A Guide to Wasting Life - Chapter 2

“Alright,” Zhou Qi said with a small laugh as he noticed the growing impatience of the person beside him due to the persistent network issues. He gently closed her phone and brushed his thumb against the soft surface. In a calm voice, he said, “It’s okay, I know where it is. We don’t need the navigation.”

The words “Are you sure?” barely made it to Xu Nianzhu’s lips before she swallowed them back. She remembered-he was, after all, a local here as well.

“Alright then, I’ll trouble you instead.”

“No trouble at all, it’s on the way,” Zhou Qi replied smoothly. Before starting the car, he glanced at her again. “Seatbelt.”

“Oh!”

Xu Nianzhu scrambled to pull it over, fumbling and fiddling for an unnecessarily long time because the seatbelt had twisted itself out of order.

In the end, Zhou Qi couldn’t stand watching anymore. He leaned over to help her. On his way back to his seat, he paused-deliberately, it seemed-as if a sudden thought had crossed his mind.

Zhou Qi tilted his head. Their gazes met in the dim light, catching each other at just the right moment. Xu Nianzhu didn’t look away, almost as though she was challenging him, daring to see who would give in first.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Zhou Qi watched as the color of her cheeks shifted from a light peach pink to a deep, unmistakable crimson red. And then he laughed softly, speaking each word clearly: “Why are you blushing?”

The moment his words fell, he noticed her shoulders trembling slightly. In the corner of his vision, the red butterfly tattoo on her collarbone fluttered along with her small movements.

It was the same question she had once asked him, coming back to her now, entirely unedited.

“I’m not!”

Xu Nianzhu, with two unmistakably scarlet patches on her cheekbones, looked every bit like a five-year-old child throwing a tantrum in kindergarten-exaggeratedly puffing her cheeks and glaring. Her mouth denied it, but the flush climbing her face betrayed her further.

Zhou Qi simply watched her from his seat at an angle, completely still in his slightly leaned-over position. The posture, one that demanded significant core strength, was almost subconscious for him.

Clearly, his core strength was excellent.

When she finally finished her mini outburst, Zhou Qi commented with a serious air, “Alright, not blushing.”

Xu Nianzhu let out a little huff of a laugh, almost in disbelief. Then, as if some unexplainable surge of energy had filled her, she raised her face, stretched out her hand, and gave him a solid push back to his seat. She had no idea what she pushed-his chest or his shoulder-but it was firm and warm beneath her palm.

Startled by her own actions, she quickly pulled back her hand, pressing her palms together and rubbing nervously. “Drive!”

The command was so soft and lacking in authority that Zhou Qi almost laughed again, barely composing himself.

At that moment, he suddenly felt a damp sensation on the back of his neck. Turning his head, he was reminded of Chaichai in the back seat. He chuckled, pulling out some jerky to feed the dog, then reached for his phone to send a quick message to a friend.

The atmosphere in the car wasn’t subdued-it was playful, relaxed, and cozy, filled with an immature lightness rarely experienced but dearly cherished. Both of them seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. At the next red light, their eyes met, and a shared amusement passed between them in the form of a knowing smile. She saw the faint dimples that appeared on Zhou Qi’s cheeks when he smiled.

Something about it felt intoxicating.

The slight air of intoxication clouding Xu Nianzhu’s mind made her feel a little lightheaded. She lowered the window, resting her chin on the edge, letting her hand trail out to catch the wind. Her gaze followed as the vehicle steadily drove toward the bustling part of town.

The late evening breeze, already laced with hints of pre-dawn mist, was chilly and refreshing. The heat that had built up in her cheeks quickly dissipated as it whisked away into the night air.

The passing glow of lights outside the car window blurred into a carousel of fleeting images, blending seamlessly into a kaleidoscope.

She liked sitting like this, resting near the window, letting her thoughts wander and race alongside the moving car. Her body felt weightless, as if she were floating atop a vast ocean, destination unknown.

This stolen moment in time brought with it a sense of freedom, a rare sense of casual serenity.

