Chapter 75 : Old Lover

Liang Qingqing’s impression of Zhou Lilan was still based on the incident during the interview when she scolded Ding Aijia. Seeing her now, she only took a few extra glances.

“Secretary Zhou really dotes on his daughter.”

Ma Xiuzhi wasn’t wrong in saying this. As the village secretary, Zhou had many duties, yet he still took the time to personally see his daughter off for her check-in, which showed his attitude.

But if anyone’s daughter were academically successful and got a government job, they’d probably act the same way.

It was just that Zhou Yongkang’s status made it seem particularly notable.

Liang Qingqing covered her lips and chuckled softly. She looked up at Ma Xiuzhi, her eyes bright, “I don’t envy others at all. My mom really loves me.”

Hearing such sentimental words, Ma Xiuzhi shivered a bit, glanced irritably at Liang Qingqing’s playful remark, but her heart was sweet, “You’ve become more cheesy with your words.”

“Of course,” Liang Qingqing raised her eyebrows with a proud smile, then turned to Fan Yanxing and subtly tugged at his pant leg, “Come with me to find a place to use the restroom.”

Fan Yanxing who had been keeping an eye on Liang Qingqing, noticed her movement right away. He nodded and said to Ma Xiuzhi, “Auntie, Qingqing and I are going to the restroom.”

“Go ahead, I’ll keep an eye on your things. Hurry back so you don’t get late,” Ma Xiuzhi pretended not to notice Liang Qingqing’s tugging on his pant leg. She understood the young people’s little schemes.

Needing to use the restroom was just an excuse. The real intention was to spend some time alone and talk.

As long as their behavior wasn’t excessive, she saw no harm in letting them have their time. It was better to turn a blind eye.

“Let’s go.”

Fan Yanxing reached out and helped Liang Qingqing up. She held his hand lightly and stood up, her legs a bit numb from squatting for too long. After a moment, they walked back the way they came. Liang Qingqing had noticed a public restroom nearby earlier and had remembered it.

They walked side by side, with not many people around, making the area feel quite peaceful.

Liang Qingqing led Fan Yanxing into a nearby alley, where they took several turns until they found a secluded corner. The glaring sunlight was blocked by high walls, making the light dim and the hot air much cooler.

She kicked at some small stones on the ground, then hooked his little finger with her own, her soft fingertip rubbing gently. She parted her lips slightly, her tone teasingly sweet.

“I’ll be here for more than half a month. Will you miss me?”

Fan Yanxing looked at Liang Qingqing’s delicate, pretty fingertips. His gaze deepened as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, lowering his voice, “You’re just pretending not to know.”

Liang Qingqing didn’t move away. She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head and blinking her eyes. Two shallow dimples appeared on her fair cheeks, adding a touch of adorable charm, “I want to hear you say it.”

Her warm breath tickled his nose, mingled with the faint sweetness of soda.

“Of course, I’ll miss you. Every day, every moment.” His eyes lowered, his thick lashes casting shadows, their faces close enough that Liang Qingqing could see his features clearly.

His hair was very short, standing straight up, which accentuated Fan Yanxing’s deep features and made him look like a lion ready to pounce, exuding a strong, rugged aura even when he did nothing.

It was a strange contrast such a rugged man whispering tender, affectionate words into her ear with a deep, sexy voice that made her heartbeat grow louder and louder until it was almost deafening.

She was wrapped in a sense of pleasure from head to toe and, as if on impulse, she leaned in and gave his lips a soft kiss. Her voice, sweet and tender, made him unable to resist showing his heart to her.

“Then you should come and see me whenever you have free time.”

“Okay.”

Fan Yanxing swallowed, lowered his head to gently taste her lips and tongue. Remembering that there were important matters to attend to later, he restrained his desire and only indulged in a light kiss, unlike the deeper ones they shared before.

After taking several deep breaths to calm the restlessness within him, he looked at Liang Qingqing, who had been keeping her distance out of fear of his wild behavior in broad daylight. He sighed, then reached out to pull her back into his embrace.

Even if he was a beast, he wouldn’t choose this moment and place to act on his impulses.

“Next time…”

She couldn’t bear to hear it and placed her hand over his mouth, stopping him from uttering more embarrassing words. She cleared her throat and pressed her slightly reddened lips together, “We should head back.”

Seeing this, Fan Yanxing’s gaze traced the rosy corners of her eyes. He smiled and seized the opportunity to say, “I’ll be busy with land and construction matters for a while, so I’ll definitely be very busy. But as soon as I have any free time, I’ll come to the city to see you. Once this period passes, we’ll be able to see each other every day.”

Liang Qingqing nodded. Hearing this, an inexplicable sense of anticipation rose in her heart. She curled her fingertips, feeling that future life would surely be quite comfortable and interesting, but…

“But if the training period ends, will I have to go to the provincial capital?”

