In 2025.

In the CBD of Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai, the resolute female boss left a stack of papers on Xu Manni's desk: "Xu Manni, your performance this month is counting down again, don't you want to do it?"

Xu Manni's voice broke into tears, and she timidly defended: "Supervisor, I really tried, but the client I have been working with suddenly transferred to Sister Tina's group for some reason ..."

Tina, who was scalding the big waves, heard this and came over with her shoulders in her arms: "Xu Manni, I don't want to hear this. What do you mean, your client transferred to me? Talking about business depends on ability! The customer didn't sign the bill, which only shows that your work is not in place! "

Tina turned to Nunu, the supervisor, and said, "Look at her, supervisor. It's almost 1 year, and I haven't got an English name yet. I wear rustic clothes and can't drink. "Tina smacked her head. "This how line!"

The supervisor looked at Xu Manni's black-rimmed glasses and dark black suit and sighed helplessly: "Xu Manni, this is Shanghai, we are a fashion media company, I hope you can integrate as soon as possible!"

Xu Manni bit his lip and silently opened the computer file, ready to modify it again.

At this time, the mobile phone screen lit up, and it was her boyfriend Chen Dali's cartoon rabbit head.

Xu Manni pinched her nose and clicked on WeChat, hoping to get some comfort from her boyfriend.

What she didn't expect was a cold breakup notice: "Mannia, I'm sorry. I hope you can understand that my parents still want me to find a local one in Shanghai. "

A stream of blood welled up in my mind, Xu Manni grabbed her cell phone and dialed the number of Chen Dali. Her fingers trembled with excitement.

"Sorry, the number you dialed can't be connected for the time being ..." Only the cold mechanical female voice repeated infinitely in her ear.

Chen Dali blocked her.

A few months ago, Chen Dali gently expressed her parents' objections, but Xu Manni still had a glimmer of hope. She is wishful thinking that the relationship from college to work for five years will not be broken.

At this moment, in the face of the cold reality, tears can no longer be restrained, Xu Manni fell on his desk, crying his shoulders shaking.

In the cold compartment corridor, only the "click" sound of high-heeled shoes and high-frequency keyboard tapping echoed in the corridor. No one noticed that in the small partition in the corner, a girl wandering alone in a foreign land was tired and heartbroken.

After working overtime in the office until 9 o'clock, Xu Manni wandered like a ghost on the way to the subway with his bag on his back.

While waiting for the subway, someone patted her on the shoulder. She looked back blankly and saw only a tall man standing in front of her.

That man is really good-looking, with curly hair, high nose and deep eye sockets. He looks like a mixed-race person who can't understand the race.

The man smiled awkwardly at Xu Manni, his eyes bright and deep. Xu Manni had never seen anyone's pupils as black as that, just like wearing a pair of cosmetic contact lenses.

"For what?" Xu Manni asked mechanically. She is still immersed in the pain of lovelorn, and has no intention to appreciate a man's good face.

The man made a strange purr in his mouth, pointing to the self-service beverage vending machine not far away.

Such a beautiful man is mute? That's a real pity. In this way, Xu Manni was relieved.

She took out a ten-yuan note and handed it to the man: "Here you are."

The man didn't take the money and continued to point to the beverage machine.

"My god, you can't use the vending machine? Are you new to Shanghai? " Xu Manni was a little self-deprecating. It turns out that someone is older than her.

"Come on, I'll teach you." Xu Manni looked at the man again. He is wearing a shiny black jacket, black trousers and black boots, and Shanghai is in hot July.

Xu Manni shook his head. What a strange man.

"Which one?"

The man stared at the cupboard for a while, and his slender fingers lit a little red coke.

As soon as the coke rolled out, the man grabbed the can and swallowed it in one gulp, then spit out an exaggerated and loud "burp".

Xu Manni finally couldn't help laughing: "You can't, is this the first time to drink coke?"

Seeing Xu Manni smile, the man smiled, and his eyes fell straight on Xu Manni's face.

