The man on the other end of the line seemed to be shocked by the word hubby. There was dead silence, and he didn't speak for quite a while.
Song Xinya's heart skipped a beat. Crap, she had overdone it.
This play would only work if he cooperated with her. If Qin Yuhe stayed silent, she would become a laughingstock.
How could someone as noble and aloof as Qin Yuhe lower himself to play along with someone else's act?
If she had known, she wouldn't have pulled this stunt.
Song Xinya was filled with regret when suddenly, she heard Qin Yuhe's deep, cold voice in her ear: Mrs. Qin, I am here.
The sky cleared up and the rain stopped; Song Xinya instantly felt alive again.
Like a sweet little wife who was deeply in love with her husband, she sweetened her voice and said as gently as water, Hubby, take good care of yourself while you're abroad alone. When you come back, I'll make noodles for you.
Qin Yuhe said, Okay.
Having finished showing off their affection, Song Xinya steered the topic toward Mr. Wang: Hubby, just now Mr. Wang and his wife said they were going to throw my family in jail. I'm so scared~
Qin Yuhe's voice was as cold as ice, imposing without being angry. My wife's family is my family. Why, Mr. Wang, are you going to touch them?
Mr. Wang's legs gave way, and he was so scared he almost wet himself.
The Perm trembled all over, entirely stripped of her previous arrogance.
Mr. Wang's voice quavered: Mr. Qin, I didn't know Song Xin... Miss Song was your wife. If I had known, I wouldn't have dared to touch them even if you lent me ten thousand guts. A thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes, they are all mine. Miss Song is not at fault, and her family is not at fault. Even if someone goes to jail, it will definitely be me and my family. Rest assured, Mr. Qin, today's matter is wiped clean. Song Xin... Mrs. Qin and her family will remain completely unharmed.
Hanging up the phone, Song Xinya looked at Mr. Wang and The Perm acting like they were walking on thin ice, and immediately felt a rush of satisfaction.
She asked leisurely, Can my salary and bonus be issued now?
Mr. Wang: Yes, yes, yes.
The Perm: Yes, yes, yes.
Immediately, Song Xinya received her salary and bonus.
If The Perm hadn't caused such a scene, she might not have gotten the money so quickly.
Of course, the person she should thank the most was Qin Yuhe.
Mr. Wang and The Perm stood stiffly, thinking that since the salary and bonus had been paid, this great Buddha, Mrs. Qin, should finally leave.
Song Xinya walked up to them in her high heels. My clothes were torn just now. Pay up.
How could The Perm dare to refuse? She asked, Mrs. Qin, how much did you buy that dress for?
For a dress she bought for eighty bucks, Song Xinya opened her mouth and said, Eight thousand!
The Perm didn't dare to ask a single extra word and transferred eight thousand to Song Xinya's account.
Song Xinya clicked her high heels over to a desk in the office, picked up a stapler, and stapled her torn neckline a few times. The fabric came together, no longer exposing anything.
She led Song Tingye away, her heels clicking. Her skirt swayed, presenting a graceful silhouette. She had stirred up massive waves and then left with a free and easy grace, leaving behind a group of people staring blankly at her retreating back.
Parting for adults means that once they go their separate ways, they never see each other again.
The crowd thought about how they would never again see such a passionate and bright red rose, and couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and melancholy.
...
New York, Wall Street.
In the conference room, there were black-haired, dark-eyed compatriots as well as blonde, blue-eyed white people. Qin Yuhe sat steadily at the head of the table.
All the executives present knew that Mr. Qin was always unsmiling, serious, cold as ice, and decisive during meetings.
But today, after taking a phone call, his entire aura softened, and a smile lingered at the corners of his lips.
Throughout the whole meeting, he didn't scold a single person. It was a first, like a maiden's first wedding day.
The assistant had worked for Qin Yuhe for many years and could clearly feel that he was in a very good mood today.
After the meeting, the assistant asked, Mr. Qin, you've been busy with work and haven't had dinner. Now that the meeting is over, what would you like to eat? I'll go buy it.
Qin Yuhe replied, Noodles.
A look of surprise appeared on the assistant's face. Didn't Mr. Qin dislike noodles? Why did he suddenly want to eat noodles tonight?
Assistant: Pasta?
