Please Be More Serious - Chapter 25

The idiom “things are easier said than done” can really be applied in any situation. For example: courting girls. Qiu Zheng Qing has never courted a girl before. In his entire 33 years of existence, he has never once studied the art of romance.

 

He thinks that Yin Ting must be a good teacher in that aspect. She taught her the feeling of love, or more accurately, she taught him the feeling of liking someone. As for understanding the actual depth of romance, he believes he still has a long way to go. Yin Ting’s numerous failures in confessing has also taught him something: even if he likes someone, he cannot rush into anything.

 

If he cannot succeed in one fell swoop, then future chances are going to be slim.

 

There needs to be a plan and strategy in order to sign the contract and make the sale. And in order to be a long-time and stable business partner, there also needs to be a lot of sacrifices. He understands this very well. Once he has made up his mind on the project, he has also prepared himself mentally to fight a prolonged and bitter war.

 

The first step: to maintain contact. Relationships need to be maintained. In this aspect, the biggest problem is that he and Yin Ting don’t work at the same company. Neither do they have similar circle of friends. To depend on coincidental encounters will definitely be his downfall. If he makes the initiative and asks her out, he is afraid that she will be on guard and even avoid him. Currently, she still treats him nicely and thinks of him as a friend. She talks freely with him and allows him to get closer to her. She is also willing to ask for his help to send her home. This kind of beginning cannot be considered bad.

 

But she has no feelings for him, this he knows. Yin Ting has an extensive history of courting guys. If she even has the slightest feeling for him, she would not be able to hide it. Her gaze looking at him is straightforward and earnest, unlike him who keeps on looking away, avoiding contact.

 

Therefore, finding a common intersection point for them to maintain contact is a very important task. He must not allow her to feel that it is intentional, and thus creating a sense of avoidance. In this aspect, Weibo is a very useful tool. On his way to work, Qiu Zheng Qing has already decided on his plan. He plans to immediately brew a cup of coffee when he reaches his office, and then takes a photo of the coffee to indicate that he is already at the office, ready to start another day of work.

 

Didn’t she once complain that his Weibo updates are very serious and boring? Then he will just update things she would find interesting. He would do things at her pace.

 

But as things turn out, the moment he steps into the company and walks inside the lift, he encounters the production department’s vice director who is also similarly early. That person drags him out for breakfast and talks to him about work. Therefore Qiu Zheng Qing ends up having an early morning meeting. Once the meeting over breakfast is over, when he returns to his office, another meeting is waiting for him. Once the second meeting is over, he receives a call from Qin Wen Yi to meet him at his office. Their discussion does not end even when it reaches late noon so they go for lunch together. They keep on discussing the entire lunch and finally concludes their discussion.

 

When he returns to his office, before he can even drink a gulp of water, his secretary comes in with a stack of documents that needs to be signed. Even before he can finish looking over the documents and signing them, the CEO of their subsidiary company is already waiting for him to go out and meet a client together at 3 pm.

 

Therefore he leaves again. At the client’s place, their meeting stretches to close to two hours, touring the factory, listening to their reports. By the time it ends, it is already 5 pm. The client insists on treating them to dinner, therefore they have their dinner at a restaurant nearby the client’s company.

 

When he returns to the company again, it is already after 8. There is no one in the company. The secretary left him post-it notes reminding him the documents that need to be urgently signed, or otherwise it would affect the employee’s progress in work, and the documents that he has been delaying signing because he wants to cancel them. His assistant also left him a note saying that a department has mailed him their audit report and which projects has encountered problems.

 

He turns on his laptop and briefly reads all the titles of the unread emails. He also skims through the documents his secretary placed on his table and settles the ones he is more familiar with. The rest, he puts aside.

 

Having finished these, he rubs his temples. When he looks up, he sees the mug that has been abandoned for the whole day. Only now that he remembers that he has not made his first step in his seduction plan. He looks at the time; it is early after 9. He packs up and thinks that by the time he makes it home, it will be already 10.

 

An entire day passes just like that.

