The Early Spring - Chapter 104

Chapter 104 - Spring

In April of that year, the Northwest finally welcomed its spring.

Sun Yuanzhu’s temporary assignment in the Northwest had come to an end. He was set to return to Beijing first, and before his departure, he went to visit Shang Zhitao. On that day, mountain flowers bloomed sparsely along the roadside. He plucked a branch for her, telling her to put it in a vase.

Looking at the lush branch, Shang Zhitao suddenly remembered the mysterious flowers she had received many years ago. She said to Sun Yuanzhu, "Even after all these years, I still found that whole thing so puzzling. Seeing the branch you plucked just now, it suddenly struck me that maybe those flowers were from you after all."

Sun Yuanzhu sat beside her, facing the flowering mountain ridge in front of them. He had brought small portable stools and a tea table, and the two sat tucked amidst the mountains. "Back then, I felt like you wanted to receive flowers so badly, but getting ones arranged in advance lacks element of surprise. So I played a little prank and sent them to you for a few days. I hoped you would like them."

Shang Zhitao finally smiled. After so many years, she finally had her answer.

Oh, how much she had loved them back then. At the time, she had felt profoundly miserable because Luan Nian gave a bouquet to Zang Yao. Looking back now, it felt completely absurd. When people are young, they always feel the need to compete; even over a simple bouquet, they insist on measuring themselves against others down to the bitter end. Only in the end do they realize that such vanity was merely the restless defiance of youth.

"Thank you, Sun Yuanzhu." She looked at him. Even though he had grown thin to the point of being a shadow of his former self, in Shang Zhitao's eyes, he was still that youthfully spirited man—that bright and gentle young man who used to walk out the door with her in the early mornings.

"Don't stand on ceremony with me. It’s rare for a spring day in the Northwest to be windless, so let's enjoy the mountain view while we can." He pushed a cup of tea toward Shang Zhitao, then picked up his own and took a sip. The tea carried no taste and the flowers bore no color; the world simply dimmed away in his eyes like that.

Shang Zhitao felt a wave of sadness wash over her for no clear reason. She said to him, "Sun Yuanzhu, my project should be wrapped up early. I’ll probably be able to head back by August. When I get back, I’ll join you..." She wanted to say, When I get back, I’ll go with you to see a doctor, okay? But remembering the fragility Sun Yuanzhu never wished to display to others, along with the proud, distant self-esteem deep in his heart, she stopped herself mid-sentence and shifted direction: "How about I accompany you to late-night movie screenings? The three of us, including Sun Yu—we can go watch late-night movies every weekend and catch up on all the classic films."

"Then I definitely have to treat."

"Let Sun Yu treat! She's so wealthy now, leading a team of several hundred people with a daily business turnover of over two million. We should definitely make her pay for us—not just for the movies, but for dinner too," Shang Zhitao joked.

Sun Yuanzhu let out a soft laugh, and only after a long pause did he speak: "It hasn't been easy for her. Every single penny was earned through hard work."

"You care about her, don't you? If she knew, she'd be thrilled out of her mind. I'm going to tell her right now that Sun Yuanzhu cares about her!"

Sun Yuanzhu held down Shang Zhitao's hand as she reached for her phone. "Don't." He turned her phone face down on the portable folding table. "Don't disturb her."

Regarding those matters between them that could not and should not be spoken aloud, he thus asked Shang Zhitao to remain silent. Shang Zhitao nodded. "Alright, I won't tell her. Then can we still go eat at that ramen shop today?"

"We can."

"Then can you eat a small bowl by yourself?"

"I'll try my best."

Once again, the two of them sat inside that modest ramen shop. Sun Yuanzhu took only two light bites before putting down his chopsticks. Looking at the bowl of noodles sitting in front of him, Shang Zhitao’s eyes instantly turned red. "A person can't survive on morning dew alone." Her voice choked up slightly; the chili oil choked her throat, causing her to cough until tears streamed down her face. Sun Yuanzhu comforted her, "I just ate a lot before leaving this morning."

You're lying, Shang Zhitao said in her heart, though she ultimately didn't speak it aloud. After finishing their ramen, Shang Zhitao bade him farewell. He stood there in the Northwest spring for a short moment, then walked back up to Shang Zhitao. "Don't worry, neither you nor Sun Yu need to worry. After I return, I will see the doctor regularly and cooperate fully with the treatment. Nothing will happen to me. By the time your project finishes and you return to Beijing, I should be gaining weight again."

