Du Xiu Chapter 70

The sudden revelation greatly shocked those present.

Nie Feng and Scallion remained relatively calm, but Wang Nali and Lu Fan exchanged glances, hearing about this for the first time.

Wang Nali asked in astonishment, “There’s something like this?”

Scallion replied, “…I would have almost forgotten if no one mentioned it.”

Chu Duxiu was caught off guard. She coughed lightly, flustered, and hurriedly interjected, “No…”

Let’s save some face for Mr. Xie!

Half the people at the table were from the company – how would Mr. Meow assert his authority in the future?

Nie Feng and Chen Jing regarded Xie Shenci as a friend and could casually joke around with him, but Lu Fan and the others still had to work with him at the company. Xie Shenci would surely be immensely embarrassed.

Unexpectedly, the person involved remained far more composed than she was.

Hearing Chu Duxiu’s denial, Xie Shenci couldn’t help but glance at her out of the corner of his eye, only to notice her frequent coughing. He casually pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, then calmly nodded in acknowledgment. “Mm.”

His steady tone, calm expression, and forthright attitude completely stunned everyone, as though the matter were utterly ordinary.

He possessed a naturally aloof demeanor, which made him ill-suited for stand-up comedy, but in this moment, it worked to his advantage. Perhaps it was because his appearance was so deceptive – his eyes serious, as if engaged in a business negotiation – that it almost seemed as though he felt no shame but rather a hint of pride.

For a moment, no one laughed. Instead, they were overcome with curiosity and pressed for details in confusion.

Wang Nali looked puzzled. “But why?”

Xie Shenci replied, “It was just to get her phone number.”

“?”

Scallion explained, “Here’s what happened that day: I was performing at an open mic and picked an audience member to interact with…”

Nie Feng added, “Little did we know, the person chosen would later become the Rookie Queen who completely outperformed him.”

The two of them took turns vividly recounting the story – how Chu Duxiu was called on stage, how she slipped away after her debut performance, how everyone searched for her in vain, and how Xie Shenci eventually found her resume.

Xie Shenci had asked Chen Jing to call Chu Duxiu, but when they finally met in person, Chu Duxiu initially turned down the opportunity. It was only later that she gradually became involved in stand-up comedy, eventually making her way into the training camp and the show.

Wang Nali listened with great interest and praised, “This could practically be turned into a comedy bit.”

Lu Fan smiled thoughtfully and remarked, “So it all connects – Mr. Xie picked up your resume, and now you’re working at the company. You could say it’s a case of the story coming full circle. That resume definitely ended up in the right hands.”

Nie Feng added, “When you think about it, it’s almost like he was your talent scout.”

Chu Duxiu responded sheepishly, “Mm…”

Scallion protested loudly, “Shouldn’t I be the talent scout? I was the one who called her on stage!”

Wang Nali laughed and scolded, “Oh, get over yourself! You’ve got some nerve-”

The group erupted in laughter, raising their glasses for a lively conversation. The clinking of cups filled the air, accompanied by cheerful chatter and radiant smiles.

Joy permeated the room, but as her past was brought up in front of everyone, Chu Duxiu found herself inexplicably flushed with embarrassment. Though everything said was undeniably true, the mere mention of someone’s name made it feel as if a secret had been publicly announced. Her usual eloquence abandoned her, leaving her stumbling over her words.

Everyone encouraged her to turn the story into a comedy bit, unaware that she never even brought it up in casual conversation, let alone on stage.

Aside from Scallion and a few others, she rarely spoke of this incident voluntarily and seldom explained her connection with Xie Shenci. At first, it was because she was still inexperienced and didn’t want to seem like she was name-dropping her boss. Later, it was because she harbored private feelings – too guilty and flustered to mention it.

Only things she had truly let go of could be written into her routines, once her heart had made peace with them. But the things she couldn’t move on from were kept tucked away, cherished yet unforgettable.

Now, seeing the “So that’s how it is – no wonder you two are close” expressions on Wang Nali and the others’ faces, warmth rushed through her entire body. She wanted to explain, but there was no way to refute it.

At the table, amid the laughter and conversation, Chu Duxiu lowered her head and stole a glance at the person beside her, hoping to gauge his expression.

