Chapter 23

 

[Greetings, Brother Jiangliu:

I have long admired Brother Jiangliu’s knowledge and experience. In this lifetime, I hope to gain even a fraction of your elegance and insight. After pondering for three days, I finally mustered the courage to reach out online and ask to be friends.

I hope Brother Jiangliu will not despise me for my ignorance.

Sincerely. Your little brother, Ximen.]

This was Ming Xi’s private message to Young Master Jiangliu in OICQ. Since he addressed her as “Little Brother Ximen,” she took the liberty of addressing him as “Brother Jiangliu. ”

But—apologies for her wishful thinking—

Young Master Jiangliu never replied.

Since she had to work the next morning, Ming Xi couldn’t stay up any longer waiting for his response, so she reluctantly logged off.

Before leaving, she left another message: [I’m working away from home, so my online hours are irregular. If Brother Jiangliu leaves a message and I don’t reply right away, I hope you won’t think me negligent.]

She didn’t resent him for being cold or aloof. In fact, she even gave him an easy excuse to respond later. She thought—if he had even a trace of kindness in him, he’d surely reply after seeing that message.

Back in the dormitory, Ming Xi hummed little tunes and practiced her spoken English, not caring whether Jiangliu Dadao would contact her on OICQ. Just adding his number made her happy.

In this world, there were always more capable people even among the capable, and there were always stronger people among the strong. If she wanted to climb higher, she had to find a goal to chase.

On the third day of the New Year, she learned from Professor Liang that Liang Jiancheng was seeing someone, and she felt a faint pang of disappointment. But after three days, the feeling was completely gone. A young heart was easily bruised—but just as easily reborn, especially after reading a few lines that Young Master Jiangliu had posted on the forum:

“If humanity has no aspirations, civilization will decline.”

“People say talking about money ruins relationships, yet the greatest progress of civilization lies in the emergence of commerce—where self-interest and bargaining reign. Money has been called the root of all evil, but its function and logic are as captivating as a rose. To love flowers is considered refined; to love money, if done with grace, makes the pursuit of fame and profit a most delightful thing.”

Ming Xi felt enlightened!

That surge of emotion inside her—that bubbling, boundless passion she had mistaken for love—was, in truth, her yearning for prosperity.

Another emotional poster on Tianya Forum had said that liking someone is nothing more than a projection of one’s own inner desire.

Ming Xi felt this statement was very true. Without even meeting Jiangliu Dadao, her affections had already shifted—from Liang Jiancheng to him!

She also understood that what had first drawn her to Liang Jiancheng, beyond his looks, was his poise, his education, his success—the things she herself lacked.

But if she let her emotions wander freely, none of what he possessed would ever transfer to her. Instead, she’d only end up hurt, humiliated, and small.

However, Young Master Jiangliu was different. He shared his insights and knowledge online. Compared to Liang Jiancheng, who heightened her longing for social status, Jiangliu directly opened a door she had never seen before.

He was unreserved, unpretentious. He was genuine, yet possessed a profound sense of humor.

Getting to know someone like him not only enriched her spirit but also protected her dignity and feelings. How wonderful!

Even if Young Master Jiangliu looked like a monkey in person, she would still consider him the Monkey King.

The next day, after the Spring Festival holiday, Ming Xi returned to work in the Longmao’s import section, full of energy.

Ding Xiao was back too, but as she’d suspected—Sister Lingna did not return.

Not only that, but Manager Li had used He Lingna as a warning at the meeting that morning, urging the female sales staff to respect themselves and keep a professional distance from male customers, refraining from any inappropriate behavior or harboring any illicit thoughts or misguided ideas.

If caught, they would be fired immediately.

Ming Xi, bold and outspoken, raised her hand and asked Manager Li, “What about the male sales associates and female customers?”

Ming Xi’s question naturally drew some jeers and heckles from the room. But thanks to her question, the women began to rally together, demanding: Why should only they—the women—be scolded and warned? Why not the men as well?

“Exactly! We women work just as hard as the men—why should we have to bear moral blame just because of our gender?” Ding Xiao retorted.

Manager Li had always been nervous around women—especially straightforward, righteous ones.

Under the joint assault of Ming Xi and Ding Xiao, Manager Li changed his tune.

He glared at Ming Xi and threatened again, “The same goes for male sales associate! Everyone must prioritize morality over performance. We sell goods, yes—but we sell integrity first! Lose your own reputation, that’s your problem. But if you ruin Longmao’s name—you’ll all be in serious trouble!”

