CH 42

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3975255

The hair was covered with a fresh and sharp cedar aroma, which smelled good but not greasy; quite addictive. Lu Zhiqiao's movements were unconscious, but she couldn't help being fascinated.

Qi Yan felt the movement behind her, turned her head slightly, and caught a glimpse of Lu Zhiqiao twisting her hair and sniffing lightly from the corner of her eyes, her heart suddenly tightened, a thud hit her chest, while her whole body froze, and her breath hitched.

She didn't dare to move anymore, and let Lu Zhiqiao play with her hair, and glanced quietly, her eyes getting deeper and deeper. This woman has no idea how seductive she looks right now.

Having played enough with her hair, Lu Zhiqiao reluctantly let go, raised her head, met Qi Yan's meaningful gaze impartially, was startled, and instantly froze. There were clear and shallow ripples in those eyes, and there seemed to be a flame burning in the depths, and the hot temperature almost melted her.

Filled with enthusiasm and anticipation, Lu Zhiqiao couldn't bear it, she lowered her gaze, with her heart beating wildly.

The shrewd and capable Director Lu just now has become a little girl in embarrassment.

Suddenly there were two knocks on the door, and someone came in. Qi Yan panicked, quickly turned her face away, raised her hand to brush her hair. Pretended to be nonchalantly looking at the tall buildings outside the window, and then looked sideways.

It's Xiao Wan, the assistant.

She thought Qi Yan was a client, so she didn't think much, just smiled, and looked at her boss: "Director, the ticket has been booked, it's 8:30 tomorrow morning, do you need me to pick you up early?"

"No need." Lu Zhiqiao said calmly, with a cold voice, "Wait at the gate of your complex at 7:40."

"OK."

After Xiao Wan finished speaking, she smiled politely at Qi Yan and walked out quietly.

Qi Yan looked at the office door, made sure it would not open again, then looked away, grabbed Lu Zhiqiao's hand, "Where are you going tomorrow?"

"Business trip." Lu Zhiqiao said truthfully. Seeing Qi Yan's eyes darken, she hurriedly explained: "It's just a short one, it's in the next city, the high-speed train takes an hour, and I'll be back in the afternoon."

Qi Yan was startled, her eyes lit up again, and she couldn't help leaning over to hug her, "Will this be very tiring?"

"It won't." Lu Zhiqiao trembled, glanced at her watch, and said softly, "Time to get off work. Didn't you want to go back for the Lantern Festival?"

"Stay for a while."

"..."

With the acquiescence, Qi Yan became more courageous, wrapped her arms around Lu Zhiqiao's thin waist tightly, buried her head in the hair beside her ears, let out warm breaths from her thin lips. While, the tip of her nose restlessly rubbed against the shiny and small earlobe.

Lu Zhiqiao's throat felt stuffy, with a gasp she softened instantly, and slowly closed her eyes.

Qi Yan found out that this person has two faces, one in front of colleagues and subordinates in the company, and another in front of her. Even in the office at this moment, the serious atmosphere is no match for her provocation, the contrast is simply stark.

"Director Lu, are you comfortable?" She blew maliciously.

Lu Zhiqiao hummed softly, opened her eyelids suddenly, and struggled slightly, "Let go."

"Okay."

Qi Yan simply let go, and Lu Zhiqiao immediately stood up, straightened her hair and clothes, her face returned to cold and indifferent, she turned around to leave, but after taking two steps, she was hugged tightly from behind by a force.

The scent rolled into her nostrils, a strand of black and soft long hair fell in front of her, and Qi Yan's gentle and soft voice came from behind: "You look so charming just now."

"...What?" Lu Zhiqiao subconsciously grabbed the strand of hair, flustered.

This is the office, if someone comes in later, they will be seen hugging each other, she is afraid it will spread and be used as an after-dinner conversation.

"You, at work." Qi Yan kissed her face.

Lu Zhiqiao froze, her thoughts gradually calmed down, and she gently rubbed the lock of hair with her fingertips, feeling a little confident in her heart, the corners of her mouth slightly turned up, and the corners of her eyes and brows were stained with a smile.

Whenever the night is quiet and disturbed by nightmares, she falls into endless inferiority complex and self-doubt, but when the sun rises and she walks into the office building, the haze in her heart dissipates, the wound in her heart heals. She has infinite strength and confidence and is full of hope.

She wasn't as miserable as she thought.

"Director Lu, I'm your fangirl~" Qi Yan whispered in her ear.

Lu Zhiqiao regained her composure, lowered her eyes and smiled, grabbed the hand lying in front of her, and the uneasiness in her eyes flashed away, "You are not my subordinate, why do you call me that?"

