The Early Spring - Chapter 95

Chapter 95 - Before Departure

Gong Yue and her group held a book club in the bar, and Shang Zhitao sat to the side listening attentively. In her heart, however, she was thinking about the "adventure" Luan Nian had spoken of.

Luan Nian sat down beside her as well, asking her, "Is it fun?"

"What?"

"The book club."

"It's pretty fun." Shang Zhitao liked an atmosphere like this, where people exchanged ideas about a book and their insights after reading it, making one feel like they were no longer an isolated island.

"Have you participated in one before?" Luan Nian asked her.

"I have. With..." Shang Zhitao wanted to say she had gone with Sun Yuanzhu, but then she remembered Luan Nian turning her down on the phone last year, saying she was co-living with that ambiguous male roommate of hers. She didn't want Sun Yuanzhu to suffer that kind of slander, even if he wasn't present at this moment. So she said, "With a group of friends."

She harbored a bit of fear, because Wan Jun had asked her to give away Luke before establishing a relationship, and Xin Zhaozhou had asked her to move to Shenzhen with him. Thus, in her heart, being in a relationship also represented a conditional exchange under certain circumstances—it required making sacrifices.

Seeing her vague answer, Luan Nian asked her, "Do you want to move in and live with me?"

"What?"

Luan Nian had startled her once again. If it had been in the past—say, during the first or second year—and he asked her this, she would definitely have agreed with great joy. But now, she would ask: "What?"

A "what" represented a refusal.

Luan Nian stopped talking. After a while, he stood up. "Let's go. It's getting late."

"Okay."

The two of them still went to eat fish. Seeing Shang Zhitao, the owner smiled: "Haven't been here in a long time!"

"Mm! I've been a bit busy."

Just as the words left her mouth, she remembered Luke catching fish here last time and hurriedly turned around to look—too late, Luke had entered the water again.

Shang Zhitao was a bit more composed this time. She called out to Luke from the shore: "Get up here right now, I won't hit you."

Luke paid no heed to her, acting extraordinarily excited instead: I must have performed really well today for her to bring me swimming, he thought, paddling even harder.

There were many people at the fish farm today, and everyone rushed over to the pond to watch the handsome Samoyed catch fish. The Samoyed was truly impressive—in the blink of an eye, he had caught four large fish. Unable to catch Luke, Shang Zhitao stomped her foot in frustration: "Just you wait!" Then she glared angrily at Luan Nian: "Think of a way!"

Only after watching enough of the fun did Luan Nian put a finger to his lips and blow a sharp whistle. Hearing it, Luke swam right back, leaped onto the bank, shook his fur dry, and sat down to look at Luan Nian. Shang Zhitao suddenly felt a bit embarrassed; the dog she had raised for several years actually listened to Luan Nian.

"See that? Dogs need training too. You manage his food every day, but haven't taught him a single thing he ought to know. What can he learn staying with you?" Luan Nian's words were somewhat intentionally meant to provoke her, infuriating Shang Zhitao so much that she glared at him several times, yet he acted as though he didn't even see it.

Shang Zhitao asked the owner for a large bath towel to dry Luke off, scolding him in a low voice as she wiped him down: "You're snobbish and love the rich, aren't you? Whoever gives you meat is the one you're good to, right? Well, I still walk you and raise you every day! How can you be so ungrateful?"

Luke refused to accept it and naturally talked back. His talking back made Shang Zhitao even angrier, and the person and dog began arguing with each other.

Luan Nian stood to the side watching her scold the dog, thinking that Shang Zhitao's brain would probably stay like this forever. Arguing so heatedly with a dog was far less effective than him using two pieces of meat for a single training session.

With a relationship that had just been repaired, neither dared to push too hard, terrified that a single wrong move would send them right back to square one. Luan Nian drove Shang Zhitao home, and as she was getting out of the car, he asked her, "Is anyone home?"

"No."

"Can I come up and sit for a bit?" Luan Nian proactively suggested going up to sit. Shang Zhitao was a bit surprised, sub-consciously asking him, "Why?"

"?"

"I made an agreement with my roommates that none of us are allowed to bring strangers home."

"If I remember correctly, we were very intimate last night."

Shang Zhitao's face flushed slightly. She got out of the car, led Luke down, and said to Luan Nian, "It's getting late. Goodnight."

Days passed without a ripple. During this period, Shang Zhitao went to the Northwest twice and rented an apartment in that small county town. Lumi's mind was filled with sleeping with Will, but Will never gave her another chance. He still found her eyesores as usual, and scolded her just as he always did. When summer arrived, Shang Zhitao's assignment was finally about to take effect. She was extremely happy, sending an address to Sun Yuanzhu and asking him: "How far is this from you?"

