Chen Yunsheng took pride in his sense of responsibility. Despite having deleted everything he had worked on thus far, he still managed to rush out his work within a single day and make it in time for the deadline. On top of that, his revised work received a high degree of approval from the client.
Thanks to that, the celebration dinner went ahead as planned.
It was early autumn, the season of crabs, so the boss generously brought everyone to a high-class restaurant that served succulent plump crabs.
It went without saying that delicious crabs had to go with huangjiu.
While huangjiu was low in alcohol content, the group was able to get high on the atmosphere. Some goaded weaker drinkers to down their cup whereas others challenged their colleagues to drinking competitions. Yet, no one dared to push a drink in Chen Yunsheng’s direction.
Other than him, the only ones who didn’t drink were those allergic to wine, barred from drinking by their spouses, the boss, and the superior.
“Boss, I thought that you’re a hearty drinker?” one of the employees asked.
“My stomach isn’t feeling well today,” the boss replied.
It was an excuse.
He knew Ji Fanyin would be arriving soon, and he wouldn’t dare to welcome her in an intoxicated state. So, he ordered a cup of red date wolfberry tea instead. While sipping on his tea, he couldn’t help but assess Chen Yunsheng out of curiosity.
He’s good-looking, but there’s no lack of handsome faces in our industry.
He’s talented, but there are plenty of talented people out there. There’s no lack of prodigies in Ji Fanyin’s long list of suitors.
What’s so special about him that caught her eye?
“Is she really coming?” the superior discreetly leaned toward the boss and asked. “It’s getting late.”
“I think so,” the boss replied in uncertainty.
He picked up his phone to check the time, only for Ji Fanyin’s call to come in right after. He nearly dropped his phone into a bowl of crab vinegar out of shock.
It’s a small matter to change phones, but if I don’t pick up this call right now, it might just be the end of me.
As the boss picked up the call, the superior subconsciously put down his cup and sat upright. It was almost as if Ji Fanyin was already standing before him.
The boss discreetly covered his own mouth and the speaker as he asked softly, “Have you arrived?”
“I’m at the entrance. Is your celebration party ending soon?”
“I don’t think…” There was a moment’s delay before the boss understood what she was getting at. He sharply changed the tone of his words and said, “I mean, I was just about to foot the bill. We’ll be out in a jiffy.”
The first thing he did after hanging up was to call the waiter and have him pack some of the store’s specialties into a thermal bag.
“Boss, you’re still hungry?” one of the employees teased.
“It’s a gift.” The boss stood up and waved his hand. “It’s already getting late. You should start heading home now. It’s Saturday tomorrow. You don’t have to come in for work. Sleep all you want and recharge yourselves!”
The intoxicated crowd sluggishly rose from their seats and staggered out with their arms on one another’s necks as they discussed their plans for getting home.
Chen Yunsheng trailed behind the crowd with his backpack. As the boss walked by him, he suddenly stopped him and offered him a thermal bag filled with takeaway dishes freshly packed by the waiter. “Lil’ Chen, this is for you.”
Chen Yunsheng didn’t take the thermal bag. “Thank you, but I’m already full.”
“It’s not for you. You’ll know soon enough.” The boss adamantly stuffed the thermal bag into Chen Yunsheng’s hand. Then, he waved his hand and said, “Now go! A young guy like you shouldn’t be walking so slowly like a tortoise!”
Chen Yunsheng stared at the thermal bag in his hand quizzically, but he decided not to think too much into it. He nodded and walked out.
The boss turned to the superior beside him and quietly asked, “I’m just asking out of curiosity, but how much do you think this information is worth if I sell it to the press?”
“It’ll be worth something, but I reckon not much. It’s not the first time she’s in a relationship,” the superior replied. “Besides, do you think that it’s likely for the two of them to walk to the very end?”
The boss thought hard about those words. “You have such low hopes for them? I think that they might be a surprising match for each other.”
“Why don’t we make a bet? If you lose, you have to give me that new watch of yours!” the superior goaded.
The boss scoffed in response, “You’ve been eyeing my watch, huh? Fine! If I win, you have to give me that treasured racing car of yours!”