Shang Zhitao thought, This is just how Sun Yuanzhu is—he knows everything, he just never chooses to say it. She nodded. "I know, it must be so hard on you. If you ever want to, you can call me anytime. You know how much I love chatting with you. Every time I talk to you, I feel happy."

"Mm, alright." Sun Yuanzhu gave her head a rare, gentle pat. "I'll remember that."

Shang Zhitao watched Sun Yuanzhu walk away. The light breeze fluttered his trouser legs, making the fabric cling to his thin, frail legs. Shang Zhitao thought, The next time I see you, please make sure to gain a little weight! And please eat four or five bites of noodles!

She called Sun Yu, who had just experienced a heavy hangover. Yesterday was her company's anniversary celebration, and her subordinates had plied her with drinks until she was thoroughly intoxicated. She complained to Shang Zhitao over the phone: "Luan Nian is quite a piece of work too. Originally, as the client side, we were hosted, but because he was the one who introduced the investors, he was invited to sit at the head table. That guy insisted on dragging me into the drinking, saying if I didn't drink, he wouldn't either. In the end, after I downed half a jin of liquor, he turned to me and said, 'Wouldn't it be better if you didn't drink?' Isn't he out of his mind?"

Shang Zhitao listened to her ramble about Luan Nian for a long while, finally finding a chance to interject when Sun Yu paused to drink some water: "Sun Yuanzhu is flying back today. We just parted ways."

"He didn't tell me."

"So just wait at home. He also said he'll get proper medical treatment."

Shang Zhitao heard Sun Yu go completely silent on the other end of the line. After a moment, Sun Yu sniffled and asked, "Did he really say that?"

"Yes."

"I'm so relieved."

Sun Yu hung up the phone and, braving her headache, went out to tidy up the living room. Sun Yuanzhu loved cleanliness, and she wanted him to step into a spotlessly clean home. She cleaned inside and out, watching tiny dust motes float in the spring sunlight, giving her the surreal illusion that a single day in heaven was passing by. Once the house was spotless, she cleaned herself up, put on a facial mask, washed her face, and concealed her hungover exhaustion. Finally, the door clicked open, and the door to Sun Yu's heart creaked open with it.

Sun Yuanzhu stood at the doorway, bathed in a thin veil of sunlight. Seeing Sun Yu standing in the living room, he smiled at her. "Why aren't you at work?"

"I drank too much last night." Sun Yu ran up to him. No matter how old she was, before the person she loved, she would always be eighteen or twenty; no matter how much capital she possessed or how large a company she managed, before him, she remained as genuine as she had been at the very beginning.

"Do you want to eat some hot and sour noodles made by me?" Sun Yu asked him.

"Sure. I can help you."

"Let's go."

The two shared a strange tacit understanding. They didn't speak in the kitchen, but whenever Sun Yu reached out her hand, Sun Yuanzhu knew exactly what she needed and passed the ingredients to her one by one. Once the noodles were ready, Sun Yuanzhu ate two bites and tried to force himself to take a third. Sun Yu gently pressed his hand down, took his chopsticks, and finished the rest of the noodles herself.

"I was hungry, so I ate it all. If you want more, I'll go make another bowl," Sun Yu said, then gently nudged Sun Yuanzhu back toward his room. "Go get some sleep."

"Alright."

Early the next morning, Sun Yuanzhu truly went to see a doctor. Sun Yu quietly followed behind him, watching as he walked into the hospital. She sent a message to Shang Zhitao: It should work out this time.

I think it definitely will. Should we tell his family?

No.

Sun Yuanzhu would collapse. He didn't want his family to know about his condition. A tight string was drawn within his heart, as if the slightest touch would cause it to snap. Sun Yu wouldn't allow him to break.

She sat in her car, waiting for Sun Yuanzhu to come out. Sun Yu knew how agonizing this wait was. Her phone rang endlessly with work-related calls. From a down-on-her-luck, unemployed sales representative to the head of a Series B investment company, it had taken her six years. Over those six years, she had swallowed all the hardship and grievances silently, without uttering a word.

She only wept in front of Sun Yuanzhu.

On that day of pouring rain, he had carried her home on his back when her foot was injured. From that day onward, he had taken root in her heart. When her company faced technical bottlenecks, he found people to help overcome them; when she couldn't clarify her business logic, he helped her work through it. His sole aspiration was to be a scientist who contributed to humanity, yet he had repeatedly helped Sun Yu solve financial problems.

