Chapter 6: You’re Far Too Aggressive
Liang Youyun took the phone, momentarily dazed and unsure how to begin, but the other party spoke first: “You wanted to see me?”
The voice was gentle, revealing no particular emotion. Youyun, seasoned by years of work experience, effortlessly slipped into polite formalities and replied with a sigh of relief:
“Hello, Mr. Jiang. I’m Liang Youyun, the Party Branch Secretary of Manle Village. I learned from Director Zhang that you’re staying here. First, please accept my sincere apologies for not properly thanking you that day. I’ve come today uninvited with no other intention than to express my gratitude! Of course, words alone are insufficient; in the future, I will discuss with the village head about presenting you with a silk banner and corresponding… material rewards.”
At this point, the person on the other end of the phone chuckled softly.
He smiled naturally, his tone equally devoid of any discernible emotion.
Youyun felt slightly awkward. After all, during their first meeting, she had been so brash and domineering in her speech; now, being overly deferential and insincerely formal only made things seem distant.
He simply asked, “Secretary Liang, do you represent Manle Village, or are you speaking as an individual?”
Youyun hesitated; she hadn’t considered this question at all. “Uh… I… On behalf of the Manle Village Committee, Village Head Yan Wenkan, and our rescued colleagues, I extend our gratitude to you!”
“Secretary Liang,” he said, “if you’re representing Manle Village, then there’s no need.”
Youyun gripped her phone tightly. An inexplicable emotion stirred within her heart, a feeling she couldn’t quite name. The surrounding scent of roses made her heartbeat quicken. In that instant, her thoughts shifted, and in that same moment, she glimpsed the rebellion long suppressed deep inside her.
Tracing things back to their source, if he hadn’t fallen into that pit, none of what followed would have happened. How had she become the “instigator”? She couldn’t represent herself as an individual; this wasn’t a private matter. Moreover, she had no intention of settling it privately. Work must leave a record, just in case accounts were settled later.
Moreover, she didn’t like dining alone with strange men.
Thinking of this, Liang Youyun let out a soft laugh.
Zhang He keenly caught the hint of disdain in her smile, sending shivers down his spine.
She replied, “Mr. Jiang, that day was overwhelming with countless matters; I mistakenly took you for a student out hiking, which is why I spoke those harsh words. Please forgive me! But as you saw, I’m not someone who would stand by and do nothing. Though my abilities may be limited, in this regard, I have done nothing to wrong you.”
The atmosphere felt off; Zhang He’s brows were knitted tightly together, and Yu Xiang rubbed her hands anxiously.
“I recall you mentioning that you’d treat me to a meal later.” His voice was low and restrained, making the statement sound more like a reminder than a request.
Liang Youyun was the type of person who, in Zhang He’s words, possessed a rather aggressive edge; once provoked, she would never back down from a challenge. That was why she often said she wasn’t suited for leadership roles—a leader shouldn’t have too many thorns.
“No problem, Mr. Jiang. I’m here today representing both the village committee and the party branch. You are our benefactor; you risked your life to rescue us. Based on that alone, your kindness is as weighty as a mountain. My colleagues have also asked me to find you so we can express our gratitude in person. As for the meal… we will arrange it as soon as possible. When would be convenient for you?” She reiterated her position once again.
The other party listened quietly without responding, having likely already discerned the intentions behind Liang Youyun’s words.
To put it plainly, she and he were even, but her colleagues still owed him a favor.
“As for the others, let it be. Will Secretary Liang have time next weekend?”
His tone was soft and deferential, yet Liang Youyun detected an unmistakable note of authority within it.
She glanced at Zhang He; his eyes were full of anticipation. What was wrong with this man today? Why was he so determined to push her away?
Liang Youyun deeply disliked being put on the spot like this. Without further hesitation, she directly responded to the question he had asked at the beginning:
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jiang. If this represents only my personal view, then there’s no need.”
The other party remained silent. The sound of breathing traveled back and forth over the line. Youyun held her breath, knowing that her answer would not lead to a favorable outcome, especially for Zhang He.
“Okay, goodbye.”
The other party hung up immediately.
Youyun handed the phone back to Yan Nuo, not daring to look at Zhang He’s expression.
