Chapter 31 Chapter 31 From now on, every New Year will never come back...

"Good afternoon, Chi."

On the morning of the third day of the first lunar month, a little curly-haired boy with an obvious foreign face came to a Western restaurant in the city center and sat down opposite Chi Ke.

"What are you watching? Motorcycle racing? Is that what you're interested in?"

"Good afternoon, just browsing." Chi Ke turned off his phone and responded in fluent English, "Order whatever you want to eat."

"Chi, can't you change your pronunciation for me?" Curly from the UK said sadly, "I can't imagine how sexy you will be when you speak with an English accent."

"You can't change it just by saying so." Chi Ke studied in the United States for many years, so his accent naturally leans toward the American style. Later, when he returned to China, the foreign company he worked for was also run by Americans. It's not easy to change the habits he has acquired over the years. "I'm sorry for your ears."

"You're being sarcastic to me again." Curly complained, "You were so gentle to me when we first met, and it's only been a few months? Now that you have me, you don't cherish me anymore?"

Ansel’s full English name is very long, abbreviated as Ansel. He is the product director of the pharmaceutical group that cooperates with Shenghuijia.

At the end of last year, he was allergic to pollen at a dinner party and almost died. If Chi Ke had not reacted quickly, discovered and dealt with the allergen in time and sent him to the hospital, he might have died that day.

Fortunately, Chi Ke had always intended to make friends with him, otherwise he wouldn't have been paying attention to his movements all the time.

After that day, Ansel revealed his true feelings to Chi Ke. As they interacted more and more, he felt that he had met him too late and he told him everything he knew.

Of course, this was also part of Chi Ke’s plan.

He had just arrived and was in urgent need of rebuilding his network of contacts. Ansel did not hide his identity as a second-generation rich man, and was a warm-hearted foreigner, who could easily open the door to the social circle. If it were not for Ansel, Chi Ke might not have chosen their group as a partner company of Shenghuijia.

However, after getting to know each other, it turned out that the little curly-haired boy was indeed a nice person and sincerity should be reciprocated with sincerity. Chi Ke just included him in the circle of his “friends” last week.

Chi Ke smiled and poured the red wine into the empty goblet in front of the other person. Recalling the pronunciation from the TV series, he slowly said in an English accent: "I apologize to you."

"Thank you, but you are not allowed to drink. Just continue to drink your tea. I don't want to send a patient with gastric bleeding to the hospital during the New Year." Curly was satisfied and picked up the knife and fork to start cutting up the steak. "Chi, why did you suddenly want the information of the eldest son of the Leng family the day before yesterday? Didn't you check him out last year?"

"I was just checking last year." He didn't intend to do anything to Leng Baiyao.

This year, I have caused trouble for myself.

Chi Ke's movements in cutting the steak were not as rough as his, but twice as fast.

Just when Ansel thought he was cutting a whole portion for himself, the other person started eating it gracefully.

"Oh no~" Curly complained, "Chi, you don't love me at all."

"Yes." Chi Ke affirmed cruelly, "I asked you to come here today to discuss the new product development that your team is preparing. Shenghuijia is very interested and has the intention of cooperation."

"Oh my god!" Curly covered his ears, "You're still talking about work during your Chinese New Year! Are you a devil?!"

Chi Ke smiled: "Opportunities come to those who are prepared."

Once this project is made public next year, our competitiveness will surely increase many times over.

"You're such a horrible workaholic." Curly slumped down on the table. "But you're so obsessed with work, and you look a lot better than when we first met. I guess your doctor friend must be worried about you a lot."

Chi Ke retorted: "Can't I just heal it myself?"

"Come on, I've worked with you before. How dare you say something like that when you can't even remember to drink a sip of water all day?" Curly said contemptuously, "It's a great achievement if you don't kill yourself."

Chi Ke: “.”

Chi Ke drank some water to calm his anger: "Not really."

"Haha." Ansel sneered, "You really don't know yourself at all, dear."

"Shut up." Chi Ke said, "Tsk, let's talk business."

"Okay, okay." Ansel compromised. "Let me make this clear first. I need to take a break every two hours. Otherwise, my brain won't work properly and I'll definitely be tricked by you and taken to northern Myanmar."

