My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

He sat there stiffly, feeling the warmth of her palms, the softness of her body, and the faint fragrance entering his nostrils.

Time passed by, second by second.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard her breathing evenly.

She fell asleep.

Su Ming lowered his head, looking at her peaceful sleeping face. The light fell on her face, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows under her eyelids; her lips were slightly pursed, and there seemed to be a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.

When he was asleep, he looked like a completely unguarded child.

As Su Ming looked at her, the burning desire in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by an indescribable tenderness and pity.

He didn't move, nor did he pull his hand away.

Just sit there, let her lean against you, let her fall asleep.

until late at night.

The next morning, when Su Ming woke up, he found that he had fallen asleep at some point and was leaning against the sofa with a thin blanket covering him.

Qiu Tong is no longer by my side.

A slight noise came from the kitchen.

He rubbed his eyes and walked over, seeing Qiu Tong standing in front of the stove, frying eggs. She was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans today, her hair tied in a ponytail, looking fresh and neat.

"Awake?" She turned to look at him, a faint smile on her lips. "Go wash up and have breakfast."

Su Ming said "Oh" and turned to go into the bathroom.

When he finished washing up and came out, breakfast was already laid out on the table: fried eggs, millet porridge, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

Qiu Tong sat opposite him, her head down as she drank her porridge.

Neither of them spoke, but the awkward atmosphere seemed to dissipate considerably, replaced by an inexplicable tacit understanding.

After finishing breakfast, Su Ming packed his things and prepared to go to work.

"etc."

Qiu Tong suddenly called out to him.

Su Ming turned around and saw her turn and go into the bedroom. After a while, she came out with a small box in her hand.

"Here you go." She handed over the box.

Su Ming took it and was stunned.

Nokia 8250.

It was a very classic phone at the time: a small, blue-screen phone that was quite expensive. In 2003, such a phone would cost at least one or two thousand yuan, equivalent to more than two months' wages for an average worker.

"Sister-in-law, this...this is too expensive!" Su Ming waved his hands repeatedly, "I can't accept it!"

Qiu Tong glanced at him and said indifferently, "I didn't give it to you for nothing."

She paused for a moment, then explained, "I was worried I wouldn't be able to reach you if something happened. From now on, if anything comes up, I'll just call you directly. It'll be more convenient."

As she spoke, she took the box from Su Ming's hand, opened it, took out her phone, turned it on, and dialed a number.

A few seconds later, her own phone rang.

"Okay." She handed the phone to Su Ming. "Save my number. As the contact name... just write 'Sister-in-law'."

Su Ming took the phone, looked at the unfamiliar number on the screen, and felt a mix of emotions welling up inside him.

This is his first mobile phone.

She gave it to me.

He looked up at Qiu Tong. She was adjusting her handbag with her head down, her profile gentle and beautiful.

"Thank you, cousin-in-law," he said softly.

Qiu Tong looked up and smiled at him: "Alright, go to work now. Don't be late."

Su Ming nodded, carefully put his phone into his pocket, and turned to leave.

Walking down the street, he couldn't help but take out his phone again to look at it. The blue light from the screen reflected on his face, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

This was his first mobile phone.

It was also the first time in his life that he had received a gift from a woman.

Su Ming went to work in a good mood. He had just arrived at the warehouse and hadn't even had a chance to sit down when Tian Jing pulled him aside.

"Hey, Manager Lin wants you to go to her office." Tian Jing lowered her voice, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry. "You've been spending a lot of time with her lately. Are you hiding something from me?"

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat, but he pretended to be nonchalant: "What could it be? The manager only calls me for work-related matters."

"Tch." Tian Jing curled her lip, clearly not believing it, but didn't press further. "Go on, don't keep the manager waiting."

Su Ming knocked on Lin Shumei's office door and found that she was wearing a dark gray business suit with a white silk blouse underneath, and a thin silk scarf tied at the collar. She looked capable and elegant.

"You're here?" Lin Shumei looked up at him, pointed to the chair opposite her, and said, "Sit down."

Su Ming sat down, waiting for her to speak.

Lin Shumei didn't rush to speak, but instead took the voice recorder out of the drawer and placed it on the table.

"I'll take this back for now."

Su Ming was taken aback: "Manager, you're just going to ignore this?"

Lin Shumei smiled, a smile that held a deeper meaning: "Never mind that for now. I have other tasks for you."

She stood up, walked to the window, her back to Su Ming, and slowly said, "Next Wednesday, I'm going to Jiangzhou City, about 300 kilometers away. You'll come with me."

Su Ming was stunned.

Jiangzhou? Business trip? Or is he going alone with the manager?

"Manager, why...why are you taking me along?" he couldn't help but ask.

Lin Shumei turned around and leaned against the window. Sunlight streamed in from behind her, outlining the graceful curves of her body.

She looked at Su Ming, a charming smile playing on her lips: "I'll focus on developing you."

These words were spoken casually, yet they made Su Ming feel uneasy.

Special training? He's only been here a few days. What makes him worthy of "special training"?

Looking into Lin Shumei's smiling eyes, he suddenly recalled the ambiguous scene in the office that day when she asked him to help her zip up her jacket, and the meaningful smile she gave him when she bumped into his lower abdomen.

What exactly does this woman want?

"What's wrong?" Lin Shumei saw him lost in thought, smiled, and walked over to him, stopping in front of him. "Don't want to go?"

A faint scent of perfume wafted into Su Ming's nose. He subconsciously leaned back and chuckled dryly, "It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just... a bit sudden."

"What's so sudden?" Lin Shumei reached out and patted his shoulder. "Prepare yourself well, and come with me. It won't hurt you to broaden your horizons."

Her hand lingered on his shoulder for a few seconds, her fingertips intentionally or unintentionally brushing against his neck.

Su Ming froze.

"Alright, go ahead." Lin Shumei withdrew her hand, turned around, and walked back to her desk to sit down. "Remember, don't tell anyone about this yet."

"Okay, sure." Su Ming nodded and fled the office as if he were escaping.

The moment he stepped out of the office, he regretted it. Three hundred kilometers—could he even make it back that same day? Would he have to stay in a hotel then? Good heavens, a man and a woman alone together—wouldn't staying in a hotel cause any trouble…?

Forget it, she can't possibly eat me.

The moment he stepped out the door, he let out a long sigh of relief.

That woman is a real enchantress.

Every time I'm alone with her, I feel like a mouse being watched by a cat.

In the afternoon, Su Ming was checking the inventory when Wu Yumin suddenly walked over.

With that unsettling smile on his face, he leaned close to Su Ming's ear and whispered, "Little Su, don't rush off work tonight. A friend of mine wants to meet you."