Chapter 3

Chen Kewai felt somewhat embarrassed; the traffic jam was not something he could predict or control, yet it seemed to have become his fault

"All I know is that she studied abroad, comes from a wealthy family, and that's it," he said

He Su ordered a large number of items, and Chen Kewai did not believe she could finish them all. However, when she picked up her chopsticks, the momentum she exuded made him feel that he might have misjudged her.

Marriage inevitably leads to having children, which also requires gifts

In retrospect, Kong Kong felt that she should not have been so sharp and incisive at that time. She understood that those jokes were not malicious, and there was no one who truly cared about their privacy. Perhaps it was precisely because it was too frivolous and too lighthearted that she felt offended at that moment

This wedding was organized like a Western-style party, with a significant amount of white flowers used in the venue decoration, which are said to be the bride's favorites. Kong Kong only recognizes common varieties such as bellflower, lace, and lily, while other flowers are clearly imported. There are many such details, making it evident that this wedding must have cost a considerable amount of money

She is not at fault; it is you who is mistaken

In the boiling pot, steam continuously rises, and He Su's face appears clear at times and blurred at others amidst the vast whiteness. She hopes to remain more composed and not let the other party perceive her true thoughts

"What are you saying?" Kong Kong asked with a hint of hesitation in a smile. "What?"

Kong Kong exhausted all his strength to restrain himself, thus refraining from continuing the counterattack

I have spoken about this matter too lightly and carelessly, lacking substance. Shall we have our meal first?

She spoke broadly about her matters with Chen Kewei, using the most understated tone to avoid appearing like a naive child still troubled by the woes of love. However, when she recounted the situation during dinner, she noticeably became much more hurried.

I am sorry, Kong Kong, but now is not the right time to discuss this. Shall we talk about it when we return

Chen Kewai's eyes were filled with shock in an instant, as if his brain had experienced a brief shutdown. However, he quickly regained his composure, shook his head at the few colleagues who looked embarrassed, and silently mouthed the words "She is not feeling well today." The others accurately received the signal and immediately displayed expressions of understanding.

It is not the case; I lean more towards the content. I am not sure if I can explain it clearly. The actual production has nothing to do with us.

Now, she is ready to accept Chen Kewei's criticism

Kong Kong's whole body trembled as if electrified. She wanted to look up to see Chen Kewei's reaction, but then she heard another person continue the topic: "Qin, Chen Kewei, besides the newly recruited fresh graduates, are you the only one left in your department?"

"Old Shen, if you were ten years younger than you are now and single, would it be possible for us to be together?"

After a moment of stalemate, He Su finally put down her chopsticks. In fact, she had long since lost her appetite, but apart from continuously shoving food into her mouth, she could not think of any other way to prolong the time of this night a little longer

When they left, they checked the traffic conditions, and the Fifth Ring Road clearly indicated that it was smooth. However, when they were about five or six kilometers away from their destination, an unexpected traffic jam began.

At the same time, Chen Kewai was at a 24-hour hot pot restaurant, watching He Su continuously cook items in the spicy oil pot. He had hardly eaten anything for dinner, yet even so, he did not feel hungry now

She smoothly drove the car back to the community garage, and after parking it steadily, Chen Kewai had not yet woken up. She hesitated whether to call him, but ultimately she decided to just sit in the car and wait for him to wake up on his own

She blinked hard, and the despair of being unable to salvage everything before her tightened around her throat.

A series of light and trivial jokes ensued, during which Chen Kewai never expressed any reluctance to discuss the matter, leaving Kong Kong feeling immensely frustrated, even more so than the helplessness experienced during a traffic jam.

"Your appetite is quite impressive." After He Su added a few more slices of pleurotus mushrooms, Chen Kewei couldn't help but say

It is strange, why is it so easy for Baoyin to do it? Clearly, she is not being sincere.

