Qi Er and Hua Ping’s Side Story

Hua Ping was still confused right now.

The man beside her was pressed against her skin, his muscular arms tightly wrapped around her waist.

If she just slightly tilted her head, she would be able to feel the man’s hot breath against her ear.

Hua Ping’s face was slightly red, and the gloomy feeling in her heart had mostly disappeared.

She recognized this man. He was the Second Prince’s trusted subordinate, named Qi Er.

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Because his name was very casual, Hua Ping had easily remembered it.

At this moment, the man was pursing his lips, and his beautiful peach-blossom eyes also had a hint of anger.

“Well……”

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Twy Vkdt prsjl nywvkswpzu, cwv pvkzz ynnkeldvyzzu vssj y ckt twzr sq oyvla qasx vbl zyjl.

Fbl kxxlekyvlzu pvyavle nswtbkdt.

Ck Oa dsvknle yde rasrrle bla wr y zkvvzl bktbla, cwv alxykdle pkzldv.

Twy Vkdt pbaydj bla blye, sclekldvzu yzzsokdt Ck Oa vs cakdt bla vs vbl zyjl pbsal.

Wsavwdyvlzu, vbkp zyjl oyp fwpv y elnsayvkhl zyjl qsa vbl Flnsde Vakdnl’p alpkeldnl, ps kv oypd’v hlau ckt.

Ck Oa blzrle Twy Vkdt sdvs pbsal yde vbld vbalo bkp nsyv, obknb oyp yzalyeu sd vbl pbsal, vs bla.

“Vwv kv sd.” Tl naspple bkp yaxp yde vwadle bkp qynl yoyu.

Fwxxla yvvkal oyp yzalyeu vbkd, zlv yzsdl obld kv oyp eyxr.

Hua Ping lowered her head, her face turning red as she wrapped herself in the coat.

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Just as Hua Ping was about to speak, Qi Er suddenly asked——

“Why would you want to end your life?” Qi Er squatted down, locking eyes with Hua Ping.

His amber eyes stared directly at Hua Ping, so beautiful that they seemed to be able to draw one’s soul into them.

“I-I wasn’t thinking of ending my life……” The tip of Hua Ping’s ears slightly flushed. She tightened the coat and murmured softly.

“You’re not trying to end your life?” Qi Er was taken aback and continued asking, “Then why did you jump into the lake in the middle of the night?”

Qi Er clearly didn’t believe her.

“It’s true.” Hua Ping explained helplessly, “My coat fell into the lake, and I managed to find a branch to retrieve it. But, I accidentally slipped and fell in.”

After her confession to Yu Yuan had failed, he’d also said that she looked ugly in pink.

She’d taken it to heart and thrown the pink coat into the lake.

As soon as she threw it, she regretted it.

It was a coat she had just bought with her latest monthly salary, so it was a shame to throw it away just because of Yu Yuan’s comment.

She’d really struggled before finally managing to hook up her coat, but often, joy brought sadness, and she ended up slipping into the water.

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And that was when Qi Er had saved her¹.

“……I see.” Qi Er scratched his head awkwardly.

“What about Bodyguard Qi? I saw the shift schedule earlier. It should be Ah Bu on duty today.” Hua Ping said.

“I……” Qi Er thought back to his family urging him to get married and felt a headache.

He sighed. Perhaps because the night was too beautiful tonight, Qi Er unexpectedly revealed the truth.

“My parents have been pressuring me to get married, and I was annoyed, so I came here to hide.” Qi Er said.

The Second Prince’s residence was definitely not a place where his parents dared to act recklessly, so Qi Er would always come here to find peace.

“Bodyguard Qi doesn’t want to get married?” Hua Ping asked curiously.

“It’s not that I don’t want to……” Qi Er sighed and said, “I actually had an older brother. He was born weak and passed away at the age of ten. Although I know it’s absurd, it’s always been a lingering fear in my heart……”

That was why he was named Qi Er.

His mother was afraid of experiencing the pain of losing another son, so she gave her second son a humble name.

“Then……” Hua Ping hesitated repeatedly. But she finally tentatively said with red ears, “I have an idea. Consider this as repaying Bodyguard Qi’s life-saving kindness.”

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“What is it?” Qi Er suddenly became energetic.

*********************

On this day, the Qi family had gone out early in the morning to buy meat and wine. Old Man Qi and Old Lady Qi were wearing brand-new clothes, happily bustling around the house.

A pot of old hen soup was simmering on the stove, sending bursts of fragrant aroma wafting through the air.

“What’s going on? Is there something to celebrate?” Aunt Shen from next door teased.

“Aiyo, it’s a big occasion, big occasion.” Old Lady Qi couldn’t stop smiling.

