Rumors are like dust in a factory; they seep into everything. Within two days, they reached Zhang Shulan's ears.
Just after getting off work that day, Zhang Shulan rushed into the technical department office, pulled Liu Li, who was organizing documents, to a corner, lowered her voice, and her face was unusually serious:
"Lizi, tell me the truth, are those rumors outside true? You and that Engineer Fu... are really dating?"
Looking at her friend's concerned and worried eyes, Liu Li knew she couldn't hide it anymore, and she was too embarrassed to hide it either. She nodded gently, her face slightly flushed: "Um... I guess so."
"Oh, my silly sister!" Zhang Shulan slapped her thigh and stamped her foot in frustration. "How can you be so naive! Do you even know what kind of family he comes from? I heard his parents are high-ranking officials in Beijing, an intellectual family! How can they be compared to ordinary working-class families like ours?"
She grabbed Liu Li's hand, speaking quickly and urgently: "Yes, Mr. Fu is a good man, educated and handsome. But marriage isn't just about finding someone nice! If the two families are too different, how awkward will it be in the future? Do you think his family would even consider someone like us? Don't be confused and let people gossip behind our backs, saying we're 'marrying up'!"
Zhang Shulan's words were like a fine needle, precisely piercing the hidden worry in Liu Li's heart that she herself didn't want to think about deeply. It wasn't that she hadn't considered these things, but she had been deliberately avoiding them. Now that her friend had bluntly exposed them, that unease was instantly magnified.
Yes, she vaguely knew something about Fu Jingchen's family background, and it was indeed completely different from hers. Her parents were ordinary workers, her younger brother was still in school, and the most valuable thing in their house was their sewing machine. But Fu Jingchen... that was a completely unfamiliar life for her, belonging to another social class.
The words "climbing too high" feel like two small stones stuck in my heart, making me feel a little uncomfortable and resentful.
She was silent for a moment before raising her head to look at Zhang Shulan. There was struggle in her eyes, but more so, she was clear-headed: "Sister Shulan, I know you mean well. I know a little about his family situation. But I feel that Jingchen is not the kind of person who values family background. We... we met at work, we've tackled tough challenges together, stayed up all night together, and we're people who can talk to each other and think alike."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a stubbornness: "I don't want to give up on someone I think is right for me because of those 'possibilities' that haven't happened yet. Let others say what they want. Life is for me to live, not for others to see."
Looking into Liu Li's determined eyes, Zhang Shulan knew that the girl was made up her mind. She sighed and softened her tone: "I know you have your own ideas. But in this world, people's opinions can be terrifying! I'm afraid you'll suffer losses and be wronged!" She squeezed Liu Li's hand tightly. "Anyway, you have to be careful and keep your eyes open. Don't be foolish and fall into it all at once."
Her friend's advice was like a basin of warm water, bringing comfort while also making her see the potential realities more clearly. The irritation Liu Li felt due to the rumors faded, replaced by a more complex emotion—uncertainty about the future, a slight sense of inferiority in the face of differences, but more than anything, a stubborn desire to defend this relationship with her own strength.
She knew the path she had chosen might not be smooth, but having made the choice, she had to have the courage to continue. At the very least, she couldn't let her own hesitation or the opinions of others defeat her.
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