Qing Yanci — Chapter Fourteen

On Monday morning, fifteen minutes before 8:30, Ye Jin arrived at the office right on time. She swiped her fingerprint at the door, unpacked her laptop bag, started the computer, and logged into the necessary software—all in one fluid motion.

She was busy nibbling on a *jianbing guozi* (a savory crepe) and sipping soy milk when Tang Xiao walked in. He was dressed in a neat blue shirt paired with casual jeans, his hair cut in a short, sharp, and efficient buzz cut. After swiping in, he sat at his desk.

Ye Jin had actually noticed Tang Xiao the moment he reached the office door. Honestly, only truly handsome boys dared to wear a buzz cut. Most male celebrities online either dyed their hair or kept it unusually long. Why hadn't she realized he was handsome before? Perhaps it was because they had no real interaction. Especially when he scolded Sun Xu, she had found him quite eccentric and short-tempered, which made everyone—including herself—fear him.

Tang Xiao had been at Wanshen Company for over two years. If not for the recent company retreat, Ye Jin probably would never have had any contact with him. In the office, it wasn't that he was inarticulate, but rather that he simply disliked talking, preferring to quietly finish his own tasks. However, Tang Xiao (in promotion) did communicate quite a bit with Sun Xu (in operations).

At the 9:00 AM morning meeting, the boss, Wan Shen, and several leaders were present. When Wan Shen was away, Shen Ping usually presided over the meetings.

"I have an announcement," Shen Ping began, addressing the team leads directly. "In a few days, the May Day holiday will be here. Our company's graphic designer, Ye Jin, will be taking leave to head home this Wednesday. Currently, we only have one designer. I discussed this with the boss a few days ago; we plan to hire one or two more professional designers. It’s a precautionary measure for when people take leave or when the company scales up. Do you have any opinions or thoughts on this?"

"I think it’s a good idea. It would speed up image production, and with more people and more design options, the quality might improve, which would likely boost conversion rates," Sun Xu remarked. Since Ye Jin was the only one handling graphics, the two of them often had conflicting opinions.

"Wu Nan, what is your take?" Shen Ping asked the customer service manager.

"Our department doesn't have any objections. I agree with Sun Xu—with only one designer, when things get busy, others can't really help out since it's a specialized field," Wu Nan replied thoughtfully.

"Tang Xiao, what do you think?" Shen Ping asked last.

"I have no objections. However, I believe Ye Jin has a real knack for capturing the essence of the designs—the product’s highlights and selling points. I hope whoever we hire isn't too mediocre. Old product images shouldn't be touched. If we hire someone new, just have them design a few drafts for the new items and show them to me." Tang Xiao understood that since Shen Ping brought this up at the meeting, the plan had already been decided by Wan Shen; bringing it up now was just a formality. Even if they had objections, the plan would proceed as scheduled.

"If there are no other questions, that’s it for the morning meeting. Please keep the hiring plans confidential for now to avoid any misunderstandings for Ye Jin. If there’s nothing else, everyone can return to their work." Monday meetings were always the longest, and this one didn't conclude until about 10:30.

As Tang Xiao and the others walked out, Ye Jin happened to be returning from the water cooler. She saw Tang Xiao walk out first, and their eyes met. Ye Jin felt her face flush uncontrollably, and she hurriedly sat back down at her desk in a panic.

"Do you need me for something?" A notification pinged on her social media app shortly after—it was a message from Tang Xiao.

"No," Ye Jin typed back quickly. In her nervousness, she added a comma after the word "no," making it look like she had more to say, which led Tang Xiao to believe she had something on her mind.

"Come over. I want to talk to you about the images," Tang Xiao replied.

"Is there a problem with them?" Fearing something was wrong with the product images, Ye Jin walked over to him, asking cautiously.

"The text in the first line needs to be slightly larger. The layout for the product highlights and benefits might be more effective if arranged vertically. And this font... is that clear?" Tang Xiao asked.

"It's clear, but didn't Sun Xu usually handle the coordination with me before? Why today...?" Ye Jin asked, fearing his stern nature.

"I'm afraid he might miscommunicate and cause unnecessary conflict! By the way, how are you feeling with the pressure of being the sole designer?" This was the real point of his inquiry.

"Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?" Ye Jin felt a sense of foreboding.

"Nothing, just worried that the workload is too heavy for you to handle. Don't overthink it. You're young; you should try more challenging roles. Alright, that’s all. Go back to work." Tang Xiao reassured her.

Ye Jin was puzzled but didn't press for answers. She returned to her seat to adjust the images according to his instructions.

By lunch, she had saved the files in PSD format for Tang Xiao, making them easier to edit later. But Tang Xiao didn't reply all afternoon. She looked at his seat, but it was empty. Where had he gone?

