Perhaps thinking it was a colleague entering, Zhou Li did not imdiately look up. The nib of her pen swished over the paper until she finished the last sentence, then she put down the pen and stretched her wrist.
When she raised her head to speak, she found Li Jing standing at the door. She was montarily stunned, with a flash of surprise in her eyes, which she quickly concealed.
A gentle smile curved her lips as she stood up and said, "You ca so quickly. I thought you might co later."
Saying this, she raised her hand to check her watch; the ti was exactly 11:30.
Zhou Li walked to the door to close it, then turned to the corner to the kettle, explaining while pouring tea, "We finish work at noon at 12 sharp, so we'll have to wait for another half hour before we can go out for lunch."
Steam rising, she poured the tea into a white porcelain cup and handed it to Li Jing, reminding him, "Careful, it's hot."
Li Jing accepted it with a smile, saying, "It's okay. Waiting for you for half an hour isn't a problem. I hope I haven't disturbed your work?"
Zhou Li shook her head with a smile, "The work is almost done, just so copying of records left, no disturbance."
She returned to her desk, gently closed the open record book, and sat back in her chair, her gaze still holding a trace of joy as she carefully looked at Li Jing, whom she hadn't seen for a long ti.
Zhou Li gazed at the man she had secretly admired since middle school, her eyes resting on his face for quite a while.
With a shy yet sincere smile, she said, "You seem to have beco more handso."
Li Jing chuckled, shaking his head, "I know quite well whether I'm handso or not. But you..."
His gaze swept over her neat professional attire, and his tone was approving, "You've beco much more mature and composed than before."
In Li Jing's mory, Zhou Li was previously introverted, speaking softly. Although she had strong abilities and clear logical thinking, she often blushed shyly during interpersonal communications, especially when facing strangers, showing slight discomfort.
But this reunion made him clearly feel a calm aura surrounding her, an assurance in her deanor typical of a professional.
Clearly, the solemn office building, with its high pressure and rigorous work environnt, had made her increasingly resilient and composed.
Hearing Li Jing's words, Zhou Li didn't deny but lightly sighed, "Fighting alone in Tianhai, one must learn to grow quickly, otherwise, it's tough to settle down in this city."
She looked up at Li Jing once more, her eyes filled with sincere admiration, "Unlike you, who is so outstanding—at a young age, you've already founded your company in Tianhai and have surpassed most in terms of networking and resources.
People like can only climb step by step like a snail.
I don't ask to be in a high position, as long as I can settle in this city, with a little place of my own, I'll be satisfied."
Seeing her praising his career unapologetically again, Li Jing felt a bit awkward, scratching his nose.
He knew well in his heart that his current achievents mostly benefited from systematic assistance, not through genuine skills.
In contrast, Zhou Li steadily progressing in her institution with her own efforts made him respect her more.
Rembering how she'd helped him when his company faced difficulties, he said sincerely:
"You're not alone in Tianhai. No matter what, you have . If you encounter anything in Tianhai, just reach out to , and don't be formal."
Zhou Li heard this with a slight complex expression, lowered her eyes to the swaying tea in her cup, and softly said, "If I'm always troubling you, won't it... affect you finding a girlfriend?"
Li Jing, hearing the ntion of "girlfriend," couldn't help but laugh silently and waved his hand freely:
"You know I never thought about finding a girlfriend. I've always been carefree, it's hard to change quickly.
If you don't mind my unreliable nature, feel free to ask for help, as I'll definitely try my best. We're not only friends, but also hotown folks, it's only right we look out for each other."
Hearing this, Zhou Li finally nodded gently, her eyes under her lashes trembled slightly, a hint of joy flickered.
She picked up the teacup, took a sip, concealing her emotions, but upon lifting her gaze, she t Li Jing's eyes, and both spontaneously smiled.
Then Li Jing, seeming to recall sothing, looked at Zhou Li with warmth and said, "Right, when I drove back ho this ti, the trunk was filled completely by my parents.
My mom repeatedly insisted that I must bring her homade chopped chili to you, saying you've loved the taste of wild chili pickled from our hotown's mountains since childhood, and definitely can't find anything authentic in Tianhai."
Seeing Li Jing about to gift her sothing, Zhou Li quickly waved her hand. Dressed in a tailored indigo suit, her refined features reflected the particular rigor of a governnt worker.
"You know the rules here, I cannot accept valuable gifts, and I lack nothing."
Li Jing chuckled, his glance inadvertently catching the slightly pilled inner layer at her collar, his tone still steady:
"Don't worry, this isn't anything valuable. Just homade smoked at that my parents cured for twenty days on a firewood stove; also sausages stuffed with extra Sichuan pepper by Aunt Wang; and of course, those few jars of chopped chili."
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