Unbelievable.
Simply unbelievable.
Damn it!
He really made her pay!
Wen Ya kicked the door shut with a bang, the whole place shaking.
“Wen Ya! Do you even know what time it is?!” Her mother’s roar came from afar, shaking the modest three bedroom apartment again.
Wen Ya sighed and patted the door with drooping eyes. “It doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t hurt.”
Nothing hurt more than her heart.
“Darling~” A face suddenly appeared beside her, wearing the headband Wen Ya used for washing her face, throwing exaggerated flirtatious glances. “Coming home so late, you must be very happy~”
Wen Ya gave her a weary look, slowly removed the hand resting on her shoulder, and dragged her bag toward her room.
“I’m dying. Don’t talk to me for now…”
Qin Keke blinked. Did things not go well with that bastard?
“Then I’ll wait for you in bed~”
“Mm…”
After answering weakly, Wen Ya turned and closed the bathroom door behind her, splashing cold water all over her face.
Lin Xuehe, that jerk!
Is he really some big shot with a salary full of zeros?!
And he actually had the nerve to make her treat him to dinner!
Completely unreasonable and impossible to understand. She should stay as far away from him as possible!
“…Ah.”
Wen Ya crouched down and held her head in despair.
How on earth was she supposed to face Keke and President Duan…
Buzz, buzz.
The bag wedged between her knees and elbows began to vibrate. Wen Ya ruffled her hair and pulled out her phone from the bag, turning on the screen.
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: [Transferred 666.00 to you]
Clatter.
The phone dropped to the floor.
Qin Keke heard the commotion and immediately rushed over. “Wen Ya, what happened?”
Wen Ya picked her phone up from the floor, so excited she could barely contain herself. “Ahhhhhhh there’s extra, ahhhhhhh there’s extra!”
“????”
Qin Keke pushed the door open and walked straight in. Seeing Wen Ya clutching her phone and stomping her feet in excitement, she said, “Oh my god, are you okay?”
Wen Ya hugged Qin Keke happily, then quickly started typing a reply.
Wen Youyu: Oh dear, how embarrassing
Wen Youyu: I said I would treat
Wen Youyu: Sigh, there’s an extra eighteen yuan, should I return it to you? [cute]
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: The extra counts as poverty relief
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Exciting?
Wen Youyu: Exciting, exciting
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: Next time don’t let me see that bitter melon face of yours again
Wen Ya nodded happily. Sure, sure. Money can make even ghosts push the millstone.
Mr. Not to Be Provoked: It ruins the appetite
“…Damn.” Wen Ya’s face fell. He had clearly eaten so much with great appetite!
Qin Keke rubbed her eyes and stared at the grinning avatar for a long time, hardly able to believe it. They had only been apart for two years, and Duan Ming’an’s style had changed into this? Was this really Duan Ming’an?!
She hesitated, about to speak but stopping herself several times. Finally she poked Wen Ya’s waist. “Mr. Not to Be Provoked is that person?”
“No.” Wen Ya sent a smiling emoji and looked up into Qin Keke’s eyes. “Mr. Lin is Mr. Lin, that person is that person.”
Her gaze was so open and straightforward that Qin Keke felt guilty instead. She turned her face slightly to avoid the look. “Eh? Weren’t you going on a date tonight?”
“No such luck. I’m working overtime. After dinner I’m going to receive some guidance.” Wen Ya shook her head. After Lin Xuehe’s interruption, she had actually snapped out of that awkward atmosphere. “What about you? Why haven’t you gone home today?”
Normally she would already be gone by this time.
“Ah, well… it’s because I missed you too much.” Qin Keke pounced on her and switched into bluffing mode, even accusing her in return. “You’re actually trying to drive me away?”
Was she supposed to admit that she stayed because she was worried Duan Ming’an might accidentally reveal something, so she wanted to keep an eye on things?
Wen Ya gave her a sideways glance. “You still have something on your mind you haven’t finished saying, right?”
The words were laid out plainly.
