Humans are too complicated

The Green Building Committee, formally the China Green Building Council, focuses on researching green architecture and energy-saving theories, facilitating academic exchanges, international cooperation, and organizing professional technical training.

This time, the committee chose Red Brick for their exchange due to the company’s standout financial report last quarter.

Everyone, including Meilin, felt proud of the recognition.

However, Meilin’s unexpected trip to the prosecutor’s office yesterday left many preparations undone, so the hosting duties fell entirely to Team One.

Unlike the more relaxed Team Two, Team One had a serious atmosphere.

Mostly high-caliber, highly educated talent, they carried an air of superiority in their work and interactions.

When Meilin returned, colleagues swarmed her, curious about yesterday’s events.

Qian Duoduo and Ming Shuzhen, already in the know, stayed back.

Since Ming Shuzhen was joining Team One for the technical training at the convention center, she grabbed her notebook and headed downstairs.

Another Team Two member, a quiet young man, was also attending.

This guy, usually reserved, had been shaken by a minor workplace accident on a construction site.

Though no harm was done, it left a mark, prompting him to sign up for the training to sharpen his skills.

His name was Xu Dazhi, a dark-skinned, honest-looking fellow.

He’d already gone to the convention center, so Meilin told Ming Shuzhen to find Team One’s Han Shuyu.

Team One’s office was noticeably more spacious than Team Two’s.

High ceilings, large desks covered with blueprints marked in black ink with dense data points, and three high-performance computers displaying 3D models or spreadsheets gave it a stark, professional vibe.

Scattered pens and calculators hinted at constant calculations.

The atmosphere, so different from Team Two’s, made Ming Shuzhen instinctively rein in her usual cheer.

“Hi, I’m from Team Two. I’m here to find Han Shuyu for the convention center,” she said.

“Oh,” the colleague she addressed gave her a cold glance and walked off.

Ming Shuzhen felt snubbed. Even a “I don’t know where Han Shuyu is” would’ve been less awkward.

Her confidence deflated, she hesitated to approach another colleague.

Standing awkwardly in the aisle, she watched Team One members type furiously, their faces taut with focus.

Glancing at her notebook’s festive red-grid cover, she thought, “Why do I feel like a slacker stumbling into the honors class? Should I stop selling myself short? We’re all in the same company—why so cold? Who’s better than who?”

Grumbling inwardly, she plastered on a smile, hoping someone would notice her.

“Going or not?” a clear, minty voice came from behind.

Ming Shuzhen spun around to see the same colleague who’d brushed her off.

“Talking to me?” she asked, pointing to herself.

“Aren’t you from Team Two, heading to the convention center?” The woman, with single eyelids, had a sharp, icy gaze.

“Yes, I am!” Ming Shuzhen beamed, stepping closer. “You’re Han Shuyu?”

“Mm,” Han Shuyu sighed, eyes dropping. “Let’s go. Car’s downstairs.”

“Coming, coming!” Ming Shuzhen chirped, tucking away her earlier grumpiness, clutching her notebook as she trailed Han Shuyu.

“So you’re Han Shuyu! What a coincidence, haha,” she said, catching up, trying to break the ice.

“Walk faster,” Han Shuyu said, glancing at her.

“Oh,” Ming Shuzhen scratched her head, thinking this sister had *personality*.

She reminded her of high school’s top students—stone-faced, clutching workbooks, speed-walking to save every second.

Four company vans waited out front.

Team One, including Han Shuyu, had six members going—one van sufficed.

The other three, empty, would follow to the convention center for post-banquet transport of the committee to their hotel.

Ming Shuzhen boarded with Han Shuyu, sitting beside her.

She didn’t know the others, hadn’t even seen them in the building.

Nodding a quick greeting, she shrank into a corner.

“My bag’s nice, right? Bought it in Hong Kong last holiday. Xiao Fang said I overpaid, but I checked the boutique—it’s over 10,000 cheaper than here,” a woman said, showing off her bag.

Her “overpaid” complaint was a humblebrag.

