She poured herself a glass of ice water to drink.

In one morning, so many things had happened.

Promoted one level – the salary only increased by a few hundred or eight hundred, but as Director Jiang said, work and speech were ranked by grade level, and this promotion couldn’t be measured in money.

Before leaving, he promoted her.

Liking someone required action, not just words – this good old man finally took action.

Wu Naijuan never expected she would be promoted through male-female relationships, or was it because of her excellent performance?

What would others think? She had a clear conscience – she followed rules and regulations, worked dutifully, and never took shortcuts.

After work, Wu Naijuan received Li Jialiang’s call: “Please pick me up at the main entrance of the hospital building.”

“Coming right away.”

Calculating, he had been awake for nearly thirty hours without rest. As a friend, she should prepare some light dishes for him, but Wu Naijuan rarely cooked – considering her options, she could only make a pot of white porridge.

She first rushed to a familiar Shanghai restaurant to buy several vegetarian dishes before going to the hospital.

Li Jialiang was waiting for her outside.

He said, “The car broke down and was towed to the garage.”

The seven necessities of daily life suddenly hit – food and necessities all needed attention, broken things had to be replaced, old things needed changing. Handsome men and beautiful women, golden boys and jade maidens – once encountering life’s magic spell, they immediately returned to their original form, becoming ordinary people.

“You can use my car.”

“No need, the family will send a car.”

Wu Naijuan picked him up and drove home.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Turning around, he was already sleeping with his head tilted to one side.

His hair was disheveled, his chin covered with stubble. If it were Wu Naijuan who had gone thirty hours without sleep, she would have become a madwoman too.

Li Jialiang was no longer the indescribably heroic idol she had seen by the pool.

Arriving at the home parking lot, a nosy neighbor walked over curiously to look.

“Miss Wu, is that your boyfriend?”

Wu Naijuan smiled without speaking.

Li Jialiang opened his eyes and glared at the middle-aged woman who was brazenly sticking her head into the car, letting out a “huh” sound. The woman was startled and stepped back, hitting her head on the window frame with a thud. Though in pain, she didn’t dare make a sound and fled.

Wu Naijuan was puzzled: “Why did you do that?”

“Annoying.”

“Why bother arguing with her?”

Li Jialiang was also surprised: “Your tolerance is too great.”

Wu Naijuan smiled: “I thought you were most considerate of elderly ladies.”

But Li Jialiang said, “One must have principles in life.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Having gone without sleep, he was inevitably irritable. Wu Naijuan didn’t want to argue with him.

Upstairs, Wu Naijuan hurried to arrange things, finding a pressure cooker to cook white porridge.

She also asked Li Jialiang, “You didn’t bring a razor. If you don’t mind, I have one ready.”

“Really?”

Wu Naijuan brought out a pink women’s razor.

He laughed: “No! How can a man use this?”

“The structure and function are the same.”

“No, no, next time, should I borrow your bath towel and bathrobe?”

Wu Naijuan sat down in a daze.

This person was fastidious, like ancient scholars: no talking when sleeping, no speaking when eating, meat not eaten if not properly cut.

Wu Naijuan smiled: “As you wish.”

He followed to the kitchen: “Oh, you use a pressure cooker?”

Wu Naijuan turned to look at him: “Should porridge be cooked in a large earthenware pot, slowly simmered for three hours?”

Li Jialiang fell silent.

“Also,” Wu Naijuan continued: “Don’t drink tea bags, use purple clay teapots to brew Dragon Well tea twice, pine stools are too rough – preferably rosewood or redwood Ming-style furniture, blended fabrics won’t do for sheets and bedding – must be pure Egyptian cotton, specially hire two maids for washing and ironing… details are most important in life, isn’t that so?”

Li Jialiang was stunned.

“From this, I can tell you never planned to volunteer as a Doctors Without Borders physician in the Third World.”

Finding his flaws made Wu Naijuan very happy.

“You’re a rich man’s son – no one would blame you. You’ve certainly had people serving you since childhood, so you know quality from inferior, unlike me, this rough person who wears anything and eats everything.”

Li Jialiang said softly, “I also eat hamburgers.”

“Right, the kind served on white porcelain plates with silver knives and forks in grand hotel coffee shops, where waiters ask how well done you want it.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Wu Naijuan smiled: “Communicating more before dating is a wise move.”

