After the gathering, they maintained their daily routine of exchanging a few words.
Tang Yang would tell Jiang Shiyan about the quality of her takeout food, how she nearly arrived late again, or how noisy her neighbor’s renovation was. Occasionally, Jiang Shiyan would tease her, causing her to blush and want to reach through the screen to scratch him, only to end up laughing and coaxing him back.
The two seemed just like before, yet something had subtly changed between them.
Over the next week, although Jiang Shiyan was in Beijing on a business trip, he would occasionally send a cake, fresh grapefruit, or air-shipped cherries via express delivery. The gifts weren’t extravagant but were perfect for soothing Tang Yang’s exhaustion from work.
Jiang Shiyan didn’t send the gifts anonymously. Almost every day, the courier would call out, “Is Tang Yang here? Jiang Shiyan sent you something.” At first, Tang Yang would blushingly ask the courier if he could avoid announcing it.
The courier would reply righteously, “If I don’t announce it, how will I know who Tang Yang is?”
Tang Yang took a deep breath, admitting the logic was sound.
After a few days, she gave up and even started generously sharing the increasing number of gifts with her colleagues.
They were all seasoned office workers, after all.
During the lunch break, while Tang Yang was called upstairs by Branch Manager Zhou Zixing to fetch something, a female colleague whispered to the others, “Is Director Jiang pursuing Tang? Didn’t they say they were just friends before?” She raised her eyebrows suggestively, “Love often develops from friendship, you know…”
“No way,” another female colleague said, “Haven’t they been friends for many years? Besides, although Tang is excellent, she’s not in the same league as the Jiang family, who are on the wealth list. I think Director Jiang is more likely to date a celebrity. Isn’t Shen Yanxi that golden spoon-fed award-winning actress? Maybe Director Jiang and Tang are just making some kind of bet.”
This explanation seemed quite plausible to everyone.
Amidst the gossiping voices.
“How is Tang inferior? She’s highly educated, capable, and emotionally intelligent. Someone who can turn a Mini into a rainbow candy must come from a good family,” Fan Linlang said, somewhat defensively. “They say don’t bite the hand that feeds you. You’ve all eaten her treats and still gossip about her,” Fan Linlang jokingly tapped each of their heads. “No wonder she’s earning a million before thirty, while we’ll be small-time clerks all our lives.”
The female colleagues laughed, pretending to be heartbroken.
Tang Yang had been standing at the door for quite a while, listening to their discussion and Fan Linlang’s retort. She then got back into the elevator.
Afterward, she came out from the stairs, deliberately making her high heels click loudly.
The colleague who first mentioned her looked surprised, “Director Tang, did you walk down?”
Tang Yang sighed, “All for the sake of growing taller.”
Her colleagues couldn’t help but chuckle.
Tang Yang returned to her office, closing the door to shut out the outside noise.
In the previous few days, Tang Yang hadn’t felt much, but after hearing her colleagues’ comments, she suddenly realized it was already Thursday. Why hadn’t Jiang Shiyan returned yet?
She quickly calculated: Jiang Shiyan had only been away for four days. Four days was just 96 hours, 5760 minutes, 345600 seconds… not that long after all.
Tang Yang tried to rationalize it to herself.
The next moment, she typed “Jiang Shiyan” in pinyin as her computer unlock password, wanted to drink tea – the Bi Tan Piao Xue tea Jiang Shiyan had sent, wanted to eat candy – the Want Want candies Jiang Shiyan had brought, with grapefruit on the left and cherries on the right. Even the Outstanding Award trophy in the corner was because of Zhang Zhilan from Nanjin Street – Nanjin Street, where he had accompanied her…
Every detail was like a node, unknowingly forming a web, as natural as breathing, leaving her nowhere to escape.
That afternoon, the usually work-focused Director Tang played hooky for the first time and called Director Jiang.
After connecting, Director Tang put on a fake voice: “Hello, this is Guizhou United Liquor Factory…”
She couldn’t continue the act.
There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a low chuckle: “Missing me?”
