The President's Tender Trap

As the autumn wind rustled and night fell, the city's neon lights flickered on the streets, illuminating a vibrant scene. Lu Ming stood at the entrance of a friend's gathering, took a deep breath, and tried to relax. It was a gathering hosted by an old friend; it was a good idea for everyone to chat and relax together. However, Lu Ming felt a little uneasy—he knew Zhou Qiang would also be there, and his recent promotion had left him with mixed emotions.

"Lu Ming! Come on in!" Xiao Li, his old friend at the door, greeted him warmly. Lu Ming smiled faintly, trying to hide his inner uneasiness, and followed Xiao Li inside. The atmosphere at the party was lively, with friends sitting together, laughing and joking, and the table was filled with delicious food and drinks.

"Wow, Lu Ming, you're finally here! Everyone's been waiting for you!" Su Wan saw him and immediately came over to hold his hand, her smile as warm as spring. "Come on, everyone is talking about work, why don't you come and share your thoughts too."

Lu Ming nodded, but a wave of nervousness washed over him. He knew Zhou Qiang had already mentioned his promotion before the party, while he himself had just been through the trauma of layoffs. The contrast made him feel incredibly awkward.

"Don't worry, everyone's just talking about work, relax." Su Wan noticed his nervousness and whispered soothingly. Lu Ming smiled slightly, feeling a little more at ease, and tried to blend into the lively atmosphere.

As everyone gathered around and shared their work stories, Zhou Qiang stood up, raised his glass, and said passionately, "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support. It's because of your encouragement that I was able to get a promotion in the company. I've certainly faced many challenges recently, but I believe that as long as I work hard, I will succeed!"

"Zhou Qiang, you are awesome! You are truly our role model!" Friends echoed one after another. Zhou Qiang's confidence and enthusiasm infected everyone present.

Yet, Lu Ming's heart was a turmoil. He listened to Zhou Qiang's speech, a twinge of jealousy and unease rising within him. Zhou Qiang's success shone brightly in his eyes, like a ray of light illuminating the shadows deep within him. Lu Ming forced himself to smile, but his inner emotions refused to calm.

"After this promotion, I will be in charge of a new project. If you are interested, I will treat you to a drink to celebrate someday!" Zhou Qiang's voice was still loud, and he seemed full of expectations for the future.

"Great! We must celebrate!" The friends responded, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively. Lu Ming, however, sat aside, feeling increasingly uneasy. He couldn't shake the feeling of being overwhelmed by Zhou Qiang's success, as if he had become a loser in everyone's eyes.

"Lu Ming, why aren't you talking?" Xiao Li suddenly asked, his gaze fixed on him. The people around him also turned to look at him, anticipating his response. Lu Ming felt a wave of discomfort; he didn't want to be the center of attention.

"Nothing, I was thinking about work." Lu Ming forced a smile and tried to change the subject.

"Have you been looking for a job recently?" Su Wan asked with concern. Lu Ming's heart tightened, realizing that his predicament had been brought up again.

"Yes, we are actively contacting some companies." Lu Ming said in a low voice, but he was thinking in his heart that such a response seemed unable to conceal his inner loss.

"I believe you will find a better opportunity!" Zhou Qiang interjected, his voice full of encouragement. But Lu Ming heard another meaning, as if Zhou Qiang was implying that his failure was due to insufficient effort.

"Thank you, Zhou Qiang." Lu Ming tried to sound calm, but the anger inside him continued to grow. He felt a strong sense of being compared to others, as if every word Zhou Qiang said was a declaration of his own success, while he had become the laughing stock in everyone's eyes.

"I always feel that work is not just about personal effort, but also requires opportunities and team support." Zhou Qiang continued, appearing extremely confident, as if sharing the secret to success.

"Yeah, sometimes opportunity is more important than hard work," a friend agreed, and everyone nodded in agreement. Lu Ming felt annoyed, and jealousy burned in his heart like a flame.

"I think Zhou Qiang's success is an example of how he not only worked hard but also seized opportunities," another friend added. Lu Ming listened, feeling increasingly uneasy. He knew Zhou Qiang's hard work and ability, but at this moment, he couldn't remain calm.

"I was working hard, but I just didn't seize the opportunity," Lu Ming thought to himself, feeling increasingly aggrieved. He didn't want to show his emotions in front of everyone, but the oppressive feeling made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

The atmosphere at the party grew increasingly lively. Zhou Qiang chatted and laughed with his friends, but Lu Ming felt isolated and isolated, his heart swirling with mixed emotions. Finally, he couldn't help but stand up, using the excuse of going to the bathroom to escape this suffocating environment.

Entering the bathroom, Lu Ming faced the mirror and tried to adjust his mindset. But the thought of Zhou Qiang's confidence and success filled him with a surge of nameless anger. He wanted to yell, to vent his frustration and jealousy, but he had nowhere to vent.

"How should I face this?" he asked himself repeatedly, his inner struggle leaving him feeling incredibly exhausted. He felt as if he were trapped in an invisible cage, unable to extricate himself.

"I don't want to go on like this." Lu Ming finally made up his mind, wiped the water off his face, and walked out of the bathroom. He knew he had to face Zhou Qiang and his emotions, and he couldn't continue to avoid them.

Back at the party, Lu Ming tried hard to adjust his expression, trying to appear relaxed. Zhou Qiang, who was chatting animatedly with his friends, immediately came over to greet him upon seeing him return.

"Where have you been? I thought you wouldn't come back." Zhou Qiang asked with a smile, his expression full of concern.

"It's nothing, I just felt a little unwell." Lu Ming forced a smile, but in his heart he was secretly guessing every word Zhou Qiang said.

"Then you have to take care of your health. No matter how busy you are at work, you must take good care of yourself." Zhou Qiang's concern made Lu Ming feel a little warm, but what followed was deeper self-blame.

"Thank you, I will." Lu Ming tried to make himself look natural, but the uneasiness in his heart still lingered.

"What are you talking about?" Lu Ming tried to change the subject and tried to blend into the lively atmosphere.

"We were discussing work, and Zhou Qiang just shared his project plan." Xiao Li said, and Zhou Qiang began to describe his plan with confidence.

"I think this project has great potential, and everyone is looking forward to it!" Zhou Qiang said with great interest, seemingly completely unaware of Lu Ming's inner turmoil.

"I also believe that you can do it well." Lu Ming agreed reluctantly, but he was thinking in his heart that such a conversation would only make his disappointment more obvious.

"Let's work together and make this project even better!" Zhou Qiang said, his eyes twinkling. Lu Ming listened, a surge of jealousy welling up in his heart, as if every word Zhou Qiang said was a mockery of him.

After the party, Lu Ming walked home with a heavy heart, Zhou Qiang's words echoing in his mind. He began to doubt whether he was truly working hard, whether he was truly pursuing his goals with all his heart. He couldn't shake the feeling of being compared, as if he could never be on par with Zhou Qiang.

"How should I face it? Zhou Qiang's success makes me feel extremely oppressed." Lu Ming thought over and over in his mind, feeling more and more powerless and frustrated.