Chapter 1, Business Trip

Sipping coffee, my throat, which had not tasted a drop of water in the morning, gradually became smooth. I picked up the documents on my desk and began discussing work. Xiao Wang meticulously took notes and left with the files. Alright, gossip time is here. I ran into the office area with a beaming smile, where the noise of people had already filled the space. The company's office area is like any typical office building, with cubicles, one person per cubicle, and supervisors each in their glass-walled offices. Unlike other organizations, during working hours, the office area is never quiet or serious; it is filled only with laughter and playful banter. The boss says that a lively environment is conducive to enhancing work enthusiasm and creativity. A colleague remarked that without excitement, there would be no good stories. My girlfriend Juanzi said, "You are in a unit that lies between ordinary people and the entertainment industry, so it is not surprising." I agree with this statement; after all, our company is an entertainment and cultural information company. One of our jobs is to gossip, share gossip, and capture gossip.

The next day, I flew to Beijing with the sea. The poplar trees on both sides of the airport had already shed all their leaves. Having grown accustomed to the greenery of winter in Lingnan, this desolation truly resembled winter. The car sped along the highway, and I recalled what he once said to me: "Ziqi, do you know that poplar trees have eyes? The eyes of young poplar trees are clear and bright. As they grow into large trees, their eyes become deep and intense. When they become old trees, their eyes turn murky and worldly. Ziqi, you have eyes as clear as those of a young poplar tree." The eyes of young poplar trees are clear and bright. As they grow into large trees, their eyes become deep and intense. When they become old trees, their eyes turn murky and worldly. Ziqi, you have eyes as clear as those of a young poplar tree.

After four years, I finally have to go to that city, there is no escaping it. With a wry smile, how many cities in China can truly be called political and cultural centers? You have brushed against the arts and chosen such a large company. It would be better to go teach in a remote valley and spend a lifetime there. Tang Ziqi, you ultimately cannot completely distance yourself.

The sea slapped me on the shoulder: "Ziqi, you have already handed over that footage to the special effects team. Let Xiao Wang keep an eye on it, and by the time you return, it should be nearly finished"

Upon arriving at the hotel and while handling my luggage, Dahai rushed in and said, "Ziqi, come eat with me and my classmates." I sluggishly replied, "I'm tired, I won't go, have fun by yourself." Dahai, bowing his head and being servile, said, "Xiaoruo instructed that you should call back during the meal and serve as a witness."

I opened my mouth wide to take a breath: "Sea, have you really practiced Iron Sand Palm?"

I disdainfully said, "Hu Dahai, perhaps your little Ruo is worried about you going on business trips with other female colleagues!" He chuckled.

Dahai chuckled, saying: "I forgot you were a woman." A colleague nearby laughed again, and the boss waved his hand, saying: "It's settled then, tomorrow you and Dahai will report to the film crew."

The boss is happily chatting with a group of people by the sea. What new gossip is there? I rushed over in a hurry, probably with too much enthusiasm, causing all my colleagues to turn and look at me. The boss smiled and said, "Ziqi, we were just talking about you"

I retracted my gaze from the poplar tree, thinking to myself, Yi, you are mistaken. Now, Tang Ziqi's eyes are no longer as clear as the bright stream.

I asked with a smile: "What are you saying about me?"

The sea interjected: "Let us arrange our honeymoon trip."

I circled around the poplar tree, nodding in amazement: "Really, there are indeed different eyes. Yi, do you think people can always have eyes like the little poplar tree?" I remember he laughed at that moment and said: "My Ziqi is just like that."

The sea roared: "I can go back to Beijing to find my old classmates. This is great, you little brats, Hu Dahai is coming back to wipe you out clean!"

At 9:00 in the morning, I walked into the company on time. As soon as I sat down, a cup of tea was handed to me. The assistant was looking at me with a flattering expression, and I secretly sighed, yet I still politely said to him: "Could you please make me a cup of coffee? I didn't sleep well last night and I'm not feeling very alert." Without a word, the assistant headed straight to the pantry.

The CEO mediated the situation and said, "There is an advertisement, you and the sea will take a trip to Beijing."

Dahai is famously known as the twenty-five filial son of the company. He feeds his girlfriend Ning Ruo excessively, and a colleague recites the first line: "Water that is clear has no fish." Dahai, unfazed, responds with the second line: "A person who is cheap has no rivals." In front of other colleagues, Dahai is thick-skinned to the extreme, yet he is only afraid of me. If he dares to interject or say anything more, I will let this casual joke take on a different flavor and pass it on to Xiao Ruo, making him kneel on a washboard, for who told him that Xiao Ruo regards me as her sister.

I lingered for a while, dejectedly hanging up the phone. What was I worried about? Juanzi was not wrong; Beijing is vast, and it is unlikely that a chance encounter would unfold like a scene from a play on the streets. With so many people, it is improbable that his figure would appear among the crowd. Sleep, I told myself, get a good night's rest, replenish my energy, and finish the shoot early and leave.

Upon returning home, I called Juanzi to inform her about the business trip. She exclaimed excitedly, "Don't forget to bring Peking duck, bring Fuling cake, bring celebrity photos..." I interrupted her greed in anger, saying, "Don't you know what I want to say?" Juanzi paused for a moment and replied, "Ziqi, how big is Beijing? How many people live in Beijing? Even the locals haven't explored the entire city, so what exactly are you worried about?"

The sea looked at me in astonishment and said: "Tang Ziqi, have your eyes been soaked in peacock bile? So toxic! Xiao Ruo only has her suspicions, but I would never admit it even if I were beaten to death."

As soon as the CEO left, the sea flatteringly said: "I just thought that you haven't gathered with your group of girlfriends for four years, so I strongly persuaded the CEO to let you go. Isn't this a delightful matter for everyone involved"

After hesitating for a moment, he said: "I still have two pieces that are not finished yet, and my assistant is still getting used to it."

I threw down the clothes in my hand and said to him: "Hu Dahai, could it be that your old flame will also be present?"

The sea said resentfully: "Tang Ziqi, on the thirtieth day of the New Year, I will definitely go to burn incense and pray to Buddha for the person who will marry you." In the blink of an eye, the voice lowered again: "It has been two years since graduation, and I have never contacted her. I came today just to gather with everyone, nothing more." Yet a trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes. My heart softened involuntarily, and I said to him: "I will change my clothes and go," unable to resist adding, "I won't tell Xiaoruo."

The boss smiled and said: "Indeed, I specifically took care of you and Dahu, and besides work, I also gathered with old classmates."

Those who are familiar with me in the company know that I never have breakfast in the morning, let alone drink tea, but coffee is indispensable. My assistant, Xiao Wang, is a recent graduate who joined the company less than a week ago. He comes in earlier than I do every day and prepares tea for me. However, despite my subtle hints about feeling unwell and requesting him to make coffee instead, he still does not understand. It seems necessary to provide him with a photocopy of my detailed lifestyle preferences. However, despite my subtle hints about feeling unwell and requesting him to make coffee instead, he still does not understand. It seems necessary to provide him with a photocopy of my detailed lifestyle preferences.

I laughed mischievously: "If your little Ruo is willing to be the second wife, I have no objections." Everyone burst into laughter, while Dahuazi, with a flushed face, glared at me and dared not interject.

I crossed my arms and asked: "So, are you paying in cash or are you covering everything?"

Entering the office, I casually closed the glass door and stared blankly out the window. It was still raining; I could not hear the sound of the rain, only seeing streams of water continuously pouring down, smoothing over the original marks, making it impossible to discern the streets and pedestrians outside.