"Тhе bоаrd оf directоrs sресiаlly apрrоved an аdditional соmреtitiоn slоt this afternоon. So, let's drink this toast togеthеr—yiliа, florа, аnd I. Wе'rе all frоm thе рlаnning dеpаrtment, and no mаttеr which оf you sucсeeds, I'll bе hapру fоr уоu." Jоsh rаised his glass, lооking seriоuslу аt Shang Zhi Тaо. Тracу hаd told him аbout Shang Zhi Tаo's situation, аnd hе fоund this emрloyeе quitе intеresting.
Тhе tаblе suddеnlу fell silеnt. Еverуonе lookеd at Shаng Zhi Таo. Тhе wоrkрlace lаndscape cаn change аbruptly; nо rule is sеt in stоne. Еverything must make way for capital. It's just one more competitor—other departments have competitors too. The only difference is that this competitor comes with a 250 million foundation.
A colleague coughed, waiting for Shang Zhi Tao's reaction. The situation was becoming awkward. But Shang Zhi Tao was no longer her 22-year-old self; she could handle it. Glancing at the wine in her glass, she walked up to Josh with a smile. "Thank you, boss. And thank you, yilia, for joining the competition. A competitive environment is beneficial for the company's growth. I'm quietly looking forward to it."
"I'm glad you understand," Josh said to Shang Zhi Tao.
Shang Zhi Tao smiled, clinked glasses with him and yilia, and drank the toast. Yilia drank hers too.
This decision had been made before the bidding process, representing the company's stance. It ensured both openness in hiring and fair competition. It just made things harder for Shang Zhi Tao. Without yilia, everyone knew this year would have been hers because she had delivered a super project. But yilia had 250 million and backing behind her, making the outcome uncertain.
Shang Zhi Tao understood.
But she wouldn't concede defeat.
After the dinner, yilia stopped her. "Flora."
"Yilia."
"Actually, I didn't know about this either. I was only informed before the gathering. Tracy said Luke applied to the board of directors. He felt the company's hiring practices were too rigid."
Shang Zhi Tao listened carefully, then replied slowly, "I support the company's decision. Yilia, you're truly outstanding. When I was twenty-two or twenty-three, I was quite mediocre—well, I still am. I'm happy to compete with you." Shang Zhi Tao patted her shoulder. "Good luck."
When she returned home that evening, Sun Yuanzhu was already asleep. Sun Yu asked her, "It's been so long since you've seen him. Why didn't you go to his place?"
"He drank too much," Shang Zhi Tao replied, walking into the bedroom. She didn't blame the board for approving the extra slot, nor did she want to ask whether Luan Nian had changed the rules. As a company manager, he had the right to adjust hiring strategies, and Shang Zhi Tao understood that. Luan Nian called, and she answered. She could hear the heaviness in his voice; he really had drunk a bit too much.
"Why did you leave?" Luan Nian asked her.
"I came back to see Sun Yu."
"And Sun Yuanzhu," Luan Nian added. Both fell silent, unsure what to say next.
"Luan Nian, I want to ask you—did you know about the board's decision?" Shang Zhi Tao asked him. How could he not know? He should have been the first to know. Or perhaps, as yilia said, he was the one who applied for the promotion reform.
"I knew. Does it matter?"
"Don't I have the right to know?"
"What are you afraid of?" Luan Nian asked her. "It's just one more competitor. What are you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid. I just wish you had told me."“Is there any fundamental difference between me telling you and someone else telling you?”
“No.”
Luan Nian was right—there really was no fundamental difference. Because the outcome was the same.
Shang Zhi Tao knew that once work was involved, the balance between them would be shattered. Luan Nian could oppose the board’s decision, he could be more forceful, but he didn’t. Shang Zhi Tao knew that in his heart, Yilia was a viable competitor. They had collaborated for a year, and Yilia was exceptionally talented—whether in this case or others, she excelled. Luan Nian had always despised rules; often, he believed rules were meant to be broken.
“So, will you score fairly?”
“What does ‘fair scoring’ mean?”
“It means not considering that 250 million, because you know I really can’t come up with 250 million. I hope that on the day of our competition, you can be fair.”
“Can you influence all the judges?” Luan Nian didn’t answer her directly but asked her this instead.
Shang Zhi Tao thought for a few seconds and said, “I don’t want to influence anyone, nor do I want to influence you. You’re right—whether you tell me or Josh tells me during the meeting, there’s no fundamental difference. Get some rest.”
Shang Zhi Tao hung up the phone, and after a while, she received a message from Luan Nian: “Be confident, Shang Zhi Tao.”
Luan Nian didn’t know where her real issue lay—he would never know. He told her to be confident, not realizing that Shang Zhi Tao was no longer the timid person she once was. She had changed. He thought Shang Zhi Tao was afraid of losing, that she felt inferior to others.
