Chapter 25

It wasn’t that Fang Nianchen wanted to use this as some kind of metaphor—the movie was really just called Monodrama.

The protagonist’s experiences were absurd and ridiculous, having absolutely nothing to do with either tragic or romantic love.

And it had even less to do with her.

“Monodrama?” Yu Wan repeated softly. “I think Xiao Ge mentioned it. Is it good?”

“It’s alright…” Fang Nianchen inwardly grumbled that she hadn’t even finished watching it, feeling a bit guilty as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She had let her hair down earlier while watching the movie because her ponytail had been getting in the way. Now it was a mess from the wind, so she gathered it up and tied it back into a ponytail. As she secured the hair tie, she asked, “Do you still need to head back to the company?”

It was already 5:30, and rush hour was approaching. By the time they crawled through traffic, it would be almost time to clock out anyway. From her observations, Director Yu rarely worked overtime, and she wasn’t feeling well today.

Selfishly speaking, Fang Nianchen hoped she would head home early to rest.

“We do. I still have a document to review.” Yu Wan opened the passenger door, resting her hand on the frame as she gave Fang Nianchen an apologetic smile. “Sorry to trouble you with driving me back.”

“No trouble at all. Let’s go.” Fang Nianchen didn’t mind at all and dutifully resumed her role as chauffeur.

Sure enough, after pulling out of the parking lot, they hit traffic. By the time they got back to the company, plenty of people in suits and ties were already streaming out the revolving doors with their bags in hand. They were even later than expected.

Fang Nianchen needed to clock out at her department, so she went against the flow of the crowd and got into the elevator with Yu Wan.

Once again, it was just the two of them in the cramped, enclosed space, but this time, there was no feeling of needles pricking at her back.

“Heading straight home after clocking out?” Yu Wan asked.

“Mm.” Fang Nianchen hummed lightly in response. “Gotta go walk the dog.”

“Then drive safe.”

Fang Nianchen nodded, standing quietly for a moment before she couldn’t help but add her concern: “You should rest early tonight too.”

Hearing that, Yu Wan teased, “Worried about me?”

Fang Nianchen let out an “ah?” as if it were unintentional. “Worrying on behalf of your little sister.”

Not telling the truth again.

Yu Wan felt a bit helpless inwardly. Her gaze fell on the popcorn tub in Fang Nianchen’s hands—it seemed like she hadn’t eaten much of it. So she asked, “Mind if I try some?”

Fang Nianchen didn’t say anything, but handing over the tub spoke volumes.

With permission granted, Yu Wan reached in, pinched two kernels, and popped them into her mouth. Her expression immediately turned intriguing, as if overwhelmed by the sweetness.

Seeing this, Fang Nianchen turned her head and chuckled softly. Only after laughing did she ask, “Too sweet, right?”

“Cloyingly sweet.”

The HR department was on the eighth floor. As soon as the doors opened, Xiang Xiaoyun charged in headlong without looking where she was going and nearly crashed right into Fang Nianchen, who was holding the popcorn tub.

Fang Nianchen startled, rising onto her tiptoes and instinctively stepping back, losing her balance. Fortunately, Yu Wan steadied her by the waist. “Careful.”

“Ah! You scared me to death!” Xiang Xiaoyun yelped first, nearly cursing.

Still shaken, Fang Nianchen said helplessly, “Slow down a bit…”

The company’s cleaning auntie had a fiery temper. If she saw popcorn spilled in the elevator, she’d definitely chew them out. Fang Nianchen didn’t want to bring that kind of trouble on herself.

“Pre—President Yu?” Xiang Xiaoyun hadn’t heard a word she said. The moment she spotted Yu Wan behind Fang Nianchen, she completely lost her cool.

Looking at Fang Nianchen like this—they hadn’t seen her all afternoon, wondering where she’d gone—and now she finally shows up with this explosive entrance.

Where did the popcorn come from?!

And Director Yu was standing right behind her! Bringing popcorn to work? No, wait—did she go out specifically to buy it?

Her brain overloaded with too much info all at once, CPU nearly frying. Xiang Xiaoyun didn’t even realize her mouth was hanging open like an idiot, blocking the elevator doors completely.

“Excuse us, please.” Yu Wan reminded her gently, not wanting to startle her.

“Sorry, sorry!” Xiang Xiaoyun apologized as she backed away, her eyes following Yu Wan as they brushed past.

“See you tomorrow.” Yu Wan said before immediately turning and leaving, not waiting for a reply, leaving Xiang Xiaoyun unsure whether she should say goodbye too.

Turning her head, she saw Fang Nianchen had already slipped away quietly.

“Xiao Chen,” Xiang Xiaoyun called softly, chasing after her. “Wait… wait up!”

