It took a minute for someone to answer the phone.

"Hey... Xiao Ming... What's wrong? You called me so early..." The voice on the other end of the phone was broken and intermittent, like someone talking in their sleep.

Kong Mingming knew, after all these years of knowing her, just how much she loved to sleep in.

Just like a best friend knows she's well-behaved when drunk, she also knows that her best friend is most honest when she's groggy in the morning.

So, she asked bluntly, “What happened last night?”

As she expected, the person on the phone was indeed very honest.

I stated everything in one breath.

"You were so drunk last night, I had to take you home. Don't tell anyone, but you really should move. That place is way too dark at night."

Well... then I ran into your husband at the door. Oh, by the way, your husband is actually quite handsome. Given that, how could you bear to divorce him?

He seems pretty drunk, maybe let him come sit in your place for a bit...

Then...heheheh, then I locked you all in a room!

Did you guys...you know...last night? Don't be shy, sister tells you, this can affect marital happiness!

As soon as she finished speaking, Kong Mingming hung up the phone.

Now the story is clear.

Two drunk people were locked in the same room and then some adult things happened.

Kong Mingming now doesn't know how to face Jia Hongda, it really is...

The rain outside was still pouring, and the already somewhat sultry city had grown cold again.

In the innermost part, An Xiaonuan held Ye Ziyuan in her arms. Both of them gazed at the chessboard on the table with identical expressions and looks.

Ye Zi Rui and Ye Zi Yu, the two brothers, held white stones, while Ye Ming Jue, their father, held black stones. The three of them were playing Go...

Go game.

"Ye Zi Rui, come down here, Dad already has three over there, see?" Ye Zi Yu said to Ye Zi Rui who was holding chess pieces in his hand.

Ye Zi Rui looked at the chessboard, then according to his words, he put down the chess piece in his hand.

But after putting it down, Ye Mingjue tapped the chess piece in his hand.

"Are you sure?"

Seeing his smiling expression, Ye Zi Rui took another look at the chessboard.

Where did he miss? Why does Dad still look so confident?

An Xiaonuan watched excitedly and said to Ye Ziru, "I told you not to go down with your father, you'll lose your confidence."

Ye Zi Rui gave her a resentful glance and then said, “You weren’t saying this just now. You just said that we were both talented geniuses who would rise to any challenge.”

Being publicly embarrassed, An Xiao awkwardly coughed twice, unsure how to explain herself when her phone suddenly rang.

"I'll take this call. You guys continue, don't mind me." An Xiaonuan seemed to have found a savior and hurriedly put Ye Ziyan down to answer the phone.

"Hello, Manager Jia, what's up?"

It was Jack Ma who called.

"Mr. An, I'd like to request a week of leave," Jia Hongda said on the phone.

Ann's general didn't know if it was her own illusion, or if Jia Hongda's voice was indeed a bit off. She felt his voice was hoarse and, moreover, his emotions were very low.

It seems like he's holding something back.

All of the manager’s leave requests had to be approved by her. In her impression, Jia Hongda was someone who had never been late for work. This sudden request for leave, and for a whole week at that, was very unusual.

"Okay, if you need any help with anything, just let me know." An Xiaonuan said.

Someone who never takes leave suddenly wants to take such a long leave, there must be something urgent.

After hanging up An Xiaonuan's call, Jia Hongda stood before Kong Mingming's door, hesitating to knock.

It's already 3 p.m., fifteen hours have passed since that incident happened, is she still angry?

Maybe I should just make a phone call first.

Kong Mingming was looking at his phone, trying to decide what takeout to order, while clutching his stomach in pain.

Her breakfast had long since been digested, she stared at her phone screen for two hours.

During those two hours, she visited twenty stores, but for some reason, all she could think about was that bowl of noodles from this morning.

I felt that bowl of noodles was especially fragrant.

She just saw a takeout that looked very similar to the bowl of noodles she had this morning, just about to place an order when her phone screen went black.

She was so scared she almost threw her phone away.

How did he call?

Accept or decline?

What should I say?

She hesitated for a few seconds before finally answering the phone.

Even if something as awkward happens, they are still colleagues. They will see each other every day, it's impossible to completely avoid each other.

"Hey, what's up?" she tried to make her voice sound calm.

"You... are you alright now?" Jia Hongda asked.

"I'm doing well, is anything the matter?"

Jia Hongda leaned against the wall in the corridor, watching the rain outside the window, and said: "Open the door, I'm outside."

Kong Mingming immediately stood up.

Is he outside the door?

He's not going to just leave forever, is he?

"You..." She wanted to ask, but she felt it was pointless.

In the end, he still chose to hang up the phone and walked toward the door.

Jia Hongda held a phone in his hand, listening to the busy tone on the other end. He didn't move, just stared at the heavy rain before him.

Kong Ming opened the door and was then embraced by a man.

"You...what's wrong?" Kong Mingming's hand still remained in the open position, asking the person nestled against her shoulder.

Jia Hongda didn't look up and mumbled, "I just got home."

"What happened?" Kong Ming asked.

"My grandmother is seriously ill," Jia Hongda said.

Kong Mingming only then remembered, the reason they had a fake marriage before was because his grandmother was critically ill.

"Then how did 'Where are you now…' end up here?"

Before she could finish her words, Jia Hongda raised his head from her shoulder and said, “My grandmother wants to see you. I'm here to pick you up.”

"You're looking at me?" Kong Ming pointed at himself, his face full of disbelief.

"Yes." Jia Hongda nodded, indicating she had heard correctly.

"Glug glug~" A strange sound came from between the two of them.

"You didn't eat?" Jia Hongda looked at Kong Mingming's stomach.

Kong Mingming also felt rather embarrassed, but his stomach was truly growling with hunger. He could only helplessly nod and say, "Yes..."

Jia Hongda felt utterly amused and bewildered.

But he just shook his head and went in: “I’m short on time, I can only make noodles for you now. You can have more later this evening.”

Actually, Kong Mingming is a good cook. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many ingredients in her refrigerator.

She really didn't feel like cooking today.

She felt that in that kitchen, everywhere she looked there were shadows of Jia Hongda...

She might be crazy...

(Editor in charge：half his age: a novel jennette mccurdy)