1994: Starting with unpaid leave

Chapter 169 Li Wan: Come with me to the movies!

In April in Beijing, the night wind still carried a hint of chill.

Li Wan pushed open the door to the guesthouse room, making a soft "creak" sound.

She gently closed the door, leaned against it, and unconsciously rubbed the cold metal knob of the lock with her fingers, as if trying to calm her still slightly racing heartbeat.

The scenes from today's visit to the zoo replayed in her mind like a slideshow.

That adorable giant panda, that lost little girl Duoduo, and—Dong Jianguo's eyes, which looked especially deep and gentle in the sunset, as he squatted on the ground comforting the child.

"Hey, our beautiful lady is back?"

A slightly mocking voice came from inside the room.

Shang Chunyan, the female companion who came with me, was sitting at a desk by the window, flipping through a book called "Compilation of Regulations on Industrial and Commercial Administration" by the light of a desk lamp.

Hearing the noise, she put down her book and turned around.

His phoenix eyes sized Li Wan up and down, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"How was your date with our Factory Director Dong today?"

Li Wan's cheeks instantly flushed red. She pretended to be calm and walked to her bedside, put down her handbag, and scolded, "Chunyan, what nonsense are you talking about! What date? That's a class activity."

"Group activity?"

Shang Chunyan drawled out the last syllable, letting out a soft snort, "You need to wear that brand-new light yellow dress specifically for a group activity? Tsk tsk, confess and you'll be treated leniently, Comrade Li Wan, you know our policy!"

Li Wan's ears turned bright red after Shang Chunyan's words revealed her true feelings.

She hurriedly tidied the bed, still muttering her last defense: "I... I just thought the dress looked nice, it doesn't matter who I was with. Don't talk nonsense anymore, it'll look bad if word gets out—"

"What, have you taken a fancy to some rich kid in the training class?! Planning to cast a wide net and catch the best catch?"

"However, it really is the case. I feel that Dong Jianguo—is a bit unworthy of you!"

Li Wan was a little angry: "Look at you, talking nonsense again. He's a really good person, what makes him unworthy of me?!"

Shang Chunyan scoffed, "Li Wan, you're a well-known talented woman in our bureau. You're a civil servant, with a secure job. And what about Dong Jianguo? He..."

He's just a factory manager in a private company; frankly, he's just a nouveau riche.

"It's only because the policies are good now; ten years ago, they were all petty bourgeois speculators! They were targets of the dictatorship!"

"The gap between you two is like that between a cat and a mouse. If you really date him—tsk tsk, that would be like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung."

Shang Chunyan's tone carried a sense of superiority unique to those within the system, as well as a certain disdain for businessmen.

These words were like a thorn, piercing Li Wan's heart.

She raised her head, her eyes sharpening. "Chunyan, don't talk about Jianguo like that. He's not the kind of person you think he is. He's cultured, knowledgeable, and sincere."

The workers in his factory all regarded him as their pillar of strength. And—and he was also a champion of justice; he single-handedly fought off four pickpockets on a train—what a manly figure!

"My goodness, you've been blinded by love!" Shang Chunyan exaggeratedly slapped her forehead. "Manly spirit? That's called recklessness! Don't you understand? This is a society governed by law. If you encounter trouble, you should call the police. Why are you trying to be a hero? Besides, education? He only graduated from a junior college. What kind of education could he possibly have? I think he's just a little clever and made a fortune through buying and selling!"

Li Wan curled her lip, feeling indignant on Dong Jianguo's behalf: "His college entrance exam scores weren't actually bad, it's just that his family needed money for his older brother's wedding the year he took the exam, and his family wasn't well-off."

That's why I didn't go to university.

"Moreover, his factory's products are now being sold in Beijing. He came here to learn from others on the recommendation of the Harbin Railway Bureau. He—he is very capable."

Seeing Li Wan so protective of Dong Jianguo, Shang Chunyan sighed and said earnestly, "Wanwan, wake up. We are state cadres, we are in charge of them."

"No matter how rich Dong Jianguo is, he still has to be polite to us."

"Among the people in our circle, there are so many talented young people. Look at that young Wang from the Municipal Party Committee Office who came to pick us up today—how energetic and promising he is! And Zhang Shuai from our training class—his family owns two courtyard houses in Beijing. Aren't these people all better than Dong Jianguo? Why are you putting all your eggs in one basket?"

