Volume One, Chapter 18: Contradictions

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Zhou Yu’an kissed her forehead gently and asked affectionately, “Why are you awake so early?”

“Is it still early? I have to get up; I’ll be late for work,” Xia Xiyin replied, rubbing his hair.

“Oh, by the way, I have a business trip next week to Country C. Just letting you know in advance,” she suddenly remembered and told him.

Zhou Yu’an slowly sat up and asked, “How many days? If the timing works out, I might go with you.”

“Don’t even think about it. There are other colleagues from the department going. It would be awkward if you came along,” she said as she dressed and picked out some clothes from the wardrobe.

Zhou Yu’an smiled, “I’m not involved in your project. After you finish work in the evening, I’ll give you a shoulder massage and rub your legs to help you relax. And if there’s any problem, I can help you solve a few.”

Listening to him, Xia Xiyin felt strangely touched and deeply loved, a wave of happiness rising within her.

She walked back over, knelt on the bed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and said emotionally, “Yu’an, why are you so good to me? I really appreciate you.”

Zhou Yu’an naturally wrapped his arms around her waist and said earnestly, “Because you are my girlfriend, and one day my wife. I have to treat you well.”

“What if we argue in the future? Will you still be this good to me?”

“We don’t go to bed angry. After we argue and make up, we move on. It won’t stop me from treating you well.”

Xia Xiyin smiled softly. “Then I’ll treat you well too. I’ll treat you the way you treat me.”

“Go get ready or you’ll really be late for work,” Zhou Yu’an said with a happy smile, urging her on.

After Xia Xiaoman finished breakfast, she left for work. Yesterday, Haibo had specially gone to the Blue Ocean Restaurant again to check with the head chef, and now Xiaoman had started leaving early and returning late every day.

After breakfast, the two of them left the house.

On the way, Shen Wei sent her a message, proactively asking to join the business trip to Country C.

Xia Xiyin frowned slightly. She had just been on the team for a day, and already Shen Wei was causing trouble. The people going on the Country C trip had already been decided; there was no need to add her.

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She politely declined Shen Wei’s request via WeChat, explaining the reasons.

Shen Wei didn’t persist and didn’t reply again.

“Yesterday, Zhou Minghao came to talk to me,” Xia Xiyin said to Zhou Yu’an. “He hinted that he wanted me to say a good word for him in front of you to get him a promotion. He taught me a lot at work before, so I figured I’d return the favor.”

Zhou Yu’an said, “He’s a bit incompetent and loves to show off.”

“Then you’d better give him some benefits elsewhere. Let’s forget about promoting him. No need to bring unnecessary trouble to the company.”

“I was already thinking of having him step down from the director position. I heard some bad rumors about him.”

“What? What kind of bad rumors? I’ve never heard anything in the department,” Xia Xiyin said, shocked.

“Some issues related to personal conduct,” Zhou Yu’an said. “Alright, I’ve taken note of what you told me.”

Xia Xiyin had never imagined that Zhou Minghao, who appeared to be a gentleman on the surface, had such conduct issues behind the scenes. She found it hard to believe. Knowing that Zhou Yu’an would only say this if it was confirmed, she felt a small sense of relief that it wasn’t him who had confessed to her that night.

When she arrived at the company and entered the department, Shen Wei swaggered toward her and said, “I’m going on the business trip to Country C in place of Xiao Wang. I’ve already spoken with Director Zhou, and he agreed.”

Xia Xiyin looked at her speechless. “What use is it that Director Zhou agreed? I’m in charge of this project. I’m the one who decides!”

“Then you just don’t want me to go?” Shen Wei asked coldly. “So tell me, why can’t I go? What’s wrong with me?”

Xia Xiyin replied simply, “Because you joined the team late, the staff has already been finalized and divided. You’re not familiar with the tasks Xiao Wang handles, so you can’t replace her.” She said this, then walked past her toward her workstation.

“Xia Xiyin, don’t you take your role as team leader a little too seriously? Director Zhou already agreed, so why are you still pretending?” Shen Wei became rude and provocative.

Xia Xiyin gave her a slight, insincere smile. “I said his agreement means nothing! When he gets here later, I’ll talk to him myself.”

Just as she finished speaking, Zhou Minghao walked in carrying a briefcase.

Xia Xiyin glanced at Shen Wei and then followed Zhou Minghao into the office.

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Shen Wei looked on coldly, sneering inwardly. After working so hard last night, did Xia Xiyin really think a few words could convince Zhou Minghao? Being the president’s girlfriend is something special? Better to be the one in charge than to have the title.

The reason Shen Wei insisted on going to Country C was because she had prepared thoroughly, planning to shine during the inspection.

In the office, after hearing Xia Xiyin’s words, Zhou Minghao thought for a moment, then said in a conciliatory tone, “Having one more person isn’t a big deal, right? Shen Wei is also eager to advance. Let’s give her a chance, and consider it a favor to me.”

Xia Xiyin was not willing to concede. “Director Zhou, if there were disputes about the project, I would listen to you as my superior. But this project is under my responsibility. Don’t I have the right to decide personnel allocation? I’m not targeting Shen Wei. She joined the team two days late and is still unfamiliar with some tasks. There will be future opportunities to go to Country C, and she can be arranged to go next time.”

Zhou Minghao could find no fault in her argument. Feeling disrespected, he was a little displeased.

“Alright, fine. I’ll listen to you. I won’t interfere with your project team affairs anymore,” Zhou Minghao weighed the pros and cons and conceded to Xia Xiyin.

“Thank you, Director Zhou,” Xia Xiyin said, then left the office satisfied.

Shen Wei, still confident, saw her words and immediately darkened, biting her lower lip and casting a resentful look at Xia Xiyin, unable to utter a word.

“She thinks that with Zhou Minghao backing her up, she can get away with anything,” Yang Lele whispered to Xia Xiyin as they returned to their workstations. “You don’t know, Xiao Wang actually didn’t want to swap with her. Shen Wei got the upper hand by holding a lever.”

Xia Xiyin asked confusedly, “Before this, I didn’t see any connection between her and Zhou Minghao.”

“They’re close. Do you think they’d let us see? Are you naive?” Yang Lele said, then pulled herself back.

Xia Xiyin gave a self-deprecating smile, recalling the celebration banquet when Shen Wei had egged her on to confess to Zhou Minghao and even recorded it, preparing to watch her get rejected.

But fate had other plans. She confessed to the wrong person that day, sparing herself an embarrassment. Even heaven seemed to be on her side.