Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 026

Chapter 26 ☆, Love is a Game for the Brave.

Xin Xin considered Gao Ling her benefactor.

“You’re truly my savior!”

Gao Ling wasn’t flattered by Xin Xin’s eagerness, nor did he press any further questions. Less than half an hour later, a white SUV pulled up in front of Xin Xin.

The window rolled down, revealing Gao Ling’s naive face. “Sorry for the wait.”

Xin Xin introduced Yang Rui numbly, “Excuse me, this is our company’s vice president. He’s been waiting for you. Please take him to the subway entrance.”

After scanning Gao Ling’s car, Yang Rui began to assess him. His gaze was as if he were a shopping app, automatically identifying and assessing a man’s worth.

Then, condescendingly, he opened the passenger door, as if doing Xin Xin a great favor.

“What’s your last name?”

“My name is Gao Ling.”

“Ah… Xiao Gao, right? Sorry to bother you. I just said I was leaving on my own. Xin Xin insisted her boyfriend was coming to see her off and asked me to stay. I couldn’t refuse such a generous offer, so I’m taking a ride.”

Xin Xin was furious, like a smoldering fire dragon. Gao Ling calmly glanced at her in the rearview mirror and smiled, as if trying to soothe her.

Everyone else said Xin Xin was a pretty woman, perhaps even a popular beauty.

But Yang Rui took one look at Gao Ling and decided he wasn’t much of a guy. It was as if he had finally found his chance to be a mentor. He thoroughly investigated Gao Ling’s situation, like a household registration.

Xin Xin discovered that Gao Ling was a very honest person. He answered whatever Yang Rui asked. But whatever he said, it was like saying something like “The weather is nice,” very calmly.

Yang Rui had once been proud of the prestigious universities he attended for both his undergraduate and graduate studies. Upon learning Gao Ling was working at University A, he couldn’t help but bring up his own institution.

“Being a teacher requires a platform. I wanted to stay on campus, but my university was University B, so it was a bit difficult to get in. I looked down on other universities, so I decided I’d rather work in finance and earn some money.”

Xin Xin secretly rolled her eyes in the back row, secretly hoping Gao Ling would come back sharply to dampen Yang Rui’s spirit.

Unexpectedly, Gao Ling came up with a clever rebuttal, casually saying, “That’s a coincidence. When I graduated from Harvard, I also considered working on Wall Street for two years. But University B offered me a position, so I went. After teaching at University B for two years, I decided to return to University A, as it was closer to home.”

Xin Xin felt relieved. She believed Gao Ling’s words were completely factual, but it was enough to inflict a slight bruise on Yang Rui’s pride.

As expected, Yang Rui’s face darkened, and he turned his attention to Xin Xin. “You’re certainly a young talent, but our Xin Xin isn’t bad either. It’s just that Xin Xin is quite old. Childbirth and pregnancy are difficult for women of her age, and it might even affect her work. Honestly, Xin Xin might not have been interested in you a few years ago. You should consider it now and settle down soon.”

Xin Xin used to disdain Yang Rui, but now she almost hated him. “Don’t worry about that, Mr. Yang. As for whether it affects work, in our company, the top three performers are all women. Male employees who don’t have children or take care of the household don’t necessarily get good performance.”

Yang Rui, however, snorted coldly, “That’s different. Women become fussy once they get married. One thing today, another thing tomorrow. I’ve said it before: if you can’t balance things, give up your position. Don’t just sit there and do nothing.”

Xin Xin, furious, seized on Yang Rui’s comment. “Mr. Yang, it wouldn’t be good if Ms. Chen heard that. Ms. Chen has worked so hard her whole life, and she just took three days off for her mother’s medical treatment. As her subordinates, we should understand.”

Yang Rui’s remarks were simply a way of expressing his superiority and a way of “reminding” Xin Xin that if she didn’t curry favor with him, she might not still have a position after she gave birth. But he had never considered “insubordination,” and now, feeling this was being “maliciously interpreted” by Xin Xin, he immediately became anxious. “Xin Xin, don’t use this as an excuse. I wasn’t talking about Ms. Chen. Is Ms. Chen just any woman? The fact that she’s reached this point and has reached this position proves she’s no ordinary woman.”

Xin Xin said innocently, “Oh, no female employees have asked for leave recently, so I assumed you were talking about Ms. Chen.” Then, Xin Xin extended a finger. “We’re at the subway station. Goodbye, Mr. Yang.”

Yang Rui gained nothing from Xin Xin and exited to the train without a word.

Gao Ling teased Xin Xin, “You rejected me for a week, and I thought you didn’t want to see me again. Now that we’ve met, I realize how hard it’s been for you.”

Xin Xin smiled bitterly and recounted her ordeal like a spitting tease.

Gao Ling simply listened, sometimes sympathizing with her, sometimes soothing her. His principle was to never let a single word Xin Xin said fall flat.

Xin Xin enjoyed the meal immensely. It felt more like chatting with a long-lost friend than a casual dinner with a new blind date.