"Huh? Then what should I call you?"

Lu Zhiqiao pursed her lower lip, but didn't answer.

"Ms. Lu? Niu Niu's mother?"

"..."

After a moment of silence, Qi Yan withdrew her joking expression, walked around in front of her, her eyes were still as soft as water, and filled with affection, "Qiao Qiao, or A'Qiao* okay?

*Typical Chinese (usually childhood) nicknames: repeating the last character of the name or adding 'Ah' prefix to it to add a cutesy effect. Used only when both parties are in a close relationship/same-aged, or if the addressee is younger, if it's someone older, you need to ask permission. It's only used in a casual setting.

She saw Lu Zhiqiao's fair and smooth face turned red into a ripe pink shrimp. The woman frowned slightly, and her heart, tingly like an electric current flowing through it. After a while, she softly uttered two words: "It's up to you."

Qi Yan thought she would be very resistant and cast two supercilious eyes, but she didn't expect her to be so calm at this moment, Qi Yan suddenly felt flattered, a smile broke out on the corner of her lips. She grabbed her hands and kissed her obediently, "I noticed, you have been smiling more often."

"Have I?"

"Um."

Lu Zhiqiao was surprised, and unconsciously bent her eyebrows, then stared at Qi Yan in a daze, her smile remained unchanged, and her eyes were full of luster.

After the snake bite, her often tense nerves relaxed, perhaps because she really felt that someone cared about her, nervous about her. The cold and gray world has a little more to hang on to, it's still worthy of nostalgia and it's still worth staying. Although she did not want to admit it.

….

The Lantern Festival is a day to watch lanterns and eat glutinous rice balls.

In the kitchen there are ingredients that have been cut and plated, and they can be put into the pot immediately. Qi Yan put on an apron and prepared to stir-fry. Lu Zhiqiao came in to help, but she stopped her and refused to let her say anything. In the past, Lu Zhiqiao couldn't hold her back, and she had no choice but to compromise, but today, her temper came up and refused to leave.

The two couldn't stop arguing, and decided to cook a dish each.

Qi Yan prepared ingredients for five dishes, including meat, vegetarian and seafood soups, and after a closer look, they were all favorites of the mother and daughter.

Niu Niu was watching TV in the living room, the volume was louder, and the lines of idol dramas made people feel nauseous. In the kitchen, the range hood was turned on, and Qi Yan was frying the prawns. The spatula was constantly turning, blending with the sound of the TV, making it quite lively.

Seeing her long hair fluttering, always hanging down her shoulders, Lu Zhiqiao went to the bathroom to get a hair tie, stood behind her, held it in her hand and carefully tied her long black and smooth hair.

Afraid of hurting Qi Yan, Lu Zhiqiao moved very gently, round and round, not too tight or too loose, hanging low behind her head.

Suddenly, a spatula appeared in sight, holding a shrimp tail drenched in sauce, and Qi Yan said with a smile: "Try this." Then she added: "Be careful, it's hot."

Lu Zhiqiao opened her mouth and blew, then ate it carefully, and chewed slowly with her lips pressed together.

"Is it delicious?" Qi Yan looked at her expectantly.

With a bright smile in her eyes, she nodded: "It's delicious."

Qi Yan also smiled, the corners of her mouth curved deeper.

When it was Lu Zhiqiao's turn to cook, Qi Yan hugged her from behind. Because of her height, her chin couldn't rest on her shoulders, so she just rubbed her face against her ears, which disturbed her and almost forgot to put salt.

After preparing a table of dishes, the two called Lu Wei to eat at the same time.

"Niu Niu—"

"Girl—"

"Time to eat."

At that moment, Lu Zhiqiao turned her head to look at Qi Yan, who happened to be looking over too. Their eyes collided, both of them paused for a moment, then looked at each other with a smile, and turned away.

All the lights in the room were turned on. Although there were only three people at the dinner table, there was a festive atmosphere. Qi Yan kept picking up vegetables for the mother and daughter and feeding Niu Niu the first bite of glutinous rice balls. Lu Zhiqiao looked at them with a smile, with a sudden surge of mixed feelings.

In the past, it was just her and Lu Wei at home, and it was cold and quiet for any festival, especially the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, which were like urging her to face her sins, and after a long time, she began to resist.

For a long time, she only saw working days and days off.

Today was the first time in so many years that she felt the lively atmosphere of the festival. Although there was only one more person, she felt at home, with a little warmth and happiness.

After eating, Qi Yan mysteriously took out three photo albums.

There is one photo of the mother and daughter alone, and the other is with both. She carefully selected, edited, and made three photo albums, only to find out later that she was not in any of the photos.

She forgot.