Xu Manni blushed. She scratched her neck and pretended to wave her hand unnecessarily: "Well, I'm leaving!" " "

The man grabbed her sleeve and pointed to the vending machine.

"More?" Xu Manni turned around helplessly, pointed to the coke can in the cupboard and asked, "Do you want more coke?"

The man shook his head vigorously.

Xu Manni smiled again: "Yes, I can't get used to those things either. Otherwise, you try this? "

Xu Manni took the liberty of asking a man for a bottle of lemon black tea. That's her favorite smell.

"Is it delicious?"

The man nodded and pointed to the cupboard.

Xu Manni covered her forehead and her heart broke down. She thought, today must be her unlucky day-first she made a mistake at work, and then she fell out of love. Let's be hot-headed at night and do a good deed. I didn't expect to meet such a strange mute again.

"Which one?" Xu Manni forced himself not to lose his temper. She has decided that this must be a hillbilly who has just arrived in Shanghai, suffering as much as her, so she wants to be a good person to the end.

The man shook the bottle, meaning more lemon black tea.

Xu Manni suddenly took out three bottles of black tea and stuffed them all into the man's arms: "Here you are! I have to go, or I'll miss the last subway. "

It is a trivial matter to lose dozens of dollars when drinking. You missed the subway, but you lost hundreds of dollars for a taxi. Xu Manni didn't dare to speak again. As soon as the subway arrived, she squeezed into it in high heels.

The door closed slowly and the lonely figure of the man drifted away.

Xu Manni sighed softly-in this cold city, I'm afraid there will be another lonely wandering soul like her.

2

Walking alone in a dark alley in high heels, Xu Manni felt as if someone was following her. She is fast, that person is fast, she is slow, and that person is slow. My heart is held up by an invisible hand, and even my breathing is tense.

Today is really her unlucky day.

Fear breeds all kinds of sad associations in your brain-if you die in the street tonight, your parents in rural Shandong will cry themselves out, right? How unfilial!

With this in mind, Xu Manni regretted his decision to stay in Shanghai. She swore in her heart that if she survived tonight, she would report for duty tomorrow and resign and go back to her hometown.

Xu Manni took out his mobile phone and dialed 1 10 in advance, ready to call out as soon as something happened.

I walked downstairs in fear, and when I took out the key, a shadow stood beside her. She screamed and instinctively threw the key as a weapon.

"Oh!" The shadow covered her head and let out a scream.

The voice control light on the balcony, Xu Manni see clearly. It's the mute.

The man covered his head and said, "Thank you!"

It's strange that he should talk!

Xu Manni, clutching his pounding chest, collapsed and shouted, "What do you want? How did you know I lived here? "

"Thank you." The man repeated this sentence with an innocent face. He looks a bit funny with an oversized bag swollen on his head.

When Xu Manni's roommate Ding Xiaoou came back, they were deadlocked.

Ding Xiaoou is an older female screenwriter in Northeast China. In order to find creative inspiration, she is particularly keen to inquire about the gossip of people around her.

This scene naturally aroused her full interest.

After hearing Xu Manni's explanation, Ding Xiaoou immediately took the man into the corridor, completely ignoring Xu Manni's opposition.

Ding Xiaoou laughed and said, "Sister, the manuscript I submitted to the film and television company today was killed again. I'm afraid I have no inspiration! Don't you think this handsome guy with long legs is covered in grooves? Just lend me an interview. "

Xu Manni covered her forehead and her heart collapsed again. This dramatic day has completely exceeded her psychological endurance.

On entering the room, Ding Xiaoou started the chattering mode: "Handsome boy, what's your name? What are you doing in Shanghai? Look at your figure, is it a model? "

"My name is Wallis." Gloomily, the man signed up, and there was no more.

