Chapter 9

Before entering, Wang Ge had already prepared for the worst possible outcome

This sentence had been suppressed in her heart for too long; she used ten thousand mountains to weigh it down, fearing that if she were not careful, it would emerge from some inconspicuous crevice. She had to constantly and cautiously monitor it, never allowing herself to relax her vigilance for even a moment

"In your life, have there been any people or things that you desired but could not attain?" Ye Zhao Jue finally finished her work, and she sat down, looking sincerely at Qi Tang. For the first time, her gaze resembled that of an adult looking at a child, "I guess you haven't experienced that."

"What happened?" she asked as she removed her helmet

Shao Qingyu sat on a bench in the square, watching a group of middle-aged women dancing gracefully to the music not far away

Wang Ge is a man of his word. Before Shao Qingyu arrived at the car dealership, he had already tidied up the small room inside and out, so she should no longer find fault with it.

Suddenly, he heard Ye Zhao Jue say: "Because we are too mismatched."

A typical three-bedroom apartment, decorated in the style of the late twentieth century, with simple furniture and appliances, a taciturn father, a frail mother who is often unwell, and a grandmother who constantly murmurs throughout the day

In the presence of the head of the family, Shao Kai, Aunt Yao always brings up, whether intentionally or not: "Oh dear, in the blink of an eye, Qingyu has grown up so much. It seems she has reached the age for marriage, hasn't she? Oh dear, time waits for no one; when I first entered this household, she was still a little girl."

"Where would you find a girl who doesn't like you?" Ye Zhao Jue heard himself say this.

"In any case, please be understanding of the little bit of dignity that a poor person has left." Ye Zhaojue crossed her hands and felt deeply apologetic towards Tang Shen. She knew that, in anyone's eyes, she was truly too foolish to be reached.

Thus, she spoke rather bluntly: "When you first entered my home, you were still a young girl yourself, even though you were pregnant."

He looked at Ye Zhao Jue as if he were gazing at a treasured gem he had cherished for many years

Shao Qingyu could not stand Aunt Yao's attitude, saying, "You are not my biological mother, so why act so familiar with me"

After the lunch break, she quietly slipped into the study and made a phone call in a low voice: "Xiao Li, this is Sister Yao... Yes, it's the one who visited your place to look at the house last week... Yes, I've thought it over, I'll come by that afternoon to discuss it in person."

"You can't have this kind of attitude when you come to my house in the evening," Wang Ge said anxiously

Qi Tang recalled the bag she had seen at her home last time, and it turned out to be such a matter

Aunt Yao paused for a moment, indicating that she would not hold any grudges against the child, and then returned to the previous topic: "Qingyu has a new boyfriend, right? I have seen that boy escorting you to the door several times. Next time, invite him in to sit for a while, so that your father and I can help you take a look together"

She recalled his former girlfriend, who was extremely difficult to please; although her character was poor, her appearance was indeed stunningly beautiful

Then... Wang Ge made up his mind and decided to go all out, "What is your opinion on my family..."

Since opening the store, Ye Zhao has been living a very fulfilling life every day, leaving early and returning late, and going to bed as soon as he hits the pillow

His family never asked him the reason; ultimately, it is also because they did not have a deep impression of those one or two girls. If it ended, then it ended, and it is not worth regretting.

I immediately took a liking to that medium-sized one. I asked about the price, which felt quite heavy for me, but I knew it was really nothing for Qingyu. So, I eagerly put it on my back and walked in front of the mirror. Can you guess what I saw?" She smiled, looking quite bitter, "I saw a self that was pretending to be powerful, a self that was putting on airs.

I have worked while studying abroad, so do not look down on me

In fact, Shao Qingyu is not the first girlfriend that Wang Ge brought home

The reason is as you said, we are not compatible?" Qi Tang asked coldly, "Are you a person from the feudal era?"

