We Barely Know Each Other, but I'm Living with a Stone-Faced Mechanic! - Chapter 40

Tao Ying knew Qin Zheng was nothing like Shen Cinan—or any of the men she had met on blind dates.

Curious about how someone else saw the difference, she asked Tian Zhao, “What’s so different about Qin Zheng?”

“Everything,” Tian Zhao said. “There’s a kind of effortless superiority in his posture and his eyes. It isn’t an act. It’s in his bones.”

“When Xu asked whether you were seeing anyone, the contempt and mockery in Qin Zheng’s eyes nearly frightened me.”

“Was there?” Tao Ying blinked. “He behaved perfectly well.”

“Of course he looks different when he’s looking at you. He smiles at you, and his eyes go soft enough to melt.”

Tao Ying choked on her breath, then felt guilty.

Qin Zheng’s acting was far too convincing.

“His temper looks hard, though. Shen Cinan was better in that respect.”

“Qin Zheng is a good man.” Tao Ying disliked comparing them. “He can repair cars, cook, and grow flowers…”

He gave her the upstairs bathroom entirely to herself. He brought her an umbrella on rainy days. When she was unhappy, he took her somewhere exciting…

And when she was desperate and helpless, he appeared without warning, like a silent mountain rising before her and blocking every danger.

The sight of Kong Chengping falling from the balcony had made Tao Ying’s scalp prickle and her blood run cold.

If he had died, Qin Zheng would effectively have killed someone for her.

The incident had happened some time ago, yet some delayed shock still lingered inside her.

It had faded day by day, but for some reason it returned now. Tao Ying contradicted Tian Zhao without the slightest hesitation.

Around the corner, Qin Zheng leaned against the wall and smiled soundlessly.

The evening wind rippled the lake and softened his heart.

It was late. When Tao Ying and Tian Zhao returned to the private room, everyone collected their belongings and went separate ways.

Tao Ying and Qin Zheng said goodbye to the group outside the restaurant.

Tian Zhao’s husband suddenly asked Xia Fei, “What does Ms. Tao’s boyfriend do?”

Xia Fei paused. “I don’t know.”

Tian Zhao frowned. “Why are you asking?”

The man laughed. “He didn’t look ordinary. I hardly dared say anything to him.”

“What gave you that impression?” Yu Fan asked curiously.

He looked surprised. “None of you noticed his watch?”

“I did,” Yu Fan said. “It’s only a watch.”

He did not know whether to laugh. “Do you know what it costs?”

Everyone shook their heads.

He raised a hand in a gesture. “Seven figures.”

Tian Zhao stared. “You must be mistaken. That plain-looking watch costs over a million?”

His expression grew almost comical. “It’s a Richard Mille. The official domestic price for that model is 5.18 million yuan.”

Everyone drew a sharp breath.

The man responsible for leaving them stunned had already departed without a backward glance.

The alcohol began to catch up with Tao Ying, leaving her gaze slightly unfocused. She turned to Qin Zheng. “Let’s walk and clear our heads.”

He laughed. “You certainly need to. Your whole face is red.”

Tao Ying murmured agreement, pressed both hands to her cheeks, and shook her head from side to side.

This adorable side of her was rarely visible. Qin Zheng watched her with an indulgent smile.

Her mind remained clear. Only her movements lagged half a beat behind.

She gripped the railing beside the lake and let the breeze wash over her.

The railing was high, but Qin Zheng still did not trust it. He lifted an arm and held it loosely around her without touching.

Unaware of him, Tao Ying braced her arms against the railing and leaned backward.

Something solid stopped her. She looked over her shoulder, and the instant her eyes met Qin Zheng’s, even the wind seemed to stop.

Night deepened while the street remained crowded. They stood beneath a plane tree, its shifting shadows nearly concealing them.

Tao Ying lost her balance. Qin Zheng caught her from behind, pulling her firmly against him.

He should have released her, but somehow he could not make his arms loosen.

“Ms. Tao…”

His low voice in the darkness sent a tingling sensation through her ears. She could not force a reply past her throat. In the dim ground light, she traced the faint outline of his face.

“Are you drunk?” he asked.

Tao Ying slowly shook her head. “No.”

“Then are you sober right now?” His arm tightened around her waist, drawing her a little deeper into his embrace.

Her cool fragrance and the lingering scent of alcohol mingled between their heated breaths. Qin Zheng’s Adam’s apple moved, and veins stood out along the back of his hand with the effort of restraint.

Tao Ying tipped her head back. “Are *you* sober? You drank more than I did.”

“Sober enough.” He moved closer. “Look for yourself if you don’t believe me.”

How was she supposed to tell? Tao Ying was momentarily speechless. Examine his eyes, question him, and take his pulse?

Suddenly, laughter burst from the street.

Tao Ying pushed him away and awkwardly searched for an excuse. “This wind… is blowing my bones apart.”

Qin Zheng chuckled, slipped both hands into his pockets, and followed leisurely behind her.

Tao Ying gathered her long hair and did her best to ignore the burning gaze at her back.

Their car was parked outside the busiest area, and reaching it required a fair walk.

Perhaps Tao Ying was distracted. The moment she saw a crosswalk, she stepped forward, only for Qin Zheng to yank her back.

“Don’t you watch where you’re going?”

“I didn’t notice.”

“How can you fail to notice something that could cost you your life?” The fright broke a cold sweat across him.

“Weren’t you staring at me the whole time?” Tao Ying snapped. “If you hadn’t been, why would I have forgotten to look at the road?”

Qin Zheng was torn between anger and laughter. He opened his mouth, then swallowed every reply.

“Fine. I won’t look. Let’s cross the street first, all right?”

Tao Ying pursed her lips.

She was definitely drunk. Otherwise, where had that adorable expression come from?

Qin Zheng escorted her across the road and personally settled her into the passenger seat, then tossed the keys to a designated driver.

Streetlights flashed past the windows in bright intervals, illuminating and shadowing their faces as though a filter covered the car.

“Qin Zheng,” Tao Ying suddenly called.

“Mm? What is it?” He turned toward her.

“I’m going back to Lincheng the day after tomorrow. I’ll take the high-speed train. You can see the remaining exhibitions alone.”

He paused. “Something happened at home?”

She had said nothing before the trip. He had assumed they would return together.

Their original plan was to leave on the thirty-first. Tao Ying now intended to go on the twenty-sixth, so his question was reasonable.

“The twenty-seventh is the anniversary of my father’s death,” she said. “I have to go back.”

Qin Zheng’s expression changed, and his voice softened. “I’ll go back with you. Without a professional guide, I wouldn’t understand much of the remaining exhibits anyway.”

“There’s no need. The train is convenient.”

“I drove you here, so naturally I’ll drive you home.” His tone left no room for debate.

Tao Ying turned her face toward him. “You’re rather domineering.”

Qin Zheng smiled. Silence settled over the car.

Five minutes later, they reached the hotel. Tao Ying unfastened her seat belt.

Qin Zheng glanced at her and asked quietly, “How did your father… pass away?”

Tao Ying stilled. Then she released the belt and slowly settled back into the seat.

“A car accident. A group of rich young men were street racing.”

Understanding crossed Qin Zheng’s face. No wonder Tao Ying’s dislike had been so visible the first time she met Pei Jinnian.

Pei Jinnian had not been involved, but in his effort to ruin the blind date, his clothes and behavior had shown Tao Ying no respect. That had been enough to provoke her disgust.

Qin Zheng took Tao Ying’s hand. “Come with me. I want to show you somewhere.”