Wen Ying looked at Xie Qian. Xie Qian looked back at Wen Ying. For a moment, neither spoke.
As the recent handover slacker, Li Mengjiao rummaged a box of ice cream from the fridge. She scooped and ate while she peeked down and giggled.
From winter break start, Li Mengjiao’s CP group lacked new fodder for ages. Wen Ying and Xie Qian said whatever on phone calls but never relayed to Li Mengjiao. This CP fan head could only loop old clips like any plain fan.
Xie Qian returned. CP snacking resumed. Li Mengjiao felt pure joy.
Qin Jiao saw her silly grin. She pointed outside. Li Mengjiao followed in a daze.
“Jiao-jie, want some?”
Li Mengjiao offered the ice cream. It broke Qin Jiao’s planned chat flow.
Never mind. This was a daft one. Fools had fool’s luck.
“I am good. I subbed for you lot just a bit and felt drained. Xie Qian tutored you full two and a half years. Do not forget his effort.”
Li Mengjiao nodded hard while she ate. “I know. Truth is, God Xie always wanted to tutor Wen Ying most. We are just add-ons. God Xie owes us no duty.”
All rode Wen Ying’s coattails. All took big cheap from Xie Qian.
Li Mengjiao saw it clear. She owed Xie Qian such debt. No clue how to repay. Her parents could not either. Xie Qian outrich her whole family. Likely needed no goods from them. Sigh, why overthink? Anyway, she habituated to heed Wen Ying. Wen Ying and Xie Qian blurred as one. Repay to Wen Ying, Xie Qian might even cheer!
Li Mengjiao sorted her logic. At once, she patted her chest to Qin Jiao. “I am no ungrateful sort, ha!”
Qin Jiao held back a chuckle. “Alright, drop the grave face. I just said offhand. As long as you get it.”
To Qin Jiao, these words mattered little said or not.
Why say now?
Qin Jiao glanced back inside.
Likely because the undercurrent vibe between Wen Ying and Xie Qian right now fit no third wheel!
Bulbs and such best had some sight. Qin Jiao held back another chuckle.
In the living room, Xie Qian broke silence first. “I read ‘Crown of Thorns’. Even sans the plagiarism, it falls short of yours.”
Wen Ying tamped her ear heat. “She copied not just my tale but aped my style too. Truth, Lan Jing has some skill. Left to grind years solo, she might blaze big. Yet she heeded Bao Lixin’s spell!”
Even in copy, it could hide better.
Lan Jing’s ‘Crown of Thorns’ copied so boldface. This likely not Lan Jing’s own ploy.
It was Bao Lixin!
Bao Lixin as Rongcheng Literature chief editor always urged Wen Ying to “play safe”. Success formula in hand, just rinse repeat. ‘With the Galaxy’ novel sold hot. Drama blazed too. Shun the easy win path? Wen Ying chased fresh turf. She set ‘Searching for Yong’ in ancient Hua Xia Nine Cauldrons lore.
Bao Lixin griped ‘Searching for Yong’ opened slow burn. Griped the buildup dragged long. Griped Wen Ying too headstrong.
Wen Ying aimed ‘Nine Cauldrons’ IP series. Author’s ambition that.
Ambitious authors slipped reins easy. Bao Lixin opposed Wen Ying’s innovate push.
They clashed. Wen Ying jumped ship. Bao Lixin quit Rongcheng Literature too.
Wen Ying held no grudge yet. This chap could not let go. He forced a Lan Jing foil to Wen Ying. His moves chased gain sure. Yet smacked of sulk too. Bao Lixin proved in deed: Wen Ying shunned clone ‘With the Galaxy’ success? Blame not if others snatched the clone.
“How can such a turtle egg exist?”
Wen Ying grew madder as she spoke. Her cheeks flushed. Xie Qian’s voice softened more. “Normal folk grasp no turtle egg thoughts. Right, Deng Juan sorted?”
Mention Deng Juan, Wen Ying brightened true. “Sorted, I suppose. At least shed the old kin demands for now. Plus Deng-jie bought a flat!”
Deng Juan bought a flat.
Post-new year, Deng Juan rushed back to capital work. Plus she picked no fuss on digs. In Wen Ying’s scoped zone, she eyed two sets then paid deposit. First in Wen Ying’s ‘Rongcheng Buy Flat Squad’ to strike.
Wen Ying eyed the demolition payout. She picked Deng Juan the biggest old flat in her budget bear.
That shack so wrecked even Yang Xi scorned. Deng Juan felt full content though.
“Deng-jie headed back to capital work. She left flat keys with my little aunt. Little aunt said she’d tidy spare time. No big reno. At least scrub habitable.”
Deng Juan’s flat held four rooms. Deng Juan worked long capital term. Flat sat waste empty. Chen Li chatted with Deng Juan. Why not simple paint job? Spruce tidy then sublet split.
Rent three of four rooms out. Monthly rents summed decent. Deng Juan just chipped extra to cover loan!
Xie Qian worth billions heard Wen Ying prattle such “rent-to-loan” smalls. He felt no bore. Listened keen true.
This was life.
Wen Ying’s life. And his too.
Xie Qian asked why Wen Ying not snag two herself. Old flats anyhow. Tied little funds.
Wen Ying cared little. “My cash all went to Mum for stock flips. Wait till she pulls from market this year.”
Rongcheng flats, Wen Ying planned no hoard.
Wen Ying now urged kin buy more chiefly. Kin lacked her rebirth cheat. Miss this low price and demolition boon, their wealth pile lagged others heaps.
Deng Juan first to land one. Wen Ying’s big uncle and little uncle families eyed flats too. No pick yet which.
Xie Qian pondered. He unzipped his pack. Pulled a bank card.
“That million you lent me, used so long, time to repay. No interest from me. If you need cash, just say. Long as I have, more than a million I can lend.”
Knew Xie Qian signed the demolition deal, flush true. Wen Ying twisted none. Took the card bold.
“Deal. When I need funds, I will ask sure!”
Saw Wen Ying pocket the card casual, Xie Qian dipped head in smile. “To the study. I have words for you.”
Intel from Tai Jing, Xie Qian hid from Wen Ying a full winter break. At start, could claim no mood spoil for her new year. Now drag the hide? No pass muster.
Hide’s fallout, Xie Qian tried once.
So long past, he just erased the rift with Wen Ying. Loath to tread that track again.
Watched the pair head up one after other, Liu Auntie peeked from kitchen. Could not help but grin.
Tended Xie Qian’s life over two years plus, Liu Auntie knew his old self too well. Liu Auntie liked now’s Xie Qian.
If time froze this instant, just fine.
