Chapter 45

After moving the sewing machine to her room, Xia Qingning didn’t continue sewing. She just held the drawings she had made and carefully looked at them to see if there were any changes she needed to make.

“Why did you stop?” Lu Jingzhe asked, seeing that she hadn’t moved for a while.

He had never seen her get angry before. She had always been gentle and soft-spoken. Seeing her be fierce just now, well… it was quite interesting.

Especially when she brushed He Shanshan’s hand away, her gaze was firm and resolute, her movements clean and swift, completely unlike her usual gentleness.

The contrast surprised him.

“Aren’t you resting?” Xia Qingning asked in confusion.

“It’s still early.” Lu Jingzhe replied, “The sewing machine isn’t that loud, it won’t bother me.”

Since he said that, Xia Qingning didn’t hesitate to continue making her clothes.

Although she was already tired, she felt full of energy when she started sewing. She enjoyed the process of seeing beautiful clothes slowly come to life from her hands.

Lu Jingzhe was originally going to ask if the money he gave her wasn’t enough for her to buy those scraps. But seeing her focused on her work, he didn’t interrupt her.

The room was quiet. She was diligently making clothes, and he was quietly reading a book. The peaceful and beautiful atmosphere of their peaceful coexistence made Lu Jingzhe feel very comfortable. He suddenly thought, it wouldn’t be bad to live like this with her.

Xia Qingning finished the last seam, and a blue and white long dress was complete.

The dress was overall fresh and elegant. The petal collar and crossed ruffles on the sleeves enhanced the design. The skirt was large and flowing, it should look good when worn.

She was satisfied. She put away the thread, looked at the time, and realized it was almost midnight. She hadn’t realized she had been sewing for so long. She looked up and saw that Lu Jingzhe was already leaning back in his chair, asleep.

He was slightly tilting his head, his exquisite and superior features, his smooth muscle lines, outlining his sharp facial contours, exuding an aura of elegance and coldness.

Xia Qingning never felt sleepy after finishing making clothes. Maybe it was the excitement caused by joy and accomplishment, but she couldn’t sleep anyway. Looking at Lu Jingzhe’s perfect face, she unconsciously picked up a pencil and started drawing on the paper.

In the real world, she had learned various skills since she was a child, singing, dancing, drawing, she didn’t miss any of them. She probably had some talent, she learned everything quickly and well. Her excellent artistic skills also helped her a lot in her later career as a fashion designer.

She moved the pencil up and down in her hand. The sound of the pencil touching the paper, a soft rustling, was particularly clear in the silence of the night. In no time, a portrait was finished.

On the drawing paper, Lu Jingzhe was holding a book, his head slightly tilted, eyes closed. His long eyelashes cast a shadow in the light. His straight nose, thin lips, his whole face exuded a resolute and steady aura.

Although it wasn’t lifelike, it was still very expressive.

She looked at the person on the paper, a smile curving her lips. It wasn’t that she had any special feelings for him, but a pure admiration that arose in her heart when she was faced with something beautiful.

After a moment, she put down the drawing, walked over to Lu Jingzhe, and gently woke him up, asking him to go to bed.

Lu Jingzhe opened his eyes, glanced at the clock on the wall, and realized it was late at night.

“I’ll go wash up, you go to bed.” Xia Qingning said, picking up a basin and walking out.

Lu Jingzhe stood up, just about to go out, when his gaze fell on the table and stopped. He locked onto a portrait sketch among several clothing sketches. He walked over curiously and picked it up.

Looking at the expressive portrait, Lu Jingzhe was a little surprised and a little happy. He was surprised that she could draw, and she drew so well. He was happy that she had drawn him.

Looking at the drawing, his lips curved slightly. After a moment, he put the drawing away and also picked up a basin and walked out.

They both washed up, and it was already very late when they lay down in bed. Xia Qingning was very tired and quickly fell asleep.

In the moonlight, Lu Jingzhe looked at her soft and delicate profile. He couldn’t help but feel a little regret. It was a pity that he couldn’t draw, he couldn’t capture the beauty of his bedmate at this moment.

Because she had slept so late, Xia Qingning got up later than usual the next morning. She was rubbing her sleepy head and carrying a basin out when she happened to meet He Shanshan, who had already washed up and come back.

Seeing her sleepy appearance, He Shanshan couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She turned and went into her room. As she closed the door, she muttered:

“Vixen, shameless!”

Xia Qingning, carrying her basin, was a little confused. She didn’t know what she had done wrong. She suddenly remembered that last night when she and Lu Jingzhe got up to wash up in the middle of the night, He Shanshan’s door was half open.

She must have thought that they had done something last night and were up late. So, seeing Xia Qingning so tired this morning, she confirmed her guess and felt very uncomfortable, so she called her a vixen.

Early in the morning, she hadn’t even spoken, but she had already made He Shanshan angry. Xia Qingning smiled slightly and walked out.

After quickly washing up, Xia Qingning returned to her room, picked up her bag, and was about to leave. Lu Jingzhe, who had also washed up and got dressed, said in a deep voice:

“I’ll drive you today.”

“No need, no need.” Xia Qingning quickly shook her head and refused. “I can just ride with Xiaodong.”

Xia Qingning thought, he had also stayed up late last night, and his hand probably wasn’t fully healed yet. She was just going with Wu Xiaodong because it was on the way, why would she bother him to drive her specifically?

Lu Jingzhe was about to speak, but Xia Qingning had already run out quickly. He frowned and walked out.

When he got to the courtyard, he was just about to call out to her, but he saw Wu Xiaodong riding his bike, already waiting at the gate. Xia Qingning ran over and skillfully sat on the back seat.

Wu Xiaodong, riding on the bike, saw Lu Jingzhe and didn’t forget to greet him with a smile:

“Jingzhe, good morning.”

Lu Jingzhe looked at him with a cold expression, his face didn’t look good at all!

“Then I’ll take Sister Qingning first.” Wu Xiaodong, oblivious to the situation, didn’t forget to add a boastful remark before leaving.

Watching them leave, Lu Jingzhe, with a cold expression, turned and went back into the house.

They arrived at the factory on time and didn’t arrive late. Once they got to the workshop, Xia Qingning went to find Team Leader Qin to ask for leave. She needed a day and a half off, today afternoon and next Monday.

Tomorrow was Sunday, and she had made a plan with Lu Jingzhe to return to her family in the countryside. But because the journey was so long, it would take at least two days to go back and forth, so she needed to ask for another day off and return to work on Tuesday.

Since the original owner had been performing well for the past two years and her tailoring skills were good, Team Leader Qin liked her very much, so he readily approved her leave.

After finishing her work in the morning, Xia Qingning packed her things and left work directly.

She returned to the courtyard, but didn’t go home immediately. She went to Maimiao’s house first. Maimiao was home, and Xia Qingning asked her to wash her hair and bring her makeup later. She had a surprise for her.

Hearing the word “surprise,” Maimiao’s eyes lit up. She quickly asked what it was. Xia Qingning kept it a secret and didn’t say anything, then went back home.