late at night
When Zhong Yunxi arrived at the office, he told Xue Meng, "I only have four hours. Pick out the important documents and bring them over. Organize the rest and I'll take them with me to look at tonight."
Hearing his arrangement, Xue Meng knew that the boss would have to go to Xiangcheng again for the flight at 5 pm.
When Xue Meng came in again to deliver the documents, he had already finished a glass of iced Americano. Xue Meng made him another glass and instructed Xue Meng, "Arrange for someone to go to Song Ji to buy milk tea and to Li Yuan to buy desserts before four o'clock."
He had met the milk tea master at Songji before, but due to limited time, he only listened to some of the milk tea making process and never made it himself. He even had the master's steps recorded on his personal computer.
He gathered his thoughts and focused on the work at hand. During the days he was away, Xue Meng's phone calls were like a death knell, and the work was piling up.
Shifting the focus of work to Xiangcheng is easier said than done.
Bai Yi only ate a few bites of soup noodles in the morning. When she came back, she threw her phone and was scolded by her grandmother. She didn't leave her bedroom until lunchtime. She stubbornly refused to admit her mistake.
Grandma didn't indulge her either, and nagged Grandpa, "I don't know when she'll get rid of this habit of throwing things. Zhong Yunxi even said she doesn't throw things in Yuegang, but I know her too well."
Grandpa was about to knock on the door, but Grandma stopped him, saying, "She won't starve if she misses a couple of meals."
Less than an hour later, Yu Shiyuan arrived. Before he could even exchange a few words with the old man, he asked Bai Yi.
Grandma glanced at Grandpa, knowing that he had secretly called Yu Shiyuan to save the day, and Yu Shiyuan also scolded her a few times: "What kind of spoiled child are you going to give her?"
Yu Shiyuan said with a smile, "Grandma, Teacher Wu asked me to come and find Xiaoyi. She said she couldn't get through to her on the phone and wanted me to come and take her to our house for a visit."
Grandma grumbled as she cleared the dishes from the table and took them to the kitchen to put them in the dishwasher.
Grandpa pointed to Bai Yi's bedroom and Yu Shiyuan.
Yu Shiyuan smiled and slipped over to knock on the door: "Xiao Yi, it's me. I've come to pick you up to go to Teacher Wu's place."
A few minutes later, Bai Yi opened the door, peeked out first, and when she didn't see her grandmother in the living room, she moved her feet and sneaked out with Yu Shiyuan.
As soon as we got in the car, Yu Shiyuan asked, "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat? I'll take you to lunch first."
"Beef noodle soup, the one next to the flower market." She hadn't had a bowl of noodle soup this morning. She was cooped up in her bedroom, without her phone, and starving. She was practically dying of hunger.
Yu Shiyuan drove over and asked her, "What happened? Grandpa said you were scolded by Grandma and she won't let you eat."
She didn't say anything, and Yu Shiyuan smiled and sighed, "In the past, it was always the senior brothers who went to rescue you?"
She glanced at Yu Shiyuan, but remained silent.
She must have been too hungry today. Since she didn't have her phone to play with, she was much more obedient when eating, without Yu Shiyuan having to remind her.
When she arrived this morning, Zhong Yunxi was still there, and now that she's sitting here again, it's hard for her to completely forget his presence.
Zhong Yunxi is really annoying. Or people with too much presence are like this. Whether it's love or hate, they want to firmly occupy other people's emotions and feelings.
She returned from Vietnam and Hong Kong. From the airport in Vietnam and Hong Kong to the hospital in Xiangcheng, to the breakfast shop she was used to, he infiltrated every place without fail, like a shadow.
Even though he's gone, he still sends her messages to harm her, causing her to lose games, having her phone confiscated, and going hungry.
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt.
Scumbag.
Zhong Yunxi seemed to have come specifically to antagonize her.
After finishing her soup noodles, she glanced at the flower market next door as she came out, and Yu Shiyuan tugged at her sleeve: "Let's go for a stroll."
She shook her head. Without a phone, Yu Shiyuan would have to pay for everything she bought, even if she bought flowers. Even if she returned them later, it wouldn't make a difference.
Yu Shiyuan said with a smile, "Don't rush back this afternoon, or you won't have dinner tonight. I'll take you back after you have dinner. Come with me this afternoon to see Director Qi. We don't have anything to bring, so let's buy him a potted plant."
Bai Yi sighed. He really couldn't go back. Being outside meant he wouldn't have a phone to play with, but going home meant getting scolded and going hungry.
Yu Shiyuan bought her grapefruit tea, and the two strolled around the flower market for over an hour. As soon as she entered the shop, she sat down on the sofa and waited for Yu Shiyuan to choose.
Yu Shiyuan asked her, "Xiaoyi, do you think this variety of warm jade is pretty?"
