As one of Mr. Chi Jiang’s business partners in Qiantang, Manager Sun had been in frequent contact with him over project cooperation in recent months. Thus, he was invited to Mrs. Chi Jiang’s birthday celebration, along with the head of the technical department, Lin Yan, and Zhan Xi.
Dong Cheng said Mr. Chi Jiang was very grateful to Zhan Xi for making the connection that realized his vision, and sincerely hoped she would come too.
Zhan Xi had never attended such a party before and didn’t even have proper clothes. The formal dress she wore was borrowed from Luo Xinran.
Luo Xinran had attended some entertainment industry parties and her style was rather daring. This floor-length moon-white dress had a deep V-neck. Zhan Xi was similar in height and figure, so it fit well, except the neckline was too low. She could only wear a white tube top underneath – not pretty, but at least it made her feel secure.
She knew she might see Luo Jingyu, so she came early. When she saw Luo Jingyu walking away without looking back, she didn’t call out to him. Instead, holding her bag in her left hand and lifting her dress with her right, she chased after him.
Zhong Peng, Mo Yang, and Little Li all saw this scene. Little Li, who knew nothing, also wanted to follow Luo Jingyu out but was grabbed by Zhong Peng.
Mo Yang typed to show him: [Brother Li, let’s go rest first and wait for Senior Luo.]
Little Li was excited: “Was that his girlfriend just now?”
Zhong Peng smiled mischievously, and Mo Yang also smiled with pressed lips, typing: [Maybe.]
Little Li looked envious: “His girlfriend is so beautiful!”
Mo Yang rolled his eyes at him: [Isn’t Senior Luo handsome?]
Little Li put his arm around Zhong Peng’s shoulders: “Handsome, handsome, handsome! Come on, let’s find a place to sit. Today was really exhausting.”
Outside the banquet hall was a spacious lounge area. Through a row of floor-to-ceiling windows, you could see a lake view. The setting sun was sinking, casting rippling light on the lake’s surface – a beautiful, pleasant scene.
Luo Jingyu walked quickly through the slanting sunlight, but not as fast as Zhan Xi, who was running. When she grabbed his arm from behind, Luo Jingyu’s heart sank. He tightly closed his eyes, not daring to turn around.
He didn’t know she would chase after him. Why did she chase after him? She had made things very clear – he wasn’t illiterate, he could read! He understood everything! These days he had been keeping to himself, hadn’t he done well enough? What more should he do?
Luo Jingyu really didn’t know. He stood straight but kept his head down, clenching his jaw and refusing to turn around.
Zhan Xi stood behind him, her right hand gripping his left arm tightly, refusing to let go, afraid that if she loosened her grip, he would run again.
Was he… still angry?
Zhan Xi shook his arm, but Luo Jingyu didn’t move. She shook again and again, pouting, just shaking repeatedly. The two were at a standstill, neither willing to move, waiting to see who would give in first.
A server pushing a cart passed by, looking at them strangely. Luo Jingyu caught his glance and sighed, finally turning around resignedly.
He wore black work clothes, newly bought – Zhong Peng, Mo Yang, and Little Li each had one, wearing them to look like a team and appear more professional.
With his broad shoulders and long legs, Luo Jingyu looked especially spirited in the work clothes. Zhan Xi let go and looked up at him. He was looking at her too, with a helpless expression.
Alright, they continued their standoff, waiting to see who would speak first.
This time, Zhan Xi lost – who made the person in front of her have a natural advantage?
Her lips trembling, she said: “Little Fish, th-thank you for taking care of Gift, I…”
She took out a square box from her bag and handed it to him, “For-for you, a shoulder and neck massager.” As she spoke, she made gestures around her neck, “You’re always lowering your head, working, this is bet-better to use.”
Zhan Xi wasn’t stuttering on purpose; it was just that the lounge area was much colder than the banquet hall. Although there was air conditioning, it was February after all, and she was only wearing a thin, form-fitting dress. Standing for a while inevitably made her teeth chatter from the cold.
