Chapter Seven: Late Arrival

As expected, an awkward look appeared on Li Guifang’s face as she muttered, “So... so that’s how it is.”

“Exactly, that’s all it is!” Yu Youchu finally let out a breath of relief. She turned to Pei Jiayin and said, “I’m sorry for making a fool of myself in front of you. Such a small matter even wasted your time.”

“It’s nothing. I also bear some responsibility in this matter...” Thinking of Shen Wang, a flash of ruthless light crossed Pei Jiayin’s eyes, though his expression remained courteous and polite.

“Auntie, now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I still have things to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first.”

“I’m sorry, young man, and thank you for going to all this trouble.” Fortunately, Li Guifang was a straightforward person and no longer hesitated. “This girl has never been a worry-free one since she was little...”

Yu Youchu flushed and hurriedly cut in, “Come on, Mom! He’s still busy. Don’t keep talking.”

Seeing her embarrassment, Pei Jiayin could not help but give a soft chuckle.

That little laugh only made Yu Youchu’s face burn brighter. She shot him a covert glare, her eyes seeming to carry a warning.

But she did not know that the sharpness in her gaze had already lost its edge. Such a soft, watery look struck Pei Jiayin like a coquettish rebuke instead.

Pei Jiayin coughed lightly, his face growing hot, and left with his own phone in hand, as if fleeing in defeat.

“See you.”

Yu Youchu did not notice anything unusual about him and simply nodded. “See you.”

“Chuchu, Xiao Shen is a good boy. He only got anxious and misunderstood you and... you and...”

“Pei Jiayin.”

“...he only misunderstood your relationship with Xiao Pei. Young people like you can’t afford to lack communication. Since it was all a misunderstanding, you should have a proper talk with Xiao Shen. What’s the point of breaking up over this? Don’t keep fighting with him. Each of you should step back a little.”

Li Guifang had a favorable impression of Shen Wang. Yu Youchu knew that anyone who saw him for the first time would feel immediately at ease, as though bathed in warm spring sunlight. But what had happened between Shen Wang and Lin Qingwan, she could never simply pretend had not happened.

“Mom, you don’t need to worry about this. Since I’ve already broken up with him, there’s no possibility between us anymore. Besides, can what he did even be called good?”

Yu Youchu’s gaze turned cool. If she got the chance, she would have to settle accounts with Shen Wang properly.

“But Xiao Shen...”

Before she could continue, Yu Youchu hurriedly said, “Mom! Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I really need to get to work! We can talk on the phone later if there’s anything else...” She glanced at her watch; she was already fifteen minutes late.

Yu Youchu transferred the fare for her mother’s trip back home, then after a moment’s thought sent a bit more money to help with household expenses. Her mother had been frugal to the point of hardship while saving money to treat her father, and this time she had even rushed all the way from their hometown in Ji Province. Clearly, she had truly been desperate.

“Please be careful on the way back!”

With that, Yu Youchu ran off at once and dashed into the Huasheng Building.

Huasheng Advertising was currently one of the fastest-rising advertising companies in the country. Though it could not compare with the very top firms, it made up for it with rapid innovation and strong integration of big data. In addition to keeping a close eye on the cutting edge of online advertising, innovation and novelty were Huasheng Advertising’s defining words.

So aside from a few major brands or old-established companies, most of Huasheng’s clients were newly emerging product companies or businesses in the midst of transformation and development. In the current era of internet-based employment and entrepreneurship, its potential client base was enormous.

Every time she stepped into the company building, Yu Youchu marveled at Huasheng’s financial strength.

It was clearly not among the nation’s top-tier companies, yet it possessed a top-tier working environment. Whether it was location, size, surroundings, infrastructure, employee benefits, or company perks, everything was excellent. Every time Yu Youchu enjoyed them, she felt tears of happiness welling up.

Of course, working in such a company also meant pressure followed like a shadow. She had barely managed to secure this internship spot and survive the first two weeks safely, only to arrive late in the middle of the third week.

At that thought, Yu Youchu quickened her pace again. She absolutely could not leave a bad impression on the team leader.

At last, she reached the floor where she worked. Taking out her phone, she tidied her appearance after the frantic dash, drew a deep breath to steady herself, and only then pushed open the team leader’s door and went in.

“Yu Youchu? You were actually late.”

Bai Bingge clearly had not expected Yu Youchu to be the one late today. Among all the interns who had come in, she was the one he valued most.

There was no other reason: Yu Youchu’s ability was the strongest of them all. In daily life she was cheerful and generous, practical and hardworking, and willing to endure hardship. Several departments had already come asking about her.

And yet she could still be late? Bai Bingge raised a brow. His rimless glasses shifted slightly on the bridge of his nose; beneath the lenses were prominent brow bones and deep-set eyes.

“What happened?”

“I’m sorry, Team Leader. I was late today because of some family matter. I’ll definitely handle the balance between work and life properly, and I promise it won’t happen again!”

Yu Youchu twisted the sleeve of her shirt between her fingers. Team Leader Bai was usually the strictest of all; he was certainly going to give her a brutal scolding. She closed her eyes, wearing an expression of ready martyrdom.

Bai Bingge did not even glance at her. His eyes remained fixed on the documents in his hands.

“Since you know you should handle it properly, that’s enough. Right, hand in what needs to be handed in.”

Seeing that Bai Bingge had said nothing else, Yu Youchu was quite surprised.

She ventured cautiously, “All right, Team Leader Bai. Then... if there’s nothing else, may I go back to my desk?”

“Wait.”

Bai Bingge pushed up his glasses and, after finishing the document he had just been working on, handed it to Yu Youchu.

“Since you were late, there happens to be an outside assignment in the group that still lacks someone. Use this to make up for it.”

Yu Youchu immediately felt bitter inside. She thought to herself that this was hardly better than being scolded.

Going out on assignment in this weather in Capital City was miserable beyond words. Not only was the air awful, but even the bizarre wind that seemed to come from nowhere could be so fierce it felt as if it might blow her away.

She stared at the long, elegant hand before her and hesitated for a moment.

Seeing that she still had not moved, Bai Bingge lifted his head and looked at her. His gaze was not sharp, yet it seemed able to pierce straight through a person, as if seeing through all of Yu Youchu’s little schemes.

Yu Youchu quickly took the papers with both hands, her round eyes narrowing into a lovely crescent shape.

“All right, Team Leader. Thank you, Team Leader. I promise to complete the task perfectly and live up to your guidance.”

Only after Bai Bingge’s door closed did she stomp her foot in frustration.

She must not have looked at the almanac before leaving today. How could she be this unlucky?

Yu Youchu returned to her desk and looked over the outside assignment. Since she was already here, she might as well make the best of it. Though outside work was tedious, it was also a good chance to expand her connections and earn some credit within the company.

Seeing it from a different angle made her feel much better. She silently cheered herself on and looked through the file in her hands with renewed care and seriousness.