MC - Chapter 28

Zhang Rufan woke up this morning. When she went to the washroom to freshen up, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought. Having suffered insomnia again last night, faint shadows of blue lay beneath her eyes. Though lacking sleep, her eyes did not look fatigued; on the contrary, they shone with an unusual brightness.

After finishing her wash, she opened the wardrobe to take out a set of everyday clothes. Her gaze swept across the inside, finally landing on the new outfit her aunt had mailed her—a goose-yellow Chanel-style skirt suit.

She had washed and dried the outfit the day before yesterday and hung it in a corner of the wardrobe. Her aunt’s sense of style was clearly different from hers. Although goose yellow was not especially dazzling, to her it still felt too conspicuous. In clothing, she had always preferred understatement. Yet today, when her eyes fell on this set again, she found it surprisingly pleasing.

Zhang Rufan put on the skirt suit and stood before the full-length mirror to examine herself. It was not as awkward as she had imagined; in fact, it looked quite fitting.

She had never believed the saying that mood could influence one’s sense of aesthetics, but now she did.

After changing, Zhang Rufan put on light makeup. Glancing at the time, she hurriedly slipped on a coat and went out.

When she entered the elevator, she hesitated as she pressed the button. She was wavering over whether to go check on Shen Mingjin, yet she worried that so early in the morning he might still be resting. If she went to his door rashly, she might disturb him.

Zhang Rufan thought it better to send him a message later and ask after him. Thinking this, she pressed the button for “1.” Unexpectedly, the elevator stopped at the 20th floor.

When the doors opened, Zhang Rufan unexpectedly saw Shen Mingjin. In surprise, she exclaimed, “You…?”

Shen Mingjin walked directly into the elevator, greeting her naturally: “You left later than usual today.”

Hearing this, Zhang Rufan felt as though he had been waiting for her for some time.

“You…” She had several questions to ask. Raising her head to look at him, she picked the most urgent one: “Are you feeling any better?”

“Mhm.”

Last night Shen Mingjin had taken some fever-reducing medicine and slept through the night. After sweating, his fever subsided. When he got up this morning, he half suspected he had dreamt a beautiful dream. Only when he went into the living room and saw the medicine she had brought still on the table did he know for certain that Zhang Rufan had indeed come down to see him.

At once he felt clear-headed and refreshed, his complexion glowing, with not the slightest trace of being a patient who had just endured a high fever.

Seeing that his condition truly had improved, Zhang Rufan still was not entirely reassured, so she asked: “You’re still going to the café today? Not staying home to rest?”

“Thanks to your medicine, I’m already well.” Shen Mingjin turned his head back, a layer of laughter in his eyes, and countered, “And you? I didn’t pass it to you, did I?”

Zhang Rufan’s ears grew warm. Lowering her gaze, she said, “A fever isn’t contagious.”

Shen Mingjin caught sight of the faint red at the tips of her ears and curled his lips in a smile.

As the elevator descended, a few more people entered. Zhang Rufan moved back to stand in the corner, and Shen Mingjin stood in front of her, shielding her from the crowd.

When they reached the first floor, many people walked out. As Shen Mingjin stepped forward, he noticed Zhang Rufan had not followed and turned back to ask, “Not coming?”

“You’re not driving today?” Zhang Rufan came back to her senses and followed.

Shen Mingjin shook his head. “I’ll accompany you on the subway.”

Today’s temperature was lower than yesterday’s. As they stepped out of the apartment building, a damp, chilly wind blew across their faces. The sky was turbid and dim; it seemed as though there were no clouds, yet also as though thick dark ones were piled up above, heavy and weighty, as if at any moment they might collapse and fall.

As Zhang Rufan walked down the steps, something landed on her eyelashes. She blinked, raised her hand, and caught a few pure white flakes. In surprise, she said, “It’s snowing?”

“Looks like it.” Shen Mingjin lifted his eyes. All around, light snowflakes floated and drifted down. He said, “It’s the first snow.”

Turning back toward Zhang Rufan, he reached out his hand to her and said, “Let’s go.”

Zhang Rufan glanced at his hand, then raised her eyes to look at his face.

Seeing her hesitant expression, Shen Mingjin immediately spoke, in a tone almost like reproach: “Ace of Hearts, I told you last night—I’m willing.”

“You’re not planning to kiss someone and then refuse to take responsibility, are you?”

Zhang Rufan’s cheeks heated, and she hurried to answer, “I’m not.”

“Then what are you standing there stunned for?” Shen Mingjin lifted his hand slightly, taking the initiative to say, “I’ve already been won over by you.”

