"Аlех is simрlу changing jоbs аs usuаl, but his bоnd with Lingmеi and everуоne herе won't breаk. Wе саn still shаrе a drink togеther when there's time." Luan Niаn wаs unusuallу amiаblе tоdаy: "Sо bеfоrе thе meеting begins, let's first cоngrаtulatе Alex. I аm persоnally vеrу grаtеful fоr thе suрport Аlеx аnd thе еntire mаrketing dерartment hаvе given sinсe my aрpointment. Аlех truly built аn excерtiоnal tеаm. Тhаnk уоu, Alех."
"Just doing mу pаrt." Aleх, as аlwауs, was grасiоus, сlasping his hands tоgether and waving them slightlу: "This reallу is just a normаl job сhаnge. I'vе been at Lingmei for too many years and wanted a change of environment. Who knows, maybe I'll make a comeback someday."
"Welcome."
Luan Nian said welcome, but everyone knew he would never allow such a comeback. All bosses despise betrayal.
"Shall we officially begin today's meeting?" Luke sought Alex's opinion, showing every bit of respect due.
"Luke can decide. I'll just observe. If there are any issues I need to resolve, I'll step in."
"Alright, let's begin then."
Luan Nian called this meeting simply to get a full picture of the current marketing department's operations and understand what each person was working on. The departure of a senior executive would inevitably cause team fluctuations, so he needed to prepare backup plans and determine what kind of talent Tracy should recruit in the market. With this purpose in mind, Luan Nian wasn't nitpicking during today's meeting. He listened attentively, occasionally asking a few work-related questions, none of them sharp.
Everyone's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and the atmosphere grew more harmonious. By the time it was Lumi's turn, the mood was already quite light. Lumi, being such a free-spirited person, casually remarked during her report: "This client is such a jerk!" Everyone burst into laughter.
Shang Zhi Tao laughed too. That was just Lumi—she wouldn't change jobs for money, had no grand ambitions, and was content as long as she had something to do. She wouldn't intentionally harm anyone, but if provoked, she wouldn't hold back. Lumi had taught Shang Zhi Tao a lot.
Luan Nian also smiled and asked Lumi: "How about making you the unified point of contact for all these clients from now on?" Luan Nian had a keen eye for people. Lumi might seem careless, but she was resolute, and her resolve stemmed purely from her confidence. That was why, many years later, even as the marketing department changed bosses, Lingmei's organizational structure evolved, and many employees whose skills stagnated were let go, Lumi remained a foot soldier in the marketing department. Eventually, everyone at Lingmei knew there was a formidable presence in the marketing department—someone who could survive even when the entire company struggled.
Letting go was also a form of wisdom.
"No way." Lumi quickly waved her hands: "I still want to live a few more years!"
Everyone erupted in laughter. Luan Nian's gaze swept over Shang Zhi Tao, who was also smiling, lost in thought.
When it was Shang Zhi Tao's turn to report, she summarized the new budget management project she had been working on recently, making her the most meticulous presenter in the marketing department.
Everyone listened attentively. Luan Nian asked her: "With the new budget management process in place, have you calculated the efficiency improvement rate for the team?"
"We've tested it on two projects. Efficiency improved by 20%.""If we could reach 25%, that would be ideal." Luan Nian looked at Shang Zhi Tao, offering her an opportunity without expecting her to grasp it or fully understand its implications. Though she was diligent and hardworking, she was also young, impulsive, and easily influenced. Budget management was a core function of the marketing department, requiring strict self-discipline from those in charge. Shang Zhi Tao was upright and meticulous—she was suitable. He offered her this chance, especially after their heated argument the night before.
There always seemed to be a missed opportunity between Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao. This decision had been made earlier but was only voiced now, making it appear as though he was offering charity.
"If we can achieve 25%, it will greatly benefit the company’s overall business management." Luan Nian added, "Can you do it?"
Shang Zhi Tao looked at Luan Nian. She rarely met his gaze directly during work, especially in front of others. She knew she was ordinary, fragile, and easily overshadowed among these elites, but she longed for Luan Nian to communicate with her as an equal. She had worked so hard, not to be called cheap or obedient.
"I probably could. But I’m not the right person." She rejected the opportunity Luan Nian offered—she didn’t want it.
When love and work became entangled, it disrupted the order that should have been there. She could have made decisions more calmly, but she was young then and didn’t understand such things.
Luan Nian shrugged, his eyes crinkling slightly before he smiled. "It’s clear that Flora has put a lot of thought and reflection into her work. I’ve also heard Alex and Tracy mention your efforts more than once. After hearing this report today, I think their evaluation of you was too conservative. You’re not just hardworking—you’re also very smart. Keep it up."
Shang Zhi Tao smiled back at him, dismissing his praise as mere formalities. She didn’t believe it.
After the meeting ended, Luan Nian returned to his office, where Tracy was waiting for him. "Did you finalize what we discussed the other day?" she asked.
"What was that?"
"Having Flora assist Lumi with budget management."
"Flora refused, and Lumi is hopelessly incompetent." Luan Nian rarely trusted anyone, and he inwardly mocked himself—look at the two candidates you had high hopes for.
Tracy nearly choked on her water. "Flora refused?"
"Yes." The matter was over, and Luan Nian didn’t want to dwell on it. He opened his email to review the candidates Tracy had sent him—all seasoned marketing professionals with impressive resumes.
