Although he didn't know why Qin Ruojing was upset again, Chu Ge was too lazy to guess or ask. He wasn't anyone special to her, so there was no need to make her happy all the time.

"Chairman, it's getting late; should I not disturb you?"

Chu Ge said lazily and sat up on the bed. This time, no one came to push him down again.

Qin Ruojing was feeling quite depressed initially, but when she heard Chu Ge was going to leave, she immediately realized she had lost her cool somewhat. A bit of frustration arose in her heart; the opportunity that Tong Yaqi had deliberately created for her was apparently messed up again by herself.

Involuntarily, Qin Ruojing felt bitter. The opportunity Tong Yaqi created for her was so good, why was she so stupid?

Though she didn't want this to happen, she didn't know why, when she was with Chu Ge, she often couldn't control her emotions. Though she intended to say something to ease the atmosphere, she couldn't swallow her pride and found herself at a loss for words.

When Chu Ge took out the bank card that Qin Ruojing had lent him earlier and casually placed it on her bedside table, clearly showing his intention to leave, Qin Ruojing finally spoke up.

"Where are you going?"

Chu Ge didn't look at Qin Ruojing and said, "Do I need to report that to you?"

Chu Ge's words were a bit snappy, but Qin Ruojing felt amused rather than angry. The way Chu Ge was straightforward without being pretentious or sensitive was not only particularly genuine but also quite endearing.

"As if anyone cares about your report?"

Qin Ruojing shot a glare at Chu Ge and continued irritably, "That female cop named Mu Lingshan mentioned your affairs on TV. If nothing unexpected happens, you, the hero who acts for the heavens and eradicates evil for the people, must be gaining a lot of attention now. But... are you sure there won't be any trouble when you go home?"

Hearing Qin Ruojing's words, Chu Ge's steps paused slightly, and he sighed to himself, a wry smile appearing on his face. Qin Ruojing definitely hit the nail on the head.

This mess was indeed created by Mu Lingshan, and of course, he would have trouble. It's just that he didn't know when the trouble would start, how long it would last, and to what extent it would reach.

"Great, I'm already quite worried about this. I don't expect you to solve my problems, but could you not add to my worries? No more chit-chat, I'm leaving."

Chu Ge rubbed his forehead a bit, said the weak words, and intended to leave.

Just as Chu Ge stepped out, Qin Ruojing's voice rang out behind him, "Who wants to add to your worries; since I mentioned it, it's naturally to help you solve the trouble."

"You? Help me solve the trouble?"

"What? Don't believe it?"

Chu Ge turned his head to see Qin Ruojing's playful expression, which piqued his interest a bit, and he sat down with her at the edge of the bed, "Tell me, how will you solve it?"

"Why don't you stay with me for a while, and when this situation settles down a bit, you can go out and show yourself?"

Chu Ge was slightly stunned and immediately shook his head, saying very straightforwardly, "No way."

Qin Ruojing raised an eyebrow, "Why not?"

Though she only asked this one question, her expression seemed to say, "Haven't you stayed at my place enough times?"

Chu Ge shrugged and said, "Rather than saying you're solving my troubles, you're actually looking for trouble yourself. Chairman, there are some things you probably haven't figured out clearly."

Qin Ruojing curled her lip, "There's nothing unclear for me; you're just worried that someone might retaliate against you and then implicate me, right?"

Chu Ge furrowed his brows, showing a rare serious expression on his face.

"Since you can think of this point, why suggest this idea? Moreover, I must responsibly tell you that the impact of this matter might be more serious than you imagine."

Qin Ruojing looked straight into Chu Ge's eyes, "So what? Since you risked your life to save me once, isn't it right for me to do something for you? To be blunt, I have some status in Lido; if you stay with me, even if someone wants to target you, they'll need to think carefully."

Her voice paused slightly; Qin Ruojing pursed her lips and then smiled slightly, "Besides... I've made up my mind to be your woman."

Although Qin Ruojing said the last sentence lightly, sounding more like a joke, Chu Ge saw an unwavering determination in her eyes; this was definitely not just talk.

"Sorry, I don't have a habit of hiding behind a woman."

Chu Ge finally stood up and took steps to leave. When he reached the door, he spoke back to Qin Ruojing, "Besides... I believe I've said before, I never planned on being your man."

This sentence was obviously hurtful, but since the words had reached this point, it was better to speak clearly and straightforwardly about some matters.

"Chu Ge, stop right there!"

