Chapter 49

When it came time to turn in her work, Wei Xiaolu always found herself thinking back to four months ago, when she had taken over all of this with nothing in her hands.

That had been midsummer.

Now the indoor heating was on, but it wasn’t that cold outside either; the air was just damp and gloomy, and the forecast said there would be heavy rain next week. It was still too early for snow.

Perhaps because good news always lifted people’s spirits, the department had become noticeably more lively these past few days. Even Ai Jin, who was usually the practical one, had spent two whole hours chatting with Wei Xiaolu in the break room, teaching her about everything she’d run into and every hidden pitfall she’d stepped on.

“Actually, all of this happened back when Manager Chen was still here,” Ai Jin said, looking out the window. “Now that CEO Shen’s here, all this messy stuff has gotten a lot less.”

Wei Xiaolu could feel it too. After the departments merged, she felt much lighter. They were still busy, but not in that insane, over-the-top way from before.

“Once you’re regularized and officially hired,” Ai Jin said with hope in her eyes, “maybe our department won’t have any of this rotten stuff anymore.”

Wei Xiaolu smiled. “I may not even come to our department.” Shen Siyan had said she didn’t want to be coworkers with her anymore.

“If you go to another department then—if you ever run into something like this again and don’t know how to deal with it, just come find me anytime. Ah, but I still hope you won’t run into this kind of thing at all.”

“Thanks, Ms. Ai,” Wei Xiaolu said. “I’ll definitely come by often after that. The Network Product Operations Department is basically my hometown!”

Ai Jin laughed. “Then you’ll have to come home often.”

“I will.” Wei Xiaolu smiled too.

After she sent the technical documents to Qian Longyue, the weight on her shoulders finally lifted all at once.

The only thing left for her to do was help set up the venue in the main hall. This time the celebration banquet had a generous budget; the scale was comparable to the company’s annual meeting. More than three thousand a table—just for that meal alone, Wei Xiaolu felt she could die without regret. On top of that were all kinds of outrageous gifts and raffle prizes; there was simply no reason not to attend.

In order to look a little more presentable, Wei Xiaolu wore a wool sweater and a long skirt. Shen Siyan was dressed even more appropriately for the occasion: a burgundy suit, gray trousers, and a rose hairpin tucked into the back of her hair, like an honored guest here to receive an award.

Wei Xiaolu sat at a table with the colleagues from the work group, but her eyes had their own loyalties and kept drifting toward Shen Siyan’s side.

The hall was buzzing with energy. She couldn’t make out their conversation, and could only see the red wine in Shen Siyan’s hand; after clinking glasses with Vice President Mao, she would tilt it to her lips.

Was that color from the wine, or from lipstick? Shen Siyan’s lips really were beautiful.

That rich red, lightly pressed against the rim of the clear glass, was too far away for Wei Xiaolu to make out the details, but she could imagine the glass flattening the curve of those lips, the wine sliding in, the graceful line of her neck moving with it...

Stop, stop, stop.

Wei Xiaolu shook her head and quickly cut off those indecent, filthy thoughts before they could go any further.

Suddenly, the lights in the venue dimmed, leaving only the podium at the front of the hall lit.

The banquet was about to begin. Wei Xiaolu straightened up at once.

At that moment, Shen Siyan walked up with calm, measured steps, took the microphone, and swept her gaze across the room.

“First, I’d like to thank everyone here for the hard work of the past few months.”

Shen Siyan’s voice came through the speakers. It wasn’t loud or stirring, but whenever it reached Wei Xiaolu’s ears, it always carried a soothing strength.

“This victory does not belong to any one person. It belongs to everyone who, even in the face of difficulty, still chose to trust the team and fight side by side—you all.”

Wei Xiaolu’s breath caught. She knew she had a place in that “you all,” too.

After that, Shen Siyan gave the report and summary, reviewing the key work progress from the recent period.

Once the report was finished, she also presented honorary commendations to several colleagues with outstanding contributions, and officially announced Chen Yuran’s appointment as the person in charge of the special project.

After going up to give her speech of thanks, Chen Yuran came back and sat for only a little while before standing up and leaving.

Now it was Mao Qize speaking. Because of his so-called “excellent achievements,” Shen Siyan had recommended him for the company’s overseas training program.

Even after being kicked out of the department’s center of power, Vice President Mao still looked oddly pleased with himself. Or maybe he was just good at acting. Wei Xiaolu felt uncomfortable looking at the smugness of someone who’d gotten the better end of the deal, and then thought of Chen Yuran going out too, so she got up and headed outside.

Once she came out of the hall, she saw Chen Yuran turn at the far end of the corridor on the right and walk into the women’s restroom.

Wei Xiaolu vaguely felt that something was off, so she followed close behind.

But just as she was about to call out, “Sister Chen,” she heard restrained sobbing coming from inside a stall.

Wei Xiaolu froze for a moment, bit her lip, and quietly backed out.

She didn’t interrupt that release of emotion. Instead, she turned a corner and found a step to sit on.

