Heart Stealer

Qiu Rongyao asked Xiao Tuobang to go fishing together on Saturday.

At seven o'clock in the morning, the midsummer sun had just risen from the east, emitting a scorching light that seemed to burn the whole world to a crisp.

The weather was extremely hot and humid, and even the air seemed to become sticky, but this did not stop the enthusiasm of many fishing enthusiasts.

Many people had already gathered around the reservoir. They were either standing or sitting, holding fishing rods, staring at the water intently, looking forward to the moment when the fish would be hooked.

Qiu Rongyao walked briskly in front, feeling particularly happy.

He was wearing a loose sweatshirt and a pair of comfortable sneakers, and he looked refreshed.

Xiao Tuobang followed closely behind, carrying a bucket and a fishing rod. His steps were a little heavy, as if he had not yet completely recovered from his busy work.

They walked through the crowd, looking for a quiet corner. Finally, they found a relatively secluded place in a corner of the reservoir.

Qiu Rongyao skillfully put down the fishing rod, adjusted the fishing line, then sat aside, quietly waiting for the fish to bite.

His eyes revealed a kind of concentration and patience, as if the whole world was just him and that body of water.

Qiu Rongyao caught another grass carp weighing more than one kilogram. He carefully took the fish off the hook and put it in a bucket.

Looking at his trophy, a smile of pride and satisfaction filled his face.

Time passed quietly, the sun gradually rose, and the temperature gradually rose.

Although the weather was getting hotter, Qiu Rongyao and Xiao Tuobang were still in high spirits, enjoying the rare leisure time during the holidays.

"Tuobang, you have been getting busier and busier since our hotel started receiving foreign guests. It's a pity that there seems to be a lack of fate between our Qiuxue and you." Qiu Rongyao said regretfully.

A hint of helplessness flashed across Xiao Tuobang's eyes. Thinking of Qiu Xue's cold attitude towards him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss: "Yeah, maybe we are not destined to be together."

Qiu Rongyao looked at him and comforted him, "Tuobang, don't be discouraged. Let me tell you this. I'll keep an eye out for you. If I meet a suitable girl, I'll definitely introduce her to you."

"Oh, boss, I'm so embarrassed. I really don't want to bother you!"

Xiao Tuobang quickly waved his hand to refuse, a shy blush appearing on his face.

He understood that Qiu Rongyao had good intentions, but he didn't want to cause trouble for others.

Qiu Rongyao patted Xiao Tuobang on the shoulder and said with a smile, "What's there to be embarrassed about? I also hope that you can find your own happiness soon. You are so outstanding, you will definitely find a good girl."

Xiao Tuobang looked at Qiu Rongyao with gratitude, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

"Tuobang, we are like a family, so don't be polite to me!" Qiu Rongyao said enthusiastically.

Qiu Rongyao has always cared about Xiao Tuobang and treated him as his own family.

In this competitive and stressful society, it is a rare blessing to have a boss who cares about you.

Xiao Tuobang thought to himself, since the boss is so enthusiastic, then just let it go.

He nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble you, boss."

With his outstanding business acumen and leadership skills, Xiao Tuobang managed the Qiu Group in an orderly and prosperous manner.

Qiu Rongyao witnessed the company's growing prosperity and was filled with endless gratitude towards Xiao Tuobang.

Qiu Rongyao paid special attention to Xiao Tuobang's personal problems.

As soon as he got home, he couldn't wait to take action.

You know, Qiu Rongyao has been working in the business world for many years and has made many good friends, including some unmarried young ladies.

When they heard that Qiu Rongyao wanted to introduce a girl to Xiao Tuobang, these friends responded actively and took the initiative to extend an olive branch to him.

At this moment, Qiu Rongyao was sitting comfortably on the extremely soft sofa in his home, wearing a pair of exquisite glasses on his nose.

He carefully pulled out a thick stack of photos from an exquisite envelope and looked through them one by one with full concentration.

Every time he turned over a photo, he would look at it carefully, not missing any details, as if he was doing an extremely important screening work.

Mrs. Qiu happened to walk into the living room.

She inadvertently caught a glimpse of Qiu Rongyao concentrating on admiring the photos of young and beautiful women, and suddenly a nameless anger ignited in her.

"Husband, look at you. You are already old, but why are you still staring at these things like a young boy?" Mrs. Qiu asked Qiu Rongyao in a bad mood with an angry look on her face.

Qiu Rongyao was startled by the sudden questioning and quickly put the photo in his hand away in a panic.

His face immediately filled with an ingratiating smile, and he quickly explained to his wife, "Oh, my dear wife, please don't misunderstand me. I'm helping Tuobang choose a suitable girlfriend!"

"Husband, you are making me more and more confused. Didn't you just match Qiu Xue and Tuo Bang not long ago?" Mrs. Qiu asked doubtfully.

"Didn't Sister Zhen say that they don't like each other? I want Tuobang to go on a blind date to test Qiuxue's reaction." Qiu Rongyao smiled cunningly.

Mrs. Qiu frowned and said dissatisfiedly, "What kind of bad idea is this? Wouldn't this make them both more embarrassed?"

Qiu Rongyao quickly waved his hands and said, "No, no. I just want to see if Qiu Xue is really not interested in Tuobang. If she really doesn't like Tuobang, then we don't need to force them anymore."

Mrs. Qiu was still worried and asked, "But wouldn't this be unfair to Tuobang? Wouldn't he think we're playing with his feelings?"

