Both your salary and your salary will be as you wish.

Chapter 31 Joy Turns to Sorrow

Romance is a luxury for men and women from the lower classes; even tender moments become a public embarrassment.

-----------------

Wang Haowen's expression wasn't good. He bought some things to thank Aunt Li, and after coming out, he wanted to go home and design a small anniversary surprise for Zeng Jia. But who knew that Yu Li wanted to interview the two operations officers recommended by Wang Chao, and insisted that he come back to the company to accompany her for the video interview.

All his plans were constantly being disrupted by unexpected interruptions. Did he ever have any personal time at all? He even had to accompany her to the interview. Was the HR director out of his mind? Wang Haowen pulled a long face and headed straight for Yu Li's office.

Zeng Jia didn't know why he rushed back. Judging from his hurried appearance, was he trying to get a close eye on the contract? And he hadn't even had time to change out of his wrinkled tracksuit, so it was clear that he really had something urgent to do.

Just as she was figuring out how to find out more, Dong Miaomiao came over at the right moment, speaking mysteriously, "It's because President Yu recently hired two top-notch operations managers, recommended by Director Wang." She whispered in her ear.

Zeng Jia felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders, as long as it wasn't related to the financing agreement. She ordered milk tea for Dong Miaomiao and leisurely strolled back to her workstation. Whether it was for surveillance or for someone else, she couldn't leave work until Wang Haowen did.

Yu Li's video interviews were over, and the company was practically empty. As soon as Wang Chao stepped out of the office, he spotted Zeng Jia. He gave her a forced, insincere smile, skipping all the polite small talk.

Everyone knows the opposing camps are clearly in cahoots, so let's save our breath.

Wang Haowen waited in the office until everyone had left before pulling Zeng Jia into Yu Li's office and closing the door behind him.

"I'm so sorry," he said apologetically. "I was planning to make arrangements for the celebration tonight after leaving Aunt Li's house, but something unexpected happened halfway through. Could you wait for me for an hour or two? I'll go back and get ready now..."

Zeng Jia stood there for half a minute, feeling as if all her strength had been drained. She plopped down in a chair and said, "Stop bothering Wenzi. I'm tired, I'm really too tired."

She'd been bothering her dad late last night, and today Zhang Zhishan had her kept under surveillance at the company. She felt like her head was spinning like a spin dryer, never stopping.

Moreover, in front of others, she has to pretend to be excited and energetic, even though she's actually quite listless inside.

Wang Haowen looked at her small face, which was sallow and yellowish, with dark circles under her eyes that he couldn't hide. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair with his large hand like petting a ruffled kitten: "Okay, then we won't run away. I'll order takeout, and we'll have a romantic dinner here to celebrate!"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Jia pushed him away, saying, "Did you get your head stuck in a door? Don't you even know where you are?!"

"What are you afraid of? There's no one else here, just the two of us."

Wang Haowen tightened his grip, refusing to let go no matter what. Zeng Jia struggled a couple of times, but to no avail, so she simply gave up and let him hold her.

Strangely enough, as soon as that familiar scent enveloped her, her tense nerves relaxed. She used to love snuggling in his arms like this, feeling like he would hold up the sky if it fell. But lately… how long had it been since she felt this secure?

"Do you know what Uncle Wang told me?" she asked suddenly, her voice trembling against his chest.

Wang Haowen nuzzled her head with his chin and answered readily, "I know. The old man asked me why I wasn't married yet, and I told him I wouldn't marry him unless he had a house."

Zeng Jia glared at him reproachfully, "You're using my help running errands for him to ask for the house? Wang Haowen, if you want to take your father's retirement money, don't use me as an excuse."

"Zeng Xiaojia, when are you going to stop being so stubborn!" Wang Haowen retorted, "It was my dad who asked me first, and he wants you as his daughter-in-law. Do you expect us to kneel down and beg you to marry him? If you're not happy, tell me what you want to do!"

Zeng Jia opened her mouth, but was speechless for a moment. She had been thinking about it all afternoon and still couldn't figure it out.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Wang Haowen started to ramble on: "I want to marry you, and it's not just because you saved my dad. I've realized that if I don't get things done soon, you might just run away." This was the first time he had spoken the truth.

Zeng Jia was startled and immediately became unhappy. Who was the fickle one between them?

"I'm exhausted every day, working like a dog, surrounded by rough old men, and you suspect I'm having an affair?! What kind of affair? The construction site fence?!"

"You're the one who doubted me!" Wang Haowen raised his voice as well. "We've been together for six years. You know exactly what I'm thinking, even if I just stick my ass out. But I'm not completely clueless about you!"

