Before Li Tao went to Nancheng, he thought making money in a big city was like pie falling from the sky, easy to grab.
Introduced by Peng Fei, he joined the same workshop and discovered how arduous their work was. They were trading their lives for money, doing jobs no one else wanted.
He already had a wife and child. His family had no debts, and their financial situation wasn't as dire as Peng Fei's, so naturally, he wasn't willing to risk his life.
Therefore, after one hour in the workshop, he requested a reassignment.
The master who guided Peng Fei in the same workshop immediately admired him even more.
Despite only having a month of interaction, the master could see that Peng Fei was a young man who could endure hardship.
Young, handsome, and with a steady personality, he was incredibly likable to elders.
Crucially, he was meticulous in his work. Products coming from his hands rarely needed rework, with every corner finished with precision.
He was far better than another polishing worker who was simply 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 such questions and didn't know how to answer.
If he said no, he had a child with Zhan Jingchun and had lived with her for so long. It was for her that he came to Nancheng.
If he said yes, he didn't even know where she was now.
Every time the question about a girlfriend arose, 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 was quite fond of Peng Fei.
Their workshop had tough work and high turnover, with people leaving and new ones joining every other day. Wang Li often visited the workshop as she was an old acquaintance of the master.
During casual conversations, she learned of the master's high praise for Peng Fei. Coupled with his youth, good looks, and unfussy demeanor, Wang Li gradually developed feelings for him.
After observing him for a period, she saw that he came and went alone daily, arriving and leaving on time, and never speaking to female colleagues. Knowing he was single, she decided to pursue him.
Wang Li considered herself good-looking, her parents worked in Nancheng, 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, she believed she could easily win him over.
However, every time she tried to talk to Peng Fei, he appeared very indifferent.
He would answer 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 somewhat defeated.
This guy was too much of a blockhead.
Initially, feeling it was a blow to her pride, she wanted to play hard to get and ignore him 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 halt in production. A few people were playing in the workshop.
Coincidentally, the finance department's newly renovated offices needed to be moved, and some female colleagues couldn't move the desks and chairs. They asked for temporary help.
Peng Fei's handsomeness instantly became the talk of the entire company's administrative departments.
Several women from the finance department set their sights on him simultaneously. They shrieked with excitement and even secretly took his photos, posting them in their group chat.
They exclaimed how tall and handsome he was, so cool and aloof, that he didn't even glance at them. He hadn't said a single word throughout, and they were utterly smitten with his personality. They wondered which department he belonged to, what his name was, and how badly they wanted to pursue him.
A colleague said, "I saw him first, so don't you all fight with me. If I find out his details, I'll be the first to pursue him!"
Another colleague said, "What do you mean you saw him first? What do you mean you won't fight with me? Isn't this about chemistry? About mutual attraction? Can it be decided by you alone?"
A third colleague said, "Exactly. If you're capable, find him and share his QR code. We'll all add him on WeChat, and it'll be fair competition. 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, once thrown into a crowd of women, he would undoubtedly be a coveted prize. She immediately panicked.
Using her position, she quickly went to Peng Fei's department and added him on WeChat, then immediately sent him a message.
She said she rented an apartment outside, and her toilet was broken, and she didn't know how to fix it and needed to buy a new one, but she couldn't carry it back, so she wanted to ask Peng Fei for help.
This was a serious matter. Moreover, Wang Li was the second person he had met after arriving in Nancheng, and she had helped him greatly at the factory, even assisting in changing 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 little trick.
"Our office water dispenser is empty. I'm afraid the boss will be unhappy tomorrow morning if he sees an empty barrel. Could you first help me carry a barrel of water downstairs and replace it?"
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 the time to get off work, and a group of girls from the finance department were leaving one after another. Seeing him come upstairs, a commotion erupted.
A few of them whispered amongst themselves, too embarrassed to approach him.
As Peng Fei, carrying the water barrel, was about to leave, they saw that Wang Li seemed quite familiar with him. They pulled Wang Li aside to inquire, and Wang Li seized the opportunity to say:
"He's from my hometown; I introduced him. We've known each other for many years, and my mom is very close to his mom. He's coming to my place for dinner after work. What's up?"
Upon hearing her territorial claim, everyone understood and lamented with sighs of regret.
Wang Li unilaterally became Peng Fei's girlfriend, tricked him into her home, helped him fix the toilet, and after much effort, invited Peng Fei for a meal.
Peng Fei felt awkward about spending a woman's money, but the place Wang Li chose charged 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, insisting on walking back.
Wang Li grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving.
"If you're not hungry, I am. Eating alone is boring. Just consider it keeping me company, 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 other choice but to go with her into the restaurant.
They ate facing each other. Peng Fei was not good at interacting with women, especially strangers, and felt very constrained 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 keep asking this question?
Peng Fei looked up at her, still not answering.
Wang Li boldly said, "From your appearance, it seems you don't. Besides me, probably no one else would look favorably upon you, right? How about I become your girlfriend?"
Fortunately, he had already swallowed the noodles in his mouth, or Peng Fei would have choked.
How long had they known each other?
He had no such feelings for her, and she wanted to be his girlfriend?
Taking a sip of soup, Peng Fei quickly shook his head. Wang Li was displeased with his reaction.