When I arrived at the Zhuo Mei Shopping Center, I entered a cafe called “Ocean View Coffee,” but didn’t order anything because it was a pre-paid, ocean-themed cafe where the drinks were extremely expensive. Naturally, I needed to wait for Mi Cai to come first.
I chose an empty seat, sent Mi Cai the cafe’s name via text message, and then picked up a fashion magazine to kill time and entertain myself. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky was gradually darkening, and the city, covered in autumn rain, was illuminated by a variety of dazzling lights. I put down the magazine and absentmindedly listened to the sound of raindrops hitting the window.
Mi Cai had quietly walked into the cafe without me noticing. She sat across from me and, noticing the empty table, asked, “Why didn’t you order anything to drink?”
“It’s pre-paid, and super expensive. Even a pot of oolong tea costs more than 200 yuan. The owner of this place is really ripping people off!”
Mi Cai didn’t respond to my complaints. She called a waiter and ordered a pot of oolong tea for me and a cappuccino for herself.
I carefully tasted the tea that cost more than 200 yuan, but couldn’t detect anything particularly special about it. I became even more convinced that the owner was a swindler, without thinking that it might be due to my own low spending level.
After drinking one cup of tea, I looked at Mi Cai, who was stirring her coffee with a spoon, and asked, “You seem mentally exhausted. Have you been tired lately?”
“A little tired,” Mi Cai replied, instinctively rubbing her temples.
I smiled with my eyebrows raised and said, “See? This is exactly what they call shooting yourself in the foot. If you hadn’t gone to such great lengths to push me away, when you’re tired, I would still be able to take care of your daily life. I guarantee I’d make you feel comfortable.”
Mi Cai frowned and coldly said, “Zhaoyang, don’t joke with me like this.”
“You’re just thinking a bit too much. When I said I could take care of your daily life, I didn’t necessarily mean as your boyfriend or husband, right? I could also be your male nanny. I wouldn’t mind being your personal male nanny!”
Mi Cai was speechless with anger. After a while, she said “Boring” and ignored me, continuing to stir her coffee. However, she appeared to be deep in thought.
In a short while, I finished the pot of oolong tea. Feeling hungry, I called the waiter again and ordered a pasta salad. I also considerately ordered a tiramisu for Mi Cai, although, of course, Mi Cai paid.
I didn’t mind taking advantage of a woman. She was much wealthier than me. Spending her money was merely a way to reduce the wealth gap, adjust the main social contradictions, and build a harmonious society.
I quickly finished the pasta salad and then took a scarf, packed in a bag, from my backpack and handed it to Mi Cai.
Mi Cai accepted the scarf and her gaze inadvertently fell on my Reebok backpack, causing her to smile involuntarily.
I complained, “What’s so funny? This is just my entertainment spirit. Reebok even has a women’s backpack. Would you dare to use it?”
Mi Cai shook her head to indicate she wouldn’t dare and took out the scarf from the bag to examine it. She seemed to like it and told me, “It’s quite beautiful!”
“Of course it is! This is the skill my mother does best in her life!”
Mi Cai nodded, then put the scarf into her handbag. She didn’t rush to leave but looked more relaxed than before. Supporting her chin, she gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window at the rain-soaked, neon-lit world.
I also didn’t want to leave and looked out the window with Mi Cai. We watched as each neon light became a piece of prosperous splendor, making me feel so desolate by comparison.
Around 9 p.m., Mi Cai and I said goodbye at the cafe. She drove through the city’s lights toward the old house, while I walked alone through the autumn rain, avoiding fallen leaves, heading toward the newly rented apartment.
…
After a night passed, the sky was no longer overcast. It was a sunny morning. Although I had been kept awake all night by the sound of rain, I still got up early in the morning.
In the morning after the rainy night, the sunlight seemed to carry a slightly cool flavor. The wind howled as it blew up the fallen leaves on the ground. I bought a bag of soy milk and several steamed dumplings from a breakfast shop downstairs and ate while walking.
After throwing the empty bag into the trash can, I looked up and suddenly noticed so many hurried pedestrians around me. Yet I seemed to have become motionless, completely unrelated to this city.
Enduring the cold wind, I stood alone for a long time. Finally, I took out from my pocket the letter I was about to give to Chen Jingming. A sense of helplessness, as if walking at a crossroads in life, once again filled my heart.
I had completed this promotional plan yesterday. Regardless of the final execution results, I had done my best and considered it my final report to Chen Jingming.
When I arrived at the company, it was almost nine o’clock. After clocking in as usual, I came to the office where I had worked for nearly three years. Sitting at my desk, which bore my own marks, my mind was completely blank. I only waited for Chen Jingming to arrive at the company, then I would find a suitable time to hand him my resignation.
A little later, Fang Yuan also arrived at the company. He put down his briefcase, looking radiant and in a good mood. However, his appearance made me feel guilty, but there was nothing I could do. Whether it was right or wrong, I had already done it. For Fang Yuan and Chen Jingming, I could only say sorry.
Fang Yuan invited me to go to the break room to make coffee. I nodded, picked up my cup, and followed him to the break room.
Each of us brewed a cup of coffee and found a corner to chat.
Fang Yuan placed his coffee cup on the windowsill, patted my shoulder, and excitedly whispered, “Zhaoyang, reliable news! After this promotion ends, we will receive appointment notices. I will be appointed as deputy manager of the planning department, and you will replace me as the leader of the planning copywriting team!” He paused, looking at the sunlight on the blinds, swaying in the wind, and sighed, “We’ve struggled in this city for two years and finally have a place of our own… Life will definitely get better and better, right, Zhaoyang?”
A bitter feeling welled up in my heart. I didn’t know how to respond. After a while, I bitterly smiled and said, “Maybe.”
“Why are you so calm, man? Aren’t you even a little bit excited?”
“I’m just indifferent to fame and fortune, contrasting with how worldly-minded you are!” I made a bitter joke with Fang Yuan. In reality, I wasn’t indifferent to fame and fortune either. If I could really become the leader of the planning copywriting team, I would definitely be excited. But now I was preparing to hand my resignation to Chen Jingming. What was there to be excited about?
As we were talking, Chen Jingming’s female assistant found Fang Yuan and me and said that Chen Jingming wanted us to go to the manager’s office.
Fang Yuan said he would go immediately, but I had an ominous premonition in my heart. Perhaps Mi Cai had used these few days to dismantle Mi Zhongde’s conspiracy. As a chain reaction, Chen Jingming’s plan might have already failed.
…
Fang Yuan and I immediately went to Chen Jingming’s office. Sitting in the office chair, Chen Jingming rarely lit a cigarette for himself and looked very gloomy.
Fang Yuan was very puzzled, while I had already figured it out, knowing exactly what would happen next.
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