Chapter One Hundred Twenty: Christmas Eve

I held the phone in my hand, speechless for a long time, my heart cold and bitter.

Xu Shu, oh Xu Shu! The real reason I hurt them all is because I love you. What’s the point of calling me over? Can you force me to accept Hua Jingjing? Don’t you realize that would only hurt Jingjing even more?

On the phone, Xu Shu was still angrily shouting, “Tang Qian, did you hear me? Say something!”

I gave a bitter smile and suddenly understood—Xu Shu thought I loved her, which is why she spoke to me like that. Didn’t she know that my feelings were no different from Jingjing’s now? I could clearly tell Jingjing I didn’t love her, but with you? Playing dumb and changing the subject is your attitude toward me?

Silently, I hung up and ignored her. I had already made up my mind: from now on, whether or not Xu Shu wants to be in a relationship with me is no longer important.

Not long after, my phone rang again—it was Xu Shu once more. I was disheartened and didn’t want to answer, letting it ring endlessly. After a long while, Xu Shu finally gave up.

I ate something casually and went out. Soon, I arrived at the bookstore. The shop owner’s wife was surprised to see me and said, “Tang Qian? Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to rest a few more days?”

I smiled faintly, “It’s okay. My injuries are almost healed. It’s better to work than stay at home feeling miserable.” The owner’s wife was pleased and carefully asked how I got into the car accident. I couldn’t tell the truth, so I made up a lie to brush it off.

That day, I worked quietly, perhaps because I would be leaving soon, so I applied myself fully. The owner’s wife was usually very talkative, but seeing my gloomy mood, she thought I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t bother me much.

At eight in the evening, after closing the shop, she handed me the key to the rolling shutter and told me to open the door tomorrow since she would be late. After that, we parted ways.

Back home, as soon as I opened the door, I saw little troublemaker Xu Xin cozily sitting with my mother on the living room sofa watching TV, while my younger sister sat apart, pouting in displeasure.

I was taken aback. “Xu Xin? What are you doing here?”

Xu Xin saw me and happily stood up, walking toward me with a bright smile. “Brother Tang Qian, you’re back! I waited for you forever!”

I closed the door. “Weren’t you supposed to go back to T City? Why are you still here?”

Xu Xin chuckled, “My sister’s having a tantrum at home; she’s not in the mood to deal with me. Haha, I sneaked out to find some peace. Brother Tang Qian, I have something to tell you!”

I thought for a moment. “Let’s go to my room.” Leading the way, I entered my room, and Xu Xin followed. I closed the door and said, “Well, tell me. What is it?”

Xu Xin still smiled brightly. She hopped onto my bed and sat down, swinging her legs back and forth, eyes shining with delight. After a while, she said, “Last night, Jingjing came to see my sister in the middle of the night, crying so sadly! I watched happily from the side. Brother Tang Qian, you did well! You should reject any woman who has illusions about you mercilessly, shatter their hopes, and make sure they never bother you again! I support you!”

I couldn’t help but smile wryly at this little troublemaker. What did she understand? Did she know how painful it was for me to hurt these women who loved me? But Xu Xin was just a child with a simple mind, and I could understand that. I smiled bitterly. “Alright, your support doesn’t really help. Your sister and the others hate me to death!”

Xu Xin jumped off the bed and stood before me, speaking earnestly, “How does that not help? I know you’re good to me, Brother Tang Qian. Leaving those women is for me, right? I know. I’ll be good to you too. From now on, I won’t even glance at any other man. My heart will only think of you. That’s the only way to be worthy of everything you’ve done for me!”

I was speechless and could only smile bitterly. She had no idea how heartless I truly was, and that she had nothing to do with it. But I had already hurt three women, and I couldn’t bring myself to hurt this innocent, adorable girl. Besides, she was so young. I couldn’t let her beautiful childhood be weighed down by such a heavy blow; it might ruin her life.

After a moment of silence, I decided not to respond. I would simply keep my distance from her. When she grew up, she would naturally forget me.

I smiled faintly. “Alright, it’s getting late. If you don’t go back soon, your sister will be looking for you everywhere again. Let’s go; I’ll take you home.”

Xu Xin said, “My sister knows I came to see you and has given her approval! By the way, what did you say to her on the phone? You made her so angry. Our family’s bodyguards and servants are having a terrible time being scolded by her for no reason! Haha! Brother Tang Qian, you’re amazing. Few people can make my sister that mad!”

I smiled faintly. “She’s angry for Jingjing’s sake. She’s such a good friend to Jingjing, so naturally she’s upset that I hurt her.”

Xu Xin looked at me thoughtfully, as if wanting to say something but hesitating. After a long pause, she said, “My sister is really angry, but she is still my sister. You can’t offend her!”

I smiled helplessly. “I don’t want to, but sometimes there’s no choice. Alright, let’s go. Did someone come to pick you up?”

Xu Xin reluctantly said, “Yes, but it’s still early. Are you sending me off so soon?”

I had no choice. “My injuries aren’t fully healed. I need more rest. Let’s go; I’m tired and want to sleep early.”

Pouting, Xu Xin followed me out unwillingly. After greeting my family and saying goodbye, I took her downstairs.

The Mercedes was parked not far away. Xu Xin turned back and gave me a bright smile. “Brother Tang Qian, maybe I’ll be going back to T City in the next couple of days. It’ll be a long time before we see each other again! I’ll miss you!”

I felt a pang of sadness. “When you go back, study well. Don’t be naughty anymore.”

“Okay! I will. But remember to come visit me often!”

I nodded, and Xu Xin waved as she got into the car. Soon, the car disappeared from sight. I felt empty inside, thinking that finally, all these women who loved me had left one by one. I should have felt relieved, but why did my heart still feel so heavy?

Sighing, I turned and went back inside. Over the next few days, I had no more entanglements with any women. I just went to work at the bookstore quietly. In fact, the very next afternoon, the owner’s wife felt comfortable enough to leave the entire shop to me and went out to play. I thought maybe I should inform her ahead of time to hire someone else to replace me soon.

One day, after closing the shop and heading home, I suddenly noticed many stores had Christmas trees and paper cutouts of Santa Claus in their windows. The streets were brightly decorated, festive and joyful. Only then did I realize, oh, Christmas was coming. But this Western holiday had nothing to do with me. Besides, in my current state, how could I be in the mood to celebrate?

As if guided by some divine will, on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, snow began to fall gently, then more heavily. By nightfall, the whole city was wrapped in a blanket of white.

At eight o’clock sharp, I closed the shop and was about to go home when my phone rang after days of silence. I answered, and it was Fan Yunting’s cheerful voice: “Tang Qian! Merry Christmas!”

I smiled. “Manager Fan, Merry Christmas to you too!”

“Haha! You still call me Manager Fan? You should call me President Fan now!”

“Really? Do you have good news?”

“Exactly! The five hundred thousand pounds have all been transferred. Today, I officially resigned from the company! And I’ve found a new office for our company. I just signed a one-year lease with the building management. Tang Qian, today is a special day, Christmas Eve. You’re the first official employee of our company. Let’s celebrate!”

Hearing the good news, I was happy too. “Alright! We should celebrate. Where to?”

“Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up. The president is treating you, and you choose the place. Also, there are many things we need to discuss!”

I chuckled and told her my location, then said, “Let’s go to that music bar your friend owns. That’s where our startup began.”

“Hehe! Great minds think alike! Wait for me, I’m on my way!”

Ten minutes later, Fan Yunting arrived by car. I got in and greeted her with a smile, “President Fan! The snow came fast tonight!”

Fan Yunting was clearly in high spirits, her beautiful face blooming with a smile. “So it’s President Fan now? Sounds good—very satisfying. I’m thinking about what title to give you, our first employee. Vice General Manager?”

I laughed. “No! That’s too big a title for me. I’m just working for you, and I haven’t invested a single cent. What right do I have to be Vice General Manager? I’m happy enough just to lead the research work.”

Fan Yunting smiled without replying and started driving. After a while, she said, “Tonight isn’t just about celebrating. We need to schedule the company’s formation tasks. Don’t think you only develop things and avoid the trivial stuff—that won’t work. There are only two of us founding this company. If you don’t handle everything, I’ll be exhausted. I’m telling you, whether you want to or not, you have to take on the Vice General Manager’s duties!”

I laughed bitterly, “Hearing you say that, I feel like I’ve boarded a pirate ship.”

Fan Yunting laughed heartily, “It’s easy to get on a pirate ship, but hard to get off! Vice General Manager Tang, you just accept your fate!”