Imagine you have a cat. You see her raise her paw, thinking she’s about to pounce and scratch you. Instead, she reaches your face, retracts her claws, and gently places her soft pink paw pad on your chin, then… coyly gives you a little kiss.
No, this isn’t just imagination. Jiang Shiyan has a cat.
Listen, listen. His little moon says she can’t bear to do it.
Can’t bear to do what? Can’t bear to hit him, of course. Meow meow meow.
Jiang Shiyan’s heart was obliterated by a pink tsundere cannonball.
He hooked his pinky with Tang Yang’s and said, “Say it again. I didn’t hear clearly.”
Having already reached her limit with the previous statement, Tang Yue let out a soft sound from the tip of her nose: “For ear, nose, and throat treatment, go to East University Anorectal Hospital… oh no,” she realized she had mixed up the advertisement slogan and corrected herself, embarrassed, “go to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital.”
How could she be this adorable?
Jiang Shiyan couldn’t hold back anymore. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead and ruffling her soft hair.
Tang Yang, not to be outdone, wanted to ruffle his hair too, but Jiang Shiyan stood up, not letting her.
Tang Yang raised her hands and jumped up, and Jiang Shiyan jumped along with her.
After a few attempts…
“Fine, I won’t ruffle it,” Tang Yang pretended to be nonchalant, pouting. “How old are you anyway?”
Jiang Shiyan lowered his head, smiling: “Come on, go ahead and ruffle it.”
Tang Yang: “I don’t want to.”
Jiang Shiyan brought his head closer: “Ruffle it.”
Tang Yang turned her face away: “I don’t want to.”
Jiang Shiyan guided her hand: “Just ruffle it once…”
“You asked for it,” Tang Yang emphasized and extended her little paw contentedly.
A U-shaped glass cabinet divided the balloon shop into two sections.
In front of the glass cabinet, thinking no one could see them, they poked and tickled each other.
Behind the glass cabinet, the old shopkeeper leaned against the wooden counter, nearly in tears — didn’t these young folks realize the wall was reflective? He wasn’t a dog, for heaven’s sake!
“No one’s ever won this bear before. It’s so hard to get out,” the shop owner muttered to himself as he pulled the bear out, pushed it back in, pulled it out again, and pushed it back once more.
After nearly completing a set of calisthenics with the bear’s leg, he finally managed to pull it out for the couple, handing it over with a mix of pain and exhaustion as he watched them thank him and leave.
The bear was 1.6 meters tall, and not easy to carry.
Tang Yang voluntarily took the bag from Jiang Shiyan’s hand, while Jiang Shiyan hoisted the bear onto his shoulder, with one of its legs draped over Tang Yang’s shoulder.
The fluffy brown bear created a diagonal line between their heights, and some passersby secretly took photos of their backs.
Jiang Shiyan had driven his SUV today, and the bear fit perfectly lying across the back seat.
Tang Yang loved the little Scottish plaid neckerchief on the bear, sneaking glances at it many times during the ride.
After getting out of the car, Jiang Shiyan handed the bear to her: “You carry it.”
“Then can you watch the road for me?” Tang Yang asked.
Jiang Shiyan raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Shiyan held Tang Yang’s hand as she stumbled along carrying the bear, up the elevator and down again.
This was Tang Yang’s gift for Jiang Shiyan, so naturally, she carried it to his apartment door.
Jiang Shiyan searched for his keys.
Tang Yang let the bear stand on her feet, then pretended to be the bear herself, deepening her voice and speaking in a drawl: “Yan-dog, Yan-dog, may I ask if you welcome me to live in your home?”
Jiang Shiyan played along with her act, smiling as he leaned close to her ear: “Little Yang Bear is welcome to live in my home.”
The tail end of his words curled with a teasing, lingering tone…
What nonsense was this ‘Little Yang Bear’?
Was he talking to the bear or her…
Tang Yang turned her head and met his smiling eyes, chiding him: “Speak properly, don’t get frisky.”
“I’m opening the door with both hands to show my innocence,” Jiang Shiyan said, embracing both her and the bear before opening the door.
“I’m not bantering with you,” Tang Yang said, entering his home with burning ears.
Up to this point in their date, everything seemed to be going smoothly, except for the morning.
According to the plan, Tang Yang was supposed to prepare a grand meal for Jiang Shiyan at this time.
But Tang Yang had overestimated her stamina.
