‘SEE YOU MORNING’ 115 You Are So Smart

The first few days at the new job went very smoothly. The work content was merely an application of Lin Yuhui’s usual professional skills. Only in the area of heat exchanger process data calculation did he need to use the company’s proprietary Excel spreadsheets; however, the calculation theories were identical, and he was highly proficient with computers, so mastering the basic tools was no problem.
This actually dated back to his college days. When he once wanted to ask a teacher about certain technical details, he was bluntly told that he lacked the professional terminology—after all, as a child from an ordinary family, he had had no prior exposure. Yet, some people can feel shame and then find the courage to strive harder. He gradually taught himself all the office software, programming tools, and specialized chemical engineering applications he needed to use.
“Here is your new work badge. Your employment date is your employee number: 20210514,” Sapphire said, handing Lin Yuhui his personal badge.
“Okay, thank you,” Lin Yuhui replied, taking off his temporary badge and returning it to her before putting on his own.
For several days, Lin Yuhui focused solely on his work. Having no business dealings with his colleagues, there was no need for communication. Especially regarding that great beauty, he figured there could never be any intersection in their lives, so there was no point wasting energy or emotion. He certainly didn’t want to participate in their frequent discussions about dating and relationships. He was the only single man in the entire office; he couldn’t understand what the point of talking about such things all day was.
Although sometimes he would glance at the beautiful woman beside him—it was a basic form of respect for beauty coming from a man—those long, snow-white legs, though lacking muscular definition, fit the aesthetic of anime. It just pained Lin Yuhui to see how she failed to take care of herself: her ankles were covered in mosquito bites, large and small, red and swollen. Cerise seemed completely unfazed, as if nothing were wrong. Couldn’t she just sleep under a mosquito net? As a young woman, she wasn’t even as meticulous as he, an old man.
Could it be? Lin Yuhui wondered. Perhaps she went on blind dates after work and got bitten by mosquitoes in the green belt while kissing her boyfriend on the roadside? She wore makeup every day, arriving at the office each morning in a different style, always exquisite. Honestly, there was no one here worth such a huge effort to dress up for. Was it all for blind dates after work? Then why not put on the makeup after work? Oh, well, if one is going to be exquisite, might as well be exquisite all day. But wasn’t it troublesome having to worry about one’s makeup all day long?
Could it be? Lin Yuhui remembered that on the third working day after he started, Cerise arrived at the office looking exhausted. Dylan had even tried to ingratiate himself, suggesting she go sleep in his car for a bit. Maybe she hadn’t removed her makeup last night? Thinking back on Dylan’s words now, was there a deeper implication?
But anyway, Cerise had nothing to do with him, and Lin Yuhui knew full well that a woman like her didn’t belong to someone like him. So these thoughts flashed through his mind briefly, affecting neither his work nor his life.
“David, this project needs some optimization,” Christian said, walking over.
Lin Yuhui opened the file, which contained an Excel calculation sheet with formulas and macros for a shell-and-tube heat exchanger.
Lin Yuhui optimized the flow velocities on both sides, pulling some physical property data from his specialized professional chemical software. This calculation file required iterative solving, meaning he had to manually copy the calculated heat transfer coefficient back into the input cells. Usually, results came after a few iterations. There was no automated optimization for this step; sometimes, manual input sufficed when the values were close.
Lin Yuhui input the data twice. Based on the system’s convergence characteristics, the third input happened to hit the exact solution value.
Christian’s eyes lit up, and he said,
“Ah, David, you are so smart.”
“Ha, thanks,” Lin Yuhui replied with a smile.
“Oh, we can improve the performance a bit more here,” he said, reducing the shell diameter and adjusting the baffle arrangement, further enhancing the flow and heat transfer state.
The task was soon completed. It seemed this was also the boss’s practical assessment of him. Clearly, whether in computer tool application or mastery of fundamental theory, he had provided a satisfactory answer.
