Chapter 13

The kidnapping had worked.

After wrapping things up with Tao Wei, Wei Xiaolu swaggered off without once looking back.

But once she got back to the office and saw Shen Siyan, she still felt a tiny pang of guilt... She’d just used CEO Shen’s influence to pressure Tao Wei, and that did make her feel a little sorry toward Shen Siyan.

CEO Shen was still discussing the outsourcing issue with Ai Jin.

“Since all these outsourcing companies ultimately belong to the Zhaolan group,” Ai Jin said after a pause, “I think we should just skip them altogether. Let’s find someone else.”

Hm? Wei Xiaolu pricked up her ears.

Shen Siyan nodded slowly. “I think so too.”

“But we can’t just pick blindly. There are risks with companies we haven’t worked with before too,” Ai Jin said.

Shen Siyan thought for a moment. “How about this: take Wei Xiaolu and ask around in the other departments. See which outsourcing companies they’ve worked with before. We’ll choose from those.”

“Sure.” Ai Jin agreed.

After a few more words, everything was settled. She turned to Wei Xiaolu and lifted her chin. “Let’s go, Xiaolu. We’re asking around.”

So Wei Xiaolu, who had only just sat down, was dragged out again by Ai Jin, looking every bit the windblown laborer.

Not every department had outsourcing business; only some internet-related departments had done this kind of cooperation before. After checking several departments and still not finding a company that satisfied them, Wei Xiaolu suddenly remembered hearing the seniors talk about it back when she’d been in the network department.

“I think the network department’s positioning system was outsourced,” Wei Xiaolu told Ai Jin.

“Oh, right, I think so too,” Ai Jin said. “Come on, let’s go ask Director Zeng.”

When Zeng Cui heard that they’d decided to give up on rebuilding and choose maintenance instead, he gave Wei Xiaolu a relieved smile.

“I’ll definitely recommend the best ones to you,” Zeng Cui said, opening his contacts. He searched for a long time before finally pulling out two phone numbers. “Both of these companies are good. One made our positioning system, and the other made our network communication software. We’ve used them for years, and there’s never been the slightest problem. They’re absolutely reliable.”

“You really saved us, Director Zeng,” Ai Jin said with a smile.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Zeng Cui said, his face creasing with a hint of embarrassment as he raised a hand. “Our two departments are old neighbors. Of course we help each other out. We’re all improving together.”

Ai Jin seemed to trust Zeng Cui very much. After getting the two contacts from him, she didn’t bother checking the other departments they might have missed.

Since these tech companies all belonged to Zhaolan, that connection also meant they had to factor in the long-standing tangle of interests between Chen Dongqi and Zhaolan. The previous tech company’s cooperation ended there, and then came the repeated process of research, negotiation, and contract signing.

But with the experience they’d had before, things went extremely smoothly this time. In less than three days, Ai Jin had signed a contract with one of the companies Zeng Cui recommended, the one with the shorter timeline.

Wei Xiaolu came back with the contract and reported to Shen Siyan; that marked the end of the recent hectic stretch for her and Ai Jin.

Once Shen Siyan saw the matter was settled, she immediately held a meeting to announce it to everyone. She also took the opportunity to ask at the meeting, “All right, the troublesome issue is finally resolved. Everyone can breathe a little easier now, right?”

Wei Xiaolu saw everyone nod.

“I’ve been here for about two weeks, but I still haven’t had the chance to really talk to many of you. So, on Friday night, I’ll host dinner for everyone,” Shen Siyan said. “Think of it as our team’s first informal gathering. If you’re free, come along. We’ll set work aside and have a proper meal together, and get to know one another.”

The moment Shen Siyan finished speaking, it was as if a crack had been punched through the stagnant air in the conference room, and everything started moving at once.

“Wow! Thank you, CEO Shen!”

Whoever spoke first, a chorus of enthusiastic voices quickly followed.

“CEO Shen is generous!”

“I’ll definitely be there!”

Even a few of the young colleagues who had been sitting stiffly with straight backs couldn’t hide their excitement anymore; they exchanged looks that clearly said, finally, we can relax.

Wei Xiaolu didn’t feel much as she listened. She only thought it was great to get a free meal again.

But when she secretly glanced at Shen Siyan and saw the faint smile at the corner of her lips, the emptiness in Wei Xiaolu’s heart was suddenly replaced by a sense of pride by association.

