Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Couple Outfits
Chapter 13
"Hello, Mr. Lu."
Ruan Yan smiled on her face, but she was laughing in her heart.
If you don't have time to go to the company, you can have a leisurely lunch here.
Lu Peishi raised his chin slightly and nodded at her as if nothing had happened.
Ruan Yan didn't expect that he would be there, and now she had roughly guessed the purpose of Wen Ying's invitation today.
Wen Ying sat down next to him and said, "You must be hungry. Let's order first."
Zhuo Ming immediately handed the menu to her, and she turned her head to ask Lu Peishi: "Peishi, do you have any dietary restrictions?"
Lu Peishi: "I'm fine with anything, just whatever you want."
"Well," Wen Ying looked at Ruan Yan again, "How are you? Is there anything you want to eat?"
When it comes to food, Ruan Yan's eyes light up: "I want this salt and pepper shrimp, spicy crab, and scallion spareribs..."
After Ruan Yan finished ordering, Zhuo Ming added a dish of stir-fried shrimp with celery and cashews.
Wen Ying couldn't help but whisper, "Didn't you order a shrimp dish?"
"This is your favorite dish." Zhuo Ming said.
"Okay." Wen Ying said calmly, with a gentle expression on her face.
Ruan Yan: “…”
I was suddenly fed a mouthful of sugar.
While waiting for the dishes to be served, Wen Ying suddenly raised the cup in front of her and turned slightly to the side: "I have to drive soon, so I'll use water instead of wine."
She was facing Zhuo Ming and Lu Peishi, but her words were clearly directed at Lu Peishi: "My sister is new to the workplace and lacks experience. If there are any shortcomings in the future, I hope you can correct them. She hasn't fully recovered yet, so please take care of her in the company."
Ruan Yan slowly lowered her eyes, and Wen Ying's slow and unhurried words gently mended her torn heart.
This feeling of being protected by someone is really a happy one.
"No problem, leave Xiaoyan to me, I will definitely take good care of her." Zhuo Ming said immediately.
Lu Peishi glanced at him, looked at Wen Ying and slowly replied: "Your sister is very smart and has her own ideas."
Ruan Yan didn't expect that he would suddenly praise her, especially with his half-smile on his face, which was quite intriguing.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Lu." Ruan Yan looked at him straight without being humble or arrogant.
Lu Peishi leaned lazily in the chair, raised his eyebrows, and said nothing.
Dishes came up one after another. Ruan Yan ate quietly, and Lu Peishi hardly said a word.
In contrast to their silence, the two people in the middle were chatting lively.
"You just came back from Yuncheng this morning. Are you tired? Did you rest for a while?"
"I'm not tired. I went to bed early last night and woke up late today."
"Drink more of this soup, it nourishes the yin and moistens the lungs." Zhuo Ming scooped a full bowl of soup and placed it in front of Wen Ying.
"Um."
"This crab shell is hard to peel. Be careful with your hands. Let me peel it for you."
"good."
“…”
Ruan Yan, who was chewing on spicy crab, suddenly felt that the crab meat in her hand was no longer fragrant.
"Have you been staying up late again recently?" Wen Ying said while drinking soup.
"I can't help it. The project time is tight and the client is pushing us to rush the drawings, but I finished them yesterday."
"You have dark circles under your eyes. Eat more of this fish and ribs."
"Hey, okay," Zhuo Ming picked up the ribs and took a bite. "These ribs aren't as delicious as mine. I'll make them for you next time we have a break."
"good."
“…”
Lu Peishi, who had also stayed up all night for several days, chewed a piece of Chinese kale in boredom.
That's why he doesn't like to eat with couples or married couples.
Some people laugh while eating a meal, while others don't.
Ruan Yan didn't eat for long before she quietly put down her chopsticks and left with a forced smile: "You guys eat yours, I'm full, I'll go make some tea over there."
