Capturing Qingqing's Heart (I)

"Of course it was me. What, Miss Qingqing, don't you recognize me anymore?" Ye Xiaofeng looked at Qingqing and smiled faintly.

"I recognize you. I just never expected Young Master Ye to become the boss while I knew nothing about it." Qingqing gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Now you know, don't you?"

"I don't know whether I should call you Boss or Young Master Ye." Unlike before, Qingqing's words now seemed to put some distance between herself and Ye Xiaofeng.

"You can call me Xiaofeng, or you can call me Young Master Ye like everyone else. Call me whatever you like." Ye Xiaofeng did not put on any airs, speaking as if he were talking to a friend.

"I think it's better if I call you Young Master Ye, like Manager Luo and the others do," Qingqing said softly, then took out the card Ye Xiaofeng had given her earlier and returned it to him.

"Qingqing, may I invite you to have some tea with me now?" Ye Xiaofeng smiled at her. Qingqing's curvaceous figure constantly drew his gaze.

"Mhm." Qingqing nodded slightly in agreement.

Qingqing wanted to make the tea for Ye Xiaofeng, and Ye Xiaofeng happened to have the same thought. Just then, they both reached for the teapot at the same time, and Ye Xiaofeng grasped Qingqing's hand.

"Uh, sorry." Out of courtesy, Ye Xiaofeng hurriedly pulled back his hand.

"It-it's okay." Qingqing immediately blushed, but she still poured tea for Ye Xiaofeng and herself.

"Why are you standing there? Sit down and let's talk." Ye Xiaofeng was very easygoing, though the smile never left his face.

Luo Shaotian waited outside the door for three hours. Not knowing what was happening inside, he could not help but imagine that three hours was enough for a young man and woman to spark the flames of love.

"Manager Luo, come in." Hearing Ye Xiaofeng summon him, Luo Shaotian hurriedly opened the door and entered.

In fact, Ye Xiaofeng had seen through the Eye of God and Demon that Luo Shaotian had been waiting outside the door for his instructions.

"Manager Luo, from today onward, Qingqing will be the deputy manager of the Grand Soul Fighting Arena!" Ye Xiaofeng spoke gently as he looked at Qingqing.

"Young Master Ye, absolutely not. I don't understand anything," Qingqing hurriedly refused.

"Young Master Ye, I don't think this is appropriate," Luo Shaotian said to Ye Xiaofeng.

"Luo Shaotian, what do you mean?" Ye Xiaofeng had not expected him to dare defy his wishes at such a critical moment.

"Young Master Ye, you misunderstand. I mean that Miss Qingqing would be more suited to serve as general manager. I can be the deputy manager. I will wholeheartedly assist Miss Qingqing—no, I should say Manager Qingqing." During those three hours outside, Luo Shaotian's mind had been constantly filled with images of Ye Xiaofeng and Qingqing's blazing passion.

"Manager Luo, absolutely not!" Qingqing was startled by this sudden development.

"Luo Shaotian, are you serious?" Ye Xiaofeng asked coldly.

"Young Master Ye, my life is yours. I, Luo Shaotian, swear to serve Young Master Ye unto death." Seeing Ye Xiaofeng's expression change, Luo Shaotian immediately lowered his head, not daring to look into his eyes. The last time he had seen those eyes that seemed to herald the descent of the Grim Reaper, they had left a deep psychological shadow in his heart.

"Fine, then we'll do as you say. Of course, you won't be shortchanged either. Your salary will double again." After talking with Qingqing for three hours, Ye Xiaofeng had learned much about her, and their relationship had unknowingly grown closer.

"Young Master Ye, you can't," Qingqing hurriedly refused, but the more she refused, the more determined Ye Xiaofeng became.

"As for you, you won't need to do anything. Manager Luo will handle all affairs for you. Manager Luo, isn't that right?" Ye Xiaofeng turned to look at Luo Shaotian.

