Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
At the end of the year, Shang Zhitao attended the distributor conference with her team. Luan Nian drove to Ice City to pick her and Luke up, then headed back to Beijing together.
The last time Luke had been on this highway was when he left Beijing that year. The friend who brought him back mentioned that in the past, he’d made a few round trips without any issues, but that time, he got carsick and threw up several times.
Today, Luke was well-behaved. He sat in the backseat watching the snowy scenery gradually change as they drove further south, where the snow became less frequent.
Shang Zhitao was in the passenger seat working on her laptop, handling tasks for the end of the quarter and the year. Her entire team was pushing hard to meet their targets. The company’s employees were divided into shifts—A and B teams—to ensure someone was available online 24/7.
Sometimes, seeing everyone so exhausted made her feel a pang of sympathy, and she began actively recruiting new talent in the market.
She said to Zhang Lei, “I don’t know how other agents at your company operate, but I want my employees to be happier. Female employees should have time after work to watch a movie or go on a date; male employees should be able to hang out with friends, drink, and play games.”
“So you’re not a typical capitalist,” Zhang Lei summarized.
Shang Zhitao didn’t want to be a capitalist. She hoped to reduce some of the hostility around her.
Currently, she was doing two things on her laptop: reviewing resumes forwarded by her employees and drafting next year’s plans.
As a newly introduced distributor, her company’s daily expenditure had grown from 20,000 yuan to 300,000 yuan, with an estimated increase to 400,000 yuan next year. Calculating it all, her business turnover for the coming year would reach 140 million yuan, with a net profit margin of 7%. Shang Zhitao was meticulous with her calculations. By March of next year, she would be able to pay off her mortgage. By May, she could take out a loan to buy a car.
This turnaround had been exhausting, but fortunately, she had read the market correctly, securing a lifeline for herself and her employees.
While working on her business plan, she asked Luan Nian, “I know this is a sensitive question… but purely out of curiosity, what is your annual income?”
“What part are you asking about?”
“? How many parts do you have?”
“If we’re talking about salary income, there’s base pay, stock dividends, and fixed bonuses. Haven’t you worked at Lingmei before? Why are you asking me about these parts?”
“So, you have other sources of income?”
“Of course. I’ve always said, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
Shang Zhitao thought about it and found his reasoning sound. Then she asked, “What about your other income…?”
“Real estate investments, stock investments, a bar, and others.”
…
Shang Zhitao reflected that indeed, some people were ahead of the curve in this era. While others were putting everything on the line, some had already diversified their investments.
After a while, Luan Nian said seriously, “My annual income is around 20 million yuan. My salary makes up a small percentage.” He had just done the math carefully.
“Alright. By 2022, my annual income should match yours.”
“So, I won’t progress anymore?” Luan Nian glanced at her and asked, “What will you do with all that money?”
“Donate it.” Shang Zhitao said earnestly, “I’ve talked to Lin Chun’er. I’ll allocate 15% of my income to donations. The older I get, the more I want to do charity work.”
“How old are you?” Luan Nian chuckled, “But I support you. Song Qiuhang has also pulled me into their organization. Maybe one day we’ll meet there.”
“Hehe.”
They chatted like this all the way to Beijing, arriving at the residential complex late at night.
Luan Nian parked the car at the security booth to pick up a package. When he rolled down the window, a man in a suit standing beside the security guard suddenly spoke, “Miss Shang, Luke!”
“You remember me.” Shang Zhitao smiled at him, “Did you get promoted again?”
“Yes. I’ve contracted the security services for this residential area.”
“Wow!” Shang Zhitao was genuinely happy for him. “You’re amazing, congratulations.”
“No problem. My office is next to the pet store. You can drop by anytime, Miss Shang.”
“Sure! I’ll definitely visit!”
Both Shang Zhitao and the security guard felt a bit nostalgic. Ten years had passed since the first time she came to Luan Nian’s neighborhood to pick up documents and he helped stop a car for her. Society had undergone tremendous changes, and so had they.
After picking up the package, Luan Nian got back into the car and nodded at the security guard, “I’ll come over tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
Shang Zhitao found this statement a bit odd and asked, “What did you mean?”
