On Fridау bеfоrе leaving work, Тrаcy аrranged оnе-оn-оnе mеetings betwеen Luan Nian and the markеting dеpаrtment еmрlоуeеs.
Тhоsе оutside hаd no idea whаt wаs discussеd inside, and spеculatiоn went on fоr а lоng timе. Whеn it wаs Lumi’s turn tо go in, she раtted Shаng Zhi Таo’s shоulder аnd sаid, “Don’t worrу, sis will tеst the wаters for yоu. Whether it’s a mоuntаin оf knives оr a sea оf firе, уour mаstеr will tаkе thе first stеp.”
Shаng Zhi Тaо giggled аt Lumi’s antics, wаtchеd hеr gо in, then lоwеrеd hеr head to lоok at her flowchаrt. She was studying hоw to imprоve еffiсienсy by 25%! After all the arguments and commotion, the challenge of boosting efficiency by 25% seemed quite intriguing, and Shang Zhi Tao felt a little tempted to give it a try. After all, this was the only major task on her plate lately.
Once inside, Lumi smiled at Luan Nian and Tracy and sat properly across from them—a rare sight.
“Nothing serious, just a casual chat. No need to be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
Seeing that Tracy was about to launch into her HR routine, Luan Nian couldn’t help but cut her off. He had a rough understanding of Lumi—she didn’t like beating around the bush. So he asked her, “Are you satisfied with this year’s salary adjustment?”
“It’s a bit low. Hope for more next year.”
“Any plans to leave recently?”
“No.”
“We’re done.” Luan Nian spread his hands, ignoring the glare Tracy shot him.
“That’s it?” Lumi had thought it would be some life-or-death discussion and had prepared seriously before coming in. But it was over in just two sentences. Had the others been sitting in here for half an hour doing nothing?
“That’s it. Do you have any questions?” Tracy sighed and asked Lumi.
“Can I take a few days off?” Lumi had been too busy recently and wanted to travel abroad.
“What for?” Luan Nian asked her.
“To buy a house in London.”
…
That year, overseas real estate investment was just starting to gain traction in small circles—the wealthy went to Europe, while those with less money looked to Southeast Asia. In any case, owning a property abroad wasn’t a bad idea. Lumi was joking, of course; she had no intention of buying property overseas. She simply wanted to go out and have fun.
“Is that okay?” she asked again.
“No.” Luan Nian refused.
“Why not?”
“Some people in your department will be leaving soon, and the workload can’t be redistributed. Wait until the new hires are in place.” Luan Nian deliberately used the phrase “some people will be leaving” and observed Lumi’s reaction.
“What difference does one person leaving make?” Lumi retorted, unconvinced. “Besides, all the work is done by Shang Zhi Tao anyway.”
“What if Shang Zhi Tao leaves too?” Tracy finally chimed in.
“Impossible. She’s busy studying how to improve efficiency by 25%!”
Luan Nian glanced up from his phone at Lumi, then looked back down to reply to a message. Shang Zhi Tao had argued with him over the phone, saying she had decided to leave, her tone so resolute. Yet here she was, now studying how to improve efficiency by 25%. No one was more fickle than her.
Lumi walked out of Luan Nian’s office and patted Shang Zhi Tao’s head. “Your turn.”
“Huh? How were you so quick?”
“How should I know?” Lumi was equally baffled. Wasn’t this ridiculous? Calling people in, asking a couple of questions, and then sending them out—it felt like a joke.
“So what did they say?”
“They asked if I was satisfied with the salary raise.”
“And what did you say?”
“Of course I said no. Do I look stupid?”Shang Zhi Tao thought about it and realized that was true. If you said you were satisfied, the boss might think you were content with the raise, and next year they definitely wouldn’t give you a bigger one.
Shang Zhi Tao entered Luan Nian’s office and saw him looking at his phone, while Tracy gave her a friendly smile.
She sat upright in the chair, maintaining her usual posture. After more than a year of work, her standing and sitting postures hadn’t changed. Tracy waited for Luan Nian to speak, especially since he had suddenly cut in during the earlier discussion about Lumi. But Luan Nian put down his phone and asked Tracy, “Aren’t we starting yet?”
Tracy was a bit helpless and asked Shang Zhi Tao, “Don’t be nervous. It’s nothing serious, really. It’s just because Luke will be personally overseeing the marketing department for a while, so we’re arranging a meeting to get to know everyone.”
“Oh, okay,” Shang Zhi Tao replied.
“Is work still as demanding lately?” Tracy asked her.
“It’s actually been better,” Shang Zhi Tao answered truthfully. The workload had lightened compared to before, at least she could get home by 10:30 p.m. now.
“Do you still work overtime on weekends often?” Tracy asked again. She was very concerned about Shang Zhi Tao’s workload. In the system’s attendance records, Shang Zhi Tao had the longest working hours. Tracy had looked into whether it was due to low efficiency or genuinely heavy workload and had even arranged an evaluation of her tasks. It turned out she really had a lot to do. Besides her main responsibilities, she also handled miscellaneous and detailed tasks for the marketing department.
