Chapter 10

He tilted his head back and drank a glass of wine. The design of the glass was somewhat antique, yet quite exquisite and pleasing to the eye. After playing with it for a while, he finally raised his head and coldly said, "Do you really dislike me this much? You must be wishing I would stay far away!" She stared at him closely for a moment, unsure of his meaning. This kind of ambiguous confrontation was indeed somewhat exhausting. As the effects of the wine kicked in, she turned her head away and said, "Have you taken the wrong medicine? What's the big deal? Just don't ask!"

During the New Year season, the atmosphere is exceptionally lively. At home, she is truly like a little pig. Every day, she wakes up naturally, enjoying the delicious meals that her mother prepares in various ways to satisfy her cravings. Alternatively, when she has nothing to do, she spends her time playing mahjong with the old neighbors upstairs and downstairs. If she could live each day like this, she would not trade it for a life of immortality.

On that day at the airport, he smiled as he helped her into the car. Being very considerate, he had already prepared the vehicle for her well in advance, sparing her the trouble of transferring. It was already afternoon, and the Hongqiao Airport was bustling with people coming and going, everyone engaged in farewells and greetings, busy yet transient! She turned her head and, through the car window, saw him standing at the door, waving gracefully, tall and elegant, surrounded by a scattering of sunlight. For the first time, she truly noticed how handsome he was. She turned her head and, through the car window, saw him standing at the door, waving gracefully, tall and elegant, surrounded by a scattering of sunlight. For the first time, she truly noticed how handsome he was

The sound of water in the bathroom subsided, and only his voice came through: "Help me get a bathrobe." She took the robe, slightly opened the door, and handed it inside. She felt him pull hard, and with a misstep, she was pulled in. He was completely wet, with foam still not rinsed off, and he embraced her tightly. She was already wearing a thin cotton nightgown, and now it was almost completely soaked. It seemed that the bath earlier was in vain

Shen Xiao Jia still did not let her off: "Tonight, the sixth department is celebrating a big deal they closed, and they invited our department to join the celebration. The head has already agreed. Are you going or not?" She pressed the send button and sent the email. Then she picked up her cup and drank three mouthfuls of water in quick succession, finally catching her breath, and said fiercely: "Shen Xiao Jia, if you have nothing to do, I will suggest to the head to transfer several batches of orders in my hands to you."

Regarding Jiang Xiuren's current situation, she herself is unable to articulate it clearly. He has not made any overt gestures, yet he has almost monopolized all of her free time, leaving her with neither the time nor the energy to engage in social interactions. Even when it comes to Xing Lifeng's invitations, she has been evasive, repeatedly citing her busy work schedule as an excuse.

Before the end of work, their Wang Datou really came to announce: "Comrades, today Manager Xi from the six departments invites everyone to dinner and leisure. Not a single person can be absent!" The title of Lao Mouzi's film has long become a classic, and whenever there are meetings or gatherings such as book clubs, this line is absolutely indispensable

The two of them huddled at a table by the window, drinking wine, accompanied by the steaming hot pot and the slightly shivering cold wind, creating a unique flavor. She, slightly tipsy, squinted her eyes and said: "Jiang Xiuren, weren't you supposed to be on a business trip? Why have you been wandering around these past few days without attending to any serious matters?" He looked at her thoughtfully, but said nothing. Her face flushed slightly, even the tip of her nose turned red, and her eyes, hazy and dreamy, exuded an indescribable allure.

It is truly unexpected that his relationship with her would continue in this manner. It seems he has no intention of changing anything. Fortunately, he has been quite busy during this time, although she is unaware of what he is busy with. He does not speak, and she does not ask. In fact, knowing too much can sometimes be a bad thing. He often disappears for five or ten days, and she is quite happy to have some peace, allowing her to nestle in her little abode and indulge freely.

He smiled lazily and said, "This is your territory!" He thought it was an advertisement for M-ZONE, asserting that it was his domain to control. She swallowed a mouthful of soup and pouted at him, saying, "I should have gone to the food stall!" He reached out and tapped her forehead, saying, "You stingy person, drink some cold water!" His tone carried a hint of affection. She touched her forehead, feeling a sense of unwillingness, and grabbed his hand, opening her mouth as if to bite him. He smiled brightly, not resisting, allowing her to hold on, and in a moment of distraction, she ended up not biting him. She touched her forehead again, still feeling a sense of unwillingness, and grabbed his hand, opening her mouth as if to bite him. He smiled brightly, not resisting, allowing her to hold on, and in a moment of distraction, she ended up not biting him. Yet, her mood was inexplicably joyful. Perhaps it was the New Year, and her spirits were always high.

