Super Zoo

Zhang understood Nangong Yan quite well, her little apprentice. She was sensible, sometimes carefree, sometimes extremely meticulous. If Suming had any complaints about Nangong's work, Nangong might really do something "foolish." Nangong hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "He's never been dissatisfied with my work. The only time he suggested I quit was because he was worried it was too hard on me." "Worried it was too hard on you? I highly doubt that," Zhang did not believe her, suspecting it was just an excuse commonly used by men. Nangong gave a light smile, not taking the bait, and continued, "But, he has never mentioned taking me to meet his parents. This is the first time." "These men, they all want to play around for a few more years, especially once they have a bit of money. No one wants to tie themselves down with marriage too early," Zhang said. Nangong nodded, "He's always joking around and never serious, but he's very careful about his feelings and marriage. He's not like some people who think meeting the parents is as simple as eating and drinking." She pursed her lips and smiled, "For him to take the initiative to say this, it's harder than killing him." "Are you afraid that if he finally musters the courage to take you to meet his parents, and you miss it, he'll take the opportunity to back out and never mention it again?" Zhang frowned and showed a look of disgust. There were things she could not say outright. If a man did not even have that much responsibility, he was totally not worth committing to. "That's not it. I believe even if I don't go today, he wouldn't mind," Nangong shook her head. "Isn't there a saying that if there are a hundred steps between two people, as long as you take the first step towards me, I am willing to take the next ninety-nine? I think, since he took the initiative, I should follow through." Zhang sighed, "You can't always depend on him in the future. A woman should have her own career, to keep a way out for herself." Nangong revealed a radiant and confident smile, "Zhang, listen to you. I'm not lazy, not greedy. I have hands and feet, can't I take care of myself?" "Ah, what can I say?" Zhang hesitated and couldn't help but express her concern, "I've seen that lad Suming, he's a good person, very eligible. But precisely because of this, as his career grows, various temptations will surely arise... Nangong, have you thought about it? Your unreserved commitment, even at the expense of your career, can you really hold on to him? If not... what will you do?" Nangong smiled faintly, "I know. There's no need to talk about the future, even now there are many women around him." "Then you still... Silly girl! When moths dash into flames, do I need to tell you the outcome?" Zhang said. Nangong's eyelids drooped slightly, but her lips gradually sketched a beautiful curve. Her tone was soft, almost like a dreamy murmur, she said to herself, "I chose this man, I love him. At the beginning, I hoped that he would reciprocate, to give me more than I gave him—even felt anxious about it. But gradually, I understood a truth…" "What truth?" "Love is not a business deal, it's not an equal exchange. You can't expect that just because you gave money, you must demand the other party to give an equal value of goods. As long as I am sure I love him, and am willing to give, that's enough. My love for him has nothing to do with him." She lifted her head, a steadfastness flickering in her gaze, "Zhang, you might think I'm naïve, but this is Nangong Yan's choice. If I don't do this, I won't be Nangong Yan. You always taught me that a woman should be independent, but if one doesn't dare make choices in life, doesn't dare pay for their choices, then what's there to talk about independence? No matter how much money, no matter the status, it's all just living for others to see." Zhang Panpan looked at the young woman's clear eyes and felt an inexplicable taste in her heart, a mix of emotions. The words she had prepared to persuade her with suddenly stuck in her throat, unable to speak. When her husband proposed divorce, those words seemed to echo in her ears again. "I used to think that you were working hard for a living, for this family. But look now, this family has just become an accessory to your job!" "You always say that a woman should be independent, should have a fallback. I never opposed, I supported you fully. You've paved a very broad path for yourself, but left this family with nowhere to go!" "It wasn't until today that I realized your heart is filled with insecurity, you want too many things, so you could never fully commit to this home." "Wife, I am a very failed man. After being married to you for five years, I've never managed to give you the sense of security you desired. Continuing this way is a torment for everyone, so, let's get a divorce..." ... Zhang Panpan suddenly felt some regret. If she hadn't been so bent on climbing the ladder so desperately back then, if she had taken more time to spend with her family, or even quit her demanding job at the television station to be an ordinary office clerk, would her life really not be as good as it is now? She was so competitive for half her life, looking back, it seems so unnecessary. Life is so short; as long as one doesn't break the law or ethical codes, what's wrong with a family being together and happy? Instead, they had to fight to the point of exhaustion, battered and bruised. In the past, she always felt that life was so long, with plenty of time. There was no hurry for vacations, spending time with family, accompanying children, looking after the elderly, or enjoying romantic moments with a loved one. It was not until the night her husband and son moved out that she came home to an empty house and finally couldn't help crying. That night she drank heavily, lying in bed scrolling through her phone, a contact list with over a thousand numbers, yet she didn't know who to call. Looking at Nangong Yan, Zhang Panpan didn't know where to start persuading her. She even felt some envy towards the young girl, admiring her courage. If life could start over again, it wouldn't be regret for having worked two fewer days, signed two fewer contracts, met two fewer people, or earned two less amounts of money. Perhaps the things that one might truly regret are precisely those that were neglected at the time. "Xiao Ya, I won't say much, I'll just leave you with one last thought," Zhang Panpan said. "Yes, Zhang, please tell me," Nangong Yan nodded. "I've been a strong woman for so many years, and I've lost a lot, but I've also gained some things." Zhang Panpan stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window of the office, and, gazing down at the skyscrapers of Yangchuan City through the glass, said softly, "There is no right or wrong in the choice itself. Once you have chosen, don't give yourself a reason to give up." "I understand." Ten minutes later, in the office building of the television station, hundreds of employees looked through the window with complex expressions as the popular host Nangong Yan boarded the plane, waved goodbye to Yangchuan Television Station building, and gradually faded into the distance, becoming a tiny black dot in the sky. There was a surreal feeling among the crowd, a presenter who was hailed as a future star of the station, someone with limitless prospects, had resigned just like that? Those who were once jealous of Nangong Yan, waiting to see her embarrass herself, scheming for her position, now felt little joy, but rather a sense of emptiness. Watching Nangong Yan on the plane, arm in arm with Suming, smiling and waving at the television station building, they understood — Nangong Yan didn't leave because she couldn't beat them, but chose to on her own accord. She had the power and the opportunity to choose the life she wanted. What about them? They were left to scramble for the scraps Nangong Yan had no use for.