She exhaled, her breath forming a soft fog against the cool glass. How long had it been since she last felt like this? She couldn’t remember, nor did she want to dig back through her memories to find out.

The wind brushing against her face left her skin feeling tight. Slowly, Xu Nianzhu rolled the window halfway up, closed her eyes, and leaned back against the wide, comfortable seat.

When left alone or when no one needed her, she often turned inward, retreating into a quiet, lackadaisical state that she knew all too well.

She was 25 years old-or, if counting by her hometown’s tradition, maybe 27 by now. This year, she had just completed her postgraduate studies in teacher training. Though she had the option to pursue a doctorate, she chose not to and was preparing to step into society instead.

Yet she found herself mired in uncertainty.

Three years ago, Xu Nianzhu had gained admission both into graduate school and a civil service position through exams. She leaned toward the former. During that time, her family had countless arguments about her choice. She hesitated briefly, but upon hearing the dismissive comment, “Why do girls need so much education? Just find a stable job and then properly meet someone for marriage,” she resolutely chose to continue her studies.

Looking back, she thought, well, at least they talked about stable jobs. They didn’t outright suggest finding a good man, getting married, and staying home.

Sometimes, her expectations had to be set so low to avoid angering herself over their outdated and circuitous remarks.

But now, Xu Nianzhu wasn’t sure whether she had made the right choice. Even though she had a side job and saved plenty of money, ever since returning home, the constant pressure from her family felt like a spear at her back, relentlessly pushing her forward.

She had everything-yet it felt like she no longer belonged to herself.

Exhausted and numb.

…

Feeling the car slowly come to a halt, Xu Nianzhu cautiously cracked one eye open.

It wasn’t a stoplight or traffic; they were parked in front of a gated villa complex.

“Mind if I turn on the light?” Zhou Qi asked her.

“Go ahead.”

The reading light above clicked on at a moderate brightness. Xu Nianzhu squinted and took a moment to adjust to the change.

Then came a knock on the window. As Zhou Qi lowered it, Xu Nianzhu clearly saw the man outside arch a brow and mouth a dramatic “Wow.”

With a cheerful glint in his eye, the man greeted her with an enthusiastic “Hi” before turning his attention to Zhou Qi. He smiled widely, the corner of his mouth tilting upward, carrying a hint of playful curiosity. “Senior, you…”

…Definitely something going on here, Xu Nianzhu silently completed the man’s unfinished sentence in her mind. Slightly uneasy, she shyly waved and smiled back in response.

“Should I step out of the car first? I feel like I’m interrupting your catch-up session.” She glanced at the young man, who was now dumbstruck and had failed to utter an actual word. Instead, he was rapidly and skillfully stroking Chaichai’s back, like he was trying to work through his emotions.

Before Xu Nianzhu could move, Zhou Qi pulled the child lock on the door.

“No need. I’m just handing Chaichai over to him and leaving.” He explained, “He’s my high school junior.”

“Hi, I’m Lin Yichen,” the man introduced himself, nodding toward Xu Nianzhu as he lifted Chaichai carefully into his arms as if cradling a child. His gaze darted between the two of them before he smiled and said, “I’ll just head upstairs now. Our little princess is waiting for Chaichai.”

It was hard to discern whether Lin Yichen was showing off-or simply showing off.

Xu Nianzhu let out a laugh, catching the highlight of Lin Yichen’s comment. “You’re married?”

“Yeah, earlier this year,” Lin Yichen replied, gesturing with his chin. “I even asked Senior Zhou to be my best man, but he almost ended up stealing my thunder.”

Zhou Qi coughed right on cue, pretending to be entirely absorbed in scrolling through his phone.

Xu Nianzhu chuckled quietly before offering a sincere blessing. “Congratulations on your marriage-even if I’m several months late!”

“Thanks!” Lin Yichen beamed.

“So, are you guys here on a trip then?” Xu Nianzhu asked.

