Chapter 3: Did You Come Alone?
Shu Shiran returned to the office. On the desk lay a box of pastries.
Yan Yi would regularly order afternoon tea for the firm, and today’s was from the hotel she favored.
Shu Shiran took a photo of the pastries and sent it to Yan Yi via WeChat, letting him know she had received them.
He replied promptly.
— Yan Yi: Busy today?
— Shu Shiran: Yes, just met with a client.
— Yan Yi: Make sure to rest; your health is the most important.
— Shu Shiran: Okay.
— Yan Yi: Are you going to visit Grandma this weekend?
— Shu Shiran: Yes, I called her already.
— Yan Yi: I still have some things to handle here; I won’t be back until next week.
Yan Yi was on a business trip in North City.
— Shu Shiran: That’s fine, I can go back myself.
— Shu Shiran: You should take care of yourself too.
After chatting with Yan Yi, Shu Shiran created a work group chat for the Jinhefu project, adding Ji Xi, Dai Jiao, Yuanyuan, and other relevant staff.
As for Wu Tianqi, Shu Shiran feared he might chat frivolously with Ji Xi in the group, so she didn’t include him.
— Shu Shiran: Created a work group.
— Shu Shiran: Feel free to communicate here anytime if you have questions.
— Dai Jiao: [Throwing flowers.gif]
— Yuanyuan: [Throwing flowers.gif]
...
— jaziel: Got it.
Shu Shiran clicked on “jaziel”’s avatar to visit his profile.
“Jaziel” was likely Ji Xi’s English name.
With so many friends on her list, she had no memory of this account’s profile picture or name.
She checked his Moments.
Visible only for three days, it was clean and simple.
She couldn’t recall when she had added Ji Xi. He had been abroad for years with no contact; it was unlikely she’d added him as a friend.
Could it have been back in high school?
Shu Shiran exited his Moments, renamed the contact as “Ji Xi,” and categorized him under “Clients.”
**
The next workday, Shu Shiran called Wu Tianqi into her office.
After another late night at work, everyone, including Shu Shiran, looked exhausted that morning, except for Wu Tianqi, who had nothing to do and seemed lively.
“I heard you wanted to become a monk before?” Shu Shiran asked.
Wu Tianqi seemed surprised by the question but nodded.
Shu Shiran inquired, “What about now?”
Wu Tianqi answered, “Still thinking about it.”
Though becoming a monk might not be very interesting, at least he could try. He had tried everything else others found fun and found them dull.
Shu Shiran didn’t try to dissuade him. Instead, she pointed to a pile of documents in the corner.
“Sort out all the ones with architectural photos.”
Wu Tianqi hesitated for a moment. “Okay.”
Yesterday, besides meeting with Ji Xi, he had helped two colleagues with photocopying and carried things for another, but otherwise had nothing to do.
Sitting idle waiting for work to end was hard, like being imprisoned.
If he hadn’t promised his parents he would try seriously this time and they agreed to let him try being a monk, he wouldn’t have come today.
There was so much material it would take two trips to move it all.
Just as Wu Tianqi was about to start, Shu Shiran said, “You can organize them here to avoid moving things back and forth.”
“Alright.”
While Shu Shiran worked, Wu Tianqi sat on the sofa sorting the pictures slowly.
About forty minutes later, he finished.
“Ran—Sharon, I’ve sorted it.”
Shu Shiran hummed in acknowledgment and replied to a message before looking up.
Wu Tianqi asked, “Where should I put them?”
“No need to give them to me. You take them.”
As Wu Tianqi was puzzled about why she wanted him to take them away, Shu Shiran added, “First, use geometric shapes to summarize the buildings and their backgrounds in the pictures, then abstract them. The abstracted image should be colored.”
**
Wu Tianqi never imagined these pictures were actually his assignments while organizing them.
“Am I here to study or to work?”
Shu Shiran countered, “Can you make renderings or design plans?”
Wu Tianqi was speechless.
Neither.
After Wu Tianqi joined the firm yesterday, Shu Shiran had been thinking about finding something for him to do.
This idea came to her on the way home.
“You probably won’t get into the theory much. Let’s start with practice—three drawings a day. These should keep you busy for a while. Send them to me every night; I’ll give you feedback.”
...
With that, Wu Tianqi left the office carrying what would be his assignments for the foreseeable future.
Back at his desk, an intern who had become familiar with him asked, “Why were you gone so long? Did Sharon catch you slacking off?”
Wu Tianqi replied, “I was working properly.”
He just had nothing to do—how could that be his fault?
“So what did she want you to do?”
Wu Tianqi replied mysteriously, “An important task was assigned.”
**
After that day came the weekend.
After a week of overtime, Shu Shiran finally had some free time.
On Saturday, she slept until noon.
After getting up and eating a little, she tidied up and went back to the old Shu family residence.
The Shu family estate was in Lu Bei, one of the earliest villa districts in South City.
Shu Shiran’s grandfather had lived in South City as a child before returning to Gang City with the family. In the 1980s, he moved back from Gang City and lived here. His brothers remained in Gang City, where another branch of the Shu family lived.
When Shu Shiran arrived, she saw a car parked outside the old residence.
She didn’t go inside but turned around to buy coffee at a nearby commercial complex.
