CH 17

Since the clothes were already dry, Alex left after he finished eating. Before going, he even washed the dishes.

Guo Zhi felt like making him work hard at night and during the day was not very kind, but she also liked seeing him busying around her kitchen while wearing an apron, so she did not stop him.

Soon, she discovered that he was very experienced with household chores.

“Do you constantly do the chores?” She asked while leaning on the kitchen door with a pear on her mouth.

Alex made an ‘hm’ sound and replied: “After my dad and mom divorced, all the chores became my task.”

Guo Zhi did not expect to hear that reply, paused for a moment, and said apologizingly: “I’m sorry…”

“No problem.” Alex did not even lift his head and continued washing the dishes.

The atmosphere seemed a bit awkward.

Or maybe only Guo Zhi felt awkward. Alex was the same as always and seemed to have gotten over his parents’ divorce a long time ago. In Guo Zhi’s heart, a hint of pity appeared.

She took a bite from the pear, pondered for a moment, walked to Alex’s side, and placed the part of the pear that was not bitten by his mouth. Alex took a bite, and just after he swallowed it, Guo Zhi stood on the tip of her toes and kissed him. Their mouths were filled with the fragrance of a pear.

Guo Zhi did not say anything. Their foreheads were on each other’s, and she extended her hand to the back of his neck and kneaded it.

Alex received the consolation that Guo Zhi’s body language was portraying, and his heart was warmed. He softly said: “I’m okay, sister Guo. It’s been many years already…”

Even though he had called her name many times during their moments of excitement, during the day, his heart still bore a bit of admiration and awe towards her, so he still naturally called her sister Guo.

Guo Zhi was a warm person with a kind heart.

Ever since Alex got a stepmother, he learned to not make people tired of him. He put away the dishes properly and said to Guo Zhi: “Sister Guo, I’m going back.”

Seeing that it was almost noon, Guo Zhi did not stop him. With the kind of relationship that they had, she had to take proper control of it. They could not step out of bounds, and they could not be very intimate, else the aftermath would not be easy to deal with.

She accompanied him to the door: “Rest well.” Yesterday they slept very late, and he expended a lot of energy; he must not have rested well.

Alex smiled and lowered his head to peck her on her lips.

Guo Zhi saw him off before closing her door unwillingly.

After Alex left Guo Zhi’s house, he took a taxi.

When he did not have money, he would stay in his underground bedroom and not dare to go out. When he had money, he would not treat himself badly. When he had to take a taxi, eat outside, or buy clothes, he would do it. With the money he earned, he could afford that kind of lifestyle if there was not a need to take care of a bigger expenditure.

Of course, the condition was that there was not something else cropping up that would require him to spend more.

Alex sat on the taxi, placed his head on the back of the chair, and felt frustrated.

The reason he was in such a hurry to go there yesterday, was in fact, because he wanted to solidify his intimate relationship with Guo Zhi, so that he could then… mention the matter regarding Sheng Yuan.

However, when Guo Zhi saw him, her pair of big eyes were bright and full of life and contained elation and expectance; it was as if two little flames were burning in her pupils. That hot gaze was something that he liked a lot. He unconsciously felt that if he mentioned anything related to Sheng Yuan, the little flames in her eyes would be extinguished.

His heart did not bear to do that, and he gave up. In the end, he did not open his mouth.

Then today, she leaned her forehead with his and patted his head. He almost became teary-eyed. It had been so many years ago since… someone had consoled him like that.

In that kind of atmosphere, the matter about Sheng Yuan could not be said.

He was not very good at doing this kind of thing. Clearly, his age was very young, and he was not like mature adults that would straightforwardly talk about their own interests. He felt that demanding for benefits and asking for help was a shameful matter that was difficult to speak out.

Guo Zhi was his first try at it. All his measly amount of cleverness was used this time.

The messages in the day and night, all of them carried lively emojis and were well thought out to please her and make her happy, adding on the photos of himself half-naked, they were all that he could do within his limits.

He brewed the idea for a week and thought that he was prepared to open his mouth in front of Guo Zhi, but who would have thought that in the end, he still could not.

He did not know if this was because of Guo Zhi or himself.

He felt like if it was changed to another person, like Liu Chan Yue, he would probably be able to say it without any problems. That was because he did not care if Liu Chan Yue would he disappointed or sad.

He cared a bit about Guo Zhi.

He was afraid that if he told her his real intentions, Guo Zhi would be disappointed. He sensed that Guo Zhi liked him to a certain extent. He did not know how much she liked him, but it was sure that she did, otherwise she would not have agreed to sleep with him and be so happy about it.

Sister Guo is a very kind person; I don’t want her to be unhappy because of me.

Never mind, never mind, I’ll just let it go…

Since last weekend to today, for the entire week, he had been very happy.

The emojis that he sent her everyday that were originally meant to please Guo Zhi turned out to make his mood better instead. When he thought about her looking at the photos he sent her in the office, with her ears becoming red, he was not be able to stop himself from revealing a faint smile.

Many times, Da Wei had seen him laughing foolishly, and he had to dissimulate another thing to deal with him.

Being happy with sister Guo… is pretty good. Just like that, it doesn’t matter anymore.

Let’s not speak about Sheng Yuan’s project.  

It was Wednesday, and the young boys came to the audition. Guo Zhi did not call Alex. She knew what Alex’s body and face were like, so there was no need to make him participate in the audition. She only wanted to see if there was anybody who was better than Alex and that was especially fitting for the brand. If there was not any, then she was planning on letting Alex take the Sheng Yuan project.

