Chapter 61
Mama Yun received a call from her daughter during dinner . Rather surprised, she answered and asked, "Duoduo, what's going on?"
"Mum, I need to ask you something . "
"Okay, go on . "
"When I was applying for my current job, did you all pull on any strings?"
Mama Yun avoided the question . "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
"Mum, just tell me whether you did or did not," said Yun Duo, though based off her mother's hesitant tone, she was already somewhat certain that her mother was hiding something from her .
Mama Yun seemed to consider the matter for a moment, and then she said, "It's like this . After your dad and I had a discussion, he did go look for one of his old university schoolmates who is a deputy editor-in-chief at your agency . We didn't tell you at the time, worried that it would disturb you, and your dad and that deputy editor-in-chief aren't that close anyway . . . "
Yun Duo interrupted her before she could finish speaking, "Mum, how could you all do this?!" Worked up, she subconsciously raised her voice, drawing the attention of the people around her .
Lin Zi glanced over at her for a moment, and then silently continued to eat his steak .
Mama Yun was startled by the sharp spike in her daughter's emotions . Duoduo had always been mild-mannered and patient, rarely ever flaring up at others . . . and what's more, right now, she was actually roaring at her own mother . Mama Yun was a little unhappy . "Didn't I do it for your sake?"
"But why didn't you tell me about it then?"
"If I told you, would you have gone?"
"I . . . whether I go or not, you should have let me know . I would have liked to make my own decisions . "
"And then? Without help from me and your dad, you would have gone out to hit wall after wall and simply settle for a part-time job? Without proper employment registration and no residence permit?"
Yun Duo had been trying to control her emotions, but now hearing what her mother had to say, she felt her rage burning . "Permit, permit — to hell with the Beijing residence permit! How many people tear each other apart just for this stupid residence permit! Did you know that my employment spot and residence permit were ripped from someone else's hands? How is this any different from robbery?!"
"Child! How can you say that? Are you saying that me and your dad are wrong? We put in so much effort and humbled ourselves to pull strings for you, and you call all that robbery? Do you have a conscience? !"
Yun Duo's eyes turned red . "I know you both care for me very much, but this isn't the sort of care I want!"
The mother and daughter's conversation ended on this unhappy note .
Hanging up, Yun Duo was no longer in the mood to eat . She pushed aside the cutlery in front of her, silent with a long face .
Lin Zi put down his fork and knife and dabbed gently at the corners of his mouth, elegant and composed . He said, "Even though this might not be very nice to hear, I still need to say that, Yun Duo, this time you're wrong . "
"Why am I wrong?"
"You're being too naive . There is no such thing as absolute fair competition . Connections are also a type of resource . If you possess this resource but don't use it, it's a form of waste . "
"But this isn't fair to others . "
Ho," Lin Zi chuckled, shaking his head, "That's why I say that fresh graduates are too idealistic and sentimental . Under these circumstances, if you want to be fair to others, then you must first sacrifice the fairness your parents have worked so hard to create for you . Don't think that it's unfair because they pulled some strings for you . Many other people are also doing the same and relying on their connections . In competition with these people, only by relying on connections will you truly be on an even playing field . Of course, you could also choose to give your fairness away to others, then you would be a noble person who sacrificed your little self for a greater good . However, though you might think that what you're doing is following the rules, truth is, you're actually going against the rules . You're flouting the unspoken rules, which are the real rules . "
He said all this in one long breath, and by the end of it, Yun Duo's expression had folded like a collapsed bridge . She felt that what he was saying was wrong, but she didn't know how to refute it . Rationally speaking, she was not a kindergartener — of course she knew about the unspoken rules . However, when these rules abruptly manifested in her own life, revealing the stains on her figure, she found it really hard to accept . Whenever she thought of the things Cheng Mei had lost, Yun Duo really felt like slapping herself . She had once believed that the person who had spread rumours about her and tried to push her into a dead end must be an abominable person, but now, she felt that Cheng Mei was fully justified no matter what she did .
Yun Duo sighed, "I know you're very eloquent . I won't debate with you . But I still think what you say is wrong . No matter what, thank you . Thank you for letting me know the truth . " Even though this truth is very painful for me .
Lin Zi sighed as well and gave her a helpless look . "Time will teach you everything . Right now, you're still too immature . " But I still like you — I can no longer tell how much I really like you .
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Yun Duo glumly made her way home, lost in a daze like she had lost her soul . When Er-Bai tried getting her to play with him, she ignored him and ducked into her room .
In the living room, Daddy Tang and Madam Lu shared a look . Daddy Tang said, "Is little Yun Duo in a bad mood?" After saying this, he suddenly felt a little guilty . "Could it be because of that dog I drew?"
Madam Lu swept a glance at him . "Crazy!"
