“My girlfriend accused me of not loving her because of a Swiss roll.”
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have eaten two in one go. What about me? Don’t you care about me?”
I explained wearily,
“I had business engagements until three in the morning. I hadn’t eaten a thing. I really didn’t know you were doing a test.”
“I thought you’d prepared them especially for me because you were worried I’d be hungry, so…”
“Shut up!”
My girlfriend threw the remaining Swiss rolls at my face. “You always make excuses. I must have been blind to fall for a man like you. Just drop dead!”
The door slammed shut with a loud bang.
I stood there in silence, suddenly feeling so tired.
1
When I got home in the evening, I got into an argument with my girlfriend, Ni Ming.
The trigger was a box of Swiss rolls.
Somehow, Douyin had become a place where many female netizens showed off their romantic relationships. Recently, a Swiss roll test had been trending online, and my girlfriend enthusiastically tested me with it.
I’d just gotten home from working overtime at that time.
It was half past three in the morning. I’d vomited three times just from the business engagements.
I’d drunk too much alcohol, and my stomach was in spasms. Fortunately, after great effort, I finally landed a big order from General Manager Li that I’d been working on for two months. I was in a good mood.
At this hour, my girlfriend usually went to bed early.
Unexpectedly, when I opened the door, my girlfriend was standing there waiting for me, which hadn’t happened in a long time. She handed me a box of unopened Swiss roll cakes.
“You’re back. Why so late? Have you eaten? Do you want some cake?”
I felt a warm feeling in my heart.
“No, why were you waiting for me? You didn’t have to. It would’ve been better if you’d gone to bed earlier.”
Even though I said that, I was actually quite happy.
Recently, I’d been so busy that I hadn’t had time to accompany my girlfriend out. I thought that with her temperament, she’d surely be angry with me.
I had a liking for spicy food and wasn’t too fond of sweet things.
But since my girlfriend had gone to the trouble of preparing them for me in the middle of the night, of course I had to show my appreciation. Without hesitation, I took the Swiss rolls she handed me and ate two in one go.
I didn’t notice at all.
My girlfriend’s expression froze, and suddenly she didn’t look happy.
Then, her tone became harsh.
“Didn’t you even ask if I’d eaten? You ate two just like that?!”
“Haven’t you eaten?” I was startled for a moment and quickly handed her the remaining Swiss rolls. “Here, let’s have some together?”
There were eight Swiss rolls, enough for both of us no matter how we divided them.
But my girlfriend suddenly got extremely angry and stormed off in a huff. “Only asking me now? Get lost!”
I was completely confused and quickly chased after her to ask.
That’s when I found out that recently, there was a “Swiss roll test” trending on Douyin.
The person doing the test would buy eight Swiss roll cakes and ask their lover how many they could eat. People who just ate without asking were given a negative score.
And a negative score meant that the lover didn’t love them.
I usually didn’t have the habit of paying attention to Douyin. After finding out, I couldn’t help but be speechless.
“What a stupid test. How boring! Every day, you really have nothing better to do. Do I still need a test to prove that I love you? Seriously!”
I swore that I was just making a casual complaint.
But when my girlfriend heard my words, she immediately exploded.
“What do you mean?
“Isn’t this evidence that you don’t love me?
“Look at you. From the moment you got back until now, have you cared about me at all?
“Gong Shi, I’m your girlfriend.
“You’re busy with work and business engagements every day, having a great time with others.
“What am I? You just leave me all alone at home! I’m so fed up. Can this relationship even continue? If not, let’s break up!”
My girlfriend’s words were like a machine gun.
I couldn’t get a word in. All her resentment burst out in this silent late night.
I was shocked and quickly apologized.
But the more I apologized, the more worked up she got. She kept scolding me non-stop.
Moreover, she was so loud that the neighbors could almost hear her. I listened as she brought up old grudges one by one.
Suddenly, I felt so tired.
The good mood from just landing the big order disappeared in an instant.
I pressed my temples and wearily explained,
“I had business engagements until three in the morning. I vomited three times. I didn’t have a thing in my stomach. I really didn’t know you were doing a test.”
“I thought you’d prepared them especially for me because you were worried I’d be hungry, so…”
“Shut up!”
My girlfriend interrupted me.
Suddenly, she threw the remaining Swiss rolls hard at my face.
“You always make excuses. I must have been blind to fall for a man like you. Just drop dead!”
The door slammed shut with a loud bang, leaving me alone outside.
I stood there in a daze.
I didn’t understand how important that Swiss roll could be, important enough to make my girlfriend so furious.
2
There were crumbs all over my face and shoulders. I wiped my face and went to take a shower in the bathroom.
The water from the showerhead was pouring down.
I was about to test the water temperature when suddenly my stomach cramped.
The two Swiss rolls I’d just eaten and the alcohol I’d drunk during the business engagements rushed up my throat one after another. The stinking smell made my whole head feel numb.
I’d drunk a lot that night.
General Manager Li of the Daxing Group was a tough nut to crack. He was both evasive and slippery. I’d been working on him for two months before finally getting him to nod.
This order could earn me at least 70,000 yuan in commission.
But the price was that I’d vomited four times that night, and my stomach still felt uncomfortably full. I vaguely saw bloodstains floating in the toilet.
“There’s blood?
“…I should go to the hospital.”
I muttered to myself twice, got up as I’d done many times before, brushed the Swiss roll crumbs off my shoulders, closed the toilet lid, and flushed the toilet.
After vomiting so much, my stomach didn’t feel as bad.
I took a shower, dried my hair while walking back to the room, turned the doorknob, but found that my girlfriend had locked the door from the inside.
“Ming Ming, open the door, please?” I called out to my girlfriend.
She didn’t respond.
I knocked on the door again and called out a few more times, but it was as if there was no one inside, completely silent.
I stood there silently.
That tired and powerless feeling welled up again.
After a while, I turned around and went to the guest room, took out the hair dryer to dry my hair halfway, then lay down under the quilt and closed my eyes calmly.
So tired.
Really tired.
I didn’t have an ounce of energy left except for sleeping.
3
But my girlfriend was still angry.
I’d only been lying down for a short while when I fell into a deep sleep. The pounding on the door startled me awake, my heart pounding with fright.
Outside the door was filled with my girlfriend’s angry shouts.
“Gong Shi, why did you lock the door? You haven’t explained things clearly. Open the door!”
I was a bit dazed and glanced at the luminous alarm clock on the bedside table.
It was four past seven.
I thought I’d slept for a long time, but it turned out it had only been twenty minutes. Good grief!
Everyone gets tired.
Everyone gets impatient.
“It’s four o’clock, Ni Ming. Can you stop making a fuss?!”
I covered my ears and endured it for a while, but my girlfriend’s knocking on the door became even more vigorous. I couldn’t take it anymore and finally opened the door angrily.
“I’m making a fuss? Am I really the one making a fuss?”
Ni Ming sneered and glanced around the room behind me as if looking for something. “Why didn’t you open the door? What were you doing inside?!”
“In the middle of the night, what else could I be doing except sleeping?!”
“You were sleeping? Then why did you lock the door when you were sleeping?”
“Can’t I lock the door when I’m sleeping?!”
“It’s not about locking the door. It’s about the wrong you did today! I’m waiting for you to apologize, Gong Shi. What’s your attitude?!”
My mind froze for a moment.
Apologize?
Why should I apologize?
It took me a while to remember the damn Swiss roll test when I got back just now.
I was so angry that I laughed.
“Why should I apologize? To me, your test is just crazy! No one in their right mind would do such a test!”
I snapped back at her and was about to close the door.
I had to sign a contract with General Manager Li tomorrow.
I’d worked on that contract for two months to get it. If I didn’t sign it in time and it fell through, I’d be so angry I’d spit blood.
But my girlfriend firmly blocked the door and glared at me angrily.
“How dare you call me crazy? What do you mean! Say it again?!”
Although I was very tired,
my girlfriend’s repeated pestering made it impossible for me to hold back my anger.
