Tracy successively sent materials to Luan Nian—very detailed materials. Luan Nian examined them carefully. These truly weren’t things an ordinary background check agency could investigate thoroughly; it required some expertise, at least a background in overseas operations. Tracy was reliable. He told her: “Money well spent.”

Tracy ignored this comment and asked directly: “Should we take him down?”

“No matter how chaotic his private life was, that’s his past. It doesn’t involve breaking the law, and there’s no evidence of his inappropriate behavior at the current company.” Luan Nian replied rationally.

“Are you sure he hasn’t broken any laws?” Tracy responded: “Page fifteen, a woman provided evidence that after a company dinner, when she was intoxicated and unclear-minded, she had relations with him.”

“I saw that.”

“So I’ll ask you once more, should we take him down?” Tracy was unusually serious and combative.

“Do you want to take him down because he’s someone the board arranged without going through you?” Luan Nian asked Tracy.

“Do you want to take him down because the board wants to use him to take you down?” Tracy asked Luan Nian.

After a while, they both sent messages almost simultaneously:

“No, because it’s disgusting,” said Luan Nian.

“No, because I’m a woman,” said Tracy.

That’s how their alliance was formed.

But Luan Nian was the type who either didn’t act at all or, once he did, wouldn’t let his opponent rise again. He wasn’t a kind person and couldn’t be provoked easily.

Looking through Tracy’s materials, as Luan Nian had said, what happened overseas couldn’t be traced domestically unless he continued his evil habits in China. There was no need to wait passively. Luan Nian decided to take the initiative.

Song Qiuhan’s call interrupted his thoughts. Luan Nian asked him: “Have you looked at the materials?”

“Yes, I have.”

“How are they?”

“Not bad. But it’s not in my region. I’ve forwarded the materials to my colleague in the China division. They’ll schedule a meeting soon.”

“Good. I’ll come too.”

“No problem. Don’t worry, as long as the team is reliable, their chance of getting investment is 95%.” Song Qiuhan made his prediction.

“You’ve always been prudent. I trust your judgment. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

Judging by their phone conversation, one might think these two men weren’t very familiar with each other, but they were. They had traveled together twice and shared a common group of four people—a very solid friendship. But neither of them particularly liked talking, and both were emotionally reserved. A few words served as greetings. But Luan Nian knew Song Qiuhan was reliable.

So he called Shang Zhitao.

She was at an event venue. It was very noisy around her, and she was a bit surprised to receive Luan Nian’s call, especially since he had abruptly hung up the previous night and hadn’t responded to her since.

“Give me Sun Yu’s phone number.”

“Hmm?”

“Someone from an investment bank will meet with her.”

Shang Zhitao couldn’t believe her ears and confirmed with Luan Nian: “Really?”

Luan Nian detected her genuine joy and surprisingly felt a bit happy himself: “Yes, give me her contact information. I’ll arrange a time.”

Shang Zhitao had never felt that Luan Nian would take her matters, especially her friend’s matters, to heart, particularly after he inexplicably hung up the phone. Feeling touched deep down, she sniffled and said to Luan Nian: “Thank you.”

“Just give yourself to me in return.”

“I can also treat you to a meal.”

“Why don’t you just stop making me angry!” Luan Nian hung up, leaving Shang Zhitao staring at the phone in bewilderment. Did I make you angry? When did I make you angry? I can’t wait to coax you, and you say I made you angry? Thinking this way, she felt Luan Nian was wronging her, so she texted him: “When did I make you angry?”

“Figure it out yourself.”

Luan Nian replied this way but didn’t expect her to figure it out herself. With her brain, there was an 80% chance she wouldn’t understand. When it was time to leave work, he packed up and left again, running into Tracy. Seeing her puzzled expression: “Meeting a client?”

“Going home to walk the dog.”

“Didn’t you say you gave that dog away?”

“Got it back again.”

Tracy followed him into the elevator, looking him up and down: “Are you in love?”

“Is that also your business?”

“Not now, but later when your girlfriend sends emails to the company distribution list exposing your scandals, then it will be my business.” Tracy was also formidable in her speech, frequently using soft knives, but her opponent was even more ruthless: “At least then you’d finally have some real work to do.”

Neither gained any advantage. Tracy clicked her tongue and left the elevator.

Luan Nian thought again of the “Dony” that had flashed on Shang Zhitao’s phone screen that night. He didn’t want to give Dony more time to slip up; he couldn’t wait. He had to make a move.

