When we got downstairs, the party was almost over.
Director Cheng called together colleagues from the department and held a brief meeting...
"Okay, that's it for now. We'll talk about the next thing tomorrow morning. Everyone has worked hard today, so go home and rest."
After Director Cheng finished speaking, Lin Qingle and several female colleagues from the same department went to the inner room to take their belongings and prepared to leave.
To leave, they had to pass by the original cocktail party site. When they arrived there, Lin Qingle saw Xu Tingbai and Xia Tan.
"Deputy Manager Lin." Xia Tan suddenly raised his hand and signaled to her.
Lin Qingle had no choice but to stop, told his colleagues to go first, and walked over himself.
But seeing Xu Tingbai at this moment reminded me of the scene on the second floor not long ago, and I felt a little uncomfortable: "Why are you still here?"
"I don't have anything to do tonight, so I'm not in a hurry to leave." Xia Tan said, "Qingle, it's very beautiful tonight."
Lin Qingle: "Thank you, President Xia is also very good-looking."
"Really? Then who looks better tonight, me or our CEO Xu?"
Lin Qingle was stunned: "Ah?"
"Of course you are beautiful, Xia Tan." Suddenly, a voice said.
The three of them looked over when they heard the sound and saw Zhao Ziai coming over.
Xia Tan coughed lightly and said, "Zi Ai, why are you still here? All our guests have left."
Zhao Ziai glanced at Xu Tingbai and said, "I asked my dad to leave first. I stayed to chat with a few friends for a while."
Xia Tan: “Like this.”
"What are you guys talking about here?"
"We didn't talk much, just a few words."
Zhao Ziai glanced at Lin Qingle and said, "Do you have any appointments tonight? Do you want to go out for something to eat? Xu Tingbai, I haven't eaten anything you've got tonight. You have to treat me to something else."
Xu Tingbai: "Xia Tan, please go eat with me."
Xia Tan said: "...Oh."
Zhao Ziai was stunned, and said sharply: "Mr. Xu, you are so stingy. I am a guest today, it's okay for you to treat me to a meal."
Xu Tingbai glanced at her calmly and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Zhao, I have something else to do. Xia Tan is also the host today, so it's the same if he accompanies you to eat."
"Xu Tingbai! You clearly know it's different." Zhao Ziai finally couldn't help it and changed his face, "Last time I sent you a meal at the company, you didn't eat it, but today you still do this, then tell me, what's the matter with you now?"
Xia Tan touched his nose. He knew from what he said that this young lady couldn't hold it anymore.
Xu Tingbai frowned: "Do I have anything to tell you?"
“…!”
Xu Tingbai didn't bother to pay attention to her. He lowered his eyes to glance at Lin Qingle's shoes and suddenly asked, "You haven't changed them yet?"
Lin Qingle was just watching quietly, but she didn't expect the conversation to suddenly start with her: "Ah? I, I'll be back soon. I'll take the bus later. It's okay."
Xu Tingbai said, "Oh!" and pulled her wrist. "It's hard to get a taxi, I'll give it to you."
Lin Qingle shuddered, and the first person she looked at subconsciously was Zhao Ziai. The latter looked at her in surprise, as if he wanted to rush over and tear her apart.
This... feels damn familiar.
Lin Qingle said: "No, that's not necessary. Didn't you just say you had something else to do? Go ahead and do your thing. I'll go back by myself!"
Xu Tingbai: "What I'm talking about is giving it to you."
"… "
"Let's go."
Xu Tingbai pulled Lin Qingle towards the door.
Zhao Ziai stared blankly, and it took him a while to react: "Xu Tingbai—"
Xia Tan quickly dodged: "Since you won't let me eat with you, I'll leave first. Bye!"
Zhao Ziai: “Hello!”
—
When Xu Tingbai and Lin Qingle walked to the parking space, Xia Tan also followed them.
"Xu Tingbai, you are immoral. You still let me have dinner with her?"
Xu Tingbai looked back at him: "Didn't you agree quickly just now? I thought you were happy about it."
