Cen Jin was stunned, lightly refuting: “Li Wu isn’t my child.”
Teacher Zhang said: “I know, but what about the future? Perhaps you’ll have one, so this can be considered practice in advance.”
Cen Jin was speechless.
…
Rushing back to the company, Cen Jin had developed a thin layer of sweat on her nose. She hurriedly took off her coat, revealing a form-fitting snow-white wool sweater, as lychee peeled off its shell, leaving only the tender flesh.
Sitting and scrolling through Weibo for a while, Teacher Zhang’s words still lingered in Cen Jin’s mind. She decided to go get a cup of coffee to change her mood.
Coincidentally, Zhang Jue was also there. He had just finished pouring coffee and casually took out a black capsule: “You want to do it or should I help?”
Cen Jin glanced at him. Zhang Jue wasn’t wearing glasses today, making his eyes look smaller, but with his deep brows and straight nose, complemented by his gray sweater, he was still quite handsome.
She wasn’t used to troubling others, holding out her hand: “I’ll do it.”
“Bad mood?” Zhang Jue handed her the capsule. As HR, his perceptive eyes were comparable to an emotion detector.
Cen Jin skillfully inserted the capsule into the machine: “You try working overtime every day.”
Zhang Jue held his cup and smiled: “I heard from Qiqi that you guys have made it through.”
“Listen to her – until launch day, everything’s still unknown,” Cen Jin sighed. “Yesterday Yuan Zhen had clients look at things at five o’clock, guess what they said?”
“Hmm?”
Cen Jin imitated perfectly: “‘What time is it, are you suggesting we work overtime?’ Complete with a smile – you know, that primitive emoji smile.”
Zhang Jue laughed out loud, then looked at her for two seconds: “Sister Jin, you don’t look like someone who’s been married.”
“That’s because I haven’t had children.” Cen Jin’s smile suddenly dimmed several degrees, like strong coffee diluted with clear water.
Zhang Jue shook his head, then shook it again: “No, it’s because there’s light in your eyes.”
“My eyes are big.”
“Now that’s a personal attack.” Zhang Jue pretended to be unhappy.
Patiently waiting for the coffee to finish, Cen Jin picked up her cup, but turning around, she found Zhang Jue still hadn’t left.
“Are you very free?” she wondered.
“Because not being creative and not doing Ah Kang’s job.” He was quite composed.
Hit right in the heart, Cen Jin gave a fake smile and turned to leave.
Zhang Jue quickly followed: “Why don’t you read too much into it?”
Cen Jin frowned slightly: “Read too much into what?”
Zhang Jue spoke casually: “Read too much into me waiting for you.”
“Please don’t, thank you, I’ll feel pressured.” Cen Jin shook her head in polite refusal.
Back at her workstation, opening the group chat, their client executive – Ms. Yuan “Ah Kang” Yuan Zhen was again cursing in the group. She was in a state of anxiety disorder every day, with “idiots” being her most frequently used word to describe clients.
Suddenly Cen Jin was tagged.
Aoxing-Yuan Zhen: @Aoxing-Gin, write a Christmas WeChat Moments post.
Cen Jin: Hasn’t it already been submitted? You’ll see it on Moments next week.
Yuan Zhen: Personal one.
Cen Jin: You want me to write this too? Insulting to Gin.
Yuan Zhen: Yes, absolutely speechless, absolutely speechless, still have to think about what their marketing D should post on Moments for Christmas, what stupid request, even asking us to put ourselves in D’s shoes and think what we’d post on Moments, how can we put ourselves in their shoes, if I could be D I wouldn’t be cursing them here, how can such people be D!
Cen Jin: I can write, but what about the fee? This is extra work.
Aoxing-teddy popped up: I’ll report it.
Cen Jin: Thanks.
Teddy took the opportunity to announce a dinner gathering: Saturday dinner, Cen Jin’s welcome meal, we’ve been busy and it’s a month overdue, come if you’re free.
He posted the same content in the company’s main group.
Then tagged Cen Jin: The guest of honor shouldn’t be busy, right?
Cen Jin replied with a smile: Probably not.
―
Class 10’s evening self-study today was physics. The head teacher came to class early but didn’t lecture, just letting everyone study independently.
The entire classroom was silent except for the soft sound of pen tips scratching paper pages. The second period was the same, with Teacher Zhang sitting behind the podium like a solemn Buddha.
Halfway through the time, the head teacher suddenly stood up and called out: “Cheng Rui.”
The boy with black-rimmed glasses who had been whispering was startled and raised his head.
Li Wu heard the name and also turned to look at him.
Lin Honglang and Ran Feichi also looked over.
For a moment, all four residents of dormitory 0206 had brief eye contact.