Twenty

 Today was Su Hao’s first day formally taking over Chen Yu’s job. Her workstation was also moved to where Chen Yu used to sit, placing her very close to Lu Mimi.

Su Hao’s previous position was also fine, but many documents needed to be transferred back and forth, which was very troublesome. So, she had to take Chen Yu’s spot. When new recruits are brought in, they will be assigned to Su Hao’s old desk. Lu Mimi was very busy all morning, coming in and out without sparing Su Hao a glance.

She was dressed beautifully today, in a tight skirt.

Su Hao was also very busy from the moment she started working. Previously, she only assisted, but now, handling things on her own, she realized there were many small details. Every time she handled money or items, she was highly tense. She had to verify online transactions multiple times, ensure the money received matched the records, and mark which transaction it was and when it came in.

All had to be recorded promptly.

In contrast, Lu Mimi and Zhang Xian in the office had much more free time since they were already very familiar with their tasks. Lu Mimi watched Su Hao busily running around, with a look of amusement in her eyes.

Zhang Xian, however, asked several times, "Su Hao, do you need any help?"

Su Hao shook her head, "No, thank you, Sister Zhang Xian."

"Then just take care of yourself."

"Okay."

After that, Su Hao went back to work. Even when she went to the restroom, it was in a hurry because she was so busy. She didn't even notice it was lunchtime until Tang Yu from the sales department came upstairs to see President Zeng. Seeing her, Tang Yu knocked on the finance office door and called out, "Su Hao, it's lunchtime."

Su Hao was taken aback and looked at her computer.

It was already a little past twelve. She quickly closed her notebook, shut down the software, put her computer on standby, grabbed her phone, and walked to the door.

Tang Yu was still standing there and smiled at her.

Su Hao smiled back.

Tang Yu’s appearance was similar to Lu Mimi’s type, or more accurately, they both were the type Zhou Yang liked. The two of them walked downstairs together.

Tang Yu felt Su Hao had a gentle demeanor and started several topics to chat about with her. Su Hao responded politely but coolly, which made Tang Yu, who was skilled in reading people as a saleswoman, feel comfortable. She said, "Don't take the group chat's comments seriously. Every time they mention Director Zhou, they come up with all sorts of conspiracy theories."

Su Hao nodded, "Mm, I didn’t take them seriously."

She simply didn’t bother to look. She knew that after Chen Yu was fired, many people turned their attention to her, even linking her to Zhou Yang.

"That's good. After all, the company is like a small society, with all kinds of people. This morning, Director Zhou didn't come to the meeting, and everyone in the group was buzzing, saying that Miss Li's birthday was yesterday, and that it was probably a success today... tsk." After saying this, Tang Yu laughed, and Su Hao laughed along with her.

When they reached the second floor, there were still many people eating, and few seats were available. The cafeteria at the company was more like a restaurant, being clean and well-decorated. The menu varied every week, and occasionally, they even served bird's nest soup, tremella soup, or sea cucumber. There were also fruits, snacks, and desserts available, providing a balanced diet. Su Hao got some cowboy ribs, tomato scrambled eggs, chicken drumsticks, a small piece of fish, broccoli, and water spinach.

The soup was chicken soup with winter melon slices.

After getting her meal, Su Hao found a vacant four-person table as someone had just finished eating. She sat down and started drinking her soup. Tang Yu, after getting her meal, sat next to Su Hao. Seeing Su Hao’s plate, she immediately looked away, "Oh my God, eating with you is pure torture."

Su Hao looked at her.

Tang Yu only had fried rice and a fruit salad.

"Are you on a diet?"

"Yes." Tang Yu stabbed a piece of vegetable leaf with her fork, "I’m always trying to lose weight, but it never works."

Su Hao responded with a hum and continued eating. Tang Yu, enviously eyeing her food, could only force herself to eat the fried rice. It was their first time eating together. Su Hao ate quietly, and Tang Yu followed suit. Just then, a tray was placed on the table opposite them.

A man wearing glasses sat down, smiling politely, "Su Hao, Manager Tang."

Both of them looked up.

It was Assistant Lu.

