Song Ye rolled down the window and looked up at her.
Jiang Nanshu reached inside and placed a round Ferrero Rocher on his laptop keyboard.
In a soft voice, she said,
“Here’s a chocolate for you.”
She had taken it before leaving home, thinking it might help with the bitter taste in her mouth.
But Jiang Yu had scolded her, so she’d stuffed it back into her bag.
She was just about to pull her hand back.
The man suddenly grabbed her wrist and looked at the large bruise on the back of her hand.
His brows furrowed.
“From the IV?”
Earlier, her hand had been half-hidden by her sleeve, so he hadn’t seen it.
Jiang Nanshu was caught off guard.
She looked down at her own hand.
Her skin was pale, and that large bruise covered nearly the entire back of her hand.
It looked rather alarming.
“Didn’t really notice. It only turned like this after some blood leaked back.”
She paused, then half-joked,
“What else? Someone beat me up?”
“Go home and ice it.
Put some medicine on too.”
Song Ye frowned slightly and let go of her hand.
He looked up at her.
“There’s medicine at home, right?”
“My mom and Uncle Lu are both doctors.
There’s a whole stash of meds.”
Jiang Nanshu replied coolly, gave him a wave, and turned to leave.
When she got home, Jiang Yu and Lu Mingkun were still watching TV in the living room.
They looked back when they saw her.
“You’re back? Did you eat?”
“No…”
Jiang Nanshu touched her stomach.
She finally felt a little hungry now.
“Mom, I want your noodles.”
Jiang Yu got up and walked to the kitchen to cook for her while muttering,
“You went out on a date and came home hungry?
Your boss didn’t take you out to eat?”
Jiang Nanshu: “…”
She couldn’t help but explain,
“We were going to. But I fell asleep in the car, and it was parked downstairs for a long time.”
Jiang Yu looked back at her and smiled.
“Why didn’t you invite him up?”
Jiang Nanshu froze for a second, then mumbled, “Maybe later.
We’re not even officially together yet. Isn’t it a bit soon to meet the parents…”
She washed her hands, then couldn’t resist walking to the balcony and looking down.
Song Ye’s car was still parked in the same spot.
Still running that program?
After finishing the noodles and going back to check again, the car downstairs was already gone.
On the fourth day of the new year,
Cheng Jiajia came by after returning from her hometown to visit Jiang Nanshu.
She also came to greet Jiang Yu and Lu Mingkun for the new year.
Jiang Nanshu had been coughing badly these few days, so she wasn’t fit to go out.
After dinner, the two of them stayed in her room chatting.
Cheng Jiajia was all worked up after being bombarded with marriage talk by countless relatives during her trip home.
“If it weren’t for my mom’s sake, I’d have flipped the table and stormed out.
So damn annoying.
What business is it of theirs whether I get married or not?”
“Anyone chasing you lately?”
Jiang Nanshu sat on the bed, hugging a pillow as she asked.
“There are, but none of them are worth it.
I don’t even want to flirt.”
“At this age, it’s rare to find a handsome romance addict like Song Ye.”
Cheng Jiajia teased her,
“So how does it feel being a scumbag in front of a hot guy?”
Jiang Nanshu lowered her head and sighed.
“Not fun. Doesn’t even feel that satisfying.”
Cheng Jiajia snorted. “You’re still too soft-hearted.”
Jiang Nanshu pouted, silently agreeing.
Cheng Jiajia suddenly remembered something and bumped her shoulder.
“Does Song Ye have any cousins or something?
That kind of romance brain has to be genetic, right?”
Jiang Nanshu blinked and replied, “Li Yi, his cousin.”
“…Forget it, pretend I didn’t ask.”
Cheng Jiajia pulled the pillow out of her arms.
“That kind of proud, temperamental boy is too high-maintenance.
I don’t want to spend my days smoothing his fur.”
“When I date, it’s for emotional value not to play mom or big sister to someone.”
Jiang Nanshu chuckled, and just then, her phone buzzed on the bed.
She picked it up to check.
It was a message from Song Ye.
S: Lu Xiaowei’s transferring to another department. Can you take over as operations lead?
Jiang Nanshu paused, not too surprised.
If they weren’t hiring someone new, she was indeed the most suitable candidate.
As the producer, Song Ye had decision-making power over internal project staffing.
He’d likely already cleared it with HR. As long as she agreed, it’d be settled.
Jiang Nanshu replied:
Promotion and a raise? Why not.
She was more than happy about it.
S: Want me to approve one more day of leave?
Shu: No need. Just still coughing a bit, but it won’t affect anything.
The project was on a tight timeline.
The devs and planners were heading back to the office tomorrow, and the operations team had a day’s delay.
Jiang Nanshu would be returning on the sixth day of the new year.