Aunt Yao did not expect her words to be so harsh, leaving her momentarily at a loss for how to retaliate

His voice is very gentle, as if he intends to bury a secret deep within the earth

Shao Kai did not wish to interfere in the smoke-free war between the two individuals

Ye Zhao Jue turned his head to look at him, and their gazes met for a long time, each filled with profound meaning.

Qi Tang's anger dissipated, and within him, a feeling of extreme softness emerged, a sensation he had never experienced before, which made him feel very uncomfortable, uneasy, and even self-loathing

Ye Zhao Jue anticipated his reaction and was not alarmed. She intended to use a "materialized" approach to help him understand the true meaning she wished to convey

Shao Qingyu slightly parted her lips, yet she was unable to utter a word

Ye Zhao Jue, I am not in a hurry, and you are still very young. Shall we give each other some time to think slowly?

"Of course I like you, very much." Ye Zhao felt a smile on her face; after such a long time, she finally said it.

Qi Tang was taken aback, and then he understood that this was a delayed response

Shao Qingyu stood up, realizing that her temper had worsened recently compared to before. It had reached a point where she felt like hitting anyone who spoke to her. For instance, the few words spoken by Wang Ge made her want to slap him twice, but of course, she did not act on that impulse

However, this unassuming 30-point diamond ring is the most precious gift she has received to date

Qi Tang understood the meaning of what she was saying halfway through, yet he still patiently allowed her to ramble on until she finished. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, he said in a fit of anger: "What does it matter if it matches or not? It's just a bag. Tomorrow, I will have someone buy ten and send them over!"

Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt, goodbye, Grandma. Shao Qingyu smiled as he bid farewell to his elders, then turned and mounted Wang Bo's motorcycle, speeding away in a cloud of dust

Recently, Shao Qingyu has felt that the atmosphere at home is somewhat off, especially during family meals when this feeling becomes even more pronounced

six-story building

It is rare to find young ladies nowadays who are so considerate as to buy so much fruit when visiting as a guest

Her appetite is not as great as it used to be; when she was at the company, she could easily finish a six-inch sandwich.

She set down her knife and fork, composed herself, and knew that tonight was destined to be an extraordinary evening in her life

He clumsily opened the box, revealing a small ring set with a tiny diamond

I am so clumsy in expression that the time and everything I have experienced, which can truly be considered beautiful, is not much. That is why I cherish you so dearly.

Indeed, it is said that she is the young lady from a wealthy family, yet she shows no signs of arrogance at all

"I told you, it really isn't necessary," Wang Ge said helplessly as he looked at her

After dark, he mounted the motorcycle, and Shao Qingyu followed suit. Her movements were much more skilled compared to the clumsy manner she had displayed when she was with Wang Ge.

Qi Tang had invited her to dinner several times, but she always said she had no time. This forced Qi Tang to sit in her restaurant and order takeout, while also having to take on Qiao Chu's work by helping with the cash register

Ye Zhao felt helpless as she glanced at him, picked up a cloth, and began to wipe the table, continuing to speak to herself: "Not long ago, Jian Chenye returned from France and gave me a gift. I knew what was inside without even opening it. But look, I have never once carried it with me."

As the sound of the door closing faded into silence, Shao Kai remained lost in thought for a long time. Qing Yu's words left him both angry and heartbroken

"It is truly a waste of talent," as time went on, Ye Zhao felt less constrained in front of Qi Tang, "It is indeed a hardship for you."

Many times they use the same words, but in fact, they do not mean the same thing at all. Qi Tang began to eat the food on his plate, "Ye Zhao Jue, we have digressed."