"Why are you eating at the company today, Assistant Lu?" Tang Yu asked with a smile, resting her chin on her hand.

Assistant Lu smiled, drank some soup, and said, "I’m here to handle things for Director Zhou."

"Manager Tang, we just met at the meeting earlier. You seem a bit too surprised."

"Ha ha, I guess I am," Tang Yu glanced at Su Hao, wondering if she had misheard that Assistant Lu knew Su Hao. Was Assistant Lu pursuing Su Hao?

Su Hao looked up and nodded slightly at Assistant Lu, without saying much. Assistant Lu smiled, ate some vegetables, and continued chatting casually with Tang Yu. Tang Yu, not having ordered soup, finished her meal quickly. She received a phone call and left with her empty tray.

Su Hao had taken more food and hadn't finished yet.

Assistant Lu finished his last sip of soup, then wiped his mouth with a napkin. Before standing up, he leaned in slightly and whispered, "Miss Su, Director Zhou asked me to tell you that he’s sick."

Su Hao didn’t react.

Assistant Lu continued, "He has a fever."

"Let him take medicine. What does it have to do with me?"

Assistant Lu: ".....!!"

"Okay." He straightened up, took his tray to the tray return area, and then picked up his phone to send a message.

Assistant Lu: Director Zhou, Miss Su says you should take your medicine.

Zhou Yang: "…What kind of response is that?"

Assistant Lu then realized that the way he phrased it sounded a bit insulting.

He quickly edited the message: "She told you to take fever medicine and said that telling her was pointless."

On the other end, the man didn't reply. Assistant Lu sighed in relief, thinking that Miss Su being more cold-hearted might make Director Zhou give up.

He exited the cafeteria.

Tang Yu, after hanging up her phone, glanced at the door and then at Su Hao. She had just noticed Assistant Lu whispering to Su Hao earlier, confirming her suspicion that Assistant Lu was indeed pursuing Su Hao.

After lunch, they returned to the office. Tang Yu went for her afternoon break, while Su Hao, who didn’t have a break, immediately resumed her work. It seemed she would be extremely busy for the next half month. Around two in the afternoon, Zhang Xian and Lu Mimi returned from their break, and the three of them got busy with their tasks.

Lu Mimi occasionally chatted on WeChat.

Chen Yu: "How is she doing?"

Lu Mimi: "She looks really busy."

Chen Yu: "Really? Has she gotten the hang of it?"

Lu Mimi: "How can she get the hang of it when she's so busy? She seems much clumsier than you."

Chen Yu: "Oh."

Lu Mimi: "Are you secretly happy? I told you to be careful with your work before, and look what happened."

Chen Yu: "I know I was wrong."

Lu Mimi: "It seems like Director Zhou is sick today. I just saw him in the hallway. It’s so worrying."

Chen Yu: "Go and show some concern then."

At this moment, Zhang Xian received a phone call. She called out to Su Hao, who looked up. Zhang Xian pushed some documents toward her and said, "Director Zeng's assistant is on a business trip. Could you help deliver these to Director Zeng?"

Su Hao put down her pen, responded affirmatively, walked over to take the stack of documents, and left the room. The door to Director Zeng's office was slightly ajar. Su Hao gently pushed it open.

She immediately saw Zhou Yang leaning against the desk, covering his mouth as he coughed while talking to Director Zeng. Hearing the movement, Zhou Yang paused and looked up.

Their eyes met, and Su Hao pressed her lips together, walked in, and said, "Director Zeng, the documents are here."

She placed the documents down.

Director Zeng coughed, his eyes flickering briefly before saying, "Alright, leave them there."

Though nothing had happened, the atmosphere felt somewhat strange. Director Zeng casually asked Su Hao a few questions.

"How do you feel about the new job?"

"It's alright."

"If you need help, remember to ask Zhang Xian."

"Okay."

Su Hao answered attentively.

Zhou Yang raised his eyebrows, leaning lazily against the desk, watching her. Today, his collar was buttoned up tightly, and his hands were loosely placed in his pockets. Director Zeng noticed Zhou Yang’s unrestrained gaze and Su Hao’s composed expression. He sighed, thinking it would have been better not to have seen that surveillance footage and known so much about the boss's private matters.

