He Lindi finally declared Chi Shuo’s mission accomplished around 5:30 PM. She was now very happy and allowed Chi Shuo to leave.
This was also Chi Shuo’s normal time to get off work. Chi Shuo finally understood—today’s events were simply a change of workplace, and He Lindi had no intention of making things difficult for her. This was within Chi Shuo’s expectations, yet also seemed somewhat unexpected.
While teaching He Lindi, Chi Shuo herself had skated to her heart’s content, her footwork skilled and varied, leaving He Lindi stunned. But the consequence was—she was covered in sweat.
There were showers available here, but neither of them used them. After calming down, they took separate taxis home.
The next day, going to work as usual, Chi Shuo felt a bit of a psychological shadow as she entered the company building, afraid Lin Xinyue, that unreliable boss, might be waiting to ambush her again at the entrance. Only when her memory returned, recalling the supervisor mentioning yesterday that Mr. Lin was on a business trip, did Chi Shuo relax.
The photos He Lindi gave Lin Xinyue on a USB drive yesterday morning had already been quickly posted on Xinyue Company’s official website, even taking up a large section of the homepage. Xinyue’s app even had a special opening screen displaying the boss’s handsome photos.
Chi Shuo felt speechless looking at the photos, suddenly feeling a sense of “like boss, like employee.” But the effect seemed rather good. Searching keywords related to the company’s app, she found someone even saying they had a favorable impression of the company because the “boss was handsome,” and thus wanted to use the app.
Chi Shuo had to admit defeat.
During the lunch break, Zeng Guai asked Chi Shuo if she had any plans for the weekend.
Chi Shuo kneaded her neck. Yesterday, she had overexerted herself; her whole body was a bit sore. She shook her head and replied, “No.” After speaking, she remembered Han Yu. “But going for drinks tonight.”
Han Yu had messaged her again last night, pestering her for a long time. Chi Shuo couldn’t refuse and had agreed. However, they weren’t going to the lesbian bar, but a regular one with both men and women.
Xia Zhou had gone to the internet cafe with Yue Ke to play games again. Anyway, the lunch break was long enough; she wouldn’t get in the way of their romance.
Zeng Guai’s eyes lit up. “Take me with you?!”
Under her expectant gaze, Chi Shuo slowly shook her head. “Not really possible. My friend is shy around strangers.”
Han Yu had barely met Zeng Guai and the others. Chi Shuo didn’t particularly want them to get acquainted at the moment, not because either side wasn’t worthy, but because Chi Shuo had her own concerns.
What if Han Yu, that big mouth, accidentally let slip while drunk that she used to have a crush on He Lindi? Wouldn’t that be disastrous?
Zeng Guai said “Oh.” “That’s fine then.” She smiled. “Then I’ll go ask Didi and the others if they’re free to watch a movie.”
Chi Shuo’s breath hitched slightly. Looking at Zeng Guai, she asked curiously, “What movie?”
“One that just premiered today. Box office and reviews are pretty good. I’ll have to look up the name; I’ve forgotten it.”
Forgetting the name, really?
Chi Shuo retracted her gaze and yawned. “Go ahead, go ahead. Have fun watching.”
She then slumped onto the table, preparing to nap, but before closing her eyes, she saw He Xiuqi walking over holding a drink.
He walked over with a smile on his face. In just a few steps, he reached Chi Shuo, no longer holding back. He pulled out a chair and sat down.
Zeng Guai raised an eyebrow. “Planning on using us as props again, but with our consent this time?”
He Xiuqi blushed slightly at her words and immediately apologized. “Sister Zeng, don’t bring that up again. Let me off the hook, please.”
Zeng Guai “hmphed,” picking up her coffee and taking a sip.
Chi Shuo still closed her eyes, asking, “So, what’s up?”
He Xiuqi clearly hadn’t come over because he was bored. After all this time, Chi Shuo more or less understood him a bit.
He appeared harmless on the surface but had plenty of schemes up his sleeve.
“My birthday is coming up soon. Xiao Chi Jie, are you guys free? I want to treat you to dinner.”
Zeng Guai stopped teasing him this time and asked seriously, “When?”
