A smile appeared in Mingyao's eyes, but it vanished as she blinked, her eyes filled with tears.

"Don't be angry, I apologize." She bowed at a 45-degree angle, her attitude sincere. "I'm sorry."

My colleague's face turned ashen. "Hypocrite!"

"Excuse me, may I ask you a question?"

Mingyao suddenly took two steps closer and stared directly at her colleague, "Did Xia Kexing tell you about what happened to me?"

"You must be very close to her, I often see you going to and from get off work together."

Her colleague was startled by her sudden approach. "What are you doing?"

"What's it to you if I'm close to her?"

As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Mingyao.

Mingyao quickly explained, "I didn't mean any harm, I was just curious about what Xia Kexing said about me."

My colleague scoffed dismissively, "Do I need anyone to tell me who you are?"

"I'm so sorry, I don't want you to hate me." Mingyao frowned, looking intently at her dark face. "Could you please listen to me for a few minutes?"

Seeing that her colleague did not answer, Mingyao sighed and said, "I have a grudge against Xia Kexing, but I have nothing to do with you, so I am just giving you a friendly reminder."

"You remember what happened when you left work, right?"

Her colleague stared intently at Mingyao. "What do you mean?"

Mingyao said earnestly, "Have you forgotten what happened to Zhou Shuya?"

"President Pei hates people who slander their colleagues behind their backs the most. Zhou Shuya framed me and even distorted the truth to slander me. President Pei fired her without hesitation. Even if Zhou Shuya's father was President Pei's savior, President Pei would not show any mercy. How much less so would he do to you?"

My colleague asked with a stern expression, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Don't rush," Mingyao continued gently, "I'm saying all this for your own good."

"It's fortunate that you said these things to me today, but what will happen if these words reach President Pei's ears?"

At this point, Mingyao paused deliberately, glancing at her colleague's face out of the corner of her eye, "So many people are eager to get a formal position at the Haichang branch, and the competition among interns is also fierce."

"I'm not saying this for any other reason than to give you a reminder."

"I'm just a small receptionist. I have no business dealings or competition with you. It doesn't matter whether you listen to what I'm saying or not."

My colleague frowned, deep in thought.

Upon seeing this, Mingyao's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will silently take root and sprout.

Since Xia Kexing enjoys slandering her so much, she'll give him a taste of his own medicine!

"Su Xueya, don't even think about sowing discord!"

Xia Kexing’s angry voice suddenly rang out. She rushed over in three steps, standing between her colleague and Mingyao. She then glared fiercely at Mingyao, looking as if she wanted to devour her alive.

Mingyao pretended to be startled and took a few steps back, her mouth agape, "So you've been here all along."

As she spoke, she looked at Xia Kexing with a puzzled expression and asked suspiciously, "Did you hear our conversation? Why are you so sure I'm trying to sow discord?"

"Or perhaps," Mingyao asked curiously, "you want us to argue?"

Her gaze passed over Xia Kexing and landed on her colleague's face.

Her colleague had a stern face, and her eyes showed obvious suspicion and wariness when she looked at Xia Kexing.

Mingyao chuckled inwardly, thankful for Xia Kexing's stupidity, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to sow discord successfully.

"Who knows what you're up to!" Xia Kexing snorted, turned around and grabbed her colleague's hand. "Let's go, it's bad luck to waste words on someone like her!"

Her colleague gave a curt "hmm" and left with her.

Watching the two figures walk further and further away, Mingyao could no longer suppress her laughter and giggled.

When the seed of doubt grows into a towering tree, then Xia Kexing will have a good show to watch.

Mingyao was in a great mood and had just turned around to go to the restaurant when she bumped into a solid chest.

She hissed and gasped, covering her bright red nose as she took a few steps back. "Yes..."

Before she could even ask who it was, Pei Zhao, with a half-smile, had already captured her entire gaze.

Mingyao's heart suddenly started pounding faster. She grinned and asked, "Is Mr. Pei also eating nearby?"

Her smile was shy, but inside she was groaning.

Why is it CEO Pei again?

She was truly terrified; it was like a persistent ghost.

Furthermore, Pei Zhao's gaze was very strange, and Mingyao's intuition told her that this was not good!

"Mr. Pei, I need to hurry up and have dinner, so I'll be going now." Mingyao said dismissively, then turned and ran away.

Pei Zhao strode past her, blocking her way. "Why are you leaving? I'll treat you to dinner."

"ah?"

Mingyao felt a chill run down her spine and said embarrassedly, "This isn't a good idea." She swallowed hard and chuckled awkwardly, "There are many colleagues at the food street. If they see us, it might cause trouble for President Pei."

"Forget it."

She had just taken a step when Pei Zhao's arm suddenly appeared in front of her.

Pei Zhao leaned against the wall, a roguish smile on his face. "We're completely innocent, they won't misunderstand. I'm inviting you to dinner, not trying to eat you up, what are you afraid of?"

Mingyao's lips twitched twice, and she had a terrible headache. "Young Master Pei, gossip is a fearsome thing, and public opinion can melt metal."

"I'm just a receptionist. The rumors may not affect CEO Pei much, but they have a huge impact on me."

"I hope Mr. Pei won't put you in a difficult position."

Mingyao took a breath, and after speaking, she let him off the hook.

Pei Zhao's voice, tinged with amusement, drifted from behind, "What if I wanted to ask you a question?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!