amaotonovel Chapter 1595 Scumbag Quotes
Chapter 1595 Scumbag Quotes
It was a rare weekend, but Han Ling got up early and tidied up the living room and bedroom inside and out. Actually, there wasn't much to tidy up; she hadn't moved in long ago, and things hadn't piled up yet. But she still rearranged the books on the coffee table, took the clothes from the balcony, and wiped down the kitchen stove.
Seeing her bustling around, Han's mother couldn't help but say, "Your friends are coming over to play, why are you cleaning so thoroughly? They're not going to check the cleanliness."
"Mom, you don't understand." Han Ling squatted in front of the coffee table, stuffed the management book that Qin Hao recommended into the drawer, and also put away a box of tea on the TV cabinet—it was the one Qin Hao brought when he came to eat last time.
Han's mother came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of mung bean soup. Seeing her daughter's thieving appearance, she frowned and asked, "What are you doing? Why did you hide the tea that Xiao Qin gave you?"
"It's not that I'm hiding it..." Han Ling stammered, "It's just... it'll get dusty if I leave it outside."
Han's mother glanced at her, clearly not believing her, but didn't press her for details. After all, her daughter was grown up and it wasn't strange for her to have her own little secrets.
At 10 a.m., the doorbell rang.
Han Ling went to open the door, and Sun Yumei stood at the door, wearing a light pink dress, her hair loose, with light makeup, and carrying a bottle of red wine.
"Congratulations." Sun Yumei shoved the wine bottle into Han Ling's hand and smiled as she looked around the entryway: "Not bad, it's more spacious than I imagined."
Han Ling took the bottle and stepped aside, saying, "Come in quickly."
Sun Yumei changed her shoes and walked into the living room. She looked around—the living room had great natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, a beige fabric sofa was placed against the wall, a bouquet of flowers sat on the TV cabinet, and fruit and snacks were laid out on the coffee table. The whole house was clean and tidy, exuding a warm and homey atmosphere.
“It’s really nice.” Sun Yumei sat down on the sofa and patted the soft cushions. “This house has good lighting and a square layout. It was a good buy.”
Han Ling sat down opposite her, feeling a little nervous, but she didn't dare to show it on her face: "It's just an ordinary two-bedroom apartment, nothing compared to your three-story Yanglou."
"Come on, I only bought this because of Lao Qin. Otherwise, I would never have been able to afford it in my entire life." Sun Yumei waved her hand, picked up an apple from the coffee table and took a bite: "At least you bought this yourself, you're more capable than me."
Just as Han Ling was about to reply, her mother came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced fruit.
"Here, girl, have some fruit."
Han's mother placed the fruit plate on the coffee table, her gaze naturally falling on Sun Yumei.
"Hello, Auntie." Sun Yumei quickly stood up, speaking very sweetly: "Auntie, you're too kind. I heard you moved to a new house, so I came to visit you. I'm so sorry to have troubled you so much."
"No rush, no rush. You're Lingling's friend, so you're always welcome." Han's mother smiled and sat down next to Han Ling, casually asking, "Young lady, do you also work in Shenzhen?"
Sun Yumei smiled and said, "I'm not working; I'm staying at home."
Han's mother paused for a moment, her smile remained unchanged, but a hint of scrutiny appeared in her eyes: "That's good too, you're blessed."
Han Ling listened from the side, inwardly groaning. She knew what her mother was about to ask—and sure enough—
"Young lady, do you have a boyfriend?" Han's mother asked with a smile.
"Mom!" Han Ling quickly interrupted her, "Why are you asking this?"
"What's wrong with asking?" Han's mother said matter-of-factly, "Young people, isn't it normal for them to care about their life's important matters?"
Sun Yumei was quite generous, and smiled, saying, "Yes, we're dating."
"Oh? Which family's young man is he?" Mother Han became interested.
Han Ling's heart suddenly raced. She wanted to change the subject, but her mind went blank, and she didn't know what to say.
Sun Yumei glanced at Han Ling, then said casually, "His surname is Qin, and he's in business. You probably don't know him, Auntie."
Han's mother's smile froze for a moment.
