“In a hurry to love you.”

A phrase with double meaning.

Shen Qianzhan quite wanted to blush to show her bashfulness, but as soon as she saw Ji Qinghe, she couldn’t help but recall that extremely embarrassing scene from the afternoon.

Eavesdropping and then trying to cover it up?

No way!

She deliberately didn’t pick up his thread, giving him the cold treatment.

Those cold eyes, with lowered tail ends, were like trailing phoenix feathers, focusing intently on the rustling roadside trees rapidly retreating outside the car window.

When they encountered a red light midway, Ji Qinghe turned to glance at her.

Shen Qianzhan was looking down at her phone. Her slender neck curved gracefully like a swan’s, resembling a flamingo drinking and foraging by the water’s edge, pacing slowly with lazy elegance.

Sensing his scrutiny, Shen Qianzhan lifted her head slightly, giving him a sideways glance from the corner of her eye. Her expression conveyed complete casual indifference from inside out.

In fact, ever since Ji Lin’s innocent slip that afternoon, she’d been like a cat with its tail stepped on, bristling with fury. Constantly alert, constantly defensive. And giving him looks from time to time, making him remember his petty eavesdropping behavior.

At the Ji residence, Ji Lin had been constantly clinging to her, giving Ji Qinghe no opportunity.

Finally managing to bring her out, she maintained an adversarial stance, practically carving “silence” on her face to refuse communication.

Ji Qinghe’s fingers tapped on the center console gear shifter as he found a topic: “I need to fly to Hong Kong with Ming Jue this weekend.”

Hearing this, Shen Qianzhan first glanced at the date on her phone. Today was Thursday, meaning after returning to Wuxi tomorrow, he’d be leaving the day after.

“There’s an important summit being held at the Hong Kong branch. Ms. Meng’s schedule changed, so I’m stepping in at the last minute.”

After the red light countdown reached five seconds, it automatically switched.

Ji Qinghe’s fingers on the center console pulled back, shifting into drive, lightly pressing the accelerator. After circling the elevated highway once, he took the left diverging road.

“How many days?” Shen Qianzhan asked.

“Including travel time, two days.” He turned the steering wheel with one hand, easily maneuvering through traffic: “If time allowed, I’d planned to make it a day trip.”

Shen Qianzhan fidgeted with her fingernails, saying nothing.

Ji Qinghe’s status was special, and his contract with the production team had extremely high flexibility. His schedule was beyond the authority of either producer Shen Qianzhan, the highest decision-maker, or supervisor Su Zan, who managed actors’ working hours.

Besides, actors also had overlapping schedules and promotional events. It would be strange if Ji Qinghe, as executive president of Bu Zhong Sui China, spent all his time idly staying with the production crew for romantic dalliances.

Seeing her low spirits, Ji Qinghe added: “The clocks will be shipped tomorrow and arrive by Saturday at the latest. I’ll wait until all the clocks are properly installed before going to Hong Kong.”

Shen Qianzhan hadn’t considered the clock placement issue. When he mentioned it, she belatedly realized this return trip wouldn’t be easy—the placement and safekeeping of the antique clocks would be a major challenge she’d face daily.

She didn’t refuse Ji Qinghe’s good intentions, tactfully grasping the olive branch he offered: “I picked the most reliable and steady crew member to guard the clocks. He’s worked with me for years—trustworthy with a strong sense of responsibility. With your guidance added, it’ll be even more secure.”

He responded with a nasal sound, then asked: “Seeing as I still have some use value, can you stop being angry?”

This topic change was abrupt. Shen Qianzhan was momentarily stunned before realizing what he meant.

He was better off not mentioning it—once he did, her face instantly cycled through all the colors of the rainbow. She looked down silently, this time simply sitting cross-legged in her seat, back against the backrest, vigorously scrolling through her phone.

On screen was WeChat Moments refreshed to show no new messages. She stared intently, re-reading content she’d already seen once, commenting on each post.

Far away in Wuxi, Su Zan had just gotten his production crew meal and broken apart his chopsticks, about to eat while browsing Moments. With a finger swipe, he suddenly discovered he had dozens of Moments comments.

With extremely rich psychological activity, he joyfully clicked to look—

Awesome Sister Qian: Superficial.

Awesome Sister Qian: Vulgar.

Awesome Sister Qian: Simple-minded.

Awesome Sister Qian: Low character.

Awesome Sister Qian: Keep dreaming.

Awesome Sister Qian: Idiot.

Awesome Sister Qian: …

…

Su Zan: ???

Are you sick or what!

Returning to the city center took another half hour.

As the car passed the Drum Tower, Shen Qianzhan lowered half the window to watch the bustling crowds in the distant square.

As one of Xi’an’s iconic buildings, the Drum Tower was always a landmark gathering spot for tourists at night. Besides the Drum Tower, Muslim Street, separated by only one street, was also lively and brightly lit.

Seeing her interest, Ji Qinghe deliberately slowed down, giving her enough time to consider.

Within three seconds, Shen Qianzhan turned around, eyes bright, asking: “Do you want some yogurt?”

Ji Qinghe parked the car, and he and Shen Qianzhan walked toward Muslim Street one after the other, following the crowd.

As the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, Xi’an had deep historical foundations, attracting endless streams of tourists annually. The Drum Tower and Muslim Street area, as one of Xi’an’s famous tourist attractions, was constantly crowded year-round. Except for the period between deep night and dawn, it was never seen deserted.

