"Ah, next week at work we'll have performance reviews."

"Nervous?"

"It's fine."

"After all that effort, if you don't get promoted to some official position, don't get depression."

"Not that bad, at most I'll get bipolar disorder, you be careful."

Qi Shi'an pretended very well: "Didn't get any benefits from inappropriate relationships, might even face domestic violence, how pitiful I am."

In the new week, a very important thing was about to happen at Ming'an—the comprehensive performance evaluation for the second half of the year. It was divided into categories with seven or eight evaluation items. Every year on this day, Annie didn't want to come to work because everyone who saw her would ask about it.

Shen Duoyi had transferred jobs mid-way, so he wasn't clear about the announcement method. When he saw Annie in the elevator, he couldn't help asking: "Is it done in a meeting format? Or something else?"

Annie answered: "After the coefficients are calculated, they'll post an announcement. Once all departments are published, they'll release the list of position changes."

"Team Leader Shen, will you be promoted to supervisor?" The administrative assistant was curious. "I went to the Legal Department to get contracts, they said you processed the most contracts."

There were colleagues from other departments in the elevator, the boss's secretary, peer team leaders from the consulting department, and the boss standing in the corner looking at market information. Shen Duoyi really wanted to flick the young assistant's forehead, answering with both anger and amusement: "If I get promoted, I'll treat everyone to afternoon tea today."

The futures investment department's floor arrived, and the elevator doors opened. Qi Shi'an put away his phone and stepped out. He turned at the door to look at the people inside, then said to Shen Duoyi: "If you're treating, send a coffee to the thirtieth floor for me."

Shen Duoyi was stunned, and everyone else was stunned too. Qi Shi'an's words had very strong implications, essentially confirming Shen Duoyi's promotion. The elevator doors closed, and Annie was the first to recover, saying happily: "Looks like Team Leader Shen's promotion is a sure thing."

In previous years, Qi Shi'an and Zhang Yiming would conduct data evaluations after work started, then give the results to the secretary to organize and publish. This year, Qi Shi'an was even more impatient than the employees, calculating everything himself overnight and posting the announcement directly.

He was really afraid Shen Duoyi would get bipolar disorder.

After arriving at the office, Shen Duoyi immediately turned on his computer and logged into the system. He moved the mouse, skipping past other departments' evaluation results, heading straight for the consulting department. "Coefficient ranking first, view by category." He clicked gently, then saw his report card.

Apart from the previous work incident, all other item scores were very high, with trading volume ranking first, plus additional points for research. He exited the interface and switched to the employee system, where the designation after his personal homepage had already changed to "Supervisor."

There was a knock at the door, and Team Leader Qi appeared in the office doorway: "Congratulations on your promotion."

Shen Duoyi responded: "Thank you, I've forgotten about the previous incident, hope we can work well together in the future and successfully complete every task."

Team Leader Qi's face reddened, both from guilt and embarrassment. Shen Duoyi logged out of the system and smiled, saying: "Don't be like this, when your wife gives birth, remember to invite me to the baby's full month celebration."

Team Leader Qi nodded: "Of course, definitely."

The office door closed, and Shen Duoyi pressed his lips together and opened the client files, preparing to start the day's work. He wasn't a worldly-wise person, couldn't manage to please everyone, could only try to output endless kindness as much as possible.

But he also wasn't a naive child, wouldn't continue to be completely open after his bottom line had been crossed. After his promotion, he not only needed to improve his work ability but also develop the ability to lead subordinates, so he couldn't let conflict remain between him and Team Leader Qi.

But their relationship would only go this far.

After finishing a plan, the assistant came in to notify him about changing offices. The young assistant girl seemed as if she herself had been promoted, excitedly helping to pack things.

"Supervisor Shen, I watched a TV drama before, I remember it said that pursuing salary increases is no longer fashionable, everyone pursues the number of floor tiles in their office, more and more tiles means the office is getting bigger, indicating higher and higher positions."

Already changing how she addressed him. Shen Duoyi rolled up his sleeves to move files, asking amusedly: "Which TV drama is so philosophical?"

The assistant said: "It was about a powerful woman, it also said women who don't know how to act cute aren't likeable. Supervisor Shen, do you like people who act cute?"

