Chapter 054 I don't ever want to date a gay guy again.
*
Dragging their heavy suitcases back to the narrow alley where they lived, they reached the spot where Su Xian’s house was on the left and Li Chengshi’s was on the right.
"Honey, isn't it about time you moved in?" she asked.
He smiled. "Have you been plotting to save on rent all along?"
"Of course!"
"Truly the heart of a money-grubber."
"Money should be spent on important things." She looked at him with a triumphant smile.
He understood. For a "money-grubber" to spend 1 million RMB on him was the most powerful confession of love possible. He took a step closer and leaned his head against her hair. "I know you must love me very much."
**
On their first day back at work, Honda was waiting by the elevator with a mysterious expression. After exchanging New Year's greetings, she led them to the office door like a shopping assistant. "Douzo, goran ni natte kudasai. (Please, have a look.)"
A large-scale model stood prominently in the exhibition area, exquisite and flawless.
"Wow! Zhao Nanfeng’s craftsmanship is as good as ever!" Su Xian circled the model several times. "But how could he have finished this so fast by himself? At this level of precision, it would normally take two or three people ten days to finish." She turned to Honda: "Shachou wa? (Where’s the boss?)"
"Yukue fumei. (Status unknown / Missing.)"
The company had a Line group, so Su Xian asked Honda to send a message, but Zhao Nanfeng didn't reply. She let it go; someone with this much drive certainly wasn't looking to suicide or what. They did some light cleaning and powered up their workstations.
*
After the previous incident, the office had installed surveillance. Honda checked the playback and called Su Xian and Li Chengshi over.
Throughout the entire holiday, Zhao Nanfeng had been working on the model almost without sleep, finishing only early this morning. In the footage, he leaned back into a pile of scrap materials on the floor and let out a long breath. He looked haggard, with a messy beard and exhausted eyes.
"His body hasn't even fully recovered, and he’s pulling stunts like this," Su Xian grumbled. She told Honda to check his place in Suitengu; if he had collapsed from exhaustion, Honda should just kick him awake.
"Su-san, you’re joking, right?"
Su Xian nodded.
**
Generally, the first few days of work were for visiting clients to offer New Year’s greetings. Since Zhao Nanfeng was absent, Su Xian decided to take Li Chengshi. They brought high-end tea and pastries from China as gifts. Many clients were also out visiting their own customers, so they simply left the gifts and well-wishes. When they did encounter someone, they exchanged pleasantries. Even clients who had abandoned Towa Design during the crisis didn't mind chatting with Su Xian, asking after Zhao Nanfeng’s recent state.
They returned to the office around 3:00 PM. Honda was back and mentioned she’d been scolded by Zhao Nanfeng for "meddling."
Wakui Ryo had visited and left Aomori specialty apple pies for everyone. The three of them finished their own portions, but they were so delicious they wanted more. Reasoning that Zhao Nanfeng probably wouldn't want to eat anything Wakui gave him, they divided up his portion and ate it too.
"Wakui-san saw this model and was so moved he actually teared up."
It seemed he truly understood Zhao Nanfeng’s design.
Su Xian circled the model again and noticed it was only temporarily fixed—there was no lighting or wiring yet. He was likely waiting for her "destruction." Su Xian took out the company camera and carefully took photos and videos.
Li Chengshi gathered the scrap materials to take them to the designated disposal area in the building. When he returned, he saw Su Xian dismantling part of the model and rushed to stop her. "Aren't you afraid the boss will yell at you?"
"It’s fine. I can restore it."
**
The next day, Zhao Nanfeng showed up for work. He had lost even more weight, and more of his hair had turned grey. He hadn't gotten a haircut, but he had shaved his beard and slicked his hair back, giving him a melancholic, soulful vibe.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Li Chengshi muttered to himself: Is he going for the "broken beauty" look? How "Green Tea"(bitch) of him!
Su Xian hadn't seen him like this either. He was usually high-spirited, even a bit arrogant. After getting stabbed, had his personality undergone a mutation?
Honda, however, went straight up to him with a compliment: "Shachou, kakkoii desu! (Boss, you look so cool!)"
Su Xian updated him on yesterday’s client visits and asked if he wanted to continue visiting others today. He refused.
"Wakui came by yesterday. Should we stop by his office to be polite?"
"Why should I be polite to the man who stole my wife? Did he bring apple pie?"
"He did... but we ate it all."
"You guys are unbelievable. That's the only thing I miss about him—the local specialty."
"I’ll call and ask if he has any more."
Seeing Su Xian reach for her phone, Zhao Nanfeng waved her off. "Show me your revisions. Since you had the guts to tear my model apart, you must have some confidence."
"Not really. Worst case, I’ll just restore the model for you. I’ve archived the data."
*
Zhao Nanfeng fell into deep thought as he looked at Su Xian’s revisions.
Su Xian didn't dare ask or move, looking like a college student having her thesis checked by a professor.
The changes to the proposal weren't huge, but one specific stroke hit Zhao Nanfeng’s heart. It was just as she had once critiqued: his design was too perfect, giving off a "cold rejection." Yes, he had designed it with that mindset—a high-end hotel facility themed around philosophy, one that was selective and rejected the mediocre. But he had generously allowed her to "destroy" it, and she had succeeded. Like the missing arms of the Venus de Milo, her intervention allowed the design to reach a higher state of sublimation. It moved him.
He looked up from the manuscripts. "Organize the logic of the proposal. We're going to submit it."
"I'm writing it?"
"You write. I’ll go modify the model."
Turning away, Su Xian gave herself a quiet "Oh yeah!" fist pump.
*
Back at her desk, Su Xian spun Li Chengshi’s chair around from behind and gave him a big kiss while no one was looking.
Li Chengshi was startled. "Are you crazy?!" He looked around to make sure the coast was clear before relaxing.
"Zhao Nanfeng approved my design!" she said, unable to hide her excitement.
"Is getting your ex-boyfriend's approval that exciting?"
"No, no, no. In a sense, he's my mentor. You really don't need to be jealous, baby."
"I’m not jealous."
"Good. Oh, by the way, boss wants you to help him with the model."
*
Zhao Nanfeng drew the shapes and had Li Chengshi cut the materials.
"I heard you moved in her house?"
"Yes."
"Don't think that means you can sit back and relax."
"I trust her."
Zhao Nanfeng let out a cold snort.
"You weren't reliable yourself, so you always think others are unreliable too," Li Chengshi countered. "But I'm different from you. I’m very dependable."
"Don't get cocky. Bring me board number 7, then cut number 8 and number 9."
**
On the way home, seeing Li Chengshi a bit silent, Su Xian asked, "Did Zhao Nanfeng say something weird to you?"
"No. He even taught me how to paste the decorative materials."
"Heh, him being this kind is actually hard to get used to."
"If he really becomes a good person, would you..."
"No," Su Xian answered firmly. "There are plenty of people in this world who were good from the start. Why should a 'reformed playboy' be worth that much?"
"But he really does have talent. And... don't you think he’s gotten more handsome?"
"Don't tell me you're catching feelings for him?" Su Xian frowned.
"Hey! What kind of sick question is that?!" Li Chengshi frowned back.
"As long as you're not. You gave me a fright. I don't ever want to date a gay guy again."
He chuckled, remembering her third boyfriend.
"Honey, there’s a surprise waiting at home," she said, leaning in mysteriously.
It wasn't hard to guess that it probably wasn't a very "innocent" surprise.
*
