"Sister, I've been waiting for you. Weren't you feeling unwell? Why did you come to a place like this? Have you been drinking?"
"Our party over there has ended. If you've had enough fun, let's go back together."
"Did you throw up again? Have you rinsed your mouth? I brought warm water and honey grapefruit tea. Have a sip to soothe yourself."
Perhaps Qin Shen was too young to understand insincerity. Or perhaps he was simply that kind of refined and clean-cut person.
No matter when he appeared, he gave people the feeling of being like a spring breeze.
After being surrounded by a group of greasy people chattering for hours, seeing him again felt like a breath of fresh, sweet air.
As he spoke, Ge'er stared at him, finding him more and more adorable and pleasing to the eye. As she took the teacup, she couldn't help but pinch his face again.
"You even bring your own warm water to KTV. You're something else."
Qin Shen loved to see her smile, and he also liked her unreserved closeness with him.
After Ge'er pinched his face, he reached up and touched his own.
"I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I don't like using outside cups, nor do I like drinking beverages. Since I usually make a lot of food and drinks for myself, bringing them isn't a hassle."
"You should develop this habit too. Either don't come to places like this, or bring your own water if you do. It's good for you and for him."
He was referring to Ge'er's belly.
Ge'er nodded, feeling fortunate to have met such a good neighbor.
"Got it. If you're a germaphobe, why didn't you say so earlier? We've already shared a cup. How about this, consider this one mine, and I'll get you a new one later."
Qin Shen quickly snatched the cup back.
"It's alright, my germaphobia is selective. I don't mind you."
Ge'er laughed, "If you don't mind me, I mind you. Alright, let's go back together. You can help me with something."
"Go into the private room and get my bag and phone. If you don't know who to ask, find Jiang Wei and tell her I'm not feeling well and have left. Give me your car keys, I'll wait in your car."
Qin Shen was happy to run errands for her. He gave her the car keys, told her where the car was parked, and they parted ways, one going left, the other right.
Unexpectedly, as she reached the stairwell, Lei Dongyi had also come out at some point, blocking the corner like a ghost.
He must have been too hot from playing games, as he had taken off his jacket.
The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows, one hand in his pocket, revealing a smooth line of his forearm.
He leaned there casually, his face flushed from alcohol, like a rogue trying to pick up a beauty.
He exuded a different kind of dashing and unrestrained aura.
Their eyes met, and Ge'er didn't stop.
"A dog's mouth can't spew ivory." She couldn't be bothered with him anymore.
Ignoring him, she continued forward. However, as she reached the corner, Lei Dongyi grabbed her arm.
Ge'er, ever mindful of her status as a married woman with a child, felt a prick like a needle and immediately shook him off with a loud movement.
"What are you doing? Drunk and acting out?"
Lei Dongyi hadn't expected such a strong reaction from her. He frowned slightly, looking a bit hurt, then stood up straight and rubbed his forehead.
"Did I scare you? I'm sorry, that's not what I meant."
Whatever he meant, there was no need to interact with him anymore.
Ge'er sidestepped him, intending to walk along the other wall.
However, Lei Dongyi called out to her in a low voice.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
How interesting. After so many years of not seeing each other, they had become complete strangers. What was there to say?
Besides, hadn't they already exchanged the basic pleasantries?
Ge'er didn't know what he wanted, nor did she want to know. She said coldly,
"No."
Lei Dongyi didn't believe her and took a step forward with his long legs.
"Are you still angry with me?"
"Why would I be angry with you?"
"Don't be like this, Ge'er."
Ge'er was disgusted by his address.
"Lei Dongyi, are you out of your mind? Or have you been hanging out with those scoundrels for too long and caught their sickness, turning into one yourself? How long has it been since we last saw each other? Do you even know if I'm single or what my situation is, to be calling me by my name like this? Don't you think that's very disrespectful?"
Lei Dongyi looked down at her agitated state, his handsome features filled with helplessness.
After a few seconds, he took half a step back and raised his hands.
"Alright, I'm a scoundrel, I apologize. Then I'll rephrase..."
Ge'er interrupted him, "It's good that you know you're a scoundrel. I don't have time to waste talking nonsense with you. Go find someone else to talk to! I'm warning you, if you take another step forward, I won't be polite!"
Lei Dongyi didn't move forward, but he also refused to leave.
"Was that kid just now your boyfriend?"
He saw her talking to Qin Shen?
So what if he saw? Why call him a kid?
Did he look down on Qin Shen?
Heh, as expected, after hanging out with scoundrels for too long, every word that came out of his mouth was more annoying than the last!
"Lei Dongyi, what do you mean by that?"
Lei Dongyi met her gaze squarely, "It means nothing. I just want to remind you, he's not suitable for you."
"You're really something else, Lei Dongyi. He's not suitable for me? Do I now need a stranger to dictate what kind of boyfriend I should have? Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to speak to me like this?"
Lei Dongyi maintained the same look, as if Ge'er was being unreasonable and he was the innocent one.
"I indeed have no right. I wronged you all these years. Your current situation, I bear a great responsibility..."
The more he spoke, the less she wanted to hear. What did he mean by "your current situation"? Was she doing poorly today?
Thinking of the child in her belly, thinking of how she would eventually become a single mother, Ge'er suddenly lost control of her emotions, wishing she could go up and punch him a few times.
"Lei Dongyi, I hope we never see each other again. I hate seeing you, I hate hearing you speak."
"Today, for Jiang Wei's sake, I won't hold this against you. But if there's a next time, I'll do anything, and you know it."
With that, she quickly turned to press the elevator button.
At some point, a little boy ran out from another private room and also rushed to press the elevator button.
Neither of them paid attention to the other. The moment they turned, Ge'er bumped into the boy's face.
With a "clang," the little boy fell to the ground and burst into tears.
Before Ge'er could help the boy up, a group of men and women, full of food and drink, came around the corner.
Seeing her child crying, a young woman screamed and ran towards them quickly, shouting as she ran.
"Baby, what's wrong? What happened? What happened, baby?"
Ge'er was utterly fed up. She really hadn't checked the almanac before leaving home today.
Why was she encountering all these annoying things?
She helped lift the boy up with his mother. The woman hugged her child and immediately started yelling at Ge'er.
"What's going on? Did you knock him down? Are you blind? Such a big person..."
Before Ge'er could defend herself, Lei Dongyi walked up in two strides, grabbed her arm, and pushed her behind him.
"How can you be guardians? Letting your child run around in public places? What if he gets hurt or bumps into someone?"
"We're pregnant. If he were to cause any serious harm, who would be responsible?"