Chapter 2 I Don't Want to

Xin Hai brought Gu Cunxi to the rented house. Although it was only a one-bedroom apartment, the room was exquisitely decorated and warm. Gu Cunxi looked around and nodded with satisfaction.

She sorted her luggage one by one, took out an envelope from the side, looked at Xin Hai and said calmly: "This is the rent you paid for me. Thank you for helping me find this place. It's a nice house!"

This distant and polite tone made Xin Hai's heart sink. He said with some displeasure: "Do we have to be so clear about the distinction between us? Cunxi...you are my girlfriend, it is my duty to help you do this."

"Besides, you just dealt with the matter in North City. Didn't you pay most of the money to the victims' families? You just arrived here and still need a lot of money. You can keep the money and don't give it to me!"

Gu Cunxi held the envelope in her hand, raised it in the air, with no intention of taking it back. She insisted, "You've already helped me a lot by looking for a house. You don't have to advance the rent. I still have this money. I won't feel at ease living here if you don't accept it!"

Xin Hai shook his head helplessly, sighed slightly, reached out to take the envelope, rubbed the brown paper bag lightly with his fingers, and looked thoughtful.

She still treated herself as an outsider after all... He thought secretly in his heart

"I haven't considered what your mother said in the restaurant today. I don't want to get married right now, so..."

Before Gu Cunxi could finish, Xin Hai interrupted her: "Don't take my mother's words to heart. She is just anxious for me to start a family."

"Yeah!" Gu Cunxi nodded, frowning slightly.

"I'm serious about...getting married, Cunxi. You know my feelings...over the years, I don't want to consider anyone else except you..."

“…”

"If you haven't made up your mind yet, I won't force you. I'm willing to give you enough time to think about it... Go to bed early. I'm going back first!"

Without waiting for Gu Cunxi's response, Xin Hai walked out without even looking back... He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would hear Gu Cunxi's rejection without leaving any room for negotiation...

After Xin Hai left, Gu Cunxi secretly breathed a sigh of relief...

She packed all her clothes, stood up and walked towards the bathroom. This was the most relaxing way for Gu Cunxi...

In the small bathroom, warm water splashed on my body, as if it could wash away all the fatigue and the unbearable past. The gradually rising mist made the bathroom hazy, and I couldn't see the surroundings clearly.

After taking a shower, Gu Cunxi stood in front of the mirror wrapped in a bath towel and looked at himself, feeling a little strange...

It seems like I can’t remember a lot of things from the past. Things about college and youth are becoming increasingly vague…

With wet hair draped over his shoulders and water dripping from his hair, Gu Cunxi sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the TV in front of him, wondering what he was thinking...

The dark screen reflected her loneliness...

In the silent living room, only Gu Cunxi's faint sighs could be heard. In her heart, she secretly told herself to cheer up. Immersing herself in the past would only make her feel weaker. It was like staring into the abyss, unable to move her eyes away. The past, the unforgettable, should all pass...

She picked up her phone and flipped through it casually, deciding to find a job to keep herself busy tomorrow... and then slowly adapt to the city, just to relax for a while.

Gu Cunxi couldn't help but think back to the past... those years in North City, where he spent almost every day racing against time to make a living. He often worked until the early morning hours, and the endless overtime made him feel like a machine that never stopped running day and night.

In the eyes of those irrelevant outsiders, she may be undoubtedly successful, but only those who are deeply involved can understand the feeling.

In fact, Gu Cunxi did not choose this place for Xin Hai. Coming to Jianghuai City was just her own random choice. She thought that as long as she did not stay in Beicheng, she could go anywhere. Only in a city where no one knew her could she start over!

The cool moonlight outside the window shone on her body. After an unknown amount of time, Gu Cunxi felt her eyes were a little heavy. She stretched out her hand and pulled the quilt around her, wrapped herself tightly, and gradually fell asleep.

…

The next morning, the sun shone into the house, waking her up from her sleep...

Over the years in North City, Gu Cunxi developed a habit. No matter where she was, she would not draw the curtains at night. She liked the lights of thousands of houses outside. Although not every one of them was reserved for her, even if she just stood by the window and looked at them quietly for a few seconds, she felt as if she had been stained with a bit of the atmosphere of fireworks, so she would not be too lonely.

For breakfast, she made herself a sunny-side-up egg, a glass of milk, and a small sandwich...

Gu Cunxi's three meals a day are very light, and she rarely touches foods with high oil content and high sugar content.

A person's self-discipline can be seen from his figure.

After a quick breakfast, she picked up her phone to edit her resume and sent it out one by one. While editing her resume, she changed some things and erased some traces of the past...

This time she wanted to try to live a simpler life, contrary to her past

Xin Hai's phone suddenly rang at this moment. She hesitated for a moment and then picked up the phone.

"Cunxi, did you sleep well last night?" Xin Hai asked softly on the other end of the phone.

"Well... it's good!" Gu Cunxi said in a light tone.

"Jiang Huai has a lot of fun places. I have nothing to do today. Let's go shopping together?"

After what happened yesterday... Gu Cunxi instinctively wanted to avoid Xin Hai, but he couldn't explain why.

