While Jiang Shiyan was lingering in his office, his assistant brought him his phone, saying, “CEO Cheng reminded you about Friday’s dinner.”
Jiang Shiyan casually acknowledged it, massaging his temples as he turned on his phone.
The assistant also informed him about the schedule for March before leaving the office.
Jiang Shiyan connected to the internet and saw two pinned messages on WeChat. He glanced at his watch – it was exactly 10 o’clock – and immediately made a call.
Tang Yang had stayed up late playing games with Jiang Yanan and others last night. She was sleeping soundly in the morning when a buzzing sound came from her bedside.
Tang Yang pulled the blanket over her head, but the vibrating sound persisted like a death knell.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Tang Yang took a deep breath and reached out a hand from under the covers. Squinting, she saw the contact name “Yan Dog” and answered with a slightly hoarse and impatient voice: “Hello.”
“I went back and slept from yesterday until this morning,” Jiang Shiyan explained first, then asked, “So did you eat dinner last night?”
His voice was low and mellow, carrying a warm smile.
The irritation in Tang Yang’s heart suddenly dissipated a bit.
Her “Mm” was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. She wrinkled her small face and said, “Don’t you care about what happened?”
Her voice trailed off with a soft, muffled tone, gentle and sweet.
Jiang Shiyan’s throat moved slightly, and he patiently asked, “What happened?”
Tang Yang didn’t respond, so Jiang Shiyan quietly waited.
A few seconds later, Tang Yang let out a dainty yawn and slowly told him that she had become “Director Tang,” and that she didn’t quite understand why Zhou Zisheng had given her the loan case for Jiujiang Group’s Linjiang City project.
Was it because Zhou Zisheng hadn’t accepted the cookies either, and knowing she hadn’t accepted them, he appreciated her clean and professional approach?
Or had Zhou Zisheng accepted them, not knowing whether she had, and accidentally given her the case?
As Jiang Shiyan listened, his gaze deepened.
He didn’t tell Tang Yang that Zhou Mo and Zhou Zisheng were uncle and nephews, nor did he mention that Zhou Mo had told CEO Wei that she had accepted the cookies.
Jiang Shiyan said, “If the arrangement was accidental, Zhou Zisheng wouldn’t have held the position of bank president for decades.”
“But there’s a probability that I didn’t accept the cookies and a probability that Zhou Zisheng didn’t accept them. There are five outstanding employees in the Credit Review Department, and there’s also Qin Yue, who’s always flying around and is also at the deputy director level. So there’s another probability that Zhou Zisheng appreciates me and not Qin Yue. These three probabilities are already small enough, and they have to coincide…” Tang Yang’s mind felt like it was filled with paste, unable to make sense of it all.
She gave up trying to figure it out, rubbed her nose tip twice, and said, “I’m planning to push the Jiujiang case back a bit. A lot of hidden things will probably slowly come to light.”
Jiang Shiyan frowned imperceptibly: “Don’t share these thoughts with others.”
A loan case for a commercial complex worth billions – who knew how many vested interests were involved? Yet she spoke so casually about pushing it back.
Realizing that his previous statement might have sounded a bit harsh, Jiang Shiyan explained, “Gan Yiming has taken leave, and you’ve just happened to encounter this case. In your position… what you say and do will be very sensitive and also dangerous.”
“What would I tell others?” Tang Yang was puzzled.
Jiang Shiyan: “…”
Tang Yang continued matter-of-factly, “Others aren’t you. I only trust you.”
Even through the phone, Jiang Shiyan could imagine her slightly furrowed brows, her small dissatisfaction, her little complaint.
She wasn’t fully awake; the tip of her nose was probably red.
Jiang Shiyan felt a tickle at the tip of his heart, like a feather dangling there. He just wanted to reach out… and rub the tip of her nose.
Over the next few days, Tang Yang truly slowed down her work pace at an imperceptible rate.
Previously, when Jiang Shiyan hadn’t replied to her messages for a day, Tang Yang had been a bit annoyed. But when she heard Jiang Shiyan’s first question asking if she had eaten, it seemed like all her annoyance had disappeared.
When she saw something interesting, she would share it with Jiang Shiyan, like the news about a delivery driver cooking in the kitchen.
