Chapter 10: Qu Xiaoxiao's Apology

Before long, the landlady brought over the skewers.

"Wow, it smells so good!" Qiu Yingying immediately picked up a lamb skewer and took a bite. The oil sizzled, and her eyes narrowed in delight.

Guan Ju'er and Fan Shengmei didn't stand on ceremony either and dug right in.

Only Andy remained motionless.

Seeing her eyes fixed on the grease at the end of the skewer, Qin Hao couldn't help but roll his eyes. He pulled a napkin from the table, wrapped it around the skewer, and handed it to Andy.

"A little dirt never hurt anyone. You, you're just too uptight. Look at the people around us. There might be millionaires among them, yet they’re still eating at a street stall just like this. This is what you call the flavor of life."

Andy subconsciously looked around and found that everyone was deeply immersed in their meals. Among them were white-collar workers meeting friends after work, migrant workers grabbing a bite after their shifts, and wealthy people in high-end suits. It was a scene of everyday life. Strangely, she didn't find it noisy; instead, she felt a strange sense of envy.

"Hmm, you're right. Only good food should never be let down."

Andy took the lamb skewer. The taste was unexpectedly good. Perhaps it wasn't that the skewer itself was so amazing, but that it was a rare moment where she could enjoy this ordinary, warm time with friends.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group headed home.

Qin Hao didn't press the button for the 21st floor but followed them up to the 22nd. As it happened, he saw Qu Xiaoxiao standing in the middle of the 22nd floor, holding a fruit basket.

Qu Xiaoxiao sniffled and said pitifully, "You guys went to eat barbecue and left me all alone. I’ve been waiting for you all night."

Fan Shengmei didn't like this high-and-mighty young lady, so she pretended not to hear and turned her head away.

Qiu Yingying said bluntly, "Hmph, who told you not to be here this afternoon? Besides, you spoke ill of Andy-jie last time. How could we have an appetite with you here?"

Qu Xiaoxiao pretended to sob and said aggrievedly, "Didn't I come to apologize to Andy? I even specially bought the freshest fruit basket to make amends. Andy, I'm sorry, it's my fault. I had a friend look into it, and it turns out you're the big shot Tan Zongming invited from Wall Street. I shouldn't have said those things about you."

As she spoke, she tried to lean in toward Andy, but Andy subconsciously dodged.

"Alright, I forgive you. Forget about the gift; I don't really eat much fruit anyway."

Qu Xiaoxiao was naturally unwilling to be dismissed so easily. The main reason she was apologizing so humbly was that she had learned from Yao Bin that Andy was a high-level expert hired by Tan Zongming with an annual salary of one million, and she wanted Andy to help her solve the feasibility report for the GI project.

"Wuwuwu~~~ Andy, if you say that, it means you still haven't forgiven me. You all hate me." Having grown up in a complicated family environment, Qu Xiaoxiao's acting skills were impeccable.

Seeing this, Qiu Yingying looked at Andy: "Andy-jie, why don't you just forgive Qu Xiaoxiao? She’s already admitted her mistake."

Andy was between laughter and tears: "I really have forgiven you. What do you want me to do to make you believe me?"

Qin Hao watched Qu Xiaoxiao's performance with interest. Sure enough, Qu Xiaoxiao's tears stopped magically, and she proceeded to explain her situation.

Upon hearing this, Andy had to tell her: "But I just returned from abroad, and I'm currently studying domestic tax law. The more basic things are, the less clear I might be about them."

"Ah? Then what should I do?" Qu Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded.

Guan Ju'er suggested: "Andy-jie, why don't we go help her take a look? We can help as much as we can."

"Alright then, where are the documents?" Andy asked.

Qu Xiaoxiao hurriedly invited them: "At my place, you all come over. I've prepared lots of snacks at home."

Qin Hao had originally intended to go back to sleep, but he was dragged into 2203 by Qiu Yingying. In the words of this silly girl: "More people mean more strength."

As soon as they entered, Andy sat down to look at the materials. Guan Ju'er also picked up one of the documents and started reading, muttering to herself—a habit she had when translating.

