The Chronicles of Moses Liu: Part 13

Boarding the train bound for home, and recalling the circumstances under which he had first left, Liu Dong felt a boundless surge of relief and contentment. He could finally consider himself as returning home in glory!

Liu Dong began to weave a story in his mind, meticulously checking for any flaws or loopholes. He anticipated the questions his family members, myriad aunts and uncles, and neighborhood acquaintances might ask, carefully preparing reasonable and seamless answers for each one.

Suppose someone were to ask: "Just how did you manage to get into Golden New Force Media Co., Ltd. back then?"

"I was just strolling down the street looking for a place to eat when I was spotted by a scout. At first, I didn't know what to make of it and thought it was a scam, so I didn't pay it much mind."

"As it turned out, the person hailed a cab on the spot, took me to a five-star hotel, and treated me to a lavish meal. The two of us ordered over a dozen dishes and polished off several bottles of 1990 Lafite. Hearing how eloquent and thoroughly professional he was, I decided to trust him. The very next day, I reported to his company and started working, bypassing the interview process entirely to become a core member directly in charge of new media operations."

"Oh, Dongzi is truly remarkable! What exactly is new media?"

"Well, it's advertising design, shooting commercials for major stars, filming videos, and producing promotional trailers for movies."

"Dongzi is indeed a man of great promise! That thing with the chairman's daughter not working out in the past was simply her misfortune. Are you still single, Dongzi?"

"I am. A man should focus primarily on his career, though I suppose I'd be open to it if someone were to introduce me to the right person."

"Don't you worry, Dongzi! Auntie will definitely find you someone of equal social standing, so your parents won't have to fret over you anymore!"

......

Sitting on the train, Liu Dong indulged in this elaborate daydream from morning until night. Had his stomach not started to growl, he might well have lost himself entirely within the world of his own creation.

He was practically the pioneer of self-aggrandizing daydreams!

After satisfying his hunger, Liu Dong could not help but feel that the train was moving far too slowly; he would have to wait until dawn the next day to finally reach home. Perhaps due to overworking his brain, he gradually drifted into a drowsy state. However, having bought only a seat ticket, he found himself hemmed in by a crowd of passengers with far too little space to properly stretch his limbs.

Just as he was feeling utterly helpless, a train conductor walked by to conduct routine ticket checks, and a sudden idea struck Liu Dong. Why not upgrade to a hard sleeper? He had earned money now, after all, and there was no need to make himself suffer so unnecessarily.

"Ah, young man, the hard sleepers are sold out," the female conductor paused. Just as Liu Dong felt a twinge of awkwardness and feared his attempt to put on airs had fallen flat, the conductor added, "We do have soft sleepers available!"

Liu Dong was well aware of the price of a soft sleeper; it was actually more expensive than a discounted plane ticket. Yet an intense unwillingness welled up inside him. The words he had just imagined were like a loaded gun pressed against his back—if you were going to put on airs, doing it only halfway was no different from falling flat on your face.

It's fine, I have money! Liu Dong mustered his courage inwardly.

"Very well, which carriage should I go to for the upgrade?" Liu Dong's nonchalant tone instantly triggered an explosion of self-confidence deep within his heart.

The conductor completely shed her previous indifferent attitude, speaking to him with utmost courtesy, "Handsome, it's right up ahead, just three carriages away!"

"Oh, thank you, Madam!" Liu Dong replied with absolute self-assurance. As he moved to pick up his luggage, quite a few passengers nearby proactively stepped forward to help him with his bags.

The conductor even paused her ticket-checking duties right then and there, personally carrying Liu Dong's luggage and leading him to the carriage handling ticket upgrades. With a cheerful wave and a friendly word to the staff member on duty, she finally took her leave...