On Sunday evening, at an upscale business restaurant by the Bund in Haicheng.
Li Wen went to the reception desk and gave his private dining room number. A smiling server led him inside.
As soon as he entered, the man inside stood up.
"Mr. Li! Oh, it's been ages. Looking as sharp as ever! Come on, take a seat."
Well, that was a new one.
No one had ever called me Mr. Li before.
The speaker was Li Wen's former manager at Dingsheng, a man surnamed Wen.
Since his surname was the same as Li Wen's given name, the two had gotten along fairly well when they first started working together.
But later, when Li Wen lost his job, Old Wen had been the one who personally put him on the list.
Once he had left, Li Wen had naturally kept little contact with his former colleagues, as any professional would.
Yet recently, to his surprise, Old Wen had suddenly started reaching out, inviting him to dinner to catch up.
He had asked three times over the past two weeks before Li Wen finally agreed. Once they were seated, the server began bringing out dishes. Apparently, Old Wen had ordered in advance.
"Did you drive here, Mr. Li? Want a drink?" Old Wen asked with a smile.
"I did drive, so I'll pass on the alcohol," Li Wen politely declined.
"Sure, no alcohol, then."
Old Wen stood up and poured Li Wen some tea.
Honestly, Li Wen wasn't quite used to this attitude from his former manager.
Back at Dingsheng, when their department went out for dinner, anyone Old Wen told to drink had to drink. That was part of "breaking the ice."
Now he had suddenly become so accommodating.
Li Wen figured he wanted a favor.
But since Old