Chapter 7, Newcomers and New Matters

Zhao Xiaojun glanced at him and then said, "I don't have that much free time; I still have to go to work." Chen Qiaoqi immediately replied, "I checked the calendar, and it just happens to be Sunday. Don't you have a day off?" Zhao Xiaojun tapped the bowl with her chopsticks, producing a sound of "ding," and said in confusion, "It just happens to be Sunday? Then I won't go either; I have too much to do." Chen Qiaoqi stared at her, stood up, and kicked the chair hard. The chair fell to the ground with a loud "thud," and he did not pick it up but walked straight out, then slammed the door shut with a resounding "bang."

When his hand stopped at the corner of her lips, he quickly restrained himself and instead patted her face, saying: "Xiao Jun, Xiao Jun, it's time to get up, go back to sleep." He did not dare to turn his head to look at her. Zhao Xiao Jun opened her eyes in a daze, shivered, and stood up, mumbling: "How did I fall asleep! You should go to bed early too, don't just stare at the TV all night!" After saying this, she swayed and went inside. Chen Qiao Qi's face flushed with embarrassment for a while, and she limped to the sink to wash her face with cold water. Zhao Xiao Jun opened her eyes in a daze, shivered, and stood up, mumbling: "How did I fall asleep! You should go to bed early too, don't just stare at the TV all night!" After saying this, she swayed and went inside. Chen Qiao Qi's face flushed with embarrassment for a while, and she limped to the sink to wash her face with cold water.

The elevator came to a stop, and Cheng Wei first pressed the button for the first floor, then pressed for the underground second floor. Zhao Xiaojun thanked him. Cheng Wei politely asked, "From Miss Zhao's accent, it seems you are not a local. You are from the south, right?" Zhao Xiaojun smiled and replied, "Everyone can tell, as soon as I speak, it gives me away." Cheng Wei casually inquired, "Where in the south are you from? Sichuan or Hunan?" Zhao Xiaojun laughed and said neither, then revealed her origin. Cheng Wei smiled and said, "What a coincidence, my ancestral home is also there, but I haven't been back in many years. I wonder how much it has changed." Zhao Xiaojun was somewhat surprised and said, "Mr. Cheng is also from there?" Cheng Wei nodded and said, "I went back once when I was a child." Zhao Xiaojun felt that the distance between them had suddenly shortened and laughed, saying, "It has changed a lot; everywhere is being rebuilt, they say they want to create a garden city. If Mr. Cheng goes back, you might not recognize it." Cheng Wei nodded and, with a sense of nostalgia, said, "Yes, it has changed a lot." Then he smiled and added, "I really didn't expect that we are actually fellow townsfolk." Zhao Xiaojun laughed, "I also think it's quite a coincidence."

Zhao Xiaojun quickly crouched down to examine the tightly wrapped ankle, tentatively pinching it a couple of times, and asked, "Can you still move it? You shouldn't have hit the bone, right?" Chen Qiaoqi looked down at her anxious expression and hurriedly replied, "It was just a bump, it's nothing serious. Come sit with me for a while." Zhao Xiaojun still sat beside him, worried, and frowned, saying, "You mustn't have any issues; otherwise, it would be really hard to explain." Chen Qiaoqi quietly leaned his head against her, while Zhao Xiaojun bent down to check his foot. Her neck felt cold, which turned out to be water dripping from Chen Qiaoqi's hair. Zhao Xiaojun wiped it with her hand and said, "You didn't dry your hair again; be careful not to catch a cold!" Chen Qiaoqi replied, "Then you dry it for me." Zhao Xiaojun huffed and said, "Do you still think you're a three-year-old?" Although she said this, she thought about how inconvenient it was for him to run around with his foot injured. She still got up to the bathroom to fetch a towel and casually wiped his hair.

After settling him down, he could hardly straighten his back and was exhausted, slumped on the sofa. After resting for a while, he finally asked, "How did you sprain your ankle? How could you be so useless!" Chen Qiaoqi replied sullenly, "Who told you to agree to come and then back out!" Zhao Xiaojun said with some frustration, "Didn't I tell you I had to work overtime? You went and sprained your ankle on purpose, didn't you?" Chen Qiaoqi remained silent, his head down.

Chen Qiaoqi stirred the rice in his bowl with chopsticks and casually said, "We are having a sports meet, are you going to watch?" Zhao Xiaojun responded with an "Oh," and asked, "Are you participating too?" Chen Qiaoqi proudly replied, "Of course, if I don't participate, who will?" Zhao Xiaojun laughed, "Look at you!" Chen Qiaoqi pressed on, "Are you going or not?" Zhao Xiaojun thought for a moment and said, "Why would I go! I'm already old and have no interest in those things at all." Chen Qiaoqi immediately put on a serious face and said, "The parents of my classmates are all going, why aren't you going? You are not old at all, stop using that as an excuse. I've told you so many times, isn't it annoying! You..."