“Isn’t it? In the middle of the night, I was out having business engagements until I was vomiting blood. And you still had the mood to play some test and say that I don’t care about you. Have you cared about me?!”
“Why should I care about you! Did I ask you to have those business engagements?!”
“Yes! You didn’t ask me to! But I’m your boyfriend. Shouldn’t you ask how I’m doing?”
“Hah, I’ve told you before to go work at my dad’s company. You insisted on being a workhorse in that lousy company. Now you’re complaining to me. You’re really sick!”
“Did I complain? I was just saying it!”
“How dare you say you didn’t?!”
I took a deep breath. The anger was stuck in my chest, almost making me vomit again. I impatiently waved my hand and said,
“Alright, I’m too lazy to argue with you. Fine, it’s my fault, okay? I’ll apologize to you tomorrow! I want to go to sleep now. Please stop bothering me and let me sleep!”
With that, I was about to close the door.
I was really tired.
I didn’t even have the energy to argue anymore.
But my girlfriend was full of energy.
“Don’t make it seem like I won’t let you sleep!
“You were out having fun in the middle of the night. You came back too late, that’s why you’re tired!
“Every day, you’ve been leaving early and coming back late this month! Do you even remember how long it’s been since you came home on time?!”
“Still tired?
“Is it so tiring for you to talk to me?!”
“I can’t even see you every day. When I call, it takes forever for you to answer. I think what Fan Hao said is right. You must have someone else outside!”
“Gong Shi, I’m telling you. If you want to break up, just say it. I’m not unwanted. A man like you—”
My girlfriend suddenly stopped. After ranting for a while, she frowned and said,
“What’s with that look? Why are you looking at me like that?”
I pulled the corners of my mouth sarcastically.
“Finally, you’re telling the truth. It’s Fan Hao again. Every time we argue, Fan Hao always comes up. Did he tell you to do this test today? If he told you to, you just did it?”
This wasn’t the first time.
Fan Hao, the college student funded by the Ni family, had been my girlfriend’s lapdog since the first year of the funding.
Under the pretext of repaying kindness,
he’d caused trouble between us more than once over the years.
I should’ve known that while I’d been so busy recently, some people just couldn’t stand being left out!
Ni Ming’s face showed a moment of guilt.
The next second, she shouted loudly,
“So what if it was his suggestion? I’ve said it many times. I treat him like a younger brother. Don’t be so dirty-minded!”
“Last month when I had a cold, he was the one who accompanied me to the hospital.
“I can’t count on you at all!
“Tonight isn’t about the test at all. It’s about you always being out having fun and not caring about me at all!
“Gong Shi, I’m too lazy to argue with you too. I just want to ask, do you still want to be with me or not? If not, let’s break up!!”
Break up, break up, break up.
If I remembered correctly, this should be the third time my girlfriend mentioned breaking up tonight, as if she couldn’t wait for me to agree immediately.
I laughed.
At this moment, I didn’t have any mood to argue.
I shrugged and said,
“Then let’s break up. I can’t stand you anymore either. Wish you and your dear ‘brother’ a long and happy life together!”
4
At this point, there was no turning back.
The anger that had been stuck in my chest suddenly dissipated a lot, and I suddenly felt extremely relaxed and carefree.
Yeah.
I should’ve broken up long ago.
What was there to be nostalgic about a woman who dragged me in the middle of the night and wouldn’t let me sleep, constantly making a fuss?
But my girlfriend had a look of disbelief on her face.
“W-What do you mean? Do you really want to break up? You think I’m arguing with you because of Fan Hao? Gong Shi, I’m telling you—”
“Alright, stop talking. I just want to say that if we’re breaking up, be decisive. This is the apartment I rented. You can leave tomorrow. And I have to go to work tomorrow. Please do me a favor and let me get some sleep. I don’t want to argue with you anymore, OK?”
I impatiently interrupted her and turned around to go to sleep.
I really couldn’t be bothered to tangle with her anymore.
From the moment I got home until now, my only thought was to get some sleep and have a good rest. People’s energy is limited, and besides, I still have to go to work like a workhorse tomorrow.
I turned around and went back to the room, threw myself onto the bed, and pulled up the quilt.
Ni Ming was so angry that she was shaking all over.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
“You agreed to break up so easily. I knew it. You must have someone else outside!
“Who is that person?
“Is it that colleague of yours? Sun Xiao? She’s always posting pictures of the two of you together on Moments. I guessed long ago that there was something going on between you two!
“Gong Shi, say something!
“Explain it clearly to me. Have you found another woman?!”
“Don’t sleep! Get up! Get up!!!”
So tired.
It seemed as if there were billions of black mosquitoes buzzing around in front of my eyes and in my ears.
She wouldn’t let me close the door.
She pulled my quilt off and wouldn’t let me sleep.
She snatched my pillow and threw it on the ground, pulling and tugging at me.
My mind went blank.
My stomach started churning with acid, and everything in front of me became blurry.
Who was I?
Where was I?
What was I doing?
Before I could figure out these questions, a loud “slap” made me freeze.
I raised my hand high, looked at the woman in front of me who was covering her face, suddenly quiet but with a look of horror on her face, and heard myself say expressionlessly,
“I said I want to sleep. Don’t you understand Chinese?”
It was a calm tone,
but it was like thunder.
The woman finally understood.
She took a step back in horror, then another step, and then covered her face and ran away without looking back.
The world became quiet.
I hugged the pillow and could finally have a good sleep.
5
Even though I said that, I tossed and turned and couldn’t fall asleep.
Maybe I’d passed the sleepiest point, or maybe the horrified look on my girlfriend’s face after I hit her made me feel a bit flustered. I became much more awake.
I shouldn’t have hit her.
Once an argument escalates into physical violence, no matter how right you were before, you become wrong.
I took out my phone and searched for Swiss rolls on Douyin.
That was the root cause of our argument tonight.
I wanted to see what exactly that Swiss roll test was that could make my girlfriend care so much.
I scrolled through a few videos.
I thought the Swiss roll test was some kind of expert evaluation.
Unexpectedly, it was just following the trend.
Countless women with精致 makeup showed off in the videos how much their men loved them. In the comments, however, there were a lot of people complaining.
“This is so crazy. I got home from working overtime in the middle of the night and then had to deal with this. I’m exhausted, okay!”
“Damn the Swiss roll. Wasn’t the last one the first grilled sausage in winter?”
“You’re wrong upstairs. It was the first cup of milk tea in autumn!”
“This is ridiculous. Are these women really that bored? Are Swiss rolls even that delicious? I think they’re just so-so?!”
“I think so too. Maybe it’s about a sense of ritual?”
“I get it. The first cup of milk tea in autumn, the first grilled sausage in winter, the first small cake in spring, the first ice cream in summer, and now there’s the ‘choose zero out of eight’ Swiss roll test. Haha, I’ve got it now!”
“Thanks, bro upstairs. I’ll copy your answer!”
“Copy the answer + 1”
“+1 + 1!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. There are always talented people in the comments. I gave a thumbs up to the guy with the answer. If I’d seen this earlier, we wouldn’t have argued tonight.
After laughing, I sighed.
I really didn’t understand how a small Swiss roll could make my girlfriend so excited.
I worked hard, wasn’t it also thinking about earning more money to buy her bags, shoes, gold and silver jewelry?
Couldn’t my commission of 70,000 yuan for one order compare to a box of Swiss rolls that cost dozens of yuan?
I couldn’t figure it out.
I couldn’t understand.
I spaced out for a while, and in a daze, I actually fell asleep.
6
I slept until noon.
Seeing the daylight outside, I panicked and jumped up to grab my phone. I had to sign a contract with General Manager Li today!
I saw seven or eight messages from my boss at a glance:
“Why didn’t you come to work? General Manager Li came to the company to sign the contract. Where the hell are you?”
“Where are you? Why aren’t you here yet?”
“Damn it, where did you go? It’s ten o’clock already!!!”
“If you don’t come, I’ll give the contract to someone else!”
My vision went blurry for a moment.
Fortunately, the next second, things took a turn for the better.
“Oh, you kid. I signed the contract on your behalf. The performance will be counted as yours.
