Chapter 10

Xu Nuo gave a bitter smile, "How could she have so many choices?"

Rest assured to leave yourself in the hands of those reckless boys. Ouyang Lie did not say it out loud

Do you know how complicated his background is

As soon as I came out of the kitchen, I looked up and saw Qiu Xiaoman and Qin Haoge sitting in the hall chatting. The two were laughing and talking, and everything seemed perfectly normal

Xu Nuo blushed and said, "That is not the case; I have long given up! Right now, I only want to focus on my studies!"

We inquired about each other's recent situations, but there was not much to discuss. I mentioned your matters to him, and he said he would make arrangements.

Just like that. Xu Nuo lowered his head and kept wiping the table, "He hasn't been back for more than two years, and everyone asked about the situation."

Xu Nuo was taken aback

"Friend?" Qin Haoge cast a glance at Xu Nuo, his gaze filled with reproach, as cold as frost, sending a chill through Xu Nuo's heart. "What a generous friend, casually giving away something worth several thousand yuan. You must really like such a friend, don't you?"

Xu Nuo opened her eyes wide. At that moment, she heard footsteps behind her. Without having time to think, she raised her voice and shouted, "Xiao Linzi, where are you?"

Ouyang Lie lit a cigarette and asked, "How has she been lately?"

Lin Tianxing's voice followed: "In the end, I had no choice but to send the car to the repair shop, and my mother scolded me for a while."

What did they say?" Qiu Xiaoman exclaimed excitedly

Promise and sneer

Where does she study

Is this enough here

Qin Haoge's expression darkened as he opened the car door and got out, shouting loudly: "Nuo Nuo!"

Xiao Man

Their voices were too loud, startling everyone. Liu Jincheng ran down from upstairs, while Mother Xu and Grandma came out from behind. Lin Tianxing saw Xu Nuo standing helplessly by the side and hurried over to pull her aside

Qiu Xiaoman, both shy and angry, exclaimed: "Qin Haoge, how long are you going to go on about this? How many times have we argued about this topic? How many more times do you want me to say it? I have already told you that I have nothing to do with Ouyang Lie!"

What did you say?" Qin Haoge's voice suddenly rang out

Ouyang Lie lowered his head to smoke, "How did I end up studying such a specialized field?"

This is how it should be! Qiu Xiaoman tilted her chin up and said, "Let Hao Ge know that although I, Qiu Xiaoman, am with him, there are still many people pursuing me. He needs to feel a bit of pressure."

Xu Nuo did not dare to look at Qin Haoge and asked Lin Tianxing: "Where are the scallions you picked? They are needed in the kitchen"

Qin Haoge approached and said, "Auntie is calling you to the kitchen."

Why not give it to Xiaoman? She is the one who is truly suited for these things

"It's right in the city." Xu Nuo mentioned a school name, "It's such a pity, I missed the college entrance examination by five points, and I don't have the conditions to retake it, so I had no choice but to study hotel management."

Ouyang Lie enquired again, "What about that pretty boy?"

The small vegetable garden in the backyard is enclosed by a fence, which is covered with green vines, many of which have climbed up the trees. Xu Nuo peered through the not-so-dense leaves and saw a figure on the other side.

Guy A said: "Shall we pick some green onions behind the house?"

Qiu Xiaoman's face turned red with excitement, "How does he know that I like this one? Did you tell him?"

Ouyang Lie saw that Qin Haoge quickly pulled Xu Nuo onto that old, shabby car. Xu Nuo waved at him, and the car soon drove away

Promise to stay in place

"Stop this and that." Qiu Xiaoman winked at her, "It's just a set of jewelry. I'm not telling Hao Ge..."

Qiu Xiaoman cried out in pain, "Qin Haoge, what kind of madness are you exhibiting?"

Ouyang Lie lit another cigarette and let out a cold snort

Ouyang Lie was very cooperative, "Indeed, once you have seen the vast ocean, it is hard to consider any other water as significant."

"Alright, you two!" Qiu Xiaoman pointed at Xu Nuo, "You went to the city to have fun without inviting me. Tell me, do you have something against me?"

Are you still secretly in love with someone, judging by your tone?