Shen Feng's home is located in the adjacent community, which is said to have no units with an area less than 200 square meters. However, what it is actually like inside, how much it sells for, and what kind of people live there are all unknown to me, and I am not interested in finding out.

"Are you saying that these two matters are actually unrelated?" she asked softly

In fact, I am not in contact with celebrities... Kong Kong felt that she had already said too much today. If anyone were to ask her next, "Do you have any industry gossip to share?" she could only mechanically repeat, "I don't know, I'm not sure, I don't understand." She was tired of such nonsensical conversations, tired of this false enthusiasm

But this is not the time to discuss that. She calmed down and noticed Chen Kewei's tightly furrowed brows, clearly indicating that he had been troubled by someone else all night. His question was not genuinely seeking an answer.

She finally thought of a way to avoid constantly smiling foolishly, which was to lower her head and stare at her phone, her expression serious as if there were indeed something urgent to deal with. At the same time, she heard someone nearby quietly asking Chen Kewei, "How much did you give?" Chen Kewei indicated with a gesture. Kong Kong did not see it, and even if she had, she believed it was none of her business; at least at this stage, their finances were completely independent—although to anyone else, the fact that she lived in Chen Kewei's house was itself a form of dependence. Kong Kong did not see it, and even if she had, she believed it was none of her business; at least at this stage, their finances were completely independent—although to anyone else, the fact that she lived in Chen Kewei's house was itself a form of dependence.

I just feel that they might think I am difficult to get along with, and that you must be having a hard time in your daily life...

Kong Kong exhibited an unusual level of irritability; she was uncertain whether it was due to her physiological cycle or because she inherently did not wish to attend a wedding in which she had no interest, yet she was unable to hold out until the end

"You said, you know I didn't mean that, which meaning are you referring to?" Chen Kewai finally realized that she had started to take things too seriously again. Really, he scolded himself in his heart, knowing full well that she was more sensitive and cared more about the details than anyone else he usually interacted with, why did he always forget to be more cautious when speaking with her?

This night had already been quite difficult for her, so he decided to share some light-hearted jokes with her in the final moments

Upon reaching the elevator entrance, Chen Kewei suddenly turned around and said to her: "You should go back first, I have a few matters to attend to"

"Just wait a little longer, it won't be blocked forever," Chen Kewai said again, sounding more like he was comforting himself.

Upon learning that he was at the parking lot near his home, He Su said: "There is a hot pot restaurant at the bottom of the street outside, you go there first to secure a spot, order a fully spicy pot and wait for me, I will change my clothes and come over."

Did you not say that this hand-brewed coffee is the signature item? Why are you drinking lemon water yourself

She called back directly and said: "What do you want?"

Upon returning home, although she was alone, she still felt quite uncomfortable. As she herself said, after all, this is Chen Kewei's house. Even though she paid the rent in full each month, she could never shake off the feeling of being a guest in someone else's home

He was momentarily perplexed, but could discern a hint of frustration and sorrow in her voice

Kong Kong was taken aback; she never expected that Chen Kewei viewed the issue from this perspective. Now, the topic of upbringing and social etiquette had been put aside, and she had arrived at a more challenging part.

If I were ten years younger than I am now, I wouldn't even be friends with you

Suddenly, Kong Kong realized that it was not only in Beijing, but also in Qingcheng in the past, or rather, in this world, she had always had very few true friends due to her reclusive nature, and Chen Kewei was originally one of her few friends.

Kong Kong returned home, and unexpectedly, Chen Kewei had not yet come back. She stood in the pitch darkness of the room for quite a while, realizing that she had no desire whatsoever to contact him and inquire about his whereabouts.

Is that so? Chen Kewai felt a bit confused; logically, there seemed to be no problem, yet he did not know where he was wrong

At the time of speaking, they were having dinner at a shopping center not far from home, in a Japanese barbecue restaurant, and it took half an hour for their turn to come.

