woman wearing irish linen shirt

Lao Huang washed his hands and looked at me with a strange expression: "Should I not do that?"

"I feel okay, it's just a little sudden. But in general, people should hope to have some mental preparation before being asked such a question." I said, "If I suddenly ask you if you like men , would you feel offended?"

His expression got even weirder: "Well... I wouldn't say that was terribly offensive. But it's kind of weird, considering I'm a married man, and you know that."

I tore the kitchen paper to clean the floor: "How did you find out?"

"Please," Lao Huang fussed, "Anyone with normal eyesight will be able to see it in my position!"

I was a little guilty: "We didn't do anything..."

Although I can't see his expression at the moment, I dare say he must be rolling his eyes: "The way you look at each other, and that... I don't know, the atmosphere between women? In short, everything points to that answer. You are really brave, Yao."

I stood up, threw the paper into the trash, and said vaguely: "Well, I really shouldn't be in the office—"

"No, no, that's not the question! Sonia!" Lao Huang clapped his hands, "Sonia! Sonia!"

I took a breath: "Even if you say her name three times..."

"Sonia Pande, Yao!" Lao Huang supported his forehead, "That's the head of BCG, did you just pursue her so directly? In case she doesn't like women, or doesn't like you, turn to What if I make you trouble?"

I kept my mouth shut.

I can't always say that Miss Pender took the initiative.

He suddenly froze again and paused: "So you were together very early?"

"It's not too early..." I was a little guilty, and said a few words vaguely.

But Lao Huang came back to his senses and matched up Miss Pande with the date I hadn't brought to the old family's weekend party a while ago. The questions one after another made me overwhelmed.

At the end, I said, "We haven't talked about the long-term relationship yet, and I haven't heard her talk about her side of things. Let's talk about this later, okay? When the situation settles down, or I get things sorted out." ..."

"Then why didn't you ask her directly?" Lao Huang folded his arms, "So you are just dating now? No promises?"

I took a breath. "I'd say it was an exclusive fixed relationship."

"But you're not her girlfriend?"

"No."

Lao Huang was silent for a while: "Is this common in your group?"

I didn't say anything, just looked at him and raised my eyebrows.

Lao Huang raised his head suddenly: "Oh——yes. Have you talked to her about the avoidance system? Maybe the company's regulations can find a gap in the actual application of your situation."

I shook my head again and looked at the sink.Except for the small milk pot for cooking noodles, all these cooking utensils in the kitchen were temporarily added in consideration of Miss Pan De's needs.

I don’t even need a bowl to eat by myself; as for her, even if she bought rice balls at the convenience store, she would definitely ask me to put everything on the plate, so that she would have dinner with me.

Troubled woman.

I said: "I plan to apply for benefit avoidance."

As soon as the words fell, Lao Huang frowned tightly, stretched out his hands and scratched his ears.

I rolled my eyes angrily: "Yes, I did. You heard me right."

Lao Huang's face no longer had the expression of hearing gossip.His expression gradually froze, and he realized the seriousness of the matter very quickly.With a solemn face, he picked up the bowl and put it in his mouth in a daze, while saying: "If you apply for recusal, what about the project?"

I'm a little embarrassed: "I thought that was for the kids?"

Lao Huang silently put down the bowl again and rubbed his forehead: "Shall we prepare a handover process? Any business involving contact with BCG will be passed on by the intermediary..."

"You know what you just described, we call it 'bureaucracy,' don't you?" I sighed, "I'm afraid to stay away from the front line completely. I don't know, I thought that how this kind of thing should be implemented to ask you."

"My appointment is temporary!" He looked at me incredulously, "You recommended me!"

I tousled my hair: "Anyway, that's my plan."

"Your plan is a mess—" Lao Huang was about to blurt out the word beginning with S, but I stared back at it abruptly.

He paused, and said: "Your plan is too incomplete, I bet, let alone me, the big boss will get angry on the spot when he hears about it."

"You're a gentleman." I said calmly, "Joselin might assassinate me on the spot, like this, 'boom'." I put my finger on my temple, "It's also possible that I can handle myself."

Lao Huang nodded in agreement: "You are right."

But I think so, and the starting point is much more complicated than that of Huang Xiuwen: last time I tried to refuse my extra task, Jocelyn was very gentle.

Appeasement has been used up. According to our logic, it is time to give courtesy first and then fight.

I have no doubt that Jocelyn would even tear up our employment contract on the spot in order to let me continue to work, and after I left in fear, I would show the original contract.

Then when the matter is over, let go of the grind and kill the donkey, and turn back my army.

