Shаng Zhi Таo sent thе mееting minutеs tо Luan Nian and thеn mеssaged him: "Нello Lukе, thе mееting minutеs hаve beеn sent to your email. Рlеasе chесk."
Теn minutes lаtеr, Luаn Niаn rеpliеd: "What were уоu doing еarlier?" His mеaning was сlear: sinсе уоu knеw уоu had sent thе minutеs, yоu shоuld hаve nоtified mе. Whу didn’t you соnfirm aftеr sending them yеsterday?
"It wаs tоо latе yesterdау. I wаs afrаid оf disturbing уоur rеst."
"Gоod wоrk hаbits havе nothing tо do with the timе of dау."
"Тhank уоu fоr уour guidancе. I’ll remember that."
Luan Niаn frowned, tossеd his phonе asidе, аnd cоntinued confirming other work with Grace.
"This evening, we need to go with the client to the factory in Shunde to follow up on the client’s products and the situation with the grassroots endorsers. Once we have the basic information, we can come up with the first draft of the creative plan." Grace outlined her work: "But the client’s schedule is tight. Once we’re there, I’ll need an assistant. Can Lumi come with us? I’ve worked with her a few times before—she’s sharp and can keep the client in check."
"Sure. Bring Flora along too." Luan Nian added.
"Great. We all like her. She’s always cheerful and very capable." Shang Zhi Tao had approached Grace twice before. She was humble and easy to communicate with, making conversations effortless.
Capable?
Luan Nian glanced at Grace but said nothing more.
"Then we’ll set off at four this afternoon. Luke, aren’t you coming with us?"
"I won’t be going. I have something else to attend to."
Luan Nian stayed at the hotel to handle work. In the evening, he went out. He didn’t often have the chance to visit Guangzhou, where he had a special friend. There was a small dance studio in Gangding. When Luan Nian arrived, the children were still in class. He stood at the door and watched for a while. Zang Yao was just as she had always been, her hair tied into a neat bun at the back, revealing a smooth forehead. During a spin, she spotted Luan Nian standing at the door, and the corners of her mouth lifted into an incredibly beautiful smile.
A sight for sore eyes.
If you asked Luan Nian who he thought the most beautiful woman was, his friends would undoubtedly answer for him: "Zang Yao, of course! Why even ask?"
Luan Nian waited patiently at the door, watching Zang Yao dance.
He didn’t have many friends. Domestically, there was only Tan Mian, along with two close friends in the U.S. whom he saw a few times a year. Apart from them, there was Zang Yao. They had known each other for ten years—from eighteen to twenty-eight, spanning a significant stretch of life.
Tan Mian once asked him, "Didn’t anything happen between you and Zang Yao?"
Luan Nian would never answer that question. There was always something missing between him and Zang Yao. As for what it was, he couldn’t quite put it into words.
Zang Yao came out of the classroom and walked over to him with a smile. "Why so early? I need to shower and change."
"No rush. Go ahead."
Zang Yao took a step closer to Luan Nian, her face lighting up. "You look good. Seems like this breakup still didn’t hit you too hard."
"Nosy." Luan Nian tapped her head. "Go on. We’ll grab a drink later."
"Okay, wait for me." Zang Yao turned and ran off, her ballet skirt fluttering gracefully as she moved.
Zang Yao treated Luan Nian to rooftop barbecue near the studio. The two of them sat on the rooftop, enjoying Guangzhou’s humid evening breeze.
"I’m thinking of moving on to the next place," Zang Yao said to Luan Nian as she nibbled on an oyster."Where to next?"
"I'm thinking maybe Guiyang. Guangzhou is too hot, Guiyang is cool and refreshing." Zang Yao lifted her mug of draft beer with one finger raised: "But won't there be no clients from your company in Guiyang?"
"There are two."
"Then can you still come see me?"
"Sure."
Zang Yao set down her glass, her fingertip resting on Luan Nian's hand: "Why did you break up again?"
"Boring."
"You think women are boring?"
"No, intimate relationships are boring."
"So you'll stay single forever? Not addressing your physical needs?"
Luan Nian shrugged: "Don't know."
Luan Nian hated being controlled. He couldn't understand why, once women started a relationship, they felt the need to restrict you—what time you come home, who you're with, whether you're replying to other women's messages. While walking, he asked Zang Yao: "Would you care which women are in your boyfriend's contacts?"
"Why would I care? He should be the one worried about me." Zang Yao looked utterly incredulous: "Insecure women want to control men, confident women have men chasing after them." After saying this, she seemed thoughtful, then told Luan Nian: "You hate being controlled, maybe because you don't love deeply enough."
"Starting the psychological counseling?" Luan Nian asked her.
"Don't, I wouldn't dare." Zang Yao swept her long hair to one side, revealing her graceful neck, and said with a playful smile: "You don't have psychological issues; your root cause is just being too arrogant."
"Me, arrogant?"
"Aren't you? Didn't you say most of your colleagues are idiots?"
"I take that back. I said that because I hadn't yet encountered true idiots."
...Shang Zhi Tao sneezed.
