HGG - 60

Two hands clapped sharply in front of her eyes, startling her and pulling her out of her endless thoughts.

Song Yi looked up and saw Zhan Heqing’s teasing expression.

He drawled, “Well, well, Secretary Song is distracted during working hours—”

“Is there anything I can help you with?” Song Yi didn’t respond to his sarcasm, directly asking in a businesslike manner, “I’ve already sent the materials you needed to your email.”

“I saw them, thank you.” Zhan Heqing shook his head and comfortably walked to an unoccupied spot in the office and sat down. “It’s rare for me to be promoted to acting vice president, even if it’s temporary, but it’s indeed a bit boring.”

Song Yi was silent for a moment. Finally, she suddenly asked, “Vice President Zhan, do you think it’s possible for someone in this world to always pretend to be perfect?”

Her question was a bit abstract and too abrupt, even for Zhan Heqing, who hesitated for a moment.

After a long silence, he countered, “Is it possible for a perfect person to exist in this world?”

Song Yi was instantly speechless.

Zhan Heqing slowly walked to the blinds, gazing out through the numerous shafts of light and gaps. He said, “If you want to appear perfect, you can only pretend, right?”

Pretend until old age, pretend until death.

Pretend until no one discovers their flaws.

When she realized this, Song Yi hadn’t seen Chi Zhao for ten days.

Before the day she had that long conversation with Cui Ting’ai, she had wondered what the weather was like when Cui Ting’ai and Chi Chong first met. But no matter what, she never expected it to be a rainy day.

Cui Ting’ai had no reason to lie, and Song Yi didn’t believe it was a false image described due to her psychological issues.

Chi Chong had indeed abandoned her.

And not contacting him before his death was Cui Ting’ai’s revenge.

In such circumstances, it was almost impossible not to feel uneasy.

Song Yi wavered between continuing to wait and going to find Chi Zhao. Sometimes she remembered Zhan Heqing saying, “He doesn’t like others disturbing him,” and other times she was disturbed by Cui Ting’ai’s “it’s better not to trust them.”

Unconsciously, a few more days passed.

She stared blankly at the potted broccoli on the balcony.

Song Yi was helping Zhan Heqing photocopy documents for a meeting when she received calls from Luo Jiaming and Jenny simultaneously.

She casually glanced at the content. Several agenda items indicated that Chi Shuren had returned. It seemed that, in the eyes of this absolute pragmatist, this incident necessitated his intervention.

As she was busy, a call came from the front desk, informing her of Luo Jiaming’s visit. Song Yi obtained Xia Fan’s consent, then allowed him to come upstairs. However, she didn’t expect Jenny to have just entered the Chongyou Building as well.

They rode the same elevator upstairs. Jenny stood on the left side of the elevator, her head held arrogantly high, her manicured hand raised by her side, an expensive French handbag hooked on her arm.

On the other side, Luo Jiaming wore a hooded sweatshirt, constantly looking down at his phone.

In the not-so-spacious elevator, both noticed each other and, at the same time, silently labeled each other in their minds—

Jenny thought: a neurotic chuunibyou.

A self-important rich girl, Luo Jiaming scoffed inwardly.

Then, both of them reached the same floor, walked into the same office, and called out the same person’s name.

“Song Yiyi!”

“Sister Song Yi!”

As Jenny and Luo Jiaming exchanged sharp, piercing glances, Song Yi felt a chill in the air, as if cold weapons were clashing, though she wondered if it was just her imagination.

________________________________________

Ultimately, it was Song Yi who calmly asked, “What would you like to drink? Juice, milk, or coffee?”

Unlike Jenny, this was Luo Jiaming’s first time in Chi Zhao’s office.

He looked around, craning his neck, until Jenny let out a sneer, “Kids will be kids,” which curbed the novelty in his gaze.

Jenny’s intention was clear: “Brother Chi Zhao hasn’t been around lately, so you must have a lot more free time, right? Want to go out and have fun with me? I’ve been wanting to go to Fiji recently.”

“Although he’s not here, Vice President Zhan has quite a lot of things going on. I shouldn’t neglect my duties.” Song Yi replied.

“Oh, I see.” Jenny didn’t press the issue. She raised her fingers as if playing a piano and waved them, signaling goodbye before standing up. “Then I’ll go downstairs first. Call me if you change your mind.”

After a few steps, she turned back: “Lately, both my brother and I feel like you haven’t been in very good spirits. If there’s anything wrong, you must tell me, okay?”

