Chapter 23
"Why are you here?" Guan Ying looked at the two men outside the railing at the same time. She didn't specify which one she was talking about, but judging from her expression, it seemed as if she was talking about each of them.
"Wow, look at what you look like now? It's not that serious, cough cough!" Although Zheng Juyong was clearly concerned, what he said was unpleasant to the ear.
Since entering the detention room, Guan Ying has had nothing to do every day, but his ability to observe people's hearts through expressions has become more subtle: "Don't be afraid, I'm fine. Why did you bring him here!" The last sentence is very clear, it is said to Xiao Weiyan.
Before Xiao Weiyan could speak, Zheng Juyong opened his eyes wide and put his hands on his hips. "Ha, who's scared? Who are you looking down on? I think the conditions in the Dubai Police Station are quite good. The decoration is also cyberpunk style. You really know how to choose a place to hide~"
Xiao Weiyan reminded him at the right time: "Don't start bickering as soon as you meet. Let's hurry up and talk about business."
Guan Ying chuckled, sat back on the bench, supported her knee with one hand, and lifted her chin. She guessed that Xiao Weiyan must have something to say when he called Zheng Juyong over today. If he had come alone, she would have ignored him long ago.
Zheng Juyong stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets: "It's something serious. I went to the trading market these past two days, and the situation is not good..."
"Oh, did I hear it right? Young Master Zheng is going to the trading market?" Guan Ying interrupted with a smile.
Suddenly talking about the trading market, Zheng Juyong was serious and didn't mind her teasing. He continued, "I first visited each of the companies according to the business cards that Sister Jiawei collected. They have very high requirements for low-carbon technology certification, and our current products can't keep up. As for the others that are not on the business cards, I also visited them. Just like Sister Jiawei said, because of Sabur, they are somewhat sticking together, which is unfair to us." At this point, he frowned, as if he was quite concerned about the current difficulties faced by foreign trade business.
Guan Ying propped up her chin, pouted, and looked at Xiao Weiyan beside her: "I say, is this the real business you brought him here to discuss today?"
It was rare for him to seriously share his business experiences with her, especially after two days of hard work, and yet she said it wasn't business? Zheng Juyong pulled a hand out of his trouser pocket and knocked on the railing, reminding her not to divert her attention. "I've said so much, why don't you take it seriously?"
Guan Ying blinked her big eyes at him and, to satisfy him, clapped her hands pretentiously: "Very good! You said it exactly like Jiawei!"
Her words were essentially saying: You've only personally experienced it, reaffirming Jiawei's observations from that day. But if even Jiawei, an outsider, can see it, shouldn't you be able to as well? Besides, since you've been there, don't you have anything new to say? Is it really worth her taking this seriously now? Zheng Juyong could hear all this and turned around and coughed, "Ahem!"
"Ju Yong has just started working in foreign trade, so this is a good start." Xiao Weiyan couldn't bear to watch it anymore and joined in.
Guan Ying sighed: "Hey, that's strange, when did you two become so affectionate?"
Xiao Weiyan knew he was guilty, and at this moment he felt a little ashamed in front of Guan Ying. He forced himself to keep up appearances: "Foreign trade is difficult, and Ju Yong has plans to return home. I want to discuss it with you. Is that right, Ju Yong?"
Clearing his throat, Zheng Juyong turned around and said, "My dad is planning to use the money to upgrade the steel mill's equipment. In the future, when our products meet low-carbon technology standards, we'll naturally solve our foreign trade dilemma. So, instead of wasting time here, why not return home as soon as possible?"
Guan Ying stood up from the bench: "What did you say?"
"Hey! I'm not saying...waste, I mean, let's go back for now and come back when we're ready..."
Guan Ying frowned and interrupted him: "Uncle Zheng wants to update the steel mill's equipment?!"
"Oh..." Zheng Juyong didn't understand what was wrong. "My dad said the Environmental Protection Bureau had already issued several rectification notices, and he couldn't delay any longer..."
Guan Ying asked anxiously, "Does my dad know about this?"
Zheng Juyong: "Uncle Guan had a stroke a while ago. I guess my dad hasn't told him about the steel plant yet... But the bank loan is in my dad's name, so there's no need for Uncle Guan to worry about it."
Guan Ying turned around and said, "Zheng Juyong, go back, go back early!"
Zheng Juyong nodded: "Wait until you come out, and we'll go together."
Guan Ying looked up at him, envious of his protected innocence, yet helpless at his naive approach to business. Yet, he had been brought up with such good character, yet he insisted on waiting for her to come out. This left her neither amused nor surprised, so she could only helplessly reply, "You go first."
After saying that, he turned around and sat on the bench against the wall, away from the railing, refusing to talk to the two of them anymore.
While Xiao Weiyan was still discussing progress with the police, Zheng Juyong left the station on his own. Aimlessly walking down the street, he pondered Guan Ying's final, airy words, "You go first." Was she asking him to leave the station first, or to return home first? The look she'd given him in her last moment lingered in his mind, inexplicably making him feel worthless.
After wandering around, he finally returned to a nearby hotel and collapsed onto the bed in a "spread" position. His body and mind felt like they had been hit hard, leaving him feeling empty and hollow. He had thought he had put in so much effort the previous two days and done something truly remarkable, but Guan Ying's words punctured his mind, and he realized that what he had done was completely worthless and only moved himself. He must have been so "useless" in Guan Ying's eyes that by the end, Guan Ying hadn't even bothered to talk to him anymore! Whether it was Daniel, Xiao Weiyan, or the other six, they were all so powerful. All the boyfriends she had dated were beyond his reach. No matter how he pretended, it would all be ridiculous!
