novelraw Chapter 097 The Examination of Old Friends
Chapter 097 The Examination of Old Friends
Tea room.
This is where information flows fastest for any large company.
During lunch break, several female employees huddled together, stirring their coffee and gossiping in hushed tones.
"Hey, did you guys see that? The new assistant in the CEO's office on the top floor."
"I saw her! She's really beautiful, like a celebrity. But I heard..."
"I heard that too. As soon as they arrived, General Manager Jiang took them into his office without them having to go through an interview with the HR department."
A slightly more senior employee curled his lip, his tone sarcastic:
"Our CEO Jiang hasn't had a single female mosquito around for the past three years, and suddenly he has such a beautiful 'assistant' by his side, and he even has to personally mentor her..."
"This isn't hiring an assistant, this is clearly..."
"Keeping a mistress in a gilded cage?"
"I think it's a case of a 'pretty face' rising to the top."
"bite--"
The sound of the elevator doors opening interrupted the gossip.
The high heels clicked crisply on the marble floor.
That's the rhythm of a workplace elite.
Everyone turned around, immediately fell silent, and greeted them respectfully:
"President Su."
Su Qing was wearing a sharply tailored white suit and holding a technical report that she had just brought back from overseas.
She had just returned from a business trip, looking travel-worn, yet her makeup was still impeccable and her aura powerful.
As Limitless's CTO, she is one of only two people in the company, besides Jiang Ci, who have top-level authority.
She nodded, ignored the employees, and headed straight for the private elevator.
The top-level button was pressed.
……
The CEO's office.
Wen Ning is working.
Jiang Ci disliked the smell of the suits sent for cleaning, so he tossed her a garment steamer and told her to iron the clothes in the office.
Steam rose, making a "sizzling" sound.
Wen Ning held the heavy garment steamer in her hand and carefully ironed the expensive handmade suit.
Although she was unfamiliar with the task, she did it with exceptional seriousness.
Because of the force used, his fingertips turned slightly red from the steam, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Bang."
The office door was pushed open.
Wen Ning was startled, and the steam nozzle in her hand tilted slightly, almost spraying scalding steam onto the back of her hand.
She hurriedly turned off the switch and turned around.
Su Qing stood at the door.
She still maintains that capable, highly educated elite demeanor.
But at this moment, a crack appeared on her usually calm face.
Pupil earthquake.
Su Qing looked at Wen Ning, who was standing in the steam, wearing cheap business clothes, and working like a maid.
He froze on the spot.
Three years.
this woman.
This woman almost ruined Limitless and Jiang Ci.
They're back again?
"Mr. Su... Mr. Su."
Wen Ning recognized her.
Su Qing took a deep breath.
He strode in.
The sound of high heels was aggressive.
She walked up to Wen Ning, her gaze scanning her up and down like an X-ray.
Finally, he let out a cold laugh.
"Wen Ning".
"I can't believe you actually have the nerve to come back."
Wen Ning bit her lip and remained silent.
"What's wrong?"
Su Qing looked around, her gaze landing on the garment steamer with disdain.
"What do you want to do back here? Are you here to see if you've killed him?"
Wen Ning's face was pale.
She wanted to explain.
However, it felt like my throat was blocked.
Faced with Su Qing's righteous and assertive questioning, she felt like a sinner.
"sorry……"
She could only repeat these three words.
"Does 'sorry' even help?"
Su Qing's voice rose several octaves, filled with anger that had been building up for three years.
"Do you know how he's been these past three years?"
"He finally managed to climb out of that pit."
"It's so hard to finally live like a normal person."
Su Qing took a step closer, her eyes filled with disgust.
"Why did you even show up?"
"Do you think that ruining him once wasn't enough, you want to ruin him a second time?"
Wen Ning retreated step by step.
Until his waist hit the desk behind him with a dull thud.
"I didn't... I just..."
That's enough.
A cold voice came from the doorway of the break room inside the office.
Jiang Ci came out.
He looked like he had just washed his face; water droplets clung to his sharp jawline, and his hair was slightly damp.
He held a towel in his hand, his expression indifferent.
But as soon as he came out, his deep eyes precisely locked onto the corner.
He saw Su Qing, her face flushed and her demeanor aggressive.
They also saw Wen Ning huddled in the corner of the table.
His gaze swept over Wen Ning's hand, which was gripping the edge of the table tightly. Her knuckles were white, and there were still marks on the back of her hand from the steam.
Jiang Ci's eyes instantly turned cold.
That kind of cold was even more biting than the ice of winter.
"Jiang Ci!"
Su Qing became even more agitated upon seeing him.
She pointed at Wen Ning, her tone urgent:
"Are you crazy?"