“Not much. Sometimes I need to make phone calls, but it doesn’t interfere with my weekends.”
“So, what do you usually do on weekends?”
It wasn’t a big deal, but Shang Zhi Tao felt her face grow slightly warm. What did she do on weekends? Luan Nian kept looking at her but didn’t say a word.
“My weekends… are quite varied…” Shang Zhi Tao thought carefully. Studying languages, filling in for Sun Yu’s offline events, having meals with Sun Yuanzhu and the others, shopping with Yao Bei, sleeping with the boss. She was also planning to study and take the entrance exam for an on-the-job master’s degree next year.
“For example?” Tracy was genuinely curious.
“Like having meals with friends, shopping, watching movies, and so on…”
“Still not in a relationship?”
“Soon, soon.”
Shang Zhi Tao didn’t know why Tracy was asking these questions and could only say “soon, soon.” Actually, it was just HR tactics. They ask if you’re single, how long you’ve been married, if you have children—all to gauge your stability. A girl about to start a relationship won’t be thinking about changing jobs; a girl about to get married might consider changing jobs because she might face having children after marriage, making it hard to switch jobs again; a woman who just had a child is preoccupied with the baby, which could affect her work contribution. Tracy wasn’t a bad person, but she needed to understand her employees’ stability.
Hearing Shang Zhi Tao say “soon, soon,” Tracy smiled and said to her, “I have a junior who just returned from abroad. He’s three years older than you, comes from a good family, and is good-looking. Want me to introduce you?”
…
Shang Zhi Tao was stunned for a moment and finally couldn’t help but say, “Why aren’t you asking if I’m satisfied with the raise?”
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Luan Nian let out a short laugh. She tilted her head slightly and saw the corner of his mouth hadn’t yet settled back. Luan Nian thought these two, master and apprentice, were quite amusing. They probably both belonged to the type who couldn’t handle too many things in their heads and needed to speak directly, otherwise they’d get confused.Tracy also smiled; she had always liked Shang Zhi Tao because Shang Zhi Tao had never let her down. She nodded and asked, "Are you satisfied with this year's salary increase?"
"If it could be just a little more, that would be great," Shang Zhi Tao gave the answer she had prepared earlier, then heard Tracy burst into laughter.
She didn't understand why they were laughing—she hadn’t said anything funny—and felt a bit confused. Luan Nian glanced at her thoughtfully before lowering his head again. Shang Zhi Tao was lighthearted and didn’t hold grudges. At her core, she was a simple, happy girl who rarely argued with others.
Luan Nian knew all these qualities well.
Someone as straightforward as Shang Zhi Tao wore her thoughts on her face, and Luan Nian could see that too.
"How’s the 25% efficiency improvement study coming along?" Luan Nian finally spoke up, asking her.
"The project initiation system could still be optimized, and if we fully digitize the review and acceptance processes, it should be about there."
"When can the modifications be finished?"
"It’ll take two to three months." There was no need to discuss whether she should do it—they went straight to discussing the solution.
"Go ahead and do it. While you’re at it, ask your mentor if she can involve you in budget management. We’re short on hands." Luan Nian brought up this issue again, his eyes fixed intently on Shang Zhi Tao as he waited for her answer.
"Oh," Shang Zhi Tao responded. "Are we done?"
"Yes, we’re done," Tracy nodded, though inwardly she thought, This wasn’t a formal talk—it was just casual conversation. Too unchallenging.
"Should I go back to work then?"
"Sure. Thanks for your hard work."
Shang Zhi Tao stood up and walked toward the door. As her hand touched the doorknob, she heard Luan Nian call out, "Flora."
"Hmm?" She turned back to look at him.
"If Alex has talked to you about wanting you to join him at another company, I genuinely hope you’ll decline." Luan Nian glanced at Tracy. "Your career has just begun, and there are many paths worth exploring, many experiences worth learning. At the same time, the company recognizes your hard work and growth, and we hope you’ll stay and fight alongside us. Tracy once told me that your work performance was highly rated in the 360-degree review, and I personally agree with that assessment."
Shang Zhi Tao froze.
This was the first time Luan Nian had formally praised her, and in front of the HR director no less. Was this just a management tactic? She didn’t fully understand it, but she was deeply moved.
"Thank you," was all she replied.
It wasn’t until she sat back at her desk and Lumi called out to her that she snapped out of it. "What’s up? What did you talk about?"
Shang Zhi Tao shook her head. "Nothing much."
After Shang Zhi Tao left, Luan Nian teased Tracy, "Have you taken some training course lately? Is this how conversations are supposed to go now?"
"Isn’t this good?"
"Now I finally understand why your department can’t detect executive turnover."
"Why?"
"If you’re so free that you’re introducing employees to potential boyfriends, how can you focus on your work?" Luan Nian found it amusing—it was the first time he’d seen an HR director playing matchmaker during a formal conversation.
"Just a casual mention, don’t take it so seriously," Tracy advised him. "Relax."
"I am relaxed. I’m worried you’re too relaxed."