Qiu Rongyao comforted her, "Don't worry, Madam. Tuobang is a sensible child. He will understand our painstaking efforts. Besides, this is also for his own happiness."

Mrs. Qiu sighed and said, "Well, since you say so, then it's up to you. But you have to choose carefully and don't find a girl of questionable character for Tuobang."

Qiu Rongyao smiled and said, "Don't worry, ma'am. I will definitely choose a good girl for Tuobang."

At this time, Qiu Xue returned home after finishing her day's work.

As soon as she entered the room, she shouted:

"Mom and Dad, hurry up and prepare the meal! My stomach is growling with hunger!"

"Wait a moment, there is still a guest who hasn't arrived yet. We can have dinner together after he comes." Qiu Rongyao responded while flipping through the newspaper.

"What kind of guest is this? Why are you visiting me so late?" Qiu Xue muttered somewhat dissatisfiedly.

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Tuobang walked in, looking exhausted, holding a black briefcase in his hand.

Seeing this, Qiu Rongyao quickly put down the newspaper in his hand and said, "Tuobang is back from his business trip. Sister Zhen, the food is ready!"

After everyone sat down, Qiu Rongyao kept putting food into Xiao Tuobang's bowl.

"Tuobang, you haven't been to our house for a long time. You've been on business trips to other provinces recently. You must replenish your nutrition well."

Xiao Tuobang smiled politely, "Thank you, boss."

Everyone enjoyed the meal happily.

After dinner, Xiao Tuobang glanced at Qiu Xue and said, "Miss Qiu, I brought you a gift on this business trip."

As he said that, he took out a small red box from his bag and handed it to Qiu Xue.

Qiu Xue took the box with surprise, opened it and saw an exquisite necklace inside.

"Wow, so beautiful! Thank you, Mr. Xiao." Qiu Xue said happily.

Seeing this, Qiu Rongyao couldn't stop smiling. He was secretly happy and felt that this marriage had a chance.

Qiu Rongyao decided to test them again.

He coughed lightly twice. Xiao Tuobang and Qiu Xue looked at each other, both feeling a little embarrassed.

Xiao Tuobang looked at Qiu Rongyao and asked doubtfully, "Boss, you asked me to come here so late. Is there something important?"

Qiu Rongyao smiled and said earnestly, "Tuobang, you are already quite old now, it's time to consider starting a family.

I happen to have some photos of my old friends' daughters here. Their families are all quite well-off. Take a look and see if there's any you like. I can help you propose marriage when the time comes!"

Qiu Xue interrupted, "Dad, don't worry! Tuobang already has a girlfriend!"

"Oh? Tuobang has a girlfriend? How come I didn't know?" Qiu Rongyao asked in surprise.

Qiu Rongyao's face was full of doubts. He frowned and turned his gaze to Xiao Tuobang, as if waiting for his confirmation.

Just as Xiao Tuobang was about to explain, Qiuxue continued, "Dad, Tuobang told me himself! His girlfriend is Zhang Sufang, and she's his junior apprentice sister."

Qiu Xue stared at Xiao Tuobang with her big round eyes, and Xiao Tuobang lowered his head even lower in embarrassment.

When Qiu Xue thought of how happy and sweet Xiao Tuobang and Zhang Sufang were together, she suddenly felt jealous. She bit her lips tightly, feeling secretly unhappy.

Qiu Rongyao breathed a sigh of relief and said with a cheerful smile, "So it's Sufang. I was wondering who you were talking about. Sufang has been missing for a long time. Is she going to leave Tuobang to live a lonely life forever?"

As Qiu Rongyao spoke, he pulled out a few photos from the envelope and said to Qiu Xue, "Qiu Xue, you girls have better taste. Come and help Tuobang pick out which girl is prettier."

Qiu Xue couldn't help feeling jealous when she saw Xiao Tuobang's lustful look.

She pouted and turned her head away, her face full of reluctance.

Xiao Tuobang keenly noticed Qiu Xue's angry expression and immediately had an idea in his mind.

He pretended not to notice Qiu Xue's dissatisfaction and continued to select photos according to Qiu Rongyao's requirements.

Qiu Rongyao introduced enthusiastically on the side, and Xiao Tuobang randomly pulled out one of them.

Seeing this, Qiu Xue's anger instantly ignited. Her brows furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

She glared at Xiao Tuobang fiercely, as if to say, "How could you do this to me?"

Qiu Rongyao, however, praised Xiao Tuobang's choice highly: "Tuobang, you have excellent taste! This is Uncle Li's daughter—Li Keke. She just graduated from college. Not only is she gentle and virtuous, well-educated, but she's also very beautiful. I believe that once you meet her in person, you'll fall in love with her."

After hearing what her father said, Qiu Xue's lips trembled. She wanted to refute but didn't know where to start.

Her eyes were filled with disappointment and anger, and tears were welling up in her eyes, as if they would burst out at any time.

Qiu Rongyao handed Xiao Tuobang a bank card and said earnestly, "Qiu Xue, tomorrow you go with Tuobang to buy some clothes. Spend the money where it's needed, don't save it."

Xiao Tuobang quickly waved his hands and said, "Boss, I have money, I can still afford it."

"Tuobang, don't be so polite. This is a small token of our appreciation." Qiu Rongyao insisted.

Xiao Tuobang couldn't refuse any more and could only accept the bank card. Qiu Xue looked at this scene and felt even more uncomfortable.

She turned back to her room angrily and slammed the door.

Xiao Tuobang realized that he seemed to have annoyed Qiu Xue. He wanted to chase after her to explain, but was stopped by Qiu Rongyao.