She decided to eat first, ordering her favorite—Grandma’s Preserved Vegetable Fried Rice. It was affordable, filling, and tasty.

A while later, she saw Tang Xiao emerge from the manager's office with a dark, unhappy expression, as if someone owed him money. He buried his face in his arms on his desk, looking listless and dejected.

*Did he cry?* Ye Jin wondered. She sent him a work-related message, hoping to comfort him.

"The image adjustments are done. Take a look, and let me know if we need to discuss anything." Tang Xiao heard the ping, looked at his phone, but didn't reply. He didn't even look at her, placing the phone face down and continuing to rest on his desk.

This left Ye Jin at a loss. Was he sick? That didn't seem right. Had he argued with Shen Ping? Surely he wasn't that fragile. She filled her head with wild guesses.

Her fried rice no longer tasted good. Should she ask him? He had given her fruit before, after all. She hesitated, but just as she stood up to check on him, she turned to see that Tang Xiao was gone.

She felt a hollow ache. "You're eating fried rice again? Here, have some of my vegetables," Ah Mei said, noticing Ye Jin's distraction.

"Did you see Tang Xiao?" Ye Jin asked.

"Are you having a fever? Don't you usually hate seeing Sun Xu and Tang Xiao? What's wrong, changed your mind?" Ah Mei joked, reaching out to touch Ye Jin's forehead.

"Stop it. It's just... he asked me to change some images today. I sent them to him, but he hasn't responded. I don't know if they meet his requirements," Ye Jin explained.

"That's it? You should be thankful he isn't bothering you! He'll look at them eventually; why are you in such a rush?" Ah Mei dismissed it.

"But I haven't seen him all day. Could something have happened?" Ye Jin voiced her worry.

"What could happen? He must be busy with other things! Though, I heard that after their meeting today, he went to talk to the manager. Nobody knows what they talked about, but he came out looking like thunder. Maybe the talk didn't go well! Forget it, why should we small fry care about the struggles of the top brass? Besides, they get paid way more than us." Ah Mei continued eating happily, unaffected.

"Who did you hear that from?" Ye Jin asked.

"Sun Xu, of course! Who else? He's my boss, and Tang Xiao is his boss. Working under him, Sun Xu has to be on his toes!" Ah Mei was used to this.

Ye Jin remained worried. After lunch, the team began their afternoon work.

"Delivery is here! Package for Zhengxin Trading!" The courier left a delivery at the front desk—over forty cups of juice and milk tea, one for everyone in the company.

"Who's so kind? Milk tea! Nice! Let me grab you one," Ah Mei said happily.

"Ye Jin, what flavor do you want? Don't push!" Everyone swarmed the front desk.

"I'll get it myself," Ye Jin said, walking slowly to the desk to avoid the crowd. She picked up a cup and noticed the receipt on the delivery bag: *Recipient: Zhengxin Trading - Ningjing Zhiyuan*.

It was him. Tang Xiao had ordered it. "Ningjing Zhiyuan" was his social media username.

"Who's treating us today?" Shen Ping walked out of his office, seeing everyone with a cup.

"Manager, here's one for you," Ye Jin said, handing him a cup.

"Thanks, Ye Jin. Any pressure lately? Heading home soon? Remember to bring back some local specialties!" Shen Ping joked.

It was strange. What was up with Tang Xiao and Shen Ping today? Both kept asking if she was under pressure. Maybe she was just overthinking.

"Is Tang Xiao not here?" Shen Ping asked, looking at the empty seat.

"Don't know, he was here earlier," Sun Xu replied.

"Alright, noted," Shen Ping returned to his office.

The day passed quickly. Before the end of the day, Tang Xiao returned, packed his computer, and left without saying a word to anyone. He, who usually stayed the latest, had left early.

Watching his retreating back, Ye Jin felt a sense of sadness or perhaps worry. She couldn't put her finger on it. Were they even more than just colleagues?

"I heard you weren't in the office this afternoon. Is anything important going on?" Wan Shen messaged Tang Xiao.

"My mother happened to be passing through the city and came to see me. I asked Manager Shen for leave this morning, but he asked a bunch of prying questions and refused to approve it. I didn't want to deal with him, so I didn't reply. If he wants to mark me as absent, so be it." Tang Xiao disliked Shen Ping; he knew Shen Ping must have complained to Wan Shen.

"Why didn't you tell me your cousin was in town? We could have had a meal together. I haven't thanked her properly yet! I won't mark you absent. Shen probably didn't know. Rest early, don't worry about the data. I'll talk to him tomorrow," Wan Shen reassured him.

"Cousin, let me ask you something," Tang Xiao replied.

"What is it?"

"The hiring of the new designer—was that your idea?"

"Shen and I discussed it. One designer for a company is too few. Look at the current situation; Ye Jin works hard, but anyone might have emergencies or get sick. The company has to keep running, doesn't it?..." Wan Shen explained patiently.

