To tell the truth, before this second, Qiao Ling did not expect Chen Kuang would so decisively refuse herself.
She cannot read minds, cannot understand Chen Kuang, but at least can observe words and expressions, feel the atmosphere.
From when he approached her store, to coming together to the club, to the convenience store, Qiao Ling could feel——the atmosphere between the two was not bad.
That’s why she dared to open her mouth and say this invitation, cautiously revealing her purposiveness to him.
Even if it was refusal, it shouldn’t be so merciless.
Qiao Ling looked at his indifferent face, her heart not only sinking, groundless shame surging madly.
The four big words “being self-sentimental” [自作多情, means imagining someone likes you when they don’t] enlarged several times filling up her crashing brain.
At this moment, she actually felt a few parts of what other people say as ‘the taste of confession failure.’
Clearly he only refused one small suggestion of hers, why would she feel so aggrieved.
She pinched her lips, did not say a word, her right foot quietly retreated a small step.
It’s over, didn’t even prepare lines to ease the atmosphere after being refused.
Unable to speak… what to do.
Chen Kuang saw her stiffened face, the fingers holding the phone moved slightly.
Only now realizing his words were spoken too coldly.
No matter what, she’s just a little girl, thin-skinned.
He put down the phone, just about to speak, when Qiao Ling’s pocket’s phone buzzed and vibrated.
This phone call to her was simply a salvation sound, Qiao Ling quickly turned her face away, took out her phone and picked up: “Hello?”
Hearing the other party’s voice, she was surprised: “Ge?”
Chen Kuang stared at her, his gaze moved slightly.
Qiao Ling inexplicably glanced at him, continued making the call: “I’m just near that club you recommended last time, repairing Chen Kuang’s broken bicycle.”
“Him? Mm… here.”
Don’t know what the other party shouted, some noise slightly came from the earpiece, being far away, Chen Kuang couldn’t hear clearly.
She helplessly said, “It’s nothing ah, it’s his bike, of course he has to come personally to sign the form.”
“You didn’t go to the bar today? What? You’re coming over now?”
Although her cousin was noisy, but his suggestion to drive over and pick her up was simply saving her who at this moment wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Qiao Ling immediately agreed, even a bit wanting to cry: “Just right, then you come over, we’re waiting for you at this convenience store.”
Wuwu, Ge, good older brother, you hurry and come.
I already cannot stay even one more second alone with this guy.
After hanging up the phone, she timidly looked towards Chen Kuang, explaining the situation: “My Ge said he’s nearby, can give us a ride.”
Chen Kuang raised his eyebrow: “Such a coincidence?”
Qiao Ling nodded, shifted her gaze away and sat down, “Just right, can save a taxi fare, let’s wait a while.”
“If you’re in a hurry to go back, you can go first too.”
Say it quick, say you’re in a hurry! Say you’ll take a taxi home first!
He nodded slightly, yet said: “Not in a hurry, let’s wait for him.”
Qiao Ling: ….
Doing this on purpose, huh.
She forced out a dry smile, “Okay, he’ll arrive soon.”
After speaking, she started pulling out her phone and randomly scrolling, sending nonsense text and emoji stickers to WeChat File Transfer Assistant, pretending to be chatting enthusiastically with someone.
When people are awkward, they will seem very busy, this never fails.
She started fiddling, but the person originally playing with the phone didn’t continue anymore.
The floor-to-ceiling windows of the convenience store hung with raindrops reflected Chen Kuang quietly gazing at her side profile.
The file preview interface stopped on the phone screen, in his calm eyes was etched her awkward face.
After a moment, Chen Kuang couldn’t help but speak first: “Qiao Ling.”
“That.” She stared intently at her phone without lifting her head, yet hurriedly snatched the words: “Then are you still going to continue living at the bar?”
Chen Kuang made a sound of “Mm.”
Qiao Ling pressed down her brows, giving herself an excuse: “… Don’t misunderstand, I made that suggestion just because I didn’t want you to have such a hard time because of me.”
“I, in my heart, feel bad about it.”
His gaze instead relaxed a little, “No need, me not sleeping well has nothing to do with you, nor the environment.”
“I’m not that delicate, can sleep anywhere all the same.”
“You don’t need to have any burden, open the shop as you should.”
Qiao Ling’s chest felt blocked and stifled, obediently nodded, not continuing the topic.
Seeing her stop talking, Chen Kuang also didn’t say any extra words, continued looking at the things in his phone.
The two of them sat side by side in silence in front of the window, outside the window the rain drizzled fine and small, yet showed no sign of stopping for a long time.
………
Qiao Jing’s off-road vehicle swished to a stop at the convenience store entrance, finally bringing the curtain down on this abruptly halted ambiguous atmosphere.
