Chu Ge, who had just said goodbye to Zhang Qiren, subconsciously assumed that Yueying would be talking about Zhang Qiren.
However, Yueying said this instead: "I'll be staying in Nanjiang for a month, cooperating with the Nanjiang Municipal Bureau on the Wang family case. This is my internship. During this time, you can visit Sister Qiu to fulfill the promise you made to her about researching shadow abilities."
Chu Ge was stunned for a long time before sighing: "It's no longer necessary. Qiuqiu was just curious back then, and it's no use to her now."
Yueying pursed her lips: "But I still feel indebted to you."
"Really, you don't need to keep it in mind. We're neighbors."
"Neighbors..." Yueying hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Is someone else living in my room now?"
"Not yet. I saw the landlord posted a rental ad outside, and it's probably on local apps too, but it seems like no one has come to see the room yet." "Yes."
"That's great." Yueying smiled, a rare occurrence. "I still have some things I haven't had time to move, like my old computer..."
"Your salary isn't low now, is it?"
"It's during my internship, not high."
"Hmm...then let's move them later. Qiuqiu and I can help." Chu Ge thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Have you...seen my parents? Are they alright?"
Yueying was taken aback. "Who are your parents?"
"..." Chu Ge scratched his head. "Never mind. Let's make a deal. When you return the things in that box, can I keep the box?"
Yueying hesitated. "It seems like the box isn't important...but I still need to ask permission."
"Public affairs are so troublesome," Chu Ge complained.
Yueying didn't answer, and Chu Ge didn't continue.
Their conversation was very casual...he felt he had almost nothing to say to Yueying, and trying to find topics to continue smoothly and naturally was impossible, a far cry from the casual chat he had with Lin Wuyang earlier. Perhaps it was because they weren't familiar with each other, or perhaps it was because Yueying's personality was too aloof, making it difficult for her to joke around freely.
Or perhaps it was because they were ultimately a man and a woman, and Chu Ge's heart was now completely occupied by Qiu Wuji, making it awkward to talk to other girls. Besides, there was Zhang Qiren between them… What Chu Ge found striking was that Yueying hadn't mentioned Zhang Qiren at all, as if their neighborly relationship had absolutely nothing to do with him.
He couldn't help but bring it up: "Zhang Qiren is going abroad."
Yueying said calmly, "If you want to arrest him, I myself am the evidence of his involvement in organized illegal boxing and attempted murder. He couldn't even escape."
Chu Ge asked, "Then why don't you arrest him?"
Yueying finally looked at him and said seriously, "You and Sister Qiu saved me. If he's arrested because of this, he might hate you. To me, that would be betraying my benefactor."
Chu Ge remained silent.
Yueying turned and left: "He's not going to stop doing bad things now... One day, he'll have something else fall into my hands."
...Chu Ge silently rode his electric scooter home. Even though Yueying was going back to the same neighborhood, he hadn't offered her a ride, and she hadn't asked him to. In the blink of an eye, Yueying had vanished, disappearing into the shadows.
He had been in a good mood, having earned 100,000 yuan and hearing that Lin Wuyang might be promoted, but now he felt inexplicably gloomy.
Nothing had actually happened. Zhang Qiren going abroad wasn't a bad thing, and he didn't think Yueying and Zhang Qiren needed to reconcile. In this matter between Zhang Qiren and Yueying, Chu Ge sided with Yueying. Everything seemed normal, but for some reason, he felt a little depressed.
Maybe it was just his sentimental side acting up; Chu Ge couldn't figure it out himself.
Perhaps it was because people only like to see beautiful stories, nothing more.
Suddenly, a beautiful figure appeared before him.
Qiu Wuji, carrying a shopping basket, swayed as she walked home. As if sensing something, she turned her head at the same time as Chu Ge's little donkey appeared at the street corner, a joyful smile spreading across her face.
Chu Ge's mood instantly soared, like autumn waters washing away the gloom.
"Zhang Qiren went abroad? Oh, I see. No wonder you looked so thoughtful." Back home, Qiu Wuji sat on the sofa, chin in hand, listening to Chu Ge tell stories, while magically pulling various fruits from the basket and arranging them on the table.
