Chapter 020 Heartless woman, hmph!
*
The Sapporo Snow Festival was still going on, with many tourists. After a brief tour of Odori Park, the group, being in the construction industry, decided to visit the Former Hokkaido Government Building (Red Brick Office).
The red-brick, Baroque-style building looked elegant and solemn against the white snow, showing no signs of aging. It now housed a library and historical gallery, freely open to visitors, and walking inside felt like stepping into the past.
Afterward, everyone took a large group photo in front of the building, then split into smaller groups for individual photos with friends.
Li Chengshi tugged Su Xian's arm, wanting to take a double selfie with her. Su Xian cooperated and struck a pose, but she noticed that the screen saver photo when he unlocked his phone seemed somewhat bizarre.
She commanded with her eyes: Show me.
Li Chengshi obediently held the phone up for her.
The screen saver was the scene from last night: her sleeping on his lap.
"Hey, Li Chengshi, you..."
"Relax, you're old, you're fierce, you're constantly putting on airs and lecturing people; you're full of‘Dad wanna tell you’vibe. Who would fall in love with you? Don't worry about nonsense."
"Then why this screensaver..."
"Isn't it good that my relationship with my team leader is exceptionally harmonious?"
"Is it that harmonious?" she muttered quietly.
"What did you say, Su Xian?"
"Nothing. Let's take the photo."
After taking a normal shot, he said, "Let's make a heart."
Su Xian looked at him, saying nothing.
"No love, but still make a heart." He was already familiar with the routine.
"What if I don't?"
"Team Leader, please, a heart." He tilted his head and nudged her hair, looking like a little puppy.
Su Xian wanted to tease him more, but Lao Zhang couldn't stand it and yelled from the side, "Just make the heart for him!"
Now it was a mess. Almost everyone from Anliang came over to watch, all raising their phones to point at them.
Su Xian put on a fake smile and made a heart gesture with him.
She didn't even need to take the photo herself; everyone present was documenting them. What a relationship blessed by the crowd, haha.
How miserable.
Seriously, why is everyone in this company so obsessed with shipping couples?
*
After visiting two or three more places, everyone split up according to their goals. Su Xian went shopping for cosmetics and drugs with the female staff, while Li Chengshi went to look at electronics with Lao Zhang and the others. They planned to meet up in the evening for a drinking spree at an Izakaya in Susukino.
On the shuttle bus back to the village hotel, everyone was drunk and exhausted, and the carriage was very quiet.
Li Chengshi fell asleep, his head slumping onto her shoulder. Su Xian did not push him away.
**
The next day, she went to Otaru with him.
The small city, having just experienced a snowfall, exuded a romantic atmosphere like a scene from a TV drama. They saw many young travelers taking atmospheric, story-driven photos at scenic intersections or outside charming shops.
Feeling Li Chengshi's gaze, Su Xian turned to look at him. He was wearing a bulky pink parka and a fluffy white knit hat, his eyes blinking. He asked, "What are you looking at?"
He was the one who looked first, but Su Xian felt embarrassed instead. She asked, "No need to make a heart today?"
"No need today." He knew the same trick used too often would become annoying.
"Oh." Su Xian was a little surprised.
*
At 5 PM, they took the cable car up Mount Tengu, gazing at the healing view where the blue bay merged with the small snow-covered city in the sunset.
Around 6 PM, they waited for the blue hour to arrive, captured the most beautiful scenery, and felt satisfied. Su Xian was about to take one last panoramic video before wrapping up. As she panned the camera and Li Chengshi entered the frame, she said to him, "Say hi."
"Say hi to whom?" he asked with a serious expression.
Su Xian hadn't thought about that. She wouldn't be posting the video on social media, so no one would see it—except herself.
Too lazy to explain, she continued panning the camera.
Li Chengshi followed her. "Say hi to whom?"
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Su Xian turned in a circle, and he followed her in a circle. The 360° scenic video became a 360° puppy circle.
She was a bit speechless.
"Let's go. Down the mountain." Su Xian put away her phone and strode forward. It wasn't until she walked off the observation deck that she realized he hadn't followed. She looked back and saw him waiting in the warm glow of the setting sun. His soft, fluffy curly hair shone with a gentle golden light. The moment she turned around, he immediately broke into a warm smile and loudly said, "Hi~."
**
They returned to their accommodation around 9 PM to find Liang Wenya lying weakly on the sofa, her face flushed red.
"What's wrong?" Su Xian rushed over to feel her forehead. "You have a fever! How did this happen?"
"After the hot spring, I felt hot, so I wore my yukata out on the veranda to look at the garden scenery, and the cold wind hit me. I started feeling unwell this afternoon."
"What a cheap way to get sick. Did you go to the small clinic at the comprehensive service center?"
"You're the cheap one, saying that when I'm sick! I took medicine, but I've been hungry. Hurry and get me something light and hot to eat."
As long as she has an appetite, she won't die, Su Xian relaxed and prepared to go to the dining hall to buy food. Li Chengshi said he would go. Su Xian gave him 10,000 yen and turned to boil hot water.
*
Although the dining hall was still open, the available items were limited, and there was nothing particularly light. Li Chengshi returned after buying some ingredients instead.
*
Su Xian's eyes widened when she saw him take an apron out of his pocket, shake it out, and put it on. "Where did you get that?"
"I just knitted one." He poured instant rice into a pot with water and began to simmer it, then sliced pumpkin thinly, added it, and covered the pot. He used another pot to steam eggs.
Seeing his skilled movements, it was clear he cooked often.
This wasn't surprising. Although he was an only child, his mother often worked late when he was young, and he learned to cook in elementary school.
Liang Wenya looked at Li Chengshi, then at Su Xian, and said with distaste, "Look at him."
"What's there to compare? I can cook too."
"Yes, you can boil everything in water. Everyone thinks you're disciplined, but you're actually lazy and clumsy."
"Diet is for maintaining vitality. My method is healthy and efficient."
Unable to stand her constant teasing, Liang Wenya told her to go assist Li Chengshi.
*
"Do you need any help?"
"No, just watch from the side. Hmm, do you want to eat a little?"
"...No." She was self-disciplined.
*
Just as Su Xian helped Liang Wenya sit at the dining table, Li Chengshi served bright, vibrant pumpkin porridge and a cold mixed side dish. The steamed egg was also ready, lightly seasoned with soy sauce and black vinegar—perfection.
"This steamed egg is so smooth and tender, it's better than what you get at a restaurant." Liang Wenya was full of praise. The pumpkin porridge with the side dish was also flavorful. She ate both servings completely, a fine sweat breaking out on her forehead. Her fever had broken, and her spirits were restored. She opened the rented DVD, ready to watch another movie.
Su Xian felt she should offer to do the dishes, but Li Chengshi, still wearing his apron, simply washed them up right away. After tidying up, he hung the apron in the kitchen and said he would come over to make breakfast tomorrow morning.
"Wow, Li Chengshi, you're so diligent."
"So, this isn't 'meaningless' to you now."
"Of course not. Hey, are you still holding a grudge? Your heart is small(petty)."
"I'm young; my heart hasn't fully grown big yet."
Su Xian was amused by him. She looked up at the clock, which showed past 10 PM, and urged him to go back and rest.
"Mmm, I'll go then."
As he turned the corner, Li Chengshi glanced back. Of course, Su Xian wasn't standing in the entryway light watching him leave, because she hadn't even stepped out the door.
Heartless woman, hmph!
**
