Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 071

Chapter 71 ☆, The Subject and Object of Love.

Xin Xin’s brain worked slowly for a moment, and she subconsciously asked a question, “You probably cannot buy a ticket now.”

Zheng Zaochuan bit his lip and stammered, “Actually, when I asked you if you wanted to go home for the New Year, I had already bought a ticket to Harbin…”

Xin Xin was completely confused. “Then why did we not buy it together and go together?”

Zheng Zaochuan looked at her expression and explained, “I was afraid you would not agree.”

“Why would I not want to?” Xin Xin asked, bewildered.

Zheng Zaochuan frowned slightly. “I can also get a refund.”

Since they met, Xin Xin believed she was very familiar with Zheng Zaochuan. She had seen his decisive and ruthless side, his crazy work ethic, and even his irresponsible and heartless attitude towards relationships.

Of course, she also saw how much he cared about her.

Even now, Xin Xin was still moved by Zheng Zaochuan’s companionship during her difficult times. In her memory, Zheng Zaochuan was always fearless and never cared what others thought.

But now, she seemed to see that beneath his seemingly indifferent exterior lay a conflicted and vulnerable heart.

Inappropriately, Xin Xin recalled Mary’s words, which conformed to stereotypes.

Perhaps it would take a great deal of love to fill Zheng Zaochuan’s perpetually uncertain heart.

Xin Xin chose to understand. She seemed oblivious to anything amiss and smiled gently. “When are you arriving? I will book a room and tell my parents we can have a meal together. Don’t worry; I will definitely show you around.”

Seeing that she looked perfectly normal and happy, Zheng Zaochuan realized that she seemed genuinely welcoming him.

“I won’t go out to eat; it’s okay. Just keep me company when you have time. The rest of the time, you should spend time with Mom and Dad; it’s not easy for you to go back home.”

While packing her luggage, Xin Xin made plans: “It’s okay; I will introduce you when we get back, and you can come and go from my house often. It will also make it easier for me to come out, and my parents will definitely give you priority.”

Zheng Zaochuan hesitated before asking, “How will you introduce me?”

Xin Xin gave him a strange look. “Boyfriend?”

Zheng Zaochuan stood there, stunned. Xin Xin thought his expression was particularly strange, as if someone had been put on pause and thrown into some strange time and space.

Then, slowly, Xin Xin noticed that his eyes were wet, like a puppy’s.

Xin Xin was startled. “What’s wrong with you?”

Zheng Zaochuan lowered his head and chuckled, “Will Uncle and Aunt not like me?”

In the past, Xin Xin would never had imagined that such words of a young wife meeting her in-laws would come out of Zheng Zaochuan’s mouth.

Xin Xin replied without hesitation, “No, besides, even if they don’t like you, it’s not a big deal.”

As she spoke, Xin Xin became serious and said earnestly, “I don’t think any parents in this world are truly satisfied with their son-in-law. This is a normal reaction for all parents with daughters. I think this is because women are often seen as objects in a relationship. It’s as if in a relationship, that person can only be passively loved; otherwise, she’s miserable. So, even if they don’t like you, you have to understand.”

This had been a long-standing source of confusion for Xin Xin, and it was also the reason why she had struggled to build close relationships for so long.

She considered herself an emotionally stable person, capable enough to give love to others, and take responsibility for her own life.

But in this world, there would always be countless men who’d stand in front of her and tell her, “I will protect you, and I will vouch for your life from now on.”

Xin Xin knew she was strange, but she hated the feeling. Why did her life need someone else’s endorsement? Why couldn’t she spend money to raise a cat or dog, as long as she was happy?

But if it was a man, no matter what he wanted at the beginning, in the end he would take the initiative and make her the pitiful creature who was anxious and begging for love.

Even if they took a step back and said the worst, her income, her abilities, and her courage in facing the world were no less than anyone else’s. So why? Simply because she did not plan to become a CEO right after graduation, Zhou Yiran considered her someone without long-term planning.

A man who failed courses in college and had hardly obtained any valuable certificates could freely ridicule and belittle her just because he was her boyfriend.

Back then, she was young and only felt a vague sense of unease. But now, she would rather be single than lose her autonomy.

In Xin Xin’s eyes, her family was very ordinary. Her parents were among the first batch of college graduates, worked diligently for many years within the system, became minor leaders, and eventually retired peacefully.

Her mother was the absolute leader in her family, and her work ability and position were slightly higher than her father’s. But overall, her parents were a harmonious couple, strict yet tolerant of her.

But later, as Xin Xin grew up, she encountered all sorts of people. She suddenly realized that her family, seemingly ordinary, revealed something extraordinary within it.

On the surface, there were many families like this, but there were very few families like hers, where the parents fully respected her, let her try, work hard, get hurt, experience life, and were willing to support her.

In her city, most children from families similar to hers eventually returned to their home province and worked hard to get a government job.

