My heart is tied to that sky

In this coastal city on the southeast coast, the sea breeze carries a warm, salty scent, drifting through the long streets and factories, bringing a vibrant energy to the entire city.

The spring breeze of 1997, carrying the warmth of new life, swept across this burgeoning land.

Looking out, the sea shimmers in the distance, with waves lapping against the shore, bringing a refreshing and gentle atmosphere.

The streets are lined with shady trees, and the new buildings are arranged in a neat and orderly manner. The port and factories are faintly visible in the distance, and the whole city exudes a sense of upward growth.

There is no hustle and bustle, no oppressive atmosphere of the old factory area. Here, the sea breeze is refreshing, the air is clean, and everywhere is full of new hope.

Tang Muyang's long-distance bus slowly entered the city. The scenery outside the window changed all the way, from rolling hills to neat factories, and from muddy dirt roads to flat asphalt streets.

Outside the car window, signs reading "Hengxin Jewelry Branch Factory" and "Export Processing Zone" flashed by, reminding him that after three years of ups and downs in the special economic zone, and the trials and tribulations that had honed his spirit, he had finally arrived at a brand new starting point.

He raised his hand and gently straightened his clean shirt. As his fingertips traced the fabric, images from the past three years involuntarily flashed through his mind.

From an apprentice covered in dust at the polishing table in Hengxin's main factory, to a staff member working all night in the logistics and accounting group to reconcile accounts, from being trapped in factional infighting and being falsely accused and suspended, to holding evidence and forbearing to break the deadlock, and finally to being chosen by the group's senior management and sent to take charge of a region.

His journey was arduous, yet he remained steadfast.

The car finally stopped in front of the factory gate. The brand-new gatehouse was impressive and well-organized, and the gold-plated characters "Hengxin Jewelry Southeast Base" shone brightly in the sunlight.

The HR manager, who had been waiting there, quickly stepped forward with a polite and respectful smile on his face.

The HR manager extended his hand respectfully, saying, "Manager Tang, you must be tired from your journey. We were specifically instructed by our superiors to make sure you receive us properly."

Tang Muyang nodded slightly, reached out and gently shook hands with the other person, his posture calm and proper, without a trace of the arrogance of someone who had achieved success at a young age.

"Thank you for your help." His voice was calm, his eyes were clear, and he had shed his youthful naiveté, gaining the calm and composed aura unique to managers.

Tang Muyang is just 21 years old at this moment, but after three years of honing his skills at the bottom and experiencing the ups and downs of the workplace, he is far more mature than his peers.

Quality control, material accounting, customer liaison, and personnel coordination—these skills, acquired through hard work and lessons learned in the old factory, have become the foundation of his current success.

The HR manager led him into the factory area while explaining the situation in detail.

"Manager Tang, the Southeast Base is a new factory that the group has invested heavily in this year. The production lines and equipment are all the latest configurations. It is mainly responsible for the fine processing of high-end jewelry and export orders. The group has entrusted this place to you because it trusts your abilities."

"You are in charge of all production, management, and quality control in the entire factory, with direct access to upper management."

Tang Muyang listened quietly, his gaze calmly sweeping across the factory area.

The spacious and clean workshop, the orderly production lines, the clearly marked material areas, and the standardized and tidy employee dormitories are all in perfect order.

Compared to the oppressive and crowded atmosphere of the old factory, this place is more like a fertile land waiting to be cultivated, full of hope and possibilities.

He knew in his heart that this was not exile or marginalization, but rather a recognition of his ability and loyalty by the group.

Knowing too much will only breed resentment if you stay in the old factory; being sent to a foreign company to take on a responsibility is both a form of protection and a sign of being given important responsibilities.

Upon entering the office area, the HR manager handed him a set of keys and a personnel roster.

"Manager Tang, here are your office and dormitory keys. The office is on the third floor, at the innermost part, with the best view and it's also very quiet. The staff roster and all the procedures and systems are here. Please take your time to familiarize yourself with them, and feel free to let me know if you need anything."

Tang Muyang took the keys and the roster, feeling the cool metallic touch on his fingertips. It was heavy, like a responsibility, but also a recognition.

"Thank you for your hard work. The follow-up work will proceed according to the system. I will communicate promptly if there are any problems." His tone was calm and composed, and his arrangements were appropriate, showing his competence.

Stepping into his own private office, Tang Muyang slowly walked to the window.

Pushing open the window, a refreshing sea breeze rushes in, carrying a faint salty and damp scent. In the distance, the sea and the city skyline merge into one, creating a wide and pleasant view.

