Chapter 6

With a new job, Kong Liqing felt much more relaxed. In the afternoon, when going to Wanxiang, he was so happy that he directly picked the child up from the car and gave him a hearty kiss on his little face.

The child wore a beaming smile, exclaiming "Whoosh!" as it rushed past her.

Every time the child falls from the car and hurts himself, he instinctively turns to look at Kong Liqing. Kong Liqing always turns her head away before he looks back, pretending not to see. She lacks scientific and systematic knowledge in teaching children, and no one truly guided her during her own childhood. Her approach to educating Kong Wanxiang is largely instinctive. In her view, children must be cherished; when expressing love, one should never be annoyed or stingy. However, boys must not be spoiled.

Kong Liqing's new position has been assigned to the obstetrics and gynecology department, where she will only be seeing patients in the outpatient clinic. The director of the obstetrics and gynecology department has been inquiring politely whether she is satisfied, implying that if she is not satisfied, adjustments can still be made for her.

Zhou Yezhang fell silent and directly walked into the bathroom. Lu Xu then retreated from the room, and the vast space soon returned to silence, with only a faint sound of water coming from within the bathroom door.

It was already dusk, and the surrounding light had dimmed somewhat. Kong Liqing came downstairs to lift her bicycle, pushing it as she prepared to head back. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure approaching her direction. The light was somewhat dim, and Kong Liqing could not be certain; she also did not have the inclination to confirm, as her child was still waiting for her at home. Just as she turned around, pushing the bicycle to the entrance of the building and was about to enter the password, a man's voice called out from behind her: "Liqing."

The interview was merely a formality, lasting no longer than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The reception given to Kong Liqing was so courteous that it left her feeling incredulous. The reason for her departure from the original hospital was not even inquired about; after a few simple pleasantries, a job position was arranged for her. This situation made Kong Liqing feel uneasy.

The child, being sensitive, also sensed his mother's good mood. He wrapped one arm around Kong Liqing's neck and, wiping the drool from his face, complained in a sweet and delicate voice: "Mom, the little friend saw it."

Kong Wanxiang was having a great time, and amidst the continuous movement, his face was covered in sweat. The child was so engrossed in play that he seemed to forget everything around him. Perhaps in his exuberance, he lost control; during another sharp turn, he was going too fast and did not manage his strength well, causing the vehicle to tip over. Kong Liqing realized that this was a serious fall, but she did not panic. Instead, she walked over slowly.

What Kong Liqing does not know is that Lu Xu approached a high-level official and intricately arranged matters step by step. By the time they reached this hospital, it had almost turned into a political task. Originally, the department and job benefits assigned to Kong Liqing were much better, but Lu Xu was aware of the complications involved. In the end, he made a last-minute trip to the hospital, requesting that they handle the matter discreetly. He considered that Kong Liqing had a child, which is why he arranged such a position for her. The situation regarding Kong Liqing's work is actually quite complex; she just remains unaware of it.

In this world, the occurrence of an event is often complex and multifaceted. No matter how intelligent and perceptive Kong Liqing may be, it is already rare for her to gain insight and analyze thoroughly the aspects she can see within her living environment. After she rejected the substantial sum of money from Lu Xu, her interactions with that group of people came to an end. After all, she is a small figure who holds neither utilitarian value nor any personal connections to them. It can be said that she is quite intelligent, but her life circumstances and experiences have destined her to consider matters primarily from her own perspective, which can be somewhat simplistic and narrow-minded. She overlooks the complexities of human nature, or perhaps, given her living environment, she cannot even imagine the immense power and swift decisiveness possessed by those who reside at the pinnacle of the social pyramid.

The room where the man is located is vast, featuring a massive floor-to-ceiling window that offers a breathtaking view of the illuminated cityscape outside. The elevation created by human ingenuity gives one the sensation of standing at the window with the entire city beneath their feet. The decor of this house predominantly employs deep tones; it appears to be a bedroom, yet opposite the enormous luxurious bed stands a substantial bookshelf and a large executive desk. Only a desk lamp illuminates the room, casting a dim light; the heavy furniture creates shadows on the floor. This room is spacious yet does not feel empty, and while the environment inside is comfortable, it subtly conveys a sense of oppression.