“Heck! Aren’t you being too vicious here?”
“Are you taking this bet or not?”
“Of course! This is my chance to earn an easy sum!”
While the group was heading out of the restaurant, one of Chen Yunsheng’s colleagues noticed the thermal bag in his hand and teased, “Looks like our boss is worried our money tree will get hungry, so he got an additional portion for you.”
Chen Yunsheng eyed the thermal bag in his hand again.
Something was amiss here. It was weird that the boss had ordered this takeaway for him, and the words he said when he passed this thermal bag over were also perplexing.
What did he mean by it’s not for me? The boss doesn’t know my roommate. Even if he does, there’s no reason for him to pay for his meal.
Chen Yunsheng walked toward the roadside with many doubts floating in his mind when he was suddenly blasted by a pair of headlights. He instinctively raised his head and saw that the other party had already turned them off.
The car, however, looked extremely familiar.
It resembles the model Ji Fanyin used to drive in the other world…
As this thought surfaced in his mind, Chen Yunsheng widened his eyes. He began sprinting toward the car, oblivious to his colleagues shouting behind him. When he finally got to the race car, the door opened and a woman stepped out from within.
“Don’t run so quickly. You might fall down,” said Ji Fanyin. “Did you drink?”
“I didn’t drink.” Chen Yunsheng professed his innocence. He lifted the thermal bag in his hand and said, “I think my boss bought this for you, big sis. You should have it while it’s hot.”
Ji Fanyin glanced at the thermal bag and said, “Let’s go home.”
She said that we’re going home!
Chen Yunsheng could hardly repress his smile upon hearing those words. He felt like a flower of joy had blossomed in his heart. He nodded vigorously and replied, “Mm!”
Ji Fanyin amusedly caressed his head.
Chen Yunsheng obediently lowered his head and allowed her to do as he pleased. Then, he suddenly heard a ruckus behind him. To be exact, the ruckus had been ongoing for a while now, just that his ears had filtered them out.
He turned around and saw his colleagues swiftly approaching them. Startled, he nervously told Ji Fanyin, “Big sis, you should return to the car first. Someone might see you.”
Ji Fanyin raised her eyebrows.
Before she could say a word, one of the colleagues had already arrived at the scene. While gasping for air, he said, “Bro, I haven’t… returned your charging cable… to you yet… Ah? Did I drink too much? Why do I see Film Empress Ji Fanyin in front of me? And her hand seems to be on your head…”
Chen Yunsheng: “…”
He instinctively grabbed Ji Fanyin’s wrist and moved her hand away from his head.
He knew that he ought to let go of Ji Fanyin’s wrist right after to avoid bringing unnecessary trouble to her, but his fingers defied his rational mind and instead grabbed her hand even tighter.
He secretly glanced at her to assess her reaction, only to see her leaning against her car, staring at him. It looked as if she was waiting for his response.
… What does this mean?
Chen Yunsheng licked his lips nervously. He could feel his heartbeat racing.
He first took the charging cable from his colleague with feigned composure. Trying his best to speak in his usual voice, he replied, “You didn’t see wrongly.”
“Uh?” The colleague’s hand froze in mid-air. Shock rippled across his face. “You… I… This… Huh?”
“We need to return home now. See you on Monday.”
Chen Yunsheng took a deep breath before pulling Ji Fanyin toward the driver’s seat. He opened the door for her, escorted her in, and closed the door behind her before heading for the passenger’s seat himself.
While the car was driving out of the parking lot, he noticed his colleagues standing dazedly in a row as they saw him off. He tightened his grip on the thermal bag in his hand, thinking that he had just done something incredibly bold.
Ji Fanyin drove roughly a street away before stopping once again by the roadside.
Perplexed, Chen Yunsheng looked at her and asked, “Big sis?”
“Put the thermal bag on the back seat,” Ji Fanyin instructed.
Chen Yunsheng obediently did as he was told and stuffed the thermal bag into the back seat. Just as he was about to turn his body back forward, he heard a click coming from the side. It was the sound of a safety belt being released.
He instinctively turned to look at Ji Fanyin, only to see her leaning forward and lightly kissing him on the lips.
“This is the reward for your earlier honesty,” she whispered into his ear.
