Chapter 35: Asking for Leave
The next day, Lu Xiaoping contacted Han Que: "Are you free tonight? I want to talk to you."
Han looked up at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's do it at noon today. If you have time at noon, come to our company downstairs and we'll have a simple meal."
Lu Xiaoping's heart sank. He asked, "Are you sure you want to go at noon? I heard you're very busy at work. Will you have enough time?"
Han said calmly, "It's still in time."
She actually added another line: "It won't take long anyway."
Two seconds later, it withdrew.
When Lu Xiaoping saw the message that was sent and then withdrawn, he felt a sharp pain in his heart.
At ten o'clock, Yu Xiaoli came out of Jiang Jin's office and stood in the hall to inform everyone: "Mr. Jiang said that there will be a sales department meeting at 1:30 pm. Please prepare in advance."
Everyone lowered their heads and did not respond. The only sound in the room was the rapid tapping of the keyboard.
Yu Xiaoli waited for a while and saw that no one responded, so she had to repeat it again, and said with a smile: "Family members, at least you should say you received it, otherwise the leader will think I didn't convey it."
She raised her finger and pointed to the closed glass door.
There were scattered echoes in the room.
Someone murmured quietly, "Another lunch break meeting! Why do they always take up our lunch break? Not only do they have to work overtime on weekdays, but they also don't allow us to have a proper lunch."
Someone whispered, "I heard that's what he did at the investment bank before, squeezing every minute out of his subordinates. I also heard that some even set time limits for bathroom breaks. If you exceed the allotted time, they'll call the police and let everyone know you're in the bathroom."
"What's wrong with calling the police? Are we not allowed to use the restroom? If we have diarrhea, we have to poop in our pants?"
This statement drew a burst of laughter, and someone else murmured, "Don't be fooled by our CEO Jiang's handsome appearance, he's quite capable."
The man continued, "Does this have anything to do with being handsome? He's the son-in-law of a wealthy family. He's here to get some experience in our company. He'll be in great shape when he returns to the group. How can he not perform well now? What if he doesn't perform well and his father-in-law doesn't like him..."
"That's right. Although a senior worker is senior, he is still a worker. Look at that Young Master Gu, he is more relaxed than him. He was waiting for someone here the other day, and when he saw us having lunch and taking a break, he didn't even raise his eyelids, and was still playing games on his phone."
"Can a son and a son-in-law be the same?..."
Seeing that they were getting more and more outrageous, Yu Xiaoli knocked on the table hurriedly, "I say, keep your voices down. Mr. Jiang is on the phone in there. If anyone hears, we'll all be in trouble."
After she said this, the whispers died down.
Yu Xiaoli added, "He said he had to go on a business trip this afternoon, so he wanted to have the meeting early. You should understand that leaders are very busy."
"I'm understanding, but lunchtime is short to begin with, and there's a long queue at the cafeteria downstairs. Every meal is like a battle, so rushed. If I get a gastrointestinal illness at this rate, will it count as a work-related injury?"
"You wish."
…
Han did not join in the discussion. What was the point of these people saying more? When Jiang Jin appeared at the door, everyone would change to a flattering expression, eager to show their diligence and hardworking side in front of him.
She stood up and walked to the door of Jiang Jin's office, knocked on the door, but no one answered.
The glass door reflected the person behind her, who also looked up and stared at her back, but Han waited and continued to knock a few more times.
Jiang Jin's voice finally came from inside, "Come in."
Han pushed the door open and walked in. Jiang Jin was sitting on a chair talking on the phone. When he looked up and saw her, he relaxed even more and half-lay down comfortably with a gentle smile on his face. He lowered his voice and said, "...why don't you put on that new bra first? Yes, that light blue, slightly transparent one...ah...it was torn last time. You can just buy another one. Do you want me to buy it for you?"
Han frowned and wanted to leave, but Jiang Jin gestured for her to wait.
Han simply didn't leave. She leaned against the glass door, folded her arms, and listened to him flirting.
"How come I don't know your size? Is there anything else about you that I don't know about? Well, I'll take some time to go to the hotel next door and buy it for you. Otherwise, you can come over. We're next door... Oh, that's your hotel. Are you scared? I'm not."
As Han listened to him talking more and more outrageously, he could only cough to remind himself that he was still there.
Jiang Jin raised his eyes to glance at her, and continued to smile without changing his expression: "...Yes, what's shameless about that? I'm doing this for you. I'll be happy if you're happy..."
Han couldn't help it, deliberately half-pushed the glass door open, and said loudly: "Boss Jiang, I have an urgent matter to report to you..."
Jiang Jin looked up at her, then he put away the smile on his face and said, "Well, be good, I'll hang up first. We'll talk after I'm done."
After saying that, he hung up the phone, raised his face, raised his eyebrows, and said with a smile, "What's the emergency?"
Han ignored the expression on his face and asked directly, "Did President Jiang ask Yu Xiaoli to inform us that there will be a meeting at noon?"
Jiang Jin nodded as he searched for something on the table. "Yes, I have a business trip this afternoon, so I'll use my lunch break to hold a meeting."
