After Being Targeted by the Gloomy and Obsessive Movie Queen - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Early Prevention – She’s Not a Fan At All

Xu Yinyu rushed to clock in just in time. Before she could relax, she saw the founder walk out of the conference room and glance at her with slight dissatisfaction.

Xu Yinyu quietly walked to her workstation with her head down.

Before her chair even warmed up, Lina leaned over, getting extremely close to Xu Yinyu. Her voice was muffled, almost a whisper. “Alice said she’s announcing the project manager for this quarter today. Zhou Yun called in sick today. I think you have a chance.”

Xu Yinyu gave a noncommittal “Oh,” her eyes tranquil and undisturbed, without the slightest ripple of response.

Lina wanted to say more, but suddenly saw Alice hurrying toward Xu Yinyu and immediately returned to her own workstation.

Alice held a stack of documents, which she slammed onto Xu Yinyu’s desk with a “bang.” Her expression was unusually serious. “Read these documents thoroughly, then come to my office.”

Xu Yinyu’s gaze was instantly drawn to the red marks on the files.

This was indeed the project proposal she was supposed to submit today, but she hadn’t finished the final touches yesterday, so she hadn’t emailed or printed it.

How did this unfinished project proposal end up in Alice’s hands so early?

Xu Yinyu held the documents, watching Alice’s angry retreating figure.

If it were just an immature project proposal, Alice wouldn’t be this furious. Her gaze fell on Zhou Yun’s workstation.

The station was empty, the office supplies neatly arranged. There was also an office plant similar to Xu Yinyu’s.

Victoria heard the commotion and rushed over, asking, “What happened? This is the first time I’ve seen Alice this angry. She looks like a boiled shrimp and a tyrannical crab.”

Xu Yinyu choked slightly at Victoria’s description. She managed to steady the corners of her mouth and slightly narrowed her eyes. “It’s nothing. I can handle it.”

As she walked away, Xu Yinyu glanced at Lina, meeting Lina’s furtive gaze.

Xu Yinyu forced a smile, holding the documents Alice had thrown at her, along with the contingency plan she had prepared for being framed.

Xu Yinyu walked into the office holding the project files, showing no signs of guilt.

Alice’s anger was undiminished. “Xu, if this project proposal wasn’t finished, why did you send it to me? Do you know what a basic mistake you’ve made?”

“Alice,” Xu Yinyu placed the document on Alice’s desk. “I did not send this document to you.

I have no record of this in any of my email accounts. If you don’t believe me, I have a video recording. It’s timed to be automatically sent to the company internal group email at ten o’clock. You can watch it then.

Was it really that I didn’t complete the project proposal? Or did someone want to use me as a stepping stone?

I believe you owe me an apology and compensation for emotional distress.”

Xu Yinyu showed no panic on her face; her expression was calm and composed.

Alice glared at Xu Yinyu, her eyes widening. “Are you insane? Withdraw it immediately! If you dare to send that message to the group, do you think company executives won’t fire you instantly? The company will not keep an employee who tries to force its hand!”

“I don’t care. When you and Zhou Yun were setting a trap for me, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, you should have anticipated my counterattack.

Since you’ve already done something to hurt me,”

Xu Yinyu’s voice deepened, a smile curving her lips, starkly different from her former innocent and clear smile; this one carried calculation and clarity.

“Then you should bear the cost of your wrong actions.”

Xu Yinyu didn’t care who became the project manager for the second quarter. Her energy was limited, and she only wanted to secure her own life.

But she was unwilling to be someone else’s stepping stone, to be manipulated by Alice, or to be used by Zhou Yun.

And then be scolded as useless in the end.

Alice’s face cycled through shades of red, white, and then green.

“Yes, I failed to properly investigate this matter and publicly scolded you,” Alice paused, struggling to save face. “I was too dictatorial, I apologize.”

Xu Yinyu tilted her head. “Oh.”

Alice’s eyes widened, but since her weakness was firmly held by this annoying Chinese person, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and ask, “Can you withdraw the video now?”

“If you’re confessing to me, please be specific. Don’t be so vague; it’s unpleasant to hear.” Xu Yinyu sat brazenly across from Alice, crossing her arms openly and arrogantly.

