The President's Tender Trap

As night fell and the city's neon lights flickered, Lu Ming sat on his sofa at home, a glass of warm water in hand, his heart restless. The party he had just attended had left him reeling. Zhou Qiang's success and self-confidence were like a thorn in his heart, piercing his heart. He couldn't forget the project plan Zhou Qiang had mentioned at the party; that elation and pride weighed heavily on him.

"What am I afraid of?" Lu Ming muttered to himself, his heart filled with confusion and anxiety. He knew how wonderful his friendship with Zhou Qiang had once been, but now it was in jeopardy due to misunderstanding and jealousy.

Just then, the phone rang, and Zhou Qiang's name flashed on the screen. Lu Ming hesitated for a moment, but finally answered the call.

"Hello, Lu Ming, are you there?" Zhou Qiang's voice was full of excitement, as if he had just accomplished something big.

"I'm here, what's wrong?" Lu Ming tried to make his voice sound calm, but the turmoil in his heart could not subside.

"I just received a big client in the company. I feel that this project is a good opportunity!" Zhou Qiang said excitedly, his tone full of pride.

"Congratulations, Zhou Qiang." Lu Ming responded reluctantly, but he was thinking in his heart that every success of Zhou Qiang reminded him of his own loss.

"Why do you sound uninterested? I think this project is very important to our company!" Zhou Qiang noticed Lu Ming's mood and spoke with concern.

"I just feel that things at work are always full of variables." Lu Ming tried to change the subject, but he was secretly resentful in his heart.

"Do you have any objection to my success this time?" Zhou Qiang suddenly asked, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice.

"I have no objection." Lu Ming's voice rose a few degrees, and the grievance and jealousy in his heart suddenly burst out. "I just feel that you are always showing off your achievements and don't consider my feelings at all!"

"Show off? I'm just sharing my work progress!" Zhou Qiang's voice turned cold. "Can't I share my success with my friends?"

"Of course you can share, but do you know my recent situation? I just experienced layoffs, and you are showing off your promotion in front of me!" Lu Ming became emotional, and his words were full of anger.

"That's not what I meant. I just wanted to tell you that our hard work has finally paid off." Zhou Qiang's voice became intense. "Why can't you be a little happier? You're always so negative!"

"Negative? I'm trying to find new opportunities. Is that wrong?" Lu Ming retorted, the dissatisfaction in his heart burning like a flame.

"I didn't say you were wrong, but your attitude disappointed me." Zhou Qiang responded coldly, obviously angry at Lu Ming's reaction.

"Disappointed? You don't understand how I feel at all!" Lu Ming felt his emotions spiraling out of control, tears welling up in his eyes. "You only care about your own success, not what I've been through!"

"I care about you, but you always use my achievements to criticize me!" Zhou Qiang's voice was filled with disappointment and anger. "I never meant to make you unhappy, but you are always so negative. I can't understand it!"

"You have no idea how hard I've worked. Why did I end up like this?" Lu Ming practically roared, his inner grievance and pain completely erupting at this moment. His voice echoed in the room, as if pouring out all his emotions.

"I don't want to argue with you anymore." Zhou Qiang's voice became heavy. "I thought you were my friend, but now I don't know how to face you."

"Friends? You don't understand me at all!" Lu Ming was overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling up in his eyes. "I just hope you can understand my feelings instead of showing off your success in front of me!"

"I'm not showing off, I'm just sharing my experience!" Zhou Qiang's tone became fierce, his voice filled with disappointment and anger. "I never meant to make you feel unhappy, but you always make me feel wronged like this!"

"We can't communicate anymore!" Lu Ming said almost in despair, then hung up the phone, his heart filled with powerlessness and pain.

The room fell silent. Lu Ming sat on the sofa, feeling as if he had lost a best friend. Tears streamed down his face, his heart filled with anger and resentment. He wanted to scream, but he didn't know how to vent his emotions.

"What should I do?" He muttered to himself, his thoughts in turmoil. The rift in their friendship became more and more obvious at this moment, as if it could never be repaired.

Lu Ming realizes that the misunderstanding between him and Zhou Qiang has taken root, and their emotions are becoming increasingly intense during the argument. Their former friendship is now overshadowed by jealousy and anger, and it seems that it will never be the same again.

"I really want to talk to you." Lu Ming prayed silently in his heart, but he knew that the impulsive quarrel had caused irreversible consequences.

Late at night, Lu Ming lay in bed, his mind replaying the argument with Zhou Qiang. He felt utterly lonely and helpless, filled with regret and loss for their friendship. He understood that the misunderstanding between him and Zhou Qiang wasn't accidental, but rather the result of long-standing emotions and pressure.

"How should I face this friendship?" Lu Ming pondered over it in his heart, tears streaming down his face. He knew he had to find a solution to the problem, but at the moment he was powerless.

The next day, sunlight streamed through the curtains into the room. Lu Ming woke up early, but his heart still felt heavy. He picked up his phone, hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to send Zhou Qiang a message.

"I'm sorry, I got too emotional last night," Lu Ming wrote in the message, his heart filled with regret. He knew he had lost his mind during the argument and hurt Zhou Qiang's feelings.

A few minutes later, the phone rang. Zhou Qiang's reply made Lu Ming's heart tighten. "I'm sorry, too. I didn't consider your feelings."

Lu Ming felt a warm sensation in his heart, as if some misunderstandings were beginning to be explained. He took a deep breath and continued, "We're both too emotional. I hope we can talk it out."

Zhou Qiang quickly replied: "Me too, I hope we can understand each other's feelings."

Lu Ming's heart gradually calmed down. Perhaps this friendship hadn't broken down, but rather had been put to the test. He knew that in the face of misunderstandings and arguments, only communication could repair a relationship.

In the following days, Lu Ming and Zhou Qiang worked hard to adjust their mindsets. Although there was still some distance between them, they both understood that friendship requires tolerance and understanding.

Finally, one weekend afternoon, Lu Ming asked Zhou Qiang out for coffee. They sat down in a quiet cafe. The atmosphere was a little awkward at first, but as the conversation deepened, their hearts gradually opened up.

"I don't want you to think I'm showing off, I just want to share my experience." Zhou Qiang said sincerely, with an apologetic look in his eyes.

"I know you mean well, but my recent situation is hard for me to accept." Lu Ming responded frankly, and his heart gradually relaxed.

"We are all working hard to pursue our goals, but misunderstandings are inevitable sometimes." Zhou Qiang nodded, his tone revealing understanding. "I hope you can find a better opportunity."

"Thank you, Zhou Qiang. I will try my best." Lu Ming smiled slightly and felt a little warmth in his heart.

The misunderstandings and arguments after this party put Lu Ming and Zhou Qiang's friendship to the test, but they both realize that friendship requires communication and understanding. No matter how bumpy the road ahead, they are willing to face it together and repair their relationship.