That wasn’t it.
Even though she knew there was never absolute fairness in the workplace—where connections, capital, and relationships always seemed to come before ability—she still believed this was Lingmei, the Lingmei that had made an exception to hire her and allowed her to grow rapidly, the Lingmei where anything was possible.
So she didn’t think she would lose.
She just hoped Luan Nian could be a little different toward her, to tell her directly: “You have another competitor, but I believe in you. Keep going.”
That one sentence would have been enough.
But he didn’t.
Perhaps in his heart, the outcome was already decided.
Early the next morning, she flew to the northwest. The meeting was over, the boss had been met, and the project had to continue. The first phase of the project was about to conclude, and government officials came to inspect. Seeing that Shang Zhi Tao seemed a shade darker than before, one of them asked her, “Is the northwest tough?”
Shang Zhi Tao nodded, then shook her head.
The official smiled.
“We all know whether the northwest is tough or not. A young girl like you staying here for so long, working diligently without complaining—what are you after?”
Probably for an ideal.
But Shang Zhi Tao didn’t say it. Ideals were laughable—if you spoke of them, people would ask, “Can ideals be exchanged for money? Look at those idealists; they all died chasing their ideals.”
Seeing her silent, the official smiled. How many people had this official seen? Politicians, businesspeople, intellectuals, farmers—having seen so many, could he not tell what the girl before him was thinking? He said to her, “Don’t rush. Take your time.”
Shang Zhi Tao nodded.
“So, after the first phase concludes, you’ll return to Beijing?” the official asked her.
“Yes. I’ll continue to provide remote support, but the second phase is the construction stage, and our involvement will be minimal,” Shang Zhi Tao patiently explained."That's a real shame. It would be wonderful for you to put down roots here," the government official said.
"Thank you. I'll definitely come if the opportunity arises."
After seeing the official off, Shelly said to her, "That was such a great chance just now—to have the government official put in a word for you with the company. Whether it's the boss's wife or the client, they'd have to step aside, don't you think?" Shelly, though far away in the northwest, also understood office politics. Whether it's 250 million or 2.5 billion, nothing works better than political influence.
Shang Zhi Tao shook her head. "If I won using such methods, I'd look down on myself."
Some principles must never be broken; integrity is always the bottom line.
Having worked for six years, Shang Zhi Tao had long understood what the real shortcuts were and how to take them. She could have chosen easier methods, but she didn't want to. She hoped everything she gained came through proper channels, even if that seemed utterly foolish. Yet she was willing to be that fool.
Staying true to oneself is the hardest part of maintaining an independent character.
Returning home that evening, she turned on the light and saw Luan Nian sitting on the sofa. The day she left Beijing without a word, Luan Nian hadn't asked for a reason. He was so clever; he already knew the reason.
"Come here."
Shang Zhi Tao put down her backpack, changed her shoes, walked over to him, and sat beside him, her posture slightly distant.
"So, you left without saying goodbye because I didn't tell you?" Luan Nian asked her.
Shang Zhi Tao remained silent.
"Speak."
"Say what?" Shang Zhi Tao asked him. "Did you speak up when you should have? If not, why should I have to respond unconditionally every time you speak?"
"Would telling you have changed the outcome?"
"Was this outcome something you helped bring about?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't mean anything."
In the past, Shang Zhi Tao had always understood Luan Nian's emotions, and today was no exception. She knew Luan Nian was unhappy, that he was particularly angry. But she didn't want to be affected by him. She got up from the sofa and moved to the chair opposite. After a long while, once she had fully processed her own emotions, she spoke slowly, "I don't mind competing with Yilia. This is the workplace—whoever performs better gets the position. I don't think I'm any worse than her. The above is the premise for our conversation today. Do you agree?"
Luan Nian didn't speak, so Shang Zhi Tao continued, "Then I'll take that as your agreement. Based on this premise, I hoped my boyfriend would personally tell me when he knew the outcome, so I could be mentally prepared. Is that too much to ask?"
"It's not too much, but it's meaningless."
"I'm not looking for meaning. I just need my boyfriend to stand by my side, as long as it doesn't violate his principles." What I'm seeking is my boyfriend's emotional support. Shang Zhi Tao thought this to herself, suddenly feeling that being in a relationship with Luan Nian was too exhausting. He understood nothing, and she didn't want to be with someone like that anymore.
"So?" Luan Nian asked her.
That single word left Shang Zhi Tao momentarily speechless. She felt an indescribable sense of grievance because, in that kind of social gathering, she had been put in such an awkward position. She wouldn't have had to be so embarrassed if Luan Nian had told her in advance. But he hadn't.
Shang Zhi Tao felt that she and Luan Nian would never truly understand each other, at least not when it came to work. He had his own standards for judgment, forming his own system for everything, good or bad. Shang Zhi Tao couldn't bridge that gap."You don't need to worry about who your competitors are, just focus on doing your best. Is that so difficult?" Luan Nian asked her.