But it didn't matter, she has a good memory, the memories are burned in her mind, as long as she remembers, they will always exist. Qi Yan comforted herself

The three of them sat on the sofa and watched TV for a while, and ate some fruit snacks. When it was nearly nine o'clock, Lu Zhiqiao suddenly gave the key to her daughter and asked her to go back and pack her school bag and homework, and prepare for the school opening tomorrow.

The little girl looked reluctant, but still carried the little photo album and left.

It's strange to say that the original lively atmosphere suddenly faded a lot after one person left. The television was playing a skit. Stammering, Lu Zhiqiao turned her head to look at the person next to her. Her lips moved slightly: "Do you have something to say?"

"How do you know?" Qi Yan was stunned, and the candy in her hand fell to the ground.

Lu Zhiqiao raised the corners of her mouth slightly, but said nothing, bent down to pick up the candy for her, put it back on the plate, and said softly after a while: "It's all written on your face."

"..."

"Say it."

Qi Yan lowered her head, her slender and curled eyelashes trembled, as if hesitating and struggling. Suddenly she stood up, walked into the bedroom like a gust of wind, and came out in a few seconds, holding a few photos in her hand, and handed them to Lu Zhiqiao.

"I took it secretly." She confessed.

Lu Zhiqiao took it over and looked at it. She was stunned at first, and then a hint of amazement floated in her eyes. The person in the photo is her, wearing a white open-shoulder dress, sitting under a coconut tree, smiling and staring at her daughter who is making sand sculptures by the sea.

At that time, Qi Yan was not far from her, watching silently.

"I originally planned to keep it privately, but I still feel that I should respect you. These photos..."

"I love it so much."

Lu Zhiqiao interrupted softly, raised her head, and Qi Yan's charming and glamorous face was reflected in her watery eyes. She looked at her expression from guilt to joy, and the corners of her lips slowly lifted, "But, I'll confiscate this."

"Leave one for me." Qi Yan bargained, sitting down and hugging her arm.

"Okay."

As soon as the words fell, her cheeks felt hot, and she was sucked by something soft, and then the photo was taken away from her hand, and then stuffed back, one missing.

Back home, Lu Zhiqiao put the photo album into a beautiful gift box.

Traveling during the Spring Festival every year, this year is the most memorable one, and she can't explain why, she thought about it for a while, and put in some of Qi Yan's candid photos, turned her wrist, and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the color on the back.

She turned the photos over, and there was writing on the back of each one.

——My heart belongs you, for a long time

—— To seek eternal life, this life will be paid

——The one separated from dust, and I, the hopeless

....

After school started, Qi Yan couldn't send Lu Zhiqiao to work, and couldn't take Lu Wei to school with her because of the influence of rumors. After the holiday ended, the life of the three seemed to return to the previous state.

At the beginning of the new semester, the homeroom teacher is extremely busy, attending classes and holding meetings. It so happened that five intern teachers came to the school, and one of them was assigned to Qi Yan's class. She had to communicate with the intern teachers when she was busy, as her mentor did when she took her.

The girl's name is Yang Qing, she is a junior this year, she studied at Jiangcheng Normal University like Qi Yan, she is a local, she has a clear face, her voice is crisp, she is careful, diligent and able to speak, she talks to Qi Yan the past two days. After getting acquainted, she calls her 'sister' in private.

After the meeting this afternoon, Yang Qing was the only one in the office. As soon as Qi Yan walked in, she saw the girl lowering her head and laughing, her body trembling from laughing, and asked curiously, "What are you so happy about huh?"

Yang Qing raised her head, her face was red with a smile, seeing that it was her, the intern hurriedly raised the letter in her hand: "Sister Yanyan, look quickly, I'm dying of laughter hahaha..."

"This is—" Qi Yan took it over and looked at it twice, frowning, "Given to you by the students in our class?"

"Uh-huh."

There are two jerky love words on the note, and the handwriting looked like it was written by a child.

Yang Qing took a sip of water, took a while, and said with a smile: "Are all the students so precocious now? I've only been here for a few days..."

"Do you know who it is?"

"Chen Jiaqiang, he ran away as soon as he gave it to me."

Qi Yan's expression suddenly became solemn, and she tore the note into pieces, sprinkled it into the wastebasket, and said softly: "Xiao Yang, on the first day you came here, I told you that there are three red lines that cannot be stepped on, especially for teachers and students. Love is the taboo of taboos."

"I know, Sister Yanyan, I just think it's funny, these little friends, hahahaha." Yang Qing laughed, but seeing Qi Yan's face was sullen, showing no sign of easing up, so she finally stopped laughing and her expression became serious. Then she stood up.

"How are you going to handle this?"

