Siheyuan: Starting with level 8 benchwork skills

Mark saw this and held Haiping's shoulder and said caringly: "Hey, Guo**! It seems that you are not suitable for class at this time. You must be experiencing some troubles. If you don't think you can trust me, it's okay. You don't have to reveal it. But I still want to make a suggestion: It's better to take a proper rest first. Why don't we stop these classes temporarily?"

Haiping responded without thinking: "I'm sorry, Mr. Mark, I'm planning to get a divorce. Recently my spouse has indeed..."

"Oh...that sounds pretty bad."

Mark then added: "Ping**, I am very worried about you. Thank you for letting me experience many Chinese culture customs in the past. I also look forward to the opportunity to serve you when you need me. Please stay firm."

Then, he hugged Haiping and urged her, "Go back quickly. Today's work has come to an end. Don't worry. I will pay you the full tuition fee. I can clearly see that you are exhausted both physically and mentally."

Tears flowed out like a spring: "I'm fine... I still want to finish this course, but I'm afraid to be alone."

Mark stroked Haiping's back, led her to the sofa in the living room, and poured her a glass of red wine: "Drinking some wine will definitely help you relieve some of the stress. Logically, you should have had an argument with your lover."

Haiping shook her head in denial and tasted the red wine in the glass, which tasted quite astringent.

He then said: "Do you understand? Life is like a fluctuating chart, alternating between ups and downs all the time. The low period should be worth celebrating, because it means you are about to reach the peak stage, but the ** stage is full of unknowns, because it is difficult for us to foresee the arrival of the next downturn." As he spoke, Mark also filled a glass of wine.

At this moment, Haiping silently swallowed another full glass of liquor.

"My main reason for coming to China this time was to change the environment and take a breath of fresh air. Song won't tell you that he and I are good friends who met when we were studying in **. My career is going through a difficult period, and my marriage is also not satisfactory. This is of course a series of blows. Although I am much older than you, it is always difficult for a man to accept encountering difficulties at this age. But I still have confidence in life. I am a very optimistic person, and I believe that everything will be cleared up in the end. Perhaps China will bring me different opportunities, or even another important stage in my life. The future is hard to predict." Mark smiled happily.

This smile seemed to have a special meaning, and Haiping was touched. To her, Westerners always have a special charm!

Haiping had finished the wine in her hand, and Mark poured her another glass.

"How do you feel? Wine is good and can help you relax. When things are not going well, just two or three glasses of good wine and a chat with strangers can help you unload the burden on your mind. This explains why bars are so popular nowadays. It is best to drink in big gulps. If you want to savor it carefully, you should do it when you are in a good mood."

After taking a few big gulps, Haiping suddenly felt that what Mark said made sense, her mood suddenly became clear, and her inner struggle seemed to ease.

The lights in the room were too bright, making Mark's voice seem distant and intermittent. She could no longer hear what he said.

"Okay, now you can speak out bravely." Mark sat next to Haiping and patted her shoulder.

Haiping smiled and said slowly: "Everything is caused by me. You know, it was all my fault along the way. I am an extremely greedy woman, pursuing too many things. I once loved my partner, but he was like a quagmire that trapped me. I really hope to escape! I feel dizzy and dizzy..."

Haiping tapped her forehead to express her discomfort, and Mark gently pressed on her temples to massage her.

"That's right. Anyone who wants to escape from the mud must have a strong will to survive." Mark said with a smile.

"I found that when people are nervous, they will notice that the distance between the upper and lower jaws becomes very short. I always think that if all the teeth on one side fall out, I won't be able to bite my tongue so painfully." Haiping blinked her tongue at Mark to explain.

Mark put his arm around Haiping's shoulders and patted her gently to comfort her.

"It would be nice if life could be rewound like a video recorder and started over from the beginning." Haiping gestured with her hands and said to him, "If life is a videotape, I will replay my memories when I was 22 years old, bid farewell to Shanghai, and return to a quiet town with my beloved. We will find a job and settle down, live with our parents and enjoy every little bit of life. Life will be so easy and approachable like a slow motion shot. Then we will never meet."

After saying these words, Haiping couldn't help but look up at Mark.

"That would be a shame, meeting you is the first big surprise I've ever gotten in this country," Mark responded quickly.

"Really, if I missed you, I would definitely feel very regretful!" Haiping's voice became softer and softer. After drinking, she didn't know what she was talking about, but she had a desire to find someone she could rely on and feel at ease.

