Chapter 13: Colleagues (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Shen Siyuan took a taxi home and found Lao Lu still pacing below the building.

Seeing Shen Siyuan return, he bowed slightly but did not approach.

Shen Siyuan wondered inwardly: could he be trying to wear him down with persistence and emotional appeals?

In truth, Shen Siyuan had already decided to help him—not because he was a bleeding heart who softened at the sight of an old man.

But because he wanted to test whether helping someone like Lao Lu fulfill his wish might also bring merit.

After all, souls as pure as Dou Dou were rare, and most were children.

Just as Lao Lu himself said, most people in this world were like him—enduring countless temptations throughout life, hardly ever able to live without a single regret.

Those who err may change; many only learn to grow after experiencing their mistakes, but that doesn’t make them evil.

Lao Lu was just like that—he’d done many foolish things in his youth, but as he aged, his thinking matured, and gradually he became the kind, gentle Grandpa Lu in everyone’s eyes.

Nothing happens overnight; everything has a process. Some people veer off and never return; others turn back and become better versions of themselves.

You can’t call someone evil just because they took a wrong path.

Who in this world is absolutely perfect?

So Shen Siyuan wanted to try helping Lao Lu and see if the Dao would recognize it—but first, he’d let him wait a few days.

The next morning, Shen Siyuan arrived early at the bus stop and found Lin Manzhi already waiting, straddling her bike while eating breakfast.

“I figured there was still time, so I bought breakfast on the way—I brought you one too. Want the rice ball?” Lin Manzhi said casually.

She wore a light blue short-sleeve top and fitted jeans that accentuated her long legs, her hair tied high in a bun, radiating vitality.

They say the most captivating women are those who blend youthful charm with womanly grace—or vice versa.

Lin Manzhi now embodied the first kind, drawing countless glances from passersby.

“I’m not picky,” Shen Siyuan said without hesitation, taking the rice ball she offered.

“I know guys all love meat, so I added a sausage,” Lin Manzhi said with a hint of pride.

“You’re so thoughtful, Sister Manzhi—if you keep this up, I might fall for you,” Shen Siyuan joked.

He hung the breakfast on his bike and didn’t eat right away, instead gesturing for Lin Manzhi to get on.

Lin Manzhi sat on the back, wearing jeans, so she straddled the seat.

“There are plenty who love me—adding one more doesn’t matter.”

“Sister Manzhi, you’re really confident,” Shen Siyuan said, speechless.

“What can I do? Natural beauty can’t be ignored,” she said, then burst into a bright laugh.

At that moment, a car beside them, seemingly unable to bear the sight of this handsome man and beautiful woman laughing so early, suddenly accelerated and cut them off, forcing Shen Siyuan to slam on the brakes.

Lin Manzhi, thrown forward by inertia, slammed into Shen Siyuan’s broad back.

Shen Siyuan stopped the bike, ready to yell, but the car was already gone in a blur.

“Sister Manzhi, are you okay?” Shen Siyuan turned to ask.

“I’m fine, but I dirtied your shirt,” Lin Manzhi said, gently patting his back.

The sudden brake had caused her to collide with his back—since she’d been eating breakfast, her lips were smeared with oil, which now transferred to his shirt.

As for “balling into him,” that was entirely nonexistent—she was “without ambition,” her only flaw.

“It’s fine…” Shen Siyuan continued on.

Then Lin Manzhi used tissues to wipe him clean the entire way.

“Have you thought about what I told you?” Lin Manzhi suddenly asked.

“What?”

“The person I introduced you to.”

“Didn’t we say drop it?”

“Just meet them—it won’t cost you anything.”

“Sigh, why are you all so obsessed with setting people up?”

“Because we’re all stuck in the same pit—we want to drag you all in too,” Lin Manzhi laughed.

“Sister Manzhi, you’re blunt—do you really think that way?”

“Of course. Is that a problem?”

“Fine, Sister Manzhi, you’re always right—I’ll meet them.”

