Standing before the upscale jewelry store, nestled in the heart of the bustling shopping district, Ren Ying suddenly found herself grappling with a profound sense of self-doubt and childishness.
"So what if Wen Jie splurged on an extravagant watch?" she contemplated, attempting to quell the rising unease within her. "Surely, he wouldn't have dipped into our shared finances for this. Even if he had, it must have taken months of careful saving."
As these thoughts flowed within her mind, Ren Ying rationalized her feelings. Yes, she felt a twinge of disappointment for not receiving an engagement ring, but in the grand scheme of things, was it truly necessary to rush into such a significant commitment? With her recent job loss, the timing couldn't have been worse. Moreover, that watch could very well be intended as a meaningful gift for someone important.
So wasn't she important too?
Clutching the leather handle of her bag tightly inside her right palm, Ren Ying mustered the resolve to push open the store's entrance and stride inside. She paid little heed to the polite greeting offered by the petite girl stationed in the center of the store as her determination drove her forward until she arrived at the showcase, where a tall, impeccably dressed middle-aged man stood, his demeanor grave and composed.
"Good afternoon, Miss. How may I assist you?"
Ren Ying mirrored his solemnity as she placed the leather-covered box and the receipt onto the glass surface. After a momentary pause, she locked eyes with the man and finally posed her query,
"Excuse me, would you happen to recall the person who purchased this watch? It was only a couple of days ago."
The tall man lifted the receipt with his gloved hands, meticulously scrutinizing it for a brief span. A subtle smile curved across his face, and he responded with an affirming nod,
"Yes, I recall it vividly. I personally assisted the sale of that watch to a tall gentleman in a black blazer – quite the handsome fellow."
Ren Ying found herself experiencing another unexpected surge of surprise. She had come to the store seeking confirmation that Jie had indeed purchased the watch, and now that she had received this validation, her sense of bewilderment only deepened.
As though guided by an invisible force, her lips posed another unanticipated question,
"Excuse me, but was the man the one who actually paid for that watch?"
The tall man's smile broadened, and he gently shook his head,
"No, he was accompanied by an older woman in a green dress. She was the one who settled the payment."
"...What?"
***
Ren Ying continued to stroll aimlessly through the bustling streets of the shopping district, her thoughts in disarray, leaving her feeling utterly adrift.
Time seemed to blur, and she couldn't discern how long she had been walking or even in which direction. None of these particulars held any significance to her at the moment.
'He mentioned they were quite chummy, and she bought the watch as a gift for Jie... But since when does he have such rich friends? Friends, huh? Ugh, I'd rather not assume anything right now; my head feels like it's on the brink of exploding.'
Ren Ying eventually made the decision to halt and look around. She had unwittingly passed beyond the shopping district and now found herself amidst a vibrant landscape of restaurants and coffee shops, teeming with office workers enjoying their well-deserved lunch breaks.
Returning to her apartment held no appeal for her at this moment. The prospect of confronting Wen Jie felt almost daunting, and the idea of contending with such a multitude of stressors simultaneously seemed overwhelming. This day had already proven to be exceedingly taxing, to say the least.
With this in mind, Ren Ying noticed a somewhat vacant coffee shop across the street. She opted to make it her refuge, a place to enjoy some comforting food and perhaps even send out resumes to potential employers, hoping that Mrs. Yang's outbursts hadn't reached all of them just yet.
'The chances of me securing another secretary job don't seem too promising. But I have to persist. Being without a job is simply not an option.'
Balancing a large slice of cake in one hand and a tall, refreshing iced coffee in the other, Ren Ying settled into a cozy corner seat next to a towering glass window that offered a splendid view of the bustling spring scenery.
As she waited for the Wi-Fi connection to stabilize, a clear and vibrant news reporter's voice reached her ears from the large TV screen across the room, delivering the latest headlines,
"The business world is reeling from the abrupt news of TMR Group's current CEO, Zhou Feng, being hospitalized due to a heart attack during a board meeting. Mr. Zhou's deteriorating health has left him unable to continue his role, and it has been announced that his only grandson, Zhou Yu Han, currently en route from the United States, will be assuming the responsibilities."
Ren Ying savored a sip of her coffee, her eyes fixed on the tablet screen as she murmured to herself,
"Hmm, perhaps I should consider applying to TMR Group too? With the new young CEO coming in, there's a chance Mrs. Yang's influence won't extend that far."
For some inexplicable reason, an irrepressible urge to chuckle seized her at once. TMR Group was renowned as one of the most prestigious workplaces, celebrated for its exceptional corporate ethics and the kind of compensation that others could only dream of achieving.
If it hadn't been for her idiot boss, Ren Ying might have had a promising shot at landing a lucrative position at TMR. Alas, that chance seemed like it might have slipped through her fingers and would now remain a mere dream forever.
With a muted, stifled groan, she indulged in a hearty bite of her cake and unlocked the file containing her resume on her trusty tablet.
"Well, what's a girl to do, right? Let's just fire these off and cross our fingers for the best."