It really is him.

Arriving downstairs at Jiayi Building, He Si glanced around somewhat absentmindedly. Failing to spot the familiar figure from his memory, he let out a sigh of relief and strode purposefully into the office tower.

It was a weekday, so the company was bustling with people. After registering his name and phone number at the front desk, He Si was swiped through by the staff and escorted up in the elevator.

Inside the office, Assistant Cen and Assistant Bi were present, along with two others He Si hadn’t met before. Everyone was busy with their own tasks. After a short wait, Assistant Cen led He Si to the adjacent conference room.

Soon enough, another male employee entered—someone from the administration department and also part of their small group chat.

The three took their seats one after another and began discussing matters concerning the annual company party.

Jiayi’s demands were indeed numerous. Assistant Cen printed out an A4 sheet densely packed with small print, listing over thirty detailed points.

The administration employee was quite talkative and kept changing his mind. Even the smallest detail had to be debated repeatedly.

Though Assistant Cen was accustomed to his personality, she was growing impatient. Tapping the table lightly with her finger and furrowing her brows, she said, “Xiao Liu, just get to the point. Don’t mention things you haven’t even confirmed yourself.”

Xiao Liu responded with an “Oh,” realizing his mistake, and awkwardly smiled at He Si.

He Si flipped to a new page in his notebook; half of the earlier notes were useless. He didn’t seem irritated and suggested, “Why don’t you two discuss it some more? When you’ve settled on something, just let me know. My job is just to record your ideas.”

“That works,” Assistant Cen said, tugging Xiao Liu up to go discuss outside.

Instinctively, Xiao Liu pulled out a half-pack of cigarettes from his pocket, flicked one out, and offered it to He Si. “Want one?”

He Si shook his head. “Thanks, I don’t smoke.”

Seeing this, Assistant Cen gave Xiao Liu a sharp clap on the back. “Enough. He was still a student just a few months ago. You think he’s as addicted to smoking as you?”

With that, she pulled Xiao Liu out.

Outside the conference room, Xiao Liu glanced back and said to Assistant Cen, “He Si has a good personality, much easier to deal with than the others at Wanhao.”

“Also much better looking than those ugly mugs at Wanhao,” Assistant Cen teased with a mischievous glint. “They’re all just envious of Jiayi. Maybe there’s some proportionality between looks and character.” She seemed intrigued. “I wonder if he has a girlfriend.”

Xiao Liu rolled his eyes. “I know, it’s your niece again with the face obsession…”

Assistant Cen chuckled.

Back in the conference room, He Si reviewed his notes, circling all the discarded content. He glanced at the printed A4 sheet from Assistant Cen. Seeing that the two hadn’t returned yet, he pulled out his phone to check WeChat.

No messages from the manager.

No updates in the group chat.

Just as he was about to put the phone away, a new message popped up—it was from the class monitor.

[Cai Guanshan: The day after tomorrow, there’s a full-month banquet for Nuonuo. Are you coming?]

Who was Nuonuo?

He Si’s mind blanked for a moment. Halfway through typing, he suddenly realized.

[He Si: Zhao Jiao’s son?]

[Cai Guanshan: Yes.]

[Cai Guanshan: Zhao Jiao gave him the nickname Nuonuo.]

Then Cai Guanshan sent several pictures—small thumbnails that quickly filled the chat window.

He Si didn’t even need to open them; he could tell at a glance they were baby photos, taken from various angles. The infant was swaddled in blankets, sleeping peacefully.

He Si: “…”

He couldn’t hold back.

[He Si: Are you nuts?]

[Cai Guanshan: ?]

He Si immediately calmed down and retracted the message.

[He Si: Sorry, class monitor, sent that to the wrong person.]

[He Si: I’m not going.]

[He Si: And don’t tell me about these things again. They already misunderstand me enough. If I go, won’t it just confirm their suspicions?]

He typed quickly, the class monitor’s name switching to “typing...” repeatedly. Before any reply came through, He Si had sent several messages in rapid succession.

[He Si: By the way, class monitor, aren’t you a little too attentive to Zhao Jiao?]

[He Si: Do you like Zhao Jiao too?]

These words startled the class monitor. The “typing...” soon vanished, replaced by silence. Then, unexpectedly, the class monitor called with a voice message.

He Si didn’t hesitate to hang up.

[He Si: I’m in a meeting, can’t talk.]

[Cai Guanshan: Don’t say nonsense. When have I liked Zhao Jiao? I just feel sorry for her. She got pregnant before graduating. Everyone else has started working, but she has no job and a newborn to care for. As an old classmate, shouldn’t we help her?]

[He Si: Don’t get worked up.]

[He Si: I’m joking.]

[He Si: I just think you’re too involved with Zhao Jiao. Someone unaware might even think you’re the father of her child.]

[Cai Guanshan: I told you, don’t say that!]

[Cai Guanshan: It’s not about being upset. You’re just slapping me with accusations!]

He Si smirked inwardly, too lazy to reply.

He and the class monitor were on good terms. The monitor was a reliable, responsible person who had often run errands to help classmates during their studies. Even Lin Dongchao, who was usually tough, showed the monitor respect.

But the monitor’s tendency to stir the pot was a headache.

Like a fool, he had been used by Zhao Jiao multiple times and still remained devoted.

He Si scrolled through his Moments and saw that Zhao Jiao had posted an invitation to her son’s full-month banquet early that morning. The invitation was public, and those who wished to attend could register through a link.

He naturally did not click.

Putting away his phone, he felt a restless unease.

