Smile Code (Lost Laughter) 失笑 - Zhu Le 祖乐

39

A trembling soul is actually the most fascinating-turbulent, restless, maybe it's the way women stay beautiful.

Recently, there's been a storm brewing in the office. Magazine sales have dropped, the influence of print media is weakening, brands have set up their own official accounts and hired advertising companies to handle operations. The company's Q1 earnings are decreasing. Roger is back at the company, often holding large meetings. The Alaska office has been rearranged, with three rows of chairs packed tightly together for meetings where they listen to him pound the table while talking business. Yi Zhou is frequently singled out for criticism-its content is conservative, it doesn't have big clients, and the department is disorganized... Jacqueline listens coldly, showing no reaction. Gu Yi thought for a moment; she knew the rumors about Jacqueline being poached, let alone the boss. Looking at her colleagues in the office, moving quietly between their desks, even things that could be communicated by standing up and talking were instead sent over WeChat. Those who had been trained were no longer free; those who had been tempered were no longer pure, even though their outcomes were well-adapted to society.

The main drama wasn't over yet.

A tall, successful man walked in through the front door, politely asking for Jacqueline's office before heading straight in. Gu Yi didn't want to see this scene, but as she passed by Jacqueline's office while making instant coffee, she saw the man in a brown shirt walking toward her. He clearly had the demeanor of someone in his thirties with power and intelligence, his face showing only slight puffiness from age, but mostly experience and capability. As he knocked on the glass door behind him, Gu Yi couldn't help but glance back, only to see a look on Jacqueline's face she had never seen before since joining the company-she looked like she had seen a ghost. Usually, her body temperature is almost a steady 26 degrees Celsius, but now, she seemed to be at 40 degrees.

The only person who could make Jacqueline react like this was Huang Wendao. Gu Yi pretended to tie her shoes and crouched beside a large bird-of-paradise plant, hoping to overhear their conversation-she swore she would never be this gossipy under normal circumstances, but it was all for Xu Guanrui's happiness-no, she was just too curious. The conversation didn't reveal much useful information, but Gu Yi did overhear Huang Wendao saying with some bitterness: "You don't reply to so many messages, so you come to the office, where are you going to hide now? I think about you and I just want to grind my back teeth, wish you were dead."

Jacqueline, however, remained calm: "You've got such deep hatred and yet you come to find me. Is there no woman your age who can work with you?"

"I guess only you would be willing to not marry, not have children, and be so ruthless for work. Of course, I didn't come here today to see you, I'm looking for Roger. Whether or not you're here doesn't matter, it won't stop me from talking business with your boss. He and I both work in asset management at the same company, we'll have plenty to talk about. But you don't have that much money to invest, your vision's limited, all you do is eat at the office. I'm leaving now, but next Tuesday night I'll be at Kōyō, waiting for you. Do you want to come to Beijing and give me an answer?"

After leaving, Huang Wendao casually walked upstairs to the Alaska meeting room, and the sound of laughter from him and Roger echoed through the company. Gu Yi returned to her desk, feeling a sudden sense of awe: after thirty-something, those who can be considered successful have unmatched vitality. The people her age she normally saw were worn out by work and family, their eyes dull, while they were like wolves in the wild-always hungry, always alert, even if they didn't bite, they still showed their fangs, always staying vigilant. In that moment, Gu Yi even understood why Xu Guanrui couldn't handle Jacqueline-settling down meant relaxing the vigilance one has toward life, and turmoil and unrest were another kind of security for women to maintain their youth.