“Sunday.”
“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” Zeng Guai said. “We could have bought you a gift.”
He Xiuqi waved his hands again. “No need, no need. You guys have taken such good care of me at the company, accepting a birthday gift on top of that would be too much.”
Zeng Guai seemed to want to say something more. Chi Shuo swallowed, then asked casually, “Inviting He Lindi?”
“Teacher He replied to me.”
“She wished me a happy birthday in advance, but she can’t make it.”
He Xiuqi’s voice couldn’t hide his disappointment. Chi Shuo’s eyes, hidden beneath her eyelids, shifted, then she opened her eyes and said, “Then send us the address.”
He Xiuqi left satisfied. Zeng Guai watched his receding figure, then leaned closer to Chi Shuo and asked curiously, “Shuo Shuo, I suddenly feel he’s a bit pitiful.”
“Huh? Pitiful? How so?”
“A crush is a one-person show. Besides, Didi’s attitude clearly shows she’s rejecting him…” Zeng Guai added, “Moreover, Didi has dated a girl before, it’s not even certain if she still likes guys now.”
The corners of Chi Shuo’s eyebrows pressed down, matching the slight downward curve of her lips.
Zeng Guai didn’t get her agreement, so she glanced at Chi Shuo again. “Besides, I don’t think they’re a good match at all. Our Didi is way too outstanding.”
Chi Shuo sighed, her expression unclear to Zeng Guai. “Yeah, way too outstanding.”
Chi Shuo showed up for the evening appointment on time, going to the bar with ‘Player Han’ for drinks. But in the end, it just became a two-person ‘rant fest.’ Han Yu played the role of both host and guest, while Chi Shuo was just an audience member.
“Shuo Shuo, let me tell you, it was unbelievable. I met a girl at that lesbian bar the other day, she was absolutely gorgeous, stunning, beautiful.”
“I went up to chat her up, hadn’t even spoken two sentences, and she asked if I wanted a threesome.”
“I almost fainted on the spot. So awesome.”
“…Yeah, awesome.” Chi Shuo picked up the glass of juice on the table and took a sip. She wasn’t in the mood for alcohol tonight. Besides, Han Yu had driven. At least one of them had to stay sober, and that person would only be her, because from the moment Han Yu entered, she had ordered two bottles of imported liquor from the waiter, looking determined to get drunk.
Han Yu’s cheeks were already flushed, and her eyes weren’t so clear anymore. Chi Shuo asked with a touch of worry, “How about we head back? I’m afraid I won’t be able to carry you on my own.”
“Okay.” Han Yu didn’t refuse. She was still in the shadow of her breakup, but much better now compared to when they first split. There was no need to numb herself with alcohol. She came out for drinks simply because she was a bit lonely and wanted to meet up with Chi Shuo, her longtime friend, to chat.
Chi Shuo helped her out of the bustling bar.
After getting into the car and fastening Han Yu’s seatbelt, Chi Shuo had just opened the driver’s side door when her phone rang in the quiet car.
Chi Shuo fastened her own seatbelt, glanced at the caller ID—it was He Lindi.
Chi Shuo wasn’t sure what matter required a phone call. She answered without hesitation, then looked at Han Yu, who was closing her eyes and smacking her lips beside her, worried Han Yu might slide down the seat.
“Teacher Chi, I can skate without holding onto the wall now.”
Chi Shuo relaxed. She had thought something major had happened, but judging by He Lindi’s words, it was simply a student reporting their learning progress to the teacher.
Chi Shuo’s other hand lightly rubbed the steering wheel cover. She chuckled. “Can skate? Are you sure?” She suddenly remembered the key point. “You practiced again?”
It seemed roller skating really was He Lindi’s obsession. Clearly, her work wasn’t that leisurely, yet she still made time for it.
But thinking about it, today was Friday; everyone had time, He Lindi included.
He Lindi’s voice came over, lacking confidence. “Mm… not too sure.”
