Xu Ran rubbed his cold palms, like a death row prisoner waiting for trial.
He Cheng had long been used to his lack of response, and asked, "Where did you go tonight?"
Xu Ran opened her mouth, but after all, she didn't say anything about meeting Qiao An.
He Cheng clicked his tongue impatiently, and Xu Ran's shoulders trembled slightly.
"What are you doing?" He Cheng frowned at him, "I'm scary?"
"No," Xu Ran tried his best to smile, and said softly, "No."
As if thinking of something, He Cheng tried his best to suppress the anger that was already rising, and slowed down his voice, "Then don't act like I'm going to bully you."
Xu Ran blinked suspiciously. In his impression, He Cheng rarely spoke to himself in such a gentle tone.
He Cheng said, "Bai Jinming said that you were sick that night, I didn't see it, and asked you to go out, sorry."
As he spoke, he bent slightly and lowered his head habitually, but Xu Ran stood up with a bang.
He Cheng raised his head and saw Xu Ran's terrified expression.
Frightened, not surprised, Xu Ran's eyes were filled with uncontrollable fear, as if he saw some monster.
"What?" He Cheng asked impatiently.
Xu Ran sat down slowly, "No... nothing."
It was hard for him to imagine the way He Cheng bowed his head to him. The man in front of him seemed to be aloof all his life, and Xu Ran was already used to looking up. He Cheng was like this suddenly, he couldn't accept it no matter what.
But He Cheng's expression seemed as if he would explode if he said one more sentence, Xu Ran tried his best to swallow all the words he wanted to say.
"Sit down." He Cheng ordered in a bad tone.
Xu Ran sat upright and asked cautiously, "You, why..."
"Why, can't I treat you better?" He Cheng said angrily.
"No," Xu Ran said quickly, "It's fine, I'm fine."
Seeing He Cheng's awkward and impatient expression, Xu Ran's heart suddenly warmed up.
Maybe he was reflecting on what he did too much that night. He Cheng is a smart man, so he probably figured it out now.
How many years have not received decent consideration from He Cheng, Xu Ran already feels very satisfied just like this now. He raised his head and smiled at He Cheng.
"Thank you." He said sincerely.
He Cheng didn't express it, but in Xu Ran's view, it was just a simple quarrel, his heart was sour and sweet, and he couldn't help jumping up for joy.
It's good that He Cheng cares about him.
Seeing him happy, He Cheng also breathed a sigh of relief.
It is said that breaking up is a technical job, if it is not handled well, it may even lead to ruin. Xu Ran is a typical type who will give you a candy and go with you. To make him happy, you just need to say a few words in a soft voice.
He Cheng even began to feel a little bored with such a task without technical content.
He coughed lightly, attracted Xu Ran's attention, and said, "What I want to tell you is another thing. Before, my father asked me to participate in a new project of the company. Starting from scratch, it seems more difficult now. I should have to work long overtime, and I shouldn't be here from next week."
"Working overtime?" Xu Ran obviously didn't understand the meaning of the words, and asked worriedly, "Long time?"
"I don't know."
"The place where I live, there are three meals..." Xu Ran murmured.
"I'll hire housekeeping."
Xu Ran stopped talking. He knew that for He Cheng who was working overtime, it would be more convenient to hire housekeepers. It's not that He Cheng didn't work overtime for a long time before, but he never failed to come back. It seems that the work this time is indeed very difficult.
He smiled and nodded, "I see."
"it is good."
He Cheng got up, handed the warmed milk to the flattered Xu Ran, and said, "Go to bed early."
Just like this, he slowly opened the distance, and by the time he found out, he had already withdrawn. This was a routine used by the second generation ancestors in their circle. Although He Cheng hadn't practiced it himself, when he actually used it, he found that he seemed to be very handy.
Maybe he should feel a little guilty for Xu Ran who didn't know, but He Cheng never had a delicate temper, and he wouldn't take it to heart.
The atmosphere of the night was eerily warm, He Cheng had no intention of doing anything, so Xu Ran went to the guest room. When he woke up at night and saw that the light in the master bedroom was still on, Xu Ran hesitated for a moment, but he didn't bother after all.
"Brother Xu, let's go to eat?"
The young man in the unit was carrying a gym bag and waved to Xu Ran enthusiastically.