Upon returning home, Chen Qiaoqi had indeed prepared a meal and was waiting for her to eat. Zhao Xiaojun looked at the simple dishes on the table, and a wave of warmth suddenly surged through her heart, making all the frustrations of the day vanish without a trace. She smiled and said, "Why didn't you eat first?" Chen Qiaoqi naturally replied, "I was waiting for you! However, the food has gotten a bit cold, and I don't have the strength right now, so please heat it up for me." Zhao Xiaojun quickly warmed up the food and said while eating, "Next time, you don't have to wait for me; you can eat first. Just remember to save a portion for me." Chen Qiaoqi impatiently said, "Do you think I want to wait for you? Eating alone is so boring!" She continued, "Next time, come back earlier; I was starving!" Zhao Xiaojun initially wanted to say that it served him right for being hungry, but thinking about how he not only cooked dinner but also waited until now, she smiled and refrained from responding. She simply said, "I'll try my best. But I've been quite busy lately; it should get better after the probation period."

Cheng Wei sat back down, started the engine, and asked, "Are you feeling any better?" Zhao Xiaojun politely replied, "I took some medicine, and I feel much better." Cheng Wei nodded and did not say anything further, focusing on driving. Zhao Xiaojun expressed her gratitude, saying, "I really appreciate your help, Cheng. " Cheng Wei kept his eyes on the road and replied, "It's no trouble." He parked the car in front of the restaurant. Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit confused. Cheng Wei turned to look at her and asked, "Aren't you hungry?" Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaojun realized she was indeed a bit hungry. Earlier, she had thrown up everything she had eaten at the hotel, and now she truly felt famished. Cheng Wei smiled and said, "We were just drinking earlier and didn't eat anything; I'm hungry too." He led the way out, and Zhao Xiaojun had no choice but to follow closely behind.

However, in Beijing, whenever it rains, the roads become particularly congested. On the Third Ring Road, the traffic is so jammed that one cannot see the end, with cars densely packed and completely immobile. Zhao Xiaojun was restless, repeatedly lifting her body to check the traffic conditions ahead, feeling anxious. She kept wondering if her absence from Chen Qiao's match had caused him to become furious and deeply hurt, leading to his injury. This thought made her even more anxious, and coupled with feelings of guilt and self-blame, tears were about to spill. Throughout the journey, she kept thinking whether her not attending Chen Qiao's match had made him furious and deeply affected, resulting in his injury. This thought only heightened her anxiety, and with the added guilt, tears were on the verge of flowing. Cheng Wei simply turned off the engine, looking at her tearful eyes, and comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, it's fine." Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaojun could no longer hold back her tears, quickly turning her head to pretend to look at the scenery outside. She let the tears flow down without bothering to wipe them away.

Zhao Xiaojun stood in the hospital corridor, feeling an overwhelming sense of unreality. The conversation that had just taken place felt like a dream, leaving no trace, much like the light smoke and damp rain outside, weightless and ethereal. Was the person Cheng Wei mentioned referring to her? Yet, she had no recollection of it at all, not a single memory. After walking a few steps, she remembered that she was still holding his handkerchief, which she used to wipe her slightly damp hair, hesitating in her mind whether to return it to him. After making a phone call to confirm Chen Qiaoqi's room, she immediately cast aside such doubts.

However, on that day, Zhao Xiaojun was unable to go because she had to stay behind to work overtime. She had called Chen Qiao beforehand, only to hear him hang up in a fit of rage. Although Zhao Xiaojun felt somewhat uneasy, she did not take it to heart, thinking that she would just explain things to him when she returned. As the end of the workday approached, the weather suddenly changed; dark clouds pressed down towards the window, almost hovering right above her eyelids, and it looked like it was about to rain. Zhao Xiaojun wondered whether Chen Qiao and the others had finished their sports event, especially with such inclement weather. As the end of the workday approached, the weather suddenly changed; dark clouds pressed down towards the window, almost hovering right above her eyelids, and it looked like it was about to rain. Zhao Xiaojun wondered whether Chen Qiao and the others had finished their sports event, especially with such inclement weather. She walked to the restroom to call him, but no one answered. She was unsure whether he was angry or simply did not hear the phone. Exercising patience, she dialed twice more, but still only heard the monotonous female voice saying, "The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable." Then she thought to herself, who would take their phone to the sports field? So she walked back and continued working.

In a private room, she leaned against the wall and made her way to the restroom. After much effort, she finally reached the sink, but before she could step inside, she began to vomit in front of the mirror, expelling everything she had consumed that evening. Tears and mucus streamed down her face as she gasped for breath. At that moment, someone gently patted her back from behind, the rhythm steady and comforting. Zhao Xiaojun quickly wiped her mouth with water, raised her head, and saw Cheng Wei standing behind her in the mirror. She wanted to greet him and express her gratitude, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she was overwhelmed again, unable to utter a single word. It was only after her stomach was empty that she finally stopped. After catching her breath for a moment, she cupped some water in her hands, swished it around in her mouth, and then rinsed her face. After catching her breath for a moment, she cupped some water in her hands, swished it around in her mouth, and then rinsed her face.

