The Early Spring

Vоlumе Two - Wаlking Тhrоugh Тimе

Chaptеr 48 - А Dog in Humаn Clothing

Shаng Zhi Тао whееled her suitсase out of the airроrt.

Thе rainу sеаsоn in Suzhou during Junе brоught соntinuоus ovеrcast skies аnd drizzlе, yеt a sticky lаyer оf sweat still сlung tо hеr skin. Shе gоt intо а taxi аnd сallеd Аlеx: "Вoss, I'vе аrrived. I'll heаd tо the hоtel to chеck in, then go strаight tо thе venuе."

"Thanks for уоur hаrd work, Flоrа. Lukе аnd thе рlanning dерartmеnt arе on the nеxt flight аftеr уours. Тhе mаin tеam will arrive tоmorrow morning."

"The сars to piсk up the еxесutives hаve already been arranged, so don't worry. I'll assess the situation on-site and report back to you on everything else." Shang Zhi Tao still sweated easily, taking out a tissue to wipe the fine beads of sweat from her forehead.

"How does it feel, your first independent business trip?" Alex suddenly asked her.

Shang Zhi Tao thought carefully: "Actually, I'm quite nervous."

"There's nothing to be nervous about. If you run into any difficulties, let me know promptly."

"Okay, thank you, boss."

Shang Zhi Tao hung up the phone and opened her laptop in the taxi. Suzhou in this season had its own unique charm, but she had no mind to appreciate it. The day after tomorrow was the company's regional exhibition tour in East China. They had abandoned Shanghai, which they visited every year, and chosen Suzhou instead. She reviewed the entire venue plan once more, then called the event company: "Hello, how's everything on-site?"

"Setup started this afternoon. We're currently taking inventory of the materials."

"Alright, I'll go to the hotel to drop off my luggage first, then come find you."

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and finally couldn't resist speaking up: "Young lady, starting work at such a tender age?"

"I'm 23!"

"You look like you're only seventeen or eighteen."

Shang Zhi Tao blushed a little at the driver's words, secretly peeking at her faint reflection in the car window and thinking, I should put on some makeup, otherwise people always think I'm so young. I need to look more mature.

Lumi had chosen a location by Taihu Lake this time because they were launching a "National Style" initiative this year—packaging international brands for the local market and infusing local brands with traditional cultural elements, which was a very novel topic at the time. Luan Nian said that since they were doing this, each of the four major regions should choose a location that aligned with the theme: East China in Suzhou, North China in Xi'an, South China in Fuzhou, and Central China in Luoyang. The other locations were large-scale events, but for East China, only S-tier clients were invited—smaller in scale but with a higher budget. Alex had thought about it for a long time and decided to entrust East China to Shang Zhi Tao.

Though small in scale, it was the first stop and involved only S-tier clients, which made Shang Zhi Tao a bit nervous. She had secretly asked Alex why such an important task was being given to her.

Alex said: "If not you, then who?"

Shang Zhi Tao couldn't quite grasp the meaning of that, but Lumi understood it perfectly. She asked Shang Zhi Tao: "Isn't it about time for your promotion review? What are you going to use to get promoted without a project? Just diligence? Lumi is very pragmatic. If your leader gives you an opportunity, take it and weigh your methods. Treat Alex to a meal later."

Shang Zhi Tao cherished this opportunity immensely.

After checking into the hotel, she took a taxi to the venue, checking all the transportation arrangements and guest information along the way. When she gathered with the event company at the front desk, she saw Luan Nian checking in. Luan Nian was the only one from Lumi staying at the conference hotel, as he still had interviews and one-on-one sessions with several S-tier clients after the conference, so they had simply booked him a room there.Luan Nian put away his ID and turned to see Shang Zhi Tao, along with the fine sweat on her forehead, thinking to himself, why do you sweat so much?

"Hello, Luke," Shang Zhi Tao greeted him, then introduced the event company's representative: "This is Manager Wang from the event company, and this is our boss, Luke."

"Please rest first. We've reserved a private room here for tonight to treat you and Flora to a simple meal." The company that won the bid for Shang Zhi Tao's project was a newly added supplier this year—a small firm but diligent in execution. The boss personally oversaw the work, showing sincere dedication.

"Thank you, but the company has an internal meeting later. I appreciate the gesture." Luan Nian smiled at Manager Wang, then asked Shang Zhi Tao, "How's the progress?"

"The supplies have been inventoried. Setup will begin shortly, and rehearsals can start after 3 p.m. tomorrow. Client reception arrangements are also in place." Shang Zhi Tao concisely provided the key information, having come to understand Luan Nian well and knowing what he cared about.

"When will Alex arrive?" Luan Nian asked again.

"Tomorrow, with the main group."

Seeing Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao discussing work, the supplier said, "Flora, I'll wait over there. Once you two finish, you can come find us at the venue." The supplier's politeness was cultivated through day after day of serving clients, and Shang Zhi Tao had now also become "you."

"No problem, go ahead with your work. After you're done, Flora can review the overall process with me again, and we'll include Alex online."

"Okay."

What was there to review about the overall process? They had gone over it eight hundred times already. Shang Zhi Tao was a bit puzzled but turned and headed to the venue. As soon as she stepped into the venue, she received a message from Luan Nian: "11188, my room number."

Shang Zhi Tao flushed instantly and replied, "I'm not going."

"?"

"It wouldn't be good if someone saw."

"? What are you thinking? It's for a meeting." Luan Nian snorted coldly; he could see right through the thoughts in Shang Zhi Tao's mind.

"Oh."

Shang Zhi Tao felt manipulated by Luan Nian again. They hadn't seen each other for over a month, and she had assumed he meant something untoward. Any adult man or woman would have wild thoughts upon receiving a room number like that.

