The New Year had ended, and Shang Zhitao’s efficiency improvement project officially entered the implementation phase. She reported the execution plan to Luan Nian over the phone, and he had no objections. Before hanging up, he asked her: “Do you like any particular jewelry?”
Shang Zhitao was taken aback and said: “I don’t know much about jewelry.” Then added: “Please don’t send me things. I don’t lack anything.” She didn’t have particularly high material demands, partly because she was young and looked good in anything. A fresh, clean young woman standing there with a gentle breeze on her face—no jewelry or bag could compare to that.
Luan Nian gave a sound of acknowledgment and hung up.
After Shang Zhitao’s efficiency model had been running for four months, Luan Nian asked her to extract all the core data so he could see the project results.
She had run the data in advance; analysis was all that remained.
Improving efficiency in market-related projects was very difficult. It required changing the entire company’s previous behavioral inertia to operate according to the new model, making everyone understand why they needed to do this, and solving various problems encountered during the process. Shang Zhitao studied process optimization every day, and during that period, she called Zhang Ling daily to consult on various solutions.
Initially, she received non-stop calls day and night—from sales, planning, creative, technical, and even colleagues from the marketing department who didn’t understand. Shang Zhitao was deeply troubled, and even when she was with Luan Nian, she couldn’t focus. Sometimes when they were in the middle of their intimacy, her phone would ring.
Luan Nian almost wanted to smash Shang Zhitao’s phone.
Shang Zhitao was also confused: “Everyone doesn’t know how to operate or why we’re operating this way. What should I do?”
“What is Tracy for?” Luan Nian asked her. Seeing that she hadn’t caught on, he said: “Are you just doing a business project for the sake of doing it? Doesn’t a cross-departmental project like this require Tracy’s team to organize training and tests?”
“Training?”
“What else? Might as well fire the training department then.”
“Oh, oh.”
Only then did Shang Zhitao remember that the company had such an invisible department. That day, she contacted Tracy and explained her needs. Tracy responded quickly, having the training department conduct a needs assessment, course development, create test questions, and implement monitoring cycles. It was indeed effective—Shang Zhitao’s phone fell silent.
After solving her problem, when they could finally enjoy their intimate moments without worry, Luan Nian seriously said to her: “Shang Zhitao, your thinking isn’t high-level enough.”
He was never euphemistic. He could easily have said, “Shang Zhitao, it would be better if you did such and such,” but he wouldn’t.
Shang Zhitao was used to it and sat up straight to listen to his teachings. Luan Nian was amused by her battle-ready posture but continued: “You need to think from a higher perspective. The means to solve problems should be diverse, and you should understand the functions of all departments in the company, even the cleaning staff—what they do and what problems they can solve for you. Don’t stay limited to your little plot of land.”
Shang Zhitao felt Luan Nian was right and took his advice to heart. She conscientiously studied the functions of various company departments and even began researching the company’s interpersonal relationships. As she researched, a thought emerged—she wanted to join the planning department.
She obtained a copy of the planning department’s job description and studied it carefully. Only then did she realize how high the department’s recruitment standards were, especially the criterion “overseas work experience preferred,” which blocked Shang Zhitao at the door.
One day, she met Tracy in the break room and asked earnestly: “Tracy, I’d like to ask, when HR says they prefer candidates with certain experience, does that mean those without such experience definitely won’t be considered?”
“If you excel in other areas, it’s not impossible. It’s not that absolute.” Then she asked Shang Zhitao: “Looking to change jobs?”
“No,” Shang Zhitao waved her hand, then nodded: “Yes.”
“Looking for opportunities outside the company or…?”
“I want to go to the planning department.”
Tracy nodded: “I think that shouldn’t be difficult—it’s just an internal transfer. But the new head of the planning department has just taken office, and the department’s headcount is still locked. You might want to wait and see.”
“Okay. Thank you, Tracy.”
Shang Zhitao had mentioned her ideas to Lu Mi, who naturally supported her. In Lu Mi’s words: “You’ve already done all the marketing department work—it’s just that same old stuff, nothing interesting to do. The planning department would be good. But it’s not easy to get in. Previously Luke led it, but we’re not clear what approach the new Dony takes.”
“Wait a bit longer?”
“Wait a bit longer.”
Shang Zhitao was very receptive to advice. She knew Lu Mi was reliable—though casual in manner, she was accurate in assessing people and situations. If she said to wait, then they needed to wait. Dony was directly appointed by the board of directors. Young and accomplished, his resume seemed comparable to Luan Nian’s, and his background was also good. Management is about balance—not letting one person dominate.
