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Chapter 47: Just Because You"re Not Thinking About It, Doesn"t Mean You"re Not Thinking About It

Z

hengqing arrived at work on Mondayin a not so good mood and he was not able to hide it. (Zuben: Dude is h.o.r.n.y)

 Nothing bad happened, Yin Ting had text himgood morning, the day was bright and blue, the sun was warm, even the Mondaymorning meeting reports were good but Zhengqing’s demeanour was cool.

His mood was so low, his expressionwas dark. He spoke stoically and firmly making everyone who attended themeeting nervous.

After the meeting, Manager Chen,pushed by everyone, came over to ask Zhengqing what was up. Chen did not feellike he was the best candidate for this, he felt that Zhengqing’s secretary wasmore appropriate, but she refused saying,

‘I am a woman and Qiu Zong’ssecretary. He could misunderstand that I am interested in him. What is I getreported for s.e.xual hara.s.sment in the work place? I’m not going.’ (Zuben: Isn’tthat an exaggeration?)

He turned to Zhengqing’s personala.s.sistant who also refused saying, ‘No, if I go and ask, then make him evenmore unhappy, my work would be affected. Manager Chen you have a high position,and Qiu VP gives you face. Furthermore, if VP Qiu is not happy about somethinglater, I can quickly get the secret information to you.’

Well, that was fine, but what wouldhe say to him? Everyone stared eagerly at Manager Chen, because everyone cared!

Truthfully, it was because theywanted gossip. Manager Chen himself liked to gossip. Especially since VP Qiufell in love, he began to have a touch of humanity in him, he laughed, and hewas soft and gentle and got off work early!

The very right and serious VPchanged to a gentle person, he did not work overtime (Zuben: Might I remindeveryone that it has only been just under a week?) which shocked the uppermanagement. Everyone had been curious. Tingting Yuli 413 really had skill. Shecaught VP Qiu and changed him. But it seemed that the VP has reverted. Why?

The people want to know!

The colleagues standing behindManager Chen had the flames of antic.i.p.ation in their eyes for juicy gossip. SoManager Chen broached the dragon’s lair with the guise of talking business,

After their discussion, ManagerChen tentatively asked, ‘VP Qiu doesn’t seem very happy today. How are thingsat home, anything we can do to help?’

Zhengqing looked up from thedoc.u.ments he was perusing at Manager Chen. They must want gossip. But have theyreached the point where they gossip together?

‘Nothing is the matter, I am fine.’

‘Was something in today’s meetingunsatisfactory?’

‘No, everyone’s performance wasgood this month.’

What is it then? Why does he havethat serious face? Manager Chen did not have the liver to directly ask whetherhe quarrelled with his girlfriend. So he said, ‘Tingting Yuli hasn’t been herein a while,’ it was a stylish way to ask.

Zhengqing frowned, ‘Manager Chen,Xiaoting is my girlfriend.’ (Zuben: This is why the whole world should not knowyour business)

‘Yes ah,’ he knew that! He did wasnot interested in taking his precious girlfriend. The he looked at Zhengqing’sface, ‘Oh so that’s it,’ he said, ‘I understand now.’

What did he understand? Zhengqingwas confused, ‘I did not quarrel with Xiaoting.’

‘Yes, yes,’ It was in line with hisspeculations (Zuben: That VP is h.o.r.n.y?), he really understood. Now that he’dsucceeded in sussing out what was wrong with the VP, he said goodbye and left.

Later in the afternoon, Zhengqingwent to the break room to get some tea when he overheard a colleaguecomplaining to another about Zhengqing, he’d been asked to redo a proposal forthe next quarter,

‘It was a good proposal; Ishouldn’t have had to redo it. Especially since New Year holiday is coming.(Zuben: Hold on, is it February already? 1), I hurried to adjust andfinish it. But VP Qiu rejected it; it must be because he is discontent. If Ihad given him last week, when his mood was good, there would not have been anissue.’ (Zuben: Lazy idiot)

Zhengqing was mollified; who wasdiscontent?

At this moment, the two colleaguescame out of the break room and saw him,

Zhengqing glowered, ‘First of all,your proposal was unrealistic. Someone in your section should have gone to thestore and had a meeting. The report should be based on the previous year’searnings from around the New Year, then the increase in purchasing around theSpring Festival and then based on projections from advertising. Why is thesecond quarter so high? What data did you a.n.a.lyse for this? The budget foradvertising was baseless. Your plan did not convince me. No matter how I feel,this is my professional judgement, it will not change.’