He had no connection to Zhao Jiao. That night at the karaoke bar, where he worked part-time, he had encountered Zhao Jiao, brought there by several unsavory men. She was drunk and unsteady, needing support to walk. Concerned, he hid outside and watched. Those men groped her without resistance. He immediately informed the manager, changed back into his clothes, and rushed to the room to drive the men away. At the time, Zhao Jiao was disheveled; he took off his coat to cover her and stayed with her all night.

Afterward, as usual, though they were classmates, they barely interacted.

Later, the rumor spread in their class that Zhao Jiao was pregnant. No one knew who started it, but eventually, the story mutated to say He Si was the father. By the time he was informed, the rumor was known even in other classes.

He Si had clarified in the class group chat.

To no avail.

The gossip persisted.

Didn’t he know what he had done that night? He was sober, hadn’t drunk, and hadn’t even touched Zhao Jiao. Where could the child have come from?

If a man appeared claiming the child was his, he might believe it.

He Si wiped his face, trying to push away the thoughts. Just as he was about to stand and check if Assistant Cen and the others had returned, the two of them came in.

Work resumed.

After the meeting lasted over an hour, He Si packed up and bid farewell to Assistant Cen and the others. Yet, just a few steps out, Assistant Cen called him back.

“Wait a moment. Let me see if General Manager Shen is here. I’ll ask if he has anything else to add.”

Having said that, He Si followed her into the large office.

The room was empty; the assistants who had been busy at their desks had disappeared.

He Si didn’t enter further but stood by the door as Assistant Cen knocked on one of the inner office doors. After several tries, there was no response.

Assistant Bi then returned carrying a stack of documents. Seeing this, he asked, “Assistant Cen, are you looking for General Manager Shen?”

Assistant Cen inquired, “Has General Manager Shen stepped out again?”

“Just left,” Assistant Bi replied. “There’s an engagement tonight over in Yincheng. Sister Zhang and Brother Miao went along.”

“How unfortunate,” Assistant Cen said with a look of regret, turning to He Si. “If there are any changes, I’ll inform you promptly.”

He Si nodded.

It was still before quitting time, and the elevator was not crowded. He Si exited the office building smoothly and headed toward the subway entrance. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of a figure.

His steps faltered.

His first thought was that he had mistaken the sight.

But he had last encountered that man nearby; the chance of error was slim.

He turned to look and saw a sharply dressed man standing about two or three meters away by the roadside, impeccably poised, speaking on his phone.

Two or three meters was neither too close nor too far, and with no one else around, even without trying to listen, He Si easily caught fragments of the conversation.

“Yeah, we’ve been chatting. It seems fine, but we haven’t arranged a meeting yet.”

“I’ve been too busy lately. I definitely can’t make time this month. Let’s wait until I’m free.”

“I told him, probably won’t meet until the New Year holiday. He understands.”

At that moment, a car pulled up and stopped slowly in front of the man. The driver seemed about to get out, but the man opened the door, got in while still on the phone.

It really was him.

He Si reached the subway entrance, recalling his earlier guess about whether the man lived nearby. Now it seemed he worked around here.

Working at Jiayi?

That was quite a coincidence!

He Si didn’t want to speculate too much, but this office building exit was indeed only for Jiayi. Although there were other office areas on either side, their entrances were at the opposite end.

Thinking this over, He Si felt uneasy.

It wasn’t impossible he might be called back to Jiayi again. If he ran into that man there…

He Si wiped his face and could only pray such a scene wouldn’t occur.

Still, he resolved to be more cautious in the future.

The weekend would still require him to tutor Qiao Siyu. Siyu’s grandmother was ill. Last time, Aunt Cai had taken Siyu and Baby to visit. This time, the illness seemed more serious. Aunt Cai planned to stay for a couple of days to care for the elder, and since Baby was too young and easily mischievous, He Si was entrusted with looking after them.

So besides tutoring, he was responsible for preparing three meals a day for Siyu and Baby.

Sunday’s class group chat was especially lively. Zhao Jiao was well-liked, and about a dozen to twenty people attended her son’s full-month banquet. They posted numerous group photos, showing a sea of red-cheeked faces.

He Si stood before the stove wearing a SpongeBob apron, holding a spatula. With practiced ease, he stir-fried with one hand while scrolling through the photos.

Lin Dongchao was notably absent.

Surprised, He Si scrolled up and down the photos multiple times but saw no sign of Lin Dongchao.

Huh.

The sun must be rising in the west.

Lin Dongchao used to be Zhao Jiao’s shadow. Wherever she went, he was sure to be nearby.

He Si was curious about Lin Dongchao’s absence but wouldn’t be foolish enough to ask the class monitor or anyone else. He could only wonder.

“Big brother!” Baby came toddling over wearing slippers, running with a clatter. He grabbed hold of one of He Si’s legs and looked up. “Brother He, I’m hungry.”

He Si tucked his phone into the apron pocket, gave Baby’s head a gentle pat. “Almost ready, just wait a little longer.”

Baby lifted his arms. “Carry me.”

He Si turned off the stove, washed his hands again, then scooped Baby up with his right arm, using his left hand to transfer the stir-fried vegetables onto a plate.

Qiao Siyu came in to serve rice. Seeing He Si juggling cooking and holding Baby with one hand, she immediately snapped, slapping Baby’s back sharply.

“Your brother is cooking. Can’t you behave?”

Baby, arms wrapped around He Si’s neck, had been cheerful, but after the slap, his eyes welled up, and he burst into tears.

He Si: “…”

Thankfully, these two weren’t his children.

Being a good father is no easy feat.