Chapter 4: Minor Troubles at Work

Zhao Chen's meticulous "feeding" and "pick-up" were like warm honey, quietly melting the ice wall called "agreement" in Yu Ling's heart into a pool of warm water.

She'd grown accustomed to the aromas wafting from the kitchen in the mornings, the Debussy music cascading from the passenger seat, the bowls of warm porridge arriving on time late at night while she worked overtime, and even to the way he'd chop vegetables with his whale-shaped apron, his focused, almost cold profile. Her initial wariness had long since been replaced by the comfort of daily life, transforming into a secret dependence.

Only occasionally, when Zhao Chen's expensive "friend's car" slid around the corner of the street, or a corner of a document printed with complex English abbreviations leaked out from the crack of his study door, that little doubt would jump restlessly, but would be suppressed by the gentle daily life before him.

This false tranquility was torn to pieces on that Monday morning.

Genesis Building, 17th floor, Venusstar Technology Marketing Department.

Yu Ling, cup of hot water in hand, walked briskly. She'd watched a good movie with Zhao Chen over the weekend and enjoyed a delicious private meal "recommended by a friend," leaving her feeling bright and cheerful. She was even considering a clumsy attempt at cooking tonight to show her appreciation for Chef Zhao's kindness. Xiaomei, the intern sitting next to her, greeted her warmly, "Good morning, Sister Ling!"

"Good morning, Xiaomei." Yu Ling responded with a smile, put down the cup, and lightly tapped the power button with her fingertips.

The screen lit up, and a bold, red email popped up like a venomous snake: [Important Notice: Regarding the final confirmation and division of labor arrangements for the promotion plan of the 'Star Ocean Project'].

Yu Ling's heart sank. This was the fruit of her hard work, the result of countless sleepless nights! And it was coming out so soon?

She clicked on the email. Director Chen's official jargon quickly skimmed over her, her eyes fixed on the clear division of labor column at the bottom of the attachment:

Project Manager: Zhang Wei (Senior Marketing Manager)

Project Chief Planner & Core Framework Design: Zhang Wei

Data analysis support: Li Ming

...

Basic data collection and compilation: Yu Ling

Her name was pinned to the "basic data collection and organization" section alone! And the plan she had painstakingly worked on was unexpectedly turned into the result of Zhang Wei's "general planning"!

An icy chill instantly froze her blood. She raised her head sharply, her gaze like a poisoned icicle, shooting towards the glass compartment across the way.

Zhang Wei, clutching an exquisite coffee cup, chatted and laughed with Director Chen. She wore a brand new off-white dress, her chestnut curls meticulously styled, and her red lips curved in a smug smile. As if sensing Yu Ling's gaze, she tilted her head slightly, meeting the burning rage. Far from fearing it, she raised her eyebrows defiantly, her lips curled in a hint of undisguised contempt and complacency. Her eyes said: Yours? Now it's mine. What can you do about it?

Plagiarism! Blatant! Lightning fast!

Humiliation and anger gripped Yu Ling's throat. She stood up with a jerk, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a sharp, piercing sound! Her colleagues looked at her sideways.

"Sister Ling?" Xiaomei called out worriedly.

Yu Ling took a deep breath, digging her nails into her palms, using the pain to suppress the urge to charge and fight. Zhang Wei was Director Chen's confidant, a strong entourage. Without evidence, a falling out would only end in ruin! She sat down stiffly, closing the glaring email. Her desktop wallpaper was a casual weekend photo of a city nightscape, the lights gleaming, yet now it felt like a silent mockery. After the anger, there was cold despair. It was over. Months of hard work, authorship, and her future had all been ruined by that bitch! What could she do?!

Yu Ling felt like she was falling into an icy cave all morning.

Inside the glass cubicle, Zhang Wei and Director Chen exclaimed at length about the ingenuity of "her" proposal. Her ideas, her creativity, emanating from Zhang Wei's lips, adorned with expensive lipstick, became "farsighted" and "strategic vision."

Colleagues looked at Zhang Wei with admiration, while those who glanced at Yu Ling had a subtle tinge of sympathy and schadenfreude. There are no tears in the workplace; only winners and losers.

Yu Ling bit her lower lip tightly, forcing her fingers to tap meaningless characters on the keyboard. Everything in her vision was blurry. The grievance, anger, unwillingness, and despair tightened around her heart like poison ivy.

During lunch break, the crowds dispersed. Xiaomei asked hesitantly, "Sister Ling, are we going to eat?"

"I'm not hungry, you guys go ahead." Yu Ling forced out a broken smile.

The vast office suddenly fell silent. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on her, yet she felt no warmth at all. Finally, she gave way and buried her face in her arms. The tears she had suppressed all morning burst forth, soaking her sleeves. It was over. Everything was over. Who could help me?

The phone in her pocket vibrated. Yu Ling pulled it out like she was grabbing a piece of driftwood. Zhao Chen's profile picture popped up on the screen—wearing a little whale apron, holding a steaming plate, and smiling a gentle, harmless smile.

ZhaoC: Have you had lunch yet? There's a new Cantonese restaurant downstairs. The roast goose legs look delicious. [Image: A glossy roast goose leg]

That familiar, earthy concern, that still-steaming picture, instantly broke Yu Ling's last line of defense. With trembling fingers, she pressed the voice call button almost without thinking.

The call went through instantly.

"Hello? Lingling?" Zhao Chen's gentle voice came, with a hint of barely perceptible tension. "What's wrong? The sound...is not right."

"Zhao Chen..." Yu Ling opened her mouth with a heavy voice of crying and despair, "My plan... was snatched away by that bitch Zhang Wei! She plagiarized it! She even erased my name! She's still showing off..." She complained incoherently, pouring out what happened in the morning, sobbing uncontrollably.

There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds. Yu Ling could imagine his slightly furrowed brow, a hint of cold sharpness perhaps flickering in the depths of his gentle amber eyes.

"Don't cry, Lingling." His voice was still calm, like a warm hand caressing her back, with a strange calming power. "At the company?"

"Hmm..." Yu Ling nodded with sobs.

"Is there a record of forwarding the email? Are all the drafts of the plan, modification records, and communication records with the director still there?" Zhao Chen's questions were clear and calm, going straight to the point, instantly pulling Yu Ling out of the emotional quagmire.

"Yes! They're all there!" Yu Ling perked up. "The outbox has the records! All versions are on the local and cloud drives! The WeChat records with Director Chen also show submissions and discussions!"

"Very good." Zhao Chen's voice was filled with a hint of approval. "Now, calm down. Tears and anger are the enemy's weapons."

"But she..."

"Lingling," Zhao Chen interrupted her, his voice low but filled with an unquestionable sense of control, "rushing up to tear her apart now would be the stupidest choice. It would only make the situation worse and prevent those who want to help you from doing anything."

Yu Ling was stunned: "Then...what should I do?"

"Having evidence is a trump card, but how to deploy it requires strategy." Zhao Chen's voice sounded like he was analyzing a precise battle. "Go directly to the director or higher-ups with the evidence? The risk is too great. Zhang Wei is Director Chen's ally, and he'll likely defend her, even accusing you of frame-up. Even if higher-ups intervene and punish Zhang Wei, you'll be labeled a troublemaker in the department, and your future prospects will be ruined."

Yu Ling's heart sank. He was right. The workplace wasn't a courtroom.

"Are you...going to endure it?" she asked unwillingly in a hissing voice.