Qin Keke froze, then laughed bitterly to herself. What could she possibly hide from Wen Ya? Everyone said she and Wen Ya were ninety-five percent alike out of ten, but she knew very clearly in her heart that there was a fundamental difference between them. She often pretended to understand when she did not, while Wen Ya was good at pretending to be foolish, seeing through everything but choosing not to expose it.
Their friendship had grown stronger over time, largely thanks to Wen Ya.
In truth, she was the one who had always been acting spoiled toward the girl in front of her, the one about the same height, the same slim build, and almost the same appearance as herself.
“…I don’t want to put you in a difficult position.”
Wen Ya stroked her long hair and smiled. “So, where do you want to talk? Curled up in the blanket, nestled on the sofa, or lying on the balcony?”
Qin Keke thought for a moment. “In the blanket. I’ll gather my thoughts first, you go take a shower.”
“Alright.”
Wen Ya patted the back of her head, took her pajamas, and went back to the bathroom. After closing the door, she secretly let out a breath of relief.
First confirm the situation, then solve it.
The story was long. They talked for several hours. The reason the two of them had gone from love to separation was actually very ordinary. They were first attracted to each other, then failed during the process of adjusting to each other, and finally went their separate ways, planning never to meet again.
“He’s just a straight-up chauvinist. At the beginning he was so gentlemanly, but later he became so domineering. I never imagined he would start controlling what clothes I wear and even the color of my nail polish.” Qin Keke hugged a pillow, gritting her teeth. “And whenever he made a mistake, as long as he apologized I had to forgive him. But if I showed even the slightest deviation, I had to endure his cold violence for a very, very long time. Why should that be?”
Wen Ya thought of what Lin Xuehe had said earlier.
“Personally, I don’t think you two are very suitable. He has a desire to control, while you do not want to be dominated.”
She could not help frowning. Mr. Lin’s eyes were far too sharp.
Seeing her frown, Qin Keke thought she had upset her and quickly explained, “That’s just how he treated me. People behave differently with different people.”
“That’s not it…” Wen Ya shook her head and looked at Qin Keke on the other side of the pillow. “Keke, do you regret it?”
Qin Keke fell silent. After a long while, she finally shook her head. “No. I don’t regret it.”
“I see.” Wen Ya touched her hand and smiled. “Then forget it. Get a good night’s sleep.”
“Mm.”
Wen Ya got up and turned off the light, then lay down in the darkness.
The night was long. After an unknown amount of time, the person beside her turned over and gently rested a hand on her shoulder. Her voice was soft, almost like a murmur.
“Wen Ya, there may have been a past between us, but your feelings were real too. Don’t carry any burden about it, okay?”
“Don’t worry. You two broke up two years ago.”
“Exactly, it’s already been so long…”
“Mm, sleep peacefully.”
Wen Ya turned over to face her and gently patted her back. “Sleep now.”
She kept patting her until Qin Keke’s breathing grew steady and deep, until she drifted into a dream of unknown quality. Only then did she stop, letting out a silent sigh.
She really thought she was a fool again.
No matter how many twists and turns filled her mind, reality did not give people that much time to indulge in melancholy.
At eight o’clock the next morning, Miss Qiao arrived on time, even a little earlier than Wen Ya.
The young girl was youthful and beautiful, with straight black hair, skin as white as snow, and two deep dimples when she smiled. She radiated endless youth. The moment Wen Ya saw her, she felt somewhat ashamed of herself.
In front of someone who had just graduated from campus, she always felt like an old aunt already.
“Qiao Mu, right?”
Qiao Mu responded immediately in a bright, crisp voice. “Yes, Sister Wen Ya.”
Not bad. Wen Ya nodded and smiled. “Did HR explain all the arrangements to you? For now, I’ll be the one guiding you for a while.”
“Yes, I already know everything.”
“Good.” Wen Ya pointed to the newly added seat opposite her desk. “You can sit there for now. Although this place is called the Secretariat, as you can see, there are actually only Sister Liu and me. Even counting you, that makes just three people. There’s no supervisor here, so you don’t need to be too restrained in the office.”
Qiao Mu smiled sweetly and replied generously, “Okay, thank you, sister.”
