Chapter 4, Breakfast

Jian Si looked at her with difficulty, and Qian Ruina scoffed, raising her voice towards the door of the general manager's office, "General Manager Xi, could you bring me a portion as well?"

Jian Si stood up, her feet no longer hurt as much. The small alley in front of the bus stop led to the vegetable market, where the first half was filled with breakfast snacks, emanating an enticing aroma. Jian Si quickened her pace, as the smell made her stomach feel even emptier. The company provided lunch, a buffet that could fill her up, so she had skipped her breakfast. Her monthly salary was 1,500 yuan, which made it quite tight to support two people, but she was already very content. She had just graduated, her university was not well-known, and finding a job was already a stroke of good fortune. Her monthly salary was 1,500 yuan, which made it quite tight to support two people, but she was already very content. She had just graduated, her university was not well-known, and finding a job was already a stroke of good fortune.

Jian Si carefully crossed the road without traffic lights while holding two meal sets, trying her best to keep the drinks in the paper cups from tilting. She had long learned not to wallow in self-pity; the world is actually quite fair. If one wants to have enough to eat, one must either have a good family background like Xi Jihuan, or be as reckless as Qian Ruina. Otherwise, one will end up hungry like her.

She was the first to arrive at the office, and the cleaning lady had just finished tidying up and was pushing her cart out. The lady looked her up and down, nodding to greet her. Jing Si felt a bit embarrassed, her steps hurried. Zhang Rou had given her a nice dress, but the style was too professional and composed, making it look somewhat odd on her.

When she mentioned the matter of the skirt to her mother, she thought her mother would inevitably respond with all the malicious remarks she could think of. She even quietly prepared a clean paper bag, just in case her mother was truly unyielding, so she could take it to the company for an exchange. To her surprise, her mother agreed somewhat inattentively. Perhaps her mother, like her, also cared about this job. With a job, they finally liberated themselves from the state of relying on past resources, and moreover, there truly were no past resources left to rely on. A few years ago, by selling the family property, they managed to live without being too financially strained, and she was able to continue her studies. To her surprise, her mother agreed somewhat inattentively. Perhaps her mother, like her, also cared about this job. With a job, they finally liberated themselves from the state of relying on past resources, and moreover, there truly were no past resources left to rely on. A few years ago, by selling the family property, they managed to live without being too financially strained, and she was able to continue her studies.

Xi Jihuan responded with a nonchalant "mm," and Qian Ruina raised her chin towards her, effortlessly commanding, "Go ahead."

At that time, my mother was cheerful and loving, always smiling happily. When she looked at me, her eyes were filled with pride, and she would say: "I have given birth to such a beautiful daughter; you are my princess." She spoiled me just like my father did, always buying me all kinds of beautiful high heels—even though they were not allowed at school. It seemed that dressing me up beautifully was a kind of joy for my mother

Upon returning, Jian Si looked at Qian Ruina with some surprise as she brought in a cardboard box filled with various items, cluttering the table diagonally opposite. Zhang Rou emerged from her office, glanced at it dismissively, and frowned slightly.

Just as she settled into her seat, Xi Jihuan and Zhang Rou unexpectedly came in together, followed by a tall girl. The corridor was too narrow for three people to walk side by side, making the girl behind them appear somewhat dejected. Jian Si speculated that she must be the relative of General Manager Xi, the new assistant. She stood up and politely greeted her superiors. Zhang Rou nodded slightly, while Xi Jihuan acted as if he hadn't heard. The three of them entered the general manager's office. After a short while, Zhang Rou came out with the girl in a rather indifferent manner and instructed Jian Si to take the girl to the human resources department for registration.

