Upon returning to Beijing, Qian Fei was officially appointed as the department head. This meant she could now lead projects independently without relying on anyone else.
As she moved into the private office that Li Yifei once used, standing by the window and looking out at the skyline, Qian Fei was filled with emotion.
Two years ago, she never imagined she would become who she was now – capable of standing on her own and making decisive calls.
In the past, she only thought about marrying a man she could spend her life with, having a stable job, earning enough to buy a house, and living that way for the rest of her life.
However unexpected changes often alter one’s life path.
The man she thought she would spend her life with was gone, and a man she thought belonged to a different world had arrived.
Work, amid turbulence and setbacks, pushed her to climb higher, transforming her from an investment bank “female migrant worker” to steadily progressing on the path of becoming an elite.
She bought a house and then sold it, changing from a landlord to a tenant in the same apartment.
She felt that over these two years, her life had truly been a roller coaster.
But she was grateful for having such a life.
If she hadn’t experienced these ups and downs and had lived an ordinary life as she originally planned, she would have suffered less pain and torment, but she would also have missed out on the joys and pleasures that come with growth and struggle.
Someone knocked on the office door, calling out “Manager Qian.”
She snapped back to reality, sat at her desk, and called out crisply, “Come in.”
From this moment on, she was no longer the aimless Beijing drifter Qian Fei, no longer the investment bank “female migrant worker” Qian Fei, no longer the overly kind and unprincipled Qian Fei. From that moment on, she was Qian Fei, the investment bank elite who would carve out her territory.
Recently, Qian Fei has been busy helping other departments with urban investment bond projects. Li Yifei was also occupied with his company’s affairs. As a result, the only time they spent together was the few hours between finishing work – assuming neither had to work overtime – and going to bed.
During these few hours, Li Yifei always tried to find an opportunity to eat a full meal, but Qian Fei would use the excuse of having other people at home to keep him from doing so.
Later, Li Yifei became increasingly busy, saying he needed to thoroughly review the company’s accounts from start to finish. Their evening encounters changed from daily to every other day, then to every three days… Eventually, Qian Fei found herself spending more time with Liao Shiyu.
As their interactions increased, Qian Fei’s feelings towards Liao Shiyu subtly changed.
She found Liao Shiyu’s words and actions to be proper and polite. Although her demeanor was cool, it wasn’t off-putting. Sometimes Liao Shiyu would chat with her, often asking about her college days. She seemed particularly interested in Qian Fei’s university life.
In the evenings when Li Yifei worked late, Qian Fei usually cooked for herself.
Once, Liao Shiyu, drawn by the aroma of food, came to the kitchen and watched her wielding the spatula with a look of longing.
It was the first time Qian Fei had seen an expression other than cold elegance on Liao Shiyu’s face. On impulse, she blurted out an invitation: “Have you ordered takeout for dinner? If not, why don’t we eat together?”
Liao Shiyu, with her clear black and white eyes, looked at her and said, “Alright.”
From that day on, Qian Fei started cooking for Liao Shiyu as well.
Qian Fei felt she was born to serve others. After Li Yifei left, Liao Shiyu arrived, and her relationship with each of them began to grow closer over meals.
She had thought eating with Liao Shiyu might be awkward due to a lack of conversation topics, but this concern proved completely unnecessary. Liao Shiyu was surprisingly good at initiating conversations.
After tasting Qian Fei’s stir-fried eggplant strips, Liao Shiyu’s face showed a hint of wistfulness: “I used to think my parents had me so I could enjoy life at home and do great things outside. I thought cooking wasn’t something I should do. Since my parents raised me like a boy, I thought I should stay away from the kitchen like men do. When I lived with my boyfriend, I never cooked. We only ordered takeout. At first, he didn’t say anything, but later I could feel he was getting annoyed.”
Qian Fei thought for a moment and tactfully told her: “Actually, some things have nothing to do with gender. It’s not about who does it having a lower status. Cooking at home and being someone who does great things outside are two separate matters. In my family, my dad always did the cooking, and he was also in charge of everything both inside and outside the house.”
