Chen Dongyang, citing a headache, escaped back to his room without even showering.
He locked the door, intending to message Tiantian, but the words caught in his throat, unsure of what to say.
After some thought, he switched to messaging Chen Jiaojiao, asking about the progress of the heart condition contact.
Chen Jiaojiao replied that she was in contact but there was no news yet.
"What's wrong? Did he have another episode?"
"No. Just asking."
Chen Jiaojiao was sharp; her brother never contacted her without a reason.
"Still playing coy with me? Did Zeng Hui cause trouble again? Didn't you take their mother and son to Tongcheng? Staying under her nose all day and she still doesn't trust you? Or did you do something you shouldn't have behind her back?"
Women were so troublesome, why so many questions?
Chen Dongyang sent a headache emoji and didn't reply further.
He called Tiantian.
Fortunately, there was Tiantian in the world. She didn't ask many questions, only shared happiness. Right now, Chen Dongyang was surviving on the little sunshine she provided.
After a few minutes of chatting about work, Tiantian changed the subject.
"Zhang Wei messaged me today. Do you know the good news?"
"She's pregnant. They're really something. Love at first sight, instant pregnancy, and now a lightning-fast wedding. Three major life events within 100 days, that's amazing."
Chen Dongyang felt a little happier listening to her cheerful tone.
"That is indeed good news."
"Zhang Wei invited me to the wedding. Meng Kai will probably invite you too. Are you going?"
Chen Dongyang was eager for an excuse to be away from Zeng Hui for a few days, to let her calm down.
"Of course, I'm going. I promised them before."
"Hehe," Tiantian said sweetly, "Then we can see each other again."
"Mhm. So, Tiantian, do you miss me?"
"Yes, Tiantian misses you. Do you miss Tiantian?"
"Miss you. Miss you so much I can barely stand it."
"Barely stand what?"
Tiantian was now capable of playful innuendo.
Chen Dongyang smiled: "My heart."
He hadn't been crude, so he was considered eloquent.
"How's the writing going? Once you're done, come to Nancheng. I'll be your assistant, and we can see each other openly then."
Chen Dongyang sighed, "I haven't finished organizing the materials yet. It'll probably take another day or two. I wish I could work through the night, just to see you sooner."
Tiantian was delighted to hear this. "You miss me that much? Did something unhappy happen to you today?"
Chen Dongyang said no, "I just genuinely miss you. I wish I could see you right now and hug you."
Tiantian said, "Look at the time. How is that possible? Close your eyes and sleep. We'll meet in our dreams."
Chen Dongyang knew it was impossible to see her and said, "Okay."
"Then you sleep too. We'll do it together, so we can meet in our dreams."
Tiantian chuckled, "I'm not sleeping. I still have things to do."
"What are you doing so late? If you don't sleep, how can I meet you in my dreams?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm going to do something big."
He deliberately deepened his voice and chided her, "Jiang Jingtian, you're getting naughty, deliberately keeping me in suspense?"
Tiantian just smiled, "You can think of it that way. Just lie down and sleep, keep your phone on. I'll call you when I'm done."
With that, Tiantian hung up.
Chen Dongyang's mind was in a mess. Zeng Hui's actions today, his colleagues' words, lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.
After lying down for half an hour, he couldn't sleep. He decided not to waste any more time and got up to work.
He opened his laptop to continue writing the copy. He didn't know how much time had passed when his phone rang.
He grabbed it. It was Tiantian calling.
Zeng Hui and Doubao were asleep, the room was quiet. He answered softly.
"Did you finish your 'bad deed'? Spill it, what were you up to?"
"What floor do you live on?"
"What?"
"I'm downstairs your building right now. What floor do you live on?"
Chen Dongyang immediately rushed to the window and opened it to look outside.
Under the dim yellow streetlights, a car was parked on the clean road. Leaning against the car was a small figure, looking up.
She probably couldn't see clearly and was asking on the phone.
"I don't know if the direction I parked can see your window. Are you asleep? Didn't you want to see me? Hurry up and wave hello."
Chen Dongyang didn't have time to put on his shoes. He closed the window, hung up the phone, and tiptoed out of the room.
Emerging from the building, he sprinted down the stairs.
Tiantian was still wondering why he'd hung up the phone mid-conversation. A dark shadow burst out of the stairwell.
Then, Chen Dongyang rushed towards her like lightning.
He brought with him a cool evening breeze and the strong scent of alcohol.
Tiantian's face lit up with surprise. She instinctively grabbed his hands.
"You've been drinking?"
Chen Dongyang lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Give me the car keys. Let's talk in the car."
Tiantian scolded him, "You're driving after drinking? Are you trying to die? Go sit in the back, I'll drive."
They got into the car, one behind the other.
Tiantian knew it wasn't good for them to be seen together downstairs, especially if Zeng Hui saw them... so Chen Dongyang was anxious to avoid that.
It felt like they were secret lovers, but she had no right to complain.
Knowing this, she still couldn't help herself and came willingly.
She drove for over two kilometers, found a secluded spot, and parked. Chen Dongyang asked her to sit in the back.
As soon as Tiantian slid into the back, he impatiently cupped her chin and kissed her.
Tiantian wasn't foolish; she could sense his mood was different from usual today.
When Chen Dongyang finally released her, she asked.
"Is it because you drank today that you miss me so much?"
Chen Dongyang didn't answer, instead asking, "When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"
Tiantian playfully hit him. "Answer my question first!"
Chen Dongyang looked at her, gentle yet firm. "No. I miss you all the time. When I'm at work, when I'm sleeping, my mind is always on you. But when I drink, I miss you even more, especially, so much that I'm going crazy."
"If I hadn't said those things today, would you not have planned to see me?"
Tiantian also told the truth, "I'm here on a business trip, and it wasn't specifically for you. I saw you two days ago, and it wouldn't be good if Zeng Hui saw you."
Chen Dongyang's eyebrows immediately furrowed. "Can we not mention her when we're together?"
Tiantian realized then that his unusual behavior today must be related to Zeng Hui.
"What happened? Did you argue? Did she find something out?"
"..."
Her question made it seem like Tiantian saw herself as an interloper.
Chen Dongyang almost choked, his heart seizing for a few seconds. He gritted his teeth and asked her,
"If I said I argued with her, and she found something out, what would you do? Would you immediately break off contact with me and push me back to her side?"
Tiantian didn't know what to say.