Li Wan fell silent.

Of course she knew that what Shang Chunyan said was true.

To outsiders, he was a chosen one, a government official, while Dong Jianguo was just a "country bumpkin" businessman from a small town in Northeast China.

The gap in their social status, like an invisible wall, stood between them.

She thought of Dong Jianguo from high school. Although he came from a poor family, he always had a stubborn and unyielding spirit in his eyes.

During breaks, he would tell everyone stories from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," speaking with great enthusiasm.

He would also patiently explain math problems to her when she encountered difficulties.

At that time, he was full of vigor and radiant.

But what happened next?

He graduated from junior college and became a worker.

After taking a leave of absence without pay, he worked as a tricycle driver selling eggs before finally opening this factory.

As for myself, I naturally passed the university entrance exam, entered the system, and lived a stable life.

Their fates had long since diverged.

But----

But why does my heart still beat wildly uncontrollably when I see him today?

Why do I feel that he is the most reliable man in the world when I see him crouch down to save that little girl?

"Chunyan," Li Wan raised her head, a hint of stubbornness in her eyes, "I know you're doing this for my own good. But matters of the heart aren't measured by status or position. I feel—"

I feel happy and secure when I'm with him. That feeling is something no one else can give me.

Shang Chunyan looked at Li Wan and shook her head helplessly: "You, you're really bewitched. Fine, I won't try to persuade you anymore. But I'll tell you, I heard that after this training course ends, the higher-ups intend to transfer you from Hecheng to the provincial bureau. That's a great opportunity. But I'm afraid you won't be able to leave your brother Jianguo then~"

Provincial Bureau?

Li Wan's heart sank.

She knew that Shang Chunyan was not lying to her.

This is an opportunity that so many people dream of.

However, compared to Dong Jianguo—

She bit her lip, her eyes gradually hardening.

"Future prospects are important, but lifelong happiness is even more important."

Seeing that she was so stubborn, Shang Chunyan was too lazy to persuade her anymore. She picked up her book and continued reading, muttering, "Whatever, I won't be the one crying later anyway."

The room fell silent, with only the faint hum of the lamp emitting electricity.

Li Wan lay in bed, gazing at the dappled light and shadows on the ceiling, the image of Dong Jianguo constantly appearing in her mind.

No!

We can't just stay passive like this.

If you're interested, be brave and go for it.

Even if he was a married man, even if he was just a businessman, even if everyone opposed him—

Tomorrow, I absolutely must ask him out alone tomorrow!

Thinking of this, Li Wan suddenly sat up, looked at Shang Chunyan who was reading a book, and said with an undeniable firmness in her tone: "Chunyan, do me a favor tomorrow."

Shang Chunyan looked up at her warily: "What? I'm not helping you elope."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Li Wan's face turned red again. "I mean, I want to ask Jian Guo to go to the movies tomorrow."

"See a movie?"

"Yes, I heard there's a big foreign movie out right now called 'True Lies,' and I've heard it's really good. I'd like to ask him to go see it with me."

Shang Chunyan rolled her eyes: "Then how can I help you?!"

"Buy tickets, please buy me two tickets, side by side—"

"This—I've heard that movie tickets are incredibly hard to get!"

Seeing Shang Chunyan's troubled expression, Li Wan went over and grabbed her arm, pleading, "Chunyan, please help me this once! As long as I can get the tickets, I'll treat you to Quanjude later."

Unable to resist her persistent persuasion, Shang Chunyan had no choice but to agree.

At that moment, Dong Jianguo had just hung up the receiver of the public telephone at the guesthouse.

On the other end of the phone, his wife Xiuyun's voice still echoed in his ears.

They lived far apart, and even if Xiuyun wanted to take care of him, there was nothing she could do to help.

I just kept telling him to take care of his health, not to overwork himself, and not to just focus on saving money; he should eat well when he needs to.

Although it's just the most ordinary nagging, it sounds exceptionally heartwarming.

Listening to his wife's gentle words of advice, Dong Jianguo felt an indescribable sense of guilt.

He lied to Xiuyun.

He didn't tell her that he had met Li Wan on the train;

I didn't tell her that I went to the zoo with Li Wan today.

After hanging up the phone, he lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and looked somewhat forlorn amidst the swirling smoke.

In his previous life, he lived a muddled life, struggling to make a living, and ultimately ended up with his family destroyed and his life ruined.

