Chapter 53: The rest of my life
Xu Qing realized his approach was wrong. The better he treated her, the more indebted she felt, and it just snowballed from there.
D*mn it, it was like boiling a frog in warm water—and the pot had sprung a leak.
"As long as I pay off the money, we’ll be even. No need for all that 'benefactor' nonsense. I just... it was nothing, really, so don't dwell on it."
“No, that won’t do. I have to earn the money myself. All I did was cook a al, and I had to eat too. It’s not the sa,” Jiang He said, shaking her head.
The fake way to repay a debt: I give you money, and you give it back. Done deal.
The real way to repay a debt: Work hard, save money, and pay it back properly.
Xu Qing’s thoughts were a chaotic ss. He blad Second Boss for this—turning “benefactor” into the biggest obstacle on his road to making her his girlfriend.
If things went on like this, he wouldn’t succeed even in two years. Thank goodness he realized it early.
What kind of warped logic was this? Why couldn’t you date soone you owed a debt to? Was it really such a selfish desire?
“Wait, did you just say selfish desire?” He put his chopsticks down and looked suspiciously at Jiang He. “What desire?”
“... What desire?”
“You just said it.” Xu Qing fixed her with a stare.
Jiang He bit her chopstick nervously, then lifted her head. “Did I?”
“...”
D*mn it!
Jiang He flinched under his gaze, then quickly looked down. “You don’t need to pity . I’ll work hard to earn money and not trouble you.”
“I’m not pitying you,” Xu Qing replied irritably. “Just eat. We’ll talk about this later.”
Who wants to be a benefactor, anyway? It’s not like I’m short of food.
Xu Wenbin returned ho to find Zhou Suzhi setting the table with dishes she had just brought out.
“Why are you ho a bit late today?”
“I… went over to Qingzi’s place to check if the heating was working,” Xu Wenbin said, setting his briefcase down and sitting to think.
What the heck was that kid up to?
“Go wash your hands. What’s with the dazed look?”
“I might’ve seen a ghost.”
“Hm?” Zhou Suzhi frowned at his serious expression and approached while wiping her hands. “What? Did sothing go wrong with the dig site?”
“No, nothing work-related.”
Xu Wenbin glanced at her and felt even more conflicted. “The thing is, I just saw you.”
Zhou Suzhi froze mid-movent. “What do you an, saw ? Be clear.”
“Well… I don’t even know how to explain. It’s just that—what do you think Qingzi and his girlfriend are doing in that rundown house?”
“Qingzi? What’s he done now?” Zhou Suzhi’s expression shifted. “Wait, they didn’t… did they? Did you walk in on them?”
A young man and woman living together—if sothing had happened and Xu Wenbin stumbled upon it...
If that were the case—oh dear, seeing ghosts would be the least of their problems!
“What’s going on in your head?” Xu Wenbin frowned, clearly seeing her thoughts weren’t going anywhere good. “Don’t make this into a ss. What do you think of how they’re doing?”
“What do you an, how they’re doing? Just say what you want to say. Stop beating around the bush.” Zhou Suzhi’s patience was wearing thin.
Now she was starting to empathize with Xu Qing; it was impossible to have a straightforward conversation with this man.
“Well, just now when I… went over there and knocked, Qingzi’s girlfriend opened the door. She called out to while holding a dish, wiping her hands, just like you do. It was exactly the sa!”
“And?”
“And what? Isn’t it obvious sothing’s off? That kid never does anything properly, and now this…”
Xu Wenbin’s words trailed off as he struggled to explain. He was utterly baffled. “He’s suddenly living like a married man? In that tiny, broken-down house? Sothing doesn’t add up.”
Xu Wenbin had been mulling it over the entire way ho. It just didn’t make sense.
Qingzi, who was so carefree and idle, suddenly settling down like this?
What nonsense!
Without a job, there had to be so underlying issue he was missing.
“They’re dating. What’s so strange about it?”
Zhou Suzhi finally pieced together what he was saying and snorted derisively. She turned back to the kitchen. “Go wash your hands and stop obsessing over nonsense. Would you prefer them ordering takeout every day?”
“Yes, I would.” Xu Wenbin was firm.
This wasn’t about takeout. The whole scene back there—it was so d*mn unnatural!
“You’re such a fool.”
“And what do you suggest?” Zhou Suzhi rolled up her sleeves.
“I don’t suggest anything. I’m just going to eat!” Xu Wenbin retorted stubbornly, standing to serve himself.
He’d make Qingzi bring that girlfriend ho soday and see what was really going on.
After dinner, Xu Qing and Jiang He went back to their usual routine.
Xu Qing played gas at his desk, while Jiang He lounged on the couch scrolling through a certain video platform, occasionally glancing at him.
At the rate this ga-boosting gig was going, they wouldn’t make enough to pay off the debt in this lifeti.
Xu Qing couldn’t stop thinking about it. He had already decided to win her over, but the earlier conversation during dinner had only added fuel to the fire. His mind raced—he wished he could move her things into his room tonight.
No, stay calm. Take it slow.
Otherwise, he’d probably end up punched through a wall, and no one would be able to dig him out.
Taking a deep breath, he dismissed those chaotic thoughts and started thinking of another way to help Jiang He.
She needed sothing beyond just adapting to modern life. She needed a way to support herself, to build a sense of security and belonging in this era.
Without a sense of belonging, she’d always feel out of place—like a wandering soul. Whether he ended up with her or not, Xu Qing hoped she could truly thrive in this ti.
Winter lon the cat patrolled the room, its tail swishing. It paused between Xu Qing and Jiang He, hesitating, then jumped onto the couch and started to settle on Xu Qing’s stomach.
“Go on, sit with her.” Xu Qing picked it up by the scruff and turned it toward Jiang He, giving it a light push.
A sense of belonging, he mused. Bonds like this one with a pet might help, too.
As he watched Jiang He stroke the cat, he thought more deeply.
Without belonging, she’d drift like a weed on water, her life bleak and empty. Whether or not he could win her over, he wanted her to truly live in this era—to see the beauty of a world a thousand years removed from her own.
Xu Qing’s phone buzzed. A ssage in the “One Big Happy Family” group from his father @-ntioned him.
The family breadwinner: “@Freeloader Next ti, bring your girlfriend ho. Don’t bother coming back otherwise.”
Xu Qing looked up. Jiang He was petting Winter lon but glanced at him curiously. Their eyes t, and he smiled before typing back.
Freeloader: “Got it.”
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