Qiao Ling almost rushed out at the first moment, got into cousin’s front passenger seat, “Ge! You finally came.”
Qiao Jing had never seen his younger female cousin so enthusiastic toward himself, a trace of doubt floated past, yet he didn’t catch any clues, “Hurry up and get in! This rain’s getting heavier and heavier.”
Chen Kuang unhurriedly followed behind, got into the back seat.
Qiao Jing raised the car window, sighed: “Said it was light rain, who would have thought it’d pour so hard at night.”
With a third person present, that trace of awkwardness was finally smoothed out, Qiao Ling buckled her seatbelt, “Why did you suddenly think of calling me? That’s not like you.”
“Isn’t it all my uncle’s fault.” He stepped on the gas and drove.
Qiao Ling: ?
“Blame him for cooking too well, made the bunch of starving ghosts at the bar hooked like Qiáo zuǐ fish [翘嘴, a type of fish known for an upturned mouth], asking me if there’s any leftovers at your house.”
After Qiao Jing finished speaking, he added doubtfully: “Speaking of this, it’s also strange, when did you become so kind as to bring me food??”
“Before, your ge, me, tired like a dog outside every day and never saw you ask once, during New Year’s or holidays if I saw you mass-send one blessing message it’d already count as good.”
In her heart, alarm bells suddenly rang. Thinking of the person sitting behind, she straightened up and refuted: “You’re talking nonsense, I care about you a lot.”
“Besides, the seafood was my dad and mom insisting I bring it.”
“Nonsense.” Qiao Jing didn’t know her little schemes inside, directly exposing her in front of Chen Kuang: “I called your house, my uncle said after eating you insisted they pack some up, it was you wanting to do that.”
“Speak, what are you trying to get from me again, no need to go around in circles.”
Qiao Ling’s eyes widened, wishing she could cover this person’s mouth.
Say a little less already!!!
Chen Kuang is so smart, if he guesses anything I’ll explode!
And right at this moment, as if on cue, the man who had been sitting in the back cleared his throat.
Scaring Qiao Ling’s back into a sudden shiver.
Even sweat came down.
Truly done for.
Qiao Jing, I hate you!
Qiao Jing dropped Qiao Ling off at home first, the car stopping under the building entrance, she almost immediately jumped out of the car, quickly throwing out a goodbye before slipping into the apartment building, not glancing at Chen Kuang even once.
She went upstairs home with no tears to cry.
Today’s quota of courage is sold out! No, the courage for the next month has all been used up.
………
After sending her off, Qiao Jing stepped on the gas and continued driving towards the bar.
Qiao Ling was gone, the two left really had nothing much to say, the car interior was quiet, only the traffic broadcast echoing from the speakers.
After a while, Qiao Jing braked at a red light intersection, raised his eyes and looked at Chen Kuang playing with his phone through the rearview mirror, “Hey.”
Chen Kuang glanced at him, then lowered his head again: “What.”
Qiao Jing rubbed his temple, said: “How much for the bike repair, I’ll give it to you, don’t let her pay.”
“She’s so broke she can’t even lift the pot lid, if she pays again she’ll really have to cry in the street.”
“No need.” He didn’t lift his head, his tone indifferent: “My bike, I’ll fix it myself.”
Since he said so, Qiao Jing didn’t insist either.
From what he could guess from a few words from Xie Rouyin before, this person wasn’t lacking money.
Qiao Jing recalled how his younger female cousin had looked in the car just now, and asked again: “You and my mei have something going on?”
“Other than repairing the bike and you two going up and down the building.”
That little girl’s expression didn’t look right just now. No, actually, she hadn’t seemed quite right for a while now.
Chen Kuang’s finger sliding on the screen stopped, recalling the expectant expression Qiao Ling had in the convenience store an hour ago when she gave him a ‘cohabitation’ invitation.
And also the way her face flushed red the instant she heard the rejection.
He looked straight at Qiao Jing, who was watching him through the rearview mirror the whole time, his tone unchanged: “What do you want to ask?”
Qiao Jing snorted coldly, looking serious: “What else can I ask? With your dog temper, can’t even say one human word. I’m afraid my mei will get so scared she’ll have nightmares at night.”
Chen Kuang turned off his phone and leaned back, letting out a snort through his nose.
“Better look in the mirror yourself first.”
Who’s the one not speaking human words.
………
The two of them returned to the bar. Around 1:30 a.m., there weren’t many customers left in the shop. The waiter on duty was cleaning up the empty spots.
Xia Tian was wiping glasses behind the bar, and nearing the end of the shift, he was also loosening up.
When Chen Kuang walked near the break room, he saw a suitcase and a luggage bag piled there. Looking inside, he saw Xie Rouyin and one of the bar’s waiters called “Xiao Sheng” together, seemingly discussing some business.
