Chapter Two: The First Encounter with ABC

You say all men are like this, do I still need to find one to make myself suffer, and have to wake up early and stay up late to be their caretaker? Without children, I still have to face the cold gaze of my mother-in-law. Why should I find someone with children to be a stepmother who is unappreciated? Why bother? Isn't it quite carefree to be on my own?

The boss has also gathered around at some point, and he must have heard everything that Lao Mao said

Can you not be more ambitious? At this rate, you will surely meet an untimely end within six months, dying a tragic death

After taking a shower and changing clothes, I feel relaxed all over and want to go out to see the sun. Therefore, I went to the zoo wholesale market with Yu Weiwei. The clothes there are inexpensive; although the quality is average, it is still more cost-effective to feel excited at the zoo than at Xidan Shopping Mall. One piece of clothing at Xidan is enough to buy twenty pieces at the zoo—experiencing excitement twenty times will probably make me feel better.

All discussions revolve around the marriage between Zhu Yesheng and me, and I can only pretend to be a bride-to-be, smiling on the outside but feeling cold inside, saying: "This is hard to say!"

I thought there were people he knew on this bus, "Hi," we always greet each other with "Hello." This tall individual must be an ABC - American Born Chinese, referring to those of Chinese descent born in the United States. He was holding a map of Beijing in his hand, with many locations circled in red pen. How many Chinese people in Beijing look at maps that carefully?

Lao Mao stood opposite me, looking aggrieved, and said: "From the very first day I came to the editorial department, you have been giving me a cold shoulder, inciting your subordinates, and treating work as a joke. Whenever I say a few words, you go to the boss and claim that I am making things difficult for your subordinates, deliberately putting you in a tough spot. I have endured all of this. Today, on your first day back from vacation, I kindly summarized the work from this period for you to review, but you put on a long face and said you have your own work to do, even chatting with colleagues during work hours, saying, 'Who do you think you are...'"

I nodded. I knew that no one believed that the big bad wolf was always cloaked in the skin of a little lamb. Finally, when the sheep's clothing was removed, no one was willing to admit that the big bad wolf was indeed the big bad wolf

"Leave half awake and half drunk, at least in dreams, you follow me. I gamble my youth for tomorrow, while you exchange your true feelings for this life." I sing this old song again, half awake and half drunk, meeting you in my dreams, isn't it foolish? I ask myself

Among women, sharing blessings does not necessarily enhance friendship, while sharing the same suffering can forge a bond stronger than gold

You have crow's feet at the corners of your eyes, and I am counting how many there are. I feel somewhat impatient, as I have never had a good impression of men who flaunt their foreign experiences as a form of sophistication, yet there are always such men who use this as leverage to entice the flowers of our motherland

Elder brother, I haven't learned spoken English, can you speak Mandarin? Standard Mandarin, OK? I really dislike when others show off their foreign style, making themselves appear extremely unsophisticated

At thirty-two years old, I have no man, no job, no children, and no goals. I have nothing.

This book is dedicated to those who have loved and ultimately lost that love

I, who have never withered, suddenly wilted. Although I am no longer his little bean, I cannot abandon myself in the wilderness, allowing the wind and rain to batter me. A woman must be a little tougher on herself

Are you saying that I am very noisy when I speak! When a person is at a breaking point, anyone can ignite the spark, and it can only be considered their misfortune

Thank you. It is particularly quiet when you look out the window

What kind of attitude is this? I am concerned that you might neglect your work, and out of goodwill, I entrusted you with the tasks during this period. If you choose not to do it, that is one thing, but there is no need to show a sour face!

How can he be such a scoundrel! You waited for him for so many years, why not try another woman? You should have long since made him wear a green hat. This ungrateful wretch, why didn't he say anything earlier, despicable! I say all men are despicable, there isn't a good one among them!" Yu Weiwei had just divorced six months ago and had no children. It was precisely because she had no children that, under her mother-in-law's instigation, her husband divorced her. Six months ago, her hatred for men was akin to the animosity between the Fourth Master and the Eighth Master. Finally, when Yu Weiwei decided to step out of the shadow of her failed marriage and start looking for another relationship through blind dates, my own feelings completely collapsed, reminding her of her scoundrel ex-husband.