She thought for a moment, then couldn’t help adding:No need to treat me differently.
S: In what way?
Jiang Nanshu had a hunch he was teasing her.
She responded seriously:
At work.
Then, remembering what Cheng Jiajia had said, she asked:
Any other… single men in your family?
S: Isn’t one me enough?
Shu: […]
A moment passed.
S: [What are you planning?]
Jiang Nanshu rolled her eyes.
What was she planning? As if she’d two-time anyone.
She was so annoyed she even started coughing again and quickly typed:
Asking for Jiajia.
S: Li Yi.
Shu: Li Yi doesn’t count.
Song Ye leaned back in his study chair, smiling at his phone.
Li Yi was sitting across from him on the sofa,
having spent a good while discussing a game concept.
He had no idea he’d just been written off.
Still staring at his own laptop, he looked up.
“So I’ll make the changes like this, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Song Ye glanced at the time.
“Aren’t you heading home?”
Li Yi closed his laptop and stood up, walking over.
“Auntie and Uncle were asking what you’ve been so busy with lately.
Haven’t even come back for a meal during the holidays.”
Sure, their project was hectic, but the holiday was only a few days.
They should be taking a break.
Yet Song Ye was acting busier than usual, holed up in the study all day.
Taking advantage of a moment when Song Ye wasn’t looking,
Li Yi quickly circled around behind the desk
and caught a glimpse of the project page on Song Ye’s screen.
He froze, then blurted out, “You’re updating that game?”
“You’re putting out new content as DLC?”
Song Ye answered calmly: “It’s free.”
“Huh? But this could make a lot of money!”
Li Yi said painfully.
“Don’t give it away for free!”
“Have you seen enough?”
Song Ye didn’t avoid him; she clicked the mouse a few times.
When he saw that Li Yi wasn’t planning to leave,
he raised his head with a cold face and said, “If you’ve seen enough, get lost.”
The next day, HR sent out an official personnel appointment notice.
As soon as Zhou Jiale received the email,
she took a screenshot and sent it to Jiang Nanshu: [Nanshu! I told you you were going to be promoted!]
Jiang Nanshu smiled and replied: Mm, I’ll treat everyone to afternoon tea at work tomorrow.
Zhou Jiale: [Great! Thank you, team lead.]
The next day at work, Jiang Nanshu arrived more than ten minutes earlier than usual.
Seeing that Lu Xiaowei’s desk was now empty,
she instantly felt refreshed finally, she didn’t have to work with that person anymore.
Not long after, colleagues started arriving one by one.
Zhou Jiale looked around at everyone, then turned to Jiang Nanshu: “Nanshu, over the holidays everyone seems to have visibly gained weight.
How come you look thinner?”
Jiang Nanshu explained: “Had a fever and cough.
Didn’t eat much.”
Zhou Jiale pinched her own belly and sighed: “I’ll skip afternoon tea.
I need to lose weight!”
Jiang Nanshu glanced sideways and smiled: “Really helping me save money, huh?”
Zhou Jiale leaned in and whispered in her ear: “I might get engaged in late April or early May.
If I don’t lose weight, I won’t look good in the dress.”
“Huh?”
Jiang Nanshu looked at her in surprise.
“So soon?
With Wen Xu?”
“Yeah, that’s how blind dates work if the conditions are right, things progress quickly.
We like each other.
Both sets of parents have met and discussed the dowry and such, so it’s more or less settled.”
Zhou Jiale was quite grounded and had a practical view.
“There aren’t that many people who want to get married just for love.”
Jiang Nanshu coughed a few times.
Paused to take a sip of water.
Then smiled at Zhou Jiale: “Well, you said you two like each other.
So it’s a happy occasion.
Congratulations.”
In the group chat, Song Ye notified everyone about a regular meeting.
Jiang Nanshu sat in the meeting room for a while before Song Ye came in.
He pulled out a chair at the head of the table and sat down.
His face showed the usual cold expression.
His eyes briefly swept across her face.
Their gazes met for a second.
Then they both looked away.
Song Ye started by announcing the personnel change: “Jiang Nanshu will take over as operations team lead.
For any future work coordination, contact her directly.”
There were also some new recruits.
After everyone got introduced, the meeting officially began.
Previously, Song Ye had gone to the island for a meeting.
Then took some time off afterward.
So some work hadn’t yet been handed over.
Once everything was coordinated, the meeting ended.
The project team resumed its busy pace.
Back when Lu Xiaowei kept taking leave,
Jiang Nanshu had more or less taken on the responsibilities of the team lead.
So now that it was official, everyone was happy.
She was more efficient and clear in assigning tasks than Lu Xiaowei.
Zhou Jiale asked: “Nanshu, does the player recruitment questionnaire still need revisions?”
“There are a few questions that need to be adjusted.
