Chen Erhu’s delayed shock didn’t subside for a long time. As he walked towards the car, his limbs were stiff, with a forced naturalness.
“Should the three of you just ride your motorcycles back?” Chen Jian changed the subject and asked Sanbing.
“You already drove the big Mercedes over!” Lao Si said. “Why would we ride our motorcycles! We haven’t even been in this car before!”
“You’re not going to abandon your motorcycles, are you?” Chen Jian asked.
“Are you stupid? We can just walk over and get them when we have time,” Sanbing said. “They’re parked at the police station. They’re not going to get stolen.”
“Alright then,” Chen Jian said. “Get in.”
The stiff-limbed Chen Erhu got into the passenger seat. Sanbing and the other two sat in the back.
Chen Jian turned the heat on to the highest setting, hoping it would help Chen Erhu’s body regain its flexibility faster.
“Did anything happen with that Zhang guy just now?” he asked as he started the car.
“No,” Sanbing said. “He just glared at us, kept glaring. But as soon as we looked at him, he would immediately look away and pretend he didn’t care. He’s so fake. I don’t know what Nana saw in him in the first place.”
“He saved her life,” Chen Erhu said.
“Huh?” Lao Wu immediately leaned over the back of the passenger seat. “How did he save her? What happened?”
“Nana was taking pictures on the ice, the ice broke, and she fell into the river,” Chen Erhu said. “That Zhang guy saved her. From what her mom said, he really went all out to save her, smashing the ice with his fists and all… They probably got together after that. You can’t really tell if a person is good or bad from this kind of thing…”
“Ah…” Lao Wu listened thoughtfully.
“Don’t even think about it,” Sanbing reminded Lao Wu. “This kind of thing is called fate. It doesn’t happen to ordinary people.”
“Then…” Lao Wu continued to be thoughtful.
“Don’t ‘then’ this and that. If you’re thinking of creating a situation like this to chase a girl, that’s murder,” Chen Jian said.
“I wasn’t thinking that!” Lao Wu shouted.
“Just a reminder,” Chen Jian said.
“You’re targeting me,” Lao Wu said, leaning back unconvinced.
“I’m worried about you,” Chen Jian said, glancing at him in the rearview mirror.
“I saw that Nana’s mom’s eyes were red,” Lao Si said. “Was she scolded?”
“Scolded by whom?” Lao Wu asked.
“By Shan Yu, of course! Who else!” Sanbing said. “Who at Dayin would dare to scold Nana’s parents? It’s only Shan Yu. Lu Jun was just lucky he didn’t provoke him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t care if he was a city leader or not.”
“It wasn’t really scolding. I think Shan Yu was holding back a lot,” Chen Erhu said. “The main thing is, her parents were too infuriating, especially her dad! I even wanted to hit him!”
“So what’s the situation now? Is it resolved?” Sanbing asked.
“I guess so?” Chen Erhu looked at Chen Jian. “According to Shan Yu’s plan, if the divorce doesn’t happen, that Zhang guy will lose his job. A person like him will probably be honest now. After all, he’ll also get a big advantage from the divorce.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian responded. “We’ll just have to see if he goes then.”
“If he doesn’t, we’ll get him!” Lao Si shouted. “I wanted to get him just now! Sanbing wouldn’t let me!”
“What were you thinking, hitting someone in front of the police station?” Sanbing said. “The moment we stood there, the surveillance camera on the wall turned to face us!”
Back at Dayin, besides Shan Yu sitting at the front desk, there was no one on the first floor.
“Where is everyone?” Chen Jian asked as he walked to the front desk.
“Zhao Fangfang is out buying groceries, Sister Huang is cleaning up on the second floor, and Hu Pan and Sun Nana are probably still in the dorm,” Shan Yu said, placing the phone log in front of Chen Jian. “I answered two calls. Manager, please take a look.”
Question: Do you accept corporate team-building events? About fifteen people. Room rates, conference room fees?
Answer: Yes, we do. Room rates are unclear, conference room fees are unclear.
Question: The front desk doesn’t know anything?
