Chapter 13: You Smiled Beautifully

“Wen Qi, can you ever be on time for once? Just once!”

Xiang Weishi held up his phone, accusing her of her chronic lateness.

Wen Qi felt a little guilty. “It’s not like I’m late every single time.”

“Mm. Occasionally there’s one rare punctual appearance,” Xiang Weishi drawled, “as rare as a meteor. You’ve got to make a wish fast before it disappears.”

Wen Qi: “…”

Slander. Pure slander.

“Stop running your mouth,” she said, sitting down by the window. Seeing that most of the dishes had already been served, she picked up her chopsticks. “You told me to treat you to dinner, and I did. Isn’t that enough?”

“Tch. Of course you should treat me,” Xiang Weishi snorted, taking a box out of a bag and placing it on the table. “You made me travel miles to pick up your package. If you don’t treat me, who will?”

The moment Wen Qi saw the box, her mood brightened instantly. “Fine, fine. I’ll treat you. Eat.”

She took the box carefully and began opening it.

Xiang Weishi leaned over curiously. “What did Nan Xu send you?”

Nan Xu had been Wen Qi’s deskmate in her final year of high school. The four of them, Wen Qi, Xiang Weishi, Nan Xu, and Xie Hejing, had been close, though Nan Xu had gone abroad after graduation.

This time, Nan Xu had mailed gifts to the three of them from overseas without telling them, wanting it to be a surprise. Unfortunately, the package had been sent to Wen Qi’s old address in the eastern district.

When the courier called saying the parcel was damaged and asking her to check whether she wanted to sign for it, Wen Qi immediately asked Xiang Weishi to help her take a look.

Luckily only the outer packaging was torn; the box inside was intact. Since he was already there, Xiang Weishi naturally acquired the additional duty of “delivery boy.”

“What did you get?” Wen Qi asked.

“Limited edition game console,” Xiang Weishi sighed. Nan Xu was generous, going straight for limited edition.

“And Xie Hejing?”

“I think… a fountain pen.” He recalled. The inside of the cap had a tiny line engraved in English: Time refines what is precious. But he hadn’t had much of a chance to examine it. “He guarded it like treasure. Wouldn’t even let me look properly, afraid I’d break it.”

That reminded Wen Qi of something. She immediately hugged the box to her chest and scooted slightly away from him.

Xiang Weishi: “…”

“I’m really done with you guys.”

Wen Qi shrugged and opened the box carefully.

Inside was a delicate diamond necklace. The pendant was a small number “7,” finished in matte texture, with a faintly shimmering trim along the edge.

She put it on at once, snapped a photo, and sent it to Nan Xu, followed by a voice message: “Xu Xu, I love you!”

Xiang Weishi stared, stunned. Since when did Wen Qi speak so gently? Eye-opening.

Nan Xu’s voice message came back quickly: “I saw it at a local designer shop and fell in love at first sight. The designer said the theme was ‘Radiance.’ I immediately thought, it should be yours.”

Wen Qi pressed her lips together slightly. “Did you spend a lot? The necklace, the pen, the console…”

Nan Xu’s voice remained bright and warm. “Just saved up a bit. As long as you’re happy.”

“By the way, Xiang Weishi delivered it for you. Qiqi, did you move?”

“Yes. I only rented the old place for a year. Had to treat him to dinner to get him to run errands for me.”

****

They chatted happily for a while before Nan Xu had to leave.

“Finished?” Xiang Weishi asked, brow deeply furrowed.

“Mm.” Wen Qi looked at him with amusement. “What, I’m supposed to chat with you too?”

“Obviously!” He looked incredulous. “You go out to dinner with a friend and just… eat?”

“…Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

Xiang Weishi ate quickly. While she had been chatting, he had happily sampled nearly every dish on the table.

“Let’s go for drinks. I saw a bar nearby while I was waiting for you.” He grinned. “I think my bartending skills have improved lately.”

Oh, so she was the test subject.

He looked smug. “Treasure this. In the future, you’ll have to pay me for my cocktails.”

Wen Qi laughed dryly. “If I ever pay you for a drink, I must’ve lost my mind.”

“…”

His bartending was… catastrophic. Despite his enthusiastic recommendations, Wen Qi managed only two glasses.

She couldn’t understand how someone could have so many creative ideas, yet every single combination moved further and further away from the concept of “tasty.”

It was almost impressive how bad they were.

Unable to bear it, she ordered a stronger drink to wash away the strange aftertaste.

When one glass wasn’t enough, she had another.

The result: Wen Qi, who rarely got drunk, now felt the world spinning gently.

Still manageable. Not fully drunk.

Her phone rang just then. It took her a while to answer.

“Where are you?”

Wei Qingxuan’s voice was usually clear and gentle when speaking to her. Rarely this cold.

But dulled by alcohol, Wen Qi didn’t notice. Or didn’t care to.

“Yuxi Road. Half Cup Moon.”

Just then Xiang Weishi brought another drink. Seeing her rummaging through her bag, he asked, “What are you doing?”

“Touching up my makeup.” She smiled mysteriously. “Drunken beauty look.”

“…”

Did the alcohol scramble her brain?

“Don’t get ideas about me,” he warned. “I’m not into you.”

Wen Qi rolled her eyes. “If I were into you, I’d jump off this building right now.”

“…Okay then.” He relaxed.

“Drink? Not strong.”