The both of them were speechless.They did not dare move. The offending colleague nodded vigorously,

‘Make a proper plan ahead of time.Don’t write proposals casually. And, I am not discontent!’ With that Zhengqingentered the break room, and the two ran back to their desks. When Zhengqingreturned to his office, the main office was quiet, especially austere. As soonas he entered his office, everyone relaxed. He was definitely discontent!

At six thirty, Zhengqing’s alarmrang. He thought about clocking off, but he had so much work to finish and someof the time had been taken overseeing another subordinate’s work. Because ofthe coming vacation, everyone was getting lax. And because of the vacation, heneeded to get as much done as possible.

Zhengqing thought that he hadscolded his subordinate, he should also be a model example (Zuben: Youshouldn’t bother, dear) There were too many things to finish; he would not beable to peacefully have dinner with Xiaoting. (Zuben: Shoulda told her beforesix thirty though)

Zhengqing remembered that Yin Tingsaid he could ask for leave, so he called her,

‘Are you on your way back?’ sheasked perkily,

‘Ah, no,’ He said, it wasn’t easyfor him to say. ‘I have a lot of work today, I can’t get away early.’

‘Oh,’ Yin Ting said suddenlydispirited.

Zhengqing scratched his forehead ashe said, ‘Because of New Year, there is a lot of work to be done before theholiday and then there is the Spring Festival, this a very busy time for us. Iam sorry; I will be coming home late,’

‘It’s alright,’ she said with asigh, ‘You’re busy, it can’t be helped. I will order dinner so you won’t haveto think about it when you get home.’

‘Okay,’ he replied obediently,

‘I won’t keep you since you arebusy. I won’t for you either, so you can work without worry.’ Yin Ting said asshe looked sadly at the dinner she was setting out.

‘Oh you could watch TV and playwith miao dada while waiting for me,’ he said tentatively. (Zuben: wait forwhose ghost?!)

‘No. I don’t want you to be worriedwhile you are working. And you will be tired from working overtime and you willwant to drive me back home. I don’t want that. Feel at ease. And make sure youhave a snack,’

‘I will order something,’ hepromised, ‘Be careful going home,’

‘Will do. Later,’ she said and hungup. She sighed sadly as she put her phone away. She tried to eat a bit, but shecouldn’t. It was too boring, ah. She would go home to eat with her dad.

She put the dishes in the refrigerator,washed the dishes she’d already used and fed the cat.

Yin Ting returned home just afterdinner. Her father was watching TV when she entered,

‘Have you eating?’ he saidsurprised to see her. Didn’t she say she was going to be late home because shewas having dinner with Qiu Zhengqing?

‘Haven’t eaten. He wasn’t able tocome back, he’s working overtime. So I came home to eat. Has brother gone tothe bar?’

Guohao called to their housekeeperto serve Yin Ting something to eat, but Yin Ting went to the kitchen and askedAunty to teach her to cook something.

‘You should have told me you werecoming back; I would have waited for you.’ Her father said,

Yin Ting laughed, ‘You can eat whatI cook with me,’

‘Good, Dad will eat with you,’Guohao said as he watched Yin Ting add salt to the meal she was making. He didnot need to taste to know the soup needed more salt,

‘Wouldn’t it be too salty?’ Sheasked,

‘Add a little more,’ theirhousekeeper said,

Yin Tin tasted it soup, it wasreally salty, ‘I should add water,’ she said decisively pouring water into thesoup.

Their housekeeper smiled and said,‘It won’t be tasty that way,’

‘The water would boil off,’ YinTing replied, (Zuben: Are you sure you want to learn how to cook, dear?)

Guohao wondered if this was goingto be alright.

‘Dad, do you still have the numberof that driving school teacher friend of yours? Introduce him to me again,’

‘Why?’ Guohao asked, he thought hewas developing a headache, ‘You want to learn to drive? I thought you gave upon that? Didn’t you say that you want to preserve the lives of the pedestriansand other drivers?’

‘I want to try again,’

‘I don’t know the full number ofdriving schools that have been affected by your scourge. If I called one ofthem to book you in, they will all go on sick leave.’

