“Hello, Mr. Zhang. Please wait here for a bit. Mr. Ji will arrive in about twenty minutes.”
Zhang Jing smiled faintly at the assistant. “Okay.”
“If you need anything, feel free to notify me any time.”
“Okay.”
The assistant supplied a glass of milk and smiled. To this, Zhang Jing blandly reacted, “Using milk to welcome guests—this company is quite unique.”
Still maintaining a practiced smile, she continued, “Mr. Ji specifically ordered us to do so. Do you not like milk? Would you like a cup of coffee instead? Maybe juice?”
Zhang Jing’s cheeks trembled ever so slightly. “No need, milk works.”
The assistant nodded and left.
Zhang Jing held up the cup and sipped: it was a glass of warm milk with a strong flavor. Tasting this, he recalled all instances where Ji Dongxun handed him warm milk whenever he felt uncomfortable due to his stomach pain, and also when Ji Dongxun monitored all of his coffee and alcohol consumption.
Zhang Jing sneered. How hilarious.
When Ji Dongxun returned, Zhang Jing was flipping through the pages of a financial magazine out of boredom. As soon as he heard the consistent, steady footsteps, his head immediately perked up to look through the translucent door. Ji Dongxun retained the same demeanor as last time: spruce, composed, and ever so meticulous. His coat neatly folded over his forearm, his white collared shirt contrasting his ultramarine violet tie—how professional and experienced he appeared.
Zhang Jing froze there, stared at him confoundingly, and thought:
Will he first say “Sorry for waiting” or “Thank you for waiting”?
Ji Dongxun pursed his lower lip and said, “There was traffic. Please follow me this way.”
Zhang Jing stood up. “Okay, Mr. Ji.”
Ji Dongxun threw back a glance and paced further into the hallway.
After Zhang Jing followed him to his office, his assistant closed the door to maintain privacy. Inside the office, Ji Dongxun sat down on one end of the sofa while Zhang Jing chose the other end of the sofa.
“Mr. Ji, this is our current proposal. As of now, it’s a mere overview of our design. If you like any of these, we will brush up the details and send another update. There are three designs; please take a thorough look, sir.”
Ji Dongxun stretched his arm along the edges of the sofa, the other hand used for flipping through the proposal. He commented, “You don’t have to be so formal. ‘Mr. Ji’ sounds so awkward.”
Zhang Jing paused for a brief moment before replying, “What should I call you instead?”
Ji Dongxun? Xunxun? Or… honey?
Zhang Jing chuckled, something in his voice sounding out of place, “Let’s stick to ‘Mr. Ji.’ After all, you are high in status and worthy of the honorific.”
Silence.
“I prefer the second one. Interesting concept. Did you bring the contract?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Zhang Jing nodded. “Yes, please take a look; we can sign it right now.”
Al Gbcuzec oilqqfv ab atf ijra qjuf bo atf mbcagjma jcv rlucfv klatbea jcs gfrfgnjalbcr.
Ktfc, tf tjcvfv atf qjqfgr yjmx ab Itjcu Alcu obg tlw ab rluc. Xijcmlcu ja atf oielv tjcvkglalcu, Itjcu Alcu mbwwfcafv, “Qbgxlcu klat Zg. Al lr delaf ragjlutaobgkjgv.”
Coafg Al Gbcuzec rlucfv atf batfg mbqs bo atf mbcagjma, tf qjrrfv atf qjqfgr ab Itjcu Alcu, yea Itjcu Alcu’r tjcvr kfgf ecmbcagbiijyis agfwyilcu. Lf ibbxfv vbkc, tlr ujhf qjerlcu ja atf agfwyilcu, jcv ogbkcfv. “Pr sbeg tjcv bxjs?”
Zhang Jing swiftly swung his right hand to conceal the shaking, and answered, “I don’t know. Maybe your presence is intimidating me, sir.”
Ji Dongxun helplessly sighed. He reached out to hold Zhang Jing’s hand and squeezed his fingers. “Your palm is freezing; are you not feeling well?”
Zhang Jing froze, not knowing how to react.
“Don’t ignore me. Are you not feeling well?”
“… I’m alright.” Zhang Jing wiggled his hand out of Ji Dongxun’s grip, his fist automatically clenched.
“If you’re feeling well, then sign the contract.”
