Savage Kiss - Chapter 11

Xu Qingyi instinctively resisted, “No, I have social anxiety.”

She could have just blocked Shen Yanzhou’s number and given it to her, but “Mi” would have grilled her endlessly, so she decided against it.

“I need to head back,” Xu Qingyi said into her headset, already backing out.

“Mi” played her trump card: “A thousand?”

Xu Qingyi: “…”

When she first met “Mi,” she pegged her as a little money god sent from the heavens.

That day, Xu Qingyi was gaming and got matched with “Mi,” carrying her to victory. After the match, “Mi” added her as a friend, showered her with praise about never having seen such a skilled girl, dragged her into a team group chat, and then tossed her a thousand as a welcome gift.

“Two thousand!” “Mi” upped the offer.

Just as Xu Qingyi had a label for “Mi,” the other had one for her too: money-grubber.

Xu Qingyi gripped her phone. Surely one shouldn’t let pride get in the way of money, right?

Since it was all out in the open anyway, she could just say outright that she was getting it for a friend, go through the motions to let him know, and then pass “Mi” his WeChat.

She shifted her phone downward and accidentally hit the screen rotation.

“Mi baby” gasped, “Seven, your boobs are huge!”

Xu Qingyi looked down: “…And my waist is tiny! Shush, I’m getting you that WeChat.”

Tonight, Xu Qingyi was wearing a mask, so asking for someone’s WeChat didn’t seem so hard after all.

Not wanting to waste time, she walked over to the table and opened the scan function. “My friend wants your WeChat. Is that okay?”

Shen Yanzhou, who was closest to her, looked up with an inscrutable expression. “What game is this now?”

But through her earpiece, “Mi” squealed, “No, no, not him! The one next to him with the earring!”

Xu Qingyi: Huh…?

She awkwardly shifted her phone from under Shen Yanzhou’s gaze, slowly extending it toward the guy with the earring.

Smiling, she asked, “Is that okay?”

Shen Yanzhou’s previously faintly glowing eyes instantly turned cold.

The guy with the earring replied softly, “Sorry, I’m here for an interview.”

Thinking he was rejecting her, Xu Qingyi pulled down her mask. “No problem, I can wait till after your interview.”

Showing her face for two grand wasn’t a bad deal.

Sure enough, the guy smiled and changed his tune. “Alright.”

Xu Qingyi put her mask back on and stepped aside to wait.

Later, the guy came over and handed her his phone screen. “Add me.”

“I’m Shi Qing,” he said. “What’s your name, pretty girl?”

He seemed outgoing, but Xu Qingyi just replied, “I’ll pass my friend’s WeChat to you.”

Shi Qing raised an eyebrow. “So, it really is for your friend?”

Thought it was the classic “asking for a friend” excuse.

Xu Qingyi nodded, turning into a taskmaster. “Of course. Hurry up and add her.”

Shi Qing obliged, opening the verification page to add “Mi,” but his eyes stayed on Xu Qingyi. “Are you single, pretty girl?”

Distracted, waiting for him to hit the verification button, Xu Qingyi answered offhandedly, “Yeah.”

Shi Qing grinned. “Then sit with me, and I’ll add your friend.”

Xu Qingyi looked up at him.

“My treat,” he said.

Only then did Xu Qingyi realize he was genuinely here for an interview.

With his striking features, phoenix eyes, and cool black earring, how did he get rejected for a bar DJ position?

Did Shen Yanzhou get the job instead?

Xu Qingyi glanced over at Shen Yanzhou’s table.

Shen Yanzhou was just like last time, quietly sitting there with his legs crossed, mostly glued to his phone and ignoring everyone.

She hadn’t meant to keep looking at him, but every time she snapped out of her thoughts, she found her gaze drifting back to him.

Two or three times, just as Shen Yanzhou was about to glance her way, she barely managed to avert her eyes, lowering her head to sip her juice.

Liang Fanglin stole a glance at Yanzhou. “Want me to go call her over to join us?”

Shen Yanzhou shot him a cold look. “Did I say I wanted to?”

Liang Fanglin: “…”

He didn’t say it out loud, but his whole body seemed to scream it.

“Going out for a smoke.” Shen Yanzhou tossed his glass aside and abruptly stood up.

Liang Fanglin was baffled. Wasn’t this the same guy who insisted that auto mechanics should quit smoking if they wanted to live longer?

What, was his life suddenly not worth anything tonight?

As Shen Yanzhou passed by the table, Xu Qingyi instinctively looked up.

He happened to lean down at that moment, his voice low against her ear amidst the blaring music: “Congratulations. Found yourself a seasoned player.”

Xu Qingyi stiffened.

Was he calling Shi Qing a veteran playboy? It almost sounded like he was implying the guy was shady.

Shi Qing only reacted after Shen Yanzhou had left. “You two know each other?”

Xu Qingyi dodged the question. “Can you add my friend now?”

“Not in a hurry!” Shi Qing glanced in the direction Shen Yanzhou had gone.

For the sake of the money, Xu Qingyi had no choice but to endure it and keep sitting.

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed.

Shen Yanzhou had messaged her on WeChat.

[Wine Pourer]

Xu Qingyi understood, he wanted her to pour drinks. But since when was that a side gig?

She chose to ignore it and kept waiting.

Shi Qing watched her sitting there like she was being tortured and couldn’t help but laugh. “First time here?”

Xu Qingyi nodded absently.

Shi Qing was surprised. With her striking looks and figure, he’d expected a different personality, but she seemed sweet and innocent. He relented. “Let me take you back.”

Xu Qingyi declined, insisting he add “Mi” on WeChat first.

Shi Qing had no choice but to comply. “Happy now?”

She nodded and immediately turned to leave, her attitude a complete 180 from before.

“Hey!” Shi Qing reached out and grabbed her. “Keep in touch on WeChat. Don’t delete me, or I’ll delete your friend too.”

Xu Qingyi paused, then smiled. “Sure.”

Shi Qing insisted on walking her out. She waited until he left first before heading back, not wanting to reveal where she lived.

Once back in her apartment, Xu Qingyi messaged “Mi Baby” honestly: [Shi Qing might be a little interested in me. I want to delete him, but I’m afraid he’ll remove you.]

Mi Baby replied instantly: [Then I’ll gladly hand him over to you!]

Xu Qingyi: “…” [But I don’t like him]

Mi Baby: [Then I don’t want him either]

As expected, her interest lasted all of two seconds.

Xu Qingyi was about to delete Shi Qing when he suddenly sent a message: [You’re a paid gaming companion?]

At the mention of money, her fingers froze.

Shi Qing extended an olive branch: [I aim for a hundred stars every season. Want to get paid to play with me?]

Xu Qingyi thought about it, then declined: [I’m terrible]

Shi Qing laughed, clearly having done some quick research on her. [Really? Jungle Queen]

Just as Xu Qingyi was about to type a reply, another WeChat notification popped up.

Returning to the main screen, she saw it was from Shen Yanzhou.

[Where are you?] he asked.

Her reaction to Shen Yanzhou was different from her reaction to other men, she was hyper-aware of his every move.

Unsure what he wanted, she bit her lip lightly and waited.

Finally, his second message came through:

[Not home yet?]

Xu Qingyi couldn’t figure out why he’d ask if she was home.

[I’m coming up.] he added.

Xu Qingyi quickly typed out, [What are you here for?]

Shen Yanzhou saw her instant reply and could sense the urgency in her words.

But he had already taken the elevator to the sixth floor.