Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 021

Chapter 21 ☆, Waiting for a Price.

Unfortunately, after experiencing another blind date after so many years, Xin Xin felt that her pain hadn’t diminished but had actually increased exponentially.

After learning that Mary had run into Han Canghai, she thought it was a coincidence. After all, she had also run into Zheng Zaochuan. Meeting two acquaintances at the same event was indeed a bit too coincidental.

However, the next day, in broad daylight, she realized that it wasn’t all coincidence but rather that the blind date had never really gone viral.

This matchmaking event was sponsored by local investment-attracting companies and major taxpayers. The Municipal Youth League Committee invited single young people from financial institutions, hospitals, and universities to participate. The fees collected and the funds raised from charitable donations went toward raising funds for out-of-school girls.

Forget expanding your social circle. A quick glance at Xin Xin suggested that those present didn’t even leave the financial world.

If there was anything she gained, it was simply that she had contributed a small part to helping out-of-school girls.

The second day’s activities were unremarkable. The general process involved a three-minute speed date where men and women selected their chosen partner and then worked together on a pottery project.

The organizers must have racked their brains to come up with this event that was both culturally engaging and elegant and interactive.

Xin Xin was bored. Looking around, she almost thought she was at a regulatory meeting or attending a financial summit—the faces were all familiar.

When organizing this kind of activity in the past, Xin Xin was once very puzzled as to why the blind date industry was so concentrated, either in finance, medicine, or universities.

Now she fully understood why, because these industries lacked the time to find a suitable partner, and they all suffered from a significant gender imbalance.

If some jobs fostered love between men and women,

In others, hatred was most likely to develop.

By the time she went on her fifth quick blind date, Xin Xin had grown accustomed to the person politely extending their hand and saying, “Hello, Ms. Xin. I’m from Bank A. We met at a meeting last time.”

For colleagues in the same field, it was a tacit understanding that they would quickly chat about business within those three minutes. After the pleasantries, they would politely make the other person the person in their circle of friends who would promote financial products to each other.

The hectic work schedule and the immense pressure of marketing were enough to extinguish any romantic urges.

When Xin Xin first started working, she received many offers from men in the same field.

They generally fell into three categories. The first was the domineering CEO type. They hoped Xin Xin would keep her respectable job before marriage, and once things got better after they were together and married, she’d quit and focus on being a good wife.

The second type was the suspicious type. They initially praised Xin Xin’s appearance, then suggested that attractive women in finance often had affairs with male clients, hoping she’d change careers, ideally becoming a civil servant.

The third type was the type that didn’t want to strive. They treated Xin Xin like a promising stock, hoping to buy her in at a low price, hoping that once Xin Xin achieved some success, she could help the entire family achieve financial independence.

“It’s over,” Xin Xin thought, almost desperately.

When Zhao Xi first arrived, some well-meaning people warned her to seize the opportunity.

Men and women weren’t necessarily compatible in the marriage market. A man could trade his financial resources for a less affluent but attractive woman.

The opposite was highly unlikely.

At that time, Xin Xin was only in her early twenties, and the opposite sex she saw still had a touch of youthfulness. Even Zhou Yiran, at that time, could still be considered a sunny and cheerful young man.

After just ten years of work, the appearance of most men plummeted. This was especially true in the financial industry, where irregular lifestyles and excessive social engagements degenerated most men into complete slackers.

But most women, for some unknown reason, still retained a vestige of beauty.

Xin Xin held onto her imperfect appearance, waiting for a price.

For most men in the financial industry, maintaining a good figure for ten years was certainly not an ordinary thing. Both ability and money were essential. Take Zhao Xi, for example. Despite the pressure of a busy job, he managed to exercise four times a week and rarely drank or ate extra meals. His level of self-discipline was almost outrageous.

And this was despite his exceptional ability and work efficiency, which were many times higher than others.

Not to mention Zheng Zaochuan. He hadn’t even appeared at the blind date event; he was a sponsor. When Xin Xin arrived, she saw him surrounded by beautiful women, happily flirting with a group of them.

This was Zheng Zaochuan.

Xin Xin suppressed the inappropriate bitterness in her heart and consoled herself, “This is Zheng Zaochuan. If you take his words seriously, you’re doomed.”

In the many rumors speculating about Xin Xin’s relationship with Zhao Xi and Zheng Zaochuan, she was often portrayed as the one who worked hard to rise to the top, yet simply couldn’t reach anyone above her station.