Alice gave a wry laugh. “Xu, we are still colleagues at the same company. Why such a desperate measure?”

Xu Yinyu listened silently, pulled up her phone, and zoomed in on the time. “You have ten minutes until the video is mass-sent to the company chat group.

By then, I’m sure many colleagues will wish you and Zhou Yun a happy partnership.”

Alice’s expression dimmed. She quickly rattled off a string of English sentences, confessing all the details of her and Zhou Yun’s plan.

“Zhou Yun’s work ability is far inferior to yours. I couldn’t openly choose a less capable employee over an excellent one to be the second-quarter project manager.

So, I wanted to make you commit a major error at work, then report it to the executives to have you replaced. That way, Zhou Yun becoming the second-quarter project planner would be a natural progression.”

“I truly regret hurting you. I will pray to God until I find your true forgiveness,” Alice said, with a barely negligible hint of apology in her voice.

Xu Yinyu used to suffer daily under Alice’s scolding. Today, she finally had the upper hand. Hearing Alice’s feigned submission, her heart was immensely satisfied.

“Oh.” Xu Yinyu stood up, a cold smile curling on her face. “Alice, thank you for your testimony today. I forgive you on behalf of God.”

Alice suddenly stood up, immense fear gripping her. She wanted to restrain Xu Yinyu but was easily dodged by the prepared Xu Yinyu.

“You, you broke your word! God will punish you,” the color drained completely from Alice’s face, turning white as paper. Her beautiful red lips also turned pale at this moment.

Xu Yinyu looked at her coldly. “I don’t care. If you have the guts, fire me. If you don’t, just wait to become the laughingstock.”

Xu Yinyu left with more composure and elegance than when she arrived, as if she had simply enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee in Alice’s office.

Alice took two steps forward, her phone vibrating violently in her pocket. Her fingers trembled as she answered the General Manager’s call. “Hello…”

“Alice, are you still capable of working?” The General Manager’s enraged voice was nearly piercing the phone. “What’s with the message in the group? You tried to pull a stunt, and you did it so brazenly. Do you really think HM Company is yours?

“The board of directors is here for an inspection today, and you dare to cause trouble on this day. If you don’t want me to have an easy time, then don’t embarrass me! Take your useless girlfriend and quickly pack your things and scram!”

Alice tried to defend herself, but her mouth felt glued shut; she couldn’t utter a single word.

The video and recording were ironclad proof.

When she finally found a gap to speak, wanting to argue, she realized the phone had already been hung up.

Alice tried calling three more times in a row. Not only were her calls unanswered, but the last one resulted in her being blacklisted.

The thought of Xu Yinyu so easily profiting from the situation made Alice grind her teeth in hatred.

Even if she had to leave the company immediately, she was determined to make Xu Yinyu’s day difficult.

The veins on Alice’s hand, gripping her phone, bulged. The blue veins on her pale skin looked like vigorous flood dragons.

As soon as Xu Yinyu left the office, she was surrounded by a group of people.

Victoria was the first to check her all over. “Were you hit?”

Xu Yinyu smiled and shook her head. “Alice didn’t hit me. She apologized to me.”

This statement was met with widespread gasps of surprise.

Lina crowded in front of Xu Yinyu. “Xu, how did you find out about her and her partner?”

Xu Yinyu shook her head, feigning ignorance. “I was only worried about my own work status. I know nothing else.”

Victoria took Xu Yinyu’s hand and gently pushed the others away. “Move aside! Have you finished your work?”

Lina pouted, unhappy. “Speaking as if you’ve finished yours.”

Then, perhaps afraid of Victoria’s retaliation, she haughtily tossed her long hair and walked away.

Xu Yinyu smiled and said, “Everyone, go back. It looks bad with so many people gathered here. What if the management sees?”

Victoria inwardly thought, You’ve already flipped the manager’s desk. Why care about this minor impact?

After returning to her workstation, Xu Yinyu immediately opened her computer and continued working as if nothing had happened, finishing the final touches on the second-quarter project proposal.

Xu Yinyu heard the familiar sound of high heels, and her nerves involuntarily tightened.

Lina, using the reflection on her phone screen, saw Alice approaching Xu Yinyu with a steaming cup of water in her hand.

