Until noon, work went quietly and without any incidents. Zhan made a lot of phone calls, sold two insurance policies and Yibo had not been seen all day so far because he is at a big conference where all department heads have to be present.

For lunch, Zhan, Yu Bin and Tia went to the cafeteria. Zhan ate a schnitzel and a salad with it. While they ate, they hardly talked. All three of them were too tired. Because of the rain clouds, it didn't get very bright today, and the lack of sleep from last night made Zhan even more tired. Already in the office Zhan had trouble to stay awake. Since 11 am, it had been dead silent in the office. Only now and then the clacking of the keys of a keyboard had been heard.

And now in the cafeteria, it was not much different. Just like Zhan, Yu Bin and Tia, hardly anyone seemed to have anything to say today and silence reigned for the most parts.

After lunch, Zhan and Yu Bin went out to get some fresh air in order to feel a little more awake. They stood on the steps to the front door, where they were still safe from the rain, and took a deep breath. "I hope the end of work comes quickly, before I really fall asleep later." Said Yu Bin as he looked at his wristwatch.

"Mhm, I almost fell asleep a few times too. It hadn't been this quiet in the office for a long time." Replied Zhan, yawning.

"Yeah right? I'm glad I have a week off soon. I guess then I'll do nothing but lie in bed and sleep all day."

"Mhhh, I couldn't do that. Not even one day."

"You just have to give it a try Zhan. Believe me, a few days of sleep worked wonders."

"A few days? No, that would really be too much of a good thing. And besides, Lana would kick me out of bed. After all, she always finds something I really need to get done when I'm off work."

"Well, I'm sure there's always something to do in a house."

"Our house is a new construction. There's nothing to do there yet. And if there was, I'd call a handyman. Lana finds other things for me to do. Even if it's just taking her clothes to the laundry, shopping, cleaning, or sweeping up leaves in the yard."

"Luckily, my sister always leaves me alone. You know, she's just like me. When she's off work, she always just lies in bed and sleeps, too."

"God Yu Bin, we're both 25 years old and sound like old farts. Actually, we should be thinking more about parties or something. Going out and drinking. Instead of doing laundry or sleeping."

"Oh um, you're kind of right."

"Mmm, that's what I'm saying. Come on, let's go back upstairs. He Peng must be watching the clock closely and we'd better not be a minute late."

"He better keep his mouth shut." Yu Bin replied with a laugh.

When the two were back in the office, Yibo also came back from his conference. He stood in the hallway and said, "I have an announcement for you. The Christmas party will be held next month on 12/12. And will be held here in the building. There will be a raffle. The third prize is a shopping voucher worth 800 yuan. The second prize is a new TV and the first prize is a weekend at a spa hotel. The raffle tickets can be purchased from me for a small amount on the day of the Christmas party and are limited to three tickets per person. The New Year's Eve party, to which your family members are invited again, will take place in the hotel as every year. For this, the board has again booked the hotel completely, so that you can also spend the night there, if you want to. That' s it from my side. In the coming days, an e-mail with detailed explanations will be sent to you."

Without another word, Yibo went into his office, and Zhan and the others were of course talking about the upcoming festivities. Even He Peng, who usually made sure that no one wasted time talking, was chatting happily with a colleague.

A few minutes later, Zhan received a message over the private network. It was from Yibo, who told him that he didn't have to do any field work for the time being if he didn't want to.

Zhan wondered about this message and wrote back, "I'll do field service for three months like you told me to."

Yibo replied, "You don't have to do it since you've already sold more insurance since last week than all of them combined in the past three months. And, I don't want you to get mad at me again."

"No, that's okay. You were right, I should have dressed for the weather. I'd better prepare for tomorrow." Replied Zhan.

"Why don't you just accept my concession?" Yibo wanted to know.

"And why do you mind if I just agree with you and do what you say?"

"If you do what I say Zhan. Then please come to my office and let's talk about yesterday. Just about yesterday, that's all I ask."

"Alright." Wrote Zhan back and walked to Yibo's office. He knocked on the door and waited for Yibo to call him in.

Zhan entered the office and sat down in front of Yibo's desk. Yibo finished writing another email and then turned to Zhan. "So about yesterday, what I said there, I'm sorry about that."

"Oh, then the chocolate was from you?" Asked Zhan.

"Yes. I shouldn't have just said that yesterday and at least explained it to you. No, don't worry, I don't want to start that again now. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry for getting so angry yesterday and telling you it was your fault for the breakup."

"Mhhh, yeah Ok. But, it was my fault too because I took my bad mood out on you."

