Chapter 13
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Song Ruichi had a knack for making people happy. Xu Er’s friends were also good at this; beyond their usual humor, they would amplify Xu Er’s strengths and lavish him with compliments, but Song Ruichi seemed somewhat different. Yet the outcome was the same—Xu Er was always delighted.
So he replied to Song Ruichi, “I’m so glad to know you.”
Then he started to worry. He glanced at the typewriter and then the humidifier. He had just checked their prices on the official website—and such a small item was so expensive. The main problem was, he had no idea what to give Song Ruichi. He couldn’t send flowers every day; that would be terrifying.
Song Ruichi replied, “What official language is that?”
Xu Er: “It’s the truth.”
Song Ruichi: “Alright, alright.”
Xu Er: “Where did you learn that ‘alright, alright’ from?”
Song Ruichi: “What do you think?”
Xu Er: “It can’t be me, right?”
Song Ruichi: “If not?”
Xu Er tilted his head slightly, feeling that this “if not” was also something he’d taught him. Chen Nan had mentioned him using it recently; he’d been saying “if not” every day lately.
But he didn’t ask. What if it wasn’t? It was such a common phrase.
Xu Er then said, “Alright, alright.”
After a few days off that left Xu Er feeling lazy, he surprisingly arrived late to work the next day. Being late wasn’t unusual at his company, but on this particular morning, even passing dogs seemed to ask him, “Late today, huh?”
He thought he should reflect on whether he was too rigid at work.
Their last project had gone smoothly. Although he came to the office in the morning, he had nothing to do. Missing the morning meeting due to being late, the rest of the time was spent in the boss’s office, drinking tea and chatting about this and that. The entire morning passed like that.
In the afternoon, after lunch and a short rest in the office, they went out. The new project was about to start, and the boss asked him and a colleague to scout the site first. To them, this meant they could sneak out early that afternoon.
Even better, this community was right in the city, only a twenty-minute taxi ride away.
The two of them toured the project area with the representative, then finished their afternoon work.
“Good thing I came out with you this time,” his colleague Xiao He said happily on the way back.
Xu Er was eating the ice cream Xiao He had bought for him and nodded. “Got it. Go back and tell Jiang Tao you hate him.”
Xiao He laughed. “Haha, is that what I meant?”
Xu Er asked, “What’s up with Jiang Tao?”
“He’s a bit slow with work,” Xiao He gestured vaguely, “Like what we just talked about—Jiang Tao could have taken you in circles for over an hour, believe it?”
Xu Er smiled.
Xiao He added, “Among the engineers in this company, I still like you best. This project almost got taken by Xiao Min. Luckily, he had something to do today and didn’t come.”
Xu Er nodded without comment.
But Xiao He pressed, “Do you know what’s going on with Xiao Min?”
Xu Er raised an eyebrow—some gossip?
He took smaller bites of his ice cream. “What is it?”
Xiao He lowered his voice. “He’s breaking up with his boyfriend.”
Xu Er made a strange face. “Huh?”
The expression pleased Xiao He immensely, and his tone changed. “Yep, he’s gay.”
Xu Er let out a long “ah” sound, recalling Xiao Min. They didn’t have much interaction; all he could remember was Xiao Min’s height and appearance.
Xiao He continued, “If his boyfriend hadn’t caused a scene under the company building last time, none of us would have known.”
Xu Er’s mouth formed an ‘O’.
Xiao He was pleased with his reaction but seemed to know no more. He chuckled, “I’ve been quietly competing with him for this project for days.”
Xu Er, of course, had no idea about any of this. He thought Xiao He had come because they had worked together on other projects before.
Their department always had plenty of gossip. One of the supervisors who often fought in the group chat was from their department. When the company was bored, they shamelessly fed on these scraps to lift their spirits.
“So, what now? Going back?” Xiao He asked as they crossed the street.
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Xu Er squinted, pointing across the road. “What’s going on over there?”
Xiao He adjusted his glasses and looked where Xu Er was pointing. “Looks like an exhibition.” He looked back at Xu Er. “Shall we go?”
Xu Er: “Let’s go.”
They crossed the street, tossed their empty ice cream sticks, and headed toward the exhibition.
At the entrance, there were flower baskets and some descriptions, enough to tell it was an art show. Neither of them knew much about art, but they figured since they were nearby, why not go in?
Naturally, Xu Er thought of an artist named Song.
So, before entering, he took a photo of the large characters at the entrance and sent it to Song Ruichi.
However, once inside, they were stopped at the door. It turned out the place required an invitation. The security guard, speaking with a condescending tone, said they only recognized invitation letters and that this wasn’t a place for casual visitors.
“Pfft, so high and mighty.”
Xiao He rolled his eyes dramatically. “It’s just a lousy exhibition. If they only knew what they were missing!”
He added, “They lost out on having such distinguished visitors like us.”
“Exactly,” Xu Er smiled and added, “What kind of exhibition is this, that we have to come in person?”
“Exactly.”