"What seems to be the case is indeed a fact." Ye Zhao-jue scoffed with a smile

She has not felt this way for a long time, being respected, being cared for, and being treated kindly by a family; she is somewhat moved

Qi Tang could no longer hold back his laughter: "Ye Zhao Jue, you must not objectify the feelings between us, hahaha"

He pushed the portion he had cut in front of Ye Zhao Jue, indicating for her to eat first

At this moment, she felt an unprecedented shock

Wang Ge continued, "30 minutes, I know it's too short, and I apologize for that. I remember you once mentioned that you saw a diamond ring at Cartier that you really liked, and I went to see it as well... I'm sorry, it's too expensive, and I may not be able to get that for you at the moment"

He smiled at the end, with the humor outweighing the sense of inferiority

He stood up, walked in front of her and squatted down, lifting his head to look at her, cradling her wet face.

It has been proven that her choice of this store was very wise, as customers come in an endless stream every day, and the business is thriving. However, because she is a novice and Qiao Chu occasionally has other matters that prevent her from coming to help, she simply cannot manage on her own.

Shao Qingyu finally managed to catch her breath, straightened her back, and lifted her head

Tears soaked her face

The Wang family kept trying to stay longer, and when they realized they could not, they sent them off again. Even his somewhat dull father rarely spoke, but he managed to say a few words: "Come and play again next time, Xiao Shao"

The entire family felt invigorated by this thought

Without her saying anything, Wang Ge could roughly guess the reason, which must be related to her difficult stepmother. However, he did not want to know the details, as listening to his girlfriend complain and "vent" every few days was one of the most annoying things for a guy

Shao Qingyu slammed the chopsticks down and cursed inwardly: "Alright, I knew you had ulterior motives!"

However, it can only stop here. She smiled apologetically

Shao Qingyu remembered that, apart from the previous time she visited the resettlement community where Ye Zhaoju and Jian Chenye lived, she had never climbed so many stairs in high heels. She took a break twice in between, and after much effort, she finally reached the doorstep of Wang Ge's home, panting and unable to straighten her back.

She was taken aback, and Wang Ge, who stood beside her, was also stunned. Her parents and grandmother were all dressed very formally

The delivered steak had already cooled down, and Ye Zhao Jue placed it in the microwave to heat it up. At this moment, the store, which had been bustling all day, finally quieted down, and Qi Tang turned off most of the lights, leaving only a small one on.

I am so infuriated! To hell with it! Shao Qingyu entered the room and tossed his bag aside, not even glancing at his surroundings, "I have truly had enough."

Indeed, it is too small; her jewelry box contains several gemstone rings that she wears for fun, all of which are far more expensive and dazzling than this one

In a moment of daze, Qi Tang felt as if that stubborn high school girl had returned before his eyes

What is there to apologize for! Shao Qingyu's anger was greater than anyone else's. I am just this way, lacking in upbringing. You all can enjoy your meal slowly, I will not sit here and be an eyesore.

Moreover, she knew in her heart that although she had bitten the bullet and did not borrow money from him when starting the business, the care she received from him was truly overwhelming, to the point where she was almost feeling guilty about it.

Shaokai cast an annoyed glance at his daughter; while he doted on her, this girl was becoming increasingly unruly as she grew up

She snatched the box away and put the ring on her finger.

It is evident that Shao Qingyu is truly angry, and Wang Ge can only fall silent, leading her upstairs

Ye Zhao felt no fear at his deliberate provocation: "It means that using an Android data cable cannot charge an iPhone"

The leaves and colorful candy wrappers pressed between the pages of books during childhood, the stickers of Sailor Moon and Doraemon collected from everywhere, if I could turn back to my childhood, I would be willing to give all of these to you

"But if you are still willing to marry me, then I will propose to you," Wang Ge said quietly

When Wang Ge stopped the car, Shao Qingyu realized that there was still a considerable distance from here to his home

Upon arriving at the entrance of the community, Wang Ge insisted that no one from his family should accompany him any further.

She walked to the sink, turned on the faucet to wash the dishes, and said: "Everyone around me knows, Jian Chenye knows, but he had no way to buy it for me in the past. Shao Qingyu also knows, so one year on my birthday, you know, we used to be the best of friends, she took me to LV and asked the staff to bring me this bag in three sizes: small, medium, and large to try on.

