21
An Unmarried Mother
Early the next morning, Lin Yuxi chose a specific time to arrive at Yuntu.
No sooner had she stepped in than Lin Fangfang followed, dressed in a striking red suit and carrying a crocodile leather bag worth over a million. Her presence was commanding.
Spotting Lin Yuxi, Lin Fangfang raised an eyebrow teasingly, “What perfect timing.”
Lin Yuxi deflected the awkwardness with a smile, “I was just waiting for you to back me up, Chairwoman Lin.”
“You want me to back you up?” Lin Fangfang suddenly stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Is this enough?”
The unexpected gesture left Lin Yuxi frozen in place.
“What, scared?” Lin Fangfang’s tone was playful. “Did you think the formidable Chairwoman Lin of Yuntu was cold and ruthless, crushing flowers under her heel, leaving her subordinates to barely survive?”
Lin Yuxi immediately shook her head.
Lin Fangfang chuckled, continuing to walk with her arm around Lin Yuxi. “Honestly, if it weren’t for you, with Chen Qiang’s skills, how could the R&D department’s performance rank at the top every year?”
Flattered to such an extent, Lin Yuxi felt as if she were floating on air. She pursed her lips and cautiously asked, “Chairwoman Lin, have you decided to go through with the divorce?”
“Hey, don’t call me Chairwoman Lin. Given our relationship now, that’s too distant.”
“Sister Lin.”
“That’s more like it.” Lin Fangfang’s lips curved slightly. “When it comes to men, they’re like seasonings in the kitchen. A little taste now and then is fine, but have too much every day, and you’ll end up with a stomachache.”
Lin Yuxi thought this made sense.
It was the quiet period between morning and noon, and the common area was almost empty. The two walked straight into the elevator.
Lin Fangfang asked casually, “By the way, I heard you once took maternity leave. Was that also because of a ‘stomachache’?”
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic, Lin Yuxi hesitated, “You could say that.”
“Alright, we’re sisters in hardship then. I like you even more now, Lin Yuxi.”
Lin Yuxi hadn’t expected the chairwoman to be like this in private. She smiled, thinking that the slap she’d endured hadn’t been in vain.
“So, how are things with you now?” Lin Fangfang leaned in and whispered, “Have you flown free from the cage, or are you still trapped inside?”
Lin Yuxi pondered deeply.
She was far from flying free, but she wasn’t completely trapped either.
From her initial cautious, almost humble attitude toward Fu Tingchuan to now being able to openly show him a cold shoulder, it seemed she was gradually letting go of romantic attachments.
If her schoolgirl crush had been like a sour tangerine, now that tangerine was beginning to rot.
Lin Yuxi gave an ambiguous reply to Lin Fangfang, “It should be soon.”
“Good. I have plenty of lawyer resources on hand. Whether it’s drafting an agreement or going to court, if you can’t handle it alone, just call for backup.”
Lin Yuxi nodded, “Alright.”
The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped out, chatting and laughing, just as they passed by Qin Ruoshi, who was on her way to the printing room.
Lin Fangfang suddenly stopped, releasing Lin Yuxi. “Miss Qin, isn’t it?”
Qin Ruoshi snapped out of her daze and immediately put on a smile. “Yes, it’s our first meeting. I’m honored that Chairwoman Lin remembers me.”
Lin Fangfang expressed friendly goodwill, “How could I not remember?”
After all, Qin Ruoshi was the first person ever personally placed in Yuntu by President Fu.
The business world was vast, with all kinds of people, but among those who had built a company from the ground up and brought it to the top, she had yet to meet one who hadn’t strayed.
Even if he hadn’t cheated, it would have been due to various constraints—like Chen Qiang, who, out of respect for her father’s power and influence, had been utterly compliant with her during their courtship and marriage.
She had once believed this dynamic would last a lifetime, but in the end, the outcome was just the same.
Lin Fangfang collected her thoughts and led Lin Yuxi toward the R&D department, glancing back at Qin Ruoshi to say, “Wishing you smooth work.”
“Thank you, Chairwoman Lin.”
Once the two had walked away, the smile on Qin Ruoshi’s face faded.
Hadn’t Lin Yuxi been fired? And even slapped? How was it that she was now chatting and laughing with Chairwoman Lin?
Qin Ruoshi forgot all about the printing task and hurried after them, following their figures back to the R&D department.
“Alright, everyone, listen up.” Lin Fangfang clapped her hands. “Starting today, Lin Yuxi will temporarily serve as the director of the R&D department.”
It felt like a bolt from the blue—the colleagues were struck speechless.
Lin Yuxi, an ordinary employee, had climbed to the director’s position just by buttering up Chairwoman Lin. Did the R&D department even have a future anymore?
Lin Fangfang scanned the room and declared firmly, “If anyone has objections, voice them now. This offer won’t stand later.”
Everyone exchanged glances, then lowered their heads and silently returned to work.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
In the face of absolute authority, no one had the courage to question it. Moreover, with Director Chen already fired, openly opposing Lin Yuxi now would be like weaving one’s own cocoon.
“Alright, if there are no objections, everyone get back to work.”
After the announcement, Lin Fangfang took Lin Yuxi into the director’s office and pointed at a few large items. “We’ll clear out Chen Qiang’s things over the next few days. If you need anything, just notify the administration department anytime.”
Lin Yuxi looked around and was quite satisfied with the office’s basic setup. “It’s fine to wait until I’m officially appointed before making any changes.”
“Suit yourself.”
Midway, Lin Fangfang received a phone call, saying she had business matters to discuss. She picked up her bag and gave Lin Yuxi a few instructions.
“It’s fine, Sister Lin. You go ahead.”
Lin Yuxi took out her belongings one by one, arranging them neatly. Altogether, they only occupied a small corner of the spacious desk.
Ah, the perks of being a director.
It was hard to let go of such privileges.
Outside the office.
A small group of employees huddled together, privately discussing the appointment.
An indignant male colleague slammed the table. “I just can’t accept it! I’ll start sending out my resume tonight! Putting a woman in charge—this R&D department is no place to stay anymore!”
Someone challenged him, “What’s wrong with a woman? Isn’t Chairwoman Lin a woman too?”
“Is that the same? Chairwoman Lin comes from a family of scientists—her grandfather was at the National Academy of Sciences, her grandmother was a university professor, and her parents are no slouches either. How can Lin Yuxi, an unwed mother, compare to Chairwoman Lin?”
Hearing the words “unwed mother,” Qin Ruoshi abruptly looked up and listened a bit longer to their discussion, but it seemed unrelated to what she had heard earlier.
She must have misheard.
On the other side, Li Junze noticed Qin Ruoshi’s gaze and felt his head grow warm, his heart racing uncontrollably.
During the research team’s dinner, Fu Tingchuan had personally come to pick up Qin Ruoshi. It probably wasn’t because of a romantic relationship—the most likely reason was that the Qin and Fu families were on good terms.
But there didn’t seem to be any prominent noble families with the surname Qin in the capital…
Still, it didn’t matter. As long as Qin Ruoshi herself was on good terms with President Fu, that was enough.