Madam Lu felt that if a woman in a relationship was in a bad mood, it was most likely related to some emotional problem . She stroked her jaw and muttered to herself, "Could it be that she had an argument with Doudou?"
"It can't be . Already quarrelling so early on?" Daddy Tang mimicked his wife and rubbed his jaw . After some thought, he shook his head and said, "Honestly, those two kids both have very good tempers . I find it hard to imagine what an argument between them would be like . "
"Well, you just don't get it . Young kids are mental when they're dating, quarrelling every few days," said Madam Lu . She glanced at her phone when a new message came it, and then she shook the phone at Daddy Tang . "See . "
The text was from Tang Yi-Bai: Mum, has Yun Duo gone back?
Daddy Tang gave her a thumbs up . "Wife, you're really Zhuge reborn . I feel that Doudou seems to be checking up on her!"
Madam Lu sent back: She's back .
Tang Yi-Bai: Okay .
Don't take it as just one word — the message it contained was rich with meaning: I have something to do now so I won't say anymore to you .
Thus, Madam Lu had reason to believe that this punk was going to go harass Yun Duo now .
In her room, sure enough, Yun Duo received a call from Tang Yi-Bai .
Yun Duo: "Hello?"
Tang Yi-Bai grumbled, "Didn't I ask you to tell me once you arrived home?"
"Oh, right . Sorry, I forgot . "
Tang Yi-Bai picked up something off about her mood from her subdued tone of voice . He asked, "What's going on? Unhappy? Did the discussion with your colleague go badly?"
"No, Tang Yi-Bai, I . . . " Yun Duo's breath suddenly hitched as she spoke . She was not someone who cried easily, but hearing his gentle concern over the phone, her emotions suddenly broke through . She covered her mouth, afraid that her tears would fall so she did not dare to continue speaking .
Tang Yi-Bai heard Yun Duo's soft sob, and his heart squeezed . He quickly asked, "What happened? Who bullied you? Tell me . I'll get revenge for you . "
"No one bullied me . I was the one who bullied someone else . " Yun Duo sniffled and told him what happened today while fighting back her tears .
Tang Yi-Bai quietly listened to her until she was done, and then he asked, "Then what do you plan to do next?"
"Tang Yi-Bai, do you also think I am wrong?"
"You're not wrong, Yun Duo . I know how hard it is for a person to hold fast to their principles . "
After holding back her tears for so long, Yun Duo finally could not continue suppressing them after hearing this . Yun Duo's tears fell like rain . She wiped her tears as she said, "Thank you, Tang Yi-Bai, thank you for understanding me . "
"Why are you being so polite with me for?" His voice was deep, gentle and slow . "You're mine . No matter what choices you make, I will always be on your side . Don't concern yourself so much with this . At worst, you can just resign . Such a vexing job, it's even better for you to resign . I can take care of you . "
"What?" Yun Duo burst out laughing through her tears . "Who needs you to take care of me?"
After a pause, Tang Yi-Bai said, "Yun Duo, I actually can't help much with this matter . In my profession, even though the competition is fierce, we rarely encounter this kind of unspoken tacit rules . But I know someone who can help you, who can at least give you some advice . "
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"Who?"
"My mum . "
Madam Lu was part of the management team for a large state-owned enterprise . She would have experienced all kinds of office politics and intrigue for the sake of personal interests . After gaining permission from Yun Duo, Tang Yi-Bai told his mum about the issue . So, a while later, Madam Lu personally came knocking on Yun Duo's door .
Facing this powerful elder, Yun Duo always felt naturally respectful and humbled .
However, today, Madam Lu was trying her best to act kindly and amiable, even smiling . . . it was really quite hard going against one's nature . = . =
She was very direct . "I've heard about your situation from Doudou . Hm, what are your thoughts on it?"
Yun Duo had also calmed down a lot at this point and was thinking clearly again . She replied, "Auntie, I'm not particularly against the use of connections to help increase one's odds of success in the workplace . But the issue I'm facing now is that the opportunity I gained was not earned through competition but stolen from someone else's hands . This has gone beyond what I can accept . I feel very guilty and feel like I have harmed Cheng Mei . I'm afraid that I won't be able to face her in future, and that I won't be able to stay in my position with any peace of mind after this . I . . . I just can't let it go . "
Madam Lu listened to all this quietly, and then she asked, "So you've already made a decision?"
Yun Duo nodded . "Frankly, the process will be a bit difficult . If my mum finds out what I plan to do, she'll definitely fly straight over here . "
"Yun Duo, no matter what, your parents want the best for you, so don't blame them . "
"Yes, I know . My parents love me, and similarly, I love them . But I don't want to compromise unconditionally because of love . "
Madam Lu smiled, this time from the heart, and she said, "Sometimes, you and that punk are really quite similar . "
Yun Duo blushed and looked down .
