Shang Zhitao discovered that work was a form of spiritual practice. Kitty suddenly tamed her aggression and worked properly alongside her, making Shang Zhitao’s days a little better, though only a little.

During her half-month stay in the mountains, she experienced more than in her four years of college. Work presented new problems every day, and she was constantly leveling up against challenges. By the time she dragged her luggage back to Beijing, she felt completely transformed.

Beijing had already entered autumn.

This autumn, she had four days of compensatory leave, which was blissful. Unfortunately, her roommates were all away—Sun Yu had returned to Guizhou to attend a wedding, while Zhang Ling and Sun Yuanzhu were on business trips. Shang Zhitao slept heavily for an entire day, only opening her eyes by evening. Seeing that Yao Bei had called her several times, she hurriedly called back: “Senior.”

“Want to have dinner tonight?”

“Aren’t you working?”

“Today was a team-building day, so we finished early. I bought a car and can pick you up. What do you want to eat?” Yao Bei asked her.

“Sure, sure, I’ll get up now. Anything is fine, I’m not picky. I’ll treat you! The company mysteriously gave me a bonus this month. Although it’s not much, it’s worth celebrating.”

“Better save that little money of yours! If you’re not picky, let’s have barbecue, near the university.”

“Sounds good.”

Shang Zhitao hadn’t seen Yao Bei for a long time—about three years, since Yao Bei graduated, but they had kept in touch. She stood by the roadside waiting for Yao Bei, and saw a small car stop in front of her. Yao Bei jumped out: “Little Taotao!”

Shang Zhitao rushed forward to hug Yao Bei: “Senior.” She was incredibly happy, almost to the point of tears. Finding a familiar face in such a big city was truly precious.

The two girls hugged for a while. When they let go, Yao Bei said: “Let’s go, it’ll be crowded if we’re late.”

“Okay!”

Yao Bei had changed a lot. A hairpin held her hair back, and a beautiful trench coat made her look slender and gentle. Shang Zhitao couldn’t take her eyes off her. Yao Bei patted her head: “If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll think your orientation has changed.”

Shang Zhitao chuckled.

Yao Bei glanced at her while driving: “Do you still keep in touch with Xin Zhaozhou?”

“Not anymore.”

Shang Zhitao felt her breakup with Xin Zhaozhou was different from other couples—they had blessed each other. Back then, Shang Zhitao was sad, crying on her roommate’s shoulder, asking through tears: “Why do we have to grow up? How wonderful it would be if we could stay in our junior year forever.”

Their junior year was the best year for Shang Zhitao and Xin Zhaozhou.

It was that year, on the night they watched the stars, that Xin Zhaozhou and she completed a life milestone. Shang Zhitao remembered their nervousness, surprise, and the beads of sweat on each other’s faces. She felt incredibly brave.

“Is he in Shenzhen now?” Yao Bei asked her.

“Yes. His parents are in Shenzhen. His family is new immigrants, there’s a government policy. It’s better than being in Beijing.”

Shang Zhitao thought, such is life—he goes south, she goes north, both at the mercy of circumstance.

“Do you still miss him?” Yao Bei asked.

Shang Zhitao thought for a moment, then shook her head: “I stopped missing him long ago. We’ve been broken up for almost a year.” The sadness was real, but she was also genuinely insensitive. They had been so good together, and after breaking up, she cried a few times, felt sad for about a month, then returned to being the carefree Shang Zhitao. Sometimes when she saw Xin Zhaozhou at school, he would stubbornly turn away, never forgiving Shang Zhitao for not going with him.

Go where? Boys are selfish, thinking that if a girl loves someone, she should follow him anywhere. He forgot that he had legs too, that he could also follow the girl.

Yao Bei looked at Shang Zhitao and suddenly smiled.

“What is it?” Shang Zhitao asked, her voice sweet and soft.

“Date more people,” Yao Bei said seriously.

“Hmm?”

“Otherwise, what will you do when you’re not working? In your prime years, isn’t it boring not to spend evenings with a man?”

“Senior, you’re an aerospace worker…” Shang Zhitao reminded her. A scientific researcher saying such things felt a bit strange.

