Hearing the words "only a few days", Huo Qiran's eyes paused for a moment, and then he said: "Only a few days? Where should we go next?"
"Huai City." Jing Li replied with a smile, "Stewart knew that Tongcheng was my hometown, so he stopped by for a visit. He mainly wanted to visit Huai City and the surrounding areas, and he might stay there.
It’ll take a little longer.”
After hearing this, Huo Qiran nodded slightly again, his eyes staying on her face, as if he wanted to say something else, but couldn't find the point to speak again.
At this moment, Mu Qian walked over from the other direction. When he saw the situation here, he was startled for a moment, and then quickly walked forward, "Jing Li?"
Jing Li suddenly turned to look at her, and soon started laughing, "Aunt Mu."
"Long time no see." Mu Qian smiled and said to her, "When did you come back?"
Jing Li quickly answered her questions and then introduced Stewart to Mu Qian.
Stewart was originally here to collect news, and was particularly curious about people like Mu Qian, so after shaking hands, he chatted with Mu Qian very enthusiastically.
Huo Qiran and Jing Li stood nearby, and while Mu Qian and Stewart were chatting lively, Huo Qiran finally spoke in a low voice and asked Jing Li: "We can meet like this, do you have time... to have a midnight snack together?
"
Hearing this, Jing Li seemed to hesitate for a moment before saying, "Stewart is not familiar with this place. I took his salary and came back to be his guide and assistant. It's hard to leave just now."
Of course Huo Qiran understood what she meant.
In the education he received, if there was no direct agreement, it would be equivalent to rejection. It is extremely impolite to force others to do something difficult.
So after listening to Jing Li's answer, although he was slightly stunned, he nodded slowly, and then said: "Then, if you have time before leaving, we can get together."
Jing Li smiled and asked, "Aren't you busy?"
After hearing this, Huo Qiran just smiled and replied: "It's okay."
"Okay." Jing Li said quickly, "Then if I have time, I'll make an appointment with you."
This was said very naturally, but if you think about it carefully, it still means a polite refusal.
Huo Qiran could even imagine that she would not date him, absolutely not.
On the other side, Mu Qian, who was chatting happily, had already begun to take Stewart to visit other paintings in the exhibition, explaining to Stewart while visiting.
Huo Qiran and Jing Li followed slowly. Jing Li was also listening to Mu Qian's explanation attentively, so it was difficult for the two of them to have any further communication.
By the time the visit ended, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening. Jing Li thought she could leave with Stewart, but she never expected that Stewart would actually invite Mu Qian to have supper with her and continue chatting.
Huo Qiran originally thought that Mu Qian would agree to Stewart's invitation. After all, Mu Qian had always made friends and was very good at handling this kind of chats and invitations.
However, unexpectedly, Mu Qian said to Stewart: "I'm sorry, there is so much preparation to do for the recent art exhibition, I'm afraid I don't have time to enjoy this late-night snack."
Stewart seemed to feel very sorry for this, and still persisted in asking Mu Qian: "Then we can make an appointment at another time, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, I have time, it's up to you to choose."
Mu Qian nodded and smiled: "Okay, but I need to check my schedule first, or you can call my secretary to make an appointment."
Stewart readily accepted the offer.
Jing Li seemed slightly confused. She looked at Stewart and then at Mu Qian, with a hint of unobvious anxiety between her brows.
Soon the two of them were about to leave the painting hall. Jing Li's mind was obviously not here anymore. Huo Qiran sent them out. She just said goodbye to Huo Qiran in a hurry and pulled Stewart into the car.
Huo Qiran was left standing alone on the roadside, watching the car gradually disappear into the night, and he seemed to have not recovered.
After Jing Li got in the car, she directly asked Stewart: "Don't tell me that you fell in love again?"
Stewart shrugged happily, "Why not? She's simply mesmerizing, beautiful, both inside and out."
"She has a husband. She and her husband are very loving and have a very good relationship!"
"So what?" Stewart spread his hands, "You can have love outside of marriage. This is the real life."
Jing Li couldn't help but stretched out her hand and pressed her forehead.
Stewart is half French. His damn French genes and views on love are simply suffocating!
…
On the other side, Huo Qiran and Mu Qian were on their way back to Huo's house. Mu Qian still had endless phone calls, while Huo Qiran was sitting quietly in his seat, looking at the speeding scenery outside the window in trance.
I don't know how long it took, but a hand stretched out in front of him and snapped his fingers. Huo Qiran suddenly came back to his senses and found that Mu Qian's call had been completed.
"What are you thinking about?" Mu Qian asked him, "It's been so long."
Huo Qiran moved his somewhat stiff neck, but did not answer. He paused before saying, "I'm a little hungry."
"Hold on, we'll be home soon." Mu Qian said with a smile, "You can have a delicious late-night snack when you get home. It's better than eating with Stewart and Jing Li."
After hearing this, Huo Qiran suddenly turned to look at Mu Qian, "Don't say you refused Stewart's invitation because of me?"
"Otherwise?" Mu Qian said, "You and Jing Li are so embarrassed together. Wouldn't it be even more embarrassing if you sit and eat together? My son has already worked so hard in research, how can I let you go through that again?
The scene? So, let’s go home and eat, it’s just right.”
"Mom..." Huo Qiran called her helplessly.
"What?" Mu Qian said, "Is it possible that you want to tell me that you actually want to have dinner with Jing Li? You shouldn't. You two haven't contacted each other for so long. Isn't it good to just let nature take its course?"
After hearing this, Huo Qiran didn't know what to say for a moment and could only sigh.
Seeing the car entering Huo's house, Mu Qian didn't say anything else and hummed a few lines happily.
After getting out of the car, Huo Qiran went straight upstairs to his room, sat on the bed, and lost consciousness again uncontrollably.
I don’t know how long it took, but his phone suddenly rang. When he picked it up, he saw a message from Jing Li——