Chapter 09. Monday

The black Tesla stopped steadily at the entrance of the wind farm. Lu Qiaoyuan tapped the screen and sent:

"I'm downstairs. Don't worry, come down slowly."

Putting down his phone, he gently stroked the car mount on the rearview mirror.

This was a souvenir that Ke Fan brought him when he bought the car after returning from a business trip in Tong City. He has been hanging it on the car ever since.

The crisp sound of wind chimes rang out, and the pendant of the wind chime trembled and rippled slightly as the fingers plucked it, as if it was as happy as its owner's mood at the moment.

After a while, the door of the wind power station building opened and Ke Fan and Ji Hang walked out side by side.

Ji Hang immediately saw the black Tesla parked under the magnolia tree.

And it is even harder for the man sitting in the driver's seat to escape attention.

He sat in the car, his long hands clasped in front of him, waiting quietly.

Those eyes, like deep springs, followed Ke Fan intently with a hint of smile from the moment he appeared. Beneath the lush green leaves and blooming flowers of the magnolia tree, his eyebrows and eyes appeared even more gentle and soft, like jade, delicate and refined.

"Brother Qiao Yuan!" Ji Hang waved to him excitedly.

Lu Qiaoyuan's gaze fell on Ji Hang, darkened slightly for a moment, and soon a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he nodded in response.

Ji Hang turned around and winked. "Sister Xiaofan, no wonder you left work so early today. Turns out you had a date!" He lowered his voice and said stealthily, "You've been away on business for so long. I bet Brother Qiao Yuan must have some romantic plans tonight."

Ke Fan glanced at them calmly: "This is adult matters, children, stop gossiping."

Ji Hang pretended to be aggrieved and said, "Alright, alright, I won't keep you any longer. I'll leave immediately."

He got on his mountain bike and said, "Let's go!" He waved goodbye to the man in the bike and said, "Let's go, Brother Qiaoyuan!"

Only Ke Fan and the other two were left. She breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed her body slightly.

There was no romantic plan at all. Lu Qiaoyuan just said he would come to send her home and show up at the wind farm.

The wind power industry has more men than women, and coupled with Ke Fan's outstanding appearance, she has repeatedly encountered enthusiastic suitors since she started her doctoral studies, or some gossipy male leaders have frequently introduced her to blind dates.

Over time, it becomes very annoying.

Later, she and Lu Qiaoyuan hit it off and became nominal boyfriend and girlfriend, protecting each other in dealing with romantic interests and avoiding blind dates.

Although this "special relationship" has lasted for three years, she is still not used to acting in front of others.

Only after taking off the mask did she feel more at ease.

The corners of her lips curled up, and she nodded and smiled at the man in the car: "Senior Brother Qiao Yuan."

After sitting in the passenger seat of the car, Lu Qiaoyuan took out a cup of hot milk tea from the thermal bag in the back seat and handed it to her:

"Here, red bean pudding."

His eyes lit up slightly, and Ke Fan rarely showed a childlike joy in his tone:

"Thank you, brother^^"

Because she had hypoglycemia since childhood, she became addicted to sweets when she grew up, especially red beans.

On the first Monday after returning from a business trip, the pile of work kept her busy all day and she was in desperate need of some sweet comfort.

Ke Fan couldn't wait to open the milk tea, and held the straw with her tender peach-colored lips. As her fair cheeks puffed up, she narrowed her eyes slightly in satisfaction.

Lu Qiaoyuan started the car with a gentle smile in his eyes.

Ke Fan took a few more sips of milk tea, and suddenly thought of something, and said:

"By the way, Senior Brother, I have a seabed sample that I'd like to send to your lab for analysis."

"Is that your project in Tsu City?"

"Yes, it's those wind turbines with abnormal data. I suspect it's seabed subsidence."

"No problem, it can be delivered in the next few days."

Lu Qiaoyuan's voice was low and gentle. He was wearing a neatly ironed white shirt with his cuffs buttoned meticulously - impeccably neat, just like him.

The milk tea was finished in a short while. Ke Fan held the empty shell and looked around to see if there was a trash can passing by.

But the car had already entered the main road and didn't pull into either side.

