Sweet Oxygen - Chapter 68

Chapter 68 – Picking Up

Picking up my girlfriend to take her home

——

The curtains in the bedroom were drawn shut. When Qin Han opened her eyes, she found herself completely enveloped by the light-blocking fabric, with only a faint glow reaching her.

It was like sunlight trapped in a pouch, hazy and indistinct.

Normally, Zhang Yuqing didn’t use curtains. The bedroom window always stood open, letting the warm summer breeze drift freely into the room.

He must have closed the curtains today to let Qin Han rest longer.

Qin Han burrowed deeper under the covers, rubbing her eyes as she fumbled for her phone.

The bedroom door opened. Zhang Yuqing entered and gently brushed stray strands of hair from her forehead. “Awake now?”

“Mm-hmm. What time is it?”

Only when she spoke did she realize her voice had grown hoarse. Suddenly self-conscious, she shrank back into the blankets, leaving only the delicate tips of her fingers visible where they clutched the fabric.

Zhang Yuqing understood her embarrassment. He opened a bottle of water and patted the quilt, offering a solution. “Want some water? It’s natural for your throat to feel dry after sleeping so long.”

The girl huddled under the covers didn’t respond verbally. She simply reached out to take the water bottle. The quilt swelled into a large lump before soft sipping sounds emerged.

After drinking, she finally tried speaking again. “Zhang Yuqing.”

“I’m here.”

Qin Han must have realized her voice was no longer hoarse, feeling she’d finally vindicated it.

It was only hoarse from sleeping too long without drinking, not because of anything else.

She emerged from the quilt and asked again in her now-clear voice, “What time is it?”

Zhang Yuqing couldn’t suppress a soft chuckle. He kissed her forehead and said, “Just past ten. Want to get up and eat? Or sleep a bit more?”

“I want to eat.”

“Then get up. I’ll heat some congee for you.”

As Zhang Yuqing stood, he turned back to ask, “Want me to carry you to the bathroom?”

Qin Han shook her head so vigorously it resembled a windshield wiper in a downpour. “No need!”

She had enough strength to go to the bathroom herself now!

No more needing to be carried bonelessly in his arms like last night, or having him wash her!

When Qin Han finished bathing, changed, and came downstairs, the aroma of congee already wafted from the kitchen. Dandan sat at the window doing homework, while Beibei crouched by the shop entrance, engrossed in something.

Bathed in morning sunlight, Zhang Yuqing said, “Sit at the table. I’ll bring it over.”

“I can carry it myself.”

“It’s hot. Let me get it for you.”

The congee was cooked by Zhang Yuqing, using leftover glutinous rice and dried longans from yesterday’s zongzi-making. It was sweet and comforting.

Qin Han’s words flowed like honey. “Zhang Yuqing, your cooking is amazing. You should become a chef.”

“Deal. But only if I’m your personal chef.”

Clearly, when it came to sweet talk and flirtation, Qin Han could never outdo Zhang Yuqing.

Zhang Yuqing closed the tattoo studio to take a call inside—probably a customer.

Spoonful by spoonful, Qin Han finished a large bowl of congee without realizing. She leaned back with a contented sigh.

The wooden chairback pressed against her back, sending a sudden sharp pain through her. Her body stiffened.

Zhang Yuqing’s bed was sturdy—unlike the soft mattress at home that would sink completely under her weight. This one was firm.

For sleeping, it was actually quite comfortable—reminiscent of the dorm beds from university.

But…

As she recalled last night, the faint creaks of the bedframe and the rustle of blankets suddenly flooded her mind. Qin Han fanned her face with a hand.

Underneath a stack of tattoo sketches on the desk lay a sheaf of real estate flyers—those ubiquitous street handouts Qin Han had assumed Luo Shijin and Li Nan had brought in, so she hadn’t paid them much mind.

But as her gaze fell, she suddenly recalled yesterday’s half-dream state. Zhang Yuqing had been stroking her back then, murmuring something…

What had he said?

She thought she’d heard him say it was time to find a new place to live—that this one wasn’t suitable for a young woman.

Was I dreaming?

Why would we need to move? Everything’s fine here. It must have been a dream.

