Cheng Siran was skilled at organizing gatherings. As soon as he took off his jacket and turned on the music, screams of excitement following the rhythmic beat immediately heated the atmosphere.
The dazzling lights scattered chaotically with the “woo-woo” of electronic music. Jiang Shiyan sat at the end of the sofa, holding a cup of chrysanthemum tea, his face relaxed and lazy.
Shen Chuan shouted from the other end of the sofa: “Yan Dog, come over and drink! What kind of hero are you, being so timid!”
They had enough people on their side. Jiang Shiyan replied nonchalantly, “Calling me both a dog and a hero? Captain, get your elementary school diploma before talking to me.”
Shortly after, another friend called Jiang Shiyan to play cards. Jiang Shiyan shook his head, “I have to leave soon. Don’t send yourselves to slaughter.”
A bit later, Feng Weiran helped a popular young actress invite Jiang Shiyan for a duet. Jiang Shiyan directly tossed away the microphone.
In the past, even if an eighteenth-tier celebrity came to toast the great Jiang, he would have downed the drink in one go out of chivalry. Let alone a duet – he would have sung with a low voice, eyes smiling, full of charm yet keeping people at a distance.
Earlier, Cheng Siran and the others knew that Jiang Shiyan and Tang Yang were getting cozy.
Recently, Little Cheng accidentally let slip “Aunt” in his baby voice, and the big-mouthed Feng Weiran accidentally mentioned “living together”. Everyone tacitly gave the couple their space.
But tonight, they had finally managed to get together to have some fun…
Cheng Siran came out of the dance floor: “It’s just dating, you can’t even sing and have fun? Tang Yang isn’t even here,” Cheng Siran tossed a can of beer at Jiang Shiyan, “You’re acting like you’re about to achieve enlightenment.”
Jiang Shiyan caught the can mid-air and put it aside, raising an eyebrow: “Even though my girlfriend isn’t here, I have to keep myself in check for her, don’t I?”
He said it naturally, yet with a hint of smugness.
Someone around them snickered. Cheng Siran threw a handful of goji berries into his tea and gave a thumbs up: “I’m impressed, truly impressed.”
The private room was filled with the clinking of glasses as the party reached its peak.
Jiang Shiyan left first, with Cheng Siran seeing him out.
The “click” of the lock shut out the noise inside.
The corridor was spacious and quiet, with wall lamps casting two long, slender shadows.
That afternoon, Cheng Siran heard from his secretary about Jiang Shiyan using Youran Residence’s advertisement to invest in promoting someone. He thought about Jiang Shiyan’s earlier complaints in the group chat about Gan Yiming’s cousin, and how Jiang Shiyan had kept his distance from everyone tonight.
As they entered the elevator, Cheng Siran leaned against the wall and spoke up: “Do you think Tang Yang is with you because she likes you?”
The question came suddenly, and Jiang Shiyan didn’t answer.
“Have you considered that Tang Yang might be with you out of gratitude or something similar?” Cheng Siran’s cheek twitched, but he continued, “You come from a marketing background, so you should understand better than me that most girls face a choice – to be with someone they like or to be with someone who likes them.”
“How many years have you and Tang Yang been close, fourteen or fifteen? How many tens of thousands worth of gifts do you send each year, how many meals do you treat her to, how many phone calls do you make?”
“She might complain about you normally,” Cheng Siran scratched his head and continued casually, “But to be fair, you’re rich, tall, handsome, gentle and considerate, always available when called. Once you confessed and became an option for someone she likes, what woman could refuse? Especially Tang Yang, who’s known for being rational and weighing her options.”
There were only two people in the elevator, with light reflecting off the mirrored surfaces.
Jiang Shiyan stood in the center with his hands in his pockets, wearing a black suit, his posture straight, his expression calm.
Cheng Siran glanced at him silently, considered for a moment, and continued: “After inviting you and Tang Yang for a barbecue last time, I met up with Qin Yue, Qin Jiao, and a few others. Do you know how Tang Yang got transferred back to City A last year?”
“In October, One Rest almost went under. You were probably too busy to notice much,” Cheng Siran said, “Qin Yue told me that when Tang Yang was rotating at the City B branch, she proposed some B-something-B model, I think it was related to risk control. She won an industry award for it. Then, through some twists and turns I can’t quite remember, she used that model to directly request a transfer back to City A from the head office.”
