Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The Arrival of My Cousin
Xia Liang shook his head.
Zhou Ruo didn’t ask further, simply getting up to prepare lunch for him.
But then again, Zhou Ruo found that her waist was only a little sore today. This wasn’t like the first time, where Xia Liang had held back. The Xia Liang of yesterday had been terrifying, carrying on for a full two hours. Zhou Ruo had gone from being full of ambition to retreating step by step, until she finally knelt and begged for mercy.
Originally, she thought she wouldn’t be able to get up today, but to her surprise, it wasn’t a big deal. Of course, she didn’t know that Xia Liang had been using his Spiritual Power to heal her during the process.
After lunch, Xia Liang checked the time and saw it was already four in the afternoon.
This time, Xia Liang didn’t drive out in the flashy Lamborghini Poison. After all, he was going to see his cousin, and there was no telling if word might reach his own mother’s ears. Xia Liang had no desire for Mother Xia to show up tomorrow asking what he had been doing. These things had to be taken slowly; he had to give his family time to adjust.
So, Xia Liang planned to borrow Qingxue’s BMW for a bit. He left the house and took a taxi directly to the Yunni Cafe.
A wind chime jingled.
At the cafe’s counter, Qingxue looked up instinctively. Her face lit up with delight.
"Oh? Xia Liang, what brings you here?"
"I’m here to borrow your car."
His simple words shattered the young girl’s beautiful fantasy.
So he didn’t come specially to see me.
Qingxue replied with a hint of disappointment, "Oh."
Although disappointed, she still handed the keys to Xia Liang.
"Thanks."
Taking the keys, Xia Liang tossed them in the air, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Seeing that smile, Qingxue was utterly captivated.
So handsome! He really is the man for me.
Even her brief moment of disappointment vanished. Moreover, her mind immediately began to make excuses for him.
He’s treating me like one of his own. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he borrow someone else’s car?
At this thought, Qingxue felt secretly pleased with herself. She waved her hand.
"We’ve already met each other’s parents, no need to be so formal."
This time, Xia Liang didn’t object, because Qingxue wasn’t just being narcissistic. Xia Liang did, in fact, feel the same way. Since the two had met each other’s families, their relationship had undergone a subtle change. Though they hadn’t confessed their feelings, they had already started to see each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. Otherwise, Xia Liang wouldn’t have come to Qingxue to borrow her car.
"I’ll head off now and bring it back to you later," Xia Liang said, holding up the keys.
Qingxue, propping her head with her hands, nodded and then asked curiously, "By the way, what do you need the car for?"
Xia Liang raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? Are you afraid I’m going to use your car to pick up other girls?"
"No," Qingxue denied, looking away. "Go ahead and pick them up if you want."
She feigned indifference, but the sourness in her tone betrayed her. Finding her reaction amusing, Xia Liang continued teasingly, "You said it, not me. I’m on my way to pick up a girl from Qingyun Music University right now."
This time, Qingxue didn’t speak. She stubbornly pouted and turned her head away, looking utterly adorable.
Xia Liang couldn’t help but chuckle. "Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. I’m going to pick up my cousin."
What is a pleasant surprise? This was a pleasant surprise!
Qingxue hadn’t expected Xia Liang to explain and was preparing to sulk by herself. But he had actually considered her feelings.
He really is...
Qingxue’s heart filled with something called happiness. Her expression changed in an instant.
"Your cousin?"
Xia Liang nodded, rubbing his forehead gently. "Yeah, I need to take her around later. My mom asked me to find her a part-time job."
"A part-time job?" Qingxue’s eyes lit up instantly. "She can work here!"
"Hmm..." Only then did Xia Liang remember that Qingxue was quite the young heiress. She had taken over this cafe and was the manager.
Before Xia Liang could respond, Qingxue spoke anxiously. "It’s hard to find part-time jobs now, so just let your cousin come here."
"Er..."
Looking at the excited Qingxue, Xia Liang was speechless. Whose cousin was she, anyway? He wasn’t even this excited. After thinking it over, he realized he couldn’t really offer any better options himself. He could only nod.
"Alright, alright. I’ll go pick her up and bring her over."
He was about to leave when Qingxue called out to him.
"Wait! I’ll come with you."
Saying so, Qingxue came out from behind the counter and called to a waitress, "Sister Bai! Please look after the shop for a bit, I’m stepping out."
With that, she pulled Xia Liang out the door. When they got to the car, Qingxue proactively took the passenger seat. Xia Liang just shrugged and got into the driver’s seat. He started the car and headed toward Qingyun Music University.
On the way, Qingxue seemed rather uneasy.
"Do you think your cousin will dislike me? Oh, right! Shouldn’t we go buy a gift first? It’s my first time meeting your cousin, so I should give her something, right?"
Xia Liang gave Qingxue a helpless look. "I mean, why are you so excited to meet my cousin? And bringing a gift? What gift?"
"Isn’t that normal?" Qingxue puffed out her chest proudly. "This is the first time I’m meeting one of your relatives! Take me to the shopping district first. I’ll buy a gift and book a restaurant. By the way, what does your cousin like to eat?"
"What does she like to eat?" Xia Liang raised an eyebrow, uncertain. "Barbecue, probably!"
Hearing the uncertainty in his tone, Qingxue couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. "Who doesn’t even know what their own cousin likes to eat? Don’t tell me you two aren’t close?"
"That’s not it. It’s just been a few years since we’ve seen each other. I’m not sure what she likes to eat now," Xia Liang replied, feeling just as helpless.
Qingxue had no other choice. "I’ll go buy the gift first, and then we’ll see what your cousin wants to eat."
「Meanwhile.」
Outside the gates of Qingyun Music University, a delicate-looking girl with a side ponytail stood waiting. She wore an oversized khaki t-shirt and ultra-short denim shorts, a messenger bag slung over her right shoulder. Her toes tapped the ground incessantly as her eyes scanned the surroundings, as if looking for someone. Her long, pale, and perfectly straight legs were on full display, making passersby unable to resist sneaking glances her way.
"Ugh! Why isn’t my cousin here yet?" the girl muttered impatiently.
This person was, of course, Xia Liang’s cousin, Luu Qi.
Luu Qi was the daughter of Mother Xia’s elder brother. The two families were very close and visited each other often, so Luu Qi and Xia Liang had always had a good relationship. It was just that Xia Liang was three years her senior. When he went to university, Luu Qi’s family moved to Shangluo. Once she entered high school, her studies became demanding, and their opportunities to meet grew scarce.
Thinking of the cousin she used to admire, Luu Qi couldn’t help but ponder.
I wonder how Cousin has changed? But...
Her thoughts drifted to yesterday when she had added Xia Liang on social media. His reply to her friend request replayed in her mind: "I only like vixens."
Luu Qi’s face darkened at the memory.