Chapter 34: Could It Be That You're Blushing?

As soon as school was over, Dan Qiuqiu came looking for Qiao Xi. The two of them joined Grandmother for dinner, and after tidying up the kitchen and chatting for a while, they went up to the rooftop together.

Night had already fallen, and the sky was scattered with countless twinkling stars.

“There are so many stars tonight,” Dan Qiuqiu gazed upward.

“Yeah.” Qiao Xi lay down.

“Do you remember how we used to lie on the grass, all of us, staring up at the stars? Back then, we were so wild. We could play however we liked,” Dan Qiuqiu’s voice overflowed with nostalgia. After all, it had been over a year they’d spent together. “What about you, Qiao Xi?”

“That’s all in the past.”

“I mean, do you miss it?”

Qiao Xi didn’t answer. She couldn’t say she didn’t miss it—no one could—but no matter how beautiful a memory was, it would eventually fade. Everyone grows up; there comes a day when we must graduate.

“Remember that time we made a bet? Whoever lost had to buy drinks, and in the end, Xin lost. But instead of coming back with sodas, she got into an argument. That man really was something—imagine having the nerve to harass Xin…” Dan Qiuqiu kept talking, and Qiao Xi simply listened.

After a while, Dan Qiuqiu thought Qiao Xi had fallen asleep. She turned to look and saw that Qiao Xi was still lying on her back, eyes wide open.

“Never mind, I’ll stop. The more I talk about it, the sadder it gets.” Dan Qiuqiu lay down as well, then turned her head to ask, “Today I saw the vice president with you. I went looking for you right after class, which means the vice president skipped class just to stay with you? Don’t tell me you two are really dating?”

“No,” Qiao Xi replied calmly.

“So, does the vice president like you?”

“…”

“And you? What do you think of him?”

“…”

“Come on, say something. With such a lovely moon tonight, we should be talking about something romantic.” Dan Qiuqiu was never one to sit quietly.

“It’s getting chilly. Let’s go inside,” Qiao Xi said, standing up.

“Ha! Boss, are you blushing?” Dan Qiuqiu burst out laughing.

Qiao Xi shot her a look, and she instantly quieted down. Even though Qiao Xi had always been gentle and never threw her weight around, it was still unwise to provoke her.

“Just kidding,” Dan Qiuqiu apologized at once.

Qiao Xi said nothing and went inside.

Once indoors, she glanced at the clock—it was already after nine. Time had slipped away unnoticed, as it always did.

“I’m heading home. Still need to shower and do my laundry tonight. I’m taking the bus home early tomorrow morning, so I’ll see you next week,” Dan Qiuqiu waved goodbye to Qiao Xi and left.

“I just heard Qiuqiu’s voice—where’d she go?” Grandmother emerged from her room.

“She went home,” Qiao Xi replied. “Aren’t you going to bed soon, Grandma?”

“I’m just about to. You should get some sleep too.”

“Okay.”

Qiao Xi showered, dried her hair, and lay down, but sleep wouldn’t come.

…

Don’t you think you’re doing more than what the vice president should be doing?

Am I?

…

She thought of the question she’d asked today—he hadn’t answered her directly.

He’d said she seemed reluctant to call him by his name, but hadn’t he always approached her as the vice president? Even though what he did so clearly went beyond his role.

Just as she was drifting off, her phone rang.

She reached for it, paused when she saw the name on the screen, then answered.

Gu Heng’s low voice came through:

“Come outside.”

“…What?”

“I’m outside.”

Qiao Xi hesitated, meaning to reply, but the call had already ended.