Monday morning, Chi Shuo woke up on time, got ready, ate breakfast, and headed to the company.
She wore light makeup today, covering her slightly pale complexion; otherwise, anyone could see her fatigue.
After getting off the bus, entering the office building, and squeezing into the elevator, Chi Shuo’s expression remained unchanged, as if permanently frozen in a state of indifference, the words “do not disturb” practically etched onto her face.
As usual, she arrived at the company, clocked in, sat down at her workstation, and waited for the meeting. A few minutes later, she entered the conference room with her colleagues.
During the meeting, the supervisor praised her for the successful Mingjing Company ad campaign, then asked Chi Shuo to share her insights and experience. The meeting adjourned shortly after.
Now that she was at the company, Chi Shuo’s stern expression softened slightly, a faint smile appearing on her face.
Only, it was a forced smile, lacking any genuine warmth, looking rather unsettling.
Fang Xiuxiu found it a bit unnerving. After getting some water, she glanced at Chi Shuo several times, finally asking worriedly, “Shuo Shuo, what’s wrong?”
“What?” Chi Shuo slowly turned, meeting her gaze. Her usually bright eyes now held only a calm emptiness.
Fang Xiuxiu rubbed her arm, her worry intensifying. She asked, “Did something happen?”
A small, fixed smile played on Chi Shuo’s lips. She shook her head. “No.” She reassured Fang Xiuxiu, “Just thinking about some things, feeling a bit down. I’ll be fine soon.”
The office was filled with the clicking of keyboards. After speaking, Chi Shuo didn’t hesitate, her fingers joining the rhythmic tapping.
Hearing her say that, Fang Xiuxiu didn’t press further and focused on her own work.
But Chi Shuo was acting strangely today. Before the business trip, she’d often take breaks in the lounge, but this morning, she hadn’t left her chair once, as if glued to it.
Just before lunch, Fang Xiuxiu tapped Chi Shuo’s shoulder, pulling her out of her work-induced trance. “Shuo Shuo, it’s lunchtime.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Zeng Guai and Xia Zhou approaching. She smiled at them, then left with her usual lunch buddies.
Zeng Guai walked beside Chi Shuo, a cheerful grin on her face. “Shuo Shuo, so rare for you to join us for lunch.” She lowered her voice slightly. “Ever since you started dating, except for when Didi was away, you barely joined me, this lonely old woman, for meals in the cafeteria.”
Xia Zhou yawned. “Mondays always come too quickly. I’m so sleepy, I need a good nap when we get back.”
Zeng Guai rolled her eyes. “Someone enjoying their sex life, off you go.”
Xia Zhou chuckled. “Jealous much?” She looked at Chi Shuo. “Well, you don’t have anyone, so you can’t relate.”
“If you push me too far, I’ll just go find someone…”
Zeng Guai only realized after speaking, along with Xia Zhou, a crucial issue—Chi Shuo hadn’t said a word.
They exchanged glances, both turning to look at the silent Chi Shuo.
Xia Zhou sensed something was off. She licked her lips and cautiously asked, “Shuo Shuo, did… something happen?”
Chi Shuo looked at her, her eyes empty, her voice devoid of warmth. “No.”
“Then…” Zeng Guai still didn’t want to directly point out Chi Shuo’s current ghostly state. “Let’s eat.”
Chi Shuo picked up her chopsticks, staring at the lotus root slices in the dry pot. She picked one up, but before she could even put it in her mouth, tears started streaming down her face.
This startled her two friends. Zeng Guai frantically pulled out tissues from her bag, on the verge of tears herself. “Who bullied our Shuo Shuo?!”
Xia Zhou took the chopsticks from Chi Shuo’s still stiff hand and gave her the tissues. “Here, wipe your face.”
Chi Shuo buried her face in the tissues, sobbing silently. The tissue quickly dampened, then tore slightly, tears continuing to drip onto the table.
Xia Zhou gave her another tissue, then she and Zeng Guai remained silent, lips pressed tightly together.
Why was Chi Shuo like this? The answer was easy to guess, yet not. Both felt deeply worried for her.
Either Chi Shuo and He Lindi had a fight, or… Chi Shuo and He Lindi had broken up.
They ruled out any problems with Chi Shuo’s family, because if that were the case, Chi Shuo wouldn’t be at work.
Chi Shuo’s sobs were quiet and suppressed, just tears flowing. But then a cough escaped her.