There was a tea table in the box. Ruan Yan didn't have much knowledge about tea, so she picked up the Pu'er tea on the table and poured it directly into the purple clay teapot. Then she picked up the boiling hot water and slowly poured it in.
At this time, Lu Peishi also came over with an indescribable expression.
What does that song on the Internet say? I should be under the table, not sitting here...
Zhuo Ming, this guy, seems dull and stupid in his daily life, but he is very good at love.
The two of them were surrounded by the sour smell of a love affair that disregarded the lives of others. Lu Peishi, who was exposed to the radiation, suffered internal injuries in many parts of his body.
I couldn't bear it any longer and had to run for my life.
Looking at Lu Pei sitting opposite her, Ruan Yan kindly poured the first cup of tea from the fairness cup and handed it to him politely: "Mr. Lu, please."
He didn't reach out to take it, but said slowly: "Drink it yourself."
Just drink it yourself.
Ruan Yan tested the temperature, took a small sip, and couldn't help but frown.
So bitter and astringent.
Lu Peishi on the opposite side seemed to have expected this and chuckled.
Ruan Yan: “…”
Is he laughing at me?
Ruan Yan was a little dissatisfied and blurted out: "Boss Lu, what are you laughing at?"
Lu Peishi didn't say anything, but just took a covered bowl next to him, scalded the tea set with hot water, and then put the tea leaves back into the covered bowl.
Waking up the tea, brewing, pouring the soup, dividing the cups... His series of actions were smooth and flowing, and he looked much more professional and skilled than himself.
Ruan Yan hesitantly took the tea cup he handed her and took a sip. She tasted a mild, refreshing astringency at first, which was quickly replaced by a sweetness, leaving her mouth filled with a rich, floral and fruity aftertaste.
A rich tea aroma with a very layered feel.
It is obviously the same type of tea, but the taste and flavor of the brewed tea are so different.
Ruan Yan had no choice but to admit defeat.
The man slowly made tea, gently holding the teacup with his slender fingers and sipping it in small sips.
The buttons on the front of his shirt were unbuttoned, leaving his collar slightly open. From his protruding Adam's apple, he revealed a smooth and distinct jawline.
The pale golden sunlight from outside the window fell in, staining the corners of his eyes and eyebrows with laziness, and even the coldness in his eyes seemed to be much less.
If someone didn't know him at this moment, they would mistakenly think that this sexy man was very approachable.
In fact, he is arrogant, cold and heartless.
Ruan Yan turned her head to the side and drank the tea in the cup.
Suddenly, someone gently pushed open the door of the box.
A man in his forties or fifties, dressed in a suit and tie, came in.
He smiled and walked towards the dining table: "Boss Wen, Boss Zhuo, you haven't been here for a long time."
"Boss Lin, long time no see," Wen Ying put down her chopsticks and smiled, "I just finished my busy schedule and happened to bring my sister over for dinner today."
It turned out to be the owner of this store.
After a few pleasantries, Boss Lin turned to look at the tea table, and Ruan Yan nodded at him.
"Then the one over here is Mr. Wen's sister," Boss Lin knew that Wen Ying's sister had a boyfriend who she had been dating for many years. He was the youngest son of Hongsheng Group, and the two were about to get engaged.
So, he looked at the handsome man opposite Ruan Yan who was wearing couple's outfit with her, and said naturally,
"And, Mr. Wen's brother-in-law—"
Ruan Yan: “???”
Lu Peishi: “…”
What?
What brother-in-law? How could he be called brother-in-law? Ruan Yan was choked and speechless for a moment.
It was Wen Ying who spoke first to explain for her: "Boss Lin, you can't just assign me relatives. This is Mr. Lu from Wanlai."
A joking tone eases the awkwardness.
"Oh, sorry, sorry!" Boss Lin apologized several times with great apology.
Ruan Yan said nothing and just pretended to be dead.
She pretended to be calm while drinking her tea. After all, as long as she wasn't embarrassed, it would be others who were embarrassed... right?
