Chapter 5 Chapter 5 You keep staring at him

The gorgeous dinner party was like an old dream, embellishing some people's memories. The free clouds never stopped for the wind, they only left a soft trace where they were.

Wen Yu returned to her room, kicked off her heavy high heels, and shed her cumbersome dress. She pulled a short-sleeved shirt over her head, and wore loose, straight-leg pants. The lights were off, to create a movie atmosphere.

Wen Yu sent her a WeChat message: Are you on a business trip?

Wen Xiaoyu: Yes.

Wen Yu: Could you at least tell me? When your mother asked me, I almost didn't know what to say.

Wen Xiaoyu: Why does my mother want to see you?

Wen Xiaoyu: I told you, okay? Didn't you see the note I left for you?

Wen Yu: Why leave a note?! It got blown into the trash can! How about you send me a WeChat message? Or, tell me in person?

Wen Xiaoyu: How can you say it to my face? You were still working overtime when I got on the plane.

Wen Yu: Then send WeChat!

Wen Yu: Your mother contacted my mother to discuss our marriage.

Wen Yu stared at WeChat for a long moment, then deleted the words "OK, I'll definitely send it next time" from the input box one by one.

marry?

Yes, it was almost time. They had been engaged for almost a year.

Shouldn't you get married?

Mom said, "Get married early and have children quickly, so that you and Wen Yu will have a more stable relationship."

Wen Yu's vision darkened, and her phone automatically shut off. The movie was exciting at its climax, but it didn't engage Wen Yu at all. She was too lazy to move, too lazy to turn off the movie, too lazy to turn on the lights, and just sat quietly in the flickering light of the movie for a while.

But she also felt that she should move. If she didn't move, her arms would become numb and her waist would ache. If she didn't move, she would be finished.

The dinner was sumptuous, but she hadn't eaten much, and now her stomach was empty. The room seemed to be filled with a sense of oppression, enveloping her from all sides. She finally turned off the movie, casually threw on a coat, and went out.

But she didn't know where to go, and she had long lost the courage to run in the rain that afternoon.

The elevator arrived with a ding. Wen Yu rushed in and found that the first floor had been lit.

"What a coincidence?"

Wen Yu turned around and saw Pan Xianchen had also changed into clean, comfortable clothes, the same casual style as hers. He had also showered, and his hair was half-dry, half-wet, as alluring as truffles in the rain. He didn't seem to wear perfume, but after a shower, he naturally carried a fresh scent.

Pan Xianchen lived one floor above Wen Yu. He entered the elevator first and pressed the button for the first floor. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and tilted his head slightly to look at her, a faint smile on his face.

"Are you daydreaming again?" he asked.

"Hello, Mr. Pan."

"I'm not full yet, so I'm going to go for a walk outside the hotel." Pan Xianchen didn't seem to be showing off at this point, so he casually asked her, "You?"

"Me too."

"Then together?"

“…”

Wen Yu didn't answer, because she was different. She had fled for refuge because of the overwhelming powerlessness in her heart, the fear of being drowned.

But Pan Xianchen ignored her mysterious silence. Just as she had accepted it when she did not receive a response to her request for leave, Pan Xianchen also accepted it now.

The rain stopped, the oppressive heat dissipated, and a cool breeze blew towards me, as if to blow away everything that was out of place, bringing with it a sense of fearlessness.

Every few steps on the clean streets, you'll stumble upon a puddle, reflecting the world like a transparent mirror. In the distance, scattered car lights, traffic lights, and neon signs create a dazzling halo of light in the eye.

This is a completely fresh new world after the rain, full of possibilities.

Pan Xianchen strolled leisurely, observing the street scenes with great interest. Wen Yu walked beside him, slightly behind. Neither of them spoke. The sounds of electric bike bells, four people playing cards in front of a shop, the chirping of cicadas in the trees, and the finally falling sound of raindrops accumulating high above filled the air. The vibrant night embraced their silence, making their silence a unique part of the night.

In front of him was a barbecue restaurant, the savory aroma wafting everywhere. Pan Xianchen stopped and identified the sign: "This one, right?"

Wen Yu nodded: "Okay, Mr. Pan."

Pan Xianchen glanced back at her. She had kept the distance between them perfectly constant since they'd left. She'd clearly been distracted the entire time, but when he suddenly stopped just now, she hadn't lost control and bumped into him.