Chi Shuo: “…”
Chi Shuo couldn’t help lowering her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “Wear your protective gear, don’t be afraid of falling, you can do it.” She sighed. “When I taught Xiao Tong before, he also fell, but last week at the roller skating rink, he pretended to have amnesia in front of me, saying he had never fallen. How could he not have fallen? It’s through falling that you learn your lesson, move forward, and improve.”
The other end was silent. Chi Shuo figured He Lindi might be thinking, so she continued, “Don’t be afraid of falling and getting hurt, you’ll get it soon.” Finally, Chi Shuo couldn’t resist using her new title. “Teacher Chi believes in you.”
What she got was He Lindi’s questioning tone: “You taught him?”
“Yeah.” Chi Shuo unconsciously lifted her chin slightly, looking rather proud. “I was the roller skating champion of our neighborhood back then.”
“Where are you now?” He Lindi asked again.
Chi Shuo glanced at Han Yu again. “In my friend’s car, about to take her home.”
He Lindi said “Oh.” “Then be safe.”
She hung up after speaking, leaving Chi Shuo, still not fully reacting, on the other end—not even a “bye-bye”?
Chi Shuo exhaled, started the car, and drove Han Yu home.
Han Yu wasn’t completely drunk and unconscious; she was just sleepy. Chi Shuo wasn’t too worried and quickly took a taxi back home herself.
After showering to get rid of the alcohol smell, Chi Shuo sat on the sofa with a towel wrapped around her hair, looking at the messages Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai had just sent in their group chat.
They were discussing what gift to get He Xiuqi, having gone through two or three pages of conversation without reaching a conclusion. Chi Shuo simply made the final decision: 【Let’s go to the mall tomorrow and get him a basketball or a gaming keyboard together, from the three of us.】
Zeng Guai was shocked: 【Right! Why didn’t I think of that! Saves money and shows sincerity!】
Chi Shuo found it amusing. Actually, the three of them buying a gift together didn’t really show much sincerity. It was just that if each of them bought separately, it would be too time-consuming and troublesome. It was better to just buy something most guys liked and be done with it.
Xia Zhou agreed: 【Then how about buying something with SF Express delivery? It’ll arrive tomorrow or the day after.】
Xia Zhou: 【Mainly because I’m not free tomorrow. I have a date. You two can choose, I’ll just transfer the money.】
Zeng Guai sent a “lemon” emoji: 【I’m so jealous, I don’t have a date.】
Chi Shuo raised an eyebrow: 【I’m not jealous, I’m sweet.】
Zeng Guai: 【……】
Zeng Guai: 【Yeah, you also have a younger puppy dog, not being sweet would be weird.】
Chi Shuo frowned slightly, explaining, 【That’s my younger brother, don’t misunderstand.】
【I don’t even have a younger brother.】
Chi Shuo didn’t bother discussing these things further with Zeng Guai, whose eyes were filled with gossip. She left the sentence “I’m going to blow-dry my hair” and got up.
Saturday, September 1st. Most students had started school. Chi Shuo and Zeng Guai passed a middle school entrance that afternoon and heard the sounds of playing and laughter coming from inside.
Right now, the two of them were on their way to buy He Xiuqi a gift. The weather today seemed to be mirroring the back-to-school atmosphere, gloomy and gray, looking like it was about to cry.
Chi Shuo liked this kind of weather and hadn’t even brought an umbrella, enjoying the light breeze blowing in the air.
After passing the middle school, Zeng Guai sighed. “I miss going to school.” She said, “School was great. I even had a puppy love in high school.”
Zeng Guai might really be lonely now; every few sentences revolved around the topic of romance. “Unlike now? No one wants me at all!”
Chi Shuo glanced at her, poking holes in Zeng Guai’s lie. “Clearly, people pursued you, but you didn’t like them, didn’t agree, didn’t accept. How can you say no one wants you? You don’t want the ones who want you. In the end, it’s clearly your own fault.”
Zeng Guai wasn’t unattractive, didn’t dress poorly, and had decent EQ. Chi Shuo had previously heard several times about people from other companies downstairs pursuing her, but when gossiping about it directly with Zeng Guai, she denied it, saying it was all a misunderstanding.
How was it a misunderstanding? It was simply rejecting people and giving them a way out.
