Awaken: I See Tags, I Rewrite My Life
Chapter 63: Paranoia

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Paranoia

Community Square.

Tian Xiang found a corner to put up her matchmaking ad, then tidied up the table and returned it to the community. She was pondering whether to go to the cafeteria for some meat when she spotted Jiang Gaojun’s mother, Aunt Peng.

Aunt Peng greeted Tian Xiang with a warm smile and asked if she’d put up her ad.

Though this young lady was from Sanli Lane, she worked at the Mechanical Factory, accompanied her son to and from work, and was quite pleasing to look at. It seemed like a good match when one thought about it.

If Tian Xiang said she’d put up an ad, Aunt Peng would immediately rush over to check it out and then frantically start matching her with her son.

Tian Xiang: "I’ll take another look. Auntie, are you putting up an ad for your son?"

Aunt Peng: "Of course. Little Officer Tian, you’ve got to help with my Gaojun’s matters. I’m doing nothing these days, just looking forward to holding a grandson."

Tian Xiang laughed: "Auntie, you look so radiant; good fortune must be near your home. Just wait, the daughter-in-law and grandson will come soon."

Zhuang Ermei and Jiang Gaojun were already inseparable. They were just shy of making it official.

Tian Xiang’s words pleased Aunt Peng greatly.

She assessed Tian Xiang again with an eye for choosing a daughter-in-law, "Little Officer Tian, you’ve got a sweet mouth, so I’ll be waiting."

Tian Xiang chuckled, helped Aunt Peng put up the small ad, packed her things, and decided to head back to Sanli Lane instead of returning to the factory.

Today, Hu Honglian was on leave at home. When she saw her daughter return, she made her some pancakes and egg drop soup.

After lunch, Tian Xiang went to find Zhuang Ermei at the work glove group.

The work glove group founded by Sanli Lane had Zhuang Ermei as the deputy leader.

Actually, this deputy leader position was more for show, with a title that sounded good and a little convenience in job distribution, but that was about it.

When Tian Xiang arrived, Zhuang Ermei was wearing an apron, washing gloves.

The two of them went under a big tree by the riverbank to talk.

Tian Xiang: "Not going out with Jiang Gaojun today?"

"He’s at work, off in two days."

So that’s how it was.

Tian Xiang quickly mentioned the matchmaking corridor and mainly reminded Zhuang Ermei about the urgency of her situation with Jiang Gaojun.

Jiang Gaojun was indeed having a hard time with matchmaking due to his uneven legs, but he wasn’t impossible to pair up with.

Seeing how eager Aunt Peng was to have a grandchild, her eyes would light up upon seeing an unmarried girl. With some persuasion, she might lower her standards.

After listening, Zhuang Ermei fell silent for a while, then gritted her teeth and said, "Don’t worry, I will handle it. No one can separate us."

After more than half a month together, Zhuang Ermei also grew fond of Jiang Gaojun.

For the first time, a man genuinely treated her well, and she couldn’t help but get drawn in.

Tian Xiang: "If you need any help, just come to me."

"Okay."

...

The next day, during the department’s morning meeting, Chairman Jiang came in and praised the matchmaking corridor from the previous day.

It was well done and received great feedback.

The community’s elders were visiting multiple times a day, circling around the bulletin boards, and some were already contacting each other discreetly to arrange meetings.

Even though this task was completed jointly by three newcomers, everyone understood that the idea was Tian Xiang’s.

During the brief meeting, Tian Xiang received several admiring glances, which made her secretly delighted.

After the meeting, Tian Xiang caught up with Jiang Qin who was heading out and returned the meal ticket from the previous day.

"Keep it; you’ve put in a lot of effort. Consider it your reward."

Even though it was Tian Xiang’s idea, in terms of performance, all three had to be credited.

Tian Xiang didn’t stand on ceremony, "Thank you, Chairman Jiang."

...

In the afternoon, Tian Xiang took a brush and ink to return them to Meng Cheng’an at the Publicity Department, but he wasn’t there. Xia Yue mentioned he took a leave.