Qiu Yingying looked at Guan Ju'er with some envy: "Guan Guan, you're so amazing. You can understand documents that are entirely in English."

Guan Ju'er pushed up her glasses: "Andy-jie is the amazing one. She reads documents much faster than I do."

Andy smiled slightly: "You don't need to compare yourself to me. I'm faster than the average person when it comes to reading these files."

Guan Ju'er nodded, but then she noticed that Qin Hao was also rapidly flipping through a document, even faster than Andy.

"Is he just flipping through it for fun?" Guan Ju'er thought to herself.

Qu Xiaoxiao also felt that Qin Hao was just brushing her off, though she hadn't placed any hope in him to begin with.

Andy, however, asked curiously: "How do you do that?"

Qiu Yingying demonstrated directly, holding a document and flipping through it quickly: "Andy-jie, my brother dropped out of school after high school. His English isn't even as good as mine..."

Qu Xiaoxiao had an "I knew it" expression.

However, Qin Hao suddenly spoke a long string of English. Both Guan Ju'er and Andy looked at Qin Hao in surprise.

Qu Xiaoxiao was also stunned. Although her English wasn't great, she had lived abroad for many years, so her listening and speaking skills were decent. Naturally, she could tell that Qin Hao's pronunciation was extremely standard.

Fan Shengmei snatched the document from Qiu Yingying's hand and took a look. It was indeed the technical parameter document for the GI project.

"Brother, how did you do that..." Before Qiu Yingying could finish her sentence, she received a flick to the forehead.

Qin Hao gave her a sideways glance and shrugged in response to the puzzled looks from Andy and the others.

"You have to thank our domestic basic education for that. Actually, as long as you graduate from high school, you can completely acquire university-level knowledge through self-study."

Andy didn't know the situation in China, but Guan Ju'er and Fan Shengmei understood it deeply. In university, learning things basically depended on self-discipline. However, this was the first time they had seen someone like Qin Hao, who could master fluent English while working and studying on his own.

Qu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but look at him with newfound respect, and her attitude became much more eager.

After Andy closed the materials, she said to Qu Xiaoxiao: "These materials are all very clear. The technical parameters and some of the GI company's requirements—what is it that you don't understand?"

Qu Xiaoxiao fidgeted and said: "Although I stayed abroad for many years, I just spent my time playing around, and I only hung out with the group of people from China. My English is just enough to flirt with muscular guys, but when it comes to reading documents..."

Andy was speechless: "But sooner or later, you will have to face foreign businessmen alone. We can't possibly follow you forever. Now you have two choices: either give up directly, or go online, translate these documents, and master them."

Fan Shengmei agreed wholeheartedly: "That's right, to forge iron, one must be strong oneself."

Qin Hao and his group left under Qu Xiaoxiao's desperate gaze.

As they went downstairs, Qin Hao specifically reminded them: "Ten o'clock tomorrow, don't forget. Get some rest early."

"Goodnight, brother."

"Goodnight, Brother Qiu."

The next day, Qin Hao went for his morning run and unexpectedly didn't see Andy.

Around 9:15, he arrived at the 22nd floor and happened to see Andy coming out to take out the trash, looking exhausted.

"What's wrong? You look like you didn't sleep well."

Andy covered her mouth and yawned: "Qu Xiaoxiao came to knock on my door last night looking all pitiful, saying that if this deal falls through, she and her mother will be kicked out. I had no choice but to help her."

"Only you would believe such nonsense," Qin Hao remarked.

Andy shrugged: "What if it's true? Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda."

"Then you should go back and rest. You stayed up all night. There will be plenty of opportunities to come to my place later."

"No need. I slept for a few hours. I'll just take a nap after I get back from your place."

As they were talking, the door to 2202 opened. The group found a breakfast shop outside the residential complex, ate something casual, and then drove to Qin Hao's company.

Meanwhile, Qu Xiaoxiao was taking the GI project feasibility plan to her father to claim credit.