Chapter 38: Firewood, Rice, Oil and Salt

  Ji Siyun's face turned red with anger and embarrassment, she glared at Qiao Yu, "What are you laughing at? I'm angry! Be serious!"

  Qiao Yu's right hand clenched into a fist and placed it beside his mouth, clearing his throat softly as he looked at her, "Finished reflecting?"

  Ji Siyuan stood up straight with her eyes fixed forward, "I need to reflect on what I did wrong." This article was first published by...

  Qiao Yu suddenly put away his smile and spoke with a serious face, "I was wrong that day, I apologize to you, Ji Siyu, sorry."

  Ji Siyun hadn't expected him to apologize so formally, originally it was just her making a big deal out of nothing, she lowered her eyes and suddenly didn't know how to respond.

  Qiao Yu tactfully changed the subject, "But why can't you still remember those shortcuts after so long?"

  Ji Siyuan stared at the ground and replied lightly, "I'm a bit lazy, I don't want to remember."

  I'm afraid that if I remember, there will be no more questions for you, and you'll slowly disappear from my world. If I don't remember, I'll keep asking you, whether or not you respond, you'll still be here.

  Qiao Yu looked at her for a long time, her thin figure in the dark night seemed even more frail and helpless, but she still stood upright with an unyielding spirit, as if as long as she didn't admit it, she would never be defeated, her stubbornness was heart-wrenching.

  He suddenly stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around her, his voice sounding particularly low in the empty corridor. "I don't know about all those years in the past, when you worked late into the night, and asked about the shortcut keys displayed on the edge of the screen, but there was no one to answer you. What were your feelings then?"

  Ji Siyun mechanically leaned into his arms, what was her mood? At first, she would cry profusely, but after many times, she became numb. She still subconsciously asked out loud and then laughed at herself mockingly, because she knew that no one would ever answer.

  At that time, most colleagues were foreigners. They only knew that she would suddenly utter a sentence in Chinese and then be stunned for a long time without regaining her composure, but they didn't know what it meant. Since they couldn't understand, she didn't need to find an excuse to cover up anything, and any casual remark could get by.

  Her heart ached, yet she still forced a smile and gazed at the distant lights with narrowed eyes. "It's fine, I'm used to it already." She said, but no one replied because you weren't there. Isn't this how things were meant to be? Why did I ask, because I myself didn't remember, it was all my own fault. Back then, I also provoked you, so I deserved it, it's all my own fault, Qiao Yu, and has nothing to do with you.

  Qiao Yu knew she was blaming him, every word of hers was blaming him. He wasn't afraid of her blaming him, he was only afraid that she would really let go like this. Every word of hers deeply hit his heart, his hands clenched involuntarily, but he couldn't say a word.

  Those lingering days back then, and later so many days and nights apart, how could they not have any connection with him?

  His arms were warm, his breath was fresh, familiar as ever, so close that it seemed she could reach out and touch him, and return to the happy days they once had.

  Her gaze swept to the figure not far away, and that person had been standing there for a long time, she and that person stared at each other for a long time before pushing Qiao Yu with an expressionless face, her demeanor had already returned to normal. "Someone."

  Qiao Yu Song let go of her and turned around, but took advantage of the situation to hold her hand.

  Baoji Shi stood a few steps away, carrying several bags, and saw the two hands clasped together in a "交" shape. She smiled and said, "I know you're working overtime, so I came to deliver some supper for you. You guys keep going, and I'll leave two portions for the both of you."

  He quickly went into his office after finishing speaking.

  The two people suddenly felt a bit awkward and couldn't continue anymore.

  Qiao Yu looked at her and asked, "Are you hungry?"

  Ji Siyun nodded with her eyes downcast, "Mm."

  Qiao Yu pulled her along as they prepared to head back, "Let's go eat then."

  Ji Siyun suddenly raised her head, with a proud and stubborn expression on her face, implying that she would rather die than give in. "I won't eat anything she buys."

  Qiao Yu sighed, helplessly and indulgently looking at her with a mixture of frustration and doting, "You..."

  Qiao Yu glanced at the time and thought that there were basically no more takeout deliveries at this hour, so he thought for a moment before pulling her out.

  Ji Siyun called out to Da Miao as she followed behind, "Where are we going?"

  Ten minutes later, Ji Siyu looked at the man surrounded by the rising heat in the kitchen filled with fragrance, feeling unreal.

  Soon Qiao Yu brought out a steamer basket and handed her a pair of chopsticks, "Taste."

  One by one, the shrimp dumplings lay in the steamer basket, each with a clean and crystal white color. They smelled fresh and delicious. Ji Si Xuan picked up one and took a bite, then stuffed the whole thing into her mouth. Her eyes narrowed in delight at how good it tasted.

  She ate two before realizing Qiao Yu was sitting next to her, staring at him with a hint of a smile on the corner of his mouth.

  "Why aren't you eating?"

  "I'm not hungry, you eat."

  "Is this what you did?"

  "No, don't you remember I told you before that I'd take you to eat some 'private' dishes? It's from there that I brought it back. That day... originally wanted to invite you over for dinner, but you didn't come, and it's been in the fridge for a long time, isn't it not as delicious anymore?"

  "Delicious!"

  "Next time I'll take you there to eat, fresh ones will taste better."