Madam Lu said, "Actually, no matter what you decide, it's all just starting a new plot in your life . It's like playing a board game, so don't be too stressed over it . Have a proper talk with your parents . They will understand . "
"Okay!"
"But now, what I want to say is, you're too naive . "
"Huh?" Yun Duo raised her head, uncomprehending . Was Auntie Lu also going to chastise her like Lin Zi? But it did not look like she was about to . . .
"Yun Duo, you must forever remember that what others say may not definitely be true . "
Yun Duo was stunned . "Auntie, are you saying . . . Lin Zi lied to me?"
Madam Lu shook her head . "No, he probably didn't lie . " His care for you is real .
"Then . . . Cheng Mei lied?"
She shook her head once more . "That girl most likely did not lie either . " Her hatred towards you is also real .
Yun Duo was befuddled . "Then . . . ?"
"What if someone lied to Cheng Mei?"
Yun Duo gaped . "It- it can't be?"
"Why not? I've been working at a state-owned enterprise for over 20 years . All sorts of shenanigans happen here — what you're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg . Replacing someone in the recruitment line happens everywhere, but there's a principle behind it . Because it's not fully compliant with the rules, there are risks involved, so people always keep things very low-key when doing so . As a new hire who's only been employed for little more than a year, how could she find out about any of this? And even know about it in such detail? Does she have some leverage? Some background? If she did, she certainly would not have been the one squeezed out of line and replaced . If I were to try and orchestrate this, I wouldn't even have to lie . I would just have to inadvertently let slip bits of the truth and I'm sure she'll take it away on her own . That girl, she thinks she's so clever — and she may indeed be very clever, but she was still just too young . She had been cheated and yet she was still helping the swindlers count their money . Besides, you were hired through the unified school recruitment process . You had an interview together with Cheng Mei . If someone at the agency really wanted to guarantee you an in, they could have just kept you there immediately . Why go through all that trouble of stealing a spot later from someone else? Even leaders have their dignity . "
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"Then, why did things turn out this way? To cause trouble between me and Cheng Mei?"
"And there lies the key issue . If someone really deceived Cheng Mei, then provoking trouble should not be the main purpose . I think that the greatest possibility is that Cheng Mei's spot and permit was indeed stolen . That is to say, the one who really stole her spot is not employed in your unit but is taking up one of the employment quota positions . The stolen spot might have been given to a relative of one of the leaders, or it might have been sold off . These situations are all much more serious than Cheng Mei's assumptions . After all, you are still hired within the unit itself . Thus, the manipulator behind this would be afraid that Cheng Mei might cause a scene after finding out, and decided to push you out as a scapegoat . "
After listening to Auntie Lu's analysis, Yun Duo felt like her world view was shaken and tossed upside down .
Madam Lu patted her on the shoulder . "So it's too early for you to struggle over whether or not to resign . Figure out what's going on here first before you decide . What I have said is just personal speculation, but I'm more inclined to believe this version of events . If things were as simple as you stealing Cheng Mei's spot, many issues cannot be fully explained . "
Yun Duo nodded . "I'll ask around . "
"Yes . Find someone reliable to keep an ear out . Better yet, find a few people to help, otherwise it'll be hard to judge with just one source . "
"Okay!"
After saying so much today, Madam Lu was rather tired . She stood up . "Alright, let's leave it at that for now . Observe things for a while longer before you decide . Hmph, I can tell the brat I've done my part . "
Yun Duo's face reddened . "Thank you, Auntie . "
The next day, Yun Duo sought out Teacher Sun . In her unit, the senior she trusted the most was Teacher Sun . Unfortunately, Teacher Sun had not attended the interviews back then, so he was unable to give her any detailed information . Still, he said, "You suspect you stole Cheng Mei's spot? That's basically impossible . If it was already decided to choose you and not her, she would have been eliminated directly at the interviews . Why bother with an extra step?" His comment matched what Auntie Lu said .
Yun Duo then looked for Qian Xu-Dong . Qian Xu-Dong just so happened to be at the interviews back then, so when he heard Yun Duo's question, he said, "I'll tell you about this matter, but don't spread it around . "
"Yes!"
"After the second-round interviews, the deputy editor suggested we hire you, but the editor-in-chief did not agree . In the end, Director Liu was the one who insisted you remain . "
"Ha?" Yun Duo thought she had heard wrongly . "Who?"
"Director Liu . "
"It can't be . Director Liu has always disliked me . "
"He dislikes you because he thinks you aren't doing work properly . Which newbie dares to challenge a veteran reporter of an authoritative network at a live interview? And you're still arguing back here . "
"Fine, fine, fine, I was wrong," Yun Duo quickly admitted, "But Cheng Mei . . . "
"Stop right there . " Qian Xu-Dong waved a hand, "I know about Cheng Mei, but I'm not going to say a word more on it . If you're curious, go ask Director Liu . He's not afraid of offending anyone . "
How could Yun Duo run and ask Director Liu about this? That said, she truly did want to know why Director Liu had insisted on hiring her back then despite the editor-in-chief's disagreement . . . it looked like the deputy editor her parents had relied on had not been of much use .
