Just before lunch break, Ji Meng unexpectedly appeared. This rare visitor to Public Relations attracted plenty of attention, including Manager Cui’s. Ji Meng entered An Zi Yan’s office, shut the door, crossed her legs, and sat directly on the sofa. “You’re even ruder than I thought. You didn’t specifically call me down here just to thank me, did you?” Her tone was sarcastic, though she did not sound angry.
“I only wanted to ask how Fu Shu is doing.”
“I think you know how he’s doing better than I do. Couldn’t you come up with a worse excuse? I guaranteed you only because I didn’t want the company to lose a highly capable manager over such a small matter. Please don’t misunderstand and think I have feelings for you, or that I did it out of consideration for that person.” Ji Meng was never stingy with either praise or coldness. Whatever she thought, she said directly.
“I’m not stupid enough to think a cold-blooded animal has feelings. You only need to sit on that sofa for twenty minutes.” His tone was neither an order nor a request. Whether she stayed or left was entirely her choice. Ji Meng studied An Zi Yan meaningfully for several seconds, then reached behind herself and pulled down the blinds.
Now that nobody outside could see what was happening inside, the coworkers began speculating. Some even imagined suggestive scenes. It seemed their rumors really had been true. Otherwise, why would Manager Ji have guaranteed An Zi Yan? Guo Ping and the others found the idea completely reasonable, as if An Zi Yan being with practically anyone made sense. If they knew that An Zi Yan’s real lover was Mai Ding, the man with the supposedly scandalous private life sitting right beside them, would they still think so?
If only I were transparent. Then Mai Ding could press his ear to the office door and listen to what they were saying inside. Really, there was no helping Mai Ding. If he were transparent, he could simply walk into the office and watch them directly. Why would he still need to crouch outside the door and eavesdrop? Even his fantasies lacked ambition.
Mai Ding certainly did not think anything suggestive was happening inside. Neither An Zi Yan nor Ji Meng was that kind of person. But why had Ji Meng come down? Could it be something involving Fu Shu? Very possible. Ji Meng was a manager and a rich second-generation heiress. Maybe she was dissatisfied that her boyfriend worked handling matters for An Zi Yan. Was she planning to buy Fu Shu’s freedom?! That would not do. Without Mai Ding and Fu Shu around, An Zi Yan’s life would definitely fall into chaos. Even though Mai Ding still had not spoken much with Fu Shu, for no particular reason he felt as though he had known the man for years and already regarded him as family. But he could not be too selfish either. Fu Shu had his own happiness to pursue. It was reasonable for a woman to want her boyfriend to have more prospects. What a difficult situation. Come to think of it, had Fu Shu and Ji Meng actually started dating yet?
Sigh. Like an anxious old mother, Mai Ding’s thoughts wandered farther and farther until Liu Wei called him. “Hey, Mai Ding, time to eat.”
“Wait, I’m coming.”
He glanced once more at the office door, still tightly shut, then followed everyone out. The office became quiet, with only four or five people remaining. Manager Cui sat perfectly still in his chair, listening for any sound from next door, but unfortunately he could hear nothing. Ji Meng finally emerged. Manager Cui pretended to be busy with his own work. He was not sure whether he imagined it, but he thought Ji Meng glanced in his direction. No, it was not his imagination. She really did look at him, wearing a smile whose meaning he could not understand.
Ever since Manager Cui took control, An Zi Yan’s subordinates in Public Relations had moved their base of operations to the employee cafeteria. Without exception, they first took turns cursing Manager Cui from top to bottom and inside out before discussing anything else. They had accumulated far too much resentment, especially since Manager Cui forbade them from saying anything unrelated to work.
Fan Shao Jun threw down his chopsticks and planted his hands on his hips. “I can’t even eat anymore. Public Relations is practically a Nazi camp now! If he dares yell at me again, I’m quitting.”
“Don’t get worked up. We only have to endure this a little longer.”
“Who knows how much longer? Is this the old feudal society? Who exploits people the way he does? I think all he wants is to use this project to claim credit with the executives. What else is he planning, to squeeze President Wang out of his position?”
“Keep your voice down.” Feng Fei Meng gestured toward Manager Cui’s subordinates sitting behind them.
“Let them report me if they want. If they enjoy being slaves, they can keep being slaves. If I were them, I’d feel even more miserable. They’ve been in Public Relations for so many years and count as senior staff, yet Manager Cui still curses them until they can’t even lift their heads. At least Yan respects them more.” Fan Shao Jun’s temper had flared. Mai Ding tried to calm him. “Enough, enough. Be rational. Maybe Manager Cui wants to see you furious while being unable to do anything about him.” Fan Shao Jun picked up his chopsticks again. “I think he’s going through menopause.”
The senior coworkers sitting behind them were not deaf. They had heard every word and could only lower their heads and eat in silence.
“Mai Ding, when you finish eating, bring Yan some food first. He probably won’t be able to come down for a while.”
“Mm.” Mai Ding nodded, sped up his eating, then picked up the food Feng Fei Meng had bought. He waved to them. “I’m heading up first. Take your time.” When the elevator doors opened, Mai Ding was about to rush toward An Zi Yan’s office, but he noticed several people were still around. He had no choice but to slow down and pretend to stroll in casually. Before he even set down the food, he lowered his voice and asked, “Are you going to let Manager Ji buy Fu Shu’s freedom?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Manager Ji didn’t come here because of Fu Shu?”
An Zi Yan glanced sideways at Mai Ding. “Please try to control the limits of your imagination.” Mai Ding had no time to care about the sarcasm and immediately asked another question. “Then what did Manager Ji come here for?”
“I called her.”
“You called her? Why?”
“To have her come downstairs and watch me play a game for twenty minutes.”
“Who do you think you are?! You called Manager Ji down just to watch you play a game? Why don’t you call President Wang over to clean your office while you’re at it?! You won’t be satisfied until you get fired, will you?”
“Even if I get fired, you’re not next in line for this position.”
“I’m not competing with you! At least reflect on yourself a little.”
“I have nothing worth reflecting on.” His attitude was infuriating beyond belief. Who had spoiled him this badly? It definitely was not Mai Ding. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Fei Meng and the others will be back soon. I have to go out too.” Mai Ding had declared countless times that he did not want to talk to An Zi Yan, yet there was never any sign that he had actually succeeded.
An Zi Yan’s relaxed attitude, however, kept Manager Cui’s nerves stretched tight. He had accidentally seen An Zi Yan talking with Zhu Qiang. The moment Manager Cui approached, both men stopped speaking. Ji Meng, Zhu Qiang, Cao Cheng Yi, even President Wang, all of them seemed to be on An Zi Yan’s side. He had no idea how many more people in the company belonged to that circle. He could not keep waiting like this. He had to pull President Wang down as quickly as possible. Once he sat in President Wang’s position, he would have nothing left to fear. His anxiety began affecting his mood and his sleep. He vented more and more anger on the people beneath him, convinced that every one of them was useless.