"What's wrong?" Wen Yu blinked, feeling that Pan Xianchen's gaze carried an indescribable meaning.

Pan Xianchen said, "It's my treat."

The barbecue restaurant was incredibly popular, its small space packed to the rafters. The owner's cooking skills were evident. Shirtless men, smoking cigarettes, and people perched on stools—these people formed the most vibrant scene in the restaurant.

Pan Xianchen called the waiter to take his order, and the waiter wrote down the order in a greasy notebook. Wen Yu said, "I want some chicken gristle, beef brisket, chicken wings, grilled shrimp, grilled eggplant, and ice beer, right?"

"some."

"Hurry up."

The waiter left, and Pan Xianchen observed her. The environment here was not very nice, but she didn't seem uncomfortable. As she placed her order, her eyes sparkled.

Wen Yu looked back and said, "It's your treat."

Pan Xianchen smiled and repeated, "It's my treat."

Wen Yu licked her lips and looked at the shirtless, overweight man beside her, devouring skewer after skewer with relish. That day, on her way back from the Portland Stone Wall, she'd been preoccupied with the dog incident, and hadn't quite gotten to enjoy Uncle Li's barbecue. Today, she planned to eat a small fortune.

The barbecue was served on an iron plate.

Wen Yu's preference for barbecue was obvious: meaty, oily, and spicy. No one spoke as they ate, and given their relationship, there was no point in talking. Wen Yu was so engrossed in her food that she didn't notice the person across from her had stopped. Her lips burned like juicy, fresh chili peppers. The corners of her mouth were greasy, and bits of barbecue powder spread all the way to her chubby cheeks.

Pan Xianchen leaned back in his chair and looked at her. She looked exactly like the shirtless fat man next to her.

Before she knew it, she had become a part of the harmonious group here.

Pan Xianchen pulled out his phone to check his messages. The impromptu business trip chat group was bustling with activity. After the dinner, colleagues continued to pop up to chat. They were discussing the food and wine at the dinner, as well as the thrills and success of the meeting.

Some people took pictures of their bulging bellies, others of the most exquisite dessert at the dinner. The work group chats were incredibly automatically refreshing with the latest news, as if everything tonight was just perfect.

Pan Xianchen was laughing as he watched. Someone had reposted a previously uploaded panoramic photo of the dinner, with a figure circled in it: [Who is this beautiful woman?]

No one paid any attention to him and the message was quickly deleted.

Pan Xianchen looked up at the opposite side and saw the beautiful woman in the circle eating barbecue with her face covered in oil.

[It’s her. @文小煜]

Pan Xianchen looked at the person who tagged Wen Yu, whose surname was Zheng.

Then someone else tagged Wen Yu and asked her why she didn't come out to chat.

…

Pan Xianchen asked Wen Yu, "Order more?"

"No."

Wen Yu thought: If we agree to be a small boss, then be a small boss. Everything should be done in moderation.

Pan Xianchen nodded, his gaze returning to his phone. The chat group kept on talking to him. Ding Dong—

Pan Xianchen: [Red envelope: Wishing you prosperity and great luck]

The group chat was silent for a brief second, then everyone suddenly started competing for typing speed. Pan Xianchen's phone was flooded with messages like "xx received your red envelope." One colleague excitedly posted, "What a huge red envelope! Thanks, boss!" Then everyone lined up to send messages of thanks to the boss.

On the way back to the hotel, they walked even slower because Wen Yu was so full and wanted to digest the food.

"Thank you, Mr. Pan." Wen Yu said.

Pan Xianchen stared at her. He'd said it once when he entered the store, once when he left, and now he was saying it again. What did he mean?

"Why do you always walk behind me? Walk side by side with me." Every time I look at her, I have to turn around, and every time I talk to her, I have to turn around.

"I want to walk slowly, Mr. Pan, if you are busy, you can go first."

Pan Xianchen raised his eyebrows. Oh, so that's what he meant. Once you're done using someone, you just kick them out.

He smiled and said, "Who said I was busy?"

Wen Yu: “…”

Pan Xianchen ordered: "Side by side.

In a strange city, on dim streets, she and her leader walked side by side on the way back to the hotel.

Is this reasonable?

