Chapter 2 A Difficult Boss
"No, not at all." After pressing the elevator button, Xiao Shi's smile became even more peculiar. "Weren't you out with them at noon? How come you returned alone?"
I had thought that Ivan, even if not angry, would strangely ask a question, after all, Brittany had brought her along mainly to guide the way, yet Ivan merely nodded, effortlessly switched to the right lane, and turned the steering wheel to the right as they passed through the intersection
The phone was on mute, and after waiting for a while, a woman's voice unexpectedly asked, "Xiao Yezi?"
What?" She looked up in confusion
As she stepped out of the car and her feet touched the solid ground, Qianye experienced a dizzying sense of unreality. The hotel, bright and clean, had glass doors that seemed almost non-existent, and the opulence within felt as if it were about to suffocate her, a mere commoner. She felt a surge of trepidation, wishing she could simply crouch down and bury her head in the concrete. However, Ivan, who was opposite her, would not permit such ostrich-like behavior.
She placed the palm of her right hand over the hole, leaning forward, and her upright posture appeared very stiff
This office has a total of two telephone numbers and five telephones. Apart from the one on the supervisor's desk, which has a separate number, the other four share the same number. Naturally, new employees like Qianye are not provided with a telephone at their desks. Friends who are familiar with her usually only call her mobile phone. It is indeed the first time since joining the company that a call has come to the office looking for her.
Ivan's response was brief and powerful, "I have called her, she will arrive shortly, let's order first"
Is that Ai Fen? I can tell it's his voice as soon as I hear it
... ...
A loud splash echoed from the neighboring toilet, followed by the faint beeping of the phone, which had long since been disconnected.
Chiba dared not procrastinate any longer and could only lower her head and helplessly walk out of the restroom. Just as she circled back to the hall, she saw a man sitting in the original seat, still impeccably dressed in a suit, but with a prominent belly and a slightly receding hairline, clearly showing signs of a Mediterranean hairstyle. She stood in the corridor in astonishment, could it be that in less than half an hour, Ivan had transformed into Urashima Taro?
The waiter clearly remembered her and immediately understood: "You are asking about Mr. Ruan, right?"
At 12:08, Brittany hurriedly dashed into the large office and, in a tone of feigned surprise, said: "Why is it that none of you are hungry today? I'm absolutely starving! Nicole, do you know if there are any hotels nearby with good food?"
This is our finance department's newly recruited university student—Nicole! Brittany briefly introduced Chiba and smiled at Chiba, saying, "This is the renowned Ivan. If you can receive even a few pointers from Ivan, you will surely benefit immensely!"
I cannot go! My home is currently experiencing a flood. The water supply was cut off in the morning, and I forgot to turn off the faucet, resulting in water flooding everywhere. If I do not handle this quickly, the residents downstairs and the property management will not let me off easily... Since you answered this call, please inform them that I will come by later this afternoon
Chiba looked up in confusion. No way? This isn't the way Brittany would resort to desperate measures, is it? How could a new assistant who just started working at the company and usually fills her stomach with ramen, beef offal vermicelli, and dumplings from the snack shop downstairs possibly know about any high-end hotels nearby?
After driving for about ten minutes, Chiba finally realized that something was amiss; they were clearly heading towards the city center. She turned back several times, initially still seeing Brittany's car following behind, but after passing three or four traffic lights, Brittany's car vanished from sight.
However, sometimes the more one tries to hide, the more one attracts attention. The two had barely sat down when suddenly a burly, blond-haired, blue-eyed middle-aged chef approached their table with a beaming smile, chattering away. Chiba understood nothing of the French language, while Ivan conversed fluently with the chef. The chef's appearance caused the diners in the restaurant to once again focus their gaze on this corner, leaving Chiba, holding a menu filled with French text, blushing deeply.
Chiba brushed his bangs away from his forehead, his palms full of sweat: "Has Ivan returned?"
Everyone in the office was staring at her, and she held the microphone with a stiff expression
She cursed under her breath, "Damn it," and after hesitating for three seconds, she mustered the courage to bring the phone to her ear: "Hello?"
Who will come to save this novice? She really is not good at dealing with such elites! How can she flatter him subtly yet appropriately?
The unease in Chiba's heart resurfaced once again, as she pulled out a stack of already organized and compiled receipts, tapping away at the calculator beside her, using it to pass the time
Without waiting for her to respond, Brittany eagerly linked her arm with hers, pulling her up from the chair, "Let's go, let's go! Time for dinner! See you all in the afternoon, goodbye!"