 

Qiu Zheng Qing sighs. He browses Yin Ting’s Weibo. Her entire day has been spent interestingly. In the afternoon, she posted a detailed blog reviewing the restaurant that they went yesterday, equipped with vivid and beautifully-taken photographs. She described the dishes they had in a very colourful manner, even the cilantro lamb meat dish has become cute in his eyes. He thinks that if one day he becomes her boyfriend, the first thing he would tell her is that he really hates cilantro and lamb meat. But if he is unable to be his boyfriend, then he will just keep that to himself. She won’t be interested in that information anyway.

 

Also at noon, she posted a photo of a stewed meat rice saying that it was her lunch and it was very delicious. She made it herself for her father. Looking at the photo, the dish indeed looks more delicious than all of his three meals today. He feels a little envious.

 

Her next post is also another photo, a photo of a little flower on the roadside. She wrote that she was having a walk and saw the flower, it was incredibly pretty and made the entire road look cute. Her way with words are very exaggerated, making Qiu Zheng Qing burst into laughter.

 

The next photo is a photo of snail resting on a leaf. She wrote: “Not far from the little flower, there is another existence enjoying life. To the snail, the road is as big as the world but the leaf is the only happiness he needs.”

 

Around 6 pm, she posted a photo of a row of street lamps and wrote, “Don’t be agitated when there’s a traffic jam, even if you’re angry there’s no use. My dad lost his temper, his anger lit all the street lamps.”

 

He laughs heartily. He thinks that her father would no longer be angry after listening to her words.

 

He looks at all her posts, all of them are very interesting to him. By the time he realizes it, it is already 10 pm. He hurriedly finishes packing up and returns home. When he stops at a red light, an idea pops in his mind. He takes out his phone and snapped a photo of the street. He then uploads it onto his Weibo.

 

When he checks his Weibo at home, there is no response from anyone. He only smiles and continues browsing Weibo. There is still no response. When he checks again before he sleeps, there is one notification. He happily checks it, only to see that is a prize scam comment. How frustrating! He fiercely reports the ID. His mood gradually turns worse and worse and he just tucks himself in.

 

Today he was very productive at work, but sadly his romance is still in square one.  Xiao Ting has spent her day happily. It is just that she no longer tries to snatch the first comment privilege. He tries to cheer himself up by promising to work harder tomorrow.

 

The next day, Qiu Zheng Qing reaches his company early. This time no one stops him for anything. He successfully reaches his office without interruption and even managed to buy a sandwich for breakfast. This is a good beginning, he is very satisfied with this situation.

 

He picks up his mug and walks to the pantry to brew himself some coffee. But there is actually a note taped at the coffee maker saying “Broken, under repair.” He blanks out for a long moment, all his good mood thrown out of the window. He is so angry that he doesn’t even consider making other type of drinks and just walks back to his office. His anger is still burning so he takes a photo of his mug of plain water and uploads it to Weibo with the caption: “The coffee maker is actually broken!!!!!”

 

There are five exclamation marks, signifying his extreme mood. This is what Yin Ting taught him.

 

He fiercely bites into his sandwich while browsing Weibo. Even after he finishes his sandwich, there is still no response. The sofa-snatching gang has never made another appearance, this really makes his heart feels uncomfortable. Even after he finishes his plain water, there is still no activity on his Weibo.

 

Qiu Zheng Qing’s mood is very, very bad. He closes Weibo and decides not to look at it anymore.

 

The entire day, he busied himself with work but still has the same moody expression.

 

He didn’t open Weibo so he has no idea that there are activities on his Weibo. He doesn’t know that Yin Ting checked his Weibo and seeing that it is empty without activity and the sofa-seat (first comment) is still open, she has to resist with all her might not to snatch it. The Weibo fiasco earlier made things a little awkward and her to be very embarrassed. Qin Yu Fei also emphasized that Qiu Zheng Qing is a very solemn and serious person, so she also tried her best to control herself and didn’t dare to snatch the sofa at his Weibo.

 

“Among all my friends, only Please-be-more-serious’ sofa is worth snatching,” Yin Ting says in an online conversation with Qin Yu Fei. “What did he wrote?” Qin Yu Fei asks. Qiu Zheng Qing’s Weibo is very pointless to her, so she doesn’t pay much attention to it. So she goes and takes a look. She also leaves a comment. When Yin Ting sees that the sofa has been snatched just like that, she cannot help but feel a little disappointed. But his mug of plain water has given her inspiration, so it cannot be considered that she has gained nothing out of it.