“Something like that. My parents live here,” Lin Yichen said, glancing up at one of the lit windows above. His face practically glowed with happiness. “But it’s mostly to help my wife find some new inspiration.”

That barely concealed love-it was impossible to miss.

Xu Nianzhu couldn’t help but smile too, as if the sweetness had seeped into her as well.

Still, there was one thing that puzzled her. Turning to Zhou Qi, she asked, “Why aren’t you taking Chaichai home yourself?”

Zhou Qi hesitated.

After a moment of silence, he spoke in a soft voice. “I won’t be staying here tomorrow.”

Xu Nianzhu froze, her expression stiffening for a few seconds, as if a small piece of something had been broken off. “… Oh. I see.”

She forced a smile soon after, unscrewed the cap of her water bottle, and quickly finished off the half bottle that was left. Her arm, now holding the bottle cap, rested on her leg. Her heartbeat stuttered, and the cap slipped from her fingers, rolling down to her feet.

Xu Nianzhu intentionally dragged out her movements. She waited for the conversation at the window to end before leaning back against her seat and fastening her seatbelt.

She closed her eyes and stayed silent, pretending as though she had never asked the question at all.

The phone on the center console vibrated. Lin Yichen had sent a message. Zhou Qi responded briefly, then turned his head, catching a glimpse of Xu Nianzhu gripping the seatbelt strap tightly. The slight crease in her brow was hard to ignore.

It reminded him of earlier, during the drive, when he had unconsciously glanced her way a few times. Her brows had been knitted together the exact same way.

“What were you thinking about just now?”

Just as Xu Nianzhu thought they were finally ready to leave, his low, measured voice landed beside her ear.

The sudden shift in topic caught her off guard. Her mind, mid-reboot, faltered a little. “What was I thinking about? Chaichai?”

“No, not here,” Zhou Qi said, turning off the reading light. “I mean on the drive over.”

“I was thinking…”

Xu Nianzhu tilted her head slightly, a fleeting trace of sadness crossing her mind before it quickly passed. Restoring her usual composure, she reverted to a lighthearted and playful tone. “I was thinking about you, of course.”

Zhou Qi abruptly paused, one hand resting firmly on the steering wheel as he fixed his gaze ahead.

Seeing him remain so immovable and silent, Xu Nianzhu pursed her lips slightly, feeling inexplicably frustrated by his lack of response.

She spoke without thinking, effortlessly delivering cheesy pickup lines. She wondered if he might think she was a veteran in love games, merely out for a distraction after a recent breakup, and he just happened to be the one she stumbled upon. Xu Nianzhu laughed at the thoughts bubbling up from the depths of her own mind.

“Alright, little brother, I’m actually thinking about going to sleep,” she said, noticing his sulky mood and making her presence felt.

At this hour, she truly felt sleepy, yet she didn’t want to go back.

These words were spoken without much thought, but they carried weight to the listener.

Zhou Qi’s index finger tapped the steering wheel intermittently, the veins on the back of his hand slightly raised.

He turned his head to see the girl on the seat casually giving him a contagious yawn. After waiting for him to finish yawning, the instigator mischievously blinked her eyes and leisurely lay back in her seat.

Her unguarded actions effortlessly flipped a switch in his heart.

The calm night began to stir with emotion.

“Where do you plan to go tomorrow?” he asked.

“Me?” Xu Nianzhu adjusted her position and looked up into the night, her well-defined facial structure evident. “Not sure, probably to the Gugong Museum.” She turned to him, seizing the opportunity to ask, “What about you? You said you won’t be here tomorrow. Where are you going?”

Zhou Qi’s lips curved into a sly smile. “I’m thinking.”

Xu Nianzhu was puzzled. “Thinking?”

“Thinking about you.”

Xu Nianzhu blushed like a firecracker about to be lit, suddenly jumping up but was snapped back by the seatbelt, leaving her only to flail her fists in the air. “Zhou Qi! Can you stop mimicking how I talk? It’s the second time now!”

Zhou Qi could not help but chuckle.

