Chapter 11 Departure
Qu He took the takeout bag and went into the small kitchen next door.
She poured the porridge into the small pot without expression, turned on the heat, and stirred it casually a few times.
The ceramic spoon made a crisp sound as it struck the side of the pot.
Qu He glanced at the time, estimating that Qian Zhaoye's meeting was almost over, and carried the small pot into the president's office.
When Qian Zhaoye pushed open the office door, he saw Qu He bending over to serve porridge.
The dress's cinched waist accentuated her slender figure, and his gaze swept over her body, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
Qian Zhaoye suddenly remembered the whispers he had overheard from his subordinates:
"I didn't expect Secretary Qu to have such a great figure..."
"Yeah, it's a bit of a waste to dress like that all the time..."
“...”
Those blatant compliments stung his temples, like needles pricking his heart, reminding him of the boys in college who coveted Qu He.
It's like a treasured possession that I've kept for many years, but now, this amazing thing has been shared by someone else!
He stared intently at Qu He's retreating figure.
As Qu He turned around with the porridge in her hand, she met Qian Zhaoye's sinister gaze.
She pretended not to notice, "The meeting's over? Come on, have some porridge!"
Qian Zhaoye squinted and strode up to her, his voice as cold as ice, "Don't dress like that again."
Qu He lowered her head and gave a cold smile, then looked up with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong?"
Qian Zhaoye's eyes flickered, concealing his gloomy expression. "You're not suited to wearing this kind of clothing."
As he spoke, he reached out to put his arm around her waist, his words laced with a nauseating possessiveness, "Let's change back into our old business suits."
Qu He cleverly turned around to avoid his touch, said nothing, and simply put the porridge into his hand, saying, "Drink the porridge first."
Qian Zhaoye's hand missed its target. He was about to lash out, but stopped when he smelled the aroma of the porridge.
He lowered his head and took a sip; the warm porridge soothed his churning stomach.
Qian Zhaoye was enjoying himself with great satisfaction. In fact, Qu He was like this bowl of porridge to him—plain but indispensable.
As for Qiao Mian... she's at best a dessert after a meal.
After finishing a bowl of porridge, he sighed contentedly, "Ahe, your cooking is still so good."
His tone was so intimate that it was as if those cold words hadn't come from his mouth at all.
"Really? If it's delicious, then drink more." Qu He turned around and served him another bowl, but her fingers gripping the spoon handle were almost white.
As expected!
At that moment, Qu He remembered the kitchen light still on at three in the morning, and the finger she burned when she first learned to cook porridge...
But in Qian Zhaoye's eyes, it was no different from takeout.
Yes, in fact, what Qian Zhaoye enjoyed was never her thoughtfulness, but the pleasure of having complete control over her.
In his eyes, they were never equal.
But she realized it too late...
Qian Zhaoye drank two bowls of porridge in a row.
When people are well-fed and clothed, they begin to crave more.
He noticed that Qu He had been standing still, so he patted the empty space on the sofa next to her, signaling her to come over.
Qu He didn't move, and went straight to the point, "I'd like to ask for leave."
Qian Zhaoye frowned and blurted out reflexively, "What will happen to the company if you take leave?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had misspoke and quickly corrected himself: "What I meant was... what would I do if you took leave? I've gotten used to having you around for the past five years."
As he spoke, he reached out to hold her hand.
In recent years, Qu He has helped him with all the big and small things in the company, which has saved him a lot of trouble. What's more, there is a cooperation in a few days, and this cooperation was negotiated by Qu He after visiting him three times.
Qu He lowered her eyes to hide the sarcasm in them.
The words a man says unconsciously are the most genuine expressions of his heart.
Qu He dodged his outstretched hand while fixing her hair, a cold smile playing on her lips, but a look of exhaustion on her face: "Assistant Qiao and Secretary Lin are both doing a good job, and besides, Special Assistant An is keeping an eye on things, so nothing will happen."
Upon hearing the words "Assistant Qiao," Qian Zhaoye's eyes flickered slightly.
Qu He didn't miss that expression. She deliberately rubbed her temples and said, "It's probably because preparing for the wedding has been too exhausting; I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at work..."
Qian Zhaoye's thoughts were slightly stirred.
No wonder Quhe has been acting strangely these past two days; she's just tired.
He gave a considerate smile, "You've been through a bit of a tough time lately, so take a break and relax. Use this time to prepare for the wedding too."
"Then I'll leave after I finish handing over my work this afternoon," Qu He said, striking while the iron was hot.
"Afternoon?" Qian Zhaoye's voice rose an octave. "So soon?"
The words of refusal were already on the tip of his tongue, but after thinking about what his subordinates had said about Qu He, a surge of inexplicable anger welled up in his heart.
He nodded slightly, his face slightly somber. "Alright."
After leaving the office and handing over her work, Qu He took the elevator and left.
Qu He smiled as she watched the elevator numbers decrease.
This time, she pressed the down button herself.
She was the one who chose to end the relationship first.
...
After leaving the company, Qu He drove to Heyuefang.
This is a ceramics shop that she opened four years ago with her junior, Siyue.
After graduating, she became Qian Zhaoye's secretary. Due to the busy work and Qian Zhaoye's opposition, she gradually forgot the feeling of holding clay in her hands and also forgot her former passion.
It wasn't until a year later that he met Si Yue, who had just graduated.
Si Yue came from a poor family. She was driven away and fined by the city management officers for selling her handmade ceramic ornaments at a stall.
She was so small, yet she held onto those ceramic ornaments tightly in her arms.
At the time, Qu He didn't know what she was thinking when she helped her.
Later, without Qian Zhaoye's knowledge, she invested her own money and brought Si Yue into the business, and together they opened He Yue Fang.
Heyuefang is a two-story building with a backyard, located in the Thirteen Lanes neighborhood in the northern part of the city, which was developed four years ago.
In recent years, with the support of the government and cultural tourism development, it has attracted many tourists to visit and take photos, which has also improved the business of the store.
However, in recent years her mind has been on Qian Zhaoye, and she rarely comes here. Basically, only Si Yue has been managing it.
Qu He looked up at the wooden signboard with the three characters "He Yue Fang" engraved on it, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to enter.
The ceramic bells hanging under the eaves rang crisply.
Si Yue, who was cleaning the potter's wheel, turned around reflexively upon hearing the noise, and stood up abruptly upon seeing Qu He.
"Senior!"
She hopped across the rows of potter's wheel like a rabbit and landed in front of her.
Si Yue's short, ear-length hair swayed gently, and her almond-shaped eyes under her bangs were wide open.
She jogged over, taking two steps at a time, and was about to take Qu He's hand when she saw the clay on her hand. She pulled back, twisting her fingers, and her face flushed.
"Senior, you look so beautiful today..."
Qu He looked down at her hazy blue dress.
She wore this specifically today to spite Qian Zhaoye.
She smiled faintly, raised her hand and ruffled Si Yue's fluffy short hair, teasing her, "What? Am I not pretty usually?"
"No, no! Of course not!" Si Yue waved her hands anxiously, her bangs bobbing up and down.
"Senior, you've always been beautiful, but..." Her voice trailed off quickly, "...Doesn't President Qian...doesn't he dislike you coming here?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