The atmosphere between the two people suddenly became relaxed, and the previous formality and distance, which had been maintained due to their shared hometown connection, dissipated. The elevator gently shook and came to a stop. Zhao Xiaojun smiled and said goodbye, while Cheng Wei went to the underground parking lot to fetch the car. In the lobby on the first floor, she received a call from Chen Qiaoqi, who asked why she had not finished work yet, mentioning that he had already prepared dinner. Zhao Xiaojun repeatedly said she would be back soon, and abruptly hung up the phone. As she stepped out the door, the sky had turned completely dark. Standing on the steps, she looked up to see the colorful lights exploding in various places, with sparks burning everywhere, while the flowing headlights of cars resembled falling embers. Zhao Xiaojun turned her head and saw a black small Benz emerging from the underground exit of the building. Only under the dazzling streetlights did she clearly see that the license plate number was six zeros. She shrugged and quickly walked towards the nearby bus stop.

Cheng Wei tilted her head and said to her, "Come in quickly." When Zhao Xiaojun was still hesitating, Cheng Wei smiled and said, "What, do you want to continue standing here in the rain? You won't be able to catch a cab at this time anyway." Zhao Xiaojun felt a rush of anxiety and decided not to insist any longer, quickly getting in. Seeing the anxious expression on her face, Cheng Wei asked, "What’s wrong? Is something the matter?" Zhao Xiaojun nodded randomly and said, "Can we go to the Sino-Japanese Hospital?" Cheng Wei stopped speaking and turned the car towards the hospital.

Driving Zhao Xiaojun to the entrance of the community, when it was time to go in, Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly said, "No need, no need, just stop here." She stood up to grab her bag and carefully checked to see if she had left anything behind. Then she said, "Thank you so much, General Cheng, for today." Cheng Wei politely replied, "No need to thank me, this is what I should do." His tone was entirely that of a superior to a subordinate, a gentleman to a lady, exhibiting a kind of courteous politeness. Although Zhao Xiaojun felt that his attitude had suddenly become somewhat strange, as if he had deliberately distanced himself, like he was reminding her of something, she did not pay much attention to it. She then said, "Thank you so much, General Cheng, for today." Cheng Wei politely replied, "No need to thank me, this is what I should do." His tone was entirely that of a superior to a subordinate, a gentleman to a lady, exhibiting a kind of courteous politeness. Although Zhao Xiaojun felt that his attitude had suddenly become somewhat strange, as if he had deliberately distanced himself, like he was reminding her of something, she did not pay much attention to it. Privately, she did not care about Cheng Wei's attitude.

Cheng Wei chose a seat by the window and asked Zhao Xiao Jun whether she preferred Chinese or Western cuisine. Without hesitation, Zhao Xiao Jun replied that she liked Chinese food. Cheng Wei took the menu and let her order, but Zhao Xiao Jun repeatedly declined. Cheng Wei was not polite and ordered several home-style Sichuan dishes. Zhao Xiao Jun's appetite was stimulated, and she ate to the point of sweating profusely, feeling extremely satisfied. While eating, she wiped her sweat with a tissue; her tongue was slightly numb from the spiciness, yet she still found it enjoyable and felt completely refreshed. Seeing her eat with great enthusiasm, Cheng Wei smiled and said, "It seems you can handle spicy food as well." Zhao Xiao Jun picked up her cup and drank two large gulps of water before saying, "I haven't had such authentic chili in a long time. You have no idea, the food in Beijing always seems to lack spiciness. Everything has a hint of sweetness." Cheng Wei nodded and said, "This place is an authentic Sichuan restaurant. What you mentioned is Northern cuisine." Zhao Xiao Jun laughed, "But I can't go to Beijing every day just to eat Sichuan food, can I?" Cheng Wei smiled, seemingly finding Zhao Xiao Jun's words quite amusing, even though Zhao Xiao Jun did not think there was anything inappropriate about her remarks.

Chen Qiaoqi said from behind: "Are you going to sleep so early? Stay with me and watch some TV. It's dark outside, and it's both windy and rainy. Aren't you afraid? It might even thunder." Zhao Xiaojun slammed the door and said: "I'm not a child. Besides, it's the middle of winter, how could there be thunder!" However, after a while, she came out again because there was a loud rumbling noise outside that made it impossible to sleep. She complained: "What on earth is going on at this late hour? Can't anyone get some sleep?" Chen Qiaoqi patted the seat beside her forcefully and smiled triumphantly. Zhao Xiaojun yawned several times and said: "I don't know why, I clearly feel very tired, yet I just can't fall asleep. It's all this noise that's causing it."

When Chen Qiaoqi saw her answer a phone call, he stood there in silence and couldn't help but ask, "Who called? Why are you in a daze?" Zhao Xiaojun replied, "My boss!" Chen Qiaoqi asked, "Have you been fired?" Zhao Xiaojun threw a pillow at him and scolded, "You better watch your mouth! Be careful not to get hit!" Chen Qiaoqi dodged swiftly and muttered, "It would be better if you were fired!" Fortunately, Zhao Xiaojun did not hear him.