Qin Ruojing wanted to shout this, but she repeated it over and over in her mind without actually saying anything, even until Chu Ge's figure disappeared from her sight. Her lips parted but no sound emerged.

Everything was fine during dinner, with laughter and conversation. How could it end up like this again?

Am I really that bad? Does he really not think much of me?

Qin Ruojing sat on the bed with her lips slightly parted, her expression shifting from anger to confusion, to unwillingness, and finally to deep depression. Her body seemed to lose energy bit by bit, and her eyes, usually full of certainty, gradually became hollow and lifeless.

It wasn't until Tong Yaqi came back from the living room to the bedroom, calling her several times, that she finally came back to reality, let out a long sigh, with a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Yaqi, am I... really that bad?" This was Qin Ruojing's first sentence after coming back to herself; it sounded more like a mumble to herself than a response to Tong Yaqi.

"Xiao Jing, what's going on?"

It was the first time Tong Yaqi saw Qin Ruojing so lost. She felt perplexed and tenderly concerned at the same time. Qin Ruojing had been calling her "Yaqi" sister all the time lately, and she truly treated Qin Ruojing like a sister.

Tong Yaqi asked several times, but aside from the first sentence, Qin Ruojing remained silent, making her even more anxious.

"Did that guy bully you? Humph! I'll go find him and settle the score!" Said Tong Yaqi, standing up.

"No, he..." Seeing Tong Yaqi about to leave angrily, Qin Ruojing quickly grabbed her hand, hesitating to speak.

Feeling Qin Ruojing's palm as cold as ice and her fingers soft, with no strength whatsoever, Tong Yaqi frowned even more, "Xiao Jing, what exactly did he do to you? Speak, you're killing me with worry here!"

Seeing Tong Yaqi so anxious, though Qin Ruojing still felt uneasy, she finally felt a hint of warmth. She managed a self-deprecating smile and began to recount what had happened.

After hearing it, Tong Yaqi was silent for a moment, then her tightly furrowed brow gradually eased into a joking smile. She gently pushed Qin Ruojing.

"Xiao Jing, I thought something serious had happened. Turns out it's this. Come on, don't be so down. Chu Ge's reaction is actually a good thing for you. Honestly, I feel like I might even be jealous of you."

"Good thing?" Qin Ruojing was stunned. If she wasn't close to Tong Yaqi, she would have easily turned hostile when Tong Yaqi smiled.

But since their relationship was like sisters, Qin Ruojing had some patience, thinking there must be a reason for Tong Yaqi's words.

"Yaqi, what do you mean by that? How could his reaction to me be a good thing?"

Tong Yaqi gently patted Qin Ruojing's hand and smiled slightly, "Think about it. Why did Chu Ge firmly reject your kind offer?"

"What else could it be, obviously because he has no feelings for me anymore."

Tong Yaqi shook her head, "No, quite the opposite. It's because he cares about you very much."

"Cares about me?"

"Of course. If he didn't care about you, he could have easily said yes when you offered him to stay for a while. But because he considered your feelings, he immediately refused. Isn't that care?"

Though Tong Yaqi's words made sense, they weren't enough to lift Qin Ruojing's spirits.

"But he also went out of his way to emphasize that he never considered being with me. His care is likely only from a friend's perspective, right? If it were any other friend, he might have made the same choice."

Tong Yaqi smiled gently, "I can't say for sure on that, but I think there's no need for you to dwell on this point too much. His attitude today at least proves your judgment wasn't wrong. He's a man of emotions and responsibility who cares about you deeply. Isn't all this, combined, still a good thing for you?"

Qin Ruojing pursed her lips, the gloom in her heart gradually lifted.

Through Qin Ruojing's change in expression, Tong Yaqi knew she was listening, so she squeezed Qin Ruojing's hand and continued encouraging her, "Alright, Xiao Jing, you definitely have to try to win over such a good man. Don't let a little setback defeat you, okay?"

"Yaqi, hearing you speak like this really makes me feel much better, and... I think I genuinely have fallen for that guy. No matter what, I must make him fall for me too!"

Qin Ruojing finally displayed a determined smile, nodding firmly.

Tong Yaqi chuckled lightly, "That's more like the Xiao Jing I know."

After the laughter, a trace of worry appeared on Tong Yaqi's face, "However, there's one thing that worries me a bit. If that Jinkai Villa really retaliates, Chu Ge could be in genuine danger. Cutting off someone's livelihood forms a huge grudge indeed."

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