Maybe because I had too many things on my mind, I couldn’t get into the mood for work. The entire morning, I kept repeating two things: smoking and drinking tea, trying to relax my nerves, continuously giving myself mental encouragement, telling myself that maybe soon I would hear the news of Zhuomei’s successful collaboration with Tianyang Group.
The office door was knocked on. After I gave permission, the company’s marketing director entered with a file in her hand and stood in front of me. She placed the file on my desk and said, “Zhaozong, these are the recent work plans from our marketing department, a summary of the current project progress, and the funding application for the next phase of marketing. Please review and approve them as soon as possible.”
“Just leave it here. I’ll give you the marketing department’s response within three working days.”
The marketing manager earnestly said, “Zhaozong, I think three working days is too long. With the current positive development of the company, every minute and second is precious. Your approval really affects the progress of many projects. Please try your best.”
I looked up at her, but inside I felt bitter. Probably, except for Jane and me, everyone else is living in the illusion of Luku’s prosperity, unaware of the approaching crisis and how fierce it could be. Perhaps all the efforts of so many people could vanish in an instant.
Regarding the consequences this crisis might bring, no one has the ability to share the burden with Jane and me. I could only keep it buried inside and smiled as I told her, “I’ll try to give you the approval result by tomorrow noon. Everyone has been working hard lately, and I should keep up with everyone’s pace.”
My self-criticism was misunderstood by the marketing director, who quickly said, “Zhaozong, I’m not questioning your work. I’m just giving my suggestion based on the current situation of the company. If you really need three working days, the marketing department will cooperate!”
I helplessly said, “Do I look like someone who can’t take constructive criticism?… It’s just that I really feel everyone has been working hard, and yet I haven’t done my job well… I’m not a mature leader. If one day I fail to lead everyone to realize the value this company should have, I really hope you won’t hate me.”
My spontaneous remark immediately aroused suspicion in the marketing director, who was experienced in the workplace. She stared at me for a long time before asking, “Zhaozong, I feel like your attitude is somewhat negative. Is there any problem with the company’s operation? What you’re saying makes us feel very insecure.”
I shook my head and said, “You’re thinking too much. I’m just reflecting on my own work attitude…” I smiled again and said, “Can you imagine our company having operational problems? At least I won’t believe that.”
My words dispelled her doubts, after all, behind Luku were Jane and Yang Congrong, and no one would doubt Jane’s capability. She sighed in relief, smiled with me, and then suddenly remembered something, saying, “Zhaozong, our bar in Nanjing is going to have a big event next month. Can you use your resources in the industry to find a well-known singer to participate in the event and add more highlights?”
Without thinking, I replied, “Just contact Roben directly. Haven’t you been communicating with him all along? Even if he’s not available, he’ll help us by finding other friends in the industry…”
“Zhaozong, Roben has been gone for several days already, didn’t you know that…?”
I was confused for a while before remembering that Roben had already gone to the United States a few days ago. Suddenly, I felt inexplicably low and melancholic. I lit a cigarette and replied, “…I still feel like he hasn’t left yet! I’ll contact other singers for the event. By when do you need me to confirm?”
“No later than a week.”
I nodded. The marketing director looked at me with concern again but didn’t say anything else. After all, everyone has their off days. Having worked together for so long, she still trusted me, believing I could adjust my state myself. However, the current me had already lost confidence in places others couldn’t perceive!
…
After noon, I worked while anxiously waiting for the result from Zhuomei. In between, I called the woman in red and Mi Cai separately, but both times the calls went unanswered. I knew the meeting was still ongoing, and this meeting that would decide Zhuomei’s future would definitely not be short. Despite my extreme anxiety and impatience, I still waited patiently without hastily calling again to check on the meeting’s progress.
As the sky gradually darkened, it was already the normal time to leave work, but I still hadn’t received Mi Cai’s call. I became increasingly anxious and eventually completely lost my work focus. After roughly finishing my tasks, I left the company. I planned to go to the supermarket to buy some ingredients during this time before receiving any news, then try to distract myself by cooking. Maybe after preparing tonight’s dinner for Mi Cai and me to share, I would finally receive her call, hearing her cheerful voice telling me that everything went well, everything was just great…
With this fantasy and expectation, I once again tried hard to relax myself, bought various ingredients, and returned to where Mi Cai and I lived.
As soon as I entered the house, I dove straight into the kitchen, rolled up my sleeves, and started categorizing the ingredients before processing them one by one. Soon, the aroma of frying oil began to spread throughout our home. Perhaps my cooking skills had become rusty, as I was quite clumsy, completely unable to find the rhythm and composure I used to have when cooking. I had to turn down the heat to prevent the oil from boiling too much. However, because I couldn’t control the heat properly, the taste of the dishes was not as good as before…
On such a day when I should have made everything perfect, how could I allow such a regret? I decisively threw away the finished mushroom and vegetable dish into the trash and stubbornly started cooking it again, determined to stir-fry it until it released the true aroma of mushrooms and vegetables…
Night had already fallen. This old residential area always seemed to react a bit slower than the outside world. After a while, the lights gradually turned on, but I had already been sitting by the dining table for a long time, waiting beside the prepared meals and the opened bottle of wine…
I emptied the cigarette butts from the ashtray into the trash bin, washed it clean, and then extinguished the cigarette I had just smoked inside it. I continued to fill the ashtray in the following time… but my heart grew increasingly panicked, and I could no longer calmly sit still. I picked up the phone and walked from one corner of the room to another, finally dialing Mi Cai’s number again…
But this time, I received an even more alarming voice prompt: Mi Cai’s phone was now turned off…
A sense of unease surged like a tidal wave, spreading instantly through all my senses. I felt like I was about to explode. Without even taking the time to put on a coat, I grabbed my wallet and hurried downstairs. I had to go to Zhuomei to see what was happening!!
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