She stayed in the venue for nearly three hours, clarifying every detail with the event company before finally taking her laptop to Luan Nian's room. Standing outside his door, she suddenly remembered that time in Guangzhou at his hotel room door, with all those messy thoughts swirling in her head, and her face flushed again. It was strange—by all accounts, they should be very familiar, at least in bed, but today, standing outside his room, she still blushed.

Blushing and nervous, the little drum in her heart pounded loudly. She took a deep breath before reaching out to ring the doorbell. Luan Nian answered the door while on a call, saw it was Shang Zhi Tao, and stepped aside to let her in. He then said, "Alex, Flora is here with me now. We can join the other meeting together later."Shang Zhitao thought Luan Nian was truly forthright, her heart filled with admiration for him. She looked up at him, only to see him raise an eyebrow at her, a hint of mischief in his expression. Shang Zhitao’s face flushed instantly, and she sat down in the chair opposite his hotel desk. Noticing the fine sweat on her forehead, Luan Nian opened the mini-fridge, took out a small can of cola, twisted the tab open with one hand, and placed it in front of her. His fingertips then pinched her earlobe. Luan Nian loved Shang Zhitao’s earlobes—soft, plump, and always the first to turn red when she was shy.

Shang Zhitao didn’t dare move, afraid of disturbing his conference call.

Luan Nian was somewhat distracted. Over the past month, he had been too busy, spending only half a day at the company. On several sleepless nights, he had lain in the dark, missing the beauty of Shang Zhitao’s body.

Shang Zhitao held her breath, finally unable to resist swatting his hand away, her eyes widening as she told him to behave.

Luan Nian was in a good mood. With one hand, he pinched her cheek, pursing his lips into an “o” shape, before finally sitting back down opposite her. The meeting was a bit lengthy, so Luan Nian tossed the menu to Shang Zhitao, asking her to order dinner. Shang Zhitao stepped out to call the hotel front desk and ordered dinner for two. When she returned, she saw that Luan Nian had already ended the call and was standing by the window, watching her.

Her legs suddenly felt weak, a tingling sensation creeping up from her knees. The room was dim, and she couldn’t make out Luan Nian’s expression, but she could see the straight, verdant bamboo scenery outside the window behind him.

She pressed her lips together tightly, the same nervous fluster she had felt the first time at his home enveloping her once again.

“Flora,” Luan Nian called her.

“Hmm?”

“Let’s start the meeting.”

It was a real meeting. Yet the ambiguity between them lingered, and Shang Zhitao, sitting across from Luan Nian, felt utterly foolish. Why had she fallen so deeply under the spell of his allure?

She sat opposite him, listening in on the meeting, but didn’t dare look at him. His gaze seemed as if it wanted to devour her. When it was Alex’s turn to report on the progress of the event the day after tomorrow, Luan Nian sat across from her, watching her speak intently.

Shang Zhitao had transformed. She was no longer like before, summarizing her work in just a few words. She now understood exactly what the leaders cared about, hitting every key point with clarity and conciseness. Except for her flushed face.

The doorbell to their room rang—dinner had arrived. Alex proactively called for a break: “It’s past seven, and everyone’s a bit hungry. How about we take forty minutes to eat?”

“Sure.”

Shang Zhitao stood up to clear the desk. Luan Nian watched her. As adults, there was no need for pretense—both knew exactly what they wanted most at that moment. The bed was soft, and in her urgency, Shang Zhitao called his name: “Luan Nian!”

Luan Nian rarely heard her address him directly by name. He stopped and looked at her, brushing away the strands of hair that had fallen across her face. “What’s wrong, Flora?”

“The event company might contact me…”

“Hmm…” Luan Nian’s lips pressed against the back of her ear as he asked, “Did you miss me?”

“What?”

“Over this past month, did you miss me?”

Shang Zhitao didn’t answer, instead pulling his hand to prove it to him. Yet her eyes held a childlike innocence and clarity. Luan Nian covered her eyes, and the two sank deeply into the bed.

Shang Zhitao didn’t dare make a sound. When she couldn’t hold back, she bit Luan Nian’s finger. Luan Nian winced in pain and pinched her cheek. “Are you a dog?”

His lips pressed down, muffling her voice.

It was like a fight.

In the end, they were still ten minutes late logging back in."Sorry, I just had to take a personal call. Let's get started now." Luan Nian glanced at Shang Zhi Tao, who was pulling up the zipper on her dress. As the zipper slowly rose, covering her beautiful back, Luan Nian moved her hand aside and helped her. But his movements paused, and his lips silently pressed against her back.

Shang Zhi Tao jumped away, glaring at him. He merely shrugged and turned to ask a question in the online meeting, looking perfectly composed.

Shang Zhi Tao was starving. While listening to the meeting, she quietly ate her food. Luan Nian wasn’t as fortunate—he remained fully engaged in the discussion, occasionally swallowing a bite she fed him in haste. Watching her eat with such relish, he shot her annoyed glances.

The meeting lasted until eleven. Shang Zhi Tao promptly sent out the meeting minutes and began packing up her laptop.

"I'm heading out."

"Not staying here?"

"No." Shang Zhi Tao slung her large bag over her shoulder. "I still need to check on the venue. They’re setting up overnight."

"Alright." Luan Nian opened the door for her and casually asked, "Did you apply for a promotion?"

"Yes. I asked Alex, and since my current position is relatively low, the promotion can be evaluated within the department. Alex encouraged me to submit the application." Shang Zhi Tao answered honestly. "But I haven’t had time to prepare the promotion materials yet."

"When is the review?"

"Next Monday."

"Are you prepared to fail?" Luan Nian teased her.