As dawn was about to break, Xu Qingqiu still hadn’t returned to her own place. The two of them sat in Chu Tian’s room, chatting about everything under the sun for two or three hours, only realizing it was broad daylight when it fully illuminated the room.
"Oh no, it’s light outside! I should go back," Xu Qingqiu said.
She looked up to see the rising sun and frantically started putting on her shoes while searching for her bag and phone.
Chu Tian, on the other hand, wasn’t in a hurry. Not only was he unhurried, he even seed to be taking pleasure in her predicant.
Through their conversation that night, their relationship had inexplicably taken a big step forward. He no longer felt the sa distance or unfamiliarity towards Xu Qingqiu; their interactions were more like those of close friends, allowing jokes to flow more naturally.
"What’s the rush? Stay a bit longer. There’s a breakfast stall near the entrance that’s quite good. Why not have breakfast together before you go back?" Chu Tian teased.
Xu Qingqiu gave him an annoyed look, pouted, and said anxiously, "You just had to say it! Yiyi will wake up soon, and if she finds out I’m not there, who knows how worried she’ll be."
"Didn’t you send a ssage? Besides, who was it that refused to go back last night?"
"Aargh, Chu Tian, you’re so annoying! I didn’t send one. If Sister Hua finds out, you’d better brace yourself for a scolding. And you’re still in the mood to laugh!"
At the ntion of Sister Hua, Chu Tian couldn’t bring himself to smile either. Even though they hadn’t done anything, if Sister Hua found out, neither of them would get any peace. They would probably be nagged for at least half a month.
"Let’s go, I’ll walk you back."
They hurriedly tidied up. Just as Chu Tian was about to hail a cab after they left, Xu Qingqiu stopped him.
"What’s up? Are you going to get a cab yourself?"
Xu Qingqiu tucked her hair behind her ear, her face blushing as she whispered, "No... it’s just... it’s close by. No need for a cab."
"What? No need for a cab? Where do you live then?"
"Oh, co on, just follow ," Xu Qingqiu said, too embarrassed to explain, and proceeded to pull Chu Tian towards the nearby residential complex.
She hadn’t wanted to say anything, but for so reason, when Chu Tian offered to walk her ho, she had impulsively agreed. Now, she realized it was a bit late for regrets.
Although Chu Tian was unclear about the situation, since she wanted to go, he followed. They walked along a stretch of wall. When they reached the first gate, he looked around to make sure no cars were coming and was about to lead Xu Qingqiu across the street. But when he reached out his hand, he grasped at air.
"What are you looking at? Let’s go."
When he turned around, he saw Xu Qingqiu standing at the gate, waving at him.
He followed her, baffled. He wanted to ask sothing, but after hesitating for a while, he still didn’t.
What’s there to ask? Isn’t it obvious?
But what the heck was going on? I thought she lived far away, yet it turns out she lives next door?
He looked back at his own building, then at this place. Divided by just one wall?
"How co you live here?" he asked.
"Ah?... Well... I’m just staying temporarily. I’ll be moving out soon," Xu Qingqiu replied.
Was that what I asked? Chu Tian glanced at the flustered Xu Qingqiu, a guess forming in his mind. She probably moved closer when I first arrived and wasn’t in a stable ntal state, just in case sothing happened, right?
Indeed, he was half right. Initially, her house had been repossessed by the company. Later, she did move here, partly because of him, but also because the rent was cheap and she was short on money at the ti.
However, since it was all in the past, and Qingqiu didn’t look like she wanted to discuss it, Chu Tian didn’t pry further.
At Xu Qingqiu’s ho, Yiyi walked out of her room yawning, sat on the couch, and stared blankly ahead.
She hadn’t slept well last night and was still a little sleepy, but she had to go to work today. She needed to get up early to wash up and make breakfast, and she also had to wake Sister Qiu.
Mmm~ just five more minutes. A little more rest, and then I will start washing up in five minutes. I should make it~
Leaning on the sofa semi-consciously, she was about to fall asleep, ntally putting things off second by second. Suddenly, she thought she heard a noise, like a door opening.
Could Sister Hua be back? Didn’t she say it would be another two days? How co she’s returned so soon?
Just as she was preparing to open the door, it swung open.
To her surprise, instead of Sister Hua, it was Xu Qingqiu and Chu Tian who ca into view.
Yiyi’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide as she stared, fixated on the doorway. Then she quickly covered her mouth, afraid she might make a sound.
At the doorway, Chu Tian, seeing the person in front of him not moving, asked with a furrowed brow, "Co in, why are you standing there?"
Xu Qingqiu, her face embarrassed, stepped aside. Chu Tian looked inside and caught sight of Yiyi standing motionless with her mouth covered.
"Good morning, Yiyi. Are you up this early?"
"Ah? Ah! Right, it’s not ti yet. I should be sleeping. Yes, I’m sleepwalking!"
As if she had just realized it, she muttered to herself and, like a large black rat, SWOOSHED away, gone in a flash.
BANG!
With the sound of the door closing, Chu Tian blinked and looked around the empty living room speechlessly. There seed to have been soone here just a mont ago, right?
"Why did she run off? Do we look that scary?"
Xu Qingqiu, her face flushed red and unsure what to do, felt a surge of embarrassed annoyance at his slow realization.
"You... you go back then. You didn’t sleep well last night, so go back and get so proper rest. You don’t need to go to the company today."
Yiyi, who was secretly eavesdropping with her ear against her room door, suddenly widened her eyes.
Wow~ Didn’t sleep well last night? Did things escalate between them so quickly? They aren’t even being discreet? What should I do? Should I pretend I didn’t hear? But I heard everything! Is it ti for to showcase my acting skills?
Chu Tian had no idea there was an aspiring actress secretly listening in the room. He was quite tired already, and since she had said as much, he naturally went with the flow.
"Okay, you get so rest too. You should take a bath first. Here’s your bag; I’ve put it here for you."
"Alright, bye~"
"Bye."
After saying farewell, Xu Qingqiu sneaked a glance at Yiyi’s room. Seeing no movent, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She had just changed her shoes and was about to enter her room when Yiyi suddenly rushed out.
"Wow! Sister Qiu? Did you... score?"
"Oh my! What are you talking about, you brat, Yiyi! Such nonsense~"
Xu Qingqiu’s sudden comnt hit a sore spot, and she beca angry out of embarrassnt, grabbing Yiyi to try and silence her.
"Hahaha, Sister Qiu, I saw everything! I wanted to pretend I didn’t know, but I really can’t keep up the act. Tell , tell , what did you guys do last night?"
"Ah! Stop it! Don’t say another word! We did nothing last night, don’t you dare make things up!"
"Oh? Did nothing? Then why didn’t he rest well last night? Did you two stay up all night talking? I don’t believe that!"
"Yiyi!"
Xu Qingqiu was frantic, grabbing her and desperately trying to explain, but how could Yiyi believe her? She was no child.
The two of them roughhoused playfully until they were too tired to move and collapsed on the sofa.
Chu Tian had no idea what was happening over here. After he got ho, he took a shower, hit the bed, and nothing could wake him, not even if the sky fell.
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