"I thought you took it back because you realized your own problem. So tell me, aren't you particularly vicious with your words?"
"If telling the truth counts as vicious, then I admit it."
Zang Yao couldn't handle him; she couldn't debate with him: "When are you going back?"
"Friday night."
"Then have dinner with my boyfriend tomorrow, okay?"
"No, I don't have time."
"Why don't you like my boyfriend?"
"Should I?"
Zang Yao's boyfriend was a somewhat sickly-looking guitarist. Luan Nian didn't really like that type—not that he disliked his attitude, but simply that he was skin and bones, looking like a telephone pole, yet spoke with extreme radicalism.
"If you don't like him, fine. Anyway, I'm about to go to Guiyang soon."
"He's not going with you?"
"No. Rich old Cantonese can't leave behind their clay pot porridge and herbal tea."
"Aren't you a rich Boston girl? Why wander around everywhere?"
"Too much money to spend..." Zang Yao said lightly, as if showing off, yet with a touch of melancholy. Luan Nian understood her sadness and gently comforted her: "Don't be like that."
"Okay."
Zang Yao let out a long sigh, leaning against the railing by the river, gazing into the distance. She wanted to ask Luan Nian if, after she left Guangzhou, she could go to Beijing? Beijing isn't that hot either, and Beijing has him. But she didn't dare ask.
She felt that the current state between her and Luan Nian was probably the best it could be—neither closer nor further apart would work. She had also thought about it: if nothing else, she could get Luan Nian to drink a little more, both of them get drunk, take off their clothes, and do everything that should be done. Maybe that would break this strange stalemate.Yet they are the same kind of people.
The kind who refuse to bow in romantic relationships.
"So, have you been interested in any women lately?"
"No."
"Then what have you been interested in lately?"
"Work."
"Liar." Zang Yao chuckled softly.
"?" Luan Nian looked at her.
Zang Yao shook her head: "Never mind, never mind, it's none of my business." She jogged a few steps ahead: "Will you walk me home?"
"Sure."
The two of them walked from the Pearl River toward Zang Yao's home, occasionally passing small groups of Black people standing by the roadside. "Try not to go out alone at night," Luan Nian reminded her.
"I'm a homebody, you know that." Passing a small puddle, Zang Yao tugged at Luan Nian's sleeve and hopped over it, saying casually: "If neither of us is married by the time we're thirty, why don't we just settle for each other?"
"I don't settle."
In Luan Nian's mind, settling in marriage is utterly tragic. He would rather stay single than settle. He silently walked Zang Yao to her doorstep and declined to go upstairs: "Go on up. See you next time."
"I might come visit you too."
"You're welcome."
Zang Yao stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Luan Nian's back and giving him a light pat: "I'll miss you."
"Take care."
Luan Nian watched Zang Yao go upstairs before taking out his phone and noticing several missed calls from Shang Zhi Tao.
"What is it?"
"Luke, I'm really sorry. Grace left some documents in your room, and the courier won't make it in time. She asked me to come get them and bring them to Shunde first thing tomorrow."
"Wait for me at the hotel."
Luan Nian hung up and saw a message from Grace, apologizing sincerely. She knew Luan Nian had the lowest tolerance for such careless mistakes.
"Be more careful next time."
Luan Nian got out of the car and saw Shang Zhi Tao standing straight at the hotel entrance, waiting for him like a student awaiting a teacher's reprimand. Luan Nian didn't say a word, walking past her. Shang Zhi Tao quietly followed him into the elevator. It felt strange—she was just there to pick up documents, not to sleep with him, so why was she so nervous?
But she was nervous nonetheless.
A man and a woman alone, sharing an elevator late at night, heading to one of their rooms—the story already sounded suggestive. Shang Zhi Tao's young mind couldn't help but wander: Would this woman rise to great heights in the company from now on?
Following Luan Nian out of the elevator, she automatically stopped outside his room door, waiting. Luan Nian searched inside for a long time but couldn't find the documents Grace mentioned. He called out to Shang Zhi Tao from inside: "Come in."
"Huh? That wouldn't be appropriate." Shang Zhi Tao's mind began spinning the rest of the story—the kind not meant for outsiders, just a fleeting thought, yet rich, fragrant, and utterly scandalous.
What nonsense! A surge of irritation rose in Luan Nian. He strode to the door, grabbed Shang Zhi Tao's wrist, and dragged her inside: "Go find them!" Ignoring her soft gasp, he stood by the doorway.
Shang Zhi Tao's wrist burned from the heat of his palm, and she glared at him fiercely: I have a temper too! But Luan Nian didn't see that look—he faced the hallway, the very picture of a righteous gentleman.Men, most men are useless when it comes to finding things. Even Luan Nian is no exception. Shang Zhi Tao found the document in the inner compartment of Luan Nian's laptop bag in less than three minutes. As she walked out, she noticed the clothes hanging in his wardrobe—his taste really is impeccable.
"Found it, luke. Sorry to bother you so late."
"What were you thinking just now?"
"Huh?"
"Just now, standing here, what were you thinking?"
OpenNovel