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Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan have been with Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics for three months now.

These three months have been the most comfortable period they've had since coming to Shenzhen.

My salary arrives on time every month on the 15th.

With a base salary of 500 and commission, Xiao Ran earned 3,200 last month, while Liu Yuan earned 2,800.

In 1993, this was definitely considered a high income.

The two moved out of the dark single room and rented a two-bedroom apartment together in Futian District.

The house isn't big, but it's clean, has windows, gets plenty of sunlight, and has a separate kitchen and bathroom.

“Old Xiao, we’re finally doing alright.” Liu Yuan lay on his bed, looking at the ceiling. “Three months ago, we were almost sleeping on the streets.”

Xiao Ran was counting his money, dividing his salary into several parts: one part to deposit in the bank, one part to send home, one part to Han Ling, and one part for daily expenses.

"Yes!" He put the money away. "Finally, I can catch my breath."

Work is going well too.

Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics has a very standardized sales system with transparent commissions, where the more you work, the more you earn.

Xiao Ran was hardworking and diligent, and quickly grasped the essentials.

He mainly visits factories and businesses to discuss group purchases.

Selling one or two units at a time is too slow; we need to sell dozens or hundreds.

This month, he closed a big deal...

A Hong Kong-owned factory provided pagers to 200 middle-level managers and sold 200 units in one go.

The commission from this one order alone is 15,000.

Liu Yuan mainly deals with office buildings and shopping malls, doing retail.

He's quick-witted, knows how to handle things, and gets along well with clients.

Many customers who bought it were satisfied and recommended it to their friends.

Liu Yuan also sold more than 100 units this month.

Now both of them have become star employees in the sales department.

That evening, the two of them had dinner at home after get off work, chatting as they ate.

"Have you heard? Huang Tianba has completely collapsed." Liu Yuan picked up a piece of meat. "His Tianba Electronics was acquired by our CEO Su and turned into a second factory."

"I've heard about it," Xiao Ran said. "Manager Li said in a meeting that production capacity can be doubled in the future, so we should try to get more orders."

"President Su's move was truly ruthless!" Liu Yuan exclaimed. "First, he waged a media war, ruining Tianba Electronics' reputation. Then, when Huang Tianba couldn't hold on any longer, he acquired it at a low price. This back-and-forth transaction made him a fortune."

Xiao Ran nodded, "It's formidable. I heard that Huang Tianba tried to poach our CEO Su's girlfriend, but he was outmaneuvered and killed."

"So, people need to know their own limitations," Liu Yuan said. "Huang Tianba, a seasoned veteran who had been in Shenzhen for over a decade, ended up being taken down by a recent college graduate. It's shameful."

"It's not entirely Huang Tianba's fault," Xiao Ran said. "Our CEO Su is truly extraordinary. Look at how he handles things—steady, precise, and ruthless. He acts when he needs to and knows when to back down. When acquiring Tianba Electronics, he even gave them the market price, not trying to crush them. This kind of magnanimity is rare among young people."

Liu Yuan took a sip of his drink. "Old Xiao, you know, we graduated from the same school as President Su, so how come there's such a big difference between us?"

Xiao Ran fell silent.

He had thought about this question many times.

Both are college graduates, but Suning has already started a factory in Shenzhen and earns tens of millions of yuan a year.

And they are still working hard for a few thousand yuan a month.

Where does the difference lie?

Ability? Opportunity? Or... family?
“Maybe… they’re just born to be in business,” Xiao Ran said. “We’re better suited to working for someone else and earning a decent wage.”

“I’m not convinced,” Liu Yuan said. “Old Xiao, we’re not doing badly either! Look at you, how many units have you sold in these three months? More than three hundred, right? You’ve made fifty or sixty thousand in commission. I’ve also sold almost three hundred units. We’re in the top five in the sales department.”

"So what?" Xiao Ran smiled wryly. "They're the bosses, we're the employees. They earn profits, we earn commissions. How can you compare?"