“General Manager Li waited for you for two hours. He said you’re quite dedicated and thought you might have been drunk to death by him. He also plans to introduce several of his friends to you. You’ve won him over. Don’t forget to maintain a good relationship with him later.
“You worked hard yesterday. Take two days off and have a good rest. Reply when you receive this.”
I let out a relieved smile. My mood was like a roller coaster. The aftereffects of the hangover kicked in, and I couldn’t help but roll around on the bed.
Nothing makes me happier than career success!
Who is General Manager Li?
He’s a well-known slippery old-timer in the industry!
I wasn’t even 100% sure that he wouldn’t go back on his word after he nodded yesterday. Today, with my boss helping me wrap things up, I finally felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
Great!
This wasn’t just about the 70,000 yuan commission. It was the key vote for whether I could become the sales director!
Since I could win over General Manager Li, those suppliers who were on the fence and had a good relationship with him would all look at me differently!
Without a hitch, I should get a promotion by the end of the year!
In the past, when I was so happy about something, I would have shared it with my girlfriend immediately. When the bonus was paid out, I would also invite her to a luxurious dinner to celebrate.
But this time.
My finger hovered over my girlfriend’s WeChat interface.
I typed and deleted, deleted and typed again.
I didn’t have the slightest mood to share it with her anymore.
I didn’t want to say anything.
What was there to say?
Things had already escalated to physical violence last night. That slap was like a thorn, waking both my girlfriend and me up.
I admit I was wrong.
No matter how much we argued, I shouldn’t have hit her.
But since I already did, was I supposed to kneel down in front of her now, kowtow three times, and beg for her forgiveness?
Forget it.
Just thinking about it made me feel tired.
I changed my clothes and took a taxi to the hospital.
I had to have a good check on my stomach. From now on, since I’m alone, I have to take better care of myself.
7
Two months later, the bonus was paid out.
Along with the quarterly incentive, job grade allowance, basic salary, meal subsidy, winter subsidy, transportation subsidy, and a bunch of other miscellaneous items.
After deducting the five social insurances and one housing fund and taxes, I got 97,000 yuan.
Almost.
I was almost making 100,000 yuan a month.
The head office arranged for a vice president to come to the branch office to present the award and asked me to share my experience on stage:
“…My trick for signing contracts is that you just work hard and leave the rest to time!
“Sometimes I also encounter really difficult clients. They keep delaying and playing tricks on me, making a fool of me. Every time, I’m so angry that I could spit blood. I thought, if they don’t sign, then forget it. Why are they playing with us like this?!”
“But later I found out that some clients are just playing around, while others are quietly testing.
“They’ve been tricked by many salespeople before and want to see if you’re worthy of cooperation. Once you pass the test one day, they’ll give you all their trust.
“So, don’t give up! Until the last moment, we shouldn’t give up easily!…”
The audience burst into thunderous applause.
After getting off the stage, I felt like my toenails were trembling nervously.
A colleague handed me a bottle of water:
“Nice job, Old Gong. Your motivational speech was really inspiring. Oh, wait, you’re Director Gong now. Pardon my rudeness, Director Gong~”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Stop joking.”
But actually, I was quite proud inside.
Yesterday I was still Manager Gong, and today I’m Director Gong. Hehe.
The colleague gave me an ambiguous wink:
“You must have got a good salary this month. What gift are you planning to buy for your wife?
“Your girlfriend liked that Chanel bag of yours last time, but it was too expensive.
“Can you stop always buying expensive stuff? Think about our situation, okay?”
I was stunned for a moment and then smiled bitterly.
I’d always been reluctant to talk about my personal life at work, and everyone was used to seeing me work like a workaholic.
They didn’t know.
My girlfriend and I had broken up two months ago.
8
Two months ago.
Actually, I went to look for Ni Ming.
Although I was angry at first and thought it would be okay to just break up like that.
But after all, she was my lover for six years.
From sophomore year in college until now.
I’m a sentimental person. After going through so many years together, it was impossible for me to say that I didn’t have any feelings left.
And the more I was alone, the more I could remember how good my girlfriend had been to me in the past.
She would leave the light on for me late at night.
She would make hangover tea for me when I was drunk.
When she wasn’t arguing with me, she was as gentle as a fairy coming down from heaven.
I was also at fault. I shouldn’t have been so focused on work and neglected her. After all, the purpose of my work was to give her a better life, but over time, I put the cart before the horse.
Moreover, I shouldn’t have hit her.
After being together for so many years, I’d never been an impulsive or rough person. I must have been so annoyed by General Manager Li that I took my anger out on my girlfriend. It was all my fault, and I had to change.
After reflecting on it for two days like this,
I brought big and small bags of gifts for my future father-in-law, mother-in-law, and girlfriend and went to apologize in person.
But when I got there,
I wasn’t even allowed to enter the door.
I knew that my girlfriend’s parents had always looked down on me.
I came from a small county town. My parents ran a small supermarket. Although I never had to worry about food and clothing since childhood, I couldn’t compare to the daughter of a big boss who owned a company in a big city.
When I was in college, I was a bit self-conscious and didn’t dare to confess my love. It was my girlfriend who bravely confessed to me, and that’s when I gathered the courage to be with her.
Precisely because my girlfriend had never looked down on my background, I cherished her even more. I was afraid that she would suffer with me, so I worked so hard.
I also wouldn’t forget.
Two years ago, when I first visited my girlfriend’s house as a guest, what my future father-in-law said to me in the study:
“I know my daughter likes you.
“But love has an expiration date.”
“So far, I haven’t seen anything outstanding about you. In terms of family background, speech, intelligence, or education, you can’t even compare to half of the fingernail of those poor students I funded.”
“If I were you, I’d break up with my daughter right after leaving this door. You can’t give her the life she wants. You know this better than anyone, don’t you?”
My future father-in-law’s ridicule made me feel so ashamed.
After that, I quit my job as a construction engineer, which was in line with my major and that I’d been doing for a year, and went to work as a salesperson at the grassroots level in a Fortune 500 company recommended by my senior.
I wanted to make money.
Make a lot of money.
I wanted to make my girlfriend’s father look at me differently.
Let him know that I’m not a scheming phoenix man, but a man worthy of entrusting her life to, who could use his own hands to let my girlfriend live a better life than before she got married!
That’s what I thought.
And that’s what I did.
But in the end, there were more and more conflicts between my girlfriend and me.
My girlfriend always complained:
“Why are you always so busy?
“I’ve said that I don’t care how rich you are. I’m with you because you’re good to me.
“My family has enough money for me to spend. I don’t care about those bags of yours. Can’t you just accompany me more?”
But I couldn’t.
If I didn’t work hard, we wouldn’t have a future.
I was doing this for her, to be with her for a long time.
But when I went to apologize with big and small bags of gifts, looking humble, my girlfriend’s mother blocked the door. The way she looked at me was like looking at a disgusting fly.
My girlfriend’s father didn’t even show his face and directly called the security guards to chase me away like chasing a dog.
And my girlfriend herself already had someone new by her side.
Holding hands with Fan Hao, who’d been chasing her for years,
“Since we’ve already broken up, don’t come to me begging for a reunion, okay?
“A man like you is just like dog shit.
“I must have been blind to fall for you back then.”
I don’t remember how I left that villa that day.
I just remember that when I left, my girlfriend’s mother—well, now she’s my ex-girlfriend’s mother—picked up the gifts I left behind and threw them hard at my back.
“Don’t come here again, you trash!”
“Don’t come here again, you trash!”
“Don’t come here again, you trash!”
“Don’t come here again, you trash!”
Those words were like a curse, echoing in my ears over and over again.
I felt so ridiculous.
Ridiculous for my own efforts, for my apology, for my persistence, for my reflection.
I stood on the bridge and shouted at the night sky like a fool,
“Ah—!”
While shouting, I laughed through my tears.
It’s okay.
From now on, I’ll only work hard for myself.
Gong Shi.
You have to cheer up.
You must make something of yourself.
You’re about to get a promotion. You’ll soon be making a million yuan a year.
You’re only twenty-four years old. You still have a long, long future ahead. It’s just a woman
There are plenty of fish in the sea. What’s there to be sad about? There’s no need to be sad, right?
But the tears just wouldn’t stop flowing down.
That night.
I cried all night.
9
If life is like a wavy line,
after hitting the trough of the breakup, my career started to rise steadily instead.
I moved to a new apartment closer to the company.
I called a moving truck to take away all the things that my ex-girlfriend didn’t take.
Originally, I chose that apartment mainly for my girlfriend to be close to her workplace. From now on, I could sleep a bit longer in the morning.
Although life alone was a bit lonely, I had a lot more time for myself.
I spent my evenings maintaining relationships with old clients.
Having dinners, going to bars, singing karaoke, playing mahjong.
Just General Manager Li alone introduced six big clients to me. And those big clients introduced more friends to me. It was like a snowball, getting bigger and rolling further.
After getting promoted, my boss took me to learn golf.
My boss is the vice president of the company. He’s building his own team and promoting me to be the sales director is just the beginning.
In two years, when the general manager gets transferred to the head office,
the new general manager will surely be chosen between my boss and Manager Ming. And my task is to firmly stand by my boss’s side and clear the way for him.
My boss really appreciates me and always says with a smile,
“A man should work hard when he’s young. Otherwise, when you reach my age, you won’t be able to work hard even if you want to.”
Hearing that I broke up with my girlfriend of six years,
my boss immediately started arranging to introduce me to a new girlfriend.
I felt a headache when I heard that.
“No, boss. I’m focused on my work now. I’m fine being alone. I don’t want one.”
My boss gave me a light knock on the head:
“Nonsense!
“You don’t even know how many people in the company have been asking me if you’re single. It’s driving me crazy.
“Silly boy, having a girlfriend to help you wash clothes and cook isn’t bad at all. You’re just too stubborn. Why are you being so stubborn?”
I smiled bitterly:
“No, thanks. Women are too hard to please. I’m too straightforward. I can’t handle it.”
My boss burst out laughing:
“You call yourself straightforward?
“The way you dealt with General Manager Li, he was even afraid that you had some improper thoughts about him.
“Alright, don’t underestimate yourself. We can see how excellent you are. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely introduce a nice one to you. And don’t you dare refuse. If you do, I’ll deduct your salary!”
Under my boss’s strong request, I still obediently went to meet the person he introduced to me.
After all, the condition he offered was that I could take three days off after meeting her. Who could resist that?
10
When I arrived at the restaurant,
my boss and the girl were already seated.
I originally went there with the idea of just going through the motions,
but when I sat down and took a look, I realized that I knew this girl.
“Hello, Director Gong. Nice to see you again.”
“Hello, hello. So, Miss Wen Ke… is my boss’s niece?”
I was a bit dizzy.
I shook hands gently with Wen Ke who reached out her hand, feeling quite shocked.
Wasn’t Wen Ke the daughter of a major shareholder dispatched by the head office three years ago?
It was said that her father was the right-hand man of the chairman, and she herself was engaged to the younger son of the chairman. Why was she suddenly here on a blind date with me?
Moreover, it turned out that my boss had connections at the head office. Then the position of the new general manager in two years would surely be in his pocket!
I suddenly felt excited.
It wasn’t that I had any thoughts about the princess.
But my boss had subtly hinted to me that my future was looking really bright!
11
Halfway through the meal, my boss received a phone call and left.
I smiled and ordered an extra dessert for the princess. Looking at her expression, I felt like I was serving General Manager Li.
On normal days at the company,
because Wen Ke was the vice president dispatched by the head office and in charge of personnel affairs, everyone from the branch manager to the cleaning lady was very polite to her.
She herself was also very aloof and seldom smiled.
So everyone was a bit afraid of her.
Although I’d seen other company executives chasing her with flowers and roses in a big way, I’d never seen her having a meal alone with anyone.
I didn’t think this was a real blind date anymore.
My boss must have wanted to use this opportunity to introduce me to some connections and make me more loyal. After all, the princess was the daughter of a shareholder with an engagement. How could she possibly take a liking to me?
Once I figured this out, I felt much more relaxed.
But I didn’t expect that the world is so big yet so small. When Wen Ke and I were chatting happily, two unexpected guests walked in through the door.
“Oh, isn’t this Brother Gong? What a coincidence. You’re also having dinner here?”
I looked up and saw Fan Hao walking in with my ex-girlfriend. All my good mood disappeared in an instant.
“Who are you?”
Wen Ke, who was facing them, asked curiously.
When Fan Hao saw Wen Ke, a look of amazement flashed in his eyes and his tone suddenly became gentle.
“Hello, sister. We’re friends of Brother Gong. Are you Brother Gong’s new girlfriend? You’re so beautiful!”
Hearing this, my ex-girlfriend snorted unhappily.
Fan Hao quickly tried to comfort her.
I really didn’t want to have any interaction with them in this place, so I made up an excuse and wanted to leave with Wen Ke.
But my ex-girlfriend stopped me:
“Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Since you’re here, don’t you want to introduce us?”
“No need. We’re not that familiar.” I refused bluntly.
That night, my ex-girlfriend called me.
Since we broke up two months ago, this wasn’t the first time she’d called.
Every time, she’d either hang up after the phone rang for 10 seconds or call in the afternoon or late at night.
It was as if she was testing something.
I’d always just silently glance at the missed calls and then delete the records. I didn’t block her number. I didn’t even understand myself why I didn’t block her.
But tonight, the phone kept ringing again and again, as if it wouldn’t stop until I answered it.
I watched quietly,
and suddenly a sense of relief slowly welled up in my chest.
Before today, I’d always been unable to let go of that failed relationship. I always felt like a failure and couldn’t understand what I’d done wrong by working hard. I was trapped in the abyss of self-doubt.
But today,
after chatting with my boss and Wen Ke all evening,
I realized that not all rich second-generation kids were like my ex-girlfriend who didn’t care about their careers.
My boss clearly had connections at the head office, but he never mentioned it and worked diligently and quietly on his own job, even more dedicated than anyone else.
Wen Ke, as the daughter of a major shareholder of a Fortune 500 company, hadn’t been late for a single day since she was dispatched here three years ago. Although she was cold to everyone, she was meticulous in her work and could handle personnel management independently at such a young age.
There were so many excellent people around me.
They were emotionally stable, talked and laughed freely, and had the same goals as me, sharing the same aspirations.
What was there for me to be so hung up on my ex-girlfriend?
My ex-girlfriend had always been the kind of person who liked to say, “You don’t have to work so hard. I’m with you because you’re good to me.” But if a man doesn’t have a career and just treats a woman well, is that really the kind of person I want to be?
It was at this moment that
I finally understood the root cause of all the conflicts between my ex-girlfriend and me in the past two years.
We were just not on the same path.
To prove myself, I worked hard. To be with her, I seized every minute and didn’t dare to slack off for a second.
My ex-girlfriend didn’t have that kind of pressure. She was the pampered daughter of a wealthy family. With her parents’ fortune, she could live a worry-free life for the rest of her life. So what she wanted was just someone who would put her first in everything, like an echo.
I was fighting in the front line while she was enjoying a carefree life.
It was only natural that we went our separate ways as we walked along.
I didn’t think my ex-girlfriend was wrong. Everyone has their own aspirations.
But I really couldn’t accompany her any further.
People on different paths will naturally part ways when the time comes.
I smiled gently and dragged my ex-girlfriend’s number into the blacklist for the first time in six years.
I made a decision.
For the rest of my life, I’ll firmly follow my own path and try my best to be with people who make me feel comfortable.
My energy is limited. I don’t want to play those boring love games with people who drain me anymore. Compared to love, I’m more passionate about career success.
I gradually developed ambition.
My time will be dedicated to fulfilling my ambition.
12
After that day, I started to pursue Wen Ke.
During that blind date, Wen Ke mentioned that she actually didn’t have any engagement at all. It was just that there were too many suitors when she was first dispatched here, so she made up that lie to reduce the harassment.
She also smiled and mentioned that two years ago when I joined the company, she was one of the interviewers.
At that time, she was surprised to see me, a graduate from a 211 university, who was determined to work in sales. Later, she watched me grow from a small salesperson to the top performer, then to a supervisor, then to a manager, and now to the procurement director.
She said she quite admired me. If it were her, she wouldn’t be as hardworking as I am.
I carefully thought about what she said.
If I didn’t overinterpret it, I could understand the subtext of her words as — “I have a good impression of you. I’m single now. Am I available for you to pursue?”
Adults always speak in an implicit way.
Of course, I didn’t do something annoying like sending her flowers, expensive gifts, or asking her out in a big, showy way.
Instead, I shared some interesting stories with her from time to time as a friend, talked about interesting things at work, asked her some small questions, and praised her sincerely, gradually getting closer to her in a subtle way.
This way, we could be lovers if things went well, or just remain friends if not. The most important thing was that I wouldn’t cause her any trouble.
It’s really comfortable to interact with people who are on the same frequency as you.
She would give you positive feedback.
Instead of blaming you at the slightest disagreement and making you feel like a fool.
When having meals together,
she would smile and comment on the food in the restaurant. If it was good, she’d say so. If not, she’d complain. When you joked with her, she could catch your humor.
When going out to play together,
she wouldn’t be spoiled and ask you to carry her things for her. She preferred to carry her own small bag. Only when you insisted on helping would she smile and say thank you.
When having team building activities together,
she would remember the preferences and taboos of all the executives, arrange the most suitable venues and activity times for everyone. Once someone drank too much and got too excited, she would immediately arrange for the waiters to bring sobering desserts.
I really admired her.
Was she really the same age as me?
Why could others at the age of 24 be so much more excellent than me, making me admire and respect her so much that I was almost head over heels!
“Xiao Gong, I’ll leave it to you to send Xiao Ke home. Make sure you send her home safely, okay?”
When the event was over, my boss, a bit drunk, told me with a smile.
I couldn’t help but laugh and helped my boss into the car.
Since I’d drunk alcohol and couldn’t drive, I was just about to call a designated driver to send myself and Wen Ke home when a light blue SUV stopped in front of me.
“Let me drive you home. I didn’t drink tonight.” Wen Ke rolled down the window and smiled at me gently.
The subordinates beside us stared with wide eyes and started shouting and clamoring to get in the car.
I rubbed my nose, feeling a bit embarrassed, and got into the passenger seat. Amid the envious and jealous howls of everyone, we drove away.
Counting it, I’d been pursuing Wen Ke for three months.
From the initial secret pursuit to the later open pursuit,
Wen Ke didn’t reject my pursuit. Instead, she said gently that we could give it a try. After that, everyone in the whole branch office knew that we were dating.
Many colleagues gave me a thumbs up:
“Awesome, Director Gong. You even dared to poach the corner of the chairman’s son!”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Wen Ke had always been single. That so-called engagement of hers was just a lie.
But no matter how long I’d been with Wen Ke, I still felt inexplicably nervous when we were alone. I always felt that the light of the goddess was so dazzling that it made me feel a bit awkward.
They say that people will unconsciously be afraid of making a fool of themselves in front of the person they like.
I didn’t know if I was like that too.
“How was the fruit and vegetable soup today? I ordered it especially for you.”
“Ah? Uh… that one. It was okay.”
“Didn’t you like it?”
“No, it’s just that it didn’t taste particularly good. But after drinking it, my stomach felt much better. I had a bit of a stomachache after drinking a lot of alcohol.”
“That’s why I ordered this soup especially for you. Now that you’re a director, you don’t have to work as hard as before to drink on behalf of others. Your boss can drink a lot more than you. He can handle it.”
“Really? He was so drunk that he could hardly walk.”
“You’re so silly. He was just pretending because he saw that you couldn’t stop. You can’t get too drunk at a drinking party. It’ll affect things and harm your health. Next time, you can drink slowly like him, and you’ll be able to drink half as much as usual.”
I suddenly realized and quickly clasped my fists:
“Thank you for teaching me. Miss Wen Ke really knows a lot!”
Wen Ke couldn’t help but laugh and gently punched me, saying, “Stop it.”
I was almost dazzled by her smile.
I opened the right window, and the night wind blowing in cooled my face a bit and made the heat on my face subside a little.
When we arrived at my place,
Wen Ke didn’t get out of the car. She waved her hand and said, “Then I’ll go home. Have an early rest.”
“Wait.”
I stopped her.
Maybe it was because the moonlight was so beautiful tonight. Maybe my courage suddenly grew. I unbuckled my seat belt, opened the door, grabbed Wen Ke’s hand, and quickly kissed the back of her hand. “Thank you for driving me home. See you tomorrow!”
As soon as I finished speaking, I took off running as if there were ten thousand fierce beasts chasing after me. I ran so fast.
When I hid in the stairwell to catch my breath, Wen Ke’s WeChat message popped up in time:
“Well, you dare to steal a kiss from me. You’re in big trouble tomorrow.”
“Piggy is angry.jpg”
I burst out laughing.
Shamelessly, I replied with the same emoji “Piggy kneels.jpg”. The good mood lasted until I went upstairs.
Until, at the door of my new apartment, a woman squatting on the ground raised her head.
I froze in my tracks.
All the happy expressions on my face disappeared.
13
“If you have something to say, just say it. It’s not appropriate for you to stay here too long at night.”
I poured a cup of hot water for my ex-girlfriend.
The new place I rented was a small one-bedroom, one-living-room apartment of about fifty square meters. There was no natural gas, so I bought a water dispenser.
I was only a little surprised for a moment when I saw my ex-girlfriend squatting at the door. She said she had something to say and refused to leave. Since she insisted on not talking outside, I had no choice but to let her in.
Since three months ago, when my ex-girlfriend bumped into me and Wen Ke at that blind date, she had come to look for me more than once.
She would call, send messages, ask friends to help, or even come to my company.
My phone had all my clients’ information, so I couldn’t change my number. After being harassed by her using different phone numbers, I impatiently asked her what she wanted.
But she always just said,
“When are you free? Let’s talk.”
I didn’t want to talk to her.
I admit that I’ve always been a bit of an escapist. Facing this failed first love, even just thinking about it would make my heart ache.
“Did you go out for business engagements again tonight?”
“No, it was a company team building.”
“You’re still so busy. Why does your company always have team building on Fridays?”
“Isn’t that good? It’s better than having it on weekends.”
“That’s true.”
The dry conversation stalled for a few seconds.
“How have you been lately?”
“Why are you asking this? I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
I didn’t want to talk to her anymore.
Although I was off tomorrow and planned to stay at home all day, even if I had plenty of time, I didn’t want to waste it on her.
Ni Ming sat there without moving.
She slightly lowered her head and said softly,
“I won’t delay you for long. Don’t lose your temper in a hurry. I just have something to say, and then I’ll leave.”
I said calmly,
“Then say it quickly.”
The living room suddenly became quiet.
My ex-girlfriend was silent for a while and then gently opened her mouth:
“During this time, I’ve reflected on myself.
“I think I was a bit too headstrong before. I always thought that since we’d been together for six years and would get married sooner or later, I hoped you could spend more time with me and not always be out having fun with others.
“Actually, I also know that you were out for business engagements and you vomited from drinking many times. I’m aware of that.
“But I was so used to you spoiling me that I couldn’t control my temper. I already know I was wrong.
“But, Ah Shi, we’ve been together for six years. Just because of one conflict, are you really going to abandon me? Are you really planning to marry that woman named Wen Ke and just let us part like this?”
Her voice trembled a bit as she spoke.
Her eyes were red, and on that face that had once made my heart flutter countless times in the past six years, tears were gathering.
I felt a bit stuffy in my heart.
“Don’t say such things anymore. What’s past is past. I don’t want to mention it anymore. You should go back quickly. We’re already over, and you already have a new boyfriend. So don’t say things like this.”
But Ni Ming suddenly stood up and hugged me.
