Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot-Chapter 929 - 556: On How to Increase Popularity, Don’t Touch the People Around Me (2nd Update)

Chapter 929: Chapter 556: On How to Increase Popularity, Don’t Touch the People Around Me (2nd Update)

Huo Qinqi was originally in Beijing temporarily. He left after two days, while Shen Shuci was busy with the new house, barely having any time to rest. Sometimes even Tang Wan would see her only occasionally.

When they finally met up, she complained about Huo Qinqi.

It was all about the trouble he caused while accompanying her furniture shopping in Beijing.

Huo Qinqi was not the type to flatter others; he was straightforward and direct. Every time Shen Shuci asked him if a piece of furniture looked good, his responses nearly made her spit blood.

"This cabinet is all show and no substance."

"The color is too gaudy."

"This bed isn’t big enough."

...

The only things he found agreeable were pieces with cold, hard lines, oozing industrial style.

"Don’t you think the furniture you like, once placed in our home, will feel too hard and lack a bit of warmth?"

"Warmth?" Huo Qinqi raised an eyebrow. "If you want our home to be warmer, we can just have a few more kids." He couldn’t understand why warmth should rely on furniture. As long as it’s functional, isn’t that enough?

"..."

Have more kids?

What kind of wild talk is that?

Anyway, after accompanying him to the furniture city, Shen Shuci was both amused and exasperated, secretly deciding not to let him get involved with future renovations of their new home.

Tang Wan laughed like crazy listening to her complaints.

She always wondered if these two would be boring to be around, but now it seemed they were quite fun.

"You’re laughing. I hoped he would offer some opinions, but instead, he vetoed all my ideas."

"Haha, having more kids to increase warmth, Brother Huo isn’t wrong in saying that." Tang Wan laughed, "You two should indeed plan for kids, have a few more." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Now that marriage was on the agenda, planning for kids was a given.

...

Meanwhile

Due to Qi Zeyan’s hospitalization, he couldn’t attend to the club he co-managed with Jiang Chengsi, leaving Jiang Jinsang busy with it. Meanwhile, someone was constantly acting pitiful in the group, exaggerating his injury as if he’d broken a leg.

When Tang Wan went to visit him, it happened to be during the doctor’s rounds, with even the elder Qi present.

"...Old Qi, actually Young Qi is recovering very well. Mainly, due to timely and effective emergency measures after the injury, I estimate that in another three to five days, he can be discharged and continue recovery at home." The doctor smiled.

Qi Zeyan was happy, but the elder Qi frowned, "Why discharge so soon? He can stay a few more days."

Doctor: "..."

The elder Qi smiled, "I mean, to observe more. Mainly, this lad won’t settle down at home. He behaves better in the hospital. I fear he’ll be jumping around at home, possibly leaving sequelae."

Qi Zeyan’s mouth twitched hard. Jumping around? Do you think I’m a monkey?

I’m at least a public figure. Do I not care about my image?

In the end, under the elder Qi’s strong insistence and care, Qi Zeyan ended up staying two more days.

Tang Wan almost laughed herself to tears. How could a grandfather wish for his grandson to stay in the hospital longer?

Ruan Mengxi was quite pleased, as she could spend more time with him.

After the doctor left, the elder Qi focused on Tang Wan, his gaze settling on her belly, fervent...

His eyes clearly saying:

How wonderful if what’s in that belly were his great-grandson or great-granddaughter.

"Grandpa!" Qi Zeyan frowned, what’s with this old man? Why stare at someone’s belly!

The elder Qi just smiled and asked Tang Wan about her due date and such. When she was about to leave, naturally Ruan Mengxi saw her off, leaving only the Qi family’s grandfather and grandson.

Qi Zeyan could only place one leg on the ground, hopping towards the restroom, while his own grandfather continually nagged behind him.

"Qiqi, our Qi family has passed down a single lineage for nine generations. Grandpa’s greatest wish now is to hold a great-grandson or great-granddaughter in his lifetime."

"When did our family have a single lineage for nine generations? You have five siblings; it’s only my dad’s generation that’s a single child." Qi Zeyan frowned, why’s this old man now speaking nonsense.

"I just want to hold a little great-grandchild, is it so hard for me?"

"I need to use the restroom. Can you not follow me in?"

Qi Zeyan frowned, why does this old man want to follow him into the bathroom?

"When your parents were busy, it was your grandma and me who raised you, diapers and all. Those two ounces of flesh on you now are not some novelty. Haven’t I seen them before?"

Qi Zeyan’s mouth twitched, his head dropping slightly. What did this old man just say...

This, merely...

Two ounces of flesh?

