"Wei Wei-ah, we didn't get to talk much during the re-group this time. That Ha Xing and Shi Yi really need to have a mature education about their behaviors. Did you get home safe last night? Who knew the traffic would be that bad so late? That reminds me… Me and the girls are getting together for the day, Wei Wei-ah, you should come."
This was Song Wei on the phone, keeping her promise to reach out to Gu Wei, who was busy preparing for his new job.
Ironically, Gu Wei had been accepted for the role in the interview he'd done last time, and Fu Yuan Jie Jie's team had sent the details to him.
Gu Wei was supposed to show up at the company building to get his badge for easy access and meet the other team members.
Stuffing his things into his tote bag with a migraine pounding in his head - Gu Wei was still suffering from last night's events - He put his phone on speaker.
"I got home alright, Song Wei Jie, no thanks to a helpless Ha Xing. What about you? I know the traffic on your side is pro max, hope it wasn't too difficult?"
Gu Wei said, grabbing his ID and other essentials, he might need them later.
On the phone, Song Wei laughed at his traffic description. "Pro max? What type of slang is that now?"
Zipping up the bag and looking around to see if he'd left anything out, Gu Wei collapsed on the bed in a huff, pulling the phone close to him.
"It's Gen Z slang, Mother Wei, Gen Z slang."
Gu Wei couldn't see it but he knew Song Wei was shaking her head at him, and that made him smile.
Her voice rang through the device again.
"Gen Z slang or not, I don't think you used it properly. So are you coming? It's this afternoon, we're going shopping or doing something entirely unrelated to food. I think I've got PTSD for noodles now, eugh."
Gu Wei laughed at Song Wei's sound of disgust, then frowned at the unblemished ceiling in thought. He couldn't divide himself in two, so attending the get-together and going to the company was impossible. And it was already noon. No matter how he thought about it, it just wasn't possible.
He said the same to Song Wei, who also remembered Xu Ai mentioning something about a campaign at the reunion.
Song Wei tried one last time.
"Are you sure? You can't join us after you're done with everything there? We're renting a hotel for the day, so arriving at midnight won't be a problem."
This Jie Jie was hilarious, Gu Wei thought, even renting a hotel.
"Wei Jie, are you guys okay? Renting a hotel room on a Monday, don't you have work to do?"
Song Wei dismissed his worries, telling him to think about it carefully, as he did not want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Gu Wei laughed so hard he rolled to his side.
"Once in a lifetime? You guys think too much of yourselves. And anyway, why are you inviting me? I'm not a girl."
Gu Wei said after recovering from his laughter, to which Song Wei sassily replied, "You're not a boy either."
Gu Wei sat up in his bed, "Hey!" His head swam with the sudden movement and he could vaguely hear Song Wei's evil laugh from his phone.
Scoffing, Gu Wei gingerly returned to his laying position, while Song Wei was quiet, thinking of trying one more effort.
"I'm joking, I'm joking."
"You better be." Gu Wei muttered, rolling his eyes at no one in particular.
Song Wei sighed dramatically in defeat. "Fair enough, you aren't coming to our glorious party. What a shame… And Zhai Mei will be there too…"
Twisting the sheets between his fingers, Gu Wei closed his eyes and replied with a small, "Oh…"
The call grew silent for a moment before Song Wei sighed again.
"Fine fine, I can't lure you in. Go do your campaign thingy and tell me how it goes later."
Gu Wei's eyes lifted back to the white smooth ceiling.
"Who're you luring in? I still wouldn't go if Zhai Mei was there, it makes no difference. Why are you bringing her up? Seriously…"
Smiling secretly, Song Wei hummed and agreed with his quick defense, not daring to butt in again.
She swore to send photos to Gu Wei including one-shot pics of Zhai Mei, and before he could protest, she was gone with a "Goodbye son."
And the call ended.
Gu Wei lay there for a long time afterward. Thinking of how he could scramble the plans together.
Song Wei had said he could join them at midnight.
Although why they would still be awake during such an ungodly hour was beyond Gu Wei.
Nevertheless, he could make it if he left as soon as he was done at the company.
He should ask Song Wei to send the address, just in case.
Gu Wei didn't think too much about why he was so excited about a get-together that shouldn't even include him.
He was just happy to see Song Wei, Xu Ai, and Ling Jie without the shenanigans of XingYi.
Yes, that was it. It had absolutely nothing to do with a certain curly-haired female with a warm presence.
No, it did not.
Hauling himself away from the comfy bed, Gu Wei grabbed his things and headed out.
Time waited for no one, and he wasn't going to be late on his first day at Fu Yuan Jie Jie's awareness campaign.
Gu Wei had specifically cleared his schedule for the day, assigning the beginner customers to Mo Ran.
He'd tempted her with a raise, which Gu Wei had removed from his personal food money.
Now, he was relying on those group lunches and dinners he was surely to have with the other employees at the campaign and had stocked on ramen.
He just had to pray the campaign bills didn't fall on him and that it ended in a month as said, so his ramen wouldn't start to taste vile in the coming month.
The things Gu Wei did for his Jie Jie. It would all be worth it in the end, Gu Wei knew.
What mattered was that he was helping his Jie Jie with something he was capable in and that itself was more a gift than any free merch.