Xia Tan spread his hands: "Brother? How can you tell that I am happy with this?"
Xu Tingbai: "Forget it, she probably doesn't really want to eat anything."
"Of course, if you don't go, what can she eat?" Xia Tan said, looking at Lin Qingle who was silent at the side, "Qingle, you saw it, right?"
Lin Qingle: "What?"
Xia Tan intended to retaliate and deliberately said, "This guy is a playboy. Just now, Zhao Ziai was obsessed with him and was completely insane."
"Xia Tan." Xu Tingbai said with a hidden warning.
Xia Tan: "Why! This is all true. I am obsessed with you, loving and hating you at the same time. I am almost going crazy. Qingle, let me tell you..."
There was a pause in his speech, and Xia Tan suddenly stopped talking because he saw Lin Qingle smile.
“…Huh? Why are you laughing? I’m serious.”
Lin Qingle quickly restrained himself: "I know."
"Know?"
Lin Qingle thought for a moment and said, "I've seen people in situations like her, so... I'm used to it."
Xu Tingbai: “…”
Xia Tan: "W-what?"
"Well, there was a girl who liked her very much in high school. Her situation was quite similar to that of Zhao Ziai." Lin Qingle looked at Xu Tingbai, "Do you remember? Her name was Yan Dairong. She liked you very much at that time, and she was also very nice to you—"
"Do you have so much to talk about? Get in the car." Xu Tingbai interrupted her expressionlessly.
Lin Qingle: “…”
Xia Tan: "No, what's the story, Qingle, tell me."
Xu Tingbai opened the passenger seat and stuffed Lin Qingle in.
After closing the car door, he turned around and looked at Xia Tan, "What are you talking about? Go drive your own car."
Xia Tan: “?”
—
Ten o'clock at night.
A black sports car was driving on the empty road. After driving for a while, the wind started to pick up and sparse rain fell on the windshield.
Xu Tingbai turned down the volume of the music and slowed down the car slightly.
The estate where they were holding the event today was far from the city, and it would take more than an hour to drive from here to her home.
Lin Qingle didn’t like rainy days very much, but as he watched the rain getting heavier outside the window, he didn’t feel that annoyed.
"Don't you like me talking about Yan Dairong?" She felt that his reaction just now was not very good, so she asked.
Xu Tingbai: “No.”
"You don't seem very happy then."
Xu Tingbai: "I just think those people are insignificant. Don't listen to what Xia Tan said just now."
"I know, Xia Tan was just exaggerating a bit." Lin Qingle said, "But I see that Zhao Ziai really cares about you."
Ting Bai frowned slightly: "I don't have any other feelings towards her."
"… oh."
She didn't say anything. She knew before that even if he did nothing, girls would still like him.
Lin Qingle said nothing more, resting his chin on his hand and looking at the rain outside the window.
Xu Tingbai glanced at her and his hand holding the direction button unconsciously tightened.
He didn't want Xia Tan to say anything in front of her, and he was eager to explain because he was afraid that she would think wrongly and be unhappy. But when he found out that she didn't think wrongly at all and wasn't unhappy at all, he felt unhappy instead...
She doesn't mind those people, does that mean she doesn't care.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier. By the time the car arrived at the gate of the community, the drizzle at the beginning had turned into a heavy downpour.
"Do you have an umbrella?" Lin Qingle asked.
"Go in."
Lin Qingle: "But outside vehicles can't enter the garage."
"It's okay, just stop in front of your building."
Lin Qingle looked at the rainfall and nodded: "That's fine."
The car slowly drove into the community.
"Turn right ahead."
"Um."
After turning a corner, the two found that there were several cars parked in front of the building, and they didn't know where the people had gone. They didn't even drive away. Xu Tingbai looked at the empty parking space next to him and said, "I'll park here first."
"I'll just get out of the car, so you don't have to stop, just drive away."
"It's raining too hard. I'll take you there."
There is no umbrella... How can I send it
Lin Qingle was wondering when she saw Xu Tingbai park the car, pick up the coat in the back, open the door and walk around to her: "What are you daydreaming about? Come out."