"If we hire two more, can you guarantee Ye Jin's base salary remains the same? She doesn't get commission; it's just base salary plus performance bonuses and benefits," Tang Xiao asked, still worried about her.

"I've never seen you care about someone this much. Are you two dating?" Wan Shen asked, suspicious.

"No, I just think it's unfair to the employee, that's all," Tang Xiao explained.

"Don't worry about that; it's an HR matter. It won't be cut much. Rest early, and don't forget the contract with your mother—no dating," Wan Shen warned, using the family contract as a shield.

Tang Xiao knew Wan Shen didn't want to talk about it anymore. That night, he played some music and scrolled through his social media, finally remembering the message Ye Jin had sent. He opened the images she sent on his computer and found that the modifications were perfect.

"It's good," he replied.

*What the?* He replied at night to a message sent in the afternoon? Did he have 2G internet? But seeing the reply, a weight lifted off Ye Jin’s chest. As long as he was okay, she was happy.

"Did you order the milk tea for everyone today? It was delicious, thank you!" Ye Jin struggled to draft the reply, deleting and rewriting it several times before finally sending it.

"Glad you liked it. Rest early!" Tang Xiao replied.

*Are you troubled by something?* She typed the question but didn't dare send it. She deleted it, turned off her phone, and went to sleep. She didn't know what capacity she had to comfort him. Were they even close? Forget it. One more day of work and then a short break. The thought made her happy.

The next morning, Ye Jin woke up at 7:00 AM, unable to fall back asleep. Arriving at the office at 8:10 AM, she opened her computer and began eating breakfast. A familiar, fresh scent of lemon and citrus drifted near her.

*Tang Xiao?* she thought. He was standing right next to her, watching her eat.

"Is this all you eat every morning?" Tang Xiao pulled up a chair and sat beside her.

"This is enough to fill me up," Ye Jin said, feeling uncomfortable.

"Eat your breakfast. I'll just sit for a moment," Tang Xiao said. Ye Jin sped up her eating.

"Careful, don't choke!" No sooner had he said it than she did exactly that. Tang Xiao handed her the soy milk. She took a big gulp, and he gently patted her back. It felt like a scene between a couple.

She finally recovered, tears in her eyes. Tang Xiao handed her a tissue, and he wiped her eyes.

"I can do it myself," she said, taking the tissue and wiping her eyes and mouth.

When she looked up, his seat was empty. He had returned to his desk, typing away as if he had never been there.

She had never really looked at Tang Xiao properly before. He was logical, meticulous, and, as the boss's cousin, always seemed cold and distant. Compared to the other easygoing colleagues, he was an enigma.

Today, he wore a white shirt and black trousers. He was so neat; there wasn't a single wrinkle on his shirt, and his leather shoes were polished to a shine. He looked like someone who didn't belong to the mundane world. He probably liked someone like the receptionist at the resort—a perfect match.

"Ye Jin, here so early? Oh, you've already finished breakfast." It was 8:26 AM. Ah Mei rushed in, and other colleagues arrived one by one.

"Yeah! It's the last day, and then I'm free. I'll bring back treats for you," Ye Jin said. As she spoke, Tang Xiao looked at her—a gaze that seemed to hold more concern than usual.

Before she left, Shen Ping stopped her. "Heading home tomorrow? Have a great time, but keep an eye on the group messages!"

"Understood, Manager."

That night, lying in bed, Ye Jin received a message from Tang Xiao. "What time is your train tomorrow? I'll take you."

"No need, you're so busy. I'll take the subway; it's fast. Thank you," she replied, touched by the offer.

"I'll take you. I'll just tell the manager," he insisted.

*Why is he acting like he's seeing me off? I'm only going home for a few days!* she thought.

"My train is at 5:00 PM. Really, you don't have to. You should work. As a colleague, I’m very grateful for the offer, but thank you!" she replied, wondering why he was suddenly so kind.

"Why not take the high-speed rail? It's faster."

*No kidding, a fool knows it's faster, but it’s also expensive!* she thought, though she didn't send that part. "I want to see the scenery along the way to relieve some work stress," she lied.

"I'll drive you to the station anyway!" he persisted.

The next morning, Wednesday, Tang Xiao arrived at the office, glanced at her empty seat, lingered for a few seconds, and then went to his desk to start his day.

"Manager, I have something to do this afternoon. I’d like to take half a day off," he messaged Shen Ping.

"What is it? With the May Day holiday coming up, don't take leave. If it's not urgent, hold on for two more days!" Shen Ping replied.

Tang Xiao felt a spark of anger. He knew Shen Ping was playing power games. If he went to Wan Shen again, it would be seen as going over the manager's head, which would only make his future in the company harder.

"I stayed up too late and I'm feeling unwell. I need the afternoon to rest and recover," Tang Xiao messaged back.

