Please Be More Serious

Chapter 6

Walking out of the cemetery, Qiu Zheng Qing gives Yin Ting a call. The phone makes a du du noise, he actually feels his heartbeat speeding up. It got through! His breathing feels a little unstable. “Please, be, more, serious!” The voice from the other end is lively and full of enthusiasm. He wants to resist the mirth bubbling in him but he is not able to. When he heard her voice, he immediately wants to smile. She must have eaten the ‘everyday I’m very energetic’ pill today.
He clears his throat and says, “Those words are what I want to tell you.” Yin Ting laughs, she totally does not mind their opening speech to each other is forever so unoriginal. She asks, “Is there anything I can help you with?” Why does she feel that he called her to ask for her help? He clears his throat again. “En, it’s like this. I’m at the cemetery.” “Oh.” “Oh” again. In his mind, the image of her expression while rounding her mouth to say “oh” comes up. It makes him want to smile again. He says, “I saw the presents you gave my parents. Thank you.” “Don’t worry about it!” Yin Ting understands what he means now. She straightforwardly says, “Our families are neighbours, don’t be too polite.” “En.” Then he no longer knows what else to say. He panics a little, his mind is completely blank. He hears the children voices from Yin Ting’s side. He wants to ask where is she but what does that have anything to do with them? He hesitates. Then he hears Yin Ting’s laughter and an aiya sound. Yin Ting then says, “There’s a kid who fell, I have to hang up now. We’ll talk later. Happy holidays, goodbye.” She says it in a single breath, and then hangs up. He does not even have the chance to say goodbye. He stares at his phone, unsure what is he even thinking about. He puts his phone aside and starts his car, leaving the cemetery. After the distance of a few streets, he suddenly remembers that he heard children’s laughter. She even said there is a kid who fell. Ah right, wonder how the children at the welfare centre are doing. What are they doing during the holidays? He really should visit them. Once he makes the decision, he steers the wheel into the direction of the welfare centre. On his way there, he stops to buy two boxes of fruits. When he reaches, he sees a lot of children playing in the garden. He comes down from the car and looks around but there is no sight of that familiar figure. Then he hears a small, sweet voice yelling, “Uncle Zheng Qing!”  That form of addressment! He turns around and sees Little Stone throwing herself at him “Uncle Serious!” He is afraid that she would fall so he quickly holds both of her arms, hugging her. “Uncle Serious!” Little Stone is still calling him, her voice full of excitement, bright and clear. He sighs. “Little Stone, is it Yin Ting jie who tells you to call me that?” She shakes her head and then, belatedly realizing, nods. “We asked Ting Ting jie what is your name, she said it is Zheng Jing (Serious).” “Qiu Zheng Qing,” he corrects her. Little Stone nods. “Yes, exactly. Qiu Zheng Jing. I think that calling you Uncle Qiu feels like I’m begging (qiu) you, so I call you Uncle Serious.” “Uncle Zheng Qing,” he once again corrects her. She nods. “Uncle Serious.” “…” He helpless rubs her head. Never mind, it is not easy learning Mandarin. Little Stone, keep on working hard. “Uncle brought you all fruits,” he announces as Xiao Han joins them, looking a little bashful. The boy calls him, “Uncle Zheng Qing.” Zheng Qing greets him. Xiao Han says, “Then I’ll bring the teacher over.” “Okay.” Qiu Zheng Qing happily watches Xiao Han leave. Yin Ting should probably be with the teacher. Since a kid fell, so she is inside the building? It is at this time that Little Stone quips, “Uncle Serious, just now Ting Ting jie also brought us food. She also brought us new postcards.” While talking, she takes out a few postcards from her pouch. He squats down to face Little Stone, listening seriously. Little Stone shows him the postcards one by one, telling him where this place, where that place is. “Ting Ting jie went to a new place, so we all have a new postcard.” He is a little stunned. “The postcards you guys are selling are taken by Ting Ting jie?” “Yeap!” She nods. “The places in the postcards are all places Ting Ting jie went herself. She said we’re all still young now and cannot go, but when we’re older and finished our studies, we will have the opportunity to go. Every place she goes, she photographs them very nicely, she said we should go and take a look in the future. She will doc.u.ment those places for us now, so that we can take a look without going there ourselves. The postcards are printed at Uncle Yin’s printing factory, us children visited there once. We didn’t know that’s how postcards are printed. After printing, we can sell it for money and then we can donate the money to the children on the mountains, so they won’t be hungry and can go to school. One day, when we all grow up, we will meet in one of the places in the postcards. Even though we don’t know each other, but we will all be very happy.” Even