New year, new atmosphere. Arriving at the company, Chi Shuo found the office completely transformed, looking somewhat unfamiliar and perplexing.
Chi Shuo placed her bag on her chair, looked at the equally bewildered Fang Xiuxiu, and asked, puzzled, “Did our company… redecorate?”
Actually, only a few walls had changed. One wall was now covered in employee photos, a full-blown photo wall, and another wall had been painted green, supposedly to improve mood.
Although it looked brighter than before, it lacked the previous simplicity. Chi Shuo and her colleagues were a bit confused, unsure why the office had become like this over the holiday.
A few minutes later, it was time for the morning meeting.
Their supervisor wore new clothes, her demeanor also seemingly refreshed, a smile even brighter than the winter sun. Chi Shuo was puzzled again. If it weren’t for He Xiuqi’s occasional glares across from her, Chi Shuo would have almost thought she’d entered the wrong company.
During the meeting, the supervisor passionately laid out the work plan for the new year, determined to lead their department to become Xinyue’s ace team. Chi Shuo just clapped along.
Since it was the first meeting after the New Year, the content was extensive. The meeting lasted a full hour and a half. By the time they left the conference room, Chi Shuo felt slightly dizzy.
After playing for half a month, returning to work wasn’t easy to adjust to.
Chi Shuo got herself a glass of water, returned to her workstation, and began a new round of work.
She was no longer in charge of registering schedules, but had been transferred to the auditing department. This change in her work was significant yet not. Chi Shuo readily accepted it.
Just like Chi Shuo had predicted before, the first day back was swamped with work. It would take ten days or half a month before things eased up.
“Shuoshuo, how many jin did you gain over the holiday?” Fang Xiuxiu’s sudden question was like a soul-searching inquiry.
Chi Shuo touched her chin, confirmed there was no double chin, and then replied, “Three or four jin, I guess. Around ninety-five jin now?”
“…Damn it.” Fang Xiuxiu cursed. “I gained ten!”
Chi Shuo laughed. “You ate more.”
“I didn’t! Don’t you dare slander me!”
Chi Shuo placed her glass on the table, looked at her computer screen, then smiled. “You’ve been checking in at restaurants every day on your Moments, are you sure you didn’t eat more?” She took out her phone. “Want me to scroll through your feed for proof?”
Fang Xiuxiu: “…”
Fang Xiuxiu blushed, opened WeChat on her computer, and sent Chi Shuo a message: 【I was accompanying my boyfriend.】
Chi Shuo was surprised: 【You found a boyfriend?】
【Yeah, went on a blind date, thought he was alright, so we’re together.】
Chi Shuo turned to look at her, leaned closer, and whispered, “Is he your type? Why did you decide to get together so quickly?”
Fang Xiuxiu nodded, her eyes crinkling with a smile. “Yup, that’s exactly how it happened. I think he’s really handsome.”
“Wishing you a happy relationship.”
Just as Chi Shuo finished speaking, she heard the supervisor’s voice: “Chi Shuo, come to my office.”
Chi Shuo was startled, thinking she’d been caught chatting, and felt a little nervous as she followed the supervisor into her office.
The supervisor sat in her chair and pushed a document towards Chi Shuo: “You’re our company’s excellent employee, and also our department’s. A new task has come down from above, and you’re the most suitable person for it.”
Chi Shuo looked at the name on the document and was stunned: “A business trip?”
“Yes.”
“To discuss collaboration with Mingjing Company.”
“Every department will send someone.”
Chi Shuo pursed her lips and heard the supervisor add: “Leaving for Beijing tomorrow morning.”
Chi Shuo picked up the document, replied with an “Okay,” and left the office.
Chi Shuo had lamented before about not having many business trip opportunities. Now, at the start of the new year, a business trip task had arrived. She suddenly felt a headache coming on, because He Lindi had just returned yesterday, and now they were separating again?
They hadn’t even spent much time together before another temporary long-distance relationship loomed.
At lunch, Xia Zhou came over and patted her shoulder. “Did you tell Didi?”
“Not yet.” Chi Shuo slowly shook her head. “I suddenly understand how she felt every time she had to leave on a business trip.”
It felt worse than hearing about it; it was simply unbearable.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do,” Zeng Guai sighed. “Unless you go on the business trip with her, but the chances of that are slim.”
The three left Xinyue together, but at the entrance, Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai left first, because He Lindi was waiting for Chi Shuo there.
Chi Shuo put away her gloomy thoughts and walked alongside He Lindi, entering the elevator.