Qin Han’s mind wandered as she carried her empty congee bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen sink.

Midway through washing, Zhang Yuqing emerged from the tattoo studio after answering a call. Seeing her from behind, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Little girl, that water’s cold. Let me wash.”

“It’s not that cold.”

His embrace from behind reignited last night’s emotions within her. She turned, and their lips met in a kiss.

Zhang Yuqing spun Qin Han to face the sink, pressing her against the edge. He turned off the tap behind her, but his lips never left hers.

The commotion outside—Beibei’s cries and Luo Shijin’s booming voice—finally drew him away.

He wiped the corner of Qin Han’s lips, then pulled her into his arms with a smile. “Luo Shijin’s here.”

Qin Han nodded, her face flushed. “Mm.”

In truth, Zhang Yuqing hadn’t planned to kiss her in the kitchen either. His tattoo studio was brightly lit, and the girl had such a thin face—anyone walking in would surely embarrass her.

Just like now, her head was buried in his chest, refusing to come out.

But when she turned to speak to him earlier, her red lips parting and closing, he couldn’t resist. Without thinking, he’d kissed her.

So impulsive, like some young boy.

After noon, Qin Han’s phone began vibrating incessantly. The high school class group was discussing the afternoon gathering.

When Qin Han was ready to leave, Zhang Yuqing was busy in the tattoo studio.

He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and a black mask. Hearing Qin Han call out that she was leaving, he exchanged brief words with the customer, then stood up.

Beibei circled around them. Zhang Yuqing removed one black glove and pulled out car keys from his pocket. “Little girl, I won’t drive you. You can drive yourself.”

Qin Han’s driving skills were quite good; she hadn’t found it particularly challenging to obtain her driver’s license and often drove while living in the United States.

During their weekends in the city, they would go shopping and treat themselves to a nice meal. Since Qin Han didn’t drink, she usually ended up driving.

“You don’t need the car?”

“No, you drive.”

Zhang Yuqing ruffled Qin Han’s hair. “The place where you eat is hard to get a taxi from. Driving is more convenient. If you want to drink, just call a rideshare.”

“Okay.”

“Stay safe and drive carefully.”

“I will.”

“A goodbye kiss? Cheek or lips?” Zhang Yuqing teased with a mischievous tone.

Qin Han swatted him and turned to run away.

Her ponytail swung through the air in a beautiful arc. Zhang Yuqing, still amused, called out after her, “So heartless? Just running off like that? No kiss?”

He watched as even her ears turned red.

After Qin Han’s car had driven out of sight, Zhang Yuqing stroked his chin thoughtfully. He should probably get the girl a more colorful car.

He hadn’t been particularly thoughtful when buying this one—black just didn’t look good on a young woman.

From the tattoo studio came the banter of customers.

“Hey, Qing-ge, your girlfriend’s probably already on Chang’an Street by now. Why aren’t you getting to work?”

Zhang Yuqing chuckled, “Stop teasing.”

This was Qin Han’s first time driving Zhang Yuqing’s car. With plenty of time to spare, she drove leisurely. The interior carried that same bamboo forest scent from his shop, creating a pleasant mood.

The restaurant for the high school reunion was located near the commercial district—an area notoriously difficult to reach by taxi, filled with private parking spaces and no taxi access.

Qin Han guessed that some classmates must have made it big and were planning a lavish celebration.

When she arrived at the restaurant, the private room was still sparsely populated. The teachers hadn’t arrived yet, and only a few classmates came over to exchange greetings. Qin Han smiled and engaged in casual conversation with them.

It was strange—they had only graduated a few years ago, yet the boy who used to wear a black mask and secretly layer his jacket under his school uniform had already started to gain weight.

She almost couldn’t recognize him—the chubby guy who kept handing out business cards was the same youth who used to secretly dye his hair in class.

Qin Han remained quiet, simply listening to the conversations around her.

They chattered about school crushes and past antics—how the quiet class president had once skipped half a period just to watch a science class boy play basketball.

When teachers joined the private room, the atmosphere grew even livelier.

The homeroom teacher turned to Qin Han. “I heard you’re teaching at a special education school now. How’s it going?”