But when she glanced at her daughter's nervous expression, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. She'd lived this long; what hadn't she seen? The "Qin" the girl mentioned was most likely Little Qin, and her daughter's nervousness said something.
"Oh, doing business is good." Han's mother smiled and didn't press further, naturally changing the subject: "You two chat, I'll go to the kitchen to see if the soup is ready."
Han Ling breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could fully relax, she noticed Sun Yumei looking at her with a half-smile.
"Your mother doesn't know?" Sun Yumei asked.
"Don't know what?" Han Ling feigned ignorance.
“My affair with Lao Qin,” Sun Yumei said.
Han Ling picked up her teacup and took a sip, concealing the awkwardness on her face: "Why should I tell her so much?"
Sun Yumei didn't think much of it.
Over the next few minutes, Sun Yumei toured Han Ling's bedroom and study. Standing at the bedroom door, she noticed a management book on Han Ling's bedside table and casually picked it up and flipped through it.
"Han Ling, you're quite something now, even reading management books."
Han Ling's heart skipped a beat: "Hey, I'm just flipping through things randomly, I might not even need it."
"Oh." Sun Yumei put the book back where it belonged and didn't ask any further questions.
But that "oh" was like a fine needle, pricking Han Ling's heart.
When they saw Sun Yumei off downstairs, the two walked for a while in the community garden.
The evening sun slanted across the lawn of the community, and several children chased and played by the slide in the distance, their laughter as crisp as broken silver.
“Your neighborhood is nice,” Sun Yumei said as she walked. “It’s also close to my company, making it convenient for commuting.”
"Mm." Han Ling nodded.
“If Lao Qin is on his way to work, he can give you a ride,” Sun Yumei added.
Han Ling paused for a moment: "I'll take the bus, no need to trouble him."
Sun Yumei stopped and turned to look at her. The setting sun shone on her face, making it difficult to see her expression, but Han Ling could sense something indescribable in her gaze.
"Han Ling," Sun Yumei called out to her, her tone more serious than before.
"Ok?"
“You and Lao Qin…” Sun Yumei paused, then smiled and waved her hand: “Never mind, I won’t say anymore.”
She turned and continued walking forward.
Han Ling stood there, watching Sun Yumei's retreating figure, feeling an urge to call out to her. She wanted to explain, to say, "Qin Hao and I really have nothing going on," but the words caught in her throat.
Because she wasn't sure if she was lying to Sun Yumei or to herself when she said those words.
She quickened her pace to catch up with Sun Yumei.
The two walked out of the residential compound side by side. Sun Yumei's car was parked under the shade of a tree by the roadside. She took out her car key and pressed it; the Crown's headlights flashed twice.
"Then I'm leaving." Sun Yumei opened the car door, glanced back at Han Ling, and said, "Let's talk again next time."
"Drive slowly on the road," Han Ling said.
Sun Yumei nodded, bent down, and got into the driver's seat. She started the car, released the handbrake, and just as she was about to step on the gas, she turned off the engine and rolled down the window.
"Han Ling".
"Ok?"
Sun Yumei leaned against the car window, looking at Han Ling with a complicated expression on her face.
"You're prettier than me, so you actually have more options."
Han Ling opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Sun Yumei didn't give her the chance.
"Let's go." Sun Yumei stepped on the gas, and the Crown sedan slowly drove away from the roadside.
Han Ling stood there, watching the black sedan merge into the traffic and disappear around the corner of the intersection.
She stood there for a long time.
A gentle evening breeze blew by, carrying the dampness and sweltering heat characteristic of a southern summer. She looked up at the sky; thick clouds had gathered on the horizon, threatening rain.
She turned and walked back, her steps much heavier than when she came.
That evening, Han Ling returned to the company alone.
She didn't tell her mother the reason, only saying that she had forgotten a document and had to go back to the company. Actually, she hadn't forgotten the document; she just didn't want to go home. She didn't want to face her mother's hesitant gaze, nor did she want to hide in her room and overthink.
The entire office floor was dark, except for the light in her office. She sat at her desk, staring blankly at the half-read document on her desk, her mind a jumbled mess, unable to concentrate on a single word.
Just then, footsteps came from the end of the corridor.
