Jingxia Rose

Chapter 17: Boyfriend?

"No, I was eating out," Ji Xuan replied. "You've gone back?"

"We were just about to leave," Wen Qi said. "Have you driven yet?"

"No."

When will you finish eating?

"almost."

"Then send me your location, and I'll come pick you up."

Ji Xian paused for two seconds, said "okay," and hung up the phone. She then opened WeChat and discovered that he had sent her two messages twelve minutes earlier, asking if she had finished get off work and if she had eaten.

But she didn't reply, so I called to ask.

She sent her location, covered her phone on the table, turned around, and looked up to find Xiao Guxing staring at her.

Meeting her gaze, he teased, "Boyfriend?"

Ji Xuan nodded readily in agreement, "Yes."

Xiao Guxing paused, the playfulness in his eyes vanished instantly, his heart tightened, and the air around him seemed to thin.

That's true. Over the years, she's been beautiful, has a good personality, and is a quick learner. Back in school, many people pursued her, but she just wasn't interested in dating.

Now that we're working, who's going to wait for someone whose future is uncertain?

He gave a bitter laugh to himself.

This was probably the first time they'd had an awkward silence since they met today; their words had truly fallen to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Ji Xuan didn't detect anything unusual on his face, so she casually asked, "Senior, you must have a girlfriend too, right?"

Xiao Guxing suppressed the sour feeling in his heart and laughed, "I'm not afraid to tell you that after all these years, I'm still a bachelor."

"That means the senior student has focused all his energy on starting his own business."

That's true, but only he knows the real reason.

How could I so easily let go of someone who was so stunning in my youth and who accidentally stumbled into my heart?

Having suppressed his thoughts, Xiao Guxing resumed his previous talkativeness. Until the end of the meal, the two did not stand on ceremony for long, and in the end, he paid the bill.

Just then, Wen Qi's car arrived. Through the car window, I watched them talking and laughing face to face, and finally they embraced gently.

Wen Qi unconsciously frowned, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.

Ji Xian spotted his car immediately. After waving goodbye to Xiao Guxing, he opened the car door and got in.

Taking advantage of the moment she opened the door, Xiao Guxing saw the man in the driver's seat. He was quite tall, with handsome and well-defined features, and he even took Ji Xuan's bag.

And look at this car, it's a lower-end luxury version of the Cayenne.

Xiao Guxing watched the departing car, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He raised his hand to press his temples, and a bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

As soon as Ji Xuan got into the car, he asked, "Have you had dinner?"

"No."

Wen Qi drove the car into traffic. "Let's go back and eat. Aunt Zhao has prepared the meal."

Ji Xuan nodded, and was about to ask about Ruan Zheng's situation when he was interrupted before he could speak, "Who was that person just now?"

That person?

Ji Xuan took a moment to realize that he was referring to Xiao Guxing. He said directly, "My senior from the same major in college was waiting for me at the company this afternoon. I left work through the west gate and couldn't get a taxi. That's when I ran into him, so we had dinner together."

"Reporters and paparazzi camped out at the company?" Wen Qi frowned even more deeply, and when he looked at her, his tone softened a bit. "Why didn't you tell me?" They had contacted each other on WeChat that afternoon about the team building pre-funding, but they only talked about work-related matters, and she didn't mention the reporters and paparazzi at all.

Ji Xian smiled faintly, "It's not a big deal, it hasn't affected the company at all. Just ignore it, they'll leave when they can't catch you."

Wen Qi pursed his lips, wanting to say, "It doesn't affect the company, but it has affected you. You can tell me anything, big or small."

But he felt that saying these words sounded like an accusation, so he hesitated for a few moments before swallowing them back down.

Ji Xuan then asked the question he had been wanting to ask, "How is Sister Ruan Zheng?"

She didn't have time to go see it today, and it's been on her mind the whole time.

"I woke up around 2 a.m. last night, and I felt a bit down after learning about my leg condition this morning."

The Wen family did not deliberately hide the fact that her injury might affect her future dancing. After all, hiding such a thing would also be harmful, so it was better to tell her directly.

Sui Yi had gone through the same thing, so she could empathize with her very much.

Upon learning this, the light in Ruan Zheng's eyes vanished instantly. She then stared blankly at her injured leg, remaining silent, and even her meals were coaxed to her by Sui Yi.

Sui Yi was worried about her, so she didn't call a caregiver or the family's nanny to take care of her, and stayed by her side at all times.

In this kind of situation, outsiders don't know how to advise you.

Ji Xuan didn't know what to say.

I just don't know how such a big thing could have been reported in Hong Kong, but there seems to be no movement from them, and even Jin Chengye hasn't shown up.

Is it really true, as the reports say, that they have divorced?

That's her guess, but she certainly wouldn't ask Wen Qi directly.

"How do you plan to respond to Sister Ruan Zheng's injury? The public relations department already has a plan, but I think it's not appropriate for Linqi Capital to explain this."

Ruan Zheng has her own independent dance studio, and she is also the eldest daughter of the Wen family. It's not up to Linqi Capital to get involved.

"Her studio staff will handle it."

Ji Xuan nodded and didn't ask any more questions about it.

Upon arriving at Canglan Residence, the two went inside together. Aunt Zhao had already prepared the meal. After eating, Ji Xian did not sit down but went upstairs to take a shower first.

When they came out, Wen Qi had also finished eating, and the two of them went into the study together to talk about work.

Wen Qi didn't come out until after eleven o'clock. He had taken a shower, and perhaps because he hadn't slept well last night, he looked noticeably tired. He lifted the covers and lay down, naturally reaching out to pull the warm, soft woman next to him into his arms. He buried his face in her fair neck and could smell the fresh, invigorating floral fragrance.

Holding her in his arms before bed has almost become a muscle memory for him.

Ji Xian felt a little uncomfortable against his hard chest, so he shifted his position slightly and looked at the dark ceiling. "Are you going to the company first or the hospital first tomorrow morning?"

"The company." Wen Qi said with his eyes closed, his face still buried in her neck, his voice sounding somewhat muffled and tired, "Going to the hospital this afternoon."

"Then I'll go with you. I didn't have time to visit Sister Ruan Zheng today."

"Ah."

Wen Qi tightened his grip on her waist, responded vaguely, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, kissed her earlobe and cheek.

Ji Xuan turned around to face him, silently tracing his outline in the darkness.

Only at times like these can she feel his care; the way he tightens his grip becomes the energy that fills the void in her heart.

But she would still feel confused and puzzled about what kind of feelings he had for her.

(End of this chapter)