Liao Shiyu looked at her for a while and said, “If I hadn’t met you, I might never have understood this principle.”
Qian Fei shrugged, “Of course, tasks should be shared between two people, not all left to one person. If you don’t cook, your boyfriend could cook, right? His getting annoyed doesn’t make much sense. And if you cook, then your boyfriend should be responsible for washing the dishes.”
Liao Shiyu looked at her, a flash of surprise in her eyes, and asked, “Does Li Yifei wash the dishes after eating?”
Qian Fei nodded matter-of-factly, “Yes! Or he could be responsible for cooking and I’d wash the dishes, that’s fine too. But only if what he cooks doesn’t kill people or make them wish they were dead.”
The surprise in Liao Shiyu’s eyes quickly spread across her entire face, “I think if his father knew he was washing dishes after meals, he’d be so shocked he might burst a blood vessel.”
Qian Fei was taken aback, “Has he lived such a pampered life since childhood? What does Li Yifei’s father do? How could he spoil a child to be like Jia Baoyu?”
Liao Shiyu’s eyes flickered, and she said, “He’s a private business owner, a very wealthy one.” This was the story Li Yifei had agreed upon with her beforehand.
Qian Fei frowned, “Very wealthy? What does that mean? Are you saying all those things he eats, wears, and uses are genuine and not high-quality fakes?”
Liao Shiyu raised her eyebrows in even greater surprise, “Qian Fei, you’re quite amusing, but I don’t think you’re pretending. Do you think someone as pampered as Li Yifei could use fake items?”
Qian Fei felt a corner of her worldview quietly cracking and collapsing. Her hand holding the rice bowl trembled slightly.
If what Liao Shiyu said was true, then the bowl she was eating from right now must also be genuine – Li Yifei had told her before that this set of porcelain was from the same production batch as those specially supplied to the Central Government.
She put down the bowl with shaking hands, deciding to buy a new set of porcelain from the supermarket after work tomorrow. This set should be washed clean and kept as a treasure from now on.
Liao Shiyu suddenly spoke up: “Do you know what Li Yifei is busy with now?”
Qian Fei looked up, her gaze reluctantly leaving the special-supply rice bowl: “He’s busy with his company’s affairs.”
Liao Shiyu asked, “Haven’t you visited his company?”
Qian Fei said, “When he thinks the time is right, he’ll invite me to visit. He’s so busy right now, I don’t want to add to his troubles or make things awkward. I don’t know if you’ve realized this yet, but I have: for two people to stay together for a long time, they should give each other some space and not pry into everything.”
Liao Shiyu looked at her, silent for a while. Then she changed the subject, “Qian Fei, what was your first impression of me? Did you feel like you’d seen me before?”
Qian Fei answered honestly: “You looked a bit cold sitting on the sofa watching TV like you were a bit resistant to me.”
Liao Shiyu smiled and said, “Actually, that wasn’t the first time we met. We had interacted much earlier, but at that time I only heard your voice without seeing your face.”
Qian Fei was stunned for a moment, then thought, “But I have no impression of you at all.”
Liao Shiyu smiled without speaking.
Qian Fei asked her how they had first come into contact. Liao Shiyu said it was, of course, through the man they both knew.
Qian Fei thought with a smile that she must have been seen with Li Yifei.
They chatted for a while longer, turning to work-related topics.
Qian Fei said, “I see you seem to stay at home every day. Don’t you get bored? Li Yifei said you studied financial management. Our company is hiring recently. Would you like to give it a try?”
Liao Shiyu elegantly finished her last bite of food, put down her chopsticks, and said, “Actually, I do have a job. It’s just that I’ve been troubled since after the New Year, so I took a long leave. It seems I should go back to work now.” She paused, then suddenly said, “Qian Fei, you’re a kind person. Considering good things for others seems to be your instinct. I hate kind people the most because they force me to admit that I’m a bad woman.”
