Beijing-Hong Kong Rosemary

Chapter 17 We are not familiar with each other
In the photo, Qu Yanci is holding a little girl, who should be Xia Xi when she was a child.

Shen Guining was stunned. Could this be Mr. Qu's house? What is the relationship between Mr. Qu and Xia Xi?
Xia Xi noticed that she was lost in thought, "What are you looking at?"

Shen Guining pointed to the photo frame, "Xia Xi, who is Mr. Qu to you?"

Xia Xi ate a strawberry, her eyes darting around, and said, "My dad, of course."

"Mr. Qu is your father? Isn't he single?"

Shen Guining's mind went blank for a moment. Did that mean all her previous actions...?

"I divorced my mom," Xia Xi quickly added, "but they're getting remarried soon."

Shen Guining was dumbfounded.

So Mr. Qu already has such a grown daughter. What foolish thing was she doing before? She actually dared to try and pursue him…

She almost did something that broke up someone else's family.

"Miss Shen, the car is ready." Uncle Bai's voice came from the doorway.

Shen Guining snapped out of her reverie and absentmindedly got up to leave.

As I got into the car, another extended Bentley, not far away, circled the fountain and slowly stopped in front of the villa.

Shen Guining stopped and subconsciously looked over.

Uncle Bai stepped forward and opened the Bentley door. "Sir."

Qu Yanci strode out of the carriage and caught sight of an unexpected figure.

When he looked over, Shen Guining immediately lowered her eyes, pinched her palm, and did not go over to greet him. She pretended not to see him and bent down to get into the car.

He has a daughter now, so you should keep your distance from him.

The car door closed, and the driver drove away.

Qu Yanci frowned slightly. "What's she doing here?"

Uncle Bai was surprised. "You mean Miss Shen? She's Miss Xia Xi's dance tutor."

Judging from the tone of your voice, it seems you know this Miss Shen.

Qu Yanci stepped into the house. "Was she disobedient today?"

The "she" here naturally refers to Miss Xia Xi.

Uncle Bai reported truthfully: "At first, she was a little slow, deliberately dawdling while changing clothes, making Miss Shen wait for half an hour, but she was still attentive in class..."

Qu Yanci interrupted, "Make her face the wall for half an hour tonight to reflect on her actions."

Uncle Bai: "...Okay."

Miss Xia Xi is going to cause trouble again.
-
Shen Guining was still in a daze when she returned to her apartment.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed. I thought I could rely on Mr. Qu, but I never expected that he already had a daughter.

What should she do? Besides Mr. Qu, who else can protect her in both Beijing and Hong Kong?

That evening, Zhu Sixuan called via video and saw that she looked like a wilted cabbage. She asked with concern, "What's wrong? Why do you look so frustrated?"

Shen Guining's face was ashen. "Mr. Qu has an eight-year-old daughter."

"Huh?" Zhu Sixuan exclaimed in surprise, "Are you kidding me?"

Afraid that others would hear, Shen Guining quickly put on her headphones. "It's true. I only found out today. And he was married before."

"He's been married before!" Zhu Sixuan exclaimed as if suddenly realizing something. "No wonder, how could someone so handsome and rich be almost thirty and still single? Either he's impotent, or he has a history of marriage!"

Shen Guining regretted not having made sure everything was clear beforehand, which almost led to a serious mistake.

Zhu Sixuan comforted her, "It's okay, it's okay. Luckily, we found out early. There are so many rich and powerful people in Beijing. If one doesn't work out, we can just find another one!"

Shen Guining had mixed feelings.

I had insomnia for half the night, and didn't wake up until almost noon the next day. I got up and ordered some takeout.

There's another tutoring class this afternoon.

She'd already taken the job, so she had to grit her teeth and continue teaching.

Before leaving, she took the dry-cleaned suit jacket from the closet with her, intending to return it to Mr. Qu. What he did with it was his business; such an expensive garment shouldn't be left with her.
-
When Shen Guining arrived at Xia Xi's house again, she felt a mix of emotions.

Looking closely at Xia Xi's eyebrows and eyes, she does resemble Mr. Qu somewhat.

To live here and be called "Miss," who else could it be but Mr. Qu's daughter?

When it was time for class, she composed herself and continued teaching the dance moves she hadn't finished the day before.

Xia Xi was punished by facing the wall to reflect on her actions last night, and she's been much more well-behaved today.

After practicing for an hour, Shen Guining told her to rest for a while.

Xia Xi couldn't wait to run to the sofa and sit down, picking up the juice on the table to quench her thirst.

She looked at Shen Guining and suddenly asked, "Teacher, do you know my... father?"

Shen Guining didn't want to lie, "Yes, I know him."

Xia Xi bit the straw, "Then..."

"We're not close." Shen Guining was eager to distance herself, afraid of being misunderstood.

Xia Xi seemed to be deep in thought, and a sense of displeasure arose in her heart. Perhaps it was because she had complained to her uncle that she was punished by being made to stand facing the wall.

After a ten-minute rest, Shen Guining reminded them, "Time's up, let's continue practicing."

Xia Xi remained motionless. "I'm not feeling well, I don't want to jump anymore, you should go back."

"Where do you feel unwell? Are you sick?"

Shen Guining reached out to touch her forehead, but she dodged away.

Xia Xi frowned. "No need, I'll just go back to my room and get some sleep."

After saying that, he put down the cup and left.

Shen Guining withdrew her hand, unsure whether she was throwing a tantrum or genuinely feeling unwell.
-
Uncle Bai was ironing Mr. Qu's clothes in the main building when he received a call from Shen Guining and told the man on the sofa, "Sir, Miss said she's not feeling well."

Qu Yanci pressed his fingertips against his brow bone. "What's going on now?"

Uncle Bai guessed, "It's probably just an excuse because he doesn't want to dance."

"We've spoiled her too much." Qu Yanci put down the book in his hand and stood up.

Shen Guining waited downstairs for Uncle Bai to come over, but unexpectedly, Mr. Qu was also at home.

He was dressed in casual home clothes, without his shirt and suit, which made him less serious than usual, but it did not diminish his noble temperament in the slightest.

"What about people?"

Shen Guining called out, "Mr. Qu," and then said, "Xia Xi has gone back to her room."

Qu Yanci gestured to Uncle Bai, "Go and take a look."

"Okay." Uncle Bai turned and went upstairs.

"She's not cooperating in class?" Qu Yanci asked.

Shen Guining lowered her eyelashes. "She's quite cooperative."

Remembering the suit jacket, she walked to the coffee table and picked up the bag. "Mr. Qu, I've already sent your clothes to the dry cleaners."

Qu Yanci glanced at it, raised his hand to take it, and said indifferently, "I saw you yesterday."

"I..." Shen Guining choked. If she said she saw him, it would expose that she had deliberately not greeted him. If she said she didn't see him, she couldn't explain why she had specially brought his clothes today.

Just when she was at a loss, Uncle Bai's voice rescued her: "Sir, Miss is alright."

"Then let's finish the class." Qu Yanci said this and turned to leave.

Xia Xi had a clear view of the situation downstairs from the second-floor corridor.

Another complaint! So annoying!
They even lied to her and said they weren't familiar with each other. How could they not be familiar with each other after giving her gifts?
Her uncle had spoken, so she had no choice but to obediently return to the dance studio to practice.

Shen Guining didn't expose the little girl's thoughts. "Are you feeling better?"

Xia Xi hummed in agreement, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Teacher, could you get me the hairband from the drawer in the cabinet? I need to tie my hair up."

(End of this chapter)