42

Ji Shengsheng: "...I'm going up."

She had just turned around when Xu Yu grabbed her wrist again: "I'll pick you up tomorrow. You have to miss me."

Tomorrow...

She's going to visit Xing Xing's grandmother tomorrow, and she also promised to have lunch with Xing Xing. The earliest they can meet is in the afternoon.

"Okay." Not wanting things to get unpleasant right away, Ji Shengsheng didn't explain the situation to Xu Yu.

After returning home, Ji Shengsheng kept drawing, with extremely high efficiency. She even finished all the previously owed drafts ahead of schedule and also took a break to draw two works related to her new inspiration.

Xu Yu arrived at the hotel at 1:00 PM and told Ji Shengsheng that he had arrived. After receiving a reply, he did not receive any further messages from Ji Shengsheng until 9:00 PM.

She always says she misses him.

I want to see him.

I want to stick to him.

These are all fleeting thoughts I have when I'm with him.

Once out of his sight, Ji Shengsheng seemed to vanish, elusive and hard to grasp.

Cheng Yu had a work-related matter to discuss with Xu Yu, but when she called, she found that Xu Yu was in the hotel gym.

Looks like they just finished swimming.

"Why are you so curly?" He knew Xu Yu had a habit of working out, but who goes swimming on the first day of the Lunar New Year?

Cheng Yu looked at her missing biceps in the mirror and said, "You wait, I'll get them back sooner or later."

When he works out, he's much more diligent than Xu Yu. It's just that Xu Yu is 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, so when he's 1.8 meters tall, he looks like a stump next to Xu Yu.

"What's up?" Xu Yu glanced at WeChat, but there was still no message from Ji Shengsheng.

"Regarding work, check your email later, we can discuss it further tonight." Cheng Yu returned to her computer desk and started typing. "Are you coming back on the 15th?"

"Not necessarily." He would wait for Ji Shengsheng in Taoyuan for a few days.

"Why don't you just set up an office in Taoyuan?" Cheng Yu said casually, then immediately regretted that Xu Yu had actually done so.

"No need."

The Taoyuan branch is not conveniently located near Ji Shengsheng's home.

This is not a long-term solution.

Moreover, Xing Xing was also in Taoyuan, and he couldn't stand that Ji Shengsheng and Xing Xing were always so close and it was so convenient for them to meet.

We still need to go back to Lucheng.

"By the way, why didn't you two go together?" Cheng Yu asked casually, not thinking too much about it. "You didn't stay in Taoyuan just to secretly work out, did you?"

Xu Yu had already hung up the phone.

Cheng Yu called Ji Shengsheng again, but couldn't get through.

Ji Shengsheng was chatting with her mother in her room.

She was very grateful to her parents for accepting Xu Yu. There were many things she couldn't say when Xu Yu was around. Now that her parents had finished watching TV and it was almost time for them to rest, she quickly prepared some water for her to soak her feet and came to her mother's place to be attentive.

Seeing her daughter happy, Ji's mother felt much more relaxed.

She didn't dislike Xu Yu.

I have to admit that after spending these two days together, I have developed some good impressions.

When Ji Shengsheng returned to her room, she heard her phone vibrate. When she answered it, she found it was Cheng Yu.

"Happy New Year, Sheng Sheng!" Cheng Yu said cheerfully, sounding like she was in a good mood.

"Happy New Year!" Ji Shengsheng heard the sound of typing. "Are you still busy?"

"Yes, I just came here to ask Xu Yu about work. We have a small meeting tonight," Cheng Yu said casually.

Ji Shengsheng glanced at the time; it was almost ten o'clock. Was it still "evening"?

"You guys aren't going to stay up all night tonight, are you?"

"The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 11 o'clock. It should be over by 1 o'clock anyway, so we won't stay up late."

Ji Shengsheng: "..."

Although she often paints until midnight, she still gets up very late in the morning.

However, Xu Yu's schedule seemed incredibly stable. No matter what time she went to bed at night, she would get up at six o'clock the next day without fail.

I've already stayed up late on New Year's Eve, if I stay up until 1 a.m...

Ji Shengsheng had no way to interfere with Xu Yu's work.

"Are you worried about his health?" Cheng Yu laughed at her for making a fuss. "Xu Yu used to stay up all night all the time, but he's been sleeping since you came back, which is already very good."

Ji Shengsheng: "..."

"By the way, when are you two free? Some of our colleagues will be going back to work at the Taoyuan branch starting on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. I'm planning to come over and visit you for a day, and bring my colleagues from Taoyuan with me."

"The timing is uncertain. Please check your schedule first, and I'll try my best." Although the draft was completed ahead of schedule, she was still not entirely satisfied with some details.

"Okay, then you should get some rest."

After hanging up the phone, Ji Shengsheng looked at her phone. Xu Yu hadn't sent any more messages since she replied to his.

Considering that he might also be engrossed in his work, Ji Shengsheng did not disturb him.