As soon as she stepped out of the office, Qian Ruina waved to her: "Are you buying breakfast? Please bring me a portion as well"

She is somewhat short, only about 1.6 meters tall, so from the first time she wore high heels, she fell in love with them, even though they made walking less enjoyable. The height they provided allowed her to walk beside the boy she adored, no longer feeling like a child being led by an adult

What the hell! Xi Jihuan is calling her again in the office, as if he can never remember her name. When Jin Si walked in quickly, she rarely saw him flipping through documents, not even looking up as he ordered, "Go buy me a breakfast, the A set from the place across the street." He then took a red bill out of the drawer and tossed it onto the desk in front of her

"What is your name?" After shaking hands, the girl asked bluntly, somewhat rudely. Jing Si was not an assertive person; she was easily influenced by the other person's aura and obediently responded. Nowadays, there are too many girls with bold personalities, making her an anomaly. If possible, she wished to be a strong girl like Zhang Rou or Qian Ruina, treating everything around her with an arrogant attitude. However, a person who has become accustomed to feeling guilty and apologizing in front of her mother can only helplessly lower her head, forever appearing humble.

Today, my mother's mood seems quite good, and she is very cooperative, so she left home more than twenty minutes earlier than usual. She sat down on a bench by the bus stop, and the ill-fitting high heels made her feet a bit sore. She silently gazed at the rhinestone decorations on her sandals; the pair Zhang Rou gave her was almost brand new, with hardly any wear on the soles. ... The high heels in her memory ... ... felt so joyful to wear. At that time, she was just a girl who had just entered high school, and wearing high heels filled her with excitement and pride, like any child who is unaware of the complexities of the world. She longed to grow up, and high heels gave her that feeling.

The morning weather has not yet warmed up, making it the rare refreshing moment of the day. Jian Si's steps are slower than usual; she has not worn high-heeled sandals for four or five years, and the pair that Zhang Rou gifted her is still somewhat large.

My name is Qian Ruina, let's go. She is a head taller than Jian Si, and naturally exudes an air of authority.

The worsening condition and the anxious mindset of living off past resources have made my mother increasingly irritable. A neighbor even secretly suggested that she take my mother to see a psychiatrist. She could only smile bitterly and shake her head, understanding her mother's half-mad impatience. After marrying my father, my mother lived a life free from financial worries, enjoying a good relationship with her husband, and everyone said she was a fortunate woman. If it weren't for her, my father would not have left so suddenly, abandoning his wife and daughter who were accustomed to living under his protection. He left far too abruptly, and my mother's sheltered world collapsed in an instant; they had not yet learned to withstand the harsh winds and cold rains of the outside world.

The love of her mother and father has become her heaviest shackles, and she even feels fortunate that her mother treats her this way now. If her mother did not blame her, did not scold her, and continued to love and pamper her as before, she would likely have been unable to bear the accumulated guilt and would have disappeared from this world long ago

She is like a pot of undercooked rice. She has also tried to become a girl who can support her mother, but she failed. Since childhood, she has been raised as a pet cat lying on a brocade quilt, and no matter what, she cannot transform into a fierce beast capable of hunting. Essentially, she is as fragile as her mother, and upon realizing this, she does not hate herself any more. On that rainy night when her father left, her self-hatred had reached its limit; she felt she deserved to live such a worthless life. Essentially, she is as fragile as her mother, and upon realizing this, she does not hate herself any more. On that rainy night when her father left, her self-hatred had reached its limit; she felt she deserved to live such a worthless life. Perhaps this is what Zhang Rou referred to as the outcome of delusional infatuation

After high school, her height has not changed, only her mood and life have changed

Yes. She picked up the money, and the boss had tasks to assign to her. Regardless of the nature of the work, she was quite happy about it

The first task every day upon arriving at the office is to wash the cups. Zhang Rou always feels that the cleaner does not wash them properly, so she reminds herself to wash them personally. While watching the time, she brews coffee, ensuring that when Zhang Rou arrives at work, it is neither too hot nor too cold. There are many beverages in the pantry, but she feels embarrassed to drink them, so she only pours herself a cup of boiled water

The girl was very generous,主动向简思伸出手, her off-shoulder dress accentuating her long arms, and several bracelets adorning her wrist, making her look quite attractive