Chiba did not know how to respond to his words, so she could only smile and let it go. At that moment, Brittany slowly drove up the driveway and deliberately honked the horn as she passed by, prompting Ivan to step on the gas and drive the car out of the underground parking lot. Once they exited the company gate, Brittany slowed down to let Ivan go ahead. As Ivan overtook her, he casually asked Chiba beside him, "Where to?"
Upon returning to the office, the finance manager was also present. Upon seeing Qianye, he merely smiled faintly and did not mention her tardiness. Instead, Qianye felt a bit embarrassed and quietly conveyed Brittany's instructions. Upon hearing this, the manager approved the review and couldn't help but laugh: "Nicole also played an indispensable role."
She anxiously followed Ivan into the hotel's observation elevator. When the elevator doors closed, she finally asked in a very soft voice, "Aren't we waiting for Brittany?"
She was taken aback and quickly explained: "I just... your calls are too frequent, and I don't dare to answer them casually, but it also seems inappropriate not to answer any calls that come in, so I..."
The speed of the vehicle that had just accelerated suddenly decreased
I didn't expect you to love eating snails so much
The sound of gratitude was drowned out by the closing door, and she awkwardly pursed her lips
From the entrance to the seat, there is a distance. Chiba lowered her head, seemingly able to feel the various peculiar gazes of the diners in the restaurant directed at her, which made her feel embarrassed and her ears burn with heat
Xiao Shi nervously asked, "It won't be that the review didn't pass, and they will have to arrange for someone to work overtime again, will it?"
She was too busy to pay attention, so that woman went next door and continued to knock on each door one by one
She was consumed with inner turmoil, yet Ivan across the way remained completely oblivious, elegantly raising his wine glass to sip the dark red wine, his gaze behind the lenses reflecting a sense of serene enjoyment
The Audi with four rings was driven away by the security guard, leaving only Ivan in a suit and her inappropriately dressed in front of the spacious hotel entrance. Four receptionists stood behind the sensor glass door, smiling broadly as they slightly nodded and bowed: "Welcome!"
I do not know why, although the wise saying "One cannot judge a person by their appearance" has been passed down by our predecessors, Qianye's first impression of Ivan is that he is serious, rigid, shrewd, and difficult to please
Chiba stared blankly at the dazzling porcelain plate in front of him, but internally he let out a cry of despair, for it was indeed the heavens that sought to bring about his demise
Chiba tactfully said: "Brittany has something to attend to and will come later in the afternoon. She mentioned that she wants to convene a meeting with our finance department colleagues."
He had no reason to refuse, the phone was handed over, her smile was stiff, and she slowly stood up: "Um..."
"Excuse me..." she asked a nearby waiter who had just finished serving a meal, "Where did the original guests at that table go?"
She opened her mouth, and who knows what she wanted to say three minutes ago. With a quick thought, Ivan's phone helped her come up with a way to escape: "Can I borrow your phone for a moment?"
Ivan held the steering wheel and looked at her, finally unable to restrain himself from asking: "Do I look very frightening?"
Chiba hurriedly redialed, but there was a busy signal. Just as he anxiously repeated the number, a woman outside knocked gently on the door: "Miss Nicole, is that you?"
Oh... alright. She fumbled anxiously as she searched for the seatbelt on either side.
She smiled and said, "I am not very clear about it either"
Chiba suddenly shuddered, and only after regaining her senses did she see a pile of round, empty shells in front of her. She was so startled that she almost jumped out of her chair: "What is this thing?"
Chiba smiled upon hearing this, and before her smile could fade, the Ivan mentioned by Aunt Zhang appeared in everyone's sight
Goodbye
Ivan was still speaking with the waiter, his voice barely audible. The restaurant had about twenty tables, and Chiba quickly scanned the room, noticing that all the patrons were distinguished professionals. She shrank her feet, feeling out of place in her long-sleeved T-shirt, homemade ripped jeans, and canvas sneakers, which seemed completely at odds with the atmosphere here
Ah? Because she was not accustomed to sitting in the passenger seat, her technique of fastening the seatbelt was quite clumsy, causing her to break into a sweat. Just as she had finally secured it, she unexpectedly heard Ivan's question
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she imagined swallowing that pile of sticky, soft things, her throat involuntarily tightening: "Snail..."
Ivan's smile at the corners of his lips was exuberant
Chiba opened her mouth but could not utter a single syllable, while Brittany gracefully left her with an elegant silhouette.