"Did he take personal leave or sick leave?"

Xia Yue: "I’m not sure about that."

Leaving the Publicity Department, Tian Xiang was a bit puzzled.

Wasn’t he fine yesterday? Why is he not at work today?

Thinking of how upset he looked yesterday, Tian Xiang had a wild thought: could it be because of her?

But she hadn’t offended him.

Could it be...?

No, it can’t be.

He was teasing her about the ad yesterday; how could it be because of that ad, because he liked her?

If he had any feelings for her, he should have refused when they were writing the ad yesterday.

In fact, while writing the ad yesterday, Tian Xiang was somewhat looking forward to Meng Cheng’an’s reaction. She was looking for a partner, and Meng Cheng’an was within her consideration.

After all, he was good-looking, and just his face was quite satisfying.

However, he seemed indifferent, like he just treated her as a friend.

Of course, he was a reserved person; what went on in his mind was unknown to most.

Tian Xiang shook her head.

Forget it, don’t overthink it. First, focus on work and cling tight to this job, that’s what matters.

Back in the office, Director Liu was there.

The task to resolve personal issues for the older youth concluded temporarily, and Director Liu gave the three of them a set of materials each, asking them to go to the community and conduct educational lectures, promoting legal knowledge.

Legal promotion?

No doubt this was stirred up by the incident with the Huang family father and son.

Li Huai: "This event is a joint effort between our Internal Affairs Department and the Publicity Department, with cooperation and support from the neighborhood committee. It’s for ten days, one hour every night. I’ve applied for overtime pay for everyone, which will be distributed with the salary.

The Mechanical Factory family compound has three neighborhood committees, so each of you will be in charge of one area.

I’m telling you in advance, this publicity event will be included in each person’s final evaluation, and it is very important."

"Chen Yong."

"Here!"

Chen Yong was bewildered. Why did the director specifically call him?

Li Huai looked at him with hesitation, then took him outside.

Li Huai: "Recently, the factory has been strict with recruitment, so you need to be serious; otherwise, you’ll risk being eliminated. You’re not covering for someone; you’re participating in recruitment. There are many young guys waiting. Do you understand what I mean?"

Even if Chen Yong were a fool, he’d understand.

No choice, given the tumult caused by Vice Factory Director Zeng, everyone was walking on eggshells now.

Returning to the office, Chen Yong shed his usual careless demeanor and took things seriously.

The three of them each picked an area.

Since Tian Xiang had volunteered at the second neighborhood committee before, she chose that area.

Tao Huilan and Chen Yong quickly went to the Publicity Department to find partners. Once they found suitable partners, they could start mobilizing the community to attend the lectures and get the event up and running.

Tian Xiang wasn’t in a hurry; she let them choose first. She’d talk to Meng Cheng’an once he returned to work the next day.

Since it was a collaboration with the Publicity Department, she would certainly seek out Meng Cheng’an. After all, she wasn’t familiar with anyone else.

The next day, Meng Cheng’an returned to work, and Tian Xiang went to discuss the event with him.

As it was a work matter, there was no way to refuse, and since their colleagues Xia Yue and Liao Guobin had already been selected, and Lu Feng wasn’t participating due to other commitments, Tian Xiang had no reason to choose him.

Meng Cheng’an didn’t say anything. When Tian Xiang asked him to write the announcements, he did, and when she asked him to go mobilize in the residential compound, he complied with everything, though his demeanor was cold as ever, like a snowman.

When they returned to the factory, Tian Xiang couldn’t help but ask him, "Are you angry with me?"

If he was indeed upset with her, it would be better to talk it out. Keeping things in would only deepen misunderstandings over time.

Meng Cheng’an looked straight ahead, "You’re overthinking."

"Really?"

Tian Xiang clearly didn’t believe him, because during their conversation, the tags for Meng Cheng’an’s character surprisingly changed. The original ’antagonist’ and ’reserved’ were still there, but now there was an added ’obsessive’...