Gao Ling smiled the entire time, then finally, cautiously, asked, “Xin Xin, can I pursue you?”

This question stumped Xin Xin.

She looked at Gao Ling and could see he’d dressed meticulously for dinner with her. His clothes and shoes were all new. Gao Ling wasn’t tall, and when Xin Xin wasn’t wearing high heels, they were almost the same height.

No matter how she looked at him, Gao Ling wasn’t ugly. While he was a little overweight, he wasn’t unbearably overweight. When it came to his soul, Gao Ling was knowledgeable and open-minded. Even as a friend, even if they weren’t lovers, he was a very respectable person.

But Xin Xin didn’t know how to answer Gao Ling’s question.

She could honestly say she didn’t love Gao Ling. But she couldn’t lie to herself and tell him he was someone who made her heart flutter.

Xin Xin had no choice but to question her own soul: “Is appearance really that important? A first-rate upbringing, emotional stability, abundant energy, an interesting soul—are these not enough to outweigh the irresistible throbbing of appearance?”

Xin Xin had no answer, and Gao Ling saved the situation himself.

“You were silent for a minute, so I assumed you didn’t refuse.”

Xin Xin was stunned for a moment. Gao Ling smiled openly. “Xin Xin, I’m a complete person. I like you very much, and I’ve tried hard to win your heart. That’s my business. You can accept my kindness with confidence, or you can let your heart make the choice. We’re both adults, and even if I fail one day, I won’t hold a grudge against you.”

At an inopportune moment, Xin Xin thought of Zheng Zaochuan. Always self-centered, always sharp and aggressive, always hot and cold, and always difficult to discern between truth and falsehood. If it were Zheng Zaochuan, he would definitely act like it were a handout. If one didn’t accept him, one would be blind.

Xin Xin smiled wryly and glanced at her WeChat chat history.

The one at the top was Gao Ling.

And Zheng Zaochuan, the man who had angrily called her a dozen times, could also vanish within a week.

This began to make Xin Xin wonder if uncontrollable passion and uncertainty were essential for love.

At that moment, Xin Xin silently prayed to Gao Ling, “Try harder. I hope I can fall in love with you.”

Back home that day, Xin Xin, as usual, washed her clothes, made a cup of hot cocoa, and settled into bed.

Then came Gao Ling’s message: “Xin Xin, go to bed early.”

It was a perfectly balanced, non-annoying, yet also passionless social gesture.

A line of inconspicuous gossip appeared in her phone’s notification bar: “Actress Xibei and the CEO of Hanhai Group have rekindled their old love, spending time together in a riverside mansion!”

Xin Xin had seen the news that morning. After browsing through over thirty financial news reports from across the country and the local level, she closed all notifications. This single local news item remained, whether out of concern for an acquaintance or as a reminder to herself not to be overly sentimental.

Xin Xin couldn’t resist opening the message again. The gossip was accompanied by a blurry photo.

The gossip claimed it was Zheng Zaochuan and Xibei. Actually, Xin Xin couldn’t quite make out the male protagonist’s face. Xibei wasn’t a popular actress, let alone an idol, so this kind of gossip wouldn’t have much impact, making the gossip likely true.

The gossip clearly marked the mansion’s location and even went so far as to eloquently describe the two people in the riverside mansion, their affectionate interactions, and their careful attention to the curtains.

Xin Xin stared at the address, finding it striking.

How amusing! Zheng Zaochuan was offering her the room he kept his mistress in. Thankfully, she had a clear mind; otherwise, if she had actually moved in, she’d have unwittingly become involved in some unspeakable drama.

Xin Xin was a spineless person.

Once upon a time, before Zheng Zaochuan became as wealthy as he was today, he and Xibei had been in the news. It was she who, overestimating her own abilities, denounced Zheng Zaochuan’s personal behavior, which affected the company’s image and, indirectly, its stock price.

Things had changed now. Zheng Zaochuan’s career had flourished. Xin Xin had only just realized that for a single man like Zheng Zaochuan, gossip not only didn’t diminish his charm but may even add to the conversation.

Xin Xin thought of the women who had surrounded Zheng Zaochuan over the years. The heiress who had once been obsessed with Zheng Zaochuan’s love had now successfully run her own company.

Two days ago, Xin Xin ran into her at the company. Even after all these years, she still recognized Xin Xin. Perhaps because of the passage of time, or perhaps because her perspective had become more sophisticated, she no longer held Zheng Zaochuan in high regard.

When she saw Xin Xin again, her sympathy was unmistakable. “Are you still hanging around Zheng Zaochuan? Not married yet?”

Xin Xin was speechless. She was in a difficult position. She couldn’t stand this contempt, yet it was difficult to explain that she had never been with Zheng Zaochuan.

The woman sighed, “He’ll regret losing you sooner or later. But I also want to remind you to love yourself a little more.”

Xin Xin smiled bitterly, turned off the Zheng Zaochuan news feed, and muttered to herself, “Who says I don’t love myself? I truly love myself too much.”