Chapter 9 — I’ve Always Been Gentle

After the memories ended, Ji Yun Tong quickly put down her phone, opened the window, and took a deep breath of fresh air. Outside the window, there were some flowers and plants—some had naturally grown here, while others were planted by her. They were all easy-to-care-for plants.

Once she calmed down, Ji Yun Tong started preparing to handle the orders.

Meanwhile, Bai Henan had just finished talking to Ji Yun Tong, and Gao Yue, who had been peeking from outside the door, finally walked in with a smug smile on his face. "What's this? Have you fallen in love? Is it related to the bracelet? I've never seen you smile so gently. You really seem like a different person."

As his long-time friend, Gao Yue knew everything about Bai Henan's precious bracelet.

"You didn't even knock. What happened to manners?" Bai Henan said helplessly as he looked at him.

"I knocked! You just didn't hear it!" Gao Yue retorted excitedly.

"Do you expect me to believe that?" Bai Henan gave him a knowing look, silently watching him put on his act.

Gao Yue, a bit guilty, touched his nose. "I did knock, but it was very light. That still counts!" He confidently justified his flimsy reasoning.

In fact, he had been standing outside ready to knock, but when he saw Bai Henan gently replying to messages with a tender expression, he decided to peek and lightly tapped the door, the sound barely audible.

"Did you need something?" Bai Henan, not minding, had already gotten used to his friend's behavior.

Gao Yue shook his head, looking somewhat bored. "Nothing serious, just curious about how you've been. Why have you suddenly become so gentle?"

Bai Henan raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Gentle? I've always been gentle, you just didn't notice."

"Alright, alright," Gao Yue shrugged, smiling helplessly. "I wasn't planning to dig into your little secret, but I do think you're a bit different today. It's rare to see you so relaxed."

Bai Henan was silent for a moment, then nodded. "It's just that some things have become clearer. Nothing to hide."

"By the way, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I'll leave work early, so don't make plans for me at night," Bai Henan casually mentioned while tidying up the papers on his desk.

Gao Yue raised an eyebrow, looking at him. "What, any new developments? Are you going to meet someone?"

Bai Henan shook his head. "No, I've decided to start learning pottery."

Gao Yue was stunned for a moment, clearly surprised. "Pottery? You? I never thought you'd be interested in that. What made you decide?"

"Nothing sudden," Bai Henan said with a faint smile. "I just thought learning something different could be interesting. Pottery helps me relax and also allows me to unleash some creativity."

Gao Yue couldn't help but laugh. "Wow, didn't expect you to have an artistic side. Now I'm kind of looking forward to seeing your works."

Bai Henan didn't comment on that. "Just something to kill time."

Gao Yue smiled at him. "Alright! Then let's leave early today. You probably want to go back and see someone, right?"

Bai Henan helplessly looked at him. He didn't say anything, but his silence was an agreement.

Gao Yue seemed to have guessed a little secret, smiling happily as he turned to leave.

Time passed quickly. At 5 PM, Bai Henan, guided by Gao Yue, arrived at a new bar.

This bar, newly opened and not far from the company, was filled with the mellow sound of jazz and the faint aroma of alcohol, creating a hazy and lazy atmosphere.

Gao Yue raised his glass, smiling triumphantly. "Here, a formal welcome to you!"

He clinked glasses with Bai Henan, then drank it all in one go.

Bai Henan elegantly lifted his glass, taking a small sip of the white wine, savoring the refreshing fruit aroma with a slight acidity. The fresh flavors of green apple and white peach unfolded in his mouth, followed by a hint of floral notes and a faint mineral sensation, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Gao Yue, who drank so freely, then chuckled softly.

"Aren't you going to finish it?" Gao Yue raised an eyebrow provocatively.

Bai Henan gently swirled the wine in his glass and said calmly, "White wine needs to be savored."

"Alright, I didn't expect you to drink like me," Gao Yue shrugged nonchalantly, pouring himself another drink and leaning back comfortably on the sofa.

As the night darkened outside, the lights inside the bar reflected off the wine in their glasses, shimmering like the calm of the evening and the slight drunkenness locked in the glass.

Bai Henan gazed at the gently rippling wine, feeling his mood relax with the flickering light. He took another small sip, the taste swirling on his tongue—subtle fruitiness mixed with a hint of woodiness, offering a quiet, comfortable feeling.

"You sure know how to enjoy yourself," Bai Henan smiled, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness.

Gao Yue shrugged, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Enjoying life is my style, unlike you, always busy with work and never finding time to relax."

Bai Henan frowned slightly, then softened his tone as he looked at Gao Yue. "I'm also learning to relax, but I still need a bit of time."

They sat quietly, the only sounds being the clink of their glasses and the soft jazz music in the background. In the peaceful night, their conversation slowed, and time seemed to stretch out.

Bai Henan furrowed his brows slightly, looking at his wine glass, gently swirling it as though deep in thought. The alcohol began to subtly alter his emotions, and he couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "You know, this wine gives a bit of a tipsy feeling, but it also makes me want to relax more."

Gao Yue looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. "You're right. Sometimes being a bit tipsy helps loosen up."

"Mm…" Bai Henan's eyes flickered as his tone became a bit teasing. "Can you do me a favor?"

Gao Yue shrugged, grinning. "Sure, what is it?"

Bai Henan put down his glass, slightly leaning back against the sofa. "Call and ask Ji Yun Tong to come pick me up."

Gao Yue raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Ji Yun Tong? Who's that?" He asked, confused.

Bai Henan smiled slightly, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible hint of humor. "She's… my friend." He pushed the glass aside and began to relax a little. "Don't ask too many questions, just do me a favor."

Gao Yue raised an eyebrow, taking Bai Henan's phone. "Alright, I'll call her." He mischievously opened the top contact in the phone and dialed Ji Yun Tong's number without hesitation.

Bai Henan lowered his gaze, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. He knew Gao Yue's actions would make things easier, so he didn't need to step in. As Gao Yue pressed the call button, Bai Henan turned his head to look out the window, as if the entire world's focus was locked in this moment of light tipsiness and subtle anticipation.

Once the call was connected, Gao Yue's voice was playful. "Hello? Is this Ji Yun Tong? I'm a friend of Bai Henan's. He's at a bar, had a bit to drink, and might need you to come take care of him."

Gao Yue finished speaking, smiling at Bai Henan. "Alright, I told her."

Bai Henan listened to the conversation on the phone, slightly distracted. He then picked up his glass and took another sip. Maybe moments like this would bring them closer.

"By the way, are you still adjusting to work?" Gao Yue suddenly asked.

Bai Henan froze for a moment, then smiled slightly and turned the topic back to work. "It's alright. Didn't they say they were assigning me an assistant? Hope it's someone I can work with."

"Don't worry! You still don't trust my judgment? They'll definitely be professional!" Gao Yue responded enthusiastically, seemingly worried that Bai Henan might doubt his choice.

Bai Henan unconsciously showed a skeptical expression as he remembered his college experiences—two relationships that both ended because the women only approached him to get closer to him. He couldn't help but feel that Gao Yue's judgment might need more time to prove itself.