Chapter 16

  "Use mine," Lu You handed me his phone charger. We both have HTC phones, so it's compatible anyway.

  I took it and politely said: "Thank you."

  "Was it already working there when we met on a rainy day last time?"

  I plugged in the charger and asked him back, "Didn't you know that Shei was me all along? Maybe even earlier, you and Sun are acquaintances, right?"

  He turned his head and looked at me, frankly acknowledging: "Yeah, I saw you before on a forum."

  "You should thank him, if it wasn't for his approval, we wouldn't have been able to spend so much money to invite you over."

  He didn't respond and continued asking me: "So are you going back to London?"

  "Let's see, after staying abroad for a long time, it feels quite boring. Go back to China and live for a while, and then go back again when you're tired of it."

  Lu You fell silent for a moment before speaking in a calm tone: "It's fine this way, anyway there are people both domestically and internationally."

  "What do you mean by that, Director Lu."

  Lu Yu didn't respond, looking at me with a gentle expression as if what he had just said was the most normal fact.

  Actually, whether or not I explain it doesn't make a difference. What I say he may not believe anyway, and besides, there's no need to change the impression of me in his heart.

  "It's time to get off the train," Zhang Qiu interjected. "I think we still have some time, why don't we find a place nearby to grab dinner before heading to the hotel?"

  The train arrived at 6:45 sharp, the station was crowded with people coming and going. We simply had a meal and then five of us called two taxis to go to the hotel. The location of this hotel is not bad, although it's in the city center but also quiet, typical Western-style decoration style which I like very much. On the bed were silver sheets and blue quilt covers with silver edges, off-white carpet, and a single sofa chair with blue and red corners was placed at the corner of the room.

  I made a cup of lemon water and sat on the sofa to read a small travel note about Africa. The night in City C is not as vibrant as City B, with its red lanterns and green wine. Looking out the window, I only see the dark night sky.

  Around 10 pm, I went to take a bath and was planning to sleep. My hair was half-dried when the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, Fu Andong was standing outside wearing a T-shirt, beach shorts, and slippers, looking just like a Southeast Asian fruit stand owner.

  "How did you get here?"

  "He smiled: 'Isn't it to help you save face?'"

  "Aren't you not coming? Don't tell me you flew back from Sanya."

  Fu An Dong spread his hands: "How can I not come? If I don't come to review for a round, what if you want me to recruit a batch of men?"

  I opened the door and let him in, taking a towel to continue wiping my hair, "Did you go on vacation with Liu Xi?"

  He leaned back into the sofa comfortably, let out a satisfied "hmm", propped up his chin with one hand and said in a very good mood: "Yes, our leader attaches such importance to new recruitments, I'm really moved by the leader's serious attitude."

  "You flew 4 hours just to ensure that all the new recruits are of different sexes. I'm really touched by your exemplary attitude."

  He burst out laughing: "Hey, how's B University's lecture going? Is it dull and deserted without me?"

  "So, tomorrow's C's lecture you should take some action to make up for it?"

  Fu An Dong said with a straight face, "Of course, if I were to make an appearance, I couldn't guarantee that the classroom you booked for tomorrow would be enough. If the female classmates are too enthusiastic, we can just make a call on the playground."

  "Fu An Dong, you..." I was about to scold him a few more times, when the doorbell rang again.

  "Who is it?" Fu An Dong asked in a puzzled tone, "What brings you here so late?"

  "I don't know, waiter?"

  The door opened and Lu You said with one hand holding his phone, "Sorry it's so late, my phone is out of battery, the charger is at your place."

  When he saw Fu Andong on the sofa, he obviously narrowed his eyes slightly.

  Fu An Dong politely greeted him: "What a coincidence, Director Lu, you're also here for the presentation?"

  Lu You glanced at us, took a slight step back, seemingly wanting to use this action to draw a line between us. I went into the house to find the charger and handed it to him: "I forgot to return it to you in the car just now, sorry."

  He took it over, moved his lips: "Nothing." Then he said to Fu Andong in a light tone: "I'll go back to my room first. You two can chat slowly."

  As soon as the door closed, Fu Andong said behind me: "How did he come?"

  The investment bank's boss asked him to come and help.