They’re not precise enough.”
Jiang Nanshu pointed out a few suggestions for her to revise.
“Li Junyi, check with the planning team if they’re available?
If so, set up a meeting to confirm the detailed plan for the features we’ll be testing this time.
And write a few guides.”
“They’re not free today, only tomorrow morning.”
Li Junyi confirmed the schedule with the planners.
Then went to the forum to answer player questions.
“Team lead, when are we posting the player recruitment?”
Jiang Nanshu didn’t even look up.
Typing as she spoke: “After Valentine’s Day.
The forum is currently full of hot Valentine’s events from big games.
We won’t be able to grab any attention.”
Valentine’s Day was just around the corner.
Project A had a limited promo budget.
So they could only post some videos and images.
And increase daily activity to boost exposure.
Jiang Nanshu worked overtime every day until eight or nine.
Jiang Yu hadn’t started work yet.
But still willingly picked her up and dropped her off each day.
After three days of this, Song Ye messaged her.
S: [Still not moving back?]
Jiang Nanshu: “…”
The way he said that, it almost sounded like they were living together.
Shu: [I’ll go back tonight.]
HR had her sign for the meeting prize two days ago.
The prize was delivered to her home, so she had to go back tonight to receive the package.
Around 8 p.m., just as Jiang Nanshu was signing for the delivery at her door,
the elevator suddenly opened.
She instinctively looked up.
The man was wearing a black windbreaker, tall and upright.
She paused, a bit surprised.
“You’re home this early today?”
Their project has been making progress lately.
Whenever she got off work,
he was either talking with devs about bug fixes or meeting with planners to discuss proposals.
He was usually working late until 11 or 12 every night.
“Had dinner with a few execs, came straight back after.”
Song Ye glanced at the packages by her door.
“I’ll help you carry these in.”
“The gaming console is for your place.”
She looked up at him.
“A gift for you.”
Song Ye raised his eyebrows.
Jiang Nanshu said seriously, “In return for the phone.”
Song Ye glanced at the phone in her hand and asked casually,
“Why not use the new one?”
“Too lazy to transfer data…”
“…,” Song Ye chuckled, “I’ll help you with that later.”
Jiang Nanshu didn’t stand on ceremony.
Not only did she hand over the phone, but she gave him her laptop too.
“Then I’ll trouble you help me transfer the laptop data as well.”
She had been using it for years and always meant to replace it, but kept putting it off because of the hassle.
Song Ye leaned back on her couch and glanced at the laptop on the coffee table.
He chuckled.
“You sure you’re okay with me looking through what’s on your computer?”
Jiang Nanshu thought for a moment.
Her laptop didn’t really have anything secret.
Compared to that, her phone was much more private.
“There’s nothing I’m hiding.
If you do happen to see something you shouldn’t… just pretend you didn’t.”
Song Ye lowered his head to work on her phone, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly at her words.
Transferring phone data didn’t take long, but it did require some waiting.
Song Ye set the phone on the table, picked up her laptop, and looked down at her.
“I’m taking the laptop.
I’ll bring it back once it’s ready.”
Jiang Nanshu glanced at the phone still transferring data.
She looked up at him.
“Okay…”
She thought he’d take the chance to stay a bit longer.
At the doorway, Song Ye picked up her new laptop box and glanced around the living room.
“Where’s Xiaobei?”
“Still at my mom’s.”
Jiang Nanshu walked him to the door and looked up at him.
“I’ll probably come back after the Lantern Festival.
We’re still celebrating, and my mom wants me to come home.”
Jiang Yu thought it wasn’t right for Jiang Nanshu to be staying alone during the holidays.
It felt like she was still living out of town.
Jiang Nanshu figured it was only a few more days and gave in.
Song Ye was silent for a few seconds, eyes lowered as he looked at her.
“I’ll come pick you up after Lantern Festival.”
The day before Valentine’s Day was Jiang Yu’s birthday.
Jiang Nanshu got off work on time and went home.
She was carrying a bouquet of carnations and returned to her family’s home.
As soon as she stepped inside, she froze.
There were a few young men around her age sitting in the living room, chatting animatedly.
Hearing the sound of the door, one of the young men turned around to look at her.
He was tall, with a slender build, and wore rimless glasses on a straight nose giving off a scholarly and refined vibe.
He paused for a second upon seeing her, then walked toward her.
Jiang Nanshu found him somewhat familiar but couldn’t place him right away.
The man introduced himself, “I’m Cheng He.”
“…Ah, it’s you.”
Jiang Nanshu suddenly remembered, but felt uneasy.
What was he doing at her house?
Cheng He explained, “We’re all Professor Lu’s students.
Since it’s Madam’s birthday, we came by together to wish her well.”
So that’s what it was.