In the bustling downtown of the Imperial Capital, on the 16th layer of Yunshang Office Building inside the sales department of Jiyun Technology, Hu Yuan sat squarely at his workstation. Data piled high on his desk, and his half-empty coffee mug no longer held any warmth. The customer management software on his computer screen prominently displayed a list of pending tasks, acting like a warning light that silently and relentlessly urged him forward. Hu Yuan stared fixedly at the screen, trying to sort out his chaotic thoughts and concentrate on the work before him.
Across the office area, the clatter of keyboards and the ringing of phones rose and fell in waves, their sounds forming a background melody of labor that eroded Hu Yuan's eardrums day after day. Colleagues bustled back and forth with professional smiles pinned to their faces, but in Hu Yuan's eyes, those smiles concealed the same toil and exhaustion he felt.
"Hu Yuan, has the feedback from the client been handled?" Zhao Qiang, the sales department director, walked up to Hu Yuan's desk with a hint of impatience in his voice.
"Almost done," Hu Yuan replied, lifting his head and forcing a somewhat stiff smile in an attempt to ease the atmosphere.
Zhao Qiang frowned, said nothing more, and turned to leave the office area.
Hu Yuan adjusted his seat, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the emotions churning inside him. He knew very well that failing to meet his monthly performance targets for the past two months had brought considerable pressure upon the entire department. He could understand why Zhao Qiang, as the head of sales, was dissatisfied with his work; performance was a vital metric for evaluating employee effectiveness, especially in sales.
In one's career, everyone encounters challenges and adversity. The key lies in how we find our rhythm within adversity and maintain inner peace and resilience under pressure.
The road of life is not always smooth; helplessness and setbacks are the norm along the path of growth. What matters is that we learn to accept these moments of helplessness, draw strength from them, and keep moving forward.
Whenever he encountered a setback, Hu Yuan would encourage himself with Nietzsche's words: "That which does not kill me makes me stronger."
During the department's routine pre-off-work meeting, Director Zhao Qiang reviewed the department's recent progress. Over the course of the meeting, he specifically brought up Hu Yuan's performance over the past month.
Zhao Qiang pointed out that today was already the 21st, leaving just ten days until the quarterly evaluation. He stated sternly that if Hu Yuan failed to hit his targets within these ten days, he might need to reassess his career path.
Under everyone's gaze, Hu Yuan felt a profound sense of helplessness. Looking at Director Zhao, he said firmly, "I will do my utmost and make the most of these ten days."
Zhao Qiang stared at Hu Yuan in silence for a moment, as if weighing his words and attitude. At last, he slowly spoke: "I hope your determination translates into good results." He nodded again, adding, "I look forward to your performance."
The meeting proceeded, with other employees' issues and improvement plans becoming the focus of discussion. But for Hu Yuan, being singled out in this meeting brought an unprecedented level of pressure.
As the meeting ended and the crowd dispersed, Zhang Tao, a colleague who was usually fond of jokes, walked steadily over to Hu Yuan's side. He gently patted Hu Yuan's shoulder and said in a low, warm voice, "I remember a wise man once said: 'The twists and turns and hardships of fate are the training ground for your wisdom and courage.' Everyone feels lost and defeated in adversity, but it is precisely these moments that shape our ability and mindset to face future challenges."
Hu Yuan offered a gentle smile in return and said, "Thank you, Fatty Tao." Deep down, he knew that life was as vast and unpredictable as the ocean, and one must never easily speak of defeat.
Shortly after, Xiao Fang, Zhao Qiang's assistant, informed Hu Yuan that Director Zhao wanted to see him in the director's office. Hu Yuan pushed open the door to see Zhao Qiang rise from behind his desk, walk over slowly, and gently pat his shoulder to signal him to sit. Zhao Qiang sat down as well, a trace of helplessness leaking into his tone. "Hu Yuan, you know you've failed to meet your performance targets for two consecutive months now. And now, twenty-one days into the third month, your figures still show no sign of improvement. I called you here for a serious talk."
Hu Yuan nodded in silence, a tumultuous storm raging inside him. Zhao Qiang continued, "Hu Yuan, I know very well that you work hard, but in the sales game, performance is the bottom line. Do you understand?" Without waiting for a reply, Zhao Qiang pressed on, "We've worked together for two years now, and we know each other well enough. You still rely on your company salary to get by, and the size of that paycheck depends entirely on your sales numbers. Without performance to back it up, your income will shrink drastically. Do you think that can sustain your living standards?"
Hu Yuan took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Director Zhao, I understand all of this. Yet in my heart, something always feels wrong. For instance, those hypocritical banquets, the flattery of clients, and the various demands clients make—at times, they run entirely counter to the principles I hold dear."
