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Chapter 2623 A Girl's Thoughts

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the firecracker debris in the alleys of my hometown in Wenzhou had not yet been swept away, and the air was filled with the smell of sulfur mixed with the aroma of cured meat wafting from the kitchens of each household.

Zhuang Meiqin was busy cutting rice cakes in the kitchen when she suddenly heard someone banging on the gate. She quickly wiped her hands and went to open the gate.

The door opened, and two people were standing outside.

Old Qin was wearing a new woolen coat he bought for the Chinese New Year, and he was carrying two bottles of liquor and a box of health supplements.

Kang Shunyin followed behind his mother, Lao Qin, wearing a brown leather jacket and a scarf around his neck, with an unwilling expression on his face.

When Zhuang Meiqin saw the mother and son, her smile vanished. "Old Qin, what brings you here?"

Old Qin chuckled and lifted the things in his hands, "It's the New Year! I brought Shunyin to wish you and Brother Ye a Happy New Year. Our two families have been friends for so many years, we can't let a little misunderstanding between the children ruin our relationship, can we?"

Zhuang Meiqin neither accepted the item nor made any move to open the door.

But Lao Qin had already squeezed past her into the room, and Kang Shunyin followed suit, ducking down and crawling inside.

Zhuang Meiqin stood at the door, watching the mother and son walk through the door and into the house on their own, and felt a lump in her throat.

But she didn't want to stand at the door and argue with her neighbors during the Lunar New Year, so she suppressed her anger and closed the door.

Once inside, Lao Qin placed the cigarettes, alcohol, and health supplements on the coffee table.

Then he pulled up a chair and sat down, a smile plastered on his face, as if he was completely oblivious to Zhuang Meiqin's expression.

Kang Shunyin sat next to his mother, Lao Qin, crossed his legs, picked up a couple of peanuts from the coffee table, peeled them, and chewed them, looking as carefree as if he were back in his own home.

Old Qin first chatted with Zhuang Meiqin for a bit: "Meiqin, this winter is terribly cold. I've lived in Wenzhou for so many years and I've never seen such cold weather. Your house is so well-organized. This pot of daffodils is blooming beautifully. How's Ye Ge's work lately?"

Zhuang Meiqin sat on the opposite sofa and said, "Just say what's on your mind."

Old Qin moved his chair forward a bit, then said frankly, "Meiqin, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. Shunyin is a bit reckless, and I scolded him several times after his trip to Beijing. But his feelings for Zhuangzhuang are genuine. Think about it, these days, what young man would be willing to travel all the way to Beijing to find a girl? He just can't let go of Zhuangzhuang. The two kids grew up together, they know each other inside and out, and our two families have been friends for so many years, don't you think?"

Zhuang Meiqin's expression had turned extremely cold. "Old Qin, do you even know what your Shunyin family did in Beijing?"

Old Qin's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly waved his hand and said, "Young people are all the same; it's normal to be a little impulsive..."

"Normal?" Zhuang Meiqin interrupted her, her voice rising abruptly. "He waited for my daughter outside her company after get off work, told her in front of her colleagues that Zhuangzhuang was his fiancée, and even touched her inappropriately on the street. Is this what you call normal?"

At this moment, Kang Shunyin threw the peanut shells in his hand onto the coffee table, patted the crumbs off his hands, and said, "Hmph! I was catching her cheating. Zhuangzhuang must have someone in Beijing, otherwise why would she treat me like that? I did nothing wrong."

"..." The air in the living room seemed to freeze instantly.

Zhuang Meiqin stood up from the sofa, glaring angrily at the bastard in front of her. "You, surnamed Kang, you bullied my daughter in Beijing, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet. Today, on New Year's Day, you come to my house and swear at my daughter in front of me? Say that again and see what happens!"

Old Qin panicked instantly, quickly stood up, grabbed Zhuang Meiqin's sleeve, and apologized repeatedly, saying, "Meiqin, don't be angry. The child doesn't know any better. I'll discipline him properly when we get back..."

Zhuang Meiqin shook off Lao Qin's hand, stood still, pointed in the direction of the gate, and said, "Take your things and get out of here."

