บท 13: 13
"Our boss organized a weird team-building event…"
Yu Zhiwan started venting her frustrations.
Her voice was gentle, neither too loud nor too soft, and her complaints were well-structured and humorous. It was actually pretty entertaining to listen to her vent, as long as she wasn't venting about Pei Yuzhang herself.
From an ordinary employee's perspective, dragging everyone to a place like that for a party was, at best, a distasteful move and, at worst, a sign of ulterior motives. Not to mention, forcing someone like Yu Zhiwan, a physically disabled Omega, to attend such an event—where she was even drugged and taken away—was downright despicable.
From an "outsider's" point of view, Pei Yuzhang could easily empathize with Yu Zhiwan's frustrations, so she chimed in, cursing along with her, "Your new boss sounds truly awful. It looks like you'll need to be cautious at work. Someone with a taste for beautiful things…"
Might target you again someday.
Pei Yuzhang couldn't bring herself to say that last part out loud. After all, it could very well be her who might target Yu Zhiwan again in the future, even if it was because the system forced her to. The tasks still needed to be carried out.
"So," Pei Yuzhang carefully chose her words, trying to think of how a normal friend would comfort and advise Yu Zhiwan, "is there anything I can do to help you?"
Yu Zhiwan could tell that Pei Yuzhang's offer wasn't just a polite gesture; she was sincere. After a brief, thoughtful silence, she softly replied, "I don't have many friends. If you could just talk to me from time to time, that would make me really happy."
Pei Yuzhang paused mid-sip of her tea, her expression softening.
In her mind's eye, she pictured Yu Zhiwan's fragile form, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, her delicate frame unable to protect her striking beauty—a flower swaying in the wind, vulnerable and pitiable.
An Omega as beautiful as Yu Zhiwan shouldn't be friendless, whether people were drawn to her for her looks or for who she was. Moreover, she was gentle, easy to talk to, and not particularly introverted. So why would she struggle to make friends?
A question that had been brewing in Pei Yuzhang's mind for some time now began to surface. She wasn't sure if her relationship with Yu Zhiwan as "Xiaoyu" had reached a point where she could ask this, and she worried it might be too intrusive, but her curiosity was overwhelming.
Pei Yuzhang hesitated for a long moment before finally asking in a soft voice, "Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
"Your body… when did the issues start?"
The night breeze brushed against Pei Yuzhang's face, carrying a coolness that matched the cooling ceramic of the teacup in her hand. Her breathing slowed as she waited for a response.
Her heartbeat grew heavy and slow.
People with disabilities are often sensitive about such topics. Pei Yuzhang didn't know where Yu Zhiwan's boundaries lay. She was testing the waters, not to cause discomfort but because she was genuinely curious.
As the protagonist, Yu Zhiwan was shrouded in mystery. Pei Yuzhang had no information about her family or background from the original plot. Without any way to find out, even Yuerong wouldn't go so far as to conduct background checks on employees.
So, was Yu Zhiwan's disability congenital or acquired? And why, in the future, would she choose to be with someone like Liu Huanran, enduring all the hurt she caused?
Though they hadn't known each other long, Pei Yuzhang instinctively felt that Yu Zhiwan wasn't the weak, love-obsessed flower the plot had made her out to be.
But Yu Zhiwan wasn't an enemy to interrogate. There was no need to press her too hard. Was she being too forward?
An awkward silence stretched out, the tension building, until Pei Yuzhang was about to backpedal and apologize. Then, she heard Yu Zhiwan speak.
"My blindness is congenital, but my legs… that came later."
The words seemed to take a lot out of her. Yu Zhiwan's voice was tinged with a faint tremor. The moment she spoke, Pei Yuzhang could sense the sadness and vulnerability in her tone, making her feel even more uneasy for having brought up such a painful subject.
Not great at comforting people, Pei Yuzhang tried her best to reassure her. "Don't be sad. I was just curious. But you know what? To me, you're really, really, really amazing!"
She emphasized the word "really" three times, each time with more conviction, her tone so earnest that Yu Zhiwan could sense it even through the phone.
Somehow, Yu Zhiwan couldn't help but think of a large, clumsy Alaskan dog she had once owned. It used to wag its tail eagerly, licking her hand and leaning its big body against her, seeking affection.
Even when she was in a good mood, Yu Zhiwan would sometimes pretend to be upset, sighing to make the dog stay by her side a little longer, giving her more attention.
Yu Zhiwan's voice softened as she drew out her words. "Really? Then… can I talk to you whenever I need to?"
Pei Yuzhang thumped her chest. "Of course! If you ever need to talk, just come find me! I'm more than—"
She almost said, "I'm more than happy to chat," but quickly stopped herself.
"Xiaoyu" was supposed to be a struggling worker, orphaned young and not particularly skilled or educated, which meant she couldn't afford to be too available.
Pei Yuzhang lowered her voice, laughing gently. "I really enjoy talking to you."
This wasn't a lie. She was genuinely curious about the protagonist, and with her alternate identity needed to prevent Yu Zhiwan's blackening, Pei Yuzhang felt a strong sense of responsibility.
**
Pei Yuzhang felt that using the "Xiaoyu" persona had been a smart move.
