Chapter 1521 – Get Together 3
The buddies chatted till quite late before they went their separate ways, but they did not drink till they were drunk like they used to, thus they were still quite sober when they left.
Mu Yuchen had already gone upstairs to shower, and Xi Xiaye walked Qi Lei out. The two of them walked side by side while the dim yellow lights made their shadows look long, but with one long and one short, it looked quite harmonious.
“How have you been? I haven’t gone over to visit in a while since I’ve been quite busy recently.” Xi Xiaye’s calm voice broke the silence between the two of them, and one could hear the concern in her voice.
“Pretty good, just much busier than before, but I must say that I’ve been living a much more fulfilled life recently. It feels good. What’s with that look of yours? I’m a serious person now.”
Xi Xiaye chuckled as she shot him a glance. “Indeed, you’re quite something when you get all serious. The project in City B is making rather good progress. Uncle Lan was just telling me to praise you properly. If it weren’t for you, the project might not have gotten on track so quickly. Fuhua’s foundation in City B is quite weak, and there are indeed many obstacles to setting things in motion.”
“If you want to thank anyone, it should be your Mr. Mu. I didn’t do anything. I was only thinking of my own benefits, so you don’t have to thank me. Instead, it was Mu Yuchen. Glory World didn’t get many advantages out of this,” said Qi Lei humbly.
“Him helping me out is what he should do.”
“He and I are of different ident.i.ties. I know you’re saying that. Alright, since we’re so close, I don’t want to hear all these boring thank yous. How’s Weiwei? Actually, I was thinking…”
Before Qi Lei could finish, Xi Xiaye had already spoken up to cut him short, “She’s doing very well. Letting her stay here is much better for her than anywhere else. Her recent situation has improved much more. It’s just that she can’t quite keep up with her grades, but don’t worry. I’ll guide her well and see if she can catch up with the rest. You’re still a bachelor, thus you don’t have experience with these things. In fact, an additional child will just be a burden and you won’t be able to manage her. It’s much better on my end since I’m already raising two, so one more isn’t a problem.”
Qi Lei stopped walking now and looked deep into her eyes. Then, he continued walking. “You’ve got a great reason. As her biological uncle, hearing you say that makes me feel like I’m a very irresponsible person.”
“Weier enjoys life over here. Actually, she’s a very pitiful child, having met with many difficulties in life. Of course, I’m hoping that she will have a good childhood. I hope that those incidents won’t cast too much of a shadow on her childhood. That way, she can be like normal people when she grows up, and live a more carefree life.”
Xi Xiaye had given it much thought before. To leave Qi Weier on Mu Lings.h.i.+’s end might not be the best choice. The more she deliberated over it, the more she decided that the girl should come with her and Mu Yuchen. Mu Yuchen had always been a good influence, and with him around, it would benefit the children’s education.
She just wanted to help out this pitiful girl who should have a complete and beautiful life, not a nightmare that scared her. While it proved that her considerations were correct right now, at least, Qi Weier was doing much better now than before.
“With a temperament like yours, I do feel inferior.”
“Don’t worry about Weier. Instead, it’s you. Right now, the company’s basically steady. Haven’t you thought about your personal matters?” Xi Xiaye looked at him with a meaningful expression while a faint smile flashed across her lips.
“You and your husband have the same thoughts. Earlier, Mu Yuchen asked this question too.” Qi Lei’s eyes were colored with a helpless smile.
“He cares quite a lot about you. He sees you like a brother,” Xi Xiaye explained.
“I know both of you are concerned about me, but you shouldn’t worry too much about those things. Right now, I feel at peace. Neither can I seem to love anyone, nor can I bear another relations.h.i.+p. It’s not a bad thing to live life alone and be a little quiet. In fact, I’m afraid I won’t have a chance at another relations.h.i.+p. My heart’s too tired…” said Qi Lei plainly.
When Xi Xiaye heard that, she frowned immediately and looked at him disapprovingly. “Why do you say that? I remember the last time when you said the same thing, I reprimanded you. You’re only in your early 30s. Mr. Mu only met me when he was about your age whereas Su Chen’s only got together with Ji Zitong at 31 years old.”
At this point, Xi Xiaye could not help but sigh softly as she lamented, “Actually, Qi Lei, you say you’re tired, yet it’s not just you who are tired. I used to think that way too. I always feel like you’re walking down the same path that I’ve taken. Who wouldn’t be tired living in the now, for today or tomorrow? We wish for different things, so we suffer different burdens of the heart. Next time, you’ll understand that having another person by your side might help you share much of the burden like what’s weighing on your mind…”
“Looks like you’ve come to a huge realization.” Qi Lei grinned, but his smile looked a little bleak and lonely. Xi Xiaye felt sad to see this.
“I always tell Mr. Mu that our experiences are similar, and that’s why I always resonate with you. Many times I can understand how you feel, but I have to also admit that I’m right now a tad luckier than you. The more one climbs up the ladder, the more one will feel lonely. I understand this feeling too, but we can’t just grow old alone. You’re 30, just 30. You’ve only gone through a third of your life.” Xi Xiaye looked at Qi Lei with some tenderness in her eyes.
“Time flies. In the blink of an eye, 30 years have pa.s.sed. It feels like I haven’t done anything in time, and just like that, 30 years have pa.s.sed by.” Qi Lei sighed. From the corner his eyes that looked at Xi Xiaye, concern gathered. Finally, he was moved, so he thought about it, then said, “Alright, don’t worry now and don’t send me off. I know. When the time is right I’ll find a good woman, get married and have children. I’ll fight for a good life for myself.”
Upon hearing that, Xi Xiaye only smiled and stopped walking because Qi Lei’s car was right in front of them.
“You seem to sound quite helpless. I’m not forcing you.” She smiled.
Qi Lei shot her a side glance. “Is this not forcing? You’re going the soft and hard way at the same time now. Alright, I’m going home. I’ll think about it.”
Then, he pulled open the car door and sat inside before he waved to Xi Xiaye and started the car…