Lin Xinyue changed the subject so abruptly that Chi Shuo was momentarily stunned before realizing the nature of his question.
“Mr. Lin,” Chi Shuo didn’t avoid the question or play dumb, instead grasping the key point. “Are you asking me this as my boss?” She continued, her lips curving slightly, “If you also like my girlfriend, there’s no need to use this method to sabotage her impression of you. A straightforward pursuit would be much more respectable.”
Lin Xinyue: “…”
He put on his boss persona. “So? If I’m your boss, I can’t ask?”
“Of course you can ask about me and her, but that definitely doesn’t include that question just now. Because if you’re just my boss, you have absolutely no right or standing to ask something like that.”
“What if I do?” Lin Xinyue tugged at his tie, his face full of defiance. “I’m He Lindi’s cousin.”
He had expected Chi Shuo to be surprised, but from her expression, he only saw the words “as expected.” He couldn’t help but ask, “You knew?”
“It wasn’t hard to guess.”
Businessmen prioritize profit. Lin Xinyue, as the boss, could casually reassign employees; that wasn’t the problem. The problem was he always helped He Lindi, and He Lindi’s excuse was always “free photography.” Chi Shuo hadn’t been entirely sure before today, until Lin Xinyue took the bait.
Lin Xinyue looked at Chi Shuo and couldn’t help but laugh. “Chi Shuo, oh Chi Shuo, they all say you’re clever, and I didn’t really believe it before, but now it seems they’re right.” He continued smiling. “So, now I’m qualified, right? What will it take for you to leave my cousin?”
Family relationships are the hardest to sever. Faced with He Lindi’s cousin asking such a question, Chi Shuo’s ability to remain calm was impressive.
She said, “Mr. Lin, please wait, I’ll call her and ask.”
Chi Shuo even acted like she was really taking out her phone.
“…No need.”
That afternoon, Chi Shuo had taken her creative proposal to Mingjing Company and discussed the advertising collaboration with their marketing department. He Lindi was there too, naturally. She was taking photos, not just of Lin Xinyue, but other staff members as well, including her girlfriend, Chi Shuo.
Chi Shuo was undeniably excellent. In the nearly two years since graduation, her work abilities had greatly improved. The calmness and composure she exuded were perfectly balanced, and the smile she wore showed she had developed her own professional conduct when facing clients.
Soon, after some minor revisions to Chi Shuo’s drawings, both sides agreed to sign the contract the next morning. For tonight, they decided to see how the traffic on Xinyue’s platforms performed, essentially giving Mingjing Company around twelve hours of free advertising.
Another colleague called Lin Xinyue to confirm and, after getting his approval, the Xinyue team left the Mingjing building.
The Beijing sun was shining, casting a warm and comfortable glow. Chi Shuo, usually averse to sunlight, was now enjoying its gentle warmth.
He Lindi, who had brought an umbrella, seeing this, didn’t bother opening it.
Besides the two of them, three other colleagues were on this trip. He Lindi held her DSLR and, as they neared the roadside, said, “Mr. Lin just said since we’re in Beijing, we can relax a bit. We’ll be signing the contract tomorrow morning, so everyone can do as they please now.”
As she spoke, she winked at Chi Shuo. A minute later, the two were walking in the opposite direction from their colleagues.
He Lindi held Chi Shuo’s wrist. Seeing her cheerful expression, Chi Shuo asked, “What’s up? We have to separate from the others?”
He Lindi stopped walking and snorted lightly. “Are you saying you want to hang out with those three lightbulbs?”
The streets were crowded. Chi Shuo looked a bit innocent. “I didn’t mean that. And if we’re on the street now, wouldn’t all these pedestrians also be lightbulbs?”
“They are.” He Lindi nodded without hesitation.
Chi Shuo: “…”
“So…” A mysterious smile spread across He Lindi’s face. “I’m taking you somewhere without other people.”
Chi Shuo followed her into a taxi. Half an hour later, the car stopped outside a residential complex. Chi Shuo saw the glittering “Yunshang Garden” sign at the entrance and was stunned. “Don’t tell me this is your place in Beijing?”
“Pretty much.”
“…”
After entering, Chi Shuo looked at the fairyland-like environment and was stunned again. “This isn’t far from where we’re working. Why didn’t you stay here before?”
He Lindi glanced at her. “When you’re around, I stay at a hotel. Other times, I stay here on business trips.”
