Chapter Thirty-Four: The ‘White-Collar’ Who Gets Paid for Nothing

Wang Zheng walked over to the woman, crouched down, and picked up the scattered notebooks on the ground, handing them back to her.

“Thank you!” The woman took them politely, but when she looked up, she froze for a moment. This man looked familiar... Wasn’t he the one who had given her a “diamond” at the bar that night? If not for that beautiful glass sphere, if not for the words he spoke, perhaps she would have sold herself that night for a transaction, or simply stepped into the middle of the road and ended her brief life.

“It’s... it’s you?” Surprise and delight flickered across her face, but after the astonishment, she smiled calmly.

“I’m glad to see you again!” Wang Zheng smiled at her. “The sunlight is pleasant today, don’t you think?”

The woman recalled his words from that night, and instantly understood his meaning. She tucked the notebook into her bag and looked at Wang Zheng. “Yes, today’s sunlight is quite nice.”

Her smile was forced, strained; clearly, there were still many difficulties in her heart. But faced with the man who had once encouraged her, all she could offer now was a smile in return.

“It’s getting late!” Wang Zheng glanced at his watch, then said, “Would you be interested in accepting a stranger’s invitation for dinner? I don’t think you’ll refuse.”

“Dinner at four in the afternoon? Are you out of your mind?” Bai Bing bumped Wang Zheng’s arm with her shoulder, while sizing up the woman again. It had been several days since their last meeting, and she hadn’t changed much. But was this the so-called angel Wang Zheng had mentioned?

Wang Zheng frowned at Bai Bing. Why was she everywhere? Did she think she was a woman? He glared at her, saying, “Always interrupting when I’m speaking—like a pesky dog!”

“You’re the dog!”

Wang Zheng paid no mind to Bai Bing, already rabid. Arguing with fools is pointless; it only makes others think you’re a fool too.

“If you think it’s too early, I can wait... I’ll just follow you,” Wang Zheng smiled at the woman. Though he still didn’t know her name, that didn’t hinder their conversation.

Faced with Wang Zheng’s enthusiasm, it seemed she couldn’t refuse. The woman gave a bitter smile. This man was indeed different, but she couldn’t say exactly how. The feeling was elusive—perhaps her intuition told her so.

“All right.” She felt she had no reason to refuse. In fact, she’d been wanting to find someone to talk to, but never found the chance—now, finally, she had.

Bai Bing, standing to the side, stared resentfully at Wang Zheng. Since knowing him, he’d never invited her to a meal. Yet this woman, whom he’d only met twice, received an invitation—how infuriating! Thinking of all the times she’d paid for him or cooked for him, Bai Bing’s heart boiled over with indignation. Watching Wang Zheng walk away, she hurried after him—she wouldn’t let him escape her tonight!

But mooching a meal wasn’t easy. Bai Bing followed Wang Zheng for over twenty minutes before they finally stopped.

“Boss, three roasted corn cobs, please!”

Huh? Bai Bing was stunned as she stared at the smoky street stall.

Is this... is this what they’re eating?

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“All right, three roasted corn!” The vendor quickly turned three cobs on the charcoal, wrapped them in leaves, and handed them to Wang Zheng. “One yuan each, three yuan total.”

“Thanks!” Wang Zheng pulled out three coins and took the cobs, handing them to the two well-dressed women behind him.

A man in a suit, women in business attire—urban elites eating street food?

Bai Bing held the steaming corn, eyeing the charred layers on top. How was she supposed to eat this? She’d never eaten street food, finding it beneath her status and unhygienic. She was deeply disappointed—she’d hoped for a lavish meal, but ended up with one-yuan roasted corn. Bai Bing frowned, unable to eat, unable not to eat, awkwardly standing there with a peculiar expression.

“Roasted corn is best when it’s golden and crispy, sweet and fragrant!” Wang Zheng said, opening his mouth wide and taking a bite. He closed his eyes, smiling in enjoyment, and continued, “When I was in Africa, I often ate roasted corn. When there were no resources, I’d simply light some twigs and roast the corn. If I had the means, I’d brush on some oil, sprinkle curry and chili powder—spicy and aromatic. Each bite, layer upon layer of spicy and sweet flavors, lingering in your mouth. Sometimes, it tasted even better than gourmet delicacies—isn’t that strange?”