Chen Yunsheng suddenly realized how ignorant he was two days ago.
This is what it really feels like for my heart to be on the verge of exploding.
“Another one?” Ji Fanyin asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Chen Yunsheng blinked.
They were so close that he was afraid that his breathing might scald her. He suppressed his embarrassment and obeyed with his heart. “… Yeah.”
Ji Fanyin chuckled softly before leaning in once more.
The second was a whole new experience. She playfully suckled on his lips while caressing his hair. She taught him how adults could express the intensity of their feelings through a passionate kiss.
This intimate exchange between lovers intoxicated Chen Yunsheng. Time seemed to fly past him in this magical moment. It was only when Ji Fanyin pressed him back onto his seat that he finally snapped out of his reverie.
Ji Fanyin fastened her seatbelt before checking her lips in the rearview mirror. “Call your roommate.”
Chen Yunsheng took out his phone and looked up his roommate’s number. It was only after he pressed the ‘Call’ button that he belatedly asked, “Why?”
“You need to inform him that you aren’t going back today lest he lodges a police report,” Ji Fanyin calmly replied as she stepped on the accelerator.
Chen Yunsheng failed to catch her drift. “Are we going somewhere?”
Ji Fanyin laughed. “Didn’t I already tell you that we’re going home?”
His phone slipped through his hand and dropped to the ground. While he was picking up the phone with a furiously reddened face, the call got through.
“Is there a drunk man I need to pick up?” his roommate asked with a yawn.
Judging from the background noise, he appeared to be playing computer games as usual.
“No need,” Chen Yunsheng refuted his question. He glanced at the driving Ji Fanyin.
“Oh. Are you bringing supper back for me?” The roommate suddenly sounded a little excited.
“Nah.” Chen Yunsheng closed his eyes and desperately clawed for any inner composure he had left. “I won’t be coming back tonight. I’m calling to tell you that.”
“You aren’t coming back tonight…?!?”
Before the roommate could kick up a fuss, Chen Yunsheng hurriedly ended the call. Two seconds later, he switched off his phone.
Chen Yunsheng took pride in his sense of responsibility. Despite having deleted everything he had worked on thus far, he still managed to rush out his work within a single day and make it in time for the deadline. On top of that, his revised work received a high degree of approval from the client.
Thanks to that, the celebration dinner went ahead as planned.
It was early autumn, the season of crabs, so the boss generously brought everyone to a high-class restaurant that served succulent plump crabs.
It went without saying that delicious crabs had to go with huangjiu.
While huangjiu was low in alcohol content, the group was able to get high on the atmosphere. Some goaded weaker drinkers to down their cup whereas others challenged their colleagues to drinking competitions. Yet, no one dared to push a drink in Chen Yunsheng’s direction.
Other than him, the only ones who didn’t drink were those allergic to wine, barred from drinking by their spouses, the boss, and the superior.
“Boss, I thought that you’re a hearty drinker?” one of the employees asked.
“My stomach isn’t feeling well today,” the boss replied.
It was an excuse.
He knew Ji Fanyin would be arriving soon, and he wouldn’t dare to welcome her in an intoxicated state. So, he ordered a cup of red date wolfberry tea instead. While sipping on his tea, he couldn’t help but assess Chen Yunsheng out of curiosity.
He’s good-looking, but there’s no lack of handsome faces in our industry.
He’s talented, but there are plenty of talented people out there. There’s no lack of prodigies in Ji Fanyin’s long list of suitors.
What’s so special about him that caught her eye?
“Is she really coming?” the superior discreetly leaned toward the boss and asked. “It’s getting late.”
“I think so,” the boss replied in uncertainty.
He picked up his phone to check the time, only for Ji Fanyin’s call to come in right after. He nearly dropped his phone into a bowl of crab vinegar out of shock.
It’s a small matter to change phones, but if I don’t pick up this call right now, it might just be the end of me.
As the boss picked up the call, the superior subconsciously put down his cup and sat upright. It was almost as if Ji Fanyin was already standing before him.
The boss discreetly covered his own mouth and the speaker as he asked softly, “Have you arrived?”