But still . . . Director Liu! Since Director Liu did not like her, she had also learned to dislike Director Liu . She had considered him a great villain all this while, but now the great villain had morphed into a noble elder . . . the whiplash was significant .
Yun Duo digested this new information, nodded and said, "Thanks, Teacher Qian . I'll treat you to a meal after this . "
"Who cares for a meal? Keep an ear out for me on which stocks Lin Zi is planning to buy recently and we're even . "
" . . . okay . "
Just like that, the two of them successfully completed their trade . Based on all sorts of evidence, Yun Duo now truly believed that she had not stolen Cheng Mei's slot in the employment quota . The shackles of morality she had forcefully put on herself yesterday could finally be removed .
She breathed a long sigh of relief .
And then, she could not hold herself back and finally went to look for Director Liu .
"Director Liu, I heard that back when my batch of applicants were going through the second round of interviews, you were the one who insisted on keeping me . "
Director Liu had his head bowed over some documents . When he heard this, he raised his eyes, gazing over the frame of his reading glasses to look at Yun Duo .
Yun Duo continued by saying, "Thank you for your trust and faith in me . You gave me this rare opportunity, but I haven't cherished it well and disappointed you . For that I'm deeply sorry . "
Director Liu snorted . "As long as you know it . "
"I will work hard in future to become a good reporter . "
Director Liu felt a little impatient . "What exactly do you want to say?"
"I'm just curious about why you insisted on keeping me . " Yun Duo did not continue beating around the bush .
Director Liu put down his document and straightened up, lifting his head to look at the young lady before him . With a blank face, with not even a shift in the wrinkles on his face, he said, "Because you have the qualities which more and more employees in this field are losing . "
Yun Duo was a little confused . "I don't quite understand . Can you be a little more specific?"
"You don't have to understand right now . You'll understand when something really happens . Alright, I know what else you want to ask . I'm sorry, but I won't tell you about Cheng Mei . Go call Cheng Mei here . "
Just like that, Yun Duo was chased out of the office and Cheng Mei entered Director Liu's office .
When Cheng Mei walked back out, her eyes were red . Yun Duo did not know what Director Liu said to her . She walked towards Yun Duo, and Yun Duo stood up, thinking to shake hands and make up with Cheng Mei .
However, Cheng Mei looked at Lin Zi who was seated on a chair . "Lin Zi, I have something to say to you . "
So Lin Zi went with Cheng Mei to an unused meeting room .
Cheng Mei's gaze when she looked at Lin Zi was very complicated . It was filled with grief, bitterness, and resentment . . . it made Lin Zi rather uncomfortable . He asked, "What's going on?"
Cheng Mei smiled, and as she smiled, her tears pattered down . "You only have her in your eyes . For her sake, you came to me and acted nice, lying to me . "
"Don't tell it like you're completely innocent . "
"Would you do even the most despicable things for her sake?"
Lin Zi sighed and looked down, averting his gaze . He said, "See, you too know what it's like to like someone . I've treated you like this and yet you still like me? It can't be helped . Feelings get the best of us, we can't control ourselves . Nagging at yourself and advising yourself of your best interests for half a day, but then the other person gets you running over again with just one look . Cheng Mei, on account that we are both people stuck in the same poor situation, please don't mention this matter any further . "
Cheng Mei huffily pushed him away . "Why are you like this?!"
Lin Zi leaned against the edge of the table . "Come, let's talk business . Have you ever considered resigning?"
"What do you mean? Are you driving me away? Afraid I'll offend her eyes?"
"You won't bother anyone being here . You'll only be hindering yourself . To tell the truth, you're very smart, you have skills, and you are resilient . It's a waste of your talent to just be a newspaper editor . If you're willing," he said, taking a business card out from the pocket of his jacket, "This is a friend of mine who runs his own company and he's doing quite well . If you're interested, you can go over to his place . Just say that I was the one who recommended you to go . He might not give you a very good position at the start, but he will definitely give you sufficient room for development . "
Cheng Mei took the card and flipped it around, looking it over . The corners of her lips pulled up . "Is this compensation?"
"Cheng Mei, we're the same . You should understand, mmf ——" His following words were all blocked by her . Feeling the warm heat on his lips, his eyes were wide with shock .
Actually being forcefully kissed by a girl, Lin Zi did not know whether to smile or to be annoyed . He shoved her aside . He wiped his lips and with a deep scowl, he said, "Even if you do this, we cannot be together . "
However, Cheng Mei's lips quirked up . "Whatever . I've already taken advantage," she said, flicking a finger on the business card . "Thanks . "