“Why did you decide to come today?” He Liwen asked with a smile.
“The elementary school is on break,” Chi Nuan said. “My job there is done too.”
He Liwen: “Any leads on a new job? I’ve been keeping an eye out for you. There’s a position that’s decent—good pay, working conditions, all that—but it’s too far from where you live. I was hesitating whether to mention it.”
Chi Nuan said: “Thanks, Teacher He. I’ve got a job.”
He Liwen perked up: “That’s great! What is it?”
Chi Nuan tucked her hair behind her ear, just like in their student-days conversation: “…Gu Ningzi’s back. I’m working as her assistant.”
It took He Liwen a moment to process: “You’re still…”
“I guessed you wanted to teach at No. 1 Middle School because you couldn’t let go of her, right?”
Chi Nuan didn’t speak, tacitly agreeing.
“Chi Nuan, you’ve suffered so much already.” He Liwen had meant to smile and encourage her, but her eyes welled up first: “I hope the years bring you no more hardships.”
Classes were still going on in the teaching building. Chi Nuan walked around the sports field and cried all the way home after leaving No. 1 Middle School.
…
“Assistant Chi, hot coffee.”
A staff member from the Finance Journal brought Chi Nuan a cup: “The interview’s done. We still need to take a couple sets of photos for President Gu. Sorry to make you wait a bit longer.”
Chi Nuan: “No trouble.”
After officially resigning from school, Chi Nuan had started following Gu Ningzi’s schedule. It was two or three in the afternoon, and the light in the Japanese-style courtyard was perfect. Inside, the invited photographer was discussing the shoot with Gu Ningzi.
For lighting, most of the sliding door was closed. Chi Nuan peeked through the gap at Gu Ningzi. She didn’t know what the photographer said, but Gu Ningzi curved her lips in a smile.
…Beautiful enough to make Chi Nuan’s scalp tingle.
Lost in the sight, a familiar voice came from the right: “Chi Nuan?”
Chi Nuan turned. Xue Wen’s big smiling face appeared: “What are you doing here?”
Chi Nuan: “…Gu Ningzi has an exclusive interview here. …And you?”
“My friend said there’s a photoshoot gig here. What a coincidence!” Xue Wen glanced inside the door and tsked: “It really is.”
She stepped back to Chi Nuan’s side. Chi Nuan asked: “Do you want a drink? I’ll get you—”
“Wait,” Xue Wen grabbed Chi Nuan’s arm. “You’ve got something on your face.”
A breeze passed, and the wind chimes hanging in the corridor tinkled pleasantly. A staff member slid open the door with a track sound. Gu Ningzi looked out.
Xue Wen wiped Chi Nuan’s right cheek with her thumb pad and smiled: “There, good.”
Chi Nuan also raised her hand to rub it, embarrassed: “Thanks. What was it?”
Inside, the photographer held up his camera: “President Gu, look at the lens… Relax your brows, yes, perfect.”
Chi Nuan and Xue Wen chatted idly in the corridor. Inside, one set of shots wrapped up. The staff member who had brought the coffee earlier came out: “Assistant Chi, President Gu is asking for you.”
Chi Nuan glanced at Xue Wen and went right in. Gu Ningzi said to her: “Water.”
Chi Nuan eyed the low wooden table three steps away, where Gu Ningzi’s cup sat.
“…”
Chi Nuan picked up the cup and held the straw for Gu Ningzi to drink. Gu Ningzi took two sips, tilted her head, and sized up Chi Nuan. Her gaze was cool, but her red lips nibbled the straw. Chi Nuan met her eyes for a few seconds, and her mind short-circuited with a snap, like an electric shock.
Gu Ningzi pushed the cup away with the back of her hand: “Go watch them edit the photos. Pick a good one for the cover.”
Gu Ningzi paused: “The best-looking one.”
Chi Nuan: “…Got it.”
Xue Wen had also entered, chatting with her photographer friend over his shoulder. Chi Nuan passed in front of her, and they both smiled at each other instinctively.
Chi Nuan stopped at the photo assistant’s editing computer. The assistant was a lively girl with a lollipop in her mouth: “A big boss from investment banking is even younger and prettier than celebs. Sigh~ So gorgeous and rich—your President Gu is too foul!”
She clicked through the recent shots for Chi Nuan. Chi Nuan agreed completely; no matter the angle, Gu Ningzi in the photos was stunningly beautiful, enough to make the heavens jealous.
Photo assistant: “Bet even after editing, the originals are better!”
Chi Nuan nodded deeply.
The assistant zoomed in: “…Her skin is flawless too. How does your President Gu take care of it?”
The mouse slid, pausing on Gu Ningzi’s red lips. The assistant: “This shade is perfect. I need to get President Gu’s exact lipstick, sob sob.”
“…” Chi Nuan unconsciously bit her lower lip.
The assistant started editing, still chatting: “President Gu looks cold, but I feel like she’s really nice. So considerate to her subordinates—just like my boss.”
She beamed, proud of flattering both bosses, and pulled out her lollipop to sip some coffee.
Chi Nuan: “Huh?”
The assistant raised her coffee cup: “Coffee, duh. President Gu specially had Wang Jie send it to you.”
Chi Nuan: “…”
“Picked one?” Gu Ningzi, done with the shoot, walked over and stood behind them, looking at the laptop screen. She leaned forward slightly, her body pressing against most of Chi Nuan’s back.
“Ah! President Gu! …Can’t choose. They’re all so gorgeous, zero flaws.” The assistant buttered her up.
“Look.” Gu Ningzi said.
Chi Nuan’s view was the enlarged face of Gu Ningzi on screen, her ears filled with Gu Ningzi talking to the assistant, and the half of her body against Gu Ningzi tingled numbly… as if losing sensation.
“Your opinion?” Gu Ningzi turned to ask Chi Nuan.
It took her brain a moment to register. Chi Nuan pointed at one uncertainly: “…This one? You look… even better when you smile.”
Nearby, Xue Wen looked down with a shallow smile and nudged her friend’s shoulder: “Hey, wanna grab a drink once you’re done?”