Answer: It depends on the specific needs. Please contact the manager for details. Gave the manager’s phone number.
The other call wasn’t a case of ‘I-don’t-know-anything,’ but the person was just asking if there were many tourists now, and the answer was not many.
Chen Jian glanced at Shan Yu.
“How was it?” Shan Yu asked.
“…Do you want me to praise you?” Chen Jian asked.
“Don’t discourage the boss’s initiative,” Shan Yu said.
“I…” Just as Chen Jian was about to speak, his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number from out of town, probably the one Shan Yu had left. He answered it. “Hello.”
Shan Yu stood up, stretched, and turned to walk towards the elevator.
After the call, Chen Jian found that Sanbing and the others had disappeared. Only Chen Erhu was sitting at the front desk.
“Where is everyone?” he asked.
“They went up to see Nana,” Chen Erhu said, looking at him. “Chen Jian…”
“Mhm?” Chen Jian responded.
“How should I explain it to Sanbing and the others?” Chen Erhu frowned, looking very anxious. “I was thinking, first I’ll test their attitude, then I’ll subtly introduce the concept, and then…”
“Erhu, Erhu,” Chen Jian interrupted him and said sincerely, “Just say it directly. If you feel you can’t say it, I’ll go and tell them myself.”
“No, no, no, that’s too abrupt,” Chen Erhu waved his hands. “It’s more natural if I tell my own people.”
“Then do as you wish,” Chen Jian said with some helplessness.
“Then I’ll follow this procedure,” Chen Erhu looked at him.
“Mhm,” Chen Jian nodded.
“I’m really going to say it now?” Chen Erhu confirmed with him.
“Mhm,” Chen Jian nodded.
“Then I’ll tell them when they come down later,” Chen Erhu said, as if he had made a decision, as if he were the one coming out. “I’m really going to say it.”
“I’m begging you, just say it,” Chen Jian said. “As long as you don’t run outside with a loudspeaker and shout it, you can say it to our people however you want.”
“Okay,” Chen Erhu nodded.
“You watch here for a bit,” Chen Jian said. “I’m going up to take a look.”
“Mhm,” Chen Erhu neatly arranged the logbook and notebook on the counter and sat down.
Chen Jian didn’t take the elevator. He was too lazy to wait and ran up the stairs to the fourth floor.
Just as he turned into the hallway, Sanbing heard his footsteps and popped his head out from the dorm. “Chen Jian.”
“Mhm?” Chen Jian turned his head and responded.
“You’re awesome,” Sanbing gave him a thumbs-up and then ducked back in.
It seemed they already knew. Chen Jian felt sad for Chen Erhu, who was still downstairs with his head full of plans on how to explain it to “his people.”
He had planned for nothing for a long time.
He was more anxious than the people involved in the incident.
The other person involved was much more relaxed. At this very moment, he was standing in front of the pet tank, admiring Erge eating mealworms.
“Did you run into any more trouble when you sent them over?” Shan Yu asked.
“No,” Chen Jian said. “But that Zhang guy even parked his car at the police station entrance… I feel like he’s a loser. He’s still scared when something happens.”
“Sun Nana has scheduled it for the third of next month,” Shan Yu said. “When the time comes, see who you can take to accompany her.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian said, leaning against the cabinet next to him and looking at him.
There had been many people just now, and it had been a chaotic mess of running back and forth. When Chen Erhu had talked to him about this, he hadn’t felt much. It was only now, when things had quieted down and he was face to face with Shan Yu, that he suddenly felt the reality of it.
“Fuck,” he let out the same impoverished exclamation as Chen Erhu.
“What’s wrong?” Shan Yu smiled.
“You just said it like that?” Chen Jian said.
“What else?” Shan Yu said. “We can ignore that Zhang guy’s side, but we still have to make it clear to Sun Nana’s parents. And I don’t want to waste my breath.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian said.
After a few seconds, he chuckled a couple of times.
“Are you poisoned?” Shan Yu glanced at him.
“No,” Chen Jian thought for a moment and smiled again. “It’s just… I can’t quite put my finger on it. Today was really exciting…”
“Still jealous?” Shan Yu asked.
