A Chan – CH 001

Chapter 1: One Billion (1)

“We ordinary folks are really, really happy tonight…”

When the alarm clock rang, Li Weiyi pulled her hand out from under the covers, haphazardly turned it off, and slept for a few more minutes before getting up as if she’d lost her parents.

After washing up, she was full of energy, her bright eyes wide. She quickly changed into her business suit, then put on a light pink down jacket, applied light makeup, and rushed out the door.

Li Weiyi’s rented apartment was at the first subway station, a half-hour ride across Xiangcheng, and she could usually still get a seat. As usual, she set a 25-minute alarm, leaned her head against the glass, and started to doze off. Her occasional nodding attracted the attention of a young man next to her, also an office worker, who kept glancing at her.

After getting off the subway, with about ten minutes to spare before work, Li Weiyi bought her favorite beef pie and soy milk from a stall. She ate it in five minutes at the office, rested briefly, and was ready to start working!

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Li Weiyi works in the Finance Department of the women’s clothing company under the Muchen Group. She’s in the highest-ranking and most professional Strategy Analysis Group within the Finance Department, responsible for the planning, coordination, analysis, and reporting of the company’s overall financial situation.

Three years ago, Li Weiyi graduated from university, and getting this position was a close call. Of the six people in her group, besides the senior supervisor, Sister Zhou, the other four all had master’s degrees from top-tier universities (Project 985 universities), while Li Weiyi was the only undergraduate.

However, Li Weiyi wasn’t intimidated. Back then, she had excelled in both the written and oral exams, ranking alongside her master’s degree colleagues. Now, her work performance was no less impressive than any of theirs.

Everyone was a product of intense competition, and the team atmosphere was relatively united and harmonious. The morning passed quickly and busily.

Li Weiyi invited her supervisor, Sister Zhou, downstairs for lunch. For over a year, the two had been lunch buddies.

They went to a claypot rice fast food restaurant, each ordering their own. Li Weiyi took a box out of her bag, smiling brightly. “Sister Zhou, here are your favorite raw chocolate cheesecakes! Let’s eat them together after dinner!” There’s a dessert shop near her house; she’d taken Sister Zhou there before, and she loved it, so Li Weiyi would bring her some every few days.

Sister Zhou laughed. “Oh dear, I’ve made you spend money again! You silly girl, I told you not to bring any; why won’t you listen!”

Li Weiyi hummed, “I love to eat too!”

After finishing their meal and sharing some delicate and refreshing little cakes, Sister Zhou showed a satisfied expression, looked around, and lowered her voice, saying, “Weiyi, do you have any connections in the company or the group?”

Li Weiyi still had a naive look on her face: “What connections? The highest-ranking person I’m close to is you.”

This made Sister Zhou chuckle again, and she said seriously, “We are close, so I’m telling you this. These past few years, although our company has been doing well, the overall environment… You know, I heard that the higher-ups have already implemented a strategy to streamline and improve efficiency…” She made a chopping motion.

Li Weiyi’s heart sank: “Really? It’ll be us?”

Sister Zhou sighed and said, “I heard it was decided by the big boss. All non-marketing departments will see a 20%-30% reduction in staff. That means one or two people in our department will also leave. I heard the headquarters has already finalized the list, and next will be our subsidiaries. Although your work performance has always been excellent, and I’ve put in a good word for you with the manager, who knows what the leaders are thinking? You should try to find a way. Try to maintain a good work performance at present; that way, you’ll be safer.”

Li Weiyi still found it hard to connect the layoffs with herself; after all, she had always performed well. In the past, she even considered herself to have contributed more than others in some important tasks. But then again, her educational background was the lowest; she only had a bachelor’s degree from a Project 985 university.

Li Weiyi was a little uneasy when she heard Sister Zhou say, “By the way, isn’t your boyfriend taking the civil service exam? Have the results come out yet?”

“They should be out soon.”

Sister Zhou said, “If he passes, just casually mention it to the manager.”

Li Weiyi’s eyes widened: “Why mention that? Even if he gets in, he’ll only be a low-level civil servant.”

“Hey!” Sister Zhou slapped her on the head. “At least he passed the exam for a national-level department, specifically in charge of economic development. People will look at him with more respect. Maybe it’ll even earn him some points with the leaders!”

Li Weiyi thought for a moment and nodded: “You are right. I’ve raised him for three years; it’s time he was useful.”

Sister Zhou laughed heartily and then asked Li Weiyi to accompany her to the headquarters building that afternoon to deliver a report. Li Weiyi readily agreed.

Back at the company, before lunch break was over, Li Weiyi went to the stairwell alone. Looking at the warm winter sun outside, she thought about what Sister Zhou had said, and her heart was filled with unease.

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She immediately shook her head, telling herself, “Li Weiyi, don’t lose your composure. You’re so outstanding, so hardworking, and you’ve been working for three years. They can’t just look at your degree, right? It definitely won’t be you.”

She took out her phone and first sent Xie Zhilu a text message: “What are you doing?”

After waiting five or six minutes without a reply, Li Weiyi called him. It rang seven or eight times before he answered, his voice as clear and bright as ever: “Weiyi, what’s up?”

In front of her boyfriend, Li Weiyi was like a sweet, soft cat, her voice even a little sweeter: “I haven’t seen you for a week or two, and you haven’t called or texted me.”

Xie Zhilu paused for a moment, then replied, “I was busy with the civil service exam, and my advisor’s been busy lately, as you know.”

“Okay, okay, I know you’re busy. So, did you get your exam results?”

Xie Zhilu’s voice was tinged with joy: “I passed.”

“Really?!” Li Weiyi jumped up, overjoyed. “That’s great! Is it the position in the department you wanted?”

“That’s right, I just received the notification a couple of days ago.”

Li Weiyi was taken aback. Xie Zhilu seemed oblivious and continued, “A lot of people in our department took the exam, but only two people passed the exam; however, the other person’s department wasn’t as good as mine. Even the counselor said this result is particularly rare…”

Li Weiyi interrupted him: “You received the notification two days ago. Why didn’t you tell me immediately? You only told me today when I called?”

Xie Zhilu was silent for a few seconds, then said, “Knowing you’re busy with work, and I have a lot of things to finish with my advisor, I wanted to tell you in person that I’m sorry.”

This explanation was passable, and since he admitted his mistake quickly, Li Weiyi felt slightly better, but she was still inexplicably annoyed and remained silent.

Xie Zhilu: “Are you angry?”

Li Weiyi thought, “If you think I’m angry, then coax me.”

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However, Xie Zhilu didn’t coax her like before. Even over the phone, Li Weiyi sensed that he had become much more reserved. Was he more mature because of work?

He said, “Let me treat you to dinner. Tomorrow night, I have something important to tell you.”

Li Weiyi’s heart skipped a beat. She feigned ignorance and asked, “Why? Don’t think I’ll forgive you just because we have dinner.”

Xie Zhilu finally chuckled and said, “I’ll tell you when we meet.”