Chiba's mind was racing like a riddle, while he absentmindedly ate the food in front of him; no matter how exquisite the dish, at that moment it felt like chewing on wax, tasteless.
Having forgotten to check the specific floor where the elevator stopped, she hurriedly followed behind Ivan, not daring to fall behind even a moment. Ivan seemed to have no hesitation at all, walking straight towards a restaurant on the left. Upon entering, they heard the cheerful voice of the waiter, while Chiba stood at the door, momentarily taken aback.
"Snail," he said nonchalantly, "I didn't expect you to like eating them so much"
Wait... wait a moment! She interrupted the conversation anxiously, "I... I have no money! I don't have any money on me!"
Chiba was taken aback; this was quite surprising. She glanced down at her phone and only then noticed that it was already 13:48. She stamped her foot, hurriedly uttered a "thank you," and strode out.
After hanging up the phone, Ivan asked, "What were you about to say?"
Ivan smiled faintly, neither humbly saying "not at all" nor arrogantly assuring the newcomers with phrases like "no problem, leave it to me." Chiba felt that his smile was more akin to a smile that did not reach the eyes, inexplicably sending a chill down one's spine.
Ah? She was stunned, momentarily mistaking it for her own phone, "Yes, you... which one are you?"
Safe travels
Ivan adjusted his posture, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes behind the lenses: "You are the first person to say that I have a sense of humor"
The remote control "Beep Beep" sounded twice, and Ivan opened the right car door, looking at her silently. Chiba found it hard to refuse, smiled slightly at him, and quickened her pace to meet him, bending down to get into the car. In her haste, she clearly felt a jolt on her head, likely from hitting the door frame.
The words were incoherent, even mixed with a certain ambiguous undertone. Chiba lowered her head and silently walked back to her seat, pretending not to understand
Ivan was very perceptive and immediately said: "You are free to do as you wish"
Be careful with your head
I do not know
The other end of the receiver was very quiet, only the sound of gentle breathing could be heard. She suddenly felt that the microphone was very hot, so hot that she instinctively wanted to throw it away. Just as this thought emerged in her mind, there was finally a sound from the other end: "Did you turn off my phone?"
Unsteady in her center of gravity, she awkwardly fell onto the car seat with half of her bottom, one leg sticking straight out of the car. Ivan's right hand was holding the car door, while his left hand rested on the edge of the door.
Aunt Zhang continued to pry curiously, asking: "What does he want from you?"
She rolled her eyes, quietly surveying the arrangement inside the car with utter boredom, yet the stiffness of her body could not hinder the increasingly intense hunger in her stomach
Manager! She became more anxious, "What am I supposed to do if you don't come?"
Thank you
She held her breath and waved her hand: "No... no need, thank you. I..."
Upon exiting the elevator, Chiba felt her knees weaken slightly. Fortunately, this trip could be considered a business trip, otherwise, even with ten times her courage, she would not dare to set foot internationally
Ivan pushed up the glasses on his nose and replied in a nonchalant manner: "I appreciate it (no problem)"
Bang
Goodbye
Even during the lunch break, Ivan's phone rings almost every ten minutes, the frequent calls interrupting the dining atmosphere, yet to some extent, greatly alleviating Chiba's embarrassment
She was taken aback for a moment, and only after a while did she realize that he had taken out his buzzing vibrating phone to answer a call
Ivan's car is very much like him: neat, simple, and devoid of any superfluous decorations
She blushed, her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes showing a hint of panic, but mostly confusion. "I... it's fine," she said, dejectedly putting down the menu, quietly making an excuse for herself, "Let's wait for Brittany to join us..."
Doubts aside, Qianye's curiosity about Ivan could only go this far. He is the barometer for their entire department and even the whole company. If he is displeased, the finance department will never have peace, and if the finance department does not have good days, then all the employees of the company will suffer as a result
Chiba Kudo: "Where are you? Hurry to the International Grand Hotel, we are at ... ... "
Brittany laughed heartily, appearing to be in very high spirits
The call remained "User is on the line" for an extended period. Qianye squatted in the restroom for a full ten minutes without being able to connect the call. During this time, two calls came in consecutively, but she did not dare to answer. Holding the phone that vibrated until her fingers went numb felt like gripping a grenade with the pin pulled.
This statement is overly perfunctory and leaves too many traces; in the eyes of a seasoned professional like Aunt Zhang, it has become a deliberate disguise
No, not at all. She waved her hand and smiled faintly, her lips twitching involuntarily. "You are joking, truly possessing a sense of humor."