though what she said sounds a little silly but Qiu Zheng Qing actually feels very touched by her words. He hugs Little Stone and says, “That dream will be realized. When you’re older, you will be able to go to places you want to go.” Little Stone smiles. “That’s what I think too.” He cannot help but give her another hug. Her expression and manner is exactly like a mini Yin Ting. “What about Ting Ting jie?” he asks. “She just left.” He is stunned. She left? “She’s playing jump rope with us. She received a phone call, then Xiao Bing fell. Ting Ting jie and teacher took Xiao Bing to the infirmary, and afterwards she left.” She actually left that quickly. He feels a little disappointed, the type of disappointment that one feels when they are playing a guessing game but gives the wrong answer. Xiao Han walks over with a teacher in tow. He hands over all the fruits to the teacher and quickly excuses himself. Little Stone and Xiao Han looks at him, reluctant to part. Qiu Zheng Qing tells Xiao Han, “You must work hard at your studies. What I promise you, I didn’t forget. You must also remember to make it into university. “ Xiao Han is very excited hearing his words and nods with enthusiasm. Little Stone asks, “Uncle Serious, the places that you went, did you also keep postcards of them?” He suddenly feels a little ashamed. “I went to very few places.” He often goes on business trips and he went to quite a few countries before, but he never once travelled. Thinking about it, it is true that he has really never been on a vacation. He sometimes entertains the clients by taking them sightseeing but that is not often. Because there are usually a lot to discuss and he is such a straightforward person, he makes everything strictly business. Even if he is going sightseeing, his mind is entirely occupied by work. “Never mind,” Little Stone comforts him. “There will be opportunities in the future. Ting Ting jie said, there will always be opportunities. Don’t be discouraged.” He bursts out laughing. She really is mini Yin Ting. He finally leaves for home. He has idled yet another day away. He prays for the holidays to be quickly over, so he can get back to work. He needs to work, not working makes him feel absolutely awful. Under immense boredom, he starts up Weibo. He sees that Yin Ting actually posted an update. “Why are the stars so bright and beautiful? Did you think they will shine? Actually they won’t. You think they won’t? Actually they will! As long as they have found the right perspective, they will let you see their light.” What nonsense. But then again, it feels like it makes some sense. He feels like her Weibo’s twenty thousand followers are all her nonsensical allies. He then notices that underneath her post, her location is tagged. That street, that place – her brother’s pub. This brat, didn’t he told her this is worrisome. Such information posted online will attract wolves (perverts/pursuers). He is very unhappy. He blanks out for a moment and finds that he needs some alcohol. What everyone has been saying is right, he really needs to relax. He should not forever be moving between two locations only, office–home, home–office. He has never been to a pub. He remembers saying this to Yin Ting when they first met, her expression is one of utter bewilderment. Seems like, en, how to describe this, pity? Anyhow, he has decided to go out and relax. He does not know anywhere else, so Yin Shi (Yin Ting’s brother)’s pub it is. The moment he makes up his mind, he immediately leaves. When he reaches the pub, he feels a little surprised at how busy the place is, everywhere it is bustling with people. Those drinking alcohol, those bantering, those playing games – to him, this place is too noisy. The place is quite large but thanks to his tall stature, he is able to look around with ease. He does not see Yin Ting anywhere. It is indeed too noisy, he dislikes it. He is about to retreat when he hears someone calls, “Director Qiu.” A man’s voice. When he turns around, he sees it is Yin Shi. He immediately smiles. He checks to see if Yin Ting is around but there is no sign of her. “Director Qiu, did you come to play?” Yin Shi asks with a smile. Qiu Zheng Qing feels that when the pair of siblings smile, they look rather alike. He hesitates on what to reply. If he says he is here to play, Yin Shi will for sure arrange a seat for him. But the place is really too noisy, he wants to leave. It is at this time someone calls, “Director Qiu.” A female’s voice, but not Yin Ting’s. He turns around to look and sees Zhong Qiao, his former colleague. She waves at him, her face looks bright with excitement. She is accompanied by another woman at her table. Yin Shi smiles. “Oh, so you’re with friends. I hope you have a fun time.” Left without a choice, he smiles and nods, then walks towards Zhong Qiao. “How coincidental,” Zhong Qiao says with a smile. Her face is a little red. “I was just mentioning you to my friend, and now here you are.” “Long time no see,” he politely answers. “Are you alone?” Zhong Qiao’s friend is very enthusiastic. She smiles, glancing at