Chapter 105
The epidemic in the neighboring province is so severe that it was even featured on CCTV news, and everyone in the store is talking about it.
Mr. Hu, the sample maker in the shop, wearing reading glasses, looked at the news on his phone with great concern. "The number of infected people has increased so much all of a sudden. It seems that this disease is very contagious. The end of the year is just around the corner, and there will be a lot of population movement. If we don't take measures, it will cause a large-scale infection."
Aunt Liu, the embroidery master, was also very worried. "Yes, it's said that there's no good treatment plan yet, which is really scary. I haven't dared to go out lately."
Assistant Xiaoyuan was clearly more worried about business issues. "I'm worried that if the epidemic gets worse and even the express delivery stops, we won't have any business dealings."
Aunt Wang smacked her, saying, "Young people, preserving your life is the most important thing. Money can be earned back, but once you lose your life, it's gone forever."
Lin came downstairs and said, “Let’s all finish our work and take the holiday early. We’ll start taking orders again after this wave of the epidemic is over. While you’re on holiday, you won’t get commissions, but I’ll still pay you your basic salary as usual. You’ve all worked hard this year.”
Everyone present applauded.
Lin Ting turned to the photographer Xiao Li and said, "I can shoot videos myself during the holiday. Can you help me move my things to my house? There's a room that's been empty all this time, so we can make use of it."
You can take a break early, but you can't stop updating your videos. This is a basic quality of being a self-media creator.
Xiao Li made an OK sign.
"Our two customer service representatives are working hard from home. No matter what, our business can't stop; it's our source of income. If you encounter any problems, please contact me anytime."
The two customer service representatives said in unison, "Okay!"
Xiaoyuan hugged Lin Ting's arm, "Master, how about I don't go home for the New Year this year? I'll come to your house instead, and I can help you film videos and do a live stream."
Xiaoyuan genuinely liked Lin Ting, finding her gentle, generous, and skillful. She had revived many lost intangible cultural heritage techniques. During her school days, she was a loyal fan of Lin Ting's videos, especially when Lin Ting recreated Maggie Cheung's cheongsam from "In the Mood for Love," which completely captivated her. Later, when she graduated from vocational school, she saw Lin Ting was recruiting a live-streaming assistant and submitted her resume without hesitation, even writing a love letter to Lin Ting.
Lin Ting was also moved by the letter, which was full of love and sincerity. Before they even met, after only a phone call, he agreed to let Xiao Yuan be his assistant.
Lin took out a plane ticket from his bag and handed it to Xiaoyuan, saying, "It's almost the end of the year, you should go home and spend time with your family."
Xiaoyuan has been here for two years and is the only out-of-towner in the shop. Every year, Lin Ting buys her plane ticket home.
Xiaoyuan was overwhelmed with gratitude and gave him a big hug, saying, "Thank you, Master, thank you, Boss."
Lin Ting treats the store's employees like family, being considerate, generous, and everyone has never quarreled. The store is always harmonious and filled with laughter.
Xiaoyuan often thought that if all bosses in the world were like Lin Ting, then labor bureaus and industry and commerce bureaus wouldn't need to exist, and the world would be much more peaceful.
Actually, Xiaoyuan was quite unsure of herself when she submitted her resume. She only had a vocational school diploma and didn't even study fashion design. She didn't know if she would be hired, but she had to give it a try. She would regret it if she failed, but she would regret it even more if she didn't even try and judged herself as a failure.
Xiaoyuan wasn't much older than Qin Wei, and in Lin Ting's heart, she was like a younger sister. Lin Ting patted the back of her head and said, "Alright, work is important, but family is important too."
Xiaoyuan opened her arms, her eyes sincere and clear, "I am also your family." Having been by Lin Ting's side for two years, although she had never talked to her about family, everyone knew in their hearts that apart from Qin Wei, no other family members had ever come to see her.
The experienced craftsmen standing nearby chimed in, "Yes, we are all one family, all family members of Teacher Yezi."
Lin Tingwei's eyes reddened slightly. Although fate always played tricks on her and she experienced too many joys and sorrows, she was fortunate that she had never bowed her head to life. At this moment, she was still surrounded by warm people.
