Episode 48 Vintage Jacket
The crab shell he accidentally ingested got stuck in his throat. Jiang Shu couldn't help but put down his chopsticks and beat his chest and coughed.
Lin Ying didn't care about anything else for a moment, and hurried to pat his back... This attracted Ruxing, who was watching cartoons in the living room, and she said, "Uncle, are you okay?"
Lin Ying helped Jiang Shu to the kitchen island sink. She rubbed his back with one hand to help him breathe, and held a cup of warm water in the other hand, ready to hand it to him at any time to help him calm down. The situation did not seem optimistic.
"How about we go to the hospital?"
Ruxing also shouted: "Teacher taught me, if you have a throat choke, you must call Dolphin for emergency treatment immediately!"
However, Lin Ying was completely panicked at the moment. She had no idea what the child meant by "dolphin". She was so anxious that she wanted to call 120 for an ambulance...
Before the number was dialed, Jiang Shu suddenly hung up the phone for her, snatched the warm water from her other hand, drank it down, and rinsed his mouth.
He finally coughed up that tiny piece of residue, but the sweat oozing from his forehead and the blush still lingering on his face revealed his long-lost state of disgrace...
Faced with this situation, thinking of what he had just said in a fit of rage, Lin Ying felt guilty and said for no reason -
"I'm sorry."
"…It's not your fault, why are you always apologizing?"
Jiang Shu stroked his chest and smiled with relief.
"I just lied to you. I'm not dating him, and I didn't do that to test your opinion."
Lin Ying took the initiative to clarify, and the air finally returned to silence.
She glanced at Jiang Shu's startled face and leaned over to respond to Ru Xing's words:
"Ruxing was about to say 'Heimlich maneuver', not 'Dolphin, come to the rescue immediately', right?"
The daughter rolled her eyes. The name "Heimlich" was a bit beyond her level. It would be faster to ask dolphins for first aid.
"That's a great suggestion, but uncle is fine now. Ruxing, why don't you go back and play for a while? Mommy, help uncle clean up the kitchen, and we'll go home later."
After coaxing Ruxing back to the living room, Lin Ying helped Jiang Shu put the dishes back into the kitchen. Ruxing, multitasking, was searching for puzzle pieces, occasionally looking up to watch animations, and sometimes stealing glances at her mother...
In front of the dishwasher in the corner of the island, Lin Ying handed the dishes to Jiang Shu one by one, and Jiang Shu put them into the dishwasher one by one. The two were silent for a long time until Jiang Shu smiled anxiously, breaking the deadlock.
Lin Ying asked him, "What are you laughing at?"
"I laugh at myself. I actually believed what you said just now."
He explained, "If you are really dating Wang Duo, then what about Cen Shuo?"
Lin Ying couldn't help but laugh. "Actually, we were just bedmates before, not officially in a relationship. His internship ended last week, and he didn't accept the offer for a permanent position, so... we're done."
After she finished speaking, she handed over the last set of plates, watched Jiang Shu arrange them in order, reached out to close the machine door, and pressed the start button...
"Since you're not dating anyone right now, nor are you in an ambiguous relationship with anyone, do I have the qualifications to pursue you?"
The dishwasher was turned on, and the water gradually overflowed, soaking the glass layer by layer. After the clear water passed over it, it was swallowed up by the foam.
Lin Ying suddenly felt a little regretful. She shouldn't have played that joke on him just now.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have to face this problem so quickly...
Snap——
The crisp sound of breaking ceramics just broke their thoughts.
Lin Ying reflexively ran out of the kitchen and glanced at the empty carpet in the living room - an unfinished puzzle was spread out on the coffee table, and no one was paying attention to the lively cartoons.
"Like a star!"
She rushed to the bedroom upon hearing the noise, subconsciously blaming her daughter.
"Who told you to run around?!"
