Enraged that the words "single mother" had come out of her own daughter's mouth, Qian's mother slapped her on the head. "You brat, dare you say that again? Growing old together? Your father and I have grown old together, haven't we? The example is right here. Stop thinking about those crooked ideas, do you hear me?!"
Feeling dizzy and disoriented from being photographed, Qian Duoduo raised her hands to explain, "That's not what I meant. I meant that getting married doesn't guarantee a lifelong commitment, and getting married doesn't guarantee having a child. You never know what might happen."
Marriage doesn't guarantee a lifelong commitment, and it doesn't guarantee a child—what her daughter said was true. Qian's mother was momentarily speechless, but she quickly rose to her feet and gave a concluding speech: "Anyway, our daughter has to get married and have children like a normal person. I really don't understand what you're thinking. You've already dated a guy, such a good young man, he's been pursuing you all the way home, what are you still complaining about? You're not going to get married? If you're not going to get married, then don't acknowledge me as your mother anymore!"
Qian Duoduo was immediately scolded by her mother after she finished speaking. She fell silent and felt a wave of despair. Then she simply buried her head in the water and pretended to be an ostrich.
Feeling the warm water instantly engulf all her senses from all directions, Qian Duoduo silently held her breath, never having wished she were actually a fish.
Forget it, you're not a fish, how do you know fish don't have the same worries as single women? Maybe they swim around all day long just to mate as soon as possible, and they're even more annoyed than she is.
She barely managed to pop her head out when she was almost suffocating. Her mother, exasperated, had already turned and left, slamming the door shut. She couldn't pretend she didn't understand her anger.
Her hair was wet and clung to her cheeks. It was the dead of winter, and although the water was very warm, and the bathroom was cozy, she still felt a chill on her cheeks.
What happened? Where did we go wrong?
She's not usually so goal-oriented, nor is she determined to resolve this matter by the end of the year no matter what. Now that there's a perfect candidate available, why is she so frustrated?
"Don't worry, you won't be alone." "Now, do you think I'm stronger than you?"
Two sentences, without any prior context, kept swirling in her mind. Her body was still in the water, completely submerged in foam. She had been soaking for too long, and her fingertips were wrinkled, with crisscrossing lines that were in disarray. The same was true for her eyes; she could only see a chaotic mess in front of her, unable to find the right direction no matter what she did.
Like Yiyi, Qian Duoduo also suffered from insomnia that night. Two completely different sentences swirled in the darkness like a carousel, causing her to be in a state of mental turmoil. Her usual most effective sleep aid, the bubble bath, was completely ineffective. Feeling hopeless, she finally reached out and covered her face with her hands, futilely covering her eyes.
Chapter 53
Ye Mingshen's sudden confession of his feelings did not make Qian Duoduo feel overjoyed, at least not like her mother, whose mood changed significantly and who was all smiles. With her, such a sudden sentence did not bring joy, but rather made her feel annoyed.
As for Xu Fei, she couldn't bear to think about him; just thinking about that man gave her a headache.
This man is only 27 years old, young and handsome, with a smile like the sun. He used to be her junior in school, and now he's her boss. Seriously? Ridiculous!
She's almost thirty, struggling to get promoted, tired of dating, exhausted, and longing for marriage. This company and position have become meaningless to her. Another major battle is about to erupt across Asia, and the ensuing bloody struggle is foreseeable. Even without this new boss's absurd suggestion, she would have already considered leaving. This has completely dashed any lingering hope she might have had of staying.
Years of experience in the workplace, coupled with her personality, have made her a person of action who strives to put her decisions into practice. After thinking it over, she didn't sleep, but got out of bed, sat in front of the computer, and checked her account balance.
She was tired. Changing companies and starting over was not out of the question, but before that, she wanted to rest, take a vacation, and completely let go of everything to catch her breath.
After opening her account, she carefully counted the digits in her savings. She had worked so hard these past few years that she barely had time to spend money, and sometimes she felt resentful when she was busy and overwhelmed. But now, looking at the numbers in her account, she smiled with satisfaction.
After shutting down the computer, she went to the balcony. It was too early; her parents' bedroom door was still closed, and the living room was quiet. They lived in an old, detached house with two floors. They occupied the entire upstairs floor. Having grown up here, she knew the air was filled with a familiar sense of peace, and she felt safe even walking with her eyes closed.
The living room connects to a spacious terrace. She walked over and drew back the floor-to-ceiling curtains to let in the gradually brightening sunlight. The terrace faced a large public green space, offering a wide and unobstructed view of lush green trees. It was late winter and early spring; the air was crisp and cool, and a cold wind swept over her, making her shiver, then feel refreshed.