Zhong Qiao. “Hurry and sit, we have s.p.a.ce here.” Zhong Qiao pats her friend to stop but after thinking about it, also invites him to sit. Qiu Zheng Qing feels that it is inappropriate to just leave like that, so he ends up taking their offer. It is just that he is strangely conscious of the expressions and smiles on these two women. How did Yin Ting put this? An eye adapt at recognising romance. He is now with the red thread, he feels even more sensitive because of it. En, it must be the red thread’s unearthly power. It makes him feel a little odd. He remembers it now. Back then, before he started working for Yong Kai, Zhong Qiao is a new employee at his company. She is not adept at work and would always seek him out for his guidance. In the beginning he appreciates her diligence and would teach her very seriously. For a while, they are quite close. But afterwards he realizes that Zhong Qiao is being too nice to him, such as bringing him breakfast, waiting for him to have lunch together, asking him if he is leaving after work, etc. Back then he does not have the slightest intention of finding a partner or even wasting his time. He only wants to further his career, so he turns a blind eye to her affections and maintains a respectful distance. In the end he leaves the company for Yong Kai and naturally they no longer keeps in contact. “We’re just talking about you,” Zhong Qiao’s friend says. “Zhong Qiao is saying that she used to have a crush on you and kept on trying to hint to you, but you never did follow up. In the end you left the company and you two separated just like that. Just a while ago, she read about you in an econ magazine, she was lamenting that you two don’t have fate. But now, you showed up.” While that friend is still talking, Yin Shi walks over. He waits for the conversation to be over before placing three bottles of beer and a plate of squids on the table. He says, “This is on the house.” Zhong Qiao and her friend looks surprised. Yin Shi smiles at Qiu Zheng Qing, hinting that it is only because of him that it is on the house. It makes him very uncomfortable. After Yin Shi leaves, Zhong Qiao and her friend comments a little about their surprise over him being friends with the pub’s boss before steering the conversation back to those years ago. That friend seems to be a little drunk, so she is very excited. She feels very happy that the crush that they were just discussing showed up just like that, she keeps on saying that Qiu Zheng Qing and Zhong Qiao is fated. It makes Zhong Qiao very embarra.s.sed, but inside her heart, she is also a little hopeful. She purposely says, “Don’t create misunderstandings, Director Qiu probably already has a girlfriend.” “Yeah,” he says. When he does not smile, his expression is always solemn. His words make the two women stunned for a moment. He politely smiles. “Therefore I’m really sorry, I actually missed the opportunity.” Such tactful words should be courteous enough? That friend immediately feels awkward. Zhong Qiao also does not know what to say, and finally says, “Director Qiu is still at Yong Kai?” “Yes,” he says, still smiling politely, “I am here to find a friend, but she is not here. I still have some matters to attend to, I will leave first. Please excuse me.” The two are also embarra.s.sed and hurriedly allowed him to leave. Before leaving, Qiu Zheng Qing finds Yin Shi to bid his farewell. He no longer has the heart to ask if Yin Ting is still here. When he is about to leave, he hears Yin Shi’s phone ring. He hears him say, “What’s wrong?” His footsteps halt for a moment. His instinct tells him it is Yin Ting’s calling. “You left your keys here? How is it possible? You didn’t even open your bag here. You also won’t take out your keys here.” It definitely is Yin Ting, that scatterbrain. “You definitely must have lost it when you’re changing your bags. So it’s not here, it’s probably lost at home. So careless, it’s your fault. Okay then, I’ll go back and open the door for you.” Yin Shi is still talking to the phone but Qiu Zheng Qing is already walking towards the door. So Yin Ting was really here just now. How strange. Previously he keeps on seeing her everywhere. But ever since he deleted that awful photo of the starry sky, wherever he goes, he can no longer see her. He feels frustrated. He needs work, he really dislikes holidays. A day later, the holidays end. Qiu Zheng Qing is probably the only one in high spirits returning to work. But Qin Yu Fei is not yet back. That is to say, there would not be visits from her friend. That day, he shares two posts on Youtube but no one plays the sofa-s.n.a.t.c.hing game. His followers count is dropping. Seems like those people who followed him finally learns his true colours and realizes he is not part of their nonsensical allies gang. He does not care about that. He feels like his life has finally regained normality. Only, he has developed the habit of browsing Weibo. But, he no longer encounters Yin Ting around. His life remains to be moving between two locations, office–home, home–office. He still works out twice a week, buys