Chapter 23 – “Punching pillows and fuming!”

Backstage at the B‑City exhibition, Qin Shi’s phone blew up:

Jiao:
Barbecue wrecked the study again
but the jiejie stopped him. 😊

Star:
…She went into my study?

Jiao:
Of course, or she couldn’t have rescued your precious shelves, right?
BTW she said she’ll be busy and can’t walk the dog after you’re back.

Qin Shi’s heart plummeted.
Did she see the Invincible‑Cup medal with my name?

Back at 149 & 150

That evening Li Huanhuan hugged a pillow, rolled on the bed and yelled into the duvet.

He’s been lying to me the whole time! Why keep playing “mystery neighbor” after recognizing me?
She wanted to storm over and confront him—yet remembered the night he carried her to hospital. The anger fizzled into complicated knots of gratitude and embarrassment.

Unable to untangle her feelings, she attacked the pillow again, then seized His Majesty Cat for a ruthless snuggle. The cat escaped in outrage; at least the tantrum helped her breathe easier.

Huanhuan: “Whatever—let him enjoy his little drama.
I’m done.”

She texted Jiao: from tomorrow the dog‑walking ends.

Qin Shi’s counter‑offensive

Landing the next day, Qin rushed home with peace‑offering roast duck.
A sticky note greeted him:

Thanks for the duck.
I’m dieting—no poultry.

           – Neighbour 149

He cooked a low‑cal beef set.
New note:

Appreciate the effort.
I’ve gone vegetarian.

           – Neighbour 149

Next day he made veggie dishes.
Note:

Sorry, I don’t like greens either.

           – 149

The polite, easy‑going neighbour had turned frosty overnight.
Qin Shi clenched his phone: She must have found the medal. Time to face this.

The disastrous blind‑date

While Qin stood outside 149 with gifts and Barbecue, the owner in question was enduring yet another arranged date. The man bragged about nothing but “my boss” and his “rich travel experience”— which turned out to be a nearby Taoist hill plus a college excursion. When he called famous X‑Lake “just a big puddle”, Huanhuan’s patience snapped.

She excused herself, went home, saw Qin and the husky waiting at her door— and simply walked past.

Behind the closed door Qin heard a muffled thud… then imagined her punching a pillow in anger.