Qin Yuhe: Chinese soup noodles.
Assistant: I can probably only get that in Chinatown. I'll go look for it now.
The assistant brought back a bowl of beef noodle soup from Chinatown, from a very famous Chinese restaurant where the chef's skills were renowned far and wide.
Opening the takeout container, the assistant placed the beef noodles in front of Qin Yuhe.
The beef bone broth was simmered to a rich, milky white; the beef chunks were stewed until red, bright, and tender; the noodles were smooth and chewy, garnished with bright green chopped scallions.
Qin Yuhe took two bites and then put down his chopsticks.
The taste of these noodles was different from what he had imagined.
It didn't give him any desire to eat.
Actually, the assistant had tasted the noodles before buying them, and they were delicious, but clearly, Mr. Qin was not satisfied.
Mr. Qin had specifically asked for noodles, but when they were brought back, he wouldn't eat them. The assistant couldn't figure out why for a moment.
Qin Yuhe spoke up, Book me a flight back to China.
The assistant was astonished once again: Didn't you say before that you were going to stay in New York for half a year?
Qin Yuhe said faintly, Are you teaching me how to do my job?
The assistant bowed his head: I wouldn't dare. I'll go book the flight right now. What day would you like to return?
Qin Yuhe: Today.
Today?!
The assistant was shocked once more.
They had only been in New York for a day and were already going back. What was the point of coming for just one day?
Was this a joke?
Moreover, it was 10:00 PM New York time. In the middle of the night, Mr. Qin wanted to return to China.
He really was in a rush.
Was he the King of Haste?
...
When Song Xinya returned home, she immediately paid the overdue fees for her grandmother's nursing home.
There was never enough money to spend, just like there was never enough sleep.
Every time her salary and bonus hit her account, she felt like she owned the world. But before she could even properly enjoy the feeling of a bulging wallet, the money was transferred right out of her account.
She hadn't lost weight, but her wallet certainly had.
Song Xinya opened a job-hunting app to look for work, and Song Tingye poked his round head over.
Sis, I heard it's super hard to find a job right now. Millions of college students graduate every year. What if I work my butt off to get into college, only to graduate and not find a job?
Song Xinya smiled faintly. Little brother, you absolutely don't need to worry about not finding a job. How could your luck be so good that you never have to work a day in your life? Think about it, is that even possible? Do you have the kind of blessed life where you never have to work? And you're worried about not finding a job. You sure dream big.
After swallowing this dose of toxic positivity, Song Tingye felt suddenly enlightened and gave Song Xinya a thumbs-up. Sis, you are so right!
Song Xinya waved at Song Tingye. You're about to be a high school senior, stop hovering in front of me. Go do your practice papers.
Song Tingye said happily, I've already finished all the summer homework the teachers assigned.
Oh, is that so, Song Xinya dragged out her words, a sly glint flashing in her eyes. You arrived at my company so perfectly on time this morning. Have you been following me ever since I left for the company?
Song Tingye: "Of course. That Boss Wang has a fat head, big ears, and a greasy face, and his small eyes are always darting around lecherously. I knew he was up to no good, so I was worried about you going to work alone. I've been waiting at your company's entrance the whole time so I could rush in immediately if anything happened."
Song Xinya: "You've been so good to me, little brother. Shouldn't I give you a nice reward?"
Song Tingye: "Yes, yes!"
Song Xinya took out a gift bag and solemnly handed it to Song Tingye with both hands. "A gift from your big sister."
Song Tingye excitedly pulled the gift out—
Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Mock Exams
Song Tingye threw his head back and acted out spitting blood: "Pfft—"
Song Xinya: "Don't cry just yet, I have another gift for you."
She took out another bag: "Ta-da! Sixty sets of test papers."
Song Tingye clutched his heart, looking like he'd taken a critical hit: "I... ah, ahhh, pfft—"
Song Xinya: "Are you happy to receive this gift, little brother?"
Song Tingye: "Happy, so happy, I'm dying of happiness!"
Song Xinya: "Since you're so happy, go back to your room and do your exercises."
Song Tingye hung his head in dismay: "Fine."
Her little brother was too obedient. Feeling generous, Song Xinya took out her phone and ordered him a full-priced cup of Mixue Ice Cream and Tea.
...