Warm Jade is a variety of rose with yellowish flowers, also known as Cream Cup.
Compared to Kayla, she is more gentle and less coquettish.
She glanced at it casually, hummed in agreement, and didn't say it looked bad.
Yu Shiyuan brought a few along, not buying too many in a serious manner, and the packaging was simple, using only a thin layer of milk cotton.
Qi Zhouxu is a well-known documentary director specializing in geography and landscapes. He and Yu Shiyuan are longtime friends and often collaborate.
Runhe wanted to produce a short film about traditional Chinese medicine to promote its corporate culture, and it was Yu Shiyuan who facilitated the connection, leading Qi Zhouxu to take on the project.
Qi Zhouxu's studio and residence are located in a self-built house in the suburbs. It took Qi Zhouxu almost three years to tidy up this courtyard.
At the entrance, the blue plumbago branches that spread along the corner of the wall to the lintel are sturdy and vibrant even in winter. Bai Yi can almost imagine how beautiful this place will be when the blue plumbago blooms in May and June.
She glanced at the potted plant in Yu Shiyuan's hand and laughed at him, "This little courtyard certainly has no shortage of flowers, yours looks so cheap."
Yu Shiyuan brushed the branches off Bai Yi's head and pushed the door open to go inside. "It's his honor."
If it weren't for wanting to stroll through the flower market with Bai Yi, Qi Zhouxu wouldn't have received this gift from him.
Sure enough, Qi Zhouxu saw that he was carrying a pot of Oncidium orchids and laughed first: "You never send things that are good."
Yu Shiyuan didn't explain, but asked first, "Have you finished the wild mushrooms from Yunnan that I sent you a while ago?"
Qi Zhouxu picked up the tea canister, preparing to brew tea, but said, "I haven't touched it yet, I've been busy lately."
"That's perfect, let's have wild mushroom hot pot tonight." Yu Shiyuan took the tea leaves.
"I knew it, he was just freeloading."
Qi Zhouxu glanced at Bai Yi, poured a small dish of nuts, and placed it on the low table beside her. Bai Yi smiled and thanked him.
In the afternoon, a few people chatted about Runhe's promotional video and other topics. Yu Shiyuan was worried that Bai Yi would feel too unfamiliar and uncomfortable, since she was familiar with Runhe.
Yu Shiyuan asked Qi Zhouxu, "Do you have a suitable script? After all, a short film of more than ten minutes can't do without macro-level natural geographical shots as well as micro-level emotions and plot."
"Yes, I contacted Pei Xin a few days ago and asked her to write it. I'll work on it with her again once I get the finished product."
Yu Shiyuan glanced at Bai Yi, who was peeling the dry skin off nuts, her body turned to the side. The winter sun shone through the glass, bathing her in soft, white sunlight, making her look lazy and almost sleepy.
Yu Shiyuan slightly raised his chin at Qi Zhouxu, gesturing for him to go to the courtyard. He then stood up and said to Bai Yi, "You stay here and have some tea and rest. I'll go with him to the courtyard to do some work."
Bai Yi tilted her head slightly and hummed in agreement. A few minutes later, Yu Shiyuan brought over a new eye mask, adjusted her recliner, and draped his coat over the armrest of her chair: "Sunbathing can make you sleepy, take a nap."
Bai Yi accepted it and naturally said "thank you".
Yu Shiyuan didn't say anything more, he just nodded.
Qi Zhouxu stood at the door waiting for him for several minutes. When he went into the yard to rummage through the flowers and trees, he asked him, "People who are outdoors all year round, I don't think you guys like to interact with people much. Why are you suddenly so interested?"
"It wasn't sudden."
Qi Zhouxu dragged out an "Oh," and said, "You didn't catch up, did you?"
Yu Shiyuan: ...
"Say something nice."
Qi Zhouxu smiled and said, "Let's invite Pei Xin to dinner tonight. I want to discuss the script with her."
"It's your food, so you get to decide what to do with it."
"Then you'll have to cook, won't you?"
"Okay." With Bai Yi present, Yu Shiyuan was happy to cook and readily agreed.
When Pei Xin arrived, she noticed that Yu Shiyuan had brought a beautiful woman with him, and she couldn't help but be curious. The two chatted for a long time.
Pei Xin is a screenwriter, but she's not as much of a homebody as many creative people. She chatted about everything from Runhe to the research team, and even asked Bai Yi about their new drug development. Their conversation was quite whimsical.
They chatted and laughed while the two men busied themselves in the kitchen.
Just before dinner, Pei Xin asked to add Bai Yi on WeChat, but she said she didn't have her phone with her.
Pei Xin was taken aback, but Yu Shiyuan explained, "Don't overthink it. It's not that she doesn't want to add you, it's just that she really doesn't have a phone; her parents took it away."
