The anger in Liu Wei's tone startled me, and I quickly said, "What are you planning? Don't act impulsively. If there's something bothering you, we can talk it out. Don't do anything illegal—think about your wife and child."
Liu Wei paused, looking at me in surprise. "What are you talking about? I mean I'm going to start my own business and make a fortune on my own."
I let out a sigh of relief. I had indeed misunderstood, worried that he might do something reckless out of frustration.
"Do you have a plan? What are you going to do?" I asked.
Liu Wei finished packing, pulled over a chair, and sat down beside me. "I've been in tourism for half my life, and I don't know how to do anything else. So I'll stick with tourism. Honestly, I've been thinking about this for a while—I just never had the courage to take the leap. Now, I have no choice. I've been coasting through life for too long. It's time to make something of myself."
I nodded. "Starting a business is risky. You should discuss it with your wife."
"Don't let my wife's nagging fool you. She'll support me without hesitation in anything I do," Liu Wei said proudly, speaking of Tian Xiaomo.
I had no doubt about that. Tian Xiaomo had even been willing to swap partners for Liu Wei's sake—how could she not support him now?
"Over the years, your sister-in-law and I have been taking care of the elderly and raising our child, so we haven't saved much money," Liu Wei said, lighting a cigarette. Now that he was leaving, he no longer cared about company rules. "I'm thinking of mortgaging the house to see if I can get a loan of a few hundred thousand yuan. I'll start a small company and grow it step by step."
"What's the point of mortgaging the house? If you're short on money, I can borrow some from Nannan and lend it to you. Keep the house for your retirement," I said.
I meant every word. That amount of money was nothing to my wife, but for Liu Wei and his wife, it was their life savings. Since I considered Liu Wei a true friend, I wouldn't hesitate to help if I could.
"Brother, I appreciate the sentiment, but I really can't take money from you or your wife," Liu Wei replied. He tilted the cigarette in his mouth, picked up his belongings, and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he turned back and said, "Oh, by the way, there's one small regret I have about leaving the company. Looks like you'll have to help me with it."
"Tell me. If it's something I can do, I'll definitely help," I said.
"Find a chance to get with Wang Di and make that bitch cry," Liu Wei said with a raised eyebrow. Before I could respond, he burst into laughter and walked away.
"If this place won't have me, there are others that will. When we meet again, I'll be the one calling the shots."
With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Liu Wei recited his offbeat poem, strode confidently out of the office, and paid no mind to the whispers and pointing from our colleagues.
I sighed as I watched him leave. Sometimes, I truly admired his carefree, optimistic attitude—living only for the present.
I had originally planned to discuss pausing our arrangement with Liu Wei today, but now it seemed completely unnecessary. Starting a business is tough, and I doubted he'd have much time for fun anymore.
It was just a shame about Tian Xiaomo. Most likely, I wouldn't be seeing her for a long time. For some reason, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss—a strong one. Perhaps this woman had truly carved out a place in my heart.
Without Liu Wei, the already quiet office felt even more desolate.
For two days straight, I sat alone in the silent office, feeling somewhat lonely. I idly browsed through some news and checked the wife-swapping group.
Seeing the lonely couples in the group searching for partners, I decided to talk to my wife.
After dinner, my wife and I cuddled on the sofa, digesting the delicious meal. She lay in my arms, happily scrolling through her phone.
"Who's the secret lover you're chatting with so happily?" I asked.
My wife sat up and shot me a look. "Look at you, so jealous. What secret lover?"
"Don't deny it. You looked like you were about to float away with joy just now," I said, deliberately sounding sour.
"Oh, it's Keke. She's recently taken a liking to a handsome guy and asked me to help her figure him out. Take a look too—what do you think of this guy?" she said, holding her phone screen in front of me.
On the screen was a photo of a man who appeared to be around forty years old. He had a well-groomed beard, slicked-back hair, and the typical "uncle" style. His refined features gave off an elegant, scholarly vibe that seemed to radiate through the screen.
Just from the photo, this man's looks and style were definitely the type to captivate countless married women. If his personality matched the "uncle" charm, he could easily be called a "married women's killer."
"So Li Ke really likes this type, huh?" I exclaimed, clearly remembering how interested she was in my own "uncle" style on the day I got injured.
"Exactly, Ke Ke is really into that mature, uncle type. You have no idea, she was completely smitten from the first meeting. These past few days, she hasn't been able to eat or sleep properly—it's like she's under a spell," my wife said with a laugh.
"Judging by his age, he's probably married already. Does she want to be the other woman?" I scoffed.
My wife suddenly narrowed her eyes and pointed at my nose. "Tell me the truth—are you still interested in Ke Ke? Wasn't taking advantage of her once enough for you?"
"What are you talking about? I'm just concerned. I don't want Li Ke to get tricked and end up as the other woman without even realizing it," I said, rolling my eyes.
My wife gave me a knowing smile but didn't press the issue further. She steered the conversation back, saying, "His name is Lin Feng. He's a returnee with a Ph.D. and runs a business in the capital. He's not married."
"You guys know all this? Have you looked into his family history for the past eighteen generations?" I retorted.
"Ugh, you're so annoying," my wife said, giving my stomach a hard pinch that made me yelp in pain.
"Lin Feng is a major client at our company. We have his information," she said, rolling her eyes again.
Rubbing my stomach with a pained expression, I asked, "So, has Li Ke managed to get close to him?"
"A client of that level—even I don't have the authority to meet with him, let alone Ke Ke. She hasn't even had a chance to speak with him yet," my wife replied, covering her mouth as she laughed.
"So it's just a one-sided crush? She should give up now. If even you can't meet him, how important must he be? Probably even more influential than your mom. Someone like that has seen all kinds of women—what makes her think he'd be interested in Li Ke?" I said.
"I think so too, but Ke Ke is completely infatuated. I heard Lin Feng won't be here for long this time, and Ke Ke asked me to help her figure out a way to at least talk to him. She's hoping that next time he comes, she can make her move. Isn't she crazy?" my wife said.
"Let her be. You know Li Ke's personality better than I do. Her enthusiasm usually lasts about three days, and then she'll probably forget all about him," I said.
My wife nodded in agreement.
"Enough about Li Ke. I need to talk to you about our own situation," I said.
Since Liu Wei and his wife couldn't be reached for the time being, I planned to have a serious discussion with my wife tonight about our next steps.
--------------------------
Hey guys To read Ahead go to my patreon
patreon.com/Satya69
Now join my telegram channel for a chance to get a free membership every month.Check patreon recent post for more information.
This book has 95 chapters in my patreon and many other exciting stories for you to enjoy.