The bus just stopped, and I told him: "Hurry up and get off, we have arrived, we have arrived!"

"Bean, what is wrong with you?"

Will, will, will

Work, like love, will one day reveal itself to be different from what you once knew, taking on a hideous form that leaves you feeling alarmed and terrified

During the time you were away, I was extremely busy. Now that you have returned, I am handing these tasks over to you. Is that alright?

I am about to leave this place engulfed in a sandstorm, my eyes are blinded by sand, and tears are flowing incessantly.

There was still a hint of vitality between the brows and eyes, and I was almost captivated, momentarily forgetting my demeanor, lost in a daze.

Someone said something, and I felt much better inside. Being alone can easily lead to illness, that is my experience

Old Yu! I cried bitterly while holding onto Weiwei, wiping my tears on her clothes, along with my snot

You are already thirty-two years old, unmarried, and without children. It may not be easy to find a job at this age, as being single is particularly frowned upon. However, I truly admire your commitment to love. Our company treats its employees fairly well, as you know, your salary is significantly higher than that of others in the same industry

Having compiled numerous guides on healing heartbreak and authored many books on how women should approach relationships, I find that none of it applies when it comes to my own situation. It seems I also belong to the category of those who speak without experiencing the pain themselves

Beijing, goodbye

I disdainfully replied, "Who does he think he is!"

Go die, Weiwei, stop teasing me

Is it possible? Your family's second elder brother?

I was dumped

The internal strife in the office has just begun, and I am already exhausted both physically and mentally

I believe in you, but sometimes collaboration is also very important. Taking a few days off is meant to ease the relationship between you. Be mindful when chatting with colleagues, as we all work together. You are a long-standing employee with consistently good performance, and you were originally supposed to be promoted to a department head this time. However, as you know, we are a state-owned enterprise, and while capability is important, other aspects must also be considered. I hope you understand

The next day, when awakened by the urgent ringing of the bell, my head still throbbed a little

Casually board a bus, ride it to the end, and then casually transfer to another bus on a different route. This evening, I am simply sitting on one bus after another, wanting to take one last look at the city I have lived in for twelve years, to bid it farewell

Look. I pulled out the call records from my phone to him, a total of 1,001 times, enough to tell the story of a book, yet he never answered my calls, along with that returned express delivery.

What is wrong with my face

What kind of expression did I show? I am not one to back down either

Boss, whether you believe it or not, I did not!

I have finally lost you, at a distance of a mere turn, in the span of a single night... To forget seems to be akin to betraying this period of time and the deep affection I held for you; yet to not forget leaves me trapped in pain, unable to heal. Time will inevitably pass, and the world will always change. How can one forget the pain while still in love? This is the greatest challenge of my life.

Recalling the year 2000 when I first arrived in Beijing, even the crowds were a reason for my envy. Holding a student transportation card, enjoying the privilege of two dimes per ride, I felt that this city was so amiable. University was like an umbrella of protection, and students were the honored guests. However, once I stepped out of the campus and lost that privilege, I became one of the four-dime crowd, living a nine-to-five life, spending three to four hours daily on crowded buses. I no longer had the time to leisurely visit the Summer Palace, Houhai, Xiangshan, or the Badaling Great Wall; all my travels were merely hosting friends as a courtesy.

Initially, sufficient excuses were found to reject my request for a salary increase, yet now various favorable conditions are being offered in an attempt to persuade me to stay. Do they truly believe that enticing someone with benefits can sway their decision?

I understand that these polite remarks are merely a smokescreen. It was only recently that I saw clearly the cold mockery hidden beneath the kind expressions of those I have devoted seven or eight years of my life to in the workplace

The onlookers stretched their necks

As soon as I sat down to start working, an author sent over a completed novel titled "I Have Finally Lost You." My tears immediately flowed; the happiness I had so painstakingly disguised completely collapsed

A woman in love is beautiful, but I advise you not to engage in overly intense exercise, lest you inadvertently find yourself with double happiness

Isn't Second Brother quite honest? He transfers his salary to your account every month, and recently he even asked you to prepare for the wedding. You've already bought your dress, and all that's left is the wedding photos. How could that be? Don't joke around.