Although Old Man Qi didn’t say a word, his eyes squinted with joy.

“When will the girl come? Is she from a respectable family?” Aunt Shen was itching for gossip when she saw Qi Er walking in with a girl.

“Dad, mum, this is Hua Ping.” Qi Er’s face turned red.

The reason was because of the slippery little hand in his palm.

Pretend to be a couple.

This was Hua Ping’s idea.

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Hua Ping had said it would be best to act more affectionately, so they wouldn’t raise his family’s suspicions.

Qi Er’s heart raced like a drum.

So this is what a girl’s hand feels like……

He suddenly felt a little afraid to look at Hua Ping.

Hua Ping, on the other hand, had adapted well, and was happily greeting the two elders.

Old Man Qi and Old Lady Qi thought Hua Ping was perfect in every way, so much so that they ended up neglecting their own biological son. Qi Er stood awkwardly on the side, not as carefree as usual.

The meal was enjoyable, and Hua Ping was given many gifts before leaving.

She held onto the gifts, swaying back and forth, unable to carry them all.

Qi Er had reached out his hand to hold them, but suddenly concerned, he pulled his hand back.

Hua Ping had seen Qi Er reaching out his hand and felt sweet inside. She happily tried to stuff the gifts into his hands, but he had pulled back.

With a clatter, the gifts scattered all over the ground.

Both Hua Ping and Qi Er stood there stunned.

Flustered, Qi Er hurriedly bent over to pick them up.

Hua Ping blinked, preparing to bend down and help him, but he stopped her.

“Well…… I think we should keep a bit of distance between us privately,” Qi Er’s face looked awkward. “After all, we’re just pretending.”

Hua Ping’s expression froze for a moment, and a hint of disappointment surged in her heart. However, she forced a smile and nodded.

The two walked in silence until Qi Er noticed a candy store.

He could sense Hua Ping’s footsteps pausing.

“Should I treat you to some candies?” Qi Er blurted out.

“N-no need,” Huaping hurriedly waved her hand. “I don’t really like candies.”

Although she said that, her gaze was still stuck on the candies.

Qi Er thought for a moment, then set down the pile of gifts in his hand and took Hua Ping into the candy store.

“Although you say this is to repay me, in the end, you’ve done me a great favor. I really don’t know how to thank you,” Qi Er said with some embarrassment. “If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me for help.”

At first, Hua Ping felt a little embarrassed, but after tasting the candy, she immediately cast aside that small sense of shyness.

“It’s delicious!” Hua Ping’s cheeks puffed up, and Qi Er couldn’t help but think of a chipmunk.

Qi Er generously bought a lot.

After sending Hua Ping back to her residence, Qi Er turned to leave, but heard the sound of light footsteps.

He turned around and saw that it was Hua Ping.

The night breeze had gotten a little chilly, and Hua Ping had quickly put on a pink coat.

It seemed to be the same one that had fallen into the lake last time.

When Hua Ping noticed Qi Er’s gaze on the coat, her face turned pale.

“Bodyguard Qi, do I look ugly in pink?” Hua Ping looked downcast.

“Who said that?” Qi Er was stunned, and all those strange emotions in him found an outlet through this opening. “I’ll go find him!”

“Never mind who said it.” Hua Ping turned her head away and said, “You just tell me if it’s true.”

“Of course not.” Qi Er, thinking of that soft little hand, blurted out, “You look beautiful in any color.”

“Really?” Hua Ping raised her head abruptly, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Because you’re naturally good-looking.”

As soon as these words came out, both of them were stunned.

Qi Er felt like punching himself. He considered himself usually articulate, so why did he become so strange in front of Hua Ping?

Feeling frustrated, Qi Er said his goodbyes and tried to escape.

However, that small hand actually grabbed onto the hem of his clothes.

Qi Er, who could usually charge into battle and fight against ten opponents alone, now found himself frozen in place because of this small hand.

His whole body froze, unable to move.

“What is it?” Qi Er turned his head, struggling to stay calm.

Hua Ping smiled sweetly at him and opened her palm. In that soft and fair palm, there was a small piece of candy.

“Bodyguard Qi, let me treat you to a candy.”

Warm light fell on her face, and Qi Er’s heart felt even more strange.

He accepted the candy and casually put it in his mouth.

He suddenly remembered the first night they met, when Hua Ping was soaked from head to toe in wet clothes, with her beautiful curves.

Qi Er’s face turned pale, and he ran away without looking back.

****************

“You’re saying you think you’re craving her body, so you don’t dare to spend too much time with her?” Ah Bu looked at Qi Er with a sense of bewilderment.

“Who is this girl?” Ah Bu’s expression became even more strange.