Han Ling looked up and saw a figure walking towards the elevator. The person walked at a moderate pace, the sound of leather shoes clicking crisply on the floor, particularly clear in the empty building.
"Isn't it the weekend? Why are you still at the company?"
It was Qin Hao's voice.
He was wearing a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his tie a little loose, looking like he had just come from a social event.
Han Ling quickly sat up straight: "I... came back to get something."
Qin Hao walked to her office door, leaned against the doorframe, and glanced at her: "Get something? Why do you look so distracted?"
Han Ling paused for a moment, then realized that the document in front of her was upside down. She quickly turned it over, her face flushing slightly, "I was thinking about something and got distracted."
Qin Hao didn't press further. He walked in, sat down on a chair nearby, and placed his briefcase at his feet: "Have you eaten?"
"...Not yet," Han Ling answered honestly.
"I haven't eaten either," Qin Hao said. "There's a pretty good noodle shop downstairs, want to go grab some?"
Han Ling shook her head: "I'm not hungry."
Qin Hao looked at her for a few seconds, but didn't press the matter.
The night outside the window grew darker, and faint thunder could be heard in the distance.
"There might be a downpour tonight," Qin Hao said.
Han Ling hummed in agreement, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. The tea was slightly bitter, but very warm.
Before the words were even finished, a bolt of lightning tore through the night sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder—
Boom!
The thunder seemed to explode overhead, and the entire building seemed to tremble. Han Ling was so frightened that her whole body shook, and the pen in her hand fell to the table with a "thud".
"Don't be afraid, it's just thunder." Qin Hao's voice came from the other end, with a reassuring smile.
"I'm not afraid," Han Ling said stubbornly, but her voice was clearly strained.
Another flash of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the entire French window with a blinding white light. This was followed by a series of claps of thunder, like someone rolling a giant drum across the sky. Then, the rain began to fall.
Summer downpours in Shenzhen come fiercely and suddenly. Large raindrops pound against the windowpane, making a pattering sound, and in the blink of an eye, they merge into a continuous cascade, blurring the neon lights outside into a hazy halo. Rainwater streams down the glass, washing the entire world into a flowing painting.
Looking at the torrential rain outside the window, Han Ling felt the emotions that had been building up inside her all day slowly ease under the cover of the rain.
“Sun Yumei came to my house today,” she suddenly said, her voice very soft, as if she were talking to herself.
Qin Hao paused for a moment, his hand holding the teacup still.
"She seems to have misunderstood..."
Qin Hao was silent for a few seconds: "What are you worried about?"
Han Ling didn't answer the question. She lowered her head, stared at the documents in front of her, and after a long while, said, "I don't know what I'm worried about. I just feel... like I've stolen something."
She was stunned for a moment after saying those words.
Qin Hao simply looked at her quietly for a few seconds, then said something that surprised Han Ling—
"Steal? Steal what?"
Han Ling looked up and met Qin Hao's gaze. His eyes were calm, like a deep pool of water, unfathomable, yet they held a reassuring quality.
Han Ling opened her mouth, as if to say something, but suddenly a thunderclap rang out outside the window—
Boom!
Immediately afterwards, all the lights in the building flickered twice, and then went out with a "pop".
The surroundings were plunged into complete darkness.
"Ah—" Han Ling gasped, instinctively jumping up from her chair. She couldn't see anything in the darkness, and her heart pounded.
"Don't be afraid." Qin Hao's voice came from the other end, steady and powerful: "It should be that lightning struck the line. The emergency lights will turn on in a while."
He was right. A few seconds later, the emergency light at the end of the corridor came on, emitting a pale white light. But the brightness was very low, barely illuminating a small section of the corridor; most of the office remained pitch black.
"You sit down first, I'll go find some candles." Qin Hao's voice came from the darkness, followed by the sound of him groping to stand up.
“I…I’ll go with you.” Han Ling quickly stood up as well.
She wasn't afraid of the dark; she was afraid of being alone in this pitch-black office.
She followed the direction of Qin Hao's voice and touched something in the darkness. She was startled, then realized it was Qin Hao's arm.
"Give me your hand," Qin Hao said.
