Especially at this moment, in a work setting surrounded by friends, colleagues, and partners—she had to be mindful of the occasion.
Ji Shuhe tried to pull her hand away. "Then I'll visit Tuowei more often. Please consider our cooperation, President Wen."
Their little tug-of-war was obvious to any discerning eye.
For instance, Stella promptly extended her hand to Wen Shaoyu, rescuing the trapped Ji Shuhe. She shook Wen Shaoyu's hand vigorously. "Exactly, exactly! President Wen is so devoted—whether to people or buildings, you'll be conscientious. It would be wonderful if we could work together!"
Meanwhile, the super-straight man Li Xin beside Wen Shaoyu was quietly scratching his head, wondering which backstabbing partner his boss had encountered in his colorful youth. Unfortunately, he had joined the company after the internal strife ended, so he naturally missed the correct answer and thought nothing of it.
Wen Shaoyu released Stella's hand, lowered his eyes, and his expression turned official. "Then you're welcome to visit Tuowei often."
"Of course, of course." Unfortunately, Stella never beat around the bush. "We've wrapped up for today. Producer Ji and I are about to head out. Are you two continuing with work?"
"There are too many people here for convenient calibration today, so we're planning to head back to the company too." Li Xin told the truth.
He had known the outcome before coming. Today's weather wasn't suitable for drone flights, plus the crew was filming in Xiafei Lane. He didn't understand why Wen Shaoyu had insisted on making this wasted trip despite knowing everything.
"Would you like us to give you a ride?" Wen Shaoyu spoke again.
Ji Shuhe refused outright. "No need to trouble you, President Wen. The crew has arranged transportation."
Wen Shaoyu put his hands back in his pockets. "Then we won't disturb your work. See you next time."
"Li Xin, let's go."
"...Alright." Li Xin wanted to scratch his head again. His boss, mature for his age, rarely lost his composure, whether dealing with internal or external matters. How was he acting so ungentlemanly today?
But he didn't have time to dwell on it. Wen Shaoyu walked fast, and after Li Xin exchanged quick farewells with Stella and Ji Shuhe, he hurried to catch up with his unusually moody president.
"Did you see that?"
Ji Shuhe was staring at the two retreating figures about to disappear from the alley when Stella suddenly hooked an arm around her shoulder. Confused by the abrupt question, she turned her head. "See what?"
Stella shook her head, pointing at her own face. "I mean, can't you see the two lines of big characters written all over your little bamboo horse's face?"
Ji Shuhe still didn't understand and shook her head again.
Stella looked utterly hopeless, as if she were guiding an undergraduate junior through a project and failing to get through despite painstaking efforts.
She let out a long sigh. "Anyone with eyes can see it. Your little bamboo horse isn't indifferent—he's dying of concern! If he talked any more, his eyes would bore holes right through you. It's written all over his face..."
She pointed to the left side of her cheek. "Sulking."
Then to the right. "Come coax me."
"By the looks of it, you don't even need to coax him anymore. Just hold on a little longer, and your little bamboo horse will come running back to coax you."
"He'd never think that way." Ji Shuhe thought of Wen Shaoyu's face, like she owed him eight million, and felt even more certain that Stella was talking nonsense.
Stella noticed immediately. "What's that look supposed to mean?"
"It's the look of someone who thinks you're talking nonsense." Ji Shuhe was unusually blunt. "He's not like that."
She knew Wen Shaoyu all too well. He was stubborn and unyielding. Once he made up his mind about something, he would fight to the bitter end without changing.
Naturally, if he had decided that she deliberately abandoned everything in Xinhai and cut off contact, he would only confront her and find fault at every turn, never acting as Stella described.
"Dear, you don't understand love at all." Stella wagged a finger at her. "The essence of love is the exception to the rule. If he treated you the same as everyone else, he wouldn't be agonizing over how long you've been gone or whether you'll come back."
Ji Shuhe felt like she understood, yet didn't.
She was still confused, but deep down, she thought Wen Shaoyu was incapable of such almost childish behavior.
Stella saw this and said magnanimously, "It's okay, keep on being a coward. If you drag the problem out long enough, someone will come to deal with you."
Who was a coward! She was not a coward!
Ji Shuhe didn't intend to respond. She hugged her documents and turned away. "Alright, stop analyzing me. Let's wrap up and head back to the hotel!"
Stella shrugged and followed. "Hey! Why the rush?"
Ji Shuhe's voice came back, clearly annoyed. "My brother invited me to dinner tonight. I'm afraid I'll be late!"