Chi Shuo felt she was truly a company model. Every morning, she worked diligently at Xinyue, and in the afternoon, she went upstairs to Xiyu to learn photography with 100% focus, all so that Xinyue could have its own photographer, even if that photographer wasn’t very professional.
Chi Shuo gave herself countless thumbs-ups internally. After persisting for a week, she found she seemed to have genuinely made some progress in photography.
He Lindi took her out to shoot, combining it with the notes. Chi Shuo connected the dots and felt she understood a bit about photography, at least no longer the clueless shutterbug she used to be.
Saturday night at 8 PM, Chi Shuo left home and went to Han Yu’s KTV.
Christmas was approaching, making Han Yu’s confession plan imminent. Seeing it was the 22nd, just three days before Christmas, Han Yu felt her preparations were insufficient and called Chi Shuo over for advice.
The confession location was set at Han Yu’s KTV. Not many people needed to watch; perhaps no one would be watching at the time.
The confession was just a formality, not necessarily requiring a grand display. News reports said that the grander the display and the more onlookers, the more likely the person involved had mental issues.
Han Yu deeply believed this, so she chose a slightly more low-key confession method.
Chi Shuo arrived at the nearly decorated KTV room and was stunned upon entering. The sofa, lighting, and wallpaper style had all changed, a huge difference from the previous nouveau riche style. Chi Shuo hadn’t felt it looking at the photos before, but being there in person, the shock was somewhat surprising.
Han Yu had arranged all this herself, without asking her employees for help. Chi Shuo clapped her hands, exclaiming repeatedly, “Xiao Yu, truly impressive.”
Han Yu was still sitting on the sofa, inflating balloons. Many balloons were placed beside her. Chi Shuo asked, “Are these going to be hung up or just placed on the floor?”
“Hung up.”
“We’ll string them up with rope later.”
Chi Shuo waved her hand. “No need for rope.” She picked up a balloon. “I watched a TV drama. The male and female leads also wanted to get balloons into the air. They rubbed the balloons on their hair to generate static electricity, and the balloons floated up.”
Chi Shuo finished speaking, took off her beret, rubbed the balloon on top of her head twice, then released her hand.
The balloon indeed floated to the ceiling. Pressed down by the ceiling, it stopped moving.
Han Yu smiled. “Shuo Shuo, seems like watching dramas usually has some use.”
Chi Shuo’s eyes curved too. She picked up an air pump and asked, “Need help?” Before Han Yu could answer, she put it down. “Oh right, you said you’d do it yourself, no need for others’ help.”
Han Yu: “…Pump it for me!”
Chi Shuo inflated balloons while asking, “Are you saying you don’t know what song to sing then?”
Han Yu herself sang quite well, though slightly worse than Chi Shuo.
“Yes…”
“I don’t know which song is the best confession track.”
Han Yu stopped her actions and asked Chi Shuo, “Shuo Shuo, if you were confessing, what song would you want to sing?”
Chi Shuo pondered for several seconds before replying, “Maybe ‘Falling in Love with You’?”
“Isn’t the song title too direct?”
“As long as the meaning is conveyed, it’s enough.”
Chi Shuo finished speaking, put down the props, stood up, walked to the song selection station, and picked this song. She turned on the original track, having no intention of singing. The lyrics scrolled by, line by line. Han Yu nodded. “Then this one.”
Han Yu had been in several relationships, each one serious, but this was the first time Chi Shuo had seen her put so much effort into a confession.
She sat back down on the sofa, remembered Zeng Guai’s prediction, and told Han Yu, “A friend of mine did some fortune-telling for me, said I’ll definitely get out of singledom within three months.” Chi Shuo told Han Yu her truest thoughts. “Honestly, I thought about it later myself. It seems I’m not that resistant to dating.”
Chi Shuo had been in two relationships, cheated on both times. The first one could almost be ignored because they barely met.
Chi Shuo had forgotten that girl’s name. It started the summer after high school graduation. Back then, Chi Shuo often went on Tieba forums to understand school dynamics and added this girl’s QQ. Chatting, Chi Shuo learned she liked girls.
This was an upperclassman.
After school started, she often took Chi Shuo around the school and outside to eat and play. During this period, Chi Shuo also hinted she liked girls. Later, during military training, the upperclassman messaged Chi Shuo confessing. Chi Shuo was still somewhat curious about romance at the time, plus the upperclassman was indeed quite nice, so she agreed.