“I wouldn’t demand others be like me.”

“Once on a cruise, a young British couple asked me: ‘What scenic areas do you have?’ I answered: ‘Visit Nathan Road – most souvenirs there.’ They laughed: ‘What do they sell? T-shirts?’ I asked back what was wrong with T-shirts. They laughed harder: ‘We’re old-fashioned, we don’t wear T-shirts.’ I really couldn’t stand such arrogance, so I said: ‘If British people saved the time and energy spent washing and ironing shirts and learned to wear T-shirts like everyone else, perhaps technology and economy would have hope for progress.'”

Li Jialiang understood.

He sighed, stood up, and took his leave.

Wu Naijuan didn’t ask him to stay.

She didn’t dare ask him to stay – they were mismatched in family background, she couldn’t reach so high.

She planned to work until sixty, knowing she had no time to devote to lifestyle taste and details – everything must be simplified.

Li Jialiang came from wealth, with opposite intentions.

A pot of porridge was ready.

If it were Li Zhizhong, he would have eaten it so happily. Both of them were like Robinson Crusoe, content with circumstances – flatbread and oil sticks, simple tea and plain rice already earned gratitude.

Where was this lovely person?

He would never point at children’s homework and criticize: “Wrong strokes, rewrite. Hey, arithmetic must get full marks,” and also getting into prestigious British and American universities to bring glory to parents.

Being with someone like Li Jialiang’s personality would be asking for trouble.

Wu Naijuan sat down.

She suddenly asked herself, Wu Naijuan, what do you want to tell yourself?

Ah, compatibility between two people is an inner feeling, not a visual one. Never ignore feelings to satisfy vision.

She was exaggerating the feeling of incompatibility with Li Jialiang to prove they couldn’t develop further.

Because her heart was already occupied by another person.

That person was Li Zhizhong.

Reaching this conclusion, Wu Naijuan was greatly shocked.

She sat alone on the balcony in a daze.

Later, assistant Lei Qingxin called: “Miss Wu, I’m nearby. May I come to your home to say a few words?”

“Something important?”

“I’m resigning.”

Wu Naijuan let out an “oh”: “Come up and talk slowly.”

Lei Qingxin arrived with a serious expression, more mature than usual, bringing a box of candy despite being busy.

Wu Naijuan asked: “Have you eaten? Better to talk on a full stomach.”

She brought out several vegetarian dishes to entertain Qingxin.

Qingxin ate without ceremony: “Oh, the sesame oil smells wonderful.”

Wu Naijuan liked this kind of easygoing person.

“Why suddenly want to resign?”

“The boss is changing.”

“That’s just another supervisor – you just do your work.”

“This person is different – a first-class difficult woman.”

“I heard too. Could it be rumors, exaggerated?”

“My mother was also a civil servant before retirement, worked under her before. She advised me to find new employment.”

“Oh, that serious? She’s your mother’s colleague, so not young.”

“Yes, should have retired in the past year or two, but they approved her extension.”

“Promoted so high, must have some ability.”

“Miss Wu, she has a nickname – Fine Granny. Do you know why?”

Fine meant small in Cantonese, and granny meant grandmother. Small grandmother? Wu Naijuan didn’t understand.

“Fine, Granny means grandfather’s concubine. The old master and his wife have both passed away, but this concubine remains, putting on airs at every turn, demanding to speak with the next generation in charge. She has high seniority and was once favored – how can the descendants handle her?”

Wu Naijuan laughed in shock: “If she’s a favored concubine, then who is this old master?”

“The British from the previous dynasty.”

Oh, Wu Naijuan suddenly understood and looked at Lei Qingxin with new respect – such an apt description, truly interesting to the extreme.

“Mother said that during colonial times, the British most liked promoting somewhat attractive, clever Chinese women as first-generation administrative officers. Many rose rapidly. The sensible ones, seeing the change of dynasty, immediately earned enough to retire. The unwise ones still bargained with the new authorities, pestering relentlessly. The new officials, finding her so difficult, respectfully called her Fine Granny.”

“Hmm, they had to place her somewhere.”

“So they shoved her into cold corner places like ours.”

Ah.

