Chapter 74 The romance with Tan Su, for Li Li…
For Li Li, her relationship with Tan Su was like living in a strong and sweet bubble, where she could run wild and feel completely safe.
Unlike Tan Yi, Tan Su didn't have many friends, nor did he know any of the fancy tricks to please girls, such as mixing drinks or playing cards.
He has a very business-like personality. Most of the time he is busy with work, occasionally socializing, and when he has free time he likes to spend time alone with Li Li, watching dramas or visiting exhibitions with her.
Lately, the thing the two of them do most often is go shopping at home furnishing malls together.
For Li Li, imagining decorating a space that will be exclusively for the two of them in the future is a very healing and warm process.
“These two cups are so cute, they can be used as mouthwash cups.” She held them up for Tan Su to see.
"good."
"I'll bring Sumi over to play with later, and we'll buy this mat to use as her cat bed." The shop assistant had already gone to get the latest stock in the direction she was pointing.
"Um."
"Tan Su, do you mind if you use pink curtains in your room?"
"...Buy it."
After only two seconds of hesitation, Li Li snapped, "What kind of expression is that! Tan Su, if you don't welcome my interference, just say so!"
Before her anger could flare up, Tan Su reached out and pulled her into his arms, coaxing her with kisses and hugs for a long time, saying that it would be her room from now on, and she could decorate it however she liked. Hmm?
Li Li not only wanted Tan Su to agree, but also for him to be willing, wholeheartedly committed, and happy to do so.
Actually, Li Li doesn't really care about room decoration; she just enjoys the thrill of signing the bill when she's shopping.
When all that random stuff comes in later, let the designer worry about how to unify the theme.
Tan Su has weathered many storms and is frighteningly stable emotionally. Li Li and Tan Yi often get jealous and argue when they are together, but they hardly ever do with Tan Su.
He has such a strong ability to adjust; even the displeasure he felt last time because of her chatting with Tan Yi disappeared in no time.
Tan Su was not a very outgoing person, and he could count on his fingers a handful of people. The only one Li Li had ever met was his college roommate, Lü Dai, with whom he had recently arranged to have dinner.
Lü Dai is still Yan Qi's chief financial officer, helping Tan Su control the lifeline of the group.
Lu Dai's wife was his high school classmate. The two had a good relationship for many years. His wife was as beautiful as ever, while he was squeezed into a fat man by the pressure of work.
According to him, he has been going through cycles of dieting and gaining weight over the years, and he probably weighs several hundred pounds.
He said, "Why don't you transfer Qi Meimei, who was previously assigned to the General Manager's Office, back to me? I'm planning to pursue another degree next year when I have time."
Tan Su asked, "I never realized you were so obsessed with academic qualifications before?"
“Hey, after all, there was that Xie Zongfang incident…” Lu Dai hadn’t thought there was anything wrong with his undergraduate degree before, but after hearing Xie Zongfang’s complaints, he belatedly realized that his degree couldn’t control people, and he was afraid that someone would be dissatisfied and label Tan Su as a nepotist.
"What's wrong with Uncle Xie?" Li Li interrupted.
Tan Su's gaze stopped Lü Dai from continuing. Fortunately, before he could speak, his wife reached out and slapped away the fork Lü Dai was reaching for: "Your weight gain is purely due to your inability to control your eating. How can you blame anyone else?"
Lü Dai quickly begged for mercy: "It's rare for us to come out for a big meal, so please let me eat until I'm about 80% full."
"No, look at your back!"
Li Li's attention was immediately drawn to the sweet and affectionate couple.
Li Li has gotten used to a good life, so she becomes a bit dramatic. When she's thinking to herself, she starts having all sorts of random thoughts, like, "Does Tan Su not love me as much as I love him?"
What if we get together, and he doesn't cherish me as much anymore?
Tan Su was a man who was quite reluctant to express his feelings; his consistent principle was that actions spoke louder than words.
He assumed Li Li wouldn't have any doubts about this since the two of them were together every day.
But after the meal, as he walked downstairs with his girlfriend, he noticed Li Li's sullen expression in the elevator and asked, "What's wrong? Didn't you enjoy the meal today?"
Li Li raised her voice and asked with dramatic intonation, "Tan Su, do you not love me at all?"
Tan Su only told Li Li he loved her twice. Once was when they went on a trip to a small town and their feelings were stirred in a hotel room with a fireplace. The other time was when Tan Su apologized to Li Li after his methods of forcing Tan Yi years ago were exposed.
But that was a long time ago.
The more Li Li thought about it, the more she realized it made sense, and she started to feel sad: "I feel like you don't care about me at all. You're never jealous of me, and you never interfere in my life. You've got me figured out, haven't you?"
Tan Su pulled her against his chest and said helplessly, "How could I not care about you?"
What Li Li didn't know was that after Tan Su overheard them chatting, he went to see Tan Yi alone.
Without warning, he knocked on the hotel room door. Tan Yi, who was wearing casual clothes, was momentarily taken aback when he opened the door, but quickly composed himself and invited him in.
He asked Tan Su, "Brother, what brings you here?"
"Just came to check on you. Are you doing alright?"
He looked at the furnishings inside the room; the hotel room was spacious and comfortable, more than enough for Tan Yi to live alone.