"I..." Kang Shunyin was still trying to say something, but the door opened.

The sound of a key unlocking the door came from the doorway.

Ye Jun bent down to change his slippers at the door and looked up to see several people standing in the living room.

Ye Jun's face darkened.

Although he is usually very amiable, once his face darkens, his entire demeanor changes.

Ye Jun didn't say anything at this moment. He just stood there and scanned the people in the living room. His gaze first fell on Lao Qin's face, and then on Kang Shunyin's face.

Kang Shunyin stood up and subconsciously took a step closer to his mother, Lao Qin, calling out indistinctly, "Mom."

Old Qin panicked too, and blurted out, "Old Ye is back? Then we'll be going now. Happy New Year."

The mother and son practically ran out, the door slamming shut behind them, and the sound of hurried footsteps fading into the alley.

Only three people remained in the living room.

Zhuang Meiqin was still standing in front of the sofa, her eyes red with anger.

Ye Jun placed the key on the shoe cabinet, walked over and patted Zhuang Meiqin on the shoulder, but did not say anything.

On the coffee table were the red envelopes and gifts left by Kang Shunyin and his group.

Ye Jun reached out, picked up the items, looked at them, and placed them on the shoe cabinet by the door. "Don't be angry! I'll personally deliver these back to their house another day. You don't need to worry about it."

Zhuang Meiqin wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm angry that he spoke ill of Zhuangzhuang to my face. Who does he think he is? He came all the way to Beijing to confront someone and then dares to turn around and smear me?"

Ye Jun patted her on the shoulder, "Alright, don't get angry over this kind of person during the New Year. Zhuangzhuang is doing well in Beijing, that's better than anything. We'll just cut ties with the Kang family from now on."

Zhuang Meiqin sat back on the sofa, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly said, "Old Ye, do you think Zhuangzhuang is doing well in Beijing? Every time she calls, she says she's doing great, but I always feel like she's only reporting the good news and not the bad."

Ye Jun sat down next to her. "Our daughter has grown up and has her own path to walk. There's no use in you worrying. If she really runs into trouble, she'll tell us."

"No! I'll call Zhuangzhuang right away."

……

Zhuangzhuang had just returned to her dormitory from the headquarters building when her phone rang. To her surprise, it was her mother calling. "Mom, what's up?"

Zhuang Meiqin recounted the entire day's events over the phone, "...Kang Shunyin said it to my face! He said you went to Beijing to find a man, which made your Uncle Ye so angry his face turned black!"

Zhuangzhuang held the receiver, but her mood was very calm.

She thought she would be angry to hear this, but what welled up inside her was not anger, but a strange calm.

It feels like those things happened a long time ago.

So long ago, when Zhuangzhuang tried to recall the scene, the details had become somewhat blurry.

“Mom, I’m really fine,” Zhuangzhuang said. “Kang Shunyin caused trouble in Beijing two years ago. He’s all bark and no bite, but deep down he’s a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong. Now he’s not even a thorn in my side. Don’t be angry with Uncle Ye, he won’t affect me.”

Zhuang Meiqin was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone. "Let's not talk about the Kang family anymore. Tell me, are you doing well in Beijing? Is your work going well? Are you eating well? Is the heating in your dorm warm enough?"

Speaking of this, Zhuangzhuang's tone became lighter. "Mom, I work at the headquarters of Tianchao Group. I'm currently President Su's personal assistant. Every day, I help President Su arrange his schedule, organize documents, and prepare meeting materials."

"..."

"President Su is an extremely busy person. He's either in meetings or at the factory all day long. I've been following him around and learned a lot. The things and people I encounter every day are things I never dared to imagine before. I feel like I've found the direction I truly want to pursue, and I don't plan to audition for a singing group anymore."

Zhuang Meiqin asked, "You're not taking the exam? Didn't you always want to take it?"

Zhuangzhuang said, "I won't take the exam anymore. I wanted to take it before because I felt that other paths were blocked, and singing was the only thing I could hold onto. But it's different now. President Su said that I am steady in my work and has involved me in many important projects. I feel that this is the path I want. It's more reliable than singing."

