“I brought some cookies I baked myself to the Company, and even though his tooth hurt badly, he still ate several pieces.”
“The lock on my desk drawer was broken, and without a word, he replaced it with a new one for me.”
“He said he couldn’t fasten his cufflinks and asked me to help. Something he does every day, and suddenly he can’t manage it himself?”
“And then yesterday, it was supposed to be my job, but he quietly took care of it without saying anything. I said I’d treat him to dinner to thank him, but he booked a super romantic restaurant in advance. While I was in the bathroom, he secretly paid the bill. On the way out of the restaurant, some kids were running around wildly and almost bumped into me. He pulled me aside—by my hand! Isn’t that basically holding hands??”
Xu Dan spilled it all out like beans from a bag: “…So, what do you think? Isn’t he flirting with me?”
For every point Xu Dan made, Chi Nuan recalled a similar incident that had happened between her and Gu Ningzi, so the more she listened, the more peculiar her feelings became… Was that flirting? Why hadn’t she thought of it that way when those things happened? Was she too oblivious, or was Xu Dan overthinking it too much?
Xu Dan said bitterly, “My boyfriend and I are on great terms. How am I supposed to get my coworker to give up? It’s so awkward for me too—he keeps doing this, and we work in the same company, seeing each other all the time.”
Du Min laughed heartily. “That’s way too advanced a problem. He hasn’t even confessed, and you’re already thinking about how to shut him down. What if it’s all a misunderstanding?”
“…” Not getting agreement from Du Min, Xu Dan turned to Chi Nuan instead. “Nuannuan, you tell me—do you think my coworker is flirting with me?”
Chi Nuan ran her hand through her hair, slowly combing it back. She herself was completely baffled and had no idea how to answer Xu Dan.
Du Min said, “Hey, forget about whether he’s flirting or not. Since you’re not interested anyway, just give him the cold shoulder. If he’s serious about pursuing you and gets nowhere, he’ll give up eventually… Besides, you have a boyfriend, and he’s still flirting? That’s weird in itself, right?”
After afternoon tea time ended, the three parted ways. Chi Nuan only realized it was raining outside after they left the mall building.
Chi Nuan had planned to go to a nearby bookstore to buy some books when Gu Ningzi called her. “Do you have time right now?”
Chi Nuan immediately replied, “Yeah.”
Gu Ningzi said, “Come pick me up. I’ll send you the address.”
Chi Nuan: “Okay.”
After hanging up, Gu Ningzi’s message appeared on the screen right away.
Gu Ningzi had scheduled tennis with an investor that afternoon. It was supposedly tennis, but really more like an informal project presentation. He Zhen had prepared a ton of materials and gone along with the schedule. Chi Nuan had thought she’d be picking Gu Ningzi up from the club, but the address she received was at an auction house near the Yuncheng Antique District.
Spring rain pattered against the car window. Chi Nuan arrived in half an hour. Through the rain curtain, Gu Ningzi stood under the ancient-style eaves, dressed in a black shirt and beige trench coat, her dark hair falling to her shoulders, cradling a slender Wooden Box in her arms.
Chi Nuan held an umbrella and walked through the rain to meet her.
Gu Ningzi took the umbrella handle from Chi Nuan’s hand. Chi Nuan moved to take the Wooden Box, but Gu Ningzi said softly, “No need, I’ve got it.”
Chi Nuan relented, and the two huddled close as they walked into the rain. She asked Gu Ningzi, “Weren’t you playing tennis? How did you end up here?”
Gu Ningzi said, “Everyone had other things to do, so it ended early.”
After a pause, she added, “Came to pick something up. A cane, for Grandpa.”
Chi Nuan nodded. “Oh.”
At the car, Chi Nuan opened the rear door, took back the umbrella, and let Gu Ningzi get in first. Only when Gu Ningzi turned did Chi Nuan notice that, in that short walk, a large patch of rain had soaked the back of Gu Ningzi’s coat.
The tires rolled over the parking lane markings. Chi Nuan couldn’t help glancing at Gu Ningzi in the rearview mirror. Gu Ningzi had taken off her half-wet trench coat and was lowering her head to roll up her shirt sleeves.
“I know I’m good-looking,” Gu Ningzi said unhurriedly, “but focus on the road right now, don’t you think?”
Chi Nuan: “…”
She hadn’t even looked up—how did she know Chi Nuan was sneaking peeks!? What kind of superpower was this… Chi Nuan forced her eyes forward to the road ahead. “…Where to now?”
Gu Ningzi’s lips curved silently. “Gu Residence.”
The rain gradually lightened, and sunlight peeked through the clouds again. The weather cleared in the blink of an eye, but the sun soon set.
When Chi Nuan dropped Gu Ningzi off at the Gu Residence, the place was bustling with elegant guests, as if a banquet was underway. Gu Ningzi said to Chi Nuan, “It won’t take long. Wait for me.”
Chi Nuan agreed. “Okay.”
Just before getting out, Gu Ningzi asked, “Want to come in with me?”
Chi Nuan replied without thinking. “No need, I’ll wait outside.”
Gu Ningzi glanced at Chi Nuan, then got out with the Wooden Box.
Chi Nuan parked nearby. Her mobile phone pinged twice—messages from the Five Friends Love Group. Xu Dan was posting.