Pei Xin laughed for a while, "Did they confiscate it because you were playing games?"
Bai Yi kept her head down and didn't speak. Yu Shiyuan served her a bowl of mushroom soup and changed the subject: "I'll return her business card to you. You can add her first. Xiao Yi can check it when she gets back tonight."
Pei Xin muttered a few words to Qi Zhouxu, "I have a script framework."
Qi Zhouxu sighed, rubbing his forehead: "You really shouldn't drag Yu Shiyuan into this mess."
Pei Xin's eyes lit up: "I don't care, I'm going to write it."
When they left, Yu Shiyuan gave Pei Xin a ride to the subway station. Pei Xin sat in the back seat and saw a brown paper bag hanging behind the driver's seat, containing several warm jade sticks. She took out her phone, took a picture, and sent it to Yu Shiyuan, saying: "You should give red roses when you're pursuing a girl."
After Pei Xin got out of the car, Bai Yi glanced at the convenience store on the side of the road and asked, "Do you want to go to the convenience store?"
Yu Shiyuan asked, "What do you want to buy?"
Bai Yi looked miserable: "Grandma might starve me again tomorrow."
Yu Shiyuan smiled and said, "I'll put in a good word for you when I get back tonight. If that doesn't work, I'll come pick you up for dinner tomorrow morning."
Bai Yi didn't want to trouble Yu Shiyuan anymore. But this time, she refused to apologize no matter what.
Anyway, tomorrow is Sunday, and she has to go to work on Monday. Her grandma will definitely return the phone to her, so she can eat at the research center's cafeteria.
Even so, the two still went to the convenience store and bought yogurt and sandwiches.
When he got off the bus, Yu Shiyuan was carrying a bag of snacks and a tote bag containing roses. The pale yellow roses were half-hidden and half-revealed in the kraft paper bag.
The streetlights in the neighborhood cast a blurry, diffused light, and he didn't even dare let Bai Yi see what he was carrying.
At the entrance of the building, Zhong Yunxi stood under the streetlight, carrying milk tea and desserts he had brought from Yuegang.
Even in dim light, the classic dark gray Chester coat exudes an aura and presence created by his height and physique.
That coat was chosen by Bai Yi. She had often worn it while resting on the sofa.
He simply stood there casually to the side, and Bai Yi could see him clearly from dozens of meters away.
Bai Yi paused for only two seconds before Yu Shiyuan followed her gaze and realized that the man standing at the entrance of the building was Zhong Yunxi.
Zhong Yunxi watched her walk towards him step by step, his eyes fixed on her, but he found the man beside her so annoying.
The urge to pull her into his arms was almost uncontrollable. He took off his gloves and switched the things he was carrying from his right hand to his left to distract himself.
He went to meet him, but Bai Yi raised his hand and pulled his knitted hat down, almost covering his eyes, and pulled his scarf up, covering his mouth and nose.
As Bai Yi walked past him, Yu Shiyuan reached out and tugged at her elbow, making her take a step further away from Zhong Yunxi.
Upon seeing the roses in Yu Shiyuan's hand, Zhong Yunxi acted before reason, reaching out to hook Bai Yi's waist and pulling her into his arms.
Bai Yi probably didn't expect him to dare to do this, and raised her hand to press against his chest.
Zhong Yunxi knew she was going to struggle, so he tightened his grip on her arm, lowered his head, and pressed his forehead against her head: "Xiaoyi, we're not divorced yet. I really don't want to see a man keeping you company when you're sick or taking you home so late."
Bai Yi was the most perceptive of his tone.
There wasn't a trace of sigh or helplessness in his words; what came out of his throat, each word a barely suppressed rage, was his barely contained anger.
Bai Yi struggled a little more in Zhong Yunxi's arms. Zhong Yunxi had barely been able to touch her hand in so many days, and now that she was in his arms, he couldn't let her break free easily.
He simply threw the milk tea and dessert in his hand on the ground, and wrapped his other hand around her. He looked up at Yu Shiyuan, then lowered his head, removed the scarf covering her face, and sought her lips.
In just a few seconds, Bai Yi's tears became so numerous that he could not ignore them.
Zhong Yunxi pressed his forehead against hers, his previous imposing manner seemingly vanishing instantly.
Bai Yi now reacts to his physical contact as if she has a stress response; she trembles all over and can barely stand.
Zhong Yunxi picked her up and carried her upstairs.
When Bai Yi was in his arms, she would uncontrollably recall how he had held Wen Ying like that before, with her face upturned to him, her eyes empty, looking utterly exhausted and unable to bear any emotion.
"Zhong Yunxi, when I see you, I lose my appetite, my voice, and my strength. Please stay away from me."
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