What Lies Within

安知我意

what-lies-within

Chapter 18

Whenever he heard a couple of inappropriate words, he would blush with embarrassment. He always maintained a calm and gentle demeanor in front of others.
Qi Shi'an originally thought Shen Duoyi was so pure and innocent, but at this moment, facing this message, an irresistible suspicion burst forth.
He avoided the question and instead asked when he would return, and importantly, also mentioned "butterbeer".
Qi Shi'an couldn't figure out whether Shen Duoyi was pure or sophisticated. He only knew that he himself had turned into a fish that had lost its ability to think. The fishhook swayed in front of his eyes, and a little bit of old memories could make him bite the hook and go ashore without hesitation.
The window was pushed open, and You Si came to the balcony with two glasses of wine. She walked and drank, and when she reached Qi Shi'an, she handed over the other glass and asked curiously and directly, "Who is Shen Duoyi?"
After all, they grew up together and knew each other well. It would be boring to try to cover it up. Qi Shi'an answered without thinking, "An employee of Ming'an, and also an old friend."
"Then what are you worried about?" You Si relaxed her shoulders, as if she was relieved. "I thought he was your boss, but it turns out he's a subordinate. What, are you afraid of being gossiped about by employees?"
Qi Shi'an tasted the wine and replied, "Of course I'm afraid. I'm such an upright person, so of course I cherish my reputation."
After saying that, he walked into the room, ready to wash off the flour that had dried on his hands. You Si leaned against the railing and drank, her long hair flying in the wind. After swallowing the last mouthful, she spoke, "My brother wants me to go back to Zhesi to work, but I can't bear to leave the gallery."
Qi Shi'an paused for a moment and turned around to give some advice, but You Si seemed to avoid hearing it and intercepted first, "I have to think over this for ten or twenty days, or even longer. Let's talk about it later."
"Suit yourself, just don't anger You Zhe." Qi Shi'an really couldn't stand the stickiness between his fingers anymore, so he didn't stay any longer and strode towards the kitchen.
The lunch was eaten with great difficulty, and they were almost starving by the time the fries were served. You Si's parents told Qi Shi'an about interesting things that happened in Sydney, and Qi Shi'an reciprocated with a few insights from work.
He didn't go home often when he was busy, but being a guest this time triggered a bit of homesickness.
Emotions are like viruses, with a wide variety of types. They grow recklessly and spread exceptionally quickly. From leaving the company and returning home, to taking a shower and lying on the bed, Shen Duoyi was already tightly bound by the vines of emotions.
Why did he send such a text message?
Out of so many types of alcohol, why mention butter?!
It became frivolous all at once.
The more Shen Duoyi thought about it, the more embarrassed he became. He couldn't watch TV shows or read books. He almost used shower gel to wash his hair while taking a shower just now. He lay limply on the bed, holding Grandpa Shen's back scratcher in his hand, occasionally scratching his flat belly.
Later, when he was really bored, he put on his slippers and went to the next room. Grandpa and grandson were of the same lineage. Grandpa Shen was also lying on the bed in a daze. A small radio was placed beside him, and inside, the master storyteller Shan Tianfang was telling the story of "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants".
"Grandpa, are you still hot when you cover yourself with a blanket now?" Shen Duoyi made small talk and sat cross-legged beside the bed.
"I'm hot when I cover myself, and cold when I don't. The weather between seasons is really worrying." Grandpa Shen closed his eyes and occasionally commented, "Bai Yutang is actually not as good as Zhan Zhao, but he has a bit of evil nature, which seems to elevate him."
Shen Duoyi still wanted to talk about the hot and cold issue, "So do you cover yourself at night or not?"
"I cover myself. When it's hot, I lift it to cool off, and when it's cold, I cover it again to warm up. It's making me almost catch a cold from tossing and turning." Grandpa Shen impatiently turned his head to the side, "Stop interrupting. I didn't even hear what Ouyang Chun said."
Shen Duoyi simply lay down and listened along, "Ouyang Chun said that Murong Xia is not a good person."
Grandpa Shen finally couldn't take it anymore, "Why did you come here? Go back to your own room!"
Shen Duoyi didn't move and listened along for two more chapters. In the end, Grandpa Shen fell asleep, but the radio was still on. He found a thin blanket to cover Grandpa Shen, then turned off the radio and the bedside lamp.
When the bellows get old, they will make noises. When people get old, they also easily make snoring and panting sounds when sleeping. Shen Duoyi squatted down beside the bed. It was pitch black and he couldn't see anything clearly, but he could hear Grandpa Shen's somewhat labored breathing.
He listened quietly, squatting until his legs went numb before leaving.
The week-long business trip was coming to an end. On the last day, Qi Shi'an went sightseeing in The Rocks and bought some gifts to take back. He strolled along the West Pier with bags in hand, as leisurely as if he had eaten his fill and was taking a walk.
He had been to many places and often flew around on business trips. Various scenic spots and buildings could no longer arouse his interest. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was beautiful, and the Opera House was also beautiful, but he only glanced at them and didn't bother to let his gaze linger for a few more seconds.