Kong Liqing had just briefly entertained the thought of moving to another city when she received a notification from a third-tier hospital in City B, inviting her for an interview. This notification was not an electronic reply from the internet; they directly called her home and spoke quite politely.

Wan Xiang did not have many toys. When Kong Liqing first brought him to her side, the child showed some tendencies towards being withdrawn, remaining silent for an entire day, sitting there for hours without moving. At that time, Kong Liqing had just started working and was too busy to take the child to buy toys. Later, when the child became more cheerful, he had already started kindergarten. Wan Xiang was usually very sensible and rarely asked for anything. Recently, there was a promotional event by a mobile communications company where phone bill points could be exchanged for items. Kong Liqing used several years' worth of points to get Wan Xiang a small bicycle. During this time, Kong Liqing almost took him downstairs every day to learn how to ride the bike. The child had just learned and was very excited.

Understood, you will feel better after taking the medicine in a moment. Kong Liqing comforted the child, carrying him as they walked into the building

Wan Xiang does not ride quickly; this child lacks the wild energy typical of others his age. He has just learned to ride in a straight line, sitting on the bike cautiously, waiting for the pedals, seemingly afraid of falling. Kong Liqing watches from the side, occasionally seeing him fall off the bike but not going over to help him.

Kong Liqing closed her eyes, and indeed it was He Zhichen; she truly turned around reluctantly

The child got up by himself and sat on the ground, the small bicycle had fallen beside him, its wheels still spinning. He did not cry out loudly, but leaned his head to look at his knee, which was bleeding.

In hospitals in China, doctors who specialize in outpatient services generally have limited prospects. Here, one cannot perform major surgeries; although the work is relatively easy, there are also few opportunities for advancement. Long-term outpatient work is often seen as a sign of having made mistakes, akin to being sent to the frontier. However, given Kong Liqing's current situation, this job is perfectly suitable for her. She is not particularly ambitious, and her greatest wish at the moment is to have a stable job and raise Wanxiang well. As for her career aspirations, she believes that delaying them for a few years is not a problem. With a child to care for, a nine-to-five job aligns perfectly with her child's schedule. In the future, she will no longer need to hire a part-time worker to pick up and drop off her child, nor will she have to leave her child alone at home to sleep while she works night shifts. The salary and benefits offered by this hospital are comparable to those of her previous workplace, and she was naturally taken aback but agreed to it.

During this period, Kong Liqing has submitted numerous resumes online. Her field of study offers limited career options, primarily in hospitals. Despite sending out a flurry of resumes, she has received responses from a few hospitals, all of which are located in other regions. The competition in City B is intense; without connections, securing a position in a decent hospital here seems almost impossible. Recently, Kong Liqing has considered the possibility of moving out of town with her child. Even living in a provincial capital city would mean that the cost of living and housing prices would be significantly lower than in City B. She has thought about selling her current home to seek employment elsewhere, but the responses she has received are still from hospitals in other regions. The competition in City B is fierce; without connections, it is quite unrealistic to expect to find a good job in a local hospital. In recent days, Kong Liqing has contemplated moving out of town with her child, as even in a provincial capital, the cost of living and housing would be much more affordable than in City B. She considers selling her current house to find a job elsewhere, which might lead to a more relaxed lifestyle. However, these are merely thoughts; after all, relocating for work involves selling a house, job hunting, transferring her child to a new school, and finding a place to settle down, all of which present numerous practical challenges.

He held the child in his arms, lifted him up, and said: "Shall we stop playing and go home to take the medicine?"

