QTIMP -Chapter 189 Character Persona – Overachiever (Part 21)

Song Huaiyi looked into his eyes and unconsciously followed whatever he said. Naturally, after putting things in place, the two of them continued arranging the other items they had brought.

“Where should this skincare go?” Tang Che asked with some confusion.

Song Huaiyi glanced at it. “Put it in the bathroom. Miss will need it after her shower at night.”

Assistant Li recorded a short video and sent it to his boss.

In the video, Tang Chaoyun saw his son happily setting up the house together with the young housekeeper Si Qiu had just hired.

The boy ran around the room, laughter and chatter filling the air—completely different from the obedient and timid child he had seen back at the old residence.

An inexplicable mix of jealousy and joy surged in his heart. He quickly realized the source of his emotions and felt even more satisfied with the decision he had made earlier.

He replied that he would be coming home for dinner and immediately started arranging his work.

After receiving the message, Assistant Li’s eyes flickered. He forwarded the video to Xu Tingting, Si Qiu’s assistant.

Soon, he also received a reply saying she would come home for dinner. Smiling, he relayed the decisions of both presidents to Song Huaiyi.

Seeing Song Huaiyi’s mood dip slightly, Assistant Li felt happy for his own boss. Then he called the household assistant and asked for ingredients to be delivered.

Song Huaiyi’s disappointment lasted only a moment before he quickly instructed the servants to tidy up and told the chef to prepare dinner.

It had to be said that Song Huaiyi, with his thick stack of certificates, truly had excellent professional skills—enough to make Assistant Li look at him in a new light.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but worry for his boss. This was a very strong rival. If his boss liked someone else, he wouldn’t feel this way.

The key problem was that in front of President Si, his boss didn’t even have an advantage in financial strength.

That evening, the two of them drove back separately. One after the other, they got out of their cars in the underground parking lot. They looked neither like a married couple nor like friends, but rather like familiar strangers.

They nodded to each other in greeting. Tang Chaoyun looked at her light blue dress and the blue-and-white handbag in her hand.

In the spacious and brightly lit parking lot, her white sandals clicked crisply against the floor.

“When will the company relocate?” he asked, trying to keep his tone gentle.

At the mention of this, Si Qiu brightened. “We’ll start preparing in the next couple of days. I’d like to move as soon as possible.”

Hearing the light, cheerful tone in her voice, Tang Chaoyun’s gaze lingered on her unconsciously. Si Qiu was a woman with a gentle and refined appearance.

Of course, she had always been gentle and quiet before. He had thought she would remain that way forever. But ever since the miscarriage, she had completely changed.

It caught him off guard. The feeling of losing control grew stronger over time. When he learned that he was infertile, he had felt a brief panic.

Now, it had turned into regret and a desire to make amends. Despite all the changes he had made, his heart still felt empty, as if something was slipping through his grasp.

“Mm. If you need any help, just tell me directly.”

Si Qiu smiled at her benefactor. “Alright, thank you.”

The elevator reached their floor and opened. Unlike the scent inside the elevator and the underground garage, a faint and elegant fragrance drifted through the shared corridor.

Because it was a one-unit-per-floor layout, their apartment door was left open, and the living room could be clearly seen from the entrance.

A child’s soft, tender voice rang out, “Uncle Song, does Mom like sweet-and-sour food?”

“Yes, Miss likes sweet-and-sour dishes. She also likes spicy food, but not anything too extreme in flavor.”

“Then I’m the same as Mom—I like those too!” The child seemed delighted to have found something in common with his mother, clapping his hands happily.

However, the moment Si Qiu and Tang Chaoyun walked in, the child suddenly stopped, his whole demeanor turning stiff and reserved.

From the earlier conversation, Si Qiu could already tell that the child wasn’t as resistant to her as he had previously appeared. In fact, he was quite a calculating little one.

“Che’er, are you hungry? I could hear you talking about food from outside.”

She stepped in, about to place her bag on the cabinet across from Tang Chaoyun.

Tang Chaoyun casually took it from her and set it down. Seeing his son’s reserved behavior, he smiled and said, “What’s this? Don’t you recognize your own parents anymore? Your mom is asking you something—answer her.”

For some reason, as he said those words—child, father, mother, a family of three—a feeling called happiness quietly welled up in his heart.

Tang Che took two small steps forward. “Mom, you’re back. Was work very tiring?”

Si Qiu changed into her indoor shoes as she walked in. “It’s fine. Work being a bit tiring is normal. But I heard from Uncle Song that you helped arrange the house all day today—aren’t you exhausted?”

Then she added, “Uncle Song, please arrange dinner quickly. Don’t let our little young master go hungry.”

Unable to resist, she pinched his cheek lightly before heading toward the master bedroom. It wasn’t hard to find—Assistant Li had previously filmed a full panoramic video of the apartment.

Si Qiu didn’t rush to shower. She washed her hands and changed into comfortable homewear. Just as she finished, the bedroom door was pushed open.

Tang Chaoyun walked in, apologetic. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were changing.”

Si Qiu glanced back at him. “You don’t have to be that reserved.”

Tang Chaoyun rubbed his nose, unwilling to be outdone. “If you don’t want a married life with me, yet act so unconcerned, doesn’t that make you a bit contradictory?”

Si Qiu shot him a glare and turned to leave immediately.

For the first time, Tang Chaoyun had gained the upper hand in a verbal exchange. He was in an especially good mood, even humming a tune while changing clothes.

Song Huaiyi had only set up a small round table instead of having the family sit at the large dining table in the dining room.

The dishes were well arranged—most were Si Qiu’s favorites, with two clearly prepared for the child. As for what Tang Chaoyun liked, no one seemed to care.

Both adults were seasoned in business, sharp in both IQ and emotional intelligence. Intentionally trying to bond with the child—and with Tang Che also wanting closeness—a harmonious dinner naturally followed.

After dinner, the servants cleaned up while the family of three moved to the living room, all intending to spend some time interacting with the child.

But once they all sat on the sofa, an awkward unfamiliarity filled the air.

Tang Che was nervous.

Si Qiu didn’t know how to interact with him.

Tang Chaoyun felt a faint guilt toward both of them.

In the end, Si Qiu sighed softly. She reached out and took Tang Che’s small hand.

“If Mom holds your hand like this, does it make you uncomfortable?”

When his hand was first taken, Tang Che stiffened for a moment. Then he gradually relaxed, as if getting used to it—but his palm quickly became damp with nervous sweat.

He hadn’t even heard her question clearly. Only after she patiently repeated it did he gather the courage to meet her eyes and softly reply—

“No.”