He never expected that Qi Er, who was usually wild and carefree, would be so innocent in private.

Truly rare.

Ah Bu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Don’t worry about who she is,” Qi Er waved his hand. “Just tell me what to do. The girl said she wanted to pretend to be my lover to repay me, but I had all these dirty thoughts about her.”

Qi Er felt sorry for Hua Ping.

These past few days, he had intentionally or unintentionally avoided her.

However, Hua Ping kept appearing in his dreams every night, turning his dreams upside down.

That strange feeling in his heart grew stronger and stronger, leaving Qi Er unsure of what to do.

“If that’s the case, then avoid her for a few more days and see whether you are thinking about her as a person or just her body,” Ah Bu pondered and said.

“……But I’ve already been avoiding her for a long time,” Qi Er sighed.

“Maybe you haven’t avoided her long enough,” Ah Bu said seriously.

“Alright then.” Qi Er slumped onto the chair, looking as if he was at the end of his rope.

Unfortunately, his plan was shattered the next day.

——Old Lady Qi liked Hua Ping too much, and invited her to their house for another meal.

At the dining table, Qi Er and Hua Ping were having a staring contest.

The wind was blowing outside, and it seemed like it was going to rain.

Qi Er hurriedly said that he would send Hua Ping back, but she looked at him for a while, then said she hadn’t finished eating.

Even more convinced of Hua Ping’s innocent nature, Qi Er hated himself even more.

Meanwhile, Old Lady Qi and Old Man Qi were delighted, their eyes almost disappearing with joy.

Old Lady Qi quickly went to tidy up a guest room.

Sure enough, as Hua Ping stalled, a heavy rain started pouring down.

The rain sounded like drums, and now, even if she wanted to leave, she couldn’t.

The rain continued until the evening.

It kept raining even when everyone was lying in bed.

Thunder roared across the sky, terrifyingly sounding as if it could level mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas into the ground.

Qi Er tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Will Hua Ping be scared?

The more Qi Er thought about it, the more restless he became.

After much contemplation, Qi Er put on a coat and went to Hua Ping’s room.

“Hua Ping, are you asleep?” Qi Er knocked on the door.

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was abruptly opened, and Hua Ping’s soft body almost instantly rushed into Qi Er’s embrace.

Boom!

In the heat of the moment, Qi Er instantly lost his rationality.

Outside the room, thunder rumbled, while inside, the two were embracing each other.

Qi Er had no idea where to put his hands.

He stood stiffly in place, letting Hua Ping hold onto him.

“Are you scared of the thunder?” Qi Er started blabbering, finding a topic to talk about. “It’s alright, I’ll accompany you.”

Hua Ping’s body continued to tremble.

“Well…… I’m taller, so if lightning strikes, it should hit me first.” Qi Er clumsily tried to comfort Hua Ping.

“Nonsense.” This time, Hua Ping reacted.

She glared at Qi Er, her red lips turning pale from being bitten.

Hua Ping held onto him even tighter.

“Have you been avoiding me these past few days?” Hua Ping said in a muffled voice.

“No!” Qi Er replied guiltily.

“You’re lying! If it weren’t for Aunt Qi calling me today, were you planning to hide from me your whole life?” Hua Ping’s eyes turned red, making Qi Er feel even more guilty.

“Am I that annoying?” Hua Ping asked, almost sobbing.

“No, not at all,” Qi Er reassured her in a flustered manner.

But the more he comforted her, the louder she cried.

From initial sniffles to then full out bawling.

Uncomfortable, Qi Er followed Hua Ping’s lead and embraced her tightly.

The sobbing suddenly stopped.

“I don’t dislike you,” Qi Er whispered, “I just find myself detestable.”

“You’re only with me to repay a favor, but I…… I have developed a lot of thoughts towards you.” Qi Er didn’t dare to look at Hua Ping, fearing to see a look of disgust. “I feel disgusted with myself.”

“……What thoughts did you have about me?”

Hua Ping’s voice was calm, and Qi Er couldn’t quite discern her emotions.

“I actually wanted to turn our pretend relationship into a real one.” As soon as Qi Er finished speaking, he felt a tremor in the body he held.

He laughed self-deprecatingly, closing his eyes and not daring to look at Hua Ping.

This was probably the first and only time he would hug her.

In the next second, Hua Ping should push him away.

Qi Er waited silently.

But Hua Ping remained motionless.

“Qi Er.” After a long time, Hua Ping finally spoke. “You’re truly a fool.”

“You can scold me, it’s my fault.” Qi Er felt even more dejected.

His heart felt like it had sunk to the bottom of the sea, painful and swollen from being waterlogged.

“Can’t you see?” Hua Ping pulled down Qi Er’s collar and looked straight into his eyes.