Chapter 4 The Despicable Unwritten Rules

He listened to her with bright, sparkling eyes, and his focused expression made it difficult for one to continue making excuses.

She squatted in the restroom for more than ten minutes, until her feet became numb, and it was only then that the three women finished their makeup and walked out in their high heels

A vague and ambiguous laughter

Ivan stretched his long legs and had already stepped out of the car, even gracefully walking around to the other side to open the door for her. The awkward confrontation that had occurred in the morning reappeared, but this time, none of the circumstances favored Chiba; without a second thought, she immediately cooperated and slipped into the car.

"Chiba, do you like me or not?" he asked candidly

A neatly folded square handkerchief was presented to her right under her eyelids. She could not clearly tell whether she was frightened or embarrassed, and hurriedly said, "I... I have tissues in my bag." Catching a glimpse of his aggressive gaze from the corner of her eye, she felt a sudden panic and quickly reached out to obediently take it.

Our boss is indeed quite indifferent! With a long sigh reminiscent of a woman's grievance, I said, "Actually, I don't think I'm unattractive."

Ivan got out of the car, closed the door, and without even glancing at her, said: "I never said I would take you up."

She did not go over, and Ivan did not urge her; he simply stood patiently by the open car door waiting. A minute later, this endurance contest finally concluded with the novice Chiba completely defeated and surrendering.

She thought with a sense of grievance, could it be that he still wants to escort her upstairs? Who knows if there are other employees working overtime in this building so early in the morning? Even if there aren't, there are security guards on duty at night. If she and he go upstairs together, what would others think? Isn't he deliberately trying to make her suffer? Although she had made a foolish mistake in the past by borrowing his phone, causing him to unjustly bear the loss of a considerable amount of meal expenses, his current treatment of her is rather unkind.

Chen Yuying sat across from Qianye, propping her chin on her hand, gazing at her with great interest: "Sister, why have you not visited the cake shop since then? Do you know that Qingchen stands on the second-floor balcony every morning waiting for you to walk into that alley?"

The company notified her of an interview, and two weeks later she was officially hired. After one month of work, she successfully passed her probation period. She had once naively asked the assistant manager of the human resources department why she was hired, given that her resume was so simple. Compared to most of her peers who had beautifully crafted resumes, her materials consisted of only three thin sheets of paper stapled together.

Did you catch a chill yesterday? Is it serious

If Ivan's behavior can be understood as pursuit, then Chiba sincerely hopes he can directly and candidly express his intentions, rather than resorting to a slow and painful process. The company is not lacking in individuals who appear romantic on the surface but are actually engaged in flirtation and infidelity, whether they are married or single. As the gossip in the office goes, male executives in senior positions tend to take an interest in newly hired female employees, which can be euphemistically described as the concern of a superior for their subordinate, but more bluntly, it is simply an attempt to take advantage. Even if there is no tangible benefit to gain, a verbal advantage is still considered acceptable.

Chiba was left speechless; he was truly remarkable. Before he even had the chance to voice his thoughts, the other party had already guessed everything.

Get in the car, I will take you to work

"With such low work efficiency, do you still want to get paid..." Brittany muttered. Chiba could not tell whether she was scolding the HR department or her, so she could only lower her head and remain silent. Just as she was pondering Brittany's intentions, Brittany waved her hand and said, "It's fine, you can go now."

Chiba! He cautiously leaned closer, his cool lips brushing against her ear, "Is it really you?"

Hmm?

I have a stomachache, please grant me a leave of absence.

Chiba cannot comprehend this person; not to mention that someone with her limited experience cannot understand or see through him, even a skilled individual like Brittany can be thrown into confusion by Ivan's harshness

At this moment, she could not care about anything else and started running down the corridor in her high heels. The number on the elevator door had just changed to this floor, and she hurriedly rushed over, desperately pressing the button. The elevator was finally stopped, and as the doors opened, Ling Xiangtao happened to walk out from inside.

Xiao Shi rolled his eyes and shouted, "President Pan, if I transfer the company's funds, won't it all flow into your pocket?"

Her major is finance and accounting. When she was accepted into the finance university in City H, her mother was so excited that she cried on the spot, repeatedly telling the neighbors, "My daughter is so accomplished."