As soon as she entered, she saw Ruxing slumped in the corner of the bedroom. A piece of bone-white ceramic fragments had fallen in front of the crowded bookcase and closet...
Seeing her mother suddenly appear with an angry look on her face, Ruxing was obviously frightened and immediately burst into tears!
She quickly leaned forward, carefully touched the child's hands, feet and body, and asked in a trembling voice:
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm sorry... Mom, I just... wanted to see... this Hello Kitty..."
Lin Ying then realized that the "Hello Kitty" that was smashed into pieces was actually a ceramic mug with a strange shape...
Looking at the nearly faded paint and the crooked cat's clothes, she suddenly felt as if someone had plucked a thread from her dormant memories, pulling it further and further away, becoming looser and looser, until she could see the past clearly...
There was a time before she went to middle school when coloring ceramic dolls was very popular. She would occasionally go out with Yan Yiming, and the two of them would pick up a few to play with in the mall on a whim to pass the time.
Yan Yiming didn't have as much patience as her at that time. He asked to go home and paint after sitting for a while, saying that he wanted to be quiet and make a lot of noise outside, but Lin Ying disagreed - she had been taught by Lin Jidong that she was not allowed to play with "dirty things" at home in the future.
So she would always sit for an entire afternoon, completing a "work" completely before taking it home.
Over time, she was no longer satisfied with coloring games and took the initiative to ask the teacher if she could teach her how to make ceramics. She learned a little bit and could make some simple small containers. The teacher had equipment that could help her make the blanks and fire them, and she would then color and polish them...
She became addicted to the game and ended up making a mug for everyone in her family, all in strange shapes and colors. The teacher praised her for her creativity, but unfortunately, in Lin Jidong's words, it became a "gaudy and useless thing."
After giving it away, she never saw anyone use it, let alone put it on display.
Well, who would care about the mud made by a ten-year-old girl?
It had been so long that she had almost forgotten these insignificant details. But at this moment, looking at the shattered "Hello Kitty" on the floor, all these memories rushed back to her like a floodgate opened...
Isn’t this broken mug the one she gave to Jiang Shu back then?
Back then, she blamed herself for giving a boy a Hello Kitty. Even if it was wearing blue, wasn't it still Hello Kitty? Who would use it?
Her eyes scanned the cupboard where the mug had fallen, searchingly realizing that these things seemed familiar... Memories were like fragments that had been peeled apart and reassembled, pieced together and glued together to form insignificant moments - her favorite books from middle school, her favorite CDs, and even her collection of miniature illustrations...
It was a favorite collection from her childhood room more than ten years ago, and it was the complete view of her study that she did not have the chance to see six years ago.
"Why don't you take Ruxing out first? Be careful not to get hurt by the debris."
Jiang Shu had already brought the dustpan and broom, patting Lin Ying's shoulder and bringing her back to her senses.
"I put the medicine box on the coffee table. Can you go and see if the child is injured?"
Fortunately, Ruxing was just a little scared that day and was not actually hurt or cut.
Afterwards, she received a painstaking scolding from Lin Ying. Before leaving, she could only timidly apologize to Jiang Shu again:
"Uncle, I'm sorry. Ruxing shouldn't have entered your bedroom without permission. Next time, Ruxing will compensate you with a new cup."
But Jiang Shu didn't take it seriously and comforted her softly, "It's okay, uncle doesn't usually use that cup. If Ruxing really likes it, uncle will take you to make one when he has time, okay?"
"…Really?"
"Of course."
Before Lin Ying could say anything, Ruxing was suddenly reminded——
"I don't believe it! My uncle promised to take me to Disneyland, but he hasn't gone yet. My uncle and mom always...always break their promises!"
Seeing that she had brought this up, Jiang Shu remained calm. He glanced at Lin Ying's troubled expression and promised Ruxing, "Uncle can take Ruxing to Disneyland next weekend, but...it depends on whether Mom is free."
Good man, waiting here - what a good plan.
