Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Do You Live by the Sea? Why So Nosy?

Lin Qi couldn’t believe the income disparity: “The gap is so huge?”

Han Na said, “You haven’t been officially hired yet; you don’t understand. All the projects in the project group have to be fought for by the team leaders. Ms. Zhou has snatched many projects from Ms. Mia, which created quite a few enemies. And do you know? In the whole project team, only President Qi and Ms. Zhou’s wage cards are confidential, but last year Ms. Zhou’s bonus alone was 10 million! That doesn’t even include her salary and dividends! Ms. Mia’s total income last year didn’t even reach 2 million, can’t you see why she would be jealous?”

Lin Qi nodded, though she didn’t fully understand.

Han Na continued, “That’s why Ms. Mia doesn’t stop bad-mouthing Ms. Zhou behind her back!”

Lin Qi asked, “What was your salary last month?”

Han Na, a bit embarrassed, said, “I didn’t meet the project standards last month, and just earned over 6000. Actually, you get along pretty well with Ms. Zhou, her team members, on average, all have an annual income of over a million! I initially wanted to join Ms. Zhou’s team, but she didn’t think highly of me!”

Lin Qi remarked, “That’s impressive! No wonder she’s the top Iron Lady in the team, truly a role model for strong women.”

Han Na said, “Yeah, I really admire her! Although Maeve looks down on her, saying what’s the use of earning so much when her marriage is unhappy. Actually, I think she’s just jealous of how much she earns!”

“Han Na!”

Maeve’s voice came from behind them.

Shocked, Han Na turned around to find Maeve walked over to them, coldly sizing up Lin Qi: “Did you send me the project email? It’s not time to leave yet, using working hours to chat. Should I set a table with tea and sunflower seeds for you to sit and chat?”

Lin Qi said, “It’s already time to clock out.”

Seeing Lin Qi dare to argue with her, Maeve crossed her arms, “In the project team, you only get off work when the work is done! Otherwise, if everyone leaves once the clock hits the hour, who would handle the projects?”

Han Na immediately returned to her desk to finish up her work.

Maeve, seeing Lin Qi heading back to her desk, suddenly called out, “Wait!”

Lin Qi turned to face Maeve.

Narrowing her eyes, Maeve asked, “Lin Qi, what exactly is your relationship with President Qi? Why does he care so much about you?”

Lin Qi replied, “Whatever your relationship with President Qi is, mine is the same with him!”

Just a superior-subordinate relationship.

Maeve said, “Don’t be ambiguous with me! I saw Zhou Xiaoying talking to you earlier, did she want to pull you into her group?”

Lin Qi replied, “Yes.”

Maeve’s eyes shifted, “Joining her won’t make your life easier! Her team has the most exhausting work. I heard, you’re divorced with a kid, if you work with her, you won’t have time for your son!”

She wanted to pull Lin Qi into her own group.

Even though she didn’t think highly of Lin Qi, she always felt Lin Qi must have ulterior motives towards Ling Chuan, and only by having Lin Qi under her could she keep a better watch on her!

Then she’d make Lin Qi do all the tough and tiring work, and let her be sidelined, hoping that she couldn’t stand it and would request a job transfer!

This way, she could also eliminate a thorn in her side!

Lin Qi said, “I’m aware. But, high investment, high return.”

Maeve remarked, “Woman, why earn so much money? You want to be a powerful woman like her too? Ha! You don’t know. She’s famously the Iron Lady in our project team, a strong woman, but see, what does earning so much matter if her husband couldn’t stand her dominance and divorced her? For a woman, the most important thing in life is to have a happy marriage. Sooner or later, you’ll return to your family.”

Lin Qi didn’t wish to argue.

All she could say was, to each their own!

No one is in the wrong!

How one chooses is their freedom!

Some women yearn for a life of supporting their husband and educating their children, but she, she aspires to be master of her own fate!

Lin Qi said, “You are right, Ms. Mia.”

As she turned to leave, Maeve suddenly grabbed her, “Lin Qi, now there are only the two of us, no one will overhear our conversation. Tell me, are you really pregnant?”

Lin Qi replied, “My pregnancy is a personal matter, what does it have to do with work?”

Maeve said, “Don’t you know? In the project team, female employees who are pregnant for four months will be mandatorily put on maternity leave.”

Previously, a female employee had worked with a big belly under a 996 schedule, and due to overwork, she miscarried.

To prevent such incidents, once a pregnancy reaches four months, a mandatory maternity leave is enforced, and all current werk is suspended.

Lin Qi was startled, “Why would there be mandatory maternity leave?”

Maeve replied, “Otherwise, who would be responsible if there was a miscarriage? Would it fall on the company? The company can’t allow such risks.”

Lin Qi said, “Can’t I just adjust the intensity of my work?”

Maeve replied, “As long as you are in the position, you have to fulfill your responsibilities every day! Otherwise, why should you earn as much as anyone else?”

Lin Qi looked puzzled and said, “Ms. Mia, you don’t need to worry about my matters! So, was it you who secretly rummaged through my bag yesterday and saw my medical report?”

Maeve was taken aback but didn’t deny it.

Lin Qi continued, “I think you owe me an apology! Going through an employee’s bag secretly isn’t much different from being a thief!”

Maeve’s face turned green.

She said, “Lin Qi, what grounds do you have to demand an apology from me? You concealed your pregnancy when joining the company, and the company hasn’t discovered it yet! Otherwise, if the company finds out that you intended to exploit Huace’s generous benefits, you might be directly dismissed!”

Lin Qi replied, “That’s for the HR department to deal with, Ms. Mia. Do you live by the sea? Why so nosy?”

After saying that, Lin Qi returned to her desk to wait for Han Na so they could leave together.

Maeve was left stunned, shaking with rage.

This Lin Qi!

A mere newcomer, yet daring to defy her and talk back insolently!

Relying on President Qi to back her up, does she think she’s above the law!

Tonight, at the welcome banquet, she must deal her a decisive blow!

Now, she suspected, the child in Lin Qi’s womb, if it belonged to Ling Chuan…

She would never tolerate it!

Thinking this, Maeve walked to Ling Chuan’s office door and gently knocked.

“Come in.”

Maeve pushed the door and entered, asking, “President Qi, have you seen Lin Qi’s medical report?”

Ling Chuan raised his head and frowned, “No. What about her medical report?”

The medical reports were always kept by the HR department.

Unless a new employee had an illness or special condition, it wouldn’t be reported in his office.

Maeve said, “Nothing, I was just asking. Lin Qi took a leave today to go to the hospital, right? I’m worried she might bring an illness into the company.”

She casually made up an excuse.

It seemed Ling Chuan wasn’t yet aware of her pregnancy.

Ling Chuan replied, “Unlikely. Anything else?”

He was known for his strictness, during work hours it was all business, he didn’t like personal matters encroaching on his time.