“Think about it – she has nowhere to vent her anger. What good days can we have? Mother experienced this person’s character. They were classmates, but later she pretended not to recognize her mother, handling everything officially. Mother said people in high positions also have difficulties – we should avoid her. This kind of person, outsiders who don’t understand, still call her society’s conscience.”

Wu Naijuan pondered deeply.

At this time, she had to set aside both Li Zhizhong and Li Jialiang temporarily.

Who told modern women their lives also included careers?

After a while, she spoke: “Qingxin, I’ll transfer you out.”

Qingxin shook her head: “I want to develop outside.”

“Outside, there are not only difficult Fine Grannies who don’t understand changing times and lost glory, but all kinds of wolves and tigers. If you want to stand out and hold your head high, you might as well go out and fight. If you have no great ambitions and just want to earn pocket money, better to stay.”

“This!” Qingxin was troubled.

“Times are different now. Look at the new generation of female senior officials – surprisingly young, simply dressed, practical in speech and appearance, all with families and children, normal lives, giving people a peaceful feeling. In the future, you can be one of them.”

“I don’t have the ability.”

“The fast track that people used to rack their brains to squeeze into can now be achieved step by step through real ability.”

“True,” Qingxin sighed, “Mom says this generation of female officials are amiable, not arrogant.”

Wu Naijuan smiled: “Public servants shouldn’t be proud to begin with.”

Wu Naijuan cut fruit to entertain her guest.

Qingxin envied: “Miss Wu, your place is well-organized, everything complete.”

“All old maids are like this.”

Qingxin pressed her hand to her chest: “At what age does one become an old maid?”

“Depends on one’s mood – sometimes one feels old in their twenties.”

Talking and laughing, before they knew it, it was late at night.

Qingxin still left her resignation letter.

She returned a month’s salary to the organization and could leave immediately.

Determined to leave, and immediately, showing how disgusted she was.

Qingxin also had some savings. When truly encountering unbearable people and situations, she could rest for a while.

See how things go.

The next day, she woke up with severe pain in her left eye, which was red and swollen.

After seeing a doctor, she went to work. Her eye was inflamed, so she had to remove her contact lenses and wear black-framed glasses again.

Nearly a thousand degrees of myopia – even she found it amusing.

Who would have thought this pair of glasses might save her?

Returning to the company, she noticed the entire department was unusually quiet.

Director Jiang announced, “Let me introduce everyone to your future supervisor, Miss Fang Manzhen.”

Everyone responded submissively with buzzing sounds.

That Fang woman was overdressed, flamboyantly enough that one might playfully ask: Going to a wedding? Older people were always too formal, not knowing how to dress appropriately.

She had a proud expression, meeting everyone individually, then suddenly asked: “Who is Wu Naijuan?” Singling her out.

Wu Naijuan was startled and had to step forward.

Shooting the bird that sticks out – how did she know there was a Wu Naijuan?

“Is that you?”

Looking her up and down without any politeness, completely lacking respect, as if saying to a subordinate: today you’ve fallen into my hands.

But what she saw wasn’t a bright, delicate woman.

She only saw Wu Naijuan wearing an iron-gray suit, skirt below the knee, paired with a white shirt and flat shoes, wearing only a watch, with straight short hair and thick glasses like beer bottle bottoms from nearly a thousand degrees of myopia.

“Who here has those penetrating eyes that see into people’s hearts?”

Wu Naijuan said softly: “Director Jiang, perhaps?”

“No,” someone said, “That refers to Xie Shufen, but she’s already left.”

Fang woman nodded: “Then everyone here is law-abiding.”

Everyone laughed awkwardly.

After introductions, everyone dispersed.

Wu Naijuan adjusted her glasses frame and returned to work.

After a moment, Director Jiang knocked: “Miss Fang wants you to have lunch together.”

Wu Naijuan looked up: “I have things to do.”

“Could you be a bit more accommodating?”

“That’s not my strong point – I never accompany for tea or meals.”

“I can’t find anyone to accompany me. Two people staring blankly at each other – what would we talk about? How awkward.”

Wu Naijuan laughed heartily.

Director Jiang sighed.

Wu Naijuan picked up her handbag: “Fine, I’ll sacrifice myself to accompany a gentleman.”

Director Jiang felt like he’d received a great pardon.

The three of them had lunch at a club. Throughout the meal, only Fang woman spoke, from beginning to end.

She didn’t think anything was wrong – it was natural for her to monologue alone.

When Director Jiang occasionally interjected opinions, she scolded: “What’s good about mentioning such people!”

Wu Naijuan buried her head and ate painfully.

Fang woman asked Director Jiang: “I heard you’re immigrating to Canada after retirement?”

Director Jiang nodded: “It’s my turn to fish, grow flowers, and take care of grandchildren.”

“Will you get used to it?”

Director Jiang smiled: “You and I both come from the previous dynasty – our small feet can’t grow big, we can’t wear sneakers and run fast like this generation.”

Fang woman’s expression changed: “Really? Lu Jianqiu, Xu Liqun, and Zhuang Sizhan are doing so well, rising step by step.”

“Manzhen, they’ve learned the seventy-two transformations, ascending to heaven and entering earth, capable of anything.”

She raised her head, revealing a trace of loneliness.

“Retiring at the right time isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

But Fang woman was only quiet for about ten seconds, then suddenly lectured the waiter about the coffee not being fresh.

Lunch thus ended.

Would Fang woman listen to Director Jiang’s advice? Of course not. Everyone has their own circumstances. Director Jiang’s children were grown, his daughter about to give birth – knowing it was twins, he hoped so much his parents could help care for the babies.

Where could Fang woman retreat to? She could only continue sitting in her high-salary position – such a grievance for her.

She suddenly asked Wu Naijuan: “Your myopia is so severe, why don’t you use laser treatment?”

Wu Naijuan answered truthfully: “I’m afraid of going blind.”

“Tsk,” Fang woman laughed, “coward.”

Wu Naijuan also smiled.

Back at the office, Director Jiang praised her: “Excellent performance.”

Wu Naijuan said, “As a youth, being treated coldly made me most angry. Today, I hope no one notices me, so I can live comfortably and peacefully.”

Director Jiang said, “Then the Grand Bauhinia Medal won’t be yours.”

“I’ve always waited like waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump – what’s meant to be will be, don’t force what isn’t meant to be.”

“You weren’t so sharp-tongued in front of Fang Manzhen.”

Wu Naijuan laughed heartily.

“Better not take off those black-framed glasses.”

Wu Naijuan shook her head: “First impressions are most important – preconceived notions deeply imprinted in the mind. Later, however, I dress won’t matter.”

“Clever ghost.”

Just lucky. Who knew Fang woman would conduct a surprise inspection today, and she happened to have eye disease.

From now on, Fang woman would only remember her thousand-degree myopia, saving countless troubles.

Was this cowardice? No, no. Wu Naijuan, well-versed in psychology, truly believed great wisdom appears foolish, great courage appears timid, and knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory.

The next day, her eye was so swollen she couldn’t open it. Wu Naijuan went to see the doctor again.

The Western doctor was named Goodman, called Dr. Good. He told Wu Naijuan: “You need rest. Take three days off, no computers, TV, or books. Wear an eye patch and listen to music. Eyes are serious business – don’t be careless.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Also, please pay three thousand dollars – I’ll donate it to the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital on your behalf.”

“Certainly, certainly.”

Leaving the clinic, Wu Naijuan had an eye patch.

Returning home, she followed the doctor’s orders and rested in bed.

Earlier at the office, someone mentioned Xie Shufen.

Having married a wealthy businessman, she had become Li Jialiang’s stepmother. She wondered if she had returned from her honeymoon yet – very concerned about her.

Never expected Shufen’s call to come immediately.

Her voice was the same as before: “Office colleagues said you took sick leave for eye problems. I’m coming to see you right away.”

Shufen came with a maid.

“This worker will take care of you for three days.”

Shufen, who had already been very well-dressed, was now impeccably turned out, yet not overly flashy. Wu Naijuan expressed appreciation.

“Is life happy?”

Shufen found slippers to change into.

She answered thus: “I got everything I wanted. Our group is slightly more intelligent than Lin Daiyu and her friends – we dare not sigh that ‘human beauty has flaws, only now I believe.'”

Wu Naijuan smiled slightly.

“Naijuan, I heard Director Jiang is retiring, replaced by another lady.”

“People come and go – just ordinary affairs.”

“Wherever this lady goes is punishment for colleagues. Why don’t you come out? I’ll introduce you to work at the Li company.”

Wu Naijuan laughed: “Wouldn’t that be nepotism?”

“Pah, the world is naturally like this – vines pull melons, melons pull vines. Don’t try to stay clean and suffer needlessly.”

“You’re right. When necessary, I’ll immediately ask for help.”

“You genuinely like counseling work, don’t you?”

Wu Naijuan nodded.

Shufen took the entertainment section headline and read to her: “Forty-seven-year-old actress who retired after marrying wealthy businessman gives birth to daughter by cesarean, leaves hospital six days later with full makeup and false eyelashes for over a hundred reporters to photograph, waves both hands to bid everyone farewell before getting into Rolls Royce.”

Wu Naijuan closed her eyes: “The wound must still be painful.”

“Such exquisite acting, and so fond of excitement? Actually, why retire from acting?”

Wu Naijuan said, “Otherwise, what would you and I talk about over tea?”

“Naijuan, I’m pregnant.”

Wu Naijuan jumped up, then lay back down.

Really unexpected. She thought Shufen would just enjoy fortune and that was it. Never expected she’d really become Mrs. Li, seemingly fifty steps the same as a hundred steps with the retired actress.

“Mr. Li isn’t young, but he finally agreed I should have my children. We went to a famous fertility clinic in New York. I’m now carrying twins.”

“Cantonese call it ‘yi tai’ – so descriptive: two children side by side.”

“You don’t seem very interested.”

Wu Naijuan laughed: “I’m jealous. What should I say? We were colleagues, suddenly you have everything, I’m alone, you’re carrying twins.”

“If you can say you’re jealous, then you’re not jealous.”

“Prefer boys or girls?”

“I hope both are girls, to stay by my side, take care of old mom and auntie, be our drivers, order food for us, hook the good sons others carefully raised to serve us and obey our commands.”

Wu Naijuan laughed heartily.

“Rest well, I still have things to do.”

After her old friend left, Wu Naijuan fell asleep.

She heard the rustling sound of silk clothes – Wu Naijuan remembered this was the sound of grandmother’s fragrant cloud silk garments moving.

“Grandmother?”

A hand seemed to gently brush her forehead.

Wu Naijuan’s nose felt sour: “Grandmother.”

She wanted to hold her grandmother’s hand, but her limbs couldn’t move.

“Grandmother, when we meet in the future, will I appear to you as a child? If I could choose, I’d want to be little Naijuan forever, lying on your lap, even without any abilities, I’d be willing.”

Wu Naijuan shed tears.

She suddenly woke up, unable to help but cry.

“Drink some water.” It was Li Jialiang.

“Eh, how did you come?” Wu Naijuan quickly sat up.

“The maid opened the door for me. Colleagues said you took sick leave and went home.”

Wu Naijuan nodded.

“Naijuan, I came to apologize.”

Wu Naijuan shook her head: “No need, you did nothing wrong.”

“I shouldn’t have criticized your lifestyle details. Being casual also has advantages.”

Wu Naijuan smiled: “Thank you.”

By this time, Wu Naijuan knew she didn’t like the real Li Jialiang.

She and the real him could only be understanding, considerate, good friends.

Wu Naijuan smiled: “Go find a like-minded woman who only eats one brand, one flavor of ice cream, must be served in silver bowls. You two would never carelessly use email – still use deckle-edge paper and envelopes, writing calligraphy with fountain pens dipped in navy blue ink. ‘Labour’ not ‘labor,’ following Oxford dictionary English standard spelling, not American spelling—”

Li Jialiang was amused and laughed.

Wu Naijuan continued teasing him: “Children only wear blue and white naval uniforms. Your family doesn’t do parent-child activities, treating children with mutual respect, sending them to boarding school early. At five they must learn Zhuangzi’s ‘Autumn Waters’ and Shelley’s ‘To a Skylark’ – isn’t that so?”

Li Jialiang kissed her hand: “Shows you understand everything.”

It’s not that she couldn’t, but that she chose not to.

“Vacations absolutely can’t be in Hawaii – only to Rhode Island on America’s East Coast or Mediterranean cruises. Jialiang, you certainly have the conditions to live like a character in novels. I can’t – I’m a small civil servant who needs to be down-to-earth.”

Perceptive Li Jialiang summarized for her: “You don’t love me. You won’t sacrifice your freedom to enter my world.”