When she was sad, he was by her side; when she was happy, he was there too.

Even as Sun Yu grew into an independent, capable woman, she remained forever dependent on Sun Yuanzhu. It didn't matter if they weren't in a romantic relationship—having him there was enough.

Sun Yu waited until afternoon before she finally saw Sun Yuanzhu walk out of the hospital, holding a white bag packed with medications. Sun Yu watched him walk far into the distance and waited in her car for another hour before starting the engine to drive home. Sun Yuanzhu was already back, taking his medicine.

Pretending to know nothing, Sun Yu asked him, "Are you taking medication?"

"I went to the hospital today. The doctor ran a lot of assessments on me and prescribed a bunch of meds. I might need additional treatment."

"What kind of treatment?" Sun Yu asked him.

Instead of answering her, Sun Yuanzhu brought up the consultation: "The doctor said there's nothing wrong with me that can't be handled. With so many intervention methods available this time, as long as I actively cooperate, I'll recover sooner or later. Don't worry."

"Alright." Sun Yu set her bag down on the sofa. "So, how about we make something to eat now?"

"Hot and sour noodles again, then."

Sun Yu walked into the kitchen in a wonderful mood, like the bright sunshine breaking through after months of continuous rain. She thought to herself that health truly was the most important thing of all. As long as one was healthy, there would always be time for everything else.

She sent a message to Shang Zhitao: He went to see the doctor and will continue treatment. I'm in a great mood.

Me too.

In a lifetime, how many people does one encounter as they come and go? Yet there are always a select few—and only a select few—who are worthy of your heartfelt devotion, and who you firmly believe will never harm you under any circumstances. Shang Zhitao thought to herself how fortunate she was to possess such friends.

Rarely, Sun Yuanzhu initiated a conversation in their group chat. He asked Zhang Lei, "You mentioned a promotion last time, did it go through?"

Zhang Lei sent a business card with the caption: From now on, please address me as Vice General Manager of Commercialized Products.

"Where's the General Manager?" Sun Yu asked him.

"Currently vacant." Zhang Lei sent a string of laughter, then added: Brothers and sisters, I think I deserve to treat everyone to a huge feast.

"How huge?" Shang Zhitao asked.

"On the review app, sort by price descending, the very first listing."

Sun Yu sent a screenshot: This one? Only eating what's expensive, not what's right?

I think it works, Zhang Lei replied. For you guys, it's worth it. We'll wait until Shang Zhitao comes back.

"Sounds good."

Zhang Lei sent a private message to Shang Zhitao: I actually really wanted to tell you that I used to have a crush on you.

"?"

As for now, I'm on my way to becoming an eligible bachelor. Zhang Lei sent a laughing emoji. He had always been this kind of person—quite funny. Without needing Shang Zhitao to say a word, he had acted out a whole unrequited love story all by himself.

Congratulations, Mr. Bachelor Zhang, Shang Zhitao replied. She was deeply grateful that Zhang Lei had never made anything awkward. He had moved out, yet he kept in touch with them over the long term, caring for them and helping them, without ever showing any uncomfortable partiality toward her.

Far away in the Northwest, Shang Zhitao was miles away from the storm, polishing a project with meticulous care. Initially, she had simply wanted to work on a major project to help herself become an expert. Gradually, however, she discovered the true significance of this project—it could actually help local residents genuinely improve their living conditions, create numerous employment opportunities, and help more people discover the area. She had never felt such a profound sense of accomplishment before.

The company unexpectedly recalled her to attend a department staff meeting, stating that the new department head had arrived.

She and Luan Nian hadn't seen each other for over three months. On that day, everyone sat in the conference room. Josh, the new head of the Planning Department, sat right beside Luan Nian. After stepping through the door, Shang Zhitao still took an inconspicuous seat. However, everyone's attitude toward her was vastly different from before. Grace called out to her, "Flora, come sit here."

"I'll just sit here." She was accustomed to keeping a low profile.

Grace pressed, "Come on over."

Unable to decline such warmth, she walked over to Grace under the watchful eyes of the room and sat down beside her. When she looked up, she met Luan Nian's gaze—deep, lingering, and prolonged.

Long time no see, Luan Nian sent her a message.

Long time no see, Shang Zhitao replied.

