Chapter 43: The Subtleties of Elevator Etiquette

Zhongtian Import and Export Trading Company operated on a nine-to-five schedule, and for Wang Zheng, his first day at "work" was spent mostly in boredom throughout the afternoon. He could have left earlier, but he chose not to, for he was waiting for the arrival of a momentous occasion.

Time always seems to conspire against those who are anxious, and naturally, the clock—time's faithful servant—is a master at teasing people. Wang Zheng kept glancing at the hands of his watch, much like cars on the Third Ring Road; he thought an eternity had passed, but the hands had barely moved. Man may change the world, but he is powerless against time. For the impatient, there is only the bitter wait, a helplessness filling his heart.

Helplessness is like being bitten by a dog yet unable to bite back. Wang Zheng was being toyed with by time, unable to return the favor.

Seeing Wang Zheng’s face twisted in distress, Bai Bing suddenly smirked. She didn’t know why he wore such an expression, but does one need a reason to laugh at someone?

No, one does not.

"Your pain is my happiness!" That was Wang Zheng’s gift to Bai Bing once, and now she intended to return it unchanged.

Bai Bing closed her book and rose from the sofa, walked with the grace of a model up to Wang Zheng, bent down, and asked with feigned concern, "Are you constipated?"

Wang Zheng, restless as an ant on a hot pan, was at his wit’s end. Hearing Bai Bing’s "concern," he slowly looked up, revealing to her a contorted, ferocious expression.

"Ah!" Bai Bing shrieked in mock terror, then flashed a look that was part triumphant, part excited, a touch tender, and a bit fearful. She clasped her hands over her chest in a pious pose, "smiled" at Wang Zheng, and said, "Dearest scoundrel, I adore your face filled with rage and hatred—it intoxicates me! I can’t take it anymore! Hahahaha!"

Truly, she was the infamous rogue of Jinghua City, unbeaten for years—her true colors finally revealed!

Wang Zheng held his breath, staring at her. Seeing Bai Bing laugh without care for her image, his anxious heart grew calm.

"Who hasn’t known the day when the tiger falls from grace? Wait till my east wind rises again! When the tiger returns to the mountain, half the sky shall be stained with blood!" Wang Zheng leaned back in his chair, gazing indifferently at Bai Bing, then slowly raised his right hand, clenched his fist, and extended his middle finger.

Damn it.

No words could capture Wang Zheng’s mood at that moment—only this gesture could elevate his spirits!

Simple and direct!

And universally recognized!

Bai Bing, triumphant and laughing, thought she had won this round. But when she saw Wang Zheng’s gesture, she was instantly infuriated. Still, to avoid being laughed at, she kept a smile on her face and turned to leave the room.

"I’m so happy, I laughed until tears came—gotta wash my face. By the way, do you know where the restroom is?" Bai Bing asked as she reached the door.

"Follow the corridor straight ahead, when you hit the wall, turn right!"

…

After enduring the torment, five o’clock finally arrived. Wang Zheng sprang from his chair and dashed out of the so-called "General Manager Assistant’s Office." Bai Bing followed closely, uncertain what trick he might pull next. But when she caught up, Wang Zheng had stopped outside the General Manager’s office.

"Click!" The door opened, and Lin Xiaolei stepped out.

"What a coincidence!" Wang Zheng, who had been waiting outside for a while, feigned surprise. "Shall we leave together?"

"Alright…" Lin Xiaolei nodded softly, somewhat bewildered, since she’d seen Wang Zheng standing outside as she opened the door—clearly waiting there, so how could it be a coincidence? Suddenly recalling how tightly he had grasped her hand earlier, her face flushed. Luckily, he turned toward the elevator after her reply, sparing her further embarrassment.

Bai Bing squinted at Wang Zheng, whose relaxed, cheerful demeanor contrasted sharply with his earlier discomfort in the office. Shifting her gaze to Lin Xiaolei, she seemed to understand, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.

"Ding!" The elevator doors opened. It was rush hour, and the elevator was packed with office ladies in their various summer outfits, a feast for Wang Zheng’s eyes.

"Too crowded, let’s wait," Bai Bing said, frowning.

"Rush hour’s always like this, just squeeze in!" Wang Zheng replied, stepping into the elevator.

"Wait, I left my phone on my desk—I’ll go get it, don’t wait for me!" Lin Xiaolei said suddenly, hurrying back to the office.

Hearing this, Wang Zheng stepped back out of the elevator, lamenting the missed opportunity among the office beauties. Just then, another elevator door opened nearby, and it wasn’t crowded.

"This one, fewer people!" Bai Bing tugged at Wang Zheng’s sleeve, anxious lest the door close.

Wang Zheng craned his neck to look inside. Fewer people, yes, but… they were office workers, not beauties. The quality left much to be desired, and going in might turn "taking advantage" into "being taken advantage of." So, Wang Zheng decisively rejected Bai Bing’s suggestion, now calm and unhurried, saying, "Let’s wait a bit longer."

Hmph, it was precisely to squeeze into the elevator that he waited until five o’clock. If not for that, he wouldn’t bother with the elevator at all! Wang Zheng thought to himself. For him, the life of a white-collar worker was blissful, especially squeezing into an elevator with all kinds of beautiful women after work—the feeling of being pressed and jostled… delightful!

But is "delightful" really enough to describe such pleasure?

June brings heat! Thin clothes cannot hide the graceful figures of the women! The elevator becomes a dazzling scene—a feast for the senses: sight, sound, touch, and smell. This subtle, fleeting, ambiguous, and hazy beauty—how could he miss it?

Soon, Lin Xiaolei returned from the office, and seeing Wang Zheng still waiting at the elevator, she paused, then hurried over.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" she said apologetically as she reached him. She hadn’t really made him wait, so why was she apologizing? Lin Xiaolei herself couldn’t quite understand.

"Ding!" The elevator opened for the fourth time. Previous ones had been rejected—too few people, or poor quality. Perhaps because beauties dislike crowded elevators and prefer to wait until it’s less busy, this time… all the beauties were gathered together, not only numerous but of high quality.

Wang Zheng rolled up his sleeves and fought his way in!

As the doors closed, Wang Zheng stood expressionless at the center. His tall, sturdy frame occupied more space, and naturally, he came into contact with more people. Today, the elevator seemed to be his ally—stopping at every floor, prolonging his time among the office beauties. Occasionally, when a particularly attractive woman squeezed in, everyone’s bodies swayed together.

Wang Zheng was in seventh heaven, excitement shining in his eyes. In his heart, the mountain flowers bloomed bright red! Riding the elevator is all about squeezing, all about swaying!

"Pressed from the front and squeezed from behind," "waves surging"—Wang Zheng learned many idioms, greatly enhancing his literary prowess! This method of learning was intimate, reliable, vivid, lively, economical, practical, tangible, flexible, and full of lingering charm—truly tailor-made for Wang Zheng!