Don't Meet A Strange Man!

"I can have the information for you in an hour. But, have the man courier your laptop to your Publisher's office. Don't meet him or give him your address. Do you understand?"

"Of course. I don't want to meet the man again."

"Okay I will send you the info. Make sure you have Auntie Han check you out."

Qiqi sighs feeling guilty for lying, "I will. Thanks, Cousin. When will you be back from L.A.? Are you still crushing on Lili? I have two VIP tickets that include backstage passes to her Red Butterfly World Tour concert on the twenty fifth."

He tosses his cigarette off the balcony. YES! Backstage passes! He sounds calm, "I don't have a crush on Lili. I like her music. If you can't go...well...yeah... send me the tickets."

"Sure. I will look for your text. Cousin I thought you quit smoking. Throw the rest of that pack away."

"..." Fang Chao looks down at the four cigarettes left in his pack and shakes his head. Is she a little psychic?!?

QiQi meets her friend's death gaze, "What?"

"I thought we were going to that concert? You know Lay is opening for Lili and I love him!"

"Well which is more important? The concert or my laptop and our jobs? I think the Red Butterfly World Tour will be in Oahu next month and we can go. We can go to the concert and sit on the beach watching the surfers. What do you think?"

"Lili's manager gave you the tickets because Lili is a fan of 'Bai Wants Romance'. I mean you can't just give them away and ask for two more."

"True, but Lili wants me to model a character after her in the next arc. I will exchange for the tickets."

"She wants to be in your Webtoon?"

"Silly huh? Anyway, Chao will call in an hour. I'm hungry, do you want to order takeout?"

"Are you sure he can find the information?"

"Positive."

Lang Xue teases ``Can your cousin hack into Xanadu Publishing's computer and give me a raise next check?"

Crumpling the empty bag of potato chips QiQi raises an eyebrow, "Could ...but won't."

In a good mood believing that QiQi can get her laptop back she looks at the empty snack bag. "Whatever haha...what do you want to eat?"

"Let's walk over to Woo's Noodle shop across the street. It is nice out tonight we can sit on the patio."

"Are you going to change?"

QiQi glances down at the school uniform she is wearing. "No. If I change I would just have more clothes to wash on Saturday."

"You are so lazy."

"I'm not lazy. I just don't like doing laundry."

"..."

"Wait. I need to bring Fat Cat back into the apartment." She walks out to the balcony and the cat moves his stumpy legs as fast as he can past her into the warm room. The fat orange cat glares at Lang Xue, Brrr...I know it was you woman and your damn allergies!

Pinching her nose Lang pushes QiQi towards the door. "Hurry let's go before I have an allergy attack."

When they arrive at the first floor and the elevator door opens, an extremely handsome man wearing a form fitting Armani suit lazily strides towards the elevator. QiQi excitedly runs out of the elevator then embraces him, wrapping her arms around his tight waist she exclaims. " Your grandma said you were back!"

He lifts an eyebrow as he looks down at the clothes QiQi is wearing and rubs her head, "Why are you wearing your old school uniform?"

"Long story. Grandma is very excited you are back. I'm jealous she is making her special pork ribs for you."

His dark eyes have a soft light in them gazing at her small upturned face. He narrows his obsidian eyes behind his gold rimmed glasses giving Lang Xue a warning look, then affectionately smiles at QiQi. "Why don't you and your friend join us."

QiQi hits him on his chest with her tiny fist, " Brother, do you want to send me to my death? You should have seen how excited Grandma was that you came to visit her as soon as you got back. I would be a big light bulb haha."

He laughs as she lets go of his waist, "Well, we will need to have dinner another night and catch up."

QiQi's beautiful amber eyes curve into a crescent shape and she smiles showing her perfect white teeth, "Sure. Whenever is good for you. Oh. I forgot my manners. I was so happy to see you. This is my friend Lang. Xue, she can come with us. You might have a lot in common, you both went to the same University."

