Chapter 32 [VIP]
Chapter summary: "Look what you've done!"
Recently, Qian Lina has finally tasted the joy of triumph.
When the director learned that she was to be the host of the annual meeting, he immediately changed his attitude, his demeanor noticeably different. While not exactly respectful, his treatment of her was completely different from how he treated other colleagues.
The last time Qian Lina heard him speak in such a polite tone was during the middle of the year when they were welcoming their superiors for an inspection.
The director not only took every opportunity to express his concern for her, but also inquired about the branch.
Qian Lina had no idea how much she knew, but she couldn't let go of this opportunity to promote herself. So she embellished her story and told the director what she had seen and heard, adding at the end, "I heard it from someone else, so it might not be true. Please don't spread it around."
The director smiled knowingly, and a tacit understanding was established.
Gradually, Qian Lina herself became somewhat complacent, as if she were already a branch employee and that she was there to inspect the work.
With the annual meeting drawing closer, Qian Lina began to take leave as a matter of course.
No matter how busy she was at work, as long as she told the director, "There's a rehearsal over there," the director would immediately let her go.
Unlike before, when asking for leave was as easy as climbing to heaven.
Once, she had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius, and the doctor wanted her to have an IV drip. She asked the head doctor for half a day off, and the head doctor actually told her to bring the medicine back and have it administered at a small clinic next door during her lunch break. "How great, it won't interfere with my work at all."
At that time, Qian Lina almost decided to quit her job and go home, but when she thought of her ex-boyfriend, she gritted her teeth and persevered.
Qian Lina has already started planning what kind of WeChat Moments post she will make after being transferred to a branch office. It doesn't need to be fancy, just casual and understated.
Every time I think of this, a feeling of happiness arises spontaneously.
It was almost noon when Qian Lina glanced at her watch, exclaimed "It's too late!" and hung up a sign saying "Service suspended".
She quickly packed her things, greeted Ni Zhenzhen, and said, "Zhenzhen, I have to go to rehearsal. I've already told the director." She looked at the large crowd outside and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Ni Zhenzhen was busy changing the password for her client and didn't notice the sympathy in Qian Lina's eyes. "Okay, go ahead."
Ni Zhenzhen's voice was a little hoarse. These days, she not only had to talk to clients, but also had to tell Song Likun how to do the business and what to pay attention to in between business transactions.
She was afraid that Song Likun wouldn't understand, so she repeatedly reminded him of every little detail, hoping that he wouldn't fall into the same traps she had fallen into.
However, Song Likun didn't seem to appreciate it.
When Ni Zhenzhen shared her experience with him again, Song Likun told her to stop talking.
"Look at the state of your voice."
Ni Zhenzhen smiled nonchalantly, "You need to graduate quickly so we can have some peace of mind."
With Qian Lina gone, all the clients were now on Ni Zhenzhen's side. She had to speed things up, but the clients kept coming one after another, seemingly without end.
Ni Zhenzhen worked for more than an hour before realizing something was wrong.
She hasn't eaten yet!
Song Likun, who was standing nearby, also said, "Sister Qian should have let you have a meal before you leave."
It's too late to say all this now.
The little food she ate in the morning had been completely consumed. In order to avoid going to the bathroom as much as possible, Ni Zhenzhen never drank water when she was on the counter. She hadn't eaten or drunk anything all morning, and in addition to a dull ache in her stomach, she also seemed to be experiencing some symptoms of low blood sugar.
Dizziness, palpitations, numbness in hands and feet, and gradually, even the strength to laugh disappeared.
Song Likun probably noticed it too, and said worriedly, "You don't look well..."
"It's nothing." Ni Zhenzhen shook her head, temporarily dispelling the gloom in her eyes.
Ni Zhenzhen persevered for a while longer, but she couldn't take it anymore. She hardened her heart and locked the computer screen and the drawer containing the money slips and receipts.
As soon as Ni Zhenzhen left the counter, the customers behind her in line became unhappy. A man rushed over and started cursing, "What's wrong with you? Why are you leaving as soon as it's my turn? Where are you going? To a funeral?"
Ni Zhenzhen turned around and saw that it was a familiar face—the man with the scar near his eye from last time. He had probably just been drinking and was quite drunk.
Ni Zhenzhen smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, I'm going to grab a bite to eat, I'll be right back."
"What are you eating? I haven't eaten yet! So many people are waiting, and you still have the nerve to eat?"
"That's right..." People in the lobby echoed, their complaints rising and falling, "We've been waiting for so long."
The scarred man threatened, "If you dare leave, I'll file a complaint against you!"
"..."
Ni Zhenzhen was slightly startled. A wave of dizziness washed over her, causing her to sway involuntarily.
"Sister Zhenzhen..."
Song Likun's hand, which he tried to use to stop her, missed its target. Ni Zhenzhen took a few steps back and sat down again at the counter.
When the people in the lobby saw that Ni Zhenzhen had returned, a chorus of cheers immediately broke out.
Ni Zhenzhen didn't take it to heart. She quietly took down the "Service Suspended" sign and asked with a smile, "What kind of service do you need?"
She came back not because she was afraid of the scarred man complaining, but because she felt that last time, the scarred man was cut in line by Rong Xiaodan's clients and had to wait an extra hour. This time, he finally got his turn, but he was forced to wait for her to eat again. If it were her, she would probably be angry too.
