Chapter 10, Undercurrents (01)

He then thought of Tan Ruyi's eggplant purple cardigan. In fact, most of Tan Ruyi's clothes were similar to that cardigan, with ordinary cuts and vulgar colors. He was not someone who judged others by their appearance, yet he was often astonished by her clothing, which refreshed his perception. Now that he had carefully observed Tan Ruyi's features, he felt an even stronger sense of lamentation, as if a jade had been covered in dust.

For a moment, silence fell again. Shen, who was not good at initiating conversation, found himself at a loss, while Tan, lost in the meaninglessness of their earlier hand-holding, was caught in a whirlwind of self-doubt and chaotic thoughts, her mind swirling like a pot of boiling porridge.

The studio offers flexible working hours, requiring employees to work a minimum of fifteen days each month and complete the specified number of tasks to receive a fixed salary; any additional work is compensated on a piece-rate basis. The comfortable working environment, flexible evaluation system, and outstanding design standards set it apart in the industry

Certainly

In this state of mind, she bought a cookbook and began to study it. Over time, she truly found joy in it, and the more she delved into it, the more she felt it was a discipline. Life was already difficult, but mastering this skill provided a certain satisfaction for her cravings.

Tang Shuyan often said that such a comfortable environment is simply indulging the inertia of procrastination. Shen Zizhuo did not care; he only valued the final results presented. It has been proven that such a free-range environment has cultivated a group of employees with high quality and loyalty

Through her observations over the past few days, she gradually discerned Shen Zizhe's tastes. He prefers light flavors and is not particularly fond of strong meats; while he is not picky, he does have some preferences. For instance, he rarely encounters coriander and garlic, but he is fine with ginger and scallions, and he has a much greater fondness for white meat than red meat. Among vegetables, his favorite is bok choy, followed by various gourds, while he dislikes eggplant the most. With this understanding, Tan Ruyi became increasingly adept. The dishes she prepared each day consistently hit the mark of Shen Zizhe's preferences.

Shen Zizhuo turned off the flashlight on his phone, and darkness once again enveloped the surroundings. Unable to see Shen Zizhuo's face, Tan Ruyi's breathing became smoother, and her voice stabilized. "When I was young, we often experienced power outages. Living in the countryside, if we used a bit too much electricity, the circuit would trip. Back then, there were no air switches, and we frequently had to replace fuses."

Quite good. Tang Shuyan, disinterested in further discussion, flipped through the album, only speaking about work and refraining from commenting on anything else.

Tan Ruyi had settled comfortably on the sofa, while Shen Zizhuo snapped back to reality and followed her. The atmosphere revealed a certain awkwardness of being at a loss, as both seemed eager to break the silence, yet spoke simultaneously, amplifying the awkwardness.

As if her heart was being tightly gripped by someone, Tan Ruyi's breath caught in her throat. Instinctively, she struggled, but this only caused Shen Zizhuo to grip her even tighter, "Don't move"

Shen Zizhuo paused his actions and replied in a low voice, "Mm."

The process of making sweet potato syrup is quite complex, and I have only followed along once. At that time, there were not many snacks, and the sweet potato syrup was thick and rich, which paired particularly well with rice cakes or glutinous rice dumplings. She realized that she had not eaten it in over ten years, and a sense of nostalgia welled up in her heart

Tan Ruyi reached into her pocket and discovered that her phone was not with her, when Shen Zizhuo's voice sounded, "What happened?"

Tan Ruyi hurriedly shook her head, "No, besides, wearing slippers..." Her voice gradually lowered, and her ears and neck felt as if they were burning with heat.

After wiping the table, just as she was about to take the cloth into the kitchen to wash it, the light above her head suddenly flickered, and the entire apartment was plunged into darkness. Tan Ruyi was walking forward when she tripped over the leg of a chair in the dark, losing her balance and nearly falling, but she quickly reached out to steady herself. This sudden movement was too forceful, and she heard a crisp "pop" sound, with some liquid splashing onto her ankle, as if the glass water jug that had been on the table had been knocked over.

