Love Has Fireworks - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Missing You a Little

Li Yifei told Qian Fei that the last day of August was his birthday. Qian Fei remembered that when they originally signed the rental contract, the date of birth on his identification card was not that day. Because of this, she assumed Li Yifei was simply cooking up a lie with ulterior motives, so she paid no attention to his words.

It wasn't until the thirty-first of August arrived, and Li Yifei truly stepped into the persona of a birthday boy intending to hijack her over to his rented villa, that she finally grew a bit suspicious.

"Is today really your birthday?"

Li Yifei arched an eyebrow. "Otherwise, when did you think it was?"

Qian Fei replied, "The date on your ID card, obviously!"

Li Yifei let out a sharp curse. "How on earth did I forget about that! No wonder your attitude toward August thirty-first has always been so completely indifferent! Back when my household registration was being processed, the old man reported my birth date to the clerk based strictly on the lunar calendar! He adamantly insisted that by doing this, other people wouldn't be able to accurately map out my true astrological chart, meaning anyone who tried to ruin my destiny was bound to look like an absolute idiot! But the twisted part is that every year after that, he insisted on celebrating my birthday according to the solar calendar! I'm honestly going to be submissive to his logic for the rest of my life!"

Qian Fei mentally pictured a parent casually tossing out the word 'idiot,' and she was instantly left a bit stunned. "Those were your dad's exact words?"

Li Yifei replied, "That was the general gist of it. If we're talking exact words, let me think—it should be: 'Anyone who attempts to sabotage your birth chart is destined to waste their efforts entirely.'"

Qian Fei fell silent. She felt that during Li Yifei's childhood, he probably hadn't mastered his synonyms very well.

"If your dad played Mahjong, he would absolutely never lose. This strategy of playing entirely outside the established rules is simply too dazzling to watch!"

Halfway back to the villa, Li Yifei pulled the car over to the side of the road. A cake shop was located not far ahead.

When Qian Fei asked why he had stopped, Li Yifei wore an expression that practically screamed 'could you show a little heart' as he said, "Don't tell me you aren't planning to get out of the car and buy me a birthday cake or something?"

Qian Fei stared straight at him, speaking with absolute sincerity, "I've discovered that the thickness of your skin has truly reached a hopeless level. Now you've started openly demanding food from people!"

She rolled her eyes and stepped out of the car.

After cradling the cake back inside the villa, Li Yifei inserted the candles one by one while delivering a deeply earnest sermon to Qian Fei. "You need to permanently commit today's date to memory! Moving forward, handling things like purchasing the cake and lighting the candles should be actions you proactively take right from the bottom of your heart! This year counts as the first time, so consider this a template I'm laying out for you!"

Qian Fei genuinely felt that this child must have spent some time in a psychiatric hospital during his youth; his ability to completely entertain himself with his own narrative was flawlessly refined.

Once the candles were fully lit, Li Yifei made his wish.

He declared in a booming voice, "May that older business-trip lady pack her things and move out immediately!"

Qian Fei let out a sharp snort. "Look at you! You still have the nerve to preach to me about character when your actual birthday wish is entirely focused on another woman!"

Li Yifei shot her a glare, ordering her to help him blow out the candles.

Qian Fei blew out puffs of air while laughing so hard her entire body shook.

Li Yifei patted her on the head. "Are you going to manage this or what! I asked you to blow dry air, not mix it with a barrage of spit!" Then he asked her, "What exactly are you laughing at to end up in such a state?"

Qian Fei replied, "It's nothing. I just feel a slight pang of regret that I didn't prepare a birthday cake for you stuffed with five-nut filling or leek-and-egg filling. Furthermore, my dear young master, I wanted to inform you that I absolutely adore your zodiac sign! By the way, I have a wonderful friend in Hangzhou who shares your exact sign—I think the two of you would get along famously!" (Note: That idiot in Hangzhou is the esteemed author Yi Jin—as if I would hide that fact, haha...)