For women, the best way to digest is to spend money, to throw money at themselves vigorously until they are exhausted and can no longer do so, and when they start to feel pain over their spending, they will no longer feel pain over love

This is the little bean I know!

Confucius once said, "Only women and petty individuals are despicable"

I understand this. You can bring them to Beijing. As people age, they need to travel around, relax, and broaden their horizons; naturally, their ailments will decrease. The leader's amiable demeanor makes me feel nauseated

When Lao Mao was targeting me, I saw that Xiao Li went to find the boss. At first, I thought she was going to get help for me, until the boss said, "Be mindful when chatting with colleagues." At that moment, I was certain that Xiao Li was an undercover agent; otherwise, how could the boss make such a statement without having seen the chat content? I had always treated her like a younger sister.

Warning to you

Although I know that a person's mental state does not necessarily reflect whether they are truly happy, at the very least, when everyone sees you downcast and starting to neglect your appearance, they will assume that you have experienced a breakup and that you are unhappy. That day, I pretended to be very happy, forcing a smile before walking into the office

Before leaving, I intended to discard all memories of him, yet I found it hard to part with them. After all, this was a romance that lasted for twelve years, a love that occupied the most brilliant years of my life, an indelible memory that I can never erase. I ran to Tongzhou and buried everything in the sandy soil of the Chaobai River. In truth, I wanted to bury it a bit closer, but every piece of land in Beijing has its ownership, and none belongs to me. I could only run to the Chaobai River outside of Tongzhou, a lonely area with no management.

Hello. He spoke in somewhat awkward Chinese and poked me with his hand, "Is this the Gemini Building?"

Today, I saw this city for the last time. Every place that this bus passes by, whether related to you or not, has now passed.

The distinction between right and wrong has been turned upside down, leaving me speechless; it is only when facing death that one truly understands what it means to say, "The higher the way, the greater the devil."

Both of us chuckled. This was the only moment in these many days that I felt a hint of relief

As I read these words, I cannot help but weep uncontrollably

It is indeed quite painful! My wound is still bleeding now

Yuwei said: "Let those foul men go to hell"

He thanked me many times, waving his hand as he got out of the car. I truly feel ashamed of my inner, repressed, calculating mindset—he would surely not be able to find the Gemini Building, and pedestrians would tell him that he needs to continue walking for two more stops

I howl like a wolf, amidst the bustling world, deeply infatuated, isn't that just me? Youth has rolled away, and my love remains steadfast. Yu Weiwei watches me howl like a wolf, fearing that this madman might go overboard, and she forcefully pushes me into the bathing room

Little bean, you must sprout; you cannot perish in the soil. You must pull yourself together!

I have always played my role authentically, but unfortunately, my male lead has run away

A young man squeezed onto the bus, with a hint of a resemblance to Ye Sheng in his features, almost making me feel as if I had traveled through time. Despite the many empty seats, he chose to sit right next to me. Immediately, the slight sense of goodwill I had vanished—another opportunistic lecher.

I no longer wish to engage in this kind of work! The written word has ensnared me in emotions, while the internal strife within the office has left me physically and mentally exhausted. This nearly paralyzing system has led me to disdain the idea of continuing to toil away.

Generally, the female and male protagonists do not represent true love; true love exists between the female protagonist and her best friend

Be careful! I've wiped my nose on it, and this outfit is still waiting to be worn for a blind date

"Are you serious? Why are you so upset over someone who is heartless? I even doubt that you were genuine before; your acting was quite good," Yu Weiwei said.

Am I not just like a ghostly messenger now

That was the place where I used to work. When we arrive in a moment, I will remind you; the opposite side of where we get off is right there. For the sake of our ancestors, I cannot continue to bully a child who is also a descendant of Yan and Huang.

Thinking of him makes me furious. "What a jerk, wasting my time for so long, only to end up marrying a good man, while good men have long been married with children." I squeezed out all the shower gel, letting it wash away, turning the entire bathroom into a sea of bubbles. Love is also like bubbles, eventually bursting one by one, disappearing completely

I want to leave this city that brings me to tears at a glance, and leaves me disheartened after a second look; I want to leave this home where I have waited for someone for eight years; I want to leave this place that holds all my memories; I want to make myself forget.

