18. Something happened
Having dinner with her boss and Yang Ziqi and her daughter, Vivian was on edge. The meal was more tiring than working.
These kinds of events might seem high-end, but in reality, they're all the same. When she first started, she felt a sense of novelty, attending the entire meeting attentively and actively socializing during them. But after going too often, she became bored, especially today, when her boss was actively meeting with all sorts of people all day, leaving her constantly on the alert. It wasn't until late at night that she finally managed to find a seat in the lobby bar.
After a day like this, it is really hard to fall asleep without some alcohol to relax your nerves.
Vivian has developed a habit of having to drink a glass of wine before going to bed in the past two years.
The lobby bar always felt like a haven of tranquility, with low lights and gentle music. There was a sense of fluidity, but never a clamor. She chose a corner seat and ordered a White Russian. The creamy aroma was enough to soothe her frayed nerves, while the alcohol was potent enough to help her sleep.
The wine arrived, and she couldn't wait to sip it. At a certain age, it seemed that only the pleasure brought by alcohol was immediate and effective. Other pleasures, those obtained from other people and elsewhere, seemed too illusory.
"Miss Fang, what a coincidence?"
She was startled. She had been leaning lazily on the sofa, not caring about her image, but now she jumped up like a spring.
It was the man who offered help this morning.
Vivian was a little annoyed. Why was it him again? Her rare chance to relax was almost gone, but she had to put on a social smile. "What a coincidence! I've been so rushed today that I didn't have time to ask for your name."
"You're welcome. Please don't mention your surname, Yang." The other person nodded slightly, and his every move was artificially serious, but because of his ordinary appearance, he didn't seem to be very cool.
Seeing that he didn't seem to be going away, she had no choice but to say, "Please sit down."
He actually sat down without hesitation.
She secretly groaned inwardly, but could only say, "I haven't had time to thank you yet. Would you like something to drink?"
The man ordered a glass of iced soda.
"You don't drink?"
"I plan to get up early for a run tomorrow morning, so I'm afraid to drink. I also have a marathon in two weeks."
"Wow, that's amazing." She didn't really think much of it.
Marathons have become a rejuvenation elixir for middle-aged men, with many people excited and talking about them with relish. However, these popular middle-aged men are often quite boring.
"Miss Fang is here this time...?"
"I'm here with my boss to attend a meeting. He has a keynote speech tomorrow morning."
"Mr. Zhang always has a broad vision. I look forward to listening to his insightful opinions tomorrow." The man said with a look of agreement.
At another time, she might have struck up a conversation. Isn't that what they call resources? Getting to know someone, becoming familiar with them, never hurts; maybe it could be useful in a future job search.
But she was so tired that night that she had no desire to socialize. She had been busy since she woke up that morning, and now she wanted to kick off her high heels and sit cross-legged.
So she just smiled and said, "It seems that you know Mr. Zhang very well."
Seeing that Vivian didn't respond, the man felt a little embarrassed. He quickly drank the soda water and stood up to say goodbye: "Miss Fang, I'll go upstairs first."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
The man scurried away. Vivian slumped back onto the sofa, checked her phone, and planned to give herself another half hour to unwind. Tomorrow was another full day.
*
This night was strange. As soon as the middle-aged man left, Eric appeared.
He was not polite and sat directly opposite Vivian.
"Sir, what can I do for you?" Vivian said, her expression unkind. Ever since she knew there was no possibility between them, she had become much more natural.
No need to pretend anymore.
"Can I sit for a moment?"
"Is there any use saying 'no' now?" She handed over the wine list.
The waiter had come over, and Eric gestured to her glass with his chin: "Just give me the same one, please."
He lacked his usual eloquence, and there was an unspoken weariness in his tone.
At this moment, Vivian wanted to reach out and touch his face and ask: What's wrong?
But at this point, she was particularly reluctant to reveal anything, so she joked:
"What's up? You're tired of accompanying the little princess, huh?"
His expression suddenly changed:
"Fang Weiwei, there's no need for you to mock me like this."
The two of them have known each other for a while. He has always been emotionally stable and has never been so unmannerly.
Her face paled, and she was about to retaliate when the waiter brought her some wine. She was always a stickler for decorum, so she suppressed her anger and waited for the waiter to leave. "You've had too much to drink, haven't you? I don't talk to drunks," she said, then she got up and left.
When she passed by him, he suddenly grabbed her wrist gently and said, "Just sit for three minutes, okay? Finish this cup before you leave."
She was moved, but shook off his hand: "I'm sorry, I have to work early tomorrow morning. You gentlemen, please don't make things difficult for me, a working person. I'll pay the bill, you can drink slowly."
Back in her room, her heart still pounding, she placed her cool palms against her burning cheeks.
The moment her wrist was held, she had an urge to bend down, hold his head and neck in her arms and say: It doesn't matter, it really doesn't matter, it doesn't matter what happened, it doesn't matter how miserable you and I are.
But a golden fish is not something that can be confined to a pond. He is not a simple person at all. She knew this.
He was just having fun with her. She didn't have that much time to waste.
At that moment, the doorbell rang, startling her. For a moment, she thought it must be him, but then she felt a wave of disappointment and boredom. There really weren't any special men in the world, and he was just like that.
It's very frustrating to have someone ring the doorbell in the middle of the night.
She rushed into the bathroom, checked that she wasn't too out of shape, smoothed her hair, and opened the door. It was the hotel waiter: "Miss Fang, a gentleman asked me to bring this up. It's so late, and he's worried it might be inconvenient for you."
A bottle of safflower oil.
"Thank you for your hard work. May I ask who this is?"
"A Mr. Yang."
That boring middle-aged man.
Well, should we say he is a gentleman who is as attentive as a hair, or a greasy middle-aged man who relentlessly pursues strangers?
Vivian thanked him again and closed the door. She took out the man's business card, but after thinking it over, she didn't send him a message to thank him. Otherwise, she was worried that he would never stop.
For a middle-aged man like this, having Qiu Fang was enough. She and Qiu Fang had some connection and affection, so today's so-called chance encounter was ridiculous.
*
Locking the door and preparing to go to bed, Vivian mocked herself for still anticipating the doorbell ring. But Eric certainly wouldn't be persistent, or think that a bottle of safflower oil could express his sincerity.
"Everything that happens is good for me," she said to herself, laughing at herself. This was the same as the old people chanting Amitabha Buddha when faced with difficulties. It had nothing to do with faith, but was just a little trick to calm the mind.
You know what, it really works.
This method was told to her by a colleague. This colleague originally worked in an obscure position at a medium-sized fund. Two years ago, due to a chance encounter, he jumped to a recognized leading fund in the market and became a career role model that his old acquaintances envied.
This colleague had known Vivian since childhood and had a good relationship with her. He told her privately that everything went so smoothly because he insisted on going to Qingcheng Mountain to burn incense and pray for blessings, and worshipping the Buddha Dipamkara in Puzhao Temple. Since then, he has been promoted and his career has been extremely successful.
This is the sentence she taught Vivian with great care.
"Everything that happens is good for me." Vivian hoped that would be the case tonight as well.
But then the phone rang, and this time the truth had finally come to light. It was indeed him.
/t//
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