Shi Wenli apologized, "Sorry, I accidentally got you in the shot."
Xu Qinghe said, "It's fine."
Anyway, at the latest tomorrow night, Shi Miao would know.
Shi Wenli's phone vibrated repeatedly—his sister sent several photos.
He didn't choose; instead, he handed the phone directly to Xu Qinghe: "You pick. You'll be the one looking at the flowers at home."
They stayed at the new place until the vase was chosen before leaving.
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped outside the building where Shi Wenli rented.
Just then, Xu Qinghe's phone buzzed with a message.
Zhao Mingde asked: 【Are you busy right now?】
Xu Qinghe: 【Not busy. What's up, Director? Please go ahead.】
Zhao Mingde expressed concern about her being reported today—rare for him, he didn't nag her.
Finally, he reminded her not to let it affect her relationship with Shi Wenli.
He also said that a smooth love life would only benefit her work.
Xu Qinghe: “...”
He was afraid they wouldn't get along.
She turned to Shi Wenli and said, “Our director is starting to get anxious. Before he set us up, he worried we'd refuse to meet. Now he's worried we might not get along.”
Shi Wenli understood Zhao Mingde's concerns: “Tell Director Zhao not to worry. I'm not just testing the waters; there's no way we won't get along.”
Xu Qinghe didn't expect them to be on the same wavelength.
She showed him the chat interface with the director.
Half a minute ago, she had replied: 【Don't worry, Director. Shi Wenli and I definitely won't not get along, and we won't break up. We're not just testing if we're suitable.】
With a “ding,” Zhao Mingde replied: 【Since that's the case, hurry up and go through the process. Look at Shi Miao—she got married right after a blind date. You should learn from her. Get married soon and have children while your parents are still young enough to help take care of them.】
Xu Qinghe: “...”
She turned her face; Shi Wenli had just read the message and was also looking at her.
Thinking about the second part about having children, both of them smiled awkwardly.
Shi Wenli parked the car and turned off the engine, then asked her, “Want to come up to my place for a bit?”
Xu Qinghe thought for a moment: “How about you come to my place? My parents won't be back until next week.”
Shi Wenli unbuckled his seatbelt and smiled, “Okay. It'll be a good chance to see your shoe collection.”
In the past, when he took Xu Qinghe home, he only went as far as the first-floor elevator, watched her get in, and then turned back.
Tonight was the first time he went upstairs.
Her apartment was the largest layout in the entire community, decorated in French palace style. As soon as the door opened, intricate carvings and classical crystal chandeliers complemented each other, exuding a sense of luxury.
Two of the rooms had been converted into shoe and hat rooms. The shoe cabinets were filled with Crocs, which looked completely out of place with the elegant decor.
Xu Bingduo had once said to his wife: “These are two rooms of ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer.”
His wife glanced at him, signaling him to hush.
Xu Bingduo: “I didn't say it outright—it's foamed plastic.”
Wife: “...”
Her parents didn't understand her special hobby, but they always supported her.
Seeing that the shoe cabinet was almost full, Xu Bingduo planned to add two more after the New Year, but Xu Qinghe refused, saying she wouldn't buy more. Even if she did, it would only be an occasional pair.
On the surface, it seemed she had stopped buying shoes.
In reality, she now had someone to confide in.
As soon as they entered, Shi Wenli asked, “May I have a look at your shoe cabinet?”
Xu Qinghe smiled and refused, “I won't show you the shoe cabinet.”
Shi Wenli took off his coat and casually draped it over the back of the sofa: “I need to see to know how much space to set aside for your shoes in the new place.”
“The shoes won't be moved; they'll stay here.”
“It's inconvenient to leave them here. If you suddenly want to swap a pair for the operating room, you'd have to make a special trip.”
Xu Qinghe poured him a glass of warm water: “I won't change them anymore. I'll just wear the two pairs you gave me. No, three pairs. Three are enough.”
She took his hand: “Let's go to my room,” she had a gift for him.
Shi Wenli held her hand in return and followed her.
Her bedroom continued the palace style of the whole house. The gilded carvings on the ceiling were layered, the princess bed with gold tracery was dreamy and elegant, and the pinkish-purple bed curtains softly cascaded onto the warm-toned vintage floral wool carpet.
At that moment, he felt as if he were in a castle.
Shi Wenli remembered her once saying she liked minimalist style; at this moment, he wasn't so sure.