Director Tang’s metaphorical tail was gently poked, and she reflexively denied in a small voice: “Who’s missing you…”
Jiang Shiyan didn’t expose her.
He was probably at a conference venue, his voice lowered with a smile: “Well, I’m missing you.”
Missing you, and thinking of you.
This time, Director Tang’s face turned completely red.
They listened to each other’s breathing for a while.
Tang Yang said softly, “Just now, Branch Manager Zhou called me up, saying you and he discussed issuing a joint credit card with Yixiu and Huishang at the Elite Club. He wants me to follow up on this case, but I declined,” Tang Yang paused, “I felt it might be overstepping my authority if I took it on.”
Jiang Shiyan still smiled: “I might be back this weekend.”
Tang Yang: “Can’t you talk properly…”
They completed their conversation with one talking about work and the other reporting his schedule. Neither gained much useful information, but hearing each other’s voices made them inexplicably happy.
This mood continued until Friday.
Tang Yang finished working overtime at six o’clock.
Thinking about the terrible traffic in the city, she decided to leave her car at work and take the subway.
As Tang Yang reached the ground floor, she heard someone softly calling her from the side.
Tang Yang turned to see a long-absent face, Zhang Zhilan.
After “The Forgotten Pearl” became a hit even before airing, thanks to Yixiu’s promotion, Zhang Zhilan’s family also became internet celebrities. Many netizens and charitable organizations, upon hearing about their story, spontaneously raised funds and sent them to her doorstep. Zhang Zhilan declined all of them, and even the 500,000 yuan payment from “The Forgotten Pearl” team for her and her two children – she didn’t keep a penny, donating it all to a foundation.
They were poor, but not scared by poverty.
In Zhang Zhilan’s understanding, what didn’t belong to her, she couldn’t take.
When Tang Yang heard about this, she didn’t say anything but also didn’t actively contact her again.
Now, seeing her, Tang Yang wore a comfortable smile.
Zhang Zhilan was holding a package and walked up: “I wanted to invite Deputy Tang for a meal, but I was afraid you might not have time. The house by the river isn’t fully furnished yet, and where we’re living now is quite small, so I brought some homemade cured meat. Deputy Tang can take it home, slice it, and steam it with rice. It’s very lean.”
It wasn’t easy for them to make these things, so Tang Yang tried to decline, but Zhang Zhilan insisted. After some back and forth, Tang Yang had no choice but to accept. She asked, “Have you eaten? If not, let’s eat together. Where are the two children?”
“We’ve eaten. They’re doing homework at home,” Zhang Zhilan said.
Tang Yang asked a couple more simple questions, telling her to go home early and eat something.
Zhang Zhilan seemed to have more to say.
“Sister Lan, you don’t need to be so polite,” Tang Yang said with a smile.
Zhang Zhilan’s eyes flickered: “Actually, I came to find Deputy Tang because of Uncle Zhang downstairs. He’s a disabled worker. He and his wife used to sell vegetables to raise their son, who drove a truck. Last year, there was an accident, and the whole family sold everything they had to pull the son back from the brink of death,” Zhang Zhilan organized her words, “They need to take out a loan to buy something, but their son’s truck loan hasn’t been repaid yet. Those banks won’t even let them submit their documents. I didn’t think of this point, and now they only have seven hundred and ninety-something yuan…”
Tang Yang said, “Sister Lan, how should I put this,” Tang Yang’s expression didn’t change, “First of all, I’m not in charge of loans. Submitting loan documents is handled by the various branches. I’m responsible for reviewing loans. If he can’t even submit a loan application, naturally I can’t review it. Even if it were submitted, I would only approve it if it meets the conditions, and reject it if it doesn’t.”
Zhang Zhilan looked uncomfortable: “But my case was pending for a long time too, and it only got approved when it reached you.”
“The bank is not a charity organization. The bank has its own rules and policies,” Tang Yang’s tone became slightly firmer, “Sister Lan, I consider you a friend, so I’m willing to invest a certain amount of time and energy, but when you talk about your neighbor and such, it’s very difficult for me to do anything.”
