Originally, the Xinyue team was going to give up. Xiang Qingya’s side was truly difficult to persuade, and they didn’t hold much hope for the outcome of Chi Shuo and Wang Rui, two women, going out on their own.
Thus, when Xiao Cheng received Chi Shuo’s call asking him to bring the documents for signing, his shock multiplied tenfold.
This unconventional approach had worked wonders. Chi Shuo herself was delighted. She had guessed such an ending might be possible but simultaneously felt it was hopeless. Unexpectedly, Xiang Qingya truly valued her drawings more, and it seemed Chi Shuo had some sort of fate with her.
On the way back, Wang Rui’s happiness was written all over her face. Her address for Chi Shuo changed again: “Sister Shuo! From now on, you are my unilaterally declared biological sister!”
Chi Shuo’s lips curved upwards, unable to suppress her smile due to the good news of the successful signing. Her eyes crinkled. “How old are you? If you’re older than me, forget it. I refuse to raise a younger sister.”
“…I don’t care!”
Xiao Cheng, holding the contract, was overjoyed. He waved his hand grandly. “Chi Shuo, you’re the main hero this time. What do you want to eat? The company will treat you.”
“The company?”
“Since Xiang Qingya won the Golden Tree Award, her value has skyrocketed, and her commercial worth has risen too. Our company was prepared for them to raise the price, but because of you, we signed for the original price for this event, saving so much. The manager just said we can have a good time before going back.”
“Okay.”
They would return on Monday morning, giving them a full day tomorrow to relax. Even though… this business trip hadn’t felt particularly stressful; it seemed like they were relaxing every day.
After eating out and returning to the hotel, Chi Shuo took a shower first, only then feeling like her soul had returned to her body.
Wang Rui was leaning against the sofa watching TV. A comedy film was playing. Chi Shuo had heard her bursts of goose-like laughter from the bathroom.
Chi Shuo dried her hair, listened to her, and said, “Sister Rui, Xiao Cheng called just now, asking us to go over and discuss how to play tomorrow.”
“Actually, I’d rather lie in bed all day.” Chi Shuo sat down beside her. Water droplets still trickled down her hair strands. Chi Shuo didn’t give them a chance, catching them with a towel beforehand.
“I thought so too.”
“But…” Chi Shuo smiled. “Since we’re here, it’s okay to go out and relax.”
“Right!”
Soon, the results were discussed—tomorrow morning, they’d go to a teahouse to play cards for half a day, then spend the afternoon at a KTV.
Chi Shuo couldn’t help but laugh at this outcome. She had initially thought everyone would suggest visiting Mishi’s famous attractions, but they were all lazy people, not wanting to run around.
This arrangement was no different from a weekend in Yuncheng. And Xiao Cheng, as if fearing it wouldn’t be lively enough, immediately called Sister Lin, asking if the Xiyu team had time to join them.
Sister Lin quickly gave an answer, but He Lindi couldn’t make it because she wasn’t feeling well.
Xiao Cheng didn’t ask for details. He expressed understanding: “Okay, then let Teacher He rest well.”
Wang Rui nudged Chi Shuo’s shoulder, then leaned closer and said to her, “I think Teacher He just doesn’t want to come.”
“Why?” Chi Shuo replied in a normal tone.
Wang Rui stated matter-of-factly, “Because you’re here. If I were her, I wouldn’t come either.”
“…” Chi Shuo pretended to raise her right hand. “Have you noticed you’re becoming increasingly deserving of a beating?”
Chi Shuo didn’t know if He Lindi was unwell, nor did she care. She just felt the reason was indeed rather ordinary.
Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai, learning that Chi Shuo had signed Xiang Qingya using this method, sent numerous screaming groundhog emojis in the group chat.
Chi Shuo smiled and messaged back: 【Stop ‘ah’-ing. I’ll be back tomorrow. You can use actions to support me, like treating me to dinner or something.】
【Don’t know who you are.】
【How did this person get into our group?】
Chi Shuo: 【……】
Sunday morning at 10:30 AM, eight people gathered downstairs. Xinyue Company was fully staffed; Xiyu was missing He Lindi and another man.
But that wasn’t important. Missing two people wouldn’t stop the activity, especially since eight people made exactly two tables of mahjong.
Playing cards, eating lunch, going to KTV, eating dinner.
The day passed just like that. Tomorrow, they would return to Yuncheng.
The weather in Mishi seemed to be getting colder. Chi Shuo had put on her sweater. After blowing warm air in the hotel for a while, she felt slightly better.
