversation.
Since her roommates rarely came to visit, Lu Xiaoqi stayed at their house that night. The four of them were transported back to their college days and had a wonderful time. After washing up, they all started editing photos and posting them on social media, strictly adhering to the principle that after editing, everyone had to review the photos to ensure no one was dissatisfied.
Shortly after I posted it on WeChat Moments, someone immediately chimed in the university class group chat:
Holy crap! You guys went to Qinghe Ancient Town for fun?!
[This group photo... is it backstage at the Huan Yin Ge?! Last time I went, I queued for ages but still couldn't get a VIP ticket and couldn't get backstage! I'm so envious!]
[@Zhou Tianran @Sun Wei @Li Ting, how did you get in? Did you have special connections?]
Wait, where's @LuXiaoqi? Did you go together? I remember she was in Qinghe City.
Zhou Tianran chuckled as he held his phone and replied in the group chat: "Yeah, Xiaoqi hosted us; she's a local bigwig."
A classmate immediately followed up with: "[Lu Xiaoqi works in Qinghe Ancient Town? That's amazing! She can even bring people backstage, is she a manager there?]"
Looking at the messages in the group chat, Li Ting glanced up at Lu Xiaoqi and asked, "Can I say?"
Lu Xiaoqi quickly shook her head: "Okay, but don't go into too much detail."
She was afraid of trouble. Besides, among her college classmates, she was only close to a few of them. So, she only came out honestly when she invited them over again two months ago. Fortunately, her friends weren't too inquisitive.
Li Ting understood, and simply said in the group: 【Yes, management, known as Boss Lu (smug) (smug)】
The group chat was silent for a few seconds, then it exploded like a pot of boiling water.
【!!! Mr. Lu is awesome!】
[It's only been a few years since graduation? Lu Xiaoqi's career has progressed at a rocket speed!]
[I remember Qinghe Ancient Town is super popular right now! There's tons of promotion on the platform, and it's even a filming location for the movie "Mountains and Rivers"! Mr. Lu is quietly making a fortune!]
[@Lu Xiaoqi, CEO! Looking for a powerful patron! Still hiring? Looking for old classmates!]
Various comments expressing amazement, envy, and requests to be taken along instantly flooded the screen, though most of them were just jokes.
Lu Xiaoqi popped her head out, sending a pleading emoji: [What boss or not, just a laborer working for the ancient town, worrying about KPIs every day, almost losing all my hair.]
She quickly steered the conversation in a lighter direction: "Old classmates, don't just talk the talk, you really have to come and visit sometime, experience our beautiful scenery, and let me know when you arrive..."
She paused deliberately, building up curiosity before continuing: "...No discounts either! But a meal of fish from Aunt Song's is still no problem! (Grinning face)"
Someone actually pleaded: "I need it! It's so hard to get a table at Song Sao Fish Restaurant!"
Lu Xiaoqi couldn't help but chuckle; she still had to help her old classmates with these small favors.
The group chat was going on and on, while another small group chat in a boys' dormitory suddenly started buzzing:
Roommate A: [@YaoYuanyuan, did you see that? Your ex-girlfriend Lu Xiaoqi has reached the pinnacle of her life! Wow, she's the vice president of Qinghe Ancient Town! That's a huge responsibility she's in charge of!]
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, as if he were enjoying the spectacle.
Roommate B chimed in: "You're absolutely right! We really misjudged her back then! Who would have thought Lu Xiaoqi had this potential? If she hadn't broken up with her yet..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
There was a few seconds of silence in the group chat. Everyone knew that Yao Yuan had decisively broken up with Lu Xiaoqi back then for a wealthy and beautiful girl whose family owned a company. Now, that girl was engaged, and she was even wearing a wedding ring.
Everyone here is in the know, so Yao Yuan's attitude is rather subtle.
Roommate C tried to smooth things over, but her words were laced with barbs: "Hey, let's not dwell on the past. Yuan's doing pretty well now, his fiancée's family is so well-off. It's just that Lu Xiaoqi's development is truly unexpected; she's really impressive."
Yao Yuan stared at his phone screen, finding the text particularly glaring. He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure, and typed a rapid reply:
[I saw it, it's great.]
Their success is due to their abilities; let's wish them well.
[This has nothing to do with me anymore, so please stop tagging me.]
The reply appeared gracious and impeccable. After sending it, he tossed his phone onto the table with a soft "thud," and the composure he had been trying to maintain instantly crumbled, leaving only frustration and resentment.
Hold!
......
The next morning, the group felt refreshed and invigorated.
"It's so quiet here, I feel like my sleep quality has improved," Sun Wei said.
Zhou Tianran nodded vigorously, brushing his hair back: "If it weren't for the anti-hair loss medicine package you sent me, Xiaoqi, I'm afraid I would have lost all my hair. Being a beast of burden is not easy!"
Lu Xiaoqi: "When our resort hotel opens next March, you must come and stay for a few more days. I guarantee you'll sleep even better then."
Sun Wei immediately hugged her and nuzzled her neck twice with her fluffy head: "Xiaoqi, you're the best!"
The two people next to him got goosebumps all over.
Lu Xiaoqi always has a lot to do at the end of the year, and she wants to spend time with them, but she keeps getting phone calls.
The three men chased her away, saying, "We're in the old town, we're not children anymore. You just go about your business, we'll have dinner together tonight."
She didn't stand on ceremony: "Okay, then call me if you need anything."
Zhou Tianran, Sun Wei, and Li Ting went off on their own. They had already planned their itinerary: spending the morning exploring Zones 1 and 2, enjoying the scenery, taking photos, watching performances, and eating snacks, skipping lunch altogether. Then they took a boat to Zone 5. Just as they found the workshop manager, they received a call from Lu Xiaoqi:
Where are you?
Zhou Tianran: "I was just thinking of finding a course to try out."
"Stop looking, let's wait until tomorrow. Let's come to Pier Number One now," Lu Xiaoqi decided for them. "There's something new we can take a look at today."
The three of them immediately packed their bags and rushed to the dock in Zone 1.
There used to be a fence erected next to the dock, as if some kind of renovation was being carried out, but today it has all been removed, revealing a pavilion that extends into the lake in a U-shape, which is also in a quaint and antique style.
"Here." From afar, they could see Lu Xiaoqi waving at them from in front of the waterside pavilion.
"They're here, they're here," the three said breathlessly. "What are you looking at?"
Lu Xiaoqi smiled mysteriously: "Water golem! Today is the first day of trial operation."
Su Jun's water puppet show, which he has been working on for a year, is finally about to be unveiled!
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