Accidental Love

Zheng Shuyi's promotion got stuck on the last step.

When Tang Yi called her into the office, the executive's scoring sheets were still placed on the table.

All the grades looked very well, except the boss's paper was empty.

"Shuyi, come here."

Tang Yi spun her pen and didn't really know how to start.

"Go ahead, Sister Yi."

In the end, Zheng Shuyi spoke first, "I saw the mail, the boss didn't agree in the end, right?"

Tang Yi immediately stood up. She pressed her hands on the desk and leaned over, "I'm sure it's not that the boss doesn't think you're good enough. He just thinks that you're too young and don't have enough experience yet."

Zheng Shuyi nodded, "I understand."

The magazine publisher's big boss had a completely different personality from the chief editor. Everyone knew that he usually did everything very slowly. Slow to the point that it would often worry the other party to an extreme extent.

But then one would turn around after a while and notice… What?? He finished everything already?

"The boss has been praising you today too, but after all, your report wasn't directed toward him, and he doesn't really know that much about you." Tang Yi crossed her hands and looked at Zheng Shuyi seriously, "It's his company after all. Seeing such a young person on a leadership job, he had to worry a little."

"But he also said that if there's no one better by the end of the year, he would reconsider his choice."

In less than twenty minutes, the news of Zheng Shuyi's failed promotion had spread across the whole company.

Since it was also almost time to get off work, everyone started to talk about this topic.

"The chief editor and the editor-in-chief both like her so much, I thought nothing could go wrong."

"Yeah, and her results recently are indeed incredible."

"Well, since the big boss didn't agree, what can we do?"

"Isn't her boyfriend Shi Yan? Yet the boss still didn't give her the position?"

"Bro, we are an old magazine publisher, we don't live off Mingyu."

"You can't really say that. Isn't it just a deputy editor-in-chief position? What if the company ended up benefiting from it?"

"You should know our boss's way of doing things by now. He probably just started to get to know more of these candidates."

"What if Zheng Shuyi ended up just leaving the company and going with her boyfriend?"

"Hopefully that doesn't happen. I still need a good relationship with her so that maybe she can help me in the future."

Although Qin Shiyue's existence in the company was special, such news inevitably ended in her ears too.

So before Zheng Shuyi walked out of Tang Yi's office, Qin Shiyue had already secretly sent some messages to Shi Yan.

Qin Shiyue: Uncle uncle! Something big happened!

Uncle: Tell me about it.

Qin Shiyue: Aunt's promotion failed!

Uncle: ?

Qin Shiyue: It's real!

Qin Shiyue: I heard that the boss disagreed.

Qin Shiyue: You… are you going to do something?

Uncle: I told you to work, and this is the kind of thing you learned?

Qin Shiyue: …

Her kindness was greatly misunderstood.

Uncle: I understand.

Uncle: You don't have to worry about it.

Qin Shiyue: Then what about you? What are you going to do? 

Uncle: Nothing.

In fact, when Qin Shiyue first said that "the boss disagreed", Shi Yan had already guessed what the reasons were.

He knew the boss of "Finance Weekly", Lu Yehua. Although they weren't very familiar with each other, they still had several opportunities to meet each other every year.

This person sought stableness more than anything.

Sometimes, some friends even joked that the reason "Finance Weekly" was still running was that Lu Yehua's turtle-like speed hasn't caught up with the hardships of current society yet.

So this news was out of expectation but still reasonable.

If Shi Yan did what Qin Shiyue asked and went to talk to him, Lu Yehua would probably do it for him anyway.

Back then, he just gave him a heads up and easily got Qin Shiyue in there.

But this time it was Zheng Shuyi.

After Shi Yan and her met for the first time, she was already a step above everyone else.

In the following days, there were misunderstandings and adversities, but she has been glowing in her position.

Right now, Zheng Shuyi was his bright pearl.

Shi Yan didn't want his intervention to end up covering this pearl with a layer of dust.