"Bean, come with me," the boss said

As the water cascaded down, my scalp became itchier. I randomly grabbed a bottle of shampoo from the bathroom, not knowing which one it was, and applied it to my head, only to realize that the strong scent of papaya was actually that of the body wash. It was all because Zhu Yesheng mentioned that papaya is good for breast enhancement, and this was the only fragrance my body wash had.

The number of people on the bus is increasing, making it difficult for those at the back to board, and those who wish to disembark face numerous challenges. This is Beijing

I quickly cleaned this stinky body and changed into a fresh outfit

I took a glance and realized that those tasks were not mine to begin with, so I replied curtly, "I have my own work, and besides, my salary was deducted for the days I took off to go home."

You are truly humorous! Could you tell me how to get to the Gemini Building?" he asked once again

Xiao Li sent me a jitter window, warning me to be cautious of my direct supervisor, Lao Mao

The steam rendered the entire space indistinct, preventing me from seeing my own face in the mirror, nor could I discern my own body; I only knew that after my fall, I had lost the strength to breathe and live.

I no longer wish to hear his words. Seeing that my decision was firm, he immediately put on a long face and spoke to me in a most contemptible manner. I have been in the company for eight years, dedicating my youth to the publishing industry since graduation, only to be met with cold words and indifference.

But without worthless men, why does it feel so difficult

By the way, aren't you going on a blind date? I've gotten my clothes dirty, why don't you change into my clothes instead? I just remembered what Yu Weiwei was going to do

The Gemini Building is where I work. Upon hearing this, I turned my face and carefully looked at this young man who had a Chinese face, spoke broken Chinese, and exuded an air of foreignness all over.

"Little Bean, after resting for so long, have you flown to New York or gone somewhere else for your honeymoon?"

Just as I sent it out, Lao Mao silently appeared behind me. I hurriedly closed the chat window

The more she spoke, the more agitated I became; the more agitated I was, the less composed I became, and I tore at her clothes to wipe my tears

I have submitted my resignation, leaving a position I held for 8 years

Go take a shower, I will accompany you to relax a bit

The boss earnestly said to me: "There is no need to resign, you have been working in our organization for seven or eight years, how can you just leave? If you are not getting along well with Lao Mao, how about this: I will transfer you to the distribution department, and I will also give you a raise, along with a few opportunities for overseas travel each year. This kind of treatment is truly rare in our organization!"

I have already purchased the plane ticket, and I am grateful to the boss for the care over the years. With Lao Mao in the company, I can leave with peace of mind

Beijing drifter, this term is too harsh, mistaking a foreign land for one's hometown in dreams

My work concludes in a regular QQ chat window

People abroad are always generous with their compliments. If a stranger, a local Chinese man, were to say this to me, I would certainly think that his next move might be inappropriate

The words are truly beautiful and effortless, speaking without taxation

Boss, my parents want me to return to my hometown. They are getting older, and I am the only daughter in the family

Several thousand yuan! Yu Weiwei quickly stepped back, and my big tabby cat's true colors were revealed, looking entirely like a grenade thrown into a refugee camp, a tattered and dirty woman who was lucky enough not to be blown to pieces.

Curse me

What does he see?

I laughed, laughing out loud. When pretending, I didn't do even a little, and I didn't even believe it myself

Hi

When Weiwei came to find me, the room still reeked of alcohol. She saw my hair was a mess, resembling a bird's nest, and it emitted a greasy odor; my face was swollen like a calico cat, with tears streaming down like small winding streams; my eyes were puffy like a panda's, with red blood vessels; my clothes were also not properly worn, leading her to believe that I had been assaulted.

Oh, the mortal world is tumultuous, and the love is deep and infatuated; gatherings and partings are destined to occur. Leave half of me awake and half of me intoxicated, at least in dreams, you will follow me.

At this age, Douzi should also consider having children, striving to achieve it in one step

Accompanied by the gaze of everyone, I entered the boss's office