When Jiang Shiyan discovered something interesting, he would also share it with her. For example, during the preparation of the “Lost Zhenzhu” trailer, the staff cut some behind-the-scenes footage where the director had encouraged Zhang Zhilan’s two children to recite tongue twisters. The younger one, Min Lin, couldn’t distinguish between ” Can Nakoruru get the blue?”(securing objectives) furrowing his tender brows in confusion.
After a day’s work, Tang Yang was at home drinking milk after applying a face mask. When she clicked on the GIF Jiang Shiyan had sent, she “puffed” and sprayed milk onto the screen.
Tang Yang hurriedly wiped it clean, feeling a rush of affection.
[ty: Is there more? I’ve finally discovered your esteemed position as the supreme leader of Yixiu!]
Jiang Shiyan, rarely praised by Tang Yang, felt pleased inside but maintained a calm exterior.
[t$efvbhu&: Hmm?]
Tang Yang replied without thinking.
[ty: Send me first-hand emoticons!]
Jiang Shiyan choked.
[t$efvbhu&: Do you know how conversations die? *smile*]
Tang Yang belatedly realized what she had said but wasn’t in a hurry.
She leisurely took another sip of milk to moisten her throat, then used her tablet to find Jiang Shiyan’s recent hot searches. She pressed the voice message button and began to read in a soft and serious tone: “At 28, he sits atop a billion-dollar empire. Step into the legendary world of Yixiu’s founder.”
“The reporter encountered Jiang Shiyan at the TV station’s program filing center, where Mr. Jiang was discussing the ‘Lost Zhenzhu’ case with Director Wang. It was drizzling that day, and Mr. Jiang wore a navy blue sweater, dark jeans, and a pair of Martin boots, with a pair of non-prescription glasses. His smile was warm and modest…”
When this article had hit the hot searches, Jiang Shiyan’s assistant had complained about the writing being as poor as a primary school student’s.
The great Jiang had glanced at it and commented complexly, “Many primary school students are quite impressive too.”
He had then removed it from the hot searches with disdain.
Now, as he listened to Tang Yang reading it out word by word like a recitation, praising him with each sentence… if it weren’t true, Jiang Shiyan would have felt embarrassed. But while the writing was poor, every word described him accurately.
As Jiang Shiyan listened, he felt as if there was a cotton candy machine in his heart, both buzzing and emitting sweet smoke. The smoke spread through his limbs and organs, filling his entire body with a soft, floating warmth like a summer evening…
After Tang Yang had read a few sentences, Jiang Shiyan’s sullenness had completely disappeared.
He also pressed the voice message button: “Alright, alright, you should go to sleep now. You still have work tomorrow, or you won’t be able to get up.”
Tang Yang knew he had been appeased.
[ty: So I’ll go to sleep?]
[t$efvbhu&: Good night.]
[ty: Good night.]
[t$efvbhu&: Night.]
Every time Jiang Shiyan said “Good night,” Tang Yang would reply with “Good night,” and he would then respond with “Night.”
Tang Yang remembered this pattern and amusedly pressed the voice message button again: “Do you have OCD or something? You always do this.”
“A little bit, I guess,” Jiang Shiyan softened his voice, “I just don’t want you to see your chat bubble the next time you want to talk to me.”
It would make you feel a bit lost, he had experienced it, so he didn’t want her to experience it.
Tang Yang thought about it and realized it was indeed true. Every time she wanted to find him, she would see his chat bubble.
A warm current unknowingly flowed from her heart, flowing and flowing until Tang Yang’s peripheral vision caught the words “warm and modest” on the tablet. Her smile slowly froze in place.
There was silence for a while.
Tang Yang lumped her heart, but she feigned casualness: “Is Mr. Jiang this considerate to everyone?”
She chewed on the words “warm and modest.”
This time, it was Jiang Shiyan who fell silent.
After quite a while.
“What do you think?” His voice was extremely low, half helpless, half amused.
After they said “Good night” again, Tang Yang clicked on this sentence.
What do you think? What do you think? What do you think?
She listened to this sentence over and over again until it became ridiculous, hearing every detail of his slightly hoarse, indulgent tone clearly, listening until her ears were red and hot. Finally, she picked up the milk and drank it all in one go.