After agreeing, the upperclassman contacted her less, saying she was busy with studies and homework, barely having time even for meals together. But Chi Shuo caught her eating intimately with another girl.
Chi Shuo: “…”
She broke up with the upperclassman. The upperclassman didn’t try to salvage it, even leaving behind a slag girl quote that Chi Shuo still remembered vividly: “Don’t you think dating several people at once is very happy? Always fresh, and exciting.”
Chi Shuo: “…”
Recalling it now, Chi Shuo really regretted not slapping this upperclassman back then. Chi Shuo felt increasingly unlucky; cheated on every time she dated, a 100% hit rate. This “luck” was simply too good.
Han Yu composed her expression, wanting to confirm if Chi Shuo was lying. “Really?” Her lips curved upwards. “Shuo Shuo, based on my extensive experience in the field of love, you probably have someone you like, right? Otherwise, how could you not be resistant?”
Han Yu knew that after being cheated on, Chi Shuo had no desire to date again, unless there was a ‘what if.’
This ‘what if’ couldn’t be anything else; it could only be that Chi Shuo herself had a new person she liked.
Now, the time seemed to have arrived.
Hearing her words, Chi Shuo froze for several seconds, her eyes unblinking. Han Yu waved her hand and said, “No way? Really?”
The lights in the room weren’t bright now; the light from the TV screen illuminated everything.
The song Chi Shuo had picked, “Falling in Love with You,” was still playing—When you finally walked before me / Completing all the scenes / Even after tasting bitterness, spiciness, sourness, sweetness / Only joy remains
Chi Shuo pressed her lips together tightly without answering. She changed the subject. “Where did you buy this air pump? The quality isn’t…”
Han Yu placed both hands on her shoulders, interrupting her. “Shuo Shuo.”
Chi Shuo looked at her blankly. “What’s wrong?”
“Answer my question.” Han Yu’s hands didn’t move away. Her expression was stern, as if holding an employee morning meeting.
Chi Shuo exhaled. “Sort of.”
In the two months since she stopped interacting with He Lindi, Chi Shuo felt she had experienced quite a lot.
She realized she had fallen for He Lindi again, and because He Lindi had vanished without a trace, she chose not to continue liking her.
Later, He Lindi returned punctually, appearing before her. But Chi Shuo’s heart was filled with anger at the time. Call her willful or self-absorbed, but she just felt angry.
And after the anger? She continued maintaining a certain distance from He Lindi, but later broke her resolve.
He Lindi started interacting with her, and she responded. Plus, now spending time with He Lindi every day, those feelings of affection that hadn’t been completely suppressed or dissipated surged back once more.
Her accelerating heartbeat was proof enough that she was still moved by He Lindi.
Chi Shuo felt this wasn’t infatuation, just that those two months were completely insufficient for forgetting He Lindi.
If after He Lindi returned, Chi Shuo’s interactions with her had lessened or they hadn’t met at all, perhaps it wouldn’t have reawakened so quickly, but the problem was…
Chi Shuo still expressed her affection through her proximity, otherwise she wouldn’t have reposted He Lindi’s secret account Weibo, nor would she have gone back just to confirm if He Lindi was still sitting on the bench blowing in the wind.
Three years had passed since her last relationship. Regarding liking He Lindi, Chi Shuo didn’t know whether to feel fortunate or sad.
Despite spending relatively long periods together each day, the distance between them remained vast. It wasn’t that putting their names together or being in the same space could shorten the distance.
Hearing this answer, Han Yu didn’t show much surprise. She lowered her hands and asked, “It wouldn’t be her, right?”
Who “her” was, no longer needed clarification.
Under Han Yu’s disbelieving gaze, Chi Shuo slowly nodded. “It’s her.”
“…” Han Yu didn’t know what to say, randomly blurting out, “It’s him, it’s him, it’s him, our friend, Little Nezha.”
Chi Shuo burst out laughing with a “Pfft,” joining in on the next line. The atmosphere in the room instantly changed.
After a while, Chi Shuo fell silent. She leaned against the sofa, her face clouded with worry. “What you said before was wrong. He Lindi isn’t pretending to like girls just to follow trends—she genuinely does.” She recalled, “When she was dating Ding Miaoran, I saw them hugging. Looking back now, that happy smile of hers wasn’t fake at all.”