Shen Qianzhan had been to Xi’an several times before. For transportation convenience, she always stayed at hotels near the Drum Tower, making her familiar with all the delicacies in this area.

Yogurt, as one of the specialty delicacies found in tourist areas everywhere, varied greatly in quality and grade.

She expertly led Ji Qinghe toward a yogurt shop deep in Muslim Street.

As the weather grew warmer, shops on both sides had begun displaying various cold drinks. Common iced beverages like sour plum soup and watermelon juice were everywhere.

Seeing her walk faster and faster, like a fish heading from river to sea, ready to disappear into the crowd with a few tail flicks, Ji Qinghe used his height advantage to wrap his arm around her shoulder, half-protecting her in his embrace: “Either hold hands or let me hold you. If you leave my side by even half a step, we won’t be drinking yogurt tonight—we’ll go home and I’ll give you something else to drink.”

Shen Qianzhan felt her forehead heat up, her thoughts turning dirty as she first thought of some unspeakable liquid product.

She properly reflected on her pure maiden feelings that had gradually died with increasing age and experience. Then she gave him a reproachful look and honestly put her hand out for him to hold: “I saw the yogurt shop was right ahead.” She paused, then added: “I’m a grown person—I won’t get lost.”

Ji Qinghe didn’t respond.

His features were lit like warm spring sunshine by the display window lights behind him, yet the depths of his eyes seemed to have tidal ebbs and flows, mysteriously drawing Shen Qianzhan to meet his gaze.

Ji Qinghe usually maintained elegant nobility, an air of refined detachment untouched by worldly dust. In a suit, he was both a refined scoundrel and a well-dressed beast. But without the suit, he seemed to have shed worldly concerns and dust, his features rarely combining youthful spirited elegance with mature masculine composure.

At this moment, staring at her with eyes carrying some prohibition, she immediately couldn’t help but submit to him in surrender.

She felt that sooner or later, she would drown in this man’s gaze.

The yogurt shop was a tiny space of just a few square meters, squeezed between noisy mutton soup and meat sandwich shops, appearing humbly vulnerable.

The small shop only contained one transparent glass refrigerated display case for products. It seemed unable to accommodate anything else. Even the shop owner sat in the narrow aisle, fanning himself while listening to traditional opera.

Shen Qianzhan ordered two portions of yogurt. While the shop owner was packaging them, she pointed at the lamb skewers next door to Ji Qinghe, saying nothing but her eyes clearly reading “I want it all.”

Ji Qinghe chuckled softly, saying nothing, but his actions were completely natural and smooth as he went next door to queue for grilled lamb skewers.

The shop owner witnessed this young couple’s silent interaction and passed over the yogurt with a smile. Seeing her open one to eat, he considerately offered his chair for her to sit and eat while waiting.

Shen Qianzhan smiled and thanked him but didn’t actually sit. She stood under a street lamp, choosing a prime location, taking one spoonful of yogurt while glancing at Ji Qinghe, two spoonfuls while looking at him twice.

By the time one cup of yogurt was nearly finished, the long queue finally reached Ji Qinghe.

Shen Qianzhan and Ji Qinghe were several meters apart. Besides a back view gradually blocked by the crowd, she couldn’t hear what Ji Qinghe was saying.

She carelessly stirred her small spoon, bringing yogurt to her lips. Counting from one to ten, then ten to one, repeating three times, he finally turned around and strode toward her.

“Wait long?” Ji Qinghe looked her over, his fingertip wiping the yogurt from her lips, leading her toward the street lamp’s shelter.

Customer flow surged around her as tourists passed by in waves, yet she stood at the intersection like she couldn’t see them, resembling a vivid human standee.

“No.” Shen Qianzhan shook her head, accepting the lamb skewers he handed over and asking: “Mr. Ji, are you comfortable in this environment?”

Ji Qinghe didn’t even consider it, asking back: “How is this different from a mall? Same people coming and going—why wouldn’t I be comfortable?”

He sensed something was off with Shen Qianzhan’s state. Gripping her chin, he lifted her face and studied it carefully: “Tired from waiting, or still angry about this afternoon?”

He released his hand, imperceptibly blocking prying gazes from all directions, hiding her in the shadow cast by his form: “Ji Lin and I went to get the Lego, and right after we left, Auntie delivered it to Ji Lin’s activity room. When I came back and heard what you said…” He paused, his voice slightly lowered: “I couldn’t bear to interrupt.”

“I’ve never heard you say these things to me.”

He didn’t want to resolve private matters in this noisy, crowded environment. Seeing sauce from the lamb skewers dripping down the bamboo stick into her palm, Ji Qinghe frowned slightly, taking tissue to clean her palm completely.

Looking up to find Shen Qianzhan staring at him in a daze, he flicked her forehead with his finger: “Let’s go home, hmm?”

“Ji Qinghe.” She lightly rubbed the spot on her forehead he’d flicked with her clean hand, then held his hand in return.

Shen Qianzhan’s fingers were chilled by the frozen yogurt container. When she took his hand, her fingertips trembled slightly, somewhat unnaturally: “We’ve slept together several times, yet holding hands makes me feel pure.” After this self-mockery, she lifted her chin slightly, pointing toward the yogurt shop: “I came to Xi’an twice last year, staying near the Drum Tower both times.”

“Every evening I’d come here to buy yogurt, watching the long queue next door buying limited lamb skewers.”

“In my thirty years of life, I’ve only wanted to be in love twice. Once was here, wanting a boyfriend to queue for grilled meat skewers for me. The second time is also here, right now.”

“Immediately.”