Zhong Qing clearly remembers what kind of place she was born in.
It was a very poor and remote village, where long drought cracked the earth, crops withered before harvest, and the grain they managed to reap couldn't feed a family through winter.
So when she was very young, she became a left-behind child—her parents deposited her with her grandmother like savings in a bank, then both went out to work together.
Others sent back money from their jobs. Unfortunately, her parents had fellow villagers send back ashes instead. They'd had an accident while working in the mine—many people lost their lives that day.
The mine was illegal, and the boss was black-hearted. Afraid of taking responsibility, he ran away overnight. Her parents left like that—two lives lost, but the family didn't receive even a penny of compensation.
Grandmother held her parents' ashes and cried until her voice went hoarse. The first life lesson her grandmother taught her was: The life of the poor is lowly. You have to try your best to live like a human being, and don't be a poor person when you grow up.
And she knew that reading was her only chance to escape poverty's grip.
Since then, she studied with such ferocious intensity that anyone who saw her learning energy couldn't help but turn around, march home, and beat their own child.
She was the best child in the village and even the whole township, but her path to education wasn't smooth.
When grandmother grew old, she was taken to live with her uncle's family, making his already difficult household even poorer—another mouth to feed, another burden.
Her uncle and aunt took care of their two own children and didn't want to continue supporting her education. They forced her to drop out.
It was the first time in her youth that she truly understood what "despair" means, what "the sky is falling" feels like.
Not being able to study meant she had been destined to remain poor since finishing elementary school. She refused to accept a fate whose ending she could see from the beginning. She asked the teacher who came to the village to teach for a short time: how could she continue to study?
The teacher told her she might be able to write letters of application and find a kind person to sponsor her.
It was the first time she took initiative to fight against her destiny. In the immature handwriting of a child, she wrote a letter and sent it to the Hope Project office in a big city.
She used a child's most simple language to introduce her upbringing environment and her burning desire to read.
There was no reply after the letter was sent. Her uncle and aunt no longer let her attend school—they made her help with housework instead.
She was unwilling and continued to write.
Letters were sent out until everyone said she was a foolish child, and her uncle complained that there was no money to waste on stamps for her.
Only grandmother secretly stuffed money into her hands, secretly supported her, and secretly told her the second truth in life: God will not treat a sincere and motivated person harshly. You should work harder. Just work harder.
Later, God really did what her grandmother predicted—she actually received a reply letter, a response from a person named Yi Qiang in a big city far away. Along with the letter came his ten-year financial support for her studies.
Later, Zhong Qing slowly learned that Uncle Yi Qiang, the good man who funded her studies, was the owner of a company in that distant big city. When she grew a little older, she further learned that Yi Qiang's company was called "Yicheng Products."
Since Yi Qiang sponsored her, she never won anything other than first place. Later, when Yi Qiang went on a business trip, he specially came to her village to see her. That was the first time she'd seen him, and she was so nervous facing this great benefactor who'd changed her fate that she almost couldn't speak.
She looked at Yi Qiang and her eyes turned red with gratitude. And Yi Qiang saw the environment in which she lived, and his eyes reddened with distress.
From then on, during winter and summer vacations, Yi Qiang would take her to his home in the city, supplement her nutrition, improve her diet.
Yi Qiang's wife had a beautiful name—Cheng Suyi—and she was an extremely gentle person. Zhong Qing experienced long-lost maternal love in her presence.
Yi Qiang also had a daughter, two years younger than Zhong Qing, a beautiful little girl like an angel—soft, without the squeamishness of city children at all, shy and sweet.
The first time Zhong Qing came to Yi Qiang's house, she and Yi Chengcheng became little sisters.
In this way, Zhong Qing usually returned to school in her hometown, but was taken home by Yi Qiang to accompany Yi Chengcheng during holidays. Until her grandmother died and her uncle no longer wanted to support her, Yi Qiang simply took her in completely.
It was just that her household registration couldn't be transferred, so she finished high school in the city but went back to her hometown to take the college entrance examination.