Since Shao Qingyu was a child, these two individuals have been engaged in open and covert conflicts. Today you provoke me, tomorrow I will file a complaint against you. He is truly exhausted from trying to appease both sides, especially now that he is older and even less willing to get involved. As long as no major incidents occur, he will let them quarrel as they please

You probably do not know that ever since I was a young girl, I have always wanted, wanted, wanted, to have a Neverfull.

Shao Qingyu and Wang Ge both fell into silence, and now they have revealed their cards.

"Stop right there." Shao Kai trembled with anger, "Do you think this home is just any place?"

"Self-conceited." Qi Tang let out a cold laugh

Upon hearing this question, her hand that was about to open the door paused. Then, she turned her head and smiled at her father, softly yet ensuring that everyone present could hear, she said: "Dad, I have not had a home since I was twelve."

One day, Su Qin said a few words to me. "Qi Tang, while cutting steak for Ye Zhao Jue, recounted Su Qin's summary of his past girlfriends, 'I do not deny it, it does indeed seem that way.'

Countless nights, when life is stripped away from the realm of reality, her sensitive and fragile soul is released from her weary body. In those moments, she never dares to speak out; she misses him.

Wang Ge did not turn back: "Qing Yu, let us have a talk"

Qi Tang, dressed in a shirt worth several thousand yuan, stands humbly and politely at the cash register, giving change to customers, and even offers a smile when encountering female customers

Shao Qingyu shot him a glance and said, "Rest assured, grievances have their source, and debts have their owner; I can distinguish them clearly"

She did not know that the three elders were watching the two of them walk away, and they watched for a long time

Wang Ge resolutely rejected: "No need, my family is not that particular."

At this moment, Aunt Yao could no longer tolerate it; she forcefully smashed the dishes and said, "Qingyu, how can you speak like that? How old is your sister? What do you think it looks like to say such things in front of her!"

He is a mortal, and naturally, he has experienced moments of unfulfilled desires. However, as time passes and his experiences accumulate, he realizes that those things he did not attain have not had a significant impact on his life

Her question awakened some intricate details buried deep within his memory

I do not care how long I have to wait, if that person is truly you

Since the topic of Shao Qingyu's romantic partner has come up, as a father, he cannot help but ask a few more questions: "Is this a new boyfriend? What does he do? Why haven't you brought him home to meet us?"

The other young lady at the dining table, Shao Xiaoxi, looked at her sister with some fear, not understanding why the flames of war had reached her.

She smiled at Wang Ge's family and handed over the fruit basket with both hands

What does matching mean? Qi Tangmingming is so hungry that he is about to die, yet he insists on getting entangled in this boring question

Aunt Yao glared resentfully at the spot where Shao Qingyu had sat, a surge of indescribably complex emotions rising within her: Fortunately, I was prepared in advance; this dead girl is not to be underestimated

However, the situation is somewhat different today

She glared impatiently at Aunt Yao, who had a look of triumph in her eyes

Understood! Can you please stop the unnecessary talk

"Look, what is there to see? Just an ordinary person." Shao Qingyu was seething with anger. Aunt Yao, this meddlesome busybody, must have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. She simply decided to make her words even harsher, "Since you like watching so much, when your own daughter starts dating, let her bring her boyfriend home for you to see every day."

I will tell you once more, if you feel uncomfortable, you can leave at any time without any reservations. Wang Ge has never been this talkative before

Her eyes shone brightly like cold stars

"Wang Ge, listen carefully." Her expression was calm, and her tone was composed, resembling the demeanor expected of an adult. "I, Shao Qingyu, indeed have a multitude of flaws. I have also, at times, relied on my family background to say some unpleasant things to others and to engage in some less than commendable actions. However, I can honestly say that I have never disliked a boy simply because he was not wealthy, nor have I ever considered breaking up with him for that reason.

