Zhuo Na was “heartbroken.”

Though the romance had never actually begun, since she insisted on saying she was heartbroken, Zhuo Weiping had no way to deal with her sister.

At least Zhuo Na only made a fuss at home without affecting others’ lives, so Zhuo Weiping let her be.

Of course, when Zhuo Na went too far, Zhuo Weiping couldn’t help but criticize her.

“Gong Yang’s success today came entirely from his hard work. When he refused the state-assigned job and insisted on working in Pengcheng, why didn’t you go suffer hardships with him?”

“Your ‘love’ was just silently watching Gong Yang, waiting for him to succeed in his career and confess to you? I knew you were immature, but I didn’t realize you were such a princess – aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Zhuo Na, let me tell you—”

Zhuo Na finally threw off her blanket, “Whose sister are you anyway? Can’t you take my side?”

Zhuo Weiping seriously told her, “I stand with what’s right, not with family. If you keep refusing to face reality, missing Gong Yang will just be your first regret – you’ll have many more in the future! Let me tell you, you can’t blame anyone for this. It’s neither Xiaolan’s fault nor her roommate’s. Gong Yang will remain your senior from the same department, and when you meet the couple in the future, you’ll properly greet them as Senior and Sister-in-law, understand?”

No, she didn’t understand!

Zhuo Na’s eyes were full of accusations, not toward Xia Xiaolan and Su Jing, but toward her sister.

Was this her biological sister?

She must have been adopted by the Zhuo family.

Zhuo Weiping stopped talking to her.

There was nothing more to say.

This immature girl was her sister, spoiled by the whole Zhuo family.

But Zhuo Na would mature eventually, and Zhuo Weiping hoped that day would come soon… She was willing to protect her sister, but she wasn’t sure she could protect her forever – it would be best if Zhuo Na could become independent and capable on her own.

…

Su Jing and Gong Yang’s wedding didn’t bring all members of Room 307 together.

The roommates couldn’t all gather for now. After graduating last year with their bachelor’s degrees, Lu Yan and Chen Yi went abroad to study as they wished. Zhou Limin, who hadn’t wanted to work at a design institute, ended up at one anyway. Yang Yonghong, their senior, was assigned to a road and bridge construction unit, while Su Jing went to Guangdong Provincial Construction in Yangcheng.

At Su Jing’s wedding, only Xia Xiaolan, Zhou Limin, and Yang Yonghong could come to congratulate her.

Yang Yonghong carried two new cotton quilts from far away. Patting the soft, thick quilts, she looked proud:

“My work area has nothing else, but there’s plenty of good cotton. I didn’t pay for the cotton – it was a work benefit! I missed Xiaolan’s wedding, but don’t worry, I remember. I’ll make you new quilts next year, and make some for Limin the year after. It’s just tricky for our youngest ones – don’t know if they’ll receive them if we mail them overseas.”

That was just how Yang Yonghong was, and the two quilts she carried from so far away deeply moved Su Jing.

The red quilt covered with mandarin ducks didn’t seem tacky to Su Jing at all – she only felt her senior’s care.

Su Jing was from Beijing, and her family was much better off than Yang Yonghong’s hometown.

Her new husband Gong Yang was also well-off now, definitely among the high-income group in 1990.

But the value of the quilts Yang Yonghong carried from so far couldn’t be measured in money, no wonder Su Jing was touched.

Speaking of Yang Yonghong’s current workplace, that was interesting too.

With her solid professional knowledge, Yang Yonghong thrived in the road and bridge construction unit. The unit often had projects nationwide. With her strong professional skills, impressive educational background, and willingness to work hard, she had interned at the same unit, which had specifically requested her during job assignments. She was considered a promising talent by the road and bridge construction unit.

They were also willing to retain talent – Yang Yong hong’s internship year counted toward her work experience, making it exactly two years now, and the unit was already working on her professional title evaluation—

Xia Xiaolan was happy for Yang Yonghong, “Senior, I remember during school you said your dream was to earn 200 yuan a month. Have you achieved that dream now?”

Earning 200 yuan monthly was a standard she’d already surpassed – Yang Yonghong had exceeded this income when she came to work in Pengcheng with her brother.

However, a formal large organization was different, with matching professions, professional titles, and various benefits. Yang Yonghong counted on her fingers: “You know what, including bonuses, it’s actually more than 200 yuan per month… Oh, then I’ve already achieved my dream, what should I do now?”

Her serious expression made the other three laugh.

Everyone was happy for Yang Yonghong.

Her family’s conditions back home had improved, her brother Yang Jie didn’t have to drop out of school, and she had a good job.

If someone like Yang Yonghong couldn’t live a good life, this world would be too unfair!

Zhou Limin, who hadn’t wanted to go to a design institute, had compromised – or rather, it wasn’t compromise but a clearer understanding of herself. When one’s abilities aren’t strong enough, they should quietly accumulate experience.

The only thing troubling Zhou Limin was that as a newly assigned employee at the design institute, she was seen as prime matchmaking material.

“I dread weekends, and I’m afraid when the older women at work pull me aside privately. After introducing their sons, they move on to nephews, and after nephews, there are distant relatives—”

Zhou Limin described it vividly, making Yang Yonghong roll her eyes, “That’s right! My unit’s leader wanted me as a daughter-in-law. His son studied literature – when we met, I talked about drawings and measurements, and he talked about poetry and distant places. We were like a chicken talking to a duck!”

Their collective complaints made the two married women, Xia Xiaolan and Su Jing, laugh heartily.

When Xia Xiaolan asked what happened next, Yang Yong hong’s face clearly said “Do you need to ask”:

“What else could happen? I said I wanted to focus on my career first and wouldn’t consider marriage until I was 30. The literature guy probably thought I was boring too and told his father we weren’t compatible.”

The leader still wouldn’t give up, forcing his literature major son to spend time with her. Yang Yonghong wasn’t feeling wronged – she felt sorry for him.

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh, “He’s tall and thin, very particular about wearing white shirts. He had a good-looking girlfriend before who couldn’t get into university, and his family broke them up. He came to pursue me looking pitiful. Though I don’t like him, I felt sorry for him.”

She seemed to think she had no right to pity the unit leader’s son.

But for some reason, she had these feelings.

Xia Xiaolan smiled:

“Outstanding women won’t lack suitors. You two must be hot commodities in the workplace marriage market, especially you, Senior. Why did your unit leader disapprove of his son’s good-looking ex-girlfriend and force him to pursue you? Because you’re capable, and your unit leader admires you… And you pity the leader’s son because you see an adult who can’t say no to his parents!”

Xia Xiaolan guessed that the literature major still relied on his family for a living.

Not financially independent, yet chose to study an impractical major like literature – no wonder he had no power to choose his marriage partner.

To introduce such a man to Yang Yonghong – Xia Xiaolan felt indignant on Yang Yonghong’s behalf!