Shang Zhi Tao pressed her lips together and remained silent, leaving them in an inexplicable stalemate. After a long, long time, the wind picked up outside, and the window rattled. Finally, Shang Zhi Tao spoke: "You're right about everything. No matter who tells me, the outcome is the same. My mistake was thinking you were different from others. Now I know." She would never see Luan Nian lower his head or speak a gentle word, nor could she ever become the kind of brilliant person in his eyes who was worth him breaking the rules for.
"I suggest you calm down," Luan Nian said. "This isn't a big deal."
"For you, it isn't."
"Is it for you? You're so angry simply because you feel I didn't treat you specially, right? Fine, I'll tell you now—I always keep work and life separate, and I suggest you do the same. Otherwise, you won't be able to handle it."
"Fine. I understand. I've separated them now."
"So, is this work or life?"
"Work," Shang Zhi Tao replied. "Today, tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that—it's all work." She walked to the door and opened it. "I don't need my boss giving me special treatment."
Luan Nian turned to leave, stepping outside before pulling back. "Whether you admit it or not, you feel threatened by Yilia participating in the competition. After all these years, you still can't face competition openly. The core reason is your lack of confidence."
"Let me say it again—I just don't like being told this news at a drinking party."
"If you weren't my girlfriend, who would you blame for being told this at a drinking party? The board of directors? Yilia's background of bringing in 250 million in orders? Your new boss's poor timing? Why should I pay for your lack of confidence?"
Shang Zhi Tao's throat tightened.
She didn't speak, because if she did, she would cry. She merely raised her hand slightly, gesturing for him to leave.
Luan Nian left without looking back.
While showering, Shang Zhi Tao broke down in tears. She was furious with Luan Nian, more than ever before. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she heard the door open and saw Luan Nian walk in, toss something aside, and start undressing.
Shang Zhi Tao didn't want to talk to him and turned toward the bedroom, but Luan Nian pulled her back, pinning her against the wall. Her towel fell to the floor as they engaged in a silent struggle. After months without intimacy, Shang Zhi Tao was incredibly sensitive and surrendered almost immediately.
Luan Nian held her limp body and bit her lip hard. "Don't trust me, is that it?"
Shang Zhi Tao remained silent. Luan Nian buried himself deeper. "Speak!"
"I don't trust you."
"You only trust Sun Yuanzhu, is that it?" Luan Nian thrust harder. "Hmm?"
"Yes!"
Neither spoke again. Luan Nian grew increasingly fierce, while Shang Zhi Tao clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound. Though she felt pleasure, she made it seem as if he were forcing her.
Suddenly, Luan Nian felt it was all meaningless.
He stopped moving and looked into Shang Zhi Tao's eyes. "You're really boring, you know that?"
When he was angry, he always wanted to hurt others—a flaw he could never overcome. He stood up, put on his clothes, and this time, he truly left.
Shang Zhi Tao didn't reach out to him, and Luan Nian didn't reach out to her either.Sun Yu often called her, saying, "Yuanzhu ate a little more today."
"Besides medication, he's also undergoing psychological intervention and other treatments. He's clearly improving and smiled a few times today." Sun Yu could never directly say what those other treatments were—she felt it was too cruel.
"His company had an anniversary celebration, and he attended. He even performed in a show with his colleagues. I'll send you the video so you can take a look."
"When are you coming back? Sun Yuanzhu said we should all go watch a midnight movie together."
Shang Zhi Tao felt that even though life was ordinary, at least Sun Yuanzhu was showing improvement, and that was truly wonderful.
When she returned to Beijing to resume her job, she went to Luan Nian's house to see Luke. She played with Luke for a long time: "Wait for me to come back, and I'll take you home. Even though our own place is small, it's still home, right?"
Luan Nian frowned but didn't say anything. Shang Zhi Tao looked up at him and said, "Luke doesn't seem to want to go home with me."
"Do you think Luke is as ungrateful as you?" Luan Nian said this, then got up to cook. Shang Zhi Tao stood beside him, watching him pan-fry steak, and said, "I want mine medium-well."
"There isn't one for you."
"Then I'll eat yours."
Luan Nian glanced back at her, feeling a faint, almost imperceptible sense of grievance. He had never really allowed himself to feel wronged before, and even he found it novel.
Each of them had a plate of steak pasta, along with the avocado smoothie Luan Nian made—all of it delicious. Shang Zhi Tao especially loved the steak pasta Luan Nian made so much that she couldn't get used to it at any restaurant, nor could she find anyone else who could brew osmanthus milk the way he did.
"Can I have your osmanthus milk tomorrow morning?" Shang Zhi Tao asked him.
"Mm."
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