After enjoying bone soup at home for several days as I’d wished, I rolled back to the company, pleasantly plump. Yin Jie and Yu Hua each grabbed one of my arms, pinching at my flesh.

“You’ve gained weight, definitely eleven pounds.”

“…You’re just jealous.”

Yin Jie exclaimed frantically: “How can I not be jealous! You were eating and drinking well while my workload doubled!”

I spread my hands: “See? Now you know how much work I usually do for you, and how important I am.”

Yin Jie whined, “Yes, my lord, I’ll never forget my keys again. Do you know I’m now famous throughout the company for forgetting my keys? Last Friday when I delivered documents to Vice President Lin, he reminded me very seriously before I left, ‘Don’t forget your keys in the future’… Just let me die.”

“Hahaha, you have the nerve to complain? Little Nie suffered because of your carelessness.” Wang Qi came over to tease her, then said to me, “Little Nie, are you better now? Our department originally planned to visit you together, but President Lin said your condition needed quiet rest and it wouldn’t be appropriate for a group to visit, so we didn’t go. Don’t take it personally.”

“Ah, I won’t.”

Lin Yusen… When they mentioned him, I became a bit distracted, wondering what things would be like now that I was back at the company…

I soon saw Lin Yusen at the Monday morning meeting.

The meeting had no major agenda items. Following Lin Yusen’s style, he’d give a few instructions about work and end it, sometimes taking less than five minutes. However, before this one ended, he suddenly spoke up: “I’ve heard recently that people are saying our department has bad feng shui.”

Everyone exchanged glances, and Yin Jie whispered, “I haven’t heard about this. Who’s spreading such nonsense? It even reached Vice President Lin’s ears. They’re asking for trouble!”

Others also looked indignant.

However, Lin Yusen had no intention of investigating. He changed the subject, saying, “Well, I had a car accident last month, and this month a colleague, um, jumped off a building, so it’s understandable that people might have thoughts.”

Jumped off a building… I had just taken a sip of water and almost spat out my tea.

“So I’m planning for our department to have a dinner together this week, to change our luck.”

Dinner can change luck? I shuddered, but before I could express my shock, I heard him continue, “Of course this dinner can’t be charged to the company. The cost will be split between me and Nie Xiguang.”

…

Shock — everyone’s expression as they looked at me.

Shock — my expression as I looked at Lin Yusen.

I timidly asked: “Why do I have to split the cost?”

Other departments’ meals were always treated by their leaders!

Lin Yusen maintained a businesslike manner: “Weren’t the rumors caused by our successive incidents?”

…How does that work? And please don’t phrase it like we’re involved in some scandal…

Finally, I could only ask: “Is it expensive?”

Lin Yusen gave me a slight smile.

I spent the day under my colleagues’ various strange gazes…

Yin Jie worriedly said: “Oh no, won’t Vice President Lin’s choice of restaurant be really expensive? According to my nightly star-gazing, you’re going to be broke this month. Want me to lend you some money?”

I felt this was an undeserved calamity. Treating everyone to dinner was fine, but treating them to change our luck really… exceeded my intelligence quotient.

“Then use your star-gazing to tell me what would happen if I ‘forgot’ my wallet and let Vice President Lin pay for everything?”

Yin Jie looked at me with disdain: “No need for star-gazing for that one. My knee can tell you you’ll be working overtime tomorrow, brutally.”

“Don’t worry, with our Vice President Lin’s grace and character, he’s probably just saying it. He won’t make you pay. PS, even if he does make you pay, it won’t be expensive.”

So I could only obediently carry my wallet and wait for Vice President Lin’s summons. As it turned out, Yin Jie had severely overestimated Lin Yusen’s character…

The expense would have been fine – everyone was delighted to have such a luxurious meal, and I wasn’t really concerned about the money, just complaining to Yin Jie for fun. The problem was…

After everyone happily finished eating, Lin Yusen got up to pay the bill. Yin Jie tugged at my sleeve, her eyes saying: See? I told you so, Vice President Lin is paying by himself after all.

I gave her a thumbs up in approval.

Then I received a text from Lin Yusen: Come to the front desk.

I got up puzzled and went over. Everyone probably thought I was going to the restroom, so they didn’t pay attention. At the front desk, Vice President Lin was leaning slightly against the counter, smiling faintly, and said to me without a hint of embarrassment: “Nie Xiguang, I forgot to bring money.”

“…”

The feeling of a thousand mystical beasts galloping through my heart – you wouldn’t understand.

As I silently took out my card to pay, Lin Yusen stood beside me watching. I felt his eyes were particularly bright at that moment as if he was pleased with himself for having successfully played a trick on me.

Er, that must be my imagination, right? Our Vice President couldn’t possibly be so mischievous.

I silently took back my card and gave him a contemptuous look, but wasn’t angry at all. After eating so many meals at his expense, treating him to dinner was only natural.

“I just remembered, I haven’t returned your hospital deposit yet.”

“…”

I waved the bank card in my hand, “We’re even now, right?”

He smiled, “Mm, we’re even.”

When it was time to leave, most people took taxis. Due to Yin Jie’s shamelessness, I was immediately pulled into Lin Yusen’s car… though I was quite cooperative…

Two other colleagues were also in the car.

The male colleague in the front seat kept thanking Lin Yusen, “I didn’t expect the Vice President to treat us to such a feast!”

“No need to be polite.”

Lin Yusen’s tone was incredibly casual.

“This must have been very expensive, right?”

“Hmm, it was okay.”

…

I could only silently bury my head against Yin Jie.

Yin Jie startled, shaking me, “Xiguang, what’s wrong? Car sick?”

“No… just too full.”

Yin Jie: “…”

I heard soft laughter from the front.

We soon arrived at the company, and we got out of the car, waving goodbye to Lin Yusen. After walking a short distance, I looked back.

I suddenly felt uneasy.

Why did all this feel so unreal?

We were like enemies before, could we really become friends so quickly? Teasing and joking with each other…

Can things change this fast?

“Wait for me,” I told Yin Jie and quickly ran back.

Lin Yusen’s car hadn’t left yet, and seeing me run back, he got out of the car.

“Did you leave something in the car?”

“No.” I shook my head, slightly out of breath, standing in front of him, and very seriously looked up to ask: “Lin Yusen, we’ve completely reconciled, right?”

He gazed at me, his tone decisive: “Yes.”

I suddenly felt so happy, then remembered to ask him: “Then why did you dislike me before?”

In the early winter night, the streetlights cast a yellow glow.

The surroundings were completely quiet.

I thought I wouldn’t get his answer, but then I heard his soft, deep voice.

“Because you’re carefree.”

“…What?” I could hardly believe what I’d heard.

“Because you’re carefree,” he said, paused, then added, “And forgetful.”

What does that even mean…

I wanted to ask more, but he didn’t give me the chance: “Alright, you should go back now, they’re all watching us.”

I turned around, and sure enough, Yin Jie and the others were staring intently at us…

I could only bid him goodbye with a resigned expression.

On the way back, I wracked my brain and finally understood Lin Yusen’s meaning. Carefree and forgetful – he was calling me silly, wasn’t he?

Yin Jie nosily asked, “What were you talking about with Vice President Lin just now?”

“I asked Vice President Lin why he disliked me before.”

Yin Jie asked curiously: “Did he tell you?”

“Mm.” I nodded, translating gloomily for her, “He said I’m too silly.”