By the time she got home and took a quick shower, forget about making scrambled eggs with tomatoes as the first dish, her feet were sore and her hands ached. She didn’t even have the strength to pick up a tomato.
Fortunately, she hadn’t mentioned this part of the plan to him.
Jiang Shiyan came over after washing up and saw a pile of groceries at her place: “What’s all this?”
“Probably stuff my mom stocked up for me,” Director Tang said, quickly escaping to the kitchen. She then swiftly cooked… a large pot of Sichuan pepper beef instant noodles for the two of them, adding two braised eggs. It was steaming hot.
Instant noodles are what they are, but whether it was because they hadn’t eaten them in a while, or because Jiang Shiyan stole the egg from Tang Yang’s bowl and Tang Yang went to steal from Jiang Shiyan’s bowl, resulting in their two bowls of noodles getting mixed up, it ended up tasting unexpectedly delicious.
On Sunday, Tang Yang didn’t have to work overtime, but Jiang Shiyan did.
So Tang Yang brought snacks and games next door to keep Jiang Shiyan company.
Jiang Shiyan lay vertically on the sofa, feet propped on the coffee table, laptop on his legs. Tang Yang lay horizontally on the sofa, her head resting on his legs, just below where his laptop sat.
Jiang Shiyan typed on the keyboard with his hands encircling Tang Yang’s head, while Tang Yang held up her phone to play games.
From time to time, Tang Yang would grab a handful of raisins, eating half herself and feeding the other half to Jiang Shiyan.
Occasionally, Tang Yang would giggle.
Jiang Shiyan looked at her screen: “How can you be so happy even when you’re losing?”
Tang Yang blinked her innocent big eyes: “Watching you work overtime while I’m free gives me a sense of sweet revenge.”
His little girl sure knew how to hold a grudge. Jiang Shiyan tickled her chin to tease her: “Then let me see inside your heart.”
Tang Yang indeed put down her phone, brought her hands together as if to cut open her chest, then pretended to take out her little heart and present it to him. Jiang Shiyan played along, accepting her little heart, then put it in his mouth, chewing it bit by bit, even making an exaggerated swallowing motion.
She had bared her heart and soul, and this is how he ate it?
Tang Yang stared at him in disbelief with widened eyes, while Jiang Shiyan smiled at her.
Tang Yang put down her phone and pounced on him. Jiang Shiyan held her wrists together and pressed her down on the sofa.
The two twisted and turned, their passion rising, then subsiding.
They lay there, catching their breath, kissing each other’s eyes, eyebrows, nose, and lips, their bodies warm all over.
The two days of the weekend passed like two seconds.
Earlier, when Tang Yang had bumped into Gan Yiming at the amusement park, he had said he’d be back on Monday. So Tang Yang wasn’t surprised to see him when Monday came.
Zhou Zisheng called both of them to his office on the top floor and said a few inconsequential words. After coming down, Tang Yang handed over all her work to Gan Yiming, except for the Jiujiang special case.
She explained which old accounts she had cleared up and which cases she had organized discussions for.
In just half a month, she had even participated in and approved the revision of the credit review rules for the Huishang branch.
Tang Yang was methodical in her work, explaining each section clearly to Gan Yiming.
Gan Yiming responded absent-mindedly, a flash of complexity and wariness in his eyes.
After Tang Yang finished explaining everything to Gan Yiming, it was still lunchtime.
She was packing up her things, thinking of squeezing in a phone call to Jiang Shiyan when the slightly ajar door of the conference room was pushed open.
Fan Linlang walked up to Tang Yang, flipping through some documents: “Director Tang, there’s a new management training program from the head office. The application form needs to be submitted by 5 PM today. I’ve also nominated you for the quarterly excellence award. Additionally…”
Fan Linlang reported item by item. After finishing, she sensed something was off in the atmosphere.
Fan Linlang looked at Gan Yiming, then at Tang Yang.
Tang Yang discreetly patted Fan Linlang’s shoulder from behind.
Fan Linlang recalled every word she had said since entering, going back to the very beginning. She awkwardly corrected herself: “Director Gan, Deputy Director Tang.”
“Drag him out and behead him,” Tang Yang joked, making a slicing gesture across her neck.
Gan Yiming waved his hand magnanimously, “It’s a small matter.”
As for how small this matter was, only those involved truly knew.
Tang Yang returned to her office to rest and mentioned this detail to Jiang Shiyan.