Lin Qingle watched him put his coat outside her car... The sound of rain roared, and at that moment, she only had time to think "What kind of idol drama plot is this" before he pulled her out.
But the suit jacket was not as long as a coat. After walking two steps, Xu Tingbai found that it could not cover two people, so he simply put the clothes on her head and ran away with her.
The distance from the parking space to the building where Lin Qingle lived was only ten meters, and they ran there quickly, but the rain was still too heavy. When Lin Qingle took his clothes off his head, he saw that Xu Ting's white shirt was soaked.
"Go upstairs, and remember to change the Band-Aid." He took the coat from her hand and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Lin Qingle grabbed his clothes without thinking.
Xu Tingbai turned around.
Lin Qingle hesitated for a moment and said, "Do you want to come up and blow dry your hair? By the way, I'll give you an umbrella."
—
There was no one else in the room today. Yu Tingting went to Huang Chengxu's place, and Dong Xiaoni returned to live with her parents.
However, when Lin Qingle took the key and opened the door, he still felt a little regretful.
Apart from Huang Chengxu who came once or twice, no other man had ever come to their house. The house was full of the scent of girls, and the three of them had been busy with work recently, so it was quite messy.
When the two stood at the entrance, Lin Qingle hurriedly changed into slippers and said, "Give me two minutes!"
Xu Tingbai also obeyed and stood still.
After Lin Qingle entered the living room, she swept around, picked up all the messy things, and threw the snack bag on the coffee table directly into the trash can. After quickly tidying up, she walked back to Xu Tingbai.
"You can come in now. These slippers are for you. They were bought by Yu Tingting before and worn by Huang Chengxu once."
Xu Tingbai looked at her panting and smiled slightly: "Okay."
"Then come to the bathroom in my room. There is a hair dryer in there. Dry your hair."
"Um."
This house was originally rented by Lin Qingle. She slept in the master bedroom, which had an attached bathroom. Dong Xiaoni and Yu Tingting slept in the second bedroom, and they shared a bathroom outside.
Lin Qingle took him to the bathroom and handed him a clean towel.
It was Xu Tingbai's first time to return to the girls' bathroom. The bathroom was clean, but there were a lot of things, especially on the countertop, where bottles and jars, skin care products and cosmetics were arranged in several rows.
Lin Qingle saw his eyes resting on her things and touched her nose: "It's a bit messy... I was in a hurry this morning and didn't put it away properly, but it's usually very tidy!"
Xu Tingbai smiled: "Not bad."
Lin Qingle was slightly embarrassed: "Then, blow dry your hair."
"Um."
While Xu Tingbai was blow-drying her hair, Lin Qingle went out and waited outside.
After a while, she saw him turn off the hair dryer, and then she poked her head in: "Is it done?"
Xu Tingbai looked at her and said, "Come here."
Lin Qingle walked in: "What's the matter?"
Xu Tingbai pulled her between himself and the sink and said, "Blow-dry your hair."
Lin Qingle was stunned for a moment. Before she could say anything, the sound of a hair dryer rang in her ears. He was blowing the hair on both sides of her cheeks. The coat did not cover her completely after all.
"I, I can do it myself." Lin Qingle reached out to grab the hair dryer.
Xu Tingbai raised it higher: "Don't move."
Lin Qingle, who was at a disadvantage in height: "…"
"I'll blow you, quickly."
He forced her into this small space, and after the hot wind had passed, he lifted her hair with his fingers, occasionally brushing her cheek.
Lin Qingle was stunned and looked at Xu Tingbai in the mirror. He lowered his eyes and looked at her very seriously...
Lin Qingle felt his whole body getting warmer due to the rising temperature in the bathroom.
It was hot, the hot wind and his chest.
She was only slightly wet, so she dried quickly. Xu Tingbai turned off the hair dryer and patted her head, "Lin Qingle."
"Ah?" She looked at the person in the mirror, her eyes flickering slightly.