Zhang Rufan looked at him, a slow smile spreading across her face. Now she was certain—his display of emotion last night had not been because of illness. He hadn’t accepted her out of momentary weakness. He had no regrets.

She stepped forward two paces and reached out to take his hand.

As her fingers touched the real warmth of Shen Mingjin’s skin, she finally experienced firsthand the way movies described love—that there truly could be someone who, just by being close, made you feel boundlessly warm.

Shen Mingjin gripped her hand tightly. Seeing the smile on her face, his lips curved even more broadly, his expression brighter than hers. He raised his brow and said, “So happy just to have caught me?”

Zhang Rufan did not deny it, giving a light nod. Shen Mingjin, knowing her temperament, understood this was already the greatest affirmation.

He clasped her hand, interlaced his fingers with hers, and lifted them up before their eyes as if to declare: “We’ve agreed—neither of us can let go easily.”

Zhang Rufan pressed her fingers back against his, solemnly promising, “Alright.”

Shen Mingjin slipped their joined hands into his coat pocket and, holding her, walked forward into the falling snow. A sudden thought stirred in him—if being sick worked so well, he should have caught a cold long ago.

In the early morning the snowfall was not heavy, fluttering and drifting with the wind. This was Shangjing’s first snow of the year.

Shen Mingjin savored this feeling. With just a reach of his hand, he could draw Zhang Rufan’s hand into his own. He accompanied her on the subway to work, and all along the way, their hands never stayed apart for more than a minute.

Because they had left later than usual today, Zhang Rufan had no time to stop by “Jindu.” After getting off the train and leaving the station, Shen Mingjin escorted her to the OW office building, reluctantly releasing her hand only then.

Zhang Rufan turned back and asked, “Will you be at the café at noon?”

“Yes.”

“Should I come see you?”

“Of course.” Shen Mingjin laughed heartily. “You’ve already won over the owner—come to the café whenever you want.”

Zhang Rufan curved her lips into a smile. “Then… I’ll go in.”

“Mhm.” Shen Mingjin nodded.

Zhang Rufan gave him one last glance before turning toward the office building.

“Xiao Fan?”

Her steps faltered, and she turned her head back.

Seeing that the nickname had made her turn, Shen Mingjin broke into a grin. Looking at her, he lifted his voice and said, “You look beautiful today.”

After speaking, he waved his hand. “Go on in.”

Zhang Rufan had always thought of herself as someone with very steady emotions, but this morning alone her heart had rippled several times already—and it continued to surge without pause.

When she sat down at her desk, the smile still lingered at the corners of her mouth. Seeing it, Yuan Shuang found it strange. She studied her face for a moment and asked, “Why are you so happy today?”

Zhang Rufan touched her own cheek and asked, “Is it that obvious?”

“Mhm, it’s written all over your face.” For once, Yuan Shuang wasn’t curious about the reason behind Zhang Rufan’s good mood, because she had bigger gossip to share. Leaning closer, she whispered, “Someone just spilled some tea in the staff group chat.”

“Tea?”

“Gossip,” Yuan Shuang explained mysteriously. “It seems Boss Shen has a girlfriend—and she’s from our company.”

“Huh?”

Zhang Rufan’s reaction was purely instinctive, but Yuan Shuang mistook it for surprise and added, “Caught you off guard, right?”

“Someone in the group said they saw him holding hands with a girl this morning, but they were too far away to see her face.” Yuan Shuang whispered, “Over the years, plenty of girls in our company have pursued Boss Shen. I really want to know which one won him over. You’re his classmate—have you heard anything?”

Zhang Rufan pressed her lips together, just about to explain the truth to Yuan Shuang, when Liu Pinyuan called her into the office.

The “Coffee Market” project was about to officially launch this month, and promotions had already begun across various media platforms, generating considerable buzz. Because of this, some coffee-related advertisers had approached OW, wanting to collaborate.

In the morning, Zhang Rufan accompanied Liu Pinyuan to meet clients and couldn’t make it back by noon, so she simply sent a message to Shen Mingjin.

After spending the whole day outside negotiating and securing a big partnership, Liu Pinyuan was delighted. Returning to the office, she immediately announced a department dinner that evening—her treat. At the mention of a dinner, all the employees grew excited, already discussing what to eat before work had even ended. As the project lead, Zhang Rufan naturally couldn’t skip it and spoil the mood.

In the end, they decided on hot pot at a restaurant in their own mall. The group booked a private room and filled a large table.

No dinner gathering was complete without alcohol, but Liu Pinyuan set a rule against pressuring anyone to drink, so everyone drank with restraint.

“The one who worked the hardest to push this event forward so smoothly is Rufan.”