Zhao Qiang fell silent for a moment, a complex emotion flashing across his eyes. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Hu Yuan, in this society, money and face are constantly on people's lips, sometimes even serving as the yardstick of success. They each have their value and function, but they also come with different costs."
Hu Yuan nodded slightly, and Zhao Qiang continued, "Money is the universal language of society; it directly impacts our quality of life. When your pockets are full, you can freely buy whatever you need. Food, clothing, shelter, transportation, education, medical care—as long as you have money, none of these are difficult. Not only can money resolve urgent crises, but it also lays the cornerstone for future goals. Without financial support, many things become impossible to accomplish, and the basic necessities of life take a severe hit."
Zhao Qiang paused briefly before continuing, "Of course, holding power works too. Those who wield power can mobilize more resources to achieve their goals. Power is not only a symbol of position, but also a form of capital that commands trust and support. With power, you can pave the way for your dreams and create more opportunities for others."
Hu Yuan took a deep breath and nodded. "Director Zhao, I understand what you mean."
After another brief pause, Zhao Qiang said, "Face—or dignity and self-esteem—is the manifestation of a person's inner worth. Yet face on its own cannot be directly exchanged for money or power, though it does influence people's behavior and psychological state. Valuing face too much often brings unnecessary frustration and can even cause your endeavors to fail completely."
Hu Yuan lowered his head, a whirl of emotions churning inside him. Zhao Qiang gently patted his shoulder in encouragement. "Hu Yuan, you're a principled person, and I know you have ideals. But in reality, we must balance these relationships well. Naturally, while pursuing wealth, you must never forget your moral baseline."
Hu Yuan raised his head, a flash of determination in his eyes. "Director Zhao, I understand your meaning. You're right; I must first ensure my life has basic security."
Zhao Qiang nodded. "Precisely. Secure your stability first, and then gradually elevate your capabilities. With those foundations in place, you can better pursue your dreams."
Taking a deep breath, Hu Yuan said firmly, "Director Zhao, I will strive to meet my performance targets as soon as possible. Thank you for your guidance."
The two men chatted a bit more about recent strategies concerning performance.
Zhao Qiang stood up, patted Hu Yuan's shoulder once more, and flashed an encouraging smile. "Hu Yuan, remember this: face and dignity only have meaning when you have money or power. When you're broke and powerless, face can't buy you a meal."
Hu Yuan stood up as well and said, "Thank you, Director Zhao! I will work hard."
Zhao Qiang nodded with satisfaction. "That's more like it. Hu Yuan, I believe you can do it."
Hu Yuan returned to his workstation, finished organizing his documents, and stepped out of the office building into the public plaza's recreation area. He stood upon a small bridge, resting his hands on the railing as he gazed at the murmuring stream below. A light breeze drifted past, carrying a hint of coolness that slightly eased his mind. Hu Yuan's heart was filled with doubts about the future; he didn't know if he could persevere, nor did he know how the road ahead should be walked. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He took a deep breath, looked out into the distance, and thought to himself: Life is like this, full of unknowns and variables. Yet every step is a journey of growth, and as long as you walk firmly, you will eventually find your own path.
The night grew as dark as ink, gradually enveloping the city. The urban lights shone like brilliant stars, casting a mesmerizing glow across the night sky. Dragging his heavy feet, Hu Yuan stepped into his own narrow sanctuary—a bachelor apartment as crude and forgotten as a neglected corner. The space was permeated with his boundless loneliness and solitude. The moment the door slowly opened, a cold draft rushed forward like a chilly wind, making him shudder involuntarily. Collapsing onto the sofa like a deflated ball, Hu Yuan slowly pulled his phone out of his bag and tapped on an unread message. This message was like a sharp sword that mercilessly pierced his heart, and the person who sent it was none other than Li Jun, his college roommate.
"Brother, how have you been lately? I heard that Zhu Yin returned to China a few months ago and is getting married next month. Did you know?"
The two words "Zhu Yin" acted like an ancient and mysterious spell, instantly summoning the most hidden memories from the depths of Hu Yuan's heart. For all four years of college, he and Zhu Yin had shared an unbreakable bond, swearing eternal vows and dreaming endlessly of the future. Yet fate, like a ruthless demon, played a cruel trick on them. At graduation, due to Hu Yuan's particular family background, Zhu Yin's parents stood like unyielding boulders against the relationship. Zhu Yin's repeated appeals to her parents proved futile, and in the end, she was forcibly sent abroad for further studies under their heavy pressure, compelled to part ways with him against her deepest wishes.
