The Complete Guide to the Use and Care (41-end)

74

“The wastepaper bin at his feet isn’t big enough for your flowers,” Ling Miao hemmed and hawed as he stuck the knife in deeper.

“Hmm, I don’t believe I can’t move him!” Yan Li’s fighting spirit grew stronger and her tone grew more resolute. Compared to her, Ling Miao had given up before the battle even started.

As if influenced by Yan Li’s fighting spirit, Ling Miao suddenly thought of a way to confess to Su Yuyang. But the thought didn’t linger long in his mind before it was cut off by a shout from Su Yuyang.

“Su-ge’s calling me. I’ll go first.” Ling Miao ran out like a gust of wind.

Hearing footsteps outside the door, Su Yuyang raised his head to look at Ling Miao entering. He instructed, “I’ve sent you the drafts through QQ. Just like before.”

Ling Miao was about to say, “I’m not your assistant now,” but he looked at Su Yuyang’s tired face and quietly sat down.

Time slipped by, minute by minute.

Ling Miao stared intently at his laptop, scrutinizing every word and every punctuation mark. Su Yuyang was still writing, and occasionally glanced up and caressed Ling Miao’s hair with his eyes. Gradually, Su Yuyang spent more and more time daydreaming. He stared at Ling Miao in a daze, and stared at his draft in a daze, and stared out the window in a daze.

“Alright!” Ling Miao said briskly. Su Yuyang froze, his stunned gaze meeting Ling Miao’s tired eyes. Su Yuyang said lovingly: “Don’t write today. Just looking at your face I can tell you’re tired.”

“If I don’t write, can I live off you?” Ling Miao said without a second thought.

Su Yuyang put both hands on Ling Miao’s shoulders and said sincerely: “If you’re willing, you can live off me for a lifetime.”

“Really?”

“So, you’re willing?” Su Yuyang’s eyes shone with anticipation and excitement. His hands trembled. Ling Miao had lowered his eyes to his feet, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Does Su Yuyang really like me or is he messing with me? Ling Miao felt as if he had fallen into a giant whirlpool. Willingness and unwillingness pulled him in opposite directions, and he felt that he was about to be torn in half by the violent force.

For a long time Ling Miao didn’t say anything, so Su Yuyang assumed he was unwilling.

Su Yuyang’s hands fell from Ling Miao’s shoulders. Ling Miao’s head shot up. The disappointment in Su Yuyang’s eyes was hidden behind his bitter smile. He patted Ling Miao’s shoulders and said, as if explaining himself: “It’s nothing. Also, it’s time to prepare dinner.”

Ling Miao glanced at his watch. It was neither late nor early.

Since Su Yuyang said to prepare dinner, Ling Miao would prepare dinner.

When it was time to take off, Ji Linxi packed up his laptop and walked toward the office door.

“Ji Linxi, you forgot your flowers!” A well-intentioned colleague reminded him.

Ji Linxi turned and glanced at his colleague, saying coolly: “Just leave it there.”

Hu Lin was staying behind to take care of some matters, so after the rest of the office had trickled out, he was the only one still in the office.

He put down his work and strode toward Ji Linxi’s workstation. The bright red roses entered his field of vision and he saw red, a fire burning in his heart.