The Changing Phases - Chapter 29 - I'm the Man, You're the Woman

Jin and Wenhui were inseparable, and within two months, they had already met each other’s parents. After completing his training assessment, Wenhui bid goodbye to Liu Yuxin and casually asked if she had dinner plans for the evening.

Liu Yuxin jokingly replied, “I have people lining up to invite me to dinner.”

Zhao Junyang had scheduled a dinner with Liu Yuxin to celebrate her successful entry into the training department. However, as she was about to leave the office, she received a call from him saying that he had to attend a class reunion. This put her in a foul mood. Zhao Junyang promised to be back by 9 p.m. and suggested that she handle dinner on her own.

Back at home, Liu Yuxin tried to relax after the recent work stress but couldn’t shake her displeasure at Zhao Junyang. Nine o’clock was peak socializing time and unlikely to end early. Leaving halfway would be rude, wouldn’t it?

As Liu Yuxin’s mind wandered, her phone rang again. It was Yang Hongyi, teasing her about Zhao Junyang’s handsomeness and Xia Wanlu’s beauty at the class reunion, infuriating her further.

Exhausted from several sleepless nights, Liu Yuxin dozed off while lying on her bed. She dreamed of an April Fool’s Day scenario where she was sitting on a toilet in an elevator with Zhao Junyang. Every time the elevator doors opened, she would look at the people outside and yell, and Zhao Junyang would snap pictures of their various reactions.

Just as she was laughing happily in her dream, her phone rang again. Groggily, she answered it and heard Jin’s energetic voice, “Liu Yuxin, have you eaten yet? I’ll be back around 10 p.m. and will bring you something to eat.”

Liu Yuxin thanked her and smiled, feeling grateful that her good roommate hadn’t forgotten her. In the darkness, she thought to herself that she was probably the only one feeling lonely at this moment. It wouldn’t help to be jealous of Zhao Junyang and Xia Wanlu; they would be busy at the reunion anyway. She decided it was better to just sleep until morning.

Liu Yuxin’s phone rang once more. “What are you doing?” It was Zhao Junyang.

“Trying to sleep,” Liu Yuxin replied casually.

Zhao Junyang laughed on the other end of the line and teased, “Going to bed so early? I guess that means you don’t want to meet up with me?”

“Is the reunion over?” she suddenly sat up in bed.

Zhao Junyang chuckled and replied, “I left early. I promised you I’d come by at 9 p.m., and I keep my promises.”

Hearing this, Liu Yuxin felt her chest fill with happiness. This was the kind of dedication only reserved for someone important. It felt wonderful to be valued by someone.

Zhao Junyang gently asked, “Still haven’t turned on the lights?”

“You’re already here!” Liu Yuxin excitedly jumped out of bed, turned on the light, and rushed to the window. There he was, standing beside his BMW, looking up and smiling at her. The words “so handsome” slipped out of her mouth.

“Come on down,” Zhao Junyang said.

“I can’t come down. I haven’t done anything yet. How about you come up instead? I’m home alone anyway, ” Liu Yuxin suggested, looking at her disheveled self in the mirror. But as soon as she said it, she realized it sounded like an invitation. Her cheeks flushed red.

Meanwhile, Zhao Junyang thought, “Is Liu Yuxin inviting me in?”

Liu Yuxin hung up the phone and paced around the room excitedly, accidentally bumping into the table. The doorbell rang, and she ran to open the door, then quickly darted back to the mirror to fix her messy hair.

Feeling satisfied with her appearance, Liu Yuxin finally stepped out of the room, her face still red. She saw Zhao Junyang lounging on the sofa, his suit jacket off and his chest slightly exposed. His tan skin made him look incredibly sexy.

“Come here,” Zhao Junyang said, casually leaning back on the sofa, a smile playing on his lips.

Liu Yuxin walked over and sat next to him. He swiftly pulled her into his arms.

Having drunk some alcohol, Zhao Junyang seemed dangerous. Liu Yuxin, feeling nervous, suggested, “Let’s watch TV.” Zhao Junyang looked at the TV and laughed, “This TV’s colors are something special…”

Liu Yuxin also laughed, “The landlord said the TV screen always turns green for some reason. Since she trades stocks and finds this color unlucky, she gave it to us to save us from buying a new one.”

The TV was showing an outdoor program, and when a guy on the show got flung off a spinning disk, Liu Yuxin burst out laughing. She said, “I really want to sign up for this show, but it feels awkward to go alone. I suggested to our company that we sponsor the show and make it a group activity for our employees to join, so I could go too.”

Zhao Junyang chuckled, “If you really want to go, we can discuss it.”

Liu Yuxin felt hopeful, “The spinning disk is the toughest challenge. A lot of people get thrown off there, but I think if you did it, you’d succeed in one try. There are a few other difficult obstacles too, but you’d definitely outperform them.”

Zhao Junyang glanced at Liu Yuxin, “Are you complimenting me or trying to butter me up?”

Liu Yuxin stuck out her tongue, “I’m setting a goal for you.”

Just then, a commercial for Lanyu made by Mingxing appeared on the TV. It featured a romantic seaside setting with a girl in a white dress smiling happily as she ran with the sea breeze, taking a gift from a handsome man and embracing him joyfully.

The camera then shifted to the two of them looking into a mirror, both smiling blissfully. He said, “She and Lanyu are both very important to me.”

The commercial was beautifully crafted to evoke feelings of happiness and romance, but the green TV screen ruined the effect.

Liu Yuxin asked, “What aspect of Mingxing’s work convinced you to choose them?”

Zhao Junyang smiled softly, “This commercial reminded me of us. It gives me a sense of happiness.”

Liu Yuxin blushed, “I feel like I might faint from happiness.”

Zhao Junyang pulled Liu Yuxin closer. In the dim light, his handsome face inched towards hers. Just as he was about to kiss her, Liu Yuxin suddenly exclaimed, “I’m hungry.”

Zhao Junyang laughed, “You haven’t eaten anything since you woke up?” He stood up and pulled out the food he had brought, handing it to Liu Yuxin.

Liu Yuxin beamed at the box of egg tarts, “Did you buy these just for me?” Zhao Junyang smirked, “Picked them up.”

Liu Yuxin praised, “You’re amazing. Even delicious egg tarts can’t escape you.” She quickly finished the box and asked, “Is there anything else in the garbage pile? Can you get me some more?”

Zhao Junyang burst out laughing and pulled out some fries, “Eat up, these were stolen.”

“You’re really something,” Liu Yuxin laughed, “Is there more?”

Zhao Junyang handed her an entire bag, “It’s all yours.”

After finishing all the food, Liu Yuxin lay on Zhao Junyang’s lap, looking blissfully content. He stroked her hair and glanced at the TV, “I should get a good TV from the electronics store for you.”