Xu Tingbai also looked at the person in the mirror and suddenly asked, "Have you only used one shampoo and one shower gel since you were a child?"
Lin Qingle was slightly confused: "No... What's wrong?"
Xu Tingbai paused and said, "It's okay. When I was a kid, I thought you had a scent, and now... it's the same."
Lin Qingle's face suddenly became even hotter, and the mirror was foggy and scattered. After he finished speaking, she clearly saw that even her neck in the mirror had a different color.
"Of course I changed it! How could the one I use now be the same as the one I used all those years ago?"
"oh."
She lowered her eyes in panic, her heart beating like a drum: "The brand I used in high school seems to have gone bankrupt now... You must have remembered it wrong."
Xu Tingbai was silent for a moment, looking at the stunningly beautiful woman in the mirror: "No, I remember your smell very clearly."
—
The rain outside the window showed no sign of slowing down. The raindrops hit the glass heavily, making a dull sound. The rain moved the glass and also moved her heart.
Lin Qingle stood in front of the kitchen window sill, poured a glass of warm water for Xu Tingbai, and tried to adjust his breathing.
He was in the bathroom just now
What are you talking about...
smell…
What does she smell like
How did he know what she smelled like
"Are you home alone at night?" His voice approached from behind and he also walked into the kitchen.
Lin Qingle didn't know what was wrong tonight, her face kept blushing, she didn't dare to look back at him: "Oh, one went back to her parents' house, and the other went to her boyfriend's house."
Xu Tingbai: "So you are often alone?"
Lin Qingle: "No, Xiaoni is only away occasionally, while Tingting is more often away. After all, she is in a relationship and spends more time at her boyfriend's house."
Xu Tingbai thought for a moment and said, "It sounds good."
Lin Qingle: “… ?”
"Is the water ready?"
Lin Qingle was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned around and handed it to him: "Okay, drink it."
"Um."
After Lin Qingle handed it to him, he did not stop and went to the inner room to get an umbrella.
In the end, after drying his clothes and hair and finishing his water, Xu Tingbai couldn't find any excuse to stay any longer.
"Here's the umbrella. Drive safely." Lin Qingle walked him to the door.
"good."
Lin Qingle stood in the doorway: "Thank you for today."
Xu Tingbai paused: "You don't have to say thank you to me."
"Um?"
"If you have to thank me for just this little thing, then how many thanks do I owe you for all the things I've done before?"
When he said this, he lowered his eyes slightly and looked at her, his eyes were focused but slightly dissatisfied.
The corridor behind him was dark, with only the induction light from the top of the door pouring down. He stood tall, outside the door frame like a restrained and low-key painting.
If you look at it for a long time, it seems that you can be easily drawn into the painting and become lost in thought.
Lin Qingle forced herself to look away and looked at the still damp suit jacket hanging on his arm: "I was the one who had to take care of you before, no need to say thank you."
"It's the same now." Xu Tingbai's face was emotionless, but every word he said was passionate: "Now I have to send you back, I have to shelter you from the rain, and I have to take care of you."
Lin Qingle's eyes trembled slightly, and she saw him taking a step towards her on the ground.
"Lin Qingle, you haven't forgotten that I drank alcohol on that business trip, right?"
Lin Qingle raised her eyes suddenly, and wanted to explain something in panic, but he didn't let her say, "It's okay if you really forgot, I can say it again."
She looked at him, her throat clogging.
Xu Tingbai said softly, "All my efforts were ultimately just to see you again and take care of you. I know that sixteen-year-old Lin Qingle has grown up, she is very good and doesn't need anyone to take care of her. But I still want her to give me a chance. I want to keep her by my side like before."
These few simple sentences were like cannonballs exploding in the air. Lin Qingle was shocked and at a loss for words. He felt his ears go numb and his blood was imbalanced.
There were no fancy words or sweet language, but she knew what he was saying.
"I… "
"I won't force you to answer me right away." Xu Tingbai glanced at her red ears and said, "I'll give you some time to think. I'm always here."