“Can’t aerospace workers have sex lives?” Yao Bei giggled: “Let me ask you, in the months since you came to Beijing, have you found any men that make you feel tempted?”

Shang Zhitao suddenly thought of Luan Nian, when he was drunk, how his neck’s skin felt hot against her fingertips. She had wondered that day: what would Luan Nian be like?

She blushed slightly and looked out the window. Luan Nian was so cold, even if he took off his clothes, he probably wouldn’t warm up. When being intimate with someone, he might still frown, showing no emotion. Perhaps he wouldn’t even engage in foreplay.

What was she thinking? Shang Zhitao shook her head, trying to drive away these strange thoughts.

Yao Bei mentioned her relationship: “He says he wants to get married, but my parents say no marriage without a house.”

“What do you think?” Shang Zhitao asked her.

“His family has a lot of pressure. His parents are in the countryside, and retirement is an issue. I’ve become a bit pragmatic now, you know? Women in our system all marry well.” Yao Bei wasn’t like before. At twenty, women think love is everything, but now, tempered by life, she knew that besides love, women also need houses, cars, and must worry about their parents’ retirement and their children’s future education. Women truly have too many concerns. At a red light, Yao Bei sighed softly: “Taotao, I want to break up with him.”

First, it was Sun Yu, whose boyfriend cheated with a girl who had good work and education credentials, pursuing their bright future together. Now it was Yao Bei, who had seen reality clearly and decided to navigate this world. Shang Zhitao suddenly felt that once you leave the campus, love becomes distant.

She didn’t know what to say. She was still confused about the world, but the experiences of those around her all seemed to say: love is fragile, love is worthless.

But Shang Zhitao had no time to worry about romance—just surviving was good enough. She had to survive first! She couldn’t keep asking for money from Old Shang and Big Zhai!

Yao Bei took her for barbecue skewers and actively requested alcohol. Shang Zhitao couldn’t drink but also ordered one glass, then two, then three. After three beers, she had barely eaten anything and was already drunk. With her last bit of consciousness, she called Lumi: “Teacher, hello, I’m drunk…”

Lumi shouted on the other end of the phone: “Where are you? Which bastard are you drinking with?”

Shang Zhitao giggled. Yao Bei took her phone and said to Lumi: “You’re Taotao’s colleague, right? We’re both drunk. Could you please come pick us up?” She quickly gave the address, not acting like a stranger at all.

Lumi was also righteous, immediately putting on sportswear and taking a taxi. She saw the two women sitting there—one with her head on the table, the other resting her chin on her hand. Not bad, they hadn’t caused trouble.

“You two are something.” Lumi pointed at Yao Bei: “You’re the one who called me, right? Where are your car keys?”

Yao Bei gave her the keys and watched Lumi help Shang Zhitao up, following behind them.

“Hey, this little junker!” Lumi teased, stuffing them both into the car. Fortunately, Yao Bei wasn’t too drunk and knew where Shang Zhitao lived. Lumi rummaged for a long time in Shang Zhitao’s overalls pocket to find the key, helped her home, her palm accidentally resting on Shang Zhitao’s chest, taking the opportunity to squeeze: “Goodness, quite well-endowed!”

Shang Zhitao was taken advantage of, but still remembered to swat her hand away. Lumi got her inside, helped her rinse her mouth, wipe her face, and get water, then went to send Yao Bei home. Lumi didn’t know what karma she had accumulated to be troubled by these two women so late at night.

As for Shang Zhitao, she slept heavily, waking twice to drink water. She wasn’t sure if she was sober, but vaguely heard her phone ring and knew to pick it up, seeing the blurry “Luke” on the screen.

Oh~ Luke, the one who wanted to fire me.

The next morning, Shang Zhitao sobered up and carefully thought about last night’s events. She couldn’t remember anything after Lumi took her home. She vaguely recalled answering a call, picking up her phone to look—yes, she had answered, Luke’s call.

Shang Zhitao couldn’t remember what was said during that call. She was immediately alert. After thinking for a long time, she decided to call him back.

Luan Nian rejected the call.

Shang Zhitao called again, and he still rejected it.

Damn it.