——

What was worse than a failed promotion was having to still work overtime.

At eight o'clock at night, Zheng Shuyi walked out of the company building alone.

The streets in the summer night were much more lively than during winter. The square below the building was brightly lit. Many adults and children were playing and vendors were selling balloons and lanterns.

There was even a street performer, singing and playing the guitar.

Zheng Shuyi looked down on the floor and slowly passed this lively area.

Although she could understand why the boss made his choice, it was impossible for her not to be sad.

After all, she has been hoping for so long and yet still failed in the end.

The street performer suddenly started to sing one of Song Lelan's songs, which made Zheng Shuyi subconsciously stop in place.

She was the only one listening to his music. After the song ended, Zheng Shuyi went for her bag but found out that she didn't bring any cash with her.

"Mister, do you have WeChat?1Forgot if I mentioned this earlier but it doesn't hurt to mention it again. In addition to contacting people, another one of WeChat's main features is WeChat pay. All it takes is scanning someone else's QR code and almost every shop/seller has it."

The performer was stunned for a second.

But before he spoke, a familiar voice sounded beside Zheng Shuyi.

"Why are you asking for other's WeChat?"

Zheng Shuyi turned her head and saw that Shi Yan was standing behind her.

On the noisy street, he was leaning on his car door with his arms loosely crossed in front of his chest. His eyes were fixed on Zheng Shuyi.

Zheng Shuyi: "……"

She just wanted to give him some money, he was thinking too much.

But seeing him, her heart seemed to have found a sense of warmth.

Zheng Shuyi didn't reply and quickly walked over, then went into his arms.

Her hands hugged around Shi Yan's waist and finally spoke after a long time.

"I'm so pitiful."

Shi Yan: "You still have the time to ask for other's WeChat, I don't see that as very pitiful."

Zheng Shuyi raised her head and looked at him angrily.

"Do you know how to comfort someone at all?"

Under the street lights, Shi Yan's eyes looked exceptionally bright.

He looked quietly at Zheng Shuyi and didn't say anything.

Then suddenly, he leaned forward slightly and kissed her.

Zheng Shuyi was a little dumbfounded.

This was a busy street in a commercial center. Was Shi Yan's soul somewhere else? 

Immediately after, Shi Yan's hands went behind her head and continued to kiss her lips.

"What are you doing?"

Zheng Shuyi pretended to struggle, "There are so many people watching."

"Mm."

Shi Yan's fingers gently rubbed her hair, "Don't you like it this way?"

Although it was embarrassing, Zheng Shuyi indeed liked it.

She put her hands on his chest and until the music beside her ears stopped, she finally said, "I didn't become editor-in-chief today, the boss didn't agree."

"Mm?"

Shi Yan gave the building behind her a meaningful look and then asked, "Should I introduce an eye doctor for your boss?"

Zheng Shuyi immediately nodded, "You should hurry."

But Shi Yan actually started walking towards the office building and Zheng Shuyi had to quickly stop him.

"Are you crazy? Let's go home."

In the car, Shi Yan fastened his seatbelt as he asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

Zheng Shuyi looked at the busy cars on the street and replied without thinking, "Man Han Feast."

Shi Yan gently chuckled and clicked his seatbelt. Then he put his hands on the steering wheel and pressed the gas.

"That's it?"

Hearing his confident and arrogant reply, Zheng Shuyi leaned forward.

"Then I don't want Man Han Feast anymore. I want Coffin Plank.2A type of food that originated from Taiwan. Also called Coffin Bread"

"What?"

Obviously, Zheng Shuyi accurately caught Shi Yan's knowledge blind spot.

Zheng Shuyi didn't bother to explain. She led the way and after ten minutes, the car arrived at a busy old street.

This was one of the few spots that didn't develop rapidly over the past decade. The uneven pavements, the unarranged stalls, and strangled wire lines. It seemed like a paradise free from a fast-paced life. 

