PSMD – Chapter 59

After signing the contract with Youfei Company, the business trip concluded successfully.

The return flight was scheduled for 6 PM, arriving in Yuncheng around 8 PM. Qiu Yang wasn’t sure if Shen Ningruo would be off work by then, but since Shen Ningruo had replied with “of course,” she was definitely coming to pick her up.

Qiu Yang just hoped it wouldn’t interfere with Shen Ningruo’s work; otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked her.

Qiu Yang and Peng Kaimiao checked out of their rooms at noon. With the flight not until 6 PM, Qiu Yang planned to take them sightseeing, but everyone had suitcases, making it inconvenient to go anywhere. They ended up storing their luggage at a large shopping mall first, which made things much easier.

Opportunities for business trips were rare, and someone like Peng Kaimiao, who enjoyed having fun, liked them even more. Firstly, it wasn’t as stifling, and secondly, there was extra time to play. From the start until now, he had been the most excited.

Cheng Cheng sent Qiu Yang a message asking what they were eating for lunch.

Qiu Yang said she didn’t know.

Qiu Yang genuinely admired Cheng Cheng, who was quite skilled at recommending good food, because in the two or three days they had been in Beijing, every takeout order she’d recommended had been excellent.

“Yangyang, then I’ll take you to a restaurant.”

“If Chuchu finds out I didn’t even treat you, she’ll probably scold me.”

Qiu Yang immediately refused, but Cheng Cheng was insistent and even started playing the pity card later. Coincidentally, Cheng Cheng was playing nearby and drove over.

Qiu Yang had seen photos and videos of Cheng Cheng on her Moments; she was a sister who smiled a lot, and her Moments were always updated with delicious places she’d discovered. She seemed to be a food blogger, though Qiu Yang hadn’t looked closely.

However, when she met Cheng Cheng, Qiu Yang thought she looked much better than in her photos and videos.

“Hello, nice to meet you.” Cheng Cheng extended her hand.

Beijing was still sunny today, and it was the hottest part of the day. Cheng Cheng was wearing short shorts and a T-shirt, looking very cool.

Qiu Yang shook her hand back. “Qiu Yang.”

Cheng Cheng immediately invited everyone into the car. “Then hurry and get in, this sun is scorching, it gets hot with every second you stand in it.”

Qiu Yang naturally sat in the passenger seat, with the other three in the back.

After getting in the car, Cheng Cheng popped a lollipop into her mouth and politely asked Qiu Yang and the three in the back, “Do you want a lollipop?”

“Thank you.” Everyone politely declined.

Even Peng Kaimiao, who was usually quick to make friends, was quiet at the moment.

Qiu Yang smiled slightly and changed the subject. “Cheng Cheng Jie, thank you for the trouble.”

Cheng Cheng chewed on her lollipop while driving. “What trouble? You’re new here and unfamiliar with the place, so of course I should help out. I don’t have many other hobbies, just making friends and eating good food.”

“Speaking of Chuchu, she was the first friend I made when I came to Beijing, and she’s very important to me. Yangyang, as I said, if you’re her sister, then you’re my sister too.”

Cheng Cheng spoke frankly and didn’t beat around the bush.

Qiu Yang pursed her lips. Because there were three colleagues in the back, she didn’t ask what she wanted to ask.

Actually, she wanted to know how Yue Chu had been doing in Beijing these past few years.

But before Qiu Yang could ask, Cheng Cheng started talking herself. “Speaking of Chuchu, she definitely hasn’t told you about the first time I met her, it was hilarious. I had just arrived in Beijing not long before, and I rented a place near the university town, where food was cheaper. One night I went out because I wanted to eat hot pot.”

Not just Qiu Yang, but the three people in the back were also listening to Cheng Cheng’s story, even though they didn’t know who the “Chuchu” she was talking about was.

“The table next to me seemed to be a gathering of classmates, several people sitting together. I was eating happily when I saw two guys at the next table arguing. Listening closely, it was because of the best-looking person among those few.”

“The two of them were arguing fiercely, almost coming to blows.”

“Chuchu saw me watching, so she brought her bowl and chopsticks over and said she was willing to pay half the bill for this table, saying the people next door were ruining her appetite too much.”

Qiu Yang’s lips curved as she listened. This was indeed something Yue Chu would do.

Beneath Yue Chu’s gentle exterior, she seemed to keep everyone at a distance. Qiu Yang had only received special care because her eyes resembled someone else’s.