“It’s about the ‘other’ category in my income composition.”
“You invested in his security project?”
“Mm-hmm.”
It was a matter of opportunity. One day, Luan Nian went to the security booth for something and overheard him on the phone: “I just need to borrow 300,000 yuan. I’m sure I’ll make money. It’s a contract with the property management.”
So, he told him, “I’ll invest. Besides the principal, give me 10% annually.” It wasn’t much money—around 50,000 to 60,000 yuan a year—but Luan Nian thought highly of the security guard’s character and decided to make this small investment.
After hearing Luan Nian’s explanation, Shang Zhitao thought he was still as peculiar as ever. Despite his cold demeanor, he was kind-hearted and charitable.
Back at Luan Nian’s house, the happiest one was undoubtedly Luke.
Luke ran around upstairs and downstairs as if reclaiming its territory. In its excitement, it lifted its leg.
Shang Zhitao’s voice trembled with panic: “Luke!” It was just like the first time it came here, determined to mark its territory by urinating indoors no matter what.
“Luke, what’s wrong with you? You can’t just mark every new place we go to, you know that, right?” Shang Zhitao scolded it. “Can’t you hold it in?” She even grabbed its ear—not too forcefully—but her intimidating demeanor was enough to scare it.
“Are you serious?” Luan Nian pushed her hand away. “It’s a dog! If it could control everything, wouldn’t it be human? Humans can’t even control everything! Drunk humans pee outside too!”
“Be gentler with Luke. How old is it now? Why are you always yelling at it?”
…
After being thoroughly reprimanded by Luan Nian, Shang Zhitao glanced at Luke, who was grinning widely, clearly thrilled.
Luan Nian said to it, “Come on, let’s go water the plants in the neighborhood.”
Shang Zhitao refused to budge. After a full day of traveling and working on her laptop, she was utterly exhausted. She slumped onto the couch, replying to work messages.
Luan Nian took Luke for a long walk.
Luke had been away from this place and now, upon returning, started showing off again. At its core, it was a dog that preferred wealth to poverty. It loved Luan Nian’s place—the spacious neighborhood, the lawns, the trees, and especially the well-dressed little female dogs. Most importantly, Luke felt safest walking here with Luan Nian.
It was so happy that it didn’t want to go back home. Luan Nian indulged it, taking it on a big loop outside the neighborhood.
When they passed by the pet store, Luke tilted its head and stood there for a while before jumping onto Luan Nian, barking in that direction. Its meaning was clear: “The bathing place! I’m not going!”
“Whether you like it or not, you’re going tomorrow. Look how dirty you’ve gotten!” Luan Nian held it as he walked, pinching its ears gently to comfort it.
Shang Zhitao had fallen asleep on the couch, her phone slipping onto the carpet without her noticing. When Luan Nian came in, she had just turned over, curling up completely into the sofa. She stayed in that position, not even bothering to check upstairs.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t her home.
Luan Nian pinched her cheek: “Go upstairs to sleep.”
Shang Zhitao mumbled in response, then leaned her head against his chest. Luan Nian bent down, picked her up, and carried her and Luke upstairs.
His bedroom was still the same—cold and clean, but his bedding remained comfortable.
Shang Zhitao had always loved Luan Nian’s taste in bedding. After decorating her own house, she bought similarly comfortable bedding based on his preferences. No matter what, she believed in sleeping on a comfortable bed—it helped wash away the fatigue of the day.
Luan Nian placed her on the bed, removed her shoes, socks, and sweater, and Shang Zhitao rolled over and continued sleeping. When she turned again, she rolled straight into Luan Nian’s arms.
She still tossed and turned in her sleep. Luan Nian had to lock his legs around her to avoid being kicked out of bed. Even then, it was hard for him to resist retaliating when she kicked him in her sleep.
Familiarity was key. People used to sleeping alone, even after deliberately sleeping together several times, still found it difficult to break certain habits. Their sleep became a balancing act, like a fight, leaving them both exhausted by morning.