Sun Yuanzhu didn't reply until noon: "Sorry, I was running tests just now. It's less than thirty kilometers from me. What's up?"

Shang Zhitao was overjoyed and called him back immediately. As soon as the call connected, her cheerful voice rang out: "Sun Yuanzhu, I applied for an on-site assignment for an S+ project! The address I just sent you is the apartment I rented!"

"Really?" Sun Yuanzhu was clearly thrilled: "How long is the assignment? When are you arriving?"

"I'll be there in half a month!"

"Then I'll take two days off to be your tour guide and take you around to have fun, how about that!"

"Great."

Shang Zhitao hung up the phone, and Lumi sidled over to ask her, "Seeing Brother Yuanzhu makes you this happy?"

"We're good friends, after all."

"Not considering turning your good friend into an official boyfriend?"

Shang Zhitao hurriedly shook her head: "Don't talk nonsense."

Lumi chuckled twice, then said to her, "You know what? I heard a new girl joined your Planning Department—twenty-two years old, graduated from Columbia University. They say she won a major award during her studies and joined with project funding. The company hired her with a high salary."

"Wow, twenty-two years old. Then her job rank must be very high?"

"Same rank as you." Lumi patted her shoulder: "Sister, the living environment in the Planning Department is too brutal, and the competition is fierce as hell. Why don't you just come back to the Marketing Department!"

"Your Will doesn't like me either for some reason. I'm not going back to the Marketing Department either." The two of them giggled and let it pass.

The day after Lumi shared the gossip with Shang Zhitao, that girl arrived. A twenty-two-year-old girl dressed in a haute couture dress, possessing a capable, sleek, and minimalist demeanor, and looking beautiful to boot—standing there, she naturally formed a picture. Tracy brought her into Luan Nian's office, and Shang Zhitao saw Luan Nian stand up to welcome her. They shook hands, and the girl's face flushed slightly.

Lumi sent a message to Shang Zhitao: "Flora, do you know what kind of scent I just smelled?"

"What scent?"

"A talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven—the scent of an affair."

"Nonsense. They're many years apart!"

"Are you sure? Would a young girl mind a man like Luke being older? Young girls will pounce on him, and then take him around to show off to the people around them. Whether a man is attractive has little to do with age. Age affects duration, hardness, and endurance, but those things can be made up for with skill and vanity. You're too naive." Lumi started spouting nonsense again.

"Are you sure age affects duration and hardness?" Shang Zhitao asked her.

Lumi sent a thinking emoji: "Well, I haven't slept with anyone too old either. Wait until I sleep with a thirty-something like Will, and I'll tell you."

Shang Zhitao couldn't help laughing out loud at her workstation, thinking to herself: I can tell you that based on current judgments, there's no effect. Or maybe twenty-somethings are more vigorous, and she just hadn't experienced it, that's all.

Lumi was completely smitten now, spending every day pondering how to sleep with Will. The very first greeting the two of them exchanged every morning was:

Can Lumi sleep with Will today?

When saying goodnight before bed, the final line was bound to be:

Lumi didn't sleep with Will today, so she has to keep trying tomorrow!

Shang Zhitao didn't speak further, but while getting water, she stole a glance at Luan Nian's office. She didn't know what they were discussing, but all three people inside the office were smiling.

The girl was named Song Ying, with the English name Yilia—a name that suited her very well. Luan Nian personally brought her out to introduce her to the colleagues in the Planning Department, and Shang Zhitao heard Luan Nian introducing her to everyone: "This is Yilia, a young genius who's here to help us tackle a few difficult projects."

Luan Nian had never said he invited someone to help tackle difficult projects; in his eyes, there were no difficult projects, only very stupid people. Nor had anyone ever received the treatment of having Luan Nian personally introduce them around right upon joining the company. Thus, when everyone looked at Yilia, there was a touch of superficial friendliness—a friendliness born from the pressure of authority. When it came to Shang Zhitao, it was those same few sentences as well.

"Yilia will sit next to Flora. Flora will be going on an on-site assignment to the Northwest in a short while. Before she leaves, familiarize yourself with the work through her. She is the most familiar with all of the company's procedures."

"Hello, Flora." Song Ying extended her hand toward Shang Zhitao: "Please take good care of me."

Shang Zhitao had never held a hand so soft; the owner of such a hand must be favored by Heaven, unwilling to let her suffer any hardship whatsoever.

"Yilia, I should learn a lot from you."