Cheng Cheng’s words lifted everyone’s spirits. Qiu Yang and the others weren’t as tense anymore. Peng Kaimiao also started chatting, talking as much as Cheng Cheng. The meal was very enjoyable, and afterward, Cheng Cheng drove them back to the shopping mall to pick up their luggage.

She was truly enthusiastic and hosted them very thoughtfully.

Cheng Cheng even wanted to drive them to the airport, but Qiu Yang refused because they had already booked a car, which wouldn’t arrive until closer to the departure time. Only then did Cheng Cheng feel relieved.

“I’ll probably come to Yuncheng to visit in a while, so Yangyang, I’ll see you then.”

“Okay, Cheng Cheng Jie.”

After waving goodbye to Cheng Cheng, Qiu Yang quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Cheng Cheng had paid for the meal today, and Qiu Yang felt a bit bad. Although they hadn’t known each other long, Qiu Yang was certain that if she transferred money to Cheng Cheng, Cheng Cheng definitely wouldn’t accept it.

Not only would she not accept it, but she might even righteously scold Qiu Yang. This was definitely something Cheng Cheng was capable of.

Therefore, after much hesitation, Qiu Yang sent Cheng Cheng a WeChat message, hoping she would let her know in advance if she came to Yuncheng.

That way, she could treat her to a meal and return the favor.

Qiu Yang already felt indebted to Shen Ningruo; she didn’t want to owe anyone else.

After getting into the booked car, Peng Kaimiao suddenly realized, “Xiao Qiu Jie, I think I know who that Cheng Cheng Jie is now. She’s a food UP master on Bilibili, with hundreds of thousands of followers.”

Qin Tian was surprised. “No wonder I thought she looked familiar.”

Peng Kaimiao regretted, “I forgot to take a photo!”

Qiu Yang smiled, then closed her eyes.

She was very tired from working these past two days. There were too many shrewd people in the business world, and she had struggled to cope. Her nerves had been tense, and only after the contract was signed did she finally feel a little relaxed.

Before, she hadn’t had much concept of Shen Ningruo becoming a director at 28, but after leading a team and experiencing it herself, she understood what difficulty meant.

The documents Shen Ningruo had sent her were incredibly useful. She had studied them for a long time and still hadn’t mastered everything, but what she did learn was enough for her to complete this deal.

Qiu Yang raised her hand and rubbed her temples. Before, she hadn’t wanted Shen Ningruo to get too close, but now they had entered each other’s lives and it wasn’t so easy to break away.

Qiu Yang didn’t know if it was good or bad, but the only thing she was sure of was that her longing for Shen Ningruo was real.

Before the plane took off, Qiu Yang sent Shen Ningruo a message, then turned on airplane mode.

She closed her eyes and rested again during the flight, but couldn’t fall asleep. It wasn’t until the plane landed that her heart finally seemed to settle down.

The night sky was already pitch black, but the airport was extremely bright. The light from the ceiling lamps reflected off the tiled floor, clearly illuminating everyone’s faces.

Exhausted from the business trip, Qiu Yang waited for her luggage, her eyelids drooping.

She wasn’t asleep, but she was tired.

The silver suitcase reached her hands, but she couldn’t leave immediately; Qin Tian’s luggage hadn’t come out yet.

Shen Ningruo’s call came at this moment, her voice smiling. “Why are you swaying back and forth?”

“Huh?” Qiu Yang took a second to realize Shen Ningruo was talking about her. She looked towards the arrival gate and saw Shen Ningruo standing outside the barrier, looking at her with a smile.

Many travelers passed between their gazes, and Qiu Yang’s breathing seemed to stop.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Shen Ningruo asked, raising her phone.

There were many people waiting to pick up arrivals, all eagerly looking forward to seeing the person they wanted to see sooner. Shen Ningruo wasn’t wearing work clothes now, but a hoodie and jeans. Just standing there, she attracted many people’s attention.

Including Qiu Yang’s.

“I…” Qiu Yang was still hesitating, unsure what to say.

Qin Tian had already gotten her luggage and called out to her. “Xiao Qiu Jie, it’s ready.”

“Okay.” Qiu Yang responded, maintaining the posture of holding the phone, her other hand pulling her suitcase.

Shen Ningruo also held her phone, as if waiting for an answer. It wasn’t until Peng Kaimiao recognized Shen Ningruo and was utterly shocked nearby that Qiu Yang’s lips parted. “I missed you very much.”

“Very good.”

“Me too.”

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