After saying goodnight to Leyao, I returned to my room. After washing up, I lay on the bed as usual, smoking and staring at the ceiling, letting loneliness overwhelm me. Yet I wasn’t willing to reach out to anyone. At that moment, I felt that loneliness was something I was most skilled at during this phase. Perhaps this feeling was related to Mi Cai being far away in the United States. Because of the time difference and our respective busy careers, communication between us had become very difficult.
The day after tomorrow was my birthday. Suddenly, I missed my father and mother very much. I missed the birthday cakes they gave me every year before I left Xuzhou, and their smiling faces…
Thinking about it, I smiled unconsciously. I crushed the cigarette in the ashtray, sat up from the bed, turned on the computer, and prepared to incorporate the “Yuanlai Inn” into the “Perfect Travel” plan that I had just taken over.
Time passed unnoticed until 2 a.m. in the deep night. Finally, I completed the new plan and sent it via email to the marketing department of “Rongyi Travel Network” along with the activity photos I had taken today.
A difficult problem that had troubled me for a long time was finally resolved, causing the previously tense nerves to relax instantly. Then, fatigue overwhelmed me. After washing my face, I lay motionless on the bed, waiting to fall asleep.
But even though I was clearly exhausted, I couldn’t fall asleep. I lit another cigarette and stared at the ceiling, idly pondering why I couldn’t sleep at this lonely hour. After a long time without finding an answer, I picked up my phone again, first opening QQ and then WeChat, wanting to post a social media update to feel a sense of existence. However, after thinking for a long time, I still didn’t know what to write. Only in disappointment did I realize that I had long been drifting away from my circle of friends.
I stared wide-eyed at the phone screen. Although Mi Cai’s contact icon was right in front of me, I always hesitated to reach out to her when I needed her the most. Perhaps I was also a perfectionist, always hoping that when I missed her, she would appear before me like a spring breeze.
But reality was always harsh. When I needed her, she wouldn’t become that spring breeze, but often left me with a busy back view, placing us in two different plots. So she had Weiran by her side, and I had Leyao. But this couldn’t change the fact that we were boyfriend and girlfriend. Perhaps this complicated situation was just a fleeting youth difficult to grasp.
…
After closing my eyes and exhaling heavily, I was about to close the opened QQ and WeChat when I unexpectedly found “Simi Advertising” online in the QQ contact list.
I checked the time again. It was really 2:30 a.m. Jian Wei still hadn’t gone to sleep. So I sent her a message: “The plan for ‘Perfect Travel’ has already been sent to the marketing department of ‘Rongyi Travel Network.'”
After a while, she replied: “Then I feel relieved. Keep it up.”
“Yeah, thank you this time.”
“Just a simple thank you seems too perfunctory.”
“Then what do you want?”
“The day after tomorrow is your birthday… No, it’s already past midnight. Are you not planning a birthday party?”
I was very surprised that Jian Wei still remembered my birthday, so I replied: “You still remember my birthday!”
“Yeah, I’ve already ordered the cake. You can take the opportunity of your birthday to treat me to a meal.”
“It’s really perfunctory to treat me to a meal just for your birthday. Let’s do it separately another day.”
“You should be more sincere. I’m very busy, you know! Even if you want to treat me, you have to match my schedule.”
When Jian Wei called herself “older sister” in front of me, I felt very awkward but didn’t think much of it. I quickly replied: “Okay then, if you don’t mind, let’s do it that way.”
“Okay… By the way, Yan Yan and Fang Yuan will also go to Xitang this evening to celebrate your birthday together.”
“They’re coming too!”
Jian Wei answered me clearly and decisively: “They need a short trip as a seasoning for life, so I invited them to come with me. You know what I mean.”
I sent her an expression indicating approval and also thought it was better that Fang Yuan and Yan Yan were coming. Because many times I was reluctant to be alone with Jian Wei, even though she had already called herself “older sister” in front of me.
After a short pause, I asked Jian Wei: “How come you’re still working so late without resting?”
“Recently, I’ve taken on a big government project and have been personally following it up, so I’ve been working late these days.”
I really wanted to know whether Xiang Chen was taking care of her nearby, but eventually didn’t ask. I just said: “Yeah, government projects do require special attention, but you should also take care of yourself and not get worn out!”
“You still have to work hard, so let’s skip these meaningless reminders… It’s getting late. Go back and rest first. You should also go to sleep soon.”
“Okay, I guess you must be very tired. Drive safely on your way back.”
“Got it… See you this evening.”
“See you in the evening.”
…
Although I had insomnia until midnight, the next day I still got up early, because I was going to sign the sublease contract for “Yuanlai Inn” with Zhou Zhaokun, which made me feel very excited. I felt that this was the best birthday gift I could give to myself for my 27th birthday.
At nine o’clock, I walked with the arranged Feng towards “Yuanlai Inn.” On the way, I stopped by the bank to withdraw 30,000 yuan in cash and gave it to Feng, saying: “Take this 30,000 yuan and distribute it to the merchants who participated in the event yesterday.”
Feng refused, saying: “30,000 yuan is a large sum. You should keep it yourself. The expenses for yesterday’s event can be deducted from the donations collected from the tourists.”
I replied seriously: “Absolutely not. A person without credibility cannot stand. Every penny of the donations must be used to help those children in need!”
“You say that makes me feel ashamed!”
I patted his shoulder and smiled: “You’re thinking for me, and I’m really grateful to you, my buddy… By the way, Zhou Zhaokun gave me a check for 200,000 yuan yesterday. Think about how this money can be converted into other ways to help those children.”
Feng nodded and replied: “Yeah, giving cash isn’t quite appropriate. I’ll think about it and discuss it with you later.”
While talking with Feng, the phone rang again. I instinctively thought that Mi Cai had finally remembered to call me after finishing her day’s work. I hurriedly took it out from my pocket, but the result disappointed me—it was a call from CC.
I instinctively frowned before answering the phone and said to CC: “CC, why are you calling me so early in the morning?”
“I’m letting you know that Luoben and I will go to Xitang this evening… We all remember your birthday!”
“You’re making me so moved… really moved!”
CC replied in a nonchalant tone: “Wait until we deliver your birthday present before you get moved.”
“What’s the birthday present?”
“A gift that will move you beyond words!”
“That’s impossible. Since I’ve seen through the harshness of life, I’ve rarely been moved beyond words!”
“Zhaoyang, don’t be too quick to speak. If you’re not moved beyond words, Luoben and I really won’t have the face to see you again!”
Hearing CC speak so confidently, my curiosity was immediately aroused. I urged her: “Anyway, you and Luoben don’t have work. Why don’t you bring the birthday gift over now so I can take a look!”
“No, not now… The birthday present is still on its way!”
Her answer left me speechless. After a while, I replied: “On its way?… So it’s probably something cheap bought from Taobao, why make it sound so mysterious!… Just call the courier and urge them. Maybe it will be delivered to you shortly, and you won’t have to wait until this afternoon!”
CC on the other end of the phone was even more speechless than me. After a while, she finally replied: “I’m too lazy to argue with you. Anyway, this evening you’ll see our birthday present and be moved slowly.” Then she hung up.
I smiled indifferently and thought to myself: “I don’t care about any gift. To move me, unless Mi Cai can stand in front of me, as my girlfriend, and say in person: ‘Happy Birthday!'”
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