Impulsiveness disrupts great plans. Xia Xiang, with 12 more years of experience than the average person, had already passed the age of being impulsive and hot-blooded. He possessed a level of composure and deliberation that was out of place for his 23 years.
However, the biggest gain from this trip was that he could now fully devote himself to what he had in mind, without worrying about Wen Yang reaping the benefits at crucial moments.
As they walked out of the "Drunken Spring Breeze" restaurant, the night was as smooth as water. The two strolled along the People's River on their way back. Xia Xiang rented a room in the same villa complex as the company, but it was just one room in a large villa, costing him 80 yuan per month. He didn't know where Xiao Jia lived, so he asked her, casually offering to take her home.
Xiao Jia's eyes sparkled with a captivating luster in the enchanting night, like stars twinkling in the distance. She sometimes clasped her hands behind her back, and at other times swung them around, looking as happy as a little girl who had just received candy. As they walked closer, Xiao Jia's hand often accidentally brushed against Xia Xiang's, and once even landed on his thigh. Unaware, she continued to hop and skip.
Xiao Jia wrinkled her small nose, slightly displeased: "What time is it? Why go home so early? Walk with me!" Her tone left no room for argument.
Xia Xiang glanced at the NEC Chinese display pager hanging from his waist. Under the blue glow, it showed 9:30 PM. This Chinese display NEC pager cost 1500 yuan, which he had saved up over half a year after graduation. Originally, he had planned to use the money to visit Yang Bei in Zhangcheng City's Dam County, but when he called, Yang Bei told him they were breaking up. Her mother was forcing her, and with 500 kilometers between them, a transfer was nearly impossible. So, rather than holding onto an unattainable hope, she chose to let go.
Xia Xiang remembered how, after hanging up the phone, he almost crumpled the 1500 yuan he had painstakingly saved into a ball. He felt as if he had fallen from a scorching summer into a frozen lake, shivering and standing still for ten minutes.
The kind old lady who ran the nearby phone booth shook her head and sighed, "Another poor soul heartbroken. Young man, don't lose hope. Emotions are the most binding, but also the easiest to forget..."
Xia Xiang couldn't remember how he made his way back, then lay down and slept for a day and a night. After washing his face, he went straight to the store and bought a pager. He had intended to buy a Motorola, but somehow ended up with an NEC.
In 1998, NEC pagers and phones were still popular in China, but a few years later, they would be defeated in the fierce market competition and quietly exit the domestic market.
After spending the money, Xia Xiang felt much better. The pager, always with him, reminded him of his breakup. Thankfully, human resilience is strong, and soon, Xia Xiang forced himself to forget the pager's origin, treating it as a regular communication tool. In his previous life, after breaking up with Yang Bei, he never saw her again. Later, he heard from classmates that Yang Bei returned to her county, caught the eye of the deputy county magistrate's son, and quickly got married. No one mentioned anything after that...
Glancing at the pager, Xia Xiang thought of Yang Bei, recalling their first love, her gentleness and care, her petite figure, and her delicate face. A wave of nostalgia swept over him.
After all, Yang Bei was the first woman he deeply loved.
Xiao Jia noticed Xia Xiang's distraction and said, dissatisfied, "When you're with me, don't think about other girls. Think about me first..."
Xia Xiang, annoyed by Xiao Jia's interruption, thought of her constant companionship with Wen Yang over the past six months and grew angry: "We're just colleagues. I can think about whoever I want. What right do you have to tell me what to do? Haven't you heard the saying, 'Meddling too much leads to trouble'? What gives you the right to control me?"
Xiao Jia was taken aback by Xia Xiang's sudden outburst. She stood there, heart pounding, face pale, and stammered, "Why so angry? If you have the guts to scare me, why not have the courage to work with me? You're just afraid Wen Yang will find out and tattle to Mr. Li. Let me tell you, Xia Xiang, Wen Yang wouldn't dare. Will you or won't you help me compile the book?"
Her apparent calmness couldn't hide her inner shock. Xiao Jia felt that Xia Xiang, though still the same, now exuded an unapproachable aura, his cold gaze and expressionless face intimidating.
What happened? How could someone change so drastically? Xiao Jia couldn't believe that the silent, unassuming boy she knew had become this formidable figure.
Realizing his slip, Xia Xiang sighed inwardly, realizing that Yang Bei still held a significant place in his heart. Looking at Xiao Jia, he apologized, "I've had too much to drink. Don't take it to heart. It's not that I don't want to compile the book; I just don't understand why you need me when you can do it alone."
"Because I think you're honest and reliable, someone I can trust. Also, my relationship with Mr. Li isn't good, so if things go wrong, you can explain to him on my behalf."
"Is that all?" Xia Xiang doubted that was her only reason.
"Well...," Xiao Jia's face flushed, even in the dim light, revealing her bashfulness and beauty, making Xia Xiang feel a strange warmth and almost lose control.
Biting her lip, Xiao Jia said, "If I have to rely on a man to get rich, I'd rather it be a younger, handsome, and kind man who listens to me, not a lecherous, petty middle-aged man! Xia Xiang, I'll be honest. Nothing happened between Wen Yang and me. We were just using each other. He wanted my body, and I wanted to make money with my looks. But I miscalculated. He threatened me, saying if I didn't sleep with him, he wouldn't give me the 500,000 yuan I deserved. I may love money, but I know better than to negotiate with a white-eyed wolf. If I agreed, I'd end up with nothing, and he'd get away with it!"
By the end, Xiao Jia was seething, her beautiful face filled with determination. Though her beauty lacked intimidation, Xia Xiang realized she was not to be underestimated. Her love for money wasn't the issue; the problem was playing with fire, not realizing that women, despite their cleverness, are ultimately weaker and risk getting burned.
Like a lamb playing hide-and-seek with a wolf, no matter how clever the lamb, it's destined to be eaten.
Xia Xiang thought for a moment and said, "Let me think about it. We can't rush this. Unlike Wen Yang, who has direct access to the company seal, I need to find a way to make Mr. Li take it back, giving us an opportunity."
Though Xia Xiang's words seemed evasive, they were reasonable. Xiao Jia, though dissatisfied, had no retort. She drew circles on the ground with her foot, then looked up, her big, captivating eyes full of courage, and said, "Xia Xiang, I live in Beidu Village, far from the company. Can I stay at your place tonight?"
Any normal man would be tempted by such a beautiful offer, and Xia Xiang was no exception. However, he wasn't so dazzled by Xiao Jia's beauty to think that a casual fling would be easy. Xiao Jia was indeed beautiful, but also cunning, willing to use any means to make money. With his 12 years of experience, Xia Xiang understood that many things aren't as they seem, and principles must be upheld, or disaster would follow.
"I'll take you home. It's still early, and it's not too far," Xia Xiang gently declined.
Disappointment flashed in Xiao Jia's eyes, but she quickly smiled, a hint of pride in her expression. Just as she was about to say something, her face changed, and she grabbed Xia Xiang's arm, pressing her chest against him, trembling slightly, "Two people have been following us, acting suspiciously."
Xia Xiang turned and saw two young men, about 20 years old, staggering towards them, reeking of alcohol. One, in a flowered shirt, held a brick, and said, "Friend, we've been following you for a while. We know you're not her boyfriend, so don't stick your neck out. How about this? We're in a good mood today, so we'll let you off. Turn around and pretend you didn't see anything, and leave the girl for us to have some fun."
The other, bare-chested with a wolf tattoo, cracked his knuckles, "Be smart and run. The faster, the better. Otherwise, we'll help you loosen up!"
Xiao Jia's face turned deathly pale, devoid of color.