Chapter 22
On Tuesday afternoon, after receiving Chen Yan's words "Wait for me to come back", Lin Qi stopped bothering him.
Wednesday passed smoothly. She guessed he was on the plane back or on his way home, and she silently calculated his arrival time.
It wasn't until 10:30 pm that the phone lit up again. It was him.
Even through the screen, Lin Qi seemed to be able to sense the tiredness in his message, the sense of exhaustion and fatigue of finally letting down all defenses.
[Chen Yan: Just got home. It's finally over.]
[Chen Yan: I have done what I promised you.]
Immediately afterwards, he sent a screenshot of a successful restaurant reservation, which clearly showed: Saturday evening at 7 o'clock, Cantonese restaurant, reserved seats for two people.
When he returned home exhausted, the first thing he did was not to rest, but to finalize their delayed agreement. This attention made Lin Qi feel soft and warm in his heart.
[Chen Yan: The time is set at 7 o'clock. Is that okay with you?]
After dealing with all these "serious matters", he was like a person who could finally relax, and expressed his feelings very frankly.
[Chen Yan: I've been working non-stop these past few days, and I'm a little tired.]
【Chen Yan: But thinking about this weekend, it all feels worth it.】
Lin Qi: You've worked hard. Take a good rest first. See you on Saturday.
In the middle of the night, receiving such a message of care and understanding is the best comfort. Chen Yan looked at the screen of his phone, and at this moment, his nerves, which had been tense for the past few days, finally relaxed completely.
【Chen Yan: Yes.】
[Chen Yan: Hearing you say that, I suddenly feel less tired.]
He was quite frank in acknowledging the soothing effect her words had on him.
【Chen Yan: Good.】
【Chen Yan: Then we’ll see you on Saturday.】
【Chen Yan: Good night.】
【Lin Qi: Good night.】
After seeing the last "good night" she sent, Chen Yan put the phone on the bedside table without replying.
The conversation tonight was short, but for him, it was like the perfect ending to this tiring business trip.
He turned off the lights and lay down in the soft quilt. The fatigue of the past few days, mixed with a very peaceful and expectant mood, soon pulled him into a deep sleep.
This time, he slept well.
Wednesday night ended with a gentle conversation.
The next day, Thursday, Chen Yan did not go to the company. He took a day off and rested at home.
He slept until almost noon. With no meetings or emails, he felt completely relaxed. He went to the kitchen and made himself a simple bowl of plain noodles, adding only a few blanched vegetables and a drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil.
He took the bowl of noodles and sat at the dining table where the sun could shine in. Before eating, he thought for a moment, took out his phone, and took a photo of the bowl of noodles.
The photos are the same as those he posted before, clean, with simple composition and a sense of peaceful life.
He sent the photo to Lin Qi.
【Chen Yan: (Photo)】
【Chen Yan: I'll take a day off at home today.】
[Chen Yan: Let me fulfill what I said last time - when I eat alone, it really is just a bowl of noodles.]
[Chen Yan: How about you? Have you had lunch?]
Lin Qi was about to go to the cafeteria when he received the message. Seeing the bowl of watery noodles and what he said, he couldn't help but laugh.
Lin Qi: The meal is so simple. Have you rested? You look really exhausted.
[Lin Qi: I haven't eaten yet. I'll go to the cafeteria later.]
Seeing her series of concerns, Chen Yan paused while eating noodles and felt warm in his heart. He really liked this kind of homely, down-to-earth conversation, which made him feel relaxed.
[Chen Yan: I slept all morning and I'm feeling better. That's how it is on a business trip. I just need a day to rest when I get back.]
【Chen Yan: Eating alone is more comfortable when it’s simple.】
He answered her question, and then the focus fell on her.
[Chen Yan: Then go to the cafeteria quickly, don’t starve.]
[Chen Yan: No matter how busy you are at work, you must eat on time.]
Lin Qi: But your noodles have starch and vegetables, and with a little meat, it's nutritionally complete. You can make some braised beef in soy sauce and keep it in the refrigerator, and just cut off a piece when you want to eat it.
Her suggestion, which was full of life and the flavor of everyday life, made Chen Yan look at his bowl of noodles and couldn't help laughing.
He could imagine the serious, child-friendly tone she used when she said this. The feeling of being cared about whether he'd eaten well was unfamiliar to him, but... very good.
【Chen Yan: Got it, Teacher Lin.】
[Chen Yan: Your suggestion is perfect in theory.]
He paused for a moment, then uttered the next sentence with a hint of helplessness.
[Chen Yan: In practice, my cooking skills probably only allow me to complete the step of "cutting" the braised beef.]
A very candid self-explanation about one's own life skills.
[Chen Yan: Okay, enough joking. Go eat.]
【Lin Qi: Yes, I’m going.】
Seeing her reply, Chen Yan smiled, put down his phone, and began to eat his bowl of noodles which had already become a little cold seriously.
Thursday afternoon and all of Friday, that quiet understanding returned to them.
There was no need for constant contact, but both knew that the promise we made that Saturday night stood there clearly, like a gentle coordinate. This certainty made the busy weekdays less unbearable.
Time passed quickly and it was Saturday evening.
At around five o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Qi received news from Chen Yan.
[Chen Yan: Are you ready to go out? ]
[Chen Yan: Drive slowly on the road. Don't worry. I'll go there in advance to wait for you.]
At ten minutes before seven in the evening, Lin Qi arrived at the restaurant.
Just as she had seen on the review app, this newly opened Cantonese restaurant was decorated in a modern style, with bright lights. It was doing very good business and was almost full of people. She could hear the diners around her talking in Cantonese, which was very lively.
She soon saw Chen Yan in a booth by the window.
He was dressed more casually today than last time, a well-made white T-shirt with a light gray shirt casually layered over it, the cuffs rolled up. He had already ordered a pot of tea and was holding his phone, seemingly processing some messages.
Perhaps he felt something, as soon as she saw him, he also raised his head.
When their eyes met, he immediately put down his phone, a very natural and warm smile appeared on his face, and then he waved to her slightly to indicate that he was there.
After not seeing each other for half a month, Lin Qi felt a strange emotion brewing in her heart. She smiled with a barely perceptible shyness, then walked over and sat down across from him.
"Have you been waiting long?" she asked.
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