Han Yu looked puzzled. “Really?” Because Chi Shuo liked He Lindi, she didn’t dare say anything harsh. “But Shuo Shuo, I feel He Lindi’s ex-boyfriends are a bit…”
Chi Shuo finished the sentence: “Many.” Her eyelashes lowered. “I also feel there are quite a few.”
Just from what she knew, she dated five guys in high school, and in university, the number of ex-boyfriends couldn’t even be counted on one hand.
Chi Shuo covered her face. “Damn it, He Lindi, your ex-boyfriends combined could form a soccer team, with substitutes.”
Han Yu smiled. “Ai, good thing I don’t have to worry about anything.” She reveled in Chi Shuo’s misfortune. “Your last relationship was still in university. I haven’t even seen what you’re like when dating. Now, the chance has come.”
Chi Shuo: “…”
Re-examining her feelings yielded the same result as three months ago. Chi Shuo felt helpless. Facing He Lindi, she lacked confidence.
She worried, she feared, she had too many concerns.
What if He Lindi saw she liked her? What if He Lindi saw it but pretended not to know? How could she act normally, like usual?
Question after question popped up above Chi Shuo’s head, distracting her, making her absentminded.
Her lack of focus was noticed by Zeng Guai and the others.
Monday noon, in Xinyue’s break room, Zeng Guai urged, “Shuo Shuo, why are you playing cards so slowly today?”
They were playing Landlord again.
Prompted by her, Chi Shuo snapped back. “What was just played?”
Xia Zhou looked at her suspiciously. “Something’s not right with you.”
Zeng Guai also put down her cards and added, “Classmate Chi Shuo has been very off these past two days.”
Chi Shuo composed her expression, forcing an awkward smile. “No, right?” She found an excuse. “Maybe I just didn’t sleep well.”
After speaking, she picked up an apple from the table and took a bite. Xia Zhou reminded her, “Someone just gave that to you, haven’t washed it yet…”
Chi Shuo’s apple-biting action paused. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Today was Christmas Eve. The company gave everyone an apple. This one was given by Zheng Jianbin, the person responsible for distributing them.
“Do we need to remind you?” Xia Zhou felt wronged. “You’re troubled by love yourself, yet you blame us. Listen to yourself, are those human words?”
She didn’t look angry, mostly teasing. Chi Shuo quickly smiled apologetically. “Eating unclean things won’t make you sick. Didn’t mean to blame you.”
Zeng Guai always grasped the key point, and this time was no exception. “Wait, Shuo Shuo is troubled by love?”
“…” Chi Shuo also just noticed Xia Zhou’s words.
She looked towards Xia Zhou, saw the teasing glint in her eyes, pressed her lips together tightly for a moment, neither denying nor agreeing.
She began to suspect, did Xia Zhou know something?
Zeng Guai couldn’t sit still anymore and asked, “Shuo Shuo, really? Are you really going to get out of singledom within three months? Damn, I’m quitting my job and opening a fortune-telling stall later, specializing in predicting love fortunes.”
Chi Shuo secretly exhaled and shook her head. “What are you talking about? Getting out of singledom within three months is impossible.”
Xia Zhou raised an eyebrow from the side. “Why impossible?” She said, “Doesn’t someone quite like you?”
Chi Shuo was puzzled, let out an “Ah?”, and asked, “Who are you talking about?”
Xia Zhou took out her phone and sent a message in the group chat: 【Xiao Cheng.】
…Scared me to death.
Chi Shuo quickly denied it, lowered her voice, and replied, “I don’t like him.”
Zeng Guai narrowed her eyes. “Meaning… you like someone else?”
Chi Shuo felt flustered by their words. She glanced at the time on her watch and stood up. “Not talking anymore, I’m going to learn photography. See you tomorrow.”
“Merry Christmas Eve.”
Going upstairs, Chi Shuo steadied her breathing and emotions along the way. Chatting with her friends just now had made her too nervous.
What’s going on? Why are they so sharp!
Good thing Xia Zhou got the wrong person, otherwise Chi Shuo felt she might have died on the spot.
Arriving at Xiyu, she had already calmed down. As usual, she greeted the receptionist girl and entered Xiyu.
But He Lindi wasn’t in the office.
Q Ge, editing photos nearby, said, “Little Teacher He went to meet someone, will be back soon. You sit down first.”