Earlier, she’d noticed how unusually calm Fang Nianchen was around President Yu, even unwilling to hear others badmouth her. And just now, she walked off as if Director Yu were invisible.

Sensing something different in the air, she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight if she didn’t get answers.

“Hm?” Fang Nianchen stopped and turned back, waiting for her to catch up. “What’s up?”

“You…” Xiang Xiaoyun had a thousand things to say, but when she opened her mouth, she didn’t know how to start. “Where were you? We didn’t see you all afternoon.”

“I drove President Yu to a meeting.” Fang Nianchen omitted all the unimportant details—like Yu Wan’s discomfort or the bland movie she’d watched.

Xiang Xiaoyun immediately pointed out the issue. “Why you? Isn’t Secretary Cao there?”

“Who?” Fang Nianchen didn’t know anyone by that name.

“That female secretary who’s always by President Yu’s side. Taller than you.” As she spoke, Xiang Xiaoyun gestured above her own head.

Fang Nianchen was tall among the women at the company—even in flats, people had to look up at her.

Standing together, it was clear Secretary Cao was slightly taller than Director Yu, but no helping it—President Yu’s aura was a solid 1.8 meters, unmatched.

“Oh.” Fang Nianchen wasn’t interested. She brushed it off until Xiang Xiaoyun lowered her hand, then continued, “Maybe she had something to do. You heading out now?”

“Yeah, my mom’s visiting today, so I need to get back early.” She hadn’t checked her phone earlier because she’d been texting her mom to punch in the door code first.

“Then go on. See you tomorrow.” Fang Nianchen pointed behind her. “Elevator’s here.”

“Ah?” Xiang Xiaoyun looked over—sure enough, someone was holding the doors for her. “Oh, okay.”

Afraid of keeping them waiting, she jogged over, turning back to wave. “Bye-bye!”

Fang Nianchen quirked her lips. “See you tomorrow.”

It wasn’t until she was out the company doors that Xiang Xiaoyun slapped her thigh. Damn! What about the popcorn? President Yu? She hadn’t asked a single thing.

This Fang Nianchen was too good at changing the subject!

But she was already out here, so nothing to be done.

After Xiang Xiaoyun left, Fang Nianchen let out a huge sigh of relief. She quickly clocked out but deliberately waited a bit before heading downstairs.

For the second time, she felt like buying that tub of popcorn was the stupidest decision she’d made in years.

And Xiang Xiaoyun had sought her out specifically, clearly noticing something.

Good thing she was leaving this place soon.

Considering how busy department heads were, transfer requests usually got a few weeks for signatures, so no rush to bother Yu Wan. She’d wait until her workload lightened a bit before asking.

After clocking out, Group Leader Su added her on WeChat, saying that if the HR director wouldn’t let her go, she’d step in to coordinate.

Fang Nianchen declined the offer politely. She didn’t think Yu Wan would block her departure.

No reason for it. No possibility.

Having already eaten dinner, Fang Nianchen sat cross-legged on the sofa reading a book. The popcorn tub was still on the coffee table—she’d eaten a few kernels as a pre-meal dessert earlier, but they got cloying fast.

Somehow, those sweet golden morsels only tasted good in the theater.

A moment later, she heard rustling in front of her. Peeking over the book, she saw one of her Munchkin cats stretching a paw into the tub, pawing around.

“Laba? Who taught you to be such a mischief-maker?” Fang Nianchen quickly set the book down, scooped it off the table, and cradled it in her arms.

All her cats were named after the day she found them. She’d picked this one up on Laba Festival, so that’s what it became.

Laba used to be the most obedient and gentle little kitty at home, playing the sweet little sister role. But at some point, it turned into a naughty troublemaker—even learning to drink from its owner’s cup, which was infuriating.

Fang Nianchen suspected Christmas had led it astray, so she shot a glare its way.

Christmas, huddled in the corner of the sofa sizing her up guiltily, ducked its head.

“No playing with food, got it?” Fang Nianchen lowered her head, poking Laba’s nose with her finger. Laba batted softly at it and let out a soft “meow.”

Trying to cute its way out of trouble.

Too bad Fang Nianchen was in “bad parent” mode today and wasn’t indulging it. She threatened, “Naughty kitties get tossed out…”

Suddenly, her phone screen lit up, followed by the ringtone drowning out her words.

It was Xiao Ning’an calling.

Fang Nianchen let Laba off the hook for now, holding it as she answered.

Xiao Ning’an was unusually reserved this time, not yelling the second the call connected.

Fang Nianchen was somewhat surprised and asked cautiously, “What’s wrong?”

“Wait a minute!” Xiao Ning’an’s tone was very serious. “Let me think about how to tell you.”

Xiao Ning’an had always looked down on people, her tone always laced with sarcasm. This was the first time hearing her speak like this, and Fang Nianchen keenly sensed that the situation might be quite complicated, so she waited patiently.