Tang Yang smacked her lips.
Had Telunsu changed its recipe? Why did it taste a bit sweet?
She turned to the side of the milk carton, but the ingredients list only showed raw milk…
Tang Yang pursed her lips. This was a bit strange.
After getting through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday came quickly.
Tang Yang had persisted in not returning to her parent’s home for two weeks, grateful for the unpalatable takeout food that had helped her weight drop from nearly three digits after the New Year to ninety pounds.
On Friday afternoon, Tang Yang had planned to conclude her two-week diet regimen with boiled radish in plain water, but Jiang Shiyan called, saying that Cheng Siran had organized a gathering and wanted Tang Yang to come along with him.
Tang Yang hesitated: “You guys are so close, I’ve only met them a few times. It doesn’t seem right for me to go, does it?”
Jiang Shiyan said, “It’s a big gathering. There’s a new friend of Cheng Siran’s, a legal advisor from Jiujiang. Aren’t you busy with the Jiujiang case? So…”
Tang Yang was struck at her core and wavered.
“It’s okay, there will be a lot of people. We’re just going to Cheng Siran’s holiday resort. We’ll have a grand feast, have a barbecue, and then play for two days, returning on Sunday afternoon. Just pack a couple of personal items,” Jiang Shiyan changed his tone, “Cheng Siran has invited you. I’ll be at your building in half an hour, okay?”
At this point, Tang Yang had no reason to refuse.
The Youran Holiday Resort was built to challenge Pingbi Shuiwan’s monopoly. It was nestled in the mountains by the water, with beautiful scenery.
Located on the edge of the Third Ring Road, it was an hour’s drive away.
By the time Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan arrived, it was already seven in the evening, and the sky was completely dark.
Cheng Siran had assigned them a standard room. They had stayed like this before when they went out to play during university. Upon arrival, they naturally put their things together and then went to the dining hall.
Walking to the porch, Tang Yang wanted to go to the bathroom.
Jiang Shiyan pointed out the private room number to her: “Remember, it’s 1001. Don’t get lost. If you forget later when you come out, just call me.”
Tang Yang: “I’m not an idiot.”
Jiang Shiyan laughed, waiting for her to take the tissue from her bag before carrying her bag into the room.
Cheng Siran said he was treating them to a Manchu Han Imperial Feast, which must be the full 108-course grand feast.
The ten-meter-long circular wooden table was piled high with a dazzling array of dishes. The antique-style plates were like carved beams and painted pillars, with moist smoke curling out of golden dragon mouths, enveloping the entire private room.
As the door opened, a room full of men and women came into view.
Seeing Jiang Shiyan enter alone, Cheng Siran cursed “Trash” and spat out his cigarette butt, rising to greet him: “Brought your other half? Brought your other half? Did you bring your other half?”
“No,” Jiang Shiyan saw Feng Weiran light a cigarette nearby and casually took it from between his fingers, putting it in his mouth, “I brought Tang Yang.”
Cheng Siran raised an eyebrow: “You have the nerve to come in?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Jiang Shiyan said righteously, “I brought the person I like.”
Among the dozen or so couples present, there were husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, and even some who were in kept relationships. Mr. Jiang’s single sentence was so pure it shattered the atmosphere.
Cheng Siran let out an “Aiyou” and laughed uncontrollably: “I don’t know who it was who called me before, asking me to take care of a shortie, and I said it was his secret crush. That person almost squeezed me into a pancake, saying it was impossible, impossible. Jiang Shiyan, your face is as swollen as a dog’s.”
The 188cm tall Mr. Jiang was not at all embarrassed.
“So what if I’m a dog,” Jiang Shiyan shook the cigarette in his mouth. He held Tang Yang’s small bag in one hand and took off Cheng Siran’s sunglasses hooked on his chin with the other. He clicked his tongue, “At least I have someone I like,” Jiang Shiyan used the temple of the glasses to tap Cheng Siran’s chest, enunciating each word with a smile that was both contemptuous and challenging, “Do you? Huh, do you?”
Just then, there was a crisp “click” as the door opened again.
“How lively, what are you all talking about having or not having?” Tang Yang walked in, smiling and making a gesture of wiping her hands.