14. Meeting on a Narrow Road
Vivian returned to the office, nearing the end of the day. Qiu Fang wasn't there, Eric had nothing to do with her, and the deadline was looming, so she decided to stay and work overtime.
The meticulously crafted PowerPoint presentations of urban professionals in front of their computer screens are no different from the daily weaving of textile workers during the Industrial Revolution. Both are repetitive tasks, and neither requires much thought; the only thing needed is a smooth, flawless finish.
The surroundings were quiet, and she almost entered a state of flow. When she finished, it was completely dark outside the window. She had no complaints. She had been doing this for years, and she almost never left work on time.
She just hopes that she will reap what she sows, and that her boss will keep his word and give her a promotion and a raise.
It’s a pity that things in this world don’t always go as planned.
This week, Vivian's good friend Chen Chen was in Beijing on a business trip, and he happened to finish his work on Friday. The two of them agreed that Chen Chen would stay for two more days so they could spend the weekend together.
Fortunately, Qiu Fang wasn't around. He hadn't been in Beijing that often lately, which actually made Vivian feel at ease. When she was with him, she always felt like she was acting, never truly relaxing.
Thinking of him, she had a vague fear that she might make a mistake, but she had no one to talk to, no one to discuss this with.
Chen Chen and she had been roommates in college, but after graduation, the six of them drifted apart, leaving only the two of them as close as ever. Even her vague feelings for Eric were reported to Chen Chen immediately.
But she didn't mention a word about Qiu Fang.
In the end, she still felt ashamed. She could like the playboy who never returned home, but she shouldn't trust this rich but clichéd man.
*
Arriving at the gate of the community, Chen Chen opened his eyes wide: "I didn't hear you say you wanted to change houses."
"Rented! How can I afford to buy a house here? I rent out my house already, so the price difference isn't that much." Vivian answered perfunctorily.
After entering the house, Chen Chen was delighted by the full-length window facing the CBD night view: "It's really beautiful."
"It's still worth it, right?"
"It's worth it! Our Fang Weiwei, you deserve it."
Only her friends from Girls' Generation would call her by her full name like little kids do.
In front of others, she is always Vivian wearing a mask.
"How's the progress with your crush?" Chen Chen was only concerned about this matter.
"Which one?"
"Hey! Who else could it be? Is there more than one person who has made you lose your mind?"
Vivian's mouth corners couldn't help but curl up: "Ahem, him."
This man seemed to have magical powers. Just by mentioning his name, she seemed to feel the warmth of his arm around her shoulders.
"Nothing, he... probably isn't interested in me."
"But I think you two are quite compatible."
"Oh? Tell me more about it." Vivian covered her face with her hands, feeling shy.
"How should I put it... Both of them are fake." Chen Chen laughed.
Vivian threw a monkey pillow at her.
"It's true. You two," Chen Chen rolled his eyes. "You're both a little pretentious, but not annoyingly so. You're even a little cute. You both have a bit of avoidant attachment."
"Thank you, my wild psychologist."
She knew Chen Chen was sharp-eyed and right. She always felt slightly artificial around the opposite sex, and Eric had a similar problem. But she preferred him, feeling that even if he was artificial, it was just right. Any more and it would be too pedantic, any less and it would be too vulgar.
For example, Qiu Fang is too vulgar.
Thinking of Qiu Fang, she felt annoyed and shook her head vigorously, as if to get rid of the thought from her mind. She said to Chen Chen, "How about taking you to Mexican food tomorrow?"
*
The next day, the two of them slept in and when they went out it was already lunch time and the small restaurant was already full.
When she was with Chen Chen, Vivian didn't need any mask. The two of them laughed and exchanged gossip, scolded the bitch boss and stupid colleagues together, and completely relaxed and had a great time.
Chen Chen suddenly stopped and whispered, "Don't look back. The boy at the second table in the back is quite handsome."
They often played this game when they were out and about, and they never tired of it. Vivian looked calm, and after a few minutes she pretended to greet the waiter and turned around to see what was going on.
What a coincidence, it’s Eric.