Jenny seemed to hesitate again, then looked up and said forcefully, as if stating a truth, “We’re friends, after all.”

Song Yi stared at her blankly, and it took her a long time to slowly come back to herself.

They were friends.

“Okay,” she offered a faint smile, “I understand.”

After Jenny’s figure disappeared from the doorway, Song Yi remained standing facing the door for a long time. Luo Jiaming suddenly asked from behind her, “Did something happen?”

She turned around, shook her head at him, and said, “Nothing. What about you? Is there something you need?”

Luo Jiaming suddenly stood up.

“Um, Sister Song Yi,” he began solemnly, as if a long-brewing storm was about to break, “I know I’m childish, impulsive, and I’ve been very rude to you before. But I just feel that if I don’t say some things, I’ll definitely regret it later.”

The boy’s eyes were like the dawn after rain.

He said firmly, “Sister Song Yi, I like you.”

Song Yi looked at him calmly.

She turned her head and said, “I’m sorry.”

As something came to mind, Song Yi’s tone suddenly became firm: “And I’m already with Chi Zhao.”

She smiled at him. Luo Jiaming froze, then also smiled shyly.

“Thank you for answering me,” Luo Jiaming said. “I deeply admire Mr. Chi. I truly, truly wish you both well!”

With that, he slowly backed away. Song Yi felt a bit like apologizing, but after much thought, she ultimately just said, “When I was going through a very difficult time, you and your family helped me a great deal. Honestly, you’re more like family to me than my own parents. So, I don’t want to be perfunctory with you—

“Jiaming, you’re still young, and life’s path is long. You’ll definitely meet more and better people in the future.”

Luo Jiaming nodded vigorously. Before stepping out, he turned back and said, “If possible, can we still play games together in the future?”

His gaze lingered for a moment, then he added, “As your younger brother.”

Song Yi nodded. She said, “As a younger brother, then.”

When he reached the hallway, a crestfallen expression finally appeared on Luo Jiaming’s face.

He really said it. Although he was rejected, he didn’t feel regret.

Song Yi was indeed Song Yi.

Despite the sadness, Luo Jiaming felt a sense of relief. However, he looked up coldly at the young lady who had been eavesdropping by the door. “What are you doing?”

Jenny displayed an indifferent expression: “As a friend of both Chi Zhao and Song Yi, what’s wrong with being a little more concerned?”

“Then you don’t have to worry,” Luo Jiaming said as he walked forward, “I was rejected.”

Watching the young boy’s retreating back, Jenny momentarily chuckled. She got up and followed him, pressing the elevator button for him before he could reach out.

“Kid,” she said, staring straight at the elevator doors, “but holding back tears just now and quickly wishing them well was actually quite cool.”

Luo Jiaming stared at her profile in astonishment. The elevator doors opened, and Jenny stepped inside.

He paused for a few seconds, then quickly rushed to catch up: “I wasn’t about to cry at all.”

________________________________________

Song Yi exhaled a long breath. By the time she finished the last check, it was almost time to leave work. She looked at Chi Zhao’s empty seat, her mood suddenly becoming complicated.

—Why am I the only one distressed?

By the time Song Yi realized it, she vaguely felt that she might have already experienced the anxiety and unease Cui Ting’ai spoke of.

Grievance, pain, and the overwhelming sadness that brought tears to her eyes from missing someone. She had almost forgotten this feeling.

Before leaving, she suddenly remembered what Luo Jiaming had said about games.

Last time, Ice Dream Butterfly couldn’t pass his friend request.

Thinking of this, Song Yi hadn’t logged into that account for a long time.

Chi Zhao had clearly said he gave it to her.

Song Yi knew everything about the interface and characters of ACDF. As soon as she logged in, she saw new content in the message board.

Clicking it open, she found that Ice Dream Butterfly had left a message for herself. She hadn’t operated it, so that message could only have come from Chi Zhao.

The unique image of the Totoro girl cheered and jumped, raising her arms and shouting “Go, Song Yi!” followed by a message: “Song Yi, I’ve accumulated many ideas recently but haven’t had time to draw them. So, I plan to stay in the studio for a while. Usually, I don’t like others disturbing me, but Song Yi is not just anyone.

“If you miss me, just call me anytime, and I’ll be right there by your side. Zhao.”

The publication date was the day he left.

Song Yi stared at the text, unable to speak for a long time.

He actually remembered her. He just mistakenly thought Song Yi would use ACDF, so he left the message here.

“This person—” Song Yi wanted to scold him, but the words caught in her throat.