Li Yifei lifted his hand and delivered a swift swat to her backside. "Stop rattling off this useless nonsense to this young master! Hurry up and say happy birthday!"

Qian Fei froze for a second, then swung her leg to kick his calf. "I'll say it, fine, but what's with the public mischief!"

She mumbled a quick happy birthday under her breath.

Li Yifei extended his open palm toward her. Qian Fei looked at him, completely bewildered.

"What are you doing?"

Li Yifei arched an eyebrow. "My present, obviously!"

Qian Fei let out a mocking scoff. "To think someone would actually take the initiative to demand a gift!"

Li Yifei echoed her scoff right back. "If you didn't prepare a present for me, you'll just have to clear your debt by paying with your body!"

Qian Fei spat out a sharp retort. "Take a wild guess whether I'm going to indulge your terrible habits!"

Li Yifei glared back at her. "My guess is that you absolutely will!"

Qian Fei was entirely speechless.

"I genuinely believed your birthday was the one printed on your ID card, so I truly didn't prepare a gift..."

Li Yifei spoke with a vicious tone as he bent down to retrieve something from beneath the table. "Then you better go wash yourself clean and prepare to pay with your flesh!" With that, he lifted a shopping bag from beside his feet, thrust it into Qian Fei's hands, and extended his palm once more. "I'm selling this to you for fifty yuan. Hurry up and hand over the cash!"

Forced to accept the bag, Qian Fei asked, "What on earth is this? Are you seriously forcing a transaction on me like this?"

Li Yifei refused to give her a chance to look inside, pressuring her to produce fifty yuan immediately.

Completely worn down by his relentless pestering, Qian Fei pulled a hundred-yuan bill from her wallet and slapped it straight onto his face. "Take it, take it! Consider it fifty yuan for the item and another fifty for you! Hurry up and use it to buy some medicine before it's too late! Be careful, or delaying by even a single second might turn you into a late-stage basket case!"

Li Yifei pocketed the cash without showing a single shred of courtesy. Then he pulled a fifty-yuan note from his own pocket and slapped it right back into Qian Fei's hand. "Who do you think you're insulting with cash? While other people were growing up soaked in honey jars, this young master was soaked in savings jars, do you understand! Hurry up and take this fifty to buy some books to read—learn a thing or two about how other women behave like actual women!"

Qian Fei accepted the note and slapped it right back at Li Yifei. "You go buy medicine!"

Li Yifei caught it and slapped it right back at Qian Fei. "You go buy books!"

After several rounds of back-and-forth tossing, the money fluttered down onto the floor.

Qian Fei inquired, "Are we picking it up?"

Li Yifei replied, "Pick it up for what! Are we going to gather it up just to keep throwing it around for amusement? I'm practically exhausted to death!" He shook out his arms. "Let's hurry up and attend to the actual business at hand! Open up that bag!"

Qian Fei opened the bag, pulled out a box, and flipped it open. Inside, she discovered a pair of cufflinks.

"Was this intended as a gift for me?" But she seemingly had absolutely no use for this kind of item...

Li Yifei wore an expression of solemn majesty. "No, this is the birthday present that you intended to give to me!"

Qian Fei: "..."

Li Yifei let out a chuckle. "I knew all along that you wouldn't necessarily remember to prepare a gift for me. Fortunately, I am not only incredibly handsome but also remarkably sharp-witted—I prepared the birthday present you were meant to give me ahead of schedule to prevent you from harboring intense regret and sorrow over purchasing absolutely nothing!"

Qian Fei: "..."

Li Yifei flattened his palm and gestured up and down, urging her on. "Hurry up and hand over my present!"

Qian Fei: "..."

Qian Fei genuinely felt that fifty yuan was probably nowhere near enough to cover Li Yifei's medical treatment.

She stared down at the cufflinks and asked, "Does this item really only cost fifty yuan? Is it a high-quality counterfeit?"

Li Yifei's eyebrows shot up in fury. "High-quality counterfeit your sister! I applied a massive discount on your behalf, thank you very much!"

