16. Make a cat date
"So when was your favorite time to read Faces?"
After talking about "Autumn Letters", Chen Yisheng naturally mentioned his own magazine.
"I was pretty well-read when I was little, haha. I'd buy whatever book had a nice cover. The first book I read was 'Faces,' about Qin Shi Huang. I thought it was really interesting. In elementary school, I focused on historical faces the most; I couldn't understand anything else. As I got older, I started to pay more attention to the faces around me, besides the must-reads recommended by the editor."
"why is that?"
Chi Jin smiled sheepishly and said, "I've been working hard on this column. I've submitted articles for more than 30 times and they were all rejected."
"Really persistent."
"My writing style was still very immature back then. Even now, I don't have the courage to finish reading all the dark history." Chi Jin smiled, "But I succeeded on the 40th try, so I can be considered to have found a mentor."
Chen Yisheng nodded: "It's worth remembering."
Chi Jin instinctively reported the journal number and page number, but stopped before saying the title. Looking back now, her writing style was still immature. Even though she was already in college, she didn't want to be dragged out and judged by Chen Yisheng.
She then changed the subject: "So I was completely devoted to Faces. I even contributed myself to it. I was completely feeding the tiger with my own body."
"Who is the editor who received your manuscript and signed it?"
"Zhou Cheng! That's the editor I've been looking for!"
Hmm...it's the editor on the sticky note that she often talks about.
A complex and indistinguishable emotion flashed across Chen Yisheng's eyes.
He took a sip from his teacup, and when he looked up again, he had regained his composure. His tone was indifferent, "Editor Zhou...left the company many years ago. He doesn't have a large circle of friends. I'll keep an eye out for news about him for you if I get a chance."
She mentioned this incident during the new employee induction ceremony and mentioned Zhou Cheng, but he was at the next table and didn't hear clearly.
If someone else said that, she wouldn't think it was a good idea, but Chen Yisheng rarely made empty promises. She nodded and said, "Thank you so much! I really want to meet Editor Zhou in person."
The noodles arrived quickly, steaming hot. The two of them ate a few mouthfuls in silence. The only sounds in the noodle shop were the slurping of noodles and the muffled sound of news on the TV. It was about a recent murder case involving a wife.
"The last time I went back to school, Teacher Liu mentioned that you had a boyfriend before."
Chi Jin nearly choked on her noodles. She hadn't expected Chen Yisheng to ask this. "That's a very inappropriate question. Maybe being single is safer."
Chen Yisheng chuckled softly: "Break up now?"
Chi Jin pretended to be relaxed and said, "Well, it's a honor to join my ex's club."
“It seems there are a lot of talented people here.”
Chi Jin felt that this topic was not suitable for superiors and subordinates, but considering that they were still fellow disciples, she politely said, "I think I'm doing pretty well."
"Judging from the current situation of the first batch of celibates, it's indeed pretty good."
Chi Jin glanced at his ring and said, "Are you going to take it off when you go home? Will your family get suspicious if they see any marks?"
"I used to take it off." Chen Yisheng replied naturally, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the ring mark. "The last time I went home to see my mother, I forgot. She saw it."
"What did Auntie say?"
"She said," Chen Yisheng imitated her mother's tone with a helpless smile, "'Wearing this, you're blocking out all the romantic opportunities!' That's what she said."
"It seems that there is such a saying." Chi Jin agreed.
"I replied to her at the time," Chen Yisheng looked at Chi Jin with a rare, almost mischievous light in his eyes, "'That's perfect. It saves a lot of trouble.'"
It was the first time that Chi Jin heard Chen Yisheng joke in such a relaxed tone. He couldn't help but laugh: "I didn't expect you to have such avant-garde ideas."
"We're not that different, are we?"
Chi Jin is 26 years old this year and Chen Yisheng is 34. The age difference of eight years is not small, but they cannot be considered two generations.
By that calculation, both deputy editors were older than him, yet he was the editor-in-chief. While she knew men had advantages in the workplace, she still believed Chen Yisheng's success was based on his ability. He was the backbone of Faces, and that was universally acknowledged.
"I remember there was a survey saying that the unmarried rate among people around 30 in first-tier cities is close to 40%. The reason behind this is the high cost of living, the diversification of individual values, and the structural conflict between the traditional marriage model and modern... " She talked freely, but stopped in time when she mentioned specific material thresholds such as "bride price" - the person in front of her didn't look like someone who would be hindered by material things.
Chen Yisheng listened quietly, and when she stopped, he said, "You are still young, don't worry about these things."
Chi Jin didn't want to talk about this with his boss, so he wiped his mouth and said, "There's one more thing I want to tell you. Isn't your orange cat looking for someone to adopt? I've selected a few suitable adopters. What do you think about the follow-up arrangements?"
"Are they all in Jing City?"
"Yes, we only selected those from the same city." Chi Jin nodded and added, "The information has been sorted out."
"Actually... this is a stray cat I picked up. I've had it for a while, but as you know, people with allergies to cat hair aren't very suitable for getting along with cats. I wasn't thoughtful enough at the beginning. So..."
