26: Chapter 26, Step One: Holding Hands!

Upon entering the garage, Manager Bai took on the role of a guide, leading Zhang Bo and his motorcade as they drove in a grand procession to the parking spaces for Building 7.

After everyone parked their cars, they handed their respective keys over to Zhang Bo.

Zhang Bo carefully inspected each car one by one, and only after confirming there were no issues did he lock all fifteen vehicles.

Afterwards, he walked up to Manager Bai and handed her a package bearing the Wanhao Car Dealership logo, which contained the fifteen car keys.

"Please look after the keys for these 15 cars for the time being, Manager Bai. When Mr. Qin returns, I'll have to trouble you to hand them over to him. Also, the vehicle registration certificates and spare keys are all in the passenger-side armrest storage box."

Manager Bai took the package, glanced inside, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of her eye.

Although Mr. Qin had mentioned on the phone that there were quite a few cars, she had assumed it would be four or five at most. She hadn't expected there to be as many as fifteen.

Seeing that the handover was complete, Zhang Bo said, "Well, Manager Bai, the cars have been delivered, so we'll be heading off now."

Seeing Zhang Bo make a move to leave, Manager Bai hurriedly called out to him, "Wait, hang on. May I ask, is Mr. Qin coming back to the residential complex tonight?"

Zhang Bo shrugged, looking as if he didn't know either, and replied, "I'm not sure about that; I'm just here to deliver the cars. Don't you have Mr. Qin's number? Why don't you just call and ask?"

Manager Bai thought about it and realized that was true, so she replied, "Alright then, I'll give him a call and ask later."

Zhang Bo smiled and then signaled for the others to leave.

However, just before leaving, Zhang Bo gave Manager Bai a meaningful look and kindly reminded her, "Oh, right, let me give you a heads-up. At this hour, Mr. Qin is likely out shopping and dining with friends—though, who knows, he might be doing other things too... So, I think it would be better if you just sent a text message to ask..."

After saying this, Zhang Bo led his group away without looking back.

At first, Manager Bai found it all a bit baffling, wondering what Mr. Qin shopping and dining had to do with her calling him...

But once she returned to her office and set down the pile of keys, she thought about it carefully and finally understood what Zhang Bo meant.

What kind of friends would go shopping and dining together?

It must be close friends, and recalling the tone Zhang Bo used when he said that, she figured this friend of Mr. Qin's was likely his girlfriend...

And that line about him perhaps doing other things...

Could it be that Mr. Qin was currently doing some intimate activities with his girlfriend?

If it really was as she suspected, wouldn't calling him right now ruin Mr. Qin's mood?

Thinking of this, Manager Bai couldn't help but feel grateful to Zhang Bo.

Consequently, Manager Bai decided to take Zhang Bo's advice and not call Mr. Qin directly.

However, out of respect for Qin Yi, and in line with the property management service principle of ensuring every matter has a response and every detail is accounted for, she still composed a text message and sent it to Qin Yi.

...

When he received Manager Bai's text, Qin Yi had just arrived at the first floor of the International Finance Center with Xu Qian.

The first floor was mainly occupied by watches, jewelry, and cosmetics, all international luxury brands like Vacheron Constantin, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Bvlgari, and Dior.

Qin Yi saw the Rolex counter sign and remembered that his dad used to have a Rolex, which he'd bought when they went to Hong Kong Island. It wasn't even that expensive, only about 300,000.

In his dad's words, a watch wasn't for telling time, but for negotiating business.

There's a term, 'Yilao Yongyi' (Once and for all), which is a pun many Rolex enthusiasts often use.

Speaking of which, one couldn't help but marvel at the profound depth of Chinese characters, for example: 'Jilaochengji' (Gathering labor to gain luck), 'Jushouzhilao' (Knowing labor by raising a hand), 'Bucixinlao' (Not shunning new labor), 'Tianruoyouqingtianyilao' (If heaven has feelings, heaven also labors)...

However, times had changed, and his dad's gold Rolex had long since been seized by loan sharks to pay off debts.

...

Seeing Qin Yi's gaze lingering on the Rolex counter, Xu Qian asked curiously, "Are you interested in Rolex watches, Mr. Qin?"

In reality, Xu Qian had never stepped foot in a mall selling luxury goods like the International Finance Center before.

Even though the bag she was carrying was an LV, it was just an entry-level model. It was fine for putting on airs while walking down the street, but in a high-end mall like this, it paled in comparison.

However, since she was accompanying Qin Yi today, she inexplicably felt a bit more confident.

Qin Yi smiled faintly when he heard how Xu Qian addressed him. Since her favorability rating had reached 80, the title "Mr. Qin" felt a bit too distant.

So, Qin Yi looked at Xu Qian with a smile: "Don't call me Mr. Qin; it sounds so estranged. How about this, you can just call me by my name, or call me Brother Yi. As for me, I'll call you Qianqian, okay? Calling you Xiao Qian always makes me think of A Chinese Ghost Story..."

