Chen Xi’s repair shop and Qin Lie’s VR arcade were separated by only a wall.
Yet the two of them tacitly maintained a state of never seeing each other, whether looking up or down.
Chen Xi came early and left late every day, occasionally catching sight of Qin Lie’s car parked in front of the VR arcade.
She would roar past on her motorcycle without so much as a glance in Qin Lie’s direction.
The repair shop had a good location. Business came on the second day after opening, and it got busier each day after that.
Qin Zhan was no longer carefree and idle, working with Chen Xi from morning to night every day.
At lunchtime, he would always slip away quietly and return with beef noodles that Fangfang had made.
Liu Boyang had already discussed with Chen Xi before the opening that if Chen Xi’s business went well, Liu Boyang would sell his repair shop at Third Bridge and work with Chen Xi to make money from then on.
He was currently negotiating with a buyer these past few days and hadn’t come to Chen Xi’s place.
That afternoon, Chen Xi had just finished replacing the brake pads on a sports car when a somewhat elderly middle-aged woman came to the door. She walked into the shop, looked around, and fixed her gaze on Chen Xi.
Chen Xi heard the commotion, stopped what she was doing, smiled at the woman, and asked, “Is there something I can help you with?”
The woman looked Chen Xi up and down, then said with an unfriendly expression, “I’m looking for Qin Zhan.”
Chen Xi: “Qin Zhan? I sent him to buy some things. Please sit on the sofa and wait a moment.”
The woman exploded on the spot, pointing at Chen Xi’s nose and starting to curse.
“What kind of thing are you? How can you order people around so shamelessly? Taking advantage of your looks to play men for fools, is that it?”
Chen Xi was bewildered by the scolding and forgot to even get angry. She said with a confused expression, “Are you mistaken about something?”
The woman was so agitated that her hands were shaking as she continued pointing at Chen Xi and cursing, “What are you pretending to be stupid for? That foolish son of mine has been bewitched by you.”
“He finally saved up some money and wants to buy you a house. If I hadn’t looked at his phone, I’d still be in the dark about it.”
Chen Xi roughly understood what was happening. She guessed this person was Qin Zhan’s mother.
Although she had been scolded for no reason, because of Qin Zhan, Chen Xi still spoke pleasantly, “Auntie, please don’t get upset. Sit on the sofa for a moment, and we’ll talk when Qin Zhan comes back.”
“Who told you to call me auntie? Look at how old you are. You’re ten years older than my son, with a child too. How do you have the face to be with my son?”
These words were truly hurtful. Regardless of whether she was being scolded or not, Chen Xi couldn’t listen to this anymore.
“Auntie, what you’re saying is wrong. Dating is about mutual consent—it’s not stealing or robbing, it’s not illegal. How is there no face in it?”
Qin Zhan’s mother got so angry that she started shouting.
“You’re the one with no face. Today, while there’s no one around, let me make this clear to you: stay far away from my son. Don’t wait until we meet on the street someday and tear each other’s faces off—that won’t look good for either side.”
As she was shouting, the door to the adjacent space opened, and Qin Lie stood in the doorway. Seeing Qin Zhan’s mother, he quickly walked over with big strides.
“Auntie, come to my place.”
He walked between the two women, glanced at Chen Xi indifferently, then turned his gaze to Qin Zhan’s mother.
Qin Zhan’s mother grabbed Qin Lie, saying indignantly, “Lie, you’re just in time. You judge this situation—they haven’t even made it official yet, and this woman is already asking Qin Zhan to buy her a house. What are her intentions?”
Qin Lie supported Qin Zhan’s mother, “You’ve got it wrong. Let’s talk about it at my place.”
He put his arm around Qin Zhan’s mother’s shoulder and led her toward his side.
After walking a few steps, he turned back to glance at Chen Xi again.
Chen Xi’s gaze collided unexpectedly with Qin Lie’s, and the tactile memory from that night’s lips inexplicably flashed back for an instant.
Her ears heated up. She looked away indifferently, turning her gaze elsewhere.
After the two left, Chen Xi returned to the Jeep and continued working silently.
After a while, Qin Zhan came running in from outside, repeatedly saying, “Sorry, sorry.”
Chen Xi smiled at him and pointed toward the adjacent VR arcade.
Qin Zhan had a pained expression on his face. He put down the parts he had bought and went to the tea station to pour himself a glass of water.
He dawdled and procrastinated, drinking for a long time, unwilling to go across.
Chen Xi strolled over. “How far have things progressed?”
Qin Zhan blushed and stammered without speaking.
Chen Xi: “Slept together?”
Qin Zhan’s eyes darted around, finally looking at Chen Xi and nodding embarrassedly.
Chen Xi: “Want to sleep together once or for a lifetime?”
Qin Zhan: “Do you even need to ask? Of course, for a lifetime.”
Chen Xi patted Qin Zhan’s shoulder, “Go over there and handle your mother.”
Qin Zhan instantly became energized as if he’d been injected with adrenaline, drained his glass of water in one gulp, and marched off heroically.
Chen Xi smiled, strolled back to the car, grabbed the jack, and lifted the front left of the sedan.
She lay down on the creeper, lightly pushed off the ground with her Martin boots, and slid under the car.
This car had a steering wheel that was light on one side and heavy on the other. Chen Xi needed to check if there was a problem with the steering gear on the chassis.