Chapter Nine: Heartbreak

“Let go of me, you rogue! How dare you take advantage of me!” Wang Min cried out, shoving Zhang Wei away. Because it was summer, her thin blouse made her full chest press tightly against Zhang Wei’s own, letting them feel each other’s warmth. Zhang Wei’s right hand had gripped her hip, sending a jolt through her body as if electrified. A flush crept up her cheeks, spread down her neck, and seeped into her entire being.

“You were the one who threw yourself at me! How can you blame me?” Zhang Wei spread his hands in feigned innocence.

“Even if I bumped into you, that doesn’t give you the right to touch me… You’re just a shameless scoundrel,” Wang Min retorted, wanting to mention his hand on her rear but too embarrassed to say it outright.

“Please, both of you, stop arguing. It’s my fault,” the driver interrupted, apologizing. “A car swerved toward us just now, so I had to turn suddenly. Are you both alright?”

“It was just a bump, nothing serious,” Zhang Wei replied politely, seeing the driver’s sincere attitude and not wanting to push the issue.

“You’re fine! I bet you were happy to take advantage of me,” Wang Min snapped.

Zhang Wei glimpsed the driver smirking in the rearview mirror, which made him flush with embarrassment. Though his action had been instinctive, he had indeed taken liberties. He leaned back against the seat, closed his eyes, and pretended to rest, unwilling to argue further with Wang Min.

Wang Min saw him feigning sleep and wanted to tease him some more, but worried about making a spectacle in front of the driver. With a cold snort, she turned away to gaze out the window. The remnants of alcohol in her system had been thoroughly banished by the earlier scare.

The rest of the ride passed in silence. When the taxi reached Elegant Garden Residence, Wang Min got out without so much as a glance at Zhang Wei, while he stayed behind to settle the fare before following her.

Elegant Garden Residence was considered a high-end community in the capital. The pathways were well-lit at night, making the sidewalks bright and clear. Both Zhang Wei and Wang Min lived in the same basement within the complex, so their paths were one and the same.

Walking behind her, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but notice how Wang Min’s black skirt just covered her curves, revealing two long, pale legs. Her hips swayed gently as she walked, their contours shifting in and out of view, and her thighs moved with every step, drawing Zhang Wei’s gaze.

Just as he was staring at her shapely hips, Wang Min suddenly stopped and turned to face him. Seeing his eyes fixed on her, she blushed furiously and spat, “Zhang Wei, you pervert! Where do you think you’re looking?”

“Ahem…” Zhang Wei quickly averted his gaze, coughing to mask his embarrassment. “You’re mistaken. I was just looking straight ahead.”

“Liar! Do you think I’m blind? I know exactly where you were staring!” Wang Min scolded, her voice sharp. “You walk in front.”

“Fine by me.” Zhang Wei shrugged indifferently and stepped ahead, noticing that Wang Min was watching him like a hawk.

“With your wolfish nature, even if you weren’t the one spreading rumors about my divorce, don’t expect me to be nice to you,” Wang Min muttered from behind.

“As long as you’re not plotting against me with Guo Bin, that’s all I ask,” Zhang Wei replied. He knew that their grievances had been mostly resolved; whether she really saw him as a pervert or not didn’t particularly concern him.

“Do you think I want to team up with that idiot? He actually got drunk and made a fool of himself—what a useless show-off,” Wang Min said coldly.

“That’s good to hear.” Zhang Wei smiled, feeling a weight lift from his heart. With the tension between them eased, he strode ahead, and soon reached his building.

Zhang Wei’s room was in the second basement level of Building One, with the entrance at the back. The stairwell felt like a bunker, the air growing damper and more musty with every step down.

Once inside, Zhang Wei’s mood soured. He glanced at Wang Min, who wore a similarly resigned expression—no one would live in such a place if they had a choice.

Apart from the humidity, the basement was at least quiet and relatively cool in summer and warm in winter. Zhang Wei walked the maze-like corridor, turning several corners before reaching his tiny room. Wang Min’s room was right next door.

He considered saying good night but saw Wang Min heading to the communal washroom instead. Not wanting to embarrass himself, he fished out his key, opened the door, and entered a room barely eight square meters. Aside from a single bed and a wooden table, it was utterly bare.

He shrugged off his suit, kicked off his shoes, tossed his phone by the bed, and collapsed onto the mattress. Pulling the blanket over himself, he quickly drifted into a muddled sleep.

