In the office, Liu Jie became as quiet as a chicken.
If someone surpasses you by a little, you may still feel admiration or envy. But when someone reaches heights you can’t even aspire to, that gap eliminates any possibility of admiration or envy.
One evening, a colleague quietly approached Liu Jie and said, “Take a closer look, and you’ll notice that Ji Anning is different from head to toe.”
After hearing this, Liu Jie discreetly observed. Ji Anning adhered to the office dress code, and her style was not flashy but very simple. At first glance, it might be easy to overlook, but upon closer inspection, one could see the subtle beauty in her simplicity, reflecting a sense of design and meticulous tailoring.
The colleague whispered, “I checked with HR. She wasn’t hired with this batch; she was parachuted in. Her personnel records aren’t here but at the group headquarters.”
This implied that Ji Anning might have a background.
Both Liu Jie and the colleague in the office remained silent, keeping their lips sealed.
During a meal, Ji Anning leaned forward, revealing the necklace around her neck.
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G qlxyzl nszzlytwl dsvknle yde alxyajle, “Rv’p ps ckt. Rp kv y obkvl fyel pvsdl?”
Kk Gddkdt vswnble kv yde pyke, “Ls, kv’p y pudvblvkn ekyxsde.”
pudvblvkn ekyxsdep yald’v hlau lmrldpkhl. Mbl qlxyzl nszzlytwl lmnzykxle, “Rv zssjp ralvvu tsse.”
Fweeldzu, pbl dsvknle Kk Gddkdt’p caynlzlv, rkiwkdt bla kdvlalpv ytykd. Gqvla y nyalqwz zssj, pbl pyke, “Rp vbkp qasx Uyavkla?”
Kk Gddkdt alrzkle, “Zlp.”
Mbl qlxyzl nszzlytwl raykple, “Rv’p clywvkqwz.”
G qlo eyup zyvla, vbl qlxyzl nszzlytwl pbsole wr olyakdt vbl pyxl pvuzl: “R tsv vbl pyxl sdl vss.”
Fbl lmvldele bla byde vs nsxryal okvb Kk Gddkdt’p, pyukdt, “Twb? Rv pllxp zkjl uswap eslpd’v zssj yp eyggzkdt! Nlv xl vlzz usw, lhld kq usw cwu y jdsnjsqq, usw byhl vs nsxryal y qlo rzynlp. Mbl osajxydpbkr hyaklp. Fwd Kkl, zssj, kpd’v xkdl pbkdkla?”
Sun Mengru was called upon and smiled, saying, “Let me see.”
Ji Anning, indifferent to the comparison, quietly handed over her wrist as the colleague already handed hers.
Sun Mengru held both of their wrists, examining closely.
A male colleague passing by with a cup in hand glanced over. Indeed, the colleague’s bracelet was more bling-bling, but Ji Anning’s wrist, delicate and elegant, with joints slightly protruding, seemed to strike a chord, evoking a peculiar feeling in the hearts of those who observed.
The male colleague took a few sips of water before tearing his gaze away and quickly walking off.
Sun Mengru, staring for a while, said almost to herself, “Cartier, huh…”
The female colleague added, “Yes, they’re both knockoffs from Cartier.”
Liu Jie glanced up. Both she and Sun Mengru were junior managers with similar incomes. However, Liu’s money went into her children’s extracurricular activities and summer camps, while Sun Mengru, being single, earned and spent for herself, living carefree. With the same income, they led completely different lives.
Therefore, Liu Jie didn’t know much about luxury brands, while Sun Mengru was quite knowledgeable.
Liu Jie keenly noticed that Sun Mengru’s expression seemed off.
Sun Mengru looked up and smiled at the female colleague, “Indeed, yours is shinier.”
The female colleague, feeling pleased, kindly offered to share, “I’ll send you the link to my online store later. They have good knockoffs.”
Ji Anning pursed her lips and smiled, nodding.