Over the course of a day, Song Xinya browsed through all the relevant positions on the job recruitment websites.
But she didn't send out her resume immediately.
Finding a job was like finding a husband; picking the wrong job was like picking the wrong man. Settling down with someone you didn't like and going to work every day as if you were heading to a graveyard—there was no worse feeling.
Song Xinya first bookmarked the suitable positions. The next day, she did another round of screening on her bookmarked jobs, ranked the companies from highest to lowest, picked the best few, and began submitting her resume.
With her excellent educational background—graduating from a top-tier university—rich work experience, outstanding professional skills, and a minor reputation in the education and training industry, she quickly received phone calls from companies scheduling her for interviews as soon as her resume was sent out.
Song Xinya wore a white blouse and a black pencil skirt. Her dark, soft, and shiny hair was tied into a low ponytail, and she wore delicate, appropriate light makeup.
As she grabbed her bag and walked downstairs to head out, she received a call from Li Cuirou.
"Hello, Xinxin, how did your blind date go the other day?"
Song Xinya: "My blind date was two days ago. Why didn't you just wait until after the New Year to ask?"
For the past two days, Li Cuirou had been busy comforting Zhang Yingying and hadn't had the time to care about Song Xinya.
That day, Zhang Yingying sat in the coffee shop waiting for Qin Yuhe from nine in the morning until nine at night, but saw absolutely nothing.
When she returned home, she threw herself into Li Cuirou's arms and cried her heart out.
"Mom, didn't you say Qin Yuhe would definitely show up at the coffee shop? I waited for him for twelve hours, longer than a work shift! Why didn't he come?"
Li Cuirou: "Boss Qin is so busy with work; he must have been delayed by business matters. Don't lose heart. As long as the position of Mrs. Qin is empty, you still have a chance."
Zhang Yingying said between sobs, "Mom, then you need to quickly talk to the matchmaker again. Send the matchmaker some gifts and arrange another blind date for me and Qin Yuhe as soon as possible. I'm afraid if we wait any longer, he'll marry another woman."
Li Cuirou: "Getting married isn't like getting your tubes tied; it doesn't just happen overnight. Boss Qin is a very picky man. How could he possibly get married that quickly?"
Zhang Yingying: "If only I had Qin Yuhe's WeChat. Then I could chat with him every day, greet him, show him I care, and get closer to him."
Li Cuirou: "Do you think just anyone can have Boss Qin's WeChat? Even your dad doesn't have it right now. We even have to rely on a middleman to pass messages to the Qin family."
Having fought so hard for a blind date opportunity only to not even see Qin Yuhe, Zhang Yingying was heartbroken and filled with anxiety. For two whole days, she was immersed in disappointment, unable to snap out of it, terrified that another woman would snatch Qin Yuhe away.
Li Cuirou had been keeping Zhang Yingying company these past two days and hadn't thought about Song Xinya.
Today, she only remembered Song Xinya because she had to discuss business with that fifty-year-old divorced business partner who had two kids.
Li Cuirou: "Xinxin, did that business partner take a liking to you?"
Song Xinya: "Whether he took a liking to me or not isn't important. What's important is that I don't like him."
Li Cuirou laughed: "You're a two-hundred-pound fatty, and you're actually being picky."
Zhang Yingying: "It's one thing for pretty girls with good figures to be picky; they have the capital. But what do you have? You're covered in flab, fat as a ball, and so ugly. What right do you have to be picky?"
Song Xinya stabbed right where it hurt: "You're not exactly a beauty queen yourself. Look, Qin Yuhe doesn't even want you."
Zhang Yingying's slightly recovered mood collapsed once again. At such a young age, she was almost infuriated into a heart attack.
Li Cuirou: "Song Xinya, what kind of thing is that to say?"
Song Xinya: "The truth."
Zhang Yingying's heart ached even more intensely.
Li Cuirou: "You don't need to worry about Yingying's affairs. Take care of yourself first. If you marry that fifty-year-old man with two kids, my business deal will go through."
Song Xinya: "If you want to sell a daughter for glory, go sell your own biological daughter. You didn't give birth to me, you didn't raise me, yet you want to sell me for money. That makes you a human trafficker. You're at this age, can't your thinking be a bit more mature? Do you really think I'd do something that brings me absolutely no benefit? You're truly the reincarnation of a honeycomb briquette—full of unexpected, scheming holes."
