We Barely Know Each Other, but I'm Living with a Stone-Faced Mechanic! - Chapter 50

Think about their relationship?

Tao Ying didn’t dare read too much into that. She asked Qin Zheng what he meant.

He knew she was resisting him now.

But if he let her brush the whole thing aside, he might never get another chance.

Since he couldn’t address the real issue directly, he would have to take a roundabout approach. The blind date he had arranged himself gave him the perfect opening.

Qin Zheng held her gaze. “I mean you could consider me.”

“Don’t joke about that.” Tao Ying forced a stiff smile.

“I’m not joking,” Qin Zheng said. “My family keeps pressuring me to get married too. We could work together and pretend to be a couple.”

Tao Ying felt relieved—and, for reasons she couldn’t name, a little disappointed.

But even if it was only a fake relationship, she couldn’t agree without thinking it through.

There were too many uncertainties. Saying yes would mean tying herself to Qin Zheng for the next several years.

Still, his suggestion tempted her.

She had never expected to find true love through a blind date anyway. She only went on them to appease Li Meijuan.

With Qin Zheng as her shield, she wouldn’t have to keep meeting strangers. It might also make Li Meijuan finally give up on marrying her into a wealthy family.

Hesitation meant there was hope.

At that crucial moment, Qin Zheng chose to back off. “Think it over carefully.”

With that, he opened the door and ushered her inside.

It was still early. Qin Zheng switched on the television in the living room and put on a movie at random.

As Tao Ying passed the couch, her mind filled with images of the two of them tangled together on it the night before.

She had kissed him first and straddled him. Then he had taken control, parting her lips and pressing his tongue into her mouth.

A kiss that had been wet and searing…

Heat rushed to Tao Ying’s face. She went to her room, grabbed some clothes and a bath towel, and hurried into the bathroom.

Qin Zheng’s fingers drifted back and forth over the leather couch. His attention clearly wasn’t on the movie either.

After returning to her room, Tao Ying curled up in the armchair with her laptop and worked on the photos and videos from the exhibition until after ten.

When she became too sleepy to continue, she shut down the computer and climbed straight into bed.

Then she caught a trace of Qin Zheng’s scent on her comforter, the lingering warmth of oud.

She couldn’t stop herself from remembering the night before. She and Qin Zheng had taken off all their clothes, touched each other’s bodies—even their most private places…

Tao Ying buried her face in the pillow, her skin turning scarlet in an instant.

She kicked off the comforter, got up, and fetched a fresh set of bedding from the wardrobe.

For the next few days, Tao Ying avoided Qin Zheng.

It wasn’t until the morning of July first, when he saw her heading out with a suitcase, that he suddenly realized something was wrong.

He stared at her. “Where are you going?”

“To the countryside for the field recording,” Tao Ying said. “I arranged it with Shu Ran. You know about it.”

Qin Zheng relaxed. He had thought she was moving out.

“I’ll drive you.” He walked to the entryway and picked up his car keys.

“There’s no need. I’ll get a cab.”

She would be gone for half a month. After thinking it over, she had decided a cab was best.

“When did you get so polite with me?” Qin Zheng held out his hand. “Give me the suitcase.”

The building only had two floors and no elevator. Tao Ying’s suitcase was heavy enough that she struggled to carry it.

With Qin Zheng’s strength, lifting it was child’s play.

He gave her no chance to refuse. Tao Ying had to trot after him.

Once they were in the car, Qin Zheng started the engine and asked, “How long will you be gone?”

“Half a month.”

“Coming back on the sixteenth?”

“Mm-hm.”

Qin Zheng turned onto the main road.

At the first red light, he couldn’t resist asking, “You must be pretty happy right now, huh?”

“What?” Tao Ying didn’t understand. “Why would you say that?”

“You’ve been avoiding me for days.” He laughed at himself. “Now you get a whole two weeks away from me. Must be a nice break.”

