Chapter 6: How Can This Be Endured

  Tian Keming's face was completely lost, his face turned green with anger, he pointed at Chu Tian Shu and said viciously: "Chu Tian Shu, you have guts, let's see about that." After finishing speaking, he didn't even bother to close the office door, and left in a dejected manner.

  The crowd dispersed in an instant, disappearing without a trace in just a few seconds, and the corridor returned to its usual tranquility.

  A face-to-face confrontation, seemingly ending in a draw on the surface, but everyone's heart is clear that Chu Tian Shu is the winner of this confrontation.

  Every office in the building is almost talking about Chu Tian Shu's heroic feat of protecting beauty!

  However, as the victor, Chu Tian Shu didn't feel happy at all.

  After such a fierce confrontation, Chu Tian Shu can no longer escape the fate of being sent away.

  Liu Chunna followed Chu Tian Shu back to the office and softly said: "Tian Shu, thank you!"

  Chu Tian Shu smiled and said, "Spring Na, take care of yourself from now on." After finishing speaking, he didn't even turn his head back, turned around and rushed out of the office building.

  Walking alone on the street, blown by the hot wind, the thrill of victory just now has disappeared, followed by desolation and helplessness.

  His stomach started growling, and Chu Tian Shu suddenly remembered that he hadn't eaten lunch yet. He turned a corner and walked towards the fast food restaurant at the entrance of the alley. However, after just a few steps, he saw Fan Yi Bing sitting alone by the window, eating with relish.

  Isn't he supposed to be out shopping with his girlfriend?

  Chu Tian Shu stopped in his tracks, suddenly realizing: before getting off work, Fan Yi Bing must have delivered the newspaper to the door of Tian Ke Ming's office and also heard the movements inside, but he didn't dare to ruin Tian Ke Ming's good deed, so he found an excuse to send himself away.

  He was deceived by people around him, and a sense of desolation surged up in Chu Tian Shu's heart.

  He hastily turned around and walked away with his head down on the main street, feeling like there was a huge stone pressing on his chest, suffocating him.

  Wandering aimlessly on the street, my mind is in a mess, thinking about how to get through this year after "entering the countryside and settling in villages", and worrying whether I can still return to the organization after a year...

  After a while, suddenly, the phone in her pocket rang, Chu Tian Shu took it out and saw that it was Liu Chun Na who sent: "Tian Shu, where are you?"

  It's already two o'clock when I looked at the time, and I had unknowingly strolled around the streets for a couple of hours.

  Chu Tian felt relieved and his heart was cold, he didn't want to go back to work anymore. Anyway, after the May Day holiday, he would have to "return to his hometown and live in a village", so it didn't matter if he went to work for half a day or not.

  He lifted his head, looked at the buildings on the side of the street, and only then realized that he had walked almost five or six stations away from the Victory Road where the SASAC was located, all the way to the People's Square in the city center.

  Chu Tian Shu had already typed "People's Square" on her phone, but then thought better of it and deleted the words.

  Why bother?

  If she replied, Liu Chunna would definitely ask again, "What did you go to People's Square for? Why didn't you come to work?"

  How should I answer this?

  Saying that one is like a headless fly wandering around the streets, saying that one is worried and anxious about being assigned to a job?

  This is really detrimental to the brilliant image that has just been established in front of Liu Chunna.

  She put her phone in her pocket, and suddenly, Chu Tian Shu didn't know where to go, so she stood stupidly on the side of the street, like a lost child who couldn't find its way home.

  In those days, Chu Tian Shu was full of vigor and ambition when he passed the examination to enter Qingyuan Municipal State-owned Assets Commission. On that night, he made a toast with Wei Shi Jie and vowed to work hard for his own bright future, striving to be promoted again and again, and fighting to return to the provincial capital as soon as possible.

  But ideals are plump and reality is bony.

  Two years have passed, and Chu Tian Shu is still busy with miscellaneous tasks in the General Affairs Department, with a passion for adventure but no chance to show it off. He is at the beck and call of Tian Ke Ming, and if he doesn't comply, he gets scolded for being brainless. His heart is filled with frustration, yet he can do nothing about it.

  It's even better now. The head of the comprehensive department hasn't even taken office yet, and he's already being sent to Nanling County, which is even more remote than Xishan County. Just thinking about it makes me feel desolate.

  Chu Tian Shu stood in the shade of a newspaper stand, still lost in thought, when her phone suddenly beeped again. She took it out and looked at it, this time the message was not from Liu Chun Na but from Fan Yi Bing.

  "Thanks for your help, brother. I'll buy you a drink tonight."

  Brother? Is brother just for framing? Drinking? Can this wine still taste good?

  If Fan Yibing said this in person, Chu Tian Shu would definitely give him a heavy punch without hesitation!

  Chu Tian Shu bluntly replied with a message: "Today, brother is in a bad mood, don't look for trouble."

  Unexpectedly, Fan Yibing quickly replied: "Brother, sorry about this, I'll owe you this drink for now."

  After working together for over a year, Chu Tian Shu had some understanding of Fan Yi Bing. He was also a man with a strong sense of self-respect. Otherwise, with his down-to-earth nature and educational background, he wouldn't have been suppressed by Tian Ke Ming in the General Affairs Department.

  What is most important to such men?

  Face!

  Chu Tian Shu's reply just now didn't leave any face for Fan Yi Bing at all.

  However, Fan Yibing did not hold a grudge and instead apologized to Chu Tian Shu.

