The Early Spring - Chapter 118

Chapter 118 - Pushing the Envelope

"We're closing for the day, not cooking any more dishes," Da Zhai stood up and walked away. Though she claimed she wasn't cooking, she still fulfilled every order for customers who arrived later. Her disdain was plain as day, stopping just short of throwing him out.

Yet Luan Nian sat there motionless, drinking liquor accompanied only by that single small dish of peanuts. The peanuts at the tavern were always delicious, and he downed half a catty of white liquor with them. Da Zhai glanced at him repeatedly while attending to other guests, tempted to drive him out, but reconsidered after a moment. Why push the envelope with someone who had traveled from afar? Turning around, she walked into the back kitchen and said to Old Shang, who was drinking tea, "That guy named Luan is here."

Hearing this, Old Shang stood up and headed outside. "I'll go meet him!"

"Meet him for what? Sit back down! You're not allowed to pay him any mind!" Da Zhai went back out to tend to the guests, leaving Luan Nian completely ignored. Occasionally shooting a glance his way, she noticed how well-put-together he looked, thinking to herself that Taotao actually had decent taste—at least she had dated someone who looked respectable.

Luan Nian kept drinking, remaining right there until the very last table of guests departed.

After clearing up, Da Zhai said to him, "We're closing up. Head back!"

Luan Nian rose to settle the bill, and Da Zhai pointed to the QR code. Luan Nian scanned the code but didn't tap to complete the payment. He said to Da Zhai, "Get some rest early. Staying up late at your age isn't good for your health."

Da Zhai shot him a glance, thinking to herself that Taotao had mentioned wanting someone who communicated well during her blind dates—wasn't this guy speaking quite decently? She couldn't understand the mindset of young people, but anyone who made Taotao suffer was simply not a good person. Snorting under her breath, she went back to tidying the bar counter. Luan Nian walked out the door and transferred ten thousand yuan.

When Da Zhai heard the payment notification sound, she stepped outside to chase after him, but the man had already departed, vanishing into Harbin's snowy night.

Shang Zhitao received the phone call from Da Zhai in the early morning hours.

"What is it, Mom?"

"Your ex-boyfriend came by just now."

Shang Zhitao checked the time; it was already two in the morning. "What ex-boyfriend? Which ex-boyfriend??"

"Luan Nian."

Shang Zhitao instantly snapped wide awake. "What did he say to you?"

"Nothing much. He's already gone," Da Zhai said before hanging up. "Oh right, he drank half a catty of liquor over a plate of peanuts and transferred ten thousand yuan when settling the bill. I didn't entertain him."

"How much?"

"Ten thousand."

"Got it."

Is he out of his mind? Shang Zhitao cursed him silently. Ten thousand yuan for a plate of peanuts—since you're so rich, why don't you just buy our family's tavern?

Shang Zhitao hung up and dialed Luan Nian's number, but he declined her call.

What on earth is going on?

Shang Zhitao was furious.

The moment she grew angry, her qi and blood surged, making her feel as though the herbal medicine she drank today had been utterly wasted. Lying back on the bed, she grabbed her phone and sent Luan Nian a text message: Are you having fun? What did you go to the tavern for? Do you really have to let my parents know about all those filthy, shameful things from back then? You don't need to say a word—I'll tell my mom right now that I conducted myself improperly back then and messily tangled myself up with my boss.

Shang Zhitao picked up her phone to call Da Zhai, intending to come clean about everything between her and Luan Nian. Her finger hovered over the dial button for a long time, yet she couldn't bring herself to make the call. If Da Zhai and Old Shang knew she had acted as her boss's call-girl while working in Beijing, how heartbroken would they be to think their own daughter lacked moral character?

Slagging the phone onto the pillow, she felt her anger had nowhere to vent. She sent Luan Nian another message: Ten thousand yuan for a plate of peanuts—you're the only rich one around here, aren't you? Why didn't you just pay per peanut?

