Chapter Text
Do you believe in a world of happy endings?
With a sudden clink as the spoon fell brought Chu Wanning back from his reverie.
That’s right. He was no longer a hostage to anyone’s emotions or selfish biddings. His life was his own now. It was not necessarily a happy ending, though. But it was still a satisfactory ending. The happiness he strived for was unattainable, but what he needed the most was peace. If he had to trade his so-called happiness for the uneventful life he was leading now, he would do it again. Whatever he could not have, he did not need it. It all happened for the better.
Chu Wanning picked up the spoon and changed the track. The song playing now was the latest hit from Chu Wanning’s favorite artist. His mood slowly got better as the song played further on. He shifted his focus back to preparing breakfast. A nice Sunday morning was better off without unnecessary melancholy. Things happen. Storms pass.
After helping himself with some scrambled eggs and instant noodles, Chu Wanning lay down on the bed with a book. Putting on his glasses, he dove into the novel he was currently obsessed with.
His room was a complete mess—books and papers were scattered everywhere. To tell that his apartment was messy as a doghouse was a grave insult to dogs anywhere. Even if he racked his brain, he would not remember the last time he tidied up his abode. He hardly had any visitors, and he did not bother to organize his place at all until he lost things like his mobile phone or glasses. It was almost like he did not know how to take care of himself, his life as messy as his house. This, however, contradicted his apparent image in the outside world very strongly. Chu-tongxue was not only the brightest star of the department of computer science of Sisheng University but also the only one to be selected as an intern in the prestigious Wushan Group. He was not just a brilliant student, but he was immensely talented as well. Everyone knew that he would definitely be hired after his internship period was over. Chu Wanning had no such big opinions on it, though. He simply did what he was good at with a passion. The more he immersed himself in work and studies, the more he felt at ease. When he had nothing to do, he would read through novels and comics. Keeping himself distracted was what he intended. From whatever thoughts clouded over his consciousness...
Just as Chu Wanning was about drift off, his phone rang up.
“Speak up,” he answered in a neutral tone.
“Chu-ge!” The voice from the receiver perked up, “Oh my, you picked up in the first ring? Thank goodness!”
“Should I hang up then?” Chu Wanning got up.
“No! Ge! Wait up—we really need your help. Please don't hang up!” Luo Xianxian said in a panicked voice.
Chu Wanning shed his lazy demeanor, “What's wrong?”
Luo Xianxian replied, “Do you know Chen-laoshi?”
“What about him?” Chu Wanning raised a brow.
“He’s our project mentor for this semester, apparently. And oh my gosh, what a jerk he is!” Luo Xianxian was panting slightly. “I wanted to punch his fuckface so badly! Not only he absolutely not help us with our project, but he also dared to harass one of our teammates. You say, is making fun of someone’s accident something a professor should do?”
“You didn’t actually punch him, did you?” Chu Wanning chuckled lightly.
Chu Wanning heard patiently as Luo Xianxian kept ranting about this piece of work of a professor. This Chen-laoshi was a new one, and he had quite the reputation of misbehaving with his students. He never encountered this professor himself, but he knew if he did, it would definitely end up in a disaster.
“None of us want to face that frog ever again, but our finals are almost there. And we need to finish up the project properly. Will you please help us out, Chu-ge? I really hate to bother you when you’re so busy with your part-time hustle and internship and everything. But please? I don’t really know anyone I can ask for. You don’t have to see us or something,” Luo Xianxian was almost begging.
“There’s no need to put it like that. When is the deadline?” Chu Wanning asked calmly.
“We’ll manage it. You just need to check it out so we can fix it up if there’s anything wrong. When are you free this week? I’ll meet you,” Luo Xianxian chimed in.
“Let’s meet at the café near my office, then. Bring your teammates, too. Will Thursday do?”
“Anyday will do! Chu-dage, thank you so much! We’re gonna treat you a strawberry cheesecake after the submission,” Luo Xianxian was overjoyed.
“It’s alright,” Chu Wanning spoke softly, “Take care.”
Chu Wanning ended the call after bidding Luo Xianxian goodbye. He plugged in his earphones and stood in the balcony. Breathing in the city air, he lit a cigarette.
Luo Xianxian was one of the only accomplices he had throughout his years as a university student. She was a year younger than him, but they got along quite well. She was a good-natured kid. Their encounter was purely a coincidence, but their bond lasted somehow. That is something about the ties one makes in their life. Some leave, some stay. Some leave their mark on their entire existence, leaving one dazed in their thoughts.
