Don't let your honesty feed the heartless.

Honesty and openness don't earn gratitude; instead, they make you a stepping stone for others. Constant flattery doesn't bring genuine affection; instead, you become a target for exploitation. In the adult world, the most taboo things are boundless kindness and an open mind that's easy to read.

Nine times out of ten, the "nice guy" in the workplace is a sucker. Take Xiao Zhang, for example. He's known as the "sticky note boy" in the company. He arrives at the office five minutes before the clock-in line every day, polishes everyone's desks until they're sparkling clean, and never forgets anyone's breakfast he brought on his way. If someone asks him to help revise a PowerPoint presentation, he drops everything to help; if someone asks him to run errands, he agrees with a smile.

What's the most foolish thing about him? He can't keep anything to himself. He works up all night, his eyes practically black, to create a proposal, and before he even reports it to his boss, he's already discussing it with colleagues in the break room, revealing all the creative highlights and execution details. He thought it was honest communication and teamwork. But when the year-end promotion list came out, he was stunned. The colleague who used to freeload off his breakfasts and ask him to revise plans, presented his ideas to the boss, and became the project's hero. And Xiao Zhang? He worked hard all year, only to receive a verbal praise for "active cooperation."

The boss didn't care who stayed up all night; he only cared about who could produce results. Xiao Zhang thought he was a helpful wingman, unaware that in others' eyes, he was just a useful ladder—once climbed up, no one remembered the ladder's contribution. This is the reality of the workplace: kindness without any defenses makes you an easy target.

Compared to the frustrations of the workplace, the "self-sacrificing" sacrifices in relationships are often even more heartbreaking. Ahui's story is truly lamentable. She was with her boyfriend when he was pursuing his master's degree. To allow him to focus on his studies, Ahui became a spinning top.

She worked at a supermarket, earning just over three thousand yuan a month, yet she never bought herself a new dress. When the seasons changed, she'd look at the dresses in the window, touch the price tags, grit her teeth, and walk away. But she'd buy her boyfriend sneakers and study materials without batting an eye. Every day after get off work, she'd cook, do laundry, mop the floor—she did all the housework. She even did part-time handicrafts in the evenings to earn extra money to help support the family.

She always told those around her, "Once he graduates, we can get married." But she forgot that people change, especially when two people's paths diverge. On her boyfriend's graduation day, Ahui specially prepared a feast and bought a bottle of red wine, intending to celebrate. But halfway through the meal, he lowered his head and said, "Let's break up. We're not from the same world anymore."

That one sentence negated all of Ahui's efforts over the past few years. She thought sacrificing herself would hold onto love, but she didn't realize that human nature admires strength. When you give up your self-growth for someone else, becoming a maid revolving around them, you've already lost your spark in the relationship. The person you cherish won't appreciate your efforts; instead, they'll feel you can't keep up with them and might even look down on you from the bottom of their heart.

The old saying goes, "A friend in need is a friend indeed," and that's absolutely true. Brothers at the dinner table who confidently say, "Come to me if you need anything," will run away faster than rabbits when you're down on your luck. I recently heard a friend tell a story: he lost money in business, was heavily in debt, and could barely pay his rent.

He scrolled through his contacts, calling all his close friends. And what happened? Some said they were short of money, some said they were on business trips, and some simply hung up. Just when he was at his wit's end, an old classmate he rarely contacted suddenly transferred him 50,000 yuan and sent a message: "Take this for now, let me know if you need more."

Later he learned that his old classmate had just bought a house and wasn't exactly rolling in money either; the 50,000 yuan was a loan from a relative. What's even more touching is that that night, an old classmate drove hundreds of kilometers just to have a drink with him and say, "It's okay, I'm here."

How many people in this life truly care about you? Those who drink with you on sunny days may not be there to shelter you from the rain. Reserve your sincerity for those who deserve it; don't waste it on fair-weather friends.

Actually, life is like playing cards. Don't reveal all your cards right away. If you lay all your cards bare, others will know everything about you and have nothing to fear. The same principle applies to making friends and dating. Don't tell others how many houses you own, how much savings you have, or what embarrassing things happened to you as a child after only three days of knowing them.

True wisdom is like peeling an onion, letting the other person discover your good qualities layer by layer. Maintaining a little mystery earns you more respect. Those who try to gain security by revealing everything often end up handing a knife to others. Once a conflict arises, the other person knows your weaknesses best, and their stab will hurt the most.

Ultimately, in the adult world, success isn't about pleasing others or making sacrifices, but about your own strength. If you blossom, butterflies will come; if you are brilliant, fate will arrange it. Instead of racking your brains to please those who look down on you, focus on improving yourself.

When you've established yourself in your field, possess valuable skills, and have unique insights, you won't need to cater to others; people will naturally come to you. Like flowers in a garden, you don't need to chase butterflies; as long as the fragrance is strong enough, butterflies will naturally come.

The most reliable way to live in this world is to love yourself first, then love the world; to guard against malicious people first, then give your heart. Don't let your sincerity feed those without conscience; and don't let your kindness become a weapon for others to bully you.