Putting her phone away, Shang Zhitao noticed Yilia looking at her as well, so she offered her a gentle smile.

"Thank you all for returning from various cities to attend this meeting. Today's meeting is primarily an introductory session for our new department head, Josh," Luan Nian said. "Josh is a true top-tier creative expert whom we searched for and poached for a long time. Moving forward, Josh will be managing the day-to-day operations of the Planning Department."

Everyone gave a token round of applause. Wearing glasses, Josh looked more like a scientist than a creative professional. Yet his gaze was sharp and intense, instilling a sense of apprehension in those who looked at him.

"Thank you, everyone. Luke flatters me. Let's work hard together in the future. I'd like to get to know all of you. I've met some of you previously, but there are a few stationed elsewhere whom I haven't met yet. Which one is Flora?"

"Hello, Josh. I am Flora."

"Hello." Josh glanced at Shang Zhitao, then proceeded to call out other names.

No one had expected that this person Luan Nian brought in would be like this. Everyone was quiet throughout the meeting. After it adjourned, Shang Zhitao returned to her workstation, where she saw Lumi, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. Lumi raised an eyebrow at her. "Well hello, Flora."

She then looked at Shang Zhitao's luggage. "Came straight from the airport?"

"Mm-hmm." Shang Zhitao put down her bag and sat at her desk to reply to emails. Lumi said to her, "Tonight, Luke is holding a celebration party for your department. Shh, I booked the venue."

"What celebration party?"

"Yilia—her father allocated 80% of his advertising budget to Lingmei this year."

"How much?" Shang Zhitao asked.

"250 million, across all platforms."

"Wow. That's definitely worth celebrating! Lately I saw Luke leading everyone to work on the tender in the group chat, but he didn't mention the victory in the chat."

"The results came out this morning. Then Will told me to arrange the celebration, but said it had to be kept quiet."

"Well, you didn't keep it a secret either!" Shang Zhitao teased her.

"With you? I have no secrets." Lumi raised an eyebrow at her. "Wanna grab a coffee?" One look made it obvious she had gossip to share.

"Do you know why Lingmei secured that 250 million?"

"Why?"

"Because of Luke."

"I don't believe it," Shang Zhitao told her. "He isn't that kind of person. If he were, why hasn't Jiang Lan gotten her way all these years?"

"You know she hasn't gotten her way?"

"I don't know."

Lumi burst into laughter. "Just teasing you! Whether that stubborn donkey slept with anyone else is none of my business. What I wanted to tell you was..." Lumi pulled Shang Zhitao into the corner of the smoking area behind the building and pulled down her collar. A prominent kiss mark sat right on her collarbone, looking quite intense. Shang Zhitao's eyes widened as she stared at Lumi.

Lumi blew a whistle. "Come on, you haven't asked me today yet!"

"Did Lumi get to sleep with Will today?"

"Slept with him last night. Don't be fooled by that guy's refined appearance; he's an absolute beast underneath!"

"Alright, I get it. Ms. Lu is very happy."

At the celebration dinner that evening, everyone drank heavily. Shang Zhitao didn't touch a single drop of alcohol, sitting quietly as she watched her colleagues toast back and forth. Luan Nian seemed to be in high spirits. As the key contributor who secured the massive 250 million deal, Yilia sat beside him, raising her glass to Luan Nian: "Thank you for your guidance and help, Luke." Luan Nian clinked glasses with her. "Hard work paid off."

People at the dinner table harbored various thoughts, while Shang Zhitao quietly listened to her colleagues chat. Everyone knew she didn't drink, so no one blamed her. But having not seen her for so long, they missed her quite a bit. When Grace mentioned that Shang Zhitao was eligible to apply for expert status this year, the crowd started clamoring: "Flora, there are three reviewers at the table today, you have to drink at least three glasses."

Grace quickly stepped in to rescue her: "Count me out, Flora has helped me a lot, so we don't need to stand on ceremony. But you definitely need to toast Josh and Luke. Especially Josh—you should give a proper self-introduction."

Shang Zhitao was put on the spot; with everyone watching her, refusing to drink would be a complete buzzkill. Just as she reached out to pour some wine, she heard Josh ask, "So how many expert quotas does the company have each year?"

"One," Grace answered. "That means there are two competitors present at this table." Josh said, "Work hard, both of you."

Shang Zhitao's hand paused right as she was pouring the wine, and she looked up at Josh.