Chapter 61: Xiaoya, what time do you close in the winter?

Li Jiyong had not originally considered this question, but now that Qingzhi asked, he seemed to understand a bit.

"Can I give you a hug right now?"

"Of course not! The reason is insufficient!"

Qingzhi refused, but Li Jiyong was not disappointed.

"This book is for you!" He handed *Jane Eyre* to Qingzhi.

"Thank you!" Li Jiyong opened the bookmark. The bookmark had been replaced, bearing only a single sentence: *I advise you to cherish the days of your youth!*

It suited him very well!

"Bye-bye!"

Qingzhi raised her hand to say goodbye to Li Jiyong.

"Goodbye..."

Watching Qingzhi's retreating figure about to vanish into the crowd, Li Jiyong let out a breath and prepared to catch his ride.

Qingzhi turned back, saw that Li Jiyong was still standing in place without moving, smiled, and waved her hand.

Then, she vanished into the sea of people.

There was a lingering melancholy of wishing they had met before she was taken, but she did not regret meeting Su Wanqing first.

Wanqing would be the true love of his life.

Qingzhi was a friend who brought joy to his heart.

He did not know how long such pure friendship with Qingzhi could last; perhaps one day, she would meet another boy who stirred her heart.

If it were someone like Shen Hao who also matched Qingzhi's aesthetic, he would bless them. A person should not be too greedy.

It was already half-past four. Li Jiyong took out his phone and called Su Wanqing's home.

The call was answered quickly, but the person on the other end was not Su Wanqing, but an unfamiliar woman.

"Hello, who is this?" The pronunciation was slightly peculiar, not the Changjiang accent.

"Hello, may I speak to Su Wanqing?" Li Jiyong was startled; who was this?

Judging by the voice, she didn't seem very old, but definitely not seventeen or eighteen, probably around twenty-five or twenty-six.

"Wanqing has gone to school. Who are you?"

"My name is Li Jiyong, her classmate. May I ask who you are?"

"Hello, young Li. I know you. My name is Xu Jing, and I am Su Kui's wife!"

Li Jiyong felt his scalp go slightly numb.

Good grief, it had only been a few months, and Su Kui had already found a stepmother for Wanqing. Couldn't you at least wait until Wanqing finished her exams before bringing her home?

"Oh, hello. I'll call her cell phone instead. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

Li Jiyong didn't want to waste any more breath on this woman.

It was easy to imagine that Su Wanqing's mood right now could not possibly be good.

Li Jiyong immediately dialed Su Wanqing's phone, but it was turned off.

Based on Li Jiyong's understanding, Su Wanqing was likely refusing to say anything right now, bottling everything up inside.

In the past, when she had something weighing on her mind, she would hide in the piano room to play and vent, but now, even her home had been occupied by another woman.

Previously, Li Jiyong didn't hold too many prejudices against Su Kui—perhaps because he himself wasn't all that steadfast when it came to women either.

But now, he genuinely despised Su Kui's character.

He was truly a selfish person; anyone who ran away as a deserter indeed had an untrustworthy character.

Li Jiyong called Di Yutong's home, but no one answered.

After a moment of thought, he sent a message to Di Yutong's pager.

A few minutes later, he received a call from Di Yutong, saying that she and Wanqing were at Yalanju!

Li Jiyong said he wanted to speak with Su Wanqing for a few words, but Su Wanqing didn't want to say a single word right now.

Feeling deeply depressed in the car as it rocked along, it was eight-thirty by the time Li Jiyong arrived at Yalanju!

"Wanqing is in a bad mood. From noon until now, she's only eaten a tiny bit of pastry and drunk two cups of tea. You haven't eaten either, right!"

Jiang Lan asked immediately after Li Jiyong stepped through the door.

"Not yet. I'll go check on Wanqing and have something light prepared!"

"Mhm, go ahead. Yutong is keeping her company!" Li Jiyong entered the room to find Su Wanqing curled up on the sofa, while Di Yutong sat beside her saying something.