Sure enough, Zhang He wasn’t about to let her off the hook either and asked directly, “That’s it? Did you make plans? When are you meeting? I thought I heard you say you were having dinner with Mr. Jiang?”
“Let’s just eat!”
Youyun walked straight out, “They don’t want to dine with us. Alright, let’s drop this matter; we shouldn’t force anyone.”
“Wait a moment!”
Zhang He felt something was terribly off with her. “What exactly did you say on the phone just now… What do you mean, ‘I haven’t done anything wrong to you’? Sister, do you realize we came here to express gratitude? How did you end up arguing with him instead! Did you even notice how I behaved? We grassroots workers need patience and welcoming smiles, resolving conflicts before they escalate. What you’re doing goes completely against that!”
Liang Youyun stopped in her tracks. She didn’t want to argue in someone else’s courtyard, but Zhang He’s furious expression made her blood boil. She suspected he was hiding something from her, yet she couldn’t expose him in front of others, so she stuck strictly to the matter at hand:
“You don’t understand. Back then, I fell into that deep pit while trying to save him—save this Jiang. And by the time he rescued me, our police officers and rescue team had already arrived. He simply doesn’t want any publicity. Let’s just leave it at that, okay? Must we force rewards upon him?”
“You still don’t get what I’m trying to say!”
Zhang He’s face twisted. “He doesn’t want to make a fuss, but didn’t he specifically invite you alone? What’s wrong with having a meal? Making friends, broadening your horizons, maintaining regular contact, helping each other in the future – isn’t that all good?”
Youyun spoke fiercely: “Did I come here to make friends? I’m leaving soon; I have less than four months left! I don’t have that much emotional energy to give others, and furthermore,”
she poked Zhang He on the shoulder, “furthermore, my emotional energy for today has already been completely exhausted by you!”
Zhang He felt aggrieved yet unwilling to show weakness. In previous arguments, he had always been the one to yield. Yet somehow, at this moment, like a sudden storm, his emotions collapsed, and he shouted:
“Liang Youyun, I’ve always said you’re far too aggressive! Have you forgotten how you ended up in Xishuangbanna? You managed to offend the two top decision-makers at the company. It’s not that you were actually wrong; it’s just that your nature is too rigid, and you got played! And you? You didn’t even bother to explain yourself, acting as if you were the side of justice and that the rumors would collapse on their own. But do you realize that while you were clinging to your so-called justice, did anyone speak up for you? Who paid the price for your righteousness? Those people who affectionately called you ‘Sister Youyun’ at every turn? The moment trouble struck, they all damn well kept their distance! Liang Youyun, I beg you to face reality: life is a slaughterhouse. The more you stand your ground, the faster their knives will fall!”
These words had clearly been bottled up for a long time. Blurted out in one breath, they brought Zhang He to the verge of tears. He was angry, yet also terrified afterward. Hurting his best friend was never his intention, yet he had indeed caused harm.
Liang Youyun was thoroughly enraged. Pointing a finger straight at Zhang He’s nose, she cursed:
“Me, standing my ground? Don’t forget, when you first joined the company, who actively introduced projects to you? When others mocked you, calling you effeminate or a pushover, subjecting you to verbal bullying, who stepped up to back you? And now you think I’m being too tough? Let me tell you something, Zhang He: I have never been soft a day in my life! I don’t rely on anyone, nor do I fear anyone. I trust my own judgment and follow my heart, never caring about who points fingers at me. If you have the guts, let’s speak plainly and openly! Let me make this clear: I considered you a friend, but today you hid things from me, and that is precisely what upsets me. You’d better organize your thoughts and explain yourself clearly!”
Hearing this, Yuxiang was stunned, her mind buzzing with an overwhelming amount of gossip, reaching a peak state of excitement.
Yan Nuo handed over a flower cake cut in half: “Sister, have some; it was just made this morning.”
“You, oh you! What am I supposed to say about you?” Zhang He wailed, unable to save face. Without waiting for Yuxiang to eat the cake, he dragged her into the car, angrily slammed on the accelerator, and barked at Youyun, “Get in!”
Liang Youyun stood motionless at the courtyard gate, arms crossed, cursing, “Just get lost! Who wants to ride in your junk car? I’ll walk back myself!”
The car kicked up dust as Yuxiang leaned out the rear window: “Sister, wait for me! I’ll drive back to pick you up right away!”
