When Ye Yuning got up the next morning, Xiao Linye saw the red rash on her small face was exactly the same as the day before, showing no sign of fading. "Maybe I should still take you to the hospital," he suggested. He wasn’t entirely at ease; after all, allergies could indicate low immunity, and he was worried.
Ye Yuning downed the milk in her cup and shook her head. "Didn’t I say it would take a week? There’s no need for the hospital."
"Are you really okay?" Xiao Linye asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice clearly unable to hide his concern.
Ye Yuning nodded. "I’m really fine, don’t worry."
At this moment, Ye Yuning couldn’t help but sigh over her chaotic life. What kind of situation is this now? Why did I even agree to work at Xiao’s? And I can’t continue to stay here, especially since that message from Qin Jinchuan came so abruptly yesterday. That just made it clearer: I can’t stay at Xiao’s. Considering the sinister and ruthless tactics of the man in front of me, I don’t want to affect the innocent Xiao Linye because of myself.
Xiao Linye said, "I still suggest you go to the hospital. I’ll ask for a half-day off to accompany you."
Listening to his constant concern, Ye Yuning felt warm inside, though it was also accompanied by a twinge of sourness.
She shook her head. "There’s no need for that. Don’t take time off, especially with such a twisted work system, you still dare to ask for leave."
"Hm?" Xiao Linye looked at Ye Yuning, clearly confused.
Meeting Xiao Linye’s gaze, Ye Yuning instantly shut her mouth.
Damn it! I’ve gotten so used to complaining about Xiao Shuo that it just slipped out. But it’s not really my fault. Xiao’s really isn’t a good place! Orıginal content can be found at 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
Just on her first day at work, various people had given her a hard time because of the office hours.
Xiao Linye, noticing her evasive eyes, smiled. "A twisted work system?"
At this moment, Xiao Linye was beginning to understand why she had sounded so emotional on the phone call after work yesterday.
Ye Yuning nodded. "Yeah. Yesterday, I finally understood why the design department at Xiao’s was always being disbanded."
"Why?" Xiao Linye scooped up some porridge with the spoon in front of him. He appeared nonchalant, careful not to let Ye Yuning realize he was trying to extract information from her.
Ye Yuning said, "It’s the working hours—they’re just too insane!"
"Well, you wouldn’t believe it. My office is on the same floor as the finance department, right? Guess what?"
"What happened?" Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow. Watching Ye Yuning’s animated expression, he had a hunch that something unpleasant had happened the day before.
Ye Yuning said, "I don’t know if it’s because people in finance like to work overtime, or if there’s an unspoken rule at Xiao’s about it, but I was targeted both at noon and in the evening simply because I left on time."
Facing Xiao Linye, Ye Yuning didn’t hold back, speaking with considerable agitation. Just by listening, Xiao Linye could probably guess how pointedly she had been targeted yesterday.
Ye Yuning continued, "While it’s true that all companies have overtime, and Manlang is no exception, we only do it for good reason! We only work extra hours for major projects needing urgent attention. But guess what Xiao’s is like?"
"What is it like?" Xiao Linye prompted, his tone obviously a bit strained now.
Ye Yuning said, "Yesterday, when I went to get water during work, I didn’t see them being especially busy. But come quitting time, they wouldn’t leave. Isn’t that insane?"
Ye Yuning found this contemptible. At Manlang, employees left on time when it wasn’t busy, but during busy periods, they couldn’t afford to drop the ball. Xiao’s, on the other hand—goodness! They didn’t seem rushed off their feet during work hours, but then they demanded overtime at the end of the day. If that wasn’t a problem, what was?
Xiao Linye took a sip of porridge, his expression unreadable. He asked coolly, "How do you know they aren’t busy during work?"
"They even have time for chit-chat, discussing what to have for lunch, so they mustn’t be very busy, right? If they were truly swamped, would they have time for that? Besides, as the boss of Manlang, I know very well whether a company is genuinely busy or not. The work situation at Xiao’s was clearly not that tense."
Xiao Linye asked, "They targeted you?"
"Mhm, just because I left on time. You have no idea how passive-aggressive they were to me at noon and in the evening. It was like my leaving on schedule was a colossal offense." Her words tumbling out, she poured all of yesterday’s unhappiness onto Xiao Linye.
Inevitably, this was the point where she’d drag Xiao Shuo into the conversation for some criticism.
Supporting her head with her small hand, Ye Yuning mused, "Really, that Xiao Shuo! Does everyone overseas love to work overtime this much?"
"Does this have anything to do with him?"
"The working style must be related to the company’s management. Let me make it clear: I will try my best to help you with the Nanjia Peak project, but after that, I’m going back to work at Manlang." As she spoke, Ye Yuning found her opportunity. To prevent Xiao Linye from overthinking, she quickly added, "I can’t stand a work pattern that requires overtime every day."
"I recall Manlang also has overtime, doesn’t it?" Xiao Linye said, his tone visibly worsening.
This girl is kicking up such a fuss after just one day? Is Xiao’s some kind of dragon’s den and tiger’s lair?
"Yeah, we do," Ye Yuning replied. "But like I just said, it’s only when there’s actual work to be done, not this ’work overtime whether there’s anything to do or not’ situation."
"Ugh, anyway, I just can’t stand this Xiao Shuo!" Ye Yuning declared bluntly.
Her words undoubtedly struck a nerve with Xiao Linye, who gave her a deep, penetrating look. Yet, as he watched her chattering on with her complaints, he found himself unable to unleash his anger.