Intern Lin Xiaoman fights a stranger over the last oat milk and roasts the new CEO as bald and beer-bellied. At nine, the stranger takes the stage. He has known her for years.
Narrator On her third day at the job, Lin Xiaoman chewed out the new CEO. In front of half the company. Narrator That morning, at 8:59, there was one carton of oat milk left in the break room. Just as Lin Xiaoman reached for it, a hand with long, elegant fingers got there half a second faster. Lin Xiaoman Hey, hey, hey! First come, first served, ever heard of it? What department are you in? Narrator The man wore a black suit. He was tall, and he looked down at her, his voice flat: Lu Jingshen It's my first day. Lin Xiaoman Oh, you're new! Okay, let me show you the ropes. Rule one: the oat milk is mine. Rule two: the new CEO starts today, and word is he's a cold-blooded monster. At his last company, he laid off three hundred people in one month. And you, walking around dressed like a CEO? You're gonna paint a target on your back. Lu Jingshen 轻笑 Oh? And what do you think he looks like?Lin Xiaoman Bald, for sure. Beer belly. The kind of guy who talks for two hours every meeting. Trust me, that's the last person I ever want to run into. Narrator The man said nothing. He just placed the carton of oat milk gently back in her hand. Narrator Nine o'clock sharp. All-hands meeting. Wang Jie from admin came jogging over and squeezed in next to Lin Xiaoman. Wang Jie 兴奋 Xiaoman, Xiaoman! The new CEO's here! Okay, listen. He's twenty-eight, single, went to school abroad, six foot two, and looks like a movie star! But they say he's got a crazy temper. The last guy who talked back to him? His desk was empty the very next day!Narrator The stage lights came on. A man in a black suit walked up to the podium. Narrator The oat milk slipped out of Lin Xiaoman's hand and hit the floor with a splat. Lu Jingshen Good morning, everyone. I'm Lu Jingshen. Wang Jie 耳语 Xiaoman, why does he keep looking at you? Do you two know each other?Lin Xiaoman 哭腔 Wang Jie… do you think I still get to keep my desk?Narrator The moment the meeting ended, the CEO's assistant came by: Lin Xiaoman, Mr. Lu would like to see you in his office. Narrator Clutching a cardboard box, Lin Xiaoman pushed open his door like a woman walking to her own execution. Lin Xiaoman Mr. Lu, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have called you bald, or said you had a beer belly… Look, how about I just see myself out? Lu Jingshen Who said anything about firing you? Narrator Lu Jingshen leaned back in his chair and hit play on a recording on his phone. Lin Xiaoman Bald, for sure. Beer belly. The kind of guy who talks for two hours every meeting! Lu Jingshen I recorded everything you said this morning. Want me to delete it? Starting tomorrow, you're transferred to my office. And every morning, you bring me a carton of oat milk. Narrator Lin Xiaoman stood frozen, still clutching her box. What she didn't know was that Lu Jingshen had already listened to that recording eleven times. Narrator And what she didn't know either: ten years ago, one rainy evening, a little girl shoved her umbrella into the hands of a boy she'd never met, and ran off into the rain without it. That little girl was her.
Narrator
Lin Xiaoman
Lu Jingshen
Wang Jie
