"No, no need. It's really nice, but I have no use for it."
These words reminded LEO of the endless chatter from his cousin last night that had given him a headache. He paused, put down the tie, interlaced his fingers, rested his chin on them, and slowly organized his words.
"Your situation... Sister S told me about it."
He seemed unsure how to begin, then quickly added an explanation:
"I mean, don't blame her for meddling. She can be a bit careless sometimes. If that upset you, then I apologize on her behalf."
Qi Sui felt relieved.
Letting her boss know she was in the process of divorce was far more dignified than having him catch her staring at his chest.
Qi Sui was crying inside, she meant it.
This was also LEO's first time dealing with such a situation. He pondered for a long time before asking:
"Is there anything you think I can help with?"
In a place Qi Sui couldn't see, LEO nervously swallowed. The itch in his throat near his teeth had turned into pain, and just swallowing couldn't relieve it.
He was afraid Qi Sui would say that unspeakable answer, but he was also nervous she wouldn't say it, leaving him even more unsettled.
Despite being mixed-race, he had received a Chinese education. In matters of affection, Chinese people were mostly reserved and restrained, and he had absorbed that.
He couldn't say such "vulgar" words directly, especially since Qi Sui had already called him a "bitch." But he didn't know how to express his thoughts. If he didn't say it directly, wouldn't Qi Sui never understand?
That's right.
He definitely couldn't be so cheap, couldn't just come out and say he loved her to death.
If he did, he would surely be scolded again.
But to his disappointment, Qi Sui just paused, then shook her head and answered him sincerely:
"I don't think you can help me with anything."
She quickly added a few words, as if smoothing things over: "Of course, I still need your help at work. Were there any omissions in the information I recorded yesterday?"
Naturally, she shifted the topic to work.
Qi Sui was proud of herself.
So LEO nodded, pulled up the files on his computer, pointed out the clauses, and explained them one by one.
How to revise the content, where the main outline had issues, and the conflicts related to the International Department's current project—basically, major rewrites and minor touch-ups.
By the time their "little meeting" ended, Qi Sui was sprawled on the sofa like a crispy pancake, ready to fall apart at the lightest touch.
When it came to work, LEO never slacked and never showed mercy.
He frowned as he flipped through the earlier documents, his face full of displeasure:
"This document is too rough. Many of the clauses have been revised internally many times. I need you to review the latest documents more carefully and not make such basic mistakes."
It was too painful.
Qi Sui gritted her teeth, feeling a surge of hatred toward Sister S.
Who would want to date their boss? Who would want to have a fling with a critical, cross-level boss like this? Right now, she wished she could throw her name badge in LEO's face.
But she couldn't.
Qi Sui was like a deflated balloon, her eyes vacant.
LEO watched her like this, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, his eyes deep, as if recalling something.
In the tender college days, if there was anything that left a deep impression on LEO, it was her vibrant demeanor.
She came every day full of energy and left deflated.
Clearly unsuited for Model United Nations, she nevertheless stammered out her opinions.
LEO admired such people, but he couldn't lie and say her debating skills were excellent. So when the minister asked for his opinion, he symbolically praised her—
"She seems like a very energetic junior."
The minister smiled and didn't let her go.
But Qi Sui never came back the following semester.
At that time, LEO didn't have her contact information. By the time he heard news of her again, she was already married.
Round and round.
Even he had to sigh, "Time flies."
"Difficult?" He felt a rare urge to joke. "Want me to handle it?"
"Really?"
Qi Sui's eyes sparkled.
LEO struggled to look away from those beautiful willow-leaf eyes.
He said, "What do you think?"
Qi Sui pursed her lips.