MAPF Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Impulse. Lips pressed against Xie Shiwei’s soft, warm ear…

He Qin looked at the earring and said, “Indeed, I bought it. It’s worth over ninety thousand. I can’t use it for Xie Shiwei to repay a favor, can I?”

Xie Shiwei grumbled, leaning close to He Qin and whispering, “Didn’t you say you were giving it to me?”

He Qin said in a low voice, “Anything I give away can only be kept by the recipient. Absolutely no re-gifting.”

Xie Shiwei’s ear tingled. He awkwardly touched the earring, muttering that He Qin was too demanding.

Zhao Yan couldn’t stand watching the two whispering sweet nothings, so she led the others away.

Xie Shiwei chased after her: “Miss Zhao, let me pick out a new pair of earrings for you. But please wait a bit. I’m about to start working at a branch of Xie Shi Group. As soon as I get paid, I’ll buy them for you, okay?”

Zhao Yan smiled and waved her hand. “No need. I don’t lack jewelry. Just behave yourself in the future.”

.

Mid-afternoon, the group ate snacks and chatted about their recent lives. When they were tired of talking, they split into smaller groups to play games, sample wine, swim, and soak in the hot springs, completely relaxing. The gathering finally had the atmosphere it should have.

Zhou Ze and He Qin played snooker together, bending over to swing their cues, their figures on full display.

Xie Shiwei sat on the leather sofa behind them, eating melon seeds, thoroughly enjoying the view.

Wang Gugu finished talking to an acquaintance and sat next to Xie Shiwei, handing him a piece of strawberry cake. “Want some?”

Xie Shiwei liked cake, so he thanked her and took it, but he didn’t know what to say. He vaguely remembered that the last time he saw Wang Gugu, she had called him an idiot.

Wang Gugu didn’t dwell on that and spoke first: “Xie Shiwei, you’ve changed a lot recently, haven’t you?”

It was a question.

Xie Shiwei: “…Uh, yeah, I’ve turned over a new leaf.”

“Why? It feels a bit sudden.”

Xie Shiwei keenly sensed a hint of probing and played dumb. “Because I’m fickle.”

Wang Gugu chuckled twice. “Oh, right, do you remember what nickname you used to give me? I can’t remember it for a moment.”

Xie Shiwei was certain that Wang Gugu was testing him.

Wang Gugu’s intention was He Qin’s intention. He Qin suspected him.

Xie Shiwei smiled, confident. “Ugly Compass, because from a secular aesthetic standard, you’re not pretty enough, and your face is very round.”

Wang Gugu almost choked.

He really knew!

But who asked you to explain it?!

She angrily finished the cake in one bite.

Xie Shiwei: “It was unkind of me. I won’t call you that again in the future. I’ll call you Gugu like He Qin does, okay?”

Xie Shiwei used his trump card, batting his eyes and acting cute. Wang Gugu weakly nodded.

Xie Shiwei gave her another small cake. “Or, if you have time, come to my house, and I’ll do your styling. Actually, your ‘no features’ face is quite unique. Many models are like that. If the styling is right, there will be unexpected results.”

Wang Gugu had grown up being called ugly. Although Xie Shiwei meant the same thing, his face showed only sincerity, without the slightest hint of ridicule. She touched her chin and said, “Okay, I’ll look for you if I need it next time. Let’s add each other on WeChat.”

Xie Shiwei was puzzled. “I already have you as a friend.”

Wang Gugu opened her QR code. “Sorry, I deleted you before.”

Xie Shiwei: ……

.

After resting enough, everyone came out of their rooms and gathered again, waiting for dinner to be served.

The restaurant was set up on a semi-open platform by the sea.

The endless sea stretched to the horizon, and a fiery red sunset hung at the junction of sea and sky. The clouds were dyed red by the setting sun, and seagulls leisurely flew through them, their cries complementing the sound of the waves.