Most of the residents living in the Kong Li Qing community are middle class, with many families residing here. It is inevitable for a household to accumulate some clutter, and residents in the northern regions have a habit of placing their household items in the corridors. In the Kong Li Qing building, which consists of a small high-rise with two households per staircase, there are no corridors, so everyone places their clutter in the safety stairwell. Although each household does not have much clutter and it does not obstruct passage, it is still unsightly. The property management has cleaned it countless times, yet the situation persists. Kong Li Qing is somewhat civilized; it is likely that the safety stairwell on their floor is the cleanest in the building. Miss Yang, the flight attendant living across from her, also seems to be a person of high standards, as she has never placed anything in the corridor. Kong Li Qing has only placed a small Wanxiang bicycle in the safety stairwell, as she truly has no other option; her home is quite small, and there is simply no space for an additional bicycle.

The child nestled in my arms, softly saying: "Mom, it hurts so much."

The two individuals took the car and rode the elevator down. Kong Liqing advised the child to play by himself and to be careful not to fall. She then sat in the activity area to the side, watching the child joyfully play back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the building

"Go ahead, no problem." Kong Liqing replied loudly to him

Knocking on the door seemed merely a greeting, and as the sound of the knock faded, the door across was pushed open, revealing Lu Xu. Upon seeing the password box in Lu Xu's hand, the man's eyes reflected understanding.

The report consists of seven or eight pages. Although it does not detail how many times Kong Liqing eats each day or how many times she goes to the restroom, it clearly marks various significant events in her life, including the names of important teachers from her middle school to university periods. This report is thorough and authentic, listing the background and significant events of a person's life year by year. At the end of these pages, there are even a few freshly taken photographs.

Kong Liqing stammered a bit on the phone as she confirmed the interview time. After she hung up, she looked out the window in disbelief. Throughout her years, she had never been fortunate, so it was no wonder she felt the need to check if the sun today was rising from the west. The glaring sun hung high in the sky, blindingly bright, making it impossible to tell from which direction it had risen. However, Kong Liqing knew she was not dreaming; it seemed she had once again overcome a difficult hurdle, and she was about to have a job.

Wan Xiang lifted his face, tears welling in his eyes, on the verge of crying but unable to let the tears fall. Wan Xiang's appearance combined all the advantages of his parents; although he was still a child and his face had not fully developed, his red lips and white teeth began to reveal a distinct outline. At this moment, he looked extraordinary, and the child's expression of suppressed emotion, wanting to cry but holding back, was indeed heart-wrenching. Kong Liqing looked at him for a while and suddenly burst into laughter, reaching out to poke his face: "If you want to cry, just cry; why hold back?"

The man seemed to be watching them from a distance, but as they approached, Kong Liqing realized that he appeared to be looking at no one in particular, his gaze somewhat aloof and seemingly lost in thought. The man stood behind He Zhichen, his tone cold and somewhat arrogant: "You are blocking my way"

The child, upon being treated this way by her, instead felt no grievance; he wanted to laugh but was too shy, and as he lowered his head, he burrowed into Li Qing's embrace.

In fact, what is there that cannot be forgiven for the mistakes made by a person in their youth due to immaturity? She simply wants to live, to raise her children, and can only conduct herself honestly and according to the rules.

The man stood with his back to the setting sun, making it difficult to discern the expression on his face: "Li Qing, how have you been lately? I happened to pass by here and thought I would come and see you."

It is most appropriate to describe these photos as fresh, as they depict the scene of Kong Liqing playing with Kong Wanxiang, who had just finished school, downstairs in the community that afternoon. One of the photos shows Kong Liqing gazing at the playing child against the setting sun, with one hand resting on her forehead, her eyes slightly squinted, and a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth. Perhaps due to the angle of the shot, the sunlight envelops her in a faint halo, giving her features a soft and warm appearance. The man held that photo up to his eyes for a moment, then lightly tossed it back onto the table. He turned his chair to face the window, resting one hand on the armrest, propping his chin up as he gazed out at the twinkling night scene.

Lu Xu was momentarily taken aback, then nodded and replied: "Alright"

Ride the bike! The child in her arms wriggled and demanded.

In the past two years, Kong Liqing has actually encountered men frequently, as they once worked in the same department. The man involved in the surgery during which Kong Liqing had her incident was the first assistant. Over the past two years, Kong Liqing has intentionally avoided this man, and when they inevitably meet, she would only speak to him if absolutely necessary. This man seems to have grown accustomed to her behavior over the years, but today he might have been provoked by something, as he suddenly became somewhat agitated: "Liqing, can't you say a word to me? Was I really so unforgivable back then due to my ignorance? Is it impossible for us to be just ordinary friends?"