Still not sleepy, she took two pictures of her new work and posted them on Weibo.

She had been brainstorming for a long time, but couldn't finalize the male lead's character, which delayed her from writing.

Fortunately, there are readily available materials for the female lead's sidekick character design.

After the meeting, Xu Yu's phone remained silent.

It's already 1:30, there's no need to disturb them.

Just as he was about to rest, he received two notifications, special attention from Weibo.

Ji Shengsheng updated his alternate account for drawing.

Two.

The male and female leads are laughing and joking around, which is very heartwarming.

Xu Yu has closed his Weibo account.

He was like a voyeur, living in the shadows every day, trying to guess Ji Shengsheng's thoughts.

...

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Ji Shengsheng and Xing Xing agreed to set off at six o'clock.

She brought Grandma Xingxing's favorite pastries and snacks. Grandma Xingxing loves watching table tennis matches, and she spent the whole morning watching with her.

Xing Xing bought breakfast and came back. Seeing the two of them with their heads huddled together looking at a phone screen and wearing the same pair of headphones, she felt quite warm and cozy.

If only they could become a real family. Unfortunately, he and Ji Shengsheng just couldn't develop feelings for each other.

There was absolutely no physical attraction. He saw it clearly now.

"Breakfast." Xing Xing opened the bag and took out the porridge and steamed buns, placing them on the table.

"Thank you." Ji Shengsheng put both earphones on her grandmother's ears, held up her phone in front of her so she could watch the game while eating, and then helped her break the chopsticks apart.

"Ji Shengsheng, I've thought it through. We're not a good match."

Ji Shengsheng almost dropped her chopsticks: "?"

"Really. I have absolutely no desire to develop a relationship with you beyond friendship."

Ji Shengsheng: "...Is this something we need to consider?"

“I mean, shouldn’t it always be like this?” she didn’t understand.

Xing Xing said seriously, "Let me tell you, Xu Yu always seems to be wary of me, which makes me very unhappy. When you're with him, you're also very awkward with me. I just want to make things clear to you now, so please treat me normally from now on."

Ji Shengsheng: "..."

“I’m glad you have such a deep understanding of friendship,” Ji Shengsheng explained. “I don’t have any other misunderstandings about you. It’s just that, in my opinion, your problem isn’t that you want to be in a relationship with me, but that you can’t be independent. You’re too dependent on me. Even as friends, I sometimes feel overwhelmed.”

Xing Xing: "? No, I just reflected on myself. You're really taking advantage of the situation."

Ji Shengsheng put a few pieces of pickled vegetables on her grandmother's plate: "Yes."

"I don't have any brothers or sisters, nor any friends. We grew up together, so of course I'd want to talk to you if I needed anything."

"If we really have to talk about this, you see, if I have a problem, I won't want to ask you to solve it. I won't ask anyone else. I'll try to solve it myself first. If I can't solve it, I'll try to ask the person who can help the most for help. I'll solve the problem first."

"Isn't it because I'm feeling down that I wanted to talk to you first before trying to resolve the issue?"

“That’s where the problem lies,” Ji Shengsheng realized. She and Xing Xing had known each other for so many years, but they had almost never communicated at this level. “As a friend, I really want to help you solve your problems, but most of the time, I’m taking on more of your emotions.”

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Xing Xing asked, a little annoyed.

"I just hope you can grow up and try to stand on your own." Ji Shengsheng said helplessly, "I have a lot of things to do right now, and sometimes I can't take care of your feelings. I also worry that something bad might happen because I didn't reply to your messages."

These days, Xing Xing often sends messages even when she's not at home, and she replies to them almost always if she can.

However, she felt very uncomfortable seeing the anxiety of some people who were worried about their grandmother's health and feared that she might pass away.

Furthermore, she promised Xu Yu and Xing Xing to keep their distance, and she was determined to keep her promise.

"I can't accept it right away, give me some time."

"But don't blindly fall in love just because you're lonely and hurt others," Ji Shengsheng kindly reminded her.

"Okay, okay."

When it was 10 o'clock, Ji Shengsheng glanced at her phone but still hadn't received any messages from Xu Yu. Thinking that he might be catching up on sleep, she didn't disturb him.

She looked at the bracelet on her hand.

She didn't have time to ask why Xu Yu suddenly gave her another gift, but she had always wanted to buy the same one for Xu Yu so they could wear matching couple items.

"I'm going to the shopping mall next door for a bit." Ji Shengsheng glanced at the time. "I'll be right back."

She wasn't materialistic and didn't know much about luxury goods. Although she had always known about this brand, she had never thought of buying it.

Therefore, when Ji Shengsheng saw the price tag of 129,000 while checking the price in the elevator, he was still very shocked.

Although it wasn't a sum she could spend without batting an eye, it was a gift for Xu Yu, so it was still very worthwhile.

