The living room was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, making the air feel a few degrees warmer.
The two looked at each other without speaking, not because they couldn’t, but because they didn’t know what to say.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open.
"Mommy!" Cai Cai’s voice rang out.
Her voice broke the ambiguous tension between them, and they quickly separated.
Xia Ziqi hurriedly stood up, straightening her clothes and showing a smile.
On the sofa, Fang Yi was somewhat torn between laughter and tears, feeling this secrecy was absurd. Of all times, Cai Cai had to appear now, leaving him speechless.
Between Fang Yi and Xia Ziqi, there was a layer as thin as gauze, just shy of being pierced. Just now, it might have been possible, but Cai Cai’s appearance made Fang Yi realize it still wasn’t the right time to pierce it.
"Um... Fang Yi, I’ve prepared some dumplings for you; they’re kept warm in the pot, you... you can help yourself." Having said that, Xia Ziqi hurriedly walked away, taking Cai Cai with her.
Sitting on the sofa, Fang Yi scratched his head and lit a cigarette, giving a resigned smile before getting up to wash his face and brush his teeth. Then he ate Xia Ziqi’s dumplings and drove to the office in Shen Binan’s red Audi.
Fang Yi drove straight into the underground parking lot. As he emerged, he was met by someone who actually came running over.
"Mr. Fang, Mr. Fang..." Ma Haigang approached with a warmth, his face all smiles as he handed over a cigarette. "Here, Mr. Fang, have a smoke."
Fang Yi took the cigarette and said, "Director Ma, you’re doing quite well for yourself, smoking such high-grade tobacco."
Ma Haigang laughed, "Oh, it’s just for show, to be honest. I actually should thank you. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have gotten a raise."
"Director Ma, you jest," Fang Yi said, genuinely surprised that Shen Binan had actually given Ma Haigang a raise, which he himself had never brought up.
However, Fang Yi didn’t mention it, and Ma Haigang wouldn’t know. Treating Fang Yi with utmost respect, Ma Haigang lit his cigarette and invited, "Mr. Fang, why not come sit in the security office? I’ve recently gotten hold of something quite special."
Ma Haigang looked around, tiptoed, and whispered mysteriously, "Dragon Lake Panther."
Click clack, click clack—
Suddenly, the sound of high heels clattered, followed by a cold voice.
"What are you two up to?"
"Ah, Director Ding, good morning," Ma Haigang quickly said with respect.
Ding Miaoyan, wearing sunglasses and long wavy hair, stood tall and as cool as a daffodil.
Ma Haigang almost drooled; Fang Yi, seeing his salivating expression, slapped the back of his head and shook his head at Ding Miaoyan, saying, "We were discussing security matters for the company, something a woman wouldn’t understand."
Ma Haigang hurriedly nodded, "Yes, Director Ding, Mr. Fang was guiding my work, nothing more."
"Right, Director Ma, your style has issues. It’s pretty bad, and I must criticize you properly," Fang Yi said.
Ma Haigang responded solemnly, "Please do, Mr. Fang!"
Ding Miaoyan eyed them suspiciously, her gaze finally resting on Fang Yi, "Skulking about, definitely not discussing anything good," she said, then tossed her hair and walked away.
Ma Haigang kept his eyes on Ding Miaoyan, drooling, "A beauty like Director Ding, rolling in the sheets with her would be a dream come true."
"Right," Fang Yi sighed, then slapped the back of his head again, "She’s my type."
Director Ma quickly offered an ingratiating smile, "Just saying, Mr. Fang, pay it no mind. Please come to the security room for the critique."
Upon reaching the Public Relations Department, Fang Yi sat down at his desk and glanced around before pulling out a magazine to read like a thief.
It was a powerful magazine, a bit old but absolutely an original.
Hong Kong’s famous Dragon Lake Panther, although no longer in publication, was still highly coveted by many homebodies.
The cover featured a pure and lovely maiden, oozing charm, and in an era without plastic surgeries or Photoshop, every beauty had her unique traits unlike today’s entertainment industry, filled with soft filtered or Photoshopped beauties that failed to spark any interest in Fang Yi.
Thus, Fang Yi quickly became engrossed.
Before long, he felt a strand of long hair brush his face.
Fang Yi felt a tickle, touched it, and then grabbed the strand of hair...
"Ouch, ouch, stop pulling, it hurts!" Huo Xiaoxuan’s voice came.
Fang Yi turned his head to see Huo Xiaoxuan with her mouth open, tongue out, peering at his magazine.
"Like it?" Fang Yi asked.
"Like it, like it, just a bit smaller than mine," Huo Xiaoxuan said, without a shred of the shyness a girl should have.
Fang Yi looked up at the ceiling speechlessly, then at this cheeky girl, and asked, "What are you doing here? Surely not just to tempt me."
Huo Xiaoxuan smacked her forehead in regret and quickly said, "Oh no, I was so caught up with the magazine I forgot the real reason. Hurry, follow me to the ladies’ room."