The Sleazy Manager

Zhang Xiu'e rode her electric scooter toward her workplace with Chen Yuan on the back.

The sun was already high, bathing Deep City's streets in bright light. Towering buildings rose into the sky on either side of the road, their glass facades reflecting the dazzling sunlight.

Chen Yuan sat behind her, both hands gripping the metal rack at the back of the seat, trying not to press against her.

But the road was uneven.

One bump sent him leaning into her.

Another bump, and he pressed against her again.

Chen Yuan took a deep breath and turned his eyes toward the roadside.

Those buildings were so tall!

There were so many cars!

The women wore so little!

A woman rode past them on an electric scooter, wearing a strappy dress that left a large expanse of her smooth back exposed. She was quite an eye-catcher.

Then a man with hair dyed like a turkey's plumage zipped past on a motorcycle.

Watching everything around him distracted Chen Yuan a little.

He didn't feel quite so uncomfortable anymore.

Still, his eyes kept flicking forward.

Chen Yuan couldn't help wondering, How did Sister Ezi get a figure like that?

As he wondered, the scooter turned into an alley and stopped outside a building.

"We're here. Hop off."

The building was rather old, its white exterior tiles yellowed with age. A sign at the entrance bore the words: Xingda Labor Agency.

Zhang Xiu'e pushed the door open and walked in, with Chen Yuan close behind.

Inside was a small hall with several desks, each holding a computer. Recruitment notices covered the walls: factory workers for electronics plants, loaders for logistics parks, hotel waitstaff. The notices were packed together.

Seven or eight people, both men and women, were working there. They all looked up when Zhang Xiu'e came in.

"Back already, Xiu'e?"

"Sister Xiu'e, did you get your ID sorted out?"

"Oh, Xiu'e, who's this?"

Zhang Xiu'e smiled and greeted them.

"Yes, all sorted."

"Something came up back home, so I was held up for a few days."

"This is my younger brother. He's come to Deep City to find work."

She kept walking as she spoke. Chen Yuan followed, feeling their gazes sweep up and down him.

A plump older woman smiled at him. "You look like a fine young man. How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Eighteen is good. Young and strong. What kind of work are you looking for?"

Zhang Xiu'e quickly cut in. "I'll take him to register in a moment. Don't let us keep you from your work, Sister Liu."

The plump woman nodded and went back to work.

A younger man came over. "Sister Xiu'e, since when did you have a younger brother? Your actual brother?"

Zhang Xiu'e rolled her eyes at him. "What's it to you?"

The man chuckled, looking Chen Yuan up and down.

Chen Yuan said nothing and followed Sister Ezi farther inside.

As they walked, a provocatively dressed woman approached from the side.

Her hair was permed into long, loose waves, and her tight dress hugged her seductive curves. Its neckline plunged low, and her lips were painted a vivid scarlet.

She sauntered over, glanced at Chen Yuan, then turned to Zhang Xiu'e.

"Xiu'e, the manager wants to see you."

Zhang Xiu'e paused.

"The manager? What for?"

The woman shrugged. "No idea. Just go see him."

With that, she walked away in her high heels, swaying her hips exaggeratedly.

Zhang Xiu'e stood where she was and frowned.

Then her brow quickly relaxed.

She turned to Chen Yuan. "Yuan, wait here for a moment. I need to go in."

Chen Yuan nodded.

Zhang Xiu'e headed down the corridor and stopped in front of a door with a small glass window.

She pushed it open and went inside.

Chen Yuan stood in the hall, watching that door.

Everyone around him was busy making calls or typing. No one paid him any attention.

Chen Yuan walked over to the little window, stopped, and peered inside.

There were only two people in the room.

One was sitting, the other standing.

Zhang Xiu'e was the one standing. The seated man must have been the manager. He had a bald crown and a thoroughly sleazy face.

He saw Zhang Xiu'e standing there talking while the balding man tilted his head back to listen. Then, suddenly, the man reached out to feel her up.

Zhang Xiu'e pulled back.

The balding man said something else and reached out again, this time toward her waist.

Zhang Xiu'e took another step back, dodging his hand.

Chen Yuan frowned.

He saw Zhang Xiu'e pointing at the balding man and saying something. He couldn't hear her, but judging by her gestures, she was probably cursing him out.

The balding man leaned back in his chair with a shameless look, spreading his hands as though to say, "What are you going to do about it?"

Then he reached out again, this time toward Zhang Xiu'e's face.

Zhang Xiu'e slapped his hand away.

Chen Yuan clenched his fists.

He was just about to act when Zhang Xiu'e suddenly turned, her face furious, yanked the door open, and strode out.

The door slammed shut behind her with a bang.

Seeing Chen Yuan standing outside the door, Zhang Xiu'e paused.

Then she quickly hid her anger and put on a smile.

"Getting impatient? Come on, I'll take you to register."

Chen Yuan looked at Sister Ezi. He wanted to ask about what had just happened, but swallowed the words before they left his mouth.

Sister Ezi must have had her reasons for not wanting him to know.

When she wanted to tell him, she would.

Chen Yuan nodded and followed Zhang Xiu'e in the other direction.

Zhang Xiu'e took him to a desk, picked up a form, and handed it to him.

"Fill this out. Your name, age, education, what work you've done before, where you'd like to work. Put it all down."

Chen Yuan took the pen and sat down to fill out the form.

Education: high school graduate.

Work experience: farming, odd jobs.

Preferred workplace: anywhere.

He finished in no time.

Zhang Xiu'e picked it up, glanced over it, nodded, and handed it to a middle-aged man nearby.

"Supervisor Liu, this is my younger brother. Please register him."

Supervisor Liu took the form and looked at Chen Yuan.

"Sure, leave it here. I'll let you know if something suitable comes up."

"We'll get going, then. I need to take him to buy a phone."

Supervisor Liu waved them off. "Go ahead."

Zhang Xiu'e led Chen Yuan toward the exit.

When they reached the door, the provocatively dressed woman appeared again.

She looked at Zhang Xiu'e with a smile on her lips.

"Xiu'e, the manager said to see him again when you get back."

Zhang Xiu'e paused midstep.

"Let him wait."

With that, she pushed the door open and walked out.

Chen Yuan followed, glancing back at the woman.

She was looking at him too, with a rather knowing smile.

The door closed.

Outside, the sun was so bright it hurt their eyes.

Zhang Xiu'e walked over to the scooter, unlocked it, and climbed on.

Chen Yuan sat on the back.

"Yuan."

"Yeah?"

"About what happened just now..."

Chen Yuan interrupted her.

"Sister Ezi, you don't need to explain."

Zhang Xiu'e froze for a moment.

"Just say the word, and I'll go sort that bastard out right now. I'll beat him so badly even his own mother won't recognize him!"

Zhang Xiu'e burst out laughing.

"All right! I know you care about me and want to look out for me. If I ever need your help, I'll definitely tell you. Let's get you a phone first."