"But……"

“There’s no ‘buts’,” Xiao Ran interrupted him. “Liu Yuan, we have to accept our fate. Some people are born to be bosses. Some people are born to be employees. We’re doing pretty well to have gotten this far. Think back to three months ago, we couldn’t even afford to eat.”

Liu Yuan fell silent.

That's right! Three months ago, they were indeed still eating steamed buns.

I live in a two-bedroom apartment now and earn a few thousand yuan a month. What more could I ask for?
But... I just couldn't accept it.

Why should Suning be able to be the boss while they have to work for others?
"Old Xiao, do you think... is it possible for us to start our own business in the future?" Liu Yuan asked tentatively.

Xiao Ran glanced at him. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know," Liu Yuan said. "I just feel that... working for someone else is never a good thing. Look at Su Ning, he's a year younger than us and he's already a big boss. We're still doing sales and having to put up with other people's attitudes."

“What’s wrong with doing sales?” Xiao Ran said. “You can earn a living through sales too. Besides, isn’t working at Shengang Electronics better than wandering around aimlessly? At least it’s stable and has a future. General Manager Su said that if you do well, you can become a regional manager and get bonuses.”

“Well, you have to watch your step…” Liu Yuan said. “Look at that Manager Li, he always has a long face, like someone owes him money. And those veteran salespeople, they’re jealous of how well we newbies are selling, they gossip behind our backs.”

“Which company doesn’t have this kind of thing?” Xiao Ran said. “Just bear with it and it will pass. The most important thing for us right now is to save money and gain experience. Once we have capital and experience, we can think about other things.”

Liu Yuan sighed, "You're right. But Lao Xiao, I just... I just can't accept it."

"We have to accept it, whether we like it or not," Xiao Ran said. "That's just how reality is. We have no connections, no capital, what else can we do besides work? Let's just work hard for now and wait for our chance."

The two ate in silence, neither of them speaking.

Everyone had their own thoughts.

Xiao Ran's thought was to work hard, make more money, and give Han Ling a good life when she arrived.

As for becoming a boss? He had considered it, but he was more clear-headed.

Liu Yuan thought that he couldn't work for someone else his whole life.

We need to find opportunities and climb the ladder.

Even if you can't be the boss, you should at least be a senior executive and earn a high salary.

Classmates, different fates.

Fate can be really unfair sometimes.

……

The next day at work, the sales department held a morning meeting.

Manager Li Xiao stood at the front and reported the sales data for the previous month.

"First place, Xiao Ran, sold 320 units, commission of 48,000."

"Second place, Li Qiang, sold 280 units, and earned a commission of 42,000."

"Third place, Liu Yuan, sold 260 units, and earned a commission of 39,000."

Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan both received praise.

"Xiao Ran, Liu Yuan, although you are new here, you have performed exceptionally well," Li Xiao said. "The company has decided to promote you. Starting next month, Xiao Ran will be the sales supervisor for the Shenzhen region, and Liu Yuan will be the sales supervisor for the Guangzhou region. Your base salary will increase to 800 yuan, and your commission rate will be increased to 6%."

Both of them were stunned.

Promotion? Raise?
"Thank you, manager!" Liu Yuan said quickly.

Xiao Ran also expressed his gratitude, knowing that Su Ning was still looking out for them, "Thank you for the company's support."

"Work hard," Li Xiao said. "The company will not let down those who work hard. President Su said that Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics is in a period of expansion and needs a lot of talent. As long as you have the ability and performance, the company will give you opportunities."

After the meeting, colleagues gathered around to congratulate him.

"Xiao Ran, Liu Yuan, congratulations! You've been promoted to supervisor in just three months, that's amazing!"

"Treat us to a meal! You absolutely have to treat us!"

Xiao Ran and Liu Yuan smiled and made small talk, both of them very happy.

Being promoted to manager means a rise in status and an increase in income.

More importantly, it provided room for development.

Liu Yuan whispered, "Old Xiao, I didn't expect President Su to be so accommodating?"