She did exceptionally well and was admitted to a top university in the super first-tier city where Yi Qiang's family lived.
Yi Qiang and Cheng Suyi raised her like their own daughter. She became more and more like a city child—from her clothes, conversation, complexion, and demeanor, it was difficult to see that she'd been born and raised in a very poor and remote village.
In her junior year, Yi Chengcheng performed exceptionally well on the college entrance examination and was also admitted to one of the best schools locally, studying her favorite major—fashion design—as she'd wished.
Everything was moving toward perfection. According to her beautiful vision, she would continue her studies after graduating from college, find a good job after graduating from graduate school, and live a warm and bright life with Yi Qiang, Cheng Suyi, and Yi Chengcheng.
But fate has a way of reversing at the peak—prosperity inevitably declines, and good days never wait long enough for anyone.
The Yi family soon faced catastrophe.
At first, something happened to Yi Qiang's company. At some unknown point, there was a problem with Yicheng Products' capital chain. Yi Qiang held back and said nothing, and by the time he had to speak, he was already drowning in debt.
When the debt reached the point of insolvency, rather than drag down his wife and daughter, he chose the most tragic way out—he jumped from the roof of the Yicheng Products office building and shattered the debt along with himself.
Zhong Qing couldn't accept this fact. She couldn't accept that such a good person as Yi Qiang, such a warm father-like figure, would leave them in such a way.
Cheng Suyi was hit even harder. She became dazed all day long. Finally, one day shortly after Yi Qiang left, she was also taken—hit by a car while crossing the road in her trance.
The successive tragedies made Zhong Qing so grief-stricken she was almost numb—but she could only grieve briefly before numbing the wound.
Because someone else was grieving more and needed her care more desperately.
In just a few months, Yi Chengcheng, who had been as happy as a princess, suddenly became ruined.
Yi Chengcheng was strongly traumatized. Already sensitive and timid, her parents' deaths were enough to break her. During this period she was also deceived by a man, and she suddenly became even more fragile and withdrawn, more afraid of people, willing only to live in isolation.
She fell into a pathological mental state and refused to speak again. Her condition couldn't support continuing her studies, so Zhong Qing had to arrange a leave of absence for her.
Zhong Qing, still in her junior year, forced herself to grow into a mature adult overnight.
She told herself that she'd received the Yi family's favor for the first ten years, and now the coming days would be her time to repay that kindness.
She had to take care of Yi Chengcheng for the deceased Yi Qiang and Cheng Suyi. From now on, if Yi Chengcheng had a bowl of rice, then there would be porridge for Zhong Qing to drink. She wanted to do everything within her ability and never let Yi Chengcheng be wronged in the slightest.
The Yi family's house had long been taken away by creditors. While attending school and working several jobs, she found a small yard with cheap rent on the city's outskirts and took Yi Chengcheng to live there.
The city's hustle and bustle made Yi Chengcheng anxious and afraid—this quiet place was just right for her to recuperate.
The most difficult year had finally been survived. Now that she'd finished her studies, once she got a job and had stable income, everything would get better.
And at work, why did she give up the offer from a brokerage investment bank to choose Xinxing Capital?
The real answer to this question was something that one day in the future, Zhong Qing would clearly show in front of the man named Qiao Mingxuan.
The bus staggered for more than an hour and finally arrived at the station. After getting off, she still needed to walk a long way.
She walked all the way from the city's edge to the suburbs, as if from a bustling technological dimension to a simple world of everyday life.
It was past lunchtime, and she felt hungry. She quickened her pace to rush home.
When she entered the yard, she saw her neighbor's aunt sitting on a small bench next to the courtyard gate, knitting a sweater while waiting for her return. This was the person she'd hired to take care of Yi Chengcheng during the day.
Zhong Qing smiled and called out: "Aunt Liu."
Then she asked, "Where is Chengcheng?"
Aunt Liu raised her head and replied, "I just finished lunch and went back to the house to take a nap."
