Chapter 29 New Colleagues
Wang Zhaodi's face was a mixture of embarrassment and a hint of joy. She glanced quickly at Gu Qiuyue and hurriedly chased after the angry Wang Sufen.
The courtyard gate closed, shutting out any remaining hostility outside. Gu Qiuyue leaned against the slightly cool door panel, taking a deep breath of the chilly early spring evening air, clearing the stagnation in her heart. A cold, sharp smile curved her lips—How could these people have such audacity!
The next morning, Gu Qiuyue noticed something unusual as she entered the office. Sun Juan was winking at her vigorously, her eyes gleaming with alarming brilliance, and she kept glancing at the previously empty window seat.
A young woman, about 23 or 24, stood awkwardly beside a brand-new desk. Two dark braids hung down her shoulders. She wore a washed-out but crisply starched blue cloth jacket, plain and almost shabby. Meng Hui stood beside her, whispering something in a gentle tone but with a hint of impatience.
"Comrade Gu, you're here." Meng Hui looked up and saw her, as if relieved, and quickly introduced, "This is the newly transferred Comrade Lin Xiu, who will be responsible for assisting with text editing and some of the blackboard newspaper work from now on."
The girl looked up at the voice, revealing a delicate yet pale face. Her eyes, like a frightened deer, quickly swept across Gu Qiuyue's face before dropping immediately. Her fingers subconsciously twisted the corners of her clothes together as she whispered, "Gu... Comrade Gu, my name is Lin Xiu." Her voice was filled with the nervousness of a new arrival and a hidden fear.
Gu Qiuyue smiled gently and stepped forward: "Hello, Comrade Lin Xiu, welcome. I'm Gu Qiuyue, we'll be colleagues from now on, don't be nervous, just ask if you have any questions." She keenly caught the whitening of Lin Xiu's clenched finger joints, and the timid depths of her eyes, which seemed to hide a hint of joy that was hard to conceal - this girl is not as simple as she seems.
While Meng Hui was taking Lin Xiu to familiarize herself with the file cabinet, Sun Juan slipped to Gu Qiuyue like a nimble cat, lowered her voice, and said excitedly: "I heard that he was transferred from the county art troupe below. His family...tsk, it's not easy. He looks honest and decent, but he's too shy, like a punching bag." She nodded in the direction of Lin Xiu.
Gu Qiuyue smiled and asked pointedly, "Does she know Meng Hui?"
"How do you know?" Sun Juan looked surprised, her voice lowered. "I heard that she was Meng Hui's fiancée since childhood! Meng Hui hasn't been home for a few years, and his family wanted to marry her off to an old widower, so she stole the family's money and came to find Meng Hui."
Gu Qiuyue smiled noncommittally. This experience sounded full of loopholes.
"Why, you don't believe it?" Sun Juan asked in confusion.
"I don't believe it," Gu Qiuyue said frankly, "at least I don't believe it halfway. Sister Sun, think about it, Lin Xiu and Meng Hui have been engaged since childhood, and Meng Hui even arranged a job for her in the art troupe. Why would her family want to marry her off to an old widower? As long as the engagement is there, Meng Hui will have to marry her when he returns. Isn't marrying a soldier better than marrying a widower?"
Sun Juan was stunned: "That's right. But what if Meng Hui goes back to cancel the engagement?" She knew very well that Meng Hui did not want to marry his fiancée and was scared by the arranged marriage in the family compound.
"Hasn't Meng Hui expressed anything yet?" Gu Qiuyue shrugged. "It's not that I think the worst of people, it's just irrational."
"It's a bit strange to hear you say that. Let's take another look?" Sun Juan also nodded, secretly annoyed that she had believed it so credulously.
Gu Qiuyue walked to her desk, picked out a few briefing templates and activity plan drafts, and placed them on Lin Xiu's desk. "Comrade Lin Xiu, take a look at these first to understand our work. The format templates are all here. If you don't understand, feel free to ask me."
