Chapter 22 Shaking Hands
"You, did you need something from me?"
Although he had a clear conscience, Li Jichuan still turned his head to look at the door behind him to make sure it was closed properly.
The silent tires smoothly propelled him toward the desk, where Su Pu was admiring the display case beside it.
Seeing Li Jichuan approach, Su Pu nervously swallowed, her cheeks beginning to burn.
He handed the text he had written earlier to Li Jichuan and explained his purpose.
Li Jichuan took the phone and looked at it silently and attentively.
Su Pu stood next to him with her hands behind her back, like a student having their homework checked by a teacher.
"Hmm, it's written very logically and clearly, and it even includes risk assessments?"
Li Jichuan was quite surprised and looked at Su Pu.
"You've studied these?"
Su Pu nodded.
I worked on project proposals during university.
Su Pu attended university locally. Because she couldn't speak, she was unable to give group presentations, so she took on a lot of preliminary work, which helped her develop excellent writing skills.
After asking his questions, Li Jichuan reviewed Su Pu's planning document again.
To be honest, Su Pu's plan is indeed the best option at this stage to achieve the data accuracy that Li Jichuan wants.
However, this plan required a large number of personnel and yielded relatively little data, resulting in low efficiency, so their team rejected it in the early stages.
This time, Su Pu brought it up again, giving Li Jichuan a chance to reflect on the decisions he had made.
It seems he was too eager to achieve something, so he became somewhat impatient for quick success and put the cart before the horse...
His target users are not just data, but real, living people.
If you want these people to share their true feelings, you have to do it in the most sincere way, even if it sounds clumsy or inefficient...
[Ouyang and I have already discussed it and decided to use this offline event at our coffee shop to collect information on-site. Ouyang will also contact some college students who work part-time at other stores to ask about their willingness to participate. This way, it won't interfere with our store's event...]
Li Jichuan remained silent for a long time.
"But do your store's baristas also need to participate in offline events? Aren't they usually hired part-time staff or people from event companies?"
Su Pu smiled, her eyes narrowed.
[Because I helped you out, and you came with me to cheer on Ouyang, I wanted to do something to repay you... Ouyang also wanted to thank you for taking him in last night.]
Li Jichuan frowned slightly.
"But I don't need you to repay me in any way..."
still……
He then thought of last night, when the two of them returned home and Su Pu, who had changed into her pajamas, tossed and turned in bed, refusing to sleep properly.
Li Jichuan sat back on the headboard, the blanket covering his legs.
Su Pu was like a puppy that had just arrived at its new home, crawling all over the bed, which amused Li Jichuan.
"You should take a rest..."
As Su Pu crawled over, Li Jichuan wrapped one arm around his arm to prevent him from running around.
"So excited after a drink? Did you sleep well?"
Su Pu looked up at him, her eyes hazy, and blinked slowly.
Li Jichuan raised one eyebrow. "I, Li Jichuan, your nominal husband, don't you recognize me?"
The next second, Su Pu relaxed her brows and smiled gently.
I remember!
Her husband...
"Do you know who I am?"
Li Jichuan confirmed it with him.
Su Pu nodded emphatically, but her body felt like it had been wound up, and she wanted to crawl around randomly.
"Don't run..."
Li Jichuan quickly grabbed the corner of the blanket on the other side of the bed, pulled it over, and wrapped the puppy inside.
He wrapped his arms around Su Pu, leaving only his head sticking out to breathe.
“Then I’ll ask you a few questions, and you must answer me honestly,” Li Jichuan said.
Su Pu nodded, then looked confused.
He can't speak, so how can he answer?
Li Jichuan had naturally thought of this problem as well, and he stretched out his free hand in front of Su Pu's eyes and waved it.
"Give me your hand."
Su Pu blinked, and then actually stretched out a hand and placed it on Li Jichuan's palm.
It really looks like a puppy. Li Jichuan's eyes were full of tenderness, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved into a gentle smile.
At that moment, Su Pu felt her heart melt.
As if possessed, he removed his hand from Li Jichuan's palm and placed his own chin on it instead.
Li Jichuan slowly closed his eyes. In the 27 years since he was born, this was the first time he had ever felt his heart being hit hard by something.
It didn't hurt, but my chest felt numb and my head was burning; I felt so happy I was dizzy.
But he had important matters to ask, and after a long pause, Li Jichuan finally managed to remove his palm from Su Pu's chin and take his fingers in his hand.
"Next, listen carefully to my question. If you answer correctly, pinch my finger once; if you answer incorrectly, pinch my finger twice, okay?"
Su Pu seemed to be getting sleepy again. She nodded drowsily, and after a while, she squeezed Li Jichuan's hand again.
"Okay, I'll start asking questions now."
Li Jichuan took a deep breath and looked at Su Pu, who was humming and moaning with her eyes closed.
Are you afraid of me?
