Chapter Sixteen: The Design Department

Their sparks collided silently, beneath their gaze lay a battlefield without smoke, where undercurrents swirled.

Mu Chuan watched everything with keen interest.

“Then it’s settled. Yu Youchu, Mu Chuan, Wan Ninghe, the three of you remember to report to the corresponding team in the design department on the ninth floor,” Bai Bingge said, pushing up her glasses as she began the weekly work summary.

“What a tedious meeting,” Yu Youchu muttered, cracking her stiff neck. Even with someone as efficient as Bai Bingge summarizing the work, the meeting had dragged on for a long time, leaving her back aching.

“Enough talk—let’s hurry to report and then get off work,” Mu Chuan said as he walked alongside Yu Youchu, both exiting the conference room.

“Hopefully, the design department isn’t closed yet. Looks like we have a busy weekend ahead,” Yu Youchu said, pressing the elevator button, sensing a burning gaze from behind.

She glanced back to meet a nearly twisted expression.

“Wan Ninghe, if you’re going to act in a ghost movie, take a cab to Hengdian instead of scaring people at the office,” Mu Chuan quipped, his face twitching as he pinched his hand to stifle a laugh.

Unexpectedly, Wan Ninghe did not erupt into hysteria. Instead, he curled a sinister smile with his red lips.

“Yu Youchu, we shall see,” he said chillingly.

Just then, the elevator dinged. Wan Ninghe shoved past Yu Youchu’s shoulder and stepped inside first.

A cold wind seemed to sweep over Yu Youchu, her sixth sense warning her to be cautious in the days ahead.

Mu Chuan’s right hand rested on Yu Youchu’s back, gently pushing her into the elevator.

“He’s not a real ghost; he won’t eat you,” Mu Chuan said warmly.

Feeling the heat from his touch, Yu Youchu’s restless heart gradually calmed.

“True enough,” she murmured.

The three entered the design department, reputed to be the company’s most creative sector. Yu Youchu looked around; the entire floor was brightened by interesting designs of points, lines, and surfaces.

Just as Bai Bingge had said, the company’s schedule had been tight lately. Even past regular hours, the design department was still brightly lit and every workstation was occupied, with occasional sounds of handovers.

“Looks like they’re really short-staffed,” Yu Youchu observed, inspired by the lively work atmosphere. She couldn’t resist taking a photo with her phone to post on social media.

“The design department is truly passionate!” she captioned.

Many interns liked and commented on the post, though most comments simply said, “Good luck!”

---

The three found the reporting area and, upon stating their purpose, were treated like national treasures and immediately pulled into a team.

“Finally, you’re here! We’ve been waiting for you!” said a woman who looked like a straightforward professional at first glance.

Her short dark brown hair reached just to her pointed chin, revealing a slender, long neck. She wore a fitted black business suit but paired it with sneakers. Dark circles hung beneath her large eyes, revealing the exhaustion of being pushed to the limit.

“Hello, I’m Cui Jing, the project leader. You can call me Sister Jing. Since time is tight, I’ll add you directly to the workgroup,” she said as she led them to the temporary workspace.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll clock in right here in the design department. I’ve already gotten your information from Leader Bai. Here are your temporary desks,” she said, efficiently assigning everything without delay.

“Wait, starting tomorrow? Tomorrow is Saturday,” Mu Chuan caught the key point immediately.

Cui Jing glanced at the fresh-faced young man in front of her and smiled knowingly.

“Did Leader Bai not tell you?” she said, sending the project files to the three.

“Taking this project means voluntarily accepting overtime.”

Yu Youchu flipped through the files Bai Bingge had handed out earlier and reached the last page, where bold words stared back at her:

“Voluntary Overtime Acceptance.”

She was instantly crushed.

If souls could be seen, hers would have scattered into the wind.

“Mu Chuan! You owe me my weekend!” she exclaimed, recalling her promise to take Pei Jiayin out for dinner on Sunday... Looks like she’d have to stand him up again.

“Ahem,” Mu Chuan ignored her resentful glare.

“I didn’t expect you to fall for reverse psychology so easily. I’m with you on this. No fear—we share blessings and hardships together,” he said, rubbing his nose guiltily.

“This isn’t about fear! It’s my weekend! Find someone else to share your troubles with,” she shot back.

“Alright, alright. Wan Ninghe and Mu Chuan, you two assist another colleague with creative planning. Yu Youchu, you’ll help with the copywriting.”

“Understood, team leader,” all three answered in unison.

---

“Find your respective supervisors in the group chat to hand over tasks. If you have questions, ask them directly. It’s already past quitting time today, so that’s all,” Cui Jing said.

The three nodded.

Looks like they’d have to start preparing and studying tonight.

Suddenly, Yu Youchu’s phone rang. Seeing Cui Jing ready to leave, she answered.

“Hello? Pei Jiayin?”

Cui Jing paused mid-step, turning to scrutinize Yu Youchu for a moment before shaking her head. It was probably just a similar-sounding name.

Pei Jiayin sat in the car, his heart easing at the sound of Yu Youchu’s voice.

“Why didn’t you reply to my WeChat? I wanted to ask when you’d be off work.”

Yu Youchu glanced at her watch—it was already forty minutes past quitting time. She had kept the big shot waiting for so long!

Oh no!

Thankfully, everything was over.

“I’m done. I’m coming down right now!”

“Okay,” Pei Jiayin said, hanging up.

At first, he offered to give Yu Youchu rides to and from work just to make it up to her and because it was on his way. But he didn’t know when it became a habit to have Yu Youchu sitting beside him in the passenger seat.

Hearing her say “See you after work” every day, looking forward to seeing her come out of the elevator and run toward him with a different expression on her face each time.

Then she’d open the car door and share all the day’s happy, sad, and interesting moments with him.

Pei Jiayin closed his eyes briefly.

If someone had told him before that he’d waste forty minutes just waiting for one person to get off work, he’d have thought it absurd. But now, those forty minutes felt too short, sweet enough to savor.

“Pei Jiayin!” Yu Youchu’s voice reached him.

He opened his eyes, greedily taking in every expression on her face.

She wore the new work uniform, white corduroy pants tucked into brown snow boots—the only bright colors in the dim underground garage.