Cheng Siran continued: “Qin Yue said the management trainee who rotated with Tang Yang in City B is still mediocre. City A has more opportunities and chances. Look at Tang Yang – she came back, trended on social media, got a small boost, received an excellence award, became acting department head, and then took charge of the Jiujiang project.”
When a friend gets together with someone they like, and that person is also excellent, Cheng Siran naturally wishes them well.
But as an observer, Cheng Siran saw things. Jiang Shiyan had only dated once before, and he hadn’t taken that relationship seriously. But Tang Yang was different; she was someone Jiang Shiyan had been with for over a decade. Tang Yang wasn’t a naive girl who could be won over with bags and sports cars, and Yan Dog seemed very invested…
Emboldened by alcohol, Cheng Siran couldn’t help but speak up.
Jiang Shiyan listened quietly until he finished, then remained silent for a while before saying softly: “It doesn’t matter.”
Cheng Siran made a questioning sound.
Jiang Shiyan lowered his eyelids: “It doesn’t matter.”
Jiang Shiyan’s eyelashes fluttered: “As long as she doesn’t have someone she likes, as long as she’s single, as long as I can be one of her choices, it doesn’t matter why she’s with me.”
“Cheng Siran, you don’t understand,” Jiang Shiyan said, and as he spoke, he thought of something and couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile, “We were desk mates for three years in high school, classmates for four years in university. We’ve been through so much together. I know her good points, her bad points, and I know she doesn’t need me desperately.”
“But I like her, and I want to be good to her.”
“Since I’m the best among those who like her, I want to be with her. I want to give her everything she wants, everything I can give her, absolutely everything.”
He had been single for so many years, never getting close to women, never going on blind dates.
It was just that he couldn’t be without her, and fortunately, Tang Yang was single and ended up with Jiang Shiyan.
In the silence that followed, the friction sound of the elevator’s operation became clear.
Rustle, rustle.
Cheng Siran stared at Jiang Shiyan for a while, then showed an expression of sudden realization and slight disbelief: “Could it be that love does make people blind?”
“I don’t know if love does,” Jiang Shiyan also pulled a lazy smile, “But loving her does.”
Cheng Siran nodded, then smiled and said: “You were just very good friends. I shouldn’t have asked so much. If you had those thoughts, wouldn’t they have started in high school…”
Wait, this sounded familiar.
By the time Jiang Shiyan remembered when he had said something similar, the smile on his lips slowly froze.
Jiang Shiyan wanted to retort to Cheng Siran, “You don’t even have a girlfriend, how dare you say these things,” but then he thought, why should he argue with a single dog?
“Ding dong,” the elevator reached its destination along with his thoughts.
Jiang Shiyan glanced at Cheng Siran with a pained expression, not saying a word. Then, he snorted a laugh that was extremely contemptuous yet superior and walked out of the elevator with a straight back.
Cheng Siran: “???”
The night was like ink spilled into the neon lights of the city.
On one side of the city, Jiang Shiyan drove home. His mood wasn’t affected by Cheng Siran. After getting home, he tidied up the little home he shared with Tang Yang while happily browsing items on a shopping website.
On the other side of the city, in a rented apartment.
An open gift box sat on the coffee table, with a set of pink diamond jewelry spread inside.
On the sofa, Fan Linlang and Gan Yiming were embracing and kissing.
After a while, Fan Linlang’s clothes were disheveled. Gan Yiming caressed her face: “I couldn’t get close to you properly when Tang Yang was here.”
Fan Linlang buried her head in Gan Yiming’s chest: “Mm.”
After a moment of silence, Fan Linlang tentatively said: “Actually, you don’t need to be so hostile towards her. She’s quite nice and doesn’t have any intention of competing.”
“If she’s not competing, why would Zhou Zisheng give her the Jiujiang case?” Gan Yiming sneered.
Fan Linlang tugged at Gan Yiming’s collar: “Even if it wasn’t given to her, it would have been given to Qin Yue. Your relationship with Wei Changqiu is what it is, it wasn’t convenient for you to be involved in the first place.”
Gan Yiming subtly brushed off Fan Linlang’s hand: “There’s a difference between it being my case but I can’t handle it due to my relationship with Wei Changqiu so it’s given to Tang Yang, and them not considering me at all, and directly giving it to Tang Yang.”
