Beijing Colors Lingering

The restaurant where they had dinner that evening was in a nearby shopping mall. When He Zhenzhen and her group entered the private room, Qiao Yunshu and He Sinian were already sitting inside.

After exchanging greetings, the group took their seats. He Zhenzhen glanced at Qiao Yunshu sitting next to her and inadvertently noticed several light red marks on her neck.

He Zhenzhen moved closer to Qiao Yunshu, gently touched her neck with her finger, and asked curiously, "Yunshu, what happened here? Did you get bitten by an insect? Or is it an allergic reaction?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the private room suddenly became a little strange.

Qiao Yunshu's face instantly turned awkward, and the tips of her ears turned slightly red. She blurted out, "I was bitten by a dog last night."

Sitting next to Qiao Yunshu, He Sinian's lips twitched. He glanced at her silently, then put on a resentful expression.

Zhou Yancong glanced at He Sinian, curled his lips, and silently mocked him.

He Sinian, who inexplicably turned into a dog: "..."

"Huh? How could that be?" He Zhenzhen frowned slightly, looking suspicious, and said, "You must be having an allergic reaction."

Qiao Yunshu's lips stiffened slightly, and she forced an awkward yet polite smile, saying with a forced laugh, "If you say it's an allergy, then it's an allergy, right?"

Qi Mingyuan glanced lazily at He Zhenzhen, unable to suppress a laugh.

Sitting opposite He Zhenzhen, Shen Jinsui looked up at her, coughed lightly, and said meaningfully, "Zhenzhen, you'll understand what that is when you have a boyfriend in the future."

He Zhenzhen was stunned upon hearing this, and then took a closer look at Qiao Yunshu's neck.

She quickly understood what Shen Jinsui meant, and her expression suddenly became embarrassed.

Although she had never been in a relationship, she had at least written romance novels, and in that instant, she understood what those traces were.

She immediately felt remorseful. Why had she been so stupid as to ask Yun Shu?

Alas, one's curiosity should not be taken too seriously, or it can easily lead to silly mistakes.

He Zhenzhen then smiled sheepishly and jokingly said, "Then my uncle turned into a big dog last night."

As soon as she finished speaking, He Sinian shot He Zhenzhen a sharp glare, "Why do you talk so much nonsense, you brat?"

He Zhenzhen wasn't afraid of him. She smiled and muttered, "Uncle, I was just joking. Be more humorous."

Qiao Yunshu tugged at He Sinian's sleeve and muttered, "Zhenzhen has never had a boyfriend before, so it's normal that she didn't realize it. Why are you talking to her like that?"

He Sinian remained silent, but grasped Qiao Yunshu's hand and softened his tone, saying, "Alright, I'll listen to you."

Sitting on He Zhenzhen's other side, Qi Mingyuan chuckled gloatingly, "Why do you have so many questions?"

He Zhenzhen glared at him and snorted, "What's it to you!"

"Okay, then I was just being nosy." Qi Mingyuan shrugged.

At this moment, several waiters began to serve the dishes one by one, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere in the private room.

After dinner, everyone took their own cars home.

Qi Mingyuan and He Zhenzhen lived in the same villa area, so he casually got into her car.

After the car entered the villa area, it went straight to He Zhenzhen's underground garage. The driver opened the car door and got out, then immediately opened the back door.

He Zhenzhen and Qi Mingyuan got out of the car one after the other. After the driver left, she looked at Qi Mingyuan and said goodbye, "I'm going home."

Qi Mingyuan showed no intention of leaving, standing in front of her and staring intently at her.

He Zhenzhen looked puzzled, raised her eyes to look at Qi Mingyuan, and asked him, "Aren't you going home yet?"

After a long pause, Qi Mingyuan spoke slowly and deliberately: "He Zhenzhen, I took you away in front of so many people last night, and we even spent the night in the same suite. I've thought about this for a long time today, and we should take responsibility for each other regarding our reputations."

He Zhenzhen froze, her expression becoming indescribable, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "Are you... are you alright? Are you playing abstract games with me?"

"I'm serious," Qi Mingyuan nodded, replying solemnly.

He Zhenzhen pursed her lips, saying with a mix of helplessness and amusement, "Qi Mingyuan, we slept in different rooms last night, so how could there be any reputation issues? Besides, not many people know what happened afterward."

Qi Mingyuan spoke earnestly: "But everyone saw me take you away, and both of our parents know that we spent the night together, so you have to take responsibility for me."

He Zhenzhen's face suddenly fell silent. How could Qi Mingyuan's words make her sound like a scumbag?

Seeing that she didn't speak, Qi Mingyuan continued confidently, "Besides, we already have a childhood betrothal, so why not just complete the engagement?"

"Qi Mingyuan, I advise you to stop acting crazy. Just eat some plums when you have nothing to do." He Zhenzhen gave him an awkward but polite smile and waved to him. "Goodbye, I'm going home."

After she finished speaking, she decisively turned around and left, entering the elevator in the garage.

Qi Mingyuan watched He Zhenzhen's departing figure, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

He immediately thought of something, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

-

At this moment, He Zhenzhen took the elevator back to the villa. She recalled what Qi Mingyuan had just said and couldn't understand his unusual behavior today.

After a while, the doorbell rang.

He Zhenzhen arrived at the living room door, turned on the video call screen, and a familiar face came into view, causing her to suddenly freeze.

"Qi Mingyuan, what brings you to my house?"

After He Zhenzhen finished speaking, she pressed a switch on the electronic screen, and the gate at the front of the villa automatically opened slowly to both sides.

Qi Mingyuan walked through the garden to the living room door. He looked at He Zhenzhen and stated his purpose directly: "My main power switch is broken. Can I stay at your place for the night?"

He Zhenzhen: "..."

Qi Mingyuan coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment, "I can sleep in the guest room or on the sofa in the living room. I definitely won't bother you, so you don't need to worry."

He Zhenzhen was speechless after hearing this. She rolled her eyes and said coldly, "If the power is out, go find the property management. I don't know how to fix it, so what use is it to come to my house?"

Qi Mingyuan calmly explained, "The property management has already closed for the day. They said they can only arrange for staff to come and fix it tomorrow."

He Zhenzhen forced a standard smile, "Do you think I believe you? The property management center in this villa area has staff working 24 hours a day."

Qi Mingyuan raised an eyebrow and said slowly, "I'm telling the truth. The situation is quite serious. The property management said that a professional electrician is needed to fix it."

He Zhenzhen pouted and suggested to him, "Then you can stay in a hotel or drive back to the Qi family villa."

Qi Mingyuan tried to reason with her, softening his tone and pleading, "Miss He, we've been childhood sweethearts since we were little, can't you be kind enough to let me stay for one night?"

"Of course not, because we men and women are different." He Zhenzhen snorted and decisively closed the living room door.

Qi Mingyuan stared at the tightly closed door, a hint of embarrassment appearing between his brows. He raised his hand and touched the tip of his nose.

Why didn't this trick work either?