Qian Duoduo finally understood.
This man was worried about her safety and had made up an excuse to escort her home.
But…
She was driving. What danger could she possibly be in?
Did he think she might run into bandits hijacking cars?
She wasn’t sure whether to praise him for being thoughtful or tease him for making a mountain out of a molehill.
After a moment of silence, Qian Duoduo’s gaze dropped and unintentionally swept past the half-smoked white cigarette that Lu Qiming still held between his fingers.
“So you smoke,” she suddenly said.
Lu Qiming heard her and a barely noticeable awkwardness flickered across his handsome face. “Just occasionally, to stay awake. I’m not really addicted.”
Qian Duoduo didn’t have strong feelings about men smoking, nor did she intend to argue with him about it.
After hearing his reply, she just nodded casually and smiled. “Since you’ve made up your mind not to let me drive you, I won’t insist. Be careful on your way back. Bye.”
“Goodbye.”
The next second, the girl’s soft face disappeared behind the closing window, and the white car pulled away.
Lu Qiming stood in place, watching the car. He didn’t look away until it made a U-turn at the intersection ahead and safely entered the underground parking entrance of a residential complex.
He pulled out his phone and ordered a ride. Within a minute, someone accepted the request.
While waiting, he looked down at the cigarette butt in his hand.
He didn’t usually smoke much— two or three cigarettes on a heavy day, and on light days, a pack could sit untouched in his pocket for a week.
But today was different. Ever since running into Qian Duoduo at the teahouse, he’d had the urge to smoke.
Frustrated? Not quite. Disappointed? Maybe a bit. But more than anything, it was a kind of physical restlessness, a primal agitation.
During those few minutes outside the injection room, she had been very close to him—closer than ever before.
So close that every breath he took filled his lungs with her faint, pleasant scent—sweet, but not cloying.
So close he could clearly see the arc traced by her fluttering lashes, each stroke soft and delicate, like a brush painting directly onto his heart.
The feeling was unfamiliar—and troubling.
Lu Qiming even mocked himself: no wonder men are often called “animals who think with their lower half.”
Whenever he faced Qian Duoduo, his eyes would be involuntarily drawn to her, his thoughts subtly influenced by her.
The way his body responded hit his brain fast and hard— enough to shake his thoughts and will.
It made no sense.
They had only met twice…
While mulling this over, Lu Qiming caught sight of his ride approaching from the end of the street and pulling up by the curb.
He checked the license plate— correct.
He’d been working overtime for several days and hadn’t slept well at night, so he was feeling a bit drained.
As soon as he got in, he leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes to rest.
The middle-aged driver glanced at the destination address and sounded a little surprised. “Hey buddy, that place is kinda remote, isn’t it? If I remember right, it used to be a crematorium years ago.”
Lu Qiming replied flatly, “Is that so.”
The driver chuckled awkwardly. “Oh, you didn’t know? Haha, sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. My bad, really.”
Lu Qiming: “It’s fine.”
“There’s a little trash bin to your left,” the driver helpfully pointed out.
“Thanks.” Lu Qiming dropped the cigarette he’d been holding all this time into the bin.
The brief conversation ended there, and the driver could tell Lu Qiming wasn’t in the mood to chat, so he shut his mouth and focused on driving.
Next to him, Lu Qiming kept his eyes closed but furrowed his brows slightly.
That girl had never had much of a good impression of him.
Now that she’d seen him smoking, would she think he was just some chain-smoker?
*
After parking, Qian Duoduo grabbed her car keys and headed into the elevator, pressing the button for her floor.
She leaned against the wall and let out a yawn.
Just then, her phone screen lit up with a new WeChat message.
Qian Duoduo opened it and saw it was from Ms. Zhang Xuelan: [What are you up to, sweetheart? Don’t tell me you’re still not home yet? Your mom’s so sleepy from waiting.]
Qian Duoduo smacked her forehead and quickly replied: [I’ve been home for a while now! Totally forgot to text you. Go to sleep, quick!]
Zhang Xuelan: [Alright, you should sleep too. Don’t stay up hiding under the covers playing games. You’ll ruin your eyes.]
Qian Duoduo smiled and typed: [Got it.]
Just as she finished replying, the elevator dinged and arrived at the 12th floor.
This apartment was one her family had moved into a few years ago— a flat with two living rooms and four bedrooms, around 150 square meters of usable space.
Right outside the elevator was a private little entry garden, filled with Ms. Zhang’s favorite flowers, plants, and Chinese-style decorations.
After changing shoes and setting down her bag, Qian Duoduo went to her room to grab some clothes and headed into the bathroom to shower.
She hadn’t even finished undressing when her phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the caller ID and picked up.
On the other end, the background was noisy— pounding rock music, a male DJ yelling, and chatter and laughter from young men and women.
“Jingxi, where are you?” Qian Duoduo frowned.
“Out drinking with some friends,” Zhao Jingxi’s voice clearly had a drunken edge to it— her tone different from usual. After a pause, she added, “You home yet?”
“Just got back.”
“Wanna come out and have some fun? There are hotties here— tight waists, round butts, and long legs. Real eye candy.”
“It’s too late. I’ll pass.” Qian Duoduo yawned. “I just want to shower and sleep early.”
“Alright, alright, I get it. Sleep is more important than me,” Zhao Jingxi pouted playfully.
Qian Duoduo chuckled, then suddenly remembered something and asked, “Who are you hanging out with tonight?”