Sure, there is a café near my home that has excellent hand-brewed coffee. You should come over and give it a try

Chen Kewai drank quite a bit at the wedding, and on the way back, it was only Kong Kong who could drive. She originally thought that if Chen Kewai brought up that matter in the car, she would respond by saying that her driving skills were average and that she needed to focus, so she couldn't chat with him. However, she clearly worried too much—Chen Kewai's head was resting against the car window, and he had fallen asleep

It's nothing, I just wanted to chat with you

With an expressionless face, she nodded slightly. She noticed that he took out the car keys and guessed that he probably wanted to go out for a drive. At that moment, she once again felt his tolerance and kindness—after all, it was his house, and the one with nowhere to go should have been her

"Not long, it doesn't matter, you seem very tired, so let you sleep a little longer," Kong Kong said. In the span of more than twenty minutes, her emotions had returned to normal, and she felt a slight regret for her rudeness at the wedding. Why did she have to be so serious at that time? Clearly, enduring for a few minutes would have sufficed.

"Come on, Xiaokong," Shen Feng thought that rather than being perfunctory, it would be better to confront her directly. "If your boyfriend were to have a proper conversation with you, change the setting, change the tone, and be a bit more sincere, would you still react this way?"

It is unclear how long has passed before the empty breaths and thoughts returned to a normal rhythm. In such moments, what one must rely on is reason and logic, rather than the intuition she is most dependent on or the linguistic games she excels at. Unfortunately, the first two have always been her weaknesses.

How would I know, you never asked me when you were together, and now that you are arguing, you suddenly think of asking me

Shen Feng sent another message: "It's rare for you to take the initiative to contact me. How may I assist you?"

Several days had passed, yet it was Kong Kong who could not contain her anxiety and decided to apologize to Chen Kewei. "... ... I behaved terribly that day, lacking in manners," she felt that saying this from her own lips was less hurtful, "I hope I did not cause you any trouble, even if it was just a small inconvenience."

Haven't you all been working together for quite some time?" Kong Kong found it a bit strange. She had been colleagues with Qi Qi and Xiao Nan for less than a year, yet she had already clearly grasped their family situations and emotional states—this was not something she had intentionally sought to find out, but for some inexplicable reason, she just knew.

A bicycle swiftly passed by He Su, and Chen Kewei instinctively pulled her back, moving to the position closer to the street to continue walking. At the same time, he was pondering the words He Su had just said—arrogance? He had never viewed Kong Kong in such a manner; he merely felt that she was different from others—there was something about her that had yet to be tamed by society.

After lying down on the bed in the study, she recalled Woolf's famous words—if a woman intends to write a novel, she must have money and a room of her own

She spoke in one breath about many things, as if she wanted to purge everything that had been pent up in her heart for several days all at once

Kong Kong felt a bit ashamed; perhaps, as he said, it was indeed she who had taken the matter too seriously

Silence enveloped the air as the car's audio system, connected to her phone via Bluetooth, continued to play the same old Cantonese song on repeat

Chen Kewai accompanied He Su as she slowly walked home. During the journey, he contemplated advising her to move to a place with stricter access control, but he was also concerned that his interference in someone else's life might appear inappropriate. Furthermore, he had to admit to himself that seeking out He Su for a conversation was the right decision; he felt much more at ease now

Finally, she remembered Shen Feng, who had not invited her to dinner for a long time. "Old Shen, have you been busy lately?" She sent a WeChat message without hesitation. Fortunately, it was not too late, so if his wife asked, it would not put him in a difficult position to explain.

After approximately twenty minutes, Chen Kewai suddenly woke up, realizing that the vehicle had stopped. He glanced around and then, in a slurred voice, asked: "Have we arrived? Why didn't you wake me?"

Kong Kong stared in astonishment. It seemed that only at this moment did she realize there was such an obvious flaw in this matter, so obvious that she could hardly believe she still needed Shen Feng to remind her

Is there a possibility that she is not wrong, and I am not wrong either? He seemed to be asking He Su, but it was more like he was asking himself

Kong Kong vaguely felt a bit uncomfortable, but she attributed this to her own excessive sensitivity

The fact is, you never really considered marrying him, did you?" After saying this, Shen Feng poured another glass of lemonade.

