Chapter 29: Fishing

Jian Mingzhou was still in shock and hadn’t come back to his senses. He couldn’t find the right words to console him at that moment.

It wasn’t until he saw Xie Jing extinguish his phone that he gathered his thoughts. “… Xiaojing, they just lack the capability despite their good intentions.”

Xie Jing sneered, “They lack both intention and capability.” After saying this, he put down his phone and turned back to the court.

Jian Mingzhou hesitated, “…”

The phone immediately vibrated again. He opened it. Xie Chi was still eagerly asking: What did Xiaojing say?

Jian Mingzhou couldn’t bear it. He didn’t say anything.

[Xie Chi]: Sigh, he’s not good with words.

[Jian Mingzhou]: …

No, that’s called being refined. He couldn’t imagine how many eloquent phrases were sealed behind Xie Jing’s closed lips.

They played badminton in the gym for over two hours.

Around six o’clock, everyone finished packing up to leave.

Perhaps it was the intense atmosphere in the editorial department, akin to the scorching sun, that made them sweat and release their pent-up energy through exercise.

When Xie Jing came down from the court, he had already returned to his usual casual self.

“Uncle, I’ll go to the restroom first.”

Jian Mingzhou was packing up. “Sure.”

The editors were also packing up and discussing where to have dinner later. They mentioned a few places and then asked Jian Mingzhou, “Deputy Editor, what do you think?”

“You guys go ahead. Xia and I will have a celebration banquet later.”

The surroundings fell silent, and gazes landed again!

Xia Ye chuckled. “Still chose ‘him.'”

At this moment, Xie Jing was not present, and a group of people started to make a move, saying, “Editor-in-chief, like a dog soaked in the rain, lying on the side of the road…”

Xiao Fu stared. “The big triangle, a fierce battlefield.”

Qianqian said with resentment, “My unfaithful old wall!”

Jian Mingzhou, with aesthetic fatigue, said, “Why isn’t the inspiration when reviewing articles as abundant as in your dramas?”

Xiao Yu immediately turned around and sounded the alarm, “Editor-in-Chief, look at him.”

In the midst of the commotion, a low voice sounded from behind:

“What’s wrong.”

The voices around suddenly hushed! Jian Mingzhou turned his head and saw Xie Jing coming back, looking down at him. Everyone turned around, pretending to be busy.

Jian Mingzhou didn’t know how much people heard.

Facing each other, he calmed down. “It’s nothing, just some teasing. It’s their professional habit.”

Anytime, anywhere, create CP without distinguishing between humans and animals.

Xie Jing just nodded and looked away.

The voices of conversation and the subtle sounds echoed in the spacious venue. Jian Mingzhou was leaning against the side, watching, when suddenly a question came from beside him:

“Like the teasing between you and Chief Xia?”

His heart suddenly quickened, and he turned away. “It’s just a joke.”

The gaze beside him seemed to have fallen.

After two seconds, Xie Jing’s slow voice carried a hint of inexplicable laughter: “So, you didn’t take those seriously?”

Take seriously what, him and Xia Ye?

Jian Mingzhou’s eyebrows furrowed suddenly, turning serious as he looked back. “Of course not.”

He was playing the official “arch-enemies” pairing!

…

After packing up, everyone left the venue together.

Outside the venue, they separated. Jian Mingzhou remained vigilant, watching those surging glances.

When everyone was gone, he asked, “Xiaojing, what do you want to eat tonight? I’ll treat you.”

Xie Jing said, “You accompanied me to watch the competition today, so it’s my treat to you, Uncle. Today is a celebration, and you have to listen to me.”

Jian Mingzhou asked, “Choose a nearby restaurant?”

When his gaze fell, he saw Xie Jing pulling out a photo. The latter carefully compared the picture, saying, “Mushrooms, sea cucumbers, bamboo fungus, horseshoe crab…”

After finishing, Xie Jing put away his phone and said, “Let’s go. I won’t eat; someone will eat on my behalf.”

