On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Ye Qiusuo left home and returned to her residence. The company had already begun operations yesterday, so she had to go there, and also to prepare for the mass production of the glasses project.
Speaking of the glasses, before she came, Xie Xi had specifically mentioned wanting to be the spokesperson, for free.
Ye Qiusuo agreed. Since it wouldn't cost any money and there was a celebrity endorsement, she naturally consented.
On the tenth day of the new year, the first meeting of the year was held, attended not only by shareholders but also by technical representatives and the public relations department, to discuss plans for the new year.
"We had a batch of successful projects before the new year. Perhaps we can ride on this momentum and hold a product launch event to restore Tianqiu Tech's reputation," suggested the head of the public relations department.
"What momentum?" Ye Qiusuo was still thinking about the project just discussed and didn't understand what he meant.
The PR head explained, "You just mentioned Xie Xi will be the spokesperson. Perhaps we can organize a launch event and invite him."
The manager had high hopes. Xie Xi had immense national popularity. Although Tianqiu Tech's reputation had been damaged not long ago, with so many new products now, they could completely ride on Xie Xi's popularity to rise again.
It was worth remembering that when Xie Xi had casually bought a Tianqiu watch on a show, their sales had immediately skyrocketed—though the superior quality of their products also played a part. Now, when netizens think of Tianqiu Tech, their first thought is the smart medical watch, no longer the failed mushroom product.
"That idea is feasible, but it also depends on whether Xie Xi himself is willing," said shareholder Song Jiren. He thought the idea was good but its feasibility was low. Having investments in the entertainment industry, he knew a bit about Xie Xi; this person was notoriously difficult to deal with in the circle.
The PR head looked toward Ye Qiusuo. Most people in the meeting, who didn't pay attention to those coming and going from the company daily, naturally weren't aware that Xie Xi had been coming frequently before the new year.
"Let's put this matter aside for now. I'll give you an answer in a while," Ye Qiusuo said, neither agreeing nor refusing.
After the meeting adjourned, Ye Qiusuo returned to her office. Remembering the profit summary report from before the new year, she finally decided to ask Xie Xi if he could attend Tianqiu Tech's product launch.
"I can go," Xie Xi blurted out before she could even finish her sentence.
"It's not a launch specifically for the glasses, but a launch event for our company's various products," Ye Qiusuo reminded him.
Xie Xi didn't care at all: "I know. When is your launch event?"
"Currently, it's just a rough idea. The specific event planning won't be finalized until later," Ye Qiusuo said. Having heard Rong Shiyun's constant talk about how Xie Xi was now diligently working, she wasn't sure about his schedule. "If there's a conflict with your schedule, you don't have to come."
Xie Xi: "My time is all yours... the company's."
He had spoken too quickly and almost slipped up, hurriedly correcting himself: "I don't have much going on recently. Any time works."
"Alright. Once the launch time and content are finalized, I'll contact you," Professor Ye said seriously.
The two fell silent for a moment. Just as Ye Qiusuo was about to say goodbye, Xie Xi spoke up: "Teacher, I've finished practicing those copybooks. Do you want to check them?"
"You can just take photos and send them to me," Ye Qiusuo said without much thought. "I'll see how your handwriting practice is going from them."
Xie Xi: "..." That completely defeated the purpose.
"Teacher, there are too many copybooks to photograph. Do you have time now? Let's video call, and you can see my handwriting?" Xie Xi tried a different approach.
"Now?" Ye Qiusuo thought about it. The company had just finished the meeting. Apart from the technical staff rushing to meet deadlines, more people only had to work half a day today, and she was the same. "Alright."
Xie Xi immediately hung up the phone and called via video.
Doing something like this in the office was a first for Professor Ye. She pursed her lips and answered the video call from Xie Xi, looking at the person on the screen.
"Teacher, I'll flip through them for you. It'll be faster this way," Xie Xi said earnestly, switching his camera to the front-facing one.
"Mhm."
Ye Qiusuo watched the loose-leaf notebook pages being flipped through and was somewhat surprised. Xie Xi's handwriting had improved remarkably fast.
Perhaps it was related to his strong artistic ability and his foundation in drawing.
Flipping to the later pages, Xie Xi's handwriting had already begun to show the style of her own script, though lacking in strength.
"I'll copy another copybook for you to practice with."
"Thank you, teacher."
Because of this, after leaving the company at noon, Ye Qiusuo specifically went to a bookstore to buy copybooks. She stood in that section, picking and choosing, finally selecting one with many characters and complete paragraphs, though the content was different from what she had copied before.
Knowing that Xie Xi was improving exceptionally fast, Ye Qiusuo didn't copy a little at a time like before. Instead, she spent the entire afternoon and evening copying the whole copybook. She didn't feel it was a waste of time; after all, there was compensation.
Ye Qiusuo: [The copybook has been copied. When you're free, you can have your assistant come get it.]
Ye Qiusuo sent the address of her residence.
When Xie Xi received this message, he was originally lounging on the sofa playing games. Upon seeing it, he immediately got up from the sofa, walked around the coffee table a few times, then turned to Zhang Dong beside him: "Tomorrow, you won't be feeling well."
Zhang Dong: "?"
"So, I'll have to go get the copybook myself," Xie Xi said, nodding.
Zhang Dong: Alright then. It must be related to Professor Ye.
"I'm going home to sleep tonight," Xie Xi said to Zhang Dong after walking around upstairs and downstairs and picking out the clothes he would wear tomorrow.
"Brother Xi, are you serious?" Zhang Dong asked, looking at the wall clock that already read 11 PM.