"How is she doing today?"
"Very good, as usual in the morning. She painted there silently—painted some flowers, plants, big trees and birds, and painted some colorful little clothes. Very beautiful. At noon, I gave her noodles and she ate a full bowl!"
Zhong Qing was relieved, thanked Aunt Liu, and said a little embarrassed: "Aunt Liu, I may have to settle your payment two days late this month. I've been busy with interviews recently and haven't done part-time work, but I should have a good job soon, and I'll pay you extra when I start!"
Aunt Liu hurriedly waved her hand: "No, no, don't add more money, you're giving me enough already! Besides, if you hadn't helped my two children with tutoring, my eldest wouldn't have gotten into the key high school in town, and now even my second child's junior high grades are improving like riding a rocket. I'm afraid he'll get too proud of his fast progress!"
Zhong Qing laughed sincerely. She liked this hearty aunt next door too much. Since the Yi family's accident, her sincere smiles seemed to be getting less and less. There were so many things she needed to carry, and on the road of planning for life, her smile gradually took on various purposes.
Zhong Qing asked Aunt Liu to go home and rest—she was home this afternoon and would take care of Yi Chengcheng. In the evening, when the second child finished school, she'd go over to help with tutoring.
After Aunt Liu left, Zhong Qing also ordered herself a bowl of noodles. After eating and cleaning up, Yi Chengcheng happened to wake up.
She sat next to Yi Chengcheng and chatted with her.
When she said "chatted," she usually talked to herself, and Yi Chengcheng occasionally gave her body language—nodding or shaking her head.
"Aunt Liu said you painted again this morning. What did you draw? Let me see?" She asked Yi Chengcheng softly, as if coaxing a fragile child.
Yi Chengcheng was in good spirits today. Not only did she nod, but she also showed Zhong Qing the painting she'd drawn in the morning.
Zhong Qing praised while watching, her feelings genuine. Especially when she saw the clothes Yi Chengcheng had painted, she sighed sincerely in her heart.
The best designer seedling, a future treasure of the fashion industry. Unfortunately on indefinite leave of absence.
"Chengcheng is awesome." She encouraged Yi Chengcheng.
Yi Chengcheng leaned her head on Zhong Qing's shoulder, as if very happy to hear her encouragement and praise.
Warmth flooded Zhong Qing's heart.
Since the great changes in the family, this was a rare moment of peace.
She touched the top of Yi Chengcheng's head, feeling that to preserve this quiet moment, she was willing to do anything necessary.
Qiao Mingxuan's figure suddenly flashed in her mind. She narrowed her eyes and thought: Xinxing Capital—I have to get in there no matter what.
Even if the interview failed and she wasn't admitted, she'd have to think of other ways.
Fortunately, after a few days, Zhong Qing finally received good news.
The past few days, she'd been waiting for notification while accompanying Yi Chengcheng and helping with tutoring for Aunt Liu's children.
Until Friday, Zhong Qing received the call from Xinxing she'd been hoping for.
The human resources commissioner said "congratulations" to her on the phone and welcomed her to Xinxing Capital next Monday.
Putting down the phone, Zhong Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Although she'd felt she had a high probability of being admitted, as she waited day by day, nervousness inevitably grew in her heart. Now she could finally suppress that tension.
For the next two days this weekend, she arranged everything.
Work was settled, future livelihood guaranteed. She did the math and felt the money on hand could be stretched if squeezed hard, so she first paid part of the custody fee to Aunt Liu. "The rest will be doubled for you when I get my salary!"
Aunt Liu refused to accept so much. Zhong Qing told her: "Don't be polite with me. I'll go to work every day from now on. I'll probably have to work overtime often. I won't be home much to take care of things. Chengcheng's daily life will have to be looked after by you. You're still charging too little—I'm afraid it's too much to ask of you!"
Only then did Aunt Liu agree to accept the money.
After settling Yi Chengcheng's daily care, Zhong Qing took the bus to the wholesale market. She bought two sets of clothes—formal wear that looked impressive and expensive but was actually very cheap—planning to change into them for work.
