TES - 15

Shang Zhitao felt a twinge of gratitude, her eyes welling up again. She wanted to thank him, but Luan Nian had already gone back inside. The private room door closed, shutting out the vulgar jokes. Holding Luan Nian’s phone, she stepped outside into the humid, muggy Guangzhou night, feeling as if sweat was clinging to her skin.

Suddenly, she remembered Xin Zhaozhou was in Shenzhen, not far from her. She thought about how strange and complex humans were—though they had broken up, she still wondered how he was doing.

Luan Nian’s phone rang a few times, but Shang Zhitao turned it face down, unwilling to look at it, as if peeking would invade his privacy. She wasn’t used to this.

Even during her relationship with Xin Zhaozhou, she had never checked his phone.

She stood quietly outside, waiting. After nearly an hour, she saw them exiting, all slightly tipsy except for Luan Nian, who appeared relatively sober. Noticing his gaze fall on her hand, she hastily pressed the phone to her ear, pretending to be in a meeting.

Not entirely stupid.

Luan Nian found her exaggerated act amusing, his lips curling into a faint smirk.

Pretending to exchange a few words, Shang Zhitao lowered the phone and greeted them: “Sorry, Mr. Zhou. This meeting was urgent, and I’ve been out here for a while. Please forgive me.”

Zhou Yuchi, thoroughly enjoying himself, slurred with half-closed eyes: “No problem, Miss Shang. Until next time.” He reached out to pat her shoulder, but Luan Nian nudged Apollo, who cleverly intercepted Zhou Yuchi’s hand, linking arms with him instead.

“I feel like we haven’t had enough fun. Shall we find another place to hang out?” Apollo suggested. Zhou Yuchi, a man who loved to play and was accustomed to being entertained by clients, nodded eagerly: “Sure, sure.”

“I’ll pass. I have another meeting tonight. Enjoy yourselves, Mr. Zhou,” Luan Nian politely excused himself.

Apollo waved to everyone: “I’ll see Mr. Zhou off. See you all back at headquarters!” They headed off for round two.

And so, the gathering dispersed. Shang Zhitao watched their car drive away before handing Luan Nian’s phone back to him: “Thank you.”

Luan Nian didn’t respond with “you’re welcome.” His reasoning remained consistent—he wouldn’t help unless he chose to; once he did, he didn’t care whether she was grateful.

“Did anyone call me?” Luan Nian asked.

“I didn’t check. It would be impolite,” Shang Zhitao replied earnestly.

Luan Nian believed her honesty. Lowering his gaze to her, he said: “If you can’t hold your liquor, never drink. That’s my advice.”

“Why?” Shang Zhitao always asked when confused.

“You’ll figure it out yourself.”

Luan Nian had drunk a lot that evening and wanted to walk along the Pearl River. Turning to Shang Zhitao, he said: “I’m going for a walk.”

“I’d like to walk too!” Shang Zhitao quickly added: “I’ve never been to Guangzhou. I want to take this chance to see the Pearl River at night.” With that, she darted into a nearby cold drink shop, bought two drinks, and handed one to Luan Nian: “Let me treat you.”

Luan Nian took it, drank a large gulp, and started walking.

Shang Zhitao followed behind as they strolled along the gentle breeze of the Pearl River. Her hair fluttered messily, reminiscent of the nights she adored by the Qinhuai River. They walked for a long time before finding two adjacent benches to sit on, slowly sipping their drinks.

The riverside was bustling with tall, beautiful women. Curious if Luan Nian liked watching them, Shang Zhitao stole glances at him. Clearly accustomed to beauty, he remained unfazed.

Her phone suddenly rang, and she hurriedly answered. Lu Mi teased her in a playful tone: “Where are you, sis?”

“I’m by the Pearl River with Luke,” she replied honestly.

“What? Are you sleeping outside tonight? Found a shortcut to career success?” Lu Mi joked.

Instinctively glancing at Luan Nian, Shang Zhitao lowered her voice: “No, we’re heading back soon.”

Lu Mi giggled: “What’s worrying you? Chat more with Luke. Heard he’s about to get promoted. Pave your way!”

Shang Zhitao didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t concerned about Luan Nian’s promotion but feared being laid off by him. Then again, if he got promoted, wouldn’t firing her become easier?

This sudden realization terrified her. Hadn’t she just snapped at him earlier that morning?

Shang Zhitao was overthinking.

To Luan Nian, her outburst was like a kitten baring its teeth—easily subdued with a flick of his finger.

Her guilty glances fell within his peripheral vision, making him momentarily think she might want something from him. But Luan Nian wasn’t interested in Shang Zhitao. To him, she was too ordinary. That fleeting moment earlier was simply male instinct.

Mediocrity wasn’t a sin—it just didn’t appeal to him. In creative fields, he preferred visually striking women.

