Chapter 44 The first woman he brought home.
Qu He began to tidy up the dress she had changed out of, while Zhuang Liuyue sat opposite her, resting her chin on her hand and watching her.
"Oh, by the way. Qu He, are you from Beicheng?" Zhuang Liuyue asked casually.
"I'm from Beicheng, but my hometown is in a rather remote area," Qu He replied without looking up.
Zhuang Liuyue handed over a paper bag and joked, "Ever since Zhuang Xi found out that you climbed trees to pick bayberries when you were little, he's been talking about it every day at home. I'm tired of hearing it."
Qu He took the bag. "It was just something I said unintentionally, but Xiao Xi overheard it."
"So you really climbed trees when you were a kid?"
Qu He's ears burned, and she smiled. "I've climbed over there. When I was little, I lived with my grandma in Yujia Ferry, where there were many bayberry trees." Qu He folded the skirt and put it in the bag.
"Fisherman's Ferry?"
Zhuang Liuyue's fingers paused for a moment, as if deep in thought, "No wonder..."
Qu He looked up in confusion, but her expression had already returned to normal.
"It's nothing, I just feel like we have a special connection. I visited Yujia Ferry once when I was a child."
Qu He was genuinely surprised.
Although Yujia Ferry is also located in the northern part of the city, it is actually a small town in the suburbs. If you go any further, it will almost belong to the neighboring province. It has only developed in recent years due to the rise of the live streaming industry.
"Sister Liuyue, have you been to Yujia Ferry?"
Zhuang Liuyue laughed, "What? What's so strange about that? We also grew up eating rice, oil, salt, and grains, so why can't we go?"
"No, I'm just a little surprised."
"Oh dear, it's just that the rumors outside are too exaggerated. Don't worry, we bookmakers don't do those kinds of tricks."
"Our family is very open-minded. Just take those family rules as a joke. Only Zhuang Lao Er still adheres to them. Although he's a bit old-fashioned, he's a good person. You..."
Qu He started to feel uneasy after hearing the rest of the story.
This familiar yet strange feeling of blind dating.
"No, Sister Liuyue, you've misunderstood..."
As Zhuang Liuyue spoke, she leaned closer, the faint scent of freesia perfume wafting over her. "You are the first woman he brought home."
What kind of Mary Sue lines are these that are essential in romance novels featuring domineering CEOs?
Qu He's hand trembled, and the bag almost fell.
She hurriedly explained, "You've misunderstood, we just..."
"Don't worry, I understand." Zhuang Liuyue blinked.
What do you know?!
Qu He was about to say something when she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Zhuang Xi's clear voice rang out: "Mom! Sister Qu! Are you done?"
"Alright, alright." Zhuang Liuyue smiled and glanced at her, then went to open the door.
Zhuang Bieyan stood at the door, wearing a black and white tracksuit, holding the thrashing Zhuang Xi in his arms.
He wore a black baseball cap with the brim pulled down low, making his jawline appear more angular. This outfit gave him a more youthful look than usual.
"Wow!" Zhuang Xi's eyes widened, and she pointed at the two of them with her little finger. "Sister Qu and Uncle are wearing the same clothes!"
Qu He stood frozen in place.
She finally understood what Zhuang Liuyue's smile meant: their clothes were the same style but different colors!
Zhuang Bieyan bent down and put Zhuang Xi down, stretching out his long arm.
The next second, a beige baseball cap was gently placed on her head, and after it was put on, it was pressed down a little.
"The sun is shining outside."
His voice was very soft.
Qu He thanked her softly, "Oh, thank you."
She didn't look up.
The shadow cast by the brim of her hat perfectly covered her burning ears.
"Mm," Zhuang Bieyan replied.
Zhuang Xi was completely focused on picking bayberries. "Sister Qu, let's hurry!"
After saying that, she eagerly pulled her downstairs.
Zhuang Liuyue stood there, watching Zhuang Bieyan's retreating figure as he prepared to follow, and said, "Is that her? It's just that her personality is a little different from when she was a child."
Zhuang Bieyan paused, turning to look at her.
Zhuang Liuyue said, "She said it herself, her hometown is Yujia Ferry."
Zhuang Bieyan's eyes darkened, revealing a hint of warning.
"I didn't say anything." Zhuang Liuyue raised her hands, looking like she was trying to get involved.
She pursed her lips, her tone teasing, "It's normal to forget things from when you were little, right?"
"Don't mention these things in front of her." Zhuang Bieyan's voice turned cold.
Zhuang Liuyue patted the brim of his hat, her tone full of disappointment, "Just keep holding it in. You're the only one suffering, you sickly little thing."
"I know what I'm doing." After saying this, Zhuang Bieyan turned and went downstairs.
Watching his retreating figure as he went downstairs, a complex emotion flashed in Zhuang Liuyue's eyes.
She went up to the second-floor terrace and stared blankly at the three people gathered under the bayberry tree in the yard.
In the shadows of the trees, she seemed to see that little girl with pigtails again.
It was already very hot at the end of June, and the sun was scorching.
Children's interest comes and goes quickly.
After picking two baskets of bayberries, Zhuang Xi was completely listless. "Uncle, I'm so hot..."
A little while later, she started shouting that she wanted to go back inside and enjoy the air conditioning.
Qu He's back was also soaked with sweat. Fearing that Xiao Zhuangxi would suffer from heatstroke, she quickly took her back inside.
After resting in the room for a while, I recovered quite a bit.
As the sun was about to set, Xiao Zhuangxi still held onto her hand tightly, looking reluctant to part.
She tilted her sun-reddened little face up, still wanting Qu He to stay for dinner.
Qu He smiled and politely declined, glancing at Zhuang Bieyan beside her.
He smiled helplessly, reached for a basket of bayberries on the table, and said, "Let's go, I'll take you there."
On the way back.
Qu He sat in the passenger seat, holding a handful of bayberries.
The sweet aroma of bayberries mingled with the air conditioning wafted through the carriage.
Qu He picked up a bayberry, twirled it halfway between her fingers, and began to stare blankly.
"What are you thinking about?"
Zhuang Bieyan's voice came over.
Qu He snapped out of her reverie and put the bayberries back in the basket. "It's nothing, I just thought these bayberries looked very fresh."
He chuckled softly, "Ever since the day Zhuang Xi decided to invite you to pick bayberries, she has been telling her family to take good care of this tree, treating it more precious than her dolls."
Qu He recalled the little girl standing on tiptoe to reach the fruit that afternoon, and smiled, "Do you pick bayberries in previous years?"
"Yes. I go every year around this time. I used to go with my family, but this year..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Qu He understood.
She's here this year.
The air froze for a few seconds.
"That's quite a coincidence. It's just the right time. If it's any later, the bayberries will be out of season, and you won't be able to pick any fresh ones." Qu He smiled and changed the subject.
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