fictionpage Chapter 1589 Inner Demons
Chapter 1589 Inner Demons
Chapter 1589 Inner Demons
Shangguan Qi was unable to accept reality.
Regardless of whether she was joking or not, Li Xuewu's meaning was crystal clear:
I can afford to play this game, can you?
Indeed, from any perspective, she couldn't afford to play this game, because they were not in the same league.
Li Xuewu has absolute resources and ability, putting him in a position of choice, while she is passively in a position of being chosen.
Love shouldn't be like this. If you can't look at each other fairly and equally, then as he said, is this still love?
Conversely, she needs to carefully consider whether what she expects from Li Xuewu and what he can give are the foundation of love.
A moment of silence fell over the corner of the International Hotel's coffee shop. She held her coffee cup, head bowed in thought, her face inevitably showing some disappointment and frustration.
Li Xuewu's expression remained calm. He looked at the banana trees outside the window, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Peter Gwett is quite good."
"Because he keeps writing letters to his former classmates and colleagues to share his current work and life?" Shangguan Qi's answer was somewhat harsh.
She looked up at the man opposite her and said, "Do you need an optoelectronics expert, or does Honggang Group need one?"
“Strictly speaking, when I represent Honggang Group, my needs are the group’s needs.” Li Xuewu looked at her like that.
"Similarly, as a manager, the needs of Honggang Group are also my needs."
He took a letter out of his bag, pushed it over, blinked, and said, "I kept my promise, and he got everything he wanted, so he has to keep his promise too."
"Within my authority, I will try my best to meet his needs."
"So, what kind of return do you, or the group, need from him?"
Shangguan Qi glanced at the envelope he pushed towards her, then looked up and asked, "Dedicate your youth? Dedicate your loyalty?"
“Some reports don’t need to be said aloud.” Li Xuewu smiled slightly, tapped the envelope with his finger, and took a breath before saying, “He will understand what I want.”
"Perhaps." Shangguan Qi, defeated by his gaze, picked up her coffee to cover it up and said, "Your way of doing things is more in line with his personality."
“Nothing is absolute.” Li Xuewu turned to look out the window and said, “Anyone can be straightforward, and anyone can be reserved.”
"It's all about self-interest, right?"
Shangguan Qi glanced at him and said, "Including project setup, personnel preparation, and organizational structure construction..."
"What do you think?" Li Xuewu turned to look at her and asked, "This is work, not child's play."
“You can call me naive,” Shangguan Qi said with a hint of self-abandonment. “I admit it.”
No one matures overnight.
Li Xuewu seemed to agree with her assessment of him, nodding and saying, "You can mature your thinking by strengthening your political studies."
“In this respect, you are my role model, without a doubt.” Shangguan Qi let out a long breath, as if she had let go of something, and looked out the window, saying, “Always have.”
Li Xuewu's invitation to meet Shangguan Qi was not a moment of boredom; they were not close friends, and he didn't have time to make such friends.
In life, what kind of relationships, besides the exchange of lives, can withstand the test of time?
Ten years of friendship is not worth two thousand yuan.
If you don't believe me, you'll have to pay your debt; see if he tries to renege.
Work is work, and life is life. The more you confuse them, the more mentally exhausted you will feel.
Shangguan Qi seemed to have lost the desire to stay for dinner. After discussing work, she took the initiative to suggest that she go shopping with her mother.
Li Xuewu watched her leave, and He Yushui came over with a thermos and refilled his teacup with hot water.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Hmm, hmm?" Li Xuewu was thinking about something when he heard her words and turned to look at her, asking, "What do you mean?"
"Do I need to explain what I mean?" He Yushui glanced at him and said, "Isn't this the kind of girl you like? Well-educated, reasonable, gentle and virtuous."
“That’s right—” Li Xuewu nodded in agreement and said, “You should look for a wife like this, not a loud and boisterous one like Zhang Fei.”
"..." He Yushui's narrowed eyes seemed to carry a cold arrow, as if she wanted to stab this bastard to death.
