Chapter 8

Shang Zhitao pushed the door open, believing the motion carried a certain imposing momentum. Yet upon entering, she saw Luan Nian with a bright expression on his face, speaking on the phone. Noticing Shang Zhitao holding a folder, he pointed to the desk, signaling her to set it down.

Her momentum instantly deflated, though inwardly she was still beating a small drum—ready to sound the war drums the moment he started a fight. Her petty thoughts were all written on her face, appearing utterly foolish in Luan Nian’s eyes.

But he gave Shang Zhitao a faint, indifferent smile, raising a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture.

Shang Zhitao was somewhat bewildered. She walked over and placed the folder down, hearing him speak softly into the phone, “Then do me the honor of having dinner together this weekend. As for the concert you mentioned wanting to see last time, I managed to get two tickets.”

He held the phone in one hand while opening the folder with the other, starting to read from the first page.

A woman’s clear, pleasant laughter came from the other end of the line, “Am I getting special treatment from you?”

“It’s my honor,” Luan Nian replied, continuing to talk on the phone while reviewing the documents, completely ignoring Shang Zhitao standing there.

Shang Zhitao felt awkward. Last time it was a breakup, this time it was a date. Well, just when it rains, it pours. He had just said he wanted to replace her, and now she had walked right into his line of fire. She felt she had inadvertently overheard too many of Luan Nian’s secrets. If this continued, he would surely not tolerate her presence. So she waved a hand in front of him, pointing at the door as if to ask, “Should I leave?”

Luan Nian gave her a deep, inscrutable look, neither approving nor refusing. Shang Zhitao had no choice but to stand there and listen to his phone call. His damn fingers turned the pages of the file too slowly, making Shang Zhitao feel as though time had slowed to a crawl. She looked out the window—half the lights in the office building opposite had gone out—then glanced down at her watch. The last bus had already left; today she would have to enjoy the company’s taxi benefit.

“Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow evening. I’ve booked a restaurant; we’ll have dinner first,” Luan Nian finally hung up the phone and began reviewing the project documents in earnest. He read the files without saying a word, making Shang Zhitao feel increasingly uneasy.

Yet the most agonizing part wasn’t this, but the fact that Luan Nian, sitting before her, took his time signing, as if he were seeing the document for the first time. Finally reaching the last page where the signature was required, Shang Zhitao felt a flicker of excitement, only to hear Luan Nian ask, “What is the total expenditure for this project?”

“Seven hundred and forty thousand.”

“To two decimal places.”

Shang Zhitao was taken aback. She didn’t know the amount to two decimal places. She had only come to Luan Nian on behalf of Lumi to get his signature. Before entering, she had glanced at the document and the amount but hadn’t paid close attention to the decimal places.

“Seven hundred forty-one thousand three hundred,” Luan Nian sat back in his chair. “Next time you come to discuss work with someone, especially me, make sure you’ve checked all the details. Otherwise, I’ll have you replaced.”

Next time? So he wasn’t replacing her this time?

Shang Zhitao suddenly felt this person’s temperament was truly bizarre. Wasn’t he the one who had typed “replace” in the communication software earlier? Had someone hacked his computer?

Shang Zhitao’s thoughts were all written on her face, and Luan Nian could read them at a glance. Hopelessly foolish. Were Zhang Ling and Tracy insane? Were they afraid the team would move too fast, so they hired such a burden?

He signed his name with a flourish and handed the folder back to Shang Zhitao.

She took it and said earnestly, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Leave what to me?”

“The wrap-up work for these projects. I’ll rely on your guidance.”

Luan Nian wasn't surprised to hear her say that. She was the kind of person who would write "Luke advised me to change jobs" in an interview record—what wouldn't she do?

"I've saved your number in the internal directory, but my phone system hasn't been updated yet. I'll call you now so you can save mine. In case of emergencies, I'll contact you." Shang Zhitao said all this in one breath, then took out her phone and dialed Luan Nian. She had made up her mind—she refused to be afraid of him. Since things had already started off so badly, the worst outcome would be him firing her. What was there to fear? At most, she'd start over from scratch!