The little fresh meat were all outstanding and the poses they made were all attracting. The two new models that were sent by Lin Bo were especially remarkable.

However, they still cannot be compared to Alex, Guo Zhi thought. It was unknow if it was because of selfishness. After all of them had taken their turns in front of the camera, Guo Zhi had a general idea.

When she turned her head while drinking a sip of water, she saw a familiar figure in the corner of her eyes.

Eh, is that Alex? Ah, yeah, yesterday in WeChat he said that he had a project in M company.

Just now, did he come here because he wanted to greet me? Guo Zhi’s lip corners unstoppably lifted.

In a moment, when I tell him about the matter about Sheng Yuan, he will definitely be happy. When he laughs, he looks much better than when he is not laughing. Young people should periodically smile. What’s up with keeping up a cold face? It’s as if they have seen all that the world has to offer.

The auditions ended. Guo Zhi stepped out to say some words and told the models that news would be sent to the managers. The little fresh meat dawdled. They were cautious in front of her, and after saying a word of thanks to editor Guo for letting them audition, they dispersed.

Guo Zhi did not go and search for Alex. In the working environment, she did not want to bring personal matters into it. She was used to being serious and was not willing to let her co-workers know about their relationship.

She looked at the sample photos, and sure enough, it was just like she thought. The feeling of those boys in front of the camera could not be compared to Alex. When Alex was in front of the camera, it was as if he was radiating sunlight. He only needed to be trained.

Guo Zhi recalled about his trashy manager again. Sigh, I forgot to talk with him about his manager last time. Next time. The next time he comes, I will tell him properly, and if there is no other way, I’ll help him find another manager.

Putting down the things in her hand, she stood up to go to the bathroom. She walked through the corridor, turned a corner, and saw a familiar back. Tall, wide shoulders, narrow waist, long legs.

Guo Zhi opened her mouth to call Alex but saw that there seemed to be someone in front of him, so she shut her mouth. The exposed skirt was familiar to her eyes. It seemed to be… Liu Chan Yue?

Guo Zhi unconsciously silenced her footsteps. She was wearing soft leather flats, so as she walked to where they were standing, there was practically no sound.

She got closer and started to be able to hear their conversation.

“Weren’t we very happy that day…” Liu Chan Yue’s laughing sound, “Are you free today? Let’s go to my place…”

Her fat body was covered by Alex’s body, and from Guo Zhi’s perspective, she could see a chubby elbow. That  angle… Guo Zhi could guess that Liu Chan Yue’s pig-like hand was probably either touching Alex’s chest or abs.

Her steps became heavier.

The two people in front heard footsteps and looked to her direction at the same time. When they saw that it was her, awkwardness flashed through both of their faces.

“Let’s talk another time.” Liu Chan Yue retrieved her hand, stiffly said so, turned away, and walked toward Guo Zhi’s direction.

The two of them brushed by each other, as if none of them saw the other one.

Later when this had passed, Alex heard from other people that editor Guo and editor Liu did not get along. In the present, it was the first time that he had seen the two of them appear at the same time. The sparks exploding between them made Alex flustered. He opened his mouth to call ‘sister Guo’, but when he saw the back of Liu Chan Yue that was still close, he shut his mouth.

Because of that hesitation, Guo Zhi went into the bathroom without even looking at him.

When Guo Zhi was finished with her business, she washed her hands. The bathroom was filled with the sound of water splashing.

Mischievous rascal! Mischievous rascal! Mischievous rascal!

Of all the people that you could’ve slept with, why did you have to sleep with Liu Chan Yue!

Your taste is really heavy!

It’s really a wonder that you were able to eat that!

Guo Zhi angrily dried her hands until they were red.

Many days would be needed to talk about the hate between her and Liu Chan Yue. It was also related to her good friend Gu Qing Xia and Vivian, that bitch.

Vivian, that woman, was known in the company as someone who praised the ones in high positions and stepped on those who lower. She also liked to use her seniority to bully new people. Guo Zhi’s personality was described by Gu Qing Xia as ‘savage and straightforward’, ‘unable to lower her head and bend her waist’. Back then, she endured her anger at Vivian once, then twice, until she was unable to endure it a third time and poured a cup of soda on her head, completely staining her skirt that was worth around two thousand yuan.

Vivian relied on the fact that she was top sales and went to look for boss Xu with the intention of forcing her out of the company. At that time, Guo Zhi had also prepared herself and thought that at most, she would have to find another job, which was better than enduring her anger. When boss Xu was having a hard time, Vivian’s direct higherup big boss Jing, who was also Qing Xia’s boss, told boss Xu to send Guo Zhi to a project managed by the then newly top sales Gu Qing Xia. Boss Xu, who got a hint from big boss Jing, transformed the big matter into a small matter, and the small matter diluted until it disappeared.

Vivian respected big boss Jing, so when she saw that he said so, she angrily said never mind and only insisted on having Guo Zhi repay her skirt.

At that time, Guo Zhi’s salary was only a bit more than three thousand yuan and Vivian’s skirt was worth two thousand four hundred. She felt that even though it hurt her wallet, at least she had retained her job.

The result was that a miracle happened, her co-workers from the same department… made a fund to donate to her. You fifty, me eighty, even boss Xu gave two hundred. They managed to help her get around one thousand.

Just as the young Guo little girl was moved by the love of other people and thought that she was good at getting along with others, her co-workers mercilessly exposed the truth: “Someone should’ve done that to the bitch a long time ago!”

Everybody patted Guo Zhi’s shoulder and admiringly said: “Well done! Little Guo Zhi!” Turned out she was not liked by a lot of people; it was just that Vivian was hateful.