She tried hard, but every new job has a transition period, from unfamiliarity to familiarity, both in terms of tasks and relationships with colleagues. This period was tough, so besides getting accustomed to her work, she often ate and chatted with colleagues of her level to facilitate better communication and perhaps ease her work. Xie Jiayi felt helpless; he had thought that with Lai Hui working under him, they would have more time together, but unexpectedly, on her first day, she drew a clear line — you are the general manager, I am your subordinate, we must keep work and personal life separate to avoid gossip. Her words left him no room to argue; she, who had endured five years of rumors, said this only for his sake, and he couldn’t reject her well-meaning advice.
Today marked a full month since Lai Hui officially started working. As the workday ended, Jiayi sent her a message: “Wait for me at the street corner after work, let’s have dinner together.” At the busy Gu Gu Restaurant, Lai Hui and Xie Jiayi sat by the window, overlooking a pond of green lotuses, their stems and leaves withered, the water covered with green algae, and the artificial mountain base cloaked in damp moss. As they sat down, it began to rain, fine threads of rain slanting across the window, creating streaks of dim yellow light. “Are there any issues at work?” Jiayi asked earnestly after closing the menu and handing it to the waiter. “I’m a bit slow; I might need another half month to get the hang of it. I’ve been troubling you,” Lai Hui replied apologetically. Jiayi frowned at her polite tone; it felt too formal, as if he was just her superior. “It’s after work now; you don’t have to draw that line with me.” Lai Hui smiled and said, “You’re overthinking; I really have caused you a lot of trouble. If it were another company, they wouldn’t give me time to adapt, so this meal is on me, consider it my thanks.” Jiayi’s frown eased, and he smiled, “Wait until you pass the probation period to treat me; this meal is to celebrate your first month. Don’t fight me on this.” Seeing that Lai Hui still wanted to say something, he quickly added, “Tell me about your thoughts on work now.” “Thoughts?” After a brief moment of contemplation, Lai Hui said, “Actually, it’s like when I was interning a few years ago, eager to sort everything out neatly all at once. I wanted to understand the product, the clients, and the internal workings of the company in the shortest possible time. This left me with little room for reflection; I was just focused on getting things done, and every day felt fulfilling.” She especially cherished the moments of tranquility when she returned home, had a shower, and lay on the couch watching TV. She thought about the days spent with Yu Qian, when she had nothing to do but pass the time with books, but now, whenever she picked up a book, she would fall asleep within ten minutes. As the dishes were served, the hall grew more crowded with diners, making conversation difficult for both the speaker and the listener. Lai Hui and Jia Yi continued eating, occasionally with Jia Yi reaching across the table to wipe the oil from Lai Hui’s lips or to pour her some tea.
Soon, the people at the next table finished their meal and left, and the waiter ushered in new customers who had been waiting outside. Lai Hui glanced up, paused momentarily, then lowered her gaze as if she hadn’t seen anything, and sipped her tea. Upon seeing Lai Hui, Cheng Lan, forgetting the people around her, quickly approached their table, grabbed Lai Hui’s hand without any hesitation, and said, “Lai Hui, I’ve finally found you. Can we talk?” Lai Hui coldly withdrew her hand, wiped where Cheng Lan had touched it with a tissue, and slightly opened her mouth to say, “What’s there to talk about?” Cheng Lan, left with nowhere to put her empty hand, gritted her teeth and reached for Lai Hui’s hand again. Just as Lai Hui was about to dodge, Jia Yi stood up, pushed Cheng Lan’s hand away, and rebuked, “How dare you come looking for her?”
Cheng Lan, intimidated by Jia Yi’s anger, took a step back and after a moment, said weakly, “I want to explain!” Hearing the word “explain,” Jia Yi’s anger surged. He stood protectively in front of Lai Hui and scornfully said to Cheng Lan, “Explain what? Back then, Lai Hui and I helped you get a job, but you betrayed her to return to your lover! Who needs an explanation from someone like you?”
Lai Hui glanced at the neighboring table where Cheng Lan’s companion was not Ouyang but an older woman with a child. She gently pushed Jia Yi aside and looked past him at Cheng Lan, saying, “Go ahead and speak.” Cheng Lan’s eyes lit up, “I haven’t gone back to Ouyang!” She glanced around, noticing many eyes on them, and added, “Can we talk outside?” Before Lai Hui could respond, Jia Yi rejected the idea for her, “Don’t even think about it. Who knows what tricks you might have up your sleeve?”
Cheng Lan’s eyes dimmed with embarrassment, and she looked down, murmuring, “I’ve lost my job, and my family won’t accept me. I’m alone and helpless now. What tricks could I possibly have?” Lai Hui picked up her handbag, stood up, and said to Cheng Lan, “Let’s go, but just outside the door!” Then she turned to Jia Yi, “Wait for me for a bit!” Catching his worried look, she smiled reassuringly, “I’ll just be outside. Nothing will happen.”