“Good. Later, Xiaolu and I will arrange everything and send the restaurant information to the group chat,” Shen Siyan decided with finality, then ended with a joke. “Do your best to show up and support me, everyone.”

She’s really using me like an assistant.

After the meeting ended, Wei Xiaolu was responsible for collecting headcounts and arranging the restaurant. As she worked, she glared quietly at Shen Siyan’s back.

I’ll forgive you generously since you’re treating us.

But Shen Siyan seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. While Wei Xiaolu was still glaring, she suddenly flicked her long hair and turned to look back.

Wei Xiaolu changed expressions faster than the weather in June. “CEO Shen?”

“For the dinner, you’ll go with everyone,” Shen Siyan said, brushing aside a strand of hair that had fallen over her eyes. “Also, I’ll probably stay very late. After you finish eating, go home first.”

“Got it.” Wei Xiaolu answered calmly.

But when it was actually time to leave, her mood suddenly took a ninety-degree nosedive and turned pretty bad.

Everyone in the company was busy arranging who would ride with whom. Wei Xiaolu wasn’t close with the people who had cars, so she stood off to the side like an abandoned decoration.

Then she spotted Tao Wei and suddenly remembered that Tao Wei had an electric scooter. Like she’d seen a savior, Wei Xiaolu hurried over. “Weiwei, how are you getting there?”

Tao Wei didn’t even look at her. “I’m riding in Vice President Mao’s car.”

With that, she walked off without another word, looking like she didn’t want to say anything else.

Left standing alone at the intersection, Wei Xiaolu suddenly found herself missing Shen Siyan’s passenger seat.

Why didn’t CEO Shen want to give her a ride to the restaurant too?

Was it because she was just a lowly intern, and riding in the minister’s car would make the minister look less important?

Wei Xiaolu felt a kind of disappointment she couldn’t quite name.

She had thought that if she got close to Shen Siyan, she’d naturally blend into the department; but in reality, because she was still fundamentally just an intern, her closeness with the minister hadn’t turned into real social capital. Instead, it had created an invisible barrier between her and the ordinary colleagues.

She was still an outsider.

But being an outsider... wasn’t that actually pretty good?

She comforted herself, telling herself she didn’t really need to fit into the circle, and gradually began to feel justified about it. Then, in one glance, she saw Shen Siyan driving off with a car full of vice presidents, directors, and managers, and all at once a lonely, drifting feeling surged up in her.

So she was like a scrap of paper wedged in a crack in the wall; unsupported above or below, insignificant in every way.

Wei Xiaolu stared at the familiar car kicking up dust as it disappeared into the distance and didn’t blink for a long time.

Only when an unfamiliar car stopped in front of her and rolled down its window did she move.

Wang Chen was at the wheel, grinning at her with obvious enthusiasm. “Xiaolu! Get in, I’ll take you there.”

She shouldn’t have answered that enthusiasm.

She shouldn’t have gotten into Wang Chen’s car; she shouldn’t have sat at the same table with Wang Chen after they got to the restaurant.

But the absurd fact was that she did all of it anyway.

At a dinner where the colleagues around her were chatting in twos and threes about mortgages, car loans, romantic gossip, and their children’s education, having someone willing to talk to you, chat about everyday things, and not leave you completely unable to join in unless you buried your head in your food and fruit meant Wei Xiaolu unconsciously went along with it.

She really regretted coming to this dinner.

“Xiaolu, try this,” Wang Chen said, putting a piece of cheese pumpkin on her plate. “You’ll definitely like it.”

“Thanks, Engineer Wang. I can help myself,” Wei Xiaolu said politely with a smile, using the communal chopsticks to take another dish for herself. Then she turned to the colleague beside her. “By the way, Sister Liu, I’ve been thinking about getting a potted plant lately. The one in your office is so well cared for. What kind is it?”

“Oh, I bought it online. I’ll send you the link later,” Sister Liu said, and then immediately started calling her son to hurry up and do his homework.

Wei Xiaolu had nowhere to talk and nowhere to put her words; stuck in the middle, she grew increasingly uncomfortable.

Earlier, Shen Siyan had said she should leave after eating; now she wanted to leave before she’d even finished and find some excuse to go.

She stole a glance at Shen Siyan, who was surrounded by everyone in the center of the table.

Shen Siyan sat in the seat of honor, smiling and talking with ease. Goblets filled with wine crossed in front of one another, and cheerful laughter drifted from that table.

Wei Xiaolu peeked a few times, then lowered her head and looked at the orange-yellow juice in her own cup.