It was Wen Ya’s first time mentoring a newcomer. She did not really know what the proper process was, so she could only teach everything she knew step by step. No matter how effective the method was, at least she was doing her best.
When they left the office, Liu Yun found a chance to whisper to her, “This new girl is wearing designer brands from head to toe. She’s probably a rich family’s daughter, so be careful.”
Because Qiao Mu’s identity was sensitive, aside from the HR department, only the big boss and Wen Ya knew the details. Liu Yun only knew part of the story.
Wen Ya leaned closer to her and sighed. “I know what I’m doing. Luckily she seems easy to get along with.”
Liu Yun shook her head. “Anyway, keep an eye on her. That girl doesn’t look like the simple, obedient type.”
Wen Ya was half convinced and half doubtful. So far Qiao Mu had behaved well and was quite polite. Still, Liu Yun’s reminder stayed in her mind. She personally guided everything and kept watch herself, leaving no chance for accidents.
“Wen Ya.”
While Wen Ya was teaching Qiao Mu how to prepare the daily report, Duan Ming’an appeared. He stood at the doorway with a smile and beckoned to her. “Come out for a moment.”
“You look through this first,” Wen Ya told Qiao Mu. After giving the instruction, she stood up and walked out.
After she left, Qiao Mu also got up and walked to Liu Yun’s side, looking sincerely at the other senior colleague. “Sister Liu Yun, does our Secretariat also work closely with the Sales Department?”
Liu Yun smiled. “We maintain close contact with every department. Once you’ve been here a bit longer, you’ll understand.”
“Oh.” Qiao Mu nodded, then asked again, “The one just now was President Duan, right? The HR sister told me he’s the golden bachelor of our company. Is he and Sister Wen Ya…”
At this point Liu Yun touched her chin thoughtfully. “Ambiguous, I suppose… it seems they’re not together yet. Don’t go around talking nonsense about it outside, understand?”
Her expression finally became a bit friendlier. Qiao Mu nodded inwardly. She had chosen the right topic.
“I know. But the two of them really look pleasing together.”
Liu Yun had been the first person who wanted to match them together, so she naturally agreed with that statement. “You think so too? I also think they’re quite suitable. Although there’s a few years’ age difference, it’s better for a man to be a little older. He knows how to take care of people, right?”
“Mhm, in the future I also want to find a boyfriend a few years older than me…”
The two of them were chatting enthusiastically inside, but the atmosphere between Wen Ya and Duan Ming’an, who had moved to the pantry, was somewhat cold.
“Are you free tonight? I have to go on another business trip tomorrow. Before I leave, I wanted to have another meal with you.”
Wen Ya pushed her cup slightly forward. “President Duan, I talked with Keke.”
Duan Ming’an’s smile froze for a moment, followed by a long stretch of awkwardness. “You mind what happened in the past?”
Wen Ya shook her head and smiled. “I don’t mind the past.”
Duan Ming’an smiled as well. “Then that means…”
“But I do mind things that are becoming the past and things that haven’t yet become the past.” Wen Ya interrupted him. “Have you completely let go?”
“So you still mind.”
“So you still haven’t let go.”
Her tone was firm and decisive.
Under her bright and steady gaze, Duan Ming’an completely lost his composure.
“In the past she always said she had a friend exactly like her. Now it seems that’s not the case at all.” Duan Ming’an gave a bitter smile. “Alright, I admit it. I haven’t completely let go yet.”
Just as expected.
Wen Ya sighed inwardly. Don’t be disappointed, Wen Ya. Don’t be disappointed.
It’s only that the timing hasn’t arrived yet, and fate hasn’t come.
“Then…” She took a deep breath and smiled, her eyes curving.
“Before you and Keke completely clear up your relationship, let’s return to the most ordinary colleague relationship, so that no one will feel awkward.”
Looking at the curve of her lips, Duan Ming’an was momentarily stunned.
It was truly different.
The same knife stabbing toward the heart. Qin Keke was the blunt side of the blade, while Wen Ya was the sharp edge.