"Alas, we're here so soon! I thought it would take a long time?"
"Hahaha, you were the one in a hurry to return, and now you're complaining it's too fast!"
Fu Ruhai chuckled.
Bai Suxiang smiled, not bothering to argue further.
People's hearts are naturally contradictory.
"Hey! Look, it seems different here!"
Bai Suxiang pointed to the distance.
Far down the beach, many thatched huts had been built, similar to Shu Dehou's house.
People seemed busy with their own affairs, their faces beaming with smiles.
"Let's go ask Uncle Sheng what happened!"
Bai Suxiang said, running towards Shu Desheng's dwelling.
She remembered the general direction and followed by Fu Ruhai and Liu Sandao.
After a long walk, Bai Suxiang passed by many shop fronts.
She'd look into one, shake her head; look into another, shake her head. She just couldn't find it.
All the houses looked the same, yet entering each one gave her a sense of unfamiliarity.
Finally, she found the thatched hut. Upon entering, however, the people inside were strangers.
"Uncle, didn't an old man and a girl used to live here?"
Seeing the new occupants, Bai Suxiang asked.
Based on the furnishings, this was indeed the house where Shu Desheng and Sasha used to live.
"No, there's no one here like you described."
"Isn't this Hong Island?"
Bai Suxiang pressed, unwilling to give up.
"Hong Island? Hahaha, you must be talking about something from a year ago! This place has been renamed. It's called Sha Island now!"
"Ah? So where did the original residents go? Did they all move away?"
"Who knows? Anyway, the current policy is good. It gives ordinary people a chance to live and do business here. Many tourists come every day. It's quite nice!"
The uncle said with a smile, clearly content with the current life.
Having failed to find Shu Desheng and Sasha, the three of them had no choice but to retreat.
"Let's go back to the company,"
Liu Sandao suggested.
It had been a whole year since they left.
The former Hong Island had changed so much that the "Moving Person" selection they had participated in was likely long over.
As expected, upon their return to the company, Zhang Kuixian reprimanded them in his office.
He complained that they hadn't informed him about the secret mission beforehand and had even asked others to put in a good word.
Later, they learned that the "other person" he was referring to was Zhao Qiansun.
"However, since all three of you are here, I'll be direct!
The company only has one position left. Who among you will stay? The rest are free to go!"
Zhang Kuixian said with apparent difficulty.
Upon hearing Zhao Qiansun's words, he hadn't been angry. Instead, he saw it as a perfect opportunity to oust them.
But he couldn't be too obvious. After much deliberation, he decided to leave just one spot.
This way, he could account for himself to his superiors and also achieve his own goal.
Fu Ruhai was a Celestial God, with a formal position. The process to dismiss him was complicated.
In other words, Zhang Kuixian would need to seek approval from higher authorities to fire him.
Liu Sandao, however, had no official position, and Bai Suxiang even less so. He could deal with them however he pleased.
If the three of them were to fall out over a single position, he wasn't worried about finding opportunities to dismiss the others later.
"This, how can this be? Didn't you say someone put in a good word for you? Why are you treating us like this?"
Fu Ruhai asked indignantly.
"What can I do? This is a company, and someone has to do the work. We can't just keep a position open indefinitely just because someone said so!"
Zhang Kuixian said, gently patting Fu Ruhai's shoulder, and continued:
"Besides, my friend, to be honest, this one position was something I fought hard for on your behalf. According to the higher-ups, if someone is not in their designated role, the position should be eliminated. It was only because of your contributions to the company over the years, especially your crucial role in establishing it, that I managed to persuade them after much effort.
You should understand my predicament!"
He finished by shaking his head dejectedly,
suppressing the excitement bubbling within him.
Fu Ruhai said resentfully, "Then you keep it, I'll leave! I don't want to stay in this company for another day! It's too frustrating!"
"No! You're the one suited for this kind of work. As for the two of us, don't worry, we'll surely find other jobs soon!"
Liu Sandao stopped Fu Ruhai.
Fu Ruhai's status made him suitable for this job.
Liu Sandao, on the other hand, was used to freedom and couldn't stand constraints.
Moreover, if things didn't work out, he could always return to Misty Sea.
Although Bai Suxiang was also suited for such a position, as a mortal, some matters would be difficult for her to handle.
With the situation as it was, Bai Suxiang understood that her job was lost.
She was certainly unhappy, but it wasn't as bad as others might think. It was a chance to go home and rest for a while.
"So, who stays and who goes? You need to discuss it and then come to my office to sign a document!"
Zhang Kuixian reminded them.
"No need to discuss, it's him!"
Liu Sandao said, firmly grabbing Fu Ruhai's shoulder.
Fu Ruhai initially wanted to refuse, but with Liu Sandao's insistence, he couldn't back out and acquiesced.
He nodded and then signed the document in Zhang Kuixian's office.
Liu Sandao and Bai Suxiang left the office at the opportune moment.
"What are your plans?"
They both asked each other simultaneously.
"You go first!"
After a pause, Liu Sandao said.
"I don't have any specific plans. I'll go home and rest for a while. What about you?"
"I... I'll wander around for a bit and then return to Misty Sea."
"Ah? So soon?"
Bai Suxiang was surprised.
She hadn't expected them to part ways so quickly.
The reason for their journey remained unresolved, and yet Liu Sandao and Fu Ruhai had been driven apart.
Liu Sandao remained silent as they walked down the company corridor with Bai Suxiang.
Portraits hung on both sides of the corridor. They didn't recognize any of the individuals depicted. They were all portly, with unfocused eyes.
At the very beginning of the gallery, as expected, a large inscription read "Moving Figures of China."
"None of the people we selected are here!"
Bai Suxiang complained.
"Hmph, let's go!"
Liu Sandao grunted and said.
The two of them walked out of the office building, one after the other.
As soon as they stepped outside, Bai Suxiang suddenly spoke:
"Since you're planning to wander around, how about you come to Sandong City and visit my home?"
"This?"
Liu Sandao was taken aback. "Alright!"
He agreed.
"Great, great! We'll head back to Sandong City now. But first, accompany me to buy some things!"
Bai Suxiang said gleefully.
Although she felt a bit like she was chasing after him, after spending so much time together, she had developed a sense of dependence. Regardless of what the future held, she wanted to prolong their time together.
It's said that daughters are dearer than sons, and when it comes to preparing things for returning home, ninety-nine percent of men are not as thoughtful as women.