Not Finished

Three years after they broke up, neither Shen Nian nor Zhou Lian thought they would see each other again. The breakup was very ugly back then. The last time they quarreled, he said they should break up, and she said they should. He walked to the door and looked back. She turned her back to him and didn't look back. Three days later, he sent a message saying that he had left something behind, and she replied with two words: Throw it away. No contact for three years. Two years later, Party A's headquarters brought together Party B's branch where Shen Nian worked and Party A's branch where Zhou Lian worked into a long-term cooperation project. The bosses on both sides called people into the office. Boss Shen Nian said: "You take over Party A's project, and the other party asks you to do it." Shen Nian asked: "Can I change someone?" The boss said: "What do you think?" Boss Zhou Lian said: "You follow Party B on this project, and the other party wants you by name." Zhou Lian flipped through two pages of the contract: "Can I change the contact person?" The boss didn't even raise his head: "They want you by name." Neither of them dared to ask a second question. They all thought that the other party had come here on purpose, and they all scolded the other party for being sick in their hearts. On the day they met in the conference room, Shen Nian opened the door and saw Zhou Lian, and almost dropped the folder in his hand. Zhou Lian stood up and stretched out his hand: "Hello, Party A's contact person, Zhou Lian." Shen Nian didn't hold on: "Party B, Shen Nian. Let's get started." The cooperation period is two years, and the project is divided into eight phases. It's been a struggle since the first meeting. When Zhou Lian made demands, Shen Nian felt that he was seeking revenge; when Shen Nian handed over plans, Zhou Lian was unceremonious in his criticism. The private messages were all sarcastic. When the plan was revised to the eighth version, Shen Nian threw the document directly on his desk: "You did it on purpose, right?" Zhou Lian turned over two pages, filled in the data she missed and pushed it back: "You should also take a look at what you wrote." The two of them dragged on like this, and more than half of two years passed. Shen Nian found a faded red string under Zhou Lian's desk, which they had prayed for together at the temple in college. Zhou Lian discovered that Shen Nian had text messages that had not been deleted for three years stored in Shen Nian's phone. Every year on his birthday, he received four words "Happy Birthday" - it was from him. The words still haven't been spoken. It wasn't until something went wrong in the sixth phase of the project and the headquarters held them accountable, both of them wanted to take the responsibility on themselves. Shen Nian rushed to Zhou Lian's office and said don't carry it alone. Zhou Lian said you were not the same before. In the middle of the argument, Shen Nian suddenly stopped and asked him with red eyes why he said "no need to wait" back then. Zhou Lian was silent for a long time. He said that his family's business had been lost and he wanted to go back to pay off the debt, fearing that it would drag her down. Shen Nian said that if you find it burdensome, just push me away. Have you asked me if I am willing to wait? Zhou Lian said that he couldn't ask, because he felt that he was not worthy. The words were said, but getting close again was not as easy as imagined. Both of them were afraid of being hurt again. At the end of the project, Shen Nian's company B was acquired and she might be transferred. After Zhou Lian found out, he wrote a job transfer application overnight, handed over the authority to Party A, and then sent her a message: Can the cooperation period be not two years? On the day of the celebration banquet, Zhou Lian walked in with a new contract. Party A: Zhou Lian. Party B: Shen Nian. Cooperation period: empty. Shen Nian took over and added a line: Party A shall not conceal any important information from Party B. Zhou Lian smiled and added: Party B can throw things when he is angry, but he cannot turn his back to Party A. Shen Nian folded the contract and put it in his pocket. Zhou Lian said, you haven't answered "You're fine" yet. Shen Nian turned her back to him and walked out, her voice very soft: It's not good, but it might get better in the future. This time she didn't look back, but she didn't go far either. --- Checked, zero typos. Check to see if there is anything you need to change in the content. Concept: Decentness is fake, love is real. There is no shame in turning back. What is shameful is that you obviously want to look back but pretend that you have never loved someone.