She liked him.
After the woman finished speaking and leaned back on the sofa, she finally saw a woman standing upstairs.
An extremely beautiful woman.
At the same time, Qin Ningyi's calm voice said, "I found her."
His words matched the woman upstairs.
"Her?"
Qin Ningyi looked up. Huo Rou stood there, showing no intention of coming downstairs.
Seeing her in the loungewear he had prepared, he recalled how Huo Rou had been last night. A smile spread across his lips. "You're awake? Come down for breakfast."
Huo Rou walked down step by step, a faint smile on her face, but only she knew the awkwardness she felt inside. "Who is this?"
"My name is Zou Xiaoxiao, Qin Ge's childhood friend and right-hand person." Zou Xiaoxiao stood up and met Huo Rou's gaze, introducing herself casually.
"Hello, Huo Rou."
Huo Rou nodded gracefully, acknowledging the introduction.
A silent moment passed. Huo Rou went straight to the dining table and began to eat.
"Why didn't you go to work?" Huo Rou looked around, not seeing An An, and then remembered that it was already time for work.
"Waiting for you," Qin Ningyi said naturally. "I was afraid you'd feel uncomfortable, so I didn't wake you up this morning. I've already asked Xiao Yudada for leave, so you can go later."
Hearing Qin Ningyi speak so patiently and meticulously, a flicker of jealousy flashed in Zou Xiaoxiao's eyes. But he had a girlfriend, so there was nothing she could say.
She played the role of a guest well, watching the two interact from a distance. She had never imagined that Qin Ningyi would be like this when he was in love.
Gentle and attentive, his eyes filled with only one person.
"Qin Ge, you have a girlfriend now, so I'll report back directly," Zou Xiaoxiao suppressed her inner sadness and cheerfully played the role of a friend.
It was her fault for waiting so many years and not making a move sooner.
"Don't rush, stay for a few days." Qin Ningyi hadn't yet figured out how to conceal Huo Rou's relationship with the Jiang family. He was worried about the old man finding out about Huo Rou's existence rashly.
Zou Xiaoxiao didn't ask why. Since childhood, she had always obeyed Qin Ningyi's words without question.
This time was no different.
She picked up her suitcase and walked towards the room where Su Nianzhu had lived before.
When her family's old man had sent her to accompany Qin Ningyi, she had stayed in that room.
Huo Rou lifted her bowl to drink soup, her gaze using the bowl as a cover to watch Zou Xiaoxiao's retreating back.
Throughout the week, Zou Xiaoxiao only appeared at mealtimes. She usually stayed in her room alone or went out to attend a mechanical design exhibition.
Huo Rou had researched her. She came from a prominent family, had grown up pampered, yet was not arrogant. As a woman, she chose a field like mechanical design and dealt with machines every day.
For the past few years, she had been studying abroad to learn more advanced technologies for upgrading domestic machinery.
She had achieved a great deal in this field over the years. Many equipment improvements in the military had passed through her hands. She was undoubtedly an outstanding person.
Huo Rou should have admired her greatly.
But the casual intimacy that occasionally surfaced between her and Qin Ningyi, the bright gaze she cast at Qin Ningyi, became increasingly passionate.
"Qin Ge, tomorrow is the weekend, you're not working overtime, right?" Zou Xiaoxiao asked suddenly while eating.
This question made her suddenly remember Qin Ningyi's usual rule of not speaking while eating, and she fell silent.
It wasn't until after the meal that she continued to ask the same question.
"No overtime. I'm accompanying A'rou." Qin Ningyi glanced at Huo Rou, who was also a workaholic. During the recent offensive and defensive drills, she had led the Yu Da Security team working in three shifts every day. He hadn't had a proper conversation with her in a long time.
Hearing this, Zou Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes, took a breath, and then resumed her previous demeanor to add, "Then you can bring Huo Rou along. Lei Zi said he's organizing a gathering for tomorrow."
Upon hearing the name, Qin Ningyi's expression relaxed, as if thinking of something pleasant. He smiled and agreed.
Huo Rou found Qin Ningyi's smile a bit dazzling and looked down at her phone.
Just then, Zhao Wen sent her a message.
[Zhao Wen: Captain Huo, shall we have dinner together tomorrow night? I have a surprise for you.]
"A'rou, come with me for dinner tomorrow, I'll introduce someone to you," Qin Ningyi leaned over and asked with a smile.
A surge of emotion rose in her chest. "No, I have a dinner engagement tomorrow. You two go ahead."
She didn't know what was wrong with her.
"Then, Qin Ge, shall we two go? After all, Lei Zi rarely has time off, and I haven't seen him in many years."
After a few days of getting to know her, Zou Xiaoxiao's opinion of Huo Rou became strange, and those suppressed feelings resurfaced.
Huo Rou's work hours were unpredictable, and she seemed like an ordinary working woman. A mediocre woman, something Zou Xiaoxiao least wanted to be.
Clearly, a mediocre, ordinary woman would not be what the Qin family needed, and she wasn't suitable for the Qin family.
Zou Xiaoxiao guessed that Qin Ningyi also knew this.
She could see Qin Ningyi's efforts.
He was constantly thinking of ways to help the old man accept such an ordinary Huo Rou, but Huo Rou did nothing.
Qin Ningyi was too cautious in this relationship; she saw all his hesitation and unspoken words.
Qin Ningyi looked at the invitation from Zhao Wen on her phone screen and could only smile and agree to her plan.