Xie Shiwei was attracted by the scenery. He walked to the railing and looked into the distance, a very faint sadness clouding his eyes.

Although he wasn’t doing well, he missed his original world.

He missed the magnolia tree in front of his house, the few friends he had, and the savory pies made by the neighbor’s aunt.

In early March, the sea breeze was still very cold. When it suddenly blew, Xie Shiwei shivered. Suddenly, warmth enveloped his back. He Qin had draped his coat over him.

“Thank you,” Xie Shiwei said.

“You’re welcome. Dinner starts in ten minutes. You, me, plus Zhou Ze and Wang Gugu, we’re at the same table.”

“Okay.”

Xie Shiwei stopped talking and quietly looked at the sea, wearing the coat.

He Qin looked at Xie Shiwei’s delicate profile and asked, “Xie Shiwei, is there anything you want to say to me?”

Xie Shiwei’s mind was blank. After reacting for a while, he felt that He Qin’s words had a deeper meaning.

He turned his head to meet He Qin’s gaze.

He Qin’s eyes were deep, his dark pupils like obsidian, seemingly able to see through his hidden secrets.

But Xie Shiwei still didn’t dare to speak.

If he uttered such shocking, illogical words, he couldn’t be sure whether He Qin would believe him. Even if he did, would He Qin stand by him? Or would he tell the truth to more people, pushing him into a difficult situation?

“No, I don’t have anything to say. He Qin, it’s time to go eat.”

Xie Shiwei turned and left after speaking.

He didn’t know that in those few seconds, the confusion, struggle, and vulnerability that flashed through his eyes were all captured by He Qin.

He Qin looked at Xie Shiwei’s back and felt an impulse for the first time.

He couldn’t distinguish what this impulse contained. Perhaps it was exploration, perhaps it was closeness, maybe, there was even a little bit of protection.

His emotions were also being so deeply affected by another person for the first time.

.

Xie Shiwei’s sadness came and went quickly.

In the dining area, Zhou Ze snapped his fingers and called him over. Xie Shiwei happily sat directly across from Zhou Ze, smiling brightly. “Mr. Zhou, thank you for revealing the truth and clues about the infighting within Zhao Feng Group to my father, helping Xie Shi Group solve a big problem.”

“It’s my duty. Telling Chairman Xie was also to identify the real culprit sooner,” Zhou Ze raised his glass. “I’ll finish this, you can do as you please.”

Xie Shiwei also had a glass of wine in front of him. He hesitated, then picked it up and sipped a little, wrinkling his nose at the bitterness of the wine.

Zhou Ze lazily propped up his chin. “Can’t drink foreign wine? Waiter, another glass of juice for Mr. Xie.”

The waiter came over. “What flavor would you like?”

Zhou Ze looked at Xie Shiwei. “Such a cute little beauty, cherry, for beauty and nourishment.”

“Okay, please wait a moment.”

Xie Shiwei was delighted by Zhou Ze’s words. He chatted enthusiastically with Zhou Ze, listening to him talk about the cases he had handled and the people he had punished, his eyes full of admiration.

After a while, the juice came. He Qin and Wang Gugu also came together.

As soon as He Qin arrived, he cut off Xie Shiwei’s conversation and chatted with Zhou Ze about interesting things in their field of work. Wang Gugu worked at a pharmaceutical company, so she occasionally chimed in to talk about her own things. Only Xie Shiwei was still holed up at home, so he could only listen.

Fortunately, the food came out quickly, so he ate and listened, not bored at all.

After the main courses were finished, it was time for dessert. He Qin and Zhou Ze went to the restroom together.

After finishing up, He Qin washed his hands. Zhou Ze tidied his hair in front of the mirror. “He Qin, what’s your relationship with the little beauty now?”

He Qin asked, “Little beauty is?”

“Xie Shiwei.”

He Qin narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhou Ze in the mirror. “What do you mean?”

