Chapter 186: Chapter 185: Jealous Zhao Meimei (Part 3)
Miss Qian doesn’t know who Zhao Meimei is, but others do. Everyone enthusiastically invited Zhao Meimei to come over and try some. Zhao Meimei shook her head and turned around, intending to return to the office on the second floor. Conversations could be heard from upstairs, and soon Shi Yang accompanied the clients down from upstairs.
Hearing the commotion, everyone quickly returned to their positions and swiftly cleaned up the ’battlefield’.
Shi Yang was at the back, and as he came down, he caught sight of Qian Jinqiu sitting on a chair and Zhao Meimei standing beside her. His heart skipped a beat, and he inexplicably felt guilty, sneaking a glance at Zhao Meimei.
Qian Jinqiu was overjoyed to see Shi Yang and greeted him with a smile: "Shi Yang!"
Shi Yang gave her a glance, without replying, and only after seeing the guests off did he frown and ask, "Why are you here?"
Qian Jinqiu fluttered her eyelashes and waved the takeaway bag in her hand at him, smiling sweetly as she said, "I came to bring you some warmth."
Shi Yang remained expressionless, his eyes not meeting hers: "Let’s talk upstairs."
Hearing this, Zhao Meimei pursed her lips, her face darkened, and her gaze, as cold as a shooting laser, fell on Qian Jinqiu’s face, wishing she could immediately press down that raised corner of her mouth, turning her smile into a sob.
Shi Yang took Qian Jinqiu into the reception room, closed the door to talk, while Zhao Meimei leaned outside to eavesdrop through the door crack.
Shi Yang hadn’t said a word since entering the room; it was Qian Jinqiu who explained gently: "I just worry that you’ll be so busy working that you might forget to have lunch."
Shi Yang gently refused: "You really don’t need to do this."
Qian Jinqiu was earnest: "I’m doing all this willingly for you; you don’t have to feel any burden."
Shi Yang said, "I thought I made things very clear before."
Qian Jinqiu pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and then spoke: "Shi Yang, I like you. I am very clear about my feelings. I’ve never liked someone as much as I like you now, since I was a child. Why can’t you just give me a chance?"
Shi Yang sighed. In all honesty, Qian Jinqiu is indeed a fine girl—beautiful, smart, and understanding. To be honest, Shi Yang has quite a good impression of her, although that impression is somewhat complex.
On one hand, he appreciates Qian Jinqiu as a person, but on the other hand, it’s because of Qian Jinqiu’s father, Director Qian.
Shi Yang wants to run a Naughty Castle in the mall, and in the future, he’ll inevitably have interactions with the Fire Department. Having the connection with Director Qian would indeed save a lot of trouble.
Shi Yang had noticed Qian Jinqiu’s feelings for him from the first meeting. Right from the beginning, he had adopted a gentle rejection stance, and later, a stance of avoidance, hoping she would take the hint and back off. He didn’t want to truly break things off harshly.
Shi Yang carefully chose reasons that wouldn’t hurt too much and said, "We’re really not suitable."
Qian Jinqiu seemed a bit panicked: "Why aren’t we suitable! Uncle Shi and Auntie both like me; otherwise, they wouldn’t have arranged that matchmaking event before, right? We’ve never really been together; why do you think I’m not suitable?"
Outside the door, Zhao Meimei suddenly widened her eyes, momentarily confused. A matchmaking, Shi Yang went through a matchmaking? And Shi Yang’s parents arranged it, and they’ve taken a liking to Miss Qian?
Shi Yang reminded, "After that dinner, I never contacted you again. I thought you’d understand my stance."
Qian Jinqiu, having her infatuation poured cold water on once and again by Shi Yang, was feeling a bit embarrassed, and couldn’t help but express a bit of grievance: "Shi Yang, why won’t you accept me? Is it because I’m not pretty enough? My personality’s bad? Do you think I’m not outstanding enough? I graduated from a prestigious university with a master’s degree; I passed the civil service exam with my true skills to enter the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. What about me isn’t good enough for you? I..."
Shi Yang stopped her with a gesture: "None of those reasons. Just as you like someone without reason, I don’t like you the same way—without reason. Even if you insist on making me list reasons, I can’t come up with any."
Qian Jinqiu’s heartfelt confession was met with Shi Yang’s ruthless denial, leaving her unable to control her emotions, somewhat flustered and exasperated, blurting out: "I’ve said I like you, I’m willing to treat you well, I’m willing to give my all for you, all willingly. Why must you insist on rejecting me? You’re opening a Naughty Castle in the market; with my father’s connection, you won’t have to worry about any troubles in the future. Isn’t it better for business to go smoothly?"
As soon as these words came out, Shi Yang’s expression instantly cooled, staring straight at her.
Saying such things while talking is most taboo when losing rationality, and at this moment, what Qian Jinqiu said were words men dislike most, the ones they can’t listen to.
Shi Yang hadn’t intended to make things absolute, but being pushed, he said: "If you insist on saying that, then there’s nothing more to talk about between us. I’ll make it clear to you that I definitely won’t accept you."
Qian Jinqiu was tongue-tied: "I, I..."
After a moment of silence, Qian Jinqiu, almost in frustration, said, "Shi Yang, that’s really not what I meant. I can apologize for what I said earlier, but I truly like you."
Shi Yang, annoyed by the constant persistence, started feeling irritated and upset. Staring at Qian Jinqiu, who stuck to him like glue, he couldn’t help but feel stifled. He couldn’t openly explain the reason, not needing to open the door to guess that Zhao Meimei must be outside eavesdropping.
Earlier, she was already sulking. Now she’d probably be furious; what a basket of frustrating matters!
Shi Yang came straight out with it: "I really don’t like you. We can be ordinary friends, but as for being lovers, no chance."
Qian Jinqiu’s eyes became a little red: "Then who do you like! Do you already have someone you like?"
Shi Yang frowned: "That’s my private affair. Whether I do or not, I don’t need to explain to you."
Qian Jinqiu was stunned, looking forlorn: "Is there really no chance for us?"
Shi Yang rejected it flatly: "No chance."
Zhao Meimei moved her face away from the door crack a little, feeling utterly relieved and refreshed, her inner grievances and resentment swept away entirely by Shi Yang’s straightforward refusal.
Zhao Meimei assumed a ready-to-hide posture, thinking that the end of the topic should have been reached by now.
But after waiting a while, suddenly there was no more sound inside.
Zhao Meimei furrowed her forehead in thought, wondering if crying was happening inside now?
While lost in thought, she suddenly heard Qian Jinqiu ask, "Shi Yang, if you want to reject me, then completely dispel this notion from my mind. I just want to ask you one thing: do you really have someone you like?"
Zhao Meimei’s body tensed abruptly, her heart gripping tightly, feeling inexplicably nervous. She strained to listen clearly to Shi Yang’s answer, and because of the excitement and anticipation, she even unconsciously held her breath.