A pearl covered in dust
More than 200 students are marching on Xinhua Road. Old Yi will go with Xiao Bei.
article on the workers’ strike hasn’t been sent back yet. If we hurry, the deadline will be extended until a quarter past midnight at the latest.
Cheng’s editorial ready yet?
we can’t get the current affairs article back in time, we’ll use the overseas commentaries to fill the page, and Nianqing will quickly do two more translations!
Nearly seven o’clock, the two floors of the newspaper office were still bustling, with brightly lit typewriters clacking away, scraps scattered all over the place, and everyone moving in and out as if they were in a battle, causing the staircase to reverberate with the sounds of urgency. The editor-in-chief, a short, stout figure, moved swiftly like the wind, darting into the news department to push for manuscripts, hurrying to the Social department to assign tasks, then turning back to the editorial department to deliver a quick message before anyone could react. Without waiting for a response, he hurried back to his office to answer ringing phone.
“I...” Nianqing opened his mouth only to spit out a as the figure of the chief editor had already disappeared through the door.
Ogme looked up from a pile of manuscripts, pounded the table, and laughed, “Miserable, right? Two translations!”
As soon as Xuemei spoke, Xiao Zhong, even though he was busy, turned around and chimed in, “The offline editor-in-chief, specializing in picking on the easy targets.”
The editor-in-chief’s name is Ye Qixian. The first time I heard this name, Xiao Zhong burst into laughter. In their Cantonese dialect, it means the nickname for the offline editor-in-chief has spread throughout the newspaper office. Ogilvy and Mae can’t help but laugh when they hear Xiao Zhong’s Cantonese accent while speaking Mandarin. However, Nianqing can’t muster even half a smile. Two translations, and it’s already seven o’clock... She glanced at the wall clock, adjusted her black-framed and let out a long sigh.
Xu Mei stopped writing and asked, it too late to catch the evening class?
“I have to hurry even if I can’t make it,” Nianqing smiles bitterly. “If you move fast enough, you’re barely in time.”
you won’t have any time for dinner? Ogome had a worried look on her face.
Nianqing had already buried her head and started translating the manuscript, she didn’t have time to talk to her again, and only gave a perfunctory hmmm.
Xu Mei put aside her pen, “Always skipping dinner! If this goes on, you’ll get stomach problems!”
“Why are you so bitter.” Xiao Zhong also turned around and said, “It’s hard for a woman to work so hard, why don’t you get married earlier?”
“What do you mean, who says a woman can’t work on her own?” Og-Mei immediately rebutted him.
When the two people were about to start another round of verbal sparring, a loud shout came from the door, “Are you done with the manuscript?”
Ye Qixian stood in the doorway with his waist crossed, gray suit half-open, country face murderous, Og Mei and Xiao Zhong immediately silenced, obediently buried his head back into the pile of manuscripts. Nianqing has already seen the strange, did not raise his head a bit, focusing on his own work. Ye Qixian walked to her table, knocked on the edge of the table with satisfaction, and said in a pleasant manner, “Xiao Shen ah, hard work for you.”
“It should be.” Nianqing smiled a little, only wishing that he would hurry up and leave, and stop getting in the way of her work.
Ye Qixian turned around with his hands in the air, swept a messy pile of manuscripts on the table of Xu Mei, shook his head and said, “Young people should not be afraid of hard work, not afraid of tiredness, a minute of hard work and a minute of harvest, burying their heads to do things and look down at the road, can not be like that over-ambitious generation .......”
Xiao Zhong coughed heavily, Xu Mei and Nian Qing helplessly exchanged a look.
“Old Ye, come and take a look.”
Cheng Yizhe’s voice came from the doorway in time, tantamount to a gospel of salvation, saving the three small editors from the depths of the fire.
Ye Qixian’s short and fat body made a flexible turn and quickly greeted him with a smile piling up on every wrinkle, “Is the editorial written?”
“You first look.” Cheng Yizhe handed over a thin two pages of manuscript paper, clean and neatly trimmed nails but stained with a little ink.