Zhao Xiaojun rolled up her pant leg to take a look and said, "It's nothing serious, just a large bruise. A little massage and it will be fine." Chen Qiaoqi leaned over her to see, his entire body collapsing onto her. Zhao Xiaojun caught a strong whiff of his sweat, feeling a bit flushed and her heart racing. She quickly pushed him away, saying, "Don't lean on me, be careful not to crush me. You're like a mountain." Chen Qiaoqi leaned against her, and it took him a while to sit up straight. When Zhao Xiaojun exerted great effort to get him out of the hospital, he truly felt like a moving mountain, heavily pressing down on her.

Cheng Wei took the car and helped her into the passenger seat, saying to everyone, "Everyone is tired, let's go back and have a good rest." The crowd dispersed in a rush. He leaned over and asked, "Zhao Xiaojun, are you alright?" Zhao Xiaojun adjusted to a more comfortable sitting position, straightened her back, felt a bit less uncomfortable, opened her eyes, nodded slightly, and said, "No need to go to the hospital, just buy some medicine at the pharmacy." Cheng Wei drove to a nearby pharmacy and bought some antihistamines. Zhao Xiaojun skillfully opened the package and swallowed the pills in one go. Then she leaned back against the cushion and closed her eyes to rest.

Cheng Wei said, "I have a car, I will take Miss Zhao to the hospital on the way, you all can go back first." As she spoke, she helped the unsteady Zhao Xiaojun to her feet and walked out, with everyone hurriedly following behind. Someone said, "President Cheng, let me help." Cheng Wei had already opened the door and stepped outside.

When she woke up, she found herself still sitting in the car, but the driver's seat next to her was empty. Startled, she quickly looked around and noticed a flickering light not far away. Zhao Xiaojun opened the car door and saw Cheng Wei, who seemed to have almost merged with the darkness, standing by the roadside smoking. The cigarette in his mouth glowed like a dark red flower, blooming momentarily in the night before withering away. His silhouette concealed an inescapable loneliness, lingering like a shadow. Zhao Xiaojun observed him, feeling as if the half-lit figure before her was a mirage in her mind.

Zhao Xiaojun sat in front of the narrow desk, meticulously organizing the materials under the light. After checking for any omissions, she picked up her clothes and bag, turned off the light, and walked to the hallway to wait for the elevator. It was well past the end of the workday when an older employee handed her a large stack of materials before leaving, speaking very politely, and then promptly turned to leave. Although Zhao Xiaojun felt indignant, she had no choice but to accept it, gritting her teeth and enduring the situation, organizing the materials bit by bit. The older employee had the right to comment on her internship performance.

Cheng Wei gently leaned back in his chair and smiled, saying, "Has anyone ever told you that you look like a painting?" Zhao Xiaojun was momentarily taken aback by his words, unsure of how to respond. Cheng Wei continued, "Like the Yangliuqing New Year paintings from Tianjin. But now, I don't know whether it's better to display it or to put it away." This time, Zhao Xiaojun finally grasped a bit of the meaning and laughed, saying, "So it's the Yangliuqing New Year paintings. I saw them when I was a child. Cheng Wei added, "Like the Yangliuqing New Year paintings from Tianjin. But now, I don't know whether it's better to display it or to put it away." This time, Zhao Xiaojun finally grasped a bit of the meaning and laughed, saying, "So it's the Yangliuqing New Year paintings. I saw them when I was a child. Now, I can only find them at Liulichang. I thought it was some beautiful woman painting or a lady's portrait, and I was excitedly rambling. I didn't expect it to be this. Mr. Cheng must be joking, saying I'm outdated. In Mr. Cheng's eyes, I probably can't keep up with the times. However, I don't mind." Cheng Wei smiled and said, "That's not what I meant. You probably misunderstood me." Zhao Xiaojun waved her hand, indicating that she didn't mind.

Zhao Xiaojun did not expect that Cheng Wei would personally take charge, dressed in a suit and tie, meticulous in appearance. His every gesture exuded authority and elegance, revealing a refined upbringing in his every word and action. This was in stark contrast to his casual demeanor in the car that day. This was the CEO of "Qicheng," young and successful in his career. The contract had already been negotiated in advance; it was merely a symbolic review before signing. Then, everyone was filled with joy, and the entire team moved to the hotel to celebrate. The contract had already been negotiated in advance; it was merely a symbolic review before signing. Then, everyone was filled with joy, and the entire team moved to the hotel to celebrate.

Hearing the phone in the bag ringing "ding ding ding", she picked it up to take a look and saw an unfamiliar number. She politely asked, "Hello, may I ask who this is?" A deep male voice came through, "It's me, Cheng Wei." Zhao Xiaojun was taken aback and immediately replied, "Hello, hello!" Cheng Wei interrupted her, "No need to be so polite. I remembered that you seemed quite unstable earlier, so I called to check if everything is alright." Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly said, "It's nothing serious, just a minor injury. Thank you so much!" Cheng Wei responded, "Well, since it's nothing, I will hang up now. I hope I haven't caused you any trouble. I remembered that you seemed quite unstable earlier, so I called to check if everything is alright." Zhao Xiaojun quickly replied, "It's nothing serious, just a minor injury. Thank you so much!" Cheng Wei said, "Well, since it's nothing, I will hang up now. I hope I haven't caused you any trouble. I also wish you smooth sailing in everything in the future." With that, he hung up the phone. Zhao Xiaojun stared at the phone for a while, feeling dazed. His tone was very polite; perhaps she had overreacted.