Xu Ran smiled and waved his hands, "Go by yourself."
"Let's go, the project is finally over, don't relax now and wait for two days to get busy again."
This boy named He Yuxuan had just graduated half a year ago, and he had an inexplicable kindness towards Xu Ran, which made Xu Ran, who was usually a loner, not used to it.
Xu Ran wanted to refuse again, but He Yuxuan blinked and looked very pitiful, which forced him to give up the idea of saying "no".
"… Ok."
Xu Ran got up and began to pack his things amid He Yuxuan's enthusiastic cheers. Originally, he planned to work overtime these two days, He Cheng was not at home, he didn't want to go back to the cold bedroom alone, He Yuxuan's invitation just happened to give him an excuse for not being able to go home early.
It was not the first time for Xu Ran to gather with young colleagues. For some reason, he was always very popular with children, and even the newcomers who had just walked out of the university campus were very close to him.
The eldest sister at the desk next door looked at them in surprise, perhaps wondering why these two people who seemed to have no common language at all had a date for dinner, Xu Ran lowered her head, deliberately ignored her gaze, and left with He Yuxuan the unit.
As soon as he left the unit compound, He Yuxuan let out a long breath, "Finally off work, I'm exhausted..."
"What's wrong?" Xu Ran gave him a strange look.
He Yuxuan looked around and saw no acquaintances, so he whispered, "I have been working overtime for three weekends in a row, and the director wants to add this weekend. I said I have something to do at home, so I am determined not to go."
"The project is not over, why are you still working overtime?"
"I don't know," He Yuxuan said bitterly, "That's why I won't go. It's okay if I'm really busy, but now who knows what work I will be assigned if I go."
Xu Ran smiled, "Now you know that work is not easy?"
When he first came here half a year ago, Xu Ran took him for two months. At that time, He Yuxuan also boasted that the work here was too simple. How did he know that the really difficult work was never technical, but the balance between people.
Looking at his tall and strong figure, Xu Ran felt relieved that the child had grown up. He Yuxuan still remembered his past embarrassment, scratched his head with a blushing face, and said, "How could I have thought of it at that time..."
When the two came to the intersection, He Yuxuan stopped a taxi and said, "Let's go eat barbecue, I know a new one, and there is a discount!"
Perhaps infected by his enthusiasm, Xu Ran didn't say anything, but just nodded his head.
Unexpectedly, the location of the barbecue restaurant is only one street away from He Cheng's company.
When Duan Xiaocai came back, He Yuxuan found Xu Ran staring out the window in a daze, and called him curiously, "Brother Xu? What are you looking at?"
"Ah?" Xu Ran shuddered slightly, came back to his senses, and smiled, "It's nothing."
"Did you not have a good rest recently? You will also be in a daze at work." He Yuxuan said worriedly.
Xu Ran smiled and waved his hands. He couldn't say that because He Cheng was not at home, the house was too deserted at night, and he occasionally suffered from insomnia.
He Yuxuan seemed to think that he was not feeling well, and felt a little guilty for dragging him out to eat. Xu Ran didn't want him to feel guilty about this, so he quickly withdrew his thoughts and started to barbecue seriously.
The cowboy bone soaked in sauce made a cheerful sound on the grate, and He Yuxuan diligently turned the meat over and over again, and put the steaming tender beef into Xu Ran's plate.
Xu Ran felt helpless looking at the gradually piled up barbecue meat on the plate. Maybe this kid wanted to refresh him by feeding him. Although this had little effect, his heart that had been cold for a few days did feel a little warm.
It's just that He Cheng didn't go home, there's no need for him to make himself look like a resentful woman who stays alone in an empty house. Thinking of this, Xu Ran moved his chopsticks, and decided to take this opportunity to fill his appetiteless stomach.
He Yuxuan smiled happily at him, "Try it quickly, the beef here is very delicious!"
Xu Ran doesn't have much appreciation for meat, he just needs to be full, but the fresh and tender meat is covered with sesame sauce and delivered to his mouth, the salty and fresh taste is slightly spicy, which completely whetted his appetite.
"It's really good." He sighed sincerely.
He Yuxuan chuckled, lowered his head and ate his own. Xu Ran left the table and went to the bathroom. In the evening, the number of people in the restaurant gradually increased. When he came back, he carefully avoided a small group of people and made a half-circle around the other way to return to his seat.