The corners of Chi Shuo’s lips couldn’t help but curve upwards. To hide her inner joy, she retorted, “Really?”
He Lindi patted the back of her hand. “Don’t hold back your smile, what if you hurt yourself?”
During their conversation, they had already reached the floor He Lindi had pressed. Walking shoulder-to-shoulder, He Lindi said, “My grandfather doesn’t really care for me, but my dad adores me. One of his hobbies is buying me apartments.”
Chi Shuo let out a deep sigh. “That’s a unique hobby.”
He Lindi adjusted her DSLR. “Have I told you why I like photography?”
“No, you haven’t.”
“When I was little, I often went out with my dad. There would always be people with cameras taking pictures of apartments. The first time I saw a camera like that, I thought it was amazing, and then I fell in love with it.”
They had walked down a quiet corridor. He Lindi continued, “Later, my dad bought me a camera.”
Chi Shuo hummed. “So that’s why you’re so good at photography. Started young, of course you’re skilled.”
“When I was little, because my grandfather didn’t really like me, my dad often sent me to Beijing.”
Chi Shuo was a bit puzzled. “Really?”
“So, I don’t usually stay in this apartment. This is my sanctuary.”
As He Lindi finished speaking, the door lock clicked open. She gently pushed the door open. Framed photographs lined the walls, all taken by He Lindi.
Chi Shuo felt like she had entered an exhibition hall. She exclaimed, “Is this your secret base?”
“Mm-hmm.”
The apartment had clearly been renovated. There were no separate rooms, just one large hall with a sofa, coffee table, and trash can in the center. The surrounding walls were painted a light, ocean-like blue.
Chi Shuo walked from one photograph to another, carefully examining He Lindi’s work.
“Is this your dad?” One photo was dated 2004. A man held a small toy, and a golden retriever sat obediently before him.
“Yes.”
He Lindi didn’t offer any explanations. She sat down on the sofa. Thankfully, she had bought water downstairs; otherwise, she’d be parched.
The photos were arranged chronologically. He Lindi watched as Chi Shuo walked to the wall displaying her junior high photos, then slowly moved to the one with her high school pictures. The corners of her lips curved slightly. She called out, “Chi Shuo.” She asked, “Which photo did you say you were shameless for waiting so long to see?”
Chi Shuo turned to look at her. “Would a photography exhibition give you back the pictures?”
“I have a habit of keeping backups. I usually have copies of my photos.”
Chi Shuo looked again at the framed photos, trying to recall which one she had been so obsessed with. But even after searching her memory, she couldn’t fully picture it.
After two minutes, Chi Shuo shook her head. “I don’t know anymore.”
The photo should have left a deep impression, but now she couldn’t even recall its appearance. Relying on her intuition, Chi Shuo stopped before a night scene photo.
Staring at the scenery, as if recalling a memory, she declared, “This one.”
He Lindi walked over and stood beside her, looking at the photo together. Judging from the date, it was indeed that one.
He Lindi took it down and placed it in Chi Shuo’s hands. “I’ve been thinking about what kind of gift would be meaningful enough for our one-month anniversary,” she paused. “It’s a shame I was abroad that day. I wasn’t even in Yuncheng with you and didn’t even mention it.”
The corners of Chi Shuo’s lips curved. “I didn’t mention it either.”
“But that notebook you kept about me was a wonderful gift.” He Lindi lowered her head slightly, looking at the photo in her hands. “So I thought about what kind of gift would be truly meaningful and came up with this.”
The photo wasn’t large, just slightly bigger than her palm.
Chi Shuo was so touched she didn’t know what to say. She took the photo, smiling. “What if I couldn’t remember it?”
“I knew which one it was. I would have reminded you.”
He Lindi stepped forward and hugged Chi Shuo. Their heads rested together against the backdrop of the quiet, beautiful, exhibition-like hall.
Chi Shuo wrapped her arms around He Lindi’s waist, still holding the photo.
He Lindi’s voice was close. “Since I renovated this place, only my dad has been here. Now there’s you.”
Chi Shuo’s nose tingled. “Happy one-month-and-one-week anniversary.”
He Lindi chuckled softly by her ear, making Chi Shuo’s heart flutter. “You remember that clearly?” She paused, then tilted her head and kissed Chi Shuo’s earlobe, her breath warm against her skin. “Shuo Shuo Jie Jie, can we please not listen to the Great Compassion Mantra tonight?”
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