Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

Chapter 12 Taking root in the earth

The midday sun shone through the restaurant's windowpanes, casting dappled shadows on Chen Ya's face.

She watched Lin Chen push open the shop door and walk in. In that instant, her heart started beating faster than usual. She quietly adjusted her posture and left the innermost booth for him.

This was the place where the two of them often went on dates when they were secretly dating.

It's quiet with few people and the food is delicious.

"Have you ordered?" Lin Chen sat down opposite her, his voice as calm as ever, his gaze sweeping over her like water. She was even more radiant than she had been in the conference room, and she was wearing lipstick, the same shade Lin Chen had given her.

"No, I just ordered drinks. You can order the food." Chen Ya pushed the menu over, her fingertips accidentally touching his hand, then quickly pulling back; it was icy cold.

"Then let's make braised chicken with potatoes."

"You're still the same as always, always ordering this." Chen Ya tried to sound relaxed, but her heart was filled with ripples.

Lin Chen: "I'm a pretty loyal person."

These words stung Chen Ya's heart.

She lowered her head and took a sip of her drink to hide the sudden surge of bitterness. It seemed that he still held a grudge against her. Actually, braised chicken with potatoes was originally a dish that Chen Ya loved to eat, and Lin Chen learned to make it for her too. Later, she also came to love it.

It was quiet for a little while.

"You're still the same as ever," Chen Ya put down her drink, staring into Lin Chen's eyes. "So outspoken in meetings, daring to say anything. Do you really want to spend your whole life working in a rural town?"

She heard everything that was said at the meeting very clearly.

"Townships are great, they're free. I bet you guys in this building are miserable, being watched every day and having to listen to the leaders' toxic motivational speeches all the time." Lin Chen shrugged indifferently.

"Why say such things in front of me?" Chen Ya gently stirred the drink in her glass. Lin Chen's nonchalant attitude made her feel both sorry for him and disappointed in him.

"Actually, you could have been more tactful. When Director Tan asked you about the Plum Blossom Village issue, you could have simply said that you were actively coordinating a solution, or that you were already following up on it. Why did you have to tell the truth?"

"And then what? Make the villagers drink muddy water for another ten years?" Lin Chen sneered.

"This isn't something you can solve alone."

"I know, if I could solve it, I wouldn't have brought it up. I would have just done it. I don't want to be the first to stick my neck out."

"No, why do you always argue with me? Can't you just talk properly?" Chen Ya felt speechless. How could this man still be so immature? How long would he stay so naive?

The reason I chose to break up with him wasn't because I didn't love him, but because I didn't want to suffer a painful reality.

"I always talk like this. If you don't like it, then I won't say it anymore." Lin Chen lowered his head and ate.

Chen Ya sighed, "Lin Chen, sometimes I think you live too hard, caring too much about those so-called principles. Look at Wang Yang, his work is terrible, and his skills aren't even half your level. Coco, on the other hand, knows how to get along with people, never makes a mess in front of the boss, and is living a much more comfortable life than you."

Chen Ya was referring to Wang Yang, another colleague from the same year, who is now a specialist in the marketing department. He frequently issues various indicator forms to the water supply stations under them and acts all high and mighty.

Wang Yang has a keen sense of smell; he'll immediately lick the scent of his superiors the moment he catches it.

"Everyone has their own way of living. I don't judge anyone, nor do I interfere," Lin Chen said, taking a sip of tea. "But I definitely couldn't become like him."

Yes, it's been ten years. If things were going to change, they would have changed long ago. Chen Ya smiled bitterly to herself. What she loved was precisely his unchanging purity, but now they were separated because of it.

Chen Ya was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you still writing novels?"

This question was driven by personal motives; it was their last connection.

Chen Ya started writing novels first, and Lin Chen started writing them so that they could have something in common. However, she stopped writing novels after she was promoted to an office position.

Lin Chen didn't hide anything from her: "I write, I write every night when it's quiet."

Has anyone seen this?

"It's alright." Lin Chen didn't want to tell her that his novel had become a hit, incredibly popular, even a sensation.

Otherwise, I really wouldn't dare to speak to Director Tan like that.

"That's great. I spend every night writing reports for my boss now, and I can never finish them all." Chen Ya's eyes were a little dazed. Sometimes she envied Lin Chen for being able to live for himself, while she herself was now revolving around her boss every day.

But weren't these all choices made by ourselves?

Seeing her downcast expression, Lin Chen joked to ease the tension: "You're the boss's favorite now, so keep up the good work. When you become a big boss, remember to promote me."

Chen Ya's expression finally softened: "Okay, you're so capable and good at writing, I'll make you my secretary when I become a leader."

After saying that, she suddenly blushed, remembering that when they were dating, she had indeed said that she wanted him to be her secretary, so that he could do the work when needed and she could have him do the work when not.

When they finished eating and were about to part ways, Chen Ya suddenly called out to him, "Lin Chen, Chen Chunda in our office is retiring in two months. They'll probably need someone. If you want to take the job, you should start planning as soon as possible."

Lin Chen asked with a mocking smile, "How do you write the algorithm?"

Chen Ya: "Take a look at Wang Yang; you should know how he got there."

Li Wei, the director of the marketing department, liked to play mahjong. Wang Yang played mahjong with him every day, and he would give Wang Yang all sorts of winning hands and money, which eventually led to Wang Yang's promotion.

Lin Chen: "Forget it, I don't even know how to play mahjong. Maybe I can bark like a dog."

Chen Ya: "People don't like dogs, they just like money."

Lin Chen: "Then I didn't."

Chen Ya: "Then we should learn from Zhang Junmin."

This Zhang Junmin is now an office specialist, but his resume is even more impressive. Back then, he was the foreman of a township water supply station. When the leaders came down to inspect, he knelt down to greet them.

Lin Chen: "Then I might as well die."

Chen Ya shook her head: "Forget it, I can't reason with you. Everyone in our company is dancing with a mask on, but you stubbornly insist on being the uncooperative audience member."

Lin Chen: "It's not that I'm not cooperating, it's just that this play is too bad, and I don't have any acting talent."

.....

On the way back to the institute, Lin Chen repeatedly pondered Chen Ya's words.

He vaguely sensed her unusual behavior today; her hesitant gaze seemed to conceal an indescribable emotion.

Perhaps she was trying to persuade me to think more positively.

But Lin Chen knew it was too late. He was thirty years old, and half of him was already rooted in the grassroots, like that wild gourd flower, never to fly high again.

But at least he can still stand on the ground.

Back at the station, Tang Yuwei eagerly asked, "Squad leader, how did the meeting go?"

Lin Chen threw the meeting minutes directly on the table: "Read it yourself. By the way, I have some good news for you: your summary successfully got me a scolding from Director Tan."

Tang Yuwei was startled: "No way, is there something wrong with what I wrote? Tell me!"

"No problem, you wrote very well, it's very realistic and true to life."

"What's going on?" Tang Yu didn't understand.

Lin Chen: "The problem isn't with others, it's with the world."

This left Tang Yuwei even more confused.

The concept of "class monitor" feels a bit abstract.

Outside Balu's window, the setting sun painted the sky red, a truly beautiful sight. The sweet potato vendor next door packed up his stall and walked back dejectedly. The beggar uncle lying on the ground rolled over.

Another day has passed.

very nice.