Fortunately, Wen Ying and the others had almost finished eating after Boss Lin left, so Ruan Yan no longer had to face that guy awkwardly.
After leaving the box, Wen Ying sent her back to the company. Zhuo Ming had to go to the project site, and Lu Peishi had other things to do and still would not go to the company today.
On the way back, Wen Ying asked Ruan Yan how she felt about the new company. Ruan Yan thought for a moment and said, "It's okay. I may need to get used to it."
Wen Ying nodded: "Take your time, don't rush."
Wen Ying felt that it was very rare for her to take this first step.
Ruan Yan used to be too playful, loving to hang out at various parties and cocktail parties. After her father passed away, she became even more unrestrained, wasting her time and money. She was also very wary of everyone around her, especially Wen Ying. At one point, the two of them even had a bad relationship and almost split up...
Seeing Ruan Yan's life circle gradually getting healthier, Wen Ying was sincerely happy for her.
"Sister," Ruan Yan beside her suddenly said, "How do you think we can get along well with our colleagues?"
“Hmm…”
This question was difficult for Wen Ying. Although she had started at the bottom of the company, everyone in the company knew her position at the time, so her interpersonal relationships with colleagues had always been quite easy. Therefore, she couldn't give a very constructive answer...
Despite this, she still tried to offer her own perspective and offer some advice. “Being wise is like being foolish, seeking common ground while reserving differences. This is what I told myself when I first entered the workplace.”
Seeing Ruan Yan seemed to understand, she explained, "It's okay to hide your shortcomings occasionally. It's okay to suffer a small loss occasionally, as long as you stay on the right track. If you can meet colleagues you get along with, that would be great. Otherwise, there's no need to force yourself to fit in."
Ruan Yan seemed to be lost in thought.
After returning to the company, Ruan Yan thought about trying to save the situation one last time to see if she could ease the atmosphere. After all, she would be staying here for a while, so it would be better to try her best to build good relationships with her colleagues.
During afternoon tea time, she searched on her phone for several of the best-reputation stores nearby and bought some drinks and snacks.
"Everyone must be tired from work. I bought some afternoon tea, but I don't know if you like it." When the takeaway was delivered, Ruan Yan put a pile of things on the dining bar next to her and invited her colleagues to come and eat.
After a few seconds of silence, a baby-faced girl in the front row broke Ruan Yan's awkwardness. She turned her attention from the computer in front of her to the pile of snacks on the table, then looked at Ruan Yan and smiled, "Thank you, new colleague."
But she didn't stand up to take it.
Other colleagues also politely thanked her, but like that girl, they all stayed where they were and did not get the food.
What I fear most is the sudden silence in the air.
This... who wouldn't be embarrassed...
It seems that not everyone can learn to bribe.
Ruan Yan took a drink and snack and handed it to Lin Lin.
Lin Lin was not at her workstation, so she had to put her things on the table and went back dejectedly.
When she returned, Ruan Yan found that the things on the dining bar had hardly been touched.
She had placed a few more orders based on the number of her colleagues. Looking at so much leftover food, she would be lying if she didn't feel disappointed.
"Hello, I'm back." As the voice rang out, a young man walked in from outside.
When he saw Ruan Yan, he was stunned for a moment, then realized: "Oh, you are the new colleague."
Ruan Yan smiled at him: "Hello, I'm Ruan Yan."
Zhuo Zhongsen was attracted by the smile of his new colleague. What a beautiful girl! He couldn't help but extend his hand: "Hello, Ruan Yan, my name is Zhuo Zhongsen, welcome to join our team."
He had heard before that a new colleague would report in the next few days. When he learned from Lin Lin that it was Lu Peishi's secretary, he was shocked.
Because Lu Peishi has not spent much time in the company in the past two years, and has taken on fewer and fewer projects personally, they are basically managed by his team deputy Tan Xinyi. It is said that the old Mr. Lu in the family is not in good health, so he, the eldest son, has put most of his attention on Wanlai Group.