Zhao Xiaojun watched him leave in anger, pondering whether he had indeed gone too far. He hoped that his desire for her to attend was understandable; after all, which child does not have such feelings? After thinking for a long time, he increasingly felt that he had overstepped, so he knocked on his door, but there was no response for a long time. Upon opening the door, he saw him lying on the bed with his back turned, and he walked over and softly said, "What’s wrong, are you asleep?" Noticing him shift uncomfortably without speaking, he continued, "Why do you want me to go? Don’t you have many classmates? They could cheer for you just the same." Chen Qiaoqi suddenly sat up, looking straight at her, and said in a muffled voice, "I just want you to go! Are you going or not?" Zhao Xiaojun sighed and replied, "Fine, I’ll go. Can I not go? Look at how upset you are." Chen Qiaoqi excitedly said, "Really? You said it, so you must go when the time comes." Zhao Xiaojun helplessly responded, "I got it, I got it! I really can’t do anything with you!"

Gradually, Chen Qiaoqi's attention shifted from the television to her. Seeing her half of her head buried in the orange-red pillow, the lower it went, the more likely it was to fall. Her loose hair tumbled forward, covering her entire face. Unable to help herself, she reached out her hand to gently push the thick black hair back, revealing Zhao Xiaojun's small and delicate face. Beneath her long eyelashes was a faint shadow, but unfortunately, her eyes were closed, preventing one from seeing the starry blackness and the purity of her snow-like gaze, which seemed to possess a magical power that could draw one in at any moment. Chen Qiaoqi used the index finger of her right hand to gently curl her slightly upturned eyelashes, playing with them back and forth.

Gasping for breath, she pushed open the hospital room door and saw Chen Qiao Qi lying on the bed with a pale face. There was no danger to his life, and she let out a sigh of relief, standing for a moment. From her vantage point, she could see that one of his feet was wrapped up like a seed, surrounded by classmates. She hurriedly squeezed in and anxiously asked, "Chen Qiao Qi, what happened, what happened?" Upon seeing her, Chen Qiao Qi turned his head to the side, pressed his lips together, and remained silent, his complexion frightening. His teacher explained from the side that Chen Qiao Qi had twisted his ankle while doing a standing long jump, so he was brought to the hospital; it was not a matter of life and death. After Zhao Xiao Jun clarified the situation, she repeatedly thanked the teacher and classmates, escorting everyone outside before returning.

Cheng Wei handed her a clean white handkerchief, and Zhao Xiaojun thanked him as she took it to wipe the water off her face. Cheng Wei asked, "Are you feeling better?" Zhao Xiaojun, lacking strength, merely nodded. Cheng Wei responded with a sound of acknowledgment and said, "Then you should head back; it’s time to disperse." As he spoke, he supported her with one hand and leaned down to ask, "Can you still walk?" Zhao Xiaojun felt weak all over but still nodded slightly. Cheng Wei helped her walk to the outside of the private room, and Zhao Xiaojun softly said, "Mr. Cheng, you should go in first; it wouldn’t look good if everyone saw us together." Cheng Wei looked at her for a moment, said nothing, and indeed pushed the door open and went in first. Zhao Xiaojun steadied herself against the wall and stood for a while before she managed to walk to her seat.

Cheng Wei still hadn't eaten much, spending most of the time staring out the window in a daze. As soon as Zhao Xiaojun put down her chopsticks, he turned back and asked, "Are you done eating? Do you want me to order a bit more?" Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit embarrassed and laughed, saying, "No, no, if I eat more, it really won't be the same." As she spoke, she made an exaggerated gesture. Cheng Wei smiled, waved to the waiter to settle the bill.

Chen Qiaoqi continued to glare at her, not uttering a single word. Zhao Xiaojun sat by his bedside and asked, "Does it hurt? Is there anywhere uncomfortable?" Chen Qiaoqi snorted coldly, not even glancing at her. Zhao Xiaojun, considering he was the patient, chose not to argue with him and simply asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something? What do you want? I can go buy it." Zhao Xiaojun patiently waited for him for a long time, but seeing that he still wore a sullen expression and refused to respond, she felt a bit irritated but suppressed it, taking a deep breath and asking, "Shall we go back first?" Chen Qiaoqi simply lay down sideways. Zhao Xiaojun, still thinking of him as the patient, did not press the issue and asked again, "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something? What do you want? I can go buy it." After waiting for a long time with no response from him, she felt quite angry, but managed to hold it in, taking another deep breath and asking, "Shall we go back first?" Chen Qiaoqi just lay down sideways. Zhao Xiaojun was furious and, with a stern face, asked, "Chen Qiaoqi, what kind of attitude is this!" Saying this, she pulled Chen Qiaoqi to sit up properly.

