4. Dangerous Affair
Chen Yisheng's eyes swept over her tense sitting posture: "Don't be so nervous, this is not an interrogation room."
"What have you been up to this week?"
"Doesn't Group A need to report?"
Chen Yisheng raised his eyelids and asked, "Do you really want to retire?"
"...No." Chi Jin sniffed, his voice muffled, like a cabbage wilted by frost.
"You've basically proofread all of this week's manuscripts, right?"
Chi Jin hesitated, not wanting to ask for credit in front of his boss, but he also felt that it was unfair for him to cover up for the proofreader so often.
Chen Yisheng looked up and said as he typed on the keyboard, "Don't you really enjoy doing your intern's work? You weren't so cautious when you were an intern."
Chi Jin, feeling rather aggrieved, spilled the beans, "Luo Cheng's workload has been a bit overwhelming lately. I was in charge of the first school, and then he was in charge of the second... Then there were some remaining issues, so I split up the work with the intern editor, Xiao Duan."
"I can still tell if it's something you proofread." Chen Yisheng stared at the computer. "Please see the revision notes for your suggestions. We'll finalize it after polishing. Go out and call Luo Cheng."
Chi Jin uttered an "Oh!" and took the USB drive, feeling relieved—he didn't get scolded! It sounded like... Chen Yisheng still knew he'd done the work? He even... seemed to be trying to stand up for him?
She walked out briskly, feeling a little relieved that she had survived.
Unexpectedly, this anger was so great that Chen Yisheng actually fired Luo Cheng directly.
The entire editorial office fell silent, leaving only Luo Cheng's disbelieving pleas for mercy and his increasingly uncontrollable roar. Chen Yisheng, always a man of his word, was now in full force. His icy gaze swept over the editors below, who involuntarily looked up. His voice was low, even calm: "Three warnings within a year will automatically terminate the employment contract. This is the company's written policy."
He paused, then accurately locked onto two directions: "Ouyang Yuan from Group A, Guo Xin from Group B, each receiving a warning."
Chi Jin had been warned once before for his negative attitude, but this was Ouyang Yuan's second time this quarter. She and Qin Xiancheng looked at Ouyang Yuan at the same time, but her expression remained indifferent, as if someone else had been warned.
When he came back to his senses, Luo Cheng was already throwing a tantrum at every workstation he passed by. The scene was chaotic. Editor Jiang Xuhuan didn't tolerate him and calmly called the security department.
"It's raining, let's go home quickly before it gets too heavy."
Several editors immediately looked out the window, following the sound. Qin Xiancheng knew this was Jiang Xuhuan's typical trap-setting method and winked at Chi Jin. Sure enough, Jiang Xuhuan immediately stood up and scolded him, "You still have time to look out the window? Don't you have your own things to do? Look at Editor Qin, he's not distracted at all."
Hearing Qin Xiancheng's name, Luo Cheng rushed over like a madman. Qin Xiancheng's words were like a barrage of cannons, heartily venting the anger of the entire editorial department. Everyone had long been complaining about Luo Cheng, and secretly applauded in their workstations.
Within three minutes, two security guards carried him away, leaving only his futile curses gradually dissipating in the corridor.
Chi Jin was still terrified. Although her mind told her that Luo Cheng's dismissal had nothing to do with her and that it was simply his own fault, she couldn't forget the coincidence that she had just left the editor-in-chief's office when Luo Cheng was called in and fired. Later, Ouyang Yuan complained that if she had been fired, she would have packed up her things and walked away without even looking back. Of course, Sister Yuan did exactly the same thing when she was later transferred.
What if it was me? Chi Jin thought, Chen Yisheng would have had a hundred good reasons to fire her long ago.
But he didn't.
Is it killing the chicken to scare the monkey?
"What's wrong?" Ouyang Yuan looked at her pale face and said, "Don't worry about me. Even if the sky falls, I'll use it as a blanket."
"Yuanyuan, be serious." Chi Jin came back to his senses, "Group A is dangerous to begin with, be careful not to lose it and transfer to another magazine."
Ouyang Yuan said seriously: "It doesn't matter. Let's take it one step at a time. If it doesn't work out, we'll just die halfway."
Chi Jin shook her: "You'd better not be serious."
Ouyang Yuan shrugged, as if she really didn't care.
As the clock ticked, the sound of rain outside the window gradually became clearer, tapping against the glass, becoming increasingly frequent. It was time to get off work, and many people began to pack up their things, watching the increasingly heavy rain outside with worry.
Chi Jin packed her computer bag with a worried look on her face. She had to take it home this weekend. It was a company-issued computer, and she couldn't afford to pay for it if it got damaged. The rain had come suddenly, and she didn't have an umbrella. She waited for over half an hour, but the rain showed no sign of stopping.
Jiang Xuhuan, the editor who had always taken good care of Chi Jin, was walking out and was a little surprised to see Chi Jin working overtime: "It's rare to see you working overtime recently. Did you have to choose Friday?"
Chi Jin smiled and said hello: "I'll be leaving soon. Bring something home to eat on the weekend."
Jiang Xuhuan understood and guessed that she might be preparing for the topic selection meeting on Monday. He nodded and said, "Don't worry too much about the results next week. I'll arrange a column for you in A magazine later. Editor-in-Chief Chen said that your final draft this week is pretty good."
"Okay. Goodbye, Sister Huanhuan, and have a nice weekend."
"have a good weekend."
She checked the background check documents again, meticulously and thoroughly, and thought there shouldn't be any problems here. After confirming again and again, Chi Jin left the office area with her backpack, but unfortunately, she just missed a packed elevator.