Family members are not necessarily people related by blood; they are those who can accompany each other.
Sitting at his computer desk, Qin Wei didn't participate in the conversation, his eyes glued to his phone. Lately, he'd become obsessed with talking to Chen Zhiyi about Lego, always sharing his Lego-building progress with Chen Zhiyi. No matter what he posted, whether the sentences were coherent or not, or whether he expressed himself clearly, Chen Zhiyi would always respond.
This was so rare; it was as if he was a normal person in the other person's eyes, and Qin Wei felt that he had received a lot of respect.
Xiaoyuan saw Qin Wei focused on his phone, poked his back, and joked, "I've been seeing you staring at your phone a lot these past few days, do you have someone you like?"
Others would surely laugh at a fool for not knowing what he likes or dislikes, but none of them did.
"Does Xiaowei have someone he likes?"
"What are you saying? Our Xiaowei is tall and handsome, and he's obedient and sensible. It's normal for him to have someone he likes."
"Yes, such a good guy is hard to find even with a lantern."
The experienced chefs in the shop all liked Qin Wei. He was well-behaved and did things in a good manner. They didn't think he was any different from a normal person.
Everyone was talking at once, and Qin Wei was completely confused, but he knew what they were saying. He glanced at Xiao Yuan, whose eyes were bright and whose face always had a sweet smile, and blushed, shrinking his neck in embarrassment.
This change in expression further confirmed everyone's suspicions.
Lin Ting smiled, noticing his evasive gaze, "Is it true?"
Qin Wei didn't say anything, he just kept shaking his head.
"It's okay. Having someone you like is a wonderful thing. Don't be shy."
Lin Ting once saw Qin Wei as a burden, a blood tie she had to accept, but now they are truly family, like siblings who rely on each other.
If he hadn't been by my side, how lonely and difficult these past three years would have been.
He brought me water when I was sick, warmed up milk for me when I couldn't sleep, covered me with a small blanket when I was drunk and lying on the sofa, and rushed to get me a band-aid when I pricked my hand with a needle.
He may not do much in the little things, but he tries his best to be good to himself.
His innocence, cuteness, and thoughtfulness are like the warm firelight beside a fireplace in winter, gentle and comforting, dispelling all the cold.
Lin Ting hopes that Qin Wei can have a wonderful family and a wonderful life in the future. In the eyes of others, he is an oddball, a mentally challenged person, or a disabled person, but no one should deprive him of his right to love because of this. As long as he is sincere and attentive, he should be understood and respected.
The brain is used for making a living, while love is nurtured with the heart.
Lin Ting comforted her, "Xiao Wei, no matter what, I hope you can be happy. If you really have someone you like, don't feel shy or embarrassed. It's only natural. You can tell me. I won't interfere. But if you experience setbacks in your relationship, I will definitely give you a hug right away. Xiao Wei will always be the best."
The others chimed in, "Yes, Xiaowei will always be the best."
Qin Wei pouted, almost crying with emotion.
Lin Ting went outside and saw that people across the street, 301, were moving out. Had it finally been sold?
Aunt Wang stood at the door, bustling about, repeatedly reminding the movers to be careful and not to bump or knock anything over. When she saw Lin Ting coming out from the opposite side, she greeted her with a joyful expression, "Teacher Ye Zi!"
Lin Ting nodded with a smile in her eyes, "Aunt Wang, what's this?"
Aunt Wang got excited and strode up to Lin Ting, her eyes full of excitement. "The old house has finally been sold! It's a weight off my mind. Now I can move to my son's house in peace and take care of their grandson."
Sure enough, Lin Ting was happy for her too, "This is a good thing." As she got older, all she looked forward to was enjoying the company of her grandchildren and the joys of family life.
"The person who bought my house seems to be in a hurry to move in. They bought it for 20% more than my asking price, and their only requirement is that I clear out the house within the next couple of days. That's why I rushed to move my things out. I originally thought it was almost Chinese New Year, so I could at least wait until after the New Year. But the buyer is impatient and wants to finalize the deal and move in as soon as possible, even if it means raising the price." Aunt Wang was all smiles, as if she had found gold.