It was rare for Manager Li to lose his temper like that, so no one dared say another word. Ming Xi tilted her head, exchanged a secret glance with Ding Xiao, and Ding Xiao proudly lifted her chin in victory.

It was unknown whether it was because of that little act of defiance, but Ming Xi was asked to stay behind after the meeting.

In the empty conference room, Ming Xi and Manager Li were left staring at each other.

Manager Li was of average height, lean and sharp-looking, with a shrewd, worldly air. He’d climbed up from the sales floor himself, and normally he was tactful and smooth—he rarely disciplined his staff harshly. But He Lingna’s case was too serious.

What happened at the year-end party was not only known to everyone in Longmao Parkway, but also to other company.

Those foreign trade sales representatives were people who traveled everywhere. Once this matter becomes gossip, spreading all over the city, Longmao’s reputation would the one that suffered most.

Manager Li frowned deeply as he stared at Ming Xi, as though she too bore part of the blame.

Ming Xi had a delicate appearance, yet she stood straight.

“Well? Why don’t you show me that same boldness from the other night!” Manager Li looked at her and sneered.

Ming Xi lowered her head a little, then lifted her gaze and replied, perfectly serious: “I only act like that in front of bad men. You’re a good one, Manager, how could I dare?”

Manager Li gritted his teeth, wanting to curse but unable to.

While his new employee, Ming Xi, had caused a big stir that day, without her, only Longmao Parkway would have been humiliated.

He was also grateful to the person in front of him for her quick thinking, which allowed the other company to be dragged down with them too.

After all, Tian Dafa was a supplier invited by the other company. Although he had little to do with Xinghai Foreign Trade, when a partner threw a tantrum in public, it was always the host’s responsibility to clean up the mess.

Thinking of this, Manager Li no longer felt that he was the only one suffering.

“You can get in touch with Liang Jiancheng, right?” Manager Li asked, his tone very clear.

He didn’t ask a question, but rather instruct her on something.

Ming Xi’s head jerked up as if struck, and she instinctively looked up.

Sure enough, Manager Li slowly revealed why he’d kept her behind:

“After what happened at the year-end banquet, both our companies looked bad. I also told you not to discuss it during the meeting today—but we can’t control what outsiders say. If this story keeps spreading, it will have a very negative impact on us at Longmao Parkson.”

Ming Xi understood and asked directly, “Manager, do you want me to reach out to Liang Jiancheng?”

“Yes. I’ve prepared something for you to deliver to Xinghai Foreign Trade.
Make sure you hand it to Director Liang personally! We don’t want this incident blown out of proportion—it’s bad for both Longmao and Xinghai. Please ask Director Liang to remind his staff about it as well.”

Manager Li’s words were perfectly clear, and Ming Xi understood them perfectly too. Manager Li was asking her to deliver gift to Liang Jiancheng on behalf of Longmao to silence him!

She understood, but she also couldn’t understand—why was she assigned this task?

… Did she really look like someone good at giving gifts? Ming Xi frowned slightly, silent for a moment.

“You deliver the gift, and if we get a definite response, I’ll make your position permanent.” Manager Li’s eyes were sharp as a knife, cutting straight through her hesitation as he dangled an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Ming Xi’s resistance dissolved instantly.

A moment a go she’d been holding her ground, but at the word “permanent,” the girl’s eyes glinted with a hint of cunning. She spoke slowly: “…Then I’ll give it a try?”

Manager Li nodded seriously.

Before leaving, Ming Xi, still a little confused, walked out of the office and then turned back. How did Manager Li know that she knew Liang Jiancheng? Especially that certain question: “You can get in touch with Liang Jiancheng, right?”

It sounded as if she and Liang Jiancheng were very familiar.

How would he know that?

Ming Xi turned back and asked him outright, like an honest person voicing a simple doubt.

Manager Li looked up at her with a helpless expression as if she was playing dumb, so he could only blurt out: “That Liang Jiancheng is from Shuangyang Electronic.”

Oh.

Ming Xi raised an eyebrow – and?

Still pretending, huh! Manager Li glared and ground out the blunt truth through gritted teeth: “The reason you even got this job was because Shuangyang Electronics pulled some strings.”

That single sentence made it all click for Ming Xi. She hadn’t realized her position had anything to do with Shuangyang Electronics. She’d thought Professor Liang had simply helped her find work — she’d never imagined it involved Liang Jiancheng.

