After dinner, everyone headed home.
Everyone tactfully refrained from disturbing Jiang Yubo as he alone escorted Li Wan back.
Wen Ran repeatedly declined offers, insisting she could take a taxi herself, but Xu Xiaoming persistently insisted on driving her home.
In the car:
Xu Xiaoming initiated conversation: "Was the dinner not to your taste, or do you usually have a small appetite?"
Wen Ran: "A bit of both."
"You don't like overly sweet food, right?"
"Correct."
"Where are you from?"
Hometown? Wen Ran answered: "Yuhe."
"No wonder! Then you must prefer spicy food, yes?"
Wen Ran nodded.
As the car turned a corner, Xu Xiaoming extended an invitation: "There's a Sichuan restaurant near my office that my colleagues say serves authentic Chongqing-Sichuan flavors. How about I take you there sometime?"
"No need," Wen Ran said earnestly. "There's no authentic Sichuan cuisine in Hucheng City."
Xu Xiaoming paused, turning to look at Wen Ran.
Noticing his gaze, she turned too.
Then she reminded him: "Watch the road."
Xu Xiaoming redirected his eyes forward, smiling: "Alright, then we'll have to try authentic Sichuan food in Yuhe someday."
Arriving home, Wen Ran showered. Emerging from the bathroom, she heard her charging phone vibrating incessantly on the nightstand.
Li Wan and Avi were active in the group chat.
Wen Ran scrolled up to read earlier messages.
Avi: [How did it go? Give me updates ASAP!!!]
Li Wan: [We've arranged to visit the aquarium tomorrow afternoon.]
Avi: [😂 Can't you go somewhere more adult-appropriate?]
Li Wan: [😓]
Avi: [😖 I meant like a concert or art museum! Don't get the wrong idea.]
Avi: [So are you two official now?]
Li Wan: [Not sure yet 🙄 Let's meet a few more times.]
Li Wan: [What do you think of him?]
Avi: [Good height, looks decent, stable job. Same hometown as you, works in the same city – compatible on paper.]
Avi: [Though he's too earnest – tease him a little and his ears turn red?]
Li Wan: [🙄]
Li Wan: [@WenRan Your thoughts?]
Avi: [She's probably not home yet 😏]
Avi: [Did today's blind date setup produce two couples?]
Avi: [Suddenly feeling a bit lonely here 😭]
Li Wan: [Self-proclaimed "funny girls don't get love" – your own words 🙄]
Wen Ran quickly typed: [I'm home.]
Wen Ran: [Based on today's interactions, Jiang Yubo seems good.]
Li Wan: [🥰]
Avi stirred the pot: [What about Xu Xiaoming?]
Wen Ran ignored Avi, knowing any "he's fine" response would unleash endless teasing.
As Wen Ran set her phone down, a private message from Li Wan arrived:
Li Wan: [Xu Xiaoming wants your WeChat. Should I give it to him?]
Wen Ran frowned. Another message popped up:
Li Wan: [He's very impressed with you. Wants to be friends.]
Wen Ran: [Better not. Please decline politely.]
Li Wan: [Bad impression? Zero potential?]
Wen Ran: [Not a bad impression. But there's no possibility between us.]
Li Wan: [Understood.]
Workdays found Wen Ran perpetually busy.
During lunch break, Avi asked as usual: "What should I bring you today?"
Wen Ran smiled faintly: "No need."
She tilted her chin toward her desk's upper right corner: "I'll eat these."
Two transparent packaging bags containing cinnamon rolls sat atop a stack of documents.
Avi nodded and left with other colleagues.
This pattern continued for several consecutive days.
On Thursday, after finishing her meal, Ivy returned to the office and saw Wen Ran sitting at her workstation, about to unwrap a cinnamon roll.
She couldn't understand: "Ran Ran, aren't you tired of eating this every day?"
"Anything that fills my stomach is fine," Wen Ran said. "Besides, it's not sweet or greasy."
As she spoke, Wen Ran opened the packaging: "Try a bite."
Ivy waved her hand: "No, thanks. With such a small piece, I'm afraid I won't be able to control my ravenous appetite."
Wen Ran laughed, tore off a piece, and held it to Ivy's mouth: "Taste it."
Ivy opened her mouth, chewed carefully, and found the cinnamon flavor strong but not overly sweet. It was actually decent.
Wen Ran smiled proudly: "Good, right? I made it myself. My teacher..."
She bit her lip and corrected herself: "My family loves it."
"Even if it's good, you shouldn't eat it every day."
"Just a few more days," Wen Ran replied, lowering her head to look at the nearly finished design draft, her tone heavy. "If I don't finish this, I won't have an appetite for anything."
Wen Ran had already lost her eligibility for the "Apollo Jewelry Design Competition," so she had no reason to stay at "Carlelle" anymore.
She wanted to go home, to return quickly.
But before leaving, she still wanted to prove something.
Thinking about soon going home, Wen Ran felt the cinnamon roll in her hand was a divine delicacy.
Li Wan returned from her meal carrying three cups of drinks.
