Saving money was naturally a good thing. Besides, Duan Ming’an was easygoing and pleasant to talk to, so Wen Ya did not hesitate much before getting into the car.
“Then I will shamelessly trouble Director Duan to drive me home.”
Duan Ming’an laughed. “It is good that you are not being polite. If you had insisted on being polite just now, I would not have known how to persuade you. There are so many people coming and going at the entrance, it blocks the way. How do you feel about working here? Have you gotten used to it?”
“The atmosphere here is very nice. As soon as I arrived, I met Sister Liu. She was warm and attentive, so I did not feel any of the awkwardness of joining a new company.”
“That just means the two of you get along well. The secretary before you did not get along with her nearly this well. The boss is fairly easy to deal with too, though he does like to make jokes.”
Wen Ya agreed wholeheartedly. “The big boss is very friendly. He also likes to talk about things unrelated to work. When I first came here, he even asked if I wanted him to introduce some single men in the company to me. He analyzed the personalities and preferences of two guys in great detail. He was so enthusiastic that I could not interrupt him.”
“Hahahaha!” Duan Ming’an burst out laughing. “It was the same when I first joined three years ago. Later I asked about it. Apparently he personally has a thing for office romances. As long as it does not affect work, he strongly supports couples forming within the company. He says if one person takes leave, the other can step in and cover the work, and the company does not even need to pay extra. It also makes colleagues get along better. Even if nobody takes leave, if one person gets overwhelmed, the other might voluntarily lend a hand. That way the company even saves on overtime pay…”
Wen Ya could not help laughing as well. “He wishes.”
Goodness, Director Duan was incredibly easy to talk to. She did not even need to think of topics herself. He had already laid everything out step by step, and she only needed to follow along with the conversation.
“If only Mr. Lin were like this too…”
“Sorry, I need to take a call.”
Duan Ming’an nodded. “It is fine, go ahead.”
Wen Ya took out her phone from her bag. She looked at the caller ID and paused for three seconds before swiping to answer. She cleared her throat and put on a polite smile.
“Hello, this is Wen Ya.”
What strange timing. She had just been thinking about this person, and now he was calling.
Her voice, which had been relaxed and cheerful a moment ago, suddenly switched back into a deliberately gentle work tone. Lin Xuehe clearly found it uncomfortable.
“You have already gotten off work?”
Normally at this time she should still be busy running around for the renovation.
“Yes, Mr. Lin. A small accident happened today, so I was able to leave work on time.”
An accident, yet leaving work on time.
“Your clothes got dirty?”
Wen Ya was shocked. “How did you know? Are you some kind of fortune teller? Ah, no, no, did the boss tell you?”
She was so surprised that she even forgot to use a respectful form of address.
“I just guessed.”
“How could anyone guess something like that… ah, sorry, Mr. Lin. I got a little excited. Would you mind explaining how you figured it out?”
Duan Ming’an watched her switch between two completely different tones and found it very interesting. At the same time he became curious about who was on the other end, someone who made her speak so cautiously while also questioning him so persistently.
“If it were a physical issue, you would have said you were feeling unwell.”
Wen Ya nodded. That made sense.
“If it were a family emergency, your tone would not sound this calm.”
Yes, that also made sense.
“Since it is neither a health issue nor a family matter, then an accident that still allowed you to leave work on time leaves only this possibility. Are you free to come out today? There are some details in the renovation process that need to be confirmed in person.”
Hearing this, Wen Ya suddenly felt a little sad. Since when did leaving work on time require so many explanations?
“Yes, I can. I will change my clothes and come out, around five thirty.”
“Wait for me at the entrance of your residential complex. I will pick you up.”
“Alright.”
When she heard the call end, Wen Ya let out a sigh of relief and put her phone back into her bag.
Duan Ming’an smiled. “Work matter? Which client is it? Why do you still need to go out in the evening?”
“Well… the big boss’s cousin recently returned to the country. He bought a house and is renovating it, and I am currently responsible for coordinating it.”
“Can you not just contact a renovation company directly?”
“There is a company handling it, but someone still needs to follow up on all the details.”
Duan Ming’an understood. “That Mr. Lin is rather particular?”
What a thoughtful and tactful way to put it. He actually used the word particular. Wen Ya nodded with tears in her eyes.
“So you are going out tonight to confirm the renovation progress?”
“Yes. Besides that, we do not have any other contact.”
However, Duan Ming’an frowned slightly. “Just the two of you?”
Understanding his concern, Wen Ya felt both touched and amused.
“Director Duan, you have never met Mr. Lin. If you had, you definitely would not bring that up… ah, oh no, the intersection earlier needed a turn. I forgot to say it!”
“It is fine. We can just go around from the intersection ahead.”
Wen Ya shook her head, her face turning pale. “The road from Xiqu Avenue to Yuhuan Street is closed, and we cannot make a U turn here…”
Duan Ming’an comforted her. “That is alright. We will just take a longer route.”