Chen Qiaoqi stood in the bathroom shouting loudly: "Xiao Jun, Xiao Jun, come here quickly!" Zhao Xiao Jun thought something was wrong and hurriedly asked, "What happened, what happened?" She rushed in. Chen Qiaoqi was only wearing long pants, standing on one foot, and said to her: "The floor is so wet, come help me a bit." Zhao Xiao Jun casually glanced at him and said, "Are you done washing?" As she spoke, she picked up his shirt and handed it to him. Chen Qiaoqi draped it over his shoulder, leaning his body towards her. Zhao Xiao Jun pushed him, saying: "Go, go, go, put on your clothes first!" Chen Qiaoqi looked at her, supported himself on her shoulders, and mischievously smiled, saying: "Not wearing!" Zhao Xiao Jun pinched him and scolded: "You exhibitionist! You're sick!" Still, she helped him lie down on the sofa in the living room.

Zhao Xiaojun, being new, has many things to learn and is not yet familiar with the assigned tasks, often working late into the night. However, these challenges do not deter her, and she gradually becomes adept at her work. Over the years, in order to make a living, she frequently took on part-time jobs. Initially, she worked in sales during the "May Day" and "National Day" holidays. As she gained more connections, she also served as a host for large events and worked as staff at auto shows, accumulating some work experience along the way. Perhaps it is this experience that led to her being hired by "Qicheng." It seems that hardships do have their benefits.

When Zhao Xiaojun entered with a large stack of documents, Manager Cao from her department stopped her and said, "Xiao Zhao, there is a contract to be signed at the company today. Come with me, consider it an opportunity to gain some experience." Zhao Xiaojun immediately bent down to salute and cheerfully replied, "Thank you, Manager Cao!" Manager Cao was only in his forties, but unfortunately, he was "bald as an egg," with only a few sparse strands of hair remaining on his head, which he desperately tried to arrange to cover his baldness. He was quite kind-hearted, willing to mentor newcomers, and did not bully others with his position. Zhao Xiaojun felt quite grateful to him.

Cheng Wei looked through the glass window and saw a pair of glistening eyes inside. He slowly said: "Once, I was driving out of a small alley near Dongzhimen. Just as I was about to turn onto the main road, a figure suddenly dashed out in front of me, startling me so much that I slammed on the brakes and the clutch. Fortunately, I managed to stop in time and avoided a major accident. However, the person seemed to be frightened and fell to the ground, remaining there for quite a while without getting up. I then got out of the car to help her up and saw her face covered in tears. Thinking she might be hurt, I repeatedly asked if she needed to go to the hospital or if she was injured anywhere, but she did not respond, only crying incessantly, leaving me at a loss for what to do. I noticed a patch of bright red on her elbow, so I took out my handkerchief to stop the bleeding. I told her: 'You wait here for a moment, I will park the car and then take you to the hospital.' She remained dazed and did not answer. Her tears just kept flowing. When I turned around to park the car, she had already disappeared, leaving my handkerchief, soaked, on the ground. Later, I thought that she must have encountered something distressing, which is why she cried so sorrowfully, not even realizing she was hurt. This incident left a deep impression on me."

Chen Qiaoqi squinted his eyes and leaned against the sofa, suddenly saying: "Xiao Jun, do you remember our childhood? You used to dry my hair like this. But now, you no longer do that for me." Zhao Xiaojun felt her heart soften slightly at the mention of their childhood and gently replied: "You have long outgrown the age of needing someone to dry your hair. Qiaoqi, you are no longer a child. You cannot be so willful anymore, do you understand?" Chen Qiaoqi fell silent for a moment and said: "Xiao Jun, I know what I am doing. I have always known." Zhao Xiaojun threw a towel at him and softly said: "You have long outgrown the age of needing someone to dry your hair. Qiaoqi, you are no longer a child. You cannot be so willful anymore, do you understand?" Chen Qiaoqi fell silent for a moment and said: "Xiao Jun, I know what I am doing. I have always known." Zhao Xiaojun threw a towel at him and said: "As long as you know!" She turned around and was about to leave.

Zhao Xiaojun naturally could not sit at the same table as Cheng Wei. Sitting in the corner, she was frequently pressured to drink by a person next to her. After declining a couple of times, the other party glanced at her and said, "It seems Miss Zhao is unwilling to give this face." Manager Cao quickly stood up and said, "Xiao Zhao has just started working and is still unfamiliar with the rules, Director Fu, please do not take offense." He gave her a knowing look and said, "Xiao Zhao, you really are too naive; how can you not drink the toast from Director Fu!" Zhao Xiaojun did not dare to argue a word, repeatedly apologizing, and with her head tilted back and eyes closed, she finished the drink in one go. Everyone saw her down the drink in one gulp and cheered, which enlivened the atmosphere. Before long, Zhao Xiaojun felt dizzy, a rush of heat surging up. Taking advantage of her remaining clarity, she pushed her chair back and smiled at everyone, saying she was going to the restroom.