"Okay." Xiao Ran nodded. "Work hard! President Su has already been very considerate of us. In other companies, even the top salesperson wouldn't get promoted so quickly."

At lunchtime, the two ran into Su Ning in the cafeteria.

"President Su," the two greeted each other.

"Xiao Ran, Liu Yuan, I heard you got promoted to supervisors?" Su Ning said with a smile, "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Mr. Su," Xiao Ran said. "It's all thanks to the company for giving me this opportunity."

"The opportunity is given by the company, but whether you can seize it depends on yourselves," Suning said. "Work hard, the Shenzhen and Guangzhou regions are key markets, and I'm entrusting them to you."

"I will certainly live up to your expectations," Liu Yuan said.

Suning nodded, picked up her tray, and left.

Watching Su Ning's retreating figure, Liu Yuan sighed, "What does President Su think about every day? The company is so big, and there are so many things to do, how come he's not worried at all?"

“Maybe… they’ve gotten used to it?” Xiao Ran said. “Maybe they were born to do this.”

"Sigh, different people have different fates!" Liu Yuan shook his head.

Both of them knew in their hearts that the gap between them and Suning would only widen.

One is the boss, and the other is the employee.

One is the one who makes the rules, and the other is the one who follows the rules.

This gap cannot be bridged by hard work alone.

But they had no choice but to accept it.

At least at Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics, they have food to eat, money to earn, and a future.

As for those feelings of resentment and discontent, they can only be buried deep in one's heart for the time being.

Shenzhen is a city that doesn't believe in tears or complaints.

I only believe in strength and results.

All they can do now is strive to improve their abilities and achieve better results.

There's no point in thinking about the rest.

Classmates may have different fates, that's reality.

……

The five million loan played a crucial role in the successful acquisition and transformation of Tianba Electronics this time.

According to the mall's rules, we should thank the bank.

Suning asked Huang Yunyun to prepare a generous gift...

Two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes, two bottles of Moutai liquor, and a set of imported cosmetics were for President Chen's wife.

As for whether the cigarettes actually contain tobacco, only President Chen himself knows.

That evening, I booked a private room at the most upscale hotel in Shenzhen and treated President Chen to dinner.

President Chen brought two people with him: the director of the credit department and the vice president.

Suning brought Afu and Huang Yunyun along.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was very harmonious.

"President Su is young and promising!" President Chen raised his glass. "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics is now a star enterprise in Shenzhen. It is our honor to cooperate with you."

"President Chen, you flatter me." Su Ning also raised his glass. "Without your help, the loan wouldn't have been approved so quickly. I'd like to toast you."

The two drank it all in one gulp.

Next came various toasts.

Credit Department Director Jing Suning said, "President Su, let's cooperate more in the future. Your company's success benefits our bank as well."

"Definitely, definitely." Su Ning drank it.

The vice president also raised a toast, saying, "President Su, I heard you're planning to expand nationwide? If you need funding, feel free to contact us anytime."

"Thank you for your support, President Chu." Su Ning finished his drink again.

Huang Yunyun watched from the side, a little worried.

She had lost count of how many drinks Su Ning had had—white wine, red wine, beer, all in rotation.

Afu wanted to help Suning avoid drinking, but Suning waved his hand and said, "It's okay, I'm happy today, so I'll drink more."

He was genuinely happy.

The acquisition of Tianba Electronics, the expansion of production capacity, and the establishment of a nationwide market... everything is proceeding according to plan.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics ship is sailing at full speed.

After a few rounds of drinks, President Chen, a little tipsy, patted Su Ning on the shoulder and said, "Little Su! I have high hopes for you! You're even more capable than your father was back then! Your father also borrowed money from me back then, and look how big Su's Building Materials is now! Your Shengang Electronics business will definitely be bigger than your father's in the future!"

"Thank you for your kind words," Su Ning said with a smile.

"However, Xiao Su, there's something I need to remind you of," President Chen said in a low voice. "It's good for your business to grow, but you also need to be aware of the risks. Policies change quickly these days; what's hot in an industry today might be unpopular tomorrow. You need to be prepared." "Thank you for the reminder, President Chen. I'll remember it."