“Hmph.” Zeng Guai stopped talking about this and walked into a keyboard specialty store with Chi Shuo. They picked out a gaming keyboard that looked very cool.
The keyboard wasn’t particularly expensive, priced at a few hundred yuan. Chi Shuo herself almost couldn’t resist buying it. However, when buying things, she considered practicality. Judging by her current situation, if she bought a gaming keyboard like this, it wouldn’t be of much use.
She rarely opened her laptop at home and didn’t play games. If she bought it, it would truly just gather dust.
“Speaking of which, Didi’s birthday is also coming up soon,” Zeng Guai brought this up after leaving the store.
Chi Shuo paused. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“When we were watching the movie last night, I specifically asked her about her birthday.”
Chi Shuo pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing slightly as if recalling something. After two seconds, she asked, “September 28th?”
Zeng Guai was surprised. “How did you know?” She smiled. “Oh, I remember now. Was it because she was your love rival before, so you took her as a research subject and thoroughly investigated her information?”
“If you say so.” It seemed like a decent reason. Anyway, Chi Shuo wouldn’t say that she had actually used He Lindi’s birthday as a password before.
Otherwise, the impact might be enough to cause the city of Yuncheng to collapse.
“Then…” Zeng Guai swallowed, “Are you going to buy her a gift?”
Before Chi Shuo could answer, Zeng Guai continued, “We can’t buy together this time. Didi is our friend; let’s buy separately.”
Chi Shuo raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t you the one messaging last night saying that the three of us buying together would show greater sincerity?”
What she got was just Zeng Guai’s embarrassed chuckle.
He Xiuqi wasn’t really considered a friend to Chi Shuo. They were true ordinary colleagues. But for some reason, He Xiuqi seemed a bit dependent on her. Chi Shuo thought about it for a long time, eventually attributing it to “chemistry.”
Interpersonal relationships indeed depended on chemistry, also known as feeling. Perhaps He Xiuqi simply thought she was nice, hence his behavior.
Chi Shuo didn’t think he was bad, but she still wanted to maintain a proper distance. She rarely took the initiative to interact with He Xiuqi, always being on the receiving end, and each time she couldn’t escape.
This birthday was no exception. Chi Shuo and the others arrived at the restaurant on time, wishing He Xiuqi a happy birthday.
He Xiuqi was popular; it was also clear his family background was good. He had invited five tables of colleagues and friends to celebrate his birthday.
Chi Shuo wasn’t like this. She usually celebrated her birthdays alone, not inviting others.
This was a habit she developed after breaking up with Shen Qu. Before that, every birthday, Shen Qu would also invite this many people to celebrate with her. One time, they even had a banner that read, “Happy Birthday to my bestie, Chi Shuo.”
Bestie.
Only after breaking up did Chi Shuo find it ironic. She hadn’t forced Shen Qu to publicly announce their relationship, but it shouldn’t have been like that, right? But it was too late by the time she understood, otherwise they wouldn’t have dragged it out for so long before breaking up.
During a break in the meal, Chi Shuo counted on her fingers the number of people in the world who knew her birthday.
Her parents had already forgotten. After divorcing, they never called her again on her birthday.
Chi Shuo only extended her thumb so far—representing Han Yu. Han Yu remembered her birthday and would give her gifts on time, but wouldn’t celebrate with her, because Chi Shuo didn’t want to. Chi Shuo was used to celebrating her birthdays alone.
Counting further, Chi Shuo racked her brain and finally bent her index finger—He Lindi.
But Chi Shuo wasn’t sure. He Lindi had said she knew her birthday, but Chi Shuo didn’t know if she still remembered.
This was like ants crawling on her heart. Chi Shuo desperately wanted to know the answer immediately.
Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, she took out her phone, opened the chat dialogue with He Lindi, typed a line, prepared to send it, but deleted everything before clicking send.
Forget it, directly asking if she remembered her birthday was too abrupt.
But not sending anything, Chi Shuo felt somewhat unwilling. She simply sent: 【He Xiuqi’s birthday dinner is pretty good.】
He Lindi immediately replied: 【Then treat me next week? I remember your birthday is next week.】
If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.