Two hours ago, He Su was at home, having just finished taking a shower. While blow-drying her hair, she was watching a recently popular Korean drama on her iPad. She did not notice that her phone on the sofa had lit up several times. By the time she picked up her phone, Chen Kewei had already been sitting in the car for more than ten minutes.

Biwei, relax a little; we are not getting married until tomorrow

"Old Shen? It sounds like he has become your uncle."

Kong Kong once again regretted why she did not insist on staying at home. Such excessively lively and festive occasions always made her feel at a loss, especially when facing those friendly strangers. She had to maintain a reserved smile the entire time, and before the ceremony even concluded, her face had already become stiff from smiling.

He Su feigned indifference: "Are you out of your mind? I'm not a child, how could I be so childish? Besides, Bi Wei and I are not as close as you think."

The times have changed, and inflation has multiplied several times. Even if a woman is engaged in a profession completely unrelated to creative work, she should have the right to possess a space where she can breathe freely, to do things that may seem meaningless to others, but bring her joy. Reflecting quietly: I still have a little money, but this room is not truly mine.

Drinking coffee at this hour, I might as well forget about sleeping tonight. You call me Old Shen, so please have some consideration for the elderly

At the end of the wedding, Kong Kong let out a sigh of relief. She thought of a word—boredom—not referring to this wedding, but to all such ceremonies that are staged for the observation of unrelated crowds; they are all quite boring.

Chen Kewai detected the hint of sulkiness in her words, which made him realize that since being with Kong Kong, He Su had indeed seldom sought them out as frequently as before. At first, he thought it was because she was busy; after all, he lacked understanding of the aviation industry. Later on, he probably became accustomed to the simplicity of living alone and truly found it hard to think of He Su.

Unexpectedly, he did not mention that matter at all. Upon returning home, he quickly went to the bathroom to take a shower, and when he came out, he was once again that fresh and clean version of himself, with a smile still present in his bright eyes

Chen Kewai's expression appeared more fatigued than if he had worked three consecutive days. Kong Kong was overwhelmed by the restraint in his tone, and she was on the verge of losing control of her emotions. Who would believe now that her original intention was not to make it so that the two of them couldn't even have a peaceful dinner together?

That person chuckled and said in a joking tone: "It's fine, you can give a little more, you'll get it back when you get married. Unlike me, I haven't even started yet."

Shen Feng quietly observed the somewhat agitated girl across from her. The girl spoke at length, yet all her words were trivial, and even she herself had not grasped the essence of the issue.

There is really nothing to it. How could you bring up the matter of upbringing to such an extent? Moreover, we are merely ordinary colleagues, not in a superior-subordinate relationship, so there shouldn't be any complications. You are thinking too narrowly of others.

He didn't say that it would be tomorrow, but what if it's next year or the year after? Will you be able to reach a consensus with him then

He said it without thinking too much: "Strangely, sometimes I feel that when I say the same thing to you, you don't take it too seriously, but it will resonate deeply with Kong Kong." He was unaware that he had inadvertently compared them. He continued, "Perhaps it's because I don't know her well enough and don't understand what she is thinking."

Their vehicle was following a small box truck, completely obstructing their view, making it impossible to discern the situation ahead. The electronic map indicated that the road was congested in a deep red color. Other than patiently waiting, there was no other option available.

"Accompany me for a walk around the neighborhood, I feel too full," she said

The original meaning of "Kong Kong" was to chat on WeChat, but Shen Feng's suggestion made her feel that it was indeed a better choice

He sat in the living room for a while, and then recalled that word—"arrogance"—He Su had said it too seriously; Kong Kong was merely a bit unsociable, just a childlike disposition, how could she possibly be arrogant? What basis did she have for arrogance?