Luo Jingyu read her lips roughly and saw how thin she looked, with a large patch of snow-white skin exposed at her chest. He frowned and took out his phone to type: [Your clothes?]
“A coat?” Zhan Xi pointed at the banquet hall, “It’s inside. It was hot inside so I took it off.”
Luo Jingyu really wanted to take off his jacket and put it around her but felt it wouldn’t be appropriate. Zhan Xi thrust the box toward him: “Take it!”
He could only accept it, bending his thumb to thank her. Then he took out the grey scarf from his bag and handed it to her, making a motion of draping it over shoulders. Zhan Xi blushed as she accepted it, obediently wrapping it around her shoulders, covering the large expanse of exposed skin on her chest.
She also bent her thumb to thank Luo Jingyu. He waved his hand and typed: [Nothing else? I need to eat with them, had little lunch, hungry.]
Was he impatient? What else did she have to say?
Indeed, there was nothing else. Zhan Xi had only prepared one gift to thank him, and hadn’t thought through what else to say. She had drafted several things in her mind, but upon seeing him, forgot them all.
Seeing her standing there foolishly, Luo Jingyu frowned even more and typed: [Go inside, it’s cold here.]
“Oh…” Zhan Xi asked, “Will you come back later?”
Luo Jingyu nodded and typed: [Will come back when it’s over, to dismantle the tree.]
“Have to wait until the party’s over?” Zhan Xi was so disappointed. “Okay, then-then when should I return the scarf?”
Actually, she could return it now! But she just didn’t want to.
Luo Jingyu smiled bitterly, not knowing what Huanhuan was thinking. They lived on floors above and below each other – she could return it anytime, just a quick meeting at the elevator.
He simply shook his head, pointed at Zhan Xi, then pointed at the banquet hall, meaning for her to go back inside quickly.
Zhan Xi really had no reason to stay any longer and could only turn to walk back.
Luo Jingyu watched her retreating figure. This was the first time he had seen Zhan Xi wear a dress – a form-fitting long dress that showed how slim her waist was. But she was too thin. How had she not gained any weight over the New Year? Luo Xiaomei had gained 5 jin!
At this moment, Zhan Xi suddenly turned back. Luo Jingyu was startled, feeling like he’d been caught peeping. He could only stand stiffly with a stern face, trying to look cool.
Zhan Xi smiled at him. Her whole person was bathed in the golden sunset, appearing hazy and glowing. She wore delicate makeup, her eyes bright and teeth white – she was truly very, very beautiful.
Dong Cheng had given Luo Jingyu four hotel buffet vouchers. The four people in black went to the restaurant to eat. The two youngsters were both hungry and excited, circling around with their trays twice and taking lots of food while drooling.
Luo Jingyu was also hungry, but seeing Zhan Xi had left him with complex feelings. He temporarily lost interest in the delicious food, taking a plate of food and eating slowly.
The box containing the neck and shoulder massager sat on the table. Luo Jingyu looked at it, wondering why Huanhuan had given him another gift. Just because he took care of Gift? Did she think he was meddling? So she gave him something to clear the debt of gratitude?
That must be the reason… It seemed he really hadn’t handled things well enough.
In the banquet hall, Zhan Xi finally saw Mrs. Chi Jiang – an elegant middle-aged woman, not very tall, with a gentle smile, wearing an exquisite light pink kimono and a dignified hairstyle.
Mr. Chi Jiang’s birthday gift to her was a cherry blossom diamond hair comb. Under that cherry blossom tree, he gently placed the comb in her hair, and all the guests applauded.
Dong Cheng took the microphone and told everyone a little story. When Mr. Chi Jiang was young, he was just a poor boy, but Mrs. Chi Jiang was a young lady from a wealthy family. Defying her parents’ opposition, she chose to be with Mr. Chi Jiang. Their first date was viewing cherry blossoms.