She handed one to Ivy and another to Wen Ran, emphasizing: "No added sugar."
Wen Ran thanked her.
This was the new fruit tea from the second-floor café that Ivy and Li Wan had discussed in the group chat yesterday.
Facing departure, Wen Ran wasn't entirely ready to let go.
At the very least, she couldn't bear to part with Li Wan and Ivy.
After returning to M Country, opportunities to reunite would be rare.
Wen Ran set down her drink and extended an invitation: "Are you free this weekend? I'll treat you to a meal."
Ivy teased: "Ohhh, didn't you say you'd be working on your drafts this weekend?"
"I'll make time for you," Wen Ran coaxed.
Li Wan suddenly spoke: "I'm busy."
After saying this, she shyly averted her gaze and sipped her fruit tea.
Ivy, being sharp, immediately grabbed Li Wan's wrist: "Jiang Yubo? Right? How far have things gone between you two? Huh?"
"Nothing. We've only met a few times?" Li Wan lowered her eyes and mumbled, "Last Sunday, we went to the aquarium. He's really quiet. Then last night, he picked me up from work for dinner—still hardly spoke."
Li Wan looked up at Ivy and Wen Ran and sighed: "Seems like he used up all his conversation topics when we were with you last time."
Ivy probed: "Will you keep seeing him?"
Li Wan nodded: "A bit longer."
After consideration, she felt her compatibility with Jiang Yubo in all aspects was too rare to pass up.
Ivy shook her head, patted Li Wan's shoulder, and advised: "Don't force yourself in relationships."
Li Wan: "Let's see how this week goes."
Ivy suddenly remembered something, leaned in, and beckoned them closer with a gossipy air.
Wen Ran and Li Wan moved in.
Ivy whispered: "Remember the commercial design project? The final selected work was Wu Yushan's. People think it's unethical for her, who already had a competition slot, to snatch opportunities. Even her own team members are upset now."
Wu Yushan could no longer use her influence to benefit others and had stepped on others' interests.
She hadn't expected to lose support so quickly.
Ultimately, because relationships built on利益 crumble like rubble.
While Wu Yushan lost favor, Ding Yao seemed to reap the benefits.
Ivy glanced at Wen Ran and shifted the topic: "By the way, Ran Ran."
Wen Ran: "?"
Ivy snapped her fingers: "Your diligent, hardworking, and devoted work ethic has become legendary here."
Li Wan stifled a laugh: "I can confirm."
Wen Ran: "..."
In a small department, Wen Ran's relentless diligence stood out more than slacking.
After work, Wen Ran stayed late as usual.
Going home meant holing up in her studio anyway, and evening traffic would waste time.
As colleagues left one after another, the surroundings quieted. Wen Ran looked up to see darkness beyond the windows.
The sky was pitch black, tree branches swaying violently as if a storm approached.
Wen Ran checked the time: past 10 PM.
Her stomach felt empty, so she unwrapped the remaining cinnamon roll and ate it.
After finishing, she packed her things and left.
The usual muggy air had vanished, replaced by howling winds.
The security guard recognized her: "Late again, miss?"
Wen Ran smiled politely: "Just stayed a bit overtime."
"Head back soon. Looks like rain."
Wen Ran agreed and quickened her pace.
Under a streetlight, she pulled out her phone to hail a ride.
Normally easy at this hour, but tonight's weather delayed things. Only after adding a surcharge did a driver accept, still distant.
Trees groaned in the wind.
Wen Ran's stomach began to ache.
She checked the app, then hurried back to the guard booth.
Spotting her return, the guard asked first: "What's wrong?"
"Do you have hot water?"
"Here." He poured a paper cup of warm water.
"Thank you." Wen Ran took out a pill bottle, swallowed a white tablet with the water.
The guard watched: "Not feeling well?"
"It's a chronic condition."
"Young people should take care. Health is everything."
"Thank you."
Checking her phone, Wen Ran saw the ride was one intersection away. She rushed back to the roadside.
Cars sped past. None matched her ride. The app showed the car stalled at the previous intersection.
Her stomach worsened—crushing, twisting pain.
Cold sweat dampened her back, dried instantly by the wind.
Crouching, she called the driver.
He apologized: "Sorry, restroom break. Two minutes."
"…Okay."
Hanging up, she doubted his estimate.
Two minutes felt like hours. Still no car.
A black business sedan pulled over.
Yan Wangshe exited the building.
From afar, he spotted a girl crouched by the planter—white maxi skirt, pale blue sleeveless top, crimson leather handbag.
He remembered that bag.
It was Wen Ran.
She hunched, clutching her skirt, ankles exposed, arms wrapped around her legs, face buried.
The wind whipped her usually smooth hair into disarray.
Yan Wangshe glanced away and got into the car: "To Tanyuan."
"Yes, sir."
The driver closed the door and circled to the front.
Yan Wangshe's gaze drifted back.
By the planter, Wen Ran slowly lifted her head.
Pale, disheveled, she checked her phone, winced, bit her lip, and buried her face again.
Like an abandoned, pitiful, beautiful stray cat.
But the world had too many strays.