“No thanks.” She applied blush; the post-alcohol glow rose instantly to her cheeks. Satisfied, she put it away. “I’ve got someone picking me up.”

“You’ve got someone-” He froze. “You live alone. Don’t tell me you’re cohabiting now?”

“…Cohabiting? Don’t be ridiculous.” She waved him off. “You’ll see.”

He chuckled. “You and Xie Hejing have both changed recently.”

“How?”

“Old trees blooming again. Though his blossom got blown away. Yours still looks like a bud.”

Wen Qi fell quiet briefly. “Nan Xu will come back. As for mine… not sure if it’s a peach blossom yet. But it’s interesting.”

“Worry about yourself first. Bare tree. Not even a leaf.”

He protested, “Before the college entrance exam someone even sent me a love letter!”

She clapped lightly. “Wow! Congratulations.”

“…You’re insufferable.”

When Wei Qingxuan entered, his gaze cut through the hazy air of the bar and landed precisely on the corner table.

Wen Qi sat sideways to him, cheeks flushed from alcohol, eyes curved into crescents as she laughed at something the man opposite said.

He had no idea what they were joking about.

Wen Qi: “Last time you got drunk and confessed your love to a cactus at the bar. I’ve got the video.”

Xiang Weishi grinned through clenched teeth. “Who was the one cornered by a junior for a confession and called me for backup?”

Wen Qi inhaled. “Two hundred. I’ll sell you the video.”

“Deal. And we never mention it again.”

****

Wei Qingxuan had never seen her so relaxed with anyone. Even the faint moisture in her eyes after drinking carried an unguarded intimacy.

Was she this happy because she liked him?

The next second, he strode over. Ignoring Xiang Weishi, he bent down close to Wen Qi, voice cold as frost. “Come home with me.”

She blinked at Xiang Weishi, then turned back to Wei Qingxuan, her eyes instantly misting. “I’m dizzy.”

“I’ll help you.” He half-lifted, half-held her up.

She coughed softly and leaned into him. “My legs are weak.”

Even Xiang Weishi was fooled and started to stand. But just before he did, he caught the quick look she shot him and quickly looked away, afraid he’d burst out laughing.

Wei Qingxuan’s gaze drifted to Xiang Weishi. Wen Qi was like this, and he didn’t even look concerned.

Conclusion: Wen Qi liked someone who didn’t care enough.

The thought stoked his anger further.

He pulled out several bills from his wallet and slapped them onto the table. The sound was heavy enough to make nearby patrons glance over.

“We’re leaving.”

He gripped Wen Qi’s wrist more tightly than before.

She leaned even closer, glancing at the money from the corner of her eye.

That’s a lot.

Should’ve charged more for the video.

Back in her room, after he closed the door, Wen Qi sat on the bed, fingers lightly touching the necklace at her collarbone.

She hadn’t noticed earlier, the back of the “7” pendant had a tiny smiley face engraved, identical to the one Nan Xu had once drawn on a sticky note to cheer her up.

The alcohol blurred her into memory.

Wei Qingxuan, watching, assumed the necklace had been from that man.

His mood darkened instantly.

After five minutes of silence, he finally spoke, voice sharp. “You like it that much?”

She looked up, smiled softly, and lifted the pendant. “Mm. Very much.”

“You were thinking about him?”

“Who?”

“The one sitting across from you.”

Instead of answering, she patted the space beside her. “Come here.”

He didn’t move.

“I was thinking about you,” she said instead.

His heart slammed once.

“Didn’t hear me? I said, I was thinking about you.”

He lowered his head, drawn in.

But he turned away stiffly. “You think about everyone. You just say whatever sounds nice.”

She smiled, eyes flashing mischievously. “I’m not lying.”

Then her gaze dropped to his waist. She tapped lightly, as if studying something.

“Wei Qingxuan, photos distort reality. I think seeing for myself is more convincing. Don’t you?”

The air froze. Heat rushed up his neck. He tightened his grip on her wrist, almost defensively. “You-”

“Can I touch?” she asked seriously, poking lightly again.

“…”

“No?” She tilted her head. “That’s fine. I’ll get to touch sooner or later. And Wei Qingxuan, you look very pleasing like this.”

Before he could react, she stepped back, sitting on the bed again as if nothing had happened.

“Wen Qi, drink less in the future.”

“Do you blush for other people?” she suddenly asked.

He didn’t want to answer such an absurd question.

But her gaze was too intent.

“…No.”

She smiled brightly and stepped close again, brushing his bangs lightly. “That’s a good puppy.”

He seized her wrist again and pulled her closer.

“Repeat after me,” she murmured. “Good puppies don’t blush for other people.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Don’t want to say it?”

“You went on a date today. You were smiling at someone else…” His jealousy surfaced, tinged even with grievance. “And you smiled beautifully.”

She listened quietly, then nodded. “Mm.”

His chest tightened. He wanted to hold her, to make her burn with him.

Suddenly she clasped his hand instead.

Wrapped in her warmth, he trembled slightly.

She looked up at him and smiled, a bright, open smile.

“This one is for you.”

He softened. “Wen Qi… come a little closer.”

She leaned in. “So, still won’t say it?”

He suddenly laughed.

Before she could react, his hand slid to her waist and lifted her slightly off the ground.

At that close distance, she could feel his racing heartbeat, the heat surrounding her.

He buried his face at her neck and murmured, in an intimate whisper,

“Good puppies don’t blush for other people.”