Moreover, Mrs. Chi Jiang’s given name was “Ying” (Cherry). Therefore, for both of them, cherry blossoms weren’t just memories of their homeland but also represented their enduring love.
Mrs. Chi Jiang was moved to tears. Only Zhan Xi and Dong Cheng knew that the yaezakura on this hair comb was handmade by Mr. Chi Jiang.
Zhan Xi imagined the scene – a businessman in his fifties, wearing reading glasses, clumsily cutting flower shapes, using brushes to color, holding a pressing iron to make flowers… Mrs. Chi Jiang receiving such sincere treatment was truly enviable.
The party was buffet-style. After the simple ceremony, everyone ate freely. The business leaders gathered to chat happily. Though it was a birthday celebration, it also provided a good networking opportunity.
That cherry blossom tree stood quietly in a corner of the venue, its pink and white flowers clustered thickly on the branches, almost hiding the twigs. From several meters away, it could pass for real – only up very close could you see the fabric texture in the petals.
There were always people taking photos by the tree, mostly female guests. Zhan Xi also happily posed next to it, having Lin Yan take several photos for her.
Lin Yan noticed she kept wearing a grey scarf and asked, “Do you want to take off the scarf? It would look better.”
Zhan Xi touched the scarf and shook her head, saying: “No, it’s too cold.”
Standing by the tree looking at the photos on the backdrop, Zhan Xi heard a female voice say: “What is this made of? When I came in earlier, I thought it was real! I was wondering how there could be cherry blossoms this season!”
Zhan Xi turned around and found the speaker was a lady in her forties wearing blue, asking another female companion. Both wore formal dresses with plenty of jewelry, reaching out to touch the cherry blossom petals with curious expressions.
Zhan Xi quickly went over to explain: “Hello, this is made using the pressed flower technique. The material is fabric, not ordinary fabric but special fabric for pressed flowers.”
“Pressed flower technique?” The lady in blue seemed to be hearing this term for the first time and didn’t quite understand.
So Zhan Xi gave them a simple introduction. She was now like a Wang Yuyan of the pressed flower world – absolutely no hands-on skills, but number one in theoretical knowledge!
Lin Yan stood beside her with his hands behind his back, listening to her speak knowledgeably.
After listening, the lady in blue was very surprised: “It’s not machine-made? All handmade? Everything?”
Zhan Xi said: “Yes, the trunk was made by a sculpture teacher. All the petals, leaves, flower stems below, and stamens inside that you see are completely handmade! No machines at all. This cherry blossom tree is absolutely unique in the whole world.”
The wealthy ladies were sensitive to “handmade” because it symbolized uniqueness!
“Sounds really nice! Is it easy to learn?” the lady in blue asked.
“Getting started is simple, but mastering it is very difficult. It probably takes several years of study,” Zhan Xi smiled and said. “This tree is a rather rare large piece. Usually, pressed flower works aren’t this big. I know this teacher who made the tree. He made a table decoration for me with lilies and bird of paradise flowers. It’s very realistic, suitable for display at home or in the office, and can be preserved permanently.”
Seeing that the lady in blue and her companion weren’t bored but seemed very interested, Zhan Xi swallowed and continued, “There are also smaller decorative pieces, very delicate ones suitable for bedside tables, dining tables, entrance hall tables. Larger ones can be placed on office desks, company reception areas, or conference tables. Actually, it’s more cost-effective than fresh flowers, which wilt, you know, and potted plants with their pots aren’t very attractive and have short blooming periods.”
The lady in blue asked: “Can all these be custom-made?”
“Of course!” Zhan Xi pointed at the cherry blossom tree, “This is custom-made, isn’t it?”
She didn’t mention prices. Most guests here were wealthy people who wouldn’t think much of a few thousand or tens of thousands – they spent tens of thousands on bags alone.
She looked expectantly at the lady in blue, who indeed said those words that made her excited: “Young lady, you said you know this teacher? Could you give me his contact information? I’d like him to make me some flowers too. I especially love peonies – can he make those?”