"You're back," Di Yutong said.

Li Jiyong walked over, and Di Yutong stood up, "I'll go check if the food is ready!"

Although the three of them were extremely close, remaining here right now might make things slightly awkward for Di Yutong.

Li Jiyong didn't speak. He walked over, sat down beside Su Wanqing, and took her hand. "Don't be afraid, you still have me!"

Su Wanqing's tears fell instantly.

Clinging to Li Jiyong's neck, she sobbed sorrowfully.

Li Jiyong patted her back without trying to stop her, letting her cry to her heart's content.

After crying for five minutes, Su Wanqing finally stopped her tears. Seeing her eyes red and swollen, Li Jiyong felt a deep ache in his heart.

"Wanqing, don't be sad anymore. Sooner or later, he was going to remarry..."

"I know, but how could he do this? Why bring a woman into my home right now to point fingers and order people around!"

How could Li Jiyong respond to such a thing?

From a legal standpoint, that house belonged to Su Kui.

When Lin Xiaoyu and Su Kui divorced, she had long been financially independent, and she had never thought about contesting the property because she knew that no matter what, Su Kui would leave the house to his only daughter.

Even if he remarried, it was impossible for him to return and fight his daughter for the house.

To Su Wanqing, that was not just a house; it was a home—whether filled with pain or sweetness, it was the home that held her memories.

Furthermore, all the sweet memories between her and Li Jiyong were right there!

The mere thought that from now on, that woman would live in her own home filled Su Wanqing with waves of pain and fury!

That house had to remain in Wanqing's hands; it wasn't a question of how much money it was worth.

With Li Jiyong's current capabilities, he could buy ten such houses, but this one was different.

"Wanqing, that is your home, and it's also the place that holds our memories. I promise you, no one will be able to take that house away from you!"

"No, I don't want it. I never want to go back there again. I don't have a home anymore, and I don't want to stay in this city for even a second.

Why are they treating me like this? I thought I had learned to accept it, but why did he have to do this? Why bring a woman like that into my home to point fingers and boss people around..."

"Alright Wanqing, stop getting angry. Eight or nine out of ten things in life don't go as planned; just care about the one or two good things!

We aren't going to abandon our home and flee just because a stray dog ran inside. We'll just chase the dog away!"

Hearing Li Jiyong's vicious metaphor, Su Wanqing's mood improved quite a bit!

"Forget it, I don't want to fight for those things anymore. Consider it saying goodbye to the past.

Now I realize that what he truly cares about is only his own feelings. We were nothing more than embellishments to his life.

When he was in a good mood, he would cherish us carefully; when he was in a bad mood or distracted by other things, we were entirely dispensable.

He truly doesn't deserve Mom. I feel so glad for Mom; Uncle Zhou is a responsible man!"

"Wanqing, have you thought it through? You really don't want it anymore?"

Su Wanqing shook her head. "Let's preserve our final shred of dignity. From today on, he is simply my father.

That woman is pregnant; rumor has it that it's a boy. He always wanted a son, so I suppose it's good that he got his wish."

Li Jiyong understood that it wasn't just the fact that Su Kui had remarried, but also that there was now a son on the way, which made Su Wanqing feel profoundly abandoned.

"Since you're giving up that place, don't dwell on it anymore. When the weekend comes, let's buy a house in Yunzhou. You can decorate it entirely according to your own wishes, and from then on, that will be our home!"

Su Wanqing was momentarily stunned.

Seeing her reaction, Li Jiyong knew she couldn't make up her mind just yet, still clinging to her former home. You couldn't just forget something simply by deciding to.

"Alright, it's settled. I'll have someone help us screen some options first, and this weekend we'll use a day to finalize it. We can move in before the Chinese New Year.

This year's New Year, we'll spend it in our very own new home and ring in the new year together!"

"Thank you. Fortunately, I still have you!"

Su Wanqing said through her tears. At this moment, the only person who could give her a sense of security was Li Jiyong!