Qin Haoge also raised his voice, "It doesn't matter? Then you should return this item to him! Go tell him not to send you things in the future, and to keep his distance from you!"

Xiao Man's laughter is as melodious as silver bells, "Your godfather is truly magnanimous! You are indeed very fortunate!"

Xu Nuowei, please be honest and confess quickly, "I have a long-standing relationship with him, and visiting each other is a common occurrence..."

Xu Nuo left through the door. Ouyang Lie chuckled dryly at the air, yet extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray

"Are you scared like this?" Ouyang Lie found it extremely amusing and laughed uncontrollably, "Which one do you prefer, the old me or the current me?"

Ouyang Lie said: "At such a young age, without pressure, and not in a relationship, what a pity."

After driving for more than an hour, Qin Haoge finally spoke in a low voice: "Where are you running off to and what are you doing?"

"This stubborn donkey." He opened the door and chased after her, "Wait, I will take you down."

Promise to wear shoes, "You should also smoke less and drink less. Spending money harms health, has your brain been kicked by a donkey?"

Heavens!" Qiu Xiaoman exclaimed softly, "The crystal from Shiluohuasqi! It's the very model I had my eye on!"

Indeed. Xiao Man softly remarked, "Such a handsome face, what a pity to be marred..."

Xu Nuo forced a smile, "But this is indeed very expensive"

You! You crashed such a good car, doesn't your godfather feel any pain?

He let out a cold snort and turned to go back inside the building

Ouyang Lie caught her, the weight in his hands was heavy, and he smiled, saying: "It truly feels like Mount Tai is pressing down!"

Xu Nuo recalled and said, "Lie Ge, Xiao Man heard that you have returned and wants to meet you"

You have surprisingly remained chaste for me all these years abroad

Xu Nuo observed that Qin Haoge's expression remained unchanged, yet she was filled with confusion and quickly concealed it. She smiled and said: "No one would dare to neglect you! We are going to see the teacher, and since you are not familiar with him, you would likely find it boring to go along."

Qin Haoge left them to talk to their grandfather. Qiu Xiaoman quietly asked Xu Nuo: "Did you meet Ouyang Lie?"

Qin Haoge looked at her increasingly lowered head, her jet-black hair, her fair neck, and her fluttering eyelashes, both hateful yet pitiable. Suddenly, he felt an urge to pinch her round face, to wake this girl up, to make her stay as far away from that man as possible, ideally never to meet again.

That was close, almost resulting in disfigurement said Lin Tianxing with a sense of relief

Promise mocked: "Can he distinguish between scallions and garlic?" Hurry up and run over.

On the way back, Qin Haoge's expression remained quite poor. Xu Nuo realized that he was genuinely angry, which made her feel uneasy. Lacking the courage to speak to him, she could only remain silent.

The garden was immediately silent

Ouyang Lie looked at her expression and said, "Let me make some arrangements."

The promise took her by surprise. Ouyang Lie, who had lost his entire unruly demeanor, was already enough to make her feel uncomfortable, and now he was actually speaking in poetry, as if a thunderbolt had struck her head. It was only then that she understood the meaning behind the words of the green-haired man; Ouyang Lie had truly changed.

Qiu Xiaoman's smile was charming, "He is still so considerate! He is still the same as before, pretending to be uninterested in me, isn't he?"

What about Xiaolin?

Qiu Xiaoman's face turned red, "What nonsense are you talking about? This is just a gift from a friend"

Xu Nuo retorted to him: "What about you? Do you have a partner?"

Is that so? Qiu Xiaoman and Ouyang Lie have a rather ambiguous relationship. The two do not have much interaction on a daily basis, but whenever Xiaoman has a request, Ouyang Lie is always willing to help. Whether it is out of respect for a promise or out of a sense of cherishing the fairer sex, in any case, everyone regards Xiaoman as someone under Ouyang Lie's protection

Ah? Xu Nuo said blankly

Xu Nuo cheered and jumped over to embrace Ouyang Lie's neck

"Is it really okay not to get involved?" Qin Haoge stared at her and reprimanded, "Nono, use your brain! Ouyang's father is not clean-handed, and he himself is not innocent either. If something goes wrong, how will you protect yourself? You also need to think about your aunt, think about your grandmother, and think about us friends. If you get hurt, I will be very heartbroken, do you understand?"

