Chapter 241

"Didn't you say you were craving something?" "Oh my... why are you being so generous today, Mr. Shan? The last few times you just ate a simple meal at home, how come you're picking me up from work and taking me out to eat? Don't say anything! Let me guess... did you win the lottery?" "No, you never buy lottery tickets." Seeing Li Xue in the passenger seat with her brows furrowed as if she were seriously searching for an explanation, Shan Qing said quietly, "Actually, I found some money on the street on my way home from work today, so I had the chance to treat my dear wife." "You're such a smooth talker." Although she teased Shan Qing, Li Xue's face still radiated a faint smile of happiness. "How was work today?" "Not bad..." Shan Qing deliberately kept her in suspense, drawing out his words, and then, under Li Xue's unfriendly gaze, he became somewhat serious, his tone carrying a hint of pride: "I finished the tricky project I had on hand, and a promotion is in sight!" "Tch..." "I thought you'd already been promoted to general manager." Li Xue pouted, seemingly losing interest in Shan Qing's work, and slumped in her seat, idly scrolling through her phone. "Being a general manager isn't as important as going home to be with your wife." Shan Qing quietly took her hand and said very seriously. "Oh?" "So, you're only now remembering those nights you stayed out all night working overtime?" "..." "There definitely won't be a next time!" Under Li Xue's resentful gaze, Shan Qing also solemnly promised. "I'll believe you this time." The car slowly started moving. Looking out the window at the ever-flowing scenery, Li Xue stared blankly at the vast steel torrents and towering skyscrapers that seemed to stretch endlessly. Unconsciously, she had been working in Beijing for several years. From initially searching for work like a headless fly, to now having a stable life where both of them earned a decent salary, the transition from school to the workforce seemed to have happened in the blink of an eye. She glanced at Shan Qing, who was driving. His face, now mature and youthful, bore no resemblance to the shy young boy who used to chase after her. Life was settling into a routine, but Li Xue always felt something was missing. She realized she might be... The stable life felt somewhat boring, or perhaps she felt a bit sentimental after being well-fed and content. But Li Xue didn't actually like living in this big city. The pressure at work was suffocating; she would much rather have her own small shop where she could be with Shan Qing every day, without worrying about anxiety-inducing performance reviews and rushed tasks from her boss, even if they didn't make much money, even if it would always be like this. Compared to those illusory achievements of becoming a "superior person" or a "white-collar elite," she had no interest in them. But as long as Shan Qing was happy, that was enough. She was willing to stay by his side. "You said..." "When we're old, how about we open a Milk Tea Shop?" Li Xue suddenly said softly, startling Shan Qing, who then said seriously, "Then I'll make the milk tea, and you can count the money." "When I've made it big and made a lot of money, we can open a burger shop next door, so people can eat a burger and then buy a milk tea? We'll make double the money." "When we grow big and strong, we'll register it as a chain store, and the name will be... Snow Mountain, how about that?" "Maybe Snow Mountain sounds nice too..." Watching Shan Qing, who had opened up and was constantly making plans, Li Xue couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes filled with tenderness for him. Having been together for so many years, one of the things she liked about him was his methodical yet earnest approach to everything. It seemed that no matter how outrageous her request, Shan Qing would seriously consider how to handle it. Otherwise, how could she, who rarely contacted her family and had a strained relationship with her father, have come to Beijing to study and work for so many years with a man? She hadn't been home for several New Years. And Shan Qing, to avoid upsetting her, hadn't insisted on taking her home for the New Year. In his words, "Your family is already in a bad situation because of me, so it's better if we don't go back and visit on the second or third day of the New Year." Li Xue still remembers the ashen face her father had when her mother described Shan Qing's New Year's visit. Shan Qing's family, on the other hand, was very welcoming, always giving her many red envelopes during her visits. Li Xue wasn't too worried about that, after all, she knew her father best. Although he said things like "Don't come back until you leave that kid," he hadn't blocked or deleted her on WeChat. So what could he say when she returned with a grandson or granddaughter? Leaving home for love seemed foolish. But she would eventually have to leave home and live independently, only... before that, she had found a reliable man. "So, how about we open a shop like this?" "Li Xue just said it casually, and her phone, which was in her sight, instinctively went black. She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth. Shan Qing opened his mouth, his previous rambling speech stopping abruptly. The car slowly came to a stop at the red light at the intersection, the countdown timer now displaying a countdown to the question. "Xue, wait a little longer." "Okay?" "I..." The green light came on, and Shan Qing slowly started the car, glancing at the rearview mirror and turning the steering wheel. After a brief silence, Li Xue also calmed down and said somewhat helplessly, "Okay, I'll wait for you..." Before she could finish speaking, a dizzying sensation and ringing in her ears made her lose consciousness. She vaguely seemed to hear Shan Qing's roar. 183. Why bang on a dirty car window? 3k4 As the words fell, Hua Xin seemed to see a faint, flickering glow in Li Xue's eyes. But even so, she didn't see any sorrow on Li Xue's face; on the contrary, her face carried an indescribable... Her emotions seemed to be a mix of sadness, lingering fear, relief, and... no regret. Hua Xin found it hard to understand why someone who had experienced such a life-or-death moment wouldn't be angry when recalling something that threatened their most important and precious life. With this question in mind, the girl didn't interrupt Li Xue's slow narration, but simply listened quietly as the girl continued to recount this unforgettable memory buried deep within her. After a slight pause, Li Xue seemed to realize her own emotional turmoil, then gently adjusted her breathing and continued, "The matter is almost over." "Shan Qing and I are still alive and well, you could say we survived a great ordeal, but our subsequent entrepreneurial journey hasn't been so smooth or blessed. On the contrary, we've been constantly failing." "Didn't I tell you before, Xiao Hua? Shan Qing and I have run Milk Tea Shop, dessert shops... pastries... breakfast shops... until the cat cafe at the end of last year was the only successful business we've had in all these years." Her tone carried a hint of amusement, which eased the heavy atmosphere in the car considerably, and Hua Xin's eyes couldn't help but crinkle slightly.