Shine on Me

"Our section chief is really a good person."

I was starting to regret joking with him earlier.

After overtime, I went to Yin Jie and Yu Hua's dorm to mooch some instant noodles. Yu Hua seemed surprised by my visit. "Why didn't you go out to eat with President Lin today?"

I cheerfully told her, "President Lin was super busy today—didn't see him at all. In the evening, he got called to some district dinner, something about big shots visiting."

Yin Jie gave me a deadpan look. "You're this happy that your boyfriend can't spend time with you?"

"Spend time with me? More like enslave me—always making me work."

Yin Jie rolled her eyes skyward. "Just the other day, someone was telling me how beautiful the night view of Shantang Street is after snow and that we absolutely had to go."

"Yeah, so?"

"And that there's this amazing Northeastern restaurant by Jinji Lake."

"...Right."

"'All the movies lately are terrible, don't watch any'—emphasis on 'all'!"

I quietly shut my mouth.

Yin Jie smirked without warmth. "And tomorrow's Saturday—you're still going to Tiger Hill, right? With all this, you still have the nerve to say President Lin makes you work?"

I defended myself, "I do work overtime! I've just gotten more efficient. I don't even take lunch breaks now—just do accounts at noon. And I usually stay an extra hour in the evenings before we leave together."

"How hardworking of you," Yin Jie replied flatly. "But dating does seem exhausting. I keep getting emails from President Lin in the middle of the night."

I paused, chopsticks in hand. "Middle-of-the-night emails?"

"Yep," Yin Jie said. "Every morning when I check my inbox, there are always a few emails from President Lin. Sent around eleven or twelve at night. See? This is the price of dating—while I'm happily watching dramas or fast asleep!"

Eleven or twelve at night... Wasn't that after he walked me back to the dorm? I thought he went straight home, but he was actually working overtime?

"Was it like this before? Last year, I mean?" I asked Yin Jie.

"Of course not. Your boyfriend used to be super efficient—never dragged work past office hours."

"New relationships are always like this," Yu Hua concluded with the authority of someone who'd never dated, then asked curiously, "Xiguang, why did you say your section chief is a good person? Though he has always been nice."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, he's just... a good person." I answered distractedly, my thoughts already drifting elsewhere.

Lin Yusen's dinner engagement ran late today—he didn't call until almost eleven. I was already half-asleep in bed, but the moment my phone rang, I answered immediately. "You home yet?"

"Not yet, still in the car."

"Why so late?"

"A few higher-ups showed up—couldn't kill the mood. Might need favors from them someday. Makes me miss being a doctor," Lin Yusen sighed dramatically. "Just say you have surgery tomorrow and no one dares push drinks on you."

Nowadays, we could talk about his past as a doctor without any awkwardness. Hearing his exaggerated sigh, I even smiled, though I still sided with him. "Exactly! Those people love pressuring others to drink. Did you have a lot?"

"Not too bad. I pretended—they all think I can't hold my liquor." He sounded smug.

Curious, I asked, "So what's your actual limit?"

"Still haven't found the ceiling yet.""True~" I recalled past events, dragging out my words. "Our President Lin's tolerance level is hard to gauge, after all, he even passed his drinks to his companions at weddings."

"Don't bring up old grudges, Miss Nie," Lin Yusen laughed. "From now on, I'll drink for you at any other wedding banquet, alright? But there's one where I can't take your place."

...I wouldn't ask which one that was.

I said solemnly, "I think you're drunk. Have some water to sober up. I need to discuss some work matters with you."

"Now? Alright, I'll sober up. Go ahead."

Why did I feel he wasn't taking this seriously at all?

Never mind him. I earnestly relayed Section Chief Wu's request to him. "Anyway, it made me feel really guilty. So next time we go to the factory, maybe we shouldn't invite Section Chief Wu?"

"We won't be sending anyone to the factory recently. We'll make arrangements after the new factory is completed and the production lines are installed. Xiguang, as the company expands, we'll naturally need to train new key personnel. The recent arrangements weren't actually because of you, so there's no need for you to feel guilty."

"What?" I sat bolt upright in shock. "I've been feeling guilty for days! I thought it really was because of me, and even treated those innocent young colleagues to milk tea twice—you drank it too!"

"The milk tea was way too sweet. Did you ask them to add extra sugar?"

"No, that's just how sweet it normally is... Wait, Lin Yusen! I'm angry now!"

"Don't be, don't be," he laughed heartily on the other end. "I'm here."

"What?"

"Outside your building."