An unprecedented sense of frustration came over him, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
He wondered what Qiao Qi would think of him. For four years, Qiao Qi had always been surrounded by so many glamorous people... He was almost beginning to doubt whether his proposal had actually been successful. Would Qiao Qi really want to marry someone as worthless as him? Ever since Guan Ying had domineeringly cut off Qiao Qi's number, she had only replied sporadically to his messages. He hadn't returned home in time since then, and he'd called several times to try to explain, but Qiao Qi wouldn't answer. She must still be mad at him.
The more Qiao Qi ignored him, the more he had to persist. This was his experience in pursuing her for four years. He had no hope of getting through, but he still called Qiao Qi every day as if he was on duty.
"Juyong? How did you know I was looking for you? We really have a telepathic connection!" Qiao Qi not only answered the call immediately, but also spoke in a rare warm tone.
Zheng Juyong came back to life from head to toe, as if he had been reborn from a desperate situation: "Qiqi, you finally answered my call. I plan to return to China, and we will meet soon!"
"Haha, yes, we'll meet up soon! Send me your address now, I'll show it to the taxi driver later!"
"Um?"
"The address of the dormitory!"
"Wait a minute, where are you now?"
"Dubai Airport! Since you don't want to go back, I had no choice but to come here!"
In the past, he always chased Qiao Qi all over the country, but this was the first time that Qiao Qi came to see him.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes, I sneaked out without telling Sister Ling! But, she might have already discovered it by now. It depends on when she finds me, haha!"
Not only did Qiao Qi go on a long journey alone, she also deliberately left her work and agent for him. How could this not make him extremely surprised? Zheng Juyong hurriedly got up and straightened his clothes: "Don't move! I'll pick you up right away!"
......
Qiao Qi only had a small backpack slung across her shoulder, and no other luggage with her. It was obvious that she was indeed "sneaking away" on this trip.
Dubai was the hottest time of the day, and she was wearing a refreshing T-shirt and shorts, showing off her fair skin and exquisite figure. The metal ornaments worn on her skin made it even more eye-catching, so even with her small stature, she was bright and shining in the crowd.
When a white pickup truck pulled up in front of her, Qiao Qi hadn't reacted yet. It wasn't until she saw Zheng Juyong get out and run over that she flipped her sunglasses back up and excitedly exclaimed, "Wow, you drive such a cool car!"
When Zheng Juyong came, he was worried that she would mind the car, but unexpectedly she liked it so much.
Qiao Qi threw the backpack to him and walked around the car. "Oh, so cool! I'll drive, okay?"
"This car only has manual transmission..." He was not very comfortable driving it, let alone in a foreign country.
Qiao Qi had already jumped in, adjusted the seat, and waved at him through the car door: "Manual transmission is more powerful, hurry up and get in!"
Although Qiao Qi looked in good spirits since they met, she seemed to love the car more than him, which made him feel a little disappointed.
Along the way, he sat in the passenger seat, watching the road conditions for her and carefully reminding her of Dubai's traffic rules. Soon they arrived at the hotel.
"How come we're here so soon? Isn't it more than an hour's journey? I haven't driven enough!" Qiao Qi was not satisfied when she got off the car. She looked around at the hotel and found it to be ordinary, with no surprises.
"Things with the port have been dealt with, and I've been staying in Dubai for the past few days."
"Oh? So you don't live with her?"
Zheng Juyong walked nervously in front to lead the way, taking big steps and not even daring to look back.
Qiao Qi caught up with him and said, "Why are you staying so poorly? This is Dubai, why don't you try those seven-star or eight-star hotels?"
Zheng Juyong then slowed down his pace: "Oh, this place is close to the police station."
"...You are so cautious wherever you go. It's so boring!" Qiao Qi walked in front of him with the room card.
In the past, when he accompanied her to perform in various places, it was indeed for the sake of secrecy and safety, but this time it was for Guan Ying. However, it is better not to mention it, so as to avoid further misunderstandings for Qiao Qi.
After sending Qiao Qi back to her room, Zheng Juyong accompanied her to look around. He noticed that Qiao Qi was indeed a little disappointed. After thinking for a moment, he comforted her, "You came so suddenly, so I had to temporarily add a room. I wanted you to have a place to rest for lunch first. I will change you to a new hotel in the evening. I just saw a Hilton nearby on the way..."
"There are Hilton hotels in China, but this is Dubai. How about we go to the Burj Al Arab instead?" Qiao Qi turned around and hugged his neck.
"Okay." He just felt that the Sail Hotel was a bit far from the police station, not that he was reluctant to spend money on Qiao Qi, so he readily agreed.
"You're the best!" Qiao Qi jumped up happily, leaped up, and put her legs on his waist, causing him to fall onto the edge of the bed with her in his arms.
The two of them had never been this close before, and this made Zheng Juyong's heart beat faster. It's not like he hadn't fantasized about this scene before, but Qiao Qi was conservative in this regard and always kept her distance from him. He had to endure it out of respect for her, otherwise he wouldn't have booked a new room for her.
"It's just a hotel, why...are you so happy?" Although Qiao Qi took the initiative for the first time, his body was already accustomed to respect. He put his two hands on her waist but clenched them into fists, not daring to open them and touch her.
Qiao Qi smiled and pulled his ear, blowing air into his ear: "Did you miss me?"
"I think about it... every day." The fragrance on Qiao Qi's face was so close that he could hardly bear it. He tried hard to pull his waist upwards, but her legs wrapped around him, and he lifted her up and down with him, which made the situation even more ambiguous.
"Ha, then why are you hiding?"
When Qiao Qi's kiss touched his lips, his heart almost skipped a beat.
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