Shine on Me

After enjoying several days of bone broth at home as I wished, I returned to the company with a noticeably rounder figure. Yin Jie and Yu Hua each grabbed one of my arms, pinching the extra flesh.

"You've gained weight—definitely five pounds."

"...You're just jealous."

Yin Jie exclaimed in frustration, "Of course I'm jealous! You've been eating and drinking like royalty while my workload doubled! Seriously!"

I shrugged. "See? Now you know how much I usually cover for you. Realize how important I am now?"

Yin Jie whimpered, "Got it, boss. I’ll never forget my keys again. Do you know I’ve become infamous in the whole company for it now? Last Friday, when I delivered documents to Vice President Lin, before I left, he actually reminded me with a straight face, 'Don’t forget your keys again in the future.' Just kill me now."

"Hahaha, you still have the nerve to complain. Xiao Nie suffered the most from your carelessness," Wang Qi chimed in teasingly before turning to me. "Xiao Nie, are you all better now? Our department originally planned to visit you together, but Mr. Lin said your condition required quiet rest and a group visit wouldn’t be appropriate. Hope you don’t mind we didn’t come."

"Ah, no, not at all."

Lin Yusen... Hearing his name mentioned, my mind wandered. I wondered how things would be now that I was back at the company...

Soon enough, I saw Lin Yusen at the Monday morning meeting.

The meeting was brief, as per his usual style—just a few words to outline the work, sometimes wrapping up in under five minutes. But before concluding this time, he suddenly said, "Lately, I’ve heard people say our department has bad feng shui."

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. Yin Jie muttered under her breath, "I haven’t heard anything about that. Who’s spreading nonsense that even reached Vice President Lin’s ears? They’re in for trouble!"

Others also looked indignant.

However, Lin Yusen clearly had no intention of investigating further. He shifted gears and said, "But last month, I was in a car accident, and this month, a colleague, well... jumped off a building. It’s understandable people might have thoughts."

Jumped off a building... I had just taken a sip of water and nearly choked.

"So, I’ve decided our department should go out for a meal this week to change our luck."

A meal to change luck? I stiffened, barely containing my shock, when he continued, "Of course, this meal won’t be covered by company expenses. It’ll be split between me and Nie Xiguang."

...

Shock—everyone’s eyes turned to me.

Shock—my eyes locked onto Lin Yusen.

I meekly asked, "Why do I have to split it?"

Other departments always have their bosses footing the bill!

Lin Yusen maintained a strictly professional tone. "Isn’t it because of our consecutive misfortunes that rumors started?"

...Seriously? And could you not phrase it like we’re some kind of scandalous pair?

Finally, I could only ask, "Is it expensive?"

Lin Yusen smiled faintly at me.

I spent the rest of the day under my colleagues’ curious gazes...

Yin Jie fretted, "Oh no, what if Vice President Lin picks an expensive place? Based on my astrological observations, you’re definitely living paycheck to paycheck. Want me to lend you some money?"

I truly felt this was an undeserved misfortune. Treating everyone was fine, but treating to change luck... that was a bit beyond my comprehension.

"Then why don’t you consult the stars for me? What would happen if I ‘forgot’ my wallet and let Vice President Lin pay for everything?"Yin Jie looked at me with disdain: "No need to consult the stars for this. With just a quick calculation, I can predict you'll be working overtime the next day—hard."

"Don't worry about it. Given Vice President Lin's grace and character, he was just saying it. He wouldn’t actually make you pay. PS, even if he did, it wouldn’t be expensive."

So I obediently tucked my wallet into my pocket, waiting for Vice President Lin’s summons. As it turned out, Yin Jie had severely overestimated Lin Yusen’s character…

Expensive or not, everyone was pleasantly surprised to enjoy such a lavish meal, and I wasn’t really upset about the money—just teasing Yin Jie a bit. The problem was…

After everyone happily finished eating, Lin Yusen got up to pay the bill. Yin Jie tugged at my sleeve, her eyes saying: See? I told you so. Vice President Lin is paying separately, isn’t he?

I gave her a thumbs-up in praise.

Then I received a text from Lin Yusen: Come to the front desk.

Confused, I got up and went over. The others probably thought I was heading to the restroom and didn’t pay much attention. When I reached the front desk, Vice President Lin was leaning slightly against the counter, smiling faintly, not the least bit embarrassed as he said to me, "Nie Xiguang, I forgot to bring money."

"…"

The feeling of a thousand mythical beasts stampeding through my heart—you wouldn’t understand.

As I silently took out my card to pay, Lin Yusen stood beside me, watching. I couldn’t shake the feeling that his eyes were especially bright at that moment, as if he was quite pleased to have tricked me.

Hmm… must be my imagination, right? Our vice president couldn’t possibly be this shameless.

I quietly put my card away and gave him a disdainful look, but deep down, I wasn’t angry at all. After all the meals he’d treated me to, it was only fair to return the favor.

"I just remembered, I still owe you for the hospital deposit last time."

"…"

I waved my bank card. "We’re even now?"

He smiled. "Yes, we’re even."

On the way back, most people took taxis, but thanks to Yin Jie’s shamelessness, I was promptly dragged into Lin Yusen’s car… not that I resisted much…

Two other colleagues were in the car with us.

The male colleague in the passenger seat kept thanking Lin Yusen. "I really didn’t expect the vice president to treat us to such a luxurious meal!"

"No need to be so polite."

Lin Yusen’s tone was utterly unruffled.

"That must have been really expensive, right?"

"Hmm, not too bad."

……

I could only silently bury my face in Yin Jie’s shoulder.

Yin Jie jolted in surprise and shook me. "Xiguang, what’s wrong? Carsick?"

"No… just overstuffed."

Yin Jie: "…"

I distinctly heard a soft chuckle from the front.

We soon arrived at the company, got out of the car, and waved goodbye to Lin Yusen. After walking a short distance, I turned back.

A sudden unease crept over me.

How could all of this feel so unreal?

Just a while ago, we were practically enemies. Could we really have become friends so quickly? Teasing and joking with each other…

Could things change this fast?

"Wait for me," I said to Yin Jie before sprinting back.

Lin Yusen’s car hadn’t left yet. Seeing me run back, he stepped out.

"Did you forget something in the car?"

"No." I shook my head, catching my breath as I stood before him. I looked up at him seriously and asked, "Lin Yusen, we’ve really made peace completely, haven’t we?"

He met my gaze, his tone resolute. "Yes."Suddenly, I felt in a really good mood and then remembered to ask him, "So why did you dislike me before?"

In the early winter night, the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow.

The surroundings were incredibly quiet.

I thought I wouldn't get an answer from him, but then I heard his soft, deep voice.

"Because you were carefree."

"...What?" I almost doubted my ears.

"Because you were carefree," he said, pausing before adding, "And forgetful."

What on earth...

I wanted to press further, but he didn’t give me the chance. "Alright, you should head back now. They're all watching us."

I turned around and sure enough, Yin Jie and the others were staring at us intently...

With no choice, I awkwardly bid him goodbye.

On the way back, I racked my brains and finally understood what Lin Yusen meant—carefree and forgetful, which was basically saying I was a bit of an airhead.

Yin Jie eagerly asked, "What were you and Vice President Lin talking about just now?"

"I asked him why he used to dislike me."

Curious, she pressed, "Did he say?"

"Yeah," I nodded and gloomily translated for her, "He said I was too much of an airhead."