This whole trip, Tang Tang hadn't put any thought into it, completely letting Xiao Feng lead her through streets and alleys. Xiao Feng hadn't used his phone for directions.
Along the way, she noticed he was always holding a small notebook, seemingly a handmade guide. With that little notebook, Xiao Feng showed her the most authentic Dali, while her only job was to eat, drink, and have fun.
Back at the guesthouse, Tang Tang lay on the bed, recalling the trip. She had initially said she'd explore on her own. If it had been her alone, she wouldn't have had such a good guide as Xiao Feng. And as a chairman, his guide was remarkably thoughtful.
A handwritten guide was difficult enough, and the daily plans were strongly connected to the previous day's.
She could imagine that every evening, after Tang Tang returned to her room to shower and rest, Xiao Feng would still be in his room researching places for the next day's outing. This thoughtfulness truly touched her.
Isn't there a saying that the best way to understand your significant other is to travel with them? If Xiao Feng, as a chairman, could be so caring during their solo trip, then he must be someone worthy of entrusting her life to.
After the last explanation, Tang Tang returned to her room and thought carefully. If neither family had announced it publicly, then her mother wasn't actually forcing her.
She was just using it as an excuse to threaten her into spending more time with Xiao Feng. Her mother would always be her loving mother, ultimately wanting to do more for her grown child.
This time, Tang Tang readily accepted her mother's love and Xiao Feng's thoughtfulness.
The news of Tang Tang and Xiao Feng confirming their relationship spread immediately upon their return home. Both sets of parents were overjoyed. They were extremely satisfied that the children they had chosen for each other could finally be together.
Tang Tang also shared the good news with Shi Xinxin right away. Shi Xinxin had helped her quite a bit during this period. If she hadn't heeded Shi Xinxin's advice to relax and look at the situation differently, she might have missed out on Xiao Feng.
During the phone call to share the happy news with Shi Xinxin, Tang Tang could sense her joy, but it was still mixed with fatigue. She remembered Shi Xinxin's demanding job at headquarters, which she had mentioned was very tough. Shi Xinxin and her colleagues hadn't seen much improvement since they started.
"I've settled things here, so it's a happy ending for everyone now. What about you? How's work there? Is it very hard? Is anyone deliberately making things difficult for you?"
Tang Tang spoke as if she would rush to H City to avenge Shi Xinxin if she dared to say yes.
Shi Xinxin laughed, "Didn't we get a heads-up beforehand? It's not that hard, I can still manage."
But the two had become so familiar with each other that a single tone could reveal whether she was truly holding up or just pretending. Even over the phone, Tang Tang was sure Shi Xinxin was extremely tired and couldn't possibly believe her words. Was that right?
"If you can still manage, it means you're not that tired. Since you're not that tired, I'll book my flight. I'll come to H City in a couple of days. Clean your room and get ready to welcome me."
"What? Can you give me another two weeks to prepare? My place is..."
Before Shi Xinxin could finish, Tang Tang interrupted, "That's settled. I'm going for my beauty sleep. Don't let me find any takeout menus or dust in your room, or I'll drag you home myself."
With that, Tang Tang hung up. Shi Xinxin looked back at her simple rented room. Since moving here, she hadn't used her kitchen once. The takeout orders were piled by the door, almost forming a magazine.
She did tidy up the household garbage frequently, but she hadn't swept or mopped in a long time. The whole room was covered in a layer of dust. With Tang Tang suddenly saying she was coming, when could she possibly find time to clean? And knowing Tang Tang's personality, it was uncertain which day she would actually arrive.
She had to prepare in advance! Oh heavens. During this period, the best she could do on weekends at headquarters was sleep until ten o'clock, and that was considered a holiday. Not to mention ordinary days.
She used to think that seniors who came to work here always exaggerated when they returned, but now that she was here, she realized their descriptions weren't exaggerated at all; in fact, they had even omitted certain details.
However, work was never what made her feel tired. What exhausted her the most was that despite Sheng Chenjin's overwhelming workload for such a long time, she still couldn't forget him.
Besides not being able to get distracted while working, as soon as she returned home and looked at the empty, simple rental room, she would recall the times they used to goof around in the apartment.
Even though it was also a small apartment he rented, it had become so warm and cozy with Sheng Chenjin's presence. Now she was back to living alone, just like before, but it seemed the wound in her heart would never heal, leaving a deep scar.
Having experienced that warmth and sweetness, Shi Xinxin could no longer find any joy in single life. Instead, loneliness had become her constant companion. Every night as she fell asleep, she missed the embrace that gave her a sense of security.
Even in the cave, the little warmth he had shared with her. Perhaps in this lifetime, she would never have feelings for another man like she did for Sheng Chenjin, but there was nothing she could do; he ultimately didn't belong to her.
Each time, she reminded herself in this way, trying to sever all thoughts of Sheng Chenjin, but she couldn't.
No matter how many times she reminded herself, she still ate lunch alone, slept alone, and when carrying heavy daily necessities up the stairs, she would think of Sheng Chenjin's existence.
It wasn't that she thought of what he could help her with or what he could give her at that moment, but rather she missed the feeling of having Sheng Chenjin by her side, that powerful presence that made her fearless.
Perhaps only Ye Yun and Ding Muyu could overcome this feeling, but did they have to appear before her for her to give up?
Shi Xinxin laughed at herself. She was always so busy. Regardless, Tang Tang's visit was a future event. Tonight, she had to finish her current work first.
The next day, Shi Xinxin went to work as usual. She returned home at 10 PM. As the elevator door opened, her small rental room welcomed its first guest in over a month.
"Why are you here so early?!" Shi Xinxin exclaimed, a mix of surprise, worry, and fear. What should she do? Her room hadn't been cleaned.