There was a voice calling from behind, it was her mother, "Duoduo, what are you doing so early in the morning?"
Ms. Qian had just woken up and was still wearing her pajamas. She walked out of her room with sleepy eyes and saw her daughter standing in front of the balcony window, feeling the cold wind. She couldn't understand it and was a little hesitant when she asked her.
She turned back to her mother and smiled, revealing her white teeth. "It's nothing, I just have insomnia."
The mother looked surprised. The living room was dark, and there seemed to be a thin mist in the morning light, but her worried expression was still clearly visible. She must have been frightened by her own strange expression.
It was her mother, the person who loved her most in the world, and always will be.
Suddenly feeling a lump in her throat and a warmth in her heart, Qian Duoduo went over and put her arm around her mother's shoulder, leaning her head affectionately against her. "It's really okay, I promise."
"Who knows what you're up to, you little brat? You've always been like this. Didn't you say you were flying to Hong Kong tonight? You have plenty of sleep, why don't you sleep a little longer?" Mrs. Qian snapped out of her daze and continued poking her daughter's forehead, and she immediately regained her usual smugness.
The sounds of pots and pans clattering came from the kitchen. Qian Duoduo smiled and turned to close the window. The morning light didn't carry the refreshing scent of trees that fluttered past her nose. As she smiled, she suddenly felt lost. Looking at herself in the window, the corners of her mouth, which had been turned up, seemed to lose their support and slowly drooped flat. Disliking this expression, she tried again, forcing herself to turn her mouth up again.
Although she was determined to leave, Qian Duoduo was not reckless. After spending a morning writing a resignation letter, she folded it, put it in an envelope, and quietly placed it at the bottom of the drawer.
She could leave anytime, but she couldn't bring herself to give up halfway and abandon the task—that would be unprofessional. The summary report for the Hong Kong annual meeting was a crucial and extremely important task for the marketing department. She decided to put aside all the factors that bothered her before leaving, concentrate on fighting the final battle, and leave gracefully, even if she had to go.
Finding a suitable man is indeed difficult, but finding a suitable career is equally difficult. She just wants to leave the company, not give up the industry.
Relying on oneself and relying on a man are both thorny paths. Relying on oneself to overcome obstacles is certainly tiring, but at least one won't end up with nothing. Men are different; they are ultimately another individual. They may stop for her, but not stay for her. They may stay temporarily, but not necessarily forever. Even if they stay forever, she might be afraid that leaving behind a person means leaving behind happiness.
The painful experiences of the past are still vivid in her mind. She, who once had great ambitions for love, has been forced to retreat by reality, to the point that all she wants is a contract.
Even more tragically, now that someone is willing to accept a contract, she suddenly loses confidence in her ability to fulfill it.
There's no solution no matter what I do, and it's giving me a headache. Oh well, I'll just deal with the work at hand first, and then deal with the rest one by one.
Chapter 54
After finishing all these things, Qian Duoduo started preparing, packing her luggage and heading to the airport.
Dad was also getting ready to go out. Today he was meeting up with his old classmates, friends of decades who hadn't seen each other in a long time. He was probably a little excited, and before leaving, he started forgetting things. He only realized he hadn't brought this or that when he got downstairs. He went up and down several times, which finally made Mom lose her temper. "Is it really necessary to make such a fuss just to meet up with those old folks? People who don't know better will think you're going to meet your old flame."
Mr. Qian was always obedient to his wife, so he didn't argue after hearing this. His expression didn't change much, and he just chuckled twice before leaving.
Duoduo, however, felt sorry for her father and kept asking, "Dad, where are you having a gathering? Why don't I take you there? It'll save you the trouble of taking the bus."
"It's not far, Duoduo. You have to catch your flight tonight, so don't rush." Mr. Qian refused, and before leaving, he patted Duoduo and told her to be careful on her business trip.
When I turned around and started packing, my mother had already gone into the kitchen. Hearing the noise, she ran out to help.
"No need, it'll be quick," Qian Duoduo said as she started working.
My daughter's suitcase is always kept in the corner by the door. When she packs her luggage, her movements are professional and skillful. She arranges her notebook, set, and flat shoes, and everything is in its proper place. She doesn't even need to think about it. Her skincare products are all small items, packed in a transparent flight bag. It's simple and easy to see at a glance.
Everything was done in just twenty minutes. Qian Duoduo pulled her suitcase to the door, bent down to put on her shoes, and greeted her mother.
