CH 6

When Zheng Baozhu was in high school, for the college entrance examination preparation, the school divided students into arts and sciences. In their sophomore year, during the division of arts and sciences, Zheng Baozhu unfortunately ended up in the same class as Qu Zhi and they became deskmates.

The first class was the self-introduction session. Due to the heavy workload, the teacher allowed everyone to stay in their seats and casually say a few words in introducing themselves. The classmates' introductions were indeed casual, basically just stating their names and quickly sitting down.

In her mind, Zheng Baozhu rehearsed how she would introduce herself when Meng Yaxin stood up to introduce herself.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Meng Yaxin. 'Meng' from Mengzi, 'ya' meaning elegance, and 'xin' representing three 'jins'."

Zheng Baozhu's eyes lit up and she looked towards Meng Yaxin. She was a clean-looking girl with a high ponytail and a smiling face. This type of appearance was common on the high school campus, but in Zheng Baozhu's eyes, she radiated a unique charm that others lacked.

"Three 'jin's'? That's a good choice of characters, it sounds prestigious," Zheng Baozhu whispered in admiration, "It shines just like my name, Zheng Baozhu."

Qu Zhi, who was sitting beside her, rolled his eyes discreetly.

Meng Yaxin finished her introduction and sat down. Zheng Baozhu's gaze remained on her, "Meng Yaxin, Zheng Baozhu, we are destined to be friends."

Qu Zhi sneered mockingly.

Accustomed to his strange behavior, Zheng Baozhu didn't want to pay him any attention. After class, she approached Meng Yaxin and they became friends. Zheng Baozhu was beautiful and persuasive. In today's terms, she had that "social influence". Meng Yaxin quickly became good friends with her, and their relationship had lasted until today.

But there were some things Qu Zhi couldn't simply say.

"What do you mean three 'jins' in her name?" Zheng Baozhu coldly snorted, looking at Qu Zhi, "I wanted to be friends because we have a connection."

"..."

Qu Zhi sneered in disdain, "Could it be that your friendship is based on the three 'jin's' and the word 'baozhu'1?"

"..."

Zheng Baozhu stubbornly raised her eyebrows, "Don't try to sow discord between us innocent children. It's pointless."

Qu Zhi arrogantly smirked, "Plastic friends like you don't need my interference."

"Aiyah, some people can't find friends themselves, so they criticize other people's friendships as plastic," Zheng Baozhu picked up a piece of cold cucumber and took a bite, "Hiss, so sour."

Qu Zhi: "..."

Afraid that the two would start fighting like children, Qi Sheng quickly intervened, "Oh! Is this the information for the High-End Talent Community?"

He grabbed the property information booklet next to Zheng Baozhu as if it were a lifeline, attempting to shift everyone's attention, "Miss Baozhu, are you also interested in buying a house here?"

Qu Zhi raised an eyebrow and turned to look at him, "Miss Baozhu?"

Qi Sheng said, "That's what the waiter just called her."

Qu Zhi: "..."

It was hard to believe that this person actually worked at the same company as him.

Zheng Baozhu didn't think there was anything wrong with it and started chatting with Qi Sheng, "Yeah, the grand opening is this Saturday, right? I went to the sales office this morning to get some information."

"Oh, really? I'm also going on Saturday with Old Qu!" Qi Sheng happily envisioned the future, "If you also buy a house there, won't we all be neighbors in the future!?"

"..."

Hearing his words, Zheng Baozhu suddenly didn't feel like buying a house there anymore, "Do you both have invitation letters?"

Qi Sheng nodded, "Yes."

Zheng Baozhu blinked, showing some curiosity, "If you guys buy houses there, does the government provide subsidies?"

"Yes, the current policies are quite favorable."

Zheng Baozhu looked at him enviously and leaned slightly toward him, "Mr. Qi, do you have any friends?"

Qi Sheng, who was always easygoing, blushed at being asked such a question, "No, I don't have any..." he stammered a bit and looked at the overly beautiful face in front of him, "Miss Baozhu, do you have any thoughts?"

Zheng Baozhu smiled at him and said, "I was thinking, if you don't have any friends, would it be convenient for you to bring me along on Saturday? I also want to see the houses."

"..."

Qi Sheng realized what she meant and felt that he had overthought it. :)

"There's no inconvenience with that," Qi Sheng replied, pretending to be cheerful, trying to hide his slight embarrassment. Qu Zhi, sitting next to him, let out a faint chuckle. The sound was quiet, but it sounded like thunder in Qi Sheng's ears.

...He must have seen through his little thoughts!

Fortunately, Zheng Baozhu didn't catch on and thanked him with a smile, "Thank you. I went to the sales office today to register. They said they would call me when the second phase opens, but I still want to go on Saturday to join in the excitement."

"Oh, that's no problem. Don't be so polite with me," Qi Sheng laughed twice, trying to brush off the matter. Throughout the meal, he and Zheng Baozhu were almost the only ones chatting. Qu Zhi didn't speak much. During the meal, Qi Sheng added Zheng Baozhu's WeChat.

On the way back to the technology park, Qi Sheng complained to Qu Zhi, "Old Qu, you said Miss Baozhu doesn't have any thoughts or soul, but I find her much more interesting than you."

Qu Zhi replied indifferently, "Hmm, it seems like you two do have similar tastes."