Unexpectedly, she met his dark, jade-like eyes, gleaming under the light like dewdrops glistening after rain.

Xie Shenci had also been secretly watching her, and their gazes collided directly.

Caught in the act as she looked over, his Adam’s apple moved slightly.

Chu Duxiu froze for a moment, then quickly averted her eyes, not daring to continue staring. The laughter around her seemed to fade into the distance, leaving only the frantic beating of her heart in her chest – like a nervous, restless drum.

While others chatted and laughed freely, the two of them remained silent, bound by a shared, unspoken understanding.

After the meal at the bar, everyone continued chatting and singing karaoke until late into the night before finally dispersing amid the lively atmosphere. They quickly tidied up the dishes, bid farewell to Chen Jing, and followed Nie Feng out, ready to head back to the hotel.

Chu Duxiu carried her suitcase with both hands, clutching a giant plush rabbit in her arms as she trailed closely behind Nie Feng.

Nie Feng led her to his car and abruptly opened the trunk, clicking his tongue. “Hold on, let me see how we can rearrange this…”

The trunk was crammed full of miscellaneous items – several unopened cases of bottled water, along with assorted cardboard boxes, likely all supplies for “Typoon Transit.”

Just then, Xie Shenci approached and asked, “What do you need to put in? If it’s easier, you can put it in my car. I’m heading to the hotel too.”

“Just her luggage. It doesn’t look like too much,” Nie Feng said, glancing at Chu Duxiu holding her box. He suggested, “Why don’t you ride in his car?”

Chu Duxiu hesitated briefly. “…That works too.”

When they had arrived at the bar, Nie Feng had driven, with Scallion in the passenger seat and Chu Duxiu, Wang Nali, and Lu Fan in the back. Xie Shenci had driven over alone and parked in a street spot without pulling into the inner area, requiring a short walk of a few steps.

Nie Feng, sitting in the car, asked, “Where did you park?”

Xie Shenci replied, “Same old spot at the intersection.”

Nie Feng said, “Alright, we’ll head off first. You two catch up later.”

Wang Nali, Scallion, and the others waved goodbye and drove off from Typoon Transit, leaving only Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci behind.

The night was deep, and the streetlights cast a warm, hazy glow. The neon sign of Typoon Transit wasn’t lit today, but the soft light from inside spilled through the glass windows, creating a serene and cozy atmosphere.

The nights in Yancheng were no longer cold. The daytime heat had faded, leaving behind a refreshing coolness.

Having bid farewell to their lively companions, the two stood before the rose bushes at the entrance of the bar, inexplicably relaxed as they listened to the chirping of insects under the starlit sky.

“Why were you pretending not to know me well at the dinner table?”

After seeing the others off, Xie Shenci suddenly turned to her. Crossing his arms, he demanded with a hint of accusation, “And why did you deny the thing about the resume?”

Chu Duxiu widened her eyes, protesting in disbelief, “I never denied it!”

“You said ‘no,'” he complained, clearly dissatisfied. “You even acted like you’d forgotten.”

She offered a stiff excuse, “It’s not that… It was basically a company gathering, after all. Don’t we have to be a little careful to avoid suspicion…”

“Avoid suspicion?” Xie Shenci lowered his eyelids, his gaze flickering subtly as he tested the waters, “Is there something about our relationship that we need to hide?”

“…”

As soon as the words left his mouth, both fell into silence, their lips pressed tightly together, faces flushing with heat.

“What kind of question is that!” Chu Duxiu exclaimed, flushed with a mix of embarrassment and indignation. “You’re still the company’s boss, after all…”

He gazed at her and murmured, “Is that all I am? Just the boss?”

Chu Duxiu fell silent.

Xie Shenci didn’t understand what was happening to himself either. Usually, the sight of her filled him with joy, but now his heart felt heavy, as if a weight were pressing on his chest. Hearing her deny their connection at the table, trying to downplay their relationship, only deepened his sense of disappointment.

It was like the bittersweet taste of a fresh orange, leaving behind only the bitterness of the dried peel, shriveled under the sun.