Han Ling hesitated for a second, then reached out her hand in the darkness. Qin Hao grasped her hand; it was warm, his fingertips slightly rough, and his grip was just right, making her feel secure.
He led her by the hand, and they made their way step by step toward the tea room.
The rain outside the window was heavy, with thunder rumbling incessantly, enveloping the entire space in darkness and the sound of the downpour. Han Ling walked hand-in-hand with him in the darkness, feeling her heart pound faster than ever before. It wasn't fear, but the intimacy in the darkness—no one could see them, no one would know what they were doing; this feeling was both tense and reassuring.
"We've arrived at the break room." Qin Hao released her hand. "I remember there were candles in the drawer."
He opened the drawer and rummaged through it. The tea room was small, and the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, their breaths almost touching.
Standing beside him, Han Ling could smell the faint scent of tobacco and shower gel on him. In the darkness, her other senses became exceptionally sharp; she could hear his breathing, feel the air currents created by his movements as he searched, and feel the warmth of his arm when it occasionally brushed against hers.
"found it."
Qin Hao took out a lighter and lit it with a "click." The moment the flame lit up, Han Ling saw his face was very close—much closer than usual.
The half-burnt white candle was lit, and its faint light flickered in the tea room, casting two overlapping shadows on the wall.
The break room was already small; normally, it was cramped enough for one person to stand inside and get water, but now, with two people standing there, they were practically touching. Qin Hao leaned against the sink, and Han Ling stood in front of him, the distance between them uncomfortably close, yet neither of them moved back.
The candlelight was so dim that you could see the most subtle changes in each other's expressions.
Qin Hao glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds. Han Ling's eyes were still red, and the tip of her nose was also a little red, making her look inexplicably vulnerable in the candlelight.
"You're not acting right today," Qin Hao said, his tone not accusatory, but simply stating a fact: "Is it because of something Sun Yumei said to you?"
Han Ling shook her head: "She didn't say anything. The less she says, the more upset I feel."
"why?"
"Because—" Han Ling opened her mouth, her voice slightly hoarse, "because she considered me a friend, but I..."
She couldn't continue.
Qin Hao looked at her and finished her sentence for her: "But you've fallen for me."
Han Ling's body stiffened for a moment.
For a moment, her mind went blank. She wanted to deny it, but when she opened her mouth, she couldn't utter the words.
Because she couldn't deny her feelings for Qin Hao.
While Han Ling was still in a daze, Qin Hao wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her into his embrace.
She didn't break free.
Qin Hao lowered his head and kissed her.
The kiss was very light, like a test, an inquiry.
Han Ling did not push him away.
She closed her eyes.
The candlelight flickered on the wall, and the only sounds in the tea room were completely drowned out by the torrential rain outside the window.
Qin Hao's other hand gripped her waist, pulling her slightly closer to him. Han Ling's hands had somehow climbed onto his shoulders, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt tightly, as if grasping at something to keep her from collapsing.
The two of them, who had been standing, were now leaning against the wall in the corner of the tea room. The wall was a little cool, but Qin Hao's body was burning hot. His hand was on the wall near her ear, and his other hand was still holding her waist.
During a break in the kiss, Han Ling opened her eyes and met Qin Hao's gaze, which was very close to hers.
"Wait a minute." Her voice was soft, with a hint of rapid breathing.
Qin Hao stopped and looked at her.
Han Ling took a deep breath, and in the cramped space, in the flickering candlelight, she finally asked the question that had been weighing on her heart—
What should we do about Sun Yumei?
Qin Hao did not avoid the question. He looked at her, remained silent for two or three seconds, and then spoke.
"I don't plan to break up with her."
Those words were like a bucket of cold water, poured over Han Lingxin's head.
She was stunned.
She had considered many possible answers—perhaps saying "I will break up with her," or "Give me some time to sort this out"—but she never expected Qin Hao to tell her so directly: I will not break up with her.
She instinctively wanted to back away, but there was a wall behind her, and she had nowhere to retreat.
"You..." Her voice trembled slightly, "Since you don't plan to break up with her, then what you just did..."
