It’s a double update! Happy holidays everyone, and Happy Birthday to Hu Yitian!
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My dad was discharged after two days, and the operation wound was healing well. As it was too c.u.mbersome to travel back and forth, my dad removed his st.i.tches at a local hospital. According to my mom, right after the day his st.i.tches were removed, my dad went straight back to the Senior Citizen"s club. I praised my dad"s warrior-like spirit over the phone.
When I woke up this morning, half of my pajamas are wet. I quickly changed and rushed to the train station. Once I entered the train, while the air-conditioning was blowing, I realized that my clothes were again half drenched in sweat. As I was wearing a white top, it became a little see-through. I looked around, there were quite a few men who looked wretched. But none of them seemed to have intentions of looking at me. I decided not to admit that I am the one without charisma. But instead, it was due to the hot weather that the indecent looking uncles are too lazy to be indecent.
Fu Pei* came up to me the moment I entered the office. (T/N: Xiao Xi"s Boss)
"Chen Xiaoxi, why don"t you go and take photos for the product catalogue today. Don"t you love to take photos?"
I looked out at the skies outside, starting to feel a little miserable, I stated, "My dad mentioned that this name which I have symbolizes that there is always hope in life. No matter how big or small, it will always be good. But he didn"t expect that 20 years later there is a young man called Chen Guan Xi*. He also didn"t expect that said young man is a film lover and an arts lover, and even more so, a young man who gained fame from a work, kickstarting a series of "rated*" trend. This means that there are always unexpected things in life. So please do not think that because I am called Chen Xiao Xi, means that I love photography." (T/N: Chen Guan Xi = Edison Chen, an actor. For "rated", the original word used in the novel translates to "door". I did a bit of research and found out that Edison Chen had abit of scandal on nudes and stuff. So I decided to use "rated" instead.)
Fu Pei took out his calculator from the drawer, "Talking back to boss minus 2% salary, took leave minus 3%, late minus 1%….."
I nodded, "Sure, just deduct it, but give me my salary for last month first."
He set aside his calculator slowly… "Miss Xiaoxi, please rest. I"ll take care of the product catalogue instead."
I nodded again, and went to sit below the air-conditioner.
I"ve been with this company for over two years. When I broke up with Jiang Chen, I quickly found a new apartment and a new job. I"m not afraid of him finding me, but afraid of him not finding me. I"m as low as a human can get.
The company has a total of 3 persons: the boss, Fu Pei, accountant, Situ Mo. I"m in charge of designing. We are a small enterprise, and count largely on Fu Pei to take in orders to continue our business. We have decent reputation. But ever since Fu Pei dated and broke up with an ex-customer, she went to spread bad rumors about the company and caused our sales to drop badly. We even encouraged Fu Pei to sell his body to s.n.a.t.c.h projects, but he refused. We do not understand why, as from our understanding of his viewpoint in love, this is a double win for him.
Fu Pei has left the office. Situ Mo has been away for almost a week as her kid is running a fever. As such, I"m left alone in the office. I brewed a cup of tea and strolled to my computer. I drank my tea and waited for the computer to auto-login applications such as QQ, MSN, SKYPE. All messenger apps. There are more and more messenger systems but less and less things to talk.
The first thing to pop up on MSN is Zhuang Dong Na, a customer. Last year end, our company designed a gift hamper for her company. There are gift cards, cups, calendar, etcetera. It was a pleasant deal, and we can be counted as an acquaintance. I introduced her to Jiang Chen last week. She"s a decent woman. Taller, prettier, slimmer, had better temper and more successful in career than me. The only thing that she cannot compare is that my feet is smaller than hers.
I heard that they are getting along pretty well. Jiang Chen even initiated a few dates with her. According to my experience, this doesn"t come by easy. It was a little depressing to hear about it. I even felt like tearing them apart, but I controlled myself.
I opened the chat with Zhuang Dong Na, she repeatedly sent a few "Are you there". I realized she didn"t put question marks. What a disappointment to our punctuation marks.
I slowly typed, "I"m here now."
I specially used red for the full stop* and increased it by one size. Hopefully she will feel ashamed. (T/N: The period for Chinese is a full stop.)
Zhuang Dong Na says, (10:16): Help me with something?
I saw the question mark and felt pleased. Hence I quickly replied: "Tell me about it."
Zhuang Dong Na says, (10:20): Jiang Chen has a patient who is holding a banquet to celebrate his full recovery tonight. He has a bring-a-date along to the banquet, but I have to go Shanghai for a business trip tomorrow afternoon. Can you go with him on my behalf?
I hesitated for a while and typed, "I don"t think that"s a good idea.."
Zhuang Dong Na says, (10:24): Why not? I already told Jiang Chen, and he agreed. Also, it is better to bring along a date in this kind of occasion. I heard that the patient is a big shot, and wants to matchmake Jiang Chen. You don"t wish for us to end our relationship when we just started right..
