Chapter 2: Hate People Who Compare
She took the shopping bag handed over by the shop assistant and left in embarrassment.
"What took you so long?" He Qi, who was waiting for her in the smoking area, saw her coming and stood up impatiently. "They're all rushing us."
"I met two annoying people."
"Did you quarrel with someone?"
"No." He Jia told him what happened and did not mention anything about what she had done wrong.
He Qi frowned. "This is Lin City. Think twice before you do something. Don't offend anyone and get me into trouble."
"Yes, I know."
"It better be so."
He Jia followed him out. Coincidentally, she met Lin Jiao and the other girl on the escalator again.
She stopped in her tracks, not wanting to face them.
He Qi sensed something abnormal and followed her gaze. "Are they the people who quarreled with you?"
"You know them?"
"The one on the left is my friend's girlfriend."
He Jia widened her eyes and said sourly, "Is her family very rich? I think she's quite generous. She bought a super expensive gown for her friend."
"Rich? She's dead broke, but she is patronized by a rich man."
"What? If I knew it, I would have given her a slap on the face."
He Qi retracted his gaze and rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I'll help you give her a lesson."
"How?" He Jia restrained from showing excitement and said worriedly, "Don't go out of your way to do it. After all, you know each other."
"It won't be hard. Just a phone call will do."
Although he did not like He Jia, his vain cousin, he hated Lin Jiao more.
Since she wanted to be so high-profile, he would take this chance to let Gu Quan see what kind of a person she really was.
*
At nearly ten o'clock, half the lights in the mall went out.
The off-duty employees walked in groups of two or three, dragging their tired bodies out and saying goodbye at the door.
Pei Yilan held Lin Jiao's hand and asked, "Is Gu Quan not coming? If not, I'll send you back."
"He's on his way."
"He said he would pick you up at eight, but he has already been late for two hours. You're really good-tempered. If I were you, I would have gone into a rage long ago."
"He just accepted a project and is very busy." Lin Jiao looked at the WeChat box on the screen, deep in thought.
"If he's so busy, why is he dating you? Why doesn't he just date his work?"
Lin Jiao said nothing.
She had made excuses for Gu Quan's unconcern for her too many times, to the point where she was tired of it.
"Sit here for a while." Pei Yilan nudged her elbow and changed the topic. "Are you free tomorrow? Let's go for a drink."
Lin Jiao shook her head. "I have a birthday party tomorrow."
"Whose birthday?"
"Song Zhen."
Hearing that it was someone from Gu Quan's circle, Pei Yilan lost interest and clicked her tongue. "I thought it was some handsome guy."
"You want to fall in love?"
"No, I just want to find a man to have fun with."
"Are you still in contact with that painter called Ze something?"
"No, he's too straight." Pei Yilan felt uncomfortable at the thought of those awkward conversations. "We just don't click."
"Then…"
"Jiaojiao." A BMW came into view, and Gu Quan's voice came from inside.
"He's finally here." Pei Yilan rolled her eyes and took out her car keys from her bag. "Jiaojiao, let's hang out another day."
"Alright, send me a message when you get home."
"Sure."
Lin Jiao watched her leave before getting into the car.
She placed the shopping bag in the back seat and was stunned to find Gu Quan absent-minded.
"Gu Quan?" She waved her hand in front of his eyes. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Gu Quan returned to his senses, but what He Qi said was still ringing in his ears.
He looked at the back seat. "Did you have a good time shopping today?"
"Not bad."
"Did you get into any trouble?"
"No." Lin Jiao did not hear the questioning tone in his voice and thought that he was concerned about her.
She leaned over and looked at him gently. "With you around, who dares to cause me trouble?"
Little did she know that this joke would be taken as a confirmation that she indeed snatched a gown from someone else.
Gu Quan's expression turned even uglier.
He stepped on the accelerator. Lin Jiao, who had yet to put on her seatbelt, fell back uncontrollably and hit the back of her head on the window.
"Jiaojiao, I hate people who like to compare." Gu Quan's angry tone filled with disgust made Lin Jiao, who was rubbing the back of her head, confused.
She closed her eyes and was in too much pain to think about what he meant by saying that. "Who offended you?" She asked.
Hearing that her voice sounded weak, Gu Quan tilted his head to look at her and asked with concern, "Are you alright? "
"I hit my head."
He suddenly braked. Caught off guard, Lin Jiao leaned forward again. Fortunately, he held her waist to prevent her from hitting the window.
"Let me see." He leaned over and brushed away her hair, touching the spot where she'd been hit. "Does it hurt a lot?"
"It's alright." Lin Jiao gestured for him to continue driving.
She put on her seatbelt and waited for the car to drive into Lufu Bay before the pain disappeared. "Did you quarrel with He Qi?"
Gu Quan stopped in his tracks. "Yes." He opened the door of the villa and did not want to talk about it anymore. "It's nothing serious. Don't think too much about it."
Lin Jiao nodded and pressed the switch to turn on the ceiling light.
She changed into a pair of slippers and was about to talk to him when he went upstairs without looking back. "Jiaojiao, help me cook a bowl of noodles."
"What kind of noodles do you want?"
"..."
It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Without getting a reply, Lin Jiao walked into the kitchen listlessly.
Ten minutes later, she stood in front of Gu Quan's door with a tray and knocked twice.
"Put it on the table for me." The sound of rushing water was heard, mixed with his voice.
Lin Jiao pushed open the door and her gaze landed on the sofa filled with documents. She put down the bowl and chopsticks and started helping him tidy up.
She rarely entered Gu Quan's bedroom. To outsiders, they were cohabitating. But in fact, they were more like two roommates living under the same roof.
If it wasn't necessary, they wouldn't talk and interfere with each other. The relationship had been pure and no one ever thought about crossing the line.
"Jiaojiao?" Gu Quan did not hear any footsteps outside and asked, "Are you still there?"
"Yeah." Lin Jiao turned around. An old photo floated to the ground from inside a stack of documents.
She lowered her eyes and caught sight of a young man and a girl.
Gu Quan wiped the water off his forehead and said gently, "It's late. Rest early."
"Okay." Lin Jiao picked up the photo and put it back without thinking much.
She glanced at the vapor coming out from the bathroom and stood up to leave.