Upon hearing this, Ruxing shook her mother's hand vigorously, saying, "Mom, Mom, let's go to Disneyland next weekend!"
I really lost to them both.
"Okay, okay, let's schedule it for next weekend."
Ruxing was so happy that she jumped and danced, completely forgetting the previous episode. Lin Ying took advantage of her unpreparedness and rolled her eyes at Jiang Shu, but he was not bothered at all. Not only that, he was even extremely happy.
"Okay Ruxing, we've disturbed your uncle for so long today, it's time for us to go home."
She grabbed the child and was about to open the door and leave, but Jiang Shu stopped her again.
"Wait a minute, I have something for you."
Lin Ying's heart trembled, thinking of the conversation between the two of them today, and the scene in the bedroom just now - silence is better than words.
Seeing him carrying a large paper bag, I thought it was some valuable gift. Just as I was about to refuse, he said:
"I said I would return it to you, but a lot of things happened in the meantime, and it was delayed for so long... Now it's back to its rightful owner."
She just realized that this was the jade-white coat that had led her into adultery. After six years, this old windbreaker had finally returned to its original owner.
On his first day at the gallery, Xu Yiwei arrived at the company entrance early, just in time for the restaurant next door to open its stalls. The aroma filled his nose...
Just as she was about to go up to greet the lady boss, she unexpectedly encountered a scene similar to the interview day—Lin Ying happened to be walking from the opposite direction and said to the lady boss before she did, "Good morning, Sister Chun?"
But today Xu Yiwei chose to actively integrate, "Good morning, Mr. Lin, Sister Chun?"
The set of movements is smooth and flowing, and the person looks refreshed.
Sister Chun was surprised. "Oh my, little girl, you really got the job? That's great, great."
Lin Ying was slightly startled, "You two know each other?"
"Didn't you say last time that the food here is delicious? Did you forget? I specially gave the little girl a discount..."
Xu Yiwei's face went numb, and he quickly replied with a perfunctory look:
"Yeah, yeah, last time my roommate insisted on having barbecued pork, and I saw they had one next door, and since you know the owner, it must be good, so I bought two to try... I have to say, they were really delicious! I even posted a recommendation!"
A day's plan begins in the morning. Fortunately, Lin Ying did not argue with her. Just like that day, he opened the door and urged her to go in. The gallery had two locks and three keys. One was with Lin Ying, one was with Wang Duo, and the last one was kept by the administration. Normally, the administration was responsible for opening and closing the door. Since Xiao Xie left, her key had been kept by Lin Ying. Fortunately, Lin Ying lived not far away, so she would not mind if she was temporarily responsible for opening and closing the door.
However, after today, this key will be officially handed over to Xu Yiwei.
She demonstrated to Xu Yiwei how to open and close the rolling door and glass door. Xu Yiwei cleverly recorded a video and made an OK gesture to her.
Lin Ying sighed: Nowadays, "a good memory is not as good as a bad pen."
After handing over the keys, Lin Ying led her to the second floor, chatting a little during the trip.
"Why are you here so early today? Don't you want to sleep a little longer?"
Xu Yiwei admitted generously: "My home is nearby, a ten-minute walk away. Mr. Lin, I can't miss much sleep."
"Houses around here aren't cheap. Don't you think it's too expensive just starting work?"
"I'm sharing a house with someone, and the price we pay is acceptable. Living close to home saves me commuting time."
Lin Ying said nothing more and pointed to the first row of cubicles on the second floor, next to the corridor:
"I've discussed this with Ms. Zhang from the finance department. From now on, your workstation will be here."
Looking at such an orderly work environment, Xu Yiwei, who had a fixed workstation for the first time, felt a sense of superiority as an office lady. But this was accompanied by an unknown sense of tension...
"Good morning, Mr. Lin!"