“Two different things,” Chen Jian said.
“Oh,” Shan Yu turned to look at him.
“Oh, my ass,” Chen Jian couldn’t help but laugh again. He went over and hugged Shan Yu, kissing him hard on the neck.
No dating during work hours.
In the past, although he was afraid of being discovered if he stayed in the office for a while longer, it wasn’t a big problem to use reporting work as a cover. But now, even if he were really reporting work, the Pigsty Party would probably think they were doing something in there.
Especially since this matter had just been revealed.
Chen Jian didn’t stay in the office for too long. When he walked out of the office, he even felt like he had to exude a ‘going to work’ vibe.
He first went to the dorm to take a look. Sanbing and the others had already gone downstairs.
Hu Pan and Sun Nana were in the small living room, touching up their makeup.
Seeing him come in, Hu Pan smiled and said, “What do you want to ask about?”
“Nothing,” Chen Jian smiled.
“We already told them,” Hu Pan said. “They didn’t have much of a reaction.”
“I feel like Lao Wu probably didn’t even understand,” Sun Nana said.
“He’s not that stupid,” Hu Pan said. “It might have been a bit of a shock. Look at Chen Erhu. He didn’t react at all just now. Anyone who didn’t know would have thought he already knew.”
“How are you?” Chen Jian asked Sun Nana.
“I feel so relieved,” Sun Nana said, using her little finger to tuck her hair back. “It feels like I’ve won a battle.”
“That’s good,” Chen Jian said, leaning against the doorframe. Now he could ask. “That time you fell into the river…”
“Why are you like them?” Sun Nana started laughing. “You’re all asking about this!”
“It just shows that everyone is quite gossipy,” Chen Jian said. “Maybe even…”
It could be made into a short drama.
He closed his mouth in time, afraid that Sun Nana would hit him.
“It was back then, when I had just graduated,” Sun Nana sighed. “I went to take pictures of the frozen river. To get a good shot, you have to go to the middle. The spot I walked to wasn’t frozen solid yet, so I fell in.”
“You two didn’t know each other back then, right?” Chen Jian asked.
“Mhm, he was also there taking pictures,” Sun Nana sighed. “The matter of him saving me… he really did seem like a good person back then. After he pushed me up, if it weren’t for someone else coming to help, he might not have been able to get up himself… At that time, I really looked at him like a hero.”
“No one knew it would turn out like this,” Chen Jian said.
“We were just saying,” Hu Pan said, “this could be used as material for all sorts of short dramas.”
…You said it.
Chen Jian glanced at Sun Nana.
“We can change it a bit. We can collect material first,” Sun Nana said. “I can write it.”
“You guys…” Chen Jian hesitated. “Are you really going to film it?”
“Yes, after the snow season when there aren’t as many people, we’ll have time to film,” Hu Pan clapped her hands. “It’ll be so much fun. The ‘jianghu’ of Dayin. We’ll be all sorts of hidden masters. The scenery here is also suitable.”
“A period drama?” Chen Jian asked.
“That’s not impossible either. We have all those old bedsheets and quilt covers,” Hu Pan said. “There are a lot in the storage room. We can just wrap them around ourselves…”
“Then what kind of thing will that turn out to be?” Chen Jian was stunned.
“A穿越 to the ‘jianghu’ of Dayin. The bedsheet costumes will just be a quick scene,” Hu Pan said. “Don’t worry.”
Perhaps because the boss didn’t put much pressure on them usually, this group of people was always full of energy.
There was nothing to do before dinner. After talking about Sun Nana’s matter, they started talking about the short drama again. You said a line, I said a line, and Sanbing even started auditioning on the spot.
When a guest came downstairs and saw it, they even gave a good review.
“You’re acting pretty well,” a man said while applauding. “Are you playing a security guard?”
“…I’m a great hero,” Sanbing said.
“Oh,” the man nodded. “Reincarnated as a security guard?”
“Yes,” Sanbing nodded helplessly.