  That 'private' house dish was thought of by Qiao Yu when she was in school, but he was afraid that she would notice his identity, so he thought about waiting until graduation to take her there, who knew that ultimately there was no such opportunity.

  Ji Siyuan eats very quickly, and after dinner, Qiao Yu is washing the dishes. She stands beside him, supervising, occasionally poking her hand into the dish soap bubbles on Qiao Yu's hands.

  She suddenly remembered that when she had just returned to China, at Sui Yi's home, she stood outside the kitchen and saw Xiao Ziyuan and Sui Yi doing the same thing in the kitchen, and at that time she was so envious.

  The thrill of romance may be fleeting, but perhaps the mundane routines of daily life are what truly last a lifetime.

  Qiao Yu thought she was bored and turned to tell her, "There's sweet soup in the pot over there, go get some yourself."

  Ji Siyuan turned around to get a bowl, "Oh, are you eating?"

  Qiao Yu continued to lower his head and wash dishes, "I won't eat."

  After a while, Qiao Yu suddenly spoke up, his voice extremely soft, as if he was afraid of startling her, "Ji Siyuan."

  She was eating happily and responded vaguely, "What's up?"

  "When will you finally forgive me?"

  He remained with his back to her washing the dishes, the sound of running water continued, his hands moving steadily, as if he had only casually mentioned it, but she suddenly became cheerful.

  "Oh." Ji Si Xuan put down the bowl, her mood suddenly sinking, "They should have eaten enough, I should go back and continue working overtime, see you later."

  Qiao Yu immediately washed his hands and followed out of the kitchen, "I'll see you off."

  The big cat is sprawled on the carpet, sleeping soundly. Qiao Yu asks Ji Siyu for her opinion, "Let it stay here?"

  Ji Siyun nodded, "Okay."

  Out of the elevator, he met several groups of people in front of the building, probably Qiao Yu's colleagues, who greeted him and then stared at Ji Si Xuan with a curious expression.

  Ji Siyuan's unembarrassed gaze back at him instead made the other person feel a bit awkward.

  Qiao Yu took her hand and smiled, "My girlfriend."

  "Oh, haha, 'girl' friend, so beautiful!"

  "Thank you, we'll go first."

  The two had just walked a few steps when they heard the discussion behind them.

  "When did Qiao have a 'girlfriend'? I haven't heard about it."

  "I don't know."

  "Who's that girl? Looks a bit familiar."

  “……”

  After walking far away, Ji Siyu finally shook off his hand, "Qiao Yu, if you take advantage of me again next time, I'll hit you!"

  Qiao Yu frowned, "You took advantage of me before and I didn't say anything?"

  Ji Siyuan looked at him and turned around to walk forward.

  What goes around comes around.

  The two of them walked in silence all the way until they reached the bottom of the office building. Ji Si Xuan stopped and said, "Alright, you can go back now."

  Qiao Yu looked up at the lights that had turned on in the building and said, "I don't have anything to do either, I'll go with you."

  Ji Siyun shook her head, "Judging from the situation, we'll definitely have to work overtime until dawn. You're still busy tomorrow, don't overwork yourself. Besides, Da Miao is still at your place, it's alone and I'm not at ease either."

  Qiao Yu no longer mentioned the topic from earlier, nodded and said "Alright, you can go in now."

  Qiao Yu watched as Ji Siyun entered the elevator before turning around to head back, walking a few steps before stopping and suddenly speaking up, "Has Fourth Miss recently developed a habit of peeking at others?"

  Baoji Shi quickly walked out of the "shadow", smiled awkwardly and said, "Found again."

  Qiao Yu turned around and looked at her, "Looking for me with something?"

  Bo Ji Shi is different from Ji Si Xuan, Ji Si Xuan is a straightforward person, while Bo Ji Shi does everything in a roundabout way. Tonight when she came to deliver the midnight snack, Qiao Yu knew she had something to say.

  "My dad scolded me over the phone today, and from his tone, it seems that your family's Secretary Qiao rejected his suggestion of a marriage alliance. In the past, he wanted Bo Zhongyang to marry my sister, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. Later, he tried hard to match us up, planning for a Qiao-Bo marriage alliance, but alas... another case of 'flowers in the mirror and moon on the water'."

  Qiao Yu lightly laughed and said, "Actually, it's better this way. The sooner we clear things up, the better for everyone."

  Qī Shī smiled warmly and mischievously, "Is it good for you? So that Jì Sī Huán won't misunderstand us."

  Qiao Yu's smile gradually deepened, as if mixed with other emotions, "We two originally didn't have anything that would make her misunderstand, let alone you should find someone to take care of you."

  A faint crease appeared on Qian Xi's brow, her face a picture of worry. "But this way, I'll have no choice but to cut ties with the Qiao family. Without their influence, the road ahead will be even more difficult."

  Qiao Yu wasn't afraid of her plotting against the Qiao family's power, but he was afraid she had other plans. After hearing this, he felt relieved and said, "If you need my help in the future, just say so."

  "Then help me out and marry me!"

  Qiao Yu was taken aback. "Don't joke about this. Marriage should be with someone you like, tying two people together just for benefits is not good for anyone."

  "For the sake of profit alone..." Bo Ji Shi murmured to herself, lost in thought. She quickly smiled and said, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. I have something else to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."