When she was bargaining, she almost made the stall owner cry. As Zhong Qing scanned the code to pay, she said to the owner, "I'll come visit you next time." The stall owner's hand handing over the clothes shook obviously, forcing a smile: "You don't have to come to me, girl. Look, the clothes next door are also very good!"
Zhong Qing smiled and accepted the clothes: "Sister, thank you today. I'll definitely let you earn the money back next time I come."
If not for the pressure of life, who would want to be a troublesome bargain hunter?
When she got home, she put on the two sets of clothes to show Yi Chengcheng and asked her: "How is it? Do I look like those white-collar workers in office buildings?"
Yi Chengcheng didn't speak but pulled her sleeves and pulled the clothes off her.
Zhong Qing didn't know what she was going to do at first, but it was rare for Yi Chengcheng to react, so she let her. Later, when Yi Chengcheng carried the two sets of clothes to the sewing machine, she realized Yi Chengcheng was dissatisfied with the clothes' lines and wanted to improve them.
When she put on the suit that had been reprocessed by Yi Chengcheng, she felt every line perfectly matched her body's curves. Except for the different fabric from big brands, such exquisite craftsmanship was no worse than designer labels.
Zhong Qing looked at Yi Chengcheng, feeling the pride of seeing a child master their craft. Although she'd taken leave and refused to communicate with others, her natural abilities were still there.
Zhong Qing hugged Yi Chengcheng and praised her lavishly, which made Yi Chengcheng seem happier than usual.
Settling everything at home and preparing herself, early Monday morning, Zhong Qing took the first bus to the city center to start the first day of her working life.
When she arrived at Xinxing Capital, Zhong Qing found that indeed only three people had been admitted together.
Among the three, there was Ling Na, whom she'd met on interview day. Ling Na was very happy to see her, as if most of her nervousness about starting work had been resolved.
There was also a boy—tall and thin, named Lu Pengshan, with pride between his eyebrows and a somewhat cold attitude.
Zhong Qing looked at him and thought: Fortunately, it wasn't that person who interviewed with Ling Na that day and kept making small moves. Otherwise there would be many small traps in future work.
They arrived early. While the HR commissioner hadn't yet arrived, the three chatted a bit.
Zhong Qing asked Ling Na if she'd found the credentials she'd lost before.
Ling Na said: "I found them. Turns out someone had thrown them in the trash can by the bathroom door as if they were garbage. Then the cleaning auntie saw them when changing the garbage bag, took them and handed them over to the building property. The building property found me according to the school name on the certificate and my name."
Zhong Qing's eyes widened hearing this. It seemed her previous guess was eight or nine out of ten correct—Ling Na's certificate should have been taken by that male classmate named Wu Ming.
But this was just speculation. She had no evidence, so she wouldn't tell Ling Na. But Ling Na looked too simple no matter how you looked at it. If she didn't remind her, she was afraid she'd suffer that person's schemes later.
After consideration, Zhong Qing asked Ling Na: "By the way, how is your classmate who came to interview with you that day?"
Ling Na frowned: "He's really strange. He was very enthusiastic when he first knew I was interviewing for this company, helping me circle interview questions and everything. Although the questions he circled were all wrong and I didn't use any during the interview, I'm still grateful to him." After a pause, she changed her tone with confusion and distress: "But since the interview, he's never acknowledged me again. Then he heard from my roommate that I was admitted to Xinxing, and he looks at me like I'm an enemy, as if I robbed him of something. Very inexplicable."
Hearing this, Lu Pengshan on the side spoke: "Such a petty person can't be befriended deeply."
Zhong Qing glanced at Lu Pengshan. She said to him in her heart: Thank you. If you say what I want to say, I don't need to show my slick worldliness now.
Then she nodded vigorously in agreement: "Yes, yes, Lu Pengshan is very right!"
