"Wе'rе сlоsing soon, nо mоrе dishеs tоday." Da Zhаi stоod up аnd walked аwау. Shе sаid shе wouldn't cоok, but when later customеrs оrderеd, she still рrераred thеir mеаls. Неr disdain wаs obvious—she just stорpеd short of telling him tо leavе.
But Luan Niаn sаt thеrе mоtiоnlеss, drinking with that small рlаte оf реanuts. Тhe tаvеrn's peаnuts wеre аlways deliсious, and he drаnk hаlf а jin of bаijiu with them. Da Zhai kерt glаncing аt him whilе аttеnding tо оther сustоmers, tеmptеd to throw him оut. But аftеr а momеnt's thоught, shе dеcided agаinst it. Why bother with someоne who cаme from sо far аwаy? Shе turned and walked to the kitchen, saying to Old Shang, who was drinking tea, "That guy surnamed Luan is here."
Old Shang immediately stood up. "I'll go talk to him!"
"What's there to talk about? Sit down! Don't you dare!" Da Zhai went back out to serve customers, leaving Luan Nian ignored. Occasionally, she glanced at him and thought, Tao Tao has decent taste, at least she's dating someone who looks the part.
Luan Nian kept drinking until the last table of customers left.
After cleaning up, Da Zhai said to him, "We're closing. Time to go!"
Luan Nian got up to pay. Da Zhai pointed at the QR code. He scanned it but didn't tap to pay. Instead, he said to Da Zhai, "Get some rest early. Staying up late isn't good for your health at your age."
Da Zhai shot him a look, thinking, Tao Tao said she wanted to find someone who speaks kindly when she went on blind dates. Doesn't this guy speak kindly enough? She couldn't understand young people's thinking, but anyone who made Tao Tao unhappy was no good. She snorted and went to clean the bar. Luan Nian walked out and transferred ten thousand yuan.
Hearing the payment notification, Da Zhai rushed outside, but the man was already gone, vanished into the snowy night of Ice City.
Shang Zhi Tao got a call from Da Zhai in the early hours of the morning.
"What's up, Mom?"
"Your ex-boyfriend just came by."
Shang Zhi Tao checked the time—it was already two in the morning. "What ex-boyfriend? Which one?"
"Luan Nian."
Shang Zhi Tao snapped awake. "What did he say to you?"
"Nothing. He's already gone." Before hanging up, Da Zhai added, "Oh, right, he drank half a jin of baijiu with peanuts and transferred ten thousand when he paid. I didn't serve him."
"How much?"
"Ten thousand."
"Got it."
Is he insane? Shang Zhi Tao cursed him in her mind. Ten thousand for a plate of peanuts? If you're that rich, why don't you just buy our shop?
Shang Zhi Tao hung up and called Luan Nian, but he rejected her call.
What the hell is going on?
Shang Zhi Tao was furious.
Her anger surged, and she felt like the medicine she'd taken that day was wasted. She lay back in bed, grabbed her phone, and sent Luan Nian a message: "What's your problem? Why did you go to the tavern? Do you have to let my parents know about that dirty mess from back then? I don't need you to tell them—I'll tell my mom myself right now. I'll say I behaved improperly back then, fooling around with my boss."
Shang Zhi Tao picked up her phone, intending to call Da Zhai and confess everything about her and Luan Nian. But her finger hovered over the call button for a long time, unable to press it. If Da Zhai and Old Shang found out she'd worked in Beijing and been her boss's mistress, how heartbroken they'd be—their own daughter, with such poor character!
She slammed her phone onto the pillow, feeling her anger had nowhere to go. She sent Luan Nian another message: "Ten thousand for a plate of peanuts? Think you're rich, huh? Why don't you pay by the peanut?"
In less than a minute, she received another transfer—300,000 yuan.
Luan Nian even replied: "300 peanuts (your complimentary dishes are too stingy)."A little while later, another message came: "While you're at it, tell Da Zhai about you selling the bag and leaving without saying goodbye. Be objective and fair about it."
Shang Zhitao was so angered by Luan Nian that she became wide awake. She had always known he was difficult and troublesome, and that he had a special knack for infuriating people. But in the past, his provocations had been light and casual; today, however, he had put in considerable effort.
Luan Nian had always held a grudge against her for selling the bag. She thought she had explained it clearly to him in Snow Village and even apologized, assuming the matter was finally over. But him? He just had to use that blunt knife to hurt her.
She blocked this number too and went back to sleep.
Shang Zhitao used to be someone who slept very well, but in recent years, due to immense pressure, good sleep had become scarce. However, on a day like this, after wrapping up a major project and with the entire company on holiday, she absolutely had to enjoy a good, sound sleep.
When she opened her eyes the next day, it was already noon. Remembering that Lumi’s flight was at four in the afternoon, she hurriedly brushed her teeth, washed her face, threw on some clothes, and rushed out the door to pick her up from the hotel.
