Chi Shuo stopped in her tracks, wanting badly to blurt out: We’re not close.
But helping someone up who lacked strength after sleeping didn’t seem to require a close relationship. Even for a stranger, Chi Shuo might have offered help.
“Help me up, and I’ll give you Shen Qu’s autograph for free,” He Lindi offered bait.
Chi Shuo remained expressionless, silent. She walked over quietly, bent down, placed her hand on He Lindi’s wrist, and pulled her up with a bit of force.
It was summer, and both were wearing short sleeves. Chi Shuo’s palm and fingertips touched He Lindi’s skin. Perhaps due to the air conditioning, He Lindi’s wrist felt slightly cool, yet as Chi Shuo pulled her up, she felt that coolness could sear a hole through her palm.
It must be because she disliked He Lindi. And being alone with He Lindi in an enclosed space definitely made her extremely uncomfortable.
Only after getting off the van did Chi Shuo feel less distressed. Xiao Cheng pulled her suitcase over to her, noticed her complexion, and asked with concern, “Chi Shuo, are you feeling unwell?”
“No.” Chi Shuo composed herself, smoothed her expression, took her suitcase, and shook her head with a smile. “Have you ever seen me catch a cold at the company?”
That part was true. Chi Shuo had a relatively good constitution; even during flu season, she usually escaped unscathed.
Xiao Cheng pushed up his glasses and answered honestly, “No.”
Someone ahead called out laughingly, “Xiao Cheng, Chi Shuo, what secrets are you two whispering! Hurry up and join the main group!”
Before checking in, the group first went to a restaurant outside the airport for a meal.
He Lindi shed the quiet demeanor she had upon arrival, chatting happily with everyone except Chi Shuo.
Chi Shuo wasn’t completely silent either, talking and laughing with Cui Mi and the others along the way.
He Lindi stood in the center of the group. Being on the edge, Chi Shuo’s gaze inevitably swept over her occasionally, always seeing He Lindi with a smile, seemingly without a care in the world.
This couldn’t help but trigger memories for Chi Shuo, which was precisely what she feared most. The little devil in her heart was indeed making her remember the past.
He Lindi hadn’t been aloof in school. She excelled in all aspects but wasn’t arrogant, getting along with everyone.
More than once, on the way to the sports field for morning exercises during breaks, Chi Shuo had seen her smiling eyes and joyful expression.
Back then, seeing He Lindi smile made Chi Shuo happy too. Her gaze would unconsciously follow He Lindi, and only after some time did Chi Shuo belatedly realize she had fallen for her.
“Chi Shuo, what are you thinking about? Time to order.”
Xiao Cheng’s words pulled her back to reality. Chi Shuo blinked and said, “I’m not picky. You guys order.”
They were already seated in the restaurant. He Lindi continued chatting cheerfully with the others. Chi Shuo took out her phone and sent a message to the group chat with Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai: 【Getting ready to eat, heading to check-in soon.】
【Okay.】
【Remember, don’t argue with He Lindi.】
The second message was naturally from Zeng Guai. Remembering her earnest advice from last night, Chi Shuo couldn’t help but lift the corners of her lips slightly.
She put away her phone and listened to their conversation from the side. She wasn’t a quiet person, but with He Lindi present, she didn’t feel much like talking.
Or maybe it was because she still wasn’t fully awake and lacked the enthusiasm for chatting.
After a while, the server brought the dishes. The group quickly finished their lunch and headed into the airport.
This was Chi Shuo’s first time in Beijing. She was curious about the city but didn’t have much yearning for it.
Once on the plane, with some time before takeoff, Chi Shuo put on her eye mask again. Her seat was by the window, but she had no desire to admire the scenery.
Because He Lindi was sitting right next to her. Their seats were adjacent. Chi Shuo couldn’t help but feel her vision darken when she saw the seating arrangement.
It was as if the outside world had nothing to do with Chi Shuo. She pressed her lips together lightly, listening to the announcements over the cabin speakers.
“Ladies and gentlemen…”
“The plane will be taking off shortly…”
After a moment, with a rumbling sound, Chi Shuo’s first business trip officially began.
It had quieted down considerably around her. Chi Shuo felt a slight discomfort in her ears and opened her mouth slightly to relieve the pressure.
A few seconds later.
“Chi Shuo…”
A faint voice came from beside her. Chi Shuo twitched her ear, confirming the voice belonged to He Lindi.
Then again, only He Lindi was sitting next to her.
Chi Shuo tilted her head slightly. She couldn’t see He Lindi but responded politely out of courtesy, “Yes?”
He Lindi seemed to lean a bit closer, as her voice was very near, so near it made Chi Shuo feel momentarily dazed.
“Can I hold onto you for a bit?”
“I’m a little scared.”
He Lindi’s voice was soft again, tinged with a hint of pleading.