At the table, Liu Pinyuan mentioned this in her toast, and for a moment everyone’s gaze turned toward Zhang Rufan. Some raised their glasses to her, one after another saying, “Hard work.”

Zhang Rufan rarely drank—her few encounters with alcohol were during New Year’s, when she accompanied her grandmother with a bit of homemade wine. She had never been drunk, as she always stopped after a little, so she didn’t actually know whether her alcohol tolerance was good or not.

She seldom joined group dinners, and when out, both for safety and to avoid losing composure, she rarely touched alcohol. But at this moment, faced with her colleagues’ friendly toasts, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

Zhang Rufan poured herself a little wine and raised her glass in acknowledgment. One toast led to another, and by the end of the meal, she had, all told, finished nearly a small bottle.

After finishing hot pot, someone suggested going to KTV. Before Zhang Rufan had time to excuse herself, Yuan Shuang pulled her along.

After eating and drinking together, everyone was brimming with enthusiasm. At the KTV, they all let loose—some gathered to sing, some to play games, while others clustered together chatting.

When Zhang Rufan returned from the restroom, Yuan Shuang and several female colleagues had just finished gossiping about Shen Mingjin and were now talking about things between couples.

While listening with great interest, Yuan Shuang turned around and saw Zhang Rufan sitting quietly to the side, her expression dazed—like she was listening, yet also lost in thought.

“Xiao Fan, have you ever…?” Yuan Shuang leaned over, trailing off halfway.

From the context, Zhang Rufan understood what she was asking. Pressing her lips together, she shook her head.

Yuan Shuang wasn’t surprised, and asked again: “Then does hearing us talk about this make you embarrassed?”

A little embarrassed, Zhang Rufan stayed silent for a moment before saying, “I’m an adult.”

She was an adult. Shen Mingjin was also an adult.

Once again her mind drifted off, filled with what Yuan Shuang and the others had said—adult love could not be without physical intimacy.

This department dinner had been thoroughly enjoyable, and everyone’s camaraderie had risen to another level. Even Zhang Rufan felt she had grown much closer with her colleagues, and she couldn’t help but marvel at the power of alcohol. Tonight, she hadn’t drunk much, yet it had still gone to her head, leading her to conclude that her alcohol tolerance wasn’t good.

When leaving the KTV, Zhang Rufan felt her head spinning, her steps wavering. A few colleagues, seeing her like this, first teased her about toppling after three drinks, then began discussing how to get her home.

“Does Rufan have a boyfriend?” Liu Pinyuan asked.

Yuan Shuang had already asked this question back on Zhang Rufan’s very first day at the company. Just as she opened her mouth to answer, Zhang Rufan beside her nodded and said, “Yes.”

“Huh?” Yuan Shuang was surprised.

“Then call him to come pick you up.”

Zhang Rufan didn’t hesitate. Earlier that evening, when she had told Shen Mingjin about the dinner, he had already said—call him when it was over.

She dialed and held the phone to her ear. After a few seconds, she spoke: “Can you come get me?”

The group exited the mall and said their goodbyes. Yuan Shuang, deeply curious about Zhang Rufan’s sudden boyfriend—and also unwilling to leave her tipsy friend alone—stayed by her side to wait together.

“Xiao Fan, when did you get a boyfriend?” Yuan Shuang asked.

After a delayed beat, Zhang Rufan answered, “Last night.”

“What?” Yuan Shuang stared in surprise. “You just got together?”

Zhang Rufan nodded.

“You only just returned to Shangjing, so you must have known him from a long time ago.”

“We’re… classmates.”

“No wonder.”

Yuan Shuang didn’t press further. She and Zhang Rufan weren’t alumni, so she wouldn’t recognize her classmate anyway.

As it turned out, the person who came to pick Zhang Rufan up was someone Yuan Shuang did know.

When Yuan Shuang saw Shen Mingjin, her jaw dropped. After a long pause, she finally exclaimed, “Boss Shen—it’s you?!”

Shen Mingjin greeted her, then turned his gaze to Zhang Rufan. Seeing him, she first smiled before softening her tone to say, “You’re here.”

Her radiant smile and girlish tone left Shen Mingjin momentarily overwhelmed—he had never been treated this way before. Her eyes carried a hazy glaze, clearly tipsy. He couldn’t help but ask, “You’ve been drinking?”

“A little,” Zhang Rufan replied.

“Drunk?”

“No.” She shook her head.

She said this while moving toward him, but in the mere two steps she stumbled.

Shen Mingjin’s quick reflexes caught her in time. With a helpless smile, he said, “You’ve had quite a bit, haven’t you?”

