Princess Syndrome - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Treating Everyone

Su Lingyue followed Ji Zhiyi into the office. Ji Zhiyi closed the venetian blinds, and the secretaries in the office shook their heads. "Poor Assistant Su, she got no mercy from Yang Zhizhi, and now she has to face President Ji's scolding."

"Tell me about it," Secretary Zhang said. "I really feel for her."

Wu Meiyan glared when she heard their conversation, and everyone quickly lowered their heads and got back to work.

Su Lingyue stood in Ji Zhiyi's office and asked, "Do you want me to report on the situation?"

Ji Zhiyi smiled. "What would you like to report?"

Su Lingyue actually had no real experience with giving reports. In the past, she had wanted to work properly, but her father had sidelined her as a figurehead. She had been treated as invisible at the branch office too, and she had gotten used to it. What she wasn't used to was how busy work had become lately, and how different emotions had started growing inside her. It seemed... seemed like she wasn't as emotionally detached anymore.

She had started looking forward to the collaboration between Yilin and Yang Zhizhi.

Her feelings were different from when Ji Zhiyi first took her to the business reception. She now had things she wanted to accomplish.

She wanted to bring down Su Qi.

This thought had always existed in her mind, but Ji Zhiyi had gently brought it to the surface. It felt like electricity coursing through her body, making her feel like a different person.

Today she had even taken the initiative to learn how to smile from Yang Zhizhi.

She was doing great!

Su Lingyue praised herself, then noticed Ji Zhiyi watching her. After a pause, she said, "I'll report on the progress of the contract with Miss Yang."

"No need," Ji Zhiyi said. "I already know."

Su Lingyue frowned. "You know?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "She sent me a message."

Su Lingyue's frown deepened. Sent a message? What kind? To complain about her?

She asked, "What did Miss Yang say?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Miss Yang invited me to dinner."

Then she fell silent.

Su Lingyue: "That's it?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "That's it."

Su Lingyue pondered this for a moment, thought about the online news, and seemed to figure something out. Her brow smoothed, and she smiled slightly. Ji Zhiyi walked to her desk, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to Su Lingyue.

Su Lingyue took it. "What's this?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "A bonus."

It was quite thick.

In all her years of working, Su Lingyue had received countless free salaries, but this was her first bonus. She couldn't describe the feeling in her heart, overwhelmed by unfamiliar emotions. Holding the envelope, she said, "But I haven't successfully signed the contract with Miss Yang yet."

Ji Zhiyi said, "She'll come to sign with us."

Su Lingyue bit her lip.

The emotions in her heart were too intense, and her eyes grew warm. She blinked and said, "Thank you, President Ji."

Ji Zhiyi said, "Just saying thanks isn't very sincere."

Su Lingyue pushed aside her touched feelings and looked at her warily. "You want it back?"

Ji Zhiyi laughed at that.

Her usually cool expression warmed, becoming much more animated. Even her eyes seemed to gain a pleased look, making her more beautiful than usual.

Su Lingyue watched her gentle smile, and before she could speak, Ji Zhiyi said, "Treat me to a meal."

"Sure," Su Lingyue made an OK gesture. Ji Zhiyi added, "Also, come with me to meet someone at lunch."

Su Lingyue asked, "Who?"

Ji Zhiyi said, "Someone you definitely know."

Though puzzled, Su Lingyue nodded. She left the office as Wu Meiyan went in. She had stayed inside for quite a while – every time Su Lingyue looked at Ji Zhiyi's office, she saw the two of them with their heads down, discussing something unknown.

Her colleagues were also curious: "Secretary Wu still hasn't come out?"

Others said, "Who knows, they might be discussing something. Oh right, have the team building arrangements been sorted out?"

"There are still some accommodation issues to resolve," the secretary speaking yawned and rubbed her eyes. "We're still looking for places these past couple of days."

Su Lingyue listened to their chatter and suddenly thought about receiving her bonus. Since she'd joined the secretarial office, although everyone's attitude hadn't been great at first, they had all become quite caring towards her now.

Thinking of this, she said, "Would you all like some coffee?"

Her sudden question surprised the others for a few seconds. Su Lingyue had always been invisible in the office, barely responding with half a word when asked questions, and now she was taking the initiative to ask them?

The secretaries looked at each other, then nodded in unison: "Yes!"

Secretary Zhang smiled. "Assistant Su, are you treating us?"

Su Lingyue said, "I've been here so long and haven't treated everyone to anything. Today I'll buy coffee for everyone, thank you all for taking care of me."

The way she said it, it sounded like she was going to resign.

Had President Ji fired her?

It wasn't impossible.

The others' smiles turned to worried frowns as they gathered around Su Lingyue. "Assistant Su, there are plenty of job opportunities out there."

"Yes, yes, Assistant Su, with your qualifications, finding work won't be difficult."

"I saw some recruitment notices at the job market the other day, don't worry, Assistant Su."

Now that the topic was opened up.

The others didn't hold back anymore – since Su Lingyue was leaving anyway, they might as well say it all: "But watch out for Zhou Yan, he's not human."

"He's the most hated person at headquarters. Every time he comes to our branch, he's always harassing the receptionists."

"Wasn't Xiao Li forced to resign because of him? He's so disgusting."

Although Su Lingyue didn't understand how the conversation had gone from her offering coffee to her supposedly resigning, and then to a criticism session about Zhou Yan.

But for the first time, she found hearing this name pleasant.

Su Lingyue nodded.

Zhou Yan was indeed disgusting.

The others saw her nod and said, "Why don't we treat you instead?"