Hu Yuan gently closed his eyes, and scenes of the past replayed in his mind like a gripping movie. Those memories were like scars deeply branded into his soul, impossible ever to erase.
Looking back on his twenty-six years of twists and hardships, Hu Yuan felt a rush of complex emotions. From the moment he drew his first breath, he had been abandoned at the entrance of his hometown middle school, fortunately taken in by a kind-hearted night-watchman. From then on, this foster father bore the dual responsibilities of both mother and father, working tirelessly and without a single complaint to care for the tiny life that had just arrived in the world.
In that humble yet warm little home, Hu Yuan slowly grew up. With his hardworking hands, his foster father gave him meticulous care and affection; with his meager income, he supported the entire family's expenses and did everything in his power to send Hu Yuan to school. Knowing how hard his foster father had it, Hu Yuan was sensible and well-behaved from a young age, studying with intense diligence and never letting up for even a moment.
Days passed, time flew like an arrow, and the months and years shuttled by. Hu Yuan persisted in his unremitting efforts and eventually scored high enough to enter his ideal university. Yet, just as he was joyfully envisioning a bright future, fate once again stretched out its ruthless claws. During his junior year, his only remaining kin—the foster father who had raised him through countless hardships—fell seriously ill from years of accumulated exhaustion. Despite medical treatments of all kinds, nothing could save him, and he left this world forever.
Whenever night fell and silence blanketed everything, he would sit alone by the window, staring into the pitch-black sky outside, letting his thoughts drift back to the past. In those days, his foster father would always gently stroke his head with hands lined by the years, a warm and kind smile on his face. Those deep and shallow wrinkles seemed to harbor endless stories and affection.
These memories were like twinkling stars in the night sky—distant, yet always illuminating his path forward and granting him a steady stream of strength. It was precisely this profound paternal love that prevented him from ever lightly giving up when faced with life's various trials.
Time slipped away, and before he knew it, Hu Yuan had successfully completed his university education. Upon graduation, he resolutely chose to stay in this city that carried countless dreams and hopes. Entering society for the first time, full of passion and ambition, he cast his resume far and wide and attended numerous interviews. Yet reality is rarely as wonderful as imagination, and the job hunt was fraught with hardship and setbacks.
Instead of growing discouraged, Hu Yuan relied on his unyielding perseverance and solid professional knowledge to continuously adjust his mindset and correct his shortcomings. Hard work pays off; after a period of persistent effort, he finally succeeded in securing a stable and satisfying job.
Looking at the text displayed on his phone screen, Hu Yuan took a deep breath and slowly replied: "Work is much the same as before; nothing much has changed. As for Zhu Yin, we haven't been in touch since we broke up. I really knew nothing about her getting married."
Almost the instant Hu Yuan sent the message, Li Jun fired back a reply: "I only just heard the news myself. Word is the groom is a general manager of a company, and he's a whole ten years older than Zhu Yin! It's really baffling—who knows what she was thinking."
Looking at Li Jun's response, Hu Yuan sighed helplessly, a surge of indescribable complexity welling up in his chest. That once-beautiful romance had now vanished like smoke, and his former lover was about to step into the halls of marriage to open a new chapter in life. Thinking of this, Hu Yuan quietly put down his phone, said no more, and simply stared silently into the distance, letting his thoughts drift onward...
One could say that this message set off turbulent waves deep within Hu Yuan's heart. In the hidden recesses of his mind, a picture quietly surfaced: Zhu Yin draped in a pure white wedding dress, like a fairy descending to earth, linking arms with the man beside her, smiling brightly, and under everyone's gaze, lightly kissing the man's cheek with overflowing love and sweetness. The image pierced his heart like a sharp blade, making him experience an unspeakable sense of loss and pain.
He had replayed it countless times in his mind: if back then he had possessed enough ability and confidence, displaying a value that Zhu Yin's parents could accept, perhaps his destiny and Zhu Yin's would have been written differently. Yet reality was always cruel and merciless, leaving such reveries to turn into nothing more than lifelong regrets.
Hu Yuan opened his laptop, and a photograph of him and Zhu Yin on the college campus caught his eye. Back then, their smiles seemed to hold the entire world. In the photo, they stood quietly on a tree-lined campus path, sunlight spilling over them as if draped in a layer of golden radiance. Hu Yuan slowly traced his fingers over the photograph, a wisp of bitterness welling up in his heart. Time flies like a river, and in the blink of an eye, those wonderful bygone days had turned into eternal memories. Hu Yuan knew full well that some things could no longer be changed, yet he was still willing to preserve a warm corner in his heart for Zhu Yin—an entanglement of deep affection impossible to sever, and blessings drifting off into the distance like a gentle breeze.