Qin Han smiled. “It’s going well. I really enjoy the work.”

The homeroom teacher, who taught Chinese, shook his head with a chuckle. “Ah, you graduated from the Chinese department. I told the principal we’d snatch you up as soon as you finished at Normal University.”

The English teacher chimed in, laughing. “Same here! We were all waiting to work with Qin Han. Who knew she’d switch jobs instead?”

Qin Han had been model student material in high school—three years without a single tardy, beloved by every teacher. But her perfect behavior left her with fewer friends than most.

Soon, the server began bringing out dishes. A plate of intricately carved honey-glazed crispy shrimp took center stage on the lazy Susan.

Before long, as the second dish was served, a boy asked, “Hey, why hasn’t Xu Weiran arrived yet?”

Another girl chimed in, “And Hu Keyuan too. She’s not here either.”

The homeroom teacher smiled, “Call and hurry him up. This Xu Weiran has always been late for school.”

Perhaps out of consideration for the girls’ feelings, the teacher refrained from mentioning Hu Keyuan’s name.

“When he comes, make him drink three shots!” the boys jeered.

The boy who had mentioned Xu Weiran took out his phone. After dialing, he impatiently urged, “Xu Weiran, what’s up with you? Still not here? The food’s served and we’re waiting for you. When you get here, you’ll drink three shots!”

Whatever the response on the other end, it brought a broad smile to the boy’s face. “Alright, alright. That works. We’ll wait for you.”

After hanging up, the boy announced to the group, “Xu Weiran had an unexpected issue. To make up for it, he’s booked a luxury VIP room at the KTV next door for after dinner. We’re continuing the party there.”

“Damn, Xu Weiran’s such a big shot!” a classmate exclaimed. “That biggest karaoke room next door—two floors, like a mansion! Minimum spend’s 16,999!”

Beside Qin Han sat the class president who’d called her yesterday. Smiling, he asked in a hushed voice, “I remember Xu Weiran used to like you. You still keep in touch?”

Qin Han shook her head. “No.”

“With his money, you won’t reach out?”

She smiled. “President, I have a boyfriend now.”

After dinner, teachers declined the karaoke outing. When students persisted, the homeroom teacher waved dismissively. “No thanks. You kids can party however you like. We’re old bones here—sing one night at karaoke, we’ll barely make it out of bed tomorrow.”

Qin Han wasn’t keen either, but several classmates had clearly overindulged.

Though the karaoke club was nearby—”just next door”—it still required traversing most of the restaurant street, a fifteen-minute walk at most.

But now the streets thronged with students, boys and girls alike swaying from alcohol.

Qin Han and the other sober drivers took on the role of caretakers, ferrying their intoxicated friends to the KTV entrance.

In Qin Han’s car sat a girl she hadn’t known well during school. Perhaps due to the years since graduation, their reunion carried a warmth unfamiliar to new acquaintances—the shared history of three years as classmates in the same classroom.

The girl was visibly drunk. While others had already entered the KTV, she remained slumped in the back seat, staring vacantly.

Qin Han offered her a bottle of water. “Should I take you home instead?”

“No need. I’ll sing a couple of songs first. My boyfriend’s wrapping up his overtime, and he’ll pick me up here.”

After a moment’s consideration, Qin Han said, “Then let me help you inside.”

“Thank you.” The girl’s cheeks flushed pink. “Qin Han, you’re so kind. I always thought you were adorable in school, but you were too close to Hu Keyuan back then…”

She trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air. Qin Han offered no response, simply guiding her into the private KTV room before descending the stairs alone.

Hu Keyuan never showed up for the entire meal. Some girls tried calling her, but she didn’t answer any of the calls.

Just as Qin Han was leaving the restaurant, she heard someone say, “That’s strange. Why is Hu Keyuan’s phone turned off again?”

Someone else replied, “Hah, maybe she got a last-minute work assignment or meeting. We’re all corporate slaves now, no time for freedom.”

“But isn’t it the Dragon Boat Festival holiday?”

“Even holidays don’t mean time off for some jobs.”

A crowd of alcohol-scented people waited by the KTV’s interior elevator. Qin Han decided not to wait and took the outdoor elevator instead.

