Hidden Dead Ends

“Over here,” Chen Yi-jun stood up and waved with a smile as Li Chengyi walked over and took a seat beside her and the other two women.

“What a coincidence to run into you,” he remarked.@@novelbin@@

“Not really a coincidence; our company just relocated nearby, so I’ll be working in this area from now on,” she replied, grinning.

“Looks like we can have dinner together more often,” Li Chengyi laughed.

“Well, that depends on when I get off work. Did you see my recent post? They’ve upped our workload and salary, and if you’re even a little slow, they’re quick to send you a ‘job adjustment’ notice,” she complained.

When Li Chengyi and Chen Yi-jun met, their conversations often turned into complaint sessions—after venting, she would switch to her “big sister” mode and offer him advice. With a few close friends like Li Chengyi, she could still recapture a bit of the spirited confidence she used to have.

“Oh, by the way, let me introduce my best friends.” She shifted gears, gesturing toward the two women beside her.

“This is Zhou Xingtong, and this is Xue Xue, my college roommates.”

“Ah, then we’re all alumni,” Li Chengyi said, shaking hands with each of them.

“Chen Yi-jun’s mentioned you before,” Xue Xue teased. “So, when are you starting a company and hiring her as your secretary?”

“That was when I was young and naive,” Li Chengyi replied with a smile.