●︶3︶●

After finishing the cake, the two of them lay flat on the floor, looking out the window at the twilight scenery as darkness slowly bled into the sky.

Li Yifei suddenly questioned, "Feifei, tell me—what exactly do I qualify as to you right now? Why does it feel like I'm living this life completely devoid of any official title or status!"

Qian Fei replied through gritted teeth, "You qualify as a pair of protective wings!"

Li Yifei used his foot to nudge her. "I'm speaking to you with absolute sincerity right now, can you show a little seriousness!"

Qian Fei delivered a sharp kick to push him away. "I am being remarkably serious! Whatever topic you introduce, I follow along with the exact same conversational style—look at how successfully matched our discussion parameters are!"

Li Yifei propped up his upper body, supporting his head with one hand as he cast a sidelong glance at Qian Fei. "Let me ask you, why haven't you granted me an official status yet? Is there still something about me that leaves you feeling uneasy?"

Qian Fei locked her gaze onto his and said with absolute focus, "I'm terrified that your disposition hasn't fully settled down yet—that your interest in me is nothing more than a fleeting pursuit of novelty."

Li Yifei reached out with his free hand, twirling a strand of her hair around his fingers for amusement. "Feifei, you have to believe me. My feelings for you are incredibly genuine—completely different from how I felt about anyone else!"

Qian Fei curled the corner of her mouth into a scoff. "Zhao De mentioned that during your firm's social gathering last week, you sat there with the two primary office beauties flanked on your left and right. The three of you spent the entire evening thoroughly enjoying a lively trio dynamic!"

Li Yifei gritted his teeth in fury. "That absolute idiot Zhao De, I am definitely going to slaughter him tomorrow! Feifei, listen to me—those two were strictly asking me about project-related execution details the entire time. We truly didn't discuss anything else! Furthermore, you can rest completely assured; my tastes have become remarkably discerning and unique. Only a tough woman like you possesses the capacity to attract me. As for those two delicate, whiny girls from my firm—what even are they! They're far too cloying!"

Qian Fei reached out and firmly pushed his face away. "Beat it! If you prefer tough individuals, you should go look for a man directly!"

Li Yifei seized the opportunity to grasp her hand tightly. "When exactly are you going to officially promote me to the main position! This young master is someone who values his reputation; if you persist in withholding my official title like this, even if I let you off the hook, my self-esteem absolutely won't!"

Qian Fei shook off his clingy, lingering hand, speaking in a casual tone that didn't seem to carry much weight. "We'll talk about it once I pass the Sponsor Representative Qualification Exam!"

Li Yifei narrowed his eyes at her, gritting his teeth as he declared, "Fine! This young master will throw caution to the wind and allow my fragile self-esteem to suffer another minor injury! I will wait until the day you pass that exam! But if you dare to withhold my official title even after that milestone, let me lay out the grim reality for you ahead of schedule— this young master will have no choice but to take matters into his own hands by force!"

 

Qian Fei burst out laughing. "The phrase 'a decade of refinement yields a master of mischief' truly hits the nail on the head! Calculating by your current age, I expect that in another two years, your mischievous nature will reach a level of absolute perfection!"

●︶3︶●

Though Qian Fei's condition had sounded incredibly casual and unweighted on the surface, it was actually the product of her deepest, most deliberate contemplation.

She felt that Li Yifei attracted far too much attention from the outside world. When it came to establishing a formal romantic relationship with him, she still lacked a sufficient baseline of inner confidence and security.

Even though his character was intensely proud and demanding, that very same proud nature possessed an immense capacity to charm women. On top of that, he possessed striking looks, a sharp mind, and outstanding professional capabilities; there was truly no telling how many young girls harbored dreams of throwing themselves whole-heartedly into his orbit.

Meanwhile, his affection for her had merely developed out of spending an extended period of time together under the same roof—a slow accumulation of proximity-induced feelings. She always harbored an underlying worry that she lacked any enduring qualities capable of anchoring his attention over the long haul.