Exactly right.

They embraced.

“Jialiang, I love you.”

“Me too.”

They laughed joyfully.

Li Jialiang lay on the floor, chattering about work trivialities, and quickly fell asleep.

In the future, if she wanted to be mischievous, she could wink at the bride at his wedding and say: “His sleeping posture isn’t very good.”

Wu Naijuan checked the buttons on his shirt. As expected, they were all made of shell – someone like him probably wouldn’t wear clothes with plastic buttons.

Wu Naijuan sighed.

Her decision was correct.

Coming to this world for one lifetime, hastily several decades, beauty ages in a finger snap, brief splendor – the main thing is happiness.

Li Jialiang was so persistent about small matters, clearly an obsessive person. When encountering big issues, he’d either be stubborn or see through worldly vanity – seemingly no middle ground. This personality was most dangerous.

Director Jiang told her: “Naijuan, if one knows how to adapt to circumstances, accepting what comes, one can live comfortably.”

Wu Naijuan remembered these words closely.

She had no conditions to be a perfectionist.

Li Jialiang was different.

Understanding this, her heart became clear. Wu Naijuan smiled slightly.

As for the red eye, the swelling subsided the next day. No longer peeping at Li Jialiang, it definitely wouldn’t recur.

Wu Naijuan still wore black plastic-framed glasses to work.

Former assistant Tan Xin was waiting in her office.

“Tan Xin, how are you?”

“Miss Wu, I wouldn’t visit the temple without a reason.”

“Are you married? Marriage problems?”

“No, not that. I teach at an elementary school—” She hesitated to continue.

Wu Naijuan said, “Sit down and talk slowly. Have some fragrant tea to moisten your throat.”

“Miss Wu,” Tan Xin was very troubled, “fifth grade, finally have to teach sex education. Already sent letters notifying parents to assist. I just find it hard to speak.”

Wu Naijuan laughed heartily: “Aren’t you usually articulate and quite forthright?”

Tan Xin was dejected: “I teach co-ed elementary school. Some boys and girls have started developing but still have children’s minds, completely unaware adolescence has arrived. They’re still chasing each other on the playground – especially difficult to teach.”

“How can I help?”

“Miss Wu, could you guide from the side as an expert?”

“You want me to come to your classroom?”

“Yes, please consider our past friendship and guest perform once.”

“Tan Xin, do you have educational films to help? They explain clearly and objectively.”

“All materials are complete. I dare not answer students’ questions.”

“Fine, I’ll make a trip for you.”

Tan Xin was almost moved to tears: “Miss Wu, you’ve saved my worthless life.”

It was a Wednesday. Wu Naijuan took half a day off to go to Zhuhuai Elementary School.

Fifth-grade elementary students were much taller, stronger, and more intelligent and quick than in their childhood.

This generation gained incredibly rich knowledge from movies, TV, and the internet, but children were still children.

The film first introduced the female body. Male students giggled. Then it introduced the male body. Female students said in unison: “Gross.”

Tan Xin was embarrassed, not knowing how to speak.

Wu Naijuan spoke up to smooth things over: “Students, these are all parts of the human body structure. Our bodies are naturally like this. Please watch the film segments carefully.”

The children finally quieted down.

After the film finished, students raised their hands with questions.

Wu Naijuan answered them one by one.

“Are humans oviparous?”

“The source of our life indeed begins from a fertilized egg.”

A cute little girl with a round face was very puzzled: “The egg is in one person’s body, the sperm is in another person’s body. How do they combine?”

This made even Wu Naijuan grin and laugh endlessly.

No wonder Tan Xin called her to help.

Wu Naijuan explained using the most concise language possible.

She noticed the principal came to observe and also expressed appreciation to Tan Xin.

The principal shook hands with Wu Naijuan to thank her.

As soon as she walked away, Wu Naijuan said to Tan Xin, “No next time.”

But Tan Xin said: “This class of fifth-graders will remember until they’re seventy or eighty – that one Wednesday morning, a beautiful, elegant big sister came to school to explain sex education to them.”

“Will they?”

“If it were you, you’d remember too.”

“Mm.”

“How wonderful. Girls from now on will have no doubts about their cycles. When I was small, I suffered great shock from ignorance. Thinking of it today, I still feel grief.”