Chu Ge asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly think of buying fruit? I've never seen you think of this before."
"Didn't I buy you durian already?"
"Are you sure it was just for eating fruit?"
"Hmph." Qiu Wuji said, "Before, I thought that since we have food when we're hungry and drinks when we're thirsty, I didn't really need fruit. It was just a snack, nothing special. But Mengmeng gave me a whole lecture on the benefits of fruit today, so I went and bought some."
Chu Ge chuckled, "Was she shocked that you have such good skin even though you don't eat much fruit?"
"I told her I've eaten more fruit than she's eaten meals," Qiu Wuji said, stubbornly trying to save face, "But I think she misunderstood, thinking my skin is all from eating fruit..."
Chu Ge laughed so hard he almost fell over.
Qiu Wuji grumbled as he peeled an apple, casually bringing up the previous topic: "How many countries are there in this world? I haven't checked."
Chu Ge replied, "More than two hundred, I don't remember the exact number."
"More than two hundred?" Qiu Wuji's eyes widened. "The world in your book is bigger than this, right? And you wrote about nine countries?"
Chu Ge covered his face. "That's how it is with those lousy writers. Did you even consider how many countries you were making up the story for?"
Qiu Wuji tossed aside his fruit knife, also covering his face. "Two, fighting each other."
The two men peeked at each other through their fingers and chuckled.
Qiu Wuji said, "Alright, Master has written very well."
Chu Ge added, "Master is mighty throughout the world, so a few countries are no big deal."
The two simultaneously lowered their hands from their faces, looking proud and confident.
Qiu Wuji continued peeling the apple.
Chu Ge coughed dryly, "It doesn't really matter that this world has over two hundred countries. For me and most people, there are only two: China and foreign countries."
Qiu Wuji said, "Everyone is an enemy except me?"
"Somewhat, though not quite that exaggerated. We still have allies..."
"What about the one Zhang Qiren went to now?"
"The enemy with whom I had a blood feud. Right, in that ridiculous drama you watched, the enemy was them. But now they have diplomatic relations and there's a lot of interaction."
Qiu Wuji seemed quite understanding of the complexities between nations, nodding slightly, but then sneered, "So those people on TV were them. If I had been there back then..."
Chu Ge turned to look at her, suddenly saying, "Hey, do you consider yourself a citizen of this country?"
Qiu Wuji was taken aback, then asked him strangely, "Why wouldn't I be a citizen of this country? Do you want to see my ID card and household registration?"
Chu Ge: "Emmmm..."
"Even according to the world in the book..." "You are a citizen of this country. The world you've built based on your culture and beliefs, using the Taoist scriptures and myths of this country, naturally belongs to the civilization of this country." Qiu Wuji said, "I've watched some on-demand dramas where the characters not only look different from us, but even their names are hard to remember. That's what it means to be from a different world."
"I remember you once wanted to go to war-torn countries abroad."
"That was to establish myself, not because I was really interested." Qiu Wuji thought for a moment, then added, "I am somewhat interested, after all, it's part of understanding the world, learning about different cultures... When will we really travel abroad?"
"That's not possible for now, at least not until I finish my book. By then, I'll be free, and the pandemic will probably be over... I'll have some money then, and we'll travel the world." Qiu Wuji held up a finger: "It's a deal." Looking at those slender, white fingers, Chu Ge hesitated and didn't hook them.
Qiu Wuji asked curiously, "What?"
"This thing feels like... well, let's just say it's like... 'cattle and sheep on the border,' we don't make plans. If we're going to go, we'll go. What's the point of making plans?"
"Pfft..." Qiu Wuji laughed so hard he bent over. "You guys are breaking superstitions while being more superstitious than anyone else."
Chu Ge was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I'm not superstitious... I just care about you too much."
Qiu Wuji's laughter stopped there. He looked at Chu Ge for a long time, then suddenly stuffed an apple into his mouth: "Eat some fruit, don't think too much."