Throughout this past year, navigating various separations, reunions, and turbulent emotional waves, she felt as though she had finally managed to gain a clear, mature understanding of life.

In the past, she had always operated under the assumption that as a woman, her professional performance didn't need to be exceptionally stellar. As long as she maintained a steady job and a basic stream of income, it was perfectly sufficient; the true core of her existence was meant to be anchored to her household. So long as her man could generate income to support the family, she felt no pressing need to be overly ambitious or driven.

Consequently, she had surrendered numerous opportunities that could have offered far superior career progression simply because those advancements required traveling on business. Instead, she had directed every single ounce of her energy into catering hand and foot to Wang Ruohai.

And what did that yield in the end? Wang Ruohai did indeed become remarkably accomplished, successfully pivoting his career to Qiansheng. Yet, once he achieved that elevated status, she found herself utterly incapable of holding onto him.

It wasn't until later, when she pulled herself together out of absolute necessity and forced her career back onto an aggressive upward trajectory to survive, that she discovered she had become far more self-assured than ever before. Simultaneously, she began paying close attention to cultivating her outward appearance. Through this dual refinement of both her inner competence and outer presentation, she had actually managed to make Wang Ruohai turn back toward her, his heart filled with absolute infatuation.

Thus, surviving the trials of this past year and a half had allowed her to grasp a fundamental truth: relying on youth and superficial beauty to attract a man was an inherently fleeting endeavor. There would invariably come a day when a beautiful woman aged and a man experienced aesthetic fatigue. When that moment arrived, an unaccomplished woman could achieve absolutely nothing of substance beyond weeping and delivering furious tirades against a man's betrayal. Only when an individual was truly outstanding in their own right, radiating a beauty born of absolute self-confidence, could they secure a lasting hold over another person's heart. Furthermore, when one was internally powerful, even if the day arrived when their paths diverged entirely, what on earth was there to worry about? An outstanding woman would never face a shortage of admirers.

Qian Fei felt that in their current state, Li Yifei was vastly superior to her in terms of professional achievement, making it incredibly easy for her to succumb to constant anxiety over their relationship. And the moment she allowed herself to get caught up in that state of insecurity, she would gradually devolve into vulgarity; once she became vulgar, she would forfeit the initial charm that had attracted Li Yifei to begin with. The ultimate conclusion of that trajectory would inevitably be that he would grow weary of her, subsequently turning away to be captured by someone else who possessed the capacity to charm him.

Only by rising to the exact same level of professional excellence as him could she completely banish the insecurity born of their current disparity. She wanted to reach a point where, while she might worry about other women harboring designs on him, he would be equally consumed by anxiety over whether far more powerful men were hovering around her with covetous intentions.

What exactly kept love perpetually fresh? Allowing the opposite party to always harbor a tiny hint of unease, a sliver of protective care, and a trace of jealousy—ensuring they remained continuously mindful of whether their partner might be swept away by someone far superior—that was the secret to keeping romance eternally vibrant.

Qian Fei made a firm decision to become an exceptional woman—an outstanding individual who would leave Li Yifei perpetually preoccupied with whether she might be stolen away by someone else, leaving him with absolutely no surplus energy to go scanning the room for the long hair, pale legs, and slender waists of other beautiful girls.

And for the time being, she believed the most potent avenue available to elevate her personal excellence was to successfully conquer the Sponsor Representative Qualification Exam scheduled for November. Once she secured that qualification and demonstrated the capacity to independently spearhead projects as a business elite, she wouldn't care in the slightest how many beautiful women clustered around him to "discuss projects." When that day came, he would be the one losing sleep over whether other elite men were chasing her down to inquire about "operational details."

●︶3︶●

Liu Yifeng had completed his job transition, leaving a multitude of matters behind with no one left to guide her, forcing Qian Fei to navigate the terrain entirely on her own once more. Fortunately, when it came to professional operations, Li Yifei was an absolute master. Whenever she encountered an issue she didn't fully comprehend, asking him directly proved far more convenient and efficient than her past consultations with Liu Yifeng.