“…”

After a while, the two got into a taxi.

With a completely unsatisfied mood, he messaged Xie Chi for a reminder.

【Mingzhou】: Show some sincerity when celebrating.

Soon, Xie Chi replied with a shocked expression.

【Xie Chi】: Specifically, which dessert place? [eavesdrop]

“…” Jian Mingzhou closed his phone and closed his eyes. “Xiaojing, I’m a bit tired; I’ll take a nap first.”

It felt like his brain was about to be banished by someone.

–

Xie Jing chose a seafood restaurant.

Arriving at the location and getting off the car, the storefront looked magnificent and dazzling.

Jian Mingzhou followed him inside. The passage to the restaurant was surrounded on three sides by an aquarium. Various fish swam and circled inside.

Outside the passage was a large glass tank.

He had never seen such an indoor design before and couldn’t help but take out his phone for reference, sending it to the author.

After the message was sent, Xiaolu replied first.

【cc Xiaolu】: Editor, did you go to the aquarium?

【Mingzhou】: Seafood restaurant.

【cc Xiaolu】: ???? [Xiaolu is shocked and eating grass]

Jian Mingzhou chuckled, about to close his phone, when the message suddenly flashed with sparks:

【cc Xiaolu】: F*ck!! Who is the man next to you?! Such tall and handsome features?!!

“?” Jian Mingzhou was also shocked!

Only then did he notice a faint shadow of him and Xie Jing in the photo. The two stood very close, and Xie Jing hung a backpack on the side, looking down as he took pictures.

What brand of microscope is Xiaolu?

Jian Mingzhou quickly closed his phone. Xie Jing turned his head. “What’s wrong, a look of being caught off guard?”

He solemnly said, “Let someone undeserving have a meal.”

“…” After settling down in the restaurant, Xie Jing ordered and then let Jian Mingzhou choose. Thinking that Xie Jing probably wanted to make his parents hemorrhage and vent some frustration, he didn’t insist on paying.

“You just need to choose; I have no dietary restrictions.”

Xie Jing lowered his head and picked for him, “Okay.” After picking, he reminded the nearby waiter, “Non-alcoholic beverages, please.”

“You can’t drink today?” Jian Mingzhou asked.

Xie Jing considerately glanced at him and said, “There are more shells today; I’m afraid you’ll be competitive until dawn.”

“…” That’s his stereotype!

A table of seafood was quickly served. Shrimp, shellfish, crab, and fish were all there, prepared very deliciously.

Jian Mingzhou clinked glasses with Xie Jing with juice, congratulated him on winning the championship, and said, “Then let me give you a gift. What do you want? Do you need wrist guards for training, or a T-shirt, or shoes?”

But shoes are crucial; Xie Jing probably prepared them himself.

“We’ll talk about it later; I’ll send you a set of pajamas. Is that okay? I don’t have enough at home.”

Jian Mingzhou reacted after two seconds, “Okay.”

He asked again, “Do you have a favorite brand?”

“Yeah, I do. It happens that there’s a promotion recently, and Uncle can help me choose one.”

So, it’s time to go to the mall to make a selection.

Jian Mingzhou estimated the time; he had a business trip this Saturday, but he should be back on Sunday. “Shall we go over the weekend?”

Xie Jing paused for a moment, his lips curling. “Sure.”

By now, it was already late in the day, and they were ready to head home after finishing their meal. After Xie Jing dismantled a pile of shrimp, crab, and fish, he took a photo and sent it to Xie Chi.

Jian Mingzhou observed, “Reciprocity?”

“No, let him savor it himself.”

“… ” Thinking about that pure and flawless “which dessert place,” he didn’t know how long it would take for people to wake up.

—

The weekend passed, and Monday arrived.

In the conference room, Xia Ye drummed on the table with a proposal in hand, “The focus of this week is the Qixi Festival plan. Remind all the teachers to add more pens! Also, the bookstore’s Qixi special column—”

“And then the business trip on Friday, with Mingzhou and me.”