Her gaze met Sun Mengru’s, and both of them remained calm, their eyes conveying an unspoken understanding.
One day, the two of them bumped into each other in the restroom, washing their hands together. Ji Anning leaned forward, and the synthetic diamond necklace hung from her neck.
Sun Mengru glanced at it and couldn’t help but ask, “Seems like you really like this necklace?”
Ji Anning touched it and said, “I didn’t mention it to avoid startling you all. It’s actually made from the ashes of a deceased elder.”
Sun Mengru suddenly realized.
So that’s the story.
Ji Anning came to this company and department for training and learning. Her plan was to stay here for two months, then move on to experience various departments in different companies.
Unexpectedly, just after New Year’s Day, the department director asked Ji Anning to go on a business trip with him.
Ji Anning was a bit surprised, “Me?” She felt that such tasks were usually not given to newbies like her.
“Yes, it’s a four-day trip,” Director Peng, with a gentle and harmless smile, said, “It’s rare for a newcomer to have this opportunity; you should cherish it.”
Ji Anning had an intuition that something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what.
Back in the office, she thought it over and told Sun Mengru. After spending a month here, Sun Mengru was the colleague she found most reliable among the women in the office, someone who could stand on her own in office politics, strict yet friendly to newcomers, willing to offer guidance and help.
Sun Mengru frowned upon hearing this and asked, “Why did they ask you to go?”
Ji Anning replied, “I have no idea.”
Sun Mengru took a stroll outside and, upon returning, pulled Ji Anning into the stairwell, asking, “There’s a rumor in the office that you have connections at the headquarters. Is it true?”
Ji Anning was surprised, “Why ask about that?”
She didn’t deny it. Sun Mengru felt somewhat reassured and told her, “If you really have connections, make use of them. Besides you and Director Peng, Gong Zong from the company will also be on this business trip.”
Director Peng is Director Peng, and Gong Zong is the company’s vice president.
Ji Anning asked, “What’s the issue with them?”
Sun Mengru said, “That Gong guy is not a good person; he likes to engage in improper relationships with female employees.”
Ji Anning’s expression turned serious, “Really?”
Sun Mengru nodded, saying, “When he was still a director, he tried something with me. That was when I was still a newcomer. But you know me; I have a strong temper.”
Although Sun Mengru was a single woman, she was strong in capability and had a tough personality.
After a moment of hesitation, Ji Anning asked, “Have you reported this to higher-ups?”
“No evidence,” Sun Mengru said, “It’s challenging to explain this kind of thing. Besides, at that time, I was still a newcomer. Even if there were evidence, I’d be the one leaving the company for sure. I didn’t want to lose my job.”
Being a single girl from out of town navigating the provincial capital alone wasn’t easy.
Ji Anning fell into silence.
“And,” Sun Mengru reminded her, “you were parachuted in from the group headquarters, right? Gong may not necessarily know, but Director Peng is the department director; he can’t be unaware.”
Ji Anning furrowed her brows.
Office politics, truly detestable.
Ji Anning went home and told Wen Yu about the situation.
Wen Yu laughed through gritted teeth, “Damn it!”
The department’s new person, Ji Anning, went on a business trip with the director, and the other two newbies were envious.
Sun Mengru had been on edge those days. She informed the girl of what she knew, but the girl still went. Did she have complete confidence in safeguarding herself, or was she willingly taking a shortcut through improper means?
As a fellow woman, Sun Mengru hoped it wasn’t the latter.
Of course, she didn’t know that Wen Yu, and the assistant manager from the group, also took his team to the same location.
Four days later, Ji Anning safely returned to the office.
However, the company’s Vice President Gong and Department Director Peng had both disappeared from the office.
A vice general manager was parachuted in from headquarters, the original department vice director was promoted to director, and Sun Mengru was promoted to vice director.
With a series of quick moves, everything settled into dust.
Later, intern Ji Anning finished her work there and left the company.