The two stood by the door while reading and talking, Ye Qixian hurriedly scanned the manuscript, praising it, only a few sharp words some hesitation, suggesting that it be replaced with a relatively smooth expression. Cheng Yizhe hmmm, no comment. Ye Qixian knows that the famous Cheng master writer has always been stubborn, change his manuscript has never been easy, secretly pondering how to find an excuse ...... a look up, but saw Cheng Yizhe eyes fluttering, attention is not in the manuscript, but only look behind him.
Ye Qixian followed his gaze back, but saw Shen Nianqing look focused, hand writing fast, long hair from time to time scattered down to cover the line of sight, she was writing, while casually swept her hair to the back of the ear - lifting a hand between the swept, called to mind immediately “white wrist condensation frost and snow” of the sentence.
Ye Qixian suddenly realized, earlier heard people privately rumors, said Cheng main pen to the new female editor of interest, originally he did not believe - Cheng Yizhe is what kind of conditions, not to mention the family’s wealth, outstanding literature, but also in terms of character and appearance that is also one of the most popular. Such a talented man, how could he possibly look at that rustic and mute little girl. That Shen Nianqing weekdays do not seem to stand out, few words, only know buried in work, dressed especially rustic, always cover a loose jacket, stored in a thick fluffy bangs, along with a pair of black-rimmed glasses, the whole cover half of the face. Since she came to the newspaper office to do more than two months, Ye Qixian has never looked closely at what she looks like.
Instead, when he looked at her inadvertently at this moment, he raised his wrist and swept his temples, which was quite charming. Ye Qixian grin, hey a happy, in Cheng Yizhe shoulder pat, “the article is no problem, I will slightly change a few words, just you have time to help Shen look at the manuscript.”
“What kind of draft does Xiao Shen have?” Cheng Yizhe was stunned, his pretty eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“She’s rushing two important translations and needs them urgently, so it’s just as well that you can take a look at them together, so that you don’t have to review them again.” Ye Qixian pushed him and turned around, “No more, I’m in a hurry to rush the manuscript, I’ll leave this side to you.”
The wall clock is ticking, the lights in the newspaper office are gradually dimming down, several offices are gone, only the second floor is still lit with a few dim lights. The sound of walking on the aisle stairs became less and less, those who hadn’t left were working overtime, and the whole building was finally quiet.
Ogume had already finished work early and went home, her parents were still waiting for her to eat. Xiao Zhong also finished the manuscript, packed up things, turned back to see the whole room only Nianqing is still buried in writing, Cheng Yizhe quietly sitting next to her, said that it is reviewing the manuscript, in fact, in the hand to help her proofreading transcripts. The light shone down diagonally, casting the shadow of the typewriter on the paper. Nianqing was so focused on her writing that she didn’t notice the dimness of the light. Cheng Yizhe got up and gently crossed behind her, adjusting the position of the desk lamp, and the light suddenly turned bright. Nianqing looked up and smiled at him, the two did not speak, and each buried their heads in their work.
Xiao Zhong suddenly felt that this scene is very tacit understanding, the bystanders privately said that these two people are not compatible ...... contact for a long time, he felt that Nianqing is not as rustic as the bystanders said, at least not like the mute feeling that her appearance gives people. Ogmei also said that Nianqing is actually very beautiful, just will not dress up. He didn’t think it was a question of whether she was pretty or not, there was an indescribable aura about this girl, and it probably wasn’t surprising that she would be attracted to Mr. Cheng.
“Mr. Cheng, I’ll leave work first, see you again.” Xiao Zhong politely bade Cheng Yizhe farewell, but winked at Nianqing, deliberately backhanding the door as he left and hiding it falsely.
The room was so quiet that only the clacking of the wall clock remained.
Cheng Yizhe glanced at the time, it was almost eight o’clock, Nianqing had to rush to work as a tutor at eight thirty every night, teaching English to her students.