‘Dad! Don’t exaggerate!’ Tingtingsaid unconvinced. The driving instructors were just too stiff and they had beenfrightened by her older brother into being prejudiced against her skills. Okayso she wasn’t good with mechanics, actually it should be more like; she lackedinspiration in this aspect of life. (Zuben: All you have to know is how tochange your brake oil and tyres, right? Anything else, tow to the mechanic.No?) But she really wanted to learn properly now. She wanted to be able to goand pick up Zhengqing after a tiring day at work, and she didn’t want him tohave to drop her off home either. If she could drive, she would save him a lotof trouble.

‘You forget you got your driving licensewith great difficulty, I don’t feel a.s.sured that you can drive. You just wantto drive Zhengqing after work.’ Guohao said

And drive very coolly. Do a driftpark in front of Zhengqing and say “No time to explain, get in the car!” plot.She laughed stupidly at her imaginary play.

Guohao poked at his daughter’s headbut also laughed at her foolishness.

That evening around ten, Zhengqingcalled Yin Ting.

‘It’s so late. Kiss Kiss, then kissmiao dada, bathe and sleep,’

‘Um. What are you up to?’

‘I am doing things I like.’

‘What kind of things you like?’

‘My interests are very broad.Right, did you finish work? Because, if you haven’t, it’s okay, I won’t be ableto meet up tomorrow. I have to meet my friends tomorrow or they will beunhappy. Then we can spend lots of time together on the New Year holiday,’

‘You’re not coming tomorrow? Ithought I only got a penalty if I don’t warn you before-hand.’ Zhengqing saidunhappily.

‘But you didn’t warn me before hand,you told me at six thirty when I had already bought dinner. Oh the food is inthe fridge.’

‘But I want to see you,’

‘There is no chance tomorrow.’

‘Very well. But this should offsetsomething else,’

‘Haha, okay.’

He was counting her leave from himas well. She laughed, she had thought he would be too busy to think aboutthings like that, but both of them were being reasonable. He was takingopportunities when he could to increase his chips.

‘I am very generous. Go and batheand sleep.’

Zhengqing agreed and hung up. Hewent to his study to put some money in the drawer for Yin Ting. When he openedthe drawer to find a folder, very much Yin Ting’s style. He looked into thefolder to see what was in it. There was a note: In view of the gift you sentme, I want to give you something similar. Please keep it safe. There is onlyone in the world. I intend to bind them into a book every year on ouranniversary.

The second page was a patterned paper;it looked like Yin Ting had painted it. In the centre she wrote: Love Diary.(Zuben: ¬.¬)

Looks like the planned cover page.

Under that she wrote: Only recordthe good things.

The third page had a picture of theYongkai building affixed to it and she had written: I asked Yingjie and Yufeiwhen they think I first met you. I can’t remember, they can’t remember. I thinkit was sometime in May.

I have been to that building andthat floor several times. But I don’t remember seeing you. I should think Iwould have seen you; after all, it is where you work. But I did not know youand you did not know me. We never left an impression on each other.

Until that day.

That day my goal was Gu Yingjie,but Yu Fei got him. And you sat with him.

What happened on that day was youknew me and I knew you. You thought I was frivolous girl and I thought you werea stiff workaholic.

Even so, we were happy.

In the folder were Tingting’sscissors and a picture of her smiling.

[1] The Chinese have four days offin the Gregorian New Year! That is so unfair! Dec 31st till Jan 2nd.

48: All The Small Things...

Z

hengqing sat on the floor lookingat the sheets of paper he’d found; would this be their love diary? Heremembered the first time he met Yin Ting. She had come to contrived to meet GuYingjie by change that day in the conference room. Yingjie asked if she hadcome to see Yu Fei, she replied that she had, but Yu Fei wasn’t around. He hadthought she was a client of Yu Fei’s, and he was afraid Yu Fei had missed anappointment, and offered to help if she required something.

That had been their firstconversation. In May, just over six months ago.

Miao-dada came over wondering whatZhengqing was interested in on the floor. He saw the drawer was open and triedto climb into it. Zhengqing pulled the cat away, and held it on his lap. Whilestroking the cat’s head, he took his phone and dialled Yin Ting.

The phone rang a few times beforeYin Ting answered. He tried to talk and found his throat tight, ‘That day wasthe 22nd.’

‘What?’ Yin Ting asked.

He cleared his throat and said, ‘Wefirst met on the 22nd of May.’

‘You actually remember?’ she saidsurprised.

‘Well, it was a meeting with GuYingjie.’