Weather forecasts have always been inaccurate. More than ten days ago, experts on television predicted that this year the temperature in City H would be abnormal, claiming it to be a once-in-fifty-years occurrence, and that heavy snow would appear by the end of the Gregorian calendar year. Qianye has lived in City H for four years and has hardly seen any snow scenery. In previous years, it was only around the New Year that a few symbolic snowflakes would drift down, and once they landed, they would vanish without a trace. If this were in her hometown, the snow piled on the ground after spring would not necessarily melt right away.

Chiba walked out happily. In winter, it gets dark early; although it was just past 4 o'clock, the sky was heavily overcast. She was only wearing a wool coat, which was not very thick, and as soon as she stepped outside, she shivered from the cold. The security guard at the entrance greeted her as usual: "Miss Su, are you going out? The weather forecast says it might snow today."

In the blink of an eye, it was already half past ten, and Chiba said, "It's too late"

She stared in shock, her eyes nearly popping out, while Ivan, after making such a startling move, nonchalantly returned to the car. As the vehicle started, he drove closer to her and, brushing past, casually threw out a line: "I will pick you up after work"

Chiba was taken aback by his unabashed gaze, pretending not to look at him and directing her attention elsewhere. However, the sense of being observed beside her grew increasingly intense, and even without turning around, she could clearly sense that he was watching her

Chen Yuying called out from across: "Look, I didn't deceive you, did I? How are you going to thank me?"

Although Ivan is domineering in his actions, up to now, he has not made any further demands in other matters aside from serving as a free chauffeur every day, rain or shine

I... I haven't asked this yet. She has only just taken over on her first day, how could she possibly have so many things to deal with

Chiba suddenly had an idea, slumped his shoulders, and weakly lay on the table saying: "I have diarrhea"

In the early morning, he paused, turned sideways, and glanced back. In those clear eyes, a sense of joy and excitement surged. He gazed at Chiba, whose face was flushed, and finally, with a sudden strong pull, Chiba stumbled and fell directly into his embrace

"My surname is Yi, and my name is Yin—Yi." He gestured in the air with his finger

Qianye squatted in the restroom, impatiently rubbing her forehead. Now, she could neither go out nor leave; she could only silently pray that these gossiping women would quickly finish their business and return.

Well

A row of soft streetlights extended into the distance, and at the end of the street, a tall figure hurriedly approached. The slender individual wore a cream-colored checkered long coat, along with a matching knitted hat and scarf. It was a peculiar intuition; although she sat high up on the second floor and could not see the person's face at all, her increasingly frantic heartbeat compelled her to stand up involuntarily

Well! He agreed, and then added, "Apart from Chiba, I will give you anything you want. I think there is nothing more valuable than Chiba."

Chiba could no longer sit still, so she took a few tissues and pretended to go to the restroom. Once she reached the empty bathroom, she let out a big sigh of relief. After splashing her face with cold water to wake herself up a bit, she heard footsteps coming from the corridor. Not wanting to return to the office so soon, she decided to slip into a restroom stall.

However ... ...

I waited for an hour downstairs from your building yesterday

Ivan stood quietly by the car, waiting for her to come over. It had rained all night, leaving the ground damp and muddy, with fallen leaves scattered everywhere. The early morning air was slightly cool, and the dawn light filtered through the sparse branches, casting a glow on his tall and upright figure

In the afternoon, the general manager came over to withdraw money and discovered that the cashier had changed. After taking the money, he did not rush to leave but sat down by the small stone and joked, "Is it because you misused public funds that Brittany found a young girl to replace you?"

Society is different from school. When leaving school, classmates often say that society is a large dye vat, which can color people in various shades. Qianye is currently very confused. Perhaps she was once very confident in her own persistence, but now she truly feels lost. Faced with a domineering superior like Ivan, she has completely lost her thoughts.

Chiba's expression was calm, emphasizing the words "on the way" with a stronger tone. On the surface, she appeared very assertive, but only she knew that the fingers gripping the strap of her bag behind her back were already trembling uncontrollably

She did not know, of course she could not know, but now hearing Chen Yuying say this, she seemed rather unsurprised, with the stirring of her heart stemming more from a certain unusual emotion. This indeed resembled something one might do in the early morning, with a pure smile that was earnestly a bit foolish.