“There’s no such thing! I haven’t been with Fan Hao at all. I was just trying to make you angry on purpose. Who told you to hit me and tell me to get lost in the middle of the night! Ah Shi, I’m sorry. Let’s not argue anymore, okay? I’ll never argue with you again. I know I was wrong, okay?”
The sudden apology left me at a loss.
But so much time had passed, five months. In these five months, my memories of her had gradually faded with each passing day.
Maybe if my girlfriend had come to make up earlier, I would have agreed without backbone.
But now,
I no longer needed this relationship that I’d already let go of.
14
I thought I’d made my rejection clear enough.
Every time there was a conflict with my girlfriend in the past six years, I would always humbly bring big and small bags of gifts to apologize to her.
I always thought that since my girlfriend had never looked down on my background, she was a really nice girl, so I must cherish her and give in to her more.
But now I don’t think so anymore.
I’ve realized that there are actually many people in the world with better family backgrounds than my ex-girlfriend, and they are emotionally stable, patient, and considerate, and they would never boss others around.
As time has passed, I don’t want to recall how many grievances I suffered during the years with my ex-girlfriend. I just feel that I’ve already let go and should look forward.
But my ex-girlfriend wouldn’t listen.
After I firmly pushed her out of the door that day, my ex-girlfriend started coming to my company frequently to look for me.
She would bring homemade bento and wait for me at the company entrance.
She would keep adding me on WeChat, hoping that I would accept and have a good chat with her.
She would come to pick me up after work without fail, hoping that I would get in her car and we could go home together.
These were all the methods I used to apologize before. I never expected that one day, my ex-girlfriend would use them on me.
Sometimes, I would feel soft-hearted, but more often, I felt sad.
I won’t look back.
Just like what Wen Ke said:
“Men will go back to their exes when they’re not doing well, not because they love their exes so much, but because the new person they’re with isn’t as good as the ex. They think it’s more worthwhile to go back to the ex.
“The same goes for women.
“Ah Shi, you’re a good person. You’ve just been repeatedly manipulated by her for six years, always thinking that all the problems are your own.
“Don’t go back to this kind of woman who drains you. You deserve someone better. Let her go, hmm?”
Is it really like this?
But it’s true that after breaking up, everything seems to be going smoothly for me. Or maybe it’s just that I’ve gained some experience through so many bumps and falls.
The next time I saw my ex-girlfriend was on Wen Ke’s birthday.
I reserved the revolving restaurant on the top floor of “Cloud House” three days in advance. It’s one of the top dating spots in Fucheng, and it’s always fully booked on Valentine’s Day.
I prepared roses, champagne, a candlelight dinner, and arranged for a jazz band on site to play the birthday song for Wen Ke.
This was the first birthday date between Wen Ke and me, and I prepared it with great care.
I never expected that halfway through the dinner, my ex-girlfriend and her best friend suddenly showed up at this restaurant. At a glance, they saw me affectionately helping Wen Ke put on the birthday crown.
My ex-girlfriend didn’t say anything.
But her best friend exploded first.
“Gong Shi, what the hell are you doing?!”
“In the middle of the night, you’re having a candlelight dinner with another woman?!”
Her voice was so loud.
Even though my ex-girlfriend immediately pulled her sleeve, in an instant, all the guests in the restaurant curiously looked over.
I saw them and immediately felt impatient.
Fucheng is really too small. People you don’t want to see can be encountered within a few days.
My ex-girlfriend’s best friend Xu Qian glared at me angrily, like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
She and my ex-girlfriend were childhood friends and knew very well that I’d been with my ex-girlfriend for six years. In the past, she looked down on me because we were both from rich families. Now, seeing me having dinner with another woman, she immediately had an expression of catching me cheating and being extremely angry.
“I was wondering why I hadn’t seen someone lately. So it turns out that you’ve been cheating on my best friend behind her back!”
“Gong Shi, I’ve never seen anyone as disgusting as you. You broke up with my Ming Ming and then shamelessly came back to get back together with her. And now you’re having an affair with another woman behind her back.
“I’ve really lived long enough to see this. I’ve never seen a phoenix man as disgusting as you. Are you so attracted to beautiful women that you can’t even walk straight? Why don’t you just drop dead?!”
A barrage of baseless accusations came crashing down, and the onlookers also exploded:
“No way, no way. This guy has a girlfriend and is still out on a date with another girl?”
“Oh my god, he’s two-timing!”
“I thought he was so romantic when he went up to sing the birthday song and give flowers to this girl just now. Turns out he’s a phoenix man, using this girl’s money to court others!”
“Wow, that’s so disgusting!”
“There are really people like this in real life?”
Those people’s pointing and whispering were like sharp knives stabbing into me mercilessly. I suddenly felt like I was back to the day when I was humiliated by my ex-girlfriend’s mother at her doorstep.
I’ll never forget that day.
Being ridiculed.
Being looked down upon.
Like a dirty and disgusting bug, being trampled on mercilessly by those people.
I was shaking with anger and shouted furiously:
“What nonsense are you talking about? When did I two-time anyone?
“Yes, I was with your best friend before, but that was five months ago!
“We’ve broken up for half a year. Is there anything wrong with me finding a new partner?!”
As soon as I said this, the voices of people’s whispering around decreased a lot. I really didn’t want to be misunderstood by so many people as a scumbag for no reason!
But Xu Qian wouldn’t let it go:
“Stop talking bullshit. Everyone knows that you went to beg Ming Ming to get back together five months ago. You were chased away shamelessly, and then you came back to beg her again.
“Ming Ming, tell her. Did you already agree to get back together with this bastard long ago?
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll back you up!”
I finally understood something from Xu Qian’s words and looked at my ex-girlfriend, whose eyes were a bit evasive. I laughed angrily:
“Ni Ming, is it you who told her that we got back together?”
Ni Ming moved her lips and looked at me pleadingly.
I got it.
I smiled sarcastically and said,
“Xu Qian, please find out the real situation before you speak. Your best friend and I broke up completely five months ago.
“Yes, it’s true that I shamelessly went to beg for a reunion after that, but your best friend already rejected me in front of many people!
“Since she rejected me, then don’t say such things as if we got back together again. I’m single now. What’s wrong with having a meal with the person I like?!”
Xu Qian looked at me in shock, then at my ex-girlfriend:
“Ming Ming, is what she said true?”
Ni Ming was silent for a while and then nodded.
Xu Qian’s face suddenly became a bit awkward, but soon she thought of something and started being sarcastic again:
“So what if you broke up? You were with my best friend for six years, and now you’re shamelessly chasing after a new love.
“Miss, do you know why this guy broke up with my best friend?
“He was out having fun in the middle of the night, came back drunk, and even beat my friend. My friend was beaten by him, you know? He’s an alcoholic bastard, a domestic abuser!”
One label after another was slapped on me.
I was so angry that I was fuming at the nostrils. But unfortunately, I did hit someone five months ago.
It’s normal for couples to argue.
But once an argument escalates into physical violence, no matter how right you were before, you’ll become the one in the wrong.
I’m now in a situation where I can’t defend myself, like a death row inmate waiting to be executed. Whatever I say is wrong.
I actually regretted it very much.
I regretted losing my temper and hitting someone that night. Later, when I went to apologize to my girlfriend, I said sorry many times and even hoped that she would hit me back.
But my girlfriend didn’t hit me. Instead, she ridiculed me.
So now, with this embarrassing thing being brought up by my ex-girlfriend’s best friend in public, I just felt terrible and really wished I could die.
15
Just then,
Wen Ke stood up, wearing the birthday crown, and blocked in front of me.
“Madam, please calm down. Today is my birthday. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t make a big scene here. It’s really ruining my mood, okay?”
Xu Qian immediately apologized:
“Miss, I’m sorry. I was just angry on impulse. You know how disgusting this guy is. I was afraid you’d be cheated. I thought—”
“Madam, please calm down.”
