I Can Fix Her

The bald man had a very righteous and simple name, Chen Zhengde.

His personality matched his name quite well: honest and sincere.

As a young man from a small town, Chen Zhengde had worked hard and used education to turn his life around, staying in the city. He joined Qin Group as a fresh graduate, working diligently and conscientiously for over thirty years. He was kind to others and had a bit of luck, starting his career with a good leader and good projects. Though he didn’t rise meteorically, he steadily advanced.

Chen Zhengde didn’t become arrogant or conceited because of this. He always remembered where he came from.

There are many capable people, but it was him who had the opportunity.

It wasn’t because he was particularly capable, but because he was luckier and had help from kind people.

Therefore, he remained humble and respectful, always helping those he encountered. He was genuinely a nice person.

He recommended capable young colleagues without hesitation, helping them rise to his level or even surpass him, moving on to better projects.

But no one expected Chen Zhengde to be betrayed by the very person he had mentored.

This protégé pinned the failure of a major project on him.

Chen Zhengde defended himself but couldn’t win against the other party. Ultimately, he resigned, though anyone knows that it’s more about the higher up forcing him to resign by pressuring him.

Hearing this, Qin Ning thought of the honest, quiet bald uncle.

He didn’t look like a high-ranking executive, but he certainly did his job well. The cleaning crew clearly respected him.

She asked Bai Weiran, “Do you want me to help clear his name?”

Bai Weiran shook his head.

“Don’t rush. Listen to the rest of the story.”

After Chen Zhengde resigned, justice found its way.

A junior colleague he had once supported made significant achievements in a foreign branch, earning favor from the major shareholders and the president, leading to a high promotion back to the head office.

His first action was to visit his old mentor. Discovering that Chen Zhengde had resigned, he was shocked and suspicious. Upon investigation, the truth came to light. He invited Chen Zhengde back, intending to restore him to his former position. But surprisingly, Chen Zhengde refused.

Chen Zhengde had two conditions.

First, the junior who framed him should be fired.

He believed that a person with such poor character, no matter how capable, couldn’t be trusted with significant responsibilities.

Second, he wanted his severance pay as per labor law.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The company, worried he might join a competitor, sent HR to inquire subtly. Chen Zhengde’s response was a shock.

“I’m going to be a cleaner.”

Everyone was stunned.

At first, they thought he meant to start a big business, monopolize the cleaning market, and become a new tycoon.

Chen Zhengde just smiled.

He did register a company, but not for profit. He realized that small cleaning companies in the market engaged in vicious price wars, offering poor working conditions and pay for their cleaners.

Cleaners were mostly grassroots laborers.

They had no special skills or education but had families to support.

Using his experience from a large company, he set up a small yet well-organized company, securing a portion of the city’s cleaning contracts.

He also found reputable recycling centers among the many unreliable ones and established long-term cooperation.

From then on, everyone could work together harmoniously without pushing carts for miles to sell delivery boxes.

Chen Zhengde voluntarily left his previous job and bore no grudges against the company.

The workplace was a battlefield; losing was a common occurrence if one’s tactics fell short.

The company’s bosses weren’t his parents; they had no obligation to stand by him or fight for his justice.

Besides, he left at a time when his children were financially independent, allowing him to catch his breath and pursue other interests.

Improving the working conditions and treatment of cleaners was his way of contributing positively to society.

Bai Weiran finished the story.

“I understand the story, but what do you want me to do?” Qin Ning frowned.

“Are you hoping I’ll set up a foundation or a company to help these people?”

“No, nothing that concrete. It’s not about what I want you to do. Whether you do it or not is up to you. It’s about whether you want to, whether it makes you happy.” Bai Weiran paused, thinking for a moment.

“Think of it this way: even though they worked hard all night for so little money, probably less than the price of a dress in your wardrobe, did you notice? You have so much but are constantly anxious, restless, and often break down in tears, while they can smile and live happily.”

“It’s not because they have more, but because they want less.”

Bai Weiran pointed to his half-smiling mask.

“And you should smile more too. You become what you often see. I want you to look at these simple, happy people and use them as a mirror.”

Qin Ning stared at him for a while, then turned to drink her milk.

Her small hands holding the milk carton were pale and cute.

She had so much, but all she truly wanted was her teacher.

This made her miserable, restless, and unable to sleep.

Her teacher’s warmth and indifference caused great emotional swings, with intense love, sorrow, and anxiety.

It was like watching a deeply moving work or an epic film that stirred her emotions greatly, then suppressed them harshly.

Repeating this process, twisting and turning.

But with the masked man, and with those cleaners, she didn’t experience such intense joy or sorrow but felt a steady peace, not empty, but a kind of unexplainable contentment.

She couldn’t describe it well, but she wanted to spend more time with this person.

The sun was slowly rising.

She glanced sideways at Bai Weiran.

“…Masked man, tell me, why aren’t people surprised when they see you? Can’t they see the mask on your face?”

She had wanted to ask this for a while but was too preoccupied with running, nosebleeds, sweeping, and picking up scrap to remember.

Obviously, the cleaners saw him and acted normally.

“Oh, this mask is targeted at you, only you who saw the mask on my face, the other can see my normal face.” Bai Weiran touched his face.

Walking around with a mask all day would attract attention, there’s no way he’s going to do that, so he had the mask block only the target of his mission.

Unless there were special circumstances, it wouldn’t activate a public block.

“Why?”

“I’m simply too handsome, I’m afraid you will fall in love with me.”

Miss Qin spat ungracefully, and they both laughed.

After sending Qin Ning back to her room, Bai Weiran hurried home to rest and prepare for work.

Qin Ning hugged her pillow in bed, tossing and turning for a long time before closing her eyes.

It was rare, perhaps because of the exhaustion from the night, but when she fall asleep, she didn’t dream, nor wake up from fear, anxiety, or anger and jealousy.

Instead, she slept deeply and sweetly.