In less than a minute, she received another transfer notification for 300,000 yuan.

Luan Nian even replied to her message: 30 peanuts (your family's complimentary dish is too stingy).

A short moment later, another text arrived: You might as well tell Da Zhai about selling those bags and leaving without a word while you're at it. Keep it objective and fair.

Shang Zhitao was thoroughly infuriated by Luan Nian into a state of sharp alertness. She had always known he was difficult and troublesome, and she knew he possessed a singular talent for angering people. But in the past, his provocation was always light and offhanded; today, he had exerted immense effort into it.

Luan Nian had always held a grudge over her selling those bags. She thought she had made things clear and apologized to him back in Snow Village, assuming the matter would finally pass. Yet what about him? He was simply using that dull blade of his to wound her.

She moved this number of his to the blacklist as well and went back to sleep.

Shang Zhitao used to be a sound sleeper, but the heavy pressure over the past few years had made good sleep a rarity. Still, on a day like this—having wrapped up a major project and decided to give the entire company a holiday—she absolutely had to get a satisfying sleep.

When she opened her eyes the next day, it was already noon. Remembering that Lumi's flight was at four in the afternoon, she hurriedly brushed her teeth, washed her face, threw on some clothing, and rushed out the door to pick her up at the hotel.

Luan Nian was there too.

Shang Zhitao was somewhat surprised. Given his past temperament, after hearing her words over the past few days, he should have turned on his heel and left long ago.

None of them spoke along the way as Shang Zhitao drove them to the airport. When unloading the luggage from the trunk, Shang Zhitao pulled out several packed jars and handed them to Lumi: "Da Zhai said you love these and had me pack a few extra jars."

"Our mom's affection for me is almost surpassing her love for you. I'm going to call our mom personally later to thank her."

"Tell me once you've finished them. She's been researching other delicacies lately, and I'll mail them to you then."

While the two of them chatted endlessly, Shang Zhitao pulled out another gift and handed it to Will: "Thank you for specially approving this event for us to execute. I hope we didn't disappoint you."

"It doesn't exceed 200 yuan—it's beltfish made by my mom," Shang Zhitao explained.

Will nodded and accepted it: "Thank you."

"I didn't know Luke was coming as well, so I didn't prepare a specific gift for you. Please forgive me."

Lumi swore internally. Shang Zhitao's unyielding attitude toward Luan Nian truly exceeded what her nerves could handle. Yet Luan Nian's expression didn't change at all; he merely cast a glance at Shang Zhitao, turned around, and walked away.

Lumi caught up to Luan Nian and said to him, "Luke, I'm heading elsewhere after landing today, so it's inconvenient for me to carry these pickled vegetables. Can I give them to you?"

Luan Nian looked at Lumi sternly and said in all seriousness, "Do you know why you haven't been fired after slacking around for so many years?"

"...Why?"

"Because you're clever." Luan Nian reached out and took the pickled vegetables. "Tell her to prepare all the gifts properly next time. Even if I'm not present on-site, a separate portion should be set aside. How can someone run an event execution company when they can't even get reception etiquette straight?"

Fuck.

Lumi cursed internally—this stubborn mule's mouth was truly unbelievable. If your attitude had been even a bit better, would she have left you out of the pickled vegetables today? It was just pickled vegetables! You didn't even get any! She even wanted to drill into Luan Nian's head to see if his brain was filled with garbage.

She caught up again: "You can tell her that yourself, you know!"

That sentence struck right at Luan Nian's sore spot. He certainly wanted to say it, but did Shang Zhitao give him the chance? She hadn't gained much other progress over the past few years, but she had grown remarkably adept at blacklisting people.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Lumi added another jab: "Did Flora blacklist you again? Ah, then you really can't tell her yourself." Reaching out, she snatched the gift bag back and turned away. She wasn't about to let Luan Nian eat it! That was personally made by Da Zhai, Lumi's absolute favorite.

