My Boss Always Flirts With Me - Chapter 46
Chapter 46: Strawberries
The press conference was getting closer, and the team members were busy working non-stop. Fang Ci needed to finalize the process and the draft for the invited guests. He was getting off work even later than He Chi every day. Once, he even fell asleep in the car and didn’t wake up until he was home. He Chi was the one who carried him into the house.
All the details were being confirmed, including what to wear on stage. During a meeting, Cheng Wen casually asked what everyone was going to wear. Only then did Fang Ci realize that he didn’t own any formal wear; all his suits were casual.
“I’ll buy one this weekend,” Fang Ci said.
Cheng Wen said, “Me neither. How about we go together?”
Fang Ci thought, “That works. We can help each other pick one out.” So they made plans for Saturday. As for where to go, he planned to ask He Chi, since he had more occasions to wear formal wear.
When he got home, Fang Ci told He Chi about his weekend plans. He Chi frowned when he heard he was going shopping with a colleague.
“I remember you usually wear a black shirt for your speeches. Should I also get a black suit set?” Fang Ci said, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking at He Chi’s closet full of shirts.
He Chi said, “Do you want to try one on?”
Fang Ci was stunned. “Now?”
He Chi nodded. Fang Ci hesitated for a moment. He thought He Chi’s clothes would definitely be a size bigger than his, but he could at least try the color. He took a random one and put it on.
As expected, it was too big. The sleeves were too long. Before Fang Ci could say anything, He Chi said, “Black doesn’t suit you.”
Fang Ci thought so too. Then he heard He Chi say, “I’ll go with you on Saturday.”
Fang Ci asked, “Aren’t you busy?” He was afraid of delaying He Chi’s work, so he didn’t even think of asking him.
He also said, “And I’ve already made plans with Cheng Wen.”
He Chi said, “Tell him to go to Shang Qu for a gift certificate. A few stores have discounts for Zhiyun’s clients.”
Fang Ci said, “Really?” Such a perk. Cheng Wen would probably be happy to go along.
He took off the clothes and messaged Cheng Wen. Cheng Wen replied quickly, saying he would contact Shang Qu and asked him how he knew about the VIP card.
Fang Ci replied: [It’s a secret.]
Cheng Wen was happy to get a bargain and didn’t mind him canceling their plans at the last minute.
On Saturday afternoon, He Chi drove him to a clubhouse in the suburbs. There were specialized staff there. The store clerk clearly recognized He Chi. After greeting them, they took them to pick out clothes.
“You have a great figure, so any style will look good on you. You can choose a color you like, or I can give you some recommendations.”
Fang Ci was dazzled. He had bought suits in college, but they were just random ones from the store. As long as they fit, it was fine. He wasn’t that picky. Now that he had to choose seriously, he probably wouldn’t be able to pick one for half the day.
Thankfully, He Chi was by his side and helped him choose a few styles. The store clerk then asked, “Do you need me to measure your waist, or you can tell me your size directly. Since each style has a slight size difference, you can try on the style first and then customize it.”
Fang Ci: “Then just measure…”
He suddenly heard He Chi say, “Between 65 and 68.”
Fang Ci turned his head and looked at him.
He Chi said calmly, “I’m guessing.”
Fang Ci’s face flushed a little. He didn’t even know his own size…
The store clerk smiled gently at them and handed Fang Ci a few styles: dark blue, gray, and black with a subtle pattern. Fang Ci took them into the fitting room.
He Chi didn’t just stand there and wait. He asked the store clerk, “Do you have any new ties?”
The store clerk pulled out a drawer. Everything was neatly organized, all new arrivals. He Chi chose a few. The styles and colors were subtle and not exaggerated or old-fashioned. They should suit Fang Ci.
In the fitting room, Fang Ci looked at himself in the mirror and felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
He wondered what Teacher He would think and if he would like him in formal wear…
His mind started to wander, and it took him a while to pull it back. He adjusted the buttons and laughed at himself for making a big deal out of it. Seriously, it’s not a wedding. Why am I so nervous?
He took a deep breath before opening the door again. He looked at the man in front of him and smiled, asking, “Is this one okay?”
He Chi turned around when he heard the voice and looked at him. He seemed to be lost for a moment until the store clerk came forward and spoke first. “The style and waist fit perfectly. It just depends on what you two like.”
Fang Ci saw that He Chi didn’t answer. He looked down and tugged at his sleeve. When he looked up again, He Chi had already come to his senses and walked over, standing not too far away.
