Heart-Warming Youth - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Probably Need to Pull an All-Nighter

Translator: Noodletown Translations Editor: Noodletown Translations
Xu Ai returned to her dorm and lay down on her bed. Her heart was in a knot.
Throughout her life, she had never experienced so much weird stuff happening in such a short period of time. They were so overwhelming that she couldn’t even breathe.
She mentally reorganized everything in chronological order and figured that everything started with the blind-date phone call with her mother. Ever since the day she and Lin Shen lost the bid and stood up her blind date, she had been spiraling down in bad luck.
She sat up and looked up her mother’s phone number then dialed quickly.
“Sorry, the number you’re calling is not valid.”
Xu Ai dialed a couple of times more and heard the same response. She hung up the phone, feeling disheartened.
What kind of mother has such a cruel heart? Didn’t she only stand up for her blind-date once? She even inactivated her phone number, deliberately trying to ignore her.
She felt even more depressed and lied back down on her bed again.
When Violet and Autumn returned, Xu Ai was still lying on her bed, stiff like a corpse. The two girls put away their bags and came closer to check on Xu Ai, “Ai-Ai, are you okay?”
Xu Ai was weak. “I’m okay.”
“I heard someone said your grandma came to our school to visit you today?” Violet stared at her and asked in a strange tone, “Didn’t you just come back from home? How did your grandma come here again?”
Xu Ai was shocked, “Who told you that?”
“Some of our classmates saw that, and then words spread.” Violet was confused.
Xu Ai was livid, “Don’t people at our school have nothing better to do? Why the hell do they care so much about what other people are doing?”
Autumn laughed, “Ai-Ai, haven’t you realized exactly how famous you are? What others are doing nothing compared to what you’re doing.”
“Yeah, ever since the gossip that you are Su Xuan’s girlfriend spread around and went viral, not a single living soul at our school doesn’t know who you are.” Violet continued, “You and Mr. Scholar Lin were already pretty famous at our school, so you two’s relationship was already on so many people’s radar. Now, one of you became the flower of Foreign Language School’s boyfriend, the other one became Empyrean’s Su Xuan’s girlfriend. Tsk, tsk, you expect people to not know who you are? When pigs fly.”
Xu Ai was speechless. She was still as stiff as a corpse.
“Autumn and her boyfriend have set a time to treat us to dinner this Saturday night. Do you have time to go?” Violet poked at Xu Ai.
“I don’t have time.” Xu Ai shook her head.
“Su Xuan made plans?” Autumn asked.
Xu Ai’s head was hurting. “I have to visit a grandma at her house this Saturday.”
“You’re not going to stay there for the night, right?” Violet asked.
“I’m not staying there, I’m just afraid that I won’t have enough time.” Xu Ai said dispiritedly.
Autumn felt a little awkward and looked at Violet. “How about we change the time? Change it to another day?”
“No need to change the time. You guys can just go! Next time, tell your boyfriend to treat me to dinner all by himself,” Xu Ai said.
“Don’t even think about it. It’s now or never.” Autumn hit her, “Is the old granny’s home far from here?”
“Not too far.” Xu Ai shook her head.
“If it’s not too far and you’re not staying for the night, then once you’ve visited her, you can come out of her house when you finish lunch. You have plenty of time.” Autumn added.
Xu Ai thought about it, “We’ll see.”
“You’re going to let me lose face! We’ll find a place and call you that day. You must come if you have time.” Autumn added, “Oh, and, remember to bring your Su Xuan.”
Xu Ai rolled her eyes. “He’s not mine.”
“So stubborn,” Autumn wouldn’t cave, “If I had a boyfriend like Su Xuan, I’d show him off every single day.”
Violet pushed at Xu Ai and added, “When is your Su Xuan going to treat us to dinner?”
Xu Ai covered her head. That was the first time she detested the unwritten dorm rule of whoever has a boyfriend must treat everyone else to dinner.
“Tell us!” Violet pushed her again.
Xu Ai’s head was about to explode. After a while, she finally mumbled the words, “Just wait.”