Lin Xiu suddenly looked up, and genuine gratitude instantly welled up in her timid eyes. She nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Sister Gu!" The "Sister Gu" was spoken smoothly and with a sense of dependence.
Gu Qiuyue smiled and returned to her seat. The sun shone warmly outside the window, but her thoughts drifted to the lush green vegetables in the space, forced to "hide"—she had to think of a more reliable way to use them.
In the evening, after work, Gu Qiuyue walked along the tree-lined avenue. The early spring breeze was cool, yet refreshing. She thought about her work in the Propaganda Department, thinking that perhaps something interesting would happen soon.
A gloomy figure flashed from the fork in the road, blocking the middle of the road—it was Wang Sufen. Her fake smile vanished, leaving only a naked gloom, her eyes like venomous needles fixed on Gu Qiuyue's face. "Hey, Secretary Gu from Deputy Headquarters Xie's family? You're feeling pretty comfortable in the Propaganda Department, huh? Only a few days in, and you're already bringing in new people? Tsk, tsk, what a sight!" Her voice rose, filled with sourness and provocation.
Gu Qiuyue paused, regained her composure, and looked directly into those malicious eyes: "What's the matter?"
"What?" Wang Sufen snorted coldly, took a step closer and lowered her voice, each word sounding like it was gritted out from between her teeth, "It's nothing, I'm just reminding you, Gu Qiuyue, don't think you're superior just because you're clinging to the Propaganda Department. The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Let's... wait and see!" She spat out the last three words viciously, glared at Gu Qiuyue, turned around and rushed into the path, disappearing into the twilight.
The malicious curse seemed to echo, and Gu Qiuyue frowned slightly before relaxing. Wang Sufen's resentment was deeper and more intense than she had expected. She shook her head, thinking, "Let's fight it out."
Pushing open the courtyard door, the familiar smell of fireworks dispelled the chill. In the small kitchen, Xie Shiyu was busy: "Go wash your hands quickly, the meal will be ready soon."
Gu Qiuyue washed her hands and went into the house. Potatoes and pork, braised fish, stir-fried cabbage and vegetable sprout and egg drop soup were already on the table.
"Did you do all this?" Gu Qiuyue was a little surprised at his craftsmanship.
Xie Shiyu walked a few steps behind her, put his arms around her waist, rested his chin on her shoulder, and sniffed the fragrance of soapberry in her hair: "Is there a reward?" His warm breath brushed her ear.
Gu Qiuyue smiled and nudged him with her elbow: "Stop making trouble, eat first, it will get cold soon."
Xie Shiyu was cheerful, but he went a step further and rubbed her temples: "It will be fine if it cools down and then warms up again."
At the dinner table, Gu Qiuyue mentioned, "A new colleague came today, Lin Xiu, transferred from the county art troupe. Sister Sun said she was Meng Hui's fiancée. Did you know?"
Xie Shiyu paused, his thick eyebrows raised slightly. "Lin Xiu? I think I've heard of that name before." He swallowed his food and said jokingly, "But, my wife is now a 'senior' who can guide newcomers?"
Gu Qiuyue glared at him, "What do you mean by 'senior'? Give me a hand." She casually brushed off her displeasure, "Oh, I ran into Wang Sufen on the way back and said a few sarcastic words to her."
Xie Shiyu's smile disappeared instantly, and he placed his chopsticks lightly on the table. His voice dropped, "She's giving you trouble again?! Qiuyue, if she dares to block you again next time, tell me directly or contact the women's director! We can't let her act like a spoiled brat!"
Seeing how nervous he was, Gu Qiuyue felt warm in her heart. She reached out and placed her hand on the back of his hand, pressing it gently: "Don't worry, I can handle it. It's not worth getting angry with her." Her voice was calm and firm.
Xie Shiyu held her slightly cold fingers with his backhand, clenched his palm, and frowned: "In any case, don't let yourself be wronged."
After dinner, Xie Shiyu cleaned up the dishes, while Gu Qiuyue went back to the study to do translation work.
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