Why is it that even when it comes to chasing girls, you can have others do it for you and still maintain your aloofness?
Zheng Dingding works at Yaqu Culture & Creative Co., Ltd. located in a very old office building in the west of the city. The space was small and had a simple layout. She was a member of the design department, with a focus in baby products. Her daily work consisted of making 3D models which would be drawn into 2D models after approval from the department manager.
In the beginning, Zheng Dingding came into the company passionate and enthusiastic, however after a while she found that her position had no meaning. She wasn’t given the opportunity to showcase her talents. Every time she came up with novel, creative designs, the department manager would dismiss them politely. In the end, Zheng Dingding came to the realization that what they wanted was to conform within the norm, follow market trends and they even imitated the designs of best-selling products overseas. They didn’t use a single one of her designs.
After all, Zheng Dingding was unknown in the toy market. Who would buy the things she designs? Before she became someone famous, she could only design products strictly aligned with the market research data, and there was no room for points of creativity.
The tedious, repetitive work gradually eroded Zheng Dingding’s initial enthusiasm.
It was almost time to get off work. Zheng Dingding was still looking at her computer and modifying models in earnest, while Xu Yun, the colleague sitting across from her, pulled out powder, eyebrow pencil, lip gloss and faced herself in the mirror.
Sister Zhang of the accounting department pushed the door in and urged Xu Yun to hand over this month’s expenses. Xu Yun opened the drawer and handed Sister Zhang a stack of bills bundled with a rubber band.
Sister Zhang accepted the bills and looked at Xu Yun. She smiled and asked, “You’re dressed up so well, are you going on a date?”
Xu Yun nodded, “A friend is introducing me to someone, we’re having dinner tonight at 7pm in Elizabeth.”
Sister Zhang suddenly became spirited, dragging a chair over to sit next to Xu Yun. She straightforwardly asked, “Elizabeth’s quite expensive. The guy’s qualifications are not bad?”
Xu Yun laughed reservedly, “Yeah.”
“What does he do?”
“Oh, him. My friend said he works in the hospital, and is also a professor.”
From across, Zheng Dingding’s ears perked.
“Professor? He’s quite old, then?”
“He’s not even 30.”
“Are you serious? A male professor at not even 30 is very rare.” Sister Zhang was very interested, “It’s no wonder you’re so dressed up today. It turns out you have to go meet an outstanding professor. Come, come, I’ll teach you a few tricks…”
Zheng Dingding’s mind flashed to Ning Weijin. For some reason, without a second thought, she immediately suspected that Xu Yun’s blind date was Ning Weijin. There was only one professor who wasn’t even 30 in H City. And a professor who wasn’t even 30 but eager to go on blind dates? It was Ning Weijin for sure.
She felt for the first time how small the world was.
Sure enough, her suspicions were indeed founded.
The next afternoon, Sister Zhang went to the design department to find Xu Yun and asked her how her blind date went yesterday. Xu Yun sipped her coffee and smiled very sweetly, “He’s really not bad. Very handsome, tall and his temperament is also very good. There was only one flaw: I was the one doing all the talking for two hours, he was just quietly listening.”
“What happened after?”
Xu Yun put down the coffee cup and smiled some more, “Afterwards he politely sent me home and we exchanged phone numbers. I took the initiative to invite him to watch a movie this weekend and he didn’t refuse.”
Sister Zhang was surprised, “You made the move first?”
Xu Yun nodded, “Yes, it’s so hard to find such a decent man. I don’t want to miss the opportunity.”
“By the way, is he a physician or a surgeon?”
“He’s a surgeon.” Xu Yun was a little embarrassed and motioned towards her chest area, “He does breast surgery.”
“Breast surgery?” Sister Zhang was surprised.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“What a coincidence. My niece said her chest has been feeling sore recently. There was something on her chest when she felt around in the shower, no idea whether it was a tumor. She was scared to death and is going to the hospital for an examination. Can she look for him?” SIster Zhang asked.
Xu Yun laughed and said, “We’ve only met and ate a meal once. If I ask at this time, it might not be too appropriate.”
“Makes sense.” Sister Zhang nodded understandingly.
Zheng Dingding acted busy and smiled involuntarily as she eavesdropped on Sister Zhang and Xu Yun’s conversation. As she imagined a man like Professor Ning sitting seriously at the dining table of a Western restaurant and talking to a woman with romance in the air, she inexplicably felt very uncomfortable yet interested.
…...
Ning Weijin worked at the outpatient clinic on Fridays. Zheng Dingding took half a day off to go to the hospital for a review and to also return the borrowed umbrella to Ning Weijin in passing.
Ning Weijin was holding a small flashlight in his hand, aiming at the one centimeter scar on the left side of Zheng Dingding’s chest. He was examining carefully and professionally.
“Did you use your medicine timely?” He asked.
“Yeah.” Zheng Dingding nodded.
“The scar didn’t expand. However, there are some shrinkage, protrusions and pigmentation on the surface.” Ning Weijin turned off the light and glanced at Zheng Dingding, “Go to the dermatologist again for a checkup.”
“Okay.”
Ning Weijin took off his gloves and turned his body. Zheng Dingding said as she buttoned up her shirt, “By the way…”
Ning Weijin turned around, his voice clean and neat, “Anything else?”
Zheng Dingding had not properly put on her bra. Ning Weijin’s gaze slammed into her pale stomach to her chest. She quickly pulled her clothes together, covering herself, “Nothing. I was just reminding myself to not forget to return your umbrella.”
Ning Weijin lowered his eyelids and hummed.
When Zheng Dingding followed Ning Weijin out, Little Fu and Little Chen were quietly discussing a question, unaware of the awkward expression on Zheng Dingding’s face.