Wen Ke interrupted her and said calmly,
“If you have something to say, we can sit down and talk about it nicely. I don’t like being watched by so many people. No matter what conflicts you had with my boyfriend in the past, that was all before five months ago. I’m not involved in those things, and I don’t know the specific details of what happened back then. But my boyfriend and I have known each other for two years. In these two years, we’ve been working in the same company. I know exactly what kind of character and personality he has. So, if you want to accuse him of something right away, we might as well change to another place and sit down to have a good talk, okay?”
Xu Qian seemed to seldom encounter someone as calm as Wen Ke and became a bit anxious:
“What I said is all true! Miss, don’t you believe me? Gong Shi was really my best friend’s ex-boyfriend. They were together for six years. When they broke up, he even hit her. That’s a fact!”
Wen Ke looked calm and composed:
“I believe what you said is true, but I really don’t want you to make a big scene on my birthday. There’s only one birthday in a year, and you’ve ruined my good mood completely. Waiter, the bill please. Madam, if you still want to talk about that matter, let’s change to another place and sit down to have a good talk. This is a public place, and it’s not appropriate to talk about this here.”
From beginning to end, Wen Ke maintained a calm and polite demeanor, which made Xu Qian, who was still ranting just now, gradually quiet down, feeling a bit at a loss as to what to do.
The waiter quickly brought the bill over. I took out my wallet to pay, but Wen Ke stopped me with a smile and said, “Today is my birthday, so I’ll pay.” Then she gracefully took out a card and handed it to the waiter.
After paying the bill, Wen Ke turned around and said to Xu Qian and my ex-girlfriend, “Let’s go to the coffee shop downstairs and talk. I hope we can resolve this matter calmly.”
We went downstairs to the coffee shop one after another. Xu Qian and my ex-girlfriend seemed a bit hesitant, but in the end, they still followed us.
Once we sat down in the coffee shop, Wen Ke ordered four cups of coffee and then looked at Xu Qian and said, “Madam, now you can tell me everything you know. But I hope you can speak objectively and rationally. I don’t want to hear any more one-sided accusations.”
Xu Qian took a deep breath and began to talk. She told the story of how I was with my ex-girlfriend Ni Ming for six years, how we had conflicts because of my busy work, and how we finally broke up and I hit Ni Ming that night.
After listening quietly, Wen Ke nodded and said, “I understand the situation. But as I said before, that was all in the past. People will make mistakes, and I believe that Gong Shi has already deeply reflected on his actions that night. Moreover, from the time I’ve known him in the past two years, he has always been a hardworking, responsible, and gentle person. I believe that he has changed and will not repeat the same mistakes.”
Xu Qian snorted coldly and said, “People’s natures are hard to change. How can you be so sure that he won’t do it again? Miss, you’re still too naive. You don’t know what kind of person he really is.”
Wen Ke smiled slightly and said, “I’m not naive. I’ve seen his efforts and growth in the company with my own eyes. And I also believe that in a relationship, both parties need to communicate and understand each other. If there are problems, we should solve them through peaceful means instead of resorting to violence. Gong Shi and I have also had some small frictions in our relationship, but we always communicate calmly and find solutions together. So, I have confidence in him.”
My ex-girlfriend Ni Ming, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, “But I still love him. I know I made mistakes before, but I can’t bear to just let him go like this. I’ve been reflecting on myself these days, and I really want to get back together with him.”
Wen Ke looked at her and said gently, “I can understand your feelings, but feelings can’t be forced. Gong Shi and I are together now, and we are very happy. I hope you can respect our relationship and let go of the past. There are many good people in the world, and I believe you will also find your own happiness.”
Ni Ming’s eyes turned red, and she said with a choked voice, “But we’ve been together for six years. How can you ask me to just forget it all so easily? I’ve already lost him once, and I don’t want to lose him again.”
Wen Ke sighed softly and said, “Six years is indeed a long time, but the past is the past. You should look forward. Gong Shi has already made his choice, and I hope you can accept this reality gracefully. If you continue to pester him like this, it will only make everyone unhappy.”
At this time, I also said, “Ni Ming, we really can’t go back. I’ve thought about it clearly these days. We are not suitable for each other. You have your own life, and I have mine. Let’s just part ways and live our own lives well.”
Ni Ming stared at me with teary eyes, as if she still couldn’t believe that I would be so resolute. After a long while, she finally nodded slowly and said, “Okay, I understand. I won’t bother you anymore.” Then she got up and left the coffee shop with Xu Qian.
After they left, I looked at Wen Ke with a bit of guilt and said, “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble on your birthday. I didn’t expect this to happen.”
Wen Ke took my hand and said with a smile, “It’s okay. These are just little episodes in life. As long as we can face them together and resolve them, it’s all right. And today is still my birthday, and I’m still very happy because I have you by my side.”
I was deeply moved by her words and held her hand tightly. I felt that I was really lucky to have met Wen Ke. She was so understanding, rational, and gentle, always able to handle things calmly and give me support and comfort when I was in trouble.
After that day, Ni Ming really didn’t come to bother me anymore. It seemed that she had finally accepted the reality and decided to start her own new life. And I also focused all my energy on my career and my relationship with Wen Ke, working hard every day and enjoying the good times with her.
16
Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, another year had passed.
During this year, my career continued to progress smoothly. With the help of my boss and Wen Ke, I successfully won several major projects and expanded my business network. I was promoted again and became the deputy general manager of the company.
Wen Ke and I also had a deeper relationship. We often went on trips together during holidays, explored different places, tasted various cuisines, and took many beautiful photos. Every day spent with her was full of joy and warmth.
One day, my boss called me to his office and said with a smile, “Xiao Gong, you’ve really made great progress this year. I’m very proud of you. Now there’s a new opportunity. The company is planning to open a branch in another city, and I think you’re the most suitable candidate to be the general manager of that branch. What do you think?”
I was a little surprised and excited at the same time. This was indeed a great opportunity for me. Going to another city to be the general manager meant that I could have more room for development and could fully display my abilities.
But then I thought of Wen Ke. If I went to another city, we would be separated for a long time. Although the distance was not insurmountable, I was still a bit reluctant to part with her.
My boss seemed to see my concerns and said, “I know you and Xiao Ke are in a relationship. You don’t have to worry too much about this. Xiao Ke has also made great achievements in the company this year. I’m planning to transfer her to work in the head office. The head office is also in that city where the new branch will be opened. So, you two can still be together.”
I was overjoyed to hear this and immediately said, “Thank you, boss. I’m really willing to take on this task. I will definitely work hard and live up to your expectations.”
My boss patted me on the shoulder and said with a smile, “Good boy. I believe in you. You’ve always been very capable. I’m looking forward to seeing you create greater glories in the new branch.”
After leaving my boss’s office, I couldn’t wait to tell Wen Ke the good news. When she heard it, she was also very happy and said, “That’s great. We can start a new life in a new city together. I’m really looking forward to it.”
We started to prepare for the transfer and relocation. We sorted out our things, found a new apartment in the new city, and informed our friends and family of our plans.
Before leaving, we also went back to our respective hometowns to say goodbye to our parents. My parents were very happy to hear that I was going to be the general manager of the new branch. They kept telling me to take good care of myself and work hard.
Wen Ke’s parents also welcomed me very warmly. They said that they had seen my efforts and achievements in the past few years and were very satisfied with me. They hoped that Wen Ke and I could support each other and live a happy life together.
With the blessings of our families and friends, we finally set off for the new city full of hope and expectations.
When we arrived in the new city, we quickly got into the rhythm of work and life. I was busy with the establishment and operation of the new branch, and Wen Ke also devoted herself to her work at the head office.
Although we were both very busy, we still found time to have dinner together, watch movies, and go for walks on weekends. Our relationship became more and more stable, and we felt that we were really lucky to have each other.
17
One weekend, we went for a walk in a park near our apartment. The park was very beautiful, with green trees, colorful flowers, and a clear lake. There were many people walking, running, or playing with their children in the park.
We walked hand in hand along the lake, enjoying the beautiful scenery and chatting casually.
Suddenly, Wen Ke stopped, turned to look at me, and said with a serious expression, “Ah Shi, I have something to tell you.”
I was a bit surprised by her sudden seriousness and asked, “What’s the matter? Is there something wrong?”