She tried hard to recall all the television plotlines she had seen, but she simply could not gather any valuable information. Brittany could not come, leaving her as the only novice. How on earth could she properly flatter the director who held the power of life and death over their finance department?
What do you like to eat
Ivan turned his head and said, "I made a phone call to reserve a table while in the car, and I believe a spot will be available shortly."
Fifteen minutes later, she got out of the car, drenched in sweat. Xiao Shi handed her a fifty yuan note and asked, "Is this enough?"
"Ivan! That Ivan is here again!" Aunt Zhang's English proficiency is quite poor, and the way she pronounces "Ivan" turns it into "love feces," with the word "feces" pronounced particularly heavily, making it sound very amusing
That head laughed twice, and this time Qianye finally heard it, almost moved to tears: "Brittany!"
Chiba inquired with other colleagues in the office, but everyone said they did not know. Chiba thought perhaps Brittany had received the flowers and casually placed them here. At 9:30, Chiba went out for a trip to the bank, and by the time he returned to the company, it was already noon. The company has a lunch break at 12:00, and usually, by 11:50, some people sneak out to fill their stomachs. However, today when Chiba returned to the company, he found that everyone was quietly sitting at their respective positions, showing no intention of leaving.
Wearing the same tailored suit, but with the color changed to black and paired with a pair of black-framed glasses, he appeared even more serious than he did last Friday.
At the international entrance, she managed to flag down a taxi with some difficulty. While in the car, she made a phone call to the office, and it happened to be the cashier, Xiao Shi, who answered. She estimated the time and instructed Xiao Shi to wait for her downstairs at the company building.
She did not overlook Aunt Zhang's sly smile directed at her, and a chill ran through her heart, making her hand holding the telephone feel heavy: "Hello, how are you"
Click! Beep beep beep
Mr. Ruan has already settled the bill and left
Chiba was on the verge of tears, for she was already famished. However, if she had to dine in such a restaurant, she would rather go hungry.
What happened
"Yezi, you are quite late." Xiao Shi laughed in a peculiar manner
Although it is just a simple two words, the pronunciation is standard and pure. Qianye couldn't help but glance at him suspiciously. Could it be that this elite man before her is still just a sea turtle?
Ivan and Brittany both have their own cars, but Brittany does not intend to ride in Ivan's car. Upon arriving at the parking lot, she casually shook her car keys and instructed, "Nicole, you take Ivan's car and lead the way, I will follow behind."
I see that there seems to be no available space, how about...
Amidst the fervent sounds of farewell, Chiba was forcibly dragged out the door by her female superior
Hi, Ivan! The tall door god is still standing outside, and Brittany, linking arms with Chiba, said with a beaming smile, "Let's go, but I must say in advance, this meal is on me!"
Although the server's gaze was somewhat unusual as it swept over the thousand leaves, the professional smile on their face never diminished in the slightest: "Please follow me, both of you!"
Chiba suddenly understood; just now, during that tremor, her head truly ought to thank his attentiveness, otherwise at this moment she would surely be rubbing her head, gritting her teeth, and holding back tears
On Monday morning, after clocking in, Chiba suddenly discovered a strange bouquet of roses on her office chair. There were exactly thirty stems, accompanied by white baby's breath, elegantly wrapped in colorful tissue paper, quietly resting on her chair.
The elevator ascended slowly, and looking out through the transparent floor-to-ceiling glass, a patch of green grass lay beneath, with a European-style fountain located in the center of the lawn, constantly changing its water display. As the elevator continued to rise, the circle of English letters shaped by the trimmed grass became particularly prominent—Qianye suddenly realized where this was, and couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.
It seems that Ivan received too many calls, and among the numerous incoming call displays, she could not find Brittany's phone number. She exited the directory page and entered the phonebook to search. Ivan's phone is a touchscreen model, and apart from the power button, there are no other buttons on the device. Chiba was not very accustomed to it, and her sweaty fingertips slid across the smooth touchscreen but still failed to locate Brittany's number. Just then, the phone suddenly vibrated, causing her finger to slip, and the screen displayed "On Call".
"Is someone treating today?" she asked Aunt Zhang across the table
Thank you, I will return it to you upstairs. She turned around to pay the fare, and when she received the change, she felt her fingers trembling.
Ivan's response was very calm: "I just received a call saying there is something at home, and she needs to go back for a while, so she won't be coming over for now"
As the speed of the car slowed down, she instinctively looked up, and Ivan drove the car to the entrance of a hotel, where the security guard came running over.
Chiba looked at the crowded flow of people and vehicles outside the car and said with a stiff expression, "My home is not in this area; I am not familiar with this vicinity."