Shang Zhitao cursed inwardly. What did I say on the phone? She tapped her forehead, then consoled herself not to be so nervous. After carefully wording a message, she sent: “Hi Luke, I drank with a friend last night and woke up seeing you had called. I want to confirm, did you assign me work last night? If so… what was it? Sorry, I really can’t remember.”

Luan Nian glanced at the message and tossed his phone aside, continuing his meeting. Shang Zhitao grew more anxious and sent another message: “Is it urgent work?”

Luan Nian still didn’t reply to her.

Last night’s call made Luan Nian think Shang Zhitao had shit for brains. Did she not know what she was saying?

Today’s meeting was a boring business progress meeting—lengthy numbers and reports, large blocks of text. These things made Luan Nian irritable. He liked simplicity; anything complicated made him irritable.

Finally unable to contain himself, he interrupted: “I’m not targeting anyone, but today’s business progress meeting has no significance.” He pointed at Alex: “Alex, what did Doris just say about the estimated completion for Q3 in South China?” Alex didn’t expect to be questioned and hesitated: “Over 90%?”

Luan Nian didn’t continue questioning him but instead asked Doris: “What did Alex just say about the marketing department’s budget rejection rate?”

“Around 70%?”

Luan Nian spread his hands: “These sensitive figures are all buried in verbose information. How much content can be remembered after a day-long meeting like this? It’s unnecessary, a waste of time. Let’s end today’s business progress report here. Please, everyone, go back and re-prepare the content for another meeting tomorrow. My requirements are simple: explain important matters clearly; everyone must understand core progress; all cross-departmental cooperation must reach consensus; all problems must have solutions. Okay?”

“Yes, yes, indeed.” Everyone nodded.

Tracy, seeing everyone getting tense, suggested: “Then let’s move to the next agenda: communicating the final schedule for the China region’s company anniversary. We’ve discussed with the marketing and planning departments before the meeting. We’ll have suppliers select a high-end venue, invite artists we’ve worked with to perform, and start filming the promotional video. This year we’ll keep the traditional highlight: executive performances. The executives can discuss what performances to prepare this year.”

Seeing that Luan Nian wasn’t speaking, Tracy said, “Luke formed a band when he was in school. How about a solo performance this year?” Lingmei only had Tracy who dared to put Luan Nian on the spot, and sure enough, Luan Nian frowned. But Tracy didn’t give him a chance to speak and continued: “This is Luke’s first year in charge of all operations, so it’s very necessary for him to formally present himself to everyone.”

Luan Nian didn’t like performing. Although he rented a practice room with friends and occasionally sang, that was for stress relief.

“Then it’s settled.” Tracy decided on Luan Nian, then winked at him: “So, please discuss today what to perform and what preparations we need to make. Later, the corporate culture and marketing departments will form a company anniversary project team to communicate with each executive.”

Only after everyone left did Tracy say to Luan Nian: “I just proposed that you perform because it’s your first year of appointment. Everyone feels too distant from you, and such distance isn’t conducive to your work. Please understand.”

“How polite.” Luan Nian snorted: “I understand. I’ll arrange it.”

“What will you perform?”

“A striptease.”

“Then I’ll anticipate on behalf of the female colleagues,” Tracy said with a laugh as she walked out.

Luan Nian picked up his phone and saw that Shang Zhitao had sent another message three minutes ago: “Luke… I… didn’t say anything inappropriate yesterday, did I?” Obviously, seeing that Luan Nian wasn’t answering her calls or replying to her messages had made her anxious. Let her be anxious—what did it have to do with him? Luan Nian tossed his phone aside and got back to work.

His every second of silence was torture for the cautious Shang Zhitao. She tossed and turned in bed, her mind filled with various thoughts: Did I delay work? Did I tell him, “Who do you think you are to fire me”? Did I fall asleep while talking?

Forget it, one last try! She nervously called Luan Nian again and unexpectedly heard his voice: “What is it?”

“I…”

“You what?”

“I drank yesterday… and woke up today to see you called me yesterday…”

“Yes, I was urgently looking for the shooting project’s budget sheet.”

“Oh, oh, oh, I’ll send it to you right away.” Shang Zhitao breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“No need, Alex gave it to me.”