When she got home after work, Grandma was already there. She had cooked dinner, and after nightfall, they both went to bed.

As she lay in bed, Song Yi unconsciously fell into insomnia once again.

In the deep silence of the night, Song Yi pulled out her phone. Chi Zhao’s number was right there. She sighed deeply. Just as she was about to put it away, she accidentally touched the screen.

Luckily, it hadn’t dialed yet. Song Yi quickly hung up and sat on the bed, dazed.

What if she also encountered a completely different Chi Zhao?

However, as she hesitated, the phone suddenly rang loudly. Song Yi was startled and tossed her phone up, catching it to see Chi Zhao’s name on the caller ID.

Song Yi was afraid he would hang up suddenly, so she immediately answered loudly, “Hello?!”

“Not asleep yet?” His familiar voice, laced with a smile, came through the receiver. “Are you home?”

He actually called as if nothing had happened. Song Yi sighed softly, “At this hour, of course I’m home.”

“Then come out,” he said.

Song Yi was startled. She glanced at the time; it was almost one in the morning. She froze for a moment, then, still in her pajamas, she got out of bed, abandoning her usual composure, and stumbled to the window.

She saw Chi Zhao.

He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans stained with paint, holding his phone in one hand and waving to her with the other. At this moment, Chi Zhao was standing downstairs.

Song Yi didn’t move for a long time. She stood still, her stiff face trying to form a smile, but the smile was masked by a deeper bitterness.

She waved back at him, and after a good while, she realized she needed to go downstairs.

Song Yi didn’t even bother to put on a coat. She went straight downstairs and, after pushing open the apartment door, stumbled into Chi Zhao’s arms. Chi Zhao didn’t rush to speak but gradually felt the wetness on his shoulder. She was crying.

Song Yi said, “Why are you like this? Wouldn’t it be better to just text or call me directly if you have something to say? Also, why did you have to paint for so long?”

Chi Zhao held her slender arms, her frail back, and every part of Song Yi close to him.

He lowered his eyes and suddenly thought, Song Yi’s body is so delicate, so fragile. He said, “It’s all my fault.”

She didn’t mean to complain about these things. Song Yi was a little annoyed with herself for feeling this way. She said, “‘A match made in heaven.’”

“Hmm?”

“Vice President Zhan used to say that about us,” Song Yi said, her emotions calming down. She continued faintly, “He said there are many areas where we understand each other. But after talking with Miss Cui, I’ve been wondering, what if one day we also have disagreements? What if I can’t understand you, or you can’t understand me—”

Chi Zhao suddenly released her.

In the night, Song Yi saw his cool eyes, like moonlight.

“A match made in heaven,” he said, “doesn’t mean there’s no need for communication, does it?”

Song Yi fell silent, gazing back and forth at his eyes in the night.

“Because we are compatible, that’s why we are willing to understand each other,” Chi Zhao said. “If you have different ideas, I’d be happy to hear them. I’ll also share my views with you.

“I want to understand you, and I only want to be understood by you,” he said.

Tears rolled down Song Yi’s cheeks. Chi Zhao suddenly chuckled.

“Don’t cry,” he said, then lowered his head and kissed her tears.

Song Yi wiped her tears and said, “I missed you so much. After talking with Miss Cui Ting’ai, I missed you even more.”

“You don’t need to worry about her anymore,” Chi Zhao said, burying his face in her long hair and smiling gently. “Am I not right here?”

Song Yi seemed to be trying to shed all her tears, but just as she pursed her lips, the next sob was interrupted by a kiss.

________________________________________

At the same time, the woman with flaxen hair turned off the audio playing on her phone and stood by the window, overlooking the entire city.

In the dead silence, she still felt the recent sounds echoing, like blades falling again and again, cutting her, shattering her, pushing her into an irreversible abyss.

Someone pushed the door open behind her.

“Stop it,” Cui Ting’ai didn’t turn around. Her face was bloodless as she spoke calmly to the newcomer, “I don’t want to continue.”

Chi Chong could no longer be found in this world. Cui Ting’ai knew this well, yet she still rocked the cradle while quietly gazing out the window.

“You all know Chi Shuren’s methods better than I do. He has the ability to make this child unrelated to the Chi family. So, while we can still maximize the benefits—”

Cui Ting’ai turned around.

She tried to curve her lips into a smile, but tears washed it away. “Let’s end it this way. This is mine and Chi Chong’s child... I didn’t protect him well,” she bit her lip, trying hard to suppress the pain, “At least I have to protect his child.”