Chapter 2
Chapter 2 - Hey, You Look Exactly Like My Future Husband, May We Acquaint Ourselves Earlier?
Sponsored Content
The sky brightened . Warm rays of light fell through the window screen into the room, covering the floor with golden sunshine .
Confused, a familiar voice calling “Baby” by her ear could be heard, gentle and with a special soothing and clean feeling .
Immediately after, the man used an even more familiar tone to wake her up, “Shi Jian, wake up . It’s time to go jogging!”
“Husband . ” She lazily turned over on the bed, eyes squinting . She wrapped her arm around the man next to her, not only not wanting to get up herself, but also not allowing him to get out of bed . “Give me ten more minutes, please . ”
……
Please, I don’t want to wake up .
Couldn’t help but to wake up .
Shi Jian woke up hugging a big pillow, confused and not knowing what time it was . The blackout curtains only blocked half the sunlight . The warm sunshine shines generously into the corner, forcing the room to be illuminated brightly, and revealing a red door, yellow window, and white wall . It had rained for a few days in a row . A couple undried shirts and underwear hung at the window in a mess of colors .
Oh . This place is the dormitory issued to Yi Mao’s interns, with room for herself and three other people . Other than her and Lai Qiao, there's also Zhao Yilin, who rarely sleeps at the dorm .
Lai Qiao, who slept on the bottom bunk, has already woken up, and is currently flipping through a tasteful article in «Women’s Magazine» . Lai Qiao is a faithful fan of «Women’s Magazine», and sees it as brain food . She styles her outfits each day strictly according to recommendations in «Women’s Magazine» . For example, this year «Women’s Magazine» promoted aYiLian, Eighteen Girls’ Corner, and Normanqi, so Lai Qiao’s closet is now basically filled with these brands .
To be honest, compared to her closet full of Metersbonwe and Weissima, Lai Qiao is very aware of current fashion trends .
Shi Jian picked up her walkman phone from her small headboard . Walkman phone sounds very western, but it just has extra storage, and can download songs from the internet, but it doesn’t have large capacity cloud storage . It's already much more advanced than the walkmans that were popular a few years earlier .
She pressed the unlock button . The tone that sounded was a meow meow meow that she had set in the past . Praying for a shred of luck, she once again entered in a phone number that she had dialed many times before, and held the phone to her ear .
Please!
Please let there be an amused voice coming from the speaker a moment later, asking her, “Baby, what’s up?”
But there was no “Baby . ” The phone system promptly reminded her - the number you dialed does not exist .
How disappointing! Shi Jian decided to get out of bed . Today is Saturday, and she and Lai Qiao both have the day off . She slept on the upper bunk, still not used to climbing the ladder . Her movements were not graceful at all . Everytime she climbed down the ladder, she felt like an old woman shakily gripping the handrails .
Lai Qiao continued reading the magazine . She walked across to the desk, doing some stretching along the way . She poured out a cup of water, and drank it down . It calmed her stomach .
“Uh . . . Shi Jian . ” Lai Qiao crossed her legs, looking at her a bit awkward and curious .
She also looked curiously at Lai Qiao, not knowing what Lai Qiao was going to ask .
Lai Qiao asked, “Are you still a virgin? Please be honest . ”
“Cough!” Can she choose to die on the spot?! Shi Jian nearly spit out her water . She turned her scarlet face towards Lai Qiao .
Sponsored Content
“So, are you?”
“ . . . ”
Looks like she isn’t . Lai Qiao continued to ask, “Uh… your first time… who did you give it to? Is it your first love?”
“I am not… I am . ” Shi Jian’s reply was contradictory .
Lai Qiao’s turn . “ . . . ”
Truthfully, Shi Jian herself doesn’t know whether she's a virgin or not . Her body is, but mentally she isn't? Does that mean she is a virgin or not?!
Lai Qiao took her ambiguousness as embarrassment, then kindly revealed her own secret . “Um… Cheng Zisong asked me out on a date tonight . ”
“Cheng Zisong?”
“One of my male friends . He is an especially perfect man . I’m planning to take him off the market . ”
“ . . . . . ”
Lai Qiao’s words seem to have another meaning .