Ding Xiaoou is not annoyed. She excitedly summed up for the man: "Oh, I see. You are a foreigner. Look at your face, Eastern European, right? At present, Chinese is still in the learning stage ... Hey, has your wallet been stolen ...? "

three

After a night's sleep in Xu Manni's living room, Wallis has his eye on Xu Manni.

Xu Manni can "bump into" Wallis in the lobby of the company, in the lunch shop under the office building, or on the way to pick up the courier and commute.

He has made rapid progress in Chinese, not only answering questions freely, but also gagging. On one occasion, he chased Xu Manni, blocked her at the door of the office building, and clamored to invite her to a "candlelight dinner".

Xu Manni sneered, "Originally, I thought you were a hillbilly. Now, you don't go to work leisurely, you look like a rich second generation! "

Wallis brazenly grinned: "Sort of!"

Xu Manni to turn over their. She was too busy negotiating with customers for entertainment to notice this strange man.

That night 1 1 point, in the booth of the candy nightclub.

Two bald old men poured wine for Xu Manni in turn. I covered my glass with shame and refused: "Xu, don't fall down, I will faint if I drink any more ... You see my sincerity, then you can sign the contract!" "

The two bald men looked at each other tacitly and continued to persuade them to drink with a bottle: "Manager Xu, if you do it, sign it immediately!"

Xu Manni frowned painfully. She resisted the urge to throw up and let go of her hand to cover the cup.

The old man smiled and took the empty cup, ready to pour Xu Manni wine.

Suddenly, the bottle in his hand exploded with a bang!

Broken glass stubble plunged into chin and chest, and blood trickled out, mixed with scarlet wine, which was a mess.

The two old people were blindsided at once.

They swore at the nightclub manager and waiter, and a group of people gathered around the booth and quarreled.

Xu Manni's alcoholic strength came up, and she sat blankly in the cubicle, trying to stick her upper and lower eyelids together.

In a daze, she felt someone pulling her arm hard.

Looking up, it was Wallis.

She cried strangely in her mind, "It's really strange. Why are you everywhere? "

Through the noisy crowd, Wallis dragged Xu Manni out of the nightclub.

Once out of the nightclub lobby, it was breezy in the middle of the night, and the sequelae of red wine could no longer be stopped. Xu Manni threw up Wallis' neck, and then she was unconscious.

The next morning, in Xu Manni's apartment, when she opened her eyes, she saw Wallis sitting by the bed, looking at her with her chin cupped.

She screamed with fear, and once thought she was dreaming: "You, you, how did you get in?" What do you want? "

Wallis hooked up a smile with interest: "You forgot all about it? I saved your life last night. How are you going to thank me? "

Painful memories: an advertising contract of 50,000 yuan a year, accompanied Xu to eat and talk about signing the contract ... accompanied Xu to a nightclub ... and was sent home by Wallis. ...

She suddenly grabbed her pajamas and let out a shrill cry: "Oh, my God! Have you changed my clothes? "

Roommate Ding Xiaoou pushed the door and poked out half his head at the right time: "Dear, I helped you change clothes!" " "She winked at Wallis." This time, you really want to thank the handsome guy in Eastern Europe! If it weren't for him, I'm afraid you would have been picked up by a pervert last night. "

Xu Manni glanced at Wallis with a red face and managed to squeeze out a sentence through his teeth: "Thank you."

That night, Xu Manni accepted Varis's invitation to dinner. Nominally, she is to express her gratitude; In fact, she wants to take the opportunity to find out, what is the origin of this mixed-race man who always meets unexpectedly, is he an enemy or a friend?

four

On the dining table of Peninsula Cafe, a light blue daisy is inserted obliquely in a crystal bottle with two flickering candles, and the atmosphere is just right. Wallis booked a viewing table, and the beautiful night view of Huangpu River lay across them like a flowing picture scroll.

The steak came, but Wallis didn't touch his knife and fork.

Seeing Xu Manni wolfing down his food, Wallis made an exaggerated expression and sighed, "Alas, you people on earth are so savage that you should eat such primitive food."

