Lonely

Bai Lu's footsteps echoed in the empty apartment as she made her way to the bedroom. The coolness of the shower still clung to her skin, a stark contrast to the warmth that had long abandoned her heart.

The heaviness in her heart matched the weight on her shoulders, thanks to her grandpa's tough talk. Each step to her bedroom felt like dragging her feet through thick mud, the room echoing with emptiness.

In the low light, Bai Lu looked at herself in the mirror. The girl who once giggled over Barbie dolls and chased big dreams now stared back with tired eyes, carrying a load of worries etched on her face. The place that used to be filled with laughter felt strangely silent.

Sitting on her bed, Bai Lu absentmindedly traced patterns on the covers. The happy memories seemed distant, like they belonged to someone else. A fog of sadness crept in, turning everything gray. Her grandpa's expectations felt like a giant rock on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Depression seeped in quietly, stealing the colors from her world. The weight of family traditions and the ticking clock of finding a partner in six months felt like a storm she couldn't escape. Her life, once full of possibilities, now felt like it was spiraling into a scary unknown.

Tears rolled down Bai Lu's cheeks, a silent language of the storm inside her. The city lights outside blinked like faraway hopes, teasing her with a normal life she couldn't grasp.

As she lay on her bed, the night stretched ahead, lonely and uncertain. Bai Lu, lost in her thoughts, battled a darkness that seemed to have no end. The journey to find a solution felt like climbing a steep hill, and the whispers in her room hinted at struggles that ran deeper than what meets the eye.

The night dragged on, and Bai Lu, a force to be reckoned with in the boardroom, now felt like a ship lost at sea. Her confident strides through the business world sharply contrasted the vulnerability that gripped her heart. The echoes of her authoritative voice in meetings were replaced by the silent plea of a woman who just wanted to be loved.

As the city outside slept, Bai Lu's internal battle raged on. The same mind that strategized market dominance now grappled with the simplest longing—to be loved, not for her business acumen, but for the woman beneath the CEO facade.

****

Sunlight peeked through the half-closed blinds, casting patches of light in Mu Chen's messy room as he lay on a wrinkled bed, his disheveled hair revealing a wild night.

His quiet space was abruptly disrupted by the loud ringing of his phone. Still a bit sleepy, Mu Chen reached for it on his cluttered nightstand. A clear, businesslike voice broke through, pulling him into wakefulness. The words slowly sank in: "Is this Mr. Mu?"

"Y-Yes," he managed slowly.

"I'm speaking from the Baihui Coperation concerning your interview last time."

His eyes widened in surprise. The room, cluttered with scattered clothes and empty bottles, suddenly felt suffocating as he awaited further details.

"Congratulations, Mr. Mu! You nailed the interview, and we're thrilled to offer you the position," the voice on the other end exclaimed, a touch of enthusiasm cutting through the phone's static.

Mu Chen, still processing the information, managed a grateful but slightly stunned "Thank you." The details of the job starting date flowed into his ears, carving a clearer picture of the unexpected path ahead.

As the conversation unfolded, Mu Chen's initial disbelief gave way to a growing sense of excitement. A mix of emotions swirled within him – gratitude, surprise, and a hint of nervous energy. He thanked the caller and hung up, the reality of the moment sinking in. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Mu Chen took a moment to absorb the magnitude of the opportunity that had knocked on his door.

But how did he get the job? He had stuttered so badly in front of her. He was certain he wouldn't get it. Yet, luck seemed to be on his side this time. Running his fingers through his hair, he ruminated on the two-year job search and couldn't help but acknowledge the crucial support from his friend Xiao Zhan, without whom survival in this cruel world would have been uncertain.

In the cruel embrace of poverty, his dreams weren't merely deferred; they were shattered, scattered like ashes in the unforgiving wind of hardship.

Poverty was more than a lack of resources; it was a thief that stole the key to a better life, leaving his heart heavy with the ache of unfulfilled promise.

The cruel irony lay in watching opportunities slip away, like grains of sand through desperate fingers. And amid this struggle, Mu Chen, once the best student in his class, had experienced this harsh realities of life.

Thinking about the good news, Mu Chen thought about his mom, who worked really hard all these years. She did everything to make sure he got the best education, even though money was tight. Now, he was grateful for her sacrifices.

Mu Chen knew his mom would be so happy when he told her about the job offer. Finally, he could help her out too. The job meant he could support her, a way to say thank you for all she did.

As Mu Chen got ready to share the news with his mom, he felt a bunch of feelings – being happy for himself and really glad to be able to make his mom's life a bit easier. It was like a big, good change for both of them.

Mu Chen's excitement lingered in the air, but it was abruptly cut short as the bathroom door swung open. A woman emerged, draped in a towel, casting a sudden wave of shock and disbelief over him.