Tang Yang was dressed in formal attire, high heels, red lips, and every strand of hair neat.
Zhang Zhilan suddenly felt the distance between her and Tang Yang had widened. She lowered her head, constantly wringing her fingers: “I’m sorry, I didn’t consider all this. When we first moved there, their family helped us a lot. I’m too soft-hearted and have put you in a difficult position…”
The sun had set, and the sky was gradually darkening.
There was still undesired sweat on Zhang Zhilan’s forehead. Tang Yang didn’t know how she had gotten here.
Did she take the subway? Would she know how to buy a subway ticket? Did she take the bus? There’s no direct route. She certainly wouldn’t have taken a taxi, that would be too expensive for her.
After arriving, who knows how long she had been standing there? Didn’t she know to make a phone call?
Tang Yang felt a pang of sympathy.
She wanted to ask Zhang Zhilan for the name of her downstairs neighbor and which branch they belonged to, so she could put in a word and make sure their application would be submitted.
But as the words reached her lips, Tang Yang only said: “Let me drive you back. I happened to bring my car today.”
Zhang Zhilan clutched at her clothes, embarrassed: “That’s not good. I can’t trouble Deputy Tang anymore.”
“It’s no trouble. I’d be alone after work anyway.”
“…”
Zhang Zhilan’s two children were still well-behaved. Zhang Zhilan wanted to cook for Tang Yang, but Tang Yang declined, saying she doesn’t usually eat dinner. She hugged the two children, said some words of encouragement, and then left.
The round trip took an hour, and including the time spent there, Tang Yang arrived home around eight o’clock.
After taking a shower, Tang Yang found her fridge empty, and the cupboard where she kept instant noodles and snacks was also bare. Fortunately, her mother had left some noodles when she last visited.
Tang Yang boiled some water and took out a small handful of noodles.
The pot was steaming.
Tang Yang stirred the noodles with chopsticks, and as she stirred, her mood suddenly became low.
On one hand, she felt that her tone earlier at the Huishang building had been a bit harsh and might have scared Zhang Zhilan. On the other hand, she felt that what she said wasn’t wrong. She wasn’t the all-merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, and doing something once was enough. She was timid and feared getting entangled in too many people’s lives…
If she told Yan Gou about this, he would probably think the same way.
Yan Gou said he’d be back this weekend. Today was Friday, and she didn’t know if Yan Gou would arrive tomorrow or the day after. She still owed him a meal for taking care of her when she was drunk.
As her thoughts wandered, the noodles were ready.
She could tolerate the lack of vegetables, but no seasoning… Tang Yang took a bite and almost spat it out.
She searched more thoroughly through her cabinets.
Good news: she found a bottle of soy sauce, still unopened.
Bad news: she didn’t want to see it, but she still saw the date right in front of her… the soy sauce had expired.
Tang Yang sighed, dejectedly putting down her chopsticks and bowl. She went to the living room, took her keys, put on a coat, and without closing her door, went to knock on the door opposite.
The opposite apartment had been under renovation for two weeks, but she thought she had seen lights on from her kitchen just now.
“Knock knock knock, knock knock knock.”
This residential complex had small units but first-class facilities and property management. The main buyers were gold-collar workers like Tang Yang and wealthy people buying for their parents’ retirement.
Jiang Shiyan had moved in after getting off the plane at noon.
Just before one o’clock, he encountered a group of old men and women from the same unit who hadn’t yet organized their mahjong game and were chatting.
Tang Yang was usually busy and couldn’t talk much with them.
This time, they met a tall, handsome Jiang, who smiled cheerfully, looked wealthy, and had a sweet tongue. The old men and women didn’t even play mahjong, instead introducing Jiang Shiyan to various parts of the complex. When Jiang Shiyan went upstairs, some old ladies sent things, others tried to gather information, and Jiang Shiyan was overwhelmed with opening the door.
Finally, at mealtime, he got some peace.
Well, here we go again.
Hearing the knock on the door, Jiang Shiyan spent a long time mentally preparing himself.