His head lowered, expression concealed. “Okay.”
Once both parties signed the contract, Zhang Jing placed one copy on the table. “I believe we’re done here, so I’ll take my leave.”
However, Ji Dongxun didn’t allow him to. He grabbed Zhang Jing’s arm, tightened his grasp, and spoke, “Since we wrapped up our official business, let’s move on to some personal affairs.”
Zhang Jing’s heart rate spiked.
He was gasping for air in this suffocating space, wanting so desperately to leave, but still couldn’t control his desire to hear what Ji Dongxun had to say next. He asked, “What personal affairs do we even have to talk about?”
Zhang Jing watched as Ji Dongxun stood up, inched so tantalizingly close to him, and whispered into his ear. “Jing-”
Ji Dongxun leaned forward and hugged him.
Meanwhile, his heart pounded heavily against his chest as if it wished to break free. He was achingly familiar with this hug, down to their body temperatures and the overwhelming intensity Ji Dongxun seemed to exude. His eyes began to water.
He opened his mouth; but as soon as the first syllable slipped, he suddenly remembered something. Then, he forcefully closed his eyes and bit on his tongue.
But when his eyes opened again… Of course, nothing happened.
The hug wasn’t real.
Ji Dongxun was still seated on the sofa, his hand anchored onto Zhang Jing’s arm, displaying a rare expression of shock and bewilderment.
In an instant, Zhang Jing felt as if a knife was stabbed into his fragile heart.
He hastily flung away Ji Dongxun’s grasp, and impetuously walked outside with his folder of documents.
“Wait!” Ji Dongxun hurried out to stop him, but Zhang Jing walked rather quickly. Fortunately, Ji Dongxun barely managed to prevent the elevator door from sealing shut. He exclaimed, “Jing!”
Zhang Jing, standing in the corner of the elevator, glued his eyes on Ji Dongxun.
Ji Dongxun followed him inside and pressed “Parking Level 1,” while many employees peered over in confusion.
With his gaze still fixed on Zhang Jing, he asked, “What just happened to you?”
Zhang Jing felt extremely embarrassed, so he didn’t want to respond.
Ji Dongxun held onto Zhang Jing’s hand and realized he was still trembling. Ji Dongxun wrapped his own hand around Zhang Jing’s and looked anxiously at him. Zhang Jing had seen this expression quite often in the past; but on this current Ji Dongxun, today was a first.
Zhang Jing shook his head and forced a bitter smile, “If I say I was possessed by a ghost, would you believe me?”
Ji Dongxun continued staring at him.
“Mr. Ji, do you not have more pressing matters to attend to? I didn’t park in the lower basement, so please press ‘Floor 1′ for me. Thank you.”
Ji Dongxun continued holding onto him—his grip so tight that his hand began to hurt. Ji Dongxun drove him into a corner and questioned, “Just tell me what happened.”
Upon reaching “Parking Level 1,” the elevator automatically opened its doors. Mustering all his remaining force, he pushed Ji Dongxun away. He limply leaned on the pole inside the elevator to lessen his leg’s shaking and desolately looked at the person in front of him. The corner of his eyes reddened, but the rest of his face displayed his stubbornness.
He giggled at nothing; his eyes appeared empty.
His voice faded while saying, “Do you know? I’m really trying to pretend that we’ve never met before.”
Ji Dongxun’s eyes dimmed. He questioned, “Why?”
Zhang Jing shook his head softly.
That day, before leaving, he told Ji Dongxun, “Mr. Ji, since you were the one who left, it only made sense for me to end the relationship. I’ve noticed that these few years progressed smoothly for you, and mine went splendid as well. In the future, can we only talk about business-related topics, please? Even if we were close friends before, four years should be enough to wash away any relationship. Work-related conversations are excusable; but if you’re so insistent on talking about our ‘personal affairs,’ I wouldn’t know how to explain that to my boyfriend.”
After his tangent, he walked away without ever turning back to check Ji Dongxun’s reaction.
Exiting the building from the parking lot caused him to walk double the time before reuniting with his motorcycle. This time, he didn’t wear a helmet, so the wind heartlessly smacked his face.
Zhang Jing had always been stubborn and harsh when he chose to. His selection of words were poison-like, grazing through the listener’s heart only for it to shamble into pieces. Once he determined his standpoint, any further persuasion would be useless.
