A beautiful summer night

Sometimes, overthinking is really a disease.

However, Xia Wanzhi did not expect that Yun Li's prediction would actually come true.

As long as she finds a man, she can stay in Beicheng smoothly.

Xia Wanzhi and Xie Qiyan stared at each other across the distance, and the atmosphere became awkward for a few seconds. Xia Wanzhi didn't know how to explain this misunderstanding.

Sometimes, it's not necessarily a bad thing to make the best of a bad situation.

So Xia Wanzhi moved her lips and asked tentatively and politely, "Is it okay now?"

Xie Qiyan was slightly taken aback, not expecting that she actually had such wicked intentions.

The smile in his eyes deepened as Xie Qiyan said, "Little sister Xia, are you trying to make a move on me?"

Xia Wanzhi guiltily looked away.

She was indeed eyeing him, but not the kind of eye he was talking about.

"I am a law-abiding citizen, I do not sell myself," Xie Qiyan said quietly.

"It's not like I'm asking you to sell yourself," Xia Wanzhi retorted weakly.

"Then what do you want? My heart?" Xie Qiyan's voice was slightly deep as he walked over and sat down opposite Xia Wanzhi. "Getting my heart is the same as getting my body. You're really smart."

Xia Wanzhi's lips twitched: "You're so funny."

Xie Qiyan smiled slightly: "You too."

Xia Wanzhi: "..."

After a few seconds of silence, Xia Wanzhi coughed lightly: "Brother Xie, would you like to consider it?"

Xie Qiyan never does business at a loss: "I'd be at a huge disadvantage."

"I won't let you suffer a loss," Xia Wanzhi replied instinctively.

Xie Qiyan stared at her with an intense gaze, and Xia Wanzhi lowered her eyes, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

"You want me to be your boyfriend?" Xie Qiyan asked her seriously, emphasizing the last three words as if to stress the point.

Xia Wanzhi was stunned for a moment by his overly serious expression, and hurriedly explained, "It's not real, it's just pretending, just pretending for a few days. I definitely don't want your heart or your... cough, body."

Xie Qiyan's slightly curled fingers suddenly loosened, and his expression clearly turned cold: "You wish."

Xia Wanzhi: "..."

This was the first time Xia Wanzhi had ever discussed such a sensitive topic, especially with someone she used to dislike. Feeling awkward, she gave a dry laugh and ended the conversation, then got down to business: "Um, you just said you wanted to make an appointment, I'll go register you."

As if nothing had happened, Xia Wanzhi got into work mode: "Are you sure you want to paint tomorrow? The dream or you? I'm free tomorrow at noon, are you coming over or should I come to you?"

Xie Qiyan lowered his eyes slightly, seemingly lost in thought, before finally replying after a long while, "I came to find you."

Today's meeting ended on a sour note.

Just then, Zhu Zi returned and bumped into Xie Qiyan downstairs. Curious, she asked, "Did Mr. Xie get the short end of the stick with you?"

Xia Wanzhi shook her head: "No."

"Then why is he so lifeless?" Zhu Zi muttered, but seeing that Xia Wanzhi was in a daze, she didn't disturb her.

Xie Qiyan still hadn't arrived by 11 a.m. the next day, so Xia Wanzhi had a leisurely half-day. Since she wasn't busy, she sent Zhuzi to Yunli's place to help wrap flowers.

She figured he was angry about what happened yesterday and was going to stand her up. Xia Wanzhi sat cross-legged in front of the French windows, already prepared to be stood up.

Xia Wanzhi had just arrived at the studio at 8:30 in the morning when she suddenly discovered that her period had come a week early. She was unprepared and was in a bad mood because of this unexpected event. On one hand, she complained that her husband was making her a nourishing soup every day, and on the other hand, she cursed Xie Qiyan in her heart for deliberately standing her up.

At 11:10, Xia Wanzhi got up from the floor and, enduring the discomfort in her abdomen, lay down on the sofa in the reception area.

She hadn't been lying down for long when the pain became unbearable, so she called Xie Qiyan to ask if he was still coming.

If she doesn't come, she'll go home.

"Wait a minute, it's not over yet," Xie Qiyan said in a low voice.

Xia Wanzhi didn't understand: "What? It's not over yet?"

"Yes." Xie Qiyan frowned slightly. "Didn't Xie Tan tell you?"

Just as he was about to head over at 10 a.m., a major problem suddenly arose in a project overseas, requiring an emergency meeting. At that moment, Xie Qiyan dialed her number, but the call was busy, so he sent a message to Xie Tan asking her to pass on the message to Xia Wanzhi.

It now seems that Xie Tan did not convey his message.

Xia Wanzhi was confused: "What did Xie Tan say?"

As she spoke, Xia Wanzhi opened WeChat to check if she had missed any messages.

10:05 AM

Xie Tan: [Sister Wanzi, my brother said he needs to attend an emergency meeting. He'll come find you later.]

"Um, I didn't check my phone today." Xia Wanzhi coughed lightly, feeling a little guilty as she thought about how she had called him to question whether he had deliberately stood her up. "It's okay, you go ahead and do your thing, I'll wait for you."

Xie Qiyan held a fountain pen between his well-defined fingers and replied softly, "I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

It was wrong of him to make people wait.

As soon as he hung up the phone, Xie Qiyan put his pen on the table and gestured for the overseas executives on the big screen to continue.

The people in the conference room looked at each other, wondering who could have gotten Xie Qiyan to pause the meeting.

Five minutes later, the meeting ended.

Yu Fei handed the documents in his hand to Huo Yang and strode downstairs with Xie Qiyan, heading towards Xingyao Building at top speed.

It wasn't Xia Wanzhi's intention to miss Xie Tan's information. She didn't distinguish between work and personal accounts on WeChat, so she logged out after processing the client's information.

But Xie Tan is her pinned post.

The fact that you missed this information shows that you're in a very bad state today.

Xia Wanzhi sat up, picked up her cup and was about to get a cup of hot water when she looked up and saw someone standing at the entrance of the studio.

Suddenly discovered, Zhou Yu's gaze darted away nervously.

"What's the matter?" Xia Wanzhi asked indifferently.

Zhou Yu pushed open the glass door and came in, taking a deep breath: "I heard you were going abroad, so I wanted to come and see you."

Xia Wanzhi withdrew her gaze, walked straight to the water dispenser to get water, and said indifferently, "Now that you've seen it, you can leave."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu took a few steps forward: "Do we really have to end up like this? Can't we even be friends anymore?"

Xia Wanzhi frowned: "Wasn't I clear enough for you at your house that day?"

“But we grew up together! Even if we can’t be lovers, we can at least be like before.” Zhou Yu’s eyes were urgent, and he gripped Xia Wanzhi’s hand tightly in his haste.

"Have you forgotten what you did to me?" Xia Wanzhi could never forget that scene, and resolutely pulled her hand away. "We can't go back to the way things were."

She could not forgive either his betrayal or his offense to her that day.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Noticing her pale face, Zhou Yu changed the subject and subconsciously reached out to touch her forehead.

"It seems I've arrived at the wrong time, disturbing Miss Xia's enjoyment." Xie Qiyan's deep voice sounded from behind.

At first glance, it even sounds a bit like casual conversation or banter.

Zhou Yu's back stiffened slightly, and Xia Wanzhi happened to step back, leaving his hand hanging in the air.

Xia Wanzhi remained unfazed: "It's none of your concern, Young Master Zhou, take care, I won't see you off."

Zhou Yu turned around blankly and saw Xia Wanzhi walk to the locker to get something and naturally ask Xie Qiyan for help. His heart sank.

She no longer needs him.