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Psst! We're moving!
Shang Zhitao hadn’t known that this was what Luan Nian meant by “finding someone,” at least not before going to his place. He was like an “addict.”
Exhausted and unwilling to move, Shang Zhitao sprawled on the bed, complaining, “Isn’t this a quid pro quo involving power and sex?”
Luan Nian glanced at her. “Where’s the ‘sex’?”
“Hmph!”
Unconvinced, Shang Zhitao turned her back. Although she had a soft personality, she was a girl from Bingcheng (Ice City), and carried some of that Bingcheng girl essence. She wasn’t short, had smooth lines, and was actually quite attractive. But she was still a little short of the kind of beauty that would make Luan Nian’s eyes light up.
After all, Luan Nian is blind, Shang Zhitao thought.
But she was still preoccupied with the job competition, so she sat up, hugged her knees, and looked at Luan Nian with a smile. “So, will you give me the green light for this competition?” Shang Zhitao asked him.
“No.”
“...Then why did you tell me to ‘find someone’?”
Luan Nian shrugged. “I won’t give you the green light, but from a fairness perspective, you will succeed. I’ll approve you.”
“Why?”
“Because you have indeed achieved a lot, possess an excellent work attitude, and your mind... well, it’s working better than before.”
Shang Zhitao giggled, hooking Luan Nian’s finger with hers. “You’re praising me.”
“Didn’t you ask me to praise you occasionally?”
Time truly is a marvelous thing. Shang Zhitao felt that time changed and shaped them, even shaping their relationship. Although the relationship, under a less-than-ideal name, wasn’t something to be discussed with outsiders, in Shang Zhitao’s heart, it was a comfortable one. Though Luan Nian was still a sharp person, the occasional softness he revealed fascinated Shang Zhitao.
Shang Zhitao had no grand ambitions; she felt the present was good enough.
Luan Nian really did help Sun Yu arrange a meeting with an investor.
On the day they met, Sun Yu asked Shang Zhitao if she wanted to come. She shook her head and then said to Sun Yu, “Can you pretend you don’t know about my relationship with him?”
“Why?”
“Because besides you, nobody knows.”
Sun Yu looked at Shang Zhitao for a long moment, then sighed. “You mean, I should be more polite to him, right? You’re afraid I’ll say something inappropriate, anger him, and we’ll both lose out.”
Shang Zhitao nodded. “Yes. I’m afraid you won’t get the investment, and I’m also afraid he’ll get angry.” Her consideration made Sun Yu’s heart ache.
“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
“Then I wish you success.” Shang Zhitao hugged her, then said to Luke, “Quick, bark twice for Sister Sun Yu! Sister’s financial luck will surely be ‘wang’ (prosperous/barking sound) today!”
Luke: Woof! Woof!
They met at Luan Nian’s bar. Sun Yu drove her newly bought second-hand Geely car up the mountain. Pushing open the bar door, she saw a man with a cool expression standing behind the bar, mixing drinks. That must be Luan Nian, whom Shang Zhitao had mentioned countless times.
She walked up to the bar and greeted him, “Hello Luan Nian, I’m Sun Yu.”
“Sit.” Luan Nian pointed his chin towards a high stool. “What would you like to drink?”
“Alcohol.”
Luan Nian looked up at Sun Yu. He had seen her once from afar, the day Shang Zhitao reported Dony, when she came to pick her up. Other times, she was the Guizhou beauty Shang Zhitao talked about endlessly – an independent, clear-headed, smart, and righteous ‘stunner’.
Does Shang Zhitao even know what ‘stunner’ means? Luan Nian thought Shang Zhitao had questionable taste. Once, in the car, she had suddenly pointed to a girl in a down jacket on the roadside and said, “Wow, so pretty.” Luan Nian had looked over but couldn’t find the ‘wow’ factor.
Sun Yu was a bit better than that ‘wow’, at least fair-skinned and clean-looking.
He pushed the mixed drink towards Sun Yu. “Enjoy. The other party will be here in about half an hour.”
“Then they’re not late, I arrived too early.” Sun Yu didn’t mention that Shang Zhitao had told her the mountain road was far and winding, urging her to leave early. She didn’t bring up Shang Zhitao at all.