"I heard you're looking for a suitable driver?"
She didn't seem angry; if she were, she would have been driven mad by this bastard's nonsense long ago.
Do you need me to recommend one for you?
"Thank you, but no need." Li Xuewu raised his wrist to check the time and replied, "I've already found it."
“Of course, I’ll be your driver.” He Yushui pursed her lips and said, “You’ll all have to wait in line, right?”
"Like the gay men who are pursuing you?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and gestured towards the hall, asking, "Isn't there anything suitable? I think the young men in your unit are all quite good."
"You like it? Shall I introduce you to someone?"
She didn't know when it started, but she also learned Li Xuewu's sarcastic and witty remarks, the kind that could kill with a single word.
Li Xuewu chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned, and raised his chin, saying, "The person I'm waiting for has arrived. Go and greet them."
"You'd better not mess with me." He Yushui glared at him, then turned and headed towards the lobby, where the Sanhe Corporation's car was parked at the bottom of the steps.
"I'm so sorry I'm late."
Heiji Taniguchi has changed a lot since the last time we met; he looks very energetic.
"Have a seat, I'm quite free today."
Li Xuewu smiled and pointed to where Shangguan Qi had just been, saying, "Have you been busy lately?"
"Thank you, Mr. Li." After bowing once more, Taniguchi Heiji sat down and replied, "I've been quite busy."
“A business delegation from China has arrived and needs our coordination of accommodation and reception.” He nodded slightly, thanking the waiter who brought him tea as he answered Li Xuewu’s greetings.
It must be said that even after three years in China, he still maintains the etiquette he has cultivated over the years, allowing the service staff to immediately recognize him as a foreign businessman.
"Have you found a place yet?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said politely, "Please don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it."
"Thank you so much, everything is arranged." Gu Cangping nodded and said, "I found a guesthouse that specializes in tourist reception, and the arrangements are excellent."
These days, let alone foreigners, even city dwellers need to present a proper letter of introduction and a valid reason to find a place to stay for the night.
Generally, guesthouses independently operated by a work unit only provide accommodation services for the unit and its employees, such as guests of the unit, relatives of employees, etc.
Guesthouses that operate for public use are mostly affiliated with municipal departments and require a letter of introduction from the local government to prove the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay.
There are also guesthouses with assigned numbers, such as 316, 423, etc., which correspond to the reception units under various ministries and commissions. They receive special visitors and provide catering and accommodation services.
Some people ask, "Are there still tourists coming to the mainland these days?"
It's normal. Few means none. Individuals may not be able to get in, but organizations can.
Journalists, scholars, businessmen, and others can all enter the mainland to carry out relevant activities, with arrangements made by their respective authorities.
Li Xuewu knew that many large-scale international competitions were held in China 65 years ago, and that this situation would resume from the year after next.
Not only have the number of tourists repeatedly broken records, but the economic situation has also gradually improved. Otherwise, how could he have dared to persist in establishing an international hotel project?
Of course, he knew what Gukura Heiji was thinking; such group activities were not suitable to be hosted by a certain organization's guesthouse.
Even if he were willing, his team wouldn't be, and the foreign affairs department wouldn't feel at ease.
Li Xuewu's question was merely a polite inquiry; the purpose of his investigation had already been achieved.
Perhaps realizing it too late, Taniguchi Heiji glanced at him with a slightly frozen expression, then lowered his head again, adopting a humble demeanor.
Has the cooperation negotiation yielded any results?
Li Xuewu casually asked, "Do you have any new ideas in your country?"
“I haven’t received any official notification yet,” Taniguchi Heiji replied cautiously. “I’m still waiting for further arrangements from the president.”
"Hmm, no rush, take your time."
Li Xuewu smiled faintly and said, "Honggang Group needs to make some industrial and technological adjustments recently, and it also needs some buffer time."
"Yes." Taniguchi Heiji couldn't figure out what he meant, so he kept glancing at him, trying to get some information from his eyes.