"Same as usual," Xu Nuo said

As soon as the two individuals descended the stairs, Qin Haoge also arrived. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, a tall man was seen emerging from the building, with his arm around Xu Nuo's shoulders. The man held onto her hand without letting go, stuffing something into her hand and chattering incessantly.

The phone in Xu Nuo's pocket rang; upon checking, it was a familiar number, so he quickly answered it

In the last semester of her college diploma program, Xiaoman wishes to intern at your hotel

Hao Ge? Ah, I’m sorry! I’m at Lie Ge's... um... ah, you’ve come to find me? Alright, I’ll come down right away!" She hung up the phone, "Hao Ge is here to pick me up. I’m leaving now.

Enough! Xu Nuo didn't even look and pulled him inside, "Quickly take it to the kitchen, don't delay the chef from cooking"

Xu Nuo felt a tightness in her chest, filled with something that made it difficult for her to breathe

Xu Nuo nodded and said, "I have noted it down. I will contact you later." After saying this, she ran towards Qin Haoge without looking back

What should I not worry about

Both of them turned their gaze over, and the man's eyes were extremely cold. Xu Nuo smiled instead, waved to Ouyang Lie, and walked towards Qin Haoge.

Upon arriving home, the two silently got out of the car. It was precisely 3 PM, the hottest time of the afternoon. After an hour in a car without air conditioning, both of them looked pale. Only after downing a large cup of plum juice did they regain a bit of their vitality

Now it is merely a matter of replacing motorcycles with cars

Lin Tianxing suddenly emerged from the side of the green vine, "I am here! What is the matter?"

Is her home still the same? Does her father still hit her?

Xu Nuo smiled gently and said, "That's good."

She was about to speak when a familiar laughter came from over there: "Is that so? What happened next?"

Both Xu Nuo and Qiu Xiaoman were taken aback. Qin Haoge had appeared behind them at some point, his face pale and his eyes fixed on the jewelry box in Qiu Xiaoman's hand

Qiu Xiaoman lowered her head and saw the blue box in Xu Nuo's pocket. Her eyes lit up, and she took the initiative to pull it out.

Ouyang Lie suddenly grabbed Xu Nuo and said, "There will be a surprise inspection of hygiene soon, so your family should pay attention to it."

Qiu Xiaoman instinctively covered herself. Qin Haoge's expression grew even more unpleasant. He grabbed Qiu Xiaoman with one hand and forcefully snatched the box with the other.

Qiu Xiaoman opened the box again to take a look, unable to part with it. "Of course I know that Haoge doesn't have that kind of money. Ouyang Lie is truly generous. Nono, when you see him, don't forget to thank him on my behalf!"

Am I going crazy?" Qin Haoge looked at the brilliantly shining crystal in the box and sneered, "I think it is you who has been enchanted!"

Qiu Xiaoman held the box close to her heart and exclaimed, "I am so delighted! Nono, you are just too adorable! Ouyang Lie is truly generous! I have wanted this set of jewelry for a long time. I used to ask Haoge to buy it for me, and he would say that I was spending money frivolously!"

Promise to think carefully about this question, "In the past, you would take me around on your motorcycle."

Xu Nuo defended himself, saying, "I was not involved at all!"

Xu Nuo was displeased, "Hao Ge is certainly not a pretty boy! Do you think everyone is as burly as you?"

He appeared completely at ease, without the slightest hint of discomfort. If he is not a born actor, then he must be someone who is naturally a bit lacking in mental acuity

My godfather said that people are more important than cars

Ouyang Lie smiled, "You girl, you are still so genuine, how can I rest assured about you?"

Xu Nuo's expression was momentarily complex, "Xiao Man, this is actually ... ..."

Xu Nuo gets angry whenever this matter is mentioned. "She moved in with me right after finishing her college entrance examination and hasn't returned home since starting university. Her father is still the same, drinking every day. Xiao Man is currently working in a teahouse in town and is living in a dormitory. Lie Ge, you should arrange for her to work at your hotel; at least the conditions are much better than those at the teahouse."

"Um..." Xu Nuo responded ambiguously.

Ouyang Lie shook his head, "None of them are to my liking"