I"m speechless from looking at her reply. When I introduced her to Jiang Chen I already told her that we used to date. She doesn"t mind. Even if she doesn"t mind, at least respect the ex-girlfriend. There"s a saying, "Kindness is when someone is hungry, I don"t munch loudly when eating meat." Not only are you munching loudly, but you are even asking me to take tissue to wipe your mouth. That"s so uncivilized..
Zhuang Dong Na says, (10:25): Xiaoxi please please please please I beg you I beg you I beg you
Look at this person. Once anxious she forgets about punctuation. Have you ever thought of the punctuations marks" feelings.
I sighed, and replied, "All right, since you guys don"t mind."
Zhuang Dong Na says, (10:28): Xiaoxi I love you so much, thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks. Jiang Chen will pick you up tonight and bring you to buy a c.o.c.ktail dress. He"ll pay.
I drank a huge mouth of tea and typed, "Okay."
I pressed the enter key and thought, "My whole life is messed up due to my kindheartedness." When I was young, I still remember my form teacher during primary school whom everyone hated fell sick. n.o.body wanted to visit her, but I did. She was elated. She gave me all the fruits and eggs and whatever from her ward. I was so full I couldn"t walk properly. All because I was too kind.
My day pa.s.sed by absentmindedly. When Fu Pei came back, he took two pictures of me sitting at my desk. He uploaded it to the computer for me to see. It was taken pretty well, like an elderly with dementia who has lost her way.
I was in the squatting toilet when my phone rang. I have a problem of needing to use the toilet whenever I am anxious. I always spent the last 15 minutes before national examinations in the toilet.
I lifted my pants, and took out my phone. Indeed, it was Jiang Chen. I took a deep breath and realized this isn"t the best place to be doing so. Instead, I pinched my nose and said, "h.e.l.lo?"
"It"s me."
"I know."
"Why are you speaking in a low m.u.f.fled voice?"
I walked out of the toilet, released my nose and said, "I"m not."
"Were you in the toilet?" Jiang Chen chuckled while saying.
I looked around in shocked.
"How do you know?"
"Guessed. Have you knocked off (from work)?"
"If you"re so good at guessing you can continue guessing then." I replied curtly.
"I"m under your office. Just come down when you"re done."
I packed up and walked down. I looked around but didn"t see him. I was thinking if this is his idea of revenge for all the times I was late for our dates 3 years ago.
After sneaking around for a while, a car stopped in front of me and honked a few times. I bent down to take a look but was unable to see through the tinted window. When I wanted to take a closer look, there was honking again. I backed a few steps away in shock. I was enraged and wanted to start scolding, but the window winded down slowly and Jiang Chen instructed, "Get on."
I opened the door and went in. He frowned and asked, "Why are you so slow, I thought you knock off at 5:30 PM? Put on your seat belt."
I put on a face and mumbled to myself, "Chen Xiaoxi, you just ended work? Sorry to trouble you tonight, and thanks."
Jiang Chen gave me a look, "You"re welcome."
I twitched my lips, "So polite."
I secretly looked at him. He was wearing a black suit with a sapphire blue tie. So handsome.
He suddenly leaned towards me. I quickly pulled and fastened my seat belt and said, "I already fastened it."
He opened the compartment in front of my seat and took out a bottle of water. He pa.s.sed me the bottle and snorted.
I felt like dying when I took the bottle over. If I die, Jiang Chen will probably write the death cause as "thinking too much" or "died from shame".
When we were on the road. I drank the water in small sips. I"m actually not thirsty, but my throat"s a little dry.
It was eerily quiet in the car. I started to tear the bottle label in boredom. I didn"t know where to throw it after I tore it out. So I asked him where to throw it.
He turned his head to look at me, "That compartment I opened just now."
I opened the compartment and threw in the wrapper. Feeling a little guilty, I asked, "You are still drinking Nongfu Spring water?"
I always see him drinking Nongfu Spring water ever since I bought him that for the first time. At that time I was quite contented with myself. Even though I bought Nongfu Spring because I wanted to save 50 cents, I didn"t expect to buy what he would"ve come to love. It really is like sowing fruits even when you didn"t plan to plant, two hearts beating as one.
But he simply replied, "Hospital gave it for the festivities, there"s still a box of it at the back seat."
I turned my head and saw the carton of Nongfu Spring. Casually praising his hospital, "Your hospital is not bad! Giving out gifts during festivals. Unlike my company, there"s only overtime during festival seasons."
He was driving attentively and didn"t reply.
Seeing how he has no intention in responding to me, I stopped talking. As I grow older, I stopped doing things like being excessively pa.s.sionate to a cold shoulder*. This coldness from him is nothing to me. I used to do it regardless of his reaction, but not anymore. (T/N: stick hot face on cold b.u.t.tocks)
Translator’s Corner:
Please thank the lovely for this chapter. See you on the next!