Jiang Shiyan suddenly asked from the other end of the phone, “Do you want to climb higher and faster?”
Jiang Shiyan knew Tang Yang well enough to read her heart from the tone of her narration.
He knew that upon hearing this question, Tang Yang would be stunned.
After several seconds, Tang Yang said softly, “I want to climb on top of you.”
“Shall we try tonight?” Jiang Shiyan lowered his voice, playing along with her change of topic.
Though she knew he couldn’t see, Tang Yang still made an empty swatting motion, “You’re being naughty.”
Jiang Shiyan loved saying naughty things to Tang Yang. She would verbally disapprove, but deep down, she enjoyed it.
These days, Jiang Shiyan dropped her off at work every morning and picked her up every afternoon. With the launch of the Yixiu-Huishang co-branded credit card, they weren’t deliberately hiding their relationship, but other colleagues didn’t dare ask, and Tang Yang didn’t volunteer the information.
Occasionally, Tang Yang would treat the secretarial office on Yixiu’s top floor to afternoon tea. Sometimes, Jiang Shiyan would personally deliver fruits to the Huishang building, chatting idly with Tang Yang and making her giggle.
Tang Yang didn’t like bringing work emotions into her personal life, so she didn’t tell him about it.
But Tang Yang knew that Jiang Shiyan was aware of her situation, which was why he was being so considerate…
A mediocre department head returned from a half-month leave, while a capable acting department head had just stepped down.
Sometimes colleagues would call her “Director Tang” like Fan Linlang and not correct themselves. Sometimes leaders would habitually call Tang Yang to discuss work. At times, when Gan Yiming was unclear about something and Tang Yang explained it to him, both felt awkward.
Especially since the Jiujiang case, which should have been returned to Gan Yiming, was once again personally assigned to Tang Yang by Zhou Zisheng.
Everyone knew how quickly things could change in the workplace.
Moreover, Tang Yang still had her leverage. Whether Tang Yang wanted to usurp power or not wasn’t important; Gan Yiming no longer saw her as a junior or a rising star but as a… threat.
The relationship between the two had become subtle and tense.
Until Friday afternoon, when Tang Yang encountered Gan Yiming in the elevator.
Just the two of them, going from the 1st to the 38th floor.
In the cramped silence, Gan Yiming half-jokingly said, “Deputy Tang used to be a workaholic, but now she’s slacking off during work hours to see President Jiang. Your relationship must be good.”
Tang Yang replied coolly, “I went to Jiujiang and chatted with your wife for a bit.”
Gan Yiming’s wife, Wei Changqiu, couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning Gan Yiming, always saying “my Yiming” this and “my Yiming” that. By rights, Tang Yang should have reciprocated: “You and your wife’s relationship…”
Tang Yang cut herself off, and the narrow space once again fell into silence.
Tang Yang had caught him with Qianqian, yet he still said such things.
Gan Yiming’s expression flickered, “Deputy Tang,” he said with a hint of warning, “I hope you know what things should be done and what shouldn’t, what should be said and what shouldn’t.”
Tang Yang wasn’t one to be intimidated. Her tone unchanged, she said, “There are no secrets under the sun, and those who play with fire…”
Gan Yiming froze for a moment, then sneered, “Pot calling the kettle black.”
Tang Yang’s expression hardened, “What do you mean by that, Director Gan?”
“To get the Yixiu credit card cooperation case from Jiang Shiyan, Zhou Zisheng gave you the Jiujiang project. You’re holding onto this plum job while being ambiguous with an old classmate. Given Jiang Shiyan’s status, naturally, those upstairs look at you differently. I’m not blind, Gan Yiming can see through these little games,” Gan Yiming clicked his tongue, “At least when I end things with Qianqian, we’ll both be happy and owe each other nothing. I must say, Deputy Tang, you’re willing to sacrifice a ten-year friendship for your career.”
“But then again,” Gan Yiming added, thinking of something, “Jiang Shiyan is no saint either. Yixiu has supported so many starlets these past two years, throwing resources and connections around… President Jiang is loaded, and when he gets bored of female celebrities, playing with a female classmate isn’t bad either.”
The elevator had cameras but no audio.
Gan Yiming dared to say anything.
Tang Yang had been cold-faced before, but hearing this, she started to smile.
Seeing Tang Yang’s reaction, Gan Yiming sneered, “What? You don’t think Jiang Shiyan will marry you, do you?”
Tang Yang smiled without answering.
