Chapter Thirty-Seven: Let's Be Together

I pressed the answer button and smiled into the phone, “What’s wrong? Missing me already?”

There was a brief silence on the other end before Qiu Jieqin’s familiar voice came through, trembling with tears and heightened emotion. “Tang Qian! You’re a liar! I hate you!”

I was stunned, unable to grasp how I’d suddenly become a liar. And her voice seemed doubled—once through the phone, and again behind me.

Instinctively, I turned around and saw Qiu Jieqin standing forlornly about ten steps ahead, phone in hand, tears streaming down her face.

Surprised, I called out, “Why are you here? What happened? Why are you crying?” I hurried over, reaching out to wipe away her tears.

She stepped back, avoiding my hand, her voice bitter. “I don’t need your fake concern. I saw everything. You lied to me so cruelly. Last night I thought I was the happiest woman in the world, but today I realize it was all a lie. Why? Why did you deceive me? You have a girlfriend—why did you say you didn’t? Why did you promise me a chance? Tang Qian, I love you so much, yet you keep hurting me. Why?”

She finished, covering her face with her hands and crouching down, sobbing uncontrollably.

I understood then—she must have seen Hua Jingjing. But when I got out of the car, I hadn’t done anything with Hua Jingjing that could be misconstrued. Why was Qiu Jieqin so distraught? Unless…

I crouched beside her and asked, “You saw us on the street and followed us in a cab?”

Wiping her tears, she choked out, “You have nothing to say, right? I saw it with my own eyes… You liar, I’m so unlucky…” She started crying again. I sighed inwardly, realizing this wasn’t something that could be explained in a few words. Anyone who saw me and Hua Jingjing together would think we were a couple. No wonder Qiu Jieqin was heartbroken and called me a liar.

I looked at her earnestly and spoke with all the sincerity I could muster, “Qiu Jieqin, I have never lied to you. In this world, not everything is as it seems—sometimes what you see isn’t the truth. If you love me, then trust me.”

She retorted angrily, “So according to you, what I saw on the street was just an illusion?”

I sighed, “Look, crying here won’t solve anything. Give me half an hour. Let’s go somewhere we can talk—I promise you’ll get a satisfactory explanation. Is that alright?”

Truthfully, Qiu Jieqin didn’t want this to be true either. Hearing that I had an explanation, she stood up immediately. “If you can explain it, I’ll listen for half an hour, or even a hundred hours, a thousand hours. I just don’t think you’ll make sense—your story will fall apart and you’ll slip up. That’ll be a joke.”

I smiled, “No, my explanation might be hard to believe, but it’s the truth. Come on, let me take you somewhere. Dry your tears, and don’t cry anymore—otherwise people will think I’m bullying you.”

Qiu Jieqin wiped her tears forcefully, stifling her sobs, her tone full of resentment. “You are bullying me! Ever since high school, when haven’t you bullied me?”

I could only smile wryly and reached out to take her hand. She tried to pull away, but I persisted until she let me hold her, eventually giving up and staying still.

Hand in hand, I led her to a small teahouse near the residential area. We found a quiet private room, ordered some snacks and a pot of Tieguanyin tea, and told the waitress not to come in unless called.

Once we were alone, I began washing the teacups with the first brew, and started my explanation. “The woman you saw is named Hua Jingjing. She’s not my girlfriend—she’s the deputy general manager at my company, my boss and supervisor.”

No sooner had I spoken than Qiu Jieqin interjected, “Hmph! Now I remember. A few days ago you wouldn’t call me, and when you did, you were hurried and wouldn’t talk much. You said you were with your boss—was it her?”

I nodded, preparing the second brew of tea. “Yes, I was with her, but it’s not what you think. Don’t rush, have some tea and let me explain—this is a long story.”

I filled her cup and handed it to her. She snorted, took the cup but didn’t drink, placing it down. “Go ahead and spin your tale. Let’s see how much of it sounds real.”

