Chapter 24: A Miracle Occurs

Meng Xingzhe pondered for a moment before saying, “This issue can be either significant or minor. It sounds like this customer might have bought a refurbished unit. As far as I know, Kunyu Electric strictly prohibits the sale of refurbished products. So, if this refrigerator was indeed refurbished and sold openly at an official sales point, it’s worth investigating how it entered the legitimate sales channels. We need to find out if there are other refurbished units being mixed in with new products on the market.”

Yao Jia listened, growing increasingly alarmed.

Meng Xingzhe raised an eyebrow at her, “Don’t just stand there. If you keep dawdling, the company’s PR department will have to work overtime.”

Yao Jia was puzzled, “Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘huh’? Go find Lin Qian right away. Don’t wait for any meetings.” After a pause, Meng Xingzhe explained to Yao Jia, “The customer hasn’t realized the full extent yet. Even if he demands compensation, that’s a small matter. But if he decides to expose this to the media, and our competitor Jiangfeng Electric seizes the opportunity to fan the flames, Kunyu Electric’s PR department will have its hands full.”

Yao Jia felt a chill run down her spine and immediately headed to the meeting room.

※※※※※※

As soon as Lin Qian came out of the meeting room and heard about the issue, she logged onto her computer. She accessed her account’s backend to find more information about the refrigerator.

The serial number indeed matched a repair record from four years ago.

Lin Qian’s expression turned serious.

Yao Jia asked, “Have we ever sold refurbished units at Kunyu Electric?”

Lin Qian replied confidently, “Never. That’s why this situation is so peculiar.”

Without hesitation, Lin Qian took Yao Jia to find Manager Li Wangli, causing Li Wangli to end the team leader management meeting early.

Lin Qian had Yao Jia explain the situation to Li Wangli in detail.

Li Wangli immediately called the Product Department, Sales Department, and Warehouse Department for a discussion. The heads of these departments were all shocked, unsure where the problem had originated.

Yao Jia checked the time and couldn’t help but quietly remind them that Mr. Zhang, the customer, was still waiting for a response.

Li Wangli made another call, seemingly to higher management.

Then he instructed Lin Qian, “Contact the customer immediately and offer to replace his refrigerator with a brand new one for free. If necessary, we can offer him an upgrade to a higher-end model. As for the refurbished unit issue, we’ll investigate further once we retrieve the refrigerator from his home.”

Back at her workstation, Lin Qian instructed Yao Jia to call Mr. Zhang while she listened in.

As soon as the call connected, Mr. Zhang said, “I’ve been thinking about it, and it seems like you sold me a used machine again. This is consumer fraud!”

Yao Jia quickly responded, “Mr. Zhang, please calm down. We apologize for the inconvenience our product has caused you. We’re also puzzled as to how you ended up with a refrigerator with a repair record. But please trust Kunyu Electric. Our company values brand and quality, and we would never engage in consumer fraud. Regarding your situation, we will certainly provide you with a satisfactory explanation. For now, our priority is to replace your refrigerator with a brand new one at no cost. Would that be acceptable?…”

As Yao Jia spoke, she watched Lin Qian’s expression. Lin Qian nodded encouragingly.

After much persuasion, Mr. Zhang finally agreed to the solution, provided he received an upgraded model. However, he insisted on an explanation for how he ended up with a machine that had been repaired four years ago.

Once the call ended, Lin Qian decisively instructed Yao Jia to do two things: “First, quickly issue a work order to return Mr. Zhang’s refurbished refrigerator to the Warehouse Department. Second, in similar situations, don’t say ‘We’re also puzzled as to how you ended up with a refrigerator with a repair record.’ Instead, say ‘We take the matter of you receiving a refrigerator with a repair record very seriously.'”

Yao Jia quickly grasped the second point. Although both phrases convey the same meaning, the former could provoke a difficult customer to question: “You’re puzzled? What are you doing being puzzled? What right do you have to be puzzled?”

The latter phrasing avoids provoking such questions and reassures the customer that their issue is being taken seriously.

Yao Jia admired Lin Qian’s insight and felt she had learned something valuable once again.

Following Lin Qian’s instructions, Yao Jia issued the return and delivery orders.

After completing everything, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Qian also relaxed, smiling at Yao Jia, “You made a good judgment call and reacted quickly this time. If there had been any delay, giving the customer time to discuss the issue with others, and if someone had given him any ideas, it might not have been so easy to resolve.”

Yao Jia felt a bit embarrassed by the praise and pointed to Meng Xingzhe at the adjacent workstation, “Actually, it was thanks to him. He made the judgment and reacted.”

Meng Xingzhe was on the phone, explaining complex circuit principles to a customer, sounding quite convincing, and hadn’t heard what Yao Jia said.

Lin Qian smiled at Yao Jia, “You’re not one to take credit.” After a pause, she added, “But I still want to commend you. Although there were some minor flaws in your phone conversation today, overall, you did very well. You’ve made great progress.”

Yao Jia had never received such direct affirmation and encouragement before, and she was so flustered by the praise that she didn’t know how to respond.

She realized that being praised and acknowledged felt incredibly blissful.

So blissful that she was eager to keep working hard.

※※※※※※

During lunch break, Tian Huasheng came over to invite Yao Jia to the cafeteria. As usual, he linked arms with Meng Xingzhe, who kept protesting but followed along anyway.

Tong Yumo also joined them, wanting to tag along.

While they were in line with their trays, Tian Huasheng asked Yao Jia, “I saw Team Leader Lin in a meeting this morning, but you called him out, and then you both went to Manager Li. Did something big happen?”

Yao Jia replied, “Something quite significant did happen.”

She told Tian Huasheng that a customer had bought a refurbished machine from Kunyu Electric.

Tian Huasheng looked shocked, “What? That’s impossible! Kunyu has never sold refurbished machines!”

Even Tong Yumo beside him seemed to gasp, nervously asking, “What exactly happened?”

Yao Jia shook her head, “I don’t know the details, and even Manager Li doesn’t know. We have to wait for the old fridge to be returned to find out.”

Tong Yumo nervously remarked, “That’s so scary!”

“…” Yao Jia wondered what was so frightening about it. Just a sheltered little rabbit who hadn’t seen any storms.

Meanwhile, Tian Huasheng finished getting his food and looked around, puzzled, “Hey? Where’s Brother Meng? Jia, where’s our lunch buddy?”

Yao Jia glanced around casually. Somehow, with eyes as sharp as a woodpecker’s beak, she spotted the human pest, Meng Xingzhe.

He had already found a place to sit, across from a refined beauty.

Pointing at Meng Xingzhe, Yao Jia told Tian Huasheng, “Stop looking, your brother’s over there.”

Tian Huasheng glanced over and clicked his tongue, “He’s changed again. Brother Meng is really fortunate, meeting a different beauty every lunch.”

Tong Yumo pouted, muttering as if wronged, “How could he do that? I came down just to have lunch with him!”

Feeling aggrieved, she shoved her tray into Tian Huasheng’s hands and said, “I’m not eating. I’m going back upstairs.”

She turned and left, looking pitiful, while Tian Huasheng looked even more pitiful behind her.

“If you’re not eating, at least put the tray back. Why give it to me?”

Yao Jia watched the drama of the little princess bullying the big loli, shaking her head helplessly.

※※※

That day was a minor holiday, so they finished work much earlier than usual. Once home, Yao Jia urged Tian Huasheng to quickly make dinner and eat.

Tian Huasheng was a bit confused, “We ate quite a lot at lunch. Isn’t it a bit early for dinner?”

Yao Jia insisted, “It’s not early.”

Trusting her words, Tian Huasheng quickly prepared dinner in the afternoon.

When Tian Huasheng called Meng Xingzhe to eat, Meng Xingzhe was stunned, “Is this afternoon tea?”

Yao Jia sneered, “Have you ever seen afternoon tea with rice and tofu soup?”

“I give up. Living with you guys, not only is my biological clock messed up, even my digestion is confused!”

Meng Xingzhe grumbled but pulled out a chair and sat down to eat.

Yao Jia: “…” If you’re so capable, stop pretending to dislike it while your actions say otherwise.

They finished dinner early, even before the usual end of the workday.

It was Tian Huasheng’s turn to wash the dishes. As he cleaned up, he asked Yao Jia, “Jia, why were you in such a hurry to eat dinner tonight?”

Yao Jia quickly replied, “I’m rushing to see a movie. Tonight is the IMAX premiere of ‘Have a Drink, Have a Chat’!”

Tian Huasheng immediately shook his head and, in a cutesy voice, said, “Wait for me! I’ll quickly wash the dishes, I want to go too!”

He started washing the dishes with a clatter, twisting his head at an awkward angle to speak to Meng Xingzhe, who was slumped in a chair, panting from drinking tofu soup, “Bro, you should come too!”

Meng Xingzhe looked disdainful and uninterested, “What’s so great about movies? I never watch that stuff.”

He said it with an air of arrogance.

Yao Jia observed his expression and nailed it, “You don’t want to go because you’re stingy, right? You don’t want to spend money.”

Meng Xingzhe smirked sarcastically.

Isn’t his home theater luxurious and enjoyable? You can sit, lie down, or even roll around for an hour. Isn’t that more thrilling than going to a cinema?

But she was right.

He just didn’t have the spare cash to watch an IMAX movie right now, so what?

Unable to refute Yao Jia’s accusation, Meng Xingzhe felt a wave of sadness.

For the two thousand eight-hundredth time, he asked the heavens how he had ended up like this.

His life had reached a new milestone of poverty!

Yao Jia ignored Meng Xingzhe and checked the time, urging Tian Huasheng, “Little Tian, let’s go quickly. If we dawdle, we’ll miss the red carpet ceremony before the movie premiere.”

Tian Huasheng said, “Just a moment, just a moment. I just need to wash two more bowls and scrub the pot, and I’ll be done!” Worried that Yao Jia might get impatient waiting around, he tried to distract her with a topic. “Jia, who’s starring in this movie?”

This question hit the mark, directly triggering Yao Jia’s excitement.

“The lead actor and director of this movie is the same person, Fang Jin. He’s a particularly charming single-eyelid heartthrob! I’ve liked him for many years, ever since his first self-directed film. Oh, and this is his second self-directed film after several years. I’d sell my blood and kidneys just to support it.”

Tian Huasheng chimed in, “Fang Jin, oh, I know him, I know him. He’s such a big A-list star, popular and talented. How could I not know him! Right, Brother Meng?” He made sure not to leave anyone out of the conversation, specifically prompting Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe looked dismissive. “Who? Never heard of him.” He paused and added, “If I haven’t heard of him, he can’t be that famous. Just another washed-up star.”

Hearing her favorite actor being attacked for no reason, Yao Jia was furious. She retorted to Meng Xingzhe, “The fact that you don’t know him only proves you lack culture, knowledge, and taste. It doesn’t mean he’s not famous!”

At the mention of taste, Meng Xingzhe perked up. “What, I lack taste? With Fang Jin looking like that, is he handsome? Isn’t handsome supposed to look like me?”

Yao Jia made a disgusted sound, wishing she could flatten Meng Xingzhe’s face.

“You’re not convinced by what I said, are you? Fine, tell me, what’s so great about this Fang Jin?” Meng Xingzhe challenged.

Yao Jia loudly proclaimed, “He has perseverance! When he was making his first movie, he faced countless challenges, almost reaching a dead end several times. But he refused to give up, gritting his teeth and pushing through until he finally succeeded!”

Meng Xingzhe looked like he was about to roll his eyes.

Yao Jia wished she could gouge them out.

Tian Huasheng, still scrubbing the pot, asked, “How did Fang Jin manage to turn things around?”

Yao Jia, now in the kitchen, replied, “At the time, he wasn’t famous, so he couldn’t secure any investment. Halfway through filming, he was almost at the point of selling a kidney, barely able to hold on.”

Tian Huasheng sighed sympathetically, “Wow, that’s rough!”

Meng Xingzhe chuckled, “Rough? Selling a kidney? More like selling his charm.”

Yao Jia nearly lost it, ready to confront Meng Xingzhe, but Tian Huasheng quickly intervened to hold her back.

“Don’t get worked up, Jia, stay calm! What happened next?”

Yao Jia decided to treat Meng Xingzhe as if he were invisible, ignoring him.

“Later, Fang Jin met a benefactor. In an interview, Fang Jin mentioned that a high school classmate introduced him to a friend, who was also passionate and, upon hearing about Fang Jin’s difficulties, invested without hesitation, solving his urgent needs and allowing him to fully realize his potential. Fang Jin said that friend canceled all personal entertainment plans, even using funds saved for a world tour to invest in Fang Jin’s film.”

“Wow, that’s so passionate and touching!” Tian Huasheng marveled.

Meng Xingzhe scoffed, “Passionate benefactor, my foot.”

Yao Jia was about to lose her patience with him and started looking for a kitchen knife.

Tian Huasheng finished washing the pot and was about to clean the lid. He quickly blocked the drawer with the knives with his sturdy frame.

“Jia, calm down, calm down! And then what happened?”

Yao Jia’s murderous intent was diverted by the question. “Then everyone was happy. After the movie was released, it became a huge hit, making a fortune. Fang Jin gave his investor friend a doubled return. Isn’t that a perfect and touching ending?”

Tian Huasheng nodded vigorously. “So touching, everyone got a happy ending.” He paused and then asked in a cutesy voice, “So who was that investor friend?”

Yao Jia shook her head. “Fang Jin never mentioned who it was. He only said his friend didn’t like being in the public eye, so he asked the media not to pursue it.”

Tian Huasheng exclaimed, “Wow, a mysterious knight! So touching and noble!”

Meng Xingzhe sneered again, “What’s so touching or noble about that? No big deal.”

Yao Jia spat back, “Cold-blooded! We’re talking about the warmth of humanity, something a cold-hearted jerk like you wouldn’t understand.”

She was ready to find a knife to settle the score, wanting to put an end to this annoying critic of her interests.

Tian Huasheng had already cleaned the pots and dishes and tidied up the kitchen. Seeing Yao Jia looking for something sharp, he quickly interrupted again. “Jia, I’m ready. Let’s head out!”

Yao Jia indeed forgot about the confrontation, rushing back to her room to grab her purse and phone.

Tian Huasheng continued to coax Meng Xingzhe, “Bro, come with us. The more, the merrier!” To entice Meng Xingzhe to join them, he even offered to pay, relieving Meng Xingzhe of any financial concerns. “I’ll buy your movie ticket!”

Tian Huasheng stated firmly.

Meng Xingzhe said, “No need, I just don’t want to go. It’s all guys, and Fang Jin can’t possibly be more handsome than me. What’s there to see?”

Tian Huasheng flattered him, “Of course, there’s no one more handsome than Brother Meng. I might never meet someone more handsome in my life! Come on, bro, join us! I’ll treat you, I’ll treat you!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Tong Yumo flung open the door and stepped out of her room.

Standing at the doorway, Tong Yumo looked at Meng Xingzhe and Tian Huasheng in the living room with her doe-like eyes, filled with a hopeful glimmer. She timidly asked, “Is someone going to the movies? I’d like to join…”

Yao Jia emerged from her room, slinging a small bag over her shoulder, and responded, “We’ll take a cab and split the fare.”

Tong Yumo immediately replied, “Oh, I just remembered I have something to do. You guys go ahead and have fun.”

She closed the door just as abruptly as she had opened it.

Yao Jia was left speechless.

For someone who didn’t seem to lack money, with her wardrobe and accessories starting at the luxury level, it was puzzling how she could be so stingy.

Tian Huasheng seemed to read her mind and, with his charming, childlike voice, pierced through the confusion. “Tong Yumo, I’ve figured her out. She’s generous with herself but stingy with others.” He paused and said to Yao Jia, “She’s the opposite of us. We’re generous with others but stingy with ourselves.” He then turned to Meng Xingzhe, adding with a grin, “Brother Meng, on the other hand, has the face of wealth but spends too much, so now he’s very, very poor and stingy with everyone, including himself!”

Meng Xingzhe frowned, looking fierce. “Have I been too nice to you guys lately?”

At Xingbei Technology, anyone who dared to speak to him like that would have been fired long ago.

Tian Huasheng chuckled, nudging his arm. “Come on, brother, let me treat you to a movie!”

※※※※※※

The three of them took a cab to the cinema.

In the car, Yao Jia used her phone to buy tickets, only to find that every show was sold out, with the seating chart showing a sea of red. There weren’t even single seats available, let alone three together.

Yao Jia let out a wail of frustration.

But she quickly perked up. “It’s okay. Even if I just watch the red carpet, I’ll be satisfied! But if I could shake hands with Fang Jin, I’d cover the cab fare for today! And if I could take a photo with him, I’d wash dishes for three days straight!”

Tian Huasheng, ever the cheerleader, exclaimed excitedly, “You can do it, Jia! Your wishes can come true!”

Yao Jia scratched her head. “Oh, I’m just daydreaming. Don’t flatter me. Fang Jin is such a big star. Forget about shaking hands or taking a photo. If he even glances at me, my trip won’t be in vain!”

Meng Xingzhe, sitting in the front seat, didn’t turn around, but his disdainful snort was clearly audible to Yao Jia in the back.

Yao Jia wished she could ask the driver to kick him out.

Fortunately, there was no traffic, and they arrived at the cinema before the premiere started.

A red carpet was laid out at the cinema entrance, with barriers on either side. Many girls and even some older women were already gathered there, eagerly awaiting Fang Jin’s arrival.

Yao Jia was overwhelmed with excitement at the sight of the crowd. She found a spot near the start of the red carpet, close to the barriers, and dragged Tian Huasheng over to save her place.

Then she dashed out of the crowd. Outside, she saw Meng Xingzhe looking utterly uninterested, leaning against a tree like a lazy lump.

Yao Jia was puzzled. “Meng Xingzhe, if you find this so boring, why did you come along?”

“?” Meng Xingzhe looked back at her, puzzled. “Weren’t you the ones who dragged me here?”

“…”

Yao Jia didn’t want to engage with Meng Xingzhe any further. She ran to the flower shop next to the cinema.

After a while, she returned, carrying a vibrant bouquet of flowers. Her ponytail swayed gently behind her, and her small face, framed by the flowers, was flushed with excitement, more radiant than the blooms themselves.

Meng Xingzhe watched her intently as she ran towards him.

As she passed by, intending to ignore him, he called out, “You’re such a spendthrift, buying flowers?”

In these financially tight times, where meals, cab rides, and movies were all split evenly, she dared to splurge on flowers? All for some guy named Fang Jin?

He felt the pain of wasted money on her behalf.

“Do you have money to burn?”

“If I give flowers to Fang Jin, and he takes them, we’ll have an interaction! You old guys don’t understand a girl’s heart. For our beloved idol, what’s a bouquet? What’s money? I’d give him my life!”

Ignoring Meng Xingzhe’s look of disgust, Yao Jia squeezed back into the crowd, clutching her bouquet.

Meng Xingzhe stood outside the crowd, lazily leaning against a tree, watching the frenzy of fangirls with a cold eye.

Tian Huasheng, grateful for his spot, handed it over to Yao Jia before rushing off to find a restroom.

“Two meals too close together, I’m too full, I need to go!” he said, running off immediately.

Yao Jia, holding her flowers, eagerly awaited Fang Jin’s arrival.

Finally, the crowd stirred as a black car pulled up and Fang Jin stepped out.

Yao Jia was so excited she could barely contain herself, a cheer caught in her throat. Just as she was about to shout, she was swept away by the surging crowd, her voice stuck in her throat.

All around her were the excited screams of girls.

Fang Jin was coming!

Yao Jia wanted to give him her flowers. But she found herself being pushed further away—the crowd like a tidal wave, pushing her back bit by bit.

Fang Jin was approaching!

But between Yao Jia and him, there were so many people.

Yao Jia was jostled by the crowd pushing forward, almost unable to keep her balance.

She wanted to call out, to draw some attention, even if she could just throw the flowers to Fang Jin from a distance, she would be satisfied.

However, as soon as she opened her mouth, the roar of the crowd forced the air out of her chest, leaving her unable to make a sound.

Fang Jin walked past.

Yao Jia felt an indescribable sense of loss and disappointment in her heart.

The crowd continued to push, causing her grip to loosen, and the bouquet fell to the ground. Several feet trampled on it, turning half of the fresh flowers into a mushy mess.

Yao Jia struggled a few times before she managed to pick up the flowers.

Just as she straightened up, someone suddenly bumped into her, causing her to stagger backward.

The people behind her impatiently stepped aside, unwilling to offer support, muttering, “Stand firm, don’t push back!”

A scream caught in her throat. She refused to allow herself to fall and cry out.

But the expected fall did not happen.

An arm wrapped around her shoulders, steadying her and helping her stand firmly.

She found herself enclosed in a partial embrace, separated from the chaos outside.

A sense of inexplicable calmness washed over her.

She turned her head to look up and saw Meng Xingzhe’s face. He was frowning, looking down at her.

It turned out he had pushed through the crowd to support her.

“Do you really want to see Fang Jin that much?” he asked.

His arm still held her, protecting her from being swept away by the crowd again.

Yao Jia leaned against his arm, nodding absentmindedly.

His frown deepened.

“Are you silly?”

With disdain, he took the half-ruined bouquet from her hands, lifted his head, and shouted in the direction where Fang Jin had already walked past:

“Fang Jin!”

In the next moment.

Fang Jin actually stopped on the red carpet and turned to look!

Meng Xingzhe stood out like a crane among the flock of young girls, prominent and eye-catching.

He waved the bedraggled bouquet towards Fang Jin.

“These flowers are for you.”

Yao Jia felt like a miracle had happened!

Fang Jin really turned around and started walking towards them.

— Translator’s Notes —

– single-eyelid heartthrob: In East Asian beauty standards, a ‘heartthrob’ is a highly attractive male celebrity. ‘Single-eyelid’ (or monolid) refers to eyes without a visible crease in the eyelid, a common and celebrated feature among some idols in Chinese entertainment.