Chi Shuo relaxed and sat down in He Lindi’s chair.
Q Ge glanced at her, moved closer, and asked, “Chi Shuo, do you know Little Teacher He has a photographer friend? A guy, not quite the same type as us photographers.”
“Not too clear,” Chi Shuo replied.
“Little Teacher He went to meet him.” Q Ge started gossiping. “Heard he’s liked our Little Teacher He for many years. Just now, I heard the girls from the department next door say he’s tall and handsome, holding a bouquet of flowers, looks like he’s here to confess.”
Chi Shuo’s mood instantly plummeted. She said, “Maybe today is Christmas Eve, tomorrow Christmas, both suitable for confessing.”
“True.” Q Ge took the milk tea he bought. “Heard Little Teacher He say you two went to the same high school, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then any gossip to share?”
“Q Ge.” Chi Shuo looked helpless. “I’m reading notes, don’t disturb me for now.”
Q Ge paused. “Okay, okay, sorry, I’ll continue editing photos.”
Chi Shuo felt irritated.
He Lindi definitely had many photographer friends outside the company, so how could she possibly know who it was.
But with a flash of thought, Chi Shuo remembered the time He Lindi took her to the photography exhibition on her birthday.
He Lindi had stopped before one photo, lingering for a long time, saying something like the photographer was her friend, but if she remembered correctly, He Lindi’s original words were “former friend.”
Chi Shuo tried hard to recall; it seemed to be the case, but she didn’t know if the person He Lindi was meeting now was the same one mentioned before.
Chi Shuo tried hard to calm down and started reading the notes.
After about ten minutes, He Lindi returned, carrying a bouquet of flowers.
The flowers were red roses, extremely vibrant and bright, complementing He Lindi’s complexion perfectly.
Some employees at Xiyu were used to this. In the year plus He Lindi had worked here, she had received countless flowers and gifts; this was just a bouquet of roses.
Chi Shuo naturally saw He Lindi holding the roses, but in Chi Shuo’s eyes, that bouquet held no beauty whatsoever and was even extremely jarring to look at.
Chi Shuo averted her gaze and rubbed her eyes.
He Lindi had just returned from outside, still carrying some chill. Standing beside Chi Shuo, Chi Shuo, wearing only a sweatshirt, shivered from the cold.
He Lindi asked, “Did I chill you?”
Chi Shuo neither nodded nor shook her head. She showed a smile, picked up her cup, and said, “I’m going to get some hot water.”
“Mm, okay.”
Chi Shuo had practically become half an employee at Xiyu now. Going to get hot water, she ran into familiar faces. And this time, she encountered Hu Bo again.
Hu Bo still wore his signature grin. He got a cup of warm water and said to Chi Shuo, “Shuo Shuo, when are we arranging KTV again?”
Chi Shuo had already wiped the smile off her face. She pressed her eyebrows down and shook her head. “Not arranging for now.”
“Today and tomorrow are Christmas Eve and Christmas. We don’t have partners, let’s arrange something?”
Chi Shuo curved her lips. “Don’t you still have overtime? Overtime is your partner.”
“Damn.”
“Chi Shuo.”
Returning, He Lindi and Q Ge were chatting happily. Chi Shuo exhaled, then also put on a smile.
Q Ge gave her his seat. “You sit here, I’m going out to take photos.”
Chi Shuo didn’t refuse. Once Q Ge left, she sat down.
He Lindi was tapping away at her keyboard nearby, messaging someone. While typing, she said, “I’ve already made comparison pictures of the photos you took last week and mine. Yours are on top, mine are below. I sent them to your email, take a look.”
“Okay.” Chi Shuo replied, then logged into her email and started looking seriously.
After a while, Chi Shuo couldn’t suppress her thoughts. Her gaze gradually shifted from the computer desktop to He Lindi’s profile.
He Lindi sensed her gaze, turned her head, and looked at her. “Any problems?”
Chi Shuo put on a gossipy look. “The person you went to meet, was it the one mentioned on my birthday?”
He Lindi recalled for a moment. “Yes.”
“He shoots quite well.” Chi Shuo had forgotten his name.
He Lindi didn’t speak again. Chi Shuo pressed her lips together, her tone somewhat sour. “These flowers are very beautiful.”
“I bought them.” He Lindi’s eyes were exceptionally bright.
Chi Shuo: ???
“You like it?”
“It’s yours.”
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