WSIDIILMBOCIR Chapter 36

Chapter 36: A Small Gain

All day long, except for a message Qin Yuanging sent to Li Chongge in the morning to let him know he had successfully arrived in Jing City, he didn’t make a single phone call or send a single message.

This situation had hardly occurred since Qin Yuanging became the main person in charge of the resort design project.

In addition to exchanging project progress daily, the two would also weave in some simple greetings about their lives.

Of course, most of these greetings came from Qin Yuanging.

After getting off work in the afternoon, Qin Yuanging had dinner and didn’t return to his residence, but went back to the office.

Qin Yuanging didn’t leave until nine o’clock at night.

Finally, his phone rang, not a call, not a message, but a video call.

Qin Yuanging picked up a cup of tea, sat back in his office chair, and then clicked “Answer.”

The place where Li Chongge was located was dimly lit, and the dark orange light was hazy and sensual, but it couldn’t illuminate his face very clearly. Qin Yuanging couldn’t figure out his mood through his expression.

Qin Yuanging carefully identified the background behind him and recognized that he was next to the wine cabinet in his residence. The living room lights weren’t turned on, only the light strip in the hallway.

“Busy?”

“Yes, there were a lot of things today. Why are you calling me at this hour? Is it about the project?”

Li Chongge put down his wine glass, his tone neither happy nor unhappy.

“No, I just wanted to ask if you’re used to working back at Wansheng.”

Qin Yuanging smiled and said, “Is that so? I thought you missed me.”

The screen shook slightly as Li Chongge changed his location. He walked to the French window and lit a cigarette.

“Who did you learn to be so glib from? Qiao Gongyu or Deng Weien?”

“I didn’t learn these from them.” Qin Yuanging turned off his computer and put the files on his desk into the drawer. “Have you had dinner?”

“I had a social engagement tonight, so I ate something outside.”

In Qin Yuanging’s mind, a business dinner didn’t count as dinner.

“Did you drink?”

“I had a little. Some people offered toasts, and I couldn’t refuse.”

Qin Yuanging got up and turned off the office lights. The screen on Li Chongge’s phone instantly went black.

“If I were there tonight, I would have blocked it for you.”

Qin Yuanging’s voice came from the darkness. Li Chongge found it a little funny and asked him, “You’ve been so busy all day with not a single message. How could I expect you, a busy man, to help me block drinks?”

Qin Yuanging came out of the office, the hallway was still brightly lit, illuminating his whole person. Li Chongge brought the phone closer.

“So, after saying so much, are you blaming me for not contacting you today?”

Li Chongge didn’t respond, which meant he didn’t deny it.

So Qin Yuanging explained himself: “I just thought you were quite busy, and I was afraid you’d find me annoying.”

“No, I don’t find you annoying.”

This time Li Chongge replied quickly.

Qin Yuanging pursed his lips, suppressing the corners of his mouth from turning up, and said seriously, “Okay, then I’ll pay attention tomorrow.”

“Do you have anything else? I’m going down to the garage to go home.”

Li Chongge swiped the screen.

“No, drive safe on the road.”

Round one, Qin Yuanging gained a small victory.

The next day during lunch break, Qin Yuanging went to a restaurant not far from Wansheng, according to the address sent by Yu Keci.

He was going to meet Miss Wei Jiuchan here.

Wei Jiuchan had to come from a bit further away, so Qin Yuanging arrived earlier. He first ordered a fancy drink and took a photo of it to send to Li Chongge.

“This is pretty good, when you come back to Jing City, I’ll take you to try it.”

Actually, Qin Yuanging hadn’t even taken a sip.

The angle of the photo Qin Yuanging sent was very tricky. It was clear that the seat opposite him was empty.

So after the meeting, Li Chongge asked him, “Alone?”

“No, I’m meeting with Miss Wei Jiuchan today, she’s going to be a little late.”

A long time later, Li Chongge replied with an “Mm.”

Qin Yuanging replied: “I won’t say anymore for now, she’s here.”

Qin Yuanging put down his phone and gentlemanly got up to pull out a chair for Wei Jiuchan.

“Mr. Qin, you’ve already explicitly rejected me, but I still insisted on meeting you. Are you angry?”

Wei Jiuchan was very young. She heard she had only graduated for two years, and was only 24 years old now. She spoke very directly.

“It’s not that I’m angry, I’m just a little curious.”

Wei Jiuchan’s style of dress was a bit like Jiang Muyuan’s, both were the bright and flamboyant type. Hearing this, she raised her red lips and said very frankly, “Because I have a very good impression of you, and I want to fight for myself.”

Qin Yuanging didn’t think Wei Jiuchan’s words were unreserved. On the contrary, he was often touched by the courage of Jiang Muyuan and Wei Jiuchan to say what they felt.

“Have we met before?”

Qin Yuanging had a very good memory. He could retain a certain impression of most people he had interacted with. He was sure that he had never met Wei Jiuchan before.

So he didn’t know when Wei Jiuchan’s so-called “impression” had been formed.

“We’ve met, we’re alumni, but you didn’t notice me.”

There were many students at Jing University. Qin Yuanging indeed hadn’t noticed a female student named Wei Jiuchan.

“I see, sorry, I really didn’t notice.”

Wei Jiuchan waved her hand carelessly.

“I liked you quite a bit back then, but you graduated soon after. Actually, now that I think about it, I regret it a little. I should have confessed to you directly at that time, at least it would have made you remember me.”

Qin Yuanging was indeed a little surprised by Wei Jiuchan’s straightforwardness, but he also realized that liking someone could be said easily and generously.

“So this time, I had to meet you no matter what, at least to let you know my feelings, to know that there was someone like me.”

Qin Yuanging was a very quiet listener, his expression calm and patient, so even though he didn’t speak, Wei Jiuchan didn’t feel embarrassed or awkward.

“I hope my persistence hasn’t caused you any trouble.”

“No, I’m very happy to be able to meet Miss Wei.”

Wei Jiuchan smiled very happily. She knew that the person she liked definitely had more than just a superior appearance.

“Mr. Qin, if you don’t have someone you like yet, can you consider me?”

Wei Jiuchan wasn’t really that fearless. When she asked this question, she was still uneasy in her heart.

Meeting Wei Jiuchan’s expectant eyes, Qin Yuanging slowly shook his head: “Sorry, I already have someone I like. This isn’t an excuse to reject you, because I’m already starting to pursue him.”

Wei Jiuchan’s expression was a little regretful.

“It’s okay, it’s my own fault for being one step late.”

“No, I seem to have liked him for a long time.”

Wei Jiuchan understood that it wasn’t that she made this decision too late, but that she was already late when Qin Yuanging appeared in her life.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t hardworking enough or brave enough, but that some people were destined to have no connection with her.

So Wei Jiuchan let go, and very freely blessed Qin Yuanging: “Mr. Qin, I wish you success in chasing the girl you like. You’re a very good person, she will definitely like you too.”

Qin Yuanging generously accepted this blessing after replacing “girl” with “man.”

The meal didn’t last long. Wei Jiuchan had no intention of lingering with the man she was destined not to have, and left after eating.

On the way back to the office, Qin Yuanging saw a gardenia blooming very well, so he took a picture and sent it to him.

“Do you like it?”

Li Chongge replied in seconds: “I like it.”

Qin Yuanging didn’t ask what he liked.

Li Chongge also didn’t say what he liked.