Zhongxin Magazine occupied six floors of a large office building, generating the least revenue but occupying the most space. Watching the financial professionals coming and going every day, Chi Jin and his friends always felt a little out of place.
The elevator took its time arriving, and Chi Jin stared blankly out the window at the rain-washed city. Steady footsteps echoed behind him, and Chi Jin turned to see it was indeed Chen Yisheng. He was holding his car keys and briefcase, his gaze seemingly casually glancing at her standing by the window, then down to the dense rain outside. His brows were cold, and the faint moles at the corners of his eyes were particularly clear in the dim light.
It was not until Chen Yisheng silently pressed the elevator button that Chi Jin realized that he had been standing there stupidly as punishment.
Chi Jin coughed a little awkwardly: "It's raining so heavily."
"Um."
Fortunately, the elevator doors opened with a crisp ding. The two of them walked in silently. They descended to the tenth floor, and as the doors opened, a surging crowd instantly poured in—the first rush hour for the securities investment company on the tenth floor.
The small space suddenly became crowded. Chi Jin stumbled backward, pushed by a powerful force from behind, her back slamming against the cold stainless steel siding. Almost instantly, a hand shot up and firmly rested on the siding beside her—it was Chen Yisheng. He leaned slightly to the side, forming a protective circle with his arms and body to avoid offending her and shielding her from the even more surging crowd behind him.
A blue vest suit, striped shirt, and tie jumped out from the suit jacket restlessly, bringing with it a faint scent of jasmine, gently brushing against Chi Jin's cheek.
Few people's ties still have the smell of perfume. Chi Jin guessed that it was his wife's perfume.
Chi Jin's cheeks began to heat up uncontrollably after being brushed twice by the tip of the fragrant tie. Chi Jin turned his head away in embarrassment and shrank into the corner, almost embedding himself in it.
He also noticed it, and neatly tucked the restless tie back into his suit, his slender and clean fingers coming into Chi Jin's sight.
As is typical of most idol dramas, every time the crowds crowded around them, the two inevitably had a slight physical collision. After each collision, they would both silently and slightly stiffly apologize:
"Excuse me."
"Feel sorry."
The third time, someone nearby let out a low laugh. Chi Jin, embarrassed, simply shut up and turned his entire body toward the wall. But he also saw Chen Yisheng surrounding him like a hen protecting her chicks.
The two of them were already close to each other, their breathing rhythm was clearly heard, and even their postures were ambiguous.
Chi Jin closed his eyes, trying to suppress his turbulent thoughts with his mind, and silently said: He is married! He has a wife!
Finally we reached the first floor, and the two people in the corner were the last to get off the elevator.
The brief physical contact brought about a lingering feeling. Chi Jin rubbed his hands uncomfortably, trying to break the awkwardness: "This is the time to show how good our company is. At least we don't have to squeeze into the elevator when we get off work at 5:30."
“There’s no need to squeeze in for overtime.”
After a day of beatings, Chi Jin's face thickened: "If you ask the boss to increase our overtime pay, I will definitely be willing to work hard for this 'hard-earned money'!"
Chen Yisheng paused slightly, turned his head to look at her, and a faint, almost invisible smile seemed to appear at the corner of his mouth: "Aren't you also earning some 'hard-earned money'?"
Damn it, he will definitely use this as a handle to hold her back forever.
Chi Jin had no choice but to adopt a roundabout tactic towards the enemy and surrendered: "Thank you for not punishing me for the side job. I was actually prepared to be scolded today."
Chen Yisheng frowned slightly: "Scold you? Am I that mean?"
"Of course, you don't know that everyone..."
"Everyone?" Chen Yisheng raised his eyebrows and waited for her next words calmly.
Chi Jin is best at bragging without hesitation: "Everyone thinks you are very experienced. When we have questions at work, they are immediately cleared up with your guidance. You are the backbone of Faces and the confidence of us young editors. We all need you, respect you, and are grateful to you."
Chen Yisheng chuckled: "I know what everyone says about me in private. I don't believe a single punctuation mark in what you say."
All right. Chi Jin shut up awkwardly. But it looked like the Living Devil was in a good mood at the moment.
"Editor Chen? Editor Chi?"
A gentle and sweet female voice came from behind him.
They turned around to see Jin Yaojia approaching them, clutching a small umbrella. She was the department's most popular beauty, petite and soft-spoken, yet incredibly efficient and effective. She was also the company's best newcomer last year. With only Chi Jin and her being the only ones to become full-time employees at the same time, it was impossible to say she wasn't feeling any pressure.
Chi Jin looked at Jin Linlin's face with no dead angles. She was young and beautiful, gentle and generous, had a master's degree from abroad, and came from a wealthy family. He really didn't know what troubles she had.
They were evenly matched in the past, but now there's a world of difference. Chi Jin nodded out of courtesy and said, "It's raining so hard."
"Yeah," Jin Yaojia frowned, her tone just right with annoyance, "I can't get a taxi, and there are 165 people in line ahead of me."
Chi Jin looked down at her taxi app, and her heart sank - although it wasn't as exaggerated as 165, the queue of dozens was enough to make her despair.
Jin Yaojia turned his gaze to Chen Yisheng, his smile sweet and just the right amount of pleading: "Is Editor-in-Chief Chen driving? It's raining so hard, would you mind giving us a ride?"
How dare she say that, actually trying to take a ride from the King of Hell. Wait... the two of us?
The beautiful girl still had a gentle smile and invited her: "Editor Chi, would you like to join us?"
Chi Jin glanced at the two of them suspiciously. They... were friends in private? When did this happen?
Before Chi Jin could figure it out, Chen Yisheng's low and calm voice sounded, surprisingly straightforward:
"Can."
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