07 Summer Night Breeze
"Your last job was as a receptionist," Lin Shuyi said, tapping her fingertips lightly on the paper. "Tell me, why do you believe you are qualified for the job of a research and development assistant?"
Wen Xueyan remained calm: "My academic background is chemical engineering, and I published an SCI paper during my master's studies. This receptionist job is a temporary choice I made due to family matters, and it doesn't mean my abilities are limited to this."
Lin Shuyi remained noncommittal, then picked up a stack of documents: "The HR person in charge of your probation period already talked to you, right? I need to see the analysis report of these materials before I leave work. I've marked one issue, and you'll need to come up with a solution at tomorrow's meeting. Norsai Chemical doesn't tolerate idlers, especially in the R&D center."
As Wen Xueyan carried the heavy files to her workstation, she could feel the scrutinizing gazes from all around her. She sat by the window, where sunlight streamed onto her desk.
During lunch break, her colleagues went to the cafeteria in groups, and no one invited her. Wen Xueyan didn't mind, ordered takeout, and continued working. While waiting for her takeout, she continued analyzing the data.
"Going this far on the first day?" A gentle male voice came from the side.
Wen Xueyan looked up and saw a young man wearing glasses. "Chen Jing, R&D engineer." He handed her a cup of coffee. "That's just Manager Lin's style, don't take it to heart."
Wen Xueyan gratefully accepted the coffee: "Thank you. I just want to get familiar with the job as soon as possible."
"I heard you got in with Mr. Cheng's special approval? Generally speaking, this position requires at least two rounds of interviews. But I know you definitely don't have any inconvenient relationship with him," Chen Jing lowered his voice. "I'm just reminding you to be careful; Manager Lin won't give preferential treatment to those with connections. She also knows that Mr. Cheng is always very businesslike, and that he's not interested in women, and is said to be very devoted to his wife."
Wen Xueyan frowned: "I'm not Guan..."
Wen Xueyan wanted to say that she did not rely solely on connections; she had prior work experience in this field and her educational background was relevant.
Their conversation was interrupted when the internal phone rang suddenly.
Lin Shuyi looked for Chen Jing and called him away.
One week later.
Wen Xueyan sat at her workstation, her gaze focused intently on the computer screen.
She's been the first person in her department to arrive at the company these past few days.
Morning light streamed through the blinds, casting delicate shadows on her focused profile.
Whenever she is immersed in chemical data analysis, the speculation about whether Song Tiancheng is having an affair will temporarily take a backseat.
In recent days, Wen Xueyan has gradually noticed a change in her way of thinking.
She began to use the rationality of analyzing data to look at marital issues: if a relationship requires such effort to prove itself, then that in itself speaks volumes.
This week has been anything but easy. Lin Shuyi assigned her a workload far exceeding that of an average person, clearly testing her limits. Wen Xueyan worked overtime until late at night almost every day, reviewing professional terminology and studying industry reports.
She desperately needed this job, not only to gain a foothold after escaping her past marriage which existed in name only, but also because every month, she needed to use her already meager salary to pay for her mother's medical expenses and to save a portion to support her cousin Wen Haijing, who was in her final year of high school back in their hometown.
Wen Haijing recently said that she ranked among the top 20 in the school in the mock unified exam before the actual exam, which made Wen Xueyan very happy.
Wen Xueyan had always resented her cousin's parents' preference for sons over daughters. She believed that girls should have equal rights to education.
The probationary period felt like a long marathon.
Wen Xueyan worked very hard. She thought that after her probation period, her income would be higher, and she wouldn't be so tight on money. Moreover, the job had good prospects for future promotion. In addition, by immersing herself in her work, she no longer had to worry about whether Song Tiancheng was cheating on her.
Out of curiosity, she waited until Song Tiancheng was asleep last night and then tried his phone password.
As expected, it was changed again.
Furthermore, the screensaver is no longer a photo of the couple, but a pink Hello Kitty, which is clearly not Song Tiancheng's original preferred style. Perhaps it was that intern who made him change it.
Song Tiancheng's initial screensaver was a clichéd landscape picture, almost identical to those set by people in his WeChat Moments like "Peace is a blessing" and "AA Hardware and Building Materials".
At this moment, Wen Xueyan felt a strange sense of peace. She put down her phone, lay back down on her pillow, and gazed at her sleeping husband beside her in the dim moonlight.
There was a time when she thought Song Tiancheng was the most handsome man in the world. She loved the corners of his eyes when he smiled, loved the slight furrowing of his brows when he was thinking, and even loved his rigidity as a programmer. Especially when she thought of the generous financial help Song Tiancheng had given her family, she couldn't help but gently stroke his face, her heart filled with love.
But now, under the moonlight, looking at that face she once loved, it now seemed surprisingly ordinary. The bridge of her nose wasn't prominent enough, her lips were too thin, and even the eyebrows and eyes that had once captivated her appeared unremarkable.
Does love come with a beautifying filter? When you truly love someone, what you see may not be their true self, but rather an idealized projection of yourself.
At 3 p.m., Wen Xueyan arrived at the conference room.
This was her first formal monthly report meeting since joining Norsai Chemical. Cheng Boyan sat upright at the end of the long table, his face as stern as ever, occasionally raising a question or two during the reports from the department heads.
When the R&D department was giving their report, Wen Xueyan noticed that President Cheng's gaze did not linger for long.
Sitting in the conference room, listening to discussions on cutting-edge technologies in the industry, she felt a long-lost excitement. This was the field she truly loved and excelled in; years of life had almost made her forget this feeling.