Suddenly, a sharp greeting came from the stairs. Xu Yiwei came back to his senses and intuitively guessed that the person was the "Sister Zhang" that Lin Ying had just mentioned. She looked to be about forty years old, with short wool curls. She had just come in from outside, and her hair was shiny with sweat.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Lin. You open the door so early every day. If I didn't live far away, I would definitely be the one to open the door."
Lin Ying said nothing about this and directly introduced Xu Yiwei:
"This is the Sister Zhang I just mentioned. She's our gallery's financial director and used to be in charge of administrative procurement. Now that you're here, you'll have to coordinate with her on a regular basis. Remember to discuss this with Sister Zhang."
"Is this the new receptionist? She's so young. Where is she from? Which school did she graduate from?"
Before Xu Yiwei could open his mouth, Lin Ying took over the conversation again:
"Xiao Xu studied communications and gained a lot of experience while in college. Sister Zhang, it's been tough for you these past few years juggling two jobs. From now on, let Xiao Xu handle all the administrative work, and you can focus on accounting. It's the best of both worlds."
Sister Zhang had just taken off her sun protection jacket and sunglasses, and was still sweating profusely. Before she could think about the deeper meaning behind these words, Lin Ying didn't even give her room to think about rebuttals, and directly knocked on Xu Yiwei's desk.
"Come in with me."
After a weekend, the two pots of tuberose on the windowsill of her office began to wither, and the smell in the room was no longer as fresh as when the flowers were in full bloom.
But Lin Ying didn't care and asked a question -
"Do you remember what I just said?"
Xu Yiwei nodded.
"Repeat that."
"I will be responsible for the gallery's administrative procurement work from now on. If I have any questions, I will learn from Sister Zhang and ask for her advice."
"It's not about learning or asking for advice, it's about discussing."
Lin Ying corrected her words and reminded her frankly:
"Ms. Zhang is our most senior employee. The previous receptionist, Xiao Xie, was more like Ms. Zhang's personal assistant than an administrative officer. And I'm your only direct supervisor, so you must be responsible for everything that's your responsibility, and don't overdo anything that's not your responsibility. Do you understand me?"
Although Xu Yiwei is young, she has been involved in the "small society" before. In today's information age, with the development of self-media, she pays attention to bloggers who share some workplace tips.
She naturally understood the deeper meaning behind this advice, but she still had to ask about the parts she didn't understand.
"But... I'll have to ask her about the procedures, right?"
Lin Ying pushed the mouse and dragged several files on the desktop into the mailbox interface, and the recipient of the mailbox was Xu Yiwei.
"What you really want to learn is how to use the system and how to file for reimbursement. These things are not very technical and you will learn them in two days."
After saying that, she quickly typed some text and sent it with one click without copying anyone.
"Your most urgent task is to help the gallery arrange the group dinner."
“…Group meal?”
"We provide lunch for our employees on weekdays. The previous vendor's contract has expired and won't be renewed, and we haven't decided on a new vendor yet. Since you're here, we'll leave it to you. I've sent you the budget and basic meal requirements. Go back and study them slowly, and have a result by next Monday."
Faced with this question, the first thing that came to Xu Yiwei's mind was the Cantonese restaurant next door... But Lin Yingxiang had guessed her thoughts long ago and reminded her calmly -
"You don't have to worry about the shop next door; it's the one that won't renew its lease."
Then, she did not forget to point out Xu Yiwei:
"You were able to use my connections to connect with Sister Chun with just one interview, so similar communications should be no problem for you, right?"
As soon as these words came out, Xu Yiwei blushed and quickly tried to make amends -
"...Mr. Lin, I didn't mean to take advantage of your connections."
Her skills could deceive the boss lady, who was a real person, but she couldn't deceive Lin Ying. After dealing with her for so many years, she could guess all her tricks.
But Lin Ying disagreed and said:
"I don't mean to blame you. On the contrary, I really hope that your intelligence can be put to good use here. Remember what you said during the interview and don't let me down."
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