"Look, everyone thinks so." Tong Dan glanced at him, her expression calm, showing no signs of displeasure, but Pan Yang worried she might misunderstand, hurriedly explained: "Miss Tong, what I mean is..."

"I know what you mean."

Tong Dan sighed and said, "What I fear most is hardship."

Entering Dongyue Chemical wasn't about danger.

At least it's destined to be very tough.

Pan Yang didn't want her to stay, that was the real reason.

"Tong, the great beauty, luckily you're female, or what would you do if you were a man."

Jiang, the boss, mused.

Tong Dan gave a wry smile, "Are you belittling women? Believe it or not, I'll post it online and let the girls punch this capitalist to death."

Not to mention the two gentlemen, even the poised and steady Fang Qing couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Jiang, the boss, surrendered, "Please don't post it, give me a way out."

Pan Yang had witnessed the rigid hierarchy and the aloofness of those in higher positions in the workplace.

Thus now,

he was a bit lost in thought.

Pan Yang, because he hadn't known someone before, but Tong Dan had grown accustomed to it.

"Actually, men can do it too."

"Do what?"

Jiang Chen was puzzled.

"Boss Jiang, you could totally live off others, but you just don't want to."

Jiang Chen paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Me? Live off others? Where? Will you provide for me?"

"Haha."

Tong Dan chuckled twice and didn't continue the banter.

But Pan Yang seemed to sense something, quietly glanced at the serene and graceful Fang, but unexpectedly, the latter seemed to notice and looked back at him.

Their eyes met, and Pan Yang immediately squeezed out an awkward yet polite smile.

After the meal, the glorious task of sending people off naturally fell on Tong Dan's shoulders.

Lounge, eat, drink, sleep, these trivial things, Tong the great beauty didn't refuse.

"Drive safely."

Seeing them off at the hotel entrance, Tong Dan reminded, then turned around, but Pan Yang called out to her.

"...Miss Tong, can we walk together?"

Tong Dan turned, glanced at him, without any hesitation, and walked out first.

"What are you gawking at? Let's go."

"Oh!"

Pan Yang hurriedly followed.

"Is the pressure heavy?"

The sunset cast its afterglow upon the bustling street, like an oil painting.

Pan Yang should have been the one to initiate, but Tong Dan spoke first.

"...It's fine."

"Without Boss Jiang around, what are you afraid of? It seems difficult to me, like moving a mountain, it's exhausting."

Pan Yang remained silent, then smiled, "Living, there's never no exhaustion."

Tong Dan didn't deny it.

Though she feared hardship, being a flight attendant was far from easy.

"But Jiang Chen isn't tired."

"Mr. Jiang might be even more tired, just doesn't show it to us."

Pan Yang's voice was calm.

Tong Dan seemed thoughtful, nodded, looked ahead down the long street, and sighed, "I didn't realize before, but now, I quite admire him for acting like nothing bothers him."

"It's my first time encountering someone like Mr. Jiang."

Hearing Pan Yang's assessment, Tong Dan couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Who isn't?"

The two walked leisurely down the street, not in a hurry, like elders taking a walk.

"Miss Tong, thank you."

"Not apologizing this time?"

Tong Dan said indifferently, "No need, Jiang Chen and I haven't said anything, him choosing you is unrelated to me, it's your own character that moved him."

"But if it weren't for Miss Tong, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet Mr. Jiang."

These words, Tong Dan couldn't argue against.

Indeed.

In this world, countless people are diligent, honest, and kind; why him?

"If you really want to thank me, just do well in this new job. If you mess it up, I'll lose face in front of Jiang Chen."

"Miss Tong, have you known Mr. Jiang for a long time?"

Pan Yang wasn't naturally outspoken and was resistant to saying meaningless pleasantries. After expressing necessary sentiments, he switched to a more casual and natural topic.

"I guess quite a while, I, him, and Fang Qing met in high school, we attended the same school."

"Classmates?"

"Not really, Fang Qing and I were classmates, I met him through Fang Qing."

