TES - 9

Shang Zhitao woke up feeling well-rested. As she opened her eyes the next morning, she heard voices coming from the living room.

“Want to grab lunch together? Let’s get to know each other,” said Sun Yu, who loved making friends.

“Sure. I can’t cook, so I’ll handle buying the groceries,” replied Yuanzhu’s voice, familiar to Shang Zhitao. She quickly got out of bed, slipped on some underwear, threw over a loose T-shirt, and opened her door with a smile. “Are you guys having a gathering?”

“Yeah. It’s the first time all of us in apartment 601 are here. We’re planning a meal to get acquainted.” Sun Yu explained. Her boyfriend was away for a company retreat in the suburbs this week, so she didn’t need to meet him.

“I’d like to join if that’s okay?” Shang Zhitao asked hesitantly. She enjoyed lively company and, being new to the city, wanted to make a few friends.

Another unfamiliar male voice chimed in with a smile, “Of course!” He wore a company-branded T-shirt with a logo Shang Zhitao recognized. She was slightly awestruck—Beijing truly was a city full of hidden talents. People walking around might seem ordinary, but no one was truly insignificant.

“Let me introduce everyone,” Sun Yu took on the role of mediator cheerfully. “Shang Zhitao, Sun Yuanzhu, Zhang Lei.”

The young group burst into laughter. “Then let’s go buy groceries,” Zhang Lei and Yuanzhu volunteered. Sun Yu stood by the window watching them leave before turning to Shang Zhitao. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Well, get along with these two guys. They’ve got great jobs—real internet elites.”

Sun Yu spoke pragmatically. Struggling alone in the city was harder than doing so with someone. If that person had a good income, life would be easier. Shang Zhitao blushed. “I’m not in a rush. I just graduated and want to focus on work.”

“Work and dating don’t conflict!”

Shang Zhitao waved her hands frantically. “No, no. Living under the same roof would be awkward.”

Sun Yu giggled, her Guizhou accent sharp and flirtatious. She loved matchmaking. Shang Zhitao genuinely wasn’t interested—her mind was preoccupied with work, filled with caution and care. “You know, on my first day at work, a boss told me to quit.” Shang Zhitao sighed. “It made me nervous—he didn’t look like he was joking.”

“Did you offend him?”

“No...”

“Does he like you?”

“...He probably doesn’t lack girlfriends...”

“Then why did he want to fire you on your first day?”

Why indeed? Shang Zhitao had pondered this for days without an answer. Was it because she was the most mediocre among the campus recruits? Perhaps.

She went about washing up and doing laundry. By the time she finished tidying up, the boys had returned with four bags full of groceries. Shang Zhitao immediately asked, “How much was it? Let’s split the cost.”

“No need.” Yuanzhu smiled, shaking his head. “Let’s not fight over pennies like roommates do. We’re out here to take care of each other. This small amount doesn’t matter.”

Zhang Lei nodded in agreement. “That’s too formal. Next time, it’s your turn.”

“Alright.” Sun Yu tied on an apron and headed to the kitchen. “Let me show off my skills.”

“I... only know how to boil noodles...” Shang Zhitao admitted sheepishly. Her culinary skills weren’t worth bragging about.

“You can help prepare the ingredients!” Sun Yu handed her some garlic, then turned to clean the fish and chop ribs with practiced efficiency. The boys crowded by the kitchen door, marveling as Sun Yu’s hands moved swiftly. “There aren’t many girls who can cook like this anymore.”

Shang Zhitao gave Sun Yu a thumbs-up. “Amazing!” Sun Yu’s face flushed pink from the heat of the kitchen, her expression pure and clear like a diligent student.

Zhang Lei glanced at Yuanzhu and cleared his throat.

“Can everyone handle spicy food?” Sun Yu asked.

“Yes,” they all nodded.

Hearing this, Sun Yu dashed to her room to fetch a jar of chopped chili peppers, then gently pushed Shang Zhitao out. “Go outside—it’ll get smoky.” She closed the kitchen door, and soon the aroma wafted out. Shang Zhitao sniffed appreciatively, suddenly feeling that the loneliness she had felt all week was melting away.

