Twenty-Eighth Blood Orange Slice

In the restroom, Liao Xue stood before the huge mirror. Her round, obedient face showed a hint of fatigue in her eyes. She reached for the faucet switch but found nothing, then looked down to see a red notice reading "Sensor Water".

Cold water splashed against her face, and Liao Xue closed her eyes.

She never enjoyed social functions, even when she was with Shen Qiancheng.

But she was somewhat aware of what Shen Qiancheng was doing. This Qiao Manbo would become a powerful ally in Shen Qiancheng's career.

So Liao Xue, as Shen Qiancheng's personal assistant, had to put on a smiling face and make Qiao Manbo happy.

Liao Xue dried her cheeks and returned to the private room.

Qiao Manbo was smiling behind her hand, seemingly delighted by Shen Qiancheng's words.

Liao Xue met Qiao Manbo's gaze, gave a polite, slightly nervous smile, and sat down.

Then it was time for Shen Qiancheng and Qiao Manbo to discuss business. Liao Xue couldn't keep up with a single word, silently poking at the few leaves on her plate, having no appetite at all.

Liao Xue was lost in thought, wondering if she had prepared tonight's big meal to eat when she got back.

Just as she was daydreaming, Shen Qiancheng poked her.

Liao Xue's brows furrowed slightly, and she let out a soft "Hmm."

Qiao Manbo held up her phone toward Liao Xue and said, "Xiaoxue, how about we add each other on WeChat?"

Liao Xue instinctively glanced at Shen Qiancheng, who glanced sideways, her eyes saying it was okay.

"Okay."

Liao Xue pulled up her QR code for adding friends on her phone and held it out. Shen Qiancheng reached over, blocked it, took Liao Xue's phone, switched to the scan interface, and said, "Aunt Qiao, Liao Xue will add you."

Liao Xue, though puzzled, followed along: "Aunt Qiao, please approve."

Qiao Manbo said, "Little Xue really catches my eye. Let's get together more when we have the chance."

Not knowing how to handle such situations, Liao Xue just smiled along. Shen Qiancheng joked, "Aunt Qiao, you haven't even done what you promised me, and you're already trying to poach my people?"

That naturally drew a smile from Qiao Manbo.

After bidding farewell, Shen Qiancheng and Liao Xue saw Qiao Manbo off, then took the elevator down.

Liao Xue felt a huge relief, relaxing her body and nerves that had been on high alert all evening in the elevator.

Liao Xue didn't know who this very strange Aunt Qiao Manbo was, but from Shen Qiancheng's attitude toward her, she could guess that this Aunt Qiao surely had deep and powerful connections.

Someone who could make Shen Qiancheng remain calm and even slightly ingratiating was certainly no ordinary person.

If Shen Qiancheng needed Qiao Manbo's support, then she, Liao Xue, needed to please her too.

As soon as they left the elevator, someone approached respectfully and said, "Miss Shen, your car is waiting outside."

Shen Qiancheng took the car keys and instinctively tossed them to her side, then suddenly remembered that the little ancestor beside her didn't even have a driver's license.

A cool breeze blew. Liao Xue tightened her windbreaker, and the phone in her pocket vibrated.

It was a message from Qiao Manbo.

In the chat window.

After the automatic greeting, Liao Xue had sent a puppy sticker.

Five minutes later, Qiao Manbo sent a message.

[Little Xue, there's a cold snap tomorrow. Remember to dress warmly.]

It felt strange. This was the second person in the world, besides Shen Qiancheng, who told her to put on more clothes.

Even if she were an elder, shouldn't she be this affectionate?

Shen Qiancheng said, "So phones are really this fun."

"Ah?" Liao Xue snapped back to reality, her finger resting on a cute sticker...

Liao Xue said, "Not really."

[And Chengcheng.]

[Got it.JPG]

Shen Qiancheng sat in the car, glaring with sharp eyes and said sternly, "If you keep playing with your phone, don't get in the car. You can take a taxi home by yourself!"

Liao Xue looked up abruptly, circled around the front of the car to the passenger side, got in, fastened her seatbelt, and obediently waited for Shen Qiancheng to start driving.

Shen Qiancheng took a deep breath. Liao Xue's round eyes held a barely perceptible pleading, and all her anger and resentment vanished without a trace.

The car started, and at the first intersection, they hit a red light.

Shen Qiancheng brought up Qiao Manbo: "Aunt Qiao was a close friend of my mother's in her youth. Their relationship would be called 'besties' in modern terms. I'm not very familiar with her either. Do you understand?"

Not understanding why Shen Qiancheng asked this, Liao Xue asked foolishly, "Understand what?"

Liao Xue's eyes were wide open. One glance at her and you'd know she'd be swindled eight hundred times without even checking her fortune. Shen Qiancheng sighed and said, "From having dinner with Aunt Qiao, how do you think she is as a person?"

Recalling Qiao Manbo at the Western restaurant—clad in retro Roman style, a square scarf wrapped around her curly hair—she looked less like an entrepreneur and more like a Western European artist.

