ushernet Chapter 149: Can you drink it cold?
Chapter 149: Can you drink it cold?
Chapter 149: Can you drink it cold?
Neither of them were saints. Both had their own bottom lines, and those boundaries were what mattered most. Jiang He wouldn’t rely on her strength to force or bully him, even when angry, and Xu Qing, while taking the occasional liberty, wouldn’t go so far as to deceive her into anything improper.
This mutual understanding had grown so naturally that Jiang He wasn’t even consciously aware of it—she simply followed her instincts to maintain the status quo. It was one of the things Xu Qing liked about her. He despised rule-breakers. Exploiting loopholes in rules was fine, but flipping the board was not. If Jiang He had been unruly, or flatly rejected his kindness without reason or ever softening her stance, he might not have liked her this much.
“Later, I finally learned how to love~” Xu Qing hummed a tune as he held Jiang He’s hand, the two making their way to their meeting spot.
Qin Hao was already there, sitting alone. He waved them over as they approached. “Liu Jingfang isn’t here yet. Have some water while you wait.”
“Liu Jingfang? Why not call her Jingjing or Fangfang? So formal,” Xu Qing teased as he pulled Jiang He into a seat, setting up the tableware and pouring two cups of tea.
“Gross...” Qin Hao rubbed his arms exaggeratedly, pretending to shiver. Then, lowering his voice, he muttered, “It’s just a casual meal, trying to see how things go.”
“Oh, I get it.” Xu Qing smirked knowingly.
Qin Hao felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what. He figured he’d see how things developed—time would eventually reveal the truth. It wasn’t excessive caution, just self-awareness. They had agreed to fake a relationship to appease his family and avoid the endless blind dates. Their interactions were sparse, maybe a meal of braised chicken rice or a staged photo with flowers. Meeting once or twice a month didn’t exactly scream romance. How had this turned into something real?
Bringing Xu Qing was partly for introductions but mostly to let him help assess the situation. Xu Qing’s sharp eye for detail far surpassed his own, and Qin Hao knew it. If their roles were reversed, Xu Qing would have immediately figured out Jiang He’s secrets during that KTV encounter, no need for later tests.
“What’s her story?” Qin Hao nodded toward Jiang He as he casually asked.
“The same as I mentioned before,” Xu Qing replied, tilting his head toward Jiang He. “She wandered through Zhejiang, got tricked into working at a sweatshop, and ran when she realized it was shady. Afterward... you worked in a bar, right?” he asked Jiang He.
“Mm, selling drinks at a bar,” she confirmed.
Jiang He’s gaze lingered on the faintly exposed skin at Liu Jingfang’s neckline until Xu Qing pinched her hand under the table, snapping her out of it. She took a sip of tea, finally averting her eyes.
“What’s on your mind?” Xu Qing asked in a low voice.
“Thinking about what you told me.”
“Uh...” Xu Qing had told Jiang He so much over time that he couldn’t guess which part she was mulling over.
Jiang He was piecing together her fabricated backstory. She had wandered in Zhejiang before being duped into Jiang City’s sweatshop—which had since shut down after an incident years ago. After that, she had worked odd jobs at Wang Zijun’s bar, met Xu Qing while still underage, and eventually became friends with him. They started dating, and two years ago, she moved in with him. Although neighbors had only seen her last year, they’d insist she’d been there earlier. No one had evidence to the contrary, especially with Wang Zijun patching the last gaps in her timeline by erasing signs of her sudden appearance.
Her contemplative demeanor made her look dazed to Qin Hao, much like when he first met her—quiet, introverted, and a little slow. He couldn’t imagine that Jiang He was meticulously weaving her false history.
“Drink up,” Qin Hao said, breaking the silence. “Work’s been so hectic that I barely managed to squeeze in this meal.”
After ordering, introductions were exchanged. Xu Qing discreetly observed Liu Jingfang, only to feel Jiang He’s pinch. Turning, he saw her staring at him.
“You promised,” she mouthed softly.
“I...” Xu Qing opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
“Let’s eat,” he finally said.
The arrival of the first dish saved him, and he busied himself pouring juice and inviting everyone to dig in. Yet, he couldn’t shake the sense that something was off with Jiang He. Worrying as he held the cold juice bottle, he asked, “Can you drink cold stuff?”
“...” Jiang He didn’t respond.