It was exactly what Mr. Gao and Zhang Qiyuan said after they barged into the room.
"Women have it tough in the workplace. There are many examples of women facing unfair treatment in their careers, which has sparked a strong reaction in society. What do you think would happen if I released this recording?" Shen Mianyin said.
"People would wonder who is putting personal interests before the company’s, trying to steal business from a colleague?" Shen Mianyin said sarcastically, giving them a mocking smile.
Mr. Gao’s expression changed slightly, and his gaze flickered.
Shen Mianyin knew she wasn't someone to be easily underestimated.
When she first joined the Su family company, many people thought she had only entered because of the Su family's connections, and lacked real ability.
Some of the senior employees, relying on their seniority, tried to sabotage her in various ways.
But everything she had achieved up to this point was due to her own skills.
"You’re harming the company’s interests!" Zhang Qiyuan’s face turned ashen, his anger twisted his features, looking so vicious that it seemed like he wanted to tear Shen Mianyin apart.
"Do you believe that even Lin Jinshen won’t be able to protect you when the time comes?"
Shen Mianyin shook her head. "You’re openly engaging in gender discrimination in the company. In order to quell public outrage, the president will target those who are perpetrating gender oppression, not me, the victim. Otherwise, this matter will only escalate. Firing me would be the only way to completely drag the company into a public backlash."
Zhang Qiyuan was left speechless, his anger unable to find an outlet. In the end, his face turned purple with rage.
"Hmph!" Mr. Gao, realizing he couldn’t win the argument, tossed his hand dismissively and walked off, no longer bothering with Zhang Qiyuan.
Zhang Qiyuan stood there, rooted in front of Shen Mianyin’s desk. It would be embarrassing to leave like this, but he couldn’t find anything else to say if he stayed.
Shen Mianyin lowered her head to handle her own business. After a while, she looked up, as if she had just discovered that Zhang Qiyuan was still there.
She showed a surprised expression that was not very hurtful but very insulting, and asked, "Vice President Zhang, why are you still here?"
"Hmph!" Zhang Qiyuan couldn't save himself no matter how angry he was. When he turned around and left Shen Mianyin's office, he cursed Zhou Jicai a thousand times in his heart.
This useless thing.
Not capable of achieving success, but more than capable of ruining things!
***
On Friday night, Gu Huaizhi made plans with her to pick her up around 9:30 on Saturday morning.
Taking advantage of Friday evening, Shen Mianyin packed her luggage.
She didn’t have much luggage. When she left the Su family, she only brought a small suitcase.
Even after staying with Lin Wanran and adding a few items, one suitcase was still enough.
If she rented a place, Shen Mianyin didn’t plan to buy too many things to avoid the hassle of moving later.
While Shen Mianyin was packing that evening, Lin Wanran was reluctant to see her go and said, “When I lived alone, I never felt lonely. But after getting used to living with you, your sudden move makes the place feel so empty.”
“When I’ve settled in, I’ll invite you over to my new home for a meal. I’ll prepare a proper feast for you,” Shen Mianyin replied.
In her previous life, to win Gu Luo’an’s heart, she had gone out of her way to study cooking in addition to her job.
But now she understood—if a man’s heart wasn’t with you, no amount of effort or skills could ever win him over.
“I’ve been craving your cooking for so long,” Lin Wanran said, her eyes lighting up. But then, with a hint of dissatisfaction, she added, “Just thinking about how you learned to cook for that scumbag Gu Luo’an makes me upset.”
As Shen Mianyin packed, she laughed and said, “Don’t be upset. I’m not cooking for him anyway. Let’s just say I picked up an extra skill for myself.”
“I’ll take you there tomorrow,” Lin Wanran offered again.
“No need. A friend is coming to pick me up. Coincidentally, I rented an apartment in the same neighborhood as him,” Shen Mianyin replied, feeling inexplicably a bit guilty.
“A friend? What kind of friend? Male or female?” Lin Wanran asked curiously, leaning closer to Shen Mianyin. “Shen Mianyin, I can’t believe you have other friends besides me!”