To her surprise, she had misread the sign; the symbol preceding the string of numbers was not RMB.

Ji Shengsheng stared awkwardly into the eyes of the saleswoman: "..."

The sales assistant was very polite and gentle in introducing other styles to her.

There were indeed many bracelets with similar styles and prices that met her expectations, but...

After thinking about it, Ji Shengsheng decided to buy the same model.

When you're young, the desire to spend most of your savings on a gift for someone you like will fade with time.

She should cherish this feeling as much as she would cherish the person she loves.

As Ji Shengsheng walked out of the mall, he let out a long sigh of relief.

As he walked back, he pondered the perfect moment to give it to Xu Yu.

Valentine's Day falls on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month. If she works a little harder and finishes her work earlier, she can return to Lucheng ahead of time to give Xu Yu a surprise.

When Xu Yu learns that she has returned early, he will be overjoyed.

Thinking this, Ji Shengsheng's steps became even lighter.

When they arrived at the hospital entrance, Ji Shengsheng saw Xing Xing going to buy lunch.

"Why did you go to buy food so early today?" Grandma usually doesn't feel like eating until after 1 a.m.

"I don't know, she had a really good appetite today, maybe she was happy watching the game. She just told me she really wanted to eat the ham from her hometown that she used to eat when she was a child, so I rushed out to buy it for her..."

As Xing Xing spoke, she noticed the bag in Ji Shengsheng's hand: "Wow, you went shopping to buy Xu Yu a gift?"

As he spoke, he tried to snatch it from her hand to see what it was.

Ji Shengsheng, of course, wouldn't let him succeed.

This is Xu Yu's gift; she won't show it to anyone beforehand.

But Xing Xing, for some reason, was fixated on looking at it. Xing Xing was much taller than her, with long arms and legs, and quickly snatched it from her hands. It was only because Ji Shengsheng threatened to break off their friendship that Xing Xing didn't open the bag.

"Come with me to buy things, and I'll give them to you when we get back."

“…You scoundrel!” Ji Shengsheng refused to listen. “Give it back to me now, or I’ll call the police.”

"No," Xing Xing said angrily, "Where's the Friendship Chain? What are you wearing on your wrist?"

"Who just reflected on this? How can you talk to your friends like that?" Ji Shengsheng was unusually angry.

Seeing that she was really unhappy, Xing Xing also calmed down: "Let's go, we'll be back soon after we buy it. You don't need to have lunch with me, go find Xu Yu, I'll stay at the hospital today."

Ji Shengsheng took the gift bag, too lazy to argue with him anymore.

If she doesn't eat with Xing Xing, she can go find Xu Yu instead.

Her parents went to visit relatives, so she could leave her things at home first, then go find Xu Yu, and stay with him until evening before going home.

Cheng Yu went to find Xu Yu very early in the morning.

There are still some communication difficulties online, and this work is very urgent.

Upon meeting him, he sensed that Xu Yu was in a bad mood.

However, he had long since gotten used to it. Since Ji Shengsheng returned, he hadn't seen Xu Yu in a good mood for more than a few days.

"Where's Shengsheng?" Chengyu asked Xuyu after finishing her work.

"She went to the hospital to be with her family." He remembered that when he picked up Ji Shengsheng that day, she and Xing Xing had made a promise to have dinner together in front of him.

Although Ji Shengsheng hasn't contacted him since last night.

Although she didn't tell him about it herself.

"How about we pick her up from the hospital? There are a few nice villa resorts in Taoyuan. I contacted my colleagues there, and we can go for a team-building activity this afternoon, have some food, and sing some karaoke?"

"Not interested."

"What if Shengsheng is interested? Look at her, she hasn't gone out much since she returned to Taoyuan. She must be so bored."

Cheng Yu wanted to go with Xu Yu to pick up Ji Shengsheng, but was refused. In the end, Xu Yu went to pick up Ji Shengsheng alone while he went to pick up other colleagues. They went shopping separately and finally met up at the villa area they had booked.

When Xu Yu arrived downstairs at the hospital, before he could even call Ji Shengsheng, he saw her, and of course, Xing Xing as well.

They seemed to have endless things to talk about and endless playful antics. They were happily making a ruckus at the hospital entrance.

Then they walked together to the back street of the hospital.

I'm so jealous.

Jealousy: No matter how hard he tries, they will always find a chance to be together.

It wasn't as easy for Ji Shengsheng to buy his hometown ham as he had imagined; he walked two streets before finally finding a shop.

After buying it, it took almost twenty minutes to walk back.

When they arrived at the hospital entrance, Ji Shengsheng suddenly remembered that her headphones were still at the hospital, so she reminded her, "Please keep an eye on your headphones this afternoon and charge them when they run out of power, otherwise Grandma won't be able to watch her shows or games."

"I understand, I understand, hurry up and go find your Xu Yu."

Ji Shengsheng: "...Then I'm leaving."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and saw Xu Yu.