Chapter 53 Military District Compound
When I heard Xu Shu ask me this, I was so moved that I was speechless. Due to the misunderstanding, I was angry and excited, and I impulsively made the ill-considered decision to resign from Hua Jingjing. At that time, out of anger in my heart, I unilaterally thought that I was insulted because of my poverty. I couldn't stand being considered a villain who was trying to curry favor with the rich and powerful, and I couldn't stand being treated like a beggar. I swore that I would never have anything to do with Hua Jingjing again, and I wished to create wealth and status with my own abilities, so that those who looked down on me would never look down on me again.
But I didn't consider how difficult and arduous it is to start a business. The price a successful entrepreneur pays is unimaginable. Moreover, to succeed in a career, talent, opportunity, courage, determination, luck and other conditions are indispensable. They cannot be obtained by just thinking and talking. I know very well how much I have. I do have some talents. My professional knowledge is no less than any domestic expert. I also have the talent for invention and creation. I will be handy and at ease in scientific exploration. But these alone cannot make me successful. Because if I want to be innovative, I must have sufficient funds, a good environment and first-class facilities. These are indispensable to me. Moreover, I have a rigid personality, I don't know how to adapt, and I have a stubborn temper. If I want to stand out in this complex society, it is impossible without a flexible mind, witty response and smooth means. I didn't consider these when I decided to resign. I have to admit that I am not very mature and calm, and my judgment is easily affected by emotions. I don't have the necessary qualities for a successful person.
The best way for me to display my talent is to rely on a strong company and receive full support. Then I can release my ability to the maximum, and the achievements I create cannot be measured by money. After long-term depression and frustration of not being able to find a job, now suddenly the opportunity comes. The company's vice president, the actual boss Hua Jingjing, thinks highly of me and hopes that I can let go and do a great job in the company, but I resigned at this time.
It was the kind of resignation that could not be reversed! I had already said what I wanted, rejected other people's good intentions, and made a promise to my girlfriend. I could not go back on my word.
I sighed. The reason for all this was misunderstanding, my misunderstanding of her and her misunderstanding of me.
But no matter how Xu Shu explained her misunderstanding, the damage to me had already been done. I could not forget the contemptuous look in her eyes when she sent me away with a check. And even if she misunderstood me, what right did she have to interfere in other people's lives? What right did she have to insult me? These unpleasant things have been deeply imprinted in my mind.
In just a moment, countless thoughts flashed through my mind. I knew that even if I accepted Xu Shu's explanation and no longer hated her, I would not be able to like her as much as before. People are really strange sometimes. Some strong feelings come and go, and after something happens, they are gone.
Watching Xu Shu driving and looking at me questioningly, I felt sad. I was attending a party, but I didn't expect so many things to happen. Not only did my mood change, but my life also had to change. I realized the harm that misunderstandings can cause to people, and I didn't want to let misunderstandings continue.
I calmly replied, "President Hua Jingjing and I only have an ordinary boss-subordinate relationship. I told you that I have a girlfriend. And just a few hours ago, I formally submitted my resignation to her. Now I don't even have a relationship with her anymore. As for love, I'm sorry, she and I have never been in love!"
Xu Shu was stunned for a moment and said, "Really?" Then she fell silent for a long time, as if she was digesting my answer. After a while, she said again, "Can you tell me more? I... can't understand what you are saying yet."
So I picked out the important parts, starting from when I was Hua Jingjing's secretary, and talked about the purpose of Hua Jingjing asking me to attend the party, and why she spent a lot of money to dress me up. Of course, some situations, such as the fact that I was forced to come by Hua Jingjing, were not related to Xu Shu, so I skipped them.
After listening to this, Xu Shu was both angry and amused, and cursed: "This flower fairy, she has grown up so much, but she is still as naughty and willful as she was when she was a child. Comparing boyfriends? It's really unexpected that she could think of this! She made me... wrongly accuse a good person!" As Xu Shu said this, he looked at me again.
I smiled faintly and said nothing. After the explanation, I didn't feel relieved, but felt even heavier. I deeply felt that some misunderstandings can be clarified, but some misunderstandings can only continue to exist. Even if the explanation is clear and the past grudges are resolved, the cracks in my heart can never be repaired.
Xu Shu seemed to sense my displeasure. She whispered, "I... really didn't know that this was the case. My actions must have been too much for you, right? I'm really... sorry."
Xu Shu apologized. Although it was only three words, it was precious for a big star who was so high up. I finally understood a little bit about Xu Shu. Although she was a singer who was admired by everyone, she was also self-righteous and a little smart. But overall, she was quite decent. She knew how to reflect on her mistakes. She was a good person.