“I’m at the entrance. Is your celebration party ending soon?”
“I don’t think…” There was a moment’s delay before the boss understood what she was getting at. He sharply changed the tone of his words and said, “I mean, I was just about to foot the bill. We’ll be out in a jiffy.”
The first thing he did after hanging up was to call the waiter and have him pack some of the store’s specialties into a thermal bag.
“Boss, you’re still hungry?” one of the employees teased.
“It’s a gift.” The boss stood up and waved his hand. “It’s already getting late. You should start heading home now. It’s Saturday tomorrow. You don’t have to come in for work. Sleep all you want and recharge yourselves!”
The intoxicated crowd sluggishly rose from their seats and staggered out with their arms on one another’s necks as they discussed their plans for getting home.
Chen Yunsheng trailed behind the crowd with his backpack. As the boss walked by him, he suddenly stopped him and offered him a thermal bag filled with takeaway dishes freshly packed by the waiter. “Lil’ Chen, this is for you.”
Chen Yunsheng didn’t take the thermal bag. “Thank you, but I’m already full.”
“It’s not for you. You’ll know soon enough.” The boss adamantly stuffed the thermal bag into Chen Yunsheng’s hand. Then, he waved his hand and said, “Now go! A young guy like you shouldn’t be walking so slowly like a tortoise!”
Chen Yunsheng stared at the thermal bag in his hand quizzically, but he decided not to think too much into it. He nodded and walked out.
The boss turned to the superior beside him and quietly asked, “I’m just asking out of curiosity, but how much do you think this information is worth if I sell it to the press?”
“It’ll be worth something, but I reckon not much. It’s not the first time she’s in a relationship,” the superior replied. “Besides, do you think that it’s likely for the two of them to walk to the very end?”
The boss thought hard about those words. “You have such low hopes for them? I think that they might be a surprising match for each other.”
“Why don’t we make a bet? If you lose, you have to give me that new watch of yours!” the superior goaded.
The boss scoffed in response, “You’ve been eyeing my watch, huh? Fine! If I win, you have to give me that treasured racing car of yours!”
“Heck! Aren’t you being too vicious here?”
“Are you taking this bet or not?”
“Of course! This is my chance to earn an easy sum!”
While the group was heading out of the restaurant, one of Chen Yunsheng’s colleagues noticed the thermal bag in his hand and teased, “Looks like our boss is worried our money tree will get hungry, so he got an additional portion for you.”
Chen Yunsheng eyed the thermal bag in his hand again.
Something was amiss here. It was weird that the boss had ordered this takeaway for him, and the words he said when he passed this thermal bag over were also perplexing.
What did he mean by it’s not for me? The boss doesn’t know my roommate. Even if he does, there’s no reason for him to pay for his meal.
Chen Yunsheng walked toward the roadside with many doubts floating in his mind when he was suddenly blasted by a pair of headlights. He instinctively raised his head and saw that the other party had already turned them off.
The car, however, looked extremely familiar.
It resembles the model Ji Fanyin used to drive in the other world…
As this thought surfaced in his mind, Chen Yunsheng widened his eyes. He began sprinting toward the car, oblivious to his colleagues shouting behind him. When he finally got to the race car, the door opened and a woman stepped out from within.
“Don’t run so quickly. You might fall down,” said Ji Fanyin. “Did you drink?”
“I didn’t drink.” Chen Yunsheng professed his innocence. He lifted the thermal bag in his hand and said, “I think my boss bought this for you, big sis. You should have it while it’s hot.”
Ji Fanyin glanced at the thermal bag and said, “Let’s go home.”
She said that we’re going home!
Chen Yunsheng could hardly repress his smile upon hearing those words. He felt like a flower of joy had blossomed in his heart. He nodded vigorously and replied, “Mm!”
Ji Fanyin amusedly caressed his head.
Chen Yunsheng obediently lowered his head and allowed her to do as he pleased. Then, he suddenly heard a ruckus behind him. To be exact, the ruckus had been ongoing for a while now, just that his ears had filtered them out.
He turned around and saw his colleagues swiftly approaching them. Startled, he nervously told Ji Fanyin, “Big sis, you should return to the car first. Someone might see you.”