“What else could I mean? If you two really have nothing going on, and you get a peaceful divorce after a year, I can make my move, right? Xie Shiwei is quite to my liking.”

He Qin cursed Zhou Ze for being shameless.

Zhou Ze was fearless. “You don’t like him anyway, so you won’t let me take over?”

“I was always weirded out by how devotedly he pursued you back then. I’m not that much worse than you, but he insisted on running into a brick wall with you. But now it’s different. Your little beauty secretly looked at me several times today. Maybe he’s planning to change targets. Be a good guy and let your brother have some fun.”

He Qin laughed in anger and kicked Zhou Ze in the back of the knee.

Zhou Ze knelt down. “Damn! Are you trying to murder me! That hurts!”

He Qin sneered. “The carpet is so thick, what are you whining about?”

Zhou Ze looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Something’s not right. Could it be that you’re interested in him?”

“Impossible,” He Qin snorted. “I’m just afraid you won’t be so lucky. You have so many debts from your affairs, aren’t you afraid he’ll tear your house down?”

When the two returned to their seats, Xie Shiwei felt an atmosphere of confrontation between He Qin and Zhou Ze. He looked at He Qin, whose face was as hard as stone, and then at Zhou Ze, who didn’t seem to be doing much better.

Xie Shiwei mustered his courage to speak. “Did you two quarrel?”

He Qin didn’t answer, Zhou Ze nodded.

Xie Shiwei was baffled and looked at Wang Gugu.

Wang Gugu didn’t care at all. “They’ve been arguing since the day they met. It’s a common sight. They’ll be fine in a bit.”

Xie Shiwei said “Oh” and buried his head in finishing his ice cream cake, continuing to drink his cherry juice.

He Qin reached out and took it away, telling the waiter to bring a glass of orange juice.

“It’s pretty good, why do you want to change it?” Xie Shiwei protested.

He Qin put the orange juice the waiter brought in front of him. “This glass is freshly squeezed, it’s healthier.”

Xie Shiwei took a sip and found the freshly squeezed orange juice bitter.

He Qin almost ordered him. “You have to drink it even if it’s bitter.”

Xie Shiwei was very puzzled but didn’t dare to disobey He Qin. He pouted and took two sips.

.

Night fell, the sky was a purple-tinged blue, the sea was vast and deep, and the lights of cargo ships dotted the distance.

As Wang Gugu said, He Qin and Zhou Ze’s sudden displeasure came and went just as suddenly. The two began chatting again.

However, Xie Shiwei always felt that He Qin was comparing himself to Zhou Ze in his words.

Zhou Ze said he had solved a case, and He Qin had to say he had completed a project. Zhou Ze said he had seized a certain amount of stolen money, and He Qin had to say his project had made millions in profit. Zhou Ze said he had trained several capable subordinates, and He Qin had to say he had several employees who had been promoted.

Xie Shiwei had never seen this side of He Qin before, like a child vying to show off in front of his parents.

A little childish, and a little, cute?

Xie Shiwei smiled, leaning closer to He Qin. “Hey, why are you always arguing with Zhou Ze?”

The moonlight illuminated Xie Shiwei’s glistening eyes. He Qin was captivated by those eyes and suddenly felt an impulse.

He wanted to get closer to Xie Shiwei, and he actually did it, pressing his lips against Xie Shiwei’s soft, warm ear, saying each word clearly: “Am I? I’m just stating the facts.”

Xie Shiwei was caught off guard by He Qin’s ambiguous kiss. He instantly panicked and jumped away from He Qin, rubbing his burning ear, blinking his eyes and humming incoherently several times.

He Qin raised his eyes in satisfaction and glanced at Zhou Ze.

Zhou Ze was certain that He Qin’s inexplicable action was for him to see.

He was showing off his intimate relationship with Xie Shiwei.

And he still stubbornly says he has no feelings for Xie Shiwei?

No one believes that.