◎She’s been wronged today. You should comfort her.◎

Fu Jiaxi’s excuse of being too busy with work to refuse the blind date wasn’t entirely false. For the past half month, she had been fully immersed in preparing for the bidding process, both mentally and physically exhausted.

The next day, she arrived at the office early to once again check all the prepared materials, ensuring nothing was overlooked.

At 8 a.m., she set off with the general manager to the bidding site.

The general manager’s surname was Lin. When Fu Jiaxi applied for the job, it was Lin Yiming who hired her, so he had shown her favor from the start.

On the way, Fu Jiaxi double-checked the data details. As she lowered her head, the delicate line of her jaw revealed a graceful swan-like neck.

Lin Yiming said, “Don’t be too nervous. A company as large as Baifeng Group—this is already a valuable learning opportunity.”

Baifeng Group controlled the downstream ports of their production categories, planning to hedge zinc and lead commodities. Rumors about this bidding had circulated a month earlier, and major futures investment companies were secretly competing fiercely to secure the contract.

Changdi Securities, by comparison, was insignificant—a mere afterthought. Even imagining them making a strong showing felt unnecessary.

Fu Jiaxi had been responsible for all the preparations. Every word, every table—everything bore her hard work.

“I’ll do my best,” Fu Jiaxi said, clearly unwilling to give up just yet.

“Good. Losing a project doesn’t mean losing spirit,” Lin added philosophically. “Xiao Fu, do your best and uphold Changdi’s good image.”

Upon arriving at Baifeng, the underground parking lot spanned three levels. The driver, unfamiliar with the layout, hesitated at a fork in the road.

“Left,” Fu Jiaxi reminded him.

Her directions were correct, prompting Lin Yiming to ask, “Have you been to Baifeng before?”

Fu Jiaxi replied softly, “There are signs on the walls.”

The bidding conference room was located on the 19th floor, facing south with an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that bathed the space in bright light.

Changdi Securities drew the eighth slot in the presentation order.

As Fu Jiaxi flipped through the list of participants, she recognized several well-known domestic companies. Judging by their presentations so far, they indeed possessed substantial strength and abundant capital.

Initially nervous, Fu Jiaxi now found her emotions stabilizing.

The gap between them was evident, leaving no room for miracles. Accepting the situation and focusing on participation became her mindset.

An hour later, she stood up and took the stage as the main presenter for Changdi Securities.

________________________________________

Outside the conference room, Secretary Jiao was searching everywhere for someone. After traversing two floors, he finally learned that Yue Jincheng was here at the bidding event.

Exiting the elevator, he saw his boss standing outside the conference room, hands clasped behind his back, posture upright. Whoever had chosen his suit today had done well—it subtly shimmered with a deep green hue under the saturated sunlight, exuding an air of nobility.

Generally speaking, each member of the project team had their own responsibilities, so Yue Jincheng didn’t need to personally involve himself.

“President Yue,” Jiao Rui respectfully addressed him, then fell silent.

Through the blinds, he finally understood why Yue Jincheng had come here specifically.

Inside, Fu Jiaxi, dressed in a white professional outfit, was presenting the company’s bid documents in an orderly manner. Whether discussing the core plan, implementation details, or pathway demonstrations, her performance could be rated above average.

She appeared slightly nervous, though outwardly calm. But Yue Jincheng could see the subtle fluctuations within her.

For instance, the fingertips of her hand holding the remote control kept shifting positions, and the corners of her upward-smiling eyes occasionally twitched.

Yue Jincheng knew these small emotional habits all too well.

Jiao Rui, trying to gauge his boss’s thoughts, cautiously commented, “Clear thinking, concise expression, right to the point.”

After a moment, Yue Jincheng said, “Proceed according to the process.”

Jiao Rui understood.

If Yue Jincheng were someone who couldn’t separate personal matters from professional ones, he wouldn’t have risen to this position.

When the final results were announced, Changdi Securities, represented by Fu Jiaxi, was unsurprisingly eliminated.

On the way back, seeing that Fu Jiaxi remained silent, Lin tried to console her.

Fu Jiaxi smiled faintly. “You foresaw the outcome accurately.”

Lin sighed lightly. “I simply know my own limits.”

“Next time, we’ll try harder.”

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” Lin sympathized with his subordinate. “You’ve worked the hardest today. Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

Fu Jiaxi politely declined. “Thank you, Director Lin, but I still need to pick up my son from school.”

