In the cramped private room of the teahouse, smoke was suffocatingly diffusing through the air. My mind was in chaos, and I could no longer endure it. I finally opened the window, letting in a piercing gust of cold wind. In an instant, it forcefully swept the smoke out of the room, yet it also brought a profound sense of emptiness that was impossible to resist.
Fang Yuan finally stubbed out his cigarette and asked me, “What exactly did CEO Chen say to you?”
“I think you can probably imagine… otherwise you wouldn’t have come looking for me.”
Fang Yuan lit another cigarette and only sighed after nearly finishing it, saying, “Originally, the matter between me and CEO Chen should have been resolved internally within Zhuomei. That’s why I’ve never discussed it with anyone outside the company. But this time, he really went too far, repeatedly crossing my boundaries… Zhaoyang, I want to ask you, how have you viewed CEO Chen all along?”
I didn’t want to evaluate Chen Jingming at that moment, so I replied, “What matters more is how you see him.”
Fang Yuan’s expression turned pained as he said, “First of all, I must admit that over the years, he gave me many opportunities and support in my work, but all of that came with a prerequisite—that I didn’t pose any threat to his position… Do you know? Ever since I was promoted beyond the standard to become deputy general manager of Zhuomei Suzhou and our roles began to conflict, our previous relationship started to sour… Coincidentally, it was Mi Lan who promoted me, and the Mi family has always had internal conflicts, which is an open secret in the industry. He took advantage of this and sided with Mi’s camp, constantly undermining me through small tactics. Especially after Mi gained strong control over Zhuomei, the situation worsened… He’s a seasoned veteran, very skilled at exploiting human weaknesses. Eventually, even Mi’s will wavered, leading her to make the decision to expel me from Zhuomei. Fortunately, with your support as my brother, I barely managed to stay… Zhaoyang, tell me honestly, if I really had some hidden, malicious intentions, would I have made such a solemn pledge in front of Mi, cutting off my own escape route?… I did this only to show Mi my determination so I could remain at Zhuomei with dignity. I really don’t want to fight with him, but he shouldn’t be so aggressive!”
I remained silent, but my mind was already beginning to tilt unconsciously.
Fang Yuan continued, “Zhaoyang, I’m really exhausted now. I’m under immense pressure to organize this event, yet there are still people stabbing me in the back…” His expression turned painful again as he lit another cigarette. After a long pause, he continued, “The workplace really turns people into defensive hedgehogs. Not everyone is born ruthless; sometimes you really have no choice. Constant retreats only leave you as meat on a chopping board, being hacked away at… Huh, this blood-soaked place really leaves one in a dilemma!”
I felt uneasy but still asked, “So, are you planning to take action against CEO Chen?”
Fang Yuan shook his head and replied, “With Mi protecting him, no one can touch him… I’ll just endure. I only hope to do my work conscientiously and with integrity. If Zhuomei still can’t tolerate me after the Christmas event, I’ll just leave.”
At that moment, I couldn’t fully trust anyone, so I cautiously asked, “Then have you considered that if Chen Jingming really harbors ill intentions, staying at Zhuomei would also pose a threat?”
“Mi is willing to trust him, so what can I do? But don’t worry, even if CEO Chen has extraordinary abilities, he can’t shake Mi. At most, he could harm certain parts of the company’s interests. If I’m not mistaken, he approached you hoping you would take the integrated resources and withdraw from this Christmas event at Zhuomei, right?”
I nodded.
Fang Yuan continued, “I’ve always suspected he still has some underhanded connections with Baoli Department Store. Tell me, if this Christmas event at Zhuomei fails to proceed as planned, who would benefit the most?… Obviously, it would be Baoli Department Store!”
I replied, “Don’t make baseless accusations that could further escalate your conflict with CEO Chen… You said yourself he’s a seasoned veteran. Would he really do something so obvious?… I think there might be some misunderstanding between you. Perhaps after this event, let Mi clearly define your respective responsibilities. Maybe you could transfer to the headquarters in Shanghai to avoid further work conflicts. Even if you can’t fight side by side like before, at least you won’t end up hurting each other!”
Fang Yuan sighed, “Rest assured, I won’t make it hard for CEO Chen. After all, he’s the one who mentored me. Besides learning to protect oneself, one must also learn to be grateful. But Zhaoyang, when you asked me just now, were you testing me?… Can I assume that you still have doubts about me even now?”
Fang Yuan had always been unparalleled in his attention to detail. My subtle attempt to test him was still easily sensed. Not wanting to make things worse, I denied it after a moment of silence, “Calling it a ‘test’ might be too strong. I just hope both you and CEO Chen can calm your minds… Wouldn’t it be better if we could all turn swords into plowshares?… I’m saying, you might have some misunderstandings about him, and vice versa… Regardless of your rivalry, the bond you’ve built over the years is innocent, right?”
“That’s exactly what I think. That’s why I’ve been enduring and haven’t taken any extreme actions. I just hope CEO Chen still remembers our past friendship and gives me a break. After all, no one finds it easy in this workplace!”
I patted his shoulder and nodded, saying, “Your endurance is the right choice. For now, let’s focus on successfully organizing this event. Such a large-scale activity requires exceptional coordination and execution skills. Success in this event will be the best proof of your capability, and no one will have the right to question you anymore!”
“So, you haven’t been influenced by CEO Chen?”
I shook my head, saying, “More than anyone else, I want you to succeed in this event. Come on, do it for your own future, and for Zhuomei’s future…” After a pause, I looked at him sincerely and added, “I truly hope Mi Cai can have someone by her side who can genuinely support her, rather than someone harboring ulterior motives for selfish gains!”
Fang Yuan nodded, his expression serious and solemn, saying, “You’ve also given your all for Mi. As your brother, I really hope you and Mi can have a happy ending, without repeating the tragedy with Jian Wei. You’ve already been hurt enough—I understand, because we’re the same kind of people. Once we commit to someone, it’s hard to accept another relationship. That’s why, despite all the temptations from the outside world, I still love Yan Yan, the woman who has been with me for seven years!”
“You and Yan Yan are role models of this era, filled with positive energy. When I think of you two, I feel not only admiration but also envy and jealousy… A college romance that once lacked material security yet still reached a happy ending is truly rare. For the sake of our generation’s perseverance, please continue your journey together.”
“We will.”
After getting Fang Yuan’s promise, my mood finally lightened a bit. I then picked up my briefcase, indicating that our conversation should end here. I had a plan to implement later, and I needed to go to the “Kongchengli” restaurant first. Although the chances were slim, I would still give it my best shot because I really couldn’t bear to see CC continue suffering. She was an excellent and kind woman. Love shouldn’t torment her in such a cruel way. She deserved a happy relationship—and eventually a marriage—while there was still some youth left in her life! That’s why I had to find the man who left ten thousand yuan at “Kongchengli.”
Standing in the parking lot across from the teahouse, I watched Fang Yuan’s car drive away ahead of mine, and couldn’t help thinking: How wonderful it would be if every friend around me could, like Fang Yuan, persist in a love that brings happiness through perseverance!
Then this story would be filled with joy, because I really didn’t want to see any more tragedies trampling upon our fragile lives!! And I had never changed my original aspiration—to pursue a fulfilling and dignified life, so that I could illuminate that crystalline city and ignite its radiant light!
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