“Give me the manuscript, you’re running out of time.” Cheng Yizhe set aside his pen and gently gazed at Nianqing.
Nianqing habitually lowered her head and pushed down her glasses, smiling slightly, “It’s fine, I’m almost done, I’m sorry to keep bothering Mr. Cheng.”
Cheng Yizhe smiled, feeling helpless in vain at her rusty tone, “Then, write quickly.”
Nianqing looked sideways, smiled apologetically, and lowered her head to continue rushing the manuscript.
Cheng Yizhe, however, was no longer interested in doing anything, just gazing at her, not willing to let go of each of her small movements - clearly the most common knitted brows and smile, in her to always have an indescribable charm, this silly girl but never understand their own beauty. Looking at her focused side face, his heart is full of warmth, could not help but call her softly, “Nianqing.”
“Hmm?” Nianqing was busy writing the last few lines and only responded with a low voice without raising her head.
“How many times have I told you that you don’t remember, stop calling Mr. Cheng, okay?” Cheng Yizhe grumbled with a smile, but his voice turned low and soft, permeated with some childish helplessness, “I also have a name.”
Nianqing’s pen lurched, her heart slightly touched, but she pretended to focus on the manuscript and did not respond.
“Nianqing?” Cheng Yizhe reached over and pressed the paper, not allowing her to avoid it.
Under the light, his hand was long and thin, and the slightly convex knuckles showed the unique stubbornness of the owner of the hand.
At this exact moment, the downstairs gatekeeper raised his voice and called out, “Shen Nianqing, someone is looking for--” Before his words fell, he heard winter’s footsteps running up the stairs, seemingly jumping with every step, trembling the old wooden floor boards slightly.
“Oh no, Nian Qiao are looking for here, quasi late.” Nianqing jumped up, sidestepped without a trace to avoid Cheng Yizhe, and went forward to pull the hidden door of the room open. Before she could see anyone, she heard a crunchy voice yell from the stairs, “Sister, why don’t you call it a day, I’ve been waiting for a long time and I can’t see you, I’m going to be late for class ah!”
Nian Qiao ran up the stairs in three steps, wearing only a moonlight white cheongsam in November weather, covered with a lotus root-colored flannel sweater, two ebony hair braids hanging loosely on her shoulders, pink cheeks permeated with moisture, the tip of her nose seeping out beads of sweat due to running.
“That’s good, wait for me for two more minutes!” Nianqing couldn’t care less, hurriedly turned around but was grabbed by Nian Qiao, “Aiya, don’t delay any longer, go go go!” But heard a warm male voice inside said aloud, “Don’t care about the manuscript, hurry up and go, I’ll sweep the tail is.”
Nian Qiao was stunned, only then did she see Cheng Yizhe, suddenly her face flushed, her hands twisted, “Cheng big brother is also there?”
Cheng Yizhe raised his head and smiled, he couldn’t help but put away the manuscript, turned off the lamp, and took off Nianqing’s scarf hanging on the wall, “Hurry up and go, I’ll talk to Lao Ye!”
Nianqing glanced at the wall clock, the hands had already crossed eight o’clock, there was really no delay, “I have to trouble Mr. Cheng.”
Cheng Yizhe shook his scarf and put it on Nianqing’s neck, who subconsciously shrunk her shoulders. Cheng Yizhe’s hand gave a beat, looked deeply at her, and quickly walked out the door. Nian Qiao stood by the door, looking at the two people in front of her, momentarily dumbfounded.
“Old Xia, please do me a favor, it’s just a few lines short, I can’t make it in time.” Cheng Yizhe pushed the door and threw the manuscript onto the deputy chief writer’s desk, not waiting for Lao Xia to come back to his senses from a pile of manuscripts, turned his head toward the chief editor’s room and called out, “Lao Ye, the manuscript is ready, in a moment, let Lao Xia finish reviewing it and give it to you!”