groceries once a week, works seven days a week. But there are also some changes. He discovers that he has grown an interest in photography. He feels like buying a SLR. He keeps seeing the photos taken by Yin Ting on Weibo, all of them are very pretty. There are often comments asking her which camera did she used, how did she took them. The comments on her Weibo are plentiful but the people she interacts with are constantly the same group of people. He also wants to know how she took those photos, which camera did she used. But he never once comments on her Weibo, neither does he send her a private message. He also does not call her. He does not know why. It is such a simple matter but he keeps on hesitating to do it. October is almost over. Qin YuFei and Gu Ying Jie’s problems seem to be solved. She has returned to work as usual, looking visibly much happier. He knows that Yin Ting keeps on trying to mend their relationship, that nosy little angel. But she never comes to the office to look for Qin Yu Fei. And in his lifestyle of moving between two locations, he never once encounters her again. Shen Jia Qi did tried to ask him out but he used the excuse of work to turn her down. Mao Hui Zhu has returned and contacted him online. She told him she is busy working and will look for him later. The conversation ended there. Therefore he no longer has any dates. No dates means no encounters. October 25th, Sat.u.r.day. Gu Ying Jie and Qin Yu Fei that pair of high-profile lovers wants to throw a party to celebrate them getting back together. One fine day, after Qiu Zheng Qing wraps up a meeting, Qin Yu Fei walks past him. He hears him as she answers a phone call, confirming the time of the party. She is chattering and laughing about the party details. After she hangs up, she sees him staring at him. Qin Yu Fei widens her eyes and says, “What? You’re not even interested.” “Why am I not interested?” “Do you want to go?” “Yes.” Qin Yu Fei looks at him like she is looking at a ghost. Then she says this, “If you want to come, remember to bring a big present for us.” So, he goes. The moment he steps into the ballroom, he sees Yin Ting. She is dancing with Gu Ying Jie. Isn’t this Gu Ying Jie and Qin Yu Fei’s getting-back-together party? What is Yin Ting doing? She should quickly return another person’s prince charming! Yin Ting is smiling very sweetly and does not look as if she knows she has done something wrong. She and Gu Ying Jie makes a little twirl and dances past Qiu Zheng Qing but both do not notice him. He watches them silently. He can hear Yin Ting talking to Gu Ying Jie. She is applauding herself as the matchmaker. “Yes, that’s true. You’re an angel,” Gu Ying Jie praises her. “But this angel doesn’t have a boyfriend,” she replies. Gu Ying Jie laughs loudly. “All of my good friends are here tonight. Just take your pick and tell me. If that person doesn’t have a girlfriend, I’ll introduce you two.” Yin Ting has a smile of satisfaction. Qiu Zheng Qing feels that her expression is extremely adorable. Her dance with Gu Ying Jie finally ends. She stands near the dance floor, looking around but she still has yet to see him. The music currently playing is brisk and light-hearted, she lightly bobs her head and moves her feet to the beat. Her entire body gently sways. She looks like a little mischievous. He thinks of her energetic voice calling him, “Please be more serious!” He is the one who wants her to be more serious. Just look, she is not even standing straight, swaying here and there. Please be more serious, as long as she is just a little more serious. If so, he would not be feeling… Feeling what? “Great Director Qiu!” Yin Ting finally sees him. The smile on her face is so brilliant that it makes him feel like he is seeing the light from the starry sky. Why are the stars so bright and beautiful? “You came at the right moment. Help me pick a guy,” she says as she approaches him. He stares at her. “I only have an eye for the stock market.” “That’s good enough.” “Lately the stock is falling horribly, it’s not a good time to buy.” “…” Qiu Zheng Qing sees her face fall and feels tickled by her expression. She waves at him. “Fine, fine. You go a.n.a.lyse your stock market. See you.” Then she leaves. See you? They have just barely seen each other, after much difficulty! He feels a little shocked at himself, why does he feels that they met after much difficulty? They don’t have any relationship, they don’t really need to meet. Much difficulty – this term is truly profound. After walking a few steps, Yin Ting suddenly turns around. “Are you coming? I’ll take you to eat some good food.” Therefore, her “see you” does not mean “see you”? He feels like he is in a daze. She is forever this nonsensical but he actually feels that it is okay for her to be this way. Yin Ting smiles at him. “Why are you blanking out, are you coming?” Without even realizing it, his legs are already following her.  Why are the stars so bright and beautiful! It seems like, Qiu Zheng Jing now understands a little.

 
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