Watching from the side, Qian's mother sighed and went to help her open the door, muttering a few words as she did so, "You're quick at this kind of thing, even the team members can't keep up with you. Why is it so hard for you to find a boyfriend?"
In the past two years, my mom could bring up her major life events within ten sentences of any topic. Qian Duoduo knew that if she stayed any longer, things would get very bad. She quickly looked down at her watch and started muttering, "Oh no, I'm running out of time. I have to catch my flight." With that, she dragged her luggage and hurriedly left.
She arrived at the airport early, and despite the noisy crowd around her, she felt relaxed. She went to the business class lounge, checked her emails on her phone, and waited for check-in to begin.
But she didn't see Xu Fei until it was time to board the plane. At first, she was a little reluctant to contact this man, but later she couldn't wait any longer and felt strange, so she finally reached out to touch her phone.
I froze when I touched it; my phone wasn't in my bag. Then I remembered that I'd left like I was fleeing, holding it in my hand, and had carelessly placed it on the shoe rack when I took off my heels—I must have forgotten to take it.
For her, going out without her phone is like forgetting to put on sunscreen on a sunny day—she feels uneasy no matter what. What's more, this is a business trip, and the plane is about to take off. Even if she suddenly grew wings, she wouldn't have time to go home and get it.
Just as she was feeling annoyed, a young lady suddenly came over, bent down, and said, "Miss Qian Duoduo? Someone is looking for you."
Turning around, she was surprised to see Ye Mingshen standing next to her. Qian Duoduo stood up and asked, "Why are you here?"
The man had always been smiling in front of her, but this time he seemed preoccupied, with a hurried look between his brows. However, when he saw her, he still slightly curled the corners of his mouth and handed her his phone.
His fingers were long and slender. It was cold outside, and his fingertips were a little chilly. He brushed his fingers against her palm. Qian Duoduo had been in the heating for a long time, and the temperature difference was great, so she couldn't help but shrink back.
“I called you, and your aunt answered. She said you were on a business trip to Hong Kong and forgot your phone at home.”
"Thank you." A week later, they met again at the airport. He was in a hurry, his fingertips were cold, and he was the only familiar face among the travelers from all over the world. Perhaps it was the special environment, but she suddenly felt close to him, but it was just a feeling of closeness. Her body did not want to get any closer. She was very conflicted.
"I'm sorry, I've been so busy this week that I haven't had a chance to call you."
"It's alright, I also have some things to take care of." He answered quickly, then glanced at his watch, "You're about to board, right? I'll take you there."
The boarding line for business class wasn't long. Ye Mingshen had a clear goal. Although her steps weren't big, she walked hesitantly and slowly, so after a few steps, the two of them were still a little off-center. But he quickly stopped and looked back at her.
Actually, she was right behind him, less than three feet away, so Qian Duoduo could see his gaze very clearly.
A moment of disbelief flashed across his eyes before he regained his composure and naturally reached out to take her hand.
This wasn't the first time he had held her hand. Last time, Qian Duoduo was calm and accepted it readily. This time, however, she instinctively resisted and just wanted to pull her hand away.
Before his fingers even moved, a sudden smile crept across his face—a smile at his own foolishness. What was he still deceiving himself about? Whether this person was right or wrong, who could know better than his own body?
Time was of the essence, and there was no time to carefully consider her words. Qian Duoduo quickly withdrew her hand and said three words directly, "I'm sorry."
After saying it, he felt a little regretful, thinking that he had been too blunt, and that the time and place were not good. He should have said it more tactfully, not giving others any room for maneuver. It was really too much.
Looking up, he smiled and naturally withdrew his hand, waiting for her to take a step forward before continuing forward side by side.
Qian Duoduo felt embarrassed. The boarding gate was right in front of her, just a few steps away. She said softly, "Don't mind me, it's all my fault. I didn't think it through."
He stopped at the entrance, handed her the luggage handle, and spoke more easily than when they first met, "Duoduo, don't force yourself. You'll only be satisfied if you know what you truly need. Forcing things will only be a burden."
Well said, Qian Duoduo was speechless. He gently pushed her back and she walked forward involuntarily. She looked up and saw the flight attendant standing outside the passage casting an envious look at her. She couldn't help but turn around and take another look.
He was still standing there, and when he saw her turn around, he smiled slightly. No matter how flustered she was, she had to praise him for being so clear-headed and understanding. Even though he was rejected on the spot, he could still whisper and chat with her. To others, it must have seemed like a very intimate scene. No wonder all the women who passed by looked on with envy.
And yet she showed absolutely no reaction to such a person; it's a complete waste of her talent.