After sitting down, Ning Weijin wrote in her medical file and handed it back to Zheng Dingding. Zheng Dingding accepted it and put it back in her bag, not forgetting to take the long-handled umbrella out and handing it back to NIng Weijin.
To be polite, Zheng Dingding covered Ning Weijin’s long umbrella with her company’s umbrella cover.
“Thank you.” Zheng Dingding whispered.
Ning Weijin took the umbrella and his eyes briefly lingered on the words on the umbrella cover, “Yaqu Culture Creative Co., Ltd.". He seemed to think of something, looked at Zheng Dingding and his expression slightly changed, as if asking what in the world this was.
“This is an umbrella cover produced by our company.” Zheng Dingding continued, “Today’s air condition is very bad and the fine dust levels are high. I was afraid of dirtying your umbrella.”
“Thank you.” Ning Weijin said.
Although it was an expression of gratitude, his tone completely lacked any sign of gratitude.
“You’re welcome.”
Walking out of the breast clinic, Zheng Dingding went to the dermatology department for another examination. While waiting in line, she heard two nurses at the reception desk gossiping.
“By the way, have you heard? Professor Ning’s blind date this time… seems to be successful.”
“For real?”
“Yesterday at the cafeteria, Meini heard with her own hears the director of the oncology department asking Professor Ning how his blind date on Wednesday went. Unexpectedly, Professor Ning said it went okay, even saying they were going to continue to meet and get to know each other better.”
“My god, does Dr. Shu know? If she found out, wouldn’t she be so anxious?”
“I bet she knows. Every female colleague in the hospital is closely following Professor Ning’s news. Every little rumour is spread by word of mouth. From the vice president to the grandmother cleaning the toilet, there’s no one who hasn’t heard.”
“To be honest, I’m still shocked. With Professor Ning’s extremely picky personality, how was it successful this time? What kind of creature is the other party?”
“She seems to be a designer… Yeah, a toy designer. Meini heard Profesor Ning tell the director that he found this field quite interesting.
Zheng Dingding was drinking water. Upon hearing this, she choked.
…...
On Monday’s lunch break, Sister Zhang came enthusiastically to ask how Xu Yun and Professor Ning’s cinema date on Saturday went.
Xu Yun worked as she laughed perfunctorily, “We didn’t go to the movies.”
“Didn’t you already set a date?” Sister Zhang wondered, “Why didn’t you go?”
“Friday night, he sent me a strange text message, asking for my company’s full name. I replied.” Xu Yun paused, “then his attitude suddenly changed, he told me I wasn’t suitable for him and that there was no need to meet again.”
“No way. Weren’t you guys getting along quite well? Could it be he didn’t like your profession?”
“No, he already knew I was a toy designer, but I didn’t tell him where exactly.” Xu Yun’s eyes were red, her voice unwilling, “I was shocked dumb when I got the message. I called him immediately. He was very cold on the phone. He just said that he’s been considering us for the past two days and felt we weren’t compatible, there was no need to continue wasting time. I didn’t know what I did wrong, how did his attitude change so suddenly? Is it because the company doesn’t have much reputation, I wasn’t worthy of him?”
“Ei, forget it, a guy like him who leads women in circles for no reason is not worthy of mourning over.” Sister Zhang comforted Xu Yun, lowering her voice, “Moreover, his job isn’t that good. He looks at women’s breasts every day. If not done properly, something will for sure happen in the future.”
......
Half working and half eavesdropping, Zheng Dingding couldn’t believe that Professor Ning’s attitude changed so quickly.
In the evening, when Zheng Dingding was on QQ, Ning Weixuan took the initiative to chat with her.
It means jade, not circle: By the way, dear, I was wondering what your day job was?
Zheng Dingding hesitated for a while, replying, “I design toys.”
It means jade, not circle: Really> No wonder the things you sell in the store have a childlike quality to them. Then, is the salary for toy designers high?
Flowing water tinkles: I just joined the company, so there’s not much under my name in the company. As such, my salary isn’t high.
It means jade, not circle: Oh, so that’s the case. Then I’ll ask you one more thing, where do you work?
Zheng Dingding thought about it and said it straight out.
Ning Weixuan, who was facing the screen, turned the head towards Ning Weijin who was sitting on the sofa reading a book. She reported, “She is a toy designer and works at Yaqu in the west of the city.”
Ning Weijin calmly turned a page on the book, not lifting his eyelids.
“Right, why can’t you ask her yourself, why does it have to be me?” Ning Weixuan was busy typing on the keyboard, her face anxious.
“I didn’t ask you to ask her, you’re the one being nosy.” Ning Weijin closed the book, got up and went straight upstairs. Little Honey who was resting on the stairs opened his eyes, meowing and stuck over to Ning Weijin, clinging to his thigh.
Ning Weijin looked down at Little Honey clinging to him. He lifted his other leg and ruthlessly stepped on its tail. Little Honey was in pain, feeling wronged as he unwrapped his paws. Ning Weijin didn’t look down again.
Ning Weixuan mumbled under her breath: “You clearly really wanted to, but still act as if you’re not interested.”
Just now, when Ning Weixuan was scrolling through Zheng Dingding’s “Meng Meng Da” shop, she was saying to herself: “I wonder what Dingding’s job actually is? How are her things so interesting, what does she do, I wonder what she does…”
A cold voice sounded.
“If you really want to know, why not ask her?”
Ning Weixuan turned her head, saw Ning Weijin reading his book in a relaxed, self-determined posture, suddenly realized his true intentions, immediately opened QQ to ask Zheng Dingding. She asked in great detail, too. She only thought about it after she finished: why is it that even when it comes to chasing girls, you can have others do it for you and still maintain your aloofness?
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