I sighed.

Maybe Lao Huang thought about it, looked at me for a while, and said solemnly: "You don't have to worry about me, I will never reveal a single word, even if it is my wife, I will not say anything. Regarding the application for recusal, why? Why don't you think about it for a while?"

"I don't know. I just..." I was speechless for a moment.

Of course I know that this is not the best time to apply for avoidance of benefits - rather, there can't be a worse time than this.The company was declining, and I was still thinking about fighting with my back, and Lao Huang was also dragged into the water by me: leaving at this time, my position will become very embarrassing.

So why would I even want to do that?

Underneath the iceberg of thought, in the corners of my brain that remain active without my awareness, what am I thinking about?

"I just want her—" I shook my head, "I want to promise her something. Make her feel relaxed and safe, and let her know how I feel."

Lao Huang raised his hand: "Do you know why people talk all day long?"

I frowned slightly: "Because we are social animals, and the tendency to gossip is engraved in our genes?"

"It's because we can tell each other what we mean by talking!" He sighed heavily, "Sometimes you need to do something to prove your ability, and sometimes you have to rely on expression, because—oh, You don’t know yet, Yao? Humans don’t have telepathy!”

I copied my hands: "Do you really think I don't know about this kind of thing?"

"Then why don't you tell Sonia what you think!"

"I can't—" I choke.

At this time, I had made up my mind not to let Lao Huang know my multiple identities.

"All in all, all in all," Lao Huang raised an index finger in the air to emphasize something without bounds, like the teacher can't finish marking the important points before the exam, "I can't say a word. As your friend, I can understand that you want to keep a fledgling relationship as simple as possible, but as your work partner, I strongly recommend that you carefully consider the avoidance of interests."

I nodded.

"Also," Lao Huang said, "I need you to assure me: you can no longer have private contact with her in the company. This is good for you and Sonia."

"I know." I hung my head, "We have reached a consensus on this matter."

He suddenly said, "There is one more thing."

I looked at him: "Speak."

Old Huang stared at me for two or three seconds, then opened his mouth and said, "Why have you never told me that you like girls?"

"You didn't ask me either?"

"But..." He couldn't speak, choked half of his breath, he couldn't get up and down, and his expression looked very awkward.At this time, my sister-in-law brought the two children to the door for emergency treatment, and we both breathed a sigh of relief.

After seeing off Lao Huang's family, I poured out half a bowl of still warm milk soup and drank it.

It's fish soup, and it's not easy to make it milky white. I immediately decided to save a bowl and ask Miss Pan De to taste it tomorrow.

I wonder if she knows how to make soup?If I drink it when it is hot tomorrow, most of the umami taste will be lost, and I hesitate to send it over later.

After dawdling to wash off the two bowls, I put the towel on the drain rack, went to sit by the window, and stared blankly for a while.

what is she doing

When I first started working, I thought that life at that time was what I wanted.The boss is a good role model. He came from the same school as me. After graduation, he worked as a quantitative analyst in a top investment bank for five years. His technical level and soft power are both excellent. He turned to consulting and has a romantic conversation. I think people envy nothing more in this way.

But in such an environment, the ego that has no confidence and only relies on the platform and halo to expand, the dignity that comes from comparison that tramples on the backs of others along the way, and the sense of accomplishment that will eventually return to nothing, all kinds of Factors make me feel that I am just a trader who pours money from the left hand to the right hand, lying on the golden mountain of getting something for nothing, mediocre, and living on rent.

so boring.

I have my excuse: I needed money at the time.Although the gambling debts owed by my mother were filled very quickly, behind it was the great sacrifice of my father's career. My uncle also sold the house to fill the hole: and then just missed the frenzy of rising housing prices.

At that time, the external debt had been leveled, and the internal debt was difficult to clear.I often feel that the 100 million IOU signed by me and sent to my uncle is the link between our mother and daughter, as if paying off the father's debt can be regarded as a blood inheritance to a certain extent. When I pay off the money , I am finally announcing - I am an adult.

I don't need my parents anymore.

If there were no black swans this year, Miss Pan De must be traveling all over the Asia-Pacific.In addition to Internet companies, does she have any other traditional industries to specialize in?I guess she is more to go to those places with more developed economy, and I must still be in the backward countries in Southeast Asia.

If this chance encounter never happened, and the relationship could not continue, what troubles would I have at this moment?

The alarm went off suddenly.

I was a little frightened by the voice, so I went over silently to turn off the reminder, and prepared to change clothes.

it's time.I should meet Kevin.