Very few young people like her stayed to work in big southern cities; such behavior was generally considered to be unplanned and immature.

Xin Xin’s parents initially disagreed, telling her, “You need to think about the future. Your salary and career prospects seem good right now. But what about the future? Do you want to become a tireless spinning top, with no life of your own?”

At that time, she was going through a very confusing and chaotic period. She had just broken up with Zhou Yiran and was not favored by her direct supervisor, Ethan, at work. She even doubted the meaning of her life. But in the end, she figured it out.

“I want to try again.”

Lin Fang, her mother, simply said, “Fine, that’s why she’s my daughter, she’s always so feisty.”

Dad Xin Zhihe simply said, “If you’re working too hard, just say so. Our family may not be rich or powerful, but we can support you for the rest of your life.”

Xin Xin had thought about giving up countless times as she had come this far, but as long as she thought that at worst she could just go home, she felt full of courage.

Although Xin Xin’s parents would occasionally nag her about relationships, they never pressured her.

Many older families married for practical reasons and often pressured their children to settle for someone just to get by. In contrast, Xin Xin’s family, where the parents married for love, fully understood that marriage was not a matter of compromise or child’s play.

Xin Xin felt that whether her parents liked him or not was not important; what mattered was her.

If she was determined, she felt that her parents would give her the greatest support.

Zheng Zaochuan listened to Xin Xin’s long-winded explanation of her views on love and smiled wryly, “Do you remember, a long time ago, I asked you about your views on choosing a partner?”

Xin Xin thought for a moment, then honestly shook her head. “I forgot. What did I say?”

Zheng Zaochuan looked at her and solemnly repeated her words.

“Looking for a gentle, compatible dog with similar values, and most importantly, a happy dog ​​born into a happy family with stable emotions.”

Xin Xin was momentarily speechless. Back then, she must have been speaking according to the highest standards. And when she spoke, she did not see anything wrong with it, and in order to reduce the perceived aggression, she did not include the clause about not dating single-parent families.

Who knew that, by sheer coincidence, all the conditions would perfectly align with Zheng Zaochuan’s brow?

Xin Xin felt a little guilty but still said righteously, “Those are standards and ideals, but I like the specific you. We should analyze specific problems in specific ways and use Marxist methodology to solve them.”

Zheng Zaochuan chuckled, leaned in, and hugged her, resting his head on her shoulder, his emotions unreadable. After a while, a muffled voice came from her shoulder, “Star, you do not understand; you do not understand how much I like you. Because I like you, I’m afraid. I’m so afraid that I do not dare tell you I’m afraid.”

Xin Xin patted his back, as if he were a child.

“Okay, okay, do not worry. If you’re really scared, how about you spend some money on me? You know me; I hate owing people the most. If you spend some money on me, I will definitely do my best to protect you.”

Zheng Zaochuan bit her, “Like you would a client?”

“Do not say I treat you like a client; I can treat you like a boss.”

Zheng Zaochuan laughed in exasperation, grabbed her hand, and started tickling her, which made Xin Xin laugh continuously. Zheng Zaochuan kissed her face here and there, deliberately making her very ticklish.

Xin Xin was not going to be outdone; she licked his Adam’s apple and then gently bit it.

Their breaths mixed and mingled, and Xin Xin teased him more freely, “Are you good in bed? What if I cannot live without you? What if I’m so obsessed with you that I do not want to go anywhere else and just want to stay home and make love with you?”

Zheng Zaochuan’s eyes were red, and he did not say a word, but his kisses rained down on her like a storm. Xin Xin let out a moan, letting his hands naturally slip inside her clothes.

“Hold me, okay?”

Zheng Zaochuan’s hands caressed her body inch by inch; they were cool and delicate, without a trace of sweat. She was not one to sweat easily and often felt cold even on hot days. But at this moment, as his hands moved deeper, it felt as if his fingertips were on fire, and Xin Xin felt as if her whole body was on fire.

Just then, the phone rang. It was Xin Xin’s ringtone, a really upbeat song, right in the chorus.

Xin Xin hung up impatiently, but the phone kept ringing.

Zheng Zaochuan stopped, calmed his breathing, and said in a hoarse voice, “Let’s see who it is first and whether it’s an emergency.”

Xin Xin wanted to continue, so she hooked her arms around his neck.

But Zheng Zaochuan was very stubborn. “Answer the phone first. It’s been ringing several times. It must be something urgent.”

Xin Xin pursed her lips and was forced to answer the phone.

It was Mary.

As soon as Mary answered the phone, she said urgently, “Help me! Han Canghai’s injured, and Zhang Qiao’s fighting!”

Xin Xin did not take it seriously. Han Canghai was a frail history teacher, and Zhang Qiao was a dull, bookish scholar. What kind of fight could these two possibly have?

Mary cried out in distress, “Help me, there’s so much blood!”

This time, Xin Xin took it seriously. “What blood? Whose blood?”