Chapter 26

Chen Ang had settled into his new department. The commute was even more congested than before. The route was always packed, and sometimes he couldn’t even find a shared bike. He often clocked in just seconds before being marked late.

A new environment always brought a certain amount of anxiety, but Chen Ang handled it with ease. On his first day, he brought back some chocolates he had picked up during an overseas trip. He handed them out to each desk in the office as a small gesture of goodwill. It was just the right mix of polite and casual, not too forward, but still warm. Add to that his striking appearance, and he quickly made a positive impression. It did not take him long to blend into the new setting.

Before lunch, Chen Ang slipped into the stairwell, opened a window, loosened his tie, and lit a cigarette while leaning against the frame.

With one hand holding the cigarette, his other hand instinctively opened his chat with Xu Heng on WeChat. He thought about sending something, but then remembered Xu Heng was probably working, so he stopped. Instead, he opened Xu Heng’s Moments and scrolled through. Xu Heng would occasionally post about his daily life or funny things from his Japanese class. As Chen Ang looked through the posts, the tension he had carried all morning began to ease. A faint smile crept onto his face.

Everything about Xu Heng was interesting, far more interesting than his own job or life.

He got so absorbed that he did not hear the door open.

“Oh, someone’s here…”

Chen Ang turned his head. A woman had just stepped in. She had long straight hair, almond-shaped eyes, and looked vaguely familiar. She stood at the door, looking right at him.

Her expression shifted with recognition. “Oh, it’s you. Chen Ang.”

Chen Ang frowned slightly, polite but puzzled. “And you are?”

The woman smiled. “I’m Lu Yiran.”

Chen Ang’s frown deepened. He had exchanged a few messages with Lu Yiran before, but nothing more After confessing to Xu Heng, he had pushed the thought of her completely out of his mind. He quickly masked his reaction and smiled politely. “I didn’t know you were here. Uncle Lu didn’t mention it.”

Lu Yiran gave a playful wink. “I’m in the department next door. My dad mentioned you and asked me to help you get familiar with the place. It’s lunchtime. Want to eat together?”

Chen Ang had intended to say he had already eaten, but the timing made that too obvious a lie. Lunch break had only just started. So he nodded and agreed.

They rode the elevator down to the cafeteria together. Lu Yiran was naturally sociable and kept up a steady stream of conversation. Chen Ang responded out of habit, but his mind was completely elsewhere. His body followed the motions of polite conversation, but his soul had checked out. He noticed along the way that Lu Yiran seemed to know many people. Several coworkers gave them friendly looks, laced with teasing curiosity. The vibe made him uncomfortable. It felt as if others were already seeing them as something more. Lu Yiran, on the other hand, seemed perfectly happy with that.

By the time work ended, Chen Ang was standing by the road trying to catch a ride to pick up Xu Heng after class. That was when he ran into Lu Yiran again. Whether it was coincidence or something else, he could not tell.

“I drove today. Want a ride?”

There was a certain sharpness to Lu Yiran, but it was well hidden. Chen Ang could still sense it, and it left him uneasy. It felt like he was being pulled into something he had not agreed to.

He quickly put on an apologetic and regretful smile, his mind racing for an excuse to turn her down.

Chen Ang caught sight of a flashy blue BMW i8 coming down the road. He squinted at the license plate, then his eyes lit up. He raised his hand and waved at the car from a distance.

The car slowed and came to a stop. Chen Ang smiled at Lu Yiran, opened the door, and said, “Sorry, I already have plans with a friend.”

He An glanced over from the driver’s seat. “Who said we had plans? Why are you flagging me down?”

Chen Ang got in, closed the door, and fastened his seatbelt. He waved at Lu Yiran through the window, dropping the polite smile and said, “I’ll treat you to lunch another day.”

He An started driving. “Celebrating that I’m flying back to France the day after tomorrow?”

Chen Ang gave him a fake look of surprise, the kind you see in shopping channel hosts on TV. “You’re finally leaving?”

He An was silent for a second.

Chen Ang undid the button of his blazer and gave He An the address for Xu Heng’s Japanese class. “Drop me off.”

He An said, “You’re pretty lucky with romance these days.”

Chen Ang was too annoyed to respond and changed the topic. “Nice car. Haven’t seen you driving it in a while.”

He An replied casually, “Just get one yourself.”

Chen Ang said nothing. If he drove a BMW i8 to work, the whole office would be gossiping the next day about how he was some rich kid. Technically, he was, but he did not have much cash on hand. Chen Zhengde had been strict with him. After he finished school, all financial support had stopped completely. A civil servant’s salary did not go far. The down payment on his apartment came partly from the money he made trading stocks during college, and the rest was a loan from his sister Chen Jing, which he still had not paid off.

They had been slightly delayed on the way, so when they arrived, Xu Heng was already waiting by the roadside. He was wrapped in that same red scarf, holding his Japanese book and mouthing the words as he read. His breath was faint in the cold air, barely visible.

He An gave a knowing smile.

Chen Ang replied flatly, “Shut up.”

“I haven’t said anything yet,” He An parked the car a little further down. “What are you planning, a fake marriage or coming out? If it’s the latter, you might need to give up a leg just to get out the front door alive.”

Chen Ang kept his face blank. “Do you know why Xiao Ming’s grandfather lived to ninety?”

He An narrowed his eyes.

“Because he minded his own business.”

He An raised his hands in defeat and reached into the side compartment for a business card. “A friend of mine is starting an art gallery and looking for a partner. He asked me, but I only know how to paint. You want a side business?”

Chen Ang replied, “Have you lost your mind? I’m a government employee.”

He An stuffed the card into his hand anyway. “Then at least come by and buy a few paintings. Buy mine. I’ll sign them for you.”

Chen Ang shoved the card into his pocket without looking and got out of the car quickly. He pushed all the noise in his head into a mental drawer and slammed it shut. The empty space left behind was filled by Xu Heng. Still holding his book, his fingers looked slightly red from the cold.

Chen Ang, like a gentleman catching sight of a girl he liked on the street, walked up to him and said, “Hello.”

Xu Heng looked up and fought back a smile. “Hello.”

Chen Ang said, “I wonder if this handsome gentleman has any plans tonight. May I have the honor of joining you for dinner?”

Xu Heng replied with a straight face, “I’ll have to ask my assistant to check my schedule.”

Chen Ang held out a hand and made a little gesture. “Of course. Please let me know as soon as possible. I’m dying to hear the answer.”

Xu Heng playfully reopened his book, flipped through a few pages as if checking something, then said with a grin, “The assistant says yes. But he wants me home before midnight.”

“Are you Cinderella?” Chen Ang asked.

“I am.”

“Then make sure you’re wearing your shoes when you leave. The prince already knows where you live. He’ll find you.”

The two of them laughed together in the chilly air, both ending up sneezing. Chen Ang quickly flagged down a car, and they headed off for dinner. Above them, the last leaf clinging to a bare branch finally gave in and spun its way to the ground. Winter had arrived.