Violet glowered.
Autumn laughed and said to Xu Ai, “Who do you think Empyrean’s Su Xuan is? He needs to schedule his time. Maybe he already had his whole month planned out. Where could he find the time to treat us to dinner? Did you forget about today’s news already? He lost a few billion bucks just to be with Ai-Ai.”
Violet blinked, “Oh, right. Then all we can do is wait for the Emperor’s summon.”
Autumn nodded.
Xu Ai had lost the ability to talk to these two people in front of her.
Su Xuan’s grandmother came to Xu Ai’s school to meet her. Even though many people saw them, they all assumed that was her own grandmother, therefore, it didn’t create a kerfuffle.
Xu Ai felt a little fortunate. Had others known who that was, then she would never get an iota of peace.
The news about him giving up a few billion went crazy for a whole week. She had to face a billion eyeballs when she went to class every single day. On Friday, she was finally relieved and decided to dash home immediately, unwilling to stay for an extra minute at her school.
Her cell phone rang just as she grabbed her handbag.
She took it out and realized it was from Lin Shen. She stood there and stared at it, hesitating. The phone didn’t stop ringing. She finally braced herself and took a deep breath in, then picked up the phone.
“Do you have time tonight?” Lin Shen’s tone was calm as usual.
Xu Ai asked, “What’s up?”
“Um,” Lin Shen said, “I need you to help me with copywriting.”
Xu Ai was a little shocked. Throughout the years, she was there to help him with all the copywriting and all the contracts. But now is different. She bit her lips and asked, “Where should we go?”
“To the company!” Lin Shen said without thinking first, “I need it tomorrow, so we probably need to pull an all-nighter. I don’t think it would be convenient for us to do it at school, the working office in my company is more convenient.”
Xu Ai was silent.
“Are there any issues?” Lin Shen didn’t hear any response from Xu Ai and asked.
Xu Ai thought she still hadn’t resigned yet, and now that he had a request, she shouldn’t reject him. Besides, now that she had spilled the beans on the five percent that Lin Shen gave her at the wine party that day, according to Lin Shen’s typical way of putting his action where his mouth is, she most definitely had to keep that five percent to herself. Having said that, could she get a huge benefit from him and not give anything back in return? She canceled her idea of going back home, “No issues.”
“I’m right downstairs at your dorm building. Come down, we’re leaving now.” Lin Shen said.
Xu Ai answered, “Okay.”
Lin Shen hung up the phone.
Xu Ai stood still for a brief moment before exiting her dorm room and went downstairs.
At the staircase, she ran into Violet and Autumn, who were coming upstairs. They stopped her, “Ai-Ai, we just saw Lin Shen, he’s waiting downstairs. Is he waiting for you or Cheng Yanyan?”
Xu Ai stopped. Her heart ached at the thought of Cheng Yanyan. “He’s here for me.”
“He’s here for you?” Violet’s eyes opened wide, “What is it about? Did he regret…”
Xu Ai covered her mouth, “Don’t BS. He said there’s a copywriting we need to do that the company needs tomorrow. He asked for my help.”
Violet scoffed and shook away her hand. She grunted, “Is there no one else at his company? Now that you two have each got on with your lives and found new lovers, he’s still taking advantage of you? Haven’t you had enough? Is it because he got used to taking advantage of you and it became a habit? He still sees you as a ready-to-work labor force?”
“Exactly, does he even know who you are and what your title is? Empyrean’s Su Xuan’s girlfriend? Do you even have to bother helping him? He has to spend a fortune to employ you.” Autumn added.
Xu Ai was speechless. “All right. If I still haven’t resigned, then I’m still employed. I can’t get paid for doing anything. You two can go upstairs now! I’m leaving.”
Autumn reached out and grabbed her, “don’t forget my boyfriend is treating everyone dinner tomorrow night.”
Xu Ai nodded, “I know, I’ll definitely go if I have time. Can’t say no to free food.”
“It’s good that you know.” Autumn released her.
Xu Ai exited the building quickly.
Surprise, surprise, Lin Shen was waiting outside.