At seven months old, little Junjun uttered her first word – “grandpa.” She only started saying “mom” and “dad” at eight months. And through practical actions, she proved that relationships are nurtured, not born. Among the family members, Junjun was closest to her grandpa. That’s because grandpa spent the most time with her and willingly squatted on the ground, sticking out his buttocks, to crawl together with her.
By the time Chinese New Year arrived, Junjun could already understand spoken language well and express her wishes using simple vocabulary.
She had entered the irresistibly cute stage of a mammal cub that can drive people crazy.
Not even a year old, Wen Guoan had already set his sights on and acquired a private kindergarten. He began inspecting schools to determine which one to purchase.
He was deeply disturbed by the news of child abuse incidents in some kindergartens, shaking with anger. He vigorously reorganized the personnel in his own kindergarten, provided high-intensity training for staff, increased wages, and upgraded the surveillance hardware, ensuring there were no blind spots in the kindergarten.
Only then was he satisfied, assuring Ji Anning and Wen Yu, “When Junjun goes to kindergarten, I guarantee she’ll be safe. Hey, what do you think, which of these two schools is better? I’m a bit hesitant about which one to buy. Maybe I should just buy both?”
The young couple couldn’t help but rub their foreheads.
Wen Guoan’s excessive indulgence of Junjun directly affected the nanny, who received the Wen family’s wages. The nanny dared not discipline Junjun too strictly; she endured being hit or scolded. After all, the Wen family paid well, and the nanny needed to make a living.
Ji Anning noticed that when Junjun used toys to hit the nanny, she felt that this couldn’t continue.
She discussed the matter with Wen Yu, and the couple reached an agreement before Wen Yu approached Wen Guoan about it.
“Dad, do you remember Shengteng Pharmaceuticals?” Wen Yu began, “Their son attended the same school as me and Anning.”
Wen Guoan thought for a moment and said, “I vaguely recall hearing a few years ago that their eldest son died in a car accident?” with a slight impression.
Wen Yu said, “It wasn’t a car accident; I arranged it.”
Wen Guoan, having experienced many ups and downs, looked at him in slight surprise, asking, “Why? What did he do to offend you?”
Wen Yu told Wen Guoan about what Zhao Chen had done to He Man and said, “He also wanted to harm Anning. Can you blame me for not tolerating it?”
Wen Guoan grunted in agreement, nodding, “He deserved it.”
Wen Yu’s values were somewhat skewed, and it wasn’t without reason. These were values passed down through the family.
Wen Guoan asked, “Why bring this up suddenly?”
Wen Yu said, “I investigated him before. This kid, actually, wasn’t like this when he was young. He was spoiled later on after being sent to Yushan and being pampered by his grandfather. They say there’s a special bond between different generations, and it’s really true. Old folks are particularly prone to spoiling their grandchildren, don’t you think so?”
Wen Guoan snorted, raised his tablet high, blocking his face. “You guys don’t understand the hearts of old folks.”
Wen Yu pressed down the tablet and said, “Dad, if you continue like this, you’ll spoil Junjun.”
Wen Guoan denied, “Junjun is still young, how could she be spoiled?”
Wen Yu felt very puzzled and said, “When I was young, you were strict with me. How did you become like this now? It’s simply unreasonable.”
Wen Guoan scolded, “What’s your point? Can you compare yourself to Junjun? Take a look in the mirror, Junjun is a thousand times cuter than you!”
Wen Yu: “…”
You’ve changed! You’ve changed!
Clearly, when I was young, you said I was the cutest child in the world!!!
Sansukini: That last part was really funny. (´∀｀)ʱªʱªʱª Wen Yu is so childish.
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Thank you for the Chapter!!!
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for the chapter!
lol, yes, do not spoil the children, train them while young to be respectful and they will listen!
Lol. That last sentence remind me of these short video. In the video, there are three male voice actors (dubbers) of different seniority (a young adult, adult, and a very mature man). They’re competing who could deliver “My cuteness is gonna expired” line the best in their lowest timbre. 😂😂😂