Life on the 25th floor was both tranquil and demanding. Her days were filled with meetings and business trips alongside the director, leaving no time for romance.
Duo Duo’s meeting with Zhang Chang was thanks to Xi Gua—her Husky. After her promotion, Duo Duo became much busier, often getting home after 9 PM. Luckily, she lived nearby. She usually walked home as a form of exercise, then took Xi Gua downstairs for a walk.
One evening, Duo Duo, distracted, didn’t pay attention, and as soon as she stepped out of her building, Xi Gua broke free from the leash. The dog bolted and slammed right into Zhang Chang’s legs.
Since Duo Duo had already removed her contact lenses after coming home, and the streetlights in her residential area were dim, Zhang Chang appeared to her as a tall, shadowy figure. Even with her contacts on, she wouldn’t have recognized him. She saw him almost stumble from the impact, while Xi Gua enthusiastically jumped up, slobbering all over Zhang Chang with unstoppable excitement.
No amount of scolding could stop Xi Gua. The dog, panting and wagging its tail, kept pawing at the hem of Zhang Chang’s suit jacket. Embarrassed, Duo Duo finally managed a strained smile and said, “I’ll pay for your dry cleaning.”
Zhang Chang thought this girl was quite interesting. She had an elegant, quiet demeanor, yet owned a boisterous Husky, a breed known for its boundless energy.
“It’s fine; we’re neighbors, no need to be so formal. Besides, I quite like dogs.”
It was true—Zhang Chang did like dogs. He even owned a Labrador named “Tokyo Tower,” which made a fun counterpart to Duo Duo’s “Xi Gua.” After that encounter, Duo Duo bumped into Zhang Chang several more times while walking her dog. Every time Xi Gua saw him, the dog would greet him with overwhelming enthusiasm. Zhang Chang, in turn, loved playing with Xi Gua. Over time, they got to know each other better, and Duo Duo felt it would be awkward not to greet him whenever they crossed paths.
Not long after, Duo Duo’s cousin introduced her to a potential boyfriend for a blind date. Duo Duo was far from thrilled but knew that ever since she’d started working, her parents had been urging her to find someone. They had been pestering her for years, and Duo Duo realized her cousin was just carrying out their request. Reluctantly, she decided to go along with it.
The date was arranged at a Western restaurant. The man’s credentials were impressive, but Duo Duo was naturally reserved around strangers. He talked endlessly, moving from Bordeaux wines to Haydn’s string quartets, while Duo Duo struggled to find an opening to join the conversation.
Finally, when dessert was served, Duo Duo had lost her appetite. Looking up, she unexpectedly spotted Zhang Chang in the restaurant. For once, she was wearing her contact lenses and recognized him from afar. He seemed to be dining with his girlfriend, but the two appeared to be arguing. The next moment, the woman picked up her glass and flung the red wine all over Zhang Chang.
For the first time in her twenty-something years of life, Duo Duo witnessed a scene straight out of a TV drama. She couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed at Zhang Chang. To her surprise, Zhang Chang turned his head, saw her, and waved from afar. “Do you have any tissues?”
In a moment of “heroic assistance” (a Chinese idiom meaning coming to someone’s aid in a time of need), Duo Duo handed him a thick stack of tissues and even lent him her handkerchief.
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