Just off work, the heavy rain poured down, truly a change in the weather. Zhao Xiaojun was thinking about whether Chen Qiaoqi had returned when her phone rang. She heard the other party say, "May I ask if this is Chen Qiaoqi's guardian?" Zhao Xiaojun was taken aback and replied affirmatively. She then heard the other party say that Chen Qiaoqi was currently in the hospital. Zhao Xiaojun felt as if her soul had left her body; she vaguely heard something about bleeding and being injured, which frightened her to the point of turning pale, her mind in a daze, and her limbs weak. Without caring about the torrential rain outside, she rushed out, standing by the roadside, raising her hand to hail a taxi. However, it was already difficult to catch a taxi on a rainy day, especially during the rush hour after work, and all the passing cars were occupied. Just as she was getting anxious, a black private car stopped in front of her, the window rolled down, startling her; it turned out to be Cheng Wei.

Chen Qiaoqi took the opportunity to lean against her, and Zhao Xiaojun frowned: "Get up, you're all wet." Not only did Chen Qiaoqi not listen, but he also wrapped his arms around her upper body and rubbed against her slightly. Zhao Xiaojun could clearly feel the warm, damp temperature coming from him, and she pushed him away forcefully, saying: "Chen Qiaoqi, what are you doing!" Chen Qiaoqi gently blew into her ear, intermittently, even extending to her neck. Caught off guard, Zhao Xiaojun felt a tingling sensation all over her body and couldn't help but shiver slightly. Immediately, she became furious and sternly reprimanded: "Chen Qiaoqi, get up!" Seeing that she was really angry, Chen Qiaoqi rubbed for a while and said: "My leg hurts, you bumped into me just now. Do you think I want to lie here? Just let me take my time." Zhao Xiaojun's anger quickly subsided, and she hurriedly asked: "How can your leg hurt? Where did you bump it? Is it serious?" Chen Qiaoqi snorted a couple of times and said: "How can it not hurt? I was already injured, and now I got bumped again, it's just adding insult to injury!"

Zhao Xiaojun looked at his expression and truly suspected that he was doing it on purpose. Looking at his feet, she asked, "What should we do now? Can you still go to school?" Chen Qiaoqi replied, "The teacher asked me to rest at home for two days before going back." Zhao Xiaojun nodded and said, "Then it can only be this way. But in your current condition, with limited mobility, who will take care of you? It's also inconvenient to go out for meals." Chen Qiaoqi lowered his head and said, "Could you take a two-day leave?" Zhao Xiaojun glared at him, "Do you want me to get fired? Are you crazy? I'm still interning!" Chen Qiaoqi looked at her and asked, "Then what do you suggest? I can't just starve to death, can I?" Zhao Xiaojun rolled her eyes at him, "Don't worry, you won't starve to death!"

Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly ran out, noticing that the elevator doors had just closed. She weakly pressed one hand against the shiny elevator door, feeling a bit disheartened. Leaning against the corner of the wall without revealing any signs, she closed her eyes for a moment and let out a soft sigh, feeling quite tired. Rubbing her sore eyes with her hand, she let out a deep sigh. Suddenly, she heard a series of steady and powerful footsteps, and she immediately straightened her body, looking towards the approaching person, her body tense and calling out in a somewhat flustered manner: "President Cheng!" Cheng Wei glanced at her and nodded slightly.

Manager Cao noticed her waning spirit and quickly leaned over to ask in a low voice, "Xiao Zhao, what’s wrong? Why have you been gone for so long?" Zhao Xiaojun weakly replied, "I just threw up." Manager Cao hurriedly asked, "Are you okay?" Seeing her nod, he added, "Just hold on a little longer; we should be leaving soon." Before long, everyone indeed stood up to bid farewell. After Cheng Wei exchanged pleasantries and sent the guests off, he returned to find Zhao Xiaojun's face flushed, as if she could bleed, and asked, "What’s wrong? Are you alright?" Manager Cao, also feeling anxious, remarked, "This girl, how can she be so dizzy from just a little alcohol?" Cheng Wei casually glanced over her and said, "This doesn’t look like drunkenness; it seems more like an alcohol allergy." Manager Cao couldn’t help but ask, "Alcohol allergy?" As he continued to look at Zhao Xiaojun, seeing her truly in a bad state, he asked, "What’s wrong? Are you okay?" Manager Cao, still anxious, repeated, "This girl, how can she be so dizzy from just a little alcohol?" Cheng Wei casually glanced over her and said, "This doesn’t look like drunkenness; it seems more like an alcohol allergy." Manager Cao couldn’t help but ask, "Alcohol allergy?" As he continued to look at Zhao Xiaojun, seeing her truly in a bad state, he said, "Cheng, what should we do now?"

