It's just The Sims, how did it become my ideal love story?

Chapter 147 Being Embraced and Killed (Second Update!)
"I knew I'd made the right choice assigning this task to you, even though it was just an experiment by the company's management. You completed it perfectly, satisfying all the leaders, and I'm very satisfied with you too!"

In Minister Qian's office, sunlight shone on the large wooden desk.

The middle-aged man wearing glasses had a big smile on his face.

As the praise from the other party grew more intense, Gu Huai's demeanor became increasingly reserved and restrained.

"It's all thanks to the effective leadership of Minister Qian and Team Leader Cai. I only did a very small part of the work."

"Hahaha, your bureaucratic jargon is still not very polished. Even if you want to give me the credit, I won't get any more benefits. So there's no need to be so humble."

Minister Qian said with a smile.

Gu Huai thought to himself, "Am I really that bad at flattery?"

Did they not capture the horse's legs in the photo?
He still couldn't let his guard down, so he nodded slightly and said, "That's not true, that's what I really think."

At this moment, Minister Qian, with a smile, took an envelope out of his pocket.

"The bonus I promised you in your salary last time is one thing, but the personal bonus I applied for for you this time is another. Keep it safe. The finance department approved it on the spot, which shows how happy they are."

Gu Huai accepted the thick envelope.

Besides feeling a bit emotional, he was also curious as to why the money wasn't deposited directly into his own account. Was it related to tax deductions or something?
However, the feeling of holding these heavy banknotes in your hand is definitely much warmer than the cold numbers in a bank text message.

"Thank you, Minister Qian, and thank you to the company and to you for your guidance. I will definitely continue to work hard."

Gu Huai quickly responded.

Minister Qian laughed heartily, "Five thousand yuan is enough to scare you. The better days are yet to come. Alright, there's nothing else today. Just wanted to let you know that the company might be setting up a new team specifically for live-streaming e-commerce soon. Keep up the good work."

"I understand, and I will never forget Minister Qian's guidance."

"Ha ha ha ha."

As I walked out of Minister Qian's office, the sound of his laughter seemed to still echo in my ears.

Gu Huai realized that he wasn't actually someone who didn't know how to flatter or was clueless about social interactions. It was just that some benefits had never come his way, and he had never received any attention, which made him seem out of place and have extremely low emotional intelligence.

Is flattery and bootlicking simply a human instinct?
The worst thing is that I don't really hate myself for being this way. But if I were truly sophisticated and worldly-wise, wouldn't that make me unlikable to others?

Instead of returning to her workstation, she went to the restroom to wash her hands. The water, which was a bit cold in this weather, soaked her hands, and then she patted her cheeks.

Try to clear your head.

"Giving you a simulator, giving you a chance to start over, is not to make you a boring adult."

he reminded himself.

If having miracles is just about living like most people, then it's really boring.

We cannot become complacent, nor can we become lazy. It's like rowing against the current, and perhaps we should also add the condition of walking on a tightrope. Am I overthinking things, or is life really this difficult and complicated?

Take a break at noon.

As always, I ate at the company cafeteria.

It was a bit of a shame not to see Cai Yan in the cafeteria, but I can't have lunch with her every day anyway, after all, it's her. Sometimes I can't stand the cafeteria's unchanging taste, even though I always say the company cafeteria is so much better than the school cafeteria.

"Gu Huai!"

Gu Huai, who was holding a plate, soon saw Old Lin calling out to him.

There was no other choice anyway; it was just lunch. Thinking this, he sat down in front of Old Lin, who had a big smile on his face.

"I heard he went to see Minister Qian. What happened?"

"It's nothing, just a compliment. Just the boss's usual line, what else could it be?"

Gu Huai didn't go into many details. Unlike Zhong Xinyang, who was given a hint by his so-called background and connections and then wanted the whole world to know that he might become the team leader, Gu Huai didn't.

In the end, Minister Qian's words to him clearly had another meaning, but Gu Huai couldn't take it too seriously, even if it meant the whole world would know.

