Close Enough To Pluck the Stars” (GL) - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

After Ye Tianze sent his message, Liang Ke didn’t reply. He waited for two seconds, and sensing something was wrong, he looked up just in time to see an orange flying toward him.

Then came a tissue box, a hand-crank pencil sharpener, a vernier caliper, and a pair of neon green eyeglass frames.

The senior colleague sitting next to Liang Ke was a bit older—steady and a man of few words. He retrieved his frames from Ye Tianze and gave Liang Ke some sincere advice: “Stop fighting. Physical force won’t solve anything; it only catches innocent bystanders like me in the crossfire.”

“Exactly, let’s just talk it out,” Ye Tianze said, peeling the orange and offering it to Liang Ke on a tissue. “Eat, eat. Stop being angry.”

Liang Ke pinched the orange segments and tossed them into her mouth one by one, puffing out her cheeks like a pufferfish. Because she ate too fast, she started choking and stood up to get some water.

Just then, Naonao rolled in from outside with a box of mixed noodles balanced on its head. A line of large text flashed on its screen: Free Lunch, First Come First Served.

Ye Tianze reached for it without hesitation: “I’m full from lunch, but I’ll save this to fill my stomach during overtime tonight.”

As he opened it to check, he found everything except noodles inside: tofu skewers, lion’s head meatballs, chicken strips, beef tripe, duck intestines, ox throat, and spicy beef. It was a bizarre, jam-packed assortment.

“Where are the noodles?” Ye Tianze asked Naonao.

“The noodles are at the very bottom, crushed,” Naonao replied.

“Where did this come from?” Liang Ke asked casually as she returned with her water.

Naonao said, “Dr. Shu bought it at the noodle shop by the gate. She was afraid you’d miss lunch, so she personally asked the owner to pack a portion and even added a thermal bag.”

Ye Tianze and Liang Ke locked eyes. He immediately read the murderous intent in her gaze, silently replaced the lid of the mixed noodles, and rolled his office chair a notable distance away from it.

Filled with a mix of complex emotions, Liang Ke went to retrieve the noodles, but Naonao blocked her path.

“Move,” Liang Ke said.

“No.” The little trash can was a bot of principle. “Dr. Shu said anyone can eat this, but not you.”

“Wasn’t it bought for me?” Liang Ke countered.

“She said she changed her mind,” Naonao said. “Accept your fate; even the Big Boss has a fickle side.”

Liang Ke glanced at the door to Shu Qingchen’s office, stubbornly repeating the thought in her head: Anyone but me, huh?

She returned to her seat without a word. The little trash can followed her, its camera staring at her fixedly.

“What are you looking at?” Liang Ke pushed it away in a fit of pique.

Naonao was pushed back, then rolled close again, repeating this with great persistence. It explained happily: “It’s rare to see you suffer a setback. I need to appreciate this. Let me take a few photos for the archives.”

“Go away, you traitorous bot! Do you have any conscience left?”

“Can I afford to ignore Dr. Shu’s orders?” Naonao feigned helplessness.

“Have you forgotten who takes you for maintenance every month and checks your circuits?”

Naonao hesitated briefly, then found a loophole from an economic perspective: “Dr. Shu paid the utility bills for this house this month. We’re all being supported by the Boss; who are you to act superior?”

The senior colleague with the glasses kept his eyes on his screen, but his ears twitched.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough nonsense.”

Liang Ke scolded the little trash can to stop it from spilling more gossip, while simultaneously shooting a wink at the senior colleague.

The senior understood immediately. He walked to Ye Tianze’s desk, grabbed the noodles, and quietly stuffed them into Liang Ke’s backpack.

Liang Ke gave him a thumbs-up. The senior replied with an “OK” sign and sent Liang Ke several test programs with a humble emoji, pleading for her to take a look. Liang Ke agreed without hesitation but stated “this is the last time,” listing several high-speed interface communication protocols for him to study himself.

Ye Tianze asked, “The era of ‘Young Master Liang’ taking care of everything is over? Why so professional today?”

Liang Ke found it hard to admit she’d been lectured by Shu Qingchen, so she simply said her schedule was tight. She encouraged the senior: “Independence and self-reliance are the virtues of a researcher. Keep it up.”

That afternoon, Liang Ke retreated exactly on the dot. Luo Han came looking for her but missed her. Ye Tianze chatted with Luo Han for a bit, and she couldn’t help but ask: “What exactly is going on between Senior Liang Ke and Senior Wu?”

Ye Tianze sighed. “Kid, don’t overthink it. As for Wu Chuchu… I’d sooner believe Liang Ke likes rich older women.” Naonao chimed in, “Yeah, life would be easier that way.” Only Luo Han took it seriously, feeling an even deeper longing for next year’s promotion and raise.

Liang Ke had intended to catch the same elevator as Shu Qingchen, but it was crowded. She and her bulky backpack were squeezed to the very back, unfortunately triggering the overweight alarm.

She glanced at Shu Qingchen, stepped out, and without hesitation, headed for the fire stairs. Taking them three at a time, she displayed the agility and grace a “Chinese Calico Cat” should possess.

By the time Shu Qingchen unlocked her car, Liang Ke was already there. She popped her head out from the other side of the vehicle and called out expectantly, “Dr. Shu! What a coincidence!”

As she spoke, Liang Ke climbed into the passenger seat and obediently buckled her seatbelt.

Shu Qingchen stood still. Feeling a bit guilty, Liang Ke opened the driver’s side door for her. “What’s wrong?”

“Drive yourself back. I have things to do today; it’s not on your way.” Shu Qingchen handed her the keys and started walking away.

Liang Ke unbuckled, locked the car, and chased after her with her heavy bag clattering.

Zhang Zhang happened to drive by and thought to himself: I really know how to pick people. This Liang Ke is so dedicated—she looks exhausted, yet she won’t leave the new expert’s side for a second.

Liang Ke followed Shu Qingchen out of the Institute gates, walking down the streets of the snowy winter night, grumbling as she went: “Comrade Shu Qingchen, you’re going the wrong way. This isn’t the way home.”

Shu Qingchen’s pace was light but firm; she ignored her completely. Having exhausted her physical strength earlier and carrying a heavy load, Liang Ke couldn’t manage a “shooting star” pace. She grabbed Shu Qingchen’s sleeve and tugged. “Can… can we rest a bit?”

“Oh, why are you still following me?” Shu Qingchen spoke as if she had just noticed Liang Ke.

Liang Ke could tell from her tone that she might be angry. As for what she was angry about, it was impossible to say. Luckily, the woman didn’t shake off her hand.

She took two quick steps to walk side-by-side with the Boss, nagging critically: “Your hands are so cold. Don’t you know to wear gloves?”

Shu Qingchen stopped and looked at her coldly. Only then did Liang Ke remember she was partly to blame—if not for her, the woman would likely have driven home.

Liang Ke had no chance to bring up the mixed noodles. She followed dejectedly all the way to the Institute’s newly built apartment complex. The security guard smiled the moment he saw them, pointing to four or five massive boxes in the booth. “They arrived yesterday, but since you weren’t staying here, I had the courier leave them with me for a bit.”

“Thank you for the trouble,” Shu Qingchen said, her voice warm and pleasant to the guard.

The guard blushed slightly, scratching his head. “I’ll go to the property center and borrow a trolley for you.” With that, he took off running.

Liang Ke watched with a frown, annoyed that the Boss was all smiles for others but cold as ice to her. She walked over to one of the smaller boxes, tested its weight with a shrug, and then leaned toward the window to shout at the guard’s retreating back: “What do you mean borrow a trolley? We need a forklift! Please bring a forklift!”