Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Workplace Cold Violence

Maeve: “Nothing much left to deal with.”

Ling Chuan: “Then you can leave.”

Maeve: “President Qi, when will you get off work? I’ll wait for you and we can go to the restaurant together!”

Ling Chuan: “No need, I drove here today.”

Maeve smiled: “I didn’t drive today. Can I get a ride with you?”

Ling Chuan looked up and narrowed his eyes: “I recall I’ve said more than once that regardless of our private relationship, in the workplace, I am your superior and you are my subordinate. What kind of distance should be maintained between a superior and a subordinate, do I need to remind you again?”

Maeve’s smile suddenly stiffened.

She nodded and walked out dejectedly.

After Han Na submitted her work schedule, she took a taxi to the restaurant with Lin Qi.

They were the first to arrive.

Other colleagues from the project team also arrived one after another.

Since both Lin Qi and Han Na were new, their relationship with other colleagues was still in the initial stage, they sat alone in a corner. The rest of the colleagues were engrossed in their conversations and did not notice them at all.

Social anxiety got the best of Han Na. Despite having joined the company some time ago, she still didn’t know how to fit in.

Lin Qi kept playing “Shaun the Sheep” game on the side, over and over again, tirelessly.

Han Na said: “Lin Qi, I feel like we are being excluded by our colleagues, have you noticed?”

Lin Qi replied: “Excluded, so be it.”

Han Na said: “I could understand them excluding me, but why exclude you? You are the star of this department’s welcoming banquet!”

Lin Qi said: “Aren’t you also a newcomer?”

Han Na said: “I joined earlier than you, but I didn’t get this kind of treatment. The project team has always been busy. This time President Qi has made such a grand gesture by booking such a large private room at Purple Fortune Restaurant just to welcome you! President Qi really treats you quite specially; could it be that he fancies you?”

Lin Qi smiled: “I doubt that? President Qi should have a girlfriend.”

Han Na looked around carefully, seeing that other colleagues did not notice them, she lowered her voice: “I heard that… Ms. Mia has slept with President Qi, but I don’t know if it’s true or not…”

Lin Qi was still indifferent, clearly uninterested in such gossip: “If they are not married or attached, in such an open modern society, a consensual affair is no big deal.”

Han Na was secretly shocked.

She really thought that Lin Qi was President Qi’s undisclosed girlfriend, but when she brought up the rumors of ambiguity between President Qi and Ms. Mia, Lin Qi didn’t react at all. Could it really be that there’s nothing between her and President Qi?

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

A waiter in uniform walked in with tea.

The colleagues lifted their heads and were all stunned.

“That waiter…”

“Looks just like Lin Qi!”

“I thought it was Lin Qi for a moment! But Lin Qi is sitting over there, isn’t she?”

“The two of them look so alike, but this woman looks a lot older than Lin Qi.”

Lin Qi was startled and looked up, only to encounter Li Wanru wearing a restaurant waiter’s uniform, holding a tray of tea.

Li Wanru did not notice Lin Qi in the corner until the colleagues in the private room suddenly asked out loud: “Lin Qi, don’t you think this waiter looks a lot like you? Isn’t she your sister by any chance?”

Li Wanru followed the sound and then saw Lin Qi also in the private room, and felt awkward and at a loss: “Sister?”

Everyone perked up: “Who are you calling sister?”

Li Wanru looked at Lin Qi.

People then turned to Lin Qi: “Are you for real, Lin Qi? Is this person your sister?”

“No way! Really sisters?”

“How could it be that the sister is all dressed up, working at Huace with a monthly salary of tens of thousands, while the other sister is working as a waiter in a restaurant, serving tea and water for others?”

“Yeah! That’s quite a disparity!”

Lin Qi furrowed her brows, stood up, and took Li Wanru out of the private room.

“How come you’re here?” Lin Qi glanced at Li Wanru’s uniform. “A new job?”

Li Wanru said, “Yeah, the salary is good here, and they are willing to hire me. But with my low educational qualifications, I can’t do much other than serving dishes and tea.”

She felt a bit embarrassed, “Lin Qi, what brings you here? A company dinner?”

“Yes.”

Li Wanru tentatively asked: “Wouldn’t that embarrass you?”

Lin Qi said, “You’re doing your job; there’s no such thing as an embarrassing job. How much do they pay you a month here?”

Li Wanru said: “A base salary of 4000 during probation, and it would be good to get 5500 after that, though the working hours are a little long. My husband hasn’t found a job yet; he said once I have settled down, he will go back and take leave to bring the kids to Beijing for school.”

She paused, then said: “I haven’t had the chance to thank you for last time!”

She was referring to the money transfer from Lin Qi.

Lin Qi said: “It was no big deal.”

Li Wanru said: “I’ve come to terms with it. Although we are born from the same mother, you just have better fortune. I can’t ask for the life that you have. I have to accept my fate! Previously, I was narrow-minded and felt uncomfortable with inequality. Now, I dare not compare myself with you. You live your life well. If you can lend a hand now and then, that would be great! If not, I won’t disturb your life too much.”

Lin Qi pursed her lips and smiled lightly: “Anyway, you better get back to work!”

“Yeah, you too.”

Lin Qi turned and returned to the private room.

Opening the door and entering, she felt countless stares prickling her like needles.

“Lin Qi, is that woman really your sister?”

“How come she’s dressed up like a country bumpkin? She looks so much older, how old is she?”

Lin Qi said, “She’s my age; we’re twins.”

She did not care for her colleagues’ mean scrutiny, nor did she feel embarrassed by her sister’s work as a hotel hand.

They were both working in society; she did not discriminate.

But the rest of the colleagues did not think this way!

“Tell us, how come the lives of you two sisters are so different? You, dressed up and working in the office, and she, serving tea and water in this place.”

“Hotel waiters are mostly from out of town, and you’re a local, aren’t you, Lin Qi? Your sister’s accent doesn’t sound local!”

Lin Qi smiled, offered no further explanation, and returned to her seat.

The colleagues whispered amongst themselves.

Knowing they looked down on those working as waiters, Lin Qi coldly said: “I hope you stop gossiping about others behind their backs. Mind your own business and keep your mouth shut.”

Everyone fell silent.

Lin Qi was always straightforward and never learned to beat around the bush; her words undoubtedly offended these colleagues.

A colleague muttered under their breath: “Putting on airs, huh? She thinks she’s so important!”

Soon, all members of the project team had arrived.

Maeve and Zhou Xiaoying walked into the private room one after another.

Seeing that Ling Chuan hadn’t arrived, the colleagues asked: “Where’s President Qi?”