‘Oh,’ Yin Ting said a bitdejectedly, he didn’t remember because of romance, he remembered because therewas a meeting, ‘Do you have romance contradictory complex?’

‘What is this new term?’

‘When you sent me the pictureframe, I was moved to death, then you told me it was a power pointpresentation. I asked Yu Fei and Yingjie they didn’t remember, but you suddenlycalled and told me the date, I was so touched and then you poured water on it,when you tell me you had it in your diary.’

‘How should I say it?’

‘You don’t need to say anything. Iam just taking note.’

‘I feel I should protest.’

‘Although, I don’t think it isnecessary, I would like to know how you would protest.’ She said cheekily,‘Please protest,’

‘…’ Zhengqing did not know what tosay in protest; he decided to take a page from her book and said, ‘I will tellyou when I think of the words.’

Yin Ting laughed, ‘Shameless, MrQiu. Shameless.’

‘I have been taught bad habits byyou,’

‘Do not put all responsibility onme,’

‘I am not shirking myresponsibility, you are my responsibility,’

‘Those words are not romantic;’sighed Yin Ting, ‘really want to hear you say something romantic,’

‘What was wrong with those words?’

‘Responsibility. You are talkingabout our love like it is duty. Where is the sentiment?’

‘…’ Zhengqing was confused, ‘Whereis the conflict between responsibility and sentiment? Logic?’

‘Protest does not want the logic,’

‘What?’ How did this turn into aprotest?

‘I gave you a demonstration of thecorrect way to protest between lovers. You’re welcome,’ Yin Ting said happily.(Zuben is confused)

‘You decided you are not touched bymy words but were unable to justify yourself, so found a flimsy excuse todemonstrate protesting,’

‘…I was demonstrating how a couplebickers, did you learn anything?’

‘Your ingenuity is fullyreflected.’ He replied drily

She laughed, ‘Very good. There issomething to record in the diary for today: We had a boring and interestingcouples’ chat.’

‘A boring and interesting coupledialogue, this is a good thing?’

‘Yes, ah, very interesting. Do notmind this. Remember that you worked overtime, did not call me till six thirtywhen I had already bought dinner?’

Zhengqing was silent; Tingtinglaughed, ‘Just demonstrating how a lover complains,’

‘I will try to remember to call ontime,’

‘And?’ Yin Ting’s voice was softand made Zhengqing’s heart ache with longing

‘What else is there?’ he asked

‘Most important is if you need towork over time, you can come home and do things. Don’t stay out too late andmake your girlfriend worry,’ she said quickly (Zuben: You know he lived beforeyou came along right?), ‘and this is a demonstration of raising a bone ofcontention.’

‘…’Zhengqing was defeated. Her mindwas really strange; everything she said this evening seemed to be ademonstration method. The curriculum was too much to digest all at once.Moreover, the demonstrations were just a way of bringing up old grievances.

‘You would feel relieved that I amnot recording unhappy things in the diary.’ She said, ‘I am only recording thegood things because they are easy to forget.’

Oh? Were happy times easy toforget?

‘I will write the good things downwhen we are happy so that when things get difficult we can read thing andremember the good times,’ (Zuben: You can appreciate the good times and stillbreak up, but okay)

‘We can remember all the thingsthat made us love each other.  Hmm onAugust the 31st, my bicycle chain broke and you drove by and offeredto help. You bought be lunch and lent me money. However, I felt that you neededhelp with dating Huizhu-jie. We were just thinking of helping each other at thetime. The weather was nice that day, there were many fluffy clouds. I waschasing a particularly beautiful cloud, but was unable to catch up and then youpicked me up.’

As he listened to her, his eyesfelt heated.

‘On September the 3rd, Iwent to your work place to return the money I borrowed and give you the redstring. At the time, I thought you most desperately needed help from the G.o.d oflove or your girlfriend would dump you. But now, I’m your girlfriend! I thinkyou inspiration is quite a lot, although the origin is a little embarra.s.sing. Idon’t want to leave you, so I am writing these down so we can last a longtime,’

Zhengqing lifted a hand to coverhis face. He couldn’t believe that a man like him would nearly be cryinglistening to his girlfriend. Such a loss of face.

‘On the Autumn Festival, we met thecemetery. My mother and your parents are neighbours; really predestined friends.‘

‘You gave me a big grapefruit,’ hesaid, ‘It was the first time I ate such a sweet one. Afterward, I went tosupermarket to buy another and it tasted terrible.’