Song Xinya hung up the phone just as she reached the first floor.
The long pencil skirt she wore today reached her calves, so she didn't have to worry about exposing herself. She hopped onto her little electric scooter and rode down the street like the wind.
...
The interview process went incredibly smoothly. Song Xinya answered all the company's questions fluently and offered her own unique insights.
When it finally came to discussing salary and benefits, HR tried to lowball her, claiming that the current economic environment was poor, every company's profits were lower than before, and they wouldn't give her a pay raise. They offered her the exact same salary as her previous job.
The salary Song Xinya had agreed to at her last company was signed three years ago. After three years of growth and transformation, her worth had long surpassed that initial figure.
When speaking about her ideal salary, Song Xinya wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. She confidently and openly stated exactly how much money she wanted.
An interview was inherently a two-way street. The company was evaluating her, and she was evaluating the company. It wasn't enough for the company to just be satisfied with her; she had to be satisfied with the company, too.
Song Xinya told the HR representative, "My base salary needs to be at least eight thousand more than my previous job. If it's lower than that amount, I won't accept the offer."
HR replied that they couldn't make the final decision and needed to consult their superiors, asking her to go home and wait for news.
As a seasoned workplace veteran, Song Xinya naturally understood what the other party meant—
They were keeping her as a backup while looking for better options. They would continue interviewing other people. If they found a better candidate, they would hire them; if not, they would circle back and hire her.
Song Xinya didn't think there was anything wrong with this, as it was a common tactic used by companies everywhere.
At the same time, it was also a common tactic used by job seekers.
She hadn't just submitted her resume to this one company, nor would she only interview with them. She was interviewing with several companies simultaneously and intended to accept the offer with the highest salary.
After a day of interviews, Song Xinya went to the supermarket, bought some groceries, and rode her little electric scooter back to her residential compound.
It was an older neighborhood, populated mostly by the elderly. As soon as she entered the main gate, she saw a group of old ladies gathered together, gossiping passionately.
"That car parked in front of Building 13 looks really nice. It seems to be a luxury car. What's it called again? Right, a Rose-Royce."
"Whose relative is visiting? They must be so rich."
"I've been watching ever since this Rose-Royce entered the neighborhood, and no one has gotten out."
"From daylight to dusk, that car has been parked at Building 13 for three hours."
Song Xinya parked her little electric scooter at the entrance of Building 13.
She glanced at the "Rose-Royce." It was already dark, so she couldn't make out the license plate.
No matter how expensive the car was, it wasn't hers, and it had nothing to do with her. She turned around and headed into the stairwell, carrying her bag of groceries.
"Song Xinya."
Someone called her name. The voice was deep and magnetic, like a clear, cold stream formed by melting alpine snow—crisp and translucent, yet hiding a subtle warmth.
Song Xinya turned around and saw the door of the Rolls-Royce open. Qin Yuhe stepped out.
He stood across from her, dressed in a white dress shirt and black suit trousers. His posture was straight, tall, and handsome.
The dim yellow light from above cast shadows across his handsome, elegant face, emphasizing his chiseled features and giving him a mysterious, captivating aura.
Song Xinya could hardly believe her eyes. In her shock, the plastic bag slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground. A bright red tomato tumbled out, rolling across the pavement until it came to a stop right in front of Qin Yuhe's black leather shoes.
Qin Yuhe bent down, picked up the tomato, and handed it to her.
The pads of his fingers brushed against hers. The searing heat of his touch felt like a feather tickling the very tip of her heart, making both her fingers and her heart tremble.
Even though the tomato itself held no warmth, Song Xinya felt her palm burning as she held it.
She looked up at him, her dark eyes flickering with emotion, and asked, "Aren't... aren't you supposed to be in New York?"
Qin Yuhe gazed into her eyes and replied, "I came back to find you."
The temperature seemed to suddenly rise a few degrees. Song Xinya felt a little hot.
Had he flown all those thousands of miles from New York just to see her?
Song Xinya asked, "Do you have something work-related to tell me?"
"It has nothing to do with work."
Qin Yuhe said, "You told me you would make me a bowl of noodles when I got back. I'm here for the noodles."