"What did you say? Earth people? Aren't you from the earth? " Xu Manni chewed the steak and looked at Wallis with dull eyes.

"Of course! I'm from ghost star. " Wallace is serious. "Although this news should be kept secret for the time being, I don't want to hide anything from the girl I like. Moreover, everyone on earth will know the news soon. "

Xu Manni almost didn't spit out the champagne: "Come on, don't be ridiculous! By the way, I drank too much last night. I really don't remember. You didn't make Xu angry when you took me away, did you? The contract has not been settled yet, and I will contact him tomorrow! "

Wallis smiled proudly: "Haha, I'm afraid that big pervert is recovering at home!" " ! Last night, I played a prank and blew up his bottle ... if you want me to say, don't let it go! "

After hearing the reason, Xu Manni wanted to kill Wallis on the spot: "What are you doing?" Do you know how important this customer is to me? The performance is not up to standard, so I can't apply to the planning department ... "

It turns out that Xu Manni's career wish is to enter the planning department of Maple Sugar Media. However, Maple Sugar Media has a regulation that all newcomers must be polished in grassroots business departments for at least three months, and their performance ranking is not lower than the top two-thirds, before they can apply for other departments.

Supposedly, this requirement is not harsh. However, Xu Manni really has no talent in interpersonal and social communication. So she has wasted almost a year, still at the bottom of the business department, and can't see the future at all.

"Since you want to go to the planning department, why not use your planning case to impress the leaders and apply directly? This is the fastest and most direct method! " Wallace looked at Xu Manni with a pair of black eyes, as if he had been peeking into her heart. "The rules are made by people. As long as you are talented, there can be exceptions outside the rules! "

Yes, if this continues, let alone apply to the planning department. Maybe if we don't make it to the end of the year, we will be removed from the company.

Wallis didn't give Xu Manni a chance to struggle. He narrowed his eyes. Kurome, half joking and half seducing, said, "Don't hesitate. Let me help you inquire about the big project that your company recently bid for. You can prepare in advance. "

Xu Manni poked the vegetable salad with a fork, obviously moved, but still asked uneasily, "How can you help me inquire?" Aren't you the middle level of our company? "

Wallis smiled slyly. "You forgot, I told you, I'm from Ghost Star."

five

According to Wallis' information, a big project that Xu Manni recently bid for is the advertising planning of a women's health brand.

In order to make a high-quality planning case, Xu Manni temporarily put down all orders from the business department. She looked up information day and night, found ideas, and even printed questionnaires herself, sending them to the streets for customers to pay a return visit.

Getting into the planning department smoothly or waiting to be fired is a matter of success or failure.

Xu Manni knew she had to go all out.

When she took a well-planned case to see the director of the planning department, she stood in the elevator and looked at the rising Arabic numerals on the LED screen. Xu Manni was so nervous that he was sweating. She has been in the company for almost a year. She has been circling between the sales department on the second floor and the distribution department on the third floor, and has never been on the 10 floor of this building.

As soon as the elevator door is opened.

But I saw Wallis standing in front of her with one hand on the wall, legs crossed, and a handsome posture of "Secondary Two".

Xu Manni panted, "What are you doing here?"

Wallis showed that smug mean smile again: "Come and cheer for you! If I can't reach the last level, how can I be worthy of my information? "

Xu Manni closed his eyes, trying to suppress the impulse to slap Wallis to death.

Wallis patted her on the shoulder and restored her positive color to encourage her: "Mannia, you must remember that the most precious quality of a strong person is courage. Director of the planning department, he is not your charity, but a victim waiting for you to rescue him. Go, don't be timid! "

At that moment, Xu Manni suddenly felt his heart was gently touched.

No one has ever said such a thing to her in her life.

This bitch Wallis seems to understand her; His serious appearance seems very attractive. ...

"Mannia, come quickly!" Wallis waved his arm and made an exaggerated refueling gesture to her.