I threw on my down jacket and stormed downstairs, heading straight for the less-traveled path to the left of the dormitory building.

The company's business car was already parked by the roadside.

Snow had fallen a few days ago, and remnants still lined the road. Lin Yusen had already gotten out of the car, standing beside it in a dark gray overcoat, smiling as he waited for me to approach.

Strangely, half of my anger dissipated at the sight of him. I slowed my pace and walked over to stand before him, putting on a stern face. "What are you doing here so late?"

"There are many reasons why I had to come."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting to see how he'd explain.

"First, we've seen each other every day since the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. I was afraid if I skipped today, I wouldn't get the consecutive meeting reward."

I almost couldn't suppress my laughter. "What consecutive meeting reward? This isn't a game where you get gifts for logging in daily."

"There isn't one?" He looked at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.

I felt slightly dazzled. Seeing no one around, I beckoned him closer. He leaned down, and I stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear...

"None."

"How stingy," he chuckled, producing something he'd been hiding behind his back. "Second reason—I brought you a midnight snack."

I looked at the bag in his hand. "Midnight snack?"

"A small dessert I had at dinner today. Thought it suited your taste, so I had Xiao Li buy a portion from the hotel."

Xiao Li was the company driver who'd accompanied him today.

"But isn't eating midnight snacks bad, especially sweets? Aren't you a doctor? This seems very unprofessional."

"Luckily I was unprofessional this once, otherwise I wouldn't know how to appease my angry girlfriend."

Just desserts wouldn't be enough—there was still 20% anger left.

I took the bag. "And the third reason?"

"Third," Lin Yusen said leisurely, "I originally wanted to say that the sun will come out tomorrow and the snow will melt, so I wanted to invite you for a walk before it all disappears.""Originally?" I caught the key word. "Not anymore now?"

"Now I'm already satisfied."

It took me a moment to process this.

Lin Yusen said with a smile, "No need to walk anymore, I'm already satisfied, so we can go back. Hmm, let Xiao Li get off work early too."

Oh no... Not only was my anger completely gone, but my heart rate had also increased. It took me a while to calm my racing heart before I could praise him with restraint, "Then you're a pretty good boss."

"Thanks for the compliment. See you tomorrow then?"

"See you tomorrow."

Waving goodbye to him, I walked back swinging the paper bag. After a few steps, I suddenly remembered something and hurriedly ran back.

Lin Yusen had already gotten into the car.

"Wait a second," I called out to him. "Lin Yusen, I forgot to tell you—I've decided not to go to Tiger Hill tomorrow."

Before he could ask, I blurted out everything in one go, "Lately you've been accompanying me shopping and watching movies so much that I've taken up too much of your time. You haven't had time for your own things. Yin Jie said you often send her emails at midnight, and you must have preparations to make for your medical career too. So tomorrow you don't need to accompany me anymore. You can do your own things, and I can keep you company too, so you don't have to stay up late every day. That's it, bye, text me when you get home."

Not giving him time to react, I turned and ran as soon as I finished speaking.

As expected, my phone rang just as I opened the dormitory door.

I answered with a smile.

Lin Yusen's voice on the other end carried a hint of frustration, "I must have had too much to drink today—my reactions are slower. Really not going to Tiger Hill tomorrow?"

"Not going. Feels like we've turned into tourists in our relationship—Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Grove Garden, Suzhou Museum, Pingjiang Road, Shantang Street..." I was out of breath just listing them all. "I haven't even visited so many attractions in Wuxi."

"Same here—there are many places in Shanghai I haven't been to either."

So, how fortunate Suzhou is!

"Then we'll go to Tiger Hill another time," Lin Yusen said after some thought. "I do have quite a few things on hand—some company matters, plus I've been polishing a paper that was set aside before."

"Right, we can go when we have time later."

"But Xiguang, I need to correct one of your perceptions."

"What?" How did this turn into a perception issue?

"Going shopping, watching movies, and playing around with you is my need, not me accompanying you. My time naturally has a portion that belongs to you—it's not being taken up."

I held the phone, stunned for several seconds, then silently pressed my forehead against the cool mirror by the door to cool myself down.

"Also, I'm not staying up late—I used to only sleep four or five hours a night. But I'm very happy you care so much about me. So, come to my place tomorrow?"

"Okay, download some fun little games on your computer for me," I said, my voice softening noticeably.

"Let's not do that—you can work with me instead."

What?

I abruptly pulled away from the mirror. "Can't you work hard while I play games?"

"No, I'd be jealous."

...Being a considerate girlfriend is way too hard!