The outdoor elevator was a transparent observation lift. Built earlier than the interior one, it was smaller and less well-equipped, so it rarely carried many passengers.

When Qin Han entered, she was the only one in the elevator.

In truth, she’d hoped to see Hu Keyuan today.

She was angry with Hu Keyuan.

This was the first time in her 22 years that she’d felt such fury.

She wanted to ask Hu Keyuan why she had done that. She wanted to ask why she had spoken ill of Zhang Yuqing.

There were so many questions she wanted to ask, so much anger she wanted to vent. She even thought it might be better to just fight.

The elevator descended slowly. Qin Han looked through the glass walls at the scene below.

Suddenly she saw pedestrians stop and someone filming with their phone. Qin Han glanced over and saw Xu Weiran and Hu Keyuan.

At first Qin Han didn’t recognize Hu Keyuan.

Hu Keyuan was facing away from Qin Han, her hair dyed red in a fashionable curled style. She wore a dark blue fitted dress, looking completely different from her high school self.

The first person Qin Han recognized was Xu Weiran.

He was tall and imposing, radiating a dangerous aura.

Qin Han had seen this aura before. Many years ago, she’d watched through a window as Xu Weiran got out of a car and viciously kicked their family dog until it whimpered. His expression then had been exactly the same.

Only now he wasn’t kicking a dog. He was kicking the red-haired girl.

The girl was kicked to the ground. After struggling briefly, she let out a muffled cry. Xu Weiran rushed over, grabbed her head, and smashed it against the pavement.

Qin Han’s elevator reached the first floor. Only then did she recognize the fallen girl—it was Hu Keyuan.

Stepping out of the elevator, Qin Han felt the warm night breeze carrying the city’s clamor and chaos.

Hu Keyuan’s wails pierced the air, “Xu Weiran, come back! You just want to see her! That’s why you came to the class reunion! Do you think I can’t tell?”

Xu Weiran ignored her, picking up his dropped phone before striding away.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered. Qin Han initially hesitated.

But Hu Keyuan’s skirt had been hiked up, exposing her legs and the edge of her underwear as she wept on the ground.

Qin Han approached and knelt beside her, carefully adjusting the skirt.

Hu Keyuan’s eyes snapped up. “Qin Han, are you here to mock me?”

Qin Han shook her head. She wanted to speak, but Hu Keyuan’s face was swollen with clear handprints.

Her makeup was completely smudged, the black eyeliner blurred, tears streaking down her face.

Qin Han suddenly had nothing left to say.

Hu Keyuan stared at Qin Han, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “I’m pregnant. With Xu Weiran’s child.”

Qin Han frowned, stood up without a word, and walked away.

The car wasn’t far. As Qin Han rummaged through her bag for the keys, she heard a voice behind her, “Qin Han! Qin Han, is that you? Qin Han!”

She turned instinctively.

The same person who had been spitting venom at Hu Keyuan moments ago now wore a wide grin as they strode over. “Qin Han, long time no see!”

Qin Han’s face remained impassive. “Hu Keyuan is still crying.”

Xu Weiran looked impatient. “She’s always like that. She’ll get over it herself after a while. Don’t mind her.” He paused, noticing the car keys in Qin Han’s hand. “Are you leaving? Why not go karaoke? Come on, let’s sing!”

Qin Han shook her head.

“Let’s chat for a bit then,” Xu Weiran suggested, his enthusiasm matching that of classmates reuniting after a long separation. “We’ve come all this way to meet.”

Qin Han declined. “No thanks, I’m heading back now.”

Xu Weiran followed her, but before she could stop him, he suddenly froze, frowning as he looked past her.

Following his gaze, Qin Han saw Zhang Yuqing leaning against a car under the neon lights. The vehicle’s black paint reflected fragmented glow, yet he maintained his usual composed demeanor. He waved. “Come here, young lady.”

Qin Han didn’t glance at Xu Weiran again. She ran over, delighted, and threw herself into Zhang Yuqing’s arms. “What are you doing here?”

Zhang Yuqing never once looked at Xu Weiran. He wrapped an arm around Qin Han’s waist and smiled. “Picking up my girlfriend to take her home.”