After ending the call with Jian Wei, I hailed a taxi and headed to her company. It took about 20 minutes to arrive. By then, it was nearly 10 o’clock, and most employees had already left. Only the design department and the General Manager’s office still had lights on.
Jian Wei seemed to have heard my footsteps. As I approached, she opened the office door and urged me, “Hurry up! It’s already 10 o’clock. Our design director is waiting for you. He has a family life too, you know!”
I nodded and quickened my pace toward the office. The design director stood up to greet me. I apologized and shook his hand, saying, “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting!”
He smiled and said, “It’s fine with me. But General Manager Jian has been working so late that she hasn’t even had dinner yet. Let’s try to keep our discussion short so she can eat sooner.”
I glanced at Jian Wei. She looked tired, and there were a few pimples on her previously flawless face—surely from long-term sleep deprivation. In fact, compared with Mi Cai, her dedication to work was even more intense.
I nodded and said to the design director, “Alright, let’s get this done quickly.”
The designer smiled in agreement and handed me a color-printed design draft. I finally put aside my troubling thoughts and carefully examined the designs. Then I had a relatively in-depth discussion with the design director about the positioning and development direction of Lukou Company, hoping he could make some improvements in the details.
When the discussion ended, it was already 11 o’clock at night, and the designer had already left the company before us. The large office was left only with Jian Wei and me.
Jian Wei brought a box of pizza and a bowl of almond porridge from the service desk and placed them on the coffee table. She asked me, “Do you want to eat something?”
Actually, I hadn’t had dinner yet either, but I still said to Jian Wei, “You eat. It’s already late. I’ll go back first. After you finish eating, go home early too.”
“While we were discussing the plan just now, I could hear your stomach growling from hunger. I don’t get it—what’s the point of you being so reserved? Are you afraid I poisoned the pizza?”
I felt somewhat embarrassed…
Jian Wei continued, “I can’t finish this whole pizza by myself. Let’s eat together. That way, you won’t have to go out to eat later.”
I no longer hesitated and sat down on the sofa. Jian Wei immediately shared half of her pizza with me, and then we silently began eating…
A little later, Jian Wei handed me her bowl of porridge and said, “Eating like this is too dry. Have a little porridge to moisten your throat.”
I shook my head, indicating that I was fine…
Jian Wei looked at the rim of the bowl and noticed her lipstick mark. Immediately realizing the situation, she shrugged and said, “I forgot—we’ve long passed the time when we could share an ice cream or a bowl of porridge. So go ahead and keep being reserved. I won’t think you’re being overly fussy!”
“You’re teasing me again!”
“Am I teasing you?”
I remained silent, put the last small piece of pizza into my mouth, then took a disposable cup, went to the water dispenser, filled it with water, drank it all at once, and prepared to leave. But my hasty manner irritated Jian Wei again. She said to me, “Zhaoyang, don’t you think you’re being too deliberate?… Is it that, for you now, other than Mi Cai, every other woman is a threat?”
Instinctively, I replied, “Yes!”
This completely sincere response angered Jian Wei. After a pause, she said, “Do you feel strange about yourself now?… From an observer’s perspective, let me tell you, Zhaoyang, you’re already showing signs of being mentally unwell!”
I looked at Jian Wei, remained silent for a while, unsure of what to say. Deep inside, I felt sorrow for myself because I also felt I had become somewhat mentally unwell. Yet even in this unwell state, I still managed to put my cherished love into a precarious situation.
Jian Wei and I locked eyes. After a sigh, she softly said, “Recently, I’ve heard about some incidents involving Leyao and how they affected you… I can understand your anxiety now, but I also want to remind you not to let this incident affect your rising career… You’re a man, and your career is the last source of support for a man. It gives you a sense of fulfillment when you feel empty, and when you face setbacks in other areas, it gives you material confidence… So no matter what, don’t abandon your career, because your career is a man’s most loyal friend!”
This time, I finally listened to what Jian Wei said. I nodded and said, “Thank you for reminding me. I will keep it in mind!”
“Mm, Uncle Yang Congrong really believes in the cultural and artistic project. This time, he even used the valuable business connections he has accumulated over the years. I hope you won’t let him down, and… don’t let me down either, okay?”
“I’ll adjust my condition as soon as possible.”
…
When Jian Wei and I walked out of her office, the entire city seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. The moon hung lonely in the sky, spreading its sense of loneliness to the clock tower below. Thus, the ticking sound of the clock seemed more like a helpless lament…
Just as I was about to say goodbye to Jian Wei, a Land Rover parked ahead suddenly honked. Jian Wei squinted into the light and said to me, “It’s Xiangchen’s car.”
“Has he returned from abroad?”
“Yes, a few days ago.”
I nodded. Although being with Jian Wei so late at night might easily cause misunderstandings, I didn’t leave immediately because leaving hastily could cause even more misunderstanding.
Xiangchen got out of the car and came to where Jian Wei and I were. Although he had a smile on his face, his tone was quite displeased as he asked, “Why are you two together? It’s almost 12 o’clock!”
Jian Wei frowned and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Xiangchen’s tone immediately softened a bit, and with a helpless smile on his face, he replied, “Vivi, don’t misunderstand me. I didn’t mean anything else.”
Jian Wei ignored him, so he turned to me, seemingly hoping to get a reassuring answer from me.
I habitually offered him a cigarette and explained, “Recently, I plan to establish a company, and the VI section is being designed by Jian Wei’s advertising company. Today, the sample was finished, so I came by to check it out.”
Xiangchen nodded. Jian Wei still asked sharply, “Why did you come so late to find me? Also, are you tired of always being so suspicious?”
“You see, you misunderstood again. I came here to pick you up after work. You’ve been so busy all day, and now it’s so late. It’s unsafe for you to drive.”
I knew I wasn’t suitable to get involved in their conversation, so I said goodbye to both of them in advance. While sitting in the taxi, I instinctively looked back, and Jian Wei had already gotten into her car. Xiangchen stood alone under the hazy streetlight, seeming even more lonely than the city itself at this late hour… It seems that truly content people are really not many. At least at this moment, Xiangchen and I felt a sense of shared plight… Thus, I thought again of the words Jian Wei had just comforted me with. Perhaps a career really is a man’s most loyal friend, while love… always brings troubles to men… Not having it causes troubles, having it brings fear of losing it, which causes even more troubles…
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