After breakfast, Shang Chenzhou went out and did not return until midnight.
Fang Xihe was half asleep and, hearing the movement, opened her eyes.
Shang Chenzhou carried clothes into the bathroom.
Fang Xihe glanced at her phone. It was three o’clock.
He had been busy until so late.
She put the phone down and closed her eyes again.
The next morning, Fang Xihe opened her eyes and found herself tangled around Shang Chenzhou like an octopus. Because she had pressed against his mouth, she left a small mark on his chest.
She gently lifted her head. Shang Chenzhou’s eyes were tightly closed, and he was sleeping deeply.
Fortunately, it was not too awkward.
Fang Xihe carefully got off Shang Chenzhou, then quietly went to the bathroom to wash up.
Standing at the sink, she slapped her own face lightly.
You should not sleep so irresponsibly!
So embarrassing!
On the bed, Shang Chenzhou lifted his eyes to glance toward the bathroom, then closed them again.
Fang Xihe finished washing and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. She prepared two portions, putting one in the rice cooker to keep warm for Shang Chenzhou, and ate her own portion at the stove.
Afterward, she looked toward the bed. Shang Chenzhou was still asleep.
She wrote a note and left it on the table, telling him breakfast was in the rice cooker.
She took clothes from the wardrobe, changed in the bathroom, then went out to work with her bag.
Shang Chenzhou got up and saw the note on the table, the handwriting delicate and neat.
An indescribable feeling surged in his heart.
He carried the breakfast out and quietly ate it.
Fang Xihe left the subway station and borrowed a shared bicycle to ride to the industrial park gate.
She clocked in at the company.
She had only been at her desk a short time when Sun Shasha came over.
Leaning close, she whispered, “Why didn’t you reply to my message? I am telling you, I didn’t lie. You must try it before marriage.”
Fang Xihe let it go in one ear and out the other. She opened her computer, tidied her desk, then got up to pour a cup of hot water.
Sun Shasha kept muttering until Zhao Jing arrived, then she finally quieted down.
A few minutes later, Zhao Jing called a meeting.
Everyone went to the conference room.
Fang Xihe was unexpectedly singled out by Zhao Jing for praise.
She just smiled modestly.
Sun Shasha, sitting beside her, gave her a thumbs up.
Some people were not so lucky.
Zhou Lin from the same team was criticized in public.
Her face was blotched red and blue, and she bit her lips tightly.
After the meeting ended and Zhao Jing left, Zhou Lin stormed out. As she passed Fang Xihe, she bumped into her.
Fang Xihe staggered, and her papers scattered on the floor.
A dull pain spread across her shoulder.
Sun Shasha did not get along with Zhou Lin, so she immediately stood up for Fang Xihe.
“Zhou Lin, stop!”
Zhou Lin paused and turned, looking proud. “Why?”
Sun Shasha said, “You bumped into her. Apologize.”
Zhou Lin glanced at Fang Xihe and smirked. “It wasn’t on purpose.”
Sun Shasha said, “Even if it wasn’t on purpose, you should apologize.”
“Sun Shasha, what’s wrong with you? I didn’t bump into you.”
Fang Xihe had already bent down to pick up her papers and held them in her arms. She looked at Zhou Lin with cold eyes that carried pressure.
Zhou Lin froze, unexpectedly intimidated.
How could a recent college graduate have such a sharp, cold gaze?
It was shocking.
Fang Xihe walked toward her slowly. Her high heel accidentally stepped on Zhou Lin’s instep.
“Ah!”
Zhou Lin cried out in pain.
Fang Xihe removed her foot and said innocently, “Sorry, it wasn’t on purpose.”
Zhou Lin shouted in frustration, “What use is an apology?”
Fang Xihe said, “At least I apologized. I am a polite, well-behaved kid. Some people do not even have that much courtesy.”
Sun Shasha laughed out loud.
She suddenly realized Fang Xihe suited her taste.
Since arriving at the company, Fang Xihe had sat beside her. Their relationship was indifferent, speaking only about work.
Recently, she noticed this girl had quite a personality.
Zhou Lin, being in the wrong first and not wanting to make a scene, gritted her teeth and limped out of the conference room.
Sun Shasha walked over and linked arms with Fang Xihe, giving her a thumbs up. “Impressive.”
Fang Xihe smiled. “Let’s go. Time to work.”
Back at her desk, a pile of messages awaited her on the computer.
Fang Xihe typed quickly on the keyboard.
Sun Shasha glanced at her speed and asked, “Have you been practicing on your own?”
Fang Xihe could not say she was not the original owner of the skills, so she nodded. “Yes, I practiced.”
The company had an outsourced cafeteria.
At lunch, Fang Xihe got a meal and sat across from Sun Shasha, slumping her shoulders.
Sun Shasha was lively, completely different from the morning.
“Eat quickly. Today the sweet and sour ribs are delicious.”
Fang Xihe sipped water, paused for a moment, then picked up her chopsticks.
After the New Year, company orders had surged, and all departments were extremely busy.
Zhao Jing required everyone to stay late and work overtime.
Fang Xihe sent a message to Shang Chenzhou. “I am working overtime, will be home late.”
Shang Chenzhou: “Mm.”
Fang Xihe stared at that message for a while.
She thought: Such a concise male lead.
Fang Xihe stayed at her computer until ten o’clock.
She turned off the computer and rubbed her neck.
Sun Shasha said, “Wait for me, I am leaving too.”
Fang Xihe waited a moment.
They left the industrial park together.
Fang Xihe froze when she saw Shang Chenzhou under the streetlight.
Sun Shasha had to stop as well. Following Fang Xihe’s gaze, her eyes brightened.
She suddenly understood and whispered, “That is your boyfriend?”
Fang Xihe nodded.
“Wow! Your boyfriend is so handsome!”
Fang Xihe pressed her lips together and smiled.
Shang Chenzhou’s face was indeed very striking.
Sun Shasha asked, “How are you going home?”
“By subway.”
Sun Shasha saw a white car at the entrance and happily let go of Fang Xihe’s arm.
“My boyfriend came to pick me up. Bye.”
Fang Xihe waved. “Bye.”
Sun Shasha ran cheerfully toward the white car like a little bird.
Fang Xihe walked up to Shang Chenzhou and looked up at him. “You don’t need to pick me up. I can go home by myself.”
Shang Chenzhou said as before, “It is too late. Not safe.”
Fang Xihe asked, “How long have you been here?”
She had not told him when she got off work, and he did not ask.
“Ten minutes.”
“Next time, send me a message beforehand. If I show up and you are not there, it will be a problem.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s borrow a bike.”
“Mm.”
They borrowed a bike and walked toward the subway station.
Shang Chenzhou turned his head and saw the girl’s nose red from the cold wind, occasionally sniffing.
Her hands on the handlebars were red from the cold.
At the subway station, they returned the bike.
Suddenly, a large hand held Fang Xihe’s hands.
She looked up.
Shang Chenzhou’s expression did not change. He pulled her hands into his palms and rubbed them.
Warmth spread from his hands, making her whole body feel warm.
Fang Xihe stared at him in surprise.