Fan Linlang: “It’s about the same.”
“Linlang, you don’t understand.” Gan Yiming gently fixed Fan Linlang’s collar, preparing to leave.
As always, he hugged her and kissed her but never touched her further.
The look in his eyes as he gazed at Fan Linlang was deep and hidden, like restrained and controlled deep love.
————
From the first day, Tang Yang arrived in City B, Gan Yiming went to Fan Linlang’s place almost every day.
When Gan Yiming and Fan Linlang talked about Tang Yang, Tang Yang, and Jiang Shiyan would occasionally mention Gan Yiming in their pre-sleep calls.
One Rest worked efficiently. Jiang Shiyan arranged things on Tuesday, and the marketing accounts started soliciting submissions on Wednesday. By Wednesday night, the assistant had found and sent over screenshots of submissions from Gan Yiming’s “cousin”.
Jiang Shiyan explained the connection to Tang Yang.
Tang Yang exclaimed softly in surprise: “How did you know that Qianqian would submit? She just glanced at you that day, didn’t she?”
Jiang Shiyan: “It means she recognized me. She follows the marketing accounts.”
A kept woman, bored all day long, how could she not embrace a pillow when sleepiness comes?
After chatting for a while longer, Tang Yang remembered something and said in a soft voice, “Let me tell you, there’s a stall selling longan and lotus seed soup near the gate of No. 2 Middle School. It’s incredibly delicious. I used to love eating it when I was in graduate school. I can’t believe it’s still open. You must try it when you come. In the past, when you visited, I only focused on treating you to fancy meals, but that soup is truly a heavenly taste.”
The flavor seemed to linger on her taste buds, and Tang Yang felt so happy she wanted to scratch the walls. “I’ve been drinking this soup for the past few days. Every time I finish, I feel like I’m back to being twenty. There’s also another place that sells meatballs…”
Jiang Shiyan smiled as he listened to his dear Yang Yang’s excited chatter.
After she finished her enthusiastic description, Jiang Shiyan coughed lightly and asked, “Have you gained weight?”
Tang Yang: “…”
Jiang Shiyan: “You weighed 91 jin when you left.”
Tang Yang: “…”
Jiang Shiyan: “Want to step on the scale?”
Tang Yang held her phone a bit farther away and smiled, “Jiang. Shi. Yan!”
Jiang Shiyan cheerfully responded, “Eh! Thin or plump, as long as you’re healthy,” he said seriously, “I like you at whatever weight you are. If you’re 91 jin, I like 91 jin. If you’re 92 jin, I like 92 jin. If you weigh 89 jin, then I like 89 jin…”
This man was never serious.
Tang Yang felt pleased inside but feigned disdain, “I can’t be bothered with your nonsense.”
Jiang Shiyan: “I noticed you’ve been using the air conditioner a lot these past two days, so I bought you a humidifier. The express delivery should arrive tomorrow. Remember to pick it up at the front desk when you get back tomorrow evening.”
“Okay,” Tang Yang lay on the bed, swinging her slender legs up and down.
As she chatted with him intermittently, she deleted the humidifier from her shopping cart on her tablet.
Over the next two days, it drizzled in B City, a fine, continuous rain-like ox hair.
Tang Yang opened the window slightly, and the light rain seemed to have eyes, silently moistening the window frame.
The humidifier wasn’t turned on, but it served a great purpose.
Every day during her half-hour skincare routine, Tang Yang would frown and wonder if Jiang Shiyan had done it on purpose. Deliberately buying something to place there, making her see it in the morning and evening until looking at it made her miss him terribly.
————
After finishing class on Friday morning, the branch manager hurried to the classroom: “The leaders from the head office have something to attend to on Saturday morning, so our Saturday morning event has been moved to tonight from 6 to 8 PM. The time has been compressed by an hour, and no mistakes are allowed. Therefore, this afternoon’s classes are also canceled, and the three classes will join together for a rehearsal.”
As soon as he finished speaking, cheers erupted in the classroom.
Other students were excited about having seven fewer classes, but Tang Yang, being a top student, remained calm and quietly took out her phone to change her Saturday flight ticket to 9 PM tonight.