He took a deep breath, and the pent-up frustration and resentment that had been building up in his chest for so long dissipated in that moment.

After three years of forbearance, three years of tempering, and three years of trials and tribulations, he finally broke free from the chessboard of right and wrong and gained his own space.

From this day forward, he will no longer be a pawn to be manipulated, but a player who controls the game.

After a quick tidy-up, Tang Muyang immediately got to work.

Without the slightest slackening, he took the personnel roster and production process sheet and checked the job configuration, production line status, material reserves, and quality standards one by one.

He personally oversaw every step, meticulously attending to every detail, just as he had when polishing gemstones, scrutinizing every minute aspect.

His experience working at the grassroots level taught him that quality is the lifeline of a company, especially in jewelry finishing, where a single rough stone, a single process, or a single error can affect the delivery of an entire batch of orders.

He personally went down to the workshop to check the equipment operation, conduct spot checks on product quality, and have brief exchanges with frontline employees to quickly familiarize himself with the production rhythm.

The employees looked at the excessively young manager with curiosity, but even more so with admiration.

With no airs or pretenses, and possessing exceptional professional skills and meticulous thinking, Tang Muyang quickly established himself in the branch factory within a week, earning everyone's trust and building his authority.

Busy times always fly by, and before we know it, the sun is already setting, casting a warm orange-red hue over the sky.

The sea was bathed in a golden-red glow by the setting sun, its surface shimmering and sparkling, a truly breathtaking sight.

After finishing his first batch of urgent work, Tang Muyang got up and left his office, intending to have a simple meal near the factory and familiarize himself with the surrounding environment.

He walked slowly along the street, a gentle evening breeze carrying the warmth of the sea, easing the daytime heat. Shops along the street gradually lit up, and pedestrians strolled in twos and threes, creating a lively atmosphere.

Not far away, a clean and simply decorated coffee shop stands quietly, its warm yellow light shining through the glass windows and casting a gentle halo on the road.

Tang Muyang paused slightly, then pushed open the door and went inside.

The quiet and gentle atmosphere inside the store, with soft music playing softly, dispelled his fatigue from the day.

He found a single seat by the window, tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and gazed at the gradually darkening street scene outside the window, his thoughts drifting into the distance.

Xiao Xiaoyan! This name gently rose in my heart, carrying a complex and indescribable bittersweet feeling.

They spent their days and nights together in the factory, sheltering from the rain, chatting, and encouraging each other on the assembly line. But life is unpredictable, and their feelings drifted apart. She chose to return to her hometown to repeat her studies and pursue her future.

Several years have passed since then, and there has been no news of him.

Where is she now? She should be graduating soon after repeating her senior year, right? Has she already gotten into her dream school and is living a stable and peaceful life?

A series of concerns and emotions welled up in my heart, and loneliness quietly spread at this moment.

He now wields power, ruling over a region, and is seen by others as a promising young manager. But only he knows that when the night is still and quiet, the loneliness of being in a foreign land always overwhelms him like a tide.

He was all alone, struggling in an unfamiliar seaside city, without even a single person to confide in.

Just as he was lost in thought, a soft female voice came from not far away, as she was making a phone call in a low voice.

Her tone was a mix of nervousness and anticipation, and the words she spoke clearly reached his ears.

"Okay, I'm all ready. I'm going to Hengxin for an interview first thing tomorrow morning..."

"Yes, it's that big factory. I hope I can get the job smoothly..."

"Don't worry, I'll do my best."

Upon hearing the words "Hengxin," Tang Muyang's gaze suddenly shifted.

This is the name he knows best and remembers most deeply; it's the place he spent three years of his youth and went through thick and thin to get out of.

He subconsciously looked up and gazed in the direction from which the sound came.

It was a striking figure, sitting alone by the window, one hand holding her phone and speaking softly, the other gently resting on the table, her posture slender and upright.

Noticing someone looking over, the girl also looked up at that moment, and her eyes met his.

The moment their eyes met, time seemed to stand still.

Tang Muyang's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

The girl was extremely beautiful, elegant and poised, with clear and bright eyes. She possessed a refreshing and naturally elegant demeanor that was easy to manage. She was eye-catching and captivating, making it impossible to look away at first glance.

The girl was slightly taken aback by his sudden gaze, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. She quickly lowered her head, but her eyes couldn't hide her curiosity.

Seating was limited in the store, so a waiter quickly came over and politely inquired.

"Sir, I'm sorry, this is the only table left. Would it be convenient for you two to share a table?"

Tang Muyang snapped out of his reverie, his gaze falling on the girl, and nodded gently.