He had long been aware of the gap between their brains and was quite self-aware.

"Okay." Chi Ke said.

Three hours later.

"It's been a pleasure working with you, Mr. Ansel."

Chi Ke stretched out his hand and a smile appeared on his usually cold face.

Curly's brain had been working for too long and was a little confused. He reached out his hand to shake hands with the document in a daze and didn't know how he signed the document.

But the signature has been signed, there is no point in reviewing and regretting it.

Ansel gritted his teeth, put the contract away and didn't read it: "I knew your meal was not cheap!"

"As long as it suits your taste." Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly. Chi Ke doesn't recognize any relatives when talking about business. "If there is nothing wrong..."

"Wait, why are you in such a hurry to leave? You want to leave just because you got the advantage?" Ansel grinned.

Chi Ke was still: "Okay, do you have anything else to say?"

"Be my military advisor and give me some advice." Ansel held his face sweetly. "I have a date tonight, but it's my first time to spend the New Year in China. I don't know where to go for fun. Do you have any good places to recommend?"

This question really stumped Chi Ke.

He had only been here for four months at most, and he might even have stayed longer than Ansel, the foreigner.

However, it would be a bit inappropriate to just say "I don't know" after taking advantage of someone.

Chi Ke couldn't give an answer, but he was very good. He accompanied him to search for many strategies on the Internet, and finally satisfied Curly.

Ansel put away his phone contentedly: "Your plans are always clear. I have sorted out my schedule for tonight, how about you? Chi, do you have a date?"

Chi Ke shook his head: "I am alone."

"Poor Chi." Ansel said distressedly, "You weren't alone the past two days, were you?"

"Not really." I went shopping for a bunch of New Year's goods yesterday, and attended the Leng family's dinner the day before yesterday. Although I don't like that kind of occasion, it is a good opportunity to make friends.

"It's okay, I thought you were alone all the time." Ansel said, "But have you been like this every New Year before? Work, work, and work!"

Chi Ke deliberately asked: "What if I say yes?"

The romantic Englishman sighed: "Poor bastard."

Chi Ke laughed: "Just kidding, I don't work every year."

He spent several New Years lying in bed and didn't even have the energy to work.

"That's good. Well, I really don't have time to chat with you now. I have to go to a date." Ansel expressed his sincere blessing to him, "I hope you will meet a wonderful relationship this year."

Chi Ke responded perfunctorily.

Beautiful feelings are dispensable to him. If Ansel wishes him to become rich this year, he will definitely express his gratitude seriously.

Before leaving, Ansel threw the car keys to him: "I can't drive after drinking, you drive for me, I'll come back to get it in a few days!"

After the talkative Ansel left, the not-so-large space became overly quiet.

He was a little tired, with his forehead resting against the glass, not wanting to leave immediately.

I'll be alone when I go back anyway, so it doesn't matter where I stay.

The dishes on the table changed one after another. Even though the room was well heated, the cup of scented tea that was served at the beginning had already gone cold.

Chi Ke licked his lips that were dried by the air conditioner, not caring about the temperature. He picked up the teacup, but suddenly thought of the scene yesterday morning when he went to the hospital to get a document and drank cold water. He was caught by the dean and was so angry that he went crazy in the office.

The corner of his mouth twitched, he put down the teacup and called the waiter.

"Please bring me another pot of hot tea, thank you."

"Okay," the waiter said, "Sir, it's already four o'clock in the afternoon. Do you need me to keep this room for you until dinner time?"

This restaurant's private room reservations are divided into two time periods: noon and evening.

Chi Ke asked: "What time is it in the evening?"

"It starts at six."

"No thanks, I'll be leaving soon."

The door of the box closed again. Chi Ke let out a long breath, leaned back in his chair, and slowly drank a pot of tea by himself.

During this period, he received a message from Ansel, saying that he had encountered an unfortunate car accident. The driver's head was smashed and it was unknown whether he could save his life.

【Ansel: I just prayed to God devoutly. 】

【Ansel: This is so unlucky. How could an accident happen during such a reunion festival? 】

Chi Ke paused as he was about to reply and scrolled down to check the date.