"Alright then, hurry up and go to the bathroom." The elder Qi said, kindly closing the door for him, standing outside and prattling on about how he envied the Jiang family grandma for having such considerate grandchildren.

Qi Zeyan felt that with him around, even going to the bathroom made him want to isolate himself.

...

It wasn’t until Ruan Mengxi returned that the old man stopped his nagging, "Xiaoruan, it’s been tough on you lately."

"Not at all, Grandpa Qi, would you like some fruit? Let me peel an apple for you." At the company, she addressed the old chairman formally, but privately, since she was Tang Wan’s best friend, the old man allowed her to use a different title.

"Sure." Grandpa Qi found a stool to sit on and kept observing Ruan Mengxi.

The bathrooms in the hospital were not soundproof, and the voices from outside came through intermittently.

"Xiaoruan, do you have a boyfriend?"

Ruan Mengxi seemed not to have answered.

"With such a pretty face, you must have plenty of admirers. Are you planning to find someone local from Pingjiang? Or is an outsider okay too?"

"At your age, you must’ve had a boyfriend, right? Girls are so considerate, even peeling fruit. Back when I asked that kid to peel me an apple, he told me it’s more nutritious with the skin on."

...

Qi Zeyan had a terrible headache; not only was his grandfather bothering his employees, but he was also revealing his embarrassing stories. This was truly his real grandfather.

Finally, when the old man left, Ruan Mengxi sat beside Qi Zeyan and peeled him an apple, removing the skin and core. As he ate the apple, he told her, "That’s just how my grandpa is. Don’t take what he says to heart."

People their age, especially the single ones, generally don’t like elders prying into their personal lives.

"I know."

Actually, Ruan Mengxi’s feelings for him were a bit complicated. The feeling of affection often sparks in a split second, and once it starts, you begin to pay attention to that person.

As his assistant, Ruan Mengxi knew a lot about his work and life. The deeper her understanding, the more she thought he was likable.

He’s serious about work, very principled, and respectful to female colleagues. Even during social events, he was very composed and never acted inappropriately. Being single, he had many women interested in him, but he was firm in his rejections and never flirted actively.

The attraction starts with looks and ends with character, so the saying goes.

"Take a walk with me." Qi Zeyan had only eaten half the apple, and staying in the ward all the time was stifling.

Just as he planned to have Ruan Mengxi take him downstairs for a stroll, four or five people suddenly came into the ward, holding flowers, fruit baskets, or some health supplements, completely filling the space.

"Cousin, we came to see you."

"How’s your leg? Not too serious, right?"

"We specifically got some supplements for you, for your bones and calcium."

...

Qi Zeyan knew a lot of people, and the ward never quieted down, "It’s fine, just a strained ligament. It’ll be fine in a couple of days."

Ruan Mengxi mostly knew those associated with Qi Zeyan’s business, and these seemed to be relatives of the Qi Family, unfamiliar to her. After pouring them water one by one, she excused herself, saying she was going out to buy food, and left the ward.

As soon as she left, the door of the ward was closed, and a few people curiously stared at Qi Zeyan:

"Cousin, is that your assistant? She’s really pretty."

"No wonder you keep turning down prospective partners when you face such a pretty assistant every day."

"She has a great figure, whoa—" Before he could finish, Qi Zeyan threw a piece of apple at his face.

"What are you staring at her figure for, you little rascal not even grown up?" Qi Zeyan frowned.

"I was just saying." He rubbed his face, "No need to throw things at me. Besides, I’m an adult. Back when you took me out to see the world and showed me those movies, you didn’t say that..."

"Shut up!" Qi Zeyan frowned.

"That girl is my type."

"Do you think every pretty girl you see is your fiancée?" Qi Zeyan kept eating his apple.

"Of course not, I’m picky too."

He said as he leaned over to take apple slices from Qi Zeyan’s plate but got kicked away, "If you want apple, go wash one yourself."

He smiled sheepishly, "Cousin, that girl is really pretty. Can I go after her?"

"Keep your hands off people around me."

"I’m serious."

"When were you not serious about dating? How many times did you get caught for puppy love when you were in school?"

"..."

The group continued to joke around until Ruan Mengxi returned, and they decided to leave.

But before leaving, one of them still thick-skinnedly asked Ruan Mengxi for her contact information.

This person was Qi Zeyan’s cousin, and since it was just a contact, Ruan Mengxi nodded and agreed. Qi Zeyan leaned on the bed, watching the young guy cheer joyfully just because he got a contact, frowning involuntarily.

It’s just a phone number, isn’t it?

So little ambition!

He even knew where Ruan Mengxi lived. Was he proud of that?