Chapter 47 Return to Work
Xu Mo hasn't returned to the company office for a long time. She has been on business trips to the feed factory since the New Year. During this period, the project team was sorting out some information in the office. After her sick leave, Xu Mo returned to the office.
The weather was getting hotter, and the midday sun shone on the wet water droplets on the windowpanes, sending the heat through the glass. Xu Mo had just returned to work and had a lot of work to do, so she didn't go to lunch until almost one in the afternoon. She happened to overhear two girls eating Subway takeout together whispering and gossiping.
"What project are you working on now?"
"No projects, I've been idle for a long time. How about you?"
"Me too. My manager said that business is bad this year and we haven't received any projects, so many of us on our team are idle."
"It's good to have some free time. It's a good time to take a break and learn something."
"What's good about that? I heard that the company may have a layoff plan in the near future."
"Ah? Is this true? I've heard about it before, but I've heard about layoffs so many times, and I haven't seen any action. I thought it was fake news."
"Yeah, I've said it many times, but I've never taken action. I don't know if it's true this time. My manager told me that if layoffs really happen, those without projects will be laid off first. So if you don't want to be laid off, you have to find projects as soon as possible."
"That makes sense..."
Xu Mo saved the file, closed her computer, picked up her work badge, and headed for the door. Standing in the elevator, she looked at herself in the mirror, her makeup carefully applied, and exhaled softly. This wasn't the first time she'd heard about layoffs, and she hadn't expected it to be rumored again recently. When would the company actually make a big move? She had no idea. But at this moment, despite her setbacks, she felt fortunate. With a major project on her side, at least it wouldn't affect her so quickly.
After a quick Japanese set meal on the basement level, Xu Mo took a stroll in the garden below her office. The afternoon sun filtered through the cracks in the camphor tree leaves, illuminating the slightly damp soil and dead leaves. March was a warm day, not too hot, but a pleasant temperature with an occasional cool breeze. She tilted her head back, feeling the gentle afternoon breeze brush against her face. Unconsciously, she had walked from the south end of the square to the north.
Passing by a Starbucks, Xu Mo walked in and planned to buy a cup of coffee. After placing the order, she turned around and saw a familiar figure sitting by the window.
Xu Shiying was holding a cup of coffee, her whole face exposed to the sun, her delicately made-up face with a bright smile.
The gentle young man opposite her, wearing thin-rimmed glasses, seemed to have told a joke. She covered her mouth and laughed, her nails inlaid with pearls shining particularly brightly in the sunlight.
Xu Mo looked at the man's profile and confirmed that it was a stranger.
He is not Yuan Zhao.
She raised her eyebrows, not wanting to disturb her sister's date, and left with her coffee. After leaving the coffee shop, she sent a message to Xu Shiying: [A new love again?]
Xu Shiying quickly replied: [Yeah, I just saw you at the coffee shop. How are you recovering?]
Xu Mo: [I had a full body checkup and nothing serious happened.]
Xu Shiying: [That’s good.]
Xu Mo was about to ask her something else when she received a message from the other side that slightly surprised her.
Xu Shiying: [Momo, I'm getting married.]
Xu Mo paused her fingers on the keyboard and pursed her lips: [Congratulations.]
She originally wanted to ask Xu Shiying if she was really going to break up with Yuan Zhao this time. After all, she seemed to be very much in love with this man who was not a good match for her.
But she still didn't ask. Xu Shiying was not an impulsive girl, and it didn't seem appropriate to mention her ex when she was about to get married.
Xu Shiying sent an emoticon of a cat running towards her.
Xu Mo: [What kind of person is the other party? ]
Xu Shiying: [He has a master's degree from a 985 university, majoring in computer science, and works as a programmer at a large company. My parents are very satisfied with him.]
Xu Mo: [The conditions are quite suitable for you.]
Xu Shiying: [Yes, I think he’s pretty good too.]
Xu Mo: [When will the wedding be held?]
