My Terrible Life in Those Years

I hesitated for two seconds, then said, "Guess!"

The girl with the ponytail was surprised: "You found it on the very first day?"

She reacted quickly.

I maintained a calm demeanor, projecting an image of understated competence.

"How about it? Isn't it amazing?"

Actually, I felt a little nervous when I said that. If she found out that I only took this job temporarily because I owed Aunt Shu more than a thousand yuan, would she laugh me to death?

How could I possibly tell a woman such a cowardly thing?

I can't let my hard-earned personal charisma be ruined by my own hands.

Sure enough, little stars appeared in the little ponytail's eyes again.

"That's really impressive. What kind of job do you have?"

I was speechless for a moment. Oh my god, I forgot to ask Aunt Shu what her company does.

Oh, I just remembered, her company is called Brilliant GG?

"It was a big, high-end company. The sales manager personally came to recruit me. I was the only one they hired!"

She wasn't there to recruit people; she was sent by God to mess with me.

It's true that she only hired me, because she didn't recruit anyone else from the stalls except for me.

"Really?? You're really amazing." The girl with the ponytail had no idea I was talking nonsense.

I felt a little guilty, but it didn't show on my face at all.

"Thank you so much for the temporary job! I'm all set for my meals tomorrow—or rather, today." I thanked him sincerely.

"It's no big deal. Now that you've found a job, just focus on working. If the daytime work is too strenuous, you can quit for now. I'll just tell my brother."

My heart trembled. This girl is so understanding.

"It's alright, I'm perfectly healthy. I can finish my work during the day and come back to work in the evening. Besides, you found this place for me; it's a kind gesture, and we can't let it go to waste. And who doesn't want more money!"

I smiled easily.

Looking at her smiling, somewhat relieved face, I suddenly asked, "Why did you help me find a job? We've only known each other for a day or two. I'm already very grateful for how you helped me find an apartment!"

She paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

"Do you know that many young people who come here are full of passion and positive energy when they first arrive? But after a while, for various reasons, they are defeated by society and reality, and many of them start to go astray!"

"Most of the people living here are newcomers to Huacheng. If they are lucky, they can find a stable job and make money. They will usually move out of here in less than six months or a year and live in a better place. But there are also some people who are not so lucky, whose conditions are average, and who are not hardworking enough, so things start to get messy."

"Although we're not very familiar with each other yet, I can tell that you're an upright person and someone with aspirations. So, I'll do my best to help within my capabilities."

She finished speaking very seriously, and I listened quietly, my heart filled with waves of emotion.

After she finished speaking, I stared at her speechlessly for a full minute.

Then, I said to her seriously, "Little Ponytail, you're not human!"

The girl with the ponytail paused for a moment, looking at me with some confusion, wondering why I would swear at such an emotional moment when we were talking so well.

I said it again very seriously: "You are a fairy descended from heaven, a Bodhisattva!"

My sudden change of direction completely baffled my little ponytail.

She forced her face away from me, but under the night light, her whole face was as red as the setting sun!

Not to mention her, even Aunt Luo from school, such a formidable person, was often bewildered by my sudden change of heart back then.

A peculiar atmosphere spread between us. She seemed a little flustered, unsure how to continue the conversation, while I silently enjoyed the turmoil this shy young woman felt under the onslaught of my words.

Just as I was about to say something more, a loud cough came from behind me.

With a dark expression, Kang Ning quickly caught up from behind, grabbed Xiao Mawei's arm, and hurried past me to the street corner.

"Jiang something-or-other, you should go home and rest. Wan Ning doesn't need you to see her off!"

Seeing him panting as he rushed over from behind, I knew he must have hurriedly finished tidying up the shop, locked it, and caught up with me.

He just doesn't want to give me and his sister a chance to be alone together.

I don't know if he heard my last few words, but judging from his reaction, he probably did hear some of them!

Wan Ning turned around, nodded apologetically to me, and went home with her brother.

I found it hilarious to see Kang Ning looking like that.

As she was leaving, she shouted loudly to Wan Ning, "Little Ponytail, I will remember your kindness to me!"

I noticed Kang Ning; his entire shoulder jerked, and he hurried home, being pulled along by the little hand with the ponytail.

I smiled contentedly!

Touching the thirty silver dollars in his pocket and watching Wan Ning's ponytail disappear into the distance, he felt incredibly satisfied.

Although I've only been here for two days, I've already seen the prosperity and darkness of this international metropolis, and I know that there are countless skyscrapers, countless people and cars, and too many companies to count.

I also saw Sun Erniang at the station, a gang of thieves who stole my hard-earned money, a shameless man who bullied a young girl on the bus because he was strong, and a security guard who looked down on people.

Of course, there was also a kind-hearted landlady, a deep and unassuming Uncle Ye, Xiao Luo who wanted to develop his career here just like me, and Wan Ning who was as kind as a fairy!

As for Shu, a career woman, I don't know which category to classify her in yet, so I'll just put her in the middle for now.

Therefore, Wan Ning's heartfelt words just now were not only an instruction, but also a warning, and even more so, a expression of care.

Her words swept away all the gloom I had seen and encountered in the past two days.

I took a long breath and looked up at the sky. It was a little past one o'clock, still the darkest time of day. There were many small stars hanging in the sky, which I could see very clearly. The biggest one looked like Wan Ning, winking at me.

On the way back to my rented room, I was even bumped into by a drunk person. I kindly helped him up instead of leaving him by the sewer like I used to do, so that when he woke up, he would either be killed by the stench of his own vomit or by the stench that was forced up from the sewer!

I passed by the alley next to where many young women lived; it was still very lively there, but I suddenly lost the desire to watch the excitement.

I quickly returned to my rented room, washed up, and rested.

I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I slept really well today. It was a natural reaction to physical fatigue after a long day, as well as a feeling of peace and tranquility.

I slept soundly until dawn, then glanced at my alarm clock and, lo and behold, it was already eight o'clock!

I inwardly cursed, "Oh no! My first day working for Shu, and I'm going to be late?"

Thinking about her frost-covered face yesterday, I felt a chill run down my spine. I quickly bought some food on the way and hurried on my way!

I was filled with anxiety the whole way!