Dressed in a shirt with a jacket draped over his shoulder, one hand was holding a file folder and the other in his pant pocket; he stood there casually with his back turned towards Xu Ai’s dorm building. His back view looked rather desolate; obviously, he had waited there for a while.
Xu Ai stopped. She stood by the entrance and stared at him.
As if sensing Xu Ai’s gaze, Lin Shen turned around slowly and stared at her.
Xu Ai felt his gaze and remembered what happened at the wine party and meeting Su Xuan’s grandmother on Monday. She hesitated, then walked down the stairs and came up to him.
“Let’s go.” Lin Shen looked away and started walking.
Xu Ai followed behind him as usual.
When they left the dorm building and passed by some of their classmates, they all looked at them with shock and surprise.
Xu Ai looked at Lin Shen and didn’t see any noticeable emotions on his face; he seemed to be unaffected. She lowered her head and thought to herself, wondering what went on between him and Cheng Yanyan after She and Su Xuan left the wine party. She went off on Cheng Yanyan, perhaps Cheng Yanyan went off on him…
She had the idea to ask, but then figured she didn’t have the position to ask.
After they walked for a while, Xu Ai realized they were heading towards the bus stop. She asked, confused, “We’re taking the bus?”
“Mm-hmm, we’re taking the bus, then the subway. It’s so we could avoid the traffic during rush hour,” Lin Shen said without looking back.
Xu Ai nodded and didn’t speak further.
They arrived at the bus stop and just so happened to run into Zhao Yang. Zhao Yang was shocked to see them. “Lin Shen, Xu Ai, what are you guys doing?”
Lin Shen glanced at Zhao Yang but didn’t say anything.
Xu Ai told him, “we have some copywriting to do for the company.” She arched her eyebrows, “Are you going out tonight?”
“Mm-hmm. It’s my homie’s birthday, we’re off to celebrate.” Zhao Yang came closer and grabbed Xu Ai to drag her away from Lin Shen. He whispered, “you’re still working at Lin Shen’s company? You’re going out with him like this, aren’t you worried that Mr. Su of Empyrean will get mad?”
Xu Ai rolled her eyes at him and shook away his arm.
Zhao Yang winked at her, “you better be careful, these rich young masters usually have peculiar tempers. I heard many of them are great at getting jealous…”
“Nobody would think you’re mute if you didn’t speak.” Xu Ai stomped on his foot as hard as she could. Then, she got on the bus once the bus door opened.
Zhao Yang howled in pain. He wrapped his hands around his foot and glowered at Xu Ai on the bus. “Why do you gotta be so cruel? We promised to be best friends.”
Xu Ai completely ignored him and found a place to sit.
Zhao Yang didn’t wait for Lin Shen and followed closely behind Xu Ai on the bus and sat right next to her. He then told Lin Shen, who was behind him, “Excuse me, Lin Shen, but I have something to tell her. Go find a place to sit.”
Lin Shen didn’t say anything, he just sat at the back of the bus with no expression on his face.
Zhao Yang came closer to Xu Ai. “My homie heard I got a new computer with a forty percent discount and would like to get one, too. So, could you find that President Chen and give me a discount again for another computer…”
Xu Ai jerked her head around. “Didn’t you promise me not to tell anyone?”
“I didn’t say anything about Su Xuan. I only said that President Chen…” Zhao Yang was intimidated by Xu Ai’s menacing I’m-going-to-eat-you eyes. He shivered and scratched his head, “It’s really my homie, my closest buddy. But I didn’t say anything about Su Xuan, I only said there was a President Chen…”
Xu Ai kept on staring at him with menacing eyes.
Zhao Yang couldn’t say anything. He looked at her with a bitter expression on his face and confessed, “I was way too excited, it accidentally slipped out of my mouth when we were chatting and I said I got it for forty percent off. And then, my homie just kept on bugging me to help him to buy another one. He’s been bugging me these days so much, it’s getting annoying…”
Xu Ai snorted and turned around.
Zhao Yang stared at her and asked carefully, “you really can’t?”