"Teaching and learning complement each other," Yilia said, neither humble nor arrogant.

Shang Zhitao suddenly remembered her first day on the job—like a startled bird, terrified of being ousted over a mistake, her heart filled with fear and trepidation. She hadn't possessed a confident posture like Yilia's.

Five years had passed just like that, she thought as she sat down.

Yilia wasn't like Kitty either; her résumé was far prettier than Kitty's, yet her personality was exceptionally good. By the time work was almost over, she had already hit it off with her colleagues, except for Shang Zhitao, who remained buried in researching project materials. When Shang Zhitao accompanied Grace while she pumped milk, Grace said, "Yilia is like a little sun. Luke should be very satisfied; her onboarding mentor is Luke."

"It's really nice to have talent," Shang Zhitao praised her sincerely. But back then she only said so; she couldn't imagine what true talent actually looked like. It was on the day before her long journey, inside the conference room, when Yilia produced a design draft for a client—entirely hand-drawn, exquisite beyond measure.

"I gathered a lot of information, but I don't know if my understanding is correct. Based on the client's brand tone, I hope their print advertisements appear in this style." She picked up a stack of drawing paper from the floor to display to everyone: "The story I want to tell is that at the edge of the sky lives a flower grower. Her flowers bloom only once every ten years. For these ten years, she needs to guard the place continuously, waiting for the flowers to bloom. This is the spirit of craftsmanship that this fresh flower client wants to convey."

"After the flowers bloom, a hundred suitors seek the blossoms. The flower grower looks across the men and women of the mortal realm, bestowing ten exquisite flowers upon them, signifying that flowers are presented to those destined for them."

…

Yilia presented earnestly, and Shang Zhitao felt she was truly dazzling. In her hands were her personal drawings, weaving mythology and flowers, human beings and love together seamlessly. Her presentation was coherent and logical, with every sentence aligning with the client's needs and tone—she was someone who truly knew how to tell a story.

Such a young girl, such a shining person.

Shang Zhitao saw Luan Nian smile.

He almost never smiled in meetings, yet today he smiled. The gaze he cast toward Yilia possessed a bright, glowing light.

Everyone was competing to praise Yilia, feeling this girl was truly capable. Grace looked at Shang Zhitao and said to her, "Fortunately, she won't be competing with you for the Expert title next year. The company requires over five years of tenure, otherwise it would be hard to say which of you two would win out."

"She is very capable."

It was a level of capability Shang Zhitao could never possess. Some people possessed such ability from birth, while others, no matter how hard they worked later in life, were still a world apart.

When the meeting adjourned, Shang Zhitao saw Yilia walk up to Luan Nian, asking him earnestly, "Luke, how should this version of creativity be adjusted? I'd like you to give me some advice."

Luan Nian took her drawings, looked at them, and said to her, "I have no notes. Hand it over to the client and the market for verification."

"Thank you for guiding me a few days ago and giving me a sudden flash of insight." Yilia thanked him sincerely.

Teaching and learning, giving and receiving—time had turned a full circle, appearing to return to square one. Except the person this time was different: she was beautiful, smart, exceptionally talented, calm, humble, and so dazzling. She was precisely the kind of subordinate and student Luan Nian deeply admired.

In the evening, when Shang Zhitao was packing her things, she saw Yilia and another colleague still inside Luan Nian's office, chatting with great relish. Luan Nian genuinely loved work—Shang Zhitao knew this. He liked working with smart people; that brought him joy.

He had finally sensed joy in his work.

Shang Zhitao felt happy for him too.

She got on the subway and received his call: "Why didn't you wait for me?"

"I came home to pack my luggage."

"You're changing your mind about something we agreed on at the last minute?"

They had originally agreed that after work today, Luan Nian would accompany Shang Zhitao to pack her luggage and drop her off at the airport tomorrow.

"I saw you were still working, and it was getting late."

"Speak directly—what's wrong with you?" Luan Nian was a bit angry; he didn't understand why Shang Zhitao would change her mind at the last minute. When he was angry, his tone wouldn't be very pleasant.

"It's too late. I need to go back and pack my luggage."

"Your flight is in the afternoon, what's the rush?"

"I changed to a morning flight."

"Why?"

"I want to go earlier."

"Go earlier for what? Is there someone you're in a rush to see?" Luan Nian hung up the phone. He hated Shang Zhitao throwing an unprovoked fit, and he hated her attitude of not saying a proper goodbye to him before departing.

On the subway, Shang Zhitao's eyes turned red, but she sniffled. Lowering her head, she sent a message to Luan Nian: "I ordered home appliances, and the delivery team called me today to coordinate the drop-off time. It was moved up to tomorrow afternoon."