“Deputy Tang, we have a good relationship, so I’ll be frank,” Gan Yiming put on a good guy act, “Even if Jiang Shiyan doesn’t arrange a marriage or care about his family, you’re almost thirty no matter how excellent you are. Which thirty-year-old man doesn’t love a twenty-year-old girl? Once the novelty of a female classmate wears off…”
“Whether he’s playing me or whatever, I’m willing,” Tang Yang said with a curved brow and smile, “And don’t compare yourself to him. He’s good, you’re scum.”
Tang Yang’s words were direct and blunt, each one striking home.
“Ding dong,” as she finished speaking, the elevator arrived.
Tang Yang nodded to Gan Yiming, wearing a standard smile as she exited the elevator.
Inside the elevator, Gan Yiming’s face turned green with anger.
Something wasn’t right, Tang Yang realized as she walked. This man had been caught cheating with a mistress by a colleague, and that colleague went to see his wife. He wasn’t ashamed at all, and even had the gall to be sarcastic?
But thinking of Gan Yiming’s black face at the end, Tang Yang couldn’t help but brag to Jiang Shiyan.
Gan Yiming said that Big Dog Jiang wasn’t a good person, and even said he was “playing with a female classmate,” but Yangyang’s combat effectiveness was outstanding, infuriating Gan Yiming to the point of explosion.
Tang Yang wagged her invisible little tail: “Guess what I said?”
Jiang Shiyan was curious on the phone: “What did you say?”
Tang Yang said softly, enunciating each word: “I’m not telling you!”
Jiang Shiyan choked on his breath.
“Ah, it’s work time, I have to hang up now.” Tang Yang teased and ran.
If she were in front of him, Jiang Shiyan would pull her into his arms and… tickle her palm fiercely!
“Little mischief,” Jiang Shiyan could only smile helplessly, rubbing his brow.
The video conference was still ongoing on the computer, and a foreign friend awkwardly pronounced “Xiao tiao pi,” asking, “What does this mean?”
“It means this plan is not bad,” Jiang Shiyan said with a straight face.
The assistant nearby originally wanted to tell Jiang Shiyan that Mama Jiang was coming over later, but was so shocked by his boss’s shameless cultural deception that he completely forgot.
Jiang Shiyan finished the meeting and left the office around 4:30 PM.
The secretarial office was buzzing with discussion: “Yesterday’s hot search had two highlights, one about height difference and one about cohabitation. The back silhouette in the popular height difference photo looks like the boss, handsome enough to break the sky and worthy of the traffic. As for cohabitation, excuse me, I don’t have a girlfriend.”
A female colleague said, “I saw many comments saying the little details were swoon-worthy, but I can’t understand at all. Before moving in with my boyfriend, we were like celestial lovers, always thinking of each other, and wanting to be together 24/7. After moving in, we’re just two lazy bums. A broom could fall over at home, and we’d step over it countless times without picking it up.”
Another male colleague said, “I think it’s quite nice. Maybe my girlfriend and I are still in that perfect cohabitation moment. She’s playing the role of a virtuous wife, seriously making me breakfast in the morning, calling me ‘husband’ to come eat, and even preparing loving midnight snacks when I get back. When my shoulders are sore, she gives me a massage. When my arms are tired, she rubs my legs. And well, you all understand…”
“…”
Jiang Shiyan was in a good mood, holding a cup of coffee. He walked behind that male colleague and asked casually, “How long have you and your girlfriend been dating?”
Previously, due to the contact from the credit card cooperation case, Tang Yang had gained quite a few fans at Yixiu. Recently, Tang Yang frequently treated the secretarial office to afternoon tea, which was delivered by President Jiang himself. Add to that President Jiang’s assistant’s tendency to let things slip, and the entire secretarial office knew that President Jiang and Director Tang were very sweet together and that Director Tang was very generous and cute. They were just waiting for Jiang Shiyan to bring her over and introduce her: “This is my girlfriend.”
Even so, being caught by the boss during work hours, that male colleague was still embarrassed: “Huh?”
Jiang Shiyan leaned against the wall, took a sip of coffee, and repeated amiably, “I said, when did you and your girlfriend start dating, when did you move in together, tell us, when is the right time to move in together—”
“Click-clack” went the sound of high heels.
Mama Jiang, carrying some things, walked over with furrowed brows: “Jiang Shiyan, why aren’t you working properly, talking about dating and cohabitation? Who do you want to date, who do you want to live with?!”