The private equity fund's office was on the sixth floor of a nondescript grey-and-white building, rented by various small businesses with signs hanging outside. The private equity fund, not being a registered entity, had no sign among them.
Downstairs, a moving truck was parked, empty and unattended. The black BMW was parked beside it, but Xiao Zhao, the driver, was not inside.
Ding Yuanying walked into the office and saw Xiao Yawen directing movers to dismantle and pack modular office furniture while she and Xiao Zhao packed documents into a large cardboard box. The once orderly office was now in disarray, with discarded paper strewn across the floor, embodying the desolate atmosphere of a company closing down.
Seeing Ding Yuanying enter, Xiao Yawen instinctively stopped what she was doing. She stood up, her composure tinged with a subtle sense of loss evident in her eyes. She took the suitcase from Ding Yuanying with a bitter smile, saying, "I can't believe it's over just like that."
Ding Yuanying responded, "Haven't you seen a company close down before?"
Xiao Yawen replied, "Not like this. It's my first time working for a company that isn't really a company, and my first time being laid off in such a way."
Ding Yuanying said, "Every start has an end; it's a cycle. Ours was just shorter."
Xiao Yawen, carrying the suitcase, went into the adjacent room to fetch her handbag.
Xiao Zhao told Ding Yuanying, "Brother Ding, Accountant Liu insisted on not being dropped off; he left on his own."
Ding Yuanying knelt down to help organize the documents.
A moment later, Xiao Yawen returned from the adjacent room, placing her handbag and the suitcase beside the cardboard box. She whispered to Ding Yuanying, "The exchanged money is in the box, 166,000 yuan."
Seeing Ding Yuanying squatting, she brought over a bundle of magazines for him to sit on and said, "Mr. Ding, since you have some time now, shall I report the accounts for the rental house in the old city?"
Ding Yuanying replied, "Go ahead."
Xiao Yawen took out a bill and a stack of cash from her bag and handed them to Ding Yuanying. The bill detailed:
One year's rent prepaid: 7,200 yuanWater, electricity, and heating deposit prepaid: 2,000 yuan20 jin of Tieguanyin tea: 6,400 yuanClassical symphony CDs: 3,100 yuan40 packs of 555 cigarettes: 3,800 yuanInternet setup fee: 1,200 yuanLong-distance moving fee: 800 yuanLock change and miscellaneous: 300 yuan
Total: 24,800 yuan
Remaining: 5,200 yuan
Ding Yuanying glanced over the bill and said, "Put it in the box."
Xiao Yawen placed the bill and cash in the box, saying, "Mr. Ding, aren't you going to ask about my future plans?"
Ding Yuanying replied, "That would be impolite."
Xiao Yawen said, "In the other companies I worked for, the boss always asked about future plans when I left, as a gesture of concern. It's a sign of good manners."
Ding Yuanying said, "I don't know the proper etiquette. What are your plans?"
Xiao Yawen waved her hand, "Forget it, it's all just for show."
As they spoke, a woman in her thirties, elegantly dressed, entered. She was Chen Ru, Han Chufeng's wife, her face showing both a smile and some concern.
Xiao Zhao stood up immediately, surprised, "Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"
Chen Ru, standing by the door, said casually, "Nothing, I just came to check. I was worried there might be too much stuff for the basement, so I came to see if we need a bigger place."
Ding Yuanying stood up and approached, "Sister-in-law, you shouldn't have troubled yourself with this."
Chen Ru looked around, "It's all modular furniture; once dismantled, there's not much left. It should fit. You're always so busy, like you're at war."
Ding Yuanying said, "Once this is all cleared, I won't be busy anymore."
Chen Ru stood for a moment, "I see I'm not much help here, so I'll be on my way."
Ding Yuanying said, "Look at this place, there's hardly any room to stand."
Chen Ru nodded at Xiao Yawen and Xiao Zhao as a greeting and then turned to leave.
Ding Yuanying escorted her to the stairwell, stopping to ask, "Sister-in-law, is there something you need?"
Chen Ru, with a troubled look, said, "Yuanying, I feel bad coming to you right after you've gotten off the plane. Chufeng said you're leaving Beijing once you've finished packing up, so I thought I'd better come early."
Ding Yuanying said, "If there's nothing urgent, I plan to leave tomorrow. What's the matter?"
Chen Ru said, "My brother got into trouble again. He got into a fight at a karaoke bar and cut someone's face. It's disfiguring. I've visited the injured several times, and they agreed to settle privately. Chufeng already has a low opinion of my brother, and I don't want him to know about this. Chufeng's position can't afford this kind of favor, and I can't ask anyone else. So, I'm here to ask you."
Ding Yuanying asked, "How much do they want?"
Chen Ru replied, "They're asking for 200,000 yuan."
Ding Yuanying had less than 180,000 yuan in total, which he had set aside for his living expenses for the next few years. After careful consideration, he said, "I'm sorry, sister-in-law, but I can only give you 150,000 yuan."
Chen Ru said, "150,000 is enough. I have some money myself."
Ding Yuanying said, "Wait here; I'll go get the money. Chufeng and I are supposed to drink tonight, so I might not have time later."
Chen Ru said, "Xiao Zhao is here. It might not look good if you leave again. Why don't you instruct Miss Xiao to give me a call, and I'll meet her to get the money."
Ding Yuanying said, "Alright."
Chen Ru said, "I'll be on my way then."
She wrote a mobile number on a notepad, tore it off, and handed it to Ding Yuanying before heading downstairs.
Ding Yuanying returned to the office and resumed packing.
...
It took the movers over three hours to load the office contents into the truck. After the Rongtai Office Building management staff inspected the premises, Xiao Yawen handled the checkout process. Then, the two cars, one following the other, headed to Ding Yuanying's temporary residence.
By then, the sky was completely dark. Car lights, street lights, and neon lights intertwined, turning Beijing's streets into a dazzling sea of lights.