Seeing him come back, both of their eyes lit up.
Xie Rouyin greeted him: “Finally waited for you.”
Chen Kuang leaned against the door, raised his eyebrow: “Looking for me?”
Closing the break room door, the three gathered together to discuss.
The situation was simple. Xiao Sheng, who came from out of town to work, had been renting a three-bedroom apartment with others. Not only was the living condition rough, he happened to get stuck with a big and rough drunkard as a roommate.
Last night the roommate got drunk again, made a complete mess of the house, and even snuck into Xiao Sheng’s room. Xiao Sheng was still a hot-blooded young guy; after just a few words, they got into a fight.
But once it got physical, he was completely no match for the other side, got beaten up, and ended up at the police station.
The police gave them both a round of education, and things were considered settled. But the landlord got angry and told one of them to move out. Xiao Sheng happened to not dare go back there anymore.
While his roommate was dead drunk during the day, he packed his things and ran out in a hurry.
Now came the problem——Xiao Sheng couldn’t find a cheap place in time, and had nowhere to sleep.
Xie Rouyin could only help a little, letting Xiao Sheng bring his luggage to the bar for now.
Chen Kuang basically understood where the two of them were stuck.
The bar’s break room only had one sofa, at most enough for one person to sleep. The space was small, no room even to lay a mat on the floor.
Besides, Chen Kuang definitely wasn’t used to squeezing into a small room to sleep and live with other people.
Xie Rouyin knew he had another apartment. The idea was hoping he could help Xiao Sheng out, free up the bar’s break room as a relief measure.
During the daytime, the break room barely counted as a quiet place. He could still get a few hours of sleep there.
But now in the blink of an eye, even that barely usable sleeping place was gone.
Chen Kuang crossed his arms in thought, feeling a bit self-mocking about his own attitude from an hour ago when he so decisively rejected that girl.
What’s this counted as?
Karma for making the girl lose face?
Xiao Sheng looked at the silent Chen Kuang, his expression not good, with a bruise still at the corner of his mouth, “It’s fine, Rouyin-jie, I’ll look for a place again, stay in a hotel for now.”
“After all, Kuang-ge applied to stay in the break room first.”
Xie Rouyin also didn’t want to force Chen Kuang too much, she knew his sleep quality had always been bad.
But then Chen Kuang raised his eyes, and what he opened his mouth to say was actually agreement: “Then you stay here, I’ll go back to my apartment to sleep.”
Xie Rouyin still asked with concern: “You can? Didn’t you say the apartment neighbors were especially noisy?”
Chen Kuang straightened up, curled his lips as if it wasn’t a big deal, “Not that serious.”
“No big deal.”
Xiao Sheng finally showed a bit of a smile, very grateful: “Thank you, Kuang-ge! I’ll cover your late-night snacks these next few days!”
………
Four days later, it was Friday again when the whole city was set free.
At 9 p.m., Qiao Ling closed up the shop, called back home by a WeChat from her dad.
The moment she entered the house, she smelled a strong aroma of dishes and food, but at this time at night, why was there cooking going on at home?
“Dad, I’m back.” Qiao Ling supported herself on the shoe cabinet to change into slippers, followed the voice inside, and saw her dad busy in the kitchen.
“Where’s Mom?”
Qiao Zhiwen was wearing an apron, packing dishes into a thermal container, answering his daughter: “Out dancing square dance, in another two months when it gets cold she won’t be able to dance anymore, she’s really into it these days.”
Qiao Ling gave an “oh” sound, puzzled about what he was doing: “Cooking so much good food so late? Going out?”
“Didn’t your ge tell you?” Qiao Zhiwen was confused.
She leaned over, sneakily grabbed a shrimp and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing with a sly smile as she asked back: “Say what?”
“Your ge said, last time the dishes you brought to his bar were wiped clean by those colleagues. They all said my cooking is good.” Qiao Zhiwen looked very proud, explaining: “I was thinking, all kids around your age, working out of town without family around, getting up early and working late, probably don’t get to eat much good food. I might as well make a bit more, you bring it over for them to eat.”
“If we’re good to your ge’s employees, of course they’ll think more kindly of your ge, right?”
“The family isn’t rich, your ge’s starting a business, we’ve never helped with anything before, this small thing—if we can help, we help.”
Qiao Ling blinked, processing for several seconds before confirming: “You mean… have me deliver the food?”
“That’s right, don’t you like running over to your ge’s place anyway? If not you, is it going to be me?” He turned his head and continued packing his dishes.
The first thing that flashed through Qiao Ling’s mind was Chen Kuang’s face, recalling that Monday night scene in the convenience store where she got rejected…
Four days was far from enough for her to digest that awkwardness! I don’t want to see him!