Chapter 27.11: A quiet life
Zheng Xie life continues boringly. In the eyes of others, it is regular and almost mechanical like. During the day, he had several meetings and negotiations to sign contracts. Because his efficiency is too high, often he have nothing left to do. So he did nothing. While his subordinates will shudder with fear. He had recovered from his cold though his cough is still lingering around, not healing. So he is idler as he do not attend more dinner events.
Yang Wei Qi business trip is into a very remote place. It has been almost a week but there is no sign of her returning. He has wanted to look for her but also used to not having her around. As long he is used to anything, then it is okay.
After the outburst with He He the other day, they had made no contact at all.
Perhaps their relationship is not strained. He He just said something that she never had said. At that moment, both of them were agitated so those words were overboard. He later thought about it and realized that she were reasonable as well.
For He He, all these years he had indeed been too self-righteous. And he had over protected her, as a result may potential caused greater harm to her. More than he may have realized. After so many years, he may have been ignorant.
He is not sad as he has a strong heart. What really affected him was when he heard those words, his presence is a burden to her. He felt the vacant in his heart, as if a chunk of it had been scooped out.
Actually, that place has already grown a single tumor. Although he had been blinded but it had been slowly growing. Become hidden but now been cut off by the knife. It is good as it brought some relief.
That night he went to a party. He has always been invited to these parties but he had always turned them down. It has become the norm so when he promised to attend, his friends were surprised.
The party is nothing more than playing cards and get-together. In the poker room, the TV on the wall were one with no sound. Only the images flashing.
Zheng Xie sits just facing the TV. While he was playing with the cards, he was also looking at the screen. One of them who only won two games, said in anger: “This is not fair. Just turn off the TV”
They gaze at the TV, although it is on silent, there are subt.i.tled at the bottom. Zheng Xie while playing the cards were also focused on the emotional talk shows. Children, family and even parents. When an elegant woman was wiping away her tears, she was complaining about the years where her feelings were trampled by her boyfriend.
Someone next to Zheng Xie touched his forehead: “This is terrible. This man’s brain has been burned. He is now even watching this type of show.”
Zheng Xie nimbly dodged his hand. The others said: “This is marriage phobia before marriage.”
Because Zheng Xie had not gathered with them for a long time, they combine the dinner as his first bachelorette party. Invited a large group to come and eat. They also hired a female singer as well as someone to do magic to add to the fun.
Zheng Xie was drinking some wine. Because he had quiet drinking not long ago as well as he has not fully recovered from his recent illness, he drank modestly.
There were some less familiar faces in the gallery. Some friends of friends. People whom he may have cross path with before but never interacted. When the group of people were all tipsy or lying down, with the exception of Zheng Xie, he only saw an unfamiliar young man whom were still sober.
Just before dinner, they were introduced. Mu Ge, a friend of a friend. He is also Yang Wei Qi’s boss. When the friend introduce him to Zheng Xie, he said: “This is the employer of your family.”
At this point, he raise the gla.s.s and move towards the moment: “Mr Zheng, I wish you and Wei Qi a good marriage.” Faint tone but not enthusiasm.
Zheng Xie did not decline but drank the cup of wine.
That night, Zheng Xie called Yang Wei Qi. He felt that everything is not right and then realized that it is because she had not call him for several nights.
“Is work not well with you? How come you have gone for so long?”
“It is okay. The environment here is really good. So I take it as taking a short vacation.”
“It is the back country and also winter. How can there be any fun?”
“Snowy mountains. Ice Lake. It is beautiful here. Everyone is busy preparing for the New Year. I learn to make bread from the aunty of the Art School and learn ice-fishing from the children.”
“Sound like you are doing well. I thought you would had suffered.”
“Fortunately. It is just not very convenient. Do you miss me?”
“When are you coming back?”
“In few more days.” Yang Wei Qi was silent on the phone for a while before saying: “Zheng Xie, do you love me?”
“What happen to you?”
“Nothing. I am just bored. Do you love me?”
“I really like you.” A few seconds later, Zheng Xie answer from the other end of the phone.
Just two days later, Zheng Xie met Yang Wei Qi’s boss again.
It is normal for them to cross path again. They have the same circle of friends. Perhaps they had even cross path in the past but just never had the interaction. Once they met, they discover that both of them often cross path, just like how it was the same between Zheng Xie and Yang Wei Qi.
Zheng Xie as pulled to join his friends that day. His buddies said: “Ah Xie, after you are married, it would be harder to get you to come and meet us for a get-together.”
Zheng Xie’s buddies recently had asked Mu Ge to help them with some difficult cases. So often invited him out.
That day, Mu Ge was a little high. Out of the group of people, only Zheng Xie was convenience in sending him home.
Mu Ge in his drunkenness, was totally different from his calm self the other time. He asked: “Wei Qi has not come back yet?”
“You are her boss. How you do not know about your subordinated whereabouts?”
“I have only the whereabouts of her when it is work related. During her vacation time, it is beyond my control.”
Zheng Xie was silence.