Jian Mingzhou took notes and said, “Okay.”

“We’ll go to City C for handover preparation on Friday. Saturday is Qixi, participating in planning activities all day. Return on Sunday morning.”

After Xia Ye finished speaking, she looked at him deeply and said, “You… shouldn’t be planning anything for the Qixi Festival, right?”

Jian Mingzhou’s hand, brushing on the table, stopped:

Can’t we have a proper meeting?

He raised his head to counter, “Of course not. Chief Editor, you shouldn’t be planning a romantic getaway in the middle of a business trip either, right?”

“Hehehe, I wouldn’t.”

The meeting ended with mutual injuries and the editors passionately gossiping. After the meeting, a group of people left in a line, and Jian Mingzhou continued to walk with Xia Ye at the end.

“It’s going to rain this weekend; it will be a bit cooler.” Xia Ye held a snow-capped coffee. “Remember to bring an umbrella and a jacket.”

Jian Mingzhou noted, “Okay.”

Walking side by side for a while, Xia Ye glanced at him and suddenly slowed down. “If you really have something on Saturday, you can say it. I can ask someone else for the business trip.”

Jian Mingzhou looked at him in surprise.

Perhaps Xia Ye always had the appearance of a model employee, rarely uttering such humane words.

He softened, “It’s okay; I can schedule for Sunday.”

As the words fell, the footsteps beside him stopped.

In a second, Xia Ye put on a triumphant expression, “Ha, I knew you were planning something for the Qixi Festival!”

“…”

Jian Mingzhou couldn’t believe it: What a cunning intention!

After a brief moment of eye contact, Jian Mingzhou smiled understandingly and walked away, ignoring Xia Ye’s momentarily darkened face.

—

Considering today’s mental exertion in office warfare, it was tiring.

Jian Mingzhou went to the supermarket after work to buy some beef, pork belly, and meatballs, preparing to make a hot pot to treat himself.

He finished shopping later than usual. Just as he came out of the supermarket, he received a message from Xie Jing:

【Jing】: Uncle, are you back?

【Mingzhou】: Went to the supermarket to buy ingredients. Almost home ^0^

【Jing】: Do you want me to come down to pick you up?

Jian Mingzhou smiled and replied, No need.

He finished the message and, looking at the homeowner group, saw several messages: some about lost and found items, some about playing cards, and a few mixed with gossip and interesting stories.

【302】: Sanhua and Ah Huang fought again.

【206】: There’s a suspicious scavenger wandering around; I just got taken to the guard office. Be cautious when going out!

…

After reading the messages, Jian Mingzhou arrived home.

He closed his phone and pushed open the door. “Xiaojing.”

Xie Jing was sitting on the sofa reading manga, and upon hearing the movement, he looked up and said, “Back, Uncle.”

“…” Jian Mingzhou’s gaze fell, trying to ignore the manga “Big Brother’s Secret” in his hands. “We’re having hot pot tonight.”

Xie Jing walked over and said, “Okay.”

The two of them arranged the ingredients on the table. Jian Mingzhou, afraid that Xie Jing would bring up taboo manga again, brought up the topic, “Have you been in touch with your uncle at home recently?”

Xie Jing tore open the packaging and sneered.

“…” understood, “He didn’t come to make amends?”

“It seems like he made two calls just now. I was reading manga and didn’t answer.”

While they were talking, Jian Mingzhou’s phone vibrated.

He looked, and it was Xie Chi, “Your uncle also called me.” With ingredients in his hands, he unpacked, and by the time he opened WeChat, the call had been disconnected, replaced by two messages.

“I’ll take a look first.”

Xie Jing took over the ingredients and said, “Sure.”

Jian Mingzhou opened WeChat and saw several messages:

【Xie Chi】: [The other party has canceled]

【Xie Chi】: Mingzhou, help me out. QAQ

【Xie Chi】: [Location – Hua Yun Community Guard Office]

Jian Mingzhou, “?”