Chapter 30 (1/2)

Pretend to be My Boyfriend

“I’m not kidding,” said Xia Lei.

Chi Jing-Qiu looked at Xia Lei with eyes full of contempt, “Classmate Xia, when did you become this sort of person?”

“Become what sort of person?”

“A liar,” Chi Jing-Qiu added, “A liar who lies even to himself.”

Xia Lei looked back at her but just smiled and didn’t bother to say more. This was a chance meeting and he was not his high-school self anymore. However, she seemed not to have changed from her high-school self – she was still proud and heartless. He was not angry at all when faced with her questions and cynicism because it was not worth it. He didn’t even want to speak a word more with her; it was too tiring and unnecessary.

Chi Jing-Qiu, however, thought Xia Lei’s silence was because she had hit a nerve and she smirked, “I was right, wasn’t I? Classmate Xia, I’ll give you 30 seconds to leave and go where you should be going. This is not a place for you to loiter about in. If you’re still sitting here after 30 seconds I’ll call security. You don’t want that to happen, do you?”

“Classmate Chi, I really don’t want to waste breath on you since it’s tiring. I’ll put it this way – if I leave right now, and leave due to you, your Chairman Ning will definitely take you to task.”

“Looks like I’ll have to call security.” Chi Jing-Qiu took out her phone and got ready to dial.

Xia Lei did not bother explaining himself. He picked up a magazine and started flipping through it.

Just then, a middle-aged man walked through the doorway. He was not tall – maybe a little under 170cm. His fat face and beer belly made him look like one of those underachieving people who lacked self-discipline.

“Darling, what happened?” The middle-aged man called Chi Jing-Qiu ‘darling’ as soon as he entered, unabashedly showing his affection for her.

This greeting shocked Xia Lei. The line Chi Jing-Qiu wrote on his love letter hovered in his head: I like boys like Wu Qi-Long so, Classmate Xia, are you a boy like him?

Is this dear friend here the sort of boy like Wu Qi-Long?!

Xia Lei started laughing all of a sudden; he couldn’t hold it in anymore. If anyone said that that man there was Wu Qi-Long and not Wu Meng-Da*, he would smack him silly.

Seeing Xia Lei laugh out of the blue, the middle-aged man demanded rudely, “Who are you?”

Before Xia Lei could answer, Chi Jing-Qiu spoke first, “Hubby, his name’s Xia Lei. He was my high school classmate. I think he’s here today to make trouble for me; he’s loitering in Chairman Ning’s exclusive reception room and wouldn’t leave.”

The middle-aged man’s face darkened in anger. He pointed at Xia Lei and commanded, “Get out!”

Xia Lei laughed as he said, “Please use a more courteous tone, Mr. Wu Qi-Long.”

“Wu Qi-Long?” The middle-aged man paused, “Who is Wu Qi-Long?”

Xia Lei looked at Chi Jing-Qiu and pretended to look surprised, “Isn’t your lover Wu Qi-Long?”

“Darling, what is this? Who is Wu Qi-Long? When did this Wu Qi-Long appear?” the middle-aged man asked suspiciously.

Chi Jing-Qi stamped her foot in anger, “Wu Qi-Long is a Taiwanese singer! You’re so embarrassing!”

“I…” The middle-aged man’s fat face turned the colour of pig liver. He knew then that Xia Lei had baited him and he stepped towards Xia Lei, ready to throw a punch.

As that moment, Ning Jing walked in, followed by a tall, dignified elderly gentleman.

As soon as they saw Ning Jing and the tall old man, Chi Jing-Qiu and the middle-aged man bowed respectfully and greeted, “Chairman Ning.”

This tall elderly gentleman was East Wind Heavy Industries’ Chairman, Ning Yuan-Shan. Chi Jing-Qiu and her husband were respectful towards him but Xia Lei just dipped his head slightly.

Ning Jing spoke, “Uncle, this is the person I told you about; Master Xia.” She turned to Xia Lei, “Master Xia, this is my uncle, Ning Yuan-Shan.”

Xia Lei got up from the sofa and stretched both hands out to Ning Yuan-Shan for a clasping handshake, saying, “Greetings, Chairman Ning.”

Ning Yuan-Shan extended one hand and shook hands with Xia Lei. There was no need to use both hands since Xia Lei was of the younger generation. They shook twice, and Ning Yuan-Shan said, “Master Xia, I was intrigued when Ning Jing spoke of you. I am glad you came today. Come, let’s sit and chat.”

“Of course, please have a seat first, Chairman Ning,” said Xia Lei.

Ning Yuan-Shan chuckled in appreciation of Xia Lei’s politeness, then he saw the gaping Chi Jing-Qiu who was standing next to them and a wrinkle appeared between his brows. “Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and serve tea to Master Xia.”

Chi Jing-Qiu came to her senses and scurried off to make tea. Her cheeks flamed as she remembered the tone she’d used with Xia Lei and how she had been chided for not bringing Xia Lei some tea. The slap to her pride was a harsh one. She didn’t understand how a poor beggar-boy she’d rejected years ago could become so distinguished now.

Ning Yuan-Shan looked at Chi Jing-Qiu’s husband and said, “Liu Shuai, why are you still standing around? Don’t you have work to do?”

“I… I’ll be about my duties, Chairman Ning.” The man named Liu Shuai moved faster than the wind.

Chi Jing-Qiu carried three cups of tea over and set the first one before Ning Yuan-Shan, the second in front of Ning Jing and the third before Xia Lei. As she set the tea before Xia Lei, she looked at him, her gaze showing a mix of emotions.