Of course, there were also many kindhearted people who kindly advised, “Xin Xin, stop being so picky. Take the initiative. Whether you win Zhao Xi or Zheng Zaochuan, it’ll be worth it.”

In all the stories, her role was less than glamorous, which meant, as others perceived it, that among the men Xin Xin could reach, both Zheng Zaochuan and Zhao Xi were already her ceiling.

One was a moody, surly, and unreliable lover.

The other was an extremely self-sufficient, scheming, and cunning man who might betray you at any moment.

Even as blue-chip stocks, these two were too risky.

Xin Xin used to be very proud, believing herself to be quite good. Now, under the relentless pressure of the blind date market, she had to admit that everyone’s speculation and advice were right.

In this blind date market, which resembled a vegetable market, she couldn’t imagine meeting a man like Zheng Zaochuan or Zhao Xi again. Even if she did meet someone with a slightly flatter head and a straight face, he might not be interested in her.

At this moment, sitting across from her was a chubby man wearing glasses.

After chatting for a while, Xin Xin discovered that he and Han Canghai had come together, and she immediately piqued her interest. “I’ve heard your teacher Han is quite old-fashioned, but why would he even come to this kind of event?”

The little fat boy blinked his eyes, revealing a sly realization, and whispered, “Are you here for Teacher Han? I tell you, no chance. I suspect he’s here for his own goals.”

Xin Xin’s interest intensified. “Huh? Why?”

The little fat boy looked at Xin Xin with sympathy. “Don’t even think about it. Teacher Han is incredibly popular at school, and he always tops the list of the most handsome male teachers in the school.”

Xin Xin looked surprised. “Why would such a popular teacher like Han come on a blind date?”

The little fat boy wasn’t sure, but he told Xin Xin with good reason, “It’s just my guess, but it’s absolutely true. The school asked for registration, and all young teachers were required to participate. Han Canghai refused several times, absolutely adamant he wouldn’t come. But guess what?”

“What?” Xin Xin felt like a detective, incredibly close to the truth. The little fat man glanced at Xin Xin with a smug look. “He saw the female guests’ introduction on my phone and suddenly decided to come.”

Xin Xin’s heart was pounding. “And this thing? Send it to me?”

Although she had no evidence, Xin Xin felt that perhaps Han Canghai had come simply for Mary.

Xin Xin opened the promotional post the little fat man had sent, and Mary was prominently listed as the first female guest. “Hengyang Securities Company, Haining Branch, Zhao Ningyan. Dating motto: As long as the feeling is right, everything is fine.”

Xin Xin had a bad feeling, so she scrolled down and saw her own introduction.

“Xin Xin, Hengyang Securities Company, Haining Branch. Dating motto: It doesn’t matter if the feeling is right. The first-place winner in the comprehensive scoring method will be my dream male guest.”

Mary made Xin Xin laugh. Her words were crude, but her point was true. She had to admit that Mary’s description of her was more accurate than her own.

The little fat man looked at Xin Xin. “You’re not what I thought you were.”

Xin Xin was puzzled. “You knew me before we sat together?”

The little fat man said proudly, “Just kidding. I went to college when I was sixteen. I remember every photo and text I’ve ever seen. Test me if you don’t believe me.”

Xin Xin smiled, thinking this little fat man was the cutest person she’d met that day.

“What do you think of me?”

The little fat man said mysteriously, “I’m not very talented, but I’ve dabbled in psychology.”

Xin Xin kept him in suspense before asking, “So, tell me, what do you think of me? How are you different?”

“Although the photo of you from the blind date looks very beautiful and gentle, every micro-expression of yours is filled with resistance—polite, calm, distant, and intensely defensive. I imagine you also have obsessive-compulsive disorder and paranoia and suffer every day from your overly sensitive nerves.”

Xin Xin laughed out loud. “I’m going to change that photo. I was so proud of it; it was my best work photo. I thought my photo was so charming and appealing to clients.”

The chubby man smiled too, his eyes narrowed, revealing a cheerful and innocent expression. “You’re much more easygoing and kind in person than in your photo.” He extended his hand seriously. “Hello, Xin Xin. Let me introduce myself. My name is Gao Ling, and I’m a lecturer at University A.” At that moment, Xin Xin decided to work on a pottery project with this man named Gao Ling.

If there was a certain probability in life that you’d meet someone at some point who made you feel less miserable, then at that moment, Xin Xin thought that perhaps choosing someone who might not be as attractive as she thought but was a good match and had a stable life together would be a good choice.