“Did Shang Zhitao exaggerate about this mountain road?” Luan Nian took a sip of water, his clean hand tapping lightly on the bar. It was hard to describe the feeling, but it just made one think he was definitely not easy to get along with.
Before leaving, Shang Zhitao had instructed Sun Yu not to mention her, but Luan Nian immediately broke the rule Shang Zhitao had set. Sun Yu smiled at him. “She said the mountain road isn’t easy to drive.”
“Indeed, not easy for a road hazard.”
“...”
Sun Yu had heard from Shang Zhitao that Luan Nian had a sharp tongue and was mentally prepared, yet she still wanted to punch him when she heard his sarcastic remark.
Luan Nian did it on purpose.
What kind of crappy events was Sun Yu organizing? Luan Nian got annoyed just thinking about it.
Neither spoke. Sun Yu thought, a man like Luan Nian only has his looks going for him. If she were with him, she’d definitely cut out his tongue first to shut him up. Maybe he’d be easier on the eyes if he couldn’t talk.
No wonder Taotao puts up with him.
The two remained silent until the person from the investment firm arrived.
It was a young man around thirty, wearing glasses and a thick woolen coat. After taking it off, he revealed a sharp suit underneath. Seeing Luan Nian, he proactively extended his hand. “Hello, Master Luke.”
Luan Nian chuckled at the title. “Did Song Qiuhan tell you to say that?”
The investor’s name was Xin Ji. He shook his head. “No, I’ve seen your award-winning works, I really like them.”
“That’s in the past.” Luan Nian was uncharacteristically modest. “Let me introduce you first. Ms. Sun Yu, a partner in this startup company, in charge of sales and operations. This is Xin Ji, a project manager from a top investment firm. Xin Ji, what would you like to drink?”
“Alcohol.” Xin Ji was easy-going. “I heard Luke’s cocktails are delicious, since I’m already here...”
“Then I’ll show my humble skills. Shall we chat at the bar?”
“Okay.”
Sun Yu hadn’t spoken much. Luan Nian had directly said everything she needed to say for her, even suddenly becoming amicable, as if he were a different person. So she simply kept quiet, wanting to see just how far Luan Nian intended to help her.
Sun Yu never expected Luan Nian to put in so much effort. Luan Nian had actually figured out their business model and even optimized it for them. From beginning to end, she barely spoke. Luan Nian spoke for her.
Shang Zhitao had said Luan Nian wasn’t talkative, like a silent gourd.
Shang Zhitao had also said Luan Nian had a bad temper, would pull a long face after just a few words, and flip out faster than turning a page.
Shang Zhitao had also said Luan Nian had very low emotional intelligence, never considering others’ feelings when speaking, saying whatever he wanted, regardless of whether you were happy or not.
The Luan Nian Shang Zhitao described didn’t match the Luan Nian Sun Yu was seeing at all. She even began to think Shang Zhitao was biased against Luan Nian.
In the end, Luan Nian patted Xin Ji’s shoulder and said, “Better make a decision quickly, we have meetings scheduled with two other companies later.”
?
Sun Yu almost knelt before Luan Nian. We can’t find any other better companies! If our project doesn’t get funding soon, it’s doomed!
But Xin Ji nodded. “I have no problems here, I’ll go back and do the evaluation.”
“When can we expect results?”
“Within a week.”
“A bit long.”
“Within three days.”
“Okay.”
And just like that, it ended. Sun Yu and Luan Nian saw Xin Ji out, watched him get into the car driven by his chauffeur.
Luan Nian reverted to his lifeless demeanor. Talking was exhausting, and he had been talking constantly for Shang Zhitao’s friend’s project. He didn’t even know what he was getting out of it.
Sun Yu said to him, “Thanks, you were helping me answer all sorts of questions just now.” Although I didn’t need it, was the subtext. I came from sales, talking is the last thing I’m afraid of.
“Get the investment soon, so you’ll have money to hire extras for your weird offline events.”
Luan Nian inexplicably said this, leaving Sun Yu completely baffled.
“How are you going to drive back after drinking?” Luan Nian suddenly asked her. The dog Shang Zhitao raised was like her, and the friends she made were like her too – asking for alcohol the moment they walked in, forgetting they drove there. He couldn’t be bothered to remind her; it was none of his business.
