Rules of Engagement

As soon as Elsa entered the room, she saw Caspar and a woman hugging each other. Elsa was so shocked that her glasses fell
off on the floor. It was not a joke. Her glasses really fell off. She searched on the ground for a long time to find them, so she didn't
see clearly what he was doing.
Elsa had tried her best to do that interview. The last time when she met Caspar, it was at his swimming pool, and Elsa's shirt was
dampened by the models around him. But she had worn a thick coat that day so he actually hadn't seen any part of her body. But
after that she did catch a cold for a week. These two things were the truth of Caspar's jokes. He said it absolutely on purpose!
The more Elsa thought about it, the angrier she became. She clenched her fists. But she could do nothing to him. When he came
to the newspaper, even the general editor-in-chief had to receive him in person. Elsa was only a journalist, she could do nothing
but bear the insult.
When she got home, she received a packet. Elsa had no habit of shopping online. She was curious, wondering if her parents
had sent something to her.
When she got home and opened the box, she found some nail polish.
Elsa wondered whether it was from Jane.
The buyer attached a paper to her. She took it out and found it said: "Elsa, don't bite your nails anymore. I've talked with Mom
and Grandmom, they said that if you paint your nails beautiful, you won't bite them."
It was Soren. Elsa's vexation was soothed. She looked at the color of the nail polish, it was beautiful lavender.
Thinking for a while, she picked it up and smeared the nail polish, but she was not very good at it. Thinking of her own
clumsiness, she could not help laughing.
'Finally I get my nails polished. I've changed a lot these days, and I'm sure that many things are getting better.' She thought.
The next day, Elsa was informed that she would go to the army to do the interview a few days later. She was called directly by
the vice general editor-in-chief. It seemed that it was Elsa's own application form which worked. If it were Johnny who helped to
gain this opportunity, he would have called Elsa himself, instead of the vice general editor-in-chief.
Thinking that she had to stay with Johnny for such a long time, Elsa felt a bit headache. She was a married woman now. No
matter how close she was to Soren, she shouldn't have any affair with any other man. Although it was Johnny who was bothering
her.

In the office of the newspaper, there were still people everywhere who were busy doing their work. The journalists who were
scrambling for the news wished they had four legs to run faster. Journalists on site were always capable of doing anything. They
would go to any place where there was any news. As Elsa was free these days, she almost forgot how busy she was.
Upon seeing her, a confident smile appeared on Johnny's face. Elsa had been obsessed with the confident smile of the man in
front of her, but now she couldn't see his face clearly.
"Hi, Elsa." Johnny let the reporter in his office out and said to Elsa, "Come in and have a seat. No, let's have a cup of coffee
outside."
"Mr. Johnny, I think it would be better if we can talk about the work in the workplace." Elsa refused his proposal.
Hearing what she said, Johnny put down his coat and sat down slowly. "Elsa, you've really grown a lot in the past few years. And
your working ability is much better than I expected. Your place of the interview was prescribed by the senior superior."
He didn't claim credit for it. Elsa was not stupid. She knew what kind of person Johnny was. He would not argue with his superior
because of some trifles, which would only get some undesirable results.
Elsa nodded. "I have told the vice general editor-in-chief that I don't want to do this interview. He said that according to the rules,
I should tell you first. If you agree, he'll sign a new list."
"Have you decided?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. Please help me reply to the vice general editor-in-chief." Elsa nodded to Johnny walked out of his office.
As soon as she walked out of the door, she received a call from Soren. They hadn't seen each other for a few days and hadn't
contacted each other. When she saw the name on the mobile phone, she was somewhat enlightened.
Soren sounded a little tired and gasped on the other end, "How are you, Elsa?"
"Fine." She rubbed her eyes and asked, "And you?"
"I'm fine, too. Did you sleep well at night? Did you have a nightmare?"
Hearing his caring words, Elsa bit her lips and answered, "Of course I had a good sleep. There is no thief."
It reminded Soren of what had happened that night. He laughed, thought for a while and said, "I'm sorry that I couldn't come
home to keep you company. I'm really busy these days. I'm sorry that just few days after getting married, I had to leave you