“It looks good,” he said.
That means this outfit is okay, right? Fang Ci felt relieved and smiled. “That’s good. I’ll try on the others.”
He was quick, only appearing for three to five minutes.
He Chi watched him disappear behind the door, rubbing the tie in his hand and reevaluating his previous assessment.
It seemed too loose, not precise enough.
It wasn’t just “good-looking.” Every line of it made him feel especially comfortable. He was already impressed by how Fang Ci looked in casual suits, but now that memory was refreshed and replaced with how he looked at this moment.
The magnificent chandelier became a little dazzling, as if they hadn’t come to this store to choose an outfit for a press conference, but to prepare for something more important and grander.
Would a white suit look even better? This thought quietly sprouted in his mind and quickly grew into a full-blown idea.
It was strange and wonderful.
The expansion of the program branch was beyond his expectation.
A strange feeling took over. He touched his chest and vaguely felt his heart beating at a different rhythm.
Like a system notification tone at a certain node.
Fang Ci was completely unaware of what was happening outside the door. He obediently changed his clothes and let the store clerk help him with the pairings.
In the end, they went back to basics and chose the simplest styles, with black and white as the main colors. According to Teacher He, they looked simple and bright.
He said black didn’t suit me at home, Fang Ci quietly hummed in his heart. A fickle Teacher He.
The custom-made suits would be delivered next week, so they headed back.
When they were close to the city center, they passed a dessert shop. Fang Ci saw many strawberry cakes in the window, and his eyes glazed over. He Chi was waiting at a red light and saw his expression in the rearview mirror. He didn’t say anything. After the light turned green, he pulled the car over to the side of the road.
“Do you want to eat some?” He Chi asked him.
He naturally wanted to, but he wasn’t impulsive enough to get out of the car to buy them. He Chi seemed to have guessed his thoughts and made the decision for him. The two of them crossed the road together and walked into the store.
At this time, on a weekend, the store was packed. He hadn’t noticed there were so many people just now. Fang Ci began to back out. “Maybe we should forget about it for now. It’s not a necessity.” If they went in now, they would be squashed like a pancake.
He Chi said, “I’ll go in. You wait outside.” After saying that, he went into the store.
Fang Ci was amazed at his speed. He went back to the window and watched He Chi weave through the crowd, arriving at the strawberry cake shelf. There were so many kinds of pastries. He Chi didn’t know which one Fang Ci wanted. Fortunately, they could see each other.
Through the glass, Fang Ci pointed to a cake, and He Chi took it.
After picking out five classic slices and cupcakes, He Chi bought a few boxes of easy-to-store snacks before checking out. He went in with empty hands and came out with a large bag. Fang Ci was surprised. “That’s a lot.”
“Take your time eating them,” He Chi said.
Fang Ci knew that these were all for him. The sweetness of the cakes and cookies seemed to go straight into his heart, making him feel warm and cozy.
He Chi carried the bag for him. The two of them stood side by side at the crosswalk, waiting for the green light. The crowd was bustling. The wind blowing had a taste of spring.
When the light turned green, they were swept into the crowd. He heard a sound of running behind him. A couple suddenly appeared from somewhere, laughing and running past Fang Ci, bumping into him and making him stumble. He Chi put his arm around his shoulder and protected him at his side.
Fang Ci watched the two people hold hands and run away. He looked up at He Chi and said, “I’m fine.”
This time, He Chi didn’t let go until they had crossed the street.
The warmth on his shoulder disappeared, and he couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.
Watching He Chi put the cakes in the back seat, Fang Ci smiled on the outside, but he sighed softly on the inside.
There were people coming and going on the street. He got back in the car and looked out the window. He saw many couples, just like the one they had just encountered, walking hand in hand or arm in arm down the long street. He hadn’t noticed it before, but now he realized that among his many regrets, there was a very obvious one:
He and He Chi had never held hands.
Excluding those brief moments of intimacy, they were still different from ordinary couples.
Thinking about this, all his satisfaction turned into dissatisfaction.
It turns out he was also very fickle. While he was telling himself that it didn’t matter, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting more.
But there was no more.
Fang Ci leaned back in his seat and watched the street view outside the window turn into the familiar buildings around his home.
When they got home, Fang Ci needed something sweet to change his mood. He originally wanted to have cake for dinner, but He Chi wouldn’t let him. So he had to eat it after dinner. While He Chi was cleaning up the kitchen, he sat in the living room and had his “late-night snack.”