“Hey hey ......” yelled Xia Hangsheng, “This is too much!” Cheng Yizhe ignored him, and straight away packed up his belongings, took the trench coat from the wall and put it on, and threw down a sentence when he left the house, “Don’t make a mistake with Nianqing’s manuscript.”
“You’re more of a woman than a friend!” Xia Hangsheng laughed and scolded him, “Everyone chases women, but you, Mr. Cheng, are the best!”
Nianqing closes the office door just in time to hear Xia Hangsheng’s loud voice, Nianqiao also turns her head to look at her.
“Go away.” Nianqing pretended not to hear anything, lowered her head and took Nian Qiao and hurriedly stepped down the stairs, but she heard Cheng Yizhe quickly chasing down the stairs, shouting, “Wait for me to send you guys!” There is a yellow car parked on the street, Nian Qing raised his hand and beckoned the driver over, then pushed Nian Qiao up. Cheng Yizhe rushed up and hurriedly stopped Nian Qiao, “Take my car, the yellow bus is too slow!”
Without waiting for Nian Qing to reply, Nian Qiao already nodded gratefully, “Thank you big brother Cheng!”
Cheng Yizhe hurriedly went to drive the car, Nian Qiao thankfully patted her chest, brittle voice like a series of cannons, “Luckily there is Cheng big brother, if I am late today, it will be troublesome, the teacher wants to test the tunes of the last class, it just so happens that it is my turn to be the first one. Originally my foundation is poor, if in late, certainly can not pass ......”
Nianqing suddenly opened his mouth, faintly interrupted her words, “Today is my overtime missed time, in the future I will try to be punctual. However, I don’t want to owe favors for no reason, the next person is always good to you will not be for no reason, understand?”
Nian Qiao was stunned, “But Big Brother Cheng ......”
“Mr. Cheng is Mr. Cheng!” Nian Qing’s expression was light, but his voice was strong, and a stern color came out from under his ancient black-framed glasses. Nian Qiao lowered his head and didn’t dare to reply, his heart was full of grievances, and when he was about to defend himself, a small black Austin had already driven up to him. Cheng Yizhe poked his head out, “Come on up, don’t delay.”
The two sisters did not speak to each other on the way, Nian Qing reported the address and then did not speak, always lively Nian Qiao also muffled. Cheng Yizhe was a bit puzzled, thought about it and then found a topic to ask, “Is it first to No. 10 Mingshan Road, and then send Nian Qiao to Qiaoxi Road?”
“No, send Nian Qiao first, I can be a little late.” Nianqing was busy answering.
Cheng Yizhe took advantage of the situation and asked, “Nian Qiao’s class today is very important, right?”
Nian Qiao glanced at her sister’s face and noticed her gazing out the window. She responded cautiously, “Yes, I have to test a new song. which one? Second Practice in F Minor, with a remarked, “Full of fantasy and tranquility, just like the singing in a child’s dream. praised, exactly how it feels, Mr. Cheng. You articulated it so well; I couldn’t have expressed it better! Schumann’s words.” He then glanced at Nian Qiao blushing and sticking out her tongue through the rearview mirror, finding her reaction amusing. Nian Qiao, glancing at Nian Qing, noticed her sister had closed her eyes appearing as if she had dozed off in her seat. Cheng Yizhe also observed this through the rearview mirror and decided not to disturb her, assuming she have been exhausted. Although Nian Qing was not actually sleepy, she pretended to be asleep by closing her eyes, not wanting to make Nian Qiao feel uncomfortable with her presence. As the car came to a slow stop, Nian Qing quickly opened her eyes and peered out the window, realizing they had not yet reached Qiaoxi Road. Cheng? We haven’t arrived yet! his watch, Cheng Yizhe turned around and reassured them, “I know, we still have time. Let’s stop by to some dim sum first. Nianqing questioned, “Buy dim sum? dinner, and there are some delicious cakes at this Belarusian shop.” He got out of the car, opened the door for Nianqing, and warmly invited her, your favorite taste. his hand to assist her, warm smile and captivating eyes left Nian Qing momentarily stunned. Encouragingly, he added, in a rush? the car, and upon seeing Nian Qiao also exiting from the other side, she joyfully exclaimed, been to this store before; my sister brought me here! flavor do you prefer? sauce and bayberry!” Nian Qiao responded with a smile akin to a greedy kitten. As Nian Qing glanced sideways, she noticed the glass turnstile opening, and a couple emerging together.
