Tenant’s Secret Love

Chapter 60: The fork in the road

When I arrived at Jumei Shopping Center, I went into a café called “Seaview Café,” but I didn't order anything because it was a sea-themed café where you had to pay first, and the drinks were very expensive. So of course I had to wait for Renee to come over.

I chose an empty seat, sent a text message to Renee with the name of the café, and then found a fashion magazine to kill time and pass the boredom. Outside the French windows, the sky was darkening, and the various lights that had come on were blurring the city shrouded in autumn rain. So I put down the magazine, a little lost in thought, and listened to the sound of raindrops hitting the windows...

Renee walked into the store without knowing what, sat down across from me, and looked at the empty table and asked, “Why don't you order something to drink?”

“You have to pay first, and it's so expensive. A pot of oolong tea costs more than 200, and the owner of this store is really greedy!”

Renee didn't pay any attention to my complaints, called the waiter, and ordered a pot of oolong tea for me, while ordering a cappuccino for herself.

I savored the over 200 RMB tea pot, but I couldn't taste anything special, so I was even more certain that the owner was a profiteer, but I didn't feel that my own consumption level was low.

After I had finished my cup of tea, I looked at Renee, who was stirring her coffee with a spoon, and asked, “You don't look very well. Have you been tired lately?”

“A bit tired!” Renee said, rubbing her temples subconsciously.

I raised my eyebrows and laughed, “You're just digging your own grave, you know. What do you hope to achieve by expelling me with so much effort? If you are tired, I am still capable of taking care of your daily life, and I promise to make you feel comfortable.”

Renee frowned and said coldly, “Lucas, don't joke with me like that.”

“You're a bit of a flighty thinker. When I say I'll take care of your life and your daily needs, it doesn't necessarily mean I have to be your boyfriend or husband, right? I could be your male nanny, and I don't mind being your male nanny!”

Renee was so angry that she was speechless. After a while, she said ‘boring’ and ignored me again. She continued stirring the coffee in her cup, but she looked like she was deep in thought.

In no time at all, I finished the pot of oolong tea. Feeling hungry, I called the waiter again and ordered a pasta salad. I even took the trouble to order a tiramisu for Renee, who, of course, paid for it.

I don't mind taking advantage of a woman. She is much richer than I am, and spending her money is a way to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, resolve the main contradictions in society, and build a harmonious society.

I quickly finished the pasta salad and took out the scarf from my backpack, which was wrapped in a bag, and handed it to Renee.

Renee took the scarf and couldn't help smiling when she saw my Rikdas backpack.

I said discontentedly, “What's so funny? This is just my sense of entertainment. Rikdas also has a women's backpack. Do you dare to use it?”

Renee shook her head to indicate that she didn't dare, took the scarf out of her bag and looked at it, as if she liked it very much. She said to me, “It's pretty!”

“That's right, my mother is the best at knitting in her life!”

Renee nodded, and then put the scarf in her handbag. But she didn't hurry to leave, her expression was a little more relaxed than just now, and she looked at the world outside the French window that was drenched in rain but illuminated by neon lights, with her chin in her hand.

I didn't want to leave either, so I followed Renee's gaze out the window, seeing the neon lights as a prosperous scene, and then contrasting it with my own bleak situation.

It was about 9 pm when Renee and I said goodbye at the coffee shop. She drove off in her car into the city lights, towards her old house, while I walked in the falling autumn rain, avoiding the fallen leaves, towards my newly rented apartment.

...

After a night when the sky was no longer gloomy, it was a sunny morning. Despite the fact that I had listened to the rain and lost sleep, I got up early in the morning.

On a morning after a rainy night, the sunlight seems to carry a hint of cold. The wind whistles as it blows the fallen leaves on the ground. I bought a pack of soymilk and some dumplings from the breakfast restaurant downstairs and ate them while walking.

I threw the empty bag into the trash can and looked up, only to realize that there were so many hurried passers-by around me, while I seemed to have become still, and then had no connection with this city.

Enduring the cold of the wind, I stood alone for a long time, and finally took out the letter I was about to give to Mark from my pocket. A kind of helplessness at the fork in the road of life once again filled my heart.

I had finished the promotional plan yesterday. Regardless of the final result, I had done my best with this plan, and it was a final way to settle things with Mark.

It was almost 9 o'clock when I arrived at the company. After punching in as usual, I went to the office where I had worked for nearly three years. Sitting at my desk, which had been marked with my own imprint, my mind was empty. I just waited for Mark to come to the office and then find a suitable time to hand in my resignation.

A little while later, Harlan also arrived at the company. He put down his briefcase, beaming with radiance, seemingly in a good mood, but his appearance filled me with a sense of guilt. But there was nothing I could do about it. I had done what I should and shouldn't have done. All I could say to Harlan and Mark was I'm sorry.

Harlan invited me to go to the break room together to make coffee. I nodded, picked up my cup, and followed him to the break room.

The two of us each made a cup of coffee and found a corner to chat.

Harlan placed his coffee cup on the windowsill and patted my shoulder, excited but whispering, “Lucas, reliable sources say that after this promotion ends, we will receive our appointment notices. I will become the deputy manager of the planning department, and you will take my place as the leader of the planning copywriting team!” He paused and looked at the sunlight falling on the blinds, which were swaying in the wind, and sighed, “Our brothers have struggled in this city for two years, and finally have a place to call our own

Sadness welled up in my heart, and I didn't know how to respond. After a long time, I gave a bitter smile and said, “Maybe.”

“Why are you so calm, kid? Aren't you excited at all?”

“I'm indifferent to fame and fortune, which only highlights how mercenary you are!” Harlan and I cracked a bitter joke. In fact, I'm not indifferent to fame and fortune either. If I really could become the leader of the planning and copywriting team, I would definitely be excited, but now that I'm about to hand in my resignation to Mark, what's there to be excited about?

While we were talking, Mark's female assistant found Harlan and me and said that Mark wanted to see us in his office.

Harlan said that he would go right away, but I had a bad feeling in my heart. Maybe Renee had used these past few days to unravel Darren's plot, and as a result of the chain reaction, Mark's plan might have fallen through as well.

...

Harlan and I immediately went to Mark's manager's office. Mark, who was sitting in the office chair, lit a cigarette for himself, which was rare, and his face looked very unpleasant.

Harlan was very puzzled, but I already knew what was going to happen next.