Chapter 15: Meng Xingzhe Speaks

Meng Xingzhe glanced at Yao Jia before turning back to continue his phone call.

Lin Qian’s usually impeccable calm demeanor seemed to waver for a moment.

She advised Yao Jia, “Don’t be so pessimistic. You might feel like you have to kneel in this profession, but once you shed the work persona, you can still be yourself.”

Lin Qian paused briefly, then smiled, “You remind me a bit of myself when I first started working.”

It seems that everyone starting a new job is like this—full of passion and recklessness, seeing the world in black and white, right and wrong. Only after being tempered do they learn to smooth their edges, becoming adept at handling people and situations with ease. However, some also lose their passion and sense of justice, blurring the lines between right and wrong.

What was once seen as burdensome becomes invaluable over time. These are the initial aspirations of every newcomer to the workplace.

Perhaps it was this shared initial aspiration that moved Lin Qian. She shifted her chair closer to Yao Jia, lowered her voice, and spoke further.

“Yao Jia, do you sometimes feel rebellious? Like you want to challenge a person or situation?”

Yao Jia’s eyes widened as she looked at Lin Qian.

Her rebellious streak had been passively nurtured through years of passive resistance against her parents. She thought she had suppressed it well since starting her job, but Lin Qian saw through her immediately.

Lin Qian smiled, “Your personality is indeed a challenge for a customer service role.” Her smile had a calming effect, “But regardless, since you’re in this position, you must set aside that rebelliousness at work. Or if you really can’t, just hypnotize yourself into believing that your opponent isn’t others, but yourself.”

Yao Jia blinked, digesting Lin Qian’s words.

“For example, if you can’t stand unreasonable customers, don’t confront them. Instead, confront the part of you that can’t stand them—challenge yourself to see if you can become someone who can tolerate them. If you manage that, you’ve conquered yourself.”

Lin Qian’s explanation was a bit roundabout, but Yao Jia understood. She was suggesting turning external conflicts into internal ones.

Yao Jia asked, “Team Leader, have you tried this method?”

Lin Qian smiled and nodded, “Yes, it’s very effective.”

Behind that smile was a hint of wistfulness, making Lin Qian appear especially beautiful and suggesting she had her own stories.

After all, who hasn’t faced situations beyond their control in life? Outwardly, Yao Jia seemed to have a privileged and carefree life, yet she was still rebellious and unhappy.

※※※

During the morning break, Lin Qian patted Yao Jia’s shoulder, suggesting she take a rest and relax.

After Lin Qian left, a female colleague from another team was carrying a tall stack of documents to the Manager’s Office. The pile was so high it nearly reached her nose, forcing her to tilt her head back to see where she was going.

As she passed Yao Jia’s row, she needed to make a turn, but it seemed she hadn’t coordinated well with the documents, which turned faster than she did and tumbled to the floor.

Right by Meng Xingzhe’s desk.

The female colleague was flustered, wanting to pick up the papers while also trying to keep hold of the remaining ones. In her hesitation, more papers fell.

Feeling sorry for her, Yao Jia nudged Meng Xingzhe, “It’s right in front of you, help out a bit.”

Meng Xingzhe didn’t move. Yao Jia got up herself, walked around his desk, and helped the colleague pick up the papers.

The colleague, in a hurry, thanked her perfunctorily and left with the documents.

Throughout, Meng Xingzhe remained indifferent to everything happening in front of him.

Back at her seat, Yao Jia couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you ashamed to not lift a finger to help?”

Meng Xingzhe turned to her, his expression indifferent, “Picking up things is the responsibility of the one who dropped them. What’s it got to do with me?”

Yao Jia glared, “Do you never lend a hand to others? Even for a small favor?”

Meng Xingzhe raised an eyebrow at her, “If she can’t walk steadily without anyone tripping her, isn’t that her own problem? Why should others help with her issues?”

“Are your veins filled with dry ice? So cold-blooded,” Yao Jia retorted.

“You’re right. Helping others isn’t a virtue to me; it’s a burden,” Meng Xingzhe said. “Your veins might be filled with hot blood, but what do you get after helping? Just a perfunctory thank you, right?”

Yao Jia was momentarily speechless, then said, “I don’t help others just to hear a thank you.”

Meng Xingzhe’s lips curled into a faintly mocking smile, “Then you really are selfless and noble,” he paused, “and naively kind.”

Yao Jia turned away, not wanting to engage further, and pulled out her phone to text her friend Ling Xiaoxin.

Meng Xingzhe also got up to go to the restroom.

※

During the break, Lin Qian went to the restroom. On her way out, she encountered Meng Xingzhe in the hallway. She thought for a moment and called out to him.

“Meng Xingzhe, wait a moment.”

Meng Xingzhe stopped in the hallway, turning around. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his posture relaxed and confident, his features sharply defined under the fluorescent lights.

He responded coolly, “Yes?”

After Meng Xingzhe left, Yao Jia picked up her phone and sent a message to her best friend, Ling Xiaoxin, venting her frustration: “Ling Xiaoxin, let me tell you, I’ve never met such a pretentious, annoying guy in my life!”

She ranted about Meng Xingzhe for a full eight hundred words.

Then she started a new line to complain about her job in customer service.

Yao Jia: “I swear, I absolutely hate this customer service job. It’s not meant for humans. If I had known, I would have switched to another department.”

Yao Jia: “Now I get it. My dad pushed me into this department on purpose to mess with me. You have no idea how little respect this position gets. It’s at the very bottom of the workplace hierarchy.”

Ling Xiaoxin replied quickly: “Forgive me for being blunt, but between you and your sister, your dad has never treated you both equally. Hang in there, Jia Jia dear. Don’t let your dad look down on you. In three months, show him that he has a daughter named Yao Jia! Oh wait, it’s less than three months now. See, you’re closer to the light at the end of the tunnel!”

Yao Jia shivered: “Don’t call me dear, it’s so cringy.”

Ling Xiaoxin sent a voice message, sounding sweet and a bit coquettish: “Okay, dear.”

“…” Yao Jia felt like strangling her soft-spoken yet stubborn best friend.

She put down her phone just as Tian Huasheng came over to invite her to the break room. As they left, they ran into Meng Xingzhe, who was casually walking in with his hands in his pockets.

Yao Jia glanced at him and quickly looked away, pretending not to see him.

But Tian Huasheng, ever energetic and enthusiastic, hooked his arm around Meng Xingzhe’s: “Hey, come on, let’s grab a drink!”

Meng Xingzhe looked annoyed, saying, “Let go, I’m not going.” Yet somehow, he ended up being dragged along by Tian Huasheng.

As soon as they entered the break room, Yao Jia saw Tong Yumo and a few other female colleagues drinking coffee and chatting.

“Hey, the roast duck from the stall at the corner near my house is really good. How about I pack one tomorrow, and we skip the cafeteria for lunch and enjoy the duck together?” One colleague suggested excitedly, and everyone else nodded eagerly in agreement.

Hou Wenwen looked up and her gaze landed directly on Meng Xingzhe’s face. She greeted him, “Hey, Xiao Meng.”

Xiao Meng?

Meng Xingzhe’s expression froze for a moment. His ears, accustomed to hearing “Manager Meng,” felt a strong sense of discomfort.

“Hey Xiao Meng, I got two calls this morning from the same girl. She insisted on being transferred to you, saying only you could handle her issue,” Hou Wenwen gossiped. “Can I ask what tricky problem she wanted you to solve?”

Hao Lidan chimed in, “I also got a call from a girl asking to be transferred to Xiao Meng. Xiao Meng, what’s going on? Do you know her?”

Yao Jia began to understand why Meng Xingzhe had been so busy all morning.

She watched as every time someone called him “Xiao Meng,” his shoulders twitched slightly, as if the nickname struck a nerve, making him want to spit blood.

—Still insisting on being youthful, yet can’t even handle being called “Xiao Meng.” Maybe he’d prefer “Old Meng” to feel better.

Facing their probing questions, Meng Xingzhe brushed it off lightly: “I’m going to get some water.”

Tian Huasheng followed him: “I’ll go too.”

Tong Yumo, with her big, watery eyes, watched Meng Xingzhe’s tall figure, murmuring as if to herself, “How come I never got a call from that girl?”

Hao Lidan clicked her tongue: “Xiao Meng is pretty cool, not even bothering to answer our questions.”

Next to Hou Wenwen was Min Qingxia, a fellow new colleague who had suggested the roast duck. She chimed in boldly, “I think Meng Xingzhe has great potential. He should join a talent show or start streaming. With his looks, why struggle in customer service?”

Hou Wenwen nodded in agreement, saying it was true.

Tong Yumo continued to press the earlier question: “Why does that girl keep calling Meng Xingzhe? Do they know each other?”

Hou Wenwen giggled, “Xiao Meng has a nice voice, attracting fans. I think the girl just wants an excuse to chat with him.”

Yao Jia was a bit uncomfortable with their open gossiping.

She awkwardly changed the topic: “Your lipstick looks really nice today.”

The compliment made everyone happy, as praising a woman’s lipstick has become a foolproof topic these days.

Min Qingxia pushed her chin forward, pouting to highlight her bright red lips: “Nice, right? This is a limited edition my cousin bought overseas. It’s very expensive!” She turned with an innocent face and enthusiastically suggested to Tong Yumo, “Yumo, why don’t you put some on Yao Jia too? Let’s all be beautiful together!”

Tong Yumo smiled sweetly, agreeing, but then patted her pocket with a regretful look: “I forgot to bring it out.”

Yao Jia noticed that her pocket had a lipstick mark, indicating she didn’t really want to apply it herself. She was worried about how to defend herself if Tong Yumo really came at her with a lipstick. Now, everything seemed fine, and everyone was happy.

Someone else walked in from the doorway. Yao Jia glanced over and saw it was Cao Chun, the assistant to the head of the Customer Service Department, coming in to make tea.

Tong Yumo shifted the conversation and asked Yao Jia about her morning at the call center. “Yao Jia, did you have a difficult customer this morning? I heard your voice suddenly got loud, and there was an argument. I also saw Team Leader Lin talking to you for quite a while, looking very serious. Did she criticize you?”

Her voice was full of concern.

Hou Wenwen added, “I heard it too. Yao Jia, you were unlucky to encounter such a customer on your first day taking calls. But during training, they should have taught you how to handle these situations. If you still ended up arguing with the customer, there must be some reason on your part.”

Hao Lidan chimed in, “Yao Jia, while I sympathize with you, I have to say that Tong Yumo handled things exceptionally well today. One of her customers was also difficult, but she managed it with great poise. You both attended the same training, and look, Yumo mastered the skills.”

Hou Wenwen joked, “Yao Jia, did you not pay attention during the training?”

Hao Lidan laughed and said, “That’s where Yumo did well. She showed me her thick notebook full of notes from the training. There’s always a reason why someone comes out on top.”

Yao Jia understood. These two were supporting Tong Yumo, pretending to sympathize while actually mocking her. Their words were really meant for Cao Chun at the Customer Service Department’s counter.

Yao Jia was really put off by their scheming. How big is this world? Just a few people, so why play these games?

“I’ll write a detailed report of my performance today and send it to everyone. You can give me all the feedback you want. I’ll print two copies, one for self-reflection and one for the Manager to review. What do you think, ladies?” Yao Jia said with a smile.

Let’s stop beating around the bush for the Manager’s assistant to hear. I’ll help you get straight to the point.

Hao Lidan laughed and said, “Yao Jia, listen to you. Anyone not listening from the start might think we’re picking on you. Wenwen and I mean no harm, just giving you some friendly advice.”

Hou Wenwen added, “Exactly, Yao Jia, with your fiery temperament, customer service might not be the best fit.”

Yao Jia noticed the Manager’s assistant glance over at them. Suddenly, she felt surrounded.

Just as Yao Jia’s rebellious spirit flared up and she was about to retort, Meng Xingzhe walked over.

Holding a glass of water as if it were a whiskey on the rocks, he approached with Tian Huasheng. He stopped next to Yao Jia and said something that made her feel instantly relieved.

“If you’re going to chat, either lower your voices so it’s not disruptive, or speak up so the people at the counter can actually hear what you’re saying,” Meng Xingzhe said, gently swirling his glass. His slender, fair fingers made the glass look even more refined and beautiful.

Hao Lidan and Hou Wenwen’s expressions turned awkward.

Yao Jia nearly burst out laughing.

It was amusing that all their scheming was for nothing, as the Manager’s assistant hadn’t heard a thing.