On My Way - Chapter 15

Chapter 15 - I Have Been Chasing Her for a Long Time

We worked extra hours, and the time we had lost was finally reclaimed.

I picked up a loudspeaker and gathered everyone at the construction site for a meeting.

"As everyone knows, we encountered a major accident a while back, which caused serious delays in our schedule. Under normal circumstances, the client would not have released the third installment of funds on time. But because of the efforts of all our workers, we have successfully completed the work! Today, your wages and bonuses will be deposited into every one of your bank cards!"

I looked into everyone's eyes. Faces were filled with joy; the older workers were grinning from ear to ear. Although this was money they had rightfully earned, unpaid wages were far too common in this industry, especially under such difficult circumstances.

"This isn't just about money; it’s about the dignity we’ve earned for ourselves! Everyone here is truly exemplary!" I used my loudest voice, almost shouting. "The end of the year is approaching! Can we finish this final phase and go home for the New Year with stacks of cash in our pockets?"

"We can!"

A sound like rolling thunder erupted. I had given many speeches, but this was the time everyone applauded with the most fervor.

The work efficiency that day was incredibly high, and everyone labored with enthusiasm amidst the festive atmosphere.

When I got off work, I ran into 'Tyrannosaurus' standing at the entrance waiting for me.

He had high cheekbones, cheeks so hollow they were sunken in, and eyes like a wolf—fierce and bright.

"Manager Ren..." He lowered his head, stumbling over his words for a long time, unable to speak clearly. He looked like a wolf with its tail tucked between its legs.

"Say what you have to say."

"Um, that... the third installment of funds... it wasn't released, was it?"

He was a company employee, different from the outsourced workers.

He knew that although we had finished the work, inspections and payments took time. The company had already paid the extra material costs and refused to continue fronting the money for this project.

I had mortgaged my house and taken out a bank loan just to pay the wages for this phase.

Tyrannosaurus slapped himself across the face, and he put real force into it.

"Manager Ren, I’m a fool! I’ve let you down!"

I didn't stop him, only saying, "Do you know why I didn't scold you?"

He looked up at me.

"Because I know you care most about your pride. You’ve been working on sites for over a dozen years, doing the most work and receiving the least pay. When the last project had problems, it clearly wasn't your fault, but you took all the blame," I said. "You caused this mess because you had become disheartened with our company and just wanted to cut corners to get the job done..."

He stared at me, stunned.

"But as you can see, you can't cut corners in our line of work. A mistake is a massive disaster, and when that happens, what will happen to your daughter?"

Deductions and demotions were small matters; if a real safety accident occurred, he would end up in prison.

Tyrannosaurus’s eyes turned bloodshot, making him look even more menacing.

"It’s all in the past. Rest assured, as long as you work for me, I won't let you feel disheartened. I hope you won't let me feel disheartened, either," I said.

"Thank you, Manager Ren. I know right from wrong... I’m a man, not an animal..." He was a true crybaby; he sobbed and wailed while bowing fiercely to me.

To put it kindly, he was stubborn.

To put it bluntly, he wasn't very intelligent. If he hated someone, he hated them wholeheartedly, and he wasn't afraid to show his disdain to even the highest-ranking leaders. Consequently, many people disliked him.

But I didn't care. To me, there were no good people or bad people.

There were only useful people and useless people.

At that moment, I suddenly missed Cheng Xia terribly.

Only there, in him, was a small part of my softness and innocence preserved.

I looked at his profile picture in our WeChat chat for a long time, but in the end, I didn't click on it.

Yet, just then, the little red dot on his avatar lit up.

It was such a coincidence that I thought it might be a hallucination.

Cheng Xia: Would you like to come over to my place for dinner?

Cheng Xia: I haven't settled the score with you for not coming to pick me up when I was discharged.

...

I found a place to wash my hair, blew it out until it was fluffy and soft, and bought some nutritional supplements and food at the mall. I also bought a discounted dress to change into, and during the taxi ride, I applied a simple layer of makeup.

As soon as the door opened, Fang Qiang poked his head out with a grin: "Yo, Dongxue looks beautiful today!"

"Not bad, right?" I greeted them with a smile: "Did you guys make dinner?"