"So, which one do you like? Or do you want to search for someone yourself?"
"No need. The people I want won’t come, and I can’t be bothered with those I don’t want. Let’s follow the normal hiring process and review more resumes." Luan Nian thought for a moment. "There’s no rush. The marketing department will definitely see some changes. We can wait until things stabilize before bringing in new leadership."
"Alright."
"Shouldn’t you reflect on HR’s oversight? Someone poached our senior executive, and you didn’t hear a thing?" Luan Nian held Tracy accountable."I've already begun self-reflection within the team. This time it's our problem, I admit it. It won't happen again." As a seasoned professional, Tracy has always been straightforward and direct—she never shirks responsibility when it's clearly hers. With the departure of senior executives, they still have many issues to handle. Not only regarding personnel, but also public relations, brand direction, and many lingering internal problems.
"You talk to Alex and keep public opinion under control." Luan Nian was no pushover, and Alex had engaged in misconduct before—Luan Nian had evidence. When they met on the beach in Phuket, he made it very clear: Alex had achieved a class leap at Lingmei, owned three apartments and two luxury cars in Beijing, and the company had treated him well. It would be best to part on good terms, without letting greed lead to an ugly fight.
If things got ugly, Luan Nian wouldn't hesitate to send Alex to prison.
"And I know it was you who leaked the company employees' email addresses to Zhang Xin." Luan Nian said to Alex that day. "But I didn't pursue it because I respect you and am grateful to you."
The workplace is far more complicated than one imagines.
For the first time in her life, Shang Zhi Tao found herself at the center of a workplace storm, her mind filled with countless doubts. After work, instead of staying late, she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed out, wanting to take a walk.
She kept thinking about the same questions: Did Luan Nian get to where he is today by currying favor with powerful people? What was Alex's real reason for wanting to take me with him? He could have taken someone more capable and independent. She walked from dusk until nine at night, finally arriving at the entrance of her residential complex.
Her neighborhood was truly crowded, so much so that many called it the "Sleeping City." As night fell, the residents of the Sleeping City gradually returned, and the area began to buzz with noise and liveliness. She thought back on every day of the past year or so—each day bittersweet. Though exhausting, looking back, each day had brought its own rewards.
Sun Yu got off the bus and was startled to see Shang Zhi Tao sitting there. "Hey? Why are you sitting here?"
"I don't want to go home."
"Why?"
"Because it's lively here."
For those who come to Beijing alone to live, the first lesson to learn is how to endure loneliness. Shang Zhi Tao was a somewhat slow-to-sense person and, relatively lucky, had encountered good roommates and colleagues, so her loneliness wasn't so obvious. But today, she felt a bit lonely. After all, there's a place in the heart that roommates and friends can't fill.
Sun Yu sat down beside her, took her hand, and gasped. "Why is it so cold?"
"I walked back from the company."
"Nearly 20 kilometers?"
"Yes."
Sun Yu fell silent, simply sitting with her, watching the bright streetlights and the hurried passersby. Shang Zhi Tao remembered her first day in Beijing—it was raining, and she was unpacking in that cramped, crowded room. Back then, she was simple; what she wanted was growth, achieved through lifelong learning.
Both their stomachs growled, breaking the strange atmosphere Shang Zhi Tao had created. They looked at each other and smiled.
"Forget it, sadness doesn't suit you. What suits you is coming with me to grab something to eat," Sun Yu teased.
"I really am hungry," Shang Zhi Tao said, patting her stomach as she stood up. Once hungry, all emotions vanished, replaced by the urge to fill her stomach quickly. Hand in hand, they walked toward the spicy hot pot place behind the complex. Sun Yu stole several glances at Shang Zhi Tao, who caught her and asked, "What's up?""Did you have a disagreement with your boss?" Sun Yu was sharp. Shang Zhi Tao was such a cheerful girl; she rarely got particularly upset over anyone. The only two times Sun Yu had seen her emotionally break down were because of Luan Nian.
Shang Zhi Tao told Sun Yu about what had happened. In Sun Yu's eyes, this was no small matter. She was running a startup, and the team members changed constantly, like a revolving lantern. Very few people believed in their project.
"Do you want to hear my advice?" Sun Yu asked Shang Zhi Tao. "Your company is so good, not like our unstable startup. My advice might not be very useful."
"I want to hear it."
"My advice is... ask yourself why you came here in the first place, and then ask yourself if you're truly skilled enough to leave." Sun Yu put an arm around Shang Zhi Tao's shoulder. "The process of thinking is painful, but the decision is made in an instant."
"Thinking helps you understand yourself better. There's no shame in feeling lost; no one is born strong." Sun Yu laughed self-deprecatingly. "Look at me—I was crying just today!"
"Why?"
"A premium member was dissatisfied with the match our system recommended. He thought there was a problem with the system's calculation logic. First, he argued with customer service, then threatened to blow up our company. In the end, I stepped in and got cursed out badly." Sun Yu chuckled. "We're all treasures raised in our parents' hands, yet these bastards curse out our ancestors for generations."
Shang Zhi Tao suddenly felt that compared to what Sun Yu had endured, her own troubles were nothing, and yet she had been complaining to Sun Yu for so long. Sun Yu was clearly the one who needed comfort more.
I really am not strong or determined enough.
She hugged Sun Yu solemnly. "You've had such a tough day today. Let me treat you to grilled fish, okay?"
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