One person said: The essence of Wuhou Qimen lies not in Qimen, but in Wuhou.

Zhang Chulan was kicked so hard that even the small stool flipped over, but he got up from the ground, dusted off his butt, and his expression remained serious, firm, and profound, with a touch of philosophical meaning.

He straightened the small stool again, sat down properly, placed his hands on his knees, looked into Xu Si's eyes, and asked, slowly and deliberately, in an almost sacred tone, "Fourth Brother—do you believe in miracles?"

Xu Si stopped chewing his bubble gum again.

He closed his eyes briefly, as if trying to control himself from getting a stroke from this idiot college student, and said in a weary tone, as if he'd been intellectually crushed, "A miracle? A miracle has occurred again—you idiot college student, have you been watching too much Ultraman? I still believe in light!"

Zhang Chulan was not deterred by Xu Si's tone. Instead, he nodded even more earnestly, as if he had finally found an opportunity to have his life experience heard.

He took a deep breath and spoke slowly in a tone that was as if recounting a personal experience, an absolute truth that left no room for doubt: "No, Fourth Brother, people really have to believe in miracles."

Once, I only had fifty yuan left, and there was still a week until payday.

Then I went and bought a lottery ticket.

At that moment—a miracle occurred, Fourth Brother.

Xu Si was indeed attracted.

He looked at Zhang Chulan's face, which had suddenly become serious and sincere, unconsciously slowed his chewing of the bubble gum in his mouth, tilted his head, and uttered a single word in confusion: "What's wrong?"

Then Zhang Chulan said calmly, in a tone full of life experience and relief, "I was starving for a whole week—and I didn't starve to death."

Xu Si's expression froze.

He opened his mouth, his lips moved for a long time, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The chewing gum had completely stopped in his mouth and was stuck to his back molars, motionless.

His chest heaved violently twice, and then he suddenly laughed—not a happy laugh, but a laugh born of extreme anger, a laugh that came from the brink of collapse.

He turned his head and pointed tremblingly with one finger at Feng Baobao, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, dozing off with her eyelids drooping. In a broken voice, a mixture of anger, exhaustion, and utter resignation, he said, "Baobao—I can't take it anymore. You beat him up. As long as you don't kill him—beat him to death."

Feng Baobao was leaning against the sofa armrest, her head drooping little by little, her eyelids drooping so much she was almost asleep.

Upon hearing Xu Si's words, she seemed to have been turned on, sitting up straight with a flash of excitement in her large, bright eyes.

But instead of acting immediately, she tilted her head and asked in a tone that seemed to be carefully confirming the work process, "But Xu Si, what if you chase this child away again?"

Xu Si stared blankly at Zhang Chulan, not even blinking, and said slowly and deliberately in a cold tone as if issuing a final battle order: "Baby, break his legs first. It's okay, as long as you don't kill him. Show him later."

Feng Baobao hadn't even started to get ready yet—she just slightly moved her wrist, making a soft cracking sound.

The crisp sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet living room, like a dry twig that had been broken.

Zhang Chulan slid down onto the living room floor with both knees, his movements so fast, his kneeling posture so perfect, and his attitude so sincere that it was a textbook example of kneeling in an instant.

He clasped his hands together in front of his forehead, his expression seamlessly switching from the deep philosophical look to the most standard apology mode. Every word was filled with a survival instinct and sincere repentance from the depths of his soul: "Fourth Brother! I was wrong! I was just joking! I was just trying to lighten the mood! Look how good the atmosphere is now! Fourth Brother, please be magnanimous and forgive me, please forgive me, Fourth Brother!"

Seeing Zhang Chulan's instantly cowering demeanor, Xu Si took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.

Then he waved his hand, his tone regaining some of the authority and magnanimity of a section chief from his previous near-collapse, but still carrying a hint of disappointment: "This section chief won't stoop to your level."

Remember this for the future: don't make these kinds of inappropriate jokes, understand? I'm here to tell you two to pack your bags—we're leaving for Jiangxi tomorrow.

I won't be back for a long time, probably after the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony ends.

He paused for a moment, pointed two fingers at Zhang Chulan and then at Feng Baobao, and added in a serious tone as if giving instructions: "Oh, by the way, bring me a few decent sets of clothes."

After we arrive in Jiangxi tomorrow, we need to go to Director Zhuge's office for a meeting. All senior management personnel of the company will be present—including temporary workers.

There are some important issues to address and some reform measures to announce.

"You all better dress presentably, don't embarrass me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan sprang to his feet from his knees, his eyes lighting up again. With an excited tone, as if he'd been hit on the head by a windfall, he exclaimed, "Really, Fourth Brother? I can go in too, right? Should I get a suit? I bought myself a white shirt when I registered for Nanbukai University—can I wear that?"

As a result, Xu Si poured cold water on him, speaking in a flat and direct tone without any transition: "What are you getting so excited about? Tomorrow is a company-wide meeting of senior management, requiring all regional heads, directors, and temporary workers to be present."

We need to address some disciplinary issues and important matters related to institutional reform.

Are you even qualified? You're just an intern, not even a full-time employee yet, you don't even have the right to sit in on a meeting.

We're sending you because we're afraid you'll run off—you have a criminal record, don't you?

The most important point—

He paused, then looked at Zhang Chulan with a "you better remember this" gaze. "Aren't you always prepared? What if—I mean, what if—the big boss wants to see you? Would it be appropriate for you to stand in front of him in shorts and flip-flops? Don't you have any sense of propriety?"

After saying that, Xu Si wrapped the piece of chewing gum he had been chewing for a while in a tissue and threw it into the trash can, then turned and walked out of the dormitory.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor.

Feng Baobao jumped off the sofa armrest, walked barefoot to Zhang Chulan who was still kneeling on the floor, bent down, stretched out a hand, and gently placed it on Zhang Chulan's head, slowly and rhythmically rubbing it twice in a way that soothes a small animal.

Her voice was still soft, slow, and thick with a Sichuan accent, but every word was filled with the sympathy and comfort of someone with more experience for a younger person: "Honey, guarding the gate is fine. Going in for a meeting isn't a good thing—you'll probably get scolded. Don't take it to heart."

Zhang Chulan knelt on the floor, letting Feng Baobao's hands rub his head, and remained silent for a long while.

Then he raised his head and said in a low but firm tone, as if he had come to understand the true meaning of life after experiencing many hardships, "Sister Bao'er, you don't understand."

Being scolded can sometimes be a form of progress—not everyone deserves to be scolded by their boss.

……