The scarred man didn't respond, but continued cursing: "You bastard, you deserve to be cursed."
Ni Zhenzhen's expression froze, and her eyes darkened.
A burst of gloating laughter erupted from the people in the lobby. They were already impatient, and now that someone had stepped forward to teach the people inside a lesson, it couldn't be better.
Song Likun couldn't take it anymore. He pointed at the scarred man and threatened, "Watch your mouth!"
"Who told you to watch your mouth? What? You dare hit me?"
Feeling his arm being grabbed, Song Likun swallowed back what he was about to say.
However, the scarred man wasn't going to let him off the hook and kept cursing, "Why are you glaring at me? I've had my eye on you for a long time, you two..."
Song Likun pursed his lips into a thin line, his chest heaved violently, and his body began to tremble.
The onlookers craned their necks to look, but to their disappointment, Song Likun didn't retaliate with insults. Instead, he turned and walked away without saying a word.
The conflict was thus resolved.
The scarred man won without a fight, and he laughed triumphantly, "Looks so big and strong, but he's just a coward!"
Ni Zhenzhen wanted to call Song Likun back, but then she thought it was better for him to leave; staying here would only make things more difficult.
She kept apologizing to the scarred man and begging for his forgiveness.
Song Likun is still in his internship. If the scarred man really files a complaint against him, he might lose his chance to become a full-time employee.
No matter what Ni Zhenzhen said, the scarred man remained arrogant and refused to budge.
Ni Zhenzhen didn't know what to do. Suddenly, a shadow fell down. Before Ni Zhenzhen could even see who it was, the scarred man was dragged to the ground by the collar by the person behind him.
Immediately afterwards, the man swung a punch and landed on the scarred man's face.
The scarred man screamed in agony, the intense pain sobering him up considerably. When he finally saw who was in front of him, he threw another punch.
"You... Ouch..." The scarred man covered his face and screamed repeatedly.
He never dreamed that the bank teller, who never retaliated when insulted, would actually rush out and beat him.
Ni Zhenzhen never expected that Song Likun wouldn't leave in a huff, but would instead run out and beat someone up.
She immediately stood up and shouted at the security guard, "Stop him!" Her voice was already hoarse, and this shout, delivered with all her might, sounded even more poignant.
The security guard grabbed Song Likun. Although his upper body was restrained, his legs were still able to move freely. Whenever he had the chance, he would kick the scarred man repeatedly.
Song Likun, who works out regularly and has also played basketball, was furious and used all his strength in every blow, making the previously arrogant scarred man beg for mercy.
"Stop hitting me... Ouch..."
Song Likun was blinded by rage and couldn't hear anything except the scarred man's curse at Ni Zhenzhen, calling her a "bitch."
In no time at all, he broke free from the security guard's restraints and pounced on the scarred man, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks.
The others seemed terrified by Song Likun's ferocity, and all fell silent. Only Ni Zhenzhen shouted at the top of her lungs, "Stop! Stop hitting him!"
Song Likun turned a deaf ear.
Ni Zhenzhen was extremely anxious. As a teller, she could be punished for even talking back, let alone assaulting a customer. If she injured someone, she might even go to jail.
Ni Zhenzhen desperately wanted to pull him away immediately, but there was a glass barrier in front of her. She could see everything, but she couldn't do anything about it.
Ni Zhenzhen cried out in despair, "Song Likun!"
This sound finally brought Song Likun back to his senses.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the thick bulletproof glass and landing on the solitary Ni Zhenzhen.
Her face was deathly pale, her eyes brimming with tears, and she slowly shook her head at him, every movement filled with pleading.
Song Likun closed his eyes, then quickly opened them again, and then abruptly released the scarred man.
The scarred man immediately rolled on the ground and kept his distance.
"Call the police!" he pointed at Song Likun. "You...you're finished!"
Song Likun arrogantly raised his chin, looking completely unconvinced.
The police arrived quickly, and the two were taken away for questioning. The director also went, and before leaving, he glared at Ni Zhenzhen, saying, "Look what you've done!"
Ni Zhenzhen had no way to refute it; it was indeed her fault that she hadn't taken a good look at Song Likun.
Ni Zhenzhen was in a daze all afternoon, not only because she hadn't had a chance to eat, but also because she was worried about Song Likun's safety.
How did she manage to get through it?
It was probably because an old lady insisted on giving her a piece of candy while she was doing some business, and then said with a smile, "Little girl, are you starving?"
At that moment, Ni Zhenzhen could no longer hold back and cried silently.
After getting off work, Ni Zhenzhen went to the police station, and by the time she got home it was almost 10 p.m.
"Why are you back so late?" Xu Tianzhou asked.
Ni Zhenzhen did not answer. She slowly put down her bag, changed her shoes, and took off her coat. The whole process was like that of a walking corpse, devoid of any life.
Xu Tianzhou realized that something might be about to happen.
He carefully examined Ni Zhenzhen. She must have been exhausted. In the dim light, her face was completely pale. But she didn't sit down immediately. Instead, she stood motionless in the entryway, like a child who had done something wrong, her eyes full of apprehension.
Ni Zhenzhen: "I have something to tell you, don't be angry."
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