In accordance with the financial audit mandates issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, brokerage firms and other intermediary institutions were required to conduct on-site field visits to the clients and suppliers of enterprises seeking an initial public offering. Management assigned this precise responsibility to Qian Fei. The project lead believed that over the course of this past half-year, Qian Fei's operational proficiency had seen an immense upgrade, and her communication capabilities were exceptionally prominent. Having her spearhead the delegation for these client and supplier visitations would not only allow for the timely identification of any potential financial anomalies existing between the suppliers, clients, and the enterprise, but should any issue arise, her superior communication skills would ensure the matter was resolved flawlessly without jeopardizing the delicate relationships linking the enterprise with its corporate network.

In early September, Qian Fei officially embarked on her journey of field visitations. Calculating the entire itinerary, she estimated she would need to visit roughly over fifty corporate entities scattered across more than twenty distinct cities.

Throughout the subsequent period, Qian Fei found herself waking up in a completely new city every single day. She had to visit multiple companies daily, maintaining a subtle, pleasant smile as she delicately probed suppliers and clients with a barrage of inquiries. Every evening, she could only check into a hotel at an incredibly late hour, yet early the next morning, she had to pack her luggage ahead of schedule and step onto the path toward her next destination once more.

Li Yifei called her or sent messages via WeChat every single day without fail, checking to see if she had run into any complex, unmanageable hurdles. If she had encountered an issue, he would brainstorm solutions alongside her; if everything was proceeding smoothly, he would keep her company for a brief chat before letting her drift off to sleep.

Along the journey, Qian Fei felt profoundly exhausted. Yet, beneath that heavy layer of fatigue, she simultaneously felt that each day was incredibly fulfilling; she could distinctly feel that this grueling trek was sharpening her capabilities immensely.

By the time she reached Dalian, having concluded her visitations with the local clients, Qian Fei and her traveling colleagues located a hotel to settle down for the night. Afterward, Qian Fei dialed Yao Jingjing's number.

Yao Jingjing was excited beyond measure, absolutely insisting on treating her to dinner. Qian Fei was more than happy to take advantage of the free meal, ruthlessly selecting the Shangri-La as their dining destination without a single shred of courtesy.

When her taxi finally arrived at the venue, she discovered that Lu Ze was present as well.

Yao Jingjing remarked, "If you had suggested grabbing some big plate chicken over by the Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, I would have gladly accompanied my dear friend through thick and thin. But the moment you pinned down this exact location, I had no choice but to bring my walking wallet along as well!"

Qian Fei chimed in, "Oh, I see. In that case, have your wallet turn over the cash ahead of schedule, and then he can take his leave."

Lu Ze stood off to the side, his face completely devoid of expression as he observed, "There isn't a third individual walking this earth who would dare to completely ignore my presence while speaking exactly like the two of you."

Qian Fei and Yao Jingjing clutched onto each other, shivering with laughter as they dissolved into a chorus of giggles. The wealthy tycoon Lu Ze stood beside them, looking on with an air of absolute resignation, though the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch into a subtle smile alongside their amusement.

The three of them spent a spectacular dinner hour filled with immense joy and a considerable amount of noise.

When the time arrived to settle the bill, Lu Ze actually managed to miscalculate the final sum. Behaving as though she had stumbled upon the eighth wonder of the world, Yao Jingjing grabbed Qian Fei by the arm and squealed, "Quick, let's seize the opportunity to mock him mercilessly! Let me tell you, a golden opening like this might only present itself once in a blue moon—I have never in my entire life witnessed him commit such an absolute mathematical error!"

Qian Fei was remarkably quick on the uptake, immediately joining in with a series of tongue-clicks. "Who would have thought that the distinguished entrepreneur Mr. Lu Ze, who commands an army of thousands, would actually miscalculate the cost of a simple dinner. This journey of life truly is utterly unpredictable!"