"Okay, remember that," said President Chen. "Come on, have another drink!"

The meal took three hours to finish.

By the end, all three of them, including President Chen, were a little drunk.

Suning arranged for a driver to take them back, and also had Afu deliver the gifts to their car.

"President Su, are you alright?" Huang Yunyun asked worriedly as she supported Su Ning.

Suning is indeed a little confused.

Although he has a high alcohol tolerance, he drank way too much tonight...

Half a jin of white wine, half a bottle of red wine, and five or six bottles of beer.

"It's nothing, I'm just a little dizzy." Su Ning waved her hand. "Yunyun, you drive and take me home."

"it is good."

Huang Yunyun helped Su Ning into the car and then sat in the driver's seat herself.

She drove very slowly and very steadily, as if afraid of bumping into Suning.

In the back seat, Su Ning closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat.

The alcohol made him feel hot all over and his head throb, but he remained conscious throughout.

"Yunyun, you've worked hard today," Su Ning said.

"No...it's not hard work," Huang Yunyun said. "President Su, please drink less in the future. Alcohol...alcohol is bad for your health."

"There was no other way, it was a business engagement," Su Ning said with a wry smile. "You can't do business in China without drinking. If it weren't for President Chen's help today, the loan wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

"But...but your health is more important!"

"I know." Su Ning opened her eyes and looked at Huang Yunyun, who was driving.

The light from the streetlights outside the car window shone in and fell on her face.

Her profile was soft, with long eyelashes, a straight nose, pursed lips, and a serious expression.

Huang Yunyun has changed a lot in the past few months.

I hardly stutter anymore, and I'm much more confident.

She is meticulous and thoughtful, making her a very capable assistant.

And... she's quite good-looking too.

Su Ning suddenly remembered that Huang Yunyun was already twenty years old and still didn't have a boyfriend.

Huang Renfa had always wanted to find her a good family, but he hadn't found a suitable one yet.

"Yunyun, is your dad still pressuring you to go on blind dates lately?" Su Ning asked.

Huang Yunyun blushed. "Hurry...hurry. They introduced me to another one last week, a teacher from town. I...I didn't go."

"why are you not going?"

"No... I don't want to go," Huang Yunyun said softly. "I think... things are fine as they are now. Work, study, life is fulfilling. I don't want... I don't want to be in a relationship."

“That won’t do,” Su Ning said. “Girls always have to get married.”

“I…I’m not in a hurry,” Huang Yunyun said. “I want to…learn more and help you with more things. We’ll talk about it later….”

Su Ning smiled and said nothing more.

When the car arrived at the apartment building, Huang Yunyun parked it and helped Su Ning upstairs.

In the elevator, Su Ning deliberately leaned against her, able to smell the fragrance in her hair.

It smells light and nice.

Huang Yunyun's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't dodge.

Once inside, Huang Yunyun helped Su Ning to sit on the sofa and then went to pour him some water.

"Ms. Su, have some water." She handed her a glass of water.

Su Ning took the water glass, and her hand touched hers.

Huang Yunyun's hands are small, soft, and a little cold.

Both of them were stunned for a moment.

Eyes facing each other.

Under the influence of alcohol, Su Ning suddenly felt an urge to commit violence while drunk.

He put down his water glass and reached out to hug Huang Yunyun.

Huang Yunyun trembled, but did not resist.

"Yunyun..." Su Ning whispered in Huang Yunyun's ear.

"Mr. Su... Mr. Su..." Huang Yunyun's voice trembled, whether from nervousness or something else, it was hard to tell.

"Don't call me President Su," Su Ning said. "Call me by my name."

“Su…Su Ning…”

"Ah."

Su Ning hugged her even tighter; he could feel Huang Yunyun's heartbeat—fast and loud.

Huang Yunyun closed her eyes and let Su Ning hold her.