Wang Zheng opened his eyes and looked at the woman. As for Bai Bing, he regarded her as nothing more than a shadow—no need to pay attention.

The woman looked at the corn in her hand, brought it to her lips, and took a gentle bite—it seemed to be her first time eating such food.

“Mm, delicious!” She nodded vigorously, her eyes lighting up, a spark of vitality in her gaze.

“To find delicious food in Jinghua City isn’t difficult, and to find joy in life is just as simple. It’s right beside you, if only you reach for it. Don’t always wear a bitter face—life itself is a miracle, so you should believe in miracles too.” Wang Zheng continued, munching on his corn—eight years of eating, and still not tired of it.

The woman nodded thoughtfully, but wondered why this man always encouraged her, always urged her to have faith in life—why?

Soon, Wang Zheng finished his corn, tossed the cob into a nearby bin, wiped his hands and mouth, then turned to the woman and said seriously, “Actually, I have an ulterior motive with you.”

“Huh?” The woman was startled; she didn’t understand his sudden declaration. Even Bai Bing, still hesitating about the corn, pricked up her ears to listen.

“I want to be your assistant—would you agree?” Wang Zheng revealed his intention.

“Why?” the woman asked, baffled.

“We’re kindred spirits—I’m also someone who’s lost his way. And you seem short-handed, while I can’t find a job—isn’t this perfect?”

“But... my company only has me left—I can’t pay you a salary!” The woman’s words were tinged with sorrow and desolation, as if touching her pain again. Her gaze dimmed, full of sadness.

“A white-collar worker—salary or no, it’s all the same! Never mind, you can owe me, pay me when you have money—I’m not in a hurry!” Wang Zheng replied. He needed a place to pass his idle hours, and this woman needed free labor—wasn’t it ideal?

“Why... why are you doing this?” The woman looked at Wang Zheng, bewildered. Were there really people who worked not for money? Everyone else had kicked her when she was down, but this stranger encouraged her more than once, and now wanted to be her unpaid assistant—she truly didn’t understand.

“Why... I don’t know. Just like I don’t know why basketballs are round, or why glue is salty!” Wang Zheng answered.

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“Idiot!” Bai Bing, unable to sit still, began showing off her scant wisdom, pretending to be an encyclopedia. “If basketball weren’t round, how could you play? If glue didn’t stick, why use glue?”

“If, from the dawn of human understanding, rugby had been called basketball, and glue called river water, wouldn’t everything be reversed now?”

“You’re so dumb—rugby’s called that because it looks like an olive; does basketball look like an olive?” Bai Bing shot Wang Zheng a mocking glance.

“So, by your logic, basketballs look like baskets?” Wang Zheng asked.

“Basketball’s called that because you throw it into a basket!”

“Then why isn’t rugby thrown into an olive tree?”

“I... I’m not telling you!” Bai Bing retorted, her face flushed.

Wang Zheng glanced at Bai Bing, saying nothing. Though both were Chinese, he could never find common ground with her.

“Well, have you decided? If you’re ready, take me to your company—I want to see where I’ll be fighting from now on!”

“...” The woman looked at the smiling man before her. She didn’t understand why he was doing this, but his smile was impossible to refuse. She thought for a moment, then said, “Go home and think it over. If you’re sure, come to Yong’an Tower tomorrow. Here’s my phone number—just call me directly.”

“I still don’t know the name of the boss I’ll be serving!” Wang Zheng said.

“Oh, I’m Lin Xiaolei.”

“I’m Wang Zheng. Then... see you tomorrow!”

...

“Why are you helping her? She can’t pay you!” On the way home, Bai Bing kept pressing Wang Zheng.

“Do I look like someone who needs money? I just want to change her fate—it’s interesting, isn’t it?” Wang Zheng smiled, happy to have finally found a job.

“Interesting? I think you’re into her, want to woo her, right?” Bai Bing looked at Wang Zheng with contempt, as if he were a wolf preying on women’s innocence. Wang Zheng felt as if even merely looking at women was somehow illegal.

“When smoke rises and love is sought like sand washed by waves, meeting her is like spring water reflecting pear blossoms! You clueless little brat, go play somewhere else!”