C20 Roasted Potato

"So early... "Which book is the editor in charge of?" The man scratched his head and walked over.

"No," Qiao Qianchu politely extended her hand, "Mr. Jiang asked me to talk about the drawing. My name is Qiao Qianchu. Hello. "

The man came to a realization and extended his hand to shake it. He smiled and said, "Just call me Jiang. You can be considered to have helped a lot. Jiang Chengbei was a shrewd person, no matter how many illustrators he had found for him, they were all unsatisfied. "This happened last year as well. In the end, Zhou Liu finally found you …"

Qiao Qianchu smiled and looked around. "Why would you leave your publishing house in such a remote place?"

"This is the place that we rented at the beginning, it was a small fight and gradually became famous. No one wanted to change places, so we ate and lived here, we had feelings for each other. We just moved away the printed place and refurbished the place as usual. "Not bad, haha." Jiang smiled and told her to sit down.

Qiao Qianchu nodded slightly and sat down, lifting her watch to check the time.

It was two minutes past the appointed time.

Jiang noticed her actions and smiled awkwardly. "You can sit here and drink some tea …" Jiang Chengbei probably won't be that fast. He's been missing for 365 days a year and we won't be able to find him for 360 days. "Today is the date for his submission, so I might as well ask you to stay here for a while. I'm afraid you'll have to leave soon …"

Qiao Qianchu frowned. "Go?"

"Traveling," Jiang shook his hair. "As a young man, I'm always curious about this world …"

She couldn't help but laugh.

When dealing with literati, even the dialogue becomes poetic.

"Was he alone?" Qiao Qianchu asked.

"That's right. He only makes a few moves a year and goes out just because he earns some money. A good young lad is such a disgrace to his reputation..."

"You mean me?" A voice suddenly sounded at the door.

Unlike Mu Nanyan's low and clean voice, this man's voice was more agile and carried a tinge of dust.

Qiao Qianchu turned around in surprise.

Not only the voice, but his entire body was covered in dust … He had sunburned skin and was wearing a red and blue sports attire. In his hand was a crumpled stack of paper, on which were written a dense amount of words.

Jiang immediately stood up, looked carefully at the person at the door and exclaimed: "Oh my god …" "Brat, why are you so black?"

"I made a trip to Tibet." The man smiled proudly and caught sight of Qiao Qianchu in the blink of an eye.

Qiao Qianchu finally understood who this man in front of her was. However, what happened today had completely overturned her imagination. She had read Jiang Chengbei's book, and the carefree and carefree nature of the words made her think of a reckless and adventurous man. The man in front of him could only be considered a native of some long-established sect.

Of course, one could also vaguely make out the good facial features.

"Are you Qiao Qianchu?" Jiang Chengbei walked over and stretched out his left hand, "It's just as I imagined."

Qiao Qianchu smiled and looked at his extended left hand. Could it be that this man was left-handed as well? The average person shook hands with her and always held out his right hand.

She shook it quickly, amused. "You're not what I expected."

Jiang Chengbei didn't expect her to say that. He was stunned for a moment and then burst out laughing. His laughter was as loud as his words.

After he finished laughing, he sat in front of Qiao Qianchu and gave the paper in his hand to Jiang.

"It's that kind of nonsense again!" Jiang frowned and casually flipped through two pages.

"There's nothing we can do," Jiang Chengbei revealed his neat teeth, "You can't bring a computer, and there's no signal. "Everything that can be written on the phone has been sent to the editor. As for the rest of the handwritten parts, I'll have to trouble you to call them up for me. I have to go to Hangzhou tomorrow. I heard the lotus flowers are blooming there …"

"Fine, fine, fine. Where did this lotus flower come from in the middle of winter? Do you think I'm an idiot?" Jiang waved his hand and interrupted Jiang Chengbei's excuse.

Jiang Chengbei was not the least bit embarrassed after his lie was exposed. He turned to Qiao Qianchu and said, "Qiao Qianchu... "Little Joe?"

Qiao Qianchu was stunned.

Jiang Chengbei laughed, "Beauty is like a painting, it has always been so, hahaha..."

His laugh was so open and free that even the last shred of awkwardness was gone. Qiao Qianchu also laughed softly along with him.

She understood what Jiang Chengbei meant by "little Qiao", but this was the first time she was praised so well.

"Did you bring a sketch? I'd like to see your work this year. " Jiang Chengbei said.

Qiao Qianchu shook her head. "No, I didn't paint for the past year because something happened around me." She found that she could say the last sentence in a very calm tone, and that was progress.

"Can you draw now?" Jiang Chengbei didn't ask any more questions and went straight to the point.

"Now?" She was surprised.

"Right." "No," he confirmed.

"Draw what?"

"Draw me." He said: "This travel biography is an easy-going one. I've been writing it off and on for the past year. "You don't need to be so strict with your drawing style to draw out the image of me that you see now."

Qiao Qianchu took the pen and paper from him. Paper is a common A4 paper, pen is an oily marker, indeed suitable for comic book style of small illustrations. She thought for a moment before drawing a few lines on the paper with the pen in her hand. Five seconds had passed.

Jiang Chengbei took it in surprise. He glanced at the paper and burst out laughing. He handed the paper over to Jiang while laughing. Jiang also laughed along with it.