—
She forgot when Xu Tingbai left, how she closed the door, and how she finally retreated back into the room.
That short piece of memory was completely wiped out by his sudden action. When Lin Qingle buried herself in the quilt, the only thing left in her mind was the seriousness in his eyes before he left.
He's... confessing
Lin Qingle had received many confessions when she was in college, but she had never felt as bad as she did now. Even after listening for such a long time, her heart was still beating as if she would die in the next second.
Stay with me...Stay with me...
Does he want to be with her
But it seems like it hasn’t been long since they met again. Didn’t he say that he thought this way from the beginning? Doesn’t that mean he has liked her since they were children
Same as her
Lin Qingle realized this, whimpered, lifted the quilt beside him and wrapped himself tightly in it.
After the reunion, she didn't think about what would happen between them, she really didn't think about it.
She thought that since she was angry with him and remembered his bad deeds, she would keep a distance from him as a friend and would not have any other thoughts about him.
But now, hearing her abnormal heartbeat, she finally understood... maybe there were some things she just couldn't control.
—
After Xu Tingbai's brief bombardment that night, Lin Qingle felt extremely confused, and she felt a little uncomfortable when she went to the company the next day.
However, some people did not intend to let her adapt, and she received his message before lunch.
What time do you go to eat
Lin Qingle's heartbeat quickened just by looking at his message: Immediately...
Xu Tingbai: Restaurant, let’s eat together
Lin Qingle was stunned. She hadn't even planned what happened yesterday, and now they were going to have dinner together?! In the company cafeteria... They had already been watched the last time they had dinner together, she didn't want to do that!
Well, the director suddenly assigned me something to do, so I might have to eat very late at noon. You go and eat first.
Xu Tingbai did not reply.
Lin Qingle thought, he probably wouldn't ask to have lunch together. So she put down her phone, patted her cheeks, and suddenly felt very nervous.
"Qingle." After a while, Director Cheng came over.
Lin Qingle: "Director."
Director Cheng: "Please show President Xu the promotional plan we put together last time for Ye Zhiyou and his album."
Lin Qingle: "Ah? Now?"
Director Cheng: "Yes, you have worked hard now. Please go to the office directly."
Is it just... such a coincidence
"Can I, can I pass it to Mr. Xu?"
"No, Mr. Xu just suddenly told me that he wanted to know more and wanted us to talk to him in person."
Lin Qingle: “…”
"Go ahead. Mr. Xu is planning a surprise attack. Don't let him stump you."
"Won't… "
"Okay, let's go."
"… good."
Director Cheng left, Lin Qingle silently closed the computer and stood up from his seat...
It's just such a coincidence.
Lin Qingle took the elevator to the top floor of BSS.
After arriving outside the office, Jason opened the door for her politely: "Good afternoon, Deputy Manager Lin."
"good afternoon."
"The food is ready, and I bought you a vanilla cake at noon."
Lin Qingle: “…Thank you.”
Lin Qingle went in and Jason helped close the door.
"I'm here." Xu Tingbai sat on the sofa. Lunch was already on the coffee table. Seeing that she was standing still, he turned around and glanced at her. "Where's your computer? You didn't bring it.
"
Lin Qingle: "You don't really want to hear any promotional materials..."
Xu Tingbai looked at her and smiled briefly: "How do you know I'm not."
Lin Qingle choked.
Xu Tingbai: "It seems that Manager Lin doesn't want to report to me."
Lin Qingle: "... Did you do this on purpose?"
"You said that Lao Cheng had assigned you something, but when I asked, he didn't. So I specifically asked him to assign you something, otherwise you would have lied to your boss."
“…!”
What a fallacy!
"Okay, come here, the food will get cold if you don't eat now."
Lin Qingle glanced at him, and suddenly his stubborn temper came up: "What to eat, isn't it a work report? I also have the information on my phone, I will tell you now."
Xu Tingbai was really happy this time. He stood up and pulled her over: "Really? I just asked you to come over for dinner."
"Then why did you say that to Director Cheng?"
