"I think so too."
After replying, Xie Xi asked Zhang Dong, "Does the tone sound natural enough?"
Zhang Dong: "...Quite natural." It was already sent, no point in retracting it now.
Xie Xi, holding Lili, tossed his phone aside: "Should I go to Tianqiu Tech today?"
Zhang Dong fell silent, wanting to say that the receptionists at Tianqiu Tech were already looking at them strangely. They had been going there every few days this month, and Professor Ye herself came down to escort them upstairs. Last time he tried chatting up a receptionist, she was already probing about their relationship.
Fortunately, most people at Tianqiu Tech were absorbed in their own work, so they didn't pay them too much attention.
"Brother Xi, we're leaving tomorrow. Don't you need to pack?"
"You stay and pack for me. I have a class to attend," Xie Xi declared righteously.
Zhang Dong: "..." Who was it that used to think of every excuse to avoid homework?
Now that they had resumed their teacher-student relationship, Ye Qiusuo had agreed to teach Xie Xi calligraphy. Originally, she intended for him to practice from copybooks, but Xie Xi claimed he couldn't learn that way and found it easier to practice from her handwriting.
So, Ye Qiusuo specially set aside two hours each week to copy a few pages of characters in a loose-leaf notebook, then took the pages out for him. Basically, while Xie Xi copied from her notes, she would sit down with him one day to write the content for the next week.
Xie Xi enthusiastically stuffed a bunch of colorful pens into his bag, then abandoned his assistant, planning to go to Tianqiu Tech alone.
"Meow~"
Lili once again demonstrated her clingy prowess, clinging to Xie Xi's pant leg and refusing to let go.
"Lili, I'm going to see Professor Ye. You can't come," Xie Xi tried to make her release him.
The kitten clung stubbornly, clearly intent on going out with him.
"Brother Xi, why don't you just take Lili along," Zhang Dong suggested gleefully.
"Let me ask her." Xie Xi actually considered it for a moment. He took out his phone, squatted down, took a picture of Lili, and sent it to Ye Qiusuo.
[Teacher, can I bring Lili to Tianqiu Tech? Image.jpg]
Ye Qiusuo had just come out of a meeting. Seeing Xie Xi's message, she stared at the picture of the kitten for a long time before replying: [This is a company. It might not be very convenient.]
"Professor Ye says it's not convenient." Xie Xi squatted on the ground, showing Lili the phone screen. "You can't go."
A second later, another message came in: [If there's really no other way, you can bring her.]
Xie Xi looked at the message, then down at the kitten, reaching out to stroke its head. "Lucky you."
...
"I'll be downstairs later. If anything comes up, come find me there." After replying to Xie Xi's message, Ye Qiusuo turned to Zhao Guiyin.
"Understood, President Ye." Zhao Guiyin knew immediately who was coming upon hearing this.
Ye Qiusuo took a loose-leaf notebook from her office drawer and placed it on the desk before continuing her work. After waiting about forty minutes, the front desk called to say Xie Xi had arrived.
She picked up the notebook and went down to the first-floor reception to sign him in.
"The other temporary ID card can be deactivated." Ye Qiusuo glanced at Xie Xi not far away and filled in the form: Bringing one cat.
After getting the temporary ID card, Ye Qiusuo led Xie Xi inside. "She needs to go through security too."
This was also to prevent any high-tech devices from being hidden on the cat.
After security, Xie Xi followed Ye Qiusuo into the elevator, holding Lili.
"Meow~"
The kitten nestled against Xie Xi's arm, softly meowing at Ye Qiusuo with her watery blue eyes.
"Lili really likes you, Teacher." Xie Xi turned his head, smiling with curved eyes. Holding Lili, he extended her towards Ye Qiusuo. "Teacher, do you want to hold her?"
Professor Ye stood in the elevator, expressionlessly reaching out to restrainedly stroke Lili's chin, then quickly withdrew her hand. "There."
