Chapter 260 The Other Half
After Gu Xiao went on his business trip, Nan Zhiyi didn't let herself have any free time. She almost never left the house, spending all her time in her study except to accompany Xiaoman.
It took her several days to finally sign all 2,500 copies of the first batch of new books that needed to be signed.
She called editor Lin Yuan to let him know the progress.
Lin Yuan came in person, accompanied by two young and strong staff members. They skillfully bundled up the books signed by Nan Zhiyi and loaded them onto the truck bed. They also moved another batch of newly delivered books into the open space of the study.
After finishing the moving, Lin Yuan sat down on the sofa in the living room, accepted the herbal tea handed to him by Sister Zhang, and thanked her repeatedly.
He looked at Nan Zhiyi and praised, "Comrade Zhiyi, your efficiency is truly remarkable! I was surprised when you told me on the phone that you had finished signing, it's only been a few days! And the signature design is excellent..."
Nan Zhiyi was a little embarrassed by the praise. She smiled and took out a folder containing six bookmark sketches she had drawn.
"Editor Lin, could you take another look at these? These are six preliminary drafts I drew. Do you think they're suitable?"
Lin Yuan took the folder, adjusted his glasses, and examined it carefully.
The six bookmarks share a unified style, incorporating both grand, sci-fi themes such as vast nebulae and alien landscapes, and classical poetic elements like moonlit bamboo shadows and tranquil lotus ponds. The lines are fluid, the colors elegant, and the bookmarks demonstrate both imagination and artistic skill.
He nodded as he looked at the painting, praising it repeatedly: "Wonderful! Comrade Zhiyi, you are truly a hidden talent! The painting skills and artistic conception are no less than those of the professional painters we have hired! Readers will definitely love it!"
"Editor Lin, if you keep praising me like this, I'm really going to want to crawl into a hole in the ground." Nan Zhiyi's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly changed the subject.
"I also want to thank you for the picture book you gave to Xiaoman; he really likes it."
Lin Yuan chuckled: "What's the big deal? We're in this line of work. Our warehouse has plenty of picture books like these. It's normal to pick out some good ones for your child. I'll send you any suitable ones in the future. Just let me know what books you need, and I'll keep an eye out for them."
Nan Zhiyi sincerely thanked Editor Lin, saying that it was very thoughtful of her to have such a kind thought.
Lin Yuan carefully put away the bookmark sketch and then chatted for a few more minutes about the distribution plan for this batch of signed books: "We will mainly distribute these books to Xinhua bookstores in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and release them in limited quantities. I believe the response will be good."
He then launched into another long-winded speech, "Comrade Zhiyi, take advantage of your free time during the summer vacation and try to finish the manuscript of your new book as quickly as possible. The editorial department is eagerly awaiting the next installment."
Nan Zhiyi nodded in agreement: "I understand, I will hurry up."
After exchanging pleasantries for a few more moments, Editor Lin left with his staff.
Nan Zhiyi stood at the gate of the courtyard, watching the truck drive away.
Looking at the newly piled-up mountain of books in the study, she sat back down at her small table and continued her work of signing autographs. She just couldn't stand seeing work piling up there; she always wanted to finish it all in one go.
Just after I finished signing about ten documents, the phone in the living room rang.
She put down her pen and went over to take it.
The person on the other end of the phone was Zhou Anping.
"Zhiyi, what are you doing at home? Aren't you bored? Come with me to the department store tomorrow, okay? I want to look at some children's products; it's no fun shopping alone."
Nan Zhiyi looked at the pile of books in the study and hesitated for a moment, but when she thought that Anping was now heavily ill and needed someone to accompany him to relax, she readily agreed.
The two agreed to meet at a bus stop near the General Staff compound the following morning.
The next day, when Nan Zhiyi was about to leave, Xiaoman clung to her mother's leg, unwilling to let go.
Nan Zhiyi patiently coaxed him for a while before he finally left the house.
She didn't bring Xiaoman with her. First, the sun was getting stronger, and she was afraid the child would get sunburned. Second, Xiaoman was particularly spoiled when she went out with her, always wanting to be carried, which she simply couldn't carry. Third, Anping was heavy, and she was afraid the little guy might bump into something without knowing his own strength. There were many people around, so after thinking it over, she decided it was safer to let him play with the other children in the compound.
When she arrived at the bus stop near the General Staff compound, Zhou Anping was already waiting under the shade of a locust tree next to the bus stop sign.
Nan Zhiyi walked over quickly and took her arm. "Have you been waiting long? Are you feeling unwell? Does your back hurt?"
Zhou Anping laughed and said, "It's nothing, I was just standing there for a while. Let's go, the car is here."
The two boarded the bus and found a seat by the window where there was some ventilation.
Looking at the street scene flashing past the window, Zhou Anping casually said, "Qingshan has also gone on a business trip; it'll be about half a month."
Nan Zhiyi immediately asked, "Then you're home alone? How do you eat?"
"Yeah, all by myself. It's okay, I can manage. I can get food from the cafeteria or just have some noodles."
"That won't do!" Nan Zhiyi disagreed. "You're not alone anymore. Why don't you go back to the army compound for a few days? At least there will be someone to look after you there."
Zhou Anping immediately shook his head, resolute: "I don't want to go back. I told Qingshan that since we've moved out, we should live our own lives from now on. No matter how hard or difficult it is, I don't want to go back."
Nan Zhiyi knew she couldn't persuade him, but she really couldn't let him go: "I'm worried about you being alone! Why don't you come stay at my house for a few days? Fifth Brother isn't here anyway, so we can keep each other company."
Zhou Anping laughed and said, "My God, Zhiyi, how could you say such nonsense! What would it look like if I stayed at your house? You just never stop worrying about things."
She appreciated her friend's concern but didn't want to bother her too much.
Nan Zhiyi frowned, feeling that something was amiss, when suddenly an idea came to her: "How about we hire a helper? Your body is getting heavier and heavier, so it will be more convenient to have someone to lend a hand with the laundry, cooking, and house cleaning."
This time, Zhou Anping did not refuse immediately, but thought about it for a moment.
As her pregnancy progressed, she did feel increasingly overwhelmed, so she nodded and said, "That's fine. We can find someone to help during the day."
"Then I'll ask Sister Zhang for you!" Nan Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief; it was good to have someone help her.
"Sister Zhang knows a lot of people here, is well-informed, and knows who is honest and law-abiding. I asked her to keep an eye out for them."
"Okay, then I'll trouble you."
As we were talking, the bus arrived at Wangfujing Station.
The two got out of the car and followed the crowd into the department store.
They didn't immediately look at baby supplies. Zhou Anping said she wanted to buy more soft cotton fabric to make a few more loose and comfortable dresses.
The two were carefully examining the fabrics at the counter. Nan Zhiyi was holding up a piece of light pink cotton fabric to Zhou Anping when her eyes glanced at the wardrobe counter not far away, and she stopped.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
That's Lu Linlang.
Since her divorce from Zhou Zhengping, he has seemingly vanished from their lives without a trace.
Nan Zhiyi never expected to see her again here, in a department store in Beijing.
Lu Linlang seemed to have changed, though it was hard to pinpoint exactly what. Her clothes were more fashionable than before, and she looked neat and stylish. Her expression had lost some of its former arrogance and gained a more deliberate restraint.
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