CHAPTER 226: CHAPTER 226 GENTLY

So, Xia Liang had just been bluffing.

Regardless, from his position, Yun Long had heard rumors. It was no exaggeration to call those people the pillars of the nation. While they didn’t hold immense official power, antagonizing them would be extremely troublesome.

So it really is possible for Xia Liang to get into their ranks. At this thought, Yun Long’s gaze deepened.

「At four in the afternoon.」

Xia Liang and his group had just left a private restaurant. He checked the time and saw it was almost when Xi Yiqian’s flight was due to land.

Immediately, Xia Liang let out a deliberate cough. "COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

Qingxue, who had been chatting enthusiastically with Luu Qi, immediately turned her head. "What’s wrong, Xia Liang?"

Xia Liang shook his head. "It’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired from everything that happened today."

That’s obviously an excuse.

Luu Qi instantly remembered Xi Yiqian and quickly added, "That’s right, Sister Xue. We really should get some rest."

Hearing this, Qingxue didn’t have the slightest doubt. After all, she felt it was completely understandable. Never mind having gone through it themselves; the mere thought of the trouble Xia Liang had been in was enough to make her break out in a cold sweat, her heart filled with worry. Now, she was also eager to get home, take a bath, and rest properly.

Qingxue nodded. "That’s what I was thinking. You all must be tired today, so I’ll take you home to rest."

Saying this, she got into the car.

Luu Qi panicked. She hadn’t thought of an excuse to prevent Qingxue from dropping them off at their real home. After all, while Xi Yiqian might have already left for the airport, there was a chance she hadn’t. This could all blow up!

In comparison, Xia Liang seemed much more composed. "Alright, thanks for the trouble."

He was the first to get into the car. Though Luu Qi was perplexed, she followed suit. Following Xia Liang’s directions, Qingxue drove to an apartment complex.

"We’re here. This is the place," Xia Liang said, pointing to the building behind them. He then gestured casually toward a unit he remembered was currently unrented.

"Okay." Qingxue nodded, committing the location to memory. "Everyone’s tired today, so I won’t bother you any longer."

With that, she waved to the three of them. Xia Liang and Luu Qi both breathed a sigh of relief.

Xia Liang walked up to Qingxue, gently pinched her cheek, and said softly with a smile, "Alright then. You should go home and get some rest too. It’s been a long day for you."

"Mhm." Seeing Xia Liang’s affectionate gesture, Qingxue’s face turned shyly red.

Shi Qiang watched this scene, filled with envy. Why can’t my love life be like this?

Even after Qingxue’s car disappeared from sight, Xia Liang made no move to go upstairs. Shi Qiang was puzzled. "Why aren’t you going up?"

Xia Liang patted his shoulder. "It’s not over yet. You’ll see in a moment."

Then, under Shi Qiang’s confused gaze, he hailed a taxi. "Driver, to Qingyun Airport."

????

Hearing the destination, Shi Qiang was completely bewildered. "Brother Xia, didn’t we just come back from the airport? Why are we going back again?"

Xia Liang just patted his shoulder again. "To meet your second sister-in-law."

"?????" Shi Qiang’s head was spinning with question marks.

Once they were in the car, Xia Liang didn’t hide anything and explained the situation with Xi Yiqian. "Anyway... just make sure you don’t let anything slip."

The three of them returned to the airport. Committed to seeing the act through, Xia Liang made a phone call. He had Qin Shiya meet them and lead them through a staff-only passage so they could emerge with the other passengers. Although she didn’t understand why Xia Liang wanted to do this, Qin Shiya, facing the demands of her creditor, could only agree.

Just as they walked out of the arrival gate with the crowd of passengers, Xia Liang and Luu Qi spotted Xi Yiqian waiting and looking around for them.

Luu Qi hurriedly waved. "Sister-in-law Yiqian! We’re over here!"

Hearing her name, Xi Yiqian looked over. Sure enough, she saw Xia Liang and Luu Qi, and a delighted expression immediately graced her face.

Shi Qiang, however, was overcome with a surge of emotions as he watched them. This... Although Xi Yiqian is wearing a mask, I can tell from what’s visible... She’s another great beauty. This! Holy cow! This reminded me of what Xia Liang said back in Shangluo City. I thought he was just joking, but it’s all true!

After a round of introductions, the four of them headed home again.

「Eight o’clock in the evening.」

Staring at the feast on the table, Shi Qiang watched as the other two, with their hearty appetites, dug in. He rubbed his stomach. I’m not hungry... I ate my fill when Qingxue treated us earlier. But they ate a lot then, too. How can they still eat so much now?

Seeing that Shi Qiang hadn’t touched a thing, Xi Yiqian asked with some concern, "Shi Qiang, is the food not to your liking?"

"Ah?" Shi Qiang was startled and quickly waved his hands. "No, not at all."

He silently took a deep breath and forced down two bowls of rice with tears in his eyes.

After dinner, Luu Qi and Xi Yiqian stayed home while Xia Liang took Shi Qiang to the apartment building—to the very apartment he had pointed out to Qingxue that morning.

"Alright..." Xia Liang tossed the keys to Shi Qiang and patted his shoulder. "From now on, you’ll live here. Rest well. You’re going to be busy."

Shi Qiang nodded solemnly. However, he didn’t realize that Xia Liang was referring to a different kind of "busy."

「」

After returning home and letting the others know he was safe, Xia Liang finally went to sleep.

「The next morning.」

When he woke up, Luu Qi and Xi Yiqian had already left. Needless to say, the National Day holiday was over. It was time for those with jobs to go to work and those with classes to go to school.

Xia Liang, however, went out for a bite to eat before meeting up with Shi Qiang to look for an office space. After all, they had a company to start. But after browsing online, he found only places for rent and quickly lost interest.

He instantly opened the System. For a mere 20 System Coins, a 30-story office building in the heart of Qingyun City Center now belonged entirely to Xia Liang.

After registering with the bureau of industry and commerce, Suliang Entertainment Co., Ltd. was officially established. He delegated the task of supervising the renovation to Shi Qiang, while he himself put on his little delivery vest. After all, he hadn’t worked in many days. That was a loss of several hundred Yuan a day.

DING! "You have a new delivery order. Please check it now!"

Let’s go! Driving his Aston Martin, Xia Liang headed toward the milk tea shop indicated as the pickup location.

"Hello, is order number 23 ready?"

"Almost! Please wait just a moment."

After getting the delivery, Xia Liang was about to leave, but he noticed a remark on the order asking him to wait for the customer inside the shop. With nothing better to do, Xia Liang ordered a milk tea for himself. He sat down at the only empty table and started a game on his phone to "guard Konoha Village."

Just then, two girls suddenly walked up to him. "Hey, you’re waiting for a delivery, right? Can you go stand over there and give us this table?"