Xu Shiying: [I’m still discussing the date with my mother-in-law, it will probably be soon.]
Xu Mo: [Waiting for your notification.]
After turning off the screen of her mobile phone, Xu Mo walked to a water-friendly platform in the garden. She looked at the goldfish hiding under the dead leaves in the pond and sat down on a stone bench.
In the past, she always thought that Xu Shiying truly loved Yuan Zhao. There was nothing good about Yuan Zhao, and he was even promiscuous. But Xu Shiying still couldn't forget him. She talked to her about it throughout college. Xu Shiying was in good condition, but no matter what kind of man she dated who was a thousand times better than Yuan Zhao, she wanted to get back together with Yuan Zhao and be with him despite her parents' opposition.
She loved Yuan Zhao so much, but when she reached the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, she had to break up with Yuan Zhao and marry someone else.
Perhaps love only exists in a specific stage of each person. After that stage, it is all about weighing the pros and cons.
Picking up a stone, Xu Mo threw it into the pool, rippling the water. She slowly stood up and walked towards the office building.
On Xu Mo's first day back at work, Han Yan organized a meal for colleagues from the Lan Da project team, in order to celebrate the project's initial success and to reward everyone for their efforts during this period.
A few people came to a newly opened Sichuan restaurant in a nearby shopping mall. Zou Kexin kept sticking to Han Yan and talking to her, but Han Yan's eyes were always on Xu Mo who was eating with her head down.
"Xu Mo, the project's success is entirely thanks to your proactive research into three more factories." Han Yan raised her glass in a toast to her. "You even had a car accident because of this. Luckily, it wasn't a serious problem. Otherwise, I don't know what I would have done."
Wu Siyue also picked up the teacup and echoed, "Yes, Momo, luckily you are okay. We were really scared to death."
Xu Mo raised her wine glass, clinked it with the people at the table, and smiled: "It's okay, I've learned my lesson. I won't dare drive on a snowy day anymore."
Han Yan carefully observed the expression on her face and picked up another shrimp for her: "Eat more."
Xu Mo thanked him. She was aware that Han Yan had been treating her with a special regard for some time. But she couldn't pinpoint the source of this attention. Perhaps Han Yan, new to the company, was trying to win over others, or perhaps she needed to rely on her project skills to boost her sales, or perhaps Han Yan simply liked and admired her. Xu Mo didn't know, but she certainly didn't dislike this female manager, who was about her own age.
Han Yan works very hard. A girl who becomes a manager through her own efforts must not only be smart, but also have suffered a lot.
As for who was replaced between her and Han Yan, it was not the fault of either party, it was just the arrangement of the leader.
Xu Mo smiled at Han Yan and asked, "Do you like Sichuan cuisine?"
Han Yan said: "Yes, although I am from Guangdong, I grew up in Sichuan and Chongqing."
Xu Mo said: "That would be so happy, there are so many delicious foods over there."
Han Yan smiled and said, "Yes, what do you like to eat over there?"
"Rabbit." Xu Mo said.
Han Yan smiled: "I'll ask my family to send you some."
They ate, drank and chatted until nine o'clock in the evening. The mall was about to close, so Xu Mo walked to the side of the road to wait for someone.
It rained a little in the evening. Xu Mo stood at the door, boredly looking at the dim street lights. From a distance, she saw a tall man in a light green shirt walking out of the rain with an umbrella.
Xu Mo waved at him: "I'm here."
Zou Kexin opened her eyes wide, looking at the man walking out of the rain in disbelief: "Momo, have you changed your boyfriend?"
Xu Mo nodded. She had been drinking, and a hint of drunkenness appeared on her face. "That's right."
Wu Siyue and Cheng Ming both had shocked expressions. Han Yan was a little calmer, but she couldn't hide the surprise in her eyes.
Maybe other people don’t know him, but she has reported to Landa Group, so she knows the man in front of her. He is the vice president of Landa Group, Lin Jingchuan.
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