He had changed his outfit, now very casual: a gray T-shirt, khaki pants, a thin square watch on his wrist, and no other color on his body. At this moment in this restaurant, others might see him as just an ordinary, good-looking guy, but he had a strange charm that made Vivian blush and her heart beat fast.
At this age, blushing is a rare thing.
At this moment, he looked up, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he waved at her.
Vivian turned around, and Chen Chen saw the man waving at them and exclaimed softly, "No way... What a coincidence?"
She winked and nodded slightly.
Chen Chen understood: "Tell me, if this isn't fate, then what is it?"
"What kind of fate is this? It's just ridiculous. Didn't you see there's a girl sitting across from him?"
It wasn't that dramatic, actually. He'd taken her to this shop before. While there were many places to visit in a city, everyone had their favorite places to stay. Meeting here was commonplace.
The girl opposite Eric had her back to them, so her face was invisible, but with a quick glance, Vivian spotted a half-new red crocodile leather bag on the table.
Anyway, she had to say hello, so it was better to do it sooner rather than later. She stood up with determination, walked over to their table, and patted his shoulder affectionately and casually: "Oh, what a coincidence?"
He naturally gave up the seat next to him and gently pulled her arm: "Please sit down."
She broke away slightly: "No, my friends are still waiting for me."
Vivian took this opportunity to examine the girl openly. She had a delicate, round face, curved eyes, and particularly full cheeks and nose base. She looked very youthful, with wide, open eyes.
Eric introduced them: "This is Vivian, my old friend. This is Miss Zhang Zhiqi."
He leaves a significant gap here.
"Ms. Zhang, nice to meet you! You look so familiar. Have we met before at Bulgari?" Vivian said this deliberately, turning to Eric and smiling, as if asking him.
An expression of annoyance crossed his face for a moment, but he quickly stopped.
"Hello, Sister Vivian!" The girl's voice was just as sweet as her delicate little round face. "Maybe. I often go there for afternoon tea. When did you go there?"
Vivian rolled her eyes inwardly: No matter how young she is, she is still in her twenties, and her words are so pretentious.
But it was obvious that this sweet voice was not the female voice by the Bulgari swimming pool.
"I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence, so I came to say hello. I won't disturb your date then." Vivian winked at Eric, nodded to the girl, and turned to leave.
"Sister Vivian, bye."
Returning to his seat, Chen Chen muttered quietly, "Who is this girl? She doesn't look like a good match for him."
"Why don't you join us?"
"She has no elegance. She's covered in brands, with an Hermès bag, a skirt I can't quite make out, it looks like Chanel, and those piercing spiked shoes. She's beautiful, but she has no soul."
"Even though it's nonsense, it's very enjoyable to listen to."
"The absolute truth. If you ask me, you two are the perfect match."
"Sis, even if you want to praise me, we still have to stick to the basics." Vivian was wearing her "taking out the trash outfit" today: a gray sundress and flats. "My entire outfit is only worth five hundred yuan."
“Money can’t buy you temperament.”
Flattery never wears out. My heart, which was filled with anxiety, felt a little relieved.
*
After eating and drinking, Vivian turned around and asked the waiter to pay the bill. Eric and the girl had already left. She felt a little relieved, no longer having to deal with them, but she also felt lost.
The waiter came over and said, "Ma'am, the gentleman at table 3 has already paid for your bill."
Chen Chen gave an ambiguous smile opposite him.
Only then did Vivian see the message he sent: "You have friends over, so you didn't come to say hello. Have a nice weekend."
She held the phone screen in front of Chen Chen.
"That's quite thoughtful. I think he's interested in you."
"It's just a cheap display of charm. This kind of man."
Vivian really thought so.
They had no relationship; it was barely enough to call them friends. In his own words, they were just old acquaintances at best. But somehow, seeing him with other women made her feel incredibly jealous.
The funny thing is, God made her see that he changed people around him more frequently than he changed his clothes.
Realizing this, she was shocked. She had rarely felt such strong possessiveness and covetousness towards her ex-boyfriends who she had been in serious relationships with.
What kind of magic potion did this person give her?
///
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