This was a flaw in his character, but someone did say that this was also his strength—the same person who loved his frankness and admired the sincere heart hidden under the relentless weeds of poisonous words.
Zhang Jing stopped before his office to smoke two cigarettes, and the hand holding the cigarette wouldn’t cease in its trembling. As his hand shook, light gray ash particles fluttered upon his black jacket—from this, he appeared even more like a blunder.
……
“Mr. Ji, since you missed the appointment earlier, Mr. Fang Tingzhou asked if you were free for dinner tonight.” Chen Wei respectfully bowed his head and asked.
Ji Dongxun massaged his glabella and tiredly responded, “Not today.”
“Noted.” Chen Wei nodded and stole a quiet peek at Ji Dongxun. He approached to ask timidly, “May I venture to ask if you and Mr. Zhang… already knew each other?”
Ji Dongxun stayed in his position, head propped on his hand, and confirmed. “Mhm.”
Chen Wei didn’t inquire further and silently left.
Ji Dongxun focused his gaze on the contract with Zhang Jing’s signature; the handwriting resembled the writer: uncaring and reckless. He gently traced over the ink, feeling a light prickle despite the smooth and delicate texture of the paper. Simultaneously, his fingers perceived a hint of coldness radiated by the table.
……
“Jing- Jingjing, you’re picking me up again?”
As soon as Doggo walked out of the building and noticed Zhang Jing’s familiar figure waiting for him, a wide smile spread across his face. He lunged at Zhang Jing, limbs wrapped around in a bear hug. The moment he took off his employee badge and slipped it into his pocket, he switched off “professional mode” and hopped on the motorcycle.
Zhang Jing buckled his helmet, and immediately merged into the winding traffic.
Clinging onto Zhang Jing’s waist for a higher body temperature, Doggo stuffed his hands into the pockets of Zhang Jing’s jacket. He shouted, “Jingjing! Over these days, I feel like you’re actually dependable! It’s so- so exciting!”
Zhang Jing didn’t give any hint of a response, so he continued shouting, “Jingjing! Maybe I should become gay for you! And you can be- be my boyfriend! I think… we would make a great couple!”
“Jingjing! Really! You sh- should consider me!”
Zhang Jing’s patience ran out. “Shut up!”
However, because his voice was overshadowed by both his helmet and the prominent wind, Doggo couldn’t understand any of his words. “Jingjing! What did you say!”
Zhang Jing turned his head around briefly. “I told you to shut up!”
“Oh! Got it!” Doggo tightened the hug and leaned his weight on Zhang Jing’s back to play his role as an excellent keychain.
Under the dim sky, they rode numerous laps around the lake. Somewhere towards the end, Zhang Jing took off his helmet to place it on Doggo’s head. Doggo was bemused by this act, so he asked if everything’s alright.
Zhang Jing responded, “Doggo, I feel agitated.”
Doggo looked around them, then turned back to encourage Zhang Jing, “Go do whatever you love. Why- why feel agitated? My Jingjing is th- the best!”
Doggo continued, gesturing wildly, “Don’t clog your heart with lots and lots of stuff. They all won’t fit!”
They rode in the harsh wind for nearly two whole hours, but the freshness of the wind made Doggo feel refreshed. Afterwards, they bought noodles, cabbage, and chicken wings for dinner. Even though Doggo couldn’t cook, at least his soup noodles were tasty.
Cooking soup noodles: the number one skill of every single dog.
“Jingjing, food’s ready!” Doggo announced, voice teeming with affection.
Silence. “Jingjing, we can eat now!”
“Jingjing! I’m talking to you!” Doggo placed down the pot’s lid and went to the bedroom to check on Zhang Jing: he was sitting on the bed, hugging a pillow, and sound asleep. His one leg curled up while the other laid imposingly straight.
A frown hung on his lips, obviously unable to find peace even in his sleep.
For some reason, seeing him like this filled Doggo with grief.
I was excited for their second meet up only to be stabbed with blunt knife.. For a minute I thought the hug was real! So heartbreaking.
I know rightt 🙁
So were they actually in a relationship before Ji Dongxun left for overseas or was it all in Zhang Jing’s head all this time?? 😭 Him having these delusions frequently worry me so 😔
Oh my heart… Please tell me this gets better – this does get better, right???