He took a deep breath and poured out his pent-up frustration, "I admit I'm a bit impatient and always want to do things perfectly, but I can sense it. You're getting impatient, and you've started to distrust me. Let's not dwell on the past; just look at the way you looked at me when I walked into the company today—like I'd been robbed of my valuables. Can you deny it?"

Zeng Jia pursed her lips. "How would I know why you suddenly went back to the company..." she explained, sounding a little guilty. At that moment, all she could think about was Zhang Zhishan's task and how to delay Yu Li's financing contract.

"We've been keeping our relationship a secret and working hard here, just so we can earn a higher salary and save up for a down payment faster, right?" Wang Haowen's tone was sincere, and he was completely honest. "I've already put the old man's billiard hall and that old, run-down apartment up for sale, and we've put both our names on the new house. Zeng Xiaojia, I've done everything I can to help you, I'm practically selling myself by the pound. What else do you want? Just say the word!"

He stared intently at her, his gaze frank yet ruthless.

Zeng Jia felt her head buzzing, and it seemed like there was no reason not to agree? Otherwise, it would be a bit pretentious.

"What else could I possibly want?" Her voice softened as she snuggled back into his arms, her ear pressed against his pounding heart. "There's only one thing left: I want you, for all eternity."

These words were like a spring breeze, easing Wang Haowen's tense arms.

Zeng Jia looked up and glanced at his face sweetly: "I'll call my parents later. Your dad needs to rest, so don't bother going to the Northeast. It's freezing cold there. I'll call them to come over. They can spend the New Year here."

Wang Haowen pinched Zeng Jia's chin and gave her a big kiss. "When are you going to get it done? How about now?!" He was as anxious as a child afraid of sugar dissolving.

"Is it really necessary to be in such a hurry?" Zeng Jia was amused by him.

"The sooner we settle down, the more at ease we'll be!" Wang Haowen kept rubbing his chin against the ticklish soft flesh of her neck. "Are you going to hit her or not? If you don't, I'll personally talk to Auntie and tell her that Zeng Xiaojia has achieved so much now, becoming a pillar of the company, and looks down on me, a nobody from a Beijing alley, and is going to dump me..."

"Fine, fine! I'll fight you! I'm scared of you!" Zeng Jia laughed so hard she could barely breathe. He had her biggest weakness completely under his control, so she had no choice but to surrender.

She took out her phone and made a video call. Her parents were overjoyed to hear that the two of them had made up their minds.

"Great! This is wonderful news! Your dad and I will pick a date and book the train tickets!"

"We definitely have to go to Beijing; we need to see where our daughter will settle down in the future."

"Boss lady, settle the bill!"

Before they could exchange more than a few words, the shouts of customers came from the other end of the phone. Zeng Jia had no choice but to hang up quickly and tell her parents to go and take care of the business at the store, and that they would talk in detail later.

With his life-altering marriage decided, Wang Haowen was so happy he was practically strutting around, his excitement overflowing. He quickly grabbed the half-empty bottle of red wine from the corner of Yu Li's office, uncorked it, and poured two large glasses.

The wine spilled over the rim of the glass, but he didn't bother to wipe it away.

He handed one cup to Zeng Jia, clutching the other in his own hand, his tone filled with excitement and solemnity: "From now on, I won't think about anything else, I'll dedicate myself wholeheartedly to our family, to you, I'd be willing to go through fire and water!"

Zeng Jia's eyes welled up with tears at his silly antics. "Me too! Let's make the most of each other from now on!"

The two held their glasses, their arms were about to intertwine, their lips were pursed, and they were just waiting for that fancy "cheers" to come out of their throats.

"Whoosh—!"

The overhead lights in the office area suddenly blazed on without warning, as if someone had flipped an emergency switch.

Wang Haowen and Zeng Jia froze, a sense of foreboding rising within them. They slowly and abruptly turned their heads, only to see two "living door gods" standing outside the glass door of the office—Yu Li and Zhang Zhishan.

They stood side by side, staring at each other for who knows how long. As if they had planned it, they both wore the same playful expression, their eyes fixed on their bodies pressed together.

Zeng Jia and Wang Haowen were struck as if by lightning, and they sprang back in a flash, almost knocking over the table.

Zeng Jia spilled half of the red wine on her hand, not even noticing the cold liquid trickling down between her fingers.

The two men were deathly pale, looking like two children caught stealing candy, too afraid to even breathe. This anniversary celebration was far too thrilling; the thrill turned to tragedy.