It was all in vain. Ever since I was taught a lesson by the other party last time, I have felt a sense of humiliation and inferiority.
Li Xuewu sensed the other party's caution and couldn't help but find it amusing. He wasn't someone who often dealt in goods, so why the need for such formality?
"How well are Ya-Call appliances selling in Japan?"
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Do you have any data on this?"
"Yes, but I didn't bring it today."
Gu Cang bowed apologetically and said, "I'll arrange for someone to deliver it to you later. Should it be sent to the Honggang Group headquarters or mailed to Liaodong?"
"Either is fine, I'll have my secretary get it."
Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, "We also want Southeast Asia and North America. I want to see your channel competitiveness."
“Okay, I’ve noted it down.” Gu Cang nodded and said, “The data I have may not be complete. I’ll check it when I get back and ask the domestic authorities to supplement it.”
"That would be perfect." Li Xuewu smiled and said to him, "If you encounter any difficulties in the capital, just let me know, and I will definitely help if I can."
He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest and said, "You've lived and worked in the mainland for a long time, so you must have faced many difficulties."
"Thank you, Mr. Li." Gu Cang looked up into his eyes and understood the meaning behind his words.
The glimmer of hope in their eyes, the questions they dared not voice, all remained bottled up inside, and tears welled up in their eyes.
***
"You met with him privately, don't you need to report it to the foreign affairs department?" Yu Shui saw off the representative from Sanhe Corporation and came back to ask, "Aren't you afraid of causing problems?"
"Therefore, we need to talk at the International Hotel."
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and explained, "As long as you don't cross the line, there shouldn't be any problem. I still have some authority."
"Oh, right." He seemed to remember something and looked at He Yushui, asking, "The International Hotel has been cooperating with the Foreign Affairs Department for so long, haven't you thought about taking it a step further?"
"How can we improve?" He Yushui raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "What are your ideas?"
“Heiji Taniguchi just said that a group from their country came, and they even had to go through a lot of trouble to find a host organization.” He shrugged and said, “Why don’t you apply for that qualification?”
"Who should we apply to? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs?"
He Yushui frowned and explained, "But we have foreign affairs personnel staying here in Beijing. Do we need to apply for special accommodations?"
"Of course, you are only qualified to receive foreign affairs personnel and personnel from companies that have cooperative relationships with the group. Other groups, such as visiting groups, are not eligible to be received."
Li Xuewu tapped her and said, "The new International Hotel is under construction and may be completed by the end of next year. Aren't you planning ahead?"
"I understand." He Yushui was quite clear-headed when it came to work, and nodded in response: "I will contact Director Zhou Gancheng on Monday."
“That’s right.” Li Xuewu smiled and put down his teacup, saying, “He’s been occupying our territory and receiving our treatment for nothing, so we should make him do something.”
"Why don't you go and negotiate?" He Yushui's lips curled up slightly as she looked at him and said, "With you in charge, success is guaranteed."
"Me, go and negotiate? What's the point of having you then?" Li Xuewu said matter-of-factly, hitting the nail on the head. "Just give me all your wages."
"Here you go, but I'm afraid you won't dare to take it."
He Yushui rolled her eyes at him and asked, "Who else do you want to see? How many people did you make appointments with this afternoon?"
"That's called work efficiency, understand?"
Li Xuewu pointed to the coffee across from him and asked, "Including his, we shouldn't need to exchange it, right? Can we count it as a refill?"
"You're so stingy—" He Yushui said irritably, "Didn't you say we shouldn't take advantage of public resources?"
"The government can't take advantage of me."
Li Xuewu sighed and said, "I've had two cups of coffee this afternoon, and we've been talking about serious work. In the end, I still have to treat everyone."
"I didn't think so before, but now your coffee seems a bit too expensive."
"You think it's too expensive? Then don't try to rip me off."
Having finally found an opportunity, He Yushui wasn't about to let him off easily. She pouted and said, "Why don't you just invite him for tea?"
"Heh—" Li Xuewu laughed helplessly and said, "You guys are a rip-off. A cup of tea costs two cents and a cup of coffee costs a dollar."
"Hold on, don't go!"
He Yushui had also learned to be mischievous. She reached out and patted his shoulder, saying softly, "You've been sitting here drinking all afternoon, and the refills of hot water are only worth two cents."
“Never heard of that—” Li Xuewu rolled his eyes and said, “Can’t I just go home and drink plain water? I’ll give you as much as you want.”
"Anyway, I feel it's expensive when I'm spending my own money."
He Yushui said irritably, "So, none of the people who come here to spend money are paying for it themselves, understand?"
"Isn't this what you taught us? We should only make money from what others give us."
"Fine, I give up—"
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, saying, "I'm not going to get my money's worth today."
“What a character—” Yu Shui turned and left, then returned a moment later with a plate of snacks, placed it on the table and said, “Here, this is on you.”
"How could I possibly accept that?"
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "If it's convenient for you, could you give me another ten or eight yuan? I can take it back and share it with the children."
"If you want to make fun of me, I'll be even more fun than you, believe it or not—" He Yushui wasn't going to fall for his tricks. She rolled her eyes at him and turned to leave.
He doesn't eat snacks at home, but he can eat them here?
He wouldn't care if the snack was made of gold; he just had an itch to get revenge for the dog that had bitten him.
***
"Hello, Director Li, this is too much trouble."
This was also the first time Li Xuewu had met Guo Yu. The publishing and distribution work of the other party's publishing house was to protect the people and protect the industry.
The editor he used to work with had been transferred, and the one who arranged to meet him was this Editor Guo.
"I only have time today, I'm sorry to disturb your rest." Li Xuewu apologized and invited the other person to sit down before explaining, "I have to go back to Gangcheng tomorrow."
"Yes, I heard it from our leader."
Guo Yu smiled and nodded. When the waiter brought over the cup, he thought it was tea, but he was surprised to smell a strong Chinese medicine aroma.
Having seen and experienced much, his smile became more sincere.
He had heard of this international hotel, but had never been there. Some journalist friends had come to interview people there, and they all praised the hotel's hospitality standards.
Of course, he also knew that this was a property of Honggang Group, and it was normal for Li Xuewu, as a leader of Honggang Group, to ask him to meet here.
The delicate pastries on the table, and the unexpected coffee, surprised him.
You can buy this stuff in Shanghai too. A jar can last you two or three months if you use it sparingly, but if you brew a cup and take it to a coffee shop, it's like you've brewed gold.
Drinking at home and drinking here are not the same thing, are they?
Besides, he rarely drinks at home, and it's not easy for him to go to Shanghai, so he treats it like a treasure.
"Try our food factory's products."
Li Xuewu smiled and raised his hand, indicating, "It has already been exported to East Germany and Japan, and the flavor is quite unique."
"Really?" Guo Yu looked at him in surprise, then picked up his coffee, took a sip, and nodded, saying, "It's quite delicious."
"Hehe—" After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Xuewu got down to business, discussing the publication of the final installment of his defense trilogy, namely, "Defending Peace."
“You have collaborated with our publishing house many times, so we have streamlined many procedures in the publishing process.”
Guo Yu was not a novice. He knew of Li Xuewu from his previous work in the editorial department and had read all of his books, so he didn't have any special requirements.
It's impossible to make any changes. Li Xuewu himself has to think about his writing several times before handing it over to Zhou Yamei for proofreading several times before sending it to the publisher.
If there are any serious flaws, he knows them better than the editors, especially regarding current affairs and policies. His books are all quite theoretical, so the review process is relatively simple.
He invited the other party to the International Hotel because he wanted to hear about the current direction and requirements of publishing work for books themselves.
Winter is about to undergo a major change, and he doesn't need to stumble on this.
Maintaining a publishing pace of one or two books per year is sufficient to support his status in both professional and technical fields, as well as theoretical research.
Don't doubt the requirements of organizational work in this regard. If things have really come to this point, who dares to say that he got there purely by luck or that the times made him a hero?
Why do those young people in the government admire him? It's not just because he's young and powerful, but because every step he takes is amazing.
Not convinced? Well, his articles are better. His articles since he started working have long been collected by people with good intentions, bound into books, and kept as study materials.
Putting aside others, just take Li Huaide's former secretary, Li Haiyang. His writing skills are quite impressive, right? If he didn't have a certain level of writing ability, how could he have served as the general manager's secretary?
Ke Lihai considers himself his apprentice, and he emulates him in both his conduct and his work, and his writing style is even more similar to his.
We can't not learn from him. Director Li is used to the fine writings he produces, and when he sees the materials written in the office, they're like pig slop. He can't bring himself to eat them.
Li Huaide's speeches were often written by Li Xuewu, and even after he became secretary-general, he continued to write speeches for important meetings.
He has been in charge of drafting all the important theoretical materials and decision-making documents of Honggang Group over the years, which speaks volumes.
What do young people in government agencies compete for to get promoted?
In terms of comprehensive abilities, they are all outstanding individuals, but their true strength lies in writing.
If you can't even write a decent article, how can you compete?
Comparing combat effectiveness? Management skills? Organizational skills?
Even after he went to work in Liaodong, Li Xuewu would still publish articles in the newspaper every month, mostly summarizing his work experience and exploring management discoveries.
It leans towards theory but also emphasizes practical application. It is frequently published in newspapers and is always used for internal study within the organization to understand the key points of the group's work and the core significance of organizational work.
If one day Li Xuewu steps forward to compete for the position of vice president, no one will dare to hinder him in terms of theoretical achievements and work experience.
Not to mention Honggang Group, even within the industrial system, there are very few people as capable and literate as Li Xuewu.
After a conversation, Guo Yu, who was sitting opposite him, couldn't help but sigh to himself, no wonder everyone in the company was saying that his name had been on the list for a long time.
Such outstanding young talents, with profound thoughts, high awareness, exceptional abilities, and solid foundations, are bound to be given important responsibilities sooner or later.
Even now, what might be considered lucky for others may only be the beginning of his good fortune, and he is still in the nurturing stage.
It would be a lie to say I'm not envious. He's 41 years old this year, almost 20 years older than Li Xuewu, but he just can't write such profound books.
These days, novels are hard to write; they're easy to fail at. So, you have to write light theoretical articles, especially summaries of experience that are relevant to practical work and are more easily accepted.
In recent years, their company has published many similar theoretical books on learning, hoping to popularize excellent management experience and improve the overall management level.
Therefore, Li Xuewu's books have hardly been censored, and those who have read them do not believe that there are any problems with his thoughts and theories.
That's impressive, far surpassing other authors of the same type, and even forming a systematic framework in some professional books.
For example, in the field of criminal psychology, top-level law enforcement agencies in China are already organizing training and even researching its application in areas such as public security management.
***
How much money can you make from a book?
Li Xuewu stood He Yushui up, but then invited Wang Yajuan to dinner at Langtaosha, a typical Sigma man's behavior.
"Why are you asking this? Are you going to write one too?" Li Xuewu, picking at his food, looked up at her and said, "Or do you still want to borrow money?"
"I'm truly impressed by you—"
Wang Yajuan glared at him and asked, "Can't you speak properly if you don't embarrass people?"
She said irritably, "Am I your nemesis? You keep contradicting me."
"If it weren't for the fact that we've run into each other on a narrow road, why would we have turned around on the spot?" Li Xuewu curled his lips, took a bite of the spicy chicken, and frowned, saying, "It's really spicy."
"You said you wanted to eat Sichuan food." Wang Yajuan glanced at him and said, "Whose fault is it?"
"I was forced into it, do you believe me?"
Li Xuewu pointed downstairs and said, "You know today's chef too, so I need to prove I'm here."
"What do you mean?" Wang Yajuan thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have something to do with Master He?"
"Well, I'm fine with him, but I have a bit of a grudge against his sister," Li Xuewu explained casually. "The kind of grudge I try to avoid."
"It's all in the past now—"
Wang Yajuan frowned and asked, "Are you two still having this conflict?"
He Yushui is He Yuzhu's younger sister, and she had met Wang Yamei several times when she went to pick her up.
She had heard Wang Yamei talk about their affair; it was nothing more than that He Yushui's boyfriend had gone to Liaodong with Li Xuewu and died as a result.
"It'll be alright in the past—"
Li Xuewu raised his glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor) and gestured, saying, "It's too spicy, I'll just have a sip."
"Do I need a drink too?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "You're not here to drown your sorrows, are you?"
“I’ve never been a heavy drinker, didn’t you know that?” Li Xuewu downed his drink in one gulp, hissed, and put down his glass, saying, “That’s called tasting.”
Is the word "practice" appropriate for "two ounces of wine"?
Even though that's what she said, Wang Yajuan still picked up the wine bottle and filled it for him. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
"It's nothing." Li Xuewu took a bite of food, put down his chopsticks, touched his face, and then said, "Did you know Zhang Mingyuan went to Gangcheng?"
"Do I need to know?" Wang Yajuan frowned at him, lowered her eyes and said, "Just tell me what you mean."
"Why don't you have some too?" Li Xuewu flipped over a wine glass, picked up the bottle, poured her a drink, and asked, "How have you been lately? Are you adjusting well?"
"I've only been in the steel city for a little over a year."
Wang Yajuan raised her head, curled her lips, and said, "It's not like I've been gone for ten or eight years. I've been working and living in Beijing for much longer, haven't I?"
"Yeah, you'll get used to it." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I was worried you wouldn't adapt."
“If I cared about what other people thought, I would have died long ago, do you believe me?” Wang Yajuan rested her arms on the dining table and looked at him, saying, “17 years old.”
"It's all my fault, I'll punish myself with a drink." Li Xuewu picked up his glass and was about to drink it when Wang Yajuan stopped him.
The wine spilled on her wrist, but she didn't pay it any mind. She just frowned and reminded her, "You still have to drive."
"Then let's have one last drink." Li Xuewu took a small sip and said, "To yesterday."
"I admit you're cultured, but you don't need to be so pretentious," Wang Yajuan said calmly. "One book has made you like this?"
She looked at Li Xuewu suspiciously and asked, "You're not drunk and planning to write a poem, are you?"
"Hahahaha—" Li Xuewu laughed and waved his hand, saying, "I'm not Li Bai, do I have to write poetry just because I drink?"
"I don't have that talent; I could never write one in my entire life."
"You still haven't told me how much money this book can make?" Wang Yajuan asked curiously, "Five hundred? One thousand?"
"I don't know about this one yet." Li Xuewu smiled slightly and looked at her, saying, "The royalties for my previous book, 'Public Security Management,' were 6842.32 yuan."
"So many!" Wang Yajuan looked at him in surprise and said, "A book can buy a house?"
"Shh—" Li Xuewu raised his index finger to remind her to keep her voice down, and frowned slightly as he emphasized, "I'm not making money from writing books."
"The way you said that makes me want to hit you," Wang Yajuan said, pursing her lips. "One of your books is worth half of my life."
"Then you should write it too. Anyone can write it."
Li Xuewu raised his hand to indicate, "A fountain pen, ink, and draft paper—it's very simple."
“If I could write, I wouldn’t go to work; I’d just stay home and write books every day,” Wang Yajuan said, looking at him. “Being a writer is pretty good.”
"Are you sure?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and looked at her, asking, "Why don't you go to Beijing and ask around? Are there any writers who don't engage in productive work?"
"Without a job, you lose the right to write."
He tapped his finger on the table, emphasizing, "You can only write about sunlight, not darkness."
What did you do with the money you earned?
Wang Yajuan admitted that she didn't have that ability; if she did, she wouldn't be envying him only now.
"Should we save it to earn interest? Or bury it somewhere else?"
"It's buried in the corner, go dig it out."
Li Xuewu looked at her with amusement and said, "Of course you have to spend the money you earn. Daily necessities, firewood, rice, oil, salt, children's schooling, family meals—all of these cost money."
"Do you think I can't figure out how much your salary is?"
Wang Yajuan glanced at him and asked, "How much do you have saved right now? Tens of thousands?"
"Yeah, I dream of saving tens of thousands of yuan."
Li Xuewu smiled and shook his head, looking at her and asking, "Didn't you know that I kept the royalties from my last book for myself?"
"What do you mean?" Wang Yajuan asked, frowning. "Didn't you write many books before?"
"Yes, many books, and all the royalties were donated." Li Xuewu said calmly, "If you ask me how much I earned from the last book, I'll know, but I don't know about the ones before that."
"Because I donated it all, and my secretary helped me with the process, I don't even remember the exact amount."
He shrugged under Wang Yajuan's surprised gaze and said, "Actually, I also wanted to donate the royalties from my last book, but someone reminded me to try not to do so."
"Why?" Wang Yajuan asked, "Because a tall tree catches the wind?"
"Not entirely, I was afraid of causing more trouble," Li Xuewu explained calmly. "If I donate, it will be in the newspapers, but what about the other writers?"
“They seem narrow-minded not to donate, but if they do donate, they will lose part of their livelihood.”
He nodded slowly and said, "To do good deeds, one must be clear-headed and not have selfish motives, otherwise one will suffer a backlash."
“You intellectuals are so complicated—” Wang Yajuan frowned and said, “Donating is not an option, and not donating is also not an option.”
“Your swearing is really vulgar—” Li Xuewu looked at her speechlessly and said, “When did I become a cultured person in your eyes?”
"Hehe—" Wang Yajuan couldn't help but smile, glancing at him and saying, "From the day I learned you became an associate professor."
"..." Li Xuewu was even more speechless. He stared at her for a while before asking, "Are you making fun of me?"
"Hahaha—" Wang Yajuan laughed for real this time, covering her mouth and saying, "I didn't."
"I didn't believe you for a second—"
Li Xuewu picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said, "I bet you're laughing at this news because you're thinking about the old me, right?"
"Can't people laugh?" Wang Yajuan looked at him, her eyes filled with a hint of teasing and playfulness, and said, "Who told you to be an associate professor now?"
"Sigh—" Li Xuewu sighed deeply, saying while eating, "I told them I wasn't qualified, but they wouldn't believe me. What can I do?"
"You're quite cultured too," Wang Yajuan said, suppressing a smile as she complimented him, but Li Xuewu laughed before she did.
"Does writing a few books make you a cultured person?" he said with a smile. "Does becoming an associate professor by chance make you a cultured person?"
Li Xuewu moved his wine glass, looked at her, and said, "Then should I call you a dancer?"
"How dare you—" Wang Yajuan glared at him playfully.
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled, "Only officials are allowed to set fires, while common people are not allowed to light lamps."
"Don't make it sound so pitiful—"
Wang Yajuan retorted, "I admire you and envy you. I want to be an associate professor, but I can't even get that position."
"Whatever, I can't refuse anyway."
Li Xuewu shrugged and asked, "Are you living at home now?"
"No, I'm staying in the dorm." Wang Yajuan calmed down a bit, took a bite of rice, and said, "It's not very convenient at home."
"That's true." Li Xuewu sniffed, looked at her, and asked, "Want to buy a house? I can lend you money."
"Why do you want to borrow it?" Wang Yajuan looked up at him and asked, "Why don't you just buy me one, any size will do."
"Really?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "I didn't even dare to mention this, for fear that it would hurt your pride."
"Why should I?" Wang Yajuan raised her head and glared at him, saying, "Also, what did you mean by asking Zhang Mingyuan just now?"