He was quite the gentleman, escorting her all the way downstairs. After turning off the engine, she unbuckled her seatbelt and smiled as she said, "Thank you!" He merely smiled slightly and, half-jokingly, said, "My pleasure! Let's have a meal together sometime!" Although he lacked experience, this phrase certainly sounded like a tentative invitation. She continued to smile, but inwardly cursed, "That damned Shen Xiaojia, always with the bad luck, will this jinx ruin the good things?"

She could actually guess to some extent; since he did not speak, she pretended not to know. The distance between fish and flying birds is not merely in the sky or in the depths of the sea. Supporting her chin with her hand, she continued to ask: "When are we leaving, after all?"

A small lamp was left on in the room, its halo dim, barely illuminating a small corner. Through the light, she slowly extended her finger, gently and cautiously, as if she were a thief, caressing his hair, which was stiff and different from her soft, silky strands. She recalled the phrase "angry hair standing on end" from poetry, and it seemed to describe this hair texture, causing her to smile faintly. The big boy, sound asleep, was actually like a child, sleeping like a little pig, a cute little pig. She recalled the phrase "angry hair standing on end" from poetry, and it seemed to describe this hair texture, causing her to smile faintly. The big boy, sound asleep, was actually like a child, sleeping like a little pig, a cute little pig.

After pressing the doorbell for a long time, no one answered. It was the middle of the night, and she still had not returned. He decided not to make any phone calls and simply waited in the car to see when she would come back. Eventually, he witnessed a scene that made him furious. However, after all these years of ups and downs, his anger had reached its peak, yet he felt even more composed.

Holidays are always short, and perhaps the more enjoyable they are, the faster they pass. Upon returning to the company, there is already a mountain of tasks waiting. There is no choice but to work overtime. There have been some personnel changes in the company, mainly due to the high salary offered to recruit a department manager, who is said to be an expert in business. Fortunately, it is not her department, and I have not paid much attention to it. We only greet each other with a nod when we meet in passing.

Shen Xiaojia was not afraid of her at all, still smiling as she said: "It's pointless to get angry over this. Forget it! I just took a brief moment to enjoy life; I've been too busy with work and need to adjust accordingly. Otherwise, I would become a workaholic!" Her eloquence is truly a pity if she doesn't go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; it would be a significant loss for the country—this is the consensus of all male compatriots. She wholeheartedly agrees with this sentiment!

Shen Xiaojia expressed her interest: "Haven't you noticed how he always comes over, whether he has something to do or not? You must understand that our department's field is different from theirs; what is he coming here for?" She clicked the mouse several times: "It's precisely because they are different that he comes over. Their Department 6 and Department 2 operate in the same field of import and export, so he can't visit frequently. If he does, the manager of Department 2 will surely jump up, thinking that some confidential information is being sought after."

Upon leaving the restaurant, he felt a slight sway, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over him. It suddenly reminded him of the time she had been drunk, unsteady on her feet just like this. His heart inexplicably filled with sweetness, and his anger dissipated. Holding her soft body, although it was a winter night, the stars were scattered across the sky, creating a scene of clarity and refreshing brightness

He only smiled, without saying a word. The situation was overwhelmingly in one direction, and she unexpectedly fired off a retort, feeling frustrated, her tone not particularly pleasant: "If you have something to say, say it quickly, I am going to hang up." He chuckled, knowing she had lost the game again, and simply replied softly, "Alright!" He truly did not say much more and hung up just like that. She seemed to feel a twinge of guilt, having made a long-distance call to her, yet she didn't even offer a single "Happy New Year." Never mind, she looked at her cards, gathered all her focus, and now it was all about winning the game, nothing else mattered. She seemed to feel a twinge of guilt, having made a long-distance call to her, yet she didn't even offer a single "Happy New Year." Never mind, she looked at her cards, gathered all her focus, and now it was all about winning the game, nothing else mattered.