Shang Zhitao glanced at the time; the distributor conference was in the afternoon. So, after Luan Nian got up, she managed to catch another hour of sleep. When she woke up again, she finally felt rested. Luan Nian had left her a note: “Breakfast is downstairs. I’m taking Luke to get washed.”
It was as if taking Luke to get washed was some grand, momentous occasion.
After eating, Shang Zhitao lay back down and noticed a book on Luan Nian’s bedside table. She picked it up and flipped through it. A torn piece of paper fell out, and after glancing at it, she froze.
Shang Zhitao (me), My Wish List Before Turning 30:
1. Take my parents on a trip
2. Master English
3. Learn to drive
4. Master French
5. Visit Tibet
6. Travel abroad
7. Read 200 books
8. Buy a car
9. Buy a small apartment in Beijing
10. Be with the person I love
Isn’t this the kind of wish list every girl has, written down or kept in her heart?
On her last day at Lingmei, Shang Zhitao cleaned out her desk before leaving. She packed her reference books and office supplies, and at the bottom of the drawer, she found this wish list. She stared at it for a long time but ultimately left it behind. She had achieved most of her wishes, except for the last three, which she still regretted whenever she thought about them.
One day, after Luan Nian returned from the U.S., he stayed late at the office until the early hours of the morning. The office was empty, and he sat there for a long time, gazing out the window toward Shang Zhitao’s old desk. Finally, he walked over, sat in her old chair, and looked up at his office. Over the past six years, she had spent countless hours sitting there, watching him.
Her desk was clean—cleaned daily by the cleaning staff—and in a few days, someone else would sit there. Luan Nian sat there for a long time. Before leaving, he opened her drawer and found her wish list.
Shang Zhitao had beautiful handwriting—the best among everyone he knew. While others learned piano, singing, or dancing, she practiced calligraphy quietly, stroke by stroke. Every item on her wish list had been checked off, except for owning a small apartment in Beijing and being with the person she loved before turning 30.
Luan Nian imagined her at twenty-two, sitting there late at night writing these wishes. Each one must have been carefully considered in her mind before being written down.
That day, he felt deeply saddened.
Luan Nian took the note and tucked it into his bedside book. It accompanied him through many readings.
Shang Zhitao never thought of Luan Nian as this kind of person. He was decisive, never dragging his feet, and always allowed people to come and go freely without trying to stop them. Even on the day she broke up with him, his only attempt to keep her was to say: “Think carefully. If you leave, don’t come back.”
But he kept her wish list, placing it inside his bedside book.
Shang Zhitao secretly put it back and returned the book to its original place. Then she prepared to leave for the distributor conference.
“You can take my car,” Luan Nian called her. “I’m not going out today.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m meeting Sun Yu for drinks tonight, so I won’t drive.”
Shang Zhitao met Sun Yu at the venue. Sun Yu, as a key account (KA) client, was invited to be a forum guest speaker by Zhang Lei. It wasn’t exactly an invitation—he sent her an online invitation letter and told her, “You have to come.”
Sun Yu shared the positive impact of online advertising on her company, and Shang Zhitao listened quietly from the audience. After the meeting, there was a dinner for the distributors. She attended for a while, met some distributor bosses, and heard about some innovative strategies.
Around eight o’clock, she and Sun Yu escaped from the banquet and headed straight to their favorite barbecue restaurant.
The barbecue restaurant was still open, though business wasn’t as good as before. They chose a seat by the window and each ordered a small bottle of liquor.
The rim of the glass was chipped, but they clinked their glasses and laughed: “Only imperfection makes things whole.”
Perhaps because it had been years since they’d sat in this familiar place, they drank a lot that night, reminiscing about the past. They didn’t avoid mentioning that name.
They both drank quite a bit. After leaving the restaurant, they walked straight, turned left, then right, and ended up at that familiar entrance.
After Sun Yu finished throwing up, she looked up at the window for a long time and said to Shang Zhitao, “Maybe I should buy this place?”
“No,” Shang Zhitao hugged her tightly. “Let the past stay in the past.”
“He’s in the clouds, but also in my heart.”
Google Sites
Report abuse