Not everyone was completely fearless when flying. The sheer force of takeoff alone was enough to make some people nervous and tense.
Chi Shuo turned her head away, but her arm slowly lifted.
After another few seconds, Chi Shuo felt a small patch of coolness on her wrist—He Lindi had grasped it.
Chi Shuo’s eyelashes fluttered beneath the eye mask. She unconsciously held her breath.
He Lindi’s palm was a bit cool, perhaps from nervousness or maybe it was just her natural temperature. Her grip on Chi Shuo’s wrist tightened as the plane ascended, but it didn’t hurt.
Chi Shuo tilted her head further to the side, now almost completely facing away from He Lindi.
This continued until the plane entered the clouds. Chi Shuo lowered her voice, turned her head back towards the darkness in front of her, and parted her lips slightly. “Is your hand growing onto me?”
“Oh.” He Lindi withdrew her hand. Chi Shuo heard her voice return to normal. “Thanks.”
Chi Shuo’s mouth moved, stiffly uttering three words: “You’re welcome.”
The flight from Yun Cheng to Beijing took over an hour. Chi Shuo hadn’t slept well in the van but slept surprisingly soundly on the plane.
Upon arriving in Beijing, the group boarded another pre-booked business van and headed to the hotel.
Even though the companies had money, to save costs, they had booked three triple rooms for the nine of them—one for the girls, two for the guys.
The hallway lighting was slightly dim. The suitcases made muffled sounds rolling over the carpeted floor.
Chi Shuo was still trying to calm her nerves about her first business trip, but a smile hadn’t left her lips since arriving in Beijing.
As Cui Mi entered the passcode, He Lindi cast a curious glance at her from the side. “Chi Shuo, why are you smiling constantly?”
Chi Shuo’s expression froze, the smile vanishing from her lips. She replied flatly, “None of your business.”
Cui Mi saw their interaction, smiled and shook her head, and entered the room. “Come on in. Let’s take a nap, then go for dinner.”
Following Zeng Guai’s advice, when asked which bed she wanted after entering, Chi Shuo placed her backpack on the bed by the window. “This one.”
“Okay.” Cui Mi sat down on the middle bed. “Then I’ll sleep here.”
Chi Shuo knew Cui Mi chose the middle bed considering her own relationship with He Lindi.
The hotel wasn’t high-end, but it had all the necessary amenities: air conditioning, a fridge, a projector, and even a washing machine.
The three first checked the room, then lay down on their respective beds for an afternoon nap.
The sun was strong in Beijing today, the sunlight harsh. Chi Shuo lay on her side, looking at the sliver of light coming through the curtains. Unable to bear it, she quietly got up and pulled the curtains completely shut, instantly darkening the room considerably.
She tiptoed back to her bed, but during the short walk, her eyes briefly swept over He Lindi in the innermost bed, who wasn’t asleep.
He Lindi was wearing headphones, playing on her phone with the brightness turned very low. Her fingertips tapped continuously on the keyboard, looking very busy.
Seemingly sensing Chi Shuo’s gaze, she shifted her eyes, meeting Chi Shuo’s glance. She then held up her phone slightly, her eyes curving into crescents.
Chi Shuo averted her gaze, pretending not to have seen.
This nap was finally restful. When she woke up, it was already 6 PM.
But besides Chi Shuo, neither He Lindi nor Cui Mi was in the room. Still groggy, she grabbed her phone and saw in the business trip group chat that they were discussing what to eat for dinner.
Among the various suggestions, Chi Shuo spotted a conspicuous message from “Didi Wei”: 【Let’s wait for Chi Shuo first, who knows if she’ll sleep until tomorrow morning.】
Chi Shuo understood the implication—He Lindi was teasing her for sleeping too long.
Chi Shuo’s energy returned instantly. She sat up, leaning against the headboard, frowning, her fingertips practically catching fire on the phone screen: 【@Didi Wei Not as much as you.】
Perhaps sensing the conversation might spiral out of control, Xiao Cheng intervened: 【If we don’t know what to eat, let’s stick to the usual plan: hot pot.】
Someone else sent a message: 【Sounds good. Let’s meet downstairs at 6:30 then.】
Chi Shuo had no objections. She freshened up, changed her clothes, and slung her backpack over her shoulder.
Just as she left the room, her phone rang.
The caller ID showed a Beijing location. Chi Shuo slowed her steps slightly, her brow furrowing, but she still answered.
“Chi Shuo.” The caller simply said her name.
“What’s up?” Chi Shuo asked while bending slightly to enter the room passcode again; she needed to go back inside.
“You came to Beijing, why didn’t you tell me?”
The door opened. Chi Shuo closed it behind her. She stared at the curtain directly opposite and said calmly, “Was it necessary?”
She let the final syllable rise slightly, then continued unhurriedly, “Shen Qu, don’t stir up trouble for no reason.”