 

On Qiu Zheng Qing’s side, the entire company is buzzing with news that the sky today isn’t too clear. Not right, it should be very not clear. They didn’t know that their boss likes coffee to that extent. The coffee maker is down since yesterday, it is not repaired even today. It is indeed too much, the situation is really quite tragic. They all ask whether the secretary’s instant coffee is not good enough. But usually he would insist on brewing coffee himself, not asking his secretary means that he doesn’t like the instant kind.

 

The administrative department has also seen his Weibo update and immediately orders someone to buy a new coffee maker. They even send out a notice announcing that there is a new coffee maker and that the coffee is already brewing. When the secretary learns of this, she immediately reports it to Qiu Zheng Qing. “The coffee maker is repaired.”

 

Qiu Zheng Qing feels a little confused by her words. He makes a sound of acknowledgment, even though he has no idea what is going on. Is the coffee maker so important? She makes it sound like it is a very serious matter.

 

But his secretary’s mention of coffee reminds him his Weibo update earlier today. He feels tempted to open Weibo but his work is not yet done. He feels that having self-control is very important and that one must have a sense of priority. No matter what, work is still more important. So he resists the temptation and finishes everything on his to-do list. By the time he finishes, it is already time to get off work.

 

He releases a breath of relief and opens Weibo. His Weibo update earlier has received two comments. One of them from Qin Yu Fei, who says: “So what, are you going to die if it’s broken.” The other comment is from the administrative department: “We already bought a new one.”

 

He is completely speechless. Their responses are really pointless. Then he opens Yin Ting’s Weibo.

 

Just one glimpse, he already feels like he wants to add another five exclamation marks! Just in the afternoon, two hours after his initial Weibo update, Yin Ting posted a question: “Why does plain water have no taste?????”

 

He almost splits his side laughing, she must have seen his update.

 

But then she doesn’t snatch the sofa, doesn’t comment on his update, but uses his content to ask this nonsensical question. Angels are really on earth to torment humans. He no longer wants to know why plain water has no taste.

 

That night, he receives a call from Qin Wen Yi. He tells him that his wife, that pampered princess Qin Yu Fei’s mother, is ill and therefore he has no mood to go on the business trip. He wants Qiu Zheng Qing to replace him.

 

Of course Qiu Zheng Qing cannot reject such a request and immediately goes to his boss’ place. He takes over all the documents necessary for the business trip tomorrow and understands the situation from Qin Wen Yi. Qin Wen Yi orders his secretary to book him a plane ticket. Qiu Zheng Qing spends the entire night going through the documents and packing his luggage. Early next morning, he doesn’t go to the company. Instead he heads for the airport to meet Qin Wen Yi’s assistant. At the airport, he calls his secretary to assign her the tasks that needs to be done during his absence. Then he boards the plane.

 

He didn’t sleep much last night, so he feels rather exhausted and his mood is pretty low. The sky today is very blue as well, but he actually feels a little depressed. Last night when he received the call from Qin Wen Yi, he actually made up a plan to call Yin Ting today. He wants to tell her that he wants to visit the kids at the welfare centre and asks if she can accompany him since she is more familiar with the place. He feels that the excuse is very good. Weibo ends up being useless, so he decides to change his tactics. But who knows that as soon as his plans are made up, they are shattered by reality.

 

Once he leaves, he will only return next week. It is impossible to ask her out this weekend. Even though he can still use this excuse next weekend, but not being able to see her for so many days really makes him feel depressed. He takes out his phone and snaps a photo of the airplane and uploads it without a caption.

 

Even after he settles down in his seat, there is still no response. This is quite normal as it is still early.

 

When he reaches his destination and settles down in the hotel with his colleague, he opens Weibo again. There are quite a few comments on his update but there are all his friends and colleagues bidding him a smooth journey. Some wish his work goes well. One even tells him that he has worked hard. But there is no sight of the ID that he wants to see.

 

Qiu Zheng Qing is as tired as he is frustrated. Later, after dinner, he needs to get on work immediately. He only has half an hour rest time. He is about to toss his phone aside in frustration when he notices a private message notification. He didn’t notice it earlier and almost missed out on it – it is from @tingtingyuli413.

