The project was assigned to each person, and bonuses would be distributed according to contributions, so everyone was very motivated.
The deputy director came over to her, tapped her desk, and asked what she'd like to drink. Qi Sui smiled and said she didn't drink coffee, so she could just order for the department staff only.
"That won't do." The deputy director insisted she order a hot chocolate. "I was the one who handled the document handover with Song Zhibin earlier. I know best how he writes. But since the project hasn't been implemented, I can't always force him to revise it. Now that you're handling it, I consider you part of our department."
Song Zhibin was Engineer Song, the colleague who had palmed off this document to Qi Sui.
"But isn't the Planning Department busy?"
The deputy director explained, "Didn't your floor on the third level have a lot of interaction with the Planning Department before? I saw you and that... Director Qian, right? You were discussing work together several times."
Qi Sui was taken aback and answered quietly, "I've transferred that part of the work to Engineer Song."
"That's good," the deputy director said with emotion.
"Actually, the Planning Department was without a leader for a while. After LEO transferred over recently, he managed it temporarily. If nothing unexpected happens, the future head of the Planning Department will probably be Director Qian."
She comforted Qi Sui again: "It's good that you're not involved with them. The branch is now aligning with headquarters and implementing block management; things are messy and chaotic."
Qi Sui had no objection to that. She only caught one point from the deputy director's words:
"LEO?" She rephrased, "The new deputy, LEO? He temporarily managed the Planning Department before?"
The deputy director leaned against her desk, lazily placing the department's coffee order before replying with a thoughtful "Mm":
"Although he wasn't the director, he was considered half a boss."
She patted her head and explained to Qi Sui, "You were on the third floor before, so you probably don't know. The previous director of the Planning Department was transferred to headquarters—a promotion, actually. The deputy director, Kevin, is diligent and honest, but he can't quite keep the staff in line."
Qi Sui hadn't paid attention to these matters.
She was thinking about something else involving Qian Jin.
Actually, when she had secretly looked through Qian Jin's phone while he was sleeping, aside from seeing those disgusting chat records, she also saw a contact pinned at the top—the same person she had added two days ago as "Xiang Yu."
In Qian Jin's WeChat, there were two accounts closely connected to him under the name "Xiang Yu." The chat records on one were empty, with only a few messages from Qian Jin that sounded like a subordinate reporting to a superior.
But when Qi Sui logged out of Qian Jin's account on his phone, she found he had another account registered with a backup number. On that account, under the name "YU," the chat records were full of affectionate exchanges.
The same profile picture, the same note, the same pin.
Qian Jin's profile picture was still a dog caught in the rain.
How could Qi Sui not overthink?
She sneered, feeling that this man was both stupid and wicked, and yet she had fallen into the pit and couldn't stand up.
Aren't there plenty of stories about a man with two phones—one for family, one for work? Besides, two tough men speaking sweetly to each other was both sticky and disgusting. If they hadn't mentioned Qi Sui, it might be forgivable, but she saw the most horrifying record.
Statements like "Your wife really doesn't know what's good for her. She has such a good husband but complains all the time."
And "If only we could be together openly."
What wishful thinking.
Qi Sui pursed her lips. Suddenly she felt she should consider Sister S's suggestion—making Qian Jin and his male mistress's lives miserable would be a good outcome.
"When the coffee arrives, help distribute it. I'll take the opportunity to explain to them that they should include you in the regular meetings from now on." The deputy director patted Qi Sui's arm.
Qi Sui's train of thought was interrupted. She nodded and said she understood.
Before long, the deputy director waved her over and said apologetically:
"The department ordered too much coffee. I need you, Xiao Qi, to go down and pick it up. But it's not too much trouble. There's a cart in the storage room next door that we use for samples. Just take that. Sorry for the trouble."
Qi Sui agreed.
She pushed the cart downstairs, and as she went, she ran into a vibrant face. The face had a sweet smile, wearing a coffee shop apron with the shop's logo printed on it, and a headscarf wrapped around the hair.
"Sis, need any help?" It was the so-called "young man" that Sister S had pointed out in the coffee shop before.
He was holding two large insulated boxes, squatting on the ground, lifting the lids to reveal neatly arranged cups of coffee—over a hundred in total. He looked up and smiled brightly at Qi Sui.
"Uh, no need, you..." Qi Sui hesitated, looking at the neatly packed coffee in the insulated boxes.
The intern smiled and said, "Just call me Xiao Xiang."
Then he rolled up his sleeves, looking full of energy.
"I'll help Sis put them up."
"Alright... thanks for the trouble, Xiao Xiang."
Xiang? Which Xiang?
Qi Sui's emotions were now in a state of paranoia.
She looked complicatedly at Xiao Xiang as he huffed and puffed, neatly stacking over a hundred cups of coffee, placing them on her cart, then wiping the sweat from his face. With some admiration, he looked up and exclaimed loudly:
"Sis, your company is really huge."
Qi Sui: "It's okay."
She wanted to turn and leave quickly, but Xiao Xiang started chatting away: "Speaking of which, I actually applied to your company when I sent out my resume. Unfortunately, I wasn't well-prepared for the interview and got rejected."
His tone was very sincere: "Sis, you're really amazing. If only I could join this company too."
What could Qi Sui say?
She could only laugh it off and turn to push the cart away.
Behind her, Xiao Xiang waved at her enthusiastically.
She wasn't good at small talk, and even worse at dealing with overly warm people at first meeting.
It wasn't until she entered the elevator that she let out a sigh of relief.
She turned around and found herself facing a man who raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. Looking closer, except for his expressionless face, his eyelids drooped habitually, half-closed as he looked at her as if he didn't recognize her.
Author's note:
----------------------
I'm here!