Xie Xi walked to the entrance hallway and turned off the main power switch: "There's a power outage here, so I can only go back to my house to sleep."
When it came to the skill of lying with a straight face, his Brother Xi was truly unmatched.
Zhang Dong resignedly turned on his flashlight and followed him out to drive Xie Xi to his home.
If Sister He were here, Brother Xi wouldn't be this unrestrained. Unfortunately, Sister He was recently busy with matters concerning her child and wasn't staying here.
So Xie Xi went home. His parents were already asleep, and it was the butler who came to open the door.
"Young Master, should I go wake..." the butler asked hesitantly. His young master had never returned at this hour before.
"No need. There's a power outage at my place, so I'm staying here for the night. I'll tell my parents tomorrow morning," Xie Xi said, then proceeded to order a list of exquisite pastries he wanted for breakfast tomorrow.
Zhang Dong, listening from behind as his Brother Xi listed a bunch of fancy pastry names, understood: his Brother Xi probably had something in mind.
"Very well, Young Master. Please go rest. I'll have the cook make them tomorrow," the butler said, leading the two to their rooms.
Xie Xi tossed and turned in his own room.
He actually wanted to mooch some pastries from home. His mother liked pastries, so they had a dedicated cook at home, a professional pastry chef. The pastries she made were the kind people would rush to buy if sold outside.
Xie Xi wanted to take some tomorrow to give to Professor Ye to eat.
...
Waking up early the next morning, Mr. and Mrs. Xie were indeed very surprised to see Xie Xi.
"When did you get back?" Mrs. Xie stepped forward and pinched her son's cheek. "Mom told you to stay home a few more days. Now you're back, aren't you?"
Xie Xi pulled his mother's hand away and looked at the various pastries on the table. "There was a power outage over there last night, so I came here to sleep. I have work this morning, so I won't be having breakfast here. Please pack all of these up for me."
Mrs. Xie watched as Xie Xi picked up the packaged pastries and left, feeling puzzled. She turned to look at Mr. Xie. "Why is our son acting so strange?"
Mr. Xie glanced at a message on his phone. "I asked someone at the power company over there. There wasn't a single power outage last night for any household. Our son probably just wanted to come back and get some pastries."
Mrs. Xie immediately sat down. "If Xi Xi wants to eat pastries, he can just come back and eat them. Why make up an excuse?"
"He's probably taking them for someone else to eat... like, for instance, Professor Ye." Mr. Xie said meaningfully.
Mrs. Xie's eyes lit up. "Butler, note down which pastries Xi Xi asked for yesterday. From now on, make these when Professor Ye visits."
"Yes."
...
Xie Xi got into the driver's seat carrying several boxes of exquisite pastries, then said to Zhang Dong, "I'll drive you to catch a taxi. Remember to rest well."
Zhang Dong was very calm. He had guessed this would be his fate last night.
He had to admit, his Brother Xi was going to great lengths to find a reasonable excuse to see Professor Ye.
"Brother Xi, I wish you all the best." Zhang Dong got out at an intersection with taxis passing by and gave Xie Xi a cheering gesture.
Xie Xi navigated all the way to Ye Qiusuo's residence. After parking the car, he slowly walked toward the building in the complex. The closer he got, the faster his heart beat.
He carried pastry boxes in both hands, wearing a knitted cap, glasses, and a mask on his face.
Fortunately, at this hour, the complex wasn't busy. Everyone was probably still sleeping in, so no one noticed Xie Xi.
He entered the elevator, pressed the button for her floor. Thinking of something, his face beneath the mask grew increasingly red, and the only visible part, his fair earlobes, turned a light pink.
The elevator doors opened. He turned right and finally arrived at Ye Qiusuo's door.
Xie Xi took off his mask and even deliberately straightened his clothes, wanting to present his best self to Ye Qiusuo.
However, as Ye Qiusuo passed by the living room, she had already glimpsed the screen by the entrance, showing someone standing outside her door.
Ye Qiusuo walked toward the entrance. In the video feed, she saw the person outside diligently adjusting his hat, his collar, and even trying to take something out of his pocket, but his hands were too full to manage it.
"Where's your assistant?" Ye Qiusuo opened the door and said to the stunned person outside.
"...Zhang Dong isn't feeling well today, he took the day off. So I came to get the copybook." Even though he had already prepared this excuse, actually saying it out loud made Xie Xi feel quite guilty. Luckily, Ye Qiusuo didn't seem to notice.
"Come in." Ye Qiusuo stepped aside to let him pass.
Xie Xi didn't look around aimlessly. He directly placed the things in his hands on the living room dining table. "Professor, these pastries from this shop are really delicious. You should try them."
To persuade Ye Qiusuo to eat them, he added, "It's a New Year's gift."
Ye Qiusuo: "Thank you."
"Professor, have you had breakfast yet? If not, you can try some." Xie Xi wanted to know which ones she liked, so he could maybe have the cook make them again in the future.
Ye Qiusuo brought over a filled-in loose-leaf notebook from the nearby coffee table. "This is the completed copybook. Take it and practice by following it."
"Okay." Xie Xi was the picture of a model student now.
Then he began opening the boxes, looking at Ye Qiusuo with eager eyes, waiting for her to eat.
Professor Ye: "..." She couldn't shake the feeling something was off.
"Let's eat together." Ye Qiusuo went to the kitchen and brought back two forks.
Xie Xi slowly looked down at the fork in his hand. This wasn't just any fork; it was a signal that they had taken another step closer!
While Ye Qiusuo wasn't paying attention, the big star Xie secretly took a photo of the fork.
He decided he would create a small social media account for himself, to record the story of their beautiful love.