Shang Zhitao had thought once or twice about asking Luan Nian for advice, but she ultimately resisted. She didn’t want to ask for help; she wanted to rely on herself.
Shang Zhitao had become much more capable now.
She was responsible for the marketing department’s budget process management and supplier management—positions others saw as cushy. Only those who had done these jobs knew how exhausting they truly were. In budget management, departments with expenditures all treated you as an enemy. When you questioned something, they would offer all kinds of bizarre excuses, but when they were audited internally, they had one standard line: “The marketing department approved it.”
Supplier management was even worse. With so many suppliers, each bidding process exhausted Shang Zhitao.
Weighed down by work every day, she finally couldn’t take it anymore. On a Friday night at Luan Nian’s home, she had a conversation with him.
The circumstances of their talk were somewhat amusing.
By then, Luke was six months old and, having spent every weekend at Luan Nian’s place, clearly thought they were familiar. Upon arriving, he would patrol up and down, sniffing here and there, checking if there were other dogs in the house. He was in a transition phase—with a little monkey face, one ear standing up while the other still flopped down. Luan Nian always mocked Luke: “I’ve never seen such an ugly dog!”
Luke would tilt his head left and right, finally realizing: You’re calling me ugly? I’m not ugly! I’m the most handsome! Then he would suddenly jump onto Luan Nian, licking his face and scratching him with his paws.
At such times, Luan Nian would angrily shout: “Shang Zhitao! Control your stinking dog!” His disgust was written all over his face as he grabbed Luke by the throat: “Get away!”
Shang Zhitao would run over to separate them, carrying Luke away, watching Luan Nian brush off the fur with disgust while arguing with Luke: “So ugly, shedding fur everywhere, completely useless.”
Luke would get very angry, barking in Shang Zhitao’s arms, baring his teeth and trying to rush at Luan Nian for a duel.
Shang Zhitao would get a headache from their quarreling, lightly patting Luke’s head: “No more barking!” Then glaring at Luan Nian: “Stop bullying Luke!”
That day when she talked to Luan Nian about work, he had just fought with Luke. Man and dog were glaring at each other, neither yielding. Luan Nian was covered in dog hair, and Luke, in anger, had peed in the corner of the living room.
Shang Zhitao said: “I want to talk to you about Luke.”
“Why don’t you talk to your Luke first!” Luan Nian looked at Luke’s annoying appearance, contemplating cooking him in a stew.
“I want to talk about work, and I can’t discuss work with Luke.”
“I thought your Luke was omnipotent!”
Luan Nian gave Luke another disdainful glance before saying to Shang Zhitao: “What’s up, Flora?” Calling her Flora indicated they were discussing work.
“I’m overwhelmed. I want to recruit people. I asked Tracy, and she said you’re temporarily managing the marketing department, so you need to approve the headcount.” Shang Zhitao earnestly calculated her workload and her colleagues’ workloads for Luan Nian, presenting facts and reasoning before concluding: “I can’t manage it all, and nobody else has the experience to help share the burden. I need an assistant.”
“Alright. I’ll allocate two outsourced headcounts to you.”
“Really?” Shang Zhitao hadn’t expected it to be so easy. She thought Luan Nian would ask more questions, like what she would do after hiring outsourced help. She had prepared answers, but Luan Nian didn’t ask.
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“No.”
“Then contact HR on Monday to post the positions.”
“Thank you.”
Managing two outsourced staff, then one or two formal positions, then a small team—gradually, she would become a manager. If nothing unexpected happened, this was how her career blueprint would unfold. Shang Zhitao felt that after all her stumbles to reach this point, finally having the opportunity to lead one or two people, she suddenly realized that work was mostly honest—all her efforts had been worthwhile.
She was happy and laid her head on Luan Nian’s leg, putting her feet up on the back of the sofa, acting spoiled beside him. Luan Nian’s fingers ran through her hair, smoothing it. Rare was such gentleness from him, and Shang Zhitao pushed her luck a bit: “Slower, slower; gentler, gentler, yes, just like that.” Then she fell asleep.
Luan Nian checked the time, looked at the sleeping Shang Zhitao, then at Luke, who was chewing on his ball, and finally pinched Shang Zhitao’s face hard: “Get up, your stupid dog hasn’t been walked yet!” Shang Zhitao got up, bleary-eyed, and attached the leash to Luke to take him out. The villa area was quiet at night with good landscaping. Luke had a preference for luxury, sniffing this grass and that tree, completely at ease. Shang Zhitao enjoyed the gentle night breeze, feeling comfortable. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Luan Nian: “Why did you come out?”
