Chapter 17.2

Look at that evasive eye contact. Her acting was so good a moment ago—how did it suddenly get so sloppy? He wanted to ask her about the half bowl of duck soup still in the fridge. What kind of shop sells duck and gives you soup for free?

“Oh? Sounds like a pretty high-and-mighty shop, huh? Won’t even do any cutting?”

“Maybe because it’s tasty and cheap,” she shrugged.

“Mm.”

Fan Qi shelled a handful of walnuts and gathered the meat into the napkin, getting ready to pour the whole lot into her palm and dump it into her mouth. But then she looked at Chen Zhiqian, who was still eating his noodles.

He brought back so many goodies for her—it wouldn’t be right not to share. “Here,” she said. “I shelled these myself. You can have half.”

Chen Zhiqian noticed her pained expression as she tried to look generous. He almost laughed. The discomfort and doubt he had been feeling earlier momentarily faded. “You eat them,” he said.

Fan Qi secretly sighed in relief, then scolded herself for being so stingy. Still, tossing a whole handful into her mouth was satisfying—the walnuts were fragrant and crunchy. Chewing with delight, she said, “Next time I’ll buy Chinese torreya seeds. They’re big, fragrant, and easy to crack.”

“Chinese torreya?” Chen Zhiqian echoed. Unlike walnuts, torreya seeds weren’t as commonly eaten. He hadn’t even known about them until many years later. How did she know?

Fan Qi remembered they were a bit niche and explained, “It’s a specialty from Hangzhou. They kind of look like olive pits. A classmate brought some to school in high school. I tried them once—really tasty.”

“Next time I go back, I’ll look for some.” Chen Zhiqian finished his noodles and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Grandma really misses you.”

From the memories, it was clear the Fan family cherished their daughter. Now that she was inhabiting this body and identity, like it or not, they were her family now.

“How are Grandma, my parents, and my brother?”

Chen Zhiqian smiled—such a warm smile that it made Fan Qi feel at ease. “They’re all doing well. Grandma’s in great health. Your parents are fine. Your brother won first prize in the national skills competition. He’s already the youngest welding technician at the shipyard. Supposedly, there are only a few people in the country who are more skilled.”

Fan Qi recalled the original Fan Qi’s memories. Her father had been strict, her mother always deferred to him. Her dad constantly praised her brother for being dependable and asked why she couldn’t focus on her acting and stop being so scattered.

The original Fan Qi resented them for being biased—favoring boys over girls.

But from what Fan Qi had seen in her memories these past few days, the Fan family had never mistreated their daughter. She was the youngest, so she always got the best food and new clothes. In those austere times, even when most people wore patched clothing, hers were clean and tidy.

On the other hand, her brother Fan Xun, the oldest of the three kids, and Chen Zhiqian—who was technically an outsider raised by the Fan family—had been expected to take on the most chores and care for their younger siblings.

When the original Fan Qi insisted on leaving home, her parents converted their entire savings—over two thousand yuan—into Hong Kong dollars for her. At the time, a mainland worker earned about a hundred yuan a month. That money, hard-earned over years, was barely enough to survive in Hong Kong.

If that’s what people called “favoring sons over daughters,” then what wasn’t?

“So, now that my brother won that award, has he found a girlfriend yet?” Fan Qi remembered her grandmother had been worried about him still being single before she left.

Chen Zhiqian paused as he cleared the dishes and walked to the stove. “Not yet. Grandma’s still worrying about it. My parents still want your family to move into my house, and give your old place to your brother. That way, with about twenty square meters, he’d at least have space to get married. Otherwise, with three generations crammed together, what girl would want to marry him?”

In the original memory, they lived in an old shikumen-style house, with multiple families stacked together. Six people from three generations had shared a small space, folding and unfolding beds and tables every day, sharing kitchens and even chamber pots—it had been incredibly inconvenient.

When the Chen family had their status restored, the government recognized his grandmother and great-grandfather as patriotic businessmen and returned the Chen family estate to them. Out of gratitude to the Fan family for protecting their only child during tough times, they had invited the whole family to move in with them. After all, the Chen estate was a grand Western-style house over 600 square meters.

But the Fan family had always had a clear sense of boundaries. No matter how big the Chen house was, they never sought to take advantage.

Thinking of all this, Fan Qi—who had grown up lacking affection—felt even more respect for the Fan family.

“Oh, right. Did you give money to my parents and Grandma? How much? I’ll pay you back.”

In the future, she planned to earn enough money herself to buy them a house. Surely, her parents wouldn’t refuse that.