Liao Xue pondered her wording, trying not to mention the unease Qiao Manbo gave her: "Aunt Qiao is very gentle and kind. She's very amiable and down-to-earth."

Shen Qiancheng knew that would be the answer, sighed inwardly: That's because you haven't seen her fierce tactics when she fought in Switzerland. Even I had to use the title of Shen Ya's daughter to get a meeting with her.

Seeing that Shen Qiancheng's expression still wasn't good, Liao Xue almost flatteringly added a few words: "Very familiar, very close."

Shen Qiancheng clenched her jaw. Liao Xue was naive to the point of being foolish.

The two people closest to Qiao Manbo—her best friend Shen Ya and her Swiss husband—were both dead.

Shen Ya's death had nothing to do with her, but her husband's death definitely had something to do with her.

The red light countdown hit one, and the car started again.

Shen Qiancheng said domineeringly, "Don't get familiar. Don't get close."

What did that mean? Liao Xue obediently replied, "Okay."

The car was silent. Just as Liao Xue was dozing off, she felt the car slow down, thinking they were home. She unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped onto the asphalt, and realized they weren't near the neighborhood at all—instead, they were surrounded by a street of food stalls. The vendors' cries and the smell of food enveloped Liao Xue.

Liao Xue looked at Shen Qiancheng in surprise. The latter was looking for a parking spot and, failing to find one, simply pulled over to the side where it wouldn't block traffic.

Amidst the earthly hustle and bustle, Shen Qiancheng's shiny, luxurious car seemed like a fairy fallen to the mortal world, out of place—just like its owner, Shen Qiancheng.

Liao Xue took another look at the surrounding food stalls. There was Changsha stinky tofu, Northeast grilled cold noodles, Tianjin jianbing... all foods Shen Qiancheng would never deign to eat.

Liao Xue trotted a few steps closer while Shen Qiancheng was still unbuckling her seatbelt, reached out, and pressed her hand to Shen Qiancheng's forehead. It was warm, but not burning.

Shen Qiancheng paused, her eyes wide, and said, "What are you doing?"

Liao Xue asked, puzzled, "You should go home and take your medicine."

Shen Qiancheng unbuckled her seatbelt, extended her long legs, and got out of the car. She hadn't had any episodes recently, so why take medicine? "I don't want to sleep yet, and I've been sleeping well these past few days. Just now... I didn't eat much. Let's grab a bite to fill our stomachs, then we can take a walk and feed the little cats."

A hotpot restaurant was at the entrance of the food street. On its red sign, a string of lights glowed, with the words "Rabbit Hotpot" shining brightly in various colors.

Shen Qiancheng curled her lips, walked to the front counter, and requested a private room. Liao Xue leaned in from behind but kept a certain distance from Shen Qiancheng.

A dark cloud of low pressure hovered behind her. The receptionist's hand paused over the order pad, and she pointed at Liao Xue, asking, "Is your friend okay?"

Shen Qiancheng turned around, glanced, assumed Liao Xue was still upset about the "stay away from Qiao Manbo" thing, tapped the counter, and said, "She's fine. She's just like that; she'll be okay in a bit."

Shen Qiancheng thought smugly: There's nothing that a rabbit hotpot can't solve. If one doesn't work, then two.

The hotpot restaurant seemed to use semi-prepared ingredients, and the dishes arrived quickly.

The electric pot in the center bubbled, with a bright red broth, tender pink rabbit meat, and a mishmash of spices tumbling inside. Around it, various hotpot ingredients were laid out in disposable plastic plates, including common items like enoki mushrooms, baby bok choy, and shiitake mushrooms.

After that argument with Liao Xue that day, Shen Qiancheng had planned to have rabbit hotpot with her and had specifically asked Sui Shi to search and book this place.

Originally, she planned to bring Liao Xue today at noon, but Qiao Manbo suddenly agreed to have lunch together today.

Western food rarely fills you up, so after finishing with Qiao Manbo, she brought Liao Xue here to eat.

Shen Qiancheng had expected to see joy, happiness, or being moved on Liao Xue's face—but there was nothing.

Only a pale, clean face stretched long like a donkey's.

Liao Xue didn't want to eat, her face drooping as she barely took a few bites.

Shen Qiancheng, for once, lowered herself to console: "It's really different from the rabbits at the supermarket."

Whatever Shen Qiancheng put into Liao Xue's bowl, Liao Xue ate.

The rabbit meat's flavor was masked by spices. After one bite, Shen Qiancheng had no desire for a second.

Liao Xue also hardly ate, pouting the whole time. Shen Qiancheng lost her appetite too, paid without packing leftovers, and left.

Shen Qiancheng increasingly felt she hadn't just hired an assistant—she'd brought home an ancestor to serve!

The light at the doorstep was on. Shen Qiancheng stood with her hands in her pockets, waiting for Liao Xue to unlock the door.

Liao Xue opened the door, carried in the two large plastic bags from the doorway.

If Shen Qiancheng saw right, one contained a rabbit.

