At this point, Lin Hao would compromise. Seeing Chen Junping's childlike smile of joy at victory, he would feel that any verbal victory would become meaningless. His magnanimity would also briefly influence Chen Junping. Lin Hao would also receive some extra rewards. For example, Chen Junping might invite him home to cook for him, or invite him to the court for a friendly match.
Chen Junping's basketball skills were mediocre, but Lin Hao was exceptionally athletic, especially in basketball. He used to be a key player on the school's basketball team, possessing top-notch explosiveness and jumping ability. It was almost fair to say that when he played one-on-one with Chen Junping, Chen Junping could score as many baskets as he wanted, provided Chen Junping could actually make the shots. However, he didn't tell Chen Junping about this; after all, once they started working, playing basketball was just for exercise, and there was no need to embarrass Chen Junping in this way.
In a relationship, one party always needs to make certain concessions. Lin Hao loved cautiously and methodically, allowing Chen Junping to fully enjoy that sense of superiority and dominance. However, the push-and-pull dynamic in love is different from the worldly wisdom of life. Getting used to one person's tolerance magnifies the flaws in the whole world.
So the blow was expected, but also timely.
It must be said that Chen Junping possesses an exceptionally keen sixth sense. His wariness of the world stems from an innate instinct: to avoid conflict and to escape harm. However, things don't always unfold according to people's wishes. Although Chen Junping adheres to the principle of "keeping a low profile in personal life but making a high profile in work," his eagerness for professional growth still creates a sense of crisis among those around him. Moreover, he seems to have forgotten that not everyone is as tolerant of his shortcomings as Lin Hao. They only need to offer a few words of guidance at a certain juncture, or pretend to ignore certain things, to easily magnify a mistake to the point of being difficult to salvage.
The situation was simple. A client Chen Junping was responsible for used a bank draft as payment in a contract with the company. However, the client stamped the wrong financial seal on the draft, causing the bank to refuse payment upon maturity, and the company's payment couldn't be received on time. To make matters worse, the client company was experiencing cash flow problems, causing a lot of tension. To shirk responsibility, the finance department produced several documents proving that Chen Junping had violated company regulations when signing the contract. This amounted to payment before receipt of payment, a reverse procedure, and he was to be held accountable. Although the company eventually recovered the payment through public relations efforts, the matter had already reached higher management and caused significant repercussions. To quell the unrest, the company disciplined Chen Junping. As a salesman, he had no leverage to argue with senior employees, so his explanations were suppressed. Despite feeling wronged, Chen Junping had no choice but to accept the punishment.
It's easy to imagine the blow this dealt to Chen Junping. He had always been a person with a high opinion of himself. He lived so cautiously, just to protect his peaceful life. But in the end, he was still pierced by the thorn in his own heart, bleeding profusely. Chen Junping's "boy next door" demeanor faded instantly; he became less talkative, and his occasional conversations were often tinged with complaints and venting.
Lin Hao was somewhat worried about him. You see, in this group built on employer-employee relationships, people quickly forget the good you've done, but they might remember the bad things you've done or said for a lifetime. He feared Chen Junping's childishness would worsen his working environment. So, a few nights later, he called Chen Junping and asked him out for drinks.
Chen Junping seemed agitated. He and Lin Hao sat together on the stairs in the hallway, their beer cans clicking loudly in their hands, but neither of them drank a drop. Lin Hao waited for a long time, but Chen Junping refused to say a word, seemingly content to just sit there with Lin Hao, letting the accumulated worries and heavy atmosphere tear at their hearts.
"You should relax and let bygones be bygones."
Chen Junping shook his head, remained silent for a long time, and then suddenly let out a long sigh:
“I’m just disappointed in myself,” he paused, then added, “I’m not sure, so I’m scared. I’m sorry, Lin Hao.”
"I'm fine, Ping. I just don't want you to live such a tiring life. If you're unhappy, please tell me, okay?"
Chen Junping chuckled softly, glanced quickly at Lin Hao, and then looked away again after meeting the other's eyes.
"You've been good enough to me."
Chen Junping was somewhat at a loss.
If there's anything about Lin Hao that's not perfect, perhaps it only exists in Chen Junping's vision of the future.
He viewed the future too negatively, imagining waiting as a way out. But he didn't consider that time can polish some things and dilute others; it can change some things and erase others.
In truth, one doesn't need to live life with such clarity. The more attention we pay, the more important something is, and the more tolerance we need. If life is a book, to truly understand it, you can't expect to see every detail in every line. Completeness and authenticity are what matter most. Life is but a fleeting few decades; we can't afford the exhaustion of meticulously crafted words.
What came easily, went easily. In this increasingly exhausting relationship, letting go and holding on were perhaps just choices made in an instant. Chen Junping only realized the irony afterward. He always felt he needed time to think, but for so long, he couldn't find answers to his own doubts. Instead, a thoughtless remark turned his entire life upside down.
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