Heartbeat
Meeting room 6603.
Time slipped to exactly 12 o'clock amidst Si Cheng's deep, magnetic voice and Assistant Wen's steady, calm reporting.
Under the conference table, Qu Shiyao felt as if she had nails stuck in her buttocks.
Every time Si Cheng finished speaking, her hips would uncontrollably shift a few centimeters toward the door.
Just as Si Cheng cleared his throat and was about to begin his next segment about looking to the future, she was pulled back to her original position as if by an invisible force.
This cycle repeats itself endlessly, much like a poor-quality robotic vacuum cleaner with poor signal reception.
She had long since forgotten about the meager amount of performance-based pay.
At this moment, what occupied her entire mind was the fragrant braised pork ribs at the cafeteria window!
That was her only hope for the day! It was the pillar of her spirit that kept her going to work!
The system acts as a frontline war correspondent, providing real-time updates on the situation in the mess hall:
[Host! Spare ribs window! Looks like there's about half a plate left!]
Qu Shiyao stared helplessly at Si Cheng on the stage, who was talking eloquently as if he would talk about the end of time.
Please, bro! Shut up!
[Host! The ribs are almost gone! Only one serving left!]
Qu Shiyao felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Her fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the conference table, her eyes fixed on the clock on the conference room wall.
Every second felt infinitely long, longer than Sicheng's nonsense!
【Host……】
The system's voice was heavy with sorrow: "...Gone, the window is empty."
Qu Shiyao: "..."
Half of his soul "whooshed" out from above his head.
She visibly wilted, her eyes vacant, and she exuded a strong aura of resentment, which she directed precisely at the man who was still "giving orders."
【Huh?! Wait a minute! The cafeteria lady brought out another huge plate! Freshly cooked!】 The system's voice suddenly rose, full of surprise!
Qu Shiyao's dim eyes were instantly brightened! Her listless body seemed to be injected with new vitality!
On stage, Si Cheng remained outwardly calm, but his keen peripheral vision had already taken in Qu Shiyao's dramatic face-changing performance.
He sneered inwardly: Ha, women...
Although it's unclear why Qu Shiyao acted this way, her expression suggests that she wanted the meeting to end!
Would Sicheng do as she wished?
As a result, CEO Si became even more enthusiastic about the conversation.
He decisively swallowed back the closing remarks he had prepared and began to improvise, elaborating on the group's strategy, the international situation, and then returning to the importance of maintaining office plants.
I watched as Qu Shiyao's expressions changed on a loop, mirroring the rise and fall of his words!
"Host..." the system's voice carried a hint of reluctance.
The pork ribs were gone, so they replaced them with bitter melon and scrambled eggs at that stall.
Qu Shiyao: "..."
His face was ashen, his heart was still, and his soul seemed to have left his body.
Why not just destroy this fictional world? She felt like a dried-up salted fish without any dreams.
Just as Qu Shiyao's resentment was about to reach the heavens—
"Alright, that concludes today's meeting." Si Cheng finally announced the adjournment, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
He stood up, his gaze sweeping once more over the woman who seemed to have been drained of all her energy, a satisfied smile curving his lips.
See, this is what happens when you offend me!
Qu Shiyao sat blankly in the chair, her eyes vacant, her soul having already flown away with the last plate of braised pork ribs.
"Shiyao! What are you daydreaming about! Let's go!"
Jin Yuxi yanked her up from the chair and pushed her out, saying, "If we don't go to the cafeteria now, there won't be any spare ribs left today!"
The clock on the wall mercilessly points to 12:51.
The system silently calculated: [The probability of the host performing a physical exorcism on CEO Si on the day of the incident may exceed 90%...]
"What the hell! He's a lunatic! No wonder he got a perforated stomach!" Jin Yuxi sat in the corner of the cafeteria, holding a plate with only a few green vegetables and a pile of bitter melons left, her resentment overflowing.
She was firing wildly at the air, and although she didn't name names, her target was extremely clear.
Qu Shiyao listlessly picked at the bitter melon on her plate, trying to numb herself: "Look on the bright side, at least we still have something to eat?"
She picked up a piece of bitter melon, her eyes vacant. "Look at this bitter melon, how green it is... doesn't it resemble CEO Si's stomach, which has been marinated in coffee?"
Jin Yuxi: "..." This kind of comfort is worse than no comfort at all.
“System!” Qu Shiyao’s voice was terrifyingly gloomy, even omitting the nickname “CEO Si”.
"Where is that Sicheng now?"
With a slight squeeze, she nearly broke the poor plastic chopsticks.
The system cautiously searched and located the location. Upon seeing the results, it felt the probability was shifting towards a more certain level.
He dined at the 'Genting' upscale restaurant with an important client... um... foie gras, tomahawk steak, and...
It can even conjure up the image of sizzling oil in its mind.
Qu Shiyao slowly raised her head and looked at the gray sky outside the cafeteria window.
The fist hardened.
Back in the office, Lin Weiwei and the others hadn't returned yet.
Qu Shiyao went straight to the snacks she had brought today, pulled out a bag of beef jerky, and began to bite into it fiercely.
He casually handed two to Jin Yuxi, who was in the same boat, saying, "Sister Jin, want to whet your appetite?"