But due to her busy work schedule, Zheng Shuyi hasn't been here for a long time.

After a while, Shi yan was already holding three barbecue sticks, two packs of chestnuts, and a cup of cold shrimp.

And in Zheng Shuyi's hand was the legendary Coffin Plank.

Zheng Shuyi really didn't expect that Shi Yan would be patient enough to walk around this lively place for more than an hour.

But the words "that's enough" didn't exist in her dictionary.

Seeing that Zheng Shuyi went for a cartoon headband, Shi Yan's face finally sank, "Zheng Shuyi."

Regarding the speed of changing face, Zheng Shuyi never lost to anyone.

Hearing Shi Yan calling her full name, her face immediately changed, making it look like she was almost about to cry. "I'm so pitiful. My promotion failed and my boyfriend is so mean. What meaning does life haveeee…"

“……”

In fact, she still had a lot prepared to say. But suddenly, she saw Shi Yan bending slightly forward. She stopped talking and started to smile.

As she put the headband on him, she also took out her phone and opened the camera.

Shi Yan pressed her eyebrows, "What do you want now?"

Zheng Shuyi turned around, leaned against his chest, and set up the phone.

"This is a limited edition Shi Yan, only available when Zheng Shuyi is sad. I don't know if I can meet him again, I must take a picture."

Shi Yan helplessly sighed. After looking around, he lowered his head to beside her ears.

"Still sad?"

"Click", the photo was taken.

In the picture, Zheng Shuyi's eyes were like crescents.

She knew that her mind was very sensitive and her emotions could  easily change. She could go from a little trickle to a huge torrent in just a second.

But she was also very easy to be coaxed. A kiss from Shi Yan was all that it would take to instantly heal all her sadness.

——

This year's summer was particularly long. The temperature stayed high and autumn never seemed to be getting any closer.

It wasn't until mid-October did a sudden autumn rain finally disrupt the order of rush hours.

Pedestrians all ran towards buildings to get cover from the rain. Cars started to speed up, causing waves of water to splash out from their tires. A car and a scooter almost hit each other, resulting in countless insults and arguments. Different from the sound of car horns on the streets, a loud round of applause sounded in the Jiang City Art Center

Under the spotlight, the host's voice was loud and clear.

"The vigorous global digital currency war has just started. All major capitals have entered the game, and the digital currency is becoming more and more intense under the drive of market innovation."

"But she focused her attention at the bottom of the pyramid, recording the success and failures of digital currency users, and showed readers how the wave of digital currency swept the lives of ordinary people."

At this point, all the audience already knew who the reward would go to, and they all looked towards the woman in the second row.

"The 5th Annual Financial Industry News Report Award goes to the work ‘Where Can Ordinary Currencies Stand in the Global Digital Currency Era?', the award-winning author is Reporter Zheng Shuyi from ‘Finance Weekly'. "

When Zheng Shuyi stood up, the surrounding cameras all aimed towards the youngest award winner in recent years.

She pressed her dress, turned, and bowed to the audience in response to the enthusiastic applause.

The moment she looked up, she saw Shi Yan looking at her too. She seemed to have turned into an arrogant little peacock and smiled with triumph.

But when she went out during the morning, he said to her that her dress looked a bit ordinary, and she has held her grudge even until now.

Her look just now seemed to be saying: "No matter how ordinary my dress looks, I'm still shining the brightest here."

But in fact, it was true.

Unlike Shi Yan, Tang Yi, who was also under the stage, finally let out an elated feeling.

In the first half of the year, she has been very busy and didn't pay much attention to her workers. Until now, when she finally had time to relax, she suddenly heard some outdated rumors.

For example, during the mid-June examination, someone said that Tang Yi has been supporting Zheng Shuyi because of the resources her boyfriend had.

And others said that ever since Zheng Shuyi came to the magazine publisher, Tang Yi has been treating her extra well because she expected such a thing would happen and bring her benefits.

