Chapter 29 — Specially Used for Punishment by Kneeling Washboard
He Xiu didn"t pay any mind to the train of comments on his Weibo. Instead, he sent a private message to Jian Yan on QQ.
Nan Si: 「I"m sorry, Teacher. Don"t be angry anymore, please 『feeling wronged』」
Tang Zhi: 「『smile』」
Seeing that cold smile Tang Zhi sent him, He Xiu contrarily sighed in relief. Fortunately, she hadn"t ignored or blacklisted him like he had done to Tang Zheng.
Nan Si: 「I"m sorry, I made a mistake 『feeling wronged』」
Tang Zhi: 「『smile』」
Nan Si: 「What would you like to eat tomorrow? I"ll make it for you φ(゜▽゜*)」
Tang Zhi: 「:)」
Nan Si: 「Teacher, do I need to kneel on a washboard for you to be willing to forgive me? 『tears』」
Tang Zhi: 「Oh, this suggestion is not bad」
Nan Si: 「&h.e.l.lip;」
Tang Zhi: 「Do you have a washboard at home? If not, I"ll gift you one.」
Nan Si: 「&h.e.l.lip;」
After Jian Yan sent this, she genuinely began to search for a washboard on moubao.1 There was one shop that had a 「Specially Used for Punishment by Kneeling Washboard」, and its sales volume was also very high. She clicked on it with exhilaration and read through everyone"s comments.
「Washboard is super-strong! It was very painful for hubby to kneel on it. I am very happy!」
「Packaging is very good. Specially had my boss give it to me with the words "wife is forever right." Hahaha, must give 5 star review~」
「Washboard too cute, bought it and sent it to boyfriend~! He gave me an incredulous look when he got it. Itching to have him try it. Lalala~」
「Young ladies, feel rea.s.sured when buying for husbands and boyfriends to have them kneel! Absolutely agonizing, can bring results!」
「Washboard also has two grooves. Too humane, not happy! But I sprinkled a few pebbles in it, hahahahaha!」
Jian Yan: "&h.e.l.lip;"
I look up to these awesome girls.
She unhesitantly bought the washboard and filled in the address as Starlight General Merchandise. The phone number was also the one He Xiu had given her.
She really hoped Director He would receive this gift a bit earlier.
After buying the washboard, Jian Yan felt somewhat tired. Tonight, she was going to sleep late, but fortunately, she had evening shift tomorrow. She could sleep in a bit.
Ai, I"m indeed falling further and further from grace.
Tonight, Tang Zheng was also going to sleep very late. After he had gotten drunk at the bar, Lin Zhen had taken him back to her home. This time, however, his intoxication level was d.a.m.nably high. He slept on her sofa for the entire night. Waking up with a hangover, Tang Zheng"s head ached dearly. He placed a hand on his temple as he sat up on the sofa, the quilt covering his body sliding to the ground.
He pulled up the quilt and looked around. Very well, he was once again in Lin Zhen"s house. He retrieved his cell phone to look at the time, but he discovered a notification at the very top that said He Xiu had sent him a message.
「This time, our friendship has truly reached its end. I will never see you again. :)」
Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;"
What was wrong with him now? How come their friendship reached its end again?!
「Head He, are you still a primary school student?」
【Message has been sent, but recipient has rejected it.】
Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;"
History always repeated itself with astonishing frequency.
His head was hurting even more, but he still gave He Xiu a call. After the phone rang for more than ten seconds, someone picked up. "Did you not see the message I sent you?"
He Xiu"s voice was glacial, freezing Tang Zheng and causing him to tremble. "It was because I saw it that I called to ask you what was the mistake I made?"
"You don"t even remember what you did?" This time, He Xiu"s tone was accompanied by a grim laugh.
Tang Zheng felt that he was very innocent. "Don"t tell me that this is because yesterday was Christmas and I didn"t give you a present?"
He Xiu: "&h.e.l.lip;"
He immediately hung up the call.
Tang Zheng persevered and called him a second time. "If it"s not this, then what is it? I didn"t provoke you yesterday, right? You said you didn"t have any free time to partic.i.p.ate in the New Year"s Day concert, and I agreed too!"
He Xiu said, "Do you still not remember the things you did last night?"
"&h.e.l.lip;" Tang Zheng wiped his face. "If a woman asked me this question, I would get the hint. You, milord, asking me&h.e.l.lip;my feelings are very mixed."
"Hehe." He Xiu"s icy aura travelled through the phone and poured over Tang Zheng"s body. "Then I"ll help you remember. Weren"t you together with Lin Zhen last night? What did you say to her?"
"What did I say?" After Tang Zheng asked this, he suddenly recalled that he had been roasting He Xiu. Don"t tell me Lin Zhen had tattled on me to He Xiu? "Okay, so I said a few malicious words about you. You"re not that petty, right?"
"A few malicious words? You told her I was Nan Si. Head Tang doesn"t remember this at all?"
"&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;" Tang Zheng was stupefied. "That"s impossible!"
"Before, I also didn"t believe that you could be stupid to this degree, but the facts prove otherwise. I underestimated you."
Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;"
"This, this must be a misunderstanding between us. Wait a minute! I"ll go ask to make things clear!" Tang Zheng hung up and staggered upstairs, trying to find Lin Zhen"s room.
Lin Zhen woke up to him knocking on the door. She impatiently slipped on her slippers and walked up to open the door for him. "So early in the morning, are you close to dying?"
Tang Zheng said, "I really might die!" He solemnly looked at Lin Zhen. "Do you remember what I told you last night?"