“Then I… didn’t say anything else, did I…”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know…”

Luan Nian didn’t want to talk to her anymore and directly hung up.

Shang Zhitao’s face was full of question marks. She no longer felt like taking leave. That very day, she canceled her leave and went to the company early the next morning, rushing into the elevator where she saw Luan Nian holding coffee.

“Good morning, Luke.” Shang Zhitao carefully stood in the corner, secretly glancing at Luan Nian. Why was he expressionless? Why… was he turning his head toward her? Shang Zhitao didn’t have time to look away, and her anxious eyes met Luan Nian’s.

Luan Nian raised an eyebrow, his gaze slowly moving downward, falling on her chest for a moment, then shrugging. This inexplicable look made Shang Zhitao’s face turn red. What was going on?

Not bad, Luan Nian thought to himself. Her figure matched what she claimed. What had she said that day?

“Let me tell you, I have a good figure, you won’t lose out.”

Luan Nian had never seen someone offer themselves so boldly. If she hadn’t been drunk, he would have fired her on the spot and told her to get lost. All those messy words coming out of her mouth—drinking a little cat piss and she forgot who she was. Did she think he would be interested in her if she stripped naked? Did she think anyone could climb into his bed?

The elevator door opened, and Luan Nian strode out first. Shang Zhitao followed behind him like a frost-bitten eggplant. She sat at her desk listlessly, knocking her head: “Come on, remember!” She looked up at Luan Nian, who had already opened his computer and started working.

She ended her leave early, and the marketing department was delighted. With so much work, Shang Zhitao’s arrival seemed like seeing the dawn. After a discussion, they assigned her the company anniversary liaison work.

Lumi dragged her chair next to Shang Zhitao and asked: “Why did you cancel your leave early? A long weekend would have been nice.”

“All my roommates are gone. It’s no fun being alone.”

“Oh… don’t drink anymore in the future!” Lumi was a bit mischievous: “With your poor alcohol tolerance, yet you still show off!”

“I won’t, I won’t.” Who knows what might happen if I drink again! Shang Zhitao thought, and secretly asked Lumi: “That day when you took me home… I didn’t say any… nonsense, did I?”

“Is saying you’re good in bed nonsense?” Lumi lowered her voice: “Shang Zhitao, I really couldn’t tell! You’re usually so well-behaved, but after drinking, you’re quite bold!”

“No way…?”

“Tell you what, next time you drink, let me know. I’ll bring a camera. Tsk tsk tsk.” Lumi shook her head and returned to her seat, leaving Shang Zhitao pale-faced.

After a while, Lumi remembered she hadn’t mentioned the main matter and slid her chair back to Shang Zhitao: “This company anniversary project is good. Although it’s tedious and doesn’t count toward KPIs, you can take the opportunity to get familiar with the executives from each department. This year, the department heads will perform together, and Luke will also have a solo performance.”

“Luke? A solo performance?” What could Luke perform, a dead face? Shang Zhitao wondered inwardly.

“I don’t know about that. He’s always refused to participate in performances before. They say Tracy forced him into it this year.”

“Oh, I see. So what should I do?”

“Tracy will create a project group on the intranet later. I can’t guide you on this project, but if you have any questions, you can ask Tracy directly.”

“Okay. Thank you, Lumi.”

“You’re welcome.”

After finishing the official business, Lumi’s expression changed, and she whispered to Shang Zhitao: “Have you seen it?”

“What?”

“Tsk tsk tsk, it’s quite juicy.” Lumi brought over her computer and put an arm around Shang Zhitao’s shoulder: “Shh!”

Shang Zhitao lowered her head to look at the computer. Damn, it was juicy. The email clearly stated that Lingmei’s new CEO openly played with women’s feelings, causing an ex-girlfriend to attempt suicide. Shang Zhitao widened her eyes at Lumi, her first reaction being: “Why didn’t I receive it?”

“Maybe someone got hold of our company’s employee email addresses and sent them to a selected batch.” Lumi closed her computer and frowned: “This matter has an inside source!” Corporate culture was quite dramatic—Luan Nian had just been appointed and was already being reported for behavioral issues, sent to corporate emails. Without an insider, how could they get employee email addresses?