“Yes! He can make any kind of flower!” Zhan Xi didn’t hold back, deciding to boast first and worry later. “Um… this teacher is actually in the hotel right now, probably resting outside. Would you like to meet him in person?”
“Really? That’s perfect!” The lady in blue was very happy. “I love these kinds of artists!”
“However…” Zhan Xi smiled and said, “He has a small communication difficulty. He can’t hear. Would that bother you?”
Lin Yan, who had been listening: “?”
The lady in blue paused, exchanged glances with her companion, and hesitantly said: “I don’t mind, but how can we talk?”
Zhan Xi said: “He can read lips. If you speak slowly, he can understand everything. I can help convey his meaning. If you’d like to meet him, I can call him over now.”
The lady in blue nodded cheerfully: “Alright, call him over. It’s good that you can help communicate.”
Lin Yan heard their entire conversation, looking at Zhan Xi with increasingly puzzled eyes, but didn’t interrupt.
In the hotel lobby bar, Zhong Peng and Mo Yang had fallen asleep slumped on the sofa. Little Li had gone out for a smoke, and Luo Jingyu was also leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, resting.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out to look – it was actually a WeChat message from Zhan Xi!
The message above was from: January 21st, 9:24 PM [Egg Pudding]: Finally, one last time, Little Fish, thank you for your companionship during this time. I’m really, really happy to have met you. Happy birthday, good night.
Each time he looked at it, it hurt, but these days he had still opened it to look several times.
Below was the newest message: [Egg Pudding]: Little Fish Little Fish Little Fish come to the banquet hall quickly! I have business to introduce to you!!!
Luo Jingyu: =_=
He went to the banquet hall alone, still wearing his black work clothes. When the lady in blue saw him, her eyes lit up and she said to Zhan Xi with giggles: “Why didn’t you say earlier that this teacher was such a handsome young man! Oh my, I love good-looking boys the most!”
Luo Jingyu: “?”
Zhan Xi almost laughed out loud. She introduced them to each other and helped Luo Jingyu negotiate with them.
The lady in blue’s surname was Wu. Luo Jingyu could basically understand her lip movements. When responding, he would type keywords on his phone for Zhan Xi, and perhaps because she could answer many questions herself, after seeing Luo Jingyu’s keywords, she could expand them into full explanations.
When she spoke, Luo Jingyu watched her face, reading her lips very carefully, and found that Huanhuan spoke better than he could have thought of in his head.
Finally, Mrs. Wu added both Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu on WeChat. Zhan Xi sincerely told her: “Mrs. Wu, actually if you want to consult about anything, it’s better to find me. Little Fish… he’s very busy with work and rarely checks his phone, often missing messages.”
Mrs. Wu glanced at her and giggled again: “Little Zhan, you just don’t want to trust your boyfriend with others! Oh my, my son is already in university! Alright, alright, I’ll contact you, not him.”
Luo Jingyu: “?”
Zhan Xi’s face turned tomato red: “He-he’s not my boyfriend…”
Mrs. Wu and her companion covered their mouths: “Hehehehehe!”
Lin Yan, standing not far away, quietly watched them.
He recognized this man in black – he was the one waiting for Zhan Xi outside the company building on Christmas Eve. Although he had worn a mask then, with such a tall figure, he couldn’t be mistaken.
He was quite handsome, but actually deaf and mute?
What was his relationship with Zhan Xi?
They seemed very close. When the man was typing on his phone, she leaned in to look, their heads almost touching.
Lin Yan also saw Zhan Xi’s smiling face when she looked at that man, her eyes sparkling, nothing like her usual quiet and mild manner. Her expression was vivid, just like a delicate young girl.
Attending one evening party and helping Little Fish secure a potentially high-success-rate business deal – Zhan Xi felt such a sense of achievement!
After Mrs. Wu left, Zhan Xi made the eating hand sign, asking Luo Jingyu: “Are you full? Do you want to eat more?”
