Chapter Thirty: Unable to Endure Any Longer

The monotonous, routine work left me feeling bored and weary, but that’s just how life is. The very notion of work is to let you realize your value to society and to others. The entire morning slipped by quietly as I scanned codes, collected payments, and gave change. Leaning on the counter, I began to wonder if I should spend some time looking for a job where I could better realize my worth.

Looking around, I saw that most of the other cashiers were young and beautiful girls, many of them college students working part-time before graduation. As a guy who’d already graduated a year ago, I felt out of place here. Deep down, I always thought of this job as something I’d landed through connections, which left me completely unmotivated.

But thoughts are one thing; reality is another. Without this job, I’d be left with nothing, scraping by to survive! At the very least, I needed to save up a bit before thinking about changing jobs.

At moments like this, I always missed my college years. Classes were as relaxed as recess, and after class felt like a holiday. Four years passed in a flash, and though I didn’t accomplish anything particularly meaningful, I lived freely and enjoyed every day.

I pinched myself hard, feeling useless. Was I really so fragile that I couldn’t handle a little hardship after graduation, hiding in memories of happier days for comfort? How could I talk about ideals or life like this?

Lost in my boredom and wandering thoughts, my phone rang.

Seeing that it was Luo Qing, I answered, “What’s your command, Your Majesty?”

“Yang Chen, where are you working?” Her voice was a little muffled by background noise—car horns, it seemed.

“Rainbow Mart. Why?” I regretted blurting it out instantly. Don’t tell me she’s coming over?

“Okay, got it.” Luo Qing sounded like she was about to hang up.

“Wait!”

“What is it?”

“You’re not coming here, are you?” I asked nervously. This was a supermarket—if she wanted to shop it was one thing, but if she came to chat, how was I supposed to work?

“Not everything’s about you. Did I say I wanted to chat with you?” she retorted.

“Fine, come if you want.” Alright, Luo Qing, you said you wouldn’t bother with me. Don’t come over, get bored, and then take a taxi straight back. I thought with a sly grin.

After the call with Luo Qing ended, the supermarket filled up again in the afternoon, and I threw myself back into work.

The entrance was just a short distance from my seat—I could see almost everyone coming and going. Through the glass doors, I saw a man and a woman approaching. The woman was Zhang Jiaxin, and the man, of course, was the big boss, Qi Tian.

A wave of bitterness washed over me. I’d told myself countless times that it was over between Zhang Jiaxin and me, that everything was part of the past, belonging to our college days. Alone with Zhang Jiaxin, I could maintain my composure, but whenever this man appeared, I’d lose control of my emotions.

He was the one who took my woman, the embodiment of my utter failure on the battlefield of love. What I didn’t want to face might not have been Qi Tian himself, but rather this decayed and unfamiliar world, a place where money and power got you women, even if it wasn’t love.

As soon as they entered, I felt Zhang Jiaxin’s gaze—sarcastic, even repellent. She glanced at me, then walked with Qi Tian to the shelves to select items.

After a while, as if by design, they both queued up at my register to pay.

If it’s unavoidable, then face it with a smile…I kept reminding myself to stay calm, no matter what she or he said or did. I mustn’t lose control and ruin everything. If I lost this job, it really wouldn’t be worth it.

Zhang Jiaxin set two bags full of items on the counter. Silently scanning the codes, I avoided conversation, unlike last time. Most of what she bought were expensive skincare products—small boxes, but all high-end. When I’d finished, I kept my head down and said quietly, “That'll be one thousand seven hundred yuan.”

Zhang Jiaxin glanced at me, her expression complicated, then took her things and turned toward the exit. Qi Tian, behind her, pulled out a bank card and handed it to me.

“So you’re Yang Chen?” Qi Tian asked in a low voice as I swiped the card.

I looked up at him. Whether from far or near, he always had that same bloated, repulsive air of smug superiority.

“I am,” I responded in kind, handing him the card reader for his PIN.

“Nice job you’ve got now. Real promising. Work hard and maybe you’ll make supervisor someday.” Qi Tian raised his voice this time, his flabby face jiggling, the mockery in his tone obvious.

Ahead of him, Zhang Jiaxin seemed to hear him too; she turned and frowned at me.

“Thank you, I’ll do my best,” I said, handing back his card. My hand trembled slightly with anger.

“You really are shameless!” Qi Tian laughed, taking the card.

Endure it. I have to. It’s just a few taunts. If I can’t even handle this, how could I ever accomplish anything?

I could feel my breathing grow rapid. I lowered my head, refusing to answer, wishing this disgusting fat pig would just get out of my sight.

“Listen, Jiaxin is mine now. You should be grateful she even looks at you!” Qi Tian, emboldened by my silence, continued to humiliate me.

Everyone has their limits, and mine are my family and the woman I love.

“Screw you! Say that again!” I suddenly stood up, shouting, grabbing his collar. My patience had reached its limit. I could endure before, avoid before—but now he was insulting my family. I couldn’t bear it. If I lost my job, so be it—but not my dignity, not my bottom line!

Qi Tian acted unafraid, as if sure I wouldn’t dare hit him. He brushed off my hand, leaned his ear toward me, and smirked, “What did you just call me, punk?”

“So what if I did?” A familiar voice called from the entrance—it was Luo Qing!

I had no idea when she’d arrived, but she’d clearly caught the last part of our exchange. She walked over calmly to Qi Tian, raised her pale hand and pointed at his bloated face, smiled, and added, “You heard him right. He was talking to you. In fact, my boyfriend cursing you is the best luck your ancestors ever had!”