“Do you believe it?” Lumi asked her.

Shang Zhitao nodded decisively. I do believe it! She wanted to tell Lumi that she had heard Luke’s breakup call! That she had heard Luke inviting a woman to a concert! That she had seen a woman go to Luke’s room in Guangzhou! But in the end, she didn’t say anything and shook her head: “I’m not familiar with him…”

“Forget it, it’s not our business. If Tracy’s team knows, they’ll initiate an internal audit. Our company is strict about these things.” After speaking, Lumi nudged Shang Zhitao’s arm and raised her chin toward Luan Nian’s office: “Look, here she goes.”

Shang Zhitao looked up and saw Tracy entering Luan Nian’s office.

“What is it?” Luan Nian looked up and asked her.

Tracy placed the printed email in front of Luke: “Take a look. I didn’t expect such drama first thing at work today.”

Luke saw the email sent by Zhang Xin under her real name. The photos in the email were quite juicy—pictures of a man and woman in intimate positions. Luan Nian shrugged: “I don’t have that fetish.”

“Whether you do or not isn’t my concern, but now that this has happened, it needs to be resolved today. Give me a solution.” Tracy had a headache—if this matter wasn’t resolved, Luan Nian risked being shown the door.

Luan Nian tossed the paper into the trash: “Besides you, who else received it?”

“IT checked—30% of colleagues received it.”

“So how did she get our employee list? Your work leaked.” Luan Nian leaned back in his chair, looking at Tracy: “You didn’t sell employee information, did you?”

“We’re talking about your issue here, don’t throw dirt on me. Anyone could leak employee information.”

“Then why not investigate?”

“We’re talking about your issue now. Can you resolve it?”

“Of course.” Luan Nian smiled: “Find another woman to come forward, send another email saying this one is fake, that my body doesn’t look that bad.”

…Tracy was amused by Luan Nian’s attitude: “If you won’t resolve this properly, I’ll have to ask internal audit and legal to investigate.”

“Agreed.” Luan Nian nodded: “Investigate quickly. If it involves defamation of my reputation, let the company sue as needed.”

“Fine.” Tracy sighed and left.

Luan Nian watched her leave and noticed employees passing by his office giving him meaningful looks. He didn’t care and was prepared to continue working. But what was wrong with Shang Zhitao? She sent him a message: “Luke, I believe in you.”

Shang Zhitao thought, managing upward means showing support when the boss is in trouble, even if she believed everything in the email was true! However, the photo was a bit disappointing—despite Luke looking good in clothes, without them, he was nothing special.

Luan Nian recognized her fake sentiment, an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. He coldly glanced in the direction of her workstation, then lowered his head to work.

Shang Zhitao thought her upward management was complete and prepared to get back to work properly. Alex told her to compile all the executives’ performances today. The other executives were very cooperative—six department heads, two performances, compiled in less than five minutes. Only Luan Nian remained.

So she sent Luan Nian another message: “Luke, I know your mood must be bad, but I’ll always support you. It’s like this—today we need to confirm your performance content for the company anniversary, so could you tell me roughly what it will be?”

“Shang Zhitao.”

“I’m here, boss. What are your instructions?”

“Pack your things and get out!”

Shang Zhitao understood Luan Nian somewhat by now, and seeing this message didn’t make her as panicked as before. Luan Nian had threatened to fire her many times, but it never actually happened. After a while, he would forget about it.

Besides, he was in a bad mood today, so it was natural for him to vent his anger on her. She accepted it completely.

“So what will you perform?” She fearlessly asked again.

Fuck. Luan Nian cursed. What was wrong with this woman? How could she be so infuriating? Luan Nian was usually the one who angered others, but now he was being half-killed by this brainless Shang Zhitao.

With a stern face, he remained silent, which was rare. Seeing Zhang Xin’s vulgar, grammatically incorrect email didn’t anger him, yet Shang Zhitao’s casual words provoked him.

He didn’t reply to Shang Zhitao’s message until the end of the workday. After Alex asked three times, Shang Zhitao finally couldn’t sit still and decided to find Luan Nian. She asked his secretary at the door: “Does Luke have time now?”

