Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

The bedroom door clicked shut.

Xie Wang stood in the living room, listening to the even breathing coming from inside. His tense nerves finally relaxed. He glanced at the sofa, then turned and walked towards the balcony.

Some things have to be done while she's asleep.

He closed the sliding door and rummaged through a storage box in the corner to find the set of polishing tools.

Using the faint moonlight filtering in through the window, Xie Wang sat cross-legged on the ground and took out the Czech meteorite.

"Sizzle—"

Because he was afraid of waking the people inside, he chose to gently sand it with hand sandpaper.

The rough sandpaper rubbed against the hard surface of the meteorite, making a soft rustling sound. Xie Wang lowered his head, his fingers rubbing together, his expression as focused as if he were carving a rare treasure. Black powder covered his slender knuckles, but he was completely unaware.

In order to complete the project before August 1st.

After grinding for over an hour, the sharp edges of the stone finally became smoother. Xie Wang held it up to the moonlight, and the deep olive green color was faintly visible.

"It needs to be a little more refined," he muttered to himself, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Just imagining her wearing this star makes the soreness in my hands seem less unbearable.

……

12:00 noon.

Su Qinghe was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, analyzing the transaction record of "Hongyuan Trading".

Open your mouth.

Xie Wang's voice came from above.

Su Qinghe subconsciously opened his mouth and was fed a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs that had just come out of the pot and been cooled.

"How's the saltiness?" Xie Wang asked, holding chopsticks and wearing an apron around his waist as he bent down to look at her.

Su Qinghe chewed, his eyes lighting up: "Perfect. Chef Xie's skills have improved!"

"That's right, they don't even consider who it's made for."

Xie Wang casually pulled out a tissue and wiped her mouth, then placed the whole plate of ribs next to her.

"Eat first, then we can check those messy accounts."

Su Qinghe grabbed his hand: "Let's eat together."

"Okay, I'll go get the bowl."

The two of them squeezed together on the carpet and ate lunch while looking at several complex financial statements. Occasionally, Xie Wang would point at the screen and ask a few questions about the code logic, and Su Qinghe would throw the scallions and ginger he had picked out into his bowl, as naturally as if they had been living like this for many years.

3:00 PM.

When Su Qinghe woke up from his afternoon nap, he found no one in the living room.

An extremely faint scraping sound came from the balcony.

She rubbed her eyes and walked over, pulling open the sliding door.

"Xie Wang?"

Xie Wang, who was frantically sanding in the corner, was startled, and the sandpaper in his hand almost flew out of his hand. He reacted quickly, grabbed a towel from the side and covered the pile of tools, then stood up nonchalantly to block them.

"woke up?"

His voice was a little strained, and his hands, which were behind his back, were covered in black stone powder.

Su Qinghe looked at him suspiciously, then glanced at the bulging mass behind him:

"What are you doing? Why are you being so secretive?"

"Nothing," Xie Wang lied without batting an eye. "The screws on the outdoor unit of this air conditioner were loose, so I tightened them. I was a little gentle because I didn't want to disturb you."

Su Qinghe took a step closer, his gaze falling on his chest, which was covered in sweat and dust.

She reached out and touched his collarbone with her fingertips; it was black stone powder, not dust.

"Tightening a screw can leave you covered in stone chips?" Su Qinghe raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a half-smile.

Xie Wang: "..."

They've been exposed.

He grabbed her hand that was fiddling with his chest, sighed helplessly, but offered no explanation. Instead, he playfully leaned his face closer to hers.

"Ms. Su, can you please give me some privacy?"

Su Qinghe looked into his charming eyes, which held a hint of ingratiation, and her heart softened.

She didn't press him further, but instead took his hand and pulled him into the house.

"Fine, you're right. But could that sweaty young master go take a shower first?"

Xie Wang took the opportunity to put his arm around her waist, lowered his head and rubbed against her neck, deliberately wiping his sweat on her body.

"Dislike me? Too late."

"Thank you, you idiot!" Su Qinghe laughed and dodged, "You're filthy!"

The living room was filled with laughter and playful noises.

……

July 31, 22:00.

Tomorrow is Su Qinghe's eighteenth birthday.

A tranquil coolness permeated the living room of room 1602. The two were nestled on the sofa as usual these past few days; Su Qinghe had an English novel open on her lap, while Xie Wang casually scrolled through his phone beside her.

Everything seemed the same as usual, but there was a subtle, almost imperceptible restlessness in the air.

"Buzz—"

On the phone screen was a WeChat group called "Top Secret! Command Center for Sister-in-Law's 18th Birthday," and the group owner was Lu Wen.

Young Master Lu: [@X Report! Fireworks are in place! I had someone clear out that abandoned dock by the river. We'll set them off there. I've even calculated the angle; from that angle, it'll be all about the fragrant aroma of burning RMB!]

Lin Lu: [I've ordered the cake too! A custom-made three-tiered Black Swan cake; the stylist said it perfectly suits Qinghe's style! @Shen Ritian, where are your balloons? Don't let them slip by!]

Shen Ritian: [Youyou and I are blowing on it, our lips are numb, don't worry.]

Song replied: "The guitar strings are all changed. I'll accompany you guys later."

Xie Wang stared at the constantly flashing messages on the screen:

[X]: [Thanks everyone]

Xie Wang didn't reply and put down his phone.

Qinghe

Su Qinghe closed the book and turned to look at him.

Xie Wang leaned forward, bracing himself with his hands on either side of her, trapping her in the corner of the sofa:

"I'll make you longevity noodles tomorrow morning."

"You can?" Su Qinghe asked, somewhat surprised.

"I practiced this secretly while you were napping these past two days; it shouldn't be poisonous enough to kill anyone."

Xie Wang leaned closer, his nose gently touching hers, his voice tinged with a doting smile:

"Tomorrow is your first day of turning eighteen. I want you to open your eyes and see me first, and the first thing you eat will be something I made."

Su Qinghe's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the boy so close to him.

"Alright, Teacher Su."

Xie Wang glanced at the clock on the wall, but didn't continue the topic. Instead, he casually took the book from her arms and placed it on the coffee table.

He stood up and extended his hand to her:

"Let's go to sleep."

Su Qinghe put her hand in his and was pulled up by him.

Under the moonlight, the "star," which had been thoroughly polished and strung with a black leather cord, lay quietly in the wooden box, radiating a deep and captivating emerald green glow.

The gift from the universe is ready.