I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Chapter 105 Pretending to Smile

As time passed, the atmosphere in the office gradually returned to normal. The sounds of colleagues chatting, phones ringing, and keyboards clacking blended together to form the usual background noise. Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan both immersed themselves in their work, as if the events of the previous night had never happened.

It was lunchtime, and Zhang Wanqing finished her meal and found a corner seat in the cafeteria. Her food looked delicious, but her appetite was greatly reduced by the turmoil in her heart.

Fu Siyuan also came to the cafeteria. After finishing his meal, he looked for Zhang Wanqing in the crowd. When he saw her sitting alone in the corner, he paused slightly and walked over.

"Wanqing, can I sit here?" His voice sounded hesitant.

Zhang Wanqing looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "Of course." Her voice sounded friendly yet distant.

Zhang Wanqing kept her head down and ate with big mouthfuls, not looking up at Fu Siyuan. She was afraid that the moment she looked into his eyes, her defenses would be broken.

After lunch, the two returned to the office together. Although their pace was the same, the distance between them seemed greater than before.

The afternoon was still busy, with Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan both busy at their respective posts. Although their eyes occasionally met, Zhang Wanqing would always look away quickly to avoid excessive contact.

Finally, the workday was over. Zhang Wanqing packed her things and prepared to leave. She stood up, took a deep breath, and prepared to face the lonely night ahead.

Fu Siyuan was about to leave, so he walked over to Zhang Wanqing's desk. "Wanqing, tonight..." Zhang Wanqing interrupted him before he could finish his words.

"I'm a little tired tonight, and I want to go home and rest early." Her voice sounded a little tired, and there was a hint of determination in her eyes.

Fu Siyuan's expression changed slightly. He looked at Zhang Wanqing, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately chose to remain silent. He nodded, turned, and left the office.

Zhang Wanqing stood in the empty office, a look of loss in her eyes. She knew that the distance between her and Fu Siyuan might be greater than she thought.

She slowly walked out of the office and into the night. The night wind was a little chilly, so she tightened her coat and continued walking.

Moonlight shone on the city streets, and the night breeze brought a hint of coolness. Zhang Wanqing walked home alone, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She knew her feelings for Fu Siyuan were too deep to let go easily, but she also knew that the reason she wanted to draw a line between them wasn't because she hated him, but because she was afraid to face him. Seeing him would make her feel uncomfortable. But she hadn't given up on her feelings for him, and she would always wait for him. Her heart was filled with uncertainty about the future and a deep longing for Fu Siyuan.

Fu Siyuan sat in his office, staring blankly at his computer screen. His heart was filled with pain and struggle. He loved Zhang Wanqing, but he had considered many things, such as work and the uncertainty and confusion about the future. Furthermore, he himself knew very little about love and was an idiot when it came to it, unsure how to accept it.

Boys and girls approach love differently. Girls are often braver, while boys, on the other hand, are more thoughtful and often frightened by a girl's confession, even withdrawing and refusing to accept. Boys often think that not replying to a girl means temporarily putting the relationship on hold, not giving up, and that they can slowly develop the relationship later. However, they don't realize how much pain a girl feels when they choose to remain silent and not reply.

Just like Zhang Wanqing, she looks fine on the surface, but she is always wasting her time on herself.

Fu Siyuan was not stupid. She could see that Zhang Wanqing was unhappy, but she was not sure whether her unhappiness was because of him.

He stood up and decided to go find Zhang Wanqing. He just wanted to show some concern for her. He walked out of the office and into the night. In the moonlight, Fu Siyuan's figure was stretched out.

Zhang Wanqing returned home and turned on the light. Her eyes fell on a photo on the table, a picture of her and Fu Siyuan working together. She gently stroked the photo, a tear in her eye.

She remembered the day they had finished a difficult report together, the joy of success that had made them embrace and smile. At that moment, her heart was filled with happiness and satisfaction. But now, that happiness seemed out of reach.