Chu Wanning exhaled a puff of smoke in the air. No matter how hard he tried, it was not like he still wanted to dwell in his begone days. But the shadow of something always hovered over his consciousness. He wanted to let it go, but he was also loath to part with it. Something about it strangled him to his wit’s end, but the same thing helped him breathe in when everything seemed suffocating.
Chu Wanning stubbed the cigarette in the ashtray. As he thought, he really could not turn a new page at all. He could live a peaceful life, but that very calm will swallow him as a whole. Still, whatever happened, it happened for the better. He closed the balcony door and grabbed a book from his table.
In a blink, the week was almost over.
For the whole week, Chu Wanning had constantly heard about a ‘young master’ of Wushan Group returning from the overseas. Especially the ladies of his office were gossiping on this topic like their lives depended on it. Although he would definitely be lying if he said he was not curious about it. But he was merely an intern here. Whether he joined later as an employee or not, he had no business with the person of highest authority here. It was Friday, and Chu Wanning could not wait to go home. He was already very tired from the work, and he had to oversee Luo Xianxian’s group project as well. Only a good nap and some cream-filled donuts could fix him.
“Chu-wanbei?”
Chu Wanning jolted, “Yes?”
“Ah, I thought you’ll be among the team to receive the young master as well. Who thought I’m gonna find you here?” The man laughed. “Here, sort up these files, and you’re done for today.”
“Yes, sir. Is there anything else?”
Xuanji waved his hand. “Nope, we’re almost summing up the upcoming project. It was all thanks to Chu-wanbei’s meticulous efforts that we were able to finish this early. Go home for today. Because when Xiao-Mo sees this, I bet he’s gonna immediately hire you for his next work. You’ll rarely have time to breathe then. Ha ha.”
“Xiao-Mo?” Chu Wanning tilted his head.
“The ‘young master’. I’ve seen that child since the very early days of our company. He was almost your age back then when he built the Wushan Group of today. No matter how high up we go, I can’t really see him as a big shot or something. Alright, I gotta go now. See you on Monday.”
Chu Wanning nodded. Xiao-Mo, he thought.
This was not a rare surname. He would definitely find at least 50 people with surname Mo. It was no big deal.
Chu Wanning sped up. He somehow wanted to leave before the arrival of this Mo. It would be polite of him to greet his superior, but he felt all his remaining energy and curiosity slip out of his mind. He wanted to leave right now.
Just when Chu Wanning stood up from his desk, a female employee called out at him.
“Xiao-Chu, hurry up!” She exclaimed, brimming with anxiety.
Chu Wanning gulped. What the fuck now? My work is done. I’m going home.
The woman reached to him, “I was looking for you. We can’t find Veggiebun anywhere,” she was sweating even in the chill of December.
Veggiebun was an old orange cat who resided in the office building. The fat tabby was basically the mascot of the office. She generally did not leave the building, so what was with this sudden disappearance?
Chu Wanning raised his right hand behind his head, “Do you have any idea where she went?”
The woman panicked, “Not at all, Xuanji-xiansheng always keeps an eye on her. And she rarely goes anywhere! The young master will arrive at any time. If Veggiebun goes missing now, he’d definitely hack us to pieces!”
Chu Wanning was taken aback. This Mo-zongshi adored a cat this much?
“Xiao-Chu, you’re good with cats, right? Come see if you can find her with us,” The woman was all teary-eyed. Chu Wanning had no way to refuse such a request. He ventured out the entire backyard, but there was no sign of the orange tabby.
The clamor towards the entrance suddenly increased.
The woman gasped, “The young master is back! We’re so dead now!”
A young man who was helping them to find the cat earlier came running back, “That cat is a real piece of work!”
The woman was about to cry, “What do we do now?”
The man replied while wiping his face, “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Chu Wanning raised an eyebrow.
“That cat knew the young master is coming. Just as I walked past the entrance, I saw her enjoying petting sessions from the young master!” The man was about to go crazy, “And we were literally having a heart attack for it!”
Chu Wanning brushed the dust from his hands. “Since the issue is solved, I’ll take my leave now. See you both on Monday,” he proceeded to leave. The crowd must have moved inside the office. It was his best chance to leave now.
Little did he know, someone with a cat on his lap witnessed this whole scene.
Including the watch adorned in Chu Wanning’s right wrist.