Zhang Rufan held up a single finger, clarifying, “One bottle of beer.”

Seeing that all of her usual subtle aloofness was gone when drunk, Shen Mingjin couldn’t help but laugh.

Supporting her lightly at the waist, he looked at Yuan Shuang and said, “I’ll take her now.”

Still in shock, Yuan Shuang nodded mechanically. “…Oh. Okay.”

Shen Mingjin hadn’t driven that day, and seeing Zhang Rufan’s condition, the subway wasn’t suitable either. After a moment’s thought, he brought her to the café.

He settled her into a corner seat, then went to the bar to make honey water. Carrying the cup over, he handed it to her and said, “Drink some—it helps with the alcohol.”

Zhang Rufan lifted the cup and sipped. Seeing her flushed face, Shen Mingjin shook his head, chuckling softly. “Just one beer and you’re drunk? Looks like I can’t let you drink outside anymore.”

“Though it is kind of cute,” he added under his breath.

Setting the cup down, Zhang Rufan suddenly looked up at him with a very serious expression and called his name: “Shen Mingjin.”

Her grave tone startled him. Thinking she had something important to say, he unconsciously straightened. “What is it?”

“Do you think I’m very conservative?”

The question stunned him. Though he didn’t know why she would ask, her seriousness made him answer earnestly: “Maybe… a little.”

Zhang Rufan shook her head slightly. “You’re wrong. I’m not conservative.”

Her solemn look was almost comical. Just as Shen Mingjin was about to smile, she declared firmly: “I can accept moving from sex to love too—if that’s what you want.”

The shocking words nearly made him choke. For someone usually so articulate, he suddenly found himself speechless, his ears turning suspiciously red.

He realized he might have misjudged Zhang Rufan.

If a relationship were a movie, Shen Mingjin had thought he was the one buffering more of the progress bar. He believed he could go at whatever pace she chose. Who would have thought that she would immediately drag the bar toward the ending?

Last night she had taken advantage of his vulnerable moment, and tonight she wanted to conquer him outright. Shen Mingjin opened his mouth but no words came, finally lowering his head and pressing his forehead with his hand. With a sigh—somewhere between helplessness and fluster—he said, “Ace of Hearts, you’re really drunk.”

1. “瓜” (Guā) – Melon/Tea; slang for "gossip" (literally "melon," as in "spilling the tea").

2. 盥洗室 (Guànxǐshì) – Washroom/Bathroom; a place for brushing teeth and washing up.

3. 乌青 (Wūqīng) – Dark circles; under the eyes, usually from lack of sleep.

4. 小香风套裙 (Xiǎoxiāngfēng tàoqún) – Chanel-style skirt suit; a fashionable, elegant outfit.

5. 鹅黄色 (Éhuángsè) – Goose yellow; a soft, light yellow color.

6. 淡妆 (Dànzhuāng) – Light makeup; natural-looking cosmetics.

7. 初雪 (Chūxuě) – First snow; the first snowfall of the season.

8. KTV (Kǎlā OK) – Karaoke; a place where people sing and socialize.

9. 三杯倒 (Sānbēi dǎo) – "Three cups and down"; someone who gets drunk easily.

10. 蜂蜜水 (Fēngmì shuǐ) – Honey water; a soothing drink for hangovers.

Characters

章入凡 (Zhāng Rùfán) – The protagonist.

沈明津 (Shěn Míngjīn) – A former classmate who wrote Zhang Rufan a love letter in high school, in her copy of Anne of Green Gables.

章胜义 (Zhāng Shèngyì) – Zhang Rufan’s father. 

李惠淑 (Lǐ Huìshū) – Zhang Rufan’s stepmother ("惠姨 Huìyí").

章梓橦 (Zhāng Zǐtóng) – Rufan’s much younger half-sister (~18 years age gap). 

章胜嫔 (Zhāng Shèngpín) – Rufan’s aunt (father’s sister). 

程怡 (Chéng Yí) – Rufan’s close friend from middle school. 

谢易韦 (Xiè Yìwéi) – High school class monitor who is getting married, prompting the reunion.

杜升 (Dù Shēng) – Someone Zhang Rufan didn't want to add as a friend on WeChat at first.

刘品媛 (Liú Pǐnyuán) – The planning department manager at OW.

孙璐 (Sūn Lù) – Zhang Rufan’s direct supervisor at OW, who goes by "Sister Lu" (璐姐, Lù Jiě).

袁霜 (Yuán Shuāng) – A friendly coworker in the planning department.

周慈 (Zhōu Cí) – Shen Mingjin’s mother

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy!