Chapter 11: The Gentle White Lotus

Zheng Baohua could hardly believe it. Who had been so urgently pushing him? It seemed that when it came to urging him and the factory, everyone was in a hurry, but when it concerned their own partner, the urgency vanished.

Lu Jianwei was bent over her desk, reading and writing at the same time. Gu Huaizheng had been keeping her company, but Zheng Baohua shot him a look. “Let’s step outside and talk about something else.”

As soon as they were outside, Zheng Baohua jabbed an elbow at him.

A seasoned partner indeed—Gu Huaizheng sidestepped easily. “Are you crazy?”

“I think you’re the one who’s lost it! If you’re not in a hurry, why make me run around in this heat to handle the application? Are you just messing with me?” Zheng Baohua complained.

Gu Huaizheng handed him a cigarette. “Why say such things between brothers? Now that it’s done, I owe you one, that’s all!”

Zheng Baohua, once a political instructor, caught on quickly. “Wait… Is this about the political review?”

Gu Huaizheng smiled faintly. “I always thought you were fearless, but it turns out you have your moments too? Far-sighted indeed. Lucky for me we’re not partners anymore!”

Gu Huaizheng lowered his head, tapping the cigarette gently against the wooden railing between his fingers. “Aren’t we still working together now? The fighter jet engine project needs to pick up pace, or else I’ll have a hard time explaining things to the leaders. You know the responsibility they’ve put on me, and I still have to keep an eye on Mingsha Island. Don’t delay my work.”

Zheng Baohua felt stifled. Was there no escaping this black-hearted overlord, even after transferring out of the army?

Gu Huaizheng stood alone outside for a while. Through the window, he saw Lu Jianwei sitting with her back to him, turning pages with her left hand and writing swiftly with her right. Her twin braids were tied with rubber bands, hanging down either side, obedient as a little rabbit.

Sensing something, Lu Jianwei turned to look at him. Caught off guard, Gu Huaizheng’s heart skipped a beat, but his gaze remained steady.

“I’ve finished translating part of it. Would you like to take a look?” she asked.

Gu Huaizheng stepped in and took the translated pages. Her handwriting was beautiful—pleasing to the eye, just like the person herself.

[A compliment from Gu Huaizheng: +1. Convert to life points?]

Convert!

The grid's green bar ticked up ever so slightly. Her life points increased by another one-thousandth, now at four-thousandths.

Though delighted, Lu Jianwei felt more pressure than joy. With Gu Huaizheng standing behind her, it was as if she carried a mountain on her back. His presence was overwhelming.

She drew a slow breath. She wanted to finish the task before the end of the workday and quickly refocused, her pen flying across the page once more.

With half an hour left before clocking out, Lu Jianwei raised her head from the manuscript and instinctively stretched her arms—only to accidentally hit Gu Huaizheng’s face.

He caught her by the wrist, his eyes deep and unwavering as he gazed at her.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were sitting there.”

Her face flushed bright red with embarrassment, though she was also grateful—she’d stretched her arm slowly, otherwise the slap would have landed much more dramatically.

Her fingers still pressed against his cheek, while his thumb gently rubbed the base of her palm. Never before had she been touched by a man other than her father or brother; her heart raced with panic.

Had she just offended her lifeline?

Seeing the innocence in her eyes, Gu Huaizheng felt a surge of warmth. At the sound of footsteps at the end of the corridor, he finally released her.

“All done!” Lu Jianwei pushed the translation over to him, her wrist still tingling with the warmth of his touch, nowhere to hide it. “I read a number of engineering books while abroad. If there’s anything I can help with, just let me know.”

“Of course. Who else would I look for?” His voice was low and rich, with a hint of laughter. “I’ll go speak with Director Zheng first. I’ll come find you at the end of the day.”

“All right!”

Returning to her office, Lu Jianwei sat down, her right hand seeming to have a will of its own, barely feeling like part of her.

He probably wasn’t angry, was he? Her mind replayed his face and his gaze—deep as the night sky, with a smile like stars scattered across it, brilliant and dazzling.

“Jianwei!” Yang Hongyan called out warmly, running over with a slip of paper. “Comrade Song has already submitted her transfer request. In any case, she won’t be in our section anymore. She took a report this month and hasn’t delegated any tasks to you. So, why not let you handle her report this time?”

In the past, when she was sidelined, Lu Jianwei never got such assignments. Song Zhaodi’s pieces would be written by her, but submitted under Song’s name.

“Sure!” she replied.

Yang Hongyan, pleased with her own success, smiled. “Are you free after work today? The Red Star Cinema is showing ‘Heroic Tanker’ and I happen to have two tickets. My treat.”

A movie ticket cost twenty cents—not cheap.

Lu Jianwei understood Yang Hongyan’s intention. Having bested the office tyrant Song Zhaodi, Yang felt both wary and grateful towards her. With a military officer for a partner, Lu Jianwei’s social standing had softened the impact of her background, making Yang more willing to get along.

The invitation was also a peace offering for their previously poor relationship.

“I have plans tonight. Why don’t you go with someone else? If you’re free this weekend, I can take you.”

Yang Hongyan gave her a sly wink, nudging her. “Come on, just admit it—you’re meeting your boyfriend tonight, aren’t you?”

Lu Jianwei blushed, shoving her gently. “No, don’t talk nonsense!”

“Don’t deny it—just look in the mirror. Anyone can see you’re lying,” Yang teased, refusing to let it go.

It was almost the end of the workday, and no one had any mind for work. The section chief was nowhere to be seen, and there was no one to supervise them.

“The mirror’s broken,” Lu Jianwei replied, feeling her face grow hot. She threatened, “Don’t make me spill your secrets. Don’t think I don’t know.”

“Go on, tell me—what secrets do I have?” Yang challenged.

Lu Jianwei cast a meaningful glance at Xu Xinmin. Just then, Xu turned to look at them, then quickly jerked his head away, so flustered he nearly fell out of his chair.

Yet Yang Hongyan didn’t seem delighted. Lu Jianwei saw this and knew the feeling wasn’t mutual—a rather awkward situation.

So it was true—be single too long, and you lose your edge.

Glancing up, she spotted the person waiting outside the window and leapt at the chance to escape. “I’m heading out.”

Right on time, she shouldered her bag and hurried out.

Gu Huaizheng looked at her, a smile in his eyes. “Take it easy, don’t rush.”

Inside, Lu Jianwei thought, I’m so nervous. “Let’s go,” she said.

No sooner had they taken a few steps than Fu Tingjun emerged from the technical department—hair parted perfectly, crisp white shirt, army-green trousers, polished leather shoes, and a yellow messenger bag slung over his shoulder. Looking every bit the dandy, he stared at Lu Jianwei with a face full of resentment.

Today, when he’d returned to the office, his colleagues’ expressions had been odd. At first, he thought they all knew about his former engagement to Lu Jianwei and were relieved it had been called off. Later, he realized Lu Jianwei had spread word of him and Zhu Tingting all over town.

“Lu Jianwei, who is he?” Fu Tingjun demanded, pointing at Gu Huaizheng. “Is he the reason you insisted on breaking off our engagement, and then dragged me and Zhu Tingting into it?”

His eyes were red-rimmed, his tone full of wounded indignation—a picture of a devoted man spurned by a heartless woman.

Lu Jianwei was taken aback. This was her first time encountering a man playing the victim—and it was far more unsettling than when women did it.