Back Then, I Adored You

But it’s the coldest time of year in Beijing. And it’s almost 10:00 in the evening. If I ask her to go to the office this late, she’ll think I’m inhumane.

Despite these thoughts, Gu Yusheng reached his hand out to Xiaowang. “Pass me the phone.”

It was Friday. Qin Zhi’ai finished her work by 11:00 a.m. and watched a TV show in the afternoon. She went straight home after work.

Xu Wennuan wasn’t home yet. Qin Zhi’ai wandered around the living room killing time. At 9:00 p.m., she filled the bathtub and soaked in the hot water. After her bath, she felt more tired than usual, so she laid on the bed with her eyes closed and started to fall asleep.

The phone next to the pillow started to ring.

The call was from Xiaowang. Qin Zhi’ai immediately picked it up. “Hello?”

It was quiet on the other end, so Qin Zhi’ai spoke louder, “Hello?”

“Have you gone to bed yet?” The voice was not that of Xiaowang. Instead, it was Gu Yusheng.

Qin Zhi’ai opened her mouth, gripped the phone, and replied, “Not yet.”

After responding, she realized her answer was too short for a secretary talking to her boss. She quickly added, “Master Gu, how can I help you?”

Gu Yusheng hesitated before saying, “Can you go to the office now. There’s a file I need tomorrow morning. It’s under the computer mouse on my desk. Can you bring it to the Gilt Club?”

He could clearly tell how sleepy she was the moment she answered the phone.

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Did I wake her up? Should I really ask her to go to the office now?

Before she could respond, Gu Yusheng added, “Can you do it?”

“No problem,” Qin Zhi’ai answered without hesitation.

Gu Yusheng was quiet for a moment, thinking about how selfish he was being. He said, “Okay,” and hung up.

As Qin Zhi’ai put on her clothes, she kept patting her cheeks to make sure she had not dreamed that Gu Yusheng had asked her to pick up a file for him. She grabbed her wallet and cell phone and left the apartment.

As her taxi made its way to the company, Qin Zhi’ai watched the scenery outside the window with a new sense of importance. She finally felt like the secretary of Gu Yusheng.

The file he had asked for was easy to find.

Before leaving the office, Qin Zhi’ai stopped by her own desk and grabbed a few files with documents that needed Gu Yusheng’s signature. Since she would see him anyway, it made sense to ask him to sign them tonight.

After arriving at the Gilt Club, she saw Gu Yusheng’s car parked at the curb as she got out of the taxi.

Before she could get to his car, the window rolled down. Xiaowang waved at her and said loudly, “Secretary Qin, we’re over here.”

Qin Zhi’ai hurried to the car, greeted Xiaowang, and then acknowledged Gu Yusheng sitting in the back seat. “Master Gu.”

Gu Yusheng frowned when he saw that Qin Zhi’ai wore only a coat, but he didn’t say anything about it.