By now, the cafeteria had almost emptied. A small mountain of used tissues lay before Chi Shuo—Zeng Guai had even gone to the supermarket to buy more, otherwise, they wouldn’t have been enough.
Chi Shuo still covered her face, but her breathing had started to even out; she wasn’t crying as hard.
Xia Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, tossed the used tissues in the nearby trash can, and returned to see Chi Shuo had lowered her hands.
This bout of crying seemed cathartic. Red blotches covered Chi Shuo’s face.
Chi Shuo’s features usually held a certain sharpness. If not for her perpetually smiling face, some might find her unapproachable, lacking warmth. But now, her usual sharpness had been washed away by tears, leaving only a vulnerable fragility that made one’s heart ache.
She exhaled, her voice thick with nasal congestion. “I…”
Xia Zhou held her hand. “It’s okay, you don’t have to talk yet. Just take your time.”
Zeng Guai felt terrible for her, but with Chi Shuo in this state, she didn’t dare ask anything, afraid of triggering another wave of tears.
People nearby were staring. Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai paid them no mind; they were too focused on Chi Shuo.
Chi Shuo’s crying had been silent, just tears, but now a cough escaped her.
“Is there still any food left?” Chi Shuo asked, her vision still blurry. She looked towards the serving counter.
“They have set meals,” Zeng Guai immediately stood up. “I’ll go get some.”
Chi Shuo shook her head, exhaling. “Sorry, I ruined your lunch.”
Zeng Guai sat back down, shaking her head. “Think of it as weight loss.”
“What time is it?” Chi Shuo asked.
“12:40.”
“There’s still time.” Chi Shuo’s eyelashes were still damp. “Let’s eat outside.”
“Okay.”
About ten minutes later, the three were sitting in the fried rice restaurant across from the office building.
Chi Shuo’s tears had dried, but the redness lingered around her eyes.
The restaurant was filled with the strong aroma of food and the loud clang of woks from the kitchen, the sounds echoing rhythmically.
Zeng Guai poured them each a small cup of tea and took a sip herself. “Not bad.”
Xia Zhou hummed. “Been here before, it’s decent.”
Chi Shuo clutched a tissue, trying to compose herself. “I…” she started, then lowered her head slightly, “…I broke up with her.”
Who “her” was didn’t need any explanation.
Even though they had guessed it might be the reason, hearing Chi Shuo say it still shocked Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai. The weight of those words was heavier than any speculation.
Xia Zhou’s lips trembled. With a hint of disbelief, she asked, “Why…?”
Chi Shuo looked at her and said, “Can I not talk about it?”
“Of course.”
Chi Shuo tried to put on a carefree tone. “Don’t be surprised; I knew this would happen.”
The two sighed. Xia Zhou patted Chi Shuo’s hand. “It’s okay, Shuo Shuo. There are plenty of fish in the sea.”
Back in the office, faint traces of tears still lingered on Chi Shuo’s face. As time passed, she finally returned to her normal appearance.
The Yun Cheng sun was shining today, but Chi Shuo’s expression held no hint of brightness, as if still trapped in the cold of winter.
Xia Zhou had intended to go downstairs with them, but Chi Shuo stopped her. “You should go with your boyfriend.” Chi Shuo paused. “And tell him to stop calling me ‘Biao Sao’.”
So it was Zeng Guai and Chi Shuo going downstairs again. Xiyu finished work later, making it impossible for them to run into He Lindi. Zeng Guai was relieved by this.
Exiting the office building, Chi Shuo composed her expression and turned to Zeng Guai. “Want some milk tea?”
“Sure,” Zeng Guai replied, since Chi Shuo had offered.
Twenty minutes later, they left the milk tea shop, drinks in hand. Chi Shuo looked up at the sky and said, “See you tomorrow.”
Zeng Guai was still worried. “Should I come over tonight?”
Chi Shuo shook her head, refusing the offer. “Maybe another time, when I’m feeling better.”
“Okay…”
They parted ways. Chi Shuo lowered her gaze and walked towards the bus stop.
It had been a long time since she had to squeeze onto a bus during rush hour. This return to a familiar feeling left her somewhat dazed.
After a few stops, Chi Shuo took out her phone, logged into Weibo, and checked her private messages. She and He Lindi had already unfollowed each other’s side accounts. She scrolled through her inbox and found a message from He Lindi.
【My cousin told me you were crying miserably.】
【Three days after our fake breakup, I miss you so much.】
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