“Times have progressed.”

Wu Naijuan finished her tea and took leave.

Tan Xin thanked her profusely and saw her to the door.

Walking to her car, Wu Naijuan suddenly felt someone watching her from behind.

This was animal instinct.

She immediately turned around, but couldn’t see anyone.

Wu Naijuan thought of the last time she also came to school to volunteer, when she saw Li Zhizhong, then still thinking he was staff.

She drove away in her SUV.

She was a bit distracted. Cars behind honked, and only then did she alertly increase speed.

Driving near the flower stall, she stopped to buy a large bunch of ginger orchids. At this time, she again seemed to have that special feeling and looked back once more.

But near the flower stall, she was the only person.

Wu Naijuan missing and thinking of Li Zhizhong was an undeniable fact.

Strange, Wu Naijuan never felt Li Zhizhong was someone who would linger in one’s thoughts.

Returning to the company, she worked as usual.

Every couple had endless grievances to air.

This couple requested mediation due to mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts.

Mrs. Lu dressed fashionably but wore a pure gold chain around her neck with an oval gold medallion engraved old-fashioned with “flowers bloom, moon is full.”

For Wu Naijuan’s generation, the waxing and waning moon was just a celestial phenomenon, like wind and rain, absolutely unable to inspire reverie. In greenhouses, there was always fragrant grass, flowers blooming in any season. She never had great longing for flowers blooming and moon being full.

But at this moment, she had some feelings.

She heard herself say softly, “You and your mother-in-law are strangers who suddenly have to live together – uncomfortable.”

Mrs. Lu found a kindred spirit and shed tears.

“Not being able to love the house and its crowd temporarily is understandable.”

Mr. Lu was caught between laughter and tears: “My mother isn’t a crow.”

Wu Naijuan said, “Your wife married you, not your mother.”

“Then, Miss Wu, what should I do? My mother is only fifty-seven, not qualified for senior housing.”

“Does she have a profession?”

“She’s been a housewife all her life.”

“Oh, no self-identity – most unwise.”

“She’s an old-fashioned woman. Everyone was like that then.”

Wu Naijuan said: “I can see you respect and love your mother – you’re a good son. Even if someone earns fame and profit but can’t be filial to parents or friendly with siblings, it’s useless.”

“Miss Wu, do you have advice for our predicament?”

“Perhaps move to a suburban village house – mother lives downstairs like a landlord, you two live upstairs like tenants, children run up and down. Would that be better?”

Mrs. Lu jumped up: “Why didn’t I think of that!”

“The commute would be far—”

“I’m willing.”

Wu Naijuan smiled: “Or rent two small units in the city, adjacent, one household helper working for both families.”

“We can afford it economically.”

“Just don’t know what mother thinks.”

Mrs. Lu was furious: “Lu Jiadong, if you won’t even take this step, fine – you live in one unit with your loving mother, I’ll live separately with the children.”

Only then did the filial son say fearfully: “Yes, yes.”

Wu Naijuan was curious: “Do you have siblings, or are you an only child?”

“He has one brother and one sister, both with good jobs.”

Wu Naijuan said, “Filial piety is good – never marry an unfilial son. People without conscience won’t treat women well either.”

“Miss Wu is right.”

“Setting up another home certainly requires spending a large sum.”

“Didn’t you just say it was worth it?”

Mrs. Lu was very determined: “No problem if we can afford it.”

They left Wu Naijuan’s office.

Would Wu Naijuan live with in-laws?

Wu Naijuan smiled.

Getting along was easy, but living together was difficult. It would be best if even couples lived separately, only meeting when in good condition.

North America had a type of connected duplex, attached together but with different entrances, each governing themselves. To meet was only one step away – most suitable for that family just now.

Wu Naijuan organized the files on her desk.

The new boss came in, chattering about official business, obviously not treating Wu Naijuan as an outsider. A pair of thick black-framed glasses had such great effect – unexpected.

Quitting time arrived, and Wu Naijuan put on her coat.

The new supervisor asked: “Wearing gray every day, isn’t it boring?”

Wu Naijuan humbly answered: “That’s just the kind of person I am.”

For many years, she had weathered storms safely, relying on this virtue.

The supervisor was very satisfied and let her leave.

She, unwilling to leave work, went to pester another subordinate for a chat.