Novel Wait
Chapter 29 - Tension and Excitement! Is Song Qian Home Alone?
Chapter 29: Tension and Excitement! Is Song Qian Home Alone?
“Thanks,” Su Bai politely thanked the cab driver as he got out.
Feeling utterly drained, Su Bai replayed the night’s events in his mind. What was supposed to be a simple dinner with Tong Wenjie had spiraled into chaos. Not only did he leave half-starved, but he also had to foot the bill and ensure Tong Wenjie got home safely.
Worse yet, his clean reputation as a young man had been thoroughly compromised. He suspected Tong Wenjie’s dinner invitation was merely a ruse to fulfil some ulterior motive.
Regardless, those concerns were now behind him. As Su Bai approached the gates of Shuxiang Yayuan, he noticed a familiar figure standing outside.
The moment their eyes met, the figure jogged toward him.
“Hey, boss! Good evening!”
The tall, striking woman greeted him warmly.
“Xiao Meng Jie, when you call me ‘boss,’ it reminds me of the bartenders at nightclubs calling their clients ‘boss,’” Su Bai quipped with a grin.
Momentarily stunned, Xiao Meng quickly burst into a sheepish laugh.
“Stop teasing me! Unlike them, I don’t sell myself.”
Feeling playful, Su Bai leaned into the banter. “Oh? So you sell your skills instead? How about performing some yoga for me—don’t forget to wear yoga pants!”
Flustered by Su Bai’s teasing, Xiao Meng lightly scolded him.
“You little rascal, why are you always so sharp-tongued?”
Feigning innocence, Su Bai held up a hand. “Now, now. Don’t make claims you haven’t tested.”
Understanding his insinuation, Xiao Meng lightly swatted his shoulder.
“Enough of your nonsense. I can never out-talk you!”
“You can call me ugly, but don’t you dare call me little.”
Xiao Meng playfully rolled her eyes at him, then composed herself, realising the conversation needed to end before it went too far.
“So, boss, school ended a while ago. Why are you getting home so late? Were you studying overtime?”
“Something came up, so I stayed out longer,” Su Bai replied. “What about you? Why are you here at Shuxiang Yayuan, and why are you stuck outside?”
Xiao Meng’s expression shifted. “I came here with Lao Qiao. He’s taking Song Qian and Yingzi out for dinner tonight, so he went inside to pick them up.”
“And he left you out here because…?” Su Bai asked, though he already had a guess.
“Lao Qiao didn’t want Song Qian to see me, so I had to stay outside,” Xiao Meng admitted, her voice tinged with frustration.
Su Bai recalled how Song Qian had encountered Xiao Meng before, the very night Su Bai first arrived in this world. That incident left Song Qian distraught and drunk, indirectly causing her to misunderstand Su Bai’s intentions.
Clearly, Lao Qiao was still wary of Song Qian’s reaction to seeing Xiao Meng again.
“Xiao Meng Jie, that sounds rough. If you ever need to cry, my shoulder’s always available. A boss must care for his employees, after all.”
Though Xiao Meng felt waves of frustration building up earlier, she wasn’t about to cry—not here at the bustling entrance of Shuxiang Yayuan, where passersby might notice.
Maybe in a quieter, more private setting.
“Thanks, boss. I’ll hold you to that promise next time. Don’t forget, you owe me a shoulder!”
“Shoulders are lendable?”
“Of course.”
“Alright, next time you need it, my shoulder’s all yours. I’ll even throw in my chest,” Su Bai teased.
Before Xiao Meng could respond, they were interrupted.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
“What are you two chatting about? You seem to be having a great time.”
Turning around, Su Bai saw Lao Qiao and Qiao Yingzi walking toward them.
“Su Bai, didn’t you go to Aunt Wenjie’s for dinner? Why are you back so early?” Qiao Yingzi asked curiously.
“Something came up, so I left before we could really eat,” Su Bai explained.
“Well, if you haven’t eaten, why don’t you join us? Dad’s treating us to a nice meal, and Mum didn’t cook since we’re eating out,” Qiao Yingzi offered enthusiastically.
Lao Qiao chimed in, “Yeah, join us, Su Bai. I heard you aced the simulated exam. It’s worth celebrating!”
Even Xiao Meng added, “Come on, boss. Let’s all eat together and celebrate your success!”
While Su Bai appreciated their sincerity, he had other priorities. With Qiao Yingzi out for dinner, that meant Song Qian was home alone. Joining them risked revealing his side gig as a yoga studio owner, something he wasn’t ready to explain.
Politely declining, he said, “Thanks, but I’ll have to pass this time. Enjoy your meal!”