She dialed his number and waited for Luan Nian to mock her, but strangely, he picked up his phone and asked, "How do you write your name?"

"Shang as in 'noble,' Zhi as in 'classical particles,' Tao as in 'peach blossom.'"

"English name?"

"Flora."

Luan Nian saved Shang Zhitao's number and placed his phone back on the desk. "Florashang. Anything else?"

"No. Have a pleasant weekend."

Shang Zhitao picked up her folder and quickly walked out of Luan Nian's office. Back at her desk, she let out a long sigh of relief—the first week of work was finally over. It felt both difficult and not so difficult. Shang Zhitao couldn't quite articulate her feelings. She sat quietly at her desk for a while, sorting through her tangled emotions before finally standing up and leaving the office.

She desperately needed sleep. The week had been chaotic and exhausting, and only now did she feel the fatigue. Standing at the company entrance, she tried to hail a taxi for a long time without success. Across the street, a drunkard whistled at her, suddenly reminding her of the joke about prostitutes, clients, and advertisers her colleague had told on her first day. It felt a bit terrifying.

Luan Nian drove past and saw the drunkard across the street and Shang Zhitao trembling by the roadside, looking like a pitiful creature abandoned by the world. He sighed, stepped on the brakes, reversed the car to stop in front of her, rolled down the window, and asked, "Where are you headed?"

Seeing Luan Nian, Shang Zhitao felt as if she had encountered a savior. Compared to being harassed by a drunkard, she'd rather endure Luan Nian's mockery. She opened the car door and got in. "I couldn't get a taxi. Could you drop me off at a busier area?"

"Will you find a taxi there?" Luan Nian retorted.

Shang Zhitao had no idea how difficult it was to hail a taxi on the streets of Beijing at midnight. She blushed. "But I live quite far away. I'm sorry to trouble you."

"If you're sorry to trouble me, why did you get in my car?" Luan Nian hated such awkward politeness. What was there to be polite about?

Shang Zhitao really wanted to hit him.

In her brief twenty-two years of life, she had never encountered such a strange person. But now, sitting in his car, she felt a bit deflated.

She forced a smile at Luan Nian.

Heh heh.

So strange.

"Where are you going?" Luan Nian didn't plan to engage in further conversation and asked her directly.

"North Fifth Ring. Thank you kindly." After a week with Lumi, Shang Zhitao had already mastered the essence of Beijing dialect.

Luan Nian didn't waste any more words on her and started the car. The pleasant scent of men's cologne in the car was refreshing and invigorating, lifting Shang Zhitao's spirits. Unsure of what to say to Luan Nian for small talk and afraid of saying the wrong thing and provoking him, she kept her mouth shut and looked out the window. The city had shed its noise, and even the late-night vendors were quiet. After what felt like a long time, she heard Luan Nian speak: "Do you know the way?"

"Huh?"

Luan Nian glanced at her and simply pulled over by the roadside. "Can you give directions?"

Shang Zhitao had only moved in a few days ago and was terrible with directions. Luan Nian's question left her bewildered. She looked out the car window—the place felt both unfamiliar and familiar. She shook her head blankly. "Sorry, I just moved here..."

Luan Nian wasn't surprised. He tapped the car's navigation system and asked her, "Which neighborhood?"

Shang Zhitao told him the name of the neighborhood, a place Luan Nian had heard of—known as Beijing's "sleeping city." She must not have much sense, not considering the time cost. Couldn't her salary afford her a place closer to the company?

Idiot.

He reaffirmed his judgment of Shang Zhitao in his mind, started the car, dropped her off at the entrance of her neighborhood, said nothing more, and drove off as soon as he restarted the engine.

Shang Zhitao didn't even have time to thank him.

She went inside, washed up, and finally lay down in bed, but sleep eluded her. Holding her phone for a long time, she felt she should at least show a little courtesy. So, she found Luan Nian and sent him a message: "Thank you, Luke."

Luan Nian didn't reply. Of course, he wouldn't.

Luan Nian was the laziest—he disliked pointless pleasantries and meaningless social interactions. He had done a favor but didn't expect gratitude.

That was just the kind of person he was.