When Daniel was very young, his father passed away.
For him, the term "father" was just a vague concept.
He never felt unloved, as Miller had become almost his entire life.
Miller seldom mentioned him.
She was always smiling and cheerful.
He had also witnessed her vulnerability; she wasn't without longing for her father, she just silently swallowed those tears and thoughts.
Being a mother for the first time, she gave him her best.
Miller could carry two buckets of water up to the eighth floor on her own, change light bulbs, cook, and do household chores.
When Daniel was young and got beaten up and cried, Miller took him to the boy and said, "What's a man crying for? I'll watch you two fight, and whoever wins is the one."
Miller watched him get knocked down without saying a word.
Finally, she took Daniel's small hand and went home, saying, "A man can be knocked down, but he must learn to stand up by himself and not always cry."
That day, Miller cooked many dishes for him.
As Daniel grew up, because he scored zero points, Miller chased him with a clothes hanger for three streets.
Daniel never thought that one day, Miller, who seemed so strong and capable of supporting the whole family, would actually faint.
It was then that he realized how thin and small she was.
It was just that his impression of Miller was so towering.
The doctor told him, "The patient has brain cancer, and the surgery will cost more than 400,000 yuan, plus the subsequent hospital stay for observation."
His uncle gave him 100,000 yuan, and with the company just on the rise, Daniel couldn't even scrape together 10,000 yuan.
"Hello, uncle, my mom is hospitalized, can I..."
"Click."
The call was hung up quickly, and Daniel was anxious and desperate, borrowing from all his relatives, and only managed to gather 30,000 yuan.
There would still be a hospital stay after the surgery.
He couldn't gather enough money.
He sat in the hospital corridor all night.
It was the first time he knew how powerless he was without money.
During those days, Mason couldn't find him.
It was because he was working three jobs a day, non-stop, until he collapsed from exhaustion.
Even so, he only earned a few thousand yuan.
He really didn't know what to do.
Then, he received another call, and the other side said, "Family member of the patient, the patient's condition is very bad now, and surgery should be arranged as soon as possible, otherwise, she may not last three days."
Daniel's heart was chilled.
Miller said that men shouldn't shed tears.
But that day, he still shed many, many tears.
Miller said, "Don't treat me anymore, I don't want to be a burden to you."
"You are not a burden, you have never been a burden, I will find a way, I will."
Miller was beautiful when she was young, and if she didn't have him, she could definitely remarry.
But she still chose to bring him along.
Many men pursued her during that time.
All were rejected by her, fearing they would not treat Daniel well.
Daniel was desperate, and he went to William.
He knew he was being an asshole, but he forced himself to say those words, "I want to withdraw my investment and get my dividends in advance."
William calmly transferred the money to him, and Mason asked if he was crazy.
Daniel also thought he was going crazy.
He really couldn't hold on anymore.
...
Miller still passed away, on a night filled with falling snow.
She removed her oxygen by herself.
She couldn't bear to see Daniel work so hard anymore.
She didn't want to be a burden to anyone.
...
Daniel was worn down to smoothness in three years.
He habitually apologized to people and habitually felt that he was causing trouble.
...
Mason saw Daniel at a cocktail party, wearing a waiter's uniform, bowing and scraping to apologize to a man.
He was so thin that his chin was getting sharper, and it seemed like he couldn't smile anymore.
"Excuse me, what happened? What made you so angry?"
"It's all because this waiter was careless and just spilled wine on me."
"It's just a glass of wine, it's not worth it, don't get upset."
The man looked at Mason and suddenly remembered something, saying, "You are... you are Sir Mason."
The man was clearly excited.
Mason exchanged business cards with the man and chatted for a few words.
Now Mason is confident and eloquent, Daniel didn't dare to look up at him, hoping he didn't see himself, and subconsciously wanted to run.
"Daniel."
Hearing his name being called, Daniel walked even faster.
Mason grabbed him and said, "Where are you running to?"
Daniel forced a smile at him and said, "Is there anything else, Sir Mason?"
In an instant, the smile on Mason's face faded, he looked at Daniel and said, "Has anyone ever told you that when you force a smile, you look really ugly?"
Daniel shook off his hand, threw an apology, and left.
Later, Mason heard that he resigned.
...
Mason never thought he would meet Daniel again three days later when discussing a project.
"Sir Mason, I asked them to toast to you."
Mason glanced at Daniel in the corner, dressed in a suit, with an empty look in his eyes, and a habitual fake smile on his face.
What was he doing?
Working during the day and working at the bar at night.
Was he trying to kill himself?
"I don't want them to accompany me in drinking, I want him." Mason pointed to Daniel.
In an instant, everyone's gaze fell on Daniel.
Liu Tao nudged Daniel with his elbow and said, "Are you deaf? Sir Mason is asking you to toast, can't you hear it?"
Daniel picked up the wine on the table and said, "I wish Sir Mason's career will flourish."
He finished it in one go.
Mason stared at him for a while, then said, "I will consider the cooperation with your company, on the condition that I want him."
He finished, looked at Daniel, and said, "What do you think?"
Everyone present was stunned.
What did Mason mean? Did he not like women but liked men?
Liu Tao nudged Daniel and said, "Sir Mason is talking to you."
"I'm not willing."
Liu Tao whispered to him, "Are you crazy? We finally have a chance to cooperate with Star Technology Company, are you going to waste everyone's efforts? Do you know how many people are desperate to get into Yi Qiao now? Sir Mason values you, it's a favor to you, don't be ungrateful."
Daniel bit his lip tightly, and after a while, he said, "I will rely on Sir Mason for a bright future."
"A bright future." Mason repeated these four words, and he laughed and said, "Okay."
"I'll switch seats with you."
Liu Tao heard Mason suddenly speak and stood up to give his seat to him.
Daniel felt a scorching gaze always on him, he looked up and saw Mason talking to others.
He reminded himself, it would be okay after dinner.
It was him who was sorry for William and him.
He dared not face them.
Neither William, nor Mason.