The kitten squinted contentedly. After waiting half a day without further pets, she started meowing, each sound softer than the last.
The elevator doors opened at that moment. Professor Ye was the first to step out, with a hint of fleeing the scene.
Xie Xi lagged behind, picking up the kitten and following.
By the time they entered the empty lab, Ye Qiusuo had regained her usual calm composure. There was only one wide, long table suitable for sitting and writing, which could seat four or five people. The two sat opposite each other, with considerable distance between them.
Xie Xi placed Lili on the table. In the brief moment he looked down to get his stationery, the kitten had already walked over to the other side and settled quietly beside Ye Qiusuo's hand, watching her.
"Teacher, Lili likes you," Xie Xi said with a laugh, looking up to see the kitten's well-behaved posture.
Professor Ye remained unmoved, uttering an "Mhm," her pen continuing to copy without pause. However, when her peripheral vision caught Lili, her ramrod-straight posture relaxed just a tiny bit.
Two hours couldn't pass without a break. After copying for a while, Xie Xi began to play with Lili. The pen in his hand had a cap shaped like a dried fish when closed. He extended it to tease her.
Lili gently placed her two front paws on his hand, playing along.
The man and the cat were having a great time.
Ye Qiusuo looked up at them, her fingers resting on the loose-leaf notebook twitching slightly: That kitten is very pleasant to pet.
After playing for a bit, Xie Xi rummaged through his pencil case, pulled out a pen with a small ball hanging from its cap, and handed it to Ye Qiusuo. "Teacher, this is for you."
Ye Qiusuo lowered her gaze to the pen on the table, a struggle visible in her eyes. Finally, she picked up the pen and, as if by instinct, began using the ball to tease Lili.
"Meow~"
Lili was exceptionally good at acting spoiled, especially with those willing to get close. Soon, she focused entirely on Ye Qiusuo, clinging to her and meowing, her little tail swishing back and forth.
Professor Ye felt immensely satisfied inwardly, but her facial expression grew increasingly impassive, as if she weren't the least bit invested in playing with the cat.
In the end, seeing Xie Xi lower his head to write, she finally stopped. She gave the pen to Lili to play with, but her gaze lingered on the kitten.
Lili pressed the ball with both paws, quietly gnawing on it by herself for a while before losing interest. She then lightly leaped over one of Ye Qiusuo's hands, snuggled against her palm, curled up on the loose-leaf notebook, and began to sleep.
The A4-sized loose-leaf notebook was now two-thirds occupied by Lili.
Ye Qiusuo: "..."
For the first time ever, the never-procrastinating Professor Ye took the initiative to give up: "I'll copy the pages for next week tonight and give them to you tomorrow."
Xie Xi pretended not to see Professor Ye's hand secretly stroking Lili's soft fur: "I'm going to France tomorrow. I probably won't be in the country next week."
Ye Qiusuo was taken aback, then seemed to remember something. "What time is your flight tomorrow?"
"My flight is at eleven tomorrow morning."
This was the first time she had proactively asked about his affairs. Xie Xi's heart pounded fiercely.
"That works. I have to pick up a friend in the morning. I'll copy them tonight and bring them to you at the airport tomorrow." Ye Qiusuo looked down at the little ball of fur before her, secretly finding it rather adorable.
Xie Xi: So that's how it is.
...
After leaving the company, Xie Xi held Lili and murmured, "You got to take advantage first."
Early the next morning, Sister Wei arrived.
"Does this look good?"
As soon as she entered, she saw Xie Xi—who would normally still be asleep at this hour—already up and asking Zhang Dong how his overcoat looked.
Wei Qi: "?"
Given Xie Xi's temperament, when traveling on business in the dead of winter, especially on international flights, he never cared about his look. He'd just wrap himself in any down jacket and be done with it. So why was he in the mood to dress up today?
"Sister Wei, you're here! Quick, help Brother Xi pick out some clothes." Zhang Dong's eyes lit up upon seeing Wei Qi, as if he had spotted a savior.