Li Jiyong kissed the corner of Su Wanqing's eye. "Alright, don't shed any more tears. I'd rather bleed myself than watch you cry!"

"Pfft, pfft, pfft. Nonsense, hurry up..."

"Hahaha, pfft, pfft, pfft... Alright, keep me company and eat something. Uncle Long dragged me along to drink all afternoon, and now I'm practically starved flat!"

"Mhm..."

Su Wanqing nodded!

As Li Jiyong walked out, Jiang Lan happened to be walking over carrying a food box.

"Thank you!"

"Alright, my room is yours tonight. Watch out for my bed..."

Li Jiyong couldn't help recalling the image of Jiang Lan dancing in her sheer gauze dress the other day.

"Are you and Yutong heading back to school now? I'll give you a lift!"

"No need, I'm driving, it's just a few minutes away!"

"You haven't gotten your driver's license yet, have you?"

"Not yet, but it doesn't matter. My driving skills are pretty good now, the coach Hu Fei found is great, and she's a woman, so I don't have to worry about being taken advantage of!"

"Oh, I still said I'd treat him to dinner, and Zhao Qiao isn't coming back to Yunzhou either..."

"It's the end of the year, the county is quite busy. Anyway, your task tonight is to take good care of your official girlfriend. Twenty-year-old soft-shell turtle soup—give it all you've got!"

Li Jiyong was speechless; what on earth was all this?

"Don't doubt it. When men encounter troubles, they need an outlet, and women do too. Physiology and psychology are interconnected!"

Jiang Lan handed the food box to Li Jiyong and strolled away. Her graceful, swaying silhouette made Li Jiyong think once more of her enchanting dance and that nearly transparent gauze dress!

He let out a breath. Tonight, the only woman he was allowed to think about was Wanqing!

Li Jiyong walked back in and took out the food.

It wasn't much, but it was exquisitely prepared.

"What were you talking about just now? Why did Jiang Lan's expression look so strange?"

"Uh, she said... this is twenty years old, packs quite a punch..." Li Jiyong dished out the soup.

Su Wanqing's face flushed red instantly.

After finishing dinner, Li Jiyong took Su Wanqing to Jiang Lan's room. It had already been tidied up, and the bedsheets were brand new.

Jiang Lan truly did things with meticulous care.

While Su Wanqing went to take a shower, Li Jiyong sat on the sofa, his mind drifting back to the image of Jiang Lan dancing here the other day.

He muttered silently in his heart: *Vixen!*

Then, putting distracting thoughts aside, he wondered whom he should ask to help him look at houses first.

He wasn't worried about the money to buy a house; at current housing prices, a three-bedroom unit in a decent residential compound definitely wouldn't cost more than one hundred thousand.

There was no need for a villa—it was a bit too flashy, and Wanqing might not necessarily like it.

Besides, Li Jiyong intended to enter politics in the future, meaning he had to strictly distance himself from certain things, such as luxury villas and high-end cars.

Even if the source of the money was entirely legal, it still wouldn't do. Trading a political future for such meaningless luxury simply wasn't worth it.

"Right, how could I forget about Lin Chao that kid? He's been running around Yunzhou lately, he definitely knows where the good properties are!"

Checking the time, it wasn't even ten o'clock yet. Knowing that Lin Chao was a night owl, Li Jiyong directly dialed his number.

The call connected quickly. The background sounded rather noisy, feeling much like a banquet where people could even be heard playing finger-guessing drinking games!

"Old Li, how do you have time to call me today? I thought you'd be burning the midnight oil studying at this hour!"

"With my hair length, I could at least manage to hang it from the beams. Are you drinking?"

"Yeah, with Zhang Ning and a few little heads from the Construction Bureau."

Li Jiyong knew that Zhang Ning's father, Zhang Yuane, had been transferred from the Landscaping Bureau to the Urban Construction Bureau and was highly regarded by Ji Yun.