Now, whether it is a matter of unintentional chance or the result of sowing seeds, it is evident that Shen Zizhu is still thinking of the dishes she prepared

As soon as Shen Zizhuo's figure disappeared at the door, everyone immediately began to discuss: "Wasn't President Shen always having takeout with us before?"

Tan Ruyi was taken aback: "Is this organized by Mr. Shen's company?"

The banquet has been organized for a month, yet there was no such enthusiasm last month

Tang Shuyan was engrossed in flipping through the album when she paused her fingers at a corner of a page upon hearing the words. After a moment of distraction, she came back to her senses, smiled lightly, and said, "I have seen it."

A person asked with a smile, "Mr. Tang, you and Mr. Shen are college classmates. Have you met Mrs. Shen?"

He is drunk, who would dare to let him go up

The studio has rented an entire floor of an office building, but unlike other companies that partition their space into cubicles, it is divided into a work area and a living area. The work area features a large circular workbench, surrounded by half-height green plants, two curved bookshelves, and a full array of creative tools.

"It's nothing, the kettle broke." She glanced out the window; the building across was also shrouded in darkness.

I will change. To climb such a high ladder," she gestured in the dark, recalling that Shen Zizhu could not see, and then withdrew her hand, "Tan Ji will be at the bottom to help me steady the ladder.

Can it still be done now

Shen Zizhuo let out a soft "hm" and fell silent for a moment. After thinking of something, he said: "Let's go for a barbecue in the suburbs next week. If it's convenient, invite Tan Ji as well."

Tan Ruyi hurriedly said, "I will bring a new bottle when I get off work tomorrow."

How is it? Is she beautiful? Are there any photos?

Tang Shuyan smiled and said, "Are you married?"

No, Shen Zizhuo glanced at her and said, "A few close friends." The suggestion for the barbecue was actually proposed by Tang Shuyan. It is already a de facto situation that he is married, and his relationship with Tan Ruyi has not developed overnight. Since that is the case, they should get to know each other sooner rather than later.

Tan Ruyi lowered her head, her eyelashes fluttering, and her voice trembled as if it had been cut off, "... ... Alright."

Shen Zizhuo released the line and also let go of her hand, looking at her and saying, "Let's sit for a while"

The two individuals have developed another kind of tacit understanding; Tan Ruyi is responsible for cooking, while Shen Zizhuo takes the initiative to wash the dishes. Tan Ruyi has never particularly enjoyed doing the cleanup, and now that someone is helping, the joy of cooking has instantly doubled.

The sound of water in the kitchen ceased, followed by a rustling noise. Soon after, a handful of light illuminated the kitchen, and Shen Zizhuo's gentle footsteps approached. Tan Ruyi inquired, "Mr. Shen, has the power gone out?"

Shen Zizhuo was still holding her hand, seemingly unaware of it. ... Tan Ruyi's heart raced like a restless wild horse, ready to break free from the reins and escape from her chest ... . ... She had already passed the stage of wanting to break free, allowing herself to indulge in the overwhelming palpitation of the moment.

Immediately, without any defense, Shen Zizhuo suddenly reached out and grasped her hand

A bright handful of white light illuminated her cheek, revealing a jade-like texture. Shen Zizhuo was momentarily taken aback, realizing that this was the first time he was not captivated by her attire, but rather by her appearance. Her features were delicate, lacking any particularly striking aspects, yet when combined, they created a harmonious balance that was just right. He recalled that Tang Shuyan had once said he had the aesthetic of a typical science student, always assessing whether anything could present an overall sense of beauty.

Another person replied, "The honeymoon period is over, and we have entered the right track."