Yes, at 8 o'clock, I have booked the flight ticket, what is it?

Returning to her seat and glancing at the computer screen, it read 17:36, less than half an hour until the end of the workday. Suddenly, Qianye began to feel anxious, her complexion fluctuating. Aunt Zhang, noticing this, couldn't help but ask: "Xiaoyezi, are you feeling unwell?"

She coughed twice with her lips slightly parted, not daring to actually use his handkerchief to wipe her greasy mouth

I don't think so either; I find it quite romantic...

His palm enveloped her hand, and she followed him closely, almost in a daze. Snowflakes danced and fell around them, his black hair tousled by the wind, white snowflakes clinging to his strands, only to be swept away again.

If looks could kill, she would surely be riddled with wounds. Qianye dared not meet his gaze, bowing her head to sip her soy milk and calm herself.

Yiqing Chen

He put on his coat, but draped his hat and scarf over his arm. Before leaving, he called out to her, and then effortlessly wrapped the scarf around her neck. In the moment of her daze, the hat on top of her head was already placed on.

"Yes, isn't it just me?" She should have felt embarrassed, but in the face of a morning even more nervous than she was, she suddenly felt a wave of relaxation and couldn't help but tease him

The city center of H is very lively. Qianye strolled until after 9 o'clock, bought herself a discounted piece of lingerie, and purchased a winter coat for her mother, feeling quite satisfied as she prepared to take a bus home. The pedestrian street was bustling with people, shoppers jostling against one another. She was walking quickly when someone accidentally bumped into her back. She paid it no mind and intended to continue walking, but suddenly her arm was yanked by someone.

The skin in the early morning remained as pale as ever, but compared to two months ago, the hollows under her eyes had deepened, which made her starry eyes, resembling painted dots, shine even brighter. From the moment he saw Qianye upon going upstairs, his gaze had not shifted from her; regardless of the surrounding girls bouncing around in front of him, calling his name in sweet, coy voices, he simply ignored them, turning a deaf ear.

Chiba turned around in anger, but that Audi left only a fleeting glimpse of its taillights before vanishing from sight

At the designated time for work, colleagues gradually entered the office. During casual conversations, everyone noticed that the first person to arrive at the company was actually Qianye, who lived the farthest away. Xiaoshi laughed heartily: "I didn't expect that 300,000 would scare you this much. You didn't spend the whole night worrying, did you?"

In the early morning, a shy smile like that of a child appears.

No, I just saw him go to the finance office. He is probably colluding with that cashier with the surname Shi right now

He let out a cheer, suddenly like a child who had received candy, excitedly lifting her by the waist and raising her high, spinning around in place

Well. You ... ...

Chiba's complexion was indeed not quite normal, Brittany glanced at her, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, smiling in a somewhat ambiguous manner. She did not make things difficult for Chiba, merely inquiring about work: "Is the payroll for the Human Resources Department ready?"

Chen Yuying was taken aback, while her classmates collectively let out a long sigh of excitement, exclaiming "Hmm—" in unison. One girl, with a lovesick expression, looked up and sighed, "Oh my, is this a confession? Why must I encounter my dream prince, yet I, Cinderella, am not the one? Oh God, this is so unfair!"

She took it, but hesitated to use it, thinking it was too... Moreover, who still carries a handkerchief these days? It's not like we're in kindergarten.

Chen Yuying smiled and said, "I also say you are busy, but I don't quite believe it in the early morning." She sipped her cola through a straw, "However, he will be here soon, you can tell him, he will believe whatever you say, but he will not believe anything I say."

Her cheeks were burning as if they were on fire, and even the biting wind and snow could not diminish that stinging sensation. Qianye slightly parted her lips, looking at him in astonishment

Chen Yuying transformed her anger into a smile, affectionately linking her arm with hers: "Sister, you must remember me now; you haven't really forgotten us, have you? Every morning, I have been mentioning you."

Is that so? When has our company ever hired anyone with an education level below a college diploma? Is she a relative of the CEO?