"I understand. How can I help?" Chi Jin asked. "I've verified the basic information. Do you think we should arrange a meeting? Or should I observe for a while?"
Chi Jin worked as an intern for a while and is now adept at being Chen Yisheng's secretary.
He was silent for a few seconds, as if trying to decide his words. "To be honest, I don't have much experience in choosing adopters. I'm afraid I'll make a bad choice and end up hurting the cat. Could you help me with the screening process? For example...when we meet?"
Chi Jin hadn't expected him to make such a direct request, and hesitated for a moment. The last time she'd gone to her boss's house was an accident, and since she'd assumed he was married, she hadn't given it much thought. But now that she knew he was single, going to her boss's house on the weekend? That sounded...
"I know it's inappropriate for a subordinate to come to their boss's house." He said in a steady tone, offering a proposal that was hard to refuse. "How about this? Consider it a part-time job on weekends, and I'll pay you by the hour. Do you think one hundred and fifty dollars an hour is reasonable?"
Chi Jin's eyes widened. When she was a graduate student, she worked as an English tutor for junior high school students and only earned a hundred yuan an hour.
She suppressed her inner excitement and quickly calculated the total revenue, pretending to be hesitant and reluctant. "...Okay. But, Editor-in-Chief Chen, this is between you and me. I don't want it to spread within the company and cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
Chen Yisheng's lips curved quickly, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding, and he responded simply: "Consensus."
"Then let's set it for Saturday. I'll hurry home and confirm my confidence. Don't worry, it's free."
She deliberately drew a clear line between "helping" and "paying" to make herself appear less like a profiteer.
"Okay, I'll take you there." Chen Yisheng picked up his coat.
"Ah, no need. It's late now and the subway is not crowded. I'll be back in a few stops." Chi Jin quickly stood up and waved his hand. "Really, no need to bother. It's too late, so you should go back early."
Chen Yisheng looked at her evasive attitude and didn't insist: "Okay. Be careful on the road."
Chi Jin went ahead and Chen Yisheng scanned the code to pay.
It’s not that Chi Jin ran away from paying, it’s that she really forgot.
…
Chi Jin hummed a little tune as she headed home to greet the weekend. Besides sorting out the adoptive parents' information, she planned to take a good rest. Work was hard, and as she got older, rest time was especially rare.
Taozi was curled up on the sofa, playing a video game with her boyfriend. Chi Jin grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and returned to the bedroom. Suddenly, she remembered the question Chen Yisheng had asked her. She hadn't planned to get married in the past three years, and she didn't have anyone suitable.
For working people like them who can't save much money, the most important thing is to keep their jobs so that they can make a living.
She looked at the computer and took a deep breath, deciding to take advantage of the day to finish the extra work that Chen Yisheng had assigned her.
Chi Jin took a sip of cold beer and started typing quickly.
*Preliminary Screening Report of Potential Orange Cat Adopters (Compiled by Chi Jin for free)
Screening principles:
1. Same city priority
2. Stability considerations: self-owned housing > stable long-term rental > short-term rental; proof of stable employment/income; stable family structure.
3. Cat-raising experience: Priority will be given to those with experience in scientific cat-raising; those without experience but with sufficient knowledge and a serious attitude will be second.
4. Environmental Assessment: Are the windows sealed in the home? Are there any other pets? Photos of the living environment are undergoing preliminary review.
5. Willingness and attitude to communicate: Completeness of the adoption application form, timeliness of communication responses, professionalism of questions asked, and clarity of future plans for the cat.
6. Exclusion factors: frequent moving records, unsealed windows, unneutered dogs at home, perfunctory attitude, suspicious adoption motives, etc.
candidate:
1. DINK Cat Raising Research Group
Newlyweds, childless and lighthearted, decided to devote their untapped parenting passion to cats. He's a rigorous coder, she's a meticulous engineer. They already have a native Siamese cat and have invested in a smart cat litter box, an automatic feeder, and pet monitoring cameras. They embrace scientific pet care, employ effective environmental enrichment practices, and maintain a stable relationship.
2. Childless Cat Lover
I'm a 32-year-old white-collar worker at a foreign company and a true celibate. Having successfully cared for two cats through their lifetimes, I'm now lonely and desperately need a new, chubby orange friend to fill the void. I have a top-of-the-line cat climbing frame with a viewing platform, three heated cat beds, and a wall of imported canned cat food. I have extensive experience, ample financial resources, live alone in a simple and safe environment, and have a deep understanding of my cat's needs.
3. Gap year candidates
I'm taking a gap year after graduating from college at 22. I enjoy traveling and am currently preparing for graduate school. I don't have any cat supplies at home yet, but I can afford to buy some.
4. Retired teacher Aunt Wang
A 68-year-old retired gardener. My daily routine is textbook: morning exercise, grocery shopping, lunch break, and a walk. I'm hoping to find a quiet furry friend with whom I can bask in the sun, chat (one-way), and enjoy a slow life. I don't have any cat supplies at home yet, but I can afford to buy some.
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