A man like Luan Nian was clearly a good person at heart, yet he possessed a terrible mouth coupled with a facial-paralysis expression. How many people in the company were terrified of him? Yet the newly arrived female intern fancied him, secretly asking Lumi: "Is Luke single?"

"Yes, go pursue him," Lumi had tossed out that reply.

That girl had actually gone to pursue him, engineering accidental encounters with Luan Nian every day, proactively helping him draft reports, and staying at work until whatever late hour he stayed. She persisted for nearly two weeks.

Then one day, the girl suddenly looked utterly crestfallen. Lumi asked her, "What happened to you?"

"Luke told me to stay away from him."

Lumi had only heard other matters through hearsay, but Luke growing increasingly strict over the past few years was something everyone witnessed firsthand. Not only that, what proved most perplexing was that he stayed entirely clear of women. Song Ying was so beautiful and liked him so much, yet he remained entirely unmoved. As time went on, rumors began circulating that Luan Nian's sexual orientation wasn't toward women. The rumors grew quite vivid, claiming that all the men around him were handsome and that they belonged to a specific circle.

Hearing this made Lumi endlessly anxious—how could Luke like men? She wanted to help clarify matters for Luan Nian, but since the person involved didn't care at all, as time passed, everyone came to tacitly accept that Luan Nian's orientation was toward men.

When the plane took off from Harbin, Luan Nian's heart felt utterly empty.

Some people were beyond your sight, yet they stood fixed right there in your memory, never blurring even after several years had passed. Upon seeing her, she was now sharp-tongued, picking the harshest words to say, piercing his heart until it ached painfully.

Luan Nian had never tasted this kind of feeling before, nor did he even understand how to handle it. He was accustomed to meeting force with force since childhood, never softening and never bowing his head. He had once thought about what to talk about before seeing Shang Zhitao again, even drafting a mental script. Yet that mental script proved useless; after meeting her, he simply wanted to figure out why she had sold those bags at a discount and why she had left without saying goodbye.

Shang Zhitao had explained it to him, yet the answer only made him feel worse.

For the first time, he realized he was completely powerless against Shang Zhitao.

She had many men around her, navigating among them with ease and poise. When speaking to him, she hit right where it hurt, without sparing him a second glance.

Has Mr. Luan returned? Chen Kuannian asked him in the group chat. Can you treat me to dinner now?

Luan Nian didn't speak.

Chen Kuannian added: Has Mr. Luan suffered a devastating blow? Treat me to dinner, and I'll teach you how to win a girl over. Chen Kuannian had no filter on his mouth; having won his own beauty's heart, he felt anxious on Luan Nian's behalf. He felt Luan Nian was even worse than Song Qiuhan—Song Qiuhan's personality wasn't great either, and Chen Kuannian used to worry Song Qiuhan would die alone. Yet Song Qiuhan had suddenly seen the light in front of Lin Chuner. As for Luan Nian, after being entangled with a girl for so many years, he still hadn't seen the light.

He didn't understand a damn thing!

"Come to the bar." Luan Nian put down his luggage and headed straight to the bar. Chen Kuannian and Tan Mian had arrived and were currently drinking. Seeing Luan Nian, they mocked him: "Look at this crestfallen man!"

They began lecturing him on how to use sweet talk, how to make a girl happy, and how to advance the relationship at the right time. Luan Nian developed a headache listening to it.

Finally unable to take it, he asked, "Did you two attend the same scumbag training class?"

The other two looked at each other, and after a long moment, said, "It's for your own good."

"If it's for my own good, then put your collection exhibition in Harbin!"

"I'm not going, it's too cold."

"Then I'll send the video of you at Gold Coast from two years ago to your beloved archaeology Ph.D." Luan Nian pulled out his phone, and Chen Kuannian hurriedly raised his hands in surrender: "I'll go."

"Then call to discuss the business right now." Luan Nian dialed Shang Zhitao's number for him.