"Ah?" Lin Zhen beat back a yawn and replied, "Oh, you said that Master He was no good this, no good that. You even said that he was Nan Si."
Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;"
You all wouldn"t understand the feeling of thunder from a clear sky.2
He asked, struggling on his deathbed, "Are you certain I said this?"
Lin Zhen laughed. "If you didn"t say this, did a pig say this?"
Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;"
He vowed that he would give up alcohol.
He pulled at his hair as he said to her, "Last night, that was me drunk talking, but He Xiu"s special ident.i.ty, you definitely cannot tell anyone else about this matter."
Lin Zhen nodded and said, "Don"t worry. I still have a sense of propriety. I didn"t tell anyone, only Jian Yan."
Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;"
He seemed to slightly understand why Master He had displayed such an extremely bad temper to him.
Staring at his forlorn departing figure, Lin Zhen tilted her head. She shut the door and went back to sleep.
Just as Tang Zheng entered the living room again, He Xiu took the initiative to call him. Tang Zheng"s little conscience trembled. Swallowing his saliva, he accepted the call. "Master He."
He Xiu asked, "Did you ask and understand clearly now? I haven"t accused you wrongly, have I?"
"Hehehehe." Tang Zheng gave a wizened laugh. "I"m sorry, I got drunk last night. Please don"t be angry anymore?"
He Xiu ineffably felt that this was somewhat familiar. He frowned and said to him, "I want to take part in the New Year"s Day concert. Can you still add me right now?"
"Can! Definitely can!" Tang Zheng agreed like an absolute kiss up.
"Then that"s that." He Xiu hung up after he finished speaking.
Tang Zheng: "&h.e.l.lip;"
Although he didn"t know why He Xiu suddenly changed the plan, Tang Zheng still immediately notified the campaign planner. The New Year"s Day concert was their VOICE benefit concert. Nan Si taking part was what they had sought but failed to get originally.
The art designer modified the poster at top speed, and the official blog once again released the new publicity item. Seeing Nan Si"s name on the poster, everyone spread the news with great celebration.
When He Xiu ate lunch, he found the time to update his Weibo. After that, he continued to gaze at the entrance of the dining hall.
On schedule, Jian Yan entered the dining hall to eat, but after catching sight of He Xiu, she detoured to the other side to sit down. He Xiu"s heart broke in half. He picked up his lunchbox and walked over to Jian Yan to sit down with her. "Good afternoon."
Jian Yan looked up at him and replied, "Good afternoon."
Her att.i.tude was cold, but He Xiu wasn"t discouraged at all. He opened his lunchbox and smiled at Jian Yan. "I remember that you said you liked stewed beef and sweet and sour pork. I specifically made those today."
He Xiu was very confident in his cooking skills. He didn"t believe Jian Yan could eat his stewed beef and sweet and sour pork yet not have her temper cooled afterward.
Who would have imagined that Jian Yan would lift her head and smile at him while saying, "Oh, I don"t want it."
He Xiu: "&h.e.l.lip;"
The other half of his heart also broke.
For the next three days, He Xiu changed his cooking style, hoping that Jian Yan would taste a bite. Jian Yan tenaciously resisted the allure, however, because she was waiting. She was waiting for the washboard she had bought for He Xiu to be delivered.
She checked the tracking information every day. If nothing unexpected happened, then it should finally be delivered into He Xiu"s hands today.
Today also just happened to be Jian Yan"s turn to rest. She was elated. If she were at the store, she would really be worried that He Xiu would be unable to restrain himself from heading directly to Fantasy Wardrobe to hit someone.
He Xiu knew Jian Yan"s shifts like the back of his hand. Knowing that she was on the break roster today, he also didn"t feel inclined to run to the dining hall. Instead, he had his secretary order take out for him to be delivered to his office.
His phone suddenly rang. He Xiu took out his cell phone and glanced at it——unknown number. This was his private cell phone number. Normally, he never answered unknown numbers, but the ringtone rang continuously without stopping. He thought for a moment before accepting the phone call.
"h.e.l.lo."
A man"s voice came out loud and clear through the phone, asking with a slight laugh, "Is this He gou dan? I have your express delivery."
He Xiu: "&h.e.l.lip;"
His packages were always accepted for him by his secretary, yet he had to personally go down and retrieve this package today.
Starlight General Merchandise had a special area for receiving packages. When He Xiu went down there, the tiny room was filled with several packages. The security guard set down his chopsticks upon seeing him and stood up. "Director He, you personally came down to retrieve a package."
He Xiu smiled. "Yes, you can continue eating. You don"t have to look after me."
"No, no, no. It"s better if I help you find it. It"s a mess in here!"
He Xiu pushed aside his hand and continued to smile. "It"s really unnecessary. You can go eat."
"&h.e.l.lip;" He Xiu"s smile sent shivers down the security guard"s spine. He very slowly withdrew his hand. "Then, then, as you please."
He Xiu"s gaze very quickly swept through the packages and located the package with the three words 「He gou dan」 with precision.
Taking advantage of the security guard"s lack of attention, he seized the package before turning around and walking away.
He sighed with relief when he reached his office. Not many people knew his private number. Not only that, the other party had specifically written the recipient to be 「He gou dan」. This package must have been sent by someone he knew.
He furrowed his brows, his gaze darkening as he began to open the package.
He opened the box and removed the several layers of insulation. To his shock, he unearthed a cute washboard.
Written on the front were the words: 「Specially Used for Punishment by Kneeling」.
He Xiu: "&h.e.l.lip;"
Author"s Note:
Expressing thanks to sponsors
↩ Thunder from a clear sky = a bolt from the blue, out of nowhere (idiom) ↩