“Exactly.”
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
Xiao He and Xu Er turned around.
“Hey,” Xu Er was surprised. “Song Ruichi, what are you doing here?”
Song Ruichi waved the phone in his hand. “I felt your call.”
Xu Er laughed.
It seemed that with Song Ruichi’s appearance, Xu Er instantly felt the joy of leaving work, his identity shifting from a wage earner to a free spirit.
He stepped aside and introduced Song Ruichi to Xiao He: “This is my colleague.”
And to Xiao He: “My friend.”
The two shook hands warmly and greeted, “Nice to meet you.”
Xiao He leaned toward Xu Er. “Your friend is staff here?”
Although Xiao He was speaking to Xu Er, it was clearly meant for Song Ruichi.
Song Ruichi answered tactfully, “Yes, I’m staff.”
Xiao He immediately asked Song Ruichi, “So can you get us in?”
Song Ruichi stepped aside and said, “Please.”
Xiao He whispered an excited “Woohoo.”
A few seconds later, they were back at the security guard.
Xiao He’s expression was calm at first, but when he saw the guard bow respectfully to Song Ruichi and call him “Teacher Song,” Xiao He straightened up immediately.
Before entering, he glanced coldly at the guard who had been so condescending.
“Teacher Song.”
Inside, Xiao He whispered to Xu Er, “What’s your friend’s background?”
Xu Er looked at Song Ruichi, who happened to be looking back at him. Their eyes met.
Xu Er smiled and said, “Staff.”
Xiao He nudged him. “Be serious.”
Xu Er glanced at Song Ruichi, shielding him with his hand, and whispered, half loud, “He’s a master.”
Xiao He’s mouth dropped open.
Song Ruichi chuckled. “Should I pretend I didn’t hear that?”
Xu Er lowered his hand. “Of course, please keep Teacher Song away from fan life.”
Song Ruichi: “Who’s my fan?”
Xu Er raised his hand. “Me.”
Song Ruichi: “Then I’ll quiz you.”
Xu Er hesitated but didn’t back down. “Go ahead.”
Song Ruichi: “What color shoes am I wearing today?”
Xu Er immediately lowered his head to look, but Song Ruichi caught his chin.
Surprisingly, Xu Er really knew.
Xu Er: “White,” he even added, “Sneakers.”
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Song Ruichi released Xu Er and smiled. “Good, certified.”
Xu Er: “I’m impressive, right?”
Song Ruichi: “Not hard for you at all.”
Ha ha.
Song Ruichi was fun today too.
After a few steps, they reached the hall; after a few more, they passed three exhibits.
Xu Er naturally teased, “Teacher Song, won’t you give us a tour?”
“Do we need one?” Song Ruichi said. “I’m afraid you’d fall asleep.”
Perfectly timed, Xiao He yawned at that moment.
It should have been a huge yawn, but because of Song Ruichi’s words, he stopped halfway.
Song Ruichi gave Xu Er a “See?” look.
“Where are Teacher Song’s works?” Xu Er asked, curious.
“On the second floor,” Song Ruichi replied.
“Let’s go straight there,” Xu Er asked Xiao He, “Shall we?”
Xiao He nodded eagerly. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Since they couldn’t understand anything anyway, neither of them had much artistic sensibility.
Along the way, Xiao He whispered in awe, “Really a master?”
Xu Er: “What else?”
Xiao He’s mouth dropped open again, whispering, “Masters are this handsome? And so tall! How tall?”
Xu Er: “About 1.9 meters.”
Song Ruichi: “1.89 meters.”
Xu Er chuckled and said to Xiao He, “He heard that.”
Song Ruichi: “It’s hard to stay away from you.”
Xu Er asked, “Why no reaction when I say you’re handsome?”
Song Ruichi: “Thank you.”
Xiao He whispered again, “Used to compliments.”
Turning a corner, Song Ruichi asked, “Not working today?”
Xu Er: “Off work.”
Xu Er’s lack of artistic talent meant even Song Ruichi’s works didn’t reveal much to him.
He and Xiao He simply uttered “Wow” twice in front of the exhibits, and the visit was over.
But since they were there, they continued to wander the second floor.
“Teacher Song.”
As they walked, a man approached.
Song Ruichi: “What are you doing here?”
The man said, “Finished up,” then looked at the person next to Song Ruichi.
He said, “Xu Er?” and extended his right hand. “Right?”
Xu Er stepped forward and shook hands. “Yes, hello.”
The man smiled. “I was talking with this guy when he suddenly came out to meet you.”
Xu Er laughed.
He asked, “Aren’t you curious how I know you?”
Xu Er answered honestly, “Curious.”
His gaze flicked to Song Ruichi.
“Ask him,” the man said.
Song Ruichi, standing aside pretending to be uninvolved, twitched his eyebrows.
It couldn’t really be uninvolved—all three pairs of eyes were on him.
Xu Er added, “He told me to ask you.”
His friend added, “Come on, tell us, Teacher Song.”