“Let’s go,” he said, standing up and walking ahead. It wasn’t easy to hail a cab by the Pearl River—they had to walk a bit. Shang Zhitao followed, but he moved briskly, his long legs taking swift strides as if unaffected by the alcohol. Struggling to keep up, she panted: “Luke, I can’t keep up. Can you… slow down?”

“If you can’t keep up, hail your own cab.”

…

Why was he acting so strangely? Just moments ago, everything seemed fine, and now he was giving her the cold shoulder? Mentally cursing him as a weirdo, Shang Zhitao decided to stop and hail a cab herself. What was the big deal?

She was naive.

Hailing a cab late at night by the Pearl River wasn’t that easy. The two of them stood apart, each trying their luck. After ten minutes, fortune finally smiled on Luan Nian, who managed to flag down a taxi. Shang Zhitao’s frustration instantly vanished. She ran over, opened the door, and climbed in, smiling at Luan Nian: “Thanks for letting me share the ride.” Flexible and pragmatic, she didn’t find bowing her head shameful.

Luan Nian ignored her, neither dismissing her nor engaging further, as he focused on replying to private messages.

When they reached their destination, Shang Zhitao jumped out, bowing deeply: “Thank you, Luke, for teaching me so much today and letting me share the ride.” With that, she fled.

Rushing into the elevator, she swiped her card, pressed the close button, and exhaled deeply.

Entering her room, she found Lu Mi wearing a sheet mask, lounging in a revealing slip dress, her long legs propped on the table. Spotting Shang Zhitao, Lu Mi whistled teasingly: “Impressive, girl! Strolling by the Pearl River with Luke. Can you skip probation tomorrow?”

Shang Zhitao raised her hands in surrender: “Tutor Lu Mi, I have a request.”

“Speak freely.”

“Please don’t mention Luke. I bow to you.”

“What about mentioning Luan Nian?” Lu Mi continued teasing.

“No…”

Peeling off her mask, Lu Mi burst out laughing: “You’re really scared of him, huh? Impressive. Let me teach you a trick.”

“What?”

“Whatever man you fear, find a way to sleep with him. Afterward, you’ll realize all men are the same.”

Shang Zhitao chuckled: “If you’re so afraid of Luke, why don’t you sleep with him?”

“I’m afraid my boyfriend will chop me up.”

Cowardice reigned.

Shang Zhitao pulled out her pajamas—a cute, pink-collar nightgown—and hesitated to change in front of Lu Mi, thinking of heading to the bathroom. Lu Mi stopped her: “Hey, hey! We’re all women here. Who hasn’t seen it?”

True.

Summoning courage, Shang Zhitao slipped off her dress, her modest chest bouncing slightly. Lu Mi exclaimed: “Wow! Wow! You’ve got some treasures there!” Pointing at her, she teased: “You’re full of treasures!”

Panicking, Shang Zhitao quickly slipped on her nightgown, covering her chest with her hands, looking helplessly at Lu Mi. As Lu Mi passed by on her way to wash her face, she clucked her tongue: “Remember this, Shang Zhitao. You’ve got nuclear weapons. Don’t surrender easily.”

Shang Zhitao didn’t understand what “nuclear weapons” meant. The day had felt like a battle, and all she wanted was a shower and a good night’s sleep before resuming work the next day. Tomorrow was promising—she wouldn’t have to deal with Luan Nian.

Luan Nian was unpredictable. He treated people indifferently, neither particularly kind nor harsh to her. Sometimes she wanted to ask him questions but always worried they’d sound foolish.

Yes, in front of Luan Nian, she felt stupid. Yet, despite her self-perceived stupidity, she had repeatedly entertained improper thoughts about him that day.

As she and Lu Mi lay in bed, lights off, Shang Zhitao’s doubts lingered. Unable to resist, she asked: “Lu Mi, have you ever felt stupid?”

“Why would I feel stupid?”

“These past few days, I’ve constantly felt dumb.”

Darkness emboldened her. For the first time, Shang Zhitao confided in Lu Mi. She felt lost in these early days of entering society: “Do you know why I’m afraid of Luke?”

“Why?”

“The boss interview I wrote was real. During his interview, Luke advised me to quit. He mentioned it again later. He thinks I’m incompetent.” Shang Zhitao felt disheartened. She knew her resume was the least impressive among her peers, but did Luan Nian truly see no redeeming qualities in her? She was confused.

“Luke told you twice to quit?” Lu Mi asked in the dark.

“Yes. So should I leave?”

“No, you shouldn’t. Do you know what you should do? Sleep now, wake up happily tomorrow, and treat Luke’s words as nonsense.” Lu Mi sympathized with Shang Zhitao. Being targeted by Luke right after starting work was tough—being picked on by any boss was bad enough, but Luke? In a short while, he’d be overseeing the entire China branch. Still, she couldn’t reveal this to Shang Zhitao now—she was already trembling with anxiety.

Shang Zhitao’s first workplace mentor, Lu Mi, was a good person.