Ever since that day, Yu Zhiwan had frequently messaged her. Since it wasn't convenient for Yu Zhiwan to type, and there was often a delay in replying to voice messages, their conversations gradually turned into phone calls.
During this time, Pei Yuzhang had also adjusted to Yuerong's work environment. While she hadn't made any drastic changes yet, she was much more diligent than before. Seeing her dedication, Pei Jinhuai decided to bring in a seasoned mentor to guide her.
Although her mentor was patient, they were also demanding, hinting that Pei Jinhuai was grooming Pei Yuzhang as a potential successor.
Pei Yuzhang felt the pressure but didn't complain. Even when she had to put on the spoiled brat act, the mentor noticed her improving work ethic.
Last weekend, Pei Yuzhang had been swamped, working overtime with the senior management to figure out how to handle the new and slow-moving products. It had taken almost the entire week to see some progress.
Then, on Thursday at lunch, she received a call from Yu Zhiwan.
"I was thinking about going to a lakeside restaurant at the park this weekend. Would you like to join me?"
Pei Yuzhang instinctively asked, "Just the two of us?"
Yu Zhiwan softly replied, "Yes."
It was lunchtime, and Yu Zhiwan's voice was quiet, likely speaking to her from a hallway. The quality of Pei Yuzhang's Bluetooth headset was excellent, allowing her to pick up on the faint echo on Yu Zhiwan's end.
Right after Yu Zhiwan's soft "yes," Pei Yuzhang heard shuffling footsteps, followed by a low voice. Though it was faint, Pei Yuzhang's sharp hearing caught it.
It was Liu Huanran.
Who knows when she had arrived, but hearing Yu Zhiwan mention going out with someone, she made a disapproving noise and asked, "Who are you talking to?"
Yu Zhiwan didn't answer.
Liu Huanran repeated her question, this time more forcefully. Yu Zhiwan hesitated briefly before her tone turned cold, "Just a friend."
Her response was curt, and she quickly hung up the call. As the "beep-beep" of the disconnected line echoed in her ear, Pei Yuzhang imagined Yu Zhiwan's gentle, reserved demeanor, and felt a twinge of dissatisfaction.
As the "villainous boss," this dissatisfaction quickly morphed into something actionable.
Pei Yuzhang immediately tidied up her desk and decided to pay the product department a visit.
Pei Jinhuai had always doted on her daughter, fearing she might face any difficulty in the company. Though she hadn't advertised Pei Yuzhang's position, the management was well aware of who she was.
So, despite Pei Yuzhang's resignation and re-entry as a junior employee, no one dared underestimate her. She was still treated with respect, and her slightly more restrained behavior had eased many people's concerns.
The planning department and the product department were closely linked, so as the planning department's deputy director, Pei Yuzhang's visit to the product department was well within her responsibilities.
She didn't inform anyone in advance, hoping to catch Liu Huanran off guard. By the time she arrived, Liu Huanran had just returned to her desk. Though she held a minor position, she was already throwing her weight around.
A young woman, newly hired, stood before her with a proposal. She had a few freckles on her round face and wasn't particularly beautiful, more on the plain side. After a quick glance, Liu Huanran began criticizing her work without providing specific feedback, speaking in riddles. The girl didn't dare ask for clarification, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Liu Huanran," Pei Yuzhang quietly entered the room, catching Liu Huanran mid-reprimand, "I noticed that some of the products you signed off on didn't pass inspection. Even if 98% of the makeup products pass, the remaining 2% could cause serious issues for our customers."
"The quality check form has your signature. You'll need to stay late and make sure all those products meet the standards before they move on to the next stage. But don't let it delay other tasks."
Not delaying other tasks implied working overtime over the weekend, a prospect that made Liu Huanran's face darken. But she quickly regained her composure, knowing she couldn't argue.
Pei Yuzhang gave her a disinterested glance before her gaze shifted to Yu Zhiwan, who sat in a corner, holding a file. Her eyes briefly lingered on the Omega's delicate features as she sincerely asked, "After all, we can't risk any issues with our beautiful model's skin, right?"
Yu Zhiwan had come to the product department to get some paperwork signed and was waiting for her next photoshoot. She hadn't expected to run into Pei Yuzhang and remained expressionless, as if it didn't concern her. But Pei Yuzhang noticed that she had discreetly pulled up her phone, with a contact named Zhao Manlin ready to dial.
Pei Yuzhang couldn't help but smile wryly.
So the protagonist had interpreted her earlier tone as flirtation?
And just like that, Liu Huanran's weekend overtime was set in stone.
On Saturday morning, after freshening up and applying a simple, natural makeup look, Pei Yuzhang prepared to head out. As she descended the stairs, she ran into the housekeeper and nodded politely.
"Aunt Zhou, I won't be home for lunch today."
The housekeeper paused mid-step, looking confused until the meaning of Pei Yuzhang's words sank in. Her eyes widened in realization.
"Is the young lady celebrating something?"
There was a saying that good news brings joy, and ever since Pei Yuzhang had started showing a softer side, her once bad-tempered nature had improved considerably. She no longer looked for excuses to pick fights, had fewer demands at home, and even occasionally said "thank you," a rarity before.
Aunt Zhou quickly typed a message into her gossip group chat, eager to share the news.
"[smile.jpg] Looks like the young lady has found herself a girlfriend!"
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