After listening to the wind sounds on her end for half a minute, Xiao Ning’an finally spoke: “Have you noticed anything off about my sister lately?”

Out of caution, Fang Nianchen thought it over carefully before replying, “No.”

President Yu was as dedicated to her work as ever, perfect in every way. If there was anything, it was just that she seemed even busier lately, with a hint of fatigue in her tone.

“Tch… She said she has someone she likes, and I thought it was weird. She doesn’t socialize much, and right after going to North City, this happens. Where’d she find some random guy?” Xiao Ning’an muttered, then realized the order was wrong and cut herself off, restarting. “Let me start from the beginning. Last month, my aunt wanted to set my sister up on a blind date and sent over profiles for several candidates, but my sister said none of them were suitable.”

Xiao Ning’an’s aunt was Yu Wan’s mother.

“The family kept pushing. Eventually, my sister just came out and said it—she has someone she likes, so no need for the family to worry.”

“Mm, her having someone she likes… that’s normal.” Fang Nianchen didn’t know what to say. Realizing her voice was trembling, she pretended to clear her throat. “We should respect her choice.”

Actually, she didn’t need to be this sensitive.

The disappointment had been piling up since years ago, building into mountains and seas of desolation, a dead silence from afar.

But the suppressed ripples, at this moment, stirred up wind and waves in her heart.

The waves crashed, pinning her against the sharpest edge of the reef, nearly taking her life, only to recede—over and over, tormenting her.

Just like now, in their already mundane relationship, it lifted her up again.

Yu Wan liking someone, loving someone—it was human instinct.

Her own unwillingness to accept that now was because she’d been scared out of her wits.

Fine, Fang Nianchen thought. Knowing early this time meant she didn’t need to bother fawning over her anymore.

“No, no, no—do you know what the biggest problem is right now?” Xiao Ning’an’s tone grew even more grave. “Her mom… I’m not cursing or anything, but her mother is especially anxious. Who knows what rotten idea she’ll come up with next.”

“If—and I’m saying if—you notice my sister meeting any weird people lately, you have to tell me. If I don’t reply to your WeChat in five minutes, just call me directly.”

Fang Nianchen couldn’t refuse such earnest instructions. “Got it.”

“But it won’t trouble you for long. I can come back to the country soon, and then I’ll meet this person she likes myself and see what kind of caliber they are.” Xiao Ning’an already sounded displeased.

Fang Nianchen asked absentmindedly, “When are you coming back?”

“I’ll stay here another month and a half. Still some things to wrap up.” Xiao Ning’an was on a cushy job at the family company—easy work, but she had to show up every day, which annoyed her to no end.

She’d finally found a new “enemy” and was using it as an excuse to come back and play.

Of course, she still cared a lot about Yu Wan’s situation.

“Alright, let’s keep in touch then.” Fang Nianchen had completely lost the will to chat. She didn’t really care when Xiao Ning’an was coming back; it was just politeness.

Xiao Ning’an still wasn’t reassured and reminded her, “Remember—if anything happens, call me.”

This time, Fang Nianchen just hummed in acknowledgment before hanging up. She tossed her phone onto the sofa and got up to take a shower.

“My sister has someone she likes.”

The first time she’d heard those words was back in university.

She hadn’t expected that after all this time, hearing such maddening news again—and from Xiao Ning’an, no less.

It was like a huge cycle; she’d even smugly thought the outcome would be different this time.

How laughable.

Standing in front of the mirror, Fang Nianchen began mocking herself.

After showering, with her hair towel-dried to a slight drip, Fang Nianchen opened the door and went to the balcony. She leaned on the railing with both hands, lost in thought gazing at the distant city lights.

Two days without rain meant the midsummer night wasn’t too cold.

Everything happened in a flash; she was caught off guard and swept away. But it was different from five years ago—this time, she seemed prepared, just left with a sense of regret.

Suddenly, she recalled that a week ago, Yu Wan had already given her the answer. She’d said she had someone she liked.

What had she been busy with back then?

Oh, right—being sick, cherishing that hard-won warmth devoutly, and lost in wild fantasies.

So shameless, actually thinking Yu Wan could like her.

Mistaking regret for affection.

Fang Nianchen began seriously pondering the meaning behind those words.

Had she mistaken regret for liking? If the regret vanished, would she still like her?

These were false dilemmas because she’d never know, and no one would give her that chance just out of pity.

Unknowingly, the screen on her phone had switched to Yu Wan’s Moments, and Fang Nianchen had almost forgotten she was supposed to look for Qiao Yan.

Yu Wan’s Moments were completely empty, just like her understanding of her—blank.

The only thing was a line in her signature:

[The sun is always there, right?]

Fang Nianchen looked up at the pitch-black night sky.

The sun…

Had set long ago.