Chiba was taken aback, hurriedly grabbed his bag, and swept everything useful and useless from the table into it: "No need, thank you, General Manager! It's not a big deal, I can go by myself."

He walked past the entrance of Pizza Hut and ran to the door of Walmart, the colorful glow of the neon lights casting a vibrant light upon him. He stopped at the entrance, anxiously looking around, white mist rapidly escaping from his mouth and nose.

Chen Yuying is a perceptive young lady. In less than ten minutes, she disappeared from the Pizza Hut restaurant with her group of classmates, not forgetting to order a large number of items for takeout before leaving. Only Qingchen and Qianye remained in the restaurant, engaging in casual conversation with intermittent exchanges.

"Sister, are you free right now?" Chen Yuying took out her phone and asked while dialing, not waiting for her to answer, she began to shout directly into the phone, "Is it early morning? It's me... Yes, I'm at the Guomao Shopping Center... How could someone as smart as you not think of a solution..."

In the early morning, a faint smile emerged, and this unintentional smile made the girls present feel even more fluttered with springtime emotions. However, he did not continue to pay attention to their suggestive and ambiguous glances; instead, he extended his hand and skillfully led away a girl sitting next to Qianye, then unapologetically occupied her seat

Seven or eight young people dressed in avant-garde and fashionable attire stood behind her. A heavily made-up girl, with golden curly hair and bangs that reached her eyebrows, held her arm. Her long, fake eyelashes fluttered up and down like a fan, and beneath the fan-like lashes, her eyes were so large that only the pupils were visible, with no hint of the whites.

My mother finds long-distance phone calls expensive, but she does not know how to use a computer or the internet. Therefore, she stubbornly writes a letter home every week, each time at least two pages long, filled with mundane family matters. She has also subtly inquired about my dating life, but she has rarely answered directly and seldom replies to my letters

Four eyes facing each other, a thousand-leaf heart miniature, the body is so stiff that it cannot move

Chiba has completely lost all thoughts of Ivan. No matter how early she gets up in the morning, she always encounters him at the intersection. She has even secretly taken other routes, but the next day, he would directly block her downstairs.

I have been quite busy lately... Although this reason is not an excuse, Chiba felt a sense of guilt in saying it

The music playing in the shop was deafening, and a voice called out: "Hey, don't go!" Seeing her in a daze, it hurriedly added, "It's me! Don't you recognize me?"

She came to her senses, surprised at how she had unconsciously called out his name. She lowered her head and softly asked, "I still don't know your surname."

You have been brainwashed by idol dramas, this dialogue is too clichéd. Just feel it for yourselves..." She pretended to roll up her sleeves, "I have goosebumps all over.

Chiba Zhen felt powerless, perhaps not only had Chen Yuying misunderstood, but even Qingchen might have misunderstood something. She suddenly became afraid of seeing Qingchen. Just as she was about to find an excuse to leave, a girl at the next table exclaimed in surprise: "Ah! It’s snowing! It’s really snowflakes!"

In the early morning, he turned back and smiled at her: "Indeed, I must thank you for helping me find Qianye. What would you like as a token of gratitude?"

It is only a few encounters between him and herself, so why is it herself? Why does he like her? Everything is happening in such a marvelous way that she finds it a bit difficult to comprehend.

The figure appeared at the staircase entrance on the second floor in the early morning, attracting the attention of a large number of diners. Chen Yuying waved her arms and excitedly shouted: "Here! Hi---"

Chen Yuying's phone finally rang, and she exclaimed excitedly: "Morning has arrived! So soon! I thought this directionally challenged person would definitely take until after 10 o'clock to get ready..."

It was this expression that reminded Chiba: "Oh, it's you, the little girl from the cake shop"

I heard that the young girl is twenty-one years old and has only a secondary vocational education

Chiba had no intention of paying him any mind and directly rushed into the elevator. She casually pressed a button, and the elevator doors closed, leaving Ling Xiang and Tu Shu Tao outside. In the lobby on the first floor, people were coming and going, and the security guard was standing by the door, watching the crowd entering and exiting. She casually glanced at the clock hanging on the wall of the reception area—17:51

Many people were startled by this sound and left their seats, gathering in front of the glass window to watch

She did not have the courage to bring the roses into the company, so she simply threw them into the trash can in the parking lot. Although she felt a bit pained about the money spent on the flowers, the thought of Ivan's rude and overbearing behavior made her unable to contain her anger.