Xu Manni took a deep breath, trying to block those messy thoughts and get himself ready.

"Brave! Come on! " She mused on Wallis' encouragement and walked to the director's office with her head held high.

six

Xu Manni's plan was not fully adopted by the director, but as Wallis said, every department leader wants to recruit people for his department.

Xu Manni's aura and strong self-motivation moved the director of the planning department.

In this way, the rigid company treaty is not so important.

A week later, the company informed Xu Manni that he was directly transferred to the planning department.

On the day of receiving the news, Xu Manni invited Wallis to "Manhattan Seafood" for a buffet.

This time, she sincerely expressed her gratitude. She knew in her heart that without Wallis' encouragement and intelligence, she didn't know how long she could stay in the sales department.

That night, in the cafeteria, Xu Manni shuttled between various foods with three plates in his hand. She ate and took it, completely losing her lady image.

Since joining the company, she can't remember how long she hasn't relaxed and enjoyed food in this stress-free state.

"Why don't you take food?" Sitting at the dining table, Xu Manni asked Wallis while munching on the lamb chops, "Your figure is already very good, there is no need to lose weight!"

She pushed half a grilled lobster in front of Wallis: "Don't eat anything else, you must try this!" " "She stare big eyes, a face of serious:" this is limited, everyone can only take one. I managed to catch it! "

Wallis had to reluctantly pick up his knife and fork. Look at his expression, it seems that in order not to spoil Xu Manni's fun, he had to cut open the pile of lobster bodies in front of him.

However, before eating a few pieces of lobster meat, he suddenly frowned in pain, covered his stomach with his hands and ran to the bathroom in confusion.

Xu Manni put a piece of lobster meat in his mouth, tasted it carefully and said suspiciously, "No problem, it's quite fresh ..."

When Wallis came out of the toilet, Xu Manni approached him and asked him, "Hey, to be honest, do you have anorexia to lose weight?" I've been watching you for a long time. You don't eat much. "

Wallace raised his eyebrows proudly, and his slender fingers took out a small silver jar from his coat pocket. "I told you, my stomach is not used to this low-grade food." Perhaps, my great-great grandfather has eaten these inferior foods all his life. But now, we all eat this-a synthetic energy tablet, a small piece, and all the nutrients are available. "

Xu Manni curiously grabbed the little white pill and rubbed it in her hand: "Stop joking! Can such a small piece be full? "

"Eating it will swell up and produce a feeling of fullness."

"If so, your people there are so boring! Can't enjoy food, what fun is there in life? "

Wallis cocked his head with exaggerated disdain in his eyes: "You earthlings are still immersed in the low-level stage of sensory enjoyment! The real enjoyment is here, "Varis patted his chest and pointed to his brain. "Mind and spirit, understand? Because, as early as hundreds of years ago, our ancestors abandoned these sensory pleasures that require huge energy, so the technology of ghost stars can achieve rapid development ... "

Wallace continued, completely unaware that Xu Manni had already made two glasses of red wine.

"Then why did you come to earth?"

"negotiations. After the inspection, I will formally negotiate with the person in charge of the earth-seeking the resources and technology of ghost stars and the earth. "

Xu Manni sneered and smiled: "Stop it!" Her cheeks are red and her eyes are blurred. "If you are an alien, shouldn't we have a delayed love in the next plot?"

Wallace didn't notice that the table in front of him was full of empty wine glasses of different colors and heights.

Xu Manni almost took turns to taste all kinds of red wine, sprite and champagne provided by the self-service store, with the mentality of eating, drinking and tracing back to the source.

She felt dizzy, and Wallis' gushing mouth kept spinning and magnifying before her eyes. She leaned her head on the table, thinking about taking a rest, and then gracefully stepped away.

It's a pity that carbon dioxide mixed with alcohol is so powerful that she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the table.

Wallis slapped her so hard that she didn't even notice. He sighed helplessly and felt that he had missed a good opportunity to introduce himself to her.