Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 023

Chapter 23 ☆, A Shura Field for Three.

On the last night of the blind date, Xin Xin wandered through the Shura Field.

It was then that she fully understood what it meant to be comfortable. As long as you weren’t embarrassed, it was the others who were embarrassed. Unfortunately, of the three people present, she was the only “other person.”

Zheng Zaochuan not only ate with them but also warmly invited Xin Xin to enjoy the night breeze on the deck. Xin Xin didn’t want to go, but no one listened.

Because Gao Ling had no intention of leaving, he said with a smile, “Let’s go for a walk and eat together.”

Throughout the stroll, Zheng Zaochuan scoffed whenever Gao Ling spoke, displaying a “whatever” attitude.

Whenever Zheng Zaochuan spoke, Gao Ling would simply say, “Mr. Zheng, that’s a good idea,” his compliments tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

Xin Xin gradually grew numb under the curious gazes of the couples. How should she put it? Perhaps it was because others saw her as a two-timing scumbag.

But who could have imagined that neither of these couples seemed to care about her?

The evening’s competition culminated in Gao Ling’s final words, “Get some rest, and keep in touch.” Xin Xin listlessly waved her phone, completely ignoring Zheng Zaochuan’s sullen expression, and returned to her room.

As soon as she returned to her room, her phone rang. She looked and saw it was Zheng Zaochuan.

She hung up, feeling annoyed. Then WeChat rang. It was Gao Ling’s goodnight message.

“Xin Xin, nice to meet you. Good night, and get some rest.”

He was polite and had a sense of boundaries. Xin Xin mentally gave Gao Ling two points, mainly due to Zheng Zaochuan’s barrage of urgent calls.

Xin Xin ignored him.

Zheng Zaochuan rarely annoyed Xin Xin. Generally speaking, Xin Xin had a very stable personality. When interacting with most people, she was able to clearly define her relationship and identity with them.

One thing she was very proud of was that she had almost never had a superficial, intense conflict with anyone. With most people, relying on the strategic principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences, they enjoyed a harmonious relationship.

While they weren’t exactly close, they were certainly quite close.

But Zheng Zaochuan was different. He was constantly pushing the boundaries of Xin Xin’s tolerance.

After Xin Xin hung up on Zheng Zaochuan for the eighth time, he finally stopped.

Xin Xin barely suppressed her irritation, made a cup of hot cocoa, and planned to get a good night’s sleep.

There was a knock on the door.

Xin Xin had a bad feeling, and sure enough, Zheng Zaochuan was standing there.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“I didn’t hear it.”

“You lied to me.”

This statement almost sounded aggrieved. Zheng Zaochuan’s beautiful eyes gazed deeply at her, their intense emotion making them appear focused and affectionate.

When Xin Xin first joined the company, she took etiquette classes. The etiquette teacher explained that there were three types of eye gaze: business gaze, social gaze, and intimate gaze.

But regardless of which type you would choose, be careful not to fix your gaze on a specific part of the other person for a long time. This was because people instinctively believe that being stared at excessively was a glimpse into their innermost secrets.

Xin Xin, defeated by Zheng Zaochuan’s gaze, stepped aside. “Come in.”

Zheng Zaochuan entered Xin Xin’s room without hesitation and took a quick glance. “The standard room is fine, not too crowded.”

Xin Xin glanced at the hot cocoa she had just brewed. “Want some cocoa?”

Zheng Zaochuan unceremoniously sat on Xin Xin’s bed and picked up her cup. “Let me try.” Xin Xin, driven to tears by Zheng Zaochuan’s torture, said, “You came all the way to the standard room late at night to gauge the public sentiment?”

Zheng Zaochuan seemed to have just remembered the purpose of his visit and accused her, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Xin Xin was confused. “What?”

She looked truly innocent, completely unaware of her own wrongdoing.

Zheng Zaochuan was furious, complaining uncontrollably, “Has your conscience been eaten by a dog? Who danced with you when you were feeling down, and who took care of you all night when you were seasick? And you…” At this point, a mixture of awkward embarrassment crossed his face. “You even flirted with me.”

Xin Xin felt a little uncomfortable when this incident came up. But the drunk man was the most powerful, so she feigned amnesia.

“I drank too much that night and forgot.”

Zheng Zaochuan was furious. “How could you be so mean? You just pulled up your pants and didn’t recognize me?”

Xin Xin was also anxious. “I wasn’t wearing any pants at all. I was wearing a skirt that day.”

Their conversation devolved into a meaningless argument, like two headless flies buzzing around in all directions. Both of them allowed their restless emotions to run rampant, neither of them figuring out where to find an outlet for them.

Fortunately, at that moment, the door was hastily opened, and Mary rushed in, tears streaming down her face.

“Xin Xin, Han Canghai, that bastard, my whole life…”

Before she finished her words, Mary was shocked to see Zheng Zaochuan, dressed in his home clothes, sitting on Xin Xin’s bed, drinking from her cup.