Could it be that Professor Liang also had connections with Shuangyang Electronics?

When she left the office, curiosity got the better of her. She peeked into the “little gift” that Manager Li had prepared —

Two bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes.

What a corrupt world…!

…

When a son visits his father during the New Year, he’s supposed to bring gifts.

On the third day of the New Year, Liang Jiancheng visited Professor Liang, carrying plenty of New Year goods. But that day, since Ming Xi had also brought gifts, he’d left his own cigars, liquor, and supplements in the car… and promptly forgot about them.

He went again the next day.

Sincerity can’t be measured by gifts, and everyone expresses it differently. Old Liang had rarely kept in touch with students — Ming Xi was the first he’d taken note of in years.

Old Liang was scornful of the two gifts Ming Xi brought that day, but the very next day, he’d shown them to his son and said, “Tell me — was that girl mocking me on purpose? Am I really at the age for senior milk powder now?”

“Senior milk powder only has extra calcium. Otherwise, it’s no different from regular or children’s formula. If you dislike the label, just think of it as children’s milk powder.” Liang Jiancheng said.

Old Liang sent him a death stare.

Liang Jiancheng had only laughed, glancing at the milk powder and cookies on the table — somehow the room felt warmer, more homely because of them.

He wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Old Liang must have too; otherwise, he wouldn’t have put on his glasses to read the ingredient list, muttering away the whole time.

In contrast, today he brought even more expensive gifts, but Old Liang refused to accept any of them. Whether tonic herbs or pricey luxuries, none met his approval.

“Will eating them make me immortal?” Professor Liang snorted.

Immortal — no. But at least it fulfilled his son’s gesture of respect.

Because he still had other matters to attend to, Liang Jiancheng didn’t stay long. Just before he left, Old Liang brought up the subject of Zhang Min again.

“Which hospital is Zhang Shiqiu in now?”

“In the ICU at Tianjin Hospital.”

“He must be around eighty.”

“Eighty-two.”

… Professor Liang didn’t know Zhang Min, nor had he ever met her.

But he did know Zhang Min’s grandfather, Zhang Shiqiu. Even if he hadn’t met him personally, as someone who had once served in the Haigang Provincial Committee, he’d at least heard of him. In Old Liang’s mind, Zhang Shiqiu was a shrewd man — after retirement, he’d even helped some protégés into office. But none of his descendants quite matched his capability or drive; their overreaching had only led to disappointment.

In this world, being too clean-handed makes one stand out. It’s human nature to secure a good future for one’s descendants. The only question was: what kind of person was Zhang Min herself?

“She’s steadfast, even a bit too honest,” said Liang Jiancheng.

“Do you like honest girls?” Professor Liang asked pointedly.

Liang Jiancheng smiled faintly and spoke in Zhang Min’s favor, “I’m just worried you might have prejudiced against her.”

Professor Liang frowned. “I won’t live with her, so whether I have prejudices or not is irrelevant… no need to rush to her defense.”

“Is being honest really considered a great compliment?” Liang Jiancheng retorted.

“Then what is Miss Zhang’s greatest virtue?”

Liang Jiancheng looked at his father and said thoughtfully, “Zhang Min is very disciplined, speaks calmly and logically, and she understands the difference between love and marriage. This reassures me. Marriage is a game with shared rules — and we both want a partner who’ll follow them.”

Professor Liang fell silent.

Liang Jiancheng said no more. Although it was a matchmaking meeting, he was indeed looking for a partner based on his own principles.

The incident at the year-end banquet reaffirmed his conviction: that a steady, trustworthy partner who shares one’s ideals spares a life of needless drama.

Whether it was for “great love” or simple lust, breaking the rules of marriage unilaterally was not only shameful — it was ridiculous. Such men, no matter how lucky for a while, only enjoy a fleeting spell of money and pleasure.

Professor Liang had once thought his son was a fool when it came to love; now he saw he was just a clear-headed fool.

“As long as you don’t regret it,” he said finally.

“I’m quite happy.”

“…”

 

[No need to be so polite. If you have any questions, just leave me a message. I’m usually busy with work, so forgive me if I don’t reply right away.]

A reply from “Smiling Without Talking” on OICQ.

Ming Xi had developed a little internet addiction. After work, she would head straight to the Anteng Internet Café and spend two hours online. When she saw that “Smiling Without Talking” had left her a message on OICQ, her whole face lit up with delight.

But instead of seizing the chance to pepper him with questions, she decided not to bother him too much.

