"Do we really have to do this?" Yueyue, who had been pondering for a while, finally spoke up, "I know what I'm about to say isn't pleasant to hear, but I must make my stance clear. I don't approve of this because the chances of success are really slim. You all know how men are, earning five or six thousand a month and still looking for young, beautiful girlfriends with hot figures. Let alone the Young Master of CES? He's worth billions, and has been listed among the top ten Diamond Bachelors by fashion magazines. How many stunning beauties are eyeing him? And in this world, how many women are truly loved by men for their kind hearts and brilliance?"
"Yueyue has a point," UU admitted, obviously torn. She seemed reluctant to let me face rejection and get hurt, yet she saw that I had finally taken a liking to a man and couldn't bear to let me give up without at least having a chance, without even making an effort, so she hesitated, "If the obstacle is only our looks, then I don't think we're at a severe disadvantage. Truly ugly women and truly beautiful women are both very rare. Most women are ordinary, plain. The key lies in dressing up. Do you know what the real meaning of the fairytale 'Cinderella' is? With a pair of nice shoes, a beautiful dress, and a fancy ride, a woman can attract a prince."
"Spot on," Mrs. Tu clapped her hands, "So-called beauties are all made up, aren't they? If you go out bare-faced and poorly dressed, you might even look worse than the average woman on the street. Our Xiao Xin is not ugly at all, this issue is easy to solve. We can conceal her age, and first trick Lin Zexiu into falling for her. Hey, isn't your company in this business? It's like a dye vat, just throw Xiao Xin in, and she'll come out completely transformed in a few days."
CES, originally named Pisces, took the last three letters as its name since the founder was a Pisces, and the fish also represented wealth. It is not the abbreviation for ConsumerElectronicsShow (one of the world's largest consumer technology trade shows), but it does represent consumption. Starting as a small shop, it has become one of Asia's top three luxury goods distribution companies through the effort of three generations.
They sell the most expensive and luxurious items, holding the distribution rights to most of the world's luxury brands. They embody taste, luxury, and high society, and represent fashion and trendiness. From Tokyo to Bangkok, from Hong Kong to Shanghai, young women in prosperous cities empty their purses because of these beautiful, tempting products. And those girls are still happy, tirelessly pursuing them.
I only had a vague understanding of CES because I had never thought that I would have any connection with this company. I am a simple commoner, not someone who would spend four or five hundred thousand on a handbag, though Mrs. Tu seemed somewhat like one.
But now, she said, "Hey, I just had an idea. Why don't you find a way to get Xiao Xin into the company? That way, she'll have more chances to interact with Lin Zexiu, won't she?"
Hearing that, I almost fell apart. What kind of company is CES, one that can be entered so casually? Besides, if I got in only to clean toilets, how was I supposed to interact with Lin Zexiu?
Would I have to chase after him every day and say: "Sir, do you need to use the facilities? Come on, if you can't go number two, at least go number one. Let me spray some perfume on the toilet. Sir, this brand of toilet paper is super soft, it won't scratch your noble butt."
Would that make him interested in me? That would only make him think I was a fanatic, sexually harassing him, and then he'd thrash me and throw me out of the company. Right, I'm skilled in martial arts, but it's hard to fight against multiple attackers. CES, being such a company, must have a lot of security guards, right?
"No, I can't go!" For the first time, I voiced my opposition.
Yueyue was right; this was like a toad lusting after a swan's flesh. It was obvious who was the toad and who was the swan. I only harbored some unrealistic thoughts about the male swan last night, without expecting Mrs. Tu to hasten things up today. And my mind was still befuddled, incapable of a proper response or objection.
Mrs. Tu meant well; she was indeed an enthusiastic and chivalrous person, although this time maybe a bit too much.
Yet, just when I was feeling downcast, and the scales in my heart leaned toward returning to my true self, not wanting to act foolishly, to my surprise, UU picked up the conversation, "No, if you want to join the company, I can find a way. Don't forget what I do there. Ah, abusing power for personal gain is such a joyous thing." She started to laugh.
Yueyue also nodded, "That's right. Given our positions and authority, getting you into the company is no problem. The key is whether you agree with Mrs. Tu's method, whether you really want to pursue someone who seems impossible to be with. You know, achieving a miracle through effort is possible, but the odds are extremely low. Xiao Xin, this is your life, your love, your dream lover. You have to decide for yourself."
Suddenly, a seemingly inconsequential person became the focus of everyone's attention. And me—I looked ahead blankly, as if my brain protein had been removed while, in reality, my head was stuffed full of cotton.
"Just a reminder, Xiao Xin, you need to have a clear understanding," Yueyue said softly. "The difference in social status and family background between you and Lin Zexiu is immense. There's a saying, 'bamboo doors align with bamboo doors, wood with wood.' When the gap is too large, even if he doesn't think you're out of your league, you will initially feel inadequate. Over time, the pressure builds up and eventually explodes, and anything can happen. By then, love is powerless; it is the most fragile thing. However, there are exceptions, and this requires a high EQ from both sides."
"It seems my EQ is quite low," I said, hanging my head in shame, forced to reflect under the scrutiny of six pairs of eyes.
Compared to my actual age, I really have an immature personality, for which my mother always says I'll never grow up. And because of this — since a person's inner self often shows on their face, in their eyes — I have a Loli face, looking at least seven or eight years younger than I am, similar to how the newly graduated Xiao Shan appears. I'm often seen as unreliable in my profession.
I'm also not good at speaking or dealing with social situations, prone to impulsiveness, and tend to oversimplify things, always wanting to sort out right from wrong. Actually, I'm quite "naively stupid." Now hearing Yueyue's analysis, I realize that Lin Zexiu and I are from two different worlds, completely mismatched. Logically, my heart should cool down.
But on the contrary, without thinking, things were fine, but now, upon closer consideration, the smoldering fire in my heart from last night had, for some reason, burst into fierce flames. It raged so intensely that only bloodshed could quell it. The scale had once again tipped to the side of madness and irrationality, and with alarming speed.
I knew this was idiotic, an overestimation of my own strength with no hope for success and a potential for humiliation. Yet I was twenty-nine and had never fallen in love at first sight with a man, nor done anything unconventional. My life had been by the book, unremarkable. But at this moment, I suddenly wanted to try, to seize an opportunity that wasn't really one, to do something reckless.
When I'm old and close to death, if I have never truly loved someone, never been deeply loved, never been rejected, never shed tears for love, never really tried, no matter how gracefully and comfortably I've lived, I would surely regret the poverty of my life.
At the very least, I want to experience a few of these things.
"I want to get closer to him and see," I said, my voice usually as strong as a bell now as faint as a mosquito's.
But he moment I said it, I suddenly felt a mischievous difficulty, a sense of rebellion against the norms. I couldn't deny it was nerve-wracking, but exhilarating too. At the same time, I instantly regretted it, yet the words couldn't be taken back.
"That's the spirit. He's just a man, and it's just love. Don't take it so seriously, as if it's a matter of life and death," Mrs. Tu slapped my shoulder heartily. "If it really doesn't work out, we just come back. If we can't see Lin Zexiu, we're still left in the dark, aren't we? Life goes on. At the very least, rescue Lao Bai from the woman who's keeping him, and settle him down with you."
I nodded, moved like a naive little bird receiving praise from a leader, excited and apprehensive about the unknown future. In a rare moment of clarity, a major concern suddenly struck me — what about my clinic?
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............Liu Liu has something to say..............
There will be three updates tomorrow as well, please cast your recommendation tickets for this book. We are aiming for the top.