Luan Nian arrived home, leashed Luke, and left the complex. He had made a grooming appointment for it. Before even entering the pet shop, Luke became agitated—it didn’t like baths, it just wanted to stay dirty. It sat down stubbornly, strained its neck backward, and refused to move forward.

Luan Nian threatened it: “If you don’t go, I’ll cook you in a stew.”

Luke still refused to move: Go ahead and stew me!

Man and dog were at an impasse for a long time. Luan Nian finally surrendered, walked forward, and picked it up. Luke clung to his shoulder, pathetically trembling. Luan Nian was unusually gentle, even patting its back to comfort it: “What are you afraid of? It’s just a bath.”

Luke let out a long whine: “Wooo~ I don’t want to wash!” as if it had a lot to say.

Luan Nian carried it into the pet shop, delivered it to the bathing pool, and spoke softly to comfort it for a long time before retreating to stand outside the glass window to watch it bathe. Luan Nian felt he had truly nothing better to do—carrying a dog for a bath and having to comfort it; what kind of situation was this?

As Luke bathed, it transformed. After a while, white fur started floating in the bathing area, and a thick layer covered the floor. Luan Nian thought the money was well spent. When the bath was finished, he went ahead and got a bath membership card for it, as if Luke would be staying with him frequently.

Freshly bathed, Luke looked truly handsome—a body covered in fine, soft fur, squinting its eyes, sticking out its tongue, smiling in the autumn breeze, looking incredibly stylish. So stylish that even Luan Nian thought this dog wasn’t bad.

That evening, when Shang Zhitao called to ask if Luke was behaving, Luan Nian mocked: “Don’t you know what your dog is like? Trembling over a bath, I’ve never seen such a cowardly dog.”

“You took it for a bath?”

“Mm.”

“How much did it cost?”

“Five thousand.”

“What? A dog bath costs five thousand near your complex?”

“…I got a membership card.”

“Oh.” Shang Zhitao thought for a moment and tentatively said: “A five-thousand-yuan card… then Luke should wash there frequently… otherwise if the owner runs away…”

“Mm.”

When Luan Nian made this sound, Luke was sitting by the window watching falling leaves. The window light was dim and yellow, casting its lonely little silhouette, like it had depression. How was it that even Shang Zhitao’s dog could evoke such sympathy?

“I’ll be back next Friday, can I come directly to your place? Otherwise, it would be a lot of back-and-forth trouble…”

“Fine.” Luan Nian glanced at Luke again. He needed to let Luke use up all those baths, otherwise, five thousand yuan would go down the drain.

Why was Luan Nian so agreeable today? Not sulking at all. Shang Zhitao even felt unaccustomed to it. A colleague poked their head out from the private room and called her: “Shang Zhitao, come quickly!” She responded, then said to Luan Nian: “The Southwest branch arranged a dinner today, I’m going in now.”

“Mm. You haven’t been drinking, right?”

“No.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Shang Zhitao responded with a yes, hung up the phone, and went inside.

In the private room, after several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere was extremely lively. Even Dony’s face had slightly changed color. He unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt, rolled up his sleeves, revealing attractive wrists. His forehead had a fine sheen of sweat—he was quite handsome.

Shang Zhitao thought, if this person didn’t harbor such evil intentions, how far could he go in his career? She was lost in thought when Dony’s gaze shifted towards her, falling on her face across the table full of food and drinks, giving her a smile.

Shang Zhitao smiled back, picked up the teacup in front of her, took a sip, and looked elsewhere.

In Dony’s eyes, this meant the girl was shy, or perhaps had some interest in him. So he frequently looked at her intentionally or unintentionally while speaking, with a hint of special meaning, wanting to ensnare Shang Zhitao firmly in his net. Until finally, she would surrender completely and submit.

Dony enjoyed this game; he enjoyed the thrill of conquering women.

A while later, Shang Zhitao went to the restroom. She didn’t choose the one in the private room but went to the public restroom. The public restroom was at the end of the corridor, requiring her to pass by many empty private rooms. At this hour, many gatherings had already ended.

She stayed in the restroom a bit longer, then came out to wash and dry her hands before heading back. Dony came towards her, and as he passed by, he suddenly pulled her into a nearby private room, closing the door. They were trapped in darkness.

Shang Zhitao asked him harshly: “What are you doing?”

“Flora, stop pretending. We’re both adults. I know what you want.” Dony’s hand gripped her shoulder tightly and pushed her against the wall. Shang Zhitao heard a thud—the sound of her body hitting the wall.