Since she has already apologized, as a man, how could I still hold on to it? Besides, what's the point of not forgiving her? Things have already happened, and if I complain or blame her, it will not help, but will leave the impression of being narrow-minded and petty.
So I smiled and pretended not to care: "It's okay, it's all in the past, everyone makes mistakes. Just make sure the matter is clear, don't take it too seriously!"
Xu Shu said, "But I really feel that I jumped to conclusions without understanding the situation clearly. It was too hasty. Mr. Tang is such a self-respecting person, he must think that I am unreasonable and too much of a bully, right?"
I said, "It's all caused by misunderstanding. You don't have to blame yourself too much. After I know the truth, I don't blame you anymore."
Xu Shu said, "But why do I always feel that you, Mr. Tang, are unhappy and have no intention of relaxing? Oh, you just said that you have submitted your resignation to Jingjing. Are you worried about this? I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I will call her tomorrow morning and ask her to recruit you back. Is that okay?"
I smiled faintly and said meaningfully: "Some things, once you do them, you can't turn back!"
Although the misunderstanding was resolved, the atmosphere in the car was still very heavy. I didn't want to be like this, but I just couldn't be happy. Xu Shu said a few words of apology, and when she saw that I didn't react, she gradually stopped talking. She and I fell into a long silence. The sports car ran very fast on the highway, and soon we arrived in another city.
The sports car turned around the street and finally stopped in front of an old building. I saw a sentry box in front of a huge iron door between the buildings. Under the illumination of the car lights, a PLA soldier with a gun came out. He first carefully identified the car license plate, then walked in front of the sports car, saluted, and said, "Excuse me, Miss Xu, please show me your ID."
Xu Shu lowered the window, took out something from the car and handed it over, saying with a smile: "Is that Xiao Li? Last time I came back, it seemed like you were also on guard. What a coincidence!"
The soldier took the thing, looked at it carefully, and returned it to Xu Shu, saying: "Please keep the pass. Just a reminder, your certificate will expire in half a month. Please apply for an extension and renewal as soon as possible. Come in!" He saluted again, ran back to the guard hall and picked up the phone. Not long after, the iron door creaked and moved open a crack.
I asked curiously, "What kind of place is this? If the soldiers know you, why would they check your ID? Isn't this unnecessary?"
Xu Shu drove the sports car through the gap in the iron gate and said to me, "This is the military district headquarters, and my father is the commander. These are the military regulations, and they just strictly enforce them."
I was in awe and said, "Your father is a commander? That's really impressive! He must be a general, right?"
Xu Shu smiled and said, "He is only a lieutenant general, not a very important official."
The car turned a few corners in the headquarters and stopped outside a large courtyard with a separate entrance. Xu Shu turned to me and said, "I stayed here for a week to recover after spraining my foot last time. I put the scarf your girlfriend gave me in the room. How about you wait here for a while and I'll come out after I get it?"
I said, "Okay."
Xu Shu opened the door and got out of the car, and then told me, "Don't get out of the car and walk around. It would be bad if you run into the patrol team and they think you are a bad guy and arrest you."
The army is the army after all, and it is different from the local area! I nodded quickly and said, "I won't get off the car, you go and get it!"
Xu Shu turned and walked towards the courtyard. I looked at my watch and it was almost two in the morning. It would probably be three or four o'clock when I got home with the scarf. It looked like I wouldn't be able to sleep well tonight. I took out a cigarette and lit it to wake myself up. At the same time, I lowered the car window to let the smoke out.
I had just taken three puffs of my cigarette when I heard footsteps coming from behind the car. I turned my head and saw an officer standing next to the car, looking at me curiously. With the help of the lights in the yard, I saw that he was about thirty years old, wearing a neat military uniform. The bars and stars on his shoulder straps showed that he was a colonel. He looked at me in surprise and kept looking at me. Then he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and walked up to me.
He picked up a cigarette first, then said to me, "Brother, can you lend me a light?"
I saw that he seemed to be trying to get close to me, but seeing that he was dressed in an officer's uniform, he looked like a high-ranking official, so he shouldn't be a bad guy, right? I took out my lighter and handed it to him, and it lit up with a "click".
The officer leaned forward and took a deep puff of the cigarette, then quickly exhaled. He looked at me again and suddenly smiled, "Xiao Shu has grown up so much, but this is the first time I've seen her bring a man to her home, and it's in the middle of the night. Hmm, interesting!"