...Fuck. Sun Yu then remembered she drove today. Looked at the car, looked at Luan Nian. He hadn’t drunk, maybe he could drive her.
Luan Nian, however, put on a ‘good guy’ act. “Well then, I’ll drive you. You can arrange for someone to pick up your car another day.”
“Then thank you.”
Luan Nian dropped Sun Yu off at her residential complex entrance. Feeling a bit indebted, Sun Yu made a polite offer, “It was really troublesome today, let me treat you to dinner.”
“Isn’t your company’s cash flow broken?”
Sun Yu thought, this man’s mouth is really vicious. “I still have enough money for a meal myself.”
“Then you treat.” Luan Nian took out his phone and called Shang Zhitao. “Come out.”
Sun Yu felt the relationship between Shang Zhitao and Luan Nian was peculiar. Although the two weren’t talking much, strange emotions surged between them, making the air heavy with ambiguity. It made the Japanese restaurant feel a bit sultry. Luan Nian ordered sake. Sun Yu kindly reminded him, “You drove.”
“I have a driver.” Luan Nian gave a forced smile, looking quite punchable.
Sun Yu looked at Shang Zhitao, this is the man you’re head over heels for? Shang Zhitao pouted, you haven’t seen Lumi, she’s almost crazy. Then she beamed, Isn’t this man great? I like him a lot. I think everything about him is good.
The three drank together. Shang Zhitao’s alcohol tolerance had improved slightly. Three sake flasks sat in front of her, her little face flushed red. She even proactively toasted Sun Yu. “This year is almost over. Although it’s been as bad as ever, at least as it ends, you might get an investment, and I’ll be going to the planning department I’ve dreamed of. This counts as a small reward for our mundane lives.”
The two suddenly remembered how they always seemed to encounter bad things around this time each year, encouraging each other, saying everything would be better next year, that they would welcome their own year of happiness. Yet the next year was just as cruel. Life is inherently bitter; bitterness is one of life’s medicines.
Sun Yu took a sip of sake and suddenly cursed, “Damn it, who knows when this fucked-up life will get better.”
“Sooner or later.”
Luan Nian sat beside them, silent. He had thought perhaps Shang Zhitao wasn’t living well, like the fragmented glimpses of her life she unintentionally showed him – illness, shady rental agents, workplace sexual harassment. But there were many other things he couldn’t see, struggles she and her friends endured on their own. And yet, Shang Zhitao always appeared at his place radiating sunshine, even like that line of poetry “laughter lit up the four winds,” like clouds and mist in April, a true early spring brightness.
The two girls drank merrily. Shang Zhitao took off her sweater, revealing the delicate skin and smooth curves of her waist, very eye-catching. Luan Nian quietly wrapped the sweater around her waist. Sun Yu saw his action and thought: Someone’s fallen into the trap without realizing it.
After drinking, Luan Nian drove them downstairs. Sun Yu excused herself to go upstairs first. Shang Zhitao kicked at the remaining snow by the roadside, her speech slightly slurred from drinking. “If we could have a hug before parting, that would be even better.”
Luan Nian smiled. He actually didn’t know how good-looking he was when he smiled, the kind of beauty like everything flourishing in April. He pulled Shang Zhitao into his arms, but his words weren’t gentle. “I’ll kill you if you drink with others like this.” Taking off clothes while drinking comes so naturally? What was she wearing underneath?
Shang Zhitao giggled in his arms, teasing him along the way. “Do you want to take Luke and me to your place?”
They were about to face a long separation again, which Shang Zhitao disliked.
“I’ll get a designated driver.”
The sake had a strong aftereffect. Shang Zhitao insisted on opening the window in the car, letting the wind blow on her all the way. As soon as they reached Luan Nian’s place, she started throwing up.
Fuck. Luan Nian cursed inwardly.
While suppressing the urge to kill her, he cleaned up, thinking, you and your dog are both quite something. Your dog shits in my house, you vomit in my house, you both deserve lingchi (death by a thousand cuts).
