Chapter 41: Good Looks Sealed by Glasses (Please vote for monthly tickets!!!)

After dropping Ying Qin off at the subway station, Qin Hao returned to the Huandongsong community and found Andy out for a night run, so he gave her a greeting.

Andy stopped in her tracks, looking at Qin Hao's hesitant expression.

Curious, Qin Hao asked, "What's wrong?"

"Are you... dating Guan Guan?" Andy asked.

Qin Hao looked at her in surprise. "How did you know?"

Andy shrugged, a playful smile curling at the corners of her mouth. "That day, someone and someone else shared a very passionate kiss right in front of door 2202."

Qin Hao slapped his forehead, only then remembering that Andy had installed surveillance cameras outside her door.

"Alright, since you saw it, just keep it a secret for us. Guan Guan is quite shy; she doesn't want the whole world to know."

Andy shrugged. "No problem. Should I tell Guan Guan that I already know?"

"Better not. Otherwise, she won't feel as natural around you in the future."

Andy thought that made sense. Just as she was about to continue her run, she suddenly thought of something and paused.

Seeing this, Qin Hao asked curiously, "What is it? Is there something else?"

After hesitating for a long while, Andy finally spoke. "That netizen, Singularity—the Mr. Wei you met last time—he invited me to dinner again. I don't know if I should go."

Hearing this, Qin Hao frowned slightly. Wei Wei was too selfish and possessed a strange sense of superiority. As Tan Zongming had said, Wei Wei had survived the financial crisis by betraying his partners. From a business perspective, that wasn't necessarily a flaw, but from a human perspective, such a person had no bottom line and was not a good man.

"I don't think it's necessary. That Mr. Wei clearly isn't just looking to have dinner with you. Of course, if you have feelings for him, then forget I said anything."

Andy shook her head immediately upon hearing this. "I just see him as a good friend I can confide in. After all, we've known each other on the forums for so many years, and I don't have many friends I can truly talk to."

"That was in the past. You're different now. Don't you have us? If you're really bored, just hang out with us more. It's better to keep your distance from those middle-aged creeps," Qin Hao said with a wink and a smile.

Andy smiled too. It was true; she used to have no friends, so she felt that having a netizen like Singularity to talk to was precious. But now she had friends. Perhaps she and Wei Wei should remain at the distance of mere online acquaintances.

Back at home, Qiu Yingying was still tirelessly playing her motion-sensing game, while Guan Ju'er was asleep on the bay window, still holding the book Qin Hao had just been reading.

Qin Hao chuckled to himself and took a blanket to cover her.

Looking at Guan Ju'er's peaceful sleeping posture, Qin Hao instinctively took off her glasses.

At that moment, sunlight filtered through the blue curtains onto Guan Ju'er's fair cheeks, casting a faint violet glow.

For Guan Ju'er's looks, her glasses were like a seal. With them on, her beauty was only around a 70; without them, it was at least an 85 or higher.

Perhaps Qin Hao's movement disturbed her; she opened her eyes but saw only a blurry figure, causing her to look startled.

Just then, Qin Hao's gentle voice sounded in her ear: "I just took off your glasses. Don't be afraid. I was just worried you might crush them while sleeping."

Guan Ju'er finally felt at ease. Seeing Qin Hao staring at her, her cheeks flushed crimson, and she quickly turned her body away to hide her face.

"What's there to look at? It's not like you haven't seen me before."

Qin Hao smiled. "This is actually the first time I've seen you like this. I didn't realize my girlfriend was so beautiful."

Guan Ju'er was overjoyed, though she retorted, "Men's words are nothing but lies."

"I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, I'll get a mirror so you can see for yourself how much prettier you look without your glasses," Qin Hao said sincerely.

Guan Ju'er pouted. "But I can't see clearly without them, and contact lenses are uncomfortable."

"You, you just worked too hard in school and strained your eyes. How about this: tomorrow is Sunday and you don't have to work. I'll take you to an ophthalmologist to see if laser correction is an option," Qin Hao suggested after thinking it over.

Guan Ju'er was tempted and asked tentatively, "Is it really that beautiful?"

"Yes, truly very beautiful." Qin Hao knew she lacked confidence. After being an "ugly duckling" for so many years, even if she had become a swan, it would be hard for her to learn to fly all at once.

Guan Ju'er finally nodded. "Alright then."

Seeing her about to get up, Qin Hao stopped her. He took off his own shoes, sat on the bay window, and said softly to her

"If you want to sleep, sleep for a while. I'll be your human pillow."

Guan Ju'er had been in a daze from sleep and let out a yawn, but she still looked toward the door with concern.

"Don't worry, I've locked the door. Yingying can't get in," Qin Hao reassured her.

"Okay then, just a little longer. Um, half an hour." As if convincing herself, Guan Ju'er leaned against Qin Hao's shoulder in a daze and soon fell fast asleep. The frequent overtime at the company had truly exhausted her.

Qin Hao also closed his eyes, enjoying this rare afternoon moment.

After an unknown amount of time, a knock came from the door. Guan Ju'er was startled awake. Looking out the window through the haze, she realized the sun was already setting.

"Oh no, we overslept!" Guan Ju'er hurriedly searched for her glasses.

Qin Hao could only lament Qiu Yingying being such a third wheel. It seemed he would have to tell that kid Ying Qin to speed things up so he wouldn't be an eyesore in front of them.

"It's no big deal even if Yingying finds out, why are you panicking?" Qin Hao looked at Guan Ju'er's frantic state with amusement.

Guan Ju'er pouted. "We can't let that big mouth Qiu Yingying know, otherwise the whole 22nd floor will know."

In Guan Ju'er's impression, first loves were very fragile; often, the more grand and passionate they were, the more likely they were to perish prematurely. She hoped to develop things slowly with Qin Hao without too much interference, carefully savoring the taste of love.

"Guan Guan, Brother, what are you guys doing in there? Why is the door locked?" Qiu Yingying asked curiously.

Guan Ju'er's face instantly turned red. The way it sounded made it seem as if she and Qin Hao had done something scandalous.

Qin Hao didn't explain; instead, he did the opposite and complained, "It's because of you shouting while playing games. We can't get any peace reading books in here, so we had to close the door to block out the noise."

"Ah, so that's it. Sorry, Guan Guan, you could have just reminded me," Qiu Yingying said sheepishly.

Guan Ju'er regained her composure. "It's fine, Yingying. Once the door is closed, we can't hear it anyway."

"Then I won't make noise when I play games in the future."

"Don't lie. Every time you play, you're shouting. Anyone else would think you're playing a voice-controlled game."

"Hey! Brother~~~"

(End of Chapter)