"Are you planning to get into municipal engineering?" Li Jiyong asked.

"Hehe, I'm a bit tempted. Landscaping projects are all small potatoes; thirty or fifty thousand is considered huge. You really hit the nail on the head, the profit margins right now are just too low.

After finishing that last project, I only took on a thirty-thousand landscaping renovation, and after all the miscellaneous expenses, I only made four or five thousand."

"I won't try to talk you out of it, but my stance remains the same: you decide how your company develops because I don't understand the market either. Just remember not to cross the red line and keep your foundational management solid.

Municipal engineering is indeed lucrative, but it's also tough to navigate. If you don't have direct connections and want to work in this sector, you can only sustain it through interests. You need to pay attention to your methods and avoid getting yourself sucked in!"

"Rest assured, I might not be overly smart, but I'm not stupid either. I'm currently studying management—you have to study if you want to survive!"

"As long as you understand. I won't waste time chatting idly with you, help me find a place!"

"Rent an apartment? Getting ready to live a world of two? No, a world of three!"

"Get lost. We'll talk about the specific details when we meet, let me lay out the requirements.

The neighborhood environment needs to be quiet and elegant, at least three bedrooms, and a duplex is best so we can renovate it and move in before the New Year. You pick out a few options first, and Wanqing and I will go check them out this weekend!"

"Deal, I've got nothing else going on lately. Freezing cold outside, aside from drinking, the only thing left to do is get laid!"

"Careful you don't exhaust yourself to death, drink a little less!"

"When your time's up, you're dead anyway, might as well make merry while you can!"

"Fine, I'm hanging up then!"

"Alright, you go on continuing your 'struggle'!"

Struggle, indeed he had to struggle—but tonight, the struggle wasn't in the boundless sea of books and academics, but rather in a land of gentle indulgence...

When Su Wanqing walked out wearing a silk nightgown, Li Jiyong felt as though his throat was burning up with thirst!

"No funny business tonight, I didn't bring any of those..."

Su Wanqing resolutely put her foot down.

"What?" Li Jiyong was puzzled!

"Those things, of course!" Su Wanqing blushed.

"Oh, you mean raincoats? Today isn't a dangerous period, is it?" Li Jiyong actually knew a little bit about this.

Seeing Su Wanqing's brow furrow slightly, Li Jiyong understood. Su Wanqing had a slight touch of germophobia; even though they were intimately close, she still felt a tiny bit awkward without using protection.

The first time, she had simply wanted to make sure her maiden membrane wouldn't be punctured by a raincoat!

Later on, if they wanted children, she would definitely change her stance, but right now, asking this seemed to put Wanqing on the spot!

"I'll go out and buy some!" Li Jiyong said.

"Forget it, it's so late now, and it's freezing outside..."

"It's fine..."

"Don't go... Just hold me tonight, just like that time in the dormitory..." Su Wanqing said.

Li Jiyong felt deeply depressed. "Uh, you should have said so earlier. That was twenty-year-old soft-shell turtle soup, Wanqing, I'm going to get a nosebleed!"

Li Jiyong's exaggeratedly pained expression made Su Wanqing burst into laughter.

"Such a pitiful little thing. Fine, I'll allow you just this once. It's not that I dislike you, it's just a bit..."

Su Wanqing wanted to explain!

"No need to explain, I understand. But what will we do when we want a little baby in the future?"

Su Wanqing gave Li Jiyong a hug. "When I want a baby, my mindset will change! You reek of alcohol, go take a shower!"

"Forget it, I'd better go buy some raincoats. The turtle soup I had today is really packing a punch!"

Knowing what Li Jiyong intended, Su Wanqing tacitly approved of his action.

Li Jiyong put on his coat and stepped outside, wondering where the nearest pharmacy was. Back then, those raincoats seemed to still be sold exclusively in pharmacies.

Seeing Xiaoya arranging tea leaves behind the counter, Li Jiyong greeted her.

"Xiaoya, what time do you close in the winter?"