"Fine. Go to the hospital for a check-up. The company can reimburse you," Shen Ping replied, not wanting to risk any trouble with the boss's cousin.

Around noon, Tang Xiao handed over his tasks to Sun Xu. "If anything happens, call me. Keep a close eye on the competitor data. I'm taking the afternoon off, but I'll see messages," he said, repeating the instructions several times.

"Don't worry, I've got it!" Sun Xu promised.

At 1:00 PM, Tang Xiao parked his car near Ye Jin’s place. "I'm downstairs. Come down, and I'll take you to lunch."

Ye Jin, who had been binge-watching a show, saw the message and excitedly replied, "Coming!" She checked the mirror one last time; her pale pink lotus-colored dress made her look radiant.

Downstairs, Tang Xiao waved. He wore a white shirt and slacks. Walking together, they looked like a couple.

"Where are we eating? You look beautiful today!" Tang Xiao said. Ye Jin blushed.

"Thank you, you look handsome too. You decide where we eat. Actually, you didn't have to take leave to see me off," she said, watching him drive. He was so focused, and she couldn't help but think how handsome a man looked when he was serious.

"How about a vegetarian buffet?" Tang Xiao suggested.

"Sure, I love vegetarian food."

"I haven't been here long, but I found this *Fengmao* vegetarian restaurant. It's rich and varied, everything from stir-fried to deep-fried dishes, plus clear soups and snacks. Most importantly, it's clean, and the kitchen is open-view..." Tang Xiao talked enthusiastically, and Ye Jin listened like a young fan, though in reality, she was four years older than him.

They arrived in ten minutes. The restaurant was packed, but orderly.

They struggled to find seats in the crowded room. "You go get food, I'll save the seats. Don't take too much of one thing, or you'll be full before you try the rest!" he cautioned.

"I'll take extra and share with you," she offered.

"I appreciate the thought, but our tastes might differ. Go on!"

She returned ten minutes later with a plate of delicacies.

"What soup do you want? I'll get it for you," he asked.

He returned with a bowl of winter melon soup and a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup. "I read online that the white fungus soup is good for women's health."

"I love white fungus soup! My dad used to make it for me," she said, missing home.

"A lucky guess," he said.

They ate for nearly an hour. "Full?" he asked with a smile. It was a warm, bright smile that lit up his face—a look she hadn't seen before. It felt strangely familiar.

He drove her back to get her luggage, then headed to the station.

"How many days off? Anything happening at home?" he asked casually.

"Five days off. With the holiday, twelve days in total. My cousin is getting married, and my mom insisted I come back," she said, pouring out the details. She felt comfortable talking to him, unlike with Shen Ping.

"How old are you? Is your mom rushing you to get married?" he joked.

"Older than you! But yeah, I can't escape the fate of blind dates back home. In my hometown, I'm considered an 'older' single woman," she said, eyeing him for a reaction.

"No one you like?"

"According to my mom, I should marry a local. If I marry someone from far away, and his family treats me poorly, I’ll have nowhere to go," she explained.

"That's true. Even if you marry someone from away, you'd need a house in your hometown for your parents to feel secure."

"What about you? Anyone you like?" she asked, testing the waters.

"I did, a long time ago. We lost touch after high school. My fate is similar to yours—blind dates. But my mom doesn't force me. I'll wait until I have enough money to support a wife before I get married," he said, smiling.

*He had a crush?* A wave of disappointment washed over her.

"Who was she?"

"Her name is Li Xingruo. She was my desk-mate in high school. When the bullies picked on me, she helped me. She brought me home for meals every Wednesday. She was like a ray of light in my dark high school days..." As he talked about her, his eyes shone with a warmth that made Ye Jin’s heart ache.

"Did you ever look for her?"

"I did, when I was in college. But her family had moved away, and the house was sold. Maybe one day..."

"Red light! Tang Xiao, brake!" Ye Jin shouted. He slammed on the brakes, startled. He had been so distracted talking about Xingruo.

"Let's listen to some music," he said, turning on the radio to stay focused. A song about waiting for a loved one filled the car. He looked at the road, his eyes glistening. Ye Jin reached out and patted his back, trying to offer comfort.

"She’s lucky to have someone like you. You'll meet again, I'm sure," she said, though the pain in her heart intensified.

At 4:05 PM, they reached the station. He helped her with her bags. "You have your ID?"

"Yes," she said.

He handed her a bag of snacks. "These are for the road. And there's a gift inside. Don't open it until you're home. Call or message me when you arrive."

"Okay, Tang Xiao. Drive safely, don't get distracted. Message me when you get home," she said, looking into his eyes.

"I will," he smiled—a warm, genuine smile that reached his eyes, leaving Ye Jin feeling a strange, lingering warmth in her heart.