The expressionless man asked, "Why didn't you stay down there and chat with him for another twenty minutes?"
Qi Sui sighed, rarely feeling the urge to complain. "He's so enthusiastic, I can't handle it."
LEO said, "Oh? Enthusiasm is enough to make you lose your composure?"
His words seemed to carry some implication, as if he was about to say something that would make Qi Sui even more flustered, making her scalp tingle.
She quickly shook her head. "As long as you don't deduct my salary, I'm fine with anything."
LEO smiled enigmatically, but there was no trace of laughter in his eyes.
"Be careful when you're out. Not just against criminals, but also against those with ulterior motives."
Qi Sui mumbled an "Oh" with her head drooping.
Deputy LEO graciously raised his hand and let her off. Then he glanced at his phone and said succinctly,
"Are you free next week?"
He then explained, "Not leisure time. I'm asking if you have any urgent work on hand."
Qi Sui shook her head. "Not for now."
LEO nodded.
"We'll probably need to go on a short business trip, but it's not decided yet. Either I can take you, or Sister S can."
Qi Sui asked, "Wouldn't it be more convenient if Sister S took me?"
LEO's expression grew colder. He frowned and asked, "Do you have a problem with me?"
Qi Sui's attitude wasn't obvious, but LEO, as a veteran of the workplace, could sense some issue in how she treated him.
He hesitated for some reason before cautiously probing, "Is it because of what I said to you before?"
"Don't misunderstand—" He paused, not knowing how to continue.
Ask Qi Sui not to misunderstand? But her misunderstanding wasn't entirely wrong.
He was indeed being aggressive and competitive. Jialin sister was right.
The person he liked had married another man, but now she wasn't happy. Since there was room for him to try, why shouldn't he?
Jialin sister had said that apart from being stubborn, he had no other flaws. Being stubborn wasn't bad in business, but in matters of the heart, it was absolutely unacceptable.
But in LEO's view, falling for someone was no different from eyeing a promising project. If he had ideas, he would fight tooth and nail.
He knew his thoughts were somewhat crazy. Qi Sui wasn't divorced yet; legally, she was still a married woman, and their marriage was protected by law. His behavior made him a complete homewrecker, someone who would have been arrested for hooliganism in the past.
But then again,
So what?
Others could intrude, and so could he.
If he succeeded, she would be both his first love and his wife. Being called a homewrecker wouldn't cost him a thing.
But he didn't dare say it openly.
No, he didn't dare say it to Qi Sui.
Maybe it was shyness or some other emotion—though LEO himself didn't admit he still had such adolescent feelings. But admitting to his first love that he wanted to be a homewrecker was just too degrading, wasn't it?
Although Qi Sui had a soft personality, that didn't mean she wouldn't slap him.
He could offer his face for her to slap, but afterward, Qi Sui would definitely run far away, and that wouldn't be a good deal.
Qi Sui only saw LEO pause and then trail off.
She quickly explained, "No, it's because—I feel more connected with Sister S, and..."
LEO frowned and asked, "So you think you're not connected with me?"
"More! More!" Qi Sui repeated in exasperation. "And if you're going on a business trip, shouldn't you bring your secretary? Sister S and I are more suited to go together, right?"
LEO spread his hands. "I don't have a secretary."
"I had one at headquarters, but after coming here, I figured I wouldn't be staying long, so I didn't hire one."
"Then, what's the business trip about?" Qi Sui stammered.
LEO finally turned serious and stopped pestering Qi Sui with those messy questions.
"As I mentioned before, most of the subsidiary's products are OEM from the parent company. For this big project from the International Department, we're planning to sign with a new material supplier, so it's best for a small leader to visit and inspect personally."
His expression turned grave. "It's fine if you and Sister S go, but Sister S isn't an employee of the subsidiary. If she goes to sign the contract, the subsidiary might not easily agree, so it's best if I go."
Qi Sui looked at his dark eyes and asked slowly,
"Then... do I have to go with you?"
LEO raised an eyebrow. "There's overtime pay, it counts as fieldwork, and meals and accommodation are all covered by the company. Do you have any other complaints?"
Of course she did. Her biggest complaint was her boss.
Qi Sui lowered her head and said softly, "No."
LEO nodded. "No, right? If not, press the elevator button."