People around were looking their way. Luo Jingyu didn’t mind for himself but didn’t want Zhan Xi to become the focus of others’ curious stares. He typed: [No more eating, I’m going out.]
After hesitating, he added: [Don’t use sign language, people are looking at you.]
Zhan Xi: “…”
She looked up and asked: “Does this bother you?”
Luo Jingyu didn’t understand the word “bother,” frowning slightly. Zhan Xi typed it for him to see.
He stared at her phone for a long while before nodding slightly. However, he pointed to himself, shook his hand, then pointed to Zhan Xi and finally pointed at her phone screen.
Zhan Xi bit her lip and said: “But it doesn’t bother me.”
This time Luo Jingyu understood, smiled bitterly and shook his head. He gave Zhan Xi one last look, said nothing more, and turned to leave the banquet hall.
Zhan Xi stared blankly at his tall, straight figure disappearing through the doorway.
That night, Zhan Xi didn’t see Luo Jingyu again. All the male company staff had driven there, and Manager Sun asked Lin Yan to drive Zhan Xi home. She couldn’t refuse, but when getting in the car, she sat in the back seat.
Lin Yan drove in silence, not trying to make conversation. Zhan Xi was glad for the ease and sat in the back sending WeChat messages to Little Fish.
[Egg Pudding]: The party’s over, I’m leaving first. I’ll return the scarf next time, thank you.
[Big Fish]: No rush, I’m starting work.
All the guests had left, and Mr. and Mrs. Chi Jiang had been picked up by their driver. Only Dong Cheng remained at the venue to thank Luo Jingyu one last time.
He looked up at the cherry blossom tree, then turned to Luo Jingyu and asked: “Mr. Luo, after this tree is delivered home, only you all can install it, right?”
Luo Jingyu nodded.
“Then, after you dismantle it, first set it up and transport it back to your workshop,” Dong Cheng made gestures while speaking clearly. “Wait for my notice, and we’ll arrange a time to install the tree at Mr. Chi Jiang’s home, okay?”
Luo Jingyu understood everything and gave an “OK” sign.
Dong Cheng felt communicating with him wasn’t as difficult as imagined. The young man was quiet, looking naturally gentle-tempered. Thinking of their first meeting when he had been red-faced and flustered about the quotation, Dong Cheng couldn’t help but smile.
Dong Cheng patted Luo Jingyu’s arm and said: “You’ve really worked hard this time, Mr. Luo. The birthday party was a great success! Today many people asked me about how this tree was made and who made it. I gave them Miss Zhan’s WeChat, saying she’s your manager. I know there’s some conflict between you and Mr. Fang.”
Luo Jingyu: “??”
He hadn’t misread, had he?
Seeing his surprised expression, Dong Cheng smiled and said: “You both posted a photo on New Year’s Eve! Just now, Mrs. Wu also told me that Miss Zhan introduced you to her – she wants to commission pressed flowers from you. Besides, we’ve met several times, and I understand your written communication level. If those business people really tried to contact you directly, they probably wouldn’t get far, hahahahaha… just joking, don’t mind me.”
Dong Cheng, thirty-two, an assistant to a Japanese company’s CEO and Japanese translator, was the only mutual WeChat friend between Luo Jingyu and Zhan Xi.
Oh, now Mrs. Wu had been added too.
Dong Cheng never liked posts or commented, but from New Year’s egg and whale to New Year’s Eve’s cat and beautiful hands, he believed he had seen through everything.
Luo Jingyu’s head was spinning, thinking how Zhan Xi would be bothered to death if she received calls and WeChat friend requests from all those clients!
He had caused her trouble again! He couldn’t even say anything – Dong Cheng clearly meant well.
That night, the four-person team in black worked until past 2 AM in the banquet hall before finishing dismantling everything, carefully packing it in boxes, and arranging transport to store at Luo Jingyu’s home.
