To complete the preliminary research task for the urban infrastructure construction planning, Lin Yu had been run ragged these past few days. He shuttled through every corner of the city all day long, scrambling to check reference materials and visit relevant departments. Every place he went, he was full of anticipation, hoping to find key information to advance his work. However, reality poured cold water on him time and time again.
Many departments had chaotic archives; documents from bygone years were either incomplete or difficult to locate. The staff were mostly busy with their own affairs, so the help they could offer was extremely limited. Even so, Lin Yu did not shrink back in the slightest. He left home early every day, dragged his exhausted body back at night, and after a simple meal, he continued to burn the midnight oil. He sorted through the materials collected that day, trying to piece together a clear thread from the fragmented information.
Yet as the days passed and the deadline drew closer, Lin Yu's work progressed slowly. His efforts seemed bogged down in a mire, making it difficult to achieve substantive breakthroughs. His face gradually lost its former vigor, replaced by deep exhaustion and anxiety.
On this day, Lin Yu was hurrying through the corridors of the government building as usual, preparing to try his luck at another department. Head down and steps hasty, filled entirely with work pressure, he completely failed to notice Su Yao walking toward him.
Su Yao had just concluded a preparation meeting for a publicity event and was getting ready to return to her office. She immediately noticed the haggard-looking Lin Yu, and her heart tightened involuntarily. "Lin Yu?" Su Yao called out softly.
Hearing the voice, Lin Yu raised his head. Seeing it was Su Yao, he managed to squeeze out a weak smile. "Sister Su, it's you." His voice carried unmasked exhaustion.
Su Yao looked at him with concern and asked, "What's wrong with you? You don't look so good. Did you run into some difficulty?"
Lin Yu hesitated for a moment. Thinking of his hardships over this period, the grievances and helplessness in his heart surged up instantly. With a bitter smile, he told Su Yao everything about the task he was in charge of and the heavy obstacles he had encountered.
Su Yao listened intently, furrowed her brow slightly, and after a moment of thought, said, "I more or less understand. Actually, you could try a different approach." With that, she led Lin Yu to a nearby lounge area, and the two sat down.
Drawing on her years of accumulated work experience in government departments, Su Yao began to dissect the problem for Lin Yu. She pointed out that the departments Lin Yu had previously visited, while relevant, were not the core critical ones; some important basic data and planning ideas were very likely hidden in secondary departments or subordinate agencies he had overlooked. Furthermore, regarding data collection, one could not rely solely on official documents; internal work records and meeting minutes might contain much more valuable information.
Listening to this, Lin Yu nodded repeatedly. Su Yao's words were like a beam of light shining into his dark world, bringing instant clarity. He could not help but admire Su Yao's sharp thinking and rich experience.
"Also, I know a few colleagues who are very familiar with this area of work; perhaps they can help you," Su Yao said as she took out her phone. She introduced Lin Yu to several colleagues in related fields and immediately helped him contact and arrange meeting times.
Filled with gratitude, Lin Yu looked at Su Yao and said excitedly, "Sister Su, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do. You've pointed out so many directions for me and even helped me contact your colleagues. I really... don't know how to repay you."
Su Yao smiled and waved her hand. "Don't be so formal. We're all colleagues, and helping each other out is only right. Besides, you work so hard, I'm sure you'll excel at this task."
With Su Yao's help, Lin Yu's work finally took a turn for the better. Following the approach she provided, he re-planned his visitation routes and data collection directions. First, he went to a secondary department Su Yao had mentioned. Although the staff there were busy, upon learning the purpose of his visit, they were extremely cooperative and provided him with a wealth of precious internal materials. These materials included detailed implementation processes and encountered problems from past projects, holding immense reference value for Lin Yu's research.
Next, Lin Yu met and conversed with the colleagues Su Yao had introduced. They shared their work experience and insights without reservation, answered many of his doubts, and provided key data and clues. Through communicating with these colleagues, Lin Yu not only acquired a great deal of professional knowledge but also broadened his own work perspective.
As the work progressed, Lin Yu's contact with Su Yao gradually increased. He frequently reported his work progress to Su Yao and sought her advice at the first sign of trouble. Su Yao always listened patiently, offering her own suggestions and perspectives. Every exchange with Su Yao benefited Lin Yu immensely, and his gratitude toward her deepened by the day.
One day, Lin Yu finished his work for the day at a little past eight in the evening. He stretched and prepared to leave the office. At that moment, he received a message from Su Yao asking how his work was progressing. Lin Yu immediately replied, telling Su Yao that he had achieved a major breakthrough; the framework of the research report was basically built, and most of the content had been filled in, leaving only final organization and refinement.
Su Yao replied quickly: "That's wonderful! I knew you could do it. You've worked hard this period; once you finish the task, you must take a good rest." Looking at Su Yao's message, a wave of warmth surged in Lin Yu's heart. He replied: "Sister Su, this is all thanks to you. Without your help, I couldn't have gone so smoothly. Once the task is over, I'll treat you to dinner—you simply must honor me with your presence!" Su Yao replied with a smiling emoji: "All right, finish up your work first."
Over the next few days, Lin Yu pressed on with one final push to polish the research report. He carefully checked every piece of data and meticulously refined every paragraph to ensure the report's quality. Finally, on the day before the deadline, he completed the research report into which he had poured countless efforts.
The next day, with a fluttering heart, Lin Yu handed the report to his supervisor. The supervisor took the report and began flipping through it attentively. Lin Yu stood to the side, waiting nervously for the supervisor's evaluation. After a long while, the supervisor raised his head, a satisfied smile blooming on his face: "Lin Yu, this report is written exceptionally well! Your analysis of the problem is thorough and profound, and the suggestions you put forward are highly targeted and operable. It looks like you've put in a lot of effort lately."
The heavy stone in Lin Yu's heart finally dropped. He said excitedly, "Thank you for the recognition! I certainly encountered many difficulties during this period, but with the help of my colleagues, I was able to complete this report." The supervisor nodded: "Very good, teamwork is crucial. You must maintain this conscientious and responsible work attitude and make greater contributions to our unit."
Emerging from the supervisor's office, Lin Yu sent a message to Su Yao right away to share the good news. Su Yao replied: "Congratulations! I knew you'd have no problem. Let's have dinner together tonight to celebrate." Lin Yu readily agreed.
That evening, Lin Yu and Su Yao arrived at a cozy restaurant. They ordered a few dishes, and while savoring the delicious food, they shared their work experiences and feelings from this period. Lin Yu expressed his gratitude to Su Yao once more, and Su Yao smiled and said, "No need to keep being so polite. Seeing you successfully complete the task makes me very happy, too. If you run into any difficulties in the future, you can always come to me."
Under the soft lighting, Lin Yu looked at Su Yao with a heart full of emotion. He was not only grateful for Su Yao's help with his work, but also cherished the deep bond they had forged during this time. He knew that Su Yao's appearance had not only changed his work status, but had also allowed him to feel warmth and support in this unfamiliar workplace environment.
This dinner was both a celebration of Lin Yu's successful completion of the task and a testimony to the bond between him and Su Yao. From then on, their relationship grew even closer; whether in work or in life, they became each other's important partners.