He had a big head and a small body, and an extremely similar face, but there was only a big mouth on his face. His eight teeth were aligned neatly, and the sports coat underneath his body was meticulously drawn out, even the sign on his left chest was drawn out. Jiang Chengbei's entire face was dark, and only his teeth were particularly conspicuous. The part of his clothes showed his drawing skills. It was both fast and smart. Seeing Jiang Chengbei's expression, it seemed like he had passed this stage.

"Okay," Jiang Chengbei said, "I knew you would draw the thing I want, right? Who were you looking for before? " He did not hide the disdain in his words.

Qiao Qianchu coughed lightly, surprised by his directness.

Jiang also nodded: "It really doesn't feel that good. If you pursue details too much, you might lose sight of the thing itself. If there are no other issues, can we start talking about the fee contract? "

Qiao Qianchu nodded.

The contract was quickly printed out. She looked it over carefully, and after making sure there were no flaws, she signed it. Jiang Chengbei also signed it.

His handwriting was rather scrawny, but it was still linked to his personality.

"Leave a number." Jiang Chengbei took out his phone.

Qiao Qianchu graciously left her phone number and QQ number before walking out the door.

"Do you want to eat together?" Jiang Chengbei raised his head to catch the sunlight and suggested.

His hair was very short, probably for travel purposes. Although his skin was somewhat dark, his chin was smooth, and he had obviously just shaved. His fingers were different from Mu Nanyan's, they were rounder, while Mu Nanyan's were slender and long, with distinct knuckles. At the same time, she had also cut her nails cleanly.

Qiao Qianchu stopped in her tracks.

It was her second time comparing Mu Nanyan to Jiang Chengbei today. That man had really infiltrated her life bit by bit … Only now did she begin to understand the meaning of the word 'husband'.

"No, I still have to go to school."

"You're still reading?" Jiang Chengbei turned his head in surprise.

"Graduate student." She laughed suddenly.

"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Chengbei was surprised.

"I'm sorry," Qiao Qianchu said, "but you look like a roasted potato."

The two of them looked at each other. Jiang Chengbei laughed again and said, "Is it that bad …"

Qiao Qianchu smiled without saying a word.

"Do you want me to send you off? I drove today. " Jiang Chengbei said.

"No need," Qiao Qianchu shook her head. "I've already made an appointment with a friend." She had been sent to school by a different man. She really didn't want to live a peaceful life anymore …

"Alright then," Jiang Chengbei didn't delay any longer and said his goodbyes, "I'll be leaving first. I still need to go back and pack my luggage. I really have to go to Hangzhou tomorrow. "It's just that it's not about the lotus flowers."

Qiao Qianchu raised her hand and waved. With an understanding smile, she turned around and left.

Jiang Chengbei walked two steps and stopped. He looked at Qiao Qianchu's back and then looked at the rearview mirror beside the car.

The way the woman walked was a bit carefree, and the man in the mirror was indeed like a burnt potato.

Jiang Chengbei chuckled. He touched his face and got into the car.

Qiao Qianchu walked straight ahead to the bus stop and waited for the train.

There were only a few people around. Her cell phone vibrated and then went silent.

She lowered her head and opened the text message that she had just received. It was from Mu Nanyan. What time is it over? Pick you up.

In simple terms, the content was gradually becoming more familiar to her.

When the bus arrived, Qiao Qianchu walked up to it. She stood to the side after she placed the coin, her fingers moving across the screen as she clicked send: I'm already on the bus. I'll go back by myself.

A moment later, Mu Nanyan's text message came in again: Okay, I'll be back in the evening. I've got a case that's been delayed for two days. You can sleep first.

Qiao Qianchu put away her cell phone and returned to Mu Nanyan's apartment. She typed in her fingerprint on the door lock and walked in.

After taking a bath, he took out the drawing, and the afternoon slowly passed by. The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the lights outside also lit up.

This was the 23rd floor, and the area was located in the center of the city. If one looked down, they would be able to see half of the city at night.

With a thought, she took out her painting brush and watercolor, gradually outlining half of the city's street scenery …

At ten-thirty in the evening, Mu Nanyan still hadn't returned.

Qiao Qianchu looked at her cell phone and couldn't resist the sleepiness that was gradually approaching. She lay on the bed and squinted her eyes.

Dreams were chaotic. She dreamed of when she was young, of how Tang Yixin had stood up for her and how she had been pulled up by a boy. Then she dreamed of Qiao Meilin complaining about how messy her room was. It was soon followed by Mu Nanyan's face, which gradually got closer and then disappeared. She was being held by him, but no one knew where he was holding her …

The sun shone on her face, and when Qiao Qianchu opened her eyes, she found that the bed curtains were not closed, and her cell phone had not rung.

She got up and found that she was sleeping under the blanket. She was obviously sleeping under the blanket yesterday … The left side of the bed was a little wrinkled, she understood now. Mu Nanyan came back last night, so what about now?

Qiao Qianchu opened her cell phone and saw that there were three missed calls, all from Mu Nanyan. There was also a short message: I'll be leaving first. Breakfast is on the table.

She washed up briefly and ate breakfast, soy milk and sandwiches.

"Ding … …" "Ding …" The doorbell rang.

Qiao Qianchu walked over and opened the door. Half a sandwich was still in her hand and she was just about to swallow her breakfast. When she saw who it was, she was startled and almost choked.

"... "Young mistress." she cried.