Speaking of this, Tong Dan casually continued, "Fang Qing has known him even longer."

"Hmm, you can sense that."

Tong Dan turned her head, "Then guess how long they've known each other?"

"Elementary school classmates?"

Tong Dan chuckled, "They've known each other all their lives."

Pan Yang was slightly stunned.

"Fang Qing and him are childhood friends, the kind that lived door to door, reportedly even born in the same hospital."

Pan Yang realized and instinctively mumbled: "Childhood sweethearts."

"Yes."

Tong Dan nodded, "They truly are childhood sweethearts. From birth, to learning to walk, kindergarten, primary school, middle school, they never separated."

Pan Yang wanted to say something, but held it back.

"In college, one went to Kyoto, the other to East Sea. I thought, with the distance, like many people, they'd slowly drift apart. But who knew, after all the twists and turns, they ended up together again."

"Isn't that nice?"

Pan Yang wasn't great at making small talk, but he wasn't stupid. Cautiously and tactfully, he said, "Fang is so talented that she can help Jiang, and with Jiang, Fang can have a large enough stage to showcase her abilities."

"Yeah, being so compatible in career as well. Don't you think that's quite lucky?"

Pan Yang forced a smile and remained silent.

"Do you think Fang Qing is pretty?"

Tong Dan suddenly asked.

Facing her gaze, Pan Yang didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"From a man's perspective, do you think she's attractive?"

Pan Yang hesitated.

Of course.

The hesitation wasn't about Fang Qing's looks.

"...Yeah."

In the end, he sincerely nodded, but only responded with a single word, not saying anything more.

"Yes, Fang Qing is talented, has good looks, and her temperament is impeccable. But why..."

Tong Dan paused and then exhaled, "She's still too naive herself."

Pan Yang said nothing. He wasn't good with words anyway, perfectly fitting his nature to play the part of a mute person.

After walking for a while, Tong Dan noticed something was off with her one-sided conversation and turned her head, "Why aren't you talking anymore?"

Pan Yang appeared embarrassed, genuinely honest, hesitating before blurting out, "I don't know what to say."

Tong Dan laughed, "Xu Jing was wrong; even if it weren't her, a different leader would still appreciate you."

"I'm not like Miss Tong, knowing Jiang and Fang for so long, I don't have a right to speak."

"You've progressed so fast. Even though the task is challenging, I believe you will definitely succeed."

Tong Dan encouraged.

Pan Yang smiled bitterly.

"I won't make it difficult for you anymore. Just pretend you didn't hear what I said earlier."

"Did Miss Tong say something earlier?"

Tong Dan widened her eyes, looked at him, then raised her thumb.

"Miss Tong, let's stop here."

Pan Yang didn't want her to go too far and stopped.

Tong Dan didn't insist, "Let's hail a cab."

"Alright... If Miss Tong feels bored, you can message me."

...

Tong Dan smirked, "You've become a busy person, I'll try not to bother you."

"It's not a bother, Miss Tong can find me anytime."

Pan Yang responded immediately.

Tong Dan had surely been confessed to before, but such a subtle confession might be a first.

She looked at him for a while, then suddenly became solemn.

Pan Yang was puzzled.

"Comrade Pan Yang, a man should focus on his career, not be engrossed in love and romance."

Pan Yang was dumbfounded.

Tong Dan suddenly burst into laughter, just in time to see a taxi passing by, she waved.

"Taxi!"

The taxi stopped.

"Get in, do I have to open the door for you?"

Pan Yang could only awkwardly pull open the car door and sat inside.

He looked out the car window.

Tong Dan made a fist gesture, "Good luck!" then waved.

The taxi drove off.

Pan Yang involuntarily turned, looking towards the back, the figure on the roadside gradually pulling away.

"Whew."

Tong Dan exhaled, lowered her hand, turned around, and walked back the way she came, softly humming a song.

She was never one to worry unnecessarily.

Just like her friends.

Why think too much?

Destiny has its own plans～

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