"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" Li Xuewu rubbed his hands together and looked at her sincerely.
“Nonsense—” Wang Yajuan put down her chopsticks and looked at him, saying, “Tell the truth.”
“The truth is—” Li Xuewu hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, “I hope you will give full consideration to the future…”
He paused here, then spread his hands and explained, "We need to face reality, don't we?"
“I know.” Wang Yajuan nodded calmly and said, “It’s not an exaggeration for you to say that.”
"I'm glad you understand." Li Xuewu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I must fully solicit and consider your opinion."
"I also sincerely hope that you will carefully consider your vision and plans for the future."
He pointed to the dining table and said, "If you feel that your future life doesn't need such a heavy burden, and you don't want any pressure, then leave the burden and pressure to me."
"What do you mean?" Wang Yajuan asked, looking at him. "Don't beat around the bush, I don't understand."
“Just like I said,” Li Xuewu said, looking into her eyes, “you need a place to stay, fine, you can borrow one or send one, I’ll arrange it.”
"And then?" Wang Yajuan asked, looking at him. "Am I a responsibility or a burden to you?"
She thought of what Li Xuewu had just said, narrowed her eyes slightly, and asked, "Or are you referring to those things from the past..."
"Don't misunderstand me; you should know that's not what I meant."
Li Xuewu pointed at her with his finger and said seriously, "If you feel you can continue like this and don't dislike your current life, then I should do something."
"Give me a house?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and slowly nodded, saying, "Okay, that's exactly where I need to live."
"Alright, you can go to the logistics department to choose your apartment now." Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said, "Tell Guodong when you've chosen one, and leave the rest to him."
"It might take a month or two, until he finishes renovating the house, then he can hand it over to you."
"You haven't answered my question yet."
Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "What am I to you?"
"They're lovers, past and present."
She asked directly, and Li Xuewu's answer was equally direct, his tone tinged with the smell of alcohol. He rubbed his face and said, "I can't let you go out and take risks."
"You're talking nonsense again."
Wang Yajuan frowned slightly and said, "Have you had too much to drink? Speak in a way I can understand."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Everyone has memories. You can't stop me from reminiscing about the past, because without those memories, we wouldn't be where we are now."
"I admit I'm greedy and a terrible person."
He paused here, opened his palm and sighed, saying, "Even if you are doing very well, very happy, and very fortunate, I will not disturb you."
"Hmm—" Wang Yajuan's eyes were already filled with tears. She opened her mouth slightly and looked at him, asking, "So, your coldness towards me after you came back is because of this?"
"From our first meeting, to that time on the ice, and then to the transfer of me from the railway to the Red Star Factory?"
"Hmm." Li Xuewu nodded, rubbed his forehead, and said, "I think you should be able to find happiness."
"So you've been helping me all along, yet distancing yourself from me," Wang Yajuan sobbed, letting tears stream down her face. "You think you're a hero, all-powerful, right?"
“I admit that I am somewhat—” Li Xuewu paused here, nodded, and said nothing more.
“You’re a real jerk. I knew it from the very beginning when I met you.” Wang Yajuan said, biting her lip. “You’ve been making me cry all the time. I don’t know how many times I’ve cried since I was with you.”
"I'm sorry, I was young and impetuous, and I didn't understand love." Li Xuewu raised his glass to her, smiling as he said, "Is it too late to apologize now?"
Wang Yajuan couldn't help but laugh, but tears streamed down her face. She picked up her wine glass, closed her eyes tightly, and drank the wine in one gulp.
The spiciness in her mouth couldn't compare to the bitterness in her heart. She finally realized that his aloofness was a silent protection in another sense.
"You have no idea what I'm thinking."
She forced a smile and looked at him, saying, "You think I should be happy, but you never know who can give me happiness."
"You think I should have something, but you never know what you should give me."
Wang Yajuan put down her wine glass, pursed her lips, let out a long breath, and said, "Meeting you in this life is the greatest ordeal I have ever experienced, a demon I can never escape."