A quarter of an hour later.

Xu Ye finally got Chen Qingqing as far as her front door.

Chen Qingqing was about to get out when Xu Ye caught her wrist. "Wait a second. Don't be in such a hurry."

"What?"

"Your lipstick's smudged. Let me wipe it off, or your mom will see."

As he spoke, Xu Ye reached over and wiped away the lipstick mark at the corner of her mouth.

Chen Qingqing made a small complaining noise and threw him a dirty look, but before she got out of the car she still reminded him, "It's dark. Drive slowly."

"Mm. Go to bed early. I'm going to bed early tonight too."

"Why?"

"I had a dream last night. You were halfway out of your clothes and then I woke up. If I go to sleep early tonight I might manage the same dream again."

Chen Qingqing heard that, immediately raised both small fists and pounded them on Xu Ye's arm a good dozen times, and only then shoved the car door open and walked into the house without looking back.

Xu Ye watched her as far as the living room, then turned the car around and went straight home.

"Dad? What are you… doing here?"

Chen Qingqing had been about to say why haven't you gone yet, but realizing that would give her away she changed it hurriedly.

Chen Hansong looked his daughter up and down and got to his feet. "Where did that boy take you to eat? Why are you back this late?"

"Just talking with a few friends. We got talking and it got late."

"Friends?"

Chen Hansong had rarely heard the word friends from his daughter's mouth before.

Chen Qingqing explained quickly, "It's the boss Xu Ye met when he did a summer job before. The two of them run a factory together now."

"Come home earlier in the evenings from now on."

Chen Qingqing had been perfectly happy, and hearing that she was instantly unhappy. Her small face set hard, back to the cold state it had been in before, and she…