She sat on the bed, hugged her knees, and buried her head in her arms. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and tears fell silently.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. She quickly wiped away her tears, stood up and opened the door. When she saw Fu Siyuan standing outside the door, a complex emotion surged in her heart.

"Siyuan, why are you here?" There was a hint of surprise and trembling in her voice.

They sat on the living room sofa, facing each other. Moonlight streamed through the living room windows of Zhang Wanqing's home, casting dappled shadows on the warm carpet. Fu Siyuan sat on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Zhang Wanqing's face. Her eyes seemed to conceal a deep sorrow. A complex emotion welled up in him, a mixture of guilt and worry.

"Wanqing, I've noticed you haven't been very happy lately." His voice was low and gentle, with a barely perceptible tremor. "Is it because of me..."

Zhang Wanqing's heartbeat quickened slightly. She looked up, meeting Fu Siyuan's concerned gaze. An urge welled up in her, wanting to pour out all her pain and confusion. But she knew she couldn't. She had to remain strong and not let him see her vulnerability.

Zhang Wanqing's heart tightened, and she pretended to be calm and said, "Oh, how could that be? No, no. You, you think too much."

"I'm just a little tired lately. I've been busy with a lot of work and haven't had any rest." Her voice sounded calm and distant, even though her heart was turbulent.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Fu Siyuan's eyes, but he didn't ask any further. He knew that Zhang Wanqing was a strong person, and if she didn't want to say it, he shouldn't force her.

The two of them fell silent, with only the ticking of the clock echoing in the room. Zhang Wanqing stood up and walked to the kitchen to make tea. Her movements were somewhat mechanical, but her mind was completely on Fu Siyuan.

Fu Siyuan's eyes followed her figure, with a hint of pain in his eyes. He knew that he had to do something to make up for the harm he had done to Zhang Wanqing. He stood up and walked towards Zhang Wanqing.

"Wanqing, I know I may not be qualified to say this." His voice was a little hoarse. "But I want to tell you that I have always cared about you."

Zhang Wanqing's body trembled slightly, and she turned around to face Fu Siyuan. Her eyes held a hint of surprise and a hint of anticipation.

She thought Fu Siyuan was going to accept her feelings now, and her heart couldn't help but feel a little moved.

However, the next moment, Fu Siyuan said, "I know you may not want to hear this. But I have to say it. I don't want any misunderstandings between us, and I don't want this to affect our work."

Zhang Wanqing's heart was in suspense again. She was afraid that the next moment, Fu Siyuan would reject her.

"Wanqing, you are very nice, and I am also attracted to you. However, I am not ready to accept your feelings for me yet. It happened too fast for me. Let's just be colleagues and good friends. As for whether we can be together in the future, we'll talk about it later." Fu Siyuan said.

At this moment, Zhang Wanqing could no longer hear what Fu Siyuan said. She only heard a rejection.

Fu Siyuan, who is handsome, capable at work, and gentle, a 100% boy, could actually say such a despicable thing.

His words seemed to make sense. He politely rejected Zhang Wanqing and left himself a way out.

Only Zhang Wanqing, a simple-minded girl, would think that Fu Siyuan's decision was right. She had only known Fu Siyuan for seven months, not long enough for him to fall completely in love with her.

Zhang Wanqing's best friend often told her, "In today's fast-food love world, many people see someone beautiful or handsome, add them on WeChat, then flirt endlessly until they're hooked, confess their love, and then get together. It never lasts more than a month. However, most people discover their partner's flaws after a month or two, quickly lose interest, and break up. This is fast-food love: from meeting to being together, and then breaking up, it's all in less than three months."

Her best friend had already been in countless quick romances that lasted less than three months, but the naive Zhang Wanqing had never been in a relationship before. She had been secretly in love with Fu Siyuan for seven months, and only confessed her feelings when she felt the time was right. However, this was the outcome.

Zhang Wanqing was confused. She didn't understand what modern people's emotions were like. She also didn't understand what kind of love she wanted from Fu Siyuan, the man she loved.