Chapter 132: Life Mentor

Cheng Xiaoyu walked up to the office of the "Old Godmother" and knocked on the door. He heard a voice devoid of emotion or cadence call out, "Come in."

As Cheng Xiaoyu pushed the door open, he saw the manager looking at him with a sour expression. Not feeling the least bit guilty, Cheng Xiaoyu said in a flat tone, "Manager Tao, I would like to transfer to the production or planning department."

The matter-of-fact way Cheng Xiaoyu spoke displeased Tao Bihua. It only solidified her belief that this chubby young man was relying on connections to act without restraint. She retorted with a sneer, "Do you think those core departments are places you can just wander into whenever you please?"

Cheng Xiaoyu looked at Tao Bihua's disdainful attitude, unsure of the source of her animosity. Just as he was about to speak, Tao Bihua cut him off again.

"Don't tell me whose relative you are; that act doesn't work on me. If you want to stay at this company, you either obey orders or prove you have real talent. You can leave now." Tao Bihua had no desire to continue the conversation. She had already looked at his resume, which was entirely blank except for the line: *Student, Piano Department, Shanghai Theatre Academy.* She had seen plenty of students from the Central Conservatory of Music and the Shanghai Theatre Academy pass through her hands. At the very least, others would list their past works, their teachers, or the orchestras they had performed with. Only this chubby kid had nothing but a photograph to his name.

Tao Bihua had a good relationship with her direct superior, the head of the Human Resources and Administration Department. She had sent a text asking who this chubby kid was, to which the department head replied that he wasn't entirely sure, only suggesting he was probably a relative of the boss's wife. The company was unaware of Su Changhe's illegitimate child, and Sun Jingyao would never have known this inside information had Su Weilan not told her.

Zhou Peipei never visited the company and never interfered in its internal affairs. Consequently, Tao Bihua took Cheng Xiaoyu even less seriously.

Cheng Xiaoyu had assumed he could choose his internship department, failing to realize things were far from how he imagined. He felt a twinge of regret for not being clearer with Aunt Zhou, but asking her to pull strings for him went against his principles. He had always been the type to solve his own problems rather than beg for help.

Under the circumstances, the atmosphere between the two should have been tense, yet Cheng Xiaoyu felt no anger. In fact, he felt he should be glad his family's company employed someone so impartial and incorruptible. He had no standing to be angry; he simply had to convince the "Old Godmother." Flashing his status as the young prince of the company wasn't his style. He possessed a certain inner persistence—call it self-deprecation or pride—that defined who he was.

Instead, Cheng Xiaoyu smiled. Looking at Tao Bihua with a calm expression, he asked, "Then how should I prove my talent?"

Tao Bihua, who had already looked back down at the attendance sheet, frowned, thinking the chubby kid was truly oblivious to his own limitations. But seeing his earnest and tranquil expression, she suppressed her impatience and said, "The production department holds evaluations every month. This month's is the day after tomorrow. If you're confident, go participate." Without explaining the details, she returned to her attendance sheet.

Cheng Xiaoyu didn't press for more, thinking he would just ask Su Yuxi later, and exited the office.

By six o'clock, when the workday ended, Cheng Xiaoyu called Su Yuxi to ask if she and Xu Qinning had finished their practice for the day.

Su Yuxi replied that they would be done immediately, suggesting they meet in the underground parking garage to grab dinner together.

Cheng Xiaoyu stood by the elevator doors. It was quite crowded at the end of the workday. Coincidentally, several other interns who had started the same day as him walked over.

Leading the group were Luo Ping'an and Ma Guoli, followed by Qin Senmei and three other girls of average appearance.

Seeing Cheng Xiaoyu waiting for the elevator, Luo Ping'an greeted him with genuine enthusiasm. He remembered Cheng Xiaoyu's name because he was from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Patting Cheng Xiaoyu on the shoulder, he said, "Cheng Xiaoyu, right? Come on, a few of us interns are getting together. I sent out a group text earlier; I'm not sure if you saw it."

