My attention was drawn to Tang Jia and the two men who came in with her. I stared at them until I saw them sit down.
Tang Jia probably didn't notice me. The four of them were chatting and laughing when they walked in, and her attention seemed to be fixed on the successful man next to her, not even glancing at me and Liu Li sitting in the corner.
Damn it, where's the overtime we agreed on? She's working overtime in the western restaurant. Does Tang Jia spend her late nights eating and drinking at the tables and bar? I told you to go home for dinner, but you're not eating, and you're here to enjoy dinner with another man. Who is your husband? If this is what overtime is, no wonder Tang Jia loves it so much. After all, who doesn't like to have fun?
"Hey, hey, hey, what are you looking at? You've lost your mind. There's a beautiful woman sitting right in front of you, and you're looking at her." Liu Li waved her hand in front of me in dissatisfaction, feeling very annoyed and slighted.
I quickly recovered, looked at Liu Li, and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I saw someone I know. Oh, she looks a bit like someone I know. I mistaken her for someone else."
"You're looking at that beautiful woman, right? Haha, she's pretty, with a nice figure. Alas, men are all visual creatures, always eyeing the pot while having their fill. Aren't there any loyal ones?" Liu Li sighed sadly, taking a sip from her glass, her expression growing resentful.
I tried to shut my mind off Tang Jia, who was sitting not far away, chatting and laughing with another man, and focused my attention entirely on Liu Li. For me, my marriage was already showing huge cracks and could crumble at any moment, and my career was even more vulnerable.
This woman was my lifeline. Holding onto her was like grasping a glimmer of hope, an opportunity. If I could compete for this supervisor position, my salary would increase to around 10,000 yuan, and with bonuses and dividends mid-year and year-end, I could easily make 150,000 or 160,000 yuan a year. If I succeed, I'll have a say in the family and won't be so passive.
"Mr. Liu, there's a question I've been wanting to ask you, but I'm afraid you'll get angry," I said tentatively.
Liu Li smiled and said nonchalantly, "Ask whatever you want. Today is our private gathering, so feel free to speak freely."
"You're so beautiful and capable, I don't understand why you're still unmarried. It seems we haven't even met your boyfriend. What's the reason? You... aren't you single?" I asked, half flatteringly, half gossiping. The topic that most quickly brings men and women closer is sexual relations.
Liu Li's face faltered at the question, and she glared at me resentfully, seeming a little annoyed, but she suppressed her anger.
"A lot of people have asked me this question, but I didn't expect you'd be so gossipy. I'm so busy with work all day, how can I have time for a relationship? The ones pursuing me are either creepy middle-aged men or Phoenix men, none of them are sincere. I don't want to compromise myself, so I'd rather be single than with the wrong person. And I can't believe I've reached this age in a blink of an eye. Alas, marriage is becoming more and more pragmatic these days, and the threshold is getting higher and higher. With my current income, I can't afford a house in Shenzhen. Without a house, there's no marriage. I can't get married in a rented apartment," Liu Li said sadly.
Can't get married without a house? What kind of logic is that? The vast majority of young people in Shenzhen, whether working or starting a business, can't afford a house. Does that mean they won't get married?
I thought this in my heart, but I didn't dare say it out loud. I could only agree, "That's true. But with your circumstances, finding a successful man with a successful career, a house, and a car shouldn't be a problem. It's just that your destiny hasn't arrived yet. Then again, dating and marriage are two different things. Not all relationships lead to marriage. You could lower your standards a bit and date first, then consider marriage."
"That's easy to say. Why would I date if I'm not getting married? It's a waste of time. I don't have that kind of time. My time is precious. Time is money. You just don't have that kind of mindset. That's why you're just messing around at the company, just trying to get by without striving for progress. To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that we were in the same group, I would have fired you long ago." At this point, Liu Li regained her professional, strong-woman demeanor, making me feel incredibly embarrassed.
Seeing my face flush, Liu Li felt a little guilty, thinking her words had come across a bit harsh. She tried to make amends, "By the way, I remember your family owns a house. Your parents paid for the down payment, right? But your meager salary doesn't even cover the mortgage. How did you manage that?"
This hit a nerve. The house I live in now actually has nothing to do with me. Tang Jia's parents paid for the down payment, and so do the monthly mortgage payments. I did contribute a little to the renovations, but that's a drop in the bucket—not even enough to buy a toilet. I'm embarrassed to even say I contributed. If I divorce Tang Jia, I'll be back to my old ways, falling into the abject poverty of Shenzhen.
"Our house was primarily paid for by my wife's family. To be honest, I only contributed a token amount. You know how meager my salary is—it's barely enough to make ends meet." I lowered my head and answered truthfully, feeling guilty. I used to be envied, but now I realize that's simply not the case.
Liu Li cut a piece of steak, put it in her mouth, chewed it for a while, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and said, "You're lucky, marrying a beautiful, rich woman. I wonder how many people will envy you. However, in a family relationship, if the woman is too strong and the man is too weak, the relationship is a bit unbalanced, and it carries considerable risks. She loves you now, and you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of her labor. But what if one day she doesn't love you anymore? She tells you to get out, and you don't even have the courage to divorce her."
"So, please, Mr. Liu, take good care of me in the future. Please consider me for promotion opportunities. If I'm really laid off by the company, I'll have to pack up and go back home." This woman always finds my weakness. I blushed, feeling once again the embarrassment of my situation. Reality is so cruel. My cowardly husband doesn't even have the courage to get jealous.
Liu Li swirled the wine in her goblet and spoke in a profound voice, "Whether I promote you or eliminate you, the initiative isn't in my hands. It's yours. You must not only work hard but also produce results and let everyone see your achievements. Only then will your promotion be a natural progression. Besides..."
Liu Li hesitated, then began speaking in official language. Anyone in the business knows that the initial words are just prelude and can be ignored; the final, hesitant part is the real meat of the story.
I quickly pressed, "What else? Mr. Liu, please enlighten me. You know, I'm a rather honest person, but actually, I'm also a bit clueless. Even after all these years, I still only have a limited understanding of the workplace."
"I told you before, the real skill lies beyond the poem. It all depends on your personal understanding. If you want something, you must first put it into practice. The most frightening thing is those who think wildly but never put anything into action. Competition in the workplace is bloody. If you think better than others, you'll have to pay a higher price. Do you understand?" Liu Li looked at me with a sly gaze, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her mouth, which made me feel a wave of panic.
The real skill lies beyond the poem. I remembered it. There's so much information here, I still need to digest it.
Suddenly, I felt a foot touch my calf under the table. Yes, it was a shoeless foot. The touch of my leg was itchy, and my heart was throbbing. I glanced under the table and noticed Liu Li had slipped off her high heels at some point, revealing her bare feet, her toenails painted black. Whether intentionally or not, one foot dangled beneath the table, occasionally brushing against my leg, which fueled my imagination.
Was this a hint? Gazing at Liu Li's delicate feet, I felt the urge to grasp them and admire them. But she was my boss, a powerful and beautiful career woman. Rumor had it she was having an affair with my boss, and her position at the company was unmatched. If a woman like that really wanted a man, all she had to do was call out, and men more talented than me would flock to her like a swarm of fish. How could I possibly get a chance?
Just as I was finishing my meal, my phone rang. I checked the caller ID and it was Tang Jia. She'd called at this hour, had she discovered that my boss and I were in the same Western restaurant? I turned to look at Tang Jia's table, but it was empty. She had disappeared somewhere. "Hello, are you home yet?" I answered the phone and asked into the receiver.
Tang Jia's voice came through the receiver, softly saying, "Honey, I'm not home yet. After working overtime today, I went out to dinner with some colleagues and socialized. I might be home late, so you should go to bed early and don't wait for me."
"Overtime?" I sneered and asked, "Where are you working overtime?"
"Of course at the company. You have no idea how busy the company has been lately. Ever since I became the financial manager, I've realized how difficult management is. You have to worry about every little thing. I know you're upset, but there's nothing we can do. We have to survive and make money, so I have to put you in a difficult position." Tang Jia remained calm.
I responded coldly, saying, "Okay, then work overtime. Work harder. This family depends on you. I'm a loser after all."
After saying this, I decisively hung up the phone and glanced angrily at Tang Jia's table. The two men and one woman were still there, chatting and laughing. Tang Jia must have been still there, hiding somewhere to call me. The humiliation I felt surged back, and I resolved to put an end to this humiliating existence as soon as possible.
Sure enough, a moment later, Tang Jia reappeared, walking back from the bathroom to the table. She sat down and continued chatting and laughing with the three men, toasting each other.