The noise from the hall seeped through the crack in the door and became a muffled hum, like another world. In this corner of the corridor, the silence still carried faint crying, along with the soft rush of air from the vent overhead.

Wei Xiaolu hugged her knees and stared at the polished marble floor. Suddenly, she felt a little cold.

—Everyone wears a different version of themselves at work.

That thought hadn’t come to her without warning.

How could Mao Qize not understand the price of going abroad, when he’d already worked his way up to vice president? He simply needed to play the part of a lucky man full of triumph, to cover up the sorrow of being pushed out. And Chen Yuran, having finally shaken off control and earned a promotion and a raise, how could she possibly be calm as water? She was only suppressing her emotions in order to play the part of a steady, reliable new leader.

What about me?

Wei Xiaolu knew she wasn’t some bright, cheerful little sun. Her thoughts jumped all over the place, she was careless in the things she did, and Wei Jialuo always liked to say she was spooky and weird.

She didn’t deny it. She also thought that sometimes she really was kind of creepy; she could put on airs, feel hidden irritation and impatience, be cynical about the world, and show unpredictable moods.

But in front of Shen Siyan, she was performing the role of a good subordinate—obedient, hardworking, sweet-talking, and falsely ingratiating.

The shell of the workplace was gorgeous: applause, speeches, just the right amount of excitement, and restrained, proper smiles. People moved through it, recognizing one another through those shells, cooperating, competing, and even developing some faint, ambiguous attraction.

Just like her feelings for Shen Siyan. How much of that was admiration for Shen Siyan’s dazzling achievements, and how much was for Shen Siyan herself?

But thinking about it now was a little too little, too late.

After today’s celebration banquet, she would be packing up and leaving. The next time she might see Shen Siyan could be when she started work next year; those charms Shen Siyan had because of her job would probably fade gradually with time... but deep down, Wei Xiaolu also felt that thought was too pessimistic. How could the future be so set in stone? Even what would happen two hours from now was impossible to say.

Her phone vibrated. A new message.

Wei Xiaolu opened it.

[Shen Siyan: Where did you go?]

[Wei Xiaolu: I stepped out to make a call, CEO Shen]

[Shen Siyan: Okay, come back after you’re done]

[Shen Siyan: The blueberry yam has been served. I ordered it specially for you and asked the chef to add a lot of blueberries]

Wei Xiaolu’s eyes grew a little hot and sore.

She’d always known she wouldn’t want to leave, but she was very good at acting calm. Parting wouldn’t make her cry; gentleness would.

Rubbing her eyes, she replied to Shen Siyan with [Love you, gorgeous], then hurried back to fight for the food.

There were a few little activities interspersed during dinner. Wei Xiaolu won a pile of prizes, but she didn’t get the attractive mouse she wanted, which was a pity.

The big bag of prizes was pretty heavy to carry. She wanted to linger a little longer and wait for Shen Siyan to drive her home.

But after sitting there another half hour, she suddenly remembered that Shen Siyan had been drinking and couldn’t drive, and that Shen Siyan would probably be tied up socializing for a long time. Wei Xiaolu had no choice but to leave in regret.

She still needed to go back and pack her things. Her parents were coming to pick her up tomorrow, and if she still hadn’t made a move by then, her family would definitely step in and help. She didn’t want to leave Shen Siyan with the final impression that she was helpless and couldn’t take care of herself.

Wei Xiaolu looked toward Shen Siyan.

After looking for a few minutes, and seeing that there weren’t many people around, she walked over. “CEO Shen, I’m heading back.”

“You’re leaving already?” Shen Siyan leaned back and looked over.

“Mm.” Wei Xiaolu nodded.

When Shen Siyan leaned back, the bun at the back of her head brushed the chair and loosened slightly; the hairpin slid down a little too.

“Ah—” Wei Xiaolu reached out and caught the rose hairpin as it fell.

Shen Siyan answered with a laugh.

“CEO Shen,” Wei Xiaolu said, holding the hairpin out to her, “do you still want to pin your hair up?”

“No.” Shen Siyan lifted a hand and smoothed her hair, then asked, “I gave you the hairpin. Will you wait for me so we can leave together?”

A tiny current shot from Wei Xiaolu’s fingertips straight to her chest.

“You gave it to me?” she repeated before she could think.

It wasn’t that she didn’t believe it; she was just too dazed. Her mind was full of Shen Siyan wearing it, shining brilliantly.

Shen Siyan didn’t answer. There was a trace of a smile at the corner of her mouth, and her eyes held no urgency; she only raised her brows slightly, quietly.

“Thank you, CEO Shen.” Wei Xiaolu felt a pulse of understanding pass between them. She accepted the hairpin and said softly, “Then I’ll sit a while longer and leave after you’re done here.”

“I won’t let you wait for nothing.”

Shen Siyan only got that far, because someone else came over to clink glasses with her again, so Wei Xiaolu had no choice but to clutch this “payment” exchanged for waiting and return to the table, where she absentmindedly ate a few more bites.

After sending off a few leaders, Shen Siyan finally broke away from the socializing, arranged for staff to clear things out, and strode out of the hall.

