The meeting had just ended, and a group of people were slowly trickling out of the meeting room.
He Ye followed behind Shen Yanchen, walking at the end of the crowd.
"Brother Yan Chen, it’s your birthday today. Let’s celebrate tonight. Bring your celebrity sister along; I want to take a photo with her!"
Shen Yanchen remained silent. Another birthday... Thirty-two now, and another year gone between her and him.
"Oh, and invite that Miaomiao as well! Tonight I’ll help you figure out what it means to feel like you’re in heaven and hell!"
Shen Yanchen shot him a glare, and He Ye immediately put away his cheeky expression and said seriously, "I’ve booked the place. The tab is on you tonight."
Shen Yanchen didn’t object, which was as good as an agreement. Back in his office, he started pondering how to call Gu Qimiao and invite her.
In business, he’s a wise and talented young man, but in love, he’s utterly clueless.
Should he call her directly and ask her to celebrate his birthday? Or just say it’s a gathering with friends? Or maybe just go to the gallery and pick her up, taking her straight to the bar?
Gu Qimiao and Mo Ming finished their meal and went to his store.
On the surface, she behaved calmly, but inside, she was in turmoil. Should she buy a gift for Shen Yanchen? Would he be eating at home tonight? Should she call and ask?
The ringtone startled Gu Qimiao, and she hurriedly picked up her phone. Seeing "Professor Fang" on the screen, she felt a pang of disappointment but quickly answered.
"Where are you now? I might need you at the gallery tonight, try to get there by five. There’s a commercial piece, and you need to work extra." He was doing this on purpose, knowing today was Shen Yanchen’s birthday, intentionally giving Gu Qimiao something to do.
"...Oh, okay, I’ll head over soon." It seemed even fate didn’t want her to spend his birthday with him.
Feeling inexplicably down, she went to tell Mo Ming, who was dealing with a customer, that she had to go to the gallery, and then she left.
She walked to the bus stop and waited for ten minutes, but no bus came.
Her phone rang again in her bag. Seeing "Shen Yanchen" on the screen was enough to dispel any gloom in her heart.
His voice was cool and gentle but very soothing to hear: "Are you free tonight?"
Gu Qimiao’s face immediately fell with regret: "Tonight, I have to work overtime. Professor Fang said there’s an urgent project."
He was silent for a moment and then said, "I was just about to tell you I won’t be home for dinner tonight either." He had wanted to ask her out but hadn’t expected such bad timing.
Perhaps they were just not meant to be.
The bus finally arrived after a long wait, but Gu Qimiao didn’t get on. Instead, she kept walking forward.
She ended up at a men’s clothing store.
"Hello, I’d like to order a custom tie."
The attendant recognized her: "Oh, you’re the girl who was here this morning."
Gu Qimiao smiled and began discussing with the attendant, deftly supplying Shen Yanchen’s birthday and describing the general style she wanted.
The attendant took notes and then asked, "Do you want anything engraved on the tie clip?"
Gu Qimiao hesitated before shaking her head, "No engraving is needed. Also, can you make it right now? I’d like to take it with me immediately."
The attendant was surprised by her urgency and said, "It’ll cost an extra two thousand for rush service, but it can be done in one to two hours."
Gu Qimiao gritted her teeth, "Okay."
After swiping her card, she wondered if this was good enough compared to what he usually had, as she had never been this extravagant for herself before.