Tang Yang waited for a while with no response. She tiptoed to peek through the peephole, just about to turn and leave.
“Click,” the door suddenly opened.
The next moment.
“My name is Jiang Shiyan, I’m 29 this year, my job is posting small ads on electric poles, I have money because my parents are rich, I don’t cook and don’t need cabbage, radish, or potatoes, I can find the property management office, swimming pool, and small garden on my own, I’m single but I don’t want to be set up, I’m not interested in your niece, cousin, or nephew, thank you Mrs. Zhang, Grandma Li, Grandma Wang, Grandma Sun, or Uncle Chen…”
Jiang Shiyan, with a lump in his throat, rattled off with his eyes closed, not yet finished.
“Pfft.” Tang Yang couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiang Shiyan heard the sound, realized something, and opened his eyes.
Tang Yang looked at the familiar face who had said he’d be back in A City on the weekend, yet appeared opposite her home on Friday night. Jiang Shiyan met a pair of eyes brimming with mirth. Both fell silent, suddenly feeling at ease.
Tang Yang gazed at Jiang Shiyan, and Jiang Shiyan gazed back at Tang Yang.
One minute, one second.
Looking at each other felt the same as before, yet their hearts seemed to beat a little faster…
After a while.
Tang Yang, with burning ears, averted her gaze: “Why are you living here now? Weren’t you living with Aunt Yi and the others?”
Jiang Shiyan also looked away, clearing his throat awkwardly: “It’s closer to Yixiu.”
Tang Yang: “But Jade Garden is even closer.”
Jiang Shiyan: “This complex has better landscape design.”
Tang Yang glanced inside his apartment: “But my side faces the inside of the complex, yours faces the street.”
Jiang Shiyan: “Well, I can come to your place to look then.”
He couldn’t be questioned further; Jiang Shiyan was about to break. One more question and he’d be exposed.
Tang Yang found his reasons odd: “But you—”
“Tang Yang,” Jiang Shiyan interrupted her, sounding pitiful, “Don’t you know I’ve been nagged by the uncles and aunties upstairs and downstairs all afternoon? Won’t you comfort me?”
Tang Yang: “…”
First of all, it must have been you, Jiang Shiyan, who engaged in their conversations. Secondly, it’s because you, Jiang Shiyan, are too easy to talk to, and they were already lonely.
First of all, they are your neighbors, Tang Yang, and Jiang Shiyan felt close to them just thinking about it. Secondly, Jiang Shiyan liked hearing them talk about Tang Yang, saying there was an unmarried young woman just like Jiang Shiyan, but more excellent than him, a doctor working as an official at Huishang, with a sweet smile.
Don’t you know I’ve been nagged by the uncles and aunties upstairs and downstairs all afternoon? Won’t you comfort me…
Forget it, Tang Yang thought, meeting his pitiful look. She sighed and was about to tiptoe to pat his head.
“Forget it, forget it,” Jiang Shiyan said, adopting a particularly natural and obedient tone. “Then I’ll just ask for comfort myself.”
Before Tang Yang could react, Jiang Shiyan had already pulled her into his embrace.
Surrounded by his warm chest, the familiar scent of wood, and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat…
Tang Yang’s face flushed deeply. Her hand, which had been hanging at her side, was now subtly attempting to wrap around his waist.
Jiang Shiyan’s throat bobbed as he lowered his head slightly. A feather-light kiss, tender and restrained, landed on Tang Yang’s forehead.
It was as if a switch had been flipped.
Tang Yang’s hand froze mid-motion, her breath stopped, and her heart seemed on the verge of leaping out of her chest.
Jiang Shiyan had reminded himself countless times not to rush, not to hurry, lest he frighten her.
But after almost a week apart, here she was, right in his arms.
Unable to control himself, Jiang Shiyan stole another kiss. Afterward, he scolded himself internally but couldn’t help savoring the moment.
Tang Yang licked her lips.
“I haven’t been online for a long time,” she said, her whole body burning as if she were a cooked shrimp, her face beet red. In a barely audible whisper, she asked, “Is this how people comfort each other these days… with kisses?”