Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 088

Chapter 88 ☆, Love Is Ever-Changing.

Zheng Zaochuan and Xin Xin’s campus trip ultimately ended at a small hotel near the school gate.

After saying goodbye to Zhou Yiran, they went to the cafeteria for lunch. Xin Xin volunteered to recommend the school’s signature food stall to Zheng Zaochuan. In Xin Xin’s memory, this stall had the best fast food and always had the longest queue.

Just like back then, the line was very long now.

“When I was in school, I would queue for half an hour to eat at this restaurant.” Xin Xin introduced the dishes to Zheng Zaochuan, making him look forward to it.

However, when they finally got to the front of the line and the food entered their mouths, Xin Xin suddenly realized that the delicious food she remembered now seemed very ordinary.

For someone like Zheng Zaochuan, who had superb culinary skills and high standards for food, it was almost impossible to swallow.

Xin Xin was a little disappointed and did not understand why. She muttered to herself, “It used to be really delicious.”

Zheng Zaochuan wolfed down his meal in a few bites and then wandered around other parts of the campus with Xin Xin.

As Xin Xin walked, she introduced the sights and food, but the scenery that she used to find beautiful, the food that she used to find delicious, and the library that she used to find impressive all seemed a bit more ordinary than she remembered.

Indeed, one could not possess youth and the feeling of youth at the same time.

Returning to this familiar place, the most beautiful sight became the students on campus, exuding a pure and serene beauty.

The two strolled around until evening, and Zheng Zaochuan checked into a hotel nearby, planning to spend the night with Xin Xin and then wander around the university town the next day before heading home in the afternoon.

However, it was in this hotel that Xin Xin and Zheng Zaochuan realized at the same time that youth truly could not be relived.

Despite choosing a higher-end hotel, the room still had problems, some minor and some major, such as poor sound insulation, inadequate facilities, and a leaking bathroom.

Lying on this suspicious bed, listening to the various unexplained noises coming from upstairs and downstairs, Xin Xin stared blankly at the ceiling, unsure how to summarize their one-day trip.

After a long while, Xin Xin sighed, “No wonder people say…”

It was difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

Zheng Zaochuan nodded, got out of bed, and said decisively, “Let’s go; I’ve booked a new hotel.”

In the dead of night, the two took a taxi to a place more than an hour’s drive away to check in again. Only when the surroundings quieted down did they finally drift off to sleep.

Much later, when Xin Xin recalled this incident, she began to understand that the reason why the memories of her youth did not fade was probably because she did not revisit those places.

Otherwise, memories, like a dilapidated house that had collapsed over time, would quickly lose their initial beauty.

Mary had only one comment on Zheng Zaochuan and Xin Xin’s behavior: “It’s sentimental, but completely unnecessary. You did not even meet in school, so what good memories could you possibly have?”

Xin Xin found Mary somewhat ironic, but at the same time, she felt that Mary had no desire to revisit the place because ever since she reconciled with Han Canghai, she had been frequently going to the school to see him and was forced to enjoy campus life, which had long since lost its novelty.

Mary resumed wedding preparations, but her enthusiasm had waned by more than half.

Xin Xin complained to her, “Compared to when you first planned to marry Han Canghai, you now give the impression of being on your second marriage.”

Mary was helpless but agreed with Xin Xin’s opinion, “It’s really strange; passion always fades. Back then, I once thought that Han Canghai was the love of my life.”

Xin Xin immediately became wary upon hearing this. “Don’t try anything funny at this stage, suddenly getting married soon and falling in love with someone else. Is Zhang Qiao still waiting for you?”

“Oh yeah!” Mary suddenly became excited and asked in a particularly mysterious tone, “Guess who Zhang Qiao’s with?”

Xin Xin already knew that Zhang Qiao and Yang Manman had been in contact in private and felt that Yang Manman was somewhat similar to Mary, so she guessed that it was Yang Manman first.

Mary chuckled, “Guess again; your guesses are nothing new.”

“Su Qi?”

“No, think about it again.”

Xin Xin went through the list of people in the company and asked uncertainly, “Are these people in the company people I know?”

Mary said with certainty, “Not only do we know each other, but we also have a long-standing relationship.”

Xin Xin frowned. “You’re not two-timing, are you?”

Mary exclaimed, “No, it’s not me! When have I ever done such a thing?”

Xin Xin conceded defeat, “I can’t guess anymore.”

Mary then slowly said, “I knew you wouldn’t believe it; he’s with Fu Meng.”

Xin Xin was taken aback, finding it unbelievable to the point of being absurd.

In her opinion, she even felt that Zhang Qiao and Fu Meng were not on the same level.

Xin Xin usually had no interest in other people’s private lives, but this news was too explosive, so she could not help but ask, “What happened? What’s their story?”

Mary excitedly told Xin Xin about this shocking gossip.

No one knew exactly how they got together, but it was Yang Manman who revealed it. Ever since Yang Manman’s incident, she had harbored resentment towards Fu Meng and had always been looking for an opportunity to drive her out of the company.

But it was unclear what Fu Meng’s connection was. Although there had been rumors that she would not have a good end after Lin Chong’an retired, she had been staying in Haining without any problems, and her development momentum was even getting stronger.