“…Stop being so sarcastic.”

Even if that was partly true, Tao Ying wasn’t about to admit it.

When they reached the high-speed rail station, Qin Zheng asked when her train left.

“Nine thirty,” Tao Ying said.

There was still plenty of time. Qin Zheng said, “Wait here. Don’t go inside yet. I’ll get you something to eat.”

“You don’t have to, Qin Zheng…”

But she couldn’t stop him.

She really hadn’t eaten breakfast. Just then, Shu Ran came running over with two suitcases in tow. “Tao Ying!”

Tao Ying hurried to meet her. “You brought two suitcases?”

“Couldn’t be helped. There’s too much stuff.” Shu Ran was out of breath. “Come on, let’s go through security.”

“Wait.” Tao Ying caught her arm, looking a little awkward.

“What’s wrong?” Shu Ran asked, puzzled.

“Qin Zheng went to buy breakfast.”

“Boss Qin drove you here?” Shu Ran brightened. “I finally get to meet him?”

Tao Ying sighed. “…This has become an obsession for you.”

“Hehe.” Shu Ran grinned. “Why don’t you call him? I haven’t eaten either. Ask him to get one for me too.”

The words had barely left her mouth when Qin Zheng returned.

It was the first time Shu Ran had seen him in person. She stared for so long that Tao Ying had to nudge her before she snapped out of it.

Shu Ran didn’t even take the breakfast. She simply thrust out her hand. “Boss Qin. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“You’re too kind.” Qin Zheng shook her hand. “I bought two breakfasts. Take them inside and eat.”

There was food inside the station as well, but it was crowded and there would be lines.

Shu Ran looked surprised. “You bought two?”

“I knew Ms. Tao was waiting for you. I figured you probably hadn’t eaten either.”

“How thoughtful.” Shu Ran’s smile turned mischievous as she kept looking at Tao Ying.

Tao Ying tugged at the hem of her shirt, telling her to stop making faces.

Qin Zheng glanced at Tao Ying, then turned to Shu Ran. “Ms. Shu, could I speak to Ms. Tao alone for a minute?”

Shu Ran gestured for him to go ahead.

Tao Ying patted her suitcase, silently asking Shu Ran to watch it for her.

If she refused to go, Shu Ran would be certain she and Qin Zheng were fighting. Then the questions would never end, and Tao Ying wouldn’t know how to explain any of it.

She followed Qin Zheng to a quiet corner.

“Whatever you have to say, make it quick.”

“There are a lot of mosquitoes and other bugs in the countryside. Wear long sleeves and pants whenever you can. Did you pack insect repellent?”

“I did.” Something shifted inside Tao Ying, leaving an unfamiliar tenderness in its wake.

“Lock the doors and windows at night. Don’t go out by yourself. If you pick any fruit or vegetables, wash them properly before you eat them. And when you’re away from home, don’t be too quick to help everyone you meet. Put your own safety first.”

For some reason, Tao Ying felt like crying.

Perhaps it was the simple sincerity of Qin Zheng’s concern, giving her a rare taste of what it felt like to have someone worry about her.

She and Tao Xi were too different in both temperament and outlook. There were many things Tao Ying would rather tell Shu Ran than her own sister.

After Tao Xi married, Tao Ying had kept her distance as much as possible so her sister’s mother-in-law wouldn’t think she was trying to benefit from their wealth.

As for Li Meijuan, she had never spoken to Tao Ying with this kind of concern.

“Okay.” Tao Ying had always responded better to kindness than force.

Their eyes met. Tao Ying asked, “Anything else?”

Qin Zheng stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

Startled, Tao Ying immediately tried to break free. Qin Zheng tightened his hold, trapping her completely against him.

“Qin Zheng…” Her heart was pounding in her throat. “Let go of me.”

Qin Zheng laughed softly and asked beside her ear, “Ms. Tao, could you take me off your block list?”