"I happened to have some free time, so I came to settle the bill and leave."
"Did Sister S tell you I wasn't coming?" Xiang Yu wasn't angry; his voice was soft, answering whatever was asked.
Qi Sui hummed.
Xiang Yu smiled, with a few wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, making him look approachable.
"Then she and I are probably on the same side."
He explained, "Since they're my subordinates, I can't not come. Showing my face is a form of respect."
Qi Sui didn't answer.
When she saw the deputy head come in with a tray of pastries, she said, "I'm going to resign."
Xiang Yu was stunned.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by the smiling deputy head.
"General Manager Xiang, sorry to trouble you. Won't you come in and say something?"
Xiang Yu shook his head, his expression visibly cooling down. "No need. Since it's team-building, let them relax. I'd be uncomfortable if I go."
Xiang Yu added, "The bill is settled. No need to reimburse. Consider it my treat. Any additional expenses can be reimbursed through me."
Each department had a fixed reimbursement quota. Only office supplies and company sample expenses could go through the reimbursement process. Team-building expenses certainly didn't count.
Saying it was reimbursable was just Xiang Yu taking it upon himself.
The smile on the deputy head's face became more genuine.
Xiang Yu raised his hand and pursed his lips. "If there's nothing else, you should go too. No need to stay here."
People in the workplace were all shrewd.
Qi Sui watched as the deputy head smiled at her and turned away without a word.
Qi Sui lowered her head and sighed.
"Are you really unhappy being with me?" The man's voice was low, hoarse with fatigue, as if weighed down by emotion.
If she didn't know him, she might have been fooled by this appearance.
Qi Sui wouldn't fall for it again.
She admitted directly, "Mm."
Then she added,
"Very much!"
Xiang Yu let out a "Ha" and replied almost unreasonably, "Then you still have to stay."
"Your boss hasn't left yet, and you, a small employee, want to run away?"
"Rascal." Qi Sui cursed him under her breath.
The man beside her put on an air of calm indifference, slowly holding a small teacup and taking a sip.
Then he burned his mouth.
"Just keep pretending."
Xiang Yu acted pitifully. "You have such a big problem with me. Do you hate me that much?"
"Do I hate you? I hate people who intrude on others' marriages." Qi Sui picked up a piece of almond pastry and put it in her mouth.
"I already told you I'm not." The man reached out and also wanted to grab a pastry. "And if I were to intrude, I'd start with you."
Why did that sound so unpleasant?
Qi Sui frowned and stopped him. "It's almond. You'll have an allergic reaction."
So Xiang Yu's mood improved again.
He bent down and pulled a dark blue bow tie from his briefcase, neatly folded in a small wooden gift box, adorned with a dark gold rose-shaped buckle.
"For you."
Qi Sui didn't reach for it.
"What? Bribing me?"
Xiang Yu put on the aloof expression he showed to outsiders again. "Giving a gift to someone I like—how can that be called bribery?"
Qi Sui looked up and saw the tension and avoidance in his gaze. She reached out and took it.
It was indeed very beautiful.
"Why... are you resigning?"
Xiang Yu asked slowly, with a hint of inquiry.
"I told you before, I could recommend you for a transfer to headquarters. Won't you consider it?"
Qi Sui asked, "Would you recommend me because of my work ability, or for other reasons?"
To be honest, Qi Sui felt this question was too affected.
"If it's because of this insignificant bit of affection, then I don't need it."
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Author's Note: I'm late. This chapter is to make up for yesterday's. You have no idea how I managed to write this chapter. I started at 3 a.m., nodded off while writing, then woke up and wrote some more. Luckily, it's Sunday. If it were a workday, I would have been done for, haha.
Another chapter tonight!
Also, I started a lottery. Don't forget to participate, dear readers. The draw is on the 1st. I'll postpone the update time that evening~