January 28th.

Tsk.

There is no reason, so it is called an accident.

Chi Ke sighed silently, drank the last sip of tea, wrapped his coat tightly, and left the restaurant.

According to the plan, he should go home now and use this hard-earned vacation to continue learning French.

But when he saw couples walking on the street, he felt that doing meaningless things on such a festival was allowed and not a waste of time.

The moment this thought came to his mind, his eyes happened to fall on a fishing tackle shop.

Chi Ke walked in without hesitation, carrying his brand new fishing rod, and drove to the lake where fishing was allowed.

This was the first time in his life that he acted without a plan.

He just wanted to do it, so he did it.

There are only a few places in S City where fishing is allowed. In the past, the place would be full of anglers, but today is the third day of the first lunar month and everyone is busy with family reunions, so there are only a few people by the water.

There is no need to fight for a position, which is a good opportunity for poor bastards like Chi Ke who are homeless and lonely.

He found a piece of open space and skillfully set up his fishing rod.

I didn't expect that the skills I learned while accompanying middle-aged and elderly partners would reappear in the market today.

Chi Ke sat on a small bench, wearing a windbreaker and a hat, wrapped tightly, thinking about nothing, staring at the calm lake in a daze.

…I still can’t treat my own death anniversary with a normal attitude.

He thought he could look at that death calmly.

I really overestimate myself.

This area of water is so large that it almost extends to the opposite city line.

The lake surface gradually swallowed up the falling sun, and the sky full of setting sun seemed like a sign that the train had arrived at its destination.

The moment it became completely dark, the fishing line that had been still for a long time began to move.

The confusion and helplessness of a sudden cardiac arrest broke through the shackles of memory and swept over uncontrollably.

Chi Ke raised his hand suddenly, but not to pull the fishing rod. Instead, he pressed his chest tightly, feeling the beating of his heart beneath his skin.

It's ridiculous, but even though he had been given countless death countdown warnings by doctors in his previous life, he was actually not afraid of death at all.

At the moment I fell in the corner of the banquet hall, I even thought to myself: "It's great that no one has discovered me yet. I am leaving in a decent way."

But looking back, he still couldn't be said to be calm. The emotion was not panic or fear, but very complicated, so complicated that he could only ask himself dryly: How could he die?

A rustling sound of footsteps came from afar, light and regular.

Chi Ke struggled out of his own world filled with noise, turned his head as if sensing something, met a pair of eyes full of surprise, and saw his own surprise in them.

He suddenly laughed.

Ji Qian also laughed.

"What a coincidence." said Ji Qian.

This time it's really a coincidence.

The sharp tinnitus receded like the tide, and Chi Ke realized that he still had expectations for a colorful life.

Even if it falls ten times, a hundred times, or a million times, I still look forward to it.

Because there are too many things in this world worth remembering.

He raised his chin, and Ji Qian put down the small chair next to him and set up the same fishing rod.

Chi Ke asked: "Spending the New Year alone?"

"Originally." Ji Qian sat lazily, his hands in his pockets, "Now there are two of us."

Can't refute it.

The fishing rod was shaking constantly, and Chi Ke quickly pulled up the line and caught the first fish of the day.

He lowered his head to put on new bait and asked casually, "Did you win the competition yesterday?"

"Then he will definitely win—" Ji Qian's smile froze, "How do you know?"

He never said that he and Leng Baiyao were friends, nor did he say that he was going to ride a motorcycle yesterday!

Ji Qian was shocked but also a little delighted: "Are you investigating me behind my back?"

"You can also check me." Chi Ke said, "It all depends on your ability."

"I would like to check you." Ji Qian complained, "You didn't tell me in advance that I could check you. Without Teacher Chi's permission, how could I have the courage to do so..."

I didn't even look at your information back then, so apart from your name, age, and education, I know nothing else.

"I didn't look up your information. I just casually checked the eldest young master of the Leng family and accidentally touched you." Chi Ke was a nice guy and knew how to explain.

But after explaining, he turned the subject back: "Interrupting the topic?"

“…”

Ji Qian became listless, speechless, and motionless.