“I… I’m going out…”

Mary tried to find a place she could go in her chaotic mind, but the search failed.

Xin Xin quickly dismissed him, “Zheng Zaochuan, you go first. We’re going to sleep.”

The three of them each had their own agenda. Zheng Zaochuan put down his half-finished cup of cocoa, fumbled to gather his irrational emotions, and quietly left.

Xin Xin also let out a deep breath, sat down in the seat Zheng Zaochuan had just occupied, finished the remaining half of her cocoa, and calmed herself.

Mary had a lot to say, but now she couldn’t focus on it, fluttering her eyelashes like a fan.

“Good job, Xin Xin, playing hard to get. I was told you were so hot and heavy with that little fat guy all day, but you’re the one who keeps your true colors hidden.”

Xin Xin patted her. “Gao Ling is a good person; don’t say that about him.”

Mary curled her lips in disapproval. “‘Good person’ is a compliment, but in the context of relationships with the opposite sex, it’s a completely negative one. Anyone who has even the slightest bit of sexual attraction to you wouldn’t describe someone as just a ‘good person.'”

Xin Xin’s mind was in turmoil, so she shifted the blame. “What’s wrong with Han Canghai? I heard he came here for you.”

Mary’s tears fell at the mention of the name.

“I was so delusional, thinking it was a chance sent by heaven. I even thought he’d come because he saw me coming.”

Xin Xin frowned. “Isn’t that right?”

Mary said sadly, “Who could have imagined that? The little fat guy and I were the same character, and I thought I was cultivating a relationship with my true love. Turns out, I was just a trick in someone else’s story.”

Xin Xin coughed and tried to explain, “No, no, no, I really think Gao Ling is good.”

But this explanation was too pale, especially for someone like Mary, a die-hard member of the appearance-obsessed society. In her mind, if this were a TV show, Gao Ling and Zheng Zaochuan wouldn’t even appear in the same scene.

Mary reflected bitterly, “I gave up on Han Canghai, and I’d forced myself to do it. Now that his true love has appeared, I realize that even if I don’t want you to do it, there’s no point in doing it.”

No matter how Xin Xin thought about it, it didn’t seem right. Seeing Han Canghai and Mary together that day, anyone would have thought Han Canghai truly loved Mary. If he could act that look, he’d definitely win an Oscar.

But then, Xin Xin’s mind flashed back to Zheng Zaochuan, his deep, focused gaze creating the illusion of unwavering love.

Some people were probably like that, deeply affectionate even when they saw a dog.

Xin Xin sighed, not daring to jump to conclusions. “So what happened?”

Mary wiped away her tears and pieced together her shattered pride.

After the pottery activity, the two left the classroom, tacitly understanding why they were on this cruise ship. They didn’t bring up their breakup or any other relationship-related issues; they simply chatted about life and work.

For a moment, this made Mary wonder if they could reconcile.

But just now, they’d run into a girl on the deck.

She had short, neat hair, a sweatshirt and jeans, and no makeup. She didn’t try to hide the blemishes on her face, and her large eyes held an innocence that stood out from the crowd.

Even Mary, who had seen many beautiful women, couldn’t find fault with her unique, calm demeanor. “Han Canghai, I didn’t expect you to participate in this kind of activity.”

A faint look of embarrassment crossed Han Canghai’s face. “The school mandates it. Muyang, when did you come back? Why didn’t you contact me?”

The girl smiled. “I’ll only be back for a few days, so I won’t be able to visit friends and family. A friend invited me to come play on the boat, and I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

The girl shook Mary’s hand. “Hello, my name is Dai Muyang, Han Canghai’s college classmate. I’m currently in Dunhuang, studying Dunhuang studies. Come visit me sometime, and I’ll take you on a Northwest Grand Loop.”

Han Canghai hesitated, but the girl was oblivious, yet casual.

Mary understood instantly. She had previously thought Han Canghai’s anger towards her was simply due to her approach, which had made him feel deceived.

But now, with the appearance of this girl, Mary fully understood the reason.

The rigid, cold Han Canghai must have had his share of sleepless nights for someone. He wasn’t searching for a soulmate; he’d already identified one. He rejected everyone for someone he might never have.

Then one day, another girl appeared.

She matched his personality perfectly, but she was real and attainable. He fell in love with her, believing it was heaven’s compensation.

Mary had always been someone admired, and for the first time, she’d experienced the fate of being outshone. This wasn’t a question of whether she could bravely move forward for love; it was a matter of a woman’s self-esteem.

Mary’s face paled. “Xin Xin, you really shouldn’t owe emotional debts. If you let someone down, you’ll suffer the consequences.”

Xin Xin hadn’t expected such a dramatic turn of events, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to comfort her. She could only quietly make a cup of cocoa, hoping it would make Mary feel better.

That night, Mary’s pain and frustration and Xin Xin’s distress over Zheng Zaochuan were quietly drowned in the night breeze.