I just feel that after working for five days, having an opportunity to go out and get some fresh air on the weekend, to meet people, isn't that quite nice? You don't like going to the gym, so consider this as a way to get a bit of exercise.

Shen Feng felt a bit awkward; he had inadvertently expressed his thoughts on certain matters, but it clearly brought her more confusion and burden. He made a remedial attempt: "What I mean is not important at all; after all, I am just an observer. If you are unhappy, I will treat you to a meal. Alternatively, if there is something small that you like and I can afford it, I will give it to you. The key is how you view this relationship and what your own plans are."

You should wait until the second half of the year to get married. I will be going back to my hometown during the May Day holiday and there will be wedding banquets to attend, so please leave me a way out. Others continue to join in this tedious discussion.

"I heard you work in film and television?" one of the ladies asked

The groom is a colleague of Chen Kewai in the same department, while the bride's profession is unknown; Chen Kewai stated that he is also completely unaware of it

After waiting for more than ten minutes, the road became clear again. As their car passed the accident site, Kong Kong saw the two cars that had been involved in the collision; they were the culprits behind the traffic jam. One of the parties involved was loudly speaking on the phone, looking quite angry. Soon, that scene disappeared from the rearview mirror

Kong Kong smiled slightly, and the thing in her stomach that had originally felt as hard as a stone had loosened considerably

After exiting the café, Shen Feng accompanied Kong Kong to wait for a taxi by the roadside

Hahaha, there is no need to send a gift for a child's first month celebration, right

Chen Kewai did not expect her to care so much about such trivial matters; he still regarded her as too worldly wise.

How could you interpret it that way?" Chen Kewai smiled helplessly; in reality, he regretted it even more than she did. However, now caught in a dilemma, he could only try his best to restrain himself and avoid an argument

She did something that Chen Kewai could not have anticipated, and therefore could not prevent. Kong Kong turned around, still smiling, her tone calm yet clearly expressing dissatisfaction: "I heard that people from big companies do not inquire about their colleagues' gossip. Aren't you all a bit too concerned about our private matters?"

Kong Kong was stunned

Kong Kong sat on the cloth cushion, feeling as if she were sitting in quicksand. She took out her phone, intending to find Bao Yin, but suddenly remembered seeing a photo of Bao Yin with an aunt in her Moments that afternoon, which clearly indicated that she was not in a position to be disturbed. As for He Su? Kong Kong hesitated for a long time, ultimately deciding to skip over that name. Qi Qi and Xiao Nan were even less appropriate; after all, a work relationship and a friendship should not be conflated.

A wave of guilt surged from the depths of her heart, and Chen Kewai felt that she truly owed an apology to He Su. Kong Kong was originally her friend, but because of him, He Su had become somewhat lonely.

What? He Su could hardly believe it—this fool, does he even know what he is saying? Taking away her friend? Disliking him? He Su almost blurted out: "My feelings for you are completely the opposite of what you think."

Inquiring about the whereabouts of the other person is something that only a partner would do; she unintentionally assumes the role of a wife in advance

Upon exiting the restaurant, they walked home in a huff, one in front of the other. Chen Kewai maintained a normal pace, while Kong Kong deliberately slowed down. For the first few minutes, Chen Kewai would stop to wait for her, but once he realized she had no intention of catching up, he ceased to insist.

The environment in large companies is such that after work, everyone goes their separate ways, especially among male colleagues, and no one will inquire into others' private matters said Chen Kewai

"No way, they probably just misunderstood that you don't want to marry me," Chen Kewei joked, "As long as I know that's not what you mean, it's fine."

Is it convenient? He is very calm, but his calmness seems a bit strange. It's been a long time since I last saw you, I would like to have a chat.

