Chapter 36: Change Can’t Be Accomplished Overnight

Chapter 36: Change Doesn't Happen Overnight

In August, Xu Moxing had been at his new job for a full month.

He slowly learned the lay of the land at the company—who was easy to get along with, who was not to be messed with, who liked to gossip behind people's backs, and who was genuinely warm-hearted.

There was an older woman in finance, everyone called her Sister Zhong, in her forties. She spoke bluntly but was a solid person.

When Xu Moxing first started and didn't understand the procedures, he asked her. She said, "You can't even do this?" but still showed him how to do it, step by step.

There was also a woman about his age, Xiao Ke, who sat across from him and worked in a different department.

The two of them often ate lunch together, chatting about variety shows and food, occasionally venting about work too.

Xiao Ke had been there a year longer than him and knew a lot of the office's ins and outs. She sometimes quietly warned him, "Keep an eye on that person."

Xu Moxing really liked the vibe.

There was always someone to talk to, someone to eat with, and someone who would say "It's okay, I was the same when I first started" when he made a mistake.

Overall, the company had a pretty good environment.

As Su Lichen had taught him, you can't expect the environment to be full of people as decent as you. As long as most people are okay, that's good enough. Every company has a few bad apples—just steer clear of them.

And when you can't avoid them, you need to know how to stand up for yourself.

When he got home that night, he talked to Su Lichen about all this.

"...Sister Zhong's really nice, she's taught me a ton. And Xiao Ke too—we eat lunch together every day."

Su Lichen listened in silence.

Xu Moxing continued, "I think I've been pretty lucky. The people I've met are all kind—"

"Xu Moxing."

Su Lichen cut him off.

Xu Moxing froze, staring at him.

Su Lichen set down what he was holding and gave him a serious look.

"It's true that when you treat people well, they treat you well," he said. "But remember one thing."

Xu Moxing waited for him to go on.

"When there's no money involved, everyone's nice," Su Lichen said. "But once interests and money come into play, it's a different story."

Xu Moxing froze.

Su Lichen gently touched Xu Moxing's face.

"I'm not telling you not to make friends. I'm telling you to keep your guard up. Some things you can say, some things you can't. Especially about money, your privacy, or what you think of others—once you say those, they can be used against you."

Su Lichen knew Xu Moxing too well.

The moment Xu Moxing thought someone was nice, he'd spill almost everything except his sexual orientation and bank account—his family background, his insecurities, his trauma. If anyone asked, he'd tell them everything.

Using self-deprecation to build rapport was the worst approach.

Xu Moxing was silent for a moment.

"You mean... Xiao Ke?"

"I'm not pointing fingers," Su Lichen said, looking him in the eye. "I'm saying you can't bet your own sincerity that others will be sincere back. Don't think that being sincere means you have to share everything. There's a big difference. You need to protect yourself."

Xu Moxing didn't speak.

Su Lichen reached over and ruffled his hair.

"It's good that you trust people," he said. "But good people especially have to learn to protect themselves."

Xu Moxing nodded. "I understand."

Su Lichen knew Xu Moxing couldn't help oversharing, so he gave him advice: "When you feel like revealing your personal stuff or trauma, stop yourself. Pretend that person is a stranger. Would you tell them? If not, then don't say it—because someday you could become strangers."

Xu Moxing frowned. "But what if I need someone to talk to about it?"

"Talk to me, or your sister, or just talk to yourself—write it in a diary, whatever."

Su Lichen paused—even he hadn't always been a great listener himself.

The Xu Moxing with amnesia was a naive sweetheart who'd only been working for a year and couldn't yet understand all these complexities.

Having never learned any of this at home, he would have to stumble through adult life for years before he could reach the same insights Su Lichen had effortlessly gotten from his parents' example.

Su Lichen never thought Xu Moxing was worse off—he just empathized with his struggles.

Because Xu Moxing had to swim from the deep sea, while Su Lichen had been born on the shore. Strictly speaking, Xu Moxing was far more impressive—he had swum to the shore all on his own.

Xu Moxing gave a smug grin. "A Li, are you trying to say you'll never be a stranger to me?"

"I'm saying that at least I won't stab you in the back one day over some money dispute just because I know your weak spots."

"Okay, okay, I know you don't want me to get hurt. I'll try."

Xu Moxing had many flaws, but he was really good at taking advice. Once he realized his flaws, he'd work hard to fix them.

Change wasn't easy, and it didn't happen overnight—these were habits and ways of thinking he'd built up over more than twenty years.

Breaking them sometimes hurt.

But everything was moving in the right direction.

...

Early September was Mother Su's birthday, so Su Lichen called home on Sunday.

Xu Moxing had recently planted some succulents on the balcony. Su Lichen was fiddling with the succulents as he talked on the phone.

"Mom, your birthday is coming up. Is there anything you want?"

"No, Mom buys herself whatever she wants."

Dong Yuzhen thought for a moment and added, "How about you send me a bouquet via same-city delivery? I haven't received flowers in a long time. There's a difference between buying flowers for yourself and getting them from someone else."

Su Lichen smiled. "Okay, I'll order you a big one."

There was a smile in Dong Yuzhen's voice too. "Are you busy lately? How's work? Do you need any help from your dad and me?"

"I'm fine, I don't need anything. I'll let you know if I need anything. How have you two been?"

"Same as always. I'm busy with work, and your dad is busy with his work too."

Dong Yuzhen suddenly remembered something, "Oh, by the way, your dad had minor surgery last week. He's recovering well now, still working hard."

"What was it?"

"Gallstones, he got them removed."

Dong Yuzhen, seeing that her son wanted to know, gave a rough overview of the situation.

"Alright, got it. Next time, let me know earlier so I can visit Dad at the hospital."

"Oh, it was minor surgery, no need."

Dong Yuzhen and her husband Su Yu didn't think much of it.

"You should still tell me. Health issues—as your son, I need to know."

"Fine, I'll tell you next time."

Dong Yuzhen readily agreed.

That's how their family was. The couple had seen many ups and downs, and unless it was a matter of life and death, they thought it was no big deal.

For minor things, there was no need to bother their son; they could handle it themselves.

"Besides work, any troubles in your life?"

Dong Yuzhen casually checked in on her son's life.

"All minor things; I can handle them."

"What about your partner? Still the same one? Since college? When will you bring them home to meet us? You're twenty-seven, have you thought about marriage?"

Dong Yuzhen was just asking, not at all pressuring him. Su Lichen knew his parents' personalities, so he didn't feel the need to rebel.

"Still him. Neither of us has thought about marriage yet. No rush."

Su Lichen hadn't come out to his family, not because he worried they wouldn't accept him.

He just felt that his relationship was his own business, and he and Xu Moxing hadn't gone through major challenges together yet to know for sure they were meant for each other. No need to tell his parents yet.

Xu Moxing was reading in the living room while Su Lichen was on the phone on the balcony. The balcony door wasn't tightly closed, so bits of conversation drifted in.

Xu Moxing caught snippets like "discharge" and looked up.

Su Lichen had his back to him. Xu Moxing saw that the succulents he had bought had been pretty badly damaged by Su Lichen.