"It doesn't matter now. I want to tell you again sensibly now that I really want to talk to you. Not today, and not here at work, but calmly. Because yes, there are things I want to get off my chest. And then I'd also like to explain to you what I meant about it being your fault that I broke up with you."

"How about this? We both shake hands and try to get along as best we can while I'm still working here. And when I'm ready for that conversation, I'll let you know."

"So you really want to quit here?"

"I want to do what I studied for. I want to work as an editor in a publishing company, that's what I studied for, not to sell insurance. Besides, when I interviewed here, I was told I'd only get the job because of my good looks. So why would I want to stay here?"

"Because you've proven you're good at the job?"

"No, that's not good enough for me. So, what's the deal? Are we getting along?"

"Of course. I don't want to argue with you Zhan."

"Good, and when I'm ready and willing to talk, I'll tell you. Until then, let's try to make the best of the situation." Said Zhan. He got up from the chair and extended his hand to Yibo. Yibo also stood up, came around the desk and extended his hand to Zhan.

"On good cooperation Zhan." He finally said. Zhan smiled and nodded. "And Zhan?"

"Yes?"

"It's good to see you again."

"Ah, um okay."

"I really mean it Zhan. And please don't do the field work. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"What do you expect to happen to me?"

"You never know who's lurking behind the door."

"What? Do you think someone might attack me?"

"Maybe. Besides, you've proven you can get customers from here, too. And that way I always have you in my sights."

"What's that supposed to mean? Do you think I need to be watched?"

"No, I'm just watching out for you."

"I've grown up by now Yibo. I can take good care of myself."

"Like you did with my brother?"

"Yo, that's a different story."

"You didn't really want to go on a date with him voluntarily did you?"

"Honestly, no. But now that we're talking about it. How does he know what was going on between us back then?"

"Oh wow, you really didn't catch anything what? Mhhh, that's one of those things I'll have to explain to you when you and I talk."

"Are you trying to get me curious so I'll be quicker to give you a day when we can talk?"

"No. But since you're not ready to talk yet, I don't want to go into too much detail either."

"Alright. Oh yeah, did you still get in trouble with your wife on Friday? I mean, because of the stress that was here."

"No, don't worry. She always forgets something like that very quickly."

"Oh aha, well then that's good."

"Zhan?"

"Mhm?"

"Can I ask you again, if you love your wife?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"Because I'm interested. Because at the time it didn't seem like you were interested in women either."

"I could say the same to you."

"Yeah right. And if you want, I can tell you right now if I love my wife or not."

"Ah leave it, it's none of my business. We may want to get along, but that doesn't make us friends."

"Too bad."

"Too bad? Why?"

"No reason. How are you doing in general?"

"Wow, my beloved ex asks me how I'm doing after more than a week. Haha, just kidding. I'm doing fine. And I think you are too?"

"So I'm your beloved ex? Sure you didn't mean to say your hated ex? And I'm fine so far."

"Actually, I should call you that, shouldn't I? I don't know why I don't."

"Well, I'm glad you call me that, anyway."

"I see, yes. What should I say to that Yibo?"

"Oh um, would you like something to drink maybe?"

"Maybe. If you would let go of my hand at some point?"

"Oh haha, I didn't even realize I was still holding your hand."

"Mhm alright Yibo." Replied Zhan with a smile. He sat back in the chair and watched Yibo pour two cups of tea. His hand seemed to tremble slightly. Was he nervous or something?

"Why don't you have any pictures of your family here?" Zhan asked.

"I don't want any pictures of them here."

"I see."

"Really?"

"Not really. But I get the impression you don't want to talk about it, and I respect that."

"Thanks Zhan. Did you actually go to the reunion? That was supposed to be after 5 years, wasn't it?"

"I didn't receive an invitation. But I don't think I would have gone either. I never had much to do with the others."

"I didn't get an invitation either. Who knows if the reunion even happened."

"I don't know. All I remember, too, is that the class officers at that time, when they were saying goodbye, said that there should be a reunion of our two classes in five years. So that was supposed to be two years ago."

"Yes. Well, it doesn't matter. I wouldn't have been able to come anyway. How did you actually meet your wife Zhan?"

"Ah that was freshman year at university. She and I got in trouble together the very first day from our professor because we fell asleep during his class. After that, we got to talking and became friends."

"I see."

"And how was it with you and your wife?"

"Less romantic. She was practically thrown in front of me."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you about that another time."

"Okay." Replied Zhan. Now that he had talked to Yibo quietly for the first time, even if it wasn't much, he really noticed how much Yibo had changed. He knew him as a cheerful and funny guy who was always helpful, always had a warm smile and liked to make others laugh.

The Yibo now seems introverted and hardly smiles. Zhan wondered why that was. What made Yibo who he is today? To a shadow of himself.