Chi Ke threw the fishing line back into the lake, squinted his eyes and looked forward, and drank a sip of Coke slowly: "Do you want me to give you ten minutes to think of a way to fool me?"

Ji Qian: “.”

It can’t be said that he did something wrong, but Ji Qian felt so guilty that he wanted to jump into the lake: “I didn’t mean to hide it from you.”

"I understand." Chi Ke was very kind, "You were being careless on purpose."

"I didn't," Ji Qian glanced at him cautiously, "Would you like to hear my excuses?"

Chi Ke used a lot of patience to hold back from laughing.

He knew very well that Ji Qian had no obligation to report these things to him, so he didn't take it seriously at all. He just asked casually at first, but he didn't expect Ji Qian to react so strongly, so he just went along with it.

The relationship between Ji Qian and Leng Baiyao is easy to guess.

Ji Song, the eldest brother of the Ji family, only started to pay attention to his younger brother last year. Before Ji Qian went abroad for further studies, the eldest brother's life was smooth sailing.

It was in this year that Ji Song's company began to encounter various misfortunes such as funding shortages, senior management betrayal, network paralysis, document theft, etc.

These things seem to have nothing to do with each other, but Chi Ke can tell at a glance that they are being deliberately targeted by the same family because the methods are so similar.

He followed the clues overseas and found that half of the companies that were the instigators were located in Boston, and the rest were located in New York and its surrounding areas.

As luck would have it, Ji Qian was in Boston and Leng Baiyao was in New York. According to news and information provided by acquaintances, according to the timeline, the two traveled back and forth between the two cities that year, and there were no one-way tickets with overlapping time periods, so it was highly likely that they were going to find each other.

If these were just guesses, Leng Baiyao's performance at the dinner the night before was almost enough to show the answer written on his face.

The moment Chi Ke took the hot pack, he knew it was given by Ji Qian.

"You haven't been banned from speaking," he said. "Go ahead and argue. I'm listening."

"It's like this. You said before that riding a motorcycle is dangerous, so I rarely drove it later. But I made an appointment with Leng Baiyao for this competition a long time ago, and I can't refuse it. I have to go." Ji Qian spoke quickly, "As for my friendship with him... Aren't you Leng Yunting's employee? I'm afraid you will be embarrassed if you know it, so it's better not to know."

It's reasonable.

Two more big brothers came over from the left, and Chi Ke called out to Ji Qian, "Come over—hey! Raise the pole."

Ji Qian fumbled for a while and pulled out an empty hook.

Chi Ke took a piece of bait, held it between his fingertips and shook it towards him: "Come here."

Ji Qian was not at all disappointed about the missed goal, and moved his small stool over.

Chi Ke turned his head away.

Ji Qian looked sharp: "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing." He thought the action just now was a little funny. Ji Qian was like the second fish he caught, able to hook himself without the need for a line. "Hooked himself."

"Hmm." Ji Qian's fingers were very flexible and he threw the line out again in a short while with very skillful movements.

Chi Ke no longer paid attention to his fishing rod: "How close are you and Leng Boyao?"

Ji Qian didn't know how to describe it: "Let's eat skewers and brag together?"

Chi Ke looked at him and said nothing.

Ji Qian had an idea in his mind, and he finally got smart for once: "That's definitely not as good as the two of us. You and I are the best in the world."

Chi Ke sneered: "Don't tell anyone what I'm going to say next."

Last time, he only told Ji Qian some gossip about the Leng family and did not reveal his relationship with the old man.

Now he has accidentally uncovered many of other people's industrial chains, and as an equal exchange, he can also give some basic information.

Ji Qian immediately leaned closer: "You say."

Chi Ke concealed the original owner's private affairs and told Ji Qian about his current situation.

The more Ji Qian listened, the brighter his eyes became: "So handsome? Mission Impossible?"

"Interested? Then you show me." Chi Ke watched him collect the empty rod for the third time and gradually showed a skeptical expression, "Your skills..."

"A layman, a layman." Ji Qian was secretly annoyed. If he had known that his father would seriously learn when he taught him to fish, now he has lost a chance to show off in vain. "Well, I like it, but I'm not very good at it."

"You still like it even though you can't catch it?" Chi Ke didn't understand.

