unhappy eating

This winter is really too cold.

After Zhong Xiu finished writing the manuscript, she wrapped the quilt tightly and curled up on the bed to check the messages on the mailbox.She submitted a draft two days ago and is still waiting for an answer.

In fact, I had prepared myself before I clicked in, but after seeing that there was no response, I was still a little bit disappointed.

After swearing, she turned over and got up with the quilt in her arms. She was about to charge the phone, but the phone suddenly vibrated, and a pop-up box popped up to add friends.

"Big A Publishing House, Zhang Qi."

A major publishing house, a well-known and authoritative publishing house in the industry.

"Oh my god," Zhong Xiu quickly withdrew his hand and looked at the content on the page of adding friends, "Is this an angel?"

Zhong Xiu passed the friend application, and took the initiative to send a message: "Hello, long-awaited."

This one was anxious to talk about cooperation to earn manuscript fees, but Zhang Qi was not in a hurry at all, and replied: "Well, it's getting late, you should go to bed early, and we will talk tomorrow."

"Let's make a simple conversation first, so we don't waste time tomorrow." Zhong Xiu deliberately paused after posting, and when it was displayed that the other party was typing, he continued, "I almost forgot, you should be off work now."

Zhang Qi: "It's okay, don't waste time."

Zhong Xiu smiled and started talking about business.

That day, Zhang Qi didn't know whether it was considered overtime work, because the two of them chatted, and the topic would turn to some unimportant things.

But she didn't know why, so she still sent a message to Zhong Xiu, saying: For you, I will work overtime until the early hours of the morning.

Zhong Xiu responded generously: "Then I will treat you to dinner another day."

Zhang Qi: "Okay."

They really talked about everything they needed to talk about that night, so that they didn't have anything to do the next day. After a few days of dating, they went directly to the publishing house to sign the contract.

That was the first time Zhong Xiu saw Zhang Qi.

The sky outside the window was overcast, the curtains were drawn to the highest, and the light shone in unobstructed, with a slight coolness.The south is not used to turning on the heating, Zhang Qi is still wearing a coat, which looks very thick, making Zhang Qi small, as warm and harmless as the sky outside the window.

Seeing Zhong Xiu knock on the door and come in, Zhang Qi quickly stood up with a slight smile on his face.

"Hello, is Zhong Xiu?"

"Yeah." Zhong Xiu sat down in response.

"What do you want to drink?" Zhang Qi walked to the water dispenser in the office, "I'll make you a cup of tea."

"No need," Zhong Xiu looked over, "Just water."

When Zhang Qi came back, Zhong Xiu looked away, took the disposable cup, and said, "You're pretty much what I imagined."

"Huh? What's it like?"

Zhong Xiu took a look at the other party, said "tsk", took a small sip of water, and turned his eyes to the wall next to him.

It's just mineral water, but she drank it like a high-end red wine. She said, "Looks like my girlfriend."

Zhang Qi was taken aback, unable to tell what mood he was in. Before he could respond, Zhong Xiu smiled and continued, "I'm just joking, don't take it seriously."

Zhang Qi also smiled and said, "It really scared me."

Zhong Xiu raised his eyebrows, curled up the corners of his mouth and held back what he was going to say.

So what if I'm serious.

"Okay, don't waste your time, let's get to the point." Zhong Xiu said.

Leaving Zhongxiu to mention the treat that day, Zhang Qi glanced at the time and declined.

"I still have a while before I get off work, so I don't need it, and I just said it casually that day."

Zhong Xiu smiled knowingly, and said, "It was on purpose."

"what?"

"I can wait for you." Zhong Xiu didn't give anyone time to refuse, and continued, "What do you like to eat, I'll make a reservation first."

Zhang Qi was a little helpless: "I'm really not very good at refusing, okay."

"Then don't ever reject me." Zhong Xiu stood up after finishing speaking, and said a seemingly ordinary sentence, "Call me after get off work, I'm leaving, goodbye."

Zhang Qi pursed his lips, and didn't intend to respond at all, but when Zhong Xiu opened the door and turned back, he still said, "Goodbye."

After Zhong Xiu went out, she went to make a special account. Although she had no blank period in the past few years, her publishing efficiency was low, and her sales were not as good as before. She didn't like saving money before, and now she can't make much money. Hua, guess the economic strength.

After checking the balance, Zhong Xiu turned around and called a high-end restaurant nearby. After booking a seat, he found a seat in the coffee shop downstairs of A University Publishing House, and waited for someone's call. Check all the information about Zhang Qi that can be checked.

Zhong Xiu waited for Zhang Qi for an hour and a half before the phone call came long overdue.

Zhong Xiu said "Hello" with a smile.

Zhang Qi's Confucian voice came: "I'm off work, where are you?"