"..."

Qi Sheng clicked his tongue a few times, "I suddenly feel like being friends with you is an act of charity. I'm such a good person."

Qu Zhi: "..."

"No wonder Miss Baozhu prefers to ask me for help rather than go with you to see the houses."

"..."

Qu Zhi paused for a moment, then turned his head to look at Qi Sheng, "What data did you ask me to check this morning? Why don't you ask the "interesting" Zheng Baozhu instead?"

"..."

Qi Sheng looked at his fast-walking figure and caught up with him, "Hey, don't be so petty. I was just joking with you."

Qu Zhi kept walking without stopping and replied casually, "Being your colleague is truly an act of charity. I'm such a good person."

"..."

Qi Sheng thought, with this personality, it was definitely Qu Zhi's problem that he and Zheng Baozhu were not compatible. :)

In the evening, Cen Tongtong had reserved a private room at Zheng Baozhu's place and ordered a table full of dishes to warmly welcome Qu Zhi's return to the country. Zheng Baozhu originally didn't want to go, but Cen Tongtong personally came upstairs to convince her, so she changed into a different outfit and went downstairs.

When she pushed open the door to the private room, she found that Qu Zhi and Meng Yaxin were already there, and Qi Sheng, whom she had just met at noon, was also inside.

Zheng Baozhu wore a light purple embroidered sweater with a large collar, paired with a black skirt of the same embroidered craftsmanship. The style was simple, but the embroidery was delicately embellished with fine golden thread, giving it a low-key yet luxurious look.

As soon as Qi Sheng saw this, an image of sniffing flashed in his mind.2

He quickly deleted the image from his mind and greeted Zheng Baozhu with a smile, "Miss Baozhu, nice to see you again. Do you mind if I join you for dinner?"

"I don't mind, anyway, Cen Tongtong is treating us," Zheng Baozhu said generously, glancing at Meng Yaxin, who was holding a beer bottle and seemed a bit drunk, "And you, how about you? Are you so happy to see Qu Zhi?"

As Zheng Baozhu said this, her eyebrows slightly raised as she looked at Meng Yaxin in front of her, "Were you secretly in love with Qu Zhi during high school?"

Although Qu Zhi acted like a hypocrite in front of Zheng Baozhu, not everyone had her good eye to see through his façade. During their school days, there was a wave of students who were attracted to Qu Zhi one after another, all mesmerized by his appearance.

Because of Zheng Baozhu's association with Qu Zhi, some students even asked her about Qu Zhi's situation and asked her to pass messages. Zheng Baozhu got annoyed with being pestered and helped pass messages a few times. But Meng Yaxin, being the good friend that she was, always stood her ground and never passed on these messages!

Meng Yaxin blushed a little and rolled her eyes while holding the beer bottle, "Ugh, I broke up with my boyfriend!"

"..."

Zheng Baozhu fell silent for a moment and said, "Oh, it's a happy occasion then."

Zheng Baozhu had only met Meng Yaxin's boyfriend once and had always felt that he was unreliable. But Meng Yaxin liked his face and was charmed by him, but now she seemed to have figured things out and was willing to break up?

Cen Tongtong also didn't like Meng Yaxin's boyfriend and curiously approached Meng Yaxin, "Why? What's the reason?"

Everyone in the room looked curious as well.

Meng Yaxin burped and muttered while holding the beer bottle, "Because of international relations."

"..."

The whole room fell silent for a second.

Zheng Baozhu felt that she had misunderstood that young boy all along.

Wasn't this a discussion with a broad perspective?

"Tell me, how did international relations affect your relationship?" Zheng Baozhu asked sincerely.

Meng Yaxin started to complain endlessly, "Now, isn't the High Hair fashionable? I reminded him to wear a mask when going out. But, who would have thought he would start preaching about the uselessness of masks? Then we went from politics and economics to history and culture, and he kept talking about how everything is better abroad and how we are inferior. Ha! Does that little brat think I haven't lived abroad? What does he know! If abroad is so great, why did Qu Zhi give up a high salary and come back here?"

Qi Sheng, who was listening with great interest, timely chimed in, "Of course, it's for the sake of developing our motherland! Old Qu's dedication in this aspect is commendable."

Zheng Baozhu: "..."

Qu Zhi had really established his persona well; people in the entertainment industry should learn from him.

"That's right, Dr. Qu is a true adult! I won't look for little brats anymore next time!" Meng Yaxin slammed the table and enthusiastically poured a drink for Qu Zhi, "Let's forget about that unlucky thing, Zhou Jun, today we're gathered here to welcome Qu Zhi back to the country! By the way, it's been about eight years since we last met, right?"

"Yes, around eight years," Qu Zhi raised his hand to block the glass in front of him, "That's enough."

Meng Yaxin then moved to the side and poured a drink for Qi Sheng. "Little Qi, you and Qu Zhi are colleagues, and I heard that you both graduated from the same university?"

"Yes," Qi Sheng nodded, "Although you may not believe it, I'm actually his senior."

"..."

Meng Yaxin looked at Qu Zhi, then looked at Qi Sheng, "Then you should confront him face to face!"

"..."

Do you think I don't want to?

"Baozhu," Meng Yaxin approached Zheng Baozhu with a beer in hand, "Let's have a drink too! You mentioned before that you went to the Film and Television City, how did it go?"