Yang Manman could only settle down for the time being.

As luck would had it, she bumped into Fu Meng and Zhang Qiao coming out of the same building together. This aroused her suspicion, and she eventually discovered their relationship and leaked the photos she had secretly taken.

Although the company did not explicitly prohibit internal dating, in reality, male-female couples in the same unit were not welcome, both in terms of job avoidance and future development.

Who should leave and who should stay had become a major problem for the century.

When Chen Lisha discovered this, her first thought was to suppress it. In her speculation, the two might not be in a public relationship.

After all, Fu Meng was seven or eight years older than Zhang Qiao, and her romantic history was quite complicated, so it did not seem like she was serious. If both of them firmly denied it, it was not entirely unreasonable. After all, neither of them had actually been caught in someone else’s bed.

However, to everyone’s surprise, while Fu Meng did not admit it, Zhang Qiao did admit it and quickly submitted her resignation.

Xin Xin was still full of doubts. “Where did he switch jobs to?”

Mary and Zhang Qiao had always had a good relationship, and Mary knew everything about his whereabouts. “He went to Chengyin’s investment subsidiary as the investment director. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Besides, he’s really considering marrying Fu Meng, which is a good choice.”

“Wait a minute.” Xin Xin was a little confused. “If I remember correctly, just a few months ago he was still head over heels for you, practically dying for you. How could he have fallen for someone else so quickly and be head over heels for someone else too?”

Mary said meaningfully, “I’ve said it before: women shouldn’t believe in any man’s infatuation. You only need to care about your own feelings. If you like someone, be together; if you don’t, break up. Don’t think you’ve wronged anyone, and don’t take yourself too seriously. The person who’s infatuated with you can also be infatuated with someone else.”

Xin Xin couldn’t understand it. In every relationship she had, she could say how much she loved the other person. She didn’t understand why someone could suddenly fall in love with a complete stranger.

Mary yawned, unable to answer Xin Xin’s question, and only objectively commented, “From Zhang Qiao’s preferences, I can only judge that he likes women older than himself. I cannot answer anything else.”

Xin Xin told Zheng Zaochuan about this, but to her surprise, Zheng Zaochuan did not find it strange at all.

“Love is ever-changing. Zhao Ningyan has found her own happiness, and her former suitors also have the right to fall in love with someone else.”

Xin Xin explained with difficulty, “It’s not that I think he can’t fall in love; I’m just curious.”

She wondered how someone could show such deep love to another person and then, without warning, show the same unwavering love to yet another.

Zheng Zaochuan asked out of the blue, “And what about Zhao Xi? Will you never forget the emotions he evoked in you?”

Xin Xin had no clue about his erratic thinking. “What does this have to do with Zhao Xi? Besides, I’ve never had anything to do with Zhao Xi. He’s Fu Meng’s ex-husband. You should ask Fu Meng this question.”

Zheng Zaochuan looked intently at Xin Xin, as if trying to discern her attitude from her denial.

Xin Xin was led astray by Zheng Zaochuan, “Do you think Zhao Xi knows about Fu Meng and Zhang Qiao?”

Zhao Xi knew.

One day, Xin Xin and Zhao Xi went out together on their way to work. Driven by curiosity, Xin Xin could not help but pry into Zhao Xi’s private life, “Are you still in contact with Fu Meng?”

As Zhao Xi drove, he casually asked, “You want to ask me about her and Zhang Qiao?”

Xin Xin was surprised again. “Huh? How did you know?”

Zhao Xi said, “I know; Chen Lisha called me and asked me what I thought.”

“What did you think?”

Zhao Xi smiled and said, “I wish them well. Fu Meng seems confident, but she’s actually very opinionated and insecure. She doesn’t trust anyone. If she finds a younger man who listens to her more, she might find a sense of control in the relationship.”

Xin Xin felt the world was surreal; these people seemed detached from normal human emotions and desires. They talked about their exes and past relationships as if they were complete strangers.

Zhao Xi glanced at the confused Xin Xin. “You don’t understand, right? Actually, it’s quite easy to understand. Do you remember who your last crush was?”

Xin Xin did some mental calculations and realized that if she had to name the last person she had ever liked, it would probably be Zhou Yiran.

Zhao Xi did not wait for her answer. “Don’t you see? This is love. Most people’s irreplaceable love happens before they turn twenty. In fact, most people don’t even have a truly unforgettable love. Love after starting work is either a weighing of pros and cons or a momentary passion. By the time they are together, they already understand that love can change.”

Xin Xin thought it made sense, and at the same time, she was plunged into a deep fear for the first time.

This fear was not detached from Zheng Zaochuan and herself but rather seemed like a sudden realization of life’s changes at a certain age. Life was not an idol drama; she could not guarantee Zheng Zaochuan’s sincerity towards her, or even her own.

With this nameless worry in mind, as summer approached, Xin Xin, dressed in a beautiful blue dress carefully chosen by Mary, witnessed Mary’s important wedding moment.

Xin Xin had imagined that Mary would play a video of how she met Han Canghai at the wedding and would tell their story in her theatrical tone.

She even pictured Mary with tears in her eyes and her seemingly unwavering love.

However, none of this happened.