Just adding someone as a contact didn’t make them real friends. If she started asking questions at every turn, he’d soon think she was annoying and foolish. She had a brain of her own — she should at least try to think things through first.

Communication between friends wasn’t one-sided; a lasting connection meant that one day he might even look forward to her sharing something in return.

[Brother Jiangliu, I’m really happy you replied to me. I’m preparing to take the Foreign Trade Practitioner Qualification Exam, and I plan to move into the foreign trade field later on. I don’t have any questions for now, but thank you again for your generous help online.]

She typed and sent the message just before logging off.

At the same time, she changed her username to “A Smile Worth a Thousand Gold,” and her profile picture to the system’s default Mickey Mouse icon.

She could refrain from disturbing him — but she couldn’t let Brother Jiangliu forget who she was.

When “Smiles Without Taking” met “A Smile Worth a Thousand Gold,” wasn’t that an omen of good fortune?

Just thinking about it made Ming Xi grin. Her steps leaving the internet café were so light they nearly floated.

The boss lady behind the counter watched her go, the corners of her lips curving upward. That spring in her step, that sparkle in her eyes… looked like someone about to strike it rich!

—

Ming Xi was visiting Zhongjin Tower again.

Each time she came, it felt like she knew a few more people. This time, almost everyone in Xinghai Foreign Trade recognized her.

Except for a new assistant.

Maggie seemed to be gone; in her place was a young man, good-looking in a solid, clean-cut way, and perfectly proper in speech.

“If it’s business, Miss Ming, you can wait in the conference room. If it’s personal, you can wait in Mr. Liang’s office.”

Ming Xi figured that giving gifts was probably a personal matter. And since she’d likely have to endure some awkward back-and-forth while handing it over, being seen in the conference room wouldn’t look good.

“Personal matter,” she said.

“Miss Ming, would you like something to drink? We have tea and coffee here.” The assistant suddenly returned, less formal and polite than before, his tone becoming more welcoming.

Caught off guard by the friendliness, Ming Xi said, “Then… maybe coffee?”

“You’ve made the wrong choice — I’m better at brewing black tea,” he joked lightly.

Ming Xi: …Terrifying.

Something was definitely off at Xinghai today. From the moment she stepped in, there’d been whispers all around. The new assistant had seemed normal at first, but after mingling with the others for a few minutes, even he was acting different.

That was because Mark, on his very first day at work, had already heard the gossip about the year-end banquet — and regretted joining too late to witness it. Once he found out the visitor today was the very girl who had courageously stood up that night, his attitude changed completely.

“Please, have a seat on the sofa,” Mark said, leading her over.

A moment later, he brought her coffee and a fruit platter.

Ming Xi: …What kind of VIP treatment is this?

She was no longer flattered, but rather apprehensive! She wasn’t some big client coming to discuss business, but a small clerk bringing gifts and trying to curry favor.

Still, before coming, she had already contacted Liang Jiancheng. She hadn’t mentioned the gift, simply said that Manager Li had asked her to handle some matters. Since it was “work-related”, Liang Jiancheng asked her to come to his company to discuss it.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Liang should be back soon,” the assistant said with a smile. Before closing the office door, he introduced himself with a gentle smile, “By the way, Miss Ming. My name is Mark, nice to meet you.”

Ming Xi: Oh. Okay, Mark.

Mark said Liang Jiancheng would be back soon — and indeed, he was. After waiting for less than five minutes, before she had even finished her coffee, the office door swung open.

Ming Xi turned her head and saw Mr. Liang coming back from outside. His shoulders were straight, his legs long, his tall, lean frame accentuated by a perfectly tailored trench coat. The moment he pushed open the door, it felt as though the air in the room shifted, drawn in with the sweep of his coat’s hem.

Ming Xi took a second look at the trench coat Liang Jiancheng was wearing today because it was the latest spring style from Longmao Parkway.

But he wasn’t alone.

There was also a woman. She was standing one step away from Liang Jiancheng.

Ming Xi noticed the other person a second later.

Unlike Ming Xi, the woman spotted her at once — a girl rising abruptly from the sofa — and the surprise on her face made her smile freeze.

Realizing what was happening, Ming Xi quickly set down her coffee, stood up politely, and greeted him with a respectful bow: “Mr. Liang, hello!”

For a moment, Liang Jiancheng didn’t respond.

Beside him, Zhang Min instinctively fell silent. Her eyelids lowered just slightly as she glanced sideway at him — waiting to see how he would react.

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