"Alright, alright. I’ll reflect on it again." Tracy raised her hands in surrender. "I can’t argue with you. I give up—you win." She picked up her laptop and left.Luan Nian wasn't particularly concerned about winning or losing, but he felt he should say something to Shang Zhi Tao—for instance, that when he praised her earlier, it was sincere, fair, and heartfelt. The reason he told Shang Zhi Tao that Alex wanted to take her away because she was cheap and obedient wasn't because he thought of her that way, but rather because he was genuinely analyzing the mindset of a workplace manager looking to poach talent. When someone wants to bring people along, they need individuals at various levels—not all of them can be top performers. Sunny was a top performer, so the next level would be the executors.
He was handling work in the office, occasionally standing up to gaze into the distance to relieve his dry eyes. When he sat back down, he glanced at Shang Zhi Tao. She was frowning at her computer, likely studying the 25% efficiency improvement. Luan Nian didn't know when Shang Zhi Tao had changed her mind, but since Wednesday night, he had clearly understood one thing: women should not be provoked. Arguing with a woman is like inflicting a thousand wounds on the enemy while suffering eight hundred yourself—there’s no real advantage to be gained.
Shang Zhi Tao’s mind was completely occupied with the idea of improving efficiency. Even while waiting for the bus, she was still frowning in thought, so much so that she didn’t notice Luan Nian standing beside her for a long time. After standing there for a while, not expecting Shang Zhi Tao to notice him on her own, he finally took a step forward to stand in front of her. Shang Zhi Tao instinctively took a step back, then focused her gaze and saw Luan Nian.
“What are you doing?” Luan Nian asked, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
“I’m studying efficiency improvement,” Shang Zhi Tao replied earnestly. She had made the decision to stay during her meal with Sun Yu. She was someone who listened to advice, remembering what she had wanted when she first arrived in Beijing and knowing she wasn’t yet strong enough to stand on her own. Although the argument with Luan Nian had made it seem like she couldn’t stay without losing face, as Sun Yu put it: “Someone who can stay after arguing like that truly has a strong mindset.”
“Want to take a walk?” Luan Nian asked Shang Zhi Tao.
“But I haven’t eaten yet.”
“What do you want to eat?”
“I want to eat grilled meat and doenjang jjigae.”
“Let’s go.”
The two walked side by side in the late night, with a person’s distance between them. After a few steps, Shang Zhi Tao remembered that Luan Nian hadn’t driven today. She looked around and asked, “Hey? Where’s the car?”
“I’ve been sitting all day and don’t feel like driving.” Luan Nian hadn’t been sleeping well lately, and his dry eyes had worsened, making it unsuitable for him to drive. He also didn’t want Liu Wu to drive, as Liu Wu’s family member was ill—Luan Nian had that much compassion.
“Oh.” Shang Zhi Tao grew quiet, recalling her outburst the other day, and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. She chuckled softly and said, “What I said on the phone that day was just out of anger. Don’t be upset.”
Shang Zhi Tao was the kind of straightforward person who wasn’t afraid to admit her mistakes, without any hesitation. She hadn’t been calm that day and had ended up acting like Luan Nian, unable to express herself properly. Thinking about it now, she felt ashamed. Luan Nian stopped walking and glanced at her sideways—what a lovely girl, with a pleasing face and smiling eyes. He couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her cheek before saying, “Shang Zhi Tao, I know sometimes I don’t speak kindly, but I hope you understand that most of the time, I don’t mean any harm. If you feel uncomfortable with something I say, just tell me directly. There’s no need to handle it the way you did.”
“Making a scene is exhausting.”If Tan Mian and the others had heard what Luan Nian just said, they would surely have remarked, "Has Luan Nian been possessed by some strange creature?" When had they ever seen Luan Nian speak such soft words? But Luan Nian was telling the truth. He had never been troubled by such matters before—he couldn’t be bothered with relationships, found breaking up a hassle, and never looked back after a split. His heart had never suffered any deep wounds. In his mind, maintaining a physical relationship was far more difficult than being in love.
After this argument with Shang Zhi Tao, he was so angry he couldn’t sleep all night, so furious it gave him a stomachache. The next day, seeing the dark circles under her eyes in the meeting room, he felt like strangling her.
"Can you praise me sometimes? Like you did today." Shang Zhi Tao tugged at the corner of his shirt. "I need you to praise me occasionally, to let me know I’m not as terrible as you say. Luan Nian, I need your encouragement."
"Is my encouragement that important?"
"It is. Truly."
Shang Zhi Tao wanted to say: Someone like me, who sat contentedly as an applauder for twenty-two years, only found my fighting spirit after meeting you. When I feel like I’m constantly failing, I need your recognition—it’s the food and ammunition for my battles, and a small joy that no one else can give.
"So, can you achieve the 25% efficiency improvement?" Luan Nian asked her.
"I can."
"Then you can eat a little more meat later."
"Okay. I can also have a little wine." Shang Zhi Tao pinched her fingers together. "Just this much."
"No." Luan Nian shot her a look. "You bite people when you drink."
How stingy.
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