“They refused to take any money. I bought a few things for them at the airport in Japan, told them you asked me to. It wasn’t much. You don’t need to pay me back.”

They’d given up all their savings, and even when she tried to return the favor a little, they wouldn’t accept it. She thought for a moment and said, “I’ll go back during the Spring Festival. By then I should have some money of my own—I’ll give it to them myself.”

Hearing that, Chen Zhiqian looked pleased. “That’s best. I also told them you found a job at a brokerage firm. I explained your role like you’re working at a bank counter, handling transactions and such. Your dad was really happy when he heard.”

“Thank you.”

“You go shower first. I’ll do the dishes, and after that I need to go through some documents. Don’t worry about the floor—I’ll get it wet again while washing, so no need to clean it now.”

“Okay.” Fan Qi went into the room to grab her clothes, then paused—did that mean the last time he cleaned the floor, it was completely pointless?

A memory from the original host surfaced again: she’d never cleaned up after herself post-shower. But there was one time Chen Zhiqian had taken a phone call and didn’t clean up in time. The original Fan Qi had needed to use the bathroom and threw a full-blown tantrum over it.

The original her had always been elegant, gentle, and beautiful outside, so why couldn’t she show a little basic courtesy at home?

Fan Qi stepped into the shower. After washing and getting dressed, she realized—she forgot to bring a bra again.

It was an old habit, and after just one day of living with him, he had gone on a business trip. She hadn’t yet adjusted. Ugh!

Fan Qi cracked the bathroom door open and peeked out. Chen Zhiqian, who was unpacking from his luggage, looked up at her. She said, “Can you lower your head?”

“Why?”

“I need to grab something from the room.” Fan Qi shook her head. “Goldfish brain, what can I say?”

Chen Zhiqian seemed to understand what she meant and lowered his head. Fan Qi darted out of the bathroom and ran into the room.

She smacked her forehead—everyone says stock traders have goldfish memory, only seven seconds long. Apparently, it was true in her case.

After putting on her bra, she glanced down. Wearing it both day and night—wasn’t that a bit much? Wouldn’t it cause breast issues? She needed to buy a place soon. One room each would solve everything.

Ugh, what was she even thinking? One room each? As if they’d be living together long-term. They’d go their separate ways eventually.

Fan Qi pulled on a T-shirt, tossed her laundry in the washing machine, and said to Chen Zhiqian, “I’m going to read in the room.”

Seeing the slight curiosity in his eyes, she figured it was better to come clean. He’d find out sooner or later anyway. “I signed up to take the broker licensing exam, so I’m reviewing.”

“Oh?” There was a hint of surprise in his voice, then he added, “Alright.”

Fan Qi sat cross-legged on the bed and resumed studying the first volume of her materials.

About an hour later, someone knocked on the door. She hurriedly stuffed her book under the pillow. Chen Zhiqian handed her the plastic basin with her freshly washed clothes. “They’re done. I’ll grab my clothes and take a shower.”

“Oh, okay! Come in.” Fan Qi took the basin and stepped aside.

Chen Zhiqian came in, glanced around, and went to the wardrobe to find his clothes. Fan Qi moved her laundry into the dryer.

Seeing he was still rummaging, Fan Qi handed him a set of pajamas. “Your sleepwear.”

“Not this set.” Chen Zhiqian kept digging, pulled out a different one, and left the room.

Once he was gone, Fan Qi pulled her book out from under the pillow and resumed studying.

She was just reviewing—why did she have to be so nervous? And why did she take the English version? If it were the Chinese one, it wouldn’t even be a problem.

She studied for another hour. Since they’d had dinner out, it was already late—past eleven.

She put the book away and opened the door. “Chen Zhiqian, aren’t you going to bed?”

Wearing long sleeves and pants, Chen Zhiqian didn’t even look up. “Soon. You go ahead.”

Fan Qi walked out to pour herself a glass of water. As she passed by him, she asked, “Aren’t you hot?”

“I’m fine.”

She took a sip. “Tsk tsk tsk! ‘Cool as jade, untroubled by sweat’—a true beauty never feels the heat. Only us mere mortals suffer from it, right?”

Chen Zhiqian lifted his gaze and stared at her. If looks could shoot lasers, she’d have a smoking hole in her face right now. Fan Qi gave a dry laugh. “Don’t be so serious, just joking around.”

The words barely left her mouth before she cursed herself inwardly. Why did she have to run her mouth? Why tease Chen Zhiqian for no reason?

Bad habit. Definitely one of those ego-driven bad habits carried over from her previous life.