"Hmm, that's fine!" Zhuang Meiqin suddenly changed the subject again, "What about Xu Shengli? How are things between you two?"

Zhuangzhuang sat up abruptly, startled. "Mom! Xu Shengli and I used to be neighbors at the same hotel, long-time residents of Dongquchunlai. Now we're not even neighbors anymore. We separated after Dongquchunlai went out of business. We occasionally call each other for a chat, but we're just ordinary friends at most. What are you thinking?"

Zhuang Meiqin sighed, "Zhuangzhuang, no matter how successful your career is in Beijing, you still need to consider your personal life. I'm not pressuring you, but I'm just thinking that you're all alone in such a big city like Beijing, you need someone who cares about you."

Zhuangzhuang held the receiver and suddenly fell silent.

Zhuangzhuang had considered her personal life. There were male colleagues around her who had expressed their feelings for her. One colleague from the marketing department would stand next to her workstation for a while every time he came to deliver documents, trying to make conversation.

But she never thought about it that way.

Because a shadow would occasionally flash through her mind.

The person sat behind the desk, flipping through documents without looking up.

The man draped his coat over the back of the chair and said to her, "Zhuangzhuang, could you organize those materials?"

When Kang Shunyin's fist came crashing down, that person shielded her behind him and could easily pin Kang Shunyin to the ground with just one hand.

But every time this shadow appeared, Zhuangzhuang would quickly press it down.

Because Zhuangzhuang knew that person was too far away from her.

It's not a physical distance, but a gap in the entire life trajectory, ability level, and social vision.

Suning built a business empire from scratch in its early twenties, with its five subsidiaries being leaders in their respective industries and dealing with the city's elite every day.

Zhuangzhuang was just an assistant transferred from the sales department of Suning, and she hadn't even gone to university.

Using the word "perfect match" to describe them is an overestimation of their abilities.

As Suning's assistant, I help Suning manage his schedule, prepare materials, and arrange meals every day. Being trusted by Suning in my work is already a very high level of recognition.

Zhuangzhuang couldn't even think about anything else.

Banishing the random thoughts from her mind, Zhuangzhuang said into the phone, "Mom, I understand. These things can't be rushed, let nature take its course."

Zhuang Meiqin said something else on the other end of the phone, then sighed and hung up.

Zhuangzhuang was alone in her dormitory, but all she could think about was Su Ning. She couldn't help but shyly cover her head with the blanket.

……

That day, Shen Ranran finished work on set and went straight to Zhuangzhuang's dormitory.

Ever since Huayu Film & Television helped her resolve Chu Caiyuan's contract issue, Shen Ranran has visibly become much more relaxed.

But today, besides the relaxed expression, there was something else hidden in Shen Ranran's face.

"What brings you here today, you busy person?" Zhuangzhuang stepped aside to let Shen Ranran in from the doorway.

Shen Ranran walked in and plopped down on the sofa. "I just finished filming an outdoor scene in Huairou, and my toes are so cold they're about to fall off. I passed by your place on my way back to the city and thought I'd come up and sit for a bit."

"have you eaten?"

"Ate."

The two of them started chatting casually.

Soon, Shen Ranran looked at Zhuangzhuang with a strange expression and asked, "Zhuangzhuang, has Xu Shengli contacted you recently?"

“He called the day before yesterday and said that his crew was filming on location in Shanxi. The director had a bad temper and the script had been revised several times. He was scolded by the director three times on set and was still staying up all night revising the script.”

Shen Ranran chuckled after hearing this, "That's just how Xu Shengli is. He doesn't hold grudges even when he's scolded. He still goes to the set with a smile the next day."

"Yes! That's just how he is."

"Zhuangzhuang, I have a question for you."

"what?"

"Tell me the truth, do you really have feelings for President Su?"

Zhuangzhuang was completely dumbfounded when he heard this, his eyes wide open. "Ranran, you came all the way here in the middle of the night just to ask this? Are you obsessed with filming? Should I help you make an appointment with a psychologist?"

"Don't interrupt. Just answer me, yes or no."