Do not be so hasty, young woman!
She Jian looked at Lai Qiao . She recalled Cheng Zisong, an internet friend that Lai Qiao has talked to for two years .
Lai Qiao and Cheng Zisong met on a forum . He helped Lai Qiao resolve a computer issue, then they started chatting with each other . The rapid development of the internet has allowed online dating to spread all over the country like how plants grow after the rain . But Lai Qiao and Cheng Zisong’s ending was not good .
Mr . Cheng married a woman that his family had arranged for him . Because of him, Lai Qiao had a miscarriage, and couldn’t get over it for several years .
“Lai Qiao, do not go see him . ” Shi Jian sat down . Her tone became harsh . “There are many swindlers on the internet . ”
“Zisong… he is not a swindler . ” Lai Qiao looked at her magazine, a bit angry . She changed the topic and said, “The firework hairstyle1 has been really popular lately . If you have time, let’s go get our hair done like that . ”
Firework hairstyle? Fluffy curls, and like a porcupine firework hairstyle? Shi Jian shook her head, “No way . ”
Lai Qiao looked pointedly at her, as if she wanted to say something, but stopped talking .
Older, more mature men2 are Lai Qiao’s type . Right now, models with that kind of persona aren't trending, but «Lovers in Paris» is super popular . The mature, rich, and endlessly charming male protagonists in it have captured many girls’ hearts .
Shi Jian thought about it and said, “Why don’t I go with you, and help you check it out? If he's good, I will leave . ”
Lai Qiao felt touched, and came over to hug her, “Shi Jian, thank you . ”
Shi JIan smiled in response, and felt that she was a bit meddlesome . If she didn’t intervene, her conscience would feel uneasy .
Sponsored Content
In this dorm, she, Lai Qiao, and Zhao Yilin are all interns in Yi Mao’s departments, but in the end, she and Lai Qiao both did not stay . She was admitted into B University’s postgraduate program, and went out of the country, while Lai Qiao went to B city for Cheng Zisong .
The last time she and Lai Qiao saw each other in person was at a celebration event . Lai Qiao was already different from before, having lost her adorable liveliness from the past . Lai Qiao drank a lot that day, and said a lot of words to Shi Jian . “The three of us used to intern at Yi Mao together . Now you have a happy marriage, Zhao Yilin became a competent assistant at Yi Mao, and a strong woman . Only I became nothing, I have nothing . I used to think that I was that lucky one, being able to meet Cheng Zisong… . . ”
Their love was full of joy . Who knew the ending would be so unfortunate .
But her, Shi Jian and Ye Jiacheng’s relationship went smoothly, and their wedding was the envy of others . In the end, they didn't have the opportunity to grow old together, and she returned to being twenty-one years old .
Twenty-one years old . The beginning of the best years of youth . Unfortunately, in this year, she still hadn't met Ye Jiacheng .
_____
Lai Qiao and Cheng Zisong’s date is at 6pm, at Junhe Hotel’s tea restaurant . They are to meet and have dinner .
Lai Qiao decided to not eat lunch, reason being she wanted her waist to look thinner, so that she would look sophisticated and beautiful when she wore her new slim fit trench jacket .
Shi Jian also did not want to eat lunch by herself, so she simply walked to the supermarket nearby her dorm .
The economy developed very rapidly this year, the tax threshold has already risen from 800 to 1600 . Presently, she is an intern in the human resources department of Yi Mao Apparel to gain experience and to get a recommendation .
Yi Mao is a big conglomerate in A City . It started in the apparel industry, and has now diversified into other industries, including the real estate company that Yi Pei is in charge of .
Real estate is like the spring after the rain, rich people all like to dip their toes in . Moreover, it's a big local industry . Her internship is still at Yi Mao Apparel’s human resources department . This year Yi Mao recruited very few interns, and her internship was arranged for her by her uncle Yang Jiantao .
[Found on jeytranslations . blogspot . com Do not repost to other sites . ]
Yesterday night, she handed the photocopies of Yang Jiantao’s illegal subcontracting documents to Yi Pei, the head of Yi Mao Real Estate . Purely speaking, on the corporate ladder, doing that isn't just overstepping her boundaries .