After learning about these rumors, Tang Yi became so angry that her frown got an extra layer.

Yes, she has always thought that Zheng Shuyi's previous boyfriend wasn't good enough for her and that she deserved someone better.

But these were just some opinions she had towards Zheng Shuyi's personal life. It wasn't like she was her matchmaker, why would she care so much?

Besides, with so many beautiful women in the world, it didn't seem like all of them ended up as well as Zheng Shuyi.

It made her sound like she pulled Zheng Shuyi over just so that she could use her boyfriend as a resource.

If this was the case, she might as well be better off to look for the wife of some CEO, that was impossible with the connections she knew.

But when facing all these rumors, there wasn't really much she could do, and could only just silently bear the anger.

Until today, she can finally release her anger and immediately sent the information of Zheng Shuyi winning the award into the group chat.

Tang Yi: Zheng Shuyi received the annual news report award, it's her essay about the digital currency war, everyone should go take a look and learn from it.

Tang Yi: As I said before, everyone must look further into the future. Don't stick with a small group of people and interview them over and over again.

Tang Yi: Next time when you all choose interview topics, make sure to leave an open mind. Don't think that only the top of the pyramid has valuable information. In our daily lives, anyone that has to do with the financial industry is all worthy for us to learn about.

The meaning behind her words was: Zheng Shuyi indeed has the top-level resources, yet she still turned her interview target to normal people and got the same results. Do you guys still have the right to be salty?

She wasn't sure how many people understood her hidden meaning but regardless, there were dozens of "clap" emoji replies soon after.

——

With people happy, there are also people sad.

After the award ceremony ended, the rain was still going.

In the restaurant opposite the Lanchen Department Store, rainwater hung on the leaves like a chain of beads, adding a sense of sadness.

The coffee in front of Qin Shiyue hasn't been touched and already went cold.

She didn't speak, but one could tell how sad she was just by looking.

Yu You was sitting in front of her.

Even though they have been silent for almost twenty minutes, he didn't show the slightest impatience.

He just sat there quietly, not playing with his phone to kill time, not sitting there in a daze, just waiting for her mood to calm down.

Today was her birthday.

Unlike the usual big party, she was very low-profile this year. She didn't invite her friends and only sent Yu You a message: Tomorrow's my birthday, would you come to my birthday party?

She even planned ahead on how to reply if Yu You asked why there were only the two of them.

She would say: Because there is only you in my heart.

This was what Zheng Shuyi taught her.

Although it sounded kind of sketchy, she said that her uncle would keep falling for it.

But after Yu You came, he didn't ask anything and instead brought Qin Shiyue bad news.

He was about to go to England.

Compared to the generous treatment given by the company, he still felt like he should continue his unfinished learning abroad.

During the 25th minute that Qin Shiyue was silent, the waiter came over with the menu and asked Yu You, "Are you ready to order?"

Yu You pointed her chin towards Qin Shiyue, which meant "she can order".

How could Qin Shiyue still have any appetite? She lifted her head and didn't hide her bad mood at all.

"I'm not eating. I'm going home."

"Mm."

Yu You has always respected women's opinions and was a full-out gentleman, "Do you want me to drive you home?"

"No."

Qin Shiyue tried to control her mood and picked up her bag, "My driver is waiting for me outside."

The two walked to the parking lot one after another.

The driver held an umbrella and opened the door for Qin Shiyue. But just as she stepped one of her feet in, she suddenly turned her head to look at Yu You.

"I'll ask you a question, please answer honestly."

Yu You said okay.

Qin Shiyue: "Do you think I'm just like a vase?"

The rain blocked part of her sight, but she could see a slight smile from Yu You.

As if he was watching an unreasonable child.

"At first, yes."

Hearing this, Qin Shiyue suddenly held her breath, waiting for his next line.

And then she heard him say slowly, "But now I think that you are a cute vase."