"Oh." Han Que's sneer disappeared in an instant, and she said, "I want to ask for leave."
Jiang Jin finally found the e-cigarette on the table and put it in his mouth. Before he could light it up, he frowned and asked, "I have a meeting. Why did you ask for leave?"
Han said: "I have something to do at noon, so I won't attend the meeting."
Jiang Jin finally lit up his e-cigarette, took a deep puff, and warned her, "Don't try to be special. Everyone is watching you."
Han Que: "I'm neither a department head nor a vice president. I'm just an ordinary employee. What's so good about it? How can I be special?"
Jiang Jin laughed sarcastically: "You are higher than the department leader."
Han chuckled, "How come I didn't know my rank was high? It's not reflected on the payslip."
Jiang Jin was speechless after being confronted by her. He blew out the cigarette in his mouth and said, "You only care about money."
Han scoffed, "If not money, what do I talk about at work? Love or dedication?"
Jiang Jin sighed, quite helplessly, "Han Que, you have changed so much now. You are not like you were back then at all. It's really..." He shook his head slightly.
Han was too lazy to talk nonsense with him and just said, "I have a lunch appointment and I have to go out for dinner. I don't have time to attend the meeting."
Jiang Jin: "Who did you meet?"
Han wanted to roll his eyes at him and said, "I have an appointment with a friend."
Jiang Jin: "What friends?"
Han frowned, feeling a bit amused and helpless. She said, "A friend you don't know." She muttered to herself, "Why do you have to control everything?"
Jiang Jin frowned. "I'm not controlling you. I just announced a meeting, and you're asking for leave. Isn't this clearly embarrassing for me? And this is a department-wide meeting with everyone in attendance. If I approve your leave, how will I explain it to everyone else? Don't you think I'm right?"
Han thought about it and nodded: "I was wrong."
Jiang Jin hummed and looked down at the document: "That's it, you will attend the meeting on time."
Han stood there and continued, "I shouldn't have come to ask you for leave. This is our lunch break, not working hours. You need to ask for my consent to arrange overtime. I just told you that I have something to do and don't agree to overtime. That's all."
Jiang Jin suddenly looked up: "..."
His expression gradually became stern, and he stared at her. "What you said... You are deliberately trying to make things difficult for me, right? I'm busy and don't have time to talk to you. I told you not to ask for leave, and you have to be at the meeting on time."
"Ouch..." Han stretched out her words, adding a delicate, mocking tone, "Boss Jiang is very busy, with so many things on his plate. I think the person I'm going to meet this afternoon on a business trip, 'Li Wanji', is Miss Gu Ningli? If not, you'll be in big trouble."
Jiang Jin was stunned, then realized what she meant. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "You eavesdropped on my phone call."
Han Que: "You said it in front of me, knowing full well that I'm not deaf." She pointed to the door again, "How about I go to the office and learn it again?"
Jiang Jin was helpless and waved his hand: "Okay, go ahead, I can't control you. Do whatever you want, anyway, someone will protect you."
Han, however, decided to withdraw while he was ahead and put on a respectful expression: "Thank you, Mr. Jiang."
Then he turned and walked out.
When I reached the door, I heard Jiang Jin sighing behind me: "Han Que, I really can't recognize you now."
Han turned around and smiled at him: "That's all thanks to you."
Han Que and Lu Xiaoping met at a tea restaurant on the first floor of the company building. There was green grass and bright flowers outside, and bright lights inside. There were many customers and all the seats were occupied.
She ordered the simplest black pepper beef fillet set meal and asked Lu Xiaoping what he wanted to eat.
Lu Xiaoping shook his head and said he had no appetite.
Han smiled, looked up at him, and saw that he looked haggard, pale, and listless. He smiled and said, "It seems that if you don't keep exercising, your physical fitness will decline. Look, you haven't been to the gym for such a long time, and you have no energy."
I couldn't help but sneer at him again: "I see you're quite lively in your circle of friends, but why do you have this expression when you see me? Are you pretending to be pitiful?"
Lu Xiaoping opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to start.
Han smiled nonchalantly, "Don't take it seriously. I was just joking with you."
She picked up the kettle and poured him a glass of water. She also ordered him some millet porridge and said gently, "Why are you sighing? Isn't it good to have a great time abroad, surrounded by beautiful women, on yachts, and surfing?"
Lu Xiaoping looked up at her with surprise in his eyes: "Have you seen my circle of friends?"
Han nodded and said, "Look."
Lu Xiao was silent for a while, then lowered his head to drink a sip of lemonade, licked his lips, and said to himself, "So you also read my Moments."
Han looked at him and smiled, "Just be happy." Then he asked with a puzzled smile, "Why? You don't have a fancy circle of friends and a rough life, do you? You don't have to suffer like me all day long. I went downstairs to eat and got scolded by my boss. I almost couldn't come. Fortunately, I was smart and brave."
She curled her lips and smiled sweetly.
Lu Xiaoping stared at her, and their eyes met.
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