It's also really dumb .
If Yang Jiantao found out that she reported him, he would be so angry that his eyes bulged and steam came out of his nose .
But, she had no choice!
Shi Jian pushed her cart morosely . Supermarkets these days were like a strange kaleidoscope, differing brands emerge endlessly . She recognizes the products on the shelf in front of her, but they still have a big difference . For example, Sanlu3 is placed directly on the shelf in front and center . Walking past the Sanlu shelf, she kindly advised an auntie to not buy this brand . Unfortunately, she was given a supercilious look .
Checking out at the counter, her bill was 98 yuan . Shi Jian came out carrying her grocery bags, eyes blinded by the sunlight . She was used to it for a while now; the guilty feeling is like a viper worming through the bottom of her heart, occasionally waking to vomit up nasty thoughts .
Strenuously carrying her grocery bags while walking, Shi Jian looked inside them, and discovered she bought more than she'd intended to . After she married Jiacheng, even though they had an auntie to buy groceries and cook for them, she and Jiacheng would still go to the supermarket once a week . Jiacheng would never let her carry heavy items . Being used to that, Shi Jian never considered the idea that she wouldn't be able to carry it all if she bought too many items .
What’s more, the later supermarkets are marvelous; they basically delivered items to your door .
Not two steps later, she picked up a call from her aunt, inviting her over for dinner, offering to make her the pine nut and corn dish that she loved to eat . She remembered that she still had to go check out Cheng Zisong, so she found a reason to decline . Her auntie teased her over the phone, saying that she had a boyfriend now and was too busy dating .
If only it was that great . She doesn’t even know where Ye Jiacheng is right now . “I will go over to extort your cooking skills tomorrow night . I want pine nut and corn, sweet and sour ribs, cumin flavored beef…” She chattered on .
But before she could even get to her auntie’s specialty Dongpo pig knuckle, the phone was taken by her uncle Yang Jiantao . Of course, the quick tempered man said to her, “Ms . Shi Jian, if you don’t come today, be sure to come early tomorrow on Sunday . I have questions to ask you!”
" . . . oh . ”
Listening to that made her nervous, so she made a long “oh” sound . Yi Pei dealt with the issue already? Not only did he harshly resolve it, but he also revealed that she was the one who reported it?
What kind of being is he? Shi Jian pursed her lip, and bent down to pick up her stuffed grocery bags . Strenuously back to the dorm she went .
______
At the lobby of the five star hotel, everywhere she looked twinkled brightly .
Lai Qiao had dragged her to the hotel as soon as she returned to the dorm . She wasn't very familiar with Junhe Hotel, only knowing that this veteran five star hotel recently became prestigious, but would quickly be merged and acquired in the coming era of merging and acquisition . The acquirer would be the Yi family’s very own Yi Pei .
Cheng Zisong came over from B city, and immediately headed to this hotel . He is a high level engineer, so a long term suite in Junhe Hotel had been reserved by a party on his side .
Dinner is at the Hong Kong Style Restaurant on the ninth floor . Cheng Zisong entertained Lai Qiao and herself with a rich selection of dishes . Seafood, dimsum, roasted meats, and sweet desserts to win over the girls .
Shi Jian was in a pensive mood, so she only tasted a little bit of the food . Lai Qiao was very excited, and asked Cheng Zisong questions nonstop, not forgetting to give some of the tasty food to Shi Jian .
Indeed, Lai Qiao is a woman that knows how to care for others .
Bzzt . A text message popped up . Shi Jian glanced at it . Lai Qiao sent it to her just now, the content made her not know if she should laugh or cry: “My dear, relax and eat, there’s no problem . ”
Ai… Shi Jian looked at the decadent pineapple bun on her plate, and took a bite .
In this meal, the one that ate the happiest is undoubtedly Lai Qiao . At the end of the meal, Shi Jian wiped her hands on a napkin, and observed her surroundings . The Hong Kong Style Restaurant on Junhe Hotel’s ninth floor, the reflection of the bright chandelier on the floor to ceiling windows, the stark contrast of the interior of the room compared to the rainbow of billboards outside, Cheng Zisong’s courteousness, and Lai Qiao’s cute grin .
