Before Li Tao went to Nan City, he thought making money in big cities was like pie falling from the sky, easy to grab.
Introduced by Peng Fei, he entered the same workshop and discovered how arduous their work was. They were trading their lives for money, doing jobs others wouldn't.
He already had a wife and child. His family had no debts and wasn't as poor as Peng Fei's, so he naturally wasn't willing to risk his life.
Therefore, after an hour in the workshop, he requested a job transfer.
The master who guided Peng Fei in the same workshop immediately admired him even more.
Although they had only interacted for a month, the master could tell that Peng Fei was a boy who could endure hardship.
Young, good-looking, and with a steady personality, he was simply adored by elders.
Crucially, he was diligent in his work. Products that came from his hands rarely needed rework, with every corner meticulously finished.
He was much better than the other grinding worker who was purely there to collect a salary.
The master enjoyed chatting with him when he had free time, asking Peng Fei his age and if he had a girlfriend.
Peng Fei disliked these questions and didn't know how to answer.
If he said no, he had already had a child with Zhan Jingchun and lived with her for so long; he had come to Nan City for her.
If he said yes, he didn't even know where she was now.
Every time the topic of girlfriends came up, Peng Fei would fall silent. Over time, the master understood that he likely had someone in his heart but didn't want to talk about it, so he stopped asking.
Wang Li liked Peng Fei a lot.
The work in their workshop was tough, and the staff turnover was high, with people leaving and new ones joining every few days. Wang Li often visited the workshop, being an old acquaintance of the master.
During a casual chat, she learned that the master highly praised Peng Fei. Coupled with his youth, good looks, and lack of flashiness, Wang Li gradually developed feelings for him.
After observing him for a period, seeing him come and go alone, clocking in and out on time, and never speaking to female colleagues, she knew he was single and decided to pursue him.
Wang Li considered herself good-looking. Her parents worked in Nan City, and she had a younger brother attending university. Her family's conditions were much better than Peng Fei's.
As long as she was willing, it would be easy to win him over.
However, every time she approached Peng Fei to talk, he remained very indifferent.
He answered only five out of ten questions. When they occasionally met in the factory, he never greeted her, let alone initiated adding her on WeChat.
Wang Li felt a bit defeated.
This guy was too much of a blockhead.
Initially, feeling a loss of face, she wanted to play hard to get, giving him the cold shoulder for a few days to see if Peng Fei would react.
Unexpectedly, one day, a machine in Peng Fei's department malfunctioned, causing a temporary work stoppage. A few people were playing in the workshop.
Coincidentally, the finance department had just finished renovating their offices and needed to move. Several female colleagues couldn't move the desks and chairs, so they asked the men to help temporarily.
Peng Fei's handsomeness instantly spread throughout the company's administrative department.
Several female colleagues from the finance department took a liking to him simultaneously. They were all screaming and even secretly took his photos and posted them in their group chat.
They exclaimed how tall and handsome he was, how aloof, and how he didn't even glance at them, not saying a word the entire time. They loved his personality and desperately wanted to know which department he was from and his name, wanting to pursue him.
A colleague said, "I saw him first, none of you are to compete with me. If you find out who he is, I'll be the first to pursue him!"
Colleague two said, "What do you mean you saw him first? What do you mean you won't compete? Isn't this about mutual attraction? About both parties' preferences? Can you decide this alone?"
Colleague three: "Exactly. If you have the ability to find him, share his QR code. We can all add him on WeChat and compete fairly. Whoever succeeds, succeeds. Why should it be yours just because you say so?"
Wang Li knew that Peng Fei was like a pearl covered in dust. With his personality, looks, and physique, if he were placed among women, he would absolutely be a coveted prize. She immediately panicked.
Using her position, she quickly went to Peng Fei's department, added his WeChat, and immediately sent him a message.
She said she rented a place outside and her toilet was broken, and she didn't know how to fix it. She needed to buy a new one but couldn't bring it back, so she wanted Peng Fei to help her.
This was a genuine request. Moreover, Wang Li was the second person he had met after arriving in Nan City and had helped him greatly at the factory, even assisting in transferring Li Tao's department. Peng Fei was very grateful, so he agreed to help.
After work, Wang Li waited for him at the workshop entrance, and they prepared to go out together.
Before leaving, Wang Li deliberately played a trick.
"We're out of water in our office. I'm afraid the boss will be unhappy if he sees an empty water dispenser tomorrow morning. Could you help me carry a new water bottle down to replace it first?"
This was a small matter for Peng Fei, but he didn't know where the bottled water was. Wang Li intentionally led him to the pantry on the finance and sales floors.
It was just after work, and a group of girls from the finance department were leaving one after another. Seeing him arrive, there was a sudden stir.
They whispered amongst themselves, too shy to approach him.
As Peng Fei was already carrying the water bottle back, they saw that Wang Li seemed quite familiar with him. They pulled Wang Li aside and inquired about him. Wang Li seized the opportunity and said,
"He's my fellow villager. I introduced him here. We've known each other for many years, and my mother is very close to his mother. He's coming to our place for dinner after work. What's wrong?"
Upon hearing her claim him, everyone understood and sighed with regret.
Wang Li unilaterally became Peng Fei's girlfriend, tricked him into her home, helped him replace the toilet, and after working for a while, invited Peng Fei for a meal.
Peng Fei felt awkward spending a girl's money, but the place Wang Li chose cost over 20 yuan for a bowl of noodles. He couldn't afford to treat her, so he declined, saying he wasn't hungry and wanted to go back to sleep quickly, insisting on walking back.
Wang Li grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving.
"You're not hungry, but I am. Eating alone is boring. Just consider it accompanying me, okay? Just this once. There are so many people on the street, don't make me look foolish. I'm begging you, alright?"
Peng Fei had no choice but to enter the restaurant with her.
They ate facing each other. Peng Fei was not good at interacting with girls, especially those he didn't know well. He was very reserved and uncomfortable, wanting to finish eating and leave quickly. Wang Li, however, chatted with him enthusiastically.
"Peng Fei, can I ask you a question? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Why did everyone like to ask this question?
Peng Fei looked up at her, but as usual, he didn't answer.
Wang Li boldly said, "You look like you don't have one. Besides me, perhaps no one else would fancy you, right? How about I become your girlfriend?"
Fortunately, he had already swallowed the noodles in his mouth, otherwise, Peng Fei would have choked.
How long had they known each other?
He had no such intentions towards her, and she wanted to be his girlfriend?
After taking a sip of soup, Peng Fei quickly shook his head. Wang Li was quite displeased with his reaction.