My Weekend Lover Turned Out To Be My Boss - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: As Before. “Our Love”

The image of Phoebe leaving in such a wretched state replayed frantically in my mind. I returned to the bar in a daze. The moment I stepped inside, the rhythmic, aggressive waves of sound hit me, making my heart and head ache in unison. I really am getting old; I just can’t keep up with this kind of energy anymore.

Under the flickering, shifting lights and the DJ’s scratching, everyone seemed possessed—swaying their heads and moving their bodies in a trance fueled by alcohol and rhythm. In this environment, I couldn’t muster a shred of interest; I felt like a misplaced alien. I sat down, and the others assumed I’d had a good talk with Phoebe. They didn’t think much of her early departure.

My friends began pulling out gifts like magic tricks, forming a line to pile them into my arms. I sat there clutching boxes of all sizes, smiling foolishly. The music shifted to a birthday song, and Soso pushed out a cart with an exquisite three-layer cake. They put a cardboard crown on my head and took turns smearing cream on my face. Looking like a “flower cat,” I made a wish and blew out the candles, then cut the cake into small pieces to share with the guests at nearby tables.

That’s how it is in these neon-lit places—full of strangers looking for an escape. It’s a carnival driven by spirits where brief connections happen. I was surrounded by guests offering toasts; after a few bottles, my head was spinning. Qiu Qi supported me, holding a glass of plain water and pleading, “Don’t drink anymore… stop…”

I laughed sheepishly and pushed her hand away. “Who drinks plain water at a bar… I want wine…”

Qiu Qi cupped my face. I struggled to open my eyes, but the world was a double-image. I vaguely heard her: “Be good, don’t drink any more…”

My face was burning, and Qiu Qi’s hands were cool, making me half-close my eyes and tilt my head in comfort. But soon, her fingers were brushing away the moisture at the corners of my eyes. I finally couldn’t hold it back and wept silently, yet I still waved my hands grandly to feign a boisterous mood. No one could hear my heart-wrenching, incoherent mumbling:

“You Feifan, you’re so damn pathetic! You’ve ended up like this, what is there left to cling to…”

I slumped straight into the sofa, turning my back to my friends to face the cushions. I sobbed, “Don’t ask me if I still love Lan Feiyi… My life was just meant to be ruined by her… I accept my fate…”

In the end, even alcohol couldn’t save me.

…

Ever since that night of drinking until I blacked out, I had been in a state of constant gloom. Qiu Qi tried everything to cheer me up, but it was no use. One day, after sleeping in late, I woke up to a world that still felt hazy and heavy. I was like someone deeply poisoned; Phoebe was my only antidote, but I was already beyond saving.

Qiu Qi had prepared a table of food. She saw me sitting there with “chicken-coop” hair, looking dejected, and she knit her brows. “You look like a total mess! Did you even brush your teeth?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Wash your face?”

“Mmhmm.”

Qiu Qi was clearly frustrated, but she suppressed it and took a breath. “To be honest, I hate seeing you like this. In my heart, You Feifan might be a bit silly, but she was always happy.”

She handed me a bowl of rice. I took it and ate quietly, acting as if I hadn’t heard a word. “Your cooking is getting better.”

Seeing me change the subject, Qiu Qi put down her chopsticks. “Don’t keep it all bottled up. If you want to cry, just let it out, okay?”

“I’m eating well and sleeping well. I’m fine!”

“Is that really true?”

She challenged me, and I put down my utensils to stare at her. “Why would I lie to you?”

Skipping over that, Qiu Qi toyed with her bowl, looking hesitant. She stammered, “Feifan, I…”

I lit a cigarette and waited patiently. After a long hesitation, she finally said, “I like you.”

Even though I knew the truth from my eavesdropping that day, it still caught me off guard for a second. Then, I put on a playful grin. “I know. That’s how you explained it to Phoebe, too.”

Qiu Qi seemed angered by my attitude. She slapped the table, raising her voice. “Can you be serious for once!”

“Do I look like I’m not being serious?” I asked with a smile.

She was determined to hit the wall before turning back. She said loudly, “I thought about it for a long time before I gathered the courage to tell you. I like you! I want to be with you!”

I used a tissue to wipe my lips, then pointed a finger at my chest. My expression went cold as I responded to her confession: “This place is already dead. We can be friends, strangers, or even enemies, but we can never be lovers.”

Faced with my absolute rejection, Qiu Qi lowered her head silently. I knew she was hurting, perhaps even stifling tears. She was a good girl, and I was just a hollow shell—I didn’t deserve her. She said with a sob, “How deep is your love for her? Why do you torture yourself like this?”

It was a common enough question, but it ignited my rage unexpectedly. I roared, losing all reason, “That is between me and her! It’s none of your business!”

Startled by my sudden outburst, Qiu Qi bit her lip and fled the table. A moment later, I heard the bedroom door slam shut. I closed my eyes in distress; I felt like an emotional monster, prone to lashing out. This wasn’t good; I was hurting the people who cared about me. I went to the bedroom to change, bought some snacks at a nearby supermarket, and drove to the school.

Qingfan’s teacher greeted me with polite small talk. I requested a few hours of leave for the child and took her for a drive along the coastal Lover’s Road. I found a wooden bench, opened all the snacks, and let the little one eat to her heart’s content.

“Da Fan! Where did you go? I missed you so much!”

Qingfan clung to me. We ate lollipops and stuffed chips into our mouths. I held her and stared at the sea. “I went on a trip! When you’re a bit older, I’ll take you out every vacation!”