"Can."

The girl replied softly, "Thank you for your help."

And so, two complete strangers ended up sitting at the same table.

As the distance suddenly closed, a subtle tremor filled the air.

Looking at the girl in front of him, Tang Muyang's lingering feelings and complex emotions towards Xiao Xiaoyan subtly faded.

Fate is always so wonderful.

He had no idea that the girl in front of him, who was about to go for an interview at Hengxin, would completely enter his life and become the most vivid and warm memory in this part of his life.

The two sat quietly, neither of them speaking first.

The girl awkwardly pulled the resume in her arms closer to her side, her fingertips tightening slightly.

Perhaps due to excessive nervousness, her arm twitched slightly, and the resume in her arms slipped off the edge of the table.

Tang Muyang reacted quickly, instinctively reaching out and catching the stack of resumes that was about to fall to the ground.

"Be careful," he said gently.

Wang Li looked up abruptly, her cheeks instantly flushing red. She quickly thanked him softly, "Thank you... I'm so sorry."

Their fingertips touched lightly and unintentionally, and a touch of shyness quietly spread between them.

Tang Muyang gently handed the resume back to her, his movements natural and polite.

Wang Li took it with both hands, hugged it tightly to her chest, lowered her head even further, and her ears were slightly burning.

Just as he was handing it back, his gaze inadvertently swept over the information at the top of the resume.

In the name section, two words are clearly written: Wang Li.

Age 18, native of Sichuan and Chongqing, applying for the position of Assembly Line Management at Hengxin Jewelry Southeast Base.

A slight tremor ran through him; it really was such a coincidence.

"Are you going to apply for a job at Hengxin?" he asked softly, his tone carrying a hint of natural concern.

Wang Li gently bit her lower lip and nodded with a hint of trepidation: "Yes, I just submitted my resume and am still waiting for a response. It's my first time here, and I'm really nervous."

When she spoke, her voice carried a soft, gentle tone characteristic of the Sichuan and Chongqing region, which was pleasant to listen to. Her eyes held both anticipation for the future and the unease of being a stranger in a foreign land.

Tang Muyang did not reveal his identity, but simply encouraged her in a calm tone.

"Don't be nervous, be diligent and down-to-earth, and you'll always have a chance. Hengxin values ​​hardworking people."

Wang Li's eyes lit up slightly, as if she had received great comfort.

"Really? Thank you, I will definitely work hard."

After a few simple words, the initial awkwardness dissipated.

The setting sun shone through the glass window onto the two of them, creating a gentle and tranquil scene.

This encounter, sparked by a familiar name, and this serendipitous sharing of a table in a quiet café, officially kicked off their story.

As they left the coffee shop, the two walked out the door side by side, a gentle evening breeze carrying the faint scents of flowers and the sea.

"I'm leaving now. I wish you all the best tomorrow," Tang Muyang said softly.

Wang Li nodded, a faint smile on her face: "Thank you, goodbye."

The two left in different directions, but in their hearts, each of them secretly left behind the other's image.

Three days later, the branch factory's human resources department delivered the list of newly hired employees to Tang Muyang's desk.

His gaze swept across the room and immediately spotted Wang Li's name; her position was assembly line management.

He picked up the pen and gently wrote "Agree" after his name, a faint smile playing on his lips.

On the day of her onboarding training, when Wang Li saw Tang Muyang again, she was stunned, and her cheeks instantly turned bright red.

She never imagined that the man who shared a table with her in the coffee shop that day and gently encouraged her was actually Tang Muyang, the manager in charge of Hengxin Southeast Base.

The new employees stood in neat rows, listening to the HR manager's introduction.

"This is Manager Tang Muyang, who is in charge of all work at our Southeast Base. Everyone should follow Manager Tang's instructions in the future."

Wang Li stood in the crowd, head down, her heart pounding. She felt both ashamed and embarrassed, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

Tang Muyang's gaze swept calmly over the crowd, pausing slightly when it landed on Wang Li. His eyes were gentle and showed no sign of anything amiss, defusing the awkwardness for her.

After a brief speech, the new employees officially started their jobs.

Wang Li cherishes this hard-won job and takes it very seriously.

She is beautiful and generous, friendly, quick-witted, and has a strong learning ability. In just a few days, she mastered all the processes of assembly line management.

Personnel scheduling, production capacity statistics, quality verification, and process coordination—every task is carried out in an orderly manner without any errors.

When faced with problems, she remained humble and learned from experienced employees. Her down-to-earth and hardworking attitude earned her unanimous praise from her colleagues.

