When Jason Liu sincerely apologized, Qiqi wasn't sure whether he had made the mistake on purpose or not. He seemed honest, but she couldn't read his expression fully.
After thinking it over for a moment, Qiqi decided to drop the matter and change the topic. "Brother Jason, it's okay. I accept your apology! So, you're not going to the auction until tomorrow night, right? That means you're free during the day. I'll take you around the Capital—give you a proper tour! Is there any place in particular you want to see?"
Jason scratched his head thoughtfully. "This is my first time in Capital I did read about a few places online, but since you're a local, I'd rather hear your suggestions."
Qiqi's eyes lit up. She actually liked showing people around and especially enjoyed places with a nice atmosphere. "You're in Jing'an District, so the closest spot worth visiting is Tianzifang. You should start there!"
"Tianzifang?" Jason raised an eyebrow.
"Yes! Tianzifang is one of the most famous spots. It's full of creative vibes. Artists from all over set up shops and studios there. There are all kinds of things—trendy boutiques, craft shops, little restaurants with different cuisines, cozy cafes, jewelry stores, and even bars. You can buy clothes, shoes, hats—everything! It's this cute little alley with so much to see. Very stylish and lively!"
Jason smiled, catching her enthusiasm. "Sounds interesting! Alright, let's go there in the morning. What about the afternoon?"
"In the afternoon," Qiqi said, already excited, "we can head to the Bund and take in the view of the Wanguo Buildings. It's one of the most iconic parts of the city."
Jason nodded. "Sounds good. And after that?"
"Well, after the Bund, we can stop by Pedestrian Street—it's right nearby. We could even go to the Oriental Pearl Tower across the river for dinner! What do you think, Brother Jason?" she asked, flashing a playful smile.
"That sounds awesome," Jason replied, laughing. "I didn't expect to squeeze in so many places in one day. This will be fun!"
They talked through the plan, worked out the schedule for their sightseeing trip, then said their goodnights and ended the video call.
Over in a fancy apartment complex, Qiqi's mother, Grace, gently knocked on her daughter's door with a glass of warm milk in her hand.
She stepped in. "Qiqi, it's already so late. I know tomorrow's a holiday, but that's no excuse to stay up. Get some sleep, okay?"
She placed the glass on the bedside table and gave her daughter a firm look.
Seeing her mom walk in, Qiqi quickly shut off her phone, grabbed the milk, and smiled. "Alright, Mom. I'm going to sleep now!"
But Grace crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Who were you on the phone with just now?"
"Huh?" Qiqi blinked. Her mom must have heard the voice on the video call. But she played it cool. "Just a friend. He's visiting the city, and I promised to show him around tomorrow."
"I heard a guy's voice," Grace said, raising her voice slightly. "Didn't you say you wouldn't date anyone in college? What's going on with this boy?"
"Mom!" Qiqi sighed, "He's just a fan from my livestream channel. We're ordinary friends, that's all. You know I want to become an actress—I don't have time for dating."
She looked up with wide, innocent eyes, trying to look as convincing as possible.
Grace stared at her daughter, trying to figure out whether she was telling the truth. Qiqi had always been clever, even as a child. In the end, Grace gave up on the interrogation, reminded her daughter once again not to fall in love too soon, and left the room.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Dr. James was already lying in bed, half-asleep. When his wife walked in, he cracked one eye open. "Grace, come to bed. You've got work in the morning."
Dr. James worked as a surgeon at the First People's Hospital. He never had time off. Grace, who was the head nurse of the same hospital's surgical department, wasn't getting a break either.
But as she lay down, the more she thought about her daughter meeting a male fan, the more worried she got. She nudged her husband and whispered what she'd just heard.
"James, do you think it's dangerous for Qiqi to meet up with someone from her livestream? Haven't we heard all those stories on the news about people getting hurt after meeting strangers online?"
James's eyes snapped open. He was wide awake now. "She's meeting a guy from the internet? Are you serious? Call Yuzhen. Tell her to go with Qiqi tomorrow."
"You're right," Grace said, nodding. She picked up her phone and quickly dialed Yuzhen, Qiqi's close friend.
"Aunt Grace?" Yuzhen sounded confused. "Qiqi already came home, didn't she?"
When Grace explained everything, Yuzhen took a moment to think it over.
"Oh, you mean the fan she's meeting tomorrow? Don't worry, I know about it. Qiqi and I talked about it already."
Yuzhen went on to explain the plan: she would secretly tag along and stay nearby, just in case. She'd pretend not to know Qiqi, but keep an eye on her the whole day. They'd also stay in contact through WeChat, so they could respond quickly if anything went wrong.
Grace felt much better after hearing that. At least her daughter wasn't going to meet a stranger completely alone. She even asked Yuzhen to secretly take a few pictures of the boy and send them to her.
After hanging up, she told her husband everything.
James smiled proudly. "That's my girl. She's always been smart. Of course she'd think of safety first. Don't worry—she'll be fine."
They finally went to sleep, both having to head to the hospital the next morning.
The next day at breakfast, Qiqi's parents reminded their daughter again to be careful when meeting male fans.
After they left for work, Qiqi returned to her room. She lightly applied makeup, touched up her eyebrows, and added a bit of lipstick. Then she slipped into a pink dress and put on clean white sneakers.
She considered her hairstyle for a moment before tying her hair into two ponytails. With her phone and purse ready, she was set to enjoy the day.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse