Chapter 69: Half the World

As the daughter of the Chairman, Yao Jia, and as the owner of a tech company in the same industry, Meng Xingzhe, both found their curiosity piqued by Lu Jingyi’s mention of secrets concerning Kunyu Electric.

Because it was related to her own family business, Yao Jia was more impatient than Meng Xingzhe. She was the first to ask Lu Jingyi, “What’s going on? Is it good news or bad?”

Lu Jingyi’s cheeks were flushed a reddish-brown from the alcohol, and his eyes gleamed with the kind of excitement that comes with needing to spill secrets after a few drinks.

He reiterated, “Listen, after I tell you, just keep it between us. If you want to discuss it, we can, but don’t talk about it with anyone else.”

Yao Jia assured him, “Don’t worry, we won’t.”

Lu Jingyi began, “So, our Kunyu Electric recently launched a second round of the ‘Home Appliances to the Countryside’ initiative. You both know about that, right?”

Yao Jia had heard of it. The initiative targeted rural residents, promoting and selling designated home appliances. Farmers who bought these products could receive subsidies from the government. It was meant to boost rural consumption and increase sales for appliance companies.

“Yes, I’m aware,” Yao Jia replied.

Meng Xingzhe nodded in agreement.

Lu Jingyi continued, “Recently, one of my subordinates took some annual leave to visit his family in the countryside. In his village, someone took advantage of the initiative to buy a refrigerator produced by Kunyu. Coincidentally, during his visit, the refrigerator broke down and stopped cooling. The villager called customer service for repairs, and I sent my subordinate to check it out. Guess what he found?”

“What did he find? Tell us!” Yao Jia suddenly felt like an excellent sidekick.

Meng Xingzhe put down his chopsticks, frowning slightly as he listened intently.

“My subordinate reported that the refrigerator was a refurbished unit. The parts were indeed produced by Kunyu, but they were all old.”

Yao Jia gasped.

Another refurbished unit.

She glanced at Meng Xingzhe. His previously furrowed brow had relaxed, as if he had already guessed the truth before Lu Jingyi revealed it. His frown seemed to be waiting for confirmation of his suspicions.

Yao Jia turned back to Lu Jingyi, “So how was it handled afterward?”

Lu Jingyi said, “That’s the strange part. My boss contacted another department and replaced the customer’s refrigerator with a new one. When I asked about the refurbished unit, my boss told me not to worry, that he would handle it. But he never told us how he dealt with it.”

Yao Jia thought this was similar to a previous incident she had encountered with refurbished units—no follow-up.

“It does seem a bit suspicious,” Yao Jia commented.

Lu Jingyi nodded in agreement.

Finally, Meng Xingzhe spoke, “It’s not really suspicious. It’s quite obvious. There must be more than one refurbished unit in the countryside. Someone is taking advantage of the initiative to profit from Kunyu by using refurbished units.”

Yao Jia’s heart skipped a beat.

Lu Jingyi quickly put a finger to his lips, “Brother Meng, let’s not state the obvious! And don’t mention me!” He laughed nervously, his laughter full of a desire to avoid trouble.

Yao Jia thought she should call Yao Bingkun when she returned to the dormitory to discuss this matter.

She suddenly heard Meng Xingzhe ask Lu Jingyi, “Does Kunyu usually recycle home appliances that have exceeded their service life?”

Lu Jingyi replied, “The Chairman recently ordered the establishment of a factory specifically for recycling and disposing of old Kunyu appliances that have exceeded their service life.”

“And before that? Did Kunyu recycle its own old appliances?” Meng Xingzhe asked again.

Lu Jingyi thought for a moment, “I heard that there was a factory that had a cooperative relationship with Kunyu, specifically for disposing of old Kunyu appliances.”

Meng Xingzhe nodded and asked no further questions.

Yao Jia turned to him, “Are you suspecting that someone inside Kunyu is involved with the refurbished units?”

Meng Xingzhe looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t it obvious? If it weren’t related to someone inside, why would they keep such news under wraps?”

Yao Jia’s mouth fell open, a mix of shock and concern for her father. While he worked tirelessly for the company, there were unseen forces quietly eroding its interests.

She found it hard to enjoy the rest of the meal.

Finally, when the gathering ended, she helped the somewhat tipsy Lu Jingyi into a cab and sent him off, eager to return to the dormitory.

Meng Xingzhe, however, was in no rush. He pointed to the sky, “See that? The moon is as round as your face. It’s rare. With such a beautiful night, why don’t we take our time and enjoy the moon?”

Listening closely, there seemed to be a rare hint of negotiation in his tone.

Yao Jia also thought the night was lovely, the moon perfectly round.

If she hadn’t heard about the refurbished units, she might have enjoyed strolling under the round moon with him, breathing in the crisp autumn air, and walking back to the dormitory under the streetlights. It could have been quite pleasant.

But now, she just wanted to hurry back and make a phone call.

“The moon will be just as round next month. Let’s go, let’s hurry back to the dormitory.” Her tone was a bit anxious.

Meng Xingzhe frowned slightly, glanced down at her, and asked, “Why are you in such a hurry to get back?”

Yao Jia replied, “I need to make a phone call!”

Meng Xingzhe looked at her, the interest he had in walking shoulder to shoulder with her under the moonlight slowly turning into disappointment.

—She was in a hurry to call her boyfriend.

The beer he had drunk seemed to turn into vinegar, leaving his stomach and heart feeling sour and burning.

With a silent sigh, he said, “Let’s go.”

Yao Jia rushed back to her room as soon as she returned to the dormitory. With her mind preoccupied, her movements were a bit heavy, and the door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Standing outside her door, Meng Xingzhe felt as if that bang had struck his heart, leaving it slightly numb and aching.

Back in his room, he thought that this couldn’t go on. Living so close to her, every time he heard or thought of her mentioning Yue Xuran, he felt like going crazy.

So maybe he should move back home.

But there were only a few days left until the three-month period was up. If he endured a little longer, it would be over.

Besides, thinking about it, the days he could spend with her were limited.

So he decided to stay and endure a little longer.

Lying in bed, his emotions were in turmoil. He didn’t want to see her, yet he couldn’t bear to leave her.

Yao Jia, back in her room, called Yao Bingkun and told him about the latest information on the refurbished units.

Her father listened in silence on the other end of the line before speaking.

His voice was deep and solemn, “Xiao Jia, don’t get involved in this matter for now, and don’t discuss it with anyone else. I have a handle on it. Let’s not alert anyone prematurely.”

Yao Jia agreed but couldn’t help worrying about her father, “Dad, this shouldn’t be too hard to resolve, right? Please take care of yourself and don’t stress too much over this.”

Yao Bingkun’s voice carried a hint of comfort, “Alright.”

---

The next day was Friday. During the morning break, Yao Jia unexpectedly saw Meng Xingzhe chatting with a rather attractive young woman in the break room.

As she filled her water cup at the counter, she watched them conversing not far away.

The young woman was smiling brightly. Meng Xingzhe even returned her smiles occasionally.

Yao Jia couldn’t help but think, this was truly rare. His smiles were usually as precious as gold, never easily given. What was going on today? Was he offering his smiles at a discount?

Yao Jia glared at them.

Suddenly, Hao Lidan’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“Yao Jia, your cup is full, turn off the water dispenser!”

Startled, Yao Jia looked down to see water overflowing from her cup onto the counter.

She quickly turned off the dispenser and grabbed some paper towels to wipe up the spilled water.

Casually, she asked Hao Lidan, “Who’s that talking with Meng Xingzhe?”

Hao Lidan truly lived up to her reputation as the gossip queen. With just a glance, she answered confidently, “That beauty is a minor manager in the storage department.” She teased with a smile, “Ah, Xiao Meng, you’re too handsome for your own good. Your heart just can’t settle down. You’ve barely been quiet for a few days, and now you’re already charming the rich and beautiful ladies in the company again!”

Yao Jia laughed along and added, “He’s such a playboy!” But as she laughed, she accidentally spilled water from her cup.

She sighed in frustration, wondering why her coordination was so off today.

After starting work, she received a phone call.

A customer, an auntie, called to say that her Kunyu brand range hood had fallen off the wall.

Yao Jia immediately asked, “Did it hurt anyone?”

The auntie paused before replying, “No one was hurt. But dear, you are the warmest customer service representative I’ve ever encountered. When my water heater broke and kept leaking hot water, I called customer service, and they argued with me, claiming their products are top-notch and it must be my misuse. They didn’t even ask if I got burned. Only you asked first if anyone was hurt!”

Yao Jia replied with a smile, “Auntie, it’s my duty!”

She then asked the auntie for the product purchase details and saw from the backend that the installation was outsourced by Kunyu, making them responsible.

Without shirking responsibility, she told the auntie, “I’ll immediately send a request to After-sales Service to have someone come and inspect your range hood. If it’s damaged, we’ll repair it for free and reinstall it for you.”

After a pause, she asked, “Auntie, were you present during the last installation?”

The auntie hesitated.

Yao Jia quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry, even if you weren’t there, it’s our installation technician’s fault for not securing it properly. It’s our responsibility, and we won’t blame you for not being there. I’m asking so you can supervise during the next installation!”

The auntie was deeply moved and kept thanking her, “Thank you, dear, you’re truly the most responsible and considerate person I’ve ever met!”

Yao Jia felt warmth from the praise, seeing her value through it, and it gave her immense satisfaction.

In the afternoon, Li Wangli unexpectedly called her to the office. “Today, someone specifically called the company switchboard, asked for my direct line, and insisted on praising you! They said you provided excellent service, had a great attitude, and were responsible. Yao Jia, in less than three months, you’ve made significant progress!”

Yao Jia was taken aback. She hadn’t expected such praise from Li Wangli.

“Yao Jia, from my observations, I see something in you that we seasoned customer service reps are losing. It’s the sincerity of not just doing the job for the sake of it, but genuinely considering the customers’ needs. In simple terms, it’s sincerity!”

Yao Jia was almost shocked. She hadn’t expected such high praise from Li Wangli. She wondered if she should be modest.

But Li Wangli didn’t give her the chance. He continued, “I called you here today to tell you that our Customer Service Department is expanding our major client services. So, after this month, would you be interested in transferring to the major client services department? Only talented and outstanding employees get this opportunity!”

Yao Jia was stunned. Was she now considered a talented and outstanding employee?

She had planned to leave after three months, but now, before her departure, she received such recognition from Li Wangli.

Feeling a hint of joy, she told Li Wangli, “Manager, I’d like to think about it before giving you an answer.”

---

By the end of the workday, Yao Jia was still basking in the joy of being praised by a customer and recognized by Li Wangli for her work abilities. This happiness even made her overlook Meng Xingzhe flirting with another rich and beautiful colleague.

She proactively suggested to Meng Xingzhe, “It’s the weekend. Let’s have hot pot tonight!”

Tian Huasheng slid over from across the hallway, excitedly saying, “Yes, yes, I’ve been craving hot pot too! I’ll go home and prepare. Jia, you and brother can go to the market to buy ingredients?”

Yao Jia happily agreed.

However, Meng Xingzhe said, “There’s a problem.” After a pause, he added, “I have plans tonight.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yao Jia’s previously cheerful face showed a look of surprise. Her smile gradually faded.

Then she looked at him, suddenly smiled again, and asked, “Are you going to Pizza Hut with that rich and beautiful colleague from the storage department who came to see you today?”

Meng Xingzhe replied with a simple “Yes.”

He watched as her smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare. She called him a “jerk.”

“…”

She didn’t give him a chance to explain, dragging Tian Huasheng away.

“Xiao Tiantian, let’s have hot pot ourselves and leave him out!”

At the call center entrance, after clocking out, she turned back and made a face at him, “You’ll regret missing out!”

He turned away, hiding his expression, then smiled.

Even when she’s angry, she’s adorably fierce. Who could resist that?

Yao Jia and Tian Huasheng went to the market to buy meat and vegetables.

Back home, they worked together to wash the pot and set the table, preparing for the hot pot.

Yao Jia contacted Ling Xiaoxin, asking if she wanted to join them for hot pot. Ling Xiaoxin, sounding a bit breathless, said she was busy and couldn’t come.

Yao Jia sighed, realizing it would just be the two of them for dinner.

She ordered two whole cases of beer online.

When the beer arrived, Tian Huasheng was stunned by the sight, “Jia, if we drink this much, we’ll end up dead!”

Yao Jia wasn’t sure why, but she just wanted to drink, to drink a lot. She suddenly thought, “Drinking ourselves silly might be good! After hitting rock bottom, we’ll be reborn as new people! Let’s cut ties with the past and only look to the future!”

Tian Huasheng shivered at her determined proclamation.

Once the hot pot was ready, Yao Jia went to get bowls and chopsticks.

Instinctively, she set the table for three.

Then she went to the kitchen to wash the vegetables. When she returned, she saw Tian Huasheng fiddling with his phone, seemingly texting someone.

“Put down the phone, let’s start eating and drinking!”

Tian Huasheng set his phone aside, and the two began their meal.

As they ate, Tian Huasheng sighed, “Don’t you feel like without Brother Meng, it’s like half the world is missing? It’s not lively at all!”

Yao Jia suddenly felt like her forced cheer was a hollow balloon, deflated by Tian Huasheng’s words.

She sighed, lifted her chin, and tried to reinflate her spirits, “No worries, we’ll just be louder and make it lively ourselves!”

Tian Huasheng laughed. They spoke loudly, laughed loudly, ate heartily, and drank generously.

Yao Jia felt they were making noise for three people. But why did it feel less lively, even lonelier?

Behind the forced smiles seemed to be faces on the verge of tears.

The thought flashed by, and Yao Jia realized she was… on the verge of tears.

?!

She quickly got up and rushed to the bathroom, washed her face, and lightly slapped her cheeks.

What was she thinking?

So what if he’s not here for hot pot and is eating Pizza Hut with another girl?

Is that really worth feeling so down that you want to cry?!

Yao Jia called herself crazy in the mirror.

After composing herself, she felt calm again.

She opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

As soon as she did, she froze.

The bathroom was near the entrance.

At the entrance, she saw Meng Xingzhe, bending down to change his shoes.

She rubbed her eyes.

No mistake, he was real; she wasn’t drunk.

The real person finished changing shoes, looked up, and smiled at her, asking, “Did you eat something poisonous? Why do you look so dazed?”

Suddenly, the missing half of the world’s liveliness returned.

She held back her smile and asked, “Why did you come back? There’s no hot pot for you!”

He walked up to her, ruffled her hair mischievously, and said, “If there’s none for me, I’ll just eat yours!”

She couldn’t help but laugh as he playfully teased her.

“You dare!”

---

Meng Xingzhe was sitting in Pizza Hut with Mu Jingjing from the storage department. As they chatted over the foreign-style pizza, he found his mind wandering. After discussing what he was curious about, he couldn’t quite focus on what Mu Jingjing was saying to him.

His thoughts kept drifting back to earlier that evening, before leaving work. He remembered Yao Jia’s stunned expression when he mentioned he wouldn’t be joining them for hot pot, how her smile slowly faded, and then how she forced a smile afterward.

He wasn’t a fool; how could he not understand what all those expressions meant?

Together, they clearly expressed her hope that he would join them for hot pot.

He had only eaten one slice of pizza, and though his stomach was mostly empty, he had lost his appetite.

Across from him, Mu Jingjing said, “I’ve had about enough too.”

At that moment, he received a message from Tian Huasheng.

Tian Huasheng asked, “Bro, are you coming back to join us for hot pot later?”

He replied with a question mark: “?”

Mu Jingjing was speaking to him. He looked up and asked, “Sorry, I was a bit distracted. What were you saying?”

Mu Jingjing gave him a gentle smile. “It’s nothing, I just said I’m done eating too. How about we go to a café and sit for a while?”

His phone chimed again. It was another message from Tian Huasheng.

Tian Huasheng: “Oh, never mind. Jia set three place settings. I thought you were coming back to eat with us and was wondering if we should wait for you to start the hot pot.”

He put away his phone and looked up.

Then, smiling at Mu Jingjing, he said, “I’m really sorry, but I can’t make it to the café. Something urgent has come up at home, and I need to head back to take care of it!”

— Translator’s Notes —

• Home Appliances to the Countryside: A Chinese government subsidy program launched in 2009 (with subsequent rounds) to promote the sale of energy-efficient home appliances to rural households, offering discounts to boost consumption and rural development.