Chapter 502
Xia Qiqi always felt that there was... well, something unpleasant between her and Xiao Nanchen.
But since they were colleagues at the same company, couldn't they just get along?
Every time, she felt like she was debasing herself by approaching Xiao Nanchen.
She gritted her teeth.
With her personality, she wouldn't back down just because someone disliked her.
Whether Xiao Nanchen liked her or not, she wouldn't care about someone so unimportant to her.
"What is it?" Xiao Nanchen's voice was cold.
His tone was purely professional, as if he were addressing any other colleague.
Xia Qiqi didn't answer. Instead, she walked right up to Xiao Nanchen's desk and placed a shopping bag on it. "For you, as an apology."
Xiao Nanchen frowned.
"That night when I got drunk and threw up all over you?" Xia Qiqi felt a bit awkward.
Just thinking about that night was embarrassing.
Later, lying in bed, she thought about how disgusted a germaphobe like Xiao Nanchen must have felt.
She, who rarely had trouble sleeping, spent an entire weekend tossing and turning.
Her mind was filled with visions of Xiao Nanchen's utter disgust.
So, eventually, she couldn't take it anymore and went to the mall to pick out clothes as an apology gift for him.
"No need." Xiao Nanchen coldly said, "You can take it back."
"But I've already bought it," Xia Qiqi felt herself getting riled up.
Did Xiao Nanchen really need to be so unpleasant towards her?
"You can return it, then."
"I, the esteemed Miss Xia, never return purchases..."
"That's your problem, then." Xiao Nanchen looked at Xia Qiqi, his tone icy.
Xia Qiqi gritted her teeth and glared at him fiercely.
If it weren't for her wrongdoing that night, she would have gladly dumped that trash can all over this jerk right now.
In the past, she just found Xiao Nanchen annoying, always hanging around her.
But she had never been so irritated with him that she wanted to physically assault him.
She struggled to control herself. "Whether you accept it or not is up to you. But as far as I'm concerned, I've apologized for that night, so we're even."
Xiao Nanchen's expression remained unchanged.
So, Xia Qiqi just wanted to cut ties with him.
He knew very well that what she feared most was owing someone a favor.
But that was her problem.
He had no obligation to cater to her feelings right now.
To put it bluntly:
Why should he make sure she felt better?
He had no such duty at the moment.
"But didn't you say you've been really busy with work lately?" Xia Qiqi was surprised.
Ever since the incident with Gu Group using fake documents to obtain loans, Nie Ziming had been working overtime without pay to make up for his mistake, so they hadn't had dinner together in a long time.
"Today is a special occasion," Nie Ziming stated directly.
Xia Qiqi frowned.
Then it dawned on her, "Your birthday."
Just a few days ago, she had clearly remembered, but today Xiao Nanchen had made her so angry that she completely forgot.
"Yes."
"I've made dinner reservations. We'll eat out tonight."
"Okay." Xia Qiqi readily agreed, excitedly asking, "What gift would you like?"
"Having you is enough."
"Really?" Xia Qiqi asked.
"Really," Nie Ziming said firmly.
"Well, if you say so." Xia Qiqi grinned mischievously. "Then I won't prepare anything at all."
"Fine."
The two exchanged a few more sweet nothings.
When Xia Qiqi hung up, her mood had improved significantly.
She figured that rather than letting Xiao Nanchen rile her up, she might as well spend more time with Nie Ziming.
After all, Nie Ziming was her life's destination.
As for Xiao Nanchen, he was just... a passerby.
...
Xia Qiqi had skipped out on work that afternoon.
No one batted an eye when she did - they were all used to it.
Xia Qiqi went straight to the formal wear section of the international mall.
It was Nie Ziming's birthday today, and she wanted to give him a huge surprise.
That "having you is enough" line - wasn't that just a grown-up's... hint?
So she had decided that on Nie Ziming's birthday, she would gift him herself.
She selected an especially sexy lace spaghetti strap dress and wore a white fox fur coat over it, concealing her sensual figure and lending her an air of sophisticated beauty, as well as a playful cuteness, while also keeping her warm.
After all, Qingcheng had already entered winter.
She didn't want to catch a cold while gifting herself.
Her soft hair cascaded over her shoulders, styled and made up by professionals to give her the alluring look of a little temptress.
Xia Qiqi wore a pair of towering black crystal-studded high heels, instantly elongating her proportions to make her look slim and statuesque.
In terms of beauty, she wasn't exactly breathtaking.
But in terms of charm, she had never lost to anyone.
That seductive figure, that aura of sensuality.
Without even speaking, she could truly, captivate the masses.