A very good girl, not picky at all, she eats whatever is given to her

For Wang Ge, that afternoon felt both fleeting and exceedingly long. He had no desire to discuss matters with his companions at the car dealership, nor did he wish to engage in extensive communication with Shao Qingyu

But no one continued to speak.

Wang Ge decided to stop beating around the bush, if it is to die, then so be it: "My family's situation is really quite ordinary. In the past, I thought that finding a girlfriend from a working-class background would be sufficient. I never expected to meet you, nor did I anticipate that your family would be so wealthy, and I certainly did not expect you to propose marriage to me. Therefore, I brought you to my home to let you see for yourself and hopefully dispel this notion. As you have seen today, this is the situation. If you feel it is not suitable and do not wish to continue our relationship, just tell me directly. It is fine, I can handle it."

At times, she would even blame herself, thinking, since you are so vain and so obsessed with material desires, why do you still have to put on a pretentious facade of "I want to rely on myself"?

What happened? Shao Qingyu is truly at a loss, "You are not usually someone who speaks in riddles."

She shook her head and said, "One should not visit others empty-handed; this is what my mother taught me before she passed away"

Although the scene before him was somewhat absurd, Shao Qingyu felt that the hostility in his heart had been soothed

She recalled the words she had spoken when leaving home at noon, "Since I was twelve, I have had no home," and then she looked at her hands, but now, it was different

Ye Zhao Jue bent down to take out two white porcelain plates, "You are such a smart person," she turned on the faucet to rinse the plates, "don't you understand," drying the water off the plates with a clean cloth, "why I," turning her head, gazing intently at the stunned Qi Tang, "cannot be with you"

But I have no way, she looked at Qi Tang, tears slowly flowed down, wanting to stop but unable to do so

She began to clear the dishes from the dining table, throwing away the food that needed to be discarded into the trash can, wrapping what could still be eaten in plastic wrap, and placing it in the refrigerator. While doing these tasks, she said: "As you know, I have always been poor. From childhood to adulthood, I have suffered a lot because of this. Of course, there are many people poorer than I am, but the reason I have endured so much hardship is that I have desires that are completely inconsistent with my financial situation."

However, I am now a true adult, and the spacecraft from my home planet has yet to arrive, perhaps it will never come in this lifetime

Before her, he had also dated one or two girls, but later he could not clearly explain why; it was probably what people often refer to as a personality mismatch, and in any case, it just ended without resolution

Wang Ge approached with two cups of Starbucks, sat down beside her, and remained silent for quite some time

Never.

His emotions drifted outside the vehicle, resting on the upcoming dinner.

Wang Ge took out a square red velvet box from his clothing pocket

She is no longer prepared to continue evading, as Qi Tang is clearly not someone who is easy to negotiate with on all matters. She was once his assistant and has witnessed his amiable demeanor with employees, as well as his furious wrath, scolding Su Qin and the others mercilessly in the conference room.

Shao Kai also frowned: "Qing Yu, what kind of behavior is this! Quickly apologize to your aunt and sister."

I know it is difficult to explain clearly, my character..." Qi Tang sighed, "There are many things I do not wish to clarify too much. Moreover, communication between people is inherently quite tragic.

After having dinner and resting for a while, Shao Qingyu was about to leave

"Qi Tang..." she called his name in a low, soft voice, enveloping the night in a thick atmosphere of sorrow, "Qi Tang, I do not like to force things."

After closing, the two of them began to have dinner

Perhaps this cannot be considered love yet. She has loved Jian Chenye and understands what it means to love someone, but now it has become very dangerous. She must pull back from the brink.

Shao Qingyu did not allow him to continue speaking

Your logic is nothing but a joke. Qi Tang was infuriated, although it was not very apparent on the surface. The relationship of dependence between objects and people cannot be compared to that between individuals.

At this moment, she truly resembled a cultured and sensible lady

Ye Zhao felt annoyed as she waited for him to finish laughing. She took the steak out of the microwave and placed it on a plate: "Are you going to eat or not? If you don't eat, you'll starve to death."