As for the personal bonus, there's absolutely no need to mention it; it would sound like bragging. "This is a good sign, proving that Minister Qian thinks highly of you. That's great! You're not even married yet, and you've already gained the leader's favor. You're just incredibly lucky."

Gu Huai watched Lao Lin with amusement as he ate.

"What does this have to do with getting married?"

Old Lin chuckled. "You'll understand once you're married. With a wife, kids, and a warm bed, you won't be so eager to compete for power in the workplace. You'll be thinking more about keeping your job and living a stable life until retirement. Then you'll watch your kids repeat your life. Of course, you'll hope they have a better life, but most of the time it's just repeating the same things."

Gu Huai hadn't expected that even the usually slick Lao Lin would say something like that.

Old Lin's expression only darkened slightly for a moment before a familiar smile quickly appeared on his face.

“I’m actually quite familiar with how you were before. When I first joined the company, I was just like you, burying myself in my work, working overtime whenever I wanted, without a single complaint. But gradually I realized that the company has no shortage of people like that. Rather than working so hard and squeezing myself out of opportunities, I might as well focus on my family, and I won’t be as dedicated to my work. I know some people think I’m slacking off, that I’m just taking advantage of my seniority to be lazy, but that’s really not true. I’m just really too lazy to compete and fight anymore, it’s too tiring.”

Gu Huai smiled, looking at the self-deprecating Old Lin, and simply said softly, "It's okay, I know you're a good person."

Old Lin paused for a moment, looked at Gu Huai, and then smiled bitterly, "There are no good or bad people. In the face of huge interests, anyone can become unrecognizable. You're not much younger than me, but your future is much brighter than mine~ Okay, let's not talk about this anymore, let's eat."

Gu Huai was just wondering whether he should bring up some opportunities at this time, and whether it would be too early.

"Excuse me, are you Gu Huai?"

An unfamiliar voice came from a spot behind them, and Lao Lin and Gu Huai looked over at the same time.

Then I saw a young girl with short hair, wearing her company uniform, standing to the side holding a tray.

Gu Huai didn't recognize him, and judging from Lao Lin's expression, he didn't seem to recognize him either. Gu Huai hesitated before speaking, "I'm Gu Huai. And you are?"

The young girl immediately flashed a bright smile, "Hello, I'm also from the publicity department, I'm Chen Yu from group three."

"Oh, it's a colleague. Is there something you need?"

As soon as Gu Huai finished speaking, he saw Lao Lin giving him a series of winks.

What does that mean? Does he know what's going on? Is there something fishy going on? Did he trigger a strange rule that prevents him from talking to a girl named Chen Yu in the company cafeteria at lunchtime? Is he forbidden from answering her questions?

Gu Huai was still a little confused.

"boom."

Chen Yu, carrying a tray, plopped down next to Gu Huai, then eagerly pulled out her phone from her pocket and smiled broadly at him.

"I noticed you a while ago, but I only just got ready today. Can I add you on WeChat?"

"."

Only now did Gu Huai realize what "probably," "possibly," and "estimated" meant.

For the first time in my nearly thirty years of life, I was approached by a girl.

Because I had never experienced it before, I didn't even think about this aspect of the problem at the beginning.

To be honest, the girl named Chen Yu in front of him couldn't impress Gu Huai at all. After all, compared to women like Cai Yan and Lin Jiang, her charm was really limited.

What truly gave Gu Huai an unbelievable feeling was the act of being approached by someone.

It seems that this is the most direct, straightforward, and effective way to prove a man's charm.

To prove its value, it needs to be purchased and loved.

To prove its existence, to be embraced, to be killed.

To prove that one's life is indeed undergoing a dramatic change, all one needs is for a woman to simply ask for one's contact information.

So that's what it feels like. Gu Huai was somewhat dazed, unaware that Old Lin was still frantically giving him meaningful glances.

……

(End of this chapter)