The wind was noisy on the pier, and the strong sunlight shone on the sea surface. The ripples carried scattered crystal light, like shattered colored glass. Qi Shi'an finally took a picture, just like the chestnut stand he had photographed in Munich. He sent it to Shen Duoyi in the form of an email.
The text also complained, "Actually, you ruined my surfing plans that day."
Shen Duoyi saw the email the next morning. He was awakened by the long-lost noise of the soy milk machine and was a bit grumpy. When he saw the email, he got heated up and directly replied, "Surfing is so dangerous. You can settle for the next best thing and take a shower."
The morning time was short, but there were many things to do: washing up, changing clothes, eating breakfast, checking the daily opening information. Shen Duoyi was so busy that he forgot about the email and went to work with a light yawn.
He used to be sleep-deprived due to part-time jobs and was so sleepy in class that he couldn't lift his head. At that time, it was popular in the class to use essential balm to refresh the mind. He would apply a little on his philtrum and sniff to stay awake.
No one used essential balm in the office. Shen Duoyi had no other way and was listless all over.
"Team Leader Shen, what did you do last night? Why are you so sleepy?"
Shen Duoyi smiled embarrassedly, "I accompanied my grandfather to listen to storytelling. He fell asleep early, but I got quite into it." After saying that, he looked at his watch, "Mr. Zhang is having a meeting later. I'm really afraid of dozing off. It would be great if I had some essential balm to apply."
"Olfactory stimulation?" A colleague took the perfume from his desk, "Can this be a substitute?"
Shen Duoyi had never used perfume before and had some reluctance in his heart, so he had to decline. Later, when Zhang Yiming held the meeting, he deliberately chose a conspicuous position to prevent himself from relaxing and falling asleep.
After enduring a listless day, Shen Duoyi went home and rested early. He calculated the time, estimating that he would see Qi Shi'an, who had returned from his business trip, at work tomorrow.
His eyes rolled under his thin eyelids as he used the last bit of willpower before sleep to ponder whether he should invite Qi Shi'an for a drink.
Qi Shi'an had already arrived home with his luggage. He hadn't taken that meal seriously at first, but after seeing Shen Duoyi's reply email, he made up his mind to have a drink as compensation for himself.
The days were getting longer, and the housekeeper had received notice the day before, so she started ringing the doorbell early. Qi Shi'an was already fully dressed when he opened the door, and his first words were hurtful: "Auntie Li, you've gotten fatter again, right?"
"What fat? This is called prosperity!"
"Have you listed the precautions? You always have so many requirements."
"Why aren't you laying the floor mats again? Don't put the razor facing outward!"
Qi Shi'an's veins throbbed from being yelled at. This Auntie Li was a gold-medal housekeeper his mother had found at the housekeeping market. Except for her loud voice, there was simply no fault to pick. He followed Auntie Li into the bedroom and countered each point: "Doesn't it take time to list them out? I'll dictate, you take notes."
"It's troublesome to lay and remove the floor mats, so I won't do it. The razor is used frequently, just put it anywhere. Don't yell at me for this again."
"The weather is getting hot, sort out the clothes. Hang the shirts by color, iron the suits, and change the bedding to a set of deep blue to look cool."
"All carpets need to be cleaned and fertilizer added to the plants."
Qi Shi'an picked up his bag and looked around. "That's it. Handle the rest as you see fit. The expenses will be settled together with the family's."
He said that and walked out, glancing at his watch. Auntie Li called out from behind, "Your mother said you haven't been home for over two months. She asked if you've forgotten about your mother due to amnesia!"
Qi Shi'an jingled his car keys, indicating he knew. Going home was always postponed when he got busy. It seemed his mother was getting emotional.
He made a call home on the way, agreeing to stay home for two days this weekend.
"Mr. Qi, good morning."
"Morning. Today's hairstyle suits you very well." As soon as Qi Shi'an entered the 30th floor, he saw Annie standing at the door to greet him, so he complimented her. From the door to the office, Annie briefly summarized the work over the past few days.
"Mr. Qi, the documents have been sorted." Annie stood in front of the desk. "Still in the order of red, blue, and black, from urgent to less urgent. Are you holding a meeting today?"
Qi Shi'an looked at the desk full of documents. "No meeting today. I'll draft an announcement later, and you post it on the system."
Nearly ten days' worth of accumulated work was piled on the desk. Qi Shi'an had to process it quickly. He estimated he would have to work overtime until late at night. Before the business trip, he had discussed the issue of medium and long-term transfers with You Zhe. He quickly drafted an announcement and posted it on the system to give various departments time to understand in advance, facilitating future work.
"Stock investment medium and long-term customer diversion plan." Shen Duoyi, well-rested and energetic, knew Qi Shi'an was back when he saw the new announcement. So, after meeting with clients in the morning, he started working on an outline, wanting to analyze a plan as soon as possible.
They hadn't discussed it at all, yet both chose to work overtime.
Around eight o'clock, the two met in the archives room. Qi Shi'an swiped his card to enter and immediately spotted Shen Duoyi holding a file folder.