"Then why are you unwilling to be with me?" Qi Tang suddenly threw out this question

I can only learn to adapt to this cold and realistic world like most people on Earth, a world where "equality" does not exist at all except in the context of self-deception, accepting my fate and striving to truly understand it to the best of my ability, living day by day.

Qi Tang was taken aback. According to his usual personality, he would typically respond with "I know." However, the atmosphere at this moment was tense, making it highly inappropriate to joke or be witty.

The music has stopped, and the elderly women dancing in the square swiftly gather their belongings, leaving in groups of three to five.

When Wang Ge mentioned that he would bring his girlfriend home this time, the family was quite surprised. After all, a considerable amount of time has passed, and he is not exactly young anymore. If this time it can really be settled...

Before Wang Ge could knock on the door, it opened. Grandma Wang's wrinkled face smiled even more, saying: "Is it Xiao Shao? I heard footsteps a long time ago; my ears are quite sharp."

Despite this, after a swift journey, at the fruit shop located at the entrance of Wang Ge's residential community, Shao Qingyu, disregarding Wang Ge's objections, insisted on purchasing a large fruit basket

Ye Zhao felt a stir in her heart, as she resonated deeply with this: "Indeed, what most people consider communication is merely talking to oneself; everyone speaks what they wish to say and only listens to what they are willing to understand. Those cacophonous voices do not deserve to be called dialogue."

They referred to her as "Little Shao," a name imbued with a distinct mark of the times, a simple and general appellation that made her feel very close.

The treatment suffered in one's own home previously has made this feeling of gratitude even more significant

Just the thought of Shao Qingyu appearing in the same frame as them sends shivers down his spine

It is that kind of expression, neither servile nor arrogant, neither angry nor joyful, a face that is resolute and tenacious, a face that, despite the fearsome trials and tribulations, remains unyielding and unscathed.

They sat in front of the cheap dining tables in the fast food restaurant, without red wine or candlelight, each facing a piece of steak that had lost its prime eating time, along with similarly neglected salad and soup

As she spoke, she realized that expressing these words, especially in front of Qi Tang, was not as difficult as she had anticipated

A long time has passed, and there are almost no people left in the square; even the shops have closed.

One is his wife, and the other is his daughter; he is truly caught in the middle, which is extremely difficult for him

Shao Qingyu was completely unaware of my unusual behavior; she was trying on other bags. I turned around to look at her, and you know, that stark contrast made me feel ashamed. That was her world, and I was merely an intruder. So in the end, no matter how much she insisted, I refused to accept it. I desperately said that I didn't like it, but what I really wanted to say was, 'Ye Zhao Jue raised her head, and said, 'I do not match with it.' I desperately said that I didn't like it, but what I really wanted to say was, 'Ye Zhao Jue raised her head, and said, 'I do not match with it.'

"How could I dare? You are so wealthy..." Recently, the profits have been good, and Ye Zhao Jue is in high spirits, playfully bantering with Qi Tang, "I really want to rely on you as my financial backer."

She ran back to her room, changed her clothes as quickly as possible, tossed her makeup bag into her handbag, and hurried down the stairs to head out the door

The microwave beeped once, but none of them moved

He did not kneel on one knee, but his words were incredibly sincere: "This is what I bought a couple of days ago. I thought that if after meeting my family tonight, you decide to break up, then there is no need to take it out."

Before putting on her helmet, she asked once more: "Are you really not going to buy anything? Flowers or fruits?"

Hanging up the phone, she laughed bitterly: "You dead girl, after all, you are still so young."

What opinion?" Shao Qingyu frowned, looking incredulous, "I don't have any opinion, it's quite good.

Wang Ge felt extremely awkward due to this grand occasion, and he did not know how to explain: "I brought her back to dissuade her from the idea of marriage"

Wang Ge knew that his family members had all put on what they considered to be their best and most formal attire