Pan Xianchen was quite self-sufficient. He was thinking, Wen Yu is very decisive. If she couldn't wait for the hotel's printer, she would choose another path. She didn't complain even though she was soaked, which showed she wasn't a pampered person. In this unfamiliar little shop, surrounded by the fumes of oil and cigarettes, she was still very comfortable.

He admires such people.

It seems like she can survive no matter where she is placed.

But sometimes she was also complicated. She hadn't seen him enter the elevator, a grown man, and she didn't know what she was thinking. But Pan Xianchen could tell that Wen Yu was in a bad mood, like she was trapped in an airtight glass jar, unable to breathe.

So he suggested to her that they go for a walk together and look for food.

Now what?

Pan Xianchen asked her, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

Wen Yu nodded, "We're all ready." After tomorrow's battle, it'll be over. Peng Yan had mentioned that she hoped to get a raise after returning.

On our last day in the city, it rained heavily.

The hotel's business center was requisitioned by them. Wen Yu and Peng Yan arrived early, but they didn't sit together. Wen Yu looked at the list and saw Xiao Zheng next to her.

Wen Yu: “…”

Wen Xiaoyu: Xiao Zheng is right next to me.

Qianjin: What?! I’ll buy you a dog-beating stick right now!

Wen Yu chuckled, and Xiao Zheng noticed it and said in a low voice, "Sister, what are you laughing at?"

Qianjin: You are so pitiful, trapped in a dog pen. And I am at a concert!

Ye Yinuo posted a selfie. It wasn't even night yet, but there was already a long line at the scene. From a distance, it looked like a sea of ​​people.

Wen Yu sent a message: "Be careful..." She barely finished typing as a shadow loomed over her. Seeing Xiao Zheng ignore her, he leaned over to look at her phone. Wen Yu instinctively turned the phone around, the screen facing the other way. She glared at Xiao Zheng again, only to find a large face before her, so close she could clearly see every pore.

Wen Yu was startled and leaned back in the opposite direction. The stool leg shook and he was about to fall.

"Sister, be careful." Xiao Zheng quickly grabbed her and pulled her back.

Wen Yu sat up straight, looking around, ready to find an empty seat. Suddenly, her gaze met a burning one in the distance. Noticing her gaze, Pan Xianchen smiled and looked away.

Wen Yu: “…”

It was rare for a rain shower to change her boss's opinion of her, but now she was caught again for not listening carefully. Wen Yu turned around and glared at Xiao Zheng.

There is a large pendulum clock in the business center, which tells the time on the hour with a "ding" sound.

When Pan Xianchen spoke, unlike some leaders who bowed their heads and read from carefully prepared manuscripts, he would observe his surroundings with his eyes. While listening to others speak, he would naturally place his hands on the table, one of which would tap lightly, like playing the piano.

Wen Yu couldn't help but think of the afternoon with the blue snowflakes and the Portland stone wall. That day, he wasn't wearing a suit, his hair flying in the air conditioning. Now he sat there, neatly dressed, his hair meticulously combed. Casual, formal, so many different states of mind, surprisingly superimposed on the same person.

And yesterday at the barbecue restaurant, his hair was wet. And earlier, in his office, she noticed he was wearing glasses...

Someone asked a question, he answered it, and he also asked others questions.

Wen Yu looked at him for a long time and actually felt a faint smile in his eyes.

The pendulum clock chimed again.

it's over.

Wen Yu followed the crowd out of the business center. Peng Yan quickly caught up with her from behind. Wen Yu called her, "Sister Yan."

Peng Yan nodded, holding her laptop in one hand and shoving the other in her trouser pocket, her pose very cool. She deliberately slowed down her pace and walked side by side with Wen Yu. She took two steps, glanced at her, took two more steps, and smiled again.

Wen Yu: "Sister Yan, what are you laughing at?"

Peng Yan stopped, and Wen Yu followed suit. Peng Yan tilted her head, scrutinizing Wen Yu's face, and suddenly said, "Mr. Pan looks very handsome today, doesn't he?"

"Um?"

"You kept staring at him."

“…”

Was there? Wen Yu thought back. When she looked at him, she was thinking about something. But those things also had something to do with him. Now that Peng Yan pointed it out so directly, Wen Yu felt embarrassed and her face gradually became hot.

Peng Yan looked at Wen Yu's rosy face with great interest, and thought to herself: She must be very attractive to men in this state.

"Didn't you notice? Later, you made fun of Mr. Pan."