"Oh, Mr. Qi." Shen Duoyi also quickly noticed and looked up to meet Qi Shi'an's gaze. "You're back."
Qi Shi'an joked, "This overtime of yours isn't required by the company, right?"
"No, it's voluntary. I have some unfinished business." Shen Duoyi had already found the paper materials and was actually about to return to the consulting department. He asked, "Is there anything you need my help with?"
Qi Shi'an first searched the system, then went straight for the materials he wanted, but didn't find them all. He replied, "You took the information I was looking for."
Shen Duoyi immediately understood. "It's related to the new announcement. You can look at it first since you're the decision-maker."
Decision-makers like subordinates with strong execution. Qi Shi'an didn't say it, but he had already given Shen Duoyi extra points from a superior's perspective. He took the files he had found and also took the other party's, asking casually, "When are you treating me to a drink?"
Shen Duoyi had forgotten all about it. He felt a little embarrassed and a little unwilling. Unwilling because Qi Shi'an hadn't explained the "girlfriend" matter at all and still asked him when he was treating in a very entitled manner.
He replied, "The money is all lost. I'll treat you when I earn it back."
Qi Shi'an almost laughed but deliberately put on a stern face, making the surrounding atmosphere solemn and serious. Shen Duoyi was puzzled, but his heart was beating fast, always feeling like the other party was about to say something.
"I have something I want to tell you. It wasn't convenient to say on the phone before."
Is he going to explain now? Shen Duoyi thought.
"Actually," Qi Shi'an began apologetically, "I was also one of the main forces behind the scenes in this methanol incident."
Shen Duoyi was stunned. It took a while for him to react to what Qi Shi'an had said. When he was panicking, he had sought help from the other party and thanked him repeatedly, not expecting that Qi Shi'an was one of the executioners who had slaughtered him.
Seeing him not speak for a long time, Qi Shi'an asked, "Do you hate me now?"
"No... I'm a bit confused."
"How much did you lose?"
"Over a hundred thousand."
Shen Duoyi reacted quickly and immediately asked, "How much did you make?"
Qi Shi'an mumbled, "About 40 million."
"40 million?!" Shen Duoyi's heart instantly lost balance. He didn't want to work overtime anymore and didn't plan to work hard for the next month either!
He felt a little dizzy and turned to walk out, saying the longest string of words since joining Ming'an: "I'm not in the consulting department anymore. I'm also going to trade. Tomorrow I'll go to the futures department to apprentice with Xiao Wang. Why is it that losing over a hundred thousand makes my liver ache, while you guys scoop up tens of millions at a time? What do you do with so much money? Pave the floor? I won't treat anymore. I'll tighten my belt and save up 40 million—"
"Don't pull me!"
Shen Duoyi's arm was grabbed by Qi Shi'an. Only after struggling a couple of times did he realize he had rambled on so much. Feeling both ashamed and angry, unable to back down, he glared and said, "I'm going home to sleep. Overtime canceled."
Qi Shi'an was quite infuriating: "Forty million is pretty easy to spend. Buy a sports car and you'll only have half left, no need to lay the floor."
Shen Duo was so angry that his head felt hot, but he couldn't think of any words to retort. It wasn't that his vocabulary wasn't rich enough; he simply wasn't good at dealing with this kind of rogue behavior.
It was nearly dawn, and apart from the security guards on duty patrol, they were the only two living people in the entire building. One after the other, they exited the elevator, with Qi Shi'an following behind, his words echoing.
Until they were out of the building, Qi Shi'an, seeing that Shen Duo was about to leave, spoke up and asked, "Leniency for those who confess. I've already taken the initiative to confess, so forgive me this once. Besides, the innocent are not guilty. I didn't know in advance that you had bought it. Don't be angry, okay?"
Shen Duo had never been a person with a big temper. On the contrary, the edges of his temper had been worn away too much in his childhood. At this moment, the early summer night breeze blew past, and his thunderous anger dissipated without a trace.
"Do you have anything else to confess then?" He turned around and asked, keeping a few steps away from the other.
In the end, Qi Shi'an couldn't help but feel secretly pleased, but his face remained calm: "The girl who answered the phone is You Zhe's sister and also my childhood friend. She thought it was Zhang Yiming calling, so she deliberately said that."
Only lovers need to explain this kind of misunderstanding, but they were not lovers.
But Shen Duo's thoughts were very simple. Since they were preparing to get along well and there was a probability of development, they should at least be sincere with each other. Another gust of wind blew past, and a drunk came out of the Tokyo bar next door.
The drunk was not old, standing unsteadily at the door waiting for someone. Soon a car stopped, and the person picking him up ran over and took his hand, saying, "Let's go."
Let's go.
How familiar it seemed.
A string snapped with a "pop".
Qi Shi'an was engulfed by memories. He took a big step, eliminating the half-meter distance between him and Shen Duo. A sense of crisis surged between his brows, his pupils blacker than the night. Shen Duo was a little frightened, not knowing what had happened.
"What's wrong with you?"
Qi Shi'an asked through gritted teeth, "Where's your little boyfriend?! Have you cut it off cleanly?"
Shen Duo felt very confused. His... little boyfriend?

What Lies Within

What Lies Within

Chapter 18 - Chapter 18

Leafy