Nian Qiao glanced at her sister’s face, and when she saw that she was just looking out the window, she replied cautiously, “Yes, I have to test a new song.”
“Oh, which one?”
“Chopin’s Second Practice in F Minor.”
Cheng Yizhe said with a smile, “Full of fantasy and tranquility, just like the singing in a child’s dream.”
Nian Qiao was surprised and praised, “That’s how it feels, Mr. Cheng, you said it so well, I don’t know how to express it!”
“This is Schumann’s words.” Cheng Yizhe raised his eyes and smiled. From the rearview mirror, he saw the cute appearance of Nian Qiao blushing and sticking out his tongue. He felt more and more interesting, “I called Brother Cheng just now, why did he go back?”
“Well, it’s all the same.” Nian Qiao glanced at Nian Qing again, but saw that she closed her eyes slightly, as if she had fallen asleep on the seat.
Cheng Yizhe also saw it in the rearview mirror. Thinking about coming to Nianqing, he must be too tired, so he kept his mouth shut so as not to disturb her.
In fact, Nian Qing didn’t feel sleepy, she deliberately closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, just not wanting to make Nian Qiao feel that she was beside her and feel embarrassed. After a while, feeling the car slowly stopped, Nian Qing hurriedly opened her eyes and looked out the window, but she hadn’t reached Qiaoxi Road yet.
“Brother Cheng? It’s not here yet! ” Nian Qiao has already asked the question first.
Cheng Yizhe raised his wrist and looked at his watch, then turned around and smiled, “I know, there is still time, come over to buy dim sum first.”
The two sisters were both startled, Nianqing frowned and said, “Buy dim sum?”
“You didn’t have dinner, and there are some delicious cakes in this Belarusian shop.” Cheng Yizhe got out of the car with a smile and opened the door for Nianqing, “Come on, I don’t understand your favorite taste.”
He leaned over and stretched out his hand to help her, his smile was warm, and his eyes were deceiving like blurred lights behind him.
Nian Qing was stunned for a moment, her heart tightening a little.
He smiled and urged, “Still dawdling, who is in a hurry?”
Nian Qing had to get out of the car, turned around to see that Nian Qiao also got down from the other side, trotting around the car, full of joy, “We have been to this store, and my sister brought me here!”
Cheng Yizhe smiled and said, “Great, so what flavor do you like?”
“Cherry sauce and bayberry!” Nian Qiao’s eyes were crooked and he smiled like a greedy kitten.
Nian Qing smiled, and when she looked sideways, she saw the glass turnstile open, and a pair of men and women came out together. They were already dazzling in a hurry, attracting passers-by to turn their heads — handsome men and beautiful women, beautiful clothes, complementing each other.
Nian Qiao couldn’t help but whisper in admiration, “What a beautiful couple!”
Cheng Yizhe took a closer look and recognized it at once, “Hey, it’s the fourth son of Xue.”
“Fourth Young Master Xue?” Nian Qiao blurted out, her voice was clear and crisp, which attracted the attention of passers-by. Even the handsome young man turned his head slightly, and seemed to hear her voice.
Nian Qing lowered her head and coughed, pulled up her scarf, covered her mouth, and turned to her side.
“What’s wrong?” Cheng Yizhe hurriedly looked at her, “Is it cold?”
Nian Qing didn’t speak, her scarf covered most of her face, and she couldn’t see her face clearly through her glasses.
The handsome man and the beautiful woman got into a limousine on the side of the road and left.
Nian Qing coughed twice more, then put down her scarf and raised her face, “It’s okay, I choked on the cold wind.”