Xu Qian silently pursed her lips. When she signed the car purchase contract, she had seen Qin Yi's ID number and knew he was only 22, two years younger than her. She thought to herself: Call you Brother Yi? You're not even older than me, yet you want me to call you brother.

However, although she thought this, she couldn't say it out loud.

So, after a moment's hesitation, Xu Qian said, "Then, how about I call you Young Master Qin instead?"

It was just a title, and Qin Yi didn't mind. He nodded and replied, "That works. By the way, you didn't eat lunch, did you? Shall we go grab something to eat first?"

Xu Qian smiled awkwardly. In fact, her stomach had already started growling while they were in the car.

Usually, she didn't eat dinner, but Qin Yi had arrived at the dealership after eleven, and she had been busy running around, so she hadn't had a chance to eat lunch.

Xu Qian nodded and replied, "That works, I'll follow your lead, Young Master Qin. But aren't we going to buy the gifts first?"

"No rush. Let's eat while it's not too crowded. You need energy to shop when you're full." Qin Yi said, heading straight towards the escalator.

Xu Qian followed closely by Qin Yi's side and asked, "Are we going to that restaurant the boss mentioned?"

Qin Yi shook his head: "What's so good about French cuisine? I know there's a buffet restaurant on the fourth floor here. I've been a few times, and the food is pretty good. Perfect, I didn't eat lunch either, let's go have a feast together!"

"Oh, alright then."

Xu Qian had thought Qin Yi would take her to the high-end French restaurant the boss mentioned. Since the boss had said it could be expensed, she could have taken the opportunity to snap some photos, post them on her Moments, and rake in the likes. Who would have thought Young Master Qin would take her to eat at a buffet...

She felt a little disappointed, but at the same time, she felt that this Young Master Qin was actually quite down-to-earth, unlike those typical rich second-generation heirs.

Soon, the two arrived at the fourth floor of the mall. The entire fourth floor was dedicated to dining—Western food, Chinese food, creative cuisine—every shop looked very upscale.

However, when Xu Qian saw the sign for that buffet restaurant, she was completely dumbfounded.

Sinan Feast!

Xu Qian had previously seen this restaurant on Douyin. It was touted as the most expensive buffet in the entire city, and many food bloggers had checked in here. You had to pay upon entering, 2999 yuan per person—just one yuan shy of her last month's salary...

Although Qin Yi wasn't a regular, he had brought Su Mo here a few times.

After all, no matter how delicious a buffet is, it gets boring if you eat it too often.

Qin Yi was about to walk into the restaurant when he noticed Xu Qian hadn't followed. He stopped and looked back.

He saw Xu Qian fiddling with her phone, not knowing what she was doing.

"Qianqian, what are you looking at?"

Qin Yi leaned in curiously, just in time to catch a glimpse of Xu Qian checking her mobile banking balance... 3100.9 yuan...

Hmm... it was just enough for one person...

If not, she could just use her credit card; the boss had said it was reimbursable anyway...

Just as Xu Qian was thinking this, she saw Qin Yi look over. Startled, she hurriedly hid her phone behind her back and forced a calm, awkward smile.

"No, nothing... um, I'll go pay."

Qin Yi saw her embarrassment. How could he let her pay? He immediately reached out and grabbed her, smiling slightly: "When you're out eating with me, how could I let you pay? It's my treat, you just focus on eating, don't worry about anything else!"

Hearing this, Xu Qian was slightly stunned. She instinctively looked down at the large hand gripping her arm. Immediately, a wave of heat rushed to her cheeks, and her little heart began to thump wildly once again.

For a moment, she didn't know whether she should break free or just let Young Master Qin hold her like this...

After an awkward moment, seeing that Young Master Qin had no intention of letting go, Xu Qian said with a shy expression: "But the boss told me to host you properly, Young Master Qin; how can I let you pay?"

Feeling the smoothness in his hand and seeing her red earlobes, Qin Yi felt secretly pleased. At the same time, he admired himself, remembering that the first time he took Su Mo out, he hadn't even dared to touch her hand...

He didn't know why he had been such a coward back then; he really didn't live up to his status as a rich second-generation heir!

Since he was already touching her arm, he might as well take it a step further.

So, without further ado, Qin Yi took the opportunity to take Xu Qian's hand: "Alright, having a beauty like you accompany me for dinner and shopping is hospitality enough. If Brother Kun asks later, just tell him you paid, and that'll be that."

"How can that work... If the boss finds out, he'll definitely blame me."

"Don't worry, he won't. You're the host, I'm paying—you're saving your boss money, he'll be too happy to blame you."

Seeing that Xu Qian was about to argue further, Qin Yi wasn't going to give her the chance. Without waiting for her to speak, he pulled her straight into the shop, scanning the code and paying in one fluid motion.

Then, under the guidance of a waiter, the two found a table by the window.

Qin Yi even very gentlemanly pulled out a chair for Xu Qian. After she sat down, Qin Yi finally let go of her hand and sat down opposite her.

However, at this moment, the look in Xu Qian's eyes as she gazed at Qin Yi was filled with a mix of confusion and shyness, and the hand that Qin Yi had just held was now uneasily rubbing against the other under the table.