If that’s the case, their chances to meet would become fewer and fewer, and they might not see each other even once every ten days or half a month, not just with Fan Yanxing, but with her family as well.

Having long been accustomed to life in the Liang family, Liang Qingqing felt an unexpected reluctance. Even though this was a great opportunity to live in the city and fulfill her initial ambitions, she felt conflicted.

Moreover, with the separation, the chances of enduring a long-distance relationship without changing would be rare. Although Liang Qingqing trusted Fan Yanxing’s character and feelings for her, she feared that those feelings might fade over time.

The mere thought of this situation made Liang Qingqing feel a kind of inexplicable fear.

However, if she really had to face the situation directly, she was sure she wouldn’t give up her future for a man. Compared to the two, she would still choose to go to the provincial capital rather than stay in the village.

Liang Qingqing shook her head, trying to clear her mind of these negative thoughts. She couldn’t let herself think only of the worst. What would come would come; she would deal with it as it came. It was a matter of both choice and necessity, and she wanted both.

“Qingqing, I fully support your choice. Going to the provincial capital is a good thing. We won’t always stay in the village,” Fan Yanxing seemed to sense her hesitation and reached out to ruffle her hair, giving her an irresistible sense of security and support.

His words also carried another meaning.

Liang Qingqing blinked, her eyes clear and misty. She nodded.

After their intimate moment in the alley, they eventually walked out. As Liang Qingqing reached the end of the alley and looked back, she suddenly remembered the couple she had seen with Fan Yanxing on the hospital rooftop and couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

At that time, Liang Qingqing had never imagined that one day she would sneak around in alleys with a man, engaging in such ambiguous behavior.

“Qingqing?”

Seeing that she hadn’t followed, Fan Yanxing stopped and looked back in confusion. Liang Qingqing shook her head, quickly caught up with him, and they walked together towards the front.

Not long after they returned, two staff members from the broadcasting bureau emerged. They sat behind desks and chairs, asking people to line up and sign in on the list. Once they had signed, they could take their luggage inside.

Liang Qingqing and her companions also joined the line. It seemed that Zhou Lilan had already gone in, as she was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, they had an umbrella, so it wasn’t too hot standing in line. The three chatted idly, making the wait more bearable.

Thankfully, the process was orderly, and soon it was their turn.

“Comrade, please show your relevant documents.”

The staff responsible for checking their signatures were a man and a woman. They kept their heads down, focused on their work, and didn’t look up. Liang Qingqing quickly took out the introduction letter from her village and her identification to be verified.

When they saw the name Liang Qingqing, their eyes met with a glimmer of curiosity.

Rumor had it that a high-ranking official from the provincial capital had personally selected a girl from the countryside to come for training, with the intention of bringing her to the provincial broadcasting bureau as an intern, and if successful, she would become an important broadcaster.

And that girl’s name was Liang Qingqing!

Getting into the provincial broadcasting bureau was a dream for most people there, but now it was snatched by a girl from the countryside. How could they swallow this?

They had taken this thankless job just to be the first to see what kind of girl had such luck and what abilities she possessed to be valued by the high-ranking official. Even the broadcasters in the bureau had been criticized by the official!

Thinking of this, they simultaneously looked up at the girl standing in front of the desk. The moment they looked, they couldn’t tear their eyes away. It wasn’t just them, many people in the crowd were also sneaking glances at Liang Qingqing.

It was simply because her appearance stood out so much. It was so striking that it drew everyone’s attention the moment she appeared.

Although everyone was from the countryside and had grown up working in the fields, only she stood out with a radiant complexion, a well-proportioned figure, and an elegant shape. Her two black braids hung in front of her chest, looking neither old-fashioned nor untidy. Despite the seemingly casual look, her hair was meticulously done, with not a single stray strand.

She was incredibly beautiful, with a languid charm.

The most eye-catching feature was her face, which was delicate and alluring, like a peony blooming brightly in spring. Its vivid colors were both beautiful and captivating.

The male staff member at the desk suddenly stood up, his expression excited as he looked at Liang Qingqing, his breathing becoming heavy, as if he had won a big lottery, barely containing his excitement.

After managing to control his emotions, Ding Wei wiped his right hand on his white shirt before extending it towards Liang Qingqing. His voice trembled with excitement, “Comrade Liang, hello. Long time no see.”

Long time no see?

In contrast to Ding Wei’s excitement, Liang Qingqing was completely puzzled. Her face remained calm, but her brow furrowed uncontrollably. She scrutinized the man in front of her from head to toe, but her mind was still blank.

She didn’t recognize him at all. Who was this person, making it seem like they were very familiar with each other?

But then, another thought suddenly popped into her mind, causing Liang Qingqing to widen her eyes in shock.

Could this person be the original owner’s “old lover”?