Chapter 20

This week’s business trips had piled up a fair amount of work, so Shi Ran Shun worked an extra shift over the weekend.

The new week was also packed with tasks—she needed to meet with the client to discuss project progress and coordinate revisions.

When Shi Ran Shun was busy, Wu Tianqi was generally busy as well.

Besides completing his sketch assignments, he attended meetings with her and took part in early-stage creative discussions. Especially for his family’s hotel renovation, Shi Ran Shun involved him more.

“Sharon, can I skip working overtime on Thursday?” Wu Tianqi asked her.

“Do you have something planned that day?” Shi Ran Shun replied.

“It’s my birthday.”

“The 14th?” She nodded. “Alright, there shouldn’t be much going on that day.”

“I’ve organized a gathering. You should come.”

“I have to attend A Ying’s lecture that night.”

“She’s already doing lectures? Impressive. You can come over after it’s done.”

Xu Ying specialized in studying epitaphs from the Wei and Jin dynasties. This lecture was at the invitation of a university research institute and was her first time being the main speaker. Shi Ran Shun had agreed with Zheng Tingyan to attend to support her.

The lecture was scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

By the time Shi Ran Shun arrived after work, it was already underway, but Zheng Tingyan had saved her a seat.

She sat down beside Zheng Tingyan and whispered, “How is it?”

“I think it’s quite good,” Zheng Tingyan replied.

The lecture was a great success.

After it ended, Shi Ran Shun and Zheng Tingyan went to find Xu Ying.

Zheng Tingyan had initially suggested creating a banner in the group chat to celebrate Xu Ying, but Xu Ying said she’d wait until she was promoted to a researcher.

When they saw her, Xu Ying looked relieved and said, “My palms were sweating the whole time.”

“None of us in the audience could tell,” Shi Ran Shun said.

“Exactly. You did very well,” Zheng Tingyan added.

Zheng Tingyan noticed the flowers nearby and asked, “Who sent those?”

“Cheng Yexiu had them delivered,” Xu Ying replied.

“Not bad, even overseas and still remembering to send flowers.”

“Let’s go eat. It’s on me,” Xu Ying said.

During the meal, Zheng Tingyan asked about Shi Ran Shun and Ji Xi’s recent situations and mentioned some of Ji Xi’s major moves lately.

Shi Ran Shun had been busy with work all week and hadn’t been in touch with Ji Xi, especially not about the stock market affairs.

“How are you planning to approach your grandmother’s side?” Xu Ying inquired.

“I’m thinking of doing what you said last time—having Ji Xi make a good impression on my grandmother first.”

“Then Ji Xi better leave a good impression.”

“…I’m not sure if he can,” Shi Ran Shun admitted.

As the meal was winding down, Shi Ran Shun checked her phone and saw several messages on WeChat.

The top one was from Ji Xi.

- Ji Xi: When are you coming over?

- Shi Ran Shun: ?

She quickly realized and sent another message.

- Shi Ran Shun: You’re at Wu Tianqi’s place too?

The reply came almost immediately.

- Ji Xi: We were just talking about you.

- Shi Ran Shun: What did you say?

She hoped Wu Tianqi hadn’t complained she was too strict.

Just as she thought this, a new message popped up.

- Ji Xi: Asking who you actually like.

Shi Ran Shun: “…”

She should have expected there wasn’t any serious topic between them.

- Shi Ran Shun: I’ll come over after dinner.

After replying to Ji Xi, she opened Wu Tianqi’s message.

- Wu Tianqi: When are you coming, Ran Jie?

- Wu Tianqi: [Video]

Shi Ran Shun opened the video.

In a dimly lit private room, a group of people were playing games.

Zheng Tingyan glanced at the phone screen and asked, “Who’s that?”

“Wu Tianqi. It’s his birthday; I’m planning to stop by.”

She intended to just bring a gift and stay for a short while.

“He’s having a birthday today? That’s close to your birthday.”

Shi Ran Shun’s birthday was on the 20th, the following week.

As they spoke, the video on her phone neared its end.

Just as Shi Ran Shun was about to close it, a figure flickered across the screen.

It was Ji Xi.

He stood out too much among the crowd.

After dinner, parting ways with Zheng Tingyan and Xu Ying, Shi Ran Shun drove to the bar where Wu Tianqi’s birthday was being celebrated.

The drive took eighteen minutes.

“Shi Ran?”

Upon getting out, she heard someone call her.

Turning around, she saw a woman who had also just stepped out of a car.

“Is that really you?”

“Ji Tang? Long time no see.”

Ji Tang was Ji Xi’s cousin.

Shi Ran Shun knew her but wasn’t close, mostly from before university. Ji Tang attended Chongjia High School too, so they often crossed paths at various events.

After Shi Ran Shun went to study in the UK, they lost contact.

Recently, she had seen Ji Tang’s posts about attending fashion shows in France.

“It’s been a long time. I just returned to the country two weeks ago.”

They entered the bar together.

“You here to have fun?” Ji Tang asked.

“For Wu Tianqi’s birthday.”

“The one who wants to become a monk?”

Apparently, Wu Tianqi’s desire to leave the secular world was well known.

“That’s him.”

“Here to see friends?”

Shi Ran Shun didn’t mention Ji Xi.