Qian Fei laughed, “Don’t you think that women need to be a little bad to be charming? Besides, kindness might be a virtue for others, but for me, it’s a flaw. Because I’m too much of a ‘saint’, I don’t know how many times I’ve been scolded and looked down upon by young Master Li!”
Liao Shiyu looked at her and said softly, “You’re good the way you are. At least it makes it impossible for people to dislike you.”
While Qian Fei was washing the dishes, she heard Liao Shiyu ask from behind, “Which one do you think left a deeper impression on you, your ex-boyfriend or Li Yifei?”
She stopped and turned to look at Liao Shiyu, “Do you think something that leaves a deeper impression is necessarily better? I don’t think so. I believe that no matter how deeply something is etched in your memory if you can’t hold it in your hands, it’s useless. It’s better to cherish what you have now. My ex-boyfriend, if you don’t mention him, I’ve already forgotten our past. Li Yifei, whether you mention him or not, I keep him in my current life. Compared to what I have now, those deep impressions don’t carry any weight.”
Liao Shiyu looked at her for a long time without speaking.
The next day was the weekend. Liao Shiyu told Qian Fei early in the morning that she was going out for a beauty treatment. Shortly after she left, Li Yifei arrived.
They first spent some time being affectionate in the room, and amid their intimacy, Li Yifei had a satisfying meal.
Then, Li Yifei, wiping his mouth with lingering satisfaction, asked Qian Fei, “How’s Liao Shiyu’s stay here? She hasn’t made you uncomfortable, has she? If she does, just tell me, and I’ll kick her out immediately! Anyway, she’s served her purpose pretty much. I find her annoying now. If she could move out, it wouldn’t be so difficult for your young master to have a good meal in the future!”
Early that morning, he had called Liao Shiyu and kindly arranged to pay for her to go to a beauty salon for a head-to-toe queen-level luxurious treatment, just so he could have a satisfying meal with his Jinjin on the weekend. It wasn’t easy for him.
Qian Fei tidied her clothes and said, “I get along well with her, no need to kick her out.” She paused, then, massaging her sore thighs, she gritted her teeth and said, “I think it’s better to let her stay. Otherwise, with you being so vigorous in ravishing me, I’m afraid I’ll end up either bow-legged or pigeon-toed! Besides, she’s quite pitiful. I can sense that there’s someone in her heart, but for some reason, she couldn’t be with that person.”
Li Yifei scoffed, “Whether she’s pitiful or not isn’t my concern. I didn’t let her stay because of pity in the first place.”
Qian Fei asked, “Then why?”
Li Yifei narrowed his eyes, “Guess! If you guess right, I’ll tell you. If not, keep trying!”
Qian Fei slapped his face, “Guess your sister! If I guess right, why would I need you to tell me? If you play this game with Qian Baodai, do you still want your company to go public smoothly in the future?”
Li Yifei was shocked.
Qian Baodai was no longer the saint who would smile no matter how she was pushed around. Now, her wings were getting stronger.
Li Yifei wasn’t stupid. He knew why Liao Shiyu had moved into his and Qian Fei’s house. But he decided to play dumb.
True gold fears no fire. Since the old man wanted to observe Qian Fei through Liao Shiyu’s eyes, he was willing to go along with it. He firmly believed that given Qian Fei’s character and personality, she would win over anyone who looked at her with colored glasses.
Even he, such a picky young master, had been won over by her. He thought it wouldn’t be long before his Jinjin would have Liao Shiyu, despite her feigned aloofness, willingly opening her heart.
In this world, there’s a type of person who, at first encounter, seems bland, without edges, without personality, without temper. They neither make your heart race nor leave any unforgettable impression, just like plain water – tasteless and bland. But over time, they make you unknowingly fall for them, and become devoted to them. They make you admit that even plain water has a taste – a faint sweetness that penetrates your heart and lungs, and as long as you’re alive, you can never leave it.
Li Yifei felt that in this lifetime, he had fallen into the hands of such a person, and he had fallen willingly.