The corner of Lu Ze's mouth twitched. He attempted to restrain himself, but ultimately failing to hold back, he locked his gaze onto the two of them and said, "Moving forward, make sure not to include me when you go out for meals. Listening to the pair of you speak for an extended period leaves my head spinning."

Qian Fei and Yao Jingjing dissolved into endless choruses of laughter.

Lu Ze arched an eyebrow, suddenly shifting the focus of the conversation as he spoke to Qian Fei. "By the way, when you return, make sure to pass along my regards to Li Yifei!"

Qian Fei arched an eyebrow in response. "In truth, he and I aren't particularly close!"

The tension at the corner of Lu Ze's mouth loosened, revealing a smile that, from a certain perspective, could only be described as rather enigmatic. "From a certain angle, you indeed cannot be considered particularly close to him!"

Qian Fei was left somewhat bewildered, asking him exactly which angle he was referring to. Lu Ze instantly reverted back to his expressionless, stone-faced visage, replying, "At present, Li Yifei and I maintain a formal partnership dynamic. It isn't convenient for me to elaborate further; he will explain the details to you himself in due time."

The dinner concluded on a thoroughly pleasant note. Lu Ze drove her back to her booked hotel before departing with Yao Jingjing inside his vehicle.

Upon returning to her room, Qian Fei uploaded the photographs captured during the evening onto her Friends Circle, anchoring the post with a brief caption: "Enjoyed a spectacular feast with the Big Witch tonight, incredibly happy! Special thanks to the Big Witch's walking wallet, Mr. Lu, for his unreserved financial sponsorship of our dinner!"

Less than a single minute after she uploaded the post, her phone began to ring. It was Li Yifei.

"You had dinner with Lu Ze tonight?" He demanded the moment she answered.

Qian Fei corrected him, "I had dinner with Yao Jingjing. Lu Ze's primary function was to settle the bill, thank you very much!"

Li Yifei didn't bother bickering over her phrasing, asking instead, "What exactly did Lu Ze chat about with you?"

Qian Fei countered, "Such as?"

Li Yifei clarified, "For instance, topics like life, ideals, his partnership with me, or perhaps... real estate? Things along those lines?"

Qian Fei instantly caught the final phrase, questioning, "What real estate? He didn't mention a single word about real estate. Though he did state that he and you share a corporate partnership, meaning it wasn't convenient for him to elaborate on details with me, instructing me to ask you directly." She paused for a moment before adding, "Don't tell me your luxury villa was rented from him?"

Li Yifei let out a sharp grunt, offering no confirmation either way as he seamlessly diverted the topic. He asked Qian Fei, "Where is your next destination?"

Qian Fei replied, "Guangzhou. I depart early tomorrow morning and should land around noon. I only have a single corporate visitation scheduled for the afternoon, and then I'm taking an evening flight straight to Hangzhou." She paused briefly before continuing, "I've heard that the sticky rice chicken in Guangzhou is remarkably delicious; if time permits, I truly want to go grab a taste!"

Li Yifei expressed absolute disdain. "Can your mind encompass a single thought beyond food!"

Qian Fei shot back, "It absolutely can!"

Li Yifei grunted, asking, "For instance?"

Qian Fei stated, "You!"

On the opposite end of the line, Li Yifei's breathing instantly lost its regular rhythm for a split second.

"Hold on a moment, let me get this straight—does your phrasing imply that you're missing me right now? Good lord, has this young master finally endured the dark clouds long enough to catch sight of the morning sun!"

Qian Fei burst out laughing. "It was merely a casual conversational response. My dear young master, please refrain from executing too much mental elaboration on your own; if you overdo it, even the psychiatric hospital won't possess the capacity to salvage you!"

Li Yifei let out an intentionally dramatic sigh. "Your lips remain stubborn, completely refusing to confess that you miss me. But this young master lacks that capacity—my lips are entirely soft! Consequently, I have no choice but to declare, my little Feifei, I'm missing you a little!"