Then she remembered Liao Xue said she'd cook something nice tonight. One rabbit plus a bag of hotpot sides...

Of all things, it was also rabbit hotpot.

Shen Qiancheng entered without even taking off her shoes, quickly explaining, "I didn't look at your phone orders."

The living room light was off, the room pitch black. Shen Qiancheng could only see Liao Xue holding one bag in each hand by the light from outside.

She felt guilty...

Liao Xue set the bags down, turned on the switch at the entrance, and asked, puzzled, "Tired?"

"Not really," Shen Qiancheng said.

"We're having rabbit hotpot tonight. If you're not tired, come handle the ingredients."

"Liao Xue, I'm your boss," Shen Qiancheng said. It was a total inversion of order!

"Then fire me," Liao Xue said fearlessly as she turned on all the lights inside.

Shen Qiancheng really couldn't bear to fire Liao Xue.

What could she do? Shen Qiancheng shrugged. She was in the wrong, so she had to endure it.

The two cleaned the ingredients, with Liao Xue guiding the clumsy Shen Qiancheng. At home, they had a second rabbit hotpot.

Shen Qiancheng took one bite. It was indeed better than the restaurant's.

Liao Xue had the skills, so why would she go to a restaurant to eat that chemical-laden stuff?

Under the excellent taste, Shen Qiancheng ate happily.

But disaster struck during Shen Qiancheng's morning wash.

"Ah!" Shen Qiancheng screamed. "Why do I have a pimple?!"

Liao Xue, who was making breakfast, poked her head in with a giant question mark above her.

Shen Qiancheng immediately accused, "You ate two meals of it too. Why don't you have a pimple? Arghhh!"

Liao Xue scratched her head and, "without shame," said, "Me? I never get pimples."

Shen Qiancheng fumed, "I'm taking leave to go to the beauty salon! You're coming too—I'll have them give you some pimples."

Liao Xue scratched the back of her head. She had never seen Shen Qiancheng this childish.

As a top-tier VIP at the beauty salon, Shen Qiancheng didn't need an appointment. She went straight to the dean and booked her services.

The dean, facing their biggest cash cow, greeted her with a fawning smile. Upon seeing Liao Xue, she asked, "Is this Miss Shen's new assistant? She looks so young!"

Shen Qiancheng, who was being consulted, clicked her tongue, pulled Liao Xue over, and said, "Give her the full package just like mine."

Liao Xue was about to refuse since she didn't need it, but a commanding glare from Shen Qiancheng shut her up.

The result of rushing things was that both Shen Qiancheng and Liao Xue ended up with faces as red as monkey butts, laughing at each other in the morning.

With faces like that, they couldn't go to the company. Shen Qiancheng simply took leave, and the two stayed home applying ice packs and soothing masks, though it made Sui Shi miserable, having to deliver daily necessities, fruits, and vegetables at set times.

Sui Shi complained, "Can't you just order ready-made meals?"

Shen Qiancheng retorted, "I have a personal assistant!"

Sui Shi grumbled internally: So you know you have a personal assistant? Then why am I, your work assistant, the one delivering groceries every day?!

Do you have any idea how wild the office rumors have gotten since you took leave?

Some say you're preparing for marriage, some say you're preparing for pregnancy, and some even spread lies that the Su family won't let you work...

Sui Shi didn't dare tell Shen Qiancheng any of this. She just hoped those gossips in the office wouldn't dare bring it up in front of Shen Qiancheng.

The last person who spouted nonsense about Liao Xue in front of Shen Qiancheng was still being rotated to different posts...

Liao Xue's skin was tough, and after three days, the redness mostly faded. Shen Qiancheng then stopped having Sui Shi deliver and made Liao Xue wear a mask and sneak around like a thief to buy supplies.

Liao Xue protested, "Why don't you have your assistant go buy things?"

"Aren't you my assistant?" Shen Qiancheng said cheerfully, lounging on the sofa reading financial reports on her iPad without looking up.

Liao Xue, putting on her shoes at the entrance, said, "Your other assistant."

Without a second thought, Shen Qiancheng's flattery came out in a stream: "How could she understand me? Buy whatever you want to eat."

Satisfied with that answer, Liao Xue curled her lips, picked up her woven shopping bag, and headed downstairs.

There was a huge cherry blossom tree on the first floor. With a hint of spring warmth, many buds had formed. Shen Qiancheng had told Liao Xue that once they blossomed, she could make cherry blossom wine.

Now the cherry blossom tree was covered in blossoms from top to bottom, brilliant like pink clouds. Under the tree stood a man who had been waiting for a long time.

Under his dark gray overcoat with a notched lapel, he still wore a floral shirt. His slicked-back hair was greasy, and he had a slovenly air. He was recognizable from afar even without seeing his face.

Liao Xue's heart stopped for a moment. Her instinct was to turn and run.

Forget the cucumber and tomatoes. That time at the club when he forced her to drink—Liao Xue forced herself not to think about it, but fear always returns with the person who caused it.

"Liao Xue, why run when you see me? It's not like I'm going to eat you."