Chapter 049 Crap—she already missed him.
*
Su Xian returned to her workstation, pulled up several files, and handed them to Li Chengshi to print and bind. When he arrived at the printing area, he saw Honda scanning Zhao Nanfeng’s sketchbook and stood aside to wait for her. As Honda flipped through the pages—mostly various design drafts—she came across a portrait: the back of a valiant, spirited woman holding a black longsword like a holy warrior, shielding herself from enemies.
Li Chengshi asked Honda to make a copy for him. He walked straight to Zhao Nanfeng’s desk, pressed the drawing down, and said in the steadiest, most forceful tone he could muster: "Stop secretly crushing on other people’s girlfriends!"
"Secretly?" Zhao Nanfeng looked at him provocatively. "What if I decide to take her openly?"
"If you’re so capable, why don't you go win your wife back?"
"Mio is in the past tense."
"Then Su Xian should be the past perfect tense!"
"No," Zhao Nanfeng said solemnly. "When three armed thugs charge at you and a woman steps forward to block them without a moment's hesitation, how could you not fall for her?"
"That’s just biting the hand that fed you!" Li Chengshi was getting anxious. "Taking a step back, I was the one holding them off for you before she came out of that meeting room. Why didn't you fall for me?!"
Zhao Nanfeng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Ask me again if my sexual orientation ever changes."
"Well, there’s Honda! She’s very brave too! Anyway, you can't like Su Xian. She’s my girlfriend now!"
"I don't care if she’s your girlfriend, your wife, or the mother of your children—if I like her, I’ll pursue her. Unless..." He paused intentionally to tease him.
"Unless what?"
Zhao Nanfeng smiled cunningly. "Unless I’m your father. I don't compete with my son."
Before the words had even fully left his mouth, Li Chengshi blurted out without a second's hesitation: "Dad."
He had never called anyone "Dad" in his life. The word held no sanctity for him; it was a label he could apply to a cat or a dog for all he cared.
"Are you sick?" Zhao Nanfeng frowned.
"Remember to keep your word." Li Chengshi picked up the portrait of Su Xian and walked away.
**
The New Year’s holiday was starting tomorrow. Honda had already bought her souvenirs and would head straight back to her hometown in Atami.
"Shachō, hitori de daijōbu desu ka? (General Manager, will you be okay on your own?)" Since work hadn't been busy lately, she had been acting as Zhao Nanfeng’s part-time housekeeper.
"Shinpai suru koto nai. (Nothing to worry about.)"
"Osake, dame da yo. (No alcohol, okay?)"
"Nomana yo, urusai. (I won't drink. You're nagging.)"
"Then what are you going to do?" Su Xian asked. His mother had passed away the year they broke up, his father passed two years ago, and he had divorced this year. He was truly alone in the world.
"I’ll prep some materials and turn this design proposal into a model to display in the reception area at the entrance."
"Can't we do it together when we get back after the holiday? It’s New Year’s; you should rest too."
"I just finished a month and a half of 'rest.' Do you know what it feels like to have a nurse nag you to sleep at 8 or 9 PM every night? Forced rest is more cruel than forced labor."
Suit yourself, then. Su Xian glanced over and asked, "Do the marks from the break-in need to be touched up?"
"Forget it. Scars are just part of the story of life."
**
On the morning of December 28th, Su Xian and Li Chengshi boarded their flight home.
"Su Xian, where are you staying these few days?" He wanted to ask how she was dividing her time between General Manager Liang’s place and Old Zhang’s.
Su Xian thought for a moment. "You should still call me 'Group Leader.' It feels better."
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"What kind of 'feeling'?" He frowned, suspecting nothing good would come out of her mouth.
"Younger man, superior position, taboo, thrilling."
"Pervert." He had guessed right.
Su Xian let out a theatrical sigh. "I’m so heartbroken. You call Zhao Nanfeng 'Dad,' but you call me a 'pervert'."
Li Chengshi’s head throbbed. "He actually told you? That bastard! From now on, I forbid you two from discussing anything unrelated to work!"
"Okay."
"That easy?" He looked at her suspiciously.
"Of course." She leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Li Chengshi, I love you."
He was momentarily flustered. She threw the word "like" around every day, but this was the first time he had heard a declaration of "love." His eyes grew slightly moist, and he quickly turned his head to look out the window.
The weather was poor today, with nothing but grey clouds outside, yet it looked beautiful to him.
Su Xian smiled and turned back to continue sketching in her book.
*
The passengers began to stand up to disembark, and Su Xian reluctantly tucked her sketchbook away.
Li Chengshi cursed in his head: Zhao Nanfeng, you "green tea " manipulative jerk! With just one sentence—"Go destroy it"—he had occupied Su Xian’s entire holiday with work-related thoughts.
He was fuming!
While waiting for their luggage, Su Xian leaned over. "Give me a kiss."
"There are so many people..." But he wanted to, too. He glanced around and, when no one was looking, gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"That was way too perfunctory." But Su Xian knew she couldn't ask for too much from him yet. Besides, she had a feeling that "good things" were coming soon, so she could afford to wait.
*
One more turn and they would be in the arrivals hall, where Li Xiao, Old Zhang, and the others would be waiting.
Li Chengshi pulled Su Xian to a stop and whispered in her ear: "Group Leader, I love you."
**
Seeing her son, Li Xiao immediately burst into tears of joy.
Having had company these past few months, Li Chengshi hadn't realized how much he missed home, but the moment he saw his mother, he was overcome with emotion. He abandoned his suitcase and ran to give her a tight hug.
Su Xian was equally thrilled to see Old Zhang and Wang Jing. She rushed over, gave Wang Jing a big kiss on the cheek, high-fived Old Zhang, and shoved her luggage into his hands.
"General Manager Liang is at an entrepreneur conference; she can't make it today. We'll all go to her place tomorrow." Wang Jing pinched Su Xian’s waist and laughed. "Looks like you’ve put on a little weight. The kid took good care of you."
"Hehe." Su Xian glanced at Li Chengshi, thinking: This won't do. I’m dieting as soon as I get home.
After exchanging greetings, Li Xiao thanked Su Xian once more for taking care of her son and then took him away in a taxi.
Su Xian immediately realized—crap—she already missed him. A second later, a message popped up on her phone: Group Leader, miss you.
She showed it off proudly to Wang Jing.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself. Hurry up and text him back."
*
Old Zhang and Wang Jing had been regularly airing out Su Xian’s apartment, checking the utilities, and taking her car for a spin. The weather had been nice recently, so they had even sunned her quilts and clothes so she could be comfortable upon her return. Anliang wouldn't be closed during the New Year, so she didn't plan on staying at Liang Wenya’s home or Old Zhang’s every day—besides, she had things to do.
After dropping off the luggage, the three of them sat down for hours of non-stop chatting.
Su Xian had bought them many gifts: a gaming console for Old Zhang, a beauty device for Wang Jing, a rice cooker, and countless clever gadgets.
"What did you buy for Xiao Li?" Old Zhang asked. "Don't just be generous with us. You're going to build a life with him; don't be stingy."
"Don't worry, I treat him very well." She didn't dare mention the fact that she had received 200,000 yen from him for her birthday.
"Zhao Nanfeng isn't still after you, is he?" Wang Jing was more concerned about this.
"Him? He’s got plenty of drama of his own." Su Xian kept them in suspense. "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow when we see General Manager Liang."
**