"Downstairs of the publishing house," Zhong Xiu said as he walked out, "You can see me when you come out."

"Okay." The next second, Zhang Qi stepped out of the publishing house and put down the phone, "I saw you."

Zhong Xiu walked over and preemptively said: "Will you be in a hurry to go out for dinner at noon? I just realized it. I knew it would be an evening appointment. Let's go to eat something simple today, and I will invite you for dinner next time."

"No, there's still time." Zhang Qi stood by the road and waited for the bus with Zhong Xiu, "I'll treat you next time."

"That's good." Zhong Xiu smiled and explained, "There is a constant stream of people coming and going."

When Zhang Qi heard this, he didn't look at Zhong Xiu. After hearing the words, he turned his head and looked at the expression in doubt, and then he suddenly understood what it meant, and said, "The relationship between the two of us can continue without going back and forth. I am your editor, and I will press your manuscript in the future."

Zhong Xiu nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.

Oh, press release.

"Did you press the manuscript at the author's home?"

"Depends on the situation," Zhang Qi thought for a while, "but don't worry, most of the cases can be solved through mobile phones and computers, and you won't rush to disturb the door."

Zhong Xiu pulled out her hand from her trouser pocket and opened the door for Zhang Qi: "No, I like people to come to my house to play."

Although it's not very good to say so, Zhong Xiu was surprised by how trustworthy or cautious Zhang Qi was.

After making a dinner appointment that day, Zhang Qi asked her when she would be free and would like to invite her back.She casually said "in a couple of days", but she called her right away.

"Zhong Xiu, um, do you have time tonight?"

Zhong Xiu still remembered what he said that day, but he asked knowingly, "See what you want from me."

Zhang Qi on the other end of the phone smiled slightly: "Have a meal."

"When is it?"

"Is six o'clock okay?"

"Of course, I'm always on call."

After hanging up the phone, Zhong Xiu quickly ran to the closet, using the matching experience she had accumulated over the years, she dug out a date outfit that she thought absolutely no one would be able to get caught up in, and went to meet Zhang Qi.

The winter night was cold and windy. When Zhong Xiu went out, she wrapped a scarf covering most of her face. She still felt a little cold. She gritted her teeth and did not look back, and went to her destination resolutely.

For the sake of looking good, it's okay to be cold.

When she arrived at the door, Zhong Xiu took off her scarf, and the cold wind blew over all of a sudden, making her shiver. She took a breath, straightened her hair and clothes, and walked in with small steps.

At the same time, I said silently in my heart: My mother is not cold at all.

"I miss you so much." Zhong Xiu said as soon as he sat down.

"Ah?" Zhang Qi was still a little confused, "Didn't we just meet two days ago?"

Zhong Xiu didn't refute, but said in a nonchalant way: "You don't understand, it's too cold outside."

"I just wanted to ask you, you are wearing too little."

Zhong Xiu straightened the sleeves of her sweater and said calmly, "It's okay, I'm used to it."

"Fortunately, I'm here to eat hot pot tonight." Zhang Qi said with a smile, his eyes followed Zhong Xiu's hand, and he was surprised, "I have a scarf that is exactly the same, I really like it."

Zhong Xiu also took a look: "Then why didn't you surround yourself today?"

When Zhang Qi came in, he took off his coat and put it on the chair. Then he picked it up and showed it to Zhong Xiu, saying, "My coat is thick enough with a wool loop."

Zhong Xiu suddenly said, "Hey, you're finally more cheerful."

Zhang Qi's hands paused, and he shook his head: "What are you talking about?"

……

After leaving the hot pot restaurant, Zhang Qi insisted on sending Zhong Xiu home.

"I asked you out to protect you."

Zhong Xiu deliberately misunderstood people's meaning again, frowning half-frowned, but the smile on the corner of his mouth couldn't be concealed: "How should I break this sentence? You asked me out just to protect me? To protect me , so the offer..."

"Okay, save it." Zhang Qi patted Zhong Xiu and interrupted her, "The car is here, get in first."

The current relationship between Zhong Xiu and Zhang Qi has not reached the point where she can directly ask where Zhang Qi's home is, and when she directly decides to let the driver drive to Zhang Qi's house first, she has no choice but to follow Zhang Qi's wishes and let Zhang Qi take her back.

"Do you live alone?" Zhang Qi suddenly asked.

Zhong Xiu nodded: "I really hope that one day we can live with two people."

"It's good to live alone, and I'm very envious of living alone." When Zhang Qi said this, he looked out of the window and left Zhong Xiu with a profile, and as the car passed by, the lights were dimly cast on her face, and the same was true. passed.

Zhong Xiu felt that something made her choke, but it was hard to say whether it was stuck in her throat or her heart.

"Are you... living with your family?" Zhong Xiu asked carefully.