Wen Ke took a deep breath and said, “I’m pregnant.”
I was stunned for a moment, and then a huge wave of joy surged in my heart. I couldn’t believe my ears. I stared at her blankly for a few seconds and then excitedly hugged her and said, “Really? Are you really pregnant? That’s amazing!”
Wen Ke nodded with a smile and said, “Yes, I went to the hospital for an examination a few days ago, and the result showed that I’m pregnant. I’ve been thinking about how to tell you these days, and I finally decided to tell you today.”
I was so excited that I didn’t know what to say. I just held her tightly and kept repeating, “That’s great, that’s great.”
After a while, I calmed down a bit and said, “Then we should start preparing for the baby. We need to buy a lot of things, like baby clothes, cribs, and all kinds of baby supplies. And we should also tell our parents the good news as soon as possible.”
Wen Ke smiled and said, “Yes, we’ll do it step by step. But first, we need to think about whether we want to get married. After all, having a baby is a big thing, and it’s better to have a complete family for the baby.”
I immediately said, “Of course we’ll get married. I’ve been thinking about marrying you for a long time. This is just the right opportunity. Let’s start preparing for the wedding as soon as possible.”
Wen Ke nodded happily and said, “Okay, then let’s start planning our wedding. I hope it can be a simple but warm wedding.”
We went home that day full of joy and excitement, and immediately started to plan our wedding. We discussed the wedding date, the venue, the wedding dress, and all kinds of details. We also called our parents to tell them the good news and ask for their opinions.
Our parents were also very excited when they heard the news. They all said that they would fully support us and help us with the wedding preparations.
During the process of preparing for the wedding, we were even busier, but we were also very happy. Every day was filled with anticipation and excitement for our future life together with our baby.
Finally, on a sunny day, our wedding was held as scheduled. The wedding venue was decorated very beautifully, with white roses, balloons, and ribbons everywhere. I wore a black suit, and Wen Ke wore a white wedding dress, looking as beautiful as an angel.
Our friends and family came to the wedding to bless us. There were warm smiles and happy tears on everyone’s faces. We walked down the aisle hand in hand, exchanged rings, and made vows to each other in front of everyone.
That day was the happiest day of my life. I felt that I had finally found my true happiness and was looking forward to a wonderful future with Wen Ke and our baby.
After the wedding, we started our new life as a married couple. Wen Ke took good care of herself during her pregnancy, and I also tried my best to accompany her and take care of her. We often went to the hospital for prenatal checkups together, watched parenting videos, and prepared for the arrival of our baby.
Time passed, and soon it was time for Wen Ke to give birth. I was so nervous that I paced back and forth outside the delivery room. When I heard the baby’s cry for the first time, tears welled up in my eyes. I was so excited and grateful that our baby had finally come into this world safely.
A nurse came out of the delivery room with a smile and said, “Congratulations, it’s a girl.”
I quickly wiped away my tears and said, “Thank you, thank you.” Then I rushed into the delivery room to see Wen Ke and our baby daughter.
Wen Ke was lying on the bed, looking a bit tired but with a happy smile on her face. I held her hand tightly and said, “Thank you, you’ve worked hard.”
She smiled and said, “It’s worth it. Look at our daughter, how cute she is.”
Our baby daughter was sleeping soundly in the crib, with a little pink face and a tuft of black hair on her head. I looked at her and felt that my heart was filled with love and happiness.
From then on, we started our life as a family of three. I worked hard to support my family, and Wen Ke took care of our daughter and our home. Every day was filled with laughter and warmth, and I felt that I was the luckiest person in the world.
As our daughter grew up day by day, she became more and more lively and cute. She started to babble, learning to call us “Daddy” and “Mommy” in her childish voice, which always melted our hearts.
I would often take time out of my busy work to play with her. We’d build blocks together, read picture books, or go to the park to fly kites on weekends. Watching her running around with a big smile on her face made me feel that all the hard work was worthwhile.
Wen Ke was an excellent mother. She was meticulous in taking care of our daughter’s daily life, carefully preparing nutritious meals for her, and patiently teaching her to recognize things and learn good manners.
Our daughter was also very smart. She learned things quickly and was always full of curiosity about the outside world. Whenever she encountered something she didn’t understand, she would blink her big eyes and ask us all kinds of interesting questions, which always kept us on our toes trying to answer her.
Time flew by, and before we knew it, our daughter was old enough to go to kindergarten. On the first day of kindergarten, she was a little nervous, holding our hands tightly and reluctant to let go. But with our encouragement and the teacher’s warm welcome, she finally mustered up the courage to walk into the classroom by herself.
Watching her little figure gradually disappear from sight, Wen Ke and I both felt a bit reluctant, but at the same time, we were also happy for her to start this new stage of life.
In the following days, our daughter adapted to kindergarten life very quickly. She made many new friends and would always share with us the interesting things that happened in school when she came home. She would talk non-stop about the games they played, the stories the teacher told, and the little gifts she got from classmates, making our home full of laughter.
As for my career, it continued to progress steadily. The branch I was in charge of had achieved good performance under my leadership, and I was also frequently commended by the head office. With the increase in income, we were able to provide our daughter with a better living and learning environment.
We would often take our daughter on trips during holidays. We went to the seaside to build sandcastles, to the mountains to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, and to different cities to experience different cultures. Through these trips, our daughter broadened her horizons and became more outgoing and confident.
Years passed like this, and our daughter grew into a sensible and excellent girl. She studied hard at school, actively participated in various extracurricular activities, and won many awards and honors. We were really proud of her.
One day, our daughter came back from school with a serious look on her face and said to us, “Mom and Dad, I want to tell you something. I’ve thought about it for a long time. I want to study abroad when I grow up. I want to see a bigger world and learn more advanced knowledge.”
Wen Ke and I were a little surprised at first, but then we looked at each other and smiled. We knew that our daughter had her own dreams and aspirations, and we should support her.
I said gently, “Baby, as long as it’s what you really want to do, Dad and Mom will fully support you. But you have to work hard now to prepare for it, okay?”
Our daughter nodded firmly and said, “Don’t worry, Dad and Mom. I will definitely work hard.”
From that day on, our daughter became even more diligent in her studies. She spent more time reading books, doing exercises, and improving her language skills. Watching her so determined, Wen Ke and I were both very gratified and would do our best to help her in every aspect.
When the time came for our daughter to apply for schools abroad, we accompanied her through the whole process. We helped her prepare application materials, choose suitable schools, and practice for interviews. Finally, she received offers from several prestigious overseas universities, and she chose the one she liked the most.
On the day we sent our daughter to the airport to go abroad, we were all a bit emotional. Wen Ke couldn’t help shedding tears, and I also felt a lump in my throat. Although we were reluctant to part with her, we knew that this was an important step in her life and a new beginning for her to pursue her dreams.
Our daughter hugged us tightly and said, “Mom and Dad, don’t worry about me. I will take good care of myself and study hard. I love you.”
We watched her walk through the security check and gradually disappear from our sight. At that moment, we felt a mixture of pride and sadness in our hearts. But we also firmly believed that our daughter would have a wonderful life overseas and achieve her dreams.
After our daughter went abroad, Wen Ke and I gradually got used to life without her by our side. We focused more on our own lives, continued to work hard, and also took time to travel and enjoy our two-person world.
We often talked on the phone or video chatted with our daughter. She would tell us about her study and life abroad, the new friends she made, and the interesting cultural experiences she had. Hearing her happy voice and seeing her confident smile on the screen made us feel at ease.
Years later, our daughter graduated with excellent grades from the overseas university and found a good job in a well-known international company. She became an independent and capable professional woman, and we were even more proud of her.
Occasionally, she would come back to visit us during holidays. Every time she came back, we would have a warm reunion. We would cook her favorite dishes together, listen to her talk about her work and life experiences, and enjoy the precious time together as a family.
Looking back on our lives, there were many twists and turns along the way, but in the end, we were all able to find our own happiness. I was grateful for everything that had happened, for the people I met, and for the family I had. I believed that our future would be even more beautiful and full of hope.