“I can’t, don’t even think about it!” Xu Ai was fed up. She didn’t have the heart to reject him that day and ended up owing President Chen a huge favor. Now he wants another discount? Keep dreaming. She deeply regretted going computer shopping with him that day.
Zhao Yang was upset. “It seems like I may have to change my number.”
“Karma!” Xu Ai thought karma is a bitch.
Zhao Yang sighed, “I have a loudmouth, I’ve been slapping myself a few times already. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Xu Ai didn’t even bother acknowledging him.
Zhao Yang was crestfallen. After a while, he thought of something and perked up instantly, “Xu Ai, now that we’re best friends, when is Young Master Su going to buy dinner for your friends? Be sure to include me, I really want to meet Young Master Su, he’s a friggin’ legend.”
Xu Ai was livid. She lowered her voice and warned, “Zhao Yang, if you keep acting so hyper, I will kick you off the bus.”
Zhao Yang ducked his lips, “Aren’t I just being curious?”
“Put away your curiosity.” Xu Ai turned around and closed his eyes. “Stop talking to me, you make me sick.”
Zhao Yang choked on that and went silent. After a while, he whispered, “I really didn’t mean to tell anyone about the computer. It really was just a Freudian slip. I knew you weren’t so happy that day and you hesitated about getting the forty percent off discount. I didn’t expect you to agree today, either. I just wanted to ask you and talk to you…”
Xu Ai ignored him.
Zhao Yang looked at her with pathetic puppy eyes, “I promise, just this once. There won’t be a next time. Could you please forgive me?”
Xu Ai didn’t speak.
Zhao Yang nudged her arm and lowered his voice, low enough that only two people can hear, “because I want to be friends with you, I don’t even care about that damned sarcastic bitch Cheng Yanyan anymore.”
Xu Ai was speechless for a while before she finally opened her eyes to stare at him, “no more next time.”
Zhao Yang nodded immediately and stated as if taking an oath, “I promise, my closest homie won’t be as close as you.”
Xu Ai turned around.
Zhao Yang followed up. “If Young Master Su ever offers dinner, be sure to count me in!”
Xu Ai gritted her teeth. “Just wait.”
That made Zhao Yang happy instantly, and he said, “I’ll stop bugging you. You can take a nap if you’re feeling tired.”
Xu Ai closed her eyes. Even though she said he made her sick, but in her heart, she actually felt lucky to have run into Zhao Yang. Otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to face Lin Shen if he sat beside her, because they haven’t seen or talked to each other for a week after that day. Now that they’re traveling together, she can use it to get accustomed.
They got off the bus and transferred to the subway. Zhao Yang just so happened to be on the same route as Xu Ai and Lin Shen.
The air conditioning in the subway was super chilly. Lin Shen handed his jacket to Xu Ai. “ear this.”
Xu Ai was shocked. She looked up at him.
Lin Shen already sat elsewhere.
Xu Ai held the jacket in her hand, stupefied, and after a while, she was finally able to call out, “Lin Shen.” When he turned around, she said, “Aren’t you afraid of the cold, too?”
Lin Shen lowered his face. “I don’t think it’s cold today.”
Xu Ai kept staring at him, but he never looked up. She stopped looking and held onto the jacket but didn’t put it on.
Zhao Yang looked at Xu Ai, then looked at Lin Shen. Suddenly, he batted his eyes and asked Xu Ai, “Why don’t you put it on?”
Xu Ai went silent for a minute, and then, she said, “I don’t feel cold today, either.”
Zhao Yang immediately said, “I’m afraid of the cold, why don’t you lend me the jacket.”
Xu Ai sensed his bad intention and used her eyes to shoot him with a warning.
Zhao Yang shut his mouth and sat there like a good boy.
Xu Ai stopped looking at him and lowered her head. Lin Shen had mysophobia, he would never ever let anyone touch any of his belongings, especially personal clothing items like his jacket. Did he get a new cup since the day she used his cup at the restaurant?