He seemed to be waiting for her response. She smiled and tactfully said, "Perhaps there will be an opportunity!" and then pushed the door open to get out of the car. Standing by the roadside, she politely watched him drive away. Just as she was about to head upstairs, she suddenly heard a few crisp claps of applause not far away: "Not bad, a beautiful time and scenery!" It was actually Jiang Xiuren's voice.

He pushed the door open and poked his head out: "I knew you would dawdle!" She sat down, still somewhat dazed, as if finding it hard to believe, looking at him in confusion: "How come you are here? On a business trip?" He smiled slightly but changed the subject: "Come with me to get something to eat, I'm starving." He had arrived in Shanghai by plane in the evening, and after getting off the plane, he drove over, having only managed a few bites of the in-flight meal, and now he was practically starving.

It is rare to have good luck today; I immediately won two hands. In fact, she never minded it. Firstly, she only played with small amounts of money, and secondly, she enjoyed playing cards with the neighbor and the elderly lady, listening to their casual conversations, which made her happy. Just after hitting a pair of white cards, her mother came over and handed her the phone, beaming with joy: "Momo, it's a call!" Her heart skipped a beat; seeing her mother's delighted expression, it must be a man. She casually took the phone and said: "Hello, hi!"

The light resembles an old-fashioned floor lamp in the living room at home. My mother, being frugal with electricity, would only turn on this small lamp. She would then wear her glasses to do some needlework or take a notebook to calculate expenses. Over the years, this scene seems to have been frozen in time; whenever I think of my mother, this image flashes before my eyes

She suddenly turned around and saw him leaning against a black car, impeccably dressed in a rare suit, clapping his hands, looking at her with a half-smile, exuding an air of nonchalance and freedom. This was the first time she had seen this car, so she hadn't paid much attention to it.

If it were someone else, he would always think they were just putting on an act, but for her, he could only express his lament. Has she never considered that he came for her? He got up and closed the window: "Don't catch a cold!" The cold in the south is different from that in the north; the south is damp and the cold is particularly uncomfortable

It was nearly midnight when I went to bed, and fortunately, my mother was already asleep; otherwise, I would have been subjected to a barrage of questions about who was calling. Just as I finished washing up and was ready to sleep, the phone suddenly rang. I hurried into the room and answered it. Upon seeing the number, I recognized it was his call: "What do you want at this hour? You, always up to no good!" I didn't even bother with a greeting. After all, there was no point in being polite with him.

"Oh, is it really unnecessary? Are you sure?" He raised an eyebrow. She did not respond, walking into the room to prepare for a shower. Her tone was not friendly; they hadn't seen each other for seven or eight days. Surely, he wasn't here to pick a fight? She certainly had no obligation to entertain that.

He did not mean to come over, and she stood still. After a while, she felt that standing there was quite foolish. She turned and walked into the hall. He just looked at her coldly, filled with anger. He knew very well that as soon as he was not around, she would immediately return to her own home, as if his place were merely an optional hotel, devoid of any attachment. Therefore, after flying back from so far away, she came straight here. He knew very well that as soon as he was not around, she would immediately return to her own home, as if his place were merely an optional hotel, devoid of any attachment. Therefore, after flying back from so far away, she came straight here.

When it was time to return, everyone grouped together in threes and fives to catch a ride, and she happened to be going the same way as him. If she were to decline, it would indeed be inappropriate. Moreover, no one else seemed to have any intention of pursuing her; it was all that Shen Xiaojia's fault, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

As she rushed to the door, the security guard, Uncle Gui, stopped her: "Mo Mo, why are you out at this hour?" She giggled and nodded. This is the good thing about home; there are familiar faces everywhere, and greetings are constant, exuding a warm sense of community. From a distance, a black BMW was prominently parked diagonally across the street. As she approached, she noticed it had a Shanghai license plate, but it was different from the car that had brought her here that day.

His tone was gentle, as if infused with a warm tenderness: "Are you asleep?" In the middle of the night, my peaceful dreams were disturbed by his arrival, making it impossible to fall asleep again: "No! There's a mosquito buzzing!" He laughed: "I have great sympathy for the poor fate of that mosquito!" She let out a soft laugh as well, feeling surprisingly cheerful.

He pulled off his tie and threw it onto the sofa along with his suit, lazily sitting down and saying, "Why didn't you introduce me to that person just now?" She glanced at him, somewhat puzzled; he shouldn't be feeling jealous, right? She smiled slightly, mocking her own overestimation of herself, "Isn't it unnecessary?"