Shen Mianyin wasn’t someone who easily opened up to others.
“Who is it? Do I know them?” Lin Wanran pressed. “Tell me now, or I’ll find out tomorrow anyway.”
Shen Mianyin: “…”
There was no way to avoid it. Resigned, Shen Mianyin admitted, “It’s Gu Huaizhi.”
“Who?” Lin Wanran rubbed her ear, thinking she misheard. “Who did you say?”
Shen Mianyin braced herself and said, “Gu Huaizhi.”
“What?!” Lin Wanran exclaimed, completely shocked. “You’re dating Gu Huaizhi?”
Before Shen Mianyin could respond, Lin Wanran nodded to herself and said, “Nicely done! Dump that scumbag Gu Luo’an and date his third uncle instead. Let’s see him call you Aunt in the future!”
“Stop, stop, stop!” Shen Mianyin, who had been crouching by her suitcase packing, quickly stood up and covered Lin Wanran’s mouth, pleading, “Please don’t overthink it! Especially not in front of Gu Huaizhi—don’t even go there!”
“He’s just a good person who helped me out,” Shen Mianyin explained.
Lin Wanran pulled her hand away and said, “Gu Huaizhi? A good person? Have you forgotten about his reputation out there?”
“I think all that is just a misunderstanding about him. He’s not great at socializing, but once you get to know him, he’s actually quite nice,” Shen Mianyin defended Gu Huaizhi.
“First of all, you’d need the chance to get to know him,” Lin Wanran pointed out sharply. “Most people don’t even get that far—it’s hard enough just to get close to him!”
“Well, isn’t it… just because there happened to be a chance to work together? I didn’t expect to find out he’s actually a really decent person,” Shen Mianyin explained, though for some reason, her voice sounded a little weak.
Lin Wanran crouched down as well, leaning closer to Shen Mianyin. “Then why don’t you consider just going for it and winning him over? Imagine how satisfying it’d be to make that scumbag Gu Luo’an call you Aunt!”
“Stop messing around,” Shen Mianyin shook her head. “Gu Luo’an is in the past. No matter what choices I make in the future, they’ll have nothing to do with him.”
“Fair enough,” Lin Wanran said, noticing the seriousness in Shen Mianyin’s tone and deciding not to continue joking.
But as Shen Mianyin thought about meeting Gu Huaizhi the next day, she found herself inexplicably nervous.
The next morning at 9:25, Shen Mianyin received a call from Gu Huaizhi. “I’m downstairs. Are you ready?”
“Ready,” Shen Mianyin replied quickly. “I’ll be down in a second.”
“How much stuff do you have?” Gu Huaizhi asked again.
“Not much—just one suitcase,” Shen Mianyin said.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Wanran sleepily opened the door to her room, still half-asleep and with a deep yawn, saying, “Mianyin, you’re leaving?”
“Yeah,” Shen Mianyin nodded. “I’ll call you over for a meal once I’m settled.”
“Okay,” Lin Wanran then ran to the balcony to take a look downstairs. Sure enough, Gu Huaizhi was standing by the car waiting.
“Good grief!”
Lin Wanran ran back inside and said, “Then I won’t see you off downstairs.”
“Are you trying to avoid Gu Huaizhi on purpose?” Shen Mianyin looked at Lin Wanran with suspicion.
If it were up to Lin Wanran’s nature, even if she hadn’t fully woken up, she would still have to go downstairs in her pajamas to see her off.
“I still feel a bit of pressure around him,” Lin Wanran shook her head. “How can someone be that good-looking but also so intimidating? I actually admire you for getting along with him so well.”
Shen Mianyin: “…”
Lin Wanran then walked Shen Mianyin to the elevator and waited until it started descending before heading back inside.
Shen Mianyin dragged her suitcase out of the elevator, and as she reached the door, she saw Gu Huaizhi standing by the car, leaning against the door with a somewhat lazy stance.
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