In her impression, Ji Tang and Ji Xi’s half-brother Ji Yang didn’t get along well with Ji Xi; they never hung out during school.

Ji Tang nodded. “Two friends are drinking downstairs. Ji Yang and I mentioned you last time. You haven’t seen each other in a while, right?”

“Yeah, it’s been a long time.”

“Maybe we can all get together sometime.”

Walking through the corridor, the light grew dimmer.

Wu Tianqi’s private room was upstairs. Ji Tang and her friends drank downstairs.

“Well, catch you later,” Shi Ran Shun said.

“Okay.”

After parting ways with Ji Tang, Shi Ran Shun went upstairs.

Inside the room, some people were playing games, others drinking.

Someone beside Wu Tianqi nudged him, saying, “Your boss is here.”

Wu Tianqi stood to greet her. “Ran Jie.”

“Happy birthday.” Shi Ran Shun handed him the gift.

Wu Tianqi glanced at the paper bag. “What’s the gift?”

“Guess.”

With a strange tone, Wu Tianqi said, “It’s not a wooden fish, is it?”

Shi Ran Shun hadn’t thought of giving a wooden fish.

She had pondered what to give him for a long time.

Should have given a wooden fish.

His reaction suggested it wasn’t a wooden fish.

Wu Tianqi: “As long as it’s not a wooden fish. You don’t know, I’ve already received more than twenty wooden fish tonight.”

Shi Ran Shun looked in the direction he indicated and saw a table piled with wooden fish.

There were cute chibi-style cat and whale wooden fish, as well as more traditional ones, stacked in various sizes. The largest almost covered the entire table.

If one didn’t know better, they’d think a group of monks was holding a meeting in this private room.

It was the first time she’d ever seen so many wooden fish at once. Beyond that, there were several prayer beads as well.

The combination of the flashy lights and the atmosphere was quite striking.

Just as Shi Ran Shun was about to look away, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone waving. She instinctively glanced over.

It was Feng Kuan greeting her.

Shi Ran Shun nodded but met another gaze.

Ji Xi was lazily sitting beside Feng Kuan, holding a glass and watching her.

She noticed a gleam of metal on his wrist.

The watch looked like the one she had given him, but the lighting was dim and the distance too far to be certain.

“The biggest one was from Feng Kuan,” Wu Tianqi said.

Shi Ran Shun pulled her gaze back. “...The gift I gave might not be much better than a wooden fish.”

Wu Tianqi weighed the paper bag in his hand and casually asked, “Not books, I hope.”

“Two autobiographies of architects.”

“...” Wu Tianqi struggled for a moment before saying, “At least that’s better than wooden fish.”

“Remember to open them and take a look.”

After giving the gift, Shi Ran Shun went to sit with a few acquaintances and greeted others she knew.

It was almost nine o’clock. Many were tipsy and the atmosphere was lively.

Since Shi Ran Shun arrived, Feng Kuan’s attention had drifted away.

Although she had clearly rejected him and, according to Wu Tianqi, had received flowers from others before—likely indicating something was going on—there was still no news of her being in a relationship.

He believed that knowing she wasn’t dating meant he still had a chance.

Feng Kuan stood, intending to spend some time by Shi Ran Shun.

“Where are you going?” Ji Xi asked.

“You guys keep drinking. I’ll be right back,” Feng Kuan replied.

Ji Xi’s tone was light and teasing. “You’re not planning to run off, are you?”

Two others drinking nearby joined in immediately.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Feng Kuan, you’ve already bragged enough. Now that you can’t outdrink us, running away is not an option.”

“?? Who bragged?”

“Then keep drinking.”

“I’ll be back to continue.”

“Don’t even try to run.”

“I’m not running. I’ll be right back.”

“Do you think we’re fools? You won’t come back later, will you?”

“I definitely will. I’m just going to say hi and chat with someone.”

“Think we’re that easy to fool?”

“Could you be sincere for once?”

“...”

They pulled Feng Kuan down to sit, poured him a drink, and invited the silent Ji Xi to join their toast.

With no way to leave, Feng Kuan had no choice but to continue drinking with them.

He kept glancing toward Shi Ran Shun.

Seeing several others with similar intentions approach her, he grew restless.

He wondered if any of them were the ones who had sent her flowers.

Soon, everyone would be leaving.

Feng Kuan set down his glass.

Before he could stand, someone grabbed him.

“Going to say hi to someone else again, huh?” The person looked as if they had him figured out.

“...”

***

Shi Ran Shun had sat for about forty minutes and was ready to leave.

She informed Wu Tianqi.

Most people in the room were drunk. Since Wu Tianqi had the idea of becoming a monk, he abstained from alcohol and only drank non-alcoholic beverages, staying clear-headed.

“Ran Jie, you’re leaving? Be careful on your way.”

“You guys keep having fun.”

Before leaving, she glanced around the room.

Ji Xi was nowhere to be seen. She had no idea where he had gone.

Leaving the private room, the noise faded considerably.

As she descended the stairs, she took out her phone, intending to message Ji Xi to let him know.

Reaching the landing halfway down, she heard someone mention Ji Xi’s name.

“I heard Ji Xi is in the private room upstairs.”

She had thought it was a few women talking about him, which she was used to by now.

But then she heard Ji Tang’s voice.

“So what if he’s there? Am I supposed to avoid him?” she sneered.