Close Enough To Pluck the Stars” (GL) - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“You have someone you want to marry?”

“I told you, it’s a fantasy.”

Zhao Pu smirked. “As the saying goes, ‘Daytime thoughts become nighttime dreams.'”

“Sayings are sayings, reality is reality. Reality is always cruel, and there’s a lot of resistance,” Liang Ke said.

Zhao Pu gave a “tch.” “What resistance have you ever been afraid of? You have the looks, the brains, and you come from a pseudo-musical dynasty. Even your average street thug bows down to you.”

“Sigh. In front of certain people, my looks and brains aren’t even worth mentioning. And what do you mean ‘pseudo’? The musical dynasty is real!”

“Xiaoxiao said your grandmother despises your talent. When it comes to music, the old lady has more faith in a wild orangutan.”

!!!

Liang Ke sulked for a moment before finally saying, “Not exposing someone’s hardships is a basic moral baseline. I hope you can maintain it.”

After some back-and-forth bickering, they settled on a meeting place. Liang Ke’s body ached from sleeping on the sofa. Before leaving, she called Naonao in to help clean up—though she didn’t dare touch the surface of the desk.

At the corner of the desk lay a scarf, folded neatly.

The Calico Cat observed it and realized it was hers, or at least an identical one. She had given her scarf to the little girl with the goose yesterday; she had no idea why it was now appearing on Shu Qingchen’s desk.

Liang Ke decided to ask in person later and stopped overthinking. Since her lower back felt stiff, she began performing the “8th Set of Radio Calisthenics” on the spot.

Shu Qingchen pushed the door open just as Liang Ke reached the seventh or perhaps sixth section—she couldn’t remember the exact number—but her movements were precise: a deep lunge, a lifting of the “sun” toward the sky, and a posture that looked remarkably like a wild orangutan’s mating dance.

Shu Qingchen stood at the door, a rare look of utter confusion appearing in her eyes.

“Ouch.” Liang Ke twisted her ankle.

“You’re awake?”

“Mmh…” The startled Calico Cat catapulted upright into a standard military posture.

“If you’re awake, head out. Professor Wang isn’t here, and I’m locking up.” Shu Qingchen grabbed her bag from the desk and gestured for her to leave.

Liang Ke twirled her car keys eagerly. “I’ll give you a lift!”

“No need. I have plans tonight. Go home yourself,” Shu Qingchen said. “Leave the door unlocked for me.”

Huh?

“You’re still going back to the old residential area?” Liang Ke asked.

“Where else would I go?” Shu Qingchen locked the door, crossed the workspace, and strode toward the elevator.

“No,” Liang Ke rubbed her temples and caught up. “Aren’t you moving to the new apartment?”

“Did I say I was moving?” Shu Qingchen’s face turned cold.

“Ah… I guess not.”

“Do you mind me staying?”

“No, no, no! Leadership, you’re joking. How could I possibly mind?” The Calico Cat shook her head like a rattle.

Shu Qingchen stopped and looked at her. “Just ‘don’t dare’ to mind?”

“Ah… Wha?”

Liang Ke froze. The elevator arrived while she was dazed. Shu Qingchen stepped in and pressed the “close” button.

Seeing the doors closing, Liang Ke was annoyed but didn’t dare show it. “Hey! Wait for me!”

Disregarding safety rules, she forced her way through the gap, her fluffy head getting slightly squeezed by the doors.

Shu Qingchen stood at the very back, one hand supporting the elbow of her other arm, watching her thoughtfully.

What are you looking at?

Liang Ke rubbed her sore ear and asked grumpily, “Why the rush? What’s the big deal?”

“Dinner with colleagues.”

Normally, Liang Ke wouldn’t dare pry into Shu Qingchen’s private schedule, nor did she expect an answer. Surprisingly, Shu Qingchen was quite candid. She pulled Liang Ke’s hand away and gently rubbed her head. “I could have brought you along, but you aren’t well-behaved. You’re always looking for trouble.”