alone."
As he spoke, he slowly walked out of the room. Actually he returned home to see her during the rest of his mission, but she was
not there. 'It's in the day now. She must went shopping.' He thought. He couldn't stay there any longer. There was only five
minutes left. It took him three minutes to rush back home while calling her. Now he had to go downstairs.
"It's okay. Don't worry." Elsa thought for a while and added, "... Take care of yourself."
Her words satisfied Soren. He hung up the phone delightedly and ran downstairs.
After hanging up the phone, Elsa suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to ask him about the nail polish.
Some journalists of the newspaper had already known that she would go to the army base to do an interview. Many of them
came to congratulate her. Some were sincere and some were hypocritical. Elsa thanked them smilingly. She had politely refused
the interview. But there was no need to make the matter public, everyone would know it at that time.
Elsa slowly walked out of her office. As it was her vacation, she felt lazy to do anything. Then she found her car and started the
engine. On the other side, Jane was already waiting for her in an ice cream shop. When she saw Elsa, she waved at her happily
and asked her to come over.
Before Elsa was able to take her seat, she heard the voice of Jane begin talking, "I am going to take part in an important event of
my company, so I want to buy some evening dresses. I have been working in the hospital for many years, so I know little about
formal dresses. You at least have bought some, so please give me some advice."
"Okay, what kind of activity that is so important?" Elsa asked without raising her head while ordering the dessert.
There was a touch of sadness in Jane's eyes, but she covered it the moment Elsa raised her head. "It's just an ordinary activity
of the company. Big companies always have so many requirements. I have to get dressed like others."
Elsa stirred the mango yogurt and said with a smile, "This is the benefit of a big company. You can wear beautiful clothes in the
future and make money happily."
"By the way, Zaza, are you almost done with your wedding leave?"
"Yes. I have only a few days left but it seems that i have done nothing. Work is about to start. I am afraid of the temporary
discomfort after the holiday."

"You don't want to part with him so soon, do you?"
Hearing that, Elsa blushed. "Not at all! Eat your banana! It can't even occupy your mouth!"
"Don't be so shy." Reaching out her fingers, Jane poked at Elsa's cheeks and murmured, "My Zaza would only be shy for the
person she love."
"I love you, okay?" Elsa took her finger and threw it aside. Then she said in a somewhat solemn tone, "Janie, do you still
remember the application I told you last time for an interview to the military base?"
"I remember. What's wrong? Did you make it? It's approved? You have applied for it for three years. Every year, it was others
who made it at last. How about this year?"
Elsa said with some regret, "I did it. But I rejected it because Johnny was determined to go there. I found out that... I still can't
face him at all."
"Can't you just let it go?" Jane asked with concern.
"I don't know. Sometimes my mind is empty and sometimes it's in a mess. Sometimes I feel like it is too much for me, and
sometimes I feel like I am thinking of nothing but with a blank mind."
Hearing Elsa's words, Jane said calmly, "I know, ten years' memory can't pass away so easily. It's said that time can heal
wounds, but sometimes time doesn't help."
Jane's face darkened. With a smile on her face, Elsa said, "Never mind. I don't want to mention him anymore. All these decisions
are made by myself and have nothing to do with him. No matter what choice I make, it's my own business. What kind of dress do
you like? Conservative or seductive? By the way, will there be some old and bald shareholders in your company? I think you'd
better be conservative."
"Don't joke at me. Our company is full of young talents who are extremely elegant. I'd better choose a seductive suit to get a
father for little Bun!"
"You are killing two birds with one stone!" Elsa laughed.
After finishing the desserts, they went shopping together. The price of these clothes was getting more and more difficult to be
understood. These shops were just ordinary small shops on the roadside. But the clothes of medium level would reach a price of

thousands of dollars. However, the shopkeepers were usually haughty and said coldly: "We never offer a discount!"
Jane tried several dresses that fit her. A skirt with a little thin cloth would cost more than two thousand. Although she was a
person with high salary now, she still hadn't been paid yet. She was reluctant to spend her money on it. With this amount of
money, she could buy a lot of things for little Bun. Elsa dragged her out and went to the shopping mall.
The price of the mall was also high. It seemed that she couldn't find the right one.
"I can't live without robbing a bank. The prices are too high here in Linchuan City!" Jane heaved a sigh and said, "Let's go back
to the stores in my neighborhood. We can buy some normal clothes and wear them first. After I get my salary next month, I'll buy
some more!"
Elsa didn't have much pressure since she was making money for herself. She wanted to offer a gift to her friend. However, Jane
was very proud. Although she seemed to like taking advantages of other people, she never asked for things from others in vain.
Even if it was a gift from Elsa, she would find an opportunity to pay her money in the future. In this way, in order not to increase
her burden, Elsa would not dare to give her anything expensive.