After lunch, Tang Yang and her classmates went to the hotel banquet hall for rehearsal. The network in the hall was poor.
Jiang Shiyan wanted to give Tang Yang a surprise, so at noon he asked as usual, “What are you doing?”
Tang Yang replied “Need to rehearse” and then went silent.
At 1 PM, Jiang Shiyan sent Tang Yang a WeChat message, but she didn’t reply.
At 3 PM, Jiang Shiyan arrived at the airport and sent Tang Yang another message, but she still didn’t reply.
At 5 PM, Jiang Shiyan boarded the plane, and Tang Yang had still not responded.
“Sir, please confirm that your phone is turned off,” the flight attendant reminded him for the third time.
Jiang Shiyan turned off his phone, his lips moving slightly: “If someone keeps sending you messages, and you used to reply instantly, but this time you haven’t responded, is it because you find that person annoying or,” Jiang Shiyan forced a smile, “you feel like they’re disturbing your work, and they’re a bit bothersome?”
The assistant, who had been following Jiang Shiyan all the way, saw his expression change from joy to anticipation to barely concealed disappointment, and said sympathetically, “It’s probably fine.”
Is it fine?
Jiang Shiyan held his phone, his thumb slowly caressing the dark screen… feeling somewhat uncertain.
At 5:30 PM, the plane soared into the clouds, and Jiang Shiyan closed his eyes for a short rest.
Tang Yang and her colleagues finally completed numerous rehearsals. While massaging her sore shoulders, she walked towards the dining area with others. Everyone was holding back their complaints but still chatting and laughing, not daring to grumble openly.
“Buzz buzz” “Buzz buzz” “Buzz buzz”…
Just as Tang Yang sat down with her meal, Jiang Shiyan’s messages came through.
He said he had finally delivered the vegetables to the old house. He mentioned that he had dyed his hair slightly brown, and Cheng Cheng said he looked handsome. He asked Tang Yang if she wanted his selfie. When Tang Yang didn’t reply, he first said he wouldn’t send it, then said he knew she wanted it and would reluctantly send it. After that, he sent an emoji with just the word “handsome” and asked how it was, and then went silent…
Tang Yang bit her chopsticks, unable to suppress a smile.
[Wife: I was rehearsing in the banquet hall this afternoon, and there was no signal on my phone. I told you earlier that the Saturday event was moved up~]
[Wife: Send it, come on, send it! If you only talk about sending but don’t send, you’re just a useless little cookie!!]
[Wife: I’m having dinner now. The radish is super sweet, just a bit old.]
[Wife: Remember to have dinner too. I probably won’t be checking my phone much tonight. I’ll call you back when I’m done with work.]
…
He must be busy, as he hasn’t replied yet. Tang Yang wiped her mouth and headed back to the banquet hall after finishing her dinner.
As the event began, spotlights hung high, and cameras were densely arranged at the back of the hall. It started with a speech from the head office leaders, followed by all the new Leishang students reciting a long poem on stage. Then, the head office leaders interacted with the students on stage. As the proceedings gradually came to an end, Tang Yang counted the seconds, preparing to leave…
At the same time, at B City Airport, Jiang Shiyan disembarked from the plane.
The collaborating party had been waiting at the exit. Upon seeing Jiang Shiyan, they quickly approached him.
“Mr. Jiang.”
“Leo.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Leo gestured for Jiang Shiyan to follow, walking towards the car while saying, “Our event is tonight at 9 PM in the Saint Joffice Hall A. Huishang Bank’s event was originally scheduled for tomorrow at 9 AM in Hall A, but their head office leaders have something to attend to tomorrow, so they coordinated with us. They’ll use the hall from 6 PM to 8 PM tonight.”
Leo hesitated, “Huishang heard that you’d be arriving tonight, so their branch manager wanted to ask if it would be convenient for you to go there early so everyone could meet. I believe Yixiu and Huishang signed a credit card cooperation agreement before.”
Wanting to see someone yourself, but asking them to come early instead. Leo had complained internally countless times while coordinating with Huishang. Seeing that Jiang Shiyan hadn’t answered, and remembering the rumors about Jiang Shiyan’s not-so-good temper, Leo quickly added, “Of course, if it’s not convenient, that’s fine too. You can rest at the hotel first…”
Yang Yang must be busy with the event, not annoyed with him. But if Yang Yang were annoyed with him, he could pretend to be pitiful, and she would surely soften.
