"The door wasn’t closed, so I came in."

"You guys chat, I’ll go get some fruit for you." Madam Lin’s hospitality had already been experienced long before Han Wanwan got married.

After Madam Lin left, I sat by the bed and held Han Wanwan’s hand.

"What’s going on?"

Last night at the hospital, no matter how much I asked Lin Zhong, he kept silent.

"Nangong Yang, I’m exhausted." It was the first time I’d seen Han Wanwan look so helpless.

I quietly watched her; Han Wanwan glanced outside at Madam Lin and called out, "Mom, we’re out of soy sauce."

Madam Lin heard the call and hurried over with the fruit, "What are we out of?"

"Soy sauce."

"I’ll go buy some. Anything else you want to eat? Nangong Yang, have some fruit."

"Thank you, Auntie."

After confirming Madam Lin had left, Han Wanwan took a deep breath, placed a hand on her belly, and slowly began to speak, "Remember before graduation, I went looking for Lin Zhong?"

"Of course, at the time of graduation I was worried you wouldn’t make it back."

"That breakup text wasn’t sent by Lin Zhong himself."

"What?"

"It was Lin Zhong’s ex-girlfriend."

On the way back, I kept thinking about what Han Wanwan said. Although Lin Zhong seems carefree and carefree, you really can’t see him being the kind of person to do such a thing. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

I just kept my head down and walked forward. My phone rang in my pocket over and over. A couple passed by, asking what to have for dinner, reminding me I’d planned to have dinner with Huang Puchen today.

The ringtone went off again as I took out my phone.

"Huang Puchen?"

"Where are you?"

"Just left Han Wanwan’s house."

"I’ll come pick you up."

"Okay."

If something like this happened to Huang Puchen, how would he handle it? He never mentions his past relationships, and I never ask, feeling those are things of the past.

Han Wanwan didn’t make a big fuss, just quietly endured it, for the sake of the unborn child. Suddenly, I really admired the current Han Wanwan. I felt powerless to take on so much responsibility. Am I really ready to spend my life with Huang Puchen?

But it’s too early to think about this issue now. There’s another tricky problem at hand. Huang Puchen’s mom isn’t sincere about wanting me to be with him.

Suddenly I felt just as miserable as Han Wanwan!

No, I’m worse! At least Madam Lin supports Han Wanwan, and Lin Zhong admits his mistakes and makes promises. But me? Without family blessings, there can’t be happiness. What should I do to get Huang Puchen’s mom’s approval?

No time to think much; soon Huang Puchen would appear before me.

Seeing my face full of worry, he asked concernedly, "What’s wrong?"

I told Huang Puchen about Han Wanwan and asked him if Lin Zhong really had an ex-girlfriend during school. After listening, Huang Puchen was silent for a long time, nodded, said nothing, and held my hand to leave.

Seeing Huang Puchen didn’t want to talk about it, I didn’t ask further, quietly following beside him.

...

On Monday morning, I arrived at the company with panda eyes. When I walked into the office, everyone sat silently at their own desks. I was used to coming in to no one paying attention, so I hung my head and walked to my desk.

The stack of documents on my desk had disappeared; my mind was still filled with Han Wanwan’s matters. Before I could settle, Xiao Fang quietly moved over, leaned in, and whispered in my ear, "Minister Li was here earlier. The project that was supposed to be finalized this morning got postponed to the afternoon due to incomplete reports—he’s furious."

"What reports?"

"The stack on your desk."

I looked at Xiao Fang in surprise, pointing at my own nose, "Me?"

"It’s not your fault."

My blocked heart relaxed a bit as Xiao Fang continued, "Minister Li wants you to go to the office."

Ah? Why me? I slowly stood up, holding my forehead, noticing my colleagues were secretly watching me. Humph, you all look smug with your schadenfreude! They’re definitely pinning all the blame on me!

Walking into Minister Li’s office, he was looking down at something. I quietly stood in front of the desk, waiting for a while before he raised his head, "Don’t you know to knock before entering?"

"....."

Seeing I’m speechless, Minister Li continued, "Why didn’t you come in for overtime on Saturday? Don’t you know these documents are needed today?"

"I’m sorry, Minister Li, I just joined the department; I wasn’t originally handling this work. No one told me where the progress was or what I should do."

"As an accountant, you should handle these tasks effortlessly."

I held down the burning anger in me, but Minister Li relentlessly scolded me, "I know you got into the company through connections, but work ability can’t be silenced through connections!"

"Minister Li!"

Well done! You’ve successfully crossed my line!

I never disclosed my relationship with Ji Ran at the company. Minister Li knowing is surely because Li Hua told him! Although I haven’t studied abroad, nor graduated from any prestigious university, I still trust my professional skills!

"Minister Li, I think you misunderstood. I’m not relying on my connections!" If my relationship with Ji Ran was public, would my colleagues still speak coldly? It’d probably flip to serving me tea and pouring water!

"Better not! Luckily, the loss due to you this time isn’t significant, but your pay will be cut in half!"

"Why?!" I stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Because I’m your boss!"

"Boss? Then tell me, boss, was I the only one supposed to work overtime this weekend? Why did I come to the company and only see a stack of documents on my desk? Where are the others mixed up in this? Minister Li, do you dare to claim you weren’t partial?" I pointed at him.

"How dare you?! I’m your boss. Is this how you speak to your superior?" Minister Li shot up from his seat, his face red and slammed the table.

Furious from being exposed?

This is ridiculous! My boss? Would a boss really help their relatives bully outsiders this way!

Pausing emotionally, to them, I’m an outsider. Dealing with outsiders should seem reasonable, right?

Strange, why does it feel like I’m the unreasonable one?!

Secretary Zhang outside the door paused, with the original intention to knock, but thought for a bit, held the documents, and turned away. I’m still arguing with Minister Li, refusing to accept I joined through Ji Ran’s connections! Clearly, Chairman Zhang recruited me!

"Go back and write a report, submit it this afternoon!"

"I’m not wrong! Why write a report!"

"It’s wrong to argue with your boss! It’s wrong not to work overtime when your superior asks!"

Just as I’m about to speak, the door was pushed open.