Chapter 20: Hu Xiu’s Sleepless Crush

 

Hu Xiu tossed and turned beneath the covers for what felt like an eternity before finally pushing the blanket aside. She slipped out of bed and moved toward the window, staring down at the small patch of ground below her building—the very place where he had left her.

Leaning close to the glass, she breathed onto the windowpane until a thin mist formed. With her fingertip, she slowly traced the crooked characters: Diao Zhiyu.

How could Qin Xiaoyi possibly have such a distinctive name?

There she was, awake in the middle of the night, indulging in a schoolgirl-like crush. After all, she was the very woman Qin Xiaoyi had personally escorted home on his bicycle.

Yet sleep refused to come.

Her nerves were unusually alert, as though she had drunk far too much coffee. Thoughts scattered across her mind like faint pencil strokes on blank paper.

It felt like sketching a portrait—first the outline, then the structure, then the precise placement of features. But the most difficult part was never the outline. It was the texture.

Texture could not be drawn with simple lines.

Where were the moles placed? What shaped those tear troughs beneath the eyes? How had time carved its marks onto a person’s body and presence? These were details formed through years of living—each carrying its own quiet meaning.

Just like the layered intimacy she had once seen in Li Ai’s love, Hu Xiu found herself secretly hoping Qin Xiaoyi would possess equally rich depths waiting to be discovered.

Up close, Qin Xiaoyi had fair skin and refined features—sharp cheekbones, clear eyes—but something about him felt different.

At the very least, Hu Xiu sensed a penetrating awareness about him—the kind that seemed to see directly through a girl’s heart, understanding everything while saying nothing.

He was far more complex than he appeared.

To commemorate this strangely magical night, Hu Xiu posted a sentimental social media update:

“Have you ever seen Shanghai at 5 AM?”

The photo showed the view from her sixth-floor window, carefully focused on the place where Qin Xiaoyi had said goodbye.

---

After barely two hours of shallow sleep, a notification appeared.

A comment from her senior colleague stood out immediately:

“Still reviewing conference materials this late? Giving you a thumbs-up!”

Even more terrifying were the messages from Zhao Xiaorou—three full screens of chat bubbles demanding updates.

Hu Xiu certainly didn’t dare reveal that she had already learned Qin Xiaoyi’s real name. If she did, Zhao Xiaorou would probably jump straight to planning their future—birth charts, postpartum centers, and kindergarten applications included.

Better to stay focused on work.

Besides, Zhao Xiaorou had mentioned meeting lawyers at dawn, which meant her own situation was still unresolved. Adult friendships required balance—supporting each other while respecting boundaries.

Right now, the upcoming conference mattered most.

In just two months at the hospital, Hu Xiu had already interpreted for several specialized events: oncology forums, rare disease volunteer conferences, and hospital cooperation signings. Each required heavy preparation, leaving her restless until they ended.

Her favorite way to decompress afterward was visiting Snowpiercer to see Qin Xiaoyi.

But this time, the materials for the upcoming conference—Stem Cell Research in Diabetes and Obesity Treatment—were as thick as academic textbooks.

Worse still, she had already used up her “post-conference Snowpiercer visit” in advance just to see him earlier.

Now she would have to endure an entire week without seeing Qin Xiaoyi.

Damn.

Why had she made such a rule for herself?

Her four-digit bank balance—after rent and credit card payments—made the answer obvious. Her entertainment spending revolved almost entirely around him.

She suddenly remembered Qin Xiaoyi riding beside her on his bicycle, reminding her to save money—and couldn’t help but laugh softly.

He had probably already seen through her.

She was broke.

---

As long as she wasn’t bombarded by her father’s relentless phone calls, her mood remained relatively good.

Ever since her last encounter with Qian Jinxin, her father’s interference had irritated her for days.

Qian Jinxin had apparently become enamored with the Shanghai girl from last time and described the Snowpiercer incident from his own angle—painting Hu Xiu as frivolous and attention-seeking.

Only seeing Qin Xiaoyi had eased that frustration.

As Zhao Xiaorou once described it, it was like someone escaping suffocation at home by stepping briefly outside for air.

People always needed an outlet.

For Hu Xiu, Qin Xiaoyi had quietly become that outlet—a gentle emotional painkiller for the pressures of family life.

---

At 8:20 a.m., her senior colleague arrived and quietly pulled her aside.

Private conversations were difficult inside the administrative building, so they walked to a nearby convenience store under the pretense of buying breakfast.

The hospital, being a public institution, required careful words and cautious behavior. Hu Xiu, who naturally spoke little, often found herself listening while her married colleague shared endless stories.

As they walked against the flow of patients, the colleague lowered her voice and revealed an insider update about the upcoming permanent staff positions.

Only two slots.

One had already been taken.

The remaining one was uncertain.

Hu Xiu immediately understood who the competition was—Chen Yang from the neighboring department.

The conversation continued while they selected breakfast, the atmosphere casual yet heavy with implication.

When her colleague asked, “What do you think?” Hu Xiu answered calmly:

“I’m actually fine with it. If I don't get the permanent position, I'll just switch to another company.”

Her colleague reacted strongly, emphasizing salary growth and interpretation fees.

Ten or twenty thousand per project.

Hu Xiu’s ambition quietly ignited.

She kept her composure.

But internally, she was already calculating.

Twenty rounds of Snowpiercer.

---

The workday passed, and by night she found herself arriving at Zhao Xiaorou’s apartment carrying thick stacks of conference materials.

The room felt noticeably emptier after Wang Guangming moved out—though clutter remained, the absence of a person changed everything.

Zhao Xiaorou handed her a document.

The tone shifted instantly.

Legal language.

Property disputes.

Defamation claims.

Their conversation unfolded seriously at first—until Hu Xiu finally mentioned:

“I found out Qin Xiaoyi's real name—it's Diao Zhiyu, with the character for 'childish'.”

Zhao Xiaorou froze.

Then immediately began searching.

The atmosphere changed again—this time into excitement.

Discovery.

Speculation.

Teasing.

Their dialogue flowed rapidly, blending curiosity, humor, and emotional tension.

Hu Xiu tried to remain calm, but Zhao Xiaorou’s imagination had already sprinted far ahead.

---

Later that night, as the conversation slowed, Hu Xiu leaned back quietly.

Her mind drifted again to Qin Xiaoyi.

The bicycle.

The quiet escort home.

The way he seemed to understand everything without saying much.

Outside the window, the city lights shimmered faintly.

Her life felt uncertain—career pressure, family conflict, financial stress—but somewhere within that chaos existed a small, glowing certainty.

A boy riding a bicycle at three in the morning.

And a name traced onto fogged glass.

Diao Zhiyu.