"What's going on?" Wei Qi asked Xie Xi.
Xie Xi naturally couldn't say it was because Ye Qiusuo was going to deliver his homework notebook today, so he needed to dress especially well.
"An artist must always pay attention to their image. I've been too lax before," Xie Xi said, lying through his teeth.
"Brother Xi, you'd look good even in a burlap sack," Zhang Dong said sincerely. His Brother Xi had broad shoulders and long legs, a natural clothes hanger.
Hearing Xie Xi's words, Wei Qi believed him about thirty percent: "Change into that black overcoat, the one with the hood."
After much dawdling, the group finally set off for the airport. Xie Xi spent the entire journey holding his phone, staring at it without moving.
"Who are you waiting to hear from?" Wei Qi asked, having turned to look at him several times and seen him like this.
"No one."
When they arrived at the airport, Xie Xi finally received a message from Ye Qiusuo saying she had arrived.
Ye Qiusuo: 【I'll come find you.】
Xie Xi immediately replied "Okay," then straightened his coat collar and smoothed his hair.
The group quickly entered the airport. Xie Xi looked east and west, trying to spot Ye Qiusuo.
"Xixi, walk in the very middle, stop looking around," Wei Qi reminded him. The airport was crowded and full of prying eyes, and Xie Xi stood out too much in a crowd, making it easy for him to be recognized.
Just as they were about to enter the VIP channel, Xie Xi finally saw Ye Qiusuo standing nearby. He threw Wei Qi's instructions to the wind, broke away from the group, and walked straight towards Ye Qiusuo.
"Xixi?"
Wei Qi turned her head and saw Xie Xi walking away, momentarily stunned. She asked Zhang Dong, "What's going on?"
Zhang Dong had also seen Ye Qiusuo and pointed in her direction. "Maybe he's going to say hello to Professor Ye?"
"Here you go." Ye Qiusuo took a few sheets of loose-leaf paper out of her bag.
Xie Xi took the papers but didn't leave immediately. "I'm going to France for a brand endorsement event. I'll be back in four or five days."
Professor Ye deliberately glanced towards his arms but didn't see the kitten. "Is there someone looking after Lili at home?"
Xie Xi hesitated for a moment. "I set up an automatic feeder. It has enough food for six days."
"Professor Ye, what brings you here?" Wei Qi walked over with the others to greet her, just in time to interrupt what Ye Qiusuo was about to say.
"To see someone off at the airport." Ye Qiusuo pointed at the papers in Xie Xi's hand. "And to give him the characters he copied."
Just then, an announcement for a departing flight came over the loudspeaker. Ye Qiusuo said goodbye to them and turned to leave.
"What copied characters?" Wei Qi asked Xie Xi. She didn't know the two had resumed their teacher-student relationship.
Xie Xi's gaze shifted evasively. "I can see the characters clearly now, so I want to start practicing my handwriting. Professor Ye is teaching me."
Wei Qi glanced at the papers in his hand. Frankly, Professor Ye's handwriting was very beautiful, but still... for something like teaching calligraphy, wouldn't a professional teacher be better?
Although she thought this, Wei Qi didn't say it out loud, keeping the question to herself. If Xixi was willing, that was enough.
...
After arriving in France, they only rested for a day before starting preparations for outfits and styling for the event.
"I'm keeping the glasses on."
Xie Xi refused to take off his glasses.
The stylist was still trying to persuade him, arguing that the glasses ruined the look. Xie Xi had Zhang Dong bring over a large box, which he opened to reveal an assortment of glasses inside. "If this pair doesn't work, switch to another. If that still doesn't work, we can switch you out."
The stylist: "..."
After the stylist finalized the plan and left, Zhang Dong clicked his tongue. "That worked out fine. What was all that reluctance about earlier?"
The stylist for this event was hired by the brand, not their usual one who traveled with them.