Ling Na smiled at them: "Don't worry, I don't like dealing with such mindful people. It's too exhausting." Then she took Zhong Qing's hand and said sincerely, "Zhong Qing, I have to thank you. You encouraged me and helped me with ideas during the interview, so I could be successfully admitted now."
Zhong Qing hurriedly waved her hand: "It was just a small matter, don't be polite."
She thought in her heart that she'd already returned the favor for Ling Na's kindness and enthusiasm over that cup of black coffee.
After chatting for a while, the HR commissioner came over.
The three were taken to process employment procedures, assigned workstations, and received office supplies.
The HR commissioner told them their probationary period was half a year. After half a year, they could all stay or be eliminated depending on their performance during probation. Even becoming a regular employee in the future didn't mean they could rest easy—if you don't advance in the workplace, you retreat, and if you don't reflect value, you'll be optimized.
Hearing this, Zhong Qing appreciated the fragrance of the iron rice bowl.
In the past, she hadn't quite understood why so many students were willing to take the civil service exam until they went bald memorizing questions. Now she understood—the iron rice bowl wasn't easy to grab, but once you grabbed it, you could eat for a lifetime. Unlike in private companies, if you wanted to make money from the boss, you really had to be ready to fight to the death at all times.
The HR commissioner introduced the company's situation and business structure to the three of them.
Xinxing Capital, named "Xinxing," meant: work hard and gain something. The company now had three large project departments. Except for the third where Qiao Mingxuan was MD, the heads of the first and second departments were all VP level. In other words, Qiao Mingxuan was one level higher than the other two department heads.
The heads of the three project departments would each draw one person from the three newcomers, then arrange an old employee from their own department to be responsible for teaching the selected newcomer.
After introducing everything, the HR commissioner gave an order: "Okay, now you go to your own seniors. What you need to do and how to do it, the seniors will tell you."
Zhong Qing happened to be drawn by Qiao Mingxuan. She hadn't expected to be so unlucky yet also have some luck. Good. It seems I'm one step closer to what I want to do.
But she didn't see Qiao Mingxuan in person. The person who received her was Qiao Mingxuan's department project secretary, named Shi Yani.
The HR specialist told her: "Don't look at Yani now as just a department secretary, but she used to run projects outside. She changed jobs because she wanted to sit in the office, so she's more than qualified to teach you."
When Zhong Qing went to find Shi Yani, Shi Yani was frowning at her computer.
She called out softly, and Shi Yani looked up at her.
Zhong Qing suddenly felt the environment brighten—Shi Yani raised a beautiful face with bright eyes and flaming red lips. She looked a few years older than Zhong Qing, in her twenties or approaching thirty, in her prime when her femininity was blooming wildly.
"Oh, you're the new employee, Zhong Qing, right? HR already told me in advance that Mr. Qiao wants me to take you. I'll help you understand the company's business situation in the next few days so you can grasp the work content as soon as possible." The beauty spoke crisply.
Zhong Qing immediately responded with a bright smile: "Thank you, senior, thank you for your hard work!" Perfect honest student appearance.
Shi Yani twisted her eyebrows and told her: "Don't call me senior. It sounds awkward. Just call me Sister Yani."
Zhong Qing immediately adapted and changed her address: "Sister Yani."
She recalled Shi Yani's work state just now and guessed she was dealing with something difficult, so she said: "Sister Yani, if you have work at hand, you be busy first. Tell me what to do when you're done."
Shi Yani glanced at her: "Why do I feel you're quite perceptive?" As she spoke, she pulled a chair to her side, grabbed Zhong Qing's wrist, and pulled her directly into the chair to sit down.
…Zhong Qing hadn't expected such a beautiful sister to have quite impressive strength.
"I have something quite annoying right now." Shi Yani pointed to the dialog box on the computer screen and said to Zhong Qing, "This person is very annoying. He left us last month, and now he wants to send me an expense receipt to post for him, then have me help him find Mr. Qiao and finance to sign for reimbursement. If something like this happened to you, what would you do?"