After a month or two, I have become somewhat familiar with the place and often come here. One day, Shen Xiaojia whispered in my ear, "Look, that new Manager Xi, doesn't he seem to have a crush on you?" I raised my head and frowned, saying, "Shen Xiaojia, did you eat too much at noon?" She always had a dramatic demeanor, as if a storm was brewing, and could fuss over anything for half a day. She is not a bad person, but just loves to gossip. Frowning again, I said, "Shen Xiaojia, did you eat too much at noon?" She always had a dramatic demeanor, as if a storm was brewing, and could fuss over anything for half a day. She is not a bad person, but just loves to gossip.

He did not speak, yet she could sense that he seemed to be angry, his chest rising and falling irregularly, his breath uneven. He suddenly pushed her away and slammed the door shut, just like that. After a while, the sound of the door slamming echoed again. She stood dazed under the shower, the water was not heavy, just a gentle drizzle, yet it poured down on her head.

After having dinner, it was nothing more than singing for leisure. She sat in the corner, watching her colleagues chat, sing, and laugh. Looking at the time, it was already late, yet everyone was in high spirits, and not a single person seemed inclined to leave. Since it was a gathering hosted by the Ministry of Six, she felt it would be inappropriate to leave early by herself, so she just stayed there.

After a moment, he said again, "Come down!" She thought she had misheard and blankly repeated, "Where to go down?" He replied, "To the entrance of your community." She was taken aback and accidentally dropped the remote control she had been pressing randomly on the floor

I strolled around the famous ancient town, characterized by its typical small bridges and flowing water, with houses lining the banks. As evening approached, rows of softly glowing red lanterns illuminated the ink-wash painting-like buildings and pavilions, creating a true sense of time flowing backward. Yet, it felt so close that it could be touched, as if countless stories had been enacted here—stories of joy and sorrow, of parting and reunion, of laughter and tears, as well as of affection, love, and hatred

The soup was delicious and rich, and he drank several bowls in a row before finally letting out a comfortable sigh: "You treat this meal!" She was also sipping the soup, the steam rising from the porcelain bowl warming her entire being. She looked up and asked: "Why?" He had always been the one to take the initiative and had never asked her to treat guests before

Shen Xiao Jia stared at her for half a day: "Zi Mo, do you really not know or are you just pretending to be foolish? That one, and the three others, are all in different fields, yet he hardly ever visits, right?" She was already having a headache; having Jiang Xiu Ren was enough of a headache for her. Since returning, he had unilaterally moved many of her belongings to his place, practically living together. She had no ability to provoke a second one, unless she no longer wanted to live.

Manager Xi, whom Shen Xiaojia had been mentioning all afternoon, finally did not disappoint her enthusiastic recommendation. He picked up a can of beer and handed it over. She smiled briefly and casually accepted it.

Suddenly, his voice came through: "It's so lively! What are you doing?" She was momentarily taken aback; this was his first call since they had been apart for some time. While chewing on squid strips, she mumbled back, "Playing Mahjong!" He laughed on the other end, his voice slightly magnetic and undeniably pleasant: "With your level, you dare to play with others?" She snorted coldly: "Mind your own business!" It's the New Year, and not a single kind word.

She woke up in the middle of the night, and he was sound asleep, breathing evenly. She vaguely remembered how he had held her in his arms yesterday, loving her indulgently, as if there were no tomorrow. Exhausted and in a haze of sleep, she seemed to hear his faint sigh: "What am I to do with you?"

He then sat down naturally, smiling gently as he said, "Why aren't you singing along with everyone?" She smiled and replied, "I can't carry a tune, so I dare not embarrass myself." The two engaged in a somewhat casual conversation, with her primarily responding. Since they were colleagues, it was impossible to ignore each other, after all, they often saw each other. They discussed some work-related topics, and they found it relatively easy to converse.

Unable to contain his anger, he exclaimed: "What are you going crazy about?" He held her tightly for a while before finally uttering a few words: "Don't come back so late next time!" Who is he to control her! Besides, she was just out with colleagues! Infuriated, she coldly retorted: "What, is it only the officials who can set fires while the common people are not allowed to light lamps?" She didn't even reflect on herself!