He used his tablet on the coffee table to watch videos of foreign speeches, both to distract himself and to gather information.
The living room lights weren’t on, only the faint light from the tablet. After He Chi fed Qiuqiu his digestive pill, he saw that Fang Ci had already finished two cakes and had opened another one. He looked down at the cat’s full stomach and wondered if Fang Ci would be as stuffed as the cat.
He felt it was necessary to remind him.
Fang Ci swallowed a large bite of cake and only then noticed that he had already eaten a can of snacks and two slices of cake. He hesitated for a few seconds. “But, I’ve already opened it.” There was only one-third of this slice left.
He Chi: “Put it in the fridge. You can eat it tomorrow.”
Fang Ci said, “The plastic wrap is gone. The cake will dry out.”
He Chi: “…”
Fang Ci said, “I can finish it.”
He Chi saw that he couldn’t stop him, so he came over and took his fork. “Give it to me.”
Fang Ci was stunned. “You want to eat it?”
He Chi paused. “Can I?”
Only a puppy would be protective of his food. Fang Ci wasn’t a puppy, so he let go and said, “I thought you didn’t like to eat it.”
He Chi didn’t say anything because he didn’t know how to answer. It was true that he didn’t like sweets, but it was also true that he wanted to eat one at this moment.
Using the light from the tablet, he took a bite. The cream melted in his mouth. It wasn’t as greasy as he had imagined.
“Is it good? Is it sweet?” Fang Ci’s eyes were as bright as stars, expecting his feedback.
He Chi found it hard to give an assessment. He could only say that it was edible and that he wasn’t repulsed by it, but he didn’t want to ruin Fang Ci’s mood, so he said, “It’s not bad.”
Fang Ci’s gaze lingered on his face for three seconds. He suddenly burst into laughter.
He Chi was confused. “What’s wrong?”
Fang Ci held back his laughter. He reached for his side, but he couldn’t find a usable tissue. He had to tell him first. “You have cream on the corner of your mouth.”
He Chi immediately reached out to wipe it off. Fang Ci reminded him, “Not on the left side.” After he said that, afraid that he was getting anxious, he reached out to help him.
His fingertip touched his lower lip and gently wiped it.
Their knees also touched.
As his finger touched He Chi’s skin, Fang Ci suddenly woke up from his dream and realized what he was doing. A current of electricity went through his veins and spread all over his body. He froze in place and almost immediately bounced away.
He didn’t understand why he reacted so strongly, but he kept a straight face and said, “Okay, it’s gone.”
After a while, He Chi said, “Mhm.”
Fang Ci looked at the cake on the table and asked, “Teacher He, do you want to eat more?”
He Chi rubbed the cream on his fingertip and said, “Finish it.”
Fang Ci nodded.
In the dead of night, a small piece of cake appeared in front of Fang Ci. It was exactly half of what was left.
Fang Ci was stunned. “Half for each of us?”
He Chi asked, “Can you finish it?”
Fang Ci nodded. Of course he could finish such a small piece.
He opened his mouth and bit down on it.
In the dim light, a hint of red flashed on the spoon. Lips with a creamy sheen, and a little bit of the tip of his tongue.
He bit very slowly. The red of the strawberry and the white of the cream intertwined, creating a sweet and dreamy fantasy.
He Chi’s Adam’s apple rolled. The moment the small tip of the tongue disappeared behind his lips, countless thoughts surged and disappeared into thin air. He followed his most primal instinct and suddenly leaned in and covered him.
The taste of strawberries still lingered between Fang Ci’s lips and teeth.
The cake itself wasn’t very tempting, but the taste of it that melted in the little kid’s mouth was surprisingly delicious.
Fang Ci’s mind was blank, as if he were deprived of oxygen. He was trapped in the blanket. All his thoughts were captured by Teacher He and entangled in his lips and tongue.
He was panting lightly. His pajamas were torn and thrown on the floor.
He didn’t remember how it started or how they got back to the room. Fang Ci was swept into a wave named “He Chi,” and from then on, his world was turned upside down.
He bit his Adam’s apple into a strawberry again.
Lost in the center of the vortex, he was held and sat up. After a very, very long time, when he was half-asleep and half-awake, he suddenly heard He Chi ask:
“Fang Ci, do you want to have a wedding?”
He thought he was dreaming.