Chapter 2 (2)
Yu Shuang threw herself back into her work, frantically. She'd thought this would help her forget her mother and escape her influence. But unexpectedly, the loneliness only intensified. The company was embarking on a major project, and the headquarters had relocated from the city to Xuzhou. Unwilling to follow the headquarters, Yu Shuang naturally became the "left-behind" employee, leading a small team of several people. While still the leader, her work was much less stressful.
She suddenly felt she was aimless. She was willing to work overtime, but there was no overtime for her. She only needed to go to the company two or three times a week, and the rest of the time was her own. She could go when she had work to do and stay home when she didn't.
Yu Rui was also shocked. She hadn't expected Yu Shuang, now with less work, to become so reclusive. She constantly shifted between two places in the house: her bed and the sofa. She clutched a book, euphemistically calling it studying. This state of affairs lasted for two weeks. Yu Shuang gained ten pounds, her cheeks plump, but she looked quite dull.
To nip this problem in the bud, Yu Rui dragged Yu Shuang to the gym whenever she could. There were plenty of good-looking trainers there, but Yu Shuang didn't like them all after a few visits. When asked about his mate selection criteria, Shuang confidently said, "At least some education is necessary. I don't care how high, but at least a master's degree." There was another potential criterion that Yu Shuang didn't mention: preferably some study-abroad experience.
Yu Shuang likes men who have seen the world. Except for older men. Yu Rui sneered, "You're a paradox. You want to be worldly-wise but not old. How can there be so many young and worldly-wise men? Bai Yuankai, you can't eat it."
"He's my buddy," Yu Shuang said. After a pause, he added, "Didn't I give it to you to eat?"
Yu Rui blushed. Bai Yuankai hadn't contacted her since that dinner. She'd liked his posts. He'd never replied. She felt too embarrassed to do so again. Perhaps he was too busy. Unlike the rest of them, who had so much free time. That was all she could think.
It's not easy to befriend someone of his rank. Besides, Yu Meng and Yu Shuang both have his contact information. She's been clicking too much, revealing her feelings too much. Even if Shuang doesn't say anything, Meng will definitely see through it. Yu Rui doesn't like others seeing her thoughts.
Yu Rui changed the subject. She didn't want to talk about "Old White." He made her feel defeated. He was a man she had no power over.
Shuang walked briskly on the treadmill and complained, "I just don't understand why I have to spend my time trying to please another person."
It was the same old story. Wasn't it the sense of crisis after her mother's death? Ke Rui couldn't bring up her mother's death. She could only advise, "Now you're young and can handle it. One person feeds the whole family. But what about the future? Have you ever thought about it? When you get old, you still have a family, a child, at least you have something to rely on, a place to go."
Shuang was about to retort, but Rui immediately cut him off, "Don't quibble. No one likes being alone. You're suffering from single cancer. You need treatment."
Yu Shuang ran, trying to recall the last time he was in love. He couldn't remember. It seemed like a legend from ancient times.
With all this going on, Yu Rui suddenly became very busy. Liang Cai, through some connections, had arranged a position for her in the public relations department of a certain satellite TV station. It was a small position, with four girls under her, and her daily duties mainly involved negotiations and receptions.
There are a lot of dinner parties.
It's better to be busy, Yu Rui told herself. The most important thing was that through this platform, she could connect with more people. That was exactly what she wanted.
Because of Liangcai's connections, and rumored high-ranking officials, no one dared to touch her for the time being, and Rui's position remained secure. However, the PR department is a social place, so even if it wasn't busy, it was busy. Drinking, in particular, was a common occurrence. Fortunately, Yu Rui was young and could handle it. If you really can't hold on any longer, take a couple of cautionary tales or a glass of Neptune's Gold to prepare yourself.
At this point, she couldn't be reserved. She couldn't pretend to be reserved. You're a PR agent, and people stereotype you as someone who can let loose and drink freely. And besides, you're expected to deliver results. But that day, Yu Rui felt incredibly awkward. Halfway through the drinking session, a few people suddenly arrived, claiming to be important figures.
When she looked up, Bai Yuankai was standing there. Yu Rui's arrogance immediately subsided. She wasn't used to letting go in front of him. Her character was still that of a reserved little actress, so how could she suddenly become a woman who could get along with men? She felt inexplicably ashamed.