She wasn’t exceptionally talented but had decent luck. While Shang Zhitao drifted off to sleep, Lu Mi lay awake, pondering how to help this hardworking, good-natured girl stay employed. Why fire someone so diligent and pleasant?

From dawn till late at night, Shang Zhitao slept soundly. At barely twenty, she woke up refreshed and invigorated the next morning. Lu Mi had messaged her saying she wouldn’t join for breakfast. Quietly washing up, Shang Zhitao slipped on an oversized T-shirt and headed to the restaurant with her fresh face. Having eaten little the previous night, she was famished and loaded her tray generously.

Scanning the dining area for a seat, she spotted Luan Nian by the window. Despite last night’s heavy drinking, he showed no signs of it this morning. A ray of morning light illuminated his table, adding a touch of humanity to him.

Yet, no matter how human he seemed, Shang Zhitao dared not approach him. Swiftly hiding behind a pillar, she glanced around for a secluded corner. Her furtive movements caught Luan Nian’s eye—skittish and odd.

Shang Zhitao was truly hopeless.

Luan Nian had met countless people who knew what they wanted. In such situations, they would boldly approach him: “Luke dining alone?” Strike up casual conversations about current work or career plans. Early in his career, at the U.S. headquarters during team-building events, he’d seen a peer pay to upgrade their seat just to sit beside the boss.

In the workplace, there was only one boss. If you stayed hidden in the back, don’t expect to be noticed.

Such a good opportunity, and she ran away like a stray dog.

Shang Zhitao, who couldn’t seize opportunities, sat in a corner of the restaurant, eating her breakfast leisurely. She felt a flicker of joy for successfully avoiding Luan Nian. As long as she evaded him, it meant another day of not being fired. That’s how she consoled herself.

But good times never last long. Just as she popped a blueberry into her mouth, she saw someone sit down across from her. Looking up, she saw Luan Nian. After a brief moment of surprise, she greeted him: “Good morning, Luke. Have you eaten yet?”

“Where’s the meeting minutes?” he asked bluntly.

“...I sent it to you last night.”

“Sent where?”

“To your email.”

Luan Nian pulled out his phone, opened his email app, and showed it to Shang Zhitao. “Which email is it?”

Shang Zhitao had seen the “send successful” notification last night, but Luan Nian’s inbox showed nothing. Confused, she hesitated: “Can I go upstairs to fetch my laptop?”

“If you’ve forgotten to send the meeting minutes, you might as well hand in your resignation today,” Luan Nian said coldly.

Hearing those words again shattered the good mood she’d woken up with. “If I didn’t send it, I’ll resign today,” she said firmly, standing up. “I’ll go get my laptop. Please wait a moment.”

As she climbed the stairs to retrieve her laptop, she replayed last night’s actions in her mind—the sending process, the confirmation notification. She was certain it had been sent. Returning with her laptop, she sat across from Luan Nian, opened it, and checked her sent folder. Sure enough, there was an email she had sent late last night—but the recipient wasn’t lukeluan . It was lukelu . Another employee at L&M also went by Luke, with the surname Lu.

Her lips pressed tightly together, she said nothing. Luan Nian hadn’t received the email because she had sent it to the wrong person. The mistake was hers—she had sent it, but to the wrong address.

“I’m sorry, Luke. I sent it to the wrong person.”

“So,” Luan Nian’s sharp gaze bore into her, “you leaked yesterday’s confidential meeting information to someone else? You might as well not have sent it.” Standing up, he added coolly, “Don’t send your resignation letter to the wrong email, Flora.”

Shang Zhitao didn’t respond. She didn’t dare speak, knowing that if she opened her mouth, tears would spill out. She didn’t want to cry in front of Luan Nian. In his eyes, she was already the worst of the worst, always had been. If she cried now, he’d think even less of her.

So she clenched her teeth, saying nothing, holding back the tears.

In the years to come, no matter what storms, doubts, or difficulties she faced, no matter how many times she felt like collapsing inside, she never shed a single tear in front of Luan Nian. She could cry her heart out in front of friends or family, but in front of him, never.

She sat in the restaurant for a while before returning to her room. Lu Mi was already awake, and Shang Zhitao greeted her before the two attended a lengthy marketing department conference call. The meeting dragged on for the entire morning, with Alex assigning her numerous learning tasks and support duties. In addition to continuing to coordinate with the planning department and creative center, she would also begin studying PR and market activities. By the time the meeting ended, she saw a message from Luan Nian: “Still haven’t sent it to me?”

Thinking he was asking about her resignation letter, she replied: “Sorry, I was in meetings all morning and haven’t had time to write the resignation letter yet.” Her sarcastic tone implied that even without the meeting, she wouldn’t have written it. Shang Zhitao, despite her clumsiness, knew how to play innocent when needed. The frustration from earlier had already dissipated.

“The meeting minutes,” Luan Nian replied curtly.

“Oh, oh, I thought you were asking for my resignation letter!”

“?” Luan Nian sent back a question mark. This girl’s brain must be malfunctioning.

Are you alright?