‘Really?’ She exclaimed.

‘Yes, too sour. I forced myself toeat it every day till it was finished.’

Yin Ting laughed, ‘You’re sostupid.’

‘This is not stupid. I don’t wastefood, I won’t throw it away.’

‘If it was too sour, why didn’t youadd sugar?’

‘…’ d.a.m.n why didn’t he think ofthat.

‘So stupid,’ she said laughing.

‘I am not stupid,’ he grumbled,

‘I know. I know. You just lackinspiration. I know.’ She said still laughing, then she cried out, ‘I havethought of another riddle: Why is a grapefruit sour?’

Zhengqing sighed, ‘Because you needto add sugar?’

‘Haha! You’re very intelligent. Thegrapefruit is sour so you can add sugar. Why is love boring? So you can addsugar. Why is life boring, ah? You need to add sugar. If it not sufficient itis because it is not good. You had the opportunity but wasted it. You cannotblame anyone but yourself.’ Yin Ting was jubilant, ‘I must write this down; itis like the chicken soup issue. Please Be More Serious, you are a font ofinspiration.’

Zhengqing smiled, ‘Then you mustalso add for today that I gave you some inspiration.’

‘I am going to write down thechicken soup too, it should be remembered.’ Yin Ting said happily, ‘I thoughtthere was nothing worth noting down for today, but I wound up having lots ofthings to write. I have to buy you grapefruit to make it up to you.’

‘How many entries have you written?’

‘Six.’

‘How come there is only one in mydrawer?’

‘I only just thought of it. I wrotethe first entry today. I will leave a couple at yours, and keep a couple, so weboth have good memories to remember. What do you think? Is my idea good?’

‘It’s great,’ he said

‘How come you opened the drawer?’

‘I thought there might not beenough money, so I was putting in more.’

‘Really, how nice! I must writethis down. You worked so hard today, yet thought of me and things at home. Thisshows thoughtfulness. It’s all the small things.’

She really was an angel; to putmoney in the drawer for her was a small thing, but she found somethingbeautiful in that.

‘We must remember the littlethings, because they are easy to ignore. Let me tell you, I will put one entryin your drawer each day, there is a fear that if I don’t record everything thatwe would lose it and I would get lazy. But if I put one in your drawer every day, when you see it you will behappy. And if I am consistent in my recording, and I have lots of entries butit would mean we haven’t seen each other in a while. So I must pay attention.And if there had been nothing to record for a long time, we must payattention.’

‘Such a profound strategy, only youcan think of it.’

‘It’s easy to come up with but hardto stick with. If I get lazy, you need to encourage me. This would give ussomething in common. Our work and life circle are not linked. We gotta havesomething we do together, right? I have only just started, but I will continueto work on it. I am going to write all our lovely memories, little and large,and on our first anniversary I will collect all the entries and get it bound.So we would have one for every year we are together.’

‘Every year?’

Every year.’

‘Then I will have to have a specialcabinet made for your diaries,’ Zhengqing said.

Yin Ting laughed, that meant theyhad to be together for a long time, ‘Will we grow old together?’

‘We will,’

Yin Ting laughed some more.

‘I am being serious,’ Zhengqingsaid. If they could remember all their little moments of determination andperseverance, then how will they break up? He could not think of it, he felt itwas impossible.

Yin Ting said, ‘I must write downour first fight. Because a quarrel is not a good matter, but it iscommemorating it.’

‘We will not quarrel,’

‘We will definitely quarrel, but Icannot think of a reason we might. Perhaps, you working overtime too much,’

‘Um, are you demonstrating tactfulcomplaining again?’

Yin Ting laughed, ‘I was going towrite that down, but forgot. Turned a difficult hindrance to something good,and adhered to the contract.’

‘How did we change somethingdifficult to something good?’ Didn’t she say she was only writing down happythings?

‘Difficult things aren’t, however,if there is a breakthrough to something happy then it must be written down.’

Zhengqing was silent, he could notspeak. He felt if she could find a lot of good in the mundane, then she was themost beautiful one. Zhengqing was suddenly fearful, how could he a commonmortal love an angel like her?

‘I love you,’ he said finally. Hedecided to tell her that every day. Tell his angel, he loved her totally.Though the future was unknowable, he hoped to always let her know he loved her.

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