After finishing the meal, Shen Zizhuo habitually went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Tan Ruyi took a cloth to wipe the table. Amid the sound of running water, Shen Zizhuo's voice came through: "The dishwashing liquid is almost used up"

I can do many things, but now there is no opportunity to showcase them. For example, catching loaches, transplanting rice seedlings, catching crabs, trapping cicadas, raising silkworms, boiling sweet potato syrup... She recounted these like treasured memories, but then thought to herself that what she had mentioned seemed too distant from Shen Zizhe's world, so she smiled and her voice lowered, "It's not really a skill worth boasting about; even children from the countryside can do it."

Where is your father

The living area is equipped with a coffee machine, microwave, and water dispenser, along with several single fabric sofas and rattan chairs. Next to them stands a low cabinet, casually constructed with partitions, containing a carefully selected collection of magazines and novels, while succulent plants are found everywhere.

As soon as the sentence was spoken, the light above flickered, and the entire room was once again filled with brightness. Tan Ruyi, momentarily unaccustomed to the light, squinted her eyes, secretly hoping that the electricity would never return. After a moment, she stood up to clean up the shattered glass pot.

No, Shen Zizhuo organized his drawing tools and said, "I am going home to have dinner." After saying this, he waved his hand and stepped outside, saying, "I am leaving, keep up the good work."

When Tan Ruyi was bored, she researched many recipes. In earlier years, she did not enjoy cooking, finding the process tedious and particularly draining on one's patience. However, with three mouths to feed at home, it was unavoidable. Gradually, she adjusted her attitude; since she had to cook anyway, she might as well find some enjoyment in it.

Tang Shuyan was aware of the details, but due to Shen Zizhuo's instructions, she refrained from elaborating. Seeing that everyone's discussion was becoming increasingly scattered, she hurriedly redirected the topic, saying, "Let's get back to the main issue, we are running out of time."

Shen Zizhuo looked at her feet and asked, "Did you step on it?"

Shen Zizhuo's palm was somewhat cool, still carrying a hint of moisture. Tan Ruyi felt that what he was gripping at this moment was clearly her heart, which she had forgotten to make beat.

Shen Zizhuo asked, "Are you changing?"

Tan Ruyi pondered for a moment, "Mr. Shen, may I invite Miss Xia?" She thought that Xia Lan was currently going through a divorce and could use some time out to relax.

After a moment of silence, Shen Zizhuo asked, "Is there anything else you can do besides changing the fuse"

Shen Zizhuo did not agree on the spot; only after careful consideration did he eventually consent

In the boundless silence, Tan Ruyi was about to ask again when Shen Zizhuo had already approached.

Speaking of honeymoons, it seems that Shen did not even take a leave for the wedding, right? Mrs. Shen is so broad-minded that she doesn't even take a honeymoon

Recently, Shen Zizhuo's early return has sparked a discussion in the studio. It is well known that General Manager Shen treats the office as his home, and he is usually the last to leave.

Shen Zizhuo, however, rushed ahead of her, saying, "Let me do it, you shouldn't hurt your hand."

A few others turned around, smiling as they looked at Shen Zizhuo, "Mr. Shen has a date, huh?"

Shen Zizhuo held her with one hand while calling the property management with the other. He inquired and was informed that the nearby repair of the sewer had damaged the power pole, resulting in a power outage for the entire community. They were currently working on repairs and power would be restored in half an hour.

Shen Zizhuo turned on the flashlight of his mobile phone, illuminating the area by Tan Ruyi's feet, and helped her step over the scattered glass shards, leaving the restaurant

It is indeed possible, but I do not quite remember the specific steps, so I will have to go back and ask the elders. Moreover, even if I knew the steps, it requires a large pot like those used in the countryside, which is also not feasible

As the end of the month assessment approaches, the usually quiet office with fewer than ten people is now bustling with activity, with everyone gathered in groups of three to five around the circular work table engaging in a brainstorming session. Tang Shuyan is discussing alternative materials for bathroom tiles when she notices Shen Zizhuo packing up after receiving a phone call, so she straightens up and asks, "Are you leaving?"

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