“No, no, I meant that bag should’ve been paired with the gilded strap,” Xiao Fang shot back, not indulging her. “That strap’s only in Hong Kong. Way better value.”

The woman, “Green Sister,” likely agreed but saved face. “Ugh, I didn’t like that strap. Looks fancy but the craftsmanship’s shoddy. Heard it’s outsourced to Vietnam.”

“Vietnam’s outsourcing is legit now—modular, collaborative. Some people need to travel more instead of stewing in their echo chambers. You get dumb and don’t even know it, but society doesn’t tolerate fools anymore, haha,” Xiao Fang said, turning to her. “Right, Green Sister?”

Green Sister didn’t seem offended, tossing her head, her glittery manicure catching the light.

“Yeah, like you—study abroad, gild your degree, and think foreigners give you extra glances, haha.”

Their back-and-forth seemed hostile at first, but Ming Shuzhen realized they enjoyed this snarky banter.

It had bite but wasn’t malicious—they seemed to relish the sparring.

‘Humans are weird. Workplaces are weirder,’ she thought.

The van moved on, and Green Sister’s attention shifted to the second stranger besides the driver.

“You’re Team Two, right? What’s your name?”

Sitting in the middle row, she craned her neck to see Ming Shuzhen in the back.

Before Ming Shuzhen could answer, Green Sister spotted her badge. “Lazy Sheep? Full Pockets?”

“Yeah, I’m Full Pockets,” Ming Shuzhen said, perking up.

She’d planned to blend into the background, like fried batter scraps—useless, unnoticed.

But Green Sister’s call drew all eyes to her, like finding a usable bit in the scraps.

“Your badge is cute. Did you buy that strap?”

Ming Shuzhen had swapped the default lanyard for a crocheted one—red and white acrylic yarn in a simple granny square pattern, vibrant and clean.

“I made it,” she said.

“You made it?” Green Sister gasped.

Xiao Fang chimed in. “That’s a lot of work.”

“It’s easy with a crochet hook. I weave while watching shows—done in no time,” Ming Shuzhen explained.

“Does Team Two require badges? Doesn’t it feel… odd?” Green Sister asked, implying a cartoonish Lazy Sheep and quirky name seemed unprofessional.

“Huh? It’s fine, I guess,” Ming Shuzhen said, forcing a grin.

“You’d think so, since you’re wearing it,” Green Sister said, glancing away.

“…” Ming Shuzhen blinked, unsure if she’d been mocked.

Maybe Team One just showed “tough love” like this.

At the convention center, Ming Shuzhen followed Team One off the van, scanning for Xu Dazhi.

Though not close, he was Team Two—familiar, like a kindred spirit.

“This way,” Han Shuyu said, urging her to keep up.

“Got it,” Ming Shuzhen said, hurrying.

The center wasn’t crowded yet. The expert team hadn’t arrived, and staff were setting up.

She spotted Xu Dazhi, hoisting a large “Red Brick” flag, securing it into a floor base.

The flag’s forest-green cursive looked like a leaf fluttering in the breeze.

“Shuyu Sister, my colleague’s there. I’ll help him?” Ming Shuzhen said, thrilled to find her “tribe,” ready to ditch Team One.

Han Shuyu gave her a cold look, not even glancing at Xu Dazhi, and nodded. “Fine, but…”

Ming Shuzhen missed the “but,” spinning around. “I’m off, Shuyu Sister.”

“But the boss said to stick with me since our IDs are sequential.”

Too late—Ming Shuzhen was gone.

She figured she and Xu Dazhi, both low-key, could coast through, paying attention only during the training.

“Dazhi Bro!” she called, pushing past the flag. “Just us from Team Two, huh? I’ll help with the flag.”

Though not tight with “Wise Bro,” a week in the same office made his face familiar.

The convention had S-shaped booths, each needing a “Red Brick” flag.

It ensured alignment, looked uniform in photos, and seized the promotional opportunity.

Profit mattered, especially in a tough economy…