They weren’t eating in the company cafeteria today, but at a Japanese restaurant outside.
Chi Shuo’s mood hadn’t improved much. Even looking at the delicious food before her, she had little appetite.
He Lindi noticed this and asked with concern, “Did the supervisor scold you during the meeting?”
“No.”
“Work stressing you out?”
“No.”
“Still in holiday mode?”
Chi Shuo laughed at this question. “Who isn’t still in holiday mode?”
He Lindi chuckled. “True enough.” She put on a pitiful expression. “Then, Shuo Shuo Jie Jie, please tell me why you’re so unhappy.”
Chi Shuo sighed and reached out, gently squeezing He Lindi’s soft hand. “I’m going on a business trip.” She added, “To Beijing, for three days.”
He Lindi took her hand back, relaxed, and smiled. “I thought it was something serious. Turns out it’s just a business trip.”
Chi Shuo: ???
Chi Shuo said, stressing the point, “But I won’t see you for three days! Wake up!”
“You’ll miss me?”
“…” Chi Shuo didn’t reply. “Let’s eat.”
He Lindi put some food in Chi Shuo’s bowl: “Don’t worry, I’m also going on a business trip, same destination.”
Chi Shuo: “Huh?”
“Your Mr. Lin asked me for help again. He’s also going, and wants me to capture his handsome moments during the contract signing.”
Chi Shuo was speechless. “He’s so narcissistic.”
“Good thing he is, otherwise I wouldn’t be going.”
Chi Shuo’s heart settled down, but for a moment, she felt He Lindi was being a bit reckless. Photographers of He Lindi’s caliber charged a hefty fee. Mr. Lin getting her services for free meant Xinyue was getting a huge bargain.
On Tuesday, the group flew to Beijing. After arriving, they quickly checked into the hotel.
Only two women were in the group this time. Chi Shuo thought Wang Rui would be her fixed business trip companion, but Wang Rui wasn’t there this time. Wang Rui was messaging her, lamenting: 【Shuoshuo! I really want to go on business trips with you qaq】
Chi Shuo replied helplessly: 【Next time, next time.】
Just as she hit send, she felt an arm wrap around her waist, and He Lindi’s voice reached her ear: “You barely slept this afternoon.”
Chi Shuo turned over, also hugging her: “It’s been three hours!”
He Lindi nuzzled closer and said, “I also have something to do here this time.”
“What is it?”
“Miaoran is in Beijing.”
“I need to see her.”
Chi Shuo’s smile faltered. She sighed lightly: “Why are you so close with Ding Miaoran?”
Chi Shuo had been telling herself not to mind, and judging by He Lindi’s calm demeanor, there really was nothing to mind. Besides, Ding Miaoran was married and pregnant; nothing could happen between her and He Lindi. Moreover, He Lindi was now with her.
But she still couldn’t resist asking. She had been wondering about it for a while.
“I…” He Lindi replied. “I don’t know why either.”
Chi Shuo recalled a crucial question: “Did you really like her back then?”
She had asked this question before.
After so long, the answer remained the same: “Mm-hmm.”
Chi Shuo stroked He Lindi’s hair. “There’s also something I haven’t told you.”
“What is it?”
“I…”
“When I said I didn’t like you anymore because it was too tiring, that wasn’t the whole story.”
“After my sophomore year, I liked someone else.”
“That person was Ding Miaoran.”
After confessing, Chi Shuo felt the atmosphere grow still. She continued, “I wasn’t close to Ding Miaoran, even though we were in the same class. Back then, she was the typical ‘good girl’; everyone thought she was cute, and I was no exception. I thought I needed to be more proactive, because I never was with you. I went into it with a ‘what if’ attitude.”
“But then, on the way home from school, I saw you two hugging. A few days later, everyone knew you were dating.”
“There was no warning at all.”
Chi Shuo summarized the past: “So, another reason I didn’t like you was that you were my imaginary love rival, even though I thought you didn’t even know my name back then.”
He Lindi remained silent. Chi Shuo lowered her head slightly, afraid that after her long speech, He Lindi had fallen asleep and hadn’t heard anything. If that were the case, she really wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Fortunately, He Lindi hadn’t fallen asleep. Her eyes were wide open, just staring into space.
“Love rival?” He Lindi chuckled softly, then pulled away from Chi Shuo’s embrace. “Let me process this.”
Chi Shuo hummed in agreement. “I’ll get up then. They might be calling us for dinner soon.”
He Lindi grabbed her wrist. “Wait.” She had turned to look directly at Chi Shuo. “Was it that easy for you to stop liking me?”
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