…

Zhao Pu had booked a window seat. Outside, the lights and snow reflected off each other, turning the Calico Cat’s large eyes red.

“What are you looking at? Why is your expression shifting between a frown and a faint, creepy smirk?” Zhao Pu asked.

“I had a bit of friction with a professor at the Institute,” Liang Ke said.

“Oh? Who did you fight with?”

“Professor M from Materials Science.”

“Not familiar,” Zhao Pu said. “What did he do to you?”

“He didn’t do anything to me.” Liang Ke rearranged her plates and bowls like puzzle pieces for a while before saying, “It involves a friend. Anyway, you’re a journalist; you have an obligation to help me dig up M’s background.”

Zhao Pu argued that the logic didn’t hold up. “Besides, why are you interested in a 48-year-old ‘youthful’ professor? I can’t let you turn into a high-society thug.”

“Do I look like I’m interested in him?” Liang Ke asked, snapping a bamboo toothpick in half.

Zhao Pu grew alert. “You have a bright future; don’t go doing anything illegal.”

Liang Ke continued to play with the broken toothpick, her eyes not meeting Zhao Pu’s as she lowered her voice: “Back when Old Hu was around, I suspected M was conspiring with Zhang Zhang to embezzle national research funds. The old man refused to play along, which is why his project funding was always choked off.”

“I know,” Zhao Pu said. “Everyone from top to bottom knows, but there’s nothing that can be done. The narrative is controlled by a few big names with no ethics.”

Liang Ke nodded. She instinctively felt that Shu Qingchen was not that kind of person. She had her own way of navigating these people, ensuring national assets weren’t embezzled but used where they mattered most in scientific research.

As for Professor M’s personal goals, Liang Ke saw through his greasy nature at a glance.

Although Shu Qingchen had subtly warned her “not to look for trouble,” the Calico Cat was petty in this regard. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she believed in an eye for an eye.

Zhao Pu looked at Liang Ke, felt a bead of sweat for M, and urged, “Keep it within the legal limits. No arson or murder, okay?”

“Oh, ‘we’? So you’ve decided to help me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Liang Ke exposed her inner villain: “If you don’t help, I won’t agree to the marriage between you and my daughter.”

Zhao Pu replied, “Don’t use that as a threat! It won’t work!”

“Why?” Liang Ke asked. “Aren’t you two in a pure romantic relationship?”

“We are sworn brothers,” Xiao Xiaoxiao said as she walked over, signaling the waiter to bring the drinks.

Liang Ke expressed her shock, then added she’d avoid drinking if possible—it’s bad for the brain.

Xiao Xiaoxiao dropped the topic and asked, “Little scientist, you really value your brain. But why is your face so red?”

Liang Ke touched her face. “Is it?”

“Yes!” Zhao Pu said. “It’s been tomato-colored since you walked in, and you keep touching the top of your head.”

Xiao Xiaoxiao was puzzled. “Why touch the top of her head? Our scientist is only 26—is she going bald?”

The Calico Cat’s expression changed. She stood up impulsively, and in her peripheral vision, she spotted a table four or five spots away. Several people in suits were sitting there, men and women. M was at the head of the table, and opposite him sat Shu Qingchen.

So, she sat back down.

Liang Ke asked Xiao Xiaoxiao, “Is this your family’s restaurant?”

Xiao Xiaoxiao didn’t suspect a thing and began to brag with a smile: “Yes. It features a fusion of East and West. Look at the gold-plated interior and these pretentious dishes. Overpriced, but business is booming.”

Zhao Pu said, “Xiaoxiao, you’re so sincere. Truly a friend of Liang Ke.”

Xiao Xiaoxiao nodded gratefully. “Thanks. If I wasn’t treating, could you two even afford to eat here?”

“I’m okay, but Liang Ke definitely couldn’t,” Zhao Pu said even more sincerely, winking at Liang Ke to tell her to thank the rich lady.

Liang Ke clenched her fist in thought for a moment, then made an outrageous request of the rich lady: “That table over there, see it? No matter what they order, tell the chef to load it with cilantro.”