“Quite interesting,” the man said, laughing as he walked out. “The atmosphere in your guesthouse is really nice.”
“Do I look like a security guard?” Sanbing asked after the man had left.
“It’s probably the costume that’s not up to par,” Lao Wu analyzed.
“Right!” Lao Si slapped his thigh. “What if you put on Nana’s shawl?”
“Get lost,” Sun Nana said, wrapping her shawl around herself. “This shawl is cashmere, it’s very expensive.”
“It’s fine. Once we change into the costumes, you’ll definitely be a great hero,” Hu Pan said.
Chen Jian smiled and sat down in the coffee shop.
Chen Erhu had been sitting here all this time and hadn’t participated in the behind-the-scenes nonsense of the Dayin ‘jianghu’.
“Fuck,” Chen Erhu said before he could even ask.
“What’s wrong?” Chen Jian glanced at him. “Did you book this place?”
“Sanbing and the others already knew before I could say anything,” Chen Erhu clicked his tongue. “Panpan and she just told them everything.”
“That’s normal,” Chen Jian smiled.
“I’ve been holding it in here for so long,” Chen Erhu was a bit depressed, but he quickly leaned closer to Chen Jian. “But I’ve observed them. None of them had much of a reaction. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried,” Chen Jian said.
Chen Erhu looked at him.
Chen Jian also looked at him.
“Right,” Chen Erhu nodded. “I’m the only one who had the biggest reaction.”
Chen Jian didn’t speak, but smiled and turned his head away, then reached out and patted Chen Erhu’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
When it was time to prepare dinner, everyone dispersed to do their own things. Just as Chen Jian was about to go to the kitchen to help carry the dishes, Lao Wu found him. “Chen Jian.”
Chen Jian remembered that Lao Wu had said he had something to talk to him about after lunch today, but he had been so busy all afternoon that he had forgotten.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Come,” Lao Wu said, walking towards the backyard with his head down. “Just a couple of words.”
Chen Jian followed him out.
“My salary,” Lao Wu said in a low voice after they had gone out and turned around. “Are you really not going to give it to me?”
“I said I’m not giving it to you this month,” Chen Jian said. “Do you need money?”
“Mhm,” Lao Wu responded.
“How much?” Chen Jian asked.
“Five hundred,” Lao Wu said. “I’m buying cigarettes.”
“You need five hundred for cigarettes?” Chen Jian said.
“So I don’t have to keep asking you,” Lao Wu said.
“It’s fine. You can even ask me for a pack at a time,” Chen Jian said.
Lao Wu didn’t make a sound.
“Lao Wu,” Chen Jian also lowered his voice. “I’m doing this as a friend. It might be a bit… but…”
“One hundred,” Lao Wu wasn’t angry, just lowered his request.
“I’ll transfer it to you,” Chen Jian said, taking out his phone.
“When you can pay my salary next month, you can deduct it from my salary,” Lao Wu said.
“Mhm,” Chen Jian sent Lao Wu a red envelope of one hundred yuan.
“Chen Jian,” Lao Wu looked at him. “Tell me, what is love really like?”
Chen Jian glanced at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Just asking,” Lao Wu said. “I have no one to ask. Anyway, you… you’re in a relationship too, although it’s not the same.”
“It’s hard to say,” Chen Jian said.
“Is that how you treat me when you consider me a friend?” Lao Wu glared at him.
“It’s really… hard to say,” Chen Jian said. “It’s just a feeling.”
Lao Wu took a deep breath, probably preparing for a long sigh, but as he inhaled, he was hit by a gust of wind and coughed for a long time.
“Fuck!” he cursed. “Why is God always like this!”
Chen Jian couldn’t help but laugh a little too loudly.
“Sister Zhao, are there any more oranges?” Shan Yu’s voice came from the kitchen.
The boss actually came down to eat in person?
As Chen Jian turned his head, he felt his heart inexplicably speed up for two seconds. Just two seconds, and it quickly calmed down. But as he turned to walk into the house, his steps became very light.
That’s the feeling, I guess.
But he really couldn’t explain it to Lao Wu.