Shen Siyuan decided to agree for now; otherwise, Lin Manzhi would never stop trying to set him up.

“Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor—you’re the only one I’ve ever introduced anyone to. Have you seen me set up anyone else in our department?”

“Then I really should thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

Shen Siyuan: …

“Alright, I’m serious—I think you’re a good guy, that’s why I’m introducing you.”

“I thought it was because I’m the most handsome.”

Lin Manzhi laughed and slapped his back.

“You’re pretty self-absorbed—just picking the best among dwarfs. In Operations, Tian Yunrui’s too fat, Wang Chao’s too narrow-minded, Zhou Chuan’s already married, Li Kang’s not very smart…”

“Uh… Sister Manzhi, you summed it up perfectly…”

“Of course—I have excellent taste. Only you look right to me.”

“Thank you for seeing something in me.”

“Then it’s settled—I’ll tell my best friend today.”

“Alright.”

Since he’d agreed to meet, Shen Siyuan no longer hesitated.

When they reached the company gate, Shen Siyuan told Lin Manzhi to go in first while he went to park.

After parking, he walked into the building chewing his rice ball and ran into Ding Youguang from the Channel Department.

“Bro, good morning.”

Ding Youguang was extremely enthusiastic, his smile dazzling.

He wasn’t just friendly to Shen Siyuan—he treated everyone this way, a classic social bulldozer.

He’d once worked in Online Operations, so Shen Siyuan knew him well.

“Don’t smile like that—it’s kind of creepy.”

Ding Youguang leaned in and whispered, “Do you have time this Friday night? I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“No reason for kindness? You’re up to something,” Shen Siyuan eyed him suspiciously.

“Hehe, I’ve got something to discuss with you,” Ding Youguang grinned sheepishly.

“Good thing?”

“Of course it’s good.”

“Good things ever come my way?”

“Say that? We’re brothers—I’d never screw you over,” Ding Youguang declared solemnly.

“Precisely because you’re my brother that I fear you’ll stab me in the kidney.”

They joked their way into the elevator, then headed to their respective departments.

But as Ding Youguang turned away, Shen Siyuan called out to him.

“What?”

“Don’t call me ‘bro.’ You’re older than me.”

“It’s just a title—don’t take it to heart. If I see a dog on the road, I’ll call it ‘Brother Dog.’”

“F***…”

Shen Siyuan gave him the middle finger.

Back in Operations, few were around—everyone arrived right at the deadline.

The farther you lived, the earlier you came; the closer you lived, the later you arrived.

Li Wjuan was wiping the desk with a cloth. Seeing Shen Siyuan enter, she asked immediately: “Need a cloth? I’ll wipe your desk.”

“No, my desk isn’t dirty.”

Li Wjuan glanced at his dusty computer screen—once turned off, the grime was unmistakable.

“You don’t get it—you can’t wipe screens with cloth, it damages the computer.”

“I think you’re just lazy.”

Li Wjuan walked over and wiped his desk twice with the cloth.

Shen Siyuan sat on the chair beside her, eating breakfast and watching her.

She was a nice girl—long hair, slim figure. The only flaw: a pale bluish birthmark on her left cheek, which she mostly covered with her long hair.

She was cheerful and never felt inferior because of it.

Many in the company pursued her, but her standards were high—she found none acceptable.

Just then, Lin Manzhi, who had been staring at her phone since Shen Siyuan entered, suddenly stood up excitedly.

“Shen Siyuan, I’ve already set it up—how’s this Saturday?”

“That fast? But I can’t make Saturday or Sunday—I need to go back to my hometown.”

Lin Manzhi thought for a moment: “What about Friday night?”

Hearing this, Shen Siyuan remembered Ding Youguang’s invitation and nodded immediately: “Friday’s fine—I’m free Friday.”

“Then it’s settled—Friday it is.”

Lin Manzhi lowered her head and continued contacting her friends on her phone.

Shen Siyuan turned around and saw a filthy rag discarded on his desk; Li Wjuan had already returned to her seat.