“Someone from the film crew,” Zhao Jingxi replied cheerfully. “Just met them today, we hit it off, so we decided to hang out after work.”
“Just met them?” Qian Duoduo couldn’t help but worry. “Are you the only girl there?”
She had barely finished speaking when a man’s voice came through the phone, shouting, “Sister Zhao, you still owe three drinks! Come on now, no backing out!”
“Get lost, you brat. Who’s backing out? I’ll drink right now!” Zhao Jingxi snapped with boisterous energy, then turned back to Qian Duoduo on the phone and said, “You get some sleep, I’m hanging up.”
“Wait!” Qian Duoduo’s voice shot up in urgency. “Which bar are you at?”
“‘Tianque’ on Changhua Road.”
“Don’t drink too much. Keep your phone on. I’m coming over now.”
The moment she hung up, Qian Duoduo didn’t waste a second.
She threw her clothes back on at lightning speed, not caring if her makeup was smudged or her hair a mess.
Grabbing her car keys, she dashed out the door and headed straight for Tianque Bar.
*
Not long ago, a trending topic on Weibo asked: “If it’s the middle of the night and both your drunk boyfriend and drunk best friend call you, who do you go to?”
The discussion exploded, and nearly every girl gave the same answer: ignore the man, show up for your bestie.
Changhua Road wasn’t far from Qian Duoduo’s neighborhood. Driving like the wind, she was standing outside Tianque Bar in twenty minutes.
Big cities are buzzing at night, and even at midnight, Changhua Road was packed with people— bartenders hustling for customers, heartbroken girls drinking away their sorrow, and groups of office workers letting off steam.
Qian Duoduo’s striking features and perfect proportions made her stand out in the crowd, vibrant and eye-catching.
Zhao Jingxi spotted her instantly and waved with a grin. “Duoduo!”
Qian Duoduo looked over.
Zhao Jingxi was lounging on a booth sofa, surrounded by three young men.
All tall, handsome, clearly actors by profession— long legs and great looks, no doubt about it.
“This is my good friend, Teacher Qian,” Zhao Jingxi said with a tipsy hiccup, slinging an arm over Qian Duoduo’s shoulder as she introduced her to the others, “She’s a big internet celebrity, has millions of fans online.”
As a producer, Zhao Jingxi commanded respect.
The three actors straightened up and politely greeted her, “Nice to meet you, Teacher Qian.”
“Hi there.”
Qian Duoduo gave them a polite smile, then took one look at Zhao Jingxi’s state and knew she’d had enough.
She smiled and said, “Jingxi and I have something to do later, so we’ll be leaving now. You guys enjoy yourselves.”
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Zhao Jingxi with one hand, snatched her Dior Lady bag off the sofa with the other, and walked off without a backward glance.
The sight of two beautiful women leaving together drew attention.
On the way to the car, several people tried to strike up a conversation.
Qian Duoduo ignored them all and, with considerable effort, finally managed to stuff Zhao Jingxi into the front passenger seat.
“What’re you doing?” Zhao Jingxi mumbled, tipsy and rubbing her eyes with delicate fingers. Her gaze was dazed. “I wasn’t done partying yet.”
Qian Duoduo didn’t get mad.
She calmly asked, “Who was it that landed in the hospital last month from drinking, got an IV drip, and had to stay two or three days?”
“…”
Zhao Jingxi had no comeback and shut up obediently.
Qian Duoduo opened her phone’s map app and set one of her frequently visited places as the destination.
Just then, Zhao Jingxi suddenly spoke, her tone even, “I’m not going home. Just find a hotel and book me a room.”
Qian Duoduo paused, then asked tentatively, “Your mom went back to Nancheng?”
Zhao Jingxi nodded. “Yeah.”
Qian Duoduo didn’t say anything more.
She just smiled and said, “Then stay at my place for a while. My parents are traveling— you can keep me company.”
“Sure.”
Even ordinary friends would lend a hand in tough times, let alone someone like Zhao Jingxi, who was practically family to her.
The first day she brought Zhao Jingxi home, Qian Duoduo rummaged through her cabinets and dug out a pile of unused essentials— new towels, a new toothbrush, and even a pair of brand-new slippers she hadn’t worn yet.
“We’re out of new bath towels,” Qian Duoduo said, walking back to the bedroom with her arms full. “I’ll buy one tomorrow. Just use mine for now.”
“Okay.”
Qian Duoduo looked up. Zhao Jingxi was sitting on the window seat, playing on her phone.
Her eyelids were drooping, expression unreadable.
Seeing this, Qian Duoduo felt a pang in her chest.
She walked over and gently pinched Zhao Jingxi’s arm. “Don’t overthink it. Go take a shower first.”
A moment later, Zhao Jingxi looked up at her.
Her voice was calm. “It’s been so many years. I’m used to it. What’s left to think about?”
Qian Duoduo didn’t know how to respond and stayed silent.
Zhao Jingxi gave a small laugh, reached out to pinch Qian Duoduo’s cheek, and walked toward the bedroom door.
Halfway there, she suddenly stopped, turned back, and asked, “Oh right—who was in your car today?”
“A coworker. Why?”
“I found something on the seat just now,” Zhao Jingxi said, tossing it over. “No idea whose it is.”
Qian Duoduo caught it.
She opened her palm and examined the object— a piece of cold, hard metal, with a solemn color scheme, compact in design, and etched with simple patterns.
Qian Duoduo’s eyes flashed.
This was… a commemorative military dagger?