As the meeting ended, the city lights began to twinkle. General Manager Cheng was the first to rise, followed by the department heads who filed out. Wen Xueyan was organizing her notes when she suddenly heard that deep voice behind her.
"Wen Xueyan."
She turned around and saw President Cheng standing at the door, his phone still pressed to his ear, his brows slightly furrowed.
"My assistant has to take the last minute tonight," he said, hanging up the phone, his tone calm but leaving no room for refusal. "Do you have time to accompany me to a social event? The other party is a senior executive at a chemical engineering company, and I need to bring someone with a professional background."
Wen Xueyan quickly nodded: "Okay, Mr. Cheng."
Sitting in President Cheng's car, Wen Xueyan gazed at the city lights flowing outside the window.
She glanced at President Cheng beside her. He was intently looking at documents on his tablet, his profile appearing particularly cold and aloof in the light and shadow streaming through the car window.
"No need to be nervous," Cheng Boyan suddenly spoke, his gaze still fixed on the documents. "President Li is a straightforward person. You only need to provide professional advice on technical issues. Besides, this is a meal, not a meeting."
Wen Xueyan nodded gently: "I will try my best. But I'm not a big drinker."
"No need for alcohol, this client is allergic to alcohol," Cheng Boyan replied briefly.
Inside the elegant private room of the Cantonese restaurant, warm light shone from the glass lamps. President Cheng and President Li sat facing each other, while Wen Xueyan sat quietly beside President Cheng.
The waiters served up one exquisite Cantonese dish after another.
Just as Mr. Cheng had predicted, Mr. Li was a straightforward middle-aged man, but extremely picky about technical details. The conversation gradually delved into his professional field.
"I think the corrosion resistance data for this material still needs further verification," said General Manager Li, pointing to a page in the project proposal.
President Cheng looked at Wen Xueyan.
Wen Xueyan calmly replied, "Mr. Li is right. But we are using the latest surface treatment technology, which has been verified in German laboratories." She explained the technical principles in detail, citing research findings from several authoritative journals.
Mr. Li's expression shifted from skepticism to admiration: "Mr. Cheng, your company truly has a wealth of talent."
Cheng Boyan nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
The conversation then focused precisely on the technical parameters of the new polymeric material. "Corrosion resistance isn't an isolated indicator," Mr. Cheng calmly stated, "it must be considered within the entire engineering system, like playing Go, where every move must anticipate the situation many moves ahead."
Mr. Li nodded frequently, occasionally raising in-depth technical questions.
As the main course was served, the atmosphere of the conversation gradually relaxed. When the waiter inquired about drinks, both CEOs unanimously chose aged Pu'er tea. The tea in the purple clay teapot was clear and bright, exuding a mellow aroma.
"Mr. Cheng, you're still doing the same old thing," Mr. Li said with a smile. "The world when you're sober is already captivating enough," Mr. Cheng said calmly, turning his teacup slightly.
The conversation gradually shifted to macroeconomics and industry trends.
At the end of dinner, General Manager Cheng personally poured tea for General Manager Li. This simple gesture, in his hands, showed both respect and dignity. "Business is like the way of tea," he said, gazing at the unfurling tea leaves in the cup, "the key is in the measure, and the value lies in perseverance."
On the way back, Mr. Cheng received a phone call.
The car was quiet, and Wen Xueyan could vaguely hear a woman's voice on the other end of the phone, saying, "Sir, the new bag you ordered for your wife from France arrived today. Is it still in her walk-in closet?"
"Okay," Mr. Cheng replied briefly.
After a while, she noticed that President Cheng had fallen asleep in his chair, his brows revealing an undeniable weariness.
Half an hour later, the driver slowly parked the car at the entrance of the residential area where Wen Xueyan lived. Only a few lights were still on in the residential buildings in the night.
As she was about to unbuckle her seatbelt, she suddenly felt her right hand being covered by a large, thick hand.
The touch came suddenly and firmly, the warm palm completely enveloping the back of her hand.
Wen Xueyan wasn't sure if this counted as a physiological reaction. She hadn't been intimate with a man for a long time, and her heart was racing.
Then she tried to quickly pull her hand back.
Cheng Boyan's palms were broad and strong, and Wen Xueyan could feel the warmth of his palms seeping through her skin.
Wen Xueyan has been hating mistresses these days, and she doesn't want to be one anymore.
At this awkward and delicate moment, President Cheng suddenly woke up. He abruptly raised his hand, the movement so fast it seemed to stir up a breeze.
"Sorry," he said, opening the window. The summer night breeze made him a little more awake. "I was dreaming."
"It's alright," Wen Xueyan replied softly, trying to make her tone sound natural.
Cheng Boyan shifted slightly to the other side of the car window. This seemingly casual movement carried a clear sense of boundaries.
"You've worked hard today. I heard from your supervisor that you're quite capable. Keep up the good work. I'll be going to Singapore on a business trip for two weeks, which will be very busy. I believe in your abilities and talents, so you can continue in this job. If you encounter any problems that you really can't solve, you can always contact me directly. Goodbye."
Wen Xueyan understood, and the implication was that she shouldn't contact him unless necessary, as he was very busy.
Welcome to leave comments, dear readers, teachers, and children! Thank you for your support.
Will the female lead be even slightly tempted?
Xueyan is very capable, don't waste her talent, keep it up!
It looks great. I'm a little curious why Mr. Cheng never brings his wife to the annual meeting.
Write more, update more
Hope for faster updates
Perhaps Mr. Cheng doesn't even have a wife; it's just a cover-up (a reader's wild guess).
I can't get enough! Write more, haha!
That's great! I love this feeling of progress!
Perhaps. Thank you for your comment, reader!
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