She forced herself to remain calm: “I advise you to let go. I’m going to call for help!”

“Really?” Dony placed his hand on her neck: “I heard you want to join the Planning Department but don’t have enough qualifications, right?” The young woman’s body temperature rose slightly. Dony felt like he was handling a little chick.

It was a very blatant and direct temptation. Shang Zhitao didn’t speak. Dony continued: “Promotion, raise—within easy reach. Think about it, wouldn’t it be easier than your efforts? You’ve worked hard for more than two years and have only been promoted two levels. When will you reach the top?”

“I never expected Dony would resort to such means to capture women.” Shang Zhitao forced her voice to sound calm, but she couldn’t manage it. She was about to cry.

“The means aren’t important; what’s important is the result.” Dony laughed, his lips seeking Shang Zhitao’s ear. Shang Zhitao suddenly began to struggle, shouting: “Let me go! Let me go!”

She reached out to tear at his clothes. The private room door opened, and the female colleague from Chengdu stood at the doorway, reaching to turn on the light, asking them: “What’s going on?”

Shang Zhitao desperately pushed Dony away and ran out, ran to the private room, grabbed her bag amid everyone’s stunned expressions, and fled.

She ran out of the hotel and called Lu Mi, her voice trembling slightly.

“Lu Mi, I have evidence. Definitive evidence of workplace sexual harassment.”

“Flora, where are you? Where are your colleagues from the branch?”

“I’m in Chengdu, but I’m planning to catch the last flight back.”

“When you get back, shall we take the final step?” Lu Mi told her: “Hey, sister, you know what? You’re so badass. I finally know why I liked you from the first glance—because I knew you were inherently this badass!”

Shang Zhitao held back hot tears. She had endured for so long and finally completely recorded how a man progressed from verbal harassment to specific actions, and also had an eyewitness. Since the day Dony asked if she had a boyfriend, she had bought a voice recorder and carried it with her at all times. Whenever Dony appeared beside her, she kept it on.

Shang Zhitao thought, I’m not a meek little lamb; I’ll make you, you maggot, have nowhere to hide. That day was the most courageous moment of Shang Zhitao’s life. This courage also came from that day when that colleague told her: “I don’t want to drink; there’s a wolf at the table.” The girl cried to Shang Zhitao that after she was drunk, Dony had pressed himself on top of her. Fortunately, that day, she had her period.

Dony had told that colleague: You’re drunk, no one will believe a drunk woman. I can say you seduced me. Don’t you want a promotion? I can give you a chance.

Having succeeded before, he thought all girls were easy to bully.

And now Shang Zhitao had evidence, she could finally confront this maggot.

Until now, Dony still thought the matter would be forgotten. He didn’t think Shang Zhitao would do anything against him because she looked so easy to bully.

Shang Zhitao felt she was about to win, but her legs wouldn’t stop trembling—until she boarded the plane, got off the plane, and rushed straight to Luan Nian’s home, her trembling seemed to never stop.

She opened the door. Luke greeted her in the middle of the night. She hugged Luke, ran to Luan Nian’s room, saw him just closing his computer, and Shang Zhitao removed her clothes one by one, cupped his face, and kissed him passionately. Luan Nian embraced her trembling body, his lips and tongue branded her skin as he whispered in her ear: “Weren’t you supposed to come back in half a month?”

“I couldn’t wait. I wanted to see you today.”

Shang Zhitao arched her body, pressing tightly against him: “I want to see you right now.”

“Shang Zhitao, what’s wrong?”

Shang Zhitao shook her head: “I just suddenly missed you very much.” She thought she should tell Luan Nian that Dony had been harassing her, but she didn’t. Her small pride made her feel she couldn’t tell Luan Nian; she should solve it herself, as an independent adult woman. Moreover, behind her were Lu Mi, Sun Yuanzhu, Sun Yu, and that deeply hurt female colleague. They could handle it.

Shang Zhitao never regretted her decision at that time. She knew she had been practicing facing everything alone since then. She knew she had been thrown into this cruel reality, and people who try to resolve problems with fairy tales rarely find better paths. Because reality is always bloody. She proved in this way that she could manage without Luan Nian.

You have to face things head-on at least once.

“Luan Nian.” She called his name in the darkness and embraced him tightly.

“I’m here now.” Luan Nian, with passionate, burning kisses, led her out of the darkness and towards the light.