Chapter 033　 Your head is full of dirty thoughts!

  *

  Li Chengshi was stunned, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.

  "Hey, don't be scared," Su Xian immediately amended. "I was just teasing you. I'll go ask about new apartments tomorrow."

  "Really?" He was still somewhat suspicious and regretted that he had deliberately said something ambiguous.

  "You don't need to doubt me. It's precisely because I've confirmed that you won't date me or marry me that I dare to make jokes. Don't forget that I'm the one who truly rejects marriage and relationships. Now, we are proper colleagues and friends, but since we did have an informal, uh, dating history, it's normal for us to be a little closer than general colleagues and friends."

  That seemed to make some sense, and he gradually relaxed.

  Su Xian secretly sighed in relief. She also regretted why she had tested him. Why was she pursuing him? Was it true affection, or was he just the most convenient option?

  It might be true affection, because Zhao Nanfeng is the most convenient.

  *

  After dinner, they walked around the shops together. As they were leaving, Su Xian bought a bag of honey milk buns and handed it to Li Chengshi.

  He hesitated, afraid to take it.

  "Don't be like that. Do we really have to be this cautious?" She sighed, seeming a little disappointed.

  "I was overthinking it," he extended his hand. "Give it to me."

  Su Xian was secretly delighted, but she kept a straight face. Maintaining the status quo was good for now.

  *

  The train was still packed past nine o'clock. Li Chengshi held onto the strap with one hand, tightly clutching the paper bag with the other. The train suddenly lurched, and a smashed milk bun flew out of the bag and hit a bald mid-aged man, leaving cream on his head. The man didn't get angry but looked visibly disgusted. The two apologized profusely all the way, and when they got off the train, they shoved the entire bag of milk buns into the man's hands and ran.

  After scanning their cards and exiting, they suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, like good friends who had done something silly together and were caught red-handed in their student days.

  *

  They stopped beneath the apartment building to say goodnight.

  He warned her again, "Team Leader, you used to live in a big house and drove to work. There's no need for you to downgrade your living standard to stay with me now. In your words, don't do meaningless things. Go look for a place tomorrow and live the life you want. I won't become distant just because you move out."

  "Okay, I'll go ask tomorrow."

  "I leave for driving practice at 8:20 AM. Sleep until you wake up naturally, come down, and heat up the food yourself. Do you still remember the door lock code?"

  "I remember."

  As she walked up the stairs, Su Xian couldn't suppress her smile. He avoided getting into a relationship with her, yet he didn't mind giving her warmth.

  He's so cute. I want to pinch his cheek!

  **

  On Saturday, around 11 AM, Su Xian was still fast asleep, with various materials related to building regulations scattered on her pillow and the floor.

  The doorbell suddenly rang. She groggily got out of bed, put on a jacket, and went to open the door.

  "Zhao Nanfeng!" She tightened her jacket. "What are you doing here?"

  "The office renovation. I want to change the layout."

  "The workers are almost finished! You want to change it?!"

  "If it's finished, we'll tear it down. But I don't want to delay the construction period, so we need to adjust the design plan immediately today. I called you a dozen times, but you didn't answer, so I had to come find you. Call Li Chengshi and have him start drawing immediately to get the blueprints out before Monday."

  "He's at the driving school practicing these two days. Once the plan is finalized, I'll draw the blueprints for you."

  *

  Su Xian closed the door, brushed her teeth, washed her face, changed into a T-shirt and jeans, and took Zhao Nanfeng’s car to the company.

  The workers were working overtime to meet the deadline. Zhao Nanfeng gave them a few instructions, then picked up the blueprints and told Su Xian his new concept. Su Xian just took notes, not bothering to examine the rationality or raise any objections. After confirming the revision, Zhao Nanfeng drove her to the temporary office in Suitengu.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "I'm going to the materials market. Go home when you're tired."

  Su Xian waved her hand, signaling him to get lost.

  *

  Around three or four o'clock, she suddenly realized she hadn't eaten a single meal that day. The fridge had a small amount of food like eggs and milk prepared by Honda. While boiling an egg, she suddenly remembered the meal Li Chengshi had prepared for her. He had said he would make Teriyaki chicken legs with fresh mushroom and tofu soup. He really loves mushrooms, huh.

  Zhao Nanfeng couldn't make anything other than sandwiches. Actually, it wasn't that he couldn't, but that he didn't want to waste time cooking, as it was a meaningless activity to him.

  Ha, so she had been following his principle all these years.

  No, she corrected herself, she had that trait herself; she wasn't completely imitating him.

  *

  Around 7 PM, she received a call from Li Chengshi.

  "I came back and saw the food uneaten, you weren't home, and your pajamas were thrown on the floor! I thought you had been kidnapped!"

  "It wasn't much different from being kidnapped."

  "Is it just the two of you there, you and Zhao Nanfeng?"

  "He hasn't returned yet. What, are you worried he'll use violence against me?"

  "He definitely can't beat you, but you might consent willingly."

  "Impossible!"

  Li Chengshi laughed. "I'll come over now. That's part of my job anyway."

  "Don't. I'll be done in about an hour."

  "Then let me know when you're coming back. I'll pick you up at the station. The weather forecast says it might rain soon."

  "No need. I can just buy an umbrella at the convenience store near the station entrance. Don't do..."

  "Don't do such a meaningless thing?" Li Chengshi recalled her old saying.

  This reminded Su Xian that it was time to make a change. She smiled and said, "Saving the cost of an umbrella is very meaningful. Come pick me up, friend."

  "Friend?" He chuckled a few times. "Alright, friend."

  *

  Su Xian was locking the door when Zhao Nanfeng returned.

  "It's about to rain. I'll drive you home."

  "No, no need. The blueprints are printed and on your desk. I'll come back tomorrow if there are any issues. Bye!" Su Xian practically sprinted to the station.

  She was filled with joy and urgency all the way, feeling the train was moving too slowly.

  Li Chengshi was leaning against the railing of the steps at the station entrance, waiting for her. A clear umbrella was hanging beside him, already dripping with water.

  "Hey, we're wearing the same thing today!" He pinched his own white T-shirt. "Wait a minute, isn't that my T-shirt?"

  Su Xian looked down. "Ah, sorry."

  Li Chengshi lived on the first floor, where his clothes didn't get sunlight, so he often hung them on her balcony. Su Xian had collected them but hadn't had a chance to return them yet. They were both Uniqlo white T-shirts, with almost no difference between the men's and women's styles, so it wasn't surprising she put on the wrong one in her haste to leave.

  "I'll wash it before returning it to you."

  "No need to wash it. We used to frequently swap clothes with roommates back to university time, no need to wash every time."

  "Huh?" Su Xian frowned.

  Li Chengshi also frowned. "You're thinking something perverted again, aren't you?"

  "Yeah. Did you swap underwear too?"

  "I knew it! You're crazy." Li Chengshi flicked her forehead. "Your head is full of dirty thoughts!"

  "Ah, the boomerang came back. But you're absolutely right."

  He instantly sprang back a meter, extending his arm in disgust to hand her the umbrella.

  *