The round trip took nearly forty minutes. When she returned, the car was gone.
Entering the house, the elderly lady was sunbathing in the garden.
Seeing her, the grandmother asked, “Have you eaten lunch?”
Shu Shiran said, “I had a little before I came out.”
The grandmother could tell she had eaten casually and said, “Let Huiping make you a bowl of wonton soup.”
Huiping was the caregiver for the elderly lady.
Shu Shiran sat beside her grandmother, linking her arm and saying, “I just wanted to come back to eat wontons.”
The grandmother smiled, “Bring some back when you leave.”
“Okay.”
The grandmother said, “Your father just left.”
Shu Shiran nodded.
“Where did he go?”
“Hmm?” Shu Shiran was momentarily unsure what her grandmother was referring to.
Huiping had seen your car come and go, the grandmother explained.
“I went to get coffee,” Shu Shiran said.
Knowing it was intentional, her grandmother said no more.
“How have you and Xiao Yan been lately?”
“Pretty good. He’s on a business trip in North City; he was supposed to come with me.”
“Don’t focus all your attention on work. Being apart so much isn’t good.”
Shu Shiran affectionately rested her head on her grandmother’s shoulder. “Why do you always lecture me when I come alone? Grandma, do you like him more than me?”
Her grandmother stroked her hair gently. “How could that be? You’re my favorite granddaughter, of course.”
Soon, the wontons were ready.
“Go inside and eat,” the grandmother urged.
The wontons were Shu Shiran’s favorite—fresh meat and shepherd’s purse filling.
Because Shu Shiran loved them, the family froze plenty of shepherd’s purse every spring.
“Fresh ones are always better,” the grandmother said, sitting beside her. “Wait until spring for the fresh ones.”
After eating, Shu Shiran stayed to chat with her grandmother.
By late afternoon, the elderly lady’s face showed signs of weariness.
Meeting Shu Shiran’s worried gaze, she said, “Season changes always make me feel this way; I’ll rest a bit, and it’ll be fine.”
Her health was fragile; seasonal changes always affected her.
**
Shu Shiran escorted her upstairs to rest.
“I heard from Aunt Huiping you’ve arranged to play mahjong with someone tomorrow morning.”
The grandmother loved mahjong and, as long as she felt well, played daily with neighborhood ladies.
“Play for an hour or two, then take a break. Sitting too long isn’t good for you,” Shu Shiran reminded.
“I know, I know,” her grandmother grumbled, annoyed by her nagging.
Shu Shiran smiled wryly.
Who had that much passion for mahjong?
After the grandmother lay down to rest, Shu Shiran checked in with Aunt Huiping about her condition before leaving.
As her car left Lu Bei, her phone buzzed.
A message popped up from their group chat of three childhood friends.
— Xu Ying: Have you left yet?
This was Shu Shiran’s group with her close friends.
That evening, Xu Ying’s husband was celebrating his birthday, and they had arranged a gathering.
Another message appeared.
— Zheng Tingyan: I’m about to leave.
— Xu Ying: What about Ranran?
At a traffic light, Shu Shiran replied while waiting.
— Shu Shiran: I was in Lu Bei this afternoon; I’m going home to change before heading over. I’ll be late.
— Xu Ying: Okay, be safe.
South City was located at an estuary, with a river crossing several districts before flowing into the sea.
Tall buildings lined both sides, offering a beautiful night view. Xu Ying’s husband’s birthday party was on a yacht on the river.
Shu Shiran changed clothes at home and arrived at the dock just before seven.
The yacht had left the dock at six-thirty.
A speedboat ferrying two late guests was just returning, cutting through the river toward the dock.
Shu Shiran stood at the dock, arms crossed, waiting.
Remembering Yan Yi’s message to tell him after seeing her grandmother, she called him.
Just then, the speedboat reached the dock, and Shu Shiran held her phone to her ear, waiting for Yan Yi to answer while handing her hand to a bodyguard to help her board.
The river breeze was strong that night, and the water rippled.
As Shu Shiran stepped onto the speedboat and let go of the bodyguard’s hand, the boat rocked.
She lost her balance.
A hand reached from behind to steady her by the arm.
Assuming it was a staff member, she said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The voice carried a faint, pleasant smile.
Shu Shiran found the voice somewhat familiar and turned to look.
A gust blew from behind her toward the shore.
In the distance, the city’s night skyline sparkled with lights on glass facades.
Facing the river breeze was Ji Xi.
He had boarded the speedboat as well.
Yan Yi hadn’t answered, so Shu Shiran ended the call and put away her phone.
“Are you going to Cheng Yexiu’s birthday party too?” she asked.
Ji Xi gave a slight nod.
“Miss Shu, Mr. Ji, are we ready to depart?” a staff member asked.
They were the only two guests at the dock.
Shu Shiran nodded.
Ji Xi handed her an unopened life jacket. “Put this on.”
Several life jackets were laid on the seats of the speedboat.
Shu Shiran hadn’t planned to wear one.
Seeing her hesitate, Ji Xi held it out again and lightly reminded, “Better to be safe.”
His tone implied she lacked safety awareness if she refused.
Shu Shiran took the life jacket, unwrapped it, and put it on.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ji Xi hadn’t moved.
She glanced at him.
After a few seconds’ pause, he picked up a life jacket and wore it as well.