“But those roads have heavy traffic. It will be rush hour soon and there will be congestion…”
“It is fine.” Duan Ming’an found her even more interesting. “At most we will be a few minutes late. Besides, I share some responsibility too, so do not feel pressured.”
Wen Ya forced a strained smile. “Thank you, Director Duan.”
She was going to be late for the second time.
She was doomed.
The traffic jam was far worse than expected. By the time they reached the residential complex, she was a full twenty minutes late.
Still some distance from the entrance, Wen Ya spotted the Porsche quietly parked in the corner. Her whole body trembled. Her scalp tightened, and even the dried coffee stain on her shoulder seemed to feel sticky again.
“This is the residential complex ahead?”
“Y-yes.”
Her tense voice made Duan Ming’an glance at her. He laughed softly. “What is wrong? You suddenly seem nervous.”
Wen Ya was in no mood to joke. She felt so nervous she could almost cry.
“You can just drop me off here. You should head back.”
“We are already here. It is only a few more steps.”
Duan Ming’an drove forward and stopped right beside the Porsche. The two cars were only one car length apart. Wen Ya, sitting in the passenger seat, happened to face the other driver’s seat. The window was half open, and Lin Xuehe’s cold, frostlike profile came directly into her line of sight.
As if sensing something, Lin Xuehe suddenly turned his head. Startled, Wen Ya quickly turned her face away and said goodbye to Duan Ming’an.
“Thank you, Director Duan. I will head off now.”
Duan Ming’an smiled. “Alright.”
After saying that, he also unfastened his seatbelt and pushed open the car door, intending to get out and walk Wen Ya the rest of the way. At that moment he saw the owner of the car beside them step out as well. Wen Ya bowed deeply to the man, speaking in one breath without pausing.
“I am sorry, it was my fault, I promise there will not be a next time.”
Lin Xuehe: “…”
The next second he noticed Duan Ming’an and frowned slightly.
“You have a date?”
Wen Ya hurriedly shook her head. “No!”
Following his gaze, Wen Ya turned around and met Duan Ming’an’s smiling face. She quickly introduced them.
“Mr. Lin, this is Director Duan from our company’s sales department.”
“Director Duan, this is Mr. Lin, the chairman’s cousin.”
Their gazes met. A flicker passed through Duan Ming’an’s eyes, and he finally understood why Wen Ya had said that earlier.
A man who looked as emotionless as a block of ice was impossible to associate with anything improper.
Lin Xuehe nodded to him, then shifted his gaze away first and looked back at Wen Ya.
“Go change your clothes.”
She had actually escaped a scolding. Wen Ya shot Duan Ming’an a grateful look. It was all thanks to Director Duan being there.
“I am really sorry you had to wait so long. I feel terrible about it. I will not waste time changing clothes, let us just go.”
Lin Xuehe glanced at the stain on her white shirt and refused without hesitation.
“Go change.”
She had been rejected.
Wen Ya gave Director Duan an awkward smile, grabbed her small bag, and ran off in her high heels.
When she came rushing back down after changing clothes, slightly out of breath, Duan Ming’an had already left. Only Lin Xuehe remained, leaning against the car door and casually playing with a black business card in his hand.
Before Wen Ya could approach him with an awkward laugh, Lin Xuehe lifted his head and glanced at her lightly.
“Did you think you escaped punishment?”
Wen Ya stiffened immediately. With her head lowered and shoulders slumped, she apologized again.
“I am sorry.”
“What was the reason?”
Did he not say last time that he did not want to hear the reason? What a fickle man.
Wen Ya lowered her eyes and answered softly, “There was traffic during rush hour…”
“I remember that road is usually not very congested.”
“Then… going further back, it was because I did not give directions in time…”
Lin Xuehe nodded in understanding. “Chatting distracted you.”
“…” Wen Ya felt a bit annoyed, but she had to admit he had summarized the root of the problem. “I am sorry.”
Lin Xuehe glanced at the thin layer of sweat on her forehead.
“Get in the car.”
As usual, Wen Ya sat in the front passenger seat and rolled down the window, planning to cool off with the breeze.
“There are wet wipes in the glove compartment.”
Wen Ya paused for a moment. She looked at her sweaty palms, then at his clean, composed face and serious profile. For some reason, her cheeks suddenly felt warm. She hurriedly pulled out a wet wipe and pressed it against her face to hide it. Even her voice unconsciously softened.
“Thank you.”
If he had just added a sentence after “There are wet wipes in the glove compartment”, something like “Use them to wipe the sweat”, it would have sounded very gentle.
Mr. Lin really did not know how to flirt with women.
Oh, wait.
Wen Ya came to her senses. Lin Xuehe did not need to flirt with anyone. He only needed to sit there and wait for others to flirt with him.
Sigh. The difference in life was obvious.
The useless one was just her.
“Why did your expression suddenly become so troubling again?”
!
Looking at Lin Xuehe’s complicated expression, Wen Ya snapped back to reality and covered her face in despair.
“L-life is too hard.”