But unfortunately, she caught a cold. Her nose kept running, accompanied by a cough.
Wang Rui was somewhat worried. “Sister Shuo, do you need to see a doctor?”
She had just brought Chi Shuo a cup of hot water. Chi Shuo was now holding the cup to warm her hands.
Chi Shuo shook her head. “It’s fine.” She comforted Wang Rui. “I haven’t had a cold in a long time. Experiencing it now feels rather novel.”
Wang Rui sighed lightly and checked her phone. “The medicine is being delivered, it’ll arrive soon.”
Chi Shuo closed her slightly heavy eyes and said, “Thank you.”
What she told Wang Rui wasn’t false; Chi Shuo indeed hadn’t had a cold in a long time. But that didn’t mean she wanted one. The earlier statement was just to ease Wang Rui’s worries, because Wang Rui had shouldered the blame, thinking Chi Shuo caught a cold because she wore her clothes.
How could that be? Chi Shuo herself had clearly bundled up warmly.
When the medicine delivery arrived, Chi Shuo was already lying in bed. She had covered herself tightly with the blanket, feeling drowsy, but her throat was dry and itchy, making her uncomfortable.
Wang Rui brought her hot water again and gave her the medicine, but there seemed to be no signs of improvement. Moreover, Chi Shuo’s forehead grew increasingly hot.
Someone who rarely catches a cold, when they do get sick, the situation can be quite alarming.
Wang Rui called Xiao Cheng. Perhaps just two minutes later, Xiao Cheng came knocking on the door.
In her haze, Chi Shuo heard someone asking her something. She didn’t hear the content clearly but recognized Xiao Cheng’s voice. She nodded, then felt herself suspended in mid-air.
On the way, she vaguely heard a familiar yet unfamiliar female voice. Chi Shuo couldn’t remember who it was, nor did she understand the specific situation. She just felt like she was flying in the sky, rocking and swaying, eventually falling asleep.
When she woke up, the fever had subsided. Chi Shuo slowly opened her eyes, looking at the white ceiling of the hospital.
The sky outside the window was dark. Chi Shuo blindly guessed it was early morning, but didn’t know the exact time. The lights in the ward were also off, but the door was open, letting in some light from the corridor outside, allowing one to see a little.
Chi Shuo tilted her head slightly and saw Xiao Cheng sitting in the chair beside her, resting.
Xiao Cheng had his arms crossed, head lowered, clearly too tired to hold on anymore.
Chi Shuo felt thirsty, but seeing him like this, didn’t want to trouble him. She gently tried to prop herself up but lacked the strength.
After trying again, Chi Shuo gave up, no longer struggling. She tried hard to swallow, but was met only with a dry, itchy, painful throat, and couldn’t help coughing several times.
Xiao Cheng woke up. Seeing Chi Shuo awake, he immediately poured her some water, looking somewhat flustered, but Chi Shuo was still saved.
“Thank you,” Chi Shuo said hoarsely.
Xiao Cheng smiled faintly. “What’s there to thank?” He said, “Thanking me makes us seem like strangers.”
“Last time I gave you a small bread, you thanked me twice.”
“You remember that clearly?” Xiao Cheng chuckled.
“That’s because I have a good memory.”
No one else was in the ward. Chi Shuo still kept her voice low. After a while, she said, “I want to be discharged.”
“Okay.”
The return trip to Yuncheng couldn’t be delayed just because of her. At 4 AM, Chi Shuo returned to the hotel.
Wang Rui was sleeping soundly in the room. Chi Shuo moved very gently, afraid of waking Wang Rui; that would be her fault.
But the cough couldn’t be suppressed no matter what. Chi Shuo tried her best, but Wang Rui still woke up.
The bedside lamp had been left on, seemingly waiting for Chi Shuo’s return.
She looked at Chi Shuo, initially a bit dazed, saying, “Go to sleep quickly.” Then, belatedly realizing, she said, “You’re back from the hospital?! Go to sleep quickly!”
Chi Shuo smiled faintly from the corner of her lips and obediently got into bed.
Wang Rui even got out of bed to tuck her in, saying caringly, “You getting sick this time was really scary. Sleep well.” She sighed. “I wanted to stay at the hospital too, but they wouldn’t let me, so I had to come back first.”
“They?”
“Specifically, it was He…” Wang Rui didn’t continue, coughing herself. “You sleep well first, I’ll tell you during the day.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll turn off the lamp then.”
“Alright.” Chi Shuo finished speaking and coughed again.