You may call me Qingchen, just as I like to call you Qianye

The girl who was thrown into the aisle felt extremely frustrated. It was supposed to be a double seat, yet she desperately squeezed herself onto it, her upper body softly pressing against Qingchen. With no choice, Qingchen had to lean a little closer to Qianye, and Qianye's heart raced, almost able to smell the lingering scent of ice and snow on his clothes

Chen Yuying smiled like a blooming flower: "Really? You will give me whatever I want?"

A muffled laugh accompanied by disdainful chuckles: "Who else could it be, naturally it is whoever is new that gets replaced."

Chiba was startled by his sudden action and let out a sharp scream, followed by an uncontrollable burst of laughter. The two of them stood boldly on the street, flaunting their happiness, attracting the attention of countless passersby

She only woke up when the car drove into the underground parking lot of the building, and in a state of panic and unease, she said: "Just let me off by the roadside..."

The more one fears something, the more it comes to pass. Qianye wanted to play dumb, but in front of Ivan, she didn't even have the courage to pretend. She could only continue to bite into the meat bun in her hand, stuffing her mouth to directly avoid the awkwardness of speaking

Turning left upon exiting, she had only walked about thirty or forty meters when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. A familiar silver Audi was parked near the entrance of the alley ahead, and she was very sensitive to numbers; the license plate number had been etched into her mind since the morning and she could not forget it.

After reviewing the payroll in the morning, she saved it to a USB drive. She estimated the time and, by 4 PM, she directly picked up her bag and left, telling her supervisor: "I am going to the bank. If I am late, I will just go home."

Unintentionally, the soy milk went down the wrong pipe, almost spraying out of her nose. She coughed while covering her mouth, retreating in embarrassment. Although there weren't many people on the street early in the morning, some breakfast vendors had already occupied the roadside. Ivan's outfit was so eye-catching that it was hard for others not to notice him

She was bewitched by his words, her head swelling with the question: "Why... why is it me?"

Chiba felt a chill in her heart; she did not expect that Qin Jie Si, Brittany's Chinese name, would also be the subject of gossip despite being capable and polite.

She spoke through gritted teeth, her facial expression nearly ferocious. Ivan gently uttered a sound of acknowledgment, gazing ahead as he started the car: "Likewise."

Upon hearing the words "early morning," Chiba suddenly felt a sense of disorientation. How long has it been? She had been entangled with Ivan and the tedious work, unable to extricate herself. She had truly forgotten that handsome young man.

Who will you take this time

Chiba actually misses that kind of white, hazy feeling. Although it doesn't snow much in City H during winter, there is a uniquely chilling and bone-piercing cold. In her first year here, due to not being accustomed to the winter, she ended up with frostbite all over her hands and feet, and every time she burrowed into the quilt at night, it would itch. In recent years, it has been recurring, and she has never been able to completely get rid of it.

The sky was overcast and the wind was strong. Xiao Chen drove her to the bank, but she did not let him wait outside and sent him back directly. When she finished her business and came out, it was indeed just past five o'clock. Not only did she have an extra hour of free time, but she could also take the opportunity to shake off Ivan's entanglement. She was calculating that she would receive her salary in the next couple of days, which made her even happier, and she thought about going shopping to buy something for her mother.

Upon graduating from school, Qianye understood that her desire to stay in H City without any connections was akin to a pipe dream. She had initially lost hope and had even prepared to return to her hometown. Perhaps a place like H City was not suitable for her, even though she had spent four years in this city. Thus, she despondently distributed copies of her diploma in the bustling job market, completely unprepared for the unexpected surprise that awaited her.

The finance supervisor understood and immediately did a favor: "Nicole, you can leave work early and go to the hospital to check on things."