This is no joke! Lin Ting had seen Aunt Wang's house-for-sale notice on the bulletin board. The price was exceptionally high, and someone even raised it by 20% on top of that. The buyer must be a fool.
Shanli Xiaoju is a resettlement housing complex, a six-story building without an elevator. It's quite old, with some walls blackened or peeling paint, and the facilities are outdated; clogged drains and leaks are common problems. The complex is mostly inhabited by elderly people; the younger generation has long since bought new homes elsewhere. Lin Ting bought this house because it was close to shops and cheap. If he had been better off, he would have bought a house in the complex just across the street—a newer one with better landscaping, near a farmers' market, and in the same school district as Shanli Xiaoju.
Lin Ting couldn't figure out the buyer's intentions in purchasing Aunt Wang's house. Perhaps they just had too much money to burn and bought it for fun.
Regardless, Lin Ting still congratulated Aunt Wang; it was a good thing that the house was sold.
Due to the impact of the pandemic, shops closed early for the holidays, and everyone stayed home and reduced the frequency of going out. The usually bustling market was much quieter, and many businesses closed for the holidays.
The news kept reporting the latest epidemic information, and the situation was getting more and more serious. Infections were also being discovered in the province one after another. Everyone had a strong feeling that a complete lockdown and quarantine was not far away.
Lin Ting put on a mask and wanted to go out again. First, to retrieve the disinfectant and masks that Han Ming had sent her, and second, to buy some more food and supplies to stock up. Although everyone was terrified under the shadow of the epidemic, the Chinese New Year was only a few days away, and the necessary New Year's goods still needed to be prepared.
Han Ming was originally going to come and spend the New Year with Lin Ting and Qin Wei. When he returned to his home in Haishi after finishing this round of drama performances, although the higher authorities had not yet issued a formal and comprehensive lockdown order, Haishi, as a first-tier city, has always been cautious about risk management. They would only be ahead of time and not behind. On the very night he returned to Haishi, the community issued a notice prohibiting people from entering or leaving, and he was locked in his home and could not go out.
Lin was relieved that he didn't blame her, as she still hadn't figured out how to politely refuse his advances.
At this time, masks and disinfectants were extremely scarce, and Lin Ting couldn't even buy them online. Her previous stock at home was also running low. Fortunately, Han Ming sent her some, and she rushed out to pick them up.
Upon opening the door, I saw a familiar figure carrying a suitcase climbing upstairs.
Lin Ting froze, pulled down her mask, and managed to utter just one syllable, "You?"
Chen Zhiyi met his gaze. "So you're home?" He took a big step and instantly climbed to the third floor, placing his suitcase on the ground.
"Nonsense, with things like this outside, wouldn't I be staying home?" But that's not the point. Lin Ting countered, "What are you doing here? And with a suitcase."
"I'm moving." Chen Zhiyi said casually, as if it were an ordinary matter.
"You're moving?" Lin Ting suddenly realized, her pupils dilating in shock. "So you're the buyer of 301?"
Chen Zhiyi nodded, a smug look gleaming in his eyes.
"Are you crazy? You think you've got too much money to burn by buying this house?"
Chen Zhiyi said frankly, "It's alright, enough for the two of us to eat, drink, and have fun for several lifetimes."
Lin Ting was speechless after being retorted, "If you have so much money, you can buy other properties. Why do you have to buy the one across from mine?"
Chen Zhiyi looked at her and said, "The reason is simple: I want to pursue you again."
In that instant, Lin Ting felt as if she had returned to the time when the two first met. Chen Zhiyi's clingy nature returned, but none of that mattered. She thought that the two had already opened up to each other last time, and since she hadn't seen him for several days, he must have figured it out himself. She didn't expect him to have such a big surprise.
Wasn't I clear enough last time?
Chen Zhiyi had an innocent expression: "I've made it clear, but whether you make it clear or not is not the same as whether I accept it. I'm prepared for a long battle, so I bought 301."
Lin Ting took a deep breath, trying her best to calm her anger. "Do you still think you're eighteen or nineteen? Do you act on impulse without thinking?"
