Chapter 035 (1/2)
The Complete Guide to the Use and Care of a Personal Assistant
Translator: Jury
Editor: NomNom
First Published on Chaleuria
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Chapter Thirty-five
After mailing the agreement, Ling Miao went to the supermarket to buy groceries, then rushed to W&S carrying bags of various sizes.
Su Yuyang sat at a window table, eyes fixed on something outside the window, and Feng Ji sat opposite him. Seeing Su Yuyang’s anxious expression, Feng Ji could not help teasing: “Look at you! Before, when you used to wait for me, you weren’t like this.”
Su Yuyang froze. He didn’t quite understand what Feng Ji meant.
Feng Ji sipped his coffee, the bitter taste lingering in his mouth.
“When we were dating, every time you waited for me at dinner, you didn’t notice me until I was right in front of you—because you were just thinking about your novels. When you talked to me, you seemed completely uninterested. I tried to bring up topics we could talk about but couldn’t find anything at all.” Feng Ji took another sip of coffee and said conclusively: “No wonder everyone who dates you ends up breaking up with you. You don’t see us and your heart doesn’t have a place for us. What’s the difference between dating you and dating a scarecrow?”
“At least at bedtime it’s different,” Su Yuyang said pointedly.
Feng Ji froze. He looked at Su Yuyang’s faint smile and instantly understood the implications of Su Yuyang’s words.
Feng Ji shook his head and sighed, “Yuyang, I suddenly realize your life was really boring before. All day you either studied or read novels. After graduating college, you only have novels left, right? You don’t find life dull? Haven’t you thought about finding something to spice it up?
“Other than novels, there’s really nothing that I can sit still long enough to finish doing. Something to spice it up? What? Video games? If I had that sort of time, I might as well write a bit more and earn some more money,” Su Yuyang grimaced.
Feng Ji pointed at the table. His faint smile was sly, causing Su Yuyang to narrow his eyes. Su Yuyang watched Feng Ji expectantly. Feng Ji made a show of saying thoughtfully: “This place is pretty big. You wouldn’t get in the way.” Between the lines, the meaning was: “Su Yuyang, come and work at W&S. You can spice up your boring life and also earn money.”
Su Yuyang rolled his eyes at Feng Ji. “Can’t you think of a better idea?” Feng Ji shrugged, indicating that he could do nothing more about the matter.
Su Yuyang narrowed his eyes and leaned against the back of his chair. His chin was lifted, his eyes fixed on the lamp hanging from the ceiling.
Feng Ji leaned sideways on the back of his own chair, watching Su Yuyang’s expression intently. Su Yuyang’s clouded eyes were covered in a sheen of light and Feng Ji couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
Maybe he’s considering my suggestion.
Thinking this, Feng Ji subconsciously turned his head.
A hurried figure walked over from afar. Feng Ji closed his eyes then opened them again, and after confirming that he was seeing correctly, his lips lifted.
“Yuyang, maybe you should change your way of life.” Feng Ji picked the conversation topic back up. Su Yuyang continued to stare at the lamp and indistinct words slipped from his mouth: “Change my way of life? The way my life is now, that’s my choice. If I were to change it…”
“Let me finish talking.” Feng Ji suddenly sat up straight. His severe expression gave Su Yuyang no choice but to pay attention to what he was saying.
Feng Ji paused, then said slowly, “I’m saying that maybe you should find someone to live with.”
“Actually, I’ve wanted to settle down for a while.” Su Yuyang leaned against the back of his chair, his voice taking on a dreamy tone. “But whether in real life or online, I haven’t found the person I want to settle down with.”
Feng Ji’s eyes widened slightly. The formerly faraway figure was now right in front of them, and the person had seen him too. The gazes of the two met for several brief seconds, then Feng Ji looked away. Outside the shop, the person seemed surprised. He seemed to slip into a daze as he stood on the other side of the glass, carrying his bags.
Su Yuyang had not noticed Feng Ji’s gaze shift and kept murmuring confidently: “Feng Ji, living alone isn’t so bad.”
“Yuyang, maybe you should take the initiative,” Feng Ji counselled. “In your previous relationship, it was always us doing the chasing. Whether you agreed to go out with us because you really liked us, or because you were moved, or because you pitied us—I think even you don’t know. But if you took the initiative to pursue someone, it’d certainly be because you liked them—if there weren’t other influencing factors, of course.”
Su Yuyang leveled his gaze with Feng Ji’s. Feng Ji’s eyes were crinkled in a smile, but Su Yuyang felt that Feng Ji was waiting for a good show to begin.
Su Yuyang had just opened his mouth when an annoyed voice reached his ears.
“Damn, it’s hot. Feng Ji, get me a glass of ice water.”
“Room temperature is fine,” Su Yuyang added, and Feng Ji flashed his hand in an ‘OK’ sign.
The new arrival walked in front of Su Yuyang and slammed the things in his hands on the table, saying furiously: “Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing changing my water to room temperature?”
Su Yuyang ignored him but Feng Ji answered: “I say, Ling Miao, your listening comprehension needs improvement. Su Yuyang meant that he wants a glass of room temperature water.”
The annoyed, flustered person carrying bags was, of course, Ling Miao, who had walked for more than ten minutes in the hot sun.