Wei Xiaolu had waited all this time, only for Shen Siyan to leave as soon as the event ended. She felt a little down, but could only hurry after her.

She squeezed through the door with the gifts in her arms and hurried a few steps before realizing that the direction Shen Siyan was heading in was the restroom at the end of the corridor.

Wei Xiaolu: “...”

She’d thought Shen Siyan had forgotten her and was just leaving.

Now that she felt relieved, her pace slowed, and she walked forward at an unhurried pace.

But just as she neared the restroom, Wei Xiaolu suddenly caught a faint sound of vomiting. Her nerves snapped tight at once; she dropped the prizes and rushed inside.

“CEO Shen!” She ran to the sink and patted Shen Siyan’s back. “Did you eat something bad?”

Shen Siyan quickly reached out to feel for the water and flushed the basin clean.

“I drank too much too fast,” Shen Siyan said, covering her mouth loosely with the back of her hand. “My stomach doesn’t feel good.”

“Still feel like throwing up?” Wei Xiaolu rubbed her back twice.

Shen Siyan shook her head and said she was much better, then took a bottle of mouthwash from the cabinet and rinsed her mouth.

“If you still feel bad, just throw it all up,” Wei Xiaolu said, pulling tissues from her pocket and handing them over. “It’ll be a long time before we can make hangover soup when we get back, so that won’t be in time. Wait for me a moment; I’ll go buy some medicine for you to take first.”

Before Shen Siyan could say anything, Wei Xiaolu had already zipped off.

Outside the company, there was a pharmacy by the roadside. Wei Xiaolu bought some medicine to ease nausea after drinking, paid, and ran back to the hall. Shen Siyan wasn’t there, so she found her way back to the restroom, where she saw Shen Siyan lightly patting her cheeks with cold water.

Her face was paler than before. Wei Xiaolu kept feeling like she might have thrown up again, and her chest felt a little tight.

“CEO Shen, I bought the medicine,” Wei Xiaolu said, panting as she tore open the packaging. “Take the chewable first; it’s for protecting your stomach, then take this one to ease the nausea.”

After Shen Siyan followed her instructions and took the medicine, Wei Xiaolu said, “And there’s oral rehydration salts too; drink this as well, and you’ll feel a bit better...”

Before she could finish, the end of her sentence vanished in front of Shen Siyan’s face as Shen Siyan slowly moved closer.

Shen Siyan was very, very close to her now; their noses were almost touching, their breaths already tangled together.

Just before Wei Xiaolu completely froze, Shen Siyan suddenly pulled back and held out her hand.

It was a small box. Wei Xiaolu looked at the picture on it and then realized it was the mouse prize.

She didn’t know exactly how drunk Shen Siyan was right now, but she knew that she herself was already too dazed to tell the present from the past.

“I saw you didn’t get the mouse,” Shen Siyan said with a smile. “You said your mouse wasn’t easy to use, right? I won this one. Take it and use it.”

It was a little like a farewell gift.

Wei Xiaolu genuinely wanted it, and didn’t refuse. She took it right away, planning to seize the chance to get a little sentimental and express her reluctance to part. But when she looked up and saw Shen Siyan’s tender, lingering gaze, she suddenly felt that maybe... maybe the awareness in her subconscious was real. They couldn’t possibly just part here.

“CEO Shen, I really am grateful for your guidance and help over these past four months,” Wei Xiaolu said, and then her mind stumbled, remembering, “But you also need to drink this oral rehydration solution first. You’ll feel better after you do.”

Shen Siyan laughed, took it, opened it, and drank it down. “Does little sister also have something to say?”

“Mm...” Wei Xiaolu still felt embarrassed saying it, so she simply spoke plainly. “It’s just... I’m about to leave, and I really can’t bear to part with you, CEO Shen.”

“If you can’t bear to part with me, then don’t leave.” Shen Siyan said this all of a sudden.

Wei Xiaolu understood that this was just politeness, meant to make each other happy, so she laughed and said, “Then I won’t leave. I’ll keep working with you, by your side every day.”

“Working is enough. Don’t come in anymore. Once your internship ends, rest properly,” Shen Siyan said. “Just keep me company after work. Wait for me to bring dinner home at night, and after we eat, we can go for a walk in the square... What’s wrong, little sister? Why that expression?”

Wei Xiaolu rubbed her face and asked, not very confidently, “Can I still keep living in the apartment?”

“Mm-hm.” Shen Siyan looked at her. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t bear to part with me?”

“Ah.” Wei Xiaolu blinked hard. After holding it in for a while, she finally managed to form the words: “But I’m not an intern anymore. Can I still keep living in the staff apartment...?”

“I’ve been allotted this whole place. The room would just sit empty anyway. You could go back to school and live with your roommates, but it’d be better to stay here and live with me,” Shen Siyan said as she spoke, and her drunkenness seemed to deepen. Her eyelids lowered slightly, and she let out a soft laugh. “Besides, it’d save me from having to call you specially at night when I want to hear you talk.”