After the boss left the office, the atmosphere lightened up again, but Lin Yuhui didn’t join in. After all, they had no common topics.
“Hey, what software is he using? Why is it different from ours?”
Lin Yuhui knew Cerise was talking about him. He felt a bit smug; of course, he knew he had some real skills. But the person she addressed was Dylan, sitting next to him. At first, he didn’t intend to respond, but it seemed impolite. Turning his head, he saw she was indeed looking in his direction and asked,
“Are you talking to me? If you want to talk to me, look into my eyes.” Lin Yuhui’s subtext was clear: unless you want to develop a relationship with me, don’t bother me. Feeling his tone was a bit harsh, he smoothed things over.
“Oh, you mean this. It’s specialized chemical calculation software used for heat exchangers.”
Cerise nodded. Lin Yuhui didn’t chat with her further and went back to work.
However, Dylan to his left remained interested.
“Hey, David, how old are you?”
Dylan was also in his thirties, so Lin Yuhui gave him some face, smiling as he answered,
“Forty-four. Born in ‘77.”
“Holy moly, you’re almost as old as my dad,” Lila whispered softly from across the table.
Dylan then leaned over Lin Yuhui to ask,
“Hey, Cerise, how old are you?”
“I’m… twenty-five,” Cerise sat bolt upright in her chair, staring straight ahead, answering as if being interrogated, her voice mixed with the giggles of a young girl, then immediately correcting herself.
“No, I’m twenty-four.”
Observing Cerise’s state, Lin Yuhui said nothing, just thinking she must have corrected it to her actual age. Coincidentally, there was exactly a twenty-year gap between them. So she must have been born in ‘97. What a coincidence.
“Hey, Lila, how old are you?”
Dylan continued, asking Lila across from him.
“I’m twenty-two.”
Following the sound of the conversation, Lin Yuhui’s gaze was drawn over as well.
“So, have you ever had a boyfriend?” Dylan asked without reservation, seemingly interested only in such matters.
Lin Yuhui glanced at him, thinking, Why does he ask girls questions like that so casually?
“Once,” Lila answered coldly.
“Well, you’d better hurry up and find a partner. Look at Cerise; she’s already got another introduction lined up.”
It was unclear where Dylan got so much information on these matters; he seemed to know everything about the girls’ private affairs. How much energy must he spend on this? Just as Lin Yuhui was pondering this, Cerise spoke up.
“Don’t even mention it. My best friend’s boyfriend from the gym broke up with her after eight months. She still hasn’t gotten over it; it’s torturous. Now she spends all day pumping iron.”
Lin Yuhui immediately realized the crux of the problem. Turning back, he looked Cerise in the eye and said,
“She chose the wrong place.” With one sentence, Lin Yuhui laid bare the truth, hoping this beautiful girl would reflect on it and learn from it, gaining the wisdom to choose a partner wisely in the future.
“Right, David is right. A partner from the library is the one who lasts…” Dylan immediately chimed in, launching into a long, empty speech.
Lin Yuhui muttered inwardly, You just don’t have a wife. With looks like yours, even if you were a rich tycoon, a girl might not be willing to marry you, let alone now when you’re just a low-level clerk. What’s the point of trying so hard to butter up women like this?
Lin Yuhui stopped participating in their conversation. It was pointless. After finishing his work, he clocked out on time, ate dinner at the cafeteria, and walked back to his lodgings.
No woman, no woman to yearn for, no child by his side. Basically, it was a state of “if I eat, the whole family eats.” After returning home and catching up on today’s news and messages, it seemed that once the material resources for living were secured, a person began to contemplate other options to enrich their life. After searching for information and making comparisons, he placed an order on Taobao for a violin. He simply liked its sound, even though he knew he had no talent for it, or that he was past the stage where his brain structure was still pliable in childhood. But that didn’t stop him from enjoying it for his own amusement, an entertainment free from any emotional troubles.