The alarm rang, startling Zhang Wei awake. Whether it was from being knocked out the previous day or the effects of the alcohol, he had slept deeply and soundly until morning.

Yawning and rubbing his head—no longer sore—he got up, grabbed his toiletries, and headed to the washroom. After a quick wash, he smoothed his hair, put on a shirt and suit, tied his tie, and slipped into his shoes. Every movement was practiced and efficient, a routine honed over time—no more than ten or so minutes from start to finish.

Stepping out of the basement into the dry morning air, Zhang Wei felt instantly refreshed. Though the city’s air was far from pristine, it was vastly preferable to the damp, stifling basement.

He had always dreamed of moving out of the basement and living in a proper apartment, opening a window each morning to breathe fresh air and gaze at the world beyond, rather than being confined in a dark, prison-like cellar. But for someone earning just two thousand a month and barely making ends meet, this dream remained distant and extravagant.

The Zhongtong branch office was right under Building Four, only a few hundred meters from his own building—a short walk. Proximity to work was the one advantage of living in the basement, especially in real estate where the day started at eight and often didn’t end until nine or ten at night. With workdays running thirteen or fourteen hours, a long commute would sap even the toughest spirit.

By the time Zhang Wei arrived, it was already past nine-thirty. The Zhongtong office was open for business, with employees busy at their computers or taking notes. Zhang Wei entered with a smile and greeted everyone in his loud, clear voice, “Good morning, everyone!”

Guo Bin, seated near the entrance, didn’t look up but responded automatically.

“Well, well! No wonder someone who just closed a deal looks so energized!” Wang Min teased.

Zhang Wei shook his head and chuckled. Before leaving home, he’d checked Wang Min’s door; she’d already gone to work, and now, as soon as they met again, she was back to her sarcastic self.

Previously, Wang Min’s hostility stemmed from suspecting him of badmouthing her. Now, her barbs were retaliation for his flirtatious behavior the night before. Zhang Wei knew this perfectly well and simply smiled, unbothered.

“Zhang Wei, I heard you closed a deal yesterday—congratulations!” came a clear voice from the back. Zhang Wei looked up to see Wen Fang, the assistant.

Wen Fang was twenty-two, fresh out of university, with a beautiful face and elegant figure—a classic intellectual beauty. She hadn’t joined the dinner the night before because it was her day off.

“Thank you,” Zhang Wei said, swiping his fingerprint to clock in and smiling at her.

“A thank you isn’t enough. You owe me a meal, or I’ll hold onto your contract and won’t submit it to headquarters—you won’t see a penny!” Wen Fang joked.

“It would be my pleasure to treat a beautiful lady. Just say the word, and I’m at your service,” Zhang Wei replied.

“Count me in! If Zhang Wei’s buying, I’m coming too,” Guo Bin piped up, shamelessly sidling over to Wen Fang’s desk.

Wen Fang’s youth and beauty, coupled with her education, made her the object of many young men’s affections. Guo Bin had liked her for a while, but every time he tried to confess, his stutter got in the way. Still, his secret crush remained.

Hearing Wen Fang joke with Zhang Wei about a meal, Guo Bin immediately hurried over like a jealous puppy, eager to interrupt.

“Guo Bin, didn’t you already go to dinner with Zhang Wei yesterday? You got so drunk you passed out and vomited all over yourself. You still have the nerve to ask for another free meal?” Wang Jianfa mocked. He’d taken Guo Bin home the night before and had nearly been overwhelmed by him.

“That was… an accident,” Guo Bin replied, forcing a sheepish smile as his flaws were exposed.

“Accident? You started acting up halfway home. If I hadn’t stopped you, you’d have ended up wrestling with a dog,” Wang Jianfa added.

“Man versus dog—that’s something I’ve never seen. So, who won?” Wang Min asked slyly.

“Isn’t it obvious? Guo Bin’s standing here in one piece, so of course he came out on top!” Li Lin chimed in with a deadpan quip.

Laughter erupted from Wen Fang and Zhang Wei, and even Xu Ming, sitting in the office, couldn’t help but join in.

Hearing everyone’s teasing, Guo Bin’s face turned crimson. To be so humiliated in front of Wen Fang made his heart ache as if shattered, and the laughter around him only rubbed salt in the wound.