Chapter 128 A New Problem: Her love was not unrequited. ...
“No need, look here…” The man’s clear voice brushed past her ear, his index finger pressed down slightly, and the cursor blinked on a row of data. “It’s a problem with the impairment accounts. The debit side should be a negative number. If you directly fill in a positive number on the credit side to transfer the profit and loss, the income statement and the general ledger of management expenses will not match…”
Although Zhu Liushuang was listening to him, her vision gradually blurred. The dense numbers in the Excel spreadsheet converged into a sinking vortex in her eyes, making her head spin. But the sensation on her back was exceptionally clear; He Ming's hard chest was lightly brushing against her shoulder blades. Even through the thickness of her cashmere sweater, she could still feel the beating deep within his chest.
The air conditioning in the finance office had been off for two hours, so the temperature inside shouldn't be high, but Zhu Liushuang felt hot. Her right palm, which was holding the mouse, felt sticky, and she wanted to pull it out and wipe it. The thought had barely formed, and before her fingers could make a further move, a large hand covering the back of her hand suddenly closed in and held her firmly.
Zhu Liushuang suddenly opened her eyes wide. Their faces, so close together, flickered in and out of focus in the bright white reflection of the screen. She didn't know what he meant, so she could only let him hold her tightly, not daring to make the slightest move.
Just as she sat there intently awaiting his next move, this ambiguous situation, unilaterally initiated by He Ming, suddenly came to an end. The weight on the back of her hand abruptly lessened, and the warmth dissipated. He straightened up nonchalantly, strolled back to Zhuang Xiaoqian's workstation, crossed his long legs, and looked at her with a half-smile on his handsome face.
Zhu Liushuang was still immersed in a sense of loss. She was like an audience member sitting in a movie theater, eagerly anticipating the start of the film, only to be suddenly informed that the movie could not be played and that the audience should leave after watching the opening credits that had whetted their appetite.
"Tap tap—" The sound of her fingertips tapping on the edge of the table pulled her back from the lingering warmth of loss.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she met his gaze with a blush on her face.
The sky outside the window was pitch black, but He Ming's phoenix eyes shone with an astonishing brightness. The overhead light streamed down, and he unconsciously squinted, his gaze languidly fixed on her. The slightly upturned corners of his eyes made him look like a satiated fox, his pupils gleaming with the satisfaction of having successfully teased her.
Such a He Ming is truly a rare sight.
But one thing Zhu Liushuang was certain of was that he was in a good mood.
But she herself was not in a good mood.
Zhu Liushuang felt frustrated. He Ming, just like her, had no romantic experience, yet he was thriving in this relationship. His every word and action tugged at her heartstrings, making her blush and her heart race, feel anxious and irritable, and feel insecure and uncertain.
She originally thought that the person who spoke of love later would be the master of the relationship.
But she seemed to be wrong. He Ming was the one who led her into the depths of love. He walked ahead like a pro, and she followed cautiously behind. If he were to accidentally let go of her hand, she would lose her way.
Ultimately, it's because she loved him longer!
Zhu Liushuang smiled and returned He Ming a relieved smile.
Love is inherently unfair. If you insist on calculating and figuring out who loves whom more, the relationship is unlikely to last.
"It's getting late. Let's fix the data and recalculate it, then we can go home?" The man was infected by her sudden smile and also curled up his lips.
"Hmm, first fill in the debit data as negative, then..." Zhu Liushuang turned her gaze away from the computer screen. Fortunately, she still had some rationality left when He Ming teased her, otherwise she would have completely forgotten what he had said.
Having identified the crux of the problem, she quickened her pace, modified the data, and carried it over with a single click. After confirming that everything was correct, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The man across the table was very patient; he waited for her without saying a word, and his face showed no sign of impatience.
"Finished?" He Ming asked when he saw her looking at him.
Zhu Liushuang nodded and decisively pressed the power button.
Actually, there was still some work to be done, but she felt bad about leaving him sitting in the finance office waiting. Besides, He Ming's presence was too strong, greatly reducing her work efficiency. It would be more efficient for her to arrive at the company half an hour early tomorrow morning than to stay here and dawdle.