"I really can't drink anymore." This is the sentence Yu Rui said most often after Bai Yuankai appeared.
The men were unwilling to let her go, and kept saying that Director Yu had more than that.
"I'll do it." Bai Yuankai couldn't stand it anymore and offered to drink instead.
The crowd, not knowing they knew each other, started to jeer, "Hey, Mr. Bai is showing some mercy to women already? Come on, change seats." Someone actually stood up and offered Yuan Kai his seat. He was pushed down next to Yu Rui.
The entire evening was filled with an awkwardness that plagued both of them. Yuan Kai offered to drink for her out of friendship and gentlemanly demeanor. Yu Rui, however, felt ashamed of her work, which smacked of the world. While everything was legitimate, deep down, Yu Rui still felt that the reception had a touch of Du Shiniang about it. She and he weren't from the same social class.
You can't drive after drinking. Rui sent the older men away and went to the bathroom to touch up her makeup. Yuan Kai was still waiting for her. He called a designated driver and offered to take her there.
The second time.
Sharing the same car was a different experience than the first time. The designated driver was a young man. With a stranger present, the two of them felt awkward talking. Yu Rui got out of the car downstairs of Shuang's house. Yuan Kai also got out to see her off.
"Thank you," she said. He kept saying you're welcome. She was about to say, "I never thought I was doing this kind of work." But when the words came to her lips, she felt that there was no need to explain. It was already a serious job, and explaining it would make it look a bit off.
There is no silver here, so you will be exposed without being asked.
The two said goodbye. Yuan Kai didn't say anything extra. Yu Rui felt a little lost. She would have preferred him to comfort her, even if it hurt her pride and humiliated her, because it at least showed he cared about her.
She pretended to be strong, so he really thought she was strong.
Fortunately, this time she paid the driver in advance, so at least it didn't seem like she was always taking advantage of him. She was an independent woman. At least on the surface.
When I opened the door, the living room was a mess, piled with clothes.
Yu Meng poked her head out from her "mountain of clothes" and said, "You're back! Come help me." Shuangwai was "studying" on the sofa, showing no interest in Sister Meng's "property." Yu Meng was afraid that she would make the mess worse if she cleaned it up, so she had to do it herself.
"What? Opening a shop."
Yu Meng smiled. "These are all things I don't wear. You want to pick out the ones you like?" She seemed to be in a good mood. There were clothes, shoes, bags, and some small accessories I couldn't identify, from all sorts of eras. There was also a pile of various cosmetics in the corner.
This was a woman, a beautiful woman, whose "wealth" had been gradually accumulated over decades, like an ant moving house. This was also her evolutionary history. Yu Rui had never seen Yu Meng's wardrobe, but she had expected a lady-to-be like Yu Meng to have quite a lot of stuff. But the sheer volume she saw far exceeded Rui's expectations. Furthermore, did the appearance of these things indicate that Sister Meng was about to make a big move?
Yu Rui stood there in a daze.
"Are you still going?" Yu Meng urged her. Yu Rui quickly put down her bag and joined in the packing. At eleven o'clock that evening, Yu Shuang went back to her room to sleep. She had a very regular routine now. Meng and Rui worked until almost midnight. With everything basically in place and a general idea in place, Rui picked out two dresses and a coat as a reward. Meng also said she could borrow and wear these clothes anytime.
Rui didn't say much the whole time. She was sensible. Meng didn't talk about it. She didn't ask.
Yu Meng went to run the bathtub. Rui spotted something like a small pocket watch on the floor. She opened it, revealing a small photograph embedded inside. Luan Chengyun and Yu Meng were beaming. Were they still in the throes of love? Or perhaps it was taken shortly after their wedding. They still looked young.
"Why, do you like it?" Yu Meng walked over and asked.
Yu Rui smiled awkwardly. It was as if she was peeking into someone else's things. Not good.
"I'll remove the photo, but you can keep it." Yu Meng was generous.
Yu Rui looked at her with a slightly surprised look.
"Why are you looking at me?" Yu Meng said, "Leave me immediately." The excitement in her tone was as if she was about to be released from prison.
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