What a stark contrast.

For some reason, Wei Xiaolu felt invisible.

Like the one person who had vanished under the spotlight.

An indescribable melancholy and irritation slowly seeped into her heart.

Wei Xiaolu set down her chopsticks, looked at her phone, which had no messages at all, and said to Wang Chen, “I’m heading out first. My mom wants me to get home quickly, and I still need to catch the bus.”

“Why are you leaving after only staying this little while?” Wang Chen stopped her. “Tell Auntie it’s fine. I’ll take you back after I finish.”

“No need, no need. Thanks, Engineer Wang,” Wei Xiaolu said, pushing past him and running out. “I won’t trouble you.”

When she came out of the restaurant, Wei Xiaolu saw Shen Siyan’s car parked at the entrance.

Wait, Shen Siyan had been drinking; who was going to drive that car later?

Wei Xiaolu was just about to turn back, but then she suddenly froze.

What would she go back for? First, she hadn’t touched a car in three years since getting her license, so she couldn’t drive; second, wouldn’t Shen Siyan call a designated driver? There was no need for her to worry.

No need for her to worry at all.

No need for her to run around before and after.

Just a superior.

Not worth her keeping in mind like this.

Thinking that way, when Tang Xiaofen called her and asked whether she was coming home tonight, Wei Xiaolu still couldn’t help hesitating for a moment before saying, “Mom, it’s getting a little late. I won’t come back this week.”

“Oh dear, girl, did you only get off work this late because you’ve been busy?” Tang Xiaofen asked with concern.

“Mm,” Wei Xiaolu replied lightly. “I’m going back to the apartment.”

“Then hurry and rest when you get back. Don’t stay up late; what was that called... don’t go doomscrolling on your phone,” Tang Xiaofen instructed. “I’ll transfer you some money later. Go have a good time in the city over the weekend.”

For the first time, Wei Xiaolu felt a pang of sadness while receiving her living expenses.

She didn’t know what had come over her, but she blurted out, “Mom, I’ll definitely earn good money in the future. I’ll buy a big house in the city center and bring all of you over, so you can live a comfortable life without having to get up early every day to sell noodles.”

“Oh my, how hard it is for young people to work these days. Why buy a house? As long as you have a place to live and can take care of yourself, that’s enough,” Tang Xiaofen said. “Keep the money. Don’t tell your brother, or he’ll say I’m favoring you again.”

“You’re not favoring me at all,” Wei Xiaolu said, tears already welling up.

“Heh, of course not. You and your brother are both my flesh and blood; I love you both the same,” Tang Xiaofen said with a warm laugh.

Wei Xiaolu wiped at her tears and laughed along with her.

After hanging up, Wei Xiaolu squatted under a streetlamp and stayed silent for a while.

A few minutes later, she got up and walked to a nearby supermarket.

She bought some apples, hawthorn berries, and brown sugar.

Carrying them back to the apartment, she started washing a pot, boiling water, and cutting the fruit before adding brown sugar; she was making a hangover soup.

The water in the pot bubbled and rolled. Wei Xiaolu stood in front of the stove, watching the chopped apples and hawthorn pieces tumble in the water, and felt as if a part of her own body had also shattered.

...She was being passively broken down in this boiling emotional water.

Shen Siyan was her boss.

Her superior.

Someone she absolutely could not place on the same level as herself.

So what was there to struggle over? Flattering a superior was just workplace survival instinct.

So even if she had to lick up to Shen Siyan like a dog, what was there to feel pathetic about? Letting go of her student-like pride and any inappropriate little thoughts, and going along with the rules of this society—wasn’t that what she was supposed to do?

But why were tears still spilling out uncontrollably?

Through those blurred eyes, Wei Xiaolu trembled and picked up her phone, sending Shen Siyan a message.

[Wei Xiaolu: Gorgeous~ You worked so hard tonight! I specially made a secret hangover soup recipe; it works really well. It’s warming on the stove. I’ll be at home waiting for you together with the hangover soup~]

The message went through. At last, unable to hold it in any longer, she threw down her phone, raised a hand to cover her eyes, and cried softly, with restraint.

TL Note:

doomscrolling (报复性玩手机) = mindlessly overusing your phone as a way to “make up for” being unable to use it before, changed to doomscrolling for smoother reading

hangover soup (醒酒汤) = a homemade Chinese remedy for easing a hangover.

both my flesh and blood (手心手背都是肉) = both children are equally cherished; neither is favored.