The conversation, which seemed to disregard the presence of others, increasingly resembled flirtation. Qianye stared at the computer, pretending to work diligently, while out of the corner of her eye, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of Aunt Zhang across from her, who curled her lips in disdain, revealing a contemptuous expression

Chiba furrowed her brows, unable to comprehend whether all of this was truly real. What exactly did Ivan mean by those words he said yesterday? At the time, she did not think much after hanging up the phone, but now she was completely bewildered.

In the dark blue-black night sky, white little fairies dance, perhaps it has just begun to snow, the snowflakes are not large, falling sparsely and coldly. Pedestrians on the street stop to look up, couples embrace each other, a girl screams in surprise and laughter, while a boy affectionately wraps his arms around her waist

The bun in her mouth could not be swallowed, lodged in her throat to the point where she could hardly breathe. What was most critical was that Ivan had thrown away his cigarette butt and was already walking towards her. She desperately swallowed saliva, puffed out her cheeks, steeled herself, and greeted him with a slurred voice: "Hi, what a coincidence"

Alright, goodbye. Chiba glanced at the time on her phone, 17:47, and realized that if she didn't leave soon, it would truly be too late.

Chiba placed her hand against the glass window, the coldness in her palm inexplicably causing a pang of bitterness in her nose

"Is it disgusting? I don't think so," replied the girl next to her

This is an overwhelmingly powerful opponent! Although I do not understand men, Chiba believes in her intuition as a woman; at least she has never uncovered his five-finger mountain.

She turned around too quickly and nearly twisted her ankle, stumbling towards the elevator. Just as she was about to press the elevator button, a handful of objects suddenly fell down in front of her.

Chen Yuying wore a proud expression as she shook her phone adorned with pearl decorations and said, "Of course! However, he hasn't been out much, so I'm afraid he won't recognize this place..." After glancing around, she pointed to a Pizza Hut restaurant next to Walmart, where the neon sign was flashing brightly and was quite eye-catching. "Let's go sit there for a while; standing here waiting for him will surely freeze us to death. Feel free to order whatever you want; later, let Qingchen treat us."

In the early morning, gazing at that face reddened by the cold, Qianye truly heard girls around her exclaiming: "Is that man a star or a model? He is so handsome!"

Oh, are you going out

President Pan waved his large hand with a sense of decisiveness and said: "No need for any buts, it won't be counted as an early leave... Otherwise, I can drive you directly to the hospital."

A boy behind reached out his hand and said: "I want to touch!"

The central air conditioning was turned on in the building, yet the outdoor temperature was only in the teens. The cold wind blew against Qianye's flushed face, making her feel much more awake. Reflecting on her disheveled state throughout the journey, one might mistakenly think that she was suffering from a gastrointestinal issue, leading to her frequent trips to the restroom.

Has Mr. Pan gone out?

Qianye does not like girls who wear heavy non-mainstream makeup. With a shake of her arm, she took a large step to the side. Perhaps her rejection was too obvious, as a boy chewing gum in the crowd laughed and said, "Chen Yuying, did you mistake someone for another?" Three or four people nearby joined in the laughter.

Three female colleagues from the administration department came in, presumably to touch up their makeup. They gathered around the sink, chattering incessantly. Initially, their conversation seemed quite normal, but gradually their voices became lower and lower, and the gossip among women finally began.

He has lost weight! The first feeling that surged in Chiba's heart was these three words

The wind and snow dazzled her eyes, and she blinked vigorously. The nearly perfect beautiful face was right in front of her. Her conflicted heart suddenly became exceptionally soft after touching his anxious gaze. Her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably, and with a flushed face, she shyly said: "I... I am not beautiful... I... I am from out of town... I... What I mean is, you are much more outstanding than I am..."

In the early morning, he chuckled and said: "I don't know why, but I know I like you, and that is the best answer." He pretended to think seriously for a moment and, in an exceptionally sincere tone, said: "I have thought for a long time, during the days we have been apart, I have yearned to see you every day. Although they all say my feelings are not real, even claiming it is just my one-sided wish. Chiba, so... so I came. When I received Yingying's call, I knew I had to come, I had to come, so I came. In an exceptionally sincere tone, he said: "I have thought for a long time, during the days we have been apart, I have yearned to see you every day. Although they all say my feelings are not real, even claiming it is just my one-sided wish. Chiba, so... so I came. When I received Yingying's call, I knew I had to come, I had to come, so I came..." He breathed heavily, speaking in a fragmented and incoherent manner, appearing particularly clumsy and anxious. He held her waist and said, "Whether you believe it or not, I have come to tell you that I like you, and then... ask you, do you like me?"

