The Lover's Prattle

The CEO//9

— Feng Nianyi.

They visited one city after another. Because they hadn't brought a lot of clothes with them, about every three days Qingruo would take the time to wash their laundry. Each of the suites they stayed in came with a clotheshorse and balcony, so she could hang the clothes up to dry and on the second day, they would smell of sunshine. After wearing them once, Feng Qi gave up the idea of buying new clothes every time they entered a new city.

He would put on the television and tidy up things or make tea in the living room while she washed their clothes, and when she was done, he would help her hang them up.

On the days that their clothes failed to dry in time, Qingruo would sit down and blow-dry them in the evening. In the beginning, Feng Qi found the buzz of the blow dryer too loud and would always escape to the balcony. There, he would lean against the railing and smoke as he gazed into the room.

In the evenings, Qingruo usually wore her hair down and gathered over one shoulder. She would sit somewhere and blow-dry her hair. Occasionally, the hot wind would throw a few strands up, causing them to lash out like claws in the air before allowing them to fall obediently to her shoulders.

Later on, it changed to Feng Qi holding her, facing the other side while reading a book as she sat in his embrace, blow-drying the clothes. Sometimes she would gently elbow him, and without even having to raise his head, he would know to lift the hand that was on her hip and wait for her to give him the blow dryer or a garment to hold.

[So this is what "forever" feels like.]

Feng Qi had a public Weibo account verified with the title "President of the Feng Company"; however, the account was completely empty. Chu Yang was the one who had created it.

When its first post appeared at around 11:30pm from the other side of the ocean, the finance, entertainment, and vogue headlines all blew up the next day. They talked about how President Feng was like "softened steel" and that "a man of iron was also capable of showing tenderness" and gushed over his "public confession of love."

***

Qingruo had linked their arms together and was shuttling them through the crowd. They'd come across a local festival. The old street[1] was lit by happy faces.

She picked out two festive masks and handed one to Feng Qi before pulling them back into the bustle. Their surroundings were impossibly loud, and while most of the revelers spoke in the local language, there were some foreign tongues mingled in as well. Among them, there was a kind of intimacy in the wisps of Chinese that drifted by.

It was a very strange yet magical and nostalgic feeling.

***

By the time Qingruo and Feng Qi got back, an extra suitcase had joined the ranks of their luggage. It was filled with matching sweetheart souvenirs.

Chu Yang arrived through the airport's VIP entrance. He helped them with one of their suitcases and led them out of the airport. They followed him leisurely, hand-in-hand, as though they were still on vacation.

When the trio reached the parking lot, Qingruo passed her luggage to Feng Qi, whose movements couldn't be more natural as he received it and took it to the trunk of the car. Meanwhile, Qingruo opened the door to the backseat and got in.

Chu Yang deposited the suitcase in his hand before turning to look at Feng Qi. His bright mood was as clear as day. Chu Yang asked him with a smile, "President Feng, I think you should immediately start working again tomorrow? There are a lot of meetings to be held."