Zhao Xiaojun hesitated for half a day before saying, "I don't remember anything at all." Cheng Wei glanced at her and asked, "Is that so? You really don't remember anything?" Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, there was no traffic jam this time. As they passed under the bridge, they saw police cars maintaining order; it turned out that two private cars had collided. They arrived at the hospital smoothly this time. Zhao Xiaojun was worried about Chen Qiaoqi's injuries and hurriedly opened the car door before the vehicle had come to a complete stop. She thanked Cheng Wei and was about to leave. Cheng Wei called out to her, smiling, "Actually, no matter what happens, it will eventually pass. Watching others cry is not a pleasant thing. In any case, I hope your life gets better and better. It would be best if there were no worries at all." Zhao Xiaojun was taken aback for a moment and said thank you. Then she mentioned that she was going in. Cheng Wei nodded and said, "Then I will take my leave." She turned and walked away.

Chen Qiaoqi said, "Your room is close to the outside, it's particularly noisy, it's much better here. You can take a nap here for a while. I'll call you after I finish watching TV." Zhao Xiaojun took a blanket and wrapped it around herself, then curled her feet up on the sofa, covering her mouth as she said, "I'll watch for a bit too, then I'll go to sleep later." Chen Qiaoqi changed the channel, and Zhao Xiaojun leaned her head on the pillow, saying, "It's this kind of scheming again, aren't you annoying!" She showed no interest at all. Gradually, she began to treat the sound of the television as a lullaby, and unknowingly fell asleep.

Chen Qiaoqi hurriedly leaned over to check her injuries, apologizing with a look of regret: "I'm sorry!" Zhao Xiaojun, seeing that he was no longer throwing a tantrum, took the opportunity to step down and admonished, "Be more careful in the future." This meant for him to be cautious and not get hurt again. Chen Qiaoqi mistakenly thought she was warning him to be careful in the future, feeling even more guilty, he lowered his head and said: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! Xiaojun, I really didn't mean to, this will never happen again." Zhao Xiaojun immediately replied: "Alright, alright. Just know that. Does your foot still hurt? Can you go back?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded and repeatedly asked: "Where is it hurt? Do you need to see a doctor?"

Cheng Wei heard a noise and extinguished his cigarette with one hand. Turning around, he said, "You are awake?" Zhao Xiaojun replied with a soft "Mm." He continued, "I didn't know where you lived, so I just stopped here." Zhao Xiaojun thought to herself that he could have easily woken her up. She wondered if it was because he had been abroad for a long time, accustomed to maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor, feeling too shy to wake her, or if there was some other reason. She dared not overthink it. With someone like Cheng Wei, she did not dare to make random assumptions, nor could she guess his thoughts. In any case, from the very beginning, she had no ulterior motives towards him; she was aware of that much. She had heard about Cheng Wei before. A young, handsome, and successful man is never short of romantic entanglements. But she was different.

Zhao Xiaojun stole a glance at him, noticing his upright posture and chiseled features, yet his eyes were filled with weariness. She did not expect him to finish work so late. She refrained from speaking further, thinking that although he was her superior, he might not necessarily know her, so it was better to remain silent. Unexpectedly, Cheng Wei spoke up: "Miss Zhao, working so late, are you getting used to it?" Zhao Xiaojun was somewhat surprised that he remembered her name and immediately responded respectfully: "I am getting used to it." Cheng Wei suddenly laughed: "You don’t need to be so on edge; am I really such a terrifying boss?" Zhao Xiaojun realized that her demeanor had been too obvious, so she relaxed and smiled, saying: "No, no, it’s my own issue."

Chen Qiaoqi swung her hand, causing Zhao Xiaojun to stagger backward. She tripped over a nearby stool and nearly hit her head on the windowsill. Quick on her feet, she managed to grab Chen Qiaoqi's arm, preventing a collision. Chen Qiaoqi seemed startled as well and quickly tightened her grip, anxiously asking, "Did you hit anywhere?" Zhao Xiaojun, having been startled, took a while to recover and seized the opportunity to say, "I did hit something, I did hit something. Are you trying to kill me on purpose? I was just worried about you for nothing! I rushed over in the rain like my life depended on it, and this is your attitude? Truly a case of a dog biting Lü Dongbin, unable to recognize a good person’s heart!" She swung her hand to rub her knee, which had been bumped by the stool.

Zhao Xiaojun turned her head in astonishment to look at him, the tear stains on her face still not dry, her mind in a state of confusion. Cheng Wei handed her a clean white handkerchief and said, "Wipe your tears." Zhao Xiaojun was momentarily startled and did not take it. Cheng Wei pressed it into her hand, smiling as he said, "I hope you won't throw it away this time." Zhao Xiaojun then dazedly accepted it but only wiped her tears haphazardly with the back of her hand. Cheng Wei turned to look at the seemingly shifting flow of traffic ahead and slowly said, "Actually, I really want to know why she cried so sadly that day, as if the whole world had disappeared. She cried so freely and passionately, oblivious to those around her." Zhao Xiaojun gazed at his profile, seemingly still not fully present. Cheng Wei continued, "I’m just curious." Then he started the engine and merged into the sea of cars