Her voice vanished beneath the roar of the engine.
In just that short moment, everyone was gone.
The atmosphere felt hollow.
The argument felt satisfying in the moment, but now she only feels exhausted.
Youyun walked silently forward along the concrete path, heading toward Manle Village.
In truth, her heart felt just as empty; she didn’t know what to think or what to do. Some things cannot be judged by simple rights and wrongs. With everyone holding different positions and values, maintaining surface harmony is no easy feat. Someone like Zhang He, who can still pierce her heart with honest words, is a noble friend indeed—the pure spark she has managed to preserve.
Actually, no one was at fault; the mistake lay in trying to reason with a good friend.
Although Mannuan Village is not far from Manle Village, the walk from the foot of the mountain takes at least 20 minutes.
The afternoon sun was intense; in April, Xishuangbanna’s temperature had already soared past 30 degrees Celsius. Youyun wandered aimlessly under the blazing sun, crossing concrete roads and passing the Nanla River. Following the riverbank by instinct, she walked on. Along the path stretched vast dragon fruit fields, interspersed occasionally with fig trees and lemongrass bushes, their vegetation so vibrantly green it dazzled the eyes.
She lifted her head, squinting at the sun. Instead of feeling scorched, she felt warmed. Throughout countless days and nights, whenever loneliness overwhelmed her, she would gaze at the sun or the moon. They always stayed by her side, silently radiating light, her most loyal companions.
She recalled her mother’s words before passing away: “Life is short, my child. Don’t dwell on conflicts with others. Don’t be afraid. Just live boldly, charging forward without hesitation. Even if you cause trouble, it’s fine—Mom will have your back from heaven!”
“You’re already up in heaven; what do you have left to catch me with?” Youyun replied, her voice tinged with grievance.
Yet her heart surged with endless longing. It had been ten years since her mother passed, yet in so many, so many moments, she felt her mother was right beside her, watching over her, accompanying her.
Countless times she wanted to ask her mother: Why am I so stubborn, so blunt, so resistant to being tamed by society? Why, despite having excelled academically since childhood, do I now not even know what I truly like or what suits me? A top student once praised by teachers and classmates has become useless upon entering society and the workplace.
Thinking of this, her eyes grew moist. This was the softest, most vulnerable place in her heart, which she only dared to gently unfold, bring out, and tenderly caress when alone. What her tough exterior guarded was precisely this spot of softness, this fragment of warmth.
This country path was long and narrow.
At the end of the road, a black off-road vehicle rounded the corner, its engine roaring with unusual clarity and roughness in the silent countryside.
Youyun instinctively looked up, silently stepping aside to make way for the passing car.
Afraid someone might see her crying, she quickly wiped the tears from her face with her arm and turned her head away as much as possible.
The car, seemingly understanding, kept its distance and sped past like the wind.
The gusts of air stirred the strands of hair by Youyun’s ears, heating the surrounding atmosphere.
Once the vehicle passed, she returned to the middle of the road and continued walking.
Behind her, however, the off-road vehicle came to an abrupt halt, stopping about ten meters away.
The engine remained running, the scent of fuel drifting on the wind.
The car door was pushed open, and a foot clad in a fisherman shoe stepped out first, followed by the man himself, who disembarked quietly and efficiently.
The man wore a white linen collarless shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the hem loosely tucked into navy blue linen trousers.
His legs were long and slender, his frame solid and well-defined.
He slowly walked around to the other side of the car, silently watching the woman not far away as she walked while wiping away her tears.
Perhaps sensing a pair of eyes fixed intently on her from behind, Liang Youyun halted in her tracks. The air was unbearably hot, and the engine of the car behind her roared unusually loud.
In this desolate wilderness, would anyone actually stop their car? Without needing to think twice, she knew it wasn’t safe. Her heart pounded fiercely; daring not to look back, she quickened her pace, even breaking into a light jog, desperate to escape this cursed place as fast as possible!
Jiang Muhe simply watched Liang Youyun’s frantic retreating figure until she completely disappeared around the corner at the intersection.
He didn’t turn back either.
Leaning against the car door with both hands tucked into his pockets, a silver-gleaming watch on his left wrist showed the time frozen at 3 PM. By now, he should have been arriving at Gasa International Airport in Banna.