"Don't even mention it. Cheng Xia, this guy, said he was hosting a dinner, but he only prepared a hotpot, and the guests had to bring their own ingredients."

Looking over his shoulder, I saw a lively living room full of people—all college classmates of Cheng Xia who had stayed in the city. I knew most of them.

I also saw Cheng Xia. He was wearing light blue loungewear and still looked a bit pale, but he came over to get me a pair of slippers.

"Let me show you guys what I can do. I’ve survived the African wilderness, after all," I said. "Cheng Xia, come take this. I bought you some things. Where should I put them?"

Cheng Xia’s home was a loft, and there was a small storage room on the second floor.

"These are some fast-acting medications. If you aren't feeling well, take them immediately, okay? Don't start with that 'every medicine has its side effects' nonsense; your body can't take it anymore. This is oatmeal; if you’re too lazy to cook, just mix it with yogurt." I took things out one by one: "And I bought some frozen steaks; put them in the freezer later."

Downstairs, there was a cacophony of voices. He watched me in silence and suddenly asked, "Are you not mad at me anymore?"

I was stunned for a moment before I realized he was referring to that night when I said we should go our separate ways.

"I’ve accepted defeat." I lowered my head to organize the items, acting as nonchalant as possible so I wouldn't have to look at him: "I wanted to stay far away from you because I know that as soon as you treat me well, I turn back into that incredibly pathetic version of myself..."

"But when I was standing outside the emergency room, I surrendered. As long as you are alive, I want to stay by your side."

To me, he was like junk food—like milk tea or hotpot.

You need to have self-discipline, you need to watch your weight, you need to stay far away, and you absolutely must not indulge yourself.

But when death approaches, a sudden pain strikes: the pain of knowing that while you were alive, you never got to fully enjoy the food you loved the most, and now, you would never have the chance again.

If I could never see him again, I would surely regret it, because I knew very clearly in my heart that he was the person I liked most in this life.

This was a feeling that would not come again.

"Besides, I'm worried about you," I joked half-heartedly. "You’ve ruined your body like this; I have to take care of you... I mean, until Yu Shixuan takes over."

He interrupted me: "After you left that day, I sent her home. I really don't like her."

"Why? She’s quite nice to you."

"Just because someone is nice to me, must I like them?"

How cold, I thought.

"Fine, then let’s stay good friends. When you have a girlfriend in the future, we’ll stop hanging out. Or, if I can become besties with your girlfriend, the three of us can hang out together." I smiled, suppressing the immense sorrow while arranging the items: "Does that work for you, Engineer Cheng?"

You’re really pathetic, Ren Dongxue.

Cheng Xia said, "That's not enough."

He came over, grabbed my arm, and stared straight into my eyes: "I don't want to be separated from you. Not even for a minute."

I looked at him in shock, feeling as if a bolt of electricity had struck from the air. My whole body went numb.

His complexion was pale, but his pupils were pitch black. His gaze was clear and determined, yet his lips were trembling.

...

What is this?

What does this mean?

"Cheng Xia! Are you guys done yet? Everyone’s waiting to eat!" Fang Qiang’s voice drifted up from downstairs, breaking the spell that had left me rigid.

"Yeah, coming!"

I pushed Cheng Xia away and turned to head downstairs.

What did he mean? What on earth did he mean?

Could it be...

Absolutely impossible.

This hotpot meal was the most disoriented experience of my life. Even though I was outwardly picking up food, chatting, and even laughing until I was out of breath at Fang Qiang’s unfunny jokes, I wasn't hearing a word.

In my mind, there was only Cheng Xia’s sentence, looping in 360-degree stereo.

WH-WHAT! DOES! IT! MEAN!

Just then, a junior student who didn't know me well suddenly interjected: "So, Dongxue, you two aren't married yet?"

Another person had mistaken us for a couple.

Fang Qiang skillfully eased the tension: "What kind of eyes do you have? They aren't a couple at all."

"Ah, sorry! I put on the wrong slippers when I came in, and the senior said they were Dongxue’s, so I thought..."

Cheng Xia said, "That’s because I haven't succeeded in chasing her yet."

In the ensuing silence, Cheng Xia picked up a slice of meat for me and whispered: "I have been chasing her since a long time ago. They all know it. Come, eat this.”