Zhang Jingchan sat beside her, watching the computer screen for a while before his gaze settled on her. Though it was clearly his body and his appearance, he seemed to see that slender, lively girl. Sometimes she would make a fist with her right hand and press it against her lips, staring at the screen in thought. Sometimes she would bite the tip of her ballpoint pen, staring at the paper while twirling the pen between her fingers. Sometimes she would furrow her brow and rapidly type on the keyboard, her eyes bright and focused.

Zhang Jingchan watched her for quite a while before picking up the company personnel files and subsidiary company materials, quietly accompanying her as he read. His phone rang once during this time. He glanced at it, then set it aside.

It wasn’t until 10 o’clock that Zhang Jingchan put down the materials and patted Li Weiyi’s shoulder: “I have to go back.”

Li Weiyi was still somewhat unfocused: “Mm… oh.” She turned her head, about to continue working, when Zhang Jingchan grasped her shoulder and turned her around. She frowned in displeasure: “What? Don’t interrupt my train of thought.”

Zhang Jingchan pointed at the clock on the wall: “You’ve been working continuously for an entire afternoon and evening. Rest. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Li Weiyi: “Mm, okay. I’ll work a little longer before sleeping. I’m not tired yet.”

Zhang Jingchan placed his phone in front of her: “Someone sent a text message. See how to reply.”

When Li Weiyi saw the content, her mind jolted alert, finally shifting her attention away from the piles of financial figures.

It was from Xu Yi: “Weiyi, you finish exams this week, right? Next Tuesday there’s a pretty good painter holding an exhibition at the arts center. A friend gave me two tickets. He’s an alumnus of the art university you want to attend. Want to go together? You could chat with him.”

Li Weiyi and Zhang Jingchan stared at each other.

She took the phone and said: “Not going. Of course not going. Didn’t we say we need to cut off this wrong emotional thread?” She tilted her head in thought and typed: Thank you, but I won’t go. Brother Xu Yi, I’m not planning to date right now…

Before she finished typing, a cool voice sounded beside her: “Brother Xu Yi? Not planning to right now?”

Li Weiyi’s head shot up: “Isn’t ‘brother’ what you call him too?”

Zhang Jingchan actually smiled lightly and said: “This kind of reply won’t work. Isn’t this how you rejected him before? He’s calculating and can afford to wait.”

Li Weiyi: “That’s true…” She thought for a moment, deleted the text and re-entered: “I don’t have feelings for you…”

“Not strong enough.”

Li Weiyi threw down the phone: “Then how do you suggest replying?”

Zhang Jingchan placed one hand on the desk surface beside her, his fingers lightly tapping: “You really want me to reply?”

Li Weiyi: “…” Why did she feel like she was walking into a trap?

She said: “You reply. Let me see.”

Zhang Jingchan picked up the phone, his fingers moving quickly, and in moments had typed several lines…

Li Weiyi: …

This person had already thought about how to reply!

“Sorry, Ah Chan and I got back together. I still like him. He’s very unhappy about us being in contact. Please don’t contact me anymore.”

Li Weiyi grabbed his finger: “This… isn’t appropriate.”

Zhang Jingchan met her eyes with his. His eyes were clear, black, and deep, seeming to hold a slightly bewitching power. He said: “I understand Xu Yi. Only this way will make him completely give up. It’s not like I’m really asking you to be with me at seventeen.”

“…”

Li Weiyi looked at this text message and slowly released his finger. Hesitation would only lead to trouble. Right now, Xu Yi had only been pursuing her for two months with limited contact—there was no deep feeling to speak of. Zhang Jingchan was right. Speaking more decisively was actually better for Xu Yi.

Li Weiyi pressed the send button herself.

Zhang Jingchan’s prediction was correct.

Li Weiyi later looked through the text messages from the previous two months. Each time she had politely declined, Xu Yi acted as if he hadn’t heard and continued chatting and joking with her, leaving her at a loss for what to do.

But this time, Xu Yi never sent another text message.