She was distracted for a moment when the person at the opposite workstation got up and took her coat, scarf, and hat from the wall, muttering, "It's cold outside, you need to keep warm."
Zhu Liushuang realized that He Ming actually cared a great deal about the little things in life. Although his outward appearance made him seem unapproachable to others, his heart was far softer than his cold exterior. He would take the initiative to care for and cherish her because he was someone who knew how to love.
With a slight thought, she gladly accepted his care and dressed herself neatly.
The two walked out of the finance office side by side. As they passed the dark office lobby, Zhu Liushuang suddenly remembered that he had asked her for leave during the day, so she turned her head and asked him, "Was President Guo particularly surprised after he found out about our relationship?"
He Ming paused, turned to the side, and said, "It's alright... Your boss Guo said that he noticed I treated you differently during the team building event, and assumed there was something between us back then..."
He spoke with such seriousness that Zhu Liushuang couldn't discern the truth in his words. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she struggled to keep her voice steady: "Back then, senior... you didn't really have any feelings for me, did you?"
She was the one who had painstakingly tried to get close to him, but now she was taking the initiative and trying to find out what he was thinking.
The scales kept rising and falling, one side carrying her hopes, the other side bearing the absolute self-awareness of impossibility.
With a touch of trepidation, she touched the tip of her nose, trying to cover up her momentary embarrassment.
Fortunately, it was dark all around, and no one could see her nervousness and unease.
The man slowed his pace, seemingly troubled by the question, unable to find an answer for a long time. Only when the overhead lights became bright did he stop again, looking down at her with lowered eyes: "Gu Xufeng and the others said that girls love to hear sweet words. But I can't say anything particularly touching, and I don't want to deceive you with embellished stories, Liu Shuang."
The scales sank in the direction she had anticipated. Zhu Liushuang looked up, her eyes calm as she smiled at him.
"I was just joking. Back then, we were at most just ordinary friends..."
“Liu Shuang, let me finish,” He Ming interrupted her, changing the subject abruptly. “Back then, I didn’t pay that much attention to you, but I have to admit that being with you didn’t bother me. In fact, I couldn’t help but look at you and want to help you. You were like a bright spot that unexpectedly appeared in my life, infecting me with your radiant smile… I was mostly curious about you, though that curiosity was mixed with a bit of affection. You should know… I don’t usually like to get that close to the opposite sex, but you… are the only exception.”
How could he say that he's bad with words and can't say the sweet nothings that girls love to hear?
As those long, melodious words, like the murmur of a babbling brook, flowed past her ears, Zhu Liushuang felt an indescribable tremor within her heart.
It turns out that her love wasn't a one-sided affair.
"What's wrong? Don't you believe what I'm saying?" She remained silent for a long time, and He Ming took her hand and pressed the key on his own.
The numbers on the keypad display kept jumping up, and Zhu Liushuang forced back the tears welling up in her eyes. She hooked her finger and squeezed his hand back.
This small gesture spoke volumes; even without her saying a word, He Ming instantly understood her meaning.
————
The advantage of staying to work overtime is that you don't have to squeeze with the crowds of vehicles during rush hour.
Although Gucheng is only a third-tier city with a permanent population of just over three million, its roads are always congested for an hour every evening.
On roads as unobstructed as tonight, not only is driving easy, but passengers in the front seat also don't have to endure the discomfort of repeated braking.
The alcohol from last night hadn't been fully metabolized by her body, and Zhu Liushuang felt drowsy after getting into the car. She dozed off for a short while, and when she opened her eyes, she found the street scene outside the window somewhat unfamiliar.
"Aren't we going back to Chunhua Lane?" she yawned, looking up sleepily.
"Okay, we're going to a restaurant for dinner. It's booked." He Ming glanced at her briefly. "It's still a bit of a drive. You can continue sleeping. I'll wake you when we get there."