There was a red light, and Lu Qiaoyuan stopped for a few seconds. He took the empty shell from Ke Fan and put it back into the empty bag in the back seat.

"Give it to me, I'll throw it back."

His fingers brushed against hers, and Ke Fan was slightly startled, but he seemed unaware of it and stared intently ahead.

The red light turned green, and the car roared again and merged into the traffic flow again.

*

Li Jing has not had a good time these days.

Ever since the boss was stood up by the client during his last trip to sea, his mood seems to have never improved, and the low pressure in the office is very obvious.

Or maybe, it’s not just about the customers?

The deep, heart-suffocating glance of Yi Lingjia on the yacht that day came to his mind again.

Li Jing quickly took a sip of hot tea and turned his head away.

Amitabha, it’s better not to be so impressed by the boss’s gossip.

"Li Jing, please see Mr. Wang off for me."

Yi Lingjia was standing at the office door, shaking hands and saying goodbye to a middle-aged man. He was the last customer of the day.

Li Jing quickly stood up and politely escorted Mr. Wang out.

After returning, he servilely brought a cup of tea and placed it on Yi Lingjia's desk.

"Boss, moisten your throat. Is everything going well?"

Yi Lingjia hummed softly, his expression brightening slightly, but there was still a gloom between his brows.

Li Jing quietly left the office and sat back at his workstation. He supported his head with his hand and looked a little gloomy.

A tall and strong figure suddenly appeared, and a hearty voice rang out:

"What's wrong with you two? Why are you so sad?"

Li Jing looked up and saw a familiar face in front of him, with thick eyebrows, big eyes and a bright gaze.

If it’s not Nie Fei, then who else could it be?

Originally, he should have been very happy to see this face.

Nie Fei was not only Yi Lingjia's old classmate, but also a shareholder in the fishery. He was also extremely cheerful and funny, and his presence was like a stress reliever during his busy work.

Unfortunately, the stress reliever may not work this time.

The client who stood up a few days ago was introduced by Nie Fei.

Li Jing looked at Nie Fei's back as he walked into the boss's office with some trepidation.

"Boss Yi, are you still mad at me?" Nie Fei smiled with a hint of naiveté. He placed the exquisite gift boxes he had brought on his desk and said, "I was too busy the past few days. As soon as I have time today, I'll come over and apologize to you in person."

Yi Lingjia glanced at him, tapped her watch with her fingertips, and said softly, "Three hours."

Nie Fei understood that this was referring to how long they had been waiting.

He immediately put on a look of deep sorrow and indignation. "I never thought he was so unreliable. He actually left you hanging at sea." As he spoke, he clasped his hands together exaggeratedly, as if begging for forgiveness. "My fault, my fault. I'll treat you to dinner tonight. Please do me the honor, Mr. Yi."

"Did he contact you again later?"

"No news! How could there be such a person?" Nie Fei was stunned and quickly replied. His tone was angry, but his eyes were a little evasive.

Yi Lingjia frowned. Although Nie Fei was usually a bit of a joker, the clients he introduced were all reliable. This was the first time he had been so abrupt. A sense of strangeness welled up in his heart.

Nie Fei didn't give him time to think deeply, he put his arm around his shoulders and pulled him up:

"Alright, alright, let's go. It's already late. Let's go eat. I promised to treat you today."

He raised his voice again: "Li Jing, pack up and get ready to leave work."

Yi Lingjia was pushed to put on his coat somewhat helplessly.

Li Jing looked at his boss's expression, which had finally softened, and said cheerfully, "Okay!"

The city's neon lights gradually lit up, and on the busy streets, the taillights converged into a long, winding red dragon.

Nie Fei and Yi Lingjia started their cars at the same time and merged into the busy traffic flow in Jinshi on Monday evening.

*

And Hai City is so busy on Monday nights.

After seeing Ke Fan off, Lu Qiaoyuan drove slowly home and finally parked in the underground garage.

He looked at the bag in the back seat and took out the empty cup of milk tea.

The lights in the garage were dim and everything was quiet. Light shone faintly from above his head, reflecting on his slightly lowered delicate brows.

His slender fingers gently stroked the top of the straw she had sucked, and his fingertips lingered there for a long time.