My Youth Began With Him

”It’s not bad, work isn’t too tiring. South Side is a high-end hospital, so the work environment and facilities are pretty modern.”

”That’s great! My mom told me that you’re a really hard-working person, and although you didn’t go to a top university, you worked diligently since your graduation and was promoted again and again. I enjoy being around people like you, it gives me positive energy.”

”Um… thanks for the compliment.”

”You know what I do, right? I’m currently the Deputy Manager of our bank’s Credit and Loans Department, and I’ve gotten a couple of raises. But that isn’t my ultimate goal – I plan on becoming our department’s director within 5 years. I know it’ll be hard, but I won’t give up.”

”That’s really nice, it’s good to have a dream. I hope you can succeed in it.”

Although to her, Xu Liang was no more than a passerby, Huo Mian was still impressed by his positive outlook on life.

Xu Liang laughed, ”Whales and sharks swim upstream; dead fish float downstream.”

”Haha… that’s an interesting way of thinking.”

”Oh right, I heard that you broke up with your boyfriend.”

”Yeah, we broke up. Auntie Wu’s met him before.”

”So, do you plan on dating or getting married anytime soon?” Xu Liang probed.

”Not yet.” Huo Mian realized where he was going, so she immediately nipped his thought in the bud.

”Really? That’s a shame, my mom said that we would make a good couple. After all, we’ve known each other since we were kids and are aware of each other’s’ characters. Plus, our jobs are both stable, so if we get married, our quality of life won’t be bad.”

”Haha… thanks for thinking so highly of me, but… relationships are complicated. Sometimes those who don’t seem to match end up dating, while those who seem to match don’t end up going anywhere.”

”There’s a pub up front, do you want to go in for a drink?” Xu Liang was still in high spirits.

”I’m sorry, but I’m a little busy tonight. I need to leave now.”

”Oh, okay, what’s your WeChat number? I can add you,” Xu Liang said as he took out his phone.

”I don’t use WeChat, and don’t have time to use it anyways.”

”What about your phone number?” Xu Liang didn’t want to give up.

”Um… Xu Liang, I’m sorry, but I don’t think we should exchange our contact information. I don’t think it’ll work out between us.”

Xu Liang was surprised by Huo Mian’s upfront rejection.

During his previous set-ups, it was the women who took the initiative. After all, he had a good job and came from a good family.

He originally thought that getting Huo Mian to date him was going to be easy as pie, but to his surprise, Huo Mian immediately rejected him.

”Nothing is certain; what if a possibility opens up in the future?” Xu Liang was unwilling to give up.

”There’s no possibility, I’m really sorry if I sound offensive. I know that Auntie Wu did this out of the kindness of her heart, and I know that you’re a good person. However, I should be able to make my own decisions, and I hope you can understand.” The truth was, Huo Mian really wanted to tell Xu Liang that she was married, but if Xu Liang told Auntie Wu, she would definitely tell her mother. Therefore, after a lot of consideration, Huo Mian decided to keep her mouth shut.

”Haha… okay then, if that’s what you think, then I don’t want to force you into anything.” Xu Liang smiled bitterly.

”Let’s head back.” Huo Mian didn’t want to waste any more time since everything was already out in the open.

After a while, Xu Liang and Huo Mian arrived back at her mother’s house, and Auntie Wu left with Xu Liang.

Huo Mian sat down beside her mother and helped her with laundry.

Yang Meirong rubbed at a dirty shirt while she nonchalantly asked, ”How did it go with Xu Liang?”