"Me?" Shen Duoyi imagined Qi Shi'an acting cute and quickly got goosebumps. "I'll pass, the type I like is hard to find."

In the afternoon, he treated his colleagues to snacks, graciously accepting everyone's congratulations and promising to treat everyone to dinner when there was vacation time. After the crowd dispersed back to their positions, he took a cup of black coffee to the thirtieth floor.

Qi Shi'an had been waiting for a long time, leaning against the edge of his desk, sleeves rolled up, tie removed. His expression showed weariness mixed with contentment as he watched Shen Duoyi walk in, then slightly opened his arms.

"Just got back from the trading room?" Shen Duoyi stopped in front of him, opening the coffee lid to blow on it. "It's getting cooler in autumn, I got it hot."

Qi Shi'an took it and drank half, then put it down and raised his arms to embrace him. Sitting on the desk edge, he lowered his head to bury it in Shen Duoyi's neck, complaining: "Supervisor Shen, I'm so tired today."

Shen Duoyi said: "Don't act cute."

"This counts?" Qi Shi'an nuzzled Shen Duoyi's neck. "Give me a kiss, that's what acting cute is."

Shen Duoyi held Qi Shi'an's face and leaned down to kiss him. He thought he would get goosebumps, but surprisingly found he quite liked this approach.

They didn't stay late after work, wanting to go home and celebrate with Grandpa Shen. The traffic was decent, making it home before rush hour. Shen Duoyi turned off the engine and locked the car, then walked out of the parking lot with his bag.

It was twilight, and the lake in the community had turned into "half rippling waves, half red." He walked along the edge toward his building, and after turning a corner, saw the slowly moving tricycle not far ahead.

Maomao sat in the cart, eating a milk stick. Grandpa Shen had the setting sun behind him, and although his figure was slightly hunched, it looked particularly solid. Shen Duoyi's steps slowed as his thoughts drifted back to long, long ago.

"Grandpa, today the teacher called three people to the blackboard to solve problems, but none of them could do it." Shen Duoyi held a roasted sweet potato, looking up at Grandpa Shen's back.

Grandpa Shen pedaled the tricycle, asking: "Wasn't the teacher angry?"

"No, the teacher said that problem was a bit difficult." Shen Duoyi took a big bite, looking down. "Then the teacher asked, 'Shen Duoyi, can you do it?'"

Grandpa Shen started laughing: "Could you do it?"

Shen Duoyi said loudly: "I could! I ran up to the podium and started solving it, everyone was watching, and when I finished the teacher praised me, it was all correct!"

Grandpa Shen couldn't stop laughing: "How is my grandson so smart, must take after me!"

Shen Duoyi stood up and leaned against Grandpa Shen's back, his red scarf brushing against Grandpa Shen's neck. "Grandpa, let me massage your shoulders." He used his small hands to massage Grandpa Shen's shoulders, negotiating, "I don't want roasted sweet potato tomorrow, I want roasted mantou."

Grandpa Shen drew out his response: "Alright, tomorrow afternoon I'll put it on the stove to roast, run fast when the bell rings, or it won't be crispy anymore."

Shen Duoyi was lost in these brief memories. He too had once sat in that tricycle, chattering about things that happened in class. Though times were tough then, every word and gesture was filled with genuine happiness.

"Grandpa Shen, you're so slow," Maomao tilted his head back to say.

Shen Duoyi whistled, making Maomao turn to look at him, then said softly: "Maomao, didn't I say not to complain about Grandpa Shen riding slowly? We pinky promised."

Maomao was about to say something, but Shen Duoyi suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He finally noticed something was wrong.

He had wronged Maomao, because the tricycle had completely stopped moving. Grandpa Shen, either tired or something else, was staring motionless ahead, showing no movement at all.

"Grandpa?" Shen Duoyi started walking again and called out.

The hand gripping the handlebar gradually loosened, the entire arm hanging limply in the air, and the motionless Grandpa Shen still had the crimson sunset behind him, then gradually lost his balance, falling straight back from his seat.

In that instant, Shen Duoyi was overwhelmed with endless fear.

Was the sun about to set.