After cleaning up, he helped Shang Zhitao brush her teeth, rinse her mouth, and take a bath. It wasn’t until late at night that things quieted down. Luan Nian pinched Shang Zhitao’s cheek fiercely. “Making a fuss after just a bit of cat piss (weak alcohol). Let’s see if you dare drink again?”
In her sleep, Shang Zhitao impatiently pushed his hand away, snuggled into his arms, and murmured his name over and over: “Luan Nian, Luan Nian, Luan Nian...”
This name was probably a spell, firmly trapping Shang Zhitao within the domain he radiated. She couldn’t get out, nor did she want to. She liked this besieged city he built; except for the lack of freedom in love, it had everything else.
Another year passed like this. Shang Zhitao took Luke back to Bingcheng, Luan Nian went to the US.
Dr. Liang was also petty, remembering Luan Nian lying to her about having a girlfriend. She followed him around, saying, “I looked, that dating website isn’t bad, there are genuinely many good girls on it. Mommy thought their profiles were quite good, so I went ahead and registered one for you too.”
?
Luan Nian stopped packing his luggage. He saw Dr. Liang take out her phone to show him. “Look, how’s the profile Mommy filled out?”
Luan Nian took the phone and saw the bio read: Winner of top international advertising awards, child prodigy, senior executive at a famous multinational company, annual salary in the tens of millions. Oh right, excellent family background. Partner requirements: None. Dr. Liang had even carefully selected photos, finding some handsome guy’s pictures from somewhere, looking incredibly fake.
Dr. Liang was a bit smug. “Afraid of affecting your stock price, so I changed your name and photo. But guess what? There are actually many girls interested in you, even sent private messages.”
Dr. Liang saw the question marks all over Luan Nian’s face and thought, trying to outsmart your mom? You’re still too green. She added with a smile, “And guess what? It’s a small world. Among these private messages, there’s actually a girl, the owner of that photo you randomly found, who also sent a message.”
Hearing this, Luan Nian frowned, his mood turning very sour. He opened the private messages and saw a message from Shang Zhitao’s account: “Hello, I also work in Beijing. Want to get to know each other?”
...
It was very quiet around. Luan Nian wanted to kill Shang Zhitao. Dr. Liang sensed Luan Nian’s anger, took back her phone, still provoking him, “This girl is quite cute, I said, why not meet up? The girl said: Meeting alone is a bit awkward, how about signing up for the website’s offline event together?”
After saying this, Dr. Liang suppressed the urge to burst out laughing and left, her stomach hurting from holding it in. She discovered for the first time how fun it was to manipulate her own son.
Luan Nian didn’t expect to get a stomachache from anger towards Shang Zhitao on New Year’s Day. He took some stomach medicine and chatted with Song Qiuhan, Chen Kuan Nian, and others. He said to Song Qiuhan, “That crappy dating project, I thought about it, it’s not particularly reliable. Too many marriage scammers inside, maybe halt your investment, at least re-evaluate the risks.”
Song Qiuhan naturally didn’t know why he said this and answered seriously, “I’ve also assessed the risks with colleagues in China. Real-name verification can mitigate some issues, it’s not a big problem. This project is quite good, creating a spring for single people.”
...Spring my ass! That idiot Shang Zhitao is practically becoming the spokesperson for that website!
Far away in Bingcheng, Shang Zhitao sneezed, wondering who was cursing her. Old Shang and Da Zhai were busy in the kitchen. Luke sat at the kitchen door, waiting for them to occasionally toss him a piece of meat.
Shang Zhitao protested, “Don’t feed him so much meat! It’s not good!”
Luke barked at Shang Zhitao: Woof! I have a whole drawer of meat at the bar! I eat it every day!
Shang Zhitao didn’t understand, thinking Luke was challenging her. She picked up a slipper to chase him. “I told you not to eat it, and you dare to be fierce with me, I’ll hit you!”
Old Shang wasn’t happy, snatching the slipper from her hand. “You dare hit Luke once! I’ll kick you out of the house!”
“? I’m your daughter!”
“Don’t say useless things, Luke is more important than you.”
Hmph!
Outside, firecrackers popped loudly. Shang Zhitao, as usual, sent Luan Nian an email: “Happy New Year, hope everything goes well in the new year.”
Luan Nian replied: “Happy New Year, stop being a marriage scammer!”
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