Qin Shiyue：“……”

Regardless of how cute, isn't it still a vase after all?

Qin Shiyue went into the car and then looked at Yu You for a while, not saying anything.

Just like before, Yu You didn't leave and just let her look at him.

After a long time, Qin Shiyue finally said, "Then I wish you a safe trip."

Yu You nodded.

"Wait a second."

Holding his umbrella, he went to his car and took out a box.

Qin Shiyue asked, "What's this?"

"Birthday gift."

This was the only slim of sunshine in the harsh weather.

Qin Shiyue forced out a smile, "Thanks."

After the driver drove the car out, she eagerly removed the wrapping.

It was a painting.

An oil painting imitating Monet's style but signed by Yu You's name.

Monet's works never used real people. All the people in his paintings only had blurry faces, but Qin Shiyue could tell, the woman in the painting seemed like her.

She held the painting and turned around, only to see the flashing tail lights of Yu You's car under the heavy rain.

She was a little shy to ask Yu You if the person in the painting was her.

She was afraid to give him a self-flattering impression right before he left.

But this gave her hope, and ultimately caused her to make a decision that would change her life.

——

Seven in the evening. Shi Family's old house.

Although today was Qin Shiyue's birthday, she insisted on being by herself, and her family didn't force too much on her either. So everyone was gathered here to celebrate the award Zheng Shuyi got.

Therefore, when Qin Shiyue appeared, everyone was surprised.

"Didn't you say you'll be spending your birthday with your friends?"

Qin Xiaoming asked, "Did something go wrong?"

Qin Shiyue was in a hurry to get out of the car, so she didn't even use an umbrella. Her wet hair was stuck to her face, making her look like a mess.

She was holding a box in her hand. She looked at her parents eagerly and said, "Dad, mom, I'm going to study in England."

Qin Xiaoming pulled out a chair and waved her over, "Did you drink too much?"

Qin Shiyue：“……”

She walked over anxiously and said, "I'm not joking, I really want to go study abroad in England!"

After speaking, she looked at Shi Yan.

She thought that her uncle would be very supportive of her going to study, but the look in his eyes wrote clearly: "What kind of trick are you trying to pull now?"

Only Zheng Shuyi asked, "Why do you suddenly want to go study again?"

Qin Shiyue looked at everyone and didn't reply.

So, Zheng Shuyi stood up and led her to the balcony.

"Is it because of Yu You?"

Qin Shiyue nodded with some redness in her eyes.

"Yes, I don't care what you all think, it might just be an impulsive decision, but I want to go."

She clenched her teeth, her chest rose and fell, and her voice was in a stubborn tone that she has never used before, "They don't think that I'm actually going there to study, but that's really what I'm thinking."

"I didn't want to study and learn before because I couldn't find my motivation. I'm not in need of money and the family doesn't really need me either. I don't see a point in spending so much effort to learn."

"But now I do."

Zheng Shuyi asked, "Do you just want to stay with Yu You or do you actually want to go learn?"

Qin Shiyue became a little worried, "How, how do you not understand? It doesn't have to be one or the other! I, I want to go study so that he would stop thinking of me as a vase, and, and to England because he's there too!"

Before Zheng Shuyi could reply, Shi Yan's voice suddenly appeared.

"You can go if you want, why are you being so worried with your aunt? "

Qin Shiyue didn't know what to say for a second, then suddenly realized.

"Then, uncle, is that a yes?"

Shi Yan didn't reply and just looked at him with a hint of annoyance.

"Then I'll go prepare the visa documents."

Qin Shiyue ran upstairs, leaving Zheng Shuyi standing there dumbfoundedly.

Shi Yan said, "I wonder who she learned how to be so carefree and make decisions without thinking from."

At the same time, Zheng Shuyi tugged his sleeve, "You just agreed to her like this?"

Shi Yan gave a light sneer and said, "Then let's make a bet."

Zheng Shuyi asked, "Oh what?"

