PSMD – Chapter 160

Wen Yuan was waiting for her downstairs, which surprised Qiu Yang. She had thought Wen Yuan was with his business partners discussing deals.

“Okay,” Wen Yuan nodded, showing no intention of refusing at all.

Qiu Yang pursed her lips and explained somewhat awkwardly, “Because you treated me to dessert last time.”

“Mm.”

“I know.”

“Jie, you don’t like owing people.”

Wen Yuan was very understanding, his eyes still bright. He was smiling as he said these words.

Qiu Yang nodded. She had just noticed that Wen Yuan had a very cute dimple when he smiled. It wasn’t very deep, but you could still see it.

She didn’t say anything more and walked ahead.

Wen Yuan cleared his throat and walked beside her. “Did you come to see colleagues?”

“Yes.”

“Gu Lan and Qi Rong?”

Qiu Yang glanced at him. “How did you know?”

“I know you were closest to them at the company.” Wen Yuan scratched the back of his head, looking a bit flustered at being questioned.

Seeing his expression, Qiu Yang softened her own a little. “Yes, it’s them. To celebrate me finding a new job.”

As she said this, they had already reached the entrance of the dessert shop. Wen Yuan leaned forward slightly and opened the door.

Qiu Yang went in first, and he followed.

“Go ahead and sit down,” Qiu Yang said.

Wen Yuan replied, “Okay.”

Qiu Yang went to the ordering counter and directly ordered a classic item and a popular item. Then she turned and sat down at the spot Wen Yuan had chosen.

It was the same place they had sat last time.

As soon as Qiu Yang sat down, Wen Yuan asked curiously, “Jie, are you starting your new job next Monday?”

“Yes, I am.” She thought for a moment and added a bit more. “That company has pretty good benefits, and they’re paying me quite well. But it’s not as big as Wanming, and work finishes at six.”

“Okay, that’s great.” Wen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.

Qiu Yang nodded again and didn’t say anything else.

The atmosphere fell silent.

The dessert shop was doing good business. There were also some young men and women who looked youthful and beautiful, checking in at the trendy spot. They were taking selfies and laughing, a stark contrast to the atmosphere on their side.

Qiu Yang scrolled through her phone. She first sent a message to Shen Ningruo saying she was with Wen Yuan, then heard Wen Yuan break the silence.

“So…”

“Did you sign up for the photography competition?”

Wen Yuan was trying hard to find a topic.

Qiu Yang couldn’t help but smile slightly at his earnest and cautious demeanor. She cleared her throat and replied, “I signed up on Monday.”

Wen Yuan was both surprised and delighted. “Really! That’s great!”

“I looked into it these past few days. The competition that opened registration on the 25th is the one in Yuncheng with the theme ‘Corners’. It’s organized by Yuncheng Culture and Tourism, and the winning works will be exhibited for a long time.”

“Jie, although I haven’t seen what you’ve photographed, I think you’ll definitely win.”

Qiu Yang raised an eyebrow and couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

“A hunch,” Wen Yuan’s dimple appeared on his face again.

Qiu Yang hesitated for two seconds, then tentatively asked, “Do you want to see it?”

“Now?”

“Mm.”

“Yes.”

Qiu Yang brought up the photo saved on her phone, then placed the phone on the table and pushed it forward towards Wen Yuan.

Wen Yuan was clearly a bit nervous. Before he could even look, the waiter brought over two desserts and placed them on the table.

Wen Yuan moved the phone slightly to the side. Qiu Yang watched him and asked with concern, “Is the light too dim? If you can’t see clearly, you can turn up the brightness.”

“No,” Wen Yuan rested his hands on his thighs. He held his breath and focused intently, looking at the photo Qiu Yang had taken.

He looked very carefully, not missing a thing.

Qiu Yang didn’t bother him. She picked up her spoon and took a bite of the dessert.

Just as she swallowed the third bite, Wen Yuan looked up. Qiu Yang expected him to say something, but the first thing she saw was his reddened eyes.

Qiu Yang was startled. “President Wen, you… what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Wen Yuan blinked. His nose felt a bit sore too. “Looking at this photo makes me feel very sad.”

…He really was emotional.

Qiu Yang opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she heard Wen Yuan’s slightly nasal voice speak again. “Jie, if this photo can’t win an award or be exhibited, I’ll buy you a shop in the busiest part of the city center and hold a photo exhibition for you.”

Qiu Yang: “…”

Qiu Yang rejected him three times: “No, calm down, I don’t need that.”

The prices of shops in Yuncheng’s city center were ridiculously high. Wen Yuan’s words couldn’t help but shock her.

Her little savings could barely cover the down payment for a small apartment!

The wealth gap was immediately apparent. Qiu Yang rubbed her forehead, unsure what to say.

But she didn’t dislike Wen Yuan saying such things; it actually made him seem quite cute.

Among the relatives she had met in her life, only Wen Yuan made her feel the warmth of family affection. That “rich” comment just now was because Wen Yuan was protecting her.

Qiu Yang could understand.

But Wen Yuan couldn’t understand. “Jie, although I’ve only seen this one photo of yours, I think you’re a great photographer, and your other photos must be very good too…”

Qiu Yang interrupted him. “Okay, okay, I know.”

She felt helpless. “Photography, for me, is just a hobby. I don’t plan to make it my main profession. Think about it, if I hold an exhibition, what about my job? Can I handle both? No, right? So there’s no need.”