When Luo Jingyu lay down after showering, it was already 4 AM. He had worked for 20 hours straight and was exhausted to the point of collapse. He thought he would fall asleep as soon as he closed his eyes, but when he actually did, Zhan Xi’s figure appeared in his mind.
Nineteen days without seeing her, without chatting with her – he had counted.
Today he suddenly saw her, even talked with her, received her gift, and she even sent him WeChat messages after leaving.
What did this all mean? Was it just being friends like she said? The kind of friends who chat casually when meeting in the elevator?
Luo Jingyu couldn’t figure it out. He had so little experience with matters between men and women, almost tiptoeing as he explored, afraid of doing something wrong and offending someone.
Like on his birthday, right? He probably scared Huanhuan by buying so many new pieces of furniture, scared her so much she said she would never come to his home again.
Luo Jingyu turned over and opened his eyes in the darkness. His eyesight was very good, probably because he had been a poor student since childhood, didn’t like reading books or watching TV, and had never become nearsighted.
Now, his gaze fell on the neck and shoulder massager on the bedside table. Before sleeping, he had tried it out – the small white massager fitted around the neck, had several settings, and could indeed massage the shoulders and neck. It felt quite nice.
Huanhuan was truly a kind person, he thought. Even though he had done things that troubled her and made her cry, she didn’t hold it against him, not only helping him contact clients but also giving him such a suitable gift.
Ah… how could she be so good?
—
Though Mr. Luo Little Fish couldn’t speak, he had many thoughts. Unfortunately, Miss Zhan Huanhuan could never know these thoughts.
The next morning, Zhan Xi stood at the sink preparing to brush her teeth.
Looking at herself in the mirror with messy hair, wearing old cotton padded home clothes, she picked up a toothpaste tube as a microphone and brought it to her mouth: “Teacher Egg, can I interview you?”
Turning her body, Zhan Xi acted coy: “Sure, ask away.”
“Teacher Luo Ran Eating Melon says if you want to give up, be decisive; if you don’t want to give up, try. What are your thoughts now?”
“I… no comment on this question, please ask another.”
“Alright then, Teacher Egg, you finally saw Mr. Luo yesterday, how do you feel?”
“I was very happy.”
“…That’s it?”
“If there’s more, I won’t tell you!”
“Then what do you think he means?”
Zhan Xi played both roles, thoroughly enjoying herself.
“He…” She cupped her cheek with her left hand while holding the toothpaste in her right, even twisting her body, “Please! He’s deaf, not blind! Teacher Egg was very pretty yesterday! Spent two hours on makeup!”
“Teacher Egg, do you think Mr. Luo likes you?”
“He probably… likes me… a little?” Zhan Xi lost confidence, pouting as she said, “Who told me to make him angry before? I feel like he hasn’t gotten over it yet, always avoiding me.”
“Then Teacher Egg, have you considered that Ms. Chi Guilan won’t approve?”
Zhan Xi’s raised eyebrows dropped, her eyes dimming a bit as she said softly: “Of course I’ve thought about it. I’ve been thinking about it all these days.”
“Aren’t you afraid she’ll hurt Mr. Luo?”
“I am,” Zhan Xi said. “But Teacher Luo Ran Eating Melon says not to think of him as too weak, maybe he can handle it.”
“So what do you mean?”
Zhan Xi looked at her own eyes in the mirror, gripping the toothpaste to her mouth, “This is what I think now, okay? Nothing’s even started between us yet. For now, I don’t want my mom to know he exists. I’ll do everything I can to protect him. If one day we really get together and my mom finds out, then… as long as he doesn’t back down, I’ll definitely face it with him! What Teacher Luo Ran Eating Melon could do, I believe I can do too.”
“Teacher Egg showing her dominance! Applause! Clap clap clap clap clap!”
“Thank you, thank you! Ah… I can suddenly answer your first question now.” Zhan Xi made a fist at the mirror, as if cheering herself on, and spoke word by word: “I don’t want to give up. I want to try.”
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