"Chiba, Chiba..." He murmured her name, a hazy white mist continuously emanating from his mouth and nose, quickly dissipating in the drifting snow and wind. "You like me, don't you?"

Chiba leaned weakly against the window, watching as the morning light turned from the entrance of Walmart towards Pizza Hut. Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and abruptly raised his head

She lowered her head in shame and anger, and this time her voice was trembling: "Well... goodbye!"

Chiba suddenly realized that the little girl in front of him might have misunderstood something, and awkwardly said: "He is not a child, and I am not familiar with him, so how could he possibly believe whatever I say"

Indeed, commuting by private car saves time compared to squeezing onto a bus. As the car turned onto the main road in front of the company building, Chiba glanced at her phone and realized she was a full half hour early compared to usual. She did not have the key to the main entrance of the office building, and the cleaner responsible for sweeping the floors in the administrative department was scheduled to start work at 8:00.

But to what extent does this cheapness reach the bottom line for Qianye

This is truly a paradise for men; why is there not a handsome guy to brighten up the company

Her graduation credits ranked in the top ten of her department, but it was not until she took the school's recommendation letter and began searching for internship opportunities that Qianye realized her short-sightedness and the foolishness of merely studying hard. She could not compare to those locals in H City who had social connections; they only needed to follow their family's arrangements to easily secure internships, and they could even avoid diligently attending the internship every day, yet still manage to obtain the company's official stamp and complete their internship reports.

I am 27 years old, not Yingying's classmate, I am already an adult

Chen Yuying widened her eyes and said, "I am not lying to you; everything I said is true..."

The new intern who just joined?

As Ivan got into the car, Chiba's face elongated, wanting to get angry but not daring to make a scene. Instead, he asked unceremoniously, "Director, does this count as skipping work?"

You dare, I will chop off your lewd hand

At the snack shop downstairs, I bought a cup of soy milk and two meat buns for breakfast. Qianye walked towards the bus station at the street corner while eating. However, upon turning out of the alley, he saw a silver Audi A8L parked in such an inconspicuous place. The stark visual contrast of such a flashy car in such a mundane location was quite astonishing. Qianye instinctively glanced twice, but when he looked a third time, he suddenly choked on a bun. The man leaning against the car smoking was none other than Ivan.

In the early morning, this is my classmate... Chen Yuying could not withstand the pleading and threatening gazes of her female classmates, and had no choice but to introduce each of them to the handsome guy.

The general manager laughed heartily, and the two engaged in a war of words in the office, ultimately even throwing out risqué jokes.

Chiba's heart has long turned to water, weakly sighing: "I... in the early morning, I think, I do not dislike you... yes, I think I have some... affection for you. It's just..."

After observing for a moment in the early morning, he revealed a satisfied smile: "Let's go." He then naturally took her hand.

Brittany is not at the headquarters to report on the situation, and the supervisor is pleased to do a favor, nodding in agreement and saying: "You may go."

Under the sympathetic gazes of the crowd, she left the office in a dejected manner. Before she could even catch her breath, Brittany emerged from the office and, seeing her with a bag in hand, immediately asked, "Where are you going?"

Is Mr. Pan's flight in the evening

In the early morning, he immediately stood up and replied, "I will take you back."

By the time she understood, the bouquet of roses accompanied by gypsophila had already settled in her arms, precisely thirty stems, neither more nor less

When Chiba returned to the office, his legs were even more numb, and he could hardly move. To his surprise, President Pan had not yet left, chatting animatedly next to Xiao Shi, his expressions lively and animated. This middle-aged man in his forties was not bad-looking, but unfortunately, his beer belly, resembling that of an eight-month pregnant woman, was truly hard to commend.

Yes, the marketing department has brought in a salesperson this time, whose surname is Ling. He is quite good-looking and rather handsome. Why don't you give it a try

The morning coat is not thick, but it feels very soft. Chiba's palm rests on his chest, and he is unable to utter a complete sentence, stammering instead.