Cheng Xiaoyu pulled out his phone and indeed found several unread messages he had missed during work hours. He apologized to Luo Ping'an, saying, "Sorry, I didn't see the text. I've already made plans with someone else. Let me treat you another time; I really can't make it today." In truth, he had no interest in going; being with his sister and Xu Qinning was far more enjoyable than spending time with this group.

Luo Ping'an didn't press him, simply smiling and saying, "Alright, next time then."

However, Ma Guoli looked down on Cheng Xiaoyu's behavior, suspecting him of posturing. His hostility stemmed from the traditional rivalry between the Central Conservatory of Music and the Shanghai Theatre Academy. The two schools were bitter enemies, their relationship as incompatible as Cambridge and Oxford. The annual Plum Blossom Award was a battleground for the two, and their respective online forums were constant warzones. Of course, he wouldn't stoop to sarcasm, which would only make him look petty; he simply raised his chin and ignored Cheng Xiaoyu entirely.

Cheng Xiaoyu wasn't yet a student at the Shanghai Theatre Academy and was unaware of the deep-seated rivalry, so he held no prejudice against Ma Guoli. He just thought he was arrogant for no apparent reason.

The elevator arrived, and the group shuffled inside. Because it was the peak of rush hour, the elevator was packed to the brim, triggering the weight alarm.

A girl standing at the front stepped out, but the alarm continued to blare. Everyone in the elevator turned their gaze toward Cheng Xiaoyu, who was standing near the door. Although he was among the first to enter, he hadn't squeezed into the back, leaving him near the exit.

Seeing everyone else in his row shrink back, Cheng Xiaoyu smiled and stepped out of the elevator. As soon as he exited, the girl who had first stepped out quickly ducked back in. This time, the elevator stopped beeping and the doors closed smoothly.

Cheng Xiaoyu watched the doors slide shut, hearing unkind laughter muffled from within.

He remained calm, indifferent to the sound, and pressed the elevator button again.

Behind him came a puzzled voice: "Those people seemed to be mocking you. Why didn't you care at all?"

Cheng Xiaoyu turned to see Sun Jingyao, wearing a blue and white striped camisole dress covered by a light, sheer lace cardigan—an outfit that made her voluptuous figure less conspicuous. Her hair was styled in large, soft waves, swept to one side. She wore little makeup, save for a hint of lip gloss. Hers was the classic, worldly beauty that made men impulsive and women jealous.

Cheng Xiaoyu found it strange that she would ask such an impolite question, unaware that she herself was often troubled by the gossip of others.

No one was better at dispensing "chicken soup for the soul" than Cheng Xiaoyu. He replied immediately, "Tolerance is not a moral choice; it is a matter of perception. Only by deeply understanding the nature of things can one grasp the complexity of people and the world, and cultivate the habit of not easily criticizing or praising. I am tolerant of others because I believe I am superior to them; this stems from my understanding of myself and others." He was skilled at spouting plausible-sounding platitudes that, in reality, said nothing at all.

Yet, these words stunned Sun Jingyao. She remained silent for a long moment, ruminating on the deeper meaning of his words.

Soon, the elevator arrived. Cheng Xiaoyu stepped in, and Sun Jingyao followed gracefully, once again drawing the attention of everyone inside.

Cheng Xiaoyu's car was parked on the third basement level. When he arrived, the elevator was nearly empty. Sun Jingyao was still inside, but he didn't mind. He stepped out, only to realize she was following him.

Cheng Xiaoyu stopped, intending to let her pass, but she also paused. Blushing, she asked, "Then what is the difference between tolerance and cowardice?"

Cheng Xiaoyu was a bit speechless, but he couldn't ignore her. "Tolerance stems from one's own strength, whereas cowardice stems from fear. Of course, to others, it might be indistinguishable. But someone with inner strength doesn't care how others perceive them; it is the cowardly who are obsessed with the image they project to others."

Sun Jingyao felt that every word Cheng Xiaoyu spoke was profoundly correct. She finally realized that her toughness was perhaps only superficial, not an inner strength. She stood in the quiet underground parking garage, feeling at a loss, but as she watched Cheng Xiaoyu's retreating figure, she felt she had found a mentor for life.