“To get some air.” Luan Nian stood beside Shang Zhitao, looking down at the silly Luke digging a hole in the ground: “What’s he doing?”
“I don’t know. He’s been like this for the past few days.”
“He must be an idiot, right?” Luan Nian mocked Luke again, and Luke seemed to understand, standing up from the ground with soil on his nose and charging at Luan Nian. Luan Nian ran a few steps: “Get away! Stupid dog!” Luke didn’t listen and chased after him.
One chasing, one running, they circled the villa area twice before returning home. Luke was thoroughly exercised. Upon entering, he ate his dog food, drank half a bowl of water, and collapsed into sleep.
Shang Zhitao was shocked, her eyes wide open. Usually, Luke wouldn’t eat properly, and Shang Zhitao would have to hold the bowl, coaxing him: “If you don’t eat, you won’t grow. Be good.” Luan Nian had seen this a couple of times and mocked her for not knowing how to handle a dog. Shang Zhitao couldn’t understand how the problem she had worried about for so long was solved just by Luan Nian running with Luke for two rounds. She followed Luan Nian, who was about to shower, asking: “What happened? Did you inspire Luke’s fighting spirit? Does he want to grow up quickly to defeat you?”
Luan Nian took off his T-shirt and threw it to Shang Zhitao: “Wash this for me.”
“Why should I?”
“Either wash the clothes or wash yourself—you choose.” Hearing this, Shang Zhitao grabbed the clothes and ran. She didn’t like the bathroom; pleasure was a different kind of pleasure, but she would also feel suffocated. Too hot. Luan Nian called after her: “Not a single dog hair should remain!”
Seeing Shang Zhitao flee from his sight, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Luke was sleeping like a dead dog—even with Shang Zhitao’s loud voice, he didn’t come to patrol. Luan Nian wasn’t disturbed and finally had a thorough, complete time. His fingers traced circles on Shang Zhitao’s shoulder: “Next time I’ll walk the dog with you.” Having tasted the benefit, if he had known earlier that running with that stupid dog a few times would bring a night of peace, Luan Nian would have done it long ago.
“Great. I’m so relieved that Luke can eat more.” Shang Zhitao didn’t grasp Luan Nian’s meaning, single-mindedly concerned about Luke’s eating.
“How will you repay me?” Luan Nian’s hand slipped into her nightclothes, his lips pressed against the back of her ear, his teeth catching her earlobe as he whispered: “Want to take Luke to the mountains tomorrow?”
The mountains would be good—finding a place with no people where Luke could run wild would surely make him happy. Shang Zhitao’s attention was on Luan Nian’s fingertips, and she murmured a vague “okay” before burying her head in the pillow, her hand covering the back of his, breathing out a “good” between her rapid breaths. Luan Nian’s heart softened as he locked her in his embrace, his chest against her back, seriously pleasuring her.
The next day, they took Luke to the mountains and the bar. Luan Nian’s bar renovation was complete and about to officially open. When it wasn’t finished, Shang Zhitao couldn’t imagine what it would look like, but once completed, she discovered that Luan Nian’s aesthetic was truly exceptional. Unlike downtown bars, Luan Nian’s establishment exuded elegance and artistic flair. Shang Zhitao finally understood how Luan Nian planned to make money with this bar, as a private club and salon.
Luke ran back and forth in the bar, seemingly enjoying it. Luan Nian asked Shang Zhitao: “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“When the bar tools arrive, I’ll let you be the first customer. You’ll drink the first cocktail made by the bartender.”
“You’ve already hired a bartender?”
Luan Nian raised his eyebrows.
“You know how to mix drinks?” Shang Zhitao was surprised. She had always known Luan Nian was sophisticated, but didn’t realize his knowledge extended to bartending.
“Just the basics.” Luan Nian took two bottles of mineral water from the trunk and handed them to Shang Zhitao: “No cocktails today, just a specially mixed water.”
“What’s the name of this specially mixed water?” Shang Zhitao asked him.
“One Heart.” Luan Nian took a sip, then said to her: “Wanting to join the planning department is a good thing—people strive for advancement. But the head of the planning department has a complex background. If you go there and others ask you to take sides, will you? If you do, you might become my enemy in the future. If you don’t, you might get eliminated.”
“So?”
“So, drink this bottle of water, be of one heart with me.”