Although it is a barbecue restaurant, the decoration is quite in the style of a western restaurant. There are decorative barriers between each table. Xu Ran walked away from the side and saw a table of men not far away.
Bai Jinming was recognized at a glance, and he was the most conspicuous among the young people at the table. Xu Ran was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looking for He Cheng's figure.
He Cheng wasn't there, but Bai Jinming noticed him, greeted his companions, got up and walked towards him.
"Coincidentally," Bai Jinming said, "Come to see He Cheng?"
"No, come to have dinner with my colleagues." Xu Ran pointed to his table.
"Oh… "
Bai Jinming was silent and didn't answer, so Xu Ran pretended not to see his suddenly relaxed brow.
"He..." Xu Ran hesitated, "Is he busy?"
Bai Jinming nodded, "I'm busy with our cooperation project, and I've been working overtime for a while."
"Then please tell him to pay attention to rest." Xu Ran smiled, "When he gets busy with work, he tends to stay up late and forget to eat. It's not good for his stomach."
Bai Jinming took a deep look at him, opened his mouth, and said after a long time, "Okay."
Saying goodbye to Bai Jinming, Xu Ran returned to his seat safely, and He Yuxuan, who was buried in eating meat, looked up and was suddenly shocked, "Brother Xu, why do you look so bad?"
Xu Ran shook his head and did not speak.
He saw Bai Jinming who was sitting back was busy texting someone with his head down. He Cheng is a workaholic, if it is a cooperative project, it is impossible to allow Bai Jinming to come out to have dinner with others privately.
He looked around blankly, the people coming and going were laughing and laughing, the air was filled with the aroma of barbecue, and the loud voice at the next table was laughing and saying something, but he didn't listen to a word.
He Yuxuan put down his chopsticks, "Let's go."
"No, finish eating." Xu Ran tried his best to raise the corners of his mouth, "Don't waste it."
"I'm full." He Yuxuan stuffed the grilled meat into his mouth, took out his mobile phone to pay the bill, "This one is not delicious, let's go buy something else."
Xu Ran couldn't resist him, so he could only sit there and look at his back.
It was he who caused He Yuxuan to lose interest. Xu Ran wanted to apologize, but he didn't have the strength to get up and catch up.
When He Yuxuan came back to get his coat, Xu Ran stood up and said softly, "Sorry, I will transfer today's money to you."
"Okay, you took care of me before, this time I will treat you once."
He Yuxuan gently pulled him to avoid the traffic, and said, "You are also very busy recently, you should go back and rest early."
Xu Ran could only nod.
After coming out of the shop, it was already dark outside, Xu Ran wrapped his coat tightly, and waited for a rental on the side of the road with He Yuxuan.
"Yuxuan," Xu Ran said suddenly, "am I a particularly strange person?"
"Why do you say that?" He Yuxuan was surprised, "You are fine."
After a pause, he added, "You will take care of the newcomers in the unit, and you are also very efficient at doing the work. The director always gives you tasks because you are doing better."
Xu Ran shook his head with a smile. That's not what he meant to say.
A taxi came, and He Yuxuan wanted to take him back, but Xu Ran said that he was not a girl, so He Yuxuan obediently got into the car.
The seat next to him was vacant, and the evening wind blew along the collar and into his neck. Xu Ran went to the convenience store on the side of the road, then walked down the road, and unknowingly came to the downstairs of He Cheng's company.
He stood at the door for a while, then turned to leave.
A figure flashed by not far away, Xu Ran felt a little funny, walked over slowly, and said, "I saw you."
Bai Jinming stepped out of the shadows, "The eyes are really sharp."
"Is he still there?" Xu Ran asked.
"Yes." Bai Jinming did not lie.
"Is he avoiding me?" Xu Ran asked again.
"... not counting."
"What kind of answer is that?" Xu Ran laughed.
Bai Jinming sighed, "He is indeed busy with work."
It's just not alone.
Xu Ran nodded, and handed over the bread and coffee he just bought from the convenience store, "Give it to him for me."
Bai Jinming took the things over and asked, "Do you have anything to bring? You can scold him."
Xu Ran was happy, looked up at the high lights, and said softly, "Tell him to take care of yourself. Then... remember to go home."