Secondly, although their company has a lot of complicated things to do, construction companies are not short of small-time employees. They can just pick up a new person from the bottom to do errands and miscellaneous tasks. It has always been like this, so there is no need to hire a secretary specifically.
So he was quite curious about the arrival of this secretary. Could it be that Lu Peishi’s recent work focus would shift slightly to Zhuo Lu?
Compared to the coldness of other colleagues, Zhuo Zhongsen's enthusiasm finally warmed Ruan Yan's frozen heart. She also extended her hand: "Thank you."
"Hey, what are these..." Zhuo Zhongsen looked at the food on the table and asked, "Who's treating?"
"It's me," Ruan Yan said, "I bought a lot, but everyone... seems to be busy."
Zhuo Zhongsen had a look of understanding on his face. He walked straight to the side of the restaurant bar and picked up a cup of coffee. "I'm a little thirsty, so I won't be polite, Ruan Yan."
After a pause, he leaned closer to her and whispered, "That's just how they are. Don't bother with them."
"Hey, hey, move aside."
A tall and thin girl with short hair came over and walked through them domineeringly.
She took a cup of coffee from the food on the table and waved it in Ruan Yan's direction: "Thank you."
"You're welcome……"
As Ruan Yan finished speaking, the tall and thin girl who was walking back suddenly turned around and looked at Zhuo Zhongsen: "Manager Zhuo, come and take a look at the final version of the renderings, and by the way, help Chen Zhong polish the model a little more."
"Okay--" Zhuo Zhongsen stretched out his tone, shrugged helplessly at Ruan Yan, and followed the girl.
Ruan Yan gave a bitter smile.
Why do I feel like I'm being excluded...
She didn't know why everyone was so indifferent to her. Could it be that they knew her identity and wanted to draw a line between themselves and her?
Ruan Yan, who had just entered the workplace, was a little depressed. This working life was completely different from what she had imagined.
Today she spent the whole day doing nothing, bored and having a hard time.
When she was leaving get off work, she glanced at the group of people sitting neatly in front of their computers, then looked at the pile of food at the bar that no one was interested in, and she felt a little sad again.
Well, since we can’t beat them, let’s just join them.
Just when she was ready to adapt to the boring days of working at the office that were like being in prison, she found that it was not the case.
The next morning, as soon as Ruan Yan arrived at the company, she noticed a change in the atmosphere around her.
The group of people who had been clinging to their seats with stern faces and no words were now, contrary to their usual behavior, gathering together and laughing.
"...I haven't even had time to put on a face mask lately. I must have aged more than ten years."
"Me too. Look at my dark circles and fine lines. I'm at least old..."
"Thirty years old—"
"Go to hell, Yang Xiao, shut up!"
Seeing Ruan Yan coming, the girl with the baby face waved to her enthusiastically: "New colleague, here you are."
Hearing the sound, everyone looked towards Ruan Yan.
"Hey, welcome our new colleague—"
"Our new colleague treated us to a meal yesterday—thank you. Have you had breakfast? Would you like some?"
Surrounded by the enthusiasm, Ruan Yan was a little confused.
Could this really be the same group of colleagues I've been with for a few days? Could it be that their faces were swapped by AI?
"No, I've already eaten at home, thank you." Ruan Yan's expression still looked a little unresponsive.
"I was so busy that I forgot to introduce myself," the baby-faced girl, munching on apple pie, smiled. "My name is Liu Mengmeng, and I'm the cutest in our group."
"This is Fang Yuan," Liu Mengmeng pointed at the chubby boy with glasses behind him. "Although he's the youngest in our group, he's the most stable. You can tell by his appearance."
Fang Yuan touched the back of his head and chuckled.
"This is Zhao Tian. She's the coolest sister in our group."
Zhao Tian turned around and raised her chin: "Thank you for the coffee yesterday."
It was the tall and thin girl from yesterday afternoon.