"There are rarely any customers after ten o'clock, but by the time we actually close up, it's around eleven."

"Oh, are these books yours?" Li Jiyong noticed two books lying on the counter, one opened, and the other with the character for "Tea" on it.

"Yeah, I'm reading up on some tea-related stuff, otherwise I won't understand anything myself!"

"Good habit. Learning a bit about tea ceremony, etiquette, culture, and management—you don't need to master them completely, but knowing about them makes you a good boss!"

Xiaoya's face flushed slightly. How could she ever be a boss? Standing somewhere between a mistress and a girlfriend, although Chen Puer was genuinely a good person, she knew deep down that they ultimately belonged to different worlds!

"What do you need?" Xiaoya asked.

"Uh, there's a pharmacy somewhere around here, right?" Li Jiyong couldn't quite remember the exact location.

"Yeah, what's wrong? Is Wanqing sick? I have basic cold and fever medicine here!" Xiaoya said quickly.

"No, no, I just need to go buy something at the pharmacy!" Li Jiyong was too embarrassed to tell Xiaoya that he was going to buy raincoats.

Although Xiaoya had a simple personality, she was also a smart girl. Hearing those words, she immediately understood that Li Jiyong was going to buy *that*...

She lowered her head and said nothing more!

Whether it was because he had drunk too much turtle soup tonight, Li Jiyong suddenly felt that even Xiaoya's graceful figure looked immensely alluring!

Better get moving quickly. He hurried out the door.

Xiaoya looked up, glancing at Li Jiyong's retreating back. A slight ripple crossed her eyes, but it vanished almost instantly!

...

A few minutes later, Li Jiyong returned to the shop looking thoroughly depressed; that pharmacy had actually already closed down!

"Xiaoya, where else is there a pharmacy nearby?"

He had to buy those raincoats; he didn't want Su Wanqing to have an uncomfortable experience, especially tonight!

Xiaoya immediately deduced that Li Jiyong hadn't managed to buy any raincoats.

Other pharmacies nearby were quite far away, and since it was already ten o'clock in the dead of winter, basically all of them closed early. Very few pharmacies stayed open twenty-four hours back then.

"You... follow me..."

Xiaoya said in a low voice and walked ahead.

The qipao she wore outlined her curvaceous figure to perfection!

Li Jiyong shook his head. That turtle soup was really too potent; he was even having stray thoughts about Xiaoya.

Before long, they reached the door of Xiaoya's room. Xiaoya stepped inside, quickly emerged, shoved a box into Li Jiyong's hand, and trotted away without looking back.

"Uh, thanks..." Li Jiyong felt rather awkward, but at this point, he couldn't afford to care!

Back in the room, Su Wanqing was already lying in bed. Though burning with eagerness, Li Jiyong still headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

Ten minutes later, he climbed into bed, embracing Su Wanqing from behind and kissing her neck.

Su Wanqing's heart was also filled with anticipation by now. She turned onto her side and wrapped her arms around Li Jiyong's neck.

After a passionate exchange of kisses, Li Jiyong removed Su Wanqing's nightgown, and once again, they laid bare before each other!

"Where's the raincoat?" Su Wanqing hadn't forgotten about it.

Smiling, Li Jiyong retrieved the box of raincoats from under the pillow.

It was an unopened box.

After opening it, Li Jiyong felt something was slightly off.

The texture felt different when he touched it.

By the light of the bedside lamp, he checked the characters printed on it and cursed inwardly: People from Lingnan sure know how to have fun!

It turned out to be ribbed with spikes!

Su Wanqing didn't notice these details; she was still caressing and kissing Li Jiyong's body...

"Ah, Jiyong..." Su Wanqing let out a sudden, startled cry.

Li Jiyong instantly stopped.

Su Wanqing tightly hugged Li Jiyong's waist.

"Tonight's raincoat is the newest model!"

Li Jiyong offered an explanation, though he didn't mention that Xiaoya had given it to him, lest Su Wanqing feel strange whenever she saw Xiaoya.

