Luna's words snapped Jaden out of his anger. He gave her a complicated look and let out a long sigh. "Forget it, it's not really your problem," he muttered.
"I just heard that you got fired. Does it have something to do with my complaint about you?" Luna asked cautiously, her voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, you could say that. But it was just a trigger," Jaden replied indifferently. Upon further reflection, even if Luna hadn't complained, it was likely he would have been fired anyway. The complaint just gave Manager Chen an excuse.
Jaden had worked hard since joining the company, with a high rating from clients. Rumor had it that the head office was considering promoting him.
If he were to be promoted, it would either be to manage another region or to take over locally.
Going to another region wasn't an option, so the only possibility was a local promotion. This would have meant Manager Chen losing his position, and of course, he would have tried to get rid of Jaden.
However, Jaden wasn't interested in fighting with Manager Chen over power. He just wanted a stable job to support his family.
Even if a promotion had been offered, Jaden probably would have refused.
What he hadn't expected was for Manager Chen to go this far, not only firing him but also withholding his wages.
"I'm sorry, I really didn't have a choice. I didn't know who to turn to for help! I... I'm really sorry... I truly am..." Luna apologized sincerely. She could feel Jaden's concern for her, whether it was looking after her when she was drunk or comforting her when she was devastated. Thinking back on her own attitude toward him, she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
"Forget it, this is my problem, not yours. Now that I don't have a job, I can at least help you finish your task," Jaden said with a forced smile.
"Well... how about this?" Luna hesitated, furrowing her brows. After a moment, she continued, "My company is struggling, but it hasn't gone bankrupt yet. If you don't mind, would you consider working for me?"
"Work for your company? What kind of treatment can you offer me? Will the salary be paid on time?" Jaden was taken aback. This didn't sound like a bad idea.
"That depends on your abilities. If you're good at what you do, your salary won't be lower than what you're making now. Even if my company goes bankrupt, I will prioritize paying employees their wages. You don't need to worry about that," Luna answered seriously.
"Your company is already in such a bad state. If I join now, won't I just be adding to your problems?" Jaden asked calmly, though a part of him was moved.
"It's fine. If you're willing to help me when my company is struggling, it means you're one of us. I won't mistreat someone who's loyal to me. I need someone who can stick with me through thick and thin," Luna said, shaking her head as she looked at Jaden intently.
"I'll consider your offer, but I need to sort out my own situation first. But let me make it clear: I know you're going through a tough time, but I need the money too. If I help you finish the task, the promised compensation can't be any less!" Jaden said sternly.
"Don't worry about that. I haven't touched the money I owe you. Once your task is done, you can take it anytime. Offering you a job is just my way of making up for the trouble I've caused you," Luna answered candidly.
"I understand. Thank you for your kind offer. I'll give you an answer soon. Since there's nothing else, I'll leave for now. I have some personal matters to take care of," Jaden said, then left.
Luna's offer to give him a job had stirred something in him. Who wouldn't want to work in a comfortable environment with a good salary?
Delivering food seemed to offer a decent income, but it was hard-earned money, made under the blazing sun and in all kinds of weather. It could even be dangerous at times, weaving through city traffic every day.
If there was a better option, Jaden would definitely be open to switching jobs.
However, considering that Luna had openly told him that her company was in a difficult situation, he also worried that his salary might not be paid in full. If that happened, it would be hard for him to chase after it without damaging their relationship.
His own situation was dire - every month, his salary went straight into covering debts. If he didn't get paid for a month, he would be in serious trouble.
Though Sherry did help him with her own salary, Jaden, as a man, didn't feel comfortable relying on a woman's money.
Thinking of Sherry, Jaden felt a wave of helplessness. But he knew he couldn't deal with this issue until she returned.
Now that he'd been fired, Jaden didn't rush to find a new job. Instead, he took some time off to visit his parents.
Fortunately, the money for his father's surgery had been provided in time, and his father's life was no longer at risk. But there were still follow-up procedures and rehabilitation to consider, which would require more money.
A major illness could ruin a family, and Jaden knew this all too well.
He was worried that even if the 200,000 yuan Luna promised came through, it wouldn't be enough to fill the financial hole. Not to mention the bride price for marrying Sherry.
Thinking of Sherry only made Jaden feel more agitated.
When he returned to their humble rented apartment, he noticed that nothing had been touched. It was a sign that Sherry hadn't come back yet.
As he remembered what he had seen at the resort, Jaden felt even more frustrated. He couldn't understand why Sherry, who had claimed to love him so deeply, would deceive him. Had she been tempted by money and betrayed him?
Dejected, Jaden sat on the bed and smoked, hating himself for being so powerless.
If he had the ability to earn more money, perhaps none of this would be a problem.
He could have given his father better treatment, and his relationship with Sherry's parents might have been more stable. Maybe he and Sherry would have already married by now.
Money may not buy everything, but without it, life was still painful.
A series of problems had left Jaden in a state of constant agitation, and he couldn't even sleep properly. The more he couldn't sleep, the more his mind wandered.
He wanted to call Sherry but feared hearing more bad news.
So, he decided to focus on how to deal with Manager Chen.
Thinking back on his interactions with the man, Jaden wrote down all the shady things he knew about Manager Chen and planned to confront him the next morning.
After a sleepless night, Jaden went to the meeting spot for the delivery workers the next morning, his eyes rimmed with dark circles.
The workers didn't meet every day, but there was a weekly meeting. Minor updates were posted in a group chat, and urgent matters were discussed in person. Today was just the regular meeting.
By the time Jaden arrived, many of his colleagues had already gathered. They waited for nearly half an hour before Manager Chen showed up.
When he saw Jaden, Manager Chen gave him a strange, almost mocking smile. He pointed at Jaden and commanded, "What are you doing here? You've been fired! You're not qualified to attend our meeting!"