He wasn’t unaware of what she meant – he understood that she couldn’t interact with him as freely and unrestrainedly as she did with Wang Nali, Lu Fan, and the others.

But it still hurt a little.

Chu Duxiu was momentarily stunned before hurriedly adding, “Of course it’s not just… boss…”

The words slipped out instinctively, but she swallowed the rest, lacking the courage to voice it fully.

Under the streetlight, Xie Shenci’s lips tightened slightly. His hands hung naturally at his sides, but his fingers trembled almost imperceptibly. The light shone from above, casting shadows across his features – half bathed in the glow of the moon and stars, half shrouded in the darkness of the night. Suddenly, he seemed a little lonely.

In that moment, both of them understood the unspoken words lingering between them.

Yet, she felt a trace of fear.

The words of explanation were right at the tip of her tongue, but she held them back in panic, afraid that speaking them aloud would shatter something – exposing the hidden feelings and breaking the fragile balance of what they had now.

Of course, he wasn’t just her boss. He was someone profoundly important to her, someone beyond mere words.

The name “Xie Shenci” didn’t just represent a flutter of the heart – it stood for innocent friendship, trusting intimacy, unwavering support for her dreams, and the unspoken understanding of a comrade. He was her talent scout, her friend, her confidant, the person she trusted most besides her family. He was the pillar who had believed in her potential long before she had achieved anything.

At first, she had dismissed his praise as mere flattery, but one by one, her dreams came true. Even before she believed in herself, he had been certain she could succeed.

How could someone like that be just her boss?

Someone like him couldn’t be adequately described by something as simple as “like” – he was already imbued with countless emotions and held a significance unlike anyone else.

It was precisely because of this that she was always afraid – afraid of disrupting the balance between them and uncertain of what the future might hold.

Her rational, AI-like mind had once led her to scoff at the idea of love, yet when she encountered it herself, her data was thrown into chaos, leaving her utterly defenseless. She worried that this abstract, elusive concept could destroy everything they had. Unlike the unbreakable bonds of family, if they were to fall out one day, not only would their past unspoken understanding and intimacy vanish – they might not even remain friends. Their connection could dissolve into nothingness.

Even an optimist could lose their composure, growing pessimistic over the fear of potential loss.

She could hardly imagine a future without him.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Shenci asked, noticing her red-rimmed eyes. Instantly flustered, he stepped closer and inquired, “Why are you like this?”

Chu Duxiu didn’t even understand her own sudden melancholy, but she couldn’t control her emotions at this moment. She buried her face in the plush toy, hiding her expression, unwilling to let him see through her.

“Did I scare you?”

Seeing her silent evasion, Xie Shenci reached out to take the plastic box from her, hoping to get a better look at her state. But she only clung tighter to the giant rabbit, burying her head deeper into the soft fur.

Xie Shenci immediately blamed himself, reflecting on his words and actions. Perhaps he had been too cold earlier, or perhaps his own somber mood had affected her, making her sense something was wrong and dragging her down into the same low spirits.

She had always been highly empathetic. He knew that.

Xie Shenci quickly reassured her, “Don’t be upset. I’m not blaming you.”

Chu Duxiu, deeply embarrassed, didn’t dare look up at him and mumbled, “Really?”

She was inwardly scolding herself for her cowardice – for fearing the collapse of their relationship, resisting change, and only daring to tread in place.

He promised solemnly, “Yes, I’ll never blame you.”

Forcing reciprocation would strip the act of giving of its meaning.

This was just how Xie Shenci was – whether it came to his ideals or anything else, he never demanded concrete returns. It was similar to how Shanle Culture would be great if it could make money, but even if it ultimately failed, he wouldn’t be disheartened. He had already envisioned the possible outcomes, and at the very least, he had tried his best.

The same applied to her. It would be wonderful if she felt the same way, but it was also fine if she didn’t.

No one had decreed that every emotion must be reciprocated.

At the very least, meeting and getting to know her had brought him happiness.

Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Chu Duxiu gradually calmed down and slowly raised her head. From behind the fluffy rabbit ears, her eyes, glistening as if washed by dew, shone brightly under the streetlights. She peeked at him through the plush toy, like stars twinkling in the night sky.

Seeing this, Xie Shenci couldn’t help but smile.