During the past three years, every single time she went out with him for work, he was, in fact, the most caring one. The way he cared had always been silent and subtle, which made her think that there was hope between them after all. But, who would have thought…
She didn’t want to keep on thinking so she forced her mind to stop.
“It’s so boring to just sit around like this, let’s play a game!” Zhao Yang said to Xu Ai because he couldn’t sit still.
“What game?” Xu Ai wanted to find something to do to stop her mind from wandering.
Zhao Yang took out his phone from his pocket and opened up a game app. He showed it to Xu Ai, “It’s this one. Do you know how to play?”
“Yes!”
“Then get out your phone and let’s compete, you versus me.” Zhao Yang stated.
“Sure!” Xu Ai took out her phone.
“Holy crap, your phone is the latest model that just launched a few days ago! The price is enough for me to buy three computers.” Zhao Yang’s eyes glowed as he stared at her phone. “The red version is better suited for women, the black version is better suited for men. I’ve been lusting after it as well, but I might have to tighten my belt for half a year to save up the money for it.”
Xu Ai didn’t know how to comment, she just opened the game on her phone.
Lin Shen turned and looked at her, his gaze fell on her cellphone. His eyes went still.
Suddenly, Zhao Yang turned around and said to Lin Shen, “Lin Shen, your company must have really great benefits; your employees can afford such expensive cell phones. Is your company hiring right now? Would I make a good fit? I can be a translator; translating materials, information materials, contracts, and stuff like that, I can become very useful after I’ve learned them.”
“We don’t need to hire anyone right now.” Lin Shen’s gaze moved away. His tone was a little harsh.
Zhao Yang didn’t mind, “make sure to let me know if you need to hire. Our dorm rooms are right next door, and we’ve known each other for such a long time.”
“Mm-hmm.” Lin Shen crooned.
Zhao Yang looked to Xu Ai and said, “are you ready?”
“I’m ready.” Xu Ai nodded.
“Let’s start!” Zhao Yang said. He then entered the game on his phone.
Xu Ai also entered the game.
Ten minutes later, Zhao Yang moaned, “I’m dead!”
Xu Ai’s lips curled upwards.
“Aren’t you way too good at this? I thought I’m the best at this among my buddies. When I play against someone, I need half an hour to kill them. You knocked me out in ten minutes. I’m so embarrassed.” Zhao Yang was howling and banging on his chest. “One more time. I didn’t use all of my prowess because you’re a girl, so I gave you the upper hand there.”
“Sure!” Xu Ai thought, what the heck, she still had time before they reached their destination.
Zhao Yang entered the game again.
Xu Ai’s phone rang just as she was about to enter the game. It was from her grandmother. She ditched the game and answered the phone.
“Ai-Ai, when are you coming home today?” The old lady’s voice came to her ear.
“What’s up, grandma?” Xu Ai peaked at Lin Shen. She figured, if they really need to pull an all-nighter to work on the copywriting, then there’s no way she could go home today.
“Nothing, just asking you when you are coming back today because I made dumplings,” her grandma told her.
Xu Ai scratched her head. “What’s the filling?”
“I made two fillings. Shiitake pork filling and three-delicacies filling,” the old lady said laughingly.
Xu Ai sighed. “You’re going to eat by yourself. I’m afraid I can’t make it home today.”
“Hmm? You have errands?” The old lady was a little surprised.
“Mm-hmm, I do.” Xu Ai nodded.
“You can’t come home this week?” the old lady paused for a second then asked.
“No, it’s just I have things to do tonight.” Xu Ai thought about it and decided she better just confess, “the company needs a copywriting thing to do, so I need to pull an all-nighter at the company to finish it. I will go home tomorrow morning.”
“Oy vey, what company needs you to pull an all-nighter to work?” The old lady was not satisfied with what she heard, “can’t you do it tomorrow?”
“The company that I’ve been working at. There’s a contract signing tomorrow, so we need to double-check and ensure there is nothing wrong today for it to go smoothly tomorrow,” Xu Ai explained.
The old lady was unhappy. “But Little Xuan is at our house, how could you not be here?”