I sighed, “You still don’t trust me?”

She replied, “Doesn’t matter if I believe you or not—just explain, I’ll judge for myself.”

I poured myself a cup, cooled it, and drank it down, then began, “I only met Manager Hua this week. That morning I went to work—actually, I was submitting my resignation. About that resignation, here’s what happened…”

I told her the whole story—from why I resigned, how I clashed with Hua Jingjing on the way to submit my letter, discovering she was the new deputy general manager, our verbal sparring, how she tried to drug me, how I turned the tables, and finally how she threatened me, using Cheng Jia as leverage, forcing me to pretend to be her boyfriend for a birthday party. “She said she wanted me to get used to being her boyfriend, so she insisted on holding my arm. Because she had leverage over me, I couldn’t refuse and had to play along. Unfortunately, you saw us and misunderstood. That’s everything. I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but it’s all true.”

My explanation took more than half an hour. Qiu Jieqin listened quietly, and when I finished, she said, “Impossible! I saw that woman leaning on you, looking completely happy and content. You could tell she was genuinely joyful—there was nothing forced about it.”

I shook my head, puzzled. “I know! I don’t understand it either. How could she be so natural? I was stiff and uncomfortable the whole time—nothing about it felt right, even walking felt awkward.”

Qiu Jieqin gazed into my eyes, and after a moment said, “If you’re telling the truth, then I’ll tell you why. Your boss—the rich woman with a Ferrari—likes you. That’s why she made you pretend to be her boyfriend and why she held your arm, smiling so happily. Congratulations! Looks like you’ve been quite lucky lately. And what about Cheng Jia? Why would she help you? Isn’t it because she likes you too?”

I scoffed, “Who? Hua Jingjing likes me? That’s a joke. I’ve messed with her so much, she’s said herself she hates me to the bone, wants to skin me alive. You really think she likes me? Incredible! I’m telling you, she’s just furious and wants to torment me any way she can. You’re not me, so you don’t feel it.”

Qiu Jieqin said, “I’m not you, so I can see things more clearly. Intense love can turn to hate, and deep hatred can breed love. I think your boss has gone from hate to love—that’s why she treats you that way.”

I couldn’t believe it—Hua Jingjing, interested in me? That was pure fantasy. But seeing Qiu Jieqin accept my explanation, I joked, “So, do you hate me more, or love me more?”

She tried to keep a straight face, but couldn’t help bursting into laughter, scolding, “You’re so annoying! I’m trying to be serious, and you’re joking around!”

I kept laughing, “Who’s joking? I’m serious, too. So, do you love me more, or hate me more?”

Qiu Jieqin’s eyes sparkled, shy and joyful. “You’re asking what you already know. Don’t change the subject! Tell me, what do you think of your boss? Do you like her? And Cheng Jia—hmph! You were willing to be threatened for her. You must like her. Why are you suddenly so popular? I remember you used to have no luck with women. No, you have to explain this to me!”

Looking at this woman who loved me so deeply, my heart was filled with tenderness. I’d wronged her so much in the past, never truly cherished her.

But how could anyone remain unmoved by a woman who’s loved you for eight years?

Lately I’d been thinking about this. I was nearly thirty, at the age to find a girlfriend. Qiu Jieqin was gradually occupying a more important place in my heart; she moved me more and more, I was growing fonder of her—subconsciously, I already considered her my girlfriend. That’s why I was affectionate and kissed her. In the past, I never would have!

Yet deep inside, there was a fleeting fantasy—a longing for an unattainable woman. Though I’d buried it deep within my soul, the desire for emotional comfort was intense, uncontrollable. My rationality and feelings warred, and I felt a possessive longing for Qiu Jieqin.

Suddenly, I reached out and gently stroked her cheek, speaking with rare tenderness, “Jieqin, would you be my girlfriend? Let’s be together. Will you?”