Climbing the Career Ladder - -

After escorting the slightly tipsy Li Yudong home, Li Mengze and his group left the party early, mainly because Li Mengze couldn’t stand the lecherous looks from some Japanese men at the event. Zhang Xiaoqing also excused herself, citing feeling unwell, and stepped down as the emcee.

Li Yudong was somewhat surprised; he couldn’t quite understand why Zhang Xiaoqing had left with them. But soon, it all became clear to him, and he silently prayed, “I hope nothing goes wrong.”

“Xiaoqing, did you bring a change of clothes? I mean, the cheongsam doesn’t really suit you,” Li Mengze commented on her appearance as soon as they got home.

Zhang Xiaoqing wanted to retort but held back. Eventually, she went to the bathroom and changed out of her cheongsam. When she returned to the living room, she found them seated on the sofa, with Liu Yun snuggling next to him, looking at her. She didn’t understand what Li Mengze was trying to say, but she knew she must keep her composure; she was almost losing him.

Li Mengze wrapped his arm around Liu Yun’s waist, pulling her close into his embrace. Liu Yun complied obediently, remaining silent, yet he could feel her heart racing; she was nervous too.

Liu Yun had endured much that evening, especially after hearing about his two “lovers,” which certainly stirred thoughts in her mind, especially now that one of them was invited to his house.

“What is Li Mengze trying to do?”

“Xiaoqing, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you today,” Li Mengze said, his eyes fixed on the coffee table, unable to meet her gaze.

“Go ahead, I’m listening,” Zhang Xiaoqing managed to say, despite feeling incredibly wronged. Her voice choked up as she fought back tears. Now he remembers to talk to her when he can no longer hide things. Alright then, lf you have anything, just say it, she thought bitterly.

“You’ve always been so kind to me, I know that. You must have started looking after me not long after I joined the company. At that time, I wasn’t even a full-time employee yet. Thank you so much for that.

However, at that time, my vision was obscured by Wang Lihua. I’m sorry; I overlooked you, even though I should have realized it sooner. Later, you comforted and encouraged me. That heartbreak hit me hard; it was my first relationship. Let’s not dwell on that! Then there was my father’s illness, and I was traveling back and forth between Tianjin and Beijing. We really should have been together earlier; you are the type of girl I like. But while I was in Beijing tending to my father, I met Liu Yun, and it was love at first sight, mutual affection.

If I had only known you, or just you and Liu Yun, it would have been easier to choose. But during that time, I met other girls. Liu Yun was the first woman in my life, and soon after meeting her, I quickly became acquainted with another girl, then another, and yet another. Now, I hardly understand myself anymore. How could I be such a person?

Sometimes I think about cutting ties with you, but whenever I see your eyes at work, I can’t bring myself to say it. You must blame me for being hot and cold, and you’re right to do so. You should have scolded me long ago, letting your feelings go to waste on me is my fault, but I really am…

Xiaoqing, do you understand what I mean? I’m not the good man you imagine. I’m an irresponsible man. Even someone as sweet as Liu Yun, I can’t give her my whole love. I…”

Li Mengze couldn’t go on. Though his voice remained calm, his heart was turbulent. He felt guilty towards her and blamed himself for not being fully committed to his women. Yet, he knew he had to cherish their feelings, care for them, and ensure their happiness for a lifetime.

Zhang Xiaoqing was stunned; Li Mengze was just like the legendary man she’d heard about. She had always thought that Li Mengze wasn’t popular with women, having never seen him be particularly nice to any other female colleagues. But to her utter surprise, he already had four women. He claimed that his current girlfriend was love at first sight and also his first ever girlfriend. What did that make her, after everything she had done for him? Was she not worth even a glance from him?

Li Mengze’s tender care for Liu Yun clearly showed that they shared a deep bond. What had she, who had been hoping for so long, actually received from him? What had he given her? His behavior was so hot and cold; how could she be so naive? Did he truly deserve her love? What was she to him, and what could she possibly gain from him? Was she really supposed to compete with his other women? Could she even compete? Would there be other women? She had been so good to him, yet he was still with other women and even talked about love at first sight.

