Bab 17: The terrifying Qi Jianyi
"What's gotten into you today?" Ling Xi asked, turning her head to face Qi Jianyi.
Ling Xi was taken aback when she received a call from Qi Jianyi asking to hang out. It wasn't unusual for Qi Jianyi to reach out, but things had changed.
Since the last time they had seen each other, Qi Jianyi had undergone a significant transformation, and Ling Xi found herself uncertain about how she felt about this new version of her friend.
Qi Jianyi scanned the bar she had just entered, feeling a pang of regret. She wondered if she was losing her mind by choosing to come to such a place while the sun was still up.
Nevertheless, she needed a break from her thoughts, so she decided to call Ling Xi.
"My dad has been going on and on lately. It's getting really tedious," Qi Jianyi said tersely. This was no exaggeration. Her father's stern and incessant lectures this morning had only added to her frustration.
Ling Xi nodded in understanding. Her own father was no better. She couldn't even remember the last time she genuinely listened to his endless monologues.
"Well, I get it. But I need to mention something before we go upstairs. You called me on short notice, and I already have plans with others. I know you're not fond of them, but I can't just ditch them like that, can I?" Ling Xi said with a sweet, conciliatory tone before they headed up to the private room.
In the past, Ling Xi had been the only person the real Qi Jianyi genuinely enjoyed spending time with. Ling Xi's free-spirited nature had always captivated Qi Jianyi.
However, Qi Jianyi had shown a visible dislike of Ling Xi's clubbing circle, feeling that many of them were more interested in leveraging her connections for their own benefit.
Over time, the young miss did not hide her dislikes towards them and this aversion had led them to avoid Qi Jianyi, leaving Ling Xi as the sole friend who remained by her side.
Seeing Ling Xi's doe-eyed expression made Qi Jianyi want to roll her eyes. Did she really think those big eyes would sway her?
Qi Jianyi pushed away the hand that clung to her arm and said, "I'm just here to have a few drinks."
Ling Xi nodded and hugged Qi Jianyi's arm tighter. "I know you well, but…"
"What is it?" Qi Jianyi asked, frowning.
Ling Xi smiled sheepishly and said carefully, "Well, the others are kind of intimidated by you. So… could you please set aside your feelings about them for today?" She flashed a row of white teeth, clearly negotiating.
"Okay," Qi Jianyi agreed and started walking upstairs, leaving Ling Xi alone downstairs.
"Promise me, okay?" Ling Xi called after her, seeking reassurance.
Qi Jianyi shot a glare at her friend. Was she really that intimidating? The real Qi Jianyi only expressed her dislike subtly and never made a fuss about it.
"If you don't stop now, I'm not going to promise anything," Qi Jianyi said, clearly irritated with Ling Xi's persistence.
Ling Xi nodded vigorously, like a bird pecking. "Alright, alright, I'll be quiet," she said, pulling Qi Jianyi into the private room.
In the private room, the thumping music was almost deafening to Qi Jianyi. She quickly regained her composure and cast a cold, assessing gaze around the room.
There were eight people in the room: four of them were clearly Ling Xi's friends, judging by their relaxed demeanour and the way they interacted with each other. The other four were waitstaff, specifically hired.
Qi Jianyi quickly identified the individuals in the room from her scattered memories. In the left corner, two men named Ji Rui and Pan Shu were seated, both with their arms around a female staff member. In the right corner, two women, Qiao Ning and Wang Zu Rui, were playfully interacting with a male staff member.
As Ling Xi entered the room, her friends immediately greeted her with playful boos for being late. However, none of them initially noticed Qi Jianyi standing quietly behind her.
"Miss Ling, you're late today!" Pan Shu shouted, laughing heartily.
Catching on, Ji Rui quickly added, "Since you're late, it's your turn to pick up the tab."
Qiao Ning and Wang Zu Rui stayed silent, but their smiles clearly indicated that they agreed with Ji Rui.
Ling Xi shot Ji Rui a pointed look and waved dismissively. "Alright, my bad. Just order whatever you want." She hoped her friends would notice Qi Jianyi soon and avoid saying anything that might irritate her.
Unfortunately, Ji Rui, oblivious to Ling Xi's warning, laughed and banged the table with his rough hand. "Miss Ling, tell us why you're late to—" His sentence trailed off as he finally noticed the additional presence behind Ling Xi.
Ji Rui's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly stood up, his body going rigid. He stammered for a moment before finding the courage to speak. "Miss Qi, I… I didn't know you were coming."
Seeing their friend's trembling reaction, the rest of the group quickly realised something was amiss. They turned to see the stern figure of Qi Jianyi and felt as though they were caught by an authoritative figure. It was as if a strict teacher had walked in on them skipping class.
Ling Xi watched the scene with amusement. She had always wondered why her friends were so intimidated by Qi Jianyi, especially since the young woman had never bullied anyone.
Qi Jianyi, however, remained silent, curious to see how long the group would continue fidgeting in her presence.
The four hired staff also stood up, though unaware of her exact identity. They could tell from their experience in the venue that Qi Jianyi was someone of a big figure.
Ling Xi, the only one seated, raised an eyebrow and shot a meaningful glance at Qi Jianyi, urging her to say something to ease the tension.
After a moment, Qi Jianyi spoke up, her voice calm and measured. "I'm just here to have a few drinks. Don't mind me," she said, waving her hand to dismiss their nervousness.
She then made her way to a couch positioned next to a transparent glass panel that offered a view of the activities downstairs.
As she settled onto the couch, the group began to relax, though they still cast occasional, wary glances in her direction.
"Miss Qi, d-do you need some company?" Ji Rui stammered, his voice betraying his nervousness.
Qi Jianyi turned her head to look at him. Her gaze briefly settled on the two men next to Qiao Ning and Wang Zu Rui, her scrutiny making them visibly stiffen.
After a moment, Qi Jianyi shook her head. "No, it's fine."
Ji Rui let out a sigh of relief, feeling a pang of regret for his earlier question. He was relieved that he hadn't inadvertently upset Qi Jianyi.
Ling Xi smacks the glass on her hand on the table, drawing the attention of others. She remarks, "Okay, don't mind her. Just enjoy your drinks."
Although she got a promise from Qi Jianyi, she couldn't put her trust in her four cowardly friends to not screw it up.
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