"Tongzi," Qu Shiyao said in her mind while chewing on beef jerky, a sinister smile playing on her lips.
"Find out information about that Sicheng guy! What time does he usually get off work? What time is he expected to leave today? When will he be alone?!"
Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a chilling aura.
System: 【！！】Host, please don't do this, it's a little scared!
[The domineering CEO usually works overtime until 9 pm, but today...] It quickly retrieves information.
Oh! His mother arranged a blind date for him today! It's at his house!
Qu Shiyao's sinister smile froze instantly, then collapsed like a deflated balloon.
"Tsk! A blind date arranged at the man's house? This man has absolutely no gentlemanly manners!"
She scratched her hair in frustration, feeling a surge of anger with nowhere to go, and felt incredibly stifled!
The system silently complained: ...If someone goes on a blind date outside, are you going to put a sack over their head tonight?
The afternoon's work proceeded smoothly thanks to the system's tireless "outsourcing."
The poor system has to work like a corporate slave for its host and also act as a spy to monitor the CEO's schedule; its CPU is about to burn out.
It couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness: Luckily, this system is not a carbon-based life form, otherwise it would have followed in the footsteps of its host sooner or later!
When it's time to leave work.
The system immediately went into high alert: [Host! The CEO is packing! He's expected to leave the office in 5 minutes! Destination: Underground parking lot!]
Jin Yuxi finished packing her things and turned around to ask, "Shiyao, shall we go together?"
Qu Shiyao said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Sister Jin, I have some personal matters to attend to today. I'll definitely do it next time!"
Lin Weiwei, carrying a sparkly designer handbag, happened to pass by. Upon hearing this, she scoffed, her voice neither too loud nor too soft:
"Oh? So you're already acting like a lackey? Anyone who didn't know better would think she has some kind of leverage over you."
Qu Shiyao, who had already stepped one foot out the door, suddenly turned around, her face filled with shock and disbelief:
"Senior Lin! How could you say that? Have you forgotten our little secret? Yesterday..."
"Shut up! Get out of here right now!!!" Lin Weiwei was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her fur standing on end, her face turning red as she pointed at the door and roared.
"Alright! I'll get out of here!" Qu Shiyao readily complied, turning around nimbly and disappearing gracefully through the doorway, leaving only a dashing silhouette.
A group of onlookers remained in the office, extremely interested in what Qu Shiyao hadn't finished saying.
Lin Weiwei, enraged and embarrassed, yelled at them, "What are you looking at! Don't you want to leave work?!"
Jin Yuxi and the others scattered in a panic.
In the corner, Sun Mei stood up and slowly organized the documents, as if everything around her was irrelevant to her.
---
Stairwell passageway.
A figure darted down the dimly lit stairwell like a nimble cheetah!
He leaped over three or four steps in one stride, and even used the railing at the corner to perform a thrilling drift and sharp turn!
Footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell.
[Host! The target has entered the private elevator! Descending! Expected to arrive at -1 floor in 2 minutes!] The system was also affected by the atmosphere, its voice filled with tension and urgency.
Because the elevator entrance was crowded with people leaving get off work, Qu Shiyao did not hesitate to give up the elevator and head straight for the stairs!
[The target elevator has arrived on the 5th floor and is expected to arrive in 5 minutes!] The system's real-time announcements are incredibly accurate.
Just as she was about to reach the -1 floor, Qu Shiyao suddenly stopped.
She quickly pulled a crumpled black plastic bag from her backpack, deftly put it over her head, and poked two holes in it for her eyes.
Then, he pulled out an old black jacket that he hadn't worn in a long time, put it inside out, zipped it all the way up to cover his chin.
Finally, they pulled out the thing that made the system's eyelids twitch – the brand-new urea bag purchased last week!
One person, one system, like a thief lurking in the shadows, furtively waiting on the side of the leader's private elevator exit.
【Host……】
The system's tense voice sounded, tinged with excitement if you listened closely: "Our look... isn't it a bit too villainous?"
"Nonsense!" Qu Shiyao lowered her voice, speaking righteously, "We're acting on behalf of Heaven! Don't you understand what it means to be the embodiment of justice?!"
system:【……】
It imagined that the police officers, seeing the host's appearance, would desperately call for backup and request to be armed.
"bite--"
The elevator doors slid open slowly.
Si Cheng walked out of the elevator with one hand in his pocket and a calm, confident stride.
He was thinking about the annoying blind date at home that night when suddenly, a strangely shaped figure wearing a black garbage bag blocked his way like a ghost!
Si Cheng's heart skipped a beat! An unprecedented, intense palpitation gripped him instantly! This feeling... was it love at first sight?!
No! It's just excessive fright!
"You—!" His horrified words had barely escaped his throat.
Suddenly everything went black!
A bag with a strange smell was placed over his head!
Immediately afterwards, a barrage of punches landed mercilessly on his face!
"I! Ughhhh!!!" Si Cheng only managed to let out a few muffled groans before he was completely stunned by this sudden and unsportsmanlike attack! The excruciating pain instantly overwhelmed him!
Not long after, the security guard heard the commotion and ran over alertly with a flashlight.
In the dim light, all that remained was a domineering CEO with a bruised and swollen face, and a urea bag that had rolled on the ground and was covered in dust.
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