Chapter 832

On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was much more relaxed than when they had come.

The jeep drove slowly on the icy road, the tires crunching as they rolled over the accumulated snow.

Qin Ruixue looked at the streetscape flashing past the window and suddenly said: "Lu Lu Qiaoge, tell me, what is the point of being alive?"

Lu Qiao kept her eyes on the road ahead, driving steadily while saying slowly: "Look at Zhao Xiaojing, and you should know what people live for..."

Qin Ruixue was silent for a long time, then finally said in a low voice: "I understand."

Lu Qiao didn't say anything more.

It was the same old saying. So many people were teaching her; she really didn't need to intervene.

Besides, she wasn't actually good at preaching.

She was better at dealing with people.

And she quite liked dealing with people.

Because that gave her a greater sense of accomplishment!

When the car drove back to the compound, the sun had already tilted west, and the orange-red afterglow spilled onto the snow, reflecting a dazzling light. Lu Qiao returned the car keys to the motor pool and walked side-by-side with Qin Ruixue toward the family housing area.

Passing a small grove of trees, Lu Qiao suddenly stopped and looked into the distance.

Qin Ruixue followed her gaze and saw, deep in the woods, a figure in a dark gray down jacket standing under an old locust tree, looking in their direction.

The man wore gold-rimmed glasses and stood tall; although it was only his back, he exuded a unique scholarly air and a sense of cold detachment.

"Who is that?" Lu Qiao asked somewhat nonchalantly.

Qin Ruixue squinted, identifying him carefully, and for some reason, her face took on a complex expression: "It seems to be Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe, the youngest son of the Lou family."

"Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe?" Lu Qiao thought for a moment: "Is that the legendary chemical genius, the Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe who was invited to Beidu University to work on chemistry?"

During her time in Jiangcheng, she had spoken with Sang Juan on the phone once, and Sang Juan had told her about this.

She also said that the arrogant, haughty Xia Yinghe had once been introduced to Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe for a blind date, but Xia Yinghe had rejected him.

Even after being rejected, Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe hadn't been angry; the two still talked happily when they met at Beidu University, and Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe even invited Xia Yinghe to help out and learn in his laboratory.

Qin Ruixue withdrew her gaze and said in a low voice: "He and Hengzhi were once classmates and teammates, but... I don't know what the relationship between these two is like."

She then added quietly: "I'm not familiar with him either, so let's not greet him."

Lu Qiao glanced in Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe's direction, then walked toward the Qin residence with Qin Ruixue.

Lu Qiao naturally wouldn't tell Qin Ruixue... just a moment ago, that man's gaze had been fixed directly on her; that gaze wasn't unfamiliar—he had seen her before.

Yet, she had no impression of him.

Lu Qiao curled the corners of her mouth indifferently and quickly left Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe, standing under the old locust tree, behind her.

As for Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe in the distance, he still hadn't moved his gaze after Lu Qiao and Qin Ruixue had walked away.

He watched their backs disappear into the twilight, a flash of obscure light flickering in his eyes behind his lenses.

"Lu Qiao, oh Lu Qiao..." he murmured to himself in a low voice: "What a coincidence; it seems my luck is good today."

Lu Qiao and Qin Ruixue had returned home after eating at the state-run restaurant.

When they entered the house, Old Master Qin was still sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Seeing the two enter, he smiled and put the newspaper down, but began to observe them calmly.

He didn't look at Lu Qiao; Lu Lu Qiaoge was a child with stable emotions, and most of the time, you couldn't tell her joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness from her face.

He was looking at Qin Ruixue, his eldest granddaughter; he noticed that Qin Ruixue seemed to have undergone some changes.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly; sure enough, it was the old saying: "Birds follow the phoenix to fly far, people accompany the virtuous to gain high character." Although he didn't know what his eldest granddaughter had experienced, she had definitely been touched.

Grandma Qin asked with concern: "Have you two eaten?"

Lu Qiao took over: "We ate at the state-run restaurant; Eldest Sister treated us."

She then added with a smile: "I'm going upstairs first." Unexpectedly, the phone rang at that moment.

Old Master Qin didn't answer the phone himself but signaled to Lu Qiao: "You come answer the phone; it must be Hengzhi."

Lu Qiao and Qin Hengzhi lived upstairs, but there was no phone line in the bedroom; the phone was downstairs, and one was enough for the house, as Lu Qiao wasn't home often anyway.

At this time, it was indeed Qin Hengzhi calling.

She picked up the heavy black receiver, and Qin Hengzhi's clear, steady voice immediately came from the other end: "Lu Lu Qiaoge? Haven't rested yet?"

"I was just about to sleep." Lu Qiao pressed the receiver to her ear, the corners of her mouth lifting involuntarily: "It's already dark early over there, right?"

"Yes." Qin Hengzhi then asked: "Is it cold in Beidu today?"

"It's very warm." Lu Qiao asked as if in passing, "By the way, when Eldest Sister and I were coming home at dusk, we happened to see someone named Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe. Eldest Sister said you were classmates and teammates before?"

Qin Ruixue, sitting on the sofa, nodded when she heard Lu Qiao mention her.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and she seemed to hear the whistling wind.

The next moment, Qin Hengzhi's voice deepened, revealing a rare solemnity: "Comrade Comrade Lou Zhe... that man is quite learned, but his mind is too deep. He likes to do things unexpectedly, is very unconventional, and likes to call himself a gentleman; he is a very hard person to describe."

Lu Qiao nodded: "Okay, I understand."

Qin Hengzhi's tone softened, becoming lower and filled with doting: "Then I won't disturb you; rest early and lock the doors and windows."

"Mm, you take care too. Good night."

"Good night, Lu Lu Qiaoge."

Lu Qiao put down the phone and then walked lightly upstairs.

At this moment, Qin Ruixue felt a hint of envy.

So this is what mutual affection is like.

The next day, a light snow fell in Beidu, and the air was dry and bone-chillingly cold.

Lu Qiao prepared to go to the instant noodle branch factory to see how her classmates were working there.

The instant noodle branch factory was on the same route as the Fifth Textile Factory, so she could also ask Old Min about Factory Director Zhao of the Fifth Textile Factory.

Given the current situation, she felt Zhao Xiaojing should be able to be recognized and taken back.

Just after finishing breakfast, a call came into the Qin house.

It was Old Master Qin who answered the phone again; he felt like he was a switchboard operator now.

After chatting with the other party for a few sentences, he called out to Lu Qiao: "Lu Lu Qiaoge, it's a call from Bureau Chief Bai."

Lu Qiao had originally planned to report to the Foreign Trade Bureau tomorrow, as today was Sunday. That was why she had chosen to go to the instant noodle branch factory.

But Bureau Chief Bai calling her now... could it be that Feng Dong had some business? She heard he hadn't left Beidu yet.

"Lu Lu Qiaoge, Feng Dong's secretary just called the bureau; she invites you to go to the Friendship Hotel at noon. By the way, Feng Zihan will be there too."

Lu Qiao nodded: "I understand, Bureau Chief Bai, please rest assured. I will definitely be there at noon."