However, regardless of the circumstances, He Su's evaluation of Kong Kong left a deep impression on Chen Kewei, even though he currently finds the term somewhat ridiculous and inappropriate

In the subsequent stages, Kong Kong became increasingly distracted, and the few gentlemen who had brushed against the nail kept their distance from her. However, a few of Chen Kewei's female colleagues, who had a good relationship with him on a regular basis, took the initiative to chat with Kong Kong out of affection for him.

I said I didn't want to come, yet you insisted that I do. Now I can only be stuck here wasting time, she complained without any concealment, it is truly infuriating

On the weekend, Kong Kong and Chen Kewei went together to attend a wedding of one of his colleagues, to be precise, to accompany him.

"So, have you ever seen a celebrity?" This is another girl, looking slightly younger.

So when do you plan to get married? Also, why did you start calling me Biwei?

It is unclear whether it is due to the conversation with him or because I drank too much coffee, but on the street at around 11 PM, I feel both empty and calm, yet alert

"Hesu, do you perhaps dislike me a little, thinking that I have taken away your friend?" Chen Kewai asked

They originally thought they would be late, but upon arrival, they realized that they had actually arrived quite early, indicating that the traffic jam did not cause too much delay. They found a seat and sat down, surrounded by Chen Kewai's colleagues, who, seeing him with his girlfriend, all took the initiative to greet them.

He did not know that Kong Kong had also gone out

In this extreme calm, she suddenly asked Shen Feng a question that he had not anticipated at all

He Su avoided his gaze, facing the opposite direction, and rolled his eyes— as if you know me well, as if you understand what I am thinking in my heart

After sending He Su back, he took the car home. Upon opening the door, he saw a night light left for him in the living room, and the study door was slightly ajar, with someone inside already asleep

She coughed and said, "Biwei has always been like this; she didn't change after being with you. I have always felt that there is an unrealistic arrogance about her; can't you see it?"

The residential community in this area is primarily composed of young individuals in their twenties, whose energy is as abundant as their hormones. Regardless of the season, the late-night snack shops are always filled with their presence.

Although her voice was weak and lacked confidence, she still insisted, "This is unfair; it is not that I do not love him."

Chen Kewai then realized that the tables in this restaurant were placed too closely together, lacking any sense of etiquette or privacy. The group of girls at the next table was already casting unabashed glances at them, eagerly waiting to watch the scene unfold. He silently vowed that this would be his last time dining here

After Chen Kewai took his seat, a long time passed before He Su walked in from the entrance of the shop. If he had not been so distracted by his low spirits, he might have noticed that He Su had not only changed her clothes but had also put on a bit of makeup.

Oh, is that so? In today's world, is it considered a sin not to love fitness? Kong Kong has yet to realize how sharp her current attitude is. In the past ten minutes, they have probably moved forward the length of one car. The people in the car next to them are more anxious and desperate than they are, continuously honking their horns in a fit of rage, the noise seeming capable of shattering both the car windows and Kong Kong's eardrums.

The empty pupils radiated shock—long ago, in that winter when Yan Yiming disappeared and then returned, in the face of her accusations, he defended himself, "I just went to another city, it doesn't mean we are no longer together." At that moment, she was just like she is now, as if she had heard a Chinese language she could not fully comprehend—was this a difference in gender, or a difference between people?

He spoke intermittently about the matter concerning Kong Kong, but after each brief segment, he would always add a phrase with a sense of atonement, saying, "Of course, she is not at fault." By the time he repeated this for the third or fourth time, He Su could no longer hold back and interrupted him

I must admit that my intense reaction was due to being frightened. When his colleague mentioned it, I merely thought it was none of their business. However, when he himself brought it up, it seemed to transform into a reality, a matter set in stone. Yet, it appeared he never considered asking me whether I shared the same view or if we had reached a consensus.

Shen Feng sighed, wondering whether she was truly not intelligent or merely pretending to be foolish. He asked her with an expression and tone that conveyed "how difficult can it be for you to understand": "Why are we talking about love again? Aren't we discussing marriage?"