Upon receiving a call from Chen Ningxi, Liang Lei quickly left the company. Winter was the best season for hot pot; the spicy aroma of the hot pot base improved her mood after working overti.
"Over here." Chen Ningxi waved towards the door.
Liang Lei walked in with a big smile. The hot pot restaurant was packed that evening, and when Chen Ningxi arrived, the only spot available was in the farthest corner.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Chen Ningxi said, "No, I just got here too."
Liang Lei took the nu handed over by Chen Ningxi, who had already marked so dishes. She added a few more favorites and called the waiter, "These, please. Serve the dishes."
The waiter asked, "What would you both like to drink?"
Liang Lei said, "Bring a mild beer pack."
Chen Ningxi replied, "I’m not drinking. I have a headache today. Could you bring a pot of the complintary fruit juice, orange juice, please?"
Liang Lei widened her eyes, "Not drinking?"
Chen Ningxi nodded, appearing tired and listless.
"Should I still bring the beer?" the waiter asked.
Drinking alone was no fun, so Liang Lei said, "No, just the orange juice."
After the waiter went to prepare the dishes, Liang Lei sealed her coat in a disposable bag before asking Chen Ningxi, "What’s wrong? Did sothing happen that’s bothering you?"
Since it involved Cheng Qiaobei’s privacy, Chen Ningxi couldn’t talk about it to others. She could only use the excuse of election pressure to express her frustration.
"Oh, I thought it was sothing serious, seeing you troubled like this," Liang Lei took the orange juice delivered by the waiter and poured so for Chen Ningxi, "Matters at work should bother you only during work hours. Now it’s ti to take off your work hat and just be a happy dog."
Chen Ningxi took a sip of orange juice, "I’m not as carefree as you. I can’t detach from frivolous desires."
"But you don’t see it as fun now. Instead, it’s affecting your mood. Seeing you down, I even thought you broke up again." Liang Lei gulped down a big sip of orange juice, "Whoa, it’s refreshing! Things that are free are always tastier."
Chen Ningxi gave a helpless laugh, "Sotis I really envy you. It seems you don’t have any worries."
"I do, just a mont ago I was worried. When you called, I was working overti in the office. You wouldn’t believe how stubborn those old fogeys are. Changing their mindset feels like moving the Earth," Liang Lei wanted to complain, but rembering Chen Ningxi was still down, she didn’t add to her burden, "So the conclusion from my experience is: never let the idiots you encounter at work invade our personal lives. They don’t deserve to occupy our personal ti," she gestured a throat-slitting motion, "to disgust us."
"Ha..." Chen Ningxi laughed out loud. When you’re feeling down, only friends can truly cure you.
Seeing the waiter pushing a cart towards them, Chen Ningxi said, "The food is here."
The hot pot broth boiled, sending up a misty vapor. The two chatted and ate, even snapping a photo as a keepsake midway.
The photo was posted to social dia, which Cheng Qiaobei opened to view. Among the collage, there was only one photo of Chen Ningxi herself. He gazed at her smiling face, his expression turning gentle.
—Snowfall, hot pot, good friends.
Cheng Qiaobei thought about liking the post but decided against it.
Liang Lei raised her glass, "Cheers, to a joyful al."
Chen Ningxi lifted her glass to clink with hers, "Cheers, to happiness."
On the way ho, Chen Ningxi kept pondering a question. From childhood to now, all her life had been bound by rules: prestigious junior high, key high school, double-first class university, majoring in a governntal discipline, even the blind dates were organized by her parents, eting their preferences. She didn’t want to deny all the decisions her parents had made for her or forget the superior conditions they provided within their capabilities. Yet she always felt a sense of constraint. She could accept all the arrangents because, to her, they were real decisions that genuinely made her better.
But the matter of dating was different. A relationship that couldn’t make her better, but rather caused anxiety and impatience, wasn’t her true self.
Chen Ningxi only felt happy, free, and unrestrained when she was with Cheng Qiaobei.
She parked her car by the roadside, took out her phone, and dialed Cheng Qiaobei’s number. The ringing in her ear tested both her patience and courage.
Cheng Qiaobei was dealing with a custor complaint. His phone vibrated in his pocket until he finally returned to his office and called Chen Ningxi back half an hour later.
After seven or eight rings, the call was connected.
"Hmm?"
Cheng Qiaobei heard her muffled voice, "What’s up with you?"
Chen Ningxi lay on the sofa, unable to open her mouth wide, "I’m applying a face mask. You need sothing?"
Cheng Qiaobei, one hand in his pocket, leaned on the desk. His side profile under the light was sharply defined, his features distinct. He gave a subtle smirk, "You forgot you just called . Apologies. I was dealing with so hotel matters and couldn’t answer then."
"Oh." Chen Ningxi paused, "...Hold on."
Cheng Qiaobei was patient, "Alright."
Chen Ningxi quickly sat up, ran to the bathroom to remove her face mask, cleaned her face, then dashed back to the living room sofa to grab the phone, "I’m back."
Cheng Qiaobei heard her running footsteps, "No rush, what’s with the running? What if you fell? I’m here waiting."
Chen Ningxi took a deep breath, "Cheng Qiaobei."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "I’m here."
Chen Ningxi clenched her finger joints, which turned white, "You,"
Cheng Qiaobei sensed she was about to answer, feeling nervous. His body instinctively tensed, even making him forget to breathe.
The large office was lit by only one lamp. He stood alone under the light.
"You’ve passed the probation period."
"..."
He was stunned for half a second, "Hmm?"
Chen Ningxi said, "I found that being with you is happier than living alone. Finding soone who makes you happy, I cherish it, and this relationship."
Her words touched a chord and fird Cheng Qiaobei’s resolve to hold on to her.
"So, shall we continue to try and progress?"
Chen Ningxi said, "Alright."
Cheng Qiaobei checked his watch, "Are you sleepy?"
Chen Ningxi, perplexed, said, "Not yet. Why?"
"Wait for ."
"Huh?"
Beep, the call ended.
Chen Ningxi stared at the blank screen, "He hung up? He actually hung up on . I...?"
Ran out of words!
Suddenly realizing Cheng Qiaobei might be coming over, she hurriedly called him back. As soon as he picked up, she asked,
"Are you coming over?"
Cheng Qiaobei replied, "Yeah, I’m already in the elevator."
Chen Ningxi remarked in surprise, "It’s so late. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not safe."
Cheng Qiaobei looked at the changing numbers in the elevator, "I just want to see you."
Chen Ningxi secretly wanted the sa, though her words remained stubborn.
"Drive slowly."
"I get it. Make sure you’re not asleep by the ti I get there."
Chen Ningxi said, "You’re the one who wants to co, not . If you’re afraid I’ll fall asleep, make it tomorrow."
Cheng Qiaobei exited the elevator, "What’s your ho’s password?"
Chen Ningxi replied, "...How can I say."
Cheng Qiaobei, with a speechless tone, said, "In this cold weather, driving alone at night, standing in the empty hallway, listening to the north wind wailing, my hands and feet freezing red, I can’t bear to wake you. I can only keep watch at your door, cold and hungry,"
Chen Ningxi replied, "975086."
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