The President's Tender Trap

The autumn sun streamed through the window onto Lu Ming's desk, illuminating the messy pile of work. Ever since his last argument with Zhou Qiang, Lu Ming had decided to distance himself from him. Jealousy and insecurity hung over him like a dark cloud, impossible to dispel. He knew the beginning of a cold war meant their relationship would face a greater test.

"How should I face this friendship?" Lu Ming pondered over it, feeling increasingly powerless. He recalled the days when he and Zhou Qiang had shared joys and sorrows together. That carefree friendship was now in jeopardy amidst their arguments. He was torn between two feelings: on the one hand, he wanted to reconnect, but on the other, he was afraid to confront Zhou Qiang.

The daily grind grew heavy. Lu Ming tried to appear calm at work, but his inner anxiety was a constant presence. He watched his colleagues discuss their projects, and heard Zhou Qiang share his accomplishments with others, and a wave of unease and jealousy welled up inside him. Every time he heard Zhou Qiang's name, he felt a sting, like a relentless blow to his pride.

"Why does he always have such success?" Lu Ming pondered. He understood Zhou Qiang's efforts and abilities, but at this moment, he couldn't appreciate them. He could only feel a deep envy and a sense of powerlessness. Zhou Qiang's success was like a mirror, reflecting his own inner fragility and insecurity.

A few days passed, and Lu Ming and Zhou Qiang's contact almost completely ceased. Although he knew this cold war wouldn't last long, he couldn't take the leap and contact Zhou Qiang. Jealousy and low self-esteem kept him from speaking, as if everything was suppressed deep within him.

"Lu Ming, what's wrong with you recently? You look unhappy." Colleague Xiao Li finally couldn't help asking. The concerned look made Lu Ming feel a little guilty.

"It's nothing, just a work matter." Lu Ming answered perfunctorily, but in his heart he was wondering whether he should confide his troubles to his friend.

"I heard that Zhou Qiang recently won another big project and everyone is praising him." Xiao Li continued, his eyes flashing with curiosity and concern.

"Really?" Lu Ming's voice turned cold, but a wave of unhappiness welled up in his heart. He didn't want to discuss Zhou Qiang's success, but he couldn't ignore this invisible pressure.

"You two used to have such a good relationship, why don't you keep in touch now?" Xiao Li continued to ask, obviously feeling strange about this.

"We just... have some misunderstandings recently." Lu Ming explained with difficulty, but in his heart he was wondering whether he should confide in Xiao Li.

"I know your friendship is important, but sometimes communication is the best way to solve problems." Xiao Li patted his shoulder, his tone sincere. These words warmed Lu Ming's heart, but he still couldn't muster the courage to contact Zhou Qiang.

"Thank you, I'll think about it." Lu Ming forced a smile, but his heart was still heavy. He knew that the cold war would only deepen the misunderstanding between them, but he couldn't find the courage to reconcile from the bottom of his heart.

That evening, Lu Ming returned home and sat on the sofa, gazing out the window at the starry sky, his mind racing. He recalled the happy times he had spent with Zhou Qiang, those carefree moments now seeming so distant. His heart was filled with regret and loss, and he wanted to break the silence, but he didn't know where to begin.

"I really want to talk to you." Lu Ming prayed silently in his heart, but he knew that he needed to face the jealousy and anxiety in his heart first before he could find the courage to communicate with Zhou Qiang again.

A few days later, on a weekend, Lu Ming received a message from Zhou Qiang. Seeing the familiar name flash across his screen, a wave of excitement and anxiety washed over him. He hesitated over whether to reply, but ultimately chose to ignore it. He didn't know how to face this once close friend, let alone express his feelings.

"I really want to talk to you." Lu Ming said to himself, but he was wondering if Zhou Qiang also missed this friendship.

As time went by, Lu Ming felt increasingly lonely. While his friends were busy with their own work and lives, he alone was mired in endless silence. Whenever he saw Zhou Qiang sharing his work on WeChat Moments, he would feel a surge of jealousy and inferiority, as if he had become the forgotten one.

"How should I face this friendship?" Lu Ming asked himself repeatedly, feeling increasingly powerless. He knew that the misunderstanding between him and Zhou Qiang was not accidental, but the result of long-term accumulated emotions and pressure.

Finally, one afternoon, Lu Ming decided to go to a cafe and relax. He walked into the familiar cafe, ordered a cup of coffee, and sat by the window, gazing out at the street, his mind racing. The sunlight streamed through the window, warming him, but the dark cloud within him remained lingering.

"Should I contact Zhou Qiang?" Lu Ming pondered over this question, but remained undecided. Although he wanted to repair their friendship, he was worried that Zhou Qiang would misunderstand him and that he would be unable to shake off the jealousy and inferiority complex in his heart.

At this moment, Lu Ming's phone rang again, and Zhou Qiang's name appeared on the screen again. This time, he didn't choose to ignore it. Instead, he took a deep breath and clicked on the message.

"Lu Ming, I know there are some misunderstandings between us, but I really want to talk to you." There was a hint of sincerity in Zhou Qiang's message, which made Lu Ming feel warm in his heart.

"I want to talk to you, too." Lu Ming's fingers danced across the screen, finally mustering the courage to reply. He felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, unsure how the conversation would unfold.

"Then let's find a time to meet," Zhou Qiang replied quickly, and Lu Ming felt a touch of long-lost intimacy. He secretly felt relieved that perhaps this friendship wasn't completely over.

"Okay, see you this weekend," Lu Ming replied, feeling a sense of relief. He knew that the beginning of a cold war didn't necessarily mean the end of friendship; as long as they were willing to communicate, they could still find their connection again.

However, the jealousy and insecurity in his heart still lurked in his heart, like a thorn that he could not completely let go. Lu Ming knew that the process of restoring friendship would not be easy, but he was willing to work hard for it.

In the days that followed, Lu Ming worked hard to adjust his mindset and get out of the shadow of the cold war. He began to focus on his own development, working hard to improve his abilities, and trying not to think about Zhou Qiang's success and achievements.

The weekend finally arrived, and Lu Ming and Zhou Qiang agreed to meet at a cafe. The moment he walked into the cafe, his heart was filled with anticipation and nervousness, as if this moment would determine the future of their friendship.

"You're here." Zhou Qiang smiled when he saw Lu Ming. The two of them greeted each other, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed.

"How have you been recently?" Zhou Qiang asked proactively, with concern in his eyes.

"Fortunately, there has been some progress at work." Lu Ming tried to make his tone sound calm, but he was thinking in his heart how to express his inner feelings.

"I heard that you are looking for a new job. How are things going recently?" Zhou Qiang asked with concern.

"I'm still actively contacting people, hoping to find a suitable opportunity." There was a hint of determination in Lu Ming's voice, and courage gradually grew in his heart.

"I believe you will find a better opportunity." There was encouragement in Zhou Qiang's voice, and Lu Ming couldn't help feeling a little warm in his heart.

"Thank you, I will try my best." Lu Ming responded, gradually letting go of his previous concerns.