The secretary picked up the phone to call Luan Nian, then told Shang Zhitao with some embarrassment: “Luke says anyone except you is fine.” The call wasn’t even hung up yet when Luan Nian told his secretary: “Tell her word for word.” He must dislike someone to do this, the secretary thought, feeling a bit sorry for Shang Zhitao.

“Oh, okay, thank you.” Shang Zhitao returned to her seat and waited. When Luan Nian left his office, it was already past twelve, and the office was empty. Shang Zhitao saw him walking out and hurriedly picked up her bag to follow: “Luke, are you leaving work?”

“You’ve got nothing else to do today, huh?” Luan Nian said without looking back, not slowing his pace at all.

Shang Zhitao jogged to keep up, even laughing a couple of times: “Not really, there’s a lot of work, but Tracy and Alex have asked several times about your performance.”

They both got into the elevator. Shang Zhitao was a bit out of breath from running after him.

“Luke, you…”

“Shang Zhitao.” Luan Nian called her: “You want to know what you said to me the night before last, right?”

“Ah…”

“You said you wanted to sleep with me. You said that although you don’t look good, you have a nice figure. You said your ex-boyfriend said you’re full of hidden talents. You suggested I try sleeping with you once.”

The elevator opened, and Luan Nian walked out. After a few steps, he turned back, extending his hand to block the closing elevator doors, looking at Shang Zhitao, whose face was as red as a ripe peach: “Not coming?”

Shang Zhitao wished she could drill into the ground. When drinking that day, Yao Bei kept telling her, If you feel an impulse toward someone, don’t hold back. We’re all adults, as long as it doesn’t violate moral principles, nothing else matters. While you’re young, experience more. Every time she said this, Shang Zhitao thought of Luan Nian.

Luan Nian was in a great mood. Dealing with such a fool wasn’t difficult at all. Her stupid actions were enough to make her regret. He lowered his eyes to watch Shang Zhitao exit the elevator with a red face and couldn’t help but let out a laugh from his throat.

They parted ways—he went to get his car, and Shang Zhitao couldn’t get a taxi. He slammed on the brakes in front of her: “Get in.”

“No need, no need.” Shang Zhitao hurriedly waved her hands. Luan Nian didn’t bother talking more and drove away. Get in or not, why should I care? In the rearview mirror, he saw Shang Zhitao’s figure getting smaller. The autumn wind had started blowing, making her look a bit pitiful. He turned around and drove back: “Are you getting in or not?”

“I am!” She hadn’t dressed warmly enough—she absolutely couldn’t catch a cold.

Sitting in Luan Nian’s car, Shang Zhitao felt a bit short of breath. She wanted to explain herself: “Luke, it’s like this… I was very drunk that day… might have said some nonsense. Please don’t mind.”

“So I’m your sexual fantasy?” Luan Nian turned his face to look at Shang Zhitao: “You think of me when you masturbate?” Having spent so many years abroad, such open topics were nothing unusual to him. Besides, this fool Shang Zhitao looked obedient and sensible, yet her mind was full of obscene thoughts—quite amusing.

“I…”

“You what? Want to come home with me?” Luan Nian continued to tease her: “I’ve been single for a while now. Let’s not take it seriously, how about it?”

“No need, no need.” Shang Zhitao waved her hands: “Don’t compromise your precious self.”

“I’m helping you fulfill your wish. Just thank me. No need to be too polite.”

“It’s not good for you to harass your subordinate like this.”

“Is that so?”

Luan Nian took out his phone, pressed play on a recording, and Shang Zhitao heard her own slurred voice: “I want to sleep with you once…” She hurriedly took his phone, pressed pause, and tossed it back to him.

“So who’s harassing whom?”

“I’m harassing you, I’m harassing you. I was wrong.” Shang Zhitao surrendered: “I admit I was a bit restless that day, but when I’m sober, I don’t have such thoughts. Please believe me.”

“People only dare to speak the truth when drunk.”

“It’s not, really not.” Shang Zhitao waved her hands: “Luke, could you please stop by the roadside? I have an appointment with someone nearby…”

Luan Nian saw the subway station ahead, stopped by the roadside, and watched Shang Zhitao flee in panic. He burst into laughter.