Your Distance

After he finally finished dealing with his colleagues, Ting Shuang returned to his desk to eat ice cream, and sent a message to Bai Changyi: Why are your actions so flashy?

Bai Changyi answered: What happened?

Ting Shuang talked about how his colleagues had gossiped about them: They also expect you to help them solve their personal issues. Fortunately, I was able to use my wit to get away.

Bai Changyi: Mm?

Ting Shuang: I told them that my partner’s nearly forty years old, weighs 150 kg, and holds a PhD in engineering. They immediately lost interest in you.

Bai Changyi: I have reservations about the statement that I’m nearly forty years old.

Ting Shuang: Valid, valid. The difference between thirty-six and nearly forty is huge, and the two should never be confused.

Ting Shuang: But I think that almost 40 years old is also very young. No, more like too young. If you’re forty, life has just begun.

Bai Changyi: Really.

Ting Shuang: Of course!

Ting Shuang: Oh right, dear, did you use the anti-aging mask I gave you?

Bai Changyi: I have a meeting.

Bai Changyi: Let’s talk later.

Ting Shuang: Hey, don’t go, babe.

Bai Changyi didn’t reply.

Ting Shuang sent a few more mushy messages, but no one paid him any attention.

Ting Shuang: Bai Changyi, you liar. I just checked the message you sent me this morning. You don’t have any meetings today.

Still no reply.

Ting Shuang: [Video]

It was a video of him eating ice cream. A close-up. The spoon went in and out of his mouth, and his tongue occasionally licked the corner of his lips, taking away the white cream and leaving a wet trail behind.

Bai Changyi: Ting, you are affecting my work.

When he heard Bai Changyi’s low voice in his ear, Ting Shuang’s heart wavered, and he replied: Dear, why don’t we skip work.

Ting Shuang: I haven’t skipped work before [rubbing hands together]

Bai Changyi: I’ve only been in the office for an hour, and there’s still a lot of work to be done today.

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Ting Shuang: [Video]

Ting Shuang: Is your work more important than this?

Ting Shuang: [Video]

Bai Changyi: Are you in the company?

Ting Shuang: Yes.

Bai Changyi: There’s no one next to you?

Ting Shuang: Nope.

Bai Changyi: Zip up your pants.

Ting Shuang: Then will you skip work and accompany me?

Bai Changyi: Ting, it’s only 9:30 in the morning here.

Ting Shuang: [Video]

Bai Changyi: Ting Shuang, I repeat, zip your pants, immediately.

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Ting Shuang: Then will you skip work and accompany me?

Ting Shuang: [Video]

Ting Shuang: Answer me quickly.

Ting Shuang: Where did you go???

Bai Changyi: I am preparing to leave the office.

Ting Shuang: Hey, wait for me, I am also getting ready to leave work.

Bai Changyi: I’m off.

Bai Changyi: I’m going to drive the car now.

Just as Bai Changyi opened the car door and was about to start driving home, Ting Shuang sent a new message: Um… Dear…

Bai Changyi: Mm.

Ting Shuang: Papa…

Bai Changyi: Just say it.

Ting Shuang: Are you still in school…

Bai Changyi: Mm.

Ting Shuang: How about you go back to work…

Bai Changyi: What happened?

Ting Shuang: Um… Our team leader won’t let me off ahead of time if the work isn’t finished…

Bai Changyi: …

Ting Shuang: [Pitiful]

Ten minutes later, Bai Changyi returned to the office. His secretary, Marie, said, “Did you leave anything in the office? If you are feeling uncomfortable, you could have called and asked me to bring it down.”

Expressionlessly, Bai Changyi said, “Thank you, I didn’t leave anything behind. My headache suddenly disappeared, so I decided to return to work.”

Marie, “You really are so dedicated to your work.”

Bai Changyi, “Thank you, I think so too.”