"Wouldn't it be fine to just call from your phone?" Having said that, realization dawned on him: "She blacklisted you again?"

That word "again" was used brilliantly. Luan Nian cast a glance at him and stopped talking.

Chen Kuannian made the call and heard a very gentle voice from the other end: "Hello."

"Is this Shang Zhitao?" Chen Kuannian crossed his legs. "A friend recommended you to me, saying you run an event execution company in Harbin. I want to host a collection exhibition and a collection launch event. Can I hire you?"

Shang Zhitao paused briefly: "May I ask if it's convenient for you to provide some company information and event requirements?"

"Shall I add you on WeChat?" Chen Kuannian raised an eyebrow at Luan Nian.

"Sure."

Chen Kuannian hung up the phone and added Shang Zhitao as a contact, muttering as he did so: "What's so hard about this? Why does a certain someone get blacklisted time and time again?"

After adding her, he sent over his ideas. A moment later, Shang Zhitao sent back her thoughts along with a preliminary price quote, which was very reasonable.

She then asked him: "Is it convenient for me to ask which friend recommended us?"

Luan Nian said, "No need to answer that. If she asks for your name, don't say it—just say your surname is Chen."

"Afraid that she won't take the order if she hears your name?" Chen Kuannian clicked his tongue: "To think that in my lifetime, I'd finally see someone capable of taming Luan Nian, who usually refuses to yield to either soft or hard tactics."

Of course he didn't answer, but instead scheduled an inspection trip to Harbin for the day after tomorrow.

Luan Nian tagged along.

Shang Zhitao went to pick them up at the airport, catching sight of Luan Nian at a glance before noticing Chen Kuannian beside him. She had seen Chen Kuannian's photo before.

Some things were very strange. Having been together for so many years in the past, she had never met his friends. Yet in less than a week, first came Song Qiuhan, and now Chen Kuannian—his friends were popping up one after another.

"Is this Shang Zhitao?" Chen Kuannian proactively extended his hand.

"Hello, Director Chen." Shang Zhitao took off her glove to shake his hand, then extended her hand toward Luan Nian: "Hello, Director Luan."

Chen Kuannian let out a snort, laughing at their attempt to cover things up, but held back his laughter to watch them with composure.

Luan Nian reached out and held her hand; her hand was icy cold. Rubbing his fingertips against the back of her hand for a brief moment, he withdrew his hand.

"Does Director Chen have any dietary preferences or restrictions for dinner?" Shang Zhitao asked Chen Kuannian while driving.

"I heard there's a certain tavern..."

Shang Zhitao cast a glance at Luan Nian. He was looking out the window, the shadow of his nose casting across his face; his side profile was truly handsome. She didn't know what he was thinking, nor why he had come to entangle himself with her after several years. Was it just for that anger pent up in his heart? Just like before, casting a net to slowly draw her in—what was he actually after?

After Fu Dong brought Chen Kuannian inside the tavern, Shang Zhitao grabbed Luan Nian's arm.

Luan Nian stopped and looked at her, his eyes falling on her hand.

"What is the meaning of this?" Shang Zhitao withdrew her hand under his gaze.

"It means nothing. Just introducing a client to you—you can view it as me providing targeted poverty alleviation." It was far too cold in the northern land, and temperatures had plunged sharply on this day. Luan Nian's ears were frozen bright red, the tip of his nose was red, and his eyes carried a slight redness as well. He had taken all of Chen Kuannian and the others' words to heart yesterday; they said if you want to be with her, you have to lower your posture.

"Do you want to sleep with me just like in the past?" Shang Zhitao was infuriated once again by Luan Nian's arrogant attitude, feeling that today's dose of medicine had been drunk in vain as well.

"Fine," she nodded. "I understand. Director Luan is spending a fortune to sleep with someone again—oh wait, this time you've even brought your network into the mix."

Placing her hand on the door handle, she said to him before opening the door, "Tonight, whoever fucking backs out is a coward!"

"You stay right here!"