Lu Xu casually flipped through two pages of the folder in front of him, while Zhou Yezhang walked around the desk to his side and patted his shoulder: "I am going to take a break, you can take it back to read, and return it to me once you are done."

Due to a directive from Zhou Yezhang, Kong Liqing received a job a few days later, although she was unaware of the causal relationship behind it

Kong Liqing felt a sense of powerlessness and annoyance, yet she was the type of person who, no matter how much she disliked someone, could not bring herself to utter any aggressive words. In front of the man, she could only lower her head and remain silent

Kong Liqing crouched down in front of the child, looked at the wound on his knee, and found it to be just a scrape, not serious. She gently asked, "Does it hurt?"

Kong Liqing's laughter of "Hehe": "Shall we play for a while before going up?"

Kong Liqing lowered her head and pondered for a moment; she felt that everything was now in the past, and she had also left that hospital. Therefore, it was necessary for her to explain to He Zhichen. Just as she raised her head and was about to speak, the sight before her compelled her to close her mouth again.

The man looked out the window and, after a short while, leaned his head against the back of the chair. He closed his eyes, seemingly resting. However, he did not maintain this posture for long, as the two soft and polite knocks on the door made him instantly open his eyes

Lu Xu walked over and stood across from the man at the boss's desk. He placed the box on the table and said, "Mr. Zhou, as you expected, she confiscated it."

What Kong Liqing did not know and could not have imagined was that on the very night that the man named Zhou Yezhang left her house, an investigation report about her was placed on the man's desk

A series of questions from the man left Kong Liqing somewhat at a loss. She was indeed a rather timid person; whenever others were slightly assertive, she would not know how to respond. She opened her mouth, suddenly unsure of where to begin. In fact, the situation between them was far from as simple as He Zhichen believed. He Zhichen's father was the deputy director of the hospital where Kong Liqing had previously worked, and it was He Zhichen who had arranged her original job. However, not long after Kong Liqing started working, He Zhichen's mother had approached her.

Wan Xiang stumbled and fell a few times before he began to ride with some semblance of skill. He no longer fell off the bike every time he turned a corner. He successfully rode a few laps and started to speed up boldly. Kong Liqing watched as he whizzed past her like a gust of wind, happily calling out to her: "Mom, look."

He Zhi Chen had his back to the sidewalk in front of the building and did not see, while Kong Li Qing was facing him and could see clearly. Three people were walking towards them; Miss Yang, who lived across the street, was walking alongside a man named Zhou Ye Zhang. The man was dressed in a formal and understated manner, covering himself up completely, with a serious expression on his face that appeared somewhat cold. Following them was another man who seemed to be quite different from them, dressed in a trendy style, with a cool hairstyle and a face as delicate as a girl's. The man was dressed in a formal and understated manner, covering himself up completely, with a serious expression on his face that appeared somewhat cold. Following them was another man who seemed to be quite different from them, dressed in a trendy style, with a cool hairstyle and a face as delicate as a girl's.

Administer the medication to the child, settle him at home to watch television, and Kong Liqing went downstairs again to prepare to bring the child's bicycle inside

Kong Liqing loudly cooperated from behind: "Ah, you can turn now, that's really impressive"

Two years later, Kong Liqing still remembers the woman's sharp and disdainful gaze. She warned Kong Liqing, a powerless and background-less outsider, not to harbor any inappropriate thoughts. She could offer him a job as a favor to her son, but if she were to hear even the slightest rumor, she could revoke Kong Liqing's job at any time, making it impossible for her to establish herself in City B.

The man showed no expression on his face as he lazily stood up from his seat and casually said, "When giving gifts to others, one should consider their preferences." He pushed the documents in front of him towards Lu Xu and added, "Take a look, and then arrange it accordingly. Keep it low-key, so as not to disrupt her life."