The sound of Su Pu's even and long breathing filled her ears. After a moment, Su Pu gently pinched her twice.
Don't be afraid.
"Then, will you hate me?"
This time, Su Pu answered a little faster than before.
Two more times.
I don't dislike it.
Li Jichuan moved his arm, pulling Su Pu even tighter.
"Then why do you have nightmares every night? Is it related to me?"
In his sleep, Su Pu would reveal an expression of pain he had never seen before, his breathing would be rapid, and he would be covered in sweat, which he could hardly ignore.
He originally thought that Su Pu was forced to marry him and that her behavior was due to her strong resistance.
But Li Jichuan could sense that Su Pu was very friendly and caring towards him, and did not dislike him.
His question just now confirmed his guess.
Why is that?
After a while, Su Pu opened her eyes, staring blankly at the quilt.
I pinched it twice.
It seems that Li Jichuan is not the source of his nightmare.
"That's related to your past, isn't it?"
one time.
Su Pu admitted it.
Li Jichuan wanted to press for more information, but then he remembered the tears that Su Pu had inexplicably shed at the bar earlier that day.
He was already feeling bad enough from being drunk, and he didn't want to touch his sore spot any further.
That's fine then. As long as I know that it's not him who's causing Su Pu pain, that's enough.
Li Jichuan silently hugged the person in his arms even tighter.
"No matter who's causing you so much pain, you have to look forward. I'm the one sleeping next to you now, and I'm the one living with you. I promise you, I won't hurt you, so at least while I'm here, please put aside your fears and those terrible memories, and get some sleep, okay?"
Su Pu let him hold her, and remained silent for a long time.
Just when Li Jichuan thought Su Pu had fallen asleep, he suddenly felt a force on his fingertips.
Su Pu squeezed his fingers hard.
good!
Then, Li Jichuan felt his fingers being pulled and inserted into the gap between the two of them.
A soft touch landed on my fingertips.
Su Pu gently and solemnly kissed his fingers.
Li Jichuan was momentarily stunned.
He just wanted Su Pu to feel more relaxed when she was with him.
He didn't expect any tenderness between them at all.
Is this reasonable? Is he taking advantage of Su Pu?
After all, he was a notorious cripple...
But what is the one in ten thousand chance that Su Pu might genuinely fall in love with him?
Since she didn't bring him to the family party to make a scene, she could still snuggle in his arms and fall into a deep sleep...
Does this mean that his sincerity can be reciprocated by Su Pu's sincerity?
After exhaling two deep breaths, Li Jichuan nervously opened his mouth.
"Su Pu, one last question, is it possible for you... to give me a chance?"
This time, Su Pu didn't respond to him; she was truly fast asleep.
Li Jichuan released his arm from Su Pu's embrace, and Su Pu's body naturally slumped to the other side of the bed.
Feeling both disappointed and relieved, Li Jichuan felt like a fool.
He was still the same emotional fool he used to despise.
Isn't this just typical love-struck behavior?
He let out a long breath and was about to pull his hand back.
Only then did I realize that Su Pu was gripping my fingers tightly, and had been gripping them tightly ever since…
...
Thinking of this, Li Jichuan forced himself to come back to his senses.
He was finding it particularly difficult to concentrate today.
“I think your idea is very good... If it doesn’t cause you too much trouble, you can give it a try.”
Seeing that he agreed, Su Pu smiled with relief.
His smile was so sweet, his dimples were practically overflowing with honey.
Li Jichuan's heart began to flutter again. Before he could reveal an even more inappropriate expression, he used the excuse of being busy with work to send Su Pu away.
Su Pu smiled and made his exit, but before leaving his office, he felt there was something he still needed to confirm.
But I really can't remember...
Back at the coffee shop, he cleaned his hands again, put on an apron, and walked from the lounge into the food preparation area.
Passing by the cashier, I saw Ouyang helping a customer wearing a cycling helmet take an order.
The guest was pale-skinned, with downcast eyes, and dared not look at him.
Ouyang's voice was louder, "Sir, this cup is a large, and this cup is an extra-large. Which cup would you like?"
The guest simply shook his head.
"Hey no, I meant which cup size you want, you have to tell me..." Ouyang thought he hadn't heard him, so he raised his voice even louder.
Su Pu stopped him; as a person with a disability, he was very sensitive to such situations.
The person on the other end might be hearing impaired.
He waved to the little helmet and started using sign language with it.
The little helmet quickly raised its head, saw that it was him, and excitedly stood on tiptoe.
"Uh, I...I can hear you."
The little helmet took two steps back and bowed to the two of them.
"Thank you for helping me out last night... I've come to express my gratitude."
Su Pu and Ouyang stared at each other for two seconds.
Last night... to get me out of trouble...?
Then look at the "little helmet" on the other side.
Thin and fair-skinned.
Ouyang's fight last night might not have really been about Su Pu.
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