"Well, with my parents."

"It's also very good. If there is a chance, I also want to live with my parents."

Zhong Xiu observed Zhang Qi's reaction while talking, only to see Zhang Qi lightly shook his head.

When they arrived at the destination, Zhang Qi was still silent. Zhong Xiu took an opportunity to lift Zhang Qi's hair from the sideburns and said, "I'll get off the car first. Give me a call when you get home."

"Okay." Zhang Qi didn't avoid Zhong Xiu's actions.

"How long will it take you to get home?" Zhong Xiu asked again.

"Master, how long does it take from here to Chengdong District?"

The master replied: "Four and 10 minutes."

"Four 10 minutes." Zhang Qi repeated, "Okay, go back quickly, it's getting late."

"Goodbye then."

"Bye-Bye."

Zhong Xiu started counting the time after returning home, and even set an alarm clock specially, for fear of missing the call.

But at 10:[-] minutes, the call did not come.

Maybe it was traffic lights and traffic jams on the road, Zhong Xiu waited for another 10 minutes, but the phone still didn't ring.

Maybe there is a problem with the phone?But if it restarts, what if Zhang Qi happens to call this time.

After waiting for an hour, Zhong Xiu finally couldn't bear it, and took the initiative to call Zhang Qi.

There was a "beep beep" sound from the other end of the phone. After waiting for a long time, it suddenly stopped. She could deeply feel the pause, and her heartbeat and breathing stopped.The smile was about to rise, but the next moment I heard: "Sorry, the number you dialed is currently on the phone..."

"how come."

Jong-soo then replayed it.

She was really flustered, she always felt that something was going to happen.

When the fifth call was made, the call was finally connected, and Zhong Xiu quickly asked, "Are you home?"

There was a sound of friction from the other end, and then there was a voice: "Well, it's here."

Zhong Xiu frowned, and said hesitantly, "Are you crying?"

"No……"

"Who are you calling again?" Zhang Qi's voice was interrupted, replaced by the voice of an elderly man, "You came back so late, and you called as soon as you came back, what do you think no one wants you?" Are you a bastard? You don’t come home all day long, come back so late, are you going to be a female cousin?”

Zhong Xiu was stunned by the yelling across the cell phone. No one dared to treat her like this when she was so old, but what was more important at this moment was how Zhang Qi was doing.

Zhong Xiu waited for a while, but the man was still cursing, each sentence getting worse and worse.It's just that she didn't hear Zhang Qi's movement, so she tentatively asked: "Zhang Qi?"

"Oh." Zhang Qi woke up like a dream, "I'm sorry, I have something to do here, I made you laugh, I will call you back tomorrow."

"Wait! Zhang Qi!" Zhong Xiusheng was afraid that Zhang Qi would hang up the phone after he finished speaking, and hurriedly said, "Is that man your father?"

"Yes." Zhang Qi seemed to smile, "I'm really sorry."

"Can you hear me clearly? Will he bully you? You don't have to be embarrassed, I just want to say," Zhong Xiu bit her lips, "I can pick you up and come to my house to stay... for one night."

Zhang Qi's tone was light: "No, it's meaningless."

"Yes." Zhong Xiu didn't know where her position and courage came from, she blurted out subconsciously, and in an extremely firm tone, she was stunned for a moment, she didn't hear Zhang Qi's words, she glanced at her phone, The call was still going on, and she went on to say, "We can't be in this environment forever, Zhang Qi, you are educated and thoughtful, although I know there may be elements of standing up and talking without back pain, and how should I say it, my current The language organization ability is a bit broken. Anyway, I want to say that you should not be dragged down by such a family environment, even if this is your family. Compared with morality and compromise, what is more important is yourself, whether you are happy or not, and what you want What kind of life."

"My life is also very difficult. I haven't received a manuscript fee for a long time, so the first moment I saw you, I thought you were an angel." Zhong Xiu continued, "Angel, you will transform."

Zhong Xiu didn't know if such words would work. After all, this matter belonged to Zhang Qi's life. She was just an outsider, and all she could do was wait quietly while Zhang Qi didn't hang up the phone.

After a long time, the scolding subsided, and Zhang Qi said, "Life is never easy."

This sentence was light and light, if it wasn't because Zhong Xiu had been holding his breath and waiting earnestly, he might have missed it accidentally.

"I can't say that. This is not a reason to compromise and give up. Trust me once. I'll pick you up. Just one night. Let's spend one night looking at the starry sky." Zhong Xiu didn't even notice, she almost In a begging tone, "Just once, just this one night, can we give it a try? As long as you say a word, I'll go over right now."

"……it is good."

The author has something to say:

Well, that's it!

It doesn't matter whether it's the text or the side story.

Thanks for all the company!

See you next time!

(End of the book)