"Yes, my heart and my eyes are still the same as when I was nineteen and first met you. My heart beats for you and my eyes are always on you."
"..." Isn't that disgusting?
We simply couldn't continue the conversation.
Lin stopped talking, put her mask back on, walked past him, and hurried downstairs, wanting to avoid seeing him altogether.
As soon as I opened the downstairs door, a neighborhood committee auntie wearing a protective mask rushed over with a megaphone, announcing, "The community is under lockdown, no one is allowed to come or go freely."
"What?" Lin Ting hadn't reacted yet.
The aunt ran over and said, "It's Teacher Yezi! The county just issued a notice that all residential areas are under unified quarantine management." Turning her head, she saw a man in the hallway and said to him, "Young man, did you hear that? You can't go out anymore. Go inside right now."
Chen Zhiyi: "Then I'll call a locksmith and have him come over and change my key as soon as possible."
"Change what? Outsiders aren't allowed in the complex anymore. Lost your keys?"
Chen Zhiyi didn't want to explain too much, "I guess so."
In reality, the keys were still with the previous owner. The sale, transfer of ownership, and replacement of furniture were all handled by someone else; Chen Zhiyi never showed up.
During the few days he disappeared, he went to another city for business. He learned that Hai City had begun to implement lockdown measures and was worried that he would not be able to get out if he went back. So he came directly to Lin Ting's place after he finished.
Fortunately, the previous owner had a spare key, so I just needed to contact her to get another one when I got here.
Now we can't even get through the door.
The woman panicked, "What should I do? The government is strictly prohibiting outsiders from entering and leaving, and I dare not violate the regulations."
During special times, all regulations are absolute and must not be violated.
Lin asked her, "Auntie, do you know how many days the lockdown is expected to last?"
The woman shook her head. "I don't know yet. I estimate it will take at least half a month. We'll have to wait until the first wave of the epidemic subsides."
Seeing the old woman's anxious face, Chen Zhiyi had an idea. "Wouldn't I have to squat in the stairwell for half a month? I'd probably freeze or starve to death before I even get sick. Your neighborhood committee is in big trouble. Why don't you help me find a temporary place to stay?"
Upon hearing this, the woman's eyelids twitched frequently. She was in deep trouble. She couldn't ignore the superior's instructions, but the lockdown measures had just been implemented, and many plans to ensure residents' basic living needs were still being developed. Where could she find him temporary accommodation?
The older woman looked at Lin Ting and remembered that her house had three bedrooms, but only two people were registered as permanent residents at the neighborhood committee, so there was obviously room available.
"Teacher Ye, could you do me a favor and let him stay at your house temporarily? Following orders from superiors is everyone's responsibility."
Lin Ting immediately refused, "It's not suitable, I'm not familiar with him."
Chen Zhiyi put on a nonchalant air and asked, "How about we take out the photo of the two of us in bed and show it to the old lady?"
Lin Ting turned to look at Chen Zhiyi, her lips tightly pressed together, her cold eyes flickering with two flames of anger.
The older woman thought, "So the two know each other? They're already in the same bed." She carefully examined Chen Zhiyi's appearance: tall, aloof, and with a noble air, he was clearly no ordinary person. She felt she'd seen him on TV, but couldn't quite place him.
However, someone worthy of Teacher Ye Zi must be no ordinary person.
No wonder 301 sold for a high price so quickly; it turns out he was chasing after his wife from afar.
The older woman said, "Oh, you're a young couple! I've never seen you before."
Chen Zhiyi was talking nonsense. "I'm usually busy with work and I'm always working out of town. I only come back at night, so my aunt has never seen me."
"Is that so? You're a lucky boy. Teacher Ye is a big star in our area. Lots of people like her. You should cherish her and not argue all the time, and don't be away from home all the time." Middle-aged women of a certain age love to lecture.
Chen Zhiyi nodded, "Yes, yes, Auntie, you're right. That's why I'm in a hurry to buy the house across the street. I want to settle down here so I can take better care of her in the future."
Her acting and delivery of lines were truly superb, making Lin Ting furious.
The older woman turned to look at Lin Ting and said, "Listen to your auntie, it's better for the young couple to stay together than to break up. They may quarrel in bed, but they should make up in bed. Communicate well." With that, she pushed Lin Ting into the room and locked the door from the outside.
The matter was resolved amicably just like that.
Chen Zhiyi looked smug, his eyes were bright and cheerful, and the upturn of his lips was impossible to suppress.
Lin Ting walked over and said, "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
"You mean the key?" Chen Zhiyi spread his arms wide. "If you don't believe me, search me."
Lin Ting ignored him and climbed to the third floor, with Chen Zhiyi following behind.
The moment Lin Ting opened the door, Chen Zhiyi slipped through the crack like a fish and rushed in.
The familiar scent of gardenias that wafted towards him brought his restless heart back to its place.
In the years since we lost contact, I've missed her so much that I've even tried to use fragrance to ease my longing. However, after going to many shopping malls and smelling many perfumes, shower gels, and shampoos, I couldn't find anything exactly the same. Only the fragrance emanating from her body was what I wanted most.
A small, square three-bedroom apartment with a bright and clean balcony. The small window is slightly open, and the breeze blowing through it lifts the off-white floral curtains, which also faintly exude the fragrance of gardenias.
There was also a shelf on the balcony with various flower pots on it. She has always loved growing these flowers and plants. Not long after they started living together last time, they moved all kinds of flowers and plants into the house. Unfortunately, in the end, only empty flower pots were left, which Chen Zhiyi couldn't bear to throw away.
Qin Wei came out of the room and was overjoyed to see Chen Zhiyi there. He rushed up and hugged him, "Brother Chen, what brings you here?"
Chen Zhiyi secretly sent a lot of Lego to Qin Wei and often communicated about how to play with them. The two were getting along very well because of this shared hobby.
I missed you, so I came to see you. Are you welcome?
"Welcome, welcome."
Lin Ting watched from the side, completely bewildered. Given their intimacy and Chen Zhiyi's status as an actor, anyone who didn't know better would think they were filming some kind of erotic film.
Chen Zhiyi released Qin Wei's embrace, bent down to open the suitcase, and took out another Lego box. "The latest model, the Star Wars series you wanted."
Qin Wei picked up the box and kissed it several times, his face beaming with excitement. "That's fantastic!" Seeing the clothes and other items in the suitcase, he asked curiously, "Brother Chen, are you going on a business trip?"
"No, can I move in with Xiaowei?"
"That's great!" Qin Wei quickly grabbed Chen Zhiyi's arm. "Come on, let's go to my room and play together."
Although his sister was very nice, there was still a difference between men and women, and Qin Wei was not very mature, so the two of them could not play together at all. At home, apart from eating together and occasionally watching a movie together, they basically could not play together. Although Han Ming often came over, he only came for his sister. Qin Wei longed for a playmate.
Now they completely ignored Lin Ting.
Lin Tingzhong coughed, crossed his arms, and said seriously, "Did I agree to this? And Xiaowei, who gave you permission to play with Lego?"
Qin Wei's heart skipped a beat. Aside from the initial adjustment period when they first lived together, Lin Ting hadn't shown this serious, angry expression in a long time. He loved his sister but was also afraid of her, afraid of upsetting her and losing him. He immediately lowered his head and rubbed his hands together, his thumb constantly stroking the tips of his other four fingers—a habitual behavior he exhibited when extremely anxious and fearful. Lin Ting sensed that her tone had frightened him.
She opened her mouth slightly to try to comfort Qin Wei, but Chen Zhiyi stood up for her, saying, "Who doesn't have hobbies? Besides, you need to reflect on yourself. What does your brother like? As his sister, you didn't even know. In this situation, your brother-in-law has to do his job. I bought him the Lego set, which is a way of making up for my negligence as his sister. So you just need to reflect on yourself and don't need to feel guilty."
"..." Lin Ting was speechless.
Chen Zhiyi put his arm around Qin Wei's shoulder. "Come on, your brother-in-law will play with you." He then turned and raised an eyebrow at Lin Ting.
This is grasping the key to success.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
