Please Be More Serious Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Looking at the world with one eye or two.
Zhengqing arrived at the restaurant Huizhu was eating at. He found her eating her dinner in a daze. She smiled when she saw him. She had applied heavy makeup on her face but it could not conceal the tiredness and dark circles under her eyes. Huizhu did not say much only drank. A waiter came along to ask him if he would like anything, Zhengqing declined. ‘I wanted to wait for you to arrive before we chose the wine, but the atmosphere here is not good. We can move to another place to drink,’ Zhengqing thought that it wasn’t the atmosphere of the place but the state of mind of the person. She was not happy, therefore nowhere would be comfortable. Zhengqing called the waiter so he could pay, but Huizhu insisted on paying. He did not quibble. She paid up and they left the restaurant into the cool autumn night. ‘Where should we go?’ She asked. He did not know. He hadn’t studied Yin Ting’s love dossier yet, and he doesn’t usually go out to drink, he could only think of Yin Ting’s brother’s bar, but he did not want to go. So he said, ‘Why don’t we take a walk?’ He remembered Yin Ting telling him the stars were bright tonight. ‘Alright,’ she said. She had no opinion either way. ‘How is work?’ He asked as they strolled along the street. She sighed and told him what had been happening in the company till now. ‘The AGM was called and we were told to make more persistent efforts into profits, more market research, have more understanding of the business. From this I suspect company had a few projects in unfamiliar waters, so there unexpected consequences.’ ‘Cui Yingwei had been taking the HQ reps and auditors out on the town for entertainment. I am sure, now that I am more aware of how he operates, he is trying to stall to find a scapegoat for his actions, and of course, for personal gain.’ ‘I don’t think I will be working there for much longer. He is too insidious. And unless I pretent to be blind, deaf and dumb, or go along with him, I would be in trouble. I can’t do either,’ ‘And the guy he nearly threw under the bus, Wu Fei, Yingwei has been calling him to talk privately a few times. Yingwei told Wu Fei that he had misunderstood him, the company would not fault him for the fraud, that he was young and inexperienced. He found the situation in a timely manner and responded well. He a.s.sured Wu Fei that he and the company would cultivate him, as long as he does a good job.’ ‘Wu Fei asked me what he should do. I told him that he has to make that decision for himself. We haven’t talked since then.’ ‘I’m going to finish all my work before the National Holiday, then go off on holiday for two weeks.’ ‘The rest would be good for you,’ Zhengqing said. She smiled, ‘I’ve never been on holiday this long. After my leave, I would have to go back to that company, and that doesn’t make me feel good. I can’t even leave for my holiday in peace, because I think that person is aiming for me. Before I joined this company, I had to sign an industry ban agreement if I resign; I am not allowed to work in the electronic equipment for two years. But this is all I have done all of my working life.’ (Zuben: Who signs daft contracts like that?) Zhengqing nodded in understanding. ‘If I had resigned because of something else, I would understand but I am leaving unexpectedly because of a rotten person. I can’t sw

allow this.’ ‘If you don’t resign and stay. He will surely find a way to get me into trouble and ruin your reputation and you would end up with a stain on your resume,’ ‘I know,’ she said nodding, ‘He nearly made Wu Fei his scapegoat. He would be planning something, since I am now a time-bomb in his eyes. That is why I am leaving. I just want to work hard and earn my keep, and not have to worry about anything.’ Zhengqing nodded. She had already decided, she just needed to vent to someone. If this had happened to him, Cui Yingwei would have paid dearly. On the other hand, one didn’t have strong evidence. He would have stayed to collect evidence, talked to the company representatives, devised a plan, told the press, and helped the company maintain a good image. (Zuben: What a hero! ¬.¬) But it was a hard war to fight, and Huizhu was not him, she did not want to fight. Choosing an escape was also right. (Zuben: She should have thought about protecting herself before she went out to be a n.o.ble knight) ‘I’m tired, let’s sit.’ She said when they came to a park bench on the pedestrian walk. As they sat, she sighed and said, ‘I need a smoke,’ Zhengzing remembered the lollipops Yin Ting gave him. ‘Don’t smoke, have this,’ he said taking the sweets from his pocket. She stared at them and at him, he got somewhat embarra.s.sed. ‘Did you bring the sweet to stop me smoking?’ she asked. The question embarra.s.sed him more. The sweets were too strange. Ying Ting, this fool. But Huizhu took the sweet, unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. She smiled as the flavour spread in her mouth. ‘Orange flavour! Very delicious.’ Zhengqing touched his nose; he hadn’t known what flavour they were. He hadn’t looked at them when Yin Ting handed them to him. ‘How come you have sweets?’ ‘Yin Ting gave them to me, she knew I was coming to see you, she thought you might be stresses and said the sweets may help make you feel better.’ Huizhu’s heart unexpectedly sank, and she asked carefully, ‘Are you two dating?’ ‘No,’ he said with a smile, ‘A colleague is having some love issues. Her boyfriend asked us to dinner to help them. My colleague is Yin Ting’s friend; the boyfriend is a work acquaintance that became friendly. We just had dinner together,’ Huizhu calmed down, ‘Tell her thank you for me, the sweet is delicious.’ Zhengqing laughed, if he told her that Huizhu like the sweets, Yin Ting would be really proud. He imagined her prideful expression and laughed some more. Huizhu watched him, then she said, ‘For the holidays, I am travelling out for relaxation and to think of my future,’ ‘Sounds like a good idea,’ he said. ‘What do you plan to do on the break?’ She asked again. She really wanted to invite him along with her, but she did not want to seem too forward. ‘Rest and work. What else?’ he said naturally. Huizhu was disappointed. She sucked on the sweet silently. Zhengqing stretched his long legs out and leaned back to look up at the sky. The stars were really bright tonight. Though, that Yin Ting was hugged by the G.o.d of thoughtlessness, she occasionally said some truths. When he didn’t speak for a while, Huizhu tried to find a topic, ‘I actually somewhat regret coming back home,’ He turned away from the sky back to her, ‘Really?’ ‘I was thinking that I should get married. There was no time to meet anyone in the US, so I thought that returning home, I would get the right job, meet the right man…’ That hint was a bit embarra.s.sing, but Zhengqing chose to remain silent, ‘When I left work today, it was a bit depressing. It was like I was leaving and never going back. For two years I would not be able to do this profession, it felt like abandonment. I had thought initially that the conditions were good and I was in a hurry. I was too impulsive.’ ‘You can think about starting again. Two years is enough to rest and plan.’ He suggested ‘A little I can’t imagine it though,’ she said, the future was a muddle. ‘Do you know why a car can turn?’ he asked. He felt foolish as the question came out. He was getting infected by Yin Ting. Huizhu blinked, ‘To change direction when you need a change?’ Zhengqing nodded with a smile. Huizhu laughed, ‘I like your metaphor. Indeed, you have to turn at the right time or you may hit a brick wall.’ ‘That kind of sharp turn does not make sense, but that is Yin Ting’s style.’ He wasn’t taking responsibility for that sort of naivety. ‘So the changing moon, is also something she said to you?’ ‘Yes. She likes those kinds of riddles. Would you know the answer to this one; what is the difference if you look at the world from one eye or two?’ ‘What is the difference?’ ‘I haven’t been able to figure it out,’ Huizhu close one eye to look at Zhengqing, then looked at him with both eyes, ‘Looks the same. What is the difference?’ she said. ‘I will ask her,’ he announced and proceeded to call her on his mobile. She wasn’t that curious, she thought as she watched him dial. (Zuben: He is) ‘Ask. You. Positive. Point.’ Yin Ting said as she answered the phone. Zhengqing grimaced, ‘These words are what I would like to say to you,’ (Zuben: Nothing makes sense) Yin Ting laughed and asked, ‘How did the date go?’ ‘It’s not as you think…’ ‘Why did you call me? Did you want a suggestion for wine bars with music? I know a good place…’ Zhengqing stopped her, ‘We just want to know the answer to the riddle.’ When did I say I wanted to know the answer? Huizhu thought. ‘I suppose I can tell you. If it was just you, I’d tell you to go to my blog, but since Zoe wants to know. However, you must not post the answer before I do!’ ‘I am not that jobless,’ Zhengqing said grumpily, ‘I will put you on speaker phone.’ ‘Miss Zoe!’ Yin Ting said in greeting. ‘h.e.l.lo Miss Yin,’ ‘h.e.l.lo h.e.l.lo! I will tell you the answer, it is quite simple really: There is no difference!’ Zhengqing expression fell. That was it?! ‘Therefore why fight to close one eye? Just be relaxed and look at the world with both eyes wide.’ Always at sixes and sevens, but there was some truth to it. Huizhu and Zhengqing exchanged a glance. ‘Okay, next one I just thought of. Why are the stars so bright?’ ‘I don’t want to know.’ ‘You don’t have to listen; I can tell Miss Zoe the answer.’ ‘She doesn’t want to know either,’ ‘Oh!’ she said a little downheartedly. ‘I want to hear,’ Huizhu said, taking the wind out of Zhengqing’s sails. Yin Ting perked up quickly, ‘Quickly, take the phone off speaker and give it to Miss Zoe!’ Zhengqing handed the phone to Huizhu; they chatted for a bit, and Yin Ting told her the answer. They bid each other goodbye, and Yin Ting hung up. Zhengqing looked at the sky while the ladies chatted, he did not mind being set aside. Huizhu handed him his phone back, her eyes glimmering with laughter, ‘Let’s return,’ she said. Zhengqing and Huizhu walked silently for a bit, then he asked, ‘What did she say?’ ‘She said not to tell you,’ ‘…’ It was not like he wanted to know anyway. They remained silent as they walked back to the restaurant parking lot and he walked her to her car. She got in, and he was about to leave when she called him back ‘Zhengqing,’ He turned. Huizhu opened her mouth, she wanted to say; you have talked about Yin Ting many times today, did you know that? She wanted to ask him to go on the holiday with her. No work. No friends. Just the two of them. She would like to know him better and like him to get to know her better. But she chose to say instead, ‘Have a good night,’ ‘Thanks, have a nice time on your holiday. Drive safe.’ They nodded to each other and he went to his car. On his way home, Zhengqing knew the answer to Yin Ting’s riddle would not be the scientific one (Zuben: One would think you would have learnt that factoid by now) So what could it be? When he got home, he took a bath and got ready for bed. He stood on his balcony to look at the night sky and suddenly had an impulse to take a photo. (Zuben: Your phone’s camera must be amazeb.a.l.l.s!) He posed the photo on his blog. He put his phone on the bedside table and settled in to bed. Shortly after, he got up again and went on his blog. There were four new comments, Tingting Yuli 413: Sofa!!!!! With a dancing emoticon. Zhengqing laughed. Tingting Yuli 413: The sofa is mine!!!!! With a dancing emoticon. And unfamiliar ID: ??? Tingting Yuli 413: You finally put up viewable content. Zhengqing wanted to laugh but he did not know what was funny. A photo of the stars was viewable content? That fool, she was really boring. Zhengqing put his phone down and went back to sleep.

His sleep was particularly good.