There was no time to think, the time was indeed approaching, and the plane would not wait for anyone. She waved and took a step, and as soon as she entered the passage, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. She felt a warmth on her shoulder as she lightly brushed against the person behind her.
Suddenly turning my head to look, I saw that the person was also looking down at me. They had probably run past; their breath was a little warm. When our eyes met, they grinned, their smiles still dazzling even in their haste.
Chapter 55
Who else could be laughing like that? Naturally, it's her company's director who almost missed his flight.
After laughing, he added, "Dona, why are you walking so slowly? The cabin door will be closed if you go any further."
Who exactly is rushing to the plane at the last minute? Qian Duoduo's eyebrows furrowed as she listened, but before she could even speak, her only piece of luggage was suddenly in his hands.
She had only brought a few things with her on her business trip, and now that he had grabbed her like that, all she had left was a small bag hanging on her body. She had gotten used to going in and out of the airport over the years, but this was the first time she had ever felt so relaxed, swinging her arms around like this. It felt a little strange, and she didn't even know where to put her hands.
As she was about to enter the cabin, she glanced back. The aisle was winding, and Ye Mingshen's figure had long since disappeared. Only two flight attendants were walking towards her, talking in hushed tones. When they saw her turn around, they both fell silent, their eyes filled with complex emotions that were hard to describe.
Understandably, those two young ladies were standing at the entrance of the passageway just now, and within two short minutes, they saw two men appear beside her, both acting quite intimately, and even their interactions were seamless. They must have been quite shocked. Sighing inwardly at that gaze, Qian Duoduo felt helpless. She didn't want this either; what she saw wasn't what she wanted. Now, even she herself didn't understand what she truly desired, and could only look at the scenery around her and sigh in vain.
The business class seats were spacious. After everyone was seated, the flight attendants started to get busy, bending down and smiling to remind everyone to fasten their seatbelts. When they walked over to Qian Duoduo, they smiled especially sweetly, but up close, it was clear that they were all looking at Xu Fei and not at all at Qian Duoduo.
The plane took off smoothly, and finally it was quiet around her. Qian Duoduo turned her head to look at the director sitting next to her. He was opening his laptop, but he didn't forget to smile back at her and explain, "I had a conference call at the company earlier and almost missed my flight. Luckily, Lao Meng is a good driver."
The scene from last night was still vivid in her mind. Ever since he appeared by her side, Qian Duoduo had been somewhat uneasy, fearing that he might suddenly have a whim and continue with that absurd question.
But when you look at him again, it's just a profile view. He's looking down, focused on a newly opened document, rubbing his eyes. His long eyelashes can't hide the faint red shadows at the corners of his eyes, clearly the result of staying up all night.
She was, after all, a woman. She couldn't bring herself to directly press him about why he'd said such inexplicable things to her last night. So, she changed her tone, only uttering a casual, "Didn't you sleep well last night?" "I got an urgent call in the middle of the night, got up to revise a proposal, and worked on it until morning. Then I went straight to the company." He smiled. A flight attendant brought him a drink, bending down with a sweet smile beside him, but he completely ignored her, taking it and placing it in front of her before continuing his work.
I wanted to ask him if he needed help. I glanced at the screen again. He was sitting right next to me and didn't seem to be trying to keep anything secret, so the contents of the document were obvious.
He glanced at Qian Duoduo and suddenly woke up, staring at him with wide eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice without looking up.
Although I only glanced at it, the headlines were quite eye-catching. Mass production of new beverages is already a major move that challenges the conservatives, and the way they did it was by acquiring the number one juice brand in the country. Such a bold move is indeed typical of the radicals.
Thinking about the data and proposal preparation process that she had unknowingly participated in, Qian Duoduo was secretly alarmed. She calmed herself down before speaking, "It's nothing, I'm just a little sleepy."
"Didn't sleep well last night either? On a date?" His fingers were beautiful, nimble and quick as he typed. Even in his busyness, he took a moment to turn his head and answer her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I saw him come to see you off just now."
His attitude confused her, and those two words touched a nerve: dating? Alas, the truth was she had just peacefully broken up with a perfect man.
Not knowing how to answer, Qian Duoduo simply skipped the question, smiled, and remained silent. He didn't press further and returned to focusing on his work, saying, "Go to sleep if you're tired. I'll wake you when we get there."
Okay, she obediently turned her head and closed her eyes, suppressing her curiosity and unease. She was about to leave this mess behind; it wasn't something she should meddle in, nor should she ask too many questions. Qian Duoduo decided that from this moment on, she should stay put, look after herself, and pretend to be asleep.