WSIDIILMBOCIR Chapter 41

Chapter 41: A Carefully Chosen Gift

When Qiao Gongyu arrived at Li Chongge’s office, Secretary Liu was reviewing his itinerary for the next two days with him.

The packed schedule made Qiao Gongyu’s brow twitch.

“Isn’t that a bit much? No matter how important work is, you have to take care of your body. Can you handle such a full schedule?”

Li Chongge stood up, lit a cigarette, and a fairly pleasant curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“When I was on a business trip, Qin Yuanging came to see me specifically.”

Qiao Gongyu paused for a moment before realizing: “So you’re going to see him too?”

“Yes, I’ve compressed my work a bit. I plan to free up two days to pick him up.”

Qiao Gongyu expressed his incomprehension: “He has a driver, right? It doesn’t seem to make much difference whether you pick him up or not.”

“It’s quite meaningful to me.”

Li Chongge wanted to see Qin Yuanging; that was the meaning for him.

It wasn’t that Qin Yuanging needed him to pick him up, but that he needed to see Qin Yuanging sooner, simple as that.

Qiao Gongyu leaned back on the sofa and clicked his tongue lightly, then asked about Li Chongge’s progress.

“It’s been a while now. Didn’t you say you were going to fight for yourself? How far have you gotten?”

“I don’t know.” Li Chongge rarely felt lost, but he had been struggling alone on this road for too long. “I don’t know what to do.”

Qiao Gongyu found it a bit strange and couldn’t help but take a few more glances at Li Chongge, but his expression remained flawless, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

“I think… you might as well just say it directly.”

Qiao Gongyu’s suggestion was not adopted.

“I don’t dare.”

The brief words stirred up a storm in Qiao Gongyu’s heart.

Li Chongge also had things he didn’t dare to do.

“But I think Qin Yuanging seems… never mind, I don’t have time to talk about this with you.” Li Chongge glanced at the time; another meeting was waiting for him.

Li Chongge had an absolutely keen insight into things. He couldn’t say from which day it started, but Qin Yuanging seemed to suddenly become very close to him.

Regardless of his reasons, Li Chongge felt that things were developing in a good direction.

Qin Yuanging sensed that Li Chongge had been busy these past two days, so the frequency of his “harassment” decreased.

In the end, he was still afraid that Li Chongge would find him annoying.

As his return date approached, Qin Yuanging went to a shopping mall, wanting to pick out gifts for Li Chongge and Yu Keci to bring back.

Yu Keci was easy; it was nothing more than jewelry. His mother had loved beauty all her life.

Li Chongge was more troublesome. For someone who lacked nothing and didn’t particularly like anything, Qin Yuanging really didn’t know how to please him.

Although Qin Yuanging had said he would compensate Li Chongge before leaving, this gift couldn’t be counted as compensation; it was just a small token of Qin Yuanging thinking of him while away from home.

After wandering around the mall for two hours, Qin Yuanging finally picked out a ring. White gold inlaid with diamonds and matched with black ceramic, it was luxurious and expensive, yet carried a cold aloofness, very suited to Li Chongge’s aura.

The key point was that it was a ring.

This was Qin Yuanging’s selfish choice; he was looking forward to the moment Li Chongge would wear it.

Picking up two exquisite bags, Qin Yuanging drove back to the hotel.

After parking the car, Qin Yuanging didn’t take the elevator directly back to his room, but went outside again to buy two packs of cigarettes. It was this decision that led him to meet Yang Yanqing, who was waiting for him in the hotel lobby.

“Mr. Qin!”

Following the sound, Qin Yuanging found Yang Yanqing sitting in the lobby lounge area.

His attire today was very similar to Tang Jingxuan’s, following the clean and refreshing style.

Upon seeing Qin Yuanging, he couldn’t hide the excitement on his face and jogged up to him.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Qin Yuanging nodded politely to him and asked, “I just went out. Is there something you need me for?”

Yang Yanqing quickly shook his head, smiling brightly. “Thank you for helping me and Brother Xuan that night. I’m here specifically to thank you. Mr. Qin, are you free? I’d like to treat you to a meal.”

“Is that so?”

Qin Yuanging wasn’t an ignorant newbie; he could guess what Yang Yanqing had in mind.

Five parts sincerity, five parts pretense.

Even if Qin Yuanging didn’t like Li Chongge, he wouldn’t stay for him.

“How did you know which hotel I was staying at?”

Yang Yanqing blushed slightly, looking embarrassed, and lowered his voice. “I went to wait at the best hotels in Qingyuan City… Mr. Qin, am I bothering you?”

After confirming that his itinerary hadn’t been maliciously leaked, Qin Yuanging didn’t say anything. He had a lot to worry about and wouldn’t let unnecessary emotions arise from insignificant people.

“It’s not bothering me. I appreciate your gratitude, but the meal isn’t necessary. It’s getting late, so go back early and be safe.”

Qin Yuanging’s words were very polite, but his refusal was actually very decisive, leaving no room for maneuver. Yang Yanqing’s mood dropped, and his small face was filled with disappointment.

“Okay, I understand.”

Qin Yuanging nodded slightly and turned to leave, but was stopped by him again. “Mr. Qin, could I trouble you to see me out?”

Qin Yuanging turned back in confusion. His voice was even softer. “This place is very big; I can’t remember the way back…”

The half-true, half-false words made Qin Yuanging a little annoyed, but thinking of Tang Jingxuan’s care for him, and to quickly get rid of this trouble, Qin Yuanging reluctantly agreed.

The two walked out one after the other, without any extra words to say.

After leaving the hotel door, Yang Yanqing bowed deeply to Qin Yuanging.

“Goodbye, Mr. Qin.”

“Goodbye.”

After seeing the person off, Qin Yuanging lit a cigarette for himself and stood by the bustling roadside, quietly finishing it.

There were many people strolling and enjoying the cool air on the summer night, in groups of two or three, leisurely and relaxed.

Qin Yuanging’s gaze fell aimlessly on the crowd. The lively atmosphere easily made him miss Li Chongge again.

Suddenly, his relaxed body tensed up, and he eagerly took two steps forward, but then suddenly stopped.

Qin Yuanging smiled bitterly. He was really bewitched; he was starting to hallucinate, as if he had seen Li Chongge hurrying away in the crowd.

Qin Yuanging took out his phone, wanting to call Li Chongge, but the empty conversation box told Qin Yuanging that he hadn’t actively contacted Li Chongge today, and Li Chongge hadn’t meant to contact him either.

So he put his phone away again.

Actually, Qin Yuanging felt a little frustrated. Li Chongge was too difficult to figure out; the more he tested, the less confident he became.

In the evening, Qin Yuanging couldn’t help but send a message to Li Chongge.

The reply was only that he was still busy.

So Qin Yuanging wisely didn’t send any more.

He took out the silver-glowing ring from the velvet box and gently stroked it with his fingertips.

He wondered with some anticipation if Li Chongge would like this gift.