"Hmm," Tan Yi asked, "would you like something to drink?"
"A glass of water, please."
Tan moved to the refrigerator to get water, and when he got up, he saw that Tan Su's hand had already reached for the sterilizer built into the sideboard, where there was a dazzling array of tableware.
Tan Yi pressed his hand against the cabinet door first: "Brother, let me do it."
Tan Su looked at his expression, and two seconds later, he let go of his hand.
He went to the living room first, and from the floor-to-ceiling window, he saw the pedestrians on the road below looking as tiny as ants. He then turned around and sat down on the sofa.
Tan Yi opened the sterilizer and found two clean glasses behind the cups covered with kitten markings.
He placed the glass of ice water on the coffee table, and Tan Su took it: "I should normally come and try your cooking, but it's a bit of a pity that I drove here today."
Tan Yi lowered his eyes: "If you're interested, brother, you're welcome to come anytime."
"Tan Yi".
Tan Su called out his name: "Li Li and I will get married no later than next year or the year after. Logically, when you see me in the future, you should call me sister-in-law in advance."
He tapped his finger lightly on the coffee table, speaking in a calm and ordinary tone as if discussing the weather: "Take care of what needs to be taken care of promptly. Don't let her see it and be embarrassed."
In that instant, Tan Yi's expression changed, but he was no longer the willful and impetuous young man he once was.
His lips moved, and after a long while he said, "I understand."
But these are things men talk about, so how could he say them to Li Li?
Tan Su kissed Li Li's forehead, then her ear, comforting her as she murmured, "How much more do I need to cherish you?"
———
Li Zhoudu is seven years older than Li Li, and his family has always believed that his marriage should take place before his sister's.
However, since Tan Su had already received Li Fujing's tacit approval, and there was still no news from Li Zhoudu, the family naturally prioritized preparing Li Li's share.
Li Zhizi heard about this from her parents' phone call. They said that they were preparing wedding quilts for the host family in advance and would send them as gifts later. The quilts were made of top-grade mulberry silk, and they asked her to help choose the style to see if it suited the tastes of young people.
Li Zhizi was taken aback and asked, "Is it Li Li?"
"Yes, who else could it be?"
She remained silent for a long time.
In June of this year, a few days before Li Li's graduation ceremony, Li Zhou arrived at the Port of Los Angeles.
The visit of the rarely seen Chinese boss was taken very seriously by everyone, even the white lady sitting opposite me had to put on a suit.
But only Li Zhizi knew that Li Zhoudu's visit this time was probably not for the sake of the wine.
She saw Li Zhoudu at the welcome banquet organized by the person in charge.
Unlike his affectionate, teasing smile in front of Li Li, he was unusually cold to outsiders, or rather, to his subordinates.
Li Zhizi was an acquaintance, and he rarely took the initiative to ask her a couple of questions during the meal: "How do you feel about being here?"
Li Zhizi said she adapted quite well.
Working at the port is not easy. It mainly involves manual labor, and there are cultural and linguistic differences. The staff comes from all over the world, with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of competence, and there is a certain degree of danger involved.
Li Zhizi's parents did not support her staying there, and they had probably discussed this with Wenxi.
Li Zhoudu was probably drunk, which is why he was talking so much.
He said, "Every woman dreams of wearing a wedding dress and having a child. How long can you endure being alone overseas?"
However, Li Zhizi still said, "I have no intention of going back for the time being."
“Okay.” Li Zhoudu had no penchant for interfering with other people’s decisions.
A few days later, Li Zhizi saw the graduation photos that Li Li posted on her WeChat Moments. There were her parents and her boyfriend, whom she had complained was too old.
At that time, Li Zhoudu stood on the deck of the cargo ship, looking at the churning sea and the sinking sunset in the distance, with one hand in his pocket and his hair messy in the wind.
Li Zhizi had some vague feelings about this a long time ago.
From the time she accidentally bumped into Li Zhoudu squatting in front of Li Li and telling her not to be angry; from the time she saw Li Zhoudu sitting by Li Li's bedside late at night; from the countless times she received timely phone calls from China asking if Xiao Mao'er had gotten up yet.
She felt fear, as if she were standing on the edge of a huge, dangerous abyss, watching the surging undercurrents. She carefully maintained her balance, afraid that she would be swept away and shattered to pieces.
In the end, none of her fears came true.
The lively little kitten has found someone she likes, and she remains as cheerful and carefree as ever, living a lively and exciting life.
She grew up surrounded by love, she was hurt, but she still retains the courage to love others without hesitation.
Li Zhizi didn't know whether she should feel fortunate to have survived the ordeal, or feel sorry for someone.
On the way to the airport to take Li Zhou back to China, the driver turned on the car's music, and a song was playing.
Li Zhizi, in the passenger seat, saw a pair of closed eyes in the rearview mirror; it seemed he had fallen asleep in the back seat.
I'd spend 10,000 hours.
And 10,000 more.
Oh if that's what it takes to learn that sweet heart of yours.
And I might never get there.
But I'm going to try.
If it's 10,000 hours.
Or the rest of my life.”①
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Author's Note: ① "10,000 Hours" by Dan Shay and Justin Bieber
The next chapter should be the last chapter of the main story! [starry-eyed]
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