It was hard not to be curious about the unfolding drama.

"Alright, you can go now," Director Zeng said after some thought.

Su Hao smiled, turned, and left without sparing Zhou Yang a glance. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, a large hand reached out from behind, pressing down on hers. The hand was incredibly warm, and Su Hao was startled, attempting to pull away. However, Zhou Yang held tight, his body pressing against her back, enveloping her.

"Let go," Su Hao demanded.

He must have a high fever; his chest felt scorching.

After speaking, Su Hao frowned.

Zhou Yang's deep voice sounded above her head, tinged with a hint of grievance: "I have a fever."

"I know. Take some medicine," she responded coolly, like a robot.

Zhou Yang was silent for a moment.

Then, he let go of his grievance, his voice low and warm: "My mother wants you to come to the family house on Wednesday. I'll pick you up."

"Got it. Can you let go now?" Su Hao twisted her wrist, and the door began to open. Zhou Yang squinted, the fever making him want to stay close to the woman in his arms. He helped open the door a bit, but the next second, he forcefully pushed it shut again.

Bang—

Nothing changed in their posture, movements, or atmosphere.

He lowered his head slightly and whispered, "Su Hao, you smell so good."

"Cough, cough, cough—oh dear, how did this fall down?" Suddenly, the loud sound of falling documents shattered the atmosphere. Zhou Yang turned his head, his narrow eyes sweeping toward Director Zeng. Seizing the moment, Su Hao pulled open the door and strode out, slamming it behind her.

Director Zeng met Zhou Yang's gaze, stunned for a moment, then awkwardly laughed: "Everything fell."

He pointed at the pile of documents on the floor.

Zhou Yang walked over, picked up the cigarette and lighter from the desk, his long neck slightly flushed. He glanced sideways, "Director Zeng, quite the strategist."

"You could win an Oscar for Best Actor," he said, cigarette in mouth, his tone leisurely.

Director Zeng clutched the documents, not moving for a long time.

Thinking to himself, to keep his job, should he pretend not to see anything next time?

But if they do end up together, wouldn't that offend a potential future boss's wife?

This is too difficult...

After returning to the office, Su Hao turned on her computer and continued her work. When she finished, she searched for her phone and glanced at WeChat.

As expected, there was a message from Su Xi.

Su Xi: "Hao Hao, come to the house on Wednesday, okay? Mwah."

Su Hao hesitated, tapping her chin, thinking about how to decline. Just then, another WeChat notification popped up, and Su Hao had to switch to it.

Li Xiu: "Sister Su Hao, I'm feeling sad."

Li Xiu: "Sister Su Hao, is Zhou Yang at the company?"

Su Hao initially didn't want to reply, but after a few seconds, she edited her response.

Su Hao: "Yes, he has a fever."

Li Xiu: "A fever? How come? Did he take any medicine?"

Su Hao didn't reply further. She put down her phone, planning to call Su Xi in the evening.

Around 3:30 PM, it was time for afternoon tea in the company. The busy people didn't eat, while the less busy ones went in small groups to the second-floor cafeteria. The sixteenth floor was quite busy today, so no one went down. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and a striking figure walked out—it was Li Xiu, who hadn't been to the company for a while.

Everyone who saw her was a bit surprised.

Li Xiu was carrying a small shopping bag and a cup of coffee, clicking her heels as she walked toward the CEO's office. She peeked through the blinds.

All she saw was the man leaning against the desk, reading documents.

She pushed the door open.

"Zhou Yang," her delicate voice rang out, particularly noticeable.

Inside, Zhou Yang looked up, his fever leaving him without much humor, his brows even showing some irritability. Seeing Li Xiu, he had even less of a smile. He raised an eyebrow: "What are you doing here?"

His tone was cold.

Li Xiu paused, then immediately raised the small bag: "I brought you some fever medicine."

"Who told you I had a fever?"

"Sister Su Hao!"

Zhou Yang gritted his teeth: "..."

..................................................................................................................

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