She changed the subject. “Hurry up and eat something.”

Wen Yuan returned the phone to her and picked up his spoon. He looked at the dessert in front of him, a little surprised. “How did you know I like this one?”

Qiu Yang’s expression was calm. “I noticed last time, you only ate this one.”

Wen Yuan showed a slightly shy expression. “Really…?”

His dimple appeared on his face again. “Thank you, Jie.”

“…You’re welcome.”

Had to say, spending this short time with Wen Yuan had improved Qiu Yang’s mood quite a bit. But it was work hours, and Qiu Yang felt a bit uncomfortable keeping Wen Yuan, her former boss, waiting. Before long, she called a halt. “I still have some things to do myself.”

“Okay, I understand.” Wen Yuan said this, but his expression still showed a bit of disappointment.

Qiu Yang sighed and brought up her WeChat QR code. “Want to scan it?”

Wen Yuan immediately became much happier.

She had already paid when ordering, so they could just leave now. Wen Yuan acted as the doorman again.

Qiu Yang stepped outside ahead of him. The sun was already quite strong now, and Qiu Yang squinted from the glare.

Wen Yuan noticed this detail and immediately stopped delaying. “Jie, you should get in the car first.”

“Mm, okay, goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

Qiu Yang quickly got back into the car. She rolled down the passenger window a little. Wen Yuan saw this and waved at her.

Qiu Yang gave a slight smile and drove away from there. After arriving home, she saw that Wen Yuan had already sent the first WeChat message: 【Jie! Can you send me the photo again?】

Qiu Yang sent it over.

Pingzi was still sleeping on the climbing frame and didn’t get up to greet Qiu Yang when she returned.

Because Qiu Yang had made it lose weight, it was currently holding a grudge.

Qiu Yang let out a “tsk”. Seeing it ignore her with its eyes closed, she walked to its shelf, took a can of freeze-dried treats, and shook it.

Pingzi: !!!

It rolled over and jumped directly off the climbing frame, moving very fast.

Qiu Yang mercilessly mocked, “Is this your ‘ignoring me’ policy?”

Pingzi: “Meow.”

Qiu Yang sat down right there and took some freeze-dried treats from the can, spreading them out on her palm.

Pingzi immediately lowered its head and started eating.

After feeding Pingzi the freeze-dried treats, Qiu Yang first went to wash her hands before returning to sit on the sofa.

During this time, Wen Yuan had replied with another message: 【It’s really well-taken.】

Qiu Yang didn’t reply again. She felt that Wen Yuan had quite a big contrast. When she saw him at the company, he was very steady, with a maturity that didn’t match his age. But now…

Qiu Yang didn’t know how to describe it.

Pingzi jumped onto the sofa and lay down beside Qiu Yang, its round belly facing up, looking like it was ready to be petted and rubbed.

Qiu Yang pinched its ear. “You’re really pragmatic.”

Pingzi looked at her with its round eyes.

Pangpang doesn’t know anything, Pangpang is just a little cat.

Qiu Yang was defeated. She held it in her arms and petted it for a while.

A little past five, Qiu Yang went out again. She had to pick up Shen Ningruo first and then go to the hospital to see Shen Yuankai.

Qiu Yang didn’t let Shen Ningruo drive, having her sit in the passenger seat, and handed over the voice recorder.

In other people’s cars, maybe they were watching short videos or listening to music. In their car now, it was the conversation between Qiu Yang and Guo Ming’an.

Shen Ningruo listened until the end, then rubbed her temples. “He and Tao Sixian actually divorced so quickly.”

“Yes,” Qiu Yang turned the steering wheel and made a turn.

Shen Ningruo rested her head on her hand, looking at Qiu Yang’s profile. “Xiao Yang, what are your thoughts?”

“I don’t have any…”

“But it seems I do. I want to know how Tao Sixian is doing now.”

“If she’s doing well, then things between us aren’t over yet.”

“So, as for Guo Ming’an, is it over?”

Qiu Yang thought for two seconds, then nodded her head. “Yes.”

“But regarding Guo Ming’an, your thoughts are most important.”

“Then let’s consider it settled with him.”

“Okay.”

Guo Ming’an had now received the lesson and punishment he deserved. At least for a short time, he wouldn’t be able to recover to how he was before.

Shen Ningruo felt his biggest offense was calling Shen Yuankai. Now Shen Yuankai was also ill, and Shen Ningruo had already settled things with him.

Shen Ningruo didn’t want to have much involvement with such a person. Cut ties if possible, otherwise, it’s like a persistent nuisance.

A few minutes later, Qiu Yang spoke again. “When I was chatting with Wen Yuan at noon today, he said if that photo didn’t win an award, he’d buy me a shop in the city center and hold a photo exhibition for me.”

Shen Ningruo couldn’t help but smile. “So rich, President Wen.”

“Yes, he’s quite funny. I immediately refused.” Qiu Yang’s smile stiffened slightly as she said this. “Actually, I’m a bit conflicted now, wondering if I should have a better relationship with him.”

“I know, because President Qiu is still there,” Shen Ningruo immediately guessed the reason.

Qiu Yang looked straight ahead. “But Wen Yuan, this…” She paused. “…brother, is very good.”

“Then have a better relationship with him, it’s fine, Xiao Yang.”

“Then Ruoruo, take my phone and send him a message.”

“Just say that what he said today was a bit problematic.”

“He’s not just anyone, he’s my brother.”