"I bet that she is going to stay there for at most half a year, then complain how life is too hard there and come back," replied Shi Yan.

Qin Shiyue's loud footsteps came from upstairs.

Zheng Shuyi looked at Shi Yan's back and said solemnly, "I bet she will persist until she finishes her studies."

Then, she looked at Shi Yan, whose eyes reflected her figure.

"You don't know how hard a woman will work in order to stand at the same height as the man she likes."

——

To catch up to the start of school in January, Qin Shiyue left for England in December.

The financial team suddenly had two empty positions, making HR busy for a few days in a row.

One was Qin Shiyue's position, and the other was Zheng Shuyi's.

This afternoon, Zheng Shuyi closed her office door, looked at the words "Zheng Shuyi" on the door, and then left for home.

When she opened the door, she saw that the dining room's lights were already lit.

Then in the kitchen, she saw that Shi Yan was washing some vegetables.

"What are you doing?"

Shi Yan replied slowly, "Making dinner for Editor Zheng."

The words "Editor Zheng" made Zheng Shuyi very happy.

"If your words have been so sweet since the beginning, our children could be working by now."

The speaker was just casually saying, but the listener wasn't casually listening.

Shi Yan looked up with the reflection of sunlight in his eyes. 

But after throwing this sentence out, Zheng Shuyi has already left for the cloakroom.

Tomorrow would be the first day of her new position. New job, new her. She must prepare a set of best-looking clothes.

A few minutes later, Shi Yan heard a shriek.

Shi Yan slowly wiped his hands clean then walked over.

In the cloakroom, Zheng Shuyi was barefoot and was looking at a blue velvet ring box on the jewelry cabinet.

"What's this?"

Shi Yan leaned beside the door and smiled, "What do you think?"

Zheng Shuyi didn't seem to get back to her senses yet and was just stunned in place silently.

Shi Yan slowly stood upright and walked over, then took the ring out.

"Editor Zheng, when do you think I can be promoted in your heart too?"

Just as she was about to lift Zheng Shuyi's right hand, she suddenly stepped back.

"Where's your job report?"

Shi Yan: "……"

Him, not knowing what to say, in turn, received the back of Zheng Shuyi.

"Your reply is silence? It's over for you."

After speaking, she went to the balcony as if she was trying to escape.

Today, there was no rain and wind. The dusk looked like a plate of gold.

Zheng Shuyi sat on the rattan chair and didn't know where to put her hands. So she took out a few flowers from the vase beside her and held them.

She needed some cool wind to blow on her and to calm her down.

Shi Yan didn't follow her out.

Soon, Zheng Shuyi smelled the light scent of food.

The smell of food seemed to always affect people's thinking.

Sometimes, when Zheng Shuyi went to a place and smelled the cooking smoke, her thoughts would be pulled back to childhood, making her remember how it was like when she was at her grandparent's house.

The smell right now made her close her eyes and imagine how her life would be like in the future.

Hope the years will repeat themselves and every day will be the same.

"Shuyi."

When Shi Yan walked over, she didn't hear his footsteps, "It's cold outside, come in and eat dinner."

Zheng Shuyi didn't open her eyes and just smiled.

"Mister, please don't flirt with a beauty like that."

"I have a husband."

――Main Story – The End――

Editor’s Note: It has been a wild ride. Many, many thanks to those who had got to this point. Thank you to those that supported us via Patreon or Ko-fi. Thank you all for the lovely comments that you dropped under the chapters. Remember to stick around and join our Discord! Let us know what you want to read next, and we might pick it up! See ya there.

P.S. There will be a few AL Extras chapters that we will be releasing a little later. Don’t forget to check those out too!

1Forgot if I mentioned this earlier but it doesn't hurt to mention it again. In addition to contacting people, another one of WeChat's main features is WeChat pay. All it takes is scanning someone else's QR code and almost every shop/seller has it2A type of food that originated from Taiwan. Also called Coffin Bread