"Ignore him." The girl said seriously.

Qi Yan frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded, but she was still a little worried, so she told her: "From today until the end of your internship, don't show any discriminating meaning to Chen Jiaqiang, whether you ignore him on purpose or  lay attention to him, don't bother, just like usual, understand?"

"Uh-huh."

"If he gives you a note again, don't look at it and just throw it away. If he does something else, such as chatting with you, remember, you can't be alone with him, either in the classroom, or in the corridor, or anywhere else. And not only him, keep a distance from all male students."

She spoke seriously, Yang Qing was stunned, and raised her hand to cover her mouth: "So serious..."

Qi Yan raised her eyebrows: "What did you expect?"

The girl nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'll remember."

....

The sky was getting dark, the campus was empty and silent, Qi Yan came out of the office, said goodbye to Yang Qing, and went straight to the parking lot. She went down to the first floor, turned a corner, and suddenly caught a glimpse of two students squatting beside the greenery, looking furtive and familiar.

"Niu—" She almost shouted by mistake, and hurriedly changed her words, "Lu Wei."

She's not her daughter, but like her own. She can't mistake this little girl.

The two stood up like frightened birds, looked at her in panic, and the thing in their arms fell to the ground with a clatter - it was a mobile phone. Lu Wei quickly picked it up, pressed it twice, and carried it behind her back.

"Wang Zheyi?" Qi Yan saw the face of the boy next to her and frowned, "It's been so long since school ended, what are you still doing here not going home?"

No one said anything.

Lu Wei's face was crumpled, her eyes flicked wildly, and then she lowered her head, as if she was in imminent disaster. Wang Zheyi was a little calmer, but it's a pity that he is a child after all, his thoughts are clearly written on his face, and he looks a little flustered.

Suddenly, he said, "I'm teaching Lu Wei how to play games."

Who would have thought their homeroom teacher hasn't left yet at this time, so he made up a temporary lie, knowing that he would lose his phone today, but he saw Qi Yan's cold face, looking back and forth suspiciously, and said after a long while, "Go home."

--hoo

The little boy breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Lu Wei. The two exchanged glances briefly, picked up their school bags, turned and walked towards the school gate.

….

Qi Yan went to the ninth floor before Lu Wei, and waited.

As soon as the elevator door opened, the little girl came out. When she saw her, she panicked, ran over and hugged her arm, and said coquettishly, "Teacher Qi~ don't tell my mother, okay?"

Originally, Qi Yan was prepared to interrogate, but now she completely forgot. This little girl has a great ability, and a few words can coax her heart into softness. So she raised her eyebrows and said, "You didn't do anything wrong, why are you afraid that your mother will know?"

"But—" Lu Wei rolled her eyes, and said aggrievedly: "Mom said that playing with mobile phones at school is not allowed."

Qi Yan was paused.

Seeing the innocent look on the little girl's face, she couldn't help wondering, could it be that she was thinking too much?  The two children are sneaking around, are they really just playing games?  Thinking about it, it seems reasonable. She handed in Lu Wei's mobile phone once last semester, presumably Lu Zhiqiao went back and warned her daughter, and if she was caught playing with her mobile phone again, she would be fined.

Reminiscent of the scene where Lu Zhiqiao beat her daughter in a rage that day, it is not unreasonable for the child to be afraid and panic.

Qi Yan thought for a moment, rubbed her head, and lied: "Okay, I won't tell, go in quickly."

The little girl laughed twice, took out the key and opened the door, and Qi Yan also entered the room together.

In the afternoon, she sent Lu Zhiqiao a WeChat message, asking when she would leave work, but the person hasn't replied until now, guessing that she is working overtime again. She went into the kitchen and looked around, opened the refrigerator to see if there was any food, and thought about making dinner here tonight.

"Niu Niu, what do you want to eat tonight?"

Qi Yan came out of the kitchen and saw the little girl rummaging through boxes and cabinets to find things. Two cabinets were opened in a row in the living room, and storage boxes and a stack of photo frames were brought out and placed beside them.

That stack of frames...

"Anything is fine." Lu Wei dug out a bag of snacks from the cabinet, grinning as if she had dug up a treasure, then carried it to the coffee table, and put the storage box back.

Qi Yan stared at the photo frame, the photo of the man on the top, and asked softly, "Niu Niu, who is this?"

The little girl looked over and said naturally, "My father."

As soon as the words fell, the door of the living room opened from the outside. Lu Zhiqiao came in dressed in a cool breeze. She raised her eyes and saw Qi Yan, who subconsciously raised the corners of her mouth. But before she could smile back, she saw the photo frame on the ground; and became frozen stiff.

A fleeting panic.