CHAPTER 591: CHAPTER 589: I JUST LOVE YOU

Chen Ke originally wanted to go find Mai Qiqi right away, but when he looked at his watch, he realized it wasn’t the end of working hours yet. Leaving work so early didn’t seem proper, so he started investigating the matter about "Lao Wang from next door" in the office, since Captain Jiang had tasked him to first figure out who this Lao Wang was—there must be a reason for that.

He thought for a moment, then called the guard outside into his office and asked, "Do you know who Lao Wang next door is?"

The guard looked utterly confused, "Report, I don’t know."

Chen Ke: "You don’t even know Lao Wang next door, what do you think about all day? Get out!"

"Yes!" The guard left, still looking bewildered.

Chen Ke pondered again, then called his cunning little brother, Chen Chao, who seemed to know everything.

After the call, he patted his head and muttered, "Making a fuss over nothing!"

At Time Studio, Wan Chu’er asked Mai Qiqi, "What are you planning to do?"

Mai Qiqi pouted, "Just leave him hanging, what else can I do? Ever since we got together, I have always been the one to look for him. He has never taken the initiative to seek me out. I want to see how important I really am to him."

"What if you really drive him away?"

Mai Qiqi bowed her head in sadness, "I don’t know, I don’t want a relationship where only one side is putting in the effort."

She was not a patient person who could wait for a long time. She hoped to be cherished, not taken for granted.

Wan Chu’er couldn’t stand seeing her so down, smiled, and said, "Yeah, if it really doesn’t work out, we can just find someone else. Three-legged toads are hard to find, but there are plenty of two-legged men. But I don’t think you need to be too pessimistic. Chen Ke was about to beat up Lao Wang from next door just now, maybe he will come looking for you today."

Remembering the call just now, Mai Qiqi couldn’t help but laugh again, but the laughter turned into a bitter smile as she felt suddenly disheartened about the future.

She hadn’t contacted Chen Ke for a week, counting the days here as if they were years, yet Chen Ke only called her today.

"Alright, stop overthinking." Wan Chu’er diverted her attention, "How are the preparations going for our collaboration with Bolin Fashion Magazine next week?"

When they switched to talking about work, Mai Qiqi immediately dropped her melancholic mood and focused wholeheartedly on discussing the actual progress.

In the evening after work, Jiang Lingling, matching the actual fabric against the final color stroke, checked the time. Probably only she and Director Yu were left in the studio.

She took her bag to leave, but saw that the light was still on in Mai Qiqi’s office, while Director Yu had already disappeared. Approaching the door, she saw Mai Qiqi was head down writing some documents.

"How come you’re not leaving yet?" Jiang Lingling asked.

Mai Qiqi looked up at her, "Almost done, just a bit more work left, then I’ll leave."

"I’ll go first then," Jiang Lingling waved her hand and walked off without hesitation. She said ’soon’, but Mai Qiqi could probably dawdle for another half hour.

When Mai Qiqi finally closed the folder, indeed another half hour had passed.

She packed up her things, carrying her bag and locking the door, pondering where to go for dinner—whether to eat leftovers at home or just find any place outside.

Just as she reached the ground floor, she saw Chen Ke standing straight as a pole with his back towards her. A smile immediately spread across her face, and she even gleefully ran towards Chen Ke. After running a couple of steps, she remembered she was giving Chen Ke the cold shoulder, cursed herself for being forgetful, and immediately stopped and turned to leave.

But after only a couple of steps, she was grabbed by the arm from behind by Chen Ke.

"Why do you turn and leave as soon as you see me?" Chen Ke asked unhappily.

Mai Qiqi turned around and glared at him, "I’m giving you the cold shoulder. What am I supposed to do? Wait around for you to neglect me again!"

Chen Ke paused, "Why are we giving each other the cold shoulder?" Remembering the night he had left her at the hotel, he frowned and explained, "That night I didn’t mean to leave you behind on purpose, I checked everything and it was quite safe there..."

Hearing him mention that night, Mai Qiqi immediately pulled away her hand, how dare he bring up that night!

"That night, I don’t remember anymore. Let go of me, I want to go find the neighbor Lao Wang."

"I’ll go with you." Chen Ke clung to her, now aware that Lao Wang was just a fictional character Mai Qiqi had made up to trick him.

Mai Qiqi stopped and glared at him: "Don’t follow me."

Chen Ke had no choice but to say, "If I don’t follow you, who do I follow?"

"Whoever you love!"

"I love you." Chen Ke had never thought he would one day say such a shameless thing without hesitation.

Mai Qiqi looked at him incredulously, "What did you just say?"

Chen Ke frowned, "If you didn’t hear it, just forget it."

"Tell me again, if not, stay away from me." Mai Qiqi said angrily.

The first time he said it, it felt nothing and came out easily, but to say it again, Chen Ke found it somewhat difficult. Seeing Mai Qiqi’s relentless demeanor, as if she really wanted to cut ties with him, he glanced around and whispered it in Mai Qiqi’s ear again.

Mai Qiqi immediately broke into a smile and said, "I’m starving, let’s go eat Osmanthus Duck." She took the initiative to loop her arm through Chen Ke’s and walked forward, easing the anxiety he had felt all afternoon. It seemed he needed to say that shameless phrase more often in the future.

After filling up to nine-tenths full, Mai Qiqi absent-mindedly poked at her plate, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Chen Ke.

"What’s up?" Chen Ke asked.

Mai Qiqi suddenly showed a hint of embarrassment and hesitantly said, "Well, tomorrow will you come to the hospital with me, please?"

Chen Ke puzzled, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Mai Qiqi awkwardly smiled, "No, you know avoiding doctors is not good, it’s better to treat ailments early, for your good and... mine as well."

Remembering what Jiang Kechu had said that afternoon, Chen Ke understood what Mai Qiqi meant. His face turned pale, scaring Mai Qiqi into silence, fearing she had wounded his male pride, and she became overly cautious.

"Have you eaten enough?" Chen Ke asked impatiently.

"Oh, yes, I’m full."

"Full? Then let’s go." Chen Ke got up nonchalantly, not sparing her a glance.

Mai Qiqi stuck out her tongue and hurriedly followed him, inwardly grumbling: I’m not even disdainful of you, why are you being arrogant? But she still carefully followed him.

Chen Ke left with a stern face and without saying a word paid the bill and walked out, and drove away once Mai Qiqi got into the car. The drive was silent, so much so that Mai Qiqi could hardly bear it.

Once they arrived, as they got out of the car, Mai Qiqi looked up in surprise and asked, "Why have we come to Beiluo Secret Realm?"

Chen Ke still ignored her and strode toward the hotel lobby.

Mai Qiqi followed him nervously all the way to an extravagant room on the eighteenth floor, wondering why it had to be the eighteenth floor.

She watched Chen Ke walk in with a gloomy face, then took a deep breath at the door before pushing it open and walking in.