Luan Nian was there too.
Shang Zhitao was a bit surprised. Given his usual temper and after hearing what she had said over the past few days, he should have turned and walked away.
No one spoke much on the way. Shang Zhitao dropped them off at the airport. When they got out of the car to retrieve their luggage, she took out some packaged jars and containers from the trunk and handed them to Lumi. "Da Zhai said you love these, so I packed a few extra jars for you."
"Mom’s affection for me is about to surpass yours. I’ll call her later to thank her personally."
"Let me know when you finish them. She’s been experimenting with other delicious things lately—I’ll send them to you then."
The two chattered on and on. Shang Zhitao then took out another gift for Will. "Thank you for specially approving this event for us to execute. I hope we didn’t disappoint you."
"Under 200 yuan—my mom made some hairtail fish," Shang Zhitao explained.
Will nodded and accepted it. "Thank you."
"I didn’t know Luke would be here, so I didn’t prepare a special gift for you. Please forgive me."
Lumi thought to herself, "Holy shit." Shang Zhitao being this tough with Luan Nian was truly beyond her psychological tolerance. But Luan Nian’s expression didn’t change either; he just glanced at Shang Zhitao before turning and walking away.
Lumi caught up to Luan Nian and said to him, "Luke, after I land today, I have to go somewhere else, so I won’t be able to carry these pickles. Can I give them to you?"
Luan Nian looked at Lumi seriously and said earnestly, "Do you know why you haven’t been fired after all these years?"
"...Why?"
"Because you’re smart." Luan Nian reached out and took the pickles. "Tell her to prepare gifts properly next time. Even if I’m not present, she should set aside a separate portion. How can she run an event company without even understanding basic hospitality etiquette?"
Fuck.
Lumi cursed inwardly. This stubborn mule’s mouth was truly something else. If only your attitude were a bit better, wouldn’t she have prepared pickles for you today? They’re just pickles! And there weren’t even any for you! She even wanted to crawl into Luan Nian’s head to see if it was filled with shit.
She caught up to him again. "You can tell her yourself!"
That sentence hit Luan Nian right in the sore spot. He would have liked to say something, but did Shang Zhitao give him the chance? Over the past few years, she hadn’t improved in other areas, but she had certainly mastered the art of blocking people.Lumi saw he wasn't speaking and added another line: "Did Flora block you? Then you really can't talk to her yourself." She snatched the gift bag from him and turned to leave. She couldn't bear to give it to Luan Nian to eat! That was made by Da Zhai himself, and Lumi loved it the most.
Luan Nian was clearly a good person, but he had a sharp tongue and a poker face. How many people in the company were afraid of him? Yet the new intern liked him and secretly asked Lumi, "Is Luke single?"
"Yes, go for it," Lumi tossed out this line.
The girl really went for it, pretending to run into Luan Nian every day, actively helping him with reports, staying as late as he did at the office, persisting for nearly two weeks.
Suddenly one day, the girl looked very dejected. Lumi asked her, "What's wrong?"
"Luke told me to stay away from him."
Other things Lumi only heard through the grapevine, but everyone had witnessed Luke becoming stricter over the years. Not only that, the most puzzling thing was his indifference to women. No matter how beautiful Song Ying was or how much she liked him, he remained unmoved. Over time, rumors spread that Luan Nian's sexual orientation wasn't toward women. The rumors were quite sensational, saying all the men around him were good-looking and they were part of a circle.
Lumi grew anxious listening to this—how could Luke like men? She wanted to help Luan Nian clear things up, but the person involved didn't care. Over time, everyone defaulted to the assumption that Luan Nian's sexual orientation was male.
When the plane took off from Ice City, Luan Nian's heart felt empty.
There are some people you don't see, but they stand firmly in your memory, not fading even after years; when you do see them, they're sharp-tongued and deliberately say harsh things, stabbing your heart until it aches unbearably.
Luan Nian had never tasted this kind of feeling before; he didn't even know how to handle it. Since childhood, he was used to being tough, never yielding or bowing his head. He had thought about what to say before seeing Shang Zhi Tao again, even drafting it in his mind. But the draft was useless. After seeing her, he just wanted to understand why she sold those bags at a discount and why she left without saying goodbye.
Shang Zhi Tao explained it to him, and the answer made him even sadder.
For the first time, he realized he had no way to deal with Shang Zhi Tao.
She had many male friends around her, and she navigated among them effortlessly. When she spoke to him, she went straight to the point, not even glancing at him more than necessary.
"Is Director Luan back yet?" Chen Kuan Nian asked him in the group chat: "Can you treat me to a meal now?"
Luan Nian didn't respond.
Chen Kuan Nian added, "Has Director Luan suffered a heavy blow? Treat me to a meal, and I'll teach you how to pick up girls." Chen Kuan Nian had no filter. Now that he had won his beauty, he felt anxious for Luan Nian. He thought Luan Nian was even worse off than Song Qiu Han. Song Qiu Han also had a bad temper, and Chen Kuan Nian used to worry he'd end up alone. But Song Qiu Han suddenly became enlightened in front of Lin Chun'er. As for Luan Nian, entangled with a girl for so many years, he still hadn't figured it out.
