Chapter 13: Chapter 13: A Boy Held My Hand in Class!
What would have taken someone else a whole day to complete, Su Nian managed to finish in just one morning.
“Director, here’s the report you requested.”
The Director was dumbfounded, pushing up his gold, thin-framed glasses: “This quick?”
“Director, please review it.”
The Director took the report, scrutinized it closely against the ledger, arbitrarily checking several pages, and found not a single error. He wanted to nitpick but couldn’t find anything to criticize.
The Director gave Su Nian a thumbs-up: “Not bad, but don’t get too smug, because if there are any oversights, I’ll hold you accountable! You can go now.”
Just as Su Nian turned to leave, she bumped into Xue Qi entering. They exchanged glances, neither one fond of the other, without exchanging greetings. As soon as Su Nian stepped outside, she heard Xue Qi’s coquettish voice: “Director, where are we going to eat today?”
Su Nian thought to herself, Li Zisheng’s family is well-off too, so why does Xue Qi have to rely on her looks to beg for work?
She had enough on her plate and didn’t have the energy to meddle in others’ affairs.
Going to the company canteen with Wei Lan, Su Nian felt lucky to make a friend on the first day, as the last thing she wanted was to be alone.
During lunch, Su Zhen called her: “Mommy, did you behave at work?”
Hearing Su Zhen’s childish voice mimicking her, Su Nian couldn’t help but smile: “Did Zhenzhen behave in school?”
Su Zhen spoke urgently, though her words were not clear: “A boy held my hand during class! I told Su Bao, and he moved to sit next to me.”
Su Nian was amused and bemused by the children’s innocence about holding hands: “Sitting next to your brother, you must behave and listen to him, do not be naughty, and do not bully classmates.”
Not long ago, Su Zhen was bullied at school for not having a daddy. Su Bao ended up hitting the other child, and while Su Nian scolded Su Bao, he remained stoic. Su Zhen, on the other hand, hugged Su Bao and cried for a while, leaving Su Nian heartbroken.
“I’ll be good, Mommy, and you have to be good at work too. You’ll come to pick us up in the afternoon, right?”
“Wow! President Shen! President Shen!” Su Nian hadn’t even responded to her daughter when she heard excited murmurs in the cafeteria.
Wei Lan reacted immediately: “Mr. Shen!”
Su Nian turned her head and saw Shen Hanxiu entering the cafeteria by himself, scanning around before his eyes met hers. He then headed straight towards her. Su Nian hastily turned her head back, unconsciously lowering it, wishing she could make her presence disappear, just short of chanting “Don’t see me, don’t see me.”
But Wei Lan, thrilled, announced: “Mr. Shen is walking this way!”
Su Nian wished she could find a hole to crawl into, while her daughter’s complaining voice came through the phone: “Mommy, are you listening to me?”
“Mommy hears you.” As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a dark shadow come over her. Su Zhen on the other end said bye-bye and hung up. At the same time, a cool and polite voice came from behind: “Do you mind if I join your table?”
Wei Lan immediately said: “Not at all, not at all!”
Su Nian was at a loss for words, stealing glances as Shen Han sat down next to her. The sofa was a continuous piece, and he sat really close!
Su Nian awkwardly shifted inward, already feeling as if numerous pairs of eyes were piercing through her, yet the man seemed utterly at ease, turning to ask: “Are you getting used to the food in the cafeteria?”
Su Nian nodded, her tone distant: “Thank you for your concern, President Shen.”
“Uh… Sister Niannian, I just remembered I’ve forgotten to hand in the ledger, you two chat, I’ll take my leave first!”