She paused and said, "Xin Hai, I'm... a little tired, let's do it another day."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, with a faint sigh. After a while, Xin Hai continued, "Then...why don't we have lunch together? We were in a hurry yesterday and didn't buy anything for the family. You have to eat lunch anyway. We can meet nearby, and I'll take you home after dinner."

"Xin Hai! I'm really a little tired and want to be alone for a while. I can take care of lunch by myself." Gu Cunxi's tone was a little impatient. She just wanted to hang up the phone quickly.

Based on Xin Hai's understanding of Gu Cunxi, no one could persuade her to do something she didn't want to do. After thinking about it, he stopped insisting: "Okay, then... you should have a good rest!"

"Call me if you have anything," Xin Hai added

"Hmm..." Gu Cunxi nodded.

The darkened phone screen revealed her beautiful face, though it was slightly furrowed...

She continued browsing job postings on the sofa, choosing the simplest positions...

In fact, with her ability, she could find a better job, but this time she didn't want to get involved in the open and secret struggles in the business world. Her fight with Lin Mo was a living example! Bloody...

Now she no longer has the energy to fight and grab like before...

Still remember that Xin Hai asked her a question a year ago. He said: Does being a simple ordinary person really make you so unhappy?

At that time, Gu Cunxi told Xin Hai categorically, her tone extremely firm: "Of course I'm not happy, because there are too many things that are beyond my control... People who don't even have the right to choose their own lives have no right to talk about happiness!"

Gu Cunxi recalled these and smiled...as if he was mocking himself.

I once worked so hard to climb up... stepping on others by any means necessary, just to reach the top and have the right to choose...

But when she really stood at the top, she realized that life standing at the top was also shaky. The wind was so strong that it could easily blow her down...

People are like ants, like clothes, so easily crushed... and stripped away!

A slight sigh came from Gu Cunxi in the silent living room...

She forced herself not to think about it, calmed herself down, and picked up the TV remote control beside her...

The living room is too quiet...needs some noise

Cunxi kept pressing the remote control in his hand, and the boring programs on TV were switched one after another...

After an unknown amount of time, the phone suddenly rang. Gu Cunxi picked it up and saw that it was an unfamiliar number. She frowned slightly and answered the call.

"Hello, is this Gu Cunxi?"

"I am...you are?"

"This is the Sound Domain Arts Training Center. I've received your resume and would like to invite you for an interview. Is 3:00 PM this afternoon convenient for you?"

Gu Cunxi thought back to the resumes he had submitted, most of which were related to music...

Sound Field Art… who cares! Go check it out!

"No problem. Three in the afternoon is convenient for me. What's the company's address?"

"I'll send you the address via message later. See you this afternoon."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Cunxi raised his hand to check the time.

It’s almost time…

Because he was not familiar with the route here, he had to set off early and get ready as quickly as possible. Gu Cunxi took out his mobile phone to check the route and hurried to the station.

The house Xin Hai found for her has very convenient transportation. The station is very close to the community, about a five-minute walk away.

After arriving at the interview location, Gu Cunxi looked at his watch. It was still early...

This time is a little early for the agreed time, neither too early nor too late is suitable...

Twin Towers!

Gu Cunxi glanced at the office building in front of him and casually pulled out a cigarette and lighter from his bag. The slender women's cigarette had a minty smell when it was lit...

She used to hate cigarettes, but then...

After finishing a cigarette, Gu Cunxi sprayed some perfume and put a mint candy in her mouth. She didn't like to bring the smell of cigarettes to others...

When Gu Cunxi walked into the company, he looked around. There was only one young girl at the front desk. She looked young...

Gu Cunxi walked over and said, "Hello, I'm here for an interview!"

The girl looked up at Gu Cunxi, and was stunned for two seconds before she reacted and said, "Okay... Please wait here for a moment!"

Gu Cunxi nodded

About five minutes later, a woman came over from the office area. Gu Cunxi noticed that she raised her eyebrows when she looked at him as she approached.

"Hello, is this Miss Gu? I'm the HR manager who called you. Let's talk in the conference room."

When walking into the office area, Gu Cunxi didn't notice that a woman walked by, but the next second she unconsciously paused for a moment...

This wasn't something worth noting, but the moment they passed each other, a faint pleasant fragrance drifted over. This smell made her feel inexplicably at ease, so it caused Gu Cunxi to stop. She was stunned and looked back, but there was nothing...

Compared to the woman’s appearance...the first thing Gu Cunxi remembered was her smell!

Following the HR manager's footsteps, Gu Cunxi came to the meeting room. Before she came, she had thought of a series of questions that would be asked during the interview, so when faced with the HR manager's questions, Gu Cunxi answered them fluently.

Of course... there are no professional issues involved, nor is there any need for professionalism...

The HR manager gave a brief introduction to the company. The salary is 4,000, working from 9 am to 5 pm, with two days off a week, five insurances and one fund.

As for the company's welfare benefits, Gu Cunxi actually didn't care at all, so she just sat quietly aside, smiled and nodded.

"I am very satisfied with Miss Gu," the woman said with a smile.

"As for the position and benefits I just mentioned, if Miss Gu is acceptable, you can start work immediately. Of course... if you feel you need some time to consider..."

"I can accept it. When can I start work?" Gu Cunxi said directly.

As soon as the words fell, a look of surprise flashed in the other party's eyes... and there was a brief silence for a moment.