Volume 1, Chapter 17: A Man's Vanity

The past is not like smoke; it flickers through Cheng Xu’s mind frame by frame.

"Pizza or pasta, what would you like?" He wasn't stingy, and seeing the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, he accepted the situation with composure.

"Oh, I'm dieting tonight," Xiang Zheng immediately flashed a brilliant smile, her arms resting naturally on the tabletop. "You know, weight loss is a woman's eternal pursuit."

"You aren't fat," Cheng Xu blurted out.

In their company, especially in the R&D department, women were a rare species. He had never seen a woman with a better figure than Xiang Zheng.

"May I take that as a compliment? Thank you. Oh, I don't know your name yet?"

Xiang Zheng seized the opportunity, showing none of a young woman's reserve or shyness.

"Is my name not on the list you purchased?"

Cheng Xu knew that real estate firms bought user information from banks, mobile carriers, high-end shopping malls, and even clubs. By analyzing spending, they categorized people into different tiers. On those lists, a user's entire background was laid bare.

Xiang Zheng extended her hand—a slender, graceful hand with nails painted a soft, healthy pink. On her wrist was a bracelet of red garnets, the red and white accents adding a touch of brightness and charm. "Now that you've said it yourself, we can consider ourselves friends."

The story continued. Cheng Xu paused and said, "I told her my name, already bracing myself for her sales pitch. She said, 'That suits your profession well; the name is truly fitting.' Then she went silent, just waiting for me. When I put down my fork, she spoke up: 'You guys must have it tough. You're even timing your meals; you've checked your phone screen twice already.'"

Even three years later, Cheng Xu clearly remembered the profound impact that had on him at the time, amazed by her keen eye for detail.

In the Imperial Capital, the compensation for software engineers was nearly on par with those working on Financial Street. But behind that glamour lay the day-and-night toil of countless tech workers, spinning like tops under an impossible workload. Yet, this woman, whom he had known for less than an hour, saw through the surface to the hardship he endured.

"She is a meticulous young woman; I’ll give her that," Cheng Jianshe interjected.

Cheng Xu remained silent, following his memory as he sorted through the story of that day.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin and cut to the chase: "Time is precious, so, tell me about your houses."

Xiang Zheng waved a hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear to reveal a rounded lobe adorned with an exquisite tassel earring. "Rather than selling you a house, I’d prefer to sell myself."

The remark carried a hint of ambiguity, especially for a man and woman meeting for the first time.

"You..."

The tips of Cheng Xu’s ears turned a faint shade of red.

"Oh, I mean that a house is a major purchase; for many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event," Xiang Zheng explained hurriedly, fearing he had misunderstood. "If you don't even know me, how could you feel comfortable buying a house through me?"

People in sales are truly crafty, Cheng Xu thought firmly.

Just as he was about to say something else, a young man walked over, interrupting the flow of their conversation. "Hey beautiful, do you work around here? I haven't seen you before. Would you mind if I added you on WeChat? You have such an amazing vibe!"

Cheng Xu frowned. He didn't even need to think to know it was some sheltered tech worker from a nearby firm.

Xiang Zheng covered her mouth and smiled. Instead of being offended, she gave Cheng Xu a polite and tactful glance. "Thank you, but you'll have to ask my friend for my number."

Cheng Xu hadn't expected that Xiang Zheng’s beauty would be enough to invite another man to poach her right in front of him.

He also hadn't expected Xiang Zheng to hand the initiative over to him.

What was most incredible was that he felt an unprecedented sense of pride and triumph.

He had successfully pulled off this humble brag.