Mark held her all the time, and soon the lights went out, and the two of them began a new experience on the sofa - it could be said to be a special tutoring after-school mentor.

Mark thinks that Haiping's charm is quite unique, just like a lovable little kitten, which is very touching!

The next day, Haiping felt refreshed. After a few drinks, she was finally able to sleep peacefully. When she opened her eyes, the sun was shining brightly outside. For a moment, she thought that the wonderful experience of the night was just a sweet dream.

There was a noise coming from the kitchen. Haiping shook her dizzy head and slumped down on the sofa, trying to regain consciousness.

Mark was wearing a pure white turtleneck sweater, a beautifully patterned scarf draped over his shoulders, and walked to the table with a plate in his hands. When he saw Haiping, he greeted her warmly: "Good morning! Just in time for breakfast, I just made scrambled eggs."

Haiping was a little uneasy and replied, "I'm sorry, I was so offensive. Last night... I'm really sorry."

Mark smiled and responded: "You don't need to be nervous. In fact, I should be more worried because I didn't sleep much all night."

This made Haiping wonder, and she asked, "Why?"

"I've been wondering if you're going to get up today and ask me to pay for ten extra hours of tuition," Mark explained.

Haiping burst into laughter, and the tension in the situation was immediately relieved.

Afterwards, Haiping accepted Mark's invitation and shared a delicious breakfast.

"I once invited a female colleague to dinner to thank her for her help in my work, but she seemed very worried at the time and said that she couldn't explain it properly to her husband. I replied that there would be no problem if we had breakfast," Mark shared.

After hearing this, Haiping looked puzzled.

Mark laughed and said, "But now the problem comes, because we are having breakfast together, it is a little difficult for me to defend myself."

Haiping responded: "It's okay, actually I like having breakfast with you."

Mark seemed particularly happy: "You are so considerate! In fact, I also really like to have someone to accompany me for dinner."

After breakfast, it was nearly eleven-thirty when I looked at the clock. Haiping left the table in a hurry and said, "I'm sorry, Mark, I have to meet with my lawyer to sort out the many difficult things in my life. Don't worry, wait for me!"

After arriving at the law firm, Haiping's lawyer confessed to her: "The situation I found out is not very ideal. The amount involved in this case is quite huge - it must be up to tens of millions, which is considered a big case! If you file for divorce now, then this matter may affect you."

"Never mind all that. This has nothing to do with me. He should take responsibility for his own decision. I can't be implicated by it," Haiping replied.

The lawyer spread his hands helplessly, "Okay, then I will arrange a meeting with Su Chun for you."

Starting over in the courtyard, life seemed to have opened a new chapter, but he fell into an endless dark abyss inadvertently. Su Chun sat in the interrogation room, his heart filled with unprecedented panic. The whole process was like a roller coaster ride. He originally thought that everything would be fine after the problem was clarified, but he was unexpectedly sent to the Public Security Bureau by the security department of his unit. His identity changed from an employee to a suspect. Such a huge gap almost made his world collapse.

The police mentioned from time to time that, considering the huge amount of money involved, even if he was given a light sentence, he would probably spend at least ten years in prison. For a mere $50,000 reward for a few design sketches, he had fallen into this situation, and he had simply handed his life over to fate. The world is unpredictable, and even peacetime is full of traps and surprises.

Su Chun had never heard of the crime of "disclosing trade secrets" before; he had worked in this position for five years without realizing that his work involved such legal risks. Committing a crime is like cutting off one's head. Even if one expresses deep regret afterwards, one cannot recover what has been lost. Although he repeatedly argued that everything was done out of ignorance, no one was willing to listen.

It seemed as if everyone was happy to see him fall into the quagmire of crime, waiting for him and accompanying him step by step towards an irreversible fate; constantly emphasizing to him: you are no longer innocent, but a criminal suspect; you have lost something that cannot be recovered, and you may even die soon.

When others talked about his crimes, they always spoke nonchalantly: "It was only ten or eight years." No one could really understand how these few words could easily destroy a person's life.

His work was originally his own creation, but it was considered stolen. There is no justice in the world anymore. At this moment, his communication tools were confiscated and he could not contact the outside world. What he missed most was his wife and children. If he really faced the execution of treason, would he be able to see his precious daughter again in the future?