After my divorce at thirty, I developed an intelligence network.

When Gong Yuelong returned to the courtyard where the characters were dismantled, it was already dark.

He laid the certificate flat on the table, pulled up a chair, sat down, and stared at it.

I lit a cigarette, but didn't smoke it. I held it between my fingers, letting the smoke rise gently.

How did you get through these past few months?

The images kept drilling into my brain, frame by frame:

In the early morning, I squatted at the entrance of the labor market, my breath mixed with the smell of cheap cigarettes, waiting for odd jobs that I didn't know if I would get any.

Countless nights I spent scrutinizing those incomprehensible, cryptic texts, my eyes aching and swollen...

……

Cigarette ash fell on the back of my hand and burned me.

He then came to his senses and stubbed out his cigarette.

Can the hardships of these struggles compare to the unbearable suffering of when the company went bankrupt, creditors blocked the door, and the wife left with the children without looking back?

That was when they really became beasts of burden.

Being pulled like a plow by fate, being dragged to the brink of death, with no end in sight.

He reached out and traced the words "construction company" with his index finger.

Cool and smooth.

Not the same.

You won't suddenly have mountains of gold and silver, and you won't be able to stand tall immediately.

But from today onwards, the next time Gong Yuelong goes to the construction site, he can present this piece of paper with dignity, instead of relying on fists and harsh words to pave the way.

Footsteps came from outside the door; it was Old Niu returning, humming a tuneless little tune.

Reaching his doorway, I glimpsed the light on inside and poked my head in: "Hey, Yuelong, still up? Oh ho, what's this?"

Old Niu's eyes lit up. He shuffled in, slipped on his shoes, and leaned closer to the table, squinting as he looked. "This... qualification? It's approved?"

"Yes, I'm down."

Old Niu rubbed his hands together, chuckled, revealing a set of yellow teeth: "Great! Really great!"

He patted Gong Yuelong on the shoulder: "That's good, now we're... what's it called again? The regular army!"

Hearing the commotion, Widow Qin from across the street also came over, still wearing her clothes. After seeing what was happening, a smile bloomed on her face:

"Wow! Brother Gong, this is fantastic news! From now on, we can really call you 'General Manager Gong'!"

Old Niu nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! Boss Gong! All right!"

"Let's go!"

Gong Yuelong repeated these three words in his mind.

……

……

As soon as Lin Wei opened the car door, a swarm of mosquitoes buzzed around her.

She waved her hand irritably, slung her bag over her shoulder, and strode towards the building entrance.

"Mr. Lin, you're back?"

A person emerged from under the shade of the trees, their voice gentle and soft.

Lin Wei paused, squinting to look – Yu Yue was standing there with a smile, carrying a small paper bag, as if she had come specifically to wait for her.

She wore a light-colored linen dress, and the night breeze rustled the hem of the dress, making her look very elegant.

"Sister Yu?" Lin Wei asked in surprise, "What are you doing here? Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long ago, just arrived." Yu Yue approached and handed over the paper bag. "I was shopping with a friend this afternoon and saw a silk scarf. The color suits you quite well. I brought it over for you."

Lin Wei took the paper bag; it wasn't heavy. "I can't accept this..."

"Don't mention it." Yu Yue's smile deepened. "Regarding what I mentioned last time, about having my sister Lily... join you, has President Lin inquired about it with you?"

They've arrived. Lin Wei realized.

"I've already asked. Both Mr. Zhao and Mr. Liu have no problems. We're just waiting for you to set a time so we can all get together and get to know each other."

"We've all heard that Lily is very capable."

Yu Yue's voice was even softer:

"That's great, thank you for your help, Mr. Lin. Lily just needs a decent platform, so we'll need your guidance in the future."

Lin Wei was feeling tipsy and just wanted to go upstairs and take a shower as soon as possible. She could only force herself to respond to Yue's small talk.

"Sister Yu, you're too kind." She then looked up at Yu Yue.

But upon closer inspection, my gaze was drawn to the dress she was wearing.

The light flaxen color and minimalist cut perfectly accentuated her waist, giving Yu Yue an indescribable sense of ease and... sophistication.

Thinking about how she runs around construction sites every day, wearing jeans, she realized that Gong Yuelong must not see her as a woman at all.

She couldn't help but say, "Sister Yu, this dress...it's so beautiful. Where did you buy it? It really makes you look elegant."

Yu Yue lowered her head, smoothed the hem of her skirt, and smiled: "It's a new style from Su Nian, the store on the second floor of Ginza. Do you like it? Shall we go shopping together sometime? Their fabric is really comfortable."

Lin Wei's drunkenness subsided a bit: "Su Nian? I know that brand, but I've always felt that their clothes are too selective in terms of who can pull them off. Only someone with your temperament, Sister Yu, can truly carry them off."

Yu Yue chuckled, speaking naturally as if sharing her experience: "Actually, when it comes to dressing up, sometimes you have to consider the occasion and... who you want to be seen with."

I've met some men who made their own way in the world, especially those who... have been through a lot, like being divorced or starting from scratch.

She spoke softly, "They actually appreciate simplicity more. They can see through anything fancy at a glance."

Lin Wei nodded in agreement: "That makes sense, and it's reassuring."

She smiled slightly, "Just like President Gong whom I met tonight. I've heard that his style of dressing and doing things is exactly like that. Straightforward, decisive, and straightforward."

"You just said... Mr. Gong? My memory's failing me. There are quite a few people with the surname Gong in the construction industry. The one you met tonight is...?"

Lin Wei was led astray by this question, and her drunken thoughts slid out along with the momentum:

"It's... the one who just got his labor service license. It's Gong Yuelong, the boss who used to have a lot of influence at the North City Labor Market."

The summer night was oppressive; even the wind had stopped.

Half an hour passed.

Yu Yue smiled at Lin Wei: "President Lin, we won't disturb your rest. We can reschedule for another day about the dress."

She turned and left, a buzzing sound ringing in her ears, whether from too many mosquitoes or something else, she couldn't tell.

……

After seeing off Old Niu and Widow Qin, they departed.

Gong Yuelong looked at the blue qualification certificate one last time before lying down on the wooden bed.

He didn't fall asleep immediately, but closed his eyes and let his consciousness sink into the blue light.

[Intelligence System: Based on current labor qualifications, projects can be approached in the near future.]

[Thinking...]

[Estimated thinking time: over twenty hours.]

Looking at these words, Gong Yuelong finally relaxed, the tension that had been building up inside him all night.

We'll know tomorrow where to step next.

During that sleep, I didn't dream of the creditors, the broken contract, or even Jiang Yan.

I slept soundly and peacefully.

He didn't wake up until dawn broke and the first sputtering sound of a motorcycle echoed through the alley.

He sat up, thinking to himself that he should go see Jiang Yan.

The certification has been granted; I should thank them. I'd also like to ask what projects they have available.

Gong Yuelong opened the door.

His gaze fell on the clothesline stretched horizontally in the yard, and he paused.

His shirt from last night's dinner party, along with his usual pair of trousers, were hanging neatly on the rope.

The fabric looked crisper after being washed. Several of Widow Qin's own clothes were also hanging to dry nearby.

He walked over and got closer; a very faint jasmine fragrance wafted into his nostrils—the same scent he used to like.

After the divorce, he bought things haphazardly and hasn't used this brand in a long time.

This smell... must be for Widow Qin's own consumption.