"Miss Lang."

QiQi doesn't notice the cold temperature surrounding Zheng Chang or her best friend's pale complexion. " I don't work at Uncle Lu's anymore so I have more free time. So whenever is convenient for you."

He has a strange expression on his face after seeing Lang Xue. He quickly regains his composure then casually says, "You don't work at Lu Corporation?"

QiQi's phone rings and she has a notification, "Oh.. Brother, I need to look at this. Call me."

She walks away to see her cousin's text leaving Lang Xue standing next to Zheng Chang . The atmosphere is tense and awkward between the two of them. Lang Xue nervously breaks the silence, "Senior, long time no see."

"You know the consequences if you tell QiQi of our relationship at University."

His piercing gaze makes her tremble and she stutters, "D...don't worry I won't. QiQi is too naive...she wouldn't understand."

"Then I will be leaving."

Lang Xue maintained her cool demeanor in front of him but as she watches him walk into the elevator a tear forms in the corner of her eye. She flutters her long eyelashes fighting back the urge to cry. Bastard...still arrogant and domineering.

He gets into the elevator and as the door is closing he can see QiQi smiling happily while looking at her phone. His eyes are full of affection thinking about her gentle and sweet personality. 

His face loses its gentle appearance and he has a terrifying expression while thinking about Lang Xue plotting with his brother against him. How could such a sweet girl like Shen QiQibe friends with a scheming bitch like that poisonous woman?

His ink black eyes reflect the hidden darkness within, you had better keep your word Lang Xue or you are fucking dead. QiQi is the only light in my abysmal world, I can't have the little girl know my true self. She is so innocent and pure, she makes me laugh. The way she sweetly calls me Brother Chang...he clenches his fist, Dammit!

Lang Xue wipes her eyes with her finger then puts a smile on her face as she walks over to QiQi, "Is that your Cousin?"

Qiqi holds up her phone, "Do you believe how fast Chao got the information! He is such a wizard!"

Qiqi texts back [What is his address?]

[Call. Have him send the laptop by courier. You don't need his address]

[I want to get it tonight]

[No. You can't go to a strange man's house.] Not to mention he is the CEO of FutureTech and the way his information is hidden he is not a simple man. The villa is not registered in his name but under one of his corporations, which means he does not want its location to be public knowledge. He would definitely wonder how you found him, which would lead straight to me. So...definitely not giving you the address Little Cousin.

[Fine. Thanks. Put that cigarette out now]

Fang Chao looks at the cigarette he is holding between his fingers. How does she know?!?

[Not smoking]

[Liar...smiling emoji]

"I will call him when we get to the noodle shop."

QiQi walks out the apartment building and shivers. "Did you notice how the temperature drops right after the sun goes down? You must be cold." She takes her warm woolen scarf off, "Wear my scarf."

Lang Xue wrinkles her delicate eyebrows as she pushes QiQi's hand away, "The bulky green scarf will look stupid with my dress."

"Who cares? You will catch a cold." She wraps it around her friend's neck. "It is not like you are going to run into anyone you know...Haha."

Lang Xue looks at the high school uniform on QiQi and shakes her head, "QiQi, do you know you should always dress beautifully, you never know if you will meet a handsome man."

QiQi replies, "Well, the likelihood of running into a handsome man at Woo's is zero...less than zero. Haha...because of the cheap noodles and beer his clientele is well.. a bit sloppy to say the least.

I only bring my sketchbook here when I need a side character...a fat Uncle with a big belly...or a frazzled Auntie who is depressed from her low paying job and no boyfriend who comes to get drunk while slurping up some delicious beef noodles."

Lang Xue bursts out laughing and she ruffles QiQi's hair, "You always make me laugh with your nonsense!"

They both are laughing as they walk onto the patio of the Noodle Shop. But Xue has a point. I should dress up beautifully when I meet Sun Zhi to get my laptop. ..Zhi...hmmm...sexy name.