Was it this easy to make friends in such a city?

The young group sat together, slightly shy.

“Should we drink something?” Sun Yu asked. She could hold her liquor well—hailing from Maotai Town, where elders would dab wine on her lips during celebrations when she was a baby. Her tolerance was steeped in the rich fragrance of Maotai’s sauce-aroma liquor.

The boys nodded in agreement, but Shang Zhitao apologized, “I don’t drink.”

“A Northeastern girl who doesn’t drink?” Zhang Lei teased.

“Not every Mongolian knows how to ride a horse...” Shang Zhitao defended herself.

“Then no drinking, haha.” Zhang Lei scratched the back of his head. “Cultured people don’t pressure girls to drink unless they want to.” He stood up to grab some cola. Yuanzhu asked Shang Zhitao, “Can you handle something cold?”

“Yes.”

They were all wanderers in a foreign land, from south to north, west to east. Sitting together, the distances between them vanished—they were all simply “outsiders.”

They chatted freely, from noon until evening, still feeling unsatisfied. Their conversations were lively: stories from their jobs. Shang Zhitao, being a workplace newbie, didn’t have many anecdotes and listened quietly instead.

Turns out, work came in many forms.

Yuanzhu worked in big data, explaining its logic and applications, including how he and his colleagues once threw computers in frustration over a data-fetching issue. This made Sun Yu giggle uncontrollably.

Zhang Lei worked in product commercialization, dealing with different people daily—traveling, researching, drinking, modeling. Over the years, Shang Zhitao would meet many commercialization experts, most resembling Zhang Lei, who himself became one of the top figures in the field.

Sun Yu came from a sales background. Previously at a top visual display company, she quit after a client was reassigned to another colleague by her superior.

What an interesting group!

While washing dishes, Shang Zhitao’s phone rang. She rushed to pick it up, hearing Lu Mi’s voice: “Hey, sis! I saw that the payment process is almost complete. Remember to remind Luke to approve the final email!”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, Shang Zhitao remembered how he had arranged dinner and a concert last night. Checking the time, she hesitated for a while before deciding to send him a message.

“Luke, regarding yesterday’s project payment, finance has started the process. One final email needs your approval. Sorry to bother you.”

Luan Nian took a long time to reply with a simple “Okay,” offering no further words. At least the matter was resolved—for now. Shang Zhitao opened her laptop to check emails, waiting for the final step. However, by 9 PM, Luan Nian still hadn’t approved it.

“Why hasn’t he approved it yet?” Lu Mi asked her.

“I messaged him, and he replied ‘okay.’ Maybe he’s busy?” Shang Zhitao wasn’t sure.

“Ask again.” Lu Mi encouraged her and added, “Don’t be afraid—you’re the best.”

“Okay.”

Shang Zhitao sent another message: “Luke, may I ask if you’re available to approve it?”

“Not convenient.” Luan Nian didn’t reply, tossing his phone back into his pocket. The concert was nearing its end, and Jiang Lan beside him was still engrossed in the performance. Luan Nian inwardly loathed the boring weekend evening, but this major client was tough to crack—the board had assigned him to handle it. Luan Nian knew his limits, maintaining polite conversation while keeping her at arm’s length. She wasn’t foolish either, remaining tight-lipped even as they entered the concert hall. Luan Nian wasn’t in a rush—if the deal fell through, it wouldn’t cost him anything. Why should he worry?

But Shang Zhitao was persistent. Another message came through: “Could you please approve it soon? Finance is waiting.”

“Let them wait.”

“...Alright.”

“Anything else?” the woman beside him leaned close, whispering into his ear, her seductive scent enveloping him.

“No.”

“Thank you for accompanying me to the concert.” Jiang Lan’s fingertips brushed lightly over Luan Nian’s hand, teasingly provocative. Luan Nian was no stranger to romance, but he had no interest in Jiang Lan. He gently caught her wrist and moved her hand back to her lap.

He wasn’t for sale.

He didn’t trade in such transactions.