"Oh, you're welcome, it's okay." Ruan Yan waved her hand.
Liu Mengmeng continued to introduce her colleagues tirelessly: "This is Yang Xiao, who came in more than a year earlier than you. That's Chen Jiajia, and that's Zhuang Xiaotong. And the three empty seats over there are Zhang Zhao, Chen Zhong, and Zhao Dongdong..."
In order not to let her kindness down, Ruan Yan tried hard to remember their names in her heart.
"And there's Tan Xinyi walking towards us. Sister Xinyi, our team's beautiful and kind second-in-command," Liu Mengmeng whispered to her, smiling at the same time, "Sister Xinyi, here you are."
Ruan Yan also followed her gaze and saw a beautiful woman with long curly hair walking towards her with a smile.
She is indeed a beautiful and kind person. Whenever Ruan Yan encountered problems these days, it was Tan Xinyi who took the initiative to help her solve them.
"Sister Xinyi, good morning."
"Good morning, Ruan Yan, have you had breakfast yet? If not, I have some here."
Ruan Yan thanked her for her kindness: "Thank you, Sister Xinyi, I've eaten."
"Sister Xinyi, you are so biased. Why don't you ask me if I have had breakfast?" Liu Mengmeng pouted and pretended to be angry.
"Oh, then I know you've already eaten," Tan Xinyi said seriously, leaning close to her face. "Let me see, apple pie, egg burger, crispy sausage... Wow, you ate quite a lot."
"You can tell from that!" Liu Mengmeng wiped the corner of her mouth with her hand and said aggrievedly, "Then can't I eat a little more?"
Tan Xinyi raised the bag in her hand and shook it: "Who said it's not possible? Come on, it's fresh out of the oven."
"Ah, what is that? It smells so good. Is this braised pork roll..." Liu Mengmeng followed Tan Xinyi happily.
Looking at her jumping figure and the scene of everyone chatting lively, and thinking about the depressing and silent atmosphere yesterday, Ruan Yan found it a little unbelievable.
Later she found out that during the few days when she reported in, she happened to run into the team that was frantically rushing to meet the deadline. At such times, everyone was in a state of trance, as if their souls were possessed and their bodies were free. Apart from work, they almost cut off all communication with the outside world, so that they had no time to take care of the newcomer Ruan Yan.
And they would do this every once in a while. Fortunately, Ruan Yan got used to it and quickly adapted to the rhythm.
When getting off work today, everyone was very punctual. They turned off their computers and pulled up their chairs at the appointed time.
Seeing them arm in arm, laughing and discussing what to eat in the evening and gossiping about celebrities' love affairs, Ruan Yan felt a lot more at ease.
I almost thought that I would be working with a group of AI-curling kings in the future, but this kind of down-to-earth colleagues are more lovable.
"Ruan Yan, why are you here?" Liu Mengmeng asked as a few people walked out of the company gate while chatting.
Ruan Yan pointed in the direction of the subway not far away: "I'll take the subway."
"Oh," Liu Mengmeng shook the Totoro keychain in her hand and blinked. "I'm riding an electric scooter. Do you want me to take you to the subway?"
"Come on, by the time you went to pull the car, they'd already reached the security checkpoint," Zhao Tian, who was standing next to him, complained. Then, he turned his head and asked Ruan Yan, "Which direction do you live in? If it's on your way, I can give you a ride."
Ruan Yan said without hesitation: "Ah, no need, I can take the subway quickly, it's only a few stops."
"Okay then." Zhao Tian didn't insist anymore.
The three people left in three different directions.
The road ahead was under construction, so Ruan Yan had no choice but to walk along the curb. Before she had taken a few steps forward, a white Volvo stopped on her right.
Zhuo Zhongsen's face appeared in the slowly lowering car window.
"Hi, Ruan Yan."
The author has something to say:
----------------------
Everyone seems to be very quiet recently, is it because I wrote it wrong?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