________________________________________

The school bus arrived punctually at the neighborhood. As Yue Jiayi stepped off, he bounded toward his mother, full of energy.

His innocent smile was like a flower blooming without reservation, capable of soothing any sadness.

This bidding process had been entirely organized by her. Even though the outcome was predetermined and the disparity in strength obvious, the defeat still left her feeling low.

Yue Jiayi held her hand, calling out “Mommy” repeatedly in a sweet, clear voice. Hearing him, Fu Jiaxi’s heart warmed, temporarily forgetting her troubles.

After dinner and completing their parent-child reading session, Jiayi sat at the study desk assembling Lego pieces while Fu Jiaxi’s phone rang.

It was Lin Yiming. She answered, “Director Lin.”

After listening for a moment, she frowned. “Now?”

“Yes, a client has arrived unexpectedly and wants to open an account.”

Fu Jiaxi gently suggested, “My child is at home, and he has school tomorrow. Director Lin, could Xiao Zhang handle this instead?”

Lin replied, “You’re more familiar with this area of business. The client is just here for preliminary information—it won’t take long.”

With that, Fu Jiaxi couldn’t refuse further.

She called Bai Duo, asking her to come over and watch the child for an hour.

Bai Duo readily agreed, though it would take her fifteen minutes to arrive.

Jiayi was obedient. “Mommy, go ahead. Until Aunt Bai arrives, I won’t open the door for anyone.”

His maturity was heartbreaking.

Fu Jiaxi patted her son’s head. “One hour—I’ll be back soon.”

________________________________________

At this time, traffic on Nan Zheng Street flowed smoothly. Fu Jiaxi drove quickly, eager to resolve the matter swiftly.

Upon finding the private room, she was greeted by a lively scene.

About ten people, men and women, filled the room. Aside from Director Lin, Fu Jiaxi didn’t recognize anyone.

The first round of greetings went unnoticed by Lin.

He must have been drunk—his face flushed, his shirt crumpled like pickled mustard greens, a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor at the office.

Fu Jiaxi raised her voice. “Director Lin.”

“Ah, Jiaxi.” He finally noticed her.

Lin Yiming clutched a half-empty bottle of liquor, swaying unsteadily toward her. “I… I said you’re the most dedicated one here.”

The smell of alcohol hit her, and Fu Jiaxi instinctively stepped back, steering the conversation toward business. “What questions does the client have? Should I focus on explaining specific points?”

Lin burst into laughter. “No need for you to do all that.”

Suddenly, Fu Jiaxi realized something.

The group began teasing. “She’s indeed beautiful.”

“If she weren’t pretty, Director Lin wouldn’t have hired her.”

“She’s truly dedicated. When the boss calls, she actually comes.”

Their jeering laughter carried ill intentions, confirming Fu Jiaxi’s suspicions.

Her expression hardened. “Director Lin, you’re drunk. Contact your driver to take you home.”

Lin grabbed her arm forcefully. “Since you’re already here, don’t leave empty-handed. Jiaxi, do you have any signature songs?”

Fu Jiaxi yanked her arm free. “Director Lin, please show some respect.”

Her abrupt movement caused her nails to graze his chin, leaving a scratch that drew blood.

Intoxicated and feeling the pain amplified, Lin dropped his facade, revealing his true nature. “This is part of your job!”

Fu Jiaxi sneered.

Enraged and humiliated, Lin spat, “A woman with little work experience, raising a child alone—what competitive edge do you have? There are countless financial Ph.D.s from prestigious universities. If not for your looks, could someone like you even get into the company? Whether you work overtime or how well you complete tasks—I don’t care. I thought you were smart, but I misjudged you completely.”

Amidst the pounding beat of loud music, Fu Jiaxi’s silence for those ten-plus seconds was like ice refusing to melt under fire.

Director Lin mistook her silence for compliance, grinning as he draped his arm over her shoulder. “Alright, let’s be honest with each other. Clear up this misunderstanding, and from now on…”

“Director Lin, what did you just say?”

“What?”

“You said you don’t care whether I work overtime, how well I prepare bids, or how I perform my job.”

“Oh… Right, right.”

Fu Jiaxi nodded, then turned slightly, grabbing an empty wine bottle from the bar counter as a gift—and promptly cracked it over Lin Yiming’s head with a sharp, decisive blow.