Chiba left her seat with her phone in hand, feeling dejected. The hall was crowded with people. After asking a waiter for the location of the restroom, she hurriedly rushed into a stall, locked the door behind her, and then opened her phone to search for Brittany's phone number in her call log.
Following behind the two prominent figures, Qianye took the elevator straight down to the underground parking lot, maintaining her silence and striving to become a mere shadow of the two. She still could not understand why Brittany insisted on dragging her into this, even though the financial supervisor was out, and there were many in the office who could engage with Ivan based on their qualifications. Was it that Brittany deemed the lead accountant, Aunt Zhang, insufficient in her English proficiency to handle this discerning foreign client? Yet, her English was only at level 4, and that was limited to written tests. Was it that Brittany deemed the lead accountant, Aunt Zhang, insufficient in her English proficiency to handle this discerning foreign client? Yet, her English was only at level 4, and that was limited to written tests
I will have someone go over to pick it up later, that's it, no worries, I will hang up now
He suddenly said, "I apologize"
She had a lot of fragmented thoughts in her mind, and finally, she suddenly thought of the key issue of paying the bill. Brittany was not there, so how would they settle the bill for this meal? Surely, they couldn't expect Ivan to pay, right? ... As the hosts, it should be them who pay for this meal, but ... . ... She was so anxious that she started to sweat; she had brought nothing with her when she left the company, and she was completely broke.
She was somewhat dazed, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at the thermos, a wave of warmth surging in her heart. While she was lost in thought, Aunt Zhang suddenly called out from across the table: "Nicole, phone!" She pronounced it as the non-standard "Nicole," rather than the usual nickname "Little Leaf."
Aunt Zhang shouted particularly loudly, drawing the attention of colleagues who were engrossed in their work in the cubicles, causing them to lift their heads and look over. Qianye stood up, resting his left hand on the desk, his upper body nearly leaning over the table, and reached out with his right hand to take the phone from Aunt Zhang.
The H City International Grand Hotel has a total height of fifty-eight stories and is renowned in the city as an expensive five-star hotel. In the past, a female classmate from the neighboring dormitory came here for an internship, and thereafter, she would often express to others what it means to regard money as dirt and to spend money like water
Ivan got into the car, and after the vehicle started, he did not drive but turned his head to remind, "Fasten your seatbelt"
Qianye did not dare to ask Ivan where they were going, so she could only lower her head in silence and stare blankly at her knees. Today, she was wearing the pair of faded jeans that had accompanied her throughout her entire university life. There was a worn hole just above her right knee, which had been torn when she fell while playing basketball. In the past, her classmates had teased her, saying that this torn pair of jeans was in fashion. Qianye usually did not think there was anything wrong with it, but for some reason, looking at the hole in her knee now, she suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
On the computer desktop, "Jiu Lan Shu" (the male protagonist from the Japanese anime "Vampire Knight") is silently gazing ahead with his deep-set eyes, while Qianye is weakly resting on the table, stifling a sense of unutterable grievance amidst suppressed and anxious emotions
What should we do? After dinner, you can go back to work as usual. The company's accounts have already been checked. Ivan can come if he wants, or he can go directly back to the headquarters if he prefers. Let's have a small meeting when I return in the afternoon. I won't chat for now, I'm busy, hanging up...
Would you like me to order another one for you
Chiba's limbs finally relaxed, and he heavily collapsed back into the chair
Mr. Ruan? Is Ivan's surname Ruan? I don't know, let's just assume Mr. Ruan is Ivan. In fact, these questions are not the key issue, so she repeated, "Where did he go?"
This is a French restaurant. If it were merely an ordinary French restaurant, Chiba would not feel an indescribable sense of tension and restraint. The atmosphere of the French restaurant before her is completely different from the restaurants serving French cuisine she had dined at during her student days
Aunt Zhang raised her head and said with an exaggerated expression: "Are you still thinking that someone will treat you to a meal? Just hoping that there won't be any deductions this month is already worthy of gratitude to Amitabha."
Ivan stood in the corridor, and through the window, one could clearly see his tall and upright figure. This seemingly leisurely silhouette cast a powerful low pressure over the entire finance office
It's nothing
Her desk was kept very tidy; apart from the computer and a few folders, the bouquet of thirty roses stood out as particularly occupying space. She picked it up casually, looked around, but found no place to put it, so she could only stand it upright against the leg of the desk. Once the roses were moved aside, the silver thermos cup resting beside the folders became visible.