Su Lingyue turned and said, "No way."

Could she mention the bonus?

It seemed Ji Zhiyi had only given it to her?

Better not say anything then.

Su Lingyue said, "I'm treating, and that's final."

Everyone stopped being modest: "Then thank you, Assistant Su."

Su Lingyue looked cheerful, with a smile playing at her brows, quite different from her usual expressionless face. Several secretaries gathered around her to tell her their preferences, and after taking count, Su Lingyue asked Secretary Zhang, "What kind of coffee does Secretary Wu like?"

Zhang Ting said, "Oh, she's fine with regular coffee."

Su Lingyue nodded and went downstairs to order coffee. After making the call, she thought of Chu Yi and ordered an extra coffee to be delivered to her company.

When Wu Meiyan came out of the office and saw several people gathered together, she walked over: "What are you doing?"

Zhang Ting waved: "Sister Wu, come here, come here."

Wu Meiyan saw her acting mysteriously and walked over. Zhang Ting grabbed her and lowered her head, asking in a low voice, "Has President Ji fired Assistant Su?"

"Fired?" Wu Meiyan thought that Ji Zhiyi hadn't mentioned this just now, so how did they know? She asked, "Who said that?"

Zhang Ting said, "Assistant Su. She just went to buy coffee, said she wanted to treat us and thank us for taking care of her."

This wasn't like Su Lingyue's personality.

Something was definitely up.

No wonder President Ji called her to the office as soon as she got back.

Unexpectedly, President Ji was still going to fire her. Wu Meiyan sighed, and everyone else looked dispirited too. Although they didn't have much of a relationship with Su Lingyue, or practically no relationship at all, seeing such a pleasing face every day was good for longevity.

Besides, who doesn't like having beautiful colleagues?

Even handling work handovers would be more pleasant.

"Should we plead with President Ji?" someone whispered. Zhang Ting bit her lip and whispered even more quietly, "You dare?"

The person who spoke fell silent.

Indeed, they didn't really dare.

Especially since Ji Zhiyi seemed to hate Su Lingyue so much – wouldn't that be like walking into the line of fire?

Wu Meiyan was silent for two seconds, then said, "Let's get back to work."

She glanced at Su Lingyue's empty spot, put down some documents in the office, and went downstairs.

Su Lingyue was answering a phone call. Chu Yi had received a call from the delivery person and was surprised, thinking hard about who might have ordered her coffee, when Su Lingyue's message came through, so she called Su Lingyue: "I thought it was from some secret admirer!"

"Daytime isn't for dreaming." After Su Lingyue said this, Chu Yi asked curiously, "What made you think of buying me coffee?"

Su Lingyue said, "Got a bonus."

"Who?" Chu Yi's voice rose: "Who gave you a bonus?"

Su Lingyue: ...

No need to be so dramatic.

Chu Yi coughed and lowered her voice: "Really? What did you do?"

Su Lingyue thought about it: "Just normal work."

Chu Yi said, "And Ji Zhiyi would give you a bonus?"

Wasn't she supposed to hate Su Lingyue and want to squeeze her dry? How could she be so kind as to give a bonus? Unless – she said, "Is there a catch?"

Su Lingyue held her phone.

How had she never noticed Chu Yi's imagination was so wild before?

Well, she had never really paid attention before.

She smiled, "No catch. I have to go, I'm busy."

Chu Yi reluctantly hung up and took a sip of the coffee that had just been delivered downstairs.

It was really good.

Su Lingyue had just hung up when she saw Wu Meiyan come in. She greeted her: "Secretary Wu."

Wu Meiyan walked quickly to her side and said, "Not done yet?"

"Almost," Su Lingyue said. "Why did you come down?"

"Worried you couldn't carry it all yourself." Wu Meiyan thought that while Su Lingyue had been here, she hadn't really looked after her much. Since she was leaving, she should at least help out now. Su Lingyue smiled, "Thank you."

"You..." Her words were interrupted by a phone ring. She looked at the screen – it was a call from Ji Zhiyi. She gave Su Lingyue an apologetic smile and turned aside to answer the phone.

It was about some unclear data from earlier. Ji Zhiyi asked, "Is it three point zero or three point six?"

Wu Meiyan said, "It's three point zero."

Ji Zhiyi said, "Okay."

She was about to hang up, but Wu Meiyan looked at Su Lingyue, who was still in line waiting for coffee, and remembered what the secretaries had said earlier. Before Ji Zhiyi could hang up, she called out, "President Ji."

Ji Zhiyi responded casually, "Mm?"

Wu Meiyan gripped her phone, took a deep breath, steadied her emotions and said, "I know it's presumptuous to say this, but President Ji, could you give Assistant Su another chance?"

Ji Zhiyi's fine eyebrows furrowed.

The phone was silent for two seconds. Wu Meiyan didn't know if Ji Zhiyi was upset, but since she'd already spoken, she might as well go all the way. She said, "Resigning and looking for work now would all..."

Ji Zhiyi's cool voice came through the phone: "Resign?"

Who's resigning?

Assistant Su?

Su Lingyue?

Su Lingyue wants to resign?

Why?

Is it because she asked Su Lingyue to treat her to lunch, so she wants to resign?

She remained silent, then hung up and called Su Lingyue. Su Lingyue was just about to reach for the coffee when she heard the ringtone and nearly dropped her phone in surprise. The screen flashed Ji Zhiyi's name, and she answered.

Ji Zhiyi asked, "You want to resign?"

Su Lingyue asked, "Who wants to resign?"

Ji Zhiyi: ...

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