He collapsed instantly, blood streaming down his forehead within seconds.

Lin cried out in agony, and most of the drunken revelers sobered up in shock, rushing toward Fu Jiaxi.

But Fu Jiaxi wasn’t foolish—she bolted.

Outnumbered and at a disadvantage, her heart sank. She knew there was no chance of escaping unscathed.

As she opened the private room door, Fu Jiaxi collided head-on with a “wall.”

Looking up, breathless, she froze upon recognizing Yue Jincheng, disbelief written across her face.

Yue Jincheng pushed her behind him, deflecting a hand reaching for her from behind and twisting it back forcefully.

Before Fu Jiaxi could turn to look, Yue Jincheng cupped her face, shielding her from the chaos.

“I’ll handle this,” he murmured.

“Sister Jiaxi,” Jiao Rui rushed over, nearly out of breath from chasing his boss. “Are you hurt? Don’t worry, we’ll take care of this.”

Fu Jiaxi’s throat felt as if blocked by a stone. The verbal disdain she’d endured moments ago lingered like a dull knife, scraping away at her flesh and blood even now.

“No,” she stepped back. “I can handle this myself.”

Yue Jincheng suppressed his anger, irritated by her impulsiveness or perhaps her eagerness to distance herself. “Is this how you handle things?”

“What else?” Jiaxi paused, her gaze sharp. “Prioritize harmony? Bear humiliation silently? Show understanding for his hypocrisy? Sorry, those are tactics people like you use—I can’t tolerate it.”

Yue Jincheng retorted, “If people like us hadn’t arrived in time, could you have escaped just now?”

Fu Jiaxi was momentarily speechless.

Her inner turmoil, watered by his biting yet truthful words, congealed into a sticky, powerless mire.

What angered Yue Jincheng wasn’t her stubbornness or impulsiveness but her phrase “people like you.”

How ironic—from “we” to “you,” a chasm had formed, leaving no trace of their past connection.

Confused, Fu Jiaxi stood in the night like a wilted petal.

Yue Jincheng calmed down, lowering his head. Opening the passenger door, he said gravely, “Go home. Your son is waiting for you.”

________________________________________

Yue Jiayi was still assembling Legos, having made one-third progress since she left.

A deputy assistant from the secretary’s office had accompanied him, politely greeting her as “Sister Jiaxi” before departing.

Jiayi enthusiastically showed off his creation, innocently asking, “Mommy, did your work go smoothly today?”

Fu Jiaxi walked to the table to pour water, her back to him. “Yes, it went well.”

“Mommy, I’ve already taken a bath, drunk my milk, and brushed my teeth!”

Fu Jiaxi wiped her eyes, her voice dry as she responded, “Good boy.”

After steadying her emotions, she asked, “Didn’t Aunt Bai come?”

“She did, but after she arrived, she got really angry and called Daddy. She scolded him harshly.”

“What did she scold Daddy for?”

“Aunt Bai covered my ears and didn’t let me hear. She said it wasn’t suitable for children.”

“…”

Bai Duo couldn’t bear to see her friend working so hard while the father indulged in leisure. That wasn’t fair—raising the child wasn’t solely Fu Jiaxi’s responsibility. Someone needed to pull Yue Jincheng into the mix.

Of course, that was just venting frustration.

Yue Jincheng never indulged in excesses—he was also working late.

After receiving an unexpected scolding, Yue Jincheng came over without complaint to spend time with the child. Upon learning that Fu Jiaxi had been summoned by her male superior, he immediately drove over, worried.

After hearing the full story, Fu Jiaxi sat motionless on the couch for a long, long time.

Her emotions dripped like an IV bag in extreme quietude, the flow accelerating until only numb emptiness remained.

Slowly rising, she went to the bedroom to check on the sleeping Jiayi.

She tucked the blanket back around the little one, dimmed the nightlight, and plugged in the smartwatch charger.

Turning on the watch screen, she immediately saw an unread message from “Daddy,” sent 25 minutes earlier:

[Give Mommy a piece of candy.]

[Mommy has been wronged today. Help Daddy comfort her.]

Like a sealed film being torn open, her eyes welled with tears.

Those tears contained the injustice of tonight, the confusion about the future, the introspection of herself, and an objective sense of regret.

There was also a touch of aimless disappointment.

She and Yue Jincheng had walked steadily down one path—how had they ended up at this thorny, muddy fork in the road?