Zhong Qing quickly thought—whether deliberately arranged or not, this question was a test for her at the moment, and she had to answer with good judgment.
She looked honest and frowned, expressing obvious disapproval: "It's not good for him to do this... Expense receipts should be reported before leaving, and now that everyone's gone, he finds a bunch of receipts and wants you to help sign and post them... After all, this is about money. If there's something wrong with his receipts, when it's audited later, won't Sister Yani be the responsible person? It's better to let him come over and do it himself."
Shi Yani slapped the desk: "Right! Even you, a newcomer, understand the key to this matter. Does he think I'm stupid?"
She pointed to the chat record for Zhong Qing to see: "Look at what he said. Isn't it annoying?"
Zhong Qing glanced over—it was the conversation between the person named Wei Ming (resigned) and Shi Yani.
Wei Ming: "Yani beauty, you must be even more beautiful recently, hahaha [blushing]"
Zhong Qing stared. Turns out it's easy to meet greasy men in the workplace. This is true.
Wei Ming: "Minnie, do me a favor, I'm a little embarrassed. I forgot to reimburse an expense receipt. I'll courier it to you. Can you help me post it and then help me find Mr. Qiao and finance to sign?"
Shi Yani: "It's better for you to come over and do it yourself."
Wei Ming: "Aren't I very busy at my new company [Rose]"
Zhong Qing thought: Being busy is an excuse. This person actually wants to use Shi Yani's hand to report receipts he can't report.
Shi Yani: "I'm also busy, but my sister in finance recently said she's free. Why don't you mail it over, and I'll ask her to help you post?"
Seeing this, Zhong Qing liked this beautiful sister even more. She likes people who don't wrong themselves in everything.
Wei Ming: "No, great beauty Minnie, the finance people scrutinize receipts so carefully. If they handle it, it definitely won't get reimbursed. Sigh, I understand—you don't want to help me at all. You know, we're comrades who worked together, and you won't help with this little favor. It really makes me sad!"
Zhong Qing resisted the urge to sneer and mock—that didn't fit her honest personality.
She turned to look at Shi Yani, clicking her tongue a bit timidly and asking, "Will I meet many such people in my future work?"
Shi Yani comforted her: "Be good, don't worry." "But there will indeed be many strange things," the conversation turned, "but it's still rare to see something as strange as this."
"......" So many twists and turns.
"I want to reply to this person now, the kind that's pleasant and comfortable. After scolding him, block him and let him suffocate!" Shi Yani raised her hand to her chin, blinking her long eyelashes and looking at Zhong Qing. "You help me as an advisor—how can I scold him?"
"... He's obviously morally kidnapping you." Zhong Qing looked at Shi Yani and said very honestly, "So as long as we're shameless, we won't be kidnapped."
Shi Yani was stunned, then suddenly her red lips parted and she laughed: "Come on, the keyboard is for you. You help me reply to him!"
She stuffed the keyboard into Zhong Qing's hand.
Zhong Qing immediately felt trapped. The keyboard has been stuffed into my hand—I can't refuse. But how to reply? If this is a test, winning too decisively shows limited ability.
At this time, Wei Ming sent another message:
Wei Ming: "Are you really unwilling to help with this little favor? Everyone will meet in the future. Why do you need to do things like this?"
Looking at Wei Ming's words, after thinking, Zhong Qing tapped on the keyboard.
Shi Yani: "Don't say that, you misunderstood."
Wei Ming: "So do you think this little favor should be helped [gritted teeth]"
Zhong Qing's fingertips bounced, and she quickly replied with Shi Yani's account—
Shi Yani: "I mean, you misunderstood. We don't need to meet in the future."
After she sent the message, she pushed the keyboard back to Shi Yani, her face honest.
Shi Yani looked at the screen and laughed, said "absolutely," then replied while tapping on the keyboard: "So the expense receipt is declined."
Then she pressed the mouse and quickly blocked the person.
She turned to look at Zhong Qing and smiled: "I'm so satisfied! You newcomer, I like you!"
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