When people run into someone unexpectedly, what do they usually feel? Surprise? Confusion? Mai Ding was nothing special. He was an ordinary person. Right now, standing inside the Marketing Department with his mouth hanging open, he stared at someone he had not seen in a very long time. A truly long time. Old memories surfaced in his mind, and a rush of intense happiness rose inside him.
“Guan Zhu? You’re Guan Zhu, right?”
The man in front of him studied Mai Ding in confusion. After a while, recognition finally appeared on his face. “Mai Ding?” Mai Ding nodded hard. “How many years has it been since we last saw each other?” Guan Zhu had not only been Mai Ding’s high-school classmate, but one of his close friends back then. After Mai Ding entered university, when he tried to get the old group together, the friends who had entered working life earlier than him had already fallen out with one another. Mai Ding wanted to gather them, but none of them wanted to see the others. They were busy with work and making money, and gradually they lost contact with Mai Ding too.
“Yeah. You work here?”
“Mm. What are you doing here? How have you been? Where are you working now?” Mai Ding fired off questions impatiently. Guan Zhu looked helpless. “You have to give me time to answer. My company recently started working with yours. I was sent to your Marketing Department today, and I still need to make a trip to Public Relations afterward.” Mai Ding excitedly pointed at his name badge. “I’m in Public Relations.”
Cao Cheng Yi interrupted them. “Mai Ding, the Marketing Department isn’t a teahouse. If you want to catch up, do it somewhere else.” Mai Ding wanted to stab Cao Cheng Yi with a finger, but since the man was a manager now, he could only swallow his anger. “I came to Marketing to pick something up.”
“Then take it and go. Seeing anyone from Public Relations annoys me.”
Mai Ding viciously cursed Cao Cheng Yi in his head, thinking he never should have invited him to the wedding and wishing syphilis upon him. Guan Zhu looked somewhat awkward and spoke up for Mai Ding. “Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to the setting.” Cao Cheng Yi gave him a professional smile. “It has nothing to do with you. Mai Ding is simply unpleasant to look at. You’re his friend, right? You’d be better off without this kind of friend. The Mai Ding of today isn’t the Mai Ding from before. Ask anyone around the company and they can tell you about his reputation.” Mai Ding ground his teeth. “Manager Cao, you must have plenty of free time. I’m sure Marketing has lots of work waiting for you.”
Once they entered the elevator together, Mai Ding explained to Guan Zhu, “Ignore him. He’s just a friend joking around with me. You know what kind of person I am, don’t you? I’m definitely a good person.” Guan Zhu could not help laughing. “You really haven’t changed at all. I miss those days.”
“Seeing you made me realize how fast time disappears. I almost didn’t recognize you.” The short elevator ride was nowhere near enough for them to catch up. Even after reaching Public Relations, they kept talking until An Zi Yan came down from the nineteenth floor and silently watched the scene.
“Oh, right, Mai Ding. I should handle the actual work first. Where’s your supervisor?”
“Don’t expect too much from our boss. He…” Mai Ding stopped. Every time he badmouthed An Zi Yan behind his back, An Zi Yan somehow heard it. For once, Mai Ding miraculously became smart. Sure enough, when he turned his head, An Zi Yan was standing there. Mai Ding immediately put on a flattering smile. “Why, if it isn’t my deeply respected superior. You’re back. Why didn’t you notify this humble servant so I could welcome you?” As expected, Gao Shuang delivered the finishing blow. “Hypocrite.” Mai Ding pretended not to hear him. Before coming here, Guan Zhu had already heard that the Public Relations manager was extremely capable. But the moment he saw An Zi Yan in person, he almost thought Public Relations had hired a model for a promotional shoot. Both his appearance and presence were startling. Guan Zhu hurriedly took out a business card and handed it to An Zi Yan. “Hello. I’m very glad to be working with you this time. On behalf of…”
“What is your relationship with Mai Ding?” An Zi Yan interrupted Guan Zhu with a question that left him baffled. Even so, Guan Zhu answered respectfully, “We’re friends.”
“He has friends?”
Mai Ding nearly suffered a heart attack. “Of course I have friends! He was my high-school classmate.” He emphasized the words. An Zi Yan looked from one of them to the other. Mai Ding prayed he would not do something childish again. An Zi Yan handed the business card to Mai Ding. “Since you’re classmates, Mai Ding can handle it. Discuss anything you need with him.” Then An Zi Yan walked into his office. Mai Ding’s hand trembled. His brain reacted slowly as he stammered, “H-he’s putting me in charge?”
“What else? You expect me to hold your hand forever? You need to learn to work independently sometime. Use this chance to train yourself,” Guo Ping said. This was the first time Mai Ding had been given a case to handle on his own. How could he not be excited? It meant they recognized his ability. Right now, he wanted to throw himself at An Zi Yan and thank him profusely for giving him this chance. He even wanted to blow him a kiss on the spot, but he restrained himself. Guan Zhu relaxed. “The world really is small. I never imagined I’d end up working with you. I’ll be counting on you.”
“I should be the one saying that.”
“Haha. Why are the two of us being so polite?”
“True.”
Determined to prove himself, Mai Ding became more energized than if he had taken Viagra, throwing all of his energy into work without tiring. Being trusted by An Zi Yan made him unbelievably happy. But could he really be trusted? During this period, Mai Ding inevitably, and happily, spent more and more time interacting with Guan Zhu. It brought back memories of his awkward youth. Meeting again really was wonderful. Guan Zhu had matured a lot. Perhaps because he had already experienced one friendship falling apart, he now treasured his friends even more.
“An Zi Yan, can I ask you a work question?” Mai Ding asked from the sofa. An Zi Yan changed the television channel. “No.”
“Give me a reason why not.”
“It’s after work.”
“Does that make a difference? Fine, then I’ll ask you tomorrow during working hours!”
“No.”
“I’d like to hear the reason for that one too.”
“I’m busy during working hours.”
“I want to hit you. I really want to hit you!” Mai Ding had just climbed onto An Zi Yan’s legs when the phone in his back pocket vibrated. He checked it. Guan Zhu had sent him a message.