Even though she was very angry, she still wanted to explain to Luan Nian.

Luan Nian didn't see her message until he got home, whereupon he drove out again. There was no traffic late at night, and he arrived at the entrance of her residential community in twenty minutes, asking her: "Finished packing?"

"Finished packing."

"Come down."

"Okay."

Shang Zhitao walked downstairs and saw Luan Nian leaning against the car smoking. She took the cigarette, extinguished it, and threw it into the trash can. Seeing his bad expression, she stood opposite him, wrapping her arms around his waist to hug him.

She was trying to appease him, showing weakness.

Seeing that Luan Nian made no move, she pulled his hands to wrap around her waist, stepping up on tiptoe to kiss his chin, unable to reach his lips. Luan Nian finally smiled: "Little shorty."

"I'm one hundred and seventy-one point five centimeters." Shang Zhitao refused to yield, arguing over every millimeter of that 0.5 centimeters.

"You're one hundred and seventy-two centimeters, rounded up." Luan Nian rubbed her head, opened the rear car door, and pulled out an unpacked backpack: "Switch to a different bag."

"...Oh. Why did you remove the packaging?"

"Otherwise leave it to gather dust at your place?" Luan Nian adjusted the shoulder straps for her as she wore it, asking her casually, "Shang Zhitao, did you sell all the bags I gave you?"

Shang Zhitao hurriedly waved her hand: "No!"

Luan Nian glanced at her: "Go on up, Ms. Shang. Wishing you a smooth trip to the Northwest."

"Then I wish you joy in your work and happiness in your life."

"You'd better wish that I get angry less often!"

Shang Zhitao didn't know what it was like for other people before departing. In the end, she still went to Luan Nian's home with her luggage. On the way, she asked him: "Will you come visit me?"

"You chose to go to the Northwest yourself." Luan Nian meant: Why didn't you consider that you would be leaving me when you made the choice?

"Then I'll come back to see you."

"I might not necessarily be here."

Shang Zhitao finally understood—Luan Nian was still throwing a fit. He was just such a person: narrow-minded and bearing grudges over every little thing. If he got angry, it might take a long time to coax him back.

That night, Shang Zhitao was beneath him, her legs wrapped around his waist, her body seeking his out. He dodged, pinning her hands to her sides: "Why so impatient, Flora?"

Unable to move her hands, anxious, and feeling a hollow void inside her body, Shang Zhitao suddenly grew angry at Luan Nian's arrogant posture.

Quieting down, she said to him after a few seconds: "Please let go of me."

"I don't want to do it anymore."

Neither knew what the other was being awkward about. Shang Zhitao minded his special treatment toward Yilia, while Luan Nian minded her eagerness to go to the Northwest without delay. Yet both felt such thoughts were absurd and unfit for display.

Neither spoke. Luan Nian went to the bathroom, and by the time he came out, Shang Zhitao had already gone to the guest room.

Each lay in bed angry. Late into the night, Shang Zhitao hugged Luan Nian from behind, her hand slipping inside his T-shirt. Sun Yu often said she had no backbone, saying, Shang Zhitao, can't you hold back a little? Must you lower your head every time you argue? Why is it always you coaxing him?

Shang Zhitao told Sun Yu: "It's not that. I don't feel like I'm lowering my head. I'm just communicating with him properly."

"Has he communicated properly with you?"

"He's gotten much better."

Shang Zhitao thought that many things couldn't be compared horizontally. One couldn't compare Luan Nian with other men. Other men held their girlfriends in the palms of their hands, never uttering a single harsh word; if compared like that, Luan Nian really couldn't be kept as a partner. One had to compare longitudinally, taking the present him and comparing him with the past him—wasn't he much better now?

Her hand probed beneath his T-shirt, and under her fingertips was his stiffening body. Luan Nian turned around, Shang Zhitao's hair falling across his face, pricking his heart into a tingling numbness. That tingling numbness swept all the way down from his neck, fanning a fire that left him helpless, forcing him to sit up, press her hair behind her head, and apply force at her waist to enter her.

They didn't use this posture often. Shang Zhitao couldn't take it, her hands slapping his back, but Luan Nian felt it was good, applying even more force with his hands on her waist until Shang Zhitao let out a raspy cry, whereupon he suddenly flipped over, placing her beneath him.

Every single thrust was deadly ferocious, as if he wanted to expend all his future strength in this single night.

At the end, Luan Nian pinched her face with his hand, saying to her: "If you miss me, come back."

"Or I'll go see you."