He is happy only when he catches some fish, enjoying the joy of a big catch. If he gets too angry, he will get himself angry.

Just as Ji Qian was about to speak, the two big brothers next to him came over.

They first said to Chi Ke: "Wow! These two are really big."

Then he looked at Ji Qian's basket and said, "Wow! It's empty."

Ji Qian: “.”

Chi Ke: “.”

"Brother, the bait is not used up yet," Ji Qian said unconvinced, "Don't look down on the poor young man."

The elder brother was very happy: "Okay, young man, you have a good attitude, you go fishing, you go fishing."

Although his attitude was very kind, it was clear that he didn't believe that Ji Qian's last bait could catch anything.

Ji Qian didn't really care, and smiled as he turned his gaze back to Chi Ke: "So what do you think now? You won't stand with Boss Leng for me, will you?"

Chi Ke smiled and said, "You don't want to hear it even if I tell you."

Ji Qian: "...Okay, I get it, don't say it, it's hurtful."

He lowered his head in frustration and fiddled with the few remaining baits. The soft hair looked and felt very good.

Chi Ke suddenly remembered the blessing he had saved for himself, and without missing a beat, he said, "May you be safe and happy, and live a long life."

Ji Qian said, "Hmm?"

"New Year's greetings to you." Chi Ke repeated word by word, "May you be safe, happy, and live a long life."

It is true that he can give a nice blessing or some polite words.

But those piled-up fancy words are far less sincere than these eight words.

He sincerely hoped that Ji Qian would be safe and happy, and he also selfishly wanted such a vibrant life to exist longer in the world.

Look at the flowers blooming more often, look at the sunrise more often, look at the stars and the mountains and rivers more often.

He thought Ji Qian would like these.

It would be better not to die as short-lived as him. I don’t ask for happiness in the afterlife, but for happiness in this life.

Ji Qian was stunned, and all the blessings he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

"It's so sudden," he muttered, "How come you snatched my words away?"

"Then change one, for example, avoid..." Chi Ke never hesitated to speak about life and death. Before he finished the hell joke, he suddenly thought of the Buddhist beads on Ji Qian's wrist. His tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth, and he didn't finish the last few words. He said, "For example, cheers, when everything you want to say is in the wine."

Ji Qian laughed non-stop: "Where did the wine come from?"

Chi Ke took out a bottle of Coke, deftly opened the can with his fingers, and handed it to him: "Make do with this."

The carbonated drink foam popped out of the can, and as expected, Chi Ke's fingertips were wet, becoming moist and shiny.

Before Ji Qian could react, his eyes had already avoided his fingers and he was frantically trying to find a deserted place to stay.

"Cheers," he said stiffly.

The two cans collided with each other with a crisp "bang".

Cheers to the new students.

Chi Ke drank Coke nonchalantly, reeled in the fishing rod with one hand, untied the hook, and put the fish caught with the last bite of bait back into the lake.

"Let's go." He patted Ji Qian's shoulder.

Ji Qian hadn't come back to his senses yet and was packing his things absent-mindedly.

"Yo? It's over?"

The two big brothers probably fought all night. When they saw them leaving, they came over to watch the fun and said, "How are you, handsome boy? Did you catch a--F-- a big fish? That's awesome!"

"Um?"

Ji Qian came back to his senses and saw a fat fish with a fat head and big ears lying in the box beside his legs.

But there is nothing tonight...

He raised his head.

Chi Ke had already put the things back into the trunk and was leaning against the car door, looking at this side quietly.

"Brother, what brand of fishing rod do you have? Wow, what quality," the eldest brother admired his equipment in admiration, "Are there any links - hey! Why are you in such a hurry? Don't you want these?!"

No more.

I don’t want any of them.

He stepped onto the path from the shore in two or three steps, grabbed Chi Ke's wrist, pulled him towards himself, and hugged him tightly.

Ji Qian held Chi Ke tightly with his arms, just like he did the stuffed toys on the bed.

My hot palms rubbed the neck from time to time, and I felt unprecedented peace of mind in my heart, as well as joy and relief for coming back to life.

He thought that he would no longer think about death every New Year.