Nothing could be seen in the darkness. Chi Shuo’s mind was relatively clear, currently not feeling very sleepy.
After an unknown amount of time, Chi Shuo heard Wang Rui ask, “Shuo Shuo, I have some gossip I want to ask you.”
“Ask.”
“Does Brother Xiao Cheng like you?”
“Probably not.”
“But we all think he likes you. Can you feel it?”
“Can’t feel it.”
“Then we must have been mistaken. The person involved doesn’t even feel it.”
“Mm.”
The question of whether Xiao Cheng liked her found its answer that night.
On the way back, Xiao Cheng had specifically asked her if she needed someone to take care of her.
Chi Shuo’s answer was no.
Xiao Cheng calmly said again, “Actually, I quite like you.”
Chi Shuo became serious. “You’re a good person.”
After a few seconds of silence, Xiao Cheng chuckled. “Then I understand.”
Xiao Cheng treated people with relative sincerity. Chi Shuo wasn’t completely oblivious to his affection, just hadn’t given any hints or responses to refuse him.
She didn’t like Xiao Cheng. Chi Shuo could only wait until he confessed to seriously refuse him; that was respect in her eyes.
That was respecting his affection.
It seemed they had a strong tacit understanding with Xiao Cheng. Everything happened so quietly, known only to the wind blowing through Mishi late at night and the swaying leaves.
This was where someone confessed to the girl he liked and was clearly rejected by her.
At 10 AM, after packing up, the group boarded the business van and went to the high-speed rail station.
Chi Shuo wore a medical mask, revealing only her eyes. Anyone not blind could see her complexion wasn’t good.
Aboard the high-speed train, Chi Shuo put on her eye mask again. This time, she sat by the window and fell into a deep sleep.
Four hours later, the train arrived punctually in Yuncheng. Ten minutes later, the business trip team had already dispersed, each heading home.
Chi Shuo took off her mask. She was still bundled up warmly, seemingly in a different world from the people standing beside her.
She sniffled. While waiting for a taxi, someone called.
It was Shen Qu.
Chi Shuo thought for a few seconds, then answered. Her voice was thick with nasal congestion last time she spoke to Shen Qu, but that was from crying. This time, it was also very thick, but from a cold.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell which time was more miserable.
“Something up?” Chi Shuo cleared her throat.
Shen Qu didn’t answer the question, asking instead, “Sick?”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Aiya!” Shen Qu got to the point. “Next next month, after I finish filming this drama, I’ll come find you for hot pot.”
That would already be January. The cold winter wind would be whistling, perfect for hot pot.
Just… this timeline was a bit too long, directly jumping to next next month.
Chi Shuo replied with an “Oh.” “Got it.”
Shen Qu chuckled twice. “I’ll participate in your company’s event then, choose those two days.”
“…” Really knows how to make use of time.
Back home, Chi Shuo had no appetite. She drank a glass of water, pretending to be an immortal, then collapsed onto the bed to recover her energy.
She let out a long sigh. Originally, she had been happy about successfully signing Xiang Qingya, but due to acclimatization issues and the bad weather in Mishi, resulting in a fever and cold, Chi Shuo’s earlier happiness had long vanished, leaving only fatigue.
She didn’t fall asleep, just lay there. After about ten minutes, Xiang Qingya’s WeChat message arrived: 【Chi Shuo, are you feeling better?】
Has news of my cold already reached her ears? Chi Shuo couldn’t quite understand, but thinking about it, it shouldn’t be possible. Xiang Qingya had only added Chi Shuo’s WeChat; other work matters were handled by Xiao Cheng adding her agent.
Chi Shuo vaguely guessed something but didn’t dare confirm: 【Much better.】
【That’s good.】
【Just didn’t sleep well last night, not just me, Teacher Xiao He too.】
Xiang Qingya’s message came back: 【Are you trying to fish for something?】
Chi Shuo pressed her slightly dry lips together and typed: 【No.】
【It’s exactly what you think.】
【I’m going to get busy.】
What was Chi Shuo thinking?
Nothing more than… He Lindi had also stayed watch over her at the hospital. The owner of that female voice was He Lindi.
How long, Chi Shuo didn’t know. The only thing she understood was that He Lindi’s “kindness” was likely just out of their brief past friendship.
Chi Shuo felt things were becoming somewhat baffling, but she had no desire to investigate the truth.
But just a few minutes passed, and Chi Shuo received a message from Xia Zhou: 【Shuo Shuo, Ah Ke just said Didi didn’t go traveling at all during those two months.】
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