Zhuangzhuang felt a little flustered under Shen Ranran's gaze. "Don't overthink it. Who is President Su? And who am I? He's the boss of Tianchao Group, and I'm just his assistant. Don't say things like that in the future. It's not good if people in the company hear it. If it gets back to President Su, how am I supposed to work in front of him?"

Shen Ranran stared at Zhuang Zhuang's expression for several seconds before suddenly letting out a sigh of relief. "That's good. Zhuang Zhuang, let me be honest with you! If you're not interested in President Su, then I'll have to take the initiative to pursue you."

Zhuangzhuang turned around and looked at Shen Ranran with a shocked expression. "Ranran, how is what you're doing any different from what you promised Chu Caiyuan back then?"

“Zhuangzhuang, you’re right. To outsiders, it might not seem any different. It’s all about finding a backer, it’s all about clinging to a big tree. When people gossip behind your back, they won’t distinguish the details. A simple ‘it’s all about relying on a man’ can sum it all up. But I know very well in my heart that it’s different. Completely different.”

"..."

"Who is Chu Caiyuan? He's just a pimp. Every actress under his management is his merchandise. He signs people not to promote them, but to use us young girls to exchange for favors, investments, and connections. In his eyes, I, Shen Ranran, am just a card to be used and discarded. After dealing with President Chen, there was President Li, and after President Li, there was President Wang. It never ends, and he forces me to cross the line step by step. But Chu Caiyuan doesn't even have the right to make me willingly pay the price."

"..." Zhuangzhuang didn't speak, but listened quietly.

“You know better than I do what kind of person Su Ning is. He built his empire from scratch. He built real estate, manufactured cars, engaged in shipping, started a film company, and did foreign trade. Did he rely on women for any of these things? Did he achieve everything himself? When Tianchao Auto was being vilified as a fraud by the whole nation, he continued doing what he was doing without ever bowing his head. Moreover, he doesn’t even have a single woman in his life who is ambiguous with him. That’s the kind of man a woman should entrust her life to.”

"..."

“Zhuangzhuang, I’m not going to mince words with you. I’m interested in Su Ning because he’s capable and powerful. In this industry, if you want to stand firm, you need someone backing you up. Sooner or later, you’ll be devoured until there’s nothing left. I’ve already experienced what it’s like to stand alone. When Chu Caiyuan threatened me over the phone, I had nightmares about endless drinking. I don’t want to go back to that time when I was completely at everyone’s mercy.”

"..."

"If I absolutely have to find a powerful patron, I'd rather find someone I'm truly willing to rely on. With Su Ning, I no longer need to go out drinking and dancing with CEOs Chen and Li. I can focus on learning each character on set, filming over ten scenes a day, and then collapsing into bed exhausted after work. Ultimately, Su Ning doesn't need my help with anything—given his stature, he doesn't need it. I just need to stay by his side peacefully, keep him happy, and I can get everything I want."

"..." After listening to this long speech, Zhuangzhuang remained silent for a long time.

He wanted to persuade Shen Ranran not to go astray, but he swallowed the words back down his throat.

Because she really couldn't refute Shen Ranran; every word Shen Ranran said was true.

That's how this industry is. Actresses without connections who want to make it big either need incredible luck or they have to accept the rules of the game.

These girls who have come to Beijing to pursue their dreams understand this better than anyone else.

The only difference is that some people choose to defy the odds and stick it out to the end, while others choose to accept the rule and then choose a less ugly path to take.

"Ranran, what are you planning to do? You know what kind of person President Su is. He's always working, either in meetings or on business trips. He even eats while looking at documents. You're going to pursue him? How are you going to do it? Wait for him outside his office?"

Shen Ranran blinked, a mischievous expression on her face: "I haven't decided yet. Do you think someone like President Su is easy to pursue? How many times do you see him at the company except for meetings? But I'm very confident, because it's easy for a woman to pursue a man."

"Is it easy for a woman to pursue a man?"

"Zhuangzhuang, let me make this clear. If you ever tell me that you also like President Su, I will immediately withdraw my thoughts without hesitation."

"Hmph! You go ahead and do your thing, don't drag me into it. I'd like to see if you can catch up with me."

"..."

...(End of this chapter)