“I kissed you just now because I wanted to kiss you.” Qin Hao interrupted her, his tone unwavering, his gaze fixed on her: “But that’s a different matter from my relationship with Sun Yumei.”
Han Ling stared at him blankly, her mind a little slow to process what he was saying.
Qin Hao didn't look away; he remained very close to her, close enough to see the flickering candlelight in her eyes. His voice was deep and steady, as if he were discussing something very serious with her.
“My relationship with Sun Yumei has always been mutually beneficial from the beginning. She needs a man who can provide her with a stable life, and I need a woman who can give me physical and emotional comfort. I haven’t mistreated her over the years. This relationship won’t suddenly end because of anyone else’s appearance, otherwise it would be unfair to Sun Yumei, wouldn’t it?”
"Moreover, with my current assets, I will not marry any woman."
Han Ling's body trembled slightly.
"What did you say?" She could hardly believe her ears.
"I said, I will not get married." Qin Hao spoke at a steady pace, each word clear and firm: "Whether it's you or Sun Yumei, my company is developing rapidly. With my current asset size, marriage means future property division. I dare not take that risk."
He looked directly into Han Ling's eyes, his gaze unwavering.
"I can give you everything you want, except for marriage."
After saying that, he didn't add anything more, nor did he rush to hug or kiss her. He just quietly looked at her, waiting for her to process what he had said.
The tea room was quiet for a few seconds. Only the sound of rain outside the window and the faint flickering of the candlelight could be heard.
Han Ling leaned against the wall, her mind churning as if a pot of boiling water was bubbling inside her.
How can this man speak so eloquently and confidently?
She wanted to be angry, to push him away, to walk away. But her body seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move an inch.
"you……"
She opened her mouth and found her voice was a little hoarse.
"You've told me all this, aren't you afraid I'll just turn around and leave?"
Qin Hao looked at her and smiled gently. There was a hint of helplessness in that smile, but more than that, a sense of certainty.
I respect your choice.
"If you can't accept it, you can leave now. The rain has lessened a lot; I'll take you home."
Han Ling stood there, two voices arguing fiercely in her mind.
A voice says: Go away. This man can't give you a future; staying will only make you sink deeper.
Another voice says: But he's sincere towards you. Every harsh word he says proves he's not lying to you.
Han Ling raised her head and looked at Qin Hao in the flickering candlelight.
She stared at it for a very long time.
Then, slowly, as if having made the most important decision of his life, he closed his eyes.
Qin Hao reached out and gently wiped away the tear that had seeped from the corner of her eye.
Then he lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
Then he blew out the candle.
The break room was plunged into darkness again. The rain outside the window was still heavy, and thunder rolled in the distance like a somber symphony.
In the darkness, all defenses were completely lowered.
Qin Hao took her hand and pulled her into his arms.
The rain stopped sometime ago.
When the thunder outside the window completely disappeared, leaving only the patter of raindrops, a candle slowly lit up in the darkness of the tea room.
Qin Hao lit the lighter again and relit the half-burnt candle.
Han Ling sat on the floor in the corner of the tea room, leaning against the wall. Her hair was a little disheveled, and the buttons on her shirt had been re-buttoned—but the top button was misplaced, buttoned into the second buttonhole. Her face was still red, and she kept her head down, not daring to look at Qin Hao, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
Qin Hao glanced at her and reached out to help her fasten the button that was buttoned incorrectly.
Han Ling's body stiffened slightly, but she did not dodge.
"Let's go, I'll take you home," Qin Hao said, his voice carrying a tenderness he had never shown before.
Han Ling nodded, trying to stand up while holding onto the wall, her legs feeling a little weak. Qin Hao reached out and helped her up, and after she regained her balance, his hand naturally wrapped around her waist.
She didn't break free.
As the two people walked out of the tea room, the end of the corridor suddenly lit up—the emergency lights went out and then came back on, followed by a row of fluorescent lights on the ceiling that flickered twice and then hummed on.
The power is back on.
The moment the lights came on, Han Ling subconsciously squinted and then lowered her head to avoid Qin Hao's gaze.
"Let's go." Qin Hao released her waist, but took her hand.
Han Ling walked beside him, her head down, holding his hand, feeling her palms sweaty.
...(End of this chapter)