 

He immediately clicks in to read the message. Yin Ting wrote: “On a business trip? Today you have grown a pair of wings to fly in the skies. Once you arrived, you must eat well, play well, and rest well!”

 

He feels very happy. Out of all the comments he received, hers are the most meaningful. He dials her number, his heart thumping wildly. He has already found an excuse to call her and secretly congratulates himself for being so smart.

 

“Please-be-more-serious!” Her voice is brimming with energy. “Where are you?”

 

“I’m at J City,” he said with a bright smile. His happiness at hearing her voice is evident. “I want to ask you, do you know any fun places or good restaurants in J City?”

 

“I know!” Yin Ting is indeed a master at eating, drinking and playing around. “I went there once, I even wrote a blog about it. There are a few restaurants and also farms that are quite good. I’ll have to refer to what I wrote, I’ll email you tonight. Tomorrow you can go.”

 

“Okay, thank you.” To be honest, he doesn’t think he has any time to go. “Do you need me to buy anything?” he asks. She better say yes. If so he can see her as soon as he comes back from the business trip. Then he can use the excuse of going to the welfare centre another time.

 

“En, no need.” Yin Ting thinks for a moment. Buying things like local specialities are very convenient online these days, there is no need to trouble others.

 

“Oh.” He is very disappointed to hear that. What should he say next?

 

“Then I’ll hang up, okay. I’ll email you later.”

 

He has no choice but to reply, “Okay, bye.”

 

He shouldn’t have called her. After hearing her voice, his longing for her gets even worse. He climbs onto the bed, holding the phone while thinking deeply. A sudden thought pop up and he immediately posts on Weibo a question of his own: “Question: why is coffee so fragrant?”

 

Not long after, his phone rings. The name – Yin Ting.

 

He purposely counts down to ten before answering. While counting, he couldn’t help the silly grin on his face. He asks, “What’s wrong?”

 

“That, en.” Yin Ting’s voice is obviously a little embarrassed. “Your question is very interesting, do you mind if I share it and post my own answer?” It is too tasteless to copy other’s question but she really, really likes his question so she shamelessly chooses to ask him.

 

Y-E-S. Share it! Yes! Just share it however she likes!

 

But his voice is very steady when he answers, “Go ahead. Is your answer similar to mine?”

 

Yin Ting is very happy when she has gotten his permission. “What is your answer?”

 

“What is yours?”

 

“You say yours first.” Yin Ting’s curiosity is so evidently burning.

 

Qiu Zheng Qing clears his throat, arranging the words he wants to say. “After the painful process of getting plucked, peeled, roasted, pulverized, boiled, coffee beans still bravely move forward and do not cower. That is how coffee beans end up emitting such a one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable fragrance.”

 

Yin Ting is quiet for a long moment.

 

He feels a little nervous. Is that not good? He feels that his answer is quite good, how inspirational!

 

“I think,” she finally says, “my answer and yours added together will make the ultimate answer.”

 

“What is it?”

 

She laughs. “I’ll post it now, you go take a look.” She then hangs up.

 

He blanks out for a moment before going onto Weibo again. Yin Ting has not posted yet. He keeps on refreshing the page, but there is no update. Angel oh angel, how can her typing be so slow! He keeps on refreshing. This time, her new post is there.

 

“Question: why is coffee so fragrant? – After the painful process of getting plucked, peeled, roasted, pulverized, boiled, coffee beans still bravely move forward and do not cower. That is how coffee beans end up emitting such a one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable fragrance. And then, they meet milk! Not only do they have their unique scent, they also have the taste of perfectly crafted happiness. That is why coffee is so fragrant!”

 

He is stunned.

 

Ultimate, truly an ultimate answer.

 

Coffee beans meet milk.

 

He bursts into laughter, laughing so hard that he feels his eyes a little wet. Those guys who rejected Yin Ting are truly idiots. She is really an angel. Tribulations are nothing compared to the little pieces of happiness that she gives him.

 

He finally knows what is it about that he likes. She makes people happy.

Qiu Zheng Qing shares Yin Ting’s post without a caption. Then, Yin Ting immediately appears with a comment: “Sofa!!!!!” Her five exclamation marks tickled him, making his heart burst with pink bubbles.

 

“What about the stool?”

“The stool is also mine!” Her reply is instantaneous.