In this life, he is reborn in 1995. Relying on his memories and accumulated knowledge from his previous life, he desperately tries to change his fate and give his wife and daughter a better life.

He succeeded.

He established himself in Hecheng, opened a factory, made money, and was even recommended to study in Beijing.

He thought he had everything under control.

But why is it that when facing Li Wan, his heart is still so out of control?

Is it because of guilt?

Is it because of a desire to compensate for a tragedy in a past life?

Or is he, deep down, a hypocrite who lusts after beautiful women?

He dared not investigate further.

He could only keep telling himself, "Dong Jianguo, wake up. You have a family, you have responsibilities."

"Li Wan is wonderful in every way, but she doesn't belong to you."

"Only Xiuyun is your true home!"

"Then why didn't you introduce her to Chen Zhiyong as his girlfriend when you were at the zoo?"

Honestly, even Dong Jianguo could hardly give a coherent answer.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly, mentally justifying himself: "Chen Zhiyong is different from me; he's not just a businessman!"

"This guy made his fortune through smuggling large aircraft; his business was full of speculation and risk. He's definitely not a good person—"

"Playing matchmaker for them? That's just hurting your friends!"

"Yes, that's it!"

Although even Dong Jianguo himself might not be convinced by this reason.

But I've finally overcome that hurdle in my heart.

After taking his last drag of his cigarette, he stubbed it out fiercely in the spittoon in the corner.

Inside the temporary dormitory, Chen Zhiyong's Cantonese-accented Mandarin rang out: "Jianguo, come play cards!"

"They're here!"

Dong Jianguo agreed and walked back into the smoke-filled room.

The next day in Beijing, the sun shone exceptionally brightly.

A spring breeze swept through the guesthouse courtyard, making the wind chimes by the window tinkle.

Having just finished breakfast, Dong Jianguo was thinking that he finally had time to go to Zhongguancun today.

Then, the guesthouse hostess's penetrating voice rang out again: "Comrade Dong Jianguo, a woman is looking for you downstairs. It's the same one from yesterday!"

As soon as I went downstairs, I saw Li Wan standing under the magnolia tree at the entrance of the guesthouse.

Today she changed into a floral dress, with a beige knitted cardigan over it, and carried a women's handbag that stood out conspicuously in the sunlight.

"Jianguo!" Li Wan spotted him at a glance, her eyes instantly lighting up like two black grapes soaking in water.

"Wanwan? What brings you here again?" Dong Jianguo walked over and asked, pretending to be calm.

"Mind your own business!" Li Wan smiled slyly, waving the tickets in front of him. "I heard 'True Lies' is showing at Xidan Dahua Cinema this afternoon, and tickets are really hard to get. I asked Chunyan to help me queue up. Let's go see a movie together, it's on me!"

Dong Jianguo looked at the two tickets and felt a chill run down his spine.

True Lies? A Schwarzenegger blockbuster? That was absolutely top-tier in 95.

But he has no interest in watching movies right now!

"This is too expensive, I can't let you spend money." Dong Jianguo subconsciously wanted to refuse, "Besides, I'm planning to go to Zhongguancun to look at computer equipment, and I also need to organize my previous study notes—"

"No problem, I'll go to Zhongguancun with you after the movie, and we can organize the notes tonight too, right?"

Before he could finish explaining his reasons for refusing, Li Wan interrupted him, "Jianguo, do you not want to go with me?"

Her eyes dimmed instantly, filled with a hint of grievance.

Dong Jianguo was most afraid of this tactic from women. Especially Li Wan.

He was so conflicted.

Reason told him that he had to refuse and stay away, both for Li Wan's sake and for his own.

But looking into Li Wan's expectant and watery eyes, his harsh words were like a fishbone stuck in his throat, impossible to spit out.

"I----"

"Oh, Jianguo, don't refuse!" Seeing him waver, Li Wan quickly pressed her advantage: "I bought these tickets especially for you. Besides, this movie is about spies, with guns and cannons—aren't you a fan of these tough-guy movies?"

Dong Jianguo was taken aback. He had forgotten that he had indeed told Li Wan that he liked military affairs back in high school.

How can this woman have such a good memory?

"But----"

"No buts, it's settled!" Li Wan grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the door without further ado. "I've already called the car, it's waiting at the door!"

Dong Jianguo was dragged out the door like a wooden stake, pulled along by her.