Ji Fanyin raised her eyebrows.
Before she could say a word, one of the colleagues had already arrived at the scene. While gasping for air, he said, “Bro, I haven’t… returned your charging cable… to you yet… Ah? Did I drink too much? Why do I see Film Empress Ji Fanyin in front of me? And her hand seems to be on your head…”
Chen Yunsheng: “…”
He instinctively grabbed Ji Fanyin’s wrist and moved her hand away from his head.
He knew that he ought to let go of Ji Fanyin’s wrist right after to avoid bringing unnecessary trouble to her, but his fingers defied his rational mind and instead grabbed her hand even tighter.
He secretly glanced at her to assess her reaction, only to see her leaning against her car, staring at him. It looked as if she was waiting for his response.
… What does this mean?
Chen Yunsheng licked his lips nervously. He could feel his heartbeat racing.
He first took the charging cable from his colleague with feigned composure. Trying his best to speak in his usual voice, he replied, “You didn’t see wrongly.”
“Uh?” The colleague’s hand froze in mid-air. Shock rippled across his face. “You… I… This… Huh?”
“We need to return home now. See you on Monday.”
Chen Yunsheng took a deep breath before pulling Ji Fanyin toward the driver’s seat. He opened the door for her, escorted her in, and closed the door behind her before heading for the passenger’s seat himself.
While the car was driving out of the parking lot, he noticed his colleagues standing dazedly in a row as they saw him off. He tightened his grip on the thermal bag in his hand, thinking that he had just done something incredibly bold.
Ji Fanyin drove roughly a street away before stopping once again by the roadside.
Perplexed, Chen Yunsheng looked at her and asked, “Big sis?”
“Put the thermal bag on the back seat,” Ji Fanyin instructed.
Chen Yunsheng obediently did as he was told and stuffed the thermal bag into the back seat. Just as he was about to turn his body back forward, he heard a click coming from the side. It was the sound of a safety belt being released.
He instinctively turned to look at Ji Fanyin, only to see her leaning forward and lightly kissing him on the lips.
“This is the reward for your earlier honesty,” she whispered into his ear.
Chen Yunsheng suddenly realized how ignorant he was two days ago.
This is what it really feels like for my heart to be on the verge of exploding.
“Another one?” Ji Fanyin asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Chen Yunsheng blinked.
They were so close that he was afraid that his breathing might scald her. He suppressed his embarrassment and obeyed with his heart. “… Yeah.”
Ji Fanyin chuckled softly before leaning in once more.
The second was a whole new experience. She playfully suckled on his lips while caressing his hair. She taught him how adults could express the intensity of their feelings through a passionate kiss.
This intimate exchange between lovers intoxicated Chen Yunsheng. Time seemed to fly past him in this magical moment. It was only when Ji Fanyin pressed him back onto his seat that he finally snapped out of his reverie.
Ji Fanyin fastened her seatbelt before checking her lips in the rearview mirror. “Call your roommate.”
Chen Yunsheng took out his phone and looked up his roommate’s number. It was only after he pressed the ‘Call’ button that he belatedly asked, “Why?”
“You need to inform him that you aren’t going back today lest he lodges a police report,” Ji Fanyin calmly replied as she stepped on the accelerator.
Chen Yunsheng failed to catch her drift. “Are we going somewhere?”
Ji Fanyin laughed. “Didn’t I already tell you that we’re going home?”
His phone slipped through his hand and dropped to the ground. While he was picking up the phone with a furiously reddened face, the call got through.
“Is there a drunk man I need to pick up?” his roommate asked with a yawn.
Judging from the background noise, he appeared to be playing computer games as usual.
“No need,” Chen Yunsheng refuted his question. He glanced at the driving Ji Fanyin.
“Oh. Are you bringing supper back for me?” The roommate suddenly sounded a little excited.
“Nah.” Chen Yunsheng closed his eyes and desperately clawed for any inner composure he had left. “I won’t be coming back tonight. I’m calling to tell you that.”
“You aren’t coming back tonight…?!?”
Before the roommate could kick up a fuss, Chen Yunsheng hurriedly ended the call. Two seconds later, he switched off his phone.