"Why are you keeping this woman around? As her assistant?"
"Have you forgotten how she humiliated you back then? Have you forgotten how she treated company secrets like a joke?"
Jiang Ci remained silent.
He slowly and deliberately dried his hands.
Then, he casually tossed the towel onto the sofa.
He strode over with his long legs.
Su Qing thought he had come to drive Wen Ning away, and a hint of pleasure appeared on her face.
however.
Jiang Ci bypassed Su Qing directly.
He walked up to Wen Ning.
His tall figure stood in front of her, completely shielding her in his shadow.
It blocked Su Qing's piercing gaze.
"Su Qing".
He called her name.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable coldness.
"You are the CTO."
"Your responsibility is technology, code, and product."
He paused, his tone becoming even more somber, carrying a clear warning:
"My personnel appointments and dismissals, my private life—when did it become your place to interfere?"
Su Qing was stunned.
I stared in disbelief at that protective, back-leaning figure.
"I...I'm doing this for your own good! I'm doing this for the company!"
"For the sake of the company, submit the latest report."
Jiang Ci interrupted her.
He turned to the side and pointed in the direction of the door.
There was not a trace of old affection in his eyes, nor a hint of politeness towards his business partner.
"Now, get out."
Su Qing bit her lip tightly.
For this woman?
He actually drove her away for the sake of this woman who had abandoned him?
"Jiang Ci, you'll regret this."
Su Qing's eyes also reddened.
It was anger born of disappointment and frustration, and also jealousy.
"go out."
Jiang Ci repeated it.
His voice already carried an impatient and aggressive tone.
Su Qing took a deep breath.
She glared fiercely at Wen Ning.
She turned around, slammed the door shut, and left, her high heels clicking on the door.
"Bang!"
The loud slam of the door shut sent shivers down one's spine.
The office fell silent again.
All that remained was the gurgling sound of water boiling in the garment steamer.
Wen Ning stood behind Jiang Ci.
"sorry……"
She spoke softly, her voice thick with a nasal tone.
"I shouldn't have come back... President Su is right..."
Jiang Ci remained silent.
He turned around.
Looking at the woman in front of him.
It's really annoying.
He clearly hated her and wanted to torment her.
But seeing her being pointed at and cursed, seeing her cry like that, made him feel more choked up than anyone else.
Jiang Ci frowned and reached out his hand.
He grabbed Wen Ning's hand, which was still holding the handle of the garment steamer.
"hiss……"
Wen Ning flinched.
Jiang Ci looked down.
Her tiger's mouth was red from the steam, and small blisters even appeared in some places.
"Are you a pig?"
Jiang Ci's voice was cold and hard, yet it carried a hint of barely perceptible impatience.
"Your hands were burning red and you didn't even turn off the machine? You just stood there like an idiot, letting yourself be yelled at?"
He snatched the garment steamer, turned it off, and slammed it aside.
"I……"
Wen Ning tried to pull her hand away.
Jiang Ci, however, did not relax.
He held her wrist, his thumb unconsciously rubbing gently against the swollen area between her thumb and forefinger.
The movement was very gentle, with a hint of soothing.
But soon, as if he had been electrocuted, he withdrew his hand and put it in his pocket.
He turned his head away, no longer looking into her watery eyes.
The voice was stiff.
"Don't cry."
"It's so ugly."
He walked to the desk and pulled out a tissue.
I didn't hand it to her.
Instead, he walked straight back and roughly wiped her face twice.
Wipe away your tears.
"I don't want my office to be flooded by you."
Wen Ning sniffed, feeling the rough yet warm texture of the tissue.
"……yes."
"besides."
Jiang Ci turned and walked towards his desk, his back straight and stiff.
He picked up a document, as if casually giving an order:
"From now on, if you see Su Qing, take a detour."
"If you can't argue, then shut up."
"Don't embarrass me there."
Wen Ning was taken aback.
Disgrace him?
He meant... she was "his person"?
Jiang Ci seemed to realize the ambiguity of the statement.
He irritably loosened his tie and sat down again.
Without looking up, he pointed to the coffee machine next to him.
"Don't iron the clothes, they're for summer." (Actually, he was worried she'd burn her hand again.)
"Go make some coffee."
"Add more sugar."
Wen Ning: "Huh?"
Jiang Ci raised his eyelids and gave her a cold glance.
"I want something sweet now."
"It's so bitter!"
Watching Wen Ning obediently run off to make coffee.
Jiang Ci leaned back in his chair and exhaled a long breath.
He looked at the tips of his fingers that had just touched the swollen back of her hand.
It felt as if her body heat still lingered there.
It's not the bitterness of coffee that's the problem.
He was clearly seeing her suffer and felt bitter inside.