  This shows that in his heart, he still regards Chu Tian Shu as a brother, which is why he feels guilty.

  Chu Tian Shu calmed down slightly.

  What's wrong with Fan Yibing choosing to escape for self-protection?

  When I first heard the commotion in Tian Keming's office, didn't I also think of running away?

  Since you chose to be a hero who saves beauty, don't complain after danger arrives.

  At this thought, Chu Tian Shu felt relieved and immediately sent a message back to Fan Yi Bing: "No big deal, let's get drunk another day."

  Just as I was about to put my phone away, another message came in, this time from Liu Chunna.

  "Brother Tian, you replied to Little Fan's message, why won't you reply to mine?"

  Chu Tian Shu smiled wryly and still didn't know how to respond, holding his phone in a daze for a while without replying, continuing to wander aimlessly.

  As he passed by a coffee shop, Chu Tian Shu suddenly felt hungry and realized he hadn't had lunch yet. He walked into the coffee shop, ordered a cup of coffee and some pastries, and ate while staring blankly.

  Chu Tian Shu, who was feeling suffocated in his heart, couldn't help but feel anxious and tangled. He sighed with a thousand emotions: In this city, what else is worth staying for?

  Chu Tian Shu suddenly remembered Wei Shi Jie, the unlucky phone call in the meeting was made by this kid, he leaned back in his chair, propped up his legs, and dialed his cell phone.

  Damn it, someone's on the line!

  Chu Tian Shu tossed her phone onto the table, but it suddenly started playing: "Warm spring breeze blows in my face, peach blossoms blooming one by one..."

  "Hey buddy, what's up? You're so free that you're getting bored?" Wei Shijie replied with a cheerful tone.

  Chu Tian Shu grabbed the phone: "Awesome, how did you know I had a headache?"

  "Damn it, how did you think of me? Spit it out quickly, I'm busy."

  "Didn't you say this morning that we should go to Fantasy Bar tonight to celebrate your promotion?"

  "Come on, aren't you in a bad mood? I changed the activity instead."

  "Cut the crap, are you going or not?"

  Wei Shijie was even more impatient than Chu Tian Shu: "Oh dear, sorry, I'm busy right now."

  Chu Tian Shu scolded: "Isn't it just a promotion to a broken deputy department? Acting like a national leader, thinking you're handling everything."

  Wei Shijie lowered his voice: "Hehe, you're really right. I'm actually raising a 'chicken' now."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" But Chu Tian Shu immediately picked up on the hint from Wei Shi Jie's laughter and scolded: "Old Wei, you're too damn shameless, having a daytime tryst."

  "Brother, I'm handsome and have some status, so it's natural that girls like me. What can I do about it?"

  Oh my! Chu Tian Shu was so angry she almost vomited blood.

  "Old Wei, I've told you many times, a gentleman who loves beauty must do it in a proper way. Don't mess things up and then come to me for help again."

  "Don't bother," Wei Shijie hastily said: "I'll introduce you to another one later."

  "Alright, go ahead and sleep in, take it easy, don't exhaust yourself to death."

  "Alright, see you later." After saying that, Wei Shijie hung up the phone.

  Some people are really something, they're enough to drive you crazy.

  Chu Tian Shu let out a long sigh and threw her phone onto the table again.

  I'm so depressed.

  Others like Wei Shijie get promoted and rich, buy houses and cars, and have a long line of beautiful women waiting to be "dated". What about you?

  No hope of promotion, no way to get rich, dare not even think about buying a house or a car.

  How can this be?! They all came out of the same dormitory, how can there be such a big difference?!

  Chu Tian Shu originally wanted to vent his frustrations to Wei Shi Jie, but instead added more troubles.

  Chu Tian Shu, who had no one to turn to, couldn't think of anyone in this city who could be her confidant.

  At this time, Chu Tian Shu even regretted a bit, earlier should not have refused Fan Yi Bing's proposal, drinking some wine to numb the nerves may be able to alleviate a little of the heartache.

  The phone flickered on the table for a moment.

  Liu Chunna's message came again: "Tian Ge, I'm sorry, it was me who implicated you, you should resent me."

  What is this and what?

  Chu Tian Shu smiled silently and still didn't respond.

  "Brother Tian, if you don't respond to me, I'll go submit the 'rural settlement' application right now."

  What's the point of all this trouble? If it's going to end up like this anyway, then why bother offending Tian Tu Zi!

  Don't look at Liu Chunna's usual timidness, but this kind of woman, once she sets her mind to it, can do anything.

  "Chu Tian Shu didn't dare to slack off and quickly replied: 'Spring Na, I don't resent you, really. You mustn't do anything stupid.'"

  Liu Chunna indeed asked: "What are you doing? Why didn't you come to work?"

  Chu Tian Shu: "I have something urgent to attend to, I won't be coming over this afternoon."

  Liu Chunna: "After finishing our business, may I invite you to sit down?"

  Chu Tian Shu: "Forget it, maybe I'll be busy till very late."

  "No matter how late, I'll wait for you."

  "Never mind, I have an activity with classmates tonight, you know he's called several times, I really can't bear to put it off again."

  "Alright then, be sure to contact me after you've finished drinking. Wish you happiness."

  Happy? How did you become happy all of a sudden? Chu Tian Shu secretly smiled to herself, her fingers quickly swiping across the screen.

  Chu Tian Shu sat blankly, his spirit wounded, the coffee shop waiter was certain that this customer had lost love and stood far away, no longer coming over to disturb him.

  I don't know how long I've been sitting here, but dusk is slowly falling.