He thought the rabbit plush resembled her a little – especially those ruby-like eyes, vivid and captivating.

Noticing that his somber mood had lifted, Chu Duxiu felt her own spirits lighten. Clutching the toy, she walked alongside him.

Neither of them brought up the earlier topic again as they made their way down the road toward where the car was parked.

Chu Duxiu watched him carry the box for her and asked, “Is it heavy?”

“Not at all.” Xie Shenci lifted the box slightly and glanced down. “What’s inside?”

“Books from the dorm, and some miscellaneous things. I brought them all to Haicheng this time.”

He tilted his chin toward the rabbit plush. “What about this? Does it have any special meaning?”

A giant rabbit plush took up quite a bit of space in the dorm – it seemed like a particularly meaningful gift.

“Not really. It was a prize I won in a college event. I usually just leave it by my bed. I thought about giving it away or selling it,” Chu Duxiu said, holding up the plush for a closer look. “But my roommate said it looks like me and insisted I keep it. I always thought they were just making things up.”

She hadn’t planned on taking it with her, but her roommate had placed it on the plastic box while she was away.

Xie Shenci nodded. “It does resemble you.”

Chu Duxiu: “?”

Before long, Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci arrived at the car. Staring at the unfamiliar vehicle, she asked in surprise, “Isn’t this the company car?”

Though she didn’t know much about cars, she could still recognize the model. The sleek, dark vehicle before her had fluid lines and clearly wasn’t one of the company’s business vehicles. It was different from what Xie Shenci usually drove.

“Right,” Xie Shenci replied. “This is my personal car. I don’t drive company cars when I’m in Yancheng.”

Shanle Culture’s headquarters were in Haicheng, and they hadn’t yet established a branch in Yancheng, so it made sense that there wouldn’t be a company car stationed here long-term.

They loaded the luggage into the trunk and got into the car, ready to head back to the hotel. Chu Duxiu placed the rabbit plush in the back seat and settled into the passenger side, curiously taking in the interior. She noticed the setup was different from the company car – it had Xie Shenci’s personal touch.

A faint, familiar scent lingered in the car, similar to the fragrance on his clothes – fresh and clean.

The playlist on the car’s music system had changed too, automatically playing soft, relaxing tunes that felt leisurely and comfortable. It was clearly music he enjoyed.

This space felt free from the cold, formal atmosphere of work – it was like his own personal retreat. It was indeed a private car.

Chu Duxiu gradually relaxed, comfortably enjoying the music. The journey felt incredibly short – scenery flowing past the window, and soon enough, they reached their destination.

After passing by the vibrant city lights, the hotel came into view.

Once the car was parked, Xie Shenci lifted out the plastic box. Noticing her hurried attempt to take it from him, he reminded her, “You forgot the rabbit.”

Chu Duxiu took the box and hesitated, glancing back at the plush in the rear seat. “Mm…”

Xie Shenci asked, “What’s wrong?”

Chu Duxiu glanced around, scanning the area near the hotel for a trash pile. “Just wondering what to do with it. I don’t think I can take it back with me.”

A plush toy this large would be troublesome to transport, whether by checked luggage or courier. She really shouldn’t have brought it back.

Xie Shenci fell silent for a few seconds before taking the rabbit from the car and moving it to the passenger seat. He pulled the seatbelt across it and said, “Then just leave it here.”

Chu Duxiu stared blankly as he buckled the rabbit in. “Leave it here for what?”

The car’s interior was sleek and sharp, completely devoid of decorations – much like his usual style of dressing: simple, appropriate, and effortlessly elegant.

But the lively, cute rabbit plush clashed starkly with the atmosphere, creating an almost absurd mismatch. Anyone could tell it didn’t belong to him – it was clearly left behind by someone of the opposite sex!

She immediately found it ridiculous and suddenly felt self-conscious, as if she had stamped her mark on his personal space in an oddly assertive way. It was strange, almost like claiming territory.

Yet, the owner of the car didn’t seem to realize it. Instead, he acted as though it were completely natural.

“To keep me company…” Xie Shenci paused briefly, glanced at the rabbit, then looked at her and said gently, “…while driving.”

“…”