“Really? Pinky swear! Mommy said you’d bring me a present!”

I scratched my head and gave a sheepish laugh, lying: “I forgot the present at home!”

Qingfan cheered innocently, “It’s okay! You can give it to me when I go home on Saturday!”

I stroked her head and continued the deception. “Little treasure, Da Fan won’t be home for a while. I have to go to other places, so I came to see you while I had the chance.”

Realizing I was leaving again, the little girl froze. Her face fell, her lip pouted, and she stopped eating her snacks as if she’d turned to stone. I pulled her closer. “You have to promise Da Fan: while I’m away, you must listen to Mommy. No throwing tantrums or being difficult, okay? If you’re good, Da Fan will come back sooner.”

“You said it! You can’t lie to me!”

I felt helpless but could only double down on the lie. “When have I ever lied to you? If you don’t believe me, let’s pinky swear on it!”

“Pinky swear!”

When it started getting late, I drove her back to school. “You absolutely cannot tell Mommy I picked you up to play, or we’ll both get in trouble!”

She wore a conspiratorial expression, whispering, “Secret!”

“Go on in.”

“Da Fan, bye-bye!”

Watching her walk toward the classroom, I knelt down and opened my arms, unable to help myself from calling out: “Xiao Xiao Fan!”

Hearing my voice, Qingfan turned around, then broke into a run toward me. She crashed into my arms, giggling. I held her tight, fighting back tears. “Little one, Da Fan loves you to death!”

Qingfan mimicked my tone playfully: “Big one, Xiao Xiao Fan loves you too!”

Watching her walk away again, I noticed she had grown taller. In all these long years of companionship, this child was the only one who had never failed me. Thank you, for giving me a warm home. As I stood up to leave, the teacher waved to me from a distance.

“Miss You, leaving already?”

“Yes. Is there something else, teacher?”

The teacher looked conflicted but told me the truth: “Actually… when you came today, I wasn’t supposed to let you take the child. Qingfan’s mother called me a while ago. She said… um… that you aren’t allowed to see Qingfan alone anymore, and certainly not allowed to pick her up without permission.”

It was a typical Phoebe move. I nodded understandingly. “I see. Today was the last time; I won’t make things difficult for you again. Thank you for today, and please look after Qingfan.”

“Don’t worry, I will… Take care…”

…

I didn’t know when I’d see Qingfan again. I walked home with heavy steps to find Qiu Qi sitting alone by the door. She was hugging her knees with her head down. I knelt down and hugged her. She looked up, traces of tears still on her face, looking at me pitifully. “I don’t have a key.”

“Silly, why didn’t you call me?”

She buried her head again and mumbled, “My… my phone died.”

I stood up and opened the door. “Truly silly. Come on in.”

As if nothing had happened, we reheated the cold food on the table and sat down to eat and chat. I paused, feeling embarrassed. “I’m sorry about today. I shouldn’t have lost my temper… I’m sorry…”

Qiu Qi sipped her soup, raising an eyebrow with an air of “pardon.” “I am a magnanimous person; I won’t hold it against a petty one!”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, thank you then!”

Qiu Qi put down her bowl and stared at me. “He Mu is coming next week.”

I was surprised. “Why the sudden visit?”

“He said the hostel isn’t busy lately and He He can handle it. He sees me playing outside all the time and wants a vacation too. He just went ahead and booked a flight; he insists on joining us.”

“Well, there’s room. Worst case, he sleeps on the sofa.”

“He let you stay at his hostel for free, and you want to make him the ‘Living Room Commander’… great idea!”

After dinner, we set up the sofa with blankets, drinks, and snacks, and projected a movie onto the TV. Qiu Qi, being the “brave” one, insisted on a horror movie. Once it started, she was screaming and diving into my arms. I eventually gave in and switched to a comedy. By the time it ended, it was after midnight. Seeing her eyelids drooping, I told her to go to her room to sleep.

After tidying up the living room, I went to the balcony. I leaned back in the lounge chair, humming a tune and smoking. I noticed the scent of Phoebe’s perfume on the chair’s cushion. I sniffed it, feeling a sense of peace, and ended up taking the cushion back to my bedroom with me.

…

The day of He Mu’s arrival came. Qiu Qi and I made a hand-drawn pickup sign and went to the airport early. When He Mu walked out with his luggage and saw Qiu Qi holding up the sign, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Qiu Qi was quite proud of it, saying it was her “hand-painted masterpiece” and she’d use it every time she picked him up.

Finally, after a series of twists and turns—and thanks to He Mu’s arrival—Qiu Qi finally got her “Bole Residence” morning tea. We sat in a private room. He Mu asked what she’d been up to, and she gave a brief summary.

I ordered a table full of dim sum. “Qiu Wuming, whatever you want, I’m ordering it today! Don’t go around saying I’m starving you! I don’t want He Mu thinking I’m mistreating you every day!”

“Hmph! Just admit it—I’ve been here for days and only just got my first authentic morning tea!”

Seeing her pout, I stuffed a steamed rib into her mouth. “You’re getting ahead of yourself!”

Seeing how close we had become, He Mu smiled while brewing tea. “I’ve noticed you two are becoming more like sisters. No, wait—more like a ‘bickering couple.’ All you do is spar with words!”

Qiu Qi tilted her head, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Bickering couple? More like enemies from a past life! You Feifan is a giant baby; I’m the one taking care of her! Thanks to her, my cooking skills have reached new heights. I’ll show you a few new dishes I learned later tonight!”