"I won't let your leader call you, will you come over?"
Lin Qingle remembered that she had refused to go to the restaurant with him not long ago... Okay, she wouldn't come.
Xu Tingbai tapped her lightly and said, "Eat, Manager Lin. It's okay to eat here instead of going to the restaurant."
Lin Qingle: “…”
Perhaps it was because he teased me like this that the original shyness and embarrassment were alleviated a lot.
Besides, since he was already here, Lin Qingle didn't bother to be polite with him and just picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
"Are you going back home for the New Year?" Xu Tingbai asked.
It's almost the end of the year and their company is about to take a holiday.
Lin Qingle nodded: "Yes."
"Return to Xicheng?"
"Yes, my mother is there now, so I'm going back there this year." Lin Qingle said: "What about you..."
Xu Tingbai paused and said, "I don't celebrate the Spring Festival."
Lin Qingle was stunned for a moment and realized that this festival might not be a very good one for him.
"But when I have a holiday, I will go to England to visit my aunt."
"oh."
The two of them were chatting intermittently, and halfway through their meal, Jason suddenly knocked on the door.
"Mr. Xu."
"What's up."
Jason was embarrassed and said, "Miss Zhao is here."
Xu Tingbai: "Say I'm in a meeting."
"But... Miss Zhao has already come up."
Xu Tingbai frowned and glanced at Jason.
Jason said seriously: "I said you were not free, but she came up and no one dared to stop her..."
Lin Qingle blinked and quickly put down his chopsticks: "It's okay, I'm done eating, I'll leave first, you guys chat."
Xu Tingbai grabbed Lin Qingle and said, "Why are you leaving? What do I have to talk to her about?"
Lin Qingle glanced at him and snorted, "Boss Xu, how would I know what you two have to talk about? But people are already at the door, will they leave if you don't chat for a while?"
Xu Tingbai: “…”
Lin Qingle pulled his hand away and walked straight out the door.
The temperature in the office suddenly dropped to freezing point. Jason took one look at his boss with a gloomy face and immediately regretted his decision.
If I had known earlier, I would have tried to stop it even at the risk of my life!!!
What is more important, life or work
Of course it’s work!!!
There was an assistant's workstation outside Xu Tingbai's office. When Lin Qingle walked out, he immediately saw Zhao Ziai standing by the window with his arms folded.
Zhao Ziai naturally saw her as well. She obviously didn't expect that the person in the office was Lin Qingle, and her eyes almost popped out.
Lin Qingle just nodded to her slightly and walked into the elevator.
Zhao Ziai took a few steps forward and said, "Wait a minute!"
However, the elevator door was already closed.
Zhao Ziai was anxious and immediately pressed the descending button.
"What on earth do you want?"
The elevator didn't come up, but the people in the office did come out.
Zhao Ziai turned back angrily, but when he really saw Xu Tingbai's face which was obviously angry, his arrogance immediately subsided.
It’s not like she hasn’t lost her temper and been mean to him before, but it was useless every time… He wasn’t afraid of her at all.
"Of course I came to see you for something. Aunt Su has said before that I can come to you for help with anything I don't understand." Zhao Ziai stepped forward with a frown, "But why did you lie to me? You said you were busy, but in fact you were just hanging out with women in the office."
Xu Tingbai's eyes darkened: "Hanging around?"
"Isn't it? They are your subordinates. Xu Tingbai, when did you start doing this?"
"What are you talking about?" Xu Tingbai sneered, "Ms. Zhao, please make it clear before you do anything. She is the person I really like."
Zhao Ziai was stunned for a moment, unable to believe that Xu Tingbai would say... like
Xu Tingbai: "If you really have any questions, ask my assistant, he can answer them for you."
Zhao Ziai: "You are with her?!"
"None of your business."
"Xu Tingbai—"
“Enough is enough.”
"… "
Xu Tingbai said coldly: "Zhao Ziai, not everyone wants to treat you like a young lady."
The author has something to say: Isn’t today’s length quite touching… We are not far from being together