Chapter 2237: Chapter 41: Stay in G City or Return to the Imperial City

Qin Qingqing was slightly taken aback.

Her almond eyes glanced at Ye Zhan’s long, fair hand and the chocolate, instinctively refusing, "I don’t want it."

"Qingqing, didn’t I just say? I’m embarrassed for freeloading at your house, so I bought you a box of chocolates."

"Qingqing, this is something I helped choose. Open it up, and we can all have a taste."

In the front row, Tang Jinchen chimed in with a cheerful grin.

He even turned his head to glance at them.

Seeing his eager expression, Qin Qingqing laughed and agreed, "Alright, then I’ll open it."

Everyone got a piece.

Qin Qingqing popped a chocolate into her mouth and inquired, "Aren’t you both very busy? How come you had time to come to the company to pick me up?"

"We just finished work conveniently on the way. Ah Zhan said to pick you up and head home together, so here we are."

"How’s the taste? Do you like it?"

Ye Zhan asked with a smile.

Qin Qingqing nodded, "It’s quite delicious."

"That’s good then."

——

For the next few days, Ye Zhan continued staying at the Mo family house every night.

During the day, he ate at the Qin family home.

Although Qin Qingqing refused to let them drive her to work, Ye Zhan and Tang Jinchen insisted on being her drivers, taking it in turns each day.

Thinking that they were only staying in G City for a few days, Qin Qingqing let them be.

Since that day, Shi Xi hadn’t visited the company to see Qin Qingqing, and Mo Ziye was on a business trip elsewhere.

Qin Qingqing got used to going to and from work every day.

That evening, it was supposed to be Tang Jinchen picking up Qingqing, but the person who came was Ye Zhan.

"Qingqing, Jinchen has something he can’t get away from. We’re heading back to the Imperial City tomorrow, so tonight I’ll treat you to dinner."

"You’re leaving tomorrow?"

Qingqing was a bit surprised.

He hadn’t mentioned it before.

Ye Zhan nodded and gentlemanly opened the car door for her, motioning for her to get in first.

Qin Qingqing responded with an ’oh,’ bent down to sit in the car, and then asked after he got into the driver’s seat, "Have you booked the tickets? When’s the flight tomorrow?"

"Eight in the morning, it’s too early, you don’t need to see us off."

"I didn’t even say I’m seeing you off."

Qin Qingqing said with a cheeky smile, "I want to sleep in on the weekend, so don’t say goodbye to me tomorrow."

"Qingqing, you’re really not holding back at all."

Ye Zhan looked at her smiling face with amusement.

In his heart, a strange feeling of reluctance emerged.

His smile faded for a moment, quietly observing her, a peculiar emotion flashed through his dark eyes, giving the small car interior a subtle atmosphere.

Qin Qingqing blinked under his gaze.

Raising her hand to touch her cheek as if to hide her discomfort, she asked, "Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Qingqing."

Ye Zhan suddenly called her.

His voice was low and magnetic.

Qin Qingqing instinctively avoided his gaze, "Aren’t you taking me to dinner? Start driving."

"When you go to the Imperial City, give me a call in advance."

Ye Zhan’s words were a bit random.

At least, Qin Qingqing didn’t understand why he said that out of the blue.

It seemed unrelated to their current conversation.

However, without him looking at her like he did earlier, Qin Qingqing felt relieved, "I can’t just bother you anytime."

"You can. I’m giving you the right to disturb me anytime."

Ye Zhan’s lips curled into a slight smile, looking deeply at her, "Actually, the reason I came to G City this time was I asked Grandpa An for help to let me stay at your house."

"Ah?"

Qin Qingqing didn’t respond immediately.

Ye Zhan changed the topic, "Do you want Western or Chinese food? Or is there any restaurant you want to go to?"

"I’ve been away from G City for four years. I don’t know much since I came back not long ago. Let’s go to Yi Pin Xuan Pavilion."

It’s the only place I used to frequent the most, just like home.

"I know Yi Pin Xuan Pavilion."

Ye Zhan raised an eyebrow, started the car, and drove.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at Yi Pin Xuan Pavilion.

When the food was being served, Qin Qingqing called Tang Jinchen again. He said he couldn’t make it and told them not to wait for him.

"Qingqing, have you ever thought about going back to the Imperial City?"

During the meal, Ye Zhan asked casually.

The private room for two wasn’t very big, but if they didn’t talk, the atmosphere would be awkward.

Ye Zhan was just casually looking for a topic.

Qin Qingqing swallowed her food and said calmly, "I just went back a while ago."

"I mean, returning to the Imperial City to live permanently."

Ye Zhan placed a piece of beef into her bowl, his eyes fixed on her.

Qin Qingqing looked up, met his gaze, and instinctively lowered her head again. She heard Ye Zhan’s gentle voice, "Grandpa An, Grandma An, Grandpa Qin, and Grandma Qin are all getting old. During the years you weren’t in the country, Uncle Qin has been living between the two places. If you’re willing to return to the Imperial City, Uncle Qin wouldn’t have to commute to G City anymore."

"The Imperial City and G City aren’t far apart. Whenever they miss me, I can fly back anytime."

Qin Qingqing deliberately used a lighthearted tone.

"But it’s not the same." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Ye Zhan shook his head, "Actually, the Imperial City is your real home. If you return to the Imperial City, it would be better than staying here. It would also put the elders’ minds at ease."

"Are you sent by my grandpa and my grandfather to persuade me?"

Qin Qingqing raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Ye Zhan.

Ye Zhan chuckled.

He calmly met her gaze, "I’m not a persuader, I just think you staying alone in G City is not as good as returning to the Imperial City. Of course, if you like it here, and don’t want to return to the Imperial City, just pretend I didn’t say anything."

"I do like it here. I grew up here, and I feel this is my home."

"That makes sense."

Ye Zhan’s smile faded, speaking warmly, "Then, take care of yourself alone in G City. Be careful in general. I heard Shi Xi went to the company to look for you today, and now it’s all over Haochen..."

"You heard about it?"

"Yes, I found out by chance."

Ye Zhan’s phone rang.

He took a look at the call, got up, and said, "I’ll just step out to take this call."

"Alright."

Qin Qingqing nodded, watching him leave the seat.

Hearing the door close, she pursed her lips and continued eating.

In her heart, she wasn’t indifferent to what Ye Zhan had just said.

On the contrary, there was a struggle of emotions within her.

Perhaps, she ought to return to the Imperial City to be with her family, rather than being so willful.

Thinking of Shi Xi’s words that afternoon in her office, her expression changed again.

After finishing his call, Ye Zhan also went to the bathroom.

When he came out, there was a dimly lit corridor ahead, where a drunken man was pestering a young woman.

From the back, Ye Zhan couldn’t recognize the woman, but hearing her voice, he could.

Taking two steps forward, he firmly grabbed the man’s wrist and with a forceful shove, the man stumbled unsteadily to the ground.

The woman, who had been facing away from him, turned in shock. Upon seeing him, her beautiful eyes flashed with surprise, "Ye Zhan?!"

"Are you alright?"

Ye Zhan’s gaze swept over the man on the ground who was now cursing, and he asked indifferently.