Cheng Zisong is still carefully conversing with Lai Qiao, a calm smile on his face .
To be fair, richly paid men like Cheng Zisong do indeed capture girls’ hearts . Chatting with him is comfortable, and not awkward, even to people like “her” and Lai Qiao, ones who are only about to enter society .
“Ms . Shi, Lai QIao says you are about to take the exam for the postgraduate program at B University?” Cheng Zisong asked her, likely seeing that she hasn’t said anything all evening, thus politely bringing her into the conversation .
Shi Jian shook her head, “I am not . ”
“Not taking the exam anymore?” Lai Qiao was surprised, her stunned face exaggerated yet cute . But she quickly understood and said, “I noticed you didn’t study much at all this month, looks like you've given up . ”
Shi Jian pursed her lip, a bit helpless . She did want to study, but the material just couldn’t stay in her brain . When she took the exam back then, she just barely passed . Now, she had forgotten all of the exam material, and the same as her twenty-one year old self, her thinking is completely different than what it was before .
“Not taking the exam should be fine . Yi Mao is a very good platform . It's a solid foundation . You all fought to get on it,” Cheng Zisong suggested .
“Really?” Lai Qiao blinked, and brought up some inside information, “But, I heard Yi Mao has a lot of competition . There are many branches . We don’t know where we fall . ”
“My advice is, if you can get into Yi Mao Real Estate, then do it . After all, Yi Pei is in that department . ” Cheng Zisong said confidently .
Yi Pei? Unexpectedly, Cheng Zisong knew Yi Pei .
Shi Jian was distracted after hearing this .
She clearly remembered Jia Cheng’s taunt against her . “They all say that once you're pregnant, you'll be dumb for three years . Our baby Shi Jian hasn’t even become pregnant and is already dumb . I remember when I was pursuing you, you were still quite clever . ”
In the face of this, she had spoken up and replied, “It’s because I’ve found a capable husband . ”
……
Thinking about this made Shi Jian sad . She raised her head, her expression frozen . How could it be so coincidental?
“Shi Jian?” Lai Qiao touched her arm .
Far away at the entrance of the restaurant, a group of young people walked out . They just finished dinner, and were lively bantering with one another .
Shi Jian didn’t say anything . Her sight followed the figure walking in the center of the group . That man had hair black like ink, and the same relaxed and upright posture . The shadow on the marble under his feet seemed to stretch in her direction, lengthening unexpectedly .
Her chest viciously tightened .
Lai Qiao spoke up again, “I hope we will stay at Yi Mao . I noticed that Zhao Yilin worked hard to be able to stay . She has the best performance in our group . Shi JIan, what do you think?”
Bzzzzzzzzzz- Shi Jian didn’t hear, her world was quietly muted . Then, enthusiastic fireworks crackled, colorful and magnificent . The corners of her lips curved, almost involuntarily smiling .
Ye Jiacheng and his friends quickly walked out of the restaurant .
Shi Jian abruptly stood up, suppressed her rapidly beating heart, and ran over towards him .
When she and Ye Jiacheng were preparing to get married, she'd complained that their dating time was too short . Getting married before being able to properly date, how unfortunate .
Jiacheng had replied, “Who let us meet so late in life?”
If……
If the heavens gave you an opportunity to let you meet your significant other earlier, what would you do?
Shi Jian definitely would stop him earlier, then use her most intimate voice to greet him, “Hi, you look exactly like my future husband, may we acquaint ourselves earlier?”
1 烟花烫: I translated it literally as firework hairstyle because I don’t know what it’s called, but it looks like this: Firework hairstyle image ↩
2 大叔 Literally: Big Uncle . It is a “type” of men that people are into . If anyone knows a better word for this, please let me know . ↩
3 三鹿: A brand of powdered milk for babies . In 2008, they were found to have adulterated their powdered milk with melamine, a toxic compound . Forbes article Wikipedia article ↩