Fortunately, Jiang Lan's room and Xiaoya's room were on opposite sides, otherwise they might really have disturbed the rest of others!

An hour or so later, Li Jiyong panted heavily, while Su Wanqing's forehead was damp with sweat.

Like a fish out of water, she panted against Li Jiyong's chest.

"Wasn't this new model great?" Li Jiyong asked with a smile.

"Mhm!"

At this moment, Su Wanqing was at her most relaxed.

"Then we'll use these from now on!" Li Jiyong said.

"No... if we use this every time, it loses its meaning. Let's use it occasionally. I like how you're gentle as water sometimes, and burning like fire other times!"

"Hehe, I never imagined that this sort of thing could feel so refined, yet in your mouth, you describe it so wonderfully. You truly are a gift bestowed upon me by the heavens!"

"You are too. Thankfully, I have you!"

"Don't be sad anymore. Nothing in this world is completely perfect; only by experiencing pain can the preciousness of happiness stand out, and only after losing can we truly understand how to cherish!"

"Are you referring to that dream of yours?" Su Wanqing asked.

"That plays a part!"

"Can you tell me about that dream?"

"To be honest, I don't really want to bring up that dream because there were too many unsatisfactory things in it that I want to change. Besides, I've already changed certain things now, so that dream of mine will only grow more and more distorted!"

"Then let it become a true dream, just like my childhood—it was a very beautiful fairy tale, but it shattered. Let's weave our own dream instead!"

Li Jiyong looked at Su Wanqing, smiled, and stroked her cheek.

"Right, let's weave our dream together. Next week, we'll buy that house and build our love nest!"

Su Wanqing stroked Li Jiyong's hair. "Love me. Tonight, I'm allowing you not to use a raincoat!"

Li Jiyong was somewhat surprised.

"No discomfort. Germophobia is a psychological issue, so right now, it's completely fine. Tonight, you can do whatever you want!"

Li Jiyong's breathing grew slightly ragged. "Do you have any idea how alluring you are right now?"

"Then what are you waiting for, you dummy..."

A fierce and thoroughly unhindered battle commenced without any barriers.

At the break of dawn, Li Jiyong opened his eyes and looked at Su Wanqing, who was still fast asleep. He let out a breath; indeed, a thoroughly satisfying battle truly brought peace to both body and mind.

Checking the time, it was exactly six o'clock. His biological clock remained as punctual as ever.

Although they had shared three delightful encounters last night, Li Jiyong felt his heart fluttering with temptation once more.

Ultimately, however, he suppressed the urge. Moderation was key.

Today was the day of the exams!

At the thought of this word, the corners of Li Jiyong's mouth ticked upward slightly. Last night, after all, he had "tested" quite a few rounds!

At seven o'clock, Su Wanqing finally woke up. The dejection of the last couple of days had vanished entirely; a night of unbridled madness had fully restored her spirit.

The two of them ate some meat porridge and took a taxi to school.

Li Jiyong's appearance in the classroom drew sideways glances from quite a few people.

Several classmates came over to inquire, but Li Jiyong naturally couldn't tell the truth, simply telling them that he had merely been taken in for questioning.

Not everyone was happy to see Li Jiyong return, however—Zhang Jixiang, for instance.

He had been overjoyed when Li Jiyong was taken away by the provincial department.

Beating up the son of a provincial committee standing committee member and expecting to walk free? Not getting locked up for three to five years would be letting him off easy.

Yet somehow, this guy had returned to take his exams just like normal.

A few minutes later, Huang Defa arrived. He glanced over in Li Jiyong's direction and nodded with satisfaction.

Li Jiyong stood up, preparing to express his thanks once more. Regardless of how big a role Gao Shiliang had played in the matter, Teacher Huang Defa was still a genuinely good teacher.

That was how a role model for educators should behave.

Huang Defa pressed his hand downward toward Li Jiyong. "Sit down, get ready for the exam!"