Chapter 17: A Touchy-fevey Angry
Chapter 17
Qing Qing was very angry. Ever since Hu Li's engagement banquet, Song Qi had been somewhat distant with her.
Yet Song Qi thought he was hiding it well.
Qing Qing rolled her eyes. It must have been because of what he said to Liu Baozhu that night.
She knew Song Qi had initially wanted to pursue Liu Baozhu. That was why Qing Qing had taken the initiative, since she rarely scored higher than Liu Baozhu academically but had never lost to her in attracting men.
The results proved she was right. So look, whose boyfriend was Song Qi now?
Song Qi wasn't exactly a playboy, but he wasn't devoted to one woman either. He didn't have an undying passion for Liu Baozhu; it was more like a conqueror's urge to succeed where everyone else failed.
Of course, his acceptance of Qing Qing wasn't the result of irresistible love either.
Men from wealthy families were essentially spoiled children, till the day they died.
Qing Qing took out her phone and called Song Qi.
"Dear, are you free tonight?" Qing Qing didn't need to deliberately soften her voice.
It was naturally sweet. Liu Baozhu had once said her voice surpassed Lin Zhiling's allure - Lin Zhiling could be cloying, while no matter how long one listened to Qing Qing, she remained lyrical and captivating.
So on the phone, Song Qi quickly agreed to pick her up from work and take her back to his place.
Qing Qing raised her eyebrows. Little boy, if I can't subdue you, my feminine wiles have been cultivated in vain.
Such words and tone were highly reminiscent of Hu Li's style, though Qing Qing actually admired it without voicing it aloud.
When getting off work, Qing Qing deliberately dawdled to carefully dress up, timing it perfectly so that as she walked out, Liu Baozhu would be going from the 3rd floor down just as Song Qi pulled up at the entrance to wait for her. He always avoided parking at the radiology department building itself, fearing radiation exposure.
Sure enough, Qing Qing noticed his gaze following Liu Baozhu for a bit as she headed towards the dormitory building before nonchalantly looking away again. Qing Qing pretended not to see.
They went to the city's top-ranked Japanese restaurant.
While waiting to be seated, they ran into the blissfully loved-up newly engaged Hu Li and her fiancé, so the four ended up dining together.
Hu Li was all smiles and good cheer today, chatting amicably with Qing Qing for once without any barbs or provocations. So when Qing Qing casually asked, "How were the blind dates for Baozhu?", Hu Li was so shocked she nearly bit her own tongue off.
"Who told you Baozhu was going on blind dates?" Hu Li demanded, while the other two also looked to Qing Qing questioningly.
"You didn't know either?" Qing Qing said lightly. "I thought you would have heard. I overheard it from Director Liu - Baozhu asked for leave herself and told the director she was going on a blind date. She's been taking fewer night shifts lately! She used to be so enthusiastic, working 29 out of every 30 days on nights if she could get them. But now she's voluntarily cutting back to make time for these dates. Looks like things are getting serious!"
"That sneaky girl," Hu Li grumbled. "Keeping things so hush-hush."
"Well, I guess we'll all have to wait for the wedding invitation to find out," Qing Qing laughed.
Hu Li rolled her eyes at her. "She just doesn't like sharing private stuff about herself."
"Maybe she doesn't even know she's being set up," Song Qi suggested.
Bingo. Gotcha.
"Oh, like that time you were set up with her without her knowing?" Qing Qing asked Song Qi.
Hu Li was eagerly waiting for his reply, neglecting her food in anticipation of some juicy drama!
Clearly not thrilled to be put on the spot about this, but unable to avoid responding after bringing it up himself just now, Song Qi admitted, "Yeah, later I asked Director Liu and found out she'd told Baozhu it was to accompany her to a basketball game, just to make sure Baozhu would show up."
So you were sore about it, so close yet so far, and got restless again...
Men are worse than dogs indeed.