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墨書 Inktalez
I don't know how to be a father before I am ready to be a husband. Twenty years ago, I was a naive young man from the countryside, and after graduating from university, I smoothly entered a State-Owned Enterprise as an accountant on the recommendation of my mentor.
In that era, while university graduates were not scarce, they were still more valuable than today's graduates. At that time, I harbored an absurd fantasy of making a name for myself. Upon entering the company, I was very proactive; in addition to diligently performing my duties, I took on a pile of tasks that weren't even mine. I lacked the arrogance and self-importance commonly found among university students; I only knew that being down-to-earth was the only path to success.
However, after nearly a year of hard work and finally achieving some results, my direct supervisor was imprisoned for corruption. Because I failed to detect accounting issues in time, I was treated as an accomplice and received a warning along with several colleagues in my department. Although it was called a warning and I retained my original position, my prospects for promotion were dashed.
In fact, I was relatively lucky; compared to my colleagues, I had only worked for a year and could easily seek employment elsewhere and start anew. However, out of respect for my mentor's recommendation, I found it difficult to make the decision to resign.
At this time, a Senior Executive from Liu's company approached me and assigned me a task: to deliver a document to someone staying in a luxurious room at a Five-Star Hotel in the city. All I needed to do was get his signature and return it to this Senior Executive.
The task seemed simple at the time; I thought it was just a coincidence. The finance department was located on the eighth floor of the company. Due to the large scale of the organization, the offices of finance personnel occupied the entire eighth floor. At that moment, the executive was leisurely pacing in the hallway with a folder in hand, occasionally peeking into the offices on either side. In my haste to finalize a report, I rushed out of my office and saw him but didn't recognize him; I thought he was an outsider.
"Is there something you need?" I asked as I approached him. He scrutinized me with an inscrutable gaze that made me uncomfortable, causing me to take a small step back. "Who are you looking for?"
He raised the folder in his hand. "Busy? Help me deliver this document."
"Who are you?" He spoke as if it were obvious, which made me slightly indignant. Sorry, but I can't mention his name; suffice it to say that when he introduced himself, his identity shocked me. He belonged to that elite class who had their own elevators and were rarely seen by ordinary employees.
"Is that convenient?" he asked again.
After some thought, I replied, "I need to finalize this report first; once I'm done, I'll help you deliver it."
He raised an eyebrow, perhaps surprised that a lowly employee would prioritize his task over basic work. But I didn't change my attitude; having seen what happened to my former boss, I knew not to be careless with reports.
"Alright, you can hold onto the document for now; just help me deliver it once you're done," he said as he handed me the folder.
"No problem," I nodded slightly as I took the document. "If you have nothing else, I'll get back to work."
"Go ahead."
The process was that simple. After finishing my work, I went to the hotel he mentioned and found the intended recipient. The person turned out to be a Hong Konger; judging by his demeanor, he clearly had significant connections. After listening to my explanation without hesitation, he signed his name in the designated spot on the document. Stealing a glance at it revealed that he was a notable figure in Hong Kong's Investment Community with considerable influence.
It seems the company is about to have a big business deal; that's the only thought I had, nothing else crossed my mind.
I then handed the documents to the Senior Executive, who sat at his desk. He placed the folder in front of him without opening it, instead interlocking his fingers and gazing at me meaningfully.
" manager Liu, do you have any instructions for me?" I stood up straight.
"You are Xu Zhou?"
He actually knew my name. "Yes."
"Do you have any plans after work? I need to talk to you about something."
"No."
"Good," he casually pulled a business card from a holder and handed it to me. "Meet me at this place at seven."
"Yes, I will be there on time." I took the card, which was printed with the name of a high-end restaurant that intimidated me.
I don't want to elaborate on the details of that meeting. It was the first step in abandoning my principles, the first step in selling my integrity. He told me that the real reason my direct superior fell from grace was merely a necessary sacrifice in the company's internal struggles. He revealed that all leaders with power in the company had dirty hands to some extent; this was something everyone knew, while I remained naïve and self-righteous.
He said that if I was willing, he could promote me all the way up.
I asked him why, and he said his daughter, Liu Ya, had fallen for me at first sight when she came to the company to find him once, and he was quite pleased with me as a potential son-in-law.
The situation was indeed bizarre, but I did not respond immediately.
Not long after, he presented me with a significant gift. That year, the company was facing a reform towards shareholding system, and attracting investment was a top priority. Considering what I had seen of that Hong Kong investment tycoon before, it wasn't hard to guess that there would soon be a major business deal in the company.
However, I never expected that the credit for this deal would ultimately fall on my shoulders. According to the tycoon, he decided to invest in our company mainly because my relentless efforts and sincere attitude impressed him; God knows, I had only met him once before, and prior to that encounter, he probably didn't even know my name.
This was undoubtedly an under-the-table maneuver by the Senior Executive, providing me with an unexpected surprise. With numerous leaders praising me repeatedly and colleagues occasionally casting jealous glances my way, how could I not feel elated?
Subsequently, I naturally accepted the olive branch extended by the Senior Executive. He then arranged for me to meet Liu Ya.
Liu Ya was truly a beautiful woman; while good looks were not uncommon, her grace and poise made her stand out as exceptional and remarkable.
Would a woman like this fall in love with me at first sight?
I am not foolish enough to think that. In terms of appearance, I might just barely match her; it’s not that I’m boasting, but I have always believed that a man's looks are not that important—it’s just a matter of having a face. Yet, I happen to have a face that attracts the attention of the opposite sex.
However, Liu Ya is clearly not the type of shallow person who would fall in love at first sight. Love at first sight is a trick played by handsome men and beautiful women who are drawn to each other's looks, but Liu Ya would never rashly promise a lifetime based solely on someone's appearance.
Moreover, when she looks at me, there is no warmth in her eyes; she is cold and indifferent, even dismissive.
So why did Liu's Senior Executive choose me?
I do not intend to create suspense, and besides, when one is facing death, the so-called career success and fame are merely fleeting illusions. My desire for death does not stem from career setbacks, so I might as well tell you directly.
At that time, the company was undergoing reform, and various factions were forming within it. The advancement of the times would inevitably eliminate certain old-fashioned elements. Liu's Senior Executive, who is my future father-in-law, belongs to that category that is about to be phased out.
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