"Yes, yes, yes. Manager Qingqing, you don't need to think about anything. I'll handle it all for you. You'll only be holding the title. When you have time, spend more time with Young Master Ye. After all, people your age have more common ground to talk about." Luo Shaotian had been through it himself, so he could not speak too bluntly. After hearing him put it that way, Qingqing stopped refusing.

"Oh, right, Manager Luo. Give Qingqing my suite office to use as her office." Ye Xiaofeng decided to see his good deed through to the end.

As Ye Xiaofeng continued talking with Qingqing, she gradually opened up and revealed her thoughts.

She had grown up in Suotuo City. She lost her parents when she was very young, but she was a strong girl. To survive, she worked several jobs at once. As long as there was money to be made, she would take the work. During that time, she had been a model, a trainee in a dance troupe, a waitress at the Suotuo Grand Soul Fighting Arena, and had even used her martial soul to treat injured people in exchange for payment.

To buy a portion of vegetables, she would haggle with the vendor for half the day. Everything was to save enough money to buy a suitable soul ring. She was now level 23, and her martial soul was the Azure Bird, a healing-type martial soul with little offensive power.

After breaking through to the Soul Grandmaster realm, she came to the Imperial Capital Grand Soul Fighting Arena and chose a job she was familiar with. Yet her life remained simple and frugal, all so she could earn more money and break through to the Soul Elder realm.

All this happiness had come too suddenly, as though she were dreaming. Ye Xiaofeng could also see that something was off with Qingqing.

"You're not dreaming. Everything is real." Ye Xiaofeng walked up to Qingqing and brushed aside the blunt bangs before her eyes.

But no matter how Luo Shaotian looked at it, it felt as if the two were flaunting their affection right in front of him. He truly could not bear watching them any longer.

"Young Master Ye, I'll arrange for the room to be cleaned up right away." Without waiting for Ye Xiaofeng's response, Luo Shaotian hurriedly left the room and shut the door.

"Young Master Ye, why are you treating me so well?" Qingqing still could not believe this sudden happiness.

"As long as you're happy, that's enough," Ye Xiaofeng answered with a smile.

"And then?" Ye Xiaofeng's answer was not what Qingqing wanted to hear.

"If you're happy, I'll be happy too." Ye Xiaofeng answered again like a block of wood.

"Oh, I understand." Qingqing looked a little disappointed.

"Of course, seeing you did make my heart flutter a little. Hehe." Ye Xiaofeng gave Qingqing an innocent smile.

"You're awful. I'm ignoring you." Qingqing blushed and ran out of the office.

"Qingqing, wait for me!" Ye Xiaofeng hurried after her.

Afterward, Ye Xiaofeng went shopping with Qingqing and bought her all sorts of things. Fortunately, his Soul Guiding Device Storage Ring could hold them all.

After they finished shopping, it was still early. Qingqing wanted to return to the place where she used to live to pick up some things, and Ye Xiaofeng accompanied her.

When they arrived at Qingqing's residence, the house could barely keep out the wind and rain. Ye Xiaofeng looked at the house, then at the smiling girl before him, and felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow. An urge to protect her rose within him, and he spoke without thinking.

"Young Master Ye, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you to a place like this and made you laugh at me." Qingqing blushed awkwardly.

"It's fine. It won't happen again. Never again," Ye Xiaofeng suddenly said for no apparent reason.

"Young Master Ye, what are you talking about?" Qingqing was confused by Ye Xiaofeng's strange words.

"Pack up. Let's go." The longer Ye Xiaofeng sat there, the worse he felt inside.

"Young Master Ye, I'll pour you some tea. Please wait a moment; it'll be ready soon." Qingqing did not know why, but she suddenly became flustered. She poured Ye Xiaofeng a cup of water, but it was cold.

"It's fine. I happen to be thirsty, and I like cold drinks." Seeing Qingqing's embarrassed, blushing face, Ye Xiaofeng lifted the cup and drank it all in one gulp so that she would not remain embarrassed.