He kindly pressed down the buckle for her, kindly retracted the strap, and kindly reached out to protect her head from hitting the car door frame as she was about to bump into it.

Both were dressed in light summer clothes, continuously sharing their warmth.

Xu Nianzhu found herself wrapped in his arms, her eyes fixated on the bobbing Adam’s apple, which resembled a bouncing glass ball. Curious, she extended her index finger to gently touch it, finally drawing two mischievous circles.

The ‘glass ball’ suddenly pulsed vigorously.

Xu Nianzhu giggled, quite pleased with her finger technique. Just as she was about to look up at his expression, she suddenly felt dizzy and plunged into a quiet darkness.

Zhou Qi lowered his head and kissed her.

The cool, damp lips touched, and the unfamiliar sensation made Xu Nianzhu instinctively shrink her neck back.

In the next moment, he pursued her, tilting his palm slightly upwards against the back of her head. Xu Nianzhu, in a daze, was forced to raise her head, her body pressed close to him, facilitating Zhou Qi’s exploration. He did not urgently pry her lips apart; instead, he took his time, gently sucking on her sweet lips, nibbling at her lip beads little by little.

He tasted it and, almost brushing against her lips, said, “It’s lychee rose flavor.”

Xu Nianzhu’s chest felt like it was about to burst, a strong and intense fragrance of gardenia enveloping her completely. Her mind went blank, as if she had forgotten all actions and was entirely dominated.

The barely-there touches were the most lethal, the tingling sensation sweeping through her made her body flood with warmth. Xu Nianzhu clutched the hem of her clothes, but her fingers grew weaker.

She felt like a stranded fish, trembling involuntarily, yet strangely experiencing an extreme comfort. She slightly parted her lips, secretly inhaling a breath of cool air.

Zhou Qi quickly noticed, pulling back just before she was about to suffocate. He chuckled, tousling her hair, pressing his forehead against hers, and quickly wrapped his arm around her waist before she would collapse.

With just inches between them, he saw her chest rising and falling rapidly and her still-closed eyes. He shifted a bit forward so that her chin rested on his shoulder.

“What’s wrong, is this not enough?” Zhou Qi smiled softly, using one hand to hook her waist as he searched for her thin jacket tucked in her bag.

Entwined together, Xu Nianzhu hung on Zhou Qi like a boneless fish. Hearing his words, her face flushed immediately, and she raised her hand to punch his shoulder, only to find she couldn’t push him away this time.

The jacket draped over her slipped away, and as Zhou Qi bent down to pick it up, she shook it off again; he went to pick it up once more…

After back and forth for at least ten times, Zhou Qi simply supported her knee with one hand while wrapping his other arm around her waist, lifting her off the ground with the jacket. The sudden sensation of weightlessness jolted Xu Nianzhu awake, her heart racing. As her body left the seat, she let out a soft “ah,” curling up instinctively.

The windows were tightly closed, yet the temperature inside the car climbed higher with the air conditioning running.

Zhou Qi gently placed her in the driver’s seat, arranged the sleeves of the jacket, tying a knot around her waist. He turned to grab a cushion and placed it behind her, securing her wrist before once again pushing her back against the car door.

Xu Nianzhu had no choice but to tilt her head back, her breath trembling.

Their eyes met, and looking at her helpless yet alluring gaze, Zhou Qi’s heart softened completely.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to restrain, releasing Xu Nianzhu’s hand. He lightly brushed her nose with his fingers and smiled, “Okay-”

Rustling sounds.

Before Zhou Qi could finish his sentence, Xu Nianzhu fiercely pushed him back into the seat. Taking advantage of her regained energy, she stood up swiftly and straddled him.

“No good.”

Since it had already started, she intended to prolong the ending.

Xu Nianzhu shook her head hoarsely, her gaze fixed on him, her mind suddenly filled with thoughts that could cause her heart to explode.

She reached out with her left hand to cover his eyes, her right index finger lifting his chin.

Without overthinking, she leaned in and kissed him directly.