The texture of the scarf is exceptionally soft, seemingly still carrying the faint scent of milk that lingers on him

He stared deeply for several seconds, then let out a long sigh: "It really is you!"

When it came to the last sentence, his tone softened, carrying a kind of almost timid weakness, as he cautiously awaited her response

Chen Yuying waved her hand and picked up the cup of cola, taking a big sip: "Tch, in the morning, don't you find what you just said disgusting? Even idol drama lines aren't designed to be this cheesy..."

Are you foolish? Is it possible for General Manager Pan to specifically take a relative of his own on a business trip?

So, he continued, "I can like you, and you can like me."

She slightly tilted her head, her ears flushed with heat: "Hi, good morning, long time no see"

If I never go back, perhaps I will have to endure this itch for a lifetime

The neighbors are all envious, and even now, my mother still mentions it in her letters. The neighbors continue to use her as a role model to educate their own children. Outsiders see the excitement, but only she understands how much the family's expenses have been tightened to support her university education. She grew up without a father, and her mother raised her alone. She is studying in City H by herself, while her classmates indulge in frivolous pleasures. All she does is study.

Chiba was left with no way to escape by his bluntness, and although he wanted to struggle, he was held even tighter by him

Chiba lowered her head and chuckled softly, truly grateful for these children. If it weren't for their playful antics nearby, the words spoken earlier in the morning would have left her feeling so embarrassed that she wouldn't know how to handle it

As December arrives, the temperature drops sharply, and some colleagues have even put on their down jackets early. The central air conditioning in the office building finally demonstrates its powerful capabilities. Qianye is sensitive to the cold, so sometimes she is too lazy to go out for lunch, spending her days staring at the gaps in the newspaper to find different takeout numbers.

The exchange of questions and answers between the two caught President Pan's attention, and he turned his head and raised his voice, saying: "If you are ill, you must seek treatment promptly"

Such mockery conveniently provided Chiba with a way to step down, and she was delighted to be treated as an appetizer in the morning

You cannot afford to offend such a person; he is too well-known in our industry. He was hired back from the UK at a high salary by your headquarters, and I heard that at that time, there were five or six companies in H City offering high prices for him. If you offend him, you can forget about making a living in this circle in the future. He called a former female classmate with whom he had a relatively good relationship, but the response he received left Qianye feeling disheartened.

No matter how beautiful you are as a married woman, you can only be on the same level as that person with the surname Shi! With so many new female university graduates joining our company, you would have long been pushed to the Pacific Ocean.

Just after hanging up the phone, the girls around me couldn't help but scream repeatedly: "Yuying, is it that morning from your phone's photo album? Is he coming?"

The elevator door opened with a ding, but she did not move. A few seconds later, the elevator door slowly closed.

Early morning

Chen Yuying rolled her eyes, but unfortunately, with her colored contact lenses, her irises appeared more black than white, making it difficult to discern if she was angry. Her cheeks were puffed out, which added a touch of cuteness.

Chiba immediately understood the little girl's intentions, her cheeks flushed, and she wanted to pull her hand away, but Chen Yuying held her fingers tightly.

In the bustling crowd, he stands out like the brightest morning star among the multitude of stars, so dazzling that one cannot bear to look directly at him

I said, "Director." Although she is a newcomer, she understands the basic workplace taboos and knows how to avoid them. After reflecting on her pain, she decided to express her stance; she cannot afford to play ambiguous games. "I can go up by myself, thank you for the ride."

A group of children, not quite small anymore, burst into laughter, leaving Qianye in a particularly awkward position, unable to walk away or stay. However, Chen Yuying, quite familiar with her, took her arm and dragged her into a Pizza Hut, where they found a table by the window on the second floor. From this spot, they could see a street leading to the entrance of the Guomao Commercial Building, where a taxi would stop every few minutes at the temporary parking station.

Do you take me for Qin Jiesi? I would need to have that capability to even think about it. The unspoken rules are a game only qualified for high-level leaders. As a mere office assistant, not being subjected to such rules is already a great fortune.