“Clang!”

The entire cup of hot water slid down Xu Yinyu’s thin shirt. It was scalding hot, and Xu Yinyu’s fingertips trembled.

Alice glared at Xu Yinyu with resentment. “It’s all because of you, you jinx.”

Xu Yinyu looked up at Victoria, who had shielded her from the hot water attack, feeling surprised and anxious. She immediately snatched the cup from Alice’s hand. “Lunatic.”

Everyone quickly restrained Alice.

Xu Yinyu immediately helped Victoria to the company infirmary. On the way, she asked Victoria if she was burned.

Victoria told her to find a pot of boiling water and jump in to find out.

The two took the elevator to the first floor. Xu Yinyu helped Victoria walk towards the infirmary. Victoria’s upper body was almost completely soaked, her white shirt slightly transparent, with water drops clinging to her.

Xu Yinyu handed her spare shirt to Victoria. The doctor asked Victoria to remove her wet clothes.

Xu Yinyu tactfully stepped out, hearing occasional gasps of pain from inside. She regretted having treated Alice too leniently.

“Come in. You’re both girls. Why did you step out?” the doctor asked strangely.

Xu Yinyu replied without changing her expression, “When I see people in pain, I feel pain too.”

Victoria was speechless. “Nonsense.”

“Victoria, don’t let the areas with burns and blisters touch water for a while. The weather is also getting cooler, so just sponge-bathe yourself a few times,” the doctor was clearly very familiar with Victoria.

Victoria groaned in pain. “Got it.”

She then turned to Xu Yinyu. “I got this miserable because of you. Aren’t you going to say anything to me?”

Xu Yinyu reassuringly squeezed Victoria’s hand. “My savior, please lie down and rest. After you recover, I’ll cook you a Manchu Han Imperial Feast.”

Victoria laughed in exasperation. “Get out of here. I don’t need your two bites of food. Just tell me the truth: Was the person you met at the bar yesterday your wife?”

Xu Yinyu was caught off guard by the question. “Why are you asking that again?”

The doctor crossed her arms and scrutinized Xu Yinyu. “Wow, I didn’t realize Miss Xu was already married.”

Victoria insisted, “Tell me, tell me! I took a scalding cup of hot water for you. Just tell me, or I won’t be able to sleep.”

Xu Yinyu had no choice but to admit, “Mhm, it was her. But she has amnesia and has forgotten a lot.”

“Wow,” Victoria finally got the latest gossip. “Your story is so dramatic.”

“Waaah!” The doctor clapped her hands. “I never thought I’d run into a plot straight out of a TV show today. Is it a story of unrequited love?”

Xu Yinyu heard the chorus of excitement. “It might be a mutual illness.”

Victoria and the doctor exchanged a knowing look.

There was no response from the phone. Only a steady breathing sound could be heard.

Xu Yinyu’s eyes fluttered before a slow voice came from the other end. “Miss Xu, it’s me, Yu Shujin. Do you remember?”

“Mhm.” Xu Yinyu’s voice suddenly turned cold. “What is it?”

“We met this morning,” Yu Shujin reminded her. “I was wondering if you are free now. I’d like to invite you to lunch.”

Xu Yinyu found it strange, but she refused without hesitation. “I’m sorry, I’m a bit busy today. I can’t spare any time during lunch.”

Yu Shujin’s dark eyes did not blink. She stood on the top floor across from Xu Yinyu’s company, able to see Xu Yinyu’s every move clearly, including how intimately she was supporting her colleague.

Yu Shujin closed her eyes, concealing the darkness within. She feigned tenderness, her voice carrying a hint of regret. “Alright then. It’s a pity I can’t have lunch with A-Yu.”

The only response was a cold “Sorry.”

There was no lingering affection or warmth.

She’s not a drama or movie fan at all.

Yu Shujin lifted her eyelids, said nothing more, and deliberately ended the call.

Chi Xia was still dealing with documents. She looked up, still holding a glimmer of hope, and asked, “Didn’t we book our flight tickets for today?”

Yu Shujin’s expression turned indifferent. She merely glanced at Chi Xia before withdrawing her gaze.

“Postpone it.”

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