In fact, she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

From the first time I met Su Ning, to becoming his assistant, to getting treatment for my stutter, to spending every day together...

Her feelings for Suning have long since transcended the simple relationship between an employee and her boss.

But Huang Yunyun never dared to say it or even think about it.

He knew he was not good enough for Suning.

How can a girl with a stutter be a good match for a young and promising boss?

But now, Suning hugged himself.

Therefore, Huang Yunyun did not resist, nor was she willing to resist.

Even if it was just a momentary impulse, even if it was just the effect of alcohol, she was willing to do it.

"Yunyun, are you willing?" Su Ning asked.

Huang Yunyun nodded, her voice very soft, "I...I'm willing."

"Good girl! I'll take good care of you."

"Ah."

That night, everything that was supposed to happen happened.

Huang Yunyun is really well-behaved; she almost always grants her requests and doesn't know how to resist or refuse.

Suning had always heard about the traditions of Chaoshan girls, but only today did he truly experience them through Huang Yunyun.

Actually, the reason Suning gave up on Han Ling was not only because she chose Xiao Ran, but also because Han Ling was a drama queen.

But Huang Yunyun is different; she is traditional and obedient, definitely a good woman who can settle down and live a peaceful life.

"Yunyun, do you regret it?"

"No regrets! I did it willingly."

"If I told you that I have many other women outside, would you be able to accept it?"

"This……"

"I had many female friends in college, and my biggest hobby was finding girls."

"I...I don't mind! As long as you're good to me."

"Rest assured! If you do not betray me, I will never betray you."

"Ah."

"Yunyun, let's continue..."

"what……"

……

The next morning, when Suning woke up, her head still hurt a little.

He sat up and found himself naked, with Huang Yunyun lying next to him.

Huang Yunyun was still asleep, lying on her side with her hair spread out on the pillow, her face flushed, sleeping soundly.

Last night's memories slowly returned—drinking, going home, hugging, and then…

He rubbed his temples.

I did drink too much last night, but I wasn't completely unconscious. Besides, I couldn't possibly have gotten to that point.

Naturally, he clearly remembered what happened, remembered that Huang Yunyun did not resist, and remembered that she said she was willing.

Just then, Huang Yunyun woke up.

She opened her eyes, saw Su Ning, and her face immediately turned red. She quickly covered herself with the blanket.

"Are you awake?"

"Yunyun, did you have fun last night?"

"Yes, I'm very happy." Huang Yunyun lowered her head shyly.

"I'll be relying on you from now on."

"It's not hard work! I'm happy to stay by your side."

"How about... you get the day off today?"

"No! I want to work."

"Okay then! Call your dad right away, they must be very worried."

"It's okay! I already told him beforehand."

……

At the company, Huang Yunyun acted as if nothing had happened, continuing her work as usual, serving tea and water to Suning, and arranging his schedule.

But the way she looked at Su Ning had changed.

It used to be respect and gratitude.

Now, there's a hint of evasion, a touch of shyness, and a complex mix of emotions that are hard to define.

Suning and I interacted normally, with him handing over tasks as required and speaking freely.

That night, Huang Yunyun worked overtime until very late.

When Su Ning came out of the office, she saw that she was still organizing documents.

"Yunyun, it's so late, aren't you going home yet?"

"It'll be ready soon," Huang Yunyun said.

"I'll give it to you."

"No...no need, I'll go back myself."

"It's so late, it's not safe," Su Ning said. "Let's go."

The two went downstairs together and got into the car.

The road was very quiet.

As they approached Lanyuan Village, Su Ning finally spoke, "Yunyun, you worked hard yesterday, go back and get some rest."

"Yes, if you need anything... you can contact me anytime."

"Okay! I get it."

When the car arrived at the village entrance, Huang Yunyun got out.

"Mr. Su, thank you for giving me a ride," she said. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Watching Huang Yunyun's figure disappear at the village entrance, Su Ning sighed.

This girl is so sensible, so sensible that it breaks your heart.

As for how things will develop in the future, we can leave that to time.

...(End of chapter)