“What is your relationship now?” Zhang Xiaoqing hardly knew what she was asking.

“She is the wife I will never see in a wedding dress. We will not marry, but she is my woman, and I will never abandon her. I will always love them,” Li Mengze responded, his words also meant for Liu Yun.

“I might never marry in my life,” Li Mengze continued, “and even if I do, it would only be with their consent.”

Zhang Xiaoqing fell silent. Li Mengze was no ordinary man. Was the man she loved really like this? A love affair with no future, was this really her love? His serious demeanor might truly mean it. Did she really have no chance? But did he really have such a strong attraction? Impossible. She was just a bit infatuated with him. He wasn’t tall enough, nor handsome enough, and he wasn’t particularly skilled at anything. Was he really worth it?

“Xiaoqing, would you like to be my sister? I already have three sisters, and I’d love for you to join them as another sister of mine, is that okay?”

Liu Yun began to speak. She had been gradually developing a fondness for Zhang Xiaoqing and felt a bit apologetic toward her; she wanted to make it up to her in some way. She had only recently come to understand Li Mengze; their union had been a series of misunderstandings, as Li Mengze wasn’t particularly extraordinary or universally adored.

Li Mengze was the type of person who grew on you the longer you knew him. If you didn’t seek to understand his thoughts, or at least try, you simply wouldn’t find him appealing, herself excluded. She vividly remembered their first time making love; he was hesitant, indecisive, quite unlike the first times with her other sisters. At that time, he must have still been thinking about this sister! Hence, she felt she owed Zhang Xiaoqing something.

“Miss Liu!” As soon as Liu Yun spoke, she was met with two cries of “Stop.”

Li Mengze didn’t want her to continue; he had already opened up, and stopping her was preferable-he didn’t wish for any more emotional entanglements.

He was well aware of Liu Yun’s intentions; she had often facilitated his romances, like with Su Qianyun and Xiaoyu, and even played a significant role in his final union with Jing Wen. She seemed quite interested in these affairs. His reluctance to let her continue stemmed also from his desire not to let anyone think less of her; she was his woman, the one he cherished all his life.

Zhang Xiaoqing was stunned by these words. Li Mengze’s earlier remarks were somewhat vague-how one woman after another, and now they were already calling each other sisters.

Miss Liu was persuading her to become her sister, but was that even possible? Was Xiaoqing willing to share her man with another woman? Could she really share a man with other women? She felt a mix of shyness and curiosity, excitement yet also some loss. At that moment, she didn’t know what to do, not even knowing where to place her hands. She would have done anything anyone suggested without hesitation.

Xiaoqing even hoped Li Mengze would say, “Be my fifth woman,” as long as he spoke up; she secretly prayed for even a hint to guide her.

A sense of despair formed in Zhang Xiaoqing’s mind as Li Mengze simply looked at her, saying nothing. What was he thinking? Did he not even want to acknowledge his own thoughts? She felt utterly hopeless about him-a man who showed no consideration for women. Why should she continue to yearn for him? Rising from the sofa, she mechanically walked towards the door. Tears of despair finally began to fall-one, two, three…

As she reached for the door, someone embraced her waist-it was Li Mengze. No man had ever held her like this before, not even the man of her dreams, but just like many times in her dreams, the man she liked held her in the way she had always imagined.

“Stay with me, be my woman. I will love you for a lifetime,” Li Mengze said passionately, holding her waist tightly.

Zhang Xiaoqing’s tears cemented Li Mengze’s final decision. He couldn’t bear to let the woman he deeply loved slip away again; otherwise, he would never find peace.

“Haha, Mengze, why only say it now? You’ve made Liu Yun worry so much.” Just when the lovers were basking in their joy, someone had to interrupt, yet it was hard to be upset.

“Liu Yun, you…” Zhang Xiaoqing started to say, embarrassed and at a loss for words.