Either way, he had to see her first, see her soon.
“It’s convenient,” Jiang Shiyan said, pulling himself out of his thoughts and getting into the car.
Leo followed behind, mentally adding impression points for Jiang Shiyan.
Rumors couldn’t be trusted. He was dedicated and good-tempered!
Meanwhile, Jiang Shiyan and Leo’s group rushed from the airport to Saint Joffice.
At Saint Joffice Hall A, as the event ended, staff quickly began setting up for the next round of activities. Leo’s people from Thompson Group, having received Jiang Shiyan’s approval, came to invite the Huishang people for a brief meeting later. The B City branch manager kept a few familiar faces and high-performing students, naturally including Tang Yang.
Thompson Group was a multinational corporation, renowned both domestically and internationally. Even the person in charge of the B City branch was not to be underestimated in terms of capability.
The B City branch manager intended to help introduce the big shots and build connections. The other students all agreed readily, expressing their gratitude profusely.
Tang Yang went to the branch manager’s side, clasped her hands, and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry, Manager Fan, but I need to leave early.”
“It’s just a few minutes. At least meet them once,” the branch manager said softly to Tang Yang. “Meeting once leaves an impression. It’ll make things easier for you in the future.”
But she had a 9 PM flight! It was already 8:05 PM!
“Thank you, Manager Fan. I appreciate the thought, but I really can’t,” Tang Yang said urgently. “I’m pressed for time and need to leave now.”
Leo’s people overheard nearby: “Our CEO will be here in just a few minutes.”
“I appreciate it, but I truly can’t,” Tang Yang said, bowing to Leo’s people while backing towards the exit. Reaching the door, she bowed apologetically again, “I’ll have to leave first. There’s an urgent matter at home in A City. Next time, if there’s an opportunity—”
“Since everyone’s here, why wait for next time?” Please download the novel app Love Reading App to read the latest content.
A familiar male voice came from the small door behind the stage as it opened.
Tang Yang’s steps suddenly halted.
She looked up in disbelief and saw a group of people entering through the small door, with Jiang Shiyan surrounded in the middle… It was, really, really Jiang Shiyan, walking towards her.
In an instant, Tang Yang forgot whether she was supposed to go in or out, forgot what to do with her hands, and how to place her feet.
She stared wide-eyed at the dignified man in the center, her mind buzzing in confusion.
He, how did he…
Jiang Shiyan stopped in front of the branch manager.
Leo introduced Jiang Shiyan and the branch manager to each other, and Jiang Shiyan nodded politely.
As the branch manager was about to introduce the Huishang people, Jiang Shiyan walked up to Tang Yang and bowed slightly to her in a very gentlemanly manner.
“There aren’t many people who care for their families nowadays,” Jiang Shiyan maintained his bowing posture, politely extending his hand to her, and said in a low voice, “May I have the pleasure of meeting this young lady who’s in a hurry to return home?”
Jiang Shiyan had his back to the others, adding two adjectives before “lady” in a manner that didn’t conform to social etiquette, yet his tone remained polite and respectful.
In the silence, everyone looked at Tang Yang.
“Y-yes, you may,” Tang Yang’s ears reddened slightly, but she maintained a facade of calmness as she extended her hand to Jiang Shiyan.
“It’s my honor.”
Jiang Shiyan’s lips curled into a smile befitting a gentleman. He glanced at Yang Yang’s pretend-calm demeanor, and while seemingly following etiquette, he grasped her hand and then, taking advantage of his body blocking others’ view, he rather mischievously… squeezed it.
“!”
Tang Yang’s eyes suddenly widened, and when she looked up, she met with a certain someone’s spring-like eyes and a face full of “Little friend, want to play by the unspoken rules? I’ll keep you company” teasing charm. She immediately… timidly lowered her gaze.
The Saint Joffice Hall A was decorated in an intricate and luxurious style, with crystal lights casting flowing radiance.
Under everyone’s gaze, Jiang Shiyan was smiling, while Tang Yang’s face had turned red. Jiang Shiyan, who had been holding Tang Yang’s hand with one of his, very naturally brought his other hand to cover hers out of good manners, thus holding her hand with both of his. Then, smiling, he secretly and slowly began to caress her hand up and down…