He didn't understand a damn thing!
"Come to the bar," Luan Nian dropped his luggage and went straight to the bar. Chen Kuan Nian and Tan Mian arrived and were already drinking. When they saw Luan Nian, they laughed at him: "Look at this dejected man!"
They started lecturing him—how to sweet-talk, how to make a girl happy, how to take things to the next level at the right moment. Luan Nian had a headache listening to them.
Finally, he couldn't hold back: "Did you two take the same scumbag training course?"
The other two looked at each other, and after a while, said, "We're doing this for your own good.""For my own good? Then hold the collection exhibition in Ice City!"
"I'm not going. It's too cold."
"Then I'll send that video of you from two years ago at Gold Coast to your beloved archaeology PhD." Luan Nian took out his phone, and Chen Kuan Nian hurriedly raised his hands in surrender: "I'll go."
"Then call and discuss the business now." Luan Nian dialed Shang Zhi Tao's number for him.
"Why not just use your phone?" After saying this, he suddenly realized: "Blocked again?"
The word "again" was well used. Luan Nian glanced at him and said nothing more.
Chen Kuan Nian got through and heard a very gentle voice on the other end: "Hello."
"Shang Zhi Tao?" Chen Kuan Nian crossed his legs: "A friend recommended you to me, said you're an event execution company in Ice City. I want to organize a collection exhibition and a collection launch event. Can I work with you?"
Shang Zhi Tao paused for a moment: "Could you please provide some company information and your event requirements?"
"Shall I add you?" Chen Kuan Nian raised an eyebrow at Luan Nian.
"Sure."
Chen Kuan Nian hung up and added Shang Zhi Tao as a friend, muttering as he did: "What's so hard about this? Why does someone keep getting blocked over and over?"
After adding her, he sent over his ideas. A while later, Shang Zhi Tao replied with her thoughts and a preliminary quote—very reasonable.
She also asked: "May I ask which friend recommended you?"
Luan Nian said: "No need to answer. If she asks your name, just say you're surnamed Chen."
"Afraid she won't take the job if she hears your name?" Chen Kuan Nian clicked his tongue: "In my lifetime, I finally get to see someone who can handle the unyielding Luan Nian."
Of course, he didn't answer, but scheduled a site visit in Ice City for the day after tomorrow.
Luan Nian went along.
Shang Zhi Tao went to pick them up at the airport and spotted Luan Nian at first glance, then Chen Kuan Nian beside him. She had seen Chen Kuan Nian's photo before.
It was strange—during all those years they were together before, she had never met his friends. Yet in less than a week, first Song Qiu Han, then Chen Kuan Nian, his friends kept popping up one after another.
"Shang Zhi Tao?" Chen Kuan Nian extended his hand first.
"Hello, Mr. Chen." Shang Zhi Tao took off her glove and shook his hand, then reached out to Luan Nian: "Hello, Mr. Luan."
Chen Kuan Nian snorted, amused by their attempt to cover things up, but held back his laughter, watching them with leisurely composure.
Luan Nian reached out and took her hand—it was icy cold. His fingertips brushed lightly over the back of her hand before withdrawing.
"Mr. Chen, do you have any dietary preferences or restrictions?" Shang Zhi Tao asked Chen Kuan Nian while driving.
"I heard there's a tavern..."
Shang Zhi Tao glanced at Luan Nian. He was looking out the window, the shadow of his nose cast on his face, his profile truly handsome. She didn't know what he was thinking, why he had to come and entangle with her again after so many years. Was it just for that lingering resentment in his heart? Like before, setting a net, slowly drawing her in. What did he want?
After Fu Dong escorted Chen Kuan Nian into the tavern, Shang Zhi Tao grabbed Luan Nian's arm.
Luan Nian stopped and looked at her, his gaze falling on her hand.
"What do you mean by this?" Under his gaze, Shang Zhi Tao withdrew her hand."Nothing much. Just introducing a client to you, consider it targeted poverty alleviation." The north was too cold, and with the temperature dropping sharply that day, Luan Nian's ears were flushed red from the chill, his nose tip red, and even his eyes a little red. He had taken in everything Chen Kuan Nian and the others said yesterday—they told him if he wanted to be with her, he had to lower his stance.
"Do you want to sleep with me like before?" Shang Zhi Tao was once again angered by Luan Nian's arrogant attitude, feeling that the medicine she took today was wasted.
"Fine." She nodded. "I understand. President Luan is spending a fortune to sleep with someone again—oh wait, this time he's even throwing in his connections."
Her hand rested on the doorknob, and before opening the door, she said to him, "Tonight, whoever backs out is a damn coward!"
"You stay here!"
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