Tang Muyang saw this and developed a greater appreciation for the young woman from Sichuan and Chongqing.

As they worked together, the two gradually came into contact more often.

Wang Li is in charge of the production line, which is the core area of ​​the branch factory's production capacity. Tang Muyang inspects the production situation every day and always stops for a moment in the area she is in charge of to check the data and check the quality.

"How is today's production capacity meeting the target?" Tang Muyang asked calmly, standing beside the production line.

Wang Li immediately stepped forward and reported clearly and logically: "Manager Tang, today's production capacity exceeded the target by 3%, all quality inspections passed, the equipment is operating normally, and there were no abnormalities."

She spoke at a moderate pace, provided accurate data, and maintained a calm demeanor, completely shedding her initial nervousness and awkwardness.

Tang Muyang nodded slightly, his eyes filled with approval: "Well done, keep it up."

A simple word of affirmation warmed Wang Li's heart and gave her more motivation to work.

Occasionally, when encountering problems such as poor production process coordination or discrepancies in data verification, Wang Li would proactively seek advice from Tang Muyang.

Tang Muyang always patiently and meticulously explained things to her, passing on his experience accumulated in the old factory to her without reservation.

He shared everything he knew, from the details of quality control to personnel management skills and process optimization methods.

Wang Li has a very high level of comprehension; she understands things very quickly and can absorb and apply them rapidly, resulting in a rapid improvement in her work ability.

Over time, the two developed a workplace rapport that was unmatched by others.

A single glance or a single gesture is enough to understand the other person's intentions.

Their work coordination is efficient and smooth, making them the best partners praised by everyone in the branch factory.

Between their busy work schedules, the two would occasionally bump into each other on their way home and chat briefly.

From the local customs and traditions of their hometowns to their experiences working hard in other places, from the troubles of work to their hopes for the future, the topics became more and more numerous, and the distance between them grew closer and closer.

Tang Muyang learned that Wang Li had come to the southeast coast from Sichuan and Chongqing alone, without any support, but she remained optimistic and strong, making a living through her own hard work.

This independence and resilience reminded him so much of himself back then, which made him feel sorry for him.

Wang Li gradually learned that Tang Muyang had worked his way up from the lowest level of laborer to where he was today, enduring countless hardships and grievances, yet always staying true to himself and moving forward steadily.

His forbearance, sense of responsibility, integrity, and reliability gradually touched the girl's heartstrings.

The spring breeze of 1997 was gentle and romantic, warming the city and also opening the hearts of two young people.

The tacit support at work and the mutual care in life allowed feelings to quietly grow without them even realizing it.

Tang Muyang's gaze toward Wang Li gradually softened with tenderness and concern.

Wang Li's gaze towards Tang Muyang also subtly concealed the shyness and admiration of a young girl.

One is a 21-year-old young manager who is in charge of his own area, experienced in many things, and is calm and reliable.

One is an 18-year-old, beautiful and down-to-earth girl from Sichuan and Chongqing, gentle yet resilient, and positive.

Similar experiences in their careers, mutual admiration for each other's character, and a tacit understanding in their interactions brought their hearts closer.

That evening, the get off work bell rang, and employees left the factory area one after another.

The setting sun painted the sky a gentle pink, and a light evening breeze carried the fragrance of flowers.

Tang Muyang called out to Wang Li, who was about to leave.

"Wang Li, wait a minute."

Wang Li stopped and turned around, her cheeks slightly flushed, and softly replied, "Manager Tang, you wanted to see me?"

Tang Muyang walked up to her, his gaze gentle and earnest, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.

"When we're alone, you don't need to call me Manager Tang, just call me Mu Yang."

He paused, looked deeply into the girl before him, and spoke clearly, word by word.

"Thank you for your cooperation at work during this time, and... thank you for being a part of my life."

Wang Li's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushed instantly, and her eyes welled up with shy tears, but she bravely met his gaze.

She nodded gently, her voice soft yet firm: "Muyang."

A soft call conveyed all my feelings.

In 1997, the southeastern coast was bathed in gentle sea breezes and glittering lights.

After three years of trials and tribulations, Tang Muyang, who finally secured a position in Southeast China, met Wang Li, a beautiful and generous girl from Sichuan and Chongqing, on this brand-new land.

From tacit partners in the workplace to soulmates in life, a passionate and sincere new romance has officially begun.

This new relationship added a warm and vibrant touch to his tumultuous and arduous years of struggle.

The road ahead is long, but the future is promising. From now on, I will no longer be alone in my struggles in this foreign land.