On a rare early Sunday morning, Liu Yun woke up early and barged into Li Mengze’s bedroom, startling the couple who were still basking in the aftermath of their newfound love. Perhaps Liu Yun wasn’t used to sleeping in Tianjin and woke up unusually early. Seeing the happy, love-drenched expression on Zhang Xiaoqing’s face, she was momentarily startled, but she didn’t dwell on it; she had things to do.

The long-held feelings of longing Zhang Xiaoqing had suffered were finally released, further incited by Li Mengze, who was already experienced in matters of love. The previous night had seen a passionate encounter, where they no longer hid their feelings, finally achieving a deep connection.

Li Mengze was still reveling in the moment when Liu Yun burst in; his embarrassment was plain to see as his face flushed.

“Liu Yun, could you not have knocked before entering? Couldn’t you have slept a little longer?” he said.

“Never mind him, Xiaoqing, let’s get up and go shopping soon,” Liu Yun said, unfazed by Li Mengze’s bluster, focusing instead on the tasks ahead.

Zhang Xiaoqing didn’t understand what Liu Yun meant. She pushed away Li Mengze’s embracing arms, put on her pajamas, and felt discomfort the moment her feet touched the floor. Before she could take a second step, she bent over in pain, which made both of them burst into laughter. Only then did she realize Liu Yun’s “good intentions.”

With Liu Yun’s support, Zhang Xiaoqing managed to walk to the bathroom. Before she could close the door, Li Mengze squeezed in;

Zhang Xiaoqing’s body was still in pain, and she was no match for Li Mengze. She had no choice but to let him do as he wished, and what was meant to be a quick morning bath took an entire hour. Liu Yun had already prepared breakfast!

When Liu Yun saw Zhang Xiaoqing after her bath, she complimented her with a simple “You look beautiful,” making her feel very comfortable and almost brought her to make a promise to Li Mengze.

After breakfast, the three of them relaxed for a while, then Liu Yun insisted on going to the mall to buy clothes, declaring that everyone was buying and no one should be an exception.

Feeling somewhat better, Zhang Xiaoqing also wanted to buy gifts for everyone, especially for Liu Yun.

“Do you have money, Xiaoqing? How much do you have?” Liu Yun asked immediately upon hearing her.

“I have some, nearly 1.3 million yuan,” Zhang Xiaoqing replied, though she found it a bit strange.

“Xiaoqing, can’t you phrase it differently? Just say you don’t have much money and brace yourself for a loss!” Li Mengze advised her, adding, “Why didn’t you send some home?”

“I was planning to save it for business,” Zhang Xiaoqing said quietly. She hadn’t spent a penny of her money, saving it all for a potential investment opportunity, actually for Li Mengze, though she knew it might never be needed.

“The house back home was purchased through a collective fund, and Liu Yun is definitely calculating how much money she can get from you,” Li Mengze understood Xiaoqing’s intent. Although the money was of little use to him now, he was deeply touched. Yet, he always had a way of concealing his feelings, and he started explaining the house rules to Xiaoqing, such as the bans on stock trading and the requirement to turn in all earnings.

Despite being in Tianjin, Li Mengze couldn’t overlook these rules. Of course, he knew that Xiaoqing would follow his advice.

Soon, Liu Yun had calculated Xiaoqing’s contribution, as well as the amount due to each individual. The result was that both she and Su Qianyun received 120,000 yuan each, Sima Xiaoyu got 100,000 yuan, and even Jing Wen received 20,000 yuan. She even wrote down everyone’s bank account details right then and there, her eyes twinkling, which made Li Mengze burst into laughter.

Women absolutely have no immunity to shopping; they dragged Li Mengze through malls all morning, from one store to another, from one counter to the next, trying on one piece of clothing after another. By the end, Li Mengze hadn’t even caught a clear glimpse of the clothes styles.

In the jewelry store, Li Mengze also failed to see clearly, as the two women took matters into their own hands. He ended up spending hundreds of thousands of yuan, and was utterly exhausted, yet he hadn’t clearly seen anything! But the two women were very enthusiastic, and this “activity” significantly enhanced their rapport.