“By being competent.” With her lips pursed, Shen Qi stared at Xu Liao indifferently before she continued, “No matter how badly I am bound to suffer in the future, it would have nothing to do with you. I hope you will stop pestering me from now onward as I believe romantic relationships among employees are clearly prohibited by the company.
If I’m not mistaken, you’re already married, aren’t you? Seeing that you’re a married man, I could have reported the multiple harassments I’ve experienced as a single lady to the superiors, and by then…”
Xu Liao’s eyes were laden with brutality all of a sudden. “I had no idea you had such a glib tongue. Have you ever thought of whose territory you’re in now? How dare you speak to me so rudely? Aren’t you afraid that I will get you ousted from the Ye Group?”
“When did Supervisor Xu start having such extensive power that actually enables you to get people ousted from the company at your whims and fancies?” Before Shen Qi could speak, a male’s voice which sounded icy was heard.
Shen Qi thought the voice sounded familiar. Before she could respond to the voice, Xu Liao greeted the owner of the voice hastily, “Vice President Ye, why are you here?”
Is it Ye Linhan? At the mention of his name, Shen Qi tensed up and she instinctively felt like avoiding him.
Lately, she had been avoiding him by walking away as soon as she caught sight of him at the office from afar. Every now and then, she would bump into him at Ye Residence but she always pretended she didn’t see him and would always walk away in a different direction. But right now, he had actually visited the venue…
“Xu Liao, who’s the one that granted you the power to randomly fire our employees?”
Being the vice president, although he always treated everyone gentlemanly and politely, once he took something seriously, he would exude a domineering and intimidating aura which was typical in men from the Ye Family.
Xu Liao was so horrified that he bowed down and spoke shakily, “Vice President Ye, I only gave her a warning as I got very angry over how she always loafs around; I wasn’t going to fire anyone.”
“Is that so?” Ye Linhan stared at him unflinchingly. “Was she loafing around or were you threatening her as you failed to induce her into doing something?”
Xu Liao’s forehead was covered with beads of cold sweat as he said with an awkward laugh, “Vice President Ye, I’m sure you’re joking. Why would I induce her into doing anything?”
“Do you think I didn’t catch the conversation between the two of you earlier?”
This time, Xu Liao was lost for words. Both of his legs turned to jelly all of a sudden, thereupon he slumped against the ground and pleaded, “Vice President Ye, it’s purely because my desire got the better of me which made me do such a thing. Please forgive me this time!”
Obviously, Ye Linhan did not feel like talking to him anymore as he gave out a warning in an icy tone, “Listen to me well. Even though she was demoted to your department, it doesn’t mean she is someone you can mess with. Do you understand?”
“I-I understand…” Xu Liao nodded forcefully.
“Now f*ck off.” Shen Qi was surprised because it was the first time she had heard Ye Linhan curse. She then turned to look at his side profile in consternation. His eyes which used to be filled with gentleness were now looking totally different as they were imbued with obvious iciness. Right now, he did not look like his usual self at all.
In that case, was the saying that one’s personality could have many facets actually true? Although Ye Linhan always treated everyone in a very amiable way, there were actually times that he could look so decisive and stern.
Just as she was pondering over it, Ye Linhan turned around and his eyes happened to meet her gaze.
As their eyes met, a thought hit Shen Qi which made her turn around instantly and ready to leave. To her surprise, Ye Linhan caught up to her within a few strides and stopped her. “What on earth have I done wrong that makes you run away at the sight of me?”
Shen Qi found herself unable to answer him. She remained in silence for a while before walking toward her right. Yet, it seemed like Ye Linhan was ready to put up a fight as he followed suit. When Shen Qi walked toward her left, he followed what she did and walked toward his left too. At last, Shen Qi was fed up and was about to dash off. However, her hand was held tightly by Ye Linhan which stopped her from going forward.
“Let me go!” In a fit of panic, Shen Qi tried to shake off his hand. Although the venue was not crowded, it was not without people either and what was more, most of them were employees of the company. If she was seen jostling with Ye Linhan, she was sure a babble of talk would break out soon.
If the rumors reached Ye Moxuan’s ears…
“I will only let you go if you tell me the reason for avoiding me.” In comparison to Shen Qi’s anxiety, both Ye Linhan’s voice and tone sounded steady as though he did not care whether their interaction would be seen by others.
The reason for avoiding him? Shen Qi did not even know how to offer him an answer. Right now, she did not feel like facing him at all as she could not accept that Ye Linhan was the stranger who had claimed her body that night!
“Let go of me！” Shen Qi continued to wiggle her way out of his grasp as though she did not hear his question at all.
Ye Linhan’s hand worked like a heavy iron chain that wrapped around her wrist.
“Is it because I’ve given your mother 300,000 and you feel indebted to me? Is that why you’re avoiding me?”
Shen Qi remained silent as she continued to struggle.
“If that’s the reason, there’s no need to avoid me. It’s because I’ve given the money to your mother without your permission and it has got nothing to do with you. You don’t have to feel stressed over it and I will not ask you to repay the money too.”
Finally, his words caused a stir to her emotion as she looked up and stared at the man in front of her unflinchingly. “Do you really think that is the main reason? Ye Linhan, let go of me.”
Ye Linhan squinted as he noticed that her eyes which usually looked calm were now brimming with confusion and restlessness, and he was baffled by the reason behind it.
“Then what’s the main reason? Tell me!” He started exerting more strength on her wrist.
Shen Qi put on a frown as she groaned, “You’re hurting me!”
Ye Linhan came to his senses and quickly loosened his hold on her wrist. “I’m sorry. I was being too emotional just now. Is your wrist alright?”
Shen Qi seized the chance to shake off his hold and took two steps back. “My hand is fine but I still have a lot of tasks to do. I’ve got to go.” Leaving that sentence behind, she turned around and ran away. Ye Linhan intended to catch up to her but he stayed rooted to the spot instead as he stared at her back in a daze.
Meanwhile, Gao Yun’s face was laden with fury and she clenched her fists when she caught sight of the scene from somewhere not far away.
After taking a glance at her expression, Cui Minli added with some exaggeration, “That girl is so rude. Who does she think she is? She actually has the guts to give Vice President Ye attitude and he actually didn’t get angry at her! Gao Yun, her behavior is totally unacceptable!”
As expected, Gao Yun fancied Ye Linhan—this was a well-known fact among many of them. Not only Gao Yun, but many other girls in the company too had a secret crush on Ye Linhan. After all, he treated everyone nicely, he was the Vice President of Ye Group and he was good-looking. Who would not fall in love with him?
Gao Yun was one of them and she had fancied him for a very long time now. Unfortunately, although he had spoken to her before, he had never taken her seriously.
Right now, at the sight of Ye Linhan being so concerned about Shen Qi, Gao Yun was consumed by jealousy.
“Gao Yun, don’t get angry. I’m sure Vice President Ye wouldn’t be interested in a woman like her. Perhaps he was just discussing work with her earlier, that’s all.”
Yet, Gao Yun bit her lower lip forcefully as she commented, “She is just a nobody. Why would Vice President Ye even be interested in a woman like her?”
“She is just trying to flirt with Vice President Ye. What a b*tch! She’s still not giving up despite having been demoted. I’ll surely teach her a lesson!”
When everyone else was going home after getting their tasks done later at night, Gao Yun suddenly summoned Shen Qi. “Newcomer, I have something to tell you!”