The vegetables stored in the refrigerator hadn't been touched much. Although it was winter, and meat and vegetables spoiled more slowly, they still weren't fresh after being stored for a long time. Zhu Liushuang thought to herself, "Extravagant," but because the words "it's already ordered" were already in order, she didn't say anything to refuse.
They had vastly different views on money, but living together definitely required mutual understanding and compromise. Not wanting to spoil He Ming's mood, she gave a soft "oh" and continued dozing off.
When she opened her eyes again, the car had come to a smooth stop in the parking space. The person in the driver's seat gently patted her shoulder to wake her up.
Zhu Liushuang looked out the window with sleepy eyes, the surrounding scenery feeling strangely familiar.
She rubbed her eyes, and her muddled mind cleared up a bit.
This is not—
Glancing towards the other side of the car window, sure enough, the four large characters "Dream Restaurant" shone brightly in the dark night.
Speechless for a moment, she turned her gaze blankly to He Ming.
The man unbuckled his seatbelt and slowly explained to her, "Birthdays only come once a year, we can't just settle for a plate of fried rice. Let's celebrate today."
In Zhu Liushuang's twenty-odd years of life, she hasn't received much true appreciation. Besides her parents and grandparents, the only other source of affection was her close friend Tian Xingyu. Now, with He Ming joining her in this regard, she feels incredibly content.
"Thank you." Her eyes flickered as she uttered those two words.
He Ming took in the moved expression on her face, and he was extremely satisfied with the surprise he had created.
Their eyes met for a moment, then they got out of the car separately and, led by a waiter, headed to their reserved private room.
"Time is short, and only the private rooms on the first floor are left." He Ming rinsed the bowls and chopsticks with tea and casually switched them with the tableware in front of her.
“There are only two of us, it would be a waste to use a private room,” Zhu Liushuang said, resting her chin on her hand.
He Ming hesitated for a moment and said, "I was thinking of bringing Auntie over too, so the three of us would be more lively..."
“My mother went back to the countryside… she’s busy and doesn’t have time to come back,” Zhu Liushuang said hastily. Her mother went back to the countryside to pay respects to her father, but she never mentioned it to He Ming.
Even her closest friends and family didn't seem to care much about her birthday. If others found out, they would definitely find it strange and would understandably ask why.
But up until now, He Ming has not asked her why.
Zhu Liushuang's emotions were like a pool of spring water rippled by a breeze. She was delighted by his respect for her, yet restless because of the unspeakable car accident deep in her mind. She pondered again and again whether or not she should tell him the reason for her father's death.
But whenever she tried to tell the whole story, another cold voice would appear in her head.
"Have you thought this through? Once you bring it up, you'll have nothing left to hide from him. Can you guarantee he'll stand firmly on your side?"
Zhu Liushuang is confident in He Ming's character.
But once she got involved in that incident from back then, her beliefs began to crumble.
“It’s alright, we can invite Auntie next year. Is Tian Xingyu graduating soon? Is she going back to Gucheng after graduation? If she is, we can invite her over next year too. I heard from Xingzhi that you two are the closest of friends.”
While she was still struggling with the dilemma of concealing the truth versus revealing it, he had already begun planning her birthday for next year. Her temples throbbed a few times, and Zhu Liushuang's smile became somewhat forced.
"Sir, Madam, excuse me. We'll serve you your food now..." The curtain behind them was gently lifted, and two uniformly dressed waiters pushed a cart inside.
Two cold dishes were served first, followed by a steamed dish and two stir-fries. After the plates were arranged, the waiter bowed and said, "There are two more elaborate dishes and a birthday noodle dish left. The casserole shrimp and crab stew and the eight-treasure gourd duck will take a while. May I ask if the cake should be served now or last?"
Zhu Liushuang was distracted and failed to respond in time.
"Liu Shuang?" He Ming waved his hand in front of her.
"Senior, did you call me?" She hastily smirked.
The man opposite me held up his teacup, twirling it thoughtfully in his hand, and asked, "Shall we bring the cake out now?"
Zhu Liushuang then noticed that the waiter was still waiting for her to make a decision, and repeatedly said "I'm sorry" and asked them to wait until all the dishes were served before serving the cake.
After the waiter left, the two began to eat. He Ming, seemingly oblivious to her absent-mindedness, served her food. Seeing that the plate was piled high with food, Zhu Liushuang pleaded, "Senior, I don't have time to eat..."
"These are some of the restaurant's signature dishes, and they have a good reputation." He picked up a piece of beef for himself and said, "Today is your birthday, so eat more and be happy."
Did he notice anything amiss?
Zhu Liushuang straightened her back, trying to look as normal as possible: "Okay..." she said, putting a piece of steamed white fish into her mouth. The fish was tender and juicy, and it slid down her throat in an instant.
"Be careful, it's hot," He Ming handed her a tissue. "Is it to your liking?"
"Hmm, the saltiness is just right, the fish is especially tender, and there are no bones..." Zhu Liushuang picked up another piece. Just as she was speaking, the waiter brought over the casserole of shrimp and crab and the eight-treasure gourd duck. With the two main dishes placed on the table, the whole table was packed full.
"There's no room left for noodles and cakes..." With fish meat dangling from her lips, Zhu Liushuang hesitated, "Senior...you..."
"Do you think I ordered too much?" The man understood and spoke calmly.
"Hmm, seven dishes for two people is really a bit extravagant..." She puffed out her cheeks, and a simple fried rice she had eaten at this restaurant half a year ago flashed through her mind, priced at around a hundred yuan. "This meal must have cost a lot of money, right?"
"Isn't money meant to be spent?" He Ming retorted.
Zhu Liu was speechless for a moment, his hand holding the chopsticks froze, and he almost dropped the fish onto the table.
They do indeed have significant differences in certain perspectives. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but recall Zhuang Xiaoqian's "kind advice" from midday.
She reluctantly agreed, her smile not reaching her eyes.
“Because it’s your birthday, I ordered a few extra dishes. You see, I’m not usually this… extravagant.” He Ming tried his best to organize his thoughts and soothe Zhu Liushuang’s sensitive nerves. “Liushuang, you don’t need to feel pressured about this, and you don’t need to worry about my wallet…”
"How can I not feel bad..." Zhu Liushuang muttered softly, touching the chain on her right wrist, "Sister Zhuang told me today that this bracelet costs more than nine thousand..."
After worrying about it all afternoon, she finally voiced her concerns, and immediately felt much more at ease.
He Ming chuckled. When choosing a gift, he was so focused on finding the right chain for her that he hadn't paid attention to the price. He immediately took a liking to this bracelet and asked the shop assistant to write down the receipt. The bracelet was within his budget, so he didn't think much of it.
He didn't think it through!
“The gift I give you should naturally be more expensive…” He carefully chose his words and said gently, “In the past few years of working, apart from necessary daily expenses, I haven’t actually spent much money, but I have saved quite a bit. So… being able to spend money on someone I like actually brings me happiness.”
He Ming emphasized the words "the person I like," and Zhu Liushuang lowered her eyes shyly to avoid eye contact with him, stammering, "Rose gold doesn't hold its value... You have to consider the cost-effectiveness when buying things!"
The speaker spoke vaguely, and He Ming only understood half of what he heard.
"Hmm?" He raised an eyebrow and asked her, puzzled.
Zhu Liushuang simply put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Senior, gold is more cost-effective and holds its value better!"
He Ming picked up his teacup again, pondering the meaning behind her words, and then realized, "Hmm... you're right. From now on, I'll give gold as gifts..."
It seems she didn't ask him to send gold!
Zhu Liushuang rubbed her forehead, instantly realizing she shouldn't